Welcome to the January TBR! I always love January, because I love planning, and I also love making stats about my reading from the previous year. This January, I was quite busy, so I am still catching up with my stats, but I did enjoy playing my TBR Raffle Game and choosing my books for the month.
December was a very interesting month, and I ended up reading a lot of Christmas books and books that I was sure I’d enjoy.
You probably already know this, but just a reminder that I share my current reading updates on my Instagram posts and stories, so don’t forget to follow my Instagram to see what I am reading at any given time during this month. And this month, there will be a lot of surprises there as well, which you don’t want to miss.
And with that being said, let the January TBR raffle commence.
The January TBR Raffle
I am filming my TBRs on my Instagram Stories. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, and check out the “Monthly TBR” highlight at the beginning of each month!
My TBR Raffle game is simple: I have a number of prompts that I put in small papers, into a jar. I draw a prompt, and I fit in a book that matches my prompt. Here is a list of the current prompts I have. Feel free to leave any prompt suggestions in the comments. Once the paper is drawn, I put it back into the jar, so it has an equal chance to get drawn again. I draw a total of 6 prompts, which result in 6 books for the month. If I fail to read a book, it automatically goes into the next month.
My January TBR
✨ 1. 5 Star Prediction
Keeper by Jessica Moor is a book that I feel I will really enjoy, which is why I chose for my 5 star prediction prompt. I am currently in the mood for thrillers, and you will notice a trend this month as well.
Synopsis:
When Katie Straw’s body is pulled from the waters of the local suicide spot, the police decide it’s an open-and-shut case. A standard-issue female suicide.
But the residents of Widringham women’s refuge where Katie worked don’t agree. They say it’s murder.
I am so happy to be picking this book up in January, because it already means so much to me. My high-school teacher recommended this book to me, and my boyfriend bought it for me back in November for my birthday, because I wouldn’t stop talking about it. The synopsis sounds so intriguing, and I am really looking forward to reading this one!
Synopsis:
Discover the forty rules of love…
Ella Rubinstein has a husband, three teenage children, and a pleasant home. Everything that should make her confident and fulfilled. Yet there is an emptiness at the heart of Ella’s life – an emptiness once filled by love.
So when Ella reads a manuscript about the thirteenth-century Sufi poet Rumi and Shams of Tabriz, and his forty rules of life and love, her world is turned upside down. She embarks on a journey to meet the mysterious author of this work.
It is a quest infused with Sufi mysticism and verse, taking Ella and us into an exotic world where faith and love are heartbreakingly explored…
To be honest, when borrowed pops up, there is only one person that I borrow books from, and that’s my sister. So the genre and the titles are usually YA fantasy and/or romance. Ever since I read The Bane Chronicles, which is a collection of short stories featuring Magnus Bane, I wanted to read Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy. This book is a collection of short stories featuring mostly Simon. I love the Shadowhunter series, even though I read them a long time ago. I actually think it’s time for me to re-read them soon as well.
Synopsis:
Ten stories with brand new illustrations following the adventures of Simon Lewis, star of the #1 New York Times bestselling series The Mortal Instruments, as he trains to become a Shadowhunter. Simon has been a human and a vampire, but after the events of City of Heavenly Fire left him stripped of his memories, he isn’t sure who he is any more. When the Shadowhunter Academy reopens, Simon throws himself into this new world of demon-hunting, determined to find himself again. Whomever this Simon might be…
I wish this prompt came up more often, as I do have a bit of a backlist of titles that authors have sent me. And this time, I am choosing After the Last Battle by Matthew Moss.
Synopsis:
In a post-apocalyptic world, where the Hordes of Hell reign supreme, the only thing anyone could ask for is peace and quiet. Having lived his entire life in a secluded village, Telarious has had exactly that, yet for him it was misery. Bored of his monotonous life as a hunter, Telarious looked for any chance of conflict, so that he might prove himself to be more.
When a band of demons tear through his village in search of an angel in hiding, one of the last of the nearly extinct species, his wish is granted tenfold. This one act reveals Telarious’s hidden potential and sends him and his new angelic counterpart into a neighboring colony, where the struggle for power rages on.
In over their heads, the two must learn to work together and with new, powerful allies to defeat the demons that have claimed Earth as their own.
Last One to Die by Cynthia Murphy is a book that is being published in January. Also one that I am very excited about. I am also participating in a blog tour for it, and my review will be up on the 14th January. Spoiler – I already read it and it’s a 5 star.
Synopsis:
Young, brunette women are being attacked in the city of London.
16-year-old, Irish-born Niamh has just arrived for the summer, and quickly discovers that the girls being attacked look frighteningly similar to her.
Determined to make it through her Drama Course, Niamh is placed at the Victorian Museum to put her drama skills to the test, and there she meets Tommy: he’s kind, fun, attentive, and really hot! . . . Nonetheless, there’s something eerie about the museum.
As the two strands of present-day serial attacker and sinister Victorian history start to collide, Niamh realises that things are not as they seem. Will she be next?
Well, I asked Instagram, and Instagram chose Fled by Meg Keneally for me.
Synopsis:
Gayle is a highly successful and motivated business woman, but her success has come at a price – she hasn’t spoken to her daughters, Ella and Samantha, for years. But when Gayle has an accident at work, she realises she needs to make amends with her family.
And so she invites herself to join Ella and Samantha for their Christmas in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. The sisters are none too pleased that their mother has inserted herself into their Christmas plans. They have each other – and don’t need their mother back in their lives. Or so they think…
As they embark on their first family Christmas together in years, will the three women learn that sometimes facing up to a few home truths is all you need to heal your heart?
And that’s my January TBR. There are only 6 books in here, which means I will most probably be reading more.Keep an eye on my blog posts and social media. And wish me luck! <3 Make sure to follow me on Instagram, so you can stay up to date with my current updates during the month. What is your January TBR? Let me know in the comments!
I had the pleasure to do an interview with Jason Price, the author of “Pleasant Grove”. I read this book recently and I really enjoyed it! It is the perfect adventurous book to read during winter. You can read my review by clicking HERE. Get to know Jason Price better and find out more about his reading and writing preferences and his favourite books.
Who is Jason Price?
I’m a husband and father. I’ve worked in movie publicity for almost 20 years, which, I suppose, tells you the most about me as an author: my lifelong love of movies and storytelling.
Tell us a little bit more about your book – “Pleasant Grove”.
In many ways, it was movies – particularly those I watched as an adolescent – that most informed the writing of Pleasant Grove. I wrote the novel for my daughters, who are both in grade school now, and approaching the same age when I first discovered movies like The Goonies, and E.T. and TV shows like The Twilight Zone. I wanted them to read a novel that captured the same spirit of wonder and adventure that Steven Spielberg’s Amblin films captured for my generation. Pleasant Grove is the story of a 12-year-old girl named Agnes Goodwin, who lives in an idyllic small town with one peculiar feature: It’s enclosed by a glass dome. But that all changes the day Agnes discovers a strange boy from the outside. The hook was to take a small town and drop it in the middle of a sci-fi story – a story built around a single mystery: What’s outside the dome? I grew up in the suburbs, so I pulled from those experiences as well. The kids’ adventure becomes an exploration of what it means to leave a hometown – what’s gained…and what’s lost.
What was your favourite moment when writing “Pleasant Grove”?
My favorite moments are when a character says something, or acts in a way, that’s contrary to my outline. It happened multiple times during the writing of Pleasant Grove, despite my best-laid plans. That’s always exciting, because if I can surprise myself then there’s a good chance it will surprise the reader too.
Who is your favourite character in the book and why?
Agnes. She’s curious and likes asking questions…which puts her at odds with the adults in the town, who hold the secrets of Pleasant Grove and aren’t too keen on spilling the beans. But Agnes’s quest for knowledge knows no bounds. I hope readers of all ages can identify with her. I wanted to ground the extraordinary in the ordinary. My favorite sci-fi stories would still resonate without the supernatural element, because as much care is given to the ordinary as the extraordinary.
How long does it take to write a book?
Pleasant Grove took me a little over 2 years, from rough draft to published copy. But the truth is, a book takes as long as it takes. There were months of brainstorming before I began writing. Stories are an accumulation of life experiences, so perhaps the more accurate answer is a lifetime.
How do you deal with a writer’s block?
Some days the writing is easy; some days it’s hard. I outline before I start writing, which gives me a blueprint. Inevitably, the characters and story will take the lead, but the blueprint helps mitigate any potential writer’s block. I also find it useful to end the writing day when I know what happens next, so when I sit down again, I have the benefit of a head start.
What is the most challenging part when writing a book?
I can only speak for myself here. The way I see it, there are 3 major steps to writing a book: brainstorming, first draft, editing. None are easy, but all hold their pleasures. I find brainstorming to be the most difficult. It’s the foundation. Building a foundation is grunt work; it’s exhausting, and your hands get dirty. But a good foundation – a house with good bones – will see you through; so in that sense, it’s also the most rewarding.
As a child, what did you want to do when you grew up?
A screenwriter. This started in high school when I began writing screenplays. I also wrote stage plays and had a couple works performed at the Alley Theatre and Stages Theatre in Houston. But there’s a certain creative freedom to the long-form narrative that appeals to me now, namely that the work is complete when I type “The End.” It’s not dependent on funding, or performance, only a willing reader.
What kind of books do you like to read in your spare time?
At the moment, I’m coming off a deep dive into Stephen King and Richard Matheson. I like genre books that transcend their genre.
When you are not writing, what keeps you busy in life? What are your hobbies?
When I’m not reading or writing, I’m on the hunt for my next favorite movie or album. Outside of a great book, there’s nothing quite as thrilling as watching a great movie, or listening to a great album, for the first time.
What is your favorite book, author or quote?
I’ll take a crack at all three. I’ll pick the first book to really blow my mind, and that’s 1984. Over any other author, give me Stephen King at his best. My favorite quote comes from King: “Fiction is the truth inside the lie.”
What are you planning next for us, readers?
This is going to sound like a dodge, but I like to keep ideas close to the vest. Many of my closest friends didn’t know about Pleasant Grove until it was published.
Get your copy of Pleasant Grove here. And don’t forget to follow Jason Price on Goodreads as well.
Thank you so much for this lovely interview, Jason! I wish you all the luck and success in the future.
Welcome to the December TBR! I am so ready for Christmas! Well – both Christmases, actually. One on the 25th December, and one on the 7th January. Perks of being a Macedonian. Because of what this year has been, we have decided to make our small Christmases the best they can be, and celebrate it to the fullest. For the family gatherings we can’t have, we’ll compensate with more food, more songs and more fun games!
November was a very rich month in terms of my reading. I read around 16 books in total. I will be soon sharing my November Wrap Up Post, but if you’re interested to see the books, you can find them on my Instagram November Wrap Up photo. And because it’s Christmas season, I will try to pick books that I know I will enjoy and bring me into a happy mood!
You probably already know this, but just a reminder that I share my current reading updates on my Instagram posts and stories, so don’t forget to follow my Instagram to see what I am reading at any given time during this month. And this month, there will be a lot of surprises there as well, which you don’t want to miss.
And with that being said, let the December TBR raffle commence.
The December TBR Raffle
I am filming my TBRs on my Instagram Stories. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, and check out the “Monthly TBR” highlight at the beginning of each month!
My TBR Raffle game is simple: I have a number of prompts that I put in small papers, into a jar. I draw a prompt, and I fit in a book that matches my prompt. Here is a list of the current prompts I have. Feel free to leave any prompt suggestions in the comments. Once the paper is drawn, I put it back into the jar, so it has an equal chance to get drawn again. I draw a total of 6 prompts, which result in 6 books for the month. If I fail to read a book, it automatically goes into the next month.
My December TBR
✨ 1. Series
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling is a series I still have yet to complete, and the down time in Christmas is the perfect time to read Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I can’t wait to get back to Hogwarts! This year, the stakes are higher and danger is looming even in the world of the muggles.
Synopsis:
Harry Potter is due to start his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His best friends Ron and Hermione have been very secretive all summer and he is desperate to get back to school and find out what has been going on. However, what Harry discovers is far more devastating than he could ever have expected…
Usually, I pick two books and do an Instagram Poll for it. But this time, I couldn’t choose two books, so I decided to ask you for a random number. I had 205 books on my TBR, and you chose random numbers. Then, having received a lot of responses, I did what every person would do – created a single elimination bracket. With seeding and all. I know, I know – no one would actually do that – but it was so much fun for me, and I will be doing it again, because my Instagram followers enjoyed it just as much!
And the book that Instagram picked for me is Cinder by Marissa Meyer. I have heard some amazing things, and I am very excited to start this series!
Synopsis:
A forbidden romance. A deadly plague. Earth’s fate hinges on one girl . . .
CINDER, a gifted mechanic in New Beijing, is also a cyborg. She’s reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s sudden illness. But when her life becomes entwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she finds herself at the centre of a violent struggle between the desires of an evil queen – and a dangerous temptation.
Cinder is caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal. Now she must uncover secrets about her mysterious past in order to protect Earth’s future.
This is not the fairytale you remember. But it’s one you won’t forget.
This prompt was so hard for me, because I own so many books with beautiful covers! So I decided to choose the most recent book that made me go “Aah” and admire it for a while, and that’s Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline. I loved Ready Player One, and honestly, I didn’t expect a second book. But now that it’s here, I want to see whether it will live up to my expectations.
Synopsis:
Days after winning OASIS founder James Halliday’s contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything. Hidden within Halliday’s vaults, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the OASIS a thousand times more wondrous – and addictive – than even Wade dreamed possible.
With it comes a new riddle, and a new quest – a last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize. And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who’ll kill millions to get what he wants. Wade’s life and the future of the OASIS are again at stake, but this time the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance.
Believe it or not, the book I have had on my TBR the longest is Divergent by Veronica Roth. I have been meaning to read it for so long, and now it’s finally time!
Synopsis:
THREE FLYING BIRDS… ONE FOR EACH MEMBER OF THE FAMILY I LEFT BEHIND.
Sixteen-year-old Tris is forced to make a terrible choice. In a divided society where everyone must conform, Tris does not fit.
So she ventures out alone, determined to discover where she truly belongs. Shocked by her brutal new life Tris can trust no one. And yet she is drawn to a boy who seems to both threaten and protect her.
This prompt is to choose a book I have been sent by the team at LoveReading UK. And for this, I will choose The Coffinmaker’s Garden by Stuart MacBride, coming out in January 2021.
Synopsis:
A village on the edge… As a massive storm batters the Scottish coast, Gordon Smith’s home is falling into the North Sea. But the crumbling headland has revealed what he’s got buried in his garden: human remains.
A house full of secrets… With the storm still raging, it’s too dangerous to retrieve the bodies and waves are devouring the evidence. Which means no one knows how many people Smith’s already killed and how many more he’ll kill if he can’t be found and stopped.
An investigator with nothing to lose… The media are baying for blood, the top brass are after a scapegoat, and ex-Detective Inspector Ash Henderson is done playing nice. He’s got a killer to catch, and God help anyone who gets in his way.
Well, this works so well! A perfect last spin to end my December TBR. For this I am choosing One More For Christmas by Sarah Morgan. I have formed a bit of a habit now, to read her Christmas books in December, and I will continue it this year as well.
Synopsis:
Gayle is a highly successful and motivated business woman, but her success has come at a price – she hasn’t spoken to her daughters, Ella and Samantha, for years. But when Gayle has an accident at work, she realises she needs to make amends with her family.
And so she invites herself to join Ella and Samantha for their Christmas in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. The sisters are none too pleased that their mother has inserted herself into their Christmas plans. They have each other – and don’t need their mother back in their lives. Or so they think…
As they embark on their first family Christmas together in years, will the three women learn that sometimes facing up to a few home truths is all you need to heal your heart?
I will be reading Shiver by Allie Reynolds for a bookstagram readalong, and I am very excited for it! The readalong starts today, 1st December.
Synopsis:
They don’t know what I did. And I intend to keep it that way.
How far would you go to win? Hyper-competitive people, mind games and a dangerous natural environment combine to make the must-read thriller of the year. Fans of Lucy Foley and Lisa Jewell will be gripped by spectacular debut novel Shiver.
When Milla is invited to a reunion in the French Alps resort that saw the peak of her snowboarding career, she drops everything to go. While she would rather forget the events of that winter, the invitation comes from Curtis, the one person she can’t seem to let go.
The five friends haven’t seen each other for ten years, since the disappearance of the beautiful and enigmatic Saskia. But when an icebreaker game turns menacing, they realise they don’t know who has really gathered them there and how far they will go to find the truth.
In a deserted lodge high up a mountain, the secrets of the past are about to come to light.
I will also be reading The Spiral by Iain Ryan as part of a bookstagram readalong, starting from the 11th December.
Synopsis:
Erma Bridges’ life is far from perfect, but entirely ordinary. So when she is shot twice in a targetted attack by a colleague, her quiet existence is shattered in an instant.
With her would-be murderer dead, no one can give Erma the answers she needs to move on from her trauma. Why her? Why now?
So begins Erma’s quest for the truth – and a dangerous, spiralling journey into the heart of darkness.
With all the inventiveness of The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and the raw brutality of Mulholland Drive, THE SPIRAL is a unique crime thriller with killer twists – and 2020’s most jaw-dropping ending.
And that’s my December TBR. Because there are only 8 books in here, which means I will most probably be reading more, so keep an eye on my blog posts and social media. And wish me luck! <3 Make sure to follow me on Instagram, so you can stay up to date with my current updates during the month. What is your December TBR? Let me know in the comments!
WWW Wednesday – 4th November edition. The first week of November is going well for me, and hoping for even better one next week.
WWW Wednesday is a weekly tag revived by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words. It’s quite simple. Just answer the three questions below and leave a link to your post in the comments for others to look at. No blog? No problem! Just leave a comment with your responses. Please, take some time to visit the other participants and see what others are reading. So, let’s get to this week’s edition – the first Wednesday in November!
The Three W’s are: 1. What are you currently reading? 2. What did you recently finish reading? 3. What do you think you’ll read next?
What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading Starve Acre by Andrew Michael Hurley. This week, I am part of the TandemCollective bookstagram readalong, and it’s ending tomorrow. Unsurprisingly, I am currently enjoying it a lot – it’s very eerie and spooky, but in a very slow, but intense way. I keep having that feeling when your stomach slowly twirls. It’s amazing, and I can’t wait to see how it finally ends!
Synopsis:
The worst thing possible has happened. Richard and Juliette Willoughby’s son, Ewan, has died suddenly at the age of five. Starve Acre, their house by the moors, was to be full of life, but is now a haunted place.
Juliette, convinced Ewan still lives there in some form, seeks the help of the Beacons, a seemingly benevolent group of occultists. Richard, to try and keep the boy out of his mind, has turned his attention to the field opposite the house, where he patiently digs the barren dirt in search of a legendary oak tree.
Starve Acre is a devastating new novel by the author of the prize-winning bestseller The Loney. It is a novel about the way in which grief splits the world in two and how, in searching for hope, we can so easily unearth horror.
I recently finished Secrets She Kept by Cathy Gohlke and wow, this book is so emotional and wholesome! My full review will be up in a few days on the blog, so keep an eye out for it. I read this book so fast, and I loved it so much!
Synopsis:
The secret a mother was forbidden to share . . . the consequences a daughter could not redeem—but will risk everything in her attempt.
All her life, Hannah Sterling longed for a close relationship with her estranged mother. Following Lieselotte’s death, Hannah unlocks secrets of her mother’s mysterious past, including the discovery of a grandfather living in Germany.
Thirty years earlier, Lieselotte’s father, ascending the ranks of the Nazi party, demands a marriage for his daughter to help advance his career. But Lieselotte is in love—and her beloved Lukas secretly works against the Reich. How far will her father go to achieve his goal?
Both Hannah’s and Lieselotte’s stories unfold as Hannah travels to Germany to meet her grandfather, who hides wartime secrets of his own. Longing for connection, yet shaken by all she uncovers, Hannah must decide if she can atone for her family’s tragic past, and how their legacy will shape her future.
I think I’ll be starting The Silent Stars Go By by Sally Nicholls next. It is a book I really want to read, and it came alongside some goodies, that I have to admit, I am very eager to open and see what they will unravel. I will be sharing this experience on my Instagram Stories, so keep an eye for that.
Welcome to the November TBR! I am ready for winter to come. My mum has made me a warm blanket and a pillow, and my birthday is coming up on the 18th, so it’s a really exciting month for me already!
October was a pretty busy month, and even though I read a lot of books, I have a few that are going to have to move forward into this month. But I also have a lot of amazing things planned as well. Many readalongs and many blog tours, as well as some wild picks too, so stay tuned, because this birthday edition will be quite a treat!
You probably already know this, but just a reminder that I share my current reading updates on my Instagram posts and stories, so don’t forget to follow my Instagram to see what I am reading at any given time during this month. And this month, there will be a lot of surprises there as well, which you don’t want to miss.
And with that being said, let the November TBR raffle commence.
The November TBR Raffle
I am filming my TBRs on my Instagram Stories. Make sure to follow me on Instagram, and check out the “Monthly TBR” highlight at the beginning of each month!
My TBR Raffle game is simple: I have a number of prompts that I put in small papers, into a jar. I draw a prompt, and I fit in a book that matches my prompt. Here is a list of the current prompts I have. Feel free to leave any prompt suggestions in the comments. Once the paper is drawn, I put it back into the jar, so it has an equal chance to get drawn again. I draw a total of 6 prompts, which result in 6 books for the month. If I fail to read a book, it automatically goes into the next month.
My November TBR
✨ 1. Sent By Author
The author Jason Price kindly sent this book to me, and even though I wanted to include it into my October TBR, my book pile just didn’t let me do that. So when this prompt came up, I had to add it immediately.
Synopsis:
Welcome to Pleasant Grove, a quiet small town where neighbor helps neighbor and doors are left unlocked at night-an unspoiled paradise with one peculiar feature: It’s enclosed by a glass dome.
No one can leave. No one can enter. And no one can survive beyond the dome.
But then, a visitor arrives from the outside.
When 12-year-old Agnes Goodwin discovers a strange boy with no memory, she teams up with her best friends to unravel the mystery. Their extraordinary adventure will threaten everything they know…and everyone they love.
Some people may say this is cheating, but I am choosing not to count the “The” from “The Searcher” by Tana French. I will be reading this book as part of the Penguin Random House Blog Tour, so expect my review on the 19th November.
Synopsis:
Retired detective Cal Hooper moves to a remote village in rural Ireland. His plans are to fix up the dilapidated cottage he’s bought, to walk the mountains, to put his old police instincts to bed forever.
Then a local boy appeals to him for help. His brother is missing, and no one in the village, least of all the police, seems to care. And once again, Cal feels that restless itch.
Something is wrong in this community, and he must find out what, even if it brings trouble to his door.
This is the first time Mama pick came up since I added it on my TBR prompts list, and I was so happy and excited, even though I already knew what my mum would pick for me. She has introduced me to the novels written by Georgia Le Carre, and I loved every single one of them. They are very steamy and very quick reads, and I am looking forward to read this one. Crystal Jake, also called Eden I is the first book in the Eden series.
Synopsis:
Haunted by memories of her brother’s death, and searching for answers, Lily Hart embarks on a career that takes her into a seedy underworld, where she is exposed to wealth, greed, lust and the reign of gorgeous, powerful, and dangerous men—one man in particular wreaks havoc on her emotions.
At thirty Jake Eden has everything: looks to die for, money, power and a never-ending line of twisted, fucked-up women willing to do anything to get with him. Love? Love was for pussies…until a woman with the stage name of ‘Jewel’ arrives on the scene. She alone is different from all the others.
Oozing pure, unadulterated sex, strong, intelligent and independent, she is everything he should stay away from, but she makes him itch to tame her and keep her for himself.
Her lure is addictive and undeniable and soon he is hooked.
But when the line between betrayal and loyalty is put to test…
Last month, I read After by Anna Todd, and if you have read my review, you will know how much I enjoyed it and why. So when the borrowed prompt came up, I had to add the second book in the series, After We Collided, because my sister is lending me these books.
Synopsis:
Hardin has nothing to lose…except her. AFTER WE COLLIDED Life will never be the same. After a tumultuous beginning to their relationship, Tessa and Hardin were on the path to making things work. Tessa knew Hardin could be cruel, but when a bombshell revelation is dropped about the origins of their relationship – and Hardin’s mysterious past – Tessa is beside herself. Hardin will always be…Hardin.
But is he really the deep, thoughtful guy Tessa fell madly in love with, despite his angry exterior, or has he been a stranger all along? She wishes she could just walk away, but it just isn’t that easy. Not with the memory of passionate nights wrapped in his arms…his electric touch…his hungry kisses…
Still, Tessa’s not sure she can endure one more broken promise. She put so much on hold for Hardin – University, friends, her relationship with her mother, a loving boyfriend, even her fledgling career. She needs to move on. Hardin knows he made a mistake, possibly the biggest one of his life, but he won’t be going down without a fight! But can he change…will he change…for love?
For this prompt, I am choosing Secrets She Kept by Cathy Gohlke. This book was kindly sent to me by Muddy Pearl Books to commemorate Armistice Day. I will be reading and posting this book before the 11th November, so stay tuned for my review.
Synopsis:
The secret a mother was forbidden to share . . . the consequences a daughter could not redeem—but will risk everything in her attempt.
All her life, Hannah Sterling longed for a close relationship with her estranged mother. Following Lieselotte’s death, Hannah unlocks secrets of her mother’s mysterious past, including the discovery of a grandfather living in Germany.
Thirty years earlier, Lieselotte’s father, ascending the ranks of the Nazi party, demands a marriage for his daughter to help advance his career. But Lieselotte is in love—and her beloved Lukas secretly works against the Reich. How far will her father go to achieve his goal?
Both Hannah’s and Lieselotte’s stories unfold as Hannah travels to Germany to meet her grandfather, who hides wartime secrets of his own. Longing for connection, yet shaken by all she uncovers, Hannah must decide if she can atone for her family’s tragic past, and how their legacy will shape her future.
The Silent Stars Go By written by Sally Nicholls is a book that I’ll be reading in November, because I’ll be part of the Instagram Book Tour hosted by Kaleidoscopic Tours. Huge thanks to Andersen Press for sending not only a copy of the book, but also plenty of surprise goodies, that I have to open once I reach a certain page milestone. I cannot wait to start this – look out for my Instagram Stories, where I will open the goodies as I read the book.
Seventeen-year-old Margot Allan was a respectable vicar’s daughter and madly in love with her fiance Harry. But when Harry was reported Missing in Action from the Western Front, and Margot realised she was expecting his child, there was only one solution she and her family could think of in order to keep that respectability. She gave up James, her baby son, to be adopted by her parents and brought up as her younger brother.
Now two years later the whole family is gathering at the Vicarage for Christmas. It’s heartbreaking for Margot being so close to James but unable to tell him who he really is. But on top of that, Harry is also back in the village. Released from captivity in Germany and recuperated from illness, he’s come home and wants answers. Why has Margot seemingly broken off their engagement and not replied to his letters? Margot knows she owes him an explanation. But can she really tell him the truth about James?
✨ 7. October, October by Katya Balen, Illustrated by Angela Harding
I was originally planning to read October, October in (guess the word) – October. But life got in the way, and I’ll have to read it in November. I would ideally read it next October, just to match the theme, but I really want to read it and don’t think I’ll be able to wait that long.
Synopsis:
October and her dad live in the woods. They sleep in the house Dad built for them and eat the food they grow in the vegetable patches. They know the trees and the rocks and the lake and stars like best friends.
Furthermore, they read the books they buy in town again and again until the pages are soft and yellow – until next year’s town visit. They live in the woods and they are wild.
And that’s the way it is.
Until the year October turns eleven. That’s the year October rescues a baby owl. It’s the year Dad falls out of the biggest tree in their woods. The year the woman who calls herself October’s mother comes back. The year everything changes.
If you have been following me for a while, you’ll know I have read a few books by Karen Swan recently. I really loved The Hidden Beach and I also enjoyed The Greek Escape. And when the Tandem Collective team reached out to me for another readalong by her, I couldn’t say no. This is going to be a Christmas book set in Amsterdam, and I am here for it!
Synopsis:
When Lee first came to Amsterdam, it was with a newborn baby and a secret. Five years later, her life is approaching normal: her career as a celebrity photographer is flourishing, her son Jasper is growing up, and they are enjoying the run-up to Christmas with their tight circle of close friends.
But all this changes one morning when Lee finds a book in the basket of her bicycle – and scrawled inside it, a desperate message. Who left it for her, and why? Lee feels compelled to help and tracks down the book’s author, Sam. With an instant, undeniable connection it seems they might have a shot at a real future together.
Until her past comes calling. As the snow falls and ice thickens on the city’s canals, the secret Lee has never told resurfaces. Suddenly everything she holds dear hangs in the balance. Christmas is a time for being together – but what if the truth means she ends up alone?
Escape to the snow-covered streets of Amsterdam in this deeply romantic read, featuring twists, turns and characters you’ll fall in love with.
I remember how much I enjoyed Virgin River by Robyn Carr. When Mills & Boon let me know another book is coming, at the same time as Season 2 of the Netflix TV Show, I was so hyped! This follows another character with their own story, but based at the same small town that we all know and love!
Synopsis:
Struggling with grief after the death of her mother, successful author Kaylee Sloan needs a distraction, to come to terms with life and meet her looming deadline.
With Christmas approaching, Kaylee rents a cabin in Virgin River. She knows the isolation will help her writing and as she drives north through the mountains she immediately feels inspired. Until she arrives at a building that has just gone up in flames. Devastated, she heads to Jack’s Bar to plan her next steps. The local bar is the heart of the town and once she crosses the threshold, she’s surprised to be embraced by people who are more than willing to help a stranger in need.
Welcomed by those in Virgin River, Kaylee starts to see her life in a new light. And as she becomes more involved in the town and the people in it, especially local artist and dog trainer Landry Moore, Kaylee realises she may have found her peace. As Christmas approaches, Kaylee’s dread turns to wonder. Because there’s no better place to mend a broken heart than Virgin River.
I am so happy to be part of a bookstagram readalong, hosted by Tandem Collective UK and John Murray Press, starting on the 1st November and finishing on the 5th November. Thanks to the above teams, I am also able to host a UK giveaway as well, where you can win a paperback edition of Starve Acre, as well as a tote bag and a pin. Just head over to my Instagram page to find out more!
The worst thing possible has happened. Richard and Juliette Willoughby’s son, Ewan, has died suddenly at the age of five. Starve Acre, their house by the moors, was to be full of life, but is now a haunted place.
Juliette, convinced Ewan still lives there in some form, seeks the help of the Beacons, a seemingly benevolent group of occultists. Richard, to try and keep the boy out of his mind, has turned his attention to the field opposite the house, where he patiently digs the barren dirt in search of a legendary oak tree.
Starve Acre is a devastating new novel by the author of the prize-winning bestseller The Loney. It is a novel about the way in which grief splits the world in two and how, in searching for hope, we can so easily unearth horror.
Books From the October TBR moving into the November TBR
✨ 11. New Author
My mum had an impact on this choice, as she was in our living room while we were having our fun. And she’s also been trying to get me to read this title for a very long time now. So she chose The Love Letter by Lucinda Riley.
When Sir James Harrison, one the greatest actors of his generation, passes away at the age of ninety-five he leaves behind not just a heartbroken family and a wealth of memorabilia from his long career but also a secret so shocking, so devastating that it could change everything…
Joanna Haslam is an ambitious young journalist, assigned to cover the legendary actor’s funeral. The great and the good of the celebrity world will be there. But Joanna stumbles on something dark beneath the glamour: the mention of a letter Harrison has left behind, the contents of which he was desperate to conceal. As she gets closer to tracking down the source, she realises that there are other very interested parties. And they’ll stop at nothing to reach the letter before she does.
It’s amazing that we have both a Lowest Rated and a Highest Rated prompt in the same month for October TBR. I really love these. My current highest rated book is All About Amy by James J. Caterino. All About Amy has been on my TBR for a while now, and I remember winning it in a giveaway from Goodreads, a very long time ago.
Meet Troy Carter Brown, a man living a life of quiet desperation. One day, a mysterious woman from California shows up on his doorstep claiming to be a walk-in, the transmigrated soul of Amy Ellis, his long lost girlfriend who died in a tragic boating accident nearly twenty years ago. Is she merely playing him in some sort of an elaborate con game, or has the soul of Amy really returned to Troy in the form of this alluring stranger named Julie Saxton. Only in the end, as Troy and Julie end up on the run together fleeing for their lives from local gangsters, will the dramatic truth be revealed.
For my classic read, my sister chose Emma by Jane Austen. Emma has been on my TBR for a very long time, and I am really looking forward to finally reading it for the October TBR.
Emma Woodhouse is one of Austen’s most captivating and vivid characters. Beautiful, spoilt, vain and irrepressibly witty, Emma organizes the lives of the inhabitants of her sleepy little village and plays matchmaker with devastating effect.
And that’s my November TBR. Fun fact, my TBR contains a total of 4367 pages, which means I need to read 145 pages per day to meet this goal. Wish me luck! <3 Make sure to follow me on Instagram, so you can stay up to date with my current updates during the month. What are you planning to read this month? Let me know in the comments!
