This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books and blogs they have written.
In the event, we didn’t make Highdown Gardens last weekend as the wind and rain was unceasing – until the grandchildren went home on Tuesday morning, when a rather watery sun appeared. In something approaching desperation, on Monday I took them to see Peter Rabbit at the local cinema. They were underwhelmed and I’m sure that odd scuffling sound I could hear was poor Beatrix Potter spinning in her grave…
I’ve continued to make progress with Miranda’s Tempest – to the extent that Himself is trudging through the manuscript, looking for the inevitable mistakes and plotholes. Oh, the things that we writers put our long-suffering spouses through… It was back to Pilates and Fitstep on Wednesday morning, so I have been working through the subsequent stiffness as throughout the holiday period I’ve been wearing out my glutes on the typing chair. On Wednesday evening, I was invited to a meal with some writing pals, where we ate an excellent vegetarian casserole – I’ve already nicked the recipe and will be trying it out very soon – and read aloud our current WIPs. It was a wonderful evening – I’m very lucky to have such lovely friends and thank you, Sandra, for being a fabulous host.
On Thursday, Mhairi came over. Her arm is still in a sling, but I’m mightily impressed at just how much she can now do singled-handed. We went out for lunch and discussed books and advertising campaigns – after which she decided that I needed space vessels on my spiffy new covers. Running Out of Space is now up with the latest improvement and I’m thrilled with it. Dying for Space should be appearing, complete with exploding space yacht, in the coming week. Friday was destined to be a day where I cleared a lot of routine admin in preparation for my catch-up class on Tuesday – but Sky evidently had plans of their own as the internet went down without any warning and it wasn’t until some two hours later that I realised it wasn’t anything to do with me or my equipment. Thank you Sky for the non-notification! I now need to crack on over the weekend to ensure I stay on schedule with my workload and get everything done before the end of my Easter break.
This week I have read:
The Ashes of London – Book 1 of the Marwood and Lovett series by Andrew Taylor
London, September 1666. The Great Fire rages through the city, consuming everything in its path. Even the impregnable cathedral of St. Paul’s is engulfed in flames and reduced to ruins. Among the crowds watching its destruction is James Marwood, son of a disgraced printer, and reluctant government informer.
In the aftermath of the fire, a semi-mummified body is discovered in the ashes of St. Paul’s, in a tomb that should have been empty. The man’s body has been mutilated and his thumbs have been tied behind his back.
Under orders from the government, Marwood is tasked with hunting down the killer across the devastated city. But at a time of dangerous internal dissent and the threat of foreign invasion, Marwood finds his investigation leads him into treacherous waters…
This well-written, historical murder mystery set during the time of the Great Fire of London held me throughout as Taylor’s vivid depiction of this difficult political period gives a wonderful backdrop to the crime. I’ll definitely be looking out for the next book in this series.
The Blood – Book 3 in the Jem Flockhart series by E.S. Thomson
Summoned to the riverside by the desperate, scribbled note of an old friend, Jem Flockhart and Will Quartermain find themselves on board the seamen’s floating hospital, an old hulk known only as The Blood, where prejudice, ambition and murder seethe beneath a veneer of medical respectability.
Yep. Two historical murder mysteries set in London in a row… It doesn’t happen to me all that often, given that my go-to genres are science fiction and fantasy. But this was an amazing read – I’m still reeling from the vivid portrayal of the hospital ship peopled with some strongly eccentric characters that wouldn’t look out of place in a Dickensian novel. I now need to go back and find the previous books in this engrossing series – though this book could easily be read as a standalone.
My posts last week:
Cover Reveal for Dying for Space – shiny, new and more appealing!
Teaser Tuesday featuring The Blood – Book 3 of the Jem Flockhart series by E.S. Thomson
Can’t-Wait Wednesday featuring Obscura by Joe Hart
Interesting/outstanding blogs and articles that have caught my attention during the last week, in no particular order:
#Music & ComicArt Help Fill The #Imagination Room for #Writers https://jeanleesworld.com/2018/04/12/music-comicart-help-fill-the-imagination-room-for-writers/ Once again, this clever and amusing author has some insights on the process of writing that I’ve found really helpful…
Bullet Through Apple (detail) https://photolicioux.wordpress.com/2018/04/13/bullet-through-apple-detail/ What a fascinating pic…
Exasperating Men https://readlorigreer.com/2018/04/12/exasperating-men/ This thoughtful article pinpoints the reluctance of many men to take themselves off to the doctor for necessary medical attention – with sometimes fatal results…
10 of the Best Poems About Music https://interestingliterature.com/2018/04/11/10-of-the-best-poems-about-music/ Another cracking list of enjoyable poems from this excellent site.
A Flying Visit – Seeing the Details https://scvincent.com/2018/04/06/a-flying-visit-seeing-the-details/ Sue Vincent features some delightful details on a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon. This is a gem…
Have a great week and thank you very much for taking the time and trouble to visit, like and comment on my site.
It sound like you had a great week, Sarah. I hope your new covers look just as amazing as you want them to look 🙂
Have a wonderful week ahead, and happy reading and writing.
Thank you, Lexxie – it’s been rather a tortuous learning curve, but I think I’m getting there with the covers! I hope you, too, have a great week:)
Thanks for the mention, Sarah… and for the links to explore 🙂
You’re welcome, Sue – it was a joy:)
🙂
How great that you manage activities for the grandchildren (too bad about Peter Rabbit, though) …and work/fun with writing friends. That sounds like the best way to “edit” your work.
Your historical murder mysteries are tempting me.
Thanks for sharing…and for visiting my blog.
You’re welcome, Laurel:). I hope you have a lovely week!
I should get back to sports as well, I do a sitting job as well so I an relate!
Have a happy week 🙂
Thank you, Evelina – yes… I’ll take root if I go on sitting here much longer! I hope you, too, have a great week:)
The ashes of london was already on me list. But the blood also sounds absolutely fascinating and so I have added that one too! Thanks matey!
x The Captain
Oh yes – they are both good, but I was particularly impressed with The Blood. I hope you get a chance to read them, Cap!
Me too!
x The Captain
We finally have sun!! I hope you do too!
Now the children have gone home, we had three dry days, but it’s raining again today…
Lol about Peter rabbit- sorry the kids were a little underwhelmed. I know there have been a few times when I took my kids to see something I thought they’d like, and when they react with indifference it can be somewhat jarring!
Mmm vegetarian casserole sounds good, especially as I am in the process of forgoing meat. A new process for me, to be sure.
Exasperating Men I should probably go read- since I waited FOREVER to go to the doc when I was having some health issues. And I’m even one of those who thinks it’s silly to do that- but then I did it (although to be fair there was some confusion w/ my doc and I actually thought my problem was something else). But anyway…
Ashes of London and The Blood both look good.
I couldn’t blame the children – I felt exactly the same way! I wouldn’t have taken them if it had stopped raining and we could have gone out and about – living on the coast there are heaps of things to do when the sun shines here…:)
It was the most delicious mediterranean casserole with a tomato and herb gravy with garlic, onion, sweet peppers, tomatoes and new potatoes. It was lovely!
And I really enjoyed Ashes of London and The Blood:). Have a great week, Greg.
Woot woot! When I make this post, my week is made! 😀 Thanks so much, Friend!
*Blushes and shuffles feet* I always love your articles – it’s just sometimes I have to let other people have a go…
As you should! I’ve discovered some awesome people through your selections. You got good taste, Friend. 😉 xxxxx
Thank you:)x
You had a good week. It is always difficult when a planned outing isn’t what you hoped, I think, but a new recipe and a cover on the way? Those are very good things.
They are, aren’t they, Deb:)). I hope your coming week is a good one.
Sounds like you had a busy but wonderful week! Once I get through my tax deadline today, I look forward to getting back to my fitness routine as well. I need to catch up on your reviews as well since I had been waiting to see what you thought of those two historical fiction novels. Have a great week!
I should be posting my review of The Ashes of London later this week:)
Another great week Sarah – so pleased that your novel is coming along so well. It must be an anxious time when you’re waiting for feedback.
Lynn 😀
I’ll be more anxious later in the year when I submit it…:)
Here I am, catching up again. 🙂 I have to say, I’m tempted to jump toward present times, to see how Miranda’s Tempest is doing now!
Lol… I’m not telling – you’ll have to trudge through to discover what is happening:))