2024

Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club. All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.

Hello!

I hope everyone has had a good start to the week. I haven’t had any teaching today so it has been a day of Christmas prep and making up Etsy orders.

My chosen book this week is another Christmas read that I am hoping to read this month.

Death Comes at Christmas edited by Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane

The award-winning Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane invite you to a festive gathering of bestselling, critically acclaimed and award-winning writers in tribute to classic, British period crime stories. From locked room mysteries on Christmas eve to devilish whodunits and tales of simmering rivalries unfolding at the dinner table, these thirteen original seasonal tales will delight and shock at every twist and turn. So, unwrap the presents, pour a mug of mulled wine and follow the bloodstained footprints through the freshly fallen snow as winter descends and darkness lurks in the shadows.

Featuring stories by: Fiona Cummins, Angela Clarke, A.K. Benedict, Susi Holliday, J.T. Ellison, David Bell, Sarah Hilary, Claire McGowan, Tina Baker, Sam Carrington, Liz Mistry, C.L. Taylor, Helen Fields, Russ Thomas, Tom Mead, Vaseem Khan, Samantha Hayes & Belinda Bauer

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

The Weekly Brief

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend so far. I took a little break from the blog this week so there aren’t that many blog posts.

Blog Posts

Currently Reading

I’ve fallen slightly behind with my poetry reading because I forgot to take the book on holiday with me but I’m hoping to catch up soon. I’m thoroughly enjoying Murder at the Christmas Emporium so far.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Stacking the Shelves: 14/12/2024

Stacking The Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Marlene of Reading Reality. It is all about sharing the books that you have recently added to your bookshelves. These books can be physical books, ebooks and of course audiobooks.

Hello!

This week I spent a few days in Bath and of course this resulted in book shopping. Bath has some of my favourite bookshops and this always results in a quite a few book purchases.

I bought books from three bookshops.

Mr B’s Emporium

I only bought one book from Mr B’s which was quite restrained. I’ve been wanting a really nice edition of the Hogfather by Terry Pratchett for ages and I really want to re read over Christmas.

Topping and Company Booksellers

I got distracted by the Christmas books again and I bought two new ones. I’m really not sure I will manage to read all these Christmas books over December as the pile is getting higher and higher. However, I do keep reading Christmas books until January 6th so I might manage to finish the pile.

Samantha Shannon and Silvia Moreno-Garcia are two of my favourite authors so I was quite excited to get these pretty hardbacks.

Persephone Books

I only bought two Persephone books and another is a Christmas gift. I was hoping to buy a few more but sadly the shop was full of hyacinths. As pretty as hyacinths are I am also highly allergic and was really struggling to breathe so it was a quick in and out of the shop.

I bought:

Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski

William – An Englishman by Cicely Hamilton

My TBR pile is getting bigger and bigger but I’m really hoping I can get loads of reading done this month.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Goodreads Monday: 9/12/2024

Goodreads Monday is now hosted by Budget Tales Book Club. All you have to do is show off a book from your TBR that you’re looking forward to reading.

Hello!

I hope everyone has had a good start to the week. I had my last day of school today and can now enjoy some time off until I’m back in January. I really hope this means more reading!

My chosen book this week is one I have recently treated myself to.

I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest with You by Miranda Hart

I Haven’t Been Entirely Honest With You. I know – what an intriguing title!

Basically, I have had an unexpectedly difficult decade – there have been surprising joys, but also deep revelations and challenging lows. I shall be honest about those, because what I discovered in the difficult times were my, what I call, treasures. Treasures – practical tools, values, ways, answers researched from some great scientists, neuroscientists, therapists, sociologists (all the ‘ists’) out there, that have genuinely led to a sense of freedom, joy, peace and physical recovery I never would have thought possible. Life now, amazingly, with what I will share, is – SUCH FUN! (always important to quote your own catch phrases. . .)

If you fancy having a read, then I hope my story might help your story. After all, we are in this beautiful, mysterious, challenging life together. Rest assured there are funny stories along the way – we will have a laugh too, my dear reader chum. Oh, and I couldn’t possibly say if there is a love story in it . . . (There is – shush) Exciting.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

The Weekly Brief

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend so far. I have been really busy making bookmarks for my Etsy shop today but I have also managed some reading.

Blog Posts

Currently Reading

It has taken me a bit to get into this but I’m starting to enjoy it and I like the humour.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Stacking the Shelves: 7/12/2024

Hello!

I took advantage of the Waterstones Black Friday deals and over the last few days the orders have been arriving. A lot of the books are presents but I did buy a few for myself. So here are the ones which have arrived and are for me.

Every year a get a different edition of The Nutcracker to read and this is the edition I have chosen for this year. My husband wants to read it as well this year because we went to see the ballet which was amazing but he has never read the book.

I have read a few of Miranda Hart’s books and some I have loved and some I have struggled with. I am really hoping this will be one of the ones I love because I love Miranda Hart and how down to earth and real she is.

I still have a few books left to arrive so watch this space for another update!

Happy Reading!

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Friday Poetry: Traditional

Happy Friday!

I hope everyone is looking forward to the weekend. I’m planning more reading and Christmas decorating.

My chosen poem today is another Christmas poem or Christmas carol but sadly the author is unknown.

I Saw Three Ships

I saw three ships come sailing in,
Come sailing in, come sailing in;
I saw three ships come sailing in, 
On Christmas Day in the morning.

And what was in those ships all three,
Those ships all three, those ships all three?
And what was in those ships all three,
On Christmas Day in the morning?

Our Saviour Christ and his lady,
And his lady, and his lay;
Our Saviour Christ and his lady,
On Christmas Day in the morning

Traditional

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

December 2024 TBR

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I am slowly getting ready for Christmas and have just come back from playing for a Carol service which was lovely.

I am really hoping to get a lot of reading done over December and I have some fab books planned.

I’m going to read the Christmas themed books first and then move on to the non Christmas books if I’m doing well.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

Mid Week Quote: Will Ferrell

Hello!

I am playing for a Carol service tomorrow and I love it when everyone has a really good sing of Christmas carols. This is the reason why I have chosen the quote today.

The quote today is by the American actor, comedian, writer and producer, Will Ferrell (1967).

“The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.”

Will Ferrell

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you

WWW Wednesday: 4/12/2024

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Sam at Taking on a World of Words.

The rules are answer the questions below and share a link to your blog in the comments section of Sam’s blog.

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you will read next?

Hello!

I hope everyone is having a good week so far. I have had a busy day teaching so I haven’t managed much reading but I plan to do more later.

What I am Currently Reading

I have been reading my poem a day from my new book and I find it a nice way to start the day. I have nearly finished Catherine De’Medici and I am already looking at my next read from Mary Hollingsworth.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

I read this little book yesterday as it is one of the books on my Christmas TBR list. Review will follow soon.

What I Think I will Read Next

Here is my planned reading for December but not sure what I will read first.

Please drop me a comment with your WWW Wednesday and I will head over for a visit.

Happy Reading

Etsy

If you enjoy reading my blog and would like to make a donation I would be very grateful. Thank you