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August #RoundUp

Crikey what a month.

A grand total of 10 books were posted out to me this month for #BlogTours and the book club having won a competition via The Reading Groups for Everyone website and Quercas books.

Out of the ones I haven't already read and posted about, added to my book shelf this month were:

The Lion Tamer Who Lost by Louise Beech. I will be reviewing this one, about Lions, love and a first meeting in a library, on 12 September.



Being Simon Haines by Tom Vaughan MacAulay is about a City solicitor who heads to Cuba to reflect on his life before the most key moment of his career, partnership. As a recent law leaver what will I make of Simon's decisions?




How We Remember by J M Monaco is another Blog Tour book to be reviewed by me on 7 September. Abuse, grief and mental illness are all referred to on the blurb and makes me think I am in for a roller coaster of a read.



Last to arrive this month (but in no means least) was After He Died by Michael J Malone. To be reviewed as part of as Blog Tour on 19 September, it's about a woman who is approached at her husband's funeral by a female who slips something into her pocket making her question just who her husband was.




I was also lucky enough to be passed a copy of There There by Tommy Orange dubbed as the "book of the year" by @Forumbooks it narrates the stories of various members of the Native American community in and around Oakland, California. I am really looking forward to reading this one and learning more about the Native American (or Indian as Orange prefers) history and culture.




Wrong way round this month I know but that's what I "bought", what did I read? Well in between keeping my postman busy I managed to squeeze in quite a few. An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim was our #BookOfTheMonth featuring time travel, a deadly virus and immigration. Don't let that put you off however, at its heart it was an anti romance set in a strange and different 'future' but we struggled with the lead character.

The very excellent The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell was one of my favourite reads this month. This book has changed my perspective on book buying. I loved Bythell's honest and funny account of running his book shop in Scotland and strongly recommend you read it if you are a fan of all things book.

Six Stories by Matt Wersolowski was a very modern take on the murder (or was it?) of a teenager some twenty years ago. Delivered via six podcasts conducted by an elusive journalist, it's an excellent step up for young adults into the adult fiction genre and a different take on your usual murder mystery.

Stitch Up by William McIntyre, was MY FIRST EVER BLOG TOUR BOOK(!!!!!!) and if you haven't read my review do it now.  Ninth in the Best Defence Series Stitch Up stars solicitor Robbie Munro investigating the suicide of his ex girlfriend's new partner and the possible acquittal of a child murderer due to his father's inept police investigation some 18 years ago. It's a great stand alone from a writer (and main character) in his stride.

August was holiday time for me and I read two excellent french numbers - White Truffles in Winter by N M Kelby and We'll Always Have Paris by Emma Beddington. The former was a surprisingly meaty memoir, the latter all about french master chef Escoffier. They were both about food, France and more food which fitted in perfectly with my french setting.

Let me know what you all read on holiday and look out for lots of Blog Tours coming your way in September!




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