January 2025 Reading Round Up
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Finished Reads, Ratings & Reviews: 6 in total
I did really well throughout January with 6 finished reads, 4 of which were 5-star reads. I got to indulge in reading new books from a couple of my favourite authors - Richard Osman and Nita Prose and discover two authors who are making their way up my favourites list, namely Gemma Rogers and Georgina Clarke.
My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book.
I devoured this book in under 24 hours. I just couldn't put it down. From the very first paragraph, which beautifully set the stage for the rest of the book, I was enthralled with every page. I was totally along for the ride with Kelly after finding out at their wedding that her new husband was cheating on her with her best friend and the wife of his business partner.
The pacing is very quick and heart-stoppingly good as Kelly moves through the story, finding out that her husband is cheating on her and lying to her about so many things in their lives.
I can't recommend this book enough, but I highly suggest taking a morning or afternoon off before starting because once you read that first paragraph, you won't want to stop.
This is the first book I have read from Gemma Rogers, and I think she's about to become one of my favourites.
My Rating: 💜 💜 💜
This is one of the ARCs I was lucky enough to get recently.
This is a historical fiction book with murder and spooky goings on in Victorian London. It's very atmospheric, and the opening chapters set the scene for what will come. I found it to be a bit of a slow burn, but I enjoyed the mystery and the characters.
Death and the Harlot, Written By Georgina Clarke - Publication Date: 6th March 2025
My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜
I requested this ARC because it sounded very intriguing and has two of my favourite book genres: historical fiction and murder mystery. I was delighted to be approved for the ARC as this book delivers in spades.
I loved this book from start to finish. There were twists and turns that kept me turning pages. I flew through this book as I didn't want to put it down. It's a historical book with a murder mystery that kept me guessing to the very end.
We are in London in the year 1759. Lizzie Hardwicke works as a harlot at the bawdy house run by Mrs Farley. This gives her some protection from the danger of being a harlot on the streets. When one of her customers is found murdered, she is suspected of being responsible by the local police force. Determined to clear her name, she reluctantly joins forces with the magistrate's assistant, William Davenport.
Not only does this book walkthrough Lizzie's investigation into the murder, but it also delves into her life as a harlot working in the tough and dangerous world of London in the eighteenth century. She also shares why she became a harlot in the first place as her earlier life was vastly different and headed on a different path. We meet many interesting and very dubious characters, and any one could be the murderer.
This is the first book in a series of books surrounding the character of Lizzie Hardwicke. I can't wait to dive into the rest of the series after this fantastic introduction to the life and world of Lizzie Hardwicke. I just got the ARC for the second book in the series and I am so excited to start reading it.
My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜
Richard Osman is one of my go-to authors. He is one of those authors who, for me, always produces fantastic stories. When I lift one of his books I know I am in for an awesome ride, and this new series is no different. It's another fantastic book by Richard Osman. I can't wait to read more. The characters are well-fleshed out and quickly endearing. I love the teamwork between Amy, Steve and Rosie. I dare you not to fall in love with Steve.
The murder mystery aspect is beautifully paced and very engaging. It is a real page-turner, and very difficult to put down. The short chapters are fantastic, and something I love to see.
If you are looking for a fun ride of a book with murder, travelling, adorable characters and mystery on every page, then this is the book for you. The story will keep you guessing the identity of the murderer and those responsible until the very end. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Spellbound, Written by Georgia Leighton - Publication Date: 24th April 2025
My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜
This is one of my ARCs from Net Galley. After reading three murder mysteries back to back I needed something different, so I picked this one from my pile of ARCs I needed to read.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It's a lovely retelling of Sleeping Beauty, with twists and turns along the way to the events that everyone in the story had been dreading. The characters are believable, with many of them very likeable and relatable, even with their own individual issues and concerns.
In this book, we start on Mont Isle, where a royal baby is about to be born. When their daughter arrives, the Queen is determined to have a ceremony to welcome the new arrival. It is a tradition in her homeland, but there is something she is hiding. At the ceremony, a sorceress arrives to curse their daughter - in seventeen winters, the sorceress will return to kill the princess. Although devastated, the Queen leaves the ceremony, followed by her lady-in-waiting and a Masters Apprentice, who is training in the ways of magic to become a Master. The Queen goes back into labour and delivers another daughter. They agree that the Masters Apprentice will take the firstborn princess and keep her safe from the curse. If the sorceress can't find her, she can't kill her.
Taking the princess, the apprentice roams the kingdom, keeping them hidden and keeping the truth of her identity from the princess in her care. Life goes on for both parties until the seventeenth winter comes, and things reach a crescendo. Will the truth come out? Will the princess find out who she is? And can they stop the curse from being realised?
This is the debut novel from Georgia Leighton, and I'm looking forward to reading more of her books in the future.
My Rating: 💜 💜 💜 💜 💜
This is the second book in the ‘The Maid’ series. I read the first book a few months ago and loved it. This second book has been sitting on my Kindle Unlimited library for a while, and I finally decided to read it this month as I wanted to delve back into the world of Molly the Maid.
Molly is such a fantastic and endearing character. You can’t help falling in love with her. I love reading about the murder cases she is involved in that happen at the Regency Grand Hotel. This book is a welcome addition to the book series.
In this book, a beloved author dies under suspicious circumstances during an event at the Regency Grand Hotel, where he is due to make a big announcement. Many devoted fans of the author have gathered at the hotel in anticipation of the announcement, only to be devastated by the sudden death.
When a new maid working with Molly becomes the prime suspect, she decides she needs to solve the crime herself, which she does in her own special way.
One of my favourite things is the flashbacks to Molly’s time working with her dearly loved and missed Grandmother. It was also lovely to read about the start of Molly’s love for being a maid and her pure joy at being able to make something clean and beautiful again.
The third book in the series is coming out in April 2025, and I can’t wait.
To Be Finished:
I am making good progress with the books I am reading at the moment and will finish them next month, hopefully.
I am duel reading this ebook while listening to the audiobook. I love doing this with books based on actual history and people, even when it’s a funny book like this. To make it sweeter - it’s also read by the author, David Mitchell. I love his humour while talking about history.
Haven’t made any progress with this book in January, so it’s at the same place as in December.