Good evening everyone, I hope you’re having a good Sunday. I was lucky enough to get a copy of this fantastic sounding book this week. I’ve loved Ruth’s previous books so I’m very excited to read this one soon.

Huge thanks to our lovely Faber rep Mel for sending a copy of this book to the bookshop.

Out 27th June 2024

Book Synopsis:

When it’s time to face the music, all we can do is dance…

Recently widowed Venetia Hamilton Hargreaves is left with a huge house, a bank balance to match and an uneasy feeling that she’s been sleepwalking through the last fifty years. Determined to live fully again, she embraces life with an enthusiasm and purpose she’d forgotten she could muster.

Buying the dilapidated Phoenix Ballroom and with it a drop-in centre and spiritualist church could be seen as reckless, but Venetia’s generosity, courage and kindness provide a refuge for a touching cast of damaged and lonely people who find their chosen family. As their stories intertwine, long buried secrets are revealed, missed opportunities seized and lives are renewed as the Phoenix lives up to its name.

The Phoenix Ballroom is a story of hope and second chances across the generations.

About The Author:

I was brought up in a house full of books, and grew up with an unsurprising passion for reading and writing. I also loved (and still do) dogs and ponies, seaside piers (particularly the Palace Pier in Brighton) snow globes and cemeteries. And potatoes. So of course, I was going to be a vet, show jumper, or gravedigger. Or potato farmer.

Or maybe a writer…I studied English and Drama at Goldsmiths College, University of London where I hennaed my hair, wore dungarees, had aspirations to be the fourth member of Bananarama and generally had an amazing time. And then I got a proper job. For ten years I had a successful if uninspiring career in local government before a car accident left me unable to work full-time and was the kick up the butt I needed to start writing seriously.It was all going well, but then in 2012 I got cancer, which was very inconvenient but precipitated an exciting hair journey from bald to a peroxide blonde Annie Lennox crop. When chemo kept me up all night I passed the time writing and the eventual result was THE KEEPER OF LOST THINGS, my bestselling debut novel, which was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick.

Since then I have had two further novels published, THE WISDOM OF SALLY RED SHOES and QUEENIE MALONE’S PARADISE HOTEL and for my fourth, MADAME BUROVA, I learnt to read Tarot cards and developed a hankering for a traditional vardo and pony.I live in a chaotic Victorian house with an assortment of rescue dogs and my long-suffering husband. I am a magpie; always collecting treasures (or ‘junk’ depending on your point of view), a huge John Betjeman fan and I would very much like a full-size galloping horses carousel in my back garden.

As a full-time author I am living the dream, and I’m so grateful to all my readers for making that possible. I love hearing from you, so please feel free to drop me a line on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.

Good morning everyone and happy Saturday. I thought I’d share a currently reading stack as I’ve somehow managed to have five books on the go at once.

❤️Small Hours by Bobby Palmer
💛The Night In Question by Susan Fletcher
💚The Whisperwicks by Jordan Lee
💙The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter
💜The Book Of Doors by Gareth Brown

I think I’ve misplaced my book a couple of times and started a new one or the other book looks so good that I’ve had to start it! I’m reading The Whisperwicks with my eldest at bedtime which I’m enjoying as it’s nice to have that time together and as he’s starting high school in September won’t happen for much longer sadly.

I had a busy day yesterday as I travelled to London for The Night In Question Event which was really fun. Not Only did I get to make a dried flower arrangement with the help of The Happy Blossom company but I also got to meet the lovely Susan Fletcher and some lovely blogger friends. I’m very proud of the flower arrangement I made so you’ll be seeing it on lots of future posts!

My youngest two go to clubs with their dad this morning so I’m going to do some reading. We’re then watching the Taylor Swift concert as my daughter’s been wanting to watch it for ages and then we’re off to my mum’s for food tonight.

What are you currently reading?

Good morning everyone and happy Friday. Inspired by the lovely Mel I thought I’d share 4 fantasy books I’ve been lucky enough to receive recently and can’t wait to read!

I’m a huge Fantasy fan and I’ve been hearing lots of great things about these so I’m so I’ll definitely be reading them soon.

Huge thanks to Tor and Pan Macmillan for sending these to me!

Do you read Fantasy books? What book are you most looking forward to this year?

Daughter Of Calamity by Rosalie M Lin

Daughter of Calamity is an irresistibly dark and atmospheric reimagining of 1930s Shanghai filled with glamour, gods and gangsters – perfect for fans of S. A. Chakraborty and Fonda Lee.

In Shanghai, danger wears many faces . . .

1932, Shanghai. By day, Jingwen delivers bones for her grandmother, the exclusive surgeon to the most formidable gang in the city. By night, she dances at the Paramount, a lavish cabaret club, competing ruthlessly to charm the wealthy patrons.

When mysterious attackers starts stealing dancers’ faces for the powerful elite, Jingwen fears she could be next. To protect herself and her fellow performers, Jingwen has no choice but to delve deeper into the city’s glittering underworld.

But in this treacherous realm of cutthroat businessmen, silver-limbed gangs and vengeful gods, Jingwen soon learns there are far more dangerous forces at play than she could have ever imagined . . .

Out 18th June 2024

Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

A heart-warming, sapphic journey brimming with jeopardy, magic and a love of tea – for fans of Travis Baldree’s Legends & Lattes and TJ Klune.

Two women wanted to open a cosy bookshop. They discovered a world of adventure.

Reyna and Kianthe dream of opening a friendly book shop together, serving the very best tea and cakes. Worn wooden floors, plants on every table, firelight drifting between the rafters – all complemented by love and good company. But Reyna is an elite bodyguard to a vengeful queen, and Kianthe is the most powerful mage in existence. Leaving their lives behind seems . . . impossible. Yet they flee to Tawney, a town nestled in the icy peaks of dragon country. There, they open the bookstore they’d always wanted.

What follows is a tale of mishaps, mysteries, dragons, and a murderous queen throwing the realm’s biggest temper tantrum. Through it, these two women will discover what they mean to each other – and their world.

A Tempest Of Tea by Hafsah Faizal

From Hafsah Faizal, New York Times-bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame, comes A Tempest of Tea – an intoxicating brew of vampires, secrets and romance, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo’s Six of Crows.

‘A riveting page-turner, A Tempest of Tea is brewed to perfection’ – Rebecca Ross, bestselling author of Divine Rivals

‘Slinky and witty and clever’ – Holly Black, bestselling author of The Folk of the Air series

On the streets of White Roaring, Arthie Casimir is a criminal mastermind and collector of secrets. Her prestigious tearoom transforms into an illegal bloodhouse by dark, catering to the vampires feared by society. But when her establishment is threatened, Arthie is forced to strike an unlikely deal with an alluring adversary to save it – and she can’t do the job alone.

Calling on some of the city’s most skilled outcasts, Arthie hatches a plan to infiltrate the dark and glittering vampire society known as the Athereum. But not everyone in her ragtag crew is on her side, and as the truth behind the heist unfolds, Arthie finds herself in the midst of a conspiracy that will threaten the world as she knows it.

Dark, action-packed, and swoonworthy, this is Hafsah Faizal better than ever.

Running Close To The Wind by Alexandra Rowland

From the author of A Taste of Gold and Iron – Our Flag Means Death meets Six of Crows in this queer pirate adventure as a merry band of misfits attempt to get away with treason on the high seas.

Avra Helvaçi, former field agent of the Arashti Ministry of Intelligence, has accidentally stolen the single most expensive secret in the world – and the only place to flee with a secret that big is the open sea.

To find a buyer with deep enough pockets, Avra must work with his on-again, off-again ex, the pirate Captain Teveri az-Haffar. Together, they will have to risk journeying to the isolated pirate republic of the Isles of Lost Souls. The only things in their way? A calculating new Arashti ambassador to the Isles; Brother Julian, a beautiful, mysterious new member of the crew with secrets of his own; and the fact that they’re sailing straight into sea serpent breeding season and almost certain doom.

But if they can find a way to survive and sell the secret on the black market, they’ll all be as wealthy as kings – and, more importantly, they’ll be legends . . .

*Squeal* so excited to receive a copy of this beautiful book Love Is A Curse by Keith Stuart. I’ve been a huge fan of his previous books so I can’t wait to read more from him. My picture doesn’t do it justice but the cover has lots of gold foiling and is absolutely gorgeous!

Huge thanks to Laura from Little Brown for sending.

Out 25th April 2024.

Is this one on your radar?

Book Synopsis:

A single sentence was all it took to define Cammy’s life. They came as her beloved artist aunt was dying, a teenage Cammy standing by her bedside: ‘Did your mother ever tell you about the curse?’Cammy is warned that the women in her family are destined always to lose the one they love. She thinks nothing of it – until the day when, in her late twenties, her new boyfriend is hit by a car. Convinced she is to blame, Cammy begins to investigate the one-hundred-and-fifty-year story of a family that is both ordinary and remarkable, tragic and beautiful.But is the curse real, or is there an answer lurking in the letters, diaries and paintings of generations of women whose hearts were broken?

About The Author:

Keith Stuart is an author and journalist. His heartwarming debut novel, A Boy Made of Blocks, was a Richard & Judy Book Club pick and a major bestseller. His third novel, The Frequency of Us, was a BBC2 Between the Covers pick and Radio 4 Book at Bedtime. Keith has written for publications including Empire, Red and Esquire, and is the former games editor of the Guardian. He lives with his wife and two sons in Frome, Somerset. TWITTER: @keefstuart INSTAGRAM: keef.stuart TIKTOK: @Keefstuart

Good evening everyone. I was lucky enough to receive a copy of the fabulous sounding Bright I Burn by Molly Aitken this week. I love a witchy book and learning about a new period of history so this book instantly appealed to me.

Huge thanks to the lovely Mel from @faberbooks for visiting Rossiters and leaving this lovely proof for us. I can’t wait to read it soon.

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

Book Synopsis:

In thirteenth-century Ireland, a woman with power is a woman to be feared.

When a young Alice Kyteler sees her mother wither under the constraints of family responsibilities, she vows that she will not suffer the same fate. When she discovers she has a flair for making money, she soon builds a flourishing trade. But as her wealth and stature grow, so too do the rumours about her private life. By the time she has moved on to her fourth husband, a blaze of local gossip and resentment culminates in an accusation that could prove fatal.

Inspired by the first recorded person in Ireland to have been condemned as a witch, Bright I Burn gives voice to a woman lost to history, who dared to carve her own space in a man’s world.

About The Author:

Molly Aitken was born in Scotland in 1991 and brought up in Ireland. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Bath Spa where she won the Janklow and Nesbit Prize.

The Island Child is her first novel.

Follow Molly on twitter at MollyAitken1 and Instagram molly.aitken

Book Synopsis:

1671 – London

The Civil War is over and Charles II, the ‘Merry Monarch’, is revelling in the throne of his murdered father and all the privileges and power that comes with it. Sharing the spoils is his favourite companion, the celebrated beauty, actress Nell Gwyn. Beloved of the English people, Nell has come a long way from selling oranges and a childhood in a brothel, but as her fortunes have turned, her sister Rose has taken a different path. Marriage to a feckless highwayman has left Rose in the grim Marshalsea prison and now she needs her sister’s mercy to help get her out. But Nell needs Rose too. A plot to steal the Crown Jewels has gone tragically wrong, and Nell’s future with her protector King is at risk. If Rose can’t solve the riddle of the jewels both Gwyn sisters will head straight to the Tower.

Present Day

Librarian and history enthusiast Jess Yates has hit rock bottom. With her ex behind bars for fraud, Jess needs to lay low – easier said than done with a celebrity sister. But Tavy has her uses. Her latest TV project involves renovating Fortune Hall, and she needs a house sitter while she’s jetting around the world. The opportunity is too good to miss, especially when Jess discovers that Fortune Hall has links to the infamous Nell Gwyn.

Slowly the house begins to reveal its mysteries, and secrets that have laid buried for centuries can no longer be ignored. Jess hears echoes from a tragic past and as she struggles to understand her sister, Jess feels ever closer to Rose Gwyn, the sister forgotten by history but who had the fate of her family in her hands.

Bestselling author Nicola Cornick is back with a captivating, gripping, unforgettable tale of treachery and treason, love and loyalty, perfect for fans of Barbara Erskine, Elena Collins and Christina Courtenay.

My Review:

I’m a huge fan of this author and have loved her previous books so I was so thrilled to be invited onto the blog tour for The Other Gwyn Girl, her latest book. Once again Nicola has written a fascinating, gripping read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The book is two timelines , one following Jane in the time of Charles II and the other following Jess as she tries to unravel the mysteries of Fortune Hall. I actually liked both women and enjoyed following them throughout the book. They were actually very similar to each other and it was nice seeing them pick themselves up again after a difficult past. Jane in particular impressed me with her strength and determination not to rely on anyone else.

The author has written about real characters and real events which I always enjoy as it’s fun to learn more about a period. It was shocking to see how some people had to live and the huge difference between rich and poor. This was apparent not just on the way they lived and earned a living but also in how they were treated in the justice system with the rich able to buy pardons or other privileges whilst in prison. I hadn’t read much about Charles II either so I found it fascinating to learn more about him and his reign.

Overall, as you can probably tell, I loved this book and I’ll definitely be recommending it to others. The book has a great pace to it and there was always something happening to keep me interested. Even in the slower bits I just enjoyed hanging out with the characters or exploring the gorgeous sounding Fortune Hall, wishing I had an amazing library like they did. I did guess one of the twists early on but from talking to others I think you were meant to as it helped add to the intrigue. The ending was brilliant and I closed the book sad to leave the characters and Fortune Hall behind.

Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Boldwood for my digital copy of this book. I’ve had to buy a physical copy as I know I want to keep this book on my keep for ever shelf. If you are a fan of dual timeline, historical mysteries then I highly recommend this book.

About The Author:

Nicola Cornick is a historian and author who works as a researcher and guide for the National Trust in one of the most beautiful 17th century houses in England. She writes dual time novels that illustrate her love of history, mystery and the supernatural, and focus on women from the footnotes of history. Her books have appeared in over twenty five languages, sold over half a million copies worldwide and been described as “perfect for Outlander fans.” Nicola also gives writing and history talks, works as a consultant for TV and radio, and is a bookseller at the Wantage Bookshop.

Her new novel, ‘The Other Gwyn Girl ‘ focuses on the life of Rose Gwyn, the elder sister of Nell Gwyn, infamous mistress of King Charles II. Packed with rollicking Restoration intrigue, it tells the story of the lesser-known Gwyn girl. The Other Gwyn Girl is published by Boldwood Books on 7th March 2024 in all formats and is up for pre-order now!

Nicola loves to chat to readers about history, reading and writing.

Good morning everyone and happy Tuesday. Today on Two For Tuesday I’m featuring two books by Nancy Bilyeau.

I’m a huge fan of historical fiction and I’ve been hearing lots of great things about this author. The Orchid Hour is set in one of my favourite periods in history so I’m excited to read it soon. I also absolutely LOVE the beautiful covers on these books 😍

Huge thanks to the lovely @mrs_bookworm_5 for kindly sending these to me. Find out more about The Orchid Hour below.

Do you judge a book by it’s cover?

The Orchid Hour

There is a certain hour, in the dead of night, when the orchid’s scent can put you under a spell… New York City, 1923. Zia De Luca’s life is about to be shattered. Having lost her husband to The Great War, she lives with her son and in-laws in Little Italy and works at the public library. But when a quiet poetry lover is murdered outside the library, the police investigation focuses on Zia. After a second tragedy strikes even closer to home, Zia learns that both crimes are connected to a new speakeasy in Greenwich Village called The Orchid Hour. When the police investigation stalls, Zia decides to find her own answers. A cousin with whom she has a special bond serves as a guide to the shadow realm of the Orchid Hour, a world filled with enticements Zia has shunned up to now. She must contend with a group of players determined to find wealth and power in New York on their own terms. In this heady atmosphere, Zia begins to wonder if she too could rewrite her life’s rules. As she’s pulled in deeper and deeper, will Zia be able to bring the killers to justice before they learn her secret?

The Fugitive Colours

As Genevieve Sturbridge struggles to keep her silk design business afloat, she must face the fact that London in 1764 is very much a man’s world. Men control the arts and sciences, men control politics and law. And men definitely control women.

A Huguenot living in Spitalfields, Genevieve one day receives a surprise invitation from an important artist. Grasping at the promise of a better life, she dares to hope her luck is about to change and readies herself for an entry into the world of serious art.

She soon learns that for the portrait painters ruling over the wealthy in London society, fame and fortune are there for the taking. But such high stakes spur rivalries that darken to sabotage and blackmail-and even murder. And watching from the shadows are ruthless spies who wish harm to all of England.

Genevieve begins to suspect that her own secret past, when she was caught up in conspiracy and betrayal, has more to do with her entrée into London society than her talent. One wrong move could cost her not just her artistic dreams but the love of those she holds dear … and even her life.

About The Author:

Nancy Bilyeau, a Michigan native, has worked as an editor on the staffs of InStyle, Rolling Stone, and Good Housekeeping. Passionate about history and art, she wrote an award-winning trilogy set in Tudor England before creating a heroine, Genevieve Planché, who holds personal significance. Nancy is descended from a Huguenot settler who came to America in 1661 and draws on her fascination with French Protestant refugees when writing the character of Genevieve Planché, a Huguenot artist. Today Nancy lives in upstate New York with her husband and two children.

I’m such a big fan of Claire Douglas and I was hoping to get my hands on an early copy of her new book The Wrong Sister. You can imagine my excitement then at being offered a copy through Tandem Collective!

The Wrong Sister sounds really intriguing and I look forward to reading it soon. Huge thanks to Tandem Collective and Michael Joseph for my copy of this book.

Out 14th March 2024

Book Synopsis:

You’ve known her all your life…
Or have you?

Tasha and her older sister Alice might look alike, but they couldn’t be more different.
Tasha’s married with two children and still living in her home town near Bristol. While Alice is a high-flying scientist travelling the world with her equally successful husband.
But each would trust the other with their life.

So when Tasha and husband Aaron want a break and Alice offers to stay in their home with the kids,
Tasha knows they’re in safe hands.

But she couldn’t be more wrong.

The call from home is unexpected: Alice and her husband Kyle have been attacked.
Alice is in intensive care. Kyle is dead.

Rushing to Alice’s bedside, Tasha finds the police trying to piece events together.
She can’t think why anyone would attack her sister.
Then the note arrives, addressed to Tasha:

It was supposed to be you . . .

About The Author:

Claire Douglas is the Sunday Times number one bestselling author of eight stand alone novels: The Sisters (2015), Local Girl Missing (2016), Last Seen Alive (2017), Do Not Disturb (2018), Then She Vanishes (2019) and Just Like The Other Girls (2020). Her seventh, The Couple At No 9 (2021) was an Amazon number one bestseller, a number three Sunday Times bestseller and most recently hit number one on Germany’s Der Spiegel paperback bestsellers chart. The Girls Who Disappeared was a Richard and Judy book club pick for Autumn 2022 and was an instant number one Sunday Times bestseller. Her books have sold over a million copies in the UK and have been published worldwide.

Her most recent, THE WOMAN WHO LIED will be published on July 6th 2023.

You can find Claire on Twitter at @DougieClaire, Instagram as clairedouglasauthor, or visit her Facebook page clairedouglasauthor.

Good morning everyone and happy Mother’s Day.  My eldest made me these gorgeous flowers for mother’s day so I had to do a stack to match them.

❤️ Private Rites by Julia Armfield
💛The Psychology Of Secrets by Andrew Gold
🩵 Goodbye Birdie Greenwing by Ericka Waller
🩷Will You Care If I Die by Nicolas Lunabba
❤️The Great Divide by Christina Henriquez
💛 Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
🩷Clean by Alia Trabucco Zerán
🩵 Fifteen Wild Decembers by Karen Powell
❤️ Frank And Red by Matt Coyne

These are all tbr but I’m hoping to get to a few of them soon as they are all books I’ve heard lots of great things about.

After an early start from three excited children I’ve been showered with lots of beautiful homemade presents and lots of cuddles.  I’m actually working today so I’m looking forward to meeting my family after work for more (secret) plans. My mum is planning on coming to the shop with coffee so I’ll get to see her too.

Are you doing anything nice for Mother’s Day?

Book Synopsis:

From the author of LONG BRIGHT RIVER, a Barack Obama Pick and a New York Times bestseller, comes a once-in-a-generation story; a novel you’ll never forget.

Some said it was tragic, what happened to the Van Laars.

Some said the Van Laars deserved it. That they never even thanked the searchers who stayed out for five nights in the freezing forest trying to help find their missing son.

Some said there was a reason it took the family so long to call for help. That they knew what happened to the boy.

Now, fifteen years later, the daughter the family had in their grief has gone missing in the same wilderness as her brother. Some say the two disappearances aren’t connected.

Some say they are.

My Review:

The God Of The Woods is an intense, dark and thrilling read that I thoroughly enjoyed. It was giving me Jane Harper vibes and as she’s one of my favourite authors I absolutely loved this book. It’s going to be a difficult book to review as I don’t want to give anything away.

There are some books you read that you finish and immediately want to start all over again. The God Of The Woods was one of those books. It gripped me from the start so that I felt drawn into the story and the lives of the characters. The story is told from multiple points of views and multiple timelines which may sound confusing but each chapter was clearly marked so it was easy to keep track of. I didn’t have a favourite timeline which is unusual for me but I found each timeline offered a different perspective and I found all of them very intriguing.

The character’s are all interesting creations and I enjoyed following them throughout the book. There were some character’s I really loved and felt a lot of sympathy for while there were others that I loved to hate as I thought they were pretty despicable. The isolated summer camp setting was very intriguing and, as someone who did a summer in an American summer camp, I enjoyed reliving some of my memories alongside the campers. The woods added a unsettling element to the story as you were never sure what they might be hiding or secrets they might reveal.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be recommending it to others. The story is quite fast paced and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. The tension slowly creeps up until it becomes almost unbearable. At one point I had to abandon the book and go for a walk as it was making me feel so edgy. There are lots of red herrings which kept me guessing as well as lots of twists that kept sending the story off in a different direction. The ending was amazing and I loved watching it all unfold. I thought I knew how the book would end but I was wrong, and very wrong.

Huge thanks to Bloomsbury and Indie Thinking for sending a copy of this book to Rossiter Books in Malvern. If you are a fan of dark, unpredictable thrillers or are a Jane Harper fan then I highly recommend this book.

About The Author:

Liz Moore is the author of four novels: The Words of Every Song, Heft, The Unseen World, and Long Bright River. A winner of the 2014 Rome Prize in Literature, she lives in Philadelphia and teaches in the MFA program in Creative Writing at Temple University.