Firstly, some blogging help for blogging. I love reading posts which help me to redesign my blog. I feel it is a vital part of being a blogger. Updating your blog, or redesigning the blog, is an important part of breathing new life and energy into your blogging. Anything which aids me in my design is a positive.
Last week, Chaitra aka PinkPot and Holly aka Bloomin Rouge began a short collaborative series on Blogging Building blocks. This is a 4 week series and these lovely ladies will be sharing their top ideas and tips for building your blog.
This week Chaitra focused on resources for your blog and Holly has focused on blog design. I will be following their series over the next 3 weeks to see what helpful ideas I can use for my blogging.
My second is a new author and book series. As you know I love to read and each year for the past 3 I have set myself a challenge via Goodreads to read a certain number of books within that year. This year I am aiming for 60, and last week I read 3! I was pretty impressed myself. Anyway, onto my recommendation.
The author of these 3 books is M J Arlidge who has worked in the television medium for many years as a writer and producer, but has now published the first three novels in this series following the work of Detective Inspector Helen Grace.
As you imagine, this series is a crime/thriller. I love this genre of novel and have read alot of them over the years. The reason I chose the first novel was because I loved the book title which is Eeny Meeny and the blurb sounded interesting. A young couple wake up to find themselves trapped in a disused swimming pool unable to escape with a mobile phone. Unable to ring out, however their abductor rings them and gives them a chilling choice. One of them can go free but the other has to die. Choose!
The story behind the abduction of this and subsequent pairings is told at a fast pace with real detail into police procedure. There is a gripping back story for DI Grace and her team and the characters are clearly drawn, flaws and all. I could see this being adapted for television and making great drama.
One of the other reasons I chose this book is because the series is set in Southampton and the vicinities. Having lived there for 16 years, I loved reading about the city again and I felt drawn into the book because of that link. M J Arlidge writes a great story which keeps you on the edge of your seat the whole way through and I finished the first 3 books in 3 days. His newest novel in the series comes out in September and is now on my wishlist.
So what interesting blog series are you following or looking forward to and are you reading any great books? I'd love to now.
That sounds like a great new series. I'll be looking out for them. It's about time I bought a few new books
ReplyDeleteI've bookmarked those interesting sites and I'll be on the look-out for your author. A good crime novel can be a great holiday read ...
ReplyDeleteI like your two on Tuesday series! And thanks for the blogging link. I think I will set an intention to work on my blog later this year.
ReplyDeleteRinda
That sounds interesting Jo, I look forward to hearing about the blog tips you pick up :)
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