Welcome to another weekly round-up of books I have read. Finally, we have noticed a difference in the sharing between WordPress and Twitter, the only change is that we don’t get our own posts automatically shared. After reading what was going to happen and seeing for myself it isn’t as significant as I expected thank goodness. It has meant I have had to learn how to schedule my tweets and also remember to do them. Again not a difficult thing to do, but for someone who had never done it before it was an interesting moment to see what I had shared, it had worked and luckily it did. Catastrophe averted and back to carrying on as normal 🙂
Now I am back to work after being away I have noticed a big decline in my reading again. Instead of the 5 books a week, I am back to 2 a week and of course, spending time in the garden as we now have some glorious weather. Here are a few garden photos of what is growing at the moment 🙂
Lemon Bottle Brush, Emily Bronte rose, gooseberries, octopus bush with pink thrift underneath, Californian poppies and a red tea rose.
Here are the books…
Mrs Porter Calling by AJ Pearce is a fabulous book and the 3rd in the series. I adored Mrs Bird which was the 1st book and the author has kept on track building her characters and the storylines. When a new owner comes enters the Woman’s Friend office there are some uncertainties, but on the whole, the staff feel fine, that is until they start to realise what Mrs Porter wants to do with the magazine. Full review to follow soon.
The Fall by Gilly Macmillan is a fabulously tense thriller that had me hooked. When a lottery win gives Nicole and Tom a chance for a new life neither expected that one of them would end up dead. The investigation twists and weaves and throws many red herrings, a sort of locked room mystery as there are only a small number of players in this cat and mouse mystery thriller. Full review to follow soon.
There we go, two fabulous books 🙂
Have a great week
Happy Reading
Yvonne xx
Many thnaks for reading my post,a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
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
Hello and welcome to a double week of updates. I was up visiting my Mum last week and I would like to say a massive thank you to all of you wonderful people for sharing my reviews. It was great to spend time with Mum although the journey back home could have been quicker and less eventful! Broke down and needed to have a new alternator fitted, thank goodness for the breakdown cover I had as they fitted a new one and got me going again. What should have been a 7ish hour’s drive turned into just over 13 hours!
We have finally had a chance to get into the garden, which has been great. Started to weed through the flower beds, put in a new path to keep the veg and bottom flower bed separate, and make a start on getting things ready for the veg season all in all, things are starting to look bright and colourful.
KODAK Digital Still CameraKODAK Digital Still CameraKODAK Digital Still CameraKODAK Digital Still Camera
Now for the books…
Dark Mode by Ashley Kalagian Blunt – oh this was a goodie! The synop[sis mentions this being based on true events which makes it even more of a thriller. Reagan has kept herself off the internet for reasons that are revealed later in the book, but when she discovers a body near where she lives she finds herself on edge and how technology has made such an impact on our lives. Full review next week as part of the Blog Tour.
Death on Cromer Beach by Ross Greenwood – I am a fan of this author and loved his books. This is the first in a new series and it is dark and fabulous. Something happened years ago and people think the beach is getting its revenge, a body turns up followed soon after by another and another. DS Ashley Knight and her new partner, a fast-track detective have been teamed up. I did like this a lot and the combination of Ashley and Hector, the newbie, was great. Full review in a week or so.
A Summer Surprise at the Little Blue Boathouse by Christie Barlow – this is the 11th book in the series!!! Each one is amazing and is a story in its own right, but the author has grown her community up over the books and various people make an appearance. A woman who wants a break after leaving her fiance just happens to be in the right place at the right time when she visits Heartcross. The river festival is due and there is a summer job that she may be able to work that will give her a chance to re-evaluate. Oh, and there is a wonderful visiting boat owner. Another gorgeous read and a full review will follow soon.
Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch – This is the second book in the series and I adored it as much as the first. Peter is a constable and a sorcerer’s apprentice in this fantasy crime and mystery series. When the bodies of Jazzmen start turning up it is Peter and his boss that is needed due to their special powers. It was great to read another book and see some of the characters from the previous book get caught up in this case. Yes, I do think this needs to be read in order, which, for a change is what I am doing. Full review to follow.
Queens of the Underworld by Caitlin Davies – this is non-fiction and is based on the women who have masterminded crime over hundreds of years. The author has brought together a selection of women who have made an impact but are not necessarily known. Many true crime-based shows, books and articles are on men so it was great to see women in this light as well. I adored this book and it was a shock at times to see just how brutal women have been in the past and how they often slipped under the radar as such. Full review as part of theBlog Tour.
The Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud – after recently reading the first book I ordered the second, the first was excellent and this felt even better. The tension and danger are evident in this book as Lockwood & Co are out trying to work out who is stealing magical artefacts. For a YA book, this is quite dark and I adored it, following the agents as they pit their wits against a rival group adds to the drama and tension. Full review to follow.
Well, there we go, not a bad fortnight for reading, visiting and gardening 🙂
Have a fabulous week
All the best
Yvonne xx
Many thanks for reaing my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
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
Welcome to another weekly update of books I have read. I cannot believe it is February already! I have ventured into the garden to do a few jobs, one of which was transferring the compost heap, this will rot down nicely over the months while the new one will be added to. It is hard work when you have to turn the compost, but my goodness it is definitely worth it. There are a few signs of buds and things coming into life again, I just hope the colds snap we are due this week doesn’t do much damage.
Ok, so here is what I read last week…
Crow 27 by Matt Johnson – Robert Finley is back and the author has him returning to the barracks to investigate stolen guns. The thing is he has been warned from getting involved with a suicide investigation at the barracks. This is a brilliant book and I adored it so much I couldn’t put it down. Tense is an understatement for this book and if you are a fan of thrillers and procedurals then this is one that you should have a look at. Full review in a couple of weeks.
The Paris Notebook by Tessa Harris – what an amazing book this was. Imagine if there were a set of notes from a psychologist, imagine that one of the doctor’s patients was Hitler being treated for blindness during WWI. What if this notebook came to light as Hitler began his invasion of Europe. Katja has the job of transcribing this book and the auhtor tells her story and of those she meets. This story does have some factual sections to it and there is a fabulous section at the end for further reading. Absolutely stunning story and the full review will be next week.
Band Wagon by Richard Cobourne – this is the first book in a series. I was sent it along with the second book ready for the Blog Tour. Danny is a journalist, Daisy is a PR for the upcoming tour for Martha. One problem, Martha is missing! This is a fabulous story that follows the mysterious disappearance of Martha. There are some shocks for Danny, one of which leaves him suffering a traumatic event. This is a thriller that goes backstage and into the financing of the deals taken to put on a show. The author has done a fabulous job and I am looking forward to reading the next book – Red Light, Green Light.
There we go, three books this week and all fabulous reads.
Have a great week ahead,
Take Care
Yvonne xx
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
Hello and welcome to another weekly wrap-up of books I have read. I have been a bit quiet on social media for the last week and I would like to say a big thank you for all of the shares. It has been an emotional week and one that has left me emotionally drained. My Dad has been in hospital and is quite poorly and we are keeping our hopes up that he might be home for Christmas.
The weather change down here in Cornwall is very cold and we do have sleety showers and ice, but I did have a wander around the garden this morning (Sunday) and managed to get a few photos of some of the flowers that are still hanging on in there. The sun was out but my goodness it was chilly, definitely not as warm as it looked!
Here are the books I have got through this week…
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley – this is a book that I have been wanting to read for years and finally, I decided it was time. When I first started this I was a bit unsure about it, so I put it down and came back to it the next day and then devoured it. It is about a society that is genetically engineered for specific roles and for a happy population. Considering this book was published in 1932 it is a very good one to read. Slow at times, and at others disjointed but once I got going with it I found it to be very addictive. Review to follow soon.
Strangeways: My Life as a Prison Officer by Neil Samworth – well this is an absolutely amazing book to listen to. I bought this a while back from Audible and it is a brutal, hard-hitting, eye-opener of a story as the author tells of the things he has seen, and been involved in and also how the Prison Service has changed over the years. This is a brutally honest account and I will share my review soon.
Lost by Leona Deakin – after reading the 4th book, and then the 1st book I decided to read the 2nd book in this series. It is a brilliant series and if you are a fan of psychological thrillers then you should have this series on your list. When a Captain loses his memory it is his girlfriend that starts to raise the alarm bells. What follows is a deeply twisted thriller that had me hooked. Full review to follow.
Snowflakes over Muddleford Cove by Kim Nash – both my Mum and I adore this author and we read this book at the same time. We were chuckling and sniggering over some of the antics in this book as it really did appeal to our sense of humour. It isn’t all giggles though as there is a serious plot to it. This is another fabulous read and one for those of you who love heartwarming and humourous from comes. Full review to follow.
Ther we have it, another week of fabulous titles.
I will try to share posts when I can,
Wishing you all the very best
Yvonne xx
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
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
I am delighted to share my review today for The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2023 by Lia Leendertz. This is a fabulous little book that I adored picking through and if you are a fan of nature, the natural world and planning for gardening, then this is a gorgeous book to have.
My huge thanks to Anne at Random Things Tours for my spot on the Blog Tour and for arranging my Hardback copy of this book from the publisher Octopus Books
Reconnect with the seasons in Britain and Ireland with this month-by-month guide to the world around us – including key dates, tide tables and garden tasks; constellations and moon phases; sunrises, folk songs, seasonal recipes plus a ‘bun of the month’; and – because 2023 will be a good year for planet spotting – the solar system and the zodiac.
The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2023 gives you the tools and inspiration you need to celebrate, mark and appreciate each month of the year in your own particular way. Divided into the 12 months, a set of tables each month gives it the feel and weight of a traditional almanac, providing practical information that gives access to the outdoors and the seasons, perfect for expeditions, meteor-spotting nights and beach holidays. There are also features on each month’s unique nature, with this instalment following the swirling micro world of the garden pond through the year.
You will find yourself referring to The Almanac all year long, revisiting it again and again, and looking forward to the next edition as the year draws to a close.
This year’s edition is illustrated by artist Whooli Chen.
MY REVIEW
This is a fabulous little pocket-sized Almanac. I love books like this and while a diary often gives you basic information, an Almanac goes into a lot more detail. This one is no exception.
After a basic introduction, this book then starts at the beginning of the year. January – there are important dates for this month followed by a wonderful page of what January represents, it is a time of reflection as the daylight hours are not as long as we would like. But the author does encourage you to look at what is happening outside, are there buds or bees starting to emerge.
Carrying on the author then takes a look at the sky, the moon phases, sunrise/set, tide times and then onto Lunar planting. Plants used to be set according to the moon phases and I really liked to see this included. There are also a couple of paragraphs about what shrubs, plants and trees are starting to flower as well as what you can harvest from your veg garden.
If you do have a veg garden or access to locally grown produce then what better than a couple of recipes? How about an orange glazed yeast bun or boiled suet and sausage pudding? Both of these sound amazing.
An Almanac also gives information about the Zodiac, here the author includes an introduction to the zodiac and gives information for Capricorn followed by a folk song. This then leads on nicely to what we can see in nature.
This is a wonderful book and has loads of detail and information. It is littered with black-lined illustrations and images that correspond perfectly to the item they accompany.
The book is easy to use as the pages have been sprayed on the corner and then gradually work down so it is easy to see at a glance roughly where you need to be. There is also a nice little ribbon that acts as a bookmark.
If you are a fan of the seasons and nature then this is a fabulous little book to have. It is great for leaving on a table for a reference book and takes no space up at all. It is a book that would make a wonderful gift for a family member or friend because I know I was delighted to receive my copy.
Educational and informative, wonderful to peruse through and one I would definitely recommend.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Almanac 2023 by Lia Leendertz is out 1st September 2022.
Lia Leendertz’s reinvention of the traditional, rural almanac has become an annual must-have for readers keen to reconnect with the seasons, appreciate the outdoors, and discover ways to mark and celebrate each month, and the ideal stocking filler. The 2023 edition is the sixth in the series, and has a theme of the solar system and zodiac, with beautiful illustrations by artist Whooli Chen.
CHECK OUT THE OTHER STOPS ON THE BLOG TOUR…
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
Hello and welcome to another weekly book round-up. Before I get to the books, I have had the week off work and it was a gorgeous week to take off. Me and He had a day out in Falmouth and had Fish and Chips, we can’t remember the last time we had this!
I also managed a couple of days out myself and took myself down to a local beach. Kynance Cove is a site run by the National Trust, a nice stroll down to the cafe overlooking the beach is great on a windy yet sunny day. Not too many people and great to blow a few cobwebs away.
I also spent some time in the garden, and there are still so many flowers in full bloom, especially the Dahlias. I also noticed some of my roses have started to bud up again. It was a great chance to re-establish one of the borders and get the bed back under control again.
Now let’s have a look at the books I have read…
The Empire by Michael Ball – (yes THE Michael Ball) is a fabulous debut book and one that I adored. The stage, behind the scenes, the rivalry and so much more make the theatre known as The Empire such an addictive book to read. I am so glad I spotted the Blog Tour for this one and managed to get a spot. Full review in a couple of weeks.
February’s Son by Alan Parks – is the second book in the series and it now means I am up to date, there are 5 books published by the way. This is another fabulous story and one that has Detective Harry McCoy in the thick of gang rivalry. Full review to follow soon.
The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho by Paterson Joseph – is a fictionalised look a the life of a man who made history by being the first Black person to vote. Ideal for fans of historical figures, a full review to follow soon.
The Night Watch by Neil Lancaster – this is the 3rd book in this series and true to form, this is the first one I have read! This is an amazing story set in Scotland as the death of a lawyer and a man recently given a “not proven” verdict. A crime thriller and police procedural. Full review to follow soon.
Keeping the Christmas Promise by Jo Thomas – I know better than to start one of this author’s books when I go to bed! Once started I could not put this one down until 2am because I had run out of book to read. This is a wonderful adventure story and one that has avalanches, power cuts and friends having to look at what they want to do with their lives. Full review to follow soon.
The Botanist by M.W. Craven – this is an amazing read in the Washington Poe series, and yes I have read all of the books in the series and in the right order 🙂 This one is about people being poisoned, a close friend being arrested and a killer who can get past the tightest security. Full review to follow soon.
WOW! 6 books this week, I don’t know how I managed that 🙂 just shows what having a week off work can do 🙂
With the exception of The Empire, all these books are from my TBR, a mix of owned and NetGalley ones. All very interesting and I will get the review posted over the next couple of weeks.
Have a fabulous week ahead,
All the best
Yvonne xx
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. I didn’t post last week so today I have a two-week catch-up.
The weather seems to have a bit more chill to it and I have noticed that the misty mornings and heavy dew are starting to reappear. While the veg garden is starting to look a little bare, the flowers are still going well. I went and picked a few flowers this morning along with raspberries and blackberries ready for crumbles and pies in the winter.
The garden is producing some lovely autumnal flowers and leaves at the moment. Here are some pics and also one of my Tradescantia, I think this one is called Purple Heart. I’ve included this as I saw Rosie Amber’s post Six On Saturday and was admiring her Tradescantia 🙂
Tradescantia – Purple Heart
There were the plants, now here are the books I have read over the past TWO weeks.
The Radium Girls by Kate Moore – I first read this book as an ARC prior to its publication in 2017. It is an emotional and heartbreaking history of the girls who painted radium onto clock faces and dials. At a time when no one was aware of the danger. Since reading it I have also bought a copy and as I was wondering what to spend by Audible Credit on, I saw this. A full review will follow soon.
Tick Tock by Simon May – Oh my goodness this was a riveting read. Full review HERE
The Skeleton Key by Erin Kelly – I adored this one and it is the story of two dysfunctional families. It is sneaky and devious and I also adore the cover. Full review to follow soon.
Thief by Owen Mullen – this is the 4th book in the Glass Family series and it is another belter. Living the lives that the Glass family do, there are times when they are a target. This is one of those times and it sees the focus shift to another member of the family. Full review in a couple of weeks as part of the Blog Tour.
A Winter Warmer at the Little Cornish Kitchen by Jane Linfoot – this is the 3rd book in this series and I adored it. A story of fresh starts, healing and grief in this welcoming and wonderful coastal community. Full review in a couple of weeks as part of the Blog Tour.
The Hike by Susi Holliday – this was a tense and atmospheric thriller set in the Swiss Alps. The author has created a sneakily deceptive and absorbing story about two couples. and there are some wonderful twists along the way. A full review of this will be in a couple of weeks or so as part of the Blog Tour.
The Family Game by Catherine Steadman – was a brilliantly addictive book and if you are a fan of psychological thrillers then you need to read this one. Full review HERE
Masquerade by Kit Williams – this is a book that gave the author Catherine Steadman a starting point for The Family Game (see above) and so it was obvious I needed to find my old copy and give it another read. This was a book that I loved when I saw it as the artwork is wonderful, it is, by the way, a treasure hunt that was first published in 1979. My copy is a 1982 one and gives an introduction by the author. Then the treasure hunt and the clues you need. The final section is all the clues he had given. Fabulous book and a full review will follow.
Now You See Me by S.J. Bolton – I recently read book 5 in this series and adored it. I was gently nudged by a fellow Book Blogger ( @FictionFan2 ) that I should immediately backtrack and read them 🙂 So I did, it was great to start at the beginning and this case is dark and dangerous, and is a cracking read. I will be definitely reading the others in the series, hopefully soon! – Full review to follow.
I am pretty pleased with 9 books over two weeks.
I wish you all a great week ahead,
Happy Reading
Yvonne xx
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
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Yvonne - Me and My Books 