Category Archives: reading challenges

Fictionophile’s Reading Challenges for 2021 #readingchallenge2021 #bookbloggers #2021readingchallenges

Posted on January 3, 2021 by Fictionophile

Last year I completed five of the six reading challenges I set out for myself. This year, I vow to complete EIGHT. #1 is the Goodreads Reading Challenge. For this challenge I aim to read 100 titles in 2021. #2 … Continue reading →

Posted in Fictionophile report, reading challenges | Tagged , | 47 Comments

“Truth and Lies” by Caroline Mitchell – Book Review

Posted on December 20, 2020 by Fictionophile

“It’s hard to accept the truth, isn’t it? When lies are all you want to hear”. D.I. Amy Winter – adopted at the age of four by the policeman who arrested her parents for their notorious deeds. A respected policeman, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1st in series, Book Reviews, NetGalley, Psychological thrillers, What's In A Name Reading Challenge | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments

“When the Storm Ends” by Rebecca L. Marsh – Book Review

Posted on December 16, 2020 by Fictionophile

“…remember that everyone has difficulty in life sometimes, but it’s only when the storm ends that you can see a rainbow”. Sometimes you read a book and find that you are left feeling sort of… content. Content in knowing that … Continue reading →

Posted in #FFRC2020, Book Reviews, Women's fiction | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

“His & Hers” by Alice Feeney – Book Review

Posted on December 11, 2020 by Fictionophile

“There are at least two sides to every story: Yours and mine. Ours and theirs. His and hers. Which means someone is always lying.” HIS – Detective Inspector Jack Harper is head of the ‘Major Crime Team’ in a rural … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Favorite books, NetGalley, Page turners, Psychological thrillers, What's In A Name Reading Challenge | Tagged , , , , | 11 Comments

“Who’s There?” by Kerena Swan – Book Review

Posted on December 8, 2020 by Fictionophile

I’ll briefly introduce a few of the principal characters for you: Arnold Eastwood – born with Downs Syndrome, he is trusting, vulnerable and in many ways an innocent. His favourite things to do are keeping things neat, watching Clint Eastwood … Continue reading →

Posted in #FFRC2020, Book Reviews, Suspense | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

“Dear Amy” by Helen Callaghan – Book Review

Posted on December 6, 2020 by Fictionophile

Margot Lewis is a school teacher by day and an ‘agony aunt’ in her free time. She answers letters with advice to those who seek it on matters of life and the heart for the local paper. On a personal … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Edelweiss, Psychological thrillers, What's In A Name Reading Challenge | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

“The Lost Children” by Theresa Talbot – Book Review

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Fictionophile

“But happiness is a fragile thing.” Glasgow, Scotland 2000 – Oonagh O’Neil is small, slim, in her mid-thirties, and having an affair with a married man. An only child, she is still grieving for her father who died two years … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Favorite books, NetGalley, Page turners, Tartan noir, What's In A Name Reading Challenge | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

“Bitter Orange” by Claire Fuller – Book Review

Posted on November 26, 2020 by Fictionophile

“Pain as well as joy makes us who we are.” Frances Jellico 1969 – nearing her fortieth birthday, she is socially inept and has never experienced love, or even a man’s attentions.  She left her place at Oxford to take … Continue reading →

Posted in #FFRC2020, Book Reviews, Edelweiss | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

“The Au Pair” by Emma Rous – Book Review

Posted on November 15, 2020 by Fictionophile

Seraphine Mayes – 2017 – Twenty-five years old and still reeling from the accidental death of her beloved father, Seraphine lives at Summerbourne. Her twin brother Danny travels a lot, and her older brother Edwin lives in town in the … Continue reading →

Posted in #FFRC2020, Book Reviews, Edelweiss, Mystery fiction | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

“The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant” by Kayte Nunn – Book Review

Posted on November 1, 2020 by Fictionophile

1951-52 – Esther Durrant has just lost her infant son. Blaming herself, and suffering from post-natal depression, she is despondent and lethargic. Her husband, at a loss as to what to do, sends her to one of the Isles of … Continue reading →

Posted in #FFRC2020, Book Reviews, Edelweiss, Historical fiction | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

“A Coin for the Hangman” by Ralph Spurrier – Book Review

Posted on September 21, 2020 by Fictionophile

Ralph Spurrier – (yes,the author uses his own name as the bookseller in the novel), is an antiquarian bookseller who buys an entire collection of books from an estate sale. Within this collection he discovers not only the property of … Continue reading →

Posted in #FFRC2020, Book Reviews, Historical fiction, Hookline Books, Mystery fiction | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

“My Kind of People” by Lisa Duffy – Book Review

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Fictionophile

Leo – a talented architect, has lived on Ichabod Island his entire life. He has become used to being one of very few black people on the island and the fact that he is gay further influences his distinction from … Continue reading →

Posted in 20 Books of Summer, Book Reviews, Literary fiction, NetGalley, Women's fiction | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

Challenge Ended – 20 Books of Summer – Success and Failure #20BooksOfSummer20

Posted on August 31, 2020 by Fictionophile

Back at the beginning of the summer I joined Cathy’s “20 Books of Summer Challenge” which ran from June 1st until September 1st, 2020 At that time I vowed to read the following 20 books:Did I succeed? Yes and No. … Continue reading →

Posted in 20 Books of Summer, Fictionophile report, reading challenges | Tagged | 20 Comments

“The Crossing” by Matt Brolly – Book Review

Posted on August 29, 2020 by Fictionophile

DI Louise Blackwell – 38 years old, unmarried, and lonely. She recently had a severe career setback at her previous posting in Bristol due to a betrayal from a co-worker. Now, she lives in the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare and … Continue reading →

Posted in 1st in series, 20 Books of Summer, Book Reviews, Mystery fiction, NetGalley, Page turners | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

“The Hit List” by Holly Seddon – Book Review

Posted on August 28, 2020 by Fictionophile

Greg Heywood was killed in a bicycle accident in London. As his widow, Marianne Heywood, goes through his belongings she discovers, to her shock and chagrin, that he had delved into the ‘dark web‘.  A bookmarked site on his laptop … Continue reading →

Posted in 20 Books of Summer, Book Reviews, Page turners, Psychological thrillers, Secret Readers (Orion), Suspense | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments