Why are the months flying by so fast?! Slow down, Father Time! FFS!
So, July. Things at the other half’s job went from worse to much-much worse and he handed in his notice at the start of the month. If all goes well he will be signing a contract with another company this week and hopefully we can put all this horrendous stress behind us.
We took Millie for walks in the woods. See pictures below. This is a mere ten minutes by car from where we live and it’s just lovely and quiet.
Our walking efforts were promptly rewarded by discovering Millie had a tick behind her ear. Because why would it be in an easily accessible place, right? Now, in the almost sixteen years that we were lucky to have Yoshi, she never NEVER had a tick. So, needless to say there was quite a bit of headless-chicken-running around the living room stuff going on as we tried to read up on how best to tackle this horrid little creature. In the end, it went quite easily and Millie didn’t move a muscle until it was over. But still. Shudder.
She had a pampering session with the doggie groomer and got a bowtie for being a good girl. But mostly it was just warm (hello, 42C, WTF!) and there was a lot of lazying around. (Not taken during the highest temperatures so don’t come at me.)
The heat stopped me from reading for a few days. It was hard to concentrate on anything. I love the heat but this was something else entirely. We once had a 45C in the SUN in Italy (and even I thought that was a bit out there at the time) but this was 42C in the shade! I didn’t even want to know what the temperature in the sunshine was but I wouldn’t at all have been surprised if a camel had wandered by.
Anyway, I did feel I read up a storm during the rest of the month. But I might have been wrong, judging by the line-up below.
| WHAT I READ IN JULY |
Honestly feel like I read more than this. Still, eleven is better than nothing, is suppose. I’m also at 15 books read for my 20 Books of Summer Challenge so it looks like I might finally nail that with some time to spare, for a change!
| BOOK OF THE MONTH |
Really, was it ever going to be anything else? 😳
| WHAT I BOUGHT IN JUNE |
In case you hadn’t noticed, I’m genuinely making an effort to buy less books. Someone is happy but thinks there is still room for improvement. Let’s be clear : that someone is NOT me. 🙄
| RECEIVED FOR REVIEW |
Thank goodness for publishers and the black hole that is Netgalley, which I’ve been using a lot more again due to the aforementioned buying-less-books effort.
| WHAT I’VE BEEN WATCHING |
Still continuing my re-watch of Criminal Minds and am currently in season 10. It’s going a bit slower these days because of books and also because this seasons seems somewhat weak. Also, really don’t like Jennifer Love Hewitt.
The other half and I finally started watching The Boys and it’s brilliant! Bit gory sometimes but also really funny AND it has Karl Urban. What more could you want? Really enjoying it.
| ON THE BLOG IN JULY |
Review : Jenny Blackhurst – The Girl Who Left
Review : Lesley Kara – The Apartment Upstairs
Review : David Jackson – No Secrets
Review : Holly Seddon – The Woman On The Bridge
Review : Victoria Selman – Truly Darkly Deeply
Review : Karin Slaughter – Girl, Forgotten
Review : Sarah Gailey – Just Like Home
Review : Mike Gayle – The Museum of Ordinary People
Review : Fiona Cummins – Into The Dark
Review : Imran Mahmood – I Know What I Saw
Review : M.W. Craven – The Botanist
Extract : Jack Jewers – The Lost Diary of Samuel Pepys
This is what happens when I join the 20 Books of Summer Challenge. I can’t even remember the last time I posted so many reviews in one month. It’s been fun. And also slightly exhausting 😅.
| COMING UP IN AUGUST |
July 22 : Blog tour | Review | Seventeen by John Brownlow
July 30 : Blog tour | Review + extract | The Last Girl To Die by Helen Fields
I should also have reviews for The Things We Do In The Dark by Jennifer Hillier, The Wrong Woman by J.P. Pomare, and Stay Awake by Megan Goldin. Plus one more to complete my 20 Books Challenge but I’m not entirely sure what that will be just yet.
Hope everyone had a great month and I hope August treats you all just as well. Stay safe and keep reading! xx
Novel Deelights 
Oh doesn’t Millie look pleased with her bowtie! You are flying with your reviews for 20 books of summer. It has been unbearably hot and my poor dogs have been very lethargic even in the shade, we even put the fan on for them. Great looking month for you xx
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Must be Millie’s Portuguese blood but most of the time I have to physically drag her out of the sunshine. She really loves it. We will have a pillow for her in the shade and just looking at her lounging on it, it’s as if she’s been punished 😂. Poor doggies struggling though. It’s been quite horrid for everyone, hasn’t it.
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It has been a struggle, and quite scary when you see the effects of the heat around the world!
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Looks like a fab bookish month Eva! Love the Millie photos especially the one of her stretched out! Hope your hubby’s new job is good and stress free. Btw what did you think of At Bertram’s Hotel? xx
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Ah, Bertram’s Hotel. Let me just say, Agatha and I will just never get along and I’m done with reading her books 😳😂.
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Yeah that’s why I prefer them on audio, more like listening to a play, so more enjoyable.
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That makes sense. Still not listening to audiobooks though 😉😂
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Millie looks so pretty in her bowtie 💕 She doing very well if she goes to the groomers, Flynn runs a mile at the mere threat of water. I have to use doggie wipes 🙄 He lies in the sun panting like a steam train until I drag him into the shade or the house, it’s been horrendous. I do love your garden 💚
Well done with the reviews. My reading has picked up but now I’m lagging behind with reviews…can’t win 😂
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Funnily enough, the groomers has worked from the very first time she went there. She doesn’t like the sprinkler or doggie bath in the garden though 🤷🏼♀️. Weirdo 😂.
I really do love my garden too. If we move, it’ll be hard to leave it behind since it’s really only now starting to look the way we wanted it to.
Do a bunch of mini-reviews! You can do it, Cathy! xx
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It’s odd how some dogs love water and others hate it. The German Shepherds we had loved going in the sea or playing in the hose pipe spray.
Leaving lovingly tended gardens is the worst part of moving.
I might have to do some mini reviews 😂xx
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Woohoo! If you finish your 20 Books early, you can read some of mine for me! 😀
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Double cheating, isn’t it? Read instead of listen AND have someone else do it for you? I know Cathy is very loose with the rules but still …. 🤔
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You are doing great with your 20 Books of Summer, you should finish with time to spare. I hope your husbands new job is what he is looking for and reduces the stress. I love the Millie pictures. I’m glad you were able to take care of that tick. The heat was terrible and I am glad that things have gotten better. Here’s hoping you have a wonderful August.
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I really hope so. Previous years I had to do a major catch-up during the last week to finish the challenge in time. Having time to spare feels extremely weird!
Have a fabulous August, Carla! xx
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That bowtie looks lovely on Millie. I always hate summer as it’s that terribly here for full 3 months. I read 14 for that summer challenge but I have to put more effort to finish it. Wish you Amazing August.
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cannot believe it’s august already!
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Millie is looking sharp with that bow! I hope the temperatures will go down soon… It sure doesn’t bode well for the months to come down here (the winter weather has been suspiciously mild this year after a hot summer). I hope you will have a wonderful August! xx
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Looks like the high temperatures are staying until mid-september. Not as high as that 42, but low to mid 30s. Still hot 😂
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Just catching up 😳. Millie looks very pretty with her bow – Are you in for the same bout of heat again in the next few days that we are due? Hopefully it won’t be as bad as last time. I hope the news with OH’s job went as expected. x
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Ha! Retired folks have so little time in their days 😉😂.
Yes, we are due a heatwave. Temperatures probably around 34-35, so not as bad as 42 😳😂.
OH signed a contract for a new job and starts next Tuesday. Hopefully this one will stick.
Hope all is well you! 😘
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I missed a whole load of emails!!😂
Good news on the job front, hope all goes well and that you don’t melt in the meantime 🌞😘
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