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)

Bring Me Sunshine by Alex Brown - #bookreview #blogtour

 

Sinking her toes into the sand, she savoured the soft sensation as the plump, peach sun streaked the sky amber, bathing the sea with its shaft of shimmering gold. Leaning into him, she rested her head on his shoulder as they sat together on a large rock at the water's edge listening to the waves tumbling over the sand. The holiday was almost over...

***

Mamma Mia meets Shirley Valentine in the brand-new holiday romance for 2024 from the International No.1 bestseller.

Gina Bennett has had enough after her husband of twenty-seven years lets her down one time too many. Deciding to choose herself, she embarks on a transformative solo journey to break free from the monotony of her life.

She escapes to the gorgeous Greek island of Kalosiros, where she holidayed in her youth, and where she had her first romance with the handsome Nico. Encountering two kindred spirits in Rosie and Deedee, the women bond over art classes and cocktails, renewing their lust for life and a shared quest to find Gina's lost love.

Together, they navigate the challenges of middle-age, self-discovery, and the liberating power of skinny-dipping. Will Gina find love again with her teenage sweetheart Nico, her husband, or with someone new? 

Bring Me Sunshine is a wonderfully uplifting, coming-of-middle-age story about female friendship, romance and starting over, set on a gorgeous Greek island in the sun. The perfect summer read!

***

This is a wonderfully uplifting read which is perfect for summer.

When I saw a new release from Alex Brown was being offered on a blog tour I jumped at the chance to get my hands on it. I have previously read two of her titles, The Great Village Show and The Great Christmas Knit Off. You can find my review of the latter by clicking here..

Bring Me Sunshine would be an ideal book to read on the beach. However, it worked perfectly well for me on a rainy day in June in the UK. It may have been a typical English summer day here in the UK, but the book filled my heart with sunshine. It was an uplifting read and I sighed with satisfaction when I turned the final page.

The main character, Gina, is a lovely creation. She has lost her confidence due to her husband, Colin, criticising her. When he refuses to join her on a planned holiday to Greece, she boldly goes by herself. There she meets DeeDee and Rosie who help her to rediscover the confident and brave woman that she really is. I was rooting for her every step of the way. Additionally, I was really hoping that Colin would get his comeuppance for the horrible way he treated her and took her for granted.

I loved the strong friendship that these three women formed. Each of their voices were very distinct and hugely likeable characters. Ms. Brown is able to bring her characters fully to life on the page.

The book is well written, and I could have sat and gobbled the whole thing up in one had time permitted. The descriptions of the Greek island of Kalosiros were sublime. I have been lucky enough to visit Greece in the past and it is every bit as beautiful as the author conveys on the page. I was left longing for hummus and hot pitta bread after reading it described in the book.

This is a novel to get completely lost in, and I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading this book. I highly recommend it.

ISBN:  978 1836030782

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  232 (paperback)

About the Author:

Alex Brown is an international #1 bestselling women’s fiction author. Her novels have been published in twenty-one countries and have sold over a million copies. Previously published by HarperCollins, her first title for Boldwood, Bring Me Sunshine, will be published in June 2024.

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

(all opinions are my own)