I seem to have had a random week this week, anyone that knows me won’t be surprised at all! I don’t tend to watch much TV and with the ongoing speculation, media frenzy, panic-buying news about a certain worldwide virus I decided to stick mostly with reading books, listening to books and watching movies based on books, in particular movies from the 50’s and 60’s.

It all started with a Jules Verne Audible Book, Around The World In 80 Days, to be precise. I then watched the film – the 1956 one with David Niven (the best one in my opinion). I then decided to watch Journey to the Centre of The Earth (again the proper 1959 one with James Mason) I then found that I had an audible credit so used it on the audio-book that I am in the middle of listening to that at the moment. So a slight Verne obsessed week to say the least, I have read quite a few of his books a few times over the years and I do enjoy them.

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I do like these Classic films and have ordered a few more DVD’s to add to my collection, though not all Verne ones.

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So let me show you what I read this week…

I was only going to read a couple of chapters of It Started With A Snub by B. R. Maycock and was planning on doing some housework, well… housework got done the next day 😂😂 this was such a good read that had me sniggering and it also got my blood boiling. Heather has just moved into a shared house with 4 rather fine sounding men 😁I should mention that Heather has a rather obnoxious boyfriend, yeah I really didn’t like him at all. The book is a fab read and is a mix of rom-com and also life, family and friends, full review will follow soon.

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I am delighted to be on the Blog Tour for Dead Wrong by Noelle Holten and what another great read this author has created. DC Maggie Jamieson has really got a case in front of her this time. When the bodies of missing women start turning up there is a major problem especially when the killer is behind bars. How on earth could the women be recently killed when the killer has been incarcerated before they were killed?…!!! This was such a tense and fast paced read and kept me avidly turning the pages. Keep an eye out for my full review as part of the tour.

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Love At First Like by Hannah Orenstein was a quick read and quite enjoyable, it is a story of Eliza a jewellery shop owner who gets a little drunk and mistakenly posts an Instagram post. What follows is a story that at some points did stretch things a bit regarding people who are not on social media, but all the same did have a good pull on my curiosity for me to keep avidly reading to see how it turned out in the end. Review will follow soon.

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I do like a good Victorian mystery and The Woman Who Spoke To Spirits by Alys Clare was just that. This is the first book in the “A Worlds End Bureau Mystery” series and was a really good introduction to Lily Raynor, owner and investigator of Worlds End Bureau, she has been building up her investigation business and needs help with the admin. The clerical position is taken up by Felix Wilbraham who then starts to help Lily as she tries to solve the various mysteries in 1880’s London. A good read that was atmospheric and one that left me wanting to see where this series is going to go next.

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This is what I am reading at the moment…

I am delighted to be part of the Blog Tour for the 2nd book in the Alex Cohen series. As I have only read a couple of chapters, let me show you the synopsis for East Side Hustler by Leopold Bortinski.

Alex lived through the war, but will he survive the peace?

Jewish gang member, Alex comes back from the Great War almost destroyed by the horrors he has seen. When he is plucked from certain death by an old friend, he commits to making so much money he’ll never know that agony again.

But the route to the top is fraught with danger and every time he helps one of his powerful friends like Al Capone, he acquires more enemies who want to see him dead. When organised crime financier, Arnold Rothstein dies, the turmoil caused by his loss sets in train a chain of events which means Alex must once more fight for his life. How far would you go to attain your American dream?

The second book in the Alex Cohen series is a violent historical novel, which tears through the Prohibition years of the Jewish New York mob. Leopold Borstinski’s gripping crime noir pierces the heart of every reader like a bullet from Alex’s sniper rifle.

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Well another good week in books, audio’s and also films. I wish everyone a great week ahead.

Take Care

Yvonne xx