5 Twisty Thrillers To Read During Lockdown

Since at least a quarter of the world's population are currently in some form of lockdown, I thought I'd start a new four part series sharing five films, books, games and TV shows my readers might enjoy whilst stuck at home. Anything to pass the time, right? And we're continuing the series with books! Shall we begin?

Five Book Releases I'm Looking Forward To This Year

Last year, I wrote a similar post to this detailing some of the book releases I was most excited for that year. And with there being quite a large number of books on my 'pre-order' wish-list this year already, I thought it about time I share those I'm most looking forward to.

My Favourite Books Read In 2019!

Oh, I just love writing these blog posts! It's so much fun to look back over my year in books and recall the ones I loved. Considering I read 180 books in 2019, it's easy to forget the five star reads. And looking back at my "Favourite Books of 2019" list, I was definitely surprised by a few. This list is certainly looking a lot different to previous years, though. As you'll know if you've read my "Why I Spent A Year Reading Children's Books" post, I spent most of 2019 reading children's books. So a large percentage of my favourite books from last year are children's books. Makes sense, right? And now, without further ado, here's a little look back at my favourite books from 2019 (rather deliciously, there's 19 of them!)

My Favourite Christmas Reads!

Continuing on with the festive theme this week, it's time to share my favourite Christmas reads. Whilst I do love to curl up under a blanket and watch a festive film, you're also just as likely to find me in a comfy chair with a cup of hot chocolate and a festive book. So here are my top five festive reads. I'd love to know if you've read and enjoyed any of these yourself!

Why I've Spent A Year Reading Children's Books

If you've read any of my Reading Wrap-Up posts this year, you may have noticed that I've been reading a lot of children's books. From picture books to young adult fiction, I've read children's books spanning the ages from 0 to 16. And you might be wondering why. So, with the end of this year now in sight, I thought I'd tell you. 

Birthday Haul Post!

I always preface these posts with an explanation as to why I share them and a request that they not be taken as boastful. But why should I? This is my blog. Where I can share what I like. And if it's not to your taste; so what? So if you want to find out what I got for my birthday this year, read on. And if you don't, skip this post and come back on Friday for something new!

I asked for the Harry Potter 8-Film Collection as, despite being a huge Harry Potter fan, I didn't own a single one of the Harry Potter films! Well, in my opinion, the books are better. But I do enjoy the films too and it's nice to have the option to watch them whenever.

These were all presents from friends who know me so, so well! I was totally overwhelmed to be honest. My best friend showed up at my door on my birthday evening, laden down with presents she'd been collecting all day to bring to me. It was so lovely. I think it's safe to say unicorns featured heavily in my birthday presents this year, right?

Our cat always buys me a small birthday present. Well, I am his mummy after all! This year, he got me the new Stephen King book, The Institute, which he knew I had my eye on. It wouldn't be my birthday without at least one book. 

The boy done good. I did ask for this, but I didn't know if I would receive it as a) it sold out so quickly upon release and b) it was rather expensive. But I woke up on my birthday morning to the Lego Friends set, a gift from my hubby. We spent one rainy Sunday a few weeks later putting it together, and the final result is now on the top of my bookshelf in the living room; proudly on display!

My grandparents got me tickets to see Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone In Concert at The Forum in Bath. I went with my granddad, and I bought his ticket for his birthday. Harry Potter has always been something my granddad and I shared. He would always buy me the books on release. He got advance tickets to the first film. We watched the films together. So it was exciting to attend this event together. It was a fantastic evening; a live orchestra playing the soundtrack alongside the film as it played out on a projector.

The rest of my family gave me money for my birthday, and I decided to put that money towards a new phone. I've been lusting after an iPhone for a while and the iPhone 11 was released the week after my birthday. So I upgraded my contract and put my birthday money towards the upfront cost of the phone. No regrets!

Do you like to see what people got for their birthday? 

My Favourite Scary Books

Earlier this week, I shared my favourite scary movies. And I thought it appropriate to share my favourite scary books. Because some of us would prefer to curl up with a chilling read than a creepy film on All Hallows Eve. So here are my top picks. 

5 More Book Releases I'm Excited For This Year!

"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies"

2019 is already proving to be a stellar year for new books from both returning and debut authors. So far this year, and bear in mind we're only just three months into this year, I've picked up On The Come Up, the latest offering from Angie Thomas (bestselling author of The Hate U Give), The Taking of Annie Thorne, the new book from the author of The Chalk Man (C J Tudor), and M.J. Arlidge's (one of my favourite authors) newest release, A Gift For Dying. But there's still plenty more I'm looking forward to arriving through my letterbox over the coming months. And here's just five of them.

Gillian McAllister is one of my all-time favourite authors. She writes such fantastic, gripping thrillers that'll keep you up to the wee hours. Her Facebook page is also full of funny, insightful, and relatable content. I love seeing a new post from her in my feed. And that's how I learned that she has a new book out this year, The Good Sister, and I of course went and placed my order right away!

5 Book Releases I'm Excited For This Year!

"Books are a uniquely portable magic." 

I mentioned in my January Book Haul post that going forward I'm planning on buying zero books. But, before you shriek in shock at this statement, I do have a lot of books on pre-order from Amazon. So I'll still be sharing them in my Book Haul posts. But today I thought I'd share with you the five book releases I'm most excited for this year. And it was so hard to whittle this list down to five. But I managed it! Here they are...

My Favourite Books Read In 2018!

2018 saw me read some fantastic books. And today I'm going to share them with you. So without further preamble, here are my favourite books read in 2018. 

I started the year with a festive read...one that turned out be totally gripping and immersive. I read this in a matter of hours, I just could not put it down. 

"It looks like a regular advent calendar.

Until DC Becky Greene starts opening doors...and discovers a crime scene behind almost every one.

The police hope it's a prank. Because if it isn't, a murderer has just surfaced - someone who's been killing for twenty years.

But why now? And why has he sent it to this police station?

As the country relaxes into festive cheer, Greene and DS Eddie Carmine must race against time to catch the killer. Because there are four doors left, and four murders will fill them...

It's shaping up to be a deadly little Christmas."

My Favourite Books Read In 2017!

I read a lot of fantastic books in 2017. More than in any year previously, actually. Looking back at my reading history on Goodreads, I can see that I average around 15 favourite books a year. Well, this year I have 30 favourite books. 30! Can you believe it? I can't. Anyway, fair warning, this'll be a fairly long post. So settle in, and enjoy this look back at my favourite books from 2017.

I was inspired to read The Passenger by Lisa Lutz after seeing a review of the book on Alex's blog. And this was a a fantastic book; totally gripping and unexpected. 

"Tanya DuBois doesn’t exist. At least not after an accident leaves her husband dead and thrusts her into the uncomfortably familiar position of Suspect No. 1. She has only one choice: Run."

September Reading Wrap-up//October TBR

Another month has been and gone. And I'm glad to see the back of September, in some ways. Sure, it was an amazing month what with it being my birthday, our wedding, and a trip to Warner Bros Studio Tour - The Making of Harry Potter. Oh, and a little post-wedding day trip to West Midlands Safari Park! But it was also a super stressful month and, if I'm honest, kind of a shitty reading month, too. Not as in, I didn't reach much, because I read a lot. More in terms of what I read. Nothing really stood out for me this month, and most of the books I've recently put down only merited 3 stars, if that. Onwards and upwards, though, as they say. I'm sure there'll be some cracking books in October. But first, here's what I read in September...

A book that I had such high hopes for after reading, and loving, The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena. Unfortunately A Stranger In The House just didn't quite grip me in the same manner, and I found it sorely lacking. 

Book Review: All The Rage by Courtney Summers

"The footsteps stop but the birds are still singing, singing about a girl who wakes up on a dirt road and doesn't know what happened to her the night before..."

Romy Grey wears her lipstick like armour, ever since the night she was raped by Kellan Turner, the sheriff's son. Romy refuses to be a victim, but speaking up has cost her everything. No one wants to believe Kellan is not the golden boy they thought he was, and Romy has given up trying to make herself heard. But when another girl goes missing after a party, Romy must decide whether the cost of her silence might be more than she can bear.

August Reading Wrap-Up//September TBR

Another month over already? We are barrelling towards Christmas and 2018, and I am so not ready for that. Oh, and did I mention, we'll be getting married in just 5 days time? Oh my god, time really needs to slow the fuck down. August was a great month for reading; I made my way through 11 books in total! So here's what I read in August, and what I'm planning to read in September.

White Lies, by Ellie Holmes, was the first book I read in August and boy, was it a doozy. A fantastic, gripping, thrilling read; I tore through this book in a matter of days. You can read my full review here.

Rating: ****

Book Review: Witch Dust by Marilyn Messik*

When you grow up watching your father saw your mother in half most nights, it's not always easy to define normal. 

For Sandra, daughter of illusionists, Adam and Ophelia, life's never been run of the mill! But when Adam's wandering eye lights on yet another conquest, it proves a chorus girl too far, and Sandra's caught in the reverberations of her parents acrimonious parting. Coerced into restoring her depressed mother to the bosom of a family Sandra never even knew existed, she's sucked into a situation that even for her is unnerving. 

From being without a single relative, she suddenly acquires several she'd rather do without, and learns a few home truths she'd prefer not to know. Ophelia, it appears, has not been entirely honest about any number of things. There's no doubt in Sandra's mind, the sooner she puts as much distance as possible between herself, her newly discovered nearest and dearest, their peculiar tendencies and their failing hotel business, the happier she's going to be. 

Dire straits call for desperate measures and Sandra reluctantly rises to the occasion. A hanged housemaid, a fly-on-the-wall documentary, The Psychic Society and a quasi co-operative journalist all handled correctly should, she reckons, get the family business up and running, which will allow her to do the same - as fast as she can, and in the opposite direction. Things unfortunately move swiftly from bad to farce and then get a hell of a lot darker. One moment Sandra's struggling to save the family's income, the next, she's battling to save their lives. 

Book Review: White Lies by Ellie Holmes*

Have you ever told a white lie? 

Sam Davenport is a woman who lives her life by the rules. When her husband Neil breaks those rules too many times, Sam is left wondering not only if he is still the man for her but also if it's time to break a few rules of her own.

Actions, however, have consequences as Sam soon discovers when what starts out as an innocent white lie threatens to send her world spiralling out of control.

Haul Post!

I've definitely developed a bit of a shopping addiction, guys. I've still got, at least, enough content for another two haul posts after this one. I know I've said this before, but I'll say it again. I don't write these posts to brag. I write these posts to reflect back on things I've been loving and buying recently. I'm aware that I am so lucky to be able to spend and shop as I do, and I don't take it for granted. With that being said, here's what I've been buying recently!

When I got rid of my iPhone, I also got rid of my Apple Watch. So I needed to replace it with something. I decided to go with the Fitbit Alta, as it was a very reasonable price, and I loved the colour! 

Book Review: See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt

On the morning of August 4, 1892, Lizzie Borden calls out to her maid: Someone's killed Father. The brutal axe-murder of Andrew and Abby Borden in their home in Fall River, Massachusetts, leaves little evidence and many unanswered questions. While neighbours struggle to understand why anyone would want to harm the respected Bordens, those close to the family have a very different tale to tell - of a father with an explosive temper; a spiteful stepmother; and two spinster sisters, with a bond even stronger than blood, desperate for their independence. 

July Reading Wrap-Up//August TBR

I know I've said this before, on more than one occasion, but seriously; how the hell is it August already? I've been reading voraciously recently, and I finished a grand total of 10 books in July. That's pretty damn good, even by my standards. I've got so many great books on my TBR pile for August, and I can't wait to share them with you. But first, here's what I read in July.

The Girl Before, by JP Delaney, was one of my favourite books this year. A fantastic, original thriller full of suspense, plot twists, and a shock ending. I was glued to this book, and devoured it in just a few days. I can't rave about it enough; an absolute must-read!

Book Review: The Trophy Child by Paula Daly

Karen Bloom is not the coddling mother type. She believes in raising her children for success. Some in the neighbourhood call her assertive, others say she's driven, but in gossiping circles she's known as: the tiger mother. Karen believes that tough discipline is the true art of parenting and that achievement leads to ultimate happiness. She expects her husband and her children to perform at 200 per cent - no matter the cost. But in an unending quest for excellence, her seemingly flawless family start to rebel against her.

Her husband Noel is a handsome doctor with a proclivity for alcohol and women. Their prodigy daughter, Bronte, is excelling at school, music lessons, dances classes, and yet she longs to run away. Verity, Noel's teenage daughter from his first marriage, is starting to display aggressive behaviour. And Karen's son from a previous relationship falls deeper into drug use. When tragedy strikes the Bloom, Karen's carefully constructed façade begins to fall apart - and once the deadly cracks appear, they are impossible to stop.