Category Book News

My Week In Books (w/e 18th February 2024) #booknews #booklove #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 2 Comments

Hello and welcome to my weekly round-up of books I have read.

We have had a mix of sunshine and showers this week and I have managed to get several swims in the sea this week. I did have a wander around the garden and I can start to see plenty of little buds on the trees and got a couple of photos as the daffs are really looking good. Their yellow heads stand out really well this time of year.

Here are the books I have read this week…

Talking with Psychopaths and Savages by Christopher Berry-Dee is a very easy to read book and the author does a great job of showing how the insanity plea has been used, abused and manipulated over time. Keep an eye out for the full review as part of the Blog Tour.

In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan is a fabulous book that I adored, as I have the next book in this series to read I thoguht it was about time I got a wriggle on and read this fiorst one. I had recently bought the paperback and it is so good. The review will follow soon.

How to Wild Swim by Ella Foote was a book that was available to review via the Amazon Vine program and is a brilliant book for anyone thinking about wild swimming. Full of great tips and advice. Review will follow soon.

The Dream Home by T.M. Logan is a tweisted and devious book for a family moving into their new home. I do like this authors books and this latest one has some bombshells that I did not see! Full review as part of the Blog Tour.

There we go, another week done and dusted,

Have a great week ahead,

All the best,

Yvonne xx

Many thnaks for reading my post, a like or share woudl be amazing 🙂 xx

My Week In Books (w/e 11th February 2024) #booklove #booknews #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 2 Comments

Hello and welcome to my weekly update of the books I have read. It has been a good week for books and also for swimming. I did manage to get out three times this week for a swim in between showers and I did get a good dunking when a wave crashed over my head! I also managed to swim with a seal, well not really with a seal, but he bobbed his head up close to us a few times.

The three books I have read this week are from three different genres, and two were 700+ pages so I am definitely happy with the amount I have read…

Birds of Prey by Wilbur Smith is the 9th book in the Courtney series and the 1st in the Bord of Prey trilogy. This is an action and adventure-laden book from the start to the finish. The full review will be out this week.

Stop at Nothing by Lucy Martin – I won three books by this author before Christmas and this is the first one and it is brilliant. Dark, twisted and so addictive. Full rev review soon.

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff – I have the second book in this series to read from NetGalley so I thought I better read the first book as I had already bought it for my Kindle. This first book is just brilliant, action-packed, dangerous, and has left me definitely looking forward to reading the next one.

Three excellent books!

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 (17th September 2023) #booklove #booknews #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 1 Comment

Hello and welcome to another weekly update. Just two books this week but they were both fabulous books. I have also had a bit of coursework to do, a tutorial, mock exam and work so I am pretty pleased with two books, especially as one is 800+ pages.

The weather has been unpredictable again as we have had nice sunny weather and thunderstorms again. Down here in Cornwall, we are used to power cuts so today’s storm meant things got re-booted as the power was knocked out again.

To the books…

Power of the Sword by Wilbur Smith – this is another instalment in the Courtney series and is a big old book at just over 800 pages. Centaine is still running the diamond mine, and her son Shasa is growing up but with the troubled stock markets, things are looking dodgy. Hitler is making threats and the world is changing. Full review in a couple of days.

The Crash by Robert Peston – I really enjoyed this author’s previous books so I was delighted to get the chance to read his new one. The Crash is a book about a bank running out of cash, Gil Peck is a reporter in the thick of things and when his friend commits suicide he is worried that something more is going on. Brilliant book and the full review will be later this week.

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

My Week In Books (w/e 10th September 2023) #booklove #bookupdates

yvonnembee 4 Comments

Hello and welcome to another weekly update. I am keeping it brief this week and will just mention the weather. How hot is it! No, I am not complaining, honest I am not 😏 but last night it was really muggy and we did have an amazing thunderstorm with lightning and a deluge of rain. It lasted on and off for around four hours or so. We didn’t get much sleep with all that noise, but it was impressive to watch from sitting in bed 🙂

This week I have managed three books so I am delighted with that. They are all NetGalley books and I think I am nearly back up to date with them again! So here they are…

Deadly Depths by John F. Dobbyn – This was a great introduction to this author and I loved this book. It is an action and adventure, treasure hunt story with a thriller feel to it. Fast-paced and I will be keeping my eye out for more by this author. Full review later this week.

I Did It For You by Jayne Cowie – this is a dystopian story as such, but one that could be set in the present day or very near future. TO try to eradicate male violence there is a test, it is not compulsory for your son to take it, but he will have better opportunities if he does, well unless he is positive for the gene! A brilliant look at different perspectives and lifestyles in this thriller had me reading furiously. Full review later this week.

Book Cover

The Traitor by Ava Glass – last year I read the first book in this series, Alias Emma and loved it, The Traitor is the second book in the series and my goodness is it packed full of danger, spies, espionage and double-crossing. If you like fast-paced crime thrillers then you really need to have a look at this series. Full review next week.

There we go, another week done and dusted.

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 4th Sept 2023) #bookupdates #booknews #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 4 Comments

Hello and welcome to my weekly update of books I have read. I took last week off as I was too busy with work and courses and things do look a little lighter on the calendar, but only just!

As we have hit September the weather has taken a turn for the better and the sun has come out and we are enjoying a late summer, to be fair this is what normally happens when the children go back to school after being off for the summer holidays 🙂

I have been out in the garden and managed to do some pruning and deadheading, I do tend to leave flowers to go to seed rather than cut them back as soon as they have finished as it does give the birds something to pick over and allows things to reset themselves.

I managed two books this week and they were both amazing ones.

The Murmurs by Michael J Malone – this is a brilliant story that is full of intrigue, mystery and supernatural vibes. You will see this book around quite a lot this month as I believe it is the start of the Blog Tour this week. My review will be out next week so keep your eyes peeled.

Deadly Depth by John F. Dobbun – I came across this title in an email from Oceanview Publishing and decided to download it from NetGalley. This is my first time with this author and this book was brilliant. Pirates, treasure hunts, historical and present-day, intrigue, mystery and murder are just some of the things in this action and adventure story. Full review will follow soon.

There we go for another week,

I hope you all have 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 27th August 2023) #booknews #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 4 Comments

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

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

My Week In Books (w/e 31st July 2023) #booklove #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 6 Comments

Hello and welcome to my round-up of books I have read over the past week. Tomorrow is August!!! Yea, I know!!!

It appears Twitter is now ‘X’ what does this symbolise? Not a question as such just another feature of a certain someone’s idea of a ‘good idea’ I presume. I was brought up with the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ motto. Now it looks like Twitter is broken and I have to say there have been some interesting responses to this new ‘X-rated’ logo 😉🤣

Weather – well depending on where you are in the country or the world, it is something that is in the news. Floods, heat waves and wildfires are constantly breaking records. It doesn’t matter what your opinion is, everyone is entitled to their own, but… it is a scary place out there. I am glad to be able to disappear into books and escape real life sometimes 🤔😟

Talking of books, here is what I managed to read this week…

Canticle Creek by Adrian Hyland – this is set in Australia and is the first time I have read a book by this author. It is a slow-burner which is quite approp[raiate for the story, a mystery and suspense as well as a police procedural. I won’t say too much as the full review is out on Wednesday.

The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods – this is a gorgeous story that is a mix of mystery, historical fiction, fantasy, romance and I adored it a huge amount. The author has created an amazing setting and added many secrets and mysteries to be revealed. Full review on Thursday.

Murder in the Family by Cara Hunter – I have not read any of this author’s books so this is a great introduction as it is a stand-alone and it is brilliant. A 20-year-old murder is unsolved, with no real leads but a chance for a true crime program to take another look at the evidence and see if they can discover the perpetrator. Set in transcripts, emails and messages this is a brilliantly addictive story and one I adored. Full review next week.

The Cornish Rebel by Nicola Pryce – this is the 7th book in her Cornish series and they are fabulous for readers of historical fiction, saga and romance. Each book is a story in its own right and this latest one is amazing. It soon became apparent that I would not be putting this one down once I had started it, it was a one-sitting book, with a fabulous story, great characters and a full review on Friday as part of the Blog Tour.

Four books this week and all were excellent reads.

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 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