#BookReview – Keepers by Sacha De Black @sacha_black

Over two years ago, I was introduced to a rather madcap young lady. She had spent her time organising a Bloggers get together in London, complete with awards, and I was gutted that I hadn’t been able to go. To be honest, I wasn’t sure my family would have understood my interest in meeting these strangers who were fast becoming virtual friends to me.

 

Still, I followed the progress of the bash and the organiser closely and am pleased to say I was able to finally go, and now, a twice-attending veteran, I feel I can call Sacha a friend, as well as a whip-wielding Bash-organising fiend!

 

Sacha Black

The gorgeous Sacha (De) Black!

 

Oh, but don’t let me forget the other label – author.

Yup.

Over these last few years, I have followed her progress in writing the first of her YA trilogy. I have marvelled at her ability to be a wife and mother, organise amazing events, operate a weekly writing challenge, and even churn out writers help book (and workbook!) and rewrite her entire fiction work THREE times, before the perfectionist in her was finally happy with the result!

And what a result!

Now, let me tell you I am not the world’s greatest YA fiction reader. Nor do I get excited over fantasy realms or individuals with great powers, but I felt compelled to read Sacha’s book because I felt I wanted to support a fellow Indie author, and to be honest, the snippets I had caught from her regular posts had piqued my interest.

So, the book in question…

Keepers (The Eden East Novels Book 1) by [Black, Sacha]

 

Available to buy here.

My review…

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What a fantastic book!

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting to get hooked, but oh my did I!

From the moment I stepped into the realm of Trutinor and the life of Eden East, with her powers and all the angst of being a teenager with so much pressure upon you, I was sunk.

I ended up reading the whole book in a day!

The characters are written well, with a depth to them which leaves you caring a lot about the protagonist and wishing evil thoughts upon the villains!

There is a love story, a family saga, and fantasy all in one, with the reality we know, Camden Town, woven into the cloth of the story that is set in a world that is unknown.

I loved the short glossary of terms at the beginning that shows just how well thought out this whole new realm is. And each chapter starts with a snippet from ancient scriptures from Trutinor, which again show the immense planning that has been done in conjuring up this story.

I can honestly say this was ‘unputdownable’ and I was left hanging, in a good way, desperate for the sequel to be published!

Well done Sacha! I am so proud of you! You did it! Gave birth to your longed for baby book!

My review on Goodreads – Here

My review on Amazon – Here

Book Blurb

Eden’s life is balanced…

…until her soul is bound to her enemy.

When her parents are murdered, the realm of Trutinor is threatened. Then a mysterious human arrives and changes everything.

As Eden’s world spirals out of control, she doesn’t need a charismatic Siren from her past returning to complicate life.

Now, saving Trutinor is the last thing on Eden’s mind.

Three boys.

Two murdered parents.

One deadly choice.

You can get the book from here. It will redirect you to your most frequently visited store.

 

20170610_111042

Me with my real – live author friend! ❤

 

Colleen’s Weekly #Poetry Tuesday Challenge Family & Thanks

So that Colleen went and left us for a month to chase her NaNo dreams, but she didn’t leave us without… oh no, she left us a challenge and a half.

A list of prompt word pairs that she wants in poetic form, but as SYNONYMS, not the actual words!

So, this week, we have

Thanks & Family

Here’s a Cinquain

 

Children, Play, Rock, Swing, Leisure

Pixabay Image

 

Children
Tiny copies
Needing, wanting, loving
Grateful for our progeny
Offspring

Ritu 2017

Carrot Ranch #FFRodeo Contest #3 Winners! @Charli_Mills

Here are the winners of the third Carrot Ranch Flash Fiction Rodeo!

via Winner of Flash Fiction Contest #3

ANYTHING BUT BOOKS TAG #TuesdayTag

I was invited to take part in an Anything But Books Tag Post by the lovely Author Shelley Wilson, who is not only a most fabulous author but a fantastic motivational writer too!

Seeing as I am sat here coughing and snivvling at home, I figured now is a good a time as any, to complete these cool questions!

Q1. Name a cartoon that you love

Image result for tom and jerry

 

There are so many that I love, being a big kid… you surely know that about me already! 😉 But one of my all-time favourites has to be Tom and Jerry. I remember my Pops recording episodes for my brother and me to watch on repeat! Simple fun which I think can still be accessed today!

 

Q2. What is your favourite song right now

I have to say that for the last few years, recent music has passed me by. I have been stuck in my bubble of favourite music from the 80’s and 90’s, to be honest. But now Lil Princess is getting older, she is introducing me to much more of the new music than I had access to. As a result, I am really enjoying the new stream of latino influenced songs that are out right now. I love the beat and sensuous feel of the music, and even though I don’t understand the words, my body and soul ‘feel’ it… do you get me? As a result, one of the songs I could listen to on repeat at the moment is Enrique Iglesias and Subeme La Radio!

Q3. What could you do for hours that isn’t reading

As Shelley mentioned, I could definitely people watch for hours, or find a great series I wanted to see, and binge-watch the whole thing! But as I have a job, and kids, and husband, and pets, the opportunities for either are few and far between!

Q4. What is something that you love to do that your followers would be surprised by

Sit quietly and alone.

I say this as I am quite ‘vocal’ on my blog, and I appear to be this great extrovert. And I am. But there are times when I want to be by myself, serene in my own silence. Honestly, I don’t just love hearing my voice all the time, I promise!

Q5. What is your favourite, unnecessarily specific thing to learn about

Old Indian traditions and customs and their roots. There are so many things we are expected to do, within our culture, and I love finding out the reasoning behind why we still fulfil those expectations.

Q6. What is something unusual you know how to do

I can count banknotes – really fast! A remnant of my banking cashier days! Not that I have many notes to count nowadays!

Q7. Name something that you’ve made in the last year

Hmm… aside from food that I make every day, I think I can safely say I have made progress in my career! As a teacher, I am being stretched, and I have been given new responsibilities, and also with the role of Governor tagged on, there is a sense of accomplishment I am feeling (along with the exhaustion that accompanies it!)

Q8. What is your most recent personal project

I think my self-imposed #RiNoWriMo in August was my biggest and most recent personal project. I have a book inside me that has been crying to get out for the last 17 years. It has taken this long for me to focus and take the first 13,000 words into something more in the region of 70,000! It still isn’t finished but I hope that in the new year I will create time to finish this and maybe I’ll have a novel on my hands sometime next year!

#RiNoWriMo

 

Q10. Tell us something that’s your favourite, but make it oddly specific

As I have grown older, I have become a little more discerning about the tea I drink. As a result, if I am having a brew, my favourite teabags to use are Punjana. I love the taste and the fact that they are created from tea leaves from both India and Kenya, countries that feature heavily on my family history, just add to the reason why I think they are the best!Image result for punjana

And there you have it! A few random facts about me!

I am nominating 5 bloggers, who I think might enjoy the Tag Challenge, and if you wish to take part, please do!

  1. Erika Kind
  2. Judy Martin
  3. Willow Withers
  4. Robbie Cheadle
  5. Lisa Amaya

RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #176 Broken&Over

Lovelt Ron’s prompt this week:

Broken & Over

Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge Image 2016

My haiku turned tanka this week!

Forest, Trees, Mato, Nature, Twigs, Wood

Pixabay Image

Leaves overturned by
Feet stepping on broken twigs
Each snap a pleasure
The crackle of winter walks
Appreciating outside

Ritu 2017

And a Senryu

Heart, Sky, Dahl, Blue Sky

Pixabay Image

Broken hearts can heal
With a little tenderness
It’s never over

Ritu 2017

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