Holiday Reading

My holiday at Easter may seem like it was in the dim and distant past but thankfully, the books I read are not.

So here's some reviews of the books I read.  First of all is:

All That Mullarky by Sue Moorcroft

I've been a big fan of the previous two Sue Moorcroft books I've read - Starting Over and Want To Know A Secret?

All That Mullarky certainly didn't disappoint. I wouldn't go so far as to say the kids could have drowned while I was reading it but it might have been a close call.

Sue creates such wonderfully vivid and likeable characters that you can't but help want to become involved in their lives and travel with them on their journey.

At the beginning of this novel it looks as though Cleo's marriage to the controlling Gav is at an end. When he tells her that she has to choose between him and going to a school reunion, she chooses the school reunion because she doesn't like his ultimatum. Half way there, though, she has a change of heart but when she returns home she finds that Gav has packed his bags and scrawled a nasty message on the bedroom wall. Distraught, Cleo goes in search for her sister for a shoulder to cry on but ends up having a one night stand with the irresistible Justin. It's an event that changes the course of Cleo’s life, but I’m not going to tell you any more, you’ll just have to read it for yourself.

Next I read:

　

Sweet Temptation by Lucy Diamond

I love Lucy’s books, her characters are so down to earth that you instantly fall in love with them. Sweet temptation is the perfect holiday read (despite the fact that you are probably overeating). It's the story of three women who, at the beginning of the novel, are overweight and unhappy with their lives. Determined to loose the weight they join a slimming club called Fatbusters. Through hard work and a good support network, they not only become fitter and healthier but together they learn how to make their lives better. If you want to loose some pounds yourself, read this book and you will be inspired. Unfortunately inspiration alone does not loose the pounds

　

　

Emily's Innocence by India Grey

A Portuguese Prince and an English aristocratic ballerina - you can't get much more decadent than that, and the hero and heroine of India's novel do not disappoint.

India has created characters who pull at the heart strings with her fragile yet strong heroine and her haughty, bad boy hero with a hidden heart of gold which only Emily can melt.

The pages simply explode with passion as we fight for the two to overcome their insecurities and flaws and end up with their rightful ending, in each other's arms. Thanks India, you've done it for me again.


And finally for today we have:

A Sister's Gift - Giselle Green

Two sisters - Holly, a stay at home, dependable, married woman, who desperately wants a child but is unable to; and Scarlet, much younger and ambitious, working to protect the rainforest.

Scarlet is following in her mother's footsteps, who also worked in the Amazon and was killed when Scarlet was very young. Scarlet was brought up by her mother's friend and later, by Holly herself.

When Holly asks Scarlet to be a surrogate for her, Scarlet initially refuses, but as her personal circumstances change, she agrees.

This is a story of obsession and betrayal, and shows how a personal desire for something can destroy everything.

At times this story is rather bleak but it confronts serious issues and there are plenty of twists and turns along the way. I think this book would make an ideal book club read because it would spark plenty of healthy debate.

Not a light read but enjoyable all the same.

Linda

Procrastination - The Root of a Writer's Evil

Why is it, when we say that we love writing, sometimes we would rather do anything other than actually get our bum on the seat, fingers on the keyboard and brain in gear?

Is it that we love the idea of writing more than writing itself? Is it that we love the finished product and the thought of, “I did that” but don’t always want to be bothered to actually put the hard graft in first?

Perhaps it’s a combination of the two, but for me there’s something else too and its called fear. Fear that the idea which sounds brilliant in my head isn’t going to come up to scratch when I put it down on paper. Fear that when it comes down it to I can’t actually get the right combination of words to make my story flow.

And so I procrastinate. I check my emails, I read blogs, I read writing magazines, I read other authors and I make lists. But I don’t actually write.

But not this week. This week I have written. And this week I have almost completed an assignment for a distance learning course am I doing (more about that next time) which has been getting the better of me for a while now. Next week, with a little more editing I will be able to send it off and that will feel like an achievement.

So why has this week been more productive than others? Have I had more time? Nope. I’ve had a million and one things to do this week and horror of horrors the kids have broken up from school and I’m having to sort out child care alongside work and home etc, etc.

No, the reason I’ve got my act together this week is down to three fellow bloggers who I want to publically thank here.

And the winners are:

Jayne over at Novice Novelist. http://jayneferst.blogspot.com/2010/07/contest-to-celebrate.html I’ve been following Jayne for a long time now and I was delighted to hear that she has finished her novel and is sending off into the big wide world. Well done Jayne. It’s thanks to hard work, determination and a refusal to listen to the inner Doubting Thomas that Jayne has got this far. And so I’m inspired. Yes, I need to get back to that novel, keep putting the words down and then, spend however long it takes to edit it. It won’t be easy and I know I might fall by the wayside from time to time, but because Jayne has done it, I’m determined that I will get there too. So a big thanks to you.

Inspiring blogger number 2 is India Grey who blogged a huge dollop of inspiration to me this week. http://indiagrey.blogspot.com/2010/07/so-girls-heres-plan.html Sometimes the thought of actually sitting down and starting work is too immense, hence the procrastination. India suggested in this blog to tackle the work 250 words at a time – and do you know it does work. Because 250 words is quick and achievable and most of all is not scary. So I’ve been sitting down to dash of my 250 words and before I know it they have become, 500 then a thousand and then I have finished the piece I have been putting off for so long. So thank you too India.

And finally, cue drum roll, the third inspirational blogger is Stewart Ferris. This is a blog I read about in a writing magazine. Stewart has blogged about his editing process and although I have read this after the event, I feel I’ve really learnt something. But what has really inspired me this week is this post http://stewartferris.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-future-self.html in which Stewart says that he likes to achieve something towards his future every day, be that his writing, doing up this house, or learning something new. And so I have been following Stewart’s example and making sure that every day I’m investing in my writing future. And do you know what – it makes me feel good that every day I have achieved something. So thank you Stewart – along with the others, you’ve made my week.

And on this inspirational note – tell me – what inspires you

And by the way, this is the first time I've ever done links so if they work,it will be a miracle.