Jaye Marie's Blog, page 6
July 3, 2025
Review for The White Road by Sarah Lotz #Horror Suspense
*****From the author of The Three, coming soon to your screen as a major BBC adaptation by Golden Globe winner Peter Straughan*****
Adrenaline-junky Simon Newman sneaks onto private land to explore a dangerous cave in Wales with a strange man he’s met online. But Simon gets more than he bargained for when the expedition goes horribly wrong. Simon emerges, the only survivor, after a rainstorm trap the two in the cave. Simon thinks he’s had a lucky escape.
But his video of his near-death experience has just gone viral.
Suddenly Simon finds himself more famous than he could ever have imagined. Now he’s faced with an impossible task: he’s got to defy death once again, and film the entire thing. The whole world will be watching. There’s only on place on earth for him to pit himself against the elements: Mt Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.
But Everest is also one of the deadliest spots on the planet. Two hundred and eighty people have died trying to reach its peak.
And Simon’s luck is about to run out.
Sarah LotzSarah Lotz is a novelist and screenwriter with a fondness for the macabre. She is the author of The Three, and lives in Cape Town with her family and other animals.
Our Review
I didn’t know what to expect when I opened this book, as the cover gave nothing away. There was snow, but nothing prepared me for Simon Newman’s journey.
He is not one for doing things by halves, so he pits himself against two of the most lethal adversaries. Some might say he had a death wish.
I cannot think of another reason he would push himself to such lengths. Or us, for that matter. He showed an unfortunate lack of common sense.
Having just trudged up Everest with this man, feeling the strain and the cold, I feel as though I have tried to conquer the world’s highest and most lethal mountain.
This was after he went potholing, hopelessly trapped in some tiny spaces. He was lucky to be rescued from that one, so what made him think he was ready for Everest?
He was unprepared and ill-equipped, and already traumatised; it was a mistake.
This story is hauntingly eerie, psychologically creepy and brilliantly written. The tension, once it grips you with its icy fingers, does not let you go…
The Trouble with Progress…
The Trouble with Progress…
… is that it usually tries to be too clever, too destructive.
Maybe this is some test, or a defence mechanism?
Since I managed to access my kitchen, many doors have opened for me. I can wander out there to drink water or wash my hands. Such small privileges but tremendous progress for someone virtually imprisoned in their office…
All I have to do is remember which leg does what best. My legs are trying hard to be normal; the right leg prefers to step down, while the left prefers to step up. Forgetting this simple fact has been the cause of most of my tumbles.
Back to the progress…
I have been outside, briefly because of the heat.
I have pruned part of the wisteria, a branch Anita couldn’t reach.
Plans have been made to catch up with the bonsai maintenance now that the weather has cooled down a little, with as much or as little help as I might need.
My next ambitious move has to be conquering the stairs to the bathroom. I have been tentatively practising on the bottom step.
That was when my luck ran out, and I must have forgotten which leg to use first.
The fall was again spectacular. Why does it always feel as though I have been shoved?
My leg, not sure which one, collapsed, throwing me backwards. I landed on my butt and then I must have somersaulted, for I ended up several feet away, head butting the wall. I also have a massive bruise on my arm, but I’m not sure how that happened.
Luckily, I didn’t do any serious damage this time (apart from the bruise and a nasty headache!)
July 1, 2025
An Action Shot…
Here in the UK, Wimbledon Tennis fortnight has begun. I never intend to binge-watch every match like I did when I was younger, but this is usually what happens. Today, though, I had planned to change our mailing list provider. Mailchimp has become too complicated and expensive.
Since I recovered enough from my spinal problem, I have tried so hard to get back into the swing of things, but so far it has been tentative at best. Earlier this year, before I collapsed, I had been trying to smarten up our website and didn’t quite finish the job. There are still things I need to finish, and one of them is our mailing list.
What I have always loved about this business is that we get to choose what we do, and /or how we do it. We can do as much or as little as we like, depending on how far we want to go. Two things you really must have though, are a decent website and a functioning mailing list.
As I write this, I have one eye on the TV, where tennis matches are in full swing. In London, where Wimbledon is, the temperature is already 32 degrees, but the players are literally giving their best shots. The dedication is catching, reminding me of my own.
Maybe I will watch one more match before returning to my desk…
June 30, 2025
Macro Monday…
my supply of macro images seems to have vanished, but this one caught my eye…
I have always wanted to play around with ink…
Hoping for a cooler week for all of us, cos its no fun getting stuck to my writing paper!
That’s better… same colourways too…
June 29, 2025
Sweltering Sunday…
I tried to find an image that truly depicted our suffering in this heatwave, but these two don’t seem to be suffering at all!
We have never liked the hot weather, but this latest hot spell has robbed us of our energy, and there is no escaping it. I think AC is unheard of in the UK, but if this weather is going to be a regular thing, I can see more homes investing in some.
Something for our Councils to think about for the future…
Europe has it a lot worse than us, and they really have our sympathies. How on earth do you cope, when even the roads are melting?
Our yard is always cooler, but not this year. I wanted to spend some time with my bonsai, now I can finally get out there, but the thought of sitting out there, squinting in that strong sunlight keeps me indoors…
Cooler temperatures next week, and we can’t wait!
Anyone know how to do a rain dance?
June 24, 2025
Today’s Thoughts…
I am in this kind of mood today, and as usual, one of Anita’s poems manages to address the thoughts I am having…
Review for Captive Hope by Rachel Ritchey #Christian Fantasy @RachaelRitchey
Lady Idra, reserved as she is, cannot seem to adjust to life at High Castle where making friends among the courtiers proves nearly impossible, and she longs for the familiarity of Taisce. The only bright spot is the kindhearted and chivalrous Sir Ahmad, the high prince’s most trusted guardsmen. Yet, just as she begins to untangle the complexities of growing feelings for him, the past resurfaces, ushering in a mercenary’s revenge. And when Idra waltzes into his trap, not even a knight like Sir Ahmad will be able stop him.
Driven by desperation and a love that defies the stormy seas, Ahmad plunges into a wild race against all odds to rescue Idra from her captors. While on the high seas, Idra encounters an enigmatic pirate whose soul craves redemption. As they forge an unlikely bond born of desperation and hope, the pirate battles his sense of unworthiness and an unattainable desire for Idra, blurring the lines of loyalty and the self-preservation that have kept him alive.
In a tale woven of revenge, danger, and unspoken vows, each must discover their limits and where their true hope lies. Will Ahmad’s unyielding determination, a pirate’s desperate bid for absolution, and the hope Idra carries for them all be enough to secure freedom, or will a mercenary’s blinding lust for retribution destroy them all?
About the author
Rachael RitcheyRachael Ritchey is a writer of speculative fiction infused with hope. A Christian, Rachael lives and writes from a worldview steeped in grace but aware of the depravity that exists within humanity. Her characters vary from near perfect to terribly flawed, and the lives they live are full of joy, fear, pain, adventure, mystery, hope, despair, and so much more. Her ideal readers are young adults, and she often writes with her own children in mind.
Rachael is the author of THE BEAUTY THIEF, CAPTIVE HOPE, and THE TREASONOUS–the Chronicles of the Twelves Realms, a low fantasy romance fiction adventure series. She has also published an illustrated story book version of The Beauty Thief for children, and “The Forever Door,” a short story in THE CRUX ANTHOLOGY, which is 16 speculative fiction short stories written by 16 international authors. Each story is entirely different and inspired by the cover image of the book.
Her ‘day job’ includes caring for her family, homeschooling her children, and book design for indie publishers and authors. She’s been designing covers and interiors for over seven years and loves the process of building beautiful, professional books.
You can find Rachael at
on Instagram: @RachaelRitchey
on Twitter: @RachaelRitchey
on Facebook: RachaelRitcheyAuthor
or Goodreads: Rachael Ritchey
Our Review
Having read the first book in this series, I thought I knew what to expect in this one, But I was wrong. There is so much more in Captive Hope.
More suspense, more emotion, and more feelings.
The writing is incredible, with so much detail. In truth, it was like watching a brilliant pirate film, one I never wanted to end.
Of course, this story never really ends, as it continues in Book Three, so there will be a lot more fun and excitement to come.
The best part of this story for me was the relationship between Idra and the people she meets. The triangle between Idra – Simon – and Ahmed was beautifully portrayed and incredibly moving.
(altogether much better than The Pirates of the Caribbean)
June 23, 2025
Magical Monday…
Mornin’ Lovelies…
I am in a fantastic mood today, which is one hell of a way to start the week!
The weekend was spent working on my book. It seems to have suddenly grown wings, and ideas and literally thousands of words are clamouring to be written.
I thought I could start this week doing more of the same, but before I had the chance to get cracking, I suddenly decided to tackle the dreaded kitchen step.
I wanted to wash my hands …
I have walked up to that step a dozen times lately, but the courage to risk falling again, was always too strong to ignore. Not this morning!
Trying desperately to remember which leg liked which manoeuvre best, I lifted the right foot and gently lowered it to the kitchen floor. I took my weight on this foot, and slowly lifted my left foot, swinging it forward to join its counterpart. I stood there for a minute, hardly believing I was standing in my own kitchen for the first time in absolute ages. Standing, not sprawled in agony on the floor like last time.
That awful memory faded from my mind as I slowly walked to the sink and turned on the tap, as if this was something I had been doing every day.
Sounds remarkably simple, doesn’t it? But it really isn’t. This extra mobility means I can do more to relieve the burden on my poor sister. I have been putting a lot of pressure on her lately, waiting on me hand and foot, and she is worn out. In many ways, her health is worse than mine. I won’t be able to cook a meal just yet, as I am still in pain and very weak, but I am getting there…
YAY!!
June 20, 2025
If Wishes were Horses…
I didn’t want to write yet another post about my problems, as you are probably as tired of reading about them as I am tired of writing them.
But…
These problems are getting in the way of everything, and I can’t seem to work my way around them.
Rather than face either of my accident sites, I have been avoiding thinking about them, or even looking at them. Put them out of my mind. Shut the door to all that fear, try not to feel guilty that I am unable to do anything these days..
I mean, I can live with never going out of my front door again. Those steps leading down to the path are a grim reminder of accident number one. A time that traumatised several family members who witnessed my fall and tried to help me.
This was the day I came out of the hospital. I made it all the way up to the top step before my legs gave way and I collapsed in a painful heap.
So, no, I would be happy not to try that again, whatever the reason. Although, hospital appointments are coming through, so never say never.
The kitchen step is another matter, the site of accident number two.
If I could master this step, I could fetch my drinking water, wash my hands when I want (or anything else for that matter) and feed myself.
Mastering this small step would give me access to the yard and my beloved bonsai. You would think that this alone would get me to risk trying it, but the memory of that dreadful fall is still vivid in my mind. (my right knee is still damaged and deformed by that fall, and may never be strong enough again.)
Apart from these darn steps, I am hobbling about, walking from the office to the living room. I am also practising on the bottom steps of the main staircase, which doesn’t really count as I use the handrails to pull myself up. However, I am hoping this exercise will help in the long run.
Next time I write a post, I hope it will be with some good news for a change…
