I returned from my holiday in Crete, a lovely place that I’d love to return to late last Sunday night with a notebook full of scribbled notes from the books that I’d read and so this week has been spent trying to decipher them and put them into something resembling proper reviews!
Last Week on the Blog
Monday’s review was for Watching Edie by Camilla Wray which arrived shortly before I went on holiday from lovereading; great, but they wanted the review sent the day after my holiday started so the bones of that one was at least pre-typed. Fortunately the book was superb, dark and disturbing, just the way I like them and so this review was a joy to share.
On Tuesday my post contained an extract from another psychological thriller, Intrusion by Mary McCluskey. I’m taking the first stop on publication day, 1 July, on the blog tour for this one so my review will be with you later this week and the guest post by this author is superb.
Wednesday saw me sharing my reads with you, sadly this week has been busy and I haven’t even opened Testament of Youth by Vera Brittain yet and so I’m considering a book shuffle but we will see!
I had another review on Thursday, this time from one of my 20 Books of Summer 2016 challenge reads; Pictures of Perfection by Reginald Hill was actually a re-read but it was a superb choice, if I say so myself. I’d forgotten quite how brilliant this book was and it kept me thoroughly entertained at the pool-side, sipping cocktails!
Friday’s review was for one of my kindle reads. I have been a huge fan of the author Tamar Cohen since reading her first book, but for some reason I’d never got around to reading The War of the Wives; I have now! If you’re from the UK you may have missed it because there was some big political news that day!
Yesterday I posted a review for my fourth read from 20 Books of Summer 2016 (yes I know, I’m behind schedule but I’m not panicking, much!) This was another book from a crime series I love which I took away because I knew it would be a sure fire winner, and it was – The title? That will be Buried Angels by Camilla Läckberg
Stacking the Shelves
Well of course I’ve been away with no access to NetGalley at all (I can only access it from my laptop as I have no idea what my password is and I’m too frightened to try and change it in case future access is denied!) but some old requests came through… and I came home! Here’s what I have:
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware whose debut novel In a Dark, Dark Wood was set around a hen party – I’m trying to forget how spooked I felt by this book as I’ll be attending my daughter’s next month!
Blurb
This was meant to be the perfect trip.
The Northern Lights. A luxury press launch on a boutique cruise ship.
A chance for travel journalist Lo Blackwood to recover from a traumatic break-in that has left her on the verge of collapse, and to work out what she wants from her relationship.
Except things don’t go as planned.
Woken in the night by screams, Lo rushes to her window to see a body thrown overboard from the next door cabin. But the records show that no-one ever checked into that cabin, and no passengers are missing from the boat.
Exhausted, emotional and increasingly desperate, Lo has to face the fact that she may have made a terrible mistake. Or she is trapped on a boat with a murderer – and she is the sole witness… NetGalley
Yep, that sounds suitably unnerving! The Woman in Cabin 10 will be published on 30 June 2016.
I also was lucky enough to get a copy of The Museum of You by Carys Bray which was published on 16 June 2016. I’ve read lots of reviews about this one and I’m intrigued to read it for myself.
Blurb
Clover Quinn was a surprise. She used to imagine she was the good kind, now she’s not sure. She’d like to ask Dad about it, but growing up in the saddest chapter of someone else’s story is difficult. She tries not to skate on the thin ice of his memories.
Darren has done his best. He’s studied his daughter like a seismologist on the lookout for waves and surrounded her with everything she might want – everything he can think of, at least – to be happy.
What Clover wants is answers. This summer, she thinks she can find them in the second bedroom, which is full of her mother’s belongings. Volume isn’t important, what she is looking for is essence; the undiluted bits: a collection of things that will tell the full story of her mother, her father and who she is going to be.
But what you find depends on what you’re searching for. NetGalley
I also requested a copy of Claire Seeber’s The Stepmother as I have really enjoyed some of this author’s previous books. With a publication date of 15 July 2016 this is squeezing the reading schedule more than is remotely sensible so I’m swearing back of NG again; for real this time!
Blurb
The perfect wife. A fairytale family. Don’t believe your eyes…
Jeanie and Matthew are a happily married couple who both have teenage children from previous relationships.
No one said it would be easy to raise a blended family under one roof but Jeanie and Matthew are strong. They will make it work.
And whilst Jeanie’s step-daughter Scarlett rejects her, Jeanie will just have to try harder to win her over.
But Jeanie has a past. A terrible secret she thought she’d buried a long time ago. And now, it’s coming to the surface, threatening to destroy her new marriage.
Someone is playing a terrifying game on Jeanie and she must put a stop to it once and for all.
After all, a fairytale needs a happy ending … doesn’t it? NetGalley
And finally I received a mystery book through the post which is strictly under embargo until 11 July 2016 – so I can’t tell you anything about it but I am incredibly pleased to have received a copy as I’ve never had a top secret book before!!
TBR WATCH
We have progress!! Since my last post I have read 11 books, discarded 1 as DNF and only gained 4 so the total this week is now standing at 173 books!
89 physical books
66 e-books
18 books on NetGalley
What have you found to read this week?
Goodness, for someone who’s been away on holiday, you seem to have been awfully busy! As for your #20booksofsummer, panic not, as I am also at about the same number as you but still hopeful I will complete this, even as I get busier and busier with organising the move.
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Haha the holiday was lovely but I came home and realised quite how much I have planned for the rest of the summer and fear carving out time for reading is going to be tough – although it’s nothing on your scale 😉
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That’s a LOT of books for vacation. The Stepmother looks like one awesome thriller!
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They weren’t all read on my holiday! The Stepmother looks very good indeed, I simply couldn’t resist it.
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I am reading The Woman in Cabin 10 at the moment and its even better than In a Dark Dark Wood in my opinion! And I loved The Museum of You which I reviewed last week. Looking forward to The Stepmother also. And am very intrigued by your Top Secret book!!! I have one too but don’t think it’s the same one??? x
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Ooh two top secret books circulating at the same time!! I read your review of The Museum of You – sounds so good!
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Are you sure you were on holiday? Haha! It sure looks like you’re still on a hectic schedule!
Ooh, a top secret book, that is very exciting! I can’t wait to hear more about it. I am really happy you could not resist to The Stepmother. I am starting it later today.
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Haha I loved having time to read but I did do other things too – I know lots about Crete’s history and Olives now!
I was about to post about the secret book when I read the info sheet which had in big letters under strict embargo! The Stepmother looks fab, I can’t wait to hear what you think of it.
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I hope you had a lovely time! 🙂 They should envelop books with the info sheets because I know when I receive books all I care about is the object itself and I never pay attention to the papers with it!
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So glad you had a lovely trip, Cleo. And you did have a fine week of reading, too. I’ve been hearing great things about the Ware, and the Bray sounds really interesting, too. I hope you’ll enjoy it.
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I managed to pick some great books to accompany on my break and I’ve come home to some great new books too – a win/win situation!
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I’m a bit behind on #20Books as well but have a week away soon and I intend to turbo through a few books (and my TBR stack!).
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My worry is that July and August are both massively busy with reduced reading time – oh well I’ll have fun trying.
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Testament of Youth is fabulous. I finished & loved Summer House With Swimming Pool by Herman Koch. Started Let’s Get Lost by Aldi Elsa is (it’s like he’s writing about my daughter) and Dinner With Edward by Isabel Vincent. Have a great reading week.
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I can’t wait to read Testament of Youth but need to clear a bit of time (which is in short supply at the moment) I really enjoyed the Herman Koch too – and I love it when a book reminds you of someone in your life. You have a fab reading week too!
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Thanks for stopping by!
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Glad you had a good holiday – a place I’ve never been but always wanted. I would read all on your list but have to say Ruth Ware would be top of it. Have a good week.
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It was beautiful and full of history so the perfect place for me. I’m so looking forward to the Ruth Ware, early reviews promise great things.
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Oh, what a lovely holiday in Crete! I’ve never been, of course, never having left the states, except for Canada and Mexico.
I am vicariously visiting all of Europe through my son and DIL…lol.
I can’t take my eyes off of The Step Mother! I don’t think I would be able to sleep after reading it, though…but that’s okay. Sleep is overrated.
Love your Wrap-Up Logo, which looks great with the header on this theme.
Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
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It was beautiful but far hillier than I expected – I had to exercise my muscles that’s for sure! The Stepmother does look good doesn’t it? Although I shouldn’t have requested it as I have no time in my schedule and few opportunities for reading much over the next couple of weeks.
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Glad you had a nice if busy holiday. I’ve just started A woman in cabin 10 as really enjoyed her first one.
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Thank you. I’m so looking forward the A Woman in Cabin 10 – I was properly spooked by In a dark, dark wood which rarely happens to me.
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So many books I love it, enjoy!
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Thank you so much for visiting 🙂
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You always have an amazing selection of books to choose from and many I haven’t heard of or just recently heard of. You are in the know lady.
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Why thank you 🙂
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Hi Cleo. The Museum of You intrigues me. Its summary reminds me of the days I used to have differentiated, reading groups. I taught Sharon Creech’s work of Chasing Redbird and Walk Two Moons. They both deal with a young girl’s questions about the loss of a loved one.
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Oh my daughter was a huge fan of Sharon Creech I remember her begging me to buy Walk Two Moons in the bookshop (how could I possibly resist?)
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I requested The Woman in Cabin 10 but got turned down:-(. I look forward to reading your review though. I also got The Step Mother.
Glad you had a great holiday. Have a lovely week.
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Oh that’s sad – I do hope you get to read it sometime The Stepmother looks very good. Thank you it was so good. Have a great week too!
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I have read The woman in cabin 10 (thanks to the lovely people of Netgalley) and it’s even better and spookier than In the dark, dark woods. I hope there will be a new Ruth Ware very soon, I am hooked!
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Ooh that’s good to know Irma – I’m really looking forward to it.
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173???? *gulps* You should definitely go on a spree…
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🙂 I know I might wake up one morning and have nothing to read!! I’m staying strong(ish)
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