Book Blogger Posts Round Up

A collection of blog posts by book bloggers

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.

Looking for new bookish content to read? Want to discover some new book bloggers to follow? Look no further!

I introduced this new feature here on the blog in May 2021 to showcase blog posts by other book bloggers. I'll be linking up a variety of blog posts so hopefully there will be something to suit all tastes.

The following posts were submitted for inclusion in this round up via my Twitter, where I asked for posts. I'll be continuing to do this every month.

Why?

Because I like reading blog posts by other book bloggers and thought you might too. Finding the time to scan through various social media feeds to find suitable content can take up valuable time though and so I figured I'd make it easier and put together a collection here on the blog.

My plan is to include a wide variety of content so there's something for everyone. You'll find book reviews, interviews, discussion pieces and more...

Want to be included in future round ups? Follow my Twitter profile and keep an eye out for the submission tweet.

July 2022 Book Blogger Round Up

@See_Sadie_Read did a book review for We All Fall Down, by Rose Szabo. "I had a really strange experience reading this book. Whenever I was reading it, I enjoyed it. But as soon as I set it down, I was reluctant to pick it back up again. As a result, it took me an inordinately long time to finish it. And I ended up feeling so-so about it in the same way." Read the full review here.

@ReadingLadiesBC reviewed The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer. "Wow! The German Wife is one of my best historical fiction reads of the year so far...Yes, this checks all my boxes for a five star read!" Read the full review here.

@WordsofMystery did a recap post What I Read in June. "Last month, I finally got around to reading some titles that have been on my TBR for a while and while there were some disappointments, I also found some new favourites! Not surprising, my top two reads of the month were the travel-themed ones." Read the full post to discover which books she read.

@Livvylance reviewed Queen's Peril by EK Johnston. "I would recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Star Wars, YA, or Sci-Fi. The YA element might be a dealbreaker for fans of other Star Wars novels but I would certainly give it a try if you’re interested in Padme and the handmaiden's story." Read the full review here.

@nsfordwriter showcased a new charity ebook in her post Charity ebook now out – ‘Amazing Offer!’ edited by S D Vassallo and Elle Turpitt. "Amazing Offer! is a charity fantasy and horror anthology benefiting the International Rescue Committee (IRC)." Read more about the book and the charity here.

@cats_herding joined the blog tour for The Love of my Other Life by C. J. Connolly and shared her review of the book. "Oh I absolutely adored this novel and I struggled to put it down until I was done. I cannot believe this is a debut novel and I cannot wait to see what the writer produces next." Read the full review here.

@Honolulubelle reviewed the 4th book in the Scorned Women’s Society series with her book review for It Takes a Woman by Piper Sheldon. "The smirk-worthy humor has bite, as do the insightfully written storylines and heart-squeezing inner musings." Read the full review here.

@Mehsi_Hime did the 2022 edition of the Dreamy Covers Book Tag. A fun book tag dedicated to book covers.

@RobinLovesRead joined the book tour for the 2nd book in the Inspector Anjelica Henley series with a review of The Binding Room by Nadine Matheson. "The way that this book is written it could do well as a standalone, but since it follows the first book, with reference to the killer in that book and how it affected all of the police that were involved, I highly recommend reading these books in order. Another reason that I recommend this is because of the continuity that comes with the relationship Anjelica has with her team and also with the situation in her marriage. " Read the full review here.

@bitchbookshelf reviewed Much Ado About Dukes by Eva Devon. "Wow, what a book! The romance was lovely, but the storyline really hit home for me. This was the perfect example of how to be a good ally, and how to defeat patriarchal beliefs that hold men back when it comes to making important emotional connections. It was a clear 5 star read for me! " Read the full review here.

@AncaAntoci shared a great post 15 First in a series you don't want to miss. "...if you’re looking to start a new series, I compiled a list of first books in a series that don’t beat about the bush and throw you right into the middle of the action. A few of them are well-known, popular books, but most of them, I hope, are books you haven't discovered yet."

@alitescape shared an ARC review of The Book of Gothel by Mary McMyne. "THE BOOK OF GOTHEL is a superbly atmospheric retelling of Rapunzel from the maligned point of view of the witch in the tower of this classic fairy tale." Read the full review here.

@owlbookworld did a post with Books about introverts that will make you feel less alone. "If you’re anything like me then being an introvert kind of bums you out a little bit. The best books for introverts are a good way to guide you through some of the disadvantages of being an introvert."

@kalventure deep dives into the nuance of genres in this new series of posts: Genres Defined. The first installment is Mystery vs Thriller: Differences & Book Recommendations.

What bookish blog posts did you enjoy reading in July? Have a favourite book you read in July that you want to share?

In case you missed it, don't forget to check out the June Round Up for even more great bookish posts by different book bloggers.

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Book Club Kit

All Our Darkest Secrets by Martyn Ford

Please be aware going into this post that it is for people who have read the book and therefore contains some spoilers.

About the book

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Domestic Thriller

Number of pages: 395 pages

ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1542027551

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1542027557

Published: September 1, 2021

Purchasing links: Amazon

Goodreads

Book Covers

Book Cover All Our Darkest Secrets by Martyn Ford

Book Synopsis

He’d do anything to protect his wife. But what if that meant making the biggest mistake of all?

James Casper is one of the good guys. A DEA agent. A loyal husband. With his sights set on the man at the top of the city’s opioid crisis, James is about to make the biggest bust of his career.

Then his beloved wife Rosie does something terrible, and James must choose: report it―or help her. He knows how this works, and he tells himself he’s smart enough to get away with murder. But James’s worst enemy knows what they have done―and he won’t hesitate to use it to manipulate him.

James is dragged into a dark and dangerous world. As events spiral and loyalties are tested, he realizes there’s only one way out. And that is to be even more ruthless than the people he’s working for.

Whatever happens, no matter how far he falls, at least he’ll still have Rosie.

Won’t he?

About the Author

Martyn Ford, Author of All Our Darkest Secrets

Martyn Ford is a journalist and bestselling author from the UK.

His award-winning middle-grade children's book, The Imagination Box, was published by Faber & Faber in 2015 to critical acclaim and went on to become a trilogy. This was followed by 2019's standalone title, Chester Parsons is Not a Gorilla.

His bestselling adult books, Every Missing Thing and All Our Darkest Secrets, were released in 2020 and 2021 respectively from Amazon imprint Thomas & Mercer.

He is represented by Clare Wallace at the Darley Anderson Literary, TV and Film Agency.

Martyn spends most of his time thinking, writing and thinking about writing. He has a lot of titanium implants in his mouth because most of his big teeth didn't appear but, get this, no one knows why...

Authors website

Twitter: @Martyn87

Book Reviews

My Review of All Our Darkest Secrets by Martyn Ford

"This is how a thriller should be written. Our Darkest Secrets keeps you hooked from the start and doesn’t let up. This is an enthralling, action-packed story with so many twists and turns that it will keep you guessing throughout." - Read the full review by Lizzie's Little Book Nook

"Recommend to those who enjoy thrills in their thrillers, action, fast-paced." - Read the full review by Dressed to Read

"Ford presents an enthralling tale of love and loyalty. All Our Darkest Secrets has plot twists that keep the reader anxious to know what happens next. The story is told in such a way that the reader can feel James’s dilemma and fear and pure horror when Rosie’s darkest secret of all is revealed." - Read the full review by Magnolia Mentions

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Discussion Questions

Why do you think James was so attracted to Rosie? Do you think their relationship was wrong from the start?

How much do you think James and Rosie were to blame for Matthew's problems with drugs? Could they have saved him early on?

Why didn't James call for help and save Mary? Was it just because of Rosie or do you think he had other reasons?

The dad killed himself on James 18th birthday. How much do you think his death effected each of them and how much is it to blame for what happened to each of them afterwards? If he hadn't killed himself do you think things would have gone differently for James, Matthew, and Rosie?

Why do you think Rosie wrote Matthew's suicide note?

Why do you think James remains so loyal to Rosie?

What do you think Rosie will be like as a mother?

When do you think Rosie hired The Carpenter?

What did you think about the ending of the book? Did you see it coming?

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Quotes from All Our Darkest Secrets by Martyn Ford

“Trust me. I’ve buried two husbands. Anniversaries. You always forget the ones you want to remember. And always remember the ones you want to forget.”

I think about Matthew’s suicide every single fucking day. I recite his note, in silence, again and again, each night before I go to sleep. On Monday, the five-year anniversary, I repeated the letter sixty-seven times in my mind before the words became a dream. And in the morning, as always, they were real again.

You learn early on in this game that they lie about the goal. The very point of my job is, on paper, to stop the supply of illegal drugs. But this is impossible. No, my job is not to prevent perpetrators. My job is to punish them. To hurt anyone who profits from this shit.

“Things like that, puts it all into perspective.” Nell sighs. “You just realize . . . when you lose someone. None of it matters. Nothing. Not work. Not money. Nothing. Nothing matters more than family.”

Grabbing my head, I stand, turn to her, and open my mouth to speak. But it’s like a bad dream. No words come out. “Help me,” she whispers, “please . . . you know what to do.”

Two hours of hard work and the kitchen looks . . . well . . . still like a murder’s just happened, but it’s getting better.

You get numb, I find, at times. Maybe numb isn’t the right word. It’s more that you feel nothing at all. Like in memories. It’s not really you. Not in any meaningful sense. It’s only you when it’s now. But now is fed to the past every second of the day. Fed to history, like wood to a fire—the real story’s in the flames, the smoke, the ash.

Foster isn’t a bad guy. But he’s hard work to be around for any length of time. Like a buzzing insect. Almost certainly harmless, but really fucking annoying.

One day, you’ll do everything for the final time and you won’t even realize it. Your final meal, your final kiss, your final glimpse of the sun. I just can’t wait anymore.

“Drugs are not the enemy,” he says, his eyes wide and mad again. “The enemy is hopelessness. The enemy is empty lives. You think those lost souls under Blue Bridge would be smoking junk if they had something better to do? Addiction is a lot more complicated than chemical dependence.” He smiles slightly. “You know this. You have firsthand experience. Tell me about Matthew.”

“Way I see it,” she says, as we carry on walking, “if you haven’t got something you should just make your own. You need money, make some. You need a family, make one. This world doesn’t give you anything. It only takes stuff away.”

That is the only fact I know in my heart about the future. Whatever happens after Thursday, however Edward reacts to his arrest, well, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it. I am not corrupt. I am not a criminal. This is not who I am.

“It’s called money.” There’s a long silence. “It represents value. You can swap it for goods and services. It allows people to trade in the abstract . . . I’m sorry, James, but you must have come across the concept before?”

This is what they mean when they talk about the power of youth. To be a teenage boy, unburdened by anything as lame as caring. The limitless freedom of absolute apathy. Not even the fact we’re pretending matters all that much.

Sometimes her front catches me off guard. Rosie has a special ability to cut through bullshit and just say it how it is—to announce things that normal people leave unsaid.

“James,” Rosie says softly, as though I’m being naive, like I’ve missed something obvious. She turns and steps closer, holding both my hands now. “We’re not talking about arresting them.”

Just like with everything else, Matthew’s words arrive to guide me. I recall another one of his T-shirts. Printed in white letters across black cotton. “Become something far worse than the monsters who torment you.”

True fear does not dwell in things that happen. But in things that might. And, almost always, in things that never will.

A highly skilled individual without loyalty, a monster who’s willing to kill anyone for the right price. That sounds like the kind of man I’d like to meet.

And while, of course, his survival is incompatible with my plan, I have to admit, I trust him too. He’s capable. Strong. Smart. Cautious. All the traits you need when you’re out late at night committing serious crimes.

Rosie was right. We are good at this. I’m just playing a slightly different game.

if there’s one thing I know about getting away with murder, it’s that there’s no such thing as being too cautious.

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