Six For Sunday: It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year – Fireside Reads

Another Sunday another fantastic Six For Sunday prompt from Steph!

Six for Sunday is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely Steph at ALITTLEBUTALOT. You can find a list of prompts from July to December 2019 here

Fireside Reads

There are two things my current flat is missing, a bath and a fireplace! So there’s no fireside reading for me, instead I’ll be curled up on the sofa with a blanket and a hot water bottle imaging a roaring fire and reading some of these! I’ve tried really hard to not be too repetitive but I’m not sure I’ve actually managed that, so sorry if you’ve seen these books repeatedly on SWB!

Something Wintery – Snowglobe by Amy Wilson

When daydreamer Clementine discovers a mysterious house standing in the middle of town that was never there before, she is pulled towards it by the powerful sense of a mother she never knew. The place is full of snowglobes, swirling with stars and snow and each containing a trapped magician, watched over by Gan, the bitter keeper of the house. One of these is Dylan, a boy who teases her in the real world but who is now desperate for her help.

So Clem ventures into the snowglobes, rescuing Dylan and discovering her own powerful connection to the magic of these thousand worlds. Vowing to release the magicians from the control of their enchantments, Clem unknowingly unleashes a struggle for power that will not only put her family, but the future of magic itself in danger.

I’m making a big assumption about this book based on the cover as I’ve not actually read this one yet, but reading about something wintery while curled up nice and warm sounds delightful! I’m pretty sure I spotted this one on my library’s eBook lending service so I think I’ll be borrowing this one!

Something Romantic – Our Stop by Laura Jane Williams

Nadia gets the 7.30 train every morning without fail. Well, except if she oversleeps or wakes up at her friend Emma’s after too much wine.

Daniel really does get the 7.30 train every morning, which is easy because he hasn’t been able to sleep properly since his dad died.

One morning, Nadia’s eye catches sight of a post in the daily paper:

To the cute girl with the coffee stains on her dress. I’m the guy who’s always standing near the doors… Drink sometime?

So begins a not-quite-romance of near-misses, true love, and the power of the written word.

Cosy winter nights it’s perfect for romantic comedies on the TV! So I’ve picked what sounds like the book equivalent! The Flatshare is another that fits the bill but Our Stop has been sitting on my shelf for quite some time and I need to rectify this!

A Children’s Classic – A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Alone in a new country, wealthy Sara Crewe tries to settle in and make friends at boarding school. But when she learns that she’ll never see her beloved father again, her life is turned upside down. Transformed from princess to pauper, she must swap dancing lessons and luxury for hard work and a room in the attic. Will she find that kindness and generosity are all the riches she truly needs?

I think I was 8 or 9 the first time I read this, after making my way through The Secret Garden at 7. Naturally I loved the fact the main character was also a Sarah (although she’s missing an H) I think there’s something comforting about reading a childhood favourite while all curled up warm. Bonus points if it’s accompanied by a hot chocolate!

A Favourite Classic – The Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sherlock Holmes is not only the most famous character in crime fiction, but arguably the most famous character in all fiction.

In sixty adventures that pit his extraordinary wits and courage against foreign spies, blackmailers, cultists, petty thieves, murderers, swindlers, policemen (both stupid and clever), and his arch-nemesis Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes, together with his faithful sidekick Doctor John H. Watson, proves himself to be not only the quintessential detective but also the most engaging and entertaining company any reader could ask for.

The Penguin Complete Sherlock Holmes allows readers to experience the entire case-history of Holmes and Dr. Watson from start to finish – the stories that have spawned such infamous characters as the devilish Moriarty, the devious Irene Adler and, of course, the legendary hound of the Baskervilles …

I have loved Sherlock Holmes for so long! I remember many Christmas evenings as a child curled up on the sofa with my dad watching a TV adaptation of one of the books, and I’m a huge fan of the modern adaptations. I do still love sitting down with the books though. Alternatively listening to Stephen Fry reading them is a delight!

Something Set Locally – See Them Run by Marion Todd

In a famous Scottish town, someone is bent on murder – but why?

On the night of a wedding celebration, one guest meets a grisly end when he’s killed in a hit-and-run. A card bearing the number ‘5’ has been placed on the victim’s chest. DI Clare Mackay, who recently moved from Glasgow to join the St Andrews force, leads the investigation. The following night another victim is struck down and a number ‘4’ card is at the scene. Clare and her team realise they’re against the clock to find a killer stalking the streets of the picturesque Scottish town and bent on carrying out three more murders.
To prevent further deaths, the police have to uncover the link between the victims. But those involved have a lot more at stake than first meets the eye. If Clare wants to solve the case she must face her own past and discover the deepest secrets of the victims – and the killer.

As much as I love reading fantasy books set in a completely different world or books set in some far flung location there’s something special about reading a book set close to you. About recognising the places featured, having walked down the same streets mentioned. So sitting curled up reading as the action happens down the street sounds just wonderful. The one is set in St Andrews which isn’t quite on the doorstep as it’s the other end of Fife, but I spent a lot of time wandering these streets eating ice cream while I was a student in Dundee so I’m looking forward to reading this one

Something Dark – The Serial Killer’s Daughter by Lesley Welsh

Suzanne Tyler barely knew her father. But when she’s given a series of secret diaries and eight mysterious photographs of women from his possessions, she knows she won’t be able to rest until she knows the truth about him. To Suzanne’s shock, one of the photos is of her friend Sophie, who died ten years ago in an unexplained and devastating fire.

But Don only met Sophie once, on an unsettling visit he paid Suzanne just days before Sophie’s death… So why did he have a picture of her? Unable to let Sophie’s memory alone, Suzanne begins to dig into her father’s life. What horrors is she about to unearth in his diaries? And who is it that’s out there, watching her every move?

It’s December, there’s a nice fire burning, the lights on the Christmas tree are twinkling, you’re all cosy in your living room so what do you pick up? Well if you’re me something nice and dark and murder-y! I do think reading something dark is a nice juxtaposition to the festive cheer, so I’ll be reading plenty of crime this winter!

They were my #SixforSunday! If you’ve taken part leave a link to your post below and I’ll be sure to check it out!