April Book Blanket Update

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April was a fantastic reading month for me, I read a total of 14 books with just 1 DNF and they were really really good books!

Now in the interest of full disclosure, I managed to 'read' so much because 2 were audiobooks and a couple were very short books. I also have zero social life so when I'm not working, looking after my boys or doing household stuff then I'm likely to be found reading nowadays.

Books Read:

• Never Lie by Freida McFadden - 4 stars

• No Exit by Taylor Adams - 4.75 stars (Kindle)

• The Running Grave by Robert Galbraith - 5 stars (Audiobook)

• Powerless (Chestnut Springs 3) by Elsie Silver - 4.5 stars (Physical & Kindle)
  

• Ask for Andrea by Noelle W Ihli - 1 star (Kindle)

• The Housemaid by Freida Mcfadden - 4.5 stars

• Reckless (Chestnut Springs 4) by Elsie Silver - 5 stars (Physical & Kindle)

• The Goddess Path by Kirsty Gallagher - 3.5 stars (Non-Fiction)

• The Risk (Mindf--k 1) by S.T Abby - 3 stars (Kindle)

• The Housemaid's Secret by Freida McFadden - 4 stars

• The Groomer by Jon Athan - DNF (Kindle)

• Mr Mercedes by Stephen King - 4.5 stars (Audiobook)

• Hopeless (Chestnut Springs 5) by Elsie Silver - 4.5 stars (Physical & Kindle)

• Woom by Duncan Ralston - 4 stars (Kindle) - Please c heck your trigger warnings for this one before diving in. I gave it 4 stars because it was well written but I would be reluctant to recommend it. It's a graphic, extreme horror and will not be for everyone!

As I said - it was a very good month!

I finished up the Chestnut Springs series by Elsie Silver and I cannot recommend it enough. It's so wholesome and gives me that warm fuzzy feeling that you want from a contemporary rom-com and the spice is spot on for me. It sizzles without being the main focus of the book and only adds to the storyline. I am definitely going to be reading more of Elsie Silver's books, I believe that a few of her other books are set in the same Universe which is quite exciting.

I have continued to read a lot on my Kindle because it's so convenient and I am definitely getting my money's worth with my Kindle Unlimited. All of the books read on my Kindle this month have been available on KU. If you would like to try a 30 day free trial then you can do so here!

I also listened to a couple audiobooks this months and they were fantastic. Mr Mercedes was actually a re-listen for me it's one of my favourites. I go through phases of listening to audiobooks all the time and then not listening to one for months. I think it's because I'm quite picky when it comes to narrators. Some narrators just make me cringe as I'm listening and the thought of listening to them for 10hours is painful but others are incredible. Such as Robert Glennister who narrates the Strike novels, I could listen to him all day! Do you listen to audiobooks? If so let me know some of your favourites!

If you'd like to give Audible a try then you can do so here

Favourite Read:

My favourite read from this month's selection was Reckless (Chestnut Springs 4) by Elsie Silver.

I didn't think that I'd take to Winter or enjoy a book that was focused soley on her and Theo but I was so very wrong. I laughed, I cried, I felt a whole range of emotions throughout this book and I could not put it down. I read it in less than 2 days.

Elsie Silver's writing style flows so effortlessly and as I read further into each book I felt such a connection to the characters and as though I knew each and every one of them as personal friends. That's such a special feeling when reading a book series. This was my favourite of the series although they are all fantastic.

The Squares

So it's coming up to the end of May as I write this and no, I have not yet made all of the squares for April. I blame that on spending so much time reading! I will get them all done soon enough I'm sure. What I have done is joined all of the squares from previous months.

I'm using the CJAYG method as I personally find this to be the quickest and easiest method for joining granny squares. Plus it's easy on the ends which is great as I haven't sewn in a single end on a square yet!

With this months additions I will have a grand total of 35 squares! The blanket is shaping up beautifully so far and this is becoming one of my most favourite projects of all time! I wasn't sure I'd actually keep it up but it's actually a really fun way to look back at what I've read, the good and the bad.

I'll see you back here next month for May's book blanket update when I hopefully will have completed both April and May's squares but we shall see!

Remember, if you're doing a Book Blanket too then use the hashtags #BookBlanket2024 and #BramblesandHartReads so that I can follow along.

Shelley x