My A-Z of Books

I first spotted this tag on Aoife’s blog Pretty Purple Polka Dots, then Joanne at Portobello Book Blog and the lovely Sarah at Bytheletterbookreviews both did theirs so I figured I’d take part as well! 😊

Author you’ve read the most books from:

This one is easy, I’ve read all of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher books, so that’s 20 books in the series so far. I don’t think there’s any other series I’ve read (yet!!!) that’s as long, but I do have Sue Grafton’s Alphabet Series (26) on my shelves!

Best Sequel Ever:

I’m not going to lie, I can’t even think of book sequels at the moment! I genuinely can’t think of one!!! I’ve seen Harry Potter floating about so maybe that! 😂

Currently reading:

Im reading Deadly Harvest by Michael Stanley and it’s fab! So different to my usual reads but equally as good!

Drink of choice while reading:

Usually it’s coffee! In the evening when the kids go to bed, it could be tea! I’m super rock n roll, I know! 😃

E-reader or physical book:

Both are great if you ask me! I don’t have a preference for one over the other, but you can’t beat the smell and feel of a book. E-readers are so convenient though, especially for digital ARCs from authors or publishers.

Fictional character you probably would have actually dated in high school:

I have to say Ron Weasley! He’s just so affable and funny in the HP books, and he’s always been my favourite!

Glad you gave this book a chance:

I rarely read outside my genre, but I read The Book Thief (same as Sarah) a few years ago and it was just wonderful!

Hidden Gem book:

Dead is Better by Jo Perry! A wonderfully surprising and unique read! You can catch my 5⭐️ review for it HERE. ❤️

Important moment in your reading life:

I guess starting my blog would be pretty important. It’s opened so many doors for bookish opportunities, and I’ve made some great friends because of it!

Just finished:

I’ve finished The Evolution of Fear by Paul E. Hardisty most recently, and my review will be posted as part of the blog tour next week!

Kind of books you won’t read:

I’m not a fan of erotica or historical fiction if I’m honest, and I won’t read classical literature either. I prefer my books to be modern I suppose!

Longest book you’ve ever read:

Needful Things by Stephen King, a whopper of a book at 933 pages!

Major book hangover:

I’ll have to put in the Harry Potter series here as they were just brilliant, and so emotionally charged that by the end I felt like I needed a hug and a sleep! 😂

Number of bookcases you own:

Currently, I have three bookcases at home. One filled with books I’ve read, and two filled with books I have yet to read. I also have books in my old office at work, so a possible 4 bookcases if I count them!

One book you’ve read multiple times:

I don’t reread books so this doesn’t really apply to me! There’s just so many books out there that I want to read so essentially, I don’t have the time!

Preferred place to read:

I have two! I mainly read in bed before I go to sleep, but I also love reading on the couch with headphones on as its the only time I listen to music these days. So nights when my husband is on the PS4, and listening out for the kids, I get to disappear into a book! 😊

Quote that inspired you/ Gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

“Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside. We think hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed is. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harm we do, we do to ourselves.”

– Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet In Heaven

Reading regret:

I have to agree with Joanne from Portobello Book Blog here; spending time reading books that I didn’t enjoy when I could have been reading a book I loved would be a reading regret.

Series you started and need to finish:

I started Steven Dunne’s DI Damen Brook series last week, it’s all I can do not to read them all one after another!!!!

Three of your all time favourite books:

This is a hard question! I’ve loved so many books that it is nigh on impossible to narrow it down to three so I’m afraid I’ll have to skip this question!

Unapologetic fangirl for:

Ragnar Jónasson! ❤️ I love his writing and his ability to weave wonderful stories!

Very excited for this release more than all others:

Again, Ragnar Jónasson as he has BLACKOUT, the next in the Dark Iceland series out this year AND Michael Wood’s OUTSIDE LOOKING IN is out this month which I am super excited for!!! 😍

Worst bookish habit:

Buying too many books (YEAH RIGHT!!! 😂), losing myself in books when I read, and probably staying up reading until my eyes are closing 🙈

X marks the spot- start on the top left of your bookshelf and pick the 27th book:

Heartbreaker by Tania Carver!

Your latest purchase:

It’s easier to put in a picture, as there’s 16! 😱

Zzzzz Snatcher book (the book that kept you up way too late):

Most recently, it’s probably Make Me by Lee Child but there have been lots of books that I just have to keep reading!
So there’s my A-Z of books! Thanks for reading! 😊

The Four Things Tag

I spotted this on Aoife’s blog Pretty Purple Polka Dots, she loves a good tag! So I decided to do my own too because it’s always fun to learn more about the people you follow! 😊

Four places I’ve lived:

Theoretically, I’ve lived in the same city since I was born so there’s nothing I can say other than Galway x 4! 😂

Four jobs I’ve had:

Deli Assistant

Sales Assistant for New Look

Office Admin for Truck Parts company

Sales rep for Car Parts company

Four things I don’t eat:

Lamb

Mushrooms

Chicken Soup

Beetroot (ate way too much as a child!😂)

Four of my favourite foods:

Fresh bread and butter

My husbands lasagne

Chocolate

Taylo Cheese & Onion

(See a pattern with junk food yet?! 😂)

Four movies I’ve watched more than once:

*There’s lots so narrowing it down is hard*

Avengers Assemble

Zoolander

Just Go With It

The Waterboy

Four TV shows I watch:

The Good Wife

Grey’s Anatomy

Location, Location, Location

The Chase

Four places I’ve visited:

The Bahamas

USA

Lanzarote

Austria

Four things I’m looking forward to this year:

Never thought I’d say it, but turning 30…

My kids and husbands birthdays

Reading ALL THE BOOKS 😂

Hopefully making it to a blogger meet up

Four things I can’t live without:

My little family ❤️

COFFEE!!! I’m unreasonable without it

BOOKS- they are my comfort, my hobby and my solace when I need it

My friends ❤️

Four pet peeves:

Bad grammar and spelling errors (Aoife had this too 😂)

Homophobia- Love is Love ❤️

Small minded people

Being interrupted when I’m reading 😉

Four Things I Wish I Could Do:

Retrain in something I enjoy, I.e something book related 😂

Get a diagnosis for my constant pain

Travel more

A creative writing course

Four Subjects I Studied at School:

Irish

Geography

Home Economics

Woodwork

Four Things Near Me Right Now:
Coffee mug

My phone

Books

Baby monitor

So, there you have it, a simple but fun tag! 😊

25 Random Things about Me

I’ve been thinking about doing a post like this for a while because, let’s face it, unless you’re a family member or friend you don’t really know me.

This is me with my husband (sorry to disappoint, I’m not an eye with a kindle for a face IRL!) 😊

1. What is your middle name?

Margaret (after one of my great grandmothers) and Helena (taken for my confirmation)

2. What is your favorite drink?

Coffee in the morning, tea in the evening, Apple and Blackcurrant Robinsons during the day. Rarely, I might push the boat out and drink a Coke!!!

3. What is your favorite song at the moment?

I don’t have a favourite as such as I don’t have a radio, so rarely hear current music. If I had to pick, it would be either some One Direction (I know!) or a Finnish band called HIM. I’ve loved them since I was 17!

4. What is your favorite food?

This is tough, I’m a sucker for fresh bread with butter. I love all the stuff that’s bad for you to be honest! My husband makes a mean lasagne though!

5. What is the last thing you bought?

Jane Issac’s book The Truth Will Out. My answer was always going to be a book wasn’t it! 😉

6. Favorite book of all time?

The Harry Potter Series will always be my favourite I think. I find it very hard to choose a favourite “grown up” book. Elizabeth Haynes’ Into The Darkest Corner would be on the list for sure though.

7. Favorite Color?

Black. Or Grey!

8. Do you have any pets?

No pets in our house I’m afraid.

9. Favorite Perfume?

Burberry London. The original. The best. The I CAN’T FIND IT ANYMORE!!! 😂

10. Favorite Holiday?

Christmas. I love everything about it. Last year, I was too tired to enjoy it having just had my daughter 10 days previous but I’ll make up for it this year. In 2013 I had 4 Christmas trees up along with mini ones around the house, doubt I’ll get away with that this year! 😉

11. Are you married?

I am, as you can see from my pic above! My husband is the most wonderful, supportive man and the most caring and loving dad to our two children so I’m very lucky.

12. Have you ever been out of the country, if so how many times?

I have. Too many times to count, thanks to holiday-loving parents.

13. Do you speak any other language?

I speak Irish (being from Ireland and all that!), I studied it through college. I also did French in school so I can understand it a bit! I’m also fluent in sarcasm and curse words! 😉

14. How many siblings do you have?

None! I’m an only child!

15. What is your favorite store?

Any and every bookshop I go into. Basically anywhere I can buy books!

16. Favorite restaurant?

We rarely eat in restaurants anymore, but if I had to choose, Milano (Pizza Express in the UK) definitely.

17. When was the last time you cried?

I’m not usually a crier to be honest. I think the last time was watching one of the Harry Potter movies, when a certain character died. Gets me every time.

18. Favorite Blog?

I like any blogs about books so I’m just going to say my fellow #blogsquad members;

Crimebookjunkie Book Blog
Relax And Read Reviews
Bytheletterbookreviews

19. Favorite Movie?
I have loads! Top Gun, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Die Hard, Con Air, Gone in 60 Seconds, to name but a small few!!!

20. Favorite TV show?

I love questions, so The Chase on UTV, and then programmes like CSI, Criminal Minds, Grey’s Anatomy, Masterchef.

21. PC or Mac?

I rarely use a computer! I do most of my work on my iPad when I need to.

22. What phone do you have?

iPhone! Surprise surprise!

23. What’s your favourite pastime?

Ammmm, READING!! And blogging about the books I read! 🙂

24. Can you cook?

I can do basic stuff, veg potatoes freezer stuff. I do make a good honey glazed ham though! My husband is much better in the kitchen than me I think!

25. Do you have any tattoos or piercings?

I have my ears pierced. I got my nose pierced when I was younger and it was terrible! It didn’t last long!

I have 7 tattoos so far and all of them mean something to me. I have 2 anchors, two number 13 tattoos, my sons name, INRI, a heartagram (the logo of the band HIM!) and a date. I’m planning on two more that I know of so far, one of which is for my daughter.
So, there you have it. 25 random things about me. If you want to participate in this tag, comment with a link to your blog and tag me on Twitter and Facebook too!

I love learning more about people so this should be interesting and fun! 🙂

#BLOGSQUAD you are tagged on this post so that you all do this tag! Xx

Reading Habits Tag

I love book blogger tags but I very rarely get a chance to participate in them! Not this time 🙂

Thanks to the lovely Hayley at Rathertoofondofbooks and the wonderful Lorraine at Thebookreviewcafe, I’m following suit with my reading habits so without further ado;

Bibliophile Book Club’s reading habits…

Do you have a certain place at home for reading?
Theoretically, I don’t have one place I like to read. I read in bed every night, but if I’m reading downstairs in the evenings, or (rarely) during the day, I read in my chair. This chair was bought purely because it looks super comfy (it is!!!) and I love a good reading space.

Bookmark or random piece of paper?

I’d have to say both! I try to use a bookmark but sometimes they aren’t to hand so I’ll just use whatever I find until I can get my hands one one. If it’s a hardcover with a sleeve I’ll use the inner flap and tuck it into whatever page I’ve stopped on. I collect bookmarks though, so I try to use them! Here’s a small selection I found when I reorganised my bookshelves!

Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop at the end of a chapter/ a certain amount of pages?

Oh god, this is a tough one. During the day, if I had a chance to read I’d have to stop wherever I am because my daughter would rip the book out of my hands! She’s 11 months old and doesn’t understand ‘just one more chapter’… Yet!!! 😉 If I’m reading in bed, regardless,of tiredness, I will not stop reading until the end of a chapter. It’s easier to stop at a definitive point for me.

Do you eat or drink while reading?

I would usually have a coffee during the day if I’ve got a chance to read as I know it’ll stil be hot when I get to drink it! 🙂 I don’t eat or drink reading in bed, but if it’s after the kids go to bed then I like to have something to munch on.

Multitasking: music or to whilst reading?

I have no problem with having the tv on while I’m reading, it doesn’t interfere too much with my concentration. I love listening to music when I read, but this only happens if my husband is playing on his PS4 as he can listen out for the kids. 😉

One book at a time or several at once?

Up until this year, I was a one book at a timer! However, since I got busier with blogging I have been trying to read more than one at a time. The most I read at once is three, one on my kindle, one on iPad and a physical book. Because I read the same genre you’d think it would get confusing but I never get my stories mixed up thankfully. I’m going to have to multi-read again soon as my TBR is piling up for November!

Read at home or everywhere?

I’ll read anywhere if I have a book and the time! However, I usually have one or both of the children with me at all times so it doesn’t happen often.

Read aloud or silently in your head?

Silently! Always! The only time I read aloud is bedtime with my 6 year old!

Do you read ahead or even skip pages?

Ammmmm….no! I’m going to get there anyway so why spoil the surprise!

Breaking the spine of keeping it new?

The Kate of old would have said keeping it new, on a pedestal, far away from any children or anything that could ruin a book.

However… I love books that look read. You know the kind, well thumbed, worn, loved. So I’ve relaxed my book minding… to an extent!

My signed first editions live in their plastic sleeves, high up on my bookshelves to be admired and kept as they are! 🙂

Do you write in books?

The only thing I ever write is my name and the year! I’ve been doing that for as long as I can remember and years ago I left books into a second hand bookshop and a friend of mine sent me a message ages after saying he’d just bought a book and it had my name in it! I loved that! 🙂
Well, there you have it. My reading habits. I think I’ll tag some fellow #blogsquad members to do this!

Sarah Hardy
Noelle Holten
Joseph Calleja