The Book Post – September

How is it possible that it’s the 3rd Friday of the month already? It feels as though September is only just getting started.

Right, what’s been happening in all things bookish? To be honest not a lot. I had another DNF (did not finish) over the past 4 weeks (I won’t tell you what it was – it’s a personal taste thing) and have been listening to podcasts rather than books so my numbers are low. And, given that I’m doing the laptop version of scribbling this out in a Brisbane hotel room before heading into the office to help with the packing for this weekend’s office move, that’s a good thing.

The Stolen Hours by Karen Swan

I told you last month about the first book in Karen Swan’s Wild Isle series, well, this is the second. Not really a sequel, it sort of happens at the same time and in many ways I enjoyed it more.

Anyways, here’s the blurb:

It’s the summer of 1929 and Mhairi MacKinnon is in need of a husband. As the eldest girl among nine children, her father has made it clear he can’t support her past the coming winter. On the small, Scottish island of St Kilda, her options are limited. But the MacKinnons’ neighbour, Donald, has a business acquaintance on distant Harris also in need of a spouse. A plan is hatched for Donald to chaperone Mhairi and make the introduction on his final crossing of the year, before the autumn seas close them off to the outside world.

Mhairi returns as an engaged woman who has lost her heart – but not to her fiancé. In love with the wrong man yet knowing he can never be hers, she awaits the spring with growing dread, for the onset of calm waters will see her sent from home to become a stranger’s wife.

When word comes that St Kilda is to be evacuated, the lovers are granted a few months’ reprieve, enjoying a summer of stolen hours together. Only, those last days on St Kilda will also bring trauma and heartache for Mhairi and her friends, Effie and Flora. And when a dead body is later found on the abandoned isle, all three have reason enough to find themselves under the shadow of suspicion . . .

This one was my read of the month.

Murder By Numbers and The Spaniel’s Secret by Megan Mayfair

I thoroughly enjoyed these first two installments in Mayfair’s cosy crime series set in the Victorian seaside town of Lemon Tree Bay. And I completely adore the covers – except for one little annoying thing – in the second book there’s a comment about Clara’s hair being blonde – one of the first hints of a physical description, yet the cover image is of a brunette. It’s just a me thing. Although she is a hairdresser, so maybe she changed it …

Anyways, the stories – and the characters – are great.

Mayfair, a fellow indy, has chosen to go with Kindle Unlimited rather than wide distribution for these so they are available only on Amazon.

Second Chance Love In Point Perry by Joanne Speirs

This debut by my copy editor Joanne Speirs is exactly what it says on the cover – heartfelt and warm – and I loved it.

The other night when I woke at midnight worrying about a legal document I was waiting on in order for this relocation to happen I picked it up thinking I’d read a few more pages until I cleared my head of the midnight catastrophising. I finally put it down (finished) at 3 even though the alarm was set to go off just an hour or so later. (Then I logged into work, found the document had arrived and promptly went back to sleep for an hour … but we’re not talking about that part.)

Well done Jo…

Your turn…

Deb, Donna, Sue, and I would love you to share what you’ve been reading…the linky is below.

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