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BYOBthon 1st-31st October 2018: My TBR


My BYOBthon TBR

BYOBthon 1st-31st October 2018


This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning, I get a commission if you purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

This October I'm taking part in the first #BYOBthon!

This readathon is hosted by @LostAndBoundBks with @AlwellPhaedra @BookQuester @ReaderOnTheRun and @thebrokenshelf
Here's my TBR video with what books I'll be reading to go with which of the challenges.


 


You might also like:  BookTubeAThon Day 1


About the books:


Fade to Black

In Fade to Black, the thrilling sequel to Blackout from David Rosenfelt, policeman Doug Brock helps a fellow victim of amnesia untangle a murder case and discovers he may not be as distant as he thinks.
After getting shot in the line of duty, New Jersey state police officer Doug Brock has been busy rebuilding his life. He’s reunited with his fiancé and started to get some of his memories back. He hopes he can continue to recover with the help of an amnesia support group and that the damage from his past isn’t permanent.
It isn’t until fellow group member Sean Conner approaches him after a meeting that Doug realizes the trouble is just beginning. Sean has discovered in his attic what can only be called a scrapbook of a murder victim, but he has no recollection of the girl’s identity or why he might have gathered this information. Doug agrees to help and convinces his captain to open what had been a cold case. When he discovers that he had a personal connection to this case, suddenly he’s questioning everything he thought he knew about the case, about Sean, and about his own past.
In the next page-turning thriller by David Rosenfelt, Doug Brock is back to delight readers and keep them guessing until the end.

Dark Rivers of the Heart

Will he be able to solve the mystery that has him running from the law? 


If you delight in the suspense of Stephen King and The Stranger by Harlan Coben chilled you to the bone (in the best possible way), you'll love Dark Rivers of the Heart - the classic thriller by Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Dean Koontz.

'As usual, Koontz's writing is flawless... Dark Rivers of the Heart is exciting, entertaining, and thoughtful' - Denver Post
Spencer Grant is physically and emotionally scarred. An outsider, he often sits for hours in bars just to avoid being alone - and to tell his story to someone who won't remember it the next morning. But last night he met Valerie and something about her melted his isolation.
Then she doesn't turn up for work and he finds her home abandoned, with a strange message fixed to the wall. Before he has time to wonder who or what Valerie is, the house is hit by an explosion.
Spencer escapes, only to find himself on the run - not only from his past but also from the conspiracy he has unwittingly stumbled on.

Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labyrinth

Percy Jackson isn't expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to diabolical. 


In this latest installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos's army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop them, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth-a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. Full of humor and heart-pounding action, this fourth book promises to be their most thrilling adventure yet.

Are you taking part in BYOBthon this month? or are you planning on doing another readathon? Have you read any of the books on my TBR?

You might also like: DEARathon Recap



Booktastic Thursday: A Link Up For Book Bloggers


It's time for another Booktastic Thursday Link Up!

For those of you that don't already know the drill, every Thursday I host this meme to give my fellow book bloggers the chance to share some of their bookish posts and connect with other book bloggers.

How to take part:


Post your book related blog post links directly into the comments section of this post.

I just ask you to link back to the weekly blog post here on my blog some where in the post you're linking up. You can see an example of how a past participant, 
Veronica from The Burgeoning Bookshelf, included it in her post at https://theburgeoningbookshelf.blogspot.com/2018/08/book-review-artisan-heart-contemporary.html.

I ask that you link up blog posts ONLY please. Other types of links will be deleted.

I'd also appreciate it if you follow me on any social media of your choice (I'm JoLinsdell everywhere). Of course, I would love it if you subscribed to my newest posts ;)

Please grab the Booktastic Link It Up Thursday button and share it somewhere on your blog (sidebar, post, bottom, etc.) and please share about this party with any book-lovers you know.


Booktastic Thursday: A Link Up For Book Bloggers

Let's grow this party!

Click to tweet:

Come and join in Booktastic Link It Up Thursday at www.JoLinsdell.com (hosted by @jolinsdell) #LinkUp #Books #BookBloggers

Everyone works hard on their posts and loves visits/comments/pins from others. Please visit AND comment on at least one other linked post if not more.

Now on to the party!

I'm looking forward to seeing all your book related posts.

Booktastic Thursday: A Link Up For Book Bloggers. Hosted by Jo Linsdell

Booktastic Thursday: A Link Up For Book Bloggers

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Book Haul: I went book shopping!


Book Haul

I went book shopping!


This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning, I get a commission if you purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

My latest book haul


I went book shopping! Check out my bargain finds in this book haul.




Books mentioned:

Hot Rocks by Nora Roberts https://amzn.to/2N84hTA

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts comes a thrilling contemporary romance that “burns with all the brilliance and fire of a finely cut diamond”(Publishers Weekly).

Antiques dealer Laine Tavish is an ordinary woman living an ordinary life. At least, that's what everyone in the small town of Angel's Gap, Maryland, thinks. They have no idea that she used to be Elaine O'Hara, the daughter of a notorious con man...

Laine's past catches up with her when one of Big Jack's associates turns up in her shop with a cryptic warning and is then run down in the street. Now the next target of a ruthless killer, Laine teams up with sexy PI Max Gannon to find out who's chasing her, and why. The anwer lies in a hidden fortune that will change Laine's life forever...

Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella https://amzn.to/2NzQUec

Lara Lington has always had an overactive imagination, but suddenly that imagination seems to be in overdrive. Normal professional twenty-something young women don’t get visited by ghosts. Or do they?

When the spirit of Lara’s great-aunt Sadie—a feisty, demanding girl with firm ideas about fashion, love, and the right way to dance—mysteriously appears, she has one request: Lara must find a missing necklace that had been in Sadie’s possession for more than seventy-five years, because Sadie cannot rest without it. 

Lara and Sadie make a hilarious sparring duo, and at first it seems as though they have nothing in common. But as the mission to find Sadie’s necklace leads to intrigue and a new romance for Lara, these very different “twenties” girls learn some surprising truths from and about each other. Written with all the irrepressible charm and humor that have made Sophie Kinsella’s books beloved by millions, Twenties Girl is also a deeply moving testament to the transcendent bonds of friendship and family. 

This Body of Death by Elizabeth George https://amzn.to/2p0npUV

Elizabeth George's masterly new novel brings Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley back onto centre stage in an intricate crime drama. While DI Thomas Lynley is still on compassionate leave after the murder of his wife, Isabelle Ardery is brought into the Met as his temporary replacement. The discovery of a body in a Stoke Newington cemetery offers Isabelle the chance to make her mark with a high profile murder investigation. Persuading Lynley back to work seems the best way to guarantee a result: Lynley's team is fiercely loyal to him and Isabelle needs them - and especially Barbara Havers - on side. The Met is twitchy: a series of PR disasters has undermined its confidence. Isabelle knows that she'll be operating under the unforgiving scrutiny of the media, so is quick - perhaps too quick - to pin the murder on a convenient suspect. The murder trail leads Lynley and Havers to the New Forest, and the eventual resolution of the case. Its roots are in a long-ago act of violence that has poisoned subsequent generations and its outcome is both tragic and shocking.

“To build up a library is to create a life. It's never just a random collection of books.”  ― Carlos María Domínguez #Quote


Have you read any of these books? Read other books by these authors? 

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September Struggles: Increasing Website Security


September Struggles


September has been a busy month. I know I haven't posted as often during September but that was because I've just been too busy. It was my birthday, school started (with my eldest starting a new adventure at secondary school), and then sports training started again too. Throw in a few other general "life" things and Tada! busy Jo.

Now I have tried to get back into the flow of things towards the end of the month but life decided to put me on hold again. It all started with Facebook blocking my website URL...

Facebook blocked my website


I'm still not sure why they decided to block my URL as they have possibly the worst user/customer service on the web. I tried messaging them, reported the mistake, and did their debug thing too... nothing. 

I even tried to reach out to them via Twitter as I didn't have any luck getting an answer on their own platform. I know right?! Well I didn't get a response there either. 

I reread the Facebook Community Standards pages about a thousand times over but can't see any way my website violates their terms. On this site I post mainly about books and blogging. 

I'm also definitely not a spammer. In fact, I'd been sharing my links on Facebook much less in recent months than usual due to the summer break. 

It would be a shame to have to close my Facebook page but to be honest it's not what bothered me most about them blocking my URL. What I'd really miss is Facebook groups. I've been a member of some awesome groups on there for a while now and would miss the other members. Those groups were also getting good results in terms of traffic to my website and comments on my content. 

Facebook finally unblocked my website yesterday. YAY! In true Facebook style they didn't send any communication about it, but at least it works again now. I also still don't know why it was blocked in the first place. Ah the mysteries of Facebook...


September Struggles: Increasing Website Security


Increasing website security


So what now? Well, for starters I decided to make sure my website is more secure. I've updated my Who Is Guard and activated a new SSL Certificate. I also activated Comodo Secure (you'll notice the new certificate down at the bottom in the footer). 

I'm not sure if it was updating these things that made Facebook unblock my website and let me share my links again or not. It was something I needed to do anyway, and so in a way I'm happy my website got blocked as it gave me the kick I needed to do it. 

Website security is important and now I'm all up to date. This also means you have peace of mind when visiting my website as you know the systems in place to protect you. 


September Struggles: Increasing Website Security

Have you ever had your website blocked on Facebook? What steps have you taken on your own website/blog to make sure it is secure?

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Book Review: Dinosaur in Danger by Paul Geraghty


My thoughts about Dinosaur in Danger by Paul Geraghty

This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning, I get a commission if you purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.


My kids picked Dinosaur in Danger by Paul Geraghty at the library and enjoyed this beautifully illustrated children's picture story book.



A thrilling prehistoric world is brought to vivid life by awe-inspiring artwork in this reissue of the story of a young dinosaur separated from her pack

With a mighty blast the great volcano bursts and rivers of red-hot lava race down the mountain. As the forest burns and the dinosaurs flee, Talon, a young raptor, finds herself alone in a hostile world of giant carnivores and dangerous gangs. She must find food or soon she will starve, but to do so she must win over the enemy pack. Meticulously researched, this realistic dinosaur thriller is perfect for anyone moving to a new school, classroom, or home.







https://amzn.to/2NuvGhO

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DEARathon 6-8 Sept 2018 Recap


DEARathon 6-8 Sept 2018



I love taking part in readathons. It's fun to join together with the rest of the bibliophile community to share our love of reading.

I took part in the DEARathon (Drop Everything and READ!) last week, and it was so much fun.

One thing that drew me to this particular readathon was that it didn't involve any challenges or special requirements for what to read. This gave me complete freedom when picking which books to read, and wasn't too challenging either.

Drop Everything and READ! hosts impromptu readathons throughout the year, and I'll definitely be on the look out for future events to take part in. DEARathon is hosted by @LittleBookOwl and @LittleRedReads


Official Twitter for the event is https://twitter.com/DEARathon.


DEARathon also offered the most entertaining reading sprints I'm come across so far during a readathon. Well done ladies!

Clapping Standing GIF from Clapping GIFs


My TBR for the readathon:




Letters From Alice by Petrina Banfield
Letters From Alice by Petrina Banfield

About the book:



Two women. One secret. Will they be able to keep it under wraps?
It is a stormy evening in 1920s London. When newly qualified almoner, Alice, stepped into the home of Charlotte, a terrified teenager who has just given birth out of wedlock, she did not expect to make a pact that would change her life forever. Thrown into secrecy after an unexpected turn, Alice is determined to keep bewildered Charlotte and her newborn baby safe. But when a threatening note appears, she realises that Charlotte may need more protection than she first thought. But from who?
Based on extensive research into the archive material held at the London Metropolitan Archives, and enriched with lively social history and excerpts from newspaper articles, LETTERS FROM ALICE is a gripping and deeply moving tale, which brings the colourful world of 1920s London to life. Full of grit, mystery and hope, it will have readers enthralled from the very first page.

Grab a copy: https://amzn.to/2x1GuK8


Everything We Left Behind by Kerry Lonsdale
Everything We Left Behind by Kerry Lonsdale

About the book:


An Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestseller.
From the bestselling author of Everything We Keep comes the highly anticipated sequel. Told from one man’s two perspectives, Everything We Left Behind effortlessly blends suspense, mystery, and romance in an exploration of loss, resilience, and the compelling need to protect the ones we love at all cost.
Two months before his wedding, financial executive James Donato chased his trade-laundering brother Phil to Mexico, only to be lost at sea and presumed dead. Six and a half years later, he emerges from a dissociative fugue state to find he’s been living in Oaxaca as artist Carlos Dominguez, widower and father of two sons, with his sister-in-law Natalya Hayes, a retired professional surfer, helping to keep his life afloat. But his fiancée, Aimee Tierney, the love of his life, has moved on. She’s married and has a child of her own.
Devastated, James and his sons return to California. But Phil is scheduled for release from prison, and he’s determined to find James, who witnessed something in Mexico that could land Phil back in confinement. Under mounting family pressure, James flees with his sons to Kauai, seeking refuge with Natalya. As James begins to unravel the mystery of his fractured identity, danger is never far behind, and Natalya may be the only person he can trust.
Grab a copy: https://amzn.to/2Qj0DEc

Here's a vlog I did during the readathon:



Did you take part in DEARathon? What are your favourite readathons to take part in?

Have you read either Letters From Alice or Everything We Left Behind? What did you think of them?

DEARathon 6-8 Sept 2018 Recap #Readathon

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Book Review: The Life and Lessons of a Young Author by Sunayna Prasad

My thoughts about The Life and Lessons of a Young Author by Sunayna Prasad


This post may contain affiliate links. Meaning, I get a commission if you purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.


Disclosure: I got sent a free copy of this book for review via I Read Books Tours.


Book Review: The Life and Lessons of a Young Author by Sunayna Prasad
Whether you are young or old, The Life and Lessons of a Young Author can offer those who dream of finding the right path in the world of writing and publishing. Sunayna Prasad shares her experience as a young author and discusses what went well for her and what she suggests to those who long for success.

Talking about her life as a published writer, Sunayna Prasad teaches you the rules of the writing craft and the standards of the publishing world, as well as additional tips and tricks. The Life and Lessons of a Young Author can help you choose your own writing and publishing paths.





US https://amzn.to/2Q4ULOK

UK https://amzn.to/2Q9Bk7m


Over 50,000 Signed Books - The World's Largest Selection For the Avid Fan, Reader, & Collector

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