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.
Good afternoon everyone I was excited to receive a copy of The Dagger And The Flame last week. I’ve been a big fan of this author’s previous books and, as this one is being compared to Leigh Bardugo who is one of my favourite authors, I can’t wait to read this one soon.
Huge thanks to Simon and Schuster for sending this to me.
Out 26th September 2024.
Book Synopsis:
From the number one bestselling author Catherine Doyle comes the most fiery enemies-to-lovers romantasy of the year. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo and Stephanie Garber.
In the dark underbelly of a beautiful city, two rival assassins are pitted against each other in a deadly game of revenge, where the most dangerous mistake of all is falling in love…
In Fantome, a kingdom of cobbled streets, flickering lamplight, beautiful buildings, and secret catacombs, Shade-magic is a scarce and deadly commodity controlled by two enemy guilds: the Cloaks and the Daggers – the thieves and the assassins. On the night of her mother’s murder, 17-year-old Seraphine runs for her life. Seeking sanctuary with the Cloaks, Sera’s heart is set on revenge. But are her secret abilities a match for the dark-haired boy whose quicksilver eyes follow her around the city?
Nothing can prepare Sera for the moment she finally comes face-to-face with Ransom, heir to the Order of Daggers. And Ransom is shocked to discover that this unassuming farmgirl wields a strange and blazing magic he has never seen before…
Among rumours of monsters stalking the streets and the rival guilds grappling for control of Fantome’s underworld, Sera and Ransom are drawn together by something more than just magic and must face a deadly choice – forgiveness or vengeance? Kiss or kill? Dagger or Flame?
About The Author:
Catherine Doyle grew up in the West of Ireland. She holds a BA in Psychology and an MA in Publishing.
Her award-winning and bestselling middle grade début, The Storm Keeper’s Island is set on the magical island of Arranmore, where her grandparents grew up. The sequel, The Lost Tide Warriors, was published in July 2019, with the third to follow in March 2021. Catherine’s modern re-imagining of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, titled The Miracle on Ebenezer Street, was published by Puffin books in October 2020. She is also the author of the Young Adult Blood for Blood trilogy (Vendetta, Inferno and Mafiosa), which is often described as Romeo and Juliet meets the Godfather.
One week in Cape Cod. The perfect family holiday. What could possibly go wrong…?
For the past two decades, Rocky has looked forward to her family’s yearly escape to Cape Cod. Their rustic beach-town rental has been the site of sweet memories, its quirky furniture and mismatched pots and pans greeted like old friends.
Now, sandwiched between her children who are adult enough to be fun but still young enough to need her, and her parents who are alive and healthy, Rocky wants to preserve this golden moment forever. This one precious week when everything is in balance; everything is in flux.
But every family has its secrets and hers is no exception.
With her body in open revolt and surprises invading her peaceful haven, the perfectly balanced seesaw of Rocky’s life is tipping towards change…
Out 6th June 2024
My Review:
Oh I did love this book. It was such a warm hearted read and so beautifully written that I know it will stay with me for a long time.
The family was such a wonderful creation that I enjoyed getting to know throughout the book. I liked the fly on the wall glimpse into the family’s holiday which meant I felt like one of their family included in their banter and holiday traditions alongside them. This is a family who obviously love each other and it was so lovely to see this relationship close up. I’m dreading my kids growing up and this book made me feel much more relaxed about it as the author describes how the relationship with grown up children can change and that it can still be fun but it a different way.
This book isn’t particularly fast paced but that’s part of it’s charm as it gives the reader more time to hang out with the fabulous characters. The author has cleverly created the slow, almost hypnotic feeling you can get on holiday which I thought was very clever. There were some moments that made me laugh and some very emotional moments which made me cry as the family deal with a few surprising revelations. I really didn’t want the book to end and felt almost bereft when their holiday ended as I’d have happily hung out with the characters far longer.
Huge thanks to Alison Barrow from Doubleday for sending me a copy of this book. One of my books of the year!
About The Author:
Catherine Newman is the author of the kids’ how-to books How to Be a Person and What Can I Say?, the memoirs Catastrophic Happiness and Waiting for Birdy, the middle-grade novel One Mixed-Up Night, and the grown-up novels We All Want Impossible Things (Harper 2022) and Sandwich (Harper 2024). She edits the non-profit kids’ cooking magazine ChopChop and is a regular contributor to the New York Times, O, The Oprah Magazine, Cup of Jo, and many other publications. She lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, with her family.
Good morning everyone and happy Friday. I absolutely love gold and silver foiling on books so I thought I’d do a flat lay showing some of my favourite new books with foiling on them!
(From left to right) ❤️ Broken Threads by Mishal Hussain 🧡 They Dream In Gold by Mai Sennaar 💛 The Library Of Broken Worlds by Alaya Dawn Johnson 💚 The Knowing by Emma Hinds 💙 The Book Of Fire by Christy Lefteri 🩵Babel by R F Kuang 💜The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles 🩷 When The Moon Hatched by Sarah A Parker 🤍 A Demon’s Guide To Wooing A Witch by Sarah Hawley 🩶The Instrumentalist by Harriet Constable
All of these are tbr but I’m hoping to read a few of them soon. Huge thanks to all the publishers for sending me the gifted copies it’s really appreciated.
It’s the last day of our holiday today and it looks to be a really sunny one so we’re delaying leaving to spend a bit more time at our favourite beach. I’ve been loving reading on the beach (though I have got a little burnt) and I’m looking forward to reading a few more pages of Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors which I’m really enjoying so far. Sadly my excema hasn’t enjoyed the beach and I have very sore hands atm but hopefully they’ll go down when we’re home.
I’ve tagged a few people who might want to join in but, as always, no pressure.
Have you read any of these? Which should I prioritise?
Good morning everyone and happy Thursday.. I really enjoy creating these Tell A Tale stacks so I thought I’d share another one today. For those of you not familiar with this challenge the idea is to create a story using book titles.
Here’s my attempt:
ONE PERFECT COUPLE and A SPY LIKE ME Went NIGHTWATCHING To see some DEADLY ANIMALS As part of THE FAMILY EXPERIMENT Into EXTINCTION. Which will hopefully lead to a CONVICTION For THE HUNTER.
I can’t work out whether this works or not but hopefully it does make sense 🤣 All of these are tbr but I’m hoping to read some of the soon.
It was a lovely sunny day here yesterday so we went to one of my favourite beaches and had a great time. I actually managed to read about 60 pages too which was great. We then went to Croft castle for a look around and saw a steam train which the kids were very excited about. We’re all a bit burnt today sadly as the sun was a bit hotter than we thought so we might be finding some shade today.
Good morning everyone and happy Wednesday. We’re half way through our holiday and I realised I hadn’t said what books I ended up taking on holiday with me.
❤️ The Spell Shop by Sarah Beth Durst 🧡 Crossing The Line by Simone Soltani 💛The Silence In Between by Josie Ferguson 💚Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors 💙 Goodbye Birdie Greenwing by Erika Walker 🩵 Welcome To Glorious Tuga by Francesca Segal 💜The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley 🩷You Are Here by David Nicholls
There’s no way I’m going to read all of these but I like to have a few options to choose from. I’m currently reading The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley and hoping to start Blue Sisters next.
It was a bit grey yesterday so we decided to walk along the beach front to Bournemouth which turned out to be much longer than expected as it took us nearly two hours. It was lovely walking along the sea front though and seeing all the different activities on offer down there. We were all rather exhausted when we got there so Stu treated us to a pub lunch which was really appreciated and then we looked around the shops. My mum and aunt had kindly given the kids some pocket money for their holiday which they were eager to spend. My little girl got some cute stationary while my youngest got a cuddly toy Hulk which says ‘Hulk Smash’ when you press his tummy and he enjoyed playing with that around town- much to the amusement of passersby. We then went to the arcade but it was too busy so we didn’t stay long. Before catching the bus home which was the kids favourite part!
Over The Rainbow Blog 