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#SaturdayStunner #Bookmail has arrived to cries of great joy, a huge thank you to @michaeljbooks and much praise for pulling out all the stops to make up this glorious proof package! 🙏💜 AD-PR Hello beautiful #CircusOfMirrors the highly anticipated third novel from the very talented @julieowenmoylan which delves into cabaret era Berlin... 𝙰𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚜 𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚛𝚔, 𝚜𝚖𝚘𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚌𝚒𝚐𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎... BERLIN, 1926: After the death of their parents, sisters Leni and Annette only have each other. Desperate, but dreaming of better days, Leni finds work at a notorious cabaret: the Babylon Circus. From the dancer’s barely-there costumes, to the glimmering mirrors that cover the walls, the Babylon Circus is where reality and fantasy merge. For Leni, it’s an overwhelming new world, and she’s happiest hiding in the shadows. Until she meets the cabaret’s resident pianist, Paul. And so begins a tentative love affair that will play out over the next forty years. But, in a city whose divisions will define a century, can a love born within the feverish walls of the Babylon Circus ever survive? And can the bond between Leni and Annette – tugged in opposite directions of their own – also endure? In Berlin, two sisters dared to dream of a better life – but where in this dark and dazzling city will they find their true home? Coming 12th September in hb, ebook and audio. This beauty will be headling as the @squadpod2021 #SquadPodBookClub pick in September and I cannot wait!!! If you have yet to discover Julie's incredible writing, then I highly recommend that you take in her first two novels too - #ThatGreenEyedGirl and #73DoveStreet ❤ #rbookpost #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookfeature #brownflopsy #squadood2021 #SquadPodfavourite #julieowenmoylan #berlin #1926 #caberet #proofpackage

𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝑳𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚 Book 58: The Paris Novel @ruth.reichl @oneworldpublications 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑴𝒐𝒎 𝒐𝒓 𝑴𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒓 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝑴𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓. 𝑭𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒎𝒂𝒍𝒍, 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝑪𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒂. "𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆'𝒔 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓," 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅. Stella St. Vincent's tumultuous childhood has shaped her into an adult who likes routine. Her existence as a New York copy editor takes a turn when her mother leaves her a modest bequest and a one way plane ticket to Paris. Alone in  a strange city, Stella is afraid to push herself out of her comfort zone. until chance takes her into a little dress shop, where she tries on a stunning vintage Dior dress... and feels herself transformed. Stella's Paris adventure is really about to begin... This is an enchanting book about one young woman's adventure in glamorous 1980s Paris, where she finds out a lot about herself, and the complicated woman who was her mother. Stella's trip starts small, but a vintage Dior dress sets her on a path that immerses her in new sights, sounds, smells, and tastes - and brings her into contact with a host of new people who become friends... and something more. Woven among the sumptuous threads of gourmet food and wine, beautiful dresses, and a charming sojourn in the magical environs of the Shakespeare and Company bookshop, Reichl conjures lovely storylines around friendship and family, and there is a fab treasure hunt thread too, that has Stella delving into the history of a woman who was an artists' muse and whose own paintings (and reputation) have been lost to time. There is a delightful whimsical quality to this novel that comes from the way Reichl blends fact and fiction to paint Stella as an Alice in Wonderland character - and with Stella I went down a lot of rabbit holes of my own about the real characters and places that are part of this story. Warm, funny, poignant, and full of delicious food, this book is utterly entrancing! Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR #FirstLinesFriday

🅦🅦🅦 🅦🅔🅓🅝🅔🅢🅓🅐🅨 Three more books from the pile for you today! What have I been reading? #TheQualityOfLove by @ariannebanks_ is the fascinating story of identical twins Celia and Mamaine Paget, who took 1930s society by storm and rubbed shoulders with some very famous faces of the 20th century. So much social history! Out now from @duck_books 🪞 #BlogTour post coming soon with @randomthingstours What am I reading? I've just started the gorgeous #TheHoneymoonAffair by @sheilaoflanagan a romance to get lost in! Out tomorrow, 9th May, from @headlinebooks ❤ #BlogTour post coming next week What will I read next? #TheFellowshipOfPuzzleMakers by @samuelburr which I am reading this month with the @squadpod2021 gang! Out tomorrow in stunning hb from orion I am so looking forward to finally reading this beauty... heard great things! #SquadPodFeaturedBook QOTD: What's on your reading pile this month? 😁 #read #read2024 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookfeature #brownflopsy #wwwwednesday #lastnownext #ArianeBankes #pagetsisters #sheilaoflanagan #RomanceRocks #samuelburr #shelfie #booksbooksbooks #whatamireading #whatamireadingwednesday

#TastyTuesday I've been having lots of fun trying the recipes in the brilliant sampler @vintagebooks kindly sent me for the brand new #TheGreenCookbook from @missminifer - out 6th June from @squarepegbooks 😋 Here's a peek at my version of the All-In-one Orzo With Baked Feta, Tomatoes and Olives which made a delicious supper dish with crusty bread to mop up all the lovely flavours. This is the first time I've been brave enough to try one of Rukmini's orzo recipes, which looks very like rice for a variety of pasta, but it was actually really simple to use (don't be put off by the seemingly excessive amount of stock in the ingredients list, it does all get soaked up!) and it got the lip smacking seal of approval from the fam! One of my favourite things about Rukmini's brilliant books is how adaptable and tasty her easy recipes are, and I'm already working on varieties of this dish - the possibilities are endless! ❤ More Rukmini Iyer magic on the menu tonight with the Chickpea, Halloumi and Pomegranate Tabbouleh with Spiced Almonds. Yum! 😁 #TinLads all the way! #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookfeature #brownflopsy #rukminiiyer #rukminiiyerrecipe #cookerybook #cookerybooks #cookerybooksofinstagram #easyrecipes #vegetarian #vegetarianrecipe #roastingtinrecipes #deliciousfood #newcookerybook

Book 57: The Coming Storm by @gregmosse @moonflower_books Having saved the world from disaster, special agents Alexandre Lamarque, Mariam Jordane and Amaury Barra have been ordered to lie low. This is harder than anticipated given the fame that comes with stories of their deeds. Alex knows that this job is far from finished, but tracing the threads of conspiracy that linger is extremely difficult now he cannot operate from the shadows, even with his remarkable powers of intuition.  As Alex and his team get back to work, they must navigate a whole new set of pressures. They are taken on different paths as their personal lives become caught up with their professional duties, and it becomes clear that the fate of the world lies in their hands once again. A storm is coming, and the clock is counting down... Picking up from The Coming Darkness (which you should read first), Greg Mosse pitches Alex Lamarque against enemies who are more devious than ever. Marked by personal tragedies Alex, Mariam and Amaury are sent in separate directions, each with their own role to play in different parts of this near future setting. The story unfurls with a simmering slow-burn, reaching boiling point only in the final stretch of the book, and Mosse touches on a veritable feast of themes through the twisting plotlines he contrives. With luscious descriptions of location, and plenty to get your teeth into around the motivations of the characters, Mosse delves into water politics; complex relationships between corporate organisations and governments; the secretive plans of those who wish to protect themselves while the world burns; and the aims of terrorists vs peaceful protesters. There is some very thought provoking stuff here about what it really takes to build and run a successful survivalist stronghold too. This very much has the feel of a second book in a trilogy, maintaining a constant menacing pitch before smacking you full in the face with bold moves and emotional surprises in the final swathes of the story, in order to pull you into book three... which I really hope comes soon, as I need to know what happens next! Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

#SaturdayShelfie When you can no longer put off that serious sort out... I may regret this! #BankHolidayVibes 😁 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #booktidying #brownflopsy #outofcontrolbookpile #shelfie #booksbooksbooks #booksbooksandmorebooks #somanybooks #booklovers #bankholidayweekend

Book 56: Murder under the Midnight Sun by Stella Blomkvist trns @graskeggur @corylusbooks 2010: Reykjavík. Lawyer, Stella Blómkvist is pursing several cases likely to have her butting heads with the authorities. A dying mother request answers to the disappearance of her daughter ten years ago, and Stella soon uncovers a lead the police failed to discover. Then her friend's husband is charged with murder, and needs Stella's help, and she unexpectedly sees a link with her attempts to help a journalist out of a spot of bother. If all this was not enough, there is also the mystery of a severed arm, bearing a distinctive ruby ring, pulled from a glacier. It is all another day at the office for the indefatigable Stella Blómkvist... After the first book, Murder at the Residence, this follows the same themes of missing persons, murder, corruption, and political machinations, but on a grander scale. Beginning with the search for a missing girl, Stella is soon ruffling feathers. Blómkvist then adds delicious layers of story that explode to encompass Cold War espionage, clashing political ideologies, and shattering moments of global history, which would provide creditable fodder for any top-drawer spy yarn. The action moves slickly between the cases, providing an entertaining showcase for Stella's skills, often through border-line legal methods that put a smile on your face. And in the telling, you learn a lot more about the woman behind the reputation. There is less of the predatory Stella that makes her such a complicated person to like in the first book, and more about the backstory that has shaped her, which I really enjoyed. This is still very much an authentically noir novel though, and Stella continues to charm with the wise-cracking, ball-busting elements of her personality that get results. The sharp plotting is driven along by Quentin Bates' considerable talents as a translator. I get the feeling that he revelled in the way Blómkvist warms to Stella's theme in this second book too, with more action to get to grips with on the way to the satisfying conclusion. Roll on book three!  Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

#April2024ReadingRoundUp Fourteen truly spectacular books on the reading pile in April! As follows: ⭐ #NothingWithoutMe by @helenmonkstakhar @hqstories ⚔ #SwordOfTheWarGod by Tim Hodkinson @headofzeus 🔎 #TheMurderAtTheVicarage by @officialagathachristie @harpercollinsuk 🔍 #LeaveNoTrace by @jocallaghankat @simonschusteruk 🏖 #TheHolidayEscape by @heidi_swain @simonschusteruk 🔪 #TheKitchen by Simone Buchholz @orendabooks 📨 #BetterLeftUnsent by @lialouisauthor @zaffrebooks 🧺 #DarlingGirls by @sallyhepworth @panmacmillan 💼 #PhineasFinn by Anthony Trollope 🥃 #OldRomantics by @maggiearmstrong56 @tramppress ⏳ #TheYellowWallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman @viragopress 🌟 #TheComeback by @ellamberman @headofzeus 🏵 #Nightbloom by @peacemedie @oneworldpublications 📒 #TheScandalousLifeOfRubyDevereaux by @robothammandy @headofzeus You can find my IG reviews on my grid. Full reviews on my blog (link in bio) #read #read2024 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookreview #brownflopsy #ReadingRoundUp #readingwrapup #apriĺ2024

Book 55: The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux by @robothammandy @headofzeus Infamous author Ruby Devereaux, now in her nineties, begins writing one more book. This time, rather than drawing on her exploits to write fiction, it will be an honest portrayal of her own life, told in her own inimitable style... Author, M.J. Robotham does a brilliant job with a fictional memoir of a quite remarkable woman. Beginning in wartime England, Robotham proceeds to anchor you in time and place at each stage of Ruby's life, taking you on a tour of international proportions. The story unfurls with sections of Ruby's memoir, linked together by brief scenes of her writing process, or from the pov of her agent. But what makes it so original is the unconventional way Ruby tells her story, through her interactions with the twelve men in her life who she has loved, lost, learned life lessons from, and who have provided inspiration for her novels. Ruby is a force of nature who springs vividly from the page. Her character is driven by the conviction that you should seize the moment, and you cannot help but fall in love with her as she lays herself bare through her reflections on her globetrotting adventures. There is plenty of drama set against the backdrop of many of the significant moments of the second half of the twentieth century, and this combines beautifully with the deeply emotional aspects of Ruby's story. Intriguingly, at no time does this feel like a book steeped in doom and gloom, despite the poignant places Robotham takes you to. Yes, there are tears (have the tissues handy), but this book is enormous fun too, packed to the gills with warmth and well judged humour that will have you chuckling to yourself often - especially when it comes to Ruby's irreverent personality, and the sheer enjoyment of being alongside her as she immerses herself in everything life has to offer. I easily blasted through this engaging book, and thoroughly enjoyed every single moment spent with Ruby Devereaux. This review wraps up a month of fabulous @squadpod2021 #SquadPodFeaturedBooks in April! More beauties coming in May's lineup! Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

Book 53: The Comeback by @ellamberman @headofzeus Grace Turner was on the brink of becoming Hollywood royalty, so why did she mysteriously disappear? After a year away, Grace is back in LA, battling her demons, and trying to pick up the threads of her life. But when she is asked to present a lifetime achievement award to director Able Yorke, the man who secretly manipulated her career and her persona, she is forced to decide between stardom and sharing the secrets that have torn her apart. With delicious echoes of Eve Babitz, Berman delves beneath the glitz of Hollywood to explore how a lauded director brings a young star to breaking point. Told from the pov of Grace, who was plucked from obscurity to take a starring role in a Hollywood franchise, the story flips between the present, and the past as she relives her experiences. The story unfurls as Grace struggles to come to terms with the trauma of Yorke's abuse. The slow-burn pace sizzles with tension and atmosphere, brimming with character driven scenes between Grace and her husband, parents, sister, entourage, and Yorke's wife, that are laden with the weight of things unsaid. Intriguingly, Yorke is mostly absent through Grace's painful episodes of paranoia, depression, and attempts to avoid relapsing into comforting darkness of her addictions, until the cracking final sections of the novel - but his predatory personality looms large via the flashbacks. Berman's writing is exquisite. She conjures scenes that ooze with brittle emotion. She even manages to incorporate a smidgeon of pitch-black humour too.  This is a seriously classy novel that packs a formidable punch, and easily makes it on to my list of books of 2024. Berman deftly picks apart all that is wrong with the toxic environment that still pervades Hollywood, despite the #MeToo campaign, and along the way, she examines trauma, alienation, difficult family relationships, identity, and loneliness with sharp insight. I devoured it from prophetic prologue all the way to the ending that was everything I needed it to be! A cracking @squadpod2021 #SquadPodFeaturedBook Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

A sneaky #SundayShelfie to accompany the intriguing #ChapterChallenge which I spied on the lovely @a_dreamofbooks Samantha's feed today! Samantha's answers to this challenge really set me thinking, and she has inspired me to have a go too! 💜 📚Short or long? Depends on the genre... thrillers suit short chapters, I think, as they keep the pace going, but I also like long, langorous chapters, filled with lovely prose - especially in classics. 📚Names or numbers? Names every time, especially witty ones that hint at what is to come... 📚Single or multiple POV? This is hard... both, depending on the story. A single pov can be very intimate and lets you really get to know a character, but a multiple pov done well is a beautiful thing... especially when each one holds the piece of a puzzle - #Lairies by @drhollyman is great example of multiple povs that come together in an exquisite moment of clarity. Perfection! 📚Stopping in the middle or end of a chapter? Who stops in the middle? The end, obviously! 📚Do you check the chapter length before reading? Sometimes, especially if the chapters are long and I am reading at bedtime, but generally not. 📚Bookmark or dog ear? Bookmark... I'm not a monster! 😆 Dog eared books fill me with horror! 😱 That was fun! I've tagged a few of you in this one, but please have a go if this challenge takes your fancy! #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookchallenge #brownflopsy #booklovers #chapters #shelfiesunday #shelfie #readinghabits

#TerryPratchettDay2024 Happy #TerryPratchettDay everyone! 🎉🎉🎉 This is a day to remember the remarkable Sir Terry Pratchett and all the wonderful moments he gave us through his work... especially the laughs. ❤ 𝕽ᥲ𝗍s! 𝕿һᥱᥡ ᥴһᥲsᥱძ 𝗍һᥱ ძ᥆gs ᥲᥒძ ᑲі𝗍 𝗍һᥱ ᥴᥲ𝗍s, 𝗍һᥱᥡ - 𝕭ᥙ𝗍 𝗍һᥱrᥱ ᥕᥲs m᥆rᥱ 𝗍᥆ і𝗍 𝗍һᥲᥒ 𝗍һᥲ𝗍. 𝕬s 𝗍һᥱ ᥲmᥲzіᥒg 𝕸ᥲᥙrіᥴᥱ sᥲіძ, і𝗍 ᥕᥲs ȷᥙs𝗍 ᥲ s𝗍᥆rᥡ ᥲᑲ᥆ᥙ𝗍 ⍴ᥱ᥆⍴ᥣᥱ ᥲᥒძ rᥲ𝗍s. 𝕬ᥒძ 𝗍һᥱ ძі𝖿𝖿іᥴᥙᥣ𝗍 ⍴ᥲr𝗍 ᥆𝖿 і𝗍 ᥕᥲs ძᥱᥴіძіᥒg ᥕһ᥆ 𝗍һᥱ ⍴ᥱ᥆⍴ᥣᥱ ᥕᥱrᥱ, ᥲᥒძ ᥕһ᥆ ᥕᥱrᥱ 𝗍һᥱ rᥲ𝗍s... 🐀 I have many favourites among his books, but the one I love the most is the funny, wise, and wonderfully warm-hearted #TheAmazingMauriceAndHisEducatedRodents which we have all adored as a family... swipe to see how well-loved my copy is! The world is a darker place for not having you here, Terry... 💔 Do you have a favourite Terry Pratchett book? #read #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookfeature #brownflopsy #TerryPratchettALifeWithFootnotes #terrypratchett #terrypratchettquote #discworld #favouritebook #funnybooks #fantasybooks

Book 52: The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman @viragopress This a short story about a young woman diagnosed with a 'nervous condition' after the birth of her child. Her doctor husband prescribes a period of recuperation (known as the rest cure), and rents a dilapidated country house over the summer, where she languishes while he is frequently absent. Denied intellectual stimulation, and confined to the shabby former nursery with bars on the windows and a bed fixed to the floor, her thoughts turn inwards. She becomes obsessed with tracing the pattern in the peeling yellow wallpaper, consumed by the idea that there is a malevolent presence trapped within it, and she falls gradually into madness. Based on her own experience of the 'rest cure' following a bout of what we would now know as post-natal depression, Charlotte Perkins Gilman's most well-known story is widely held to be a feminist masterpiece. The story unfurls through the journal entries of our unnamed protagonist, which she secretively scribbles when unobserved by her husband and his housekeeper sister, and they set a chill in your heart as you are party to her increasingly fractured sanity.  Since it was first published in 1892, there has been much debate about how metaphorical Gilman intended it to be in terms of feminist themes, but there is no doubt that it stands as a convincing argument against the ridiculous treatments prescribed for women dismissed as 'hysterical' at the time it was written - and it is an incredibly vivid, deeply unsettling, example of Gothic literature, that thrums with themes of madness, patriarchal control, and female rage. Whatever the hidden meanings, I think it is enough to know that this story had considerable impact on views about the 'rest cure', which is after all, why she wrote it. She even sent a copy to Dr Silas Weir Mitchell, the pioneer of the 'rest cure' - the man who nearly sent her spiralling into madness when he recommended this treatment... his response is sadly unrecorded. I am glad to have finally read with the lovely #QuietClassics2024 gang run by @antipodeanbookclub and will definitely be exploring the other stories in the collection.

🅵🅸🆁🆂🆃 🅻🅸🅽🅴🆂 🅵🆁🅸🅳🅰🆈 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭: 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 - 𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞, 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐠 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐈 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭. 𝐀 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲, 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐤𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞. 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐢𝐦, 𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐬, 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐈'𝐥𝐥 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭. 𝐈𝐟 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭, 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞 𝐝𝐨 𝐢𝐭. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐣𝐞𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐧-𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐟𝐚𝐥𝐥. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐨𝐦 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐲'𝐬 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧, 𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡. 𝐀 𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐣𝐚𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬... Today's first lines are from my current read, the spellbinding #TheComeback by @ellamberman one of this month's @squadpod2021 #SquadPodFeaturedBooks 💜 Out now from @headofzeus and I am hooked! Review coming soon... What are you reading now? #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookfeature #brownflopsy #FirstLinesFriday #currentlyreading #CoffeeAndCurrentlyReading #ellaberman #AriaFiction #headofzeus

Happy #PublicationDay to this bevy of beauties! 🎉🎉🎉 #APlagueOfSerpents by K.J. Maitland @headlinebooks #AnIdealHusband by @the_ericajames @hqstories #FunnyStory by @emilyhenrywrites @vikingbooksuk #ProfileK by @helenfields_author @avonbooksuk #DarlingGirls by @sallyhepworth @panmacmillan #TheHolidayEscape by @heidi_swain @simonschusteruk #TheComingStorm by @gregmosse @moonflower_books Fill your boots, booklovers! 💖💖💖 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookfeature #brownflopsy #happypublicationday #bookbirthday #apriĺ2024 #beautifulbooks #booksonmyshelf

Happy #StGeorgesDay #ShakespearesBirthday AND #WorldBookNight to you all! 🎉🌹🎭📚❤ 𝐓𝐨 𝐦𝐞, 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐨𝐥𝐝, 𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐲𝐞 𝐈 𝐞𝐲𝐞𝐝, 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥. 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐭 𝟏𝟎𝟒. Today is recorded as the anniversary of both William Shakespeare's birth and death - 23rd April 1564 and 1616 respectively - based on his baptism and burial records. He left an astonishing legacý for a man who was only 52 at the time of his death, and many of his words and phrases have become part of common English-speaking parlance. Whatever the age, his words are still eminently relatable, and I cannot see myself ever being bored with his work. 💖 Here are a few of my books on the Shakespeare theme to mark the day 🎉 Swipe if you love a pretty end-paper! 🥰 - #TheSonnetsAndALoversComplaint @penguinclassics #PenguinClothboundClassic - #WilliamShakespeareTheCompleteWorks @oxunipress - #EverydayShakespeareLinesForLife #ChambersPress - #ShakespeareTheManWhoPaysTheRent @michaeljbooks - #ShakespeareForEveryDayOfTheYear @allieesiri @panmacmillan - #ASmidgenOfShakespeare #Portico - #Shakespeare #BillBryson @wmcollinsbooks Happy birthday Mr Shakespeare! 🍾🥂🎂 Do you have a favourite Shakespeare quote? 🎭 🎭 🎭 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookfeature #brownflopsy #WilliamShakespeare #happybirthdaywilliamshakespeare #ShakespearesBirthday #shakespeare #shakespearequote

#SundayShelfie I am, by and large, a fiction reader, but I also love to mix in non-fiction books from time to time, especially books about history and social history, and biographies/autobiographies. So today, I thought I would give you a peek of one of my bookcases housing some of my non-fic collection - mostly history and social history here about some of the subjects that fascinate me, with a little memoir-ish overspill! Do you enjoy a sprinkling of non-fiction too? If so, what do you love to read about? #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #booksonmyshelf #brownflopsy #nonfictionbooks #historybooks #socialhistorybooks #memoirs #biographies #booksthatteachyousomething #lovehistory #socialhistory #checkoutmybookshelf

𝗙𝗜𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗜𝗗𝗔𝗬 "𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞, 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞, 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭, 𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐳𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬. 𝐈 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐈 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐈'𝐯𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧. 𝐈𝐟 𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐈 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐲 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐝𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐚 𝐓𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈'𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐚 𝐜𝐡𝐮𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨𝐨 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐭. 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫, 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐳𝐞𝐫𝐨 𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚 𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐭 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐈 𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲, 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐰𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐭..." Welcome to #FirstLinesFriday starring the latest smasher from @emilyhenrywrites #FunnyStory which is out from @vikingbooksuk on 25th April! Thank you to Viking for sending me a proof of this beauty... I cannot wait to consume it! What books are you looking forward to cosying up with? 💖💖💖. #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookfeature #brownflopsy #firstlines #emilyhenry #romanticstories #romcom #romancebooks #RomanceRocks #vikingbooksuk

Book 46: #TheHolidayEscape by @heidi_swain @simonschusteruk When Ally's mother died she found herself tied to a promise to help her dad turn Hollyhock Cottage, in Dorset's Kittiwake Cove, into a creative retreat. True to her word, Ally has done just that, never admitting to her father that she wants a different life. Ally tells herself that the escapist holidays and uncomplicated flings she takes are enough, but her latest trip in the guise of sophisticated 'Flora', finds her falling for a man called Logan. Back home, Ally struggles to ignore her conflicted feelings. So the last thing she needs is for Logan to appear, and set her emotions spiraling. It is time for Ally to make some big decisions about what she really wants... Ah, what utter loveliness this book proved to be. Ally is a great protagonist, pulled in two by the promise she made and her secret dreams. Swain does an excellent job of showing how she is grieving from not only the loss of a parent, but the life she thought she would be living, and this gives rise to layered storylines about forgiveness and unresolved feelings. I really enjoyed the multiple threads of gentle romance that run through this story, especially the clever twist that makes Ally reassess her her life through the eyes of Logan, and Swain builds in clever suspense around the will-they-won't-they element, and over-arching plotlines of deception and the weight of things unsaid. There are some cracking characters who spring from the pages, and their storylines have you chuckling, cheering, cussing, and crying in equal measure. Everything revolves beautifully around Swain's favourite topics of family, friendship, second chances, and a community pulling together in times of trouble - which are my favourite themes too!  This is one of those books you find yourself swallowing whole, completely tied to the fate of the characters until the emotional finale rolls around. I always know I am in for some powerful tugging of the heart strings when a new Heidi Swain book arrives, and The Holiday Escape hit that sentimental sweet-spot to perfection. I loved it! ❤ Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR #TeamBATC #BlogTour

W W W Wednesday today features three books from my huge tbr mountain that make up part of my eclectic April #blogtour pile! 😁 What have I been reading? The brand new translated fiction gem #TheKitchen from the #ChastityReloaded series by the #QueenOfKrimi @simone.buchholz trns by Rachel Ward completely absorbed me recently. I adore noir crime and this is a cracker! Out now from @orendabooks Review up on Monday as part of the @randomthingstours blog tour. What am I reading? I've just started #BetterLeftUnsent the new romance from one of my favs @lialouisauthor which I am expecting to have a little (massive) cry over. Out now from @zaffrebooks Review coming next Wednesday as part of another @randomthingstours blog tour. What will I read next? #OldRomantics a collection of linked stories, billed as 'alternative romances' by Irish writer Maggie Armstrong will be one of my next reads. I'm really looking forward to getting lost in these. Out 18th April from @tramppress Review up next Friday as part of the @richardson_helen blog tour What are you reading? #read #read2024 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookfeature #brownflopsy #wwwwednesday #lastnownext #lastnownextreads #whatamireading #whatamireadingwednesday

This week's #TwoForTuesday is for two intriguing gems that are part of the @squadpod2021 #SquadPodFeaturedBook line-up this month... #TheScandalousLifeOfRubyDevereaux by @robothammandy and #TheComeback by @ellamberman which are both out now from @headofzeus Here's a little taster... Ruby Devereaux - Everyone knows Ruby Devereaux's books. But no one knows her story... until now. Is Ruby finally about to reveal the secrets of her infamous life? Taking the reader on a rollercoaster ride through the latter half of the 20th Century, The Scandalous Life of Ruby Devereaux is a mesmerising story of one unforgettable woman's place in an ever-changing world. The Comeback - They say she owes him everything. Now she wants to burn it all to the ground. Grace Turner was one movie away from Hollywood's A-List. So no one understood why, at the height of her career and on the eve of her first Golden Globe nomination, she disappeared. Now, one year later, Grace is back in Los Angeles and ready to reclaim her life on her own terms. The Comeback is a moving and provocative story of justice - a true page-turner about a young woman finding the strength and power of her voice.. Both sound fabulous, and I will be sharing my thoughts with you soon! ❤ #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookfeature #brownflopsy #mjrobotham #ellaberman #AriaFiction

#read #read2024 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookfeature #brownflopsy #timhodkinson #historicalfiction #WhaleRoadChronicles #swordofthewargod Die Fakten: Titel: Odins Zorn *Rezi-Exemplar* Autor: Tim Hodkinson Andreas Decker (Übersetzer) Reihe: Verlag: Piper Seiten: 496 Klappentext: „Die Flucht aus seiner Heimat Island führt Einar Unnersson im Jahr 915 auf die Orkney Inseln und an den Hof seines Onkels. Jarl Thorfinn gilt als grausam und empfängt Einar keineswegs mit offenen Armen, im Gegenteil: Einar muss seine Treue erst beweisen. Er schließt sich den brutalen Wolfmäntel-Wikingern und der nord-irischen Kriegerprinzessin an, um in der Schlacht der Götter und Könige zu kämpfen. Einars Exil wird zum Überlebenskampf gegen Schwerter, Schilde und Verrat. Inmitten der unübersichtlichen Schlacht fragt er sich bald, wer der wahre Feind ist: Christen, Könige oder gar Odin selbst?  „ Rezension: Der Autor beschreibt die höchst unterschiedlichen Charaktere äußerst detailliert und individuell, so das es dem Leser sehr leicht fällt sich in diese hinein zu versetzen.Das Intrigen Spielt der Charaktere ist sehr gekonnt dargestellt. Die beteiligten Personen sind vielschichtig und authentisch beschrieben. Ich konnte mir das Leben der Personen Rund um das Jahr 915 vorstellen. Die Orkney Inseln werden in ihrer wildern und unbändigen Schönheit beschrieben. Positiv ist es auch, dass die Handlungsorte sehr gekonnt in ihrem historischen Kontext beschrieben werden. Die Schlachte in dem Buch werden sehr Bildhaft beschrieben das hat das lesen zu einem wirklich Erlebnis gemacht Der Autor schafft es mit seine Worten gekonnt die Stimmung der Zeit dem Leser nahezubringen. Dies und die von ihr sehr gekonnt dargestellten Charaktere machen es dem Leser sehr leicht sich in die Handlung nachzuvollziehen. Fazit: Da ich Vikings und The Last Kingdom liebe musste ich das Buch unbedingt lesen. Und was soll ich sagen ich bin voll und ganz auf meine Kosten gekommen. Ich habe das Buch verschlungen es ist ein gelungener Historischer Roman der mich wirklich begeistern konnte. *Rezi-Exemplar*

On Saturday, I was very lucky to fulfill a long-held wish by going to see @mousetraplondon the world famous play by #QueenOfCrime @officialagathachristie ❤ Based on Christie's radio play Three Blind Mice, which she wrote as a birthday gift for Queen Mary's 80th birthday in 1947, The Mousetrap opened in 1952. Now in its 72nd year, it is famous for being the World's longest running play, and it is still playing to packed audiences. St Martin's Theatre (which has housed the play since 1974, after it moved from The Ambassdors Theatre next door) is spectacular, and makes for a very intimate setting, so you can really feel the tension building during the 2hours 20mins of the performance. The set, which epitomises the Great Hall of a once grand house, now turned into The Monkswell Manor Guest House, is impressive. It was the perfect backdrop for the wonderful cast who pulled out all the period-piece stops to immerse you in Christie's 1950s murder-mystery, playing the kind of roles that are typical of her excellent novels. As a 'partner in crime' my lips are sealed about the secrets of the play, but I can tell you that it was the most amazing experience. I was held spell-bound, fooled by all the devious red-herrings and gasped along with the entire audience when the truth was finally revealled... it was also much funnier than I was expecting. Christie's ability to imbue humour into her writing is often underestimated, in my opinion! I loved it, and have finally been able to pick up my 70th anniversary edition of the play, which I have been afraid to read for fear of spoilers. Along with the script, it is full of fascinating detail about the play, as is the programme, which you really must get if you go to see the show, as they stamp it to record the number of the performance you will be seeing... number 29563 in this case! For fellow trivia-hounds, you will find lots in the book and programme to amuse you too. I think my favourite fun fact might be that Christie was inspired to write Three Bilnd Mice by a very real, and quite shocking case, which must have made her birthday gift something of a surprise to Ivor-Novello-musical-loving Queen Mary! 😁

#SaturdayVibes This week's Saturday vibes are very excited ones, as we are off to the theatre to see #TheMousetrap by @officialagathachristie 🤩 I cannot wait... fill you in later! #bookstagrammers #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #bookblogger #bookbloggers #classiccrime #classicrimefiction #agathachristie #agathachristieplay #brownflopsy

Book 43: Sword of the War God by Tim Hodkinson @headofzeus 436 AD. The Roman Empire is not what it once was. A Roman army prepares to battle the Burgundians, and they have a new ally in the Huns. Under the command of Attila, the Huns desire the fabled treasure of the Burgundians, including the Sword of the War God, a legendary talisman. Unable to withstand the might of the combined army, the Burgundian kingdom is obliterated. Its surviving people are scatted to the winds, and the treasure is lost.. As the years pass, Attila's power grows, but without the legendary sword, there is a chance he can be stopped. The Roman Empire needs help from the remaining Burgundians, who have shaped themselves into a different kind of people with the aid of a mysterious one-eyed warlord and his warriors. New oaths must be made... Hodkinson takes what we know about 5th century Europe, and the Western Roman Empire, weaving in myth and legend, to create an adventure that can only be described as epic! The story centres on the fate of the Burgundians, and threads of Roman desperation, Burgundian transformation, and Hunnish ambition collide in a tangle of family drama, intrigue, uneasy alliances, and good old fashioned betrayal. The cast of characters is sprawling, and Hodkinson contrives more bloody battles, and ritualistic murders, than you can wave a legendary sword at before his work is done. What really makes this so intriguing is the way he inserts familiar characters from Norse mythology to spice up the action, delving deliciously into Wagnerian heights of delight, and he does it with such subtlety that it is not immediately obvious that these figures might be more than they seem to be. I won't give the game away, as it is so enjoyable spotting the legendary faces who become an integral part of the tale, but there are clues a-plenty in name and deed. These characters drive the story, blurring the lines between fact and fiction, to hint at supernatural undertones to the moments history records. I consumed this novel, flying through the twists and turns, and diving down multiple rabbit holes. I look forward to more! Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

Happy Publication Day to a bevy of beauties today! 🎉🍾🥂 Welcome to the world... 🩸 #TheGathering by @cjtudorauthor @michaeljbooks 🕯 #TheHousehold by @staceyhallsauthor @manilla_press ⚔ #SwordOfTheWarGod byTim Hodkinson @headofzeus 👄 #TheScandalousLifeOfRubyDevereaux by @robothammandy @headofzeus ⭐ #TheComeback by @ellamberman @headofzeus 🖋 #CloseToDeath by Anthony oirowitz @centurybooksuk 💀 #TheKitchen by Simone Buchholz @orendabooks 📨 #BetterLeftUnsent by @lialouisauthor @zaffrebooks Also out this week... 🏞 #DaughterOfMine by @meganlmiranda @quercusbooks My thoughts coming soon... Are any of these in your reading pile? ***** #read #read2024 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookfeature #brownflopsy #publicationday

Book 42: Nothing Without Me by @helenmonkstakhar @hqstories TV star Essie Lay's career was in tatters when rising director, April Eden, gave her a way back to the limelight in her film, The Vanished Woman. The film is now up for a raft of awards, but on the night of the glamorous British Film Associate Awards, April receives a call from Essie to say that she cannot face the ceremony. April makes a dash to Essie's mansion, but instead of having to calm her anxious star, she is faced with a very different sort of dilemma... for Essie lies dead in her swimming pool. April is forced to make a decision and the choice she makes means confronting uncomfortable truths about the connection that lies between them. In an absolute masterclass of plotting, Helen Monks Takhar spins a tale of betrayal and revenge in the brutal world of film and television production. Told through the voices of April and Essie, the story unfurls in delicious slow-burn style in the past and the present, cutting back and forth between the time the two women met, the paths of their careers, the film that reunites them, and the chaos that ensues from April's decision. Each thread adds context, and atmospheric texture to the story, gradually exposing the truth about the moments that have defined April and Essie's relationship. It is not often that I really do not know where a story will land, but this genuinely had me second guessing myself the whole way through! Not only is this a thriller that keeps you on your toes, but it thrums with themes on the personal and professional fronts. Monks Takhar examines how abusive relationships and dysfunctional families affect the course of Essie and April's lives, and she has a ball using them as motivators to drive a story centred around the darkest of emotions. But what impresses me the most is the spectacular way she explores the many shades of meaning in her excellent title. This is a classy novel, and it will leave you with a lot to ponder on about the entertainment industry, and the pitfalls of celebrity, particularly when when it comes to the way men and women are treated so differently. I loved it! Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

Today we have WWW Wednesday from our lovely @brownflopsy 🩷 Our lovely Sue reads a wide range so was curious what she would include….. Posted @withregram • @brownflopsy W W W Wednesday... I always find these really hard as I constantly have so many books on the go... I know you feel me, fellow multi-readers... but since I was challenged to have a stab at one for the @squadpod2021 feed, I’ve come up with three books on my #blogtour calendar that are shining examples of how many different genres I read! 😁 What have I been reading? This week, I consumed the epic new historical fiction adventure from Tim Hodkinson, the awesome #SwordOfTheWarGod - out tomorrow from @headofzeus - and can tell you that it is brilliant! Review coming Friday... What am I reading? I’ve just started the highly anticipated #LeaveNoTrace by @jocallaghankat - the follow-up to #InTheBlinkOfAnEye in her #KatAndLock series. Out now from @simonschusteruk I am expecting great things! Review coming next Tuesday... What will I read next? Right at the top of my pile is one I am so looking forward to! #TheHolidayEscape by @heidi_swain promises some gorgeous romance and escapism, and I cannot wait! Out 25th April from @simonschusteruk Review coming next Thursday... What are you reading? #read #read2024 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookfeature #brownflopsy #wwwwednesday #lastnownext #lastnownextreads #whatamireading #whatamireadingwednesday

W W W Wednesday... I always find these really hard as I constantly have so many books on the go... I know you feel me, fellow multi-readers... but since I was challenged to have a stab at one for the @squadpod2021 feed, I've come up with three books on my #blogtour calendar that are shining examples of how many different genres I read! 😁 What have I been reading? This week, I consumed the epic new historical fiction adventure from Tim Hodkinson, the awesome #SwordOfTheWarGod - out tomorrow from @headofzeus - and can tell you that it is brilliant! Review coming Friday... What am I reading? I've just started the highly anticipated #LeaveNoTrace by @jocallaghankat - the follow-up to #InTheBlinkOfAnEye in her #KatAndLock series. Out now from @simonschusteruk I am expecting great things! Review coming next Tuesday... What will I read next? Right at the top of my pile is one I am so looking forward to! #TheHolidayEscape by @heidi_swain promises some gorgeous romance and escapism, and I cannot wait! Out 25th April from @simonschusteruk Review coming next Thursday... What are you reading? #read #read2024 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookfeature #brownflopsy #wwwwednesday #lastnownext #lastnownextreads #whatamireading #whatamireadingwednesday

#TwoForTuesday Two historical gems under the spotlight today as a subtle hint at a certain event happening today... what could it be? 😁📚🥂 Behold #TheFoundling and #MrsEngland in beautiful hardback from one of my favourites @staceyhallsauthor Both out now from @manilla_press @bonnierbooks_uk Keep your eyes peeled for the brand new historical fiction stunner from Stacey #TheHousehold which is out this Thursday 11th April... it might just be my fav one yet! Do you love historical fiction too? 🍾🍾🍾 #read #read2024 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #BookLaunch #brownflopsy #staceyhalls #historicalfiction #mustreadbooks #bonnierbooksuk #manillapress #bookevent

#CoffeeAndCurrentlyReading ☕📚 Today, I have started reading this beauty... just look at that cover!!! 🤩 #SwordOfTheWarGod is the brand new epic adventure from Tim Hodkinson, author of the cracking #WhaleRoadChronicles I'm gripped already... my thoughts coming soon as part of the #BlogTour ⚔ Sword of the War God is out in hardcover and ebook on 11th April from @headofzeus How good does this sound?! Featuring breathtaking battles, fearsome foes, and vehement vows of vengeance, SWORD OF THE WAR GOD is a thrilling adventure set amongst the blood and tumult of fifth-century Europe, where the dying Roman Empire, the mighty Huns, and heroes from Norse mythology vie for power. In a world of war and ruin, men and gods collide. 436 AD. The Burgundars are confident of destroying Rome's legions, for the Empire is weak. Their forces are strong and they have beaten the Romans in battle before. But they are annihilated, their king killed, his people scattered. Their fabled treasure is lost. For Rome has new allies: the Huns, whose taste for bloodshed knows no bounds. Many years later, the Huns, led by the fearsome Attila, have become the deadliest enemies of Rome. Attila seeks the Burgundars' treasure, for it includes the legendary Sword of the War God, said to make the bearer unbeatable. No alliance can defeat Attila by conventional means. With Rome desperate for help, a one-eyed old warlord from distant lands and his strange band of warriors may have the answers... but oaths will be broken and the plains of Europe will run with blood before the end. Drawing on Norse mythology and European history, Sword of the War God is an epic historical adventure perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Joanne Harris, Neil Gaiman and Christian Cameron. #read #read2024 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookfeature #brownflopsy #timhodkinson #historicalfiction

#SundayMood A little @liz_fenwick indulgence ahead of the @squadpod2021 #RomanceRocks #SquadPodInConversation with the lovely Liz on 13th May at 7.30pm BST (swipe for info). #TheRiverBetweenUs #ThePathToTheSea And I can highly recommend Liz's beautiful sweeping novel #TheSecretShore too - one of my books of 2023! All three books out now from @hqstories Are you a Liz Fenwick fan? Make sure you tune in on 13th May to hear her chatting about her writing. I cannot wait! 💗 #read #read2023 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookrecommendations #brownflopsy #RespectRomFic #womensfiction #womensfictionwriters #romance #romanticstories #romanticfiction #cornwall

#SaturdayVibes A mug of #BuildersBrew a couple of biscuits and a darned good read - in this case the brand new stunner from @staceyhallsauthor #TheHousehold Out in beautiful HB, ebook and audio (which it has just announced will be narrated by @twopencemiddleton 💛) from @manilla_press @bonnierbooks_uk on 11th April. I've loved all of Stacey's books and this might be my favourite one yet! Get your preorders in NOW! NOT ALL WHO ARE FALLEN WANT TO BE SAVED London, 1847. In a quiet house in the countryside outside London, the finishing touches are being made to welcome a group of young women. The house and its location are top secret, its residents unknown to one another, but the girls have one thing in common: they are fallen. Offering refuge for prostitutes, petty thieves and the destitute, Urania Cottage is a second chance at life - but how badly do they want it? Meanwhile, a few miles away in a Piccadilly mansion, millionairess Angela Burdett-Coutts, one of the benefactors of Urania Cottage, makes a discovery that leaves her cold. Her stalker of ten years has been released from prison, and she knows it's only a matter of time before their nightmarish game resumes once more. As the women's worlds collide in ways they could never have expected, they will discover that freedom always comes at a price . . . #read #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #brownflopsy #staceyhalls #historicalfiction #lovehistoricalfiction #

#March2024ReadingRoundUp Fourteen absolute bangers came my way in March, with lots of tension and suspense! I think there is pretty much something for everyone here... 🛁 #TheMurderAfterTheNightBefore by @but_katy_did_it @hqstories 🍎 #OriginalSins by Erin Young @hodderbooks 🪦 #AngelWithTwoFaces by @nicolaupson @faberbooks 🌊 #TheCollapsingWave by @writerdougj @orendabooks 🎭 #TheMysteryOfHaverfordHouse by @rachelbwriter @headofzeus 🔍 #TheBigFour by @officialagathachristie @harpercollinsuk 📚 #TheBordeauxBookClub by @gillplusfive @theboldbookclub ⚔ #AClashOfKings by George R.R. Martin @harpervoyager_uk 🛶 #Deliverance by James Dickey @audible_uk 🚤 #TheLagosWife by Vanessa Walters @hutchheinemann 🌚 #CrowMoon by @suzyaspleybooks @orendabooks 📰 #TheTradeOff by @sandiejones_author @panmacmillan 🦊 #SmallHours by @thebobpalmer @headlinebooks ⚖ #PrimaFacie by @suziemillerwriter @hutchheinemann You can find your way to my IG eviews in my grid, and my full reviews on my blog (link in bio). Have you read any of these? Did you love them too? #read #read2024 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookreview #brownflopsy #march2024 #readingwrapup

#HappyEaster folks! It's the perfect day to over-eat some chocolate treats and revisit some wonderful rabbity tales from my childhood. ❤🐇 Here are a few of my favourites! #WatershipDown by Richard Adams #TheVelveteenRabbit by Margery Wiiliams And, no childhood would be complete without some Beatrix Potter - flopsy themed, naturally #TheTaleOfTheFlopsyBunnies and some lovely bedtime stories for the sweetest of dreams. There's a little guest appearance from Dick Bruna's #Miffy and Melanie too! 🥕 Are you partial to books featuring bunnies too? Let me know your favourites.. 🐰🐰🐰 #read #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookfeature #brownflopsy #richardadams #margerywilliams #margerywilliamsbianco #beatrixpotter #rabbits #rabbitthemedbook #bunnylove #bunnytales #easterbunny

Book 40: Small Hours by @thebobpalmer @headlinebooks Jack is angry when he loses the job he has put years of his life into, at the expense of everything else. A phone call from his sister, telling him their mother has gone missing, brings him back home and forces him to confront the reality of a house he has not seen in years, his sister's simmering rage, and his father Gerry's dementia. Gerry is lost. His life has become one of confusion. His only solace is his garden and the wildlife in the woods around his home. There seems to be no way to bring this troubled family back together, but between Jack and Gerry stands a fox that sees much more than any wild animal should... This is the follow-up to Palmer's astonishing debut, Isaac and the Egg, and the emotive muscle that he exerts through the use of language and different literary techniques is, ironically, difficult to sum up in words.  The story unfurls through beautifully written scenes from Jack's perspective, interspersed with fragmented passages from Gerry; flashes back to the past of Gerry and his wife's relationship; and sections of what can only be described as free verse, mostly on the part of our friend, the fox. It is unconventional in story-telling terms, but everything comes together in an exquisite perfect storm of atmosphere and emotion. Palmer manages to achieve so much in this story, immersing you completely in a compelling, inter-generational family drama that thrums with relatable themes. He explores the weight of loss, and facets of memory, especially when it comes to Gerry's dementia. He writes so well about sibling relationships rife with recriminations, long marriages, parenthood, and the feeling that time has slipped through our fingers. The fox becomes a metaphor for the healing power of nature on broken souls, and I was completely invested in the little furry creature that forms the catalyst to bring this dysfunctional family back together. This is a quiet novel, imbued with all the thought-provoking poignancy that its title, Small Hours, brings to mind, which makes it truly powerful. A fab @squadpod2021 #SquadPodFeaturedBook for March. Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

#SundayShelfie Today I have a stunning set of shelves from @warwickcastleofficial where we went for a fab family visit yesterday as part of my birthday weekend. Scroll to see the rest of the room, and its beautiful ceiling. I don't know about you, but I would be very happy to have this room as my library (minus the creepy figures though 😆). Isn't it fabulous?! 🥰 Warwck Castle is a wonderful spot to visit if you are a fan of a spectacular ceiling, as I am... so for fellow fans of such things, there is also a bit of a treat if you scroll all the way to the end! Heaven! It is actually my birthday today, and books have been acquired from my lovely fam, so I will post a pic of these later. Many hours of reading (and rereading) pleasure lie ahead. I cannot wait! ❤ 🏰🏰🏰 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookreview #brownflopsy #historicsite #warwickcastle #warwickcastlelibrary #historiclibrary #englishcastle #warwickshire #familyouting #birthdayweekend

Book 35: A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin @harpervoyager_uk A Clash of Kings is the second instalment on my journey through the currently published volumes of the A Song of Ice and Fire series. As for the first part, I opted for the audio book narrated by Roy Dotrice (more on that later). I have many more thoughts about this book than space here will allow, so please stop by my blog for more (link in bio). The story picks up after significant happenings at the end of book one, presided over by the blood red comet in the sky. In Essos, widowed Daenerys Targaryen, adding the title of Mother of Dragons to her growing number of epithets, is in search of supporters for her bid to win the Iron Throne. Meanwhile, war reigns in Westeros. A number of factions are fighting for the throne; the Starks battle to hold the North, leaving Winterfell at the mercy of an unexpected enemy; Joffrey is proving to be a cruel and feckless king; and trouble is brewing beyond the Wall where Jon Snow must now venture... The plot pits brother against brother; magic is stirring with the return of dragons; and the game of thrones brings mayhem and misfortune, and reveals both friends and enemies in unexpected places. As previously, the story flips between members of the Stark family; Tyrion Lannister, and Jon Snow. Their voices are now joined by Theon Greyjoy; and Davos Seaworth, who weaves in a new thread about Stannis Baratheon. Suffice to say that not everyone is going to get out of this alive... My complicated relationship with Roy Dotrice's narration has not abated, but I think this mostly stems from the fact that the cast of this story is so darned huge, which is a big ask for a single voice artist. A few of his choices baffle me (is Tyrion supposed to be Welsh?), and his halting style is still disconcerting (even at x1.5), but he does a great job of pulling you into the story. I do think this would be better as multi-cast though. Audio quibbles aside, I am firmly invested now, and in awe of Martin's skill at weaving multiple threads filled with excellent characters for you to love and loathe. I cannot wait to continue my epic journey with book three, A Storm of Swords.

Book 33: The Big Four by @officialagathachristie This is something of a strange beast when it comes to a Poirot mystery. The novel is made up of a series of short stories Christie adapted into an expansive plot that pits her little Belgian detective against a secretive organisation hell-bent on world domination. The novel begins with the arrival of Captain Hastings at Poirot's door, back for a visit from the Argentine, where he now lives with his wife 'Cinderella'. Coincidentally, Poirot is about to set to off to South America on a case, but their conversation is brought to an abrupt end by the appearance of a mysterious figure who tells them of an international crime cartel run by 4 powerful figures - Number 1, a Chinese man called Li Chan Yen, and his three unknown accomplices, Number 2, an American; Number 3, a Frenchwoman; and Number 3, The Destroyer'. When the informant is killed, and Poirot realises the South American case is a ruse to get him out of the way, he decides to put his efforts into finding out all he can about the Big Four. The answer to the mystery comes together slowly, via enigmatic clues gathered from seemingly unconnected cases. As the bodies pile up, the identities of the Big Four are established, and Christie engineers a quite brilliant, and very ambitious climax, involving some stunning subterfuge on Poirot's part, and the usual confused bravery from Hastings. I have not read a Poirot story like this before in terms of structure, scope, and surprises. It combines individual cases of the kind Poirot can solve at the drop of the hat, via his knowledge of the 'psychologies', with an over-arching, international espionage story that he really has to tax himself to solve, and which is the usual province of Christie's fast paced, stand-alone adventures - and there is more than a little of the Sherlock Holmes here around some of the gripping happenings, duplicity, and locations. This is a Christie I have not read before, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the fun and games! The Big Four is my March pick for #ReadChristie2024 as a book written by Agatha Christie in the 1920s. Onwards to the 1930s next! Full review on blog (link in bio)

Happy #StPatricksDay to everyone with a touch of the Irish luck in their blood! 🇮🇪 💚 I'm celebrating with a stack of books from some brilliant Irish literary fiction writers. Feast your eye's upon... #NightBoatToTangier by Kevin Barry #AGhostInTheThroat by @doireann.ni.ghriofa (one of my all time favourites!) #NormalPeople by @sallyrooneyofficial #StrangeFlowers by Donal Ryan #TheCountryGirlsTrilogy by Edna O'Brien #SmallThingsLikeThese by Claire Keegan #TheArtOfTheGlimpse collection selected by @sineadgleeson Have you read any of these beauties? 🍀🍀🍀 #irishwritersofinstagram #irishliterature #irishliteraryfiction #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookstack #brownflopsy #sundaybookstack #beautifulbooks #kevinbarry #donalryan #ednaobrien #clairekeegan

Book 32: The Mystery of Haverford House by @rachelbwriter @headofzeus 1933. Annie Bishop entered service at Haverford House to become a maid when she was just sixteen. Five years later she has learned to 'know her place'. Then one summer, wealthy American actor, Thomas Everard arrives. Thomas finds himself growing close to lady's maid Annie through their shared love of the Bard, as the country house set put on a production of Twelfth Night. The prospect of another life opens up to Annie, but that fateful summer, she disappears without a trace... 2003. Australian, Viola Hendricks was drawn to Haverford House by the mystery of Annie's disappearance, and the hope of a new start. For the last five years, she has worked hard to keep the house and grounds going, but closure looms. Viola hopes that this summer's production of Twelfth Night, starring her famous brother Sebastian will help. However, she does not plan on the interference of American, Chase Matthews. Can they work together to save Haverford, and solve the mystery of Annie's disappearance too? Flipping between these timelines, Burton pulls you into a sweeping mystery about the past, present, and future, of this country estate. Annie's story unfurls in 1933, with atmospheric between-the-wars vibes delving into the social changes at play, while Viola battles to find a way to keep Haverford House out of the hands of developers in the present. Burton weaves lovely storylines for her characters around dreams, belonging, and romance, which tug on your heart strings, and she floods the book with echoing themes of generational conflict, siblings, found family, love that spans an ocean-divide, and the problems of maintaining a grand country estate on dwindling funds - and of course, my favourite Shakespeare play, Twelfth Night! This one kept me guessing, until all the secrets of the past are finally revealed in the present - which Burton uses to bring the tale full-circle. It's just the kind of historical fiction I like best, evocative, emotional, well-researched, and with relatable women front and centre. I adored it. My favourite Rachel Burton yet. Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

Book 31: The Collapsing Wave by @writerdougj @orendabooks Six months on from The Space Between Us, the USA military has taken charge, establishing a secret base on Scotland's west coast, where Heather, Lennox, and captured Enceladons, are being subjected to experiments. Meanwhile, Ava is on trial for murder, and faces separation from her baby. The alien Enceladons have disappeared into Loch Broom, but hope remains. A community of humans has sprung up on the shore, answering a mysterious 'call', and MI7 agent Fellowes believes his faith in the authorities has been misplaced. When the alien Sandy contacts Lennox, there is a chance of escape. A battle with a military driven by hatred and fear lies ahead... and our heroes may not survive. Johnston picks up this story a few months after the gripping climax of the first book, which you must have read before this one. With beautifully wrought, authentic threads of sinister cover-ups, power moves, xenophobia, and disturbing agendas driven by fear, Johnston takes you on a thrill ride, through the narratives of returning characters, Heather, Lennox, Ava and Fellowes. The plot is worthy of a block-busting science fiction adventure, with cinematic scenes to get the blood thumping. And like the best novels of the genre, he off-sets the action with character-led, poignant elements about the bonds of love, family, community, connection, and belonging, to stir you to the very depth of your emotions.  My heart was in my mouth for the entire length of this novel. Johnston takes you to the very edge of your capacity to cope with intense feelings of anger and despair, with a relentlessness that can only be assuaged by the eventual triumph of decency and hope. He has such an ability to examine the darkness that lies in the human heart, and yet, his stories unfailingly manage to balance this beautifully against the yearning for connection that offers us salvation. I love everything about this series, right down to the clever titles, and am excited for the final instalment. It still amazes me this series is Johnston's first foray into science fiction writing! It's awesome! Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

Happy #InternationalWomensDay 🎉🎉🎉 I present you a bevy of beauties from some female authors who are soaring in the world of romantic and women's fiction... be loud and proud, sisters! 💜💜💜 #DearEmmieBlue @lialouisauthor #ThePhilosophyOfLove @becsryanauthor #ReturnToHalfMoonFarm @hollyh_author #DateWithDestiny @lucyvine #OneMoonlitNight @rachel.hore #TogetherAgain @themillyjohnson #ChristmasByCandlelight @swannywrites #OneNightOnTheIsland @josiesilverauthor #AlwaysByYourSide @juliehaworthauthor #OnTheFirstDayOfChristmas @faithhoganauthor #TheLittleBoardGameCafe @jenniferpagewrites #HappilyEverAfter @patriciascanlan7224 #MuchadoAboutNada @uzmajalaluddin 💜💜💜 #read #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookcelebration #brownflopsy #RespectRomFic #womenwriters #womensfiction #womensfictionwriters #romance #romanticfiction #lovewhatyoudo

Book 30: Angel with Two Faces by @nicolaupson @faberbooks My reread of Nicola Upson's brilliant Josephine Tey mysteries continues with book two... DI Archie Penrose is in Cornwall for a break at his family home, and has invited his friend, author Josephine Tey to stay. It is a chance to recover from the strains of their recent hunt for a killer in London's theatre-land. Josephine is intrigued about seeing Archie's childhood home, and hopes to get to grips with her next book. The holiday gets off to an inauspicious start when estate worker dies after his horse mysteriously plunges into a lake. When a young lad from the village disappears, and the local curate dramatically falls to his death, Archie is suddenly in charge of a muder investigation. With Josephine's help, the pair discover a web of secrets that has led to tragedy. With delicious between-the-war vibes, this is a complex story set on a country estate reeling from WWI and casting troubled eyes towards an uncertain future, and yet the threads of the mystery Archie and Josephine must untangle are very much about the personal relationships of a tight-knit community that holds itself apart from the world outside. Upson does an incredible job of peeling away the layers to reveal the rawness of emotions that have become a terrible burden, and have led to the breaking of taboos. Good and bad intentions, abuse, yearning, sibling rivalry, forbidden love, and curiously for a story steeped in violence and recriminations, innocence too, all play a part here - and Upson wrings every ounce of emotion from the tapestry she weaves. The relationship between Archie and Josephine is the spine of the novel, with a masterclass in portraying long, close friendships. Cornwall comes alive, showing all its picturesque, myth-laden, and menacing guises, and Upson plays exquisitely with notions of faith and how death is viewed as 'an angel with two faces', looking backwards to sins of the past and forward to the violence they give birth to. I had forgotten how much the brilliant twists in this mystery keep you guessing! What a joy to revisit them! Onwards to book 3, Two for Sorrow. Full review on blog (link in bio)

Happy #WorldBookDay book lovers!!! To be honest, every day is a book day for me, so I thought I would give you a glimpse of some of the books in my current reading pile! 😁 I hope you are also celebrating with some fabulous reads! Pictured in this typically eclectic mix: 🏤 #TheMysteryOfHaverfordHouse by @rachelbwriter @headofzeus 🌊 #TheCollapsingWave @writerdougj @orendabooks 🌚 #CrowMoon by @suzyaspleybooks @orendabooks 🏖 #TheLagosWife by @vanessawaltersb @hutchheinemann 📰 #TheTradeOff by @sandiejones_author @panmacmillan 🚢 #DeepHarbour by @tovealsterdal @faberbooks ❤ #TheHoursOfYou by @fionacollinsauthor @amazonpublishing 🔎 #TheBigFour by @officialagathachristie @harperfiction 🪦 #AngelWithTwoFaces by @nicolaupson @faberbooks 📚 #TheCollectedStoriesOfPhilipKDick by #PhilipKDick @gollancz 💼 #PhineasPhinn by #AnthonyTrollope @oxunipress 🦊 #SmallHours by @thebobpalmer @headlinebooks 🦋 #FollowTheButterfly by @marttakaukonen @pushkin_press ⚖ #PrimaFacie by @suziemillerwriter @hutchheinemann Are any of these on your teetering tbrs too? 📔📕📗📘📙 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookblogger #brownflopsy

Book 29: Original Sins by Erin Young @hodderbooks Riley Fisher, small town sergeant transformed into rookie FBI agent, arrives in Des Moines, Iowa, for her first posting. She is thrown head first into two tough investigations, alongside a partner she neither knows, nor trusts. A serial attacker, known as the Sin Eater, is stalking women on the wintry streets of Des Moines. His crimes bear the hallmarks of a deep hatred of women and religious fundamentalist views, but so far his identity remains elusive. Meanwhile, the state's newly elected female governor has received a chilling death threat, and is living in fear while she tries to level the playing field for Iowa's women. As Riley battles her own demons, she uncovers a connection between the cases. Secrets, lies, and violence pave the way to what motivates the guilty, but not even Riley can imagine quite how far the darkness spreads. In an absolutely cracking thriller that deliciously channels True Detective by way of The Silence of the Lambs, Erin Young knocks the ball out of the addictive novel park with the follow-up to her debut The Fields. Riley Fisher is a great protagonist to get your teeth into: strong and vulnerable in just the right measure, Young plays nicely on the past that haunts her to build in all the little emotional tugs you need to tie your colours firmly to her cause. Her desperation to prove herself drives her through all the beautifully crafted twists and turns in a thriller that thrums with everything I love about a page-turning cop story, while also incorporating a veritable feast of timely themes. Brutal violence against women lies at the heart of the plot, but Young also touches on so much more about women's rights at home and in the workplace; family ties; the legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic; and false promises that fan the flames of male disaffection into hatred and fear. And there is a lovely thread about fatherhood that runs throughout. So much of this novel rings disturbingly true, and Young uses this to blend authenticity into her gritty, atmospheric plot. Superb! I consumed this book! One of the best thrillers I've read in ages! Full review on blog (link in bio). AD-PR

Book 28: The Murder after the Night Before by @but_katy_did_it @hqstories Molly Monroe wakes up with the mother of all hangovers, to find a strange man in her bed... and that she has gone viral as the star of an x-rated video. The day only gets worse when she discovers she has been unable to contact her best friend Posey, because she has been lying dead only feet from where Molly has been hiding out in shame.  The police believe journalist, Posey, died as the result of a tragic accident, but Molly is not convinced - especially when she finds out that she was invesigating the case of a missing teenager that nobody seems to want to talk about. It is time for Molly to cast aside her own troubles and find a killer...   This is a fast-paced, murder mystery that touches on a host of timely themes. It unfurls in two threads - one following the fall-out of the events of the 'night before' that have made Molly a target on social media; and the other, her quest to find Posey's killer. They soon become enmeshed, careering towards a multiple twist conclusion with more than a few surprises. This is just the kind of story that keeps the suspense going nicely, and has you looking at all the characters with a suspicious eye, and Brent leaves you with an unsettling ending with potential for an interesting sequel - even if there is perhaps a twist or two too far on the way there. I really enjoyed the way Molly finds a sense of purpose by taking up the brand Posey leaves behind, and uses this as a way to not only deal with her long term problems, but also the impact of the way she has been taken advantage of in the present - especially the way she channels her inner journalist after too long dulling her edge with fluffy stories at pre-teen mag Girl Chat. But what Brent does in absolute style here is to flood her story with themes about how women are treated in relationships and the workplace, and the shocking way they are pilloried on social media - delving into abuse, control, and consent to thought-provoking effect. An entertaining read that will leave you with lots to ponder upon... and a great @squadpod2021 #SquadPodFeaturedBook Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

#SundayShelfie Nice to see a hint of sun playing over the well-stuffed #bookshelves today, especially after all the rain... and I caught it just right for some mellow Sunday vibes! I hope your Sunday is equally mellow, #booklovers 🥰 Nothing on the menu for me this afternoon other than finishing off reading the wickedly twisty #TheMurderAfterTheNightBefore by @but_katy_did_it which is out now from @hqstories 📚 What are you reading today? ☀️☀️☀️ #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #booksonmyshelf #brownflopsy #sundavibes #hellosunshine #shelfiesunday #softlight #books #packedbookshelf #mellowsunday #mellowvibes #sundaymood☀️

#February2024ReadingRoundUp Thirteen cracking books under the belt in February - a couple off my normal pce, but illlness will do that to you. You can find my reviews for these gems in my grid (full reviews on my blog - link in bio), and there is at least one contender for my book of 2024 here... not bad for two months into the year! Pictured: 🩰 #TheDancersPromise by @ohorrox @emblabooks ⚖ #TheTrialsOfLilaDalton by @ljshepherdauthor @pushkin_press 🔥 #TheDescent by @paulhardisty @orendabooks 📚 #TheLondonBookshopAffair by @louisefeinauthor @williammorrowbooks 🔎 #PoirotInvestigates by @officialagathachristie @harperfiction ✈ #DeathFlight by @sarahsultoon @orendabooks 🪶 #BirdSpottingInASmallTown by @sophiemorton_thomas @verve_books 📜 #ThePrisonerOfAcre by @murraybaileyauthor 🎭 #AnExpertInMurder by @nicolaupson @faberbooks 🪚 #FrankAndRed by @manversusbaby @headlinebooks 🌺 #TheLightThatBendsRoundCorners by @alexandracareywrites @troubador_publishing 🏝 #IslandInTheSun by @ffordekatie @centurybooksuk 📞 #ASignOfHerOwn by @sarahmarshwrites @tinder_press QOTD: Have you read a book yet this year that you think will on your best of 2024 list? *** #read #read2024 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookreview #brownflopsy #readingwrapup #february2024

It has been an absolute pleasure to be a @tandemcollectiveuk Tandem Audio Ambassador for the past few months, and as I come to the end of my stint, my fellow ambassadors and I have been reflecting on why we love audio so much - and the benefits audio books bring. Here are my top reasons why audio books are awesome - heavily influenced by my former life as a school librarian, but I could easily bang on about them for hours given half the chance! 😁 - they make books accessible to those who find printed text challenging. - they can enrich your experience of the story (especially with the right narrator). - you can enjoy them during times you are unable to hold a book, such as when travelling or doing household chores. - they help improve your listening and concentration skills. And, yes, audio books do count as reading... 🎧🎧🎧 I always have audio books on the go alongside physical and ebooks, and have loved them since I was tiny. My current listens, which I can highly recommend, are: - #AngelWithTwoFaces by @nicolaupson @faberbooks narrated by Sandra Duncan - #AClashOfKings by @georgerrmartin @harperaudio narrated by Roy Dotrice - #TheBigFour by @officialagathachristie @harperfiction narrated by Hugh Fraser 🎧🎧🎧 If you are looking for to get started with an absolute banging audio book, some of my favs are: - #TheSevenHusbandsOfEvelynHugo by @tjenkinsreid narrated by Alma Cuervo, Julie Whelan and Robin Miles. - #ProjectHailMary by @therealandyweir narrated by Ray Porter. - #StillLife by Sarah Winman narrated superbly by the author herself. - #TheFive by @hallierubenhold narrated by Louise Brealey 🎧🎧🎧 Check out my fellow brilliant ambassadors @bookswithbecki @emilyslondonlibrary @karla_bookishlife sarahs.bookstack for more thoughts about audio books.. And if you have any unmissible audio book suggestions to recommend, please pop them below! ❤ 🎧🎧🎧 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #AudioBooks #audiobookaddict #audiobooksofinstagram #audiobookscount #brownflopsy

Book 27: A Sign of her Own by @sarahmarshwrites @tinder_press Ellen Lark is looking forward to the prospect of marriage with her fiancé, when they receive an unexpected visit from Alexander Graham Bell. But Bell's visit is not purely a social one. Years before, Ellen, deaf from a very young age, was a Visible Speech pupil of Bell's, and they became close. Bell wants Ellen to support his claim to be the true patent holder of the telephone. However, Ellen is not quite as friendly to Bell's cause as he assumes. Her time with Bell brings painful memories. This is her chance to tell the story of the deaf pupils whose lives were marked by the ambitions of this man, if only she can make her voice heard... Ostensibly, it is a poignant coming of age story about one woman's stand to 'speak out' for a deaf community affected by the movement to ban the use of sign language in favour of oralisation. However, it is also about so much more! The novel follows two timelines: one is Ellen's story from her childhood, and the other from the time Bell reappears in her life, which blur together. The going is slow when it comes to the twists and turns in the overall plot of Bell's business troubles, especially since the timeline following Ellen's childhood and scholarly days mostly concerns itself with family dramas, the Visual Speech method, and the destructive preoccupation with forcing deaf people to communicate like the hearing. However, everything that happens in the past impacts of the way Ellen behaves in the future, and brings about a very powerful conclusion to the story. There is fascinating detail about the mechanics of speech and vocalisation, and communication techniques. But what makes this striking debut so special is the way Marsh gives you incredible insight into the experience of being deaf in a hearing world, and this provides a great deal of food for thought. This is not an easy read, but it is an emotionally rewarding one, and it makes for an excellent bookclub pick. Full review on blog (link in bio) A February @squadpod2021 #SquadPodFeaturedBook

I am thrilled to be part of the #CoverReveal for the brand new escapist romance from @emmalloydcowell 🤩 #TheIslandLoveSong is coming from @avonbooksuk on 6th June and I cannot wait to read it! 💖 This summer escape to the beautiful island of Hydra... Available to preorder now! 🫒🍋🫒 Escape to the beautiful Greek Island of Hydra with this moving novel, filled with family secrets and romance Emma Cowell, author of THE HOUSE IN THE OLIVE GROVE, returns with her brand new, emotional and romantic novel set on an idyllic Greek Island. Hydra, the picturesque Greek island, is a paradise for most, yet for sisters Ella and Georgia, it is a place where their darkest secrets dwell. And now the time has come for them to confront their past as they return to Greece to scatter their mother’s ashes. Ella is haunted by a love song that was written for her by the man who broke her heart years earlier and she longs to find peace so she can move on with her life. Georgia pretends everything in her life is perfect, but she is plagued with guilt. If what she’s kept hidden for decades was revealed, their family would never be the same again. The island is urging the sisters to confront the truth, but can they build a future on the ruins of their past? 🫒🍋🫒 #june2024 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookannouncement #brownflopsy #emmacowell #avonbooksuk

Book 25: The Light that Bends Round Corners by @alexandracareywrites @troubador_publishing When Laura's husband takes a job in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, she finds herself torn away from her job as a fashion journalist in London, and plunged into the ex-pat life. The change to full time mum to two small children, in a ramshackle house with a jungle garden, has her struggling. Mariel, a Filipina maid, comes to work for the family. She has problems of her own to contend with as a foreign worker, but is determined to provide a better life for herself and family, and to escape her abusive marriage and marry the man she loves. The story begins in 2006 when Laura's family arrive in Kuala Lumpur, and unfurls in a dual narrative that provides a stark contrast between the attitudes and expectations of Laura and Mariel. For Laura, negotiating the ways of a strange country, and her loss of purpose, overwhelm her, and Carey examines relatable themes around marriage, motherhood, and self-worth in her story - but she sometimes comes across as entitled and naive next to Mariel. Mariel's problems carry a lot more weight. The very real issues she must face are very upsetting to read about, and there is so much poignancy in her back story, and her simple dreams. My heart bled for her. Carey weaves between the voices of both women to highlight so much about living in Asia from the povs of the ex-pat, and the domestic workers they employ. Themes of corruption, abuse, prejudice, control, and socio-economic gulfs are examined well, and Carey does a lovely job of bringing Kuala Lumpur alive with descriptions of culture, weather and environment. There are fascinating snippets about what life in Malaysia is really like too. This is a quiet kind of novel, filled with the trials, tribulations, hopes and dreams of real life, but there are also moments of suspense and lots of heartfelt emotion. Carey's writing is engaging, with a gentle rhythm that pulls you right into the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this debut, and guarantee that you will enthralled by the idea of a land filled with light that can 'bend round corners'! Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

I cannot believe a whole week has passed since the brilliant #TeamBATC2024Showcase organised by the fab @bookminxsjv and the #TeamBATC gang at @simonschusteruk - thanks lovelies! 😘 It was a blast being in the company of some wonderful authors of romantic fiction, and fellow bookbloggers who love their work. 💖 This is my haul of goodies from the night - plus my own copies of #JoeNuthinsGuideToLife by @helenfisher_author and #TheHiddenYears by @rachel.hore which I am annoyed with myself for forgetting to take! Thanks to Helen Fisher for signing the one I did remember! 🙏 The other good stuff - #DateWithDestiny by @lucyvineauthor (out 9th May) #UnderYourSpell by @lauracwood (out 20th June) #Token by @beverleykendallauthor (out now) #ThisCouldBeEverything by @real_eva_rice (out now) #MayasLawsOfLove by @thealinakhawaja (out 28th March) #HappilyEverAfter by @patriciascanlan7224 (out now) #ReturnToHalfMoonFarm by @hollyh_author (out now) #ThePhilosophyOfLove by @becsryanauthor (out now) #InBloom by @evakinderwrites (out now) PLUS samplers of three beauties on the horizon... #NewBeginningsAtTheCosyCatCafe by @juliehaworthauthor (out 2nd July) #ProbablyNothing by @laurenbravo (out 4th July) #TheLostOrchard by @sharongoslingauthor (out 12th September) 💖💖💖 Also in attendance: @heidi_swain whose new book #TheHolidayEscape is out 25th April! 💖💖💖 #2024 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookevent #brownflopsy #romance #RespectRomFic #romcombooks #romanticfiction

Book 24: Frank and Red by @manversusbaby @headlinebooks Frank's life has grown small since the death of his wife Marcie nearly two years ago. Having fallen out with his son, he has not gone beyond his own garden gate for months. His only company comes from the occasional visits of life-long friend Fat Ken, and the 'ghost' of Marcie. Frank is wrenched from his curmudgeonly zone when a six-year-old-Red moves in next door. Red is struggling too. He is bewildered by the break-up of his parents' marriage, and is finding it impossible to make friends at school. Against the odds, Frank and Red strike up an unlikely friendship over the (broken) garden fence, that will change both of their lives... This is an unlikely buddy story that hits the 'in-the-feels' spot to perfection. Frank has become comfortable in his sweary, grumpy old sod rut, refusing ghostly Marcie's advice to make his peace with their son, Mikey. Not even cheery Fat Ken can shift him from the place he has gone to. But something magical happens when Red, with no concept of personal space, inserts himself into Frank's life - via bad-tempered games of Guess Who?, companionable DIY, an unfortunate incident with a fish, and Red's misguided 'mission' to help Frank make up things with Mikey. Both Frank and Red spring from these pages as fully-formed, totally convincing characters, and through them Coyne explores a wealth of themes around loss, grief, family, and friendship. Coyne delves into heavy subjects, but he examines them with a sensitivity that is astonishing for a debut novel, alternately lightening the mood with wicked humour and going right for the emotional jugular to bring a lump to your throat. I laughed and cried my way through this heart-warming masterpiece, totally falling in love with the characters and Coyne's writing. This is going to be hard one to beat when it comes to my book of 2024, and I recommend it to you whole-heartedly as a gem that you it would be a crime for you to miss - get the tissues in before you read it, because you are going to need them...  The perfect @squadpod2021 #SquadPodBookClub pick for Feb! Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR @ollie__martin

Book 23: An Expert in Murder (Tey Mystery Bk 1) by @nicolaupson @faberbooks March, 1934. Mystery author, Josephine Tey is heading to London for the final week of her play, Richard of Bordeaux. She is looking forward to spending time with her theatrical pals, and her good friend, DI Archie Penrose. On the train, Josephine meets a young fan of the play, Elspeth Simmons, and they spend the journey chatting. However, their burgeoning friendship is brought to an untimely end when Elspeth is brutally murdered shortly after they arrive at King's Cross. Archie is convinced the murder is connected with Josephine's play, and that she is in danger too. When a second victim turns up, Archie and Josephine must team up to find a killer, before they come for her... This is the first book in the excellent murder mystery series by Upson, with writer Josephine Tey in the role of detective at the side of DI Archie Penrose. This is one of my fav series, evoking everything I love about the Golden Age of crime, and having read (and loved) all eleven books that Upson has written so far, I have decided to read them all again! It was a joy being back at the start of the partnership, with a twisty mystery in London's theatre-land. The plot revolves around the play, throwing up a bevy of likely suspects for the murderer, and keeping you guessing all the way to the end. Upson brings all the glamour of the theatre alive, but also holds nothing back about the seething rivalries, and fragile egos that go with the territory. Sins of the past, old passions, revenge, and the shadow cast by WWI are all motives... themes which carry weight in Josephine's personal life too. There are so many things about this series that I love. Upson does an incredible job bringing time and place alive, and her characters always have relatable traits, even when the acts they perform may be heinous ones. Josephine and Archie's friendship is a mainstay, and there is an intriguing storyline for Marta, a significant character who we get to know intimately later on! I loved it just as much as the first time around... on to book 2, Angel with Two Faces! ❤🔎 Full review on blog (link in bio)

Book 22: The Prisoner of Acre by @murraybaileyauthor (Ash Carter Near East Bk 4) 1949, Israel. Captain Ash Carter of the SIB is hot on the heels of Sergeant Duffy, who has gone AWOL. Duffy has mysteriously handed himself in at Acre prison, but when Carter arrives, he discovers Duffy has escaped in the company of an Arab prisoner who heads up a gang called The Orbit Men. War rages on every side In this troubled region, and somehow Carter must find a Duffy before they both get themselves killed. I'm a big fan of Murray Bailey's books, and this one goes straight for the jugular, as Carter is thrown into a relentless cat and mouse chase to locate his man from the word go. The trail of breadcrumbs begins at Acre prison, and it takes Carter on a twisty route across the region, which gives an insightful view of the strained relationships between the powers fighting over the disputed territories he must travel through - always something Bailey does incredibly well.  Threaded through this authentic historical perspective, Bailey conjures a cracking thriller full of action, adventure, and nerve-jangling tension, which has a very enjoyable James-Bond-by-way-of-Indiana-Jones element that keeps you perched on the edge of your seat. Carter's habit of making friends and enemies along the way is central to this story, even if you are not always sure who is who, and his particular brand of justice embroils him in a situation that leads to an exciting climax among the ancient ruins. It would not be a Bailey book if there were not a few intriguing females, and here we have a femme fatale to stir Carter's passions, and the interesting Lieutenant Eva Weiss who brings about some lovely twists and turns, ups the emotional ante, and touches on the role of women in the military. I raced through this gem, completely caught up in the well constructed plot and the clever mix of characters from all sides. This one seems particularly timely too, given recent events. It can be read as a stand-alone if you are new to Captain Ash Carter's adventures, but is so much better if you are familiar with the other books - they are all cracking reads too! Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

Book 20: Death Flight by @sarahsultoon @orendabooks Buenos Aires, 1998. Cub reporter Jonny Murphy is in Argentina covering the financial crisis that threatens to derail the country. He and photographer Paloma Glenn receive a tip off about human remains that have washed up on a beach - remains that uncomfortably evoke the stories of the Disappeared from the years of the Dirty War. They are shocked that this could mean that the infamous Death Flights are underway once again. Caught between families who need closure; those who want to confess their part in terrible deeds; and the ones who want to keep their secrets, they are in danger, but the way this investigation calls to Jonny's past means he cannot rest until the truth is exposed.  Set two years after the explosive events in Israel that set Jonny's life reeling in the first book, Dirt, the action begins with the financial crisis that plunged Argentina into depression in 1998. In scene after gritty scene, Jonny and Paloma try to grab headlines amongst a perfect storm of political and monetary disasters. Sultoon then weaves in a dark plotline that brings back all the horror of the military junta years, taking them off in a tangent that explodes with full-on political thriller/espionage vibes. If you are of an age to remember the sickening reports of what went on in Argentina during that time, as I am, then this element of the novel will grab you by the scruff of the neck and take you down a truly chilling road. As shocking as the threads are that Sultoon uses to heighten the thrills, spills, twists, and deeply emotional turns in this side of the story, I do not think there is anything here that is beyond the realms of possibility, and that makes it all the more powerful. I really enjoyed how Sultoon connects this second outing for Jonny with the groundwork she laid in Dirt, and although you do not need to have read the first book, this certainly adds layers that make the reading experience all the more worthwhile. This is an absolutely cracking thriller that will pull you in and have you turning the pages from cover to cover in a single breathless read! Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

Book 19: Poirot Investigates by @officialagathachristie @harperfiction Poirot Investigates, published in 1924, was Agatha Christie's third outing for the little Belgian detective Hercule Poirot and his faithful sidekick Captain Arthur Hastings - and her first short story collection. It builds very much on the relationship established between the sleuthing pair in their previous two full novels, and has all the hallmarks of the Holmes and Watson style rapport that inspired their partnership - but there are enjoyable traces here of Poirot's little grey cell modus operandi that becomes all his own over the years as well. The collection comprises eleven knotty cases that are solved in good order by Poirot, while Hastings frequently gets hold of the wrong end of the stick, and they are a great showcase for the finer qualities of both of them. The subject matter holds a veritable feast of themes that echo through Christie's work: theft, marital strife, deception, and good old fashioned greed are central motives, and there is an entertaining sprinkling of politics, espionage, and the kind of shady underworld antics that appear in her more adventurous stories. The final parting shot, The Case of the Missing Will, is the most curious of the bunch, as it is more of a quirky treasure hunt, with some interesting reflections on the education of women. My favourite one though is The Adventure of the Western Star, which is a twisty tale of passion, avarice and betrayal around the theft of a whopping diamond (or is it two...) - it comes with a slice of Hollywood glamour, and has Hasting's totally stumped, which ups the humorous content delightfully. This collection is a very accessible way into the Poirot stories, if you prefer shorter tales that wind up quickly. I polished them off in double quick time, and listened to the audio book narrated by Poirot himself, David Suchet, too, for the ultimate comfort-read experience. This is my February choice for #ReadChristie2024, as one of her books written in the 1920s, and it was really interesting to reread them and view them through the lens of when Christie wrote them, which is not something I would normally do. ❤🔎

Book 18: The London Bookshop Affair by @louisefeinauthor @williammorrowbooks London, 1962. Nineteen-year-old Celia Duchesne longs to be an independent woman. Despite momentous events on the world stage, she sees little chance of excitement in her own life. Then, the bookshop where she works gets a new owner. Vivacious Mrs Denton attracts a whole different crowd of visitors, like handsome American, Septimus Nelson. But when she discovers a shocking family secret, she is torn between romance and the need to find answers to the mystery of the death of young SOE agent Anya Moreau in 1942. Celia uncovers a trail of deceit that leads to shady goings on here and now... and she unexpectedly has a role to play in the dangerous game of espionage. Fein uses the inspiration of real people and events to spin an engrossing tale of spies and betrayal. The story unfurls in a dual timeline through the voices of Celia and Septimus in 1962, and Anya in 1942, gradually revealing the family secrets that connect both female characters, as a tentative romance plays out between Celia and Septimus. The name of the game is espionage, and Fein does a stellar job of making this a spy thriller that builds in pace, tension, and cracking twists. Her cleverly interconnected plotlines evoke the perfect feelings of time and place - whether it be wartime Europe, or the fate of a Britain caught between the Cold War moves and counter moves of Kennedy and Khrushchev. And I love how she plays with the notion of deep cover agents hiding in plain sight in both timelines. I am always delighted by how Fein brings history alive, especially when it comes to the relatable personal stories of her characters. This is very much about the unsung voices of brave, intelligent women making sacrifices, and this gives it serious emotional heft. Fein does an incredible job echoing similar themes through Celia and Anya's stories, and she captures the atmosphere of the hopes and dreams of lives lived in the shadow of cataclysmic world events beautifully. Perfect for lovers of well written, and researched, historical fiction, with just the right amount of emotional content! Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

I saw an intriguing post on @officialagathachristie that piqued my interest a few days ago about getting to know Christie fans through her books. So when the lovely @a_dreamofbooks tagged me in her post following the theme, I thought I would have a go too! 💖 YOUR FAVOURITE CHRISTIE? This is a bit like picking a favourite child... impossible! However, I have chosen #TheMurderOnTheLinks for this, because it is my fav Poirot story for dear old Captain Hastings. Ahh, Arthur, the things you do for love! 💗 😮A STORY THAT SURPRISED YOU? It has to be #EndlessNight for that WTF moment - if you know, you know! 🎨 YOUR FAVOURITE BOOK COVER? They are all beautifully designed in my experience, but get an eyeful of this recent special edition of #DeadMansFolly which is a beauty! Lovely end papers too, for fans of such delights! 😍 📖 THE FIRST CHRISTIE YOU READ? That was quite a while ago, but I think I started at the beginning with #TheMysteriousAffairAtStyles which is, of course, Christie's first book too. 🤝 THE BOOK YOU ALWAYS RECOMMEND? I would normally suggest starting at the beginning with a Poirot, a Marple, or a standalone but they are all great, so I'm throwing in a curveball with #ACaribbeanMystery because I just love the way Miss Marple hides her sharp old bird ways under a deceptive pink fulffy exterior in this one... perfect for showing her modus operandi. 📚 THE CHRISTIE YOU'RE CURRENTLY READING OR PICKING UP NEXT? My next Christie will be #TheBigFour as my March pick for #ReadChristie2024 as one of her books written in the 1920s. I've not actually read this one before, and am really looking forward to it! 🔎🔎🔎 This was hard, but fun! I've tagged a couple of my fellow Christie lovers in this, but feel free to consider yourself tagged if you fancy having a go as well! 😁 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookchallenge #brownflopsy #agathachristiebooks #agathachristie #classiccrime #HerculePoirot #MissMarple #favouritefemaleauthor #favouriteauthor

Book 17: The Descent by @paulhardisty @orendabooks Kweku broadcasts his step-father Teach's stories of The Forcing by shortwave radio to other survivors on this devastated planet. Unexpectedly, he receives a response from a woman calling herself Sparkplug with her own shocking revelations about the planet's descent into chaos. As Kweku begins to understand more about how ruthless corporations and corrupt politicians turned their back on the truth to line their pockets, he realises that there are gaps in Teach's stories. But before he can discover why, tragedy comes to his family's haven in the Southern Ocean. It is time for Kweku and family to go on a dangerous quest for the truth about the past, and the world they are living in. Following Hardisty's incredible climate emergency thriller, The Forcing, The Descent revisits the same timely themes in a way which is brilliantly both prequel and sequel to the first book. You do have to have read The Forcing first. The story unfurls in two cracking storylines - one following Kweku and his family's fight to survive, and the other Sparkplug's revelations. Kweku's part builds beautifully on Hardisty's earlier book for a wider view of a world that has changed for ever, in a series of edge-of-your seat scenarios. But the magic comes from the way Sparkplug's narration tells how The Forcing was managed, and how its instigators planned to ride out the storm. Both threads of are full of unsettling acts and intent. Kweku's carries with it the biggest emotional punch, but it is Sparkplug's that is the most chilling, and the one which carries with the most significance in guiding us through the difficult times ahead. While this has a difference in tone to the first book, with two threads that are equally pacy, it is every bit as terrifying and awareness-raising. There are lessons to be learned here about tackling the climate emergency: ways to act that still offer us hope - if we will listen. Another prescient, must-read from Hardisty! Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

Book 16: The Trials of Lila Dalton by @ljshepherdauthor @pushkin_press Lila Dalton finds herself standing in a courtroom. The judge, jury, and prosecuting counsel stand ready. The accused man stares out blankly from the dock. The courtroom waits for the first words of the defending counsel... the problem is that Lila is the barrister appointed to defend a mass murderer, and she has no memory of who she is, or how she got here. In flashes, Lila's legal knowledge returns, but this case seems impossible to win. Bizarre happenings, mysterious threats, and disorienting memories throw her off her game, and matters get worse when she discovers she is on a remote island in the Atlantic, from which there seems to be no escape. What is really happening here, and who can she trust? This is not your normal legal thriller. Instead, debut author, barrister L.J. Shepherd, creates a mind-bending novel that thrums with unsettling vibes in a Black Mirror vein. The story unfurls through Lila's eyes, viewing the small cast of characters through her perceptions of them, which shift over the course of the story. Shepherd cleverly subverts what you think will be a tense court-room drama into something very different, with threads of manipulation, conspiracy, and extremist ideologies, set in a surreal location peopled with characters with shady agendas. You do have to concentrate to keep track of the shifting memories; time jumps, jarring visions that keep Lila in an endless cycle of deja-vu, and the sheer scope of lies-within-lies that flood the story, but I could not look away until all the twists & turns worked themselves out in the provocative conclusion. Shepherd does an incredible job of taking you through the experience of a barrister in a way that I have rarely seen done so well. But more than that she explores timely questions around justice; truth; and terrorism (especially domestic terrorism); and uses the story to cast a penetrating eye on the future of the worryingly dystopian political policies we see coming into being in the present. Lots to ponder... This one took me down a bevy of speculative rabbit holes, and I loved it! Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

Book 15: The Dancer's Promise by @ohorrox @emblabooks London, 1936. Since their father's death, sisters Grace and Clementine have been struggling to keep their family together, while their mother confines herself to her bedroom. Clementine dreams of becoming a ballet star. Grace hopes for marriage and motherhood, with the man she has given her heart to. When a wealthy American becomes their neighbour, he brings turmoil to their lives. Their mother is determined Grace will become his wife. Clementine finds herself caught between her hopes and her heart too, forced to make difficult choices she was not expecting. This is a slow-burn, coming of age story of love, loss, family, and dreams, told from the pov of younger sister Clementine, who feels the greater burden of her mother's wrath, for reasons which become clear as the story unfurls. Horrox immerses you in the world of the ballet dancer through Clementine's ambitions, and there is a lot of detail from behind the scenes of dance, and about performances on stage, which will please ballet fans - especially when it comes to the fierce rivalries and the sacrifices which must be made to be a prima ballerina. In contrast, Grace's story happens mostly off stage. Much of what happens to Grace feeds into Clementine's tale, and yet we never see into her heart and mind, which I thought was a shame. There were some really interesting social history elements of Grace's storyline that Horrox could have explored to broaden the appeal of the novel for readers less engaged with ballet too. My favourite parts delve into the bond between the sisters; and into the historical setting which Horrox writes with evocative style. I enjoyed how she touches on shifting attitudes through her female characters too, although this is essentially a historical romance rather than a feminist story. The feel of this book reminds me of a grown-up version of Noel Streatfeild's ballet stories, which I found quite nostalgic - definitely worth your time if you grew up reading that series, and enjoy a well- woven, gentle historical romance. Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

#January2024ReadingRoundUp Well, 2024 has kicked off in spectacular bookish style! Pictured: 🩰 #TheDancer by @oskargudmunds trns @graskeggur @corylusbooks 😇 #OneOfTheGoodGuys by @aramintahall @panmacmillan 💗 #TheLibraryOfHeartbeats by @lauraimaimessina @manilla_press 🏠 #TheGuests by @agnesravatn trns @rosie_hedger @orendabooks 🚔 #DeadlyDeceit by @mariwriterinsta @panmacmillan 📿 #MonumentToMurder by @mariwriterinsta @panmacmillan 🔮 #TheKnowing by @elphreads @bedfordsq.publishers ☕ #TheMysteriousAffairAtStyles by @officialagathachristie @harperfiction ⏰ #HalfwayHouse by @helenfitzgerald304 @orendabooks ❄ #MoscowX by @mccloskeybooks @_swiftpress 💖 #LoveLettersOnHazelLane by @jenniferpagewrites @headofzeus 👄 #FirstLieWins by @ashleyelston @headlinebooks 👜 #TheHappiestEverAfter by @themillyjohnson @simonschusteruk 👁 #InTheBlinkOfAnEye by @jocallaghankat @simonschusteruk You can find my IG reviews for these beauts in my grid, with full reviews on my blog (link in bio). #read #read2024 #booksofinstagram #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #bookstagrammers #bookblogger #bookbloggers #bookreview #brownflopsy #january2024 #readingwrapup

Book 14: In the Blink of an Eye by @jocallaghankat @simonschusteruk DCS Kat Frank knew it would be hard to return to work after the death of her husband, but she was not expecting to head up a pilot programme intended to put her out of a job. Partnered up with AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity) Lock, a state-of-the-art virtual detective, Frank is convinced that Lock's logic can never replace the instincts she has developed over twenty-five years in the police force. Frank's team begin reviewing the cases of two missing young men, and uncover new information that brings these cases back to life. Frank and Lock find themselves unexpectedly on the same side - and Lock is the only person Frank can rely on when the danger becomes personal. What an astonishingly accomplished debut novel, in a near future setting that is so real you can almost taste it! The story unfurls through two separate cases that that highlight a whole parcel of preconceptions on the part of the team - including Lock. The plot hinges on moments that contrast and compare Frank and Lock's beliefs in instinct and logic. Frank's crippling grief and her worries for her son are palpable things, central to the relationship that develops between her and Lock, but Callaghan also takes great care to fill out all her human characters to powerful effect when the threads collide in spectacular style. This cracking crime novel thrums with emotion, especially when it comes to loss. There are lots of relatable moments, and lovely flashes of humour. It touches on so many issues around modern policing; the pitfalls and benefits of AI technology; statistics; unconscious bias; and rooting out prejudice - as well as offering a really thought provoking look at cutting edge experiments in more than one sphere. But more than anything, it is a superb exploration of what it means to be human. My heart was in my mouth throughout this slick, original police procedural, and I had a little cry at the surprisingly touching ending. It has real legs to run and run as a series, and I cannot wait for book 2 in March! Another fab @squadpod2021 featured book for Jan! Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR

Book 13: The Happiest Ever After by @themillyjohnson @simonschusteruk Somewhere along the line, Polly Potter's life has taken a wrong turn. Unhappy in her job, and in her relationship, Polly's respite comes from the stories she writes about fictional Sabrina, a bolder, braver version of herself. Polly needs a new start, but when her exit plan goes awry and she meets with an accident, her confused state makes her believe that she really is the feisty Sabrina. Taken in by the warm hearted Marielle Bonelli, Sabrina finds herself working at the restaurant owned by Marielle's son, Teddy - a family business under threat. Sabrina may not remember who she really is, but she does know about saving a business from her life as Polly. This could be the perfect way to pay back the people who have shown her kindness, and deal with her own issues too. The story begins with tense scenes which give you a maddening eyeful of Polly's personal and professional lives. It then unfurls through the very best kind of 'memory loss' caper from 'Sabrina's' arrival among the Bonetti family, where she proves to be the catalyst to the resolution of family dramas, and the fight to save the restaurant - after the required bumps in the road to the 'happiest ever after', of course. Johnson's female characters steal the show, beginning with Polly's journey to be her best self as Sabrina, and taking in a cast of women of all ages, including Marielle's delightful friends, the Mad Cows. Through them, Johnson explores a wealth of themes around marriage, motherhood, expectation, and the joys and heartache of family - before building up to an ending that makes your eyes brim over with happy tears. Johnson's sparkling wit is threaded throughout too. I adored this novel. Milly Johnson's stories are always full of great characters to love and loathe; the warmth of true friendship; gentle romances to swell your heart; and a delicious sense of community; while also exploring knotty issues around love, loss, and difficult relationships - and The Happiest Ever After, does all of this to perfection. It is the ideal, escapist antidote to a grey Winter's day.  Full review on blog (link in bio) AD-PR