It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a wonderful place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be, reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! Everyone is welcome. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn over at The Book Date.

Weekly Round-Up – The Non-Bookish Stuff

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Thursday turned out to be quite a good day – not only was it my birthday but I was successful in gaining a promotion at work. It more than likely means I will have less blogging time, or at least will have to be smarter in how I use the time I have available.


Despite what seems to be perpetually grey skies in the UK at the moment, we finally had time to go for a Sunday walk. We won’t mention the moment I got too close to a pheasant that suddenly flew up from the grass and nearly scared the life out of me.

Weekly Round-Up – The Bookish Stuff

Read This Week

After last week where just about every book disappointed me, this was a week of books that I just couldn’t get enough of. Despite there only being a few more days left in June, I’m going to do an end of month round up next week.

Restraining Reeba was a beta read and I know the author still has some alterations she wants to make, so I won’t be saying much more about it other than it’s an awesome story.

Tools of the Trade is an introductory novella in a gaslamp/fantasy world. Despite it being quite a short read this really caught my attention, so immediately pre-ordered a copy of this arc book. I’m very much looking forward to reading more by the author as her writing soon had be spellbound. Restraining Reeba was a beta read and I know the author still has some alterations she wants to make, so I won’t be saying much more about it other than it’s an awesome story.
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Max Barry impressed me with his captivating sci-fi, parallel worlds, suspense story. Not only that but I found the two female protagonists to be quite realistically portrayed, something that a lot of male authors seem to fail in doing.

I chose this as it was an “out of my comfort zone” read and it was a great reminder that I need to do so more often.
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These Hollow Vows was a NetGalley request. Although I’ve heard of the author before, because she’s quite a big name in the romance world, this is the first book of hers that I have read. It’s a YA Fantasy, though really for the 15+ age group. I swear blind a lot of reviewers didn’t read to the end because some of the things they focus on were overwritten by subsequent twists and turns. I just adored this one and want every other reader to love it as much as I did!
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The Controllers is rapidly becoming a firm favourite with me. Yes the world building could be more fleshed out, yes the plot isn’t overly complicated BUT the quality of writing is simply wonderful. Her characters draw me in and I can feel their emotions.
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Currently Reading

This is turning out to be a humour filled PNR. For those who read Dark Romance, Kitty Thomas is a fairly well known name. However she originally wrote as Zoe Winters and Blood Lust is a trio of novellas featuring supernatural creatures, magic and mayhem.

On The Blog Last Week

21st June – Weekly Round-Up Post

22nd June – Review Post – Hunted by KF Breene

24th June – Promotion Post – No More Secrets by Cate Beauman

25th June – Book Blogger Hop

26th June – Let’s Talk Bookish

On The Blog This Week

28th June – Weekly Round-Up

29th June – Review Post – Shadow Lands by KF Breene

30th June – Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt

2nd July – Book Blogger Hop

3rd July – Let’s Talk Bookish



How was your week? Happy reading!

READING STATS FOR 2021
Books read in 2021 – 84 (79) including Phantom & Wraith beta read, Restraining Reeba & Tools of the Trade
Re-reads in 2021 – 5 (5)
Owned books from TBR list read – 16 (15)
5 Star reads – 22 (20)
DNF’s – 9 (9)

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a wonderful place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be, reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! Everyone is welcome. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn over at The Book Date.

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This weekend was a very different one to the last. First of all the weather was a good 10 degrees celsius less (about 18 F), very grey and rainy rather than hot and sunny.

It was also much quieter, with the only real “event” that of taking my 18 year old for her first covid vaccination. They announced her age group on Friday and she got an appointment for the Saturday afternoon.

My 21 year old sons have promised to make appointments, but don’t seem to be in much of a rush to do so. Both are massive wimps when it comes to having vaccinations so I think that is playing a big part in their procrastination.

Read This Week

Hart was the prequel to a Buddy Read I was co-running. It got the series of to a great start, sadly The Villain, Book #1, was a complete flop. Both of us who are Mods of the buddy read DNF’d it due to poor pacing, no character development and virtually no plot.

I also did another run through of a beta-read book. Provisionally named Justice it’s a book by one of my favourite authors…

I finally finished Hexing the Ex, thank you to Netgalley for an arc of this book. It was one of those instantly forgettable reads. It was a pleasant way to pass some time but it just didn’t quite capture me in the way I hoped it would.

In fact it was a week of poor arc choices, as I set aside another arc that was boring me. I’ll pick it up in a couple of weeks, when hopefully I’ll be more into it then.

Currently Reading

I had plans, big plans and then yesterday had a request for a complete beta read of a book asap, and received a belated arc book that is due to release in a few days. So I will be busy with both of them for the next few days.

Up Next

I had just started reading The 22 Murders of Madison May, a time travel thriller arc also courtesy of Netgalley. I was very much enjoying it so shall finish it as soon as the arc and beta read are done.


Happy reading!

READING STATS FOR 2021
Books read in 2021 – 79 (75) including Phantom & Wraith beta read
Re-reads in 2021 – 5 (5)
Owned books from TBR list read – 15 (15)
5 Star reads – 20 (20)
DNF’s – 9 (8)

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a wonderful place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be, reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! Everyone is welcome. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn over at The Book Date.

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On Saturday I spent a very pleasant afternoon with my sister and some friends of hers. We enjoyed a bottomless brunch at a rather trendy eatery in Nottingham. The admission price included a Porn Star Martini (I think I may have discovered my new favourite drink, lol), a light meal and as much Prosecco as you could drink over the course of 90 minutes.


We spaced out the alcohol with plenty of water, since the weather has now reached the mid to high 70’s F. In fact Sunday was the hottest day of the year so far in the UK, and very welcome it is too after a freezing cold April and very soggy May. Of course on a hot day you do have to indulge in a yummy ice cream.

Read This Week

I started the week with an arc book, which I really enjoyed. So much so it was the kick in the bum I needed to read some of the books from the series that I already own.


I also managed to finish Shadow Lands. I want to clear a few of my Netgalley arcs first but I have plans to complete this series VERY soon. I massively recommend it if you want to read an entertaining Fantasy series with a strong female protagonist.

Finally I read a Booksprout arc. This book was originally on literotica before it had a huge rewrite. Fans of the original series – which is very different to the altered and expanded version I’ve previously read – have pestered for the release of the story that they first fell in love with. Of course I was curious as to just how different the two versions were, and the answer is very. I prefer the previously released story, it has much better world building and is more believable overall.

Currently Reading

This cosy paranormal mystery set in the UK really appealed to me. It’s a fun read, though a little slow, hence chopping and changing with other reads.

Up Next

Yet again I’m juggling books which, until recently, is something I haven’t done in years. So as well as working my way through Hexing the Ex, I’m throwing in The Wedding Dress by Dani Atkins (thank you Netgalley) and the final Controllers book I own.


Happy reading!

READING STATS
Books read in 2021 – 75 (71) including Phantom & Wraith beta read and The Prey
Re-reads in 2021 – 5 (5)
Owned books from TBR list read – 15 (12)
5 Star reads – 20 (18)
DNF’s – 8 (8)

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a wonderful place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be, reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! Everyone is welcome. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn over at The Book Date.

Today see’s me going back to work after a very pleasant week off. Hubby and I spent a few days in Gloucestershire, visiting both Medieval and Roman remains, the river Severn, Gloucester, Cirencester and Tetbury, along with popping into Evesham, Worcestershire, on the way home.
#1 Gloucester Cathedral, #2 The River Severn, #3 Roman Mosaic, Cirencester, #4 One of several massive airliners that can be seen at the tiny Cotswold Airport, #5 Shaun the Sheep, Tetbury, #6 Victorian Postbox, Tetbury, #7 Gosditch Street in Cirencester, #8 Norman Gateway remains, Evesham, #9 River Avon, Evesham.

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Read This Week

Despite being on vacation for a week, I actually got LESS reading done as we had very little “doing nothing” time. Erupting Danger was a Netgalley arc, the follow up to Erupting Trouble. I loved book #1 but wasn’t so enamoured with this one. I’m not even sure if I’ll bother to complete the series. I can suspend my disbelief a certain amount in a dystopian story, but not when it involves TSTL decisions and impossible timelines.
I also had more beta reading to do for two separate authors.


I co-run a buddy read and From Blood and Ash is the coming weeks reading choice. It’s a long book so, knowing I’ve got a busy week ahead, I’ve made a head start. The first half is quite slow paced, with lots of world building etc. Whilst part of me was wanting something to start happening, the rest of me did enjoy the slow build up, the time spent getting to know our protagonists and the world in which they live. However since I could sum up 300 pages worth of story in a few sentences it probably could have done with some trimming down. The last half went down VERY easily and I sort of couldn’t stop myself from finishing it – oops!

Currently Reading

I’m reading The Menopause Manifesto in chunks. It’s non-fiction so there is only so much of it my brain can handle at any one time. Whilst I’m desperate to finish Shadow Lands I have an arc to read first, but I do hope to get back to it at the weekend.

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Up Next

Another Netgalley book. It’s set in the UK so I couldn’t resist!

That’s my week, how was yours?




Happy reading, Louise x

READING STATS
Books read in 2021 – 71 (69) including Phantom & Wraith beta read and The Prey
Re-reads in 2021 – 5 (5)
Owned books from TBR list read – 12 (12)
5 Star reads – 18 (18)
DNF’s – 8 (8)

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a wonderful place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be, reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! Everyone is welcome. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn over at The Book Date.

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Bad weather meant we couldn’t have the family and friends barbeque we had planned. In fact it’s been a very wet week across most of the UK, with temperatures well below normal for this time of year. The weeds are loving it though, so once we get a dry spell I will be heading out into the garden and trying to wrangle it into some kind of submission!


As you can see No-Mow May is going well! The longer grass is providing wonderful cover for this fledgling blackbird and the daisies are growing well.

Read Last Week

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I enjoyed all three of these, though Galactic Search and Rescue was my favourite. The Heir is the penultimate book in a long series. I love the books but I do feel it’s time to say goodbye to the world. Trained was the final book in a romantic suspense trilogy. It had the odd eye-roll moment but was still a good read.

Currently Reading

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I’m a Creep is an arc whilst Hunted is a TBR/Owned book. It’s part of a 6 or 7 book series, of which I own the first 3 books. I’m trying not to buy anything new until I’ve read more of the books already on my kindle. However if I enjoy the next two as much as I enjoyed the first (Chosen) I may have to bend the rules on this one.

Up Next

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These are all NetGalley finds. I’m getting addicted to the site – there are so many great looking books on there.

That’s my week, how was yours?

Happy reading, Louise x

READING STATS
Books read in 2021 – 63 (60) including Phantom & Wraith beta read
Re-reads in 2021 – 5 (5)
Owned books from TBR list read – 11 (11)
5 Star reads – 16 (16)
DNF’s – 8 (8)

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a wonderful place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be, reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! Everyone is welcome. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn over at The Book Date.

It has been a week of very up and down weather. We have had rain, sun, thunderstorms and sleet. My husband is hoping for good weather on Saturday as he has invited some friends and family around to help celebrate his birthday. It isn’t a “special” one but today sees a change in Covid-rules in England that means up to 30 people can meet outdoors. Indoors is six people or two households – heaven knows what we will do if it rains!

I was bemoaning not being able to find the woodland footpath we discovered on one of our favourite local walks. However had we done so we would have missed seeing this Barn Owl in all his wild glory.







We also went on to see a few goldfinches (they were too quick for me to grab a photo but they are impressive birds with their red, gold, black and white colouring), a yellowhammer, a wild rabbit and a very NOT native peacock displaying his magnificent plumage for all he was worth.

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Read Last Week

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I had no DNF’s this week, though the Kerrigan Byrne book proved to be disappointing. A lot of reviewers mentioned it not being of her usual standard, so perhaps I was just unlucky on this one.

I adored Chosen. I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to start reading this series. It’s also another one off the TBR list. I’m not making as rapid progress as I would have liked but I am making some progress, so it’s still a win.

Infernal Sin was a much anticipated final book in a MM Urban Fantasy trilogy.

Currently Reading

This is an arc that I requested a while ago and had totally forgotten about in the interim. Thankfully it’s a novella, so I should have it finished fairly quickly. Carol Van Natta writes excellent SFR with the emphasis on the science. Her world building is very good and the characters are super easy to connect with.

Up Next

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I’m hoping to complete The Heir (a futuristic dystopian romance from a series of stand alone stories) and be a good way into Hunted by this time next week. If I’ve finished it that would be a huge win!

That’s my week, how was yours?

Happy reading, Louise x

READING STATS
Books read in 2021 – 60 (57) including Phantom & Wraith beta read
Re-reads in 2021 – 5 (5)
Owned books from TBR list read – 11 (10)
5 Star reads – 16 (15)
DNF’s – 8 (8)

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a wonderful place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be, reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! Everyone is welcome. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn over at The Book Date.

I feel as though I’ve had a fairly productive weeks reading – even if I did encounter a DNF along the way!



I had my second Pfizer vaccination on Tuesday and, whilst it left me feeling washed out and a little under the weather for a couple of days, I feel lucky to have gotten it so quickly. The centre was running late, so I had to queue in the cold for a while, but it did mean I got to see this gorgeous mother duck with her little ducklings. One fell into a storm grate but was thankfully rescued by a hospital groundsman.



We missed yet another Sunday walk as we needed to take my Mother-in-law out to buy some new furniture. She moved into assisted living accommodation a month ago but hasn’t managed to get out and shop for a much needed bed, or sofa and chair. It was a spur of the moment visit to a retail park but we walked out an hour or so later with my MIL having bought all the larger furniture items she needed.

Read Last Week

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All of these were arc books and most of them I really enjoyed. Wanted is the final book of a stand alone series, Midnight Fae Academy 4 completed a quartet that must be read in order and Disciplined is the middle book of a trilogy.

Erupting Trouble is by an author I haven’t read before but one I will definitely now be taking an interest in! I read the book in virtually one sitting, I loved both the premise (a dystopian near future story) and the author’s voice.

The DNF was Learning To Talk To Plants, which had too much of a ‘tell and not show’ style of prose. Sadly I couldn’t connect with the main character either or the excessive use of description over plot movement and story.

Currently Reading

I am totally loving this quirky fantasy story. The book is mainly from Shanti, the heroine’s, point of view, though we do get viewpoints from a few side characters. The author has written an amazing story with incredibly likeable protagonists – even if they are a little sarcastic and a lot belligerent.

I have book #2 and #3 already on my kindle and already know that I will be buying the rest of the series very soon! Best of all this is part of my TBR list, crossing another book off it will feel so good.

Up Next

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Tempting Fate is a buddy read book in a Goodreads group I mod in. I was lucky enough to get an arc from Netgalley for it. Kerrigan Byrne isn’t an author I’ve read before but others have recommended her, so I have my fingers crossed for a positive reading experience.

That’s my week, how was yours?

Happy reading, Louise x

READING STATS
Books read in 2021 – 57 (53) including Phantom & Wraith beta read
Re-reads in 2021 – 5 (5)
Owned books from TBR list read – 10 (10)
5 Star reads – 15 (14)
DNF’s – 8 (7)

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a wonderful place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be, reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! Everyone is welcome. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn over at The Book Date.

This week sees me doing my monthly round-up post. It’s a Bank Holiday weekend in the UK so of course rain is in the weather forecast! Family commitments didn’t allow us to go on our usual walk so I’m sharing some photos I took in the garden, all taken from very judicious angles so you can’t see too many weeds!

#1 April was the frostiest month on records in England – you can see the damage it’s caused to the ends of these leaves. It looks as though something has enjoyed munching on them too.
#2 A rare appearance by (Jack the) Nipper, deliverer of mice both live and dead.
#3 The sky looking west, so we have a nice bright spell coming up.
#4 Looking East, you can see the cloud that rained on my air drying laundry!
#5 There is something very relaxing about listening to the sound of the water in our fountain.
#6 Along with lots of weeds, such as daisies, dandelions and forget-me-nots, we do have a few bluebells flowering.

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Read This Month

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I managed to fit another 3 books into the last week of March, along with some more alpha reading for an author friend. The Alpha of Ricket Hall was not only my favourite book of April, but is very likely to be a “forever” favourite too. My other recommend for the month would be The Case of The Dragon-Bone Engine which is a debut book by Galadriel Coffeen that was both well written and entertaining. I only managed one TBR list read this month, but that’s better than none!

Currently Reading

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I had totally forgotten that the Black Light arc would be dropping on my kindle for reading this week. I’m reading it alongside the final book of a PNR quartet.

Up Next

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Chosen is a TBR list read, I’m hoping I manage to move a few more books off that list this month – fingers crossed!

Happy reading x

READING STATS
Books read in 2021 – 53 (49) including Phantom & Wraith beta read
Re-reads in 2021 – 5 (5)
Owned books from TBR list read – 10 (10)
5 Star reads – 14 (13)
DNF’s – 7 (5)

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading?

It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? is a wonderful place to meet up and share what you have been, and are about to be, reading over the week. It’s a great post to organise yourself. It’s an opportunity to visit and comment and er… add to your groaning TBR pile! Everyone is welcome. This meme started on J Kaye’s blog and then was hosted by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn over at The Book Date.

Hello again! Normally this would be my monthly round up post but I’m just not organised enough to do that today, plus next week we have a bank holiday weekend, so I’ll definitely have more time for a proper summing up post then!


We’ve lived in our current house for far longer than we ever thought we would – it will be 23 years in October. Our original hope had been to move if not to something larger at least to a detached property within a half a dozen years or so. A massive rise in house prices and the arrival of three children within three years meant we never quite had the money to do that. By the time we did we were really settled and decided to extend the property instead. Whilst we could do with an extra reception room for our adult offspring, chances are they will move out within the next few years, so we have no more plans to add to the property.


I mention how long we have lived in the same place because on our local walk yesterday we found yet another new path, woodland and stream. It would have been a fantastic place to take our three when they were younger, they would have had a whale of a time paddling in the water. We didn’t see as much wildlife this time, though we did see sheep, hens and a couple of domesticated guinea fowl in a field. Also spotted, and our first confirmed sighting of one, was a nuthatch. The photo of one isn’t mind as I couldn’t focus my camera whilst it hopped around in the tree branches. We were also treated to a lovely display of wood anemones and bluebells, accompanied by the occasional whiff of wild garlic.

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Read This Week

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I complete an arc read, a beta read and also did some partial alpha and beta reading this week. I also sadly had to DNF an arc book, whilst the plot was great there was just no character development, to the point that at 40% I still didn’t feel like I knew any of them on anything other than a very superficial level. I also DNF’d a kindle unlimited read that I had been initially engaged by but had grown bored with. Not so much an issue with the story or writing just that I’ve read too many similar books before.

Currently Reading

I decided to indulge in several NetGalley arc books. This one is proving to be a big success thus far, which is particularly pleasing because once again I’m venturing out of my usual reading genres.

Up Next

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All arcs, one is on a quick turnaround, the other two are also NetGalley, so I have less pressure to read those by a deadline. That’s my bookish week, how was yours? Happy reading x

READING STATS
Books read in 2021 – 49 (47)
Re-reads in 2021 – 5 (5)
Owned books from TBR list read – 10 (10)
5 Star reads – 13 (12)
DNF’s – 7 (5)