Merry Christmas

Taking a small break over Christmas, but come back in the New Year when we will be having our first giveaway (oh yes!) and even more reviews and features will be popping up.

I'll be spending the holiday period eating and spending time with my family while eating and reading while eating and cuddling corgis while eating. Or trying to eat. The corgis are pretty greedy. What will you be getting up to? And what are your holiday reads?

Showcase Sunday #6

Showcase Sunday, hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea.

This time there's no picture because there's far too many books to take pictures of! I'll just give you all a run down. And some slight teasers regarding giveaways next year. YAY for giveaways.

I got a copy of Mari Hannah's Monument to Murder (DCI Kate Daniels #4) for my mum at Waterstones when the author was there signing books, so I picked up a signed copy of The Murder Wall to give away in the New Year, so keep your eyes peeled. I also got And Then There Were none by Agatha Christie (Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea says it's a good place to start with Agatha Christie) and Blood Harvest by SJ Bolton. And then there's the abundance of totally-unrelated-to-this-blog books including even more signed swag that I won in the Authors for the Philippines auction and will also be giving away and a few festive buys including a new binding of Ballet Shoes which is so unbelievably pretty.

I have lots of festive offerings from Net Galley too. Only now my 76.6% feedback rating is down to 58%. Whoospie! But I'm looking forward to The Sacrificial Man by Ruth Dugdall

On the audiobook front I grabbed myself Soulless by Gail Carriger. It's one of my favourite series ever and I don't care how many times I've already read it, I'm seriously enjoying the audiobook.

Now You See Me by SJ Bolton

I don't think I've ever read a book quite like this. It is amazing. As a fan of crime, mystery and thriller books, I'm always on the lookout for new series to get invested in. And wow, am I invested. This series has me in its grasp and isn't letting go.

From the first chapter (and wow, what a start!) I couldn't out this down. I was walking around with it held up in front of me, reading as much as I could during breaks, abandoning meals in favour of reading. I really could not put this down.

I loved the chemistry between the characters - it felt so real. And those simmering feelings that Lacey and Joesbury try to bury - wowsers.

This book is so so clever. And as the first in a series it is truly excellent. When I reached the end I immediately bought the second. And while I was waiting in the line at the till I downloaded the novella that takes place between the two. The ending was just... I can't think of words. But it was shocking and I gaped like a fish and needed to read the next one straight away.

Having read so much, I am always delighted to find something that grips me so much, that entertains me and characters that stand out from that crowded fictional platform. And boy, does Lacey Flint stand out.

Thank you so much to Vicky at Books, Biscuits and Tea for her amazing reviews of this book, I would never have found it and became addicted otherwise.

Showcase Sunday #5

Showcase Sunday, hosted by Books, Biscuits and Tea.

So, still no fixed camera, but at the same time I didn't get so much for myself... Mostly Christmas presents which I can't post here in case certain people see them! The good news is that I'm probably keeping the local bookshops in business with my "can't walk past without popping in and buying something" habit.

But look what came through the door this week! Oh yes, it's Lacey Flint book 3! Super excited to start this, but trying to get my currently reading down a few books and to catch up on reviews.

From Net Galley I had another few YA and this little gem is now sitting on my Kindle. Long Way Home comes out in January next year and is the first in a new series. So fingers crossed it's good. The cover's certainly great.

I got a little more than usual this week on Audible because there's been a sale on and I'm a sucker for sales. And with some audiobooks costing over four times as much as the paperback I really can't resist when they're reduced right down!