My Week In Books – a double week update #booklove #booknews #mygarden #MeAndMyBooks

April 10, 2023April 9, 2023yvonnembee 9 Comments

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.

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

My Week In Books (w/e 26th March 2023) #booknews #booklove #MeAndMyBooks

March 27, 2023March 26, 2023yvonnembee 6 Comments

Welcome to another weekly round-up of books I have read over the past week. It has been a mixed-genre week and I have read three amazing books.

I may be a bit hit-and-miss on social media this week and next, I am getting ready to go to visit Mum. I have various things to get organised for this and then I will obviously have the time I spend visiting. If I was more organised I would have all my reviews ready to go, I do have the reviews written but I need to set the posts up so not too bad.

Infinity Gate by M.R. Carey – I have been eager to start this book as I do adore this author’s stories. A science fiction story that spans the universe, well actually the multiverse. An infinite number of different versions of the earth are populated by different species, some barren, some worked by machinery and all different and unique in small ways. Following key characters and getting to grips with this first book in the series was amazing. I cannot wait for the next one to see what happens.

The Little Board Game Cafe by Jennifer Page is a lovely story about Emily, she decides to follow her dream of running a cafe but there are pitfalls and problems along the way. This is a story that is full of food, board games, good characters and a dash of romance.

Go As A River by Shelley Read – Oh this is a gorgeous story, it is more literary fiction as I learnt about Victoria and how she grew up in the 1960s in a small out-of-the-way town that is eventually drowned by the building of a dam. I adored this story and the description, emotions and lives of those directly involved with Victoria.

Back to my regular three books this week. I was sure I had read another one, but it seems not! I have looked through my list of books read but can only find these. Oh well, I am still very happy with three books 🙂

Have a great week ahead and Happy Reading

All the best

Yvonne xx

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

My Week In Books (w/e 11th December 2022) #booklove #MeAndMyBooks

December 12, 2022December 11, 2022yvonnembee 10 Comments

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

My Week In Books (w/e 4th December 2022) #bookupdates #booklove #MeAndMyBooks

December 6, 2022December 5, 2022yvonnembee 5 Comments

Welcome to my weekly round-up of books I have read. I am a day late with this, basically, I forgot what day it was and I changed one of my nightshifts so it threw everything out. Change is good, but not when you work nights and struggle to remember the day. I usually work on a Monday night, and it is still Monday in my head until I have been home and had a couple of hours of sleep, it then becomes Tuesday! It all makes sense to me, if you work nights you’ll get exactly what I mean 🙂

Here is what I have read and listened to over the past week…

Pandora’s Jar: Women in the Greek myths by Natalie Haynes – this was an interesting book to listen to and the author explores how women had been perceived over the years in the myths, legends, films, TV and literature. The author did use modern equivalents from pop, film and drama to show this. I did enjoy it and found it to be a very interesting one to listen to. Ideal if you like discussion-style audio with well-reasoned examples and the full review will follow soon.

The Angel’s Mark by S. W. Perry – this was one of the titles I had hoped to read in the summer but it got bumped down my TBR. I am kicking myself because it is a brilliant historical fiction, murder, mystery and crime story. It is the first book in the series and I cannot wait to read more. Full review to follow.

A Gift Called Hope by Eva Jordan – This is a lovely story and it deals with the excitement of Christmas with a young child and as a parent dealing with loss. Gorgeous story and a full review to follow.

The Nazi’s Son by Andrew Turpin – if you are a fan of espionage, conspiracy and thriller reads then you won’t go far wrong with this series. This is the 5th book and it mixes Stasi, KGB, CIA, and MI5/6 with links going back to the 1986 nightclub bombing in Germany. Brilliant story and series, full review to follow.

There we have it for another week,

Have a great week ahead

Yvonne xx

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

My Week In Books (w/e 27th November 2022) #booklove #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

November 28, 2022November 27, 2022yvonnembee 2 Comments

Hello and welcome to another weekly round-up of books I have read. I cannot believe this is the final week of November already. Not only has the month flown by, but the whole year also has to be perfectly honest.

The weather has not been the best again down here in Cornwall. lots of rain, wind, hail and thunder. There is an excellent side to the rain though, and that is that the reservoirs are filling and we did get a small rebate on our water bill.

On the reading front, I have finished all my Blog Tour commitment books for the year, although I already have several lined up for January, February and March already 🙂

Here is what I have been reading…

Merrily Ever After by Cathy Bramley – this is a wonderful festive fiction story that I adored. I didn’t realise there was another book that has one of the characters in it until a fellow Book Blogger told me about it. My full review was published last week and here is the link if you want to read it.

Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch – I bought this book on my kindle in 2012 and have just found it again. This is a brilliant book and I am so glad there are more in this series. A mix of police procedural, supernatural, fantasy and mystery. It is a genre I do enjoy and I am definitely looking forward to reading the next books. Full review to follow.

The Source by Sarah Sultoon – this is another book that has been sat on the shelf for too long and it is a fabulous read. Some very tough topics that have been approached very well. A story of two timelines and one that has far-reaching implications. Corruption, abuse, scandals, institutional abuse and an amazing read. Full review to follow.

The Thunder Girls by Melanie Blake – yep another one that has also been gathering dust! Once again another fabulous read. The Thunder Girls were a band in the 80s, they split up and now 30 years later there is a chance for them to reunite. There are problems with this though, they all went their separate ways, there haven’t spoken since the split and there is a huge amount of animosity between them. This is the tip of the iceberg compared to what is going on behind the scenes. Full review to follow.

It has been great reading books that have languished for far too long on my shelves. I am finding that they are brilliant and were definitely worth getting them when I did. I dare not admit how many I have still to be read on my kindle and on my actual bookshelves 😬🤪

Image result for i dont have too many books

Wishing you all a fabulous week ahead,

Take Care

Yvonne xx

My Week IN Books (w/e 20th November 2022) #booklove #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

November 21, 2022November 20, 2022yvonnembee 2 Comments

Welcome to another wrap-up of books I have read over the past week. I have been watching Twitter with interest and to be honest, I am quite appalled by some of the things I am seeing. I have tiptoed into another site and am tentatively finding my feet, I do need to spend a bit more time on Mastodon though. Here is my link if you want to give me a follow 🙂

@yvonnebastian@mastodon.world

Too wet and windy just recently to go in the garden but I did notice some of my narcissi have started to open. Me and the other half noticed that the birds are now starting to come back to the feeders and they are going mad for the fat balls as well as the seed. Our two dogs have got this feeding station sussed out. They know if they snuffle around the grass under the bird feeders they can usually find some seeds and bits to eat. Those two would never starve I can tell you.

Right, here are the books I have read…

The Orphanage Girls Reunited by Mary Wood – I do love this author’s books and this is the next book in the Orphanage Girls series. It is a fabulous historical fiction story that sees friends Ellen and Ruth coming back together after being split up. Addictive reading and is heartbreaking at times. Keep an eye out for the Blog Tour in December for my full review.

A Child for the Reich by Andie Newton – this is a heartwrenching historical fiction that tells the story of a mother trying to find her daughter. Her daughter had been taken from her to be Germanised and become a good German citizen. This is a stunning book to read and the full review will be part of the Blog Tour in December.

The Family tree Mystery by Peter Bartram – I adore this series and it is set in 1967 in Brighton. Colin and his girlfriend Shirley are discovering something about Shirley’s past. As a journalist, Colin does get some interesting leads. A brilliant story that has some great humour and is one for fans of cosy mysteries. Full review as part of the Blog Tour in December.

There we go another good week for books,

Wishing you a good week ahead

All the best

Yvonne xx

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

My (Two)Week(s) In Books (w/e 13th November 2022) #booklove #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

November 14, 2022November 13, 2022yvonnembee 4 Comments

It has been a couple of weeks since my last weekly update post. This time last week I was on my way up to see my parents for a few days. It was a nice change of scenery and also to have a catch-up with them.

This is what I have been reading over the past two weeks. There is one that I have already posted a review of and the others are still to be posted as part of Blog Tours.

The Imposter by Leona Deakin – this is also listed as The Fall Guy if you are looking for it on Goodreads. I have read the first book in this series, but seem to have completely missed the next two before seeing the Blog Tour invite for this one. This is a fabulous book and if you are a fan of criminal profiling, psychology and tense suspense-ridden thrillers then you should have a look at this series. FULL REVIEW HERE

The Highland Girls at War by Helen Yendall – this is the first time I have read a book by this author and I adored it. This review will be up tomorrow and there is a fabulous giveaway opportunity. Set in WWII in Scotland a group of women learn and train to be lumberjills.

The Will by Rebecca Reid – Oh this is a fabulous story and is full of wonderful twists, a few secrets and a serious amount of intrigue. I adored this book. Full review will be later this week.

The Summer Escape by Hannah Ellis – I do love this series and the author chooses one of the family to focus on. This time it is the turn of Trystan. A wonderful story in a gorgeous location and left me looking forward to the next book with a teaser about who is next. My full review will be next week,

The Lightening Rod by Tony J Forder – I cannot believe we are at book 10 in the DI Jimmy Bliss series! I do have a soft spot for Bliss and the team so I am always eager to get my hands on the next book in the series. This one is a full-on mystery that Bliss and the team are going to have to work very hard at and with different people involved. Loved it and my full review will be soon.

Driven by Kerena Swan – this is another author who is new to me, and yes you have probably noticed that this is the 2nd in the series. This is a fabulous book and one that had me hooked, a child is in a car when the car is stolen. This is one that could be read as a stand-alone but I did decide to buy the first book as I wanted to know more about DI Paton. My full review will be at the end of this month.

We are getting closer to the end of the year and this means I am trying to work out my Top Reads for 2022. I currently have 19 books on my list, and there is one book that I read in January that I think is going to be in the Number 1 spot.

Goodreads is on track and I am currently on 176/200 books read so far.

All other is for me to do now is wish you all a great week ahead and

Happy Reading

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

October 24, 2022October 23, 2022yvonnembee 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

October 17, 2022October 16, 2022yvonnembee

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 🤔

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 9th October 2022) #bookupdates #inthegarden #booknews #MeAndMyBooks

October 10, 2022October 9, 2022yvonnembee 4 Comments

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