Good morning everyone and Happy Valentine Day. I thought I’d share a pink stack of books today to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Interestingly I didn’t have many pink romance books so this pile is a mixture of genres.
My husband and I aren’t doing anything today, I’m throwing a little party for the kids later and we’re planning on going out at the weekend instead.
The little note attached to my vase is something my eldest did at school. They wrote positive notes that they were meant to put on trees outside but he didn’t want them getting lost so I promised I’d use them in a picture so people could see them.
When Nar’s boyfriend gets down on one knee and proposes to her a San Francisco bar, she realises it’s time to find someone who shares her idea of romance.
Enter her mother who wants Nar to settle down with a nice Armenian boy. Armed with a spreadsheet of Facebook-stalked men, she convinces Nar to attend ‘Explore Armenia’, a month-long festival of events in the city. But it’s not the parentally-approved playboy doctor or wealthy engineer who catches her eye – it’s Erebuni, a cool and intriguing young woman fully intouch with her heritage. Suddenly, with Erebuni as her guide, the events feel like far less of a chore, and much more of an adventure.
Erebuni helps Nar see the beauty of their shared culture and makes her feel understood in a way she never has before. But there’s one teeny problem: Nar’s not exactly out as bisexual.
A funny, heartfelt and deeply relatable rom com about family, cultural identity, queer love, and the process of self-discovery that continues into adulthood as identities evolve, all in a fresh, humorous voice.
My Review:
Sorry Bro is an original, funny book about self discovery.
Firstly I absolutely loved the main character, Nar, and enjoyed following her throughout the book. She’s such a warm hearted, loving girl that I warmed to her quickly and was firmly on her side. She has such confidence in herself in some areas of her life, like her work, but was slightly insecure in knowing about what she wants in her personal life which I felt was very realistic. It was great to be able to watch her learn more about herself and grow in confidence in this regard as she finds out more about herself.
I’m sorry to say that I knew nothing about Armenian culture before reading this book so I really enjoyed learning more about their festivals and culture as I read. The reader learns this alongside Nar as she’s trying to find out about her heritage which I thought was very clever. I loved how proud Nar becomes of her culture and how it becomes a big part of her life.
This book had a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. There are some brilliant, vivid descriptions that helped bring the story to life and some hilariously funny moments that had me laughing out loud. The ending was brilliant and showed how far Nar had come. This is the author’s debut novel and I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
Huge thanks to Chloe from Pan Macmillan for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Taleen Voskuni is an Armenian-American writer who grew up in the Bay Area diaspora surrounded by a rich Armenian community and her ebullient family. She graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in English and currently lives in San Francisco, working in tech. Other than a newfound obsession with writing romcoms, she spends her free time cultivating her kids, her garden, and her dark chocolate addiction. Sorry, Bro is her first published novel.
Eek it’s finally here I’ve been so excited for this to arrive. I’m a huge fan of Harper Voyager’s books so when I heard they were starting a subscription box featuring special editions I knew I had to treat myself. I really enjoyed this author’s previous books so I’m excited to read this!
As you can see it’s such a beautiful book! I love that cover and those spredges are perfect. It sounds so good too, just up my street.
What’s your favourite special edition that you own?
Book Synopsis:
From the SUNDAY TIMES bestselling historical fantasy author of THE SHADOW IN THE GLASS comes a tour-de-force of faerie bargains, perfect for fans of THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LA RUE, MEXICAN GOTHIC, and TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARY
A dance with the fae will change everything
1919. In a Highland village forgotten by the world, the young people who remain after war and flu will soon head south to make something of themselves.
Moira Jean and her friends venture to the forest for a last night of laughter before parting ways. Moira Jean is being left behind. She too planned to leave once – but her lover died in France and, with him, her future. The friends light a fire and dance. But, with every twirl about the flames, strange new dancers thread between them, music streaming from the trees.
The Fae have joined the dance.
Suddenly Moira Jean finds herself all alone, her friends spirited away.
For the Fae feel left behind and forgotten too. Led by the darkly handsome Lord of the Fae, they are out to make themselves known once more. Moira Jean must enter into a bargain with the Lord to save her friends – and fast, for the longer they spend with the Fae, the less like themselves they will be upon return. If Moira Jean cannot save her friends before Beltane, they will be lost forever…
Bewitching, threaded with Highland charm, and sparkling with romance, this fairy tale will carry you away.
About The Author:
JJA Harwood is an author, editor and blogger. She grew up in Norfolk, read History at the University of Warwick and eventually found her way to London, which is still something of a shock for somebody used to so many fields.
When not writing, she can be found learning languages, cooking with more enthusiasm than skill, wandering off into clearly haunted houses and making friends with stray cats. THE SHADOW IN THE GLASS was her debut novel.
Berry Chambers and her co-workers have joined the Women’s Timber Corps—known as the Lumberjills—to do their bit for Britain. On their first day felling trees, they rescue an RAF pilot and become entangled in the loveless marriage of her new landlords.
Danger is never far away, be it an ill-timed axe swing or the occasional activity of the Luftwaffe overhead. Add a psychotic farm cat, a couple of young runaway evacuees, a spate of malicious packages, and the jealousy of the Land Girls next door, and life for Berry and her friends is never boring.
Can the girls find the balance between their vital war work and the natural pull of love?
My Review:
The Lumberjills is a fun, absorbing read that I really enjoyed.
Firstly I always love finding out new stuff about the second world war, so loved discovering more about the fabulous Lumberjills. I absolutely loved the tight knit group and kept wishing I could be one of them too (only for the friendship though I’d suck at the hard work side). Life as a Lumberjill was obviously hard work and I admired the girls for taking it on. It was a job full of danger, not just from the trees as I expected though, and this helped add to the tension in the book as I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next.
This book had a bit of everything in it and it was great to follow the girls throughout the book. I liked that there were fun moments in amongst the hard work as I felt this helped the reader really get to know the characters and what makes them tick. It was lovely to see the girls relationships grow and see them tackle everything together from work problems to new romances. I thought this book was very absorbing and there always seemed to be something happening to keep my interest. Even in the slower bits I was happy just to hang out with the girls.
This is the first book in a promising new series and I can’t wait to read more soon.
Huge thanks to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
M W Arnold lives near Northampton, UK and is known to his family and friends as, Mick. He was in the Royal Air Force for 16 years, visiting many different countries and very much enjoying himself; thank you, Queen Elizabeth II. He began writing as these characters needed their own voices. For a few years now, he’s been a member of the Romantic Novelists Association, a wonderful group of writers who’ve welcomed this bloke into their fold with open arms. He’s active on Twitter and Instagram as @mick859.
Good morning everyone I wanted to do a book Spotlight today for this gorgeous special edition I got last month. I love everything about this book, the gorgeous front cover, the end pages and of course the wonderful spredges (might have mentioned I gave a thing from spredges already 🤣).
Have you read this book?
Book Synopsis:
Ann Stilwell arrives in New York City, hoping to spend her summer working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Instead, she is assigned to The Cloisters, a gothic museum and garden renowned for its medieval and Renaissance collections.
There she is drawn into a small circle of charismatic but enigmatic researchers, each with their own secrets and desires, including the museum’s curator, Patrick Roland, who is convinced that the history of Tarot holds the key to unlocking contemporary fortune telling.
Relieved to have left her troubled past behind and eager for the approval of her new colleagues, Ann is only too happy to indulge some of Patrick’s more outlandish theories. But when Ann discovers a mysterious, once-thought lost deck of 15th-century Italian tarot cards she suddenly finds herself at the centre of a dangerous game of power, toxic friendship and ambition.
And as the game being played within the Cloisters spirals out of control, Ann must decide whether she is truly able to defy the cards and shape her own future . . .
Bringing together the modern and the arcane, The Cloisters is a rich, thrillingly-told tale of obsession and the ruthless pursuit of power.
About The Author:
Katy Hays is a writer and adjunct Art History professor in California, where she teaches rural students from Truckee to Tecopa. She holds an MA in Art History from Williams College and pursued her PhD at UC Berkeley. Having worked in curatorial and research roles at major art institutions, including the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and The Clark Art Institute, Katy brings an insider’s knowledge of the workings of museums and galleries as well as in-depth research into the fascinating history of fortune-telling to The Cloisters, her first novel. She lives with her husband and dog, Queso, in Olympic Valley.
A four-year-old girl goes missing in plain sight outside her nursery in Oxford, a middle-class, affluent area, her mother only a stones-throw away. A TRIGGERING RESPONSE
Ryan Wilkins, one of the youngest ever Detective Inspectors in the Thames Valley force, dishonourably discharged three months ago, watches his former partner DI Ray Wilkins deliver a press conference, confirming a lead.
A DARK WEB
Ray begins to delve deeper, unearthing an underground network of criminal forces in the local area. But while Ray’s investigation stalls Ryan brings his unique talents to unofficial and quite illegal inquiries which will bring him into a confrontation with the very officials who have thrown him out of the force.
My Review:
The Broken Afternoon is a gripping, tension filled crime book that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Firstly the thing I most enjoyed about this book were the fabulous characters the author has created. I really liked getting to know the dynamic duo of Ray and Ryan throughout the book. The differences between the two are very striking with Ray being privately educated, well dressed, while Ryan is from more of a deprived background with little education. I liked despite these differences the two were able to help and support each other, each bringing different things to the investigation. My favourite character had to be Ryan’s little boy who made me smile throughout the book with his adorable antics and his attempts to correct his dad’s language. It was heartwarming to see the relationship between the two Ryan’s and see the more caring side of the older Ryan.
I thought this book was really well written and there always seemed to be something happening to keep my attention. The plot covers a few gritty, emotional subjects which I thought was handled sensitively though were quite emotional to read about. I loved the Oxford setting and how the author highlighted the poorer areas of the city as well as the richer, tourist areas.
The tension in the book slowly increases as the story goes on with the many twists and red herrings keeping me guessing. I liked how realistic the investigation seemed with the investigation not always going to plan and the evidence being found in a realistic way. This is the second book in the series but I feel it could be read as a standalone as anything you need to know is explained. I can’t wait to read more from this fabulous series!
Huge thanks to Ana from Quercus for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Simon Mason has pursued parallel careers as a publisher and an author, whose YA crime novels Running Girl, Kid Got Shot and Hey, Sherlock! feature the sixteen-year-old slacker genius Garvie Smith. A former Managing Director of David Fickling Books, where he worked with many wonderful writers, including Philip Pullman, he has also taught at Oxford Brookes University and is currently a Royal Literary Fund Fellow at Exeter College, Oxford.
At first he wrote books for adults, then books for children, which grew up at roughly the same rate his own children grew up, and now he is back writing books for adults again. He has written a work of non-fiction, The Rough Guide to Classic Novels. His novels have been shortlisted for a number of awards, including the Branford Boase Prize for Best First Children’s Novel, the Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize, the Costa Prize for Best Children’s Book, and have won the Betty Trask for Best First Novel and the Crimefest Prize for Best YA Crime Novel.
Good morning everyone and happy Tuesday! For today’s Two For Tuesday I thought I’d show you the two books I’m currently reading.
I tend to read one physical book and one kindle book at a time. The physical book stays in the house and my kindle accompanies me to bed as I don’t sleep well or to my work for snatched moments on my lunch break. Both of these books are ones I’ve heard lots of good things about so I’m excited to finally be reading them.
What are you currently reading?
Mrs Van Gogh by Caroline Cauchi
In 1890, Vincent Van Gogh dies penniless, unknown, a man tortured by his own mind.
Eleven years later his work is exhibited in Paris and his unparalleled talent finally recognised. The tireless efforts of one woman gave the world one of its greatest creative minds.
But twenty-eight year old Johanna Van Gogh-Bonger, Vincent’s sister-in-law and the keeper of his immense collection of paintings, sketches and letters, has, until now, been written out of history. This beautiful, moving novel finally gives this extraordinary woman a voice…
My (Extra) Ordinary Life by Rebecca Ryan
Have you ever wondered how normal you are? What if you were perfectly average? More than anyone else.Â
For Emily – it’s true. When she watches a documentary on the average human she sees her life. Her job, her hair, her favourite food. All of her – plainly, horrifically average. Even her blood group. Right there and then, she decides she wants more.Â
She’ll travel the world (i.e. venture out of her hometown)
She’ll become a vegan (it’s interesting to hate cheese, right?)Â
She’ll do something daring (As long as it’s safety tested)Â
Nothing will stand in the way of Emily living her best life. Not even Josh and his dimples. Because she absolutely can’t fall in love… that would be too ordinary.Â
And from now on, Emily is going to be extraordinary.Â
Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand While Rachel Butler likes her life in a pretty Dublin coastal village, her heart lies in Hawke’s Bay, where she grew up. Visiting for the first time since tragedy tore her family apart, she and her stepchildren fall for its beauty and outdoor lifestyle.
Malahide, Ireland As Rachel picks up the threads of her life as a single parent, she can’t shake off the memories of her loving family in New Zealand – and her dream house, the villa on the bay. But it’s time to move forwards with their life in Ireland, close to the children’s grandparents, amid the familiar surroundings they all know well.
Until the children’s grandmother, still grieving, starts to interfere, questioning Rachel’s position as stepmother.
Until Rachel’s attempts to strengthen the family she loves so dearly backfires, pitting everyone against each other.
And until her late husband’s parents mend the rift that has existed as long as she’s been married – bringing with them an explosive secret . . .
My Review:
A Mother’s Heart is a beautifully written book about love, loss and family that I didn’t want to end.
Firstly I quickly fell in love with the beautiful characters in this book and the wonderful family. I liked that despite their current differences there is obviously a lot of love in this family, especially for the children which was lovely to see. I especially liked Rachel and how much she obviously cared for her step children. It was nice to see a step mother portrayed in a positive way in a book for once.
There was lots of important topics covered in this book which were surprisingly gritty at times. I thought the author described these beautifully and they were covered in a sensitive way. I especially liked the way the author focuses on the rights or grandparents and step parents as it was something I hadn’t thought about before.
Overall I loved this book and can’t wait to read more from this author in the future. I was quickly drawn into the story and into the lives of the family. It was a real joy to be able to follow the characters and witness every moment alongside them. This is definitely a roller coaster read where I was laughing one moment and then crying the next. I felt sad to finish the book and leave all the characters behind.
Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Harper Collins for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
USA Today bestseller Carmel Harrington lives in Wexford with her family & rescue dog, George Bailey. Her ninth novel, The Moon Over Kilmore Quay became an instant bestseller in Ireland and USA. Carmel’s trademark is to write warm, uplifting stories with humour, heart and hope within complex, twisting plots. Carmel’s novels have been shortlisted twice for an Irish Book Award and her debut Beyond Grace’s Rainbow won Kindle Book of the Year and Romantic eBook of the Year in 2013.
Two families divided by hate A love that will not die.
Sylvie and Donna travel on the same train to work each day but have never spoken. Their families are on different sides of the bitter Brexit divide, although the tensions and arguments at home give them much in common.
What they don’t know is that their eldest children, Rachid and Jodie, are about to meet for the first time and fall in love. Aware that neither family will approve, the teenagers vow to keep their romance a secret.
But as Sylvie’s family feel increasingly unwelcome in England, a desire for a better life threatens Rachid and Jodie’s relationship. Can their love unite their families – or will it end in tragedy?
My Review:
In Little Stars is a heartbreaking, gripping and though provoking book that will have you reaching for the tissues.
Linda Green has long been one of my favourite authors and I love the way she describes issues in her book. She’s very good at just exploring a situation without seeming overly forceful and letting the reader come to their own conclusions. Sadly racial hate and discrimination is all to common in the UK and it made me very sad to realise how frequently and casually it can happen.
The story is told from the point of view of Jodie, Rachid and their mother’s. I found I liked all four main characters and found it interesting to follow them throughout the story. I found it heartbreaking to see how the couple felt they had to hide their romance from their family and horrifying to see the racial hate Rachid experiences, especially from Jodie’s brother who is only 15. It made me realise how vulnerable teenagers are from picking up other people’s views. The two mum’s were particular favourites of mine and I admired how they tried to keep their families together whilst also having problems themselves.
I found this book incredibly gripping, quickly becoming absorbed into the story and growing fond of the characters. I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens to the couple, but with a growing sense of dread as the story went on and I began to realise the story might not have a happy ending. The ending was brilliant and I admired both Donna’s strength and her willingness to try and make a difference.
Huge thanks to Emily for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Quercus for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Linda Green is the bestselling author of ten novels, which have sold more than a million copies between them. Her latest novel, One Moment, was a Radio 2 Book Club selection, and her previous novel, The Last Thing She Told Me, was a Richard & Judy Book Club pick and a Top 20 Sunday Times bestseller. She lives in West Yorkshire with her husband and son.
BERLIN. JANUARY 1940. After Germany’s invasion of Poland, the world is holding its breath and hoping for peace. At home, the Nazi Party’s hold on power is absolute.
One freezing night, an SS doctor and his wife return from an evening mingling with their fellow Nazis at the concert hall. By the time the sun rises, the doctor will be lying lifeless in a pool of blood.
Was it murder or suicide? Criminal Inspector Horst Schenke is told that under no circumstances should he investigate. The doctor’s widow, however, is convinced her husband was the target of a hit. But why would anyone murder an apparently obscure doctor? Compelled to dig deeper, Schenke learns of the mysterious death of a child. The cases seem unconnected, but soon chilling links begin to emerge that point to a terrifying secret.
Even in times of war, under a ruthless regime, there are places in hell no man should ever enter. And Schenke fears he may not return alive . . .
My Review:
I was a huge fan of Blackout, the first book in this series, so I was very excited to read this book. Once again the author has written a fantastic gripping and absorbing book that I really enjoyed.
One of the things that always stands out about this author’s books is the incredible historical details he includes. I felt completely transported to Nazi Germany where I felt I could feel the fear and trepidation alongside the characters. I thought it was clever how the author includes descriptions of the horrors of the Nazi regime almost subtly into the story, like with Ruth who’s described as Jewish and in danger but the author doesn’t feel the need to explain why. I felt this made the story more realistic and the atmosphere more tense as I waited to see what happened next.
It was good to be back with Horst trying to solve a case alongside him. I found him a very likeable main character who is incredibly brave throwing himself into situations that others wouldn’t have dared gone. I felt that I got to know him and Ruth better in this book and I enjoyed learning more about them. I found myself starting to care about them which made for hard reading as the book goes on as I had to keep reading to make sure they’re ok.
This is an incredibly fast paced book and there always seemed to be something happening to keep my attention. There are numerous threads running through the story but it was easy to keep track of what was happening in each one. I was very intrigued to find out if any of them were connected as I couldn’t guess how they were. The tension in the book rises quickly and stays high throughout the book. There were moments when it became almost unbearable and I found myself sitting bolt upright at the edge of my seat as I read – until my husband had to ask me if I was ok. I’m really hoping there are going to be more books in the series as I’d love to read more of Horst and his adventures.
Huge thanks to Sophie from Ransom Pr for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Headline for my copy of this book.
About The Author:
Simon Scarrow is a Sunday Times No. 1 bestselling author. His books – which have sold over 5 million copies – include his Eagles of the Empire novels featuring Roman soldiers Macro and Cato, most recently DEATH TO THE EMPEROR, THE HONOUR OF ROME, THE EMPEROR’S EXILE and TRAITORS OF ROME, as well as BLACKOUT, the bestselling first novel in the Berlin Wartime Thriller series, and many more. He lives in Norfolk with his wife.
Over The Rainbow Blog 