Happy Friday bookish people! It is March, the BEST month. Of course, I am biased, it is my birthday month and my Guide Dog’s birthday month – which makes it the best.
I have a variety of books on my TBR for this month and a lot that I am very excited about.
The Good Thieves by Katherine Rundell
Your Turn To Die by Sue Wallman
Gwen and Art Are Not In Love by Lex Croucher
The Plague Letters by V L Valentine
Pandora by Susan Stokes Chapman
A Little Bit Country by Brian D Kennedy
Finale by Stephanie Garber
Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict
Blood and Honey by Shelby Mahurin
Bingo Hall Detectives by Jonathan Whitelaw
Paris Dallencourt is about to crumble by Alexis Hall
Happy Tuesday bookish people! It is already the end of February so of course it is time to do this month’s wrap up.
I had a much better reading month than in January, I have been finding that I am enjoying it more. Whether that is because of the books I have been reading or just because February was a relaxed month (in comparison to January that is).
So, onto the wrap up!
Sense and Second Degree Murder by Tirzah Price – I did not read this one – it is one of those books where I really want to read it too much that I am scared to read it
Murder at the house on the hill by Victoria Walters – I did not read this book
Winterhouse by Ben Guterson – I did not read this
The Accidental Medium by Tracy Whitwell – I did read this well, currently I am reading this but it will be finished by the end of the month
Everyone in my family has killed someone by Benjamin Stevenson – I did not read this
Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson – I did read this and spoiler alert, LOVED it.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor – I did not read this
Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens – I did read this
The Stolen Heir by Holly Black – I did not read this
Book Lovers by Emily Henry – I did not read this
The Agency of Scandal by Laura Wood – I did not read this
Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict – I did not read this
The very secret society of irregular witches – I did read this (my favourite book this month)
Last Chance Books by Kelsey Rodkey – I did not read this
So, from my TBR I read 4 books and I also read A Study In Charlotte by Brittany Cavalaro which means I read five books this month!
What did you all read in February, did you enjoy them?
Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today. I am excited to be bringing you my book review for A Million to One.
I will give star ratings to four categories and I will write a little bit about each one. I will try to keep it as spoiler free as possible.
A Million To One Plot:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
I was first interested in this book because it mentions the Titanic, which is one of my biggest interests, and then when I saw that it featured four girls coming together to commit a heist I was sold. I bought it and read it the first day it came out in my local bookshop. I loved most of the elements that came together in this book, it really has that high tension dramatic twists feature that you need in this kind of book.
A Million to One Characters:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The four main characters in this book are Emilie, hannah, Violet and Josefa. I have to say I loved Josefa’s character, she was methodical and intense and really knew how to lead a group. Violet on the other hand, for me personally, I really did not get along well with her character. I thought she was antagonistic for no reason and this frustrated me to no end while reading the book.
A Million To One writing and dialogue:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
I’m not sure what age range this book falls into but the writing style is a little young in the words and the pacing but at some points the actions do not match this younger age style.
A Million to One overall:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
I gave this book four stars because I really enjoyed it and I was not expecting the ending.
Blurb/Synopsis:
Adiba Jaigirdar, author of one of Time‘s Best YA books of all time, gives Titanic an Ocean’s 8 makeover in a heist for a treasure aboard the infamous ship that sank in the Atlantic many years ago.
A thief. An artist. A acrobat. An actress. While Josefa, Emilie, Hinnah, and Violet seemingly don’t have anything in common, they’re united in one goal: stealing the Rubaiyat, a jewel-encrusted book aboard the RMS Titanic that just might be the golden ticket to solving their problems.
But careless mistakes, old grudges, and new romance threaten to jeopardize everything they’ve worked for and put them in incredible danger when tragedy strikes. While the odds of pulling off the heist are slim, the odds of survival are even slimmer . . .
Perfect for fans of Stalking Jack the Ripper and Girl in the Blue Coat, this high-seas heist from the author of The Henna Wars is an immersive story that makes readers forget one important detail— the ship sinks.
Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you all enjoy my valentines day book tag!
Stand Alone book you love
The starless sea by Erin Morgenstern
Dystopian book you love
I am not really into the dystopian genre but I like the scythe series which I think fits this genre.
A book that you love but nobody talks about
The left handed booksellers of london by Garth Nix
Favourite book couple
Scarlett and Julian from Caraval, Thomas Cresswell and Audrey rose Wadsworth from stalking jack the ripper and Emilia and wrath from kingdom of the wicked, I can’t decide between the three of them.
A book other people love but you haven’t read yet
Most of the Sarah J Maas collection, specifically a court of mist and fury
A book with red on the cover
The first one that comes to mind is From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L Armentrout.
A book with pink on the cover
Love on the brain by Ali Hazelwood
You were given a box of chocolate what boyfriend or girlfriend would have given them to you?
Thomas Cresswell from the stalking Jack the Ripper series
You are single on valentines day what book would you read? what tv show and movie would you watch?
Ooh okay, book: Book Lovers by Emily Henry, Tv show: Friends, Movie: almost definitely something Disney related
You are in the book store. All of a sudden you get shot with an arrow what new release will you love?
Finlay Donovan Jumps the gun by Elle Cosimano
That is it for this book review, I hope you all have enjoyed it! What answers would you have given?
Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today. I am excited to be bringing you my book review for Love in the time of serial killers by Alicia Thompson.
I will be giving star ratings to four categories and writing a little bit about each one. I will try to keep it as spoiler free as possible.
Love in the time of serial killers plot:
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
This book is about Pheobe, a PhD student studying true crime who becomes suspicious of her new neighbour. I will be honest I was expecting a lot more tension from the whole ‘is he dangerous’ plotline than there actually was. For me, it ended way too quickly because I would have liked a development from this suspicion into actually trying to figure out if he is and from there the romance could bloom as they say but the book decides he isn’t dangerous only a few chapters in. I did like the PhD plotline, I mean I am also doing a PhD in crime fiction so I saw a lot of similarities between myself and Pheobe in this bit.
Love in the time of serial killers characters:
⭐⭐
Rating: 2 out of 5.
I am actually struggling to write this bit because I can’t remember much about the characters, I wasn’t invested in them or what happened to them enough to actually remember them.
Love in the time of serial killers writing and dialogue:
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
The writing in this book was good, it was clear and well structured. I did like the pacing of it in terms of the length of the chapters.
Love in the time of serial killers overall:
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
I gave this book three stars overall because it was okay, it definitely was not the worst book I have read but I don’t think it was for me.
Blurb/Synopsis:
Turns out that reading nothing but true crime isn’t exactly conducive to modern dating—and one woman is going to have to learn how to give love a chance when she’s used to suspecting the worst.
PhD candidate Phoebe Walsh has always been obsessed with true crime. She’s even analyzing the genre in her dissertation—if she can manage to finish writing it. It’s hard to find the time while she spends the summer in Florida, cleaning out her childhood home, dealing with her obnoxiously good-natured younger brother, and grappling with the complicated feelings of mourning a father she hadn’t had a relationship with for years.
It doesn’t help that she’s low-key convinced that her new neighbor, Sam Dennings, is a serial killer (he may dress business casual by day, but at night he’s clearly up to something). It’s not long before Phoebe realizes that Sam might be something much scarier—a genuinely nice guy who can pierce her armor to reach her vulnerable heart.
Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today. As it is February I thought it would be fun to do some Valentine’s themed book tags, starting with the Cupid Book Tag I am doing today – which I found on rootingbranches.com.
What’s the perfect sweets to eat while reading?
I don’t usually eat while reading but if I did I would be more partial to a biscuit then to sweets.
What is a song that reminds you of your favourite romance or your favourite romantic song?
Hmm… my favourite romance book would be Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell but I don’t really know a song that could link to it but my favourite romance song is probably So Good it hurts by Olivia Lane.
If you were to go on a perfect reading date where would it be?
That is a very good question, I think it would be somewhere overlooking water, a river or something but it would only work in the spring because I hate bugs, anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that I will not be outside in a field when there are bugs around.
What’s the best friendship you have read in a book?
Another very difficult question, I think I would have to choose Kellen and Reichus in the Spellslinger series be Sebastien de Castell.
Create the perfect bouquet for your favourite book or character
I would have to choose Sorcery of thorns by margaret rogerson, Nathaniel would bring Elizabeth a bouquet of roses made form pages of books that he would have haphazardly glued together.
What romance do you not necessarily need a whole sequel for you just want to check in on them and make sure everything is okay?
By the book definitely, I adored that book and I would love to know what has happened between the characters since the book ended.
What date in a book or movie do you wish you could go on yourself?
Strangely I have read this question and every book/movie date I know of has left my mind. Instead why don;t you all answer this question in the comments, what date would you want to go on?
What is your favourite nickname from a romance?
I can’t think of an answer for this one either!
Most anticipated romances of 2023?
The secret service of tea and treason by India Holton which is being published in April of this year.
That is it for this book atg, I hope you have all enjoyed it!
Happy Monday bookish people! I hope you are all having a good day today. I am excited to be bringing you one of my favourite reads so far this year – Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood.
As usual, I will give star ratings to four categories and I will write a little bit about each one. I will do my best to keep this review as spoiler free as possible.
Death Comes To Marlow Plot:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
This book is the second in the Marlow Murder Club series by Death In Paradise writer, Robert Thorogood. It has some of the best mystery elements, an expensive manor house, a locked room mystery and every suspect has an alibi. For me personally I love these types of mystery stories because it is all about the puzzle, I knew pretty much from the beginning who the murderer was but the fun for me was figuring out how they did it.
Death Comes To Marlow Characters:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The three main characters in this novel are Judith, Suzie and Becks. Three woman who, in other circumstances, should not get along as well as they do. Their relationship is started in the first book in the series but it gets developed much more in this novel. I love how each character is so different, there are parts about each of them that can grate on me but it is balanced out by their brilliant amateur detective skills.
Death Comes to Marlow Writing and Dialogue:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The writing style Thorogood uses is extremely cosy which is the style I think fits this type of mystery best, it stops the darkness of the crime overtaking the whole novel and lets it stay enjoyable.
Death Comes to Marlow Overall:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
I gave this book four stars overall because I thoroughly enjoyed it, even more than the first book in the series.
Blurb/Synopsis:
It’s been an enjoyable and murder-free time for Judith, Suzie and Becks – AKA the Marlow Murder Club – since the events of last year. The most exciting thing on the horizon is the upcoming wedding of Marlow grandee, Sir Peter Bailey, to his nurse, Jenny Page. Sir Peter is having a party at his grand mansion on the river Thames the day before the wedding, and Judith and Co. are looking forward to a bit of free champagne.
But during the soiree, there’s a crash from inside the house, and when the Marlow Murder Club rush to investigate, they are shocked to find the groom-to-be crushed to death in his study.
The study was locked from the inside, so the police don’t consider the death suspicious. But Judith disagrees. As far as she’s concerned, Peter was murdered! And it’s up to the Marlow Murder Club to find the killer before he or she strikes again…
Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today. I am excited about everything that will be going on this month, and the books I have chosen to read. First of all there is the February Valentine’s edition of the Chopped Readathon that I host with my friend @plaid_reader. There will be more information coming soon about this so let me know if you are interested in taking part!
My February TBR!
Sense and Second Degree Murder by Tirzah Price
Murder in the House on the Hill by Victoria Walters
Winterhouse by Ben Gutterson
The Accidental Medium by Tracy Whitwell
Everyone in my family has killed someone by Benjamin Stevenson
Mysteries of Thorn Manor by Margaret Rogerson
Daughter of smoke and bone by laini Taylor
Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens
The Stolen Heir by Holly Black
Book Lovers by Emily Henry
Agency of Scandal
Murder on the Christmas Express by Alexandra Benedict
Happy Monday bookish people! I am back with my January wrap up. This month has really been a rollercoaster for me, I had a huge assessment – my RDC2 exam for my PhD which was a written essay and a presentation, incredibly stressful but I passed which is great and I got offered a research assistant job, I also applied for another job but I haven’t heard back yet. Anyway, January was a good month for my reading. At the end of last year I was reading maybe one book a month but with a few days left to go I have done so much better to start this year.
Onto the wrap up!
Dance of Thieves by Mary E Pearson – I did not read this, I haven’t been in the mood for much fantasy with all the stress I have turned to lighter reads – and of course murder mysteries
A Gathering of Shadows by V E Schwab – I did not read
Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T A Willberg – I did not read this
A River Enchanted by Rebecca Ross – I did not read
The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake – I did not read this
The Gilded Wolves by Roshani Chokshi – I did not read
Hunting Party by Lucy Foley – I did not read
House in the Cerulean Sea by T J Klune – I did not read
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel – I did not read
The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson – I did not read
Love in the time of serial killers – I did read!
So, from my TBR I only read one of the books but other than the TBR I read: Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood, A Million to one by Adiba Jagirdar and A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro. That means I have read 4 books this month which is really great for me.
Happy Friday bookish people! I hope you’re all having a good day today. I am bringing you a book review for one of the books I read in December, The Very Merry Murder Club.
In this book review I will give star ratings to four categories and I will write a little bit about each one. I will do my best to not give any spoilers.
The Very Merry Murder Club Plot:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
The very merry murder club is a collection of thirteen short stories set around winter and christmas with a murder/mystery element to the plot. Each of the stories in this collection are very different to each other but thoroughly enjoyable. Two of my favourites were the one about the burglar mother and the other favourite was the one about the mixed up music with two dance groups.
Because of all the different stories I can’t really comment on the characters the way I usually do in my reviews.
The Very Merry Murder Club Writing and Dialogue:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
I like to judge the writing in books on the speed I read the books and in this case I flew through the book while travelling by coach to London a while back. It was so easy to just keep reading, even though each story was written by different people I hardly noticed which I think is a good sign.
The Very Merry Murder Club Overall:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
I really enjoyed this book, it was perfect for reading in the winter months so that is why I gave it four stars.
Blurb/Synopsis:
A wintery middle grade mystery collection of short stories by thirteen of the most exciting and diverse authors in children’s books today!
Co-edited by Serena Patel, the award-winning author of the Anisha: Accidental Detective series and by Robin Stevens, author of the bestselling Murder Most Unladylike series.
Sleuthing through the snow, on a merry mysterious day, in disguise we go, investigating all the way . . .
This gorgeous Christmas hardback gift of a collection brings together thirteen of the bestselling, award-winning and exciting debut authors: Abiola Bello, Annabelle Sami, Benjamin Dean, E.L. Norry, Elle McNicoll, Dominique Valente, Joanna Williams, Maisie Chan, Nizrana Farook, Patrice Lawrence, Roopa Farooki, Serena Patel and Sharna Jackson.
Join them as part of the Very Merry Murder Club as they lead you on a snow-covered wintery journey of Christmassy crimes, festive foul play and murderously magnificent mysteries!
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