The end of an exceptionally busy week catching up on all I missed during my absence with work, friends and family. Sadly my phone didn’t like the Spanish which is making the sharing of posts etc. more problematic than I would like, so please bear with me until it is fixed.
I have however managed to read three books this week which is causing its own problems as I’ve still got stacks of reviews to write from June and my sketchy notes are not really providing as much assistance as I need!
On a more personal front I’ve received a couple of photo albums that my Grandmother kept complete with her annotations and just had to share this one for the summer – My Grandmother is the stylish lady on the right!
It’s taking a long time to decode some of these and although I’m fairly sure the writing says Clapham Sands I’m not really sure if that is correct or not – there’s definitely sand in the picture, but in Clapham?
This Week on the Blog
The week started with me publishing the planned second set of my 20 Books of Summer Challenge – I’ve got just over a month to read these and once again, I’m not entirely sure I’m going to make it but I will give it my best shot!
On that note, I reviewed book 6 of the selection, In Cold Blood by Truman Capote and kind commenters have pointed me in the direction of a couple of films to check out linked to that stunning read.
In This Week in Books I shared my reading by authors: Robert Thorogood, Sarah Franklin and Isabel Ashdown.
My second review of the week was for Lisa Jewell’s latest novel, her darkest yet, Then She Was Gone which was awarded the full five stars by Cleopatra Loves Books
On Friday I reviewed Little Sister by Isabel Ashdown which was published on 27 July 2017 an excellent read which also received five stars.
My week was rounded up with my Six in Six -2017 Edition categorising my favourite reads of the first half of the year under six different headings.
This Time Last Year…
I was reading I See You by Claire Mackintosh a chilling story set on the London Tube – my review for this starts with memories of travelling on the tube with my beloved Grandmother sans fetching bathing suit, it being a good forty plus years after the photo above was taken and not really tube travelling attire!
Claire Mackintosh has really produced a fantastically scary yet all too believable story with all the characters lifelike enough that you feel you know them warts and all.
You can read my full review here or click on the book cover
Blurb
When Zoe Walker sees her photo in the classifieds section of a London newspaper, she is determined to find out why it’s there. There’s no explanation: just a grainy image, a website address and a phone number. She takes it home to her family, who are convinced it’s just someone who looks like Zoe. But the next day the advert shows a photo of a different woman, and another the day after that.
Is it a mistake? A coincidence? Or is someone keeping track of every move they make . . Amazon
Stacking the Shelves
I was absolutely thrilled to be approved for a copy of Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan which I’ve had my eye on since I first saw it mentioned on social media – it isn’t out until January 2018 but I doubt whether I will be able to wait until then to read it.
Blurb
Part courtroom thriller; part portrait of a marriage; part exploration of how our memories still haunt us, Anatomy of a Scandal is a disarming and provocative psychological drama.
Sophie’s husband, James, is a loving father and a successful public figure. Yet he stands accused of a terrible crime. Sophie is convinced he is innocent and desperate to protect her precious family from the lies that threaten to engulf him. She’s kept his darkest secret ever since they were first lovers, at Oxford. And if she stood by him then, she can do it now.
Kate is the barrister prosecuting his case. She’s certain that James is guilty and determined he should pay. No stranger to suffering herself, she doesn’t flinch from posing the questions few want to hear. About what happens between a man a woman when they’re alone: alone in bed, alone in an embrace, alone in a lift . . .
Is James the victim of an unfortunate misunderstanding or the perpetrator of something sinister? Who is right: Sophie or Kate? This scandal – which forces Sophie to appraise her marriage and Kate her demons – will have far-reaching consequences for them all. NetGalley
I also have a copy of The Foster Child by Jenny Blackhurst, another win as I really enjoyed this author’s previous two books How I Lost You and Before I Let You In . The Foster Child will be published on 16 November 2017.
Blurb
When child psychologist Imogen Reid takes on the case of 11-year-old Ellie Atkinson, she refuses to listen to warnings that the girl is dangerous.
Ellie was the only survivor of a fire that killed her family. Imogen is convinced she’s just a sad and angry child struggling to cope with her loss.
But Ellie’s foster parents and teachers are starting to fear her. When she gets upset, bad things seem to happen. And as Imogen gets closer to Ellie, she may be putting herself in danger… NetGalley
And finally while I was away I received Need to Know by Karen Cleveland which looks to be a hot release for 2018!
Blurb
Vivian Miller is a dedicated CIA counter-intelligence analyst assigned to uncover Russian sleeper cells in the United States. On track for a much-needed promotion, she’s developed a system for identifying Russian agents – seemingly normal people living in plain sight.
After accessing the computer of a potential Russian operative, Vivian stumbles on a secret dossier of deep-cover agents within America’s borders. A few clicks later, everything that matters to her is threatened – her job, her husband, even her four children.
Vivian has vowed to defend her country against all enemies, foreign and domestic. But now she’s facing impossible choices. Torn between loyalty and betrayal, allegiance and treason, love and suspicion, who can she trust? Amazon
Since my last post I’ve read 3 books and gained 2
The current total is therefore 176
Physical Books – 102
Kindle Books – 59
NetGalley Books – 15
Wow That photo is amazing! Your Grandmother looks very modern! I’m also reminded that I must print out my photos, what a shame if future generations can’t access our digital photos look back on.
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Thank you – she looks stunning and her little comments that are making me smile – I’m guessing she was proud of her ‘modern’ bathing suit! Digital photos aren’t quite the same are they?
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What a fantastic photo! I love looking at old family photos like this and hearing about people in them. I’ve got I See You as one of my 20 Books of Summer and I really must pick it up soon!
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Thank you – I’m loving it especially as this particular album has lots of pictures of her as a young lady having so much fun.
I See You is a great read – I hope you get to it soon.
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🙂
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That ‘photo is wonderful, Cleo! You’re so lucky to have those ‘photos and be able to get to know your grandmother in that way. And you’ve acquired some interesting books. I’m especially interested in Anatomy of a Scandal; it sounds great.
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It’s wonderful looking through the old photographs especially as I credit my Grandmother for so much – some of her annotations really make me smile and I had to share the ‘modern’ bathing costumes – I’m not sure quite what she would have made of some of today’s attire!
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What a fabulous photo! There’s a Slapton Sands in Devon but that doesn’t quite look right.
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It might be Slapton Sands as it comes in the section after Totnes so it’s far more likely than Clapton 🙂
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I think it looks more like an S than a C. look at the way the S of Sands is written _ it seems the same letter shape but the word cant be Slapton since it definetely has an h in there. what a mysetry
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As soon as Cathy put Slapton it seemed more likely – I’ve been through all the annotations and although I’m still sure the ending is ham, you’re right that is an S – however it is in the section headed up Devon 1929. She was a careful precise lady but it is possible she misheard?
I have to say the annotations have me chuckling – they seem to have travelled in a group and there is a picture of her brother Len and his then girlfriend (later wife) Maud titled ‘A Secluded Spot Favoured by Len and Maud’
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she could indeed have misheard – the Devon accent can be quite strong
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I love that photo! I know this will age me, but I have photos of my mother from that era, standing next to that kind of car. I love the glamour of those days!
I love the look of your new books…oftentimes I can’t find them on Amazon US…but I did manage to order Then She Was Gone from third party sellers. Anatomy of a Scandal and The Foster Child are going on my list.
Thanks for sharing, and here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
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Thank you – this particular album is full of trips away so it’s lovely to see her having so much fun. You are right, they are so glamorous.
Anatomy of a Scandal was on NetGalley for US readers a while back (long before the UK version) and I’ve been trying to track down a copy ever since – it sounds like perfect reading!
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Love the ohana photo. Your grandmother is adorbs.
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Ah thank you – she was a lovely lady so it is good to see her in her prime!
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Ooh love the photo, your grandma is one classy lady! 🙂
Looks like you got some awesome books.
-Lauren
http://www.shootingstarsmag.net
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Please share more photos!!! I’m reading The General’s Women by Susan Wittig Albert for a blog tour review and listening to a meh historical,fiction I’ll review this week.
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I’m so glad you enjoyed the photo I’m really enjoying looking at the fashions, cars and sheer happiness of my Grandmother during her early life.
Sorry your historical fiction isn’t quite meeting the mark.
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Love the photo! I think back then when people only took one spool per holiday and carefully mounted them in an album, photos were far more meaningful than the zillions people take today. But maybe that’s because I’m not a ‘modern girl’ any more… 😉
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I think you are right and I’m loving this particular set and their captions – I’m no modern girl either though!
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So many great books here, I really need to check in more often, I am missing out. I just read and reviewed I See You, I enjoyed I Let You Go more but enjoyed reading your review again.
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