Good morning everyone and happy Saturday! As you may have heard the Wicked movie came out yesterday so I thought I’d do a little stack to celebrate!
🖤 Running Close To The Wind by Alexandria Rowland 💚Death In The Arctic by Tom Hindle 🩷Freakslaw by Jane Fleet 🖤A Poisoner’s Tale by Cathryn Kemp 💚 Green Dot by Madeleine Gray 🩷 Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano 🖤The Road Of Bones by Demi Winters 🩷Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson 💚The Examiner by Janice Hallet
I’m a huge fan of musicals and have always wanted to see Wicked on stage but sadly haven’t been able to. I’m therefore very excited to see the film when it comes to our local cinema next month. I might even take the kids though I might ask people how scary it is first as my youngest is only 6. Out of these books I’ve only read Hello Beautiful which I highly recommend.
My youngest came home from school poorly yesterday so I’m planning a quiet morning just snuggled in with him. I’m then working this afternoon and it’s meant to be the Christmas Lights switch on so our store is opening later than normal. The weather isn’t looking that good so I’m not sure how busy it’s going to be but hopefully a few people will turn out.
I’ve tagged a few people on Instagram who might want to take part but, as always, no pressure.
When opposition Chief Whip Esme Kanha is handed a secret dossier containing evidence of government corruption, she suspects its original owner, a top journalist, was murdered for gathering it. Despite the danger, she feels she must investigate. Meanwhile, lowly backbencher Harry Colbey is working his own leads. A known campaigner against big tech, he is often sent data from anonymous sources and this time round he has something truly alarming.
But both Colbey and Kanha must tread carefully in a world dominated by AI, where ‘what can see watches, what can hear listens, and what can be followed is tracked’.
As Kanha and Colbey again join forces, they are locked into a deadly race against political corruption, no matter what the cost. But when an old enemy returns, it may already be too late…
My Review:
Palisade is a gripping, twisty thriller which is frighteningly as it could become reality. It’s going to be a difficult book to review as I don’t want to give anything away.
Firstly I always love books featuring AI as it’s fascinating to explore other people’s ideas of where AI might take us, therefore this book instantly appealed to me. The world the author has created is a very unsettling one, made more so by how real the world feels. It’s a world where everybody’s every move is monitored and could potentially be used against against them.
It was great to be back with Kanha and Colby again. They make such a great team and it was wonderful following them as they helped solve another case. I always love detective teams that have a great relationship with each other and these two are so supportive that it makes you instantly warm them. I was instantly on their side, wanting to keep reading to ensure they were ok.
I thought this book was incredibly fast paced and I quickly found myself drawn into the story. There were lots of twists that kept me guessing and a few surprises that kept me glued to the page. The team are battling against new technology and an old foe which made for a really fantastic read.
This is the second book in the series but I think it could easily be read as a standalone as everything that you need to know is explained. I’m very much looking forward to reading more in this fabulous series.
Huge thanks to Midas for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. If you are a fan of clever, crime fiction then you need to read this book!
About The Author:
Based in Oxford, UK, Lou Gilmond is an author of mystery and thriller fiction, screenplays and travel books. http://www.lougilmond.com
Good morning everyone and happy Thursday. It’s suddenly gotten a lot colder here so I thought it was time to share a cold weather stack as I think winter has arrived!
🩵 Goodbye Birdie Greenwing by Ericka Waller 🤍The Unwilding by Marina Kemp 💙Yule Island by Johanna Gustawsson 🩶Babel by R.F Kuang 🩵The Lantern Of Lost Memories by Sanaka Hiiragi 💙The Twelve by Liz Hyder 🩵The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles 🤍 Nephthys by Rachel Louise Driscoll 💙The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins 🩶The Ministry Of Time by Kaliane Bradley 💙 Playground by Richard Powers
I actually don’t mind the winter as long as I’m warm enough as I hate feeling cold. I love wearing cosy jumpers, scarfs and cufflinks up under warm blankets. Our shop isn’t particularly warm so I run home quickly to put my oodie on and have a warm cup of tea. Out of the books above I’ve only read The Blue Hour which I highly recommend.
I ended up having a busy morning yesterday but made a big dent in my Christmas shopping which is a good feeling. I’m working the middle shift this morning so I’m planning on having a few hours reading before I have to go to work.
I’ve tagged a few people on Instagram who might want to take part and share a cold weather stack but, as always, no pressure. Please do let me know if you’d prefer me not to tag you in future too- I won’t be offended!
What’s your favourite way to keep warm this winter?
📚Book Spotlight: A Fate Forged In Fire by Hazel McBride
Good evening everyone I hope you’ve had a good day. I was lucky enough to be sent this beautiful looking proof recently.
I absolutely love books that feature dragons so this book instantly appealed to me. I then found out that the story has some Scottish folklore in it which I’m so excited about as I always love stories that include folklore. I’m also half Scottish so I can’t wait to learn more about my heritage!
Huge thanks to @dialoguepublishing for sending me a copy of this book I can’t wait to read it!
Out 27th May 2025 and you can find out more about the book below ⬇️
What’s your favourite mythological creature?
Book Synopsis:
Born to rule. Blessed by fire. Broken by desire. . .
In A Fate Forged in Fire, a powerfully blessed blacksmith must use her wits and fire magic to become the first queen in centuries and overthrow the corrupt powers ruling the kingdom while also fighting her desire for her dragon-riding adversary. The first book in a sizzling Celtic-inspired fantasy romance duology.
Once a territory built on matriarchal rule, Tìr Teine has been without a female heir for centuries. Through a long line of corrupt kings, an oppressive anti-magic teaching has infected the land – leading to the tragic decline of the dragons.
Aemyra was born to rule, gifted with fire magic from the Goddess Brigid. For years she has hidden in the shadows, waiting for the king to die so she can bond to his dragon, claim her birthright and protect her people.
But when her ambitious plan is foiled, Aemyra is thrust into a vicious game of politics and plots. Her biggest adversary is dragon rider and fire wielder Prince Fiorean. A cold and arrogant member of the royal family, he is everything Aemyra despises.
As chaos engulfs the court, Aemyra and Prince Fiorean are forced to forge an uneasy alliance – one that quickly ignites into something more dangerous than either of them expected.
Behind enemy lines and slowly falling for her so-called nemesis, Aemyra uncovers the true weight of the crown. How much is she willing to sacrifice to claim her throne?
About The Author:
Hazel McBride grew up in Scotland, gaining her BSc in Psychology at the University of Glasgow, before moving to the Dominican Republic. Switching the laid-back Caribbean for the sun-drenched Canary Islands a year later, she then moved to the chic South of France and is now fluent in three languages.
As a former animal trainer, Hazel loves writing about magical and fantastical creatures while exploring their connections with her characters. As a bisexual author with anxiety, she focuses on writing queer characters and exploring topics such as mental illness within her work.
Now settled in the Netherlands with her Dutch husband, most of her work draws heavy inspiration from her Celtic heritage and Scottish folklore. After writing her first novel aged seventeen, she stopped believing it was just a hobby aged twenty seven and began writing freelance for publications like The Independent, What’s On, and lifestyle blogs.
Her fantasy fiction has gained a popular fan base across social media and she is currently working on a high fantasy romance series with Gaelic roots – oh, and dragons.
Good morning everyone and happy Wednesday. I saw this on the lovely @nothing.beats.a.good.book ‘s page and knew I had to join in as I have quite a few hardbacks on my tbr pile.
❤️The City Of Stardust by Georgia Summers 🧡How To Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley 💛 Junction Of Earth And Sky by Susan Buttenwieser 💚The Days I Loved You Most by Amy Neff 💙Tales Of A Monstrous Heart by Jennifer Delaney 🩵 Spoilt Creatures by Amy Twigg 💜Januaries by Olivie Blake 🩷 Mongrel by Hanako Footman 🤍The Briar Club by Kate Quinn 🩶The Hotel Avocado by Bob Mortimer
I bought all of these from recommendations from book friends on here and I’m excited to read them soon. I know it sometimes seems like a slog on here but I want you to know your posts matter and they often encourage me to buy books!
I’m off this morning and I’m hoping to do a bit of Christmas shopping followed by some reading. I’m then working this afternoon and I’m hoping it’s a bit busier than yesterday as the snow put a lot of people off visiting. I’m then looking forward to coming home and watching the rest of Wall-e with my kids before some more reading time hopefully.
I’ve tagged a few people who might want to join in and share a hardback tbr pile but, as always, no pressure.
Good morning everyone and happy Tuesday. Today on Two For Tuesday I’m featuring two Christmas reads I’m looking forward to reading soon.
🎄The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gillmore 🍪 Happy Bloody Christmas by Jo Middleton
I’ve been a huge fan of the Dream Harbour Series from the start so I’m very excited to read another book in the series. We met the Christmas Tree Farm owner briefly in the last book and she didn’t want to keep it as a Christmas Tree Farm so I’m intrigued to see what happens. Happy Bloody Christmas is a book I’ve been hearing lots of great things about so I can’t wait to read it.
I normally wait until December to start Christmas reads but as it’s the 1st of December next weekend that’s not as far away as I think 🤣
Have you started reading Christmas books yet? Any recommendations for me?
Find out more about the books below ⬇️
The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gillmore
Kira North hates Christmas. Which is unfortunate since she just bought a Christmas tree farm in a town that’s too cute for its own good.
Bennett Ellis is on vacation in Dream Harbor taking a break from his life in California. And most importantly, taking a break from his latest run of disastrous dates.
After a run in with Kira in her fields, Ben has no intention of offering to help the grumpy owner set up her tree farm, despite the fact she’s clearly got no idea what she’s doing.
Kira knows she should stop being so stubborn, but her farm is not all cute and cozy like people always show on social media, it’s borderline dangerous with no heating, and she’d rather no one saw it.
But somehow fate finds Ben at Kira’s farm once more, and as Kira watches him swing an ax at the first tree, she finds herself appreciating his strength and questioning why she refused help in the first place..
The Christmas Tree Farm is a spicy romantic mystery with a HEA guaranteed!
Happy Bloody Christmas by Jo Middleton
Anna’s Christmas Eve To Do List:
1. Wrap the kids’ presents
2. Peel the potatoes
3. Get rid of the dead body?!
Hungover and exhausted after her family’s annual party, all Anna Johnson wants for Christmas is to finish her to-do list and finally sit down with the world’s biggest glass of wine.
But when she stumbles across a dead body in her larder, her plans are well and truly buggered.
A mysterious death in her home really is the last thing she needs, but with her judgemental in-laws arriving in less than twenty-four hours, turning her house into a crime scene is not an option. If she’s going to save Christmas, it’s up to Anna to find out what the hell’s gone on. Oh – and figure out what to do with the body before one of the kids finds it.
And you thought burning the turkey was the worst that could happen…
Long ago, the kingdom’s noble houses rebelled against the goddess… and for their treachery, the firstborn of each noble family was cursed.
One with perilous beauty. One with destructive knowledge. One with insatiable bloodlust.
But the royal house Mortara received the worst affliction of all. For while the king exists during the day, he fades into nothingness at night…until his twenty-first birthday, when he will be lost to the shadows forever.
Now an acolyte has arrived at court. Like all the second-born children, she’s destined to serve the goddess and become a Seer…only Cerise Solon has no gift of foretelling. In fact, she has no magical gift at all.
Instead, she’s surrounded by courtiers and priests – smiling sycophants whose hearts are filled with secrets and lies. And at the centre sits His Majesty Kian Hannibal Mortara, with his haunting eyes, sharp tongue, and an unerring ability to send her pulse skittering.
As the spectre of his twenty-first birthday – and the full force of his curse – approaches, the kingdom holds its breath.
There’s only one way to save a dying king… and it lies with the one person who’s hiding the biggest secret of all. Cerise.
My Review:
The Half King is an action packed, magical page turner that I thoroughly enjoyed!
Firstly I absolutely loved the world building in this book. The intriguing world the author has created was fascinating to explore alongside the characters. Each noble family in this world is afflicted by a curse relating to their role in The Great Betrayal of the goddess which I thought was very clever. I really enjoyed learning more about the different curses and the different roles that each family member carries. As the story goes on we learn more about the world and that nothing is necessarily as the characters have been led to believe.
Cerise was a very interesting main character. On one hand I really liked her and admired her bravery as well as her determination to try her best despite not having any skills to help her. However on the other she infuriated me with her naivety and her inability to consider a point of view that was difficult from her own- particularly at the beginning. She often acted a lot younger than her years though this is probably due to her sheltered temple upbringing. It was lovely to see her grow in confidence throughout the book as she gained knowledge about her past and discovered more about her destiny.
Overall, as you can probably tell, I absolutely loved this book and will be recommending it to all fantasy lovers. I was quickly drawn into the book and into the wonderful world the author has created. There was always something happening to keep me reading and lots of surprising twists that ensured the book was very hard to put down. The romance side of things was a bit of a slow burn but the reasons for this was explained and I felt that it seemed more natural because it. The reveal at the end was very well done, especially as I thought I had everything figured out so it took me completely by surprise which I always love. This is the first book in the series and I can’t wait to read more and see what happens next.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to the publishers for my copy of this book. If you’re a fantasy fan I highly recommend this book – Particularly if you loved The God Killer series as it reminded me of it at times.
About The Author:
Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. She lives with her family in Cincinnati, where she writes romantic fantasy and science fiction adventures for the young at heart.
Good morning everyone and happy Saturday. I was tagged by the lovely @clairesbookobsession to take part in the Great British Bake Off Challenge. As a huge fan of the TV series I knew I had to join in!
🍰ON YOUR MARKS- A Book You Can’t Wait To Read The Golden Hour by Kate Lord Brown & The Sirens by Emilia Hart
🍰 SIGNATURE BAKE- A Book From Your Favourite Genre Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lemon
🍰 TECHNICAL ROUND – A Book You Know Nothing About Late Light by Michael Malay Surprise book post from a publisher but I’m very intrigued
🍰 SHOWSTOPPER – A Book With A Beautiful Cover The Burial Plot by Elizabeth Macneal
🍰 SOGGY BOTTOM – A Book That Made You Cry In Memoriam by Alice Winn & Before The Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
🍰 HOLLYWOOD HANDSHAKE – Your Perfect Book The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
🍰 LEAVING THIS WEEK – A Book You Didn’t Finish By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult (But I want to finish soon!)
🍰 STAR BAKER – A Five Star Read The Blue Hour by Paula Hawkins
🍰AND The WINNER IS – A Book By Your Favourite Author The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce
I’ve tagged a few people on Instagram who might want to join in but, as always, no pressure!
Good morning everyone and happy Friday . With all the hype about the Booker Prize winner you may have missed the winners of the 2024 Books Are My Bag Awards.
These awards are the only book awards with a shortlist curated by bookshops and the winners chosen by readers.
(In my best award show host voice) The Winners are:
👑 Fiction: You Are Here by David Nicholls
👑Non Fiction: Abroad In Japan by Chris Broad
👑 Poetry: Lobster: and other things I’m learning about love by Holly McNish
👑 Children’s Fiction: I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery
👑 Breakthrough Author: Butter by Asako Yuzuki
👑 Reader’s Choice: Abroad In Japan by Chris Broad
I haven’t actually read any of these yet, though I do have three of the books on my shelf. I’m particularly intrigued by Butter now as it’s been getting lots of hype recently and Abroad In Japan as I’ve been wanting to read it for a while. Butter is actually a book club choice for my fellow bookclub leader at Rossiter Books @somethingbyjane so I’ll definitely be reading it soon. My eldest son was a big fan of Spellstone by Ross Montgomery so I’ve ordered I Am Rebel as a Christmas present for him.
Have you read any of these? Who would your winners have been?
Good morning everyone and happy Thursday. Today I’m featuring 8 thrillers I’m hoping to read soon!
❤️Ink Ribbon Red by Alex Pavesi
🧡 Butter by Asako Yuzuki
💛The Ice Retreat by Ruth Kelly
💚Burn After Reading by Catherine Ryan Howard
💙The Cleaner by Mary Watson
🩵Death In The Arctic by Tom Hindle
💜 Beautiful People by Amanda Jennings
🩷The Troubled Deep by Rob Parker
Ruth Kelly, Tom Hindle and Catherine Ryan Howard are some of my favourite thriller writers so I can’t wait to read them. Butter has been getting lots of hype In the media and my colleagues all speak highly of it so I’m very intrigued. The rest are all new authors for me so I’m looking forward to reading them soon.
Huge thanks to the publishers for sending these to me it’s really appreciated.
Find out more about the books below ⬇️
Who is your favourite thriller writers?
Ink Ribbon Red by Alex Pavesi
Six friends gather at a country house for a birthday weekend. They decide to play a game.
All six names go in a hat. Choose two, and imagine one murdering the other.
Write it down. Type it up. Read it out.
Points are given for making the murders sound convincing.
Of course, when given such a task, it’s only natural to use what you know.
Secrets. Grudges. Affairs.
But once you’ve put it in a story, that secret is out.
So with each fictional murder, someone gets a motive for a real one.
Which leads to the most important question:
When a real murder comes, will you be able to spot it in time?
Butter by Asako Yuzuki
The cult Japanese bestseller about a female gourmet cook and serial killer and the journalist intent on cracking her case, inspired by a true story.
There are two things that I can simply not tolerate: feminists and margarine.
Gourmet cook Manako Kajii sits in Tokyo Detention Centre convicted of the serial murders of lonely businessmen, who she is said to have seduced with her delicious home cooking. The case has captured the nation’s imagination but Kajii refuses to speak with the press, entertaining no visitors. That is, until journalist Rika Machida writes a letter asking for her recipe for beef stew and Kajii can’t resist writing back.
Rika, the only woman in her news office, works late each night, rarely cooking more than ramen. As the visits unfold between her and the steely Kajii, they are closer to a masterclass in food than journalistic research. Rika hopes this gastronomic exchange will help her soften Kajii but it seems that she might be the one changing. With each meal she eats, something is awakening in her body, might she and Kaji have more in common than she once thought?
Inspired by the real case of the convicted con woman and serial killer, “The Konkatsu Killer”, Asako Yuzuki’s Butter is a vivid, unsettling exploration of misogyny, obsession, romance and the transgressive pleasures of food in Japan.
The Ice Retreat by Ruth Kelly
From bestselling author Ruth Kelly, The Ice Retreat is a spine-tingling thriller set in the world of controversial wellness treatments. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Sarah Pearse.
HEALER?
Meet Hollie Jenson, presenter of the smash-hit docu-series Bad Medicine, which exposes the perils of extreme therapies. Her next target: a new retreat run by wellness guru Ariel Rose, who claims to have discovered the secret to healing pain through her three-day ice rebirth treatment.
LIAR?
Acting on a mother’s plea to find her son, who vanished soon after his stay, Hollie ventures into the Swiss mountains where the retreat occupies a former observatory. There she will search for the boy, and hopes to expose Ariel as the charlatan she believes her to be.
KILLER?
As the isolation of the valley sets in, Hollie finds herself in an increasingly dangerous situation. There is much more to the retreat than meets the eye, and she must confront explosive secrets from her own past if she is to ever make it out alive . . .
Burn After Reading by Catherine Ryan Howard
A ghostwriter is locked in an interview room with a man who might be a murderer, in this gripping new mystery thriller from the #1 bestselling author of 56 Days and The Trap.
‘The perfect thriller’ — L. V. Matthews, author of the Richard and Judy Book Club pick The Twins
The night Jack Smyth ran into flames in a desperate attempt to save his wife from their burning home, he was, tragically, too late – but hailed a hero. Until it emerged that Kate was dead long before the fire began.
Suspicion has stalked him ever since. After all, there’s no smoke without fire.
A year on, he’s signed a book deal. He wants to tell his side of the story, to prove his own innocence in print. He just needs someone to help him write it.
Emily has never ghostwritten anything before, but she knows what it’s like to live with a guilty secret. And she’s about to learn that there are some stories that should never be told . . .
The Cleaner by Mary Watson
It’s not dust she’s looking for. It’s dirt.
Esmie is supposed to be invisible. Just a cleaner with a foreign accent that no one quite has time to place. Her uniform of leggings and a duster allows her to explore the homes of the wealthy, unseen; an outsider creeping around the edges of privilege.
But as she sweeps through the exclusive Woodlands gated neighbourhood, cleaning is the last thing on her mind. Treading silently over the polished wooden floorboards and cloud-soft carpets, Esmie gathers up the mess of broken marriages, quiet deceptions and careless failures. She tucks away their fragments, keeping them safe. For now.
Because one of the residents took from her the person she loves most. She’s not here to clean; she’s here for revenge – and she’ll get it using the weapons her employers unwittingly handed her along with the keys to their homes: their own secrets…
This beautifully sinister, propulsive page-turner that explores themes of identity and privilege is perfect for fans of Harriet Tyce and Lisa Jewell.
Death In The Arctic by Tom Hindle
A frozen wilderness.
A killer in the skies.
When aspiring travel writer Chloé Campbell is invited aboard a luxury airship flying to the North Pole, she thinks she’s bagged the opportunity of a lifetime.
But she hasn’t had long to admire the dazzling icy views before a fellow passenger is found dead in their cabin.
Trapped at the top of the world, the group agrees a tragic accident has occurred. But as the hours tick by, fear turns to doubt.
It seems everyone’s a suspect.
And it isn’t long before the passengers begin to turn on each other . . .
Beautiful People by Amanda Jennings
When Victoria escapes her broken home for university in London, she is determined to reinvent herself and make a fresh start. She falls in love with Nick, who welcomes her into his privileged circle of friends, opening her eyes to a world she only ever dreamt of.
Then life takes a darker turn.
Twenty-five years later, the circle is reunited alongside a host of glittering guests to celebrate the wedding of Hollywood darling Ingrid Olsson to ruthlessly well-connected Julian Draper. Victoria has spent years trying to forget Nick and put the horror of what happened behind her. Now she has to face the past she tried so hard to bury.
As the champagne flows and painful memories resurface, Victoria can’t shake the feeling that some people seem to get away with everything.
But maybe not this time.
Maybe this time, someone will pay the ultimate price.
The Troubled Deep by Rob Parker
A gripping, propulsive and atmospheric crime thriller perfect for fans of Ann Cleeves, Peter James and Elly Griffiths. Your new Norfolk crime obsession starts here…
Nobody ever knew what happened to the Brindleys. One summer they were there – flashy, loud and beautiful – and then they were gone. A mother, father and two children, vanished into the East Anglian night.
Some said the family never made it home from the party; their speeding car thrown off the tracks and the four of them silently buried in the marshes. Others said they had simply moved on. For thirty years, the case remained as cold as the freezing waterways of the Norfolk broads.
Until Cam Killick found the car.
An ex-marine and ex-SBS officer, Cam Killick’s PTSD has made the return to civilian life a living nightmare. The only place he can find peace is underwater, where the world is muffled to white noise. As a cold case diver it is his job to scour the waterways of the country for the lost, the submerged, the drowned, laying their stories to rest alongside them.
Except when Cam throws open the doors to the Brindley car, all four bodies are missing. And Cam will soon learn that some secrets, once submerged, are better off staying that way.
Over The Rainbow Blog 