Quarterly Round-Up: April-June 2016

I have reviewed 30 books on this blog during the last quarter; here is my Top Ten.  To see the full review of a book mentioned, with buy links, please click on the title of the book.  The list is in no particular order, though I would name the first as my favourite (without doubt the best book I've read so far this year).  Another great quarter, with some real gems and new discoveries - and some hard choices to make for this list!

1.  La Petite Boulain by Gemma Lawrence

Novel based on the early life of Anne Boleyn

2. This Rough Ocean by Ann Swinfen

Adventure during the English Civil War

3. Flood by Ann Swinfen

17th Century Fenlanders rise up against plans to drain their lands

4. Betrayal by Ann Swinfen

The sequel to 'Flood'

5. The Disobedient Wife  by Annika Milisic Stanley

Contemporary drama set in Tajikistan

 A choice from the Rosie Amber Review Team list

6. Forgotten World by Kate L Mary 

Zombie Apocalypse set in the US

7. Broken Stories by Kate L Mary

Short story outtakes from the Broken World series

8. Back Home by Tom Williams

Crime in Victorian London

 A choice from Rosie Amber's Review Team

9. The Dead City by Dylan J Morgan (beta read)

Dystopian/SciFi adventure in a post apocalyptic, imaginary world 

10.Lady of the Highway  by Deborah Swift

17th Century YA adventure 

QUARTERLY ROUND UP: Jan-March 2016

I have read far, far more books than usual this quarter (because I was laid up in bed for much of it), so it's been harder than usual to choose just ten for the 'highlights' out of the 45-ish I've read or started to read. I've been fortunate to find a high percentage of gems over the past three months, too, so all those in my top ten are those to which I've given either 5 stars or my extra special 5 GOLD stars.  They range from a classic, to the traditionally published, to a couple from small independent presses, to self-published. 

I've also read lots of great books to which I've given 4.5* which you can find HERE, and all the 4* are HERE .

A click on the title will take you to the review, and I've also written a quick line to say how I discovered the book, as I think this is interesting for both readers and writers alike.  I've listed them in the order I read them.

I've linked most of the authors' Twitter handles so you can follow them if you wish, too.

1. DO NOT WASH HANDS IN PLATES by Barb Taub

Non-fiction/Humorous travel memoir/India

 

I bought this after reading Barb's extremely funny blog @barbtaub on Twitter 

2. THE HERETIC HEIR by Gemma Lawrence

Tudor historical fiction

I got to know the author via Twitter @TudorTweep because of our mutual interest in the Tudors

3. LEAVING THE BEACH  by Mary Rowen

Quirky contemporary drama about eating disorders and music

I read the author's other book after reading a guest post by her on a book blog, and thought she sounded interesting; liked this one even more. @maryjrowen  on Twitter.


4. THE FABRIC OF MURDER by William Savage 

18th Century Murder Mystery

I read the author's first book in my capacity as a member of Rosie Amber's Book Review Team.
I liked it so much I've read and reviewed both his others; this is my favourite. @penandpension on Twitter.


5. OCTOBER RAIN by Dylan Morgan  

Dystopian/Sci-Fi Novella

A Rosie Amber's Review Team choice
 @dylanjmorgan on Twitter


6. THE ART OF STAYING DEAD by Joel Hames  

Conspiracy thriller 

I read Mr Hames's first book (discovered via a promotional tweet); didn't like the subject matter but loved the way he writes, so thought I'd give this one a go.
@BankersTown on Twitter


7.  BLACKWATER by Alison Williams

17th century witch hunts, novella
 

Discovered the sequel via Twitter ages ago, and for some reason had never got round to reading this, too - glad I did!
@Alison_Williams on Twitter


8. FIVE BOOKS  by Jon Krakauer

Non-fiction: adventure/religion/injustice/mountaineering

I discovered the books of Jon Krakauer earlier in the year and decided to lump them all together as they're all brilliant!  Above is the link to Under The Banner of Heaven, with links to my reviews of the others.


9.  THE CALL OF THE WILD by Jack London  

Classic; 19th goldrush century adventure

I read about this in one of Jon Krakauer's books, so thought I'd give it a whirl.   


10. JASPER: Book Two of the Tudor Trilogy by Tony Riches 

Plantagenet/Tudor historical fiction

A Rosie Amber Review Team choice.  Author is @tonyriches
on Twitter 

   

Hope there's something there that interests you!

 

QUARTERLY ROUND UP: July - Sept 2015

Out of the many books I've read in July, August and September, these are the ones I have picked for my Top Ten.  I've given all these books at least 4.5 stars.  There are others on the blog with this rating, too, and plenty of good books that have received 4* (or less) that might appeal to you just as much; it's very hard to choose ten but I like to do this to give another shout-out for books I think are particularly good ~ it's all very much a matter of personal taste, of course :)

Please click the title of the book for the review; they're in no particular order.


1.  Past Encounters by Davina Blake

World War II and 1950s drama

2.  No More Mulberries by Mary Smith 

 Family drama set in Afghanistan

3.  An Unlamented Death by William Savage

18th century murder mystery

4.  Over The Hill and Far Away by Jo Carroll

 Travel memoir

5.  Owen by Tony Riches 

 Plantagent/Tudor drama

6.  The Prodigal by Nicky Black

 Gritty Geordie crime drama

7. Forbidden Alliance by Katrina Mountfort

 2nd part of YA post apocalyptic trilogy

8.  Any Man Joe by Robert Leigh

Vigilante thriller

9.  Public Battles, Private Wars by Laura Wilkinson

1980s family drama during the miners' strike 

10.  Spirit of the Highway by Deborah Swift

17th Century English Civil War drama