There are many reasons that I choose not to finish a book and then subsequently am compelled to write about the experience in a review. Sometimes it is irritation or anger or frustration. Sometimes, like now, it’s because I’ve stumbled across a book that will be someone’s catnip; it’s just not my catnip. I can’t force myself through the rest of the story, but I’m desperate for Thistlemarsh to find its readers. So much so … Continue reading Thistlemarsh by Moorea Corrigan→
I reached 28% before I couldn’t take this story for a second longer. Doesn’t seem all that far in, I know, but it made me think and feel A LOT in that 28% and I want to talk about it. The Paris Match might be the perfect example of ‘your mileage may vary’. I picked this book up for the gorgeous cover. I was so enamoured of the cover and what I assumed the feel … Continue reading The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn→
The Midnight Show is a ridiculously immersive and compelling celebrity mystery told through interview transcripts, email messages, texts, and articles as a Rolling Stone journalist and sketch comedy fan researches and compiles a history of a late-night program clearly based on SNL. The journalist, Madeline, interviews all the original surviving cast members, and is attempting to both investigate the history of the first seasons and establish a timeline for the central mystery: what happened to … Continue reading The Midnight Show by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne→
How I felt starting this book is very different to how I felt ending this book and also different to how I felt about 75% in. To explain this, I’m going to need to include spoilers (don’t worry, I’ll hide them behind spoiler tags). On the tiny island of Ormer, there is a farm shop. Charlie Jones is offered a job as the new farm manager. On the allotted day, two Charlie Joneses show up … Continue reading The Name Game by Beth O’Leary→
This book is a delight! I know the cover is not nearly as cute as the cover of the first in this series, Partners in Crime, but don’t be put off! Enemies to lovers is suspenseful, twisty, swoony and so so good. I don’t want to spoil anything about this story, so please refer to the cover copy below for the basics of the plot. I have so many wonderful things to say about Enemies … Continue reading Enemies to Lovers by Alisha Rai→
I got my hopes up too high for this novel. Strategic fail. You see, I had been trying to find a copy for review purposes for months, but it was never available in South Africa. When the book finally was available, I grabbed it with both hands. It’s a rare book that can live up to months and months of anticipation and sadly this one did not. Lydia is rich thanks to the wool processing … Continue reading How to Lose a Lord in Ten Days by Sophie Irwin→
This book is ludicrous and not in a fun way. Before I let my rant get away with me, the blurb: Eoin Aucourte, the newly minted Duke of Foxglen, always played by his grandfather’s rules. But now that the old man is dead, Eoin’s first decision is to track down his long-lost mother. The only problem? He’ll have to visit the infamous Black Sheep Coffeehouse to begin his search. Rumor has it that the owner, … Continue reading Miss Wick and the Duke Dilemma by Violet Marsh→
I just finished reading the first book in this series, Murder by Memory, and I immediately picked up the second in the series – this one. To summarise the premise of this series, Dorothy is a ship’s detective on board the Fairweather, a massive space ship travelling for 1000 years to a new planet with 10 000 people on board. Everyone on the ship has a body and also a book in the Library. The … Continue reading Nobody’s Baby by Olivia Waite→
I try not to pigeonhole myself too much as a reader. While cosy as a descriptor in general tends to make me feral with irritation, there are exceptions and this book is definitely an exception. I was delighted when my library hold for this book arrived, even though I couldn’t remember what led me to place that hold. Perhaps it’s the combination of sci fi, mystery, and cosy that made me curious. Dorothy Gentleman is … Continue reading Murder by Memory by Olivia Waite→
I am always delighted to find new-to-me historical romance authors and this one is a treat. I started mid-series, which isn’t ideal, but I followed the story with glee. I will, however, be going back and starting with the first book because this series has so much Lara catnip. You all know I’m a bit of a blurb hater at this point, but this one did a good job, so I’ll share it here: Ivy … Continue reading Never Spar With a Viscount by Lindsay Lovise→
CW: Self-harm (historical), violence, death of secondary characters. AJ reviewed the first book in the series, Slippery Creatures and enjoyed it and so did I. There is a simple reason for this being a review of the next two books together rather than one: when I finished The Sugared Game I was in agony, desperate for the rest of Will and Kim’s story in Subtle Blood. This is the second time I’ve read this trilogy. It … Continue reading The Sugared Game and Subtle Blood by KJ Charles→
