Tag Archives: christmas

Time Travel Thursday

It’s Time Travel Thursday! This is where I take a look back at what I was reading this time last year (or the year before or the year before that…) and compare it to what I am reading now.

This day in 2021 I was reading:

Book Review – Yes, No, Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed

Book Description From Goodreads:

New York Times bestselling authors Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed have crafted a resonant, funny, and memorable story about the power of love and resistance.

YES
Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state senate candidate—as long as he’s behind the scenes. When it comes to speaking to strangers (or, let’s face it, speaking at all to almost anyone), Jamie’s a choke artist. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes…until he meets Maya.

NO
Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang out, her summer trip is canceled, and now her parents are separating. Why her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing—with some awkward dude she hardly knows—is beyond her.

MAYBE SO
Going door to door isn’t exactly glamorous, but maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer—and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural romance of the century is another thing entirely.”

Book Review – The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

Book Description From Goodreads:

“When the department store she works in closes for good, Carmen has perilously little cash and few options. She doesn’t want to move in with her perfect sister Sofia, in Sofia’s perfect house with her perfect children and her perfectly ordered Edinburgh life.

Frankly, Sofia doesn’t exactly want Carmen there either. Her sister has always been sarcastic and difficult. But Sofia has yet another baby on the way, a mother desperate to see her daughters get along, and a client who needs a retail assistant for his ailing bookshop, so welcoming Carmen might still have some benefits for everyone.

At Sofia’s behest, Carmen is thrown into the daily workings of old Mr. McCredie’s ancient bookshop on the streets of the old dark city. Can she use her design skills to revamp the store and bring it back to popularity in time to benefit from Christmas shopping traffic? Can she choose between bad boy literary rock star Blair and quiet Quaker student Oke? And will she heal the rift with the most important people of all: her family?”

What were you reading this time last year?

#bibliophile #igreads #currentlyreading #bookreview #instaread #lovetoread #booksarelife #readingisfundamental #whatimreading #bookreviewer #bookaddicts #bookpost #tbrpile #justread #bookishphotography #whattoreadnext #readallday #bookworms #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #bookpic #newreads #booknerd #timetravelthursday #pastreads #winterreading #christmas #romance

“book”, “read”, “book blog”, “recommended”, “easy read”, “don’t miss out”, “fiction”, “past reads”,”entertaining”, “what should I read next”, “christmas”, “romance”

Time Travel Thursday

It’s Time Travel Thursday! This is where I take a look back at what I was reading this time last year (or the year before or the year before that…) and compare it to what I am reading now.

This day in 2021 I was reading:

Book Description From Goodreads:

“Jo Finnegan is attacked while leaving work one evening by criminals threatening her more harm if she does not provide them with information she doesn’t have.

When she gets home, Jo finds her sister dead in her front room, and her wife missing. When the police arrive and arrest her, while she is still in shock from the events of the night, Jo realises she’s been framed for her sister’s murder. But that’s only the beginning of her nightmare.”

Book Review – Kill Me Goodbye by A K Reynolds

Fast Forward To Today:

Letters from Father Christmas by JRR Tolkien (click for link to Goodreads)

My current TBR shelf book, which I need to make more progress on this week!

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (click for link to Goodreads)

This is my current Blog Tour book, review due on 13 January 2023.

Comparison:

Completely different books from Thriller to Christmas and Fantasy! The only thing that is similar is that the Thriller and Fantasy are Blog Tour books!

What were you reading this time last year or the year before (or the year before!)? Add your links in the comments below!

#bibliophile #igreads #currentlyreading #bookreview #instaread #lovetoread #booksarelife #readingisfundamental #whatimreading #bookreviewer #bookaddicts #bookpost #tbrpile #justread #bookishphotography #whattoreadnext #readallday #bookworms #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #bookpic #newreads #booknerd #timetravelthursday #pastreads #winterreading #christmas #thriller #romance

“book”, “read”, “book blog”, “recommended”, “easy read”, “don’t miss out”, “fiction”, “past reads”,”entertaining”, “what should I read next”, “christmas”, “romance”, “thriller”

Goodreads Top 5 Wednesday – Books To Read When You Are Snowed In

Welcome to Top 5 Wednesday! Hosted by Goodreads T5W group this week it is Books To Read When You Are Snowed In. I think that we have had our snow for the year. It is quite rare to snow here in South East England, UK so we were “lucky” to get what we did!

Anyway, if I was snowed in I would want to read:

CHRISTMAS

Book Review – The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan

ROMANCE

Book Review – The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood

THRILLER

Book Review – The 13th Assassin by Frank Malley

MYSTERY

HUMOUR

Book Review – Four Aunties And A Wedding by Jesse Sutanto

What books would be on your list?

#bookstagram #instabook #bookphotography #igbooks #ilovereading #bookhaul #bookhoarder #bookaddiction #bookstoread #whattoread #fortheloveofbooks #bookblogging #bookpics #weekendreads #bookrecs #booknerdproblems #bookpictures #bookstagram #amreading #booksbooksbooks #instablog #booknerds #bookphotos #bibliophile #goodreads #top5wednesday

“book”, “read”, “book blog”, “easy read”, “don’t miss out”, “fiction”, “entertaining”, “what should I read next”, “what book do you recommend”

Top Ten Tuesday – Books I Hope Santa Brings This Year

Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday! Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, this week it is Books I Hope Santa Brings This Year. I am fairly confident that I will get at least some of my requested books because I personally ordered them so that my partner knows that he is getting the right one. The rest I will just have to hope for!

The Bullet That Missed by Richard Osman (click for link to Goodreads)

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (click for link to Goodreads)

Love on the Brain by Ali Hazelwood (click for link to Goodreads)

Carrie Sotto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (click for link to Goodreads)

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead by Elle Cosimano (click for link to Goodreads)

Majesty by Katharine McGee (click for link to Goodreads)

Rivals by Katharine McGee (click for link to Goodreads)

Dating Dr Dil by Nisha Sharma (click for link to Goodreads)

The Christmas Castle In Scotland by Julie Caplin (click for link to Goodreads)

Life and Death by Stephenie Meyer (click for link to Goodreads)

What books are on your list?

#bookstagram #instabook #bookphotography #igbooks #ilovereading #bookhaul #bookhoarder #bookaddiction #bookstoread #whattoread #fortheloveofbooks #bookblogging #bookpics #weekendreads #bookrecs #booknerdproblems #bookpictures #bookstagram #amreading #booksbooksbooks #instablog #booknerds #bookphotos #bibliophile #toptentuesday #winter #winterreading #christmas

“book”, “read”, “book review”, “book blog”, “recommended”, “easy read”, “library”, “don’t miss out”, “fiction”, “cosy books”, “romance”, “reading slump”, “entertaining”, “what should I read next”, “what books do you recommend”

Sunday Salon

Welcome to my Sunday Salon post! Hosted by Readerbuzz this post is a chance to have a weekly bookish and non-bookish catch up with other bloggers.

What I have been reading this week:

Letters from Father Christmas by JRR Tolkien (click for link to Goodreads)

Memes that I have participated in this week:

Goodreads Monday – Hosted by me Budget Tales Book Blog

Top Ten Tuesday – Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

WWW Wednesday – Hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words

Goodreads Top 5 Wednesday – Hosted by Goodreads T5W group

Book Blogger Hop – Hosted by Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer

The Friday 56 – Hosted by Freda’s Voice

Sunday Post – Hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer

What else has been happening this week:

SNOW! We only had it for one night, but as it has been so cold it hasn’t melted and has turned into ice. It is very dangerous out there. We aren’t prepared for this sort of weather! My son even had two days off school and even when we returned it wasn’t entirely safe.

This week was my son’s last week before the Christmas holidays so on Wednesday we got to see his nativity. He was the lamb (one of three). After school on Thursday we went to a Garden Centre that does amazing Christmas decorations. It took us a long time to get there and back due to the adverse weather conditions, but we had a nice chocolate whilst we were there and enjoyed the Christmas! This weekend we went shopping and today I (with my partner and son!) am meeting up with a friend.

I hope that you had a good week!

Local Playing Field 3 days after the snow

Our garden 3 days after the snow

#bookstagram #bibliophile #igreads #bookreview #instaread #lovetoread #booksarelife #readingisfundamental #whatimreading #bookreviewer #bookaddicts #bookpost #tbrpile #justread #bookishphotography #whattoreadnext #readallday #bookworms #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #bookpic #newreads #booknerd #bibliophile #sundaysalon #winterreading #christmas

“book”, “read”, “book review”, “book blog”,”recommended”, “easy read”, “don’t miss out”, “fiction”, “entertaining”, “book meme”, “weekly wrap up”, “sunday salon”, “what books do you recommend”, “what book should I read next”, “winter reading”, “christmas”

Sunday Post

Welcome to my Sunday post hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. A very quiet week this week as I’ve tried to have a chilled week! We had a load of snow last week, which for this part of the UK is rare. It has been a nightmare slipping to and from school – the school was even closed for a couple of days. We just aren’t prepared for this sort of weather.

Anyway, here are this week’s posts:

Sunday Salon (last week)

Goodreads Monday (add your links in the comments section for all to see!) – Saving Mr Scrooge by Sharon Booth

Top Ten Tuesday – Books on My Winter 2022-2023 To-Read List

WWW Wednesday – Currently Reading, Finished Reading, Reading Next

Goodreads Top 5 Wednesday – Books To Gift

Random Things Tours – Book Review – When The Lights Go Out by Chris Curran

Friday 56 – Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett

Book Blogger Hop – Which time of day do you prefer to read: morning, afternoon, or evening? 

Book Review – Christmas At Carringtons by Alexandra Brown

Stacking The Shelves

I hope that you have all had a good week!

#bookstagram #bibliophile #igreads #currentlyreading #bookreview #instaread #lovetoread #booksarelife #readingisfundamental #whatimreading #bookreviewer #bookaddicts #bookpost #tbrpile #justread #bookishphotography #whattoreadnext #readallday #bookworms #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #bookpic #newreads #booknerd #sundaypost #autumnreading #fallreading #popularbooks #bookmemes #bookquotes #booklists #christmas #christmasgifts

“book”, “read”, “book review”, “book blog”,”recommended”, “easy read”, “don’t miss out”, “fiction”, “entertaining”, “christmas”, “romance”, “what should I read next”, “what books do you recommend”, “winter reading”, “christmas gifts”

Book Review – Christmas At Carringtons by Alexandra Brown

Library Book

Genre: Christmas/Romance

Number of Pages: 384

📖PLOT SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS 📖

Carrington’s Department store is thrown into a spin when the staff learn that a hot new reality TV show is to be filmed in-store, featuring the formidable retail guru, Kelly Cooper. Georgie Hart, in charge of Luxury Handbags, is reluctant, but quickly realises that the show could give Carrington’s a new lease of life. With Christmas around the corner, she’s also hoping that the season will deliver her the perfect Christmas present, in the form of Tom, the store’s dishy boss.

When the film crew arrive, things start to go wrong. One of Tom’s old flames, Zara, is working on the show and then, to top things off, Tom and Zara are sent off to Paris and New York for a spot of extra filming. When Georgie settles down in front of the box to watch the first show, worse it to come – Georgie is shown in a far from flattering light and she is horrified to learn what Tom has been up to.

Georgie fears this is turning out to be the worst Christmas ever, but Santa might have a got a little surprise in store for her stocking this year – but she’ll just have to wait until Christmas to find out!

💭THOUGHTS💭

I saw this on the Libby App and thought that it was a great looking Christmas read. There was a bit of a wait on it so I had high hopes! I did enjoy it and have since learned that it is part of a series, so I will be keeping that in mind. 

The writing was light and entertaining and I enjoyed being on the journey with the main character. The misunderstandings throughout were interesting and I really felt for her. There were also a couple of emotional moments which I think added to the story. 

It was written from the point of view of the main character which drew me in to the story and made me feel part of the journey. There was a good amount of description that was cleverly weaved in so you could easily picture what was going on. 

There was a fast pace to the story, with things constantly going on. The chapters were a mix of lengths which helped with the pacing and kept my interest. I enjoyed the titles on each of the chapters and I felt that they also helped to move the story on. 

The characters were great. The friendship shone through when the main character was having a time of it, and they added entertainment to the story.  

Lastly the settings. I loved the setting of an old fashioned shopping department. There is something cosy about reading about them especially as they are becoming a rare thing on our high streets. 

Overall an enjoyable Christmas story. 

⭐Rated 4/5⭐

#bookstagram #instabook #bookphotography #igbooks #ilovereading #bookhaul #bookhoarder #bookaddiction #bookstoread #whattoread #fortheloveofbooks #bookblogging #bookpics #weekendreads #bookrecs #booknerdproblems #bookpictures #bookstagram #amreading #booksbooksbooks #instablog #booknerds #bookphotos #bibliophile #christmas #romance

“book”, “read”, “book blog”, “easy read”, “don’t miss out”, “fiction”, “winter reading”, “christmas”, “christmas romance”, “library book”

WWW Wednesday – Currently Reading, Finished Reading, Reading Next

It’s W W W Wednesday! Hosted by Sam @ Taking on a World of Words, here are my 3 Ws (Currently Reading, Just Finished Reading and Future Reading):

What I am currently reading:

Christmas At Carrington’s by Alexandra Brown (click for link to Goodreads)

I am still reading this, but now about 70% of the way through!

Letters from Father Christmas by JRR Tolkien (click for link to Goodreads)

I have to say that I haven’t read any of this this week. I have been a bit off of my reading with this cold. I am hoping to get back into the swing of it later this week!

What I have finished reading:

NOTHING. I am hoping to finish Christmas At Carrington’s really soon though!

What I am reading next:

Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (click for link to Goodreads)

I am on the Blog Tour for this book on 13 January 2023 so keep your eyes peeled for my review on here, Amazon, Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter!

Book Description From Goodsreads:

A curmudgeonly professor journeys to a small town in the far north to study faerie folklore and discovers dark fae magic, friendship, and love, in this heartwarming and enchanting fantasy.

Cambridge professor Emily Wilde is good at many things: She is the foremost expert on the study of faeries. She is a genius scholar and a meticulous researcher who is writing the world’s first encyclopaedia of faerie lore. But Emily Wilde is not good at people. She could never make small talk at a party–or even get invited to one. And she prefers the company of her books, her dog, Shadow, and the Fair Folk to other people.

So when she arrives in the hardscrabble village of Hrafnsvik, Emily has no intention of befriending the gruff townsfolk. Nor does she care to spend time with another new arrival: her dashing and insufferably handsome academic rival Wendell Bambleby, who manages to charm the townsfolk, get in the middle of Emily’s research, and utterly confound and frustrate her.

But as Emily gets closer and closer to uncovering the secrets of the Hidden Ones–the most elusive of all faeries–lurking in the shadowy forest outside the town, she also finds herself on the trail of another mystery: Who is Wendell Bambleby, and what does he really want? To find the answer, she’ll have to unlock the greatest mystery of all–her own heart.”

What are your 3 Ws for this week?

#bookstagram #bibliophile #igreads #currentlyreading #finishedreading #bookreview #instaread #lovetoread #booksarelife #readingisfundamental #whatimreading #bookreviewer #bookaddicts #bookpost #tbrpile #justread #bookishphotography #whattoreadnext #readallday #bookworms #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #bookpic #newreads #booknerd #wwwwednesday #winterreading #christmas

“book”, “read”, “book review”, “book blog”, “new”, “recommended”, “easy read”, “don’t miss out”, “fiction”, “reading slump” “entertaining”, “what should I read next”, “what books do you recommend”, “winter reading”, “christmas”

Sunday Post

Welcome to my Sunday post hosted by Caffeinated Reviewer. A very quiet week this week as I have yet again caught another cold. I am very fed up especially as I have been taking vitamin tablets that are supposed to boost your immune system etc etc!

Anyway, here are this week’s posts:

Sunday Salon (last week)

Goodreads Monday (add your links in the comments section for all to see!) – Midwinter Murder by Agatha Christie

Monday Night Reading

Top Ten Tuesday – Winter Covers

WWW Wednesday – Currently Reading, Finished Reading, Reading Next

Goodreads Top 5 Wednesday – Ongoing series I am still loving

Happy Publication Day! Dashboard Elvis is Dead by David F Ross

Happy Publication Day! When The Lights Go Out by Chris Curran

Friday 56 – Letters from Father Christmas by JRR Tolkien

Book Blogger Hop –  Do you have a favourite reading nook?

I hope that you have all had a good week!

#bookstagram #bibliophile #igreads #currentlyreading #bookreview #instaread #lovetoread #booksarelife #readingisfundamental #whatimreading #bookreviewer #bookaddicts #bookpost #tbrpile #justread #bookishphotography #whattoreadnext #readallday #bookworms #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #bookpic #newreads #booknerd #sundaypost #autumnreading #fallreading #popularbooks #bookmemes #bookquotes #booklists #christmas

“book”, “read”, “book review”, “book blog”,”recommended”, “easy read”, “don’t miss out”, “fiction”, “entertaining”, “mystery”, “what should I read next”, “what books do you recommend”, “winter reading”

Friday 56 – Letters from Father Christmas by JRR Tolkien

Welcome to Friday 56! Hosted by Freda’s Voice, you turn to page 56 or 56% in any book or reading device and pick a sentence that grabs you.

From my current reads I have chosen a book from my TBR shelves, Letters from Father Christmas by JRR Tolkien (click for link to Goodreads):

Book Description From Goodreads:

“Can you imagine writing to Father Christmas and actually getting a reply? For more than twenty years, the children of J.R.R. Tolkien received letters from the North Pole – from Father Christmas himself! They told wonderful stories of mischief and disaster, adventures, and battles: how the reindeer got loose and scattered presents all over the place, how the accident-prone Polar Bear climbed the North Pole and fell through the roof of Father Christmas’s house, and many others.

Now, for the first time, these letters are brought to life with specially arranged holiday music.”

Friday 56 Quote:

“1930

November 28th 1930

Father Christmas has got all your letters! What a lot, especially from Christopher and Michael! Thank you, and also Reddy and your bears, and other animals.”

Just a tiny snippet from one of the letters. This book is made up of letters from Father Christmas so it is great to dip in and out of over this Christmas period.

What do you think?

#bookstagram #bibliophile #igreads #currentlyreading #bookreview #instaread #lovetoread #booksarelife #readingisfundamental #whatimreading #bookreviewer #bookaddicts #bookpost #tbrpile #justread #bookishphotography #whattoreadnext #readallday #bookworms #booksofinstagram #bookwormproblems #bookaholic #bookpic #newreads #booknerd #friday56 #bookquote #winterreading #christmas

“book”, “read”, “book blog”, “easy read”, “don’t miss out”, “entertaining”, “what book should I read next”, “book quote”, “winter reading”, “christmas”