I Should be Writing

Today I'm mostly procrastinating...

I've been editing my manuscript and everything was hunky dory while I was cutting out all the verbiage that I didn't need. But now it's getting harder as I need to cut scenes that I love but which serve no purpose in the story. So it has been filed under 'too difficult' for a couple of days. Then I will brace myself and be brutal.

In the meantime, I have been amusing myself looking at the sort of covers I would love for my book and have gone down with a serious case of book cover envy :D

Just love this cover designed by Croco Designs. I'm a big fan of Frauke's artwork.

Book Review: The Untied Kingdom

The Untied Kingdom
by Kate Johnson

Published: 1 April 2011 by Choc Lit Limited
Format: Paperback & ebook
ISBN-13: 9781906931681

Summary
When Eve Carpenter lands with a splash in the Thames, it's not the London or England she's used to. No one has a telephone or knows what a computer is. England's a third world country and Princess Di is still alive. But worst of all, everyone thinks Eve's a spy.

Including Major Harker who has his own problems. His sworn enemy is looking for a promotion. The general wants him to undertake some ridiculous mission to capture a computer, which Harker vaguely envisions running wild somewhere in Yorkshire. Turns out the best person to help him is Eve.

She claims to be a popstar. Harker doesn't know what a popstar is, although he suspects it's a fancy foreign word for 'spy'. Eve knows all about computers, and electricity. Eve is dangerous. There's every possibility she's mad.

And Harker is falling in love with her.
Goodreads

Review
The Untied Kingdom is an exciting read and a great page-turner. I fell in love with Major Harker right from the moment he turned up on the page. He is a cross between Sean Bean and Richard Armitage. What could be better?

The London Eve falls into is very different to the one she left. England is a third world country and at war with France. She is suspected of being a spy and even starts to doubt her own sanity.

Ms Johnson's writing is a joy to read. She has a fantastic imagination to have come up with the concept of the alternate world in this book from something as simple as a conversation about a BCG scar.

Rating
I absolutely loved this book, and the characters stayed with me long after I had finished it. I give The Untied Kingdom a well-deserved 5 out of 5. I read this book last year and it was my favourite book of 2011.

Book Review: Into the Darkest Corner

Into the Darkest Corner

by Elizabeth Haynes
Published: February 1st 2011 by Myriad
Format: ebook
ISBN: 9780956559982

Summary
Catherine has been enjoying the single life for long enough to know a good catch when she sees one. Gorgeous, charismatic, spontaneous - Lee seems almost too perfect to be true. And her friends clearly agree, as each in turn falls under his spell. But there is a darker side to Lee. His erratic, controlling and sometimes frightening behaviour means that Catherine is increasingly isolated. Driven into the darkest corner of her world, and trusting no one, she plans a meticulous escape. Four years later, struggling to overcome her demons, Catherine dares to believe she might be safe from harm. Until one phone call changes everything. This is an edgy and powerful first novel, utterly convincing in its portrayal of obsession, and a tour de force of suspense.
Goodreads

Review
I read this book after seeing it on a repeat of the Channel 4 TV Book Club. The panel raved about it and I have to say I absolutely agree with them. This book is an unputdownable tense read right from the opening chapter.

The story is told in two different timelines - 2003 Catherine and 2007 Cathy. Catherine has changed so much in the intervening years that it is like reading about two different women.

Lee seems too good to be true when Catherine first meets him and it tuns out that he is. The abuse starts subtly - he tries to control what she wears, distances her from her friends and chips away at her self-confidence. To make matters worse, no one believes her. All her friends think Lee is the perfect boyfriend.

Catherine's story is disturbing, violent and at times upsetting to read. Ms Haynes deals with the subject of domestic violence without coming across as judgemental. I can't say I enjoyed this book - given the subject matter that doesn't seem the right word to use, but I was certainly gripped by it and read it in two sittings.

I was surprised to read at the back of the book that this was a debut novel - it's enough to make an aspiring wannabe writer give up now.

Rating
I would thoroughly recommend this gripping crime thriller and give Into the Darkest Corner 5 out of 5.

Book Review: Build a Man

Build a Man
by Talli Roland

Published: 5 November 2011 by Notting Hill Press
Format: eBook
ASIN: B00642BCX2

Summary
Slave to the rich, rude and deluded, cosmetic surgery receptionist Serenity Holland longs for the day she's a high-flying tabloid reporter. Unfortunately, every pitch she sends out disappears like her clients' liposuctioned fat, never to be seen again. Then she meets Jeremy Ritchie -- the hang-dog man determined to be Britain's Most Eligible Bachelor by making himself over from head to toe and everything in between -- giving Serenity a story no editor could resist.

With London's biggest tabloid on board and her very own column tracking Jeremy's progress from dud to dude, Serenity is determined to be a success, even going undercover to gain intimate access to Jeremy's life. But when Jeremy's surgery goes drastically wrong and Serenity is ordered to cover all the car-crash goriness, she must decide how far she really will go for her dream job.
Goodreads

Review
I treated myself to this book after enjoying Ms Roland's The Hating Game. I certainly wasn't disappointed and found it hard to put down.

Serenity has to be one of my favourite heroines and I think there's a little bit of Serenity in all of us. She tries really hard to turn herself into someone she is not. She tries to be tidy and behave the way her boyfriend wants her to, but he shows more affection towards his snooty cat.

I fell in love with Jeremy almost straight away. I was expecting him to come across as a bit pathetic, but he doesn't. Ms Roland manages to make him both vulnerable and sexy, and I was rooting for Serenity to wake up and realise how she feels about him.

Serenity's journey as she chases her dream to be a tabloid reporter is very funny and has many laugh out loud moments. I absolutely loved this book and my only tiny criticism would be that it finished a bit too abruptly. But this was made up for by finding out Ms Roland is writing a sequel. Can't wait for Construct a Couple.

Rating
This is the perfect holiday read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and give Build a Man 5 out of 5. If you enjoy Sophie Kinsella's books, give Ms Roland a try. You won't be disappointed.

Happy New Year

Wishing you a healthy and productive New Year

Absent Without Leave

Whatever's happened to the last 10 months?

I can't believe I haven't blogged since March! *Slaps wrist.* In that time I haven't won the lottery or been whisked away by a M&B hero to live a life of luxury. I haven't been published and am still slogging away at my wip. But I have been doing lots of fabulous romantic novelist type things. I attended my first RNA Annual Conference back in July, which was incredible, and I learnt so much. I'd urge any new members who haven't taken the plunge yet to go to the next one.

I went to my first RNA Summer Party and my second Winter Party which, of course, were both great fun.

And in between all this partying I've been busy reading and even busier writing.

Apologies to my blog and twitter friends for being quiet online for the last few months, but it was lovely to meet so many of you in person at these events.

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and productive New Year.

Book Review: Getting Over Mr Right

Getting Over Mr Right
by Chrissie Manby

Published: 24 June 2010 by Hodder Paperbacks
Format: Paperback
ISBN-10: 0340992794
ISBN-13: 9780340992791

Summary
Have you ever had your heart broken? How did you get over it? Did a tub of ice-cream cheer you up? Did you delete his number and start again? Are you now friends with your ex? Perhaps you’re godmother to his children?

In which case, you’re a weirdo and this book is not for you.

But if you reacted with denial, begging or a spot of casual witchcraft, then you’ve come to the right place. This is one woman’s journey from love to lunacy and back again. If you ever recall past heartbreaks with acute embarrassment and an urge to go into hiding, this will make you feel better. Sure, you may have sent his new girlfriend a bunch of dead roses, but did you spend a grand on psychic hot-lines and a voodoo curse?
Goodreads

Review
This is the first book I've read by Ms Manby and I wasn't disappointed. I borrowed the book from my local library in the morning and finished it that evening - I couldn't put it down. Snarky Ashleigh had me laughing out loud at her antics and cringeing with embarrassment at the same time.

I found Ashleigh likeable, even though she is in complete denial about her relationship with Michael. She does some awful things and knows somewhere at the back of her mind that it's wrong, but can't stop herself from doing them anyway. She could quite easily have been annoying, and I lost patience with her when she was particularly mean to her best friend, but overall Ms Manby manages to keep you rooting for Ashleigh and hoping she will come to her senses about the obnoxious Michael.

Rating
If you are looking for a quick, fun, summer read then I'd thoroughly recommend this book. It kept me up until three in the morning to finish it! I give Getting Over Mr Right 5 out of 5