Book Synopsis:

Have you ever wondered how normal you are? 
What if you were perfectly average? 
More than anyone else. 

For Emily – it’s true. When she watches a documentary on the average human she sees her life. Her job, her hair, her favourite food. All of her – plainly, horrifically average. Even her blood group. Right there and then, she decides she wants more. 

She’ll travel the world (i.e. venture out of her hometown)

She’ll become a vegan (it’s interesting to hate cheese, right?) 

She’ll do something daring (As long as it’s safety tested) 

Nothing will stand in the way of Emily living her best life. Not even Josh and his dimples. Because she absolutely can’t fall in love… that would be too ordinary. 

And from now on, Emily is going to be extraordinary.

My Review:

Oh my goodness I absolutely adored this book! It was so incredibly moreish and just so hilarious that I’ve had a huge book hangover since reading it.

Firstly I loved Emily, the main character, and wished that I knew her in real life. She’s such a warm, caring person that it was impossible not to like her. Her slight awkwardness made her very endearing and, while this often lead to some hilarious moments (who can forget the chimney sweep wink), it also made me wish I could jump into the book to give her a hug. It was great to follow her journey throughout the book as she tries to discover her true self.

The book is told from two points of view, one set in the present day following Emily on her quest and the other flashing back to 1999. It was interesting, though emotional at times, to read the flashbacks and discover the big event that had shaped Emily’s life. It soon becomes obvious why Emily is embarking on her journey and this made me even more protective of her. I had to keep reading to find out how everything ends for her.

I thought this book was very fast paced and there always seemed to me something happening to keep my interest. It was great fun to follow Emily throughout the book and on her, sometimes mad, attempts to be extraordinary. Her budding relationship with the lovely Josh was wonderful to read about and it was great to see them becoming closer. There are some very funny moments in the book that had me laughing out loud, much to my daughter’s amusement and ones that have continued to make me laugh long after reading. The ending was brilliant and I closed the book very sad to leave the fabulous characters behind. I’m really hoping there will be a sequel as I’d love to read more of Emily, Josh and the whole gang.

About The Author:

Rebecca Ryan lives in Bradford with her husband and three young children. Although she alwaysloved writing, it hadn’t really occurred to her thatshe could do it professionally. She currently splitsher time between writing and working as a historyteacher at a large comprehensive school. She enjoys walking in the countryside and takeaways(if that counts as a hobby), which it probably doesn’t.

Eek it finally arrived and it’s so pretty! I absolutely love this book, the cover is beautiful and the spredges 🥰. I haven’t put it properly on the book shelf yet as I keep wanting to look at it.

What’s your favourite witchy read?

Book Synopsis:

KATE, 2019
Kate flees London – abandoning everything – for Cumbria and Weyward Cottage, inherited from her great-aunt. There, a secret lurks in the bones of the house, hidden ever since the witch-hunts of the 17th century.

VIOLET, 1942
Violet is more interested in collecting insects and climbing trees than in becoming a proper young lady. Until a chain of shocking events changes her life forever.

ALTHA, 1619
Altha is on trial for witchcraft, accused of killing a local man. Known for her uncanny connection with nature and animals, she is a threat that must be eliminated.

But Weyward women belong to the wild. And they cannot be tamed…

Weaving together the stories of three women across five centuries, Weyward is an enthralling novel of female resilience and the transformative power of the natural world.

About The Author:

Emilia Hart is a British-Australian writer. She was born in Sydney and studied English Literature and Law at the University of New South Wales before working as a lawyer in Sydney and London. Emilia is a graduate of Curtis Brown Creative’s Three Month Online Novel Writing Course and was Highly Commended in the 2021 Caledonia Novel Award. Her short fiction has been published in Australia and the UK. She lives in London. You can follow Emilia on Twitter at @EmiliaHartBooks.

Good morning everyone I thought I’d post a little reading update today. I’m really enjoying my two current reads The Exiles and The Elopement, they’re from two of my favourite authors so I knew I’d love them. I’m hoping to read What July Knew next which I’m excited about as I’ve heard lots of great things – though a bit worried it will be too sad.

What are you currently reading?

Last: Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni

From new best friend to girl of her dreams . . .

When Nar’s boyfriend gets down on one knee and proposes to her a San Francisco bar, she realises it’s time to find someone who shares her idea of romance.

Enter her mother who wants Nar to settle down with a nice Armenian boy. Armed with a spreadsheet of Facebook-stalked men, she convinces Nar to attend ‘Explore Armenia’, a month-long festival of events in the city. But it’s not the parentally-approved playboy doctor or wealthy engineer who catches her eye – it’s Erebuni, a cool and intriguing young woman fully intouch with her heritage. Suddenly, with Erebuni as her guide, the events feel like far less of a chore, and much more of an adventure.

Erebuni helps Nar see the beauty of their shared culture and makes her feel understood in a way she never has before. But there’s one teeny problem: Nar’s not exactly out as bisexual.

A funny, heartfelt and deeply relatable rom com about family, cultural identity, queer love, and the process of self-discovery that continues into adulthood as identities evolve, all in a fresh, humorous voice.

Now: The Exiles by Jane Harper

Critically acclaimed international bestseller Jane Harper returns.

A mother disappears from a busy festival on a warm spring night.

Her baby lies alone in the pram, her mother’s possessions surrounding her, waiting for a return which never comes.

A year later, Kim Gillespie’s absence still casts a long shadow as her friends and loved ones gather to welcome a new addition to the family.

Joining the celebrations on a rare break from work is federal investigator Aaron Falk, who begins to suspect that all is not as it seems.

As he looks into Kim’s case, long-held secrets and resentments begin to come to the fore, secrets that show that her community is not as close as it appears.

Falk will have to tread carefully if he is to expose the dark fractures at its heart, but sometimes it takes an outsider to get to the truth. . .

An outstanding novel, a brilliant mystery and a heart-pounding read from the author of The Dry, Force of Nature, The Lost Man and The Survivors.

Now: The Elopement by Tracy Rees

Tracy Rees’s latest novel The Elopement is an elaborately imagined historical novel full of delight and temptation, spanning the luxury and poverty of late Victorian England.

A wealthy heiress . . .
1897. Rowena Blythe is wealthy, entitled and beautiful. As her twenty-fourth birthday approaches, she’s expected to marry – and to marry well.

An unsuitable match . . .
Her parents commission a portrait of Rowena to help cement her reputation as a great society beauty. However, Bartek, the artist’s young assistant, is unlike any man Rowena has met before – wild, romantic and Bohemian. While society at large awaits the announcement of Rowena’s engagement, it is Bartek who captures Rowena’s heart along with her likeness.

A scandal in society . . .
Rowena knows her parents would never approve of Bartek, who in their eyes is nothing but a penniless foreigner. As her feelings grow, she has no-one to turn to. Dare she risk everything for love?

Next: What Emily Knew by Emily Koch

JULY KNOWS 18 THINGS ABOUT HER MOTHER. BUT HER DEATH REMAINS A MYSTERY.

Like number thirteen: she loved dancing on the kitchen table. And number eight: she was covered in freckles.

And then there’s number two: she died after being hit by a car when July was small.

She keeps this list hidden in a drawer away from her father. Because they’re not allowed to talk about her mother. Ever.

But an anonymous note slipped into July’s bag on her tenth birthday is about to change everything she thinks she knows about her mum.

Determined to discover what really happened to her, July begins to investigate, cycling around the neighbourhood where her family used to live. There she meets someone who might finally have the answers.

July wants her family to stop lying to her, but will the truth be harder to face?

📚Pink Stack For Valentine Day!

Good morning everyone and Happy Valentine Day. I thought I’d share a pink stack of books today to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Interestingly I didn’t have many pink romance books so this pile is a mixture of genres.

My husband and I aren’t doing anything today, I’m throwing a little party for the kids later and we’re planning on going out at the weekend instead.

The little note attached to my vase is something my eldest did at school. They wrote positive notes that they were meant to put on trees outside but he didn’t want them getting lost so I promised I’d use them in a picture so people could see them.

Who’s your favourite romance author?

Book Synopsis:

From new best friend to girl of her dreams . . .

When Nar’s boyfriend gets down on one knee and proposes to her a San Francisco bar, she realises it’s time to find someone who shares her idea of romance.

Enter her mother who wants Nar to settle down with a nice Armenian boy. Armed with a spreadsheet of Facebook-stalked men, she convinces Nar to attend ‘Explore Armenia’, a month-long festival of events in the city. But it’s not the parentally-approved playboy doctor or wealthy engineer who catches her eye – it’s Erebuni, a cool and intriguing young woman fully intouch with her heritage. Suddenly, with Erebuni as her guide, the events feel like far less of a chore, and much more of an adventure.

Erebuni helps Nar see the beauty of their shared culture and makes her feel understood in a way she never has before. But there’s one teeny problem: Nar’s not exactly out as bisexual.

A funny, heartfelt and deeply relatable rom com about family, cultural identity, queer love, and the process of self-discovery that continues into adulthood as identities evolve, all in a fresh, humorous voice.

My Review:

Sorry Bro is an original, funny book about self discovery.

Firstly I absolutely loved the main character, Nar, and enjoyed following her throughout the book. She’s such a warm hearted, loving girl that I warmed to her quickly and was firmly on her side. She has such confidence in herself in some areas of her life, like her work, but was slightly insecure in knowing about what she wants in her personal life which I felt was very realistic. It was great to be able to watch her learn more about herself and grow in confidence in this regard as she finds out more about herself.

I’m sorry to say that I knew nothing about Armenian culture before reading this book so I really enjoyed learning more about their festivals and culture as I read. The reader learns this alongside Nar as she’s trying to find out about her heritage which I thought was very clever. I loved how proud Nar becomes of her culture and how it becomes a big part of her life.

This book had a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. There are some brilliant, vivid descriptions that helped bring the story to life and some hilariously funny moments that had me laughing out loud. The ending was brilliant and showed how far Nar had come. This is the author’s debut novel and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Huge thanks to Chloe from Pan Macmillan for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Taleen Voskuni is an Armenian-American writer who grew up in the Bay Area diaspora surrounded by a rich Armenian community and her ebullient family. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in English and currently lives in San Francisco, working in tech. Other than a newfound obsession with writing romcoms, she spends her free time cultivating her kids, her garden, and her dark chocolate addiction. Sorry, Bro is her first published novel.

Eek it’s finally here I’ve been so excited for this to arrive. I’m a huge fan of Harper Voyager’s books so when I heard they were starting a subscription box featuring special editions I knew I had to treat myself. I really enjoyed this author’s previous books so I’m excited to read this!

As you can see it’s such a beautiful book! I love that cover and those spredges are perfect. It sounds so good too, just up my street.

What’s your favourite special edition that you own?

Book Synopsis:

From the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling historical fantasy author of THE SHADOW IN THE GLASS comes a tour-de-force of faerie bargains, perfect for fans of THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LA RUE, MEXICAN GOTHIC, and TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY

A dance with the fae will change everything

1919. In a Highland village forgotten by the world, the young people who remain after war and flu will soon head south to make something of themselves.

Moira Jean and her friends venture to the forest for a last night
of laughter before parting ways. Moira Jean is being left behind. She too planned to leave once – but her lover died in France and, with him, her future. The friends light a fire and dance. But, with every twirl about the flames, strange new dancers thread between them, music streaming from the trees.

The Fae have joined the dance.

Suddenly Moira Jean finds herself all alone, her friends spirited away.

For the Fae feel left behind and forgotten too. Led by the darkly handsome Lord of the Fae, they are out to make themselves known once more. Moira Jean must enter into a bargain with the Lord to save her friends – and fast, for the longer they spend with the Fae, the less like themselves they will be upon return. If Moira Jean cannot save her friends before Beltane, they will be lost forever…

Bewitching, threaded with Highland charm, and sparkling with romance, this fairy tale will carry you away.

About The Author:

JJA Harwood is an author, editor and blogger. She grew up in Norfolk, read History at the University of Warwick and eventually found her way to London, which is still something of a shock for somebody used to so many fields.

When not writing, she can be found learning languages, cooking with more enthusiasm than skill, wandering off into clearly haunted houses and making friends with stray cats. THE SHADOW IN THE GLASS was her debut novel.

Book Synopsis:

Berry Chambers and her co-workers have joined the Women’s Timber Corps—known as the Lumberjills—to do their bit for Britain. On their first day felling trees, they rescue an RAF pilot and become entangled in the loveless marriage of her new landlords.

Danger is never far away, be it an ill-timed axe swing or the occasional activity of the Luftwaffe overhead. Add a psychotic farm cat, a couple of young runaway evacuees, a spate of malicious packages, and the jealousy of the Land Girls next door, and life for Berry and her friends is never boring.

Can the girls find the balance between their vital war work and the natural pull of love?

My Review:

The Lumberjills is a fun, absorbing read that I really enjoyed.

Firstly I always love finding out new stuff about the second world war, so loved discovering more about the fabulous Lumberjills. I absolutely loved the tight knit group and kept wishing I could be one of them too (only for the friendship though I’d suck at the hard work side). Life as a Lumberjill was obviously hard work and I admired the girls for taking it on. It was a job full of danger, not just from the trees as I expected though, and this helped add to the tension in the book as I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next.

This book had a bit of everything in it and it was great to follow the girls throughout the book. I liked that there were fun moments in amongst the hard work as I felt this helped the reader really get to know the characters and what makes them tick. It was lovely to see the girls relationships grow and see them tackle everything together from work problems to new romances. I thought this book was very absorbing and there always seemed to be something happening to keep my interest. Even in the slower bits I was happy just to hang out with the girls.

This is the first book in a promising new series and I can’t wait to read more soon.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

M W Arnold lives near Northampton, UK and is known to his family and friends as, Mick. He was in the Royal Air Force for 16 years, visiting many different countries and very much enjoying himself; thank you, Queen Elizabeth II. He began writing as these characters needed their own voices. For a few years now, he’s been a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, a wonderful group of writers who’ve welcomed this bloke into their fold with open arms. He’s active on Twitter and Instagram as @mick859.

Good morning everyone I wanted to do a book Spotlight today for this gorgeous special edition I got last month. I love everything about this book, the gorgeous front cover, the end pages and of course the wonderful spredges (might have mentioned I gave a thing from spredges already 🤣).

Have you read this book?

Book Synopsis:

Ann Stilwell arrives in New York City, hoping to spend her summer working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Instead, she is assigned to The Cloisters, a gothic museum and garden renowned for its medieval and Renaissance collections.

There she is drawn into a small circle of charismatic but enigmatic researchers, each with their own secrets and desires, including the museum’s curator, Patrick Roland, who is convinced that the history of Tarot holds the key to unlocking contemporary fortune telling.

Relieved to have left her troubled past behind and eager for the approval of her new colleagues, Ann is only too happy to indulge some of Patrick’s more outlandish theories. But when Ann discovers a mysterious, once-thought lost deck of 15th-century Italian tarot cards she suddenly finds herself at the centre of a dangerous game of power, toxic friendship and ambition.

And as the game being played within the Cloisters spirals out of control, Ann must decide whether she is truly able to defy the cards and shape her own future . . .

Bringing together the modern and the arcane, The Cloisters is a rich, thrillingly-told tale of obsession and the ruthless pursuit of power.

About The Author:

Katy Hays is a writer and adjunct Art History professor in California, where she teaches rural students from Truckee to Tecopa. She holds an MA in Art History from Williams College and pursued her PhD at UC Berkeley. Having worked in curatorial and research roles at major art institutions, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and The Clark Art Institute, Katy brings an insider’s knowledge of the workings of museums and galleries as well as in-depth research into the fascinating history of fortune-telling to The Cloisters, her first novel. She lives with her husband and dog, Queso, in Olympic Valley.

Book Synopsis:

A SHOCKING DISAPPEARANCE

A four-year-old girl goes missing in plain sight outside her nursery in Oxford, a middle-class, affluent area,
her mother only a stones-throw away.

A TRIGGERING RESPONSE

Ryan Wilkins, one of the youngest ever Detective Inspectors in the Thames Valley force, dishonourably discharged three months ago, watches his former partner DI Ray Wilkins deliver a press conference, confirming a lead.

A DARK WEB

Ray begins to delve deeper, unearthing an underground network of criminal forces in the local area. But while Ray’s investigation stalls Ryan brings his unique talents to unofficial and quite illegal inquiries which will bring him into a confrontation with the very officials who have thrown him out of the force.

My Review:

The Broken Afternoon is a gripping, tension filled crime book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Firstly the thing I most enjoyed about this book were the fabulous characters the author has created. I really liked getting to know the dynamic duo of Ray and Ryan throughout the book. The differences between the two are very striking with Ray being privately educated, well dressed, while Ryan is from more of a deprived background with little education. I liked despite these differences the two were able to help and support each other, each bringing different things to the investigation. My favourite character had to be Ryan’s little boy who made me smile throughout the book with his adorable antics and his attempts to correct his dad’s language. It was heartwarming to see the relationship between the two Ryan’s and see the more caring side of the older Ryan.

I thought this book was really well written and there always seemed to be something happening to keep my attention. The plot covers a few gritty, emotional subjects which I thought was handled sensitively though were quite emotional to read about. I loved the Oxford setting and how the author highlighted the poorer areas of the city as well as the richer, tourist areas.

The tension in the book slowly increases as the story goes on with the many twists and red herrings keeping me guessing. I liked how realistic the investigation seemed with the investigation not always going to plan and the evidence being found in a realistic way. This is the second book in the series but I feel it could be read as a standalone as anything you need to know is explained. I can’t wait to read more from this fabulous series!

Huge thanks to Ana from Quercus for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Simon Mason has pursued parallel careers as a publisher and an author, whose YA crime novels Running Girl, Kid Got Shot and Hey, Sherlock! feature the sixteen-year-old slacker genius Garvie Smith. A former Managing Director of David Fickling Books, where he worked with many wonderful writers, including Philip Pullman, he has also taught at Oxford Brookes University and is currently a Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Exeter College, Oxford.

At first he wrote books for adults, then books for children, which grew up at roughly the same rate his own children grew up, and now he is back writing books for adults again. He has written a work of non-fiction, The Rough Guide to Classic Novels. His novels have been shortlisted for a number of awards, including the Branford Boase Prize for Best First Children’s Novel, the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Costa Prize for Best Children’s Book, and have won the Betty Trask for Best First Novel and the Crimefest Prize for Best YA Crime Novel.

Good morning everyone and happy Tuesday! For today’s Two For Tuesday I thought I’d show you the two books I’m currently reading.

I tend to read one physical book and one kindle book at a time. The physical book stays in the house and my kindle accompanies me to bed as I don’t sleep well or to my work for snatched moments on my lunch break. Both of these books are ones I’ve heard lots of good things about so I’m excited to finally be reading them.

What are you currently reading?

Mrs Van Gogh by Caroline Cauchi

In 1890, Vincent Van Gogh dies penniless, unknown, a man tortured by his own mind.

Eleven years later his work is exhibited in Paris and his unparalleled talent finally recognised. The tireless efforts of one woman gave the world one of its greatest creative minds.

But twenty-eight year old Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent’s sister-in-law and the keeper of his immense collection of paintings, sketches and letters, has, until now, been written out of history. This beautiful, moving novel finally gives this extraordinary woman a voice…

My (Extra) Ordinary Life by Rebecca Ryan

Have you ever wondered how normal you are? 
What if you were perfectly average? 
More than anyone else. 

For Emily – it’s true. When she watches a documentary on the average human she sees her life. Her job, her hair, her favourite food. All of her – plainly, horrifically average. Even her blood group. Right there and then, she decides she wants more. 

She’ll travel the world (i.e. venture out of her hometown)

She’ll become a vegan (it’s interesting to hate cheese, right?) 

She’ll do something daring (As long as it’s safety tested) 

Nothing will stand in the way of Emily living her best life. Not even Josh and his dimples. Because she absolutely can’t fall in love… that would be too ordinary. 

And from now on, Emily is going to be extraordinary.