'Happiness can be found in the darkest of places if one remembers to turn on the light'
Hi guys 👋🏻
It’s exactly a month since Christmas day, today!!! WHATTTT. CRAZY.
So, here is this year’s bookish themed Christmas Haul 🎄 📚
I’m very lucky! 🤗 and very happy to have some brilliant books to start the yeat with.
I hope you got some lovely books this year! No better present than a book imo 😊
Until Next Time,
Roseanne 🙂
Hi guys 👋🏻
Another day, another bookish post! This is my complete 2025 list of booms that I read. So if you are looking for any recommendations, look no further.
I’ve added a little code to sort the books a little and represent the variety of formats I have read in and why I chose certain books.
Colour code:
DNF – means ‘did not finish’
I have put either ‘Audible’ or ‘Spotify’ next to my audiobooks, so if you see that its the audio version.
DISCLAIMER: ’25 books for 2025′ was a little challenge I set myself – I almost read half of the books I needed to but, I did trail off a little towards the end of the year keeping up with Book Club Books and my seasonal reads. But 11 isn’t bad.
It’s a wonderful life: Illustrated Edition
The Teacher by Freida McFadden
I died on a Tuesday By Jane Corry
This Time Next Year by Sophie Cousens
Sleep by C L Taylor
This year’s for you and me by Emily Bell DNF
The Other Tenant by Lesley Kara
A Company Of Liars by Karen Maitland (Audible) 1/2
Bridget Jones Diary by Helen Fielding (Re-Read)
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (Re-Read)
Friends Forever by Danielle Steele
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime by Mark Haddon
With This Kiss by Carrie Hope Fletcher
A Company Of Liars by Karen Maitland (Audible) 1/2
The Doctors Wife by Daniel Hurst
Ward D by Freida McFadden
The Wake Up Call by Beth O Leary
The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden
Someone in the Attic by Andrea Mara
The Girls by Lisa Jewell
I haven’t been entirely honest with you by Miranda Hart (Audible)
The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini
Best Summer Ever by Heidi Swain
The Tenant by Freida McFadden
The Boy Who Lived by David Holmes
(Audible)
An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena
Never Lie by Freida McFadden
The Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee
Return to the Dallergut Dream Department Store by Miye Lee
(Audible)
Funny Story by Emily Henry
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
(Audible)
The Split by Sharon Bolton
Traitors Gate by Jeffrey Archer
The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell
Book Boyfriends by Lucy Vine
Hotel Avocado by Bob Mortimer 1/2 (Spotify)
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley
Do Not Disturb by Freida McFadden
Little People, Big Dreams: Lenny Henry
Blind Spot by Paula Hawkins (Quick Read)
Hotel Avocado by Bob Mortimer 1/2 (Spotify)
A Gypsy in Auschwitz by Otto Rosenberg
The Story Spinner by Barbra Erskine (Audible)
Blackout by Emily Barr (Quick Read)
The Mystery Guest by Nita Prose
Strange Houses by Uketsu
The Mistletoe Mystery by Nita Prose (Novella)
The Crash by Freida McFadden
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C S Lewis
A Slow Burning Fire by Paula Hawkins
Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch
Future boy by Micheal J Fox (Audible)
The Intruder by Freida McFadden
All Wrapped Up by Heidi Swain
Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow by Victoria Walters
The Christmas Book Hunt by Jenny Colgan (Audible)
The Christmas Holiday by Phillipa Ashley
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore (Spotify)
The Cinnamon Bun Bookshop by Laurie Gilmore (Spotify)
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone by J K Rowling – Full Cast Audio Edition (Audible)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J K Rowling (Audible) 50%
The Christmas Clue by Nicola Upson
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J K Rowling (Audible) 50%
All We Want For Christmas by Phillipa Ashley
The Christmas Tree Farm by Laurie Gilmore (Spotify)
Not another Bloody Christmas by Jo Middleton
Total no of Book Club Books: 8
Total completed books of my ’25 for 2025′ challenge: 11
Total no of books altogether: 63
Until Next Time,
Roseanne 🙂
Hi guys 👋🏻
Let’s take a look at this months books.
The final month, Month 12 – let’s go!
Total reads:
3 and a half
Favourite book:
Until Next Time,
Roseanne 🙂
Hi guys 👋🏻
Here is my second book review for blogmas. I have been trying my best to read as many Christmas books as I can throughout the season, and I thought I would review a couple for you.
Let’s take a look!
📚 Book Information
Title: The Christmas Clue
Author: Nicola Upson
Genre: Mystery/Detective
Pages: 192 pages
Publication Date: 9 September 2025
Series: Stand alone book
🕯️ Why I Picked It Up
I walked past the display in my local waterstones and I just thought it looked so festive. It also sounded like a cool and unique festive read, a far cry from the usual romances.
🎁 Summary (Spoiler-Free)
Christmas Eve, 1943. Anthony and Elva Pratt arrive in a snowy English village to run a murder mystery game – and instead discover a real murder.
The Pratts had planned for festive cheer, despite the wartime shortages: with Elva’s map of the hotel and Anthony’s prop weapons to use as clues, the guests in their parlour game would move through the rooms to figure out whodunnit.
But when Anthony discovers the cook’s sister Miss Silver beaten to death, they instead find themselves investigating a shockingly real crime. The hotel manager Mr Browning is trying to keep the peace but the guests are agitated, Colonel Colman is about to take over the hotel for the war effort – and the mysterious Mrs Threadgold hasn’t been seen at all.
In games, there’s only one victim – but this is real life. Can the Pratts puzzle out this Christmas mystery before it’s too late?
❄️ What Could Have Been Better
I actually don’t know to be honest. I loved the Cluedo inspiration, the appearance of the real creators of Cluedo, the mystery element, the quaint setting, the Agatha Christie vibes. It did exactly what it said on the tin.
🎅 Christmas Spirit Rating
🎄🎄🎄.5 / 5 Christmas Trees
🧣 Who Would Enjoy This Book?
Fans of Cluedo, Fans of Agatha Christie and a well written murder mystery.
🎁 Final Thoughts
This was a great festive whodunit perfect for those who enjoy the board game Cluedo and love a good old traditional murder mystery. I love the different elements of Cluedo included in this story, featuring thr original makers of Cluedo. That was my favourite childhood board game and I loved this murder mystery written in amongst it.
Until Next Time,
Roseanne 🙂
Hi guys! 👋🏻
Let’s take a look at my festive reads (If I get through them all haha)
I exclusively read Christmas books in November and December.
Our final Book Club pick for 2025 and our Christmas read is ‘Another Bloody Christmas’ by Jo Middleton.
We read the first book last year for Book Club so it will be cool to read this sequel.
Until Next Time,
Roseanne 🙂
Hi guys 👋🏻
Here is my first book review for blogmas. I have been trying my best to read as many Christmas books as I can throughout the season, and I thought I would review a couple for you.
Let’s take a look!
📚 Book Information
Title: The Christmas Holiday
Author: Phillipa Ashley
Genre: Romance
Pages: 384
Publication Date: Nov 10th 2022
Series: Stand alone book
🕯️ Why I Picked It Up
I chose it because I loved the front cover, although its not conventional Christmas colours I do like pink and I like the cute Christmassy scene on the front.
🎁 Summary (Spoiler-Free)
Krystle didn’t have a normal childhood and longed for warm family Christmases with presents under the tree. Now she makes sure everyone else has the perfect Christmas she never had, bringing beautiful decorations to cheer as many people as possible.
With her festive business booming, she decides to celebrate by renting a secluded house in the Lakes, with a plan to make this the ultimate yuletide getaway.
But fate immediately throws a spanner in the works in the form of a broken-down car, a flooded river and Max; a man who despises Christmas.
Krystle becomes determined to show Max the joys of the holiday. She won’t take no for an answer.
Can she melt Max’s Grinch-like heart? And can he show her that life doesn’t need to go to plan to take you somewhere magical…
🌟 What I Loved
❄️ What Could Have Been Better
🎅 Christmas Spirit Rating
🎄🎄🎄.5 / 5 Christmas Trees
🧣 Who Would Enjoy This Book?
If you are a fan of a classic holiday romance, by authors such as Sarah Morgan, Heidi Swain, then you’ll love this.
Romance fans will enjoy this, its sweet and wholesome. It is a bit of a slow burn romance.
Fair warning, it is a little sad a couple of times due to a death mentioned.
🎁 Final Thoughts
Overall I really enjoyed reading it, the setting was super cosy, you could imagine being there for a magical, cosy ‘Picture postcard’ Christmas. The characters were very likeable and the story kept you interested.
Until Next Time,
Roseanne 🙂
Hi guys 👋🏻
Let’s take a look at this months books.
Month Ten!
Total reads:
Favourite read:
Until Next Time,
Roseanne 🙂
Hi guys 👋🏻
Let’s take a look at this months books.
Month Nine!
Total reads:
Favourite read:
Until Next Time,
Roseanne 🙂
Hi guys 👋🏻
Last weekend I attended the inaugural Ipswich Book Festival, Chapter One…here’s how it went…
This was a brilliant and funny talk from Tim Sullivan, the author of the George Cross Mystery novels. It was so interesting to hear about the writing process, where he gets his ideas from and to hear his passion for the brilliant character of George Cross. George is great, and I’m glad I managed to pick up the latest in the series (signed 😃) as well as a few that I haven’t read yet.
The Cross novels are so enjoyable to read, and the subject of Neurodivergance is well researched and beautifully represented in these exciting and gripping novels.
Tim was very funny and witty, and the team interviewing were great, so it made for a really enjoyable talk.
I had to pop into one of my favourite shops in Ipswich, and our only independent book shop,’Dial Lane Books’, on Dial Lane.
I also popped into Waterstones to use a book voucher that I conveniently found that morning. I love their buy one get one half price deal!
This talk was beautifully moving, and it was so inspiring to hear their brave stories.
In the current world, it was wonderful to hear some courageous and self less stories about humans helping each other and putting others before themselves, even in the most unthinkable situations and conditions. These are stories that now more than ever need to be heard.
As a lifelong Ipswich town fan, I thoroughly enjoyed John Warks talk to round off a brilliant day.
Every Ipswich town fan knows who the legend John Wark is, but I have to admit I had no idea just how much of a mark he has made on the world of football, the stats and accolades are insane, awards and lists with some of the world’s most famous footballers – formidable in Europe and the highest leagues of football in his day, he really helped put little old Ipswich Town on the map.
It was a great way to end a fantastic day, and I for one cannot wait until next years festival.
Next year, the event is proposed for the first weekend of October 2026!
https://www.ipswichbookfestival.com/
Sign up to their newsletter to keep up to date with their plans.
I wish I could do it all again this weekend 📚
Until Next Time,
Roseanne 🙂
Hi guys 👋🏻
Let’s take a look at this months books.
Month Eight!
Total Reads:
Favourite read:
Until Next Time,
Roseanne 🙂
Roseanne Byford 