Good morning everyone today on Two For Tuesday I’m featuring two books by one of my favourite gothic writers C. J. Cooke.

I absolutely loved The Ghost Wood when I read it last year so I was very excited to see that she had a new book coming out. The Haunting In The Arctic sounds like a perfect book for me as not only is it meant to be a bit creepy,it’s also set in the Arctic which is one of my favourite settings for a book as it’s so unpredictable.

I’m hoping to read The Haunting In The Arctic next and I’m really looking forward to it.

What’s your favourite spooky/ gothic read?

A Haunting In The Arctic

Something has walked the floors of the Ormen for over a century.

Something that craves revenge…

1901. On board the Ormen, a whaling ship battling through the unforgiving North Sea, Nicky Duthie awakes. Attacked and dragged there against her will, it’s just her and the crew – and they’re all owed something only she can give them.

1973. Decades later, when the ship is found still drifting across the ocean, it’s deserted. Just one body is left on board, his face and feet mutilated, his cabin locked from the inside. Everyone else has vanished.

Now, as urban explorer Dominique travels into the near-permanent darkness of the northernmost tip of Iceland, to the final resting place of the Ormen’s wreck, she’s determined to uncover the ship’s secrets.

But she’s not alone. Something is here with her. And it’s seeking revenge…

The Ghost Woods

In the midst of the woods stands a house called Lichen Hall.

This place is shrouded in folklore – old stories of ghosts, of witches, of a child who is not quite a child.

Now the woods are creeping closer, and something has been unleashed.

Pearl Gorham arrives in 1965, one of a string of young women sent to Lichen Hall to give birth. And she soon suspects the proprietors are hiding something.

Then she meets the mysterious mother and young boy who live in the grounds – and together they begin to unpick the secrets of this place.

As the truth comes to the surface and the darkness moves in, Pearl must rethink everything she knew – and risk what she holds most dear.

About The Author:

C J Cooke (Carolyn Jess-Cooke) lives in Glasgow with her husband and four children. C J Cooke’s works have been published in 23 languages and have won many awards. She holds a PhD in Literature from the Queen’s University of Belfast and is currently Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, where she researches creative writing interventions for mental health. Two of her books are currently optioned for film. Visit http://www.cjcookeauthor.com

Book Synopsis:

One was raised to rule. One was trained to die. Welcome to the Chronicles of Castellane.

In the vibrant city-state of Castellane, a young orphan named Kel is stolen from his old life to enter a new one of luxury and peril. He’s to become Prince Conor Aurelian’s body-double, shielding the Prince from all dangers. As his ‘Sword Catcher,’ he and Conor become close as brothers – yet Kel lives for one purpose: to die for Conor.

Lin Caster is an Ashkar physician, part of a community ostracised for its rare magical abilities. But events pull her and Kel together and into the web of the mysterious Ragpicker King who rules Castellane’s criminal underworld.

Together, they’ll discover an extraordinary conspiracy. But can forbidden love bring down a kingdom? And will their discoveries plunge their nation into war and the world into chaos?

Lose yourself in a vibrant world of power, intrigue and magic in this spellbinding epic from an internationally bestselling sensation.

My Review:

The Sword Catcher is a gripping, immersive and hugely enjoyable read. It’s the first book in what promises to be a fantastic fantasy series.

Firstly the author has created a fascinating world in this book and I enjoyed exploring it alongside the characters. It’s a world that seems set somewhere in the past with an interesting class system and harsh punishments to anyone caught breaking the rules. The reader learns a little bit about the country’s complicated history as the book goes on, finding out more about who the country’s enemies are and an event which made most of the magic disappear from the world.

My favourite character in this book was Kel who I felt had a difficult job trying to protect the prince while not really fitting in his world. His relationship with Connor was wonderful to read about and I loved reading about how close the two where. Despite their positions they are like brothers and obviously care a great deal for each other. Lin was another fascinating character and I loved how strong minded and clever she was in a world which didn’t appreciate this trait in women. The daily injustices she faces because of her genre made my blood boil and I found I was completely behind her, wanting her to succeed.

The book does start off a bit slowly as the author sets the scene but soon becomes very gripping indeed. The story is told from Lin and Kel’s point of view which was really interesting and I enjoyed following both character’s equally. The plot was quite fast paced at times and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me interested. Even in the slightly slower moments I was just happy hanging out with the characters. There were a few twists that took me by surprise and I loved the ending which points to a very intriguing sequel which I can’t wait to read.

Huge thanks to Tandem Collective for inviting me onto the read-along and the publisher for my copy of this book. If you are looking for a brilliant new fantasy series I highly recommend this book.

About The Author:

Cassandra Clare is the author of the #1 New York Times, USA TODAY, Wall Street Journal, and Publishers Weekly bestselling Mortal Instruments series and the Infernal Devices trilogy, and coauthor of the Bane Chronicles with Sarah Rees Brennan and Maureen Johnson. She also wrote The Shadowhunter’s Codex with her husband, Joshua Lewis. Her books have more than 36 million copies in print worldwide and have been translated into more than thirty-five languages. Cassandra lives in western Massachusetts. Visit her at CassandraClare.com. Learn more about the world of the Shadowhunters at Shadowhunters.com.

Good evening everyone.  I’m a huge fan of this author so you can imagine my excitement when she offered to send me a copy of her new book The London Bookshop Affair.  It sounds brilliant, not only is it set in a bookshop which I love but it’s set in the cold war which is one of my favourite eras.

Huge thanks to the lovely @louisefeinauthor and @harper360uk for my copy of this book.

Out February 2024.

Book Synopsis:

Two courageous women. One astonishing secret. A world on the brink of war.

London, 1962: The world is teetering on the brink of nuclear war but life must go on. Celia Duchesne longs for a career, but with no means or qualifications, passes her time working at a dusty bookshop. The day a handsome American enters the shop, she thinks she might have found her way out of the monotony. Just as the excitement of a budding relationship engulfs her, a devastating secret draws her into the murky world of espionage.

France, 1942: Nineteen-year-old Anya Moreau was dropped behind enemy lines to aid the resistance, sending messages back home to London via wireless transmitter. When she was cruelly betrayed, evidence of her legacy and the truth of her actions were buried by wartime injustices.

As Celia learns more about Anya—and her unexpected connection to the undercover agent—she becomes increasingly aware of furious efforts, both past and present, to protect state secrets. With her newly formed romance taking a surprising turn and the world on the verge of nuclear annihilation, Celia must risk everything she holds dear, in the name of justice.

Propulsive and illuminating, The London Bookshop Affair is a gripping story of secrets and love, inspired by true events and figures of the Cold War.

About The Author:

Louise writes historical fiction, focusing on unheard voices or from unusual perspectives. Her debut novel, Daughter of the Reich (entitled People Like Us in the UK edition) was published in 2020 into 13 territories and is set in 1930’s Leipzig. The book was shortlisted for the RSL Christopher Bland Prize 2021 and the RNA Historical Novel of the Year Award, 2021. Louise’s second novel, The Hidden Child, was published in 2021 and is centered around the eugenics movement in 1920’s England and America. It was a Globe & Mail bestseller in Canada. Her third novel, The London Bookshop Affair, about one woman’s journey to uncover secrets of her past, set against a backdrop of espionage and looming nuclear war in 1962 London, will be published in January 2024.

Louise, previously a lawyer and banker, holds an MA in Creative Writing from St Mary’s University and now writes full time. Equally passionate about historical research and writing, she loves to look for themes which have resonance with today’s world. Louise lives in the Surrey countryside, UK, with her family, and is a slave to the daily demands of her pets.

Good morning everyone and happy Sunday. Here’s some of the fabulous books I’ve been sent this week:

❤️The Tempest Of Tea by Hafsah Faizal *
🧡The Royal Windsor Secret by Christine Wells
💛Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook *
💚The Night In Question by Susan Fletcher
💙The London Bookshop Affair by Louise Fein
🩵The Giant On The Skyline by Clover Stroud
💜The Wedding Of The Year by Jill Mansell
🩷The Lost Supper by Taras Grescoe
🤎Joe Nuthin’s Guide To Life by Helen Fisher
🩶The Four by Ellie Keel
🤍The Cat Who Solved Three Murders by L. T Shearer

It’s been a bit of a bumper book post week! Most of these are for blog tours, some were kindly sent to me by authors and the starred books were from work.

Huge thanks to all the tagged publishers for sending these to me, I can honestly say I’m so excited to read all of them.

Book spotlights coming soon!

What book would you read first?

Good morning everyone. It’s finally the weekend, this week seems to have gone so slowly.

I thought I’d do a little reading update today as I haven’t done one for a little bit.

Last: The Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare

At the time of writing this I’ve actually got a few more pages to read but I’m so close that I’m counting it as finished. I’ve really enjoyed this first book in what promises to be an epic new fantasy series. Full review coming soon but I really recommend this book.

Now: A Demon’s Guide To Fake Dating A Demon by Sarah Hawley

I wanted an easier read after The Sword Catcher and this has just been perfect. I’d heard a lot about it do I was very intrigued and I’m really enjoying it so far. It’s really funny and I love the characters in it. I’ve already preorded the next book in the series which is always a sign of a great book.

King Of Greed by Ana Huang

I’ve enjoyed previous books by this author so I’m excited to read this book. It’s book three of the series which I didn’t realise but it can apparently be read as a standalone. I love the cover, especially the crown in the corner showing what book it is.

Next: The Other Lives Of Miss Emily White by A. J Elwood

I’m reading this for the historical fiction book club I’m part of. It sounds great and perfect for October as it sounds a bit creepy.

What are you currently reading?

Good morning everyone and happy Friday. I was very excited to receive a copy of this book recently. I’ve heard some amazing things about this author so I can’t wait to read this book soon.

Huge thanks to Joe Thomas and Headline for sending me a copy of this.

You can find out more about the book below.

Out 18th January 2024.

Book Synopsis:

2002

Danny arrives at Manchester University determined not to hide from the world any longer. This is the year his life will begin.

He locks eyes with a handsome stranger across the hall at the Fresher’s Fair. It starts with a wink and soon Danny and Guy are best friends.

2022

Now, both single for the first time in years, Danny and Guy return to the confetti-covered streets of the Gay Village for Manchester Pride.

After years of shared adventures and lost dreams, Danny finally plans to share the secret he has been keeping for two decades. He has always been in love with Guy.

Could this weekend be the end of a twenty-year friendship . . . or the start of something new and even more beautiful?

About The Author:

Matt Cain was born and brought up in the North West of England. He spent ten years making arts and entertainment programmes for ITV before stepping in front of the camera in 2010 to become Channel 4 News’ first ever Culture Editor. Now a full-time writer, his first novel Shot Through the Heart was published by Pan Macmillan in April 2014. It was followed by his second, Nothing But Trouble, in July 2015. He lives in London, where he’s currently working on the third….

Book Synopsis:

A haunted hotel. A skeptical photographer. A deadly curse that could cost her everything.

Wren Mabry’s life is a disaster. Her last few years have been rife with tragedy and hardship. So when she’s offered a job at Moonseed Manor, a Gothic revival mansion that’s never welcomed visitors, it seems suspicious. Even so, this is her chance to finally turn her life around.

The gloom that hangs over Moonseed Manor is enhanced by its cold yet alluring owner, Mr. William Courtland Bennings. And the spooky tales of the flirtatious and sexy caretaker, Watt, play up that feeling.

Even though Wren doesn’t believe in ghosts or curses, she’s always had a flair for the darker side. And when she finds a handwritten book of poetry filled with longing, terror, and ghostly revenge, it reawakens her very soul—or rather the unknown poet does.

Love, death, secrets, and lies await in this gothic romance.

My Review:

The Curse Of Moonseed Manor is a captivating, atmosphere gothic romance which will be perfect for reading this spooky season.

Firstly I loved the setting in this book which was perfect for a ghost hunt. The author does a great job of describing the atmospheric manor so I felt like I was actually there exploring everything alongside the characters- though at times I was very glad I wasn’t. The house seemed to have a life of its own sometimes which I always loved and I found it really interesting getting to know a bit of its history as the story develops.

I loved the main character Wren who seemed like such a strong, relatable lady. It was interesting to learn more about her and to learn how she was trying to overcome things in her past . Her determination to solve this case was admirable and meant that I warmed to her quickly. The fact that she was a sceptic about all things supernatural helped add an intriguing element to the story and helped me feel safer in her company as I was sure she would solve the case. The inclusion of the mysterious Bennings and the sexy Watt was also very intriguing as I was very suspicious about what the two might be up to.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author. I thought the book had a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. The tension slowly grows as the story continues and we learn more about the mysterious manor. There were some quite scary moments at times but I felt these were evened out by other things so the book isn’t just a scary read. The ending was good and I liked how the different parts of the story came together, giving the reader all the answers they craved.

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:

D. Lieber has a wanderlust that would make a butterfly envious. When she isn’t planning her next physical adventure, she’s recklessly jumping from one fictional world to another. Her love of reading led her to earn a Bachelor’s in English from Wright State University.

Beyond her skeptic and slightly pessimistic mind, Lieber wants to believe. She has been many places—from Canada to England, France to Italy, Germany to Russia—believing that a better world comes from putting a face on “other.” She is a romantic idealist at heart, always fighting to keep her feet on the ground and her head in the clouds.

Lieber lives in Wisconsin with her husband (John) and cats (Yin and Nox).

Book Synopsis:

When Jeanie’s aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job.

Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor’s gossip at all costs. But Jeanie’s arrival disrupts Logan’s routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her.

Will Jeanie’s happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan, or has this city girl found the one person in town who won’t fall for her charm, or her pumpkin spice lattes…

The Pumpkin Spice Cafe is a cozy romantic mystery for fans of Gilmore Girls, with a grumpy x sunshine dynamic, a small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!

My Review:

I loved this book which is just perfect for cosying up with this autumn.

Firstly I absolutely loved the setting and would love to move to Dream Harbour straight away. The town sounds absolutely lovely and I enjoyed exploring it throughout the book. The author does a great job of describing the scene so I felt like I was actually there experiencing everything alongside the characters. I’d love to be able to stroll around the town, visit the bookstore, get a latte from the cafe and visit the wonderful sounding Autumn festival.

There are some wonderful characters in this book who I warmed to quickly and enjoyed getting to know as the story continued. They are a wonderfully eclectic group who I wish I knew in real life. I loved the mayor who relied on his dreams to decide what to do and I especially loved the book club which sounded like a right laugh. I think I’m going to have to set up a similar bookclub as it sounded such fun.

I thought the book had a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. Even when there wasn’t I was just happy hanging out with the wonderful characters. I did get a bit frustrated with Logan and Jeanie at times as they seemed to always find excuses not to be together. I wished I could go into the book and give them a talking to.

The ending was wonderful and I felt very sad to leave Dream Harbour and it’s inhabitants behind. I’m excited to learn there’s going to be a sequel featuring the same characters and based in the bookshop which is great as I always love a book set in a bookshop.

If you’re a fan of romance books, small town settings and grumpy/sunshine couples than you need to read this book.

About The Author:

Laurie Gilmore writes small-town romance. Her Dream Harbor series is filled with quirky townsfolk, cozy settings, and swoon-worthy romance. She loves finding books with the perfect balance of sweetness and spice and strives for that in her own writing. If you ever wished you lived in Stars Hollow (or that Luke and Lorelai would just get together already!) then her books are definitely for you.

Good morning everyone I’ve been lucky enough to receive some fabulous book post recently. 

❤️King Of Greed by Ana Huang
🧡One Love by Matt Cain
💛My Brother’s Keeper by M. L Rose
💚Under The Tamarind Tree by Nigar
     Alam
💙Starling House by Alix E. Harrow*
🩵Hard By A Great Forest by Leo Vardiashvili *
💜The Last Murder At The End Of The World by Stuart Turton *
🩷The Fortunes Of Olivia Richmond by Louise Davidson
🩶The Nightingale’s Castle by Sonia Velton
🤍Sign Of Her Own by Sarah Marsh

King Of Greed and My Brother’s Keeper are for Tandem Collective Read-alongs.  I’m a huge fan of Ana Huang ‘s books so I’m excited to read her new one.  My Brother’s Keeper is a new writer for me which is always exciting. Under The Tamarind Tree is for a Random Things blog tour and the books with stars next to them are from work. The rest were kindly sent to me by some lovely publishers.

Huge thanks to all the lovely publishers and work colleagues for getting them for me.  I’m so excited to read them all!

Have you read any of these? Which should I read first?

Good afternoon everyone I was excited to get a copy of this intriguing book through the post over the weekend. It sounds really good a coming of age story mixed with a little magic maybe?

I’m looking forward to reading this soon. Huge thanks to @suereedwrites for sending me a copy of her book.

Out now!

Book Synopsis:

It’s spring 2020 and fifteen-year-old Molly McFlynn is uprooted from town life by her mam to live with her bohemian grandparents in rural Northumberland. Molly is furious – her friends abandon her, the food is inedible and her grandmother is doing strange things in the garden at night.

Life takes a new direction when she meets a girl in the woods who appears to be on the run. Martha is from the seventeenth century, and a life lived on the edge of society. She is fleeing from the witch finder and the men who have hurled her mother, Ann Watson, into the dungeons in Newcastle. As Molly’s friendship with Martha grows, Molly reconciles with her true self, develops a love of nature and moves away from her consumerist lifestyle.

However, as Covid strikes, and a local witch hunt takes place, Martha’s is not the only life that is in danger. Molly must stand up for what is right, help heal family rifts and come to the rescue in a moment of peril.

About The Author:

Sue Reed lives in rural Northumberland, UK, with her husband, Tim where their love of wild places and nature can be realised. They have three grown-up children and two granddaughters who mean the world to them.

Born in Worthing, Sussex, Sue has migrated steadily north and has worn a variety of hats in her professional life from teacher, museum guide, upcycler of waste wool knitwear as The Woolly Pedlar to published author. It was in 2019 that she decided to go to Newcastle University to do an MA in Creative Writing, which is where the idea for the Molly McFlynn books fledged.

The Rewilding of Molly McFlynn is the first in a planned series, where Molly will become the Greta Thunberg of the northeast of England. In subsequent books, Molly will take on specific environmental causes, each with a time flip to days gone by, and each covering themes that challenge us day by day.

Sue has a loyal following on social media and can be found on Twitter and Instagram at @suereedwrites and Sue Reed Writes on Facebook.

She writes regularly about life’s ups and downs, and with news of her writing journey on her Substack newsletter http://www.suereed.substack.com

When not writing, Sue divides her time with her husband in the garden, travelling their converted campervan or looking after the grandchildren. They try to live as sustainably as possible, leading gentle lives in tune with the seasons, growing their own fruit and vegetables. Sue also writes about organic gardening, seasonal eating and foraging at The Bridge Cottage Way.

http://www.thebridgecottageway.com

The Bridge Cottage Way can also be found on Instagram and Facebook.