Book Review: Diamonds And Pearls by Elaine Everest

Diamonds and Pearls by Elaine Everest

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I bought this book, firstly because the proceeds go to charity, and secondly I wanted to research short stories, helping me develop some of my own ideas and make them better. They were all the kind of stories you would find in women's magazines - so perfect research material - written by different authors.


This anthology is a really handy book to have on your Kindle/eReader! Lots of short stories to dip into, ideal for commuting or a short trip. I only decided that I needed to finish it before starting another book, because I wanted it included in my final book total for the year.


The quality of all the stories was generally very good. There was only one I remember having maybe more typo/grammar mistakes, and not quite up to the standard of the others, but nothing major. I enjoyed most of the stories, some were better than others, but that could be more down to my taste.


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So, 32 books down. What shall I read next? 

Two Weeks Of This!

From having three weeks of mornings at school, including lunch, my son has now changed to two weeks of going to school in the afternoons. For two hours! He used to do three hours at preschool.

I don't even get two hours by the time I've walked home, then left the house again later to go collect them.

So today, I thought I'd get a blog post in and give an update on my writing progress so far. (I've been a bit slack lately). I'm not sure I've got enough time to get stuck into anything else... not without forgetting about the kids! (I usually set the kitchen timer as a reminder).

Where am I with The Wedding Favour then ... Well, I thought it was ready, but now I've got my two betas going through it chapter by chapter, I am seeing some faults in my writing.

I like to stage direct - a lot! And I like to speech tag too much.

I'm a good speech tagger in that I use the word 'said' and not try to avoid it at all costs with fancy alternatives. But there are places where I'm over tagging or putting in pieces of action/movements - beats as Self Editing For Fiction Writers call it - which are slowing down the pace of the story. Beats are good. Too many of them, however, are not. 

Once I thin those things out, generally, it is ready. I will be glad to see the back of it.

I can't do much until Kieran is in school full time with his brother. I'm happy to work my evenings. I'm used to do that; I gave up TV a long time ago. So I'm going to chip away, take my time and polish it before I send it out. (My aim is Christmas.) I really want to do my best with this story, and I always thought, it being my first novel, it would be my 'test' or 'practise run'.

Again, I get impatient. I want to get my writing career rolling, start earning some money from it. I know you shouldn't write to just earn money (read that somewhere). And I don't. I love writing, and if someone told me I'd never make money from it, then it will go back to being my little hobby... which takes over my life.

But writing has opened up so much to me. My life is not boring. I hear mums in the playground desperate to find a little job or something now that their kids are all at school. Not me! I love being a mum, a housewife and having the time to cook decent dinners, bake cakes etc. Okay - sometimes housework gets in the way when all I want to do is write!

It would be nice to make a career out of writing ... so I don't have to go do one of those dreaded day jobs, especially when the kids are older and don't need me at home, because they used to bore me senseless before. Been there, got that T-shirt. 

For the first time in my life I've found what I want to do - as well as be a mum.

And now, before I collect the kids, I'm off to Amazon. I need to spend my gift certificate I won from Talli Roland for participating in her Watching Willow Watts launch party with my blog post If I Could Be Anyone, I'd Be... Obviously, I've already purchased Talli's new book!

Book Review: Lessons in Love by Charlie Cochrane

Lessons in Love by Charlie Cochrane

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


This was an enjoyable read, a romance mixed around a murder mystery. For a m/m (gay) romance, the heat level was more a sweet romance than erotica. Nothing graphic bar some kissing and touching. But it suited this book, and the era it's set in.

The conflict was strong; being 1905 and gay sex being illegal, plus there is a murderer on the loose killing gay men, and Orlando's own internal conflicts.

Although I enjoyed the writing style and language used, keeping it nicely set in its era, I did think it was slow in places. I'm not sure I was 'wowed' enough to give it four stars.

I was fond of the two main characters; Jonty being the more jokey and fun character and Orlando being the more serious and sensible, lacking in love and experience in his life. Both characters played off well against one another.

When I first started reading this book it made me want to start reading Sherlock Holmes, which is sitting in my Kindle ready to be read. And funnily enough Holmes and Watson got a mention. 

This book is definitely worth a read!


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31 books! Only 9 to go! Can I ready 40 by the end of the year?

My Reading Zone

About time I blogged, don't you think?

I thought I'd blog about my reading zone. I can't read with the TV on - I'm so easily distracted! - and after having a bad back last year, I avoid reading in bed.  So, usually have to check with hubby when he doesn't want to watch something on the TV, so that I can go in the lounge and sit comfortably.

I've been wanting to post this picture for a while now, but other blog posts have got in the way.

In the summer, my dad finished off a corner of our garden behind the pond. For nearly nine years it has been a waste of space! Well, look at it now.

The arbour was bought about 3 years ago, and never erected. This is what happens with having kids, and a husband who works full time, and it doesn't help then that I work weekends so he's left to entertain them.

Anyway, this area quickly became my reading space in the garden. The arbour is actually very comfortable!

The only down side I can see about being a writer is that when it's glorious sunshine, you can be stuck inside bashing away words at your PC. So, in the summer, as soon as this was finished (and it was a nice day), I tried to sit out for an hour a day (or a chapter or a quick coffee) reading.

I'm not sure I'm going to get out there again this year but it's a great zone for reading, letting the sound of trickling water from the pond soothe you, and I can be supervising the boys playing in the garden too.

I Think I've Worked It Out

I've had messages frequently telling me they couldn't post comments to my blog (which upset me really, as I like seeing comments on my blog!). Well, I think I may have worked something out, although it may not apply to all.

Just tried to post on Talli Roland's blog and I'd gone via the Network blogs link on Facebook. Everytime I ever click on 'post a comment' the screen goes blank. It's done this to me with other blogs I've connected to via Network Blogs, not only Talli's.

I have to click on Talli's website, to close down the network blogs bit (or click on the 'close' which appears in the Network blogs bar above my own blog) and then I can post a comment.

Anyway, give it a try... see if that maybe the problem. You can use this blog post as a test ;-)

If not, not sure what to suggest. It must be blogger being temperamental at times. I think everyone can post, only anonymous can't. I did that to stop the Spam I'm afraid.