March Wrap Up…

Welcome to my March Wrap Up. I didn’t have a great reading month, only finishing 3 books (3 books off my TBR). I didn’t receive any ARC’s this month.

I have reviews up or coming up for these books so as usual this is just going to be a brief run down on each book I read.

Without further ado, let’s get into my March Wrap Up:

Hungry Hearts by Elsie Chapman: This book was sweet. I liked the fact that it was a collection of short stories not one narrative. And I loved that all of the stories were connected by Hungry Hearts Row. As with most collections of short stories that were some stories that were better than others but overall this was a great collection. If you are looking for a sweet, quick read, you should pick up this book.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles: This book was beautiful I had high hope for this book, and it turned out to be everything I had wanted and more. I loved the story, I loved the characters and I was captivated by the writing. After devouring this amazing story, I was blown away to find out that this was based on a true story. I am so glad that I picked up this book and I truly believe that everyone should read it.

Shiver by Allie Reynolds: I really enjoyed this book. I have had issues with mysteries in the past as I am usually not surprise by the ending, but that wasn’t the case with this book. I was kept on the edge of my seat the entire way through this story. I loved the plot, the characters and the setting. I honestly didn’t want to put this book down; I just wanted the keep reading to see what was going to happen next. I am so glad that I decided to read this book.

That’s it for my March Wrap Up. I hope you all had a great reading month. Let me know what you guys read this month in the comments section.

Until my April Wrap Up…

Happy Reading…

~>GEM<~

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

‘For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort.

Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter’s defeat of You-Know-Who was Black’s downfall as well. And the Azkaban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, “He’s at Hogwarts . . . he’s at Hogwarts.”

Harry Potter isn’t safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends. Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst.’

This is my favourite Harry Potter book.

I was so excited when this book came out as I was well and truly hooked on Harry Potter. What I didn’t expect was how much I was going to love this book. When I first read it I fell in love instantly and it was easily my favourite out of the first three books. After completing the entire series I found that this was my favourite book of the entire series.

I loved that we learned more about the Wizarding War in this book as well as what happened to Harry’s parents. I also loved that not everything ended happily. It was the first time that we got to see that magic isn’t all powerful and that sometimes good people suffer while bad people escape without consequences.

My favourite thing about this book was the introduction of my all time favourite character; Remus Lupin. I fell in love with Lupin from his first scene and I only grew to love him more and more as the series progressed.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. I have read it many times and I look forward to reading it many more times in the future.

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling is a perfect representation of the adage ‘third time’s the charm’.

Uni Update 14!

Its that time again…

Uni Update!

Welcome back to a new year of Uni Updates.

Uni officially started again on the 1st March, so I am almost a month into my new course; Academic Writing, and so far I am loving it.

I have already submitted my First Assessment and am currently working on my Second. I am also around two weeks ahead in my course work, which I am very happy about.

Academic Writing is the final required course that I need to take before I can start looking into courses that I am really interested in. In saying that, I have actually enjoyed a few of the required courses and I am currently enjoying this one.

I am hoping that the rest of the Trimester goes as smoothly as the first few weeks have. I am also hoping to stay at least a week a head on my course work so that I have more time to focus on my Assessments.

All I can say is so far so good. Hopefully when I update you next month this will still be going well and I will still be enjoying myself.

Until Next Time…

~>GEM<~

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets by J.K Rowling

‘Ever since Harry Potter had come home for the summer, the Dursleys had been so mean and hideous that all Harry wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he’s packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange impish creature who says that if Harry returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

And strike it does. For in Harry’s second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor and a spirit who haunts the girls’ bathroom. But then the real trouble begins – someone is turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects… Harry Potter himself!’

I loved this book.

After reading Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone it was completely understandable that there would be a sequel. One of the best things about the Harry Potter series is that it aged with its readers. Even if it sucked having to wait a year at least between each book.

There was a slightly darker tone to this book than its predecessor. We got to see the characters learn more about the history of the Wizarding World, as well as finding out that there are people out there who want evil to return. We also get to learn more about Lord Voldemort and his history.

This book also had a lot of setups that would be revealed in later stories, but which surprisingly didn’t leave any unanswered questions within this story.

Another thing I loved about this book was the introduction of one of my favourite characters of the series; Dobby! Dobby added an extra weird and very funny element to this book which helped to keep it light while dealer with some darker situations.

After how amazing Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone was there was a real chance that Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets could fall flat. Thankfully it didn’t. It matched the awesomeness of its predecessor and holds its own with the books that follow.

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets by J.K. Rowling is the perfect sequel to Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone.

The Sims Book Tag…

Welcome one and all to another Wacky Wednesday post. Today I am partaking in The Sims Book Tag. I hope you all enjoy this quick little tag.

So without further ado, lets jump straight in:

Original Sims

The Best Author Debut.

Natalie Jenner

The Grim Reaper

The saddest character death.

SPOILER ALERT!

Dobby, Sirius, Dumbledore, Lupin, etc – Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Sims Getting Stuck

A character that got in the way.

Meg Murry – A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Simlish

A book with amazing writing.

Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer

Expansion Packs

A series where the books just keep getting better.

Nevermoor series by Jessica Townsend

Cheats

A book that’s completely unrealistic.

Haven’t They Grown by Sophie Hannah

Need Fulfilment

A character who makes all the wrong decisions.

Henry and Effie – Cape May by Chip Cheek

Error Code 12

A book or series that starts off great but goes downhill from there.

The Good Germans: Resisting the Nazis, 1933-1945 by Catrine Clay

Sims Vortex

A book or series that completely engrossed you.

Home Stretch by Graham Norton

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Well that’s it for me. I hope you guys enjoyed this tag. As usual, hit me up with your answers in the comment section.

Until next time…

Happy Reading…

❤ Gem

Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling

‘Harry Potter’s life is miserable. His parents are dead and he’s stuck with his heartless relatives, who force him to live in a tiny closet under the stairs. But his fortune changes when he receives a letter that tells him the truth about himself: he’s a wizard. A mysterious visitor rescues him from his relatives and takes him to his new home, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

After a lifetime of bottling up his magical powers, Harry finally feels like a normal kid. But even within the Wizarding community, he is special. He is the boy who lived: the only person to have ever survived a killing curse inflicted by the evil Lord Voldemort, who launched a brutal takeover of the Wizarding world, only to vanish after failing to kill Harry.

Though Harry’s first year at Hogwarts is the best of his life, not everything is perfect. There is a dangerous secret object hidden within the castle walls, and Harry believes it’s his responsibility to prevent it from falling into evil hands. But doing so will bring him into contact with forces more terrifying than he ever could have imagined.’

I adore this book.

I can still remember the very first time I read this book and fell in love with reading. It doesn’t matter how many years pass, every time I read this book I feel that same joy and amazement that I did the first time.

When this book came out there was no way anyone could have seen what it would become and the series and phenomenon it would start, but reading it now it is easy to see to start of something truly magical.

The way in which J.K Rowling created this amazing world is just perfect. The magic was smart and awe inspiring, with a child like wonder about it. As for the magical world, with its own strange and intriguing elements; from Diagon Alley to Hogwarts and everywhere in between, there wasn’t a setting that didn’t take my breath away.

The magic and magical places would be nothing without an amazing cast of characters to experience them with. Getting to learn about the Wizarding World along with Harry, Ron, and Hermione was what this book was all about. The slow growing of their friendship all with getting to experience the highs and lows of their first year at Hogwarts is what makes this book so special.

J.K Rowling’s writing is what joined all of these fantastic elements together to create the perfect book. When reading this book you feel what the characters feel, and you can easily imagine what the characters are seeing and experiencing thanks to truly remarkable descriptions.

I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. It will forever hold a special place in my heart, and I can’t wait to re read it many times in the future.

Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling is a must read for everyone.

Rain – A Short Story!

Welcome to another Sunday Session. I recently wrote a short story as part of a University Assessment and since I actually liked it, I decided to share it with you today.

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It’s raining again. I love rain.  I love the sound. Heavy rain on the roof. Sideways rain on the windows. I also love the smell. Rain and grass clippings. You know the smell. I love that we can smell rain even before it arrives. I wonder though, is it the rain that we smell, or is it purely the fact that we know that rain is coming and what it is going to smell like when it comes that makes us think we can smell the rain?

With the rain comes thunder and lightning. I have never understood, is it the rain that brings the thunder and lightning, or is it the thunder and lightning that bring the rain. The thunder is so loud that it makes the house shake, the animals hide, and I am here, alone and scared.

I sit in the dark, watching through the windows as the lightning turns the night to day. The rain is here, but so much is still missing, forgotten, never to return.

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That’s it from me today. I hope you enjoyed my little story. I will catch you all next week for another Sunday Session.

Happy Reading

~>GEM<~

Shiver by Allie Reynolds

‘When Milla is invited to a reunion in the tiny resort that saw the peak of her snowboarding career, she drops everything to go. While she would rather forget the events of that winter, the invitation comes from Curtis, the one person she can’t seem to let go.

The five friends haven’t seen each other for ten years, since the disappearance of the beautiful and enigmatic Saskia. But when an icebreaker game turns menacing, they realise they don’t know who has really gathered them there and how far they will go to find the truth. In an isolated lodge high up a mountain, amid a looming snowstorm, the secrets of the past are about to come to light.’

This book had me on the edge of my seat.

I am usually not a fan of mysteries as I am almost always able to tell how the ‘killer’ is way before the end of the story. I am surprised and genuinely happy to say that I was still trying to figure out who the ‘killer’ was until the very last second with this book.

I was completely engrossed in this story from the very first page. I didn’t want to put it down; I just wanted to read one more page. The story was intriguing, entertaining, and easy to get lost in. Reading this book was like walking through a haunted house; you never know what is around the next corner.

The characters in this book were flawed and human with genuine emotions that radiated off the pages. I loved seeing the differences between the characters ten years ago to the present day. Trying to figure out how the characters ended up the people they are in the present day on top of the mystery made for a truly amazing reading experience.

Allie Reynolds has done a fantastic job with this book. The plot was awesome, the characters were real, and the writing was wonderful. I honestly don’t have a bad word to say about this book. If you are looking for a truly great read, this is the book for you.

Shiver by Allie Reynolds is an action-packed whodunit that you will not want to put down.

The Queer Eye Book Tag…

Welcome one and all to another Wacky Wednesday post. Today I am partaking in The Queer Eye Book Tag. I hope you all enjoy this quick little tag.

So without further ado, lets jump straight in:

Food & Wine// Antoni

Paris Lights by C.J. Duggan

Fashion//Tan

Fashionista by Maxine Beneba Clarke

Grooming//Jonathan

The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton

Design//Bobby

The House Of Second Chances by Esther Campion

Culture// Karamo

The Astonishing Colour Of After by Emily X.R. Pan

#QEBOOKTIP// Favourite queer book!

Mama’s Boy by Dustin Lance Black

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Well that’s it for me. I hope you guys enjoyed this tag. As usual, hit me up with your answers in the comment section.

Until next time…

Happy Reading…

❤ Gem

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles

‘Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet has it all: her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into Paris, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them.’

I adored this book.

I went into this book with high hopes and I am happy to say it not only lived up to them, it well and truly surpassed them. This book was everything I wanted it to be and so much more.

I absolutely devoured this book, and I was blown away to find out that it was based on a true story. Learning about the amazingly heroic men and women at the American Library in Paris, and what they experienced during World War II made for an emotional and unforgettable reading experience.

Janet Skeslien Charles has done a fantastic job with this book. The way she was able to bring the characters, places and setting to life, while allowing the reader to feel the highs and lows of love and loss during a devastating time made for a powerful yet relatable story.

The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles is an absolute must read book. The Paris Library that will take you on an emotional journey that will stay with you log after the final page.