These double rounds are turning into a habit, one I’d better dial back on or else I’ll finish this bingo challenge sooner than planned and have to start it all over again. The latest squares I have checked off are:

Book set in an exotic location:

The Moon Sister by Lucinda Riley

Set primarily in Granada, the story was like a moving element, making its way through the years and the exotic locations in equal measure: Barcelona, Madrid, Portugal, all through South America, up into North America, and then back to Granada, in Sacromonte, where the story originally began. The atmosphere was richly detailed, the eras recreated with historical significance. My favourite parts were those set in Sacromonte, as I found the history of this place particularly fascinating. The story here begins in 1912, where the descendants of those original Granadian Gypsies are living in caves built into the slopes of Cerro de San Miguel on the edge of the Camino del Sacromonte. This ‘neighbourhood’ exists outside the walls of the city, and has done so since the 16th century. It is filled with poverty, its inhabitants marginalised, living on the fringes in a manner that differs little from centuries gone by. The Sacromonte offers views of indescribable beauty: the towers of the Alhambra, the white slopes of the Albaycin, the Valparaiso valley and the River Darro.

Crime:

The Promised Land by Barry Maitland

The Promised Land is the 13th title in Barry Maitland’s bestselling Brock and Kolla Series, but it’s the first one I’ve read and I really don’t think coming into the series this late affected my appreciation of it. Maitland is a skilled writer and he sets this novel up in a way that can be read as a standalone while still adding enough of the serial elements to keep ongoing fans happy. A tricky balance but he nails it.

For 2019, I’m teaming up with Mrs B’s Book Reviews and The Book Muse for an even bigger, and more challenging book bingo. We’d love to have you join us. Every second Saturday throughout 2019, we’ll post our latest round. Feel free to join in at any stage, just pop the link to your bingo posts into the comments section of our bingo posts each fortnight so we can visit you. If you’re not a blogger, feel free to just write your book titles and thoughts on the books into the comments section each fortnight, and tag us on social media if you are playing along that way.