November: Lately I've been Loving

Here's what I've been loving in November:

The brilliant sequel to Displacement by Anne Stormont. I just totally loved both books. See my review HERE (and there's going to be a book #3 which I'm really excited about!)

Coming across this beautiful new brand* via my Beauty Bible email subscription - Wild & Precious.  The products are gorgeous. Expect a review soon!

Finishing my challenge over on Goodreads of 100 Books (although I'll keep going until the year end!)

Discovering Blue Labelle have a gorgeous new soap range which smell incredible - of course I had to pick up a few. Reviews will be up soon! Really wish there was scratch and sniff - the scents are exquisite (prices range from £2 upwards).

I've been testing out some more products* from Guiltless Skin including the new moisturiser - Timeless Daily Moisturiser. It's a really lovely and effective range. Expect reviews soon! See my previous reviews HERE and HERE.

Real Rocky followed me on Twitter and then mentioned they could be purchased at my local gift shop COVE so on Friday I popped round and picked up a couple of small pieces.

Totally delicious and I highly recommend - see the online shop HERE. You'll also find them opposite Edinburgh Uni Library on George Square.

What have you been loving this month?

*complimentary

September Books

I was sent The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan to review for Good Reads - the book will be published in early November.

The story spans 50 years and two continents and tells of the lives of three women connected by blood and history and an evocative painting known as the Valley of Amazement.

The story highlights moments in history – China’s Imperial Dynasty and secret lives of those working in Courtesan Houses.  Violet is the much loved daughter of Lucia Minturn, the American mistress of the most renowned Courtesan House in turn of the century Shanghai and a Chinese father whom she knows little about.

Revolution and a cruel twist of fate separate Violet and her mother and she is forced to become a Virgin Courtesan.  She becomes friends with Magic Gourd (an ex-courtesan) who teaches her the art of seduction and she becomes one of the most desired women in the city.  Violet has a daughter, Flora who has cruelly been taken from her.

There are moments of joy, sorrow, pain and love and the ending is so bittersweet. I loved this book, a great and fascinating read and would highly recommend it.

My second book is A Serpentine Affair by Tina Seskis. I simply loved this book and couldn't put it down.  It follows the story of 7 friends from University and their annual meet up, this time a picnic at Hyde Park by the Serpentine.  Each chapter is told from a different viewpoint of one in the group (and others connected to the story) and it jumps between the past and the present. There are loads of twists and turns and the suspense is brilliant you are just racing to the end to find out what happens.  Can't wait for Tina's next book.  You can see my review of Tina's first book One Step too Far here. Highly recommend both these books.

source

My third book this month is Penny Hancock's The Darkening Hour which follows the story of Dora, eldest daughter who volunteers to look after her ageing father when her mother dies. Unable to cope she employs Mona, a migrant worker. The story is told by both Dora and Mona and is an unputdownable read with twists and unexpected turns.  I reviewed Penny's first book Tideline here.

What have you been reading this month?

May Books

These are the books I've been reading in May -

The Shadow Year by Hannah Richell*

I was sent a proof copy of The Shadow Year from Good Reads (this book will be published on 20 June).  I simply loved it and read it in two days.

This book jumps between the present and the early 1980s. Lila is struggling to come to terms with an accident which happened to her and her marriage is in crisis.  She is anonymously gifted a cottage in a remote location in the Peak District beside a lake and sets about renovating it.  

In 1980, five University friends stumble upon an old cottage and decide to live there and be self-sufficient for a year before returning to the real world.  Kat's sister Freya turns up unannounced and this changes the dynamics of the friendships and the relationships of the five friends.

Both stories are intertwined and I didn't expect the book to end how it did.  An absolutely fabulous second novel from Hannah Richell.  Highly Recommend it.

My second book this month is Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O'Farrell

The story follows the Riordan family when their father goes missing after just popping out to buy a newspaper.  The story is set in the heatwave of 1976. The search for Robert brings together his and Gretta's three children - two estranged sisters with their brother on the brink of divorce.  It follows their relationships with each other and where they think their father is.  An enjoyable read although I found it a bit slow in the middle but it picked up towards the last quarter or so.

My third book is One Step too Far by Tina Seskis

Emily Coleman walks out on her marriage, her beautiful son and her lovely home taking her passport and some money with her.  She changes her name to Cat, finds a small room in a grotty shared house and finds herself a job.  Is she escaping her family, her twin Caroline, who seems to hate her and what is the significance of the looming anniversary?  A really fabulous read filled with twists and turns and one I couldn't put down. I found myself reading it until the wee small hours.. The story is told by Cat, by Ben her husband and by Caroline her twin - jumping between the past and present.  The reader is kept guessing throughout.  Simply loved it.  Highly recommend - simply cannot wait for Tina Seskis's second novel which is out in the autumn (link).

My fourth book this month (yes really!) is Damage by Josephine Hart - I received this from a fellow World Book Night giver.

A simple yet powerful story - A doctor & MP meets his son's girlfriend and he is passionately and obsessively drawn to her. You just know this story is not going to end well.  A short but beautifully written novel and one that stays with you after you have finished reading it.

What have you been reading this month?

*complimentary proof copy