Book Talk: I've Been Reading... March and April Combined

Lots of gardening means less reading which means less posting... or at least that's the story I'm going with.  Really though we all know that I've just been busy in my head and that the writing has once again fallen to the wayside why I madly try catching up on everything else.  It's a never ending cycle, I tell you.

 

Still just because I haven't posted in awhile doesn't mean that I haven't been reading.  Maybe not as much but still books have been had.  So with that in mind here's what's been on offer...

Gritty crime is always a thing.  At least it is if you're me.  So it's no wonder that I've been getting stuck into some of these.

 

Even better is gritty crime combined with the supernatural and paranormal.  Resulting in me madly working my way through J.L. Bryan's Ellie Jordan Ghost Hunter series.  Seriously good and seriously me.

Of course after all that grittiness I definitely need me some light and fluffy feel goods so naturally some chick lit and a lovely children's books are just thing.

 

Romance and adventure feel goods for the win.

And finally to round out the book devouring are 3 nonfiction books.  Each one completely different to the previous one and just the thing for my busy mind.

Book Talk: I've Been Reading... February

A good book, a shady corner and a nice cold drink is just the thing to pass a summer's day so it's probably no surprise that there was quite a bit of reading going on in February.

 

First up...

Feel good reads with tons of romance and this time round there's weddings, rivals and even a Hallmark movies homage.

 

What more can you ask for.

After all that it's time for some murder and dastardly deeds and plots afoot and villains afoul... or something like that.

Of course after all that romance and murder I need something just a little bit different and what better than another one of John Marrs excellent sci-fi reads, a ton of ghost hunting courtesy of a new paranormal series I am working my way through and finally a quirky little read about a superhero whose feeling decidedly unwanted and unloved.

 

Sigh.  Perfection.

A Day in the Life - A Summer's Day in February

It been ages since I've done one of these post so feels like the right time to start posting again and what better post than a lovely summer's day outing and all the blue skies, blue water and yummy food.  Even if it was last month...

8.00 am

 

Morning cuddles and smooches with my handsome boy

9.00am

 

Up and dressed and ready for an outing.  With Other Half's condition we try and make the most of when he is having a good day.  Even better the sun is shining and I'm dressed all in pink with my jazzy watermelon skirt.

10.00am

On the road and a cloudy start as the hay makers are out and about making hay bales for the summer.  The look kinda of pretty all stacked up in little rows.

11.00am

 

The blue blue lake looking... well very blue on the way to Cromwell

 

and a little while later...

More blue... both lake and sky as the clouds finally go away

 

and later again... 

3.00pm 

 

Heading back home and I just had to take a photo of this pretty sign.  Naturally I brought some fruit too.

4.30pm

 

Finally back home and time for a late lunch early dinner, a simple meal of bacon, egg, cheese, olives, avocado and tomato.  So simple and yet so yum.  Tomatoes of course were all grown by me. 

5.30pm

 

A quick trip out into the garden and my calendula's are all in flower and looking so pretty.

6.30pm

A pretty sunflower and some calendula's for bringing in some sunshine into the house

7.30pm

 

Time for some swoony feels relaxation to cool down from this heat and it's my boy Jack O'Connell being all manly, heroic and Irish in SAS Rogue Heroes.  

Just the thing to round out the day

March Plans

Hard to believe it's Autumn already considering how hot, steamy and muggy it has been here lately.  I'm almost looking forward to winter just so I can enjoy the cooler weather.

 

Plans however are very much on the agenda for the next few months as I've just got so much to do before those frosty, snowy months arrive.

 

Gardening

 

The big one on the list.  Mostly because there is so much I need to do before cold arrives in abundance.  There's harvesting, laying down endless sheets of cardboard and brown paper, to be followed by more layering of compost and other odds and ends, trimming a variety of trees and shrubs... and well you get the picture.  All I need now is for the rain to hold itself back so I can get stuck in.

Writing

After having a break for the last few months I feel ready to get stuck back in and maybe finally finish or at least finish part one of the story aka the book that will never be finished by the end of this year.

 

So yes writing and lots of it are most definitely staying on the list. 

Reading

 

I'm managing to manage this one quite well so far so I'm really just hoping that I can keep on top of this and to also carry on mixing up some of my reads.  Currently I'm on a bit of paranormal kick courtesy of a series I'm working my way through.

Watching and Reviewing

 

Also going pretty good.  I reviewed over 400 movies last year so I'm hoping to do at least that many this year... if not more.

Saving Money, Making Money and Being Frugal 

 

The one thing that probably most of us are doing at the moment considering the rising cost of pretty much everything.  For the first time Other Half and I made a yearly budget so we'll just have to see how that works out.  So far we're managing to stick to our adjusted grocery budget, of course getting free eggs is definitely helping along with me picking up a new client.  I just need to work on getting a couple more so that's another task for this month.

 

Maybe I can just rest later...

Book Talk: I've Been Reading... January

Another new year and another year of reading which means of course all the books.  As usual it's a mixed bag...

 

No surprise that warm and fluffy Chick Lit is the first on the list because feel good reads are so my vibe.  Through in some romance and I'm a happy camper.

 

Along with this current collection was also a YA Chick Lit - if there is such a thing, and a lovely children's book about finding family.

Nonfiction also managed to get in with not just one but three reads which were all interesting.  I could definitely relate to the last two especially the one on ADHD which was basically a road map of my brain.  Who knew that was even possible...

 

The Viewing Files 2024

Another year of watching over and once again it was a sluggish year viewing wise with not a lot around that caught our eye.  Still that doesn't mean it was a complete disaster as there were still a handful shows that saved my sanity and some that were just down right swoon worthy.

 

Queen Charlotte 

 

There's just something about historical TV shows that's so addictive so it's always good when a new one comes along.  Queen C fitted the bill perfectly and meant that I watched the entire thing over just a couple of nights.

Bridgerton

 

Totally swoon worthy.  Think Barbara Cartland but a whole lot more racier.  Riveting stuff.

Vikings Valhalla

 

Be still my beating heart.  Hot guy running around with a sword and being all manly.  I am so there.

The Tourist

 

Quirky, funny and exciting, why yes it's a thriller show with a difference and so very Irish.  Watched season 1 and 2 back to back which is the only way to really watch a show.

The Gentlemen

 

The drug business has never looked so sleak especially when headed by Theo James in all his rough voice glory. 

Black Doves

 

Quirky seems to be the thing this year with this thrillerish but different spy series that was so good.

Vera

 

14 seasons and Vera is finally hanging up her mac.  Of course I just had to watch it but now what am I going to watch each year for my TV detective craving?

Shetland

 

It's back and just as good which more murders going on.

The Rig

 

An OMG sci-fi thriller with a environmental message.  Sounds crazy but actually works thanks to some great actors and an interesting and surprisingly believable storyline... well for the most part.

Slow Horses

 

Pretty much my fav show of the year.  Grimy, gritty, snarky behind-the-scenes spies and their goings on.  Seriously under rated and seriously good.  It deserves all the awards.

Book Talk 2024

My lowest reading total yet.  Who would ever believe that was even possible.  I blame the shattered leg and the ton of drugs I was on which meant that any kind of concentration seriously went out the door.  Still despite the many months where reading was impossible I still managed to squeeze 159 books so I can't complain too much.

And the stats for the year were...

66  Chick Lit   

28  Audio books 

21  Non fiction 

10  Crime  

8    General fiction 

6    YA

5    Thrillers

3    Contemporary romance

3    Graphic novels 

2    Fantasy 

2    Apocalyptic fiction

2    Science fiction

1    Historical fiction

1    Paranormal fiction

1    Children's fiction

 

Chick Lit and Audio books stayed about the same while non-fiction went up but crime went down.  On the plus side I managed to add a few genres by reading some fantasy, paranormal, apocalyptic and historical fiction which I'm pleased about and hoping to continue reading at least 1 book in each of these genres during this year.

As for favs...