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Jean Gill
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No Bed of Roses (Love Heals Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Jean Gill (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 28 ratings
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Will the truth destroy a second chance at love? A romance for our times. From award-winning author Jean Gill.

Helen Tanner runs her own business, spends her evenings out with friends, anything to avoid memories of the tragedy she left behind. She lives alone and likes it that way.
Until, that is, a dark-haired vet walks into her shop and into her life. Her first unpromising encounter with Dai Evans turns into a tumultuous affair. As passion grows into love, Helen is forced not only to consider a new future, but to face up to a troubled past.
Should she tell her lover what causes her nightmares? Will this family man still want her when he knows the truth?
Heart-rending and powerful, ‘No Bed of Roses’ is a story of loss, love and healing. Jean Gill's characters always feel like real people: complex, thoughtful, and with believable histories and motivations. We really want Helen and Dai to be together and all that stands in their way is the human damage caused by loss and guilt. How can they live with Helen’s ghosts?

For fans of Kerry Lonsdale, Kristin Hannah, Jan Ruth, Hilary Boyd.
‘A story we all carry with us.’ Fiona McClean, From Under the Bed

'The humour frequently has the effect of pointing up the stark reality with which she writes' - Ted Griffin, Pause Magazine

Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 2
    Love Heals
  2. Print length
    274 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    November 16, 2010
  6. File size
    1888 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

'A superb ending' - Robert Nisbet, Western Mail

'An insight into human relationships' - Suzanne Oakley, Llanelli Star

'Gill's characters feel like real people - complex, thoughtful, and with believable histories and motivations... she unwinds her tales with the deftness of a born storyteller. I look forward to more of her offerings.' Leslie M Ficcaglio,visual artist

'I read 'No Bed of Roses' in one go without being able to put the book down. Written with brilliant observations into the way people feel and think. A book to relate to, a story we all carry with us.' FionaMcClean, From Under the Bed

From the author of The Troubadours Quartet
Winner ofthe Global Ebooks Award for Best Historical Fiction
'Believable, page-turning and memorable.' LelaMichael, S.P.Review

'Historical Fiction at its best.' Karen Charlton, the Detective LavenderMysteries

'Wonderful! If you love historical romance and adventure, you must pick up this series!' Autumn Birt, TheRise of The Fifth Order

'A stunning masterpiece of tangled alliances, conflicting loyalties and tested love.' Kristin Gleeson, theCeltic Knot Series

'As soon as I finished this novel, I longed for the next in the series and can't wait to read more from this extremely talented author.' Deb McEwan, Beyond Death

'Jean Gill is the master of historical intrigue.' C.M.T.Stibbe, Chasing Pharoahs

'One of the best historical novels I've read in a long time.' Paul Trembling,Dragonslayer

'Fascinating history - the plot was terrific.' BrianWilkerson, Trickster Eric Novels blogger

'A walk through time! That is what it was like to read this fine novel. It drew me into the pages and would not let go of me until done! Bravo for a wonderful read!' Arwin Blue,By Quill Ink and Parchment Historical Fiction blogger

From the Author

This book is complete in itself but the characters continue their story in 'More Than One Kind' Book 2 of 'Love Heals' Jean Gill's publications
 
Novels
The Troubadours Quartet
Book 4 Song Hereafter (The 13th Sign) 2017
Book 3 Plaint for Provence (The 13th Sign) 2015
Book 2 Bladesong (The 13th Sign) 2015
Book 1 Song at Dawn (The 13th Sign ) 2015
 
Someone to Look Up To: a dog's search for love and understanding (The 13th Sign) 2016
 
Love Heals
Book 2 More Than One Kind (The 13th Sign) 2016
Book 1 No Bed of Roses (The 13th Sign) 2016
 
Looking for Normal  (teen fiction/fact)
Book 1 Left Out (The 13th Sign) 2017
Book 2 Fortune Kookie (The 13th Sign) 2017
 
Non-fiction/Memoir/Travel
How Blue is my Valley (The 13th Sign 2016
A Small Cheese in Provence (The 13th Sign) 2016
Faithful through Hard Times (The 13th Sign 2018
4.5 Years - war memoir by David Taylor (The 13th Sign) 2017
 
Short Stories and Poetry
One Sixth of a Gill (The 13th Sign) 2014
From Bed-time On (National Poetry Foundation) 1996
With Double Blade (National Poetry Foundation) 1988
 
Translation (from French)
The Last Love of Edith Piaf - Christie Laume (Archipel) 2014
A Pup in Your Life - Michel Hasbrouck 2008
Gentle Dog Training - Michel Hasbrouck (Souvenir Press) 2008

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004CLYMMK
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The 13th Sign; 2nd edition (November 16, 2010)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 16, 2010
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1888 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 274 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    3.8 3.8 out of 5 stars 28 ratings

About the author

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Jean Gill

Jean Gill

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Jean Gill is an award-winning Welsh writer and photographer living in the south of France with two scruffy dogs, a beehive named 'Endeavour', a Nikon D750 and a man. For many years, she taught English and was the first woman to be a secondary headteacher in Wales. She is mother or stepmother to five children so life was hectic. Join Jean's special readers' group at jeangill.com for private news and exclusive offers.

Customer reviews

3.8 out of 5 stars
3.8 out of 5
28 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Fiona Brady
3.0 out of 5 stars Well written but not for me
Reviewed in the United States on December 31, 2016
Firstly, I'd like to say that this is a very well written book. The author's descriptions of Wales and France are so vibrant that you can easily picture them in your head. The book starts well and draws you into the life of Helen who has moved to South Wales from Leeds after a tragedy, where she hopes she can make a new life for herself. It's the sort of book I normally love but the further I read the more I started to realise that I really didn't like Helen and Dai. This wouldn't usually put me off but they both spend most of their time wallowing in self pity. In Helen's case this may seem understandable after the loss she has suffered but her actions and thoughts just ended up getting on my nerves. Dai had less reason to feel so sorry for himself but that didn't seem to stop him regarding everything he did as a chore.
I also thought that, whilst I assume the story is set in the late 1990's given the references to BSE and the 30 month rule, it felt more like the 1970's. Nothing wrong with that but at times I found myself questioning the authenticity. I accept I could be completely wrong and I'm sure the author knows the area well, much better than me, but I found some parts stretched credibility a bit too far.
I'm sure other people will love this book but although I can admire the author's talent, the characters and overall plot just wasn't for me.
My thanks to TBC on FB for this copy in return for an honest review.
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Leslie M. Ficcaglia
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and intelligent book about loss and healing -
Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2014
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed Jean Gill's memoir about her move to Provence as well as her book "Bladesong," so I looked for other works by this author. Recently I downloaded "Snake on Saturdays" and its sequel, "San Fairy Anne," and gobbled them up. Gill's characters feel like real people - complex, thoughtful, and with believable histories and motivations. Helen and Dai are very appealing individuals whom you wish you could know better; I would also like to read a further book about them and hope that Gill will revisit them to relate how they fare in the future. Gill's writing is also excellent; she depicts circumstances and creates settings with intelligence and confidence, and she unwinds her tales with the deftness of a born storyteller. I look forward to more of her offerings.
3 people found this helpful
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Hayley Kiwibird
4.0 out of 5 stars Where to begin...
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2017
Oh wow, where to begin? This is such a hard book to review. For me, reviewing 'No Bed of Roses' is not as simple as whether I liked the book or not. There were elements of this story that I really struggled with, or struggled to follow, but then there were moments of sheer brilliance that outshined the areas thar I found the book lacking.

I will start with what I loved. The characterization in this novel is excellent. Helen and Dai were realistic, complex and three dimensional. I really felt for them and the stories - individually and collectively. The author writes very well. Gill has a fantastic 'ear' and her dialogue really sparkles. Overall, I really enjoyed the book.

At times I felt that the pace was a little slow and although I liked the characters from the beginning, it took me a while to really feel for them. There were moments that I wanted to give up on them or reach into the book and slap them but then the author would weave her dialogue magic and all would be well again.

I go between wanting to give the book 3 and 4 stars but I still recommend that readers give it a go. The brilliance is really brilliant and I know that there are plenty of readers who would absolutely adore this book.
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Carol S
3.0 out of 5 stars Slow Moving Story
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2015
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

This is a meandering story of Helen who has suffered a tragedy and has divorced her husband and estranged herself from her family in Leeds by moving to a village in Wales. Her new life is slowly revealed and we meet a number of the people in her new village. Helen is so burdened by her tragedy, it is a wonder that she has made any friends or become involved romantically with another man. I had no hopes of Helen having a HEA until the final page of the story and really felt sorry for her lover Dai. I would have liked to see Helen and Dai experience some happiness in the story.
One person found this helpful
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silvthread
5.0 out of 5 stars Snake on Saturdays
Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2015
Verified Purchase
I enjoyed the book very much. The title is a little off compared to what a wonderful book. It is about life, loss, love, and how to recover so that you can live a healthy life. I enjoyed how life like the characters seemed to be. I am interested in reading more about Helen and Dae. The book really brought me into their life. The ending made me want to read more.
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars She makes a great life for herself and lo and behold meets a ...
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2015
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

This was an ok book. Helen is the main character and moved away from her life after a divorce. She makes a great life for herself and lo and behold meets a man. It was a slow story. I enjoyed the relationship of Helen and Dai. If you like romance you will enjoy this book.
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Archit Ojha
5.0 out of 5 stars Really loved it!
Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2017
<b>A book of loss, love and living life to the fullest.</b>

Helen and Dae had been one of the wonderful characters I've encountered. Complex, beautiful yet realistic.

With vivid description, passionate characters and excellent plot, No Bed of Roses brings life and love to the readers. Romantic and powerful, Jean Gill narrates a story that will stay with me for a lifetime.

After going through a tragedy already, Helen wants her life to have new beginnings. A small village is what she got to live where nobody had an idea about her past. She became friends with amazing people, started a shop for a living. It is not an easy task to forget about your tragedies and do a fresh start. But Helen does that. Have to do that. Just when everything was seeming to be near perfect, a guy entered in her life and changed everything.

I appreciated the detailed, descriptive writing. From interior to farming, Jean Gill made it all too real for me. One cannot help but contemplate that he's living the life of these characters. Traditions of Wales were great to know. Some points can be improved and others can't get better than this.
One person found this helpful
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J. Mack
1.0 out of 5 stars Not a fan.
Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2017
I only made It thru 4 chapters. Everything was too drawn out and boring. Also wasn't a fan of the story line. I won't give away details I'll just say it wasn't for me.
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Top reviews from other countries

Cathy Bleathman
3.0 out of 5 stars A reminder of home
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 14, 2013
Verified Purchase
Was interested in this book as Llanelli is my home town.Enjoyed the book but it was a bit slow at times
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Bookworm
5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect rainy day read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 20, 2015
Verified Purchase
Helen flees to Wales to start again after a tragedy rocks her world and there she meets local Vet Dai who has a few pressing issues of his own, not least a struggling farm and an empty marriage. Helen is fearful of commitment while Dai has other plans. Into the mix are thrown an assortment of wonderfully drawn characters and incidents, both harrowing and entertaining in equal measure. While Helen copes with running her own small business, around her, the Mad Cow crisis continues to devastate the rural community and prejudice threatens her dearest friend. This isn’t a light-weight romance, more a glimpse of real life and love, warts and all, where trust is everything and misconception abounds. It’s about loss and allowing the seeds of happiness to sprout again.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way the story winds back and forth between Wales and France, past and present giving tantalising clues to the secret Helen is hiding. Wonderfully written by a talented wordsmith, there are some laugh out loud lines, and witty observations, Dai’s grandfather laying claim to most of those, and equally some real tear jerking moments which are sobering in their delivery.
A perfect read for a rainy day by the fire.
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Bookworm
5.0 out of 5 stars Another great book from Jean Gill
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 26, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is the first romantic novel I've read by Jean Gill and how refreshing to find a story that is most definitely not in the "chick lit" category! It is a great read and I look forward to reading the sequel "San Fairy Anne." The characters are totally believable and as with any good book - you're there with the people involved.
One person found this helpful
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