Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
Here are some of my favourite New to Me authors I discovered in 2023 and will now be following.
I loved The Lost War ( review here) especially the grey lead character and that amazing end.
Suk Pannu
I enjoyed Mrs Sidhu Dead and Scone ( review here) but I loved the podcast and TV programme featuring Meera Syal just a little more but I cant wait to read the next book.
Benard Cornwell
I’m halfway through The Lost Kingdom and these books are full of action,history and political intrigue set in the North East of England.
Jo Callaghan
I enjoyed In The Blink of An Eye ( review here) and can’t wait to read the next instalment of this AI enhanced detective series.
Maiya Ibrahim
The Spice Road (review here) was one of my favourite fantasy reads from 2023.
Natasha Pulley
I loved Mars House ( due out in later in 2024), so I have started to read this author’s backlist. I enjoy her mix of fantasy/sci-fi mixed with a touch of romance.
Mari Hannah
I discovered this author as part of the Kate Daniels readalong but will be reading her extensive backlist. I love these books featuring a woman detective in the North East with a supportive team.
Holly Black
I’m a little late to The Creul Prince but I’m working my way through all the books in this series.
Here is my review of The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers- portal fantasy featuring a family with a curse.
For centuries, generations of Everlys have seen their brightest and best disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor, a woman named Penelope, never ages, never grows sick – and never forgives a debt. Violet Everly was just a child when her mother Marianne vanished on a stormy night, determined to break the curse. And when Penelope cannot find her, she issues an Violet has ten years to find Marianne, or she will take her place. Violet is the last of the Everly line, the last to suffer from the curse. Unless she can break it first. To do so, she must descend into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge. She must also contend with Penelope’s quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted – and yet whose knowledge of a world beyond her own is too valuable to avoid. Tied to a very literal deadline, Violet will travel the edges of the world to find Marianne and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began.
Thank you Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton
Review
This portal fantasy featuring a cursed family -here is my review of The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers.
I received a copy of my book for a free and unbiased opinion.
I love portal fantasies- the idea of accessing new worlds from our own boring world is intriguing and the other world in The City of Stardust is full of libraries, scholars, and forges.
The world-building in the book is beautifully rich in its description and is perhaps the best part of the book ( although I would have loved more detail about the magic and society).
Violet is the young woman trying to find a cure for the family’s curse and avoid dying- a journey that takes her around the world and meeting strange new people who want to help. But her mission is complicated by her attraction to Aleksander, the young man with a damaging past- an attraction I really didn’t get ( from both sides)- a fact that I think affected my complete enjoyment of the book.
But the character that really stands out in the book is Penelope, I loved the wholehearted evilness right till the end. I wish we had more Ambrose and Gabriel, Violets’ Uncles who put their lives on hold to look after a young, gifted child who they know is doomed to follow the same family curse. In fact the older characters in the books are so much more nuanced and interesting than the younger ones!
This book will appeal to so many readers, and even though this wasn’t quite everything I was hoping it to be, I look forward to future books from this author.
I’m pleased to be part of the blog tour for She Can Prosper by Diane Watson- non fiction to help you learn how to manage your finances.
Through her work as a financial advisor, she witnessed far too many women abdicating responsibility for their finances to their partners. The realisation was that women who did not take control of their finances were being left vulnerable and potentially severely impacted later in life. Their lack of knowledge or input into shaping their financial future was the catalyst to write this book.The book aims to provide women of all backgrounds with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to take control of their financial destinies. This book shares not only Diane’s insights and advice on the importance of financial education but also the stories of women who have successfully achieved their financial goals and those who made serious errors of judgment. Diane is driven to share this fundamental message: financial empowerment is the key to unlocking all the opportunities life has to offer. If you want clear advice to help you start creating a financial plan leading to a long-term wealth plan, this book is the place to start.
Review
She Can Prosper by Diane Watson is the non-fiction book I wished I had in my twenties.
I received a copy of a free and unbiased opinion.
This book is aimed at women ( but can be helpful to men too!) who want to take control of their finances and to create prosperity. The advice in the book is easier to read and understand without complicated jargon.
There is tailored advice for women at all stages of their life and in their 20’s, 30’,40’s and 50’s covering all eventualities. The stories from the author’s own life and case studies helps us understand the concepts and issues well.
There is a section on how to improve your mindset for prosperity as well as how to talk to your kids about money which I found useful. I have to admit to looking into critical illness policies and LPA after reading these chapters.
The book also talks about how to manage money in relationships both ongoing and divorced.
There are recommendations on podcasts, books, and websites to help with further financial education.
This slim book is packed full of information and would make the perfect gift for any woman.
About the author
Diane Watson is an award-winning, distinguished financial advisor, entrepreneur, and the passionate founder of ‘She Can Prosper.’With an unshakable belief in empowering women to achieve financial independence, Diane has dedicated her career to guiding individuals towards a secure and prosperous future.Like most people, Diane has faced significant obstacles in life. She wasn’t born into a wealthy family and had very little money when she left university. But through the financial lessons her mother had shared with her, she was driven to achieve as much as possible. Diane has taken big but educated risks, from house relocations to setting up her first business.Her view is that you can afford to take risks if you stay informed and remain continually aware of what’s going on around you.Through her work as a financial advisor, she witnessed far too many women abdicating responsibility for their finances to their partners.The realisation was that women who did not take control of their finances were being left vulnerable and potentially severely impacted later in life. Their lack of knowledge or input into shaping their financial future was the catalyst to write this book.
Here is my review of The Liar’s Knot by M. A Carrick- the second book in this intricate fantasy, The Rook and The Rose.
In Nadezra, peace is as tenuous as a single thread. The ruthless House Indestor has been destroyed, but darkness still weaves through the city’s filthy back alleys and jewel-bright gardens, seen by those who know where to look. Derossi Vargo has always known. He has sacrificed more than anyone imagines to carve himself a position of power among the nobility, hiding a will of steel behind a velvet smile. He’ll be damned if he lets anyone threaten what he’s built. Grey Serrado knows all too well. Bent under the yoke of too many burdens, he fights to protect the city’s most vulnerable. Sooner or later, that fight will demand more than he can give. And Ren, daughter of no clan, knows best of all. Caught in a knot of lies, torn between her heritage and her aristocratic masquerade, she relies on her gift for reading pattern to survive. And it shows her the web of corruption that traps her city. But all three have yet to discover just how far that web stretches. And in the end, it will take more than knives to cut themselves free…
Review
I enjoyed this huge fantasy after a bit of a slow start- here is my review of The Liar’s Knot by M.A Carrick, Book 2 of The Rook and The Rose.
I have to admit to being a bit shocked when I received this book in the post-it is a massive tomb of a book at 638 pages.
This is the second book in the Rook and the Rose series but even with the helpful summary at the start, this isn’t a book you can read without having read the first book, The Mask of Mirrors (review here).
I found the first hundred pages or so hard going, the story seemed bogged down by details but then suddenly the book got exciting. As in the first book, the world building is vivid and intricate with complex magical artifacts and societies, ancient vigilantes, cons and of course masks.
Ren, is the heart of the book, switching between three different personas and trying hard not to reveal herself but always terrified. Ren really develops as strong and intriguing heroine with hints of grey. Her relationships with Vargo and Serrado drive most of the action in this book and love how they flip from friends to enemies to friends through the course of the story.
My favourite character has to be Vargo, this man is a mix of good and bad that just works. I really disliked him by the end of the first book but the end of the second book that had completely changed.
But the underlying story about the underlying corruption in the city of Nazerda and a possible magical cause to this was fascinating and felt relevant to me.
I can’t wait to read the next instalment- will Ren continue to maintain her Renata persona? How far will she go to protect her new family while keeping her old one safe? What will happen to the Rook? Will Vargo get what he deserves?
Perfect for Fans
Of intricate and complicated stories with complex characters
Here is my review as part of the DCI Kate Daniels readalong of the ninth book, The Longest Goodbye, in this amazing crime thriller series.
Three years ago police officer Georgina Ioannau was murdered, her killers never brought to justice.Now the prime suspects have been shot dead within hours of their return to the UK.Has someone finally taken the law into their own hands?Seeking out the truth will force Kate Daniels to confront her own past mistakes, and put her career, and her team’s lives, on the line.
Thank you at Compulsive Readers and Orion books for my copy of this book,
Review
Here is my review as part of the DCI Kate Daniels read-along of the ninth book, The Longest Goodbye, in this amazing crime thriller series set in the Northeast of England.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The story starts with a typical boy’s night out in Newcastle but ends in violence with three men shot dead and an armed officer fighting for his life. This case is related to the death of a police officer and Kate’s best friend three years ago. A case that remains unsolved possibly due to the handling of the case by the SIO at the time leaving the family distraught. Kate has to solve the cold while dealing with her own emotions, her team struggling with own of their own in the firing line as well as acting up in a superior role.
This book can be read as standalone with reading the other books in the serious, but I would recommend the other books to understand Kate and her team.
The plot moves quickly and once I started the book, I had to keep reading to find out who the murderers were, and it did come as a complete surprise. There are plenty of unexpected twists and turns, some of which were a little heartbreaking.
As always, the Northeast of England forms the perfect background – Newcastle for the grittier elements and the rural parts for the rest of the story.
Jo’s and Kate’s relationship remains complicated, but Kate is as always, the dedicated Detective, friend, and boss- a woman I love reading about.
It’s another Tuesday and another Top Ten- this time it’s my top ten bookish ( and writing) goals
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
This time the topic my top ten bookish goals but I am going to add some of blog goals as well as they are related and some writing goals. Not surprisingly, many of them are on my 2023 list!
Beat the backlogon my Kindle
I’m going to read some of those free and cheap books sitting on my kindle this year.
The patients survived the Great War only to face a new danger…
In 1916, Sister Helen Hopgood was sent with a team of nurses to care for wounded soldiers at Merewood Farm, a temporary military hospital in Hampshire.Now the war is over, only five patients remain – and she is the only nurse. The last ward must close, and Helen is doing all she can to find new homes for the injured servicemen.Joseph Wintringham has to sell the farm to keep Merewood Manor. But since the murder of Nurse Taplin, locals believe the place is cursed – perhaps by the doomed nurse or by the patients who perished from their war wounds.Is the hospital haunted? Or is someone very real behind the unnatural deaths that begin on Midsummer’s Night 1919?Can Helen discover the truth before it’s too late..?
Review
Here is my review of Murder at Merewood Hospital by Michelle Salter- cosy historical cosy murder mystery set in Word War 1, England.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion.
The book is set in an England still managing the aftermath of World War 1 on its young soldiers and how to manage not just the physical but psychological injuries. Helen Hopwood is the dedicated nurse trying to help the last few patients from Merewood back into a more normal life. But the men, the owners’ family, and the staff at Merewood Hospital are still coping with the murder of a popular young nurse and strange things start to happen ending in murder- derailing her plans.
Helen is a strong, independent woman ahead of her times and I loved her character, she carries the story with her strong personality. She tries to solve the underlying mysteries as well help the patients under her care as well as deal with men who have suddenly become interested in her.
I love a cosy crime book that has plenty of suspects and motives and this book doesn’t’ disappoint. The ultimate reveal of who did it and why took me completely by surprise. Merewood Hospital lurks in the background overshadowing everyone’s motive.
Perfect for Fans of
Cosy Crime, Agatha Christie.
About Michelle Salter
Michelle Salter writes historical cosy crime set in Hampshire, where she lives, and inspired by real-life events in 1920s Britain. The first book in her Iris Woodmore series, Death at Crookham Hall, draws on her interest in the aftermath of the Great War and the suffragette movement.
Here is my review of the first few chapters of Simon Hayes’s Zero Risk.
Blurb
When customer complaints on Christmas Eve herald not a botched system upgrade but the most sophisticated cyber-attack in history, new National Bank CEO Rob Tanner finds himself in the eye of a “Black Swan” storm no one predicted, but anyone could have anticipated. He enlists the help of brilliant American computer security expert Ashley Markham but the attacks only worsen: bank balances rise remorselessly and spread to all the nation’s banks. The only clue to the hacker’s intentions are cryptic emails which continually taunt Tanner and the newly incumbent Prime Minister, James Allen. With financial markets – and the very world as he knows it – on the brink of collapse, Tanner races against the clock to decode not just the bizarre emails but their deeper meaning, and the implications for who he can really trust. All the while, his former boss “The Toad” is seeking revenge… and answers of his own.
Review
I loved the first few chapters of Zero Risk by Simon Hayes. This financial thriller has an interesting premise, one that seems all too likely to occur and I would love to see how Tanner solves this. Tanner seems like the driven man likely to solve the cyber attacks on his bank but is hindered by his odious former boss but at least he has the help of a computer expert. Can’t wait to see how this story unravels!
About The Author
Simon Hayes is a seasoned professional with a diverse background spanning financial services, executive search, and consultancy. With over three decades of international experience, he has lived in the US, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Simon began his career with Bank of Boston, Morgan Grenfell and James Capel, before spending much of the 90s in Asia, serving as Head of Equity Research for Warburg in Japan and later as Managing Director for Salomon Bros and UBS in Hong Kong. Simon is a Trinity Hall, Cambridge, Law graduate and the creator of rubriqs®. Recognised as a top-ranked securities analyst by Extel and II, and later as the “Best Headhunting Executive” in Japan by Asiamoney, he has also been an executive coach, mentor, and financial consultant, spending much of 2023 in Zimbabwe on a major fraud case. Born in Ealing, he is a lifelong supporter of Brentford FC. A proud father to India and Ivo, Simon now lives near Tower Bridge.
Thank you at Farrago books for my copies and Randon Things Tours for introducing me to these books.
I fell in love with Dorothy Dunnett’s writing after reading The Lymond Chronicles ( review here)- her books are a delight to read a story beneath a story, exotic locales, crazy action and hidden motives. The Dolly Mysteries although not historical fiction has all of the Dunnett trademark writing.
The Dolly Mysteries featuring Johnson Johnson, portrait painter and spy have been rereleased under different names and in chronological order rather than its original publication date. Interestingly the books are told from the point of view of several strong women characters and our view of Johnston is formed through their eyes.
Johnson, the portrait painter spy, is the hero-like character that pops up in all the books, but we never get to see the story from his point of view. Each book is narrated in the first person by a strong female leads who starts each story with a comment about Johnson’s bifocals and eventually are sucked into the Johnson’s world either by accident or design. But by the end of each book, each woman’s life has changed because of their contact with Johnson. Tropical Issue was the last book published originally but the first one in the rerelease, so the modern reader is aware of the tragedy in Johnson’s life and how he is led back into being a spy.
Each book is set in an exotic or exciting locale ( and yes, I would class the northern isles of Scotland exciting) with complicated plots and plenty of hare-brained action but always with ending that took me by surprise.
The last book ends with an intriguing plot thread that explores about what happened to Johnson in the first book which ties the overarching plot.
Content warning
These books are symbolic of their times and do have references to non-consensual sexual contact which is disturbing to read about accepted it was by women and society!
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
In no particular order, here are my anticipated releases coming out in early 2024
Relight my Fire by C.K McDonnell (
I was a little disappointed not to be able to review this ahead of its publication but as it is out in Jan 24, I don’t have to long to wait.
Stella is enjoying life as an almost student, or at least she is until a man falls from the sky right in front of her, leaving a big old hole in the pavement for Manchester Council to fill. The obvious question of how he ended up in the sky in the first place has no obvious answers, which is where The Stranger Times come in. This isn’t just the hunt for another story though. Dark powers think Stella might have been involved and the only way she and the team can prove her innocence is to find out what the hell is really going on. What have dodgy gear, disturbed graves and a decommissioned rock star got to do with all this?Vincent Banecroft has problems of his own in the form of a tall, dark but-definitely-not-handsome man dressed like a one-man funeral who has been sent to make the paper’s editor atone for his sins. Once he finds out exactly what that entails, Banecroft is not keen. Being banished to a Hellscape for all eternity looks like being no fun at all, not least because he has that pale Irish skin that burns really easily . . .All that plus territorial ghouls, homicidal felines, eternal (and seemingly unstoppable) gnomes and a celebrity ‘Who’s Who’ that’d put a royal wedding to shame, and you’re looking at a wild few days for The Stranger Times .
The Mars House by Natasha Pulley
I enjoyed this queer, science-fiction with amazing world building and political shennigans
n the wake of environmental catastrophe, January, once a principal in London’s Royal Ballet, has become a refugee on Tharsis, the terraformed colony on Mars. In Tharsis, January’s life is dictated by his status as an Earthstronger—a person whose body is not adjusted to Mars’s lower gravity and so poses a danger to those born on, or naturalized to, Mars. January’s job choices, housing, and even transportation options are dictated by this second-class status, and now a xenophobic politician named Aubrey Gale is running on a platform that would make it all worse: Gale wants all earthstrongers to be surgically naturalized, a process that can be anything from disabling to deadly.When Gale chooses January for an on-the-spot press junket interview that goes horribly awry, January’s life is thrown into chaos, but Gale’s political fortunes are damaged, too. Gale proposes a solution to both their problems: a five-year made-for-the-press marriage that would secure January’s financial future without naturalization and ensure Gale’s political future. But when January accepts the offer, he discovers that Gale is not at all like they appear in the press. And worse, soon, January finds himself entangled in political and personal events well beyond his imagining. Gale has an enemy, someone willing to destroy all of Tharsis to make them pay—and January may be the only person standing in the way.
City of Stardust by Georgia Summers
I love the sound of this fantasy.
For centuries, the Everlys have seen their best and brightest disappear, taken as punishment for a crime no one remembers, for a purpose no one understands. Their tormentor, a woman named Penelope, never ages, never grows sick – and never forgives a debt. Violet Everly was a child when her mother left on a stormy night, determined to break the curse. When Marianne never returns, Penelope issues an Violet has ten years to find her mother, or she will take her place. Violet is the last of the Everly line, the last to suffer. Unless she can break the curse first. Her hunt leads her into a seductive magical underworld of power-hungry scholars, fickle gods and monsters bent on revenge. And into the path of Penelope’s quiet assistant, Aleksander, who she knows cannot be trusted – and yet to whom she finds herself undeniably drawn. With her time running out, Violet will travel the edges of the world to find Marianne and the key to the city of stardust, where the Everly story began.
The Sisterhood by Katherine Bradley
This dystopian novel based on George Orwell sounds fascinating
n Oceania, whoever you are, Big Brother is always watching you and trust is a luxury that no one has. Julia is the seemingly perfect example of what women in Oceania should be: dutiful, useful, subservient, meek. But Julia hides a secret. A secret that would lead to her death if it is discovered. For Julia is part of the underground movement called The Sisterhood, whose main goal is to find members of The Brotherhood, the anti-Party vigilante group, and help them to overthrow Big Brother. Only then can everyone be truly free. When Julia thinks she’s found a potential member of The Brotherhood, it seems like their goal might finally be in their grasp. But as she gets closer to Winston Smith, Julia’s past starts to catch up with her and we soon realise that she has many more secrets than we’d first imagined – and that overthrowing Big Brother might cost her everything – but if you have nothing left to lose then you don’t mind playing the game . . .
Welcome to Forever by Nathan Tavarres
Fox is a memory editor – one of the best – gifted with the skill to create real life in the digital world. When he wakes up in Field of Reeds Center for Memory Reconstruction with no idea how he got there, the therapists tell him he was a victim in a terrorist bombing by Khadija Banks, the pioneer of memory editing technology turned revolutionary. A bombing which shredded the memory archives of all its victims, including his husband Gabe.Thrust into reconstructions of his memories exploded from the fragments that survived the blast, Fox tries to rebuild his life, his marriage and himself. But he quickly realises his world is changing, unreliable, and echoing around itself over and over. As he unearths endless cycles of meeting Gabe, falling in love and breaking up, Fox digs deep into his past, his time in the refugee nation of Aaru, and the exact nature of his relationship with Khadija. Because, in a world tearing itself apart to forget all its sadness, saving the man he loves might be the key to saving us all.
For Ash Woods, practicing alchemy is a crime.
Only an elite few are legally permitted to study the science of magic―so when Ash is rejected by the Lancaster Mage’s College, he takes a job as the school’s groundskeeper instead, forced to learn alchemy in secret. When he’s discovered by the condescending and brilliant apprentice Ramsay Thorne, Ash is sure he’s about to be arrested―but instead of calling the reds, Ramsay surprises Ash by making him an Ramsay will keep Ash’s secret if he helps her find the legendary Book of Source, a sacred text that gives its reader extraordinary power. As Ash and Ramsay work together and their feelings for each other grow, Ash discovers their mission is more dangerous than he imagined, pitting them against influential and powerful alchemists―Ash’s estranged father included. Ash’s journey takes him through the cities and wilds across New Anglia, forcing him to discover his own definition of true power and how far he and other alchemists will go to seize it.
Voyage of The Damned by Frances White
For a thousand years, Concordia has maintained peace between its provinces. To mark this incredible feat, the emperor’s ship embarks upon a twelve-day voyage to the sacred Goddess’s Mountain. Aboard are the heirs of the twelve provinces of Concordia, each graced with a unique and secret magical ability known as a Blessing. Except one: Ganymedes Piscero – class clown, slacker, and all-round disappointment. When a beloved heir is murdered, everyone is a suspect. Stuck at sea and surrounded by powerful people without a Blessing to protect him, odds of survival are slim. But as the bodies pile higher, Ganymedes must become the hero he was not born to be. Can he unmask the killer and their blessing before this bloody crusade reaches the shores of Concordia?
The Glass Woman by Alice McIlory
When you wake up without your memories, who can you really trust?
Pioneering scientist Iris Henderson chose to be her own first test-subject for an experimental therapy, placing a piece of technology into her brain. At least, this is what everyone tells her. Trouble is, Iris is now without her memories so she doesn’t know what the therapy is or why she would ever decide to volunteer for it. Everyone warns her to leave it alone, but Iris doesn’t know who to trust. As she scratches beneath the surface of her seemingly happy marriage and successful career, a catastrophic chain of events is set in motion. Secrets will be revealed that have the capacity to destroy her whole life, but Iris can’t stop digging.
Shigidi and the Brass Head of Obalufon by WoleTalabi
Shigidi is a disgruntled and demotivated nightmare god in the Orisha spirit company, reluctantly answering prayers of his few remaining believers to maintain his existence long enough to find his next drink. When he meets Nneoma, a sort-of succubus with a long and secretive past, everything changes for him.
Together, they attempt to break free of his obligations and the restrictions that have bound him to his godhood and navigate the parameters of their new relationship in the shadow of her past. But the elder gods that run the Orisha spirit company have other plans for Shigidi, and they are not all aligned–or good.
From the boisterous streets of Lagos to the swanky rooftop bars of Singapore and the secret spaces of London, Shigidi and Nneoma will encounter old acquaintances, rival gods, strange creatures, and manipulative magicians as they are drawn into a web of revenge, spirit business, and a spectacular heist across two worlds that will change Shigidi’s understanding of himself forever and determine the fate of the Orisha spirit company
Series Book Lover 