February has been and gone. It went by in a blur of home-schooling, work and well home-schooling and work. Just as Spring is making it’s first tentative steps into 2021, there appears to be some light at the end of the lockdown tunnel, though hopefully that light is daylight and not those of a train.

As for March, it may see the end of home-schooling for the us and the kids and a week off work for me to recuperate. I imagine I shall feel more invigorated than having spent a week in a spa.

As for what came in and out, that turns out to be far more in each direction that I would have predicted at the start of the month.

Here’s what made it through the snow and rain to settle onto my bookshelves.

1. A Springtime Affair by Katie Fforde, a treat from me to me.
2. A Wedding in the Country by Katie Fforde, sent for review by Century.
3. Transient Desires by Donna Leon, sent for review by William Heinemann.
4. I Couldn’t Love You More by Esther Freud.
5. The Kingdoms by Natasha Pulley.
6. Bright Burning Things by Lisa Harding ( I actually received two copies of this but am only counting it once).
7. A Net for Small Fishes by Lucy Jago (This was the third copy I’ve received so technically I’m not including it).
8. No one is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood. All of these were sent for review by Bloomsbury.
9. Serpentine by Jonathan Kellerman, sent for review by Century.
10. Until Next Weekend by Rachel Marks, sent for review by Michael Joseph.
11. How to Live. What to Do by Josh Cohen. Sent for review by Sarah Harwood.
12. Lost Property by Helen Paris, sent for review by Doubleday.
13. Murder’s a Swine by Nap Lombard, sent for review by the British Library.
14. Cold Boy’s Wood by Carol Birch, sent for review by Head of Zeus.

Here’s what I managed to read:

1. Lightseekers by Femi Kayode.
2. A Wedding in the Country by Katie Fforde.
3. Serpentine by Jonathan Kellerman.
4. The Strays of Paris by Jane Smiley.
5. Transient Desires by Donna Leon.
6. Mrs Death Misses Death by Salena Godden.
7. Murder’s a Swine by Nap Lombard.
8. Tea is so Intoxicating by Mary Essex.
9. Panenka by Ronan Hession.

I sent one of the duplicate books over to a blogger friend. So removing the duplicates I received 13 books. Outgoing were 10 books. So near but not quite a balance. With the possibility of free time tantalisingly close, who knows what March will bring, even with that hour that gets taken from us. I hope March is as kind, warm and blooming for you as it is for the change of season.

Happy reading.