Month: August 2020

Recent Reads: The House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas – extract

Posted on by Pam

My review: ????

The House of Earth and Blood by Sarah J Maas is set on a world where there are fae, shifters of all kinds, angels, demons, and also humans.

I was given the first five chapters of the book, and that was enough to set the world, the scene, and introduce you to a number of characters.

Bryce is half human, half fae, loves to party, and is aware that she’s in a world that doesn’t treat every race the same.  I have read enough to be introduced to Bryce, and then see the moment where the most awful thing has happened.  So, I can’t tell you much more than that!

Sarah J Maas is good at sweeping you along with the story, and leaving you wanting more!  She does romance and danger well, and I’m sure the full book is going to be a great ride! 

House of Earth and Blood was published on 3rd March 2020, and is available at Amazon, Waterstones (who have an exclusive edition) and your local independent bookshop.

You can follow Sarah J Maas on her website or on Instagram.

I was given the first five chapters of this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Bloomsbury Publishing.

Recent Reads: The Intoxicating Mr Lavelle by Neil Blackmore

Posted on by Pam

My review: ????

The Intoxicating Mr Lavelle by Neil Blackmore starts with brothers Edgar and Benjamin being declared ready by their mother to go on The Grand Tour, where the young and rich would visit Europe, meet people, see historic sites, and make mistakes.  Above all, their mother makes them swear that they will look after each other, and she is sure that this tour will be the making of them in society.

Benjamin is our protagonist, and so it’s his experiences on the journey that we see, along with his meeting Mr Lavelle, which changes so many things for Benjamin, and for Edgar.

It is a story of love, of changes, and of consequences.  I thought it was good, and uncomfortable in places, but didn’t want to put it down.  

The Intoxicating Mr Lavelle was published on 13th August 2020, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and your local independent bookshop.

You can follow Neil Blackmore on his website and on Twitter.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Penguin Random House, Cornerstone (the publishers).

Recent Reads: The Last Emperox by John Scalzi

Posted on by Pam

My review: ?????

The Last Emperox by John Scalzi is the last book in the Interdependency Trilogy, and I read the other 2 books so I could review the last one.

I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by Scalzi so far, and this wasn’t an exception!  It’s a well written sci-fi story.  It’s fast paced, and you’ll enjoy the ride!

The Last Emperox is one that I would recommend you read the other 2 books for first – they are: The Collapsing Empire and The Consuming Fire.  Both of them are equally well written and you will be joining the characters in hoping they succeed.  

The Last Emperox was published on 16th April 2020, and is available on Amazon and Waterstones.  I’ve found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

You can follow John Scalzi on his website, Facebookand Twitter. 

I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, and so my thanks to NetGalley, and to Pan Macmillan (the publishers) for this book. 

You can have a look on my GoodReads to see what else I’ve read!

 

Recent Reads: Cursed Luck by Kelley Armstrong

Posted on by Pam

My review: ☘️☘️☘️☘️

Cursed Luck by Kelley Armstrong is what happens when a pandemic strikes, and as Armstrong says herself, she needed to write something light and fun!

It’s been a free online serial, which is available on Kelley Armstrong’s website until 13th August, when it will come down for editing, and will be published in May 2021.  

I’ve been reading it as it’s been uploaded, and it’s been really interesting to see the audience interacting with the author as it’s being written, and to see the author change their mind about some bits, for plot reasons.

Kennedy Bennett is a curse breaker, as are her two sisters, and so is their family as far back as they know.  When Aiden Connelly walks into her antiques store and wants her to work for him in de-cursing a mythical object, the Necklace of Harmonia.  The problem is, he doesn’t have it yet, and he isn’t the only one interested in it.  In fact, one of his rivals has kidnapped both of Kennedy’s sisters.  

This looks to be the start of a new series for Armstrong, which I’m excited about!

Cursed Luck is available online until 13th August 2020, and then it will be published in May 2021.  It is available on Amazon to pre-order.  It will be available elsewhere, but we’re too early for that!

You can follow Kelley Armstrong on her website, Twitter and Facebook.

Recent Reads: The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter

Posted on by Pam

My review: ????

The Silent Wife by Karin Slaughter is the tenth in the Will Trent series, but I didn’t find this stopped me from enjoying the book.

A decade old case is going to be re-opened, with Sara Linton’s dead husband as one of the people who investigated it, but did he get the wrong person?

Karin Slaughter writes tense thrillers well, and I remember the moment everything clicked in to place for me, and it was obviously the moment that she wanted it to.  It was well paced, and kept me hooked.

The Silent Wife was published on 23rd June 2020.  You can buy it on Amazon and Waterstones.  I’ve found a link to where you can search for local bookshops, including independent!

If you’re interested in tense thrillers, then here’s some others I’ve reviewed:

The Guest List by Lucy Foley ???? 

The Island by Ragnar Jónasson ????

Run Away by Harlan Coben ????

What She Found in the Woods by Josephine Angelini ????

I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, and so my thanks to NetGalley, and to HarperCollins (the publishers) for this book.