Category Book News

My Last Two Weeks in Books (w/e 21st May 2023) #bookupdates #booklove #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 6 Comments

Hello and welcome to my latest update of books I have read. I was away on annual leave last week and also visited Mum. It was a good trip there and back and also while I was there I saw the Lancaster Bomber fly over as part of the Dambuster Memorial flight. Living in Lincolnshire when I was younger meant I saw this and other planes on a regular basis, it has been many years since I got to listen and see it.

While I was there I managed to read a few books and a little bit of gardening. Also managed to get a few plants, some bought and some from Mum’s garden. So here are the books I have read over the past two weeks…

The Savage Sisters by Heather Atkinson – is a fabulous gangland thriller that I adored, full review tomorrow.

Revenge by Kerry Kaya – is another fabulous gangland crime thriller. Full review at the end of this week.

Wish Upon a Cornish Moon by Amanda James – this is a wonderful story that is told from different timelines and is a story that is full of magic, intrigue, warmth and romance. Full review this week.

The Last Passenger by Will Dean – was a fabulous story that had me hooked, a locked room mystery set onboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic. Full review this week.

The Orphanage Girls Come Home by Mary Wood -this is the third and final instalment in this trilogy and it sees the girls being reunited. Bringing them back together and also brings their stories up to date. I have adore this trilogy and each book has been amazing. Ideal for fans of historical fiction and romance. Full review as part of the blog tour at the end of the month.

To Die In June by Alan Parks – this is the 6th book in the series and this gets personal for McCoy and he tests the patience of Watson. A tense historical fiction that is a police procedural set in Glasgow. Full review next month as part of the Blog Tour.

Coming To Find You by Jane Corry – I adored this book, I have read all of this author’s books and this is my favourite one to date. Loved this one and the author managed to inject a load of tension and danger throughout this one. Some good twists and a great storyline. Full review will follow soon.

Relentless Melt by Jeremy P. Bushmill – this is a new author to me and this book was a wonderful introduction to him. A mix of detective clue-solving, a little magic and a huge mystery for amateur sleuths to solve. I really enjoyed this one and I look forward to sharing my review later next month.

The Greenwood Poet by Lancelot Schubert – is a collection of poems that I found really interesting, some of them really made an impact on me and were enjoyable. Full review to follow.

There we have it, definitely a mix of genres and topics.

Have a great week ahead

Happy Reading

Yvonne xx

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

My Week In Books (w/e 23rd April 2023) #booklove #bookupdates #inthegarden #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 10 Comments

Hello and welcome to another weekly catch-up. I managed only two books this week, and I have been trying to get ahead with some coursework. So lots of reading but not all for pleasure as such. I have managed to get some time in the garden and any regular visitors to my site know how much I enjoy my time in the garden.

I have managed to get a few smaller plants in to go alongside a pathway, it won’t be long before they are creeping along the edges. I managed to finally get the last of the flower beds weeded, it just leaves the fruit bed to do, my least favourite when it comes to weeding as they tend to be more embedded in the grass.

Let’s get to the books…

Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill – what happens if Viktor Frankenstein’s papers were discovered by a family member. One who had a natural interest in nature, geology and science and is eager to leave her mark. The story is of Mary and her husband in the 1850s, it took me a while to get into this one and I wasn’t sure about it initially, but my goodness it then became very addictive and I adored it. Full review to follow next week.

The Widow’s Weeds by Allie Cresswell – I adore this author, her writing is amazing and once again I am blown away by her latest story. This is the third book in the Widows series, but it can be read as a stand-alone, I have read the series and it would be a shame to start with the third book and miss out on the stories that came before. Viola Is one of the main characters of this story, the author had decided that there was more to this character and wanted to explore her more. Alongside the other women, Maisie also is a main feature and my goodness, what a time the two ladies had. Full review next week.

There we go, two very different books on the surface, but actually they are similar in respect of the nature and natural way of things.

Wishing you all a fabulous week ahead,

All the best

Yvonne xx

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

My Week In Books (w/e 16th April 2023) #booknews #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee

Hello and welcome to another weekly update of books I have read. I sit here to write this up feeling quite chilly, yesterday I was outside in the sun and had to move as I was getting a little too hot! No two days are ever the same 🙂

It has been a good week for me, and I feel like I have achieved things. Sometimes you get stuck in the same routines and then every now and again you have a week where you think … that was a good week. I think a lot has to do with being able to get out in the sun and the fresh air. To wander around looking at things that are growing and sprouting. The bird’s songs seem to be more cheerful as well.

Here is what I have been reading…

The Monk by Tim Sullivan – I have not read all the books in this series, but I have read a couple so I am aware of the style DS Cross has. When a monk is murdered it shocks the community as you would expect, but why on earth would someone do this? This is such an intriguing storyline and one that had me guessing all the way. It is a complex story to explain but the author has it laid out so well that the flow is great. Full review in a couple of weeks.

The Fall by Louise Jenson – twin sisters, cousins, best friends and grandparents are close in this book. They are supportive but they do not share everything with their loved ones. Oh, this is such a tense story and one that had so many things happening that I didn’t see coming. Full review to follow soon.

The Power of Trees by Peter Wohlleben – this book is brilliant. As a gardener, I adore being outside, so when I saw this book I knew I had to sign up for the blog Tour. the book is brilliant and lays out how and why trees are so important. We are aware that they do play a large role in the environment but having the right trees in the right place is something that is vital. Out ancient forests are diminishing and it is still happening. Full review as part of the tour in a week or so.

Three books again this week so I am very happy with that.

Wishing you all a great week ahead.

All the best

Yvonne xx

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

MY Week In Books (w/e 19th March 2023) #booklove #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 3 Comments

Welcome to another weekly update of books I have been reading. It has been a nice week and we have had the odd day of nicer weather to be able to make a start on getting things in order in the garden. General tidying up and getting the veg bed ready.

As for the books, well I have had another really good week as far as reading goes. I have managed 5, one of which I have been reading over the past couple of weeks as it is a non-fiction.

Forgotten Women by Zing Tsjeng – is a brilliant book and looks throughout history at women that have left an impression in various fields. I was fortunate to receive a hardback copy of this for the upcoming Blog Tour and I have to say it is definitely worth it. Having a physical book makes it easy to just pick up and flick through until something catches your eye. If, however, you are anything like me you will soon get sidetracked doing this and actually read it in sections. The full review is at the end of the week.

Hunted by Shalini Boland – this is the third and final book in this series and it has been an excellent one to read. I have read all the books and really enjoyed them. This final one has tension and danger and is a thriller right the way through. Full review of this book will be next week.

A Truth for a Truth by Carol Wyer – this is a series that I adore, its main protagonist is Detective Kate Young. She is an intriguing character and I do suggest that this is a series you read in order. There is an ongoing plot and also the way Kate behaves and acts is something you did, in my opinion, need to understand form the beginning. They are also fabulous books. This one has Kate on the edge, her moral compass is a little off-kilter and she is so vulnerable. The full review will be at the beginning of next month.

Summer at Green Valley Vineyard by Lucy Coleman – I do adore this author and her books are engaging and just wonderful to read. This one follows a change at a vineyard in Wales. It is a family-run business and it is one that several of the workers have a huge amount of respect for. What will happen when the new manager comes in, how will he change things and will he understand the ethos behind the vineyard. A full review of this gorgeous book will be tomorrow, although you can grab a copy today as it has just been published.

An Unexpected Guest by Hannah Ellis – I have read this series from the beginning and it is a shame that the author will be moving on to another project. I do hope that she returns to this series at some point. Each book has focused on one of the members of the Treneary family who live on the Scilly’s. It is the turn of Jago, he has been in New York and has returned to the islands. If you have read any of these books then you know there will be something crop up to throw a spanner in the works! Full review in a few weeks as part of the Blog Tour.

A bit more of a mix and not so much on the dark or criminal side.

Have a wonderful week ahead,

Happy Reading and Take Care

Yvonne xx

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

My Week In Books #inthegarden #booklove #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee

Welcome to my weekly update of books I have read. We managed to miss the snow but we did have a good amount of rain and some wind. My daffodils have been a bit battered but still, they do look nice and colourful. I have finished getting my pond finished and I now need to get some plants to finish off around it and a couple more to put in it. We are also in the process of laying a pathway, it is a bit too wet it to lay the slabs down that we bought though.

And finally, there is my camelia, I bought this one last year, ermmm I thought it was going to be white. I prefer the colour now it is starting to come out 🙂

Here is what I have read over the past week…

The End of Men by Christina Sweeney-Baird – it is almost a year ago when this book was released. I wasn’t keen on reading it at the time, but a year on and it is a fabulous book. When a plague starts to kill men it is initially ignored, very similar to how Covid was when it was first identified. The author has written a story that has many twists. This story was initially written prior to Covid, and some of the situations are scarily accurate. Full review to follow.

Do No Harm by Jack Jordan – I was delighted to get a spot on the Blog Tour for this book and what a brilliant book it was. A surgeon kills a patient, but it is not as simple as that. The story is addictive and tense and has some very surprising and at times shocking twists. My full review will be at the end of the month.

Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove by Kim Nash – this is an absolute corker of a story and I loved it. I sniggered a few times through this, to be honest, all of Kim’s books have a wonderful sense of humour and her latest one is just fabulous. A new start, some new friends and a bit of romance make for a gorgeous story. Full review at the beginning of next month.

Taken by Shalini Boland – this is the 2nd book in The Vampires of Marchwood series, the third book I am currently reading. I am loving this series and yes you should read them in order as they do have an ongoing storyline. A brilliant story that spans ages and continents with some great characters and involved storylines. Full review to follow soon.

There we go, another fabulous book week.

Happy reading and have a wonderful week,

All the best

Yvonne xx

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

My Week In Books (w/e 23rd October 2022) #booknews #bookupdates #InTheGarden #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 4 Comments

Welcome to another weekly round-up of books I have read over the past week. It has been a week of mixed weather and I was lucky to have a day out in the garden on Thursday, just as well as Friday was a washout. We do have warnings of thunderstorms today (Sunday as I write this post) and I for one am keeping my fingers crossed for that.

I bought a mahonia a couple of three months ago and I am pleased to see that is starting to bud so I am hoping for a nice display. The yellow roses that I cut back after they had finished flowering have started to flower again and the fuschia’s are looking brilliant. Why on earth my apple tree has decided to put out blossom again is beyond me!

Here are the books I have read over the week…

The Carnelian Tree by Anne Pettigrew – this is a murder mystery that has so many twists and red herrings I was never sure who was telling the truth or how the story was going to come to its conclusion. It was entertaining and a fab read. Full review as part of the Blog Tour.

The App by Stuart James – this is a brilliant book about how a simple app on your phone can turn you into a murderer. Addictive to say the least and a real edge-of-your-seat story. Full review as part of the Blog Tour.

The Cruise by Catherine Cooper – this was a one-sitting read for me and I read this not long after watching the newer version of Murder on the Nile. This is a twisted story that has two timelines, one of which is not mentioned in the synopsis, but it is excellent. Full review as part of the Blog Tour.

The Flock by J.Todd Scott – this is a murder mystery story that is based around a cult in America and how its leader predicted an apocalypse. The signs of the upcoming apocalypse are a series of wildfires! Sounds just like what is going on today around the world, and as it was published at the beginning of this month the author has used our own events to show the relevance to the story. This was a bit long-winded at times but still, an enjoyable read that got better as I got further into the story. Full review to follow.

There we have it, I am still on the dark side as far as reading goes but I am really enjoying the mystery and thriller genres at the moment 🙂

Have a great week ahead,

All the best

Yvonne xx

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

My Week In Books (w/e 16th October 2022) #bookupdates #booklove #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee

Welcome to another update of books I have read over the past week. The weather definitely has an autumnal feel to it now, chillier in the late afternoons and of course, it won’t be long before the clocks change… again!

It has been another good week as far as the books go, I seem to be leaning more towards the crime, mystery and thriller genres over the past couple of weeks, so I have tried to mix it up a little bit. I do wonder if it’s because the nights are drawing in and it’s getting darker earlier 🤔

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Walk by James Rice – this was an odd read in some ways, a story of two friends walking Offa’s Dyke in Wales. The unprepared friends are chalk and cheese not realising what this trip will really entail. Interesting and quite unexpected. Full review soon.

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The Girls Who Disappeared by Claire Douglas – this is an eerie mystery thriller that I adored. It involves the disappearance of three girls and how a reporter is looking into the case for a podcast. Full review to follow soon.

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Forget Me Not by Miranda Rijks – this was a brilliant introduction to this author and I will be looking to read some of her previous novels. Set mainly in Switzerland with an interior designer who is returning to the area where her husband disappeared. A wonderful and atmospheric storyline that had me on the edge of my seat. Full review as part of the Blog Tour at the beginning of November.

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Cat Lady by Dawn O’Porter – this is a story of a married woman and her cat, the cat is very important to her and is a link to the past. This is a tale that can be funny at times but is about dealing with life and all the problems that come with it. Full review as part of the Blog Tour at the beginning of November.

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On the First Day of Christmas by Faith Hogan – I have read several of this author’s books and this one threw me for a moment. It is a parallel storyline about Liv, her life, which way it could go and the choices she makes. A poignant and thought-provoking and I will post my full review soon.

There we have it, while I did try to mix it up most of these stories actually do have a mysterious side to them. Another good week for books and some interesting concepts. I really must get caught up on posting reviews on this site, I have been saying for the past couple of weeks that reviews will follow soon, good job soon doesn’t have a specific time limit to it 🙂

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

My Week In Books (w/e 21st August 2022 #booklove #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 4 Comments

Welcome to another weekly update of books I have read. This week has been so much cooler, we have had proper wet rain rather than that mizzzerly stuff. The grass is green again and things in the garden are just looking so much better. After a proper rain wash, they are looking clean and not so drab. Not that I have had much time to spend outside as I have been pulling kitchen units apart and putting new ones in. It’s going to take ages to get used to where everything is now. I seem to spend more time opening and closing doors trying to work out where something is, before I get to the end of the cupboards I forgot what I wanted in the first place! I know I am not going to be alone in this either 😂

I have been to the dentist this week for an extraction. My jaw still feels bruised and there is some infection on the site, I do have gum disease so this is not surprising really, but at least it is getting better and I don’t look like a hamster with a cheek full of food… I kid you not. At least a hamster looks cute!

One of my new orchids has decided to flower, this is one that I bought earlier this year and it has two flowering stems on it so I am delighted with that. The Dendrobium that I bought last year has started to flower as well, the orchid behind it is one that has either been flowering or has had flower buds on it for over a year now.

Here are the books I have read…

The Natural Navigator by Tristan Gooley – ok I didn’t read this one but I did listen to it. A very comprehensive look into navigation over history and to the present day. Ideal as a starting point as this does cover a lot, you can then choose further reading if you want more information about a particular way of navigating. An interesting one to listen to and one I really enjoyed.

The Darkest Sin by D. V. Bishop – Oh Wow! This was an amazing read and it is the 2nd boo in the Cesare Aldo series, and yes you really do need to read the first book. This one is on my Top Reads of the Year List. Murder, mystery, secrets, historical fiction and I loved it.

The Rules of Everything by Richard Templar – is a book that is a bit different for me, non-fiction about life choices, behaviour and living. The author has taken the Top 10 rules from his other books and condensed them into this one. The full review should be later this week.

There we go another three-book week this week. I have one more book to read for the #20booksofsummer reading challenge and I think I have three reviews to publish for it as well as a couple of other reviews.

I hope you all have a great week,

Happy Reading

Yvonne xx

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

My Week In Books (w/e 24th July2022) #booklove #bookupdates #inthegarden #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 7 Comments

Another week done and dusted, I hope all of you #booklovers who went to Harrogate had a great time. I say this every year, and I will probably say it a few more times as well, but ” I will go one year!” 😉

The weather has finally cooled for the time being and I have to say I am enjoying the fresher cooler air. It also means I can spend a bit of time outside in the garden getting caught up on a few jobs and looking to see what has been growing.

The veg is doing really well at the moment, and the flowers are really starting to show their full blooms.

Now for the books I have read…

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The Sanctuary by Andrew Hunter Murray – this is a story that surprised me, I didn’t expect it to take the route the author decided upon, but I am very glad he did. This is one for fans of crime, thriller and mystery novels and one I would happily recommend.

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Bloody January by Alan Parks – I have already read some of the books in this series, but not the first or second ones. s I have been enjoying further books in this series, I did want to go back to where it started. While I do wish I had started this series from the beginning, I am also glad that I have read it in the wrong order. I know very convoluted, but it was great to have knowledge about what is to come. Definitely recommend this one.

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The Last Thing To Burn by Will Dean – I know of this author from some of the Tuva Moodyson series, but this book is very, very different to that. This is a stand-alone story that is shocking, heartbreaking and so very addictive. Brilliant reading and one I would definitely recommend.

These three books will have their reviews published here on my blog in the next week or so. They are all part of the #20booksofsummer reading challenge.

The next book is for an upcoming Blog Tour.

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Rough Diamonds by Gillian Godden – this is part of a series that just gets better and better. The Diamonds are a tough family, but after the death of a family member, things change. A gritty tough, gang-style thriller that is brilliant. Full review in a couple of weeks.

There we go, four books this week. I have also been watching Stranger Things on Netflix. Yes, I know many of you have been watching it but I never really fancied it. I decided to give the first series a go last week. I am now about to start series three! I can see why it is a favourite for many viewers.

Have a great 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 5th December 2021) #booknews #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 4 Comments

Welcome to another weekly round-up of books I have read. A quietish week last week, but a hectic one coming up!

This last week I have read 4 books. One of which is a little bit special and I am going to start with that one first. I think it is an excellent book and it is for a very good cause.

And, it just so happens it contains a story that I wrote 😳😁

The Stars Will Shine Again: Helping Our Heroes One Page at A Time by [Emma Mitchell, Malcolm Hollingdrake, Tony Forder, Andrew Barrett, Sharon Bairden, Audrey Davis, Anna Franklin-Osborne, Bob Stone, Alistair Birch, Val Portelli]

The Stars Will Shine Again is a collection of short stories from your favourite authors who have come together to deliver you a Christmas read with a twist.

With true war tales that will break your heart, gritty crimes that will shake you to your core, magic and mystery, and heart-warming tales of love lost and found, this anthology has something for everyone. And, with every penny made being sent to support our troops you’re helping our heroes, one page at a time.

From authors such as Malcolm Hollingdrake, Tony Forder, Val Portelli, and Andrew Barrett, and several debut authors, including Sarah Hardy and Yvonne Bastian, you are in for one heck of a ride.

The Stars Will Shine Again is the perfect Christmas gift for the bookworms in your life.

A Note from Emma Mitchell:

As the blurb tells us, The Stars Will Shine Again is a multi-genre collection of short stories compiled to raise money for our armed forces and every penny made from the sales of both the digital and paperback copies will be donated to the charity Help for Heroes. Covid has made fundraising a difficult job for everyone, so it’s an honour to be able to do something like this and I’m thankful to everyone involved. With huge thanks going once again to Amanda Horan for her support and fabulous cover design. You can find her at Let’s Get Booked.

I’ve picked the best of the submissions to bring you a thrilling book which is perfect for dipping into at lunchtime or snuggling up with on a cold winter’s night. I have been completely blown away by the support from the writing and blogging community, especially the authors who submitted stories and bloggers who have been so generous with their time to help advertise and spread the word.

There isn’t a person in the country who hasn’t benefited from the sacrifices our troops, past and present, have made for us and they all deserve our thanks.

It has been an honour working on these stories, and I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I have.

Publication Day is 10th December and you can purchase from Amazon UK and I do believe a Paperback version will also be available then as well. PURCHASE LINK

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I thought Whitesands by Johann Thorssan was a cracking read, you can see my full review for this book HERE as I only published it on my blog yesterday.

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This was a gorgeous read and I got to learn a little about West African Mythology as well. Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen was a gorgeously written YA book set in the 1400s, a book about slavery, history, mythology and culture. Full of action, adventure, hope, memories and is a comi9ng of age story. Keep an eye out for my full review soon.

I do love the Letty Parker series, The Hanging Tree by Misha Herwin is the 4th book and packed full of mystery, danger and peril for Letty and her friends. You can read my full review HERE.

There we have it, 4 books read. I really should sort out my Top Reads list for the year as well. I do have a rough list and I need to go through it again to make sure. I sound like Father Christmas now, made a list, checked it twice 😂

Have a great week ahead,

Stay Safe and Happy Reading

Yvonne xx