The Holiday Reading List

 

I've been home for a few weeks and thought it was finally time I shared my holiday reading list.  In all I read 9 books the week that I was away.  But please be aware, I'm a really quick reader.
I really didn't have that much time to read.  We were visiting new ports every day and away on trips, then it was dinner at seven every night and few drinks or coffee in the bar later. 
Thankfully the kindle managed to hold it's charge for the whole week.  And there aren't any books on this list that were on my reading list at the beginning of the year.  I'll update on that list in a few weeks.

So what did I read????
Maureen Johnson 13 Little Blue Envelopes.  I'm  reading quite a lot of teenage fiction right now and was looking forward to this.  It was fine, but the execution wasn't quite as good as the idea itself and I was a little disappointed.

Darynda Jones First Grave on the Right.  I had noticed this on the Best First Book list on the RITA list, so had bought it.  And boy, was it worth it.  A fabulous book and I'll be crossing my fingers for it at the ceremony this weekend.

Paige Harbison Here Lies Bridget.  My third teenage read.  There were parts of this book I loved and parts I hated.  The overall premise was good but some bits left me a little disappointed.



Anne Patchett State of Wonder.  I enjoyed the medical elements of this book and it really did boggle the mind, but I didn't particularly enjoy the end. 


Doukakis's Apprentice Sarah Morgan.  Another book that had been nominated for a RITA I wanted to read.  I'm glad I did as I thoroughly enjoyed it.  Especially the bit about the tights!  I'll have my fingers crossed for this book over the weekend too.



Catch your Death by Louise Voss and Mark Edwards.  Really, really loved this.  Yes, I am a geek and it was the medical stuff that drew me to this book too,  But it was SO good.  I wish I'd written it myself. 



 The Girl behind the Scandalous Reputation Michelle Conder.  This was a debut book and I can see why this author has been picked up.  It was a great read and I look forward to more from her in the future.


Here Comes the Groom Karina Bliss.  You really can't go wrong with a Karina Bliss book and this was another good story from her.  My favourite is still What the Librarian Did.

Mr Right at the Wrong Time Nikki Logan.  I wasn't sure if I would like this one.  But Nikki really delivered.  There is an underlying issue of fidelity in this book as when the heroine meets the hero he's married.  But Nikki handles this really sensitively and really well.  I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this story.  But then, I always like her books.

So that's it.  The nine summer holiday reads.  I've still to update on the other list of recommendations I got at the beginning of the year and I'll do that in a few weeks.
So what have you been reading over the summer?

Home from the Conference

I'm blogging a little about the conference over at Pink Heart Society on Thursday, but wanted to give a little shoutout to all the wonderful people that I met.

First of all the Minxes of Romance!  Well, three of them.  It was lovely to see them and I can report I didn't see any bad behaviour at all!

Some fellow Mills and Boon authors, the lovely Kate Walker, Fiona Harper, India Grey, Natalie Rivers, Anne Fraser, Carol Townend and Louise Allen, Jennifer Taylor. Joanna Fulford.

Fiona Harper and India Grey

I also had the joy and pleasure of meeting with the Scottish contingent!  The lovely Jenny Harper - (who has the best business card I've seen in years!)  Anne Graham, Rosemary Gemmell and Janice Horton.

Some of the medical authors and editors from Mills and Boon, also Molly Hopkins

We flat-shared with Tamsyn Murray, Cally Taylor , Rowan Coleman.  There was certainly a lot of chat!

Part of the fun of the conference is the chance to learn something new and attend the talks.   Liz Fenwick and I took part in a session about the New Authors Scheme as we had both came through this.  Julie Cohen made everyone cry in the space of four minutes, a feat not lightly achieved.  Talli Roland gave a great talk around social media and promoting yourself.  (All with a beautiful baby bump!) and Kate Harrison presented her research on women's fiction which was fascinating.  I particularly enjoyed the profiles of the readers!

I've already been online to check out transport to Sheffield foe next year.  I'm trying to figure out why the train from Glasgow to London takes 4 and a half hours and the train from Glasgow to Sheffield six hours!

Home from holidays

Well, I'm back home.  To the place where no-one makes my breakfast, lunch and dinner for me and I have to do my own washing.
Take me back to the cruise ship please!

The land of Strawberry Daiquiri's is calling again!

After visits to Olympia, Bari, Athens, Santorini and surviving the Donkey Stampede, Corfu and Croatia, with a final sail up the Grand Canal in Venice, it's tough being home.

However in a few days time, it's the RNA Conference in Penrith.  In between that I've mountains of washing to do and another chapter of my next book to write.  It's time to get back to work!!