The Little Library Project

There's something about reading a Christmas book in the middle of the year that just feels... a little different. But that's what I did guys. For you.  One Christmas Morning is a gorgeous treat of a book that will have you crying, gasping and smiling.  Wrapped up in the launch of her new business, Eva is in the Cornish countryside for Christmas with her husband and some of her closest friends. But after 3 years of throwing herself into the business, she's a world apart and there is so much that hangs in the balance. Her very own Ghost of Christmas Present is there for her though, showing her what she's missing out on. But is it too late? I have no doubt that this book is going to be a hit this Christmas. Everyone is guilty of upending that work/life balance occasionally and this book really does bring home the message that there is so much more to life. 

  When I say that Kindle Unlimited has changed my life, it is NOT an exaggeration. It has opened up a world of books that I had no idea existed and I just cannot believe what I have been missing out on.   It’s only been a few months but I have read a ridiculous amount of books from there already. And the one that sticks out for me the most? The Words.   I think I found this one on TikTok – I’d never her of Ashley Jade and this certainly wouldn’t have been a book I picked up without recommendation because this kind of cover is not the one for me.   But within a few pages I was so hooked.   I have no shame in admitting that if I was to admit to a weakness – it is tortured musician. My best friend will willingly regale anyone with stories of my ill-fated romances with guitarists, bassists or singers. So this book SPOKE to me.   Told in two person POV, The Words follows Lennon and Phoenix; from their days in high school, through to four years later, when Lennon...

  When I bought this book a couple of months ago, I hadn't realised that it was a book that had sat on my TBR list for a few years. That's when you know a book is going to be right for you! As part of my effort to work my way through my physical TBR, I picked it up for the bank holiday and immediately got lost in the history of P T Barnum and his museum of curiosities.  Unlike the masses, I wasn't quite as hooked on The Greatest Showman when it came out; whilst I appreciate the film and everything it encompassed, it was a classic case of Hollywood putting a positive spin on an otherwise dark history.  The Mermaid tells the story of a mermaid who choses to join Barnums exhibition so she can fund her dreams to see the world.  Adding a fantasy element to the Fiji Mermaid hoax that Barnum was the ringleader of, the story approaches a number of subjects tactfully. Firstly, the Mermaid, Amelia, is not always allowed the freedom she signed up for and the religious zealots o...

  I have no shame in admitting that I have been in constant pursuit of the ACOTAR-vibe since reading the series back in October. It was such an immersive series that I couldn't help but be lowkey obsessed and I've struggled to find anything that gives me similar feels since.  Thankfully, with my trusted Kindle Unlimited subscription, I've been able to sample a fair few series since and whilst they've been great - they haven't quite hit the mark.  Well, The Mist King series definitely comes pretty damn close. Fae - CHECK Series - CHECK 400+ page reads - CHECK Fated Mates - CHECK Smut - CHECK War - CHECK It's all there.  For me personally, the characters aren't written quite as well as I'd like. I want to hate some, I want to love some, but they lack the depth to really become invested in them.  But the twists and turns in the plot definitely make up for it.  I'd highly recommend this to fans of fantasy romance. There is a fourth (and final) book due o...

The Illusions is a brilliant tale set at the turn of the 20th century, when magical illusions were still famed in their novelty and moving pictures were finding their feet. A great magician is retiring and naming his successor, but as the show is threatened by a rival performer, an unlikely troop of magicians and inventors work together to fulfil the legacy. I found this book a challenge - whilst the story was clearly told for each of the characters clearly, the story took a while to develop. I loved Eadie's character, and Cecily was a force to be reckoned with in the end but I felt like more could have been developed in the feminist element of the story. Overall, it was a great premise for a story and it was told well - but it was a little slower paced than I tend to steer towards.

  Since reading The Night Circus and Caraval books years ago, I'm been on the hunt for another Circus based story to get into and this one absolutely delivered. The First Bright Thing is set in the roaring twenties, when the world is settling back down after the devastating First World War and Rin is travelling America with her troop of performers. But this circus is different; instead of tricks and illusions, each performer has their own special gift - Their Spark.  But Rin is hiding from her past; a rival Ringmaster is desperate to join forces despite having a very different agenda.  This story was definitely darker than other Circus based books that I've read but held something special as the characters dipped in and out of not only social issues, but politics too. I have a feeling this book is going to be very popular and I'll definitely be seeking it out for my collection on publication day!

Naturally - the minute I saw this available for an ARC, I couldn't push that request button quick enough and I was so excited to have been approved. After falling in love with Viv and her merry band of friends in Legends and Lattes, I think everyone has been eagerly awaiting this next instalment and it definitely lived up to the hype. Bookshops & Bonedust take us twenty years before, Viv is injured and finds herself in recovery from a severe leg injury which has put her out of action in the sleep port of Murk. She finds herself in the company of Fern, the proprietor of a run down bookshop that has a flair for choosing the right books for the right people. Once again, this story is beautifully paced, showcasing fun and unsuspecting friendships whilst the underlying plot is there, providing challenges and suspense. I can't wait to see how this series develops.

I was SO excited to have the opportunity to read Morgan Is My Name. I've long been a fan of all things Arthurian and this first instalment of the trilogy was a brilliant first step back in time and hearing Morgans story.  With so much speculation as to the truth behind the myth of King Arthur, creative license can really be used and what I loved most about Morgan Is My Name is that it wasn't excessive; there are no dragons (yet?) but there is plenty of sorcery, betrayal and feeling to make this an impressive historical fiction.  Plenty of mentions of Tintagel and the surrounding areas of Cornwall add weight to the story, and towards the end we are entering the world of the much-debated Camelot.  Underneath it all - the feminist message is clear (let's face it... I love a feminist message), and I can't wait to see how the story develops, not just for Morgan herself but Alys and Tressa too.  Morgan Is My Name has earned a place of pride on my bookshelf already and the ...

In true Me style, I was in fear after Fairy Tale that I would enter into a reading slump. I mean, what on earth is going to match up to that?! So naturally, I launched straight into a new easy read.  This is a very new addition to my collection as it was purchased as part of my birthday book collection after seeing some really good reviews on Twitter from other bloggers.  A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating A Demon was exactly what you'd expect - fun and cute with plenty of grumpy/sunshine. Mariel is from a powerful and respected family of witches but she isn't quite meeting up to her mother's expectations. Whilst working on her spellcraft, she accidentally summons a demon - and he's a soul-bargainer and can't leave until she's promised him her soul.  This was a sweet read that is perfect for fans of The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling. And it gave me some very cosy Autumn/Halloween vibes. 

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...

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...

  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 fu...

  If there's one kind of book I love - it's one about witches.  Weyward is a new release that I knew I had to read as soon as I could. The cover is absolutely gorgeous too so naturally, I was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.  The story follows three generations of women, each attuned to nature and with a power to right the wrongs against them.  Whilst I was reading I tweeted that it's no wonder I'm a feminist when I read these kind of books because seriously - women have got the raw end of the deal for a while. Through flashbacks of each of the Kate, Violet and Altha, we learn their stories and how they came to realise their ability as a result of the trauma they'd experienced.  It's quite an intense book but I was able to read it quickly (once I'd got a pesky headache out of the way) and is a must for fans of all things witchy. 

Rosie meets Will in sixth-form. He's tutoring her twin brother and a late night conversation around a bonfire begins a complex and deep friendship between the two opposites. Will is your stereotypical bad boy and Rosie is wholly focussed on her studies.  But in their final summer before they go their separate ways, a horrific incident leaves them emotionally bound to each other. Over the years, they drift in and out of each others lives and both deal with what happened in their own ways.  The premise of this book is almost cliche... but the execution is going to make this book a classic in its own right.  At first, I struggled with how it was written - the dialogue was basic and written in an untraditional way but I feel like this only added to the simplicity of the story in it's early pages. By the mid-point of the story, it was no longer a problem.  The characters are beautifully flawed, selfish and stubborn. The peaks and troughs are well thought out at there is s...

When Love Theoretically became available for request on NetGalley, my Twitter feed was awash with excitement. Naturally, I joined the masses.  Between me and you - I purposely requested no other books so I could sit comfortably at the desired 80% mark awaiting approval.  Elsie is fed up of earning very little, rationing her insulin and dealing with paper extension requests from her students - she's being championed for a position with MIT but her two worlds are about to collide. Whilst working on the side as a Date-For-Hire, in walks Jack, the brother of one of her Fake Boyfriends.  Elsie has to navigate the interview process under the tutelage of her mentor whilst also managing to keep up the charade of the fake relationship.  Focussing much more on the politics of academia; if your main challenge with Hazelwoods books have been the science element - this is going to be right up your street.  Yes, Love Theoretically does follow the tried and tested formula for ...

Having been interested in the Romanov executions from a young age, this book was an immediate addition to my TBR but I was so disappointed to find the paperback was £16 to buy. That's not within my paperback budget.  But then, I signed up to Kindle Unlimited and I cannot tell you how pleased I was to find this book on there - and it was of course my first KU read.  The thing with books that are based on real people and real events; it's easy to judge them on the historical accuracy. It's easy to metaphorically tear a book apart because the fictionalised character and events to not match what the reader believes or knows.  And going into reading Anastasia,, that's exactly what I was concerned about. I have an educated idea of what happened, how and when. And there was one point of this book where the timeline was note matching up - specifically Red Sunday. In reality this would have happened when Anastasia was 4/5 years old, whereas in Lark's story - she was in her t...

I have been ITCHING to read this for about 6 months now so I was pleased as anything when I caught it in the Hardback sale at Waterstones in the New Year.  If you want cosy fantasy then this is definitely a book for you.  Viv has been adventuring and caught up in bounty hunting for all of her life but she wants to settle down. She sets herself up in a quiet village and starts her business venture... coffee! Discovered in a faraway town, coffee is a gnome creation and she has no idea if those in Thune will even like it.  With the local mob and an old acquaintance threatening to bring everything down around them, Viv teams up with Cal, Tandri and Thimble to make Legends & Lattes a success. I want to live in Thune. I want to take a book and sit in one of the booths of the cafe and try a Thimblet.  This has so much potential to become a cult series akin to Discworld. There is so much scope for Baldree to develop the world he's started.  If you love fantasy but w...

  If there's one thing I love... it's a fictional retelling of factual events - but when I started it, I had no idea.  And with this one - you're in for a wild ride. The Maiden is about the trial of an adulteress and Murderer, Lady Christian Nimmo. From a family of standing, Christian is due to be executed on The Maiden.  Whilst the time and setting of this tale is based in the 17th century - I wouldn't call this a Historical Fiction in the manner that I typically find them. This is as much of a mystery - potentially even a thriller.  The plot definitely leads this book but the characters are well written. My favourite was Violet - ambitious and selfish, she came across the strongest and had a real feeling of Bad*ss B*tch about her. 

The Mad Women's Ball was an impulse purchase in Waterstones... and yes, it's because I absolutely fell in love with the cover.  Set in a 19th century asylum in Paris, the book follows two women - Genevieve, the matron of t he Salpetriere Asylum  and Eugenie, the daughter of a well-respected family.  After finding a long lost necklace amongst the furniture, Eugenie confides in her grandmother that her dead grandfather had told her where it was. But her relatives take this is a sign that she is mad and quickly sends her off to the asylum. Genevieve mistrusts her almost instantly and sets about making sure the rules are follows. Until a series of events leads her to question everything she's ever known.  The Mad Womens Ball is an insight into the views of the medical professional at the time towards women - with delightful and realistic characters that are each held for their own reasons.  Whilst it was never going to be a 'nice' book, it definitely gave me pause f...