Coming To Find I'm Not A E-Book Reader...

It’s been two months since the last wrap-up, I have gotten out of my reading slump and come to find I’m not an E-Book reader. But more on that a little later.

Jumping into a two-month reading wrap-up…

The book cover features a teal background with ornate golden floral designs along the borders. In the center, there is a cutout window showing a vintage key tied with a red ribbon against an old, torn page of text. The title, "The Library Thief," is written in large white letters at the bottom, with the author's name, Kuchenga Shenjé, in smaller golden letters below. Endorsements are visible on the left and right sides, praising the book for its secrecy, intrigue, and originality.

The Warm Hands Of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

I had never read anything by Katherine Arden before this. I know her “The Bear and The Nightingale” series is very well-loved on Bookstagram. But when I saw this in the coming soon section on Waterstones, it intrigued me.

“In this historical fiction/fantasy novel, Canadian nurse Laura Iven, discharged and sent back to Halifax in 1918, learns of her brother Freddie’s death in WWI but senses something amiss. Determined to uncover the truth, she returns to Belgium. Meanwhile, in 1917, Freddie survives an explosion and bonds with a German soldier in No Man’s Land. Together, they encounter a mysterious fiddler with the power to make their war-torn reality vanish, but at a significant cost.”

There is no doubt in my mind that Katherine Arden is meant to be a writer. She never shied away from the realities these characters face being at war and never shied the reader away either. The emotional rollercoaster that this book takes you on is unreal and opens you up to the importance of familial relationships. When reading, I found myself slowing down and then after some chapters and finishing, having to sit with what my thoughts were.

I studied both World Wars at length during my school years. And, I like a historical fiction book with a paranormal/fantasy twist. But in this instance, I found not only did I not expect it from the blurb written, but that it also didn’t seem something too out there to have happened. During World War One, there was a rise in Spiritualism. The horrors of war and the desperation of people to want to speak to their loved ones after death. It wasn’t what I expected but it’s 4 Stars from me.

The book cover features the title "Just for the Summer" in large white letters against a vibrant, colorful background depicting a sunset over a lake. Above the title, it says, "Abby Jimenez," in bold yellow letters, with a quote from Emily Henry, "Jimenez is a true talent," above the author's name. The illustration shows a woman in a swimsuit and a man in casual clothes holding hands and playfully splashing in the water, with a small dog running nearby. The background includes a serene landscape with hills, trees, and birds in flight.

Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez

Another author I hadn’t read anything by before and another that has been highly recommended to me.

“Justin’s dating curse, revealed on Reddit, leads women to find their soulmates after breaking up with him. Emma, a travelling nurse with the same issue, proposes they date and break up to cancel their curses. They meet in Minnesota, planning a brief summer fling, but real feelings develop amid personal challenges. Could Fate have truly brought them the perfect match?”

I devoured this in a day.

Just for the summer is the perfect summer read. Abby Jimenez writes in a way that is effortless to read and yet, you are taking in so many deep and complex emotions. With these characters, you can feel it all in the pit of your stomach.

One thing I loved about this kind of dual POV storyline was that you were not just waiting around on their will they or won’t they romance. They had their separate life complications that affected the romantic side but also gave depth to each character’s development. I cried with sadness, with happiness and overall, connected to these characters. 5 Stars.

The book cover has a deep blue, starry background with golden decorative elements along the edges. The title, "The Warm Hands of Ghosts," is prominently displayed in large white letters in the center, with a small violin illustration beneath it, emanating golden rays. The author's name, Katherine Arden, is written in smaller golden letters below the title. An endorsement by Diana Gabaldon at the top describes it as "A book you won't want to let go of."

The Library Thief by Kuchenga Shenjé

This was one of my most anticipated releases for 2024 and it is not what I thought it would be.

“In this gothic mystery debut, set in Victorian England. Florence, cast out by her father, finds refuge at the remote Rose Hall to restore its rare books. Lord Belfield’s library holds dark secrets, especially about his late wife. When the library is broken into, Florence discovers a half-burned diary that may reveal the truth about the wife’s fate.”

Thinking I had picked up a murder mystery, I didn’t realise how many different storylines and themes this was going to hold. It is so difficult to not spoil this because as I was reading, the surprise of each revelation is what not only drew me in but opened my mind too.

So I thought, I would do a simple line with some of those themes as that would then hopefully not spoil it too much but give you an idea if you were wanting to read this…

Theme Spoilers

Kuchenga writes such depth and complexity to her characters but doesn’t erase the issue(s). It isn’t lectured or spoon-fed to the reader. It just is and she writes with such a clear direction, it’s a fantastic debut novel. 4.5 Stars from me.

The book cover features an ornate, floral border with various colorful flowers and butterflies. In the center, there is a circular window showing a picturesque scene of a brick house with a well-maintained garden. The title, "The Honey Witch," is written in large, elegant golden letters in the middle of the cover. Below the title, there is a quote praising the book for its whimsy, magic, and tender longing, attributed to Rachel Gillig. The author's name, Sydney J. Shields, is displayed in golden letters at the bottom.

The Honey Witch by Sydney J. Shields

This is another highly anticipated read for 2024 and yet another where I did not expect the direction it went in!

“Marigold Claude, the new Honey Witch of Innisfree, can never find true love. When sceptical Lottie Burke arrives, Marigold is determined to prove magic is real. As they grow closer, Marigold faces a dark force threatening her home, risking her magic and her heart. A sweet debut novel of magic, hope, and love overcoming all.”

This is very much Bridgerton meets fantasy with cottagecore vibes. I read this in a day and found it just a nice cosy book.

It’s descriptive and captures what magic can be and the darker side of witchcraft. I love how Sydney J. Shields sets her scenes. I want to holiday at Innisfree.

The only downside was that I didn’t fully connect with the main character, Marigold. Which is ok, not every main character is going to be likeable. I just found that Marigold, although not fully happy at home because she felt she couldn’t be herself, was very quick to decide whether someone was, almost, worth her time or not. And I found she developed her closer relationships with others through someone else or with someone else’s influence. 3.5 stars.

Flawless by Elsie Silver

I’m definitely in my cowboy romance era…

“The rules were simple: keep my hands off his daughter and stay out of trouble. But now we’re stuck with only one bed. Rules are made to be broken. Once the golden boy of professional bull riding, my image needs cleaning up. Enter my agent’s tough, irresistible daughter as my “full-time supervision.” I don’t need a babysitter, but I can’t stop thinking about her. She insists this means nothing; I say it means everything. Boundaries be damned—I’m going to steal her heart.”

I enjoyed the pace of Elsie’s writing and I thought all the characters were fleshed out well, there was nothing extraordinary about this kind of storyline.

This is quite simply a fun, fluffy and sometimes spicy romance. It’s a traditional “enemies to lovers” but by throwing a cowboy in there it’s created a Hallmark movie-esque feel. And as this is part of a series, it sets up the protagonist of the next book quite well. 3.5 Stars.

How To Solve Your Own Murder by Kristen Perrin

I love a murder mystery and after seeing this in so many people’s hauls, I decided to pick it up for myself

“In 1965, seventeen-year-old Frances Adams was told she’d be murdered one day. She spent sixty years collecting dirt on everyone she met, hoping to prevent her demise. When she is finallykilled, her great-niece Annie arrives and discovers Frances’ eccentric library of detective work. As per Frances’ will, whoever solves her murder inherits her fortune. Annie must unravel the mystery and find justice, but digging into the past may put her in the killer’s path.”

This is one of my favourite books of the year and was another that I devoured in one sitting. I’ve recommended it to everyone and even preordered Kriten’s next book.

It’s a classic “whodunit” murder mystery, but one that has been going on for decades. A premise I have come across before, but never with such an amount of detail coming from the murder victim.

Kristen Perrin writes so well. So cleverly. There were a couple of chapters in particular that made me doubt who I thought had done it. Even though I was right!

I enjoyed how she explained Annie’s thought process as she gathered evidence or looked at what Frances had gathered. Was it a little predictable at times? Yes, but in that lovely, cosy way where there is an answer for each puzzle piece. I liked the personality diversity amongst the characters and thought the English countryside setting was perfect. 5 Stars.

The book cover has a clean white background featuring a black and white clapperboard with red bloodstains. The title, "The Reappearance of Rachel Price," is written in a white chalk-like font on the clapperboard. There are red cords and two Polaroid photos, one with blood splatters, adding to the mystery theme. At the top, a note mentions the author's previous success with "A Good Girl's Guide to Murder." The author's name, Holly Jackson, is printed in teal letters at the bottom of the cover.

The Reappearance Of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson

I still need to finish the Good Guide’s Girl To Murder Series, but as someone who loves Crime podcasts and documentaries, of course, I picked this up.

“Eight-year-old Bel has lived in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished, and young Bel was the only witness. Rachel is presumed dead. When the Price family agrees to a true crime documentary, Bel hopes for normalcy once filming ends. But then Rachel reappears, turning their lives upside down forever.”

The twist in this book! After reading A Good Girl’s Guide To Murder, I guessed the outcome a couple of chapters in. I was hoping this wasn’t going to happen again and although there was that feeling and some hints that something wasn’t adding up when Bel’s mum reappeared, I didn’t expect that ending!

Holly keeps that British humour in the writing and the character development is still very good. The only downside to that is I think this story doesn’t pick up plot-wise until about halfway through as character development is taking the forefront. 4 Stars.

The book cover features the title "Funny Story" in large white letters against an orange and purple sunset background. The tagline above reads, "Two total strangers. One thing in common. Now that's a . . . " Below the title, an illustration shows a man and a woman sitting at a bar with colorful drinks in hand, smiling at each other. The author's name, "Emily Henry," is displayed prominently in large yellow letters at the bottom, with "The Number One Sunday Times Bestseller" noted underneath.

Funny Story by Emily Henry

This is the second Emily Henry book I’ve read and I have seen so many conflicting reviews once again!

“Daphne cherished her love story with Peter until he fell for his childhood best friend, Petra. Now stranded in Waning Bay, Michigan, with a dream job that barely pays the bills, Daphne proposes rooming with Petra’s ex, Miles. Despite their differences—practical Daphne versus scruffy, heartbroken Miles—they form an unexpected friendship and hatch a plan, sharing misleading photos of their summer adventures. It’s all for show, of course—there’s no way Daphne would fall for her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex…right?”

Emily Henry is fast becoming another marmite author in the book community. With each book, you get opposite ends of the scale of reviews. When I read Happy Place, I found myself loving Emily’s style and the way she writes romantic relationships but at the end of the day, it was just a nice story.

That’s how I feel about this one. I found myself connecting and liking the secondary characters more than Daphne and Miles. And I remember when reviewing Happy Place I said I loved how Emily wrote her character friendships. I liked Daphne’s personal development and thought it was another nice book for the summer. 4 Stars.

Coming To Find I’m Not A E-Book Reader…

Earlier this year I was contacted by Booktasters and asked if I would like access to an E-Book in exchange for an honest review. Dead happy with this, picked my book and was so excited. I have an iPad rather than an e-reader and that is where I think the problem lies. I end up book shopping, on gaming apps or streaming. Which is what I mainly use my iPad for. I haven’t been well either which is another issue. It’s so much easier to stream an old favourite movie or series, but when holding a physical book, it’s not as easy to distract yourself from it.

I’ve come to realise I am a hold-the-book kind of reader. But, if you love an E-Book, I highly recommend reaching out to Booktasters. There are not only some interesting books to choose from but the people who run the site are the loveliest! <3

And that is another wrap-up and why I can’t read an E-Book. Have you read either book? What were your thoughts? Comment your thoughts below, or find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest.

As always, thanks for reading…

Coming To Find I’m Not A E-Book Reader…