My Book Corner ~ Hayley from Rather Too Fond Of Books

Today I am joined by the very lovely Hayley who runs the blog Rather Too Fond Of Books.

If you've not checked out Hayely's blog yet then please do, I've come to know Hayley through blogging over the last year and she really is one of the nicest bloggers out there!

Tell us about your Book Corner/Writing Space?

I prefer to read in my living room as it’s a perfect place to read. I have a recliner chair that is super comfy so I always like to sit there. To to the left of my chair (as you can see in the photo) is my TBR bookcase. Not all of my TBR is on these two shelves, these are just the books I want to read next (they’re three books deep so it’s going to take me a while to read them all!). Opposite me in the room is my main bookcase, which I love being able to see from my chair (you can just make out the top of it in the mirror above my chair in this photo). As you can see my TBR books and my husband’s record collection are soon going to be competing for space… 

 Do you have a favourite shelf/collection of books? Or favourite part of your Book Corner?

Yes, I do. My main bookcase is where I keep all of my favourite books and it’s opposite my reading chair so I can always see them. I got rid of most of my print books a couple of years ago, which was hard at the time but it’s lovely now to have a bookcase where all of my favourite books can all be seen. I don’t keep my books in any kind of order but it all makes sense to me and I always know where to find every single one of my books. I do have other books that I plan to keep but they’re on my big bookshelf upstairs - this is because I spent most of the last year and a half living upstairs in my home so our spare room became a second living room for that time and I kept a lot of books upstairs. Now I have my stairlift and can get downstairs again I’m slowly re-arranging my books so that my favourite books are all together again - it’s a work in progress! There are a few of my husband’s books on this bookcase, but I like having them there as he doesn’t read much so I like him being able to see the books that he’s enjoyed in the hope it might inspire him to pick up another book one of these days. 

 Do you have any reading/writing habits?

I always keep post-it notes with me when I’m reading a print book so I can mark any quotes that I like. I’ve done this since I was a teenager and love being able to pick up a book that I’ve read before and see what stood out to me on a previous reading. If I ever find myself reading without post-its I take photos of the page on my phone so I can go back and stick post-its in the right places as soon as I can! I love being able to highlight books and make notes on my kindle too.

How do you keep apart, track and control your TBR to read books?

I mainly keep my print TBR books on separate shelves to the books I've read, and I keep my review books on a shelf of their own so I don't get them mixed up with my books. I’ve used Goodreads to keep track of my books for years and have every single book I own listed on there. I sometimes think I’d like to catalogue my TBR differently and somewhere else but it would be too big a job to do now. I do like looking through Goodreads and seeing what I was reading in any given month or year. I only ever list a book on Goodreads if I own it so it’s a little bit intimidating to know exactly how big my TBR is sometimes! Before the internet came along I used to write down every book I read in a notebook - I had so many notebooks full of lists but I stupidly threw the books away when I was clearing my mum’s house out. I couldn’t have kept them as I didn’t have room but I wish I’d taken the time to make a digital copy of them all. As for how I control my TBR... I don't think I've ever had control of it!

Can you provide links to your social media handles please?

My blog is: https://rathertoofondofbooks.com/ 

Twitter: @hayleysbookblog

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

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/hayleysblog/

Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/hayleysbookblog/

Google+ https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/115156125852042242013/115156125852042242013

Bloglovin' https://www.bloglovin.com/people/hayleyrathertoofondofbooks-15001473

My Book Corner ~ Emma Davies

Today I'm delighted to have author Emma Davies join me to share her book corner secrets!

Thank you for coming on Lozza’s BookCorner. Please can you tell us a little about you and your Book Corner/Writing Space?

I’m a writer of romantic fiction and I live in rural Shropshire with my husband, three children, 93 year old mother in law, and two guinea pigs!

My writing space tends to be a bit flexible, mainly because it’s quite often perched on the edge of the settee with my laptop on my knee, or at the kitchen table while I’m snatching a few words waiting for the tea to cook. I do however have a little space under the stairs which I gravitate to when I can. Only in the summer though, it’s in the middle of a howling draft in the winter! I would love to have an office / she shed / place where no-one can find me, but this space is a bit of the way there, It does at least mean I can leave all my stuff out, without constantly having to tidy things away. As you can see, it’s a very slight homage to Harry Potter, and yes the kids do jump on the stairs as they go up which showers me in dust!

Do you have a favourite shelf/collection of books? Or favourite part of your Book Corner?

I don’t really have a book corner, but here’s a photo of me in my favourite reading pose!

If you look at the photo the shelves on the left of the picture are my favourite ones, especially

     this one, because it has my collection of Katie Fforde, Erica James, and Jill Mansell books, which were all the inspiration I ever needed to start writing!

Do you have any reading/writing habits?

Only that I try to both every day. Reading – whenever I can (I never go anywhere without my kindle), and writing 2000 words a day. Tea and Pringles should accompany both whenever possible!

How do you keep apart, track and control your TBR books?

I have a little space on my bookshelves for physical books to be read, but to be honest I prefer to read on my kindle now, simply because of its portability and (woman of a certain age) because my eyesight is not what it was. I have a folder on my kindle for all my TBR books, and once I’ve read one I move it back out into my main library. That way I always have a ready selection to browse for what to read next.

Can you provide links to your social media handles please?

You can find me at:

www.emmadaviesauthor.com

@Emdavies68

www.facebook.com/emmadaviesauthor

And here’s my author page on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Emma-Davies/e/B00L1N8TLW/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

My Book Corner | Emma Crowley

It's my pleasure today to have Emma join us for the My Book Corner Feature - thank you Emma for taking the time out of reading for the following information!

1) Thank you for coming on Lozza’s BookCorner. Please can you tell us a little about you and your Book Corner/Writing Space?

Hi , my name is Emma Crowley.I live in Waterford in the southeast of Ireland. I’ve loved reading for as long as I can remember and can get through three or four books a week if time allows. I’m a primary school teacher working in my old school and am currently teaching first class. At the time of writing I am wishing the last few weeks of the school year away so I can indulge in heaps of reading during my summer holidays.

I'm a regular guest reviewer for Sharon Wilden at Shaz's Book Blog.    

Thanks to Sharon, I have been allowed to satisfy my love of reading and my craving for books books books. Through reviewing I have discovered many fabulous new authors that I mightn't have taken the chance on before. I’ve even started to read in genres that hadn't previously appealed to me. I love women's fiction ( I daren't used the dreaded chick-lit term) and historical fiction and particularly time slip novels as I enjoy jumping between the past and the present with stories that have a hint of mystery or secrets to be uncovered. Some of my favourite authors are  Lesley Pearse, Lucinda Riley, Dinah Jefferies, Kate Morton and Kate Furnivall. I count Alexandra Brown and Cressida McLaughlin as two authors  whose books I will always want to rush out and buy. Recently I have discovered Isabelle Broom and Annie Darling and both are definitely authors to watch out for. Realistically there are so many authors I could list but needless to say I always have a huge T.B.R pile of books waiting to be read and I don't think that's ever going to change but I really wouldn't want it any other way.

I don't have a particular Book Corner a such as books are literally in every room of my house ( except the bathroom!). There is a massive pile beside my bed of books waiting to be read. Well I say pile at this stage it is extending to four stacks that are in constant threat of toppling down. I have a spare room which I call the library and it has all the books I have read and can't bare to part with. When I first moved into my house I had bookshelves built from wall to ceiling on one wall thinking I'd never fill them up but of course I did and now funds won't allow me to get more built so I have resorted to boxes to store books which I have finished. My favourite place to read is curled up on the couch with either a paperback or Kindle in my hand with some chocolate or crisps near by to keep me going. I can literally spend hours sat in the same place as I often become so engrossed in what I am reading that I never feel the time go by. If we get a nice summer I love nothing more than spending the day lounging in the garden reading. The beach is not for me so a day in a peaceful garden with a good book is pure bliss and perfection for me.

Not a very inspiring book cover but it's where I read and am super comfortable.

2) Do you have a favourite shelf/collection of books? Or favourite part of your Book Corner?

Oh Laura what a question! 

How can you make me choose ? 

I'll go with my heart and my gut instinct and say my Lesley Pearse shelf. 

Lesley has been my ultimate favourite author for as long as I can remember. I have read and own all of her books and not once have I ever been let down, in fact she just gets better and better with each book. She writes both contemporary and historical fiction and if I had to pick a favourite I would go for two as I really can't choose between Trust Me and Never Look Back. I read them years ago but they always spring to mind when I think of Lesley. I  recommended Lesley's last book Without a Trace to a fellow blogger and I was delighted to see she loved it as much as I did and now she wants to go and read her back catalogue. This gives me a real buzz as I love knowing people will enjoy such a wonderful author. Can I be really sneaky and slip in a second shelf ? As I adore the writing of Lucinda Riley and although she hasn't written as many books as Lesley Pearse my shelf is ever growing and she is a superb writer. If you haven't read anything by Lucinda I suggest you do. She is currently working on a planned series of seven books called The Seven Sisters and so far two have been released which were fantastic. She is another author who never publishes a book that I don't instantly fall in love with.

3) Do you have any reading/writing habits?

No unusual reading habits spring to mind apart from the fact I have books everywhere and still insist on acquiring more. I really don't need books from the library as I have such a volume of both physical books and Kindle books but yet I can never resist going to the library ( as it is just above the shop where I go to do my food shopping) and always inevitably end up coming out with a book or two or three that caught my eye. As regards actually reading I like to switch it up between paperbacks and the Kindle and also genres. Sometimes I'll read a glut of historical fiction and then need to change to nice easy, romantic , feel good women's fiction and vice versa. I find if I read several review books in a row it's always nice just to pick up a book that doesn't need to be reviewed and just chill with it. Not that I don't love reviewing books ! I'm someone who is not able to read more than one book at a time although I must confess and you may laugh at this but I always have a hair-drying book on the go. See I do take advantage of every opportunity to read. While I am drying my hair I have a nice easy Kindle book to read. Ok so it may take me several weeks to read the book as I only manage a few chapters at a time but still there is never enough hours for reading so I embrace every opportunity. Lol.

4) How do you keep apart, track and control your TBR books?

Sometimes it feels like everything is getting out of control with so many good books that I find it hard to keep up and keep track. Thankfully Sharon is amazing and super organised and she always knows what books I have for review and when they are published or if a book I am reading is part of a blog tour. She'll always give me a gentle nudge/reminder when needed. I do have a notebook that I keep on a side table next to my reading spot where I write endless lists of what I have to read and by when. I get a deep sense of satisfaction when I can cross a book off a list. I love making lists I suppose that's the teacher coming out in me. For books that are just for personal pleasure when reading and don't need to be reviewed I don't make a list instead I choose when I feel like it from the endless piles scattered around the house !

5) Can you provide links to your social media handles please?

Guest Reviewer: http://shazsbookblog.blogspot.co.uk

Twitter: @emthebookworm

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/

My Book Corner | Abby Vegas

Please welcome author Abby Vegas today, to share her book corner with us.

Thank you for coming on Lozza’s BookCorner. Please can you tell us a little about you and your Book Corner/Writing Space?

Thanks for having me! I currently live in New England and I really love writing on the screen porch in the summertime. It looks out over our back yard and it's a little slice of heaven. In the daytime it's green in all directions with dappled sunlight and it's very much my happy place, especially if my husband brings me an adult beverage. When I write there at night, I like to hang up a kerosene lamp and get that word-count up! 

 Do you have a favourite shelf/collection of books? Or favourite part of your Book Corner?

My favorite part of writing on the screen porch is when the cat joins me there and graces me with her haughty presence.

 Do you have any reading/writing habits?

I can't read something that's too close to what I'm writing. I feel like it influences me unconsciously. So if I'm writing a chick-lit novel with a strong romantic suspense element set in modern-day NYC, then I might pick up a time-travel Highlander or a Regency romance.

 How do you keep apart, track and control your TBR books?

I like Goodreads a lot, but my TBR list is out of control. I should probably be more disciplined and create more Goodreads shelves. I'm always in awe of Goodreads users who seem to have a system.

 Can you provide links to your social media handles please?

My website: AbbyVegasAuthor.com

Clean Break:  Amazon - iBooks - Kobo - ARe

Review | No Turning Back by Tracy Buchanan

Title: No Turning Back

Author: Tracy Buchanan

Publisher: Avon

Published: July 2016

Kindle | Paperback

You’d kill to protect your child – wouldn’t you?

When radio presenter Anna Graves and her baby are attacked on the beach by a crazed teenager, Anna reacts instinctively to protect her daughter.

But her life falls apart when the schoolboy dies from his injuries. The police believe Anna’s story, until the autopsy results reveal something more sinister.

A frenzied media attack sends Anna into a spiral of self-doubt. Her precarious mental state is further threatened when she receives a chilling message from someone claiming to be the ‘Ophelia Killer’, responsible for a series of murders twenty years ago.

Is Anna as innocent as she claims? And is murder forgiveable, if committed to save your child’s life…?

Back last year I dived into My Sisters Secret by Tracy Buchanan - It made my top books of 2015 and was the one I recommended to everyone! It was so descriptive and captivating that when I saw Tracy had a new release out this year, it immediately made it's way onto my wish list. You can catch up with my review of My Sisters Secret here.

Although crime books aren't usually my thing, when No Turning Back landed through my letterbox, I just knew I had to pick it up.

I'll be honest, there was a patch around the 25% where I thought that this really wasn't for me, but once again, Tracy's writing style completely pulled me in and I was once again lost in her fictional world.

What we know about the book from the synopsis is that Anna, a well loved local radio presenter, protects herself and young daughter Joni, in an encounter on the beach with a school boy. Unfortunately the young lad dies and Anna is released with the case being thought of as one of a simple self defence act.

Soon after, things aren't as they seem and Anna is hunted by the police and the press - what I can't tell you for fear of spoilers is the out come, but let me tell you now - I didn't predict that one!

No Turning Back has plenty of twists and turns as we embark on Anna's journey to uncover the truth of what not only happened 20 years ago, but of what is happening now. At points she doesn't know who to trust and everything she loves is threatened to come to an end.

No Turning Back reminded me a little of Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty in the sense that we almost had the conclusion at the start of the book and throughout we go on a journey, being given snippets of the past but all along not knowing the full truth or who done exactly what not being revealed until the very end. 

Although I've seen this classed as a crime book, it had a great mysterious depth too it and every time I thought I had worked something out, I was thrown a curveball which made me doubt myself - I even doubted everything I knew about the main character, Anna, at one point!

Once again Tracy Buchanan has delivered another fabulous and gripping novel that had me wondering and page turning until the very end!

Rating 5/5

Huge thanks to Helena at Avon for supplying a copy of

No Turning Back.