My haul: March

So despite not reading more than 1 book in March, I was still buying! I suffer with a serious case of FOMO so I must have those books…..

A lot of authors had free books due to the coronavirus pandemic (what a lovely gesture) so a couple of mine were free. I also had an Amazon giftcard given to me so I used that too. (I’m saying all this to justify why I went over my 3 book a month pledge!!!)

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu

Mathilda Superwitch by Kristen Ashley

Never Never by Colleen Hoover

 

 

Too Late by Colleen Hoover

The Honey Don’t List by Christina Lauren


 

🎧 Audio

Deviate by Jay Kristoff

Crescent City by Sarah J Maas


 

What books did you get in March?

Top 5 Tuesday: Top 5 of my Sanity Savers

 

Top 5 Tuesday is brought to you by Shanah at the Bionic Bookworm, see her original post here.

Theme = Top 5 sanity savers – things I’m enjoying while in isolation!

We are living through unprecedented times and it’s just scary but after many days of worrying, I’ve decided its ok not to be ok.

I cant do the normal things I would do to make me feel better…..so I’ve discovered (some) new things to get me through this lockdown:

Audiobooks 🎧

I just cannot concentrate on a physical book at the moment. I’m hoping this changes really soon but in the meantime I’m relying on audiobooks…..and oh the escape is fabulous. Put my headphones on and get lost into whatever world the characters are inhabiting.

Films πŸŽ¬πŸŽ¦πŸ“½

I think I have watched more films in the past 2 weeks then I have in the last year!!! I’ve rewatched all the Avengers films, Harry Potter films and loads more. Plus I signed up for Disney + so my son and I have a date with Toy Story 4 and Frozen 2 very soon!

Lego

Yes Lego! My son had so many sets for Christmas so we decided to get building! We have built helicopters, camper vans, cars and we have the Hogwarts Express to start next! Its something that me and my son can together and it really gets your mind working!!!

Cooking πŸ‘©β€πŸ³πŸ‘¨β€πŸ³

I am not someone who bakes however I am someone who loves to eat alllll the sweet things!

For lifeskills for my son we have done basic stuff like how to boil an egg but we also have made a gluten free pizza from scratch, some mermaid cakes and a chocolate cake (which was a disaster!!) I also taught my son how to cook an omelette!

Work πŸ‘©β€πŸ’ΌπŸ‘©β€πŸ’Ό

I know I am the saddest person in the world but omg I get tons more done at home than I do in work! No incessant phone calls, no one interrupting me, no meetings and no chit chat (which I do miss!) If I didnt have to work I think I would go stir crazy!

I hope you are all ok ❀❀

🎧 Review: Deviate by Jay Kristoff

Title: Deviate

Series: Lifelike #2

Author: Jay Kristoff

Lemon Fresh has seen better days.

After the climactic battle in Babel, she finds herself separated from Ezekiel and Cricket in the wastelands. Lemon’s abilities to manipulate electricity mark her as a deviate, and deadly corporate operatives are hunting her to use as a weapon in the war between BioMaas Incorporated and Daedelus Technologies. Instead, Lemon finds herself falling in with a group of fellow deviatesβ€”a band of teenagers with astonishing abilities, led by an enigmatic figure known as the Major, who may hold the secrets to Lemon’s past.

Meanwhile, Cricket finds himself in possession of the puritanical Brotherhood, a religious cult set for a head-on collision with the Major and his band. Searching for Lemon, Ezekiel finds a strange ally in an old enemy, and uncovers a plot that may see him reunited with his beloved Ana.

And inside Babel, a remade Eve hatches a plan to bring an end to the world.

First it was Manon Blackbeak and now it’s Lemon Fresh! My love affair with literary characters carries on, I am totally loving Lemon!

If I am totally honest, I didn’t want to know about Eve at all after the last book, it was all about Lemon! I wanted to hug her!

We get it all in this book, all of the key players and all their journeys. It was an eye opener!

This was a fab middle book, the story is unique (well I think it is!), there is action, revelations and I loved the shout out to our past, genius! I am gagging for the next book!

A Book and a Candle: ACOMAF by Sarah J Maas

Whilst we are in lockdown I wanted to take some pictures of my book-ish stuff and thought I might make this a regular thing in April.

So a Book and a Candle was born (I have lots of candles!!!)

First I give you my favourite Sarah J Maas book…..

A Court of Mist and Fury!

I’ve got my Night Court candle (yes, I’ve done the test and I am, in fact, a member of the Night Court!!)

Do you like collecting candles to go with your books?

 

🎧 Review: Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff

Title: Darkdawn

Series: Nevernight Chronicle #3

Author: Jay Kristoff

A ruthless young assassin’s journey for revenge comes to a stunning end in the conclusion of this acclaimed epic fantasy trilogy.

The Republic of Itreya is in chaos. Mia Corvere has assassinated Cardinal Duomo and rumors of Consul Scaeva’s death ripple through the street of Godsgrave like wildfire. But buried beneath those same streets, deep in the ancient city’s bones, lies a secret that will change the Republic forever.

Mia and her brother Jonnen must journey through the depths of the ancient metropolis. Their quest will take them through the Godsgrave underdark, across the Sea of Swords, back to the library of the Quiet Mountain and the poisoned blades of Mia’s old mentors, and at last the fabled Crown of the Moon. There, Mia will at last discover the origins of the darkin, and learn the destiny that lies in store for her and her world. But with the three suns now in descent, and Truedark on the horizon, will she survive?

21 and a half hours.

21 and a half hours of Mia Corvere.

I think that’s the longest book I’ve ever listened to!!!

And I loved it.

Jaw dropping.

Fascinating.

Emotional.

Gawd the emotions.

Again I am in total awe of this authors writing style, just the right amount of everything.

But….

‘She’ was still in it.

It’s no secret I hated and still hate Ashlinn so I was rooting for the lovely T. Omg I love him.

Let me just tell you a bit more about how I despise Ashlinn. I’m the sort of person who doesn’t hate many people but when I do I HATE. There is nothing they can do to redeem themselves and every time she opened her mouth I wanted to slap her with a dead fish.

Omg that felt good!

Anyways…..Holter Graham delivers another fab narration and I thought this was an amazing conclusion to the series. I’m really sad it’s all over.

Closing the Chapter: March (and where I’ve been)….

Welcome to Closing the Chapter! I hope you had a great reading month?

Firstly, sorry for disappearing!

I just felt completely overwhelmed with all that’s going on on regards to COVID19.

My son and I are classed as high risk, my parents are both over 70 and I found myself being in a constant state of not knowing if I was under or over reacting and it just took it’s toll! I’m sure many others felt and are feeling the same way. My heart goes out to you all.

Schools are closed here and my employer has sent us to work from home and I’m tired. Emotionally and physically tired!

My apologies for not posting much, reading your posts and commenting as I normally do. I really want to get back to ‘normal’ life, I need it!

My reading has also suffered this month. I actually don’t know why I’m even posting this as frankly, its pathetic!!!

My only book listened to this month was 21 hours though, so that makes me feel a bit better!

Darkdawn by Jay Kristoff

I’ll post my review soon!


What did you read in March?

Check In……

How are you?

Yes, this is new and not book-ish but with what is going on in the world, I wanted to reach out and see how we are all doing, make sure you are ok.

I know I’ve been feeling anxious, worried and so tired. Trying to juggle working from home and home schooling my son along with all the uncertainty has affected my reading and blogging. Then I feel guilty and sort of unsettled as I haven’t been doing these!!!

I’m sure I’m not alone.

Tell me how you are, tell me something good that’s happened or just have a vent.

πŸ’œπŸŒˆπŸ’œπŸŒˆ

Top 5 Tuesday: Authors from A to Z (K to O)

OMG I have realised some of my scheduled posts haven’t auto posted!

Who am I to deprive you of my ramblings?!!!

Better late than never eh!


Top 5 Tuesday is brought to you by Shanah at the Bionic Bookworm, see her original post here.

Theme = Authors from A to Z

This week = K to O

Actually this exercise is really hard I’ve discovered!

I dont actually have an N or an O so to make up for it I’ve put in 2 M’s as I couldn’t choose!

Anyway, these are my well loved authors, K to O.

Jay Kristoff

I only discovered the joys of this author last year. I know, shame on me. But he has bought me total and utter joy with his stories.

Marie Lu

Oh jeez I had forgotten how much I loved this series!

Marissa Meyer

I don’t need to explain do I?!!

Sarah J Maas

Oh god, words cannot explain how much I love this series!

That’s my well loved authors, what’s yours?

International Happiness Day: A series that makes me happy

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Firstly, Happy International Happiness Day!!!

I saw that it was International Happiness Day and I really wanted to be involved. And how better to be involved than sharing my love and happiness about a favourite series?!!

Now I know this is going to be a bit clichΓ© but Harry Potter makes me happy. It’s as simple as that! So I thought I would share my love of this series……but in pictures!

 

 

What book or series makes you happy?