Book reviewer for all Genres

Unboxed : A Box of Stories – April

I came across A Box of Stories through Facebook back in April 2020, when I was absolutely bored out of my mind due to being furloughed. The company wasn’t as big as it is now and they only had a few boxes to choose from; a Surprise Box of 4 Fiction Books (£14.99), a Surprise Box of 4 Mixed Fiction Books (£14.99), and I want to say a Crime, Thriller and Mystery Box of 4 Surprise Books (£21.99) though I’m not 100% on that one. Now however, they have all of those I’ve said above plus a Young Adult Box of 4 Surprise Books (£21.99), a Light Reads Box of 4 Surprise Books (£21.99) and a Historical Fiction Box of 4 Surprise Books (£21.99).

This is the what I got in my April Fiction Box.

The Secret Books by Marcel Theroux (RRP £8.99)

Blurb: A young man flees the drudgery of shopkeeping in Tsarist Russia to make a new life among the bohemians and revolutionaries of nineteenth-century Paris. Beginning a treacherous journey through a world of spies and double-cross, propaganda, lost love, and anti-Semitism, he enters a modern world where likes have the power of truth.

Based on real events, The Secret Books is at once a page-turning adventure and an examination o the stories that humans are willing to kill and to die for.

My thoughts: Meh…. doesn’t sound like my bag at all, but I’ll read it and hopefully be surprised.

Upstairs & Downstairs by Hiolda Newman (RRP £8.99).

Blurb: The year was 1935: the twilight of the English aristocracy. It was a time of wealth and glamour; of lavish balls and evening gowns; of tiaras and a coronation.

As personal maid to Lady Coventry, Hilda Newman had a unique insight into the leisured life of one of Britain’s most noble families. In her fascinating memoir of life upstairs and down, Hilda takes us back to this period between the wars; a gilded era which would soon be dramatically changed by the Second World War.

Transplanted from a tiny house with no bath or hot water to an eighteenth-century Neo-Palladian mansion, Hilda’s life changed beyond recognition. But in a time when the very foundations of British society were being shaken to their core, the luxurious life of the country nobility couldn’t last.

My thoughts: I think I will enjoy this book but it will depend on how it has been written. If it is like an auto-biography then I will struggle. I am getting Downton Abbey vibes from this and I love Downton Abbey. I hope this book doesn’t disappoint.

And When She Was Good by Laura Lippman (RRP £8.99).

Blurb: Heloise is a single mother, who runs her own business and keeps herself to herself.

But Heloise’s business is one that takes place in discreet hotel rooms. For the right money, she can be the woman of your dreams.

Now, after a decade, her secret life is under siege – her accountant is asking loaded questions. Her long-time protector is hinting at new dangers. Her employees can’t be trusted. With no real family or friends, how far will Heloise go to protect herself and her son?

My thoughts: This sounds great! I am really looking forward to reading this!

The Ghost Factory by Jenny McCartney (RRP £12.99).

Blurb: The Troubles turned Northern Ireland into a ghost factory: as manufacturing industries withered the death business boomed. In trying to come to terms with his father’s sudden death, and the paramilitary violence meted out to his friend Titch, Jacky is drawn to confront the bullies who still menace a city scarred by conflict. After he himself is attacked he flees to London to build a new life. But even in the midst of a burgeoning love affair he hears the ghosts of his past echoing, pulling him back to Belfast, crying out for retribution and justice.

My thoughts: Well, I’m not going to lie… when I read the title, I thought, WOW a book about making ghosts. I thought it would be about a factory where you take the dead body you want to turn in to a ghost and then, well, you turn it in to a ghost. How cool would that be? I don’t really have any feelings towards this book. It doesn’t sound good but it doesn’t sound terrible either. We will have to see.

This box cost me £14.24 (you get 5% discount if you set up a subscription) and the cost of the books totalled ££39.96 meaning a saving of £25.72. If you would like A Box of Stories for yourself, use this link for £4 off your first box – http://aboxofstories.refr.cc/geelizreads

What did you think of this selection? What book would you want to read the most out of these and which book would you want to read the least? Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Look forward to hearing from you all soon.

Gee Liz ❤ x

Voracious Readers – TBR Books

As well as all the books I have on my shelves, on my kindle and all the books I am asked to review, I also review for Voracious Readers. This has been put on the back burner recently though, thanks to my blog becoming more popular with author requests to review their work – which of course, takes precedent over all else.

Here are just some of the books I have yet to review for Voracious Readers – there are ALOT!

Haze by Rebecca Crunden

Blurb: When Eliza Owens gets a phone call in the middle of the night from a girl she’s never met, she doesn’t know what to think. The girl introduces herself as Paige, and says she used to date Erik Stern, Eliza’s fiancé. What’s more, she has something important to discuss.

The only problem? Paige has been dead for years.

Believing it to be a sick prank, Eliza tries to force it from her mind until Sam, Eliza’s older sister, tells her she met Paige only a few weeks before. And, according to Sam, Paige has nothing nice to say about Erik.

The fight which follows shatters the lives of everyone involved, and Erik disappears without a trace.

Five years later, Erik returns to town after his father’s death. Old wounds quickly resurface, and with them several burning questions. None of the least of which is: Who spoke to Eliza and Sam if it wasn’t Paige? And why?

Fallen Men by Brian O’Hare

Blurb: A young priest’s life spirals out of control when long-submerged memories of childhood abuse begin to surface. He seeks solace in a friendship with a beautiful seventeen-year-old choir girl but this leads to a frenzied love affair that ends in disaster. Fallen Men touches on some dark themes but it is ultimately a novel of redemption.

Legacy by Michelle E. Lowe

Blurb: A thief, a lover, and a toymaker; drawn together by fate; unlikely champions against a powerful and remorseless enemy. When not fighting each other, they must defeat the powerful Lord Norwich, and end his plan to unleash global violence and crown himself emperor of the world. No problem.

But behind the scenes, the Trickster god is manipulating men like puppets, changing history to his own ends and for his own amusement. As an ancient plan is set into motion, the trio are faced with events they do not understand and may not survive.

Legacy is the first of an epic new series that combines Fantasy and Steampunk in an unforgettable novel set in Victorian England.

Dreamleaf Blues by Sean Davies

Blurb: Genevieve Jameson had a life like any other adolescent until the eve of her eighteenth birthday celebrations, when Annabelle Jones, her life-long best friend, roommate, and love interest all in one, never returns home from her well-paid shady evening job – a line of employment that Genevieve believes is dealing the strange blue hallucinogenic drug, Dreamleaf.

After following the threads of her investigation to the organised crime gangs’ booming drug business, Genevieve is brought to death’s door during her snooping and transformed into a Vampire Nightclaw, a being capable of impressive feats of agility and grace.

Discovering that there is more to her world than meets the eye, Genevieve is dragged into fighting alongside her vampiric maker’s gaudy and thuggish ‘Golden Fangs’ gang, through a mutually beneficial arrangement and a healthy dose of blackmail. She is forged into a deadly fighter and keen tactician as she uses her new-found powers to search for answers regarding her beloved’s fate.

Tardy Bells and Witches’ Spells by Sarina Dorie

Blurb: Nerdy high school outcast, Clarissa Lawrence, has always felt like she didn’t belong in this world. More than anything, she wants magic to be real – and not just because she’s obsessed with Harry Potter and tries to go to Narnia by reading fantasy novels in her wardrobe.

Yet, when she stumbles upon real magic, and fairy tales come true, she doesn’t expect to be the evil villain in her own story. Clarissa learns she’s descended from an evil witch and is destined to kill her older sister.

When she meets a cute boy who offers to train her in magic, she must make a choice. She can have a safe, normal life and no harm will come to anyone. Or she can choose magic and risk everything and everyone she loves in order to be what she’s always known she was meant to be… a wicked witch.

Ten Years of Darkness by Kristen Chambers and Viktor H. Strangewayes

Blurb: A demonic plaque carried by time-traveling bats, a dripping mechanical construct from ages past, and a talking quill which gleans the truth from a person’s blood. A few months ago, that would have been enough to make Kristen question her sanity, but after everything she’s seen, they seem pretty par for the course.

After a brief encounter with a mysterious stranger leaves Kristen with an unusual Magical artefact, she begins to realise there is far more to our world than she’s been told, and the very future of humanity may just rest in her hands. Joining forces with some rather unlikely allies – a nervous neighbour whose dreams of Magic are quickly turning into his nightmare; a diminutive yet feisty Lumynar, who may be the last of her kind; and a wisecracking demon who happens to share the moniker of a fictional spy – Kristen sets out on the journey she had always dreamed of, but may not be prepared for.

With potential horrors looming on the horizon, access to Magical resources obstructed by powerful forces, and more questions arising with each encounter, our heroes must band together and fight for their world and the fate of humanity. But for every question answered, many still linger: Have they chosen to support the right factions? Are their goals worth more than those they are fighting against? And worst of all, have they gone through the entire process before?

I think 6 is a healthy number to stop on. I’ll share another six with you very soon! I hope you enjoyed my post. Which book do you think sounds the best? Have you read any of them?

Gee Liz Reads ❤

Book Tag: 3 Bookish Things

I found this Book Tag through Millay’s Musings post.

1. How many books are too many books in a series?

I don’t think there is a set number to be honest. The most important thing is that the books continue to be good and different. There is nothing worse than a series continuing but just reusing the same story with a few edits here and there.

2. How do you feel about cliff-hangers?

Who doesn’t love a cliff-hanger!

3. Hardback or Paperback?

Nothing beats the beauty and durability of a hardback, but I honestly really dislike actually reading them. If I could look at a hardback all day, I would. They just get too heavy! At the same time… If I’m reading a paperback, I always need to be incredibly careful, because I want it to always look absolutely perfect. What a dilemma! – This is what the last poster wrote and I don’t need to change a word!)

4. Favourite book?

That’s a really difficult one to be honest. I love so many books! If I HAD to choose it would be The Afterlife Saga by Stephanie Hudson. It was the first book that opened me up to an incredible series filled with amazing characters and a fantastic plot. Not only that, the book changed my life in many, many ways!

5. Least favourite book?

I wouldn’t say I have a least favourite book, just every book I didn’t finish! Haha!

6. Love triangles, yes or no?

Y E S. I love love triangles! Most books have love triangles so if you don’t like them, what do you read? Ha!

7. The most recent book you just couldn’t finish?

My most recent DID NOT FINISH was Nightmare at Scapa Flow by H. J. Weaver. I don’t believe this is a bad book, but I really struggle with war and history books so I just couldn’t get in to it.

8. A book you’re currently reading?

I’m only reading two books at the moment. Ulrick by Wendy L Anderson and Glass Houses by Rachel Caine (may she rest in peace).

9. Last book you recommended to someone?

I’m always recommending books. I’ll probably go with the last book I reviewed which was A Cut Twice as Deep by Wendy L Anderson.

11. Newest book you’ve read?

I honestly have no idea!

12. Favourite author?

Stephanie Hudson.

13. Buying books or borrowing books?

Buying!

14. A book you dislike that everyone else seems to love?

I’m struggling with this one. Probably books like Pride and Prejudice and Romeo and Juliet.

15. Bookmarks or dog-ears?

Good lord! Bookmarks! Dog-ears are for sick individuals.

16. A book you can always reread?

I don’t tend to reread books just because I have an ever growing TBR pile but I would say The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques.

17. Can you read while listening to music?

Nope, nope, definitely not!

18. One POV or multiple POVs?

I prefer one but multiple is good if you do it right!

19. Do you read a book in one sitting or over multiple days?

It really depends. It’s mainly over multiple days at the moment but when my life was less chaotic it would be in one sitting.

20. Who do you tag?

Tags: Swords & Spectres

Sofii @ A Book. A Thought.

MB Blissett

The Introverted Reader

The Unicorn Writer

Finding Serendiipitii

Ailish Sinclair

Wayne Davids

Archetypes and Anecdotes

What’s That Mark’s Reading?

Stories and Stardust

Unclearer

Phoenix Feather . Quill

The Fictional Journal

Monogamist Reader

Lost in Neverland

The Blogger and the Geek

A Cat, A Book, and A Cup of Tea

Flora’s Week Show

and anyone who’s reading this now!

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

❤ Gee Liz

If you like what you read please think about supporting me on Kofi 🙂

https://ko-fi.com/widgets/widget_2.jskofiwidget2.init(‘Support Me on Ko-fi’, ‘#e02897’, ‘V7V7434PG’);kofiwidget2.draw();

Buzz Feed Quiz: How Obsessed Are You Actually?

I found this quiz through the Whispering Stories and I really enjoyed reading her answers.

So, this Buzzfeed quiz is about how obsessed with books I actually am. I think I’m pretty obsessed haha, so let’s see if Buzzfeed thinks I am actually obsessed with books or not. Here’s the link to the quiz.

Two bookcases actually. They used to be pretty neat but now I’m running out of room so there are quite a lot behind others.

Some movie adaptations are sensational e.g. Harry Potter and then others are absolutely horrendous e.g. A Simple Favour.

Last time I went on holiday I took 6 books and ended up bringing home around 20.

Last year I wasn’t in the right frame of mind but I used to read so many books, this year too I am smashing it.

I’ve actually pulled all nighters to finish a book!

I used to go to the library every Saturday when I was younger but I’ve not been to a library in years. I’ve got my own at home!

<– That’s the answer haha.

Probably more than three hours but I think an entire day is pushing it a bit far. Unless it has a café too, then yes… a full day easily!

I do this too much. I need to stop!

They need to make the smell in to a perfume… seriously!

Pre Covid of course 😦

It used to be the bottom answer, but if you switch to an e-book then you can carry on eating!

Why go to a party if you are just going to read?

Taking a book on a date – rude.

Taking a book to a concert? Too much noise!

I’ve met some of the greatest people I know through books.

AND THE ANSWER IS……

I’d say I’m more obsessed than 72% but I suppose I do put a lot of things before books. Why don’t you take the quiz and let me know your score below!

Thanks for reading!

Gee Liz ❤

https://ko-fi.com/widgets/widget_2.jskofiwidget2.init(‘Support Me on Ko-fi’, ‘#e02897’, ‘V7V7434PG’);kofiwidget2.draw();

Anticipated Reads – April 2021

Just a quick blog to let you know what books I will be reading this month. These are reviews that have been requested by the Author’s plus books I have on my bookshelf too. I might not be able to read all of them this month as I’ve got work, uni and other things going on in my life, but all I can say is I’m definitely going to try.

Ulrik by Wendy L Anderson

A stand-a-lone book by the same author that brought us A Cut Twice as Deep, a book I thoroughly enjoyed.

Blurb: Drowning when his ship went down in a vicious storm, Ulrik the Viking thought it was the end. Instead, he awakens on a new and brutal Earth. Believing he was banished to this strange land by the gods as punishment, he faces the mountainous wilderness alone.

Tessa, a lonely and broken-hearted woman, dies in her sleep on her 85th birthday. She too awakens surrounded by the frightful and the unknown. Both are mysteriously thrown into new bodies facing new lives, new hopes, new dangers, and new desires.

Cast through time and other dimensions, fate has given Ulrik and Tessa a second chance at life and love. They must survive on a ruthless new world against a brutal warrior race determined to use them to conquer extinction and enter into the age of metal. All that stands against them is ULRIK!

Of Demon Kind by Wendy L Anderson

Another book by the same author as above BUT it’s not just one book it’s a series of 5:

Of Demon Kind
Redemption of the Fallen
Heirs of Jior
Iron and the Arrow
The Last Ny-Failen

Here is the blurb for the 1st book…

Blurb: Prince Lorn of Jior is the only one left in the evil empire called the Kingdom of Jior. King Kullorn, his father, was the epitome of evil. Together they led demon hordes reaping death and destruction. When Kullorn is killed, Lorn must face the aftermath of their defeat alone. Years later, Lorn is accused of following in his father’s footsteps and also of kidnapping the Princess Lililaira of Skoria. Forced out of hiding, Lorn must risk capture, imprisonment and death to find out who is using his father’s name to start another war. During an unplanned rescue of the Princess, Lorn is badly wounded and they must fight to remain together as he is healed by her, body, heart and soul. Creating a passionate bond, together they embark upon a journey to clear Lorn’s name and fend off the war that threatens them both.

God, Aliens, Death and Teapots by Andy Ritchie

This blurb made me laugh! I’m looking forward to the no doubt humerous story’s!

Blurb: An eclectic selection of seven short stories involving, as the title of the book suggests, God, Aliens, Death or Teapots. Oh, and there’s one about dogs as well…then again, come to think of it, two of them don’t really have God, aliens, Death or teapots in them at all. They’re more about space….
So a more apt title for this book could well be God, Aliens, Death, Dogs, General Space Stuff & Teapots.
Yeah, that just about sums it up (though it isn’t quite as catchy)

Thank you for reading. I am much looking forward to reading all of these but I realise I’ve got a lot to read within a month. I’m pretty confident and I can not wait!

Do any of these books stand out to you? Which do you want to read? Let me know in the comments.

Gee Liz ❤

If you like what you read please think about supporting me on Kofi 🙂

https://ko-fi.com/widgets/widget_2.jskofiwidget2.init(‘Support Me on Ko-fi’, ‘#e02897’, ‘V7V7434PG’);kofiwidget2.draw();

Wednesday Writer – GEE LIZ

My most popular post has certainly changed since I was asked this question. I did enjoy this interview!

If you like what you read please think about supporting me on Kofi.

https://ko-fi.com/widgets/widget_2.jskofiwidget2.init(‘Support Me on Ko-fi’, ‘#e02897’, ‘V7V7434PG’);kofiwidget2.draw();

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

This week I am proud to feature a talented blogger with a passion for books –yes we have Gee Liz taking the hot seat this week!

SO LIZ, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DRINK WHILE WE ARE CONDUCTING THIS INTERVIEW WITH YOU?

Coke Zero.

I live off the stuff. I can’t stand hot drinks, and I’ve not drank water in around 15 years.

COULD YOU TELL US YOUR BLOGGING NAME AND THE NAME OF YOUR SITE PLEASE.

My blogging name is GeeLizReads and that’s also the name of my site… this is the link.

www.geelizreads.wordpress.com

WHEN DID YOU START BLOGGING?

I started blogging on the 12th February.

WHY DID YOU START BLOGGING?

I started because I had always wanted to review books.

I already do this on Amazon and Goodreads but always wanted to have my own site too. I was going to do it around 6 years ago…

View original post 446 more words

Book Tag: 3 Bookish Things

I found this Book Tag through Millay’s Musings post.

The Rules:

The post doesn’t seem to have any rules, but I’m going to tag as many of my fellow book bloggers as possible 🙂 I won’t be offended if you don’t answer the questions yourself and if you don’t want to be tagged in future then please let me know 😀

The Questions:

3 Read Once and Loved Authors

I don’t really understand this question. Is it 3 Authors that I’ve only read one book of, or is it 3 Authors who’s books I read once but loved? Well, now I’ve re-read what I just wrote, I’m even more confused (doesn’t take much). I’m going to go with three Authors who I loved after just reading ONE of their books, though I may have now read more than one of their books. Does this even make sense!

Stephanie Hudson – She is the Author of the Afterlife Saga. I found Afterlife as a Kindle Daily Deal and I thought it was one of the best books I had ever read. I just couldn’t put it down. I’ve never been able to leave the Afterlife Fan Club since as she continues to bring out beyond epic novels!
Robin Hobb – The Author of The Farseer Trilogy to name but a few. I found a huge pile of Robin Hobb books at a carboot sale for 20p each. I obviously bought the lot. I hate the condition they are in though so always on the look out for them in pristine condition. The first book I read by Robin Hobb was The Assassins Apprentice. What a book!
Brian Jacques – The Author of the Redwall books. My Gran and Grandad bought me a 1986 Hardback of Redwall when I was around 8 or 9 years old. I couldn’t believe the story, it was absolutely incredible. The Redwall books will always have a place in my heart. There are some that I have not read yet and I will be doing so one day soon!

3 Titles I’ve Watched but Not Read

The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski – though I do plan on it!
The Vampire Diaries by L J Smith – on my book shelf, will get round to them.
Pet Semetary by Stephen King – watching it was terrifying enough, I’ll not be reading this thank you!

3 Series I have Binged

The Twilight Saga by Stephanie Mayer – I think I read these books in less than a week. I also read her other book, The Host in less than a day, which for a book which I think is over 800 pages, was quite impressive.
The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare – Though I absolutely love the Mortal Instruments series by the same Author, this trilogy blew me away. It is set in the Victorian times, in London and has a big Steampunk thing going on that I can’t help but love. This is also the series that made me cry the most, I won’t say why as I don’t want to spoil it.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – my dad bought me the first book from Waterstone’s when we went to view a University together. I read it on the 4 hour train journey home and I instantly needed to read the next one. I was actually really disappointed with the 3rd book. I thought that there was this huge build up to something great and then loads of things happened in one chapter before it all just came to an end.

3 Characters I love

3? You gotta be kidding me! How about 300? No… okay… here is 3.

Lucius Septimus from Afterlife Saga by Stephanie Hudson – he’s witty, sarcastic, sexy and a vampire – SOLD!
Martin the Warrior from several of the Redwall books by Brian Jacques – He’s a mouse. He wears armour. He don’t take no Shhhh from nobody! (that’s a triple negative!)
Katsa from The Graceling by Kristen Cashore – She’s incredibly badass and beautiful… and she also doesn’t take any Shhh from nobody. I aspire to be like Katsa!

3 Current Favorite Covers

3 Weirdest things I’ve used for bookmarks

Mobile phone
Strand of Hair
Tea Towel

3 Favourite Authors

Stephanie Hudson – I’ve already mentioned her in this blog actually but her books are absolutely fantastic. Not only that, she is very in-touch with her fans, something not all authors are. She has a very active fan page and does many live videos. She keeps fans in the loop about what’s going on in the Afterlife and Transfusion world AND she puts on live events for her fans too.
Charis Bell – Charis is actually a very new author to me. She messaged me via Instagram and asked if I would be interested in reviewing her two books; The Peasant’s Choice and Ridiculously Proud: Diary of a Diva (click on the book names and you will see my reviews). I also did an author Interview with Charis and it was great fun (Link here). What I like about Charis is how genuine she is as a person and you can see this in the interview and through the characters in her novels.
J K Rowling – You might not agree with my reasoning here, but I’m going to let you know what I think anyway. J K Rowling is one of my favourite authors because she brought us the world of Harry Potter. I love Harry Potter and it is a big part of who I am but… I enjoy the movies more than the books.

3 Unpopular Bookish Opinions

Well, I’ve just stated one above – The Harry Potter Movies are better than the Books.
The Hobbit books and the Lord of The Rings Books are boring. I am sorry… I just feel that if you want to explain that it is raining to a reader, write ‘it was raining’. We don’t need an 11 page essay FRONT AND BACK to let us know it was raining (yes, I am aware of the HUGE exaggeration there, but you get my point).
The 50 Shades of Grey books are over-rated.

3 Book Goals For the Year

Read 52 Books – I’ve read 15 so far.
Reach 50 Followers on my blog – Each and every one I am thankful for.
Help promote as many authors as I can.

My Nominees:

Tags: Swords & Spectres

Sofii @ A Book. A Thought.

MB Blissett

The Introverted Reader

The Unicorn Writer

Finding Serendiipitii

Ailish Sinclair

Wayne Davids

Archetypes and Anecdotes

What’s That Mark’s Reading?

Stories and Stardust

Unclearer

Phoenix Feather . Quill

The Fictional Journal

Monogamist Reader

Lost in Neverland

The Blogger and the Geek

A Cat, A Book, and A Cup of Tea

Flora’s Week Show

and anyone who’s reading this now!

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

❤ Gee Liz

If you like what you read please think about supporting me on Kofi 🙂

https://ko-fi.com/widgets/widget_2.jskofiwidget2.init(‘Support Me on Ko-fi’, ‘#e02897’, ‘V7V7434PG’);kofiwidget2.draw();

A Cut Twice as Deep by Wendy L Anderson: A Book Review

Blurb: The bond between sisters is one forged in blood and fire. Twin sisters, Liana and Deirdre were inseparable like the two halves of a double-bladed axe, making the pain of having to leave each other a cut twice as deep.

Their father, Gorsedd Gunnarson, King of the great country of Svartur Rokk, did not care about twin bonds or his daughter’s preferences and severed the pair with a single blow. Both Liana and Deirdre have been sold to the highest bidders for ships, weapons, and alliances.

For Gorsedd Gunnarson these are very profitable and advantageous marriage arrangements, but the twin sisters would be torn from each other lives and sent to lands far apart forever!

Liana is forced to leave her childhood sweetheart and marry a stranger. Sweet, timid Deirdre would be wed to a Viking warlord. One would leave her home on a ship and the other on a horse. Both would travel great distances to new lands.

Given no choice but to embrace the lives planned for them, they find that the future holds more than they could ever have suspected. In a land where blood and ice reign, danger and betrayal war with love and hope, as they fight to find happiness in a ruthless world ruled by the sword and axe.

My thoughts: I received a free copy of this book from the author for an honest review. I believe this is the first ‘Viking Romance’ I have ever read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you are not in to romance stories, I wouldn’t let the word ‘romance’ put you off, as it isn’t your usual type of ‘soppy’ and ‘cheesy’ romance, it’s more of a romance story you’d find in Game of Thrones or Vikings whilst still being all ‘Grrrr’ and ‘manly!’

A Cut Twice as Deep follows two beautiful twins, Diedre and Liana who are sold by their father to two men who rule their own kingdoms for Weapons and Ships. Liana, who is strong headed and speaks her mind is to be wed to Tiernan Lachlan of Lochlannach, and Diedre, who is quiet and sweet is to be wed to Kearn Mac An-Bharain of Noreg . This means that the twins, who love each other dearly and share a strong sisterly bond, are separated from each other.

Both of the twins are heartbroken and fear their futures. All they have to think about is what lies ahead for them whilst they travel to their to-be husbands. Liana travels by horse, Diedre by boat far away from the comfort of their twin. They are unsure if they will love their new husbands, or if they will end up being apart from each other in misery.

The story follows the twins separately for a while and is cleverly written so you follow Liana’s story with Tiernan all whilst wondering what is happening to Diedre. Then, just at the right time you then get to Diedre’s story. Further in to the book, when Liana and Diedre are captured (which was again, cleverly written and I don’t want to spoil to much of this for you future readers of this brilliance), the chapters take in turns following one set of characters at a time – this gives for good reading as it captivates the reader into continuing on. You want to find out what happens to said characters next and can’t help but continuing to use that untrue phrase: ‘just one more chapter’.

An enjoyable story with just the right amount of sex without it being a ‘not ANOTHER sex scene’ kind of book. The sex scenes are also part of the story in the sense that it helps tie in with the plot well and you see the love grow between the characters.

At certain times, I felt my heart racing as I knew something bad was going to happen and I wanted to scream at the characters to help them. I think this shows that Anderson has easily managed to develop a fantastic story line that engulfs the reader in to the story… so much so that when I gave myself 15 minutes to read, I ended up looking at the clock nearly 2 hours later!

In conclusion, you need to read this book.

Thank you for reading my review. Have you read this book? What did you think and who was your favourite character? Please comment below.

A Cut Twice as Deep is available on Paperback and Ebook here for UK Readers: A Cut Twice as Deep eBook: Anderson, Wendy L.: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

and here for US readers: A Cut Twice as Deep – Kindle edition by Anderson, Wendy L.. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

If you like what you read please consider supporting me on Kofi 🙂

https://ko-fi.com/widgets/widget_2.jskofiwidget2.init(‘Support Me on Ko-fi’, ‘#e02897’, ‘V7V7434PG’);kofiwidget2.draw();

Interview with an Author: Charis Bell

I’m here today with the absolutely wonderful and talented Charis Bell. Charis is the author of two amazing , romantic novels; The Peasant’s Choice and Ridiculously Proud: Diary of a Diva.

Thank you so much for joining me today Charis. After reading your novels I am extremely excited for more. Though I loved The Peasant’s Choice, Ridiculously Proud: Diary of a Diva is solidly up there in my top 10 books of all times, possibly even my top 5. I’m just going to jump right in as I’m very excited to hear your answers. So first off and I think I ask everybody I meet this question…

Who is your favourite author?

I don’t know if I have one but my go to recommendations are anything by Ruta Sepetys, C. S. Lewis, and Charles Dickens.

How about your favourite book?

Anne of Green Gables got me into reading. Great Expectations is also up there along with the Narnia series.

But my go to books are biographies. The Hiding Place, for example, and Unbroken are on my shelf right now. I also enjoy books on faith. Show them Jesus and True Discipleship have profoundly impacted my worldview.

How long have you been writing?

I write on and off, but I got serious about writing in high school (11 years ago). I actually mostly write non-fiction and spoken word poetry, but when I have the patience, I do novel writing.

How did you come up with the covers for your books? I love them!

I love them too! My friend (Grant Scott) is a photographer and I asked if he would be willing to give cover design a try and he nailed both! I gave him a general concept and he just amazed me with what he came up with! When I got the cover for The Peasant’s Choice, I was like a child on Christmas morning!

Check him out on Facebook Grant Scott Photo or his website: https://www.grantscottphoto.com/

A round of applause for Grant Scott then as I think he did an absolutely fantastic job.

Now, I noticed that both novels have a character called Nancy in them. Is this coincidence or is there meaning behind it?

Both Nancy’s are based on a real life gem, a mentor figure in my life who has only ever shown me kindness and guidance. I wanted to honour her by putting her in my novels.

There are other characters named after my siblings or friends too, but the characters are not really based on them.

That is so lovely! Speaking about the characters...which of the characters from either book do you relate to the most and why?

I see myself in many of my characters (I suppose that is why it can feel exposing for someone to read my work!). Like, I imagine “What would I do if I were…?” “How would I wish so and so to react if I were them?” I definitely think I relate most to Caitlyn and her overdramatic, overthinking ways, but there is a bit of me in all of them, unintentionally. But it’s an adventure to imagine all the stories. They say you live other lives when you read—the same is true when you write.

Beautiful answer. As for Caitlyn, she had me in stitches. For those that don’t know, Caitlyn is the Diva from Ridiculously Proud: Diary of a Diva. How did you come up with the story?

Ridiculously Proud was more of a dare. “Cheesy” movies were becoming popular and my friends challenged me to write one “with a bit more substance.” So I set out to do just that. Hallmark rejected it but I am so glad it has brought many readers some joy anyway.

Wow! You sent it to Hallmark? That’s amazing. Well, I think they made a mistake! As I was reading this book I kept on thinking that this would make such a good movie. Perhaps you should contact Netflix or Amazon Prime.

Say Netflix or Amazon decided to go ahead, who would you want to play Caitlyn and Charlie?

I think Mindy Kaling would be a hilarious Caitlyn. Or Awkwafina – she would be great too. Maybe Sam Clafin for Charlie? My sister said Tom Hiddleston is a must in either movie, which would be cool, however unlikely).

Oh wow, they are great choices. I think I agree with your sister too.

The same questions goes for The Peasant’s Choice. If this novel became a TV series or movie, who would you choose to play Prince Frederick, Amber, Wilber?

Excellent question! I have thought about it but never settled on anything. I had pictures in my mind but in one of my edits, I removed a lot of the description for the characters so that they could be played by anyone. The only description I kept was Amber’s hair, because it had symbolic importance too. I would love a diverse cast!

I’m also not up with the times as to younger actors. If it was “back in my day” I could see Eli Marienthal playing Frederick, because he has this innocent face I imagine the Prince had.

How can I cast someone for Wilber? He is perfect in my mind haha. I’ll leave that task to someone else! Totally open to hearing suggestions.

Not sure about Amber. My sister suggested Zendaya or Lily James. But I’m not sure they fit the image in my mind either, but that’s ok! Young Parminder Nagra may have worked?

Wow, this question makes me feel old because I can’t think of younger actors!

You are not old! Brilliant choices, though. As for Wilber, I’m struggling myself. I would say Zac Efron but I say Zac Efron for anything as I’m absolutely in love with him, ha!

How did you come up with the story for The Peasant’s Choice?

I was in high school and I was volunteering with the kindergarten class. They were having nap time, so to pass the time, I took out a piece of paper and wrote the opening scene — the one with Amber being pinned to the tree. I even used my grade 9 vocabulary! The original title was the Peasant and the Prince because I had set out to do a retelling of the Prince and the Pauper but it metamorphosed into its own thing. I enjoyed that moment of writing enough to keep that piece of paper and continue writing the story. I wrote a good portion of the rest of that novel in my grade 12 biology class!

I hope you still managed to pass Biology! I’ve never actually read The Prince and the Pauper but after enjoying The Peasant’s Choice so much then I think I’m going to have to give it a read.

Please tell us you are working on another novel or 2…10..20?

I am very excited for my next 2 projects.

I am working on a fantasy/epic. This is unlike anything I have written but I am very excited for it. My next book which is in editing and will hopefully be released soon is called Shell Shock.

While studying English and psychology in university, I read Virginia Woolf’s Mrs Dalloway. The book’s struggle with faith, family, mental illness, and war intrigued me; and yet, I remember hurling the book across the room when I finished it. It was an interesting story that captured a tragic moment in human history. But it left me angry—like there was something missing, something that would have brought triumph (even a small one) to the great tragedy of WWI. That something was hope. Believing firmly that truth doesn’t have to be void of hope, I borrowed some of Woolf’s themes and wrote my literary fiction Shell Shock.

How exciting, tell us more?

Shell Shock tells the struggles of Lauren Richardson, a wealthy young woman, who secretly marries Denison Clark, a man beneath her social status, just before he goes off to war. While he is gone, Mandy (Lauren’s step-mother) tries to scheme away the scandal of her pregnancy. Multiple deaths, a mysterious man of science, and the return of her husband with signs of the misunderstood “shell shock” (PTSD) send Lauren on a journey of faith as she battles to trust God in the midst of pain and loss while sorrowful secrets threaten to destroy the hope she is already struggling to cling to.

The heart of this story is hope. There is always hope, come suffering, war, or death itself. Although there are heavy elements of women’s and historical fiction, Shell Shock is primarily an inspirational and romantic drama written in a literary style. I believe young adults and adults will enjoy this novel.

Well Charis, that sounds like a book I can’t wait to get my hands on, but also a great way to end the interview. I just want to ask one more question though – Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I’m not sure. I might still be teaching high school biology and writing on the side (would love to see my book as a movie!). I hope to be more involved in counselling young people.

I have to live faithfully today, because the future is the part of my story I haven’t lived yet. Will there be more writing? I hope so!

I’ve got to say, I do admire your faith and I’m happy to know that you DID pass Biology! Thank you so much for taking part and I hope to read and hopefully watch more of your work soon.

Thank you so much for reading everybody. If you are wanting to get your hands on either of these amazing books by Charis Bell then here are the links…

Ridiculously Proud: Diary of a Diva – £2.49 Kindle – Ridiculously Proud: Diary of a Diva eBook: Bell, Charis: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

A Peasant’s Choice – £2.49 Kindle – The Peasant’s Choice eBook: Bell, Charis: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store

Book Tag: Meet The Book Blogger

I found this Book Tag through Frappes and Fiction‘s post.

The Rules:

You can nominate 10 other bloggers & should keep the same questions

The Questions:

1) Who is your all-time favorite book character?

I love so many book characters, but my favorite would have to be Lucius Septimus from the Afterlife Saga and Transfusion Saga. Granted, I haven’t yet been able to finish the Transfusion Saga – what with being asked to review so many books (so thankful!), but Lucius is 100% my all time favourite character. He is sexy, sarcastic, arrogant, tough, rough, and sometimes a Grade A a**hole but my god, he doesn’t half make me laugh!! Oh, he is also a vampire! I really can not wait to get through them all, and of course, write reviews about them all too!

2) If you were stranded on a desert island, which book would you take with you? (Survival books do not count)

I hate this question! It would need to be a stand alone book because I couldn’t just take one book with me out of a series, that would drive me nuts. Probably Ridiculously Proud: Diary of a Diva . It’s quite a short book that I could read in a day, it’s also light hearted and makes me smile so it would keep my hopes up I think.

3) What’s your most unpopular book opinion?

I don’t know if this really counts, I think it does… well, it’s my blog so yeah it counts. The Harry Potter movies are better than the books! Yes, I said it and I’m not afraid. The Goblet of Fire and the Order of the Phoenix were so so so so (x 1000) difficult to get through. There were so many bits that just didn’t need to be there. Take all the crap out of them both, put them both together then you’ve got one good sized book instead of two huge books filled with garbage.

4) What’s your weirdest bookish habit?

I replace a book if there is any damage. Seriously, this could be a tiny tear, a small crease down the spine (this makes me feel sick). I just can’t have it.

5) What character would you bring to a family event as your fake partner?

If I wanted to impress my family with ‘a perfect guy’ then it would be Charlie Kind from Ridiculously Proud: Diary of a Diva . He’s the perfect gentleman, hot, and he’s got a good job. Check, check, check – he’s got my Dad’s approval.

6) What made you decide to start a book blog?

I wanted to be a book blogger about 5 or 6 years ago. I mentioned it on my Facebook and a ‘friend’ (not a friend, just somebody I knew through being a fan of the same books), popped up in private messenger, and told me that Book Blogging is difficult, you need to have time for it, you have to have a certain personality for it, and… well… ‘you wouldn’t be very good at it to be honest Liz’. So, that left me deflated and a little upset to be honest.

I got back in to reading not that long ago and constantly left reviews on Good Reads and I knew that one of my newer friends also did book blogging (check him out here Swords & Spectres) so I sent him a message. He was really helpful, really enthusiastic and really helped me with deciding to become a book blogger but also with setting up my page too!

7) What about reading and books do you love the most?

Two things really – being able to escape and being able to meet new characters! The problem I have however, is that I get way to attached to characters so when I finish a book, I feel like I’ve lost friends.

8) What is your field of study/desired profession/current profession?

I am currently studying BSc (Hons) Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. I’ve previously studied MSc Wildlife Conservation and BSc (Hons) Bioveterinary Science. I manage a veterinary practice.

My desired profession would be to become an author. I have so many stories in my head but I just can’t get them down on paper so I honestly don’t think it will ever happen. I can dream can’t I?

9) What are some book recommendations that became your favourites/obsessions?

I don’t mean for this to come across as big headed but it might (I apologise), but I’m not really the one who has books recommended to them, I’m more of the recommender. I don’t mind this at all. I love recommending things to people and I love finding hidden gems too.

10) What is the book you shove down everyone’s throat?

Hahaha, now shoving it down everyone’s throat is probably an overstatement but I would have to say, yet again, the Afterlife Saga by Stephanie Hudson. Why do I like to ‘shove it down everyone’s throat’? Because it is freaking amazing that’s why. Not only has the author managed to write an amazing book all whilst having dyslexia, but she has managed to write what, 25(?) amazing books and from the ones I have actually read, they are absolutely sensational. YOU NEED TO READ THESE BOOKS!