A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft - Jessica Redland

 

A Forever Home at Honey Bee Croft

New friends, new life, new love…

Single dad, Joel Grainger, is devoted to his little girl, Imogen, doing all he can to be a key part of her life. But with Imogen’s mum being ever more difficult and Joel’s job suddenly in doubt, he’s worried that everything is about to change. Joel has given everything to Imogen, and he doesn’t regret it, but maybe he’s lost himself along the way…

Since her dad’s heart-breaking dementia diagnosis, Poppy Wells has been struggling and desperately needs a break. An opportunity to stay in gorgeous Whisperwood Farmhouse nestled in the Yorkshire Wolds and a stone’s throw away from Bumblebee Farm couldn’t be more perfect. Finally able to breathe, Poppy begins to see a new life ahead, a place where she can heal her broken heart and be part of something special. But can she ever leave her beloved dad to get the happiness she craves?

When Poppy and Joel meet there’s an instant connection. But with both of them at a crossroads, a future together seems impossible. Can they find the strength to overcome their challenges to secure their forever home together?

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/ForeverHomeatBeeCroft

My Review:

The third book in a wonderful series by Jessica Redland, this is a poignant, heartwarming story about following your heart, saying goodbye and embracing new beginnings. I adored Joel and Poppy’s story, both are wonderful characters  which is a common trait of Jessica’s - creating characters we feel connected to and want the best for!

We’ve previously met Joel in previous stories but now he is front and centre, deservedly so, I’ve been looking forward to know more about him. He’s so used to being seen as second best, a great guy but not THE guy. His daughter is his world and his ex seems to do all she can to limit their time together.

Poppy, what a character – I felt so emotional for her, having had so much to deal with losing her Mum but then having to be strong as her Dads health declined. Life hasn’t gone the way she thought it would and at best, she’s struggling to move forward in any way. It soon becomes clear she needs a break, and ends up discovering the perfect place, the perfect person and the perfect time away to see what she needs to do next.

I love when characters have chemistry that sparks from the page, Joel and Poppy do instantly. Not only was romance inevitable but it seemed each person found their best friend; a person who was completely on their side and willing to do whatever it took to make the other happy. A fast moving relationship but a clearly strong connection.

As always, there are ups and downs, misunderstandings and other people throwing spanners in the works; both have so much going on in their lives do they have the time for each other.

Jessica handles sensitive topics so sensitively, yet again highlighting issues and topics amongst the romantic, cosy element we all love. I highly recommend this one (and every one by the author!)

Always sad when a series comes to an end, but a gorgeous book to end on. I always look forward to the next book from Jessica.

 Author Bio:

Jessica Redland writes emotional but uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community. Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast where she lives with her husband, daughter and sprocker spaniel. Her Hedgehog Hollow series, set in a hedgehog rescue centre, takes readers into the beautiful rolling countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.

 Social Media Links:  

Facebook: @jessicaredlandauthor

Twitter: @JessicaRedland

Instagram: @jessicaredlandauthor

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JessicaRedlandNews

Bookbub profile: ​​@jessicaredlandwriter

 

The Cornish Beach Hut Café - Jane Linfoot

 

A fresh start among old friends…

Florence May never expected to trade the high life of London for the cosy comfort of a beach hut in her Cornish hometown, but the moment she steps inside she knows it was the best choice she ever made. The fact that it comes with a requirement that she sets up a business on site? A minor setback that’s easily fixed by opening up a surfside outpost of her friend Clemmie’s Little Cornish Kitchen … where Floss finds herself unexpectedly flourishing.

And when the hotel owner next door sets out to buy the land out from under her? Floss calls on her loyal friends to help her save her little slice of heaven. Because if there’s one thing the community of St Aidan does well, it’s banding together to make the most of every second, whatever life throws at you.

 

My Review:

A gorgeous return to St Aidan for Jane Linfoot fans, with familiar faces and places but a brand new story centred around Florence May, the younger sister of Sophie. You don’t have to have read any of the previous St Aidan based books, it’s a stand alone book, but I would always recommend reading Jane Linfoot’s back catalogue as they are gorgeous reads.

Floss is returning home after a difficult time in London. Needing a change yet needing to be somewhere familiar, she is determined to forge a way forward in this new life one step at a time. Finding the perfect, most idyllic place to live, on the beach, and surrounded by her amazing family and friends (it sounds like heaven) Floss starts to find some happiness again, slowly and surely kick starting her new chapter. That is until her peace and tranquillity are threatened, and a familiar face from her past changes her plans in many ways.

Discovering her new abode comes with a catch, Floss randomly finds her home becoming the place to be for many people. Floss turns her hand to many things, but her skillset is making people feel comfortable and well-taken care of. Her concoction of random desserts are a bit (and will make your mouth water!) and she soon is in demand – in more ways than one.

Keen not to let people down but wanting to stick to her plan of not letting people get close, when her latest neighbour seems intent on being part of her life, Floss struggles to keep him at arm’s length.

I adore Floss, especially having been through so much already, she is hardworking, kind and caring, she has great relationships with people, if not always with her sister and Mother – but essentially, they do all love each other. She’s taken life by the hands and is rolling with whatever comes her way, embracing second chances even if scary and not part of her intended plan.

Full of teasingly yummy sounding goodies, this is another brilliant book by Jane and a highly recommended summer read. It's a gorgeously romantic book, with themes of friendship, community and embracing second chances.

Purchase Links

Amazon Paperback https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cornish-Beach-Hut-Caf%C3%A9/dp/0008537062

Amazon E book https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cornish-Beach-Hut-Caf%C3%A9-heartwarming-ebook/dp/B0CTCCM9SS

Author Bio:

I write fun, flirty fiction, with feisty heroines, and lots of heart.

Writing is fab, because I get to wear pretty shoes instead of wellies. I live in a cottage up a mountain road in Derbyshire, where my family and pets are kind enough to ignore the domestic chaos. Happily, we're in walking distance of a supermarket. I love hearts, flowers, happy endings, all things vintage, most things French. When I'm not on Facebook, and can't find an excuse for shopping, I'll be walking, or gardening. On days when I want to be really scared, I ride a tandem.

 

Social Media Links:

https://www.facebook.com/JaneLinfoot20

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076517614571

https://www.instagram.com/janelinfoot/

https://twitter.com/janelinfoot

Finding Friends at the Cornish Country Hospital - Jo Bartlett

 

A fresh beginning…

Esther Hamilton, is finally finding her feet after her split with her horrible ex, and is looking forward to her new single life. She has a job she loves in the busy Accident and Emergency department, a new home and for the first time ever, a chance to just have fun with her good friends. Love is very much off the cards…

An old friend…

Until the arrival of Joe Carter – the brother of Esther’s best friend, Danni. Joe is also newly single and still as gorgeous as ever, but Esther can’t lose her heart to Joe. If it all went wrong, she’d lose two of her best friends.

A second chance at love?

But working together over a troubled patient, the connection between them is undeniable. And when Esther's parents' marriage hits trouble, Joe is there for her, offering her support, and Esther knows she's fallen hard.

Are they brave enough to take a risk on love, or are they destined to remain friends forever?

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/friendshospitalsocial

My Review:

As a fully fledged fan of Jo Bartlett books, I couldn’t wait to return to The Cornish Country Hospital for the second book in her latest series. Whist I am a lover of reading a series in order where possible, you could happily read this as a standalone ( I do recommend all books by Jo anyway though!)

This time we focus on Esther and how she is coping following her recent break up from (the awful) cheating Lucas. As she is Danni’s best friend we also get to see how her romance with Charlie is progressing from the first book in the series.

I love Esther’s characters, I did in book one and even more so now. She’s lucky to be near family, but doesn’t necessarily see that things are not exactly rosy there either. Caroline, Esther’s Mum, was looking forward to having a fun filled retirement with her husband, but he no longer seems bothered by her or anything she tries to do.

We also meet Joe, Danni’s brother, who sounds swoon worthy in every way. He and Esther have always got along but Esther has always fancied him, could a close friendship be in jeopardy if romance takes hold?

Fantastic, as always. I loved finding out more about each character, they have ups and downs, things aren’t smooth sailing for anyone. A traumatic event brings Esther and Joe closer together, but in her eagerness to help others Esther also puts herself at risk.

A engaging story about friendship, kindness and being there for those you love. Things are not always going to be simple but with some support you can make your way through any difficulty. It has brilliant storylines, drama, tension, romance as well as humour at times (Good old Gwen!)

I really like this new hospital setting and look forward to reading what’s next. 

Author Bio:

Jo Bartlett was born a stone’s throw from the English Channel and still lives near the sea in Kent. Jo has had numerous bestsellers in the UK, Australia and Canada, including a UK Top 10. Since joining Boldwood Books in 2021, Jo has had a further eight bestselling novels in The Cornish Midwife series.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoBartlettAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/J_B_Writer 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jo_bartlett123/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JoBartlettNews

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jo-bartlett

Underneath the Christmas Tree - Heidi Swain

 

***The sparkling new Christmas novel from the  Sunday Times  bestselling author Heidi Swain!***

Wynter’s Trees is the home of Christmas. For the people of Wynmouth it’s where they get their family Christmas tree, and where Christmas truly comes to life.

But for Liza Wynter, it’s a millstone around her neck. It was her father’s pride and joy but now he’s gone, she can’t have anything to do with it. Until her father’s business partner decides to retire and she must go back to handle the transition to his son Ned.

When Liza arrives, she discovers a much-loved business that’s flourishing under Ned’s stewardship. And she’s happy to stay and help for the Christmas season, but then she has other plans. But will the place where she grew up make her change her mind? And can it weave its Christmas cheer around her heart…?

Underneath the Christmas Tree is the perfect festive read, promising snowfall, warm fires and breath-taking seasonal romance. Perfect for fans of Milly Johnson, Carole Matthews and Cathy Bramley.

PUBLICATION DATE: 28th October 2021 - PREORDER HERE

If ever a book was destined to be made into a cosy, heart-warming, fabulous, Hallmark Christmas move it’s this one. Heidi Swain delivers Christmas in true style here, I have to say it’s one of my favourite festive reads this year and one I know I will read again closer to the big day.

Wynter’s Trees sounds brilliant, and although I completely understand why Liza hasn’t wanted to be around, she’s missed out on so much. The festive magic is in the air, and it leaps off the page!

David, and son Ned, have been taking care of everything at the Christmas Tree farm since Liza’s Dads death but now with retirement in mind, David is keen to move on and let Ned buy his share. Liza is keen to move on also, and with a plan she finally returns, hoping to convince Ned to buy her share as well so she can fulfil her travel and career plans.

David and Ned are reluctant to have Liza sell, they truly believe she doesn’t want to really, deep down and set about making her realise what she will be losing. Magic must be in the air as slowly Liza is pulled back into the festive atmosphere; she genuinely starts to see the beauty of the season again and just how special Wynters Trees is.

Liza took a bit of warming up too, although I understood her reasons, I thought she was perhaps a little immature and hasty, and blinkered in her views, unwilling to listen to those that genuinely cared for her. She seemed very determined, but I liked that she met her match in Ned. The chemistry between the two was instant and undeniable.

I loved the craft huts and the great community it created – what a great idea and took me away to all the fabulous Christmas markets and craft fairs we see pop up in the run up to the season. Always nice to see some old characters pop up again, although it is completely a standalone book.

I could honestly rave about this all day; an absolute delight as always. You know you are in a safe pair of hands with Heidi; never failing to bring us wonderful characters, emotional heart warming stories with romance, community spirit and the ability to leave us feeling all warm and cosy.

A festive hug in book form... I cannot recommend this one enough!

Sunday Times Best-selling author with a passion for vintage, hearth & home.

Creating wonderful communities and characters. Find out more -

Website: https://heidiswain.co.uk/

Check out the blog: http://heidiswain.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WriterHeidiJoSwain

 

Q&A with Eliza J. Scott

Welcome to The Comfy Chair Blog.... Eliza J.Scott...

Hi Jenn, thank you so much for inviting me to take part in your author Q&A. So, without further ado, I’ll dive straight in…

 1.       WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE CHILDHOOD BOOK/AUTHOR?

I’d have to say Enid Blyton and her books about the Enchanted Wood and the Faraway Tree. It was while looking them as a small child, I first realised I could actually read; not just a couple of words, but lots of them put together to make a sentence, then a paragraph, then a page! I can still remember that feeling of utter happiness! I was also enthralled by Beatrix Potter and the exquisite drawings in her books; the perfect fuel for a young imagination! Happy memories.

2.       WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START WRITING AND HOW LONG HAS IT TAKEN YOU TO GET TO THIS POINT?

I’d say my love of books and reading is what inspired me. As a child, I always used to feel an overwhelming urge to write after I’d finished reading a book. I used to make my own – complete with drawings – out of pieces of paper folded together. I’d scribble little stories about mice who lived in tree trunks or a girl called Emily who was always getting into mischief. I wanted to be a writer from an early age, but those dreams got swallowed up by life, getting a job, getting married, having a family, buying a building renovation … all the usual things. I started writing seriously again when my youngest daughter started secondary school, but I kept it to myself and used to write in secret! I’ve got notebooks full of drafts for different stories – my Life on the Moors series came from these, as has the seaside series I’ll be starting next year. But it was a trip to the Festival of Writing at York that really spurred me on; I came away from that feeling very fired up. So, to sum up; it’s taken a heck of a long time to get to this point!

3.      DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING SPACE – NEAT AND ORDERLY OR CREATIVE CHAOS?

It’s a bit of a mixture actually – though the chaos isn’t creative! My writing space is a little room just off the living room – we call it ‘the snug’. It needs a total revamp, but I moved in to write during lockdown as my usual space (the kitchen table) was proving impossible to work from with everyone being at home full-time. It’s still home to a bit of junk (that’s yours, Mr S, if you’re reading this!) which is slowly disappearing, but I’ve been buying lots of lovely bits and bobs to decorate it with when it’s finally cleared. I have my desk in there, and I like everything on it to be neat and orderly; only papers, notebooks and files relating to my current WIP are allowed!

4.      WHAT IS THE EASIEST AND HARDEST PART OF THE WRITING PROCESS?

For me, the hardest part is definitely writing the blurb! Ughh! Just thinking about it puts my stomach in knots! The easiest part is when I’m describing scenery from the North Yorkshire Moors, which I can see from the windows of my home. I can’t help but feel totally inspired whenever I look out at them.

5.      WHICH OTHER AUTHORS ARE YOU INFLUENCED BY?

Ooh, this is a tricky one to narrow down as there are so many wonderful authors out there. I’d say my favourites would have to include Milly Johnson, Sarah Morgan, Heidi Swain (fully-fledged member of the Swainettes club here!), Cathy Bramley, Carole Matthews, Catherine Alliott, Santa Montefiore, Emma Davies, Jules Wake/Julie Caplin, Freya North, Karen Swan … oh, heck, I could go on forever!

6.      WHAT DOES LITERARY SUCCESS LOOK LIKE TO YOU?

When a reader takes the time to get in touch to tell you how much they enjoyed your books. It’s just the best feeling; heartwarming and humbling in equal measure – it still takes a bit to sink in! – and I appreciate it enormously.

7.      HOW DO YOU SELECT THE NAMES OF YOUR CHARACTERS?

I don’t have a process really, they just pop into my head when I’m drawing up their profile. They pretty much always stick too.

8.      DO YOU HIDE ANY SECRET ‘MESSAGES’ IN YOUR BOOK THAT ONLY A FEW PEOPLE WILL UNDERSTAND?

No, I’ve never done that. I’d love to find out who does, though! That’s very intriguing.

9.      IF YOUR BOOK WAS TO BE MADE INTO A FILM/TV PROGRAMME, WHICH ACTORS WOULD PLAY WHICH ROLE?

For A Christmas Kiss and A Christmas Wedding at the Castle, I’d have to say Henry Cavill for Zander and Holliday Grainger for Livvie, with a very cheeky black Labrador for Alf’s role!

10.  WHAT DO YOU HOPE YOUR READERS TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR BOOK?

The same as I hope for myself when reading a book: the opportunity to be transported to a fictional place where I can immerse myself amongst the pages and forget about what’s going on around me. That’s become increasingly important this year.

LASTLY, JENN (THE COMFY CHAIR) LIKES TO ENJOY A GOOD READ SNUGGLED UP WITH A CUP OF TEA AND A PIECE OF CAKE … WHAT CAKE OR SWEET TREAT WOULD YOU SUGGEST TO ACCOMPANY YOUR BOOK?

I can’t think of anything nicer than snuggling up with a book and a large mug of Yorkshire Tea (no sugar, just a splash of milk!) and a couple of ginger biscuits for dunking!

Thank you for your fabulous questions, Jenn, I had great fun answering them. And, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the wonderful members of the book community – whether they’re a reader, a blogger or an author – for all of their support and kind words. It’s such a warm, friendly and inclusive community to be part of. Thank you!

My latest release – A Christmas Wedding at the Castle – is my second festive romance novel and book #5 in the Life on the Moors series. It follows straight on from A Christmas Kiss and catches up with Livvie and Zander – and the very cheeky, but adorable black Labrador, Alfred. There are plenty of appearances by the usual cast of friends, and we get to know quite a bit more about the slightly reclusive Freda Easton; she’s their nearest neighbour on the moors. On top of that, a couple of secrets and a last-minute disaster threaten to scupper Livvie and Zander’s plans. It’s a romance story with a thread of friendship running through it and plenty of laughs along the way. As with all of my novels, there’s a happy ending, but the road to it has the odd bump and detour!

If you like the sound of it, you can grab a copy here:

ELIZA J SCOTT - AMAZON UK

ELIZA J SCOTT - AMAZON USA

                                                               

ABOUT ELIZA

Eliza is proud to be a member of the RNA. She lives in a village in the North Yorkshire Moors with her husband, their two daughters and two mischievous black Labradors. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found with her nose in a book/glued to her Kindle or working in her garden, fighting a losing battle against the weeds.

When she's not reading or gardening, Eliza also enjoys bracing walks in the countryside, rounded off by a visit to a teashop where she can indulge in another two of her favourite things: tea and cake. Her biggest weakness is ginger biscuits dunked in tea.
Eliza is inspired by her beautiful surroundings and loves to write heartwarming romance stories with relatable female characters. She enjoys exploring the dynamics of female friendship, with a key feature of her books being how women pull together and support one another when things get tough.
Eliza's novels will always have happy endings.

 Social Media Links –

Twitter:  @ElizaJScott1

Instagram: @elizajscott

Facebook: @elizajscottauthor

Blog: www.elizajscott.com

Bookbub: www.bookbub.com/authors/eliza-j-scott

Amazon Author Page:

UK:  www.amazon.co.uk/Eliza-J-Scott/e/B07DMQWPMH

US: www.amazon.com/Eliza-J-Scott/e/B07DMQWPMH

 

Q&A with Mary Grand

   Welcome to The Comfy Chair blog... Mary Grand, author of 'The House Party.' 

About Mary:

I live on the Isle of Wight with my family. Before coming to the Island, I worked as a teacher of Deaf children in Hastings and Croydon.  I grew up in Wales and speak a smattering of Welsh, my first few novels are set in Wales.  After several happy years of self-publishing I am now very excited to be working with Boldwood Books.  

What was your favourite childhood book/author?

I grew up with Enid Blyton books, mostly reading stories about children with very different lives to my own. My favourite series was called ‘The Naughtiest Girl in the School’.  Generally, I appear to have liked reading about children (and cats!) that liked breaking the rules, who were a bit rebellious. As an extremely conforming child I guess reading for me was a safe way to escape the mundane, to know the thrill of going to new places and discovering different ways of living.

 

What inspired you to start writing and how long has it taken you to get to this point?

I only started writing about seven years ago. I had been unwell and went on a creative writing course one evening a week.  The teacher was really inspiring, and I discovered a whole new world.  I self-published my first three novels, the first of which was ‘Free to Be Tegan’. This was inspired by my experiences growing up in a strict religious sect. Earlier this year I was very excited to sign a 3-book deal with Boldwood Books for a series of standalone   thrillers /whodunnits set on the Isle of Wight. My first book with them, ‘The House Party’, was published last July.  I am busy working on the next!

 

Describe your writing space - neat and ordered or creative chaos?
My thinking space tends to be outdoors; quiet, solitary places and my favourite is Mottistone Down here on the Isle of Wight.

My actual writing space is curled up on the sofa with my laptop. I have a coffee table in front of me with notebooks and lists.

I have tried to create more orderly spaces with a desk and pin board but it’s never worked for me. I think I need to be close to coffee and biscuits!

 

What is the easiest and hardest part of the writing process?

The easiest part is thinking up the ideas, the characters, the plots and I enjoy creating my world and the people who live in it. Some days however I feel overwhelmed by doubt or the task of completing the whole novel.  The most helpful thing for me at this point is to remember that saying by Anne Lamott...take it ‘bird by bird.’..one step at a time.

 

Which other authors are you influenced by? 
I love a wide range of writers of Women’s fiction and also crime and thrillers. Some writers who have influenced me are Barbara Copperthwaite, Cara Hunter, Daphne Du Maurier, Agatha Christie, Lucy Foley, Louise Candlish...the list goes on!

 

What does literary success “look” like to you?

One of the best feelings in the world is when you hear from a reader how much they have enjoyed your book, how it might have helped them through a difficult patch.  A really exciting moment for me was seeing ‘The House Party’ in book shops sitting along writers I have admired for years.

 

How do you select the names of your characters?

I love choosing the names of my characters!  I often research the meaning of a name but sometimes the name will just come to me and be right for that person. I come from Wales and the main characters in my first four novels all have beautiful Welsh names. On a practical note I try not to have two characters with names starting with the same initial as it can be confusing.

Do you hide any secret ‘messages’ in your book that only a few people will understand?

Each of my novels has a cocker spaniel in it and their names are chosen very carefully. Since I started writing I have also been a member of a group for owners of cocker spaniels. I choose the names of one of their dogs each time as a way of saying thank you for all their love and support.

 

What do you hope your readers take away from your books?

Thrillers and whodunnits are naturally tense, suspenseful stories. My aim is for the reader to get lost in the story, to escape. My main characters go on difficult journeys with lots if twists and turns. However ultimately things are resolved, loose ends tied up and I hope my readers leave the book feeling surprised, satisfied, and with a hint of ‘of course, I should have seen that coming!’

 

Lastly, Jenn (The Comfy Chair) likes to enjoy a good read snuggled up with a cup of tea and piece of cake... what cake or sweet treat would you suggest to accompany your book?
I think I would choose welsh cakes. Like Beth in ‘The House Party’ welsh cakes were something my mum made a lot when I was growing up in Wales.

The House Party

At the intimate house-warming party for her glorious ‘grand design’, Kathleen confides in her best friend Beth that she is terrified of one of their close friends, but daren’t reveal which one. The guests are a tight-knit group, but Kathleen is convinced one of them is dangerous.

The next day Kathleen’s body is found at the foot of a cliff and Beth must face the sickening truth that she may have been killed by one of their trusted friends. With little help from the police, Beth’s decides to seek answers.

All the friends have secrets they are desperate to hide, but only one of them is ready to kill to keep theirs safe... Available HERE

Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Mary-Grand-1584393925166154
Twitter: @authormaryg
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard
Email:   marygrand90@yahoo.co.uk
Website: marygrand.net 

How many books - Target or Pressure?

New Years Eve 2018 and it's about that time, you know what I'm talking about - the time each year where we all rack our brains, think back over the past 12 months and forward to a brand spanking 365 days of gleaming, new opportunities. Many of us make resolutions; to lose weight, stop smoking, save money etc etc. Half hearted attempts at self improvement that generally don't last until the end of January let alone the year. It's also the time book lovers gather together their lists of 'best reads' or 'ones to watch.' 

I've previously spoken about the self imposed book buying ban (The Book Buying Ban - How to tackle the TBR pile) and how sticking that out for January would never be repeated, but there is something I have done this year as I did in 2018 - set a Goodreads reading challenge target. 

I started late in 2018 - around July time - and set what I thought was a ridiculous number of 50 books. My intention was to add the books I'd read before July, as many as I could remember anyway. I was thrilled as I saw the count go up and up, it really spurred me on. The more I read, the higher it got and the more I wanted to consume any old book I could get my hands on (not hard when you have what seems to be a TBR mountain in your bedroom). 

I completed the challenge - people that know me say I did it easily - and at the end of 2018 I'd finished up reading 69 books. To be honest I thought it was a bit of a fluke.

Deciding my target for 2019 was probably more difficult than it needed to be. 

I didn't want to set it too high as I would hate not to achieve it but then I didn't want to set to too low and it seem silly.

When I had a figure in mind I asked the opinion of my sister and my Mum. They watch me read, they think my book buying habits are hilarious. They have a wonderful ability to know what I think of a book as I am reading it - usually by the pace at which I am reading, the face I pull or the fact that when they speak to me it doesn't register and they have to repeatedly call my name to get my attention.

I told them my target was going to be FIFTY again. I though this was realistic as I work full time and often do things at home, I have a little craft business and attend craft fairs regularly so I am often making stock - I thought fifty would be a great number of books for the year. They laughed - real full on laughter - and just shook their heads in disbelief. Both agreed my target should be 80. I wasn't having it, nope, not with how much of my time is used elsewhere - but I did decide to set my challenge at sixty. 

Four months later and I'm sat questioning if the challenge itself is a good thing or if it is putting pressure on yourself to ensure you meet that number.

I adore Goodreads; I love the way you can keep track of what you've read, what you thought of the books, the authors etc. I enjoy how you can see what you're friends and people with similar book tastes have read, enjoyed and reviewed. It's a great way, for me, of keeping track of what I have read because I didn't really before. I have the intention and would start lists or use address books so I could put them in by author but I used to lose interest or the book.

I mentioned that previously I had felt spurred on, motivated to read knowing it would add to

my tally.. but is actually is it a level of pressure that I don't need adding to my life? Am I really enjoying all the books or just zipping through them for the sake of increasing my number?

So far 2019 has been a lovely year, some AMAZING books, some wonderful ARCs have come my way and I've found some great new authors - would I have come across them regardless of the challenge I've put on myself - yes. Have I had the challenge in my mind with almost every book I've read? Yes. 

I've noticed I don't just read now, I also know which "number book" it is. Should that really be what I care about when reading a book, what it takes my tally to? I've also noticed that I compare my number of reads to that of my friends on Goodreads, I just can't help myself.

I'm not a competitive person by nature, not at all but with this I've woken some kind of weird competitive vibe in me that I dislike. I love that anyone reads any amount, I celebrate when I know people love a good book and when they find an author or genre that they like, I actively go out of my way to share the love of a book, pass books on and make recommendations - so why do I care about the number of books anyone else has read?

As of 7th April my Goodreads Reading Challenge total: 

Not even four full months of the year and I have already reached my target. I have read some incredible books  and genuinely, I don't feel like I have ever read for the sake of my target but I do wonder without it, would I have read this many books by now?! More importantly - would I have cared? 

My sister teases that even her target for me (80) is going to look silly by the end of the year but who knows. The reality is that I could amend that Goodreads target but I know I won't. I'll leave it as it is, hopefully as a reminder that it doesn't really matter.

Reading is loving a book, enjoying the stories that are created, the characters that become friends, finding authors that give us tears, heart break, love and hope - it's why we all stick our head in a book, lose ourselves in a different world and do it over and over again. 

Will I even set Goodreads target next year? Probably.
Will I increase my target next year? Probably not.