Tag: challenge

My 2020 Reading Challenge: The Third Quarter πŸ“š

Here is the penultimate quarter of my reading challenge for 2020.

July, August, September

And in a honesty it hasn’t been a very impressive one. I’ve found myself quite busy and unable to focus, as well as I would like, on my reading, which is a bit annoying.

But, none the less, here we are!

Lets have a look at what I have read during this quarter…

Books I’ve read:

Just Mercy: A story of justice and redemption By Bryan Stevenson

Cuckoos Calling By Robert Galbraith

Roald Dahl‘s Book of Ghost Stories

The Notebook by Nicholas Sparkes

Sorry Not Sorry By Naya Rivera

This quarter was quite a mixed bag.

Just Mercy was more of an ‘educate myself’ book choice and that it has been.

The injustice of the American ‘justice’ system is abhorrent and it’s definatly an eye opener in terms of how easy some people have it and how some people have so much power just because of the race/family/country they are born in.

I have been meaning to read the Robert Galbraith books for a very long time and I just haven’t got round to it.

I am glad that I finally did because I really enjoyed it and I loved the characters especially.

I have read The Notebook several times but it is a Nicholas Sparks fave of mine and I just fancied going back to it. I read it in just over a day and it was great.

I have quite a few books ready and waiting for the final quarter and I want to make it a goodun’.

I’ve got a Christmas book blog post idea too!

Also, you can check out my Insta ‘RoseannesBlog’ as I post regularly on there too.


Until Next Time,
Roseanne πŸ™‚

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My 2020 Reading Challenge: The Second Quarter πŸ“š

Sorry guys, this is a bit late… but I thought I would still post it as I want to keep up with the quarterly posts.
I’ve been a lot busier since I started back at work.

April/May/June

So, that bloody pandemic is still happening… I am however back at work and have been for two and a half weeks. It is definatly nice to have a bit more normality. My work schedule isnt 100% back to what it usually is so I’m trying to make sure I still use this extra time to get through all my new books that I bought for the COVID-19 outbreak.

Lets have a look at what I have read during this next quarter… we’re halfway through the year already, madness.

Books I have read:

The Flat Share by Beth O’Leary

The Secret Seaside Escape by Heidi Swain

The Switch by Beth O’Leary

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling (3/4, but I’ll leave it on the list as its a biggun’)

The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer

Heidi Swain is one of my favourite authors so I was so excited to have this book in my second quarter. I had pre ordered it so that was a very welcome arrival.

As you can see I have also been enjoying Beth O’Leary’s books this quarter. I started with ‘The Switch’ as I have seen lots of recommendations on Instagram and then my friend at work read it and suggested it too. I really enjoyed it and consequently bought her second book, which I enjoyed even more.

‘The Family Upstairs’ I found really gripping. I literally couldn’t put it down by the end, its funny how some books grip you like that! I had this book at the beginning of lockdown so I can’t believe its taken me this long to get around to it.

I have even more books planned for the third instalment, so check back to see what I’ve been reading.

Or, check out my Insta ‘RoseannesBlog’ as I post regularly on there too.

Until Next Time,

Roseanne πŸ™‚

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Blogmas 2019 Day Two: My reading challenge, the December edition πŸ“š

We’ve made it to the final month of my reading challenge! I’m honestly surprised I managed to keep this up all year but also very pleased.

I will do a little round up in Jan of everything that I have read this year and perhaps introduce a new challenge for 2020.

Firstly, I will share with you what I read in November…

  • A Christmas gift by Sue Moorcroft
  • T’was the Nightshift before Christmas by Adam Kay
  • A wedding in December by Sarah Morgan

I thoroughly enjoyed all of these books and they have definitely got me into the festive spirit

So, without further ado, for the last time in 2019, here are my reading picks for this month…

The Christmas Wishlist by Heidi Swain

After being let go from her job in a swanky hotel just weeks before Christmas, Hattie is feeling lost. Even more so when her high-flying boyfriend announces he’s landed his dream job in Abu Dhabi and asks her to move with him. Luckily, Hattie’s long-time friend Dolly is on hand to help and invites Hattie to spend one last holiday in the small, festive town of Wynbridge, determined to give her a Christmas to remember . . .
Upon Hattie’s arrival, holiday preparations are in full swing. But for Hattie, whose Christmas cheer has long since run out, it’ll take more than mince pies and mistletoe to open her heart to the season once more. Relishing the task of reigniting Hattie’s Christmas spirit, Dolly suggests they create a wish list of all the things the season can offer, and with the helpful hands of Wynbridge’s resident handyman, Beamish, Hattie finds her frosty exterior is starting to thaw.
As Wynbridge prepares for its most spectacular Christmas yet, will Hattie leave snowy England behind for life in a sunnier clime, or will she in fact realise that her heart’s desire lies much closer to home?

The Christmas Stocking and Other Stories by Katie Fforde

THE CHRISTMAS STOCKING: Romy is all set to join her boyfriend and his family in France for Christmas, though truth be told she isn’t looking forward to it very much. And then she meets Felix – and her plans for the big day suddenly become a lot more interesting.

CANDLELIGHT AT CHRISTMAS: It was meant to be the perfect Christmas – surrounded by friends and family in their beautiful home in the country. But then the lights go out, and Fenella knows she will have to work very hard to keep everyone happy …

THE CHRISTMAS FAIRY: It’s Christmas Eve in Crinan, and a young man is on his own with only his nephew and niece for company. Then Ella arrives. Dressed as a fairy, she is determined to wave her wand and give them all the best Christmas ever.
And many more!

23 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS πŸŽ„

See you tomorrow for Blogmas Day 3!

Ho Ho Ho

Roseanne πŸŽ…πŸ»

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My reading challenge: August πŸ“š

August edition

So, what did I read in July…

As I was on holiday and I’ve started my volunteering for the library Summer reading challenge, I actually ended up reading three books in July.

& for August I am going to try and read more too as I also have some time off, lots of reading time!!

In July I read:

The Prison Doctor by Dr Amanda Brown

Every breath by Nicholas Sparks

&

The guilty party by Mel McGrath

The prison doctor was a really interesting read, and tbf as horrendous as you’d imagine.

I have to say that I didmt enjoy this as much as ‘This is going to hurt’ by Adam Lay, which is a similar format but from the perspective of a Junior Doctor.

As always the Nicholas Sparkes book was one that I couldnt put down, a heart warming story, definitely one for all you Sparks fans.

The guilty party was a really interesting read, not only was it a gripping story but it was also quite thought provoking too. Do you really know how you would react in a certain situation? Can we ever know until we are in that position? And how profound are the decisions we make on our own lives and on the lives of others?!?

This months books are…

Give me the child by Mel McGrath

‘Imagine your doorbell rings in the middle of the night.

You open the door to the police

With them is your husbands eleven-year-old love child. A daughter you never knew he had.

Her mother has been found dead in their South London flat.

She has nowhere else to go.

Would you take her in?

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

As the guests arrive at beautiful, remote Mitchells Inn, they’re all looking forward to a relaxing weekend deep in the forest, miles from anywhere. They watch their fellow guests with interest, from a polite distance.

With a violent storm raging, the group finds itself completely cut off from thr outside world. Nobody can get in – or out.

And then the first body is found…

And and horrifying truth comes to light. There is a killer among them – and nowhere to run.

All that she can see by Carrie Hope Fletcher

Cherry has a hidden talent. She can see things other people cant, and she decided a long time ago to use this skill to help others.

As far as the rest of the town is concerned, she’s simply the kind-hearted young women who runs thr local bakery, but in private she uses her gift to add something special to her cakes so that after just one mouthful the townspeople start to feel better about their lives. They dont know why they’re drawn to Cherrys bakery – they just know that they’re safe there and that’s how Cherry likes it.

She can help them in secret and no one will ever need to know the truth behind the gift.

And then Chase turns up and threatens to undo all the good Cherry has done. Because it turns out she’s not the only one who can see what she sees…

I can’t wait to get stuck into these πŸ™ŒπŸ»

As always, any recommendations are welcome πŸ˜πŸ“š

Until next time,

Roseanne πŸ™‚

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My reading challenge: March πŸ“š

How is it already March??!!

Month two of my reading challenge is complete and I managed to read two books as Feb is a short month.

I read: Eve of Man by Giovanna & Tom Fletcher

And

‘Dark House: The DCI Harwin series (Book One) by Helen Phifer.

Month Three of my reading challenge is here …

The books I will be reading for March are:

The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena.

How well do you know the couple next door? Or your husband? Or even–yourself? People are capable of almost anything. A domestic suspense debut about a young couple and their apparently friendly neighbors–a twisty, rollercoaster ride of lies, betrayal, and the secrets between husbands and wives. Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all–a loving relationship, a wonderful home, and their beautiful baby, Cora. But one night when they are at a dinner party next door, a terrible crime is committed. Suspicion immediately focuses on the parents. But the truth is a much more complicated story. Inside the curtained house, an unsettling account of what actually happened unfolds. Detective Rasbach knows that the panicked couple is hiding something. Both Anne and Marco soon discover that the other is keeping secrets, secrets they’ve kept for years.

Dying breath; Lucy Harwin detective series (Book 2) by Helen Phifer.

Take a breath. Pray it’s not your last.
Just a few months after a terrifying case that nearly took her life, Detective Lucy Harwin is back with her squad in the coastal town of Brooklyn Bay – and this time, she’s faced with a case more horrifying than anything she’s encountered.
Along with her partner, Detective Mattie Jackson, Lucy is investigating what appears to be a vicious but isolated murder; a woman found bludgeoned to death on a lonely patch of wasteland.
But when a second victim is discovered strangled in an alleyway, then a young family shot in their own home, Lucy and the team must face the unthinkable reality – a killer is walking the streets of their town.
While Lucy and the team try to find the link between these seemingly unconnected murders, they uncover a disturbing truth – these murders are replicating those carried out by infamous serial killers.
Lucy must get to the killer before he strikes again. But he’s got his sights on her, and is getting ever closer… Can she save herself, before she becomes the final piece in his twisted game?

Any Recommendations??

Until next time,

Roseanne πŸ™‚

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I DID IT πŸ™ŒπŸ»πŸ™ŒπŸ»πŸ«πŸ«βŒβŒ

The day is here!

March 1st, Dechox is over & I did it πŸ‘ŠπŸ»

Hurrah!

It’s been harder this week knowing that I was so close to being able to eat it again, but, all in all it hasn’t been as horrendous as possible.

It has made me realise how much I would choose a chocolate option be it in biscuit form or a dessert.

& you often don’t even think about it before you grab it. Lots of times I have had to go and put it back on the shelf because I’ve realised what I’ve got in my hand 🀣

In total I managed to raise Β£60 for The British Heart Foundation.

I have really been enjoying my chocolate today.

This was my reward, leftover from Christmas.

Thankyou to everybody who donated to my Just Giving page!! It’s much appreciated.

And if you’d like to now that I’ve actually done it then I’ll leave the link below.

Just Giving

Until next time,

Roseanne πŸ™‚

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Dechox: Halfway there! πŸ«πŸš«βŒ

It’s the halfway point!!

14 days done, 14 to go πŸ‘ŠπŸ»πŸ‘ŠπŸ»

It’s been going well so far and I havnt missed eating the chocolate as much as I thought, however I do think that you sniff out substitutes to make up for the chocolate shaped hole in your life!!

There will be no Valentine’s chococolate for me this year!!

I set a fundraising target of:

Β£100

So far I’ve have raised…

Β£30

Are you taking part?

How are you getting on?

Until next time,

Roseanne πŸ™‚

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Dechox is here! πŸ«πŸš«βŒ

Dechox is a fundraising campaign set up by The British Heart foundation to help fight ‘heart break’ (Very apt for this month!)

The campaign involves you giving up chocolate for the month of February, and in the process, raising lots of money for charity.

& a very worth while charity it is.

I will be carrying out the challenge from Fri 1st Feb until Thurs 28th Feb.

No chocolate, no chocolate flavourings, nothing with chocolate in at all. #sendhelp

Here is the website where you can find out some more information.

So, keep your fingers crossed for me and good luck to anybody who is also taking on this (insane, let’s be honest!) Challenge!

Until next time,

Roseanne πŸ™‚

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