Here's my book review for the final instalment of the Dirty Air series. Enjoy! Redeemed by Lauren Asher – Dirty Air #4 Fake Dating: 9.5/10 Grumpy/Sunshine Trope: 9/10 Emotional Rollercoaster Read: 9.5/10 Sports Romance: 9/10 Steam: 8.5/10 Redeemed is rated 9/10 for grumpy/sunshine, and not higher, because The Fine Print by Lauren Asher is the best book of this trope in my opinion. But Redeemed is a very close second. I was so excited to read Santiago’s book. Ever since I met him in Throttled, I wanted to know his story. But let me tell you, I was NOT expecting what happened. Oh my goodness, the beginning of Redeemed pulled at my heart strings. It was…I have no words. Lauren Asher certainly knows how to make you feel – and I mean FEEL! Santi’s story is the final instalment in the Dirty Air series, and it is a grumpy/sunshine, fake dating story. It follows the sexy Spaniard and the bubbly Chloe Carter from NYC. Being one of the best racing drivers, Santi is at the top of his game racing for Bandini alongside teammate, and brother-in-law, Noah. Santi is known for taking calculated, yet sometimes risky, moves on the track and one proves to be his most dangerous. That one moment changes everything. His life gets torn apart; his world isn’t the same; and he becomes a shell of the cheeky Spaniard he once was. He hides away in Italy for three years, only having minimal contact with his family and friends. Until one day when a certain American girl falls at his feet. Literally. Chloe Carter desires a family. Growing up with an abusive mother and never knowing her father is a hard life and one that Chloe wishes more for. Her best friend, Brooke, who she met in the foster care system, helps Chloe have the chance of finding her father. This adventure of family lands Chloe in Italy, where on her quest to meet her dad, she falls out of a tree only to be discovered by Santiago – the gloomy, serious man who owns the castle (Chloe’s words!) of which the tree belongs. They’re enemies from the start, with a simmering chemistry that’s just waiting to be unleashed. The following night, the two meet again. But this time, Santi isn’t alone. Maya and Noah are with him and their beyond-cute son, Marko. Maya assumes that Santi has been hiding Chloe, his “girlfriend”, to keep her all to himself, not knowing they only met 24 hours ago. Santi, reverting back to his old cheeky self when in Chloe’s presence, agrees with his sister. And so the fake dating begins. Chloe slowly helps Santi come to terms with the new life he has been surviving in, and teaches him how to live. In exchange, Santi helps Chloe grow closer to her father. But not all is as it seems when twists and turns are thrown into the mix, forcing the fake couple to brake slightly, navigating the sharp corners that their lives hold. The banter in Redeemed is some of the best I’ve read – I properly laughed out loud that I kept messaging my friend with little updates throughout my reading journey! Chloe and Santi’s chemistry is tangible and hot…and I mean, HOT! Santiago Alatorre is the sexy, single Spaniard whose life gets flipped upside down, spun around and launched into the unknown. The heart-breaking start of Redeemed makes you feel his pain, as does later scenes with his insecurity. He lives as a recluse in a town where people don’t bother him; his sister and her family are the lights of his life, especially little Marko who thinks Santi is Iron Man. He survives, and only realises there’s more to life when Chloe comes along and lights a spark in his heart that has him craving for more. Chloe Carter. The fiercely independent sunshine, who wishes in a journal and doesn’t let hard times define her. Chloe loves her best friend, her own-made family, but knowing her father is what she dreams of. And when the opportunity arises she can’t say no. She can, however, flirt and banter with the mysterious (not-so-famous – in her case) Santiago, who cooks for her and takes on the boyfriend role very well. Santi helps Chloe grow close to her father and slowly tears away at her smiley exterior, much like she does with the steel walls around his heart. Together they learn to lean on each other and as time goes on, the lines between fantasy and reality begin to blur, and the fake dating isn’t so fake. Lauren Asher is hands-down one of the best authors I’ve read and Redeemed will make you laugh, shed a tear and book a plane to Italy to break in to someone’s house and hope it’s a mysterious, very good-looking Spaniard who knows how to cook! Just kidding…I didn’t book the plane. Redeemed is a definite must-read! Click the cover below to buy on Amazon or get it for free on Kindle Unlimited.

Here's my review for the third book in the Dirty Air series. Enjoy! Wrecked by Lauren Asher – Dirty Air #3 Enemies-to-lovers: 9.5/10 Forced Proximity: 9/10 Emotional Rollercoaster Read: 9.5/10 Sports Romance: 8.5/10 Steam: 9/10 Enemies-to-lovers. Forced proximity. A bad boy and strong-willed heroine both tormented by their pasts. Sizzling chemistry. Laughable banter. Addictive world of F1. Lauren Asher has done it again! Wrecked is the third instalment in the Dirty Air series of sports romance, and it is amazing. It follows the story of Jax Kingston, who you meet in the previous books, and Elena Gonzalez. Elena is introduced briefly in Collided but it’s not until Wrecked that we get to see her fully and learn about her story. Jax is the British bad boy of the F1 circuit, whose notorious partying and womanising constantly lands him in the press for all the wrong reasons. McCoy, the team he races for, orders for him to clean up his image and they hire Elena, a PR expert, to help. She’s tasked with keeping Jax in line and making him seem like a golden boy to the cameras; but neither one of them predicted the tension between them, or their tainted souls haunted by trauma. With a lot riding on this job, Elena tries to fix Jax’s image, but the racer is far from thrilled and keeps pushing her away. The push and pull between the two escalates and reaches a point where Elena pushes her way in as Jax spirals, and he breaks through the barriers guarding her heart. Will Elena learn why Jax keeps everyone at arm’s length? And will Jax help heal Elena’s broken soul? Jax Kingston is the sexy British playboy, who goes through women, drugs and booze faster than he races on track. He’s known for his wild ways and partying adventures but everything the public sees is fake. It’s a masquerade that Jax wears to hide the truth from everyone – even his best friend Liam. Nobody knows the real reason as to why he buries himself in unhealthy habits apart from his parents. His friends care about him and want to help stop him from self-destructing, but no one is successful. It’s only when Elena is hired to work with him that he begins to open up, no matter how hard he tries to fight it. Elena Gonzalez. A sassy, determined Mexican woman, with a gut-wrenching past. Elena is a PR expert trying to build her business and pay the bills for her grandmother to stay in a good care home; her best friend, Elias, is Jax’s racing partner and helped her get her foot in the F1 world. Elena needs the money and so she accepts the job to work with Jax. As time goes on, she learns who the true Jax Kingston behind the façade is, and she sees pieces of herself in him. Broken, jagged pieces tainted by their past…or in Jax’s case, his future. Elena is tormented by a childhood trauma and has worked for everything she has, but when Jax worms his way through the walls she’d built, she finally lets herself be happy. When I read the first two books in the Dirty Air series, I didn’t like Jax all that much – he was my least favourite racer out of the four. However, when I read Wrecked, I fell in love with his character (Oh, how I wish book boyfriends were real!). The layers of characterisation Lauren created are amazing. Jax is cold and self-destructive and appears heartless, but he’s also sensitive, sweet and desperate for, yet scared of, happiness. Elena is a smart woman, who knows what she wants and will work hard to get it, and isn’t afraid to call people, mainly Jax, out on their bulls**t; but, she has strength within her that rivals that of many. The story behind Elena’s childhood and the scenes where she’s tortured by it are utterly heart-breaking. The emotions in this book are raw and real and you can feel the character’s pain. You can taste their happiness and you can experience their love. Jax and Elena’s story is beautiful and expertly written. Their love is unique and their journey to being truly happy is one of the best I’ve read. Wrecked is one of my favourite books with a favourite trope of mine (enemies-to-lovers) as well as one of my favourite book couples! You should definitely read it – and the extended epilogue! It will give you all the feels and you won’t regret it! Click the cover below to buy Wrecked on Amazon or get it from free on Kindle Unlimited. Disclaimer: I own the edits, not the images

As promised, I have reviewed the second book in the Dirty Air series by Lauren Asher. Each book is an interconnected standalone, but I would recommend reading the books in order: Throttled (Dirty Air #1), Collided (Dirty Air #2), Wrecked (Dirty Air #3) and Redeemed (Dirty Air #4). Collided by Lauren Asher - Dirty Air #2 Friends-with-benefits: 9.5/10 Dirty Little Secret: 8/10 Bucket List Romance: 9/10 Sports Romance: 9/10 Steam: 9/10 As promised, I’ve written a review about the second book in the Dirty Air series, Collided. This book goes alongside Throttled, the timelines interweaving with one another, and whilst it is a standalone, it’s interconnected with the other books, so I recommend reading Throttled first. Lauren has definitely upped the heat, and the banter, for this book, both of which will leave you laughing and wishing you were the characters. Collided follows the story of Liam Zander and Sophie Mitchell, who you meet in Throttled. Liam is best mates with Noah Slade, and has a reputation of being one of the best in the world of Formula 1. As a driver for McCoy, Liam’s expected to rival Noah and stay away from Bandini – the team that poses the biggest threat to his chances of winning a championship. After a traumatic life event, Liam threw himself into his career, masquerading as the playboy who is chill, cocky and completely fine all the time. But what happens when he finally meets someone who sees through the façade? Sophie Mitchell. The daughter of Bandini’s team principal, James Mitchell, and an undergrad studying accounting. Sophie has lived a rather sheltered and restrained life, doing what makes her dad happy, after her mother left when she was young. With her degree nearly over, Sophie joins her dad for the F1 season, travelling the world taking online classes. Her only problem is that her father’s rule of staying away from any of the racers, entices her to live a little. With her new best friend Maya, Sophie embraces what life around the globe has to offer, but what happens when the devious Liam Zander wants out of the friendzone and promises to complete Sophie’s naughty bucket list? Knowing that their friendship is frowned upon, Liam and Sophie decide to keep their deal a secret. With different activities on the list and an ever-growing attraction, the two dig their way into one another’s hearts, even if that’s the last thing they want. Each completed activity means their friends-with-benefits is slowly coming to an end, especially with Sophie’s impending return to university. When McCoy offer Liam a renewed contract for the next season, he should be over the moon but their one request proves difficult for his heart. And after having a taste of freedom and passion, Sophie is left torn between her father’s dreams for her and own desires. When their two worlds collide, will friends-with-benefits turn into something more, or will they slide off into the gravel, leaving them heartbroken? The Golden Boy. Liam Zander caught my attention with his cheeky personality in Throttled, and my love for him only grew when I read his story. He is devilish, secretly nerdy and an expert at dirty talk. As one of the best drivers on the grid, Liam is respected and liked by everyone, but no one truly knows the real him – he keeps everyone at least a car width away. That is until a certain blonde woman enters his life, and breaks down his barriers one by one, tempting him to leave his womaniser days behind him. Past trauma and the threat to his contract renewal force him to look at life in a different way, and consider what really matters. Do you follow the path of success and money? Or do you take the road to happiness and family? The Bandini blonde bombshell. Sassy, smart and self-assured. Sophie Mitchell has grown up with her father playing both parental roles; she has wanted to make him happy, to make him proud of her, in gratitude for all that he’s done throughout her life. But his dreams and wishes don’t make her happy. Following a path of security and guaranteed jobs, Sophie desires freedom and excitement. Having buried her creative side for so long, she can’t refuse Liam’s offer of fulfilling every item on her f**k it list. Their two worlds collide as they travel the globe for the F1 season, experiencing friendship, romance and passion. Liam and Sophie’s characters drew me in from the moment I met them in Throttled. Their friendship and attraction were hinted at, and intrigued me instantly. The dynamic Lauren created between the two is raw and real; their banter is believable; it isn’t forced and is sure to capture a laugh from you. Their chemistry is so strong, and the steam is hot! Ice cubes, husky voices, and a particular McCoy Menace (a car featured in the book) add to the fire! Whist the focus is on their relationship and there are more scenes outside of the racetrack, the F1 world Lauren describes is no less magical and addictive than before. Reading the character’s journeys was such a great experience because it was realistic. Seeing Sophie struggle with her own desires and passions conflicting with her dad’s wishes for her was an interesting read because in the end she learns to stand up for herself and fight for what she wants. Liam’s journey in Collided is amazing; his transformation from isolating his heart and feelings to embracing Sophie is just *chef’s kiss*! The new list at the end was fantastic, and such a great way to round up Liam and Sophie’s story. Their story is full of sass, banter and steam as they navigate the race track to cross the finish line so they could win their HEA! The interweaving storylines in this series make it one of the best I’ve read and the epilogues at the end, introducing the next generation are perfect! I can’t wait for the Dirty Heirs series to be written because Lauren has created a new addiction for me! If you haven’t read Collided yet, PLEASE DO! You won’t regret it! Click the cover below to buy Collided on Amazon or get it free on Kindle Unlimited. Disclaimer: I own the edits, not the images

Laughter, tears and butterflies. These three things summarise my experience when reading the Dirty Air series by none other than Lauren Asher. This quartet is one of the only book series that I’ll rate as 5 stars, and I will never stop recommending it. I’m an avid reader and a massive Formula 1 fan (if you know me, you know just how much!), so this series was the perfect read for when I was missing race weekends. The series has four books, each focusing on a different couple. They’re all interconnected standalone sports romances and can be read in any order, but I would recommend reading them in the following order: Throttled (Dirty Air #1), Collided (Dirty Air #2), Wrecked (Dirty Air #3) and Redeemed (Dirty Air #4). I’ve read the whole series and will be reviewing each book individually. Read below for my review of Throttled to see whether you need to add it to your TBR – I definitely would! Throttled by Lauren Asher – Dirty Air #1 Forbidden Romance: 9.5/10 Brother’s Rival to Lovers: 9/10 Sports Romance: 9/10 Friends to Lovers: 8/10 Steam: 7/10 Throttled is Lauren Asher’s debut novel and the first book in the Dirty Air series, and all I can say is…WOW! Lauren certainly kickstarts the series with one hell of a bang! The glamorous, addictive and fast-paced world of F1 paired with a forbidden romance certainly captivates you. This book follows the story of Noah Slade and Maya Alatorre. Noah is the son of an F1 legend, and is pathing his own legacy in the sport, winning championship after championship. As a driver for Bandini racing team, he’s expected to be the best. Noah’s competitive spirit drives his success, and two years after a crash with Santiago Alatorre, the rivalry only increases when they become teammates. Working alongside Santi for the new season provides Noah with his biggest challenge yet – but the threat is off the track and to his heart. Maya Alatorre, Santi’s sister, has recently graduated from university and has decided to join her brother for the F1 season. With no job lined up, she starts vlogging her F1 experience, detailing race after race and each new city she explores. With behind-the-scenes footage and adventures with her new best friend, Sophie, who is the daughter of Bandini’s team principal, her vlog grows and everything starts looking brighter. But the one thing she didn’t expect was her brother’s teammate, the dangerous bad boy of racing, to capture her heart. Noah and Maya push and pull, their attraction growing stronger and their resistance growing weaker with each passing day. Santi and Noah’s rivalry, and fear of the repercussions, stand in the way of a potential relationship between the two, but as they spend more time together and Noah lets Maya see past the notorious player façade, the two grow closer. Maya becomes someone Noah can lean on, helping him carry the pressure of his not-so-caring family, and in return he lets Maya find out who she really wants to be. What happens when the rivalry between teammates is no longer an issue, and the bad boy racer falls for the independent vlogger? The American Prince. Noah Slade captured my heart despite his cockiness. He’s the good-looking, funny and incredibly talented racer who’s built a wall of steel around his heart. Being the son of an F1 legend isn’t easy and for Noah, it meant pressure and expectations, not love and support. When you finally learn his story, you instantly want to give him a hug – a bit like when Lando Norris crashed in Q3 at Spa. Noah longs for the love that Maya and her family share, but when she offers it to him and his walls slowly crumble, it takes nearly losing her to realise what he wants. The Spanish princessa of vlogging. Maya Alatorre is a sassy, strong-willed and feisty Latina. She’s loyal to her family and has kept her wild side buried for too long; she stands her ground and controls her own life, but the attraction to Noah threatens her relationship with Santi. Afraid of her brother’s reaction, Maya keeps her relationship with Noah secret, stealing kisses and fleeting moments. Lauren’s writing about Maya’s vlogging is so entertaining that you almost feel like you’re watching all the interviews, games and action she records. If Maya Alatorre was real, I’d watch her videos religiously! Her friendship with Sophie rivals that of any fictional friendship I’ve read and comes out on top – everyone needs a Sophie to their Maya. I loved Noah and Maya’s characters, and I loved the relationships Lauren created between everyone, so much so that I read the entire series in four days! I’ve never seen a sports romance about F1 until I met the Dirty Air series, and I don’t think future ones will live up to this. Lauren’s ability to transport you around the globe, visiting different cities, and bring you into the world of racing is amazing. When you read it, it feels like you’re there with the characters, experiencing everything they do. The race descriptions, the pre-race rituals, the galas, and everything in between, are all detailed so spectacularly that it’s realistic and believable. The descriptions of all the cities on the F1 circuit make you wish you were there. Her writing style is simplistic yet effective; the balance between dialogue, action and description is so perfectly done that you get to know the characters and are carried on their journeys with them. Lauren’s cocky alphas and feisty heroines will make you laugh out loud and smile so hard your face hurts; but you’ll also have tears in some scenes from the heart-wrenching, emotional moments. Throttled ticked every box for me and set the scene for the other racers’ stories. I cannot recommend this enough! I will reread this series again and again, and never stop telling people about. Lauren is one of my favourite authors – she gets bonus points for liking F1 – I hope that one day, I can create a fictional success like she has. Stay tuned for my review of Collided - book 2 in the Dirty Air series. Click the cover below to buy Throttled on Amazon or get it on Kindle Unlimited. Disclaimer: I own the edits, not the images.

Over the years, there have been many a story of Cinderella, all told in different ways, but the narrative has changed with Camilla Cabello’s debut in Amazon Prime’s Cinderella. Now because there are so many different takes on the fairy-tale, I thought I’d rank each film, according to my opinion (you can disagree) to see which one I think is the fairest of them all. I have yet to see A Cinderella Story: Starstruck, so will leave that out of my ranking because I can’t exactly give my opinion on a movie I have yet to see. So here are my rankings... A Cinderella Story: This Hilary Duff classic tells the tale of Sam Montgomery falling for pen pal, Nomad, and she decides to meet him at the school dance, despite her stepmother working her overtime. The pen pals fall for each other but Sam gets a surprise when she finds out Nomad is the high school’s popular jock, Austin Ames, portrayed by Chad Michael Murray. Whilst this version of the fairy-tale is unlike the others with no musical numbers, apart from that of the ball, it still has a magical feel to it – perhaps even more so. The love story is real and heart-warming and makes every girl wish they were Hilary Duff. Rating: 3.5/5 Another Cinderella Story: Selena Gomez stars in this dance retelling of Cinderella as Mary Santiago, who dreams of getting into a prestigious dance school, but her stepmother tries to sabotage her plans. At the school dance, she dances with Joey Parker, her pop idol, but leaves behind her Zune – instead of a glass slipper. With several dance numbers, this teen romantic musical will have you up on your feet dancing the night away. Rating: 3/5 A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song I remember when I watched this version and I remember I instantly played the album on repeat because I liked the songs so much. Lucy Hale stars in this musical comedy as Katie Gibbs, a singer-songwriter who dreams of getting a record deal. After singing (in disguise, of course!) to Luke Morgan, portrayed by Freddie Stroma, who is the son of a record producer, the pair grow closer, with some bumps along the way, toward their happily ever after – it wouldn’t be a fairy-tale without one would it? The humour in this film isn’t as cringy as one may think, and the songs are actually really good. Rating: 4.5/5 A Cinderella Story: Christmas Wish The perfect magical Christmas film for those looking for some heart-warming musical romance during the festive season. Austin and Ally’s Laura Marano stars as Kat Decker, an aspiring singer whose plans have been stalled by her step-family. After meeting the new Santa at the Christmas tree lot where she works, she gets her own kind of Christmas miracle. I think this is a light-hearted Christmas romance that’s sure to get anyone in the Christmas spirit, with new festive songs playing in your head. Rating: 3/5 A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits: Sofia Carson plays Tessa, an aspiring popstar, whose stepmother keeps getting in the way of her plans; but when the opportunity to audition for a pop star’s version of Cinderella occurs, Tessa decides to chase her dream, which leads her to Reed, her own Prince Charming. This version has songs and dances galore that will keep you entertained for sure. Rating: 4/5 Cinderella: Amazon Prime’s Cinderella was an unexpected joy to watch with Camilla Cabello’s fantastic acting debut. This modern take on the classic is funny, musical, realistic and it has important social messages spread throughout. The star-studded cast brings to life each character and changes the fairy-tale narrative to show female power, and that we can have both our love and dreams – you just might have to overcome some hurdles along the way. In my opinion, this is the best retelling of Cinderella. I LOVED it and have had the album playing on my Spotify since it was released. If you haven’t seen it, I suggest you do…right now. Rating: 4.75/5 (only because I got Hamilton vibes from the rap songs, so thought they could’ve been done slightly differently, but that’s not to say they’re enjoyable to listen too). Obviously, all these ratings are purely my opinion, and my opinion alone; you may hate musicals and completely disagree with me – I know some people already do! But if you fancy watching a retelling of Cinderella, let me know what you think – especially if you watch Cinderella Story: Starstruck, as I have yet to watch it. Until next time…

We’re nearing the end of September and the bright blue sky has been traded for cloudy grey. But how do we know that it’s actually sweater season? Well, I’ve compiled a list of sweater season signs to help you realise when it’s finally time to ditch the shorts and tank tops in exchange for jumpers and fluffy socks. Here's the 12 Signs of Sweater Season: Pumpkin Spiced Lattes: You know it’s no longer summer when coffee shops bring out their pumpkin spiced lattes. Spooky season drinks and festive flavours are a highlight of autumn that many love, and are definite signs that summer is over. If you spot pumpkin spiced lattes on your local coffee shop’s menu, sweater season is here to stay. Waking up cold: In the summer, when it’s really hot and your room’s a bit stuffy, you can often wake up a bit sweaty with a slight fever from being buried under your duvet all night, despite you kicking it off at points. But in sweater season, you know that it’s no longer summer when you wake up cold and want to stay in bed under the covers because it’s nice and warm. Wanting to stay in the shower: Showers are great for cooling you down in summer and are even better for warming you up in the winter. The only downside is that sometimes the water can be so warm that you don’t want to leave the bathroom because you know that the rest of your house will be cold. Desiring to stay in the steam and hot water is a clear sign it’s sweater season. Feeling cosy in the rain: Rainy weather with grey clouds and dark skies replaces the sunny blues when it’s sweater season. But the real sign that summer is over is when you look outside at the rain hitting the windows, and feel cosy. Wanting to stay inside, reading a good book or watching a movie, is a definite sweater season sign for me! Hallmark movie nights: The Hallmark Channel, or Movies 24 in the UK, have a plethora of autumn/festive films that are sure to bring you a sweater season feel, especially when you would rather watch these (or any movie to be honest) than dress yourself up and head out to a club or restaurant. Supermarket Christmas Stock: Mince pies. Christmas pudding. Turkey. Tubs of chocolate. These all come out on supermarket shelves when it’s sweater season and they don’t leave until it’s spring. Delicious festive foods, and drinks like mulled wine, signal the start of the build up to Christmas, meaning no more summer! Say hello to sweatshirts: And when it’s no longer summer, jumpers and sweatshirts come out to play. These cosy clothes are a highlight of sweater season, and are much more comfortable than strappy little crop tops of summer. Having my wardrobe full of sweaters makes me happy because I know my favourite season is here! Retail riddance of summer clothes: At some point, clothes shops transition their stock from shorts and swimwear to jumpers and thick winter coats. This change between the seasons signals the start of sweater weather and the time for woolly hats and scarves to become a constant accessory instead of sunglasses and sunscreen. One hot chocolate with marshmallows…yes please! Hot chocolate is sold year round, but if you’re like me, you don’t really fancy hot chocolate when the sun is shining and it’s twenty-something degrees outside. When you do crave some warm chocolatey goodness though, that is the moment that sweater season begins for you. The beach? Erm, no thanks The beach is another sweater season sign; not in the sense that you go in sweater season because that’s absurd, unless you live in a really hot country where it’s acceptable to go to the beach at any time. No, the beach is a sign when you feel like you don’t want to go there anymore. When the ocean and the sand don’t sound as appealing as when it was summer. That’s when it’s sweater season. Go back in time This year, October 31st is the date that our clocks go back. The mornings are darker and the nights are longer. Autumn and winter are here and it’s time to accept that in a months’ time, advent calendars will become a daily necessity, and you crave to decorate your house with tinsel and baubles and stockings. Ant & Dec and Anton Du Beke: An iconic duo and an infamous ballroom dancer – what more could you want? It’s officially sweater season when these three grace our televisions with their presence. The return of bush tucker trials and sparkled outfits means that the countdown to Christmas is on and sweater season is here. These 12 signs might not be for everyone, but in case you were wondering when it’s “socially” acceptable to start wearing your jumpers and winter coats, they might help – I know they do for me. If you’re like me, then sweater season has officially begun! So, enjoy your hot chocolates, Saturday night Strictly, cosy clothes and Christmas food lists. Until next time… Photocredits Wix Media Tumblr Staysnatched.com

I’m a big bookworm. I love to read and a couple of my close friends do too; we can spend hours fangirling over our new favourite book boyfriends or rant about the author killing off a beloved character. And my love for books has only grown since I joined TikTok, and see all the videos creators have made for BookTok. On my bookcase, I have quite a few different genres, including thriller, crime, fantasy and classics; however, romance is my guilty pleasure genre! I tend to buy my books from Amazon, or bookshops like Foyles and Waterstones when I do eventually get to go to them. In my hometown, there aren’t any shops that are specifically bookshops, and whilst we do have a library it’s not one of those that every avid reader desires to go to. All around the world, there are places that people long to visit, and in many countries there are breath-taking libraries that are every bookworm’s dream. So, I decided to list the top 10 libraries, I think, every book nerd should visit at least once in their lives. George Peabody Library, Baltimore, Maryland, United States Abbey Library of Saint Gall, Switzerland Trinity College Library, Dublin, Ireland The British Library, London, England Stadtbibliothek Stuttgart Library, Germany Admont Abbey Library, Austria Handelingenkamer Library, The Hague, Netherlands Bodleian Library, Oxford, England Now, some people aren't too fond of libraries and prefer the more cosy and personal atmosphere of bookshops. Below are two bookshops that should be on a bookworm's bucket list, which includes Europe's biggest bookshop: El Ateneo Grand Splendid, Buenos Aires, Argentina Waterstones, Piccadilly, London, England If you're a bookworm, you should add these wonderful book destinations to your bucket list. Until next time...

One Tree Hill is one of my all-time favourite TV shows. It’s one of those series that you can watch again and again, no matter what mood you’re in, and never get bored. It’s timeless. Brooke Davis, one of the female leads of the show, is my favourite character; she is feisty, confident, and protective of her friends and family. Her transformation throughout the nine seasons is one of the best character developments I’ve seen in a TV show. In season 1, Brooke is a party girl, who flirts with boys and cares about cheer, but she changes into a entrepreneur, a woman who would do anything for the people she cares about and loves with her whole heart. She’s either a character you’ll love, hate or want to be. She is an inspiration to many, and the wisdom of Brooke Davis will never have an expiration date. Sophia Bush’s character possessed brains, beauty and gave us all undiluted honesty about the world, so I thought I’d share ten inspirational Brooke Davis quotes to help you get through life. “I used to be a bitch for the sake of being one, but now I’m a bitch for the sake of my friends and family. You do not want to test that!” “People are gonna label you. It’s how you overcome those labels that’s what matters.” “Life kicks you around sometimes. It scares you and it beats you up, but there comes a day when you realise you’re not just a survivor, you’re a warrior. You’re tougher than anything it throws your way.” "I am who I am. No excuses. But I'd like other people to know that there's a lot more to me than just some party girl.” “Let me tell you something about love…It doesn’t knock often. And when it does, you have to let it in.” "If you had a friend you knew you would never see again what would you say? If you could do one last thing for someone you love what would it be? Say it, do it, don’t wait. Nothing lasts forever.” “When you stop fighting, you stop living. We all need that thing that’s worth fighting for. maybe it’s a certain someone, or a special place, maybe just an idea. So find your fight, and fight like hell, ‘til your battle is won.” “I stopped letting boys define me and I started believing in myself and in my potential.” “At the end of the day, you are who you are, and it’s probably who you’ve always been.” “Love can be for a boy or a girl or a place or a way of life or even for a family. Where you find it is up to you.” Photo credits linked with images. 3rd and 4th photos - Fanpop.com 11th photo - Entertainment Weekly Last photo - studybreaks.com

At my last book club meeting, I got given the book Everything Everything by Nicola Yoon to read. This YA novel has had major success with it being made into a motion picture. It was released a few years ago, but I had never read it - or seen the film. The woman who runs the book club thought that I’d like the novel and oh how right she was. I read the novel within 24 hours, practically in one sitting, and I can safely say it is one that has taught me a lot about life as well as making me feel a whole whirlwind of emotions. The story follows 18 year-old Madeline Whittier, who lives in California with her mother. Madeline is allergic to the world, suffering from SCID, and has never really known anyone apart from her mother, Nurse Carla and online tutors...until Olly. Olly and his family move into the house across from Madeline’s, and she is instantly intrigued by the handsome guy who sits on his roof at night. Their friendship develops and before you know it, you’ve got butterflies in your stomach anticipating their first kiss - a type of physical intimacy that Madeline has never experienced. Their liking for each other grows and you are sucked into a world of firsts and are taken right along with them on their journey. Yoon created a plot that keeps you reading until the very end, with, in my opinion, a HUGE plot twist. To be honest it’s quite amazing I didn’t know about the plot twist before I read it as the book and film are rather popular. But when I read it, my jaw dropped, and I shot out of my chair in shock! The narrative held me in such a tight grasp that I kept reading, and my smile grew even bigger. The way Yoon tells Madeline’s story is different to other books I’ve read. It’s not just page after page of prose; it’s illustrations, graphs, emails, diary entries, definitions and even a swirl that has you turning the page and crooning your neck - literally, my family wondered what the hell I was doing! At first I didn’t think I was going to like this particular writing style, but I did. It kept the book fast-paced and action-packed whilst keeping the important aspects of a traditional prose narrative. Madeline tells her story in a way that’s spectacularly beautiful and humorous. She is smart, witty and such a relatable character that you instantly connect with her. You feel her desire to explore the world and her anger at her disease. Olly is your average boy next-door, who wants to escape his father. He’s a kind, sarcastic, math-loving guy, with a likability that doesn’t just apply to Madeline - or Maddy, as he’s called her. Every character is engaging and realistic, even ones you don’t like (Nurse Pritchert), and you can imagine them in your own life. The first-person point of view creates an intimacy between the reader and the characters that has you hooked until the last page. For a debut novel, Yoon certainly outdid herself and has gained a new fan! Until next time...

5 incredible women who are breaking barriers in the motorsport industry Motorsport is known for being a male-dominated industry with the most successful drivers being male, with the likes of Aryton Senna, Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton, and having male presenters/commentators, such as Martin Brundle, Paul Di Resta and David Coulthard. However, women are finally making their mark on motorsport, both with driving and presenting. With this weekend being the British Grand Prix at Silverstone and the Formula 1 debut of the sprint qualifying, here’s a showcase of a select few of these brilliant women and all their success to inspire and empower others to take a leap of faith to push the boundaries of a male-orientated industry. Rosanna Tennant – Journalist and Presenter Tennant began her presenting career in 2013 on YouTube, and is currently working her ninth season in Formula 1. Tennant is a presenter on The F1 Weekend Debrief on Sky Sports F1 covering all the key events of the latest race; she also anchors the F1 Live Pre-Race Show. Tennant covers both Formula 1 and Formula 2 and has worked on several podcasts. She has been the co-host on the F2 podcast, F2: The Road to Formula 1, where she interviews the future stars of Formula 1, and has most recently presented the F1 One Begins show, which revealed the car for the 2022 F1 season. She also led the first female commentary team for F1 in 2020 on F1’s pit-lane channel. Alongside presenting motorsport, Tennant is an ambassador for the group Girls on Track UK where she helps young girls develop public speaking skills and grow in confidence. Natalie Pinkham – TV Presenter, Pit Lane Reporter and Podcaster Beginning her F1 career, Pinkham was with the BBC as a Pit Lane Reporter for Radio 5 Live in 2011. In December 2011, Pinkham joined Sky Sports, covering the 2012 F1 season, and pit reporting during practice sessions, qualifying and the races. Pinkham then hosted The F1 Show in 2013, where she gave viewers an insight into the Formula 1 paddock and covered race weekends. As well as being a reporter and mother of two, Pinkham hosts the podcast ‘In The Pink’, in which she talks to various people from sports and entertainment, covering all kinds of topics, including racing ace Lando Norris, F1 pundit Karun Chandhok and singer Fleur East. Pinkham also runs the podcast F1 Nation with Damon Hill and Tom Clarkson. Jennie Gow – Radio and TV Presenter and Journalist Gow broke into the world of Formula 1 in 2010. She has reported with the BBC, and has been on Netflix’s Drive to Survive as an F1 expert, which has expanded the horizons of F1. With the introduction of Extreme E – an international motorsport series with off-road racing – Gow is stretching her career as co-lead of the series. Gow is also the founder of the webinar series, ‘Motorsport Media’, which focuses on a variety of topics, including content creation, photography and PR/Communications. She’s an excellent reporter, and is now an ambassador for the FIA Girls on Track programme alongside Tennant. Jamie Chadwick – British Racing Driver Chadwick started racing at 11 and is one of the most famous women in motorsport. She’s best known for being the first and youngest woman to win the British GT Championship in 2015. In 2017, Chadwick braved the world of Formula 3 and made headlines when she won a British F3 race, being the first-ever female to do so. Continuing her winning streak, Chadwick was also the first-ever female winner of the MRF title (open-wheeled motorsport) in the 2018-19 season. She is also a development driver for the Williams F1 team, and is the 2019 driver’s champion of the W Series – motor-racing series for women only, aiming to get women racing in Formula 1. Chadwick is currently competing in the 2021 W Series for Veloce Racing as well as being their female driver for their Extreme E team. Reema Juffali – Saudi Arabian Racing Driver Juffali is an inspiration to the women in Saudi Arabia. She is the first-ever Saudi woman to hold a racing licence, and the first-ever Saudi Arabian female racing driver. Juffali made her debut as a professional racing driver at the Toyota TRD 86 cup at the Yas Marina circuit in Abu Dhabi; in 2019 she raced in the British Formula 4 championship, where she finished 13th overall. Now she competes in BRDC British Formula 3 championship for her debut season in F3. With her frequent point-scoring finishes in her racing career, it is likely we will see Juffali in Formula 1 sometime in the future. All women in motorsport deserve to be recognised for their work and success, but if I listed them all, this blog would be rather long! The five women above are a select few of the inspirational females in the industry, and hopefully if you’re an aspiring sports journalist, racing driver, or even an engineer and mechanic, these women motivate you to chase your dreams. Until next time… Cover image: www.autosport.com

The Princess Trials trilogy is a young adult dystopian series that follows Zea-Mays Calico and her quest for a better world. Zea lives in the lowest echelon of a kingdom, which once was a part of America, and the only way to improve life for all is a revolution. She is dedicated to the cause and will do anything to help, even if it means feigning interest for the prince’s heart. With one misplaced word, Zea catches the attention of Prince Kevon and must fight for her survival. These books are not standalones; they must be read together as the first two end on cliff-hangers. I chose to read this series because I was writing a dystopian piece myself, so wanted to get more of a feel for the genre. And boy am I glad I did. A lot of people say that The Princess Trials is The Hunger Games meets The Selection, and I would have to agree. Castel takes you on a journey of love and survival whilst transporting you to royal balls and fight-to-the-death games. The story is told from Zea’s perspective in a first-person point of view, and I think this really helps to get the story as a whole across. It creates an intimacy between you, when reading, and Zea and because of her ignorance towards the places in which she has never lived, the first-person narrative enables backstory. I think if the books were written in third-person (she/he/her/him) the voice wouldn’t have been that strong, and the story would have been weaker overall. The characters Castel created are some of the best I’ve come across; from the get-go you are immediately engaged with them and want to read on. They feel real as though they are living breathing people. Their characteristics, dialogue and actions all mix together to create a clear image of them in your head. When reading, you can picture Zea’s toughness, Forelle’s bubbly personality and Prince Kevon’s kind heart. The protagonists are Zea and the Prince, whilst the secondary characters form a more extensive list: Forelle, Garrett, Ryce, Berta, Lady Circi, Queen Damascena and more. My favourite character in the series is Zea (cliché, I know). At the beginning, I wasn’t too keen on her and preferred Forelle, but as the book continued and the series went on, I began to favour her; I like her character development throughout and how pure her heart actually is – she wants a better life for everyone, through non-violent ways. She cares about her family and is willing to do anything for them. When it comes to my least favourite character, it would definitely be Queen Damascena. I would divulge all the reasons behind my slight contempt towards her, but I can’t do that without spoilers, so you’ll have to read the series yourself to find out why. With regards to the plot, it definitely is intriguing. You are constantly trying to work out where the story could go, what will happen, will Zea survive. There are plot twists everywhere that kept me on the edge of my seat, and the way Castel creates tension and suspense is just – chefs kiss – amazing! The whole series was so well-written that at sad scenes I had tears and at happy, friendship/romance-filled scenes I smiled and laughed. The sensory description transported me to the settings in the books and I could picture everything that happened. If I had to pick a favourite scene, it would have to be in the third book, The Princess Crown, when Zea and Kevon have an argument. To fully understand why I like this scene so much, you’ll have to read it! I can’t decide which book is my favourite because I like them all – they’re all so good – so it’s hard to pick. I’m a big fan of the enemy-to-lovers trope, which is the first one, and the second and third books are more friend-to-lovers. But each one is just as intriguing as the rest. Overall, The Princess Trials trilogy by Castel is, in my opinion, a must-read dystopian fiction series. If you’re a young adult, a fan of enemies-to-lovers and friends-to-lovers tropes, and a dystopian reader, then this series is definitely for you. I would give this series 4.5/5 stars! Have a read, and let me know what you think. Happy reading! Until next time…

When writing a story, the author needs to do some building of a plan or a blueprint. They need to have an idea of what is going to happen in terms of plot, and whilst it may not be helpful to plan the whole story down to the very last detail, it’s good to have something that resembles a brief plan. But making the plan can be daunting and rather stressful – trust me, I know. I’m currently studying for my degree in Creative Writing and one of the things I've learnt were ways to help build and develop my story. Depending on how you work best will decide which method suits you. I have a rather scattered brain with too many ideas for me to process at once; I have to get them all down in words for me to actually process them, but my brain works faster than my hand can write (bit problematic) so using one of the techniques below really aids my planning process. There are numerous versions of software that writers can use, for example Scrivener is a popular choice, but these techniques are all cheap, easy ways to brainstorm your story. Lists: As your ideas begin to take shape, you can develop lists. These can be lists of characters, settings, conflict ideas or even lists that include phrases of dialogue. It can be anything to do with your story, but they’re formatted in an organised, structured way. I use this technique when making a list of things I need to do, for example: Index Cards: This technique involves using little cards for each idea; you could have one for the protagonists’ appearance, one for the main setting and one for symbols you’re going to use. Using index cards allows you to shuffle your ideas around and see which structure or chronology you prefer. Just remember that if you use this technique, you don’t want to cram loads of information on the cards. Story-boarding: Just like in the world of screenwriting, authors can make storyboards for their stories. You can either assemble some photos or create your own, and use these however you like; you could arrange them in different orders, add relationships between them, reject some etc. This is a great technique if you’re a visual learner/worker. Fragmentary Notes: This technique involves you writing down ideas as they come to you. I have multiple notebooks for this and even use my phone as I tend to have that to hand the most. Fragmentary notes can be anything and everything; they can be character sketches, phrases of dialogue, lines of imagery, descriptive passages of settings, or even character names. They can also include thoughts on the story as a whole and how it’ll work, for example the structure, chapter titles, etc. A pegboard or whiteboard: This last idea is the one that I swear by. I use it so much in my writing that my four whiteboards aren’t enough. This technique allows you to write everything down, move it around and then if you decide you don’t want it, you can easily erase it. You can colour-code with different pens, have a board for different aspects of your story, and you can even use it for techniques like story-boarding. If you're writing a story, or developing an idea I hope these techniques can help you. Until next time…