Category Archives: reading challenges

“White Oaks” by Jill Hand – Book Review

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Fictionophile

In a Greek Revival plantation mansion in Georgia, Blanton Toombs Trapnell is celebrating his ninetieth birthday. He is an abrasive and ornery old man. His three adult children come home to celebrate with him – all with a view to … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, What's In A Name Reading Challenge | Tagged , | 1 Comment

“The Timekeeper’s Son” by Sara Baker – Book Review

Posted on April 8, 2021 by Fictionophile

Josh Lovejoy is a teenager who is also an aspiring filmmaker. A ‘good’ boy, an only son, he lives in a small town in Georgia. One sweltering summer night, he uncharacteristically shares some marijuana after a filming session. High, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Literary fiction, NetGalley, What's In A Name Reading Challenge | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Fictionophile Blog Update – First Quarter of 2021

Posted on March 31, 2021 by Fictionophile

Yes folks, 2021 has reached the 1/4 mark. In an effort to keep organized and structure my reading, I’ve compiled this post to track my reading progress since January 1st. I have read 35 books so far this year and … Continue reading →

Posted in Book bloggers, Fictionophile report, reading challenges | Tagged , | 17 Comments

“The Boatman’s Wife” by Noëlle Harrison – Book Review

Posted on March 27, 2021 by Fictionophile

Secrets. We all have them, yet some are more consequential than others. When young Lily Fitzgerald is widowed at the tender age of twenty-four, she discovers that her beloved husband has been harboring a serious secret indeed. 2017 – Lily … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Bookouture, Reading Ireland, Women's fiction | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

“Season of Second Chances” by Aimee Alexander – Book Review

Posted on March 25, 2021 by Fictionophile

Grace Sullivan left her small Irish village to go to university in Dublin. She wanted to follow in her beloved father’s footsteps and become a doctor. While in the big city she met and fell in love with Simon Willoughby, … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Favorite books, Reading Ireland, Women's fiction | Tagged , , , , | 15 Comments

“The Pull of the Stars” by Emma Donoghue – Book Review #ReadingIrelandMonth21

Posted on March 18, 2021 by Fictionophile

An intense and grim story about three days in a Dublin maternity ward during the Spanish flu outbreak of 1918. Influenza derives from the Latin word influentia, meaning “influence of the stars. The influenza pandemic of 1918 killed more people … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Historical fiction, Literary fiction, NetGalley, Reading Ireland, What's In A Name Reading Challenge | Tagged , , , | 15 Comments

“Treacherous Strand” by Andrea Carter – Book Review #ReadingIrelandMonth21

Posted on March 13, 2021 by Fictionophile

This mystery, the second in a series set in Inishowen, is a well written mystery with likeable characters.  The protagonist is Ben O’Keeffe a country solicitor.  Her law practice is the most northerly solicitor’s office in Ireland. ‘Ben’ is short … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Edelweiss, Mystery fiction, Reading Ireland | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

“Life Sentences” by Billy O’Callahan – Book Review #ReadingIrelandMonth21

Posted on March 10, 2021 by Fictionophile

1920 – The first story we read is that of Jer (Jerimiah). A man who, born in dire poverty in an Irish workhouse, has gone on to fight in the trenches of WWI and raise a family of six children … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, Family sagas, Historical fiction, Literary fiction, NetGalley, Reading Ireland | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

“Big Girl, Small Town” by Michelle Gallen – Book Review #ReadingIrelandMonth21

Posted on March 6, 2021 by Fictionophile

Majella lives a routine-filled, rather bleak existence in a small town in Northern Ireland. She is twenty-seven years old and lives with her mother who is a depressed, and depressing alcoholic. Majella’s Mother is not a widow, but she doesn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, debut novels, Edelweiss, Literary fiction, Reading Ireland | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

♣ ♣ March is ‘Reading Ireland Month’! ♣ ♣ #ReadingIrelandMonth21 #IrishFiction #begorrathon21

Posted on February 28, 2021 by Fictionophile

For the past several years now, Cathy, over at 746books.com has hosted Reading Ireland Month to promote Irish literature and authors. As I enjoy novels with Irish settings, I am only too keen to participate each year. If you do … Continue reading →

Posted in Anticipated titles, Reading Ireland | Tagged , | 21 Comments

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 , | 55 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 , , , , | 12 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 , , , , | 14 Comments