Today I am delighted to share my completed list of the books I read for the #20booksofsummer reading challenge. I had decided on reading 20 books and yes I did change some. I usually just get my final book read by the skin of my teeth in this challenge, but this year not only have I read them all with time to spare… I have also got them all reviewed as well! The challenge runs over three months and is organised by Cathy at 746books
Here are the 20 books I read…
I did also manage to read another 20 books on top of this list, these were a mix of books that were on my NetGalley shelf, for Blog tours and ARCs sent via authors. There were also a few audiobooks as well. I am quite pleased with the reading over the past three months.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
It is that time of year again when I join in the #20BooksofSummer Reading Challenge organised by Cathy at 746books.
The challenge starts TODAY!
Rules – they are basic and are not set in stone.
Choose 10, 15 or 20 books that you have been meaning to read, or have slipped down the TBR pile. You can change the titles, you can read more or you can read less. The idea is to read the titles between the Ist of June and the final one by the 1st of September.
I am going for the “Full Monty” of 20 books, here are the ones I have decided on…
From my NetGalley shelf…
And, here are the physical books that I want to read…
I am delighted to share my review today for A Secret Scottish Escape by Julie Shackman. My thanks to One More Chapter Publishers for my e-copy of this book that I received via NetGalley.
This is the 4th book on my #20booksofsummer reading challenge.
When Scotland’s sleepiest hamlet becomes the centre of hot gossip, Layla Devlin finds herself caught in a mystery…
When Layla’s fiancée has an unexpected heart attack and dies – in another woman’s arms, no less – Layla is determined to pack up and leave Loch Harris, the village she’s always called home. But an unexpected inheritance and love for her quiet corner of Scotland send her down a new path.
Now Layla finds herself facing a whole new kind of drama. Rumours swirl that a celebrity has moved into Coorie Cottage and Layla is determined to have him headline her opening night at local music venue The Conch Club. But the reclusive star is equally determined to thwart Layla’s efforts. Rafe Buchanan is in hiding for a reason, and soon his past comes to Loch Harris to haunt him…
My Review…
Layla is left hurt and confused after the sudden death of her fiance. With money left to her she initially doesn’t want anything to do with it. Then she sees the old fishing shop in the Scottish village of Loch Harris. A small community that is getting quieter as tourists are looking for something different. She decides to open a small live music venue and this is not the only thing to occupy her time or her thoughts as she gets ready for opening night.
This was such a gorgeous story to read on a wet and rather yucky summers day. I was as shocked as Layla after I discovered the secret that her fiance Mac was hiding. I also found myself siding with Layla’s dad, Harry, when I heard that she was opening a music venue. I mean a lovely tranquil village with amazing scenery and then add loud music. How the author described Layla’s dream soon had me visualising and imagining what this would actually be like and I found myself getting on board with the idea based on the imagery from the author.
The author has squeezed some wonderful threads into this story a mysterious singer, a stranger, some romance, some lies and deceit and also a whole load of wonderful heart waring and lovely moments. While there are a couple of more serious threads there are also some genuinely lovely ones.
I soon fell in love with the setting and the sound of this amazing village. I love the sound of a certain reclusive garden and could see myself hiding out there with several good books and maybe the odd large glass of wine!
A story that I found really hard to put down a mix of mystery, romance, family drama and wonderful scenery just make this an adorable book to read and one that left me grinning like a loon. If you like good all-around contemporary fiction and romance novels then you are going to love this one. It is one I would definitely recommend.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share review for another of the books I chose for “20booksofsummer reading challenge. The Guest List by Lucy Foley is a cracking read and head me guessing right the way through.
Here’s what it’s all about…
Synopsis…
A wedding celebration turns dark and deadly in this deliciously wicked and atmospheric thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie from the New York Times bestselling author of The Hunting Party.
The bride – The plus one – The best man – The wedding planner – The bridesmaid – The body
On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It’s a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed.
But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride’s oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast.
And then someone turns up dead. Who didn’t wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?
My Review…
This was a book I really enjoyed. A wedding on a remote island between two very well-known people. The synopsis gives a great glimpse into the theme of this story. Hints at secrets, grudges, pasts and a sense of something lurking.
I liked the layout of this book with quick chapters that flit between characters and also in the days on the run up to the wedding and the day of the wedding itself. This format gives the reader a glimpse into the thoughts of each character and it works well because often things are left unsaid but the thoughts are there for the reader to see.
Having the location of a remote island that is only accessible by boat gives the sense of a closed-door mystery style read. The setting gives a mysterious and eerie quality that adds to the atmospheric feel. I liked the description of the waves crashing against the cliffs, the bogs and the general remoteness.
The characters are definitely a real mixed bunch and there were some I took an immediate dislike to, well more how they saw themselves and wanted others to see them. There are others that try to remain in the shadows and are timider. There is one thing in common with a handful of the characters and that is the secrets they carry and hold.
The story leads its way through the characters and gradually pieces together their stories. These all lead to a sort of grand finale. This was a style I like as it made me mistrust people and I did think I had got this one but as usual I was off the mark. I liked this slow and gradual sense of something bad going to happen, never knowing who or how. The why… well there were various options as to why this would be done and it was a matter of time until it was all revealed.
A very enjoyable read with some nice details about the setting, a sense of suspense that grew and an all-round good crime, fiction read and one that I would recommend reading.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today for The Island Swap by Samantha Tonge. This was a book I read at the beginning of August this year and it is one of the books I chose for the #20booksofsummer #readingchallenge and I am still playing catch-up on posting my reviews!
Let me show you what this wonderful book is all about…
Synopsis…
Sometimes the best holidays are the ones you least expect…
After a long and turbulent year, Sarah is dreaming of the five-star getaway her sister has booked them on. White sands, cocktails, massages, the Caribbean is calling to them.
But the sisters turn up to tatty beaches, basic wooden shacks, a compost toilet and outdoor cold water showers. It turns out that at the last minute Amy decided a conservation project would be much more fun than a luxury resort.
So now Sarah’s battling mosquitos, trying to stomach fish soup and praying for a swift escape. Life on a desert island though isn’t all doom and gloom. They’re at one with nature, learning about each other and making new friends. And Sarah is distracted by the dishy, yet incredibly moody, island leader she’s sure is hiding a secret.
My Review…
I have 2 or 3of this authors books and they seem to have slid down my TBR pile. When I decided that I wanted a more relaxing summery, romance style read it was this author that suddenly sprung to mind and I thought I really need to read one of her books.
Well, what an amazing book this was and I absolutely adored it. Amy and Sarah are sisters and after a lottery win, Amy decides to treat them both to a luxury holiday. Amy works as a veterinary nurse and Sarah has a management role in a hotel. Both are looking forward to getting away, although Sarah is a little worried about leaving all the arrangements to her younger sister. Expecting a resort with pools, spas, beaches and the full 5-star treatment only to discover that Amy has suddenly changed the plan. Instead, they are on a working holiday on a small island in the Virgin Islands, No spas, 5-star treatments or anything else she was expecting, instead, Sarah has to deal with compost toilets, mosquitoes, cold showers and physical work.
Yes, this story does has a romantic thread running but it is actually the relationship between the sisters that really intrigued me. Sarah is the eldest and has looked out for Amy since their mum passed away, effectively taking on the parenting role and guiding, advising and to be fair has been quite controlling. The reasons for this are revealed more within the story. Amy is lacking confidence but she more than makes up for in enthusiasm and passion for animals.
While the sisters are chalk and cheese, they also have a very strong bond. They have been looking out for each other for years. This trip to a remote island with absolutely no mod cons and basic amenities is right up to Amy’s street but not so much for Sarah.
The thing about this story is the way the author has woven the story of the sisters and their upbringing around the conservation aspects of the island. The author goes into detail about the inspiration behind the story a the end, but it is obvious that there has been research and fact-checking as there is a myriad of little snippets about the wold life, flora and fauna, food, ecology and environment. So many interesting facts add a wonderful additional ingredient.
A wonderful story that readers of contemporary fiction, friendship and family will really enjoy, as I said there is a romantic thread but it is a subtle slower one that really fits in with the feel of the characters. A fabulous read and one I would definitely recommend.
About the Author…
Image and Bio taken from the Author’s Goodreads Page.
Samantha Tonge lives in Manchester UK with her husband and children. She studied German and French at university and has worked abroad, including a stint at Disneyland Paris. She has travelled widely. When not writing she passes her days cycling, baking and drinking coffee. Samantha has sold many dozens of short stories to women’s magazines. She is represented by the Darley Anderson literary agency. In 2013, she landed a publishing deal for romantic comedy fiction with HQDigital at HarperCollins. In 2015 her summer novel, Game of Scones, hit #5 in the UK Kindle chart and won the Love Stories Awards Best Romantic Ebook category. In 2018 Forgive Me Not, heralded a new direction into darker women’s fiction with publisher Canelo and in 2020 her novel Knowing You won the RNA’s Jackie Collins Romantic Thriller Award.
I am delighted to share my review of Killer Instinct by Zoe Sharp. I have had this book in my tbr for a year or more, I had seen some reviews and decided rather than buy the latest book (at the time) I would start at the beginning. I decided it had lingered long enough and this is why this book was one of my picks for #20booksofsummer #readingchallenge
Synopsis…
‘Susie Hollins may have been no great shakes as a karaoke singer, but I didn’t think that was enough reason for anyone to want to kill her.’
Charlie Fox makes a living teaching self-defence to women in a quiet northern English city. It makes best use of the deadly skills she picked up after being kicked out of army Special Forces training for reasons she prefers not to go into. So, when Susie Hollins is found dead hours after she foolishly takes on Charlie at the New Adelphi Club, Charlie knows it’s only a matter of time before the police come calling. What they don’t tell her is that Hollins is the latest victim of a homicidal rapist stalking the local area.
Charlie finds herself drawn closer to the crime when the New Adelphi’s enigmatic owner, Marc Quinn, offers her a job working security at the club. Viewed as an outsider by the existing all-male team, her suspicion that there’s a link between the club and a serial killer doesn’t exactly endear her to anyone. Charlie has always taught her students that it’s better to run than to stand and fight, But, when the killer starts taking a very personal interest, it’s clear he isn’t going to give her that option . . .
This is the first book in the Charlies Fox series by Zoe Sharp. This is also the first time I have read a book by this author and I have to say Charlie is a fabulous character.
Charlie Fox is a no-nonsense woman who teaches self-defence to women. She is confident and comes across as a very sure person. There is a good amount of mystery behind her and some of it has been included in this, story, but I feel there is more her than I have seen so far.
The plot involves Charlie as another body is discovered at a nightclub that she has just been to with her friend and involves an altercation. This is the start of a very twisted road that the author takes not only her main character but also her reader upon.
The further the story progressed the more I got to see of Charlie, what makes her tick, her friendships and there is also a sense of vulnerability that comes with being let down in the past. It makes her a very interesting character that has a sense of loneliness about her at times.
A fabulous first book and one that is intriguing and with a character that I really like the sound of. The plot is a good fast-paced one with Charlie string to join all the dots to discover who is behind the crimes. She is in some ways a one-woman sleuth, but she is no Miss Marple, she is tough, can be dangerous but has a level head on her shoulders. Yeah, a little on the moody side, but then who doesn’t have a moment like that.
AS I mentioned this is the first book and there are quite a few more in this series that I am definitely looking forward to reading. If you like an excellent good fast-paced crime with a strong female lead that has full-throttle action then you really do need to have a look at this series. I would definitely recommend it.
About the Author…
Photo and Bio taken from the Authors Amazon Page
Zoë Sharp opted out of mainstream education at the age of twelve and wrote her first novel at fifteen. (Which, thankfully, still sits in a box in her attic, despite her father’s suggestion that she should sell it on eBay.) She became a freelance photojournalist in 1988 and wrote the first of her highly acclaimed Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Fox crime thrillers after receiving death-threats in the course of her work.
It was at this point she took a keen interest in learning various forms of self-defence. She had also been a competition rifle shooter, both of which skills have come in very handy for her ex-Special Forces turned bodyguard heroine.
“I loved thrillers, but wanted to read about female characters who were just as self-reliant, and just as skilled as the guys. When I couldn’t find any that fitted the bill, I decided I was simply going to have to write my own.”
She has won a Lovey Award for Best Series and been nominated (often more than once) for Edgar, Anthony, Barry, Benjamin Franklin and Macavity Awards in the United States, as well as the CWA Dagger Award. Her work has been used in a Danish school textbook, turned into a short film, and optioned for TV and film.
Zoë is a regular blogger on her own website — http://www.ZoeSharp.com — on the group site MurderIsEverywhere, as well as wittering on Twitter (@AuthorZoeSharp) and fooling about on Facebook (@AuthorZoeSharp).
I am so late in writing this up I have completed the #20booksofsummer challenge and in time as well but somehow the 1st of September came and went very quickly indeed.
So, to recap. This challenge is organised by Cathy at 746books, pick 10/15 or 20 books to be read between 1st June to 1st September. You can swap books, you can change your list. A flexible, fun and no-pressure reading challenge.
I decided that this year I would choose 15 books and then add 5 lucky dip books from my TBR. How did I do…
These books are my original picks…
I read every single one! No swaps!
Now for the 5 lucky dips that I added…
There were no Blog Tour books on my list this year and many were NetGalley books that were overdue being read. I am pleased that I reduced my NetGalley by several books, although I have added a couple or six!!!
Between the period of 1st June – 1st September I have read a total of…
52 books.
17 of these were for Blog Tours.
5 were audio books that I listened.
I am now looking at the figures and I have actually surpassed the 20 books challenge…
All in all a pretty good 3 months worth of reading 🙂
I do still have quite a few reviews for this challenge to post, so keep your eyes peeled over the next week or so.
Many thanks for reading my post, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today for Red Snow by Will Dean. This is another of my many books that have been languishing on my bookcase from when I first bought them, this is why Red Snow was one of the books to make my #20booksofsummer #readingchallenge
Synopsis…
Longlisted for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award, 2020
Red Snow is the eagerly awaited follow-up to Dark Pines, selected for ITV’s Zoe Ball Book Club
TWO BODIES
One suicide. One cold-blooded murder. Are they connected? And who’s really pulling the strings in the small Swedish town of Gavrik?
TWO COINS
Black Grimberg liquorice coins cover the murdered man’s eyes. The hashtag #Ferryman starts to trend as local people stock up on ammunition.
TWO WEEKS
Tuva Moodyson, deaf reporter at the local paper, has a fortnight to investigate the deaths before she starts her new job in the south. A blizzard moves in. Residents, already terrified, feel increasingly cut-off. Tuva must go deep inside the Grimberg factory to stop the killer before she leaves town for good. But who’s to say the Ferryman will let her go?
Purchase links from Amazon UK – Kindle – Paperback – Hardback – Audio (these are affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no cost to you)
My Review…
I read the first book, Dark Pines, quite a while ago and when this second book came out I immediately bought it. Like many of the books I buy, it has gradually lipped down my TBR and is why it was one of the books I chose for my summer reading challenge.
This is the second in the Tuva Moodyson series. Tuva is a journalist in a small out in the middle of nowhere town. She is not the usual main protagonist for a story and I think this is why I like her character so much. She has been death since childhood, is bisexual and has been living in the Swedish town of Gavrik. A town she is due to leave after a job offer to bigger and better things. This is a result of her last big story.
Red Snow has a slow style to it as Tuva is looking for leads on the suicide of a local businessman. The leg work of getting people to reveal what they know in a tight-knit community is hard. SHe gets snippets from local law enforcement but the majority of what she learns takes its time.
The author has such a wonderful way of describing the setting in the bitterly cold town. There are so many little things that are mentioned as a standard way of life that I was not aware of. I think this sort of knowledge is only gained from living in the area. I liked the picture that was built up over the book of an area that is bleak, cold but also has some stunning areas.
The plot is very captivating, there are hints of things from the past that added an extra level to the overall atmospheric feel. I was so impatient to discover more and this kept me eagerly turning the pages. This was increased with the secrecy of the three generations of women in the family, secretive, evasive and reluctant to talk to Tuva initially and then gradually opening up.
This is a book that you savour as you read. A book this length I would normally read quite quickly, but I took my time, it isn’t a book I wanted to rush through and it makes for wonderful reading. A mystery that is intriguing, has just enough twists and has a lot of details. It is one for crime and mystery fans and I would definitely recommend it.
About the Author…
Will Dean grew up in the East Midlands, living in nine different villages before the age of eighteen. He was a bookish, daydreaming kid who found comfort in stories and nature (and he still does). After studying Law at the LSE, and working in London, he settled in rural Sweden. He built a wooden house in a boggy clearing at the centre of a vast elk forest, and it’s from this base that he compulsively reads and writes. He is the author of Dark Pines.
Many thanks for reading my post,a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
I am delighted to share my review today for The Chestnut Man by Søren Sveistrup, this is a book I bought when it was first released and another that has gradually slipped down the TBR. This is why it was one of the books I chose to go on my #20booksofsummer #readingchallenge list and it is book 13 of 20.
So, what is it about…
Synopsis…
THE CHILLING DEBUT NOVEL FROM THE CREATOR AND WRITER OF HIT TV SHOW THE KILLING
As the leaves fall, he’s coming for you. . .
One October morning in a quiet suburb, the police make a terrible discovery.
A young woman is found brutally murdered with one of her hands missing.
Above her hangs a small doll made of chestnuts.
Examining the doll, Forensics are shocked to find a fingerprint belonging to a young girl, kidnapped and murdered a year ago.
Can a new killer be the key to an old crime?
And will his spree be over when winter arrives – or is he only just getting started?
Purchase links from Amazon UK – Kindle – Paperback – Hardback – Audio (these are affiliate links) some of the covers are different, but I have used the image from the hardback as this is the copy I have.
My Review…
Wow!!!!! Where exactly do I start with my review for this outstanding book? I mean when I finished it, it left me in “book hangover mode”
I bought my copy of this book when it was released and I had all intentions of reading it then, but it gradually slipped further down my TBR as other books took priority. I know this is something that many readers will get!
So, the book!!!!! It is absolutely blooming fantastic from start to finish. The characters are a real interesting bunch and there were a couple I definitely warmed too, others definitely not so much. They have varied personalities and traits and I have to say I really did like Hess. He is damaged goods and has been sent back to Copenhagen under a little bit of a shadow. Even though I didn’t know exactly what had happened in his past until further into the book I was aware of a solitary, broken man who buried himself in work.
Hess is teamed up with Thulin, she is waiting until she can move to the new cybercrime unit. It is something that will give her a chance to have more regular hours and so she spends more time with her daughter. Thulin is another character I really liked which is really odd because she isn’t someone I would necessarily warm to in real life. Both Hess and Thulin rile each other but they also see that each other knows their job and so respect is gradually built up.
Now the plot, well where to begin with that!!!!! It is a plot that I had no idea who had done it! The author creatively led me through the investigation, the body count started to rise and I was never anywhere close to guessing the culprit. Yes, I did have a couple of suspicions but I was way off the mark.
I loved the way he set the scenes, and the details are something I really got on with in this book. Some may find this a bit of a drag but for me, it just added to the story. There was at times a remoteness to the setting and this was sort of mirrored int he characters as well as the plot. It felt like everyone was alone, or working by themselves and this gave it more of a scandi noir feel.
The crime is dark and definitely on the disturbing side. It has a macabre side to it and by the time all is revealed, there was a little bit of me that could understand the why, only a little bit mind you! A cracking ending that left me stunned.
This is a book I read over several sittings, it was like I had to stop and digest chunks of it before I could pick it up and carry on again. I still read it over a couple of days as I could feel it nagging me to carry on reading again.
An excellent read and one that crime, thriller, murder readers who like their fiction on the dark and disturbing side will most likely really enjoy. I know I did and I would definitely recommend it.
Many thanks for reading my post,a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx
Yvonne - Me and My Books 