My Books of 2022

 Happy New Year!

And thank you for letting me have the last year off blogging.  I'll update you all with everything eventually, but for now lets concentrate on the most important things: Books!

I actually read 52 books (1 isn't currently on goodreads), though there were two books that I confess that I didn't finish.  I decided that life it soo short to persevere with books that are either too slow or too boring, when there is so much more out there that I want to read!

I should also say, that though I am going to separate out all the books that I have read this year below, the links won't work until I have written up the reviews.  And I know that some of you are still waiting for the reviews of the books that I read in 2021.  Hopefully, now that I have a bit more time (she says, on the first bank holiday of the year), I'll get around to catching up and filling those in too.

You will notice that some of these books are from my recent A-Z Challenge but that I haven't finished this list.  That's because, when my daughter was going in for her heart surgery, I made sure to download a load of free boxsets.  As they are currently on my kindle, these are what I have been going through more recently.  And I have recently joined my local book club, so I'll be reading two 'random' books each month too.  The first meeting I'm attending is tomorrow, so wish me luck!

So here is the list of books that I read in 2022, though I may have the order slightly wrong in some places. 
For those who prefer visuals, there is a picture below.

Fiction:

• Exodus by Andreas Christensen
• Aurora by Andreas Christensen
• Genesis by Andreas Christensen
• When the Smoke Clears by Lynette Eason
• When a Heart Stops by Lynette Eason
• When a Secret Kills by Lynette Eason
• American Gods by Neil Gaiman
• Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman
• The Monarch of the Glen by Neil Gaiman
• Black Dog by Neil Gaiman
• The Last Safe Place by Ninie Hammon
• The Crown of Thorns by Ian C P Irvine
• Hidden byt Megg Jensen
• The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
• A Single Step by Georgia Rose
• Reckoning by Megg Jensen
• Hunted by Megg Jensen
• Before The Dawn by Georgia Rose
• The Wedding Pact Boxset by Denise Grover Swank
• Wicked Words by M J Scott
• Patterns in the Dark by Lindsay Buroker
• Pale-Eyed Mage by Jennifer Ealey
• Torn by O M Faure
• Untied by O M Faure
• Chosen by O M Faure
• Thicker than Water by Georgia Rose
• Soul Blade by Lindsay Buroker
• Dragon Blood 1-3 Boxsetby Lindsay Buroker
• Shattered Past by Lindsay Buroker
• Oaths by Lindsay Buroker
• Raptor by Lindsay Buroker
• The Fowl Proposal by Lindsay Buroker
• Heritage of Power Boxset by Lindsay Buroker
• Playing Dirty by Andrew R Williams
• The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan
• Falling by T J Newman
• Jim's Revenge by Andrew R Williams
• Superior by Andrew R Williams
• Andalusia by David Harvey
• The Dark Insite by Solomon Carter
• The Singapore Grip by J G Ferrell

Non-Fiction:

• English Legal System by Emily Finch and Stefan Fafinski
• Legal Profession - Is it for you? by V Charles Ward
• Watching Neighbours Twice a Day by Josh Widdicombe
• Helping your Child with a Physical Health Condition
• Older and Wider by Jenny Eclair
• Parsnips: Buttered by Joe Lycett
• Thinking Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Christian Inspirational:

• The Secret Message of Jesus by Brian D McLaren
• Jesus Feminist by Sarah Bessey
• The Message: New Testament by Eugene H Peterson

My books of 2021

 

Last year, I set myself the target of reading 50 books, which I hit.  I think I've actually read a couple more than 52, as I still (sorry!) have some reviews to write up, and I don't always add them to Goodreads if I haven't done the review.  If you are a Goodreads user, feel free to click this link to follow me there too.

This next year, I've set myself the even more modest target of 24 books in a year.  This is because I barely wait whilst the girls are dancing anymore, so I have less time to read actually structured into my week.  I also (before last week) hadn't read anything since about October.  I had less free time, and in December you have to watch as many made-for-TV crappy Christmas movies as you can.  It's the law.

Here's a pictorial summary of all the reading I did last year, and I'll give a link to each review below.

Fiction

• The Dark Side of the Sun by Terry Pratchett
  
• Red White and Blues by Rysa Walker
  
• Ember by Jessica Sorensen
  
• Forgotten by Don and Stephanie Prichard
  
• Genesis Code by Eliza Green
  
• Happiness is a Smoking Gun by Alaine Allister
  
• I Spy, I Saw Her Die by Ian C. P. Irvine
  
• Juliette and the Monday ManDates by Becky Doughty
  
• Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
  
• Catriona by Robert Louis Stevenson
  
• The Legacy of the Key by S L Morgan
  
• Mouse Tails by Sonny Collins
  
• Nocturne by Kat Ross (The Fourth Talisman Series)
  
• Out of a Dream by Rosemary Hines
  
• Pancakes and Corpses by Agatha Frost
  
• Quantum by Patricia Cornwell
• Rift by Andreas Christensen
  
• Season of Hope by Dayo Benson
  
• Taste by Mary E Twomey
  
• Ugly Girl by Mary E Twomey
  
• The Vine Witch by Luanne G Smith
  
• The Wave at Hanging Rock by Gregg Dunnett
  
• Yesterday by Amanda Tru
  
• Meadowlark by Melanie Abrams
• Brainrush by Richard Bard

Non-Fiction

• Trim Healthy Mama Plan by Barrett and Allison
  
• I Can Make You Thin by Paul McKenna
  
• The Diet Trap Solution by Beck & Beck
  
• The Obesity Code by Jason Fung
  

Christian Inspirational

• Women Rising by Meghan Tschanz
  
• Finding Intimacy With Jesus Made Simple by Matthew Robert Payne
  

Ugly Girl by Mary E Twomey

 Ugly Girl is U in my A-Z of Fiction Titles challenge.

Having read a few of Mary E Twomey's books before, and indeed having just finished reading Taste, I knew I would get engrossed by this book almost immediately, so took a little while (maybe a week, lol) before delving in and starting this series.

Rosie is an ordinary girl.  She lived with her Aunt after her parents died in a car crash when she was small, and her best friend Judah was the only person to look past her spots, scars and hunched back.  Living the best life she can, she goes to college by day and enjoys being a pool shark in the evening.
One evening, however, Rosie loses her beloved necklace, and all of a sudden her world begins to change.  No longer is she ugly and ignored, but she gets kidnapped and taken far away.

The blurb says:

When a grizzled stranger crashes into her life and lifts the concealment that has marred her face since childhood, Rosie Avalon leaves everything she knows behind. Pulled into a realm teeming with magical creatures, Rosie must navigate this new, broken world while avoiding capture by the evil queen, who knows there’s more to Rosie than meets the eye.

Bastien is an Untouchable, feared and shunned by all but a handful of elite warriors. His realm has been ravaged by the evil queen’s reign, but he will stop at nothing to save the land he loves, even if it means pushing Rosie past her breaking point.

Thrust into a quest that threatens to destroy her family, Rosie’s path is clear: she must sacrifice all she holds dear to save a world on the brink of collapse, and hope she doesn’t lose herself along the way.

This 14 book series is split into three parts Books 1-7, 8-11, and 12-14, and it is possible to read one part and take a break before reading the next, however, I wouldn't suggest starting midway through (eg at book 8) without having read the earlier books.

These books are set in between Common (ie Earth) and Avalon (another dimension, where there is magic and magical creatures).  Rosie learns that, though her Aunt is her Aunt, her parents are not dead, but live in Avalon, and her mother is the evil queen, Morgan Le Fae.  There is romance, intrigue, battle, a fair bit of feminism too.  Having read Taste immediately before, some of the magical powers I have seen before, but it's to a lesser or greater degree and doesn't really impact the story.

I did really like these books - you'd be unsurprised to know that I read all 14 straight off, without a break, then had to take a break afterwards as I allowed time for me to grieve leaving their world and reconnecting with my own.

Book Organisation

Ok, so I have gone through all my past Book Reviews and tried to classify them, so that if you wanted to find a certain type of book that would be easy to do now.  All you have to do is look at the Word Cloud on the right, squint a bit, and then choose the genre you're looking for.

If you have read something based on my recommendation and think that I have missed a classification (from the list below), please comment and I will add it.  Depending where you read, there are 7 or 8 main classifications of genre (I have made sure I covered them all) but there are also 150+ subgenres and classifications that I can't always see the difference between.  As such, some things you'll have to give me artistic license for, such as grouping Paranormal under Fantasy, rather than giving it its own classification.  And I'm surprised to see that despite reading a load of Stephen King and James Herbert as a teen, I haven't got any Horror listed.  That's probably the only addition that I would make.

And, you will notice that some of the links give more than just books listed, especially in the non-fiction list, but you'll just have to cope with scrolling down to find the books for those.

So here is the list of classifications, so that if you did want to find something quickly, you can either click the link below, or the word cloud.

Fiction:
Adventure
Chick-Lit
Childrens
Classic
Cosy
Dystopia
Fantasy
Horror (No link yet, as there are no books yet)
Mystery
Romance
Sci-Fi
Thriller
YA

Non-Fiction:
Bible
Childrens
Christianity
Feminism
Non-Fiction
Real Life
Recipe
Weightloss

Catriona by Robert Louis Stevenson

 Catriona is the second David Balfour book after Kidnapped, which I reviewed last month.

The blurb says:

First published in 1893, "Catriona" (published in the USA as "David Balfour") is Robert Louis Stevenson's sequel to his classic "Kidnapped". 
"Catriona" takes up the story of David Balfour's adventures where "Kidnapped" leaves off. It is a fictional account of real-life historical events that took place in 18th Century Scotland, including the Appin murder, which was committed just after the 1745 Jacobite rising.

The novel follows David Balfour’s attempts to secure Alan Breck Stewart and James Stewart’s innocence for the murder of Colin Roy, the “Red Fox”

I am really glad I continued reading the saga of David Balfour.  This book is ultimately a romance as David pursues "grey eyes" Catriona, but there is as much intrigue and convolution in it, as in the first book.  David has to learn how to negotiate his way with cunning between legal professionals and those in power with the clans of Scotland, in a bid to prove his friends' innocence for the Appin murder. Meanwhile, he gets schooled by the daughter of one in power, on the ways of dressing and behaving, such that he would fit in higher society, that becomes a man who now owns an estate.

It is a good book, and I would recommend reading it either immediately, or soon after, reading Kidnapped, just so that your brain doesn't have to concentrate too hard with the older English and Scottish dialects that are used within.

Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

Every year I try to read a classic fiction book that I haven't read before, and this year I chose Kidnapped, which is also my K in my A-Z of Fiction Titles.

The blurb says:

‘I have seen wicked men and fools, a great many of both; and I believe they both get paid in the end; but the fools first.’

Orphaned as a young teenager, Lowlander David Balfour’s only relative is his guardian and uncle, Ebenezer. Ill-thought of and disliked by many, it’s not long before Ebenezer betrays his nephew and David finds himself trapped aboard a ship.

He soon strikes up a friendship with fugitive stranger and Scottish Highlander Alan Breck and becomes embroiled in the fierce Jacobite struggle against English rule. A tale of high-seas adventure, loyalty and fighting, the complex relationship between Alan and David stops Stevenson’s novel from becoming ‘just’ a boys adventure novel.

Given that this book was written in 1886 and set in 1751, I found this book both easy to read and thoroughly enjoyable.

The book follows the life of David Balfour who, after the death of his parents, goes to claim his inheritance - a country estate.  On arrival at this estate, it is soon determined that it is currently inhabited by his previously-unknown uncle, who wishes to keep the estate for himself.

Uncle Ebenezer tricks David into going on board a ship, which quickly sets sail for the Americas, where he is to be sold to a plantation owner.  (Un)Fortunately, David finds himself shipwrecked on the west coast of Scotland, and much of the book is about his adventures as he tries to return home.

I really recommend this book.  Since finishing it earlier today, I've discovered it was written as a Boy's Adventure Novel, but I can see no reason why it wouldn't equally appeal to girls.  (I'm a girl.  I liked it.)
It is written from David Balfour's perspective, who fortunately is well educated in English, and where he is talking to people who speak in a Scottish dialect, either it is fairly well-known words (kenn = knowledge, for example) or a translation is provided. Phew!

Instead of starting my L book, I have bought the sequel so I can continue following David in his adventures.

The Grandfather Clock by Jonathan Kile

The Grandfather Clock was my K in my reading of books chosen alphabetically by order.  I only had the cover to go by and was hoping this would be a scifi, time travelling mystery of a novel - but it wasn't. 

 

Instead, it's about Michael Chance who finally breaks up with a fiancee that is no good for him, and decides to seize the day.  This starts with him travelling to the other side of America to pick up the grandfather clock - a family heirloom - and drive back home.  On the way, after some soul searching, he makes some life choices that result in him flying around the world, meeting a French woman, and trying to find out how an artefact that was stolen by the Nazis could end up in his possession.

The blurb says:

Transporting a family heirloom across the country seemed like an easy task for disillusioned Michael Chance. But before he can cross the Mississippi, the secrets of his family’s grandfather clock and a mysterious French woman put him on an uncertain path. The life Michael knew is about to be left behind as he searches for answers amid a dangerous conspiracy that will lead him from the museums of Paris to Nazi havens in Argentina.

Now, the story itself is quite good.  It was gripping, and though it went speedily in places (whoosh and months had gone by), it was well written and enjoyable.  I confess to not knowing my history, but I can imagine the author has done his research in this area, so it would be particularly exciting for those who have an interest in this area.

My one complaint, however, is so big that I'm surprised nobody mentioned it to him before he published the book - my issue is with the title.  The Grandfather Clock is barely mentioned, and ultimately not that important.  Yes, at the end of the book, the author tries to tie it all up together, but it felt very forced.  Without giving away any spoliers, I would prefer it if the book were titled "The Heirloom" or similar, as then people reading would assume the author was inferring the clock, until they encounter the true subject of the book.

 

Sons of Encouragement by Francine Rivers

This book was lent to my by a friend from church.  It is fiction, but follows the stories of five Biblical men and imagines what they would have thought, said and done.  It is very cleverly written, and really brought the characters to life, as well as linking in other people who were around at the time, and plenty of Biblical truths during their conversations.  At the end of each book (this is actually five books in one), there is a chapter that can be used for personal or collective Bible study or reflection - I confess to having skipped straight over those bits.  I was reading this as my fiction book, rather than a study book.

The blurb says:

In this five-book compilation of the popular Sons of Encouragement series, the New York Times bestselling author of Redeeming Love and A Voice in the Wind illuminates the lives of biblical men who stood behind heroes of the faith and quietly changed eternity.

Aaron--the priest who stood in Moses' shadow but had the courage to cover his brother's fears.
Caleb--the warrior whose words stirred men's hearts and brought God's people to the Promised Land.
Jonathan--the prince whose humility led him to befriend the man who would become king in his place.
Amos--the prophet who heard when God called and spoke to a nation unwilling to listen.
Silas--the scribe who surrendered his wealth to record God's Word, even as those around him were silenced.

Each faithfully sought God in the shadows of His chosen leaders. They answered God's call to serve without recognition or fame. And they gave everything, knowing their reward might not come until the next life. Be challenged by these faithful men whose stories we must never forget.

Each novella includes an in-depth Bible study, perfect for personal reflection or group discussion.

At first I found the book to be very slow, and if I'm honest, I didn't like Caleb's story to be immediately after Aaron's because I felt that a bit too repetitive.  (Caleb's and Aaron's stories are interlinked, and the order of these books follow the order of the Bible, so chronologically it is correct.)  However, I think both of these points could be because I was reading a real book (dun dun dunnnnnn!), and being five books in one, it is a hefty size!  In the end, I bought the Kindle version myself, returning the original to my friend, and that made everything go a lot smoother and much more enjoyable.

The five books are all independent, and follow secondary characters to those written about in the Bible itself.  It allows for some poetic license, but Francine really brings the characters and struggles of these people to the forefront.  I particularly enjoyed the story about Amos.  In the Bible, Amos is a fairly short book, all about prophesy, encouraging the Israelites to repent and return to God.  There is not much there about the character of Amos himself, so it was good to spend some time thinking about what he could have been like as a person, following God's will, spreading a message that many others did not want to hear.

Would I recommend this book? Yes.  I'd go so far as to say that you don't have to be a Christian to enjoy these stories.  If you have the slightest interest in the Bible or ancient history, then this book would be a good read to help set the scene and see the different challenges that would have been faced in those times, but even if you don't, the writing is good enough to draw you into the story and relate to their experiences.  I do have to repeat that this is fiction, but highly recommend that if you enjoy it, you read the Bible itself afterwards, so you can see how accurate it is for yourself.

Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb

This past week I have been really busy, so I hadn't finished reading my 50 chapters of the Bible, which in turn meant I hadn't read as much of my current fiction book as I would have liked.  Not only that, but once a year (roughly) I read a Classic, as there are many great books that I haven't read.  However, as it the case with this one, the language is slightly old fashioned so requires a bit more concentration than some of the easier to read books, so that makes me read it even slower.

So, I thought I would give a review of a book (and series) that I have read in the past.  I only discovered this author around 5 years ago, because the first book which I'll review below, was free on Kindle.  As I've said in previous book reviews, most the books I have are free - and then I get hooked and end up buying the rest of the series, as I did in this case.  Then I read through all the books of all the series so fast (even with books by other authors in between) that I ended up waiting and having to pre-order the final book back in 2017.  These books were so good, that I still remember all the stories and characters and think of them as part of my life.  (Yes, I am sad/geeky enough that when I read a good book it impacts me deeply.)

This 'series' of books, is actually a collection of 5 trilogies (where one trilogy is actually a tetralogy...).  Whilst the trilogies can be read in any order, I just happened to read them in the correct order, and so I would recommend that.  I will list them all below, in order, and you can make your mind up yourself.

The first book, of The Farseer Trilogy, is called Assassin's Apprentice.  It starts when a young boy, Fitz - named because he is the bastard son of a royal - is removed from him home and taken to the castle.  As the illegitimate son of a prince, Fitz is sent to be looked after by the stableman Burrich.  Eventually, Fitz meets the mysterious Chade, the royal assassin, who trains Fitz up in his art.


The blurb says:

The kingdom of the Six Duchies is on the brink of civil war when news breaks that the crown prince has fathered a bastard son and is shamed into abdication. The child’s name is Fitz, and his is despised.

Raised in the castle stables, only the company of the king’s fool, the ragged children of the lower city and his unusual affinity with animals provide Fitz with any comfort.

To be useful to the crown, Fitz is trained as an assassin; and to use the traditional magic of the Farseer family. But his tutor, allied to another political faction, is determined to discredit, even kill him. Fitz must survive: for he may be destined to save the kingdom.

This is fantasy at its best, imo.  There are kings and castles, magic and mystery, friendships and rivalries, love and battles, dragons and prophets, death and birth.  If you like any of these things in your fantasy, you'll learn to love them all, as the stories of each character is woven beautifully throughout the series.  As you read more books, you'll come to a new understanding of what happened in the earlier books and why, as revelations, twists and turns keep the story fresh and alive.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a bit of escapism.

Here is the list of books in the series.

The Farseer Trilogy
Assassin's Apprentice
Royal Assassin
Assassin's Quest

Liveship Traders Trilogy
Ship of Magic
The Mad Ship
Ship of Destiny

The Tawny Man Trilogy
Fools Errand
The Golden Fool
Fool's Fate

The Rain Wild Chronicles
Dragon Keeper
Dragon Haven
City of Dragons
Blood of Dragons

The Fitz and the Fool Trilogy
Fool's Assassin
Fool's Quest
Assassin's Fate

King Arthur and Her Knights books 4-6,7 by K M Shea

Yesterday, I wrote a post reviewing the first 3 books in this series, and ended saying I was about to buy the next set.  Well, I did, and the book after that!

Spoiler Alert:
Though there's no spoilers of these books in the review ahead, if you want absolutely no inkling about what happened in the first book (beyond what I wrote yesterday), don't read any further!

So the next 3 books in the series are called Embark, Enlighten and Endeavor. By the time I was reading this book, I was hooked and needed to find out what happened next.  Britt's biggest secret, her gender, is finally found out and spreads throughout her knights. She has to try and regain their trust and loyalty, whilst facing other enemies.

The blurb says:

Britt Arthurs has finally settled into her role as the substitute King Arthur. She’s even made peace with her growing feelings for her surprisingly young and handsome wizard advisor, Merlin. If only it could last. 

It took two years for Britt to be crowned King of Britain, raise Camelot, and establish the Round Table. It takes only a moment to bring everything crashing down on her. 

When Britt's biggest secret--her true gender--is revealed, she realizes that there is a price for her lies. For the knights of Camelot--whose loyalty she has won through blood, sweat, and tears--might never forgive her.

Perhaps even more devastating, at a time when Britt needs him most, Merlin becomes aware of her love and pushes her away in the most painful of ways. Merlin won’t let anything, including his own heart, stand in his way of a united Britain. Or so he tells himself.

Can Britt reclaim her knights’ loyalty and reconcile with the wizard who she loves as more than a counselor?

When I finished these three books, even though I had only bought them that day (yes, I'm a fast reader, but was still 370 pages) I had to buy the final book so that I knew how the story concluded.

By this time, Britt finally feels at home in Camelot and settled in this century. Endings is a fitting title at the end of this series as it tries to bring all the threads to a satisfying conclusion.  However, life is never easy for our hero, and she faces the might of Rome as the Emperor tried to conquer Britain.  Not only that, she had to watch as Merlin pretends to fall in love with Lady Vivien.

The descriptions says:

Peace never lasts. Britt has finally settled into her life as King Arthur. Her knights know her real identity, her lands are are free from war, and she has friends and a family she loves. 

But all of this is threatened when the Roman Emperor invades.

Merlin thought Rome was his greatest fear, but as he finally recognizes his own feelings for Britt he discovers a greater terror: Britt coming to harm. Merlin will do anything to protect her, even if it means distracting the evil magic user, Lady Vivien, by acting the part of her lovesick fool. 

Old enemies and allies make an appearance as Britt forges new alliances for the sake of the impending war and tests her knights as never before. In order to repel the Romans and assure Camelot's survival, Britt must achieve Merlin's greatest ambition and unite all of Britain. 

Will she succeed, or will she fall on the battlefield?

I like a book with a decent ending where everything gets neatly wrapped up.  However, there are still twists and turns.  In my mind I guessed how the story would wrap up, and I was wrong.  Some parts were on the right lines, but in a different way to what I was expecting.  I was happy with the ending, and pleased I read the series.

King Arthur and Her Knights by K M Shea

I am going through my kindle, and trying to read more of the saved books, rather than buying new books every time I get a voucher (such as for Christmas).


So, I chose this book because I was interested to explore the idea of King Arthur being a woman.  I didn't expect this book to start in modern times, and it is actually due to Merlin's magic that a woman is unexpectedly taken back in time, and told she is to be the new king.  Only Merlin and her closest knights are aware of her real gender.


The blurb says:

In a place and time not her own, one woman must risk everything to protect her life, her kingdom, and her heart.

Britt doesn’t want to be a leader, and she definitely doesn’t want to pretend she is the legendary King Arthur. But history has other plans.

A magical summons back through time lands Britt into the schemes of the surprisingly young and handsome wizard Merlin. He has some bad news: the real Arthur has disappeared, and the sword in the stone has chosen Britt to take his place. 

But life in ancient Britain isn’t safe. The kingdom is fragmented, with enemies on all sides, and there’s little chance for mercy if Britt’s real identity and gender is exposed. Britt will soon find herself fighting for her life again and again on behalf of her people.

And then there’s Merlin. Focused on his goal to unite Britain, he’s oblivious of Britt’s growing feelings for him. Or so she thinks. But what future can they have in a world that only sees them as monarch and confidant?

Don’t miss this collection of the first three stories in the bestselling King Arthur and Her Knights series plus exclusive bonus content not available anywhere else.

The finished King Arthurs and Her Knights series is based on Arthurian legends and lore. It is sprinkled with humor, love, and more than a dash of magic. If you enjoy strong characters and tales about the Knights of the Round Table, check out the King Arthurs series today!

I found it a bit difficult to get into initially, mainly because it wasn't what I was expecting.  I would also say that I don't think I'm the intended demographic; I would say this is more a book for teenagers or young adults, but still can be enjoyed.  It is easy to read, however, and the books are much shorter than I expected.  I think there is scope for the author to either expand the books a bit (delve into the lives of the characters a bit more), or collate some of the books together.  But was enjoyable enough that I have just purchased the second set (books 4-6) in the series.