Six for Sunday….white covers…#SIXFORSUNDAY

#SIXFORSUNDAY

WHAT IS #SIXFORSUNDAY?

#SixforSunday was a little blog feature I started in June 2017 for me. It’s a weekly blog post where you get to share 6 books which fill a certain prompt.

Originally, #SixforSunday was a post I did that I never thought I would stick with! It was my place to share 6 bookish things under a given prompt. (If you want to see my first post, you can check it out here!) I started it thinking it would fizzle out and that I would run out of things to use as prompts: I never imagined that it would transform itself into something OTHER PEOPLE JOIN IN WITH every week. 

HOW DO I JOIN IN WITH #SIXFORSUNDAY?

That’s entirely up to you! If you’re a blogger, you will find the prompts for January to March in this blog post and you can post a blog post with your six choices for that week’s prompt. If you’re not a blogger but want to join in anyway:

• post a tweet with your choices
• a picture on instagram showing us your choices
• reply to my post with your choices

Remember if you do create a post (whether it’s on twitter or instagram) to share your post using the hashtag #SixforSunday so I can see it, read it and share it! You can always leave your link in my post on a Sunday too and then others will be able to read it too!

It’s been a while since I posted a Six For Sunday and seeing as I’ve found the actual prompts I thought I would put the explanations up again. My last post was one I created myself and you can read that here. But now I’ve found the prompts that take me up-to March I’ll be participating where I can….

Today’s instalment is white covers so I’ve chosen a little stack to share with you.

Two of these I still haven’t read

Paige Toon – Five Years From Now – this novel ripped out my heart in the most beautiful of ways and I have a few links to share with you. Sampler Thoughts and My Review and my thoughts from re-reading for read along can be read here.

Anstey Harris – The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton – I loved this book and my quote made the book you can read my review here.

Miranda Dickinson – Our Story – Miranda always delivers for me and you can read my thoughts on this beauty here.

Darren Young – Child Taken How I still haven’t read this I don’t know. You can see the original post on this one here.

Will Young – Be Yourself and Happier – this is an unforgettable A-Z on being happier why I never wrote an actual review I’ll never know. Maybe I’ll start again and make notes.

Lindsey Kelk – I Heart Hawaii – Most of you who are regulars here will know I love Lindsey but I’m behind on Angela’s tales. The last one I read was I heart Vegas.

I loved creating this post and I hope you enjoy reading it…Until next time…

Weekly Update #59

Happy Saturday all.

So we’re at Saturday once again, granted when I’m working I do feel like the weeks fly on by, at the moment not so much. It’s been an interesting week, I finally got up and out of the house. Where I’ve mostly been ok, I haven’t always had the energy to do basic tasks like getting up, dressed and out of the house.

There were a few days where I got up and dressed and felt better then I had a few bad days but I wanted to get out and move and I did just that on Wednesday. I didn’t go too far but I ventured out to my local coffee shop.

It was such a weird feeling but it done me the world of good to have a few coffees and a sausage sarnie out.

Yesterday I also took myself out went on a longer walk down to Blackheath. I had my Strava app on for my walk there didn’t document the walk back though.

I took some books to put into the Blackheath Books & Bubbles box by the duck pond.

I said I wouldn’t take any as I have so many books to be reading but I was swayed by this one. Which has received a lot of chat via Twitter so I may try and read it once I finish The Drift.

Have you read it? Lots of people telling me they enjoyed it and the humour is really funny so I’m intrigued.

I’m still listening to Spare still have a fair few hours to go so we’ll see if I’m done before January is out and I’m almost halfway through The Drift I’m loving it. There’s like three different Thrillers in one story.

So what’s been on the blog??

There wasn’t a post last Sunday I am aiming to change that as I already have an idea for tomorrow. My first post last week was my blog tour review of The House That Made Us I loved this book so much and you can read my thoughts here.

Tuesday saw another Top Ten post and you can read that here.

Wednesday felt like a turning point as I left the house and completed my blog post whilst at the coffee shop. Everything is always better with a Pumpkin Spice Latte. You can read that here.

Thursday saw another gorgeous Throwback this one’s about Running and you can read that here.

Just like last week there was no Friday post. Seeing as it took me a while to get moving and out it didn’t seem like the worst thing. I’ve been awake a while but haven’t moved although I could definitely do with a coffee about now.

Thanks for reading….until next time…

Throwback Thursday – Running 🏃‍♀️

Here we are at Thursday once again…and today I’m featuring a Running post. Following last weeks poll it seemed apt that I should share one of the other options.

God how I miss it….when I’m back and fit enough I think I’m going to restart the Couch to 5k. In some ways it’ll feel like a backwards step but it’s the best way to get me back on that road. It’s also the best way of seeing just how much my body can take.

You can read my Running post here.

I really am enjoying trawling through the archives but as I have said before give me a shout if there is something specific you would like to see…

Happy Hump day…hold the front page…

Happy Hump Day – it’s Wednesday which means we are halfway through the week. I am so not used to having so much me time. Which I’m sure you’re seeing by my posts ha.

Yesterday I asked what I should feature today and it was a mixed bag…

So I’m going to kind of cover all of these things ha…

Review – there will be new ones coming as I definitely want to review everything I read this year. Which I haven’t so far ha. Having finished The House That Made Us I loved this book and it could have given me a book hangover. Granted my head was messed after that so I only just started reading a new book yesterday.

The Drift By C J Tudor is my current physical read and following loving the sampler I knew I would love it. I am going to reshare my thoughts on the sampler and you can read that here. This woman is a legend I would kill to write like her like…

I’ve finally left the house. It’s weird how loud things are but it sure has been good to get back to the real world.

Sat reading while the world carries on has been therapeutic. Having the book to give me something to focus on sure has helped. So the last part of this post is about National Irish Coffee Day. I won’t be participating today but I am going to share an old post on the occasion. You can read that post here. I did have a cheeky mulled wine or two last night but I’m not pushing it.

Before I stop rambling I will add The Drift has me engrossed and full of wonder. So many thoughts so many different people giving me there part of the story.

Until next time…

Top Ten Tuesday – with a twist.

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish in June 2010 out of a love of lists. In January of 2018 we decided it was time to close our doors. It was then moved to That Artsy Reader Girl here. It came from a love of lists, books and a desire to bring bookish people together.

Today’s instalment is meant to be ten authors discovered in 2022. However I didn’t discover that many new authors so I’ll be adding ten books added to my TBR.

I’ve purchased this on Audible and once I’ve finished listening to Spare I’ll be diving into this.

I’ve heard so much about this one…

I’ve read a few of Colleen’s novels but not since the hype.

I have a copy of this one and it’s been on my TBR pile for a while.

I need to read more Carrie.

The Catherine Ryan Howard novels I have read I have loved I need to be reading more…

Following reading Brave New World I added this to my TBR.

Can’t wait for this one…

Following reading and enjoying this I want to read more Marple.

Can’t wait for this one either….

There’s so many good books either already on my pile already or coming soon. But where do I start????

Blog Tour: The House That Made Us By Alice Cavanagh @TeamBATC @julietstories

Today I am so pleased to say it’s my stop on The House That Made Us blog tour. I don’t think I’ve ever been this excited to share my thoughts. I’m so sorry it’s later in the day than expected I’ve not been feeling too well and I’ve had a few other things I’ve needed to do also.

Blurb: One Day meets Up: The House That Made Us is a love story – and a life story – told through a series of photographs and based on a true story

When Mac and Marie marry and find a home of their own, Mac takes a snap of themselves outside their newbuild bungalow, the garden bare and the paint on the front door still wet. It becomes a tradition, this snap, and slowly the photographs build into an album of a fifty-year partnership.

Every year they take a photo and though things change around them – the garden matures, the fashions change, they grow older – the one constant is their love. Every year, come rain, come shine, from the Seventies through the decades, every photo tells the story of their love.

Until the last photo, where the couple becomes one, and their story comes to an end….

Review: I have to start by saying SJ at Simon & Schuster knows me too well. I knew this sounded like me but I honestly had no idea where Mac & Marie would take me. I spent the weekend with Mac & Marie and I loved every single second of their story. Both of them are so loveable that turning those pages was like visiting friends. Billed as One Day meets Up and omg if that alone doesn’t have you reaching for a copy I don’t know what will. It’s perfectly billed and their story had me constantly turning the pages.

It was an absolute pleasure to jump onto this extremely emotional rollercoaster. The House That Made Us may well feature a love story that we’re all hoping for but the real love story is that of family. Whether it be extended, unconventional and dysfunctional.

This story will live with you long after the final page. I loved that Mac & Marie are brought to us via snapshots from photographs taken as a tradition on their anniversary. This is just a gorgeous sentiment and getting to know them via this was simply beautiful. Seeing them blossom through the years but still staying true to themselves was heartwarming. I honestly loved the realness of them both and how family always came first. How many times they rescheduled the cruise they always said they would go on just showed what sort of people they are.

This story will show you that no matter what happens being a good person will always shine through. This dysfunctional family are beautiful and Mac & Marie will teach you that no matter what you can reach for the stars as long as you stay true to yourself and your passions. I loved this book and in January I can safely say this will be on my books of the year post come December. Whether this review is enough I’ll never know but I needed Mac & Marie and they came into my life at the right time. If I can be as fiery as Marie and as kind as Mac then I’ll be happy with my lot in this thing we call life.

Weekly Update #58

Happy Saturday all.

This week feels incredibly different because it is. There won’t be a load of awful selfies. I know many of you are pleased on that fact ha. The ones I would have shared are already in posts so I will share those instead.

Funnily enough I did not take a pic before or after in the hospital gown. I also haven’t taken any pics of my face since.

When I first woke up desperate to pee and hungry, I thought this is a good sign I’ll get to go home soon. Which they had already said would happen but you never know how operations will go. I did manage to go home but it wasn’t as early as I expected- following having something to eat I then had a crippling pain in my side which I thought was cramp or wind. The nurses were great I was given a number of hot coffees it lessened but was still prominent then I was given some pain killers and it started to subside. I was then able to slowly change back into my clothes. I’m still forever grateful that my sister in law came to collect me, getting my medication was pretty painless and I was off home.

To say my recovery has been a rollercoaster is an understatement. My first day being home I felt ok I blogged, I read some Marple and I watched Disenchanted on Disney plus. Changing my cotton wool when necessary. By the next day I was able to have the ear drops, I woke feeling a bit sick but managed to eat and following the drops laid down for a bit.

A few of the days I’ve felt extremely lazy and ended up lying down. Yesterday I watched some TV and finished reading Marple. Today I have a blog tour book to blitz over the weekend but I’ve woke feeling off and I’ve laid funny on my right hand side that that’s in a lot of pain. Hoping to move and get meds shortly.

I really enjoyed Marple. I will be adding some Agatha Christie to my reading going forward. If anyone has any recommendations please share them.

So what’s been on the blog this week?

On Sunday I was attending the North London Derby enough said on that. Although it was ace to see my Spurs family. I posted this.

On Monday I shared this.

Tuesday saw a Top Ten Tuesday before I went into hospital and you can read that post here.

Wednesday was my first day of recovery and in contrast was probably the easiest day, I was extremely chilled and organised and you can read that post here.

On Thursday I shared another Throwback Thursday post and you can read that here.

Yesterday I didn’t post a blog post but I did finish reading Marple. I’ve listened to a bit more of Prince Harry’s Spare but I still have a long way to go.

So that’s me…I’m about to dive into a blog tour book but I must say I’m not feeling that hot today. So an easy one for me. Until next time….

Throwback Thursday…

As I’ve said before I’ve really loved penning these posts. Thanks to the Twitter poll today I’m sharing some Bookish content.

Thanks to COVID a lot of events where shelved but I’m going back to long before COVID. To an event I was luckily enough to be invited to featuring Cecelia Ahern one of my favourite authors. You can read that post here.

I thought I would add another for good measure this was a fabulous Lindsey Kelk event with Paige Toon and Lucy Vine you can read that here.

As I keep saying I love these but I’m interested in what you want me to share.

It’s Hump Day plus Cover Reveals and an update @ItsMeAnitaB @Heidi_Swain

Happy Hump Day all…for those of you who work the Monday to Friday, also for those of you just wishing this week away all is good. I’m not normally either really and today I will be chilling as yesterday I finally had my ear operation and nasal surgery. I’m doing ok, in some pain but I have some meds I can take now and painkillers and the other drops will happen once the bleeding stops. My sister was like did you take a hospital gown selfie but funnily enough I did not. Even before I felt worse for wear, up early, looked red as hospitals are mostly warm places.

I’m not usually one to be this type of blogger but it’s been such a long time since what I thought was an ear infection back in 2019. I won’t bore you with all the details. But I should be reading and blogging more as I have some time. Hoping to get some Disney Plus in whilst my niece is at school too…. I’m very much close to finishing Marple. For any fans of the actual Marple novels where should I start as I’m definitely wanting to.

As I turned my phone on last night I saw that Spurs Twitter was still a toxic mess but Book Twitter gave me all the feels. I may have reached out to gain a few more proofs to read and then I came across this cover reveal…

I’ve never read anything by this author but the cover just stood out to me so I had to share it today. I’ve just realised this is a debut that I will be reading this year. Watch this space.

I normally do the blurb first. But here it is.

Blurb: We’ve all had those moments. The ones where you look in the mirror and nothing feels ok. For Anita Bhagwandas, this started when she was a child and it created an enduring internal torment about her looks.

We’re all told that this is just part of growing up, but it stays with us, evolving as we age. The internet tells us we should love ourselves, whilst bombarding us with images of airbrushed perfection, upholding centuries-old beauty standards which we can’t always see. Our beauty rituals are so often based around things we think we need to fix, grow and develop – sometimes tipping into dangerous obsession.

So, what seismic shift does it take to break free from this mentality? In Ugly, Anita uncovers where these beauty standards started, unpicks why they’ve been perpetuated and unmasks the structures that continue to support them. From the ever-growing cosmetic surgery industry, to the hidden pitfalls of ‘pretty privilege’, it is time to finally break free from those limiting beauty standards, because feeling ugly should have nothing to do with how we look, and everything to do with who wants us to feel lacking.

This sounds to me like a powerful debut and this is released in February and can be pre-ordered now.

The other day when I shared Victoria Walters latest cover reveal this next one popped up and I’ve been meaning to share it.

Heidi Swain is another go to author and her standalone novel The Book Lovers Retreat looks fantastic.

Blurb: One long summer. One perfect setting. Can fiction inspire real life…?

Sometimes a book grabs you by the heart and grows to mean everything to you. That’s what Hope Falls is to friends Emily, Rachel and Tori. So, when they get the chance to spend a whole summer at the cottage in Lakeside where the film adaptation was located, they know it is going to be the holiday of a lifetime.
Spending six weeks away will give them a chance to re-evaluate their life choices. For Emily to decide which way her career will go – the safe route, or the more risky creative option? And for Rachel to decide whether to move in with her partner Jeremy. Then Tori has to drop out at the last moment, and her space is offered to another Hope Falls afficionado, Alex.
But when Alex turns out not to be who they expected, the holiday takes an unforeseen turn. And as the summer develops, so does their friendship. Could this be where they uncover their future selves, find love in all its forms and where their lives will change course forever…?

Well that’s all from me for today…I am hoping to do a Throwback Thursday tomorrow do let me know what sort of thing you hope to see. Until next time…

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Goals for 2023

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created here at The Broke and the Bookish in June 2010 out of a love of lists. In January of 2018 we decided it was time to close our doors. It was then moved to That Artsy Reader Girl here. It came from a love of lists, books and a desire to bring bookish people together.

Today’s instalment is an interesting one…

So what are my bookish goals for 2023….

Like any bookworm I think the first on the list is going to be so obvious.

• Read more books…- seems totally obvious right.
• Review every single book I read – now I didn’t do too good at this last year. Nearer the end of the year I was getting a bit better but I hope to rectify that this year. I believe I’m already one and a half behind…
• Good Reads target of 53. Last year I had it set at 100 and I managed 25 so far I’m on 3 and I currently have an audiobook and hardback on the go. So fingers crossed for a better year.
• Read more classics – I have been saying since forever that I need to read 1984. There are also a number of Shakespeare books and that alike that I would like to get to.
• Beat the back log – I mean it’s going to take years but I can start right? Plus there’s a physical and digital one…
• Donate books I won’t re-read or doubles to the Blackheath Library box on the Heath. A good friend of mine helped set that up and I would love to share with other likeminded bookworms.
• Buddy Read more – During the pandemic myself and Catriona read a lot together and I adore reading alongside her.
• Read more Non-Fiction. I have a few things already plus I need to challenge myself more in terms of my reading.
• Read outside of my comfort zone.
• Listen to more audiobooks. As mentioned earlier I have Prince Harry’s Spare on the go. Audible now do a free to members thing so I will be taking more advantage of that going forward.

Well that’s it for this week. Let’s see how I fair. Maybe I’ll do an update in what 3 or 6 months time.

Until next time…