Reading Roundup for October 2024 - #monthlywrapup

 

Happy Halloween!

Have you been reading spooky books this month? I'm a bit of a scaredy cat when it comes to horror but I have squeezed in a couple of spooky titles.

It's been a good month for reading, and there has been a mixture of book reviews, spotlights, excerpts and cover reveals. I'm also changing the format of my monthly roundup. What do you think?

Books I Have Read This Month

The Ravenswood Witch by Jenni Keer

This was my favourite read this month and I highly recommend it. You can read my review by clicking here.

Buy Links:  Amazon UK Amazon US

No Honour by Awais Khan

This is a very thought provoking and powerful book, and I loved it. You can read my review by clicking here.

Buy Links bookshop.org Amazon UK Amazon US

 In the Shadows of Love by Awais Khan

This is the second book this month that I read by this author. He is a firm favourite now and I'm looking forward to reading more. You can read my review by clicking here.

Buy Links:  Bookshop.org Amazon UK Amazon US

Chicken Boy by Arthur Parkinson

This was a delightful non-fiction title. You can find my review by clicking here.

Buy Links  bookshop.org  Amazon UK Amazon US

Committed by Chris Merritt

This was chosen by my book group this month. Whilst most people enjoyed it I just found that it was not my cup of tea.

Souk to Table: Vibrant Middle Eastern Dishes for Everyday Meals by Amina Al-Saigh

I adore Middle Eastern food so this book which is packed full of recipes for busy people was a delight. You can read my review by clicking here.

Buy Links:  Bookshop.org  Amazon UK  Amazon US

Witchcraft: A Graphic History by Lindsay Squire

This graphic novel tells the story of Biddy Early, a well known witch in the west of Ireland who was born in County Clare in 1798. I enjoyed this very much and was a five star read for me.You can read my review by clicking here.

Buy Links:   Bookshop.org   Amazon UK   Amazon US

Jump 2: You Are Enough by J.G. Nolan

This was such a nice book to read and will appeal to both girls and boys alike. You can read my review by clicking here.

Buy LInks:  Amazon UK

Pax and the Forgotten Pincher by David Barker

This book made for interesting reading and I think that it will provide middle grade/early teenage readers with much food for thought from reading this novel. You can read my review by clicking here.

Buy Links:  Bookshop.org   Amazon UK   Amazon US

Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea by Eliza J. Scott

This is a delightful book to read in the run up to Christmas and would also make a perfect festive gift. You can read my review by clicking here.

Buy Links:   Amazon UK   Amazon US

The Twelve by Liz Hyder

This was such a beautiful book to read and is aimed at a young adult readership. You can read my review by clicking here.

Buy Links:  Bookshop.org   Amazon UK

Dark Secrets on Dressmakers' Alley by Rosie Clarke

I very much enjoyed being reacquainted with Dressmakers Alley and it's inhabitants. You can read my review by clicking here.

Buy Links:  Amazon UK   Amazon US

When the Stammer Came to Stay by Maggie O'Farrell

This is a lovely book for children which is due to be published on the 12th November in the UK . You can find my review here.

Preorder Links:  Bookshop.org  Amazon UK

Books I Am Partway Through

Little Wing by Freya North

My Beloved Monster by Caleb Carr

Ink Ribbon Red by Alex Parvesi

The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers by Samuel Burr

Other Blog Posts This Month

(click titles to see content)

Cover Reveals

Our Last Wild Days by Anna Bailey 

Book Spotlights

Hermit of Paradise by Kim Sanders

Soul Love by D.F. Jones

Pax and the Forgotten Pincher by David Barker

Book Excerpts

A Modern Midlife Christmas Carol by Alana Oxford

Book Tags

I took part in my first ever book tag activity and it was great fun.

All Hallows Book Tag

Review Repost

Looking for Lucie by Amanda Addison

I would love to hear what you think of this new format. Do you like it? Did you prefer the way it was before?

(some of these books came to me courtesy of the publishers)

(all opinions are my own)

(I am bookshop.com affiliated which supports independent bookshops)

Dark Secrets on Dressmakers' Alley by Rosie Clarke - #bookreview #blogtour

 

In the hours of darkness, the streets and lanes around Dressmakers' Alley could seem dark and frightening, but the two men creeping like shadows past shuttered businesses were not afraid of anything much, exept the sound of a policeman's whistle and his pounding feet.

***

The Blurb

Welcome back to Dressmakers' Alley, where danger lurks on every corner...

London’s East End 1924

The girls of Dressmakers' Alley are happy in their new jobs. Business is thriving and yet a new shadow looms.

Women are being attacked and robbed whilst several businesses have been burgled. Are these two circumstances linked or is this just a coincidence?

As the attacks escalate, and the police seem unmoved to intervene, the men of Dressmakers Alley decide to take the law into their own hands and patrol the streets to keep them and their women safe.

But when the man suspected of the attacks is found brutally murdered the eyes of suspicion fall on the group and Sam Collins is charged with murder. He seemingly has a motive, no alibi and is the owner of the murder weapon. The Police are convinced they have their man but fiancé Winnie is determined to prove him innocent.

When the mystery comes to a head, a dark and surprising secret is revealed. The selfless action of a father prevents a miscarriage of justice - but at what cost?

My Review

I very much enjoyed being reacquainted with Dressmakers Alley and it's inhabitants. I read the first book in the series earlier this year and you can read my review of Dangerous Times on Dressmakers' Alley by clicking on the title.  However, this works very well as a standalone novel and it is not necessary to have read the first book in order to enjoy this one.

Set in 1920's East End of London the author depicts both the era and it's environment very well. Her writing conjures up the atmosphere brilliantly. I enjoy books set in this time and place as this is where my grandparents were living in the 1920's which brings a huge relevance to my reading experience.

I enjoyed picking up with the characters from where the first book left off. Most of the women in the story are employed at the Miss Susie garment factory. It is a darker time than the previous book and the women and their associated families are afraid by a spate of violent attacks occurring in the area. 

There are some dark themes in this book but they are sensitively handled and never gratuitous. As you would expect of a book of this genre there is also some romance and a bit of a mystery to solve too. Who is the person attacking these women and breaking into the local businesses? I was very invested in reading on and finding out who the culprit was.

Another great read from Rosie Clarke. I enjoyed reading this very much and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a historical saga.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1785131592

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

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

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Waterstones

About the Author

Rosie Clarke is a #1 bestselling saga writer whose most recent books include The Mulberry Lane series. She has written over 100 novels under different pseudonyms and is a RNA Award winner. She lives in Cambridgeshire.

You can also find Rosie at:

Twitter / X

Rosie's Newsletter

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

(all opinions are my own)

Cover Reveal of Our Last Wild Days by Anna Bailey - #coverreveal

 

I am so pleased to be part of the cover reveal for The Last Wild Days by Anna Bailey.

It is due for release in April 2025 and I can hardly wait to read it.

The Blurb

The Labasques aren’t like other families. Living in a shack out in the swamps, they scrape a living hunting down alligators and other animals just to get by. To the good people of Jacknife, Louisiana, they are trouble-makers, outcasts, the kind of people you wouldn’t want living on your doorstep. So when Cutter Labasque is found face down in the muddy swamp, no one seems to care, not even her two rough-cut brothers. The only person who questions the official verdict of suicide is Cutter’s childhood friend, Loyal May, who has just returned home to care for her ageing mother. Loyal left town at the age of 18, having betrayed Cutter. Now there may be no way to find forgiveness, but there may be restitution…

Preorder Link

The Twelve by Liz Hyder & Illustrated by Tom de Freson - #bookreview

 

Someone is sneaking around my bedroom.

My eyes snap open and I'm alert in the dark. Hot under my duvet. No one's allowed in my room without permission, not even Mum.

***

The Blurb

It’s supposed to be a treat for Kit, a winter holiday by the coast with her sister Libby and their mum. But when Libby vanishes into thin air, and no one else remembers her, Kit is faced with a new reality – one in which her sister never existed.

Then she meets Story, a local boy who remembers Libby perfectly. Together they embark on a journey beyond their wildest imagination into a world steeped in ancient folklore. Can Kit and Story uncover the secret of the Twelve and rescue Libby before Time runs out?

My Review

This was such a beautiful book to read. It is aimed at a young adult readership but as a reader whose youth was many moons ago, I thought this was a great book to read.

The main character, Kit, was well realised and easy to identify with. She is brave, courageous and determined to help her younger sister Libby. The book is written from Kit's perspective and so we see how the plot plays out through her eyes. 

Kit's new friend, Story is an equalling engaging character and is highly likable. I really enjoyed seeing their friendship develop. They are both very introverted characters and they worked extremely well as a pair.

Although this is marketed as a fantasy novel it is so much more besides. The story is actually rooted in the real world but with fantastical elements, some time slip and a little romance thrown in. I found all of the characters, both the young and old, to be highly believable.

There is a strong theme of nature running through it, and the effect that climate change is having on the natural world. However, it never feels as though the author is preaching. The story just highlights how as humans we are causing havoc to the world around us.  I absolutely did not anticipate the conclusion of the book, but I was very happy with the outcome.

I loved the story mixed in with folklore and myth.  The author's writing was lovely and she describes the world in which her characters live beautifully. I almost felt I was there with Kit at times. This is a super book, and I highly recommend it.

Book Details:  

ISBN:  978 1782693987

Publisher:  Pushkin Children's Books

Formats:  e-book and hardback

No. of Pages:  256 (hardback)

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Waterstones

Amazon UK

About the Author

Liz Hyder has been making up stories ever since she can remember. She has a BA in drama from the University of Bristol and, in early 2018, won the Bridge Award/MoniackMhor’s Emerging Writer Award. Her first novel, Bearmouth, won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for Older Readers, the Branford Boase Award, and was TheTimes’s Children’s Book of The Year.

Liz can also be found at:

Linked In

Twitter /X

Instagram

lizhyder.com

About the Illustrator

Tom De Freston is an artist based in Oxford with his wife, Kiran Millwood Hargrave. His practice is dedicated to the construction of multimedia worlds, combining paintings, film and performance into immersive visceral narratives.

Tom can also be found at

tomdefreston.co.uk

Instagram

(media courtesy of the publisher)

(author/illustrator photos courtesy of their websites liz.hyder.co.uk / tomdefreston.co.uk)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.com affiliated)

Hermit of Paradise by Kim Sanders - #spotlight #blogtour

I am so pleased to be shining the spotlight on this book today.

Hermit of Paradise by Kim Sanders was released earlier this month.

Let me tell you a little about the book...

The Blurb

A Fight for Lost Innocence

Detective Auby Midnight is retired. Or so he imagines. Jaded and transformed by a long career of witnessing degeneracy, tragedy, and true evil, he reflects on the place that first nurtured him: Paradise Cove, Lake Texoma, and the rich, endearing memories of mischief, adventure, and friendship that shaped his childhood. That is, until the day a violent feud brought irrevocable trauma for his best friend, Sunny.Now Sunny implores the wearied Auby to right the wrongs of the past and return to the case that has haunted him and his childhood friends for years. Older, wiser, and far more experienced, they set out to defeat the evil that stole their innocence and restore the magic of Paradise Cove.Inspired by the author's own life events as a sixth-generation Texan and a former member of the Dallas Police Department with decades of experience under his belt, Hermit of Paradise explores meaning, morality, and the fight to stay human in the face of a grim and complicated world.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1612546926

Publisher:  Brown Books Publishing

Formats:  Hardback

No. of Pages:  304 (hardback)

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

About the Author

Kim Sanders is a sixth generation Texan who grew up in the South Oak Cliff area of Dallas, Texas. Shortly after finishing his active duty in the US Army, he was hired by the Dallas Police Department, where he worked for thirty-three years. His assignments there included Detention Services, Uniformed Patrol, Vice, Narcotics, and Homicide. He spent twenty-three years in the Narcotics Division, the last fourteen of which were assigned to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration as a Task Force Officer. He was one of the few officers in the US who worked in an undercover capacity across three separate decades. He was the lead undercover officer in three separate deep-cover operations, each of which lasted over a year in duration. His last lead deep-undercover assignment before he transferred to Homicide took him from working in Texas to New York City as he infiltrated complex Colombian heroin cartel networks. Kim has received numerous federal, state, and local awards, including the Dallas Police Department Medal of Valor. Kim is married to fellow retired Dallas Police Detective Martha "Coco" Sanders. They reside in Texas.

You can connect with Kim at 

https://www.kimsandersauthor.com/

(media courtesy of The Write Reads)

(all opinions are my own)

 

Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea by Eliza J. Scott - #blogtour #bookreview

Dusk was creeping in over Micklewick Bay, slowly swallowing the crisp blue skies of earlier, the first stars twinkling in the evening sky. Frost sparkled in the glow of the vintage streetlamps that lined the stylish square of shops, adding to the festive atmosphere of the Victorian seaside town on the North Yorkshire Coast...

***

The Blurb

In the seaside town of Micklewick Bay, Florrie Appleton and Ed Harte are gearing up for a magical Christmas at the Happy Hartes Bookshop. Florrie’s book-themed decorations are the talk of the town, while Ed’s dazzling window displays could have been plucked straight from a fairytale. With romance in the air, this promises to be their best holiday season yet. 

But after a surprise phone call from his father, Florrie worries that Ed is keeping a secret. Why is he spending so much time in the attic? And what’s making him act so distantly?

Determined to make this Christmas unforgettable, Florrie packs their days with festive treats from gingerbread hot chocolates to sleigh rides under the stars. But when Ed disappears just a few days before Christmas, Florrie fears the worst. Will her holiday dreams shatter like a dropped bauble? Or is Florrie in for a Christmas surprise of her own? 

My Review

This is a delightful book to read in the run up to Christmas and would also make a perfect festive gift.

It is the fourth in the Micklewick Bay series but works well as a stand alone novel. 

Together with her partner Ed, Florrie runs the Happy Hartes Bookshop in the small seaside town of Micklewick Bay. When Florrie learns that Ed does not have many happy Christmas memories from his childhood, she launches the Happy Christmas Memory project. Enlisting the help of a few friends, she is determined to make this a memorable Christmas for Ed.

This book has all the elements that you would expect to find in a book of this genre. It is wonderfully heart-warming but has some jeopardy involved as there are some strange happenings occurring, and a suspicious character in the form of Dodgy Dick. It is a lovely cosy story with some mystery and romance thrown in. Also, I can never resist a book that has a dog involved either so this was a perfect read for me.

This is a special book that brings alive the magic of Christmas. It would be perfect to snuggle down with in the run up to the festivities, and I highly recommend doing so.

If you are interested in reading the earlier books in this series I am including links to the individual books. Just click on the titles, and it will take you straight to the Good Reads page for more information.

Happy reading!

The Little Bookshop by the Sea

Summer Days at Clifftop Cottage

Finding Love in Micklewick Bay

 

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1805087397 

Publisher:  Storm Publishing 

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

No. of Pages:  308 (paperback)

Purchase Links

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Waterstones

About the Author

Eliza J Scott lives in North Yorkshire with her family and has wanted to be a writer as far back as she can remember. She is inspired by her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heartwarming stories based on romance and friendship with a generous dollop of community spirit and a hint of humour. She has written twelve novels and has been an Amazon UK Kindle bestseller.

When she’s not writing, Eliza can usually be found with her nose in a book or working in her garden doing a spot of plot wrangling (of the writing variety), and battling against the weeds. The weeds, unfortunately, are currently winning but Eliza is undeterred. Roses are amongst her favourite flowers and she doesn’t need much of an excuse to visit a plant centre where a new rose always seems to mysteriously find its way onto her trolley much to her husband’s astonishment.

Eliza also enjoys having a catch-up with friends over tea and cake, as well as bracing walks in the countryside, rounded off by a visit to a tea-shop – for yet more tea and cake!

You can find Eliza at:

https://www.elizajscott.com/

Twitter / X

Instagram

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

(all opinions are my own)

Souk to Table: Vibrant Middle Eastern Dishes for Everyday Meals by Amina Al-Saigh - #bookreview

 

I wish I could start this introduction by saying that I am finally fulfilling my life-long dream of writing a cookbook. That ever since I was a little girl, I was in the kitchen, cooking and dreaming of one day sharing my food with the world. But that's not my story at all...

The Blurb

Enrich your weeknight meals with 100 easy-to-make, traditional and modern Middle Eastern dishes filled with bold spices and exquisite flavors.

 In Souk to Table, popular food blogger Amina Al-Saigh (@hungrypaprikas) is here to help you figure out dinner for your family with her easy, quick, and accessible Middle Eastern recipes, inspired by her heritage and using flavors she knows and love. She understands how busy life can get and how sometimes cooking Middle Eastern dishes can be overwhelming, but with the right know-how and the right recipes, you can serve up delicious and bold flavors and not spend all day in the kitchen!​

This homestyle cookbook gathers the best of the region—dips, condiments, salads, sides, mains, soups, stews, desserts, and drinks—using easy-to-find, fresh ingredients and delicious Arabic spices.​​ In Souk to Table, you'll find:

 100 easy-to-make and delicious recipes from Amina’s homeland of Iraq, as well as Lebanon, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, and beyond​

Dinners that can be made in under an hour for easy weeknight cooking, as well as traditional dishes "worth the effort" for weekend cooking​ and hosting

A simpler approach to Middle Eastern cooking without sacrificing any of the authentic flavors​

A stunning photo accompanying every recipe​

How to stock your Middle Eastern kitchen

Adventure across the Middle East every night of the week through accessible recipes with Souk to Table as your guide. 

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1631069765

Publisher:  Rock Point

Formats:  e-book and hardback

No. of Pages:  256 (hardback)

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Waterstones

My Thoughts

It is difficult to write anything about the Middle East at the moment, with even a hint of positivity. Every time we switch on our televisions, radio or news apps we are confronted with the awful situation that is playing out over there. 

However, I am delighted to be able to tell you about this book of Middle Eastern cookery is joyful to read. I encourage you to peruse the gorgeous photographs and indulge in the aromas and flavours that the author describes.

The book begins with her telling us of her childhood in Iraq and Libya, before moving with her family to Canada. She paints an evocative picture of the foods which her mother would produce for the family. What the author does in this book is to take those dishes and make them suitable for producing in the busyness of the modern world.

There are sections in the book which take either thirty or sixty minutes to produce. There are also chapters on condiments and dips, desserts and drinks, salads and sides, soups and stews, as well as a chapter on recipes that are worth spending extra time over. She also details what can be found in her Middle Eastern pantry.

As a fan of Middle Eastern food, there are so many recipes in this book that I cannot wait to try. There is a wonderful Sheet-Pan Chicken Shawarma recipe in the 30 minute section, Kofta Bil Tahini (Baked Kofta with Tahini) in the 60 minute section and in the Dessert chapter Iraqi Churag (Sweet Buns.) At the time of writing this review I am not at home. However, once I am back in my own kitchen I shall be trying out these recipes.

About the Author

Amina had a career as a engineer before giving it up to devote time to her food blog https://www.hungrypaprikas.com/. From this grew this book, Souk to Table. Amina currently lives in Toronto with her husband and two children.

(ARC courtesy of NetGalley)

(author media courtesy of Hungry Paprikas)

(all opinions are my own)