Staying In with Mills & Boon

One of my favourite things to do is pick up a Mills & Boon and just chill. Romance gets a lot of snears, but 200 million Mills & Boon books are sold every year so they're doing something right. and I love them.

I love that I can read them quickly, get caught up in the romance and the passion, and lose myself completely. I love the joy of a happy ending.

So how does a night with Mills & Boon go?

Step One: Pick the Book

I have a few "go to" collections when it comes to Mills & Boon, depending on my mood. I'm a sucker for Regency like The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare, I love the heartwarming Cherish books like Christmas With Her Millionaire Boss by Barbara Wallace, and who could resist a heart-racing Dare book like A Week To Be Wild by JC Harroway?

I'm trying to mend my broken heart right now, so Regency it is - I just love the comfort of the past, the pushing of boundaries, and the subversion of societal expectations. I decided to pick up From Duke Till Dawn by Eva Leigh and I fell in love, but a particular side character intrigued me so much that as soon as I finished I picked up the next in the Scandalous Ladies of London series, Counting on a Countess.

Tip: The Cherish books are the best for sheer feel-good happiness.

Step Two: Pour the Wine

Or the gin. Or the tea. Anything really. I just something to sip at while I read and it very much depends on what mood I'm in as to what I'm drinking. Recently I have been either drinking rosé wine by the bottle or water by the pint, there seems to be no in between! 

Tip: Fill your sink with cold water and place the bottle in it to keep your wine cool.

Step Three: Run the Bath

Bubbles, oils, and bathbombs are optional. I usually put something like Spotify's Peaceful Piano playlist on nice and low in the background, get a scented candle lit, and smear on a face mask while I wait for the tub to fill.

Tip: Have a handtowel near to hand so you can dry your hands and face after your facemask

Step 4: Read and Relax

Yeah, this is my favourite bit. Lying back and relaxing, getting lost in the book I'm reading. It's not an unusual occurrence for me to stay in there until the water is cold and finish the book in a single sitting.

Tip: Forget about the world around you. Bliss.

So what did I think of the books?

I thought that both of the Scandalous Ladies of London books were excellent, filled with electric chemistry and simmering attraction. From Duke Till Dawn had a VERY surprising scene in the Orchid Club (wow) and it was the introduction to Counting on A Countess's Kit Ellington, who I loved from the first moment I saw him. The books can absolutely be read separately, but I loved reading them both together.

From Duke Till Dawn by Eva Leigh in 5 Words:

Duplicity, scheming, lust, understanding, survival.

Goodreads | Amazon | Waterstones | Mills & Boon

Counting on A Countess by Eva Leigh in 5 Words:

Convenience, attraction, scandal, survival, lust.

Goodreads | Amazon | Waterstones | Mills & Boon

Blog Tour: Book Review: The Girl King by Mimi Yu

I was so excited when I picked up The Girl King by Mimi Yu, and I definitely had expectations going. On reading it, I was not disappointed! And isn't the cover gorgeous? See my Book Beginnings thoughts.

Sisters Lu and Min have always understood their places as princesses of the Empire. Lu knows she is destined to become the dynasty's first female ruler, while Min is resigned to a life in her shadow. Then their father declares their male cousin Set the heir instead - a betrayal that sends the sisters down two very different paths.

Determined to reclaim her birthright, Lu goes on the run. She needs an ally - and an army - if she is to succeed. Her quest leads her to Nokhai, the last surviving wolf shapeshifter. Nok wants to keep his identity secret, but finds himself forced into an uneasy alliance with the girl whose family killed everyone he ever loved...

Alone in the volatile court, Min's hidden power awakens - a forbidden, deadly magic that could secure Set's reign... or allow Min to claim the throne herself. But there can only be one Emperor, and the sisters' greatest enemy could turn out to be each other.

Amazon UK | Amazon US

Waterstones

Source: Review copy

5 Words: Family, magic, power, manipulation, control. 

Content Warning: Attempted rape, manipulation, violence.

I loved The Girl King right from the start, it was a fast paced roller-coaster of a read, and I couldn't put it down.

I think my favourite character was definitely Min. She's very much a product of her upbringing in how she bears herself, but she still has a spark of something despite it. She's a pawn used by other characters, but it was like I could see a glimmer of something deeper there whenever she was on page. And I felt that I could often really relate to how she felt too. I feel like a lot of the other characters in the book really underestimated her, and I'd like to see how that develops in the next book.

I love the way the story was filled with twists and turns. I did absolutely see the first "twist" coming, but I was eager for it to get the story going. I was ready for it. My little cliché-loving heart jumped for joy when it happened. The Girl King was full of political intrigue, a huge journey of discovery, the pettiness and small dangers of court life, and the consequences of the actions you undertake.

I really enjoyed the magic of the world in the Girl King. There was something about the book as a whole that felt epic. I loved the politics of the story, the way toxic relationships were explored.

The Bookish Joy of Bookish People

Today I am writing a letter all about bookish joy, as prompted by CHCC YA Fest for the Bookish Joy Blog Fest ahead of the YA Fest on 12th May.

Dear Bookish People,

You really are the best type of people.

I love the passion of the book community. I love the togetherness, the way that bookish people all have such passion and generosity.

I love librarians, those sorters of books, curators of shelves, recommenders of books. School librarians have a special place in my heart. They encourage exploration and ignite imagination. They create bookish people and nurture them. My high school librarian was The Best, she was the person who made me a reader rather than someone who occasionally picked up books.

I love booksellers, passionate pushers of books, hosters of author signings, servers of wine. I love that I can walk in and ask for a recommendation and when it's given it's given from the heart and full of enthusiasm. And I love that the staff at my local bookshop understand how often I lose my tickets (every time).

Bloggers are basically My People. Those people that love books so much that they have to shout about it, just like me. I love that there's always something to chat about. I love the questions: what are you reading now? What have you just finished? What's next?

When it comes down to it, I love you all. Very much.

Love,

Cora

PS. You can get 10% off tickets to Chadwell Heath Community Centre YA Fest with the code YAFEST10.

Release Day Book Review: Devoted by Jennifer Mathieu

If you remember way back when I reviewed Moxie by Jennifer Mathieu then you'll know that I struggled to put my feelings into words as I was blown away. Devoted was no exception and I thought that it was absolutely excellent.

Rachel Walker's family and community have turned away from the world.

Every part of Rachel's life is controlled, from what she reads to where she goes and what she wears. Her parents dictate how her life must be: marriage, modesty, children and obedience to her future husband. But when a former member of her community, a girl who escaped, moves back to her small Texas town, Rachel's world turns upside down.

She realises that her life is her own. But can she find the courage to fight for it?

Amazon UK | Amazon US

Waterstones

Source: Review Copy

5 Words: Belief, family, control, friendship, living.

Devoted is a very emotional story, and I think it was written with a lot of care and consideration - there is nothing vilifying about region itself, it is more a commentary on some more extreme beliefs and how they can effect individuals, families, and communities.

Rachel is such a deep and complicated character, and I found it so easy to feel sympathy for her. I felt dread when she did, love when she did, relief when she did. And I was rooting for her all through the story.

I thought that Rachel and Mark were adorable. I loved their back and forth, their word games, the slow build of their relationship as they got to know each other and become comfortable being around someone from such a different world.

This is quite a fast paced contemporary for all that I can't really say anything super action-y takes place. But I could not put it down. The writing is engaging and I cared so much about Rachel that I didn't want her story to end.

Devoted is a marvellous book, a brave story, and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes contemporary and fantastically written characters.

Have you read anything by Jennifer Mathieu?

Walkies Time * GIFTED

I find the best way to blow away the cobwebs after the holidays is a nice brisk walk, and to be honest I don't need much of an excuse to get out and about with the pups. And this time of year is when resolutions like getting fitter and being outside more are made.

One of the things I want to work towards is being more confident in myself, and part of that will be posting pictures of myself on the blog (shock, horror, ahhh) so here we go...

For a walk, especially in winter, you need to dress sensibly and wrap up warm. I pretty much always have a thermal base layer as I can really feel the cold, and you'll likely find me wearing tights under my jeans too.

When I'm thinking about Winter Coats and Jackets I'm mostly thinking about layering possibilities - the more I can layer the better - and how suitable it is for the weather. Is it shower proof? Is there a hood? The last thing I want to think about when I'm wrangling energetic puppies is trying to juggle an umbrella with the poo bags.

This one from JD Williams is petite, with a fit and flare shape, and I don't think I've ever owned a more gorgeous and well fitting coat. It hangs perfectly, there's enough space for my bust, I can nip the waist in with the belt. And there is a hood. And there are pockets. And it's so gorgeous and versatile that I've worn it almost every day since Christmas.

When I was browsing for a new pair of Women's Boots on JD Williams I fell in love with these leopard print Chelsea Boots. It's only in the past year that I've started wearing ankle boots, as I was nervous about them making me look shorter, but after trying some I got over that quickly! Especially when I had animal prints dangled in front of me.

I love how these boots are super comfortable, but also really stylish. They're perfect for work, drinks, and general day-to-day, and they're my new favourites. Sorry Doc Martens.

What are your winter walk essentials?

* I was gifted boots and a coat for review purposes, all thoughts are my own.

Book Review: Whiteout by Gabriel Dylan

I love the Red Eye horror series from Stripes, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. Whiteout by Gabriel Dylan was an extremely intense read and one that I raced through, so when it came to writing this book review I had to stop and think for a while. It was a bit of a whirlwind of a read.

‘She sat us all down and told us a story. About things that lived in the woods. Things that only came out at night.’

For Charlie, a school ski trip is the perfect escape from his unhappy home life. Until a storm blows in and the resort town is cut off from the rest of the world. Trapped on the mountain, the students wait for the blizzards to pass, along with mysterious ski guide Hanna. 

But as night falls and the town’s long buried secrets begin to surface, the storm is the least of their problems...

A chilling RED EYE horror, perfect for fans of Dawn Kurtagich, Juno Dawson and Charlie Higson.

Amazon UK | Amazon US

Waterstones

Source: Review Copy | Blog Tour

5 Words: Friendship, family, vampires, horror, isolation.

This book is bloody and intense. It's scary and chilling and one hell of a ride to read. Especially if it's snowing.

Charlie is the main character and a pretty complex character - but we also see a few other perspectives. As I mentioned in my Book Beginnings, I could relate to Tara quite a lot. She is definitely, absolutely a brat and a bitch, but I get it.

I loved the setting, it was already remote at the start but as events - and the storm - build it just increases, the atmosphere feeling heavier and heavier. The writing is rich with description that really bring the story to life, and I loved the contrasts of blood and snow. They were shocking to read at times.

And the ending? The ending of Whiteout by Gabrial Dylan was fantastic, and I loved how everything didn't quite wrap up as I expected.

Other Red Eye Book Reviews:

Frozen Charlotte by Alex Bell

Fir by Sharon Gosling

Book Beginnings #66

For Book Beginnings, Rose City Reader invites us to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.

For Friday 56, Freda's Voice asks you to turn to Page 56 in your book or 56% on your e-reader and pick a sentence.

I am currently reading The Girl King by Mimi Yu.

It was well before dawn when the Ana and Aba stirred the priestess from her bed. Had she been anyone else she might have been deep in slumber.

I have been very excited about this book for a while, so I'm glad I'm picking it up now. It comes out next week, but there are some early copies circling and the reviews I'm seeing are excellent.

I like this start - it doesn't give much away at all but I'm still eager to read on.

The empress cocked her head slightly to one side - no easy feat given the weight of her hair, dripping with jeweled pins and topped with a gold diadem.

The imagery on this whole page! It's so vivid, so rich, and I can't wait to get to this part. I love the writing style.

What are you reading this week?