Good morning everyone today on Two For Tuesday I thought I’d feature the two books I’m planning on reading next. I’m a huge fan of both these authors so I’m very excited to read these soon. I think I’ll start The Fake Wife today as I’m hoping to be able to review it for its publication day Thursday.

I’m working this morning and I’m very excited as Iron And Flame is being published today. I’m really hoping the copies come into the shop today as I can’t wait to get my hands on it.

Huge thanks to my lovely friend @sue.spencer16 for making my lovely mushrooms for me. They’re absolutely perfect and I can’t wait to use them in more photos.

Will you be picking up a copy of Iron And Flame?

The Fake Wife by Sharon Bolton

Olive Anderson is dining alone at a hotel when a glamourous stranger joins her table, pretending to be her wife. What starts as a thrilling game quickly turns into something dangerous. But as much as the fake wife has her secrets, Olive just might have more . . .

The Fake Wife is an unputdownable thriller that will shock and surprise you like the best television boxsets. If you enjoyed Netflix shows like Behind Her Eyes, The Stranger and Obsession you will love The Fake Wife.

Starling House by Alix E. Harrow

Nobody in Eden remembers when Starling House was built. But the town agrees it’s best to let this ill-omened mansion – and its last lonely heir – go to hell. Stories of the house’s bad luck, like good china, have been passed down the generations.

Opal knows better than to mess with haunted houses, or brooding men. But when an opportunity to work there arises, the money might get her brother out of Eden. Starling House is uncanny and full of secrets – just like Arthur, its heir. It also feels strangely, dangerously, like something she’s never had: a home. Yet Opal isn’t the only one interested in the horrors and the wonders that lie buried beneath it.

Sinister forces converge on Eden – and Opal realizes that if she wants a home, she’ll have to fight for it. Even if it involves digging up her family’s ugly past to achieve a better future. She’ll have to go down, deep down beneath Starling House, to claw her way back to the light . . .

This is a romantic and spellbinding Gothic fairytale from Hugo, Nebula and Locus Award-shortlisted Alix E. Harrow.

Book Synopsis:

He had her, he lost her . . . and he’ll do anything to win her back.

Powerful, brilliant, and ambitious, Dominic Davenport clawed his way up from nothing to become the King of Wall Street.

He has everything – a beautiful home, a beautiful wife and more money than he could spend in a lifetime. But no matter how much he accumulates, he’s never satisfied.

In his endless quest for more, he drives away the only person who saw him as enough.

It isn’t until she’s gone that he realizes there may be more to life than riches and glory . . . but by then, it may be too late.

***

Kind, intelligent, and thoughtful, Alessandra Davenport has played the role of trophy wife for years.

She stood by her husband while he built an empire, but now that they’ve reached the top, she realizes he’s no longer the man she fell for.

When it becomes clear that she’ll always come second to his work, she finally takes charge of her life and puts herself first – even if it means leaving the only man she’s ever loved.

But what she didn’t count on was his refusal to let her go . . . or for him to fight for their marriage, no matter what it takes.

King of Greed is a steamy marriage in trouble billionaire romance. It includes explicit content and profanity. Recommended for mature readers only.

My Review:

King Of Greed is a spicy, gripping romance read that I flew through in a couple of days which is not an easy feat when your three kids are on half term.

Firstly I absolutely loved the characters in this book and enjoyed getting to know them throughout the book. They made a wonderful couple so it was nice to see them try to mend their issues and grow closer again. As the story continues we learn more about how they met and key moments in their relationship. I did find them frustrating at times as I just wanted them to get back together but I was completely behind the two of them and had to keep reading to find out what happened next.

I thought the book had a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. I especially liked that it wasn’t just a romance book and there were other storylines going on at the same time. I think these were cleverly developed and helped to let the reader get to know more about the characters. There are some spicy scenes which won’t be to everyone’s taste but anyone familiar with this author’s work would know that’s the type of book she writes.

This is actually the third book in the series which I didn’t realise when I started but it can easily be read as a standalone, like I did, as anything you need to know is explained. I have already ordered the first two books though as I want to spend more time with the fabulous characters.

Huge thanks to Tandem Collective and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book.

About The Author:

Ana Huang is a New York Times, USA Today, international, and #1 Amazon bestselling author. Best known for her Twisted series, she writes New Adult and contemporary romance with deliciously alpha heroes, strong heroines, and plenty of steam, angst, and swoon sprinkled in.

Her books have been sold to over two dozen foreign publishers for translation and featured in outlets such as NPR, Cosmopolitan, Financial Times, and Glamour UK.

A self-professed travel enthusiast, she loves incorporating beautiful destinations into her stories and will never say no to a good chai latte.

When she’s not reading or writing, Ana is busy daydreaming and scouring Yelp for her next favorite restaurant.

Good morning everyone and happy Sunday. Here are some of the fantastic books I’ve added to my tbr recently:

🚢Death On The Lusitania by R.L Graham *
👒The Scandalous Life Of Ruby Devereaux by M. J Robotham
❄️That Festive Feeling by Heidi Swain
🌲After The Forest by Kell Woods
⛓️A Death In Custody by T.S. Clayton
🎬The Actor by Chris MacDonald
📖 Bookshops And Bonedust by Travis Baldree
🇯🇵 Abroad In Japan by Chris Broad
🔫Shot With Crimson by Nicola Upson
💍The Fake Wife by Sharon Bolton*
🔪Alex Cross Must Die by James Patterson *
♀️The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok
🔱 Rebellion by Simon Scarrow*

So as you can see a bit of an eclectic mix but I’m honestly looking forward to reading all of them. The books with stars next to them were kindly sent to me by the tagged publishers.

I’m working today which I’m looking forward to as I’ve not been there for two days so I’m intrigued by what new books have come in.

What was the last book you added to your tbr pile?

Book Synopsis:

When Lady Anderson invites five guests to her apartment in Bruton Square, Mayfair, none of the guests know why they have been summoned. And it isn’t long before dinner turns DEADLY.

From the author of Twelve Motives for Murder comes another brilliant immersive murder mystery.

Supper for Six . . . but murder is on the menu

The mystery of Bruton Square has never been solved. On that infamous night in 1977, six strangers were invited for dinner at Lady Sybil Anderson’s Mayfair apartment. Only five made it out alive.

Welcome to Supper for Six, the true crime podcast. I’m your host, Felix.

Together, we’ll uncover what really happened that night . . . Let’s dig in.

A murderous Abigail’s Party – Fiona Sherlock’s Supper for Six is immersive and incredibly entertaining. Join Elizabeth Chalice and Felix Caerphilly on their quest to get to the bottom of this rather deadly dinner party . . .

My Review:

Supper For Six is a dark, clever story that reads like a true crime story.

The story revolves around a ‘surprise’ dinner part for six people. As the story progresses it quickly becomes apparent that everything is not as it seems with a few incidents setting the guests on edge. The reader is drawn into the scene so I felt like I was actually there, with the tension almost palpable at times. There is a locked room quality to the story that helped increase the tension in the book and make things feel very claustrophobic at times.

None of the characters in this book were not particularly likeable and I must admit to not warming to any of them. I did feel a degree of sympathy with them and the situation they find themselves in though as parts of the book were quite uncomfortable. The author does a great job of letting each character’s true colours show and I enjoyed learning more about them throughout the book. It was very interesting finding out the characters connections to each other and the secrets they were hiding.

I thought the book had a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. The unusual format of the podcast took a little while to get used to but I think added to the tension in the book as the secrets are slowly revealed. There were lots of twists to keep me on my toes and while I did guess the ending, I had to keep reading to find out if I was right.

This was the first book I’d read by this author and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.

Huge thanks to Hodder and Stoughton for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

About The Author:

Fiona Sherlock is a crime writer from Bective, in Ireland. Her murder mystery games are played across the world. She also writes poetry and prose but cannot stay away from a good murder. After spending a decade in Dublin working in public relations and journalism, she moved to the country for midday fires and elderflower champagne.

Play one of her immersive games at BespokeMurderMystery.com

Good morning everyone and happy Friday.  I was tagged by the lovely @mrs_hs_favourite_books to take part in this challenge.  I’m a huge fan of both tea and books so I’ve really enjoyed this one!

💚 Green Tea- a classic you love

My favourite ever classic is To Kill A Mocking Bird and I still have my battered, annotated copy from doing it at GCSE.  I’ve included Before The Coffee Gets Cold in the picture as I think it has the potential to be a classic book in the future.

💛 Camomile Tea – A popular book you disliked

Ok confession time, I didn’t like Lessons In Chemistry and I actually DNF’D it….. Everyone keeps telling me to try again and maybe I will one day.

🩵 Peppermint Tea – A comfort book

I always read I May Be Wrong when I’m feeling down or anxious about something as it always helps me.  A Year In Provence was my dad’s favourite book.  We lost him 14 years ago and I often reread it when I want to feel closer to him.

🤍 Jasmine Tea – A book with a pretty cover

I’ve got lots of beautiful books (mainly fantasy) that I could have used for this challenge but Godkiller is my favourite as I think it’s absolutely stunning.  I also love that I see new things in the picture each time I look at it.

💜 Hibiscus Tea – An author that you love.

Too many favourites to mention! I’m a huge fan of Kate Mosse and have read all her books.  I also love Ruth Ware, Karen Swan and Alice Feeny. B.K Borison is an author I discovered this year but has quickly become one of my favourites as I love her books.

🩷Chai Tea – An iconic character

Again so many to choose from.  I’ve gone for Violet and Xaden as I loved Fourth Wing.  I know a lot of people loved them too and I’m so excited for the next installment next week! I’d also include Gaunt and Ellwood from In Memoriam too as they are characters I haven’t been able to stop thinking about.

I’ve tagged a few people who might want to take part but, as always, no pressure or if you see this post consider yourself tagged!

What’s your favourite type/brand of tea?

Good afternoon everyone I was absolutely thrilled to receive a copy of this fabulous looking book this week. It sounds absolutely brilliant and I’m very excited to read it soon.

Huge thanks to Jen from Michael St Joseph for my copy of this book.

Out 18th January 2024.

Book Synopsis:

At long last, Adam Sealey has an Oscar within reach. Working with his controversial former mentor, Jonathan, he’s given the performance of a lifetime, and he almost believes it might be worth the cost.

Because Adam subscribes to “the method”. It’s the secret that the world’s greatest actors swear by – digging into their darkest, most personal traumas to bring a role to life.

And Adam’s greatest trauma is worse than most. Losing his mother when he was just a boy. A forced choice between the success he craved and the girl he loved. And that night back in drama school, the night of Adam’s darkest secret, when everyone knows about the dead body, but nobody suspects the truth.

And then he gets a message: someone knows. And if they tell, everything Adam’s worked for will come crashing down.

About The Author:

Chris MacDonald is a novelist, screenwriter, playwright and actor, who attended a top UK Drama School whose alumnae include Tom Hardy and Michael Fassbender. His debut play Eye of a Needle played at the Southwark Playhouse and as an actor he’s worked for the BBC, the RSC and Amazon Studios among others. His screenwriting includes social horror This Merrie Land for Agile and his band Playground Champions have soundtracked the ITV show Buffering.

Good morning everyone I thought I’d do a little reading update today:

❤️Last: Maurice And Maralyn by Sophie Elmhirst

🧡Now: Supper For Six by Fiona Sherlock

💛Now: The Unspeakable Acts Of Zina Pavlou

💚Now: The Secret Of Elephants by Vasundra Tailor

💙Next: King Of Greed by Ana Huang

I’ve just finished Maurice And Maralyn which I thought was absolutely brilliant, definitely one of the best books I’ve ever read. I posted my review yesterday so do go check it out.

I’ve somehow managed to have three books on the go at once. I’m reading Supper For Six a crime book told mainly from interviews, The Unspeakable Acts Of Zina Pavlou and The Secret Lives Of Elephant as part of a Tandem Collective read-along. I’m enjoying all three of them and dipping in and out of them has kept me sane this half term.

I’m thinking I’ll read something completely different next and want to read King Of Greed by Ana Huang which I’m hoping will be the easy read my tired brain needs.

What are you currently reading? Have you read any of these?

Book Synopsis:

What begins as an eccentric English love story turns into one of the most dramatic adventures ever recorded…

Maurice and Maralyn couldn’t be more different. He is as cautious and awkward as she is charismatic and forceful. It seems an unlikely romance, but it works.

Bored of 1970s suburban life, Maralyn has an idea: sell the house, build a boat, leave England — and its oil crisis, industrial strikes and inflation — forever. It is hard work, turning dreams into reality, but finally they set sail for New Zealand. Then, halfway there, their beloved boat is struck by a whale. It sinks within an hour, and the pair are cast adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.

On their tiny raft, over the course of days, then months, their love is put to the test. When Maurice begins to withdraw into himself, it falls upon Maralyn to keep them both alive. Their pet turtle helps, as does devising menus for fantasy dinners and dreaming of their next voyage.

Filled with danger, spirit and tenderness, this is a book about human connection and the human condition; about how we survive — not just at sea, but in life.

Out 24th February 2024.

My Review:

Maurice And Maralyn is a beautiful, moving and gripping read that is even more extraordinary as it’s based on a true story.

Firstly, I absolutely loved Maurice and Maralyn and enjoyed getting to know them throughout the book. They were a fantastic couple, so different to each other but it was lovely to see how they complimented and helped each other. Out of the two Maralyn was definitely my favourite and I really admired the strength she showed on board the life boat. Her ability to find the fun in even the most dire of situations made me smile and the way she helped keep Maurice’s spirits up brought tears to my eyes.

The book is divided into sections with the reader being taken through the couple’s lives from the moment they met until their deaths. It was interesting to learn more about the their different personalities and to see how the idea for sailing to New Zealand came about. The beginning of their journey seemed wonderful and I loved the vivid descriptions of the counties they visited as well as their interactions with some wonderful sounding friends. This contrasts sharply with their lives after the ship wreck and I think helped make their experience even more bleak as the reader realises how utterly alone the pair are. I found the bit detailing the ship wreck very gripping and I was unable to put the book down as I was so absorbed in the story. It was interesting to learn more about the practicality of surviving at sea, how they got water, what they ate to survive and how they kept themselves entertained. I don’t think I’ll ever look at a turtle without thinking of this book again though!

Overall I absolutely loved this book which has stayed with me long after reading. The author cleverly blends fact with fiction to make for a truly fascinating read that’s unlike anything I’ve read before. I liked how the author continues the story after they are rescued so the reader is able to find out what happens to them afterwards. I’d happily rate this one of the best books I’ve ever read and can’t wait for more people to read it so I can discuss it.

Huge thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book through my work at Rossiter Books. If you’re looking for a gripping, unique true story then I highly recommend this one.

About The Author:

Sophie Elmhirst is a journalist. She writes regularly for the Guardian Long Read and the Economist’s 1843 magazine, among others. In 2020, she won the British Press Award for Feature Writer of the Year, and a Foreign Press Award for Finance and Economics Story of the Year. Her first book, Maurice and Maralyn, will be published by Chatto and Windus in 2024.