This is part of the weekly meme over at the Caffeinated Reviewer, where book bloggers can share the books and blogs they have written.
I have been busy this week writing the course notes for this term’s Creative Writing course which starts on 17th September, which sounds a while away, but I know from experience that it isn’t. I managed to get all but the final handout written, which I’m pleased about. The regular admin and lesson plans still need to be written, but at least I’ve done the hard part.
On Monday I met up with one of my students who has missed a couple of terms through illness. It was lovely to see her again, looking so much better as we caught up on each other’s lives. I had lunch with my sister on Tuesday and we went shopping together on Friday, though I resisted the temptation to buy anything major – which was a feat we celebrated by having a very leisurely chat over a looong cup of tea together. On Saturday, I travelled up to Cambridge to catch up with my son who I hadn’t seen since Christmas – far too long! We visited the Anthony Gormley exhibition, which was marvellous – and then he treated me to a trip on the river. It was so much fun watching him windmill the pole as he punted me up the river that the rain simply didn’t matter.
During this coming week, I will not be commenting or replying on my blog as I shall be on a writing retreat and I’m not sure about the wifi connection – parts of the country aren’t very well served. But I will catch up once I get back.
This week I have read:
Menagerie – Book 1 of the Menagerie series by Rachel Vincent
When Delilah Marlow visits a famous traveling carnival, Metzger’s Menagerie, she is an ordinary woman in a not-quite-ordinary world. But under the macabre circus big-top, she discovers a fierce, sharp-clawed creature lurking just beneath her human veneer. Captured and put on exhibition, Delilah is stripped of her worldly possessions, including her own name, as she’s forced to “perform” in town after town.
I rapidly became engrossed in Delilah’s plight, unable to forget the numbers of youngsters imprisoned and trapped by illegal trafficking, though this book can also be read as a piece of escapist fiction.
Kindred Spirits – Book 5 of the Gabriel Ash and Hazel Best series by Jo Bannister
A kidnap attempt outside the school gates in broad daylight convinces Gabriel Ash that his renegade wife is trying to steal their sons from him. Only the intervention of his friend Constable Hazel Best kept them safe. It’s a simple if alarming explanation, but is it the truth? Hazel uncovers disturbing information about another crime, the repercussions of which are still threatening innocent lives seventeen years later. Once again Hazel finds herself at loggerheads with her superiors. Did they really conspire to protect a murderer? And this time she isn’t getting the support she needs from Ash. She’d thought they were kindred spirits: now she’s not sure what his motives are.
I was overdue an enjoyable cosy mystery and this one certainly ticked the box. Enjoyable, likeable protagonists and a gripping situation that steadily builds into a major mystery with an exciting denouement.
Spectacle – Book 2 of the Menagerie series by Rachel Vincent
The Savage Spectacle is a private collection of “exotic wildlife.” Specializing in ruthless cryptid cage matches, safari-style creature hunts and living party favors, the Spectacle’s owner, Willem Vandekamp, caters to the forbidden fetishes of the wealthy and powerful. At the Spectacle, any wish can be granted—for the right price. But a number of new exhibits not only create more opportunities for making money, they also pose risks Willem hasn’t yet encountered.
This next slice of the adventures featuring Delilah, a shape-shifting human with disturbing powers was just as engrossing as the first book – and I’m looking forward to reading the final book in the trilogy, which is the Netgalley arc I will be reviewing in due course.
Fifty-One by Chris Barnham
Jacob Wesson is a timecop from 2040, sent back to WWII London to stop the assassination of Britain’s war leader. The assignment plays out with apparent ease, but the jump home goes wrong, leading to a series of events that not only puts in jeopardy the outcome of WWII, but all history…
This intelligent, well written time travelling adventure is not only a thumping good read, but raises some interesting questions on the nature of time travelling that I’ve never seen so fully explored. I was also very impressed with Barnham’s depiction of war-torn London in 1940 and the 2040 equivalent.
My posts last week:
Sunday Post – 19th August 2018
Can’t-Wait Wednesday featuring Fury – Book 3 of the Menagerie series by Rachel Vincent
Friday Face-off – Myths and Legends… featuring Myths and Legends by Anthony Horowitz
Interesting/outstanding blogs and articles that have caught my attention during the last week, in no particular order:
Thursday Doors https://jeanreinhardt.wordpress.com/2018/08/24/thursday-doors-110/ Regulars will know this quirky series is a firm favourite – but these walkways are just lovely… you can imagine all sorts of magical adventures occurring in these surroundings.
…my dream dinner guests list… prob’ly change again by next week!… https://seumasgallacher.com/2018/08/24/my-dream-dinner-guests-list-probly-change-again-by-next-week/ Seumas has fun playing this game – this is a dinner party I’d love to attend. What about you – who would you invite to your dream dinner?
#writerproblems: catching #characters with a coda of giveaway #countdown https://jeanleesworld.com/2018/08/23/writerproblems-catching-characters-with-a-coda-of-giveaway-countdown/ Jean gives her take on integrating family life with that of a working writer – and reminds us of a fabulous opportunity to get hold of her marvellous debut novel. I’ve been lucky to read the arc and will be reviewing it in due course. In the meantime, do keep a lookout for it – it’s a wonderful, quirky read…
Spraoi 2018 – Scotch is back! https://inesemjphotography.com/2018/08/24/spraoi-2018-scotch-is-back/ No – we’re not talking the drink, we’re talking a Dutch band playing at a free street festival in Waterford, Ireland. These photos sum up the joy and passion of live music for both the participants and those watching…
Do you Reread? https://emeraldcitybookreview.com/2018/08/do-you-re-read-2.html This is an interesting question – if you get down as far as the comments, you’ll find my views on this subject there. But I am always intrigued to know if readers go back to books they love…
Thank you very much for taking the time and trouble to visit, like and comment on my site and have a great week.
Brainfluff 
I know I have a lot of catching up to do on your site, but thanks so much for sharing mine! Glad you’re digging the story. I hope others do, too! xxxxxxx
I really love it, Jean. I thought Charlotte a wonderful protagonist:))
YAY! She’s a joy to write. 🙂
I can tell the way she pings off the page…
I live vicariously through her sass. 😉
I am having SO MUCH fun writing a middle-aged, uber-bossy woman who barrels into the middle of any trouble in her village, convinced it’s her duty to FIX it. She also has a fine line in snark and right now the pacing is off because I’m enjoying her squabbling FAR TOO MUCH:))). No resemblance to me at all. Not a bit. Nope…
LMAO!!!!!!!! That’s brilliant! And hey, if the character’s truly a delight, then I don’t mind a meandering pace in the least. 😉
I hope other readers feel the same way:)).
They better! 🙂
I hope you’re in the process of drying out!x
Well the basement people just took all their fans and dehumidifiers, but even as I type this a new front’s coming, complete with damaging winds and hail. Here’s a prayer that we’ll be okay….
Hope you didn’t get flooded again:(x
So far okay! (After the AC finally stopped leaking, that is.) There’s another round of storms this week, but nothing on the level of what hit us before, so I’m praying all remains okay.
I’ll add a few prayers of my own.xxx
Thank you!!!!!
I am glad you spent time enjoying life, seeing old acquaintances and ya for time spent with your son. That was a long stretch not to see each other, although I am sure you connect other ways. I hope th week ahead is full of good books!
Thank you, Kimberly:). Yes, it was a lovely week:). And as I’ve had a really good reading week, it would be lovely to have another just like it! Here’s hoping you, too, have a good one.
Good luck preparing for the course…and enjoy your reading, too. I like the look of Kindred Spirits. Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
Thank you Laurel:). Yes… I’m on the home strait, now with the course notes. And Kindred Spirits is a really enjoyable read. Have a great week.
I hope you enjoy your writer’s retreat!
Thank you, Nicci:). I intend to!
Glad you got the hard part done. I am sure it takes a lot to get a class set up. I go back next week (Sept 4) in my second semester for my BSN. I know that is a lot of work. I am sure the teacher end isn’t easy also. Have a great week!
Mary my Sunday Roundup 33!
Thank you Mary:). Yes… I certainly have to be fully prepared, which is as it should be:)
I hope you have a wonderful time at the writing retreat!
Thank you! I did:))
Thanks so much for sharing, Sarah.
You’re welcome – it’s a joy:))
It sounds like you had a rewarding week, Sarah. Best of luck with your course. You’re right. Time flies even when it sounds like something is a ways off.
Wow, you’ve been busy. Congrats on not buying anything. I struggle with that, too. Enjoy the writing retreat. Have a good week.
Thank you AJ! I had a fabulous writing retreat and a really lovely week:)
Fifty-One sounds like something I would love. We don’t see time travel books that go from “future to past” too often–mostly “present to past”! I hope you a lovely time at your writing retreat, Sarah!
Thank you, Kathy! Yes – I really loved this one, it is definitely different… And the writing retreat was wonderful.
Sounds like you had a busy, yet enjoyable and productive week. Some of the books you read look enticing, so I will have to check them out. Enjoy your writing retreat.
Thank you for your kind good wishes – the writing retreat was fantastic!
Oh how lovely to catch up with a former student and to hear that she’s doing well. Sounds like you had a fun busy week. In my head Cambridge is stuck in the Lord Peter Wimsey/Harriet Vane days! I’m sure actually visiting would be a bit eye opening. Sounds like you had a very nice visit. Enjoy your writing retreat!
Thank you, Katherine. If you followed Lord Peter Wimsey, you would certainly still recognise plenty of the landmarks as it is stuffed full of historic buildings and the river certainly hasn’t changed much. And the writing retreat was marvellous.
Hope you’re loving the writing retreat! And you’re right about the days and weeks passing faster than we think they will. Which is why I’m planning to savor every second of my vacation, starting this evening. 🙂
Oh have a wonderful holiday, Sara – my retreat was fabulous, btw… And I hope your break is equally relaxing and enjoyable:))
Hope your reading retreat has been great. I do love that cover for Kindred Spirits.
Lynn 😀
It’s really good, isn’t it?
I’m here to remind you of the great trip on the river that you had (I’m really here catching up, but I can remind you about it 😉 ). And I’m also hopeful to read how your writing retreat went – I hope the post is there! 😉
Oh yes – I do cover both writing retreats:)).