Hello and welcome to my weekly update of books I have read. It is a flying visit this week as I do have a lot going on. I was trying to work out how I would find the time to work, complete courses, do training and my Blog! Well, the Blog is taking a back seat this week so I can concentrate on boring adulting stuff 😦
So, here is what I have read…
Rebel Gardening by Alessandro Vitale – I have had this book on my NetGalley shelf for months and I have been meaning to review it. I finally have and it is a great book full of old advice, new ideas and modern practices and what to look for on the market when buying new seeds for the season. A little late for us in the UK as we are now heading towards the autumn. Very happy to recommend this book
The Pomegranate Gater by Ariel Kaplin – another one from NetGalley that I had been meaning to pick up sooner! This is a fantasy story that is blended with Jewish Folklore and is also a historical fiction. The first in the series and it is absolutely brilliant. I adored this one a huge amount. Full review will be out on my Blog next week.
Just Between Us by Adele Parks – yes another NetGalley book and WOW! talk about twisted, this was a brilliant book. A missing woman is assumed to be dead and her two husbands are both in the frame for possibly murdering her! A fabulous mix of psychological, mystery, suspense and domestic thriller. Full review next week.
There we go, three books and all wonderful
Have a great week ahead and I’ll see you next month!!!!!!
Yvonne xx
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I am delighted to share my review today for Three Sisters by O.J. Mullen. I have read several of this author’s books before under the name Owen Mullen, he is an author whose book si will automatically read without looking at the synopsis first.
My huge thanks to Boldwood Books for accepting my request to read this title via NetGalley.
One chance meeting. A night that changes everything. The Kennedy sisters, Molly, Alex and Sam, have a Christmas tradition – a night out, just the three of them, sisters together. Lewis Stone can’t face the work Christmas party, but as he’s one of the bosses, he has to put in an appearance. He leaves as soon as he can politely get away, ready for the holidays to begin. When Lewis Stone meets the Kennedy sisters, a train of events begins that engulfs them all. One sister is left fighting for her life. One sister is left fighting for her marriage. And one sister is hellbent on revenge…
MY REVIEW
I do adore this author’s books and this one is an absolutely cracking read. A night out leaves one sister dead and the aftermath of this becomes the story. The story is told from the perspective of the characters so I was able to get a viewpoint from the remaining two sisters, the driver of the car and what he was dealing with and also some other characters. This book was engaging from start to finish and it did not end anywhere near where I thought it would!
The sisters, Molly, Alex and Sam. The driver of the car that hit and killed one of the sisters is Lewis Stone. This story is one that was woven in and out of the lives of these characters and also a husband, business partner and solicitor. As with this author’s previous books, nothing is straightforward forward and to try to explain the story… well I would make it confusing, which it definitely was not as I read it.
The story has highs and lows, of grieving and also of revenge. Lives have changed as you would expect and the strain of events shows on certain people. For some, it is a case of not being able to move forward for another feeling guilty, for some a way to change and try to come to terms with things and all in all how one incident altered people’s futures.
Accidents are not nice and while the author does mention the accident it is the aftermath that he focuses on. Getting to know the characters and understanding their lives and what drives them to do the things they do becomes a story. Understanding the dynamics between people is another part of the story. Then there is the psychological side of the story and that is where the author for me really worked his magic. Not necessarily obvious but there are mentions of how people react to heartbreaking changes.
The story took a route I really did not expect, there were hints along the way but the finale! Well! That was something else. The shocks, twists and surprises fell one after another and they fitted so well within the story. It is not until you got to these revelations that you suddenly changed your view about a person or remembered something mentioned earlier in the book. It makes for fabulous reading!
In case you had not worked it out, I adored this book a huge amount. If you are a fan of thrillers that are mysterious have a domestic thriller feel to them, are compelling and full of suspense then this is one you should pick up. Yeah, I would definitely recommend it.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today for A Sparrow Falls by Wilbur Smith. This is the 3rd book in The Courtney series and I am loving the chance to re-read this historic fiction series.
My huge thanks to Tracy at Compulsive Readers for the chance to join in the year-long marketing tour and for arranging my copy of the book from Zaffre Books.
A Sparrow Falls, another gripping installment in Wilbur Smith’s Courtney Family Adventure series
Mark Anders grew up on eight thousand acres of African land that bore his family name. Then he fought in Europe’s Great War and, upon returning to his ancestral home, he saw savagery unlike any other….
In Africa, Mark’s family estate has been despoiled. His grandfather has died under mysterious circumstances. And he has inherited a murderous enemy–the rogue scion of the powerful Courtney clan–in an altogether new kind of war.
Now, Mark will make a fateful choice between two women. Journey into the wilderness to uncover his grandfather’s fate. Find his way through battles raging between fathers and sons, generals and politicians, and nature and man. In an age of violent conflict, Mark Anders will live or die for justice–and his fight will echo across a country he always loved….
MY REVIEW
This is the 3rd book in The Courtney series and follows the life, family, friends and enemies of Sean Courtney. A new character is introduced that takes a centre-stage style position in this book and is that of Mark Anders. The first meeting is during The Great War and Mark is a sniper. He was born and raised in South Africa and built an excellent marksman reputation. Sean Courtney comes across him at the battlefield and then they meet up again when they are back home in South Africa.
Mark had been looking forward to returning home only to discover he has no home, his grandfather has died and there is no estate to come to Mark. Something is not right and this is confirmed when someone tried to kill Mark. Fleeing again he goes to live with his friend Fergus, they fought together and know each other well. Fergus is part of the Communist party and while some of their policies sit right and Mark agrees with most of it, there are some tactics that do not. This leads him back to Sean.
This is another fabulous book in the series and the author writes with a passion for the country he loves. This period of African history is one that is violent, unrelenting and dangerous. Dirk Courtney is hellbent on making himself well-known and achieving more than his father Sean in all aspects. Dirk is the thorn in Sean’s side and Dirk is not averse to using underhand methods. A schemer, planner and cutthroat in business with a firm hand.
The author tells the story with a brutality that matches the time, there are some sections that are tough reading but it is in fact part of the history and should be acknowledged as happening.
The pacing of the story fluctuates and at times it is so fast you race to keep up and at others, there is time for contemplation and seeing things from the perspectives of the characters. The story touches on the evolving landscape and how man is encroaching on nature and wildlife. Noticing dwindling numbers in the game and how man is impacting the environment is mentioned. Nothing has changed but it is good to acknowledge that the writing of the time and historical mentions of landscape changes are mentioned.
This is an action-packed adventure story from start to finish. It tells of the world and way of life and the changes that are at the forefront of the times. Advances in technology, medicine and also the power and greed that is overtaking local people.
Historical fiction as well as a touch of romance, with dangerous situations and people. Battles, conflict, rivalry and disputes are balanced with life, love and hopes for better futures. Another excellent story in the series and it is one I am definitely going to recommend.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wilbur Smith was the bestselling author of many novels, each researched on his numerous expeditions worldwide. His bestselling Courtney series includes Assegai, The Sound of Thunder, Birds of Prey, Monsoon, and Blue Horizon. His other books include Those in Peril, River God, Warlock, The Seventh Scroll, and The Sunbird.
His books have been translated into twenty-six languages and have sold over 120 million copies. Smith was born to a British family in Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia, in Central Africa, and attended Rhodes University in South Africa. By the time of his death in 2021 he had published 49 books and had sold more than 140 million copies.
Wilbur Smith died at his Cape Town home on November 13, 2021. He was 88 years old at the time of his death.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
Hello and welcome to my weekly update of books I have read. A slower week this week for books with only two reads, but they were cracking reads. Before that here are some pictures from the garden.
I don’t see many ladybirds around, as a child there used to be loads of them. This year I have seen several so I am hoping they are on the increase again. The ginger Lily is one I got from my mum. She is “miffed” because her’s has never flowered! Oops ðŸ¤
A Sparrow Falls by Wilbur Smith – this is the 3rd book in the Courtney series and I am enjoying re-reading these so much. The Great War has ended, and some are returning home to find things have changed and my full review will be out tomorrow.
Three Sisters by O.J. Mullen – Owen Mullen is an author whose books I will automatically read without even looking at the synopsis. This book is amazing, full of twists, unexpected surprises and simply a brilliant crime, thriller and suspense story. Full review will be out on Wednesday.
I am delighted to share my review today for The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard. This is an intriguing and cleverly twisted story and if you are a fan of crime, mystery and suspense then this one might be for you.
My huge thanks to Penguin Random House for my copy of the book via NetGalley.
The Trap: an unsettling mystery inspired by a series of still-unsolved disappearances in Ireland in the 90s, wherein one young woman risks everything to catch a faceless killer.
One year ago, Lucy’s sister, Nicki, left to meet friends at a pub in Dublin and never came home. The third Irish woman to vanish inexplicably in as many years, the agony of not knowing what happened that night has turned Lucy’s life into a waking nightmare. So, she’s going to take matters into her own hands.
Angela works as a civilian paper-pusher in the Missing Persons Unit, but wants nothing more than to be a fully-fledged member of An Garda SÃochána, the Irish police force. With the official investigation into the missing women stalled, she begins pulling on a thread that could break the case wide open—and destroy her chances of ever joining the force.
A nameless man drives through the night, his latest victim in the back seat. He’s going to tell her everything, from the beginning. And soon, she’ll realize: what you don’t know can hurt you …
MY REVIEW
As the synopsis tells you, this is the story of Lucy and the search she undertakes for her sister Nicki. Nicki is not the only woman who has gone missing and has little to go on. While Operation Tide has been set up to hunt for the women, not everyone is convinced they are connected.
The story has a cast of characters that are enough for the story, with each one having a role but no others to make it confusing. There is Lucy who needs to know if her sister is alive, why was she taken, whether was there anything that could have prevented it and also the way she goes about trying to discover the identity of the perpetrator.
Angela works in the missing persons unit and is sort of seconded by the FLO for the case to help try to understand what is going on. The case has hit a brick wall and anything new could help. Angela is a person who is a little don’t he naive side and eager to please and be noticed.
Then there is the unknown voice, this voice tells of the way women are abducted and what he does to lure them. This person has a sinister and unsettling nature and tone to him.
Understanding the actions of Nicki and of the abductor is one side of the story, the other is the way Lucy goes about trying to achieve what the Garda are unable to do. This is a twisted story and it takes quite an unexpected route, not only once but a few times. The story does meander as some of the lanes and country tracks around the Wicklow Mountains.
I was never too sure about how this story was going to develop or even end, and I wasn’t excp[ecting the ending the author came up with. It definitely caught me unawares.
This for me was a slower crime mystery, there is a lot of detail for the characters and from the beginning of the story, the tension gradually mounts. There are shocks and at times some humour but the essence of the story is a woman trying to cope with the disappearance of her sister. The not knowing is cruel and the author brings this well into the story.
If you are a fan of slow-burners that gradually ramp up the tensions and add suspicions upon suspicion then this is one that you may like. It is not straightforward and you never quite know where it is going to go or how the conclusion will be achieved. Clever and twisted and one I would d happily recommend.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today for The French Chateau Dream by Julie Caplin. I have read a few of the books in this series and each one is a story in its own right.
My huge thanks to One More Chapter for accepting my request to read this title via NetGalley.
You are invited to a summer of sparkling champagne, warm buttery croissants and a little bit of je ne sais quoi… With a broken heart and a broken spirit, Hattie is in need of a summer escape. So when an opportunity comes up to work at a beautiful, stately chateau in the Champagne region of France she books her flights quicker than the pop of a cork. Romance is the last thing Hattie is looking for but then she wasn’t expecting gorgeous Luc to stroll into her life. With picnics in the warm French sun and delicious foodie trips to the local market, Hattie starts to wonder if a holiday fling – or maybe even something more – might be just what she needs
MY REVIEW
It has been far too long since I picked up a book by this author. As soon as I started this one I knew I was not putting it down until I had finished. Read in one glorious sitting.
Hatties has taken on the task of organising a wedding for her cousin, money is no object and the location is a French Chateau. When she arrives no one is expecting her, it is Luc who meets her on the doorstep and shows her around.
As the story continues, Hattie is in the midst of organising but finding things are not as she thought they would be. She is finding it difficult to get people on board but then it has also been left very short to get sorted. With the wedding looming Hatties is doing what she can to get the chateau up to speed.
Luc is too busy to help as he is trying to get the vineyard ready to start producing their own champagne again. There are heated discussions between various other people in and around the area. All in all a very fraught time.
The author brings the charm of the chateau right out of the pages, while it may be a little tired it does sound wonderful. The mentions of markets and food definitely made an impact and there are mentions of wine as you would expect.
The story has such a feel-good vibe to it and once I began I just had to keep reading. Everything about this book is fabulous from a wonderful storyline and romance to a mystery and the odd surprise.
Ideal for fans of romance, contemporary fiction and for those who just want to get away vicariously for a few hours. It is one I would definitely recommend.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today for Runes of Battle by G.N. Gudgion. This is the second book in this epic fantasy series and it is just fabulous.
My huge thanks to Second Sky Books for accepting my request to review this book via NetGalley.
Adelais is on the run.
And the kingdom of Galmandie has never been more dangerous .
In every town square, people whisper of a girl who brought down lightning on her enemies. The king has placed a huge price on Adelais’s head and sent troops to hunt her down.
Adelais flees high into the mountains. But winter is closing in and she cannot hide for ever .
Far to the north, there is a chance of escape. Her homeland has risen in rebellion against Galmandie. To reach freedom and safety, Adelais must cross many miles of hostile territory with inquisitors and royal soldiers always close behind.
If she is captured, Adelais will be burned as a witch. But if she learns to control the storm of magic within her, she could be the spark that sets the whole country aflame .
Packed with intrigue, action and warring gods, The Rune Song Trilogy is perfect for fans of Robin Hobb, Mark Lawrence and Andrzej Sapkowski.
See why readers love G.N. Gudgion’s thrilling epic
MY REVIEW
This is the second book in The Rune Song Trilogy and it continues the story of Adelais. She has been on the run and trying to stay out of the way of her enemies. She is said to be a witch, she does have powers and can use runes. This by some is considered to be heresy and so labelling her a witch gives them the excuse to kill her. The religion of the old gods and the way of the runes is frowned upon by those who follow a newer religion.
This is another fabulous chapter in this trilogy and it captures older Norse mythology and the use of runes. It is fast-paced, full of action and adventure and it is a difficult one to put down. The first book gave the background, the characters and the histories of the author’s world. It laid out a complex plot but not one that is confusing for the reader. It is a fantasy story that easily slots into epic fantasy with some amazing concepts and storylines.
Adelais is now on the run, she doe shave help and in this book, she is given training to understand her powers. Given that she is quite recognisable she has also been disguising herself as a male, this means she needs to be able to act, walk and fight as one. Learning skills he is going to need in the future is something that will challenge her but also give her more control and hone her skills. She will need them…
I really like how the author includes the runes as one of the cornerstones of this story, it gives Adelais and her suspected witchcraft something that feels right. The story has a historic feel to it and brings in various aspects such as Knights Templar, medieval living, runes and mythology. This has been blended wonderfully to create a story that is packed full of action, magic, mystery and as the story continues, war.
Having different factions keeps the story constantly moving and evolving, never quite knowing what is going to happen. These different factions create doubt and mistrust and of course, adding a conspiratorial tone to the story. Who doesn’t love a good bit of conspiracy and backstabbing in a story?
This is another brilliantly addictive book in the trilogy. Adelais is becoming more confident and understanding her role. It is like a coming-of-age story as she learns to adapt to who she is. If you have not read the first book then you really should as it gives the beginning, this second book is definitely building the story further and is leading nicely towards a finale and I can’t wait!
A brilliant story full of action, adventure, magic, battles and conspiracy and I adored it as much as I did the first one. It is one I would definitely recommend.
Many thanks for reading my review, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
Hello and welcome to my weekly book update. It has been a week of mixed weather and I managed to see something I had never seen before, a ghost rainbow otherwise known as a white rainbow or a fogbow. Smaller than the usual colourful one but equally as impressive in an eerie way. My mum reckons it is colourless because the rain washed the colours out! 😉😂 I had not realised it was there until I took a photo on my phone of the one of the fog rolling in with the tide, this is what the phone saw with no tweaking.
Sunday saw the village come together in support of a local family. Being in the country there is a strong farming community and so a charity tractor fun run was organised. 93 tractors of all ages, shapes and sizes turned up and it took 10 minutes for them to exit the field before travelling the 15-mile route. It was an amazing event with lots going on and a chance for lots of photos that I am still going through.
The books have been good this week and I managed to read three.
Runes of Battle by G.N. Gudgion – this is the second book in the trilogy and the author really has got his characters working well. Continuing the story of Adelais, she is on the run and trying to stay out of danger but when she is accused of being a witch then this is going to be hard. Fabulous story and my full review will e here tomorrow.
The Trap by Catherine Ryan Howard – this is a cleverly twisted book and one that concerns the abduction of women. Lucy is desperate to find out what happened to her sister Nicki. Is she alive or dead? The story is about Lucy’s search and what she does to try to discover any answers. Full review on Thursday.
The French Chateau Dream by Julie Caplin – it has been far too long since I last picked up a book by this author. This one is a gorgeous story of Hattie arriving at a vineyard to organise a wedding for her rich cousin. Wonderful setting, food, friends, land a gorgeous romantic edge to it. Fabulous book and my full review will be out this week.
That’s all for now,
Have a great week an
All the best
Yvonne xx
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today for The F-Word Reality Show by Chris Westlake. This is the second book I have read by this author and he certainly knows how to twist his psychological thriller stories.
My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for arranging my copy of this book and for my spot on the Blog tour.
Andrew Macintosh is one of fifty seemingly random individuals offered the opportunity to appear in a reality show, to be aired to millions of viewers across the world. There is only one the contestants must not – under any circumstances – tell anyone where they are going.
Before entering the show, each contestant chooses their F-Word reward for Fame, Fortune or Freedom. Transported to a giant glass hall in the middle of nowhere, guards patrol the hall and cameras watch their every move. There is nowhere to hide.
As the days pass and the events unfold, Andrew discovers that not only is he fighting for his freedom, but he is fighting to stay alive. The choice is brutally straightforward… Andrew must kill, or be killed.
The F-Word Reality Show is a compelling thriller that will leave you wondering whether the cameras watching your every move are your best friend or your worst enemy.
MY REVIEW
This is a story of two parts, one is of Andrew and his life prior to The F-Word Reality Show and the other part is his participation in the show. Just to clarify, the F-Word is not what you think it is! The reality show offers its winning contestant three choices – Fame, Fortune and Freedom. Only one out of the fifty can win, the others are eliminated and you can tell no one you are part of the show.
This is a slow burner and it took me a while to get going with it. It was around the mid-30 % of the book when things start to step up and you realise that this is not quite what you think it is.
The story alternates between Andrew’s story, the past and the present. It is not completely clear as to why he was chosen to take part, but by the end, it is revealed shockingly. Not what I was expecting at all.
This is a mad version of a reality show that has been taken to an extreme level, it is set in 2024 and there are mentions of Covid and people are waiting for a vaccine, hence the freedom option. It gives the winner the freedom to go to a covid free country.
This is one that I really enjoyed, it didn’t immediately grab me. It grew on me and then I found I could not put it down. In some ways, it reminds me of a study of people in extreme situations and how they react.
The show is bizarre and while it sounds like a good idea, there are some rather nasty developments. Andrew does become friendly with some of the others and they form a small group that supports each other. Andrew learns more about the lives of these people.
This is a thriller but one that is quite subtle. Once I got into the story and things began to open up and I realised what things were all about I find it very addictive reading. There is a psychological aspect to this and again this is not obvious at the beginning.
A mix of contemporary fiction, psychological thriller and suspense and there is a mysterious element to it as you wonder and try to work out where the author is going to take you. It is one I would happily recommend.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chris’s page-turning novels will make you doubt what happens next, but leave you in no doubt that you sure as hell want to find out. His thrillers toy with your mind and play with your emotions. Chris has published five novels, including three thrillers. His latest novel, THE F-WORD REALITY SHOW, is a compelling thriller which will leave you wondering whether the cameras that follow your every move are your best friend or your worst enemy.
30 DAYS IN JUNE is a serial killer thriller, and I AM HERE TO KILL YOU is a psychological thriller, with a key focus on cults, the power of manipulation, and brainwashing.
After completing a Creative Writing course in 2010, Chris Westlake’s short story, Welsh Lessons, was awarded 1st place in the Global Short Story Award (not bad for the first writing competition he had entered). He followed this up with 1st place in the Stringybark Erotic Fiction Award and 2nd place in the HASSRA Literary Award. Chris is determined to write many, many more novels – his main regret is that he didn’t start writing earlier. He is always looking to make his next novel even better than the last. He is continuously experimenting with different styles, different genres.
I am delighted to share my review today of Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter. I spotted this one on NetGalley and the synopsis caught my eye. I have not read anything by this author but I am aware she does write a series that many Book Bloggers are fans of.
My huge thanks to William Morrow Books for accepting my request to read and review this title via NetGalley.
A shocking thriller about a cold case, a fictional true crime series, and the family caught in the middle.
SIX EPISODES. ONE KILLER.
It was a case that gripped the nation. In December 2003, Luke Ryder, the stepfather of acclaimed filmmaker Guy Howard (then aged 10), was found dead in the garden of their suburban family home.
Luke Ryder’s murder has never been solved. Guy Howard’s mother and two half-sisters were in the house at the time of the murder–but all swear they saw nothing. Despite a high-profile police investigation and endless media attention, no suspect was ever charged.
But some murder cases are simply too big to forget…
Now comes the sensational new Netflix series Infamous, dedicated to investigating–and perhaps cracking–this famous cold case. The production team will re-examine testimony, re-interview witnesses, and once again scour the evidence. The family will speak. The key players will be reunited–on camera. The truth will come out.
Are you ready to see it?
MY REVIEW
I do like to get my hands on a crime thriller with something different about it, Murder in the Family is just one of those books. It is told in a series of transcripts from a TV series, emails, video feeds and re-examining old accounts, videos, footage and anything else that is seen to be relevant. A group of experts have been gathered to give their insights and to help to solve a 20-year-old case.
The case is that of Luke Ryder, found murdered in his garden. At the time he was living with his wife and stepchildren. He had not been married long and the case has remained a mystery. The premise of the story is to try to uncover the truth and solve the case, one of the filmmakers was 10 at the time and he was Luke’s stepson.
This did not take me long to get into, I did have to change from my older Kindle to my kindle fire to be able to see some of the graphics that were included in this book.
The story is one that has many twists and also, being as it is set as a true crime investigation, it has some cliffhangers. There are points in the story when things happen that do step on the toes of what is seen as moral. Giving out information that is unknown to the family and not giving them advance notice adds a shock value to the story.
Having a group of experts is a good way of giving different points of view and also perspectives. There is one who becomes a natural leader. These people have experience in police investigations, profiling and law and all bring their own ideas and ways of working to the table.
I really liked how the author wove her story and given that this is told in a different style it kept up the momentum and also the suspicion. There were a couple of times when I thought I had this sussed, but I was way off the mark as another “cliffhanger” scuppered my idea.
This is a story that is twisted and does hop continents. It is a lot deeper than I originally thought it would be and this worked well. Keeping my attention and up to speed was never in doubt with this book and if you are a fan of crime with something a little different then you really should give this book a go. Brilliant story and one I would definitely recommend.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Cara Hunter is a writer who lives in Oxford, in a street not unlike those featured in her series of crime books. Close to Home is her debut featuring DI Adam Fawley.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
Metal Sculptor based in Long Bennington, Lincolnshire, using recycled materials to create sculptures for your garden or indoor decoration. Sculpture's can be viewed & safely collected, delivery may also be available. Contact for details.
Yvonne - Me and My Books 