October look back

 After storm Amy

My meter square 

It's been all go in October 🤦‍♀️ really expensive month too we are starting the internal preparations to put the house up for sale in 2 years time. Dean the paint (as opposed to Dean the clean) came and did the stairwells and living room we are really pleased and it's really lightened up the space. We had to be ruthless about which pictures we put back up but that was also cathartic. 

I've had visitors!!! Lovely chum Kim came for a visit and brought presents which was so kind. She knows me too well 🤣🤣

I ordered stuff from little light stitchery

It really cheered me up to see this note inside

From my bedroom window 😊

I think its been longer than this!

But I also got a visit from Jacky 🎉🎉🎉🎉 and a new addition meet Horatio the healing hoglet all the way from Kyoto 💕

Chum Irene sent me this, I.loved making it, very calming to do

I caught up with Emma! We hugged and I got my hoodie 🥰

I'm standing outside on the balcony more and really enjoying it this was a night shot

Why yes I've been ordering wallpaper samples 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Autumnal colours are glorious 

I busted out my new adventures journal!!!

Because 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁

We've been on holiday!!! A lovely week up in Benderloch a cute wee cottage

October has been quite the month 

October furtle

 Well this is a bit different! Diamond art, my chum Irene gave me this kit, I've never tried it before but I loved it! Really easy to do quite mindful and very pretty

These are so cute, these are valentines Teddy bears from What a curly life. She does some gorgeous things. I made them for our anniversary, 15 years!

October reading and Storygraph

The colour of magic by Terry Pratchett

I read this when it first came out, I hesitated to re read it for years in case it wasn't as amazing as I remembered it. It was just as amazing. Terry Pratchett had a way with words and an imagination like no other, utterly fantastic 5 🌟

A good girls guide to murder by Holly Jackson on Libby 

Absolutely cracking story, wonderful narration 4.75 🌟

The Queen of thieves by Johan Rundberg

Really enjoying this series, Mika is a wonderfu character and her interactions with Valdemar the policeman are wonderful. Another engaging plot, it's nice to get some more hints about Mike's background 4🌟

Death at Balsam Bay by Maisie Graves

Thoroughly enjoyable mystery. Well written, tight plot with just enough twists and turns. Really good main characters, believable and relatable. 4🌟

Nemesis by Agatha Christie 

Absolute corker of a Miss Marple book. I like that she's in most of this story unlike some others. It's a classic Christie, perfect. 5🌟

Tribune of Rome by Robert Fabbri

Absolute cracker of a book, well written good pace, feel of historical authenticity, start of a good series 4 🌟

Murder under the festival lights by Olivia Crowe

It felt like parts of the plot were missing DNF

Bitter Harvest by Helena Marchmont 

Another cracker in this series, fabulous cosy series with very loveable main characters. I so enjoy seeing the backstory develop 5🌟

Meet me at worlds end by Jordan Rivet

I love this series this is a prequel/sequel but fits in perfectly with the first book, it's been a while since a series has gripped me so much. Great writing good pace believable characters just perfect 5 🌟

Out for blood by Deborah Masson

Really good follow up, its good seeing the back stories evolve. Ending felt a bit rushed with some things left unsaid or explained 3.75🌟

The adventures of Brother Cadfael on Audible by Ellis Peters

Just beautiful, listening to Derek Jacobi narration of these wonderful stories is such a treat 5🌟

Poetic justice by Fiona Forsyth

Just not for me DNF

Murder by ghostlight by JC Briggs

I do love this series but this isn't the best one. As others have noted it drags in the middle. It's a shame because its an intriguing premise 3.25 🌟

Echogenisis by Gary Gibson

Absolutely loved this, great premise, good pace. OK the characters are a bit stereotypical but that fits with the plot. Just a cracking read, am lining up the rest of the series 4🌟

Death at Aurora point by Maisie Graves

Really enjoyable addition to this series. I'm becoming even more engaged with the main characters, love seeing them develop. Enough twists and turns to keep engagement going, good pace. There's also a really intriguing thread running through the series and it's great to see that develop. Looking forward to the next one.

This was an ARC copy this is my honest review

4🌟

The Lamb by J.E. Clarkson

Firstly I really enjoyed this book. Cracking story, enjoyable characters but it's difficult to review without giving spoilers though. I gave a slightly lower score because there were some continuity errors, noticeable but not big enough to derail the plot.

But i did enjoy it enough to line up the next in the series 3.75 🌟

Disappearing scarecrow by Maisie Graves

This is a really sweet short story in the series, great fun nice pace 4🌟

Stockings and spells by Nancy Warren

A lovely addition to the series. I do love seeing the back story unfold a cracking mystery to boot 3.75 🌟

Burial rites by Hannah Kent

A very moving story and incredibly well written however I did find the pace a bit uneven and the ending a bit rushed. 3.75 🌟

Desolation by Keith Moray

I did enjoy this although I agree with other reviewers who say that it only took off when Ralph appeared. I did get confused at times between the characters and who was who. On the whole though Very enjoyable well plotted with a good pace 3.75 🌟

The gaslight stalker by David Field 

I did really enjoy this and liked the main characters but there were some things which grated slightly. Esther's stubborness towards the end was frustrating. Also the "ripper" plot felt a bit disjointed but overall an enjoyable read 3.5🌟

Murder in Tuscany by T.A. Williams

I was really conflicted about this one, there was obviously enough to keep me reading and not DNF ing it but at the end i was just left with a bad taste in my mouth. The threads of casual sexism and ageism (apparently 70 year old women should not know about sex 🤦‍♀️) were just too much which is a shame because without that it might have been a half way decent cosy mystery 2.75 🌟

So let's see what the wrap up graphics say?

So fewer books but more pages read 

I started another trial of KU which is reflected in the titles 

Only a couple of DNFs

I don't think I've included star ratings before,  fewer higher ratings reflect the KU trial im tsking more chances on untested authors

Wedding anniversary presents

 

I bought this kit from What  a curly life, she does such cute patterns and kits. It seemed ideal for our anniversary! And it was 💕

Diamond art from Irene

My lovely chum Irene gave me this kit it's diamond art which I've never done before. I really really enjoyed it, great fun and very easy and mindful to do

I did catch myself looking up kits but I really don't need another hobby !
 

October seasons

So welcome October! This is the far left corner of the garden and neither of us can remember what the tree is 🤦‍♀️ once it's blooming again i can look it up

October has been a lot cooler and darker, we have just had storm Amy, not too much damage just a longish power cut. Today it's cool and calm. The leaves are turning brown and falling off now but that is the way, new life will return

January

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August 

September 

October