Sex, Spoons, & Salsa
By: Isla Dennes
When I first seen the title of this
book, I couldn’t help but thought that I read it wrong. Yeah, I know, one track
mind. I thought salsa: as in the sauce. I never said I was perfect, so stop
giggling or rolling your eyes, or whatever it is you do when I make a fool of
myself. Just pretend I didn’t say that. Mmmkay?
Once I started reading though, I was
impressed that a therapist thought of something out of the ordinary for a
patient to do, to try to get them out of a slump. Immediately, that impressed
me. Why? Face it, we have all been in slumps. If only it were that easy to have
someone throw an idea out there that was worth trying. And this one, is fun and
not just that, it’s entertaining, and motivating, and even exercise all at the
same time. How can you go wrong?
Fiona is the main character in this
story, who ends up moving back in with her parents because she was married to a
cheating husband. Now you think about this: first her husband cheats, then she’s
forced to move back home, away from her friends. Now you see why she needs to
see a therapist? She feels like her life is over, and there is just nothing to
live for anymore.
What’s worse, Fiona thinks only nut
cases go to therapy. Famous people, people sucking their thumbs balled up in
the corner, the rich. Not people like her. But her therapist, whose name is
none other than Margarita, tries to assure her after listening to her for quite
some time, therapy can be the answer she is looking for; and explains that
there are different types of things that are in fact ‘therapeutic’ like: salsa
dancing.
Instructed to take dance lessons,
which are supposed to raise her self-esteem, also cause her Scottish father’s
wallet to realize Fiona has begun to drain it, and is threatening his prized
spoon collection monies to foot the bill. But that’s not the best part, Fiona
has three left feet, and suffers from grasping the rhythm.
Thing is though, Fiona’s so-called
friends are in the distance who want to be bothersome, and see if they can
continue to do so. As I was reading, I badly wanted to climb into the pages and
punch them.
Fiona was beginning to get her life
back on track, starting to feel human again, and she could even be seen smiling
from time to time, the way people liked to see her. But her friends, didn’t
seem to like her that way, so from a distance they interfered, and tried to
cause problems. I only wished Fiona could read what I was reading so she knew
what I knew, but unfortunately, she couldn’t.
Now there are secrets and lies going
on, on top of the salsa lessons, and then were going to have a bachelorette
party, and even a wedding, at which point we will see Fiona’s life spiraling
out of control just like her salsa. But the thing is, the truth, is right below
the surface, we just need to hope Fiona can find it, and see it. Because if she
can, then and only then….
Wait what? You wanted me to tell you
everything? Get real, this is a review, not a tell all! You need to get your
own copy!
This is an awesome five-star book.
It is very drama filled, and I loved it, because you never know what was going
to happen next. I would just love to see this in a Movie. I would watch it. I
think it was very entertaining. I could visualize everything, and I loved this
book a lot. I think you will too. It is magnificent! Now, go get your copy, so
you can find out the truth!
Here
are my questions for Isla:
1.What made you write this book and
how long did it take you.
Sex, Spoons & Salsa kind of came
about by accident. I normally start with a random sentence/phrase and just run
with it. Before long the characters come to life and they take over, and that
is when the story really comes to life. With Sex, Spoons & Salsa, by the
time I was a couple of chapters in I was hooked and couldn’t wait to reveal
Fiona’s story and see her life unfold.
Sex, Spoons & Salsa took about
10 months to write in between working and raising a family.
2. Who designed this cover?
The cover was designed by the
wonderful Emmy Ellis of Posh Gosh. Truly an amazing cover artist who captured
the feeling of the book perfectly.
3. Do you have any photos or
descriptions of the characters that you can share with us?
I always feel that as you read a
book and get to know the characters, their physical appearance starts to emerge
in your mind. Everyone’s perception of the characters appearance differs
slightly, which is why I tend to shy away from very detailed descriptions of my
characters. By the end of the book however, readers really get to know the
whole character including the image they have created of them in their mind
4. What are you working on now?
Right now I am working on a series
called the For Heaven’s Sake series. Book one, Heavenly Pleasures is due for
release be Totally Bound books next year and I am currently working on the next
book in the series, Heavenly Desires. They are both comedies which take a look
at the warts and all lives of the characters as they navigate their way through
life’s challenges
Heavenly Pleasures - Blurb
Heavenly
Pleasures follows the story of Brooke, a self-confessed shopaholic, come
reluctant Brothel Receptionist as she stumbles through life trying to live up
to her parents high expectations to the cost of her self-esteem. Who would have
thought a group of Working Girls would help her rediscover her inner strength
to finally tackle her inner demons.
5. What motivates you to write?
I don’t need a lot of motivation to
write. I tend to be quite opinionated and love to put my thoughts and ideas out
there. Once an idea pops into my mind, my brain just runs with it and I have to
say, having fun letting my imagination go wild is the major motivator. Through
my characters, I can go places, do things and experience situations that maybe
wouldn’t happen in the “real world”.
6. If you were to get writers block,
or have ever had it, what do you do for it?
Like everyone, I have on occasion
been struck down with the curse of writers block. My remedy and my advice is
just to write, don’t think too hard, just write. It doesn’t matter if it is
crap, if you delete it a day or week later. Great things come of small
beginnings and gaining momentum is the way to release the creative streams
inside your brain.
7. What suggestions can you offer
for the aspiring writers out there?
Just to write for the love of it.
Write like no one is reading it! Just let your imagination have fun and revel
in the journey of bringing your characters to life, and the thrill of creating
a world where anything is possible. Even if you are the only one who ever reads
it (hopefully not), you will know that you have created something outside of
yourself that will live on long after you have moved on.
8. How long have you been writing?
I have been writing for a long time
in different capacities, about 25 years in fact (I won’t say what age I
started). From poetry, to articles which today would be akin to blogs, to short
stories which evolved eventually into novels.
9. What are your hobbies?
Well apart from reading (naturally)
I love to sculpt and enjoy spending time with my family and in my garden,
growing my own food.
10. Do you put yourself into your
characters?
I think there is a little bit of
every writer in the characters they create. But I do love to explore characters
who are very different from myself.
11. Where is your favorite place to
write?
I need a place with few
distractions. Lately I have been writing at a small café not far from where I
live, but apart from that, I usually write in my comfortable chair away from
any kind of view and preferably without internet as I do tend to get easily side
tracked by social media.
12. Please share with us your social
media and book links:
Sex, Spoons & Salsa by Isla DennesMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
When I first seen the title of this book, I couldn’t help but thought that I read it wrong. Yeah, I know, one track mind. I thought salsa: as in the sauce. I never said I was perfect, so stop giggling or rolling your eyes, or whatever it is you do when I make a fool of myself. Just pretend I didn’t say that. Mmmkay?
Once I started reading though, I was impressed that a therapist thought of something out of the ordinary for a patient to do, to try to get them out of a slump. Immediately, that impressed me. Why? Face it, we have all been in slumps. If only it were that easy to have someone throw an idea out there that was worth trying. And this one, is fun and not just that, it’s entertaining, and motivating, and even exercise all at the same time. How can you go wrong?
Fiona is the main character in this story, who ends up moving back in with her parents because she was married to a cheating husband. Now you think about this: first her husband cheats, then she’s forced to move back home, away from her friends. Now you see why she needs to see a therapist? She feels like her life is over, and there is just nothing to live for anymore.
What’s worse, Fiona thinks only nut cases go to therapy. Famous people, people sucking their thumbs balled up in the corner, the rich. Not people like her. But her therapist, whose name is none other than Margarita, tries to assure her after listening to her for quite some time, therapy can be the answer she is looking for; and explains that there are different types of things that are in fact ‘therapeutic’ like: salsa dancing.
Instructed to take dance lessons, which are supposed to raise her self-esteem, also cause her Scottish father’s wallet to realize Fiona has begun to drain it, and is threatening his prized spoon collection monies to foot the bill. But that’s not the best part, Fiona has three left feet, and suffers from grasping the rhythm.
Thing is though, Fiona’s so-called friends are in the distance who want to be bothersome, and see if they can continue to do so. As I was reading, I badly wanted to climb into the pages and punch them.
Fiona was beginning to get her life back on track, starting to feel human again, and she could even be seen smiling from time to time, the way people liked to see her. But her friends, didn’t seem to like her that way, so from a distance they interfered, and tried to cause problems. I only wished Fiona could read what I was reading so she knew what I knew, but unfortunately, she couldn’t.
Now there are secrets and lies going on, on top of the salsa lessons, and then were going to have a bachelorette party, and even a wedding, at which point we will see Fiona’s life spiraling out of control just like her salsa. But the thing is, the truth, is right below the surface, we just need to hope Fiona can find it, and see it. Because if she can, then and only then….
Wait what? You wanted me to tell you everything? Get real, this is a review, not a tell all! You need to get your own copy!
This is an awesome five-star book. It is very drama filled, and I loved it, because you never know what was going to happen next. I would just love to see this in a Movie. I would watch it. I think it was very entertaining. I could visualize everything, and I loved this book a lot. I think you will too. It is magnificent! Now, go get your copy, so you can find out the truth!
View all my reviews
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