Tag: Bulgaria

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Book Reviews

The Miracle Stork

The Miracle Stork by Ronesa Aveela

Ronesa Aveela’s The Christmas Thief was one of my favourite books of 2015, so I was keen to get my hands on The Miracle Stork, an illustrated story about traditions and customs, though the delights of the book extend well beyond its initial premise.

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The Miracle Stork is about the spring time tradition of the martenitsi, a tradition that is very popular in Bulgaria and with Bulgarians to this day. But you don’t have to be Bulgarian to enjoy this book and it’s story. Indeed, The Miracle Stork covers the wider concept of celebrating your own customs and embracing who you are.

As well as a delightful story, the book also contains a series of beautiful, colourful illustrations, a section on making the martenitsi and penda, and an activity section for younger readers. This is truly a magical book containing a subtle but important message; more than that it is a book of quality brimming with joy.

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Book Reviews

Light Love Rituals

Book Review – Light Love Rituals by Ronesa Aveela

This is a beautiful book in terms of content and presentation. Light Love Rituals is divided into seasons, which makes for easy reading and understanding. The depth of the authors’ research is outstanding, though this is no dry, academic treatise, instead it is a book that grabs and holds your attention on every page.

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Highlights of the book include the views of a fictional family, the Did You Know? text boxes and the beautiful illustrations. Also, there is a recipe section crammed with tasty dishes. I have tried some of these recipes and intend to try more!

Our lives are full of traditions and rituals – many of them pagan – and these traditions and rituals are so ingrained that we take them for granted. By reading about Bulgaria’s traditions you will not only learn more about a fascinating country and its culture but also open your eyes to the traditions that offer a rhythm to our modern lives.

Light Love Rituals is an enchanting book, a delight.

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Hannah's Diary

Plovdiv Video

Some of the locations used in The Hermit of Hisarya
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Sam Smith Mystery Series Sam Smith Private Eye

The Hermit of Hisarya #1

The Hermit of Hisarya, Book Five in the Sam Smith Mystery Series, takes Sam away from her home city to Plovdiv, Bulgaria. There, she uncovers a secret dating back to the Second World War. The secret has implications for the people of today and the trail leads to organised crime and murder. The book is currently available as an eBook with the print and audio book versions to follow in the new year.

Pictured is the Ancient Roman Theatre in Plovdiv, a cultural landmark of the city and a popular attraction for tourists. Partially restored with 3,500 seats the theatre is also used for modern performances. Along with Hisarya, Plovdiv features strongly in The Hermit of Hisarya, including a chapter set in the Ancient Theatre.

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Sam Smith Mystery Series

The Hermit of Hisarya Pre-order

The eBook version of The Hermit of Hisarya is now available for pre-order from Amazon at the special price of $0.99/£0.99. The eBook will be published in December with print and audio book versions to follow in the New Year. Please follow this link for details.

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Some people will stop at nothing in their pursuit of wealth and power. Indeed, the greedy will often resort to murder.

“You’ve been through a stressful time recently,” my fiance, Dr Alan Storey said. “I’m off to Bulgaria to attend a psychology conference so why don’t you accompany me and we’ll throw in a holiday as well.”

Great idea, I thought. However, when I arrived in Bulgaria my inquisitive nature compelled me towards a mystery dating back to the Second World War. That mystery involved Emil Angelov, the Hermit of Hisarya. As I delved into the past I stirred up some ghosts, which led to murder and the prospect of spending the rest of my days in a Bulgarian gaol.

The Hermit of Hisarya – a story of corruption, of murder, of a woman and her seventy-year-old dream, offering proof that the past, the present and the future are all intrinsically entwined.