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Showing posts from December, 2020

Review; Have a Deadly New Year (Farm-to-Fork Mystery #3.5) by Lynn Cahoon

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the cosy mystery novella Have a Deadly New Year (Farm-to-Fork Mystery #3.5) by Lynn Cahoon through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards, but I haven't published my review until now. Description from Goodreads Chef Angie Turner of The County Seat—Idaho’s finest farm-to-table restaurant—is preparing a private dinner in the mountains during ski season, but the trip’s about to go downhill . . . It’s a rockin’ New Year for Angie and her crew as they cater a bash for a famous band—and as a bonus, they’ll get to stay at the singer’s Sun Valley house for a whole week once the party’s over. But there are hints of discord, and the event hits a sour note when one of the musicians is found with a drumstick in his chest. Is this a case of creative differences turned lethal or is there another motive at play? Angie’s jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire as she and her fellow foodies try to solve the case before the killer com

Review; Hockey in the Wild by Nicholas Oldland

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Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book Hockey in the Wild by Nicholas Oldland through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads The lovable Life in the Wild trio can't wait to get out on the ice to play hockey. Except, well, they're going to have to! It's wintertime, and the bear, the moose and the beaver can't wait for hockey season to start. They're so eager, in fact, they head out onto the ice before it's thick enough, and they all fall through. Twice. While they wait for the lake to freeze, they try to take their minds off hockey. There's competitive napping. Karaoke. Lots of comfort food. Until, at last, the day arrives when the ice is ready. But, after all that time not being active, are they ready? Part of the bestselling Life in the Wild picture book series from Nicholas Oldland, this funny romp is, at its heart, a love letter to the sport of hock

Top Ten Tuesday; Favourite Books I've Read in 2020

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It's the final Tuesday of 2020 and time for the final Top Ten Tuesday of the year, courtesy of That Artsy Reader Girl . Fittingly, the theme of the week was favourite books I've read in 2020. That said, it was hard to pick as I've read so many good books this year, that the ten I've listed is just ten of my favourites. Here's my picks. The Occupation by Deborah Swift The Conjurer by Luanne G. Smith You Are Invited by Sarah A. Denzil The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden Hanging Falls by Margaret Mizushima The Little Bookshop of Love Stories by Jaimie Admans Scythe by Neal Shusterman Stoner by John Williams Cooking for Ghosts by Patricia V. Davis

Review; Postcards at Christmas (Postcards #2) by Imogen Clark

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Last year I recieved an ARC of the novel Postcards at Christmas (Postcards #2) by Imogen Clark through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards, but I haven't published my review until now. Description from Goodreads In this heartwarming follow-up to the bestselling novel Postcards From a Stranger, will Cara’s family past ruin her Christmas present, or will she let love in? After discovering her mother’s secret life, Cara doesn’t have much faith in marriage. So when the love of her life, Simeon, proposes, she struggles to say ‘I do.’ She adores him, but why risk the perfect relationship by signing on a dotted line that could ruin everything? If her parents’ marriage taught her anything, it was that a gold ring doesn’t equal happiness, and she has no desire to follow in their dysfunctional footsteps. But maybe there’s a bigger picture after all. When a tragic accident brings yet more truths to the surface, Cara is forced to question everything she believes—and fears—about long-ter

Omtale; La meg synge deg stille sanger av Linda Olsson

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For en liten stund siden leste jeg romanen La meg synge deg stille sanger av Linda Olsson og i dag kommer omtalen av boka. Beskrivelse fra forlaget En mørk og kald vinterkveld kommer Veronika, en ung forfatter, til et avsidesliggende hus i en liten by i Sverige. Hun er på jakt etter ensomheten og stillheten for å skrive ferdig en bok og for å komme over en stor sorg. Hennes ankomst registreres i stillhet fra nabohuset over veien. Der bor Astrid, en gammel kvinne som på folkemunne kalles Heksen. Astrid lever stort sett bak husets beskyttende vegger. Ingen vet at hun ruger på mørke familiehemmeligheter og en personlig tragedie der inne. I løpet av våren nærmer de to kvinnene seg hverandre. Et uventet og uvanlig vennskap vokser frem - et vennskap som kommer til å forandre de to kvinnenes liv. La meg synge deg stille sanger er en vakker bok som gjør et sterkt inntrykk på sine lesere. Boken er oversatt til en rekke språk, og er på kort tid blitt en internasjonal bestselger. Oversatt av

Review; Nogged Off by Barbara Ross

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Last year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the Christmas-themed cosy mystery novella Nogged Off by Barbara Ross through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards, but I haven't published my review until now. Description from Netgalley Previously published in the collection Egg Nog Murder. ‘Twas the week before Christmas, and Julia Snowden’s escape from New York has just hit a snag. Fresh off accidentally poisoning half her colleagues with her “Killer Eggnog,” Julia’s would-be subletter, Imogen Geinkes, is now jobless and homeless—leading Julia to invite the young woman home for the holidays in Maine. But when they unload the rental truck in Busman’s Harbor, they find something that wasn’t on anyone’s packing list: the body of Imogen’s former boyfriend. Suddenly, the wordplay in Imogen’s name—“I’m a jinx”—isn’t so adorable. But for all the calamities that follow in Imogen’s wake, Julia’s certain she’s no killer. As Julia digs into the case, the appearance of the ex’s

Review; The Christmas Surprise (Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop #3) by Jenny Colgan

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Earlier this month I ended up reading The Christmas Surprise (Rosie Hopkins' Sweet Shop #3) by Jenny Colgan and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Rosie Hopkins, newly engaged, is looking forward to an exciting year in the little sweetshop she owns and runs. But when fate strikes Rosie and her boyfriend, Stephen, a terrible blow, threatening everything they hold dear, it's going to take all their strength and the support of their families and their Lipton friends to hold them together. After all, don't they say it takes a village to raise a child? My Thoughts on the Book The Christmas Surprise is a lightweight and entertaining chick-lit with a cosy Christmas theme. That said, I did struggle with it a little bit, considering how Rosie was thrown into things she might shouldn't be thrown into (not going to say what, due to spoilers). The book was also a little to predictable for my taste. That said, if one wants a light weight book to read during Ch

Book Tag; The Christmas Book Blogger Tag

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Between My Lines  created this fun book tag called The Christmas Book Blogger Tag, and as it's Christmas Eve today, I couldn't resist playing along. By the way, happy holidays to my readers out there. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SCENE IN A BOOK? In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone during Christmas, when Harry celebrates Christmas at Hogwarts with Ron. DO YOU HAVE ANY CHRISTMAS BOOK TRADITIONS? Sadly I haven't, so if anyone has any suggestions, feel free to let me know. DO YOU PREFER TO GET PRESENTS OF BOOK VOUCHERS OR BOOKS? I don't mind either. DO YOU GIVE BOOKS AS PRESENTS? Yes and two people are getting from me this year. I'm not saying who, in case they read this. WHAT BOOKISH ITEM IS ON YOUR CHRISTMAS WISHLIST? I don't have any on my wishlist, apart from perhaps gift card at a bookshop? WHAT 3 BOOKS WOULD YOU LOVE SANTA TO HAVE IN HIS SACK FOR YOU? Homebody by Rupi Kaur Seven Kinds of People You Find in Bookshops by Shaun Bythell Magic Less

Review; The Twelve Days of Christmas by Lara Hawthorne

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Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of the picture book The Twelve Days of Christmas by Lara Hawthorne through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads "​On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree." Celebrate the magic of Christmas time with this well-loved traditional poem, The Twelve Days of Christmas, beautifully illustrated by Laura Hawthorne. Take a walk through each beautiful scene brimming with details that will remind you of the sights, sounds and smells of Christmas. Perfect to read with your true love. My Thoughts on the Book I was really charmed by this picture book with those really whimsical and beautiful illustrations that certainly capture the Christmas spirit. I'm sure both kids and adults will enjoy it.

Top Ten Tuesday; Books I Hope Santa Brings

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It's Tuesday and time for a new Top Ten Tuesday post, courtesy of That Artsy Reader Girl . As it's close to Christmas, it's a bit fitting that the theme of the week was books I hope Santa brings. My picks are; Music from Another World by Robin Talley You Should See Me In A Crown by Leah Johnson Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore Belle Révolte by Linsey Miller Queen of Coin and Whispers by Helen Corcoran Witches of Ash & Ruin by E. Latimer Ink in the Blood by Kim Smejkal Dread Nation by Justina Ireland Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales Cemetery Boys by Aidan Thomas

Review; When Winter Comes: Discovering Wildlife in Our Snowy Woods by Aimée M. Bissonette and Erin Hourigan

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Earlier this year I recieved an ARC of the picture book When Winter Comes: Discovering Wildlife in Our Snowy Woods by Aimée M. Bissonette and Erin Hourigan through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads A sweet poetic children's book celebrating the vibrancy of life in winter. Though a forest may be blanketed in snow or a lake frozen over, families who enjoy the outdoors in winter, happily bundled up to play in the energizing weather, know that wildlife is still teeming there. When winter comes, and deep snow blankets the woods, and ice forms cold and smooth on the lakes, thick enough for us to skate on, some people think our woods are empty. But we know better. The fallen log that is used to hide behind in a snowball fight is a shelter for tree frogs, caterpillars, ladybugs, and slugs. The drifts of fallen snow that families snowshoe across have winding tunnels made by meadow mice in search of seeds and bark. The towe

Review; Christmas Kisses by Judith Keim

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Earlier this year I recieved an ARC of the novel Christmas Kisses by Judith Keim through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Random circumstances brought them together. Love made them family. Hailey Kirby plans to spend a wonderful Christmas holiday at the Cedar Mountain Lodge with her family, celebrating her sister’s wedding as Maid of Honor. Things go awry when the wedding is called off. Hoping to comfort her sister, her mother and three sisters decide to go ahead with their winter vacation plans at the Lodge. Hailey works in town as the children’s librarian, and under the pen name of Lee Merriweather is secretly the author and illustrator of picture books. Young children adore the stories of Charlie and his dog, Zeke, including Regan, the niece of Nick Hensley, a rock star musician who’s recently moved back to Granite Ridge. When he reaches out to the author to seek permission to write songs to go with the stories, H

Top Five Books; Books By Famous Fantasy Authors

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I decided to write yet another Top Five Books post, a feature hosted by Devouring Books . The theme of the week was books by famous authors and I decided narrowing it down a bit with naming five fantasy books by authors that are female. That said, as it's just a top five list, plenty of amazing authors have sadly been excluded. My random picks are; Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden Caraval by Stephanie Garber Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Review; A Christmas Carol by Philip Gooden and Charles Dickens

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Earlier this year I was fortunate enough to recieve an ARC of A Christmas Carol by Philip Gooden and Charles Dickens through Netgalley. I read it shortly afterwards and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads Who can help a mean old man to love Christmas? How about a ghost? (…or three!) Scrooge’s heart is colder than snow, he’s richer than half the banks in England and meaner than, well, everyone. But when three seriously spooky ghosts turn up to take him on an adventure through time, he soon learns that being cold isn’t cool. Can he change his ways before it’s too late? About The Charles Dickens Children's Collection: Bah humbug! Who says the classics are just for adults? Join Ebeneezer Scrooge on his ghostly Christmas adventure, or follow orphaned Oliver Twist from rags to riches in some of literature's most famous tales from the foggy streets of Victorian London.Adapted and illustrated for children aged 7+. About Sweet Cherry Easy Classics: Sweet Cherry Ea

Book Tag; The Jingle Bells Book Tag

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I came across The Jingle Bells Book Tag over at  The Book Dutchesses  and I decided to play along as it looked like a fun tag to do. “All I Want For Christmas Is You…” What book do you want to see under the Christmas Tree? Seven Kinds of People You Find in Bookshops by Shaun Bythell “Simply Having A Wonderful Christmas Time…” What book that you have read this year have you enjoyed the most? Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender Elf What book unleashes your inner child? The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis “It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas…” Which book has the most festive look to it? Death By Eggnog by Alex Erickson The Holiday Name your favourite TWO couples… Arthur and Molly Weasley from the Harry Potter series and Morticia and Gomez Addams from The Addams Family. What book would you like to give as a present to your followers? You Are Invited by Sarah A. Denzil Share the Joy Tag other bloggers I'm not going to tag any one specific, so if you want to do this tag, feel

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge; Books That Would Make Great Gifts

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It's Wednesday and time for the final Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge post of the year, courtesy of  Long and Short Reviews . Fittingly, the topic of the week was books that would make great gifts. There's so many good books out there that would make great gifts, it's almost a bit hard to choose, but here's a few of them. Pharcel: Runaway Slave by Alick Lazare Seraphina by Rachel Hartman Roanoke Ridge by J. J. Dupuis Cooking for Ghosts by Patricia V. Davis The Occupation by Deborah Swift Misfits by Hunter Shea Felix Ever After by Kacen Callender Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes Hood Feminism: Notes From The Women That A Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall A Shot of Murder by J. A. Kazimer The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead The Reading Buddy by Bryce Gibson