The month of July saw a cold front moving into Pretoria, and sadly I am a big baby when it comes to cold. Our cold is nothing compared to what some other countries face, I know, and still, I do not function well when I am cold.
I spent most of July huddled under a blanket and hiding away from the world, the only good thing about that is the fact that I had a lot of time to spend reading. I do most of my reading on a tablet and if anyone has any suggestions for warming a tablet, please send them my way. During the cold days, it feels as if I am holding onto an ice cube as I read.
Alicia and I worked our way through eighteen book reviews and loved every one of them. IF you missed out, here is a wrap up on all our reviews.
02 July – Family First by Tony Millington
This crime fiction follows not only the police investigation but also allows the reader to spend time with the killer, giving you a look at how far someone can be driven by the loss of a loved one. It leaves you asking what you would do to revenge the violent murder of one of your family members…
05 July – The Girls in the Ice by Robert Bryndza
A friend gave me a copy of this audiobook a while back and it’s has been sitting on my playlist for a while because I am not familiar with Robert Bryndza. I finally got to listening to it and what an entertaining ebook. This crime thriller had me hooked and I made time to listen, eager to find out where the investigation would lead DCI Erika Foster.
06 July – The Bedwetter by Lee Allen Howard
I used to consider myself open-minded, nothing could shock me. That was until I picked up this book. I think I am damaged after reading this. The Bedwetter has major shock elements, and the average reader will find this book extremely difficult to read. It is filled with gory details that will make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up for days. Finishing this book left me with a sleepless night as the details continued to circle my mind.
07 July – The Last Shimmer by Sage Hyatt
The plot of this book is very unique and not one I have heard of before. The idea that our shadows could take over our lives is super strange and sort of terrifying.
08 July – Little Disasters by Sarah Vaughan
Little Disasters digs into a mother’s insecurities, support structures, family dynamics and friendships. This book looks at the extremes and how easily things can go wrong. I found myself examining my parenting skills and wondering what mistakes I have made along the way. This book is clever and compelling and once you pick it up you will battle to put it down.
12 July – My Best Friends Murder by Polly Phillips
My Best Friend’s Murder will keep you flipping the pages as the author looks at an extremely toxic friendship between two women. After a lifelong friendship, these women are far from good for each other and the author exposes the toxins in this relationship piece by piece while the reader sits back waiting for the final bombshell, when it arrives you are left gobsmacked!
13 July – All Her Fault – by Andrea Mara
Andrea Mara tells a gripping tale, and while you read the book you are swept up in the characters experiences and emotions. I loved how she tells the story in a manner that leaves you in rush to reach the end of the book. I read this book over four days and enjoyed every minute. Despite the need to find out what happened to little Milo, I found reading the book relaxing rather than the edge of your seat rushing to reach the end. I have already added some of Andrea Mara’s other titles to my Wishlist.
14 July – Girls Who Lie by EVA BJÖRG ÆGISDÓTTIR
I am not a huge fan of translated fiction, but oh boy, I think Girls Who Lie has just shifted my perspective. This clever storyline had me hooked from start to finish. I simply must get my hand on the previous book in the series: Creak on the Stairs.
This story does not end the way you want it to, and with me saying that, you are simply going to have to get your hands on a copy of this book to find out what I mean.
Book of the Month
15 July – Shame by Elizabeth Forbes
After reading Nearest Thing to Crazy by Elizabeth Forbes in May I was extremely excited to be invited to participate in the blog tour for SHAME. I loved Nearest Thing to Crazy and SHAME did not disappoint. This author adds just enough darkness and pain to her characters to keep you glued to the pages.
16 July – Toxic by Lucy V Hay
Olivia and Jasmine, best friends since they were young, stand by one another until glamorous Ellie comes along. When Ellie invites Jasmine to their magnificent seaside home for an end of summer ‘blowout’, Jasmine’s loyalties are tested when Ellie tells her Olivia will not be invited. Jasmine doesn’t know if she should go to the party or not. Jasmine has this need to fit in with Ellie and her friends as she secretly wants to be popular.
19 July – The Couple at No 9 by Claire Douglas
What a fantastic read. The Couple at No.9 is a mystery you will battle to walk away from. This book proved to be a brilliant escape from reality. The reconnection between mother and daughter and Saffy’s loyalty and love for her grandmother makes this a heartwarming read that leaves you with a warm fuzzy feeling when you reach the final page.
20 July – The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse
When this book was published in February this year it received a lot of attention. Social Media was overrun with comments and reviews of this debut novel. The fact that it was Reece’s Book Club book of the month did not hurt either.
I was dying to get my hands on a copy. Sadly, we get books a month later than the rest of the world and then the shipment with the books were delayed due to bad weather, so we had to wait even longer. Yes, I could have purchased a digital copy, but I desperately wanted a hard copy of this book.
21 July – Love You Bad by Louise Mullins
Love You Bad is a book that will have your head spinning as you turn the pages. The author covered a wide range of crimes that leaves you amazed at the complex illusion Dominic created. There are so many twists you find yourself almost struggling to keep up from one page to the other. Luckily, it’s a quick read so you are never confused for too long.
23 July – The Witness by John Ryder
What a read. This action-packed novel features a hero that is described as looking like a “weathered gargoyle” I just loved it. If action and edge of your seat violence are what you are after you will not go wrong in reaching for this book.
26 July – The Yearbook by Holly Bourne
Paige Vickers: a girl who is invisible at school and even in her own house. Paige gets roped into helping the three biggest bullies in school with the yearbook. Paige decides to retaliate against the bullies and the school system that offers little to no help for bullied students.
The author captured the viewpoint of a teenager really well. As someone who is the target demographic, I found the book relatable. This book made me stop and think about how many other people could relate to the book.
27 July – Behind The Mask by Jeanette Taylor Ford
I have not had the privilege of reading the other books in this series, so Behind The Mask is my first taste of this series. What a wonderful introduction, this book has everything crime/mystery fans enjoys. Domestic violence, murder and a gang run by a ruthless manipulator.
I enjoyed the author’s work on the dialogue in this book. I could hear the character’s accents as I was reading. I found myself lost in a world far removed from my everyday life making this an extremely entertaining read.
28 July – Sleepless by Romy Hausmann
Sleepless will leave you without sleep for sure. This thriller is a brilliant piece of fiction that includes lies and deception, a bad childhood, a sister’s love for her little brother and heart-wrenching panic attacks that will leave you breathless.
30 July – Dead To Me by Pamela Murray
Dead to Me is full of lies. I have never met a group of characters that lie as much as these guys do! Every time you think you have it figured out, yet another lie is revealed. It’s a crime mystery in true “whodunit” style that will keep you flipping the pages as you try to figure out who the killer is.
Pamela Murray’s writing has an old-school feel to it. While the story is action-packed with one dead body after the other, it doesn’t feel rushed. This makes for a relaxing read as you slip into a world of lies and deception. The story is slightly predictable, but the author adds some creative twists and turns to keep you guessing.
It’s been a wonderful reading month and we read some amazing books. Thank you to all the publishers who sent us review copies during July – You have made enduring the cold just a little easier.
I have eight blog tours lined up for August as well as five books from NetGalley and I have three more books from Jonathan Ball Publishers that you can look forward to. I hope you enjoy what we have heading your way. Feel free to drop us a line if you have any book suggestions for us.
Thank you for reading our reviews, your support is appreciated. Until next month…. Happy Reading!
