Saturday, March 31, 2012

March Madness for March 30th Welcomes author Hannah Warren. Her book "Casablanca my Heart"

 March Madness for March 30th Welcomes author Hannah Warren with her soon to be released book..."Casablanca my Heart"


Bio
Hannah Warren (Paris- France, 1956) is of Anglo-Dutch descent and lives in the Province of Zeeland, in the south west of Holland. When she’s not writing or translating, she is teaching Yoga classes, playing the saxophone, hiking or mothering. Hannah is also a social media ‘devotee’ and an active blogger. She equally loves and supports all her virtual writing pals, many of whom feature on her website with interviews and guest blogs. Casablanca, My Heart is her first book soon to be published by Night Publishing. Check more of Hannah’s work out at www.hannahwarrenauthor.com


 

What happens when a grieving romantic novelist meets a
 Moroccan Prince in Casablanca – the city of her dreams?

Romantic novelist Heather Simpson’s idyllic marriage to renowned artist Luuk Routers ends in tragedy when he is permanently brain damaged in a car accident for which Heather is wrongly held publicly responsible.

To distance herself from this heartbreak, she assumes the pen-name Femmy Lovecraft and after several years of nursing her comatose husband is persuaded by her closest friend, Rita, to take a much needed break to do research for her next novel – a cruise to the city of her dreams – Casablanca.

But the night before the ship docks in Casablanca, Heather is accosted by a mysterious stranger purported on the ship to be a Moroccan Prince, and she ends up with far more than a break or research for her novel.

How did the mysterious stranger find out Heather’s real identity? Why does he follow her ashore in the port of Casablanca? And why has he been stalking her for years?
And what is it about this handsome half French/half Moroccan man that Heather cannot resist? 

The massive consequences of their brief one-day lustful liaison are far reaching and lasting for Heather.
But will she and Ghalib Tourniquet ever find each other again?




Review of Casablanca my Heart .

This is an unusual romantic novel, and I was mesmerised by it from the very first page.

Heather Simpson is a successful romantic novelist whose first love and marriage to the famous artist Luuk Routers has come to a tragic end after an unavoidable car accident for which Heather wrongly takes the blame. To protect her identity she assumes the pseudonym Femmy Lovecraft for her novels, at the same time continuing to nurse her beloved Luuk who remains in a coma. Persuaded by her friend Rita to give herself a break from this sadness and follow her dream to visit Casablanca to do research for her new novel, she embarks on a cruise which calls at Casablanca. But just before the ship docks she is confronted on deck by a handsome stranger who mysteriously knows her true identity.

From this moment on her life changes dramatically. Although at first shunning the attentions of the stranger, annoyed and puzzled that he should know her true identity, she nevertheless finds herself overcome with lust for this handsome half French, half Moroccan man of royal blood. But his passionate seduction of her is short-lived. Overcome with guilt, Heather flees back to the ship that afternoon, vowing never to see Ghalib Tourniquet again.
  
Told first from Heather’s point of view, and then from Ghalib Tourniquet with his fascinating blend of two cultures, the two voices complement each other in a most intriguing way. Warren has the enviable ability of being able to place herself in the head of each of her main characters, giving the prose an immediacy and a directness which is both vibrant and cinematic and made me feel I was right there watching the characters and living every moment of the action, the emotion and the heartache.

 This debut novelist has a keen eye for detail; her prose is enriched by her fresh observation of things one often overlooks, and I found myself re-reading some of her passages for the sheer joy of the sound of them.

The characterisation is deep and revealing, especially of the main characters, whose lives the author explores far beyond the boundaries of the plot, which I will not reveal any further, but which will leave you on the edge of your seats as you follow the intricacies of their lives and bite your nails wondering whether Heather and Ghalib will ever get together again.

 This book will be available soon on Amazon. The winner of the book will receive an e/book copy as soon as Amazon have it up and running.

11 comments:

  1. This book sounds lovely, like Hannah herself, and I shall love to read it when it comes out :)

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  2. Awww....thank you Soooz for promoting my soon-to-be released book and thanks Catherine for your lovely words of praise. xxx

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  3. This sounds a wonderful book, another one on my wish list for when I have a Kindle or maybe to have in paperback!

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  4. Hopefully the paperpack soon as well, Kate, I'll let you know if you want.

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  5. a lovely book by a lovely lady ;) I'm going to miss this at the end of the month - so many wonderful choices added to my TBR list!! Thanks Sooz!!

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  6. I can't wait to read this. Hannah is a most wonderful woman and so is Soooz, bringing us such a delectable variety of tempting desserts for our discerning palettes (um, that's a mouthful).

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  7. I tried to buy this a few days ago - didn't realise I was a little premature. It sounds like I'll be able to do it soon though.

    Marj McRae.

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  8. I'm really looking forward to reading Hannah's book! Such a wonderful lady. x

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  9. It does sounds like it has an interesting twist. Will mark it on my wish list for when it's released.

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  10. My thanks to all the lovely folks that contributed to the promotion of "Casablanca My Heart"

    Here we go, the names are in the hat...and...
    Congratulations Catherine Chisnall! You are the lucky winner, Catherine.

    Your e/book will be on it's way on release.

    Thanks again.

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  11. Too late as ever, and probably hardly anyone will read this, but anyway... Hannah is a great webmaster/mistress, motivator and friend. She's also written many fascinating articles reminiscing on her childhood, family, and so on. I'm sure her novel is a fine read.

    She's also having an incredibly tough time at the moment and needs our thoughts and prayers more than ever.

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