📚Two For Tuesday: New Romance Books

Good morning everyone today for Two For Tuesday I’m featuring two of the fabulous romance books I’ve purchased recently.

For fans of Hannah Grace and Lauren Asher, CROSS THE LINE by Simone Soltani is an unmissable sweet and spicy, brother’s-best-friend, Formula 1 sports romance.

As I might have mentioned once or twice (ok a lot) I absolutely love books with spredges and as I’ve heard great things about both these books I had to grab them when I saw them! I’ve not read any formula one romances yet so I’m very intrigued and as a huge fan of Ice Breaker I’m excited to try Collide soon as it’s being compared to it.

It’s the second day of our holiday and it’s raining this morning so we might go explore Bournemouth more or take the kids to the cinema if there’s anything good on.

Do you have a favourite romance author?

🏒Collide by Bel Khabra 🏒

When Summer Preston’s professor issues her with an ultimatum, she finds herself on an unexpected collision course with hockey captain, Aiden Crawford.

Summer hates everything about hockey, for good reason, but she isn’t going to let that stand in the way of her becoming a sports psychologist.

Aiden loves being the hockey captain, except when his team’s reckless mistakes risk jeopardizing their entire season. When coach puts him forward for a research paper as punishment, he has no choice but to accept.

Summer can’t stand his blasé approach to life, and Aiden doesn’t understand her uptight, scheduled one. They are off to a rocky start, and provoking each other – it turns out – is what they do best.

But losing isn’t something either of them does well. Maybe there’s a way for both of them to win?

🏎️Cross The Line by Simone Soltani🏎️

For fans of Hannah Grace and Lauren Asher, CROSS THE LINE by Simone Soltani is an unmissable sweet and spicy, brother’s-best-friend, Formula 1 sports romance.

Formula 1 driver Dev Anderson’s career is on the line. After a social media disaster leaves him with an angry team and sponsors threatening to jump ship, he needs someone to help save his image. At a party in Monaco, he bumps into the woman who can fix it all. There’s just one problem: she’s his best friend’s little sister. And, okay, maybe there’s another problem―he kissed her last year and hasn’t been able to stop thinking about it since.

Recent college grad Willow Williams needs a job. She may have a talent for seeing the bright side of any bad situation, but it’s hard to stay positive when she’s struggling to get hired. So when Dev offers her a temporary solution, she can’t help but say yes. Even if it means ignoring the crush she’s had on him since childhood.

Willow and Dev are determined to keep things strictly professional, regardless of old feelings and the blazing chemistry between them. But in the glittering and high-stakes world of Formula 1, some lines are meant to be crossed . . .

Book Synopsis:

Sisters Cleo and Robyn may be close in age but their attitudes to life could not be further apart. While Cleo’s a fully-fledged adult with a family, a business and a signature scent, Robyn is still waiting for the instruction manual to Adult Life and success is keeping her houseplant alive. Skating by at her job as an estate agent, she’s adept at avoiding housework, ignoring admin, and evading her mother’s anxious questions about her love life. But then Robyn’s fired in the most publicly humiliating way imaginable – and her chaos catches up with her.

Although Cleo steps in to give Robyn a temporary job in her cleaning firm, it comes with very firm instructions: Robyn must BEHAVE RESPONSIBLY. And that includes meeting the high standards of Jim, her enigmatic supervisor. But when Robyn learns to navigate the catastrophic kitchens and judgemental dogs of total strangers she learns some unexpected truths about her own messy world. No one’s life is spotless…

My Review:

Irresponsible Adult is a fun, heartwarming read that I found hugely enjoyable.

The story follows two sisters Robyn and Cleo who couldn’t be more different from each other. While Cleo lives a fun life with a family and has a successful career, poor Robyn is just about getting by in her estate agents job. That is until she gets fired and has to try new things. It took me a while to warm to Robyn as I initially found her quite annoying and a bit too ditsy. However this opinion changed completely as the book continued and I found myself growing very fond of her indeed. She’s a very relatable character and I definitely saw a little bit of myself in her, especially her lack of admin skills which is something I’m not particularly good at. It was very interesting getting to know her and learning more about her difficult relationship with her family.

I thought this book had a great pace to it and I soon found myself drawn into the story , enjoying hanging out with the fabulous characters. There were some very funny moments which made me laugh out loud as well as some more emotional moments that made me tear up. I loved the cleaning tips sprinkled throughout the book (though I’m not sure I’ll be eating ketchup again) and the slowly growing collection of houseplants that made me chuckle. There were a few surprising twists which took me by surprise and I did like the way the book ended though it did seem a tad sudden. I’m actually wondering if the author is planning a sequel which would be great as I’d love to read more about Robyn.

Huge thanks to Alainna from Hodder for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour.

About The Author:

Lucy Dillon grew up in Cumbria and read English at Cambridge, then read a lot of magazines as a press assistant in London, then read other people’s manuscripts as a junior fiction editor. She now lives in a village outside Hereford with a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, an English Otterhound and a Scottish Husband.

Lucy won the Romantic Novelists’ Association Contemporary Romantic Novel prize in 2015 for A HUNDRED PIECES OF ME, and the Romantic Novel of the Year Award in 2010 for LOST DOGS AND LONELY HEARTS.

You can find her on Facebook, Instagram and X/Twitter at LucyDillonBooks. Beware, there are many photos of her dogs.

Good morning everyone and happy Saturday.  I was tagged by the lovely @nothing.beats.a.good.book to share a wonky one word stack.

❤️ Butter by Asako Yuzuki
🧡Teddy by Emily Dunlay
💛Tuga by Francesca Segal
💚Medea by Rosie Hewitt
💙Diva by Daisy Goodwin
🩵Wife by Charlotte Mendelson
💜 Clean by Alia Trabucco Zerán
🩷Birding by Rose Ruane
💞 Scaffolding by Lauren Elkin
🤍 Extinction by Douglas Preston
🩶 Redemption by Jack Jordan

All of these are tbr apart from Diva which I read as part of a Tandem Read-along last month.

We’ve had a busy day today.  My eldest had a playdate with one of his close friends this morning but my youngest stayed home with us as he was up all night with a high temperature and sore head.  My daughter had a swimming lesson this morning but we’ve had a quiet afternoon not chilling on the sofa since due to my youngest being poorly. In between everything else we’re going to be starting to get ready for our holiday next week.

I’ve tagged a few people on Instagram who might want to take part but, as always, no pressure.

What have you been up to today?

Good afternoon everyone I’m excited to be on the cover reveal for The Silence In Between today.

I’m a huge fan of historical fiction especially if it features a period of history that I don’t know much about. I’ve not read much about the Berlin Wall before so I’m very intrigued by the concept of this book. It sounds really good and I can’t wait to read it soon.

Huge thanks to Eloise from Doubleday for sending me a copy of this book.

Out 20th June 2024.

Now available to request on netgalley!

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.

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 Friday. I saw this on the lovely @nic_thebookworm ‘s page and thought it looked fun so I wanted to join in.

➕ Addition: Your most recent purchase
You Are Here by David Nicholls

➖ Subtraction: The Last Book You Finished
The Silence Factory by Bridget Collins
(Check out my review on my grid)

✖️ Multiplication: Favourite book by your favourite author
The Last Summer by Karen Swan

➗ Division: Your favourite book in your favourite series
Lovelight Farms by B.K Borison

🟰Equals: A book you want to reread
The Ghost Ship by Kate Mosse
(In anticipated for the next book in the series coming out in October)

♾️ Infinity: A book you can’t stop thinking about
In Memoriam by Alice Winn

I’ve tagged a few people who might want to take part but, as always, no pressure.

I’m off today and hoping for a quiet day. We’re going on holiday next week so I’m going to sort things out for that and do some housework. I’m also hoping to finish my book which I’m absolutely loving so far. I might also be meeting my mum for lunch, which is always fun as without the kids we actually get to chat 🤣

What’s the last book you’ve bought?

Good afternoon everyone I was absolutely thrilled to receive a copy of Conviction by Jack Jordan this week as I’m taking part in the Unlikely suspects read-along for it.

I’ve been a huge fan of this author from the start so I can’t wait to read his new book soon. If you love fast paced, gripping thrillers then I highly recommend his books.

Huge thanks to the Likely Suspects and Simon and Schuster for sending this to me.

Conviction is out on the 20th June 2024.

Find out more about the book below!

Book Synopsis:

THE LATEST PULSE-POUNDING THRILLER FROM THE MASTER OF THE MORAL DILEMMA AND SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, JACK JORDAN.

Aaron Alexander has just been released from jail after serving eleven years for causing the death of Joshua Moore in a hit-and-run. Now a free man, all he wants to do is stay on the straight and narrow and leave his troubled past behind him.
But for Joshua’s mother Evelyn, eleven years in jail isn’t nearly enough. Consumed by grief and rage, she has been waiting for Aaron’s release, counting down the days until she can exact the revenge he deserves. And now that time has come.
But as Evelyn and her husband Tobias embark on a road trip to track Aaron down, they find themselves caught on two different sides of a gripping game of cat-and-mouse. Because Tobias knows what Evelyn is planning, and he will do anything to save her from herself.
Even if it means protecting the man who killed their son.

Locked in a collision course set in motion eleven years ago, Aaron, Evelyn and Tobias are about to find out whether the road they have chosen leads to redemption . . . or to retribution.

About The Author:

Jack Jordan is the global number one bestselling author of Anything for Her (2015), My Girl (2016), A Woman Scorned (2018), Before Her Eyes (2018) and Night by Night (2019).

His latest thriller, Do No Harm, was an instant Times bestseller and shortlisted for the Most Recommended Book in the DeadGood Reader Awards. Coined the thriller of the summer for 2022, it was described as “relentlessly tense” by Sunday Times Bestseller Lesley Kara, and “Chilling and perfectly paced” by New York Times Bestseller Sarah Pearse.

To find out more about Jack, enter numerous annual giveaways to win signed copies of his books, and be the first to hear of new book releases and news, follow him here:

Instagram: @JackJordan_author

TikTok: @jackjordan_author

Twitter: @JackJordanBooks

Facebook: JackJordanOfficial

Goodreads: JackJordanOfficial

Book Synopsis :

Henry dreams of silence.

A world without the clattering of carriages through cobbled streets, the distant cries of drunken brawls, the relentless ticking of the clock.

Then he meets a fascinating, mysterious gentleman who sells just that. Precious silk that can drown out the clamour of the world – and everything Henry is so desperate to escape.

Summoned to Sir Edward’s secluded factory to try to cure his young daughter’s deafness, Henry is soon drawn deeper and deeper into the origins of this otherworldly gift: a gift that has travelled from ancient Mediterranean glades to English libraries.

Ignoring repeated warnings from the girl’s secretive governess, he allows himself to fall under the spell of Sir Edward and his silk… but when he learns its true cost, will it be too late to turn back?

From the #1 bestselling author of THE BINDING, this is an enthralling story about complicity, desire and corruption – a novel to lose yourself in.

My Review:

The Silence Factory is a dark, gothic and unsettling read which I wouldn’t recommend if you’re not a fan of spiders!

The story of told in two timelines, the earlier timeline follows Sophia as she follows her husband on an expedition while she later follows Henry as he starts working for Sir Edward the owner of a mysterious factory. Of the two timelines much preferred Sophia’s as I found her to be a much more sympathetic character who I often wished I could reach into the book and hug. She represents the typical Victorian lady controlled and repressed by her husband who I often wanted to throttle because of his demeaning attitude towards her. Through her timeline we learn more about the attitude of a British explorer at the time and their attitudes towards other cultures which made my blood boil at times. It was fascinating to learn more about the Greek island she finds herself living on and learning more about the special spiders. Her relationship with Hera was also fascinating to explore and I loved watching her find freedom through her friendship with her. Henry on the other I wasn’t so quick to warm to as I found him incredibly gullible and needy which made him a bit annoying. He seemed easily drawn into Sir Edward’s world and a bit obsessed with the spiders as well as Sir Edward himself. His inability to see the truth of what was happening was a little frustrating at times particularly as it’s obvious to the reader early on that not everything is as it seems.

I thought this was a bit of a slow burn but I didn’t mind as I was enjoying learning more about the characters and exploring their worlds with them. The mystery surrounding the spiders was very intriguing to learn about and I loved discovering more about the spider silk- especially what it was capable of. The later timeline is set in an alternate Victorian period though it keeps some of the same characteristics namely the work houses and the horrendous working conditions in factories. It was heartbreaking to see how the workers had been affected by working at the factory and how it changed their lives.

The ending was brilliant and I found I couldn’t put the book down in the last few chapters. There were a few surprises that I hadn’t expected and, although I wish we could have followed Sophia’s story further, I was satisfied with how everything was tied up. This is the third book I’ve read by this author and I’m excited to read more from her in the future.

Huge thanks to Indie Thinking and the Borough Press for sending me a copy of this book.

About The Author:

Bridget Collins was born in 1981 in Kent, England. She always wanted to be an actor, and trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art after studying English at King’s College, Cambridge, but after she graduated from drama school she found herself starting to write a novel as a way to distract herself when she wasn’t working – and discovered that she loved it… Her first published novel, The Traitor Game, won the Branford Boase Award and was longlisted for the Carnegie Medal. Since then she has published six more novels for teenagers. The Binding, her first adult novel, was published in January 2019, went straight to no. 2 in the Sunday Times bestseller list, was the bestselling adult debut hardback that year, and reached no. 1 on its paperback release. Her second adult novel, The Betrayals, was also a Sunday Times bestseller.

The Silence Factory will be published in May 2024.

Photos: copyright Symon Hamer

Good morning everyone today on Two For Tuesday I’m featuring two books from Kate Foster.

💚 The Maiden
💙 The King’s Witches

I absolutely loved The Maiden and it was one of my favourite books last year so I was very excited to learn she had a new book coming out. I absolutely love a witchy book so I’m very excited to read The King’s Witches and to be part of the blog tour on the 7th.

Huge thanks to the lovely @libraryofchlo for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.

Out 6th June 2024.
Find out more about the book below ⬇️

The King’s Witches by Kate Foster

The King’s Witches by Kate Foster is a compelling and beautiful historical novel that gives voices to the women at the heart of the real-life witch trials in sixteenth-century Scotland.

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 . . .

The Maiden by Kate Foster

Inspired by a real-life murder trial, Kate Foster’s The Maiden is a remarkable story with a feminist revisionist twist that gives voices to women otherwise silenced by history.

In the end, it did not matter what I said at my trial. No one believed me.

Edinburgh, October 1679. Lady Christian is arrested and charged with the murder of her lover, James Forrester. News of her imprisonment and subsequent trial is splashed across the broadsides, with headlines that leave little room for doubt: Adulteress. Whore. Murderess.

Only a year before, Lady Christian was newly married, leading a life of privilege and respectability. So, what led her to risk everything for an affair? And does that make her guilty of murder? She wasn’t the only woman in Forrester’s life, and certainly not the only one who might have had cause to wish him dead . . .

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.

Good morning everyone I realised I hadn’t shared a rainbow stack for a while so I thought I’d share one today to hopefully brighten up your Monday!

❤️The Book Of Fire by Christy Lefteri
🧡The Wrong Sister by Claire Douglas
💛The Silence In Between by Josie Ferguson
💚Martyr by Kaveh Akbar
🟢 Maya’s Laws Of Love by Maya Khawaja
🩵 Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
💙One Grand Summer by Ewald Arenz
🩷Mixed Signals by B K Borison
💞 Cursed Under London by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch
💜The In Crowd by Charlotte Vassell

All of these are tbr but I’m hoping to read some of these soon as I’ve heard great things.  Out of these I’ll probably read The Silence In Between and Blue Sisters as I’m very excited to read them.

I’ve been off today and I tidied up the house as it was a bit of a tip from the weekend and then I read some more of my book.  I’m in a weird situation where I’m in a reading slump but I’m actually enjoying my book… Think I need to lock my phone away so I stop scrolling!

Have you read any of these?