Tag Book Updates

My Week In Books (22nd October 2023) #booklove #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 4 Comments

Hello and welcome to another weekly update. I cannot believe how quickly we are flying through the month. Have to think about getting a few treats ready for the Halloween visitors next week.

It has been a good week for reading and I don’t know how I managed it, but I read books. One was a novella, two were short non-fiction and another was 500+ pages, so all in all a great week and got another unit of my course finished. My poor brain is feeling a little addled 🙃

Here is what I have read…

These Burning Shores by Bethany Jacobs – this is a fabulous start to a trilogy and if you are a of fantasy and science fiction, then this is one to have a look at. This was a brilliant book and one that was full of action as a game of cat and mouse ensues through this author’s world. Full review tomorrow.

The Times – Sir, The Year In Letters – this is quite an amusing book that has various letters that have been submitted to The Times. It shows a slightly quirky and humourous side to the readers of the paper. A fun book to read.

Everyday Folklore by Liza Frank – this is a fabulous almanac that I read on Kindle, I enjoyed it so much that I have the hardback preordered and it should arrive later this week. A mix of folklore, plant and weather lore, superstition, star signs and a whole lot more. Full review later this week.

Tap and Die by Lancelot Schubert – I love this cover, but unfortunately not so much the book. A retelling of the Die Hard film set in a Western-style, with magic, set above a volcano and with the main protagonist being naked! I don’t think I read the synopsis of this book properly when I requested it from NetGalley. A little too bizarre for me! 🤯

Older, Wiser, Fiercer by Virginia Wilde – back onto safer ground with this book and it was brilliant. A humorous look at getting older, the author has collated quotes, one-liners and the sort of thing you would see as a meme on social media and put them in this brilliant book. I reviewed this one last week – full review HERE

That is it for another week,

Wishing a wonderful 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 8th October 2023) #booklove #bookupdates #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 2 Comments

Hello and welcome to another round-up of books I have read over the past week. As I was on annual leave last week I decided to also have a break from my blog. It gave me a chance to get out in the garden, read a few books, chill out and just recharge my batteries.

It has been a good week, a bit chilly at the beginning but this weekend has been glorious and as good as an August weekend should be!

Here is what I have read…

Blue Machine by Helen Czerski – this is a fascinating book and the author explains how the oceans work in such an understandable way. From the animals and fish that inhabit the water, to how humans navigated and the way the ocean works, it is a brilliant book to read. If you are someone who likes to learn more about our blue planet then this is a book that may be of interest. Full review next week.

The Man Who Didn’t Burn by Ian Moore – this is the first time I have read a book by this author and it was this book is the first in the series so where better to start. This is one for those who like a murder mystery rather than a brutal thriller style of book. It is set in France and is a nice change from the UK police procedurals I usually read. Full review next week.

A Strange Belief: weird stories by N.S. Ford – this is a wonderful and yes weird collection of short stories from this author. An interesting read and one that I will be sharing my full review of later this week.

Committed by Chris Merritt – this is another author who I have not read before and this is the first book in a new series. It is a cracking, fast-paced thriller that I adored. Full review on Wednesday as part of the Blog Tour.

Four books over the past week and I am 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 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 – a double week update #booklove #booknews #mygarden #MeAndMyBooks

yvonnembee 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.

KODAK Digital Still Camera
KODAK Digital Still Camera
KODAK Digital Still Camera
KODAK 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

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

yvonnembee 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

yvonnembee 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

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: A Prison Officer's Story

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

yvonnembee 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…

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

yvonnembee 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 (Rivers of London, #1)

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

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

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

yvonnembee 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

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

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