Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up
9 January 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Booking Ahead, Caffeinated Reviewer, Sunday Post, 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 this 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:
This week I’ve been trying to catch up with my blogging. December was a bit crazy, Christmas was chaotic and frankly I’m glad to have started a new year. My reading and blogging has been quite slow for the past few weeks as a result of everything going on. So, this last week I read The Maid by Nita Prose which was really good and I started Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins. I will be starting a new SPFBO book very soon and also hoping to make some headway on my February review books.
Books read this week:
Next Week’s Reads:
Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins, possibly A River Enchanted by Rachel Ross and Echo by Thomas Olde Heuvelt.
Outstanding reviews:
The Maid by Nita Prose
Friday Face Off : Simply the Best – A top 10 read of 2021
7 January 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Books by Proxy, Constance Sayers, Friday Face off, Simply the Best, The Ladies of the Secret Circus
Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme created by Books by Proxy . This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers. The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book (this doesn’t have to be a book that you’ve read), compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite. Future’s themes are listed below – if you have a cover in mind that you’re really wanting to share then feel free to leave a comment about a future suggested theme. I’ve also listed events that take place during the year, that I’m aware of, so you can link up your covers – if you’re aware of any events that you think I should include then give me a shout.
I’ve added themes in below. For information, I’m trying out some new ideas so along with coming up with particular items for book covers I thought we could also look for certain elements contained within the book or that play a large part in the story – this really broadens things out because I have plenty of more ideas with this – I’ve gone for a few of the Tough Travel Themes (so a book with that theme – just choose any book – the theme isn’t necessarily on the cover, then compare covers), also, I’ve thrown in some genres and some colours. Hopefully this will open things out a little and give us some more freedom to come up with new books.
This week’s theme:
Simply the Best – A top 10 read of 2021
Well, I’ve already highlighted a couple of lists with my favourite reads of 2021 with my ‘best of the best‘ list and ‘Some More Goodies‘. Now all that remains is to choose a book cover to highlight today:
Today’s choice is The Ladies of the Secret Circus by Constance Sayers – I loved this book so much. Not a lot of covers to choose from (in fact only two) but both so dramatically different. Here they are:
Difficult choice this week because I like both covers, in fact as a rule I would normally be drawn to the red cover with all the little details – the colour is lovely and vibrant and I like the overall effect. But, and maybe it’s due to familiarity, I find myself more drawn to the blue cover, it feels slightly ominous which is quite fitting for this story:
Do you have a favourite?
If you know of an event that’s coming up let me know and I’ll try and include covers that work for the event itself so that you can link up to the Friday Face Off and, as always, if you wish to submit an idea then leave me a comment – or if you’d like to host a week then simply let me know. Also, I would just mention that it’s very possible that some of these might be repeats from previous FFOs although I have tried to invent more ‘open ended’ prompt that can be interpreted differently and also prompts that relate to emotions. Finally, don’t struggle with any of these, this is meant to be a fun way of highlighting books. If you can’t come up with a book you think fits for a particular week use a freebie – perhaps a recent read for example:
Next Week – As pure as the driven snow – a cover that is white
2022
Can’t Wait Wednesday : The Bay by Allie Reynolds
5 January 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Allie Reynolds, Can't wait Wednesday, The Bay, Wishful Endings
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that was originally created by Breaking the Spine. Unfortunately Breaking the Spine are no longer hosting so I’m now linking my posts up to Wishful Endings Can’t Wait Wednesday. Don’t forget to stop over, link up and check out what books everyone else is waiting for. If you want to take part, basically, every Wednesday, we highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. This week my book is: The Bay by Allie Reynolds (because I loved Shiver). Here’s the description:
There’s a darkness inside all of us and The Bay has a way of bringing it out. Everyone here has their secrets but we don’t go looking for them. Because sometimes it’s better not to know.
The waves are to die for at The Bay. It’s a paradise they would kill to keep. The Beach meets Point Break in the thriller of the summer by Allie Reynolds.
Kenna arrives in Sydney to surprise her best friend, shocked to hear she’s going to marry a guy she’s only just met. But Mikki and her fiancé Jack are about to head away on a trip, so Kenna finds herself tagging along for the ride.
Sorrow Bay is beautiful, wild and dangerous. A remote surfing spot with waves to die for, cut off from the rest of the world. Here Kenna meets the mysterious group of people who will do anything to keep their paradise a secret. Sky, Ryan, Clemente and Victor have come to ride the waves and disappear from life. How will they feel about Kenna turning up unannounced?
As Kenna gets drawn into their world, she sees the extremes they are prepared to go to for the next thrill. And everyone seems to be hiding something. What has her best friend got involved in and how can she get her away? But one thing is rapidly becoming clear about The Bay: nobody ever leaves.
Expected publication: June 2022
Highly Anticipated Book Releases 2022/Top Ten Tuesday
4 January 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Highly Anticipated Book Releases, That Artsy Reader Girl, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme where every Tuesday we look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) bookish examples to demonstrate that particular topic. Top Ten Tuesday (created and hosted by The Broke and Bookish) is now being hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl and future week’s topics can be found here. This week’s topic is:
Most Anticipated Books Releasing In the First Half of 2022
I’m excited about a lot of books that are releasing during the first half of this year, far more than 10 to be honest and I was going to post a separate post including all my highly anticipated forthcoming reads. But, as today’s TTT is the same topic I’m going to combine the two ideas. Which in effect means I’m posting more than ten books (for which apologies but I figure one post combined is the way to go with this) – and it’s all bookish loveliness after all. This list is the next six month’s worth of books that my little grabby hands are twitching to get hold of – this is not a definitive list of all the books due for release during the first half of this year, nor do I have copies of all these books at the moment (although I remain, as ever, optimistic). So, hold onto your hats?
JANUARY
- The Maid by Nita Prose
- Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins
FEBRUARY
- This Charming Man by CK McDonnell
- The Great Witch of Brittany by Louisa Morgan
- Last Exit by Max Gladstone
- Age of Ash by Daniel Abraham
- Good Neighbors by Stephanie Burgis
MARCH
- Seven Deaths of an Empire by GR Matthews
- Insomnia by Sarah Pinborough
- Sundial by Catriona Ward
- Gallant by VE Schwab
- The Bone Orchard by Sara A Mueller
- The City of Dusk by Tara Sim
- Traitor in the Ice by KJ Maitland
- The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
APRIL
- Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel
- The Hunger of the Gods by John Gwynne
- The Girl and the Moon by Mark Lawrence
- The Fervor by Alma Katsu
- The Priest of Crowns by Peter McLean
- Stringers by Chris Panatier
- Fevered Star by Rebecca Roanhorse
- Elektra by Jennifer Saint
MAY
- Book of Night by Holly Black
- The Night They Vanished by Vanessa Savage
- The Origin of Storms Elizabeth Bear
- The Pharmacist by Rachelle Atalla
- The Hourglass Throne by KD Edwards (cover not available)
JUNE
- In the Shadow of Lightning by Brian McClellan
- The Seawomen by Chloe Timms
- Daughter of Redwinter by Ed McDonald
- Our Crooked Hearts by Melissa Albert
- Soul Taken by Patricia Briggs
- The Grief of Stones by Katherine Addison
- Games for Dead Girls by Jen Williams
- The Swell by Allie Reynolds
The ‘Good Intentions’ Book Tag
3 January 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Book Tags, Good Intentions Book Tag, Resolutions
Today I thought that instead of making a lot of resolutions that I have no intention of keeping (I just know I won’t so there’s no point in denial) I’d make a book tag based on some of the most popular best intentions. I googled the top ten resolutions and the following tag is based upon those. This is my Good Intentions Book Tag – after all you can have good intentions at any point in the year:
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Exercise more : This is a book that is a real chunkster, in fact you will need help to even pick this book up:
For my first good intention I’ve chosen a book that I haven’t read yet but would love to pick up soon because it’s all about vampires and I feel hungry for a book with fangs. Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff – I’m looking at you. This book (the hardcover at least), weighs in at a lovely 752 pages – the gauntlet is down. I must read this book. For this particular choice there are two covers – do you have a favourite. I’m partial to the first in this case although what’s not to love about a dishy hunk with his shirt off?:
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Lose weight : A book that is not a chunkster; a short story or novella. A book you could probably read in one sitting:
In this instance I’ve gone for a book that I just managed to squeeze in towards the end of 2021. Comfort Me With Apples by Catherynne M Valente. This is such an unusual book. I struggled at first to write a review because I didn’t want to give away spoilers – here is a snippet of my tangled thoughts ‘This is a strange tale that is strangely compelling. I had no idea what to expect and yet it managed to defy any expectations that my subconscious had secretly formed and it’s the sort of book that makes you want to read it again, and probably again after that, I mean a fourth read would probably help to pick up those few pesky clues you missed in your haste to reach the end.’ This is an author who manages to charm and delight with her evocative and fairytale-style writing and at just over 100 pages this definitely fits the brief for this particular ‘good intention’.
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Eat healthy : A book that is good for you. This is a book that made you feel so happy that you wanted to give it a big hug:
Now this was a struggle because I could have gone for a number of books for this particular intention. There are a lot of books over the years that I may have waxed lyrical about (*ahem, Lord of the Rings*) so I thought I’d choose something unexpected. Unexpected because although I loved this book I don’t think I’ve banged on about it anywhere near enough. The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E Harrow is a beautiful book. It’s a book that overwhelmed me with feelings. The writing is lush – I kid you not – and it gave me that feeling, I’m sure you all know what I mean, where it felt like the author had written this especially for little old moi! (Also, talking recently of ‘cover catnip’ – will you just take a look at this gorgeous cover:
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Fulfill your ambitions : A book that has a lot going on. Plenty of different threads, points of views and action but everything eventually comes together in a very satisfactory fashion:
Again, I had a few books that I could have used for this one. Books that feel so busy that at first they feel like they’re going to overwhelm you with their ‘busyness’. The book I’ve eventually chosen is a book I loved. There is plenty going on here but it’s all so good and the imagination on display is absolutely outstanding. The Empire’s Ruin by Brian Staveley (#1 Ashes of the Unhewn Thrown). This was already on my ‘best of‘ list but I couldn’t help using it for this particular prompt because it has a slew of wonderful characters, a fantastic plot and it really does take the reader on a voyage of discovery.
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Spend more time with the family : A series of books that you love and that has developed more than you ever anticipated:
I had a few series of books that I could have used for this. Series where you come to love the characters over the course of time. Good examples are the Harry Potter series of books where the characters literally went through school as the series progressed, The Toby Daye books are another fine example as are the Sookie Stackhouse books but eventually, I couldn’t help myself. I had to go for the Mercy Thompson books by Patricia Briggs which I’m now waiting for the next release (#13)(I’ve not listed all the covers for this one but below are a small selection:
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Tick off an item from your bucket list : Reduce the tbr. Choose a book from Mount TBR that you would like to read this year:
This is an easy one – well, I say that but I’m actually going to include two books here that I’m really keen to read –
These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant. I’ve seen some excellent reviews for this one and I’m excited to read it.
And, December Park by Ronald Malfi because I read and loved his latest book Come With Me (in fact it’s on my ‘Best of’ list this year and so I wanted to check out some of his earlier books.
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Save money : A book that was an absolute bargain – you would have to be crazy in fact not to have bought this book:
The Hollow Places by T Kingfisher is the last bargain I bought for Kindle at only £1.99. It sounds amazing and I can’t wait to pick it up. Here’s the blurb:
A young woman discovers a strange portal in her uncle’s house, leading to madness and terror in this gripping new novel.
Pray they are hungry.
Kara finds these words in the mysterious bunker that she’s discovered behind a hole in the wall of her uncle’s house. Freshly divorced and living back at home, Kara now becomes obsessed with these cryptic words and starts exploring the peculiar bunker—only to discover that it holds portals to countless alternate realities. But these places are haunted by creatures that seem to hear thoughts…and the more you fear them, the stronger they become.
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Get Organised : A book with a glossary, maps, useful words, lists of people – this book is one helpful book, it wants you to know ALL the things and it’s not afraid to use footnotes and other devices to help you do so:
Again, I could easily have used Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings here because he certainly provides a lot of additional information. However, I’ve used another book that I read a few years ago and that really stood out to me because of its use of footnotes. I confess that this method of writing doesn’t always work for me but on this occasion I just went with it and the additional information added a perfect extra level of detail to the story – although I confess I didn’t read all the footnotes *hangs head with abject shame*. My book is Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke.
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Start a new hobby : A book that is outside your comfort zone. Perhaps everyone was raving about this book, maybe it was over-hyped, you hesitated to pick it up in fact, but when you did – you loved it:
Finally, a book that is outside of my comfort zone. To clarify, for the most part I read SFF, I also like to read a little crime/thriller/horror and also some history. So, I’m not really going to include those in books that fall outside my usual reading zone. I’ve gone for romance. I could have actually kept this within the fantasy genre and opted for the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon but I’ve decided to go for something different. The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. I loved this book when I read it and still have lovely memories of it – it would be interesting to reread it actually to see if I still feel the same way.
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That’s my top ten Good Intentions Book Tag.
I’m going to tag a few bloggers but, obviously, no pressure at all to take part. Also, if you’re not tagged but would like to take part please feel free to join in and drop me a link so I can check out your answers. Here’s to good intentions for 2022.
