Reading Round-Up: November/December 2024

It's the end of another year and time for my last reading round-up post of 2024!

Book Review: Unfixed by Amy L. Sauder

* AD | Julia Trencher has died. Twice. But Geppetto’s Circus of Strange Marvels offers hope of others like her - a place she could be welcomed, celebrated even. She didn’t know it would lead to herself and the circus vanishing amidst a mysterious fire.

Now, all that remains are the historical circus wagons at the edge of town and a darkness that a young man Max can’t seem to shake. As Max investigates the enchanted circus claims and the Trenchers abandoned mansion, the line between villains and sidekicks blurs, and revealing the circus’ secrets may come at the cost of confronting his own.

Book Review: That Night in New York by Laura Wilkinson

AD* | Steph, an advice columnist, is stuck in a stagnant life, while lonely architect Harry dreams of rediscovering his passion. Despite a chance encounter in New York sparking a magical connection between them, fear and past wounds keep them apart. But when Steph's daughter, Lola, enters the picture, their paths intertwine in unexpected ways. As Steph fights to save her community's beloved park and confronts her past, she must choose between safety and taking a leap of faith.

Reading Round-Up: September/October 2024

Happy Halloween! I can't believe it's time for my penultimate reading round-up of the year already. Where has this year gone? Spending my days looking after my little one has meant lots of time for books, and I've been making the most of my downtime to catch up on my reading target. I'm determined to reach my goal of reading 50 books this year! 

You can catch up here if you missed my last reading round-up post.

Book Review: The Curse of Penryth Hall by Jess Armstrong

AD* | After the Great War, American heiress Ruby Vaughn made a life for herself running a rare bookstore alongside her octogenarian employer and housemate in Exeter. She’s always avoided dwelling on the past, even before the war, but it always has a way of finding her. When Ruby is forced to deliver a box of books to a folk healer living deep in the Cornish countryside, she is brought back to the one place she swore she’d never return. A more sensible soul would have delivered the package and left without rehashing old wounds. But no one has ever accused Ruby of being sensible. Thus begins her visit to Penryth Hall.

A foreboding fortress, Penryth Hall is home to Ruby’s once dearest friend, Tamsyn, and her husband, Sir Edward Chenowyth. It’s an unsettling place, and after a more unsettling evening, Ruby is eager to depart. But her plans change when Penryth’s bells ring for the first time in thirty years. Edward is dead; he met a gruesome end in the orchard, and with his death brings whispers of a returned curse. It also brings Ruan Kivell, the person whose books brought her to Cornwall, the one the locals call a Pellar, the man they believe can break the curse. Ruby doesn’t believe in curses—or Pellars—but this is Cornwall and to these villagers the curse is anything but lore, and they believe it will soon claim its next victim: Tamsyn.

To protect her friend, Ruby must work alongside the Pellar to find out what really happened in the orchard that night.

Reading Round-Up: July/August 2024

Welcome back to another reading round-up post here on The Writing Greyhound! This summer has been filled with all things baby for me, so my free time for books has been limited. However, those sleepless nights and 3am wake-ups have been used to catch up on reading while enjoying cuddles with my newborn which is definitely the best of both worlds.

Book Review: Last Seen Online by Lauren James

AD* | When Delilah meets Sawyer Saffitz (son of Anya Saffitz, aka Hollywood royalty), she becomes hooked on a decade-old scandal. In her quest for the truth, Delilah uncovers blog posts written by the mysterious “gottiewrites” and is soon caught up in a world of greed, fandom conspiracy theories … and murder. And the deeper Delilah digs, the more dangerous it becomes – because someone is willing to kill to hide the truth.

Reading Round-Up: May/June 2024

Summer is finally here and it's been lovely to enjoy reading in the garden on the warmer days again. These last few months have also been quite busy for me outside of my bookish world, as the real world has been filled with plenty of last-minute preparations for a certain new arrival. That has meant time to read has been a little on the limited side, but luckily, needing to rest more often has also meant more time to delve into whichever book I've had on the go. Swings and roundabouts! 

Reading Round-Up: March/April 2024

Spring is in the air, and it's been wonderful to sit and read in the natural light for longer now that the evenings are getting lighter once again. This is the time of year for new beginnings and making fresh starts, and spring 2024 has certainly been a good one for my reading too.

Read on to catch up with everything that's been going on lately in my bookish world!

Reading Round-Up: January/February 2024

It's time for my first reading round-up post of the year! With plenty of books on my shelves, I've been busy reading away to get 2024 off to a strong start for my annual reading challenge. Read on to check out everything that's been going on lately in my bookish world!

Reading Round-Up: November/December 2023

It's the end of another year and time to say goodbye to 2023. However, that also means it's time for my last reading round-up of the year! 

In this post, I'll share the details of all the books that I've been reading, acquiring, and wishing for during November and December. Be warned though - not only has Christmas fallen in this month's post, but also the delayed YALC (Young Adult Literature Convention) was in November this year, so there's been plenty of bookish activity going on over these last few months.

Read on to find out more!

Book Review: The Fortunes of Olivia Richmond by Louise Davidson

Last Updated: 01 August 2024

AD* | After a terrible tragedy, governess Julia Pearlie finds herself with no job, home, or references. When she’s offered a position as companion to Miss Olivia Richmond, her luck appears to be turning. But Mistcoate House is full of secrets.

Olivia has a sinister reputation. The locals call her the Mistcoate Witch, thanks to her tarot readings, and her insistence that she can speak to the dead. Her father, Dr Richmond, believes this to be girlish fantasy and is looking to Julia to put a stop to it.

Determined to prove herself and shake off her own murky history, Julia sets to work trying to help Olivia become a proper young lady. However, as she becomes a fixture at Mistcoate, it is soon clear that there may be more to Olivia’s stories than Dr Richmond would have Julia believe – not least because somehow, Olivia seems to know something of the darkness that Julia desperately hoped she had left behind.

As the danger grows, and the winter chill wraps around the dark woods surrounding Mistcoate, Julia will have to fight to uncover the truth, escape her past – and save herself.

Book Review: A Body in the Library by Jan Jones

AD* | An ordinary Monday morning in an ordinary Cambridgeshire village. What isn’t ordinary is the dead body in Calli Nelson’s village library. It is no one she knows, but her friend Gideon Frost has lived in Fencross Parva all his life and views any unpleasant goings-on within its boundaries as a personal challenge. Perhaps together they can solve the mystery of who killed the man, and why?

Book Review: The Trees Grew Because I Bled There by Eric LaRocca

AD* | Eight stories of literary dark fiction from a master storyteller. Exploring the shadow side of love, these are tales of grief, obsession, control. Intricate examinations of trauma and tragedy in raw, poetic prose. In these narratives, a woman imagines horrific scenarios whilst caring for her infant niece; on-line posts chronicle a cancer diagnosis; a couple in the park with their small child encounter a stranger with horrific consequences; a toxic relationship reaches a terrifying resolution...

Reading Round-Up: September/October 2023

For the past two months (and, in fact, the majority of my life!) I've been exploring the world of books. I've had the joy of stumbling upon some real treasures, adding a few more volumes to my ever-growing collection, and making progress on my 2023 reading goals.

In this post, I'll share everything that's happened in my bookish world during September and October, from the books that truly captivated me to the ones I simply couldn't resist adding to my shelves. So, let's dive into the pages of my latest bookish adventure!

Book Review: Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

AD* | Christmas comes early - far too early - to McCredie’s little Old Town bookshop in Edinburgh. It’s summer, but an American production company has decided that McCredie’s is the perfect location to film a very cheesy Christmas movie. After all, who can resist the charmingly narrow historic street with its Victorian grey stone buildings and warmly lit shop windows?

Carmen Hogan, the bookshop’s manager, is amused and a bit horrified by the goings-on, but the money the studio is paying is too good to pass up. She uses the little windfall from filming to create new displays and fend off a buyout offer from an obnoxious millionaire who wants to turn McCredie’s into a souvenir shop selling kilts made in China and plastic Nessies. Still reeling slightly from a breakup, Carmen’s not particularly looking forward to the holidays. But just as snow begins to fall and the lights of Christmas blink on, all sorts of lovely new possibilities present themselves…for McCredie’s bookstore, and for Carmen herself.

Book Review: The Hidden Letters by Lorna Cook

AD* | On the eve of a world war, a forbidden love will blossom in the garden of a stately home and one young woman will make a choice that will change her life forever...

As the storm clouds of war gather, Cordelia seeks refuge in the grounds of her family estate.

Isaac has recently arrived to tend to the gardens, and the connection between him and Cordelia is as immediate as it is forbidden.

Isaac begins to secretly teach her how to cultivate the gardens, so when he and all the young men are called away to war, Cordelia takes over.

From the battlefields of Europe, Isaac sends her letters, that give her hope for a future in peacetime.

But when these messages abruptly cease, Cordelia must face up to the worst and take her future – and the fate of the garden they both loved – into her own hands...

Book Review: Highlander Seduced by Jayne Castel

AD* | Can a simple chambermaid capture the heart of a proud laird? Passion, honour, and the power of destiny collide in Medieval Scotland.

Bonnie Fraser grew up in the shadows. A servant in Stirling Castle, she’s invisible, ignored - even if her heart yearns for more. But when the king holds a masquerade ball, Bonnie decides to step out of the shadows for once. Masked and disguised, she tastes the excitement of another life—and that’s when she meets a charismatic laird who sweeps her off her feet.

Iver Mackay has always been unlucky in love. Despite his obligations as chieftain of a vast holding, he’s now sworn off marriage, content to let his younger brothers carry on the family bloodline. Yet when he dances with an enigmatic red-haired beauty at the king's ball, Iver forgets himself.

Their encounter leads to a steamy encounter that neither of them will ever forget.

But can there be a happy ending for two people from such different worlds?

Book Review: The Holiday Home by Daniel Hurst

AD* | The perfect holiday or the perfect nightmare...

I sit sipping champagne in the warm water, bubbles frothing around me as I admire the breathtaking view of gorgeous blue skies and mountains. I can’t believe I’m here, at this stunning holiday home. It’s to die for...

My best friend and her husband have invited me and my family to their lakeside property for the weekend, to experience their luxury lifestyle. I’m not envious of their wealth, although I know my husband Ryan is. All I want is to escape from our recent troubles and get my marriage back on track.

Then I overhear Ryan having a whispered conversation late one evening, and he says something that sends a shiver down my spine. In this beautiful paradise my whole world is turned upside down.

Just when I think things can’t get any worse, I discover a second secret. The truth is even more shocking than I imagine, and now I have no idea who to trust.

This was meant to be the perfect holiday, but someone isn’t going to survive it...

Book Review: The Golden Girls' Road Trip by Kate Galley

AD* | It's never too late for one last adventure...

Constance Fitzgerald may be approaching 70, but she's never been one for settling down. She's spent her life untethered and free, but when she finds herself newly engaged and a soon to be grandmother, Constance is forced to accept it may be time, perhaps, to settle down. Until a chance encounter with throws open a window to her past, and Constance decides to head to the Highlands to find an old friend...