Ciao from Ranulph (meet the book boys)

Ciao a tutti!
I'm sorry I'm late with my hello. TL asked me to write a Christmas post as she knows I love that time of year, but I got caught up in festivities. But I'm here now.

I don't really know what to say. This thing is a little strange. I don't like talking about myself really. I'm just a humble mechanic. Samantha says I'm good with my hands. Umm...

My name is Ranulph, and TL wrote about me in Young's Love. It was the first book she wrote, which is flattering. I think I was a bit of a guinea pig, but she told our tale well.

My sister Lottie loves horses, but I prefer my horse power in machines. I ride a Vespa and have a classic Morgan car. She is almost as beautiful as Samantha and purrs just like...well, never mind. Samantha will kill me if I talk about that sort of thing.

Samantha says I'm romantic, but I will ask you to decide. I just like to make my woman happy. She has a lovely smile, and she should show it off. She was so sad when we met. She had a pretty tough time, and she believed all the bad things people said about her.

I'm a lover not a fighter, but insult my girl and you will know about it. I will not allow people to speak badly of women. It's disrespectful.

I have dark hair and green eyes. I like going to the beach and swimming, but that makes this sound like a lonely hearts ad.

OK, I have to go and prepare for our New Year's Eve party now.

Don't forget to go to TL's Facebook page where I'll share my favourite quotes from the book.
Mikhail has already done his on there, the goody-two-shoes.

Ciao for now bella.

Review - Murder in Absentia - Solved by a Sly Fox!

Date read: December 2016

Genre: Roman/Crime Thriller/Paranormal - so much going on!

My rating: Full marks 5*







So, I've found a book worthy of a review on my blog after a few books that weren't worthy, hence the radio silence.

I really did enjoy this book, there's certainly a lot of boxes ticked by it.

My review:

A town borrowed from Ancient Rome, magic, a murder mystery being solved by a sly Fox...what's not to like?

This book is very cleverly written.
A fictitious town which borrows influences from different parts of Roman history, and melded together to create an intriguing story.

A young man is murdered using dark magic, and Felix the Fox is hired to solve the mystery. He's a rather colourful character with just enough darkness to make him fascinating whilst still be likeable.

The reader is taken on a magical journey around beautiful islands and even into taverns and brothels. I enjoyed the hot baths especially.
The world and people Assaph Mehr creates come to life off the pages. I could almost smell the fish!

This is a really fab book.  If you like whodunnits and/or paranormal/historic novels you should read this.

Zdravstvuj (zdrah-stvooy; hello) from Mikhail (meet the book boys)

Hello,

I am Mikhail. TL Clark has put me in her book True's Love (linky thing there). 

I still think she is crazy for this. I am only a humble bodyguard, but she said she liked my story and so I said OK.

So, whilst TL is busy writing about vampires (see; crazy) she told me to come here to say hello to you. Zdravstvuj / Zdrah-stvooy (hello)!

Please excuse my Russian accent. Amanda says its nice. I'm not so sure. 

Oh; Amanda just pointed out you can't hear me. I'm only typing. OK, forget I said that. 

I do not really know what to say. But TL told me I'm her favourite hero.

I don't know. I think maybe we should have vote? 

If the other book boys come and say hi, would you go to Facebook page and vote for your favourite?

(Argh, more link things. Please wait. I'll ask Amanda.)

OK, she says go here for Facebook page.

The girls also say I must go on there to share some of my quote words soon.  

Oh bòzhe mòi / Oh moi boch (oh my God), these girls are crazy. 

But I love Amanda so I will obey.

TL? I tease her but she is a good person. And I owe her for being nice about me. 

OK, enough me now. I must go take a class. 

пока / pah-kah (bye, see you later)!

2016 Yuletide Ponderings

I'm British (as I may have mentioned), so I still wish you all a Merry Christmas.

It's funny. Across the years I've become Buddhistish/Paganish...spritual. Yet I still utter this phrase without thought of offense. 

I realise this is not the case across the globe, and this saddens me. 

But I'm in danger of getting political, and that's not my intention.

2016 has been a turbulent year.

There have been some pretty major shocks in the political and celebrity worlds.

There's been some bumps in my personal life; the latest being that I just quit my day job after a long period of illness. 

However, many of my friends have been posting their Facebook 2016 videos. 

What I saw was many many happy memories. 

It struck me that when times get crazy we tend to forget to count our blessings. It's all too easy to do. I myself am guilty of this.

So take a moment now. Can you tick off any on this list...?

• You have a roof over your head
• You have food in your belly
• You have clean running water
• You have clothes on your back
• You were able to attend school
• You have joy

These are fairly fundamental basics in life, but so many across our little planet don't have these.
So if you do you're doing pretty great actually.

I send extra love and light to all those in need of any/all on this list.
And at this time of year especially I send peaceful wishes across the globe.

So, whatever you're celebrating at this time, may your days be merry and bright.
Eat and be merry.
And give thanks for your many blessings.

Always in love and light,
TL