Currently Reading

This is the first week in quite a while where I have my book bug back. I am enjoying being swallowed up by pages and great quotes and awesome characters . Bliss!! 

This is a new book that I thought I would put here rather then on a haul. The first thing that appealed to me about this book was the cover, I can't put my finger on why exactly ,but I enjoy how simple and affective it is. When I read the books discription I was completely won over. My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff. This is about a young woman going to start work at an old literary agency. It has a real retro literary fabulousness feel about it!

The next book I am reading is The Two Of Us by Andy Jones. It's funny and sweet and hard to put down when you start it. 

The third book I am reading is A Gift To a Remember by Melissa Hill about a woman called Darcy who works in a bookstore in Manhatten , she is looking for her night in shiny armour! I love the sound if this book, I  right at the beginning but will be putting a review up by the weekend .

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo. Review.

I was gifted this book from a dear friend at Christmas and it came to me at just the right time. Books have a way of almost magically doing that. It's the story about a china rabbit toy that lives with a family and who has a young girl owner who adores him. He is very self confident and indulged and really takes things for granted until one day his life changed for the worst and he soon begins to appreciate the little things in life and the people who love him. It's a special book that often gave me a lump in my throat and I recommend it for children and for the grown ups who are still children at heart . 

The Catalyst by Helena Coggan . Review

This is a dystopian story about a young woman called Rose and she lives in London some time in the future . The world has changed into magical and non magical people and Rose works for her dad in the police department , think Scotland Yard but more so , the policing now is more extreme in the future esp when magic is added in ,it is more brutal and frightening then could be imagined , seriously the world building is really intriguing ! 

Their world is a scary place and there is a new threat of war.

From the beginning this was a very interesting read , I started it and read 400 pages then looked up and realised I had not moved , you get the idea...it's gripping! 

Rose and her dad were my favourite characters and I hope this is made into a series as I would love to know more about them , esp her dad ! If you love a dystopian read check this out! 

I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Lovereading.co.uk

This book is being published February 2015 and will be available from lovereading.co.uk and all other good bookstores then.

Below please find a link to this book where you can also get a free extract to download,.

http://www.lovereading.co.uk/book/13776/The-Catalyst-by-Helena-Coggan.html

The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson . Review

This is a story about a teenager called Lennie. It has been four weeks since her sister died and she is struggling to find out how you are supposed to live normally after something like this happens. Lennie lives with her grandmother as her own mother is not in her life, she could do with her mum now ,but her grandmother is trying  to be there for her and she is awesome and a real free spirit. Since Her sisters death she has begun to write notes to her sister that really show us how close they were and the special relationship they had. The story is beautiful and heartbreaking and if you like stories about unconventional families and how awesome they can be then this is the story for you. Also if you enjoy reading stories with strong female characters you will enjoy this.

I received this book for review from the lovely people over at Locereading4kids.co.uk

This book is due to be released in February 2015 and will be available to buy on Lovereading4kids.co.uk and all other good bookstores then. 

Below please find a link to this book on the Lovereading website. 

http://www.lovereading4kids.co.uk/book/10887/The-Sky-Is-Everywhere-by-Jandy-Nelson.html

Bookish Resolutions

For all those of you out there who have a huge TBR list you will understand my pain. I have a TBR list that I would probably need many lifetimes to complete but that does not stop me from adding to it on Goodreads and buying books , in every form , when I can. I have at least two large six foot bookcases that I have that contain books TBR . Those bookcases of unread books I do not find intimidating , they feel more like a challenge from a friend who is trying to get you to up your game. I occasionally feel the pull towards them and then a shiny new book will catch my eye or a library book will stand out in the stacks yelling at me to bring it home. 

For this year I intend to make a good dent in at least one of my bookcases and learn to let go of some of the books I know in my heart I am not going to read again. 

I want to read at least ten books from the majority of genres out there and take time with them and not rush them so I can remember how good it feels to luxuriate between the pages of a good book. 

This year I set my goal for Goodreads at 100 books. This is doable ... I get a great sense of satisfaction when I complete the challenge every year. 

Have you set a goodreads challenge for yourself this year, if so how many books are going to be your personal challenge this year?

Have a great evening guys xxxxxxxx

Recent Book Haul

Jeeves and the wedding Bells by Sabastian Faulks. A homage to P.G Wodehouse. I can't wait to read this!

A new cover of Harry

 Potter and The Order Of The Phoenix

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

With Baited Breath by Lorraine Bartlett. First book in a new Lotus Bay Mystery series!! Yay!!

The Missing Skull by Joanne Clarey is book 6 in the Mysteries of Hummingbird Falls . I was so thrilled to be gifted this book by the author . I am a huge fan of this series since I came across the first book. I will put a link below to Joanne's Amazon page and Author Page. If you love Cozy mysteries then def check this author out! 

Amazon.co.uk

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mysteries-Hummingbird-Falls-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B003YJEWM6/ref=la_B003Y4UME8_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1421519840&sr=1-1

Joanne's Website

http://www.joanneclarey.com/

Recent Skincare Haul

I never got a chance to use up my vouchers etc that I got for my birthday and Christmas until recently and then I got sick again so I am late getting these next few posts up. Below are some of my gifts from Christmas etc.

Decléor nutri smoothing lipstick . I am going through a lot of lip balms recently and this is a great one!

Dr Organic Rose Otto Facial Serum

I love the smell of this. I use about 5-8 drops to skin at night gently smoothing and pressing on skin. This gives my dry sensitive skin a good drink before bed especially since I look like the walking dead recently .

I can still get the hospital smell sometimes so I am burning this to rid me off the scent . This is the Lavender, Rosemary and mint scent by The Handmade Soap Company in Ireland. They don't test on animals , free from nasty chemicals and are made from soy. You get 40 hours from this size candle. I get these products in my local Cara Pharmacy so if you live in Ireland it might be worth checking out your local Cara to see if they stock them. Cara also have an online shop! 

https://www.carapharmacy.com/

This is another product from the same brand , the chocolate and mint lip balm. If you like either taste you will enjoy this. 

Lemongrass and cedar wood bubble bath. Smells invigorating for when you want a bath to help wake you up .

Rose D'orient night balm by Decléor. Let your skin feel the love!

Moisture replenishing lip balm by Clarins . I have not opened this yet as I want to finish my Decléor balm first. I had this in the past I believe but there was different packaging. I hope it is the same product!