The Little Library Project

  There's something about an alternative Second World War or a "What If?" that intrigues me. After my somewhat disappointing experience with The Man In The High Castle a few weeks ago - I was hesitant that this would also miss the mark slightly but thankfully - it hit all the right spots.  A few months after the end of the War, Tom Wilde is back from his OSS placement and is settling back into academia at Cambridge. But a visit to a sick friend lands him in the midst of a biological attack on British Soil and he's called up on by his previous colleague to investigate.  I really enjoyed this story. I didn't realise that it was part of a series of novels based on the central character, Tom Wilde but that didn't stop my grasp of what was going on. The departments and fractions of military were easy to pick up though there are a likely a few backstories that would have been useful to piece things together quicker.  My only criticism is that Clements' writing s

All hail the book that dragged me out of my reading slump back in October!  After a bit of a dry couple of months bookwise - I'd seen a fair amount about the ACOTAR series on BookTok and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I ordered the first book but, resisted buying the rest of the series straight away. I think I was only about 100 pages in before the rest of the series was in my basket - thankfully delivered the next day (Thank you Prime). I devoured the whole series in a week and ever since, I have been reaching for the vibes that I got when I first read them. I've come close but so far, nothing has hit the mark. I wasn't planning on a re-read any time soon - I've got the Throne of Glass and Crescent City books waiting to be started BUT when I finally managed to talk the best friend into taking the leap, I couldn't resist joining her along for the ride. So as a break between my other books, and a reward for being so far into my 2023 reading challenge, I

I'm not going to hark on about my love for Jenny Colgan because if you've paid any attention to my previous reviews - you'll know that I ADORE her. So when I saw that her next release was available to review on NetGalley I was crossing all of my fingers in the hope that I'd be approved... And I was! It was strange but lovely to be reading a stand alone novel of Jenny's after following the lives of those on Mure and Kirrinfief for so long but the story of Morag and her family in the highest reaches of Scotland still felt like home to me.  Following in the footsteps of my Father and Grandad, Morag is a pilot. But she long ago decided that the little runner plane that was used by locals to island hop wasn't enough for her. After an incident that's left her more than a little bit shaken, she's struggling to get back in the cockpit but thanks to the safe and dependable Hayden, things are looking up for her. But as her Grandad comes down ill with the flu, she&

  Hot on the heels of The Witches of Vardo, I delved into another NetGalley Arc - The Last Witch of Scotland.  The tone of the writing between these two stories is vastly different - whereas the Scandinavian tale was drawn down from historical accounts and documents, The Last Witch of Scotland seems to be more ambiguous and whilst still devastating in it's origins, the story has a more lighthearted feel to it.  An account of the life of Aila, the daughter of Janet Horne who was the last woman executed in British soil, as a result of the witch trials.  What I enjoy most about reading these books is the common themes of the trials - over-zealous ministers looking to take control of their 'flock' and using what we now understand to be medical or general science as a platform to denounce these women as witches. It's just ridiculous.  But as I mention, this tale is slightly more lighthearted in the variety of characters that we meet and the stories that intertwine.  Quite po

After reading The Spanish Love Deception a few weeks ago - I couldn't wait to get stuck into this one and see Rosie and Lucas' story play out. Whilst I enjoyed watching Lina and Aaron's antics, there was an element of it that felt forced and I had hopes that The American Roommate Experiment would be a smoother story.  And it was. Definitely a slow burn, but it felt so much more natural and organic in the way their relationship developed.  Rosie is classically awkward in the way that only someone with a secret crush can be and Lucas is cocky without being arrogant, and clearly an absolute snack.  Of course, it was predictable, no one wants to read a romance where the couple doesn't get together at the end right? (I'm looking at you, The Idea of You) but it was a lovely read that left you invested in the couple.  The American Roommate Experiment was a nice one day read for me and Elena Armas will probably now be auto-buy author for me!

If you haven't guessed already - I cannot refuse a witchy read. I've always had an interest in all things to do with witchcraft and the persecution of women in history. I spotted this one when it came out, and thanks to an Amazon gift voucher, I treated myself to The Witches of Vardo.  Based on true events, The Witches of Vardo follows the story of a small group of women from Northern Norway who are held on suspicion of witchcraft. You can read about the witch trial here .  This story is harrowing. Of course, the account of the actual trial is fiction but even the statements made against them and prosecution lead against them is steeping in recorded accounts in history which makes this all the more troubling. As there is always likely to be - there is an element of the supernatural in the story leading to a Are They/Aren't They question but generally, the story definitely highlights the absurdity of the claims.  And it all comes back to this; whilst they couldn't live w

I *know* I read these out of order but thankfully, I don't feel like it ruined anything for me. I read Hook, Line and Sinker back last year and thoroughly enjoyed watching Hannah and Fox's relationship develop.  Piper is a socialite known for her immaculate style and wild antics. But when her step dad cuts her off after she breaks into a rooftop pool bringing all of her friends along... she's left without a clue in how to navigate the world.  Finding herself in a remote fishing town, she's having to start again and learn how to look after herself. Immediately making an enemy out of brooding fisherman Brendan, she sets about restoring her late fathers bar.  It's your classic moody/sunshine romance and as we have come to expect from Tessa Bailey - there's a little bit of spice too.  Did I prefer the first or second? Personally, I preferred Hannah's story, but that might just be because Fox is more my type of guy. But this was a good little gap filler in betwe

There was no doubt in my mind that book would leave me emotionally broken. When I red They Both Die At The End last year - I was in awe as to how much emotion I felt. So I went into this with my eyes wide open but I nothing could have prepared me for the pure ugly sobs that wracked through me. Similar to its predecessor, the book focuses on Death Cast. However this story is from the beginning of the system - the first person called by Death Cast on its launch. To talk about it will take away from the sheer beauty of the story but this much can be shared; The story weaves everyone together in a truly gorgeous way.  Characters from our first visit to Adam Silvera's New York make a welcome appearance and draw the two books together beautifully.  If you read the first book and loved it then I'm sure this one is already sat on your TBR (if you haven't already dived in) BUT if you had any hesitation as to if it can match up - it absolutely does.  Now, I'm going to continue to

I'm going to kick this off by saying that there seems to be a trend of Romeo and Juliet retellings at the moment and I am LOVING it. Don't be put off thinking - "If I've read one, I've read them all" because that is not the case. Especially, where this book is concerned.  An ARC courtesy of NetGalley - I was super intrigued by this one as it's not your classic, two people from warring families fall in love. It is beyond that. Romeo is cursed and his Juliet is completely oblivious, and he's destined to live through the tragedy over and over again.  I adored this book so much.  There wasn't a single part of the story that left me feeling bored, confused or underwhelmed. It was stunningly written and the characters were perfect.  I'm especially glad that neither the build up or the end were rushed. It was perfectly balanced.  I don't want to write too much more because I definitely don't want to spoil it for anyone. But I will say that thi

  I am going to willingly admit that I am enjoying this series. It's quickly become my guilty pleasure and.. newsflash, I read for so many reasons but the primary one - is to have fun.  And this series definitely delivers.  Following on from Vektal and Georgie's story in Ice Planet Barbarian, this instalment follows hotheaded Liz and brooding Raahosh as they realise they're resonating. Raahosh is scared and steals Liz away, whilst Liz is furious and wants to do everything she can to get away from him.  I can't wait to read the next one BUT I'm going to save it for when I've read the rest of my TBR for the month. I'll be dreaming giant blue aliens otherwise. 

I finished this book 10 minutes before writing this... and I've been left with a feeling of - what on earth did I just read? So excuse the haphazard nature of my thoughts! Firstly, the cover and the description of this book do NOT give a true idea as to what this book is about in my opinion.  I quite fancied a 20's murder mystery set in a hotel. The blurb literally says: But when a terrible snow storm isolates the hotel – and its guests – from the outside world, the lines between nightmare and reality begin to blur and Nora will find herself face to face with a past she thought she had long left behind... But what we get instead is an almost horror story.  Trigger warnings: this book has dismemberment and cannibalism. I am not exactly feint-hearted but I know what I like and I do not like either of these things. Had they been included, I would have been able to make a judgement call early on.  I was also quite surprised that when I tried to find out what a Hyring was - I figure

THE HUNDRED LOVES OF JULIET - Evelyn Skye Read the full review here   THE FIRST TO DIE AT THE END - Adam Silvera Read the full review here IT HAPPENED ONE SUMMER - Tessa Bailey Read the full review here THE WITCHES OF VARDO - Anya Bergman Read the full review here THE AMERICAN ROOMMATE EXPERIMENT - Elena Armas Read the full review here ONE CHRISTMAS MORNING - Rachel Greenlaw Read the full review  here THE LAST WITCH OF SCOTLAND - Philip Paris Read the full review  here THE SUMMER SKIES - Jenny Colgan Read the full review  here A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES - Sarah J Maas Read the full review  here THE ENGLISH FUHRER - Rory Clements Read the full review  here BARBARIAN LOVER - Ruby Dixon Read the full review  here FAIRY TALE - Stephen King Read the full review  here A WITCH'S GUIDE TO FAKE DATING A DEMON - Sarah Hawley Read the full review  here THE COLORADO KID - Stephen King Read the full review  here PRIEST - Sierra Simone Read the full review  here SCARLET - Genevieve Cogman Read

  Well.  That was fun. As always - I was TikTok influenced and saw this little gem in my Kindle Unlimited library so thought to myself, why the hell not? After a couple of semi-serious and intense books, I fancied filling my Saturday afternoon with something fun and this absolutely delivered.  The first 20 pages or so in - I could tell this was going to be an easy read but there is definitely a dark element that the trigger warning on the first page relates too. After that? Plain sailing. Georgie has been abducted by aliens. On their way to deliver their cargo of human females, the aliens crash and disappear, with plans to collect them later. Georgie becomes elected leader and goes off to find out where they are and is snared in a trap but Vektal.  What I wasn't expecting was a plot. I know that sounds silly, but there is a plot that you can't help but get a little bit invested in. And there is spice. A fair amount of spice in fact.  Overall, I loved it. It's fun, relativel