Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Topic: Water
This was quite hard!
Lies We Sing to the Sea
Beach Read
Hook, Line and Sinker (fisherman!)
The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi (pirate!)
Catfish Rolling (cover!!!)
Water Witch
Drowned Woods
River Enchanted
House in the Cerulean Sea
Moti on the Water
What about you?
Title: Never a Hero
Series: Monsters #2
Author: Vanessa Len
Despite all of the odds, Joan achieved the impossible. She reset the timeline, saved her family – and destroyed the hero, Nick.
But her success has come at a terrible cost.
She alone remembers what happened. Now, Aaron, her hard-won friend – and maybe more – is an enemy, trying to kill her. And Nick, the boy she loved, is a stranger who doesn’t even know her name. Only Joan remembers that there is a ruthless and dangerous enemy still out there.
When a deadly attack forces Joan back into the monster world as a fugitive, she finds herself on the run with Nick – as Aaron closes in.
As the danger rises – and Nick gets perilously closer to discovering the truth of what Joan did to him – Joan discovers a secret of her own. One that threatens everyone she loves.
Torn between love and family and monstrous choices, Joan must find a way to re-gather her old allies to face down the deadliest of enemies, and to save the timeline itself.
After the ending of Only a Monster I couldn’t wait to see what would happen…..
Joan is back but not in the true timeline and things have changed. Aaron Oliver is now an enemy and Nick is not who he used to be!
This book was full of action, drama, secrets and jaw dropping reveals!
I need to know what happens next and am praying at the altar of time that Aaron is endgame but still a happy ending for Nick!!!
The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer It’s a chance to share news, a post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received.
Hi everyone, hope you’ve had a good week?
I didn’t do an update last week because I didn’t read a single word whilst we were away!!
Our holiday was so good! We went on a steam train, did a few walks across the moors, went to a zoo and we went kayaking (and I got sunburnt!) There were 25 of us and can honestly say it was the best holiday I’ve ever been on!
This week I was bumped back into reality with work and I actually read some stuffs!
Bonesmith by Nicki Pau Preto
Forged by Blood by Ehigbar Okosun
The Judas Blossom by Stephen Aryan
Pictures to follow as I’ve been out all day!!!
🎧 The House of Hades by Rick Riordan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎧 Unfortunately Yours by Tessa Bailey
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Yellowface by RF Kuang
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Kingdom of Fire and Fate by Holly Renee
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Look out for my reviews soon!
Unboxing – Illumicrate July 23 Review – Penmort Castle by Kristen Ashley
Review – Our King by Robert Jobson
What have you read lately?
Title: Our King: Charles III
Author: Robert Jobson
When Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, it sent shockwaves around the world. The longest reigning and oldest monarch, at ninety-six years of age, she had just publicly celebrated her Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. The Queen’s death meant the passing of the Crown to her son, HRH Charles, Prince of Wales, her controversial, earnest, and outspoken heir, who had long lived in the shadow of her mystique.
King Charles III’s own life has been marred by scandal and myth, but who is the real man behind the Crown? In this revelatory book, renowned royal correspondent and author Robert Jobson examines the life of our new King, and his passions, purpose, and motivations. On the eve of his landmark coronation, Our King considers the life of the man and the monarch, reflecting on how his values and beliefs will shape him as he takes on this monumental role.
I actually really enjoyed this.
I don’t think I’ll ever forget Charles’ face at the funeral of his Mum, holding it together as best he could. I like the guy and I also like the monarchy. I loved Diana too but some people have to let that go, her passing was a very tragic event but we have to move on and let Charles be happy.
From birth to present day, a recollection of Charlies life so far.
I love that he is so passionate about his causes and he really has some big boots to fill now as King.
William and Catherine appear a bit but I’d say there was more about Harry and Meghan but I skipped over them because they make my blood boil!
Title: Penmort Castle
Series: Ghosts and Reincarnation #3
Author: Kristen Ashley
Cash Fraser is planning revenge and to get it he needs the perfect woman. So he hires her. Abigail Butler has lost nearly everything in her life and she’s about to lose the home she loves.
Cash meets Abby, who is posing as a paid escort, and the minute he does he knows he’s willing to pay for more than Abby being his pretend girlfriend. A lot more. Abby needs the money or the last thing that links her to her dead family and husband will be gone. The deal is struck but both Cash and Abby get more than they bargained for.
Cash realises very quickly that Abby isn’t what she seems and while he changes strategies, Abby discovers that Cash’s legacy, Penmort Castle, is like all the tales say – very, very haunted. Making matters worse, the ghost in residence wants her dead.
Abby’s found herself in the battle of her life so she enlists Mrs. Truman, her nosy neighbour; Jenny, her no-nonsense friend; Cassandra McNabb, white witch and clairvoyant with a penchant for wearing scarves (and lots of them); and Angus McPherson, dyed-in-the-wool Scot (which means he hunts ghosts in a kilt) to fight the vicious ghost who has vowed that she will rest at nothing to kill the true, abiding love of the master of Penmort.
I’ve had this book for so long and I’m so happy that I’ve got to it now because I loved the 1st two books!
So, the setting: Bath, Bristol and Clevedon – my yard! Love reading stories that are close to where I live!
Abi needs money so her friend sets her up with Cash who, has the money to pay for an escort, but has a plan in regards to his family. But both their plans go awry!
A very nasty ghost, lots of miscommunication, a black cat, a Scottish ghost hunter in a kilt, basically a formed coven and a grumpy old lady – Mrs Truman what a legend!
This was an ok read but I did prefer the 1st two I must admit. But on to the next book!
Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Topic: Freebie: New-to-me authors so far in 2023
If there is one thing I love about books it’s reading new to me authors and discovering gems! Here’s 10 that I’ve found so far this year!
T Kingfisher
Kate Dramis
Runyx
Emma Torzs
Carissa Broadbent
Ashley Postin
Rachel Gillig
Maya Ibrahim
Rebecca Yarros
Lynn Painter
What authors are on your list?
July theme – You Win or You Die
In a game like this, there are only two choices – win and live, or lose and die.
Items inspired by The Hunger Games, A Magic Steeped in Poison, The Final Strife and a multifandom item.
💛 Fire is Catching Towel inspired by The Hunger Games, designed by @afterblossom_art
💛 Guess the Character Game designed by @chattynora with artwork by @polarts_
💛 Magic Stemless Tea Cups inspired by A Magic Steeped in Poison, designed by @jessleart
💛 Guild of Knowledge Pouch inspired by The Final Strife, designed by @alicemariapower
The Jasad Heir by Sara Hashem
Exclusive cover
Foiled hardback by @chattynora
Digitally printed edges by @chattynora
Endpaper art by @chattynora
Signed
Hi! Hope you’ve had a good week!
No Sunday Post today because I didn’t read a single word on holiday but I wanted to show you something I saw that fascinated and enraged me! It’s not bookish so feel free to skip if you aren’t interested!
We came across this grave on the Dartmoor moors in the middle of nowhere on a crossroads and our local guide told us the story which was along the lines of:
In the late 18th century, Kitty Jay was a servant in a farmhouse and the owners son got her pregnant. This was scandalous in those days as they weren’t married.
The farmer threw her out, the church abandoned her and the son denied everything (that’s what made me mad!) With no options, she hung herself in an outbuilding.
In those days victims of suicide weren’t allowed to be buried on consecrated ground because the locals believed the spirit would make its way back to familiar territory and haunt them so they were buried under crossroads without the rites of Christian burial.
Years later her body (and that of her unborn child) were dug up and set in a fresh grave on the crossroads surrounded by stones. To this day, no matter what time of the year, there are always fresh flowers on her grave. No one knows who puts them there but legend says it is the Dartmoor pixies!
There are all sorts of ghost stories and pagan ritual type things surrounding the grave but I just think it’s an utterly sad story. I do like that the town and people in it were forgotten but Kitty’s story lives on!
Here are some more pictures of the moors (the sheep free roam – also cows and horses do this too!)
Title: Scarlet
Series: Scarlet #1
Author: Genevieve Cogman
Revolution is a bloodthirsty business . . . especially when vampires are involved.
It is 1793 and the French Revolution is in full swing. Vampires—usually rich and aristocratic—have slaked the guillotine’s thirst in large numbers. The mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel, a disguised British noble, and his League are heroically rescuing dozens of aristocrats from execution, both human and vampire. And soon they will have an ace up their sleeves–Eleanor Dalton.
Eleanor is working as a housemaid on the estate of a vampire Baroness. Her highest aspiration is to one day become a modiste. But when the Baroness hosts a mysterious noble and his wife, they tell Eleanor she is the spitting image of a French aristocrat, and they convince her to journey to France to aid them in a daring scheme. Soon, Eleanor finds herself in Paris, swept up in magic and intrigue—and chaos—beyond her wildest dreams. But there’s more to fear than ardent Revolutionaries. For Eleanor stumbles across a centuries-old war between vampires and their fiercest enemy. And they’re out for blood. . . .
A fun, action packed, historical romp all the way back to the French Revolution…..but with vamps!
Eleanor is a seamstress with an uncanny resemblance to an important French historical figure who is imprisoned so shes inducted into the ranks of the Scarlet Pimpernel!
I loved Eleanor, she was so strong and her inner pep talks made it for me! I also loved the detail around the time period, the author must have done so much research!
I hope Eleanor and Charles so make it because they were really very cute!
I didn’t give it 5 stars because there was something very bizarre that happened with the introduction of a new ‘character’ just over halfway through, it confused me and I didn’t understand what use it had really! Maybe there’s more to come from this in future books and it will make sense then? But for now it felt a bit rushed and not fully explained? Maybe it was me!
CJRTB Books 