Good morning everyone I have another One Book Leads To Another feature for you today.
I read Why Mummy Drinks At Christmas over the Christmas period and the author mentions Death And The Penguins as a book she’s loved. I was naturally very curious, even more so when I saw that it had been chosen as a Between The Covers pick too.
I haven’t read it yet but I’m excited to read it soon especially as I could use it as part of my 24 Countries In 2024 challenge.
What book have you read after hearing about it in another book?
Why Mummy Drinks At Christmas By Gill Sims
I absolutely loved this book when I read it and think it’s the perfect book to read on the run up to Christmas. It was a surprisingly emotional read and made me contemplate the reality of future Christmasses without my three kids.
All that stands between one man and murder by the mafia is a penguin.
Viktor is an aspiring writer in Ukraine with only Misha, his pet penguin, for company.
Although Viktor would prefer to write short stories, he earns a living composing obituaries for a newspaper. He longs to see his work published, yet the subjects of his obituaries continue to cling to life.
But when Viktor opens the newspaper to see his work in print for the first time, his pride swiftly turns to terror. Viktor and Misha have been drawn into a trap from which there appears to be no escape.
‘A striking portrait of post-Soviet isolation… In this bleak moral landscape Kurkov manages to find ample refuge for his dark humour’ New York Times.
Your family has been attacked. Now you have to choose between law… and justice.
Jason Bennett is a suburban dad whose life takes a horrific turn. He is driving his family home when a pickup truck begins tailgating them. Suddenly two men jump from the pickup and pull guns on Jason, demanding the car. A horrific flash of violence changes his life forever.
Later that awful night, Jason and his family receive a visit from the FBI. The agents tell them that the carjackers were members of a dangerous drug-trafficking organization ― and now Jason and his family are in their crosshairs.
The agents advise the Bennetts to enter the witness protection program. But WITSEC was not designed to protect law-abiding families. Trapped in an unfamiliar life, the Bennetts begin to fall apart at the seams. Then Jason learns a shocking truth and realizes that he has to take matters into his own hands.
Sometimes justice is a one-man show.
My Review:
What Happened To The Bennetts is a fast paced, gripping thriller which I raced through in a few days. It’s going to be a hard book to review as I don’t want to give anything away.
The book opens very explosively with some truly gripping but shocking scenes that took me by surprise and the tension never really let up as the book continues making it very hard to put down. The Bennett family were all such realistic characters and it was very emotional to see the happy, successful family changed by events. It was very poignant to see all they were going through and I felt they were so vividly described that I felt like I was experiencing everything alongside the characters.
Jason was my favourite character and I loved how he went from a normal guy to fighting for his family. I found it very intriguing to following him on his mission to find out what has is going on and why someone has it in for his family. Some of his actions were perhaps a little unrealistic but I found I didn’t care as I was still routing for him to succeed and get the answers he desperately needed.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading more from this author in the future. It is an incredibly fast paced book and the tension gradually increases as the story progresses making it very hard to put down. There were lots of twists that kept me guessing and a few scenes that had me holding my breath as I watched the action unfold. The ending was brilliant and while it was a little bit more violent than I was expecting I was happy to see how everything worked out.
Huge thanks to Anne from Random Things Tours for inviting me onto the blog tour and to No Exit Press for my copy of this book. If you are a fan of fast paced, gripping thrillers than I highly recommend this book.
About The Author:
Lisa Scottoline is a #1 bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author of 33 novels. Lisa’s books are book-club favorites, and she and her daughter Francesca Serritella have hosted an annual Big Book Club Party for over a thousand readers at her Pennsylvania farm, for the past twelve years. Lisa has been President of Mystery Writers of America and she reviews fiction and non-fiction for the New York Times, Washington Post, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. She also writes a weekly column with her daughter for The Philadelphia Inquirer entitled Chick Wit, a witty take on life from a woman’s perspective, which have been collected in a bestselling series of humorous memoirs. Lisa graduated magna cum laude in three years from the University of Pennsylvania, with a B.A. degree in English, and cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she taught Justice & Fiction. She has over 30 million copies of her books in print and is published in over 35 countries. She lives with an array of disobedient pets, and wouldn’t have it any other way.
The globe-trotting spy thriller that inspired the upcoming action blockbuster Argylle , featuring a star-studded cast including Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Samuel L. Jackson, and John Cena.
One Russian magnate’s dream of restoring a nation to greatness has set in motion a chain of events which will take the world to the brink of chaos. Only Frances Coffey, the CIA’s most legendary spymaster, can prevent it. But to do so, she needs someone special.
Enter Argylle. His life came to a crashing halt as a teenager. Since then he has been treading water, building barriers between himself and the world. Until one moment of compassion and brilliance will bring him to the attention of the most powerful woman in the secret world.
Coffey knows all about Argylle’s dark past. She knows it haunts him. But she also knows it may give him the skills to join the team going up against one of the most powerful men in the world. His crash course in espionage will take him from the jungles of Thailand to the boulevards of Monaco, from the monasteries of Mount Athos to a forgotten cavern buried deep in the mountains.
It is a deathly rollercoaster ride that will either make him – or break him…
My Review:
Argylle is a gripping, fast paced spy thriller which will be interesting to see made into a film.
Firstly I really liked the main character Argylle and enjoyed following him through the book. He seemed a genuinely nice guy and I like how much he seemed to care for his team mates, even when it was unlikely to be reciprocated. If anyone was likely to hold back and help someone Argylle was your man and as such he was there for of the other characters crucial moments. It was quite amusing to see him learn to be a spy and some of his earlier missions had me laughing out loud with some of his attempts at subterfuge.
The author does a great job at describing some of the fantastic locations featured in this book so that I felt like I was actually there experiencing everything alongside the characters. There were some locations that I hadn’t heard of and I enjoyed spending time googling them to find out more. I felt that some of the action scenes in the book were slightly overdone at times, with long descriptions about what was happening when I didn’t feel it was needed. I do wonder if they were done with the film in mind though as I felt they would make great action sequences and they did help me to visualise what was going on.
I listened to the book on audiobook and found the book hard to pause once I had started. I often found myself stopped whilst doing a task as I was so absorbed in what was happening. Some of the events in the book where perhaps a little cliche at times and I felt borrowed from other popular franchises (a Russian bad guy, a mission involving the Nazis, a difficult motorcycle chase) which did frustrate me at times. I think I actually groaned out loud at one point much to my kids amusement.
The ending was interesting and while I did guess quite early on who the mole in the group was, I was satisfied with how everything was tied up in the end. The ending hints at a possible sequel and despite my reservations listed above I think I would be interested to read more from this author in future.
Huge thanks to libro.fm for giving me an audiobook of Argylle in exchange for an honest review.
About The Author:
Elly Conway was born and raised in upstate New York. She wrote her first novel about Agent Argylle while working as a waitress in a late-night diner.
Good morning everyone today on Two For Tuesday I thought I’d share two recommendations that were given to me by customers at the bookshop.
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
I’ve always had a bit of a fascination with books that are set in space so when a customer ordered in the book for themselves I was immediately intrigued. It’s not somewhere I’m ever going to myself but I’m excited to experience it alongside the characters.
Book Synopsis:
Life on our planet as you’ve never seen it before: in this spellbinding and uplifting novel six astronauts rotate in the International Space Station. They are there to do vital work, but slowly they begin to wonder: what is life without earth? What is earth without humanity?
Together they watch their silent blue planet, circling it sixteen times, spinning past continents, and cycling through seasons, taking in glaciers and deserts, the peaks of mountains and the swells of oceans. Endless shows of spectacular beauty witnessed in a single day.
Yet although separated from the world they cannot escape its constant pull. News reaches them of the death of a mother, and with it comes thoughts of returning home. They look on as a typhoon gathers over an island and people they love, in awe of its magnificence and fearful of its destruction.
The fragility of human life fills their conversations, their fears, their dreams. So far from earth, they have never felt more part – or protective – of it.
House Of Dudley by Joanne Paul
One of my favourite periods of history is the Tudor period and I’m always interested in learning more about it. A customer mentioned that this had been recommended on radio 4 when ordering it for themselves. I had a quick look at it when it came on and it sounded fascinating so I knew I’d have to get myself a copy.
Book Synopsis:
Was the House of Dudley out to steal the throne?
This was the question on the mind of Elizabeth I’s courtiers when a forbidden book accused generations of the Dudley family of poisonings, plottings, murders, treason, incitement and other ‘evil stratagems.’
For decades, the Dudleys had been close to the throne, rising from nobodies to the land’s highest offices.
Under Henrys VII and VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and, finally, Elizabeth, they risked execution and imprisonment as they audaciously stole, murdered and swindled in the name of the monarch.
But were they loyally protecting the crown, or did they secretly covet it for themselves?
What was the last book you bought from a recommendation?
After years of hardship, Ella is full of hope for a better future for Austrians, and when Hitler marches into Linz, she can’t help but become swept up in the euphoria of her boyfriend, Max.
But she soon realises her mistake. When she witnesses a woman being shot in the street and a childhood friend’s Jewish department store is closed down, she knows she must do something.
It’s a dangerous time to be a resistor, especially when her fascist boyfriend proposes to her. Knowing the secrets she can uncover, Ella enlists in a Reich Bride School, finding herself propelled into the social elite of the Nazi circle.
Ella knows she has a duty – to her family, her friends, and her country – so while Europe teeters on the brink of WW2, a desperate race begins to save the people she loves. But betraying the Nazis could be her death sentence…
A powerful and unforgettable story of the strength of women and the unwavering courage of those who seek a better world. Fans of Suzanne Goldring, Mandy Robotham and Debbie Rix will devour this heartbreaking tale.
My Review:
As regular readers of my blog will know I’m a huge fan of historical fiction, especially if it’s set in WW2 and features events that I didn’t know anything about previously. I thought The Austrian Bride was a emotional, gripping and thought provoking read that will stay with me.
The story is told from the point of view of Ella and her mother Marlene which helps the reader see events from two different generations. I really like Ella who came across as a very brave girl. I loved how realistic she was depicted and how she grew from being an excited supporter of Hitler to being a fighter against the Nazis. Her mother is also a very brave lady and I enjoyed following an older character throughout this period. They make a great team and I really admire them for standing up for what they believe in.
I hadn’t read much about the Nazi’s early occupation in Austria so I found it fascinating to learn more about it. It was especially interesting to see how welcomed they were initially by the citizens and to learn more about the Reich Bride School which I hadn’t heard about before. I found it quite chilling to see how women were treated and how they were prepared to be good Nazi wives. It was also quite sad to see how Ella’s boyfriend Max transformed into a perfect Nazi soldier which made me feel very sad for Ella.
I thought the story had a great pace to it and I soon found myself drawn into the story. The story is incredibly gripping and there always seemed to be something happening to keep my glued to the page. My heart was in my mouth in some of the scenes as I prayed that Ella and her mum would be alright. This was the first book that I’ve read by this author and I’d definitely be interested in reading more from her in the future.
Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publishers for my copy of this book. If you like absorbing historical fiction than I highly recommend this book.
About The Author:
I come from London but now live in Hamburg, Germany with my husband, daughter and rescue dog. I gave English lessons to retired Germans for twenty years and became intrigued by many of their wartime stories. I have ancestors from Austria and I spent my summer holidays there for years which inspired my next novel. I have always loved reading and writing, and now finally have the time to devote to writing.
Maggie Bird is many things. A chicken farmer. A good neighbour. A seemingly average retiree living in the seaside town of Purity. She’s also a darned good rifle shot. And she never talks about her past.
But when an unidentified body is left on Maggie’s driveway, she knows it’s a calling card from old times. It’s been fifteen years since the failed mission that ended her career as a spy, and cost her far more than her job.
Step forward the ‘Martini Club’ – Maggie’s silver-haired book group (to anyone who asks), and a cohort of former spies behind closed doors. With the help of her old friends – and always one step ahead of the persistent local cop – Maggie might still be able to save the life she’s built.
The Spy Coast is the first novel in the Martini Club series.
My Review:
The Spy Coast is a fast paced, gripping read that I read over the course of a weekend.
The story is told from the point of view of three people two former spies Diana and Maggie old team mates from their time in the field as well as Jo the local acting chief of Police. I absolutely loved Maggie and her wonderful group of old spy friends. They were such a great close knit group of friends, who have all had the same life experiences and it was great the get to know them all throughout the book. Maggie was one of my favourite characters and I thought it was great to see how she was still such a strong, capable lady despite many years out of the job. I wasn’t too sure about Jo as I felt she was a bit prickly at times. I did get where she was coming from as it must have been frustrating to be sidelined like that but I felt she was a real jobsworth at times and could have worked with Maggie rather than against her. However that might have made the story seem less realistic.
I thought the book had a great pace to it and I was quickly drawn into the story, unable to put the book down as it was so gripping. The book has two timelines to it one following Maggie and her friends in the present day with flashback to Maggie’s past work as a spy. I loved watching both timelines unfold and it was fascinating to learn more about Maggie’s life. There were lots of twists that kept me guessing and lots of action that ensured I couldn’t put the book down. I ended up reading all through the weekend, ignoring the housework and letting the kids spend too much time on their tablets as I was desperate to read a little bit more of the story.
The ending was amazing and I loved watching all the action unfold in what I thought was a very realistic manner. This is the first book in a promising new series and I can’t wait to read the next book. It is being compared to the Thursday Murder Club series and I definitely think that the fans of that series will enjoy this book too.
Huge thanks to Anne from Random Things Tours for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Bantam for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Internationally bestselling author Tess Gerritsen took an unusual route to a writing career. A graduate of Stanford University, Tess went on to medical school at the University of California, San Francisco, where she was awarded her M.D.
While on maternity leave from her work as a physician, she began to write fiction and in 1987, her first novel, Call After Midnight, was published. It was just the first of 32 suspense novels that she’s written over a 36-year writing career. She also wrote a screenplay, “Adrift,” which aired as a 1993 CBS Movie of the Week starring Kate Jackson.
Tess’s 1996 medical thriller, Harvest, marked her debut on the New York Times bestseller list and her novels have hit bestseller lists around the world ever since. Among her titles are Gravity, The Surgeon, Vanish, Listen to Me, and her upcoming spy thriller, The Spy Coast, which has just been optioned by Amazon Studios for a television series. Her books have been translated into 40 languages, and more than 40 million copies have been sold around the world.
Her series of novels featuring homicide detective Jane Rizzoli and medical examiner Maura Isles inspired the hit TNT television series “Rizzoli & Isles,” starring Angie Harmon and Sasha Alexander.
Good morning everyone I hope you all had a good weekend. I thought I’d do a little reading update today!
❤️Last: The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen The Beholder’s by Hester Musson
🧡Now: The Longest Goodbye by Mari Hannah The Philosophy Of Love by Rebecca Ryan
💛Next: One Love by Matt Cain Death On The Lusitania by R L Graham
I finished The Spy Coast yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ll be posting my review a bit later as part of the blog tour. I have a few more pages left of The Beholders but after a slow start I’ve really enjoyed it. I’m currently reading The Longest Goodbye by Mari Hannah and The Philosophy Of Love by Rebecca Ryan, two authors I’ve enjoyed before so I’m excited to read them soon.
I’m then hoping to read One Love by Matt Cain and then Death On The Lusitania by R L Graham two books I’ve been hearing lots of good things about!
It’s my day off today and I’m planning on a quiet one as I’m feeling pretty exhausted. I’ve had an almost constant headache for a few days and I think it’s worn me out.
Good morning everyone! Here are some of the fantastic looking books I’ve added to my tbr pile this week:
❤️The Secrets Of Blythswood Square by Sara Sheridan* 🧡The Postcard by Anne Berest 💛 Emily Wilde’s Map Of The Otherlands by Heather Fawcett 💚The Wartime Bookclub by Kate Thompson * 💙Haven by Fiona Neill * 🩵The Collapsing Wave by Doug Johnstone * 💜Death Flight by Sarah Sultoon * 💟Token by Beverly Kendall * 🩷 Winter In Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin 🤍Death And The Penguins by Andrey Kurkov
Most of the books above are for my 24 Countries In 2024 challenge and the books with stars next to them were kindly sent by publisher’s for blog tours.
I’m working today which I always enjoy but hopefully it’s not going to be too quiet. I’m then looking forward to a roast with the family tonight and reading some more of my fantastic book. I’m currently reading The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen and have a few more pages left. I’ll be posting my review tomorrow as part of the Random Things Tours.
Eek so excited to receive a copy of this today. I was such a huge fan of The Fair Botanist by this author and often recommend it at the bookshop that I work in.
The story has definitely stayed with me so much so that I bought a diary from the Botanical Gardens that where featured on the book as it now holds a special place in my heart. You can therefore imagine my excitement when I was invited onto the blog tour for her next book The Secret Of Blythswood Square.
Huge thanks to Alainna from Hodder Books for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
Out 8th February 2024.
What setting in a book has a special place in your heart?
Book Synopsis:
You wouldn’t suspect it, but scandalous secrets are being kept on Blythswood Square…
1846. Glasgow is a city on the cusp of great social change, but behind the curtains, neighbours are watching, and rumours of improper behaviour spread like wildfire on the respectable Blythswood Square.
When Charlotte Nicholl discovers that the fortune she has been bequeathed by her father is tied up in a secret collection of erotic art, she is faced with a terrible dilemma: sell it and risk shaming her family’s good name or lose her home.
An encounter with Ellory McHale, a talented working-class photographer newly arrived in Glasgow, leads Charlotte to hope she has found not only someone who might help her, but also a friend. Yet Ellory is hiding secrets of her own – secrets that become harder to conceal as she finds herself drawn into Charlotte’s world.
As the truth begins to catch up with both women, will it destroy everything they’ve fought to build – or set them both free?
About The Author:
“History is a treasure chest of stories. I love them.”
Sara Sheridan works in a wide range of media and genres but mostly historical and especially the stories of women. She loves exploring where our culture comes from. In 2018 she remapped Scotland according to women’s history. Tipped in Company and GQ magazines, she was nominated for a Young Achiever Award. She has received a Scottish Library Award and has been shortlisted for the Saltire Book Prize and the Wilbur Smith Prize. Her work was included in the David Hume Institute’s Summer Reading list 2019. She has sat on the committee for the Society of Authors in Scotland (where she lives) and on the board of ’26’ the campaign for the importance of words. She took part in 3 ’26 Treasures’ exhibitions at the V&A, London, The National Museum of Scotland and the Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. She occasionally blogs for the Guardian about her writing life, the Huffington Post about her activism as a writer and a feminist and puts her hand up to being a ‘twitter evangelist’. From time to time she appears on radio, and has reported for BBC Radio 4’s From Our Own Correspondent from both Tallin and Sharjah. Sara is a member of the Society of Authors and the Historical Writers Association. A self-confessed ‘word nerd’ her favourite book is ‘Water Music’ by TC Boyle. In 2016 she cofounded feminist perfume brand, REEK: artefacts from the project are now held at the National Museums of Scotland and the Glasgow Women’s Library.
Good morning everyone and happy Saturday. It’s the weekend yay! I realised yesterday I hadn’t done a Spell The Month post yet so wanted to post before the month has ended 🤣
J- JAMES by Percival Everett A- A Quiet Contagion by Jane Jesmond N- NINETEEN Steps by Millie Bobby Brown U- UNLADYLIKE Lessons In Love by Anita Murray A- ASSISTANT To The Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer R- RED Queen by Juan Gomez -Jurado Y- Every Breath YOU Take by C. L. Taylor
I had fun trying to do this stack, especially as I tried to use books I hadn’t used in previous challenges. I couldn’t find a book that started with Y so had to use the one featured. I haven’t read any of these yet but hope to get to them soon.
We’ve got a busy day today with lots of playdates and a birthday party. I’m hoping to fit in a few more pages of my current read The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen which I’m really enjoying so far.
Over The Rainbow Blog 