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Karen | Novel Habit

@novelhabit

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📚 Classic, contemporary, crime, historical and literary fiction
📚 Virtual book tour host and ARC reviewer
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📚 Book Tour 📚 The Hide by Linda Newbery The tour for this starts today and runs until 30 October. I'm looking forward to reading the reviews. Thank you Random Things Tours and Linda Newbery. Review to follow on 22 October. #TheHide @LindaNewberyAuthor @RandomThingsTours #Ad #FreeBookReview Photo credit: Linda Newbery / Random Things Tours Background credit: Canva @Canva by @novelhabit
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15 hours ago
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📚 Book Review 📚 Lady Of The Castle by Rachel Elwiss Joyce (The Nicola De La Haye Series Book 2) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Nicola is constable of the castle. She is married to her second husband Gerard, mother to Tilly from her first marriage, Dickon and Tommy from her second marriage, and foster mother to Tirstan. As political tension builds, loyalties are questioned and tested, but Nicola is determined to protect her family and her castle. Her marriage struggles with the pressures of separation and secrets from the past, one by one her children come of age and must leave the safety of the castle to make their own way, and her Jewish friend Bella's family are stripped of their fortune and forced to leave their home. In a time of wealth and poverty, greed and corruption, who can the two women trust? Can Nicola protect her family and castle and save her marriage? The book is based on a true story and set in 1185-99 in Lincoln, with some scenes set in other places. There are some maps and a list of principal characters at the start of the book, and a list of additional characters at the end of the book. The map helped me picture the setting and with an extensive cast of characters the lists were helpful to refer to while I was reading. Each chapter is headed up with the place and date showing the changing pace of the story. Old English words are used in the narrative giving the story an authentic feel. There are some notes from the author at the end of the book explaining the historical basis for the story and the parts of the story where she has used her interpretation or embellished the facts. The tone of the author’s notes show her enthusiasm for the story and history in general. This book is based on history but reads like fiction. It is well researched and well written and I enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series. If you’ve read it too, what did you think of it? I received my copy of this book directly from the author. Thank you Rachel Elwiss Joyce. #LadyOfTheCastle #NicolaDeLaHaye @RachelJoyceHello #Ad #FreeBookReview Photo credit: Rachel Elwiss Joyce Background credit: Canva @Canva by @novelhabit
8
2 days ago
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📚 Coming Soon 📚 Murder Most Devious by Theo Harris (A Harvey Ross Coastal Mystery Book 4) Yesterday I found out this new book by Theo Harris is being published later this year and I’m looking forward to reading it. The publication date for this book is 4 December but, in the meantime, here is the blurb from the back of the book: “A body in the clock tower. A killer never caught. A town that would rather forget. In 1991, a popular young shop worker — a face the whole town knew — was found dead inside Sheringham's clock tower. The case went cold. The town grieved and moved on. Now it lands on ex-detective Harvey Ross's desk, and he's never been able to leave a loose thread alone. As the clock tower case pulls him deep into Sheringham's long memory, a second mystery surfaces in Aunt Agatha's binders: the unsolved 1993 killing of a Norwich City kit man. That one he works off the books — with Dr Rose Morgan beside him, and a witness whose silence is costing someone a small fortune. Two victims. Thirty years of secrets. One question nobody wants answered. Harvey came to the coast for the sea air. He's starting to think the quiet life was the real crime. A delightful coastal cozy brimming with charm, twists, and dark currents beneath the surface. Perfect for fans of M.C. Beaton, Richard Osman, and Frances Evesham.” #MurderMostFoul #AHarveyRossCoastalMystery @TheoHarrisAuthor #Ad Photo credit: Theo Harris Background credit: Canva @Canva by @novelhabit
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2 days ago
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📚 Book Tour Mail 📚 The Fresh Cut by Antti Tuomainen (translated by David Hackston) Today I received the book for my book tour with Random Things Tours. Thank you Random Things Tours and Antti Tuomainen. Review to follow on 26 November. #TheFreshCut @AnttiTuomainen @CounterTenorist @OrendaBooks @RandomThingsTours #LBTCrew #Ad #FreeBookReview Photo credit: Antti Tuomainen / Random Things Tours Background credit: Canva @Canva by @novelhabit
3
3 days ago
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📚 Book Giveaway Mail 📚 Murder On The Royal Crescent by Harriet F Townson (A Dora Wildwood Christmas Mystery) Today I received the book, together with a matching bookmark, I won in a book giveaway. The book and author are both new to me and I’m looking forward to reading it. Thank you Harriet F Townson. Review to follow. #MurderOnTheRoyalCrescent #DoraWildwoodChristmasMystery @HarrietEvansAuthor @VikingBooksUK #Ad #FreeBookReview Photo credit: Harriet F Townson Background credit: Canva @Canva by @novelhabit
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3 days ago
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📚 Publication Day 📚 When the Sky Burns by Isla Lockwood (Skyworld Book 1) Today is publication day for this new book by Isla Lockwood. Here is the blurb from the back of the book: “Twelve perilous nights of Yule. One ancient curse. Two men who sought to contain her. Until she became the weapon they feared. The phoenixes are dying. The kingdom that worshipped them has fallen. When rebel spy Aliwen steals a sentient grimoire, she uncovers a truth the witches buried. The curse that destroyed the phoenixes was never meant to be broken. But hidden within it is a single flaw. Her. On the run with the rebel leader who believes she holds the key to reclaim their kingdom - and hunted by an enemy Rider whose fire would destroy her with a single touch. Aliwen has the twelve nights of Yule to unravel the spell that reshaped kingdoms. Or burn with it. When the Sky Burns is a dark romantic fantasy with cursed phoenix riders, sentient books, ancient magic, dangerous loyalties, and a slow-burn romance set across the twelve nights of Yule. Perfect for fans of One Dark Window, Road of Bones and When the Moon Hatched.” #WhenTheSkyBurns #Skyworld @IslaLockwoodAuthor #Ad Photo credit: Isla Lockwood Background credit: Canva @Canva by @novelhabit
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5 days ago
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📚 Publication Day 📚 The Good Husband by Abigail Osborne Today is publication day for this new book by Abigail Osborne. Here is the blurb from the back of the book: “His wife is dead. Every sinner will pay the price. After thirty-seven years together, Jack's life is shattered by the death of his beloved wife, Elsie. Returning to his childhood home, Jack finds himself under the influence of his domineering father, who believes Elsie's death was part of God's plan. Now Jack has been given a chilling mission: punish those responsible for society's corruption. One sinner at a time.” #TheGoodHusband @AbigailOsborneAuthor @LoveBooksTours @AcornAndInk #LBTCrew #Ad Photo credit: Abigail Osborne / Love Books Tours Background credit: Canva @Canva by @novelhabit
6
5 days ago
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📚 Cancer Research UK Read Every Day In November Challenge 📚 Earlier this month I read a social media post from Cancer Research UK about their Read Every Day In November Challenge. The challenge is designed to encourage reading with no rules and no pressure to raise money to help fund vital cancer research. It has been well researched and documented that reading is good for mental health for all ages and for children’s learning and development. I’ve always liked reading. Thinking back to my childhood, I remember learning to read at primary school and reading at home with my parents. Now, my parents, sister and fiance all read and each of us always has a book on the go. I like to read what I call a ‘proper’ book as this helps me have a much needed break from screen time and the notifications which are part of everyday life. Even though I read every day anyway, I’m looking forward to taking part in this challenge. Will you join the challenge with me? There’s plenty of time for your friends and family to join in too and maybe you could swap books with them over the month! #ReadEveryDayInNovemberChallenge @CR_UK Photo credit: Cancer Research UK Background credit: Canva @Canva by @novelhabit
0
6 days ago
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📚 Book Tour 📚 The Hide by Linda Newbery I finished reading this yesterday for my book tour with Random Things Tours and have started to write my review. Thank you Random Things Tours and Linda Newbery. Review to follow on 22 October. In the meantime, here is the blurb from the back of the book: “Alys knows the dangers of surrendering to obsession. As a student, she witnessed the tragic loss of a talented but tortured friend. Since, she’s curated a cautious existence as art teacher and single parent to her daughter, Rowan. A change in circumstances – promotion, new home – brings opportunities and even the chance of a rewarding relationship. But the reappearance of Fraser, from Alys’s college days, triggers fear that the guilt they share will blight the present. Forced to intervene in a delicate situation involving sixth-form students, she puts herself at risk of exposure, threatening both her professional and her private life. Rowan, 19, feels at odds with an uncaring society but is determined to bring about change for animals and the environment, influenced by her charismatic new lover, Vix. Alys worries that Rowan will take part in law-breaking actions, and that she’ll be overwhelmed by frustration, grief and the impossibility of living up to her own demanding ideals. How can Alys find fulfilment when the past constantly reminds her that she doesn’t deserve happiness?” #TheHide @LindaNewberyAuthor @RandomThingsTours #Ad #FreeBookReview Photo credit: Linda Newbery / Random Things Tours Background credit: Canva @Canva by @novelhabit
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7 days ago
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📚 Publication Day 📚 Life Out Of Order by Audrey Niffenegger Today is publication day for the sequel to one of my favourite books, The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, Here is the blurb from the back of the book: “Two great loves. A world in chaos. And a life that never lands in order. Discover the long-awaited sequel to the bestselling phenomenon, The Time Traveler’s Wife. Alba DeTamble is a time traveler, slipping unpredictably through decades like her father before her. But the hardest thing she carries isn’t the burden of futures she can’t understand, or pasts she cannot change – it’s a secret: she is in love with two different people. Each of them offers a different life. Zach lives in the present and can’t follow her when she disappears. Oliver can travel through time, just like she can. As Alba careens from time to time, moving from the riot-torn Chicago streets of her present to the eerie, timeless Yellow House, and into the digital corridors of the Museum of Lost Souls and a flooded future London, she must face a question she can no longer avoid: how is it possible to love, and live a meaningful life, in an increasingly troubled, fractured world? Intimate and expansive, Life Out of Order is a kaleidoscopic story of love, resilience and hope when time is running out.” #LifeOutOfOrder #TheTimeTravelersWife @AANiffenegger @JonathanCapeBooks @PenguinUKBooks @VintageBooks @VintageBooksInfluencers #Ad Photo credit: Audrey Niffenegger / Vintage Books Background credit: Canva @Canva by @novelhabit
2
7 days ago
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📚 Book Tour Review 📚 The Winter Guest by Karen Swan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 2026: Lise is an old lady nearing the end of her life. Her granddaughter Dulcie sits by her bed, not wanting her to be alone, reading to her, playing her favourite music and talking when they can. An old man calls at the house saying he is an old friend of Lise and he must tell her something urgently before it's too late. What he has to say will change everything Dulcie knows about her grandmother and her family. 1962-63: Lise has married young and has her whole life ahead of her. As wife to the ambassador her life is a whirl of social engagements and glamourous parties. She looks and acts the role of ambassador’s wife perfectly but her husband won’t give up his lover and she has caught the eye of another man. Despite being careful, someone is watching them and is willing to use their indiscretion against them which will change their lives forever. The story is set between an old family villa on the shore of Lake Geneva and the elegance of Paris. The narrative switches between two time periods, with the main story being set in Geneva in 2026 and the scenes set in Paris in 1962-63 providing insight into the history of the characters. I’m not familiar with the politics of the 1960s, but I enjoyed getting to know the characters and their personal histories so my lack of familiarity did not matter. It explores themes of how well you really know another person, how history has a habit of repeating itself in our relationships and how family is more than just blood. It took me a while to get into the story, but the more I read the more I looked forward to reading what happened next. It has plenty of twists and turns and a good pace. It’s not really a Christmas story but it ends on Christmas Day and this book would make a great festive read. It is well written and I enjoyed it. Thank you Random Things Tours and Karen Swan. If you’ve read it too, what did you think of it? #TheWinterGuest @KarenSwanAuthor @PenguinUKBooks @RandomThingsTours #Ad #FreeBookReview Photo credit: Karen Swan / Random Things Tours Background credit: Canva @Canva by @novelhabit
2
8 days ago
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📚 Book Tour Review 📚 A Deadly Abode by Jane McParkes (The Olivia Wells Mysteries Book 3) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The body of a man is found in a shed after a devastating fire in the garden of an empty house and another in the pile of guys for the annual village bonfire. A small local group has been taking action against people from outside the village buying houses in the village for second homes. How far are the group prepared to go in their actions? Is this really just about second home owners or is it something more personal? The police arrest a young man from the village in relation to the fire, but Olivia and Jago aren’t so sure they have the right man. Despite putting themselves in danger, they won’t give up on finding out the truth. Can they catch the killer before anyone else gets hurt or worse? The story is set in a coastal village in Cornwall. It is written in third person narrative with occasional WhatsApp messages in between the chapters. This cosy crime mystery also explores themes relating to the environment and sustainability. These themes together with the WhatsApp messages give the story a modern feel. I liked how the renovated and repurposed old railway station buildings combine the old and the new, becoming a community space, bringing the villagers together and feeling like the heart of the village. In addition to the main characters, it has a good cast of supporting characters. This is the first book I’ve read in The Olivia Wells Mysteries series. It works well as a standalone book, but I wish I’d read the earlier books so I had a better understanding of the main characters and their backgrounds. It has a happy ending and being set in autumn it makes a great read for this time of year. It is well written and I enjoyed it. I’m looking forward to reading more books in this series. Thank you Random Things Tours and Jane McParkes. If you’ve read it too, what did you think of it? #ADeadlyAbode #TheOliviaWellsMysteries @JaneMcParkes_Author @NoExitPress @RandomThingsTours #Ad #FreeBookReview Photo credit: Jane McParkes / Random Things Tours Background credit: Canva @Canva by @novelhabit
3
8 days ago
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