The Smell of Ink/Lukten av Trykksverte

It's Friday yet again and perhaps time for another Let's Talk Bookish post courtesy of  Book Nook Bits and the topic of the week was books as gifts. Here's the further prompts for this week. Do books make good gifts? Do you ever give or receive books as gifts? Would you rather receive a book from your wish list or be surprised? What would you do if you didn’t like the book you were given? Would you expect someone to read a book you got them right away? As a book dragon, I do think books make good gifts for the right person, and I've both given and recieved books as gifts. I do prefer being surprised when it comes to recieving books, as sometimes it's those surprises that could turn out to be a nice read. If I know I'm not going to read the book ever, like the social justice edition Bible I recieved some years ago, there's a chance I'll return it to the shop/store in exchange for something else. I may be into social justice, but religion is a different ...

As it's the month of Christmas, it's only fair I do a couple Christmas-themed book tags and I came across The Christmas Cracker Book Tag over at The Book Dutchesses . Here's the questions. Stalking Ground by Margaret Mizushima A Pair of Silver Wings by James Holland Murder Most Festive by Ada Moncrieff A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness I'm honestly not quite sure what to read yet. Gallows Hill by Darcy Coates 100 Fathoms Below by Steven L. Kent and Nicholas Kaufmann

Recently, I read the cosy mystery Cat's Paws and Curses by Nancy Warren and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads When Lucy organizes a holiday knitting circle, it's good fun, Until someone's murdered... And the culprit must be one of the knitters... Knitting an ugly Christmas jumper at Cardinal Woolsey’s knitting shop in Oxford, is supposed to be relaxing. Until a knitter keels over. it’s soon clear to amateur sleuth Lucy that murder's in the air and the culprit is one of the knitters. This is a fun take on a classic closed room mystery. Of course, no room is every closed when vampires live downstairs. But are the undead knitters to blame? Or is there more to this Oxford knitting circle than lumpy Santas and light-up reindeer? This is a shorter holiday whodunnit. It was previously published in the collection: Six Merry Little Murders. More fun than an ugly Christmas jumper, this story is part of the Vampire Knitting Club series, though it can be re...

It's Christmas Day and what more fitting, than posting a review of a Christmas themed horror novella? I recently read The Lights by Carrie Pack and today I'll share my review. Description from Goodreads It's winter break and Molly Monroe is content to enjoy her town's annual Festival of Lights with her girlfriend Chelsea at her side. But almost immediately after the lights go up, the town's children begin to act strangely, especially Molly's own brother, Roger. When their next-door neighbors are killed in a grisly double homicide, Molly begins to suspect the incidents are linked. Now she must convince her parents and the rest of the town to take down the Christmas lights before everyone gets killed. My Thoughts on the Book The Lights is a fast paced and quick read, which easily can be read in one sitting. The plot is a bit terrifying, because of the possessed murderous kids (it's not your cutesey and fluffy Christmas romance novel, all right). While I liked...

I came across The Christmas Song Book Tag over at  Hailey in Bookland and I decided to play along as it looked like a fun tag. QUESTIONS // 1. "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch" Name a villainous character you couldn't help but love. Prof. Snape from Harry Potter. 2. "All I Want for Christmas is You" Which book to you most hope to see under your Christmas tree? There's a lot of books on my wishlist, but one of the books I want is Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala 3. "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" Name a character that overcomes major obstacles and learns to believe in themselves. Where the Light Gets In by Lucy Dillon 4. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" a) Which character do you think would be on the top of the naughty list? Voldremort b) Which character do you think would be at the top of the nice list? Morrigan Crow from the Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend 5. "Frosty the Snowman" Which book just melts your heart. T...

Earlier this month, I read the mystery novel Sherlock Holmes and the Christmas Demon written by James Grove and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads The new Sherlock Holmes novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Age of Odin and Firefly - Big Damn Hero. It is 1890, and in the days before Christmas Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson are visited at Baker Street by a new client. Eve Allerthorpe - eldest daughter of a grand but somewhat eccentric Yorkshire-based dynasty - is greatly distressed, as she believes she is being haunted by a demonic Christmas spirit. Her late mother told her terrifying tales of the sinister Black Thurrick, and Eve is sure that she has seen the creature from her bedroom window. What is more, she has begun to receive mysterious parcels of birch twigs, the Black Thurrick's calling card... Eve stands to inherit a fortune if she is sound in mind, but it seems that something - or someone - is threatening her sanity. Holmes and...

Recently I read the Christmas-themed mystery novel Murder Most Festive by Ada Moncrieff and today I'll post my review. Description from Goodreads It's Christmas at Westbury Manor and amateur detective Hugh Gaveston must unravel a fiendish mystery... Christmas Eve, 1938. The Westbury family and assorted friends have gathered for another legendary celebration at their beautiful country house. The champagne flows, the silverware sparkles and upstairs the rooms are ready for their occupants. But one bed will lie empty that night. On Christmas morning, David Campbell-Scott is found dead in the snow. There's a pistol beside him and only one set of footprints. Yet something doesn't seem right to amateur sleuth Hugh Gaveston. Campbell-Scott had just returned from overseas with untold wealth - why would he kill himself? Hugh sets out to investigate... My Thoughts on the Book Murder Most Festive was a fun and engaging locked room mystery with several interesting character and the...

I came across the Joy Of Christmas Book Tag over at  Meeghan Reads and I decided to play along as it looked like a fun book tag. Anticipation: The Christmas excitement is real, what book releases are you most anticipating? There's so many, I have no idea where to start. Christmas songs and carols: What book or author can you not help but sing it/their praises? I really love James Holland. Gingerbread Houses: What book or series has wonderful world building? The Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor has some amazing world building. A Christmas Carol: Favorite classic or one that you want to read? I really love Dracula by Bram Stoker. Christmas Sweets: What book would you love to receive for Christmas? The Mary Shelley Club by Goldy Moldavsky Candles in the Window: What book gives you that warm fuzzy feeling? The Little Bookshop of Love Stories by Jaimie Admans Christmas Trees & Decorations: What are some of your favorite book covers? Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moren...

I came across the Baby It's Cold Outside Book Tag created by  Reading On A Star and I wanted to play along. The Rules Thank the person who tagged you and link to their post. Display the banner(copy and paste). Link to the original creator: erin @ Reading On A Star ! Answer the questions! Tag however many people as you want! - I'm not tagging anyone, so if anyone wants to do this tag, consider yourself tagged. Snow Day – What’s your “comfort” book? Chocolat by Joanne Harris. Snow Angels – What’s a book that you love so much you would want to be buried with it(a little morid, but…)? Dracula by Bram Stoker Warm Socks – What’s a book that makes you feel warm inside?(The fluffiest, cutest romance you’ve ever read?) The Little Bookshop of Love Stories by Jaimie Admans Hot Cocoa – What winter-themed novels have you previously read? Some of the winter-themed novels I've read previously includes A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Silent Knit, Deadly Knit by Peggy Ehrhart, Appl...

I came across The Christmas Stocking Book Tag created by Reading Through Infinity  and I decided to play along. Rules Link to the person who tagged you (I didn't get tagged, so I tagged myself) Link to me, as I’d love to read your answers Answer all 10 questions, choosing books for each theme Tag five people to do this You get up on Christmas morning and your stocking is full! You take it down and start to unwrap the treats inside. The first thing you see is… An orange! Which book is refreshing and vibrant, both inside and out? Chocolat by Joanne Harris The next thing you see is a bag of chocolate coins. (Yum) Which book have you recently bought that was a little expensive, but totally worth the price? A book about Icelandic knitting. You also pull out a bath bomb. Tell us about a book that had explosive action scenes. The Burning Blue by James Holland Next is a pack of playing cards. Which series won you over? The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore & Bar by Seanna Kelly You also get ...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...