Saturday 29 December 2018

December Book Round-Up

Here's what I've been reading in December -


Sins of the Dead - Rhona MacLeod #13 by Lin Anderson - I absolutely love this series and feel like I'm catching up with old friends.

Ellie, DS McNab's girlfriend and some friends are illegally riding their motorbikes in a disused railway tunnel when they come across a body. With the body is some unexplained items. Professor Pirie is called to the scene and believes they need to look closer at some aspect regarding sin-eaters depicted in an old drawing. A second body is found in similar circumstances near to the lab and when Rhona is taken off the case she decides to keep looking for answers and finds herself in grave danger... A brilliant read with lots of twists and turns which kept me on the edge of my seat.


Blackberry & Wild Rose by Sonia Velton* - this exquisite tale isn't published until January so I'll share my review in my January Book Round-Up. 


On Starlit Seas by Sara Sheridan - I love that Sara bases some of her books around real life events/people. On Starlit Seas her female lead is based on a real person. Widowed Maria Graham is an independent and strong willed lady who isn't afraid to travel alone often through difficult conditions. She finds that she needs to get back to England, firstly to present her books to her publisher and secondly, to pick up reading materials for her new post as a Governess.

Unable to get a passage on a naval ship or passenger ship she finds herself being transported back to England by cocoa bean smuggler and rogue, Captain James Henderson on the Bittersweet. She, despite her reservations finds him interesting and knowledgeable and even.. a little bit attractive.

She argues with him that he should become an honest trader and declare his cargo, a cargo that is not his but which belongs to a group of English gentleman smugglers. An enjoyable read which swept me away to far off lands with interesting storylines and characters (even though I wish the ending could have been a little bit different). I thoroughly enjoyed the book however and would recommend.


The Songbird Girls by Richard Parker* - I didn't actually realise this was the 2nd book in a series (although it could be read as a standalone). 

Detective Tom Fabian is summoned by the serial killer he put away. Christopher Wisher asks to see him and Tom goes to the prison. He gifts Tom a diary and the very next day commits suicide. Tom thinks he's now got closure but things are just heating up. Someone out there is working on Wisher's behalf as they are leaving his trademark at each murder site. Tom and the Team look more closely at the diary and kind of wish they hadn't.... Then something happens which is meant to hurt (and infuriate) Tom as well as leave him feeling helpless. It's a fast paced read which I enjoyed and that "twist" at the end. Just WOW.


The City of Second Chances by Jane Lacey-Crane*This is the perfect Christmas read - set in New York City in December. I just loved the storylines and character of Evie (there are some laugh out loud moments throughout the book as well as sad times).

Evie is 45, has two kids at University and is a widow. She makes out she's happy in life but she hates her job and sometimes feels lonely. She feels if she even looks at another man she's betraying her dead husband Tom.

Her long-time pal, Rachel suggests a trip to NYC to see if they can get closure as to what happened to their friend Olivia when she disappeared all those years ago when they first visited the city (as well as to have a bit of fun!) They stay with Evie's sister in her beautiful apartment. Evie bumps into one time boyfriend, Daniel Roberts a Hollywood heart throb. Will she let her feelings for Tom stop her finding love again? A gorgeous story which I loved. Would recommend.


From last month:


I took part in the blog tour for Attend** by West Camel. See my review HERE. I can honestly say it's one of my books of 2018.

What have you been reading this month?

*complimentary - e-copy sent to me by the publisher via netgalley
**complimentary - e-copy sent to me by the publisher

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