Countdown to 2024 Day 5: Chocolates – a book that was simply delicious
5 December 2023
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Chocolates, Claws and Contrivances, Countdown to 2024, Day 5, Regency Dragons #2, Stephanie Burgis

Today is day 5 of my countdown to 2024. Using a series of prompts each day I will post a book title that I believe fits the prompt. The aim is to highlight as many books as possible that I read from 2023 and shine the spotlight on them once again (although for some prompts I will be looking at future reads). A list of prompts can be found here if you wish to join me in counting down to 2024.
Today’s prompt: Chocolates – a book that was simply delicious

Claws and Contrivances by Stephanie Burgis. I love this author and these regency fantasy stories are fantastic. Claws and Contrivances is my favourite book so far – it absolutely bowled me over and if you love Regency Romantasy, with dragons, then do yourself a favour and tuck into this series (Regency Dragons), you won’t regret it.
26 Days Remaining
Monthly Wrap Up/What’s on my Plate: December
4 December 2023
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books Bones and Buffy, December line up, Monthly Wrap Up, What's on my Plate
I’m going to post a wrap up for the end of each month, mainly to help me to keep track of my reading and at the same time look at what I’m intending to read during the month ahead (inspired by Books Bones and Buffy’s What’s on My Plate.
I managed to complete eight books during October. I also started Empire of the Vampire and I’m making good progress with that, I picked up Crucible of Chaos and read about 30% but have set that to one side for now as I wasn’t in the right frame of mind. I also picked up The Hacienda and finished it last night as I expected.
So, from my line up for November this is how I’ve got on:
I had four books carried over from October:
Starling House by Alix E Harrow. I’ve read and reviewed this

A Haunting in the Arctic by CJ Cooke – I didn’t manage to squeeze this one in yet so I’m rolling it forward to December.

The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas. I finished reading this yesterday evening and will be reviewing soon.

The Reformatory by Tananarive Due. Read and reviewed.

From My November line up:
The Temple of Fortuna by Elodie Harper – read and reviewed

What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez – read and to be reviewed shortly.

Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry – read and reviewed.

The Ghosts of Beatrice Bird by Louisa Morgan – read and reviewed

The Witchwood Knot by Olivia Atwater – read and to be reviewed soon.

Here’s my month in covers:
During December I’ll be picking up A Haunting in the Arctic by CJ Cooke. I need to complete Empire of the Vampire and then I’ll be hopefully picking up a couple of SPFBO finalists together maybe with a couple of review books from January to try and get a head start.
Countdown to 2024 Day 4: Gifts – a book you enjoyed more than you expected to
4 December 2023
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Countdown to 2024, Day 4, Gifts, Riley Sager, The Only One Left

Today is day 4 of my countdown to 2024. Using a series of prompts each day I will post a book title that I believe fits the prompt. The aim is to highlight as many books as possible that I read from 2023 and shine the spotlight on them once again (although for some prompts I will be looking at future reads). A list of prompts can be found here if you wish to join me in counting down to 2024.
Today’s prompt: Gifts – a book you enjoyed more than you expected to

The Only One Left by Riley Sager. I have read only two books by this author and while the first one didn’t quite wow me – this one certainly did. I loved it and couldn’t read the pages fast enough. Highly entertaining and so much gothic. No hesitation in recommending.
27 Days Remaining
Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up
3 December 2023
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Booking Ahead, Caffeinated Reviewer, Weekly wrap up

I’m trying to get back into the habit of doing a round-up of the week just completed and also take a look at my plans for the forthcoming week. I rather got out of the habit of doing so but I would like to reinstate this type of post as I feel it keeps me on track. So, I’m linking up to The Sunday Post over at Kimberly’s Caffeinated Reviewer. Without further ado:
Books read this week:
I’ve managed to complete all my November reads and catch up with some October carryovers. This week I completed What the River Knows by Isabel Ibañez. I made progress with Empire Vampire and I’ve almost finished The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas.

Complete Empire Vampire by Jay Kristoff and The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas.
Reviews Posted:
Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry

Countdown to 2024 Day 3: Wrapping paper – a lovely cover
3 December 2023
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Lovely Cover, Alix E Harrow, Countdown to 2024, Starling House, Wrapping Paper

Today is day 3 of my countdown to 2024. Using a series of prompts each day I will post a book title that I believe fits the prompt. The aim is to highlight as many books as possible that I read from 2023 and shine the spotlight on them once again (although for some prompts I will be looking at future reads). A list of prompts can be found here if you wish to join me in counting down to 2024.
Today’s prompt: Wrapping paper – a lovely cover

Starling House by Alix E Harrow – a beautiful written gothic fantasy story with a fairytale feel and a house that actually steals the show.



