Harmony Kent's Blog, page 2
July 17, 2024
#BookReview: Little Boy Missing by Lizzie Fry @LizzieFryAuthor @JoffeBooks #psychologicalthriller
Hi everyone!
Today, I have a review for an eBook from an author new to me, Lizzie Fry. This is a gripping read which grips from the get go, and I hated every time I had to put it down! I received this read via Joffe Books ARC >>>
About the Book:
My little boy is missing — and they think I did it.
My husband is always at work, he’s basically checked out of our marriage at this point. So I’m stuck at home with three kids under the age of eight for the summer holidays.
The boys are my world, I just wish we had the money for activities — eight-year-old Kyle has learning difficulties and they all need a lot of running around.
I can’t spend another day in this house. The boys are so excited for a bike ride to the woods so we head out.
We play hide and seek and Kyle is never very good, bless him. But this time he must have hidden really well because he’s not even giggling.
Where is he? Panic sets in.
Then I see his bike lying on its side, wheels spinning, like he just vanished into thin air.
We were already at breaking point. This is going to completely tear us apart.
I’m not the perfect wife. I’m not the perfect mother. But I didn’t do anything to my little boy.
Many thanks to Joffe Books for this eARC.
A gripping read with an ending you won’t expect
‘Despite herself, she smiles as she hears the ghosts of children’s giggles and whispers. Their feet crunch on fallen leaves. Kids never understand how loud they are.’ This opening paragraph in the prologue engages you immediately and shows how in tune the author is with children and motherhood. This only gets stronger as the book goes on.
What a ripping read! I only put it down due to live getting in the way, sigh. The plot, pacing, twists, characterisations, and writing style were all fantastic. The only reason this isn’t a full five stars is due to one massive plot hole–there’s a certain character whom the family and police should have at least questioned if not outright suspected from the get go due to the specific circumstances surrounding that person and another. I can’t say more because that would give you a major spoiler.
Although I guessed the perpetrator fairly early on, there were enough twists and turns and red herrings to keep me second-guessing myself. While I didn’t like the ending it was actually brilliant and so true to the harsh realities of life. After a little reflection, the author finished it all with a situation I’ve seen too much of in real life. So, while it may not satisfy you initially, you will see the truth and likelihood of it.
So many wonderful lines struck me that I find it difficult to show just a small selection for this review, but her goes …
‘The question always felt barbed to me, like rolling on stinging nettles. Tiny prickles, barely there but enough to itch. Small enough to dismiss . . . Until a million tiny wounds join up and make a gaping, bloody hole.’ This made for an incredibly strong opening to the first chapter.
And …
‘When life gets real, that’s when we find out who we really are.’
And …
‘The woodland is deserted. There are no giggles, no tell-tale signs of a child nearby. Even the breeze has gone. It’s as if the entire wood is holding its breath.’
Though it took me three days to finish this amazing book, if life hadn’t interfered, I would have read it in one go it was so good. I hated having to put it down. As I said, without the gaping plot hole, I would have given a solid five stars. Still, it gets a resounding 4 stars and a recommendation to go and read this gripping novel. Oh, and don’t forget to breathe as you read!
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you soon 
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links … (The book releases today!)
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
The post #BookReview: Little Boy Missing by Lizzie Fry @LizzieFryAuthor @JoffeBooks #psychologicalthriller first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
July 3, 2024
Update and ideas for #Characterisation
Hi, everyone! You may have noticed my new author picture around places. The original photo is over 10 years old. Can you believe it?!? How fast the time passes. Another thing you may have noticed is the headwear … well, there’s a story about that …
For a long time now I’ve struggled with slow hair loss. The last time it got patchy, I still had enough to put it up in a tight and small ponytail and covered the gaps by wearing various chemo hats and scarves. That was, thankfully, short lived … as in maybe a month or two. Then my hair grew back, and it was gorgeously curly! Yay. Only …
after further slow loss, I washed my hair a week before mum-in-law’s funeral and loads of clumps came out of my scalp all in one go. It was bad. I had an appointment the next morning, which meant a couple of hours travel too. So, seeing how straggly it looked, and that I had no way of covering the many bald bits, I had ten minutes to do something. I couldn’t even put it up like the previous time. Desperate, I got out my hairdressing scissors and hacked at it until enough came off that I could hide the mess under a hat. And off we went on our not so merry way.
Being so lucky as I am, ahem, the prosthetic appointment was a disaster. How the new socket passed any quality check from the workshop I’ll never know. If they do check them! And what point was the test socket if they didn’t use it as a template for the actual socket? Anyway, I digress …
After all that, we decided to come home rather than go somewhere to relax as planned, and I decided to shave my hair. I wanted to use the clippers with their long comb attachment, but hubby couldn’t find them. Yes, you just knew how my day was going, didn’t you?! And no, despite all, while it was a Friday, it wasn’t the 13th 
. So, with the clipper teeth on long rather than short, I began and ignored the wet salty stuff pouring down my cheeks.
The result was okay except it showed the patches with no follicles at all. In the end, I got out my safety razor and shaved it down to the wood, as they say. Much better. I grabbed one of the few lightweight scarves and did my best. Then I hit the big A, who came to my rescue with some marvellous stuff, which they delivered the next day 
After a week and a half, I’m happier. And the lack of stress of attempting to stop the hair loss and style the darn stuff, I’m kinda relieved. It will take hubby a while I think, but that’s his problem, not mine. I’m doing my best, and when life leaves you no choice …
Anyhow, I now want to share about this and some other stuff I’ve experienced which we writers can all use to enhance our fictional characters. Because, ya know, when life gives you lemons (thanks Staci for reminding me of that saying!) …
Full Menopause(For anyone who’s worried by this point, I won’t go into much detail. It’s easily searched online. Phew, I hear some saying! 
Suffice it to say, there are common symptoms most people know of such as hot flushes and mood swings, to say the least.
I also wanted to share a couple of rarer symptoms. For instance, cold flushes are a thing. I had cold spells off and on for long enough and had no clue they were another indication on top of everything else the docs kept ignoring. And, huge biggy here in relation to my chronic illness, menopause can also exacerbate muscle and joint pain and stiffness. Yep, go figure.
All of which to remind me, as well as anyone else who isn’t a specialist, that research is key.
Hair Loss
Many, many things can cause this in both men and women. Male pattern baldness is as common as air and resembles a monk’s tonsure. Women’s baldness is something nobody seems to want to talk about. And to go full on Sinéad O’Connor isn’t socially acceptable in most places. In this context, it’s much easier for the guys to shave their heads. However, some—like hubby—struggled to make the switch from comb over to shaving.
An interesting point here is most females hate comb overs, whereas the majority of guys believe the comb over is a better look. In hubby’s case, the shave took years off him in looks.
Some common causes are stress, alopecia (men and women), and hormones, along with certain treatments—the most well known being chemotherapy. I’m not sure with mine but suspect the roughly a decade and a half in menopause with no help or treatment, together with about two years on steroids, could be the biggest root of the problem (couldn’t resist that little pun!).
Most likely, I won’t attempt to obtain a diagnosis. One, I don’t want yet more drugs. Already, I rattle when I move, lols 
. Two, our health service is broken, and it would only lead to more stress trying to get to the bottom of it. The path of least resistance and simple acceptance seem best for me right now.
When sharing my fun with follicles with Staci Troilo, she kindly shared this about a friend and this video …
‘My best friend from college also lost her hair. She turned it into a business. She became a model for wig companies and reviewed them on YouTube. She stopped modeling for them and now just runs the channel herself. If you’re interested: https://www.youtube.com/@sparehairloveaffair.’
Wow, what an inspiring woman! In resharing, it’s my hope to give you all further resources if you ever want to write character(s) going through any of this stuff.
When reading novels, the hugest issue missed in writing about any of these things—chronic illness, hair loss, menopause, even ageing, etc.—the process of grief we go through gets ignored totally. And it’s so important to keep things relatable and real.
While my grieving for the hair loss was quick, like a day, for certain I went through every stage. The chronic illness, I still have ups and downs and am evidently still coming to terms. My point here is that grieving can be fast or slow and, sadly, sometimes never ending. We’re all individual. Now I’m where I’m at, I plan to experiment with both glam and elegance in my choice of headwear, attire, and jewellery!
To finish on a high note …The good news is, laughably, I’ve lost so much weight, my facial recognition on my phone refused to accept I was me, and I had to do a new one 
That’s enough from me. I hope you’ve found this post informative and helpful and not too distressing. If you feel you’d like to share and are able, I’d love for you to tell us some of your trials and tribulations in the spirit of adding to character building, either in the comments or with a link to any post you write/have written that’s relevant to this discussion. And if you simply want to say hello, I’d still love you to comment.
Thanks for stopping by, everyone. I miss you all so much and am still doing my utmost to visit whenever I can. Hugs, Harmony 
The post Update and ideas for #Characterisation first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
June 26, 2024
#BookReview: The Caregiver by N. L. Hinkens @NormaHinkens @JoffeBooks #psychologicalthriller
Hi everyone!
Sorry I’ve been absent online again. We’ve had a death in the family. At the time of writing this post, I don’t know when the funeral will be. So, if I’m late responding, you’ll know why. Either that, or I’m unwell again. Please know, I always love your visits and comments. Hugs from me
***
Today, I have a review for an eBook from an author new to me, N. L. Hinkens. This is a gripping read with palpable tension from the get go, and it kept me reading until 2am as I could not put it down! I received this read via Joffe Books ARC >>>
About the Book:
She’s meant to care for my family. But actually she wants to harm us all.
How does an 81-year-old woman, who hasn’t left her bedroom — let alone the house — without assistance in months, simply vanish into thin air? I’m trying not to freak out at the thought of my mother wandering the neighborhood, lost in a maze of confusion.
We found her — but that was the moment I knew I needed help. I’m at breaking point. I’m a stay-at-home mom. I love my four-year-old twins deeply — but they’re a handful. My husband’s always away on business. My mother’s in the early stages of dementia. It’s a lot.
So I let Dana into my home.
She’s the answer to my prayers. She’ll be my mother’s live-in caregiver.
Soon there are red flags.
I catch Dana gazing at my husband when she thinks I’m not looking. She tells my daughter she’s ‘part of the family now’. My son Sam is becoming silent and withdrawn.
And then, a few weeks after Dana’s arrival, I enter my mother’s bedroom — and get the shock of my life.
I ask Dana to leave. But she won’t
My Review:
Many thanks to Joffe Books for this eARC.
This kept me awake until 2am, it’s so unputdownable, & the ending will fill you with glee
‘By the time the police arrive at the house, I’m hyperventilating.’ From this first line to the last, this book will hold you captive.
I love the premise and the narration is realistic and so well done. This writer knows human nature so well. Some of the main character’s reactions had me yelling ‘no!’ at her, yer simultaneously I could understand her sheer frustration and anger. Even the nasty woman was relatable, which takes skilled writing.
Each character feels unique and comes to life on the page, and the many bumps in the road and twists and turns make this a memorable read.
With so many great phrases, I found it difficult to choose just a these three, but here are my favourites …
‘ Panic surges up inside me and I squeeze my hands into fists, trying to quell the emotional rollercoaster before it takes off with me on board.’
And …
‘My heart is banging against my ribs so forcefully it feels like it’s trying to break free. How in the world can it be beating this hard when I feel like I just died inside? ’
And …
‘ I can feel the lie wedged between us—in the tremor of his hand, and the harried glance he shoots my way.’
The ending had me laughing aloud with glee. Talk about Karma! As you’ve probably guessed, this book gets a resounding 5 stars from me. Go read it now. You’ll lose sleep too, but only in the best of ways.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you soon
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links … (The book releases today!)
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
The post #BookReview: The Caregiver by N. L. Hinkens @NormaHinkens @JoffeBooks #psychologicalthriller first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.June 10, 2024
A death in the family and news from me
Hi everyone! Apologies for being MIA again. On Monday last week, we had a death in the family. So it’s all hands on deck to get things sorted out and arranging the funeral, etc., as well as dealing with all the emotions.
Some good news: I now have new glasses for distance and reading, and my surgery has done wonders for my vision. So I can now see again. Yay!
On Friday, if the fitting goes well, I should receive my new prosthetic limb, which will improve my mobility and stop the sore spot I now have where the too-big socket is rubbing. So 
for that!
Later this month, I have a book review for you, which I’m sure you’ll enjoy.
I hope you’re all doing well. I’d love to hear from you in the comments, and I’ll get back to you as and when I’m able. I appreciate you all so much.
Hugs 
May 29, 2024
#BookReview: The Woman in my Home by C.R. HOWELL @JoffeBooks #psychologicalthriller #domesticthriller
Hi everyone! Today, I have a review for an eBook from an author new to me, C.R. Howell. My last read from them was a 1-star monstrosity, but I’m pleased to say this book makes 3 now that I’ve loved.
This is a gripping read with palpable tension from the get go, which I picked it up via Joffe Books ARC >>>
About the Book:
I thought I could never leave my little girls. But I had to.
My husband told me that the accident was my fault. That I was to blame when our beautiful, funny two-year-old daughter almost died.
So ten months ago I left. I left our isolated house in the wild, windswept village where we lived. I left my little girls. And every day away from them was agony. I missed the soapy smell of their hair and their laughs and the way they played together under the apple tree.
But now I’m back, knocking on my own front door like a stranger.
There’s a woman living in my home. Taking care of my daughters. Sharing a bed with my husband.
And she has a newborn baby.
Everything I thought I knew . . . was a lie.
The absolutely gripping and page-turning new psychological suspense from debut author C.R. Howell, with a killer twist you won’t see coming.
My Review:
So gripping I read this in one sitting
Many thanks to Joffe books for this free eARC.
‘She wasn’t crying. That was the terrifying part.’ … From these opening lines, the story and characters pull you in. I connected with them all immediately, and the author has a real knack of making even the narcissistic, controlling, and outright despicable people tolerable enough to read.
Right from the start the tension is palpable and grows with every page. I had to keep remembering to breathe. It’s all the worse for its subtlety. Psychological and emotional abuse scars you in ways people don’t see unless they care to, which makes it so insidious and disgusting. This book captures all of this in a realistic, compelling, and sensitive manner. I could not put this book down!
Though the writing is passive, which would—usually—put me off, the writer executes the narrative skilfully, which makes this a smooth read as well as a compelling one. Here are some lines which stood out for me …
‘[…]as he fixed his gaze on me, the realisation passed over his eyes like a shadow in water.’
And …
‘Though it was he who made me this way—weaker, less sure of myself—he also hated me for it. That was the unfairness—and the stupidity.’
And …
‘ […]and while feeling grateful for this attention, I also had a prickly sense of exposure, like a creature uncovered in the grass.’
And …
‘ People came, bringing presents and clichés.’
I loved so many it proved difficult to choose so few. The setting is also incredibly well depicted, and I love how the many references to the near mountains enhance the mood, whether it be brightly lit and inspiring or gloomy, overcast, and dangerous.
To some, this may seem a slow read until the final 25%, but the tension and fear is there throughout and so subtly done I loved it. The way the story unfolds, following the same POV but switching between different yet relevant time periods and the present, makes for a tantalising slow reveal about the silent menace and what really happened.
I cannot recommend this book or the author highly enough. It gets a solid five stars from me. Go read this novel.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you soon
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links … (The book releases today!)
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
The post #BookReview: The Woman in my Home by C.R. HOWELL @JoffeBooks #psychologicalthriller #domesticthriller first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.May 22, 2024
#BookReview: The Night they Stole my Baby by Darren O’Sullivan @JoffeBooks @darrensully #psychologicalthriller
Hi everyone! Today, I have a review for an eBook from an author new to me, Darren O’Sullivan.
This is a gripping read with lots of twists, which I picked it up via Joffe Books ARC >>>
About the Book:
My baby is due in two weeks. Hand on my bump, I swear to my little girl, I won’t be anything like my mother.
I’m walking home after the perfect baby shower, enjoying the cool summer evening breeze. I can’t wait to rest my aching feet.
I’m almost at my door when the world goes black.
I wake with a blinding pain in my head. Beeping of machines in background. I open my eyes to a white room.
Panic jolts through me. I reach down to my bump, to where my baby should be. But she’s not there.
Then my fingers find a rough line of stitches.
Someone has taken my baby.
Out of me.
My Review:
Many thanks to Joffe Books for this free eARC.
Gripping, emotional, and an absolute must read!
‘She ran deep into the wildlands, as fast as her legs would carry her, stumbling over the uneven ground, frosty and hard from the harsh winter night. At first her bare feet hurt, almost as much as the gash that trickled crimson down her thigh, then they burned, then she felt nothing at all.’ … from this wonderful atmospheric opening, the story grabs the reader by the throat and doesn’t let go until the end.
I cannot imagine what this young woman endured, both as a child and then as a new mother who has her baby stolen whilst she’s in a coma. The plot, pacing, premise, character development, and excellent prose all make this an absolutely compelling read.
Here are some lines that stayed with me …
‘It was in the eyes, a hatred only one Mother ever showed. Emily was standing in front of Monster Mother.’ … OMG, this had me on the edge of my seat!
And …
‘It provided comfort on a bed of nails.’
And …
‘[…] memories flooded in so vividly I felt like I was eleven all over again. They tried to wash me away, back to a time that still hurt so badly, still impacted me so greatly, but I swam against the tide, waded until I was back in the present.’
This is the type of story that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. Whilst I had a good idea who was the culprit from early on, the many twists and turns had me doubt and second guess myself so many times. The penultimate scene had me forgetting to breathe.
As you can guess, I give 5 stars for this book and would give 10 if I could. Go buy this book!
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you soon
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links … (The book releases today!)
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
I’m travelling tomorrow, so if I’m late with any comments which arrive after early evening (UK time) today, I’ll get back to you as soon as possible … pinky promise! Thanks all
The post #BookReview: The Night they Stole my Baby by Darren O’Sullivan @JoffeBooks @darrensully #psychologicalthriller first appeared on Welcome to Harmony Kent Online.
May 13, 2024
#Homonyms with Harmony Part Eleven: Commonly Misused ‘H’ Words #HowtoWrite #Authors
Hi everyone.
As promised, um … a looong time ago, here is the next post in the Homonyms with Harmony series.
Today’s post is tackling Commonly Misused ‘H’ Words. For those who haven’t seen the previous posts, you can find all nine HERE in their original form on Story Empire. I’ve taken you to the final post of mine there as it contains links to all prior nine posts at the bottom for easy reference.
So, without further ado, we jump into those irksome H words:
HOMONYMS are two or more words that have the same sound or spelling but differ in meaning, such as Wave and Waive.
HOMOPHONES are two or more words, such as Knew and New, which we pronounce the same but that differ in meaning, origin, and–often–spelling.
HOMOGRAPHS are words which we spell the same, but which differ in origin, meaning, and–sometimes–pronunciation, such as the verb Bear (to carry or endure) and the noun Bear (the animal).
For the purposes of this series, and to keep things simple, I include each of these three Hs under the term Homonyms.
Hare vs Hair:Hare refers to a type of rabbit, while hair is the protein filament which grows from follicles found on the body. For example: The Hare leapt high into the air before bounding away from the dog. [And] She has long Hair.
Hear vs Here:
Hear relates to the act of perceiving sound, whilst here refers to a location or place. For example: I can’t go Hear you. Speak up, please. [And] I couldn’t wait to come Here for the beautiful view.
Higher vs Hire:
Higher refers to a greater or more elevated position. Hire is to employ someone for work. Fore example: We must raise the scaffold Higher to reach the chimney. [And] We need to Hire more staff.
Hole vs Whole:
A hole is an opening or an empty space. Whole means complete or entire. For example: The ragged Hole in the road collapsed into a sinkhole after the deluge of rain. [And] He ate the Whole cake.
Hostile vs Hostel:
Hostile describes something unfriendly, aggressive, or opposed. Hostel refers to a budget accommodation facility, often used by travellers. For example: The opposing team were the most Hostile yet. [And] We stayed in a Hostel during our trip.
Hot vs Hut:
Hot refers to a high temperature. A hut is a small, primitive house or shelter. For example: It’s so Hot in the midday sun. [And] Let’s go inside the Hut to cool off.
Hall vs Haul:
A hall is a passageway and/or a large room. Haul is to pull or drag. For example: The splendour of the grand Hall left Adam speechless. [And] It took four horses to Haul the heavy load.
Halve vs Have:
Halve is to divide in two. Have means to possess and/or to hold. For example: To settle the argument, the king decided to Halve the cat and give one piece each to the women. [And] Emma felt such joy to Have such adorable grandchildren.
Hangar vs Hanger:
A hangar is a large enclosure which houses aircraft. Whereas a hanger is something upon which you hang clothes, etc. For example: The Hangar wasn’t big enough for the jet liner to park in. [And] The wardrobe couldn’t hold any more Hangers as it was so full already.
Hanged vs Hung:
Speakers and writers who value precision know the past tense of hang, when it means ‘to put to death using a rope’, is hanged, not hung. This applies to both the active and passive voice. For inanimate objects, we use hung. For example: They Hanged the prisoner. / The prisoner was Hanged. [And] Peter Hung his clothes on the spare hangers in the closet. / Tom Hung from the tree with one hand. / He found himself Hung upside down.
Heal vs Heel:
Heal is to repair and/or to restore to health. Heel refers to the back part of the foot and/or a scoundrel, as well as part of a shoe. For example: The doctor used all his skills to Heal the duke. [And] The ill-fitting boots blistered her Heel so badly it bled. / The high Heels made Emily stumble.
Healthful vs Healthy:
Healthful means something which promotes health. Healthy refers to being in good health. However, in modern everyday speech, Healthful has been nudged aside by Healthy in phrases such as, Healthy food or a Healthy diet. So if you’re writing historical fiction, you would want to use Healthful. Whereas if you’re writing contemporary fiction, Healthy would be the correct choice to fit in with current norms. Just to keep things interesting for you! *wink*
Hardy vs Hearty:
Hardy means strong and able to withstand difficult or demanding situations. Hearty is friendly or enthusiastic as well as healthy or good for you. For example: A Hardy plant can survive the hardships of a cold winter. [And] A Hearty greeting from old friends can warm the heart.
Heroine vs Heroin:
Heroine refers to a woman admired for courage or ability. Heroin is an illegal drug derived from morphine. For example: The brave Heroine saved the villagers from certain death. [And] The police discovered vast amounts of Heroin hidden inside cheese. Oh but for that little ‘e’!
Historic vs Historical vs Hysteric vs Hysterical:
A historical event is something which occurred some time ago. An historic event is important, memorable, and enduring. Usually, Historical means actual as opposed to literary, mythic, or figurative. Hysterical is to become affected by or deriving from wildly uncontrolled emotion. And Hysteric refers to a wildly emotional and exaggerated reaction. For example: A Historical study concerns history whilst a Historic event makes history. [And] Janet became Hysterical and screamed. [And] The widow had Hysterics and so the inquest wrapped up quickly.
Hoard vs Horde:
To hoard means to stockpile; to amass. A horde is a large group and/or a crowd or army. For example: The old man Hoarded his millions inside the walls and beneath the floorboards of the ancient mansion. [And] The Egyptian Horde soon overran the broken Hyksos ranks.
Hoarse vs Horse:
Hoarse refers to a raspy sore-throated voice. A horse is a type of animal. For example: The opera star sang so often she ended up sounding Hoarse and had to take a break to heal. [And] The race Horse ran magnificently.
Holy vs Wholly:
Holy means sacred. Wholly refers to entirely. For example: The Holy relics were kept under guard day and night. [And] Her statement referred Wholly to the disaster under investigation.
Hone In vs Home In:
These two words have achieved undeserved legitimacy for the worst of reasons: the similarity in sound and appearance of n and m. To hone is to use a technique for sharpening cutting tools and also to hone one’s skills. To home in, like zero in, is to get something firmly in your sights, and also to get to the crux of a problem. For example: The apprentice took months to Hone his carpentry skills but soon became expert. [And] The judge took time to Home in on the facts of the case. / The Homing pigeon arrived back quickly.
Hay vs Hey:
Hay refers to animal food. Hey is an interjection to get attention. For example: The groom ensured the horses had plenty of fresh Hay. [And] When Daddy turned his back, the toddler yelled, ‘Hey!’ to reclaim his father’s attention.
Hi vs High:
Hi is a way of saying Hello. High means far up. For example: Hi, Jenny. Long time, no see. [And] The hot-air balloon soon rose High into the sky.
Hour vs Our:
An hour is a measure of time—sixty minutes to be precise. Our means something which belongs to us. For example: Penny wasted a whole Hour changing from one pair of jeans to another. [And] That’s Our dog, not yours.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this instalment. If any of you have more H suggestions, please feel free to share in the comments below. Hopefully, I can keep pegging away until I have these in a book for you. Fingers crossed
Thanks for stopping by and if all works out, I’ll see you soon! 
May 6, 2024
#BookReview: THE FELLS by Cath Staincliffe and Narrated by Andi Arndt @JoffeBooks @CathStaincliffe #crimethriller
Hi everyone! Today, I have a review for an eBook from an author new to me, Cath Staincliffe.
This is an easy read with lots of twists, which I picked it up via Joffe Books ARC >>>
About the Book:
A missing woman. A cold case. A dark secret, buried deep beneath the Yorkshire Dales.
Summer 1997. Vicky Mott slips out the door of her remote stone cottage, and into the pale dawn light. She won’t wake her friends. Not after the night they just had.She scrawls a note, her hand trembling with excitement. Gone to see the sun rise. V xxxThat’s the last anyone ever hears from vibrant twenty-year-old Vicky.Everyone warned her. Of the predator stalking the lush green fells. Convicted killer Terence Bielby. He strangled three hikers before he got to Vicky. Now he has her blood on his hands, too.It’s only a matter of time until the evidence surfaces . . .2019. A human skeleton is discovered in a dark and treacherous cave beneath the Dales. The final resting place of Vicky Mott?Detectives Leo Donovan and Shan Young think they’ve found the key to this decades-old mystery. But every answer they unearth only leads to more questions.All Donovan’s instincts tell him that, this time, Bielby’s innocent.But if the Fellside Strangler didn’t do it, then who?The truth is darker than the twisty network of caves beneath the detectives’ feet.
My Review:
Many thanks to Joffe Books for this free eARC.
A cold case warmed up with brilliant characters and plenty of suspects
If not for a caver exploring where no-one has gone before, the young woman’s body would have lain undiscovered and undisturbed, and so would her Missing Persons case.
The story jumps between events in 1997, which led to a tragedy over a festival weekend from which one of a group of friends never returned.
In 2019 we meet police detectives DCI Leo and DC newbie Shan, and the banter between these two is brilliant. For sure, the author has human nature and the ways of the world spot on and conveys this in both brutal and humorous ways. I connected with every character, even the bit-parts, and lived this read instead of just turning the ebook pages.
Here are some lines that stayed with me …
‘He slaps the innuendo on with a trowel.’
And
‘Opportunities for learning. It might be tea towel wisdom but there is some truth to it.’ This comment comes in relation to making mistakes. Never heard this before but love it!
And
‘Her to-do list has sprouted offshoots. Is growing like bindweed.’ This one reminds me of my to be read list!
This wonderful novel brings us characters of all ages, backgrounds, genders, and quirks, and they came to life rather than lying flat on the page.
As you’ve likely guessed, The Fells by Cath Staincliffe gets a resounding 5 stars from me.
***
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
I’d love to hear what you think of this review. Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you soon
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links … (The book releases on the 9th.)
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
Watch out for …On May 14th, I have my next Homonyms with Harmony post scheduled. The day after that I have an appointment to cast a new prosthetic socket, as I’ve shrunk out of my current leg! I hope that won’t take too much out of me, but if it does, bear with me, and I’ll get back to any your lovely comments I’ve missed ASAP.
April 21, 2024
#BookReviews: She’s Not Sorry by Mary Kubrica and Narrated by Andi Arndt @NetGalley
Hi everyone! Today, I have a review for an audiobook from an author new to me, Mary Kubrica. This is an easy listen with a great narrator, which I picked it up via NetGalley. Also from NetGalley is an ebook I didn’t enjoy, and I post the review so you can see what went so wrong with a story with great promise >>>
Review 1 …About the AudioBook:
10 hours, 32 minutes
An ICU nurse accidentally uncovers a patient’s frightening past in this chilling thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Local Woman Missing and Just the Nicest Couple.
Meghan Michaels is trying to find balance between being a single mom to a teenage daughter and working as a full time nurse. While on duty at the hospital one day, a patient named Caitlin arrives in a coma with a traumatic brain injury, having jumped from a bridge and plunging over twenty feet to the train tracks below.
But when a witness comes forward with shocking details about the fall, it calls everything they know into question. Was Caitlin pushed and if so, by whom and why?
Meghan has always tried to stay emotionally detached from her patients, but this time, she mistakenly lets herself get too close until she’s deeply entangled in Caitlin’s and her family’s lives. Only when it’s too late, does she realize that she and her daughter could be the next victims.
My Review:
A slow first half but absolutely gripping for the remainder, with a brilliant narrator and smooth listen.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Audio for this free Advance Review Copy of She’s Not Sorry by Mary Kubrica and narrated by Andi Arndt.
The premise hooked me and the audiobook cover had me held captive. It thrilled me when NetGalley and Harper Collins UK accepted me as an ARC reviewer.
The initial opening is interesting and draws you in. While the first half feels slow much of the time, it also brings in new information and offers bits and bobs which heighten the tension gradually. Then, roughly halfway through the listen, one big twist comes, and then lots follow in quick succession and the pace picks up immensely. From this point I just had to finish the listen.
The many and varied threads are tied up by the end, and the narrator is easy to listen to and great with the different voices. Though the ending is a little open, it’s not a cliffhanger and it left me satisfied enough.
I can’t give too much away because I don’t want to put in any accidental spoilers. Suffice it to say, this audiobook is well worth a listen, and is both soothing (with the narrator’s voice) and gripping. This listen gets a high four stars from me.
Review 2 …About the Ebook:
How can you live with yourself when you find out the man you love is rotten to the core? Prepare to be hooked by Alice Hunter’s addictive new novel – so shocking it should come with a warning! Available to pre-order now. Trusted officer. Family man. Monster. Becky’s life has been shattered. When she discovered her husband, John – a policeman she once trusted – was a monster, she reported him. But it didn’t lead to any charges. Now, John lives freely with a new girlfriend and her daughter – while Becky battles guilt for missing the obvious signs. Determined for justice, Becky confronts John. But he targets her. He wants her silenced – and at any cost. And now, survival is the only option because he’s not the only bad apple lurking in the shadows… A gripping psychological suspense about betrayal, courage, and the darkness that can hide behind a seemingly trustworthy façade. Perfect for fans of The Doctor’s Wife , Suspects and the Netflix hit TV series You.
2.5 rounded up to 3.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Avonbooks UK for this free advance review copy of the ebook Bad Apple by Alice Hunter.
Great premise let down by poor execution
‘She shouldn’t be driving. The roads were narrow, unfamiliar; each bend took her by surprise as it appeared like magic through the ominous entrails of mist hanging a few feet from the ground.’ This opening paragraph shows the tension, which only mounts as the story goes on.
Unfortunately many errors spoil what would otherwise have been an absolute gem of a book. As you can see with the opening quote, the author uses some wonderful descriptions at times which enrich the narrative, such as the use of ‘ominous entrails of mist’ rather than a simple ‘the mist’. When I read the opening page, I felt sure this would be a 5-star read, especially with the brilliant and topical story premise.
However, scene shifts occur throughout the book, as do passive writing, clumsy sentence structures, and misspellings. At one point, I found myself asking if the book had even seen an editor. [Reviewer’s note: any errors I discovered in the PDF on Kindle, I also double checked in the better formatted version on the NetGalley shelf to ensure it wasn’t down to the format of the PDF.]
Two examples of a good and a poor …
The good: ‘Grief has a habit of knocking on the door again, […]’
The poor: ‘[…] though this is a TV show and the viewer has pressed paused on the remote.’ The pertinent change needed here is to swap ‘paused’ for ‘pause’. Sadly, many more examples abound.
Another thing that had me roll my eyes and complain aloud quite a few times was a plot hole around the use of the main character’s mobile phone. Time and again she questioned whether other people’s phones were bugged or had trackers installed but she never, not once, questioned her own. And if I missed an instance where she did, then most definitely she didn’t check it or change it. The continual overlooking of this basic yet crucial plot point drove me nuts and, along with the other issues, ruined the read for me.
I so wanted to love this book, and the idea is a good one as well as being important and topical. The pacing slowed again and again, and repetitions grew boring, and then there are the wonderful phrases and spot-on observations of human foibles which make this an otherwise great read.
NOTE ON RATINGS: I consider a 3-star rating a positive review. Picky about which books I give 5 stars to, I reserve this highest rating for the stories I find stunning and which moved me.
5 STARS: IT WAS AMAZING! I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN! — Highly Recommended.
4 STARS: I WOULD PULL AN ALL-NIGHTER — Go read this book.
3 STARS: IT WAS GOOD! — An okay read. Didn’t love it. Didn’t hate it.
2 STARS: I MAY HAVE LIKED A FEW THINGS —Lacking in some areas: writing, characterisation, and/or problematic plot lines.
1 STAR: NOT MY CUP OF TEA —Lots of issues with this book.
I’d love to hear what you think of these reviews. Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you soon
For anyone interested, here are the Amazon links …
She’s Not Sorry:
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
Bad Apple (to be released 9th May 2024):
UK … https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
US … https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08R8XRTB2/
Eye Update:My eye op went well last Tuesday, and I’m continuing to recover. So if some of my responses to your comments are delayed a tad, please understand I’m getting to you as soon as possible and am so grateful for your visit and taking the time to read and comment. Hugs to you all
April 11, 2024
Hello everyone! I’m still alive, lols
Hi everyone. I’ve been absent for a lot longer and more completely than I’d anticipated. I’m so sorry. And it’s about time I let you all know I’m still alive and almost kicking
In my absence I’ve learnt a few things about how to manage my days whilst allowing for unexpected relapses. Oh and the hospital visits and eye surgeries, etc. Some days I’m not in so much pain and have some energy. It’s still limited and I can do only so much. Other days, it’s all I can do to climb out of bed and–hopefully–grab a cup of coffee.
So, while I’d love to outline my plans, I can’t commit to a schedule as I never know what will happen daily. Anyhooo … here’s an attempt to offer you some sort of an idea.
Plans:I haven’t written a word for months and desperately need to change that, but at a pace I can manage. For that to happen I need to stay offline whilst I work. Once I’ve completed any projects, I’ll stop for a while so I can visit your blogs and say hello. Then, when (and if) I start another project, I’ll have to disappear again until that’s done. When I say ‘projects’ that includes any editing/proofreading/formatting work I receive as well as writing.
For a looong time now I’ve taken work only from authors I’ve worked with previously, who know my struggles. Also that my work hours are cut severely from what they used to be. That said, I always give 100% and keep my folks up to date. Happily, I can say I still have happy customers
Now I can, I’ll continue here with the Homonyms with Harmony series of posts I began on Story Empire. On Story Empire, in December, I got up to ‘G’ words, so my next post here on homonyms will be the ‘H’ words. I so hope you’ll be eager to see those resume, if somewhat slowly and not on a regular schedule. But, who knows? Miracles do happen, lols. I’ve included the link to post ten above as this contains links to all prior nine posts if you haven’t seen those yet.
Along with the posts here, I will work on getting the Homonym book together and ready to publish. Once that’s out there, I’ll have three writing books out. Somewhere in the distant future, I may put them into a boxset. Right now, though, I’m going to link the two already out into one series and add the Homonyms book to that to make them all easier to find. Once the series is up and linked, I’ll let you all know. The two books out are Polish Your Prose: Essential Editing Tips for Authors and Creative Solutions for the Modern Writer: Inspirational Tools to fire your imagination.
Along with the planned Homonym book, I’ll then have a trilogy of non-fiction and writing help available.
Harmony House of Horror planned series:
Origins: Harmony House of Horror book oneAfter I’ve finished all that, I shall use my time to be online for a while until I’m ready to recommence my Harmony House of Horror series. To the left is the planned cover for book one in the series: Origins. I’d made a good start before everything changed again, but I promise it will make it out of my head and onto the page.
It may be that I can manage one day a week online, even when working, but I’ll have to see how things pan out. For certain, though, this break has done me the world of good and helped me to best plan how to allocate my limited time.
Other news:
Hubby and I are both a tad down in the dumps, and having wind, rain, mist, and single-digit temperatures from about September last year (well, most of last summer too), isn’t helping. We’re now in official British Summertime, and it feels more like Autumn. If the forecasters have it correct for a change, we may experience a strange bright and warm orb in the sky next week. The darn 
isn’t up for letting us know how long it plans to stay, though.
Netgalley reached out to me after a little over a year and helped get me up and running again after deleting my whole profile and books read … everything! In the upcoming days I’ll have an audiobook review for you, and a warning to avoid a certain upcoming ebook, so please watch out for that post. As I need to focus on my massive TBR and your books, I won’t be doing as many NetGalley reviews as I used to.
I plan to come and see as many of you as possible after my eye surgery on Tuesday next week. I may manage on Monday, but those tend to be difficult days for me. So it’s a wait and ‘see’ (couldn’t resist the pun)!
Moving House. Image courtesy of Pixabay.Also, my cleaner had to quit due to health issues of her own. With all of that, and my worsened health, we’re struggling to cope with the building we live in, let alone the large garden! So, on top of all else, we’re now in the process of locating a smaller place and selling ours.
We also need to future proof and move to somewhere with necessary amenities. Where we are is all fields, which I love, but practicality now outweighs nice views! As you all know, the whole selling/buying/moving thing is messy and stressy. On that front, I’ll do my best to keep you informed. For certain, even when I’m in an offline phase, I need to touch base with you more often than I have done. So here’s to it all.
Anyway, I’ve blabbed on for long enough, so I’ll shut up for now and let you get on with your day. It’s taken me over two hours to write this post, and I’m exhausted, which gives you an idea of what I’m up against. At least you can read it a lot more quickly! Teehehee.
Please know, I hold you all in my heart and thoughts and hope you’re doing okay. I’d love to hear from you in the comments if you have the time, and I promise to reciprocate as soon as I can.
Love and hugs, Harmony
