Another year draws to a close

Here we are again, at the end of another year. It’s hard to believe we are almost in 2017 – how fast time goes. I remember when I was very young wondering if I would still be alive in the year 2000 because it felt like an unimaginable lifetime away, and now here we are almost 20 years into the century.

I don’t know if the world has changed considerably since I was that young thing unable to believe I would see the year 2000, or perhaps I’ve just become more aware of it as I have grown older, but there is no denying that the human race are a strange and complicated species.

We seem to be capable of so many extremes – such utter brutality and cruelty to each other, or to other species we share the world with; such incredible compassion and love to those we care for, or towards complete strangers. It’s just sad that as time passes the cruelty seems to be outweighing the love. We live in a world now where acts of terrorism seem to be almost common place and are almost expected to happen. We can only hope that ultimately these people who preach such hate will be beaten – but even that in itself will require more violence and death. What a world we have created for ourselves.

This year seems to have been heavy with “celebrity” deaths – I don’t really like the world celebrity because these days it seems to be connected to more and more of the talentless who are only famous for being famous. That’s what makes the loss of so many of our old icons all the worse. Who will our children have to look up to – to wish they could be? Justin Beeber? (I assume that isn’t spelt correctly but don’t care about him enough to look it up!) Or how about the Kardashians?? Are these really the people we want the next generation to dream of being? To believe are worth looking up to?  I pity future generations if they never have the likes of Bowie, Lennon, Prince, Victoria Wood etc.. you don’t have to have been a fan of these people to know they made an impact  – a real contribution to the world.

So, yes, 2016 is almost over and we cannot know what 2017 might bring but we can hope that it will bring us more peace and love, and less of the horror that we seem to be able to accept as normal these days.

I wish you all the best – I wish all of us all the best 🙂

 

Book Review – Held by Him

Hello all and a belated Merry Christmas – I hope you have all had a good and peaceful time 🙂

What better way to relax and unwind at this time of year than having a good read and that is just what I have spent the last few hours doing… and this is what I read:

“Held by Him” by Michelle Abbott
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Held-Him-Book-Michelle-Abbott-ebook/dp/B01LZZQLXE/ref=pd_rhf_gw_p_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=6GDDR8R0W1G0FKG90RPC

Blurb: CALIN
I’m a master at controlling my feelings. I’ve had years of practice. My only release comes from cutting.
And pain. I like pain.
I don’t get involved in kidnapping…usually. Now, thanks to my father, I have a redhead locked in a room and cuffed to the bed.
Not just any redhead, this one has a smart mouth, and she’s a fighter. She fights me, and I love it.
She gets under my skin. She makes me feel.
She’s my firecracker.
But, if her brother doesn’t pay back the money he stole from us, I have to kill her.

MISTY
Drinking a cocktail that was laced with Rohypnol is the stupidest thing I’ve ever done.
But with an alcoholic for a father, and a drug addicted mother, I suppose intelligence was never going to be my strong suit.
Now, thanks to my idiot brother, I’m being held captive by a man who gets off on taunting and humiliating me.
A sadist.
I should be scared.
But he’s making me feel things I’ve never felt before. He’s doing things no one has done for me before.
I should be focusing on staying alive. Instead, I’m falling for a killer.

Rating: 4/5

My thoughts: I found this book a quick and satisfying read. I wasn’t sure at first if I would take to the format as the narrative alternates between the two main characters of Calin and Misty but after a couple of minutes I settled into it and found the story flowed very easily.

This is a romance with a twist – Misty should be afraid of the man who is holding her captive, but instead she cannot deny her attraction for him. Calin should be keeping his distance from the woman he will most probably have to kill, but she gets to him in a way no one else ever has before. Passion sparks in this story pretty much from the start and it draws you in.

The ending certainly leaves you wanting more 🙂 A most enjoyable read!

Book Review: “Spirit of the Book” by D. E. Howa

ABOUT THE AUTHOR D. E. Howard was born and raised in the small seaside town of Southport where she still resides and dreams of a wo rld where chocolate is better for you than an apple and of giving…

Source: Book Review: “Spirit of the Book” by D. E. Howa

8 Ways to Tarnish Your Author Brand, #RRBC #RWISA

Recently, I presented a short session on BUILDING YOUR AUTHOR PLATFORM during the RAVE REVIEWS BOOK CLUB’S 1st Annual, WRITERS’ CONFERENCE & BOOK EXPO.  (That session is still avail…

Source: 8 Ways to Tarnish Your Author Brand, #RRBC #RWISA