Hi all – welcome to what looks like is going to be a very rainy Sunday in my neck of the world. It’s not exactly what we wanted for the Victorian Fun Day we are going to today but we’ll head out anyway…it’s an excuse to wear my new pink wellies so I’m not complaining (too much!). And I suppose we have to get used to more rainy days now the seasons are getting ready to change *slight sigh*.
Plus, it’s been a pretty decent week up until now. Weather wise the sun has been shining and work wise I’ve been nowhere near as crazy busy. I’ve actually had proper time to spend with my family and do “me things”, including actually starting exercising again for the first time in a long time.
Blog wise I got my usual four posts up (I have decided this might be my magic number ). I wrote two reviews for what ended up being a mixed book bag for me this week. The first book The Highway by C. J. Box, a new to me author with a quite back catalogue I will now have to try and catch up on as I really enjoyed this book. It has a serial killer, a strong female lead, twists and turns and something I didn’t see coming that made the story stand out for me. Unfortunately it was followed by a book that just didn’t work for me – Girl Number One by Jane Holland. On paper this seems my type of book with an unsolved murder and a young woman at the heart of it – and at the heart of a string of other murders. I wanted to like it but it couldn’t get away with the characters.
Reading wise, I read The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson, which has been on my reading list forever and I really enjoyed.
On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage and his wife Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him. But their game turns dark when Ted jokes that he could kill Miranda for what she’s done. Lily, without missing a beat, says calmly, “I’d like to help.”
From there, Ted and Lily’s twisted bond grows stronger as they plot Miranda’s demise, but soon these co-conspirators are embroiled in a game of cat-and-mouse–one they both cannot survive–with a shrewd and very determined detective on their tail.
I also read Why Did You Lie? by Yrsa Sigurdardottir which was clever and kept me guessing throughout.
A journalist on the track of an old case attempts suicide. An ordinary couple return from a house swap in the states to find their home in disarray and their guests seemingly missing. Four strangers struggle to find shelter on a windswept spike of rock in the middle of a raging sea. They have one thing in common: they all lied. And someone is determined to punish them…
I only picked up one book (because my pile of library books is still threatening to fall over), a review copy of Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. I love her books and am excited to start this one.
Ruth Jefferson is a labor and delivery nurse at a Connecticut hospital with more than twenty years’ experience. During her shift, Ruth begins a routine checkup on a newborn, only to be told a few minutes later that she’s been reassigned to another patient. The parents are white supremacists and don’t want Ruth, who is African American, to touch their child. The hospital complies with their request, but the next day, the baby goes into cardiac distress while Ruth is alone in the nursery. Does she obey orders or does she intervene?
Ruth hesitates before performing CPR and, as a result, is charged with a serious crime. Kennedy McQuarrie, a white public defender, takes her case but gives unexpected advice: Kennedy insists that mentioning race in the courtroom is not a winning strategy. Conflicted by Kennedy’s counsel, Ruth tries to keep life as normal as possible for her family—especially her teenage son—as the case becomes a media sensation. As the trial moves forward, Ruth and Kennedy must gain each other’s trust, and come to see that what they’ve been taught their whole lives about others—and themselves—might be wrong.
And that’s it for my reading week. Like last week, I thought I would finish this post with a song. I watched Pitch Perfect this week and this song was in it, reminding me of a version I had listened to non-stop a few years ago and thought I would share.
Enjoy and let me know how your week went and what you read.
emma x
This week, I’m linking in with Kimba at the Caffeinated Book Reviewer and her Sunday Post and with (a little early) Katherine at Book Date for It’s Monday, What Are you Reading? Head over to see what other bloggers have read, written about or just added to their shelves.
One Readers Thoughts 
Girl Number One looks like a book I would like (and the cover is nice) but maybe I’ll wait on it… good to know. The Kind Worth Killing sounds like a chilling read, and Why Did You Lie sounds very interesting. These are all new to me. Thanks for sharing, and have a great week!
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I like the look of the first three of your books from last week, but it’s annoying when one disappoints – it looks good from the cover and like you, I’d assume it’d be ideal. I’ve got the Jodi Picoult as well which I hope to get to this week.
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I need to check out the author of The Highway cause that one really sounds good! I am curious to see what you thought about the two that you read!
Have a great week!
Stormi
Week in Review
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I can’t believe you have had the new Picoult on your shelf for so long!
http://readerbuzz.blogspot.com/2016/09/nothing-but-picture-books.html
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My week went by good. I just finished reading an ARC of a new-to-me author as well. I liked it, but a little slow at times. It is called “How to Catch an Heiress” by Natalie Rios.
Well, I hope you have a great week! ~Aleen
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It’s great to discover new authors,isn’t it and a plus of review copies as they are free if you don’t like them. Thanks for visiting and have a good week.
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Pink wellies would make me smile on a rainy day! Glad you enjoyed The Highway… have a great week.
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I have a bit of a wellie addiction (including a pair with high heels) but the pink ones are definitely my favourite…and then the sun came out. Couldn’t decide if I was happy or not.
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I am curious about The Highway….and I’ll be reading Small Great Things in the next couple of weeks. Can’t wait!
Enjoy your week…and those pink wellies sound like fun. Here are MY WEEKLY UPDATES
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It is definitely worth a read. I am just so excited for a new Jodi Picoult- one of the few authors where I think I’ve read all their books.
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I read Girl Number One this week too and wasn’t a fan either. Bummer because it sounded so great!
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IT didn’t it? I just felt it had been called in (if that’s the phrase). Real shame.
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Exactly!
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Looks like I need to check out the Highway. glad you found your magic number blogwise! Hope this week is a good one for you 🙂
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It’s worth it if you do get to it. One day I may hit 5 posts but it seems a hurdle I can’t get over!
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I was really impressed with The Kind Worth Living and I have that Jodi Picoult on my list (my daughter has read it and said it is up there with her best)
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I’ve heard lots of praise for Small Great Things. I hope you enjoy it. I find it hard to find “me” time but I need to start exercising, too. Best wishes.
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Me too. I just love picoult so much I can’t wait to start it…which should be tonight!
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Yay for pink wellies. 🙂
It sounds like you had super productive week. I’ve heard a lot of good things about that Picoult so I hope you enjoy it a lot. I have yet to pick up one of her books but she’s been on my TBR forever!
Have a great week further.
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You have to love them. Picoult is well worth it…she asks some interesting questions of the reader.
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Nice looking bunch of books. I’ve been reading more mystery/thrillers lately. Here is my week. Happy reading!
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It’s the genre I’ve always gone back to and can’t resist them. Have a good week.
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Yes TBR stacks falling over, I guess most of us would identify. I hope to read Small Great Things at some point. Could be a future purchase!
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I used to be so more organised with my reading but I keep adding this year. And as the library keeps letting me check ten books out at a time both physically and ebooks I’m doomed.
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I envy you your rain, although I imagine it isn’t so fun when you have something planned outdoors. I hope you still had fun at the Victorian Fun Day.
The Highway sound really good. I am glad you enjoyed it. The Kind Worth Killing is one I’ve been really wanting to read.
I hope you have a great week, Emma!
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The day was really good and thankfully the sun came out. It was mainly for kids but aren’t we all that at heart…think we enjoyed the Punch and Judy show more than the kids. Wasn’t brave enough to ask for a balloon crown though!
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Great video!!!
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Isn’t it? I had completely forgotten about it too.
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I’ve never read Jodi Picoult (I know, I know) but Small Good Things sounds very interesting.
Happy reading!
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I came to her late then devoured nearly all her books in a couple of months. They are always ones that leave me wondering how I would behave.
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Wow – you have some great thrillers amongst your book haul this week. I am going to add a few to my wishlist. I have an ARC copy of Small Great Things to read. I hope you enjoy reading it too!
Thanks for sharing and have a great week!
Amanda @ Mrs B’s Book Reviews
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I can’t resist a good thriller / suspense. Add a murder in and I’m completely sold!
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Yay for new wellies – I think I’m going to get myself a new pair soon; autumn definitely means rain most days here in Wales!
I hope you enjoy your upcoming reads… I’m quite excited to hear feedback regarding Jodi Picoult’s newest book. Happy reading!
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You can’t beat them I don’t think. I always feel prepared when I have them on. Plus stylish in the pink ones. 😄
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