R. William Bennett's Jacob T. Marley - Review

My thoughts

A new year is about new beginnings and that is exactly what happens to Scrooge, as we know from the classic tale, A Christmas Carol, but also for Jacob Marley, the illustrious ex-partner of Scrooge. The man we know so little about...until now. 

Bennett has taken the beloved classic and flipped it so we can see things from Jacob's point of view. Unlike Scrooge, Jacob came from a loving family. What turned him into such a harsh, grasping soul? It's hard to say, but one thing is certain, he was instrumental in turning Scrooge into the same kind of man as himself. In fact, even more so in his greed and unkind nature toward his fellow man. When Marley departs this earth, he repents and realizes what he has done to people, and to Scrooge in particular. This is Jacob's story of redemption on the path to redeeming Scrooge. 

I was very excited to read this book, as A Christmas Carol is one of my favorite books of all time. I am so glad I did. Another classic tale of second chances and how Christmas can be the time for us to forgive and learn and grow, to become better people, to ourselves and those around us. Jacob T. Marley deserves to be on everyone's Christmas reading shelf to be read each year, reminding us of the true meaning of Christmas and really, what being a good person is all about.

About the book

“Marley was dead, to begin with . . .” These chillingly familiar words begin the beloved classic A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Now R. William Bennett rewinds the story and focuses the spotlight on Scrooge’s miserly business partner, Jacob Marley, who was allowed to return as a ghost to warn Scrooge away from his ill-fated path. Why was Marley allowed to return? And why hadn’t he been given the same chance as Ebenezer Scrooge?

Or had he?

Bennett writes in a voice reminiscent of Dickens and has masterfully crafted a story of remorse and redemption, sure to become a Christmas favorite.

A copy of this book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for providing it. 

HFVBT: Spotlight on Susanna Fraser's A Christmas Reunion {Giveaway}

Please join Susanna Fraser as she tours the blogosphere for her Historical Romance Novella, A Christmas Reunion, from November 24-December 12, and be entered to win a $50 Gift Card to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Powell’s.

Publication Date: November 24, 2014
Carina Press
eBook; ASIN B00MTGFB9S
Genre: Historical Romance



READ AN EXCERPT.

Lady Catherine Trevilian and Gabriel Shepherd met in the Earl of Edenwell’s household, he the earl’s bastard nephew adopted as an infant, and she the countess’s highborn niece taken in after being orphaned as a young lady. Though not a suitable match by society’s standards, they fell hopelessly in love – but everything ended when they were caught kissing under the mistletoe. To protect Cat from Gabe’s lowborn charms, the earl bought him an army commission and shipped him out of the country. Catherine eventually accepted an arranged engagement, but never stopped scouring casualty lists for Gabe’s name.

Five years later, Gabe is home on leave for Christmas. Catherine and Gabe quickly learn their feelings have not dimmed – and a forbidden kiss confirms they’ve deepened into passion. But with Cat due to be married in eight days and Gabe still far below her social station, it will take a Christmas miracle for the star-crossed lovers to find happiness…

Praise for Susanna Fraser’s Books
“[Susanna Fraser is] a go-to writer for Regency romance that is actually set in the Regency rather than in that Never-Neverland mash-up that’s been dubbed ‘The Recency’ or ‘Almackistan.’” — Willaful at Karen Knows Best

“This is easily one of the best historical romances I’ve read.” — Romantic Historical Reviews on An Infamous Marriage

“…the romance in this story was very sweet. Sydney was immediately relatable and likeable, because she faced such a serious conflict and wanted to make an ethical decision that would preserve the lives of her loved ones.” — Dear Author on Christmas Past

About the Author
Susanna Fraser wrote her first novel in fourth grade. It starred a family of talking horses who ruled a magical land. In high school she started, but never finished, a succession of tales of girls who were just like her, only with long, naturally curly and often unusually colored hair, who, perhaps because of the hair, had much greater success with boys than she ever did.

Along the way she read her hometown library’s entire collection of Regency romance, fell in love with the works of Jane Austen, and discovered in Patrick O’Brian’s and Bernard Cornwell’s novels another side of the opening decades of the 19th century. When she started to write again as an adult, she knew exactly where she wanted to set her books. Her writing has come a long way from her youthful efforts, but she still gives her heroines great hair.

Susanna grew up in rural Alabama. After high school she left home for the University of Pennsylvania and has been a city girl ever since. She worked in England for a year after college, using her days off to explore history from ancient stone circles to Jane Austen’s Bath.

Susanna lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and daughter. When not writing or reading, she goes to baseball games, sings alto in a local choir and watches cooking competition shows.

For more information please visit Susanna’s website and blog. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Visit other blogs on the tour--Tour Schedule

Twitter Hashtag: #AChristmasReunionBlogTour #AChristmasReunionGiveaway

Twitter Tags: @hfvbt @susannafraser

Giveaway
To enter to win a $50 Gift Card to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Powell’s, please complete the Rafflecopter giveaway form below.

Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm on December 12th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to residents of the US only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion
– Winner have 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

MK McClintock's A Home for Christmas - Book Blast and {Giveaway}

Publication Date: November 5, 2014
Trappers Peak Publishing
eBook; 74 pages
ASIN: B00NE43C0O

Settings: 19th Century Montana, Wyoming, & Colorado
Genre: Christmas Short Stories/Western/Sweet Romance

Includes three historical fiction short stories to delight and entertain this holiday season.

CHRISTMAS MOUNTAIN In search of family she barely knows and adventure she's always wanted, Katherine Donahue is saved from freezing on a winter night in the mountains of Montana by August Hollister. Neither of them expected that what one woman had in mind was a new beginning for them both.

TETON CHRISTMAS Heartache and a thirst for adventure lead McKensie Stewart and her sister to Wyoming after the death of their parents. With the help of a widowed aunt and a charming horse breeder, McKensie discovers that hope is a cherished promise, and there is no greater gift than love.

LILY'S CHRISTMAS WISH Lily Malone has never had a real family or a real Christmas. This holiday season, she might get both. From an orphanage in New York City to the rugged mountains of Colorado, Lily sends out only one wish. But when the time comes, can she give it up so someone else's wish can come true?

Watch the Book Trailer

Praise for A Home for Christmas

“5 stars! I have just finished reading three short stories written by M.K. McClintock, part of her collection A HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. I really enjoyed these charming historical fictions CHRISTMAS MOUNTAIN, TETON CHRISTMAS and LILY’S CHRISTMAS WISH!” – Nicole Laverdure

"Heart-warming and inspiring." - Kat Cambron

"A delightful collection of stories sure to warm any reader's heart." - Elizabeth Loftus

Pre-Order the eBook

Amazon | Kobo

About the Author

MK McClintock is the author bestselling historical western romance and award-nominated historical romantic mystery. She spins tales of romance and adventure inspired by the heather-covered hills of Scotland and the majestic mountains of home. With her heart deeply rooted in the past and her mind always on adventure, she lives and writes in Montana.

Learn more about MK by visiting her website and blog. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

A Home for Christmas Book Blast Schedule

Monday, November 3
Literary Chanteuse

Tuesday, November 4
Unshelfish

Wednesday, November 5
Book Nerd
The True Book Addict

Thursday, November 6
So Many Books, So Little Time

Friday, November 7
Bibliotica
Let Them Read Books

Monday, November 10
Susan Heim on Writing

Tuesday, November 11
What Is That Book About

Wednesday, November 12
Historical Fiction Connection

Friday, November 14
Passages to the Past

Giveaway

To enter to win the following prizes, please complete the form below. Giveaway ends on November 14th at 11:59pm EST. One winner per giveaway item.

- PB Trilogy of the Montana Gallagher Series + Woolrich Rough Rider Throw (Open to US residents only) - Ebook Trilogy of the Montana Gallagher Series (International)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

End of the Year 2013 Read-a-Thon #ReadingCram

Jenny from Juliababyjen's Reading Room and Dana at Dana Square are hosting the End of the Year Read-a-Thon from December 9 through 22. I'm a bit late to the party, but everyone knows I simply cannot turn down a read-a-thon. HaHa!

I'll mostly be focusing on Christmas reads, including two I have already started....

Winter Solstice, Rosamunde Pilcher
The Snowman Maker, Barbara Briggs Ward

I may try to squeeze in a couple of review books (???) and I need to finish Catching Fire.

My final words...Yay for longer read-a-thons!!!

Melissa Ann Goodwin shares the story behind her books, The Christmas Village and Return to Canterbury {plus Giveaway}

Originally posted at The Christmas Spirit...

Michelle was kind enough to invite me to visit as part of the Sharing the Joy event – so thank you so much, Michelle. I’ve been a guest here before, when my first book, The Christmas Village launched in 2011. Well, I’ve written a sequel called, Return to Canterbury, which will be released (knocking wood and crossing fingers, toes and eyes) by mid-December.

Both books are set against the backdrop of holidays. In The Christmas Village, it’s Christmas of course, and in Return to Canterbury, it’s the Fourth of July.

Why did I do that? Well, it was always a given for me that I’d write a book that takes place at Christmas because I have such vivid memories of childhood Christmases growing up in New England. In my mind, those holidays are preserved like Currier and Ives images, complete with snow-covered ground, fresh cut greens on the mantel, carolers at the door, wood fires in the hearth and candles in the window. Those memories create in me such a longing for days gone by and for a return to the innocence and magic of it all. Using Christmas as a backdrop for my story adds an emotional tug that makes our young hero Jamie’s adventure more intense and his longing for home more heart-wrenching. Wanting to be home for Christmas is what The Christmas Village is all about.

At first I didn’t want to write a sequel to The Christmas Village. After a while though, and with much prodding from my readers, I decided that I too, wanted to visit with our characters and the town of Canterbury again. But I didn’t want to repeat myself by setting the next story at Christmas.

Today you’re among the first to read the story summary for Return to Canterbury.

First time cover reveal!!!

Here it is:

Things have settled down for thirteen-year-old Jamie Reynolds since last Christmas. That’s when he time-traveled to 1932 and wound up in the town of Canterbury, Vermont. There he met Kelly and Christopher Pennysworth, who quickly became his best friends. Back in his own time again, he misses them every day. But as the July 4th, 2008 holiday approaches, the biggest black cloud still hovering over Jamie’s life is the mystery of what happened to his dad, who has been missing for almost a year.

Little does Jamie know that he will soon reunite with Kelly and Christopher for an adventure even bigger than their last. Together they’ll uncover a secret plot that threatens to destroy Canterbury. But will they be able to stop it before it’s too late? And will Jamie finally solve the mystery of his father’s disappearance? Return to Canterbury with us and find out!

So why did I choose the Fourth of July as the setting for Return to Canterbury? Because I also have fond memories of summer events in my town, like our Sidewalk Bazaar, Clown Town and Fourth of July fireworks. In Return to Canterbury, I was able to combine all those events into a July 4th backdrop.

Both stories are adventures in which Jamie and his friends Kelly and Christopher come up against villains who threaten their family, friends and their beloved town of Canterbury. The action plays out as the days leading up to each holiday unfold, heightening the urgency and intensifying both what’s happening and how we feel about what’s happening. I hope that you will enjoy my books, the characters and your visit to the fictitious, yet very-real-to-me town of Canterbury, as much as I enjoyed writing them.

When released in December, Return to Canterbury will be available in paperback and e-book for Kindle from Amazon.com and in all digital formats from Smashwords.

There is also a Goodreads Giveaway for Return to Canterbury that can be found HERE


The Christmas Village is already available in all formats from Amazon and Smashwords. Here are all the links:

The Christmas Village Facebook Page

Amazon Link to The Christmas Village

Smashwords Link to The Christmas Village

The Christmas Village on Goodreads

My Author Blog

YouTube Video Book Trailer

Read my review of The Christmas Village HERE.

GIVEAWAY! Follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Wednesdays on the Trail(er)--The Christmas Village and The Reindeer Keeper (6)

***You will find the music player in the right sidebar and there you may turn off the auto play music before enjoying the trailer***

Weekly feature showcasing a favorite or newly discovered book trailer every week.  Also, cross hosted over at Castle Macabre with the only difference being that horror/speculative movie trailers will also be featured since CM is technically a horror (speculative fiction) book/movie review site.  Please feel free to join in every week, if you would like.  I hope you enjoy it!

This week, I have an extra special Wednesday trailer, actually two.  These are two wonderful Christmas books I read and reviewed a few months ago.  Today, I'm including their trailers and my reviews of the books.  Enjoy!

My thoughts:

The Christmas Village is a delightful holiday story geared toward middle grade readers.  However, this is a book the entire family will enjoy.  Not only is the story an adventure, it also contains a message of love, friendship, and forgiveness.  The nostalgic times of Christmases past, when villages and towns gathered in the town on Christmas Eve for celebration and companionship, the portrayal of the depression era and how people banded together to help each other in hard times...these elements are all present here and it's a refreshing and comforting read, perfect for reading at Christmas time, reminding us just what the Christmas spirit is all about.  

My thoughts:
Dear authors, if you write a book that brings me to tears, it automatically earns a must-read (5 stars on Goodreads) recommendation.  Barbara has done it! I have not read such a touching, heartfelt Christmas book since one of my favorites, The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans.  She has touched on so many of the things that resonate with me.  Family, having two sons and dealing with how fast they grow and wondering where the time goes, the traditions and spirit of Christmas, and the importance of believing.  I recognized so much of myself in Abbey.  Her willingness to believe in the magic of Christmas is so like me.  I'm sure that's why I identify with the book so well, but even if you do not identify yourself with the characters (but you just might), you will still love this book.

I must touch on another wonderful aspect of the book and that is the cover and inside illustrations by Suzanne Langelier-Lebeda.  They are so wonderful and they really make the book even more special.  (they are beautifully showcased in the trailer above)

I must warn you...this book will make you cry, but it will also make you laugh and it will make you remember your family traditions and hopes. I really can't recommend this book highly enough. It has earned a permanent spot on my Christmas book shelves and I know I will read it again and again for many years to come. Thank you, Barbara, for this wonderful book. <3

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season!

Cat Thursday...Christmas: Authors and their Cats (6)

Welcome to the weekly meme that celebrates the wonders and sometime hilarity of cats! Join us by posting a favorite LOL cat pic you may have come across, famous cat art or even share with us pics of your own beloved cat(s). It's all for the love of cats! Enjoy! (share your post in the Mr. Linky below)

The second Cat Thursday of each month is Authors and their Cats Thursday.  Each time I will feature an author and their cat(s).  Today I have for you....

I chose mystery author, Shirley Rousseau Murphy, because she has several Christmas themed books in her mystery series, which, of course, feature cats.  She has written (and edited) other Christmas titles as well.  I have not read her books, but I will definitely be checking them out now that I found out about her.  I've included some cover images of her Christmas books below.

Christmas Reading Challenges!

Okay, so although I've already started reading my Christmas books, I'm just now officially signing up for my own reading challenge! Yeah, I'm pretty much late for everything.  It's the cross I bear. =O(

Here are the levels for The Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge.  You can read all the rest of the details HERE.
            --Candy Cane:  read 1 book

            --Mistletoe:  read 2-4 books
            --Christmas Tree:  read 5 or 6 books (this is the fanatic level...LOL!)
          Additional levels:
            --Fa La La La Films:  watch a bunch or a few Christmas movies...it's up to you!
            --Visions of Sugar Plums:  read books with your children this season and share what you read
          *the additional levels are optional, you still must complete one of the main reading levels above

I'll be reading at the Christmas tree level and will be doing Fa la la la films and Visions of sugar plums levels too! Here are some of the books I'll be reading:


I actually already finished and reviewed The Nine Lives of Christmas by Sheila Roberts today.  Read my review HERE.

There will probably be other selections added to this list or swapped out.  Never know where the mood will take me!

I'm also overlapping with this challenge:


Christmas in July in Dec., hosted by Wall-to-Wall Books  Here are the details:

So here's the challenge -
*During the month of December to read only Christmas books (or as many as you can) there is no set number as to how many Christmas books you have to read. Read at least one and post about it.
*To do giveaways involving Christmas books (I have quite a few planned!) Please do at least one Christmas book giveaway for the challenge.

My first giveaway - is any Christmas book from Amazon under $10.00 - I will have it shipped to your house! You have till Nov. 30th to sign up.
Winner will be chosen and announced on Dec. 1st.
And Reading Challenge will begin Dec. 1st.
*This giveaway is for Bloggers only!
*Any Blogger who signs up to do "Christmas in July, in Dec.", and posts about it, will be entered!

Sign up HERE.

Since I'm already doing a giveaway for my challenge and I'm doing another Christmas event with another blogger with a giveaway, I have that covered! However, I will not be able to read only Christmas books, as I have a few review obligations.  But, as you can see above, I'm still planning on doing a lot of holiday reading. =O)

Book Tour: Review of The Nine Lives of Christmas by Sheila Roberts

My thoughts:
Give me a book with a cat and Christmas in it and it's a surefire bet that I'm going to like it.  The Nine Lives of Christmas is a lovely Christmas tale told partially from a cat's point of view.  The cat is named Ambrose and he is a yellow tabby who is on his last life.  Ambrose is so engaging.  Sheila really captured what most of us cat lovers know about cats...little lovers with attitude.  I enjoyed the parts featuring Ambrose best, with his inner monologue all focused on how he is going to achieve a long and comfortable ninth life.  Of course, some matchmaking is in order.  It wouldn't be a Christmas story unless there was a little romance thrown in.

I was afraid at first that this book might end up very sad.  It seems that a lot of the stories featuring animals often do.  Luckily, this book filled the bill of a fun and heartwarming Christmas tail (tale...sorry, had to use Sheila's witticism) that just adds to the fun and magic of the season.  Thank goodness Nicholas Sparks doesn't write Christmas books.

If you love Christmas themed books, you will really enjoy this book.  I know it has become part of my permanent Christmas book collection and, I'm sure, will get a reread in Christmases to come!



About the book:
Bestselling author Sheila Roberts brings us a humorous, heartwarming Christmas novel about a matchmaking cat who brings a couple together just in time for the holidays.

When a guy is in trouble, he starts making deals with his Creator…and Ambrose the cat is no exception. In danger of losing his ninth and final life, Ambrose makes a desperate plea. He’ll do anything—anything!—if he can just survive and enjoy a nice long, final life. His prayer is answered when a stranger comes along and saves him, and now it looks like he has to hold up his end of the bargain.

The stranger turns out to be a fire fighter named Zach, the quintessential commitment- phobe who’s in need of some serious romantic help. If Ambrose can just bring Zach together with Merilee, the nice lady who works at Pet Palace, it’s bound to earn him a healthy ninth life. Unfortunately for Ambrose, his mission is a lot harder than he ever anticipated. Now it’s going to take all his feline wiles—and a healthy dose of Christmas magic—to bring them all together in time for the holidays. (Goodreads)

About the author:

Writing since 1989, Sheila Roberts has had 26 books published, both fiction and nonfiction, under different names. Her books have been chosen for book clubs, Readers Digest Condensed books, and her popular novel ON STRIKE FOR CHRISTMAS was made into a movie and appeared on the Lifetime Movie Network. Her novel ANGEL LANE was named one of Amazon’s Top Ten Romances for 2009.

However, before she settled into her writing career, she did lots of other things, including owning a singing telegram company and playing in a band. Writing and helping others to find ways to better themselves are her greatest passions and her popular newsletter SUPER YOU, is dedicated to helping women improve their lives.

When she’s not making public appearances or playing with her friends, she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.

Sheila Roberts lives in the Pacific Northwest. She’s happily married and has three children.

Visit Sheila:  Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Disclosure:  I recevied a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from Pump Up Your Book! I received no monetary compensation.  

STILL ONE MORE DAY TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY!

Want to win 3 or 2 or 1 of these books?  The Sharing the Joy Christmas Book Extravaganza giveaway over at my Christmas blog is still open, until tomorrow night, 1/6/11, at 11:59 pm CT.  Go HERE to enter and good luck!

CHRISTMAS BOOK REVIEW: SANTA AND THE LITTLE TEDDY BEAR BY PETER JOHN LUCKING

This is a cross point from my Christmas blog, The Christmas Spirit , from September 2010.

SANTA AND THE LITTLE TEDDY BEAR--Written & Illustrated by PETER JOHN LUCKING (released Oct 2010)

COVER IMAGE

I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this book. I read it with my sons (ages 7 and 8) and it was such a fun experience. The story is about a sad little teddy bear that never gets bought from the toy shop and so he never gets to make a child happy on Christmas day. He is very sad about it and it's looking like this Christmas will be the same...until Santa shows up. The teddy bear accompanies Santa on his Christmas Eve journey delivering presents to little children around the world. Along the way, the teddy bear learns about self-esteem and self-discovery and finding a way to be happy in the world. Interlaced throughout the story are lyrics of traditional Christmas carols and then there are pages with the entire lyrics of the songs for singing along with the family. Also, each stop that Santa makes is in a diffenrent country so we learn about new places and cultures. There is even the story of the Nativity and the Immaculate Conception. For me, the piece de resistance of this book were the wonderful illustrations. They are absolutely gorgeous (I've included a few here...aren't they beautiful?).

This book would make a wonderful addition to any family's holiday book collection. Not only does it help us recognize the spirit of Christmas, but it also helps us to celebrate and enjoy the beauty of Christmas and learn a few important lessons along the way.

Thank you to Peter for allowing me to read and reviw his wonderful book!

About the book:

Dedicated to the children of the world.

Love, Peace, and Joy to All!

A magical ride with Santa and the reindeer takes a teddy bear on a whirlwind adventure to become a special Christmas gift.

Get ready! It’s Christmas Eve! Free your spirit, fly around the world with magic transportation on this epic action-packed adventure roller coaster ride.

Visit exotic places, far beyond Woop Woop and the Black Stump. Encounter strange creatures and cultures and sing along with the characters in an enchanted unforgettable ride.

Book 2, Coming Soon--SANTA AND THE LITTLE TEDDY BEAR: THE MYSTERY OF THE MISSING LETTERS

Visit the WEBSITE to learn more and if you'd like to purchase a copy.

Merry Christmas!

MAILBOX MONDAY

MAILBOX MONDAY...a weekly shindig which was created by Marcia at The Printed Page and is now on monthly blog tours.  This month is being hosted by Julie at Knitting and Sundries.

(CLICK ON TITLES FOR BOOK DESCRIPTIONS ON GOODREADS) 

In the Mail:

Won:

She Thief by Daniel Finn...from Mavie at The Bookologist

Frankenstein's Monster by Susan Heyboer O'Keefe...this was kind of a win from J. Kaye's ARC Group, Pass It On, on Goodreads

For Review:

Santa & The Little Teddy Bear by Peter John Lucking...I reviewed the PDF version of this book on my Christmas blog, The Christmas Spirit, and the author sent me a signed hard copy for my boys when it released! Watch for my review here after Thanksgiving.

Purchased:

from BOMC2:

Everything Christmas by David Bordon & Tom Winters

from library sale:

My monthly library sale had a half price sale this month (and next month)! Less than $20 for all of these lovelies!!!

Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay

Ysabel by Guy Gavriel Kay

Lady Macbeth by Susan Fraser King

Luncheon of the Boating Party by Susan Vreeland

The Briar King by Greg Keyes

The Holding by Merilyn Simonds

The Love Knot by Elizabeth Chadwick

Jane Austen and her Times, 1775-1817 by Geraldine Edith Mitton

A Christmas Beginning by Anne Perry

Christmas in Plains by Jimmy Carter...this isn't the actual cover. I got the green collector's edition with gold embossed spine and gold-edged pages...gorgeous!

The Christmas Scrapbook: A Harmony Story by Philip Gulley

The Gift of Christmas Present by Melody Carlson

Picture Books:

Finding Christmas by Helen Ward

Santa's Twin by Dean Koontz

The Christmas Day Kitten by James Herriott

The Church Mice at Christmas by Graham Oakley