What I’ve read so far… 2021 Edition ๐Ÿ“š

Hi Guys ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿป

I thought I would do a halfway through the year, book update!

Every year I have done a reading challenge of sorts, and this year, instead of monthly or quarterly updates I thought I would do two Six month updates.

So, here is my first reading update of 2021, January – June.


[Disclaimer: I’m not that fast a reader sometimes, it comes in fits and spurts, and I’ve had lots of revision to do, so its not as long a list as I’d like]


January – June 2021

The Winter Garden By Heidi Swain

The Land of Stories: A Grimm Warning By Chris Colfer

Because of You By Dawn French

The Lido By Libby Page

Push by Ashley Audrain

The Holiday by T.M Logan

A Taste of Home by Heidi Swain

Only Time Will Tell By Jeffrey Archer

The Sins of the Father By Jeffrey Archer

Until Next Weekend By Rachel Marks

The Dead Fathers Club By Matt Haig

Saving the Day By Katie Fforde

The Motive By Khurrum Rahman

Best Kept Secret By Jeffrey Archer

My favourites so far are, of course the Heidi Swain novels ‘The Winter Garden’ & ‘A Taste of Home’ as well as ‘Until Next Weekend’ ‘Push’ & ‘The Holiday’ which I could not put down. I love that feeling.

The suprise was the Harry Clifton series by Jeffrey Archer, the perfect example of not judging a book by its cover.

Have you read any of these books??

Until Next Time,

Roseanne ๐Ÿ™‚

The Winter Garden: A Book Review โ„๐Ÿ“š

Hi Guys ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿป

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 ๐Ÿ™‚

A Book Haul: Xmas 2020 ๐Ÿ“š

Hi guys ๐Ÿ‘‹๐Ÿป

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 ๐Ÿ˜ 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 ๐Ÿ™‚

My 2020 Reading Challenge: The Fourth and Final Quarter ๐Ÿ“š


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 ๐Ÿ™‚

Blogmas Day Two: A Festive Book Review- ‘Coming home to Glendale Hall’ ๐Ÿ“š๐ŸŽ…๐Ÿป

I thought that for Day Two I would do a little book review. I an going to do a fee of these, as part of Blogmas, throught December as I am trying to read plenty of festive books.

Let’s take a look!


This lovely, cosy festive read takes us on the trip back to Beth’s hometown of Glendale, and more specifically Glendale Hall, the family home.

She fled at the age of 16 due to her pregnancy being rejected by her family.

She is now back or Christmas, 10 years after she fled, to see her ill grandmother.


What I particularly enjoyed about this book is how endearing the characters are, their characterisation is really nicely developed and you instantly like them, feel for them and are rooting for them. They are very real characters with a fluffy romantic edge.

And because you have this ease with the characters, you find yourself quickly immersed into the book and turning the pages feverishly, digesting more and more of the Glendale cosyness.

The story is very enjoyable and is written with a lovely festive feel that makes you ready for the christmas season, itching to put up your own decorations, see lights around the town and make a hot chocolate or six.

I couldn’t put it down.


So, apparently this is the part of the review that I’m supposed to write something I didnt like as much about the book… (Boo!)

… I knew what was probably going to happen in the end…???

My question is…Does it matter if you predict or don’t predict the ending when the journey to it is so enjoyable though?!

I’m really clutching at straws here because I bloody loved the book and am now on book 3!


So, if you want to get into the Christmas spirit, feel cosy, festive and ready to enjoy all things Christmassy then grab a hot chocolate and cosy down with this absolutely gorgeous seasonal delight.

Any festive book recommendations are welcome!

23 days until Christmas ๐ŸฆŒ

Until next time,

Roseanne ๐Ÿ™‚

‘One Left Alive’ & more Book Review ๐Ÿ“š

๐•†๐•Ÿ๐•– ๐•๐•–๐•—๐•ฅ ๐•’๐•๐•š๐•ง๐•– & the Crime/Detective Books Series.

By Helen Phifer


I stumbled across Helen Phifers books whilst browsing on the Kindle app, on my phone.
Now, I totally get the merits of a Kindle but I am defaintly team ‘Physical Book’. However, when I discovered her books I couldn’t resist and they were only available as a Kindle download.
I was hooked immediatly and here I am, three separate, stand alone detective series later and I am still throroughly enjoying her books.



Heres a general review of her books as a whole. The most recent that I have read being ‘One Left Alive’


‘One Left Alive’ is part of her newest series ‘Detective Morgan Brookes Series’.
Her books are Crime and Thriller Novels and its no suprise that they are bestselling.


They are gripping from the get go. The horrific murder/s that gets the ball rolling, in the beginning of the book, will both horrify and intrigue you in equal measure. You will have to find out what has happened and you won’t put the book down until you do.
If, like me, you are a horror fan then Helen’s books will be right up your street. There are always moments of pure, on the edge, ‘oh my god, I don’t want to read on but I must’ moments that will keep you hungrily reading until the end.
(They are not for the squeamish readers amoung us!)


The characters are  so relatable and are ‘normal’ people, and even with the strong police element, they and the storylines, aren’t overly complicated. Its quite fascinating to look into the police process. I love police dramas on TV, such as Line of Duty, and its almost like reading a episode.
And as I said, the investigation is easy to follow, but it always keeps you on your toes and is never predictable.

With regard to the characters, I like how you are following ‘the story’ but also their story too. You are always rooting for them to succeed both professionally and personally.


As soon as I read and finish one I always want more, so thank goodness there are a few in each series. The second book of this series is in preorder already.


I was genuinely gutted when I got to the last book in her ‘Annie Graham’ series. Gutted.


แดส แดแด แด‡ส€แด€สŸสŸ ส€แด€แด›ษชษดษข ๊œฐแดส€ แด›สœแด‡ ๊œฑแด‡ส€ษชแด‡๊œฑ: โญโญโญโญ (4/5)

I hope you liked this review! I am going to try and do a review for each different genre that I read.

I recently reviewed the childrens fantasy series ‘The Land of Stories’ by Chris Colfer, (any Disney lovers young and old will love this series) So, check that review out here.


As always any book recommendations are ALWAYS welcome.

๐Ÿ„ท๐Ÿ„ฐ๐Ÿ„ฟ๐Ÿ„ฟ๐Ÿ…ˆ ๐Ÿ…๐Ÿ„ด๐Ÿ„ฐ๐Ÿ„ณ๐Ÿ„ธ๐Ÿ„ฝ๐Ÿ„ถ

Until Next Time,

Roseanne ๐Ÿ™‚

My 2020 Reading Challenge: The Third Quarter ๐Ÿ“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 ๐Ÿ™‚

Blogmas 2019 Day Two: My reading challenge, the December edition ๐Ÿ“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 heโ€™s landed his dream job in Abu Dhabi and asks her to move with him. Luckily, Hattieโ€™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 Hattieโ€™s arrival, holiday preparations are in full swing. But for Hattie, whose Christmas cheer has long since run out, itโ€™ll take more than mince pies and mistletoe to open her heart to the season once more. Relishing the task of reigniting Hattieโ€™s Christmas spirit, Dolly suggests they create a wish list of all the things the season can offer, and with the helpful hands of Wynbridgeโ€™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 heartโ€™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 isnโ€™t looking forward to it very much. And then she meets Felix โ€“ and her plans for the big day suddenly become a lot more interesting.

CANDLELIGHT AT CHRISTMAS: It was meant to be the perfect Christmas โ€“ 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 โ€ฆ

THE CHRISTMAS FAIRY: Itโ€™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 ๐ŸŽ„


See you tomorrow for Blogmas Day 3!

Ho Ho Ho

Roseanne ๐ŸŽ…๐Ÿป

My reading challenge: November โ›„๐Ÿ“š

The penultimate installment of my reading challenge is here!

This year has gone seriously quickly.

I’m quite looking forward to reflecting on all the books I’ve read this year though.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at what I read last month and what I’ll be reading this month…


What did I read last month:


The big little festival by Kellie Hailes

&

The Husbands secret by Liane Moriarty

I enjoyed both of these. The big little festival was a very easy read and I really enjoyed its cosy vibes. The husbands secret took a little bit to get into it and you had to really focus on each character to keep track. When the characters started to link together it was a bit easier to follow and towards the end the chapters were a much more manageable length which I liked, and this made it quite gripping as the story really got going.


This months books:


A Christmas Gift by Sue Moorcroft.

One Christmas can change everything…

‘Georgina loves Christmas. The festive season always brings the little village of Middledip to life. But since her ex-boyfriend walked out, leaving her with crippling debts, Gerorgines struggled to make ends meet.

To keep her mind off her worries, she throws herself into organising the Christmas show at the local school, and when handsome Joe Blackthorn becomes her assistants Georgines grateful for the help. But rheres something about Joe she can’t quite put her finger on. Could there be more to him than meets the eye?

Georgine’s past is going to catch up with her in ways she never expected. But can the help of her friends new and old make this a Christmas to remember after all? ‘


T’was the night shift before Christmas by Adam Kay

‘Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat… but 1.4 million NHS staff are heading off to work. In this perfect present for anyone who has ever set foot in a hospital, Adam Kay delves back into his diaries for a hilarious, horrifying and sometimes heartbreaking peek behind the blue curtain.

T’was the nightshift before Christmas is a love letter to all those who spend their festive season on the front line, removing babies and baubles from the various places they get stuck, at the most wonderful time of the year.’


&

A wedding in December by Sarah Morgan

‘The White family are gathering for Rosie’s whirlwind Christmas wedding. First to arrive are the brides parents, Maggie and Nick. Their daughters marriage is a milestone are determined to celebrate wholeheartedly, but they are hiding a huge secret about their own, they are on the brink of divorce. The last thing they need is to be trapped together on an irresistibly romantic Winter wonderland.

Rosie’s older sister Katie is worries that impulsive, sweet-hearted Rosie is making a mistake so she is determined to save her sister from herself, if only the irritatingly good looking best man, Jordan, would stop interfering with her plans…

Bride-to-be Rosie loves her Fiance but is having serious second thoughts. Except everyone has arrived – how can she tell tell she’s not sure? As the big day gets closer, and emotions run even higher, this is one family Christmas none of them will ever forget.’


I am so ready for cosy Christmassy, festive, reads ๐Ÿ“š๐Ÿ“š

This is definatly one of my favourite times of the year to grab a book.

I’m glad I’ve got mine ahead of time as it can get so busy at this time of year and these kinds of books are great for grabbing a few moments of calm in all the Christmas chaos.

Until next time,

Roseanne ๐Ÿ™‚