5* for The Cat's Whiskers!

PRINCE OF THE CITY: 1. THE CAT'S WHISKERS

by Mackenzie Brown

This is an interesting crime story, centred around a private detective - Vic Prince- in 1940's Liverpool. The book captures the details of what life must have been like then, in the middle of a war, and what life was like for people from other cultures.

The story starts off for Prince with a missing son case and a missing cat. You wouldn't think they were connected, but nothing is as it seems.... With a policeman for an enemy and a friend controlling the black market, this promises to be no easy ride for Prince.

Well written and realistic, with good attention to detail (I now know Liverpool so well!), the story kept me hooked. Can't wait for the next instalment!

5* for the book AND the author!

A Day From Hell

Wednesday started off with an extremely sore throat and a fever :-(. Despite having tons to do, I could barely move from the sofa! So it was with great relief when I started to feel slightly better, at least enough to move and finally get in the bath. The plan was to get myself decent enough to get down the shops.

After a nice hot bath, I got out and for some reason didn't bother with a towel. So I'm dripping wet....and a few years back, my mum got rid of the carpet and put in laminate flooring everywhere.....even in the upstairs hallway. I remember saying to her, "Great, that's an accident waiting to happen."

Today, that accident happened! I stepped into the hallway, felt my foot slip, then stared at the wall for the next few minutes thinking, "I hope I haven't broken anything". I proper flew into the air, tried to stop it so luckily landed on my whole left side rather than my back, then thought how ridiculous I looked with one leg in the hallway and the other in the bedroom.....wet, naked, legs well spread and all for the wrong reasons!

I am still in pain, can barely move, but must be making progress as I've managed to get onto the laptop (typing one-handed). I've had a good few painkillers though, so feeling sore and drowsy! Apologies to anyone I've ignored, put out etc.,.....and remember, bath towels are there for a reason!!!!!

Ideas For Halloween

                                                             

It's almost Halloween! And the best part is we get to dress like a freak and no-one cares, for once....

If you're bored of plastic masks and the same old boring costumes, for you or the children, then try some of these tips.

1. GLUE!

Using a suitable glue, put some on your face and keep still for a few minutes. Then scrunch your face up to create wrinkles! If you put some foundation on once it's dried, it'll look more realistic.

2. TATTOOS!

Okay, I'm not suggesting you get your kid down the local tattoo studio! But you can get temporary tattoos in the form of scars etc. Handy if you're not a dab hand with make-up. You can find them on Amazon and eBay.

3. BONES!

Skeletons are a favourite costume, but why not do something a little different? Instead of a skeleton costume, just put on some black clothes, paint your face and all visible skin black, then paint on the bones with white body paint. Messy but fun!

4. DECORATIONS!

If you can't afford the stupid prices that some decorations cost, or just like making your own, you can't get cheaper than leaves! Spray them white then add on facial features for little spooky ghosts to hang up.

Forgot the pumpkin? If you have a bucket lying around, paint it orange or wrap it in orange paper. Draw on a face, then pop some candles/lights inside.

5. PARTY GAMES!

When we were kids, hide and seek in the dark was a top game! Just don't blame me for any breakages.....

Bowling's good. You can decorate your pins to resemble scary characters: comic book villains for the little ones, the likes of Michael Myers for the adults. If you don't have bowling pins, try making some yourself out of card. Look online for ready to print templates.

6. GRUESOME FOOD!

Make some chocolate cake balls, then decorate with icing and sweets to create eyeballs!

Or how about these ghost cupcakes?

Find the recipe for these at http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/halloween_ghost_cupcakes_04170


Whatever you choose to do this year, have a safe one!

A NON-POEM

A NON-POEM

by Lauren Prasad

I'm not a poet and I know it.

I don't long to stare at your nose

Or compare you to a rose.

I'm not a poet and you know it.

You don't crave my "meaningful" words

Or think I'm talking 'bout birds.

I'm not a poet and we know it.

But it's fun to write a poem

And end it without a rhyme.

Please note: This non-poem begins and ends my new career. Next week I will attempt knife-throwing ;-)

Review of Oenone by Agatha Rae

This paranormal romance was slow to get started, concentrating on the lives of four characters: single editor, Evelyn; her best friend and co-worker, Laura; Laura's husband, Bruce, and Evelyn's boss, Jeff.

A crisis in Laura's life leads the two women to a mysterious character, Alyssa. They ask for her help, but don't stop to think about the consequences. This is when the story starts to pick up a bit.

The plot isn't hugely original, but interesting nonetheless. It also deals with important issues, which is good, but at times felt a little bit preachy. I think there was a nice balance between the romance and the paranormal; neither element was too full on. And the side story with Jeff gave it an added boost.

The writer created believable characters and gave good descriptions of them, allowing you to get to know them well.

My only main criticism is the lack of editing. It's clear that the writer isn't English. A lot of wording was wrong and words were missing, to name but a few of the mistakes. If the mistakes were rectified, it would be a much more enjoyable read and I think the author has promise. I would certainly read another of her books.

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars.