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 quiet day so I have caught up with jobs around the house and garden and obviously done some reading.

My chosen book to feature this week is a new addition to the TBR pile and one I am hoping to read very soon. I got am email from Harper Collins about this book and knew I wanted to read it.

Under the Lemon Tree by Emma Cowell

Can one Greek summer heal the secrets of the past? Could rediscovering her roots help Kat rebuild a life without her brother…?

Shattered by the sudden loss of her beloved twin, Nik, Kat is struggling to find meaning in a life turned upside down. The comfort of family is both smothering and soothing, but when an unexpected inheritance surfaces — a house on the breathtaking Greek island of Agistri from a mysterious uncle she’s only just heard of — she dares to dream of a new beginning.

Arriving in Agistri, with its crystalline waters and endless blue skies, Kat finds herself surrounded by lush pine forests, secluded coves, and the scent of citrus in the air. Among white-washed houses, the warmth of the island’s people begins to heal the emptiness in her heart. And in their company, she finds both the courage to face her grief — and maybe even the spark of unexpected love…

But as she slowly unearths her family’s buried past, Kat must confront her own fears about belonging, forgiveness, and the possibility of rediscovering happiness in the unlikeliest of places.

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 have had a really good day of reading today which has been just what I needed. I have also watched quite a bit of Wimbledon.

Blog Posts

Currently Reading

I will be honest I finished my current read earlier and I have no idea what I will read next. I will probably choose later tonight.

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: 5/7/2025

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 have been busy buying Kindle books this week ready for my holidays and I’m sure I will probably buy a few more before I go. Here are the ones I have bought so far and they are all new authors for me.

Who Is the Liar by Laura Lee Bahr
While The Dark Remains by Joanna Ruth Meyer
Under the Lemon Tree by Emma Cowell

I’m quite excited to get reading these so hopefully I manage to read them whilst on holiday.

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: D. H. Lawrence

Happy Friday!

I have had a super busy day with my Etsy business and I am looking forward to the weekend.

My chosen poem this week is by David Herbert Lawrence (1885-1930) who was an English writer and poet.

Escape

When we get out of the glass bottles of our own ego,
and when we escape like squirrels from turning in the 
cages of our personality
and get into the forest again, 
we shall shiver with cold and fright
but things will happen to us
so that we don't know ourselves. 

Cool, unlying life will rush in,
and passion will make our bodies taut with power,
we shall stamp our feet with new power
and old things will fall down,
we shall laugh, and institutions will curl up like burnt
paper.

D. H. Lawrence

Happy Reading

Etsy

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

July 2025 TBR

Hello!

I have a holiday planned in July and work is winding down for the Summer so I am really planning on a lot of reading this month. I have kindle books and physical books planned.

Kindle reads

Vertigo by G. S. Jennsen
Foundation by Isaac Asimov
Compulsory by Martha Wells
Lessons by Ian McEwan

Physical Reads

The Mime Order by Samantha Shannon
The Cardinal by Alison Weir

Hopefully I might even be able to read more than just this selection.

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: Bob Ross

Hello!

My chosen quote today is by the American painter and art instructor Robert Norman Ross (1942-1995).

“The secret to doing anything is believing that you can do it. Anything that you believe you can do strong enough, you can do. Anything. As long as you believe.”

Bob Ross

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: 2/7/2025

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. My reading has dropped somewhat because I am thoroughly enjoying Wimbledon.

What I am Currently Reading

I am now half way through and really enjoying this. I was expecting more of Miss Marple though.

What I have Recently Finished Reading

I really enjoyed this and I definitely plan on reading more books by Harry Sidebottom in the future. My review will follow soon.

What I Think I will Read Next

I’m not sure what I will read next but these are strong possibles.

Happy Reading

Etsy

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

June 2025 Wrap up

Hello!

I will be honest I didn’t manage nearly as much reading as I had planned in June and I only managed to tick 2 books off my 20 Books of Summer challenge. I am on holiday in July and I am planning a lot of poolside reading so hopefully it will be a better reading month.

Statistics

Books

Pages: 97

Format Read: Kindle

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲

Review to follow

New Book

Pages: 704

Format Read: Paperback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲

Review to follow

Old Book

Pages: 31

Format Read: Kindle

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲

Review to follow

New Book

Pages: 402

Format Read: Hardback

Dragon Rating: 🐲🐲🐲🐲🐲

Review to follow

Old Book

Goodreads Challenge: 28/50

Old Books: 2

New Books: 2

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: 30/6/2025

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.

Happy Monday Everyone!

I hope everyone has had a good start to the week. I have had a busy day of teaching but I have also been enjoying Wimbledon on TV.

My chosen book to feature this week is one that has been sat on my Kindle for a couple of years. I remember buying it for a holiday but not getting around to reading it.

The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

In the early 1900s, a young woman embarks on a fantastical journey of self-discovery after finding a mysterious book in this captivating and lyrical debut.

In a sprawling mansion filled with peculiar treasures, January Scaller is a curiosity herself. As the ward of the wealthy Mr. Locke, she feels little different from the artifacts that decorate the halls: carefully maintained, largely ignored, and utterly out of place.

Then she finds a strange book. A book that carries the scent of other worlds, and tells a tale of secret doors, of love, adventure and danger. Each page turn reveals impossible truths about the world and January discovers a story increasingly entwined with her own.

Happy Reading