Tag Archives: #bookstack

Reader’s Log 011: Book Stacks Part 4

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Acquiring books and reading them are entirely two different hobbies. I must say in the last few years, I have been working on curating my home library and working out what criteria I want to set to grow my stacks.

In this book stack series, I’m sharing books I’ve previously read and reviewed from NetGalley and want to obtain a physical copy for my home library.

I reviewed, “The House Between Tides” by Sarah Maine back in October 11, 2016 and I remember being really intrigued with the story. Imagine a house on a small island in Scottish Western Isles that is have prehistorical structures. Though, “The House Between Tides” is a modern story that blends with a story in the not too distant past. This story is about a woman who inherits a house that was owned by her relative Theo Blake who was a painter. The house is crumbling and basically in ruins. When human remains are discovered, her plans change…

I love these kinds of stories blended with mystery and atmospheric surroundings. I must confess, I have not read any of the author’s other works.  

About the Book:

Pub Date: Aug 02 2016 by Atria Books

Following the death of her last living relative, Hetty Deveraux leaves London and her strained relationship behind for Muirlan, her ancestral home in Scotland’s Outer Hebrides. She intends to renovate the ruinous house into a hotel, but the shocking discovery of human remains brings her ambitious restoration plans to an abrupt halt before they even begin. Few physical clues are left to identify the body, but one thing is certain: this person did not die a natural death.

Hungry for answers, Hetty discovers that Muirlan was once the refuge of her distant relative Theo Blake, the acclaimed painter and naturalist who brought his new bride, Beatrice, there in 1910. Yet ancient gossip and a handful of leads reveal that their marriage was far from perfect; Beatrice eventually vanished from the island, never to return, and Theo withdrew from society, his paintings becoming increasingly dark and disturbing.

What happened between them has remained a mystery, but as Hetty listens to the locals and studies the masterful paintings produced by Theo during his short-lived marriage, she uncovers secrets that still reverberate through the small island community—and will lead her to the identity of the long-hidden body.

Other books by Sarah Maine I would like to read:

Women of the Dunes

Beyond the Wild River

The Forgotten Shore

Check out the previous book picks in this blog series:

Reader’s Log 002: Book Stacks Part I

Reader’s Log 005: Book Stacks Part 2

Reader’s Log 009: Book Stacks Part 3

May this series inspire you and perhaps you will discover books you want to add to your stacks.

Stephanie Hopkins

Reader’s Log 009: Book Stacks Part 3

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Acquiring books and reading them are entirely two different hobbies. I must say in the last few years, I have been working on curating my home library and working out what criteria I want to set to grow my stacks.

In this book stack series, I’m sharing books I’ve previously read and reviewed from NetGalley and want to obtain a physical copy for my home library.

I reviewed, “The Summer Before the War” by Helen Simonson back in March of 2016 and remember enjoying it very much. At that time, I had not read many stories centered around World War I and this story inspired me to study the history more in-depth.

I believe this book will be a nice addition to my home library. I also would like to read the book again-of course. I’m curious as to what I would think of the story now.

Stephanie Hopkins

The Summer Before the War

by Helen Simonson

Pub Date: Mar 22 2016 by Random House

About the Book:

East Sussex, 1914. It is the end of England’s brief Edwardian summer, and everyone agrees that the weather has never been so beautiful. Hugh Grange, down from his medical studies, is visiting his Aunt Agatha, who lives with her husband in the small, idyllic coastal town of Rye. Agatha’s husband works in the Foreign Office, and she is certain he will ensure that the recent saber rattling over the Balkans won’t come to anything. And Agatha has more immediate concerns; she has just risked her carefully built reputation by pushing for the appointment of a woman to replace the Latin master.

When Beatrice Nash arrives with one trunk and several large crates of books, it is clear she is significantly more freethinking—and attractive—than anyone believes a Latin teacher should be. For her part, mourning the death of her beloved father, who has left her penniless, Beatrice simply wants to be left alone to pursue her teaching and writing.

But just as Beatrice comes alive to the beauty of the Sussex landscape and the colorful characters who populate Rye, the perfect summer is about to end. For despite Agatha’s reassurances, the unimaginable is coming. Soon the limits of progress, and the old ways, will be tested as this small Sussex town and its inhabitants go to war.

Check out the previous book picks:

Reader’s Log 002: Book Stacks Part I

Reader’s Log 005: Book Stacks Part 2

May this series inspire you and perhaps you will discover books you want to add to your stacks.

Stephanie Hopkins

Reader’s Log 008: Book Haul

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This past week and weekend we had family visit and Saturday we went to our local Half Price Books store and loaded up! It is not often I find more than two books on my wish-list in one visit. I scored four on my list and I’m quite happy with my finds. I also purchased two books from Costco and got, “The Frozen River” by Ariel Lawhon at our neighborhood’s free library where you swap out books. In total, I acquired seven books and started reading two of them over the weekend. With my galley reads, I’m all booked up and reading for a spectacular fall season of reading. I almost forgot to mention another book I was just approved for through NetGalley! So, I guess that makes eight books. I may hold off on reading, “The Frozen River” and pick it up late fall or early winter.

Do you have a book list or stacks of books you want to read this fall? What usually are your go-to genres for the season? I find that with my moods. I normally read mystery thrillers-as usual-set in the past, modern times or a dual time-line. For non-fiction reading, I like to read true crime and history. Funny that, because I tend to stick to that year round but the true crime more so in the fall. This doesn’t include my other history and research studies (Biblical, Ancient History, 1st Century AD and church fathers) I delve in year round. Yeah, that is a lot. I have a system in place and it works. I tend to be a bit of an information junkie one might say. That and I love studying history in general.

Stephanie Hopkins

NetGalley Book: Murder at the Manor

by Colin Wade

Pub Date Sep 28 2024 by The Book Guild

Description:

The Cotswold Manor Hotel welcomes an eclectic mix of guests, and on one fateful Friday evening, two witnesses overhear an argument in a neighbouring room, followed by a loud thud. The next morning, the maid discovers the room has been vacated; all that remains is a dried bloodstain on the carpet.

Detective Chief Inspector Chloe Taylor attends the scene, and soon after, a body is discovered in the lake on the hotel grounds, launching a murder inquiry. It soon becomes clear that the case is much bigger than she initially thought when one of her key suspects is linked to a terrorism investigation. A DCI from the Counter Terrorism Unit is quickly assigned to work alongside her.

As the investigation progresses, they are confronted by lies and deceit, suspicious characters, fake identities, and a case that threatens to spiral out of control. As DCI Taylor wrestles with the murder case and the politics of working with CTU, the mounting pressure leads her to make impulsive choices, putting her own life at risk.

Will she survive and solve the Murder at the Manor?

Reader’s Log 007: Book Stack

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I must say there is an art or juggling act sometimes in making sure you are meeting your reading goals. Mine change overtime depending on my schedule, mood and interests. Now that I’ve started back reviewing books on NetGalley, I’ve seriously have had to make big changes. The last couple of years, I’ve been reading books from my home library that I haven’t gotten to or have read many times already and enjoying revisiting them. I do try my best to reread Jane Eyre often.

So, how do I juggle NetGalley, books I haven’t read in my library and reread my favorites without burning out? Yeah, I’m still trying to figure that out. One thing that is really helping me to not feel overwhelm is to make sure I’m not reviewing new ARCs that are published close together. I generally read about an average of eight books per month give or take. Plus, I’m in the throes of Biblical background studies along with the early church Father’s and the 1st Century church. Those books are an ongoing read so I don’t generally count them in my completed reads for the year. Yeah, that is a lot of reading.

The book stack you see in the picture to the left are books I recently selected from my home library to read and decide if they are going to make a permanent place in my library. It is my goal to accomplish by the end of next year.

We’ve got a hurricane heading out way which will be a tropical storm by the time it hits our area. So, I’m trying to get as much computer work done just in case, we lose electricity and Wi-Fi. Praying for the people in the storms path.

On average, how many books do you read in a month or year?

Stephanie Hopkins