Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus More


Nov 18

30

Close Encounters of the Traveling Kind by Amanda Jayne- Review

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on November 30, 2018
Posted in Book Tours • Books Read in 2018 • Travel  | Tagged With: , , , | 3 Comments

Close Encounters of the Traveling Kind by Amanda JayneClose Encounters of the Traveling Kind by Amanda Jayne

Publisher:  Waldorf Publishing (July 1, 2018)
Category: Essays, Travelogues , Travel, Adventure
Tour dates: Oct-Nov, 2018
ISBN: 978-1642556797
Available in Print and ebook, 140 pages

Close Encounters of the Traveling Kind

Description Close Encounters of the Traveling Kind by Amanda Jayne


This collection of near-death (and a few almost-near-death) stories take you on adventures in Africa, South America, Nepal, Japan and Thailand. Close Encounters with an angry snake, the edge of an abyss, an unfriendly African tribe, a fake guide or two, a mean Dutch man, a magic whirlpool, a nasty case of Typhoid and a severe case of mountain stupidity are told with the confidence of a traveler who has discovered that no matter what happens, everything works out in the end.

Trailer Close Encounters of the Traveling Kind by Amanda Jayne




My Thoughts Close Encounters of the Traveling Kind by Amanda Jayne


When I was a girl I loved to do adventurous things like sliding down snow filled hills and tubing down a river.  As an adult I have done some mountain climbing and parasailing but I have never done anything as adventurous as Amanda Jayne has done!

In ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ Amanda Jayne has written a series of essays telling of her death defying travel adventures.  Her writing is such that she draws you in and makes you feel like you were on these adventures with her.  My entire body was clenched so tight while reading that I was quite sore.

I love how Jayne outlines the “reasons for near-death” at the beginning of each essay, “retrospective tips on how not to die”, and “lessons learned” at the end of each essay.  The first essay was from when she was an English teacher in Japan.  One drunken night her and her fellow teachers came up with the bright idea to climb Mount Fuji together.  However, when the time came, only Amanda and one other teacher showed up.  It quickly became apparent that they were ill equipped and had little idea of how to climb safely. 

Jayne really shows her writing skills in this little book of essays and I hope she keeps writing!  She has a wicked sense of humor and can really capture the beauty and danger of nature as well as those real life characters that can help you risk life and limb.  I plan to keep my adventures small but I would love to read about more travel adventures that Amanda Jayne experiences.  I would also love to see her try her hand as a fiction writer, I really think she has the skill.  I highly recommend ‘Close Encounters of the Traveling Kind’!

5/5

I read the ebook for an honest review.

About Amanda JayneClose Encounters of the Traveling Kind by Amanda Jayne


Amanda Jayne never wanted to live a normal life, which she has achieved with resounding success so far. She realised books were magic and could take you to other places, times and universes when she was very young and wanted to become an author immediately. However, she waited several decades so she could do other things first.

Her love for travel began with a six month South Africa trip at age 18 and continued with short jaunts in Eastern Europe during the years she worked in the mental health field.

As soon as she realised offices, rules and regulations were not her thing, she left her job and her native England to find out more about the world and the amazing array of people living in it. She spent 10 years living and travelling in various countries and finally returned to the UK in 2009 after gaining a masters in Spiritual Psychology in the USA and walking 1,200 km around the 88 temples pilgrimage in Shikoku, Japan.

These days she teaches Jikiden Reiki, makes websites and writes books. She’s sometimes quite busy. Some of the things she loves are trees, art, being with friends, making up stories for her nephews, karaoke, cats and dark chocolate, not necessarily in that order. She lives in a quiet corner of Kent in the UK and tries, but usually fails, to stay there for long periods of time.

Website: https://www.amandacjayne.com/author
Twitter:  https://twitter.com/amandacjayne
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/amandajayneauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandacjayne/

Buy Close Encounters of the Traveling Kind by Amanda Jayne


Amazon US
Amazon UK
BarnesandNoble
Indiebound
BookDepository

Giveaway Close Encounters of the Traveling Kind by Amanda Jayne


This giveaway is for the winner’s choice of one print or ebook copy of the book. Print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. This giveaway ends November 30, 2018, midnight pacific time. Entries are accepted via Rafflecopter only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Follow Close Encounters of the Traveling Kind by Amanda Jayne Tour


Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Oct 18 Kickoff

Dawn Bound 2 Escape Oct 22 Excerpt

Dawn Bound 4 Escape Oct 24 Guest Review

Indie Review Behind the Scenes Oct 26 Video Interview

Lisa’s Writopia Nov 1 Review

Lisa’s Writopia Nov 1 Guest Post

Lu Ann Rockin’ Book Reviews Nov 9 Review

Leonide Martin Blog Nov 12 Review & Guest Post

Wendy Wall-to-wall books Nov 13 Review

Art Amazon Nov 14 Review (postponed)

Carole’s Book Corner Nov 16 Guest Review & Excerpt

Teddy Rose Book Reviews Plus Nov 30 Review

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Monica Writers N Authors Nov 30 Review & Interview

Mike Amazon Nov 30 Review

Close Encounters of the Traveling Kind by Amanda Jayne

Mar 14

25

Review: Round The Bend by Alistair McGuinness

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on March 25, 2014
Posted in Books Read in 2014  | Tagged With: , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Description:

Publisher: Matador (November 26, 2013)
ISBN-13: 978-1780883908
Category: Travel, Adventure Travel, Living & Working Abroad
Tour Dates: March/April, 2014
Available in: Print & ebook, 256 pages

From Luton to Peru to Ningaloo, a Search for Life After Redundancy

Three things happened simultaneously. The lioness charged, Alistair fled across the parched savannah and his wife screamed for him to run faster. Stuffed deep inside his tattered rucksack was a guidebook containing advice on what to do in wildlife emergencies, which he planned to read if he survived the next thirty seconds. Future plans to climb Kilimanjaro, teach English in the Amazon and live in Australia were temporarily forgotten as he turned to face the pouncing lioness, thinking back to the words of advice from his mother-in-law. “Don’t do anything silly, and look after Francine.”

From deep underground in a remote Bolivian mine to the scorched Australian outback, Round the Bend is an adventure travel story. It explores the turbulence of redundancy, the excitement of travel, the anguish of leaving home and the challenges of starting a new life in Australia.

My Thoughts:

When the plant in his home town of Luton, UK closed, Alistair McGuiness and his wife Fran didn’t fret or panic, they rejoiced and made lemonade out of the situation.  First they travelled to remote parts of the world and then immigrated to Australia.

Their first stop was to volunteer in the Amazon for a month.  They cleared out brush to re-forest and Alistair taught English to the village people.  Then the travelled all over South America.  They scaled mountains, went white water rafting, experienced culture, visited the Bolivian salt flats, braved public buses, and even saw where the final stand off was for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

After going back to Luton to pack and say their farewells, they traveled to Africa.  When they were finally ready to go to their final destination, Australia, there was a glitch with immigration for Fran, which sent her to another county on her own.  They both finally made it to Australia, where they still reside.

I haven’t read many travel books but after reading Around the Bend, I certainly want to read more.  I would love to travel one day, while I can still get around unassisted, LOL!  I have never been outside of North America.  I have dreamed of going to Africa since I was a little girl. I would also live to go to Australia and New Zealand.  Parts of Europe would be lovely too.  I’m hoping Bill and I can go somewhere after the house is paid for!

In Round the Bend Alistair shared his travels with the reader in such a way that as times, I felt like I was there.  His writing is poetic and he has a wicked sense of humour.  I found my self laughing out loud many times.  I didn’t want Round the Bend to end.  I hope Alistair and Fran go on more adventures and share them with us.  I LOVED this book!  Highly recommended!

5/5

I received the ebook version for my honest opinion.

To any of my dear readers who have read travel and travel/adventure books, what do you recommend I read next in this genre?  I would love your thoughts on this!

I am giving away one copy of Round the Bend internationally, here.

Buy Round the Bend:

Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble
Book Depository

Mar 14

13

Book Tour & Giveaway: Round The Bend by Alistair McGuinness

Posted by Teddyrose@1 on March 13, 2014
Posted in Book Tours • My Past Giveaways  | Tagged With: , , | 8 Comments

Today it is my pleasure to kick off the book tour for Round the Bend by Alistair McGuinness!  Be sure to watch for my review on March 25th.  I am halfway through the book and LOVING it so far!

Book Description:

Publisher: Matador (November 26, 2013)
ISBN-13: 978-1780883908
Category: Travel, Adventure Travel, Living & Working Abroad
Tour Dates: March, 2014
Available in: Print & ebook, 256 pages

From Luton to Peru to Ningaloo, a Search for Life After Redundancy

Three things happened simultaneously. The lioness charged, Alistair fled across the parched savannah and his wife screamed for him to run faster. Stuffed deep inside his tattered rucksack was a guidebook containing advice on what to do in wildlife emergencies, which he planned to read if he survived the next thirty seconds. Future plans to climb Kilimanjaro, teach English in the Amazon and live in Australia were temporarily forgotten as he turned to face the pouncing lioness, thinking back to the words of advice from his mother-in-law. “Don’t do anything silly, and look after Francine.” From deep underground in a remote Bolivian mine to the scorched Australian outback, Round the Bend is an adventure travel story. It explores the turbulence of redundancy, the excitement of travel, the anguish of leaving home and the challenges of starting a new life in Australia.

About Alistair McGuinness:

Alistair grew up in the UK in a town called Luton, which lies 30 miles north of London. Family holidays were spent in County Donegal, Ireland, staying with his Grandmother in their large family home where she had once raised fifteen children.

It was these annual trips that made Alistair realise his Great Uncles were Seanachaís (Irish story tellers). After a few pints of Guinness in the family bar, brothers Barney and Francis would entertain the evening crowds with their recitations of life in rural Ireland. As their rustic voices carried across the crowded room, Alistair would watch and listen as the animated tales mesmorised the overseas visitors.

44 countries and four decades later, Alistair now calls Australia home and in the tradition of Great Uncles Barney and Francis, loves to recite stories. He lives between the beach and the forest with his wife, two young boys and a fun puppy called Peppi. After decades of adventurous escapades Alistair is calming down and has decided to write more and bungee jump less!

He works as a Business Improvement Specialist and has just spent three years as a fly in fly out employee at a remote iron ore mine site in Western Australia. As a trainer and facilitator, he has worked in Europe and Australia and is passionate about helping people and organisations to become successful.

A fun family day for Alistair would be fishing from the local jetty with his boys, taking the puppy for a walk along the beach at sunset and cooking a scrumptious curry in the evening with his wife.

An ideal adventurous day for Alistair would be a days walking and scrambling in the Lake District with friends, followed by a visit to a village pub nestled deep in the English countryside.

Website: http://www.thecreativenomad.co/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amcguinness1
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/amcguinness1/

Buy Round the Bend:

Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.com
Barnes and Noble
Book Depository

This giveaway is open internationally and the winner will have the choice of print or ebook. This giveaway ends on April 5, 2014.  Please use Rafflecopter to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the Tour:

So Many Precious Books Mar 13 Giveaway & Feature
Crystal’s Many Reviewers Mar 14 Review
Bookalicious Traveladdict Mar 14 Guest Post & Giveaway
I Feel So Unnecessary Mar 17 Review
Reader’s Muse Mar 18 Review
Reader’s Muse Mar 19 Guest Post
Luxury Reading Mar 20 Review & Giveaway
So Many Precious Books Mar 25 Review
I’d Rather Be At The Beach Mar 24 Review
From L.A. to LA Mar 26 Review & Giveaway
Deal Sharing Aunt Mar 27 Review
Deal Sharing Aunt Mar 28 Guest Post
Bless Their Hearts Mom Apr 3 Review & Guest Post
Cassandra M’s Place Apr 4 Review & Giveaway

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