We’re halfway through the first month of 2022 and I have only just watched my first movie of the year. Shocker, I know. Normally by now I would have at least four in my watched list, but I just haven’t had the time. There are a lot of movies I would like to watch, for instance The 355, The Hating Game, Spider-Man: No Way Home (yes, I know I’m probably one of the only people to watch it yet) and many more. However, my first movie of 2022 has been one that I’ve looked forward to watching since it’s release. And you’ve probably guessed what it is by the title of this blog - Godzilla vs Kong. I remember when I first watched Kong: Skull Island. I loved some of the actors in it and thought it was a great movie. It was right up my street. Then I watched Godzilla: King of the Monsters. This was a bit different to Kong: Skull Island and took the more Sci-Fi, futuristic route. But nevertheless it was still an enjoyable movie. So, when it came to the alpha titans going against each other, I was excited. Godzilla vs Kong was an action-packed film with lots of destruction and heart-warming moments, mainly concerning Kong and Jia. Now the film was good. It was. However, there were some parts where I was thinking, ‘Come on, that’s even more unrealistic than two giant monsters fighting each other’. To start with, Kong is kept in a facility on Skull Island away from open water to protect him from Godzilla - everyone knows that if you have two titans living on the same planet, they’re going to fight until there’s only one alpha, right? So when they’re transporting Kong to Antartica, why do they use ships? They know that Godzilla lives in the water and will come for Kong. Even if they don’t enter his territory, travelling on the water doesn’t make any sense. Especially when after the attack, the idea of airlifting Kong is suggested. Why didn’t they do that in the first place? The second thing that I found hard to believe was the Hollow Earth. Having this world inside the Earth with backwards gravity is plausible, but having this entire structure with steps, pillars and even a throne for Kong, just didn’t seem that believable to me. I know action movies and disaster movies with the threat of the end of the world have to have a lot of destruction. Cities get flooded, buildings turn into rubble and people die. In Godzilla: King of Monsters cities were completely wiped out. Now when he faces off with Kong, it’s a few years later so it’s understandable that repairs would’ve been made. But in the final fight in Hong Kong, it’s madness. Godzilla burns a hole through the ground in the middle of the city, Kong comes through said hole and they fight. Nearly every building is completely and utterly destroyed. The burst of energy that Godzilla fires out of his mouth rips through buildings. Then when things are getting tense, the two stop fighting each other. Kong is dying. An animatronic version of Godzilla, with some of the power from the Hollow Earth, comes to life. It’s Godzilla vs Godzilla 2.0. Jia, Ilene and Andrew all help revive Kong, who then learns that Godzilla isn’t the enemy but Godzilla 2.0 is. The two title titans end the film making peace with each other. That is fine; they’re beloved creatures in our cinematic world but I was expecting more battles between the two. I thought that they would be fighting solely each other. I am glad Kong survived - he’s my favourite Titan - but I thought that the end was a bit anticlimactic as both Godzilla and Kong lived. Ultimately, Kong goes back to the Hollow Earth, where he’s originally from so technically he’s not on Earth, he’s just in it. But still. Despite my reservations about the film, it was good. If you like monster films, disaster films with lots of action, then give it a watch. Until next time...

2022 is only a couple of days away and 2021 will be in the rear view mirror. This year has gone by incredibly quickly. Lots has happened and lots of good memories, despite Covid, have been made. I’ve accomplished a lot this year and have discovered new things that I love. One thing I’m proud of is the number of books I’ve read. Now compared to other book bloggers and bookstagrammers, the number of books I’ve read isn’t really that much; but according to my family it definitely is. Starting from January 1st 2021, I have read 123 books. 123 books of different authors in varying genres. I don’t rate books as 5 stars very often and I certainly don’t get many books in paperback unless I LOVE them and know I’ll reread them. That being said there were quite a few books that I read this year that I’ve now got in paperback. And there are some books that I could have gone without reading. My first book of 2021 was The Duke and I by Julia Quinn - book 1 in the Bridgerton series. I hopped on the Bridgerton bandwagon and became obsessed with the books before even watching the tv show. My most recent read, which I received at Christmas and finished yesterday, is Underneath the Christmas Tree by Heidi Swain. Everyone has their favourite authors and their favourite book series and this year I’ve discovered more of each to add to my lists. I’ve listed below my best books of 2021. Starting off as my ultimate favourite is the Dirty Air Series by Lauren Asher. Oh my goodness, these four books are amazing. They have some of my favourite fictional characters ever, they have some of my favourite tropes and are written by one of my favourite authors. Following Lauren Asher is another author whose work I love... Sarah Morgan. Sarah’s books are pure joy. I have three books of hers that I read each year during the festive season. These books are Once Upon a Christmas, Angels in the Snow and Wish Upon a Star. These books never fail to get me into the Christmas spirit and always make me want to go to the Lake District to climb the fells and meet a mountain rescue team! As Christmas has just been, I was lucky enough to receive lots of books. Some of these books were The Boys of Jackson Harbor series by Lexi Ryan. I read this series earlier this year and immediately fell in love with Jackson Harbor. I made my sister read it too and now I’m pretty sure our parents wish we’d never read them because we fangirl way too much. These books have some of the best book boyfriends and tropes for romance books. The Off-Campus series by Elle Kennedy is one of the best sports romance series I’ve read. The girls make you want to become best friends with them and the guys make you wish they were your boyfriend. Elle has created a world you’ll never want to leave! Another new author I discovered this year is Eliah Greenwood. I read her Rules series, which I really enjoyed but then I read the first book in her Easton Boys series...Dear Love, I Hate You. DLIHY became one of my favourite books of this year the moment I read it. It is so good and I’m so glad that Eliah is releasing book 2 in Feb 2022 - I can’t wait to read Finn and Dia’s story! Penelope Douglas books were frequent on my reading list for 2021. I read quite a few but my favourites have to be the Devil’s Night series and Punk 57. They are BookTok famous and rightly so. Penelope drags you into the world of The Four Horsemen and Misha Lare. I was never a big fan of celebrating Halloween but after reading Penelope’s books, I want to celebrate Devil’s Night. Thanks to Bookstagram, I have made lots of new bookish friends and one of them persuaded me to read the Royal Elite series by Rina Kent. And boy am I glad she did! This series was so good and I loved reading all seven books (pretty sure I read them all in a week). The characters, the emotion and the friendships were just so good. Whilst I did read a lot of romance this year, I also read other genres. I read some dystopian, chick lit, thriller and more. I started the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi this year and the way in which it’s written just captivates you. It is one of the best, if not the best, dystopian series I’ve ever read. I tend to have lots of books on the go, some on the kindle and some in paperback. One book I read on the kindle was Adulting by Liz Talley. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this book but it has become one of my favourites this year. The transformation of the characters is complex yet simple and the lessons the book teaches are so important. It’s one of those books you can always refer back too! My final best book of 2021 is one that is definitely not for the faint of heart. It’s complex, it’s intriguing and it’s clever. Steve Cavanagh’s Thirteen is full of suspense and tension and kept me hooked from the get-go. It was a great read...but not if you only read at night! I have more books I could list like the Spanish Love Deception, Underneath the Christmas Tree and Jingle Wars but if I were to continue then we’d be here for ages. The books I’ve mentioned are some of the best books I’ve read this year, and a few are some of the best books I’ve read...ever! If you’re a bookworm or looking for something new to read, give them a go! Hope you all had a lovely Christmas! Happy new year! Until next time... ***Book covers are from Amazon

2021 has been a hard year for most with the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Work has been unpredictable with the uncertainty as to whether people would be going into the office or working from home, whether their jobs were secure and whether or not schools would be staying open. This year has been amazing for me in terms of work opportunities. I am grateful for everything I've achieved and accomplished. Looking back now, I could never have predicted where I am now. I am lucky enough to be studying for my degree while doing a job I love with amazing people. It hasn't been easy - it's required a lot of time and effort - but it has helped me learn many important lessons along the way. So I wanted to share some of those lessons with you. Be organised There's nothing that irritates me more than not being organised. I'm not a very spontaneous person - I like to have a plan. Every day I write a to-do list and make sure that I know what I'm doing for the day ahead. If plans are made, I need the exact information - the what, the when, the where, the who, and the why. This year with so much going on, organisation has been key for me to manage everything. Take breaks Taking breaks during work is crucial. I've never been very good at taking breaks from work. If you ask anyone who truly knows me, they will say that they have to force me to take breaks. I enjoy my degree and I enjoy my job, so I don't want to take breaks when I'm doing a task. I basically work seven days a week - sometimes till 6pm on some days - but I have come to learn of the importance of taking breaks. I have had times when I've been burnt out and have to sleep for a couple of days, doing absolutely nothing. Having breaks away from my work, away from my laptop has helped me keep my focus and engraved the mantra of 'work smarter, not harder' into my head. Set mini-goals To coin Tesco's slogan: Every little helps. Sometimes we can become overwhelmed when we have lots of tasks to complete, especially when they aren't small, manageable tasks. I've found that if that's the case, I need to break down each task into smaller tasks. I categorise each smaller task by importance, urgency and effort. Having a list with small, individual tasks is easier to deal with than a list of four or five things that encompass a whole lot more. Even if some will take you a while, you can add little things like 'Have lunch', 'Make the bed' or 'Put the bins out' to your list and once you've done them, you can tick them off. Completing mini-goals is very satisfying. Celebrate all accomplishments Everything is worth celebrating. When you have completed a set of tasks, done something you're proud of, or received results for something, you should celebrate. All accomplishments are worth celebrating. It doesn't have to be big accomplishments, like getting a promotion or getting a 1st in an exam; it can be completing all your tasks for the day or taking your medication without any fuss. I always struggle taking tablets, especially the two-coloured ones, so once I've managed to swallow it (and not throw it back up!) I reward myself with an advent calendar chocolate - a small achievement for the start of the day. Every accomplishment you achieve deserves to be celebrated. Whether you celebrate by having a nice glass of wine, or a takeaway for dinner, or treating yourself to the new book by your favourite author, it's all worth it. These are some of the important lessons that I learned this year that I think have helped me grow as a person and better my attitude towards work. What work lessons have you learnt this year? Until next time...

It's the 1st of December. Where has this year gone? There are only 31 days left of 2021 and the festive season is here. 2021 has been a whirlwind of a year with chaos continuing from the dreaded 2020. In January things were looking a bit bleak and we didn't really think things would get better. Covid was still ravaging the population and scientists were trying their hardest to make a vaccine. We had none and then three came along at once! People were getting vaccinated and the infection rate did decrease. The pandemic really made me change the way I look at life. It made me decide what I wanted to do in the future, who I wanted to be. And for that, I'm grateful for lockdown. Without the lockdowns, I would have chosen to go to university and spend time away from my family and friends, studying all the time without having space for things I love. So, for this blog, I've written a gratitude letter of some of the things I am grateful for in the past year. Dear 2021, Gratitude is a positive emotion people experience when they are thankful for something. It is a way of showing appreciation. I have a lot of things to be grateful for in my life, more so than most. I have lived a good twenty years of happiness and joy surrounded by friends and family. But I think since before the pandemic, people, I included, have learned not to take things for granted. We know death is inevitable, it's the circle of life, but we take things for granted, assuming they'll always be there. I'm grateful to Covid for giving me more time to spend with my family. Lockdown was a pain for some people, but I actually enjoyed it. I got to do more things around the house, see my family more and take time for myself, which I didn't do before. The early end of my Sixth Form studies is another thing I'm grateful for. It was a stressful time, not knowing what grades I would be awarded especially as I hadn't sat an exam and couldn't guess how well I'd done. But the extended summer gave me time to reassess what I wanted to do in life, what I wanted my future to be. If it weren't for the lockdown, and the extra free time, I would probably be at a university studying a degree I didn't want to study in a place I didn't really want to be with no time for other adventures. Thankfully, that is not the case! This year I have grown as a person and have had lots going on. Because of the degree that I'm now doing online, I have had the opportunity to explore other avenues alongside my studies. I reconnected with an old friend this year and I honestly don't know why we didn't reconnect earlier. She is a massive motorsport fan like me and because of her, I have been given an amazing opportunity. She sent me a Facebook post about this motorsport company, FormulaNerds, looking for writers. I applied and got the job, and am now a motorsport journalist and podcaster! Working for FormulaNerds is one of the best things that has happened to me. I get to write about something I love and talk about it on a podcast with fellow motorsport fans! I am incredibly grateful to the Nerds and all the lovely people I get to work with! Plus, they actually understand my love for F1 and McLaren! Social media has its drawbacks but I am so grateful for it because it has given me a way to talk to new friends who don't live anywhere near me - Canada, Spain, and India are a bit far for a coffee date! These girls have honestly made my year a whole lot better with our daily convos about life, books, F1, and everything else you could possibly talk about. Bookstagram is another thing I'm thankful for because it gave me an outlet for my love of books, as well as this blog, and made me want to create endless edits all the time! Plus, it put me in touch with some authors which is always fun for aspiring novelists. Now, I'm a person with different personalities depending on who I'm around. My family sees the real me whilst people I've just met see someone else. However, one thing that is the same is that I don't like confrontation. I will try and diffuse a situation or remove myself from it unless it's absolutely necessary. If something makes someone happy, I will do it despite me not necessarily wanting to - I tend to put others ahead of me, which can sometimes be my downfall. But one thing I'm grateful for from this past year is that I've actually started saying 'no'. We don't have an unlimited amount of time on this planet, so why should I waste time doing things I don't want to do? I've started saying no and have done things I want to do because I want to do them. I'm not a big fan of going out every weekend hitting the clubs and getting wasted. I'd rather spend the night watching a movie or chilling with friends. If someone asks if I'm free on the weekend but there's a Formula 1 race on, I have said no - although technically watching F1 is now working! I have found new confidence in doing what I want. I have spent time with my family because I want to and because I actually enjoy it. I get to see friends who live moments away but they're home for this year. I have made new friends who I absolutely love. I am building up a portfolio with a bunch of new experiences. I have become stronger, smarter, wiser and, if I do say so myself, successful! Thank you 2021 for the opportunities you've given me and the lessons you've taught me. Abby Has 2021 taught you anything new? What are you grateful for this year? Let me know in the comments :) Until next time... Image credit: georgetownpsychology.com

I love books. And I mean Love with a capital L. There are so many authors out there who create destinations of escapism and fantasy that I just want to have my nose stuck in a book forever. With the rise of BookTok and Bookstagram, more and more people are learning just how great books are. Authors have been able to utilise social media to promote their works. I am so thankful for all different kinds of socials because I can say that I wouldn't have found new books and made new bookish friends without them. My birthday was at the end of October and my list basically consisted of sports merchandise (Go Cowboys and McLaren!) and books. Lots of books. Now I have a thing where I don't want to get books in paperback unless I really like them and will reread them! I have lots of Christmas books and feel-good rom-coms from authors such as Sarah Morgan, Heidi Swain, Debbie Johnson, and Karen Clarke; as well as the Harry Potter series and two new adult standalones: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire and Chasing Red by Isabelle Ronin. I was a bit overambitious with my birthday list with how many books I added to it. I had to go through and colour-code which ones I desperately needed (yes, needed because I cannot live without books!). Some people did question the number of books because I had just bought 9 when I went shopping for the day. But if you ask bookstagrammers or booktokers then 9 is not that much...well, not compared to the amount I got for my birthday! The day I turned 20, I felt so blessed by those I love because they know me so well. Not only did I get Dallas Cowboys and McLaren F1 merchandise, I also got 21 books! Yep! 21 books! 9 doesn't seem that many now does it? So the 21 books I received are: The Dirty Air Series by Lauren Asher!! Omg! This series is *chef's kiss*. If you haven't read my reviews on previous posts, definitely give them a read! Lauren is now one of my all-time favourite authors! So much so that... The Fine Print by Lauren Asher ...I got her other book too! The first book in the Dreamland series that really made me want to go to Disneyland. The Off-Campus Series by Elle Kennedy This series is very popular and it certainly lives up to the hype! I was going to ask for the Briar U series (the spin-off) for my birthday as well, but decided I can leave that for Christmas! Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas The first book of Penelope's that I read was Punk 57 and omg! It's so good! It speaks to my inner rock chick! Devils Night Series by Penelope Douglas A dark romance set around Halloween - perfect for spooky season! I loved this series when I first read it on KU and am so glad I now have it in paperback! Dear Love, I Hate You by Eliah Greenwood Eliah I can't thank you enough for writing this book! I love the pen-pal trope and this book did it justice. Thankfully, Eliah is writing the second book in the series that I just CANNOT wait for! It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover Now, I know I said I only get paperbacks if I love the book. But technically I've never actually read this book. However, I have read snippets and extracts and instantly wanted to read Lily's story and meet Atlas Corrigan. Stay tuned for a review of It Ends With Us when I do read it all! The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang A cartoon cover for a rom-com - so cute! Definitely, one to fangirl over! Stephen King Books: I haven't read many Stephen King books but he is a great author and one who is perfect for me to read for my degree. I got three of his books for my birthday and can't wait to jump in fear when reading! Everything's Eventual The Shining Misery So my answer to the question, Can you ever have too many books, is no. I don't think anyone can ever have too many - in fact, the more books you have the better! If you've read any of these books, let me know your thoughts! Until next time...

We’re heading into the winter months and days are turning colder, darker, and all-around gloomier. It’s hard to stay motivated when you leave for work in the dark and return home in the dark. With Halloween been and gone and Christmas on the horizon, there’s much to do in November and December to get ready for the holiday season and the new year. But how can you stay motivated in these winter months? Create heat: We all know that when you wake up and it’s cold and dark, you don’t want to get out of bed. We want to stay snuggled up in our duvets all day long. Temperature and light have a direct impact on our bodies so, in order to bypass the longing to stay in bed, you need to create heat. You can adjust your thermostat to warm your home as you rise in the morning. If the temperature outside your duvet is as enjoyable as being under it then there’s no excuse to stay in bed! Or if you already have your outfit planned for the day, put it on the radiator the night before so that when you’re ready to get dressed and conquer the day, your clothes are warm and toasty. Get wet: Sometimes when you wake up, it’s nice to have breakfast and a cup of coffee. This is completely fine, but for some, it can take a bit longer than needed especially in winter. To make sure that you’re wide awake and won’t lounge lazily with your breakfast, either in bed or maybe in front of the TV, make a beeline straight to the shower. Having a shower as soon as you’re out of bed will kickstart your day. The water will instantly wake you up and make you feel refreshed for the day ahead. Once you’re showered and dressed, you’ll be less likely to take your time with things like breakfast or a morning coffee – you’ll be more eager to get started. Set goals for yourself: In winter, it is really easy to lose sight of what needs doing and give in to a cup of hot cocoa on the sofa in front of your latest binge-worthy TV show. But, when the days feel shorter and your only desire is to sit and relax, try and encourage yourself to get up and get moving. Making a to-do list or a set of goals for each day can help motivate you into completing tasks – either work or home-related. If you let the winter blues set in, then you’ll never reach the goals you want to and things will build up until the new year when you feel like there’s so much to do and not enough time. Make use of your indoor time: Being stuck inside due to rainy weather or deep snow can actually be a blessing in disguise. Whilst many hate not being able to go outside and being stuck inside four walls, there are lots that you can do to utilise your indoor time, instead of just sitting on a couch watching a movie. You can clean your house (not fun but does need doing!). You can FaceTime friends and family that you haven’t seen in a while. You could catch up on your reading list. You could even start a blog or write a book or create a podcast. The list is endless. Take care of number one: The most important thing you can do in life is to take care of yourself. Whether it’s natural to you or not, you need to make sure that your wellbeing is a priority. When you’re well-rested, well-fed, and stress-free, you will be more likely to have the energy to achieve your goals and succeed in them. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day can help develop a healthy sleeping pattern. Making sure that you unwind and relax properly is key; you can treat yourself to an indulgent dessert or a long, warm bubble bath. Takeaways may be a great idea when you’re eating them, but you need to remember to fuel your body with healthy, nutritional food as well. This winter will be especially hard to stay motivated since the world has been plagued by a deadly pandemic and there are all sorts of dangers out there – needle spiking to name one. But we can all try to stay motivated, energised, and ready for the day as much as we can. If any of you have any more tips on how to stay motivated during the seasonal blues, leave them in the comments below. Until next time…

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