Lance Greenfield's Blog, page 11

Esther’s Challenge – Laugh-along-a-Limerick

Happy New Week to you all and welcome to Esther Chilton’s regular Monday challenge.

I am honoured that Esther continues to entrust me with hosting while she continues on her road to recovery from surgery. I must be doing OK, as she hasn’t fired me yet.

This week, her one-word prompt is BREAK. So can you write a limerick using the word BREAK in it somewhere?

Or write one of your own to suit your mood. If you can make the rest of us laugh, you will score bonus points.

Post your submissions in the Comments on this post.

Book Review: Definitely Dead by Kate Bendelow

Rating: 5 out of 5. Definitely Dead by Kate Bendelow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a truly excellent debut novel. There is no question in my mind that it fully deserves my five-star rating.

From start to finish, the pace never lets up.

As you would expect from a writer who is a serving CSI, the authenticity is exceptional. Not only does that come through in the characters in the SOCO team and the situations in which they find themselves, but Kate Bendelow has obviously researched the police procedural side of the story too. She even manages to capture perfectly the point of view of a young person of mixed race who is finding her feet in modern society.

The story opens with main character, Maya, a new CSI on her way to the scene of her first dead body. Although she is accompanied by a very experienced CSI, she makes an embarrassing yet comical, rookie error which draws much mirth from her colleagues when she returns to base. But she can take it. She realises that it is all part of the job. Not being able draw some humour from situations that arise in her chosen professions would make life very tough and almost unbearable.
There is something that irks her in the first scene. Although the death looks like, and is declared, as not suspicious, Maya feels that something is not quite right. Opening up about her feelings is a big mistake and her boss, Kym, is soon making it very clear to her that she must put facts ahead of feelings.

Maya is naïve and far too trusting. That quickly leads her in into more trouble with her boss and her colleagues and with the CID team. It takes her a while to understand that it is dangerous to automatically trust people from first meeting.

There is a great diversity in the characters, which are very well developed as the story moves on. My favourite character, despite some of his despicably violent acts, is a giant called Lurch. I won’t say why in my review, as you should have the opportunity to form your own opinion. I wonder if you’ll agree with me?

This is a great start to what promises to be an enthralling series. I look forward to the appearance of the second episode.

View all my reviews

Esther’s Challenge – Can You Tell A Story In . . .

It’s Thursday and, once again, and I have the pleasure and honour of hosting Esther Chilton‘s five-word challenge while she continues to recuperate following her shoulder surgery.

Today, Esther is receiving her second COVID vaccination so, appropriately, her prompt is JAB.

Can you tell a story in five words, using the word JAB in it somewhere?

PLEASE Post your submissions in the Comments on this post.

This is an open invitation to all of my followers and Esther’s to have some fun with words. We both believe that JAB gives us tonnes of scope, so let your imagination run wild.

Have fun!

Esther’s Challenge – Laugh-along-a-Limerick

Happy New Week to you all and welcome to Esther Chilton’s regular Monday challenge.

Esther continues to entrust me with hosting while she continues on her road to recovery from surgery. She tells me that she is making small inroads, so that is positive news.

Get well soon, Esther!

This week, her prompt is HEAT. So can you write a limerick using the word HEAT in it somewhere? Or write one of your own to suit your mood.

How high can you turn up the HEAT as you explore the poetic possibilities of a five line limerick? Have some fun and entertain us!

Today is my dear [late] mother’s birthday, so I shall be dedicating my contribution to June.

Post your submissions in the Comments on this post.

Book Review: All My Lies by Sophie Flynn

Rating: 4 out of 5. All My Lies by Sophie Flynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sophie Flynn’s debut novel has a great storyline and some interesting characters. She certainly shows a lot of promise and I look forward to reading much more of her writing in the future.

As the title suggests, there are many hidden secrets, which are gradually revealed like the layers of an onion. Those secrets are not the sole property of the main protagonist, Anna. At least three other characters have much to hide.

The book gets off to a cracking start but loses pace middle regions. Anna spends far too much time reflecting on her past. Her naivety is very frustrating. However, the story wraps up well in the end and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone to pack in their holiday baggage this Summer.

I admit that I hovered between awarding three and four stars as I read through this book, but settled on four in recognition of a good underlying story and some very interesting characters.


View all my reviews

Esther’s Challenge – Can You Tell A Story In . . .

It’s Thursday and, once again, and I have the pleasure and honour of hosting Esther Chilton‘s five-word challenge while she continues to recuperate following her shoulder surgery. We all wish her well.

This week, her prompt is HAIR. So can you tell a story in five words, using the word HAIR in it somewhere?

PLEASE Post your submissions in the Comments on this post.

This is an open invitation to all of my followers and Esther’s to have some fun with words. Let your imagination run wild.

Here’s your starter:

Ken Dodd: hair, teeth, duster.

I’ll post the rest of my attempts at hairy five-word stories later today.

Esther’s Laugh-along-a-Limerick

Happy New Week to you all and welcome to Esther Chilton’s regular Monday challenge.

Esther continues to entrust me with hosting while she continues on her road to recovery from surgery.

This week, her prompt is ROUND. So can you write a limerick using the word ROUND in it somewhere? Or write one of your own to entertain us all.

My first thoughts are that her word of the week gives us all tremendous scope.

There are no limits as to where ROUND can take us, so let your imaginations run riot and let’s have some fun!

Post your submissions in the Comments on this post.

Esther’s Challenge – Can You Tell A Story In . . .

It’s Thursday and, once again, and I have the pleasure and honour of hosting Esther Chilton‘s five-word challenge while she continues to recuperate following her shoulder surgery. We all wish her well.

This week, her prompt is FIRE. So can you tell a story in five words, using the word FIRE in it somewhere?

Post your submissions in the Comments on this post.

This is an open invitation to all of my followers and Esther’s to have some fun with words. Let your imagination run wild.

Light some inspirational verbal wildfires.

Esther’s and Lance’s Laugh-along-a-Limerick

It’s Monday and limerick time.

Esther is still recuperating, so I continue to host her weekly challenge.

Please respond in the Comments with your limerick(s) based on her word of the week, or make up your own to suit your mood in the moment.

I love alliteration, so am very happy that Esther’s one-word prompt for Laugh-along-a-limerick is

LUNCH

Esther’s Challenge – Can You Tell A Story In . . .

It’s Thursday and, once again, I am delighted to have been asked by Esther Chilton to host her five-word challenge while she continues to recuperate following her shoulder surgery.

This week, her prompt is THRILL. So can you tell a story in five words, using the word THRILL in it somewhere?

To me, this is incitement to be rather naughty but let the prompt lead you down your own path. If you can make us laugh, so much the better.

This evening, I shall add some of my own. In the meantime, here is my starter.

Hosting Esther’s challenge is thrilling.