SUNSHINE , LOLLIPOPS…

I’ve had a lovely weekend with the first born and his fiancée visiting from mainland Europe. The sun shone and it was warm enough for lollipops (those big chocolate covered Magnum ice creams!), sightseeing and lolling about being lazy in the garden. Perfect.


One special trip was to one of the churches in the Living Churchyard Projects where wildlife and wild flowers are encouraged to do their thing by managing the environment so that all manner of insects and birds can thrive undisturbed.






AND READING

I finished THE TENTH CASE by Joseph Teller in a couldn’t-put-it-down-rush last week. This is the beginning of series of books featuring Jaywalker, a maverick, alcoholic lawyer who’s about to have his licence pulled. Not because he’d a bad lawyer, but because he’s pulled one too many stunts getting his clients acquitted. But first he has to clear up ten outstanding cases. He achieves nine acquittals. His tenth client is on trial for murder. And even he believes she’s guilty.

Jaywalker is a really engaging, involving character and I was with him every step of the way. It was obvious from early on that there was going to be twist in the tale, but what I really loved about this book, this writer, was that it wasn’t a flash, bang, punch you in the eye twist. It was quiet and subtle and because of that, utterly believable.

I’m really looking forward to Bronx Justice, which is coming next year.

FINALLY

Because I was tempted by Kate Hardy, I went to here and turned myself into a comic book heroine.

They didn’t do a short, tubby option but in the interests of probity, I avoided the glamorous butterfly wings and went for the “wise, old heroine’ look.

And I managed to resist the arsenal of super hero weapons and instead armed myself with a hazel twig, which seemed fitting since there is an old Welsh legend that involves the hero cutting a hazel twig from a hedge alongside the road that runs through our village.

AND FINALLY, FINALLY

You'll find a great post by Susan Meier based on her workshop-- "Can This Manuscript Be Saved" -- at Harlequin Romance Authors

Don't miss it!

Reading: An ARC of The Tenth Case by Joseph Teller; great so far. I know there's going to be a twist. I'm trying to work out what it's going to be.
Listening: Dolly Parton
Watching: Kingdom

GIVING AWAY BOOKS


I've been giving away a ton of my books this week. French, Greek, Spanish and a whole hussle of various language translations to a library.

The request for an Indonesian one was frustrating -- I have editions out there, my latest royalty statement showed some new ones, but I haven't had my copies. They may turn up. I've kept a note.

And that's not all. Every month I give away a book at The Romance Studio in their Book a Day giveaway. This month it was The Secret Life of Lady Gabriella which is on its way to Mildred this week.

Someone is giving away a book every day, there so do drop by and take part at Book a Day.

Next month I'll be giving away a copy of my first ever sheikh romance, HIS DESERT ROSE, so look out for that one.

And don't forget that I draw a name from my list of Newsletter subscribers each month and the lucky winner gets the book of her choice from my backlist.

And if you're already downloaded The Bride's Baby for free and wondered if there was a backstory for architect Mark Hilliard, the answer is yes. His story is The Perfect Proposal -- a marriage of convenience that doesn't turn out quite the way he expected. As his new bride puts it, far from peace and tranquility, he'd got Bob the dog, mud all over the kitchen. And no dinner.