A lot can happen in a fortnight … That’s how long it has been since I last wrote a weekly post. Last week we celebrated turning six and Mandie and I took a very well deserved break away from work and home. Not that you’d notice from a blog perspective as we posted every day again. But it does mean I have lots more interesting pictures to share with you than I’ve pulled together of late. A wonderful week experiencing some gorgeous scenery in Northumberland is just what the Doctor ordered.
As it’s been a while, I’ve rather a lot of book buys and book post to share with you all. Book buys this past fortnight have been moderate – I was on holiday. Books I treated myself to were Do No Harm by Jack Jordan, Mania by LJ Ross and The Seven Ages of Death by Dr Richard Shepherd.
Netgalley wise I have three new titles. A Sliver of Darkness by C.J.Tudor; Tick Tock by Simon Mayo and The Twist Of A Knife by Anthony Horowitz, plus I received a gifted audiobook of No Place To Run by Mark Edwards.
Gifted books this fortnight have been plentiful, far more than I was expecting and far more than I typically get. I am a very lucky blogger. I received: The Maidens by Alex Michaelides from Weidenfeld and Nicolson; Survive to Fight by Billy Billingham from Hodder & Stoughton; This Woman by Howard Sounes; The Lost Man Of Bombay by Vaseem Khan courtesy of Hodder & Stoughton; The 6:20 Man by David Baldacci; A Cottage By The Sea by Carole Matthews; and Lying Beside You by Michael Robotham.
Books I have read
Deception. Theft. Murder. All you need is confidence.
When amateur film-maker Lisa Lee vanishes from a Scottish seaside town, journalists Anna and Fin find themselves at the centre of an internet frenzy to find her.
But she may not be the hapless victim everyone thinks she is. The last film she made showed her breaking into an abandoned French chateau and stumbling across a priceless Roman silver casket. The day after Lisa vanishes the casket is listed for auction in Paris, reserve price fifty million euros, with a catalogue entry that challenges the beliefs of a major world religion.
On a thrilling chase across Europe to discover what happened to Lisa, Anna and Fin are caught up in a world of international art smuggling, billionaire con artists and religious zealotry.
But someone doesn’t want them to find the missing girl… and will do anything to stop them.
A detective tracks a poetry-obsessed serial bomber—meter by deadly meter—in an explosively clever short story by international bestselling author Jeffery Deaver.
When an improvised explosive device is found outside a hospital, the understaffed Middleton PD knows it’s up against a pro. No one takes credit for the sophisticated device—all that Detective Jake Sloan has to go on is a poem. The cryptic rhyme surfaced shortly after the bomb scare. But ex-soldier and football player Sloan has never been much of a poetry buff. When a second verse turns up, containing a message in code, he solicits the help of English professor Ciara Hawkins. Together, they rush to read between the lines and stop the countdown to tragedy. But as the clock ticks, Sloan senses that beneath this complex case is a motive that is simpler and more disturbing than anyone could have anticipated.
‘I swear I’m one bad mood away from calling it black magic and going home . . .’
Detective Sergeant Washington Poe can count on one hand the number of friends he has. And he’d still have his thumb left. There’s the insanely brilliant, guilelessly innocent civilian analyst, Tilly Bradshaw of course. He’s known his beleaguered boss, Detective Inspector Stephanie Flynn for years as he has his nearest neighbour, full-time shepherd/part-time dog sitter, Victoria.
And then there’s Estelle Doyle. It’s true the caustic pathologist has never walked down the sunny side of the street but this time has she gone too far? Shot twice in the head, her father’s murder appears to be an open and shut case. Estelle has firearms discharge residue on her hands, and, in a house surrounded by fresh snow, hers are the only footprints going in. Since her arrest she’s only said three words: ‘Tell Washington Poe.’
Meanwhile, a poisoner the press have dubbed the Botanist is sending high profile celebrities poems and pressed flowers. The killer seems to be able to walk through walls and, despite the advance notice he gives his victims, and regardless of the security measures the police take, he seems to be able to kill with impunity.
For a man who hates locked room mysteries, this is going to be the longest week of Washington Poe’s life . . .
A Home At Cornflower Cottage by Tilly Tennant
Escape to the flower-filled fields and hedgerows of the Cotswold countryside, to a tiny cottage and a summer that could change everything….
Amelie has lived in Cornflower Cottage since she was born. She did her homework at the scrubbed kitchen table and helped her mum hang washing from the line on the old oak tree in the garden. And when her beloved parents died, Cornflower Cottage became Amelie’s armour against the world.
The trouble is that Cornflower Cottage is too big for just her. With a broken boiler and a leaking roof, Amelie knows she must do something to make ends meet. When she meets Xander, a scruffy, brown-eyed nature documentary maker living out of his backpack in a nearby hotel, Amelie rents him a room, hoping a lodger will solve her problems.
She soon realises that her troubles are only just beginning. Xander’s muddy clothes all over the cottage and early morning jaunts to photograph otters are going to take some getting used to. But when an argument turns into a heart-to-heart, she finds herself confessing how lonely she has been.
Before long, laughter echoes round the cosy farmhouse kitchen once more and sparks begin to fly. But when a face from Xander’s past appears at Cornflower Cottage Amelie’s happy home is shaken once more. Xander has changed Amelie’s quiet country life forever. Should she open her heart to someone who has hidden things from her? Or let him leave, and lose the love that makes her house a home?
A completely beautiful romantic comedy about being brave, following your heart and moving on. Fans of Holly Martin, Jessica Redland and Nicola May will be swept away by A Home at Cornflower Cottage.
No Place To Run by Mark Edwards
In this exhilarating thriller from four million copy bestselling author Mark Edwards, Aidan’s spent years looking for his sister. Will he ever find her?
Two years ago, on a trip to Seattle to visit her brother Aidan, fifteen-year-old Scarlett vanished into thin air. After years of false leads and dead ends, Aidan has almost given up hope. But then a woman sees a girl running for her life across a forest clearing in Northern California. She is convinced the girl is the missing Scarlett. But could it really be her?
Heading south, Aidan finds a fire-ravaged town covered in missing-teenager posters. The locals seem afraid, the police won’t answer any questions and it looks like another dead end—until a chance meeting with returned local Lana gives Aidan his first clue. But as they piece together what happened, Lana and Aidan make deadly enemies. Enemies willing to do anything to silence them.
Only one thing matters now: finding Scarlett—even if it kills him.
Not too bad for two weeks work and I am fifty percent through another book. I was super busy at work the first week, and not really concentrating while on holiday as I was having too much fun. We’re not the kind to just kick back, relax, and read (as the pictures probably show) so getting any books finished was a bonus. Busy old fortnight on the blog too. Recap below:
#Review – Six Wounds – Morgan Cry
#Review – The Fallout – Yrsa Sigurdardottir
#Review – Keep Her Sweet – Helen Fitzgerald
#Press Release – Capital Crime Launch – Festival Programme Announced
#Review – The Wedding Night – Harriet Walker
#Review – Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose – Alison Weir
#Jen Med’s 6th Blogiversary
#Review – The Last Thing To Burn – Will Dean
#Review – The Maidens – Alex Michaelides
#Review – The Dark – Sharon Bolton
#Review – The New Doctor at Peony Practice – Christie Barlow
#Review – The Woman in Black – Susan Hill
Three tours this coming week. Today I share my thoughts on Death at the Dinner Party by Emma Davies, then Mandie takes a look at The Summer of Secrets by Patricia Wilson and I’ll also be reviewing The Fire Killer by Ross Greenwood.
That’s me about done I think. Just need to finish reading my current book then at some stage I really must write some reviews. At last it’s a four day weekend this weekend. Plenty of time to start my catch up …
Happy reading all.
Jen x
Jen Med's Book Reviews 
Gorgeous photos Jen!
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Thank you 😊
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