Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell

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Tuesday, 20 January 2026

TMST

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating,

1/20/2026 What are your favorite snow/winter-themed books?

Snow and winter, wow that is rather hard. But one book does pop up in my mind

Spitsbergen, months of complete darkness in the Arctic Winter. And something is out there. Such a great book!

1/27/2026 What's your favorite decade and why? (You do not need to have lived through it!)

2/3/2026 If you could invent a holiday, what would you celebrate?

2/10/2026 Share some Romance Book recommendations

2/17/2026 Are there any books you've read that changed your perspective on a subject?

2/24/2026 Which books are you looking forward to reading this Spring? (March-May)

If you are interested in participating in TMST or receiving periodic emails that list the upcoming TMST topics and questions, please fill out this GOOGLE FORM. Participation is optional and never required.

Monday, 19 January 2026

Carole´s Monday. Wild Scottish Knight

Author: Tricia O'Malley

Title: Wild Scottish Knight

Series: The Enchanted Highlands #1

Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Paranormal

Format: ebook

Pages: 316

Published: April 4, 2023

Where I got It: Kindle Unlimited

Summary:

Opposites attract in this modern-day fairytale when American, Sophie MacKnight, inherits a Scottish castle along with a hot grumpy Scotsman who is tasked with training her to be a magickal knight before the Kelpies wreak havoc on the people of Loren Brae.

The knight was supposed to be a man.

Not me, Sophie MacKnight, a marketing associate from California.

This must be a practical joke that the Scots play on visiting Americans. Because otherwise I’ve inherited a haunted castle in Scotland, along with one irritatingly sexy Scotsman, who would be delighted if I turned tail and ran.

Frankly, I thought I would fly here, sell the heap of bricks, and head back home to a life that I…well, I was comfortable with at the very least. Instead, the people of Loren Brae are in trouble, and it appears that as the new owner of the castle, I’m next in line to reinstate the magickal Order of Caledonia. Which means, first, I have to learn to believe in magick. And secondly, I have to train to become a knight.

And my trainer? None other than Lachlan Campbell, the grumpiest man I’ve ever had the annoyance of meeting. It’s a toss-up who is pricklier, Lachlan, or his kilted Chihuahua, Sir Buster. Not only does Lachlan think that I can’t hack it, but he also resents my claim on his castle.

If only he didn’t look so devastatingly hot in his kilt.

Now, I’m stuck proving myself to him, all while trying to figure out how to help my new friends in Loren Brae.

Sparks fly as our swords meet, and we battle our rising attraction for each other.

Who will win in this (Highland) game of love?

Review:

I adore this author, so I had to check this one out.

Sophie has inherited a Scottish castle from her beloved uncle. When she arrives, there is alot more than just having a castle to renovate....there are Kelpies out to destroy the village, she is a Knight, she has to learn magic, there are ghosts, and there is a grumpy man who doesn't seem to want her there.

This was a hoot. I had a lot of fun with our characters and the situation. Poor Sophie. That is a lot to take on, but she needed this adventure. She was stuck in a life she didn't truly want.

This was def a "light" fantasy, and I appreciated that. I didn't want to get too deep into the weeds of the magical world. Sure, there are real threats and some fights and dramatic moments, but it was cozy in a way.

One thing that annoyed me was that I struggled with the chemistry between these two until near the end. Maybe he was too grumpy? I loveeeee grumpy, but maybe he was just too closed off for me to buy it. Maybe they were slightly overshadowed because of the chemistry between two side characters. Their banter was on fire. Can we see them finally fall in love? IDK. I just didn't really feel their chemistry at first.

Other than that, I had a lot of fun with this story. This felt more like a fantasy chick lit tbh.

4 stars.

Sunday, 18 January 2026

Audio: Off the record by Portia McIntosh

Narrated by: Karen Cass

Length: 1 hr and 36 mins

Release date: 05-20-25

Publisher: HQ Digital

Categories: Romance

Listened to on spotify

I listened to this one over at spotify, but I had 20 min left when my hours were over so I waited over 21 days to finish this novella. Yeah maybe spotify is not the place for audiobooks. You can buy more, but like thanks but no thanks for 20 min.

Anyway a short novella about Nicole who is besties with a rockstar. He goes missing after a gig and she needs to find him. She has some funny situations and with her is another rockstar and sparks fly.

Short and good.

Good narration too

Being best friends with a mega-star has its perks, and music journalist Nicole Wilde takes full advantage of them.

But it also has its responsibilities. When lead singer Dylan King disappears the night before a charity gig, it’s up to Nicole to track him down.

Half a dozen groupies, a haunted hotel, a tattoo parlour, a reality show runner-up and a crazy bed-hopping, sleepless night later – will she find him before the tour bus leaves town? And when she does, is it time to head home? Or to jump on the tour bus and go along for the ride?

Friday, 16 January 2026

The Ritual by Adam Nevill

Format: 432 pages, Paperback

Published: February 14, 2012 by St. Martin’s Griffin

Horror/borrowed

Ok, I admit, I am not really a horror fan because I get scared, I have nightmares. I also do not want it bloody. But this book was so good! And really scary.

The first half is about 4 friends hiking through the Swedish wilderness. Two are out of shape and has had accidents so they decide to take what they believe is a shortcut through the woods.

Oh those woods were scary. I like when it is that creepy feeling that you never see anything, but something is out there. Something dangerous. And then they find creepy things. That intense uncomfortable feeling is growing.

But then after half the book the mood shifted, it was still good, but not as scary. Now it was more real and weird. I did prefer the first scary part, as the second part was never scary....I mean the threat of death is constant, but you would have to read it to see.

Great scary book

When four old University friends set off into the Scandinavian wilderness of the Arctic Circle, they aim to briefly escape the problems of their lives and reconnect with one another. But when Luke, the only man still single and living a precarious existence, finds he has little left in common with his well-heeled friends, tensions rise. With limited experience between them, a shortcut meant to ease their hike turns into a nightmare scenario that could cost them their lives. Lost, hungry, and surrounded by forest untouched for millennia, Luke figures things couldn't possibly get any worse.

But then they stumble across an old habitation. Ancient artifacts decorate the walls and there are bones scattered upon the dry floors. The residue of old rites and pagan sacrifice for something that still exists in the forest. Something responsible for the bestial presence that follows their every step. As the four friends stagger in the direction of salvation, they learn that death doesn't come easy among these ancient trees…