February 10th, 2013 
Vicky 
Inspired by Pop Culture Junkie and the Story Siren, the aim of Showcase Sunday is to highlight our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week. For more information about how this feature works and how to join in, click here.
Hello everyone! How are you? I’ve been reeeaaaally busy this week – I started writing my thesis on Tuesday and I managed to write 1/6 of it already, so I guess I’m making pretty good progress. Huzzah! Also, my grandpa was taken into hospital and my gran’s been staying with us since last Saturday and in all fairness, I’m exhausted. Since uni doesn’t start until Monday I was the one staying at home and looking after her in the past 8 days and I didn’t really have much time (or energy, for that matter) for reading or anything else.
However, I did get some amazing books which made this week a lot better!
Incoming
The Leopard by Jo Nesbo (purchased)
Panic by Jeff Abbott (purchased)
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen (swapped)
Once in a Lifetime by Cathy Kelly (swapped)
Gone by Mo Hayder (swapped)
Since I still had a book voucher left from Christmas I decided to treat myself and buy some new thrillers I’ve been meaning to read for a pretty long time. I probably should have read Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole series from the beginning instead of buying book #8 and not having the faintest idea what happened in the first seven books, but I’m hoping they can be read in any order. *whispers* Can they? Has any of you read them yet?
Also, I came across this local book swapping website a few weeks ago, hence the crazy amount of second hand books I received in the past few weeks. Gone is in pretty bad shape which I’m really gutted about but I’ve been dying to read it so I guess I’ll have to live with it.
How was your week? Have you read any of the books above? What did you think?
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Still sending lots of love, good wishes and thoughts in your Grandpa’s direction <3
And I'm super proud of you for your thesis! You're doing really well
*high 5*
I saw the link to Gone off your GR page last night and it genuinely sounds like a brilliant book – no wonder you're so desperate to read it! I'm even desperate to read it haha – Really excited about hearing your thoughts on it! Shame about the condition of the book though
Hope you have a lovely Sunday!
Megan xxxx
Megan @ReadingInTheSunshine recently posted..Showcase Sunday #5
Ah, you’re so lovely – thank you! He was allowed to go home the other day so I hope he’s getting better. And thank you x12345678 <3 I’m planning to write another 500-1000 words today so fingers crossed.
I had no idea you liked crime fiction, by the way! *.* Yippppppeee! I’ll let you know how it was.
Hope you have a nice weekend! xxxxxxxxx
Well I used to jut be so-so about it (I think I must’ve read a few bad books and it put me off) but then in the last 6 months I started reading more crime fiction and really enjoyed it! Though I always like recommendations because being a newbie to the genre I want to have a bit of direction!
SO thrilled your Grandpa was able to go home the other day so hopefully he’s getting a bit better
And you have no idea how excited I am that you’re moving to London next year!
*Does excited happy dance* It’s going to be AWESOME having you over here! 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Megan @ReadingInTheSunshine recently posted..Showcase Sunday #5
Hugs for you and your family. It’s difficult when family is ill – but books are a good escape.
Panic is one I’ve been wondering abouot for a while – can’t wait to see what you think!
Mel S recently posted..My Book Haul / Showcase Sundays
That’s true
Thanks Mel! And I’ll make sure to let you know how it was – it sounds quite creepy (in a good way, though) and I’ve heard great things about Jeff’s work so let’s hope it’s a good one.
Sounds like you had a pretty busy week. But still you got some great books. Both Gone and Leopard seem very interesting. Enjoy!
Veronica Morfi recently posted..Unpack This [Feb.4 - Feb.10]
I did – and the next few weeks are going to be even more insane.
Sorry to hear about your granddad. Sending some healthy vibes his way.
The trouble with swapping is you can never be sure what condition the books will be in, but so long as it’s still readable, it’s good enough, I guess. It’s just a bummer if it’s a book you end up wanting to keep. My sister is a member of a book-swapping site. I can’t recall the name of it now, but I’m horrible about parting with books, so I’m not sure I’d be able to bring myself to sign up. Did you ever read any Val McDermid? I know you like crime books, and hers are wickedly gritty with no holds barred.
Enjoy your books, and I hope you get some rest and reading time soon.
Julie @ Bookaroo-Ju recently posted..Showcase Sunday #25
Jo Nesbo is great crime writer. The Leopard is great, but I liked The Snowman a little bit more. Nemesis is also my favorite. The Leopard is part of Harry Hole Series, I highly recommend all of them.
I’ve read Once in a Lifetime, it wasn’t my cup of tea.
I don’t have new books this week (saving money for new bookshelves in my house), so I’m skipping Showcase Sunday this week.
See ya!
Marina recently posted..Guest Post and Review: Roses in Ecuador by Heather Huffman
I’ve been thinking on picking up Jo Nesbo as well. I probably will in the summer or so.
Great haul, happy reading!
Ula @ Blog of Erised recently posted..You’ve got mail!/Showcase Sunday/Stacking the Shelves/Owl Post
Thanks Ula!
I just finished Mansfield Park which I’m reading for English. It’s really good but I wanted to strangle most of the characters at some point or another haha
Hope your Grandfather gets better!
Laura Hartley recently posted..What’s Hot? Books.
Bahaha! I felt the same way about some of the characters in Pride and Prejudice.
Hi Vicky
I hope everything goes well for your Granddad.
No book’s for me this week, but I hope that you enjoy all of your reads this week.
Theta Sigma @ Resolution Corner recently posted..Author Interview – Leigh Parker
Thank you. Apparently he was allowed to go home the other day so let’s hope he’s on the mend.
Have a nice weekend!
I’m sorry to hear about your granddad. I hope he will be better soon. It’s always nice to treat yourself with some books and I hope you will enjoy them all Vicky!
Mel@thedailyprophecy recently posted..Showcase Sunday (23) Bargain.
I agree – books and book shopping definitely have healing properties
Thanks Mel! x
OOh nice! Those are all new to me! Hope you enjoy them all!
Here’s my STS
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower
Most people have read Jo Nesbo out of order as they weren’t translated in order! I read The Redbreast first then Nemesis but took a break and now the first one is out, I’m plabnning to read them in the proper order! I think they can mostly be read by themselves though. I love Mo Hayder, she is proper scary!
Ellie recently posted..Incoming!
Oh, right! I didn’t know that.
Hope your grandpa is okay hun! And sorry to hear you’ve been so exhausted but that’s brilliant news about your thesis! I know just how much of a struggle it is to write so I wish you all the luck in the world for that (not that you need luck, eh?)
You got some good books this week, Panic and Once in a Lifetime looks really interesting! Sad to hear about Gone though
Here’s what I got this week.
Faye
Thanks hun! He’s back home now and is hopefully feeling a bit better. I know I’m terribly late but I’m off to check out your book haul now
Hope you had a lovely weekend! x
Except for Austen’s book, I have not heard of any of these – thrillers!? eeep! I can handle some suspense and mystery, but once it gets to ‘thrilling’ I know I won’t be able to sleep well for a few days, lol! I love hearing about them though, so I look forward to seeing your reviews!
I hope your Grandfather gets better real soon. Good luck with your thesis
Happy reading!!!
Margie aka The Bumble Girl recently posted..Beehive Book Haul and News #37: The “Blazing Freebies” Edition
Ooh Jane Austen! I’m actually reading Persuasion right now and I’m loving it! Hope you enjoy all you got
Here’s my STS!
Oh, nice! I have a copy of Persuasion sitting on my bookshelf but I haven’t had time to read it yet. Glad to hear it’s a good one.
I hope your grandpa is doing better. I haven’t read any of those books but I hope you enjoy them.
Bea @Bea’s Book Nook recently posted..Review of Serpent Queen by J.A. Campbell
Thanks Bea, he’s back at home and is hopefully feeling better now.
Have a great week and happy reading!
Oh dear, I hope your grandpa feels better now. You have made good progress on your thesis. Don’t forget to rest some.
Good the books provided some much needed joy, so sorry about Gone being in bad shape.
Pragya recently posted..Cover Reveal: The Only Exception by Magan Vernon
Ah, thank you. He’s been at home for a few days now, and is hopefully feeling much better.
Great books, Vicky! I have yet to read a book by Jane Austen, I really need to read more classics. I hope you enjoy you’re books!
I hope you’re grandpa gets better soon <3
Zoe @ Bookhi recently posted..Showcase Sunday #17
Thanks Zoe! *hugs* I really enjoyed Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility but I’ve yet to read the rest of her novels.
That’s a great start on your thesis, Vicky!
Hope your grandpa is feeling better and better.
I haven’t read the crime thrillers of Jo Nesbø and I don’t know if it’s true, but I have heard that reading The Snowman first could be helpful before going into The Leopard.
Enjoy your books and have a great week
Henrietta recently posted..Showcase Sunday (32)
Thanks, H!
I just need to stop procrastinatingAnd thanks for the tip – I’ll need to check that one out!
I hope your grandpa gets well soon!
Tiffany Drew recently posted..Showcase Sunday (42)
Thank you! x
Yay, well done on the thesis progress! What’s it about?
Some good looking books there, hope you enjoy them! Have you read Mansfield Park before? It’s a good one.
Happy reading, and have a great week! And really hope your grandad is feeling better soon.
Vicky H recently posted..Wicked Valentine’s Read-a-thon Mini Challenges
Thanks V!
No, I haven’t but I’ve read some of Austen’s other books and really enjoyed them.
My thesis is basically a comparison between Melvin Burgess’s and Barry Hines’s A Kestrel for a Knave and how these two stories can be read as bildungsromans of the two main characters and social commentaries of 20th century England. 
(it doesn’t have a fancy title yet)
I love second hand book finding whether in shops, swaps or just trying to save money. I always try to go for quality “very good -> like new” unless it’s a particularly trusted persona and/or has detailed information about the quality of the book. A bit of tat is fine when you’re saving money.
Hannah @ Once Upon A Time recently posted..Clock Rewinders #26
So do I – there’s something about second hand books that makes them… I don’t know, more charming, I guess? Have you tried AwesomeBooks yet? Their second hand books are v good quality. (:
Sorry to hear about your grandpa but that’s awesome news about your thesis! What are you writing about (if you don’t mind me being nosy
) Great batch of books though, I haven’t heard of any of them but Once In A Lifetime sounds quite cute. Hope you get more reading squeezed in this week!
My Week in Books!
Not at all
It’s a comparison between Melvin Burgess’s Billy Elliot (the novel, not the film) and Barry Hines’s A Kestrel for a Knave and how these two stories can be read as bildungsromans of the two main characters and social commentaries of 20th century England. In a nutshell… 
Ooh I’ll be interested to see what you think of the Nesbo book, I tend to like Scandinavian crime fiction, but I haven’t read any of hers yet!
kit recently posted..Review: Rose By Any Other Name, Maureen McCarthy
I haven’t read any Scandinavian crime yet so I’m really excited – I’ll let you know if it’s any good.
Those look awesome!
Stellar recently posted..Weekly Howl {1}
I hope your grandfather feels better soon
I love everything Austen. Have fun with uni and writing your theses (been there!)
Liza @ Reading with ABC recently posted..Review and Giveaway: Jack Templar: Monster Hunter by Jeff Gunhus
So do I
Thanks Liza!