What a month! I decided that I was not going to focus on Blog Tours this month, taking some time to work through the hard copy books on my TBR shelf – at the same time giving my eyes a break from electronic reading. While I missed the rush of meeting a deadline, I had lots of fun reading some books a little out of my comfort zone. It made for a nice change. August’s blog tours are a little on the light side as well, but I will make up for it during September again.
Alicia has been on her mid-year break from school and she has made some fabulous contributions to the blog this month, it’s going to feel quiet with her back to school.
Here is a wrap up on our review posts for July, I look forward to hearing which one was your favourite. Remember to leave a comment telling us which of these you added to your TBR.
01 July – The Phone Call by AJ Campbell
After reviewing Search No Further by AJ Campbell in April, I was only too glad to accept another one of her books for review. The Phone Call is a gripping, quick read that tells the story of a young man determined to look after his family after his father’s death. The financial burden that comes with supporting a family quickly has him mixed up in a world he would rather not be a part of.
04 July – Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens – Buddy Read
Alicia and I read this book as our first-ever Buddy Read, below we both share our thoughts on this fantastic read – Where the Crawdads Sing earned a five-star rating on Good Reads from both of us!
Where do I start? This is not a book I would have selected myself as it does not fall within my usual genre. Alicia suggested we read this book as a buddy read because she had heard so much about this title. Not having a clue what to expect, I agreed simply to humour her. Am I glad I did!
06 July – The Best Friend by Shalini Boland
It’s been a while since I have enjoyed an audiobook and having this be a Shalini Boland book made it perfect. This story is true to her style, a gripping, edge-of-your-seat tale that you will not want to drag yourself away from. I found myself receiving some curious looks while sitting in the car park outside a shopping centre, refusing to turn the audiobook off before at least reaching the end of the chapter. The Best Friend looks at friendship, family and a very disturbed individual. You are in for a treat when you reach for this book.
08 July – Hostage by Clare Mackintosh
This book asks a difficult question. Would you choose the life of your child or that of hundreds of strangers? Is that even a question? When you reach for this book you can expect a gripping read that will keep you reading as you race to find out how this story will end.
11 July – A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J Maas
The book starts with Feyre in Tamlin’s court. She stays there trying to learn as much information as possible before she goes back to the Night Court. Then when she is back they start to prepare for the war that is about to break out. The story follows Feyre and Rhysand and the rest of the Night Court crew as they try their best to get allies on their side and as they prep for war.
13 July – All Your Perfects by Colleen Hoover
Colleen Hoover has done it again. She has taken my heart and ripped it into a billion little pieces. This is only my second CoHo book of the year, which I can’t believe as we are almost halfway through the year.
This book was beautifully written, it’s a CoHo book so I did not expect anything less.
14 July – The Serial Killer’s Daughter by Alice Hunter
The Serial Killer’s Wife has been sitting on my TBR for a few months already, but I have not yet read it. I skipped straight to The Serial Killer’s Daughter. WOW! What a fabulous read. When you reach for this book, you are in for a treat. This is a remarkably gripping read that asks if a desire for killing can be inherited. This hair-raising tale will keep you hooked from start to finish with twists and turns that leaves you guessing all the time.
15 July – Away with the Penguins by Hazel Prior
Venturing out of my comfort zone and exploring different genres has been brilliant. This book by Hazel Prior has been on my TBR for almost two months and finally, I got to read it. When I first started seeing this book on social media, I thought it was a children’s book and didn’t pay much attention to it – heaven knows why.
18 July – All The Missing Girls by Megan Miranda
After finishing this book my book wish list has grown. I had this audiobook tucked away for quite some time and only recently started it. It took me roughly a week to work through this and I would suggest allocating more time for this when you start it. It’s a complicated story, told backwards and you need to remain focused. If you are planning on taking your time, the book might be a better option.
19 July – The Cove by Alice Clark Platts
Opening this book, you are whipped away to a scenic island holiday. The author is brilliantly descriptive allowing all your senses a chance to explore this paradise. However, just as you start to relax and enjoy this amazing escape things start going wrong and you release you are embarking on an intriguing read.
20 July – A Court of Frost and Starlight
This book is a sweet novella that follows the character of the ACOTAR series preparing for the winter solstice. This book takes part after the war and everyone comes to terms with everything.
The writing style of this book is very different to the previous three books, the chapters switch perspectives occasionally, featuring points of view from Feyre, Rhysand, Cassian, and Morrigan. Something that I found weird is that Feyre and Rhysand’s chapters were in first-person however Cassian and Morrigan’s were in third. So that was a new format that I have yet to read.
21 July – Blood Sugar by Sascha Rothfield
For a change judging a book by its cover paid off. I requested this book for review because the cover caught my eye, and am I glad I did. This book deserves attention. This is an utterly brilliant read that you simply must read.
This is a different look at a serial killer, a killer who kills intending to make the world a better place. This character will steal your heart, even when she kills.
25 July – The Twins by LV Mathews
This book landed on my TBR because I was intrigued by the blurb. I requested it not because I know the author, but simply because I was intrigued. What a fabulous read it turned out to be. I have already started hunting for a copy of the author’s other book – The Prank.
When you reach for this book, you are heading down a twisty path of a brilliantly written tale. The story will keep you engrossed and you will not want to put this book down. I raced from page to page eagerly. I just could not read this one fast enough.
26 July – Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book follows a rock band, The Six and singer-songwriter Daisy Jones. You watch them try to get recognized for their music and how they eventually join forces and become Daisy Jones and The Six. You see how they struggle with their relationships and their addictions.
I, like many other people, heard how great the audiobook for this book was and I just had to listen to it. The cast who narrated this book was absolutely amazing. The overall format of the book is very different to most, as it is set out like a documentary-style interview. Where everyone involved from managers to ex-partners was interviewed. I have never read a book in this format and found it to be quite original and enjoyable.
27 July – It Ends at Midnight by Harriet Tyce
Another big thank you to Jonathan Ball Publishers for this review copy. You guys have been sending some truly magnificent books my way recently. This book has a beautiful cover and is a stunning addition to my bookshelf.
When you reach for this book, you can expect the unexpected. This is a twisty read that delivers an ending you would not expect. I was hooked from the first page and could not read fast enough
28 July – The Hive by Scarlette Brade
After reading this book I might never open a social media app again!
The author tells a moving story about friendship, love and the power of social media. Add to that, loss, heartbreak and a spectacular murder, and you will find yourself unable to put this book down.
We live in a world dominated by social media; we are eager for the latest gossip and quickly share our comments without giving a second thought to the effect our words might have. It is easy to be swept up in the latest trend and even easier to forget that we are never truly privy to the full truth. Scarlett Brade explored just that with this book – the half-truths shared on social media and the public’s ability to judge based on appearance.
29 July – A Tapping at Mt Door by David Jackson
A young woman is murdered, and when the police arrive on the scene they discover that she was a police officer. Her murder is followed by the death of her old partner and all too quickly there are more dead officers. DS Nathan Cody, recovering from a traumatic experience while working undercover is partnered with an ex-girlfriend on the hunt for this killer which leads to old memories they would both rather forget to resurface I have had the first four books in this series sitting on my shelf for way too long, and I finally made a start. This is a deliciously gruesome crime thriller that will keep you engrossed from start to end.
My Book of the month
I had no trouble selecting Blood Sugar by Sascha Rothchild as my book of the month. I loved this unusual read and found myself rooting for this serial killer. If you haven’t yet, add this one to your TBR.
Alicia and I did our First Buddy Reads this month and it proved to be a lot of fun, I am sure you will be seeing more of those in the future. That’s a wrap.
As always, thank you for visiting the blog, your continued support is greatly appreciated. Until next time… Happy Reading!
A great months reading!
Thank you