Firstly….please don’t hate me! We are self isolating so I need some joy!!!

CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!

I’m a certified Christmas nut! I mean it’s the most magical time of the year and whilst I don’t put deccies up or swap gifts etc in July, I want to remember the magic…..but put a Summer twist on it!

I wanted to kick it off today but the majority of my posts will be towards the end of the month for ultimate celebrating!!!

And let’s be honest, after the year we had last year and dripping into 2021, we need some joy in our lives!

HAPPY CHRISTMAS IN JULY!!!

So really this is to announce my Christmas in July intention and tell you what will be coming up at the end of the month:

Christmas in July – Food and drink edition!

Christmas in July – activities edition!

Look out for my posts on the 24th and 25th July!!!

I didn’t think I’d be able to participate in this as I had stuff planned on the weekend but then low and behold all our plans have to be cancelled!

My sons year group in school has had to close because of positive covid cases so he needs to self isolate for 10 days so we are now stuck inside!

So bring the readathon on!

You can see full details here but basically the goal here is to practice reading without distractions. You’ll be surprised to see what you can accomplish with only a few minutes of reading time when you’re not checking your phone or watching Netflix! There are no sign ups or complications. If you want to participate then please do!

I’m going to try for 2 books! Look at me being all daring!

I’m such a mood reader so don’t want to name books but I maybe a couple of these:

I thought I’d have a go at a Disney themed tag and saw this on Golden Books Girl – go check her out!

“Tale A Old As Time” – a popular theme, trope, or setting you will never get bored of reading.

Enemies to lovers, hands down!

Read so many great ones, The Cruel Prince, Serpent and Dove to name a couple.

Belle – a book you bought for a beautiful cover, that’s just as beautiful inside. 

Threadneedle! This was a cover buy, I didn’t even read the blurb!!!!

Beast – a book you didn’t expect much from by pleasantly surprised you. 

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare but now I am in total love with this series and all the interconnecting ones!

Gaston – a book everyone loves but you don’t.
Ninth House. I hated myself but it was a dnf for me.

Lefou – a loyal sidekick you can’t help but love more than their counterpart.

• 

Mr Kindly!

Mrs Potts, Chip, Lumier, and Cogsworth – a book that helped you through a difficult time or that taught you something valuable. 

• 

“Something There” – a book or series that you weren’t into at first but picked up towards the end. 

I actually can’t think of anything for this! Help me out, what we would yours be?

“Be Our Guest” – a fictional character you’d love to have over for dinner. 

• 

Manon Blackbeak without a doubt. I mean she might actually kill me when I ask to look at her Iron teeth but hey, at least I would’ve met her!

Title: City of Lost Souls

Series: The Mortal Instruments #5

Author: Cassandra Clare

What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

Here we are again with the shenanigans of the ‘this era’ Shadowhunters (you know I think I said this in the last review!)

So what do we know? Without spoilers this is hard! So basically evil is back getting ready to loose demons on the earth. Or is it? What is going on?!

Sebastian aka Jonathan is back and has Jace under his control who in turn sort of has Clary under control because of luuuuuurve….

‘There never has been any going back. Not with you.’

And what happens is just bigger, dangerous and more hairbrained than ever!

Here are a few of my thoughts …..

I really didn’t like Simon in the 1st 3 books but now I want to mummy cuddle him and I want to sit and cry with him! Honestly he is the most real, human person in this book, even though he isnt!

I also wanted to boot Alec right in his private parts, what an idiot! For several reasons. He is like a 12 year old.

And Clary, oh jeez. A teenager in love is sickening!!! First of all I enjoyed all the declarations of love….but there were eventually so many, I got a bit sick of it!!!!!!

As in the last book loved Isabelle even more. Her character growth has been amazing….and she better get her act together and fess up to Simon!!

Magnus, I love him so much! Him getting Simons name wrong every time had me laughing! Reminded me of Colonel K in Dangermouse getting Penfolds name wrong all the time!

Anyway….next book please! 

Top Ten Tuesday is featured by That Artsy Reader Girl It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Theme = Reasons Why I Love Reading

This is a fab topic but one I found really hard to express! I mean I love reading but putting those feelings as to why was hard for me (that’s why there is only 8!!)

Always been a reader
Since I can remember I’ve always loved reading and having a book in my hand!

Escapism
To escape the normalities of the day and dive into a fictional world/life!

To relax
I normally read in the evening when my ‘adulting’ is done. It helps me relax!

Community
The wonderful book community, I love it here!

Feeling
There is nothing like getting lost in a book!

Experience
You can visit different worlds and see the places through the characters eyes!!

Learning
You can learn something new by reading books!

Entertainment
There is nothing like a great read!

Title: Once Upon a Broken Heart

Author: Stephanie Garber

Release Date: 30th September

Evangeline Fox was raised in her beloved father’s curiosity shop, where she grew up on legends about immortals, like the tragic Prince of Hearts. She knows his powers are mythic, his kiss is worth dying for, and that bargains with him rarely end well.

But when Evangeline learns that the love of her life is about to marry another, she becomes desperate enough to offer the Prince of Hearts whatever he wants in exchange for his help to stop the wedding. The prince only asks for three kisses. But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’s pledged. And he has plans for Evangeline that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy…

So…….I inhaled this book. Like inhaled. I don’t often say this but if I could give this book a million stars, I would!

Evangeline makes a bargain with a fate……and what happens is…..just magical!

‘It didn’t just feel like the start of something, it felt like the start of everything.’

And as a Jacks lover I can tell you that he is everything!

This book is filled with magic, intrigue, suspense and gives you all the feels! The angst I felt about Evangeline and Jacks was off the charts! 

I really can’t say more at this time about the plot but I impore you all to preorder, buy and read the heck out of this because you will not regret it!

I’m in England and we don’t have Independence Day here but wanted to wish all my American friends a happy day.

I hear you celebrate with fireworks, food, and family and I can’t think of anything better!

Have a great day!

I thought I’d take a look back on some hauls that I made last year to see if I’d actually read – I’ve been crazily buying books lately and know that my hauls were smaller in 2020 so wanted to show (myself!!!) that I need to reel my buying in!

So May 2020:

The Final Empire: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

NOPE (this is still on my tbr, it’s a chunky read so have been putting it off!!)

Embracing Destiny by Amelia Hutchins – READ

Gemina by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman – READ

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost – READ

(I know 2 of these have the wrong pics but WordPress still hates me and wont behave so i had to make do!!)

I think that’s quite good – 3 out of 4!

Do you ever look back on hauls to make sure you’ve read?

Title: City of Fallen Angels

Series: The Mortal Instruments #4

Author: Cassandra Clare

The Mortal War is over, and sixteen-year-old Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She’s training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And—most importantly of all—she can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering Shadowhunters, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second, bloody war. Clary’s best friend, Simon, can’t help her—his mother just found out that he’s a vampire, and now he’s homeless. When Jace begins to pull away from her without explaining why, Clary is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead to her losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

Back with the Shadowhunters, the ‘this era’ Shadowhunters!

Again I couldn’t get enough when I started reading and galloped through the book at the rate of knots! These books are so easy to read!

So here we have Jocelyn and Luke getting married, secret sects, murders, angst and the Shadowhunters are right in the middle of it….again!

Jace is still his fabulous sarcastic self…..’I can see why you like it here, there’s a thin layer of nerd all over it.’ Of course more is up with him but I can’t help thinking that he has been through enough and now he will really get put through the wringer!

But the star of the show for me in this book was Isabelle. I’ve always been bleh about her but in this book she shone. Shone bright. Her character development was top notch!

So some highlights from me from this book were……

The Silent Brother, Zacariah, having just read The Infernal Devices I had a light bulb moment!

Learning about Praetor Lupus and more of the history, the backstory if you will to the Shadowhunters and Downworlders world was fab.

Really want to see what’s going to happen next after that ending!