Good morning everyone and happy Monday. I haven’t been able to read as much as normal as I’ve been rather tired but I thought I’d do a reading update today!
Last: The Burial Plot by Elizabeth Macneal
I’ve actually got a few pages left of this book but I’m hoping to finish it today so I’m counting it 🤣 I have enjoyed this book, but not as much as I thought I would which I’m surprised about.
Now: More Days At The Morisaki Bookshop & Brotherless Night
I’m currently reading More Days At The Morisaki Bookshop as I couldn’t wait to read it and Brotherless Night as I’ve been hearing great things about it.
Next: ?
I’m not sure what I’m going to read next as I’m going to see what I feel like. I’m really enjoying my historical fiction atm and I’ve been recommended Hold Back The Night a few times so I think I’ll read that next alongside When The Moon Hatched which I’ve actually read the first chapter of and I’m very intrigued!
World War One, and as shells fall in Flanders, a Canadian nurse searches for her brother believed dead in the trenches despite eerie signs that suggest otherwise in this gripping and powerful historical novel from the bestselling author of The Bear and the Nightingale.
January 1918. Laura Iven has been discharged from her duties as a nurse and sent back to Halifax, Canada, leaving behind a brother still fighting in the trenches of the First World War. Now home, she receives word of Freddie’s death in action along with his uniform -but something doesn’t quite make sense. Determined to find out more, Laura returns to Belgium as a volunteer at a private hospital. Soon after arriving, she hears whispers about ghosts moving among those still living and a strange inn-keeper whose wine gives soldiers the gift of oblivion. Could this have happened to Freddie – but if so, where is he?
November 1917. Freddie Iven awakens after an explosion to find himself trapped under an overturned pillbox with an enemy soldier, a German, each of them badly wounded. Against all odds, the two men form a bond and succeed in clawing their way out. But once in No Man’s Land, where can either of them turn where they won’t be shot as enemy soldiers or deserters? As the killing continues, they meet a man – a fiddler – who seems to have the power to make the hellscape that surrounds them disappear. But at what price?
A novel of breath-taking scope and drama, of compulsive readability, of stunning historical research lightly worn, and of brilliantly drawn characters who will make you laugh and break your heart in a single line, The Warm Hands of Ghosts is a book that will speak to readers directly about the trauma of war and the power of those involved to love, endure and transcend it.
My Review:
The Warm Hands Of Ghosts is an absorbing and emotional historical read with a touch of the paranormal.
The story is told from the point of view of siblings Laura, an ex nurse who was sent home early from the front and Freddie who is missing presumed dead. This was easy to follow on the audiobook as they had a female narrator for Laura and a male narrator for Freddie. I liked both siblings and enjoyed following them throughout the book but my favourite was definitely Laura. I really admired her strength and determination both in trying to find her brother and in her nursing skills that she uses to help injured soldiers – all while being injured herself. There are an amazing group of secondary characters in the book too who I enjoyed getting to know more about especially Pim who I initially dismissed, as many other do, as a bit of a ditzy blonde but who really surprised me as the story continued.
The author has clearly done her research so I felt fully transported to France in the last year of the war with all the horrors and heartache you’d expect from war. Some of the descriptions, especially the ones involving the injuries of some of the soldiers were quite gruesome and did turn my stomach in places. It was heartbreaking to learn more about the conditions of the trenches and how different the war was for the upper classes compared to the ordinary soldier.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be recommending it to others. The book had a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. The two timelines gradually come together and I loved finding out what had happened to Freddie as well as learning more about the mysterious fiddler.
Huge thanks to Penguin for providing me with a ALC of this book via Libro FM.
About The Author:
Born in Austin, Texas, Katherine Arden spent her junior year of high school in Rennes, France.
Following her acceptance to Middlebury College in Vermont, she deferred enrolment for a year in order to live and study in Moscow. At Middlebury, she specialized in French and Russian literature.
After receiving her BA, she moved to Maui, Hawaii, working every kind of odd job imaginable, from grant writing and making crêpes to serving as a personal tour guide. After a year on the island, she moved to Briançon, France, and spent nine months teaching. She then returned to Maui, stayed for nearly a year, then left again to wander. Currently she lives in Vermont, but really, you never know.
She is the author of The Bear and the Nightingale.
Good morning everyone and happy Friday! I signed up to do the audiobook challenge hosted by the Caffeinated reader this year and I’ve just reached the first milestone and completely the Newbie section having listened to 5 audiobooks!
Here’s what I’ve listened to so far:
❤️The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose 💛The Guest by B A Paris 💚The Warm Hands Of Ghosts by Katherine Arden 💙The Fury by Alex Michaelides 💜Argylle by Elly Conway
All of these I rated as 4/5 stars and you can find my full reviews on my blog. I’m hoping to post my review of The Warm Hands Of Ghosts later today. I tend to listen to audiobooks as I’m walking to work and setting up the shop in the morning. I’m often too tired to read at night so I’m thinking of starting to listen to audiobooks in the evening too.
I’m off today and hoping to have a quiet day as I’m a bit exhausted. I’m going to walk to the shops to get some father’s day presents and maybe meet a friend for coffee. I’ll be listening to my current audiobook The Death Watcher by Chris Carter which I’m enjoying so far.
Do you listen to audiobooks? When do you fit them in? I need advice!
The Blue sisters have always been exceptional – and exceptionally different.
Avery, a strait-laced lawyer living in London, is the typical eldest daughter, though she’s hiding a secret that could undo her perfect life forever.
Bonnie was a boxer but, following a devastating defeat, she’s been working as a bouncer in LA – until a reckless act one night threatens to drive her out of the city.
And Lucky, the rebellious youngest, is a model in Paris whose hard-partying ways are finally catching up with her.
Then there was Nicky, the beloved fourth sister, whose unexpected death left Avery, Bonnie and Lucky reeling.
When, a year later, the three of them must reunite in New York to stop the sale of their childhood home, they find that it’s only by returning to each other that they can navigate their grief, addiction and heartbreak and learn to fall in love with life again.
My Review:
Blue Sisters is a beautifully written, emotional but heartwarming read that will definitely be staying with me.
The story is told from the point of view of three sisters who are struggling in the aftermath of the death of their beloved sister Nicky. It was very poignant to follow each sister as the reader witnesses how much they were struggling and how much everything had changed because of it. I enjoyed following the sisters as they try to come to terms with her death and start to make positive changes to their lives. It was so lovely to see them grow closer together again and try to work on their relationships.
I thought this book had a great pace to it but even when there wasn’t much happening I was just enjoying hanging out with the fabulous sisters. There’s some quite serious subjects discussed in the book which I found interesting to follow and I especially loved the message to remember to take care of yourself too. The ending was lovely and it was great to see how far everyone had come. My only complaint is that I wish the book had been a tad longer as I’d have loved to hang out with the sister more and find out what happened next.
Huge thanks to Indie Thinking for sending me a copy of this book.
About The Author:
Coco Mellors is a writer from London and New York. She received her MFA in Fiction from New York University, where she was a Goldwater fellow. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband. Cleopatra and Frankenstein is her first novel.
Good morning everyone today on Two For Tuesday I’m featuring two books by Amita Murray. I was such a huge fan of Unladylike Lessons In Love that you can imagine my excitement when the author offered to send me a copy of the next book in the series.
Huge thanks to @amitamurray for sending this to me, I’m so excited to read it.
Both books are out now and you can find out more below ⬇️
Unladylike Lessons In Love
Fast-paced and feisty Regency fiction with a dazzlingly daring heroine who breaks the mould.
Not every Regency lady is looking for a husband…
As the daughter of an English earl and his Indian mistress, impulsive Lila Marleigh has already broken the rules of society into tiny pieces.
When a face she never thought she would see again appears and begs for help, Lila must court notoriety once more and pit her wits against the annoyingly handsome aristocrat, Ivor Tristram. But does she risk opening her heart to the one person who can break it…?
Unladylike Lessons In Attraction
As one of the daughters of an English Earl and his Indian Mistress, Anya Marleigh has defied Regency society’s rules by playing her sitar and singing beautifully for Queen Charlotte at the court of George III.
When she comes into an unexpected inheritance, her change of fortune comes with a catch ― she must marry before her twenty-fifth birthday or the money will go to her trustee ― the infuriating but devilishly sexy Lord Damian Ashton, who also has the power to approve her choice of husband.
As Anya begins to attract the wrong sort of marriage suitor, Lord Ashton is the only thing standing between her and a fate worse than death. But does he have his own reasons for hindering her happy ever after …?
About The Author:
Amita is a writer, based in London. She first discovered her love for Georgette Heyer’s sparkling banter and runaway horses when she found one of Heyer’s romantic adventures in a second-hand bookstall as a teenager. There was no looking back – as in, it took another few decades to realise that Heyer was more than just a delicious obsession. Amita’s first Regency, Unladylike Lessons in Love, comes out in 2023 and takes readers on a ride through a diverse 19th century London landscape like you’ve never seen it before. Amita’s Arya Winters series of mysteries is published with Agora. The first came out in 2021. Get in touch @AmitaMurray and amitamurray.Wordpress.com
Good afternoon everyone and happy Monday. I hope you all had a good weekend. I thought I’d do a little reading update for you today:
❤️Last: The King’s Witches by Kate Foster
I really enjoyed this gripping piece of historical fiction. I have a bit of a fascination with the witch hunts and it’s always interesting to learn more about it. Read my full review on my grid!
💛Now: The Burial Plot by Elizabeth Macneal
I’m half way through this and really I’m enjoying it so far. I love historical fiction centered around strange houses so this book instantly appealed to me. I’m looking forward to reading more of it today!
💚 Next: When The Moon Hatched by Sarah A Parker
I’m then hoping to read When The Moon Hatched as I keep hearing great things about it. I’m slightly nervous by how long it looks but it includes dragons so I’m sure I’ll love it!
💙Next: Private Rites by Julia Armfield
My other option for my next book is Private Rites by Julia Armfield. I love dystopian fiction, especially ones set in the future so I’m intrigued to read this one. I loved this author’s last book so I have high hopes for this one.
The master of intense suspense, Will Dean, is back! THE CHAMBER follows the success of Richard & Judy Book Club pick THE LAST PASSENGER.
HIGH PRESSURE OUTSIDE On a boat heading out into the North Sea, Ellen Brooke steels herself to spend almost a month locked inside a hyperbaric chamber with five other divers. They are all being paid handsomely for this work – to be lowered each day inside a diving bell to the sea bed, taking it in turns to dive down and repair oil pipes that lie in the dark waters. It is a close knit team and it has to be: any error or loss of trust could be catastrophic.
EXTREME PRESSURE INSIDE All is going to plan until one of the divers is found unresponsive in his bunk. He hadn’t left the chamber. It will take four more days of decompression, locked away together, before the hatch can be opened. Four more days of bare steel, intrusive thoughts, and the constant struggle not to give way to panic. Mind games, exhaustion, suspicion, and, most of all, pressure. And if someone does unlock the door, everyone dies…
And Then There Were None meets The Last Breath in this tense and suspenseful locked-room thriller from the author of the “astonishing” (Ian Rankin) The Last Passenger.
My Review:
The Chamber is another chilling, gripping read from one of my favourite thriller writers.
The underground world the author has created in this book was very clever and I enjoyed exploring it alongside the characters. It was interesting to learn more about each of the team members and a bit about Ellen herself who I thought was a very impressive woman. The author has clearly done her research and I enjoyed learning more about what diving involves and the different missions you could be sent on. I’ve actually tried scuba diving before and found it quite frightening so I enjoyed following the characters on their journey safely from my sofa!
I thought this book was very fast paced and I soon found it very difficult to put the book down. The locked room scenario the author has created was very clever and helped add to the almost palpable tension as we slowly wait for the pod to rise to the surface. There were lots of twists that kept me guessing and I wasn’t able to figure out what was happening next which I always love. The ending was interesting and while I wish we’d learned more about the reasons behind what happened I was very satisfied with how everything was wrapped up.
Huge thanks to Alainna from Hodder and Stoughton for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Will Dean grew up in the East Midlands, living in nine different villages before the age of eighteen. After studying law at the LSE, and working many varied jobs in London, he settled in rural Sweden with his wife. He built a wooden house in a boggy forest clearing and it’s from this base that he compulsively reads and writes.
Women whisper secrets to each other; it is how we survive.
1589. Princess Anna of Denmark is betrothed to King James VI of Scotland. Before they can wed, Anna must pass the trial period: one year of marriage to prove herself worthy of being Scotland’s new Queen. Determined to fulfil her duties to King and country, Anna resolves to be the perfect royal bride. Until she meets Lord Henry . . .
By her side is Kirsten Sorenson, her loyal and pious lady-in-waiting. But, whilst tending to Anna’s every need, Kirsten has her own secret motives for the royal marriage to succeed . . .
Meanwhile, in North Berwick, young housemaid Jura practises the healing charms taught to her by her mother. When she realizes she is no longer safe, she escapes to Edinburgh, only to find herself caught up in the witchcraft mania that has gripped not just the capital, but the new queen . . .
My Review:
The King’s Witches is a fascinating, gripping read which I thoroughly recommend.
I always love a witchy book, especially if it teaches me more about the infamous witch hunts. This book focuses on the witch hunts in Denmark and Scotland which I found really interesting. It was heartbreaking to see how small, innocent acts could lead to women being accused of witchcraft. It made me very glad that I didn’t live in this time.
The story is told from the point of view of three women from very different backgrounds, each having a different reason to fear the witch hysteria that’s gripping the UK. I found it quite emotional to follow them throughout the book. My heart was often in my throat as I watched events unfold and as I watched them trying to defend themselves against an injust system.
I thought the characters were all fantastic creations that I enjoyed following throughout the book. The author has clearly done her research and I loved how she bought these historical characters to life. I warmed to them quickly and wanted to keep reading to find out what happens to them.
Overall I absolutely loved this book and will be recommending it . I thought the book had a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. There’s a lot of tension in this book as well as a lot of uncertainty which made the book both hard to put down and hard to read at times. If you love a witchy read them I think you’d love this book.
Huge thanks to the lovely Chloe from Pan Macmillan for sending me a copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.
About The Author:
Kate Foster has been a national newspaper journalist for over twenty years. Growing up in Edinburgh, she became fascinated by its history and often uses it as inspiration for her stories. The Maiden won the Bloody Scotland Pitch Perfect 2020 prize for new writers. She lives in Edinburgh with her two children.
In the shadows of an ancient wood, guests gather for the opening weekend of The Manor: a beautiful new countryside retreat.
But under the burning midsummer sun, darkness stirs. Old friends and enemies circulate among the guests. And the candles have barely been lit for a solstice supper when the body is found.
It all began with a secret, fifteen years ago. Now the past has crashed the party. And it’ll end in murder at…
THE MIDNIGHT FEAST
My Review:
The Midnight Feast is a fast paced, gripping read that I’d rate as one of her best yet! It’s going to be a difficult book to review as I don’t want to give anything away.
The story of set in Dorset with all the action taking place in or around a new hotel that has opened and caused much controversy. Through two timelines we learn more about the hotel’s past and more about the characters we meet there. I think it’s fair to say the hotel has a rather colourful history and I enjoyed discovering more about it as the story continues. There’s a little bit of folklore included into the story which added a bit of unpredictability and helped to add a bit of mystery to what was going on at the hotel.
I thought the characters were all marvellous creations and I enjoyed following them throughout the book. In alternate chapters we hear from four main characters and I loved piecing together the mystery of what was going on at the hotel through them. I started off not liking any of them as they initially seemed so full of themselves, although this opinion did change as the book continued and I discovered more about their backstory. It was interesting to learn more about their connection to the hotel and how it relates to what’s happening in the present day.
Overall I absolutely loved this book and will be recommending it to everyone. I was immediately drawn into the story and into the lives of the characters. The book had a great pace to it with lots of twists that I didn’t see coming which I always love. It was great fun trying to figure out the mystery of what was going on at the hotel and how everything connected. The ending was brilliant, especially that fantastic last line, and I found it very satisfying to see how everything concluded.
Huge thanks to Indie Thinking from Harper Collins for sending me a copy of this book.
About The Author:
Lucy Foley is a British novelist, most well known for her crime thrillers which include The Hunting Party and The Guest List.
After studying English Literature at Durham University and University College London, Foley became a fiction editor, penning her debut novel The Book of Lost and Found in 2015 alongside her day job. Two more novels followed in 2016 and 2018 before she achieved the breakout success of her first crime thriller, The Hunting Party (also 2018). A gripping whodunit set in the Scottish wilderness, the book became her first Waterstones Thriller of the Month in November 2019, a feat Foley replicated in September 2020 with her next page-turning mystery The Guest List. The Paris Apartment, set in a sinister Montmartre apartment block, was published in March 2022.
Good morning everyone and happy Tuesday. I was a huge fan of The Kamogawa Food Detectives so you can imagine my excitement when I heard there was going to be another edition to the series.
The Restaurant Of Lost Recipes is out 3rd October 2024 and I can’t wait to read it soon.
Huge thanks to the lovely @libraryofchlo and @panmacmillan for sending me a copy of this book.
Find out more about The Restaurant Of Lost Recipes below ⬇️
The Restaurant Of Lost Recipes by Hisashi Kashiwai
The Restaurant of Lost Recipes, translated from Japanese by Jesse Kirkwood, is the second book in the bestselling, mouth-watering Japanese sleuthing series for fans of Before the Coffee Gets Cold, and follows on from The Kamogawa Food Detectives.
Tucked away down a Kyoto backstreet lies the extraordinary Kamogawa Diner. Running this unique establishment are a father-daughter duo who serve more than just mouth-watering feasts.
The pair have reinvented themselves as ‘food detectives’, offering a service that goes beyond traditional dining. Through their culinary sleuthing, they reconstruct beloved dishes from the memories of their customers, creating a connection to cherished moments from the past.
Among those who seek an appointment include: a one-hit wonder pop star, finally ready to leave Tokyo and give up on her singing career, wants to try the tempura that she ate to celebrate her only successful record and a budding Olympic swimmer who desires the bento lunch box that his estranged father used to make him. The Kamogawa Diner doesn’t just serve meals – it revives lost recipes and rekindles forgotten memories. It’s a doorway to the past through the miracle of delicious food.
The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai
The first book in the bestselling, mouth-watering Japanese sleuthing series, The Kamogawa Food Detectives is perfect for fans of Toshikazu Kawaguchi’s Before the Coffee Gets Cold.
What’s the one dish you’d do anything to taste just one more time?
Down a quiet backstreet in Kyoto exists a very special restaurant. Run by Koishi Kamogawa and her father Nagare, the Kamogawa Diner treats its customers to wonderfully extravagant meals. But that’s not the main reason to stop by . . .
The father-daughter duo have started advertising their services as ‘food detectives’. Through ingenious investigations, they are capable of recreating a dish from their customers’ pasts – dishes that may well hold the keys to unlocking forgotten memories and future happiness.
From the widower looking for a specific noodle dish that his wife used to cook, to a first love’s beef stew, the restaurant of lost recipes provides a link to the past – and a way to a more contented future.
A bestseller in Japan, The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai, and translated from Japanese by Jesse Kirkwood, is a heartwarming celebration of good company and the power of a delicious meal.
Perfect for readers of Welcome to the Hyunam-dong Bookshop and Days at the Morisaki Bookshop.
About the author:
Hisashi Kashiwai, the author of The Kamogawa Food Detectives, was born in 1952 and was raised in Kyoto. He graduated from Osaka Dental University. After graduating, he returned to Kyoto and worked as a dentist. He has written extensively about his native city and has collaborated on TV programmes and magazines.
Over The Rainbow Blog 