Tag: bookblogger

Authors I Will Always Buy Books By

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Happy Wednesday folks and welcome to today’s post. Today, I share the authors I will always buy books by. Since I got back into reading, I’ve discovered several authors from whom I will buy every single book they publish. There aren’t too many authors on this list, but I have got some big names. It’s inevitable that I will discover more throughout my reading life!

Given the amount I’ve featured each of these authors on my blog, none of these names should come as a surprise. Today’s post is to summarise the favourite authors I will always buy books by, and why!


George R.R. Martin

The thing I love most about George R.R. Martin’s writing is the depth and detail that he goes into. It does have its drawback though; this is why we’ve been waiting so long for the sequel to his Song of Ice and Fire series. But still, it’s why I love him.

If there is a fantasy world in which I find myself with so much immersion in the story, it is these. That said, even his books around the main series, including the prequel Fire and Blood, but also side stories have his same flair. I am a huge fan of his writing style. I will never get bored of the stories and characters he creates.


Brandon Sanderson

If there is one thing I loved about Brandon Sanderson‘s writing from the get-go, it is that he is able to write very different and complex stories within his universe. Although I would argue a lot of the stories have similarities in the magic system having some kind of ‘real’ or ‘relatable’ element to them, they are in fact very different from each other. That’s what I love!

I recently finished his The Reckoners trilogy in which characters became ‘Epics’ and developed powers like superheroes. Typically though, these individuals then turn on society and use powers for their own selfish gains. This is something we can recognise from comic books, even if it’s not feasible. Take instead his Stormlight Archives series and the idea of magic having to charge through access to light – that’s also something familiar.


Robin Hobb

Robin Hobb is a relatively new addition to this list, given I only really discovered her writing a few years ago. However, from the seven books I’ve read out of the Realm of the Elderlings series so far, I am sold! I have yet to read outside of the series, but I am absolutely intending to do so.

One of my best friends, Rachael, put me onto Robin Hobb in the first place, and I can’t thank her enough for doing so. Like George R.R. Martin, Robin Hobb is a fantastic writer whose emphasis on depth and detail makes for a fantastic epic fantasy world.

Out of the seven books I’ve read in her Realm of the Elderlings series to date, those books have been split down into trilogies that feature different characters and places within the wider realm. Whilst it did take me a little bit of getting used to the second set of stories, I went on to love them as much as the first set. Whilst I now back revisiting the characters from the first trilogy, I’m hoping we get to see more of the Vestrits in future books.


Jay Kristoff

I’ve read quite a few books by Jay Kristoff now. From his Nevernight Chronicles to Empire of the Vampire, if there’s one thing I love about his writing style, it’s his darker and grittier perspective.

That said, I have also read a science-fiction series he co-authored with Amie Kaufman in which the tone is very different. However, still had the same undertones of his writing. He is quite a versatile writer and I’m looking forward to trying more of his books in the future.

One I’ve got on my shelf to pick up soon is Lifel1k3.


Terry Pratchett

I discovered Terry Pratchett at the time in my life when reading became a regular habit again. Although I’m a predominant fantasy reader by preference, I do enjoy his satirical take on life. The stories he comes up with to poke fun at or highlight real-world issues are refreshing.

Luckily for me, I still have a lot of his books yet to read. I’m only around halfway through his Discworld series. He also has a few different books he’s written alongside these, as well as some co-authored with the likes of Stephen Baxter.

If there is one thing that Terry Pratchett’s Discworld series emphasises, it is that he is also a versatile writer. Having read the first book in his The Long Earth series co-authored with Stephen Baxter, it’s fair to say that he’s able to write multiple genres.

Terry Pratchett is an author I can go back to time and again. Whether I’m looking for something a little bit lighter to read, or perhaps a change of genre now and then, his humour and natural way of making you aware of his opinion on anything from gender rights to poking fun at show business, he is able to make me crack a smile.


Summary

Those are my favourite authors I will always buy books by! I’m sure in the future more names will get added to the list.

Are there any authors you automatically buy books from?

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Sunday Summary – 6th April 2025

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Today’s belated Sunday Summary post can only mean one thing. It’s the end of yet another week, and I’m with you today to share my latest reading updates.

Today’s post comes a little later than usual, given I had a blog tour obligation to share on Sunday. So as not to steal the thunder of that post, I’m scheduling this live first thing Monday morning local time. That way, I can give the tour the priority it needs. Speaking of which, if you haven’t checked that out yet, here’s a link for you to do so.

Other posts I’ve shared so far this week include my monthly wrap-up for March and my TBR for April. If you want a quick recap of the books I picked up in March, the monthly wrap-up is where to go. Overall, March was a significantly better month than February; I didn’t DNF any of my reads. I didn’t quite get to all the books on my reading list. But, then again, I never do. If anything, I prefer to set too many because it gives me an aim to work towards.

Similarly, if you want to find out which books will feature in the next few Sunday Summary posts, April‘s TBR is where to look. I don’t have any particular reading plan or theme that I’m working towards. Instead, I’ve decided to try and get those books I didn’t get to earlier this year.

 

Books Read


Calamity

I said in last week’s Sunday Summary post that I only had 50 minutes of listening time left of Calamity by Brandon Sanderson. As you can imagine, I listened to this last portion of the audiobook very quickly, so I started the week with an early win.

Calamity was every bit as good as I expected it would be. Whilst I am sad that this is the end of a trilogy, I’m really happy with the resolution. I may not be able to look forward to more books in this series, but I have plenty more Sanderson’s to crack on with…


The Weight’s Over

An impromptu listen I picked up at the beginning of this week is Sandra Roycroft-Davis‘ The Weight’s Over.

I pre-ordered this book a few weeks ago in anticipation of it coming out last month. I picked it up to understand the science behind weight loss and why it’s actually so difficult to do. In fact, Sandra outlines the ways in which our bodies set out to defy our best attempts.

The Weight’s Over was an informative listen, and I’m glad I picked this up. The audiobook is also relatively short. As a result, I both started and finished this book this week. I’d recommend this to anyone who is interested in the science behind how our bodies work – and why our bodies and brains are determined to prevent us from undertaking a successful diet.


Enemies of the Crown

Another book I picked up and read in full this week was Enemies of the Crown by Peter Gibbons. There is a reason that this book was read so quickly, and that is because I had the blog tour post deadline. I had debated putting this book on the end of March’s list, but ultimately decided not to. Perhaps in hindsight, I should have, but what’s done is done.

Regardless of how quickly I had to read this book, I enjoyed it a lot. This is the fifth instalment of Peter Gibbons’ The Saxon Warrior series, so I had a solid interest in picking up this book in good time anyway. Although I’ll generally be taking part in fewer blog tours in the future, this series is one I would make an exception for as I want to keep up with it anyway.

I really enjoyed the action and, in particular, the character development of the protagonist in this latest instalment. I could waffle on about the book here; however, as it had a whole post dedicated to that, maybe you could go and take a look there?

 

Books Discovered

Unlike the rest of this Sunday Summary post, I only have a small update in terms of new books — there aren’t any!

 

Coming Up…

I can take a bit of a breather this week in terms of the blog schedule. I don’t have any commitments, so I can post the content I want, when I want.

My first post of the week will be a discussion post. It’s been a good while since I did one of those. This week, I want to feature some authors whose books I will always buy – and why!

On Friday, I’ll return with my usual Friday feature post, First Lines Friday. It’s been a few weeks since I shared my last instalment to the series, and I’m looking forward to picking out a new book to feature with a captivating introduction.

Finally, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the last post I’ll share with you will be a Sunday Summary update! Be sure to check in and find out which books I’ve read over the course of the week to get a feel for where I’m up to with progress on my April TBR. Until then, I hope you have a fabulous week and I will see you around.

Have a great week!

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Blog Tour Review: Enemies of the Crown – Peter Gibbons

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It’s an absolute pleasure to bring to you the next instalment to Peter Gibbons’ The Saxon Warrior series. I’ve featured several books in this series on my blog to date. I’ve had a sizeable break from sharing blog tour posts. However, reviewing Enemies of the Crown is a no-brainer. I want to keep up with this series anyway, so why not do that as and when books are published?

As always when sharing blog tour posts, I like to thank both the author and Rachel at Rachel‘s Random Resources for organising. The other important thing to note is that I am providing this of my own free will; the thoughts expressed within are entirely my own.

If you enjoy historical fiction, in particular books set around the time when Vikings came to Britain, read on to find out more about this fifth instalment to The Saxon Warrior series!


Enemies of the Crown – Peter Gibbons

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: 338

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Original Publication Date:  02 April 2025

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Goodreads – Enemies of the Crown

A weakened crown. A country besieged by Vikings, suffering under the oppression of a powerful church.

994AD

King Aethelred the Unready’s rule falters. Policies recommended by the controlling bishops invite more attacks upon his Saxon kingdom as Sweyn Forkbeard, Viking battle-king of the Danes, grows in power; bloodthirsty for conquest.

Beornoth, Viking-killer and kings thegn believed his days in the shield wall to be over until summoned by the king to enforce a policy of retribution against his enemies.

In a time of shifting loyalties, alongside a savage warband of cruel Norman warriors, Beornoth embarks upon a brutal quest to rid England of King Aethelred’s so-called Viking enemies.

However, when this murderous campaign leads to the door of an old friend, Beornoth must choose sides, as his loyalty to king, country, and his brothers of the sword are put to the test.

Can Beornoth triumph over insurmountable odds in this shield splintering battle for the future of England itself?


Purchase Link


My Thoughts


Plot

If you enjoy internal conflict present in the likes of Bernard Cornwell’s The Last Kingdom, you’ll enjoy Enemies of the Crown. Like Uhtred, Beornoth finds himself with conflicted loyalties. Between the King he is honour-bound to serve and a Dane he loves as a brother, who does he choose? It seems an impossible decision.

As with all books in the series to date, there is plenty of action to keep us readers engaged. Between Saxon, Norman and Danish factions, it’s hardly surprising there’s a constant power struggle.

The pacing of the storyline and events suited my preferences. I was able to read most of this book in a day. That’s very fast, but it doesn’t have to be read that way either. I guess what I’m saying is the plot and writing are so engaging that I was motivated to!

I can only hope there are more books to come based on the ending – because it sounds like the conflict is not yet over.


Setting

The setting of Enemies of the Crown spans much of England as we know it today. Even if you are unfamiliar with historic town and city names (e.g Somersaete), I feel confident readers can follow along well. As a big fan of the genre through books and television, I’m pretty versed in this knowledge. It’s certainly not a requirement though.   

From a political setting point of view, events have moved on since earlier books in the series. Aethelred’s mother is back in a position of influence, and this is not to Beornoth’s liking. Ælfthryth set herself against Beornoth in the past. So, he is naturally wary of her power and influence over the King of England.

There is a good deal of travel that takes place within this narrative, but the vast majority takes place behind the scenes. This keeps the action moving along and helps keep pace and readers engaged.


Characters

I’ve enjoyed seeing a more vulnerable side to Beornoth this time round. In the earlier books of the series, he was a younger man – better able and more physically fit to fulfil his duty in purging Britain’s soil of marauding Vikings. In Enemies of the Crown however, he is starting to show his age. He isn’t quite as quick as he was, and it does land him in danger.

Beornoth is also quite a different character to the man we met in the first book of the series, Warrior and Protector. He is more at peace with his past and emotionally he is far more mature. I have enjoyed his character arc and progression without the series to date, and that includes in Enemies of the Crown.

The final conflict in Enemies of the Crown is an interesting development and thorough it we see a lot about Beornoth. His past traumas come into play and I found his reactions and perspective in this almost repeat scenario interesting.


Narrative Style

By now, Peter Gibbons way of narrating the series is familiar and well-loved. It’s been very easy to get back into the series. Even though the book gets into action quite quickly, there is enough recap included to remind us readers of prior events. As somebody who reads a lot of books, I appreciate these hints being dropped in. It makes for a better reading experience when you can recall what’s happened rather than having to look it up.

With relatively short chapters and a punchy, action driven narrative style, there was always something going on and Enemies of the Crown. And, that’s true for the whole series. I’ve really enjoying the pacing of the storytelling-there’s plenty of action to keep us engaged, but not so much that it feels like we barely take a breath before the next big event is happening.


Summary

Fans of historical fiction, and especially Viking-era Britain will love both Enemies of the Crown and the earlier books in the series, starting with Warrior and Protector. If you have yet to read it, I strongly suggest you do! It’s a series I love and will be keeping up with as soon as the next book is out!


Author Bio

Peter is the winner of the 2022 Kindle Storyteller Literary Award, and an author based in Kildare in Ireland, with a passion for Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, and of course writing! Peter was born in Warrington in the UK and studied Law at Liverpool John Moores University, before taking up a career in Financial Services and is now a full time author. Peter currently lives in Kildare Ireland, and is married with three children. Peter is an avid reader of both Historical Fiction and Fantasy novels, particularly those of Bernard Cornwell, Steven Pressfield, David Gemmell, and Brandon Sanderson.

His books include the Viking Blood and Blade Saga, the Saxon Warrior series, and the Chronicles of Arthur.

Social Media Links –

Facebook: @PeterGibbonsAuthor

Twitter: @AuthorGibbons

Instagram: @PeterMGibbons

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/PeterGibbonsNews

Bookbub profile: @petermgibbons1

 

Sunday Summary – 30th March 2025

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Happy Sunday friends – happy Mother’s Day to all you wonderful and amazing women out there… But especially to my mum! Yes, I’m biased, but this is my corner of the Internet so I’m allowed to be…Today’s Sunday Summary post comes after a bit of a break. I decided to take most of this week off from blogging so I could enjoy the end of some annual leave I had taken from work. However, it was also so I had time for some of my other hobbies. Overall, reading progress has been a bit slower, with today being a bit of an exception to the rule.

Shall we take a look?

 

Books Read

Calamity

The only book I’ve progressed with this week is my audiobook listen of Calamity by Brandon Sanderson.

I didn’t pick up this book until around midway through this week once I was back to work. Before today I had only listened to a little less than two hours of this audiobook. Today, however, I’ve listened to over five hours solid!

In fact, as of this Sunday Summary post I only have 50 minutes left of this audiobook until completion. Given where we’re at in the storyline too, this will absolutely be finished in the next day or so! I’m at the final confrontation, or so I gather, so I’m excited to see how the book ends!


Books Discovered

On Thursday this week, I received a recommendation for a book called The Marriage Portrait. It has a bit of a feminine emphasis, or to use the recommender’s words, was more of a woman’s story. Having looked at the book, I’m familiar with some of the characters from history and I’m intrigued to take a look at it for myself.


Coming Up…

It feels like only five minutes ago we were starting 2025. However, next week it’s the beginning of April already. I’m going into a busy period at work, which is why I wanted a bit of a break from the blog beforehand. That’s not going to stop me from my usual schedule now I’m back.

Firstly, I’ll be sharing my monthly wrap-up for March 2025 on either Tuesday or Wednesday next week. In this post, I look back at the books I’ve read throughout the month just gone and catch you up with my reading progress versus my monthly TBR.

Next on the agenda will be my monthly TBR for April, which will go live on Friday. If you’re keen to see which books I intend to pick up in the next month, this post is to look out for.

On Sunday, there’s a slight change of schedule in that Sunday’s post will be a blog tour for Enemies of the Crown by Peter Gibbons. Taking part in this blog tour was a natural choice, as I’ve already read the prior books in the series to date and I would want to keep up with it anyway.

Then, in the early hours of Monday morning, I’ll schedule my Sunday Summary post to go live.

That’s all for me in today’s Sunday Summary – I hope you’ve had a good one and thanks for reading!

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Sunday Summary – 23rd March 2025

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Happy Sunday readers – welcome to this week’s instalment of my regular Sunday Summary feature! Have you picked up any good books lately? I sure have, but before I get ahead of myself, let’s take a minute to go through what else I’ve shared on my blog this week!

My first post of the week was a book review of the illustrated novel, Rise of the Dragon by George R. R. Martin. If you’re interested in the backdrop to the world of A Song of Ice and Fire (A Game of Thrones), this is the approachable edition. Should you like more hardcore lore, go for Fire and Blood instead. If you’re watching House of the Dragon, this is a fantastic book to explain events.

Next, in this week’s Shelf Control post, I feature a graphic novel retelling – The One Hundred Nights of Hero. It’s unlike a lot of books on my TBR, and it’s for that reason I want to give it a go!


Books Read


The Housemaid

Earlier this week, I finished the final couple of hours of audio of The Housemaid. It took a turn I wasn’t really expecting – and the ending was worth the wait!

I really enjoyed this thriller, and if this is a genre that appeals to you, please read this one. My favourite aspect was the characters and dynamics of the story so much. I wasn’t originally planning on picking up the subsequent series… but I am now!


Normal Women

Picking up where I left off last Sunday, I’ve read another 100 pages of Normal Women this week.

I like how the book recaps how the rights and living conditions of women change across time. The chapters are broken down into recognised periods of history and cover a broad range of topics affecting women. From  legal rights to how they had relationships with each other, Normal Women covers a wide spectrum.

This isn’t the type of book I can binge, so I’ve ended up reading this in multiple short bursts. However, I’m engaged to keep coming back, so I’ll be chipping away at this one in the next few weeks.


Calamity

Finally, I started my next audiobook. I recently listened to Firefight by Brandon Sanderson. Whilst events are fresh in my mind, I wanted to listen to Calamity and finish the trilogy.

So far I’m a little under 3 hours, or just shy of 25%, into the audio. I’m listening to the audiobook at x1.2 speed, so I’ve got just under 8 hours left to listen to.

I don’t think I’ll listen to a lot early next week as I’m off work. However, once I’m back into normal routine later in the week there will be opportunities to keep going and see if Calamity can live up to the rest of the series to date.


Books Discovered

The only book I’ve added this week is The Housemaid’s Secret, the sequel to The Housemaid. I’ve decided to stick with the audiobook format for the series and thankfully I had a credit I could use towards it.


Coming Up…

Next week, I’m leaning into enjoying my time off before another busy stretch at work. I’ve decided that next week’s posting schedule is going to be quite light.

I’ll be back this time next week for another Sunday Summary post, but that’s all. I’m going to enjoy the last few days of my annual leave without obligation to post here and pick up my reads and hobbies as much as I can. That way, I’m fully recharged to pick up again and catch you up on my latest reads in next week’s Sunday Summary.

Until next week, I hope you have a good one!

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Shelf Control #87 – 21/03/2025

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Happy Friday and welcome to today’s Shelf Control post. Today’s feature is an unusual choice – but it’s for that reason I want to pick it up. It’s a folkloric retelling in graphic novel format. Compared to my usual reading, it’s quite out there. However, it has a feminist slant that I’m looking forward to exploring!

As ever, before I get into the details, here’s a recap of what Shelf Control is all about.

Shelf Control is a meme run by Lisa at Bookshelf Fantasies. It’s a celebration of the unread books on our shelves! The idea is to pick a book you own but haven’t read and write a post about it (suggestions: include what it’s about, why you want to read it, and when you got it), and link up.

If you want to read more about the Shelf Control feature, check out Lisa’s introductory post.


The 100 Nights of Hero – Isabelle Greenberg   

Genre: Graphic Novel / Folklore Retellings

Pages: 244

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Date: 20 Dec 2016

 

Goodreads – The 100 Nights of Hero

 

‘A feminist fairy-tale… A wondrously intricate book, and a witty attack on the patriarchy, this is an instant classic.’ Observer

From the author who brought you The Encyclopedia of Early Earth comes another Epic Tale of Derring-Do.

Prepare to be dazzled once more by the overwhelming power of stories and see Love prevail in the face of Terrible Adversity!

You will read of betrayal, loyalty, madness, bad husbands, lovers both faithful and unfaithful, wise old crones, moons who come out of the sky, musical instruments that won’t stay quiet, friends and brothers and fathers and mothers and above all, many, many sisters.


My Thoughts

If there is one thing I tried my cell phone, it’s my willingness to try reading new things. In fact, one of my goals for this year is to read more out of my comfort zone. Whilst I wouldn’t describe this as necessarily a stretch, it is different.

I don’t typically read graphic novels, and I tend to stay away from shorter stories as well. The 100 nights of hero is both of these things. However, I think it will be a satisfying change of pace to the typical books I read. Sometimes, it’s nice to do something a little bit different or read something refreshing and new to act as a palette cleanser.

I don’t really know what to expect with the 100 nights of hero, but that’s okay. In a way, I think going into this book blind will make this an entertaining story for me. I’m not too familiar with the story it is retelling, but I can brush myself up on that detail

Thanks for checking out today’s Shelf Control post! Have you read The 100 Nights of Hero?

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Book Review: Rise of the Dragon – George R. R. Martin

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Hello friends – it’s time for another book review. When I shared my Sunday Summary a few days ago, I knew I wanted to share a review but hadn’t christened which book. I’m pleased to share today that today’s featured book is from one of my favourite authors. If you’ve read or watched Game of Thrones and you were looking for an approachable book that explores the history of the series’ universe, Rise of the Dragon is my recommendation.

 

Rise of the Dragon – George R. R. Martin

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Pages: 350

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Publication Date: 25 Oct 2022

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟


Goodreads –  Rise of the Dragon

 

This lavish visual history—featuring over 150 new, full-colour illustrations—is a stunning introduction to House Targaryen, the iconic family at the heart of HBO’s Game of Thrones prequel series, House of the Dragon.

For hundreds of years, the Targaryens sat the Iron Throne of Westeros while their dragons ruled the skies. The story of the only family of dragonlords to survive Valyria’s Doom is a tale of twisty politics, alliances, and betrayals, and acts both noble and craven. The Rise of the Dragon chronicles the creation and rise of Targaryen power in Westeros, covering the history first told in George R. R. Martin’s epic Fire & Blood, from Aegon Targaryen’s conquest of Westeros through to the infamous Dance of the Dragons—the bloody civil war that nearly undid Targaryen rule for good.

Packed with all-new artwork, the Targaryens—and their dragons—come vividly to life in this deluxe reference book. Perfect for fans steeped in the lore of Westeros, as well as those who first meet the Targaryens in the HBO series House of the Dragon, The Rise of the Dragon provides a must-have overview for anyone looking to learn more about the most powerful family in Westeros.


My Thoughts

As can only be expected from George R. R. Martin, this history is packed full of action, intrigue… and dragons! Rise of the Dragon covers a lot of history. The Targaryens are a powerful family and not without internal and external conflict. Consequently, readers will never get bored reading the political machinations and all-out wars that have shaped Westeros and its people.

As an illustrated book, there are plenty of levels of interest to this book beyond the writing itself. The beautiful imagery helps break up the narrative and is a great visual aid to what is going on in the story. Arguably, it’s more approachable than his epic tome, Fire and Blood, because it doesn’t fixate on some of the depth and detail.

Rise of the Dragon is an easy-to-read and approachable history. Rather than mirroring a studious account and analysis of the histories, Rise of the Dragon sets out to inform without overwhelming. It’s a neutral account of events, written in plain language and is understood by readers of all levels.


Summary

Rise of the Dragon is a great read for a broad age range. Whether you are a casual fan looking to brush up on the history behind A Game of Thrones, or enjoy every little detail, the book is suitable for all.

I’m always happy to read about and around the famous universe, and this book makes that available to as many as possible.

Have you read Rise of the Dragon?

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Sunday Summary – 16th March 2025

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Good evening friends and welcome to another Sunday Summary! It’s been a fun week and I’ve picked up some good books.

Before we get into that though, let’s take a look at the blog posts I’ve shared this week. First, I shared a blog tour review of Woden’s Spear by Donovan Cook. It feels weird talking about this in this post because I drafted that post this time last week. However, it went live on Monday… so it counts.

Later in the week, I shared my First Lines Friday post. This week’s feature is one of my current reads. I decided to feature this book having started it this week and really enjoyed the book. The intro really caught my attention, even if I wasn’t reading this for book club, it would have made it onto my reading list anyway.


Books Read

 

A Promised Land

I’m pleased that I can finally report the completion of A Promised Land by Barack Obama this week!

It’s been an interesting read and opened my eyes to perspectives I didn’t imagine. If there was any book on my February TBR that I expected to not finish, it was this one. However, I’d say it was probably one that I enjoyed the most.


The Housemaid

After finishing listening to A Promised Land, I moved on to The Housemaid by Freida McFadden.

This is our book club read for March, and I decided to pick it up in audio format as I’m getting through audiobooks a bit quicker than regular ones at the moment.

It’s been a good choice! Although I am spending a good deal of the narrative questioning the actions and reactions of some of the characters, it’s an interesting story. As of this Sunday Summary post, I have listened to the vast majority of The Housemaid and I only have a couple of hours also left.


Normal Women

I’ve picked up Normal Women a couple of times over the course of this week. I haven’t made a lot of progress with the book, but I have moved on from the 20-odd-pages I’d read last week to just over 100.

I like the idea of this book, and I’m looking forward to reading further into more familiar modern history. If you’re unfamiliar with the book, it looks at how women in society shaped Britain’s modern history, even when they were talked about in the history books. It’s not about the famous individuals, but rather women as a whole.


Books Discovered

I haven’t added anything new to the reading list this week, so nothing to update you on here!

 

Coming Up…

The first book post I share next week will be another book review. I confess that as of the point of drafting this post, I haven’t decided which book it is that I will feature all. However, it’s 25 to midnight locally; I’m not going to spend the time looking through my reading list to see what’s coming up next. It’ll be as much a surprise for you as it is for me! 😂

Friday, I’m back with my regular Friday feature, Shelf Control. In this series, I take a look at upcoming books on my reading list, and I’m excited to read them.

Finally, next week, I’m back with another Sunday Summary post. I’m excited to share some more bookish completions with you, so stay tuned!

A fairly quick update from me this week in the interest of time and getting this out on time.

What are you reading?

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First Lines Friday – 14/03/2025

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I’m back with a First Lines Friday post to round off the week! If you’re looking for an intriguing read to pick up this weekend, I have a great one for you!

I know that as it’s my current read! I’m just under 3 hours into the audiobook version of this book as of writing this post. The intro really got my attention. Shall we take a look?


If I leave this house, it will be in handcuffs. I should have run for it while I had the chance. Now my shot is gone. Now that the police officers are in the house and they’ve discovered what’s upstairs, there’s no turning back.

They are about five seconds away from reading me my rights. I’m not sure why they haven’t done it yet. Maybe they’re hoping to trick me into telling them something I shouldn’t.

Good luck with that.

 


The Housemaid – Freida McFadden

Genre: Thriller

Pages: 329

Audience: Adult

Publisher: Bookouture

Publication Date: 26 Apr 2022

 

Goodreads – The Housemaid

“Welcome to the family,” Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own . . .

Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.

I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am.

They don’t know what I’m capable of . . .


My Thoughts…

If you enjoy thrillers that have you second guessing what you’re reading, The Housemaid will suit you as it does me. I have no idea what’s going on. I don’t know who I trust. What I can tell you though is that I’m motivated to find out!

I’m listening to The Housemaid going shopping, driving in the car and every opportunity I get. The story so far has set out enough information for me to get a grasp of the story, but at the same time there’s plenty yet to find out. Millie has a past, but we don’t know what. Not all is as it seems in the Winchester family, but who do we believe? Even if I wanted to tell you these things (which I won’t because I’m no spoilsport), I have no idea!

The opening lines caught my attention straightaway. Even if I wasn’t reading this book for book club, that introduction would have the book added to my TBR faster than I could click ‘add to cart’.

Has today’s First Lines Friday introduced you to a future read? Have you already read The Housemaid?

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Sunday Summary – 9th March 2025

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It’s the end of yet another week, friends! You know what time it is. I’m here today to catch you up on all the details in today’s Sunday Summary update. Grab a cuppa and make yourself comfortable.

Before we get into the books I’ve read over the course of this week, let’s recap the blog posts I’ve shared. The first of those posts was my monthly TBR for March. In that post, I shared my hopes for a more successful reading month than I had in February. This month, I have a few carryovers, a blog tour commitment, and a book club pick that I need to prioritise. Outside of that, though, I’m looking to read around the theme of Women’s History Month.

Next, I shared a Shelf Control post on Friday. In this regular Friday feature, I shared my excitement to pick up the second book in a sci-fi space opera series. I started a number of years ago. If you’re intrigued to find out which series this is, there’s a link to that post so you can check it out for yourself.


Books Read


A Promised Land

Listening progress with A Promised Land has been much better this week than in the last couple combined. As of this post, I still haven’t quite finished this book, but I only have 2 hours and 20 minutes left.

Listening to A Promised Land has been a great experience. Before reading this book, I have typically stayed away from politics. However, it’s helped open my eyes to some of the issues that being in politics creates and why it feels like things often don’t get done. That’s always been one of my bugbears about people who take this kind of office. However, having seen a lot of the in-fighting and often childish ways politicians block each other, it makes more sense now what happens (even if I want to smack my head against the brick wall for why they’re doing it!).


Children of Virtue and Vengeance

In last week’s Sunday Summary, I shared my hopes that this book wasn’t going to be another DNF. Unfortunately, though, after reading a little bit further into the book, I made the decision to put it down.

Honestly, I was struggling to connect with the characters and the storyline. I wasn’t invested in where it was going. Rather than try to slog through yet another book I wasn’t wild about, I took the decision to put it down and instead refocus my efforts on the books in March’s TBR.


Woden’s Spear

The first book on March’s monthly TBR is a book that I am due to review tomorrow. With that in mind, reading this book has been my focus for the week.

I think it’s helped having a deadline. Having had so many books where I’ve not been successful with reading them, and then the one book I am reading in full taking so long, it’s been refreshing to have a quick read. It’s also been great to go back to a genre I know and love. An element I’ve enjoyed historically in the genre is characters who don’t necessarily fit into the setting. I’ve enjoyed that through Octa’s perspective. I don’t want to go into too much detail here and spoil my review tomorrow. You’ll just have to check in for that!


Normal Women

Tonight, just before publishing this post, I started Normal Women by Philippa Gregory. I haven’t got a whole lot to write about given I’m only 26 pages in. However, I wanted to let you know that this is my next read and that you’ll be hearing more about it next week.


Books Discovered

Earlier this week, I was recommended a book called Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams. When talking books with a work colleague, I shared that one of the things I try to do with our work book club is read as diversely as possible. Gloria recommended these books to me as she reads from a lot of African writers and she enjoyed these books.


Coming Up…

There is no rest for the wicked, as my first blog post next week lands tomorrow morning. Woden’s Spear has been an enjoyable historical fiction to pick up and I’ll be sharing my full thoughts on the book in that post. Behind the scenes, I’ve actually scheduled this already so I have an easy ride early next week as I’ve no immediate posting commitments.

Later in the week, I will return with a First Lines Friday feature. I’m not going to set myself any particular challenge for this post. Sometimes, it’s nice to leave things open and see what inspires me nearer the time.

Lastly, next week’s Sunday Summary update is my last post on the agenda. Fingers crossed I can finally share a finish of listening to A Promised Land, as well as some more successful reading updates.

I hope you can join me for these posts. Thanks for checking out today’s Sunday Summary and I will see you in the next one!

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