Tag: Monthly update

My 5 Favourite July Reads

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favourite

Of the 13 books I read in July, here are my five favourite (in no particular order). Click on the book title to read my review.

TheWatchHouseThe Watch House by Bernie McGill (5*)

Beautifully written, dramatic historical fiction with an atmospheric setting, characters I cared about and an underlying sense of mystery. If you loved Hannah Kent’s The Good People, you’ll enjoy this.

AReluctantWarriorA Reluctant Warrior by Kelly Brooke Nicholls (4.5*)

This was a terrific find; a book I took a chance on as part of a blog tour. Set in Colombia, it’s a really entertaining read, full of suspense with a fascinating setting and plenty of tense moments but which also exposes the impact of drugs and corruption on the people of that troubled country.

TheVanishingofAudreyWildeThe Vanishing of Audrey Wilde by Eve Chase (4.5*)

Alternating between past and present, this is a dark, suspenseful and atmospheric mystery. It’s a worthy follow-up to Black Rabbit Hall; in fact, it’s even better in my view.

TheThirteenthGateThe Thirteenth Gate by Kat Ross (4*)

An intricately plotted mystery set in the era of Jack the Ripper with added ghouls and daemons. It’s a very entertaining blend of paranormal and historical mystery. The Thirteenth Gate is the second in the Dominion Mystery series but perfectly good as a standalone (although I shall definitely read the first one at some point).

RevenantsRevenants: The Odyssey Home by Scott Kauffman (4*)

This was a review copy sent to me by an author soon after I started my blog and I’m so glad I accepted the offer to review it. It surprised me for being much more than just an entertaining mystery. I found it a fascinating, multi-layered book that explores themes such as the consequences of actions, how power can corrupt, the need to do penance for past actions and the lasting, often unforeseen, impacts of war, not just on the participants but on their families and communities as well.

What were your favourite reads last month?

My 5 Favourite…May Reads

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My5FavouriteMayReads

Of the thirteen books I read in May, here are my five favourites.

Click on the book title to view my review or the Goodreads blurb.

Crimson & Bone by Marina Fiorato

I do love Marina’s mix of historical fiction and romance, and in Crimson & Bone she added a touch of gothic melodrama, a generous helping of mystery and lashings of lovely descriptions of art. A really enjoyable, entertaining read (and a gorgeous cover as well).

Vindolanda by Adrian Goldsworthy

This looks like the first in a new series (at least, I hope so) set in the north of Roman Britain. Action-packed with a great story and interesting hero, it was backed up by the author’s meticulous research and knowledge of the period. If you enjoy Bernard Cornwell’s books or have an interest in Roman history, you will like this.

Fata Morgana by Steven R Boyett & Ken Mitchroney

A WW2 bomber is transported mid-battle through a vortex to a seemingly alien world devastated by a global apocalypse. I can’t do better than repeat my description of this book as ‘a glorious mash-up of The Twilight Zone, The Flight of the Phoenix and The Time Machine (not so much the H G Wells book but the 1960 film starring Rod Taylor)’. Really entertaining.  Sci-fi meets historical fiction.

A Countess in Limbo by Olga Hendrikoff & Sue Carscallen

Fascinating memoir based on the journals of Countess Olga Hendrikoff who lived through the Russian Revolution and the occupation of Paris during WW2. A story of courage, resilience and determination.

Days Without End by Sebastian Barry

This has garnered a lot of praise and prizes and, having recently finished reading it, boy, does it deserve them all. My read of the month; it is simply brilliant. As is often the case with outstanding books, I’m still trying to gather together my thoughts into a review that would in any way do it justice.

What great books did you read in May?  Have you read any of my selection?

My5FavouriteMayReads