Diamonds in the Rough... out everywhere!

Well, sort of everywhere... 

Even though friends report seeing DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH in UK shops like W H Smith, the print version seems tricky to get hold of online thus far, although the Mills and Boon web site has copies available. There are tons of places to get a digital version though.

Anyway... DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH is here, and it's the second full length novel in my Victorian set Ladies' Sewing Circle series, and pretty much my big self indulgent Sherlock Holmes fantasy. The handsome hero Wilson Ruffington is a 'consulting scientist' rather than a consulting detective, but he shares many of Sherlock Holmes' eccentricities, although with one significant exception. Whereas The Great Detective was canonically portrayed as asexual, Wilson is very sexual indeed! Especially when it comes to his dealings with his distant cousin Adela, who he can't seem to keep his elegant scientific hands off. 

Feisty, independent Adela Ruffington is similarly drawn to Wilson. She finds him physically irresistible, even though otherwise, there's nothing but antipathy between them. Wilson can be self absorbed and thoughtless, his mind full of his science, and that means he doesn't always employ much in the way of tact and delicacy, even though his heart is very much in the right place. 

These two fiery and pugnacious lovers have a lot of issues to contend with. Due to a complicated will, Wilson inherits all of Adela's grandfather's enormous wealth, leaving her, and her mother and her sisters as good as penniless... and that's not all of it. Wilson is also the lover who took her virginity, back when they were both young and infatuated with each other, and adding injury to insult, he then he caused her to break her nose, when she fled from him after an almighty argument!

So, many obstacles stand between these two. It almost seems impossible for them ever to get along as friends, never mind as sweethearts... and yet, somehow, they're drawn together again, to face their own demons, and as a team, a couple, and even as husband and wife, they join forces to banish the problems of other people that they both care about.

For a flavour of their relationship, read an excerpt here:

http://www.portiadacosta.com/diamonds.html

And if that whets your appetite, you can purchase Diamonds in the Rough from one of these outlets:

DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH - links

Digital Kindle US Kindle UK Nook UK Kobo Diesel Ebooks All Romance Ebooks Harlequin

Print Amazon.co.uk Amazon.com W H Smith Harlequin Waterstones

Digital and Print Barnes and Noble Mills and Boon

Here it is on the shelves of W H Smith, piccie courtesy of my author buddy Saskia Walker!

My Dearest Holmes - Rohase Piercy

My Dearest Holmes by Rohase Piercy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was intrigued by this item, a gay interpretation of the great friendship between Holmes and Watson, and I wasn't quite sure what I was going to make of it when I first started reading. I've always thought there was a deep and powerful bond between the two men, but I wasn't sure I liked the idea of it being more than that.

However, when I got into the story, I was very pleasantly surprised. The writing is excellent, and despite the obvious differences from the canonical, the voice is believable and very much in the Watson style. The period detail, and the nods to the original stories are also very well done, and with a light hand rather than ladled on.

It's very much a romance between the two men, dealing with Watson's unrequited feelings for his brilliant friend as much as his desire for him. It's not a work of erotica, and love scenes are 'off camera', with the focus on the angst and yearning of Watson, and the heartache of being in love with a man who doesn't show emotion and has difficulty even feeling it. The author does a really good job of conveying Watson's anguish, and the result makes for a sincere and moving read.

The House of Silk

The House of Silk: The New Sherlock Holmes Novel by Anthony Horowitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyed this very much. I've only read the Sherlock Holmes canon once, and I must admit that most of my perception of Holmes and Watson comes from watching the wonderful television series starring Jeremy Brett, but based on that, The House of Silk felt 'right' to me as a Holmes story. The voice of Watson rang true for me, and the style, characterisation and construction of the story seemed similar to the original stories. The plot rattled along nicely, and even though I sussed out some of what was going on fairly early in the proceedings, there were still things that surprised me about the final denouement[s].

I've seen some reviews where the author is taken to task for some inconsistencies between House of Silk and the original Sherlock Holmes stories and timeline, but Sir Arthur himself sometimes mixed things up a bit, and was inconsistent, so I do wonder if the 'slip ups' in this new story are perhaps an affectionate nod to the occasional oddities in the original canon.

The Science of Sherlock Holmes

The Science of Sherlock Holmes: From Baskerville Hall to the Valley of Fear, the Real Forensics Behind the Great Detective's Greatest Cases by E.J. Wagner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A fascinating and informative read. Shines a light on the forensic background to the Sherlock Holmes stories, with examples from real cases that may have influenced Conan Doyle, and the insights and misapprehensions of investigators at the time. I some ways, the police and scientists of the late Victorian/Edwardian era naturally drew the same correct conclusions that their contemporary counterparts would... but in other cases they were blundering in the dark without benefit of modern technology and discoveries.

Very enjoyable and readable, frequently enhanced by the author's dry wit.

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An excellent read

Close to Holmes: A look at the connections between historical London, Sherlock Holmes and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle by Alistair Duncan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful book. A fascinating look at the London haunts of both Sherlock Holmes and his creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The wealth of information makes me want to read the Holmes canon all over again, now I know more about the locales referenced.

Essential for Holmes fans and also extremely useful for authors writing about London in late Victorian/Edwardian era.

The God of the Hive

The God of the Hive by Laurie R. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wonderful! I devoured this at top speed, desperate to know the resolution of the story that began in the previous book.

There were some great new supporting characters in God of the Hive. I'm not usually a fan of child characters, but I found Estelle to be very likable. And I loved Robert Goodman! He was intriguing and playful, tragic and yet somehow triumphant. With his blond puckishness, he somehow reminded me of my own current muse... ;)

I thoroughly enjoyed this fine addition to the Russell/Holmes saga and now I can't wait for The Pirate King next year.

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THE LANGUAGE OF BEES

The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another wonderful installment of Mary Russell's memoirs. I was a little bit slower to become immersed in this one than some of the others, but once I really got stuck in, I was as captivated as ever.

I think the slight problem for me was that I've never been a fan of Irene Adler, and have been even less fond since I discovered Mary! So it wasn't easy to warm to Adler's son, initially.

Clearly, it wasn't a problem with the writing, just my own prejudices. I've become quite protective of Mary and Sherlock's relationship and don't want echoes of past loves to intrude.

Silly, I know, but it just shows how skilfully the memoirs are written and how deeply I've been drawn into them. :)

Naturally now, I'm dying to read THE GOD OF THE HIVE!

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A Worth Successor to Sir Arthur

The Game by Laurie R. King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a wonderful book! I tore through it in about three days, which is lightning speed for me now that I'm a fairly slow reader.

Of all the Mary Russell books I've read so far, I think that it's my second favorite after The Moor, which I love because I love The Hound of the Baskervilles.

The descriptions of the sea voyage and India are breathtakingly vivid and real seeming. You really feel as if you're there! The central relationship between Holmes and Russell is as believable and enchanting as ever, but the new characters all live and breathe too. I especially liked the wily Indian boy Bindra, even though I'm not usually a fan of children in books.

Laurie King's writing is fast moving and dynamic, but never at the expense of richness and moments of telling detail. And after just finishing reading Sir Arthur's entire Sherlock Holmes canon, the transition to Holmes and Russell was smooth as silk. Holmes is still the same person who shared adventures with Watson, and the Holmes/Russell stories are a worthy and satisfying account of The Great Detective's further exploits.

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Elementary, my dear Portia

The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've now read the complete Sherlock Holmes canon and I'm even more of a Holmes nut than I was before! Previously my fondness for The Great Detective was founded in the marvelous television performances of the wonderful and sadly missed Jeremy Brett, but now, having read the original literature that he brought to life so vividly, I'm as in love with the source material as I am with its dramatic interpretation.

I love Sir Arthur's writing style, and the way sometimes the stories rattle along at a hectic pace, and at others, there's a breathtaking yet subtle richness of description and characterization, coupled with a delightful sly humor. It's no wonder the stories are so well loved and revered - the personalities of Holmes and Watson, as well as the supporting cast, are like real people who spring from the page and live.

It definitely won't be too long before I'm re-reading these amazing classic tales.

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I love Sherlock...

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What can I say? It's Sherlock Holmes. Having only watched versions on the telly and in movies, I'm now thoroughly enjoying what's on the page. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a master storyteller and even after all these years, the Holmes and Watson yarns stand up and entertain magnificently!

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I know my Holmes!

The Game's Afoot!

Score: 100% (8 out of 8)

Just took this quiz and scored a clean sweep! Sherlock would be proud...

Sherlock Holmes for Dummies

Sherlock Holmes For Dummies by Steven Doyle and David A. Crowder


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A wonderful guide to the world and the cases of Sherlock Holmes. Being a Dummies book, the information is presented in a lighter, easy to follow, slightly humorous way, but still the main author, Steven Doyle, shines through as meticulous Holmes scholar whose enthusiasm and love for the Great Detective makes for a super read.

Reading this has made me eager to read more of the original Sherlock Holmes stories, to discover how different they are from some of the cinematic interpretations.

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