Month: February 2025

WWW Wednesday: 19/2/2025

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 wonderful day of walking, reading and dining out. I am doing quite well with my reading currently and I am averaging a book a week which is much better than how I was doing last year.

What I am Currently Reading

I am very close to finishing this now and I have really enjoyed it so far.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

I have finally finished this as my buddy read and thoroughly enjoyed it as did my friend. My review will be arriving soon.

What I Think I will Read Next

I really want to finish at least two more books before the end of the month so I will probably choose a shorter book.

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

Top 5 Tuesday: Books I want to reread in 2025

Top 5 Tuesday was created by Shanah at Bionic Book Worm, and now being hosted by Meeghan reads.

Hello!

I love the topic for this week as 2025 is the year I wanted to make an effort to reread some of my favourite books. Last year I didn’t really do any rereads and I missed it because rereading a favourite book is like sitting down for a chat with an old friend.

So here are my planned rereads for 2025.

I really want to reread more of the Discworld novels this year and I thought I would start with the City Watch books. I spent one year reading all the Discworld books in order of publication so this time I think I will read them in the groups.

I am absolutely obsessed with Tolkien and have read The Lord of the Rings many many times and I feel like it is time for a reread of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

The Three Musketeers and Agnes Grey are two books that I have also read many many times and feel like a reread is needed.

What 5 books are you planning on rereading in 2025?

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: 17/2/2025

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 have had a good day catching up on some jobs in the garden and getting Etsy orders sent out.

My chosen book to feature off my Goodreads TBR this week is one from one of my favourite authors, Alison Weir.

Henry VIII The Heart and the Crown by Alison Weir

Young Henry began his rule as a magnificent and chivalrous Renaissance prince who embodied every virtue. He had all the qualities to make a triumph of his rule, yet we remember only the violence. Henry famously broke with the Pope, founding the Church of England and launching a religious revolution that divided his kingdom. He beheaded two of his wives and cast aside two others. He died a suspicious, obese, disease-riddled tyrant, old before his time. His reign is remembered as one of dangerous intrigue and bloodshed—and yet the truth is far more complex.

The King’s Pleasure brings to life the idealistic monarch who expanded Parliament, founded the Royal Navy, modernised medical training, composed music and poetry, and patronized the arts. A passionate man in search of true love, he was stymied by the imperative to produce a male heir, as much a victim of circumstance as his unhappy wives. Had fate been kinder to him, the history of England would have been very different.

Here is the story of the private man. To his contemporaries, he was a great king, a legend in his own lifetime. And he left an extraordinary legacy—a modern Britain.

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 has had a nice weekend so far. I haven’t done very well with blogging or reading this week but I am hoping to do better next week as I am on half term and have no teaching.

Blog Posts

Currently Reading

Really enjoying this so far. I always wonder what would have been Mary’s story if she hadn’t resisted so much.

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: 15/2/2025

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!

I hope everyone is having a good weekend so far. I have managed some lovely reading today and I am very close to finishing my first buddy read of the year.

I had one book arrive this week which was a book that I preordered last year. I love getting preordered books because I forget that I order the books and it is always a nice surprise when they arrive in the post. It is just like a surprise gift to myself!

My new book this week is by an auto buy author for me.

This is definitely going to the top of my TBR pile!

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: James Fenton

Happy Friday Everyone!

My chosen poem this week is by a new poet for me. James Fenton (1949) is an English poet, journalist and literary critic. 

Hinterhof

Stay near to me and I'll stay near to you -
As near as you are dear to me will do, 
Near as the rainbow to the rain,
The west wind to the windowpane,
As fire to the hearth, as dawn to dew.

Stay true to me and I'll stay true to you -
As true as you are new to me will do,
New as the rainbow in the spray,
Utterly new in every way,
New in the way that what you say is true.

Stay near to me, stay true to me. I'll stay
As near, as true to you as heart could pray.
Heart never hoped that one might be
Half of the things you are to me -
The dawn, the fire, the rainbow and the day. 

James Fenton

Happy Reading

Etsy

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

Lyra’s Pawsome Books #15

Hello!

I thought it was time for an Etsy update because I have been quite busy recently adding new products. I love my little shop and one of my aims for 2025 is to really build it up and add more products.

I love making new bookmarks for the shop but I must admit I do end up wanting them all for myself and have to resist because I will end up with way too many. I am like a magpie for shiny pretty bookmarks!

Here are the bookmarks I have added recently:

Knitting Bookmarks

My sister who does a lot of knitting instantly bagged herself one of these bookmarks but I still have 9 left.

Cards

I have made a few new cards recently and I have also added the Easter Cards back to the shop which are usually quite popular.

Cat Card

I now have two Cat themed cards on the Etsy because cats are proving very popular.

Cake Card

The Cake Cards have just landed in the shop over the last few days. I have made a few for private orders so I thought I would add them to my Etsy shop.

TBR Prompts

I have also done my first digital download in the shop which is TBR Prompts that you just download, print off and cut out all from your home. They are also currently on offer!

I am always struggling to work out what to read next so I came up with the prompts to help myself and decided to add them to my shop as well. I also still have the very popular book shaped TBR Tickets available in the shop.

I have quite a few ideas for new bookmarks bobbing around in my head so I hope to share those with you soon.

Thank you for stopping by and having a little browse of my shop!

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: Megan Wilson

Hello!

My chosen quote this week is by the American visual artist, writer, and activist Megan Wilson (1969).

“The people you are closest to tend to be able to hurt you the most – that is why heartbreak is so hard to deal with, why death is so painful, and why fights can destroy things that matter.”

Megan Wilson

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: 12/2/2025

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 haven’t been doing so well this week with my blogging and reading due to still being ill and trying to work but I am hoping for things to improve during half term break.

What I am Currently Reading

I am very close to finishing my buddy read of Unleashed and I will be honest I think I will really miss this book and my buddy read. I’m now a third of the way through with my Alison Weir book and thoroughly enjoying it.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

I really enjoyed this book and my review will be posted soon.

What I Think I will Read Next

These are all part of my planned reading for February and I’m really wanting to stay on track with them.

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

The Weekly Brief

Hello!

I hope everyone has had a good weekend. I haven’t managed as much reading or blogging as I would have liked because I am still feeling rather rough but I’m really hoping I start to feel better soon.

Blog Posts

Currently Reading

I have just over a week left on my buddy read of Unleashed and I am still really enjoying it. I have recently started reading Mary I Queen of Sorrows and I am thoroughly enjoying it 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