Good morning everyone today I thought I’d share two books I got for my birthday. Yes I know my birthday was nearly a month ago (I’m not trying to milk it honestly) but my best friend and I have been really busy so only caught up over the weekend.
These are the two books I bought with the voucher she kindly gave me (thanks Julie)!
Find out more about the books below ⬇️
If you received a book voucher what books would you buy?
You Are Here by David Nicholls
Sometimes you need to get lost to find your way
Marnie is stuck. Stuck working alone in her London flat, stuck battling the long afternoons and a life that often feels like it’s passing her by.
Michael is coming undone. Reeling from his wife’s departure, increasingly reclusive, taking himself on long, solitary walks across the moors and fells.
When a persistent mutual friend and some very English weather conspire to bring them together, Marnie and Michael suddenly find themselves alone on the most epic of walks and on the precipice of a new friendship.
But can they survive the journey?
A new love story by beloved bestseller David Nicholls, You Are Here is a novel of first encounters, second chances and finding the way home.
Nuclear War: A Scenario by Annie Jacobson
Nuclear war begins with a blip on a radar screen. This is a minute-by-minute account of what comes next. It has to be read to be believed.
There is only one scenario other than an asteroid strike that could end the world as we know it in a matter of hours: nuclear war.
Until now, no one outside official circles has known exactly what would happen if a rogue state launched a nuclear missile at the Pentagon. Second by second and minute by minute, these are the real-life protocols that choreograph the end of civilization as we know it.
Decisions that affect hundreds of millions of lives need to be made within six minutes, based on partial information, in the knowledge that once launched, nothing is capable of halting the destruction. Based on dozens of new interviews with military and civilian experts who have built the weapons, been privy to the response plans, and taken responsibility for crucial decisions, this is the only account of what a nuclear exchange would look like. Nuclear War is at once a compulsive non-fiction thriller and a powerful argument that we must rid ourselves of these world-ending weapons for ever.
Good afternoon everyone I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this fantastic sounding book this week.
I’m not ashamed to admit I squealed when I opened it. Fantasy is one of my favourite genres, especially if they involve dragons (thank you Fourth Wing) so I’m so excited to read this soon.
Huge thanks to Indie Thinking for sending.
Out in ebook now and in hardback on the 13th June 2024.
Find out more about the book below ⬇️
Book Synopsis:
He’s fire and brimstone.
I’m shattered ice …
I’ll gladly burn beneath him until the world comes crumbling down.
As an assassin for the rebellion, Raeve’s job is to complete orders and never get caught. When a rival bounty hunter shatters her world, Raeve finds herself captured by the Guild of Nobles – a group of powerful fae.
Crushed by the loss of his great love, dragon rider Kaan Vaegor took the head of a king and donned his melted crown. Now on a tireless quest to quell the never-ebbing ache in his chest, a clue lures him into the capital’s high-security prison where he stumbles upon the imprisoned Raeve …
Together, they seek truths that threaten to unravel everything they knew about their world – and each other.
Bestselling sensation When the Moon Hatched will transport you into a world filled with magic, dragons and a love that blazes through the ages…
About The Author:
Sarah is an international bestselling author who grew up on a farm in New Zealand, where she spent her days getting lost amongst the rolling pasture, building forts in the hedge, climbing trees, and exploring the forest pathways—making up elaborate stories that never lost their grip on her.
She now lives in Australia with her husband, dog, three children, and countless plants, and spends her days pouring her stories onto paper rather than throwing them to the wind.
Her genre of choice is epic fantasy romance, and she thrives off dreaming up real, complex characters and immersive worlds to get lost amongst
Good morning everyone and happy Monday. I have only a few pages left of my current read The Night In Question by Susan Fletcher which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed so I’m starting to think about what I’m going to read next.
These are the six books I would like to read next:
❤️The Glassmaker by Tracy Chevalier 🧡The Lifeline by Libby Page 💛Sociopath- A Memoir by Patric Gagne 💚The Shadow Key by Susan Stokes -Chapman 💙The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins 💜I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue
I’m a bit of a mood reader and easily distracted by other books so I’m never sure what I’ll be reading next. At the moment I’m thinking The Shadow Key but my best friend has given me a book token as a belated birthday present (thanks Julie) which might throw me off course 🤣
I’m off today and I’m hoping for a quiet one as I’ve woken up with a very sore throat. I’m meeting my mum for coffee this morning which I’m looking forward to as it’s nice to catch up without interruptions from the kids. I then need to do some housework before snuggling up with my book.
What are you currently reading? What would you read first?
Good morning everyone and happy Sunday. I was going to do a challenge this morning but I can’t find half the books I want to use for some reason which is a bit worrying so I’m going with my old faithful Sunday Stack.
Here are some of the fantastic looking books I’ve received this week!
❤️ Plaything by Bea Setton 🧡Dream Hunters by Nazima Pathan 💛How To Build A Boat by Elaine Feeny 💚 Shanghai Landers by Juli Mia 💙 I’ll Look For You, Everywhere by Cameron Capello 🩵Bad Tourists by Caro Carver 💜 Blood Like Mine by Stuart Neville 🩷The Blackbirds Of St Giles by Lila Cain 🤍 Knife by Salman Rushdie
All of these were kindly gifted to me apart from Knife which was a damaged copy from the bookshop and How To Build A Boat which I’ve been hearing lots of great things about. Huge thanks to all the publicists for sending I’m very excited to read them soon.
I’m working this morning which is always fun and might be quite busy as it’s meant to be fairly sunny here but it’s still quite cold. I’m then looking forward to a quiet evening watching twitch and hopefully finishing my fab book The Night In Question which I’m really enjoying.
Good afternoon everyone I hope you’re having a great Saturday. I was lucky enough to receive this fabulous looking book post this week.
I absolutely love location thrillers so this book instantly appeals to me.
Huge thanks to Alison Barrow and Bantam Press for sending.
Out 4th July 2024
Where would your dream holiday be?
Book Synopsis:
Is it ever a good idea to go on holiday with friends?
Darcy, Camilla and Kate have each come on this trip of a lifetime for a reason – to celebrate a divorce, to find love, to try to put a traumatic past behind them.
Their dream getaway? The Sapphire Island Resort in the Maldives. With crystal-clear waters and sun-drenched white sand beaches, relaxation is guaranteed.
But all is not as it seems in paradise, and this is no ordinary friendship.
They’ve got nine days to go . . . and old wounds are already reopening.
Will they all make the return journey?
About The Author:
Caro Carver lives in Scotland with her husband and four children. She is Reader in Creative Writing at the University of Glasgow, teaches for the Faber Academy and the Curtis Brown Academy, and regularly speaks on panels and hosts events on writing. Caro is happiest when travelling and takes inspiration from her travels to write her books. Bad Tourists, her first book written under the pseudonym of Caro Carver, will be published by Transworld in Summer 2024. She is also published by HarperCollins as C.J. Cooke for her gothic thrillers.
Good afternoon everyone I was lucky enough to receive this surprise book post this week. The Blackbirds Of St Giles is a historical novel co-written by Marcia Hutchinson and Kate Griffin. It’s based on real historical facts and the real life gang The St Giles Blackbirds which I always love. It’s fascinating to learn more about a bit of history I knew nothing about previously.
Huge thanks to Rhys from Simon and Schuster for sending this to me. I can’t wait to read it.
Out January 2025.
Book Synopsis:
Born on a Jamaican sugar plantation, Daniel escapes enslavement, along with his sister Pearl, to find freedom and respect while fighting for the British in the American War of Independence. When he arrives in Georgian London with Pearl, he is in possession of a remarkable inheritance but is cruelly betrayed.
‘Blackbirds’ was the scornful name given to the community of the destitute who sought refuge in the infamous ‘rookery’ of St Giles. There was nowhere lower to fall in 18th-century London and many of the ‘Blackbirds’ were indeed Black men, women and children – mostly former soldiers, sailors and servants.
Daniel and Pearl become trapped in this dangerous world; a warren of dark and menacing alleyways, open sewers, drinking dens and brothels. Ruled by the robber king, Elias, the St Giles Rookery is rife with crime, violence and poverty.
Soon their lives are in danger and Daniel must use his strength, wit and the fellowship of the other Blackbirds to overthrow Elias and truly find the freedom he fought for.
About The Author:
Writing together as Lila Cain, Marcia Hutchinson and Kate Griffin are the co-writers and creators of The Blackbirds of St Giles, the first of two books centred on the lives of members of the little-known black community in Georgian London. United by their passion for history and a strong desire to tell an unfamiliar – and hugely resonant – story, Kate and Marcia are delighted that ‘Blackbirds’ and its sequel will be published by Simon & Schuster.
Marcia Hutchinson worked as a lawyer before founding educational publishing company Primary Colours and was awarded an MBE for services to Cultural Diversity in 2010. Her solo debut novel Mercy is due for publication in summer 2025.
Kate is the author of Fyneshade (Viper), a stand-alone Neo-Victorian gothic novel of witchcraft in a house of dark secrets. She is also the writer of the popular Kitty Peck thriller series (Faber and Faber) set in the Music Halls of Victorian London. After studying English Literature at university, Kate worked as assistant to a London antique dealer, as a journalist and in PR. Until recently she was Head of Communications for Britain’s oldest conservation charity, The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB). Her love of old buildings and the stories they tell continues to inspire her.
Good morning everyone and happy Friday! I’m a huge fan of Greek mythology so I’m absolutely loving all the greek myth retellings that have been coming out.
I’ve been lucky enough to receive/buy these four beauties recently and thought they’d make a great flat lay!
What’s your favourite Greek myth retelling?
Psyche & Eros by Luna McNamara
THE GOD OF LOVE HAS FINALLY MET HIS MATCH…
Born into an era of heroes, a prophecy claims that Psyche – Princess of Mycenae – will defeat a monster feared even by the gods themselves. Rebelling against society’s traditions, she spends her youth mastering blade and bow, preparing to fulfil her destiny.
But she is soon caught up in powers beyond her control, when the jealous Aphrodite sends the God of Desire, Eros, to deliver a fatal love-curse. The last thing Eros wants is to become involved in the chaos of the mortal world, but when he is pricked by the very arrow intended for Psyche, he is doomed to love a woman who will be torn from him the moment their eyes meet.
Thrown together by fate, headstrong Psyche and world-weary Eros will face challenges greater than they could have ever imagined. And as the Trojan War begins and the whole of the heavens try to keep them apart, will they find their way back to each other before it’s too late?
A stunning, exciting and hotly-anticipated feminist retelling of one of the greatest love stories in Greek mythology. Luna McNamara’s exquisitely written debut will appeal to fans of Madeline Miller, Jennifer Saint and Susan Stokes-Chapman.
Medea by Rosie Hewlett
Shunned. Persecuted. Tormented. Medea longs for a different life. Since childhood, she has been separated from her sister, shunned by her mother, and persecuted and tormented by her brother and father. All because of a unique and dangerous talent: witchcraft.
Fierce. Powerful. Sorceress. But when a dashing young hero, Jason, arrives to claim the famed Golden Fleece that her father fiercely protects, Medea sees her opportunity for escape. Her offer to help Jason overcome the trials set by her father sets in motion a journey that will test every ounce of her strength, magic and loyalty; a journey that will see her battle monsters, dethrone kings and fall in love.
When faced with the ultimate betrayal, Medea is driven to an act of desperation so brutal it rips apart the lives of everyone involved…
Costanza by Rachel Blackmore Out 1st August 2024
Rome, 1636. History calls her a Muse. Temptress. Fallen woman. This is her story.
In the scorched city of Rome, the cobbled streets hum with gossip and sin. Costanza Piccolomini is a respectable young wife – until she meets Gianlorenzo Bernini, the famed sculptor and star of Roman society, whose jet-black gaze matches his dark temper. From the second they set eyes upon each other, a fatal attraction is born.
Their secret love burns with a passion that consumes them. But with every stolen kiss and illicit tryst, Costanza’s reputation is at stake. Meanwhile, Bernini has a dangerous desire: he wants to make Costanza immortal. He vows to possess her not just in body and soul, but also in marble.
When Bernini unveils his sculpture of Costanza, she is exposed as his lover, marking the undoing of their affair – and the beginning of a scandal which will rock Roman society. For Bernini would rather destroy Costanza than let her go.
Betrayed. Abandoned. Banished. This was meant to be the end of Costanza’s story. But Costanza is no ordinary woman: from the ashes, she will rise…
Based on a true story, Costanza is a dizzying and sensual historical novel that brings to life a feminist icon who has been written out of history. This utterly addictive tale of desire and betrayal is perfect for fans of The Marriage Portrait and The Miniaturist.
Fruit Of The Dead by Rachel Lyon
An electric contemporary reimagining of the myth of Persephone and Demeter set over the course of one summer on a lush private island, exploring who holds the power in a modern underworld.
Camp counsellor Cory Ansel, eighteen and aimless, afraid to face her high-strung single mother in New York, is no longer sure where home is when the father of one of her campers offers an alternative.
The CEO of a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company, Rolo Picazo is middle-aged, divorced, magnetic. He is also intoxicated by Cory. When Rolo proffers a childcare job (and an NDA), Cory quiets an internal warning and allows herself to be ferried to his private island off the coast of Maine. Plied with luxury and opiates manufactured by his company, she continues to tell herself she’s in charge. Her mother, Emer, head of a teetering agricultural NGO, senses otherwise. When her daughter seemingly disappears, Emer crosses land and sea to heed a cry for help she alone is convinced she hears.
Alternating between the two women’s perspectives, Fruit of the Dead incorporates its mythic inspiration with a light touch and devastating precision. The result is a lush and haunting story that explores love, attraction, control, obliteration and America’s own late capitalist mythos.
In a shabby house in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil. But when her scheming mistress discovers her scullion is hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to win over the royal court.
Determined to seize this chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of power-hungry nobility, desperate kings, holy men and seers, where the lines between magic, science and fraud blur. With the pyres of the Inquisition burning, she must use every bit of her wit and resilience to win fame and hide the truth of her ancestry – even if that means enlisting the help of an embittered immortal familiar, whose own secrets could cost her everything.
From the Sunday Times bestselling author comes a bewitching novel, brimming with peril in a world where a woman’s ambition can prove deadly.
My Review:
I’m a huge fan of Leigh Bardugo’s books so I was very intrigued to learn she was writing an historical fiction book. I really enjoyed this fantastic, gripping and magical book which I’ll be recommending to everyone!
Firstly I thought this book was well researched and I enjoyed learning more about Spain’s history during the equivalent of England’s Tudor period. It was interesting to see that a class difference existed in Spain too and I loved the little details the author includes which really helped bring the period to life for me. I especially liked the vivid descriptions of the fashions at the time and the wonderful sounding materials they used.
The characters are all wonderful creations with some characters I absolutely loved and some I loved to hate. My favourite character was definitely Luzia who I admired for her strength and her determination to create a better life for herself. It was great to follow her as she learns more about her magical gift and competes in the tournament. Santángel was another fabulous character who I wasn’t sure of at the start of the book but I grew fond of as the book continued. It was lovely to discover more about his history and to see him grow closer to Luzia.
Overall, as you can probably tell, I loved this book and really hope the author writes more historical fiction in the future. I felt the story started off a bit slowly as the author sets the scene but soon becomes very gripping. The tournament scenes were especially gripping, with lots of twists and I never knew what was going to happen next. I loved the description of all the magic involved and following all the amazing action as the tension slowly increases making the book very hard to put down. The ending was brilliant and I loved how everything played out in the end.
Huge thanks to Ellie from Viking for sending me a copy of this book.
About The Author:
Leigh Bardugo is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ninth House and the creator of the Grishaverse (now a Netflix original series) which spans the Shadow and Bone trilogy, the Six of Crows duology, the King of Scars duology—and much more. Her short fiction has appeared in multiple anthologies including The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy. She lives in Los Angeles and is an associate fellow of Pauli Murray College at Yale University.
For information on new releases and appearances, sign up for Leigh’s newsletter: http://bit.ly/bardugonews.
Good afternoon everyone I hope you’re having a great Wednesday. I’m a huge fan of Eve Chase so I was very excited to be sent a copy of her latest book, The Midnight Hour. Her books are always such interesting, absorbing dual timeline mysteries which are hugely enjoyable.
Huge thanks to Phoebe from Penguin and @michaeljbooks for sending me a copy of this book. As you can tell I’m so excited to read it.
Out 27 June 2024
Find out more about the book below ⬇️
The Midnight Hour by Eve Chase
Notting Hill, London. One May evening, seventeen-year-old Maggie Parker’s mother walks out of their front door and doesn’t return . . .
With her little brother in tow, desperate to find her mother, Maggie is drawn into a labyrinthine world of antiques and shadowy figures, far from the grand stucco terraces. There she befriends another young person living on their wits. But can he help solve the mystery of her mother’s disappearance?
Twenty-one years later, in a Parisian apartment, Maggie’s phone rings and her hard-won grown-up life shatters. While in London, the new owner of the Parker’s old Notting Hill house is excavating a basement, unaware of what might lie beneath, and the clock starts ticking on buried secrets.
Sweeping from bustling London streets, the boulevards of Paris to an old English country house, The Midnight Hour is a thrilling, richly woven story about a golden family with a hidden past – and a woman trying to turn back the hands of time before it’s too late.
About The Author:
Eve Chase is an internationally bestselling British novelist who writes rich, layered and suspenseful novels, thick with secrets, unforgettable characters and settings. Her latest novel, The Midnight Hour – ‘Her best yet…I loved every word’ – Claire Douglas – publishes June ’24, in the UK. Other novels include, The Birdcage, The Glass House (The Daughters of Foxcote Manor, US) a Sunday Times top ten bestseller and Richard and Judy Book Club pick, The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde (The Wildling Sisters, US) which was longlisted for the HWA Gold Crown Award, and Black Rabbit Hall, winner of Paris’ Saint-Maur en Poche prize for Best Foreign Fiction. She works in the Writer’s Shed at the bottom of her garden, usually with Harry, her golden retriever.
Good morning everyone and happy Tuesday. Today on Two For Tuesday I’m featuring two books from Karen Swan.
I am a huge fan of this series and have grown very fond of the characters, particularly the three main women. I especially liked the wonderful descriptions of St Kilda and what it was like living there. The Lost Lover is the third book in The Wild Isles series.
Huge thanks to the lovely @libraryofchlo from @panmacmillan for sending me a copy of this book.
The Lost Lover is out 18th July 2024 and you can find out more about it below. The other books in the series are available now.
What’s your favourite series?
The Lost Lover by Karen Swan
An epic, sweeping historical novel of second chances and lovers reunited . . .
Flora MacQueen has always dreamt of more than life on the small Scottish island of St Kilda. So, when she catches the eye of visiting adventurer and wealthy businessman James Callaghan, her future seems brighter. Winter seas separate the lovers, but the island’s evacuation the following summer promises to reunite them – until tragedy strikes.
Heartbroken and needing to support her family on the mainland, a chance meeting offers hope. Soon, Flora is the toast of glamorous Paris; fame and fortune are hers for the taking. But at a high price.
When a scandal erupts back home, Flora is implicated, along with her friends Effifie and Mhairi. But as dark secrets come to light, it is a lie by a fellow islander that changes everything . . .
The Stolen Hours by Karen Swan
A reluctant bride. A forbidden romance. An island full of secrets . . .
It’s the summer of 1929 and Mhairi MacKinnon is in need of a husband. As the eldest girl among nine children, her father has made it clear he can’t support her past the coming winter. On the small, Scottish island of St Kilda, her options are limited. But the MacKinnons’ neighbour, Donald, has a business acquaintance on distant Harris also in need of a spouse. A plan is hatched for Donald to chaperone Mhairi and make the introduction on his final crossing of the year, before the autumn seas close them off to the outside world.
Mhairi returns as an engaged woman who has lost her heart – but not to her fiancé. In love with the wrong man yet knowing he can never be hers, she awaits the spring with growing dread, for the onset of calm waters will see her sent from home to become a stranger’s wife.
When word comes that St Kilda is to be evacuated, the lovers are granted a few months’ reprieve, enjoying a summer of stolen hours together. Only, those last days on St Kilda will also bring trauma and heartache for Mhairi and her friends, Effie and Flora. And when a dead body is later found on the abandoned isle, all three have reason enough to find themselves under the shadow of suspicion . . .
The Stolen Hours is Book Two in Karen Swan’s bestselling Wild Isle Series.
About The Author:
Karen Swan is the Sunday Times Top Three and international best-selling author. Her novels sell all over the world and she writes two books each year – one for the summer period and one for the Christmas season. Her books are known for their evocative locations and Karen sees travel as vital research for each story. She loves to set deep, complicated love stories within twisting plots.
The Last Summer is the first book in her five-book historical series called The Wild Isle Girls, set around the dramatic evacuation of the Scottish island St Kilda in the summer of 1930. It was partly inspired by Karen’s Scottish roots: her father’s family came from Skye, moving to Fort William where Karen was christened and where many of her family still live. Her childhood memories are full of Christmases, Hogmanay and summer holidays spent in the Highlands and she was married there in 2001.
She lives in Sussex with her husband, three children and two dogs.
Over The Rainbow Blog 