My Week in Books – 20th June 2021

MyWeekinBooks

On What Cathy Read Next last week

Blog posts

Monday – I published my review of The Fort by Adrian Goldsworthy as part of the blog tour.

Tuesday This week’s Top Ten Tuesday topic was Books On My Summer 2021 TBR. I also joined in with two more blog tours with my review of Scandalous Alchemy by Katy Moran and an extract from Castle Shade by Laurie R. King.

WednesdayWWW Wednesday is the opportunity to share what I’ve just read, what I’m currently reading and what I plan to read next… and to have a good nose around what others are reading. I also republished my review of The High-Rise Diver by Julia von Lucadou as part of the blog tour.

Thursday – I shared my publication day review of Love and Fury: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft by Samantha Silva.

Friday – I published my review of Everything Happens for a Reason by Katie Allen as part of the blog tour.

Saturday – I shared an update on my progress with the 20 Books of Summer Reading Challenge 2021

As always, thanks to everyone who has liked, commented on or shared my blog posts on social media.


New arrivals

The Hidden ChildThe Hidden Child by Louise Fein (limited edition proof, courtesy of Head of Zeus) 

London, 1929. Eleanor Hamilton is a dutiful mother, a caring sister and an adoring wife to a celebrated war hero. Her husband, Edward, is a pioneer in the Eugenics movement. The Hamiltons are on the social rise, and it looks as though their future is bright.

When Mabel, their young daughter, begins to develop debilitating seizures, they have to face the uncomfortable truth – Mabel has epilepsy: one of the ‘undesirable’ conditions that Edward campaigns against.

Forced to hide the truth so as not to jeopardise Edward’s life’s work, the couple must confront the truth of their past – and the secrets that have been buried.

Will Eleanor and Edward be able to fight for their family? Or will the truth destroy them?

SongbirdsSongbirds by Christy Lefteri (review copy courtesy of Zaffre and Readers First)

Nisha has crossed oceans to give her child a future. By day she cares for Petra’s daughter; at night she mothers her own little girl by the light of a phone.

Nisha’s lover, Yiannis, is a poacher, hunting the tiny songbirds on their way to Africa each winter. His dreams of a new life, and of marrying Nisha, are shattered when she vanishes.

No one cares about the disappearance of a domestic worker, except Petra and Yiannis. As they set out to search for her, they realise how little they know about Nisha. What they uncover will change them all.


On What Cathy Read Next this week

Currently reading

Planned posts

  • Book Review: The Readers’ Room by Antoine Laurain
  • Top Ten Tuesday
  • WWW Wednesday
  • Blog Tour/Book Review: One Last Time by Helga Flatland
  • Book Review: Yours Cheerfully by AJ Pearce 

#WWWWednesday – 16th June 2021

WWWWednesdays

Hosted by Taking on a World of Words, this meme is all about the three Ws:

  • What are you currently reading?
  • What did you recently finish reading?
  • What do you think you’ll read next?

Why not join in too?  Leave a comment with your link at Taking on a World of Words and then go blog hopping!


Currently reading

The Readers' RoomThe Readers’ Room by Antoine Laurain (review copy, courtesy of Gallic Books)

When the manuscript of a debut crime novel arrives at a Parisian publishing house, everyone in the readers’ room is convinced it’s something special. And the committee for France’s highest literary honour, the Prix Goncourt, agrees. 

But when the shortlist is announced, there’s a problem for editor Violaine Lepage: she has no idea of the author’s identity. As the police begin to investigate a series of murders strangely reminiscent of those recounted in the book, Violaine is not the only one looking for answers. And, suffering memory blanks following an aeroplane accident, she’s beginning to wonder what role she might play in the story… 

Yours CheerfullyYours Cheerfully by A. J. Pearce (eARC, courtesy of Picador via NetGalley)

London, September, 1941. Following the departure of the formidable Editor, Henrietta Bird, from Woman’s Friend magazine, things are looking up for Emmeline Lake as she takes on the challenge of becoming a young wartime advice columnist. Her relationship with boyfriend Charles is blossoming, while Emmy’s best friend Bunty, is still reeling from the very worst of the Blitz, but bravely looking to the future. Together, the friends are determined to Make a Go of It.

When the Ministry of Information calls on Britain’s women’s magazines to help recruit desperately needed female workers to the war effort, Emmy is thrilled to be asked to step up and help. But when she and Bunty meet a young woman who shows them the very real challenges that women war workers face, Emmy must tackle a life-changing dilemma between doing her duty, and standing by her friends.


Recently finished

Links from the titles will take you to my review.

Mrs England by Stacey Halls 

The Fort (City of Victory #1) by Adrian Goldsworthy 

Scandalous Alchemy by Katy Moran

Everything Happens for a Reason by Katie Allen 

Love and Fury: A Novel of Mary Wollstonecraft by Samantha Silva 


What Cathy (will) Read Next

Three Little TruthsThree Little Truths by Eithne Shortall (review copy, courtesy of Corvus and Readers First)

One happy street. Three pretty houses. So many lies.

Martha used to be a force of nature: calm, collected, and in charge. But since moving her husband and two daughters to Dublin under sudden and mysterious circumstances, she can’t seem to find her footing.

Robin was the “it” girl in school, destined for success. Now she’s back at her parents’ with her four-year-old son, vowing that her ne’er-do-well ex is out of the picture for good.

Edie has everything she could want, apart from a baby, and the acceptance of her new neighbors. She longs to be one of the girls, and to figure out why her perfect husband seems to be avoiding their perfect future.

Three women looking for a fresh start on idyllic Pine Road. Their friendship will change their lives, and reveal secrets they never imagined.