August is my favourite month of the year, not just because it’s my birthday month. It is also the month when our weather starts warming up and we get to spend our days beneath beautiful blue skies. This year, however, August is coming to an end with a bite in the air. I am cold…. Again.
This month has been a rather disruptive month with a lot of personal things that needed sorting out and I felt as if reading and my blog was forced to take a bit of a back seat. At least the first half of the month. I am hoping to regain focus and bringing these passions back to the forefront of my life during September.
What have I been up to this month? Below is a wrap up of the August reviews:
02 August – A Little Bird by Wendy James
This review copy from NetGalley was a refreshing change. I spend most of my time reading books set in the UK, so spending time with a book set in Australia was a welcome change.
03 August – The Other Daughter by Shalini Boland
I have had a copy of this audiobook for a while but with all my blog tour commitments this one took a bit of a backseat. I fell in love with this author and since finishing this audiobook I have added another eight of her books to my reading list. I will try to schedule them for review as soon as possible.
05 August – The Killing Hills by Chris Offutt
My first blog tour for August, this book was a pleasant surprise. I am new to this author and found myself racing through this title. The Killing Hills feature a rather unusual hero who quickly steals your heart. If you haven’t yet, this book is worth adding to your reading list.
09 August – The Killing Tide by Lin Anderson
This author has been publishing books since the early 2000s and I have missed them all. She is a marvellous storyteller, and I enjoyed her characters. I would love the chance to read more of the books in this series. Dr Rhona McLeod is an intriguing character.
12 August – Palace of the Drowned by Christine Mangan
Palace of the Drowned is not a book I would have selected for myself. However, when local publishers – Jonathan Ball – added this to my book mail I could not resist. I found myself transported to Venice in 1966 while reading this book. An unlikely choice, but it proved to be a book I could not put down. Highlighting the damage a bad review could do to an author, this book left me wondering how so many reviews find it so easy to share damning reviews.
13 August – Birthrights by Carly Rheilan
This psychological thriller was beautifully written, and the author’s knowledge made reading this a brilliant experience. The book surprised me by being a sad story which I did not expect and Dr Anna Griffen, despite all her flaws won my heart as I turned the pages.
18 August – A Good Liar by Amanda Brooke
This creative story drags you into a community that suffered a tragedy and leaves you wrapped in a web of lies like no other. This is a brilliant read you would not regret adding to your TBR.
BOOK OF THE MONTH
19 August – The Hen Party by Maria Frankland
Maria Frankland delivers a fantastic story with the twist of all twists at the end. This book will leave your jaw hanging on the ground with its conclusion. This Five-star read is simply marvellous. If you only buy one new book this month – make it this one.
20 August – Stone the Dead Crows by Carrie Magillen
The author tells the story of three sisters, and at first, it feels like separate stories, but when she draws them all together you are amazed at how brilliant the thinking was that went into planning this story. All this while the book draws attention to abuse and all the early red flags you should keep an eye out for. This is a fantastic read, I loved the message it held.
23 August – The Wedding Party by Tammy Cohen
If you are dreaming of an island holiday in Greece – but it’s not possible, then I recommend you reach for this book. A wedding planned to perfection that falls apart faster than the bride could ever have imagined, The Wedding Party is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. The author’s beautiful scenery, however, will leave you heartbroken when you reach the end.
24 August – One by One by Ruth Ware
This is a book that I have been dying to read. Ruth Ware is one of my favourite authors. When I finally got my hands on a copy, I could not wait to squeeze it into my TBR. Ruth Ware never disappoints, and this creative story will keep you guessing right to the end in true Ruth Ware style. I loved this book and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a clever whodunit read!
25 August – I Shot the Devil by Ruth McIver
This debut novel has everything crime and thriller fans can possibly dream of. The author has her main character trying to find the truth behind one devastating night sixteen years ago. As Erin digs to find the truth you are given all the various opinions and never really know what the truth is, not until the very end of the story. This is an engrossing read you will battle to put down.
26 August – The Liar Next Door by Nicola Marsh
This NetGalley title caught my eye, and I was super excited to receive approval to review this book. I am new to Nicola Marsh but what a fabulous read. I could not get enough of this complex tale. It’s a fantastic tale filled with twists all the way and a conclusion you do not expect. I love this one.
30 August – What She Did by Carla Kovach
Another NetGalley title that I ended up leaving to minute 99. What a fantastic read. This thriller is the sad story of a troubled young woman who has suffered so much during her life. When she finally reached a place where she feels safe, her past catches up to her and she is left with no one to trust.
I am finding it hard to believe that August is at an end, before we know it Christmas will be upon us. I started August off slowly, battling to focus on reading and my blog but with fourteen reviews done and dusted I think the month did not turn out too badly.
I have ten blog tour stops scheduled for September and a TBR that is longer than my arm already. I look forward to seeing you on the tour stops and hope you will enjoy the reviews I share during September.
Bloggers, how do you keep on top of your TBR? My reading list keeps growing since every new book I see I simply had to read – I find it extremely hard to turn down a blog tour invitation, however, I have started being a little more disciplined with that. Leave a comment below if you have some tips for keeping your TBR short.
Thank you for your continued support, it’s awesome to spend some time with you. Until next month… Happy Reading!
Looks like it was a hectic month!
Not really, it was pretty chilled!
Great reading month. I love that you’ve read so many mysteries – my favorites! I own One by One but haven’t read it yet.
It’s a good read – you’ll love it.