Tag: to-read pile

Well. I feel like August has been so busy that I don’t know where I am any more, except for the fact that it’s nearly over, so the school holidays are coming to an end and we’ve had more rain and miserable weather than I would hope for in a summer – even a British one. Still a pretty good week in reading all in, despite not finishing any of the long runners. I spotted the Shades of Magic graphic novel was in Kindle Unlimited and read that to remind myself of the world ahead of potentially reading the new book when that comes out. And I re-entered the world of Mrs Pargeter, which was a lot of fun.

Read:

Arabella by Georgette Heyer

Death at Crookham Hall by Michelle Salter

Suddenly at His Residence by Christianna Brand

Mrs Pargeter’s Patio by Simon Brett*

Mrs Pargeter’s Plot by Simon Brett

The Wedding Piper by Isabel Rogers

Shades of Magic Vol 1: The Steel Prince by V E Schwab et al

Chef’s Kiss by Jarrett Melendez et al

The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters

Started:

JFK is Missing by Liz Evans

Still reading:

The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes by Kate Strasdin*

Travellers in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

The Other Side of Mrs Wood by Lucy Barker*

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

One book acquired on an evening walk to Waterstones Gower Street. I just can’t keep away…

Bonus photo: Friday night at the polo club (!) pop up restaurant. Possibly even more Happy Valley-esque than it felt last year!

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

So, I didn’t get anything ticked off the long-runners list – although I have made some progress. But the new Lucy Parker arrived and I just couldn’t help myself. Also it was another super busy week – with a theatre trip and three nights away from home. This week might be slightly less busy, but I hesitate even to type that because it feels like tempting fate. Who said August was a quiet month?!

Read:

Black Sheep by Georgette Heyer

Sprig Muslin by Georgette Heyer

Small Miracles by Anne Booth*

Codename Charming by Lucy Parker

The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden by Kate Saunders

Fence: Striking Distance by Sarah Rees Brennan

The Biscuit Barrel Murder by Geoffery Start*

Started:

n/a

Still reading:

The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes by Kate Strasdin*

Travellers in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

The Other Side of Mrs Wood by Lucy Barker*

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Well I didn’t buy any books either on Kindle or when I went to Waterstones Gower Street, which is an achievement in itself. One pre-order did arrive though – as you may know – but they’ve already been counted.

Bonus photo: taking the disappointment over the World Cup final out on the jasmines in the back garden.

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

Well. After my busy week at work last week, this week was equally busy at work. And now I’m tired. So tired. And I think my brain is tired too, because by the end of the week I was really struggling to concentrate on a book or settle into reading. At least I’m blaming tiredness because I can’t think of anything else it might be! Anyway, the two on the started list are the two I got to at least 50 pages on and I’m ignoring the pile of discards by my end of the sofa! At least I finished one of the long runners though so that’s something.

Read:

Dating Dr Dil by Nisha Sharma

Sylvester by Georgette Heyer

Deadly Company by Ann Granger

The Problem with Perfect by Philip William Stover

I Like You Like That by Kayla Grosse

The Crane Wife by C J Hauser*

Started:

The Mystery of the Sorrowful Maiden by Kate Saunders

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Still reading:

The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes by Kate Strasdin*

Travellers in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

The Other Side of Mrs Wood by Lucy Barker*

Four books on trip into town to do something else on Sunday, where I accidentally ended up in both Waterstones and The Works. Whoops

Bonus photo: another Morph! This time at Cannon Street Station on Saturday night.

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

I said last week that this week was going to be a busy one, and it really was. So very, very busy. But mostly in a good way so that’s positive. Anyway, we’re into August now, and the height of British Summer – which for me last week meant getting rained on *and* bitten to death by an unknown insect, but probably mozzies. I have a really strong reaction to bites, so I spent the second half of the week looking like a plague victim with oozing welts on my arms. Delightful. Fingers crossed this week is better!

Read:

Lady of Quality by Georgette Heyer

Four Weddings to Fall in Love by Jackie Lau

Forget Me Not by Julie Soto

The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer

The Chopping Spree by Diane Mott Davidson

A Fire at the Exhibition by T E Kinsey*

Started:

Dating Dr Dil by Nisha Sharma

The Problem with Perfect by Philip William Stover

Still reading:

The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes by Kate Strasdin*

Travellers in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

The Other Side of Mrs Wood by Lucy Barker*

The Crane Wife by C J Hauser*

One preorder arrived and that was it. A positive start to the month, but I still have the Kindle offer post to write so it probably won’t last!

Bonus photo: Sunday afternoon ironing with one of my favourite classic films on the TV. Yes there are some issues with Pillow Talk but I still love it to bits.

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

Finally I have got a book off the long running list finished! I was aiming for two, but I’ll take one. Not a bad week in reading all in actually – there are a couple on here that you’ll be hearing about at various points in the future – this week and beyond! I’ve got an incredibly busy week coming at me this week so we’ll see what that does to the list – but it’s also the end of July so there’ll be the stats and quick reviews so you’re all covered here.

Read:

The Empire by Michael Ball*

The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer

Come As You Are by Jess K Hardy

The Reluctant Widow by Georgette Heyer

The Boyfriend Candidate by Ashley Winstead*

The Dating Plan by Sara Desai

Ruined by Sarah Vaughn et al*

Started:

Chopping Spree by Diane Mott Davidson*

Still reading:

The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes by Kate Strasdin*

Travellers in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

The Other Side of Mrs Wood by Lucy Barker*

The Crane Wife by C J Hauser*

A couple of ebooks bought and one paperback. The ebooks were beacsue I was catching up on samples that I’d got because they were on offer and I was worried the offers would end at the end of the month. And the paperback was an impulse purchase when buying something else

Bonus photo: another Morph model – this time near Liverpool Street.

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

Did I stay awake way later than I should have on Sunday night to finish a book? Absolutely I did. Do I regret it? Well yes and no: I’m glad I finished the book, I wish I had had more sleep but I wouldn’t go back and change it! For the rest of it, it was a reasonable week – a couple of books I really liked and then some I didn’t. Anyway, I’m about to hit a few really busy weeks – I’ve got a couple of nights out this week coming and work is very busy too so we’ll see what that does to the lists.

Read:

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Masqueraders by Georgette Heyer

Take the Honey and Run by Jennie Marts*

The Hollywood Jinx by Sariah Wilson*

For Batter or Worse by Jenn McKinlay

A Very Lively Murder by Katy Watson

Acts of Violet by Margarita Montimore

Started:

The Dating Plan by Sara Desai

Still reading:

The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes by Kate Strasdin*

The Empire by Michael Ball*

Travellers in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

The Other Side of Mrs Wood by Lucy Barker*

The Crane Wife by C J Hauser*

Whisper it quietly, but I did not buy any books. I know. I’m as astonished as you are. I did however receive an order from Words and Kisses that I put in a week or two back so it doesn’t feel like I didn’t buy anything!

Bonus photo: the alpacas that I pass on the train every day. They’re my favourite part of the commute and I have tried repeatedly to get a good picture of them and this is the best I have managed!

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.

Well, I didn’t make as much progress on the long running list this week as I was hoping, but hey, what can you do (Ed: have more will power perhaps) sometimes it just works out like that. I shall endeavour to do better this week, although it should be noted that I have a night or two away from home and that I don’t take hardbacks with me for trips (unless I buy them on them!) so that may impair things a little.

Read:

Devil’s Cub by Georgette Heyer

Ripped from the Pages by Kate Carlisle

The Black Spectacles by John Dickson Carr

The Neighbor Favor by Kristina Forest

Regency Buck by Georgette Heyer

The Twisted Claw by Franklin W Dixon

My Turn to Make the Tea by Monica Dickens

Started:

For Batter or Worse by Jenn McKinlay

A Very Lively Murder by Katy Watson

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne

Still reading:

The Dress Diary of Mrs Anne Sykes by Kate Strasdin*

The Empire by Michael Ball*

Travellers in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd

The Other Side of Mrs Wood by Lucy Barker*

The Crane Wife by C J Hauser*

As pictured in Books Incoming, three books on a trip to Foyles to buy A Very Lively Murder, plus three ebooks.

Bonus photo: this week I learned that the new peat free composts can sometimes give you unexpected mushrooms. My dad tells me not to worry, but it did make me laugh!

*next to a book book title indicates that it came from NetGalley. ** indicates it was an advance copy from a source other than NetGalley.