Book Synopsis:

You are not welcome here, godkiller

Kissen’s family were killed by zealots of a fire god. Now, she makes a living killing gods, and enjoys it. That is until she finds a god she cannot kill: Skedi, a god of white lies, has somehow bound himself to a young noble, and they are both on the run from unknown assassins.

Joined by a disillusioned knight on a secret quest, they must travel to the ruined city of Blenraden, where the last of the wild gods reside, to each beg a favour.

Pursued by demons, and in the midst of burgeoning civil war, they will all face a reckoning – something is rotting at the heart of their world, and only they can be the ones to stop it.

My Review:

Godkiller is an incredibly gripping, exciting and absorbing read that I’d rate as one of the best fantasy books I’ve ever read.

The story is told from the point of view of 4 main characters Kissen a god hunter, Elo an ex knight, Skedi a small god and Inara a young noble girl. These characters are very different to each other and all of them bring different things to their mission. It was great watching them gradually grow closer while learning to trust and care for each other. They all start off wanting different things from their adventure but as they travel toward their destination, secrets are revealed and their priorities start to change. Kissen was my favourite character. I loved how strong and determined she was but also how she developed a softer side toward the group as the story continues. The relationship between the group was really heartwarming and it was great to see how much it had changed by the end.

I was quickly drawn into the story and into the character’s world. There was always something happening to keep me reading and I soon found it very hard to put the book down. The mission the characters find themselves on was very intriguing and I enjoyed going on the journey with the characters, watching everything slowly unfold. There were lots of twists that kept me guessing and ensured the story was very exciting indeed. I wasn’t able to work out which way the story was going which I always love and the many revelations toward the end took me completely by surprise!

The ending was absolutely brilliant and I think I read the last 80 pages completely glued to the book, snapping at anyone who dared to interrupt me. The book does end on a huge cliff hanger and I’ve found myself thinking about the book constantly since I finished. I can’t wait for book 2 to come out so I can find out what happens next and spend some more time with characters that I’ve grown really fond of.

About The Author:

Hannah is the #1 Sunday Times Bestselling author of Godkiller.

​

She has her heart in Scotland and her roots in the north of England.

Godkiller is the first book in a trilogy which will be translated into Portuguese, Bulgarian, Croatian, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Spanish and Turkish.

Good morning everyone I thought I’d do a little reading update today:

Last: Godkiller by Hannah Kaner & When I Sing, Mountains Dance by Irene Solá

I finished Godkiller last night and it was absolutely amazing! I seriously couldn’t put it down and I’m so excited for the sequel out in February! I’ve actually got a few more pages left on When I Sing, Mountains Dance but I’ve enjoyed it. It’s definitely different to what I normally read.

Now: A Winter In New York by Josie Silver & One Of The Good Guys by Araminta Hall

I’m a few chapters into A Winter In New York but I know I’m going to love it already. I’ve always loved books set in New York (one of my favourite cities) and I’m excited to read more soon. I’ve been hearing lots of great things about One Of The Good Guys so I’m hoping to read that next.

Next: Piglet by Lottie Hazel &
The Search Party by Hannah Richell

I’m then hoping to read Piglet and The Search Party which are two of my most anticipated books this month.

Today is the kids last day of holiday and they have already decided what they want to do. We’re having a quiet morning, their favourite lunch, then going to the bookshop so they can spend their book vouchers.

What are you currently reading?

Good morning everyone I’m on the blog tour for The Widow’s Choice by Nancy Revell today. 

I’m a huge fan of this author and count her amazing The shipyard Girls series as one of my favourite series ever. You can therefore imagine my excitement when I was offered a copy of the Widow’s Choice her newest book.

I’ve already read the first few chapters and I’m hooked! I’m very excited to read more soon.

Huge thanks to Sarah and Penguin for my copy of this book.

Out Now!

Book Synopsis:

The brand-new novel from the author of the bestselling Shipyard Girls series.

1949, County Durham.

From the Shipyards of Sunderland to Lady of the Manor . . .

When Angie marries her sweetheart Quentin and moves into Cuthford Manor to begin their new life together, she feels like the luckiest woman in the world.

But Quentin falls victim to a tragic accident and Angie’s life is left devastated. Now, along with the prospect of rebuilding her life, she is faced with an impossible choice that will have far-reaching consequences for herself and those she loves most.

Angie will need to draw on the help of her family, the community of Cuthford Manor and her old friends from the shipyards if she’s to find happiness again.

About The Author:

Nancy Revell is the author of twelve titles in the bestselling Shipyard Girls series – which tells the story of a group of women who work together in a Sunderland ship yard during the Second World War. This new novel features some of the characters from the world of the Shipyard Girls series in a new County Durham setting. Her books have sold more than half a million copies across all editions.

Before that she was a journalist who worked for all the national newspapers, providing them with hard-hitting news stories and in-depth features. She also wrote amazing and inspirational true life stories for just about every woman’s magazine in the country.

Nancy was born and brought up in the North East of England and she now lives in Oxfordshire with her husband, Paul.

Good morning everyone and happy Sunday.  I was good and didn’t buy any books (apart from presents) during December so I had a few pre-orders waiting for me at the shop:

❤️Diva by Daisy Goodwin *
🧡 When I Sing, Mountains Dance by Irene Solá
💛The Life Brief by Bonnie Wan *
💚The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
💙 Assistant To The Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
🩵 Orbital by Samantha Harvey
💜The House Of Dudley by Joanne Paul
🩷The Wager by David Grann
🤍The Unmaking Of June Farrow

I’ve heard good things about all these books either from friends on here or from customers at the shop. The lovely @mel_lovesbooks talks highly of Assistant To The Villain and @dems_book_den really enjoyed The Unmaking Of June Farrow.  Do go check out their reviews on their profiles!

Out of these I’m currently reading When I Sing, Mountains Dance as part of my #24countriesin2024 challenge and then I want to read Wager as I’ve heard lots of great things.

I’m working today which is always fun so if you live near Malvern do come and say hi!

What are your Sunday plans?

Good afternoon everyone, I hope you’re having a good Saturday! I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this fantastic looking book through the post today along with this rather yummy looking packet of biscuits.

I’m a huge fan of Daisy Goodwin and I’m very excited to read this book soon with some of the biscuits (if they last that long….🤣).

Huge thanks to the tagged publisher for sending this to me.

What are your favourite types of biscuit?

Out 14th March 2024.

Book Synopsis:

In the glittering and ruthlessly competitive world of opera, Maria Callas is known simply as la divina: the divine one. With her glorious voice, instinctive flair for the dramatic and striking beauty, she’s the toast of the grandest opera houses in the world. Yet her fame has been hard won: raised in Nazi-occupied Greece by a mother who mercilessly exploited her, Maria learned early in life how to protect herself.

When she meets the fabulously rich shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis, her isolation melts away. For the first time in her life, she believes she’s found a man who sees the woman rather than the legendary soprano. Desperately in love, Onassis introduces her to a life of unbelievable luxury, mixing with celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

And then, suddenly, it’s over. The international press announce that Onassis will marry the most famous woman in the world, former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, leaving Maria to pick up the pieces.

In this remarkable novel, Daisy Goodwin brings to life a woman whose extraordinary talent, unremitting drive and natural chic made her a legend. But it was only in confronting the heartbreak of losing the man she loved that Maria Callas found her true voice.

About The Author:

Daisy Goodwin is a writer and television producer.After reading history at Cambridge, she went to Columbia Film School as a Harkness Fellow. After ten years at the BBC making arts documentaries, she left to join the independent sector and created a number of programmes including Grand Designs which is now in its 18th year on Channel 4.

In 2005 she started Silver River productions, which she sold to Sony in 2012. Alongside her tv work , Daisy has written a memoir, Silver River and two novels My Last Duchess Uk/The American Heiress US and The Fortune Hunter, which were both New York Times bestsellers. In 2014 Daisy decided to concentrate on writing full time and was commissioned to write her first screenplay, Victoria, an 8 part series about the early life of Queen Victoria for ITV and WGBH Masterpiece Theatre.She is now working on Season 2.

Daisy lives in London with her three dogs, two daughters and one husband.

Good morning everyone and happy Saturday! Here are some of the books I’m hoping to read this January:

❤️Maude Horton’s Glorious Revenge by Lizzie Pook
🧡The House Of Broken Bricks by Fiona Williams
💛One Love by Matt Cain
💚 Piglet by Lottie Hazel
💙Legends And Lattes
🩵The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen
💜Anna O by Matthew Blake
💟The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
🩷One Of The Good Guys by Araminta Hall
💞 Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
🤍 Death On The Lusitania by R L Graham
🩶Holmes, Marple & Poe by James Patterson & Brian Sitts
🖤The Woman On The Ledge by Ruth Mancini
🤎The Book Of Doors by Gareth Brown

I’m not going to get through all of these but as a huge mood reader it’s nice to have options! Out of these I’m hoping to read Piglet and One Of The Good Guys first as I’ve heard lots about them.

Today I’m hoping for a quiet morning as my youngest two are back at clubs this morning so I should be able to sneak in some reading as my eldest will be playing on his Xbox.  I’m currently reading Godkiller by Hannah Kaner which I’m really enjoying and When I Sing, Mountains Dance as part of my #24countriesin2024 challenge.  I’m not sure how I feel about it yet but it’s definitely different!

What January read are you most looking forward to?

Good morning everyone I’m taking part in the 24 Countries In 2024 challenge this year. The idea is to read 24 books set in 24 different countries during year. I’m looking forward to getting out of my comfort zone and trying out different books then I’d normally read.

I have got a tentative list of books I’m thinking of reading as part of this challenge but it’s subject to change as I’m a bit of a mood reader. You can see my current list in my stories.

If you have any recommendations do let me know!

My first two books for this challenge:

Days At The Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa
(Japan 🇯🇵)

The Japanese bestseller: a tale of love, new beginnings, and the comfort that can be found between the pages of a good book.

When twenty-five-year-old Takako’s boyfriend reveals he’s marrying someone else, she reluctantly accepts her eccentric uncle Satoru’s offer to live rent-free in the tiny room above his shop.

Hidden in Jimbocho, Tokyo, the Morisaki Bookshop is a booklover’s paradise. On a quiet corner in an old wooden building, the shop is filled with hundreds of second-hand books. It is Satoru’s pride and joy, and he has devoted his life to the bookshop since his wife left him five years earlier.

Hoping to nurse her broken heart in peace, Takako is surprised to encounter new worlds within the stacks of books lining the shop.

And as summer fades to autumn, Satoru and Takako discover they have more in common than they first thought. The Morisaki bookshop has something to teach them both about life, love, and the healing power of books.

Quirky, beautifully written, and movingly profound, Days at the Morisaki Bookshop will appeal to readers of Before The Coffee Gets Cold, The Cat Who Saved Books, and anyone who has had to recover from a broken heart.

A Winter In New York by Josie Silver
(USA🇺🇲)

Where better to start again than New York?

Iris arrives in the city of dreams, intent on restarting her culinary career, and leaving her recent heartache behind.

Wandering the streets at a famous food festival, Iris feels like she’s living in a movie. Then she stumbles upon a gelateria that looks strangely familiar. Inside, she meets Gio: a perfect leading man with an irresistible smile – and a crisis of his own.

As fate would have it, Iris is the one person with the answer to his problem. She just can’t tell him that . . .

So, can Iris finally let go of the past – and let herself fall in love?

Book Synopsis:

Mummy has always loved Christmas. Sure, the kids turn into demons, the dinner gets burnt to a crisp and Aunt Louisa’s general staggering inappropriateness sends Mummy reaching for the nearest maximum-strength festive tipple, but nevertheless, for her, Christmas is always special.

This year, she wants nothing more than to perfectly fig up the pudding and sit by the fire reading aloud from A Christmas Carol to a rapt, rosy-cheeked audience. But, just like all Mummy’s best-laid plans, this year’s Festive Vision is in danger of being totally derailed by her chaotic family. There’s not much chance of any action under the mistletoe, and the kids are just not playing ball.

Can Mummy find her silver lining after all and bring the whole family together for one moment of harmony, so they can finally proclaim ‘Verily You Are the Queen of Christmas’? Or should she get stuck into the festive spirits and just let it all go?

My Review:

Why Mummy Drinks At Christmas is a funny, relatable book that makes you feel better about your own parenting experiences.

Firstly I have been a huge fan of this series from the start and have enjoyed following the family through all their ups and downs. The story is told from the present day as Mummy tries to come to terms with the possibility of a Christmas without the kids and through a series of flashbacks detailing Christmases past. As a mum of three I found this book hugely relatable and often found myself laughing out loud from all of their Christmas experiences. I did find the book unexpectedly emotional too as it made me think about Christmas’s in the future when my kids might not be around. It definitely made me want to embrace the chaos of Christmas more while I could.

I thought this book had a great pace to it and even in the quieter bits I was just happy reliving Christmas with the family and glad that the chaos described wasn’t happening to me for once. This book had a lovely message to it that it’s best not to try and get to stressed about Christmas or to stop making it too perfect as it will never happen as you think.

Huge thanks to Indie Thinking and Harper Collins for my copy of this book which was perfect for curling up with over the festive period.

About The Author:

Gill Sims is the author of the hugely successful parenting blog and Facebook site ‘Peter and Jane’. Her first book,Why Mummy Drinks, was the bestselling hardback fiction debut of 2017, spending over six months in the top ten of the Sunday Times bestsellers chart, and was shortlisted for Debut Novel of the Year in the British Book Awards. The four Why Mummy titles have sold nearly a million copies across all formats to date and are published in eighteen territories worldwide.

She lives in Scotland with her husband, two children and two Border terriers, because apparently one terrier didn’t cause her enough trouble.

Gill’s interests include drinking wine, wasting time on social media, trying and failing to recapture her lost youth and looking for one of the dogs when he decides to go on one of his regular jaunts, while trying to stop the other one eating unspeakable things.

Good morning everyone and happy Wednesday.  I’m taking part in the 24 in 2024 challenge where you have to read 24 books that have been on your tbr list for ages.  Here are the books I’m hoping to finally read this year:

❤️ Talking At Night by Claire Daverley
🧡Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
💛Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
💚The Good Liars by Anita Frank
💙Tom Lake by Ann Pratchett
🩵The Square Of Sevens by Laura Shepherd -Robinson
💜The Stargazers by Harriet Evans
💟The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon
🩷 Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
💕Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
🤍 Starling House by Alix E Harrow
🩶 Good Material by Dolly Alberton
🤎A Haunting In The Arctic by CJ Cooke
❤️In Bloom by Eva Verde
🧡What You Are Looking For Is In The Library by Michiko Aoyama
💛 Curious Tides by Pascale Lavelle
💚Beartown by Fredrik Backman
💙A Quiet Contagion by Jane Desmond
🩵The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
💜 Assistant To The Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
💟The Salt Path by Raynor Winn
🩷Joan by Katherine J Chen
💕Geneva by Richard Armitage
🤍The Travelling Cat Chronicles by Hiro Arikawa

I might change some of these as I realised I’d missed a few that I wanted to read like A Terrible Kindness, When We Were Villains, The Secret History and Station Eleven so if I read those instead I’m still counting it 🤣

I’m also taking part in the 24 countries in 2024 challenge and might use some of these for that challenge too (evil laugh).

Have you read any of these? Which one would you read first?

Good morning everyone! Today on Two For Tuesday I’m featuring my two favourite books of 2023.

🩷In Memoriam by Alice Winn

A beautiful, gripping love story set among the horrors of WW2.  I absolutely loved this book when I read it and often recommend it when customers ask for book suggestions at the shop.  I’ve gone on about it so much that one of my colleagues is going to buy it when it comes out in paperback so she can see what I’m going on about 🤣

💞You Don’t Have To Be Mad To Work Here by Dr Benji Waterhouse

This is a memoir of a psychiatrist working in the NHS.  The reader follows Benji throughout his career as a psychiatrist with each chapter dedicated to a patient he treated.  I found it fascinating to learn more about the role of a psychiatrist and more about mental illness in general.  Benji’s relaxed writing style made the book easy to read and I loved his ability to poke fun at himself for his mistakes.  This book is out in May 2024 and I highly recommend reading it.

As it’s a favourites post I thought I’d also feature my pumpkins again as they were a favourite photo prop last year!

What were your favourite books of 2023?