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Book lover. Also love a cup of tea or a glass of white wine. But especially love my cats Sid & Nancy. Read my reviews or message me for book recs.

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Witch Trial by Harriet Tyce

An Edinburgh heart surgeon, Matthew Phillips, is called up for jury service. The trial itself is regarding eighteen year old Christian Shaw who was found dead in an unusual state in a park and the accused are her school friends Eliza and Isobel.

As the trial progresses, we see it take over Matthews life as the grim details and courtroom tension start to weigh heavily on him.

It’s Halloween and what could be more fitting than a modern day witch trial? The book starts relatively strongly so I had high hopes for this novel. But I found the ending to be a bit weird. Without giving too much away the book suddenly switches format and left me rather disappointed.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

#witchtrial #books #bookrecs #bookstagram #bookreview by @ukbookreviews

Wild Summers by Cassie Steward

Wild Summers is the story of Joan and her family in the summer of 69. They lead normal, pretty uneventful lives in middle class Twickenham until a glamorous family moves it next door.

Joan is introduced to Eel Pie Island on the River Thames, a community of artists who inhabit the island’s dilapidated hotel. And thus Joans coming of age story begins.

But its not just Joan whose life is changed forever. Her whole family are affected one way or another by the new neighbours and their lives will never be the same again.

Wild Summers is a beautifully crafted novel. Its very character driven with all the individuals so vividly painted that you can really visualise them all. And it makes me want to visit Eel Pie Island next summer.

Cassie was a recent visitor to our book club and it was really interesting to hear about her writing process and self publication. She also mentioned that there will be a follow up to Wild Summers so I look forward to meeting all these wonderful characters again soon.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#wildsummers #cassiesteward #bookrecs #bookstagram #bookreview by @ukbookreviews

Todays book buddy the lovely Nancy 🥰 #catsofinstagram #cats by @ukbookreviews

The Eights by Joanna Miller

The novel is set in 1920, just after the end of the first World War. It follows a group of women in the first female class at Oxford University.

It deals with the misogyny from many of their male counterparts and tutors, the losses they experienced during the war, the ridiculous rules set on them by the university and an outbreak of influenza. But despite the challenges they face and coming from different backgrounds and life experiences they find strength in each other.

The book is well written and the descriptions of Oxford University itself make it quite atmospheric. However, I felt the book lacked a little in action, some of the flashbacks confusing and the book ends quite abruptly at the end of their first year (though I suppose this leaves it open for follow up books).

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

#theeights #bookstagram #bookrecs #bookreview #books by @ukbookreviews

This book made me think of you by Libby Page

Tilly receives a call from her local independent bookstore telling her that there is a present waiting at the store for her to collect from her husband Joe.

This comes as a bit of a shock as unfortunately her husband Joe passed away five months ago.

When Tilly goes to the store she finds that Joe has lovingly arranged for Tilly to receive a book carefully selected by him and a letter from him explaining his choice every month for the next twelve months.

Each book and letter sends Tilly on an adventure, pushing her to get away from her grief and loneliness.

Whilst I did enjoy this book I didn’t love it. The best way I can describe it is that it is sweet but a little too predictable, especially with Alfie the bookstore owner. Though there is a cat called Georgette in the story.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

#thisbookmademethinkofyou #bookstagram #bookrecs #bookreview #books by @ukbookreviews

Bookshop Day tomorrow. Yippee! An excuse to buy more books ❤️ #bookshopday by @ukbookreviews

The lovely Cassie Steward at @bookandpuddingclub.wigan tonight. It’s always interesting to hear how authors get into writing and how long it takes to get published. Cassie went down the self publishing route but has now been picked up by a publisher. Lovely lady and looking forward to reading Wild Summers #cassiesteward #bookandpuddingclub #wildsummers by @ukbookreviews

Lovely bookstore in Cologne with cable cars you can sit in and read #cologne #köln by @ukbookreviews

Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth

Elsie Fitzpatrick is in her eighties and lives a quiet life in the Melbourne suburbs. But Elsie harbours a secret she’s worked hard to hide from her neighbours.

Because when it comes to murder, no one ever suspects little girls or old ladies. And Elsie Mabel Fitzpatrick – once a little girl and now an old lady – has a strange history of people in her life coming to a foul end.

When an elderly neighbour is found dead, no one suspects a thing – until they uncover Elsie’s true identity: Mad Mabel, the youngest Australian in history to be convicted of murder, more than sixty years ago.

The police are asking questions. The media is circling so Elsie decides it is time for her to set the record straight.

What a great book, full of endearing characters such as Persephone the child next door. You really can’t help feeling for Elsie with a difficult childhood and being labelled very early on in life.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#madmabel #bookstagram #bookrecs #bookreview #books by @ukbookreviews

Made me chuckle by @ukbookreviews

Traitors and warriors: The girl from Dragon Road by E I Thompson

I normally find fantasy novels a bit hit and miss but I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

It’s the story of a fox demon called Huli who is abandoned on Dragon Road in the city of Dajing and is found by Professor Zhang. He takes her in and attempts to bring her up alongside his son Haoyang whose mother died in childbirth.

Whilst Huli excels both academically and at warriorship, Haoyang struggles as they grow so does the tension between them. Things come to a head and following an altercation Huli flees the city thinking she has done serious harm to one of Haoyang’s friends.

She is taken in by Doctor Ye, an innkeeper who offers her board and lodging in return for help in the Inn. One night the Inn comes under attack from a tiger demon but Huli’s bravery and crossbow skills save the day and she decides to return to the city to face the music.

Professor Yhang welcomes her back and she finds that Haoyang’s friend was not seriously injured but it is suggested that she undergoes intensive training from Yijing a royal warrior with a view to joining the Imperial Guard.

Yijing’s training is extremely brutal and leaves Huli physically hurt and emotionally despondent but after four years she has passed the training.

Huli settles well into the life of an Imperial Guard but is suspicious when she bumps into Haoyang and he is over friendly and forgiving.

Her suspicions are correct and Huli and her friend Shiyaun are drugged with spiked tea.

Haoyang’s friend Yari turns out to be a faceless demon who can shapeshift to look like someone else. She shifts to look like Huli and threatens the Emperor at knifepoint.

Huli is arrested, prosecuted and despite her protests is sentenced to death. But at the last minute and old friend steps in to help and we leave the book as Huli exiled from the city.

The novel was extremely well written, with an array of interesting characters and beautiful imagery of the surroundings.

Can’t wait to read the next instalment!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#thegirlfromdragonroad #bookstagram #bookrecs #bookreview #books by @ukbookreviews

Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall

The picturesque village of Fleetcombe is shocked to its core when a gruesome murder takes place on its outskirts.

The victim is Jim Tiernan owner of the local pub, The White Hart.

He has been tied to a chair on a country road with stag antlers forced onto his head.

Detective Bridge grew up in Fleetcombe and has recently reluctantly moved back from Liverpool to save her marriage.

She and her sidekick Harry have been waiting for something to sink their teeth into. They find the White Hart was at the centre of village life and Jim Tiernan knew more than a few of the residents secrets so there are plenty of people with grudges to bear.

This police procedural novel read more like a script than a book to me so was no surprise to hear that it was written by Chris Chibnall who wrote Broadchurch and is being developed into a TV series for ITV.

That being said it held my interest and was an easy read.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

#books #bookreview #bookrecs #bookstagram #deathatthewhitehart by @ukbookreviews