Hello my book friends and welcome to the February edition of APageBookClub, where every turn of the page leads to new adventures and unforgettable stories! As the winter chill lingers, I think there's nothing cosier than curling up with a good book, and this month's line up promises to whisk you away to distant lands, unravel mysteries, and stir your imagination. From heart-pounding thrillers to heart warming tales of love and resilience, February has been a whirlwind of bookish delights I managed to read 6 books all of which were either 4 or 5 stars. Join me as I take you through the captivating worlds and unforgettable characters that have graced my bookshelf this month. So, set your scene grab your favourite mug of coffee, settle into your comfiest reading nook, with your cosy blanket and lovely smelling candle, and let's settle down and see what Book Recommendations from my February reads will catch your attention.
Let me know what your favourite set up is to make sure you have an enjoyable read?
Please let me know.
Love Alis x
Here are my February book recommendations let me know what you think.
Title: House of Dreams
Author: Mark Stibbe
Genre: Romance Historical
Date Published: 2023
Book Length: 436
Format: Paperback supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: Tony Lawson is a world-famous dream therapist, but he hasn’t dreamed in years, and he needs more therapy than he can give. On the day his divorce is finalised, he is driving past a village when he sees a large old house for sale. Walking through the gates, he is captivated by its history and mystery. That night, he starts dreaming again. Drawn by its magic, Tony buys the property and discovers it once belonged to Queen Catherine Parr. As the house tells more and more of its story in Tony’s dreams, Tony is led by both the living and the dead to a startling and seismic discovery – one that will transform both the house of his soul and the soul of his house. House of Dreams is a magical tale about a 500-year-old Tudor house - its ghosts, its traumas, its treasures, and its secrets. It may only have two storeys, but it tells many tales. After reading House of Dreams, you will never see houses in the same way again.
My Thoughts: The House of Dreams by Mark Stibbe starts of in a glorious manner by introducing people slowly. I loved Rakesh the neighbour in Chelsea who seemed so calm you almost felt it oozing of off the page.
The descriptive verse is exquisite the way Stibbe bounces words around makes them sing on the pages and draws you in.
The main protagonist Tony Lawson is a well thought out character, while reading you can almost feel his pain, angst, and insecurities a testament to Stibbes writing prowess.
The House of Dreams has everything, humour that tickles your funny bone, love that tugs at your heart strings, sadness that will make you want to weep and drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat and characters that leap of the page and into your heart. I loved the switches between past and present woven seamlessly through dreams it added a captivating layer of depth and intrigue to the narrative. I laughed and cried throughout; it was an emotional roller coaster that I wanted to rush through to the end but I also wanted to savour every page.
In conclusion a 5***** star book that has it all and I highly recommend.
Title: The Flinck Connection
Author: Estelle Ryan
Genre: Thriller, Crime, Mystery
Series: Book 4 of 16 in the Genevieve Lenard Series
Date Published: 2014
Book Length: 358
Format: E book purchased myself
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: A murdered politician. An unsolved art heist. An international conspiracy. A cryptic online message leads nonverbal communications expert Doctor Genevieve Lenard to the body of a brutally murdered politician. Despite being ordered not to investigate, Genevieve and her team look into this vicious crime. More online messages follow, leading them down a path lined with corruption, a sadistic assassin, an oil scandal and one of the biggest heists in history—the still unsolved 1990 Boston museum art theft worth $500m. The deeper they delve, the more evidence they unearth of a conspiracy implicating someone close to them, someone they hold in high regard. With a deadline looming, Genevieve has to cope with past and present dangers, an attack on one of her team members and her own limitations if she is to expose the real threat and protect those in her inner circle.
My Thoughts: "The Flinck Connection" by Estelle Ryan was my book clubs Book of the month and was a whirlwind of intrigue, mystery, and pulse-pounding suspense!
The main protagonist Dr. Genevieve Lenard, is a great character and takes centre stage in a riveting plot that kicks off with a cryptic online message leading to a grisly murder scene. From there, it's a rollercoaster ride through the underbelly of corruption, art theft, and international conspiracies.
What sets "The Flinck Connection" apart is its masterful weaving of complex characters and intricate plotlines. I absolutely love Genevieve and her team who are not just investigators; they're brilliantly flawed individuals navigating treacherous waters while facing their own demons. As they peel back layers of deception, I was kept on the edge of my seat, trying to unravel the truth alongside them.
Ryan's writing is sharp and evocative, painting vivid scenes that leap off the page. The tension is there with each turn, and just when you think you've figured it out, another twist comes along.
What I think truly elevates "The Flinck Connection" is its ability to leave a lasting impact. Long after the final page is turned, I cannot get enough of this series and I found myself thinking about the intricacies of the plot and the depth of the characters. And let's not forget the lingering sense of unease about the world around us—a testament to Ryan's skill in crafting a story that resonates long after the last word is read.
So, my fellow book lovers, if you're craving a five-star read that will keep you guessing until the very end, look no further than "The Flinck Connection." Trust me, after experiencing this literary thrill ride, you'll never see the world the same way again.
Title: What We Thought We Knew
Author: Claire Dyer
Genre: Contemporary Literary
Publisher: Vanguard Press
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 280
Format: Paperback supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: Four children, three marriages, two secrets, and one unfathomable tragedy: the families at numbers two, four and six Penwood Heights are connected by work, friendship, the loss of a child and a secret truth which has sat in the bedrock of their lives for years. In the centre of this tight-knit group is Faith, who believes her job is to act as a paperweight, keeping them all safe. And she does this until someone from her past reappears and threatens to sabotage everything. And, as the pieces fall, these families, these friends, realise that what they thought they knew about one another was nothing more than make-believe. They also discover that trust is illusory and for Faith, at least, that keeping other people's secrets can be more dangerous than keeping our own.
My Thoughts: What We Thought We Knew by Claire Dyer is a book full of emotion. People’s lives, their regrets, what if’s and if only. Running through the book is deep sadness through loss and secrets kept you wonder what they are, but I made a stab in the dark at the backdrop of the lives of the characters.
I did get slightly confused about the couples to start with, who was with whom, which children were with which couple, but it soon became clear.
Dyer’s prose opens up throughout the book as a revelation delicately unveiling the complexities of the friendships between the three couples and the tremendous weight of what is hidden and unsaid. The book moves back and forth between past and present, bringing the secrets to bare. Adding depth to the story. Her keen observation of human emotion is evident on every page as she masterfully navigates the depth of grief and betrayal, I wondered if there would be any way out for any of them, which shows my own connection to the characters. As Dyer unfolds the layers and the past comes crashing through the door of the present, What We Thought We Knew becomes a poignant reflection on trust and keeping the secrets of others, what would be the right decision – to tell or not to tell. I found myself enraptured by Dyers words on the pages as she captured the nuances of human experience. I felt the vulnerabilities of each person deeply. It made me feel sad and I cried at the time of healing out of relief and hope.
In conclusion, Claire Dyers novel is a testament reminding us of the shared experiences and bonds made that can define us. It is a tale of love, loss, secrets and forgiveness that will linger long after the last page has been read.
Title: Blood Among The Threads
Author: David Ebsworth
Genre: Historical, Crime, Mystery Thriller
Publisher: Silverwood Books
Date Published: 2023
Book Length: 335
Format: Paperback supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it and highly recommend
About Book: He only sought the truth. But some truths are best left buried. Wrexham, 1876. Meet Alfred Neobard Palmer, an unlikely hero. "It was a death which had brought him here. Death by snake venom, of all things." Palmer – and his more courageous sweetheart, young Ettie Francis. A series of accidental deaths which increasingly seem – well, more than simply accidental. Deaths luring Palmer and Ettie, slowly but surely, towards a terrifying climax through the treacherous waters of the North Wales coast. But can those deaths truly be linked to the huge coverlet on display at Wrexham's magnificent Art Treasures Exhibition? A patchwork of images both Biblical and bewitching. And is there, literally, blood among the coverlet's threads?
My Thoughts: Blood Among The Threads by David Ebsworth is an historical, mystery, crime thriller and as I read through the first thing that struck me is the writing style. It felt true to the time period and so easily transported me back to Victorian England, I could almost feel I was there from the beginning as Ebsworth draws you in with each page moving through layers of intrigue and mystery. I loved the backdrop of the Art Treasures exhibition it added a depth to the mystery and for all of her faults and foibles I loved the character Bethan Thomas. Ebsworth made her come alive with his vivid description and at times she even made me chuckle although I was not sure I was meant to.
The descriptions of the time Ettie and Alfred Neo moved along the streets of Wrexham made the journey come alive a testament, I think again to Ebsworth’s writing. I also enjoyed the character Ettie she was a formidable female and in the backdrop of 1857 she captivated me with her strength breathing life into the pages with her determination and unbelievable spirit, I just wished that Alfred Neo would stop dithering at times, but it just showed how involved in the story line I was.
In conclusion, a great Victorian Mystery with the writing allowing me to immerse myself in the period, vivid characters with some humour along the way. A must for lovers of a good Victorian Mystery that is filled with intrigue and will keep you on the edge of your seat.
Title: Maybe Its About Time
Author: Neil Boss
Genre: Humour, Contemporary
Proceeds: All royalties from Neil Boss go to Gingerbread Charity
Date Published: 2022
Book Length: 552
Format: Paperback supplied by Love Books Tours in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 5***** I loved it, and highly recommend
About Book: Two people trapped in their different worlds. One by wealth and one by poverty. Twenty years working for The Firm has given Marcus Barlow everything he wants but has taken his soul in return. Finding a way to leave has become an obsession.
Claire Halford’s life hits rock bottom when she is caught stealing food from Tesco Express. Left alone by her husband with two small children and an STI, her suicide music is starting to play louder in her head.
A chance meeting brings them together. As a mystery virus from China starts to run riot across the country, their world’s collide and they find they have more in common than they knew.
Set in the early months of 2020, Maybe It’s About Time is a story about the difficulty of changing lives for the better. Starting as a funny and satirical view of the egocentric world of professional services, it gives way to a heart-warming story of an unlikely friendship that rejuvenates Marcus and Claire, giving them both hope for a better future.
My Thoughts: Maybe It’s About Time by Neil Boss is a book from two very different perspectives. When I received the book, I was a little overwhelmed as it is 540 pages long. But Neil Boss’s writing is witty and dotted with ironic humour that made me smile all throughout. So, it became a very easy read.
I followed each of the main protagonists with intrigue as Neil Boss’s descriptions and way with words made them come alive and although they are worlds apart on the economic scale they don’t seem too far apart on a more grounded level and early in the book I felt sorry for them both and wondered where the story was going to take them. The chapters have the dates at the end, and it felt like a countdown to doomsday as my mind went back to the time just before covid and I remember the warning signs that came into our lives as we all went about our daily routines.
The chapters are long and that sometimes negated the tension building, and I did sometimes find myself in the early part of the book willing the chapter to end. I enjoyed the witty put downs in Marcus’s head, they made me laugh.
Maybe Its About Time is a brilliant mixture of completely different characters trying to get through life in the best way possible, the main group of characters are all caring and sympathetic in their own indomitable way which warmed my heart
I found the book mesmerising, thinking back to how I remember the time, but reading others’ views. The book had everything sadness, wit, humour along with thought provoking subjects aplenty. It also brought back memories of lockdown that I still can’t quite believe happened. The book highlighted for me that there are people who care out there when times are tough.
In conclusion, maybe Its About Time is a funny, sad look at a period in time that we will all never forget. The writing is a superb look at life, the characters are well developed each with there own unique flaws. I laughed and cried and there was certainly surprises that I was not expecting. A great first book from Neil Boss that I fully recommend.
Title: My Perfect Family
Author: Melanie Price
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Publisher: Wendlebury
Date Published: 2024
Book Length: 282
Format: E Book supplied by Love Book Tours in return for an honest review
Star Rating: 4**** I liked it a lot and recommend
About Book: My mother is dead. I think I killed her .Growing up, I tried to fit into my mother, Suzannah’s, new picture-perfect family when she married Glenn. But I couldn’t compete with my new stepsister Zara with her bright blue eyes and angelic blonde curls. As soon as possible, I left to live the life of my dreams on the other side of the world. I’d wanted to start afresh. Away from all the mistakes of my past...But now I've returned home to repair my burned bridges. I'd hoped maybe we could finally become the perfect family my mother always dreamed of. Instead, I wake to a nightmare. My mother has been found dead after an accident. And I can’t remember where I was last night. But I’m covered in bruises and have hazy memories of a terrible scream... We’d had our problems, but I would never have hurt her. Would I? When I come face to face with my stepfamily for the first time in over a year I realise once thing for certain: it wasn’t just an “accident”. Someone wanted her dead. But why, and who could have gone this far? What ever the answer I won't stop until I discover the truth. Because I can't trust a single person in this family of mine. All I know is that each of us has a secret. Every one of us is a suspect. Even me
My Thoughts: My Perfect Family by Melanie Price starts with a dreadful event and then works its way through how that happened and who did it. The book races through at speed with twists and turns at every junction and it oozes with the emotion of the trauma and I was willing everything to be right for Emily Olsen.
A couple of areas of description in the book seem a little woody, but it did not detract from the overall readability of the book. The book had short chapters which helped build tension and made for a fairly quick read.
My Perfect Family was embroiled in twists and surprises all the way through.
In conclusion a mystery involving a blended family that is fast paced with a few unexpected surprises. If you like a good mystery then this book is for you.
If any of the books I have read in February have inspired you to purchase them please click on the links provided, I do earn a small commission from you purchasing and thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you would like to contact me, you can via email at apagebookclub@gmail.com or via instagram at https://instagram.com/alisbookstagram-