Chain Of Gold Review

Non spoiler:

What can I say jumping back into the Shadowhunter world was just what I needed. The story is so exciting and the world building is amazing. I know Cassandra Clare's work and she never seems to dissapoint. I would recommend the first book of this series and I'm so happy to carry on to the next book. 

Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Amazing, entertaining and so enjoyable! 

Spoiler time:

Cordelia is my new favourite Shadowhunter, she was kick ass and I felt she was so supportive with every other character. I love how accepting she is with James. I feel like Cassandra really wove acceptance of everyone's sexuality in the story but it wasn't too much. 

It all starts with a huge demon attack where lots of the younger Shadowhunters are hurt and there's a special poison in there bite which infects the Shadowhunters in a different way. Then everywhere is shut down, no portals are allowed to be used and everything just seemed chaotic. The story is filled with adventure, friendship and heartbreak; all whilst trying to find a cure for the demon poison which is killing a lot of the Shadowhunters. 

The fact that in the end James does the almighty task of marrying and saving Cordelia's reputation. It was a bitter sweet ending. 

There were 3 characters I couldn't stand Grace, Charles and Tatiana. Even though the characters were not my cup of tea doesn't mean they were written amazingly I'm hoping they might be in the next book and they grow as characters, I might then change my opinion of them. 

Cassandra Clare's writing is just impeccable and the whole story from start to finish was just an amazing ride! I just find her writing so easy to read and the story unfolds beautifully, if you haven't read her other books I would recommend doing so first as there are a few connections to previous books. Overall this book was an amazing start to this series, go and get your copy ASAP. 

A Court Of Silver And Flames

 My star rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

How could I not give this book 5 stars? I loved it and hated it to be 100% honest with you. The story whilst it kept me entertained it was very repetitive and dragged out a little until the end of the book. Basically towards the last 300 pages, things start to change and you go on lots of adventures. I know that may seem a little contradictory but the story just all of a sudden takes off with adventure and feels like a true fantasy book. There were many surprises along the way that keep you hooked the very last page.

I loved learning more about Nesta I always felt I really related to her as a character. Her character development was second to none, some of the emotional scenes really made my eyes well up. There's moments where her real kindness comes into play and it was so refreshing to see and that she still had that bad ass attitude. 

Cassian, Cassian, Cassian. What can I say I fell in love with him all over again in this book. His witty comments, will not to give up on Nessa and his character development was very powerfully written. He really makes Rhysand, for me, not as good as we all thought. 

I'm glad this book put Feyre and Rhysand on the back burner and we got to learn more about everyone else. There was moments in the book especially towards the end where I really was jumping up and down in my seat. I was filled with excitement and adrenaline. So much happened in such a short time and you do sort of clench at the end wondering what the outcome may be. 

The writing style was classic Sarah J Maas so if you have read her other works you sort of expect what's going to happen, especially when to rivals come together. I loved the sense of feminism in this book there was some really strong female characters that I don't think I'll be forgetting in a hurry. 

I would definitely recommend this series as a whole don't be put off by the sheer size of them. Also with the first book in the series it can be slow and overwhelming I promise you hang in there and it just gets so good! 

If you don't like major smut and sizzle then I wouldn't recommend this to you. 

Thank you for reading, 

Love becky. 

House Of Earth And Blood by Sarah J. Maas

My rating: ★★★★☆ 4 out of 5 stars. 

What can I say Bryce was a brilliant main character who I think a lot of people want to be friends with, this being the main reason I loved this book.
I loved the friendship side of this book and Sarah's way of writing fantasy is right up my street. Although I did enjoy the heat between the lovers but I'm getting a little bit bored of the hype and intensity of romance in novels. Is it just me? 

The book follows Bryce and Hunt with some other great characters. They're investigating a murder that happened a few years ago when new information comes about. The twist at the end is great I love it and I can't wait for the next one. 

One thing about the book is it is very up and down, it felt so emotional at points and then all of a sudden you would crash back down again. Sarah is very good at making you feel so connected towards the characters, I didn't find one that I didn't enjoy. 

The book was hard for me to read purely because I'm not a fantasy reader, until now. The world building was completely different for me and very intricate. I really loved it the writing but found it really hard not to skip these bits as I like fast paced stories and the dialogue. 

I really enjoyed the different types of mythical creatures living in harmony within reason, it was nice to see the different interactions and how much the world spun right round and everything changed. Some of the scenes were really hard to read because you get attached to the characters. The one scene that got me emotionally involves Hunt, he sacrificed a lot and I think its safe to say I enjoyed his character a lot. 

I would recommend this book especially if you have read any of the other books by Sarah J. Maas. Also I would recommend if your looking to get into fantasy with a bit of romance and have a little bit of patience. 

Thank you for reading, 
Becky. 

*Image not mine, found on google house of earth and blood - Google Search *

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella (no spoilers)

Hello guys! How are you? As you can see I’m a little behind on reviewing all the books I have read recently oops! But moving swiftly past this as you can see I’m reviewing Finding Audrey and if you haven’t read it here’s a quick non spoiler review:

Non spoiler review

I have never read a Sophie Kinsella book before so I can’t really compare it but I imagine they are all very similar. The reason I picked up this book was solely its premise. I suffer from anxiety and just wanted to see how well Sophie had addressed the issue. Let me tell you know I was very happy and part of the book actually made me feel a little anxious but I reminded myself it’s just in the book.

The story starts off with Audrey who struggles with Agoraphobia which essentially means she can’t leave the house or her “safe place”. She’s your typical teenager otherwise has arguments with her family especially her brother and they sit down to eat together and watch movies together. When Linus appears it’s all a bit too much for Audrey and consequently runs off and tries to get back to her safe place. Audrey does manage to see a therapist and I think it’s nice that Sophie has shown someone with a mental illness getting help and talking about how she’s feeling. *if you are suffering yourself please talk to someone, anyone will listen*
Eventually Audrey trusts Linus and her life sort of does a u turn but not everything turns out great, in fact just like a lot of people Audrey has a few relapses.

The book is just all consuming and it didn’t take me long to read it at all. Audrey is so relatable for me the way she thinks about dangers and conquers some of those fears. I also liked Audrey’s brother as he had a very relaxed way of approaching Audrey; it kind of reminded me of my 3 brothers. They never really knew how to handle my anxiety or panic attacks. Overall it has a beautiful story, lovely characters and I loved the setting.

I would definitely recommend this book for anyone that wants a light read with a touch of mental illness thrown in. I honestly enjoyed consuming this book and it only took me a few days!
Now onto my next book which is The Priory Of The Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon.

Thanks for reading guys!
Love Becky.

endometriosis awareness

#truthfulmother 

It’s been a while since I’ve posted simply because I’ve been really lazy! But I’ve been waiting all year to do this post 😁 

Moving onto what I’m actually writing about. It’s officially endometriosis awareness month! Raising awareness about this illness is very important to me and we need to find a cure. When women go through these pains are awful and so debilitating. 

• 1 in 10 women of reproductive age in the UK suffer from endometriosis. 

• Endometriosis is the second most common gynaecological condition in the UK.

• The cause of endometriosis is unknown and there is no definite cure.

SYMPTOMS: 

• Pain with intercourse. Pain during or after sex is common with endometriosis.

• Pain with bowel movements or urination. You're most likely to experience these symptoms during your period.

• Excessive bleeding. You may experience occasional heavy periods (menorrhagia) or bleeding between periods (menometrorrhagia).

• Infertility. Endometriosis is first diagnosed in some women who are seeking treatment for infertility.

• Other symptoms. You may also experience fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, bloating or nausea, especially during menstrual periods.

MY STORY: 

It took me over a decade to get diagnosed with endometriosis. It all started with heavy periods, headaches and excruciating cramps; but because of my age they put it down to normal cycles for me. I was put on pill after pills without really having any answers. It wasn’t until I was hospitalised they realised this needed more investigation. They finally sent me to a gynaecologist and he was brilliant! He finally gave me something to look forward to. A diagnosis. My story is a little different as he offered to just start treatment straight away but as I was in so much pain I begged him to do the operation. It still took me 4 months of pain to wait for my operation. Once the operation was completed I was sent home and I felt like a new women little did I know my story wasn’t finished. My endometriosis operation failed terribly and my battle goes on. 

If you do have endometriosis keep fighting you are strong and even though there isn’t a cure yet one day there will be! 

And if you do suspect you have endometriosis go and get checked out as it is not an easy thing to live with. There are so many treatment options, they may just work for you. 

https://www.endometriosis-uk.org

#endometriosisawareness #endometriosis #raisingawareness #painfulperiods 

When We Collided by Emery Lord

I honestly didn’t expect much from this book at all as the first time I tried to read it I couldn’t, lol. So if you haven’t read this book it’s full of adventure, chaotic ness and growth. I would recommend it to anyone that’s been through tough times in there lives. One warning the ending doesn’t go the way you might want it to! So I’d rate it 5 out of 5 stars.

Review (spoilers)

So Jonah is taking care of his brother and sisters (littles) due to his father passing away from a heart problem. He has help from his other older siblings but definitely takes on more than he should. His poor mum is dealing with PTSD after the death of her husband. She is disfunctional and oblivious to all the chaos she is causing.

Then we meet Vivi who seems to be struggling with a mental health issue which is bipolar, she thinks she can live her life without the medication. She is full of life and wants to forget about her suicide attempt due to a manic episode. 

When the two of them meet they don’t hit it off as quick as you’d think or expect in a typical romance novel. It takes lots of time. Vivi was brilliant with Leah who is Jonah’s youngest sister. She falls in love with Vivi. They go through lots of challenges, Vivi wants to do “crazy” things and Jonah can’t do things due to being tied down. 

I think most of the novel is about two people who hav different problems and how they come together. But I also think it’s about how they make each other grow. Jonah concentrates on himself and his dads cafe where as Vivi prepares to look after herself and get better. When she goes into her mania episode I could feel every emotion she was going through and Emery Lord did a fantastic job of being informative and non judgemental. I would love to see this book get the recognition it deserves. 

I hope you enjoyed my review, sorry it’s been so long!

Love, Becky.

Friends

I absolutely love the show friends! I am utterly obsessed with it. This year alone I have watched the whole of the series twice this year! When I was pregnant with my son I loved curling up with partner to watch endless amounts of episodes. Every time he traveled to us he’d just say “friends” and it was perfect. I must admit if you watch too many episodes it does get a little bit repetitive. Friends taught me a lot; I think a lot of people would benefit from watching them.

My favourite character has to be Phoebe simply because she’s so free spirited and doesn’t care about what people think. I’m hoping to keep heading towards her personality but I don’t want to change my personality at all. I think my favourite episode is the one where Monica and Chandler bring home the twins! Joe’s face is just priceless. When I was younger I used to like the episode where they have thanksgiving and the Gellers get really competitive in a football game. 

Here’s some facts! No idea if they’re true can’t always trust the internet. 

1. The role of Ross was written for David Schwimmer.
2. The opening credits were shot at Warner Bros. studio, not in New York.
3. Lisa Kudrow hated playing guitar at first.
4. Bruce Willis appeared on the show for free after losing a bet to Perry.

I hope you enjoyed! 

Love, Becky. 

13 reasons why by Jay Asher

13 Reasons Why Book Review

So I started watching the series originally but since moving we don’t have internet so watching the series has come to a halt. I saw this book in Sainsbury’s and I was just like let’s do this! Unfortunately for me it was the horrible movie cover! Never mind it’s still got the same contents. I obviously knew what this book was about since starting the series. I would advice if you are feeling sucidal, very low mood please do not read this book; I was in an okay place and it really affected me because it obviously talks about hard topics. The book is very eye opening and I did enjoy the way Jay Asher wrote it. I would keep an open mind, I didn’t see who was going to be number 13 and I thought it’d be a person of great significance. Anyway I’d probably rate the book 4.5 out of 5 stars. 

Continued (spoilers)

So we start off with meeting Clay who is the main character apart from Hannah. He’s got the set of tapes from Hannah about why she committed suicide. There are obviously 13 people who are involved however one (Clay) isn’t supposed to be on the list. He simply is on here because Hannah was sorry and they both loved each other or had a crush. Throughout the whole book you get to see how awful her life was in school and how one little thing can trigger off a lot of chain reactions. The ending was good but I was a little sad the story ended I wanted to know what happened with Clay because he was such a genuine friend. 

The book teaches you about the butterfly effect. I think a lot of people will connect with this story because it’s all about bullying and what it can lead to. There’s a lot about things like you don’t know what’s going on in someone else’s life and not everything you hear is exactly true. I know a lot of people who’ve been through this and it saddens me that still in this day and age bullies get away with it when someone tries or takes their own life. 

Hannah was such a likeable character she seemed so fitting for Clay and I just wish it didn’t have to end bad for Hannah. Everyone’s life is affected by the suicide in different ways wether it be directly, because of the tapes or because of the guilt of the last thing they said to Hannah. 

The book is definitely worth a read and if you haven’t yet get to it! I think it took me 4/5 days to get through as it’s super short. The writing is pretty basic which makes it easy to read. 

I hope you enjoyed this book, see you all soon. 

Love, Becky. 

Everything, Everything Nicola Yoon

Everything Everything Book Review

So I picked this book up out of the blue because it was short and I heard a lot about it from Bookstagram. I also needed to up my Amazon order to £20.00 for free delivery lol. Anyway I went into the story knowing that it was about a girl who was allerigic to everything. I can't honestly remember what it's actually called. The story begins where we learn a little bit of background about Maddy, her mum and Carla; it's a very sheltered life she lives. When Olly walks into her life things turn upside down (literally). I think a lot of people would relate to Maddy because her love of books. In my opinion a lot of people with anxiety will relate to her because she presents feelings I certainly related to. I must admit the ending is quite a let down but the overall book definitely makes up for it.

Review with spoilers below picture:

So Maddy is obviously told she is allergic to everything in the outside world. We obviously know that this is not true towards the end. The way Nicola Yoon finished this book felt a little abrupt but satisfied my needs for the end.
Maddy first sees Olly and he kind of reminds me of Tarzan with all the climbing about. He seems like a sweet guy in this book and he honestly is. He did make a good impression on me because he wasn't your average sweet talking jock.
I loved Carla she was just perfect, I think that was her name, I am so bad at remembering things but I'm talking about the first nurse. She was so down to earth it was lovely to read her story. She was lovely to Maddy. I didn't like her mum one bit I knew from the start something wasn't right with her. I think she obviously had PTSD from the accident that killed her husband and her son.

The characters were really well rounded and the story just had that good feeling. I do wish we spent more time in the outside world with Maddy and Olly I think their relationship would really blossom. Anyway the book makes you happy at the end when she escapes I bet it would have been amazing seeing all the things like beeches, ice cream, Eiffel tower etc.

Love, Becky.

Mental Health Awareness

On Tuesday 10th October it was Mental Health Awarness and if you've followed me for a long time then you'll know I'm all for sharing your feelings and raising awareness. In my day to day life I come across all different people with and without mental health "problems". I hate that word is there another way to put it? Mental health awesomeness let's go with that one. Some people are probably like I'm sick of hearing about mental health but until we get treated seriously and people stop judging it will be talked about forever!!! Mwahahaha!

Anyway my journey has been absolute hell and I've yet to be diagnosed with a name of my issue. But the main thing for me is I'm living my life as much as I can even when I have really crappy days. 

I'm one of those people that feels the need to help others no matter how many times they shoot me down or use me. Some people really do take advantage of a good heart. But quickly moving on back to the matter at hand I watched a short film where a man had been undiagnosed bipolar, tried to take his life and failed; he described this regret he had just as his hands left the bridge he jumped off. He made a very good point that even attempting to leave this world impacts a lot of people. If I can find the link I will put it here. 

I love talking to you guys online and sharing your journeys whether it's the road to recovery, relapse or just discovering it's okay not to be okay. If I feel I make a difference to just to one person I feel better in myself. Sometimes I do have to give up on some people because I get sucked in a little too much and that effects my mental health and I know it sounds selfish to some people but you've got to look after number 1 before you can help others. I sound a little contradicting but hay hoe. 

Love, Becky. 

Lost In A Book by Jennifer Donnelly

Lost In A Book review 

Well it's been a very very long time for me to do a book review and I'm so glad I can finally do one. As you know I'm a new mum so reading is either impossible or I fall asleep before I get to the next page. So anyway I saw this book in Sainsbury's and thought you know what? It sounds amazing the book cover looks brilliant why not. I must admit it took me a whole two months to read this book but it was such an amazing journey I was never bored. The characters are great you really see them all. I think overall I would rate it 4.5 stars out of 5 and it's very enjoyable. 

More detailed review (spoilers) 

So I went into this book knowing one thing it was in the same universe/ place as Beauty And The Beast. It is my favourite Disney movie so you can guarantee I wanted to read this book. 

We start off with all the lovable character we know such as Mrs Potts, chip, belle and the beast. It begins at the part where belle has no idea she loves the beast and the beast gives her his library. There was one problem with this storyline they made belle out to be a sheltered reader when in fact the true belle loved spending time with Chip and the other servants. When we enter Nevermore it seems completely normal. But the plot gets spoiled very early on when the queen she literally tells the reader what's going to happen. Obviously the ending isn't given away and I did think it was anticlimactic. 

We get to see a different side of belle she is made quite selfish at times. The beast is his normal self but sometimes came across very friendly which was confusing sometimes but it was nice. The rest of the characters were good but not great. 

I would recommend this to people who'll like beauty and the beast; if you don't mind little changes you will like it. I think the book is more aimed at the younger generation just simply because it's easy to read and enjoy. I hope you enjoyed my quick review! I loved the fact I was able to read this book with my little boy around I felt a little bit of normality. 

Love, Becky. 

Panic attacks

#Truthful Mother 

I was in town on a normal day this weekend and felt brilliant. I had my best dress on, my make up looked great and my hair was looking brilliant. Dave constantly complimented me. We met with his mum and everything was brilliant until it turned 12pm. I started feeling so close to people, it was too loud and I had to get out of there. My palms sweaty, breathing heavy, vision blurry and heart racing. Panic attack. 

I basically want to show my best ways of calming down because having anxiety and panic attacks with a baby is really hard. 

Ways I get through it: 

1. Watch your favourite program to distract yourself. I either go with The Big Bang Theory or Friends. I also think it's good to watch movies you absolutely adore, Mama Mia and The Fault In Our Stars are my go to. 
2. Busy yourself with cleaning; cleaning your house or parents house can be very therapeutic and calming. If you chose something where your sorting you can talk to yourself about what's going to go where. 
3. Go on social media; sometimes this may not help as some people don't have the right kind of people online. You need to follow inspiration pages or things that interest you. 
4. Jump in the shower; when it gets too much for me I can normally jump in the shower to distract myself. My partner normally comes in with me to talk about things that worry me and that combination soothes me. 

As a full time mum it can be very hard coping with panic attacks and a small baby; thankfully for me I am on the right medication and I'm getting so much better. I do ask for help if it gets too much but it can be so scary especially when someone needs you 24/7. I try to write down all my feelings and keep my life as stress free as possible which is difficult since I'm moving out soon. Anyway wish me luck! If anyone has any other ways of calming down let me know because I'd love to know. 

Love, Becky. 

Cold Tea, Unread Books And Giggles

#truthful mother 

Alfie's fast asleep, time for tea. I creep out the room downstairs with the baby monitor. I reach the cold tiles in the kitchen heading towards the kettle. I fill it up, boil it. Grabbing my favourite mug with my Alfie moo on the front. My decaf tea in, 2 sugars and a splash of milk. (Side note I'm on decaf because it reduces my anxiety massively). I take the monitor and my fresh brew into the living room turn on the television to catch up on coronation street. 10 minutes in the monitor cackles and boom Alfie's awake. I go upstairs get Alfie out of bed and bring him down. I entertain for hours before his feed time... 

*2 hours later*

Looks at the coffee table at my nice freezing cold tea. 

I'm getting used to having lukewarm tea but I can't drink it cold - bleh! It's like babies know when your about to enjoy yourself. It's the exact same when I try and read my book. I get him down in the day grab my book and boom he's awake again, such a light sleeper. I'd try and read before bed but I'm so tired, I'm not the only one right? 

This might be the downer of being a new parent but the best thing that makes it so much worthwhile is the giggle fits and beautiful smiles you get from them. Alfie melts my heart when he giggles at something I do or even at himself. His favourite thing is doing the twist dance gets him howling! There are loads of down points but so much more good points and there the ones you want to celebrate . 

Until next time fellow bookworms and mummies and daddies! Keep going. 

Love, Becky. 

There is Always More to Say: A Never-Ending Story About an Everlasting Friendship by Lynda Young Spiro

  

So Lynda messaged me on Instagram and asked  me if I'd like to read her novel which was already published but I was delighted non the less. I went into a little research before accepting to make sure that I didn't go for a novel I knew I wouldn't like it. After reading her synopsis I thought it was going to be a novel that I'd adore.

So just to round it up if you are thinking of reading this novel, it's written as these diary entries which I do really like. It is about two friends and we get to follow all the events in their lives from around 1984 to 2014. It obviously follows a deep friendship that deals with the distance between them and getting back together.

The novel has a different tone to other book I have previously read and I'm still not 100% whether I like it. It kind of feels a little like a personal novel in the sense that it wasn't originally going to be published but it was an enjoyable ride of growth in friendship. We do get many flashbacks and that was one of my favourite things to see how everyone got to where they are now.

One point that did let me down was that I kept wanting more towards the end, it wasn't finished on a cliff hanger it just kind of ended. I'm not sure if this was purposely done as the title does state 'there is always more to say' if this is so then well done Lynda it was brilliant to end that way.

I would recommend this novel to be read in the spring/summer - which is now. It definitely warms your heart to read about the friendship. Overall I would rate this 3.5 stars, it's quick, fun and an entertaining read. Thank you Lynda for letting me read your novel.

Love, Becky.

Books And Series I Won't Be Finishing

So there's going to be a little change to my blog since my life's slowing down before our little man is here. With only 19 days to go till Alfie is actually here my life consists of resting, walking, working 2 days and spending as much quality time with my family and Dave. It's obviously not going to be the same but it's definitely going to be an amazing thing that'll happen to us.
I got a bit distracted but basically I will be posting anytime of the week because I simply don't have the organisational skills to keep posting on a specific day.

The actual blogpost

I looked at my TBR shelf in my bedroom the other night and thought I am not happy with some of the books I purchased a LONG time ago. I think as an average book reader you'll probably agree that reading tastes can change dramatically. It's time for that dreaded moment where you have to consider getting rid of some books. I am thinking of selling them as you probably know we need the money.

1. The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han. I've actually read this trilogy but I just don't really like the format of these books. They are actually really quick enjoyable reads.

2. The Jewel by Amy Ewig. I have tried to read this book multiple times and it just doesn't appeal to me even though when I read the blurb I fell in love!

3. Bloodlines by Richelle Mead. Honestly this book has no umph for me to read so that's why it's going.

4. A Summer At Sea by Katie Ford. This one for me was just because I didn't like the writing style and it kept holding me back so once again this one is going.

5. First Love by James Patterson. I impulsively bought this book based on the cover and it just goes to show it isn't always a good idea. I know for a fact I wont be picking it up.

6. The Lonely by Andrew Michael Hurley. I thought I'd be able to read this but after the nightmares I've been having there is no way I'm going to be able to read it. I honestly need the sleep right now.

7. The Rain by Virginia Bergin. To put it simply I don't want to read this anymore even though the concept seems really intriguing.

8. A Walk To Remember by Nicholas Sparks. I don't enjoy his work, loved the movie and that's what will stay in my collection.

9. The Man In The High Castle by Phillip K Dick. I made the mistake of watching the series so now the book doesn't appeal to me. Also the writing font in the book is awful.

10. Buster by Will Barrow. I do normally love these types of books but with this one I just couldn't get into it.

11. Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Miracle. Tried to read it but the writing just wasn't for me. I did try a sample of all the stories but it's just not for me.

12. Rebel Of The Stands by Alwyn Hamilton. I was enjoying this book when I first picked it up but now I just know I wont pick it up so someone else may as well enjoy it.

13. Unravel me by Tahereh Mafi. I did honestly think I was going to enjoy this book and carry on with the series but I just couldn't do it so it's bye bye.

I hope you enjoyed my post, If you have any series/books you wont be reading or continuing with then let me know.

Love, Becky.

Cress by Merissa Meyer

I have been trying to write this review for nearly over 2 weeks. I honestly don't know if I'll be carrying on with this series and I know it's loved by so many people. I was really enjoying the first two books but the third book just felt like it went on forever. It was nice seeing all the characters come together and I must admit the ending was a good cliff hanger but not the best I've read. I would recommend the book because like I said above so many people love it and you might to. I did rate it 3 out of 5 stars. Now, onto my review which will contain spoilers as I want to share ALL my likes and dislikes.

Review (spoilers)

The pacing was definitely a lot slower for me to get through. I did absolutely adore most of the characters apart from Cress, she was just too ditsy for me. When Thorne lost his sight he was still the main motivator all Cress could do was complain. I get the whole she is new to the earthen planet but it was just way over the top, if she could stand up for herself to escape why couldn't she be stronger when it came to surviving? Surprise, surprise Cress got kidnapped and taken away but it was possibly the best place she could have ended up, with Dr.Erland.
The rest of the characters Cinder, Thorne, Dr.Erland, Sybil, Scarlet and Wolf were amazing and their stories/ adventures were great. They were so enjoyable to read and see how much of a good team they all are. The ending was brilliant and we were introduced to Winter briefly.

I think my favourite characters have to be Sybil and Thorne. I just had the biggest crush on Thorne and couldn't believe how much strength he has; he was such a delight to read his parts. The plot was really good even if I didn't really enjoy Cress' parts. I do honestly think if it was faster paced the book could have been smaller as we already knew about the worlds. Merissa Meyer has an amazing talent and a brilliant writing style; I'm not going to be reading Winter any time soon but I will have it read by the end of the year. Hopefully.



If you don't follow me on Instagram then you wont know that I am really struggling to read at the moment. I am working on it and have read a few chapters of Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard so fingers crossed I'm creeping out of it! Anyway, I hope you enjoyed my review and if you have a different or same opinion of the book then please feel free to comment down below and we can just talk about it.
Have a great day.
Love, Becky.

It's Okay To Not Be Okay

I've been staring at this screen for ages just trying to figure out why I do the things I do. When I first found out about blogs, amazing books and all the platforms that are available to someone who loves to share their opinion and love of books I was taken back as to how many people were already doing it. I blog about many things from books to movies, mental health and general life problems. As you can probably see there aren't many posts on here and that is just because of some idiot which I have no time to waste on.

I've now been blogging for 3 years and it's been incredible. I have met and spoken to so many amazing authors who have given me advice about my own work. I've made many, many friends that I have yet to meet and that's okay. This is the biggest reward I get from sharing my opinion and I can't thank you people enough. There are so many supporters around and at first it can be really scary. All you have to remember is be yourself, genuine and think that everyone started from the bottom once in their life.

I do have Instagram and it is so much fun seeing everyone's images, different interpretations on all sorts of subjects. If you have an account comment down below and I'll follow you, I'm always looking for new people to check out! 

You're probably wondering what the hell I am on about. I've had a rough couple of days, you won't know this but I live with my parents and my mother has a serious condition. It is self inflicted so no sympathy to her. I was so lucky to have Dave with me because I don't think I would have been able to cope it was a push too far for me. I would just like to know if you guys have any means of keeping focused. Sometimes I forget to relax and do my own thing and I think that's where this blog comes in really handy.

If you are going through a dark time I would recommend starting a blog, even if you don't publish it to the world, it helps get things off your chest and you can connect with other people. Sometimes you need a total stranger to make yourself feel better. Basically what I'm saying is if you need someone to rant to or blow off what's going on in your head then please feel free to email, direct message me or comment on one of my Instagram pictures saying you need help and I will get in touch with you however I can.

Love, Becky.

 

Harry Potter books 1-4

I realised I'm nothing like other readers, most people were brought up with Harry Potter in their hands but I wasn't one of them. I was found outside digging, riding motorbikes and making my own adventures in the forbidden woods. I'm really grateful for my different upbringing; I will try my best to do the same for my little boy. However lets get onto the review.

Swish and Flick

So as stated above yes I wasn't brought up with J.K.Rowlings amazing work but most of my readers have. If you haven't read Harry Potter then I'm going to sum it up real quick for you with no spoilers.
A young boy called Harry Potter lost his parents from an evil wizard. He is in fact a wizard himself but for the time being he's sent to awful relatives who treat him like a slave. On Harry Potter's 11th birthday he receives a letter that he needs to go to a school for witches and wizards. This is where his journey begins with his two best friends Hermione and Ron. Through all 4 books we learn more about friendship, different mythical creatures and the power of such a brilliant school. There are different scenarios that are challenging for Harry and we go on so many adventures.

Book 1 - Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone
The first book took me around 5/6 days to read from start to finish. It was the start of something truly amazing and I think the series really started out well. We learn a lot of Harry's back story and get introduced to lots of characters. I think my all time favourite was Hagrid simply because he was this friendly bubbly person that really looked after the pupils especially Harry - kind of like a father figure. The writing was super easy for me and I think that's the amazing thing about these books you can read them at any age and appreciate them. I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars.



Book 2 - Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
Moving onto the second book we get even more character building and world building. We see that Harry has a lot of things that push him back; not only is he famous for being a survivor of a horrific tragedy but his guardians don't help him when he does have to go home. This novel did take me 9 days to read which isn't as bad as I'm making it out to be. We get to see more of Draco Malfoy who is a lot of people's favourite character and yeah he does have some amazing qualities. You really get a sense of his bitterness and jealousy. I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars.



Book 3 - Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
I absolutely loved this movie and thought it was going to be the same when I read the book. I was so so happy when I started reading this novel. I fell in love all over again and I'm not going to lie I do have a small crush on Sirius Black. I don't really know if it's a crush or just a huge surge of happiness when he walks onto the page. This novel did take me that little bit longer to read I think it was a couple of months. I rated the book 4 out of 5 stars just like the previous 2 books.



Book 4 - Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
So I wanted to enjoy this book as much as Dave did but unfortunately for me it was a little bit of a let down. I honestly thought that it could have been just that little bit shorter. Don't get me wrong the story was incredible and I loved all the challenges that Harry had to go through. It was such a brilliant idea that they had to kind of guess what they'd be doing. The last few pages were really intense. I did have to rate this book 3 stars which means I enjoyed the novel but it wasn't my favourite. I am really excited to get onto the next 3 books even though I know what happens.



Let me know what you thought below because everyone has a different opinion and mine just seems to be out of the ordinary and I'm okay with that. If I liked every book that everyone else did I wouldn't be being true to myself or you guys.
Love, Becky.

Escaping The Reality

When people ask me why I like reading they freak out when I suggest it's to escape. For me books are a way of shutting away the world and my responsibilities just for that short amount of time; it keeps me sane and lets me be someone who doesn't have things to do. I don't have the best, peaceful life that I want because let's be real that's not reality. Life is full of ups and downs so I thought what's better than reality? A world where us readers can go to get away from the dreadful happenings.

Top 3 series I recommend to you guys as readers to escape:

1. The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare - for me I was reading this to have a relationship with a family that didn't necessarily connect. In all the books you do realise that they have their own problems but you don't feel the same as you would. The writing takes you away with demons, vampires and many other mythical creatures not to mention amazing lead characters.

2. A Song Of Ice And Fire by George R.R. Martin - I know I haven't read all the books in this series but the amount of context you get in these just automatically makes you forget what's going on. Your taken on a journey with many perspectives and your kind of routing for one character to the next.

3. Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier - This whole trilogy is about time travel and it takes you from one period of time to another. It has lots of romance which can carry you away if your having your own relationship problems. Also the writing is super easy to get through so before you know it all the adventures will be over in a good way.

There are so many books I wanted to add onto this list but it would go on forever and I don't want that. If you have any recommendations then please leave them below! I need more novels to escape in before my little man comes because I don't want to miss a moment with my new little family.
Love, Becky.

*All the images are taken from google or Instagram as I am having lighting difficulties at the time*

The Problem With Forever by Jennifer L Armentrout

I am so bad at keeping up with Netgalley recently so I have decided to pledge that every month I will try my absolute hardest to publish reviews and read at least 1 review book. So I'm starting off 2017 on a good note because I have finished The Problem With Forever. I have always been a big fan of Jennifer's work but for some reason I really struggled with this novel; this doesn't mean I didn't enjoy parts of the book. It was published back in May 2016 and I waited till new year to start it which is really bad of me. It took me a couple of days to complete and I would probably rate it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Review (no major spoilers)

So to wrap the whole story in a little bow we have Mallory who is our main girl in the novel. Mallory was bought up in a foster home along with Rider who is our main swoon worthy boy. They both grew up in the same foster home but they get separated due to being adopted. When Mallory decides she's ready to brace the world she goes to school not even thinking there'd be a slight chance she'll see Rider again. We go through a cute high school romance and Rider has some good morals for saying he plays a pretty bad boy/ass character.

Mallory and Rider were both abused when they were in care and this is where I warn everyone that if you have never read anything like this please go in with care. There are some scenes that could make you feel on edge or maybe a little bit too much for you. Mallory as a character was brilliant, she was really relatable in the sense she was shy. I seemed to connect with her in a very likable way which was the main reason I liked this book. Rider is this bad boy with a HUGE heart, he definitely has some good morals and wants to do the best. He wasn't too over the top with his bad boy reputation which was refreshing.

Jennifer has really done amazing with her characters I just didn't love it as much as I normally do with her books. The writing was good but I think the topic of the novel didn't appeal to me as much. I couldn't find any faults the book just wasn't my cup of tea. I absolutely love the cover it makes it so inviting and I am really tempted to get the physical edition so I can have it on my shelf. I know it's frowned upon by some people but then I do enjoy supporting authors as much as I can.

Thank you.

I just want to say a huge thank you to Netgalley, Jennifer L Armentrout and Harlequin Teen for giving me the opportunity to review this book. I will be doing better in the future at getting my reviews out on time.

I hope you all have a great day and I'll be back next Tuesday.
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Love, Becky.