Two Man Station by Lisa Henry

I absolutely loved the start of Emergency Services series by Lisa Henry and I am super eager to read more.

The setting for Two Man Station felt like a character itself and I loved the small town vibe and isolated feel of the novel. The heat, dust and cicadas were vivid. Gio was such a great character. He’s so over everything and has barriers up before he’s even started his new job in the middle of nowhere. His past has been turbulent and heart breaking, so I think Jason’s attitude initially surprises him as he’s expecting a more aggressive welcome to his new position.

The tension between the two is built beautifully and I think if you’re a fan of the slow build, as I am, you’re in for a treat. I did expect a few more fireworks and passion, but I think as I re read this that Gio in particular is so worried about being hurt, so maybe there are are more emotional obstacles to overcome.

I loved the secondary characters, Jason’s son in particular, the small town dramas and insight into a rural cops life were also super engaging to read. I loved this book and I cannot wait to read more in the series. Hoping I won’t have to wait an age!

Favourite Reads from 2017.

I had some great reads this year and my love for YA continues. I also picked up a few fantastic contemporary reads, sci fi and some fantasy.

If I had one wish for books, I would love to see some more urban fantasy out there. It is one of my favourite genre to read and other than Faith Hunter, Patricia Briggs and Ilona Andrews, I haven’t really come across anything this year that made me super excited.

I also found reading and blogging was tough from around October onwards, as this is a busy time of year for me. I think learning to be ok saying no to stuff has been a learning curve. Because saying no to books seems a bit mad!

It has been so incredibly nice to just sit around and read these past few weeks over the holidays. I have had some fab reads in December, added a bunch of 2018 releases to my Goodreads tbr and finished a few books that have been languishing on my shelves. Bliss.

Have a wonderful New Year’s Eve and I hope 2018 is a fabulous year for you!

January
Pretty Face (London Celebrities) by Lucy Parker
February
Good Boy by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy
March
The Hating Game: A Novel reread by Sally Thorne
April
What Matters: A steamy rich girl meets bad boy romance by Gracie Leigh
May
A Court of Wings and Ruin (A Court of Thorns and Roses) by Sarah J. Maas
Alex, Approximately by Jenn Bennett
June
Sunset Park (Five Boroughs Book 2) reread by Santino Hassell
White Hot (Hidden Legacy) by Ilona Andrews
July
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Paper Girls Volume 1 by Brian K. Vaughan
August
Illegal Contact (The Barons) by Santino Hassell
No Limits by Ellie Marney
Flame in the Dark (A Soulwood Novel) by Faith Hunter
September
In Other Lands by Sarah Rees Brennan
October
Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend
Archangel’s Viper (A Guild Hunter Novel) by Nalini Singh
November
Fence 1 by CS Pacat and Johanna the Mad
December
Cold Reign (Jane Yellowrock) by Faith Hunter
Fence 2 by CS Pacat and Johanna the Mad
Deal Maker by Lily Morton

Fence review and Jord code!

FENCE is out. And it was brilliant. I think I scared the guy in the comic book shop by ordering all the variant covers and also the collected volume. He kept saying, ‘Are you sure?’ And looking very bewildered. Fan. Girl. For a first comic it did what this author does so well, building tension and anticipation. I also think she writes a really layered story, including world building. Not just the relationship stuff. Buy it! It is a 5 star start to the series for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📚

This month I am super lucky to rep for JORD wooden watches. Mine came in the mail on the weekend and I am in LOVE! I got the FIELDCREST in maple. It is seriously gorgeous and I am a little besotted. My JORD watches instant 25% off link is live! If you’re looking for a fab gift for someone special this holiday season, redeem your 25% off by following the link here. OR #treatyourself 😍😁🎄 They have excellent service and ship worldwide.

 

Archangel’s Viper by Nalini Singh

I loved this so much! Venom is one of my favourite characters and it was so good to finally read his book. He’s such a good fit for Holly, and there chemistry was off the charts. A bit of a slow burn and I’m a complete fan of the love\hate vibe.

While the cascade was there in the background, the focus was more on tying up some loose ends for Holly and her heroine journey. Liked it. Brilliant read, this series is a total winner. AND OMG more hints about Aodhan and Illium. I need their book yesterday!!! 😁💕 Sigh. Check out the Guild Hunter series, it’s magic.

Grade A

Amazon

Goodreads

Nevermoor : The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend.

Morrigan Crow’s fate is to die at midnight on her 11th birthday. She is cursed by bad luck and is often blamed by the locals for anything that goes wrong the town of Jackalfax. Although I think she’d beg to differ! Her family feels she is a burden and all the while her mortality seems to hang over her.

Just as things start to become even worse for poor Morrigan, she is spirited away by a mysterious, dashing and ginger Jupiter North to Nevermoor. Her luck appears to turn when she discovers she has been chosen to take part in trials to join the Wundrous Society. This could mean being able to stay in Nevermoor forever and live well beyond her 11th birthday. But, to join she has to prove she can complete the tasks set out by the Society and also demonstrate that she has an extraordinary talent. Which could be a problem, as she doesn’t appear to have a talent, other than her cursed, bad luck…

I loved this book and found it hugely entertaining. I think the entire time I was reading Nevermoor I was wearing an enormous smile. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments, some epic snark and silliness and much adventure. Morrigan is such a misery at the beginning of the story, complete with Wednesday Adams fashion sense, mulishness and a deep longing for something better, something happier. The world building was unique and I kept having visions of a luxurious version of The Grand Budapest when reading about the Hotel Deucalion. Fab secondary characters and I am hoping Morrigan’s new friends get a little more page time in future books.

I think if you’re a fan of Dahl and Rowling you’ll see some parallels, but the story felt original and fresh. I loved it. I’ve even banged on at length to friends and family to go buy this not only for their children but themselves too! A clever, funny, smile on your face read that was hard to put down.

Grade A

Amazon
Goodreads

 

Giveaway!

The Long Past is out! This is a fab collection of queer alternative history wild west SFF, is out now! To celebrate there are 6 days of awesome #bookstagram photos hosted by some awesome accounts!

Check out my post on Instagram and the following hosts and be in to win.
Hosts
@_kora_j
@hoards.jumble
@loveunchainedreviews
@karenboudoir
@midnightclockwork

Tour challenge: comment on any of the host photos & use the hashtag #TheLongPastTour, tag the daily host, the author @ginnhale and A Novel Take PR @anoveltakepr and you’ll be entered in the giveaway.

***Giveaway details: up for grabs: 2 e-copies of THE LONG PAST. Winners chosen by 10/13 and contacted about their prize via the instagram account they used to enter.***

Book description

1858 – Warring mages open up a vast inland sea that splits the United States in two. With the floodwaters come creatures from a long distant past. What seems like the End Times forges a new era of heroes and heroines who challenge tradition, law, and even death as they transform the old west into a new world.

In the heart of dinosaur country a laconic trapper and a veteran mage risk treason to undertake a secret mission.

A brilliant magician and her beautiful assistant light up stages with the latest automaton, but the secrets both of them are hiding test their trust in each other and pit them against one of the most powerful men in the world.

At the wild edge of the Inland Sea, amidst crocodiles and triceratops, an impoverished young man and a Pinkerton Detective must join forces to outmaneuver a corrupt judge and his gunmen.

Goodreads
Amazon

September wrap up.

I think I read a few less books this month. Work was a little crazy and I’m not sure it’s going to get any better before Christmas. Ughh. I do love my job though, but I do think full time reader nerd would be a super fab profession.

Read in September.
A- ~ Rule Breaker by Lily Morton. I loved this! Definitely picking up more from this author. I love her voice.
C ~ The Summer of Us by Lily Morton
A ~ Gotham Academy by Becky Cloonan. Scooby and cute.
B ~ Lumber Janes by Noelle Stevenson. Funny!
C ~ First and Goal by Kata Cuic
C ~ The Fifth Postulate: A Sherlock Holmes Story
B ~ The Rule of Luck by Catherine Cerveny. I really liked this! I’ve downloaded the 2nd book. 😊
~ Nevermoor : The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend. Omg. Love. Buy it!!!!
C ~ Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart.
I reread also read Kulti and The Wall of Winnipeg. Love these two books! The pic is of my haul this month and my current tbr. I finished If there’s no tomorrow this afternoon. Ohhhh, the angst!!! I hope you’ve had some fab reads this month too!!!

Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart

Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart is out now. It was a different read for me and while I liked it, it was one that I put down pretty easily. It definitely reminded me of The Talented Mr Rilpley, obviously with female characters. Lots of sneaky twists and turns.

Description.
The story of a young woman whose diabolical smarts are her ticket into a charmed life. But how many times can someone reinvent themselves? You be the judge.

Imogen is a runaway heiress, an orphan, a cook, and a cheat.
Jule is a fighter, a social chameleon, and an athlete.
An intense friendship. A disappearance. A murder, or maybe two.
A bad romance, or maybe three.
Blunt objects, disguises, blood, and chocolate. The American dream, superheroes, spies, and villains.
A girl who refuses to give people what they want from her.
A girl who refuses to be the person she once was.

Grace C
Amazon
Goodreads

Temporary by Sarina Bowen and Sarah Mayberry

Temporary by Sarina Bowen and Sarah Mayberry is out today. This is a super hot contemporary romance. Grace is working as a temp, hoping it will turn into a long term position. She has some pretty heavy responsibilities, and meets Callan while she is working. Callen is anything but responsible! But he is completely charming and Grace finds herself being slowly won over. This was a cute read and worth a nosey. Check it out at the links below!

Grade B-
Amazon
Goodreads

August Wrap Up.

This month has felt like a slower reading month than July for sure. I think I read 18 books and comics last month and this month I only read 10. Fatigue, work kicking my ass and having the kid plus his gf home again has meant life is a bit crazy at the moment. Nice, but busy!

I read more from Paper Girls, which I loved and also the fantastic Illegal Contact and a new Ellie Marney book. Hope you’ve all had a fab reading month. Do share your recs in the comments, I am always on the lookout for a good read!

A ~ Illegal Contact by Santino Hassell. OMG I loved this.
Amazon Gooreads
A ~ Wildfire by Ilona Andrews. Great end to the series
Amazon Goodreads
A ~ No Limits by Ellie Marney. I really love this authors voice
Amazon Goodreads
A ~ Paper Girls V2 and V3. Beautiful, felt like the 80s and I just love it!
Amazon Volume 2 Amazon Volume 3 Goodreads
B ~ Spectred Isle by KJ Charles. Good start to a new series.
Amazon Goodreads
B ~ Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. Beautiful prose, good start, but the pacing wasn’t always lively.
Amazon Goodreads
C ~ Fallen Heir by Erin Watt
Amazon Goodreads
D ~ Until it Fades by KA Tucker
Amazon Goodreads
D ~ Permanent Ink by Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn
Amazon  Goodreads