Author: soniabellhouse

Sonia Bellhouse loves writing and reading stories with a ‘happily ever after ’ending. She believes we all need love in our lives. Sonia writes Regency and Viking steamy romances. Her book Fire & Ice is a contemporary and Viking romance, with plans to reissue. She’s a member of Romance Writers of Australia. An ex-pat Brit, Sonia happily calls Australia home. She will always ignore the ironing in favour of playing with her cats. You can find her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/soniabellhouse.author/ Or her Chatting with Authors page https://www.facebook.com/groups/1031642857187598

Which Books Made My February Reading List?

A long, hot summer- one with plenty of reading time

I read nine books this month, a mix of fiction and non-fiction. Often a serious book will prompt me to choose something lighter to read or I will pick a non-fiction book instead.

Does your own reading follow a pattern or do you choose books at random?

In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende

Three people brought together by chance, in a snowstorm. Richard, a university professor, Evelyn, an undocumented migrant from Guatemala and Lucia, a visiting Chilean academic, she is also Richard’s tenant.

Each has past filled with secrets and heartache. They form an unlikely alliance to help Evelyn who was involved in a minor car accident with Richard. Terrified she can hardly speak as she faces a major problem.Her problem involves them in something far more serious than anticipated. In spite of some bleak events, this is a life-affirming and inspiring book. I won a copy of In the Midst of Winter in a giveaway but there was no obligated to write a review

. 5:2Vegetarian by Celia Brooks

5 2 Vegetarain While I am not a vegetarian, I don’t eat a lot of meat, so this book appealed to me. With recipes for easy fast day meals, speedy breakfasts and simple snacks, the book was just what I was looking for. There is a section on convenience foods and packed lunches, with suggestions for how the recipes in the book can be used as packed lunches. All in all a practical and useful book. I borrowed this book from the library

The Romance Reader’s Guide to Life by Sharon Pywell.

The Romance Readers Guiee to Life

This is a book that is quite hard to categorise, in fact, it’s a bit of a genre-busting book. The cover although brilliant is slightly misleading as it conveys the promise of a romance.The story concerns, ghosts, history, domestic violence, entrepreneurship, the relationships between siblings, a murder and a pirate tale. There is a parallel storyline between the supposedly real-life events involving the two sisters and the romance storyline. In a sense, I felt that the title was deceptive in its promise of “romance”. The romance was certainly there, but the author delivered another and more complex and darker version of what life and romance might be. I would certainly be interested in reading another of her book.This book was one that I bought.

Jenna’s Truth by Nadia L King

The book was written in response to the tragic suicide of Amanda Todd a US teenager who was bullied to death.Jenna’s Truth is a powerful story, which is very relevant for today’s’ teens and their concerned parents.

Written in the first person it feels very authentic. When Jenna is befriended by the popular girl at school she doesn’t question why, as this is her dream come true. Tina’s aim is to lull Jenna into a false sense of security and then to betray her trust.The casual cruelty of the situation is well depicted. Driven by desperation Jenna feels that she has nowhere to turn.

This is a book that should be widely read and its message shared, to speak out against bullying and that there are things that can be done to stop the spread of bullying.In addition to the story itself, the book has pages of resources against bullying and cyberbullying, discussion questions and activities. For international readers, there is a glossary of Australian terms.

The Hairy Dieters Eat for Life by Si King and Dave Myers

One look at the cover photo will show how well the boys have succeeded in losing weight. The recipes are colourful and tasty and they should appeal to the man in your life.Unless you are eating one meal a day they may be mostly too high in calories for using with 5;2 or the Fast diet. Eat for Life would be good to use to on non-fasting days to keep your calorie count in check.

The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth

Things that we keep — Image from Good reads.

Although the book tackles potentially depressing topics –such as young age Alzheimer’s disease and the aftermath of fraud and suicide, it is not a depressing read. In parts, the story felt reminiscent of Lisa Genova’s Still Alice as Anna, writes herself journal entries to try and retain a sense of who she is.

Anna Forster is only thirty-eight and worked as a paramedic so she knows the outcome of her disease only too well. Now, she is a resident of RosalindHouse, an assisted living facility. Jack, her twin chose it because there is another young resident.

Eve, Bennett has come to Rosalind House as the cook, a far cry from her easy life of wealth and privileged, as a pampered wife. Her circumstances have changed and she has an important motive for being there.

The story has a parallel structure with Eve and Anna telling their own stories, I found it was easy to read and it kept me turning the pages.

But, the author left Anna and Luke, (the two young age Alzheimer sufferers,) still functioning and maintaining a sense of their own personalities. So while their final outcome was spelt out, the book did not go there. A thought-provoking book.

Million Love Songs by Carole Matthews

Million Love Songs HAchette — Image Good reads

After a marriage breakup and a blow to her self-esteem, Ruby Brown wants to start a new life. Forget love and commitment, it’s time for Ruby to let her hair down and have some fun.

Although her friend Charlie warns Ruby about Mason Sloan ( aka Shagger Sloan) and their boss. Ruby enjoys flirting with him. He’s a charmer and an outrageous flirt and his bad boy reputation doesn’t hurt either.

Then there is Joe, her diving instructor who is good looking, caring, friendly but with serious baggage, An ex-wife, who he is technically still married to and two teenage children,

Having the two such different men in her life Ruby is spoilt for choice.Can she tame bad boy Mason? Does she want to? Will Joe see her as more than a casual friend? Is she ready to take on his surly children?

Charlie her best friend and huge Take That! fan swoons over Gary Barlow, it’s far safer than getting involved with a real-life man, one who could hurt you. Ruby’s emotions sway in favour of one and then the other. Her love life has never been busier or her heart so torn.

Nevermoor; The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

NeverMoor image Hachette — image Hachette

While I am not the intended readership of this book, it’ss for primary school aged children ) I enjoyed it very much. I feel it is probably more advanced than most primary aged readers and at 448 pages it is quite a long read. I suggest its more for a mid-grade readership, perhaps 11+

Who could resist reading about Morrigan Crow who is cursed? She is an unusual but relatable character and the concept and ideas of the story worked well. Although it’s a longish book I never felt that the story dragged

Transported to an unfamiliar world Morrigan has the protection of Jupiter North, who proves to be an erratic and eccentric guardian.But without him, she knows that she would be dead.

She learns that in order to remain in Nevermoor she has to face four trials. She feels ill-equipped to handle even one and the mysterious Jupiter isn’t exactly helping.

For an older reader, there are plenty of oblique references to our world, which are likely to amuse you. I particularly liked the reference to the Gobleian library. A second book in the series planned for release in 2018 and I am sure many fans will be looking out for it.

Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun by Victoria Laurie.

This is part of a series of books written by real-life psychic Victoria Laurie.It’s not the first book in this series, but it is the first one that I picked up and it can easily be read as a stand-alone.

Its a fast and easy read, with a mixture of humour and suspense. M.J Holliday is talked into appearing on a TV show by Gilly her business partner The show is being promoted as a cross between The Antiques Roadshow and Ghostbusters. MJ and other psychics will sense what the objects handed to them have to say.

They are staying in ‘the most haunted hotel in San Francisco’. It is obvious that more than a TV show has to happen. So a murder and an apparent suicide, a portal, and a demon are all in the days work for MJ. and Heath the fellow psychic that she is working with.

The first two-thirds of the book engaged me, the last third less so. It felt a bit rushed and my suspicions about certain characters proved to be correct.

Do any of my choices appeal to you? What have you been reading this month? I’d love to know!

What Watching Ice Dancing Taught Me About Writing.

Over the last few weeks, I have been watching The International SkatingUnion Ice Dance Competitions. In the midst of an Australian Summer, it has been a delightful cool change., relaxing to mind and body.

In the last couple of days, I have been watching the crème de la crème of the skating world as they competed in the Olympics. Beyond the costumes and the glamour, these skaters are dedicated athletes practising hundreds of hours to achieve perfection.

Ice dancing - Skeeze cc. — Image Wikipedia.

At first, what fascinated me was how much emotion can be conveyed by body movements and facial expressions. The skaters told a story without using words.

For a writer, one who values words it created a paradox, how could this be? The more I watched the more I understood that they and I could convey a mood through body language.

As writers we are always being told to ‘show not tell’, and here it was in action, the skaters were conveying emotion,

Skaters cannot glide gracefully across the ice unless they are willing to accept the possibility of falling.

Writers cannot improve, unless they are willing to push past failure and go on to succeed.

Grace on the ice comes after gruelling hours of practice. Why do we expect writing to be any different? We too have to learn our craft, to be brave and to risk failure.

Ice dancing

After watching a few less than dignified falls I also realised that skaters are prepared to fail in public, in the pursuit of their dream. Falls can be an issue for skaters potentiality causing serious injuries. Even if not injured, a fall can upset the flow of a good performance.But skaters have resilience, If they fall, they mentally shrug it off and get back up and keep skating. It’s a blip and not a disaster.

Writers hit a bit of stumbling block in the privacy of their own minds and so many of us just stop. Just as skaters cannot glide gracefully across the ice unless they are willing to accept the possibility of falling. Writers cannot improve, unless they are willing to push past failure and go on to succeed.

Grace on the ice comes after gruelling hours of practice. Why do we expect writing to be any different? We too have to learn our craft, to be brave and to risk failure.

Books I read in January 2018

I read nine boosk this month but I only reviewed eight.

February already! January flew by in a flash, and it was a busy month, as I expect it was for many people. I started a diet ( the 5:2 or Fast diet). I also prepared a submission for an Arts festival and also did a short online writing course.

Our TV schedule provided me with plenty of opportunities to read, I managed to read nine books this month. I am only reviewing eight of them because I gave myself permission to abandon one book., so I don’t feel it is fair to comment on that.

Image coverdesign Pixababy public domian BOOKS — image pixababy.

Vasilisa The Wise and Other Tales of Brave Young Women by Kate Forsyth illustrated by Lorena Carrington

Vasilisa-cover

A beautifully presented book and one with an uplifting message- that girls can do just about anything, Having read and loved all of the Andrew Lang Coloured Fairy Books, I suppose that I was a natural fit for this book. It did not disappoint me.The tales are all little-known folk-tales, which are retold sympathetically by Kate Forsyth.Adding to the charm of the book are the delightful and almost magical illustrations by Lorena Carrington.You will probably want to keep a copy for yourself, but this book would make a wonderful gift for most teenage girls.

The Other Woman by Laura Wilson

The Other Woman

A domestic noir that left me virtually on the edge of my seat.The Other Woman completely subverts a reader’s expectations, at the same time providing shocks and surprises in plenty. It kept up the pacing and the growing tension. Best of all, it did feel completely plausible. It was easy to project yourself into Sophie’s enviable life and then its gradual disintegration. Surprises up to the very last page. An author I will look out for.

The 5.2 Diet By Kate Harrison.

Easy to read and very practical, this book is based on Michael Mosley’s The Fast Diet. In it, Kate Harrison explains how the diet changed her way of eating and how it worked for her.Part one also contains the scientific information that underpins the diet. Part two tells personal experiences and shares recipes and food ideas. Easy to follow and encouraging. Brands listed are UK ones.

A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan

A Secret History fo Witches

A big book of 484 pages which spans the times from 1821 to 1937 and follows the lineage of one family the Orchieres. When they are forced to flee from France the family settled in Cornwall. Their secret is of course that one of them is a witch. The craft is passed from generation to generation, with each daughter facing her own challenges, needs and desires.Equally not all mother-daughter relationships are shown to be perfect.

For me personally, its pacing felt a little slow, until I got to 1886, midway through the book. Then I raced through the rest of the story, feeling a deepening connection with each of the women. There were some surprising developments in 1937 onward, which added to the veracity of the book. The author has chosen to use pseudonym and dedicated the book to her mother, which could add to the intrigue, If you have the patience this is an enjoyable read,

The Other Side of the Season by Jenn J. McLeod.

The Other Side of the Season

I find dual timeline stories intriguing and in reading this one I felt as though I had hit the jackpot. Both the times that were chosen were interesting, the 1970s and the present day.For me, the characters were real., flawed and complex. Some were instantly relatable while others were harder to appreciate. This book played with my emotions( in a good way) as I cared about the characters. It was one of those books that I both wanted to finish and equally one that I didn’t want to end. The landscape is a part the appeal but the book is never bogged down by description. Its Jenn J McLeod’s best book yet.

River Road by Carol Goodman

. River Road

An almost literary thriller. I enjoyed it but anyone who expects a fast-paced read will find it too slow for their taste. Professor Nan Lewis is a college creative writing lecturer who might have hit and killed a student as she returned from a year-end party. Nan’s private life has been a mess since the tragic death of her young daughter six years earlier. She turns up for class and teaches and grades student’s papers but increasingly is drinking more and more. Could she have done it and not remember? And if she didn’t, then who did?

Gifts for Our Time by Anna Jacobs.

Gifts for our time Anan Jcobs

The final book in the Rivenshaw series. Although you could read it as a stand-alone novel as all the major plot points are covered.Set in post-war Britain with its privations and shortages, Gifts for Our Time is an enjoyable read. Jacobs skilfully draws the many threads of the previous books together, and also adds new characters, this book is a worthy conclusion to the series

Disclaimer . I won a copy of the book in a giveaway, but was not required to write a review.

Should You Take The Off Ramp?

“Alas for those that never sing, but die with the music in them.” Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Singer Unsplash — Nightmatic from Unsplash

You have a goal, one that matters to you. One that you secretly would love to accomplish and yet, you never manage to achieve it.

WHY?

In my experience, it’s because you took the off-ramp.The diversion and you ignored the sign that said WRONG WAY. GO BACK Instead you went ahead and forgot the route that you had planned for yourself.The one taking you one step closer to achieving a goal. You allowed yourself to be diverted And there are lots of diverting things out there. TV, movies, friends, books,

Perhaps you told yourself “I can do it later,” or maybe even “it’s not so important.”

Deep down though you know that you shortchanged yourself. You let yourself down, again.You let yourself off easy.

It matters, especially when it is a goal that no-one else can achieve for you. No one else can exercise at the gym for you. Or can lose weight for you, it is you personally who have to put in the effort.

You want to write a book? Lot’s of people do want to have their name on a book. Someone could ghostwrite a book for you, but will that satisfy you? It would not satisfy me.If I publish a book I want it to be my own work.

We get in our own way. We do take the off-ramp.

Detour - JAmie Street Unspash — by Jamie Street Unsplash.

I believe it’s a self-protective mechanism, if we never try, then we never fail.

We fear failure, but perhaps we fear success even more.If we do nothing then we can keep dreaming our dreams and never have to do anything about them.

Are you happy with that? This year I am aiming to do more and to reach for my dreams. If I don’t succeed, I will at least have tried.

Question to Ask Yourself at Year’s End

One word for 2018 what will it be?

Time for a bit of self-reflection?

Did you do what you said you would this year?

Did you keep the promises that you made to yourself and to others?

Are you nearer your goal?

Are you proud of what you have achieved this year?

Did you use this precious year wisely?

OR did you fritter your time away?

For many of us, the end of the year is both a time of celebration, but also for self-reflection. Sparkler from Unspalsh

CHANGE BEGINS IN YOUR THOUGHTS.

I was already considering what I had achieved this year when a prompt popped up on my Facebook feed from Karen McDermott of Serenity Press 2018 Norwood themes She asked a simple question.’ What is your word for 2018?’

The idea was to choose a single word that included all the concepts and things that you wanted to achieve in the next twelve months. Many people had replied with their word choice and many of their words resonated with me. Yet,none seemed exactly right

It nagged away at me, I kept reading and thinking ,but my perfect word eluded me . It simmered away in my brain as words were tried and then discarded. While I applauded other people’s choices, no one word felt right to me.

My word appeared when I was writing my early morning pages. I noted down a few words, Progressing, Enjoying, Completing. And then suddenly I thought’ I need to focus,’ and there it was , my perfect word

focus-definition-means-explanation-sense-concentration-indicating-focused-46493786

Focus, to pay close attention

So focus on I want to achieve in my writing and in my personal life.

Reflecting on this year, it was easy to see that I had not focused .Instead, I had done things that appealed to me without asking do they further my ultimate goals?

So this year my writing focus is on completing the first draft of my novel and then editing it. After that? Who knows?

My personal focus is one shared by many, improving my health by losing weight. I haven’t been paying attention and it shows. Time to get back on track.

Will you choose Focus as your word of the year , or does something different appeal? Please let me know.

wallpaper.wiki-Free-Download-Focus-Backgrounds-PIC-WPB004440

Are You Being Productive Or Just Busy?

Some good questions to ask yourself are

Am I doing what I want to do? Am I getting closer towards my goal?

4c1ce58e0831af4f20b1c7389380e433 — Image Pinterest

Should I have a goal? The answer to the last question, by the way, is YES.

The Cheshire Cat in Alice In Wonderland gave Alice this advice

3bf2190008c336d74e1f95552a0c2181 — The Cheshire Cat image Pinterest

At the beginning of 2017, I made a list of the things I wanted to achieve with my writing, and as the year draws to a close I am reviewing it and assessing it. Here’s what I discovered.

The Good: I achieved far more than I originally intended

The Bad: While I did far more than previous years, I was not specific enough.

The Ugly Truth: I am no further towards my goal than I was at the beginning of the year

How did this happen?At the start of the year, I made a list of practical things I could do to extend my writing. Then the list held nine items, one of which was to start a blog.

At years end the list had grown to sixteen items, as I added things I thought would be interesting or fun to do.Everything on the list depended on me doing something. The only actions that I can control are my own. I cannot make readers or editors like my work. My task is to write and to improve and not try to second guess what others will think.

What did I achieve? I wrote a novella, a long short story, an 8-word story, I submitted to a couple of magazines, took some courses, attended some author talks and a writing convention and completed National Novel In Month.

A lot you might think BUT I haven’t done much to achieve my real goal of completing a novel and getting it published. I have been busy, very busy and in one sense productive, but I have not got any nearer to my goal.

I scattered my efforts, and now I know this I intend to make another list for 2018. It will have fewer items but a bigger goal to finally write that book! The book that I have wanted to write for so long, but hesitated to do so. I am giving myself permission to try.

What do you want to achieve in 2018? Maybe you should make a list of the steps to take to get you there. Let me know what you plan on achieving.

Gift Giving for the Bewildered.

Bewildered describes most of us at this time of the year, as inspiration and energy are in short supply.

free-christmas-vectors-12 — What are you hoping will be in your stocking?

Men generally want to please the woman in their life and this makes them the perfect target for hard- selling salespeople. Those who happily assure them that’ She will love this,’ about everything imaginable, from a wok and up to a camper van and accessories.

Ladies, do the guys a favour and let them know what you do want.Leave out catalogues and magazines with the items that you would like circled in bold marker pen and tell them that you have done so.

SANYO DIGITAL CAMERA — No need to be subtle!

With a bit of luck, you might get something that you want and can use. Then, your cries of pleasure will be genuinely meant, while the man in your life will have bought you something that you actually wanted.

Boxer_002 — think beyond boxers this year.

Please don’t give the men in your life the usual socks and jocks which they have come to expect. Think more imaginatively. Of course, you should have been listening for clues all year, for those items they moan that they need and have not got. It’s not too late!

Frestock hot air balloons

Think experience– a plane flight, a brewery tour, a home brewing class, a paintballing session. Think fun, whatever their kind of fun is-concert tickets, footy tickets, Harley rides, hot air ballooning. Even think practical if you must and buy the screwdriver set that they wanted or the more expensive version of the old faithful saw or drill. Mr Practical will be delighted.

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Now for the Christmas feast, should you do the whole traditional bit or something a bit lighter with a more contemporary feel? To some extent it depends on your climate, what is appealing on freezing winter day does not hold the same appeal in an Antipodean summer.

christmas-table-1909797_1280 (1)

My answer is to keep the bits of tradition that I like and discard the rest.So I set a colourful Christmas table and pick and choose what I serve. The turkey. or chicken may be served cold with salads or it may be served warm.The only Christmas pudding lover gets an individual pudding and it may come with ice cream!

After all, Christmas is supposed to be about celebrations and joy and not suffering, just because everyone expects it.So why should the cook slave away?Anyone who complains can be enlisted to help, which will allow them to appreciate the amount of work involved.

With confidence and some forward planning, the festive season can be fun for everybody and that includes the harassed woman who is usually at the centre of it.

Absorb your seasonal lessons, what went wrong this year and what went right. Plan to have an even better time next year. Oh, and quick reminder- never decorate your Christmas tree twice,

A Very Late October and November Reading List

To explain yes I was still reading in October and November, but as it was National Novel in a Month my focus was mainly in my writing. Reading was my relaxation and also my inspiration throughout the month.

I did achieve the word count of 50,000 words and that is nowhere near the end of the story., which I will allow to rest for a month and then look at again.

thought-catalog-214785 — November was spent writing as part of National Novel in a Month.

These are the books that I read in October

A Seaside Affair by Fern Britten

An easy and relaxing read, Fern’s own television experience has obviously informed the insights into how reality TV is constructed.

At times reminiscent of those old movies where a bunch of amateurs try to save a theatre by ‘putting on a show.’That is essentially what happens here, only with professional actors. Producer Penny is able to call in some favours to recruit stars of TV and film to help save the old theatre. Fern name drops Downton Abbey’s Maggie Smith and Hugh Bonneville and writer Lord Julian, Fellowes believably and with ease. A good holiday read,

Talk of the Town by Rachael Johns

An enjoyable read with an engaging duo of Megan and Lawson at its centre, as well as a supernatural element. I personally really enjoyed the supernatural aspect of the story and would have liked to have seen more of it.

Talk of the town

Megan has moved interstate in an attempt to leave her past behind her. Perhaps she hadn’t reckoned on country town hospitality and curiosity? in spite of being wary of revealing too much about herself, Megan is unable to resist Lawson, and his adorable and incorrigible eight-year-old son, Ned. The characters are well drawn, relatable and appealing. The mysteries of the Old Store and Megan’s past are revealed slowly and satisfyingly.

How to Market Your Book by Rachael Bermingham.

A thoroughly practical and useful book, written by someone who as she says,’made all the mistakes’.She shares her insights and expertise and as she is a best-selling- author, Rachael is the best advertisement for her methods.

How to Market your book Chapters cover so much ground from media release tips to marketing plans How to get your book into libraries and how to obtain testimonials. How many promotional copies you should send out. Many of the suggestions simply require you to use your time rather than money. A worthwhile book for anyone with a book to promote

Body on Baker Street By Vicki Delany

A Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery.

Although I had not read book one of this series Elementary, She Said, It is an oversight that I will rectify. In spite of that. I was able to connect easily with the characters and the story,

Body on Baker Street

The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium and Mrs Hudson ‘s Tea Rooms are situated in West London, Massachusetts The bookshop is currently being run by British Expat Gemma, during the prolonged absence of her Uncle Arthur. Her friend Jayne runs the tea rooms, which are handily situated next door.

When a famous author Renata Van Markoff who writes, a pastiche Holmes series decides to visit the store it is a tremendous boost to the bookshop sales.That is until she is murdered there. It happened after a very public argument during the book signing. Gemma’s amateur sleuthing abilities are put to the test, and it sets her at odds with the local police department. Worse, there is an embarrassment of suspects, many of whom wanted to see Renata dead, Who will solve the case first?

It is a More Abbreviated List for My November Reading

A Trail Through Time By Jodi Taylor

Book Four in The Chronicles of St Mary’s Series; The Battle for St Mary’s.

A trail through time.

A brilliantly original idea and a great concept, but for me, it is all getting a little too complex and confusing,

When historians cross and recross the timelines and St Mary’s itself has several different incarnations, then the story can become too complicated. While the introduction of the Time police in this book whose job is to monitor the timelines was an innovative touch.Adding to my confusion with the story is that the two major characters Max and Leon have both died at various times in some timelines. By crossing and recrossing the timelines, loves, lives, memories and relationships are all being challenged both by the past and the future interactions. This popular series continues.

Still Writing by Dani Shapiro

I was prompted to read this book as it was recommended by author Natasha Lester at a workshop that she gave.

Still Writing

While there are no outstanding insights, I felt that Dani Shapiro was an encouraging voice who understood the doubts, fears and insecurities which plague most writers.Her advice is sound and she reminds us via words from poet Jane Kenyon to ‘Be a good steward to your gift’

I loved the irony of the title, as ‘still writing?’ is the query that writers, whether paid or not, hear most frequently. The subtext apparently being ‘what haven’t you got a proper job yet’

Never Decorate Your Christmas Tree Twice( and Other Seasonal Dilemmas)

Last weekend I decorated the Christmas tree; this weekend I decorated it again.

Last weekend I decorated the Christmas tree; this weekend I decorated it again. It was the Christmas lights which caused the problem. Light of my Life thought the set of fifty lights looked rather paltry and returned home with a set of one hundred,. Before you could say, Santa Claus, The tree had been stripped of all its lights and decorations and Light of my Life said calmly’”The rest is up to you”

One hundred lights should go twice as far as fifty, so I thought that it would be easy. But the one hundred lights did not even go as far as the fifty lights had.

After three disastrous attempts, the happy Christmas mood was decidedly fragile. I glared across the room at Light of my Life imagining with some satisfaction the Christmas lights wrapped tightly around his neck.

Luckily, his survival instinct kicked in He calmly unwound the lights from the tree and laid them on the floor. Then laid the despised set of fifty lights parallel with them. The cable lengths were identical. So to fit the one hundred lights on the same length of cable the gaps were much smaller.

The fifty lights were then replaced on the tree and the redecorating completed, without the joyous mood of the previous occasion. A hundred lights were then replaced in their box and returned. Seasonal lessons learned? Decorating the Christmas tree can only be enjoyed once in any Christmas season. The second or third time around, it’s just a hard slog. When buying Christmas lights look at the cable length and NOT the number of lights.

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Other seasonal lessons that I have learnt the hard way include keeping some spare Christmas cards, as well as the appropriate Christmas postage stamps. Someone that you have forgotten inevitably sends you a card. You can mask your forgetfulness because you are using the Christmas card postage rate, rather than a standard stamp¬ a dead give-away that you forgot. After Christmas, any spare card can be stored for next year and any leftover stamps can have additional postage added and be used for your normal correspondence.

. Christmas Gift image unspash.

Even worse than the unexpected card, is the unexpected visitor smilingly bearing gifts.Forward planning can have you cool and composed rather than fraught and frantic. Buy a couple of multi-purpose items that you could use later if they are not needed. A nice bottle or two of wine, whisky or sherry, maybe some imported beer. Or a biscuit selection, chocolates or even gift vouchers Have these items wrapped and tagged, ready to be written at a moment’s notice and no one will ever guess that they caught you out.

Next week The Gentle Art of Present Giving and Getting!

Septembers Book list – what have I read this month?

September has been an unusually busy month, as I completed a five-week writing course and I also enjoyed attending the Rockingham Writers Convention. There I participated in various workshops and met admired authors, Tess Woods, Natasha Lester, and Annabel Smith. It also gave me a chance to catch with the dynamic team from Serenity Press, Karen McDermott and Monique Mulligan publishers of Writing the Dream and I saw fellow contributors Sandi Parsons and Michelle Nugent. I met another author ( more about her later) and caught up for the first time with a couple of ‘Facebook friends.’ One (J) had come from Queensland to attend the convention and the other(D) has recently moved to Western Australia from Queensland. We’d never met before but we hit it off right away, finding much to talk about. Reading - Sophiekins Pixababy Public domain

Under Her Spell by Monique Mulligan
SerenityRomance-1-e1504067499346.png Under her spell

Writer Oliver Pendall is on location for the filming of his book Multiples.
He meets Kaylie by chance. She both teases and fascinates him but he’s not looking for a relationship.Despite this, Kaylie captures his imagination with her passion for using unusual words. Oliver’s writer’s interest is piqued by her lively mind and he’s also captivated by her cute persona too.Sadly, Kaylie appears to be disinterested in him, except when paradoxically, she isn’t.It’s a rare book that has a reader turning to Google to search out the meanings of words, but this one did. A sparkling romance.

Black Cats and Butlers A Rose Ravensthorpe Mystery by Janine Beacham

I happened on Black Cats And Butlers by chance, as it was shelved with adult fiction. in the library. It’s actually a middle-grade fiction – so I’m not the intended readership. Despite that, I really enjoyed it. The story was fast-paced and exciting. It appealed to me for both the humour and the crime content. Imagine, butlers those bastions of respectability are being murdered. Additionally, I was fascinated to learn about the cat statues in York England being stolen. Note there really are statues of cats on buildings in York and more are being put up. Tourists can take a tour of the statue locations.
Rose Ravensthorpe is a feisty and determined character and I can certainly see the potential for many further adventures. A lot of fun!

Love Under Fire by Carolyn Wren

Love Under Fire

A fast-paced action /romance

I was pleased to meet delightful author Carolyn Wren at The Rockingham Writers convention, we were seated at the same table and talked. She is a contributor to A Bouquet of Love and I was able to tell her how much I had enjoyed her hilarious story Angel in the Baking. She is also the author of eleven books.Later, I bought a copy Love Under Fire which she kindly signed for me.

Love Under Fire lives up to its promise. Astrid James, aid worker and daughter of a prominent politician is caught up in a coup in small jungle nation. Black ops agent Remy Cross has been sent to rescue her and has three days to do so.Despite the increasing danger Astrid refuses to leave unless the two orphans that she is protecting can be rescued too. It’s an unwelcome complication that Remy hasn’t planned for. The repartee and action continue from this well-matched duo. I was swept along with the plot twist and turns. A fun read.

Chocolate Shoes and Wedding Blues by Trisha Ashley

Tansy Poole’s relationship with her fiancée Justin is at a stalemate. So she returns to the Lancashire village of Sticklepond. There, Tansy is needed to help her much loved Aunt Nell with her shop Bright’s Shoes. Her aunt’s age and failing health mean that both she and the shop are in desperate need of more care.

Tansy is torn between a boyfriend who spends more time with his mother than with her and who is increasingly critical of everything about her and her aunt who brought her up and who needs her. Guilt and baking are her constant companions as she tries to keep everyone happy.

It’s a relief for her to return to Sticklepond.Tansy’s biological clock is ticking and her hopes for a home of her own and children seem further away than ever. At least in Sticklepond she’s wanted and avoiding her fiancés increasingly pointed criticisms, of her dress sense, her behaviour and her weight.

Staying with her aunt enables her to avoid her two malicious stepsisters and a potential mother in law from hell.Tansy wants to be with her aunt, who she cares for. When her aunt dies Tansy decides to stay and reopen the shop, to sell beautiful wedding shoes, vintage shoes, and even the chocolate shoes of the title

Her next door neighbour is presumed to be an ancient Shakespearian actor who has come to live in the village for peace and quiet. Instead, he is irascible, but a devastatingly handsome man, who dumped Tansy years ago. He doesn’t appear to recognise her or appreciate her dog, the noise of the workmen or the shop bell.

I really enjoyed this lively story, my appreciation sharpened by the fact that I knew so many of the locations, such as my old hometown of Southport, and neighbouring places such as Ormskirk, Rufford Old Hall, though not, of course, the fictional village of Stickelpond

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Time for a bit of self-reflection?

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