Category: Books

What’s On Your Bookshelf – January 2024

Since I have a historical books to share this month I decided to feature a painting of 19th century ladies reading forbidden books. The artist was Alexander Mark Rossi painted in 1897. Historical novels are one of my favourite genres and I love putting my feet up and travelling back in time. Even if you were privileged and had money life was still difficult for a woman, especially so if she couldn’t have children or didn’t conspire to what her husband’s idea of a wife should be.

A rollicking royal romp as described by Goodreads and I totally agree. The story of Lady Augusta and Lady Julia, two 42 year old twin sisters living independently in the 18th century. Lady Augusta is the feisty one and prone to getting herself in all sorts of trouble. After helping a friend out to retrieve some letters from a man in Vauxhall Gardens, they decide to start helping other unfortunate women. In the course of their adventures they meet Lord Evan, an outlaw who has escaped his imprisonment in the colonies. I loved this book and am hoping for a sequel. It wasn’t all polite tea parties and music assemblies I found, there were some very gruesome details thrown in. A very well researched book into women’s lives during this period.

I always enjoy this author’s books and this was no exception. I hadn’t intentionally set out to read two books of a similar theme and was surprised to find references to a terrible practice in the 18th and 19th century in both books. This book features Lady Caroline Corsham who sets out to find the murderer of her dear friend Lucia. She later discovers that Lucia was not in fact a “lady” but a high class prostitute. Lady Caroline enlists the help of “thief-taker” Peregrine Child. Both Lady Caroline and Peregrine Child featured in the earlier book Blood and Sugar. There were many characters in this book and I had to concentrate to remember who was who. I whizzed through the pages and look forward to reading her next when it comes out.

A light story featuring many of Jane Austen’s characters. All of whom I had heard of but couldn’t remember in which story. Very clever how the author intertwined their plot lines throughout the book. I had to use a Jane Austen character website, which was very useful! I did think this was more of a YA story, but then again I don’t know many young adults these days reading Jane Austen type stories. 

“The happily married Mr. Knightley and Emma are throwing a house party, bringing together distant relatives and new acquaintances—characters beloved by Jane Austen fans. Definitely not invited is Mr. Wickham, whose latest financial scheme has netted him an even broader array of enemies. As tempers flare and secrets are revealed, it’s clear that everyone would be happier if Mr. Wickham got his comeuppance. Yet they’re all shocked when Wickham turns up murdered—except, of course, for the killer hidden in their midst” – Goodreads

The two youngest guests Juliet Tilney and Jonathon (the oldest son of the Darcy’s) set out to discover who the murder is. An easy and enjoyable read.

What’s on Your Bookshelf is a challenge hosted by Deb, Jo, Donna and Sue every month. If you need any recommendations look no further than these wonderful blogs to find your next riveting read.

What’s On Your Bookshelf – April 2023

This challenge is hosted by Deb, Sue, and Jo. They have some great recommendations this month also.

I’ve got some juicy books for this month. All sorts of genres with page turning twists.

I’ll start with my favourite. Honestly the best book I’ve read in a while. Such a sumptuous satisfying read. It was like a three course meal, starter, main and dessert, with words and phrases just tripping off the tongue. Kate Atkinson is wonderful writer.

Set in 1926 in a London still recovering from the Great War. Focusing on the nightlife and clubs of Soho, peers of the realm rub shoulders with starlets, foreign dignitaries with gangsters and girls selling dances for a shilling a time. At the heart of it all is the notorious Nellie Coker and her six children and the Detective determined to bring her empire crashing down. 5/5

Any book featuring Detective Harry Bosch is always a good read for me. This is the fifth novel in which he pairs up with Detective Renee Ballard. I’ve enjoyed all of these books so far and this one was no exception. I like the interaction between the two. I got the feeling that this may be the last in the series, sadly. 5/5

Weyward is Emilia Hart’s debut novel and it didn’t disappoint.

The story of three women from different times. It starts with Kate in 2019, then flits backwards in time to Altha in 1619 and then forward to Violet in 1942. Weyward Cottage is at the centre of it all and where they all end up living. The connection between these women apart from being related is their ability to commune with nature and animals. They are all fleeing dangerous men. I enjoyed reading about how they exacted revenge! Altha was my favourite character. 4/5

I’ve read most of Louise Candlish’s books and I’m always excited to see when she has written a new one. Her characters are not always likeable and they all have something to hide.

Alex lives a comfortable life with his wife Beth in a leafy suburb. He likes to keep to himself and is not the most sociable of men. It’s only when Beth announces the opening of a nature trail that has been disused for decades that things start to fall apart for him. Who is he really and what has be been hiding for years?

The books goes backwards and forwards in time, so it’s hard sometimes to keep track of what is going on. I did read it very quickly as I was determined to find out what Alex’s secret was. 4/5

I saw some great reviews for this book so thought I would give it a go. I wasn’t keen on The Seven Sisters books and I only read one of those. I enjoyed this old fashioned “Who Done It”. The characters are so well written and it wasn’t until towards the end that I guessed.

The story is about a prestigious boarding school in deepest Norfolk. A shocking event that may have been a tragic accident or maybe not. High flying Detective Jazmine Hunter from London is brought in to help local police with their enquiries. 5/5

A good fun read and it would have been the beginning of a good series, but sadly she died at the young age of 56, in 2021. I read somewhere that her son found this book unpublished.

This is another author I haven’t read before and I’m glad I’ve now added her to my list of favourite authors. I wasn’t sure when I first started reading it and wasn’t too keen on Tully and Rachel, but they gradually grew on me.

Tully and Rachel aren’t at all happy when they discover that their father, an eminent surgeon, is about to marry again to a woman half his age. On top of that he’s only just divorced from their beloved mother who has Alzheimer’s disease. Heather the woman in question goes out of her way to win over the two sisters.

A book full of hidden dark secrets, old wounds and shocking discoveries. 4/5

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How do you read your books

I read all of the above books over the course of the last two months. I’ve been using my local library’s app called BorrowBox and downloading them onto my e-reader. Some books come through within days of each other with just two weeks to read them, however you can renew for two weeks. It’s been a real money saver I have to say.

How do you find your next book

I’m an avid book review reader and find most of my books from the magazines I read from the Readly app. I pay around A$11 per month and can read all my favourite magazines and newspapers on this. I always head to the book review page first.

I would be interested to see if anybody has read any of the above books and what they think.

~ What’s On Your Bookshelf ~ February 2023

What have I been reading this month? Not a lot, so it’s a combined post of January and February! I seem to have lost my BOJO (not Boris Johnson) but my Book Joy, so I’m looking forward to reading all the other posts linking to this challenge. The challenge is hosted by Deb, Jo, Sue and Donna and being considerable readers themselves will always have plenty of options to choose from.

The Making of Us
A Town Called Solace
The Way It is Now

As usual I’ll start with a Lisa Jewell. The Making of Us (clicking on the photo will take you to Goodreads). I enjoyed this book and it was very different from her other books. Lydia, Dean, and Robyn have lives that are poles apart but each of them, independently, has always felt that something was missing. What they don’t know is that a letter is about to arrive that will turn their lives upside down. It is a letter containing a secret—one that will bind them together and show them what love and family and friendship really mean. 4/5

A Town Called Solace – This story starts with a missing teenage girl. Told from three perspectives, Clara the younger sister, Mrs. Orchard the neighbour who is now in hospital and a stranger Liam who moves into Mrs. Orchard’s house. Such a feel good story, sad moments interspersed with happier ones, of people coming together. I will definitely be reading more of Mary Lawson’s books. 5/5

The Way It is Now – Set in Melbourne, featuring a burnt out police officer, Charlie Deravin, who has been trying to find out for many years what happened to his mother who disappeared many years ago. Quite gripping and a few twists and I was surprised how the ending happened so quickly. 4/5

The Innocent One – When I started reading this I didn’t realise it was a sequel of sorts but set ten years after the first book. Sebastian Croll is back and once again being accused of murder and he reaches out for his old lawyer, Daniel Hunter. Daniel helped prove Sebastian’s innocence before, can he do it again? An intriguing read with many twists and turns, had me gripped to the end. 4/5

Someone Else’s Shoes – I absolutely love Jojo Moyes’ books and this one was no exception. I would say it’s about four women, Sam, Nisha, Jasmine and Andrea who don’t all know each other in the beginning but will eventually meet. It’s also a tale of revenge against the gaslighting men in their lives. Who doesn’t like a story about revenge? A fun easy read. 4/5

My Year in Books – 2022

I came across this challenge the other day first from Mari’s Travels which was linked to Cathy at 746 Books. Answer the following prompts using only books you have read this year (2022). Try not to repeat a book title; here goes;

Photo by Parth Shah on Pexels.com

In high school I was taught Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

People might be surprised by The Golden Couple by Greer Hendricks

I will never be The Innocent One – Lisa Ballantyne

My fantasy job is The Secret Keeper of Jaipur – Alka Joshi

At the end of a long day I need Small Things Like These – Claire Keegan

I hate being in The Birdcage – Eve Chase

Wish I had Fresh Water for Flowers – Valerie Perrin

My family reunions are like The People on Platform 5 – Clare Pooley

At a party you’d find me with Vince and Joy – Lisa Jewell

I’ve never been to 31 Dream Street – Lisa Jewell

A happy day includes – All the Children are Home – Patry Francis

Motto I live by The Way It is Now – Garry Disher

In my next life, I want to have – A Lady’s Guide to Fortune-Hunting – Sophie Irwin

It was great fun doing these and not as easy as it looks. If you feel like joining in, the link is at the start.

Happy Reading for 2023

    What’s on your Bookshelf – May

    Time to review some more books for the WOYB challenge hosted by Debbie, Jo, Sue and Donna and I have three books to share with you this month.

    The Match

    Not one of Harlan’s best I have to say but I enjoyed it all the same. It’s the second in the series of The Boy From the Woods, a man simply known as Wilde. In this book he finally searches for the truth about himself and finds on a DNA site a 100% match for his father. This is when the trouble starts and he stumbles onto something more. I like the way Harlan Coben writes so will generally read most of his books. 3/5

    Such a lovely read, I enjoyed every word as did a friend of mine. Set in 1960s California, it tells the tale of Elizabeth Zott a woman who is a chemist in a man’s world. Having been derailed by the unscrupulous men she works with, Elizabeth finds fame hosting a cooking show using her scientific skills. She has a daughter called Mad, who seems to be a child prodigy and thinks more like a teenager than a five year old. There are many hilarious characters in this book. A good fireside, feet up, rainy day kind of book. 5/5

    This book has been on my TBR list for a while now so I took the plunge and dived right in. Set in the summer of 1822 in Edinburgh and the city is all of a dither about the forthcoming visit of George IV. It is about the botanical garden and a very rare plant about to flower. Not all of the characters are fictional and the story has elements of the truth about it. The main characters are just so well written you feel as you know them. Firstly Elizabeth a newly widowed young woman from London who comes to stay with an elderly relation and Belle, a courtesan with a mind of her own. Both women are drawn to each other through their love of plants. I loved this book also and highly recommend it. 5/5

    A book that I tried in vain to read as it was for my bookclub was Klara and the Sun by Kashuo Ishiguro. It is about Artificial Friends who are made to live in a family and befriend a young teenager. I just felt that every character in the book was artificial and because it is written from Klara, the Artificial Friend’s point of view, there was no emotion in this book. Whenever I tried to read it, I was left feeling quite empty! It has great reviews so perhaps it was just me.

    My A – Z of Favourite Authors ~ F ~

    Looking through my “read” titles on my Kindle, I have quite a few for this letter.

    Julian Fellowes – Past Imperfect. A very enjoyable read, although it does have very mixed reviews.
    Gillian Flynn – All of her books, I am a huge fan.
    Lucy Foley – The Hunting Party – A mystery set in the Scottish Highlands.
    Ken Follett – Fall of Giants. A fantastic read set before and after World War I, it gave me a greater understanding of why the war started and which countries fought against each other.

    I hope you enjoy some of these books as much as I have and find some new authors amongst them.


    What’s on Your Bookshelf – April

    A challenge hosted by Deb, Sue, Donna and Jo, a wonderful way to share your love of reading and recommend favourite books. I think I read more book synopsises than actual books!

    The following books are ones that I have read through February to April, not too many because as usual I’ve been watching too many gripping tv series.

    The Swift and The Harrier

    I enjoyed this story of the Civil War between the Parliamentarians and the Stuarts. I knew a little about the history but this books goes into more depth about why Charles l was executed. This book focuses on Jayne Swift, the daughter of landed gentry who’s family are staunch Royalists. It is set in 1642 when Oliver Cromwell ruled England. Jayne is a qualified doctor and has made a promise to herself to treat everyone equally whether they be Royalist or Parliamentarians. Sometimes the story gets a little confusing as many people are continually swapping sides and are spies. The other main character is William Harrier, who is at first presented as a footman but throughout the story appears in many different guises. Anybody who enjoys historical fiction with an element of truth behind it will definitely love this book. 4/5.

    The Willow Woman

    This was another confusing but very enjoyable book. Set in Chengdu, China, it is about a half English half Chinese Detective called Philip Yu. He works for the Chengdu Public Security Bureau and suffers his own anguish from a life blighted by tragedy and the unsettling appearance of ghosts that often intrude in on his investigations. There are so many different departments working together and against each other. In the search for a missing boy he also encounters references to the “mysterious Willow Woman”. There is a reference page for the many characters that appear in the book, which proved very helpful. It was such a good fun read and the author, Laurence Westwood did a fantastic job of portraying life in China and the intricacies of the politics. 4/5

    Fresh Water for Flowers

    Without doubt this is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

    It is a French book translated into English. “Violette Toussaint is the caretaker at a cemetery in a small town in Bourgogne. Random visitors, regulars, and, most notably, her colleagues—three gravediggers, three groundskeepers, and a priest—visit her as often as possible to warm themselves in her lodge, where laughter, companionship, and occasional tears mix with the coffee that she offers them.” Goodreads.
    The story follows the life of Violette from when she first meets Philippe Toussaint and the life they have together from lifting and lowering the level crossing gate to when she ends up as a caretaker at a cemetery.
    There are so many different stories flowing through this book along with a couple of mysteries waiting to be solved. Read it and love it, you won’t be sorry. 5/5

    An A to Z of my favourite authors

    Sara Donati – “Into the Wilderness” series. Following the life of Elizabeth Middleton and set in 1792 in a remote New York mountain village where she meets a man like no other, Nathanial Bonner. It tells the tale of how the Mohawk Nation and the English settlers co-habited once upon a time. I loved this series and for anyone who likes historical fiction with true facts interwoven into it would enjoy this series also.
    Also by Sara Donati are two fabulous books featuring some of the characters from the Wilderness series.
    The Gilded Hour and Where the Light Enters. These two books are set approximately 100 years later in New York City at a time of crushing poverty and devastating sickness. Some of the characters that appear in these books are real people. I enjoyed this series as much as the other one.

    Whats on my Screen

    Going slightly off topic here, some of the brilliant shows I’ve been watching this month keeping me away from reading.

    The Split – Starring Nicola Walker. Series 3 was the last series and here we found out if Nathan and Hannah would eventually divorce or not. I loved this down to earth series about relationships within families.

    Peaky Blinders – Series 5 – Staring the brilliant Cillian Murphy and the beautiful Helen McCrory who sadly passed away last year. Such a gripping but violent series and sadly the last one, although they are going to make a film.

    The Last Kingdom – Starring Alexander Dreymon, also the last series and I am utterly bereft. This one kept me awake late into the night! Based on the books of Bernard Cornwall and starting at the time of King Alfred the Great. Also quite violent with so many action packed scenes.

    And now it’s about time I wrapped up this post before it gets way too long!

    What’s on Your Bookshelf

    đź“š What’s on your bookshelf – January đź“š

    Time for another look at December/January books for this month. A challenge hosted by Deb, Sue, Donna and Jo for all of us readers to share our love of books and be inspired to read more through the recommendations. I have found many new books by reading as many posts as I can.

    I managed four books this last month, a record for me actually. The first three are all a bit tragic, but were still so enjoyable if that’s possible and I highly recommend them.

    The Impossible Truths of Love

    A story of three sisters. A tale full of grief and secrets. “When Nell’s father makes a deathbed declaration that hints at a long-held secret, it reignites feelings of isolation that have plagued her for years. Her suspicions about the family’s past only deepen when her mother, Annie, who is losing her memories to dementia, starts making cryptic comments of her own. ” – Goodreads
    I enjoyed this story and tried to work out several times what the secret might be. I didn’t guess correctly at all. I would have liked another few pages at the end to see how things went! 4/5

    The Beloved Girls

    Another tragic one! Not as raw as the first book though. A very strange story indeed and there were some very unpleasant characters in this book. There is a song that is repeated over and over in this book and it drove me a little bit mad. There is a twist in this book as well, kind of easy to spot but still keeps you guessing. Many themes run through this book, grief, loneliness, sexual abuse, bee keeping to name but a few. 4/5

    All the Children are Home

    I think this book will be in my top ten favourites of 2022 already. I absolutely loved this book as tragic as it was! Set in a small town in Massachusetts in the late 1950’s through to the 1960’s it centres on Dahlia and Louie, foster parents and their long term foster children. The story is told from the points of view of Dahlia, Zaidie, Jimmy and Agnes. Although tragic there is such heartfelt warmth throughout this story. My favourite character would definitely be Agnes. Patry Francis writes with such depth you can imagine yourself right there alongside these characters. 5/5

    The Godmother

    Finally getting away from tragedies I ripped through this book in a few days. It is our Book Club book for February but I started early! Such a fun book but also very amoral I suppose. Obviously I can’t condone what Patience did, but who knows if I had the gumption and confidence she had whether I would have done the same. It’s not a long story but very rewarding. 4/5

    ~ What’s on Your Bookshelf ~ December

    I’ve just managed three books this month! I’ve been watching too much TV again, maybe I should post something like “What have you been watching this month”. Anyway the three I’ve read are all by some of my favourite authors.

    “Reacher goes where he wants, when he wants. That morning he was heading west, walking under the merciless desert sun—until he comes upon a curious scene. A Jeep has crashed into the only tree for miles around. A woman is slumped over the wheel.

    Dead? No, nothing is what it seems. 

    The woman is Michaela Fenton, an army veteran turned FBI agent trying to find her twin brother, who might be mixed up with some dangerous people. Most of them would rather die than betray their terrifying leader, who has burrowed his influence deep into the nearby border town, a backwater that has seen better days. The mysterious Dendoncker rules from the shadows, out of sight and under the radar, keeping his dealings in the dark.“
    https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56663329-better-off-dead

    I’ve read all of Lee Child’s books and enjoyed most of them. Like all authors with a series of books there are some I’ve liked better than others. He seems to have made a good return with this book co-authored with his son, they have found their rhythm. I have to say though the acronyms he uses are very confusing. I’ll continue to read him as I love Jack Reacher.
    3/5

    The Dark Hours

    The latest collaboration between Renee Ballard and Harry Bosch. This book is more about Renee Ballard with Harry as the sidekick. I’m still getting used to Renee as the main character. She seems to survive on practically no sleep, working the nightshift and into the day. Renee desperately tries to hang onto her cases but inevitably has to hand them over to the day shift. She gets a lot of stick from the men in her department, but she’s tough and gives as good as she gets. With Harry helping her in secret though, she makes good progress. 3/5.

    The Shadow at the Door

    One of my all time favourite writers. David Raker is back again trying to solve another unsolvable case of a missing person. A man goes upstairs to take his medication and is never seen again. No-one saw him leave, the windows were closed and he didn’t leave by the front door. His wife is at a loss, the police have been no help so she turns to David Raker.

    This book is slightly different to the others in that there are four stories. The time line goes back and forth involving his different cases over the years and featuring characters from his past books. If you are new to the David Raker series, then it’s best to start at the beginning.

    Every book Tim Weaver has written all have completely different plots. I don’t know where he comes up with the ideas. There are twists and turns in every direction, I don’t think I’ve ever guessed one. 4/5

    My Favourite Authors – “C”

    Looking back at the books I have read, I realised that C is very popular! I have so many.

    Helen Callaghan – Dear Amy; Everything is Lies . These are both psychological thrillers and will grip you from the start.

    Louise Candlish – I’ve read seven of this author’s books and enjoyed everyone. Family dramas with a twist.

    Diana Chamberlain – This author has written so many books it’s hard to keep up with her. Each book has a different theme running through it. Abusive marriages, kidnappings, mistaken identities, hidden secrets to name but a few. She’s a brilliant writer from the US.

    Tamar/Tammy Cohen – Another psychological thriller writer whose many books I have enjoyed.

    Posted as part of What’s on Your Bookshelf

    đź“š What’s on your Bookshelf – #4 đź“š

    It’s time to review the books we have been reading this month. I have not read near as many as Debbie at Deb’s World who is one of the co-hosts for this challenge.

    I finished the last in The Highbury Series by Allie Cresswell – Dear Jane. I enjoyed all three books about the people and events leading up to Emma by Jane Austen. Dear Jane focuses mainly on Jane Fairfax and Frank Weston. Allie Cresswell writes just like Jane Austen. I would describe these books as a “cozy read”. Curling up on the sofa with one of these books is like chatting with an old friend.

    The next book has been on my “to be read” list for a while, so I thought I had better tackle it.
    The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde by Eve Chase

    I did enjoy this book but preferred the story set in 1959 about the four sisters than the other part set fifty years later. It seemed like the book was written by two different authors! The book focuses on a house that both families lived in.

    I also got round to reading a book by Susan Lewis – I Have Something To Tell You.

    This book had a very good twist at the end which I thought I had guessed but didn’t! I like the fact that she doesn’t just make it about the victim but also the solicitor who has been engaged by him.

    The Andee Lawrence series of books are also very good.

    My A to Z of Favourite Authors – This Month is “B”

    Fiona Barton – I have read all three of Fiona’s books and I’m hoping she will be writing another soon. They are all very different and usually have two storylines through them that tie up at the end. All three books feature a journalist called Kate Waters.

    Suzanne Bugler – I’ve read two of her books, I would describe them as psychological thrillers.
    The Child Inside and This Perfect World. Very easy to read but intriguing!

    I’m loving this challenge as one of my favourite things is reading book reviews. I can now find many new and different types of authors to add to my growing lists of books!

    What’s on your Bookshelf #3 – October

    Another month of books reviews from Deb at Debs-World. A challenge Deb and some others are hosting called What’s on your Bookshelf

    My bookclub this month chose Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. It’s all about William and Anne Shakespeare and their children, mainly about the death of one of them. Sadly this was a DNF for me. It was just too “purple”, using ten words where one would do. It does have some great reviews, but in amongst all those five stars I spotted a few that thought along the same lines as me!

    I have read another book by this author – The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox – which I really enjoyed – 4* from me.

    I finished The Rose Code by Kate Quinn, recommended by Deb last month, I can’t say it was a favourite of mine – 3*. I recommended it to a friend and she loved it and has gone onto read the others in the series.

    I read another of one of my favourite authors – Allie Cresswell, Relative Strangers. A book about a very dysfunctional family who get together one week in a stately manor for a celebratory anniversary. It ends in carnage and mayhem with some falling out and some getting closer. I enjoyed this book although not as much as her others – 4*.

    On my shelf for this month are:

    The Vanishing of Audrey Wilde – Eve Chase
    In the Dark – Deborah Moggach
    Treasure and Dirt – Chris Hammer

    An A to Z of my favourite authors

    I thought I would select a few each month of favourite authors to share.

    Isabel Allende – Daughter of Fortune and Portrait in Sepia
    Kate Atkinson – Jackson Brodie series

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