Derek’s Good Relations by Mac Black

 Derek’s Good Relations by Mac Black

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Derek’s Good Relations continues the humorous adventures of Derek Toozlethwaite, in the Derek series. A single child brought up by his Gran and Grandad, Derek is suddenly surrounded by relatives. Re-united with his Mum, he’s also discovered his Dad and he’s found he has a sister too.

Derek’s been trying to write a book for years and now he’s been successful with his book on rock group Rabid Revenge. Publicity for the book takes him away from   home as his wife goes into labour at the same time as his sister, but there are enough female relatives to hold the fort.

In fact the female relatives all form the Newingsworth Mafia: Ladies section. They welcome Josephine, Derek’s publicist’s representative into their group unknowing that she is the voluptuous Sophie Clerkenwell-Brown in disguise.

The book is selling like hot cakes until one reader contacts Derek, complaining aggressively about some of the material. in fact Derek finds himself under physical threat from the reader until he’s saved by his mum.

The future is beginning to look rosy until a late birthday celebration has Derek returning to some controversial dressing habits, but its a trip to London for a boxing match which has Sally walking out on Derek once more.

Poor Derek, he really is an unfortunate chap as you’ll see in this fourth book in the Derek series. British comedy still shining through in this latest episode in the life of Derek.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com

View all my reviews on Goodreads

Good Deeds Year 2, week 6

Welcome to my second Year of Good Deeds, a challenge I set myself during April 2013. I decided to do at least one Good Deed a day for a whole year.

During my week I’ll also being updating you on My Kindness Challenge which I’m also doing. I read about a new challenge to make the world a better place to live in. “Speak Kind Words, Receive Kind Echoes” see the inspiration on  The Kindness blog . During my learning process I’m donating money to charity for my slip-ups to make me work harder to achieve results. I earn no money from any of my book reviews, so having little to spare should focus my mind.

This week I’ve been doing the following;

May 25th – Finished reading Fallen for Rock by Nicky Wells and sent off my review. Will be starting The Birr Elixir by Jo Sparkes next. Have agreed to read and review two more books, Fairy and Blood: Lilac by William Crisel and Archer of the Lake by Kelly Michaels. Cricket was cancelled this morning so my chance to lend some plastic cups out as a good deed was scuppered. So it’s all book good deeds today.

May 26th – Continuing with my big book edit of my own book to make it a much better read. I’m procrastinating too much, but when I do sit down and get on with it I enjoy myself mixing with all the characters again. Finished reading and sent off my review of The Birr Elixir by Jo Sparkes Today I’m reading Derek’s Good Relations by Mac Black. We have the in-laws coming for tea, this will be a big challenge for my kind comments because they love a good moan and have a lot of negative talk. Perhaps I can find a lovely reward for myself if I make it through, there’s chocolate in the cupboard! Hmmm!

May 27th – The baby birds have flown, (we had a camera in a bird-box and watched as a blue-tit laid 7 eggs and raised her young) but sadly nature has been cruel, Magpies have seen the flight and at least one has bitten the dust. I’ve been out to chase them away but they have their own young to feed.

Picked up some litter this evening.

May 28th – Finished reading Derek’s Good Relations by Mac Black. Sent off my review. Picked up some litter whilst out for a walk. The kindness challenge is going well this week, it helps that we haven’t been out for a couple of days.

May 29th – The June issue of Fleet Life has been delivered today. My book reviews are on page 6 this month. The on-line version will be out shortly, meanwhile the following books have been featured; Tall, Dark and Kilted by Lizzie Lamb, The Black Hours by Alison Williams, The 20’s Girl, The Ghost and All That Jazz by June Kearns, Saving Our Pennys by Roy Dimond and Jeff Leitch and Black Rose by Jenna Ryan.

Bumped in to a friend in the supermarket and practised by Kind words challenge. Rose to the challenge when my brother phoned wanting accounting work started and completed before tomorrow, definitely one needing special care with the kind words.

May 30th – An opportunity to help out a friend in need today, with a broken car and a child in hospital we are able to pick up her son and take him to cricket.

Have just written the book review drafts for the July issues of Fleet Life and Elvetham Heath Directory. Just awaiting the June editions to go on-line.

May 31st – Finished reading Fairy and Blood: Lilac by William Crisel and sent off my review. Went out for afternoon tea with friends and took flowers for my hostess. Tested my kind words challenge again this afternoon. May have to put a £1 in the pot! Am now reading Gypsy by Cynthia Harrison.

Letter D on the A to Z April Challenge

Today is letter D on the A to Z Challenge. My book today is “Derek’s Revenge” by Mac Black, Third book in the Derek Series. Genre: Adult Humour

Let’s meet Derek, he currently works as a newspaper reporter, but his life’s ambition is to write a best selling book.

Name: Derek Toozlethwaite.

Objective: To write a factual best seller.

At long last a great idea for the book – about a rock band that made the big-time in the USA.

RABID REVENGE – and they came from Newingsworth UK – his town!

In the USA they made their name,

Top gee-tar-ists in the ‘Hall of Fame’

Wow, they’re celebs – from Derek’s town.

Trust TOOZLETHWAITE

He’ll track them down.

They’ve had their glory

Their time at the top

They’re older now,

They’ve had to stop.

Rabid Revenge – rockers, acting tough

But they’ve made their money,

They’ve had enough.

Will he let them settle? He will not!

There’s a book to be written!

And DEREK’S …hot!

Read about his escapades, if you dare, and become a ‘Derek’ fan…

Derek Toozlethwaite’ series:

Please…Call me Derek. Derek travels from child to confused adult, from reporter for the local paper to any job available, doing everything he thinks he should, but doing it his way. Pursuing life and employment leads Derek to fling himself into the sort of sticky situations he won’t want to have to explain to his friends or his family. With determination, gritting his teeth, doing everything for the best, how could anything go wrong.

Derek’s in Trouble.  As funny as ever and as unlucky as always, Derek is going through another unexpected crisis in his life. A local reporter with the partner of his dreams, his life is all set to be perfect. So, how will he explain his foray out in his wife’s dress? Then, there’s the leggy lady intent on making a lasting impression …on top of that, there are everyone else’s problems to sort. Is his Gran, the secret Radio agony aunt, capable of helping anyone?

Derek’s Revenge. Derek has not had much success getting his first great novel started – in fact, the research it requires has nearly cost him his marriage and ruined several pairs of his wife’s tights. All he needs is a better topic, maybe he should be writing non-fiction, he is a journalist, after all… As is normal for Derek, things go pretty rapidly and hilariously downhill from there!

Derek’s Good Relations. Relations and Relationships – poor Derek has far too many of both – he has a book to write – a mother he has only just met – a wife about to give birth and a poodle who hates him. Life had been so different a year and a half ago. Back then it had been a life before ET and Mom and a heap of other people interfering with his good intentions.

Derek’s Secrets (out soon)

Available from:

Amazon.co.uk (paperback/kindle);

Amazon.com (paperback/kindle);

Waterstones (paperback)

Barnes and Noble (paperback);

Mac Black contacts:

Email: macblack.author

Facebook: facebook.com

Goodreads

Back in January, I reviewed the first book “Please Call Me Derek” http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4nZ and Mac was also my guest author for the day. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4oJ You can also read my review of “Derek’s in Trouble” here. http://wp.me/p2Eu3u-4Y1

Here are some randomly chosen links to blog from others taking up the challenge, please find a few moments to visit their sites too.

http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.co.uk/

http://rhymetime24.blogspot.ca/

http://multicoloreddiary.blogspot.co.uk/

http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.co.uk/

http://asoutherngypsy.com/#sthash.ql9BPF5C.dpbs

During the challenge we are asking visitors to leave comments on as many blogs as possible, all supportive comments are much appreciated, thank you.