Just a little post to wish you a happy September!
“Making your Christmas cake in September is perfect, as too fresh a cake crumbles when cut.” ―Mary Berry
“By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,
With summer’s best of weather
And autumn’s best of cheer.”
― Helen Hunt Jackson
Cathy746Books bought back 20 Books of Summer!
I said I wasn’t going to pile on the pressure and that I would read 20 books but I’d only pick 10 and then mood read the last 10.
So did I do it?!
I did! Woohoo!
Ledge by Stacey Mcewan ✔️
Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare ✔️
Thornhedge by T Kingfisher ✔️
The Lightstruck by Sunya Mara ✔️
Never a Hero by Vanessa Len ✔️
Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim ✔️
Alone in Ether by Olivie Blake✔️
Mindbreaker by Kate Dylan ✔️
Paris by Paris Hilton ✔️
Love Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood ✔️
I did read more than 10 mood reads but these are a few:
1) Lies We Sing to the Sea by Sarah Underwood
2) Ruling Destiny by Alyson Noel
3) Seven Exes by Lucy Vine
4) My Killer Vacation by Tessa Bailey
5) Cursed Crowns by Katherine Webber
6) A Curse of Saints by Kate Dramis
7) The Throne of Fire by Rick Riordan
8) The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent
9) The Serpent’s Shadow by Rick Riordan
10) Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
Did you take part?
Did you read 20 books?
Title: Bride of the Shadow King
Series: Bride of the Shadow King #1
Author: Sylvia Mercedes
A shunned princess. A reluctant king.
A marriage that could save both their kingdoms . . . but destroy their hearts.
Though she is the oldest daughter, Princess Faraine lives in the background, shunned from court and kept out of sight. Her chronic illness makes her a liability to the crown, and she has learned to give place to her beautiful, favored younger sister in all things.
When the handsome and enigmatic Shadow King comes seeking a bride, Faraine is not surprised that her sister is his choice.
Though not eager to take a human bride, King Vor is willing to do what is necessary for the sake of his people. When he meets the lively Princess Ilsevel, he quickly agrees to a marriage arrangement.
So why can’t he get the haunting eyes of her older sister out of his head?
When disaster strikes and the marriage alliance is compromised, Faraine suddenly finds herself forced to take her sister’s place . . . regardless of her new husband’s desires. Can she find a place at Vor’s side as his queen? Or is his heart forever closed to the woman who deceived him so cruelly?
Well, well, well, what a gem this was! I inhaled it!
Vor, the Shadow King, has to find a way to save his world, Mythanar, and so does Faraine’s human family in Gavaria. They think they both find that way in a marriage union. Only, after a doozy of first attraction, it’s not Faraine who needs to marry the King of the Trolde but her sister!
The world building was superb, I loved the way that Mythanar was described, there was murder and treachery and the story was fast paced (which was utterly perfect!)
So in short I found this to be a fabulous romantasy but hoping for a bit more steam in the next book!!!
‘Faraine will be my life. Or my doom.’
Oh and that epilogue, maybe a sniff of what’s coming?!
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?
CJRTB Books 