Lady Ross, the plot of HOUSE OF SILENCE is very complicated, especially towards the end. I'd continue with that one so you don't lose track of all the threads.

But what do I know? I'm only the author.

An amazing one, Linda!

I finished UTK, and it was just as Sassenach said in her review, I couldn't do anything else until I'd finished it. Thank you for another wonderful, true-to-life story with such wonderful characters! And the hospital scene...

Yes, I'd love to talk about the hospital scene - in detail but I don't want to post any spoilers.

My daughter (28) tried really hard to get me to change the way that scene ends - the transition from extreme sadness to passion with comedy thrown in. She really hated it and wanted the reader left "standing at the bedroom door", as they say.

She is my no 1 reliable critic and editor, so I had to think hard about what she said. My hunch was, readers would buy it because I did. What happens in the hospital scene was exactly how the marriage had been, in a kind of nutshell - immense sadness, death, great joy & great sex.

It was a very difficult scene to pull off and getting Magnus' socks off was one of the biggest challenges of my literary career. (Authors tend to gloss over sock removal, but it's a tricky thing, especially the long hose that go with Highland dress.) So I shall be interested to hear what readers make of this - ahem - memorable scene.

I'll finish House of Silence first, promise. Scout's honor.

Could I put in a request for Amazon reviews if any of you have read and enjoyed UNTYING THE KNOT? It doesn't have to be a long review. Just a few lines will do. The important thing is the star rating. There's only one US review so far (from Sassenach) and the e-book isn't selling either side of the Atlantic (though better in the UK than the US.)

As it isn't selling verywell even in the UK I'm wondering if I've misjudged the cover or the synopsis. A lot of people have emailed to say they love the cover, but a few of my fans have said they don't like it because it looks like chick lit. I'd be really interested to hear your opinions.

Thanks as ever for your support.

Hi Linda!

As soon as I finish it, I will put in a review! I'm not sure about the cover/description. I like the cover, personally. I think I will recommend it to my home book club. They are all very avid, intelligent readers. I think we have almost 40 members now.

Thanks very much, Lady Ross!

A blogger selected UTK's cover for her "eye candy" piece today: http://fewmorepages.blogspot.com/#axzz1YfNDaNQM so clearly the cover is working for some people. But bloggers seem reluctant to review it, even in the UK (with the exception of our own Sassenach.)

Hmmm...Unfortunately, I can't do anything on my blog. My thing is food and I think my readers would be confused if I suddenly started reviewing books.

But I'm not above slipping in some references. Page views are up, so it might help.

I'm sure it would help, but I don't want you to compromise your blog with irrelevant content! (*Scratches head and thinks of culinary content in novels*... Calum's porridge in EMO GEO... Keir's hot chocolate in the tree house in STAR GAZING... Marek's Polish poppy seed bread in HOUSE OF SHADOWS... Fay's spaghetti carbonara lunch for Magnus in UNTYING THE KNOT... )

One of the problems with e-books is that you can't send a review copy to bloggers. You can send an Amazon gift certificate and that's what I do if a blogger agrees to review. But that's not as tempting as a nice shiny new paperback. I think another problem (from my point of view as an author seeking reviews) is that e-books don't sit accusingly on the TBR pile. There's an influential UK blogger who has always given me good reviews and done a lot to popularise my books and I know she's bought UTK, but as there's been no review I wonder if it's sitting forgotten on her Kindle...

You just have to wait & hope.

I love the cover of UTK, and think that the use of the knot linking the title is inspired - 10/10 for your cover art from me

Well, I was not disappointed! I started reading last night and finished this afternoon at work. I just had to find out what happened. I submitted a review on Amazon which will hopefully help boost sales.

I am ready to discuss the book whenever anyone else is. Can we start a Spoiler thread? BTW, Linda, I loved the hospital scene just the way it was written. Pity it was so short.

Great Idea !!

I've opened a discussion thread HERE

***Beware SPOILERS will apply***

Thanks, Sassenach. (And many thanks Lady Jayne, for your Amazon review.)

I'll see you over on the discussion thread when I've got myself organised again and dealt with my inbox. I've just been away for a few days with my daughter and got back to Arran today.