From Tudor Intrigue to Thrilling Twists: My August Reading Adventure and book recommendations
As August came to a close, I found myself reflecting on a whirlwind of diverse reads that took me on an incredible journey across time, genres, and emotions. This month, I devoured 8 books, spanning 2,881 pages, each one offering something unique—from the intrigue of the Tudor period in a gripping historical nonfiction, to the heart-pounding suspense of multiple thrillers, the magical realms of fantasy, the deeply personal insights of a healing memoir, and the delightful escapism of romantic humour. Join me in looking into the stories that kept me turning pages all month long
Title: 1000 Tudor People
Author: Melita Thomas
Genre: Historical Non-Fiction
Publisher: Graffeg Limited
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 576
Format: Hardback supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: The product of years of diligent research, this ambitious title brings the incredibly varied lives (and deaths!) of 1000 Tudor people into a single, accessible volume. Illustrated with historical portraits and a wealth of detail, including specially designed family trees to chart the links between major Tudor figures.
My Thoughts: As soon as I saw this book I was besotted. The cover is exquisite, and I love history especially the Tudor period. It can be said that there has been a lot of writings about the period, but this book brings together 1000 Tudor people across society not just royalty. The writing is captivating, and I lost myself in the book many times reading about the different people. It is a book that you can dip in and out of but try as you might you could spend hours without realising reading the narrative as it was so engrossing. The books description about the time in the Tudor World was also fascinating and enlightening the research that has gone into this book is phenomenal. There is also a clear timeline of the period that I loved reading through, and I think I will go back to it time and time again. Finally, I must mention the pictures that bring to life the characters. In conclusion this book will be for me a great source of entertainment as well as information. The book is well written, informative and brings to life the period and the people and worth every one of its five stars.
Title: Strawman
Author: Lindsey Mellon
Genre: Spy, thriller, mystery
Publisher: Northside House Ltd
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 346
Format: Paperback supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: On 12th October 1984, an IRA bomb, intended to kill Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, rips the heart out of the Grand Hotel in Brighton. As part of the security response MI6 Station Chief Rome – Haydon Talbot – is tasked with foiling a Libyan plot to ship vast quantities of Semtex explosive to the IRA.
As the wheels of international espionage roll through Rome’s historic centre, Libyan and British agents are pitched against each other in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Haydon recruits British entrepreneur Charlie Lomax to front a sophisticated nuclear sting, with the aim of penetrating the highest levels of the Libyan security establishment. But his bosses will go to any lengths to score a political victory, even if it means sacrificing Haydon’s operation and agent in place.
As the IRA ship carrying the Semtex sails slowly north towards Ireland, Haydon faces conflicting pressures from above to interdict the shipment, whilst seeking to rescue Charlie from a brutal Tripoli jail.
My Thoughts: Strawman by Lindsey Mellon is a spy, crime, mystery thriller based around the bombing in Brighton in 1984. Although, I have never lived in Ireland I was around during these times and remember it well. The book is hard hitting and gritty, the extensive research Mellon must have done shines through and although you have to concentrate with everything that is going on, it is well worth it. This is not a book to pick up and put down, but a book to savour, take time and read thoroughly.
The prose flows and for a first book, it is extremely well written. The atmosphere in the book is palpable which made it a page turner, and although it was fast paced the descriptions were meticulous.
In conclusion a hard hitting subject that has been meticulously researched. The atmosphere shines through and makes this book a page turner and one I would highly recommend.
Title: The Wine-Dark Daughter
Author: Damien J. Coluccio
Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Wine Dark Series Book 1
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 324
Format: Paperback supplied by authors own publishing in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 4**** I liked it a lot and recommend
About Book: History is littered with the fates of mortals who rose too close to the gods.
Returning triumphant from the cursed city of Urruc — where even the divine dare not tread — Desma has brought wealth, power, and victory to her home kingdom of Apasa. Among the treasures is the revered Belt of Turan, said to have adorned the hips of the Goddess of Love herself.
Desma’s mother, the High Priestess Timothea, calls for a celebration in the temple to honour the priceless find. But when unwanted visitors attempt to lay claim to the treasure, the High Priestess is brutally slain. To save her distraught father from eternal shame, Desma commits an unforgivable sin that saves his soul — and damns hers.
Pronounced unclean by the King and banished from her home, Desma is forced to live by a punishing set of rules that set her apart from society. Her only hope of reclaiming her life is to be cleansed by a merciful kingdom.
But Desma’s path to redemption is littered with the dark truths of love and power…
My Thoughts: The Wine-Dark Daughter is a Fantasy book and the first book in the Wine Dark Series.
Fantasy books are not my usual genre to read but this year I am trying to broaden my reading material to see if I am missing out on something.
As I read through, one of the first things I notice is there are a lot of players in the book, but the main protagonists shine through so it does not deter from the story but enhances it.
The book is gruesome in parts but the plot is intricate and the story moves at pace. Coluccio’s writing style is vivid, enabling me to fully embrace the story . A few of the earlier scenes felt a little drawn out, but with that being said at 324 pages this is a short fantasy book in comparison to others I have looked at. But I must say that the book is a captivating start, I fell in love with Desma for all of her faults, to what promises to be a promising series.
In conclusion, an intricate story, well written with vivid descriptions and I recommend for those of you who are fans of epic tales and strong characters.
Title: Unwanted Child
Author: Chantal Agapiti
Genre: Memoir
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 105
Format: E book supplied by the author in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: A Healing Memoir – The journey of a young girl going through emotional neglect, family issues, and broken hearts.
Come with me, as I take a deep dive into my childhood. This is my coming-of-age journey, struggling my way through life. Until I became a young woman. I share challenging events, such as physical and emotional abuse, and toxic relationships.
For a long time, I was clueless, living day by day with the sole purpose of hoping for a better future.
I was a loaded ship sailing in the open sea amidst many storms, yet without any safe port to unload. Despite it all, I managed to keep my head afloat.
In the end, I share real manipulative love stories as a warning to others, having them recognize the signs to get out in time.
If you’re familiar with my writing, you’ll know I love poetry. I’ve added some poems here and there whenever it felt necessary. I enjoy using poems to discuss sensitive subjects. They keep the wording light and let my creativity free.
I’m a thought instigator. I share my thoughts and insights to motivate you whenever you need them. I love to make people reflect on everything, help them find new perspectives, and learn new things.
Learn to let go of past struggles, embrace the present, and have a positive look toward the future.
Dedicated to fellow physical and emotional Trauma survivors.
No matter what you went through or are still going through, it doesn’t define who you are as a person today or who you will be tomorrow.
You have the power to change things, take back control over your life.
I understand some people are still reluctant to seek help, yet admitting you are struggling and can’t get through it alone is a sign of courage and strength. You’re already stronger than you think. If my book resonated with you, you’re welcome to follow me on social media and reach out if you need to discuss it with me. I’m here to help, as nobody should go through this alone.
My Thoughts: Unwanted Child by Chantal Agapiti is a healing memoir and true life story. A genre I read with trepidation, firstly because I am nervous about how I will feel and secondly, because I am in awe of people willing to lay their life bare for others to read and learn.
The book is interesting as I start to read through, although the book is in chapters, each chapter has sub heading and for a few of them I read. I thought this happened to me, but I didn’t take it in the context Agapiti had, but I guess as a whole the events amounted to the total feeling and who am I to say someone should feel the way they do
But as the book moves on my heart goes out to Agapiti, for what she has gone through and how she comes through everything. The writing is honest and raw and it felt as through it came from the heart.
In conclusion a book about emotional pain and trauma that is well written in a way that just says it as it is. The book is heart breaking at times but it is about survival and healing. A book to be read by anyone wondering of they are alone going through things that can have hope they will come out the other side.
Title: X
Author: Sue Grafton
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Series: Alphabet series – Kinsey Millhone book 24 of 25
Publisher: Pan
Date Published: 2016
Book Length: 512
Format: Paperback I purchased myself
Star Rating: 4**** I liked it a lot and recommend
About Book: In hindsight, I marvel at how clueless I was . . . What I ask myself even now is whether I should have picked up the truth any faster than I did, which is to say not fast enough . . .When a glamorous red head wishes to locate the son she put up for adoption thirty-two years ago, it seems like an easy two hundred bucks for private investigator Kinsey Millhone. But when a cop tells her she was paid with marked bills, and Kinsey's client is nowhere to be found, it becomes apparent this mystery woman has something to hide. Riled, Kinsey won't stop until she's found out who fooled her and why. Meanwhile, the widow of the recently murdered P. I. – and Kinsey's old friend – Pete Wolinsky, needs help with her IRS audit. This seemingly innocuous task takes a treacherous turn when Kinsey finds a coded list amongst her friend's files. It soon leads her to an unhinged man with a catalogue of ruined lives left in his wake. And despite the devastation, there isn't a single conviction to his name. It seems this sociopath knows exactly how to cause chaos without leaving a trace. As Kinsey delves deeper into the investigation she quickly becomes the next target of this tormentor. But can Kinsey prove her case against him before she becomes the next victim?
My Thoughts: X by Sue Grafton is a mystery thriller, and part of the alphabet series with PI Kinsey Millhone. Although, this is book 24 it was a book that can easily be read as a stand alone. The book is gritty right from the start and the way the prose is written made me want to read it at a fast pace. Graftons writing style was different to what I have become used to, it felt fairly old school, imagine watching a movie with a narrator in the background. The descriptions were in minute detail enabling me to see everything clearly. On the downside there are some descriptions that seem to be filling up the pages. I didn’t need a step by step guide on how to make a cup of coffee.
But once the mystery got going it was a page turner and I really liked Kinsey Millhone’s character.
In conclusion a gritty mystery thriller, that has a different writing style but a page turner with great characters.
Title: Istanbul Crossing
Author: Timothy Jay Smith
Genre: Literary Thriller
Publisher: Leapfrog Press
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 247
Format: Paperback supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: In this coming-of-age literary thriller, Ahdaf, a gay Syrian refugee, after watching his cousin executed by ISIS for being homosexual, flees to Istanbul for safety. Ahdaf's reputation as apeople smuggler has put him in danger once more. A Syrian refugee himself,Ahdaf earns a meager living in Istanbul helping others make the crossing toGreece - a perilous line of work, but no less so than what he would face if thetruth of his sexuality were discovered by ISIS.
Yet when the CIA and ISIS approach him about transporting high-profile individuals and serving as a double agent for their causes, Ahdaf 's life is thrown into turmoil. And when his feelings for one of his clients come to light and as another possible relationship grows, the decision is taken out of his hands. Now a new choice lays before him, between two men and two different futures - if Ahdaf will live to see either of them. Istanbul Crossing is a story of adversity, love, and the courage of an ordinary man who must brave impossible situations in order to survive.
My Thoughts: Istanbul Crossing by Timothy Jay Smith is an exceptional thriller that gripped me from the very first page. The novel's structure, with chapters labelled as days, heightened the sense of urgency and drew me into the unfolding events, making each moment feel crucial.
Smith's writing is vividly descriptive, painting a powerful and immersive picture of Istanbul and the complex lives of its inhabitants, especially Ahdaf. The portrayal of the characters' struggles is intense and moving, bringing their plight to life with fierce clarity. The author does an excellent job of capturing the human spirit's resilience, even in the face of overwhelming adversity.
I loved the main protagonist, he stood out as a compelling figure—strong, resourceful, and compassionate. His ability to navigate through the chaos around him, showing empathy while confronting danger, made him both relatable and admirable. The depth of his character added a layer of emotional richness to the narrative, keeping me invested in his journey and wanting happiness for him.
What sets Istanbul Crossing apart is its unique perspective on the conflicts depicted. The novel sheds light on the troubles from various angles, illustrating how they converge and impact different lives. It offers a nuanced view of survival in difficult times, revealing the different challenges people face and the ways in which they cope.
Overall, Istanbul Crossing is a powerful and thought-provoking read that leaves a lasting impression. Timothy Jay Smith has crafted a story that is not only thrilling but also deeply human, making it a must-read for fans of literary fiction and thrillers alike.
Title: The Company She Keeps
Author: James Woolf
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Publisher: Bloodhound Books
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 339
Format: Paperback supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 4**** I liked it a lot and recommend
About Book: 1979. Leading businesswoman Rebecca is struggling to build healthy relationships. Her on off partner is a philandering police officer, part of the team chasing the Yorkshire Ripper who’s striking terror across the county. Then Rebecca meets Larry, the charming American, with a troubled past. And then of course there’s Mervyn, the creepy journalist who’s desperate for a girlfriend and willing to do anything to keep her in his life. With three very different men craving her attention, and a serial killer on the loose, Rebecca finds herself in a twisted game of cat and mouse. But what do these men really want from her? Can any of them be trusted? And could one of them in fact be a cold-blooded killer?
My Thoughts: The Company She Keeps by James Woolf is a psychological thriller based in the late 70’s when the Yorkshire Ripper was prolific.
The book is methodical and weaves the murders from the Yorkshire Ripper with the life of Rebecca and whom she meets and knows. The book leaves you wondering who to trust and has some twists and turns along the way, with the tension building for the main protagonist, not knowing who to trust.
Although, I remember the time period I am not from Yorkshire so it is difficult for me to know how I would react but the book moved through stages of fear and being blasé about the women going out in the evening during these times and it felt believable.
The book is a slower pace than expected with a psychological thriller but that didn’t deter from the story line which was intense in places
There was a point in the book that I was not convinced would have happened, but in conclusion a methodical plot with twists and turns that keeps you enthralled and if you like a softer psychological thriller then this book is for you.
Title: The Secrets of Flowers
Author: Sally Page
Genre: Humour Romance
Publisher: Harper Collins
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 432
Format: Paperback supplied by harper Collins in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: The smallest treasures can hold the biggest mysteries…
One year after her husband’s death Emma has become a wallflower, hiding among the brighter blooms in the florist where she works.
But when a colleague invites her to a talk on the Titanic, she begins a quest to uncover who arranged the flowers on board.
As Emma discovers the lost story of the girl and the great ship, she realises that flowers may unlock long buried secrets in her own life…
Will she be able to unlock the mystery of the Titanic and heal her heart too?
My Thoughts: The Secrets of Flowers by Sally Page is a book I was eagerly anticipating after reading the synopsis. Each chapter is introduced with the name of a flower, setting the scene beautifully and immersing you in the story. Sally Page has a unique talent for intricate descriptions—so much so that as you read, you can almost smell the flowers blooming from the pages.
I loved the alternating chapters between Violet and Emma; it added an air of mystery that kept me hooked. Emma is a lost soul, and in true Sally Page fashion, she finds a way to connect with others. The building of trust among the main characters is heart warming, uplifting, and full of hope. The inclusion of the Titanic theme was a particular highlight for me, and I now consider myself a ‘sympathiser’ with a touch of ‘romanticism’ thrown in.
I felt a deep kinship with the wise words spoken to Emma by many of the protagonists—they brought tears to my eyes, but in the best, most uplifting way. This is a testament to Sally Page’s skill as a writer.
In conclusion, The Secrets of Flowers is a wonderful book about friendship, hope, and healing that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a heart warming read. It's a story that lingers with you long after the last page is turned.
As August fades into memory, I’m left with the lingering impact of these diverse and captivating reads. Each book, in its own way, offered a different perspective, a new escape, or a thought-provoking insight. Whether you’re looking for historical intrigue, a thrilling page-turner, a journey into fantasy, or a heart warming story with a dash of humour, this month’s selections have something for every reader. I hope my reviews inspire you to pick up a new book—or perhaps revisit an old favourite—and immerse yourself in the magic of reading. Happy reading, and I can’t wait to see what September’s book adventures will bring!
As ever please let me know what you think of the blog, what you would like to see, or just contact me to discuss books. It's my passion.
Love Alis x
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