NetGalley November Check In

 Hello!

In November, it is the annual NetGalley November which is a fun month filled with trying to read as many books from your shelf as possible. There are fun prompts, a competition and group chats to help encourage you to read your highly anticipated books as well as the ones you have been avoiding!

My NetGalley shelf currently has 67 unread! Ranging from 2024 releases all the way back to 2020, I have a lot to read.

My feedback ratio is at 67% so I am hoping to get that back up into the 70s this month too.

These are some of the books I am most looking forward to reading:

Heidi Swain Q&A

Hello!

For the month of December the #TsundokuSquad read is Underneath the Christmas Tree by Heidi Swain. Not only are we reading this book but Heidi Swain agreed to a Q&A so the group came up with a selection of questions which Heidi answered!

For anyone who hasn't read any of your books where would you recommend starting?

That’s a great question! I would suggest reading the books in series publication order to build up character and setting knowledge. So, for the Wynbridge books that’s THE CHERRY TREE CAFÉ, for Nightingale Square SUNSHINE AND SWEET PEAS and Wynmouth, THE SECRET SEASIDE ESCAPE. 

All the books work as standalone titles as they feature different main characters so you don’t have to read in order for them to make sense, but lots of readers tell me that publication order works best for them and I always listen to my fabulous readers!

What inspired Underneath the Christmas Tree?

Back in November 2019 I read an article in Country Living magazine about a business that rented out potted Christmas trees and that gave me the initial idea for Wynter’s Trees. I loved the eco credentials and thought setting a story somewhere where visitors could buy gifts from local crafters among snow-topped trees while drinking marshmallow-topped hot chocolate would be the ultimate romantic festive setting!

Malice by Heather Walter Book Review

Book Title: Malice

Author: Heather Walter

My Rating: 5*

Publisher: Del Rey

Publication Date: 13/04/21

Genre(s): Fairy tale retelling. Fantasy, LGBT

Pages: 496

Format Read: Ebook

Goodreads: A princess isn’t supposed to fall for an evil sorceress. But in this darkly magical retelling of “Sleeping Beauty,” true love is more than a simple fairy tale.

Once upon a time, there was a wicked fairy who, in an act of vengeance, cursed a line of princesses to die. A curse that could only be broken by true love’s kiss.

You’ve heard this before, haven’t you? The handsome prince. The happily-ever-after.

Utter nonsense.

Let me tell you, no one in Briar actually cares about what happens to its princesses. Not the way they care about their jewels and elaborate parties and charm-granting elixirs. I thought I didn’t care, either.

Until I met her.

Princess Aurora. The last heir to Briar’s throne. Kind. Gracious. The future queen her realm needs. One who isn’t bothered that I am Alyce, the Dark Grace, abhorred and feared for the mysterious dark magic that runs in my veins. Humiliated and shamed by the same nobles who pay me to bottle hexes and then brand me a monster. Aurora says I should be proud of my gifts. That she . . . cares for me. Even though it was a power like mine that was responsible for her curse.

But with less than a year until that curse will kill her, any future I might see with Aurora is swiftly disintegrating—and she can’t stand to kiss yet another insipid prince. I want to help her. If my power began her curse, perhaps it’s what can lift it. Perhaps, together, we could forge a new world.

Nonsense again.

Because we all know how this story ends, don’t we? Aurora is the beautiful princess. And I—

I am the villain.

The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe Book Review

 Book Title: The Girls I’ve Been

Author: Tess Sharpe

My Rating: 4*

Publisher: Hodder Children’s Books

Publication Date: 04/02/21

Genre(s): YA, Thriller, LGBT

Pages: 336

Format Read: E-book Arc

Goodreads: Nora O’Malley’s been a lot of girls. As the daughter of a con-artist who targets criminal men, she grew up as her mother’s protégé. But when mom fell for the mark instead of conning him, Nora pulled the ultimate con: escape.

For five years Nora’s been playing at normal. But she needs to dust off the skills she ditched because she has three problems:

#1: Her ex walked in on her with her girlfriend. Even though they’re all friends, Wes didn’t know about her and Iris.

#2: The morning after Wes finds them kissing, they all have to meet to deposit the fundraiser money they raised at the bank. It’s a nightmare that goes from awkward to deadly, because:

#3: Right after they enter bank, two guys start robbing it.

The bank robbers may be trouble, but Nora’s something else entirely. They have no idea who they’re really holding hostage…

*thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review*

NetGalley November 2020!

Hello!

Has your NetGalley shelf gotten out of hand? For the whole month of November, Emma at Emandherbooks and Lisa at girl_novel_living have created a plan for everyone who wants to get involved to tackle their NetGalley reads and up their ratio! Check out their pages for more information.

Here are my starting stats for the month:

#NetgalleyLibrary Readathon TBR

Hello! Here is my TBR for the #NetgalleyLibrary readathon hosted by Anniek and Hâf. This is the perfect timing for a Netgalley readathon as I am VERY behind on my ratio and this has given me the push I needed to get a few more books read and reivewed! There are 7 challenges that I have also taken into account although I have combined some to shorten the load.

What Have I Been Reading Lately?

Hello!

It has been a while since I last posted and so I just wanted to provide a quick catch up! Even with all the craziness in the world right now I work from home so not that much has actually changed for me although I can't leave the house. Working from home means I stare at my laptop all day and it is making me lose motivation to update my blog which is why I haven't posted a lot recently :(.