Good afternoon everyone I hope you are having a great day. I’m starting a read-along for one of my most anticipated reads for this year today. I’ve been hearing lots about The Spell Shop so I’m very excited to start this finally. I’m going to be reading and listening along this week so do check my story for updates.

The Spell Shop is out today and you can find out a little bit more about the book below.

Huge thanks to @bookbreakuk for inviting me onto the read-along and @panmacmillan for sending me a copy of this book.

Which spell do you wish you could cast?

Book Synopsis:

Every home needs a little magic . . .

Kiela has always had trouble dealing with people, and as librarian at the Great Library of Alyssium, she hasn’t had to.

She and her assistant, Caz, a sentient spider plant, have spent most of the last eleven years sequestered among the empire’s precious spellbooks, protecting the magic for the city’s elite. But a revolution is brewing and when the library goes up in flames, Kiela and Caz steal whatever books they can and flee to the faraway island where she grew up. But to her dismay, in addition to a nosy – and very handsome – neighbour, she finds the town in disarray.

The empire has slowly been draining power from the island, and now Kiela is determined to make things right. But opening up her own spellshop comes with its own risks – the consequence of sharing magic with commoners is death. And as Kiela starts to make a place for herself among the townspeople, she realizes she must break down the walls she has kept so high . . .

From award-winning author Sarah Beth Durst, The Spellshop is a cottagecore cosy fantasy following a woman’s unexpected journey through the low-stakes market of illegal spell-selling and the high-risk business of starting over.

About The Author:

Sarah Beth Durst is the award-winning author of over twenty books for adults, teens, and kids, including THE BONE MAKER, DRINK SLAY LOVE, and SPARK. She won an American Library Association Alex Award and a Mythopoeic Fantasy Award and has been a finalist for SFWA’s Andre Norton Nebula Award three times. She is a graduate of Princeton University and lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband, her children, and her ill-mannered cat. For more information, visit her at sarahbethdurst.com.

Book Synopsis:

Everybody needs saving sometimes…

For Kate, having a newborn baby means she is almost never alone. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t lonely. The move from London to Somerset with her husband Jay was supposed be the start of an exciting new chapter. But sometimes she can’t help but wonder if she turned the pages too soon . . .

Phoebe needs help. As a mental health nurse serving her community, the wellbeing of her patients has always come before her own. Yet there’s only so long she can pour from an empty cup.

Looking for a lifeline, Kate and Phoebe find a sense of community – and each other – through their local river swimming group. But when things get tough, they realise that good friends can both raise us up and stop us sinking.

For fans of THE LIDO, THE LIFELINE is the big-hearted and life-affirming follow-up novel by Sunday Times bestselling author Libby Page.

My Review:

The Lifeline is an absorbing, heart warming read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The story is told from the point of view of two characters, Kate a new mother who’s struggling with early motherhood and Phoebe a mental health nurse who’s struggling to find that illusive work home balance. I really liked both character’s and enjoyed following them throughout the book. Kate’s journey in particular really resonated with me as I remember the emotions of life with a baby very well. I liked that Libby was brave enough to describe the reality of early motherhood rather than the sugar coated version we are normally presented with. I also really liked Phoebe and found it very interesting to learn more about community health nursing which seemed very stressful at times. I admired Phoebe’s drive and how much she obviously cared for her patients but found myself wishing she would give herself a break sometimes as I think she was often very hard on herself.

I loved the wonderfully vivid descriptions of wild swimming that almost made me want to try it. I’ve always been a little afraid of finding out what lurks beneath the water so I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to actually try it. The authors descriptions however made me smile as I read and I loved the peace it seemed to give the characters. The friendship group that develops between the swimming party members was lovely to read about, especially how much they support each other.

Overall, as you can probably tell, I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it to everyone. I thought the book had a great pace to it and it made me feel all cosy with its wonderfully heartwarming vibes. The author tackles some quite serious topics in this book like mental health and post natal depression but does it in a way that helps the reader understand the issue more. As a mum of there I loved the way this book normalised the struggles of mother hood and the importance of self care for everyone. This book is a follow on from The Lido as it features Kate again but it can easily be read as a standalone. I’m hoping there may be another book featuring Kate and the wonderful swimming ladies again soon as I’d love to spend more time with them.

Huge thanks to Ellen Turner from Orion for sending me a bookseller proof of this book.

About The Author:

Libby Page graduated from The London College of Fashion with a BA in fashion journalism before going on to work as a journalist at The Guardian. After writing, her second passion is outdoor swimming. Libby lives in London, where she enjoys finding new swimming spots and pockets of community within the city. The Lido is her first novel. Follow her on Twitter @LibbyPageWrites and Instagram @TheSwimmingSisters.

Good morning everyone and happy Tuesday.  Today on Two For Tuesday I’m featuring two books from the fantastic Lindsey Kelk.

I first discovered Lindsey by accident when I was visiting our local library and her book Love Me Do was on the returns trolley. I loved the sound of the blurb so checked it out and really enjoyed it!

These both sound amazing and I’m excited to read them soon.  I’m especially intrigued to read The Bell Witches as I’m intrigued to read something different from this author.

Love Story is out now and The Bell Witches is published on the 26th September 2024.

Find out more about the books below.

The Bell Witches by Lindsey Kelk

YOU’LL WANT TO BE ONE. UNTIL YOU KNOW THEIR SECRETS.

After Emily’s father tragically dies, she is forced to live with the only family she has left, an aunt and grandmother in the heart of Savannah, Georgia in a house as beautiful as it is mysterious.

But all is not what it seems with the Bell family; they’re hiding a magical secret.

When Emily meets the alluring Wyn, she forms a connection that feels like it was always meant to be. As the spark between them grows more powerful, her life takes an exhilarating and terrifying turn; but every step closer to him, takes her a step further away from her family.

Emily will find out that blood is always thicker than water…

THERE’S NO BOND GREATER THAN MAGIC

Love Story by Lindsey Kelk

She’s a small-town schoolteacher, he’s a hotshot creative director. Together, it’s hate at first sight.

Sophie Taylor has a secret and Joe Walsh is the last person she’d tell. He’s devilishly handsome, incredibly hot – and far too sure of himself.

But Sophie desperately needs his help.

Because she’s not just hiding something small. She is Este Cox, the mysterious romance author the entire world is desperate to unmask.

When a trip to the countryside means sharing a cottage with only one bed, it’s a short step to sharing a whole lot more besides… Can Sophie trust Joe with the truth – and be herself?

About The Author:

Lindsey Kelk is the internationally bestselling author of books including I Heart New York, On A Night Like This, The Christmas Wish, and Love Me Do.

As well as writing books, Lindsey co-hosts Tights and Fights, a pro-wrestling podcast on the Maximum Fun network. She also hosts and produces the award-winning beauty podcast, Full Coverage.

Born and raised in South Yorkshire, Lindsey lived in Nottingham, London and New York before settling in Los Angeles, where she lives with her husband and three very rude cats.

Book Synopsis:

The only sin is betrayal…
 
It is the year 1715, and Thomas True has arrived on old London Bridge with a dangerous secret. One night, lost amongst the squalor of London’s hidden back streets, he finds himself drawn into the outrageous underworld of the molly houses.
 
Meanwhile, carpenter Gabriel Griffin struggles to hide his double life as Lotty, the molly’s stoic guard. When a young man is found murdered, he realises there is a rat amongst them, betraying their secrets to a pair of murderous Justices.
 
Can Gabriel unmask the traitor before they hang? Can he save hapless Thomas from peril, and their own forbidden love?
 
Set amidst the buried streets of Georgian London, The Betrayal of Thomas True is a brutal and devastating thriller, where love must overcome evil, and the only true sin is betrayal…

My Review:

The Betrayal Of Thomas True is a intriguing and emotional read which I found incredibly gripping.

Firstly, I hadn’t read much about Molly Houses, so I enjoyed learning finding out more about them.  The joyful atmosphere inside Mother Claps and the shows that happen there were wonderful to read about.  I often felt like I was actually there, watching all the action unfold and enjoying it all alongside the characters.  It really brought a smile to my face seeing them all free and able to just be themselves there.  The general attitude toward homosexuality was difficult to read about and it made me very sad for past Mollies from that period.  The gangs that hunted them made me shiver as did the corporal punishment that was doled out for anything that could be deemed homosexual behaviour.

My favourite character was Thomas who I felt very sympathetic towards as I felt he had a hard, lonely life trying to hide his sexuality.  He seemed very naive and lost at times as he negotiates his new life in London which made me feel very protective of him.  His growing friendship with the other Mollies was lovely to witness and I loved watching it develop.  Their crude banter often made me laugh out loud as I read and the scenes of the book where they are all together at Mother Claps were my favourite in the book.

Overall, as you can probably tell I loved this book and I will definitely be recommending it to others.  I quickly found myself drawn into the book and into the lives of the characters. There were some characters I loved to hate, like the horrible justices who I hoped would come to a sticky end, and some that I felt very attached so wanted to keep reading to find out what happened to them.  I thought the book was quite hard hitting in places as the reader describes the treatment of the Mollies and the hardships poor Londoner’s faced during that period.

The ending was lovely though very emotional and while I did hope for a different ending I thought it was a fitting way to end the book.  It’s a book that has stayed with me long after reading and I think would make a good book club read as I think there would be lots to discuss.  

About The Author:

A.J. West’s bestselling debut novel The Spirit Engineer won the Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown Award, gaining international praise for its telling of a long-forgotten true story. His second novel, The Betrayal of Thomas True, is published July 2024.

An award winning BBC newsreader and reporter, he has written for national newspapers and regularly appears on network television discussing his writing and the historical context of contemporary events.

A passionate historical researcher, he writes at The London Library and museum archives around the world.

Book Synopsis:

Imagine waking up and a wall has divided your city in two. Imagine that on the other side is your child…

Lisette is in hospital with her baby boy. The doctors tell her to go home and get some rest, that he’ll be fine.

When she awakes, everything has changed. Because overnight, on 13 August 1961, the border between East and West Berlin has closed, slicing the city – and the world – in two.

Lisette is trapped in the east, while her newborn baby is unreachable in the west. With the streets in chaos and armed guards ordered to shoot anyone who tries to cross, her situation is desperate.

Lisette’s teenage daughter, Elly, has always struggled to understand the distance between herself and her mother. Both have lived for music, but while Elly hears notes surrounding every person she meets, for her mother – once a talented pianist – the music has gone silent.

Perhaps Elly can do something to bridge the gap between them. What begins as the flicker of an idea turns into a daring plan to escape East Berlin, find her baby brother, and bring him home….

Based on true stories, The Silence in Between is a page-turning, emotional epic that will stay with you long after you finish reading.

My Review:

The Silence In Between is a fascinating, emotional and harrowing read that I have continued to think about long after reading.  

The story follows mother and daughter Lissette and Elly through two timelines.  One of these timelines follows Lisette through the second world war but particularly focuses on the aftermath of the war when Germany was under Soviet control, the other is set in 1961 and the construction of the Berlin Wall. Of the two women Elly was definitely my favourite as I found her to be a warm hearted, brave girl who obviously loved her family despite that love not always being reciprocated.  Lisette on the other hand I initially found to be a bit of a cold fish, though as the book continues and the reader discovers exactly what she has been through I began to understand her more.

I don’t think I’ve read much about the aftermath of the second world war in Germany and the construction of the Berlin War so I was very intrigued to find out more about it.  I was very shocked at how German women were treated by the soviet forces and how much they were made to suffer for their countries defeat.  The events described in the book are sadly true and it broke my heart to realise the difficult choices that German women had to make to survive. I actually lived in what was West Germany as a child so I have always been fascinated by the Berlin Wall.  I had no idea that the border was closed overnight or about the daring escape attempts made by those in East Germany which has really piqued my interest and led to lots of googling.  

I thought the book had a great pace to it and I soon found myself drawn into the story. The author’s descriptions are very vivid and I often felt like I was actually there experiencing everything alongside the characters.  As you would probably expect this isn’t an easy read and some of the events depicted in this book are truly horrific- even more so as they are true.  I have found myself constantly thinking about them and about whether if I was there I would have been brave enough to do something different.  

The ending was beautiful as I loved seeing how far the characters had come and that they had got some answers.

Huge thanks to Milly Reid and for my copy of this book it’s really appreciated.

About The Author:

Born in Sweden to a family of writers and readers, Josie Ferguson moved to Scotland when she was two. She returned to Sweden in her twenties, where she completed a vocational degree in Clinical Psychology (MSc). Upon graduating, she moved to London to pursue a career in publishing, something she had dreamed about since delving into fictional worlds as a child, hidden under the duvet with a torch.

She later moved to Asia in search of an adventure and a bit more sun and currently works as a freelance book editor in Singapore, where she lives with her husband and two young children. While training to become a clinical psychologist, Josie learned about the complexity of human nature, something she explores as a writer. She believes books about the past can change the future and she aspires to write as many as possible. The Silence in Between is her debut.

Good morning everyone and happy Tuesday. I was a huge fan of The House In The Cerulean Sea and rate it as one of my favourite books ever. So you can imagine my excitement when a copy of the sequel, Somewhere Beyond The Sea, was sent to the bookshop.

I’m really excited to read it soon though I’m hoping to re-read The House In The Cerulean Sea first as it’s been a while.

Huge thanks to @torbooks and @panmacmillan for sending this to me.

Out 12th September 2024. There is a special Indie edition with beautiful spredges available too. Find out more about the book below ⬇️

If you could live in any bookish world, which one would you choose?

Somewhere Beyond The Sea by TJ Klune

A magical house. A secret past. A summons that could change everything.

This is the hugely-anticipated sequel to TJ Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea, a cosy-fantasy triumph and a New York Times bestseller.

Arthur Parnassus has built a good life on the ashes of a bad one. He’s headmaster at an orphanage for magical children, on a peculiar island, assisted by love-of-his-life Linus Baker. And together, they’ll do anything to protect their extraordinary and powerful charges.

However, when Arthur is forced to make a public statement about his dark past, he finds himself fighting for those under his care. It’s also a fight for the better future that all magical people deserve. Then when a new magical child joins their island home, Arthur knows they’ve reached breaking point. The child finds power in calling himself a monster, a name Arthur has tried so hard to banish to protect his children. Challenged from within and without, their volatile family might grow stronger. Or everything Arthur loves could fall apart.Somewhere Beyond the Sea is a story of resistance, lovingly told, about the daunting experience of fighting for the life you want to live and doing the work to keep it.

The House In The Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune

Linus Baker leads a quiet life. At forty, he has a tiny house with a devious cat and his beloved records for company. And at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth, he’s spent many dull years monitoring their orphanages.

Then one day, Linus is summoned by Extremely Upper Management and given a highly classified assignment. He must travel to an orphanage where six dangerous children reside – including the Antichrist.

At the orphanage, Linus must somehow determine if these children could bring about the end of days. But their guardian, the charming and enigmatic Arthur Parnassus, will do anything to protect his wards. And, as Arthur and Linus grow ever closer, Linus must choose: his duty, or his dreams . . .

About The Author:

TJ KLUNE is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling, Lambda Literary Award-winning author of The House in the Cerulean Sea, Under the Whispering Door, In the Lives of Puppets, and the Green Creek Series for adults, the Extraordinaries Series for teens, and more. Being queer himself, Klune believes it’s important—now more than ever—to have accurate, positive queer representation in stories.

Good afternoon everyone I hope you are having a great Friday. I was lucky enough to pick up a copy of this fantastic looking proof this week at work.

I’m a huge fan of Japanese translation fiction and I have been very intrigued by this book since I heard about it. It sounds similar to Before The Coffee Gets Cold series which I love so I’m very excited to read this soon.

Huge thanks to @connorhutch24 and @picadorbooks for sending me a copy of this.

Out 22nd August 2024
Find out more about the book below ⬇️

Book Synopsis:

One photograph, one treasured memory, one chance to go back . . .

In a cosy photography studio in the mountains between this world and the next, someone is waking up as if from a dream. A kind man will hand them a hot cup of tea and gently explain that, having reached the end of their life, they have one final task.

There is a stack of photos on their lap, one for every day of their life, and now they must choose the pictures that capture their most treasured memories, which will be placed in a beautiful lantern. Once completed, it will be set spinning, and their cherished moments will flash before their eyes, guiding them to another world.

But, like our most thumbed-over photographs, our favourite memories become faded with age, so each visitor to the studio has the chance to choose one day to return to and photograph afresh. Each has a treasured story to tell, from the old woman rebuilding a community in Tokyo after a disaster, to the flawed Yakuza man who remembers a time when he was kind, and a strong child who is fighting to survive.

Extraordinarily moving and wise, The Lantern of Lost Memories is a beautiful Japanese tale about the people that make us and the moments that change us.

About The Author:

Sanaka Hiiragi was born in 1974 in the Kagawa Prefecture. She graduated from Kobe Women’s University, majored in literature and completed her studies at Himeji Dokkyo University. After living and working overseas as a Japanese Language teacher for seven years, her debut novel, The Battle of Marriage Island, was nominated for the Konomys Award in 2012 and was chosen as ‘The Hidden Jade’ by the editors in 2013. She is a big fan of cameras, photography and kimono art. Picador publish The Lantern of Lost Memories in 2024.

Book Synopsis:

When a routine autopsy on what looked like a straightforward hit-and-run leads the LA Chief Medical Examiner, Dr Carolyn Hove, to discover some puzzling inconsistencies, she calls in Detective Robert Hunter of the LAPD Ultra Violent Crimes Unit. Not only did Dr Hove discover that the death wasn’t caused by a hit-and-run, but she also found indications that the victim had been severely tortured prior to death.

What no one realises is that what Dr Hove has stumbled upon is just the tip of the iceberg and it will lead Hunter and his partner, Carlos Garcia, on the trail of a twisted and clever killer who hides in plain sight. A serial killer no one even knew existed – a killer who has always operated under the radar, expertly disguising every gruesome murder as an accidental death.

But with no leads as to why the victim was targeted, the investigation comes to a standstill, until another body is discovered with an alternative cause of death.

What becomes clear is that this serial killer isn’t going to stop – unless Hunter and Garcia can get to him.

But how do you investigate a murder when you have no victims? How do you catch a killer who leaves behind no crime scene? How do you stop a ghost who no one can prove even exists?

My Review:

The Death Watcher is a dark, gripping thriller from a author for me.  I’ve been recommended this author multiple times, so I’m pleased that I finally got a chance to experience his books. It’s going to be a difficult book to review as I really don’t want to give anything away.  

I was immediately thrown into the story and into the, rather terrifying, murder investigation Hunter and Garcia find themselves with.  This book is slightly different to other crime novels that I have read as there aren’t initially a lot of suspects so instead the investigation focuses on why the murder might be choosing his victims which I found quite fascinating to follow.  I liked that the investigation seemed to unfold at a realistic pace and it was great to see the detectives using their brains to solve the crime rather than just relying on technology.  

The story had a great pace to it and soon became very gripping as the reader learns more about the victims, the murderer and their history.  I listened to this on audiobook and soon found myself walking the long way to work as I wanted to find out what would happen next.  The descriptions of torture are quite graphic and definitely won’t be for the faint hearted.  I’ve read quite a few dark crime novels and even I felt queasy at times.  There was lots of twists and red herrings that kept me guessing and I didn’t figure out what was going on until the end which I always love.  

Huge thanks to Simon and Schuster for providing me with an ALC through Libro fm.  

---

About The Author:

Born in Brazil of Italian origin, Chris Carter studied psychology and Criminal behaviour in the USA. As a member of the District Attorney’s Criminal Psychology team, and working together with the Police Department in numerous cases, he interviewed and studied many criminals, including serial and multiple homicide offenders with life imprisonment convictions. He now lives in London, UK.

Book Synopsis:

THE EMOTIONAL AND LIFE-AFFIRMING NEW NOVEL FROM THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF DAYS AT THE MORISAKI BOOKSHOP, TRANSLATED FROM JAPANESE BY ERIC OZAWA

In Tokyo, there is a neighbourhood with the highest number of bookstores in the world. It is called Jinbocho where book lovers can browse to their heart’s delight and where hunters of first editions or autographed copies prowl the bookcases.

The Morisaki bookshop, a small family-run shop, is so packed with books that barely five people can fit inside. Books crowd the shelves and invade every corner of the floor; when a customer arrives, the owner, Satoru, immediately pops out from behind the counter. Recently, his wife Momoko has joined him, and often, in her free time after work, their niece Takako also helps out.

For the first time, the girl does not feel lonely; she has new friends and new rituals to keep her company: the annual Jinbocho festival, the café around the corner, or an unexpected visitor. Because, as she has discovered, a bookstore is populated not by the characters contained in the books, but also by those who frequent it. And those stories create bonds.

As a sign of gratitude, Takako gives her aunt and uncle a trip, promising to look after the shop while they are away. Everything seems to be going swimmingly, but then why is Satoru behaving so strangely? And what does that woman with the red umbrella want who has appeared at the end of the street? How many other stories, emotions, and treasures does the Morisaki bookshop hold?

Loved by thousands of readers worldwide, More Days at the Morisaki Bookshop is a story of hope, friendship and the healing power of books. Will we see you in the bookshop this summer?

My Review:

More Days At The Morisaki Bookshop is a compelling and emotional read which I thoroughly enjoyed.  

Firstly, I loved being back at the bookshop and with the wonderful characters I had grown so fond of.  The bookshop and characters hadn’t really changed, which of course is part of its charm, so in this book the focus was more about the relationships Takako has developed.  It was great fun to learn more about characters that had been mentioned in the first book but not fully developed and it was nice to see Takako finally making friends with people.  Her reaction to people trying to help her with this made me laugh out loud and made me warm even more to her as I’ve experienced a similar situation.

This book had more of an emotional storyline to it which I wasn’t expecting and did bring a bit of a lump to my throat as I was reading.  It was sad to see how this event affected the bookshop and the larger bookish community.  However that’s not to say that it was an overly sad book as there was also lots of great bookish discussions and book love throughout the story which I really enjoyed.  

I thought this book started off slowly as the author catches the reader up with life at the bookshop but soon got going and became very absorbing.  I didn’t mind the slower moments personally though as I was just enjoying getting to hang out with the fabulous characters and visiting the bookshop again.  There were some surprising developments that I wasn’t expecting and I loved the ending which seemed hopeful despite everything.  I really hope there is another book in the series as I’d love to spend more time at the Morisaki Bookstore.  

Huge thanks to Manilla Press for sending me a copy of this book.  

About The Author:

Satoshi Yagisawa was born in Chiba, Japan, in 1977. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop, his debut novel, was originally published in 2009 and won the Chiyoda Literature Prize.

Good evening everyone I hope you’ve had a good day. I was lucky enough to get this fabulous looking proof through the post lady week.

I was a huge fan of The Turnglass and have always loved anything to do with Sherlock Holmes (nothing to do with Benedict Cumberbatch in the TV series honestly) so this sounds right up my street.

Huge thanks to @simonschusteruk for sending this to me I can’t wait to read it.

Out 12th September 2024.
Find out more about the book below ⬇️

Book Synopsis:

Can you solve the mystery before the greatest detective of all time?

Sherlock Holmes and his faithful friend, Dr John Watson, have been hired by actor George Reynolds. George wants them to find out why the audience who comes to see him perform every night are the same people, only wearing disguises. Is something sinister going on and, if so, what?

Meanwhile, Holmes’ archenemy, Professor James Moriarty is having problems of his own. Implicated in the murder of a gang leader, Moriarty and his second, Moran, must go on the run from the police in order to find out who is behind the set-up.

But their investigation puts them in the way of Holmes and Watson and it’s not long before all four realise that they are being targeted by the same person. With lives on the line, not just their own, they must form an uneasy alliance in order to unmask the true villain. With clues leading them to a hotel in Switzerland and a conspiracy far greater than any of them expected, who can be trusted and will any of them survive?

About The Author:

Gareth Rubin writes about social affairs, travel and the arts for British newspapers. In 2013 he directed a documentary about therapeutic art at the Bethlem Royal Hospital in London (‘Bedlam’). 
His books include Liberation Square, set in Soviet-occupied London; The Winter Agent, about British agents in Paris on the eve of D-Day and The Turnglass, two entwined mysteries that take place in Essex in 1881 and Los Angeles in 1939.
He read English literature at the University of St Andrews and trained at East 15 Acting School.