Another good reading month with lots of lovely tales and a few different genres. I even managed a non-fiction title which doesn’t happen often.

But there is no question my favourite read for the month was…

The Wife’s Tale by Christine Wells

Oh, I adored this book! Absolutely loved it. I loved the split timeline between contemporary times and the eighteenth century. I loved the characters, even the ones who were horrid, and the clarity and vividness of their voices and stories. I loved the wonderful settings, especially Seagrove, the aristocratic Nash family’s stately home on the Isle of Wight. I loved the intrigue, the romance (totally sighworthy), and I was captivated and infuriated equally by the 1789 court case involving Delaney Nash. That poor woman!

This is a big juicy book that you won’t want to put down. I blame Christine for me hardly getting any work done last Monday because all I wanted to do was read. I was so close to the end and had to find out what happened to Delaney and Julian and Liz and Theo and everyone else.

A cracking read. Perfect for Mother’s Day and as a present to yourself. Go buy.

(PS. There’s a signed copy of The Wife’s Tale up for giveaway on Teaser Tuesday but you’ll need to be quick. Closes midnight Friday AEST, 6th May 2016. Australian postal addresses only.)

The Last Painting of Sara de Vos

I’d been noticing quite a bit of early publicity and buzz for this novel and it sounded intriguing, so I was thrilled to score an advance reading copy thanks to The Reading Room and publisher Allen & Unwin. The story was a kind of art thriller, gradually revealed across three timelines and the research involved must have been phenomenal. The Dutch Golden Age narrative was fascinating. This will particularly appeal to art lovers.

Tallowood Bound by Karly Lane

I’ve adored all of Karly’s stories and Tallowood Bound was another gorgeous read. The war-era narrative from Townsville was fascinating but my favourite bit had to be the romance between Erin and Jamie. Karly’s heroes are such darlings and Jamie was no exception. I fell quite a lot in love with him. Oh, and watch out for the scene with Erin and some stray cattle. That was a hoot!

Try Not To Breathe by Holly Seddon

Despite picking the culprit fairly early on, I really enjoyed this mystery which tells the story of Alex Dale, a former high-flying columnist brought down by alcoholism, and her obsession with the case of Amy Stevenson, a young girl brutally attacked and left for dead and who’s been unconscious for 15 years. I liked how Alex was so flawed. Her alcoholism has led her down some terrible paths yet she’s not irredeemable. Try Not To Breathe is a story of salvation as well as justice. Good stuff.

Some Girls Do by Amy Andrews

Far out, AA writes some cracking books and this one was a beauty. It was slick, sexy and fantastically paced, and the dialogue was seriously cool. As was the hero Cooper. Not only was he hot, he was decent. Real heart-throb material. Lacey’s brothers were fab too and it’s going to be fun reading their stories. This is the first in the Outback Heat series and you’ll currently find it free across ebook platforms. Grab yourself a copy and get reading. You’ll have a great time.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

I don’t read a lot of non-fiction except for research, but I do love a good writing craft book. This isn’t really one of those. Rather, it’s a book about embracing and nurturing your creativity. I have to admit that some of it was a tad too out-there for me but for every bit of oddball stuff there were gems of inspiration and great advice. I liked it. A lot. And I think it’s a book I’ll return to often when I get angsty about my writing and need a reminder of what being creative is all about.

What were your favourite reads?