Category: books

Bookish Birthday Presents 📚

Hi guys 👋🏻

I though I would share my little book themed birthday presents from a few weeks ago.

Two of the books I picked put myself and the rest was a suprise!

Lets take a look.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕕𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕗𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕤 𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕓 𝕓𝕪 𝕄𝕒𝕥𝕥 ℍ𝕒𝕚𝕘

ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴇxᴄɪᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴇᴇ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ʙʏ ᴍᴀᴛᴛ ʜᴀɪɢ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʜᴇʟꜰ, ɪɴ ᴍʏ ʟᴏᴄᴀʟ ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱᴛᴏʀᴇ. ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏɴᴇꜱ ɪ ᴘɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ᴍʏꜱᴇʟꜰ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍʏ ꜱɪꜱᴛᴇʀ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ.

ᴛʜɪꜱ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ ꜱᴏᴜɴᴅꜱ ᴠᴇʀʏ ɪɴᴛᴇʀᴇꜱᴛɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ɪɴꜱᴛᴀɴᴛʟʏ ɪɴᴛʀɪɢᴜᴇᴅ ʙᴇᴄᴀᴜꜱᴇ ᴏꜰ ʜᴏᴡ ᴍᴜᴄʜ ɪ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ‘ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪᴅɴɪɢʜᴛ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ’.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕙𝕦𝕟𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕪 𝕓𝕪 𝕃𝕦𝕔𝕪 𝔽𝕠𝕝𝕖𝕪

ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴘɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴏᴜᴛ. ɪ ꜱᴀᴡ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴀʟʟ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴀ ꜰᴀᴄᴇʙᴏᴏᴋ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ɢʀᴏᴜᴘ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ᴀᴍ ᴀ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʟᴜʀʙ ʟᴇꜰᴛ ᴍᴇ ɪɴᴛʀᴜɢᴜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏᴏ. ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ ᴍʏꜱᴛᴇʀʏ.

𝕋𝕠𝕘𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕓𝕪 ℂ𝕙𝕣𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕞𝕒𝕤 𝕓𝕪 𝕂𝕒𝕣𝕖𝕟 𝕊𝕨𝕒𝕟

ᴍʏ ꜱɪꜱᴛᴇʀ ᴄʜᴏꜱᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ꜰᴏʀ ᴍᴇ. ɪᴛꜱ ᴀ ʟᴏᴠᴇʟʏ, ʟɪɢʜᴛ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ, ʀᴏᴍᴀɴᴛɪᴄ, ꜰᴇꜱᴛɪᴠᴇ ꜱᴛᴏʀʏ. ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ. ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇᴅ ᴏꜰ ɪ’ᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ɪᴛ ꜱᴏᴏɴ ᴏʀ ᴡᴀɪᴛ ᴜɴᴛɪʟ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴇꜱᴛɪᴠᴇ ᴘᴇʀɪᴏᴅ!

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕝𝕚𝕖𝕤 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕠𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕪 ℍ𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕥 𝕋𝕪𝕔𝕖

‘ꜱʜᴏᴄᴋɪɴɢ, ᴅᴀʀᴋ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀᴅᴅɪᴄᴛɪᴠᴇ.’ – ɪ ᴘɪᴄᴋᴇᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴜᴘ, ᴜꜱɪɴɢ ᴍʏ ʙɪʀᴛʜᴅᴀʏ ᴍᴏɴᴇʏ, ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴍʏ ʟᴏᴄᴀʟ ᴛᴇꜱᴄᴏ ᴇxᴘʀᴇꜱꜱ (ɪᴛ’ꜱ ᴅᴀɴɢᴇʀᴏᴜꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ɴᴏᴡ ꜱᴇʟʟ ᴀ ꜱᴍᴀʟʟ ꜱᴇʟᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴏꜰ ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱ!!) ᴀꜱ ꜱᴏᴏɴ ᴀꜱ ɪ ꜱᴀᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀꜱ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ɪɴᴛʀɪɢᴜᴇᴅ ᴀꜱ ɪ ʀᴇᴀʟʟʏ ᴇɴᴊᴏʏᴇᴅ ‘ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ᴏʀᴀɴɢᴇ’.

ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ᴀ ᴛʜʀɪʟʟᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ɪ’ᴍ ɪɴᴛʀɪɢᴜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴇᴇ ɪꜰ ɪᴛꜱ ᴀꜱ ɢʀɪᴘᴘɪɴɢ ᴀꜱ ‘ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ᴏʀᴀɴɢᴇ’. ɪ ᴊᴜꜱᴛ ʜᴏᴘᴇ ɪ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɪɴ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴛɪᴍᴇ!!

𝕆𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕓𝕚𝕥𝕤:

𝔸𝕟𝕚𝕞𝕒𝕝 ℂ𝕣𝕠𝕤𝕤𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕄𝕚𝕟𝕚 𝕄𝕒𝕘𝕟𝕖𝕥𝕚𝕔 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜𝕞𝕒𝕣𝕜

ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ꜱᴜᴘᴇʀ ᴄᴜᴛᴇ. ɪ ɢᴏᴛ ᴛʜɪꜱ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴍʏ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ ᴡʜᴏ ɪ ᴘʟᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇ ɢᴀᴍᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ.

ᴛʜɪꜱ ɪꜱ ɪᴅᴇᴀʟ ᴀꜱ ɪᴛꜱ ᴍᴀɢɴᴇᴛɪᴄ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ꜰᴀʟʟ ᴏᴜᴛ… ᴘᴇʀꜰᴇᴄᴛ ᴀꜱ ɪ ᴄᴀʀʀʏ ᴍʏ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴀʟʟ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴍᴇ.

𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕍𝕠𝕦𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕣

ᴍʏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ʟᴏᴠᴇʟʏ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ ɢᴏᴛ ᴍᴇ ᴀ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴠᴏᴜᴄʜᴇʀ!!! ꜱᴏ ɪ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴀɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ɢᴏ ᴀɴᴅ ʙʀᴏᴡꜱᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ꜱʜᴇʟᴠᴇꜱ, ʜᴇᴀᴠᴇɴ 😍

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲??

𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘀𝗼, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸??

Until Next Time,

Roseanne 🙂

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🌸 Books: April Throwback 🌸📚☀️

Hi guys 👋🏻

Christmas, Spring/Summer are my favourite times of year to read and as I was enjoying my book this afternoon it got me thinking about this time last year…

April 2020 was a both a confusing and enlightening time for me (It sounds strange I know, stick with me)

Lockdown was fully in swing at this point, Pandemic – WHATTTT, very confusing! But, amongst the madness of Lockdown, for the first time in probably 11 years I had time… time to do the things I enjoyed, unapologetically, emphatically and with a new found appreciation for them.

And with this feeling and freedom in place I got such a heightened enjoyment from the novels I was reading. It of course helped that they were bloody brilliant books… so, lets take a walk down memory lane…

🌸

April. This seems to be a good month for me in terms of discovering new books, especially ones that turn into firm favourites, that I always recommend when someones asks me; ‘Do you know of any good books?’

🌸

In the midst of the OG Lockdown…

I read ‘The Silent Patient’ in a day I was so enraptured by it, gripped to the last page…

We also had another Heidi Swain release, which always makes a month amazing (& this sunny seaside stay is one of my faves of hers) ‘The Seaside Escape’

…and I found another firm fave and cosy number in ‘The Flat share’ which has lead me to many brilliant books by Beth O’Leary as a result.



Fast forward to today…. & I’m thoroughly enjoying ‘The Lido’ by Libby Page. Its a cosy, feel good book that restores your faith in community, friendships (unconventional & not) and yourself along the way.



I’m so invested in this story, its endearing characters and community that I know I’ll be sad when it ends and we aren’t spending our time together anymore (if you know, you know!)

I want to see how it all plays out but I don’t want to say goodbye.

You know you’ve got a good’un when thats the case.

I’m super looking forward to the end of the month as I have a few Preorders coming my way and I’m SO EXCITED!!

They are:
~A Taste of Home by Heidi Swain
~The Road Trip by Beth O’Leary
~Until Next Weekend by Rachel Marks

(& a new Sarah Morgan book at the end of May 🙌🏻🙌🏻)

All we need is for this sunshine to stay, Covid to be kept at bay and a nice cold drink to sip as we enjoy these brilliant books!

📚 Happy Reading 📚

Until Next Time,

Roseanne 🙂

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World Book Day 2021!

World Book Day snuck in just in time, before the first Lockdown last year, this year wasn’t to be… so, how does your lockdown World Book Day look??

It’s such a shame that we haven’t been able to fully immerse ourselves, as we usually would, at work but it was lovely seeing all the children sharing books, picking them out, listening to stories and writing.

I love watching children enjoying and getting involved with reading a book, it is one of my favourite parts of my job!

So, that was part of my lockdown World Book Day.

I’ve also been sharing a few of my book favourites over on my blogs Instagram (Roseannes Blog)

I also took the opportunity (via Skype 😥) to read my nephews a few stories for World Book Day

We read ‘I need a new bum’ and ‘The Dinosaur that pooped the past’ some silly & fun books!!

And of course I’m going to make sure that I do one of my most favourite things tonight… cosy down with a good book and just relax and enjoy it.

Whatever you are doing, I really hope that you are getting a moment to read a page or two of a book and you are able to forget about anything else that is happening, just for a moment, whilst you do.

Happy World Book Day Everybody!

Until Next Time,

Roseanne 🙂

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The Winter Garden: A Book Review ❄📚

Hi Guys 👋🏻

It’s time for another book review.

I want to start doing more of these this year and I think I might try and do a review, on a book I have read, at the end of each month.

So, here is January’s edition and it’s a great start.

Until Next Time,

Roseanne 🙂

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A Book Haul: Xmas 2020 📚

Hi guys 👋🏻

So, this is my last post with the word Christmas in, honest!

Here is my book haul. I was very lucky to receive quite a few lovely books for Christmas this year, my ideal gift, so I thought I would share them with you.

It’s quite a mixed bag so let’s take a look…

  • Ant and Dec Once Upon a Tyne

I LOVE Ant & Dec, they are my absolute faves so I was super excited to receive this. This one I requested, so I hoped it was on it’s way. It’s really funny so far.

  • Finding Love at the Christmas Market by Jo Thomas

I had seen this one advertised and heard alot of great things (plus I love a cute, warm, festive story) so I was pleasantly suprised when my sister got me this. I’ve finished it and it was as lovely and heart warming as I’d have hoped. Perfect for Christmas & Blue January!

  • ‘Still Friends’ 25 Years of the TV show that defined an era. By Saul Austerlitz

I can’t wait to start reading this. F.R.I.E.N.D.S is my ultimate fave TV show and my lovely friend bought me this for Christmas, knowing I love both books & friends. Definatly onto a winner with this one.

  • Collectors editions of: Peter Pan By J M Barrie, A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens & The Railway Children by E Nesbit

I discovered these in my local indie bookshop. They are absolutely beautiful. The covers are amazing 😍 I have wanted to add some classics to my collection for a while so I picked these out and my Mum and Dad gave them to me for Christmas.

  • I also got two illustrated Harry Potter books; ‘Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire’ illustrated edition & ‘Quidditch through the ages’ illustrated edition

If you’ve followed me for a while you’ll know that I’m a MASSIVE!!! Harry Potter fan, so I was super excited to add these to my collection. I had asked for the illustrated ‘Goblet of Fire’ but I wasn’t expecting the ‘Quidditch through the ages’ illustrated version… IT LOOKS AMAZING.

Did you get some books for Christmas?? How are they??

Until Next Time,

Roseanne 🙂

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My 2021 TBR List 📚

Hi guys 👋🏻

2021 is here and of course that means a fresh start to the reading for the year.

I still have one more festive book to read, that I was gifted for Christmas, ‘Finding Love at the Christmas Market’ By Jo Thomas.

This is the first book I’ve started in 2021.

I’ve complied a list of my TBR (to be read) books for the coming year… it’s quite a mixture but I like that!! I can’t wait to get stuck in.

  • The Winter Garden by Heidi Swain
  • Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh
  • Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
  • The Silkworm by Robert Galbraith
  • Normal people by Sally Rooney
  • The Holiday by T.M Logan
  • An American Marriage by Tayari Jones
  • Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
  • Sweet Sorrow by David Nicholls
  • Girl, Other Women by Bernardine Evaristo
  • Dear NHS by Adam Kay
  • The Land of Stories: A Grimm Warning by Chris Colfer
  • My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
  • The Lido by Libby Page
  • Once Upon a Tyne by Ant & Dec

Which books are on your ‘To be read list’ ??

Until Next Time,

Roseanne 🙂

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My 2020 Reading Challenge: The Fourth and Final Quarter 📚

So, here it is! The final instalment of my 2020 reading challenge, and the final quarter…

October, November, December

Let’s have a look at what I have read during this quarter…

Books I’ve read:

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig.

Where the Crawdads sing by Delia Owen

The Kindness Club at Mapleberry Lane: A Summer Suprise by Helen Rolfe

The Kindness Club at Mapleberry Lane: An Autumn Promise by Helen Rolfe

Coming home to Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters

New beginnings at Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters

Hopeful hearts at Glendale Hall by Victoria Walters

The Christmas Killer by Alex Pine

The Midnight Library is one of my favourite books that I have read this year. Its fantastic and I have recommended it to so many people already.

It’s so thought provoking and interesting, but gripping too.

I can’t recommend it enough

Alot of these were a similar type of book this quarter, easy readers. These are some of my favourite types of books, cosy, romantic, lovely and easy to pick up and get through, so I was super pleased to discover the Glendale series in particular.

I didn’t get through as many of my festive reads as I would have liked but I have one more on the cards for January, I recieved it as a gift for Christmas, from my sister.

It’s called ‘Finding Love at the Christmas Market’ by Jo thomas.

I haven’t quite decided how my reading challenge will take shape this year yet… maybe I will continue with the quarterly updates or I may go back to a monthly update, either way, keep your eyes peeled for that!

What’s been your favourite book of 2020?

Until next time,

Roseanne 🙂

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Blogmas Day Fifteen: Getting into the festive spirit 🎅🏻

So, here are my top 5 ways to well and truly get into the festive spirit!

1. Listening to Christmas tunes

Whilst I’m still at work, and there are still lots of restrictions in place for going out, this is one of the things that has made me feel the most Christmassy.

We have been listening to them lots at work and in the car.

If a Christmas sing along doesn’t get you into the festive spirit, what will!!

2. Watching a Christmas film 📽

I LOVE Christmas films for adding a bit of festive cheer into your life.

Even more so as the cinemas are closed. I miss it more than I thought.

I shared some of my faves in a earlier Blogmas post so check them out here !

Grab some popcorn, your fave festive chocs, a hot choc perhaps? And you’ve got yourself a super festive afternoon.

3. Reading a Christmas book 📚

As soon as November hits I start the festive reads and I don’t stop until February.

If you love festive books as much as me then take a look at these ones, they are some that I’ve really enjoyed.

Books are a great escape from reality and perfect for a bit of festive downtime during the Christmas chaos.

4. Christmas Day Prep 🎁

I love wrapping presents, planning Christmassy activities and of course planning the Christmas eats too.

I know that this year is going to be a bit different in terms of Christmas, but its important to make the most of the situation we are in, enjoy what we can do and not focus on what we can’t.

And hey, you might even end up with a new fun tradition thanks to 2020!

I love stocking up on a few of our favourite Christmas treats, like mince pies and slowly picking up buffet bits and bobs, from various shops depending on what they have each year.

And wrapping presents for my loved ones always makes me feel super festive 😊🎁

5. Festive baking 🥧

I really enjoy baking and festive flavours (except you cinnamon 🤢) so I always look forward to baking at this time of year, especially when you can indulge a little more, guilt free, and try all your efforts.

I’ve been looking up some yummy ideas to inspire my baking over the next week or so!

Here’s a festive recipe I’ve already tried out. They were super yummy!

Christmas Tree Brownies

Until Next Time,

Roseanne 🙂

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Blogmas Day Ten: Decorating My Reading Corner ❄

Happy Day Ten of Blogmas!

Here’s a little sneak peek at how I’ve decorated my reading corner… I love fairy lights (any excuse!) And they look super cute with a few little other festive touches.

Super cosy!

Adding a few festive touches has made my reading corner even more cosy!

Annd I’ve even managed to not poke myself in the eye with one of the light up branches, whilst reading, so win win!

Books & Christmas = a pretty epic combo! 🎄📚

Has anyone else decorated their reading areas?

Until Next Time,

Roseanne 🙂

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Blogmas Day Seven: ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ’ꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋꜱ ᴡᴇᴇᴋʟʏ ꜰᴇᴀᴛᴜʀᴇ 📚🎅🏻

• W E E K • T H R E E •

Since this weeks Children’s book is a Christmassy one I thought I would unashamedly shoehorn it into a Blogmas post for today!

The Christmas Elf and the magic of kindness

By Marcy Kelman and Hannah Mark’s

This book is SO cute. The illustrations are lovely and bright and the message that it gets across is so sweet.

The book is all about being kind and finding and embracing what you are good at… not worrying if you can’t always do what someone else can do, because we all have our own individual talents.

The perfect, Christmassy story with a beautiful message to those who read/listen to it.

18 days until Christmas!

Until Next Time,

Roseanne 🙂

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