Mini In My Mailbox

Where Dead Men Meet by Mark Mills arrived in my mailbox today for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk

Reading This Week

I have an ambitious week of reading ahead of me going by the books I picked to read. If I am likely to get to them ...who knows , but I live in hope . 

I hope you all have a great week and you can expect some reviews on these books throughout the week ... all going well :0) 

Under A Pole Star by Stef Penney . Review

This is not merely a story , but an epic journey through past and present , a story of love and adventure and combining both. The main character of the story is Flora , the book goes back and forth in time with this character and we get to see the unconventional yet wonderful upbringing she had while being on board a ship with her father set sail for the Arctic Circle . Flora Mackie  ( The Snow Queen) lived a colourful life with travel , men , love and adventure , she was a pioneer for female explorers made even more inspiring as she was someone so young. 

This was an uplifting and very enjoyable story , the love between Flora and Jakob being some of the most memorable and tender moments of the story . This is a book you will remember long after you have finished signed the last page . I highly recommend this if you enjoy stories about the golden age of exploration . 

I received this book for review form the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk

This book is being published November 2016 and will be available from Lovereading all other good bookstores then. 

Below please find a link to this book on the lovereading website. 

https://www.lovereading.co.uk/

Reading This Weekend

Hi guys! Hope you have all had a lovely week. It is well and truly Autumn now ... the leaves are stunning Jewel shades , and I am craving early nights with a stack of books by my side . This weekend I hope to finish these three books I started weeks ago 

. All great books by the way .... I just came upon multiple obstacles when I was reading them before now. I will do my utmost to complete them this weekend. Reviews to follow!

The Hotel On Mulberry Bay by Melissa Hill

Pushing Up Daisies by M.C. Beaton

The Particular Sadness Of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender

The Watcher by Ross Armstrong . Review

This is the story about an apartment building and specifically a woman who lives there called Lily Gullick . Lily has gained a huge interest in her neighbours and spends large amounts of time spying  on each and every one of them . Lily is a rather complex character and very hard to understand . I could not comprehend  some of her actions  , and they just continued to get worse ,she was unreliable narrator.  When a shocking death occurs in the building , Lily takes it upon herself to find out what happened inviting all sorts of trouble her way . This was tension filled , and from midway until the end of the story it was action packed . If you enjoy a good plot twist then you will love this!

I received this review copy from the lovely people over st Mira Uk ( Harlequin ) .

This book is going to be published December 29th . 

You can find them over on Twitter at:

@HQStories

@HQYoungAdult

#followfriday 

The Spy by Paulo Coelho . Review

This is a novel based on true life events of the life of famous woman Mata Hari. From the gripping opening chapter to the sad and though provoking end , this is a story you won't forget . 

Mata Hari was pushing boundaries in her love and social life from the beginning of her life as a young woman , she would meet many wealthy men and make the most of these acquaintances getting material items , money and information when she could , but the tide turned on her , she became notorious , and suspicion was cast against her. Told with compassion  and honesty , this would make a great read for those non fiction book readers out there and for anyone interested in great women of the past . 

I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk

This book is being published November 2016 and will be available from Lovereading and all other good bookstores then. 

Below please find a link to the lovereading website:

https://www.lovereading.co.uk/

Mini In my mailbox

This awesome book by Ross Armstrong arrived in my mailbox yesterday . The Watcher is the story about one home owners building and a woman who is watching all that goes on there with its residents  . I have already started this and it is really good!!!!

The Book Of Hygge by Louisa Thomsen Brits

This is a beautiful hardback copy of this exquisite book explaining the Danish way of life called Hygge. From the simple and pleasant outer cover to the beautifully elegant interior this book is one to take your time over . If you enjoy photography sprinkled throughout your reading material then you are going to enjoy this immensely .

 I think this is the perfect time of year to read this book as it centres around feeling cosy and taking joy from simple things in life to gain the most felling of being contented . I don't know about you but Autumn and Winter in Ireland tend to be quite grim months weather wise , the idea of making your surroundings a place to give you comfort , relaxation and peace is just what you need when there is a gale howling outside . 

This book explains well how to put Hygge into practise during every part of your day , wherever you are , and who ever you are with. It is small things making big differences . I put this idea into practise and it did make me feel different . Lighting a candle at mealtimes , Finishing a cup of tea slowly rather then forgetting about it half way through and doing something I had previously forgotten about. It's about taking a few minutes or more if you can and being aware of what's around you, enjoying the moment. Then building these moments up each day until they become part of your routine.

I really could go on and on about this book but what I really recommend is reading it yourself  or maybe give it as a gift to a loved one. 

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29537167-the-book-of-hygge

Losing it by Emma Rathbone . Review

When Julia Greenfield gets the chance to visit her aunt in North Carolina she quickly gets used to the idea if somewhat reluctant at first. Julia's life is in no way what she expected it would be when she was younger . A twenty something virgin who is spending the majority of her time daydreaming about her youth and where her current life is going. A change of scenery is just what this young woman  needs . If you ever wondered what members of your family are really like then this is the book for you as we see Julia get to know her aunt Viv who she never really knew at all . The story was enlightening with colourful flawed characters dealing showing perceptions we sometimes have of other people and the expectations we put on ourselves that society encourages . 

I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk.

This book is being published October 2016 and will be available from Lovereading and all other good bookstores . 

Below please find a link for his book on the Lovereading website where you can also read reviews and more information .

https://www.lovereading.co.uk/

Reading This Week

Hello there! Happy Monday! This week will consist of two review books and lots of finishing up other books . The last few weeks ,through no fault of any book,  I found it very hard to concentrate . If you are normally a daily reader like me you know how much of a nuisance this can be when you lose your stride . Anyway I have high hopes for this week ,and look out for reviews of the books mentioned throughout the week, you are going to want to add some of these to your TBR list. 

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George

At Knots End by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee

The Book Of Hygge

Under A Pole Star by Stef Penney

Losing It by Emma Rathbone

Mini Review Book Haul

Happy mail today in the form of these two beautiful looking books curtesy of www.lovereading.co.uk

Losing it by Emma Rathbone

Under A Pole Star by Stef Penney

Autumn Book Haul

I read more in Autumn and Winter then any other seasons and as I like to crochet a lot too around this time of year I love a good audiobook to listen to as I happily hook away . Here are some of the books I have on my audio shelf for times when my hands are busy with yarn . 

Knitlandia

Knitting Pearls

Knitting Yarns

At Knits End

My Favourite Halloween Movies

Autumn.... Halloween is just around the corner , shops are getting filled to the brim with everything black and orange and just about everyone has a favourite Halloween movie that they watch . I have many . I know I am not alone with this love of Halloween movies and below are some of my favourites. 

Dracula

Hocus Pocus

Halloween

The Woman In Black

Ghostbusters 1 and 2

Beetlejuice

Practical Magic

 Not all of these are scary but they are all entertaining in their own way.  Do you have some favourite Halloween movies that you enjoy watching every year? 

Reading This Week

With a new week comes a new batch of books to be plucked from my shelves and devoured . This week I picked a mix of genres that covers every bookish whim I may have this week , because sometimes you just don't know what you are going to want to read days in advance( even though I still prefer to plan my weeks reading)  ! I am all too aware of just how big my TBR pile is , every week I try and get at least a few books from my shelves read and added to my "Read " shelf on Goodreads. Ohhh the satisfaction ! 

Now enough jibber jabbing , on with the books!

Knitting Yarns

At Knits End

This book had me from the opening chapter . Aimee Bender 

I had been saving this book .... The excitement now j am starting it !!! Eeeekkkk . Nina George

As I never got round to this book the other week I hope to start this cozy mystery in the next few days.

Send In The Clowns by Julie Mulhern . Review

This is book 4 in the Country Club Murder Series.

The story is set in Kansas City , Missouri in 1974 .

When main character Ellison Russell comes across some scary clowns while searching for her daughter Grace in "The Gates Of Hell " haunted house 

it becomes the least of her problems as there is something far more scarier in store ,a dead body! 

Ellison has had a good track record of finding dead bodies in the past so no one is hugely surprised by that ,but they are surprised over the deceased. A man with a shady past who was trying to turn his life around . 

With two love interests , parents who are still very active in her life and a dead body to ponder over you could say Ellison has her hands full , but she still manages her job and raising her daughter ! If you enjoy books with a strong lead character who is not afraid to get her hands dirty while being a great mum and friend then this is the perfect read for you. 

I received this book from the lovely people over at Netgalley.

This book is being published October 26th 2016 by Henery Press.

Below please find a link to this book as well as Julie's website .

http://www.juliemulhern.com/

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31306463-send-in-the-clowns

Reading This Weekend

Well it's been a rubbish week with me.... I had gone from having an infection to getting flu and today is the first day I feel in anyway human again. The room has finally stopped spinning ! Yay!

So that being said , I had not felt like reading much so now that my temperature is more or less back to normal BRING ON THE BOOKS!!!!!!!

My jam packed reading schedule this weekend is as follows.

Finishing up this book:

Loving this book above! Maria Semple's newest book Today Will Be Different .

The Particular Sadness Of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender. The writing is terrific! 

Pushing Up Daisies by M.C. Beaton. I love Agatha Raisin!

The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George.  

Paris and bookshops , what's not to love!

Today Will Be Different by Maria Semple. Review

I was so excited to read this book from the same author of "Where'd You Go Bernadette ", and I am thrilled to say it was very good !

The book centres around one family , mother Eleanor,husband Joe , and son Timby . All three of these people have their own troubles and are struggling a bit as a family unit. It felt like any moment the wheels would come off and they would all come crashing down . People are complex beings and the story showed us that , as well as showing us the importance of having people there for us that we trust at crossroads in our lives . I especially enjoyed the graphic novel section of the book , it was beautiful,  and added another dimension to these characters story . I recommend this to all fans of "Where'd You Go Bernadette". 

I received this book for review from the lovely folks over at Lovereading.co.uk.

This book is being published October 2016 and will be available from Lovereading and all other good bookstores then . Below please find a link to this book on the Lovereading website .

https://www.lovereading.co.uk/

Mini Haul

Hi guys. This is the time of year I read the most often and my library card gets the most action. With my credits from audible I got these awesome sounding books below as well as this pre-loved book below. 

The Particular Sadness Of Wedding Cake by Aimee Bender .This book has a terrific opening chapter that pulls the reader in so well. 

Belgravia by Julian Fellowes. I am excited to read this book by the awesome writer of Downton Abbey.

Pushing Up Daisies by M.C Beaton.

Penelope Keith is the narrator in this mystery series based in the UK. Agatha Raisin is probably one of my top favourite female characters in books. Strong , fierce and gutsy! 

Hygge

Have you noticed books on the internet or in your local bookstore with the unusual word Hygge in it's title ? I sure did!  It has become easy to see why so many books are being published now talking about this unual looking word ...Hygge( who-ga),  as it's a way of life that almost everyone could gain something from by putting it into practise. Hygge is a Danish word and a way of life that I am only recently hearing about . Think cozy , comfort, mental relaxation, calmness , nesting, good food, warm drinks, soft lighting and friends .

 I went into this knowing nothing about it ,but since reading much about it I have been putting it into practise ever since , and I must say it has made a remarkable difference. The Danish and the Irish have a lot of bad weather in common so by using some of the Danish ways of coping with the rotten weather and long dark nights I found it a much more jolly experience . I pulled out blankets , cushions , fairy lights ,and changed my harsher bulbs for softer warm lights. I got some warm lined slippers and cozy pj's and nightgown . Took some of my candles from the back of the cupboard and basically made a nest where it was cozy warm and a nice place to be when it gets dark and miserable outside . Not forgetting cocoa and some good books and DVDs . If like me you are curious about this concept, I have added below the books I have read so far about the subject . They are definetly worth a read ! 

Below are some of the books I have tried out so far and enjoyed . 

The Book Of Hygge

The cozy life by Pia Edberg

The Little Book Of Hygge by Meik Wiking