Countdown to 2026: Day 11 – Mistletoe – a little bit of romance
11 December 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Little Bit of Romance, Countdown to 2026, Day 11, Mistletoe, Stephanie Burgis, Wooing the Witch Queen
Once again I am counting down to the New Year, as with the previous years I shall be highlighting at least one book per day to fit the prompt on that given day. The main aim for this countdown is to highlight some of my reads during the past year and to shine the spotlight on them once again (although some of the prompts relate to forthcoming reads).
Today is Day 11 of the countdown to 2026 and a list of prompts can be found here if you wish to join me in counting down to 2026 and casting a spotlight on some of your favourite books.
Today’s Prompt : Mistletoe – a little bit of romance:
Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis:
Romantasy is definitely having it’s moment in the spotlight and, indeed, I’m loving it too – which is quite unusual for me – but, tastes change, what can I say? Burgis is fantastic at bringing fantasy settings together with cosy romance – she excels at it, I can’t say enough good things. And her books really fit the prompt of ‘a little bit of romance’ – because her world building, characters and story don’t play second fiddle to the romance. If you’ve not read her books yet I highly recommend them and you have so much good reading to look forward to.
20 Days Remaining
Tomorrow’s prompt: Holly and Ivy – a book with great world building
Can’t Wait Wednesday: The Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer
10 December 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Can't wait Wednesday, Marcus Kliewer, The Caretaker, We Used to Live Here, 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 Caretaker by Marcus Kliewer. I absolutely loved We Used to Live Here and so can’t wait for this. I have a serious case of ‘grabby hands’. Here’s the cover and description:
Follow the Rites…
Nothing less than the survival of humanity is at stake.
From Marcus Kliewer, a new “titan of the macabre and unsettling” (Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author), comes a supernatural horror about a young woman who accepts a caretaking job from Craigslist, only to discover the position has consequences far greater—and more dangerous—than she ever could have imagined.
EXCITING OPPORTUNITY:
Caretaker urgently needed. Three days of work. Competitive pay. Serious applicants ONLY.
Macy Mullins can’t say why the job posting grabbed her attention—it had the pull of a fisherman’s lure, barbed hook and all—vaguely ominous. But after an endless string of failed job interviews, she’s not exactly in the position to be picky. She has rent to pay, groceries to buy, and a younger sister to provide for.
Besides, it’s only three days’ work…
Three days, cooped up in a stranger’s house, surrounded by Oregon Coast wilderness.
What starts as a peculiar side gig soon becomes a waking nightmare. An incomprehensible evil may dwell on this property—and Macy Mullins might just be the only thing standing between it, and the rest of humanity.
Follow the Rites…
Follow the Rites…
Follow the Rites…
..— / ….. / —..
Expected publication: April 2026
Countdown to 2026: Day 10 – Under the Tree – a book you forgot you owned
10 December 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Book you Forgot you owned, American Rapture, CJ Leede, Countdown to 2026, Day 10, Under the Tree
Once again I am counting down to the New Year, as with the previous years I shall be highlighting at least one book per day to fit the prompt on that given day. The main aim for this countdown is to highlight some of my reads during the past year and to shine the spotlight on them once again (although some of the prompts relate to forthcoming reads).
Today is Day 10 of the countdown to 2026 and a list of prompts can be found here if you wish to join me in counting down to 2026 and casting a spotlight on some of your favourite books.
Today’s Prompt : Under the Tree – a book you forgot you owned:
American Rapture by CJ Leede (linked to Goodreads)
I read so many good reviews for this that I simply couldn’t resist and bought it for myself so it seems fitting that it takes the prompt for ‘under the tree’ as it truly was a gift (to me)! To be honest with you I haven’t forgotten this little nugget so much as simply not managed to make time. Never say never though.
21 Days Remaining
Tomorrow’s prompt: Mistletoe – a little bit of romance
Top Ten Tuesday: Books Set in Snowy Places
9 December 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: A Haunting in the Arctic, Books Set in Snowy Places, Shiver, That Artsy Reader Girl, The Bear and the Nightingale, The Gathering, The Glass Hotel, The Hunting Party, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Shining, The Snow Child, The Wolf in the Whale, 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 prompt is:
Books Set in Snowy Places
1. The Shining by Stephen King
2. The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe by CS Lewis
3. The Glass Hotel by Emily St John Mandel
4. The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley
5. The Bear and the Nightingale (The Winternight Trilogy) by Katherine Arden
6. The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
7. The Gathering by CJ Tudor
8. A Haunting in the Arctic by CJ Cooke
9. Shiver by Allie Reynolds
10. The Wolf in the Whale by Jordanna Max Brodsky
I have to say there are some excellent books above and I had quite a few more that I could have shared. I highly recommend all of these.
What about you? Do you have any other books that you would add to this list?
Countdown to 2026: Day 9 – Fairy Lights – something magical
9 December 2025
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Countdown to 2026, Day 9, Fairy Lights, Louisa Morgan, Something Magical, The Faerie Morgana
Once again I am counting down to the New Year, as with the previous years I shall be highlighting at least one book per day to fit the prompt on that given day. The main aim for this countdown is to highlight some of my reads during the past year and to shine the spotlight on them once again (although some of the prompts relate to forthcoming reads).
Today is Day 9 of the countdown to 2026 and a list of prompts can be found here if you wish to join me in counting down to 2026 and casting a spotlight on some of your favourite books.
Today’s Prompt : Fairy Lights – something magical:
The Faerie Morgana by Louisa Morgan
Beautifully written and full of magic. I’ve taken a quote from my review which demonstrates not only just how much I loved this but also how well it fits today’s prompt – the author ‘managed to transport me to a mythical world full of magic and superstition, court politics and intrigue’. A story to be savoured.
22 Days Remaining
Tomorrow’s prompt: Under the Tree – a book you forgot you owned
