Category Book Blogger

My Week In Books (w/e 27th Sept) #books #garden #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 8 Comments

Hello and welcome to the last post of this month, I swear to god that this month has flown by so quick I am sure it skipped a week somewhere!

There is definitely an autumnal chill and I have had to get my fluffy socks out and put a radiator on to take the chill off in the evening. The garden still has colour, though not as much as a few weeks ago. Time for a sort out, seeds saved, a tidy up, some things moved some things chopped right back, or my Mum says “given the Chelsea chop”. Still got a little more tidying to do in the flower bed.

As for the reading this week, well it has been a little slower but the two books I have read have been savoured, both 400+ pages and both were absolutely wonderful books. Both are for Blog Tours and both are definitely recommended.

Fist up is…

The Second Marriage by Gill Paul... I loved this book so much. Main characters are Aristotle Onassis, Maria Callas and Jackie Kennedy. This is such a wonderful book about three people whose lives become intertwined. The focus is on the two women as I was taken through some historical events such as the assassination of JFK. Keep an eye out for my full review as part of the Tour, but if you love hist/fic then you really need to get this one.

The Trials of Koli by M.R. Carey is the second book in the Rampart Trilogy. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and even though I have had this 2nd book for a while now I have managed to keep it in the right reading order. It is a book that I have anticipated enjoying but I didn’t just enjoy it, I loved it! It is set in the future and continues Koli’s journey with Ursula and Cup. A wonderful descriptive books full of thrills and adventure. I finished this book last night and I am in “book hangover mode” I am still trying to get my head around how to write a review for this fabulous book.

I also got some wonderful #bookpost this week. This is a book that is part of the Blog Tour and it is a beautiful book and another that I am really excited about..

I am in love with the cover of The Nesting by C.J Cooke

Another week done and dusted, just think this time next week it will be next month!!!!

Have a wonderful week ahead and Happy Reading

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 21st September) #booksread #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 4 Comments

Well here we are again, it doesn’t seem that long since I was writing last weeks post up. A day later than usual this week because I had a Blog Tour book review yesterday. It’s been one of those “nothing much happened weeks” so I’ll just get straight on with the books…

Any regulars to my blog will know how much I adore the Kent Fisher Mystery series. The latest is No Love Lost by Robert Crouch, it has a very appropriate tag line “THIS TIME IT’S PERSONAL” well that is very true indeed. A slightly different feel to this book as Kent deals with some challenges of a personal nature. As always the writing is brilliant and I was immediately caught up with dilemmas, deceit and lies. I feel a change on the horizon, but who for? Hmmmm!!! Another wonderful book in this amazing series that is ideal for those who love a good whodunit style mystery.

The next two books are also in the whodunit style mystery genre, but rather than being in present day they are set in ancient Egypt.

These are the first two books in the Rai Rahotep series, these books have been republished by Transworld books and I am delighted to be on the Blog Tour for these books as I thoroughly enjoyed them both and I have also bought the next book in the series. Nefertiti and Tutankhamun by Nick Drake are brilliant books, the first a little slower but it’s a fully immersive book that gives you a lot of details about the time. Rai Rahotep is, well I suppose he would be a detective, he looks for clues and asks questions rather than jump to conclusions or, as others do, beat the truth out of people. I really enjoyed both of these books and they are a mix of mystery and also historical fiction.

That’s it for me for this week, and I wish you all a wonderful week ahead.

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

#20booksofsummer update #readingchallenge #bookblogger

yvonnembee 6 Comments

I am so late in writing this up I have completed the #20booksofsummer challenge and in time as well but somehow the 1st of September came and went very quickly indeed.

So, to recap. This challenge is organised by Cathy at 746books, pick 10/15 or 20 books to be read between 1st June to 1st September. You can swap books, you can change your list. A flexible, fun and no-pressure reading challenge.

I decided that this year I would choose 15 books and then add 5 lucky dip books from my TBR. How did I do…

These books are my original picks…

I read every single one! No swaps!

Now for the 5 lucky dips that I added…

There were no Blog Tour books on my list this year and many were NetGalley books that were overdue being read. I am pleased that I reduced my NetGalley by several books, although I have added a couple or six!!!

Between the period of 1st June – 1st September I have read a total of…

52 books.

17 of these were for Blog Tours.

5 were audio books that I listened.

I am now looking at the figures and I have actually surpassed the 20 books challenge…

All in all a pretty good 3 months worth of reading 🙂

I do still have quite a few reviews for this challenge to post, so keep your eyes peeled over the next week or so.

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 6th Sept) #booksread #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 5 Comments

Hello and welcome to my weekly update of books that I have read. It has been another week where nothing much has happened. I have ventured into the garden and done some tidying up, the onions are now up and hung in the shed and the caterpillars had a field day with the greens even though they were in a cloche, I managed to save two small savoy cabbages.

So, the books I have read this week are…

(All books contain Amazon affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no cost to you.)

I bought this book when it was first released and decided I fancied reading a few short stories rather than diving into a full length one. Afraid of the Light is an anthology of stories that have a dark theme to them. Whether it is an outwardly criminal action or something far more sinister this anthology has a good mix.

Purchase from Amazon UK – Kindle – Paperback

This is another book that I bought when it first came out, I do have a physical copy somewhere but I couldn’t find it so bought a kindle version as well!

The One by John Marrs is an amazing read that I absolutely adored. The basic premise that everyone has a DNA connection to their perfect match is such a good idea. But while on the outset it sounds good, what if your match is not what you think. As the story progressed it started to get darker and other interesting ideas came into the story that I had not expected. Fabulous read and I loved it.

Purchase – Paperback – Kindle – Audio

I am loving this DS Malice crime thriller series. Heads or Tails by Rob Ashman is the latest book and is due out on 16th September. I was fortunate to be sent an advanced copy of this dark, twisted and extremely addictive book. There are on going story lines from previous books that involve the main team so yes ideally it is better to read in order, but you could read as a stand alone. A fabulously addictive, dark read that had me hooked from the very first page.

Pre-order link for Kindle

I seem to have dropped away from Audio books at the moment, I just cant seem to concentrate on them. Hopefully I will get the audio-mojo back soon but luckily I have many other books to keep me occupied.

I really should do a #20booksof summer catch-up post as I have completed the challenge of 20 books. I had originally chose 15 books with 5 lucky dip choices to add to it. I think I have actually added more than 5 lucky dips! I also need to get the last of these reviews posted as well!

Have a great week ahead and Happy Reading

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post,a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 30th Aug) #booksread #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 12 Comments

How on earth did we get to August Bank Holiday already?!!! Well as I sit here typing this up (its Sunday morning) it is actually quite a nice day, sun is shining, birds are singing the roast is in the oven cooking away and I am wearing fluffy socks because it feels more like autumn than august!

I did a spot of baking this week, nothing unusual for me as I do bake one to two times a week. This particular day was a bit different as my chocolate sponge cake didn’t quite turn out as I expected. I think I may have put baking powder in twice!!!!!

This was what met me as I opened the oven door to put in my fruit cake…

I must admit it was one of those hysterically hilarious moments, me and the dogs did enjoy the cake dribbles. So what to do with a sponge cake… well there is only one thing to do. Raid the cupboard to find a tin of fruit, this turned out to be apricots, go down the garden and pick some raspberries and make a trifle…

So, from could have been a culinary disaster we ended up with a delicious, if somewhat unplanned pudding 🙂

I suppose I should show you what I have read this week. It has been another 3 book week and all three were brilliant reads…

(All links are Amazon Affiliate one. I earn a small commission at no cost to you)

I read Strictly Come Dating by Kathryn Freeman for the upcoming Blog Tour. It’s Kathryn so what is not to love, if you have read any of her books you will know exactly where I am coming from. A fabulous read that I absolutely loved.

This is available from Amazon UK

I thoroughly enjoyed Ravens Gathering by Graeme Cumming. I met Graeme at the Stoke Blogger meet up and then bought this book as I was intrigued. Yes it has taken me almost a year to get to it!!! This is a mystery that took so many different turns and also crossed genres. An atmospheric, dark, creepy and one that had an eeriness lurking in the background. Excellent book and you can get a copy on Kindle or Paperback

Another book that has been on my bookcase for far too long is IQ by Joe Ide. This is the first book in the series and I thought it was a brilliant read. There is a tag line on the front of the book comparing this writer to Arthur Conan Doyle with a twist of Martin Scorcese – it is not wrong. A definite sleuth style mystery that uses the intelligent character of IQ to work though a mystery. Addictive and and excellent and I will be reading more in this series.

Purchase – Kindle – Paperback – Hardback – Audio

Well that’s me done for another week. I hope everyone has a good week ahead. Happy reading. Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 23rd Aug) #booksread #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 3 Comments

Welcome to my weekly round-up of books I have read over the past week, a day later than usual as I had a Blog Tour review yesterday and I do prefer to post a single post a day.

Anyway, what a week it has been, still been busy doing house stuff and reorganising, sorting and rearranging and I think it might now be sorted… until next time lol!

So what have I read…

First up is a mystery cover book…

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The book is not listed on Goodreads as yet and I don’t like to post covers before the author does. I suppose I should tell you what the book is… It The Island of Fear by Misha Herwin and it is the 3rd book in the Letty Parker series. It was great to be reunited with Letty, Jeb, Mango and Hepzibah once again in this gothic style Victorian Bristol as I followed Letty and her associates in their latest investigation. A fabulous story and one that I adored, my review will be on Publication Day, 3rd September.

I have read one of this authors books before and very enjoyable it was too. The Hitman and the Thief by Richard Dee is a sci-fi, cosy-mystery, crime style story and one that kept me entertained. This book is an easily accessible one that even though is a sci-fi because of the setting is not full of jargon. It makes it a good one for many readers. Keep an eye out for my review on 1st September.

It seems I have chosen this week to read books that have not got their covers finalised yet! A Christmas Reunion at Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke is a fabulous book to read. Yes I know it is August and the dreaded “C” word has made an appearance, but actually even though it is part of the story I was that invested in the characters and what was going on it didn’t form a major part of the story. A wonderful historical fiction book set just after WWII that is a about family, choices, futures and life. This review is due on the 1st September as well!!

Yeah I know I mentioned preferring one blog post a day but my filing system and me had a falling out. In fact my filing system really had it in for me as I have 2 reviews due on the 3rd September as well 😕😂

Well that is me done for another week, and I wish you all a wonderful week ahead and Happy Reading

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 16th Aug) #books #bookreader #bookworm #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 2 Comments

Hello and welcome to another weekly round-up. Before I go any further I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone that shared my posts this week, I was busy reorganising bedrooms and trying to get caught up with other stuff. Initially I was going to hop in and out of social media but decided it would actually be more beneficial to take the week off. So for all the shares, the likes and the comments I thank you all very much xx

So, this week has been a little light as far as reading goes and I have only two books this week to show you…

All purchase links below are affiliate and I earn a small commission at no cost to you. Prices correct at time of posting

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I think it was last year when I read the Hunting Party and really enjoyed it. I was eager to read The Guest List by Lucy Foley and decided to include it in my #20booksofsummer reading challenge.

If you have read The Hunting Party then you will find the format is in some respects quite similar. A remote location, a crime and, for me, no idea as to who the victim was or the the culprit until much later on in the story. I liked the suspense and drama that the author includes as well as a good plot with characters that are a real mix. Ideal for crime, mystery and suspense readers.

Buy a copy from Amazon – Kindle (only 0.99p) Hardback – Audio (on offer £5.33) – Paperback (due to be published 2nd Sept 2020)

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Taking a Chance on Love by Erin Green is a wonderful journey into the lives of three women. With Feb 29th approaching they have something to think about. As much as this is about taking a chance of finding love and lifelong happiness i felt this was more about the women themselves. Don’t get me wrong there is a romantic theme but not one that blew my socks off, but that really didn’t matter as it was the journey of the women that was the thing that caught my interest. A wonderful book that readers of contemporatry fiction and romance will enjoy.

Purchase a copy – Kindle – Paperback

Well that really was a quick wrap up for the week. I will leave you with a few of the flowers I have picked from the garden this week 🙂

So, that’s me done for another week. Hopefully I will be able to catch up and share all you amazing posts again as I think I am about up to date.

Have a fabulous week ahead and Happy Reading

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post,a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

My Week in Books (w/e 2nd Aug) #booknews #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 8 Comments

Hello and welcome to my weekly round-up of books I have read this week. It has been a great week for being out in the garden and not too hot in my corner of Cornwall. We had lovely weather on Thursday and while everyone was sweltering on Friday we had a cooler day.

Any regular visitors to my blog will know, as well as books I also enjoy being out in my garden. While I was going through some photos to hang up I came across one of me as a nipper and even then I liked my plants…

This is me smelling the flowers in the early 1970s 😁

So what have I read this week…

I have included purchase links from Amazon UK. These are affiliate links and I get a small commission at no cost to you.

WOWSERS!!!!!!! I bought a copy of The Chestnut Man by Soren Sveistrup when it was first published as I had seen some amazing reviews, it gradually slipped down the old TBR! I am so glad I popped it on my #20booksofsummer reading cahllenge list as it is a flaming brilliant read. It is a police procedural, it is a thriller, it is a murder mystery, it is dark and twisted, and has an amazing plot that I had absolutely no idea “whodunnit” until the author was ready. Brilliant book and you can order this in various formats – Hardcover – Paperback – Kindle – Audible

I was approved for an advanced copy of We Are Family by Nicola Gill. This is the story of two sisters who don’t really get on but have to as they sort through things after their mums death. Laura and Jess are two very different people, one is cool calm and collected always organised, the other run ragged juggling home, work and relationship. This was a book that I read in a day and really enjoyed. My thanks to Avon for my copy, it is due to be published on 3rd Sept 2020 and you can pre-order it HERE

Choices Shape, Losses Break by Nia Lucas is an amazing book. This is an author who tackles some very tough issues and does it in a way that make it so readable. I will warn you that there is a sexual thread, sometimes quite explicit, in this story, and while this is not something I normally would read but I have to say the author tackled in such a way as it became part of the overall story. The book deals with relationships, bullying, love, life and sacrifice. It is as I said earlier and amazing book to read. Ideal for those who like a grittier urban contemporary fiction read. My full review is part of the Blog Tour later this month. Buy a copy HERE.

Historical fiction readers are going to love The Bird in the Bamboo Cage by Hazel Gaynor. This is a story that is based on true events and the author has done such a wonderful job in creating a story that is based in China 1942 in a missionary school. Japan has just attacked Pearl Harbour. I am going to share a snippet of the synopsis as this paragraph puts it much better than I am able to “Inspired by true events, this is an unforgettable read about a remarkable community faced with unimaginable hardship, and the life-changing bonds formed in a distant corner of a terrible war.” This is such an amazing read and it is one that I would recommend so much. My full review will be part of the Blog Tour on 10th Aug. Due to be published on 20th August, you can pre-order a copy HERE.

Well that was me for last week, I wish you all a wonderful week ahead.

Happy Reading

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 26th July) #Booknews #Books #booksread

yvonnembee 8 Comments

Welcome once again to my weekly round-up of the books I have read or listened to this week. Another literary mixed bag for me again and some absolute cracking reads. A mix of new and favourite authors made for an interesting reading week.

So here we go…

I have included Amazon UK purchase links, these are affiliate links.

What a beautifully haunting read I am Dust by Louise Beech was. I was very fortunate to win a copy of this book a few weeks ago and it is one of my #20booksofsummer reading challenge books. This author is brilliant at writing stories that cross genres and I am Dust is such an amazing read. A mix of mystery, murder, suspense, love and loss. It is gorgeously written from start to finish. I have not read all of Louise’s books yet! and the ones I have read have been absolutely superb, if you have not yet picked up one her her books then I urge you to do so. I loved everything about this book.

Purchase Links – Kindle – Paperback

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The next book does not have a listing on Goodreads yet and I am not sharing the cover as this is a self published book. I suppose I ought to tell you what it is lol! Well it is the second book in The Cornish Connection – Nancy Cornish PI series by Amanda James. I loved the first book and this second one is just as good, it is a mix of cosy mystery with a supernatural theme that works so well. A brilliant read and one that I adored and I think readers who like mysteries will thoroughly enjoy this series.

Here is the link for the first book in the series – kindle – paperback

Oh my goodness did Tony Forder go dark with Slow Slicing! This is the 7th book in the DI Bliss series and is an absolute belter of a read. A police procedural that sees Bliss and his team definitely challenged when body parts start turning up, I don’t mean an arm or a leg but slices of human flesh!!!!! I did say he went dark with this book!. I have followed this series from the very start and this latest shows another side to Bliss as he puts himself in the firing line to look after his team. Amazing read and my review will be part of the up coming blog tour.

Pre-order Links – Kindle – Paperback

I listened to the Audio book of Maleficent by Elizabeth Rudnick and narrated by Lucy Raynor. This is the “deluxe novelization of the Walt Disney Studios film Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie.” I have watched the film and when I saw this available for download from my Library via Borrowbox I decided to give it a go. The narrator was brilliant and really brought the story and characters to life. I am going to be honest here and say that I think I actually preferred listening to this rather than the film which I really did enjoy by the way.

Purchase Links – Audible – Paperback – or do as I did and borrowed online from my library.

This is a new to me author and this is the 5th book in the series… I know typical of me to start midway through a series!!! Hunter’s Secret by Val Penny was a brilliant read and I wish I had started this series from the beginning. It can be a stand-alone read but I think I would have connected better with the team if I had read the previous books. It goes to show that reading in order helps the reader know the traits and dynamics of a team. Anyway, this is a story that spans 30 years, it is dark and so well written and had me addicted as I tried to work out the connections. This was a brilliant read and you can see my full review as part of the upcoming Blog Tour.

Pre-order links – Kindle – Paperback

What a fabulous read Starcross Manor by Christie Barlow was and this is a series I have read in order 🙂 I love the way the author creates a sense of community and belonging in the village of Heartcross, but the arrival of Flynn Carter sends a few shockwaves for Julia Coleman. She doesn’t trust Flynn for good reason and fears for the future of not only her B&B but also the other businesses in the village. A brilliant read and another cracking read in the Love Heart Lane series. Keep and eye out for my review for the Blog Tour.

Pre-order Links – Kindle –

I usually have a few photos and this week I had a wander round the garden and discovered one of the plants I planted earlier in the year a Calla Lily. I love how the leaves are also coloured.

And now for the dogs… Buster looking on as Billy has his favouritist crow feather… 🙄😂

Well that’s me done for another week and I will wish you all a wonderful week ahead.

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 19th July) #bookupdates #booksread #mygarden #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 3 Comments

Hello and welcome to another weekly round up of books ‘n’ stuff. It is a glorious day today (9:30 am Sunday morning) I’ve been down the garden already and picked peas, runner beans, potatoes and rhubarb for our Sunday roast, I think I have also eaten my breakfast as well, the odd radish, hand full of peas, a few raspberries and the last few gooseberries and I feel quite full 😋😋

So what have I read this week? I was quite surprised when I had a look back…

This is a brilliant book for those, like me who are menopausal or are at the early stages or are peri -menopausal. Older and Wider by Jenny Eclair is an absolute howl of a read and had me laughing and sniggering as I recognised a whole lot of signs and symptoms. It has her comedic style and is so accessible and it is also packed full of tips, advice and very useful information. I think this book worked so well because it is not full of jargon, but good to honest experiences.

OMG! OMG! this is fluffing brilliant and it is the third in the series and it just gets better and better. The Curator by M.W. Craven is fictional deviousness at its very best. Dark disturbing, devious and damned good reading. If you are a crime, thriller reader and you haven’t yet started this series… well shame on you! Yeah I liked this a huge amount and can’t wait for the next one.

This is another series I am thoroughly enjoying and The Moscow Whisper by Michael Jenkins is the third in the Sean Richardson series. A brilliant mix of espionage, deception, lies, secrets and a whole lot more. It is a brilliant fast-paced read and full of action. Brilliant read and keep your eye out for my review as part of the Blog Tour.

I borrowed this from my library via the Borrow box app and it was such a brilliant book to listen to. Twas the Nightshift Before Christmas by Adam Kay is a book I have had on my kindle for ages but not quite got to so when I was browsing the library app I thought I would give it a listen. Adam narrates this and this means he adds more to it as it his experiences he is discussing. Do be warned that there is quite a few swear words so you may wnat to listen through headphones or well away from little ears! An excellent listen and one that had me chuckling, at others not so much due to the nature of the the tale being told. I will mention that there is a warning for one of the stories as it is very sad, and it advises skipping if necessary, ( I started to listen to it and decided to then did skip it). Well worth a listen and one I would recommend.

I really enjoyed the idea behind Wife Support System by Kathleen Whyman and I am so glad I signed up to the Blog Tour for it. Three women who move into one house together so they can share the load of childcare, cleaning and cooking sounds amazing and initially it is. The story is a wonderful one of women who have different roles, jobs, partners and expectations, I really liked the interaction and dynamics between them. Keep an eye out for my review.

Why oh why didn’t I read The City of Brass by S.A Chakraborty when I first bought it! It is a fabulous fantasy, action and adventure read. I devoured its 544 pages in two sittings and absolutely loved this first book in The Daevbad Trilogy and now have the next two books sitting in my basket ready to check out. A brilliantly captivating read that has a Middle Eastern magical feel to it. Completely transporting me across desserts with ancient warriors, healers, and a mass of other things as well. Brilliant read and one I would definitely recommend.

Well that’s me done for another week and I am back to work (Monday night-shift), I’ve loved being off and home for two weeks and would have liked it if I could stay off longer… roll on retirement or a winning lottery ticket with lots of 000,000’s 😉😁

Wishing you all a great week ahead, Happy Reading

Yvonne xx

Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx