All Hallows Book Tag - #AHBT @QuirnusReads

 

Today I am taking part in the All Hallows Book Tag which was created by @QuirnusReads on X/Twitter. Do you like my old school response to the This or That questionaire?

There are also six questions to answer for this tag and you can find my answers below.

I am also tagging in some of the other lovely bloggers who are taking part.

My Answers to This or That

You will probably notice that I have sat squarly on the fence regarding my preference to whether I am a daylight or nightime reader. I'm both and I could not possibly choose. I read at almost every available moment. I always have a book on me. Are you the same?

All Hallows Book Tag Questions

What are your favourite spooky season genres?

I like books which have a witch involved in the story. The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer is a perfect example.

It was a spooky eerie read that is perfect for this tag. It is set in 1885 and is wonderfully atmospheric. My review of this book can be found by clicking here.

Amazon UK (unaffiliated)

Which titles do you recommend for Halloween reading?

This one is for the little ones and my grandson loved it. Spooky Little Halloween: A Finger Wiggle Book by Sally Symes and Nick Sharratt. 

A lovely interactive picture book. You can find my review by clicking here.

Amazon UK (unaffiliated)

 What are your most anticipated reads this month? 

I am really looking forward to reading The Twelve by Liz Hyder.

This looks like being a spooky read and I'm saving it for nearer Halloween.

Amazon UK (unaffiliated)

Have you had a paranormal experience or spooky coincidence?

I sometimes find I have a funny feeling about something and it comes to pass. Or I will be thinking of someone who I haven't heard from in ages and suddenly they get in touch. A little strange but I haven't experienced any ghostly apparitions. My best friend used to see a woman standing at the top of the stairs in her home and she used to scare me half to death about it when we were young.

What are your spooky season film and TV favourites?

I'm currently working my way through watching Charmed. There are loads of episodes and I'm still only about half way there so lots still to watch. 

They are based on a series of books written by Constance M. Burge. There are literally dozens of books in the series.

How do you celebrate Halloween?

We tend to keep it fairly low key but I do dot some witchy type items around the house. This year I have bought a singing black cat. Apparently, it comes with batteries but I like to think there is something a little magical about him.

I'm Tagging Some Other Bloggers Into This

For Books Sake

Sabrina Accalai

(all opinions on this post are my own)

(Amazon links unaffiliated)

10 Ten Exciting New Releases in November 2024

 

November is fast approaching and I am looking ahead at a few lovely new publications. There are so many, but as always, I am confining myself to just ten.

Anything here excite your reading tastebuds?

City of Silk by Glennis Virgo

Bologna, 1575.

A talented seamstress

A powerful merchant

A fierce battle of wills

Elena Morandi has gained a fragile foothold in the workshop of a master tailor, despite the profession being officially barred to her as a woman. But then a powerful man from her past crosses her path and threatens everything she has worked for. Antonio della Fontana has every corner of the city in his pocket and, as Elena knows all too well, he abused his position of power at the Baraccano orphanage. Driven to fight for justice against a man seemingly above the law, Elena hatches a plan to get retribution for herself, a lost friend and those still prey to Fontana's abuses.

With sumptuous detail that brings the sights, sounds and textures of Renaissance Italy to vivid life, City of Silk is a breathtaking historical fiction debut.

Winner of the inaugural Debut Writers Over 50 Award.

The Mysterious Case of the Victorian Female Detective by Sara Lodge

A revelatory history of the women who brought Victorian criminals to account—and how they became a cultural sensation From Wilkie Collins to the adventures of Sherlock Holmes, the traditional image of the Victorian detective is male. Few people realise that women detectives successfully investigated Victorian Britain, working both with the police and for private agencies, which they sometimes managed themselves. Sara Lodge recovers these forgotten women’s lives. She also reveals the sensational role played by the fantasy female detective in Victorian melodrama and popular fiction, enthralling a public who relished the spectacle of a cross-dressing, fist-swinging heroine who got the better of love rats, burglars, and murderers alike. How did the morally ambiguous work of real women detectives, sometimes paid to betray their fellow women, compare with the exploits of their fictional counterparts, who always save the day? Lodge’s book takes us into the murky underworld of Victorian society on both sides of the Atlantic, revealing the female detective as both an unacknowledged labourer and a feminist icon.

The Reunion by M.A. Hunter

Never underestimate how much people can change...

It's been years since Zoe last saw them – since they graduated, drifted apart, and lost touch.

Years since Zoe ended things with Dan because the memories were too painful to bear.

Years since that night – the night an unexpected death shattered their close-knit group of friends.

Now, Zoe is invited to Scotland for a wedding – a grand affair at a manor house on a remote island. Apprehensive about the reunion, she hopes the long drive with Lily will help ease her nerves.

But things are far from simple. Lily has also agreed to give Dan a lift, and Rod, not wanting to be left out, is joining them as well, along with his fiancée.

And when they come into trouble on a cold, dark, desolated Highland road, it sets off a chain of events which will leave them all shaken to their very core, and questioning everything they thought they knew…

Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

December 1952

As a young Queen Elizabeth II prepares to deliver her first Christmas speech, staff work behind the scenes to get ready for the festivities at Sandringham Estate. Among them are Jack and Olive – old friends who are surprised to be reunited after seven years apart.

While Olive works for the BBC reporting on the royal family, and Jack is employed in the queen’s kitchens, their bond deepens – until a secret threatens to tear them apart. When the truth comes to light, it could change Olive and Jack's lives forever.

But maybe Christmas has one last gift to deliver…

Second Chances at Hollyhock Farm by Georgina Troy

Festival season has come to Hollyhock Farm…

Since his sister Lettie took over their parents' farm on the beautiful island of Jersey at the start of the year, Zac Torel's life has changed completely. Zac loves Hollyhock Farm, and he's determined to help Lettie succeed, but when their insurance company refuses to pay for the restoration of one of their barns in time for winter, the clock is ticking for the Torels to raise the money themselves.

The siblings decide to host a wellness festival, but with the summer already well underway, they've got their work cut out to get everything ready before the season ends. Lettie recruits the help of Melody, a yoga teacher from Edinburgh. New to the island, Melody is determined to shake things up and make a success of Lettie’s festival.

But Melody has come to Jersey with more baggage than her small backpack implies. And as her friendship with Zac grows, will her past catch up with her?

Gone with the Penguins by Hazel Prior

"Emperor penguins defy the odds, and I shall too.”

Still fiery and feisty at eighty-seven, Veronica McCreedy, the very first Penguin Ambassador, is determined to prove that nothing is impossible when you put your mind to it.

Eileen, Veronica’s ever-patient assistant, is content taking care of other people. But when a new adventure calls, it makes her question everything...

Ten-year-old, penguin-obsessed Daisy can’t wait to be reunited with Mrs McCreedy in her huge house by the sea for the school holidays.

When they discover that the local Sea Life Centre is under threat, the unlikely trio are determined to save it and the penguins that live there.

Inspired by the penguins and fuelled by Darjeeling tea and finger sandwiches, they embark on an epic fundraising walk. But soon, their mission becomes so much more and it might just lead each of them to a new beginning...

Don't You Want Me Baby? by Rachel Dove

Amber Fitzpatrick is about to hit thirty and has achieved none of the things she hoped to have done by now. Her dreams of owning her own business seem out of reach. Her boyfriend has just dumped her and now her biological clock is clanging in her head.

But maybe Amber doesn’t need a man for the next stage of her life? Maybe as an independent woman she can have a baby all by herself?

There’s only one problem. Handsome but excruciatingly annoying best friend Tyler Williams. Tyler thinks Amber’s motherhood plans are plain crazy! She just needs to wait for Mr. Right to come along…and maybe he’s closer than she thinks?

But with Amber hellbent on doing it alone, Tyler sets out to prove to her that being her best friend could also come with excellent benefits…if only she's brave enough to take the chance.

The Sea House by Louise Douglas

A mysterious bequest and the legacy of a tragic love – only one person can unravel the hidden secrets of the past before it’s too late…

When Elisabeth Quemener dies she leaves a small parcel with the instructions that it must only be opened by Astrid Oake. The trouble is, no one knows who Astrid Oake is…

Elisabeth’s family turn to Touissants detective agency for help but, when Mila Shepherd and Carter Jackson try to track Astrid down, their frustration soon mounts. Their only clue is a photo of two young women holding the hands of a tiny child. The women are smiling but Mila is haunted by the sadness in their eyes. Is this Astrid and Elisabeth and if so, who is the child? And why are there signs everywhere in Elisabeth’s home that the old woman was frightened despite her living a quiet life with no known enemies?

As Elisabeth and Astrid’s story slowly unfolds, Mila feels the walls of her home The Sea House closing in. And as the secrets finally begin to reveal themselves, she is ever more determined to carry out Elisabeth’s final wishes. Because what is inside that unprepossessing parcel might just save a life…

The Foyle's Bookshop Girls' Promise by Elaine Roberts

London, 1918: war rages on, but the girls of London’s Foyles bookshop always have a place to feel safe.

Rosie Burrows loves being part of the Foyles team, and outwardly, she’s a happy young woman, engaged to the love of her life. But inside, Rosie faces a horrible dilemma. When Alfie enlisted, she promised to wait for him to return from France. And she has waited, quietly preparing for him to come home so they can marry. But for years her letters to him have gone unanswered, and now she doesn’t know where she stands.

To keep occupied, Rosie starts volunteering at the local school. She loves reading to the children, and takes solace in her growing friendship with the kind and gentle class teacher. But Rosie knows she can’t allow herself to develop feelings for Sam – she gave her word.

But why hasn’t Alfie answered her letters? Has he changed his mind about her? And how long should she wait for a man who may never come back?

A Skye Full of Stars by Sue Moorcroft

Under the winter stars, anything is possible…

Ezzie Wynter can’t wait for Christmas on the beautiful Isle of Skye. Her island home sparkles at this time of year thanks to the snow-capped mountains and frosty winter walks, topped off with family gatherings with those she loves the most.

But her peaceful Christmas idyll is upended when she hears that the Larson family – the owners of Rothach Hall – are flying in from Sweden for the festivities. As Manager of their grand Scottish manor house, Ezzie suddenly has decorations to hang, food to source and itineraries to organise.

Life only becomes more difficult when Mats Larson turns up. The owners’ handsome, self-assured son is used to doing things his own way – and he is only another headache to add to her overflowing list.

Yet when unexpected visitors arrive looking for Ezzie, nothing else matters as she is left questioning everything she ever knew about herself. But amidst the Christmas chaos, she might also discover that, when all is lost, it’s sometimes those we least expect who come to our aid…

A Modern Midlife Christmas Carol by Alana Oxford - #excerpt #extract #publicationday

This looks like such a fun Christmassy read that I could not resist taking part in todays publication day push, and I'm thrilled that I have an excerpt for you today.

Without any further ado, let me tell you a little about the book.

The Blurb

Christmas cheer was dead, to begin with.

The world rests on Eliza’s shoulders. The kids, her husband, work, her elderly mother and don’t forget her newest friend, perimenopause. It’s too much to carry, but she’s been doing it for years. It’s just what a good wife and mother does, isn’t it? 

When another Christmas rolls around, Eliza is drained by all the expectations and logistics of the holiday season. She’s fast approaching her breaking point, only no one around her notices she’s on the edge.

After an incident at her in-law’s on Christmas Eve brings things to a boiling point, she finds herself with three unexpected visitors. The spirits of the past, present, and future take her on a journey through her life to shake her out of the rut she’s gotten into. Their messages leave her with new possibilities: reconnect with her past, reclaim her present, or forge a new future, and you, the reader, decide which option is best! 

The Excerpt

Eliza, her husband, Jacob, and their teenage children, Bella and Bobby, have just pulled into the driveway at Jacob’s brother Edward’s house for Christmas. They don’t have the greatest relationship with Edward and his wife, Dymond. 

Heavy. The word hit Eliza as she struggled to motivate herself to get out and put on the holiday act she was expected to perform. That’s how she felt…heavy. In mind, body, and spirit. Like she was carrying around the dead weight of the person she used to be, the reality of who she really was, and the ever increasing boulder of who everyone wanted her to be. The roles she had to play were layering on top of her as she struggled to unbuckle her seatbelt. Adoring wife - gleefully putting aside her misgivings to give her husband the Christmas he inexplicably wanted. Gentle and endlessly patient mother - even though the kids wanted her to back off and shut up, they also wanted her to know exactly what they wanted to eat and when and have it ready for them…and clean up their messes, physical and emotional…and be the butt of their jokes, and their punching bag, and their champion but always on their own terms. Cheerful sister-in-law - to two people who knew and cared nothing about who she was and what she was interested in. But she did have to soak up everything Edward and Dymond cared about and were interested in and nod and “ooh” at all the right parts. Attentive and dutiful daughter - even though her mother was not at Edward and Dymond’s house, she’d still expect Eliza to answer her every text within seconds. Doting aunt - it wasn’t Derby’s fault he was overstimulated and spoiled, but Eliza must bite her tongue at his unruly behavior and pretend he was just the sweetest angel she’d ever laid eyes on, her own children included. Authentic self - no. That role hadn’t been cast in this performance. Strangely enough, it never was. Eliza doubted she’d even know how to play it anymore, if she ever had. 

Eliza realized that even the kids had dragged themselves out of the vehicle and were stretching outside their doors. She couldn’t hide from it any longer.

About the Author:

Alana Oxford is a Michigan author of romcoms, sweet romance, and humorous women's fiction. She wants her stories to bring sunshine and smiles to her readers. She enjoys improv comedy, moody music, everything book related, and has an ongoing love affair with the United Kingdom.

Why not check out some of the other bloggers on the tour:

Linda's Book Bag

Book Escapes with Babs W67

Tizi's Book Review

 

(content and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

Pax and the Forgotten Pincher by David Barker - #spotlight #blogtour

 I am so pleased to be shining the spotlight on this book today as next week, I will be back with a book review. This is the second in the London Falling series. I read the first book, Pax and the Missing Head, last year and you can find my review by clicking here. In the meantime, let me tell you a little about this book...

The Blurb

Pax has made it through the trials of his first year at Scholastic Parliament, but any hopes of a quieter second year are quickly dashed when he makes a shocking discovery in the school’s basement. A new student joins the school, acting suspiciously and muscling in on Pax’s friendship with Samuel. At least being reigning champions in the Parliamentary Polls allows Pax and his friends to explore the city at weekends. But drone raids and cyber-attacks disrupt life in New London while a paranoid mayor cracks down hard on terrorism.

Unwittingly, Pax helps an innocent man get captured. Driven by guilt, he seeks out the Underground resistance movement and is given a mission to steal some codes from the mayor. In the process, Pax uncovers the shocking truth about a new factory that threatens the lives of millions of people. He is torn between stopping this latest sinister plot and focusing on schoolwork to keep alive his dream of becoming an engineer. To achieve both, he’ll need help. But who can he trust in a city full of falsehoods? What sacrifices will he need to make? Find out in the latest instalment in the London Falling series.

ISBN: 978 1837914968

Publisher:  Tiny Tree Books

Formats:  Paperback

No. of Pages:  208

About the Author:

David attended the Faber Academy in 2014 and from that had three climate-fiction thrillers published (The Gold Trilogy, Bloodhound Books). He joined SCBWI in 2018 as he shifted his focus to a younger audience. His Middle Grade debut, Pax & The Missing Head publishes with Tiny Tree in late 2023. He lives in Berkshire with his wife and daughter and has a passion for stories, sport and boardgames.

(book and media courtesy of the publisher)

(all opinions are my own)

A Short Autumnal Break

 

I just wanted to let you all know that there won't be any new reviews coming next week, as I am going to be busy looking after this gorgeous young man.

He is actually my son's dog, Floki. We are staying at their house for the week while they have a well earned break in the Spanish sunshine.

He has had a lovely walk in the woods this morning, being chased my my little rascally pup Roxie. He does look rather sleepy in the photo. This is how I look at the end of the day with Roxie to run around after all day. She's a little pickle but we love her to bits and would never want to be without her.

I have, of course, brought a pile of books with me, loaded up my kindle and am already being tempted by several of the books on my son's bookshelves. We share similar reading taste so there are a lot of books attempting to seduce me into spending time with them.

Have a lovely week my friends and I will be back on the 14th October with a spotlight post of Pax and the Forgotten Pincher by David Barker.

Annie x

In the Shadows of Love by Awais Khan - #bookreview #blogtour

 It's not mine...

That was all he could think of on the way to the hospital. There was an important meeting taking place when the call arrived, but he'd abandoned everything and rushed to his car.

***

A life hiding her heartbreak. A message that will change her world.

To strangers that pass her on the streets of Lahore, Mona Ahmed lives a life to be envied. Married to wealthy businessman Bilal, with happily married children and living in a vast home with staff to attend to her every desire, she seems to want for nothing.

But behind the gilded exterior lies a past of secrets and heartbreak. While they may have weathered the storm of Mona’s infidelity, with Bilal embracing the child born out of that secret love affair, their marriage remains shaky.

While Mona’s heart is broken with memories of her lost soulmate, she hides her pain behind becoming the perfect wife, hosting glamorous, high-profile gatherings for the rest of Lahore’s high society, keeping up appearances for fear of inviting gossip.

Each day has the same slow, regular rhythm… until the first message arrives, and everything in Mona’s life changes in an instant. Will the secrets of Mona’s past threaten her future, her marriage and even her life?

An utterly captivating, thought-provoking and heartbreaking read that fans of Christy Lefteri and Nadia Hashimi won’t be able to put down.

***

This book only released yesterday so I was enormously excited to receive an early readers copy.

It is a fantastic book, and I have read the whole book over a couple of days. In fact, I went straight from reading another of Mr. Khan's books, No Honour, (review coming soon) straight to reading this. I think it would be fair to say that I am now a huge fan, and I cannot wait to read more of his work.

The main character, Mona appears to have everything she could desire. A grand lifestyle in Lahore, Pakistan, a fruitful career, a husband and successful grown up children, as well as a younger son, who both she and her husband dote on. However, Mona has a closely guarded secret, and its revelation would destroy everything that she has. I wouldn't say that I found her a particularly likeable character, however I did find myself rooting for her every step of the way.

I was completely gripped by the plot. It is dramatic and fast paced and definitely had me reading beyond my bedtime. It was difficult to put down as alongside the potential revelation of Mona's secret, there are gangs, kidnappings and high class prostitution. Not to mention a very vindictive school mum who I could not but help hope got her comeuppance.

I have not read many books set in Pakistan, but this brilliant book has made me want to read more. I highly recommend this one and am confident that you will enjoy it every bit as much as I did.

ISBN: 978 1804368107

Publisher: Canelo Hera

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  304 (paperback)

About the Author:

Awais Khan was born in Lahore, Pakistan. He is a graduate of The University of Western Ontario and Durham University and studied Creative Writing at Faber Academy. In his free time, he likes to read all types of fiction, especially historical fiction and psychological thrillers.

(author photo courtesy of A for Authors Agency)

(ARC and media courtesy of Love Book Tours)

(all opinions are my own)

Looking for Lucie by Amanda Addison - #repost #blogtour #bookreview

 

Dad walks into the dining room carrying a showstopper of a cake. All eighteen candles flicker above the raspberry and pistachio topping...

"A work of art, Steve," says Nana Pat...

"Baking is pretty similar to building; cake for the bricks and cream for cement. Just on a much smaller scale!" laughs Dad...

***

Looking for Lucie is a contemporary YA novel that explores identity, self-discovery, and newfound friendship as an 18-year-old girl sets out to uncover her ethnic heritage and family history.

"Where are you really from?"

It's a question every brown girl in a white-washed town is familiar with, and one that Lucie has never been able to answer. All she knows is that her mother is white, she's never met her father, and she looks nothing like the rest of her family. She can't even talk about it because everyone says it shouldn't matter!

Well, it matters to Lucie and-with her new friend Nav, who knows exactly who he is-she's determined to find some answers.

What do you do when your entire existence is a question with no answer?

You do a DNA test.

***

To celebrate the release of this book in the US, I am reposting the book review that I originally posted in April of this year.

It is aimed at a secondary school-age audience, so roughly 11-18 year olds.  The main character, Lucie, has her eighteenth birthday at the beginning of the book, and she is on the cusp of going to university to study art. She is also having an identity crisis. She has never looked like her family, mum, step-dad and sister, Maisie. She is darker skinned and has always been unable to answer the question when people ask "Where are you really from?" and the answer, Norfolk, did not satisfy. Her mum has never talked about her biological father, and she is desperate to know more about him and his ethnicity. This leads her to secretly taking a DNA test. Lucie was a wonderful character and she was very easy to identify and engage with. I was rooting for her every step of the way.

The book moves along at an appropriate pace for the genre. There were some surprises along the way which kept the plot moving forwards nicely. 

The book considers what it means to belong, as well as personal identity and working out how we fit into our individual world. I enjoyed following Lucie's journey as she grappled with some of these questions.

The majority of the chapters are written from the perspective of Lucie and her new friend, Nav. Later in the book we also get to hear the viewpoint of Lucie and Nav's mothers. The multiple perspectives enable the reader to understand that family dynamics and how or where we belong are never simplistic. This book performs an excellent job of demonstrating that situations can be viewed differently, and will vary with each individual.

If you have a young person in your life, I suggest buying them a copy of this book... but I would have a sneaky read of it before you pass it to them! Both young adults and adults alike will adore this book, and I heartily recommend it.

ISBN:  978 1911107682

Publisher:  Neem Tree Press

Formats:  Paperback

No. of Pages: 272

About the Author:

Amanda Addison is an award-winning author of books for adults and children. Her writing has been translated into German, Greek, Italian and Ukrainian. Her picture book, Boundless Sky, was nominated for The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal, and her YA novel, Looking for Lucie, was listed for the Searchlight Writing Novel Opening Award. A graduate of Chelsea school of Art, her writing and artwork are inspired by travel, textiles, and the natural world. Amanda holds an MA in Writing the Visual and lectures in Art & Design and has also led workshops in Creative Writing at the National Centre for Writing. Amanda lives in Norfolk, UK, with her family.

Her writing includes flash fiction, short stories, picture books and novels. She explores themes of home and belonging, and enjoys using the juxtaposition of rural and city life. Her characters are often artists or scientists, as their curiosity about the world around them are two sides to the same coin, and the exploration of art and science can give us meaning and purpose in life with its infinite avenues of discovery. Amanda’s debut YA novel, Looking for Lucie, Neem Tree Press 2024, explores the above. It is a contemporary story of identity, self-discovery, and newfound friendship. Lucie, an 18-year-old art student sets out to uncover her ethnic heritage and family history with her new scientist friend Nav. Together they unravel family secrets.

Amanda believes in the power of stories as a window on the world, and a mirror to better see ourselves and is passionate about stories which are empowering and inclusive. When not writing she can be found swimming in the North Sea or running in the countryside, and that is when she gets some of her best ideas!

The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer - #bookreview #blogtour

 

1885

Her heart was pounding and her breaths were raspy in her throat. She was beyond exhausted and had to rest for a moment, steadying herself by placing her hand on a rough gatepost and bending forward to stop herself being sick...

***

‘There are a lot of shadows at Ravenswood, so you will need to be strong…’

The year is 1885 and a young woman is on the run, knowing if she’s caught, she’ll be hanged for murder.

 Moments from a safe haven, she collides with a gruff stranger, falling and breaking her ankle.

To her surprise, the man – Marcus Greybourne – convinces the local constable that she is his reclusive wife of ten years, Luna. He carries her back to the neglected and crumbling Ravenswood Hall, promising if she agrees to maintain this charade, he will keep her safe until her injuries have healed.

But the house is haunted by shadows and secrets. What’s more, the real Luna Greybourne is missing, without trace. Scratches and marks made by her around the house suggest witchcraft; and indeed Luna is known locally as the Ravenswood Witch; her reputation in tatters, like the wallpapers of the padlocked rooms she’d destroyed.

As strange happenings in the house continue, outside the screech of a raven echoes across oppressive woods that seem alive with dark magic. And the woman who is now pretending to be Luna can’t help but fear she’s escaped the noose for a far more terrible fate…

***

I was so pleased when I was offered an advanced readers copy of this book as part of the blog tour, as I was already a fan of Jenni Keer's books. I have previously read At the Stroke of Midnight and No. 23 Burlington Square, both of which I enjoyed very much. You can read my reviews of those books by clicking on their respective titles.

I do not often read spooky books and I definitely steer clear of the horror genre. I am far too much of a coward for that! However, whilst this was spooky and quite eerie at times I really enjoyed that element of the story. 

Sticking with the witchy theme, I recently read Weyward by Emilia Hart, as well as The House of the Witch by Clare Marchant. Both excellent books with similarities. The plot of The Ravenswood Witch was a little different to either of those which made this all the more compelling to read.

The plot has much to offer; a runaway fugitive, witchcraft, ghostly apparitions and a romance to boot. There was also a twist partway through the book that I was not expecting. It was an excellent curve ball to throw into the plot. I shall say no more about that as I would hate to spoil your own discovery of this when you read the book. And I do use the word when as you will really be missing out on an excellent book if this one passes you by.

The book is set in 1885, and Ms. Keer does an excellent job in portraying the period, along with the setting of a derelict and run down house in which the main character finds herself. The house oozes with mystery and secrets and she finds herself wondering if in escaping the hangman's noose, she has stumbled into a more dark and dangerous situation.

This is an outstanding novel, and I will even go as far as saying it is amongst the best books I have read this year. I highly encourage you to treat yourself to a copy of this to snuggle down with in the run up to Halloween.

ISBN: 978 1785139796

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages:  352 (paperback)

About the Author:

Jenni Keer is the well-reviewed author of historical romances, often with a mystery at their heart. Most recently published by Headline and shortlisted for the 2023 RNA Historical Romantic Novel of the Year.

(ARC and all media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

Books I Want to Read in October 2024

Happy 1st of October!

 I rather like the month of October. The leaves change to beautiful autumnal shades before the winter comes along and everything turns bare.

It's also a good time to snuggle up with a good book. Here are ten that I hope to read this month.

Fervour by Toby Lloyd

Dark Secrets on Dressmakers' Alley by Rosie Clarke

Totally Chaotic History: Roman Britain Gets Rowdy! by Greg Jenner

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

Guillotine by Delilah S. Dawson

The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem by Sarit Yishai-Levi

The Fairy Tale Fan Club by Richard Ayode

The Little Provence Book Shop by Gillian Harvey

King Alfred and the Ice Coffin by Kevin Crossley-Holland and Chris Riddell

Army Girls: Operation Winter Wedding by Fenella J. Miller

Happy Reading!

(header photo courtesy of Unsplash)