Friday Firsts: Bloodsworn by Erin Lindsey
Friday Firsts is a new meme that runs every Friday over on Tenacious Reader. The idea is to feature the first few sentences/paragraph of your current book and try and outline your first impressions as a result. This is a quick and easy way to share a snippet of information about your current read and to perhaps tempt others. Stop on by and link up with Tenacious Reader.
‘“We’re ready, Captain.”
The anxiety in Pollard’s eyes belied his words. A sheen of sweat glistened under the edges of his helm, and he clutched his spear in a white-knuckled grip. He might have been marching into battle against a horde of bloodhound thralls instead of preparing to walk down the burnished hall of the royal apartments.’

My First Impressions
What are you reading right now? Did it start out strong? Feel free to join in.
Waiting on Wednesday: The Keeper of Lost Things: A Novel by Ruth Hogan
21 September 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Breaking the Spine, The Keeper of Lost Things: A Novel by Ruth Hogan, Waiting on Wednesday
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine. Every Wednesday we get to highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to. My book this week is : The Keeper of Lost Things: A Novel by Ruth Hogan
A charming, clever, and quietly moving debut novel of of endless possibilities and joyful discoveries that explores the promises we make and break, losing and finding ourselves, the objects that hold magic and meaning for our lives, and the surprising connections that bind us.
Lime green plastic flower-shaped hair bobbles—Found, on the playing field, Derrywood Park, 2nd September.
Bone china cup and saucer—
Found, on a bench in Riveria Public Gardens, 31st October.Anthony Peardew is the keeper of lost things. Forty years ago, he carelessly lost a keepsake from his beloved fiancée, Therese. That very same day, she died unexpectedly. Brokenhearted, Anthony sought consolation in rescuing lost objects—the things others have dropped, misplaced, or accidently left behind—and writing stories about them. Now, in the twilight of his life, Anthony worries that he has not fully discharged his duty to reconcile all the lost things with their owners. As the end nears, he bequeaths his secret life’s mission to his unsuspecting assistant, Laura, leaving her his house and and all its lost treasures, including an irritable ghost.
Recovering from a bad divorce, Laura, in some ways, is one of Anthony’s lost things. But when the lonely woman moves into his mansion, her life begins to change. She finds a new friend in the neighbor’s quirky daughter, Sunshine, and a welcome distraction in Freddy, the rugged gardener. As the dark cloud engulfing her lifts, Laura, accompanied by her new companions, sets out to realize Anthony’s last wish: reuniting his cherished lost objects with their owners.
Long ago, Eunice found a trinket on the London pavement and kept it through the years. Now, with her own end drawing near, she has lost something precious—a tragic twist of fate that forces her to break a promise she once made.
As the Keeper of Lost Objects, Laura holds the key to Anthony and Eunice’s redemption. But can she unlock the past and make the connections that will lay their spirits to rest?
Full of character, wit, and wisdom, The Keeper of Lost Things is heartwarming tale that will enchant fans of The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, Garden Spells, Mrs Queen Takes the Train,and The Silver Linings Playbook.
Due Feb 2017 – a step out of the ordinary for me with this one but I like the sound of this one.
Speaking for themselves: audio books
20 September 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Audio books, The Broke and the Bookish, Top Ten Tuesday

Every Tuesday over at the The Broke and Bookish we all get to look at a particular topic for discussion and use various (or more to the point ten) examples to demonstrate that particular topic. The topic this week is :
Audio Freebie
In which I confess that I’ve never listened to a book. I think if I was to pick 10 books though to give audio a try they would be as follows:
- The 3 Fairytale retellings by Sarah Pinborough: Beauty/Poison/Charm – because these are relatively short books, they’re retellings based on fairytales and they’re quite fascinating and cheeky takes on the original stories – I don’t think my attention would wander.
- The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – because I understand Neil Gaiman narrates this one on audio and so I would love to listen to it.
- The Road Brothers by Mark Lawrence – this is a series of short stories all connected to The Broken Empire series – I think it would be very easy to listen to these, one at a time, not all in one go but just every now and again.
- Something spooky that would give me the chills – The Haunting of Hill House of Shirley Jackson – I have a notion that listening to something scary would be excellent – providing it was narrated well, I suppose it could go horribly wrong!
- Monstrous Little voices – 5 stories retold, based on some of Shakespeare’s most famous works but given a more modern voice. Each five of the stories connect but I figure listening to these would be great – overall just shy of 350 pages but taken individually they’re lovely little chunks. As a rule I don’t like short stories but when they all connect in this way they’re excellent.
- I think I would like to listen to some of the Sherlock Holmes books on audio – particularly Hound of the Baskervilles.
- I think a book with excellent dialogue throughout – such as The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt
- Bram Stoker’s Dracula – because of the style of narration I just imagine this would be an excellent audio book.
- Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J K Rowling – I think the first in the series had a lighter feel and would be a good starting point
- Suggestions – given that I’ve read all of the above – do you have any suggestions that feel similar??
One Salt Sea by Seanan McGuire readalong week No3
17 September 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: October Daye, One Salt Sea, Seanan McGuire
Today is week three of our radalong for One Salt Sea.
The schedule is below with relevant links.
Week 1: Saturday 3rd September, Chapters 1-9, hosted at Over The Effing Rainbow
Week 2: Saturday 10th September, Chapters 10-18, hosted by Over The Effing Rainbow
Week 3: Saturday 17th September, Chapters 19-29, hosted at Lynn’s Book Blog
Week 4: Saturday 24th September, Chapters 30-End, hosted at On Starships and Dragonwings
Now to the questions with the customary warning regarding spoilers
Firstly, I’m curious as to why Rayseline would want a war – any thoughts on this at all – is there something else at stake?
i don’t really understand Rayseline to be honest and I don’t understand what she would want to provoke a war for. I don’t see what she stands to gain really. I almost wonder if she’s being used by somebody else although that doesn’t seem to be immediately apparent.
We got another visit from the night haunts – they seemed almost incredibly helpful and didn’t seem to require anything from Toby – do you think they’d be that helpful to just everyone or is Toby getting special treatment?
I think this aspect of the story is really fascinating to be honest. I’m just really intrigued. I don’t particularly feel any fear for Toby during these visits and I can’t help wondering if Toby’s own genetic make up and her affinity with blood has something to do with that?
All sorts of strange prophecies from the Roane – any light to cast on what they all mean?
Unfortunately as I’m away from home I can’t include my quotes! But the Roxane did quite a bit of prophesising and none of it gave me a good feeling, I can’t help but worry about Toby’s daughter in all of this.
Raj is playing more of a role – are we going to have two squires as oppose to one do you think?
I think there’s a possibility or maybe I’m just hoping so. I like the way Quinten and Raj interact and I think it would be really cool for him to spend more time with Toby.
The Luidaeg – always seems to know more than she lets on and only helps when circumstances are dire – any thoughts about why that is?
I really don’t understand it. It feels like her hands are tied. Like there’s some external force or other being that won’t allow her to interfere with Toby’s comings and goings unless things become really dire. She is a great character and one of my favourites to be honest. Just very mysterious!
Apologies for the brevity and lack of images but I’m away at the moment so a bit constrained. Can’t wait to read the outcome of this now.
‘What’s in a name? that which we call a rose’
16 September 2016
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Beauty, Books by Proxy, Friday Face off, Robin McKinley

Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme being hosted by Books by Proxy . This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers. The rules are fairly simple and can be found here. Each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book, compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite (stop on over to Tenacious Reader to post your link so we can all check out each others choices). Simples. This week the theme is:
16th Sept: A bouquet for you m’lady – A cover featuring a flower/flowers.
Not as tricky as last week – I at least had a couple of ideas! Anyway, my choice this week is Beauty by Robin McKinley. A lovely retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale with plenty of covers to choose from:
And my winner:

Which is your favourite?
If you fancy joining in with FFO the themes for the next few weeks are below. I’ve listed these as BooksbyProxy is currently a bit swamped and MIA as a result. Don’t worry, ordinary service will be resumed soon
23rd Sept: Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, timorous beastie – A cover with a beast or beasts.
30th Sept: This solitary tree! A living thing – a cover with a tree or trees.
7th October: Consumed by the darkness within, it hides all our sins” a cover that is predominantly black.
14th October: There was once a princess, who lived in the top of the highest tower – a cover with a castle.





