THE HIDING PLACE by AMANDA MASON

 THE HIDING PLACE

by

AMANDA MASON

THE BLURB:

The front door rattled gently on its hinges and something- the wind, surely- nudged against it. She placed a hand against the door, listening as Elder House seemed to shift and settle around her...

Nell Galilee, her husband and step-daughter Maude rent a holiday cottage by the sea. The cottage has been empty for some time, and from the start Nell feels uncomfortable there. Something just isn't quite right about the place...

Twelve-year-old Maude soon finds herself beguiled by the house's strange atmosphere. There are peculiar marks on the roof beams above her bed, and in another room, a hiding place, concealing a strange, unnerving object.

As the house gradually reveals its secrets, Nell becomes increasingly uneasy and Maude spellbound. But these women- and the women that surround them- also have things to hide, and soon events will come to a terrible head...

THE REALITY:

This turned out to be my Christmas read, and the title struck a chord in my memory- Katherine Webb also wrote a novel (although it wasn't supernatural; just clever) called something very similar (The Hiding Places, research further back in my blog reveals). This book was a big, unwieldy tome, and I can certainly understand feedback for my similarly sized first novel, which dictated that I should spread my 320,000 words into a serial, as the book simply wasn't easy to just drop into a handbag and go.

The novel didn't dictate exactly where the story was set, but I kind of worked out that it was Whitby, which I hope to visit for Whitby Goth Weekend. I did love the atmospheric cliffside location of the unsettling rented home, and the author conveyed the mystery and unease surrounding this property pretty well. I also loved the historical explanations attached to the holiday let, and was especially taken by the description of a beautiful tiered garden in a neighbour's property.

Character-wise, this book was a good study in mother/ daughter relationships, including those that occur with step-mothers and step-daughters, and the difficulties a “blended” family has. I felt especially sorry for (spoiler alert!) Evie, who was a disappointment to her mother because she was gay, and didn't quite manage to pick (another spoiler alert!) Carolyn out as the chief protagonist until she actually “performed,” right near the end. Although she did come across as a tad weird and unsavoury. I also understood Maude, who clearly feels like a fifth wheel as a twelve-year-old, yet kind of got her step-mother, Nell's point of view as well, so full marks to the author for good, explorative writing.

But the thing I loved most about the book was the supernatural/ witchcraft aspect, and how it crossed over with art and design, with the weird markings on the ceiling, Nell's profession and Gina's shop. The finding of the hiding place and its significance was interesting and a tad spooky, as were the odd goings-on. Although I found the ending a tad ambiguous, I kind of understand the bargain Nell makes with the supernatural- although with bargains like that, I can't help but feel that there would be a high price to pay. It's slightly uneasy and unsettling. A tale that seems to jump around a bit (although paragraphs clearly define whose point of view we're being subjected to) but is certainly very readable and worth a go.

FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD by C.K. WILLIAMS

 FLOWERS FOR THE DEAD

by

C.K. WILLIAMS

THE BLURB:

I AM THE REASON GIRLS ARE TOLD NOT TO TRUST STRANGERS. I AM THEIR CAUTIONARY TALE.

Nineteen years ago Linn Wilson was attacked. Seventeen years old and home alone, she'd been waiting for her friends to arrive when she heard the doorbell ring. But when she opened the door, Linn let in her worst nightmare. The culprit was never found.

It was someone I knew. I am going to find out who did this to me.

Now Linn is determined to get to the bottom of the night that changed her life forever. Returning to the village where she grew up, she knows that someone must know something. The claustrophobia and isolation of small town living means secrets won't remain secrets for long...

THE REALITY:

Possibly not the most cheery of novels to read when going through a sudden bereavement, as I was! This was found at Southend railway station, where they have a book exchange thingy going on, where you leave one of your old books and take a new one. This novel- although possibly not something I would choose- seemed the best at the time.

The main thing I liked was that the author really did keep you guessing and, for a long time, it was an “it could be any one of them” situation. Then the finger seemed to point at (spoiler alert!) Anna, and I liked the way that the idea of a female perpetrator was explored, along with the claustrophobic nature of living in a small town society, and how everybody knows everyone else's business. I also liked the way sexuality- and how times have regarding acceptance of alternative lifestyles- was explored.

Would I have guessed the perpetrator? Maybe and kind of, as (spoiler alert!) he came into the frame as a candidate somewhat far along the line, and I loved the way Linn worked out who it actually was and how she dealt with him. I also liked the (sometimes) one line chapters and how the book was carefully compartmentalised with each player getting a different chapter to his or her self.

(Big spoiler alert!) The information regarding how she adorned her creepy dead husband with flowers in the chapel of rest was something else, and enough to make your skin crawl!

Not my usual cup of tea, but it was certainly evocative, and worth a go.

YOUTUBE TRESCO VLOG LIVE...

 My Tresco, Isles of Scilly vlog/ photo montage is now live!

Click on this link:-

https://youtu.be/LyU9wlwhZkE

This island was the most verdant of all of the islands of the archipelago, although it probably seems that way because of the presence of the fantastic and historical botanical gardens; Tresco Abbey Gardens.  That really is a wonderful place to visit- don't leave the island without going there.  

There are other attractions to visit; such as King Charles's Castle, Cromwell's Castle and the Blockhouse, but we actually viewed these from the neighbouring islands of Bryher and St Martin's.

The thing I noticed most about Tresco was that it seemed ten degrees warmer than St Mary's, where we stayed, and travelled by boat from each day.  It's due to the Gulf Stream effect, and the fact that this island is sheltered between others.

As you know, I will always be a writer before anything else, so here is my updated Tresco blog link:-

https://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2022/10/miss-elaineous-visits-tresco-abbey.html

😀

Enjoy the video, don't forget to hit the subscribe, like and notification buttons, hit follow on this blog as well and I'll see you soon.

TTFN

Miss Elaineous

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SUMMER AT LITTLE BEACH STREET BAKERY by JENNY COLGAN

 SUMMER AT LITTLE BEACH STREET BAKERY

by

JENNY COLGAN

THE BLURB:

I (me, Jenny, the author, not Polly, who's the character in the book, and has much better hair than me)... Anyway, I often have this sense that any day now, everything in my life is going to fall into place and run smoothly and hurray! I'll have somehow figured out this whole 'life' business.

But, of course, my life never ever goes like that. As soon as one thing sorts itself out, something else falls totally out of whack, and I'm chasing my tail again.

If you are a very calm, sorted person, I envy you. But if you are more like me, well, you might really enjoy this book. One minute, Polly is baking bread in Little Beach Street Bakery in gorgeous Cornwall. Then she decides to buy a lighthouse and, well... let's just say it doesn't go quite to plan.

If you've ever dreamed of tossing it all up in the air and starting over, I hope you love Summer at Little Beach Bakery. And if you haven't- well, you know, it has a really cool puffin in it.

Very warmest wishes, Jenny XXX

THE REALITY:

Quite a nice touch, that- the author putting a personal message blurb on the back of the book, and this novel is real feel good chick lit. It is heart warming, and I picked it up from the charity shop shelf as it features Cornwall, which I love visiting. I also took it to read when I went there on holiday not too long ago, although I was a bit too busy to actually read it! I soon found out that fictional Mount Polbearne is based on real St Michael's Mount, which I've visited before (and did this time), so it was very easy to envisage. I also loved the fact that our heroine lived in a lighthouse, although I sense that the reality of that life-changing decision is more romantic in fiction than reality!

But my favourite character was Neil the puffin, who made me cry buckets. Why, you might ask? Well, I had a long term boyfriend who nicknamed me puffin as “you have a face like one!” Well, I love puffins so that term of endearment was nice. But that boyfriend- who I'd remained friends with, despite him living in another country- passed away suddenly during my reading of this book, so Neil perhaps became specially poignant. Yep, this was a book read through tears.

As storylines go it was okay with a pleasant mix of characters. Villainous Malcolm was gross and it was easy to work out that it was Selina who (spoiler alert) wrote slag on Nan the Van. I have to say, the plot tripped along nicely but wasn't particularly spectacular. If it's light, bright and trite you're after then this book is for you. But the main thing for me with this read was the delightful Cornish setting.

YOUTUBE BRYHER VLOG LIVE...

My Bryher, Isles of Scilly vlog/ montage is now live...

Hit this link!

https://youtu.be/dvXnoByuUoU

This island was, to me, more about farming than anything else, mainly due to the fact that I seemed constantly to be stepping aside to let tractors past, and also due to Veronica Farm, which produces tasty artisan fudge, and the cows used to create it being very visible.

But it also has stunning views over ruins on neighbouring Tresco; a hangman's noose and jib; Fraggle Rock bar and a phallic blue penis soap...

Is your mind boggling?  Hurry up and give the video a watch!

As you know, I will always be a writer before anything else (well... most things...😉)

Here is my updated Bryher blog link:-

https://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2022/11/miss-elaineous-visits-bryher.html

Enjoy the video, don't forget to hit the subscribe, like and notification buttons, hit follow on this blog as well and I'll see you next time.

TTFN

Miss Elaineous

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A STEP IN THE DARK by JUDITH LENNOX

 A STEP IN THE DARK

by

JUDITH LENNOX

THE BLURB:

Simla, India, 1914. Married at 18 to the dashing Jack, beautiful Elizabeth Ravenhart is devastated when their dazzling party of a marriage is cut tragically short.

Without a penny to her name, Bess is persuaded by Jack's mother, the indomitable Cora Ravenhart, to return to England, leaving her infant son, Frazer, in his grandparents' care until Bess can afford to send for him, But Cora has no intention of parting with the boy, and Bess's desperate attempts to track him down come to a shattering conclusion.

Twenty years later, a knock on Bess's Edinburgh front door sets in motion a chain of events that no one, least of all Bess, could have foreseen. For Frazer has come to claim his family- and his birthright, the majestic, brooding Ravenhart House. None of their lives will ever be the same again...

THE REALITY:

It was the second time around for me with this book and it was weird- I woke up one morning and thought about the novel, and how I'd like to read it again (I tend not to keep all the books I read- if I did I'd have a veritable library!) Later that day I chanced upon it in a second hand book shop- coincidence and fate are weird beasts!

I have read most of Judith Lennox's work, after an ex-boyfriend found a proof copy of heart-touching Footprints on the Sand in a charity shop. The Shadow Child and The Dark Eyed Girls also feature up there with novels of hers that really caught my attention and enthralled, as did The Heart of the Night. A Step in the Dark tugged at me for a different reason, and that was mostly due to the beautifully described locations in Scotland, especially those involving the enigmatic highlands. I haven't been to Scotland since I was nine (although a trip to Glasgow and Edinburgh has been discussed for next year) and I found the intricate references to tumbling waterfalls, rippling, secluded pools as (spoiler alert!) a place for murder to take place, wild, overgrown valleys and the way the days are so short in midwinter really captivating.

As for the characters, I loved Bess and enjoyed reading about her developing relationship with Martin, who went on to become (another spoiler alert!) the love of her life. I enjoyed the way that women's choices- or rather the lack thereof- at the turn of the Victorian century were unpicked and put into novel form, and I could also relate to Bess's personality. She was someone not quite refined enough for genteel society, yet certainly at home around men; understanding how their minds worked (possibly not quite enough? Read it, and you'll see what I mean...) I also could strongly relate to Naomi, who had a real need for total and all-encompassing love, and the need to be loved, being a much-wanted daughter who disappointed her parents (the same happened to me) and Maxwell, with his need to be independent following a troubled relationship with a father who could resort to too much violence disguised as discipline at times. The homosexual inclinations of Frazer (yet another spoiler alert!) were something that was easy to spot before it was spelled out to you.

This was a saga that did draw you in, although I'm glad add-on characters remained just that (Hugh, Margot, Oliver and Billy moved the story on but didn't do much for me. I loved the intrigue that kept you guessing as to what Maxwell and Frazer's fate really was, and who was involved. I loved the way the important relationships in this novel were explored in depth, including what I once would have termed “the psycho-babble” but since studying the human psyche as part of my MA understand a bit more. But most of all I loved the Scottish scenery/ setting.

I flattened this tome in 48 hours, so it comes highly recommended on my part.

MISS ELAINEOUS VISITS GREAT YARMOUTH (YET AGAIN!)

This is going to be a very brief blog as it's not my first trip to Great Yarmouth- I counted, and it's my 15th as an adult.   We stayed for a long weekend in a Premier Inn near the railway station.

 It wasn't that cold for November- a tad crisp, sometimes rainy, but certainly bearable.  On our first night we went for dinner and a walk down Marine Parade, and it was good to see all of Britannia Pier's lights in working order (that isn't always the case, and sometimes you feel like the pier is playing a game of hangman with you!)

The Silver Slipper amusement arcade.  As a shoe lover I just had to photograph this sign!

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The Golden Nugget amusement arcade.  To the right of the photo you can make out the Fish & Grill, where we ate.  The deep fried calamari rings here are excellent, and as big as tractor tyres!

Sunlight descending over the River Bure, photographed as walked around from the back of our hotel one morning.

The same river on a different, drizzly day, and you can make out the book memorial in the centre of the photo.  

Built in 1829, a suspension bridge crossed the river very near here, until 1845 when a terrible disaster took place.  Viewers gathered to watch Nelson the clown being pulled by geese down the river in a tub as part of a circus promotional stunt.  Thousands stood on the river banks and hundreds on the bridge.  But the bridge couldn't take the weight of the spectators and collapsed, throwing most into the water and killing 79.

This memorial was unveiled in 2013, and lists the 79 victims, along with their ages.  59 were children.  It is made of granite and stands 1.4m high.

The sad disaster is noted as being "the largest recorded loss of life" in Great Yarmouth.

It is so upsetting to see the beautiful Victoria Arcade- opened in 1926 and updated in 1987- mostly empty and devoid of shops.  Several businesses have either moved or closed during my time (since 2011) coming to Great Yarmouth. 

I know us consumers are partly to blame- the internet is now the world's biggest shop.  But there will always be people who want to go shopping; enjoy the experience and who want to handle goods, try on clothes and play with gadgets, etc.  I hope landlords and councils are doing all they can to encourage shopping back into the town centre.

Down Row 46 is this little beauty; an original Thomas Crapper manhole cover.  These are rare!  Crapper (1836-1910) didn't invent the water closet- he was a Yorkshire-born plumber and businessman who just improved upon it, and perhaps had the perfect name for such an association.  One story is that crap was originally an American term for rubbish, and the name evolved to mean a bowel movement after WWI, when US servicemen were stationed in Britain.  But the word crap is also thought to be of Middle English (1066-C15) origin, again referring to rubbish and first logged (yes, I'm aware of the double entendre!) in writing in 1846 as a term for bodily waste.

Looking down Row 89, which is known as Old Hannah's Row (although I've also seen it listed as Old Hannah's Back Row, Herring's Row and Hans Hering Row) and this is the back of Great Yarmouth's only surviving 17th century urban jettied timber framed building.  It's the building to the left, and this particular row is off King Street.

Oddly- although I'm sure the people responsible knew what they were doing- it looks like its been over-restored, and has lost authenticity.  

Looking over to St George's Theatre, which was originally commissioned as a chapel in 1714.  It was deconsecrated in 1959 and fell into disrepair, before being established as an arts centre and theatre in the early 1970s.

It hasn't been without its problems- from 2006 it was shrouded in scaffolding as the building suffered with structural defects.  In particular, the tower was unstable, and I have heard it referred to as "the leaning tower of Yarmouth!"  2009 lottery funding ensured its restoration and survival.

The Royal Hotel, and Charles Dickens stayed here whilst writing David Copperfield, which is considered to be autobiographical.  Great Yarmouth features as a key location in the novel.

This plaque on the front of the hotel lists the dates of Dickens' residence as 1848-49.

We nipped inside the Empire building; a live music venue and nightclub which is also open during the day.

Here is the view towards the back, where there are comfortable lounge seats, a stage and a cocktail bar.

Back towards the entrance, and they also serve various kinds of street food in little alcoves to the side.

Standing at the door looking all the way down, and it looked fantastically sparkly and impressive.

This guy stands out side a joke shop, sicking up.  Yes, I know I'm lavatorial but that's a bit revolting even for my sensibilities!

We took a walk around the Waterways, and here's the morning sun glinting over the lake nearest the vast expanse of sand dunes.

Sand In Your Eye created this 2019 sculpture which sits in the railway station.  It's a replica of Greater Anglia's new trains, the sculptors worked on site and it took three days to complete.

I have three older Great Yarmouth blogs for you to look at.

This huge blog features the Tolhouse Museum, Caister Lifeboat and the (now sadly gone) Nelson Museum:-

https://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2019/09/miss-elaineous-visits-great-yarmouth.html

This smaller blog shows you Anna Sewell's birth place and the Nelson Monument:-

https://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2020/02/miss-elaineous-visits-great-yarmouth.html

This depicts my ride on the observation wheel on the seafront, and also details the Caister lions:-

https://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2021/10/miss-elaineous-visits-great-yarmouth.html

Great Yarmouth, of course I will return!

Until then,

TTFN

Miss Elaineous

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YOUTUBE ST MARTIN'S VLOG LIVE...

 My St Martin's, Isles of Scilly vlog montage is now live!

Hit this link:-

https://youtu.be/dBVcUKAqOkM

 This island has beautiful beaches and a clear blue-green sea, which are enough to rival anything abroad.  It also has an impressive Daymark, plus fantastic views over Tean (known for its puffins) and St Helen's (once a quarantine island).

I also blogged about St Martin's last year, and have updated it, link here:-

https://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2022/10/miss-elaineous-visits-st-martins.html

Enjoy the video, don't forget to hit the subscribe, like and notification buttons, hit follow on this blog as well and I'll see you next time.

TTFN

Miss Elaineous

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YOUTUBE ST AGNES VLOG LIVE....

My St Agnes- the most remote Isles of Scilly island- vlog is now live!  It's probably my favourite off-island and, again, it's a photo montage post.

Hit this link:-

https://youtu.be/-qrh5-E07Ag

I also blogged about St Agnes last year, and have updated it, link here:-

http://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2022/10/miss-elaineous-visits-st-agnes.html

Enjoy the video, don't forget to hit the subscribe, like and notification buttons, hit follow on this blog as well and I'll see you next time.

TTFN

Miss Elaineous

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MY YOUTUBE CHANNEL IS LIVE!

My first YouTube post is live!

Click on the link below:-

https://youtu.be/x5r05aUoLeQ

It's been a real comedy of errors!  I've had to teach myself filmmaking and how to work my camera's settings correctly and, as you can imagine, it hasn't been plain sailing.  Which is why my Isles of Scilly posts will all be voiced-over photo montages, mostly using material taken during my previous trips to the archipelago.

Aside from moaning that I have "a face that's good for radio" I have also learnt that I have quite a broad Norfolk accent, almost 30 years after leaving that place.  I sound like I should be sitting atop a tractor chewing on a piece of straw! 

Anyway, I'm committed to a lifetime of continuous learning, and you'll be pleased to know that I've managed some recent proper filming, at local attractions.  All will be revealed in good time.

In the meantime, I also have two St Mary's blogs, links:-

https://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2020/11/miss-elaineous-visits-scilly-isles.html

https://elainerockett.blogspot.com/2022/12/miss-elaineous-visits-st-marys-isles-of.html

Until then, enjoy the video, don't forget to hit the like, subscribe and notification buttons, hit follow on this blog as well and I'll see you next time.

TTFN

Miss Elaineous

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EMMA'S SECRET by BARBARA TAYLOR BRADFORD

 EMMA'S SECRET

by

BARBARA TAYLOR BRADFORD

THE BLURB:

Paula O' Neil, beloved granddaughter of Emma Harte, believes that the business empire Emma left to the family is secure. However, beneath the surface, tension is mounting and sibling rivalry brewing.

Into this volatile mix walks Evan Hughes, a young American fashion designer. Her grandmother's dying wish was that Evan find Emma Harte. But Emma has been dead for thirty years...

Troubled by Evan's presence, and her uncanny resemblance to the family, Paula turns to Emma's war-time diaries.

Emma Harte comes back vividly to life. It is London during the Blitz. As bombs drop, sirens wail and her sons go off to war, Emma's trademark resilience, willpower and strength all come to the fore. And as the pages unfurl, Paula discovers the secret Emma took to the grave.

THE REALITY:

It was another case of second time around for me, as I first read this follow-up- the fourth in the A Woman of Substance (my favourite book of all time) series around 20 years ago.  Meh. At the time I gave it a three-out-of-five rating on Amazon, and the same applies. Yes, I know that no book in this particular series is ever going to be as good as my favourite, but Barbara Taylor Bradford's style has changed since her first few tomes (AWoS, Act of Will and Voice of the Heart) in that it's not so “adjectival” as she liked to describe her evolving style. And I like adjectival, or purple prose, or whatever you want to call it compared to what's in fashion nowadays. My main gripe, however, is that the characters in this book are all two-dimensional, beautiful, wealthy and intelligent too good to be true “perfect” human beings, with the odd heavy-handed protagonist thrown in for a good measure. The same seems to be true of all of her later work.

I liked the concept of Emma's hidden diaries, and enjoyed the suspense of guessing who the father of Glynnis's baby was, and the discovery of the key to the wooden casket. I was intrigued as to why Evan looked very much like either Paula or the Harte side of the family. Being something of a fashionista I also enjoyed the details of the vintage fashion show, and the descriptives involving Emma's homes, but the storyline was lacking rather than gripping. I found the complete reams of copying Winston Churchill's famous wartime speeches lazy and boring; although I was moved by details of the Holocaust, and what was discovered with the liberation of the concentration camps (and really, these are things that everybody should know about).

But the thing that grated on me the most was the lack of continuity from A Woman of Substance. In that book Emma had chestnut/ russet hair- why is she now a complete redhead? In that book she was pregnant at 16- why now does she recall being pregnant at 15? In that book she refused to marry David as she didn't want to devastate his orthodox mother, who wanted her son to marry within the Jewish faith. Okay, she later didn't want to break up his marriage when he asked her if there was still a chance for him, but why now was there emphasis on the latter? These differences grate- if an author is going to write a sequel, then they should at least re-read the first book to get their facts right. Also, the final scene where Evan gets mugged seems totally unnecessary to the story (unless it becomes something to do with the next book in the series, and there are two more).  I also would have liked to see Emma have a little bit of romance, rather than continually grieving for Paul.  Yes, I know he was the love of her life but... life is for the living, and your 50s are not too old for a bit of passion! (In fact, no age is....😉)

The saving graces were the interesting characterisations of both Glynnis and Tessa, for me, plus the fashion element. But, all in all, a bit... meh.

THE PEARL SISTER by LUCINDA RILEY

 THE PEARL SISTER

by

LUCINDA RILEY

THE BLURB:

CeCe D'Apliese has never felt she fitted in anywhere. And following the death of her father; the elusive billionaire Pa Salt- so-called by the six daughters he adopted from around the globe- she finds herself at breaking point.

In desperation, and armed only with the scant clues her father has left her, Ce Ce begins a search to discover her true origins... a search that takes her to the searing heat and dusty plains of the Red Centre of Australia.

But what is her connection to Kitty Mc Bride, a Scottish clergyman's daughter who lived there over a hundred years ago?

As Ce Ce unearths deeply buried and long-forgotten secrets, she starts to believe that this wild, vast continent could offer her something she never felt possible: a sense of belonging and a home.

THE REALITY:

What a wonderful tome! So good, in fact, that I managed to flatten it in a short space of time, and will keep my eyes peeled for others in this series. CeCe is one of six adopted girls, and goes off in search of her roots and birth family (I think we can safely assume that the others in the series are similarly themed). She was a much-likeable and very real character, with lots of human facets, and very easy to warm to. I did wonder if the jumps back and forth between the present day and Kitty's time, starting in the in the early 1900s, might jar, and they did- but the storyline and clever scenic depictions were enough to cause you to be reabsorbed within minutes.

Covering Scotland, Australia and the Far East (the latter two I am yet to, and would love to, visit) I'm glad that I managed to discover new things, as I'm committed to a lifetime of constant learning. It was good the way the nuances of the Aboriginal culture, along with their people's sad history, were brought to life via their idioms, such as their need to “go walkabout” and their speech patterns. In fact, this author is very good at picking up and describing accents, full stop. The fact that the sisters are named after the Seven Sisters constellation makes me want to pick up my astronomy book and learn more (I've always been fascinated by the night sky; following witnessing a total eclipse of the moon at the age of 10) and I could also resonate with the quiet way the Aborigines choose to define themselves spiritually- by being, so to speak, “at one” with the universe and all her gifts, and taking the time to tune in to the intuition of nature.

I loved the theme of pearls- including a cursed pearl- that formed the backbone of the story, and kind of liked the character of Ace, although a part of me did, for some time, wonder why he was even in the book. But he ties up the story of the just desserts of the beautiful-but-dreadful pearl nicely, and it's good to not to leave threads hanging in a story. One gripe was that (spoiler alert!) Kitty didn't take her pleasure and make a life with her true love, Drummond, when she could, instead opening herself up to years of loneliness and longing, which were all her own fault. I kind of get what drove her, and am glad she eventually got a happy ending, but even so... Another gripe was that I couldn't understand CeCe's constant tiredness (she's someone who could sleep for up to 15 hours, and always rose late) and large appetite- I did actually suspect she might be pregnant, but this wasn't so, so perhaps we have to put it down to jet lag. But that aspect of her confused me.

This book possessed a good mix of characters, with a plethora of superbly interesting plot lines going on, and was a real history lesson. Definitely give this a go.

I'M MOVING INTO YOUTUBE VIDEO MAKING!

I'm diversifying with my recording of tourist attractions, and moving into vlogging!

Aside from hoping to monetise, I also want to direct more traffic towards this blog- the written word will always be my first love.💜

I have taken a couple of online courses, but still have a lot to learn in terms of filming and editing the moving image.  There have been a couple of disasters (which I prefer to call "learning curves") but I'm persevering and hope to have videos up and running soon.

This is my self-designed YouTube banner, featuring Porthcressa Beach in the Isles of Scilly, my moniker and flower logo...

Note: I have since changed my banner...

...And added a watermark...

It reads M:E, short for Miss Elaineous, but it comes across as a tad conceited...

...And I love it!

💜

And here is my standard phizog portrait...

Wish me luck in my endeavours, and I hope you'll all come over and support me by hitting the like and subscribe buttons once I'm up and running.

Here's my channel link:-

https://www.youtube.com/@miss-elaineous

Until then,

TTFN,

Miss Elaineous.

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