Waterstones Challenge: Wolverhampton

Today after teaching we ventured off to Wolverhampton in search of the Waterstones there. This really was an adventure, mainly because we got lost a great deal.

The traffic was a nightmare getting into Wolverhampton so it was a rather slow journey, then we could not find our planned car park and after driving around in circles we just dumped the car in the nearest car park and hoped for the best. The next problem was finding the store, my phone said a 6 minute walk, this ended up taking about half an hour after getting very lost, again!

Eventually however we found the store and I went in search of The Priory of the Orange Tree by Sammanth Shannon. After a bit of searching we found the book and I think luckily I managed to get the last copy in the store. To be honest I was rather surprised how big the book is but I am very excited to start reading it.

This store is sadly not a favourite of mine, I found the ground floor very cramped and claustrophobic but the top floor was wonderful, it was open and well organised and a relief from being downstairs.

After our adventure we found a Cafe Nero and had hot chocolates and treats. I thought my ginerbread girl was rather Harry Potteresque.

Another Waterstones is ticked off the list and I hope to do at least one more this month, I will keep you posted.

Lady Book Dragon.

Waterstones Challenge: Worcester

It’s half term so I decided to go a bit further out for the next Waterstones visit and Worcester was the one we chose. We turned it into a National Trust visit as well and visited Elgar’s Birthplace.

The visit to Elgar’s Birthplace was really good and quite different since the National Trust has taken over. I went a few years ago and it was quite a different layout, my husband has never been though and really enjoyed it, apart from basically all the signs using it’s instead of its, that drove him insane.

After our visit, we went into Worcester and found the Waterstones, it is quite small but really well laid out, I loved the top floor it was so spacious and welcoming and it also has an escalator which I thought was excellent for easy access. The book I went in for was The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon but it was not there and after my husband looked it up it was because I had got the release dates wrong and the book is not out until the 26th February 2019. I’ve never been good with numbers, let alone dates. It was not a wasted journey though, because I managed to buy three books. I will be honest, I went to the till with just two books but then the third just jumped into my hand and I ended up buying it as well.

The three books I got are:-

The Crossing Places: A Dr Ruth Galloway Mystery by Elly Griffiths

I have just recently discovered Elly Griffiths’ Dr Ruth Galloway and I just can not put the books down so I was happy to find one that I have not read.

Winter Solstice by Rosamunde Pilcher

I wanted to read another Rosamunde Pilcher book after falling in love with Coming Home so it looks like this will be next on my list.

The Story of Brexit: A Ladybird Book

This was the book that jumped into my hand at the till, I do find the Ladybird books rather funny and good to read with a mug of tea.

We celebrated the latest Waterstones visit by going to Pizza Express for a treat and then we went to my parents’ house and had Coco cuddles. Coco is my dog who has always been one of my reading buddies. Sadly when I moved out she stayed with my parents so I go over as often as I can for cuddles. Coco loves using piles of books as a pillow.

Lady Book Dragon

New Book – 14/02/2019

Hello my fellow readers!

I hope you have all had a good week and have a full weekend of reading planned ahead.

I just thought I would tell you about my latest new book. My wonderful husband took me to Waterstones on Valentine’s Day and told me to choose a book and he would treat me. I was very restrained as he had already spoiled me with some other presents and a big bunch of flowers, he is brilliant. My choice in the end was The Stone Circle by Elly Griffiths. I have been looking forward to this book and so grabbed it when I saw it on the shelf, although it was hidden away right at the bottom. Another exciting book to add on to my TBR pile!

I am hoping to read a bit more next week and get down my TBR pile, work has got in the way recently and falling asleep on the sofa but next week is half term so I am hoping for a bit of reading time as I am only working on three days and they are not full days.

What will everyone be reading this weekend?

Lady Book Dragon

Waterstones Challenge: Merry Hill

This week on the 7th February I visited my fourth Waterstones off the list, Merry Hill. It has been a while since I have visited the Waterstones at Merry Hill and I had forgotten how small the store is. Small in a good way, as sometimes I get overwhelmed by massive bookstores and just do not know where to look.

It was a really nice atmosphere in the store and quiet, which I love because you do not have to rush or fight through people to have a good browse. As usual the books were laid out perfectly and so I managed to find some good books to buy.

Here are the books I bought and I used my special book buying bag that I got for Chistmas off my sister-in-law.

The books I bought are as follows:-

The Man with No Face by Peter May

This edition I got is actually signed by the author and as he is a favourite of mine I just could not resist buying it. That is my excuse and I am sticking to it anyway.

The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden

Have been waiting for this to come out for a while now, I was very excited to buy it.

Rotherweird by Andrew Caldecott

This is actually my husband’s choice and I bought it for him but would also like to read it when he has finished it. It looks very intriguing and different to what I usually read.

Dog Stories Everyman’s Pocket Classics

I love the Everyman books, I just think they look so pretty. We have the cat version of this book and I thought it was high time we had the dog one.

Anyway this was my book haul, I think it is a good haul and can not wait to start reading them.

On to planning my next Waterstones adventure.

Lady Book Dragon.

New Books 3/02/2019

Amazon has a lot to answer for, they keep sending me all these emails advertising the cheap books and this evening before I had realised what I had done I had bought 7 books!

I could not believe that the the entire series of Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan was on the deal of the day, each book costing just 99p each. Then I also discovered another Veronica Henry book for 99p and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

I’m very excited to read the Heroes of Olympus series as I am a massive fan of Rick Riordan.

So here are my lovely new books.

Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Heroes of Olympus: The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

Heroes of Olympus: The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

Heroes of Olympus: The House of Hades by Rick Riordan

Heroes of Olympus: The Blood of Olympus by Rick Riordan

A Family Recipe by Veronica Henry

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel by Deborah Moggach

Many exciting books to read, lets hope I find the time to fit in all this reading.

I would love to hear if anybody has read these books and their thoughts on them, please drop me a comment.

Lady Book Dragon

New Books 28/01/2019

Happy Monday!

Just a quick blog post today.

Firstly, thank you and hello to my new followers, I hope you enjoy my blog about all things bookish.

Secondly, I have bought a couple of new books on my Kindle and I thought I would share what they are:-

Bring Them Home (Detective Karen Hart Book 1) by D. S. Butler

The Sunday Lunch Club by Juliet Ashton

I love looking at the offers on Kindle, as I tend to discover new authors and genres that I have never thought of reading before. I hope these two books will not disappoint. Has anybody read them? I would love to hear your opinions if you have.

Happy reading this week!

Lady Book Dragon

Waterstones Challenge: Telford

This week I managed to tick off another Waterstones store, three down, loads to go.

Telford is a lovely store, a little bit small but packed full of books. There were lots of tables with exciting offers as well, which is always good. I went in the evening and the store was quiet so I could have a good look at all the books in peace.

I kept to the rules, here is the picture of myself stood infront of the store.

And here are the books I bought whilst there:-

Red Queen by Christina Henry

Alice by Christina Henry

For an added extra I have a picture of the top of the receipt.

I have updated the list accordingly and I am planning my next adventure.

Lady Book Dragon

New Book 17/01/2019

Hello!

I have only bought one book today. It is a bit of complete fun and once I have finished watching the first season of Star Trek Discovery, I plan on reading this.

The book is Star Trek Discovery: The Official Companion The Making of Season 1.

It has finally happened my husband has turned me into a Trekkie.

Is anybody else a fellow Trekkie? I would love to hear from some fellow Star Trek fans.

Lady Book Dragon.

Book Haul

Firstly, yes, I know I have a problem, I just can not stop buying books.

Secondly, no, I do not want to change. So prepare for many more book haul posts.

Thirdly, I really think I should give up work to read all these books but I do not think my husband would agree.

Saturdays I only work in the mornings and then I have the rest of the day off, so today after some clarinet and piano practice, my husband and I decided to visit Ironbridge and see the bridge newly opened after all the restoration work. Now Ironbridge also has an amazing second hand bookshop and a teddy bear shop. We visited the teddy bear shop first and admired all the amazing Steiff bears, and that is where Jeremy Fisher came from, although he is not a Steiff.

Next we hit the bookshop, I was doing so well until I got to the children’s section and discovered the Mary Poppins series in brand new condition for £3.50 each. Well I could not resist and so I left the shop with 5 new books. Slowly but surely I will fill the house to the brim with books.

I read an abridged Mary Poppins over Christmas so I am looking forward to reading the whole series in full.

Well Happy Reading this weekend everyone.

Lady Book Dragon

Book Haul

Yes, I have bought more books! After my massive book buying binge at New Year I did promise myself no more books till February. I lasted 10 days, to be honest I’m surprised I lasted this long.

Yesterday I ordered four books from Amazon which I do not usually do but I just went a bit crazy and bought the four books based on the Star Trek Discovery series and they arrived today. Also today was my day off and my husband and myself went for a little trip to Shrewsbury and I visited the Waterstones store there and my husband very kindly bought me three books.

The books I got were:-

Star Trek Discovery: Desperate Hours by David Mack

Star Trek Discovery: Drastic Measures by Dayton Ward

Star Trek Discovery: Fear Itself by James Swallow

Star Trek Discovery: The Way to the Stars by Una McCormack

These four books I got because I have recently been watching the Star Trek Discovery series on DVD and I have really enjoyed the storylines and was intrigued with the prospect of reading the books based on the series.

A Natural History of Dragons: A Memoir by Lady Trent by Marie Brennan

Very intrigued by this book. It is about Dragons what is there not to like?

The Mermaid by Christina Henry

Another book I chose because I was extremely intrigued by the story. Fingers crossed it is a good read.

The Prime of Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark

This is a book I really should of read but sadly have not so thought I had better correct this.

I’m very pleased with my book haul and can not wait to read them. I would love to hear if any of you have read these books and your thoughts. Please feel free to drop me a comment.

Lady Book Dragon