Adding to Your TBR – August 2018

TBR – To Be Read tower/list 

TBR August 2018. August is here and I have escaped the South African winter to my other home in tropical Indonesia. I am struck yet again how lucky I am to have the chance to travel and am itching to get out with my camera. New inspiration everywhere.

 

Girl at the Grave by Teri Bailey Black

Expected: 7 August 2018

With the creepy cover and the promise of the title I wonder if this a murder mystery with ghosts?

Goodreads   Amazon.com   Amazon(UK)   Book Depository   Worderly   Loot.co.za(SA)

 

Valentine has spent years trying to outrun her mother’s legacy. But small towns have long memories, and when a new string of murders occurs, all signs point to the daughter of a murderer. 

Only one person believes Valentine is innocent—Rowan Blackshaw, the son of the man her mother killed all those years ago. Valentine vows to find the real killer, but when she finally uncovers the horrifying truth, she must choose to face her own dark secrets, even if it means losing Rowan in the end. – Abstract from Goodreads

 

 

 

Goodbye, Paris by Anstey Harris

Expected: 7 August 2018

Described on Goodreads as ‘Jojo Moyes meets Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine‘ which combined with excellent good early reviews promises an emotional book that will be difficult to put down.

Goodreads   Amazon.com   Amazon(UK)   Book Depository   Worderly   

 

Grace once had the beginnings of a promising musical career, but she hasn’t been able to play her cello publicly since a traumatic event at music college years ago. Since then, she’s built a quiet life for herself in her small English village, repairing instruments and nurturing her long-distance affair with David, the man who has helped her rebuild her life even as she puts her dreams of a family on hold until his children are old enough for him to leave his loveless marriage.

But when David saves the life of a woman in the Paris Metro, his resulting fame shines a light onto the real state of the relationship(s) in his life. Shattered, Grace hits rock bottom and abandons everything that has been important to her, including her dream of entering and winning the world’s most important violin-making competition. Her closest friends–a charming elderly violinist with a secret love affair of his own, and her store clerk, a gifted but angst-ridden teenage girl–step in to help, but will their friendship be enough to help her pick up the pieces?

Filled with lovable, quirky characters, this poignant novel explores the realities of relationships and heartbreak and shows that when it comes to love, there’s more than one way to find happiness. – Abstract from Goodreads

 

 

A Long Time Coming by Aaron Elkins

Expected: 7 August 2018

A art themed historical fiction mystery… This story sounds like it has a little of everything. Mixed early reviews so I am not sure about this one. Let me know what you think.

Goodreads   Amazon.com   Amazon(UK)   Audible(Audio)   Book Depository   Worderly   Loot.co.za(SA) 

 

Art curator Val Caruso is not a happy camper. His promotion has just been nixed, his divorce has become final, and he’s dug himself into a nice little rut for his fortieth birthday. The uplift? A trip to Milan to help Holocaust survivor Sol Bezzecca recover a pair of cherished sketches by Renoir. They’d once been given to Sol’s family by the then-unknown artist, looted by the Italian Fascist militia, and now after decades in hiding have turned up for auction. It’s Val’s job to get them back.

Unfortunately, his Italian adventure takes a dangerous turn when he becomes trapped in an intricate web that reaches back to World War II—and is still very sticky with art thieves, forgers, and somebody who wants Val out of the picture permanently. When the lost Renoirs are stolen yet again, Val is more determined than ever to hunt them down. The reward for reuniting an old man with his rightful past? Priceless.

But doing it is going to be murder. – Abstract from Goodreads

 

Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson

Expected: 7 August 2018

A new YA fantasy series always brings bookworms out of hiding. And this one is worth owning for the cover alone.

Goodreads   Amazon.com   Amazon(UK)   Audible(Audio)   Book Depository   Worderly   Loot.co.za(SA)

When the patriarch of the Ballenger empire dies, his son, Jase, becomes its new leader. Even nearby kingdoms bow to the strength of this outlaw family, who have always governed by their own rules. But a new era looms on the horizon, set in motion by a young queen, which makes her the target of the dynasty’s resentment and anger.

At the same time, Kazi, a legendary former street thief, is sent by the queen to investigate transgressions against the new settlements. When Kazi arrives in the forbidding land of the Ballengers, she learns that there is more to Jase than she thought. As unexpected events spiral out of their control, bringing them intimately together, they continue to play a cat and mouse game of false moves and motives in order to fulfil their own secret missions. – Abstract from Goodreads

 

A Ladder to the Sky by John Boyne

Expected: 9 August 2018

A psychological thriller from the author of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. If that wasn’t enough the Goodreads description of sacrificing souls will seal the decision. This is a must-read.

Goodreads   Amazon.com   Amazon(UK)   Audible(Audio)   Book Depository   Worderly   

 

A psychological drama of cat and mouse, A Ladder to the Skyshows how easy it is to achieve the world if you are prepared to sacrifice your soul.

If you look hard enough, you can find stories pretty much anywhere. They don’t even have to be your own. Or so would-be writer Maurice Swift decides very early on in his career.

A chance encounter in a Berlin hotel with celebrated novelist Erich Ackermann gives him an opportunity to ingratiate himself with someone more powerful than him. For Erich is lonely, and he has a story to tell. Whether or not he should do so is another matter entirely.

Once Maurice has made his name, he sets off in pursuit of other people’s stories. He doesn’t care where he finds them – or to whom they belong – as long as they help him rise to the top.

Stories will make him famous but they will also make him beg, borrow and steal. They may even make him do worse. – Abstract from Goodreads

 

See All the Stars by Kit Frick

Expected: 14 August 2018

The Goodreads description ”Part love story, part thriller, We Were Liars meets Goodbye Days in this suspenseful, lyrical debut’ promises another emotional and captivating read. I love the cover too!

Update: I loved this book. My favourite 2018 read. See my 5-star review

Goodreads   Amazon.com   Amazon(UK)   Book Depository   Worderly   Loot.co.za(SA)

 

It’s hard to find the truth beneath the lies you tell yourself.

THEN They were four—Bex, Jenni, Ellory, Ret. Electric, headstrong young women; Ellory’s whole solar system.

NOW Ellory is alone, her once inseparable group of friends torn apart by secrets, deception, and a shocking incident that changed their lives forever.

THEN Lazy summer days. A party. A beautiful boy. Ellory met Matthias and fell into the beginning of a spectacular, bright love.

NOW Ellory returns to Pine Brook to navigate senior year after a two-month suspension and summer away—no boyfriend, no friends. No going back. Tormented by some and sought out by others, troubled by a mysterious note-writer who won’t let Ellory forget, and consumed by guilt over her not entirely innocent role in everything and everyone she’s lost, Ellory finds that even in the present, the past is everywhere.

The path forward isn’t a straight line. And moving on will mean sorting the truth from the lies—the lies Ellory has been telling herself. – Abstract from Goodreads

 

A Touch of Gold by Annie Sullivan

Expected: 14 August 2018

I love retellings and twisted stories set in familiar worlds. I haven’t read any Midas retellings and am very excited for this one. The great early reviews are very persuasive.

Goodreads   Amazon.com   Amazon(UK)   Audible(Audio)   Book Depository   Worderly   

King Midas once had the ability to turn all he touched into gold. But after his gift—or curse—almost killed his daughter, Midas relinquished The Touch forever. Ten years later, Princess Kora still bears the consequences of her father’s wish: her skin shines golden, rumors follow her everywhere she goes, and she harbors secret powers that are getting harder to hide.

Kora spends her days locked in the palace, concealed behind gloves and veils, trying to ignore the stares and gossip of courtiers. It isn’t until a charming young duke arrives that Kora realizes there may be someone out there who doesn’t fear her or her curse. But their courtship is disrupted when a thief steals precious items from the kingdom, leaving the treasury depleted and King Midas vulnerable. Thanks to her unique ability to sense gold, Kora is the only one who can track the thief down. As she sails off on her quest, Kora learns that not everything is what it seems—not thieves, not pirates, and not even curses. She quickly discovers that gold—and the power it brings—is more dangerous than she’d ever believed.

Midas learned his lesson at a price. What will Kora’s journey cost? – Abstract from Goodreads

 

The Waiting Room by Emily Bleeker

Expected: 21 August 2018

A thriller full of secrets and mind-games.

Goodreads   Amazon.com   Amazon(UK)   Audible(Audio)   Book Depository   Worderly   

 

Ever since her husband’s death collided with the birth of her daughter, postpartum depression has taken hold of Veronica Shelton. She can’t sleep, can’t work, and can’t bear to touch her beautiful baby girl. Her emotional state is whispering lies in Veronica’s ear: You’re a bad mother. Your baby would be better off without you. But not everything can be reasoned away by Veronica’s despair. Can it?

After all, the break-in at her house happened. The disturbing sketches she found in her studio are real. So is the fear for her daughter’s safety—especially when Veronica comes home to a cold, silent nursery and a missing baby.

As she turns from victim into primary suspect, Veronica realizes that only she can find her daughter. Authorities aren’t helping. They’re only watching. Veronica’s concerned mother has suddenly vanished from her life. And a new friend seems to be keeping secrets from her too. Now, reality is waiting for Veronica in a dark place—because someone’s mind games have only just begun. – Abstract from Goodreads

 

Not Her Daughter by Rea Frey

Expected: 21 August 2018

Amazing early reviews and a timeless storyline promise great things.

Goodreads   Amazon.com   Amazon(UK)   Audible(Audio)   Book Depository   Worderly   

 

Emma Grace Townsend. Five years old. Grey eyes. Brown hair. Missing since June.

Emma Townsend is lonely. Living with her cruel mother and clueless father, Emma retreats into her own world of quiet and solitude.

Sarah Walker. Successful Entrepreneur. Broken-hearted. Abandoned by her mother. Kidnapper.
Sarah has never seen a girl so precious as the grey-eyed child in a crowded airport terminal–and when a second-chance encounter with Emma presents itself, Sarah takes her, far away from home. But if it’s to rescue a little girl from her damaging mother, is kidnapping wrong?

Amy Townsend. Unhappy wife. Unfit mother. Unsure she wants her daughter back.
Amy’s life is a string of disappointments, but her biggest issue is her inability to connect with her daughter. And now she’s gone without a trace.

As Sarah and Emma avoid the nationwide hunt, they form an unshakeable bond. But her real mother is at home, waiting for her to return–and the longer the search for Emma continues, Amy is forced to question if she really wants her back. – Abstract from Goodreads

 

Mirage by Somaiya Daud

Expected: 28 August 2028

The first in a series of the same name, Mirage has had extraordinarily good early reviews of Goodreads. For both fantasy and sci-fi fans, this promises to be popular.

Goodreads   Amazon.com   Amazon(UK)   Book Depository   Worderly  

 

In a star system dominated by the brutal Vathek empire, eighteen-year-old Amani is a dreamer. She dreams of what life was like before the occupation; she dreams of writing poetry like the old-world poems she adores; she dreams of receiving a sign from Dihya that one day, she, too, will have adventure, and travel beyond her isolated moon.

But when adventure comes for Amani, it is not what she expects: she is kidnapped by the regime and taken in secret to the royal palace, where she discovers that she is nearly identical to the cruel half-Vathek Princess Maram. The princess is so hated by her conquered people that she requires a body double, someone to appear in public as Maram, ready to die in her place.

As Amani is forced into her new role, she can’t help but enjoy the palace’s beauty—and her time with the princess’ fiancé, Idris. But the glitter of the royal court belies a world of violence and fear. If Amani ever wishes to see her family again, she must play the princess to perfection…because one wrong move could lead to her death. – Abstract from Goodreads

 

The Second Life of Ava Rivers by Faith Gardner

Expected: 28 August 2018

I love the sound of this dark story.

Goodreads   Amazon.com   Amazon(UK)   Book Depository   Worderly   

 

Ava’s disappearance was the crack in the Rivers family glacier. I wish I could explain to you how we were before, but I can’t because the before is so filmy and shadowed with the after.

The after is all Vera remembers. When her twin sister, Ava, disappeared one Halloween night, her childhood became a blur of theories, tips, and leads, but never any answers. The case made headlines, shocked Vera’s Northern California community, and turned her family into tragic celebrities. 

Now, at eighteen, Vera is counting down the days until she starts her new life at college in Portland, Oregon, far away from the dark cloud she and family have lived under for twelve years. But all that changes when a girl shows up at the local hospital. 

Her name is Ava Rivers and she wants to go home.

Ava’s return begins to mend the fractures in the Rivers family. Vera and Ava’s estranged older brother returns. Vera reconnects with Max, the sweet, artistic boy from her childhood. Their parents smile again. But the questions remain: Where was Ava all these years? And who is she now? – Abstract from Goodreads

 

Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Expected: 28 August 2018

A Second World War resistance story from a very popular YA author.

Goodreads   Amazon.com   Amazon(UK)   Audible(Audio)   Book Depository   Worderly   

 

Chaya Lindner is a teenager living in Nazi-occupied Poland. Simply being Jewish places her in danger of being killed or sent to the camps. After her little sister is taken away, her younger brother disappears, and her parents all but give up hope, Chaya is determined to make a difference. Using forged papers and her fair features, Chaya becomes a courier and travels between the Jewish ghettos of Poland, smuggling food, papers, and even people. 

Soon Chaya joins a resistance cell that runs raids on the Nazis’ supplies. But after a mission goes terribly wrong, Chaya’s network shatters. She is alone and unsure of where to go, until Esther, a member of her cell, finds her and delivers a message that chills Chaya to her core, and sends her on a journey toward an even larger uprising in the works — in the Warsaw Ghetto.

Though the Jewish resistance never had much of a chance against the Nazis, they were determined to save as many lives as possible, and to live – or die – with honor. – Abstract from Goodreads

 

Trust Me by Hank Phillippi Ryan

Expected: 28 August 2018

I love psychological thrillers and can’t wait for this one!

Goodreads   Amazon.com   Book Depository   Worderly    

 

An accused killer insists she’s innocent of a heinous murder.

A grieving journalist surfaces from the wreckage of her shattered life.

Their unlikely alliance leads to a dangerous cat and mouse game that will leave you breathless.

Who can you trust when you can’t trust yourself? – Abstract from Goodreads

 

 

 

 

 

The Fall of Gondolin (Middle-Earth Universe) by J.R.R. Tolkien & Christopher Tolkien (Illustrated by Alan Lee)

Expected: 30 August 2018

The chance to read a new J.R.R Tolkien book feels almost as exciting as if George R.R. Martin actually brought out the rest of The Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) books. A chance to return to Middle-Earth is even better. Thanks to Christopher Tolkien who gathered his father’s notes and drafts together into this book.

Goodreads   Amazon.com   Amazon(UK)   Book Depository   Worderly   

 

In the Tale of The Fall of Gondolin are two of the greatest powers in the world. There is Morgoth of the uttermost evil, unseen in this story but ruling over a vast military power from his fortress of Angband. Deeply opposed to Morgoth is Ulmo, second in might only to Manwë, chief of the Valar.

Central to this enmity of the gods is the city of Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable. It was built and peopled by Noldorin Elves who, when they dwelt in Valinor, the land of the gods, rebelled against their rule and fled to Middle-earth. Turgon King of Gondolin is hated and feared above all his enemies by Morgoth, who seeks in vain to discover the marvellously hidden city, while the gods in Valinor in a heated debate largely refuse to intervene in support of Ulmo’s desires and designs.

Into this world comes Tuor, cousin of Túrin, the instrument of Ulmo’s designs. Guided unseen by him Tuor sets out from the land of his birth on the fearful journey to Gondolin, and in one of the most arresting moments in the history of Middle-Earth, the sea-god himself appears to him, rising out of the ocean in the midst of a storm. In Gondolin he becomes great; he is wedded to Idril, Turgon’s daughter, and their son is Eärendel, whose birth and profound importance in days to come is foreseen by Ulmo. – Abstract from Goodreads