Organising your books can be challenging, but it can also be fun, so I'm going to share some different ways in which you can organise your bookshelves. As you probably know by now, I love to read, which means I have a lot of books in my house. These books vary in genre, style, author and topic. Each time I receive or buy a new book, I have to rearrange my bookcase in my bedroom. It's a fairly big bookcase with 10 different shelves of varying sizes. However, when it comes to rearranging my books, it's often a difficult challenge. In my family, my sister also loves to read and so does my mum. We came up with the idea to turn our spare room into a library and over the past weekend, my sister and I began organising all our books as we finally had all the bookcases to fill. This wasn't an easy feat. We had almost all the books laid out so we could get an idea of how to group the books - some, however, did remain in the library because there wasn't enough space. But after a couple of hours of hard work, we finally organised the books on the appropriate shelves and now, all that is left to do is to buy some comfy chairs. I love organising things and pride myself on my organisation skills, so I thought I'd share some ways on how you can organise any of the books you have in your home. Types of books One way to organise your books is by the type of book and what I mean by this is paperback vs hardback. A lot of readers generally prefer to stick to one type of book, but that doesn't mean that you will never own the other type. I like paperbacks but I do have a couple of hardbacks. The hardbacks tend to be bigger and look a bit odd amongst the paperbacks, so if you prefer having one type of book altogether, this method of organising books is for you. Genre of books When it comes to books, genre can be a complex term to dissect. Without being too specific, genre refers to fiction vs non-fiction. But if you delve deeper, in fiction we have romance, fantasy, crime, literary, etc. And in non-fiction, it's more about the topic so literature, biographies, travel, cooking, etc. There are then, of course, sub-genres, but let's stick to the overarching genre. I think organising your books by genre is great, especially for mood readers, because you have all your happy rom-coms in one place for when you want some romance and then all your crime and mysteries in another for when you're looking for a darker read. Authors This method of organising can be used in conjunction with others. Organising by author, either alphabetically or randomly, is a useful method if you have a lot of books by the same author. For example, I have a lot of Lauren Asher books, so I group them all together so that I know where they all are and it's easier to find. Series or Standalones To me, this is quite a handy way of organising books because there's nothing worse than having a series and the books not being together on the shelf. I have quite a few series, or duologies and trilogies, and I've found putting them together - not in alphabetical order, but in series order - is best. And the same with standalones. If you have standalones in the same genre, by the same author, or the same type of book, it can be good to have all the standalones together, not just for aesthetic purposes but for ease of finding what you're looking for. Height and Size This method is one that I probably wouldn't use as the main way to organise my books but it does have some benefits. Organising your books based on their height and size can create a clean look on your bookshelves, but it could split up some series and authors. I do agree that having books of the same size – or as similar as you can get – looks lovely, but I have books where they're in a series and they are very obviously different heights. The main one I can think of is the UCMH series by Hannah Grace, so for that reason, I don't use this method, but it may work for some of you. Seasons At first, this method may seem a bit strange to you, but bear with me. You've heard of mood readers, right? Well, seasonal readers are a thing too. There are a lot of books out there that are Christmas novels, summer reads and even spooky stories. For that reason, organising your book based on the season they're best suited to can be quite good. I have a shelf just for Christmas books in my room, but I also know I have a lot of books perfect for summer and holidays. It can be disconcerting reading a book set in snowy Vermont in July and the same goes for a book about a Greek island in December, so organising based on seasons can be helpful. Colours This is quite a popular way of organising, and not just books either. The Home Edit uses the rainbow method to organise and if you arrange books based on the colour of their covers/spines, it can create a beautiful aesthetic on your shelves. Organising based on colour is perfect for those who are more cover-focused readers and if you have a lot of books with a specific colour on the front. TBR (To be read) If you're a reader, it's likely you know the acronym TBR stands for 'To be read'. This essentially means all the books you want to read but haven't got around to yet. For myself, that list is rather long. But your TBR can help you arrange your books. On your bookshelves, you could have a section of books you've read and then a section of books you want to read. This way, you know where a book is if you fancy a reread, but also if you fancy something new, you can easily find the books you're after. Favourites Another way you can organise your books is based on what ones are your favourites. I find it difficult to pick out a select few books that are my favourites, so I actually have a whole shelf dedicated to my top reads. But if you're a reader who has a favourite novel, series, etc., then you could arrange your books based on preference and have your top reads front and centre to show them off. Random And finally, if you aren't keen on any of the above methods, or others I may have missed, then you can be completely random in your organisation. No matter what size, genre, type or who the author is, you can put your books on the shelves in any random order. So, how do you organise your books? Let me know in the comments. Until next time...

Writing is a profession, and a hobby, that can be time-consuming and challenging, but staying organised can make it easier to work efficiently. I saw on LinkedIn the other week a post from someone who said: If you are thinking and dreaming about wanting to write, then you are an aspiring writer. But if you have already put pen to page, or fingers to keyboard, then you are not aspiring. You ARE a writer. This really resonated with me because for so long I've always said, I'm an aspiring author, I'm an aspiring writer. But I actually am a writer and I'm on my way to becoming an author. I write every day, whether that be journalism, scripts, scenes, or novels. And remembering that fact makes me smile. However, writing isn't always easy, especially if you're writing lots of different things. It can be easy to become disorganised and overwhelmed, especially if you have several projects that need completing. So I thought I'd share some tips on how to stay organised as a writer. Setting a daily schedule There is nothing worse than sitting down at your desk, getting ready to start and not knowing what you need to do. Or knowing all your tasks, but having no idea where to start. Creating a daily schedule is the best way to be organised as a writer because it will not only increase your productivity but also your creativity. Having a daily schedule allows you to know what to do and when. This can either be in the form of a to-do list or if you're more tech-savvy, a spreadsheet. List out all the projects you have and the tasks involved in each. Spread them out across the week based on priority and allocate a specific time slot for them. This way, you can work through the schedule, ticking off tasks one by one as you complete them and having a specific block of time for each task will help prevent you from spending too much time on them and make your day more efficient. A clear calendar for deadlines As a writer, there is nothing worse than not knowing your deadlines. For me, I have many deadlines for different types of writing, including university assignment deadlines; deadlines for news articles; dates blog posts need to be published by; and an overall deadline for my novel. Writing is not an easy feat and having a clear calendar with all your deadlines will only be useful. I use my diary, which includes a monthly overview and a weekly overview. This year, I have colour-coded each event/deadline based on what area of writing it is. For example, for my motorsport journalism, I write in red. For university, I write in blue. For WriteWatchWork, I write in green, and for personal writing tasks, I write in pink. Colour-coding my calendar has helped immensely in staying organised and knowing when my deadlines are. It avoids confusion and makes it easier to spot different deadlines and tasks. Organise your workspace As the saying goes, 'Tidy room, Tidy mind'. Writing is a complex task; when it comes to prose or scripts, you have to think not only about the general story, but the characters, the plot, the structure, the dialogue, the world-building, and so much more. For journalists, you have to remember multiple facts, names, grammar rules etc. So it's no wonder that the above saying does ring true. To stay organised as a writer, one of the best tips I can give you is to organise your workspace. Having a messy, untidy desk, or office, can be detrimental to your mental health and productivity. To organise your desk, have a pen pot. Have a coaster for your drink. Have an area for post-its, your stapler, ruler, rubbers, and any other stationery you require. Make sure that your notebooks are tidied away when you're not using them and if you have loose bits of paper, try putting them in a clear plastic wallet to keep them together. Declutter by removing any items you don't need when writing. If you require textbooks but have them for different subjects, perhaps have a different shelf for each focus. Having a tidy workspace will allow you to focus on your work and clear your mind so you can be more productive. Different stationery for different projects Much like having different areas for different textbooks, having a different set of stationery for different writing projects will keep you organised. With my degree, I'm studying prose and scriptwriting. These are two very different mediums of writing and one thing that has kept me organised is having different notebooks. For scriptwriting, I have a set of grey notebooks and for prose, I have blue. Having different books for each medium has made it easier for me to know where my notes and references for each project are. I also have different sections in my folders for each writing project. Having defined stationery for different projects will help you stay organised because it'll be easier to keep track of everything you need and will make you more productive in the long run because you won't need to spend time searching for different bits and pieces. Attainable and achievable goals I'm someone who writes in several mediums and I can honestly tell you, it can be overwhelming, especially when looking at the overall projects. However, breaking each project down into individual tasks that are attainable has reduced the stress and pressure of dealing with so many. When you split projects into smaller tasks, make sure you're being specific; set a measurable goal and put a deadline in place. For example, this year I want to complete the first draft of my novel. That sounds daunting and it is. But I have broken it down into smaller, more specific goals and set myself a deadline. Simply saying, 'write more' or 'complete the novel' is not good enough. Instead, I've said 'write 2000 words each week'. If I don't achieve this, then that is fine, but if I do, it spurs me on even more and makes me more determine to continue writing. Having these smaller goals for each project that are actually achievable keeps you organised as a writer because you'll have a specific focus and won't feel the pressure of a huge task. Take breaks Pomodoro, or tomato in Italian. This is a working method I learnt when studying for my GCSEs. Essentially, it is working in 25-minute chunks with a five-minute break, and then once you've completed this four times, take a longer break. At first, I was hesitant about this method. But it does work. Sitting down with your laptop or your notebook and writing non-stop is not good. Not only does it make your hands ache, but it can hinder your creativity in the long run and make you more tired and less inclined to write. Taking breaks is important in every job because it allows you to stay refreshed and avoid burning out. For writers, you need that inspiration to write and your creative juices need to be flowing and taking breaks can help you maintain that energy and creativity. Pomodoro splits up the working day, giving you time to stretch your legs and give your mind a break. However, it's not the only way to take breaks. Visiting a coffee shop one morning, seeing a friend for lunch, going for a walk, all of these will help you stay organised as a writer because they will refresh your mind. It's up to you as to which method of taking breaks works best for you. An end-of-the-day routine My final tip for staying organised as a writer is to have an end-of-the-day routine. At the end of the working day, it can be easy to bring work home with you or, if you work from home, to keep thinking about what needs to be done. But if you create a routine at the end of the day once you've finished working, you will be more relaxed and therefore refreshed the next day. It will allow you to enjoy your evening and have time away from work. The routine can include ticking off the day's tasks from your to-do list, tidying away your books, bits of paper and stationery, cleaning your desk etc. I know that if I tidy away everything and wrap up the day's work, I can then spend my evening doing things I want and not have to think about work. So, if you find yourself struggling to relax at the end of the day, create a routine that will signify the end of work until the next morning. Do you have any more tips to stay organised as a writer? Let me know in the comments below. Until next time...

Caught Up by Liz Tomforde is the third book in the Windy City series and it is one that romance readers will love. I'm back with my review of the third book in the Windy City series. There is a fourth book in the series that will be released later this year, but for now, Caught Up is the latest. Just like the others, I really enjoyed reading it. For me, it's a bit different to Mile High and The Right Move, more in terms of the plot and the history of the characters, which was refreshing. From reading this series, I am in awe of Liz's writing and storytelling and I can't wait to read more of her work. The Windy City series is perhaps one of the best sports romance series I've read, up there with Dirty Air by Lauren Asher, Off-Campus by Elle Kennedy and UCMH by Hannah Grace. One thing I love about this series is the focus on different sports. Caught Up is a baseball (MLB) romance, which I've never read about before. So let's get into my review of Caught Up by Liz Tomforde. Review of Caught Up by Liz Tomforde - Windy City #3 Genre: Sports Romance Tropes: Sports romance: 9.5/10 Opposites attract: 9/10 Single dad/Nanny: 10/10 Forced proximity: 9.5/10 Found family: 9.5/10 Overall rating: 5 stars Caught Up is, at the moment, the latest Windy City series available to read and the synopsis is as follows: "Kai: I’m a single dad and starting pitcher for Chicago’s MLB team. I’m stretched too thin, but I don’t want help raising my son. Each of his previous nannies only lasted a few weeks before I let them go. Now, my coach is putting his foot down by hiring the one person I can’t fire—his daughter. Miller Montgomery is the last woman I should fall for. Too wild, too young, and too unattached. Chicago is just a quick stop for her. I thought I’d be counting down the days until she left, but summer feels too short when I start thinking about forever. Miller: As a high-end pastry chef who recently won the most prestigious award in my industry, I’m desperate to prove I deserve it. But with a new title comes new pressure, and I can’t create a fresh and inspiring dessert to save my life. With only two months to get back on track, I should be focusing in the kitchen, but instead, I let my dad talk me into using my time off to nanny for his star player’s kid. Kai Rhodes forgot how to have fun, and I’m eager to jog his memory. But when he and his son start to feel like home, I have to remind us both that my time in Chicago ends with the summer. Besides, I’ve always been a runner, and the last thing I want is to get caught." A trope in romance books that I have always particularly liked is the single-parent trope. There's something about a book with a young child that tugs on my heartstrings and Caught Up was exactly that. Whilst the book is about Kai and Miller, Max, Kai's son, did steal the show the majority of the time. He was so cute and I could just picture him throughout the book and it made me smile. Caught Up is an emotional book, I'd say. The third-act break-up was more heart-breaking than I expected, but I think that is down to Max. However, the narrative arc of the book was crafted so well by Liz that the tension just built and built until Kai and Miller gave in to their feelings and then when they were together, you knew something was going to happen, but it was still unexpected. Kai Rhodes is a famous baseball player in the MLB. His whole life, baseball has been his love but when Max is left to Kai, his entire focus and priority in life changes. Kai is Clark Kent-handsome, one of the best players in the MLB and the sweetest father. He wants Max to have the best life, so he always puts him first. But travelling the US is hard when you're a single parent, let alone when you fire every nanny. But with Miller in his life, Kai slowly starts opening himself up to more than just being a dad. Kai learns what fun means again and realises that if he wanted to, he could have it all. His character is sweet, swoon-worthy, charming and sexy. And that's a problem for Miller Montgomery. Miller is Kai's coach's daughter and she has a lot of pressure on her plate. Being a chef and having won an award, she's sought-after, but by spending time looking after Max and flirting with Kai, Miller realises that striving to be the best and have an impressive career isn't always what it's cracked up to be. She is feisty and fiery and I loved how determined she was. Liz's female protagonists are all very different but I did really like Miller and how she formed friendships with Indy and Stevie, and also Kennedy, who is the FMC of the fourth book. Miller has two different sides to her - being a chef and being herself as a nanny - and eventually, she lets Kai under her strong demeanour to see who she really is. The dynamic between Miller and Kai was so good. Their banter and chemistry were off the charts; the spice and flirtatiousness in this book...chef's kiss. There were also scenes in this book that had me smiling so wide my cheeks hurt, like the scene where Max walks for the first time! One thing I would say is that this is a baseball romance and if you're like me and don't know baseball, there will be some bits that probably don't make sense. When Liz writes a sports romance, she writes a sports romance and includes scenes of the actual sport, which makes the whole book authentic, but I didn't understand the baseball terms. However, it didn't take away from my enjoying the story because once again Liz crafted emotionally deep characters in difficult situations but together they discover what truly matters and create their own happiness. Kai and Miller are up there with Zanders and Stevie, but may have beaten them slightly to my favourite in the Windy City series. I loved the side characters, seeing Zanders and Stevie and Indy and Ryan, but also getting a sneak into Isaiah and Kennedy's book! Intrigued? If my review has intrigued you to read book three in the Windy City series by Liz Tomforde, click the cover below to view it on Amazon. Until next time...

I'm back with a book review of the second instalment in the Windy City series, The Right Move by Liz Tomforde. My last blog post was a book review of Mile High by Liz Tomforde. Mile High is book one in the Windy City sports romance series and I knew from reading that book that the others in the series would be just as good. So here I am sharing a review of the second book, The Right Move. This series can be read as interconnected standalones, however, I do feel that if you read them all together - in the right order - it'll make your experience a lot better. It has for me because you get introduced to the other couples ahead of when their book actually comes out. But without further ado, let's get into what I thought about The Right Move by Liz Tomforde. Review of The Right Move by Liz Tomforde (Windy City #2) Genre: Contemporary romance Tropes: Sports romance: 9/10 Best friend's brother: 10/10 Roommates/Forced proximity: 9.5/10 Grumpy/sunshine: 9/10 Fake dating: 10/10 Overall rating: 4.5 stars Synopsis for The Right Move: "RYAN: She’s a distraction, that’s what she is. I’m the newest Captain of the Devils, Chicago’s NBA team, and the last thing I needed this year was for Indy Ivers, my sister’s best friend, to move into my apartment. She’s messy, emotional, and way too tempting. But when the team’s General Manager vocalizes his blatant disapproval of my promotion to Captain, referring to me as an unapproachable lone wolf with no work-life balance, I can’t think of a better way to convince him otherwise than pretending to date my outgoing roommate. The only problem? Faking it feels far too natural. Having a fake girlfriend wasn’t supposed to be messy but having Indy under my roof and in my bed is complicated, especially when she wants all the romantic parts of life that I could never give her. INDY: I never imagined I’d be living with my best friend’s brother, NBA superstar Ryan Shay. Even more unbelievable? He needs me to act as his loving girlfriend who’s suddenly changed him into a friendly and approachable guy. Because, well…he’s not. He’s controlling of his space and untrusting of others. Our arrangement isn’t one-sided, though. I’m in a wedding coming up, one where every one of my childhood friends, including my ex-boyfriend, will be in attendance, and there’s no better date than my ex’s celebrity hero. Blurred lines make it almost impossible to separate real from fake. Falling for my roommate was never part of the deal, especially when Ryan is quick to remind me that he doesn’t believe in love. I’m a romantic and can’t help fantasizing that he’ll change, but soon enough, I find myself questioning if sharing a roof with my best friend’s brother was the right move after all." From my ratings above, you can probably tell I loved this book. Just like Mile High, The Right Move is a must-read for sports romance lovers. The second book in the Windy City series is a basketball romance and follows Ryan Shay and Indigo Ivers. We meet these characters in Mile High and the brief scenes in book one of their interactions set up their story perfectly. The Right Move is a funny, heart-warming book. Ryan and Indy are opposites in a lot of ways and I loved reading their dynamic of living together and navigating their growing feelings. It was a completely different type of story compared to Zanders and Stevie in book one. I feel like in this book we got more angst and sexual tension of Ryan and Indy living together whilst trying to figure each other out. And then when they finally gave in, we got to see the sweetness of their relationship. Ryan is Stevie's twin and when it comes to his sister, he is relaxed, happy and more free. But with everyone else, including Indy, Ryan is more reserved. Throughout the book, we learn about Ryan's past and the reason why he doesn't trust people easily; it is his flaw but he learns to open up and trust those who want to be there for him because of who he is, not what he does. The NBA star feels an immense amount of pressure and the fake dating begins to placate his coach. However, Indy slowly worms her way into his life with her bright colours and wide smile and we see the tough, stoic façade of Ryan crack to reveal a charming, kind-hearted man. Ryan is such a good romance book hero because he is sweet but also a bit possessive of his girl when they're together and at times, you know the fake dating wasn't all that fake. Whilst Ryan begins the book as grumpy, Indy is sunshine. She's suffering from her own past trauma and wants a fresh start, but moving in with her best friend's brother and being in a fake relationship with him isn't exactly what she had planned. Indy's character is such a great female MC. She is comical, loyal and determined. I didn't relate to her as much as Stevie's character, but there was still that connection between reader and character throughout the book. One thing I loved about The Right Move was the friendships. Not only did we see the friendship between Indy and Stevie, but we also saw Ryan open up more to Zanders and Kai Miller - book three's protagonist - and Rio as well. Romance books always have a small friendship group, I've found, and Liz has done a fantastic job of creating diverse characters that feel believable as friends. Plus, Indy's daily updates to Stevie made me laugh! I really enjoyed The Right Move because it did make me laugh and it did tug at my heartstrings when it came to Ryan and Indy's past trauma and individual issues. The Right Move involves sign language because of a deaf character, which as someone who is writing a novel with a deaf character I found intriguing but also wholesome because of Ryan's actions related to sign language. The Right Move by Liz Tomforde is full of love, charm, banter and spice. It is definitely worth the read if you're a fan of sports romances and even if you're not much of a fan of basketball, you probably will be after reading this book. Intrigued? If my review has persuaded you to give The Right Move by Liz Tomforde a try, click the cover below to view it on Amazon. Until next time...

Liz Tomforde's Windy City series is a sports romance series that covers all bases and I love it, so I thought I'd write a review of book one, Mile High. Sports romances have grown in popularity in recent years since the rise of BookTok and Bookstagram. And even more so now with Taylor Swift dating Kansas City Chief's Tight End, Travis Kelce. But for me, they've always been a sub-genre of romance novels that I've enjoyed. I never used to think of myself as sporty, despite doing netball, dance, swimming and once upon a time football. However, now I love to watch it whether it be American Football, Formula 1 or Ice Hockey. So it was no surprise that when I began the Windy City series by Liz Tomforde, I loved it. The series consists of three published books with a fourth set to be released later this year. The first three books - Mile High, The Right Move and Caught Up - cover a different sport. Mile High is the first book in the series and is an NHL/ice hockey romance. The Right Move is a NBA/basketball romance and Caught Up is a MLB/baseball romance. Mile High by Liz Tomforde was my first read of February so for my first blog post of the month, I thought I'd share my review of book one in the Windy City series. Review of Mile High by Liz Tomforde (Windy City #1) Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Sports romance: 9/10 Workplace romance: 9/10 Forced proximity: 9.5/10 Opposites attract: 9.5/10 Overall Rating: 5 stars Synopsis as stated by GoodReads: "ZANDERS: Chicago hockey isn't complete without me - everyone's favourite player to hate. I know my role, and I play it well. In fact, I thoroughly enjoy spending the majority of my game time in the penalty box before leaving the arena with a new girl on my arm each night. What I don't like is the new flight attendant on our team's private plane. She works for me, not the other way around. But I'll be sure to remind her of that, and I can guarantee, by the end of the season, she'll be begging to quit her job. But every road trip blurs the lines, and I can't quite figure out if I keep pushing that flight attendant call button in order to push her buttons, or if it's more than that. STEVIE: I've been a flight attendant for years. I thought I'd seen it all, but when my new job lands me onboard working for the most egotistical and self-righteous diva in the NHL, I start to second guess everything. Including the promise I made to myself of never hooking up with an athlete again . . . no matter how annoyingly tempting he may be. Evan Zanders is unfiltered, unapologetic, and too attractive for his own good. He loves his image, but I hate everything about it. Everything but him." Now I know what you're probably thinking: Mile High sounds like your average, everyday sports romance. But it isn't. Yes, Zanders and Stevie start as enemies, forced to work closely together and over time their feelings grow. Mile High is a spicy romance suited for those 18 and over but there is a whole other layer to the characters and the plot underneath the surface. Mile High has a variety of characters in terms of the protagonists but also the side characters. Evan Zanders (Zee) begins the book as the famous bad boy hockey player that everyone loves to hate. He presents the world with a certain persona of not caring, being brutal at times on the ice, and having his choice of women. He's known for being in the tabloids for all the wrong reasons and people love him for it. But underneath the tough, playboy exterior, there is so much more to Zanders. He is emotional, haunted by his past, incredibly caring and protective of those he loves and basically a teddy bear. But his fear of not being loved for who he really is and not getting resigned with the Chicago Raptors prevent him from showing the world the true Evan Zanders. And then Stevie comes along. Stevie works as a flight attendant on the Raptor's plane and her initial meeting with Zanders didn't go how he hoped. She was a spitfire who took no nonsense because she had a job to do. But over time, Zanders let his mask fall whilst he was around Stevie and soon she became one of the few people to learn that the Zanders the public knows isn't real. However, things aren't that simple. Of course, in a novel, you need conflict and Zander's persona is a major part of the drama. Both Zanders and Stevie have insecurities for different reasons, but they ultimately lead to the same root problem in that neither of them thinks they're enough/worthy to be loved. And this is why I loved this book. The protagonists weren't just typical sports romance characters, they had that extra level of depth and vulnerability to them. Liz included diversity within Mile High in that both characters are mixed-race, there's mental health representation, and body positivity. The mental health representation was handled delicately and Liz wrote the novel in a way that conveyed the characters' emotions and struggles to the point that in the third act, I had to hold back tears. Stevie's character is plus-sized and throughout her life, she's suffered a lot of trauma because of it. But I loved how Zanders gave her the confidence to love herself more and embrace her body. It was great to see Stevie's confidence grow throughout the novel and how she learnt to stand up for herself; there's one scene in particular with the press outside Stevie's building, which made me smile. I think a lot of what I loved about Mile High was the representation within the novel and the characterisation of Stevie and Zanders because I saw a lot of myself in Stevie. The connection these two characters have is incredible and the banter as well is very comical. I've seen a lot of reviews saying that the book is too long and could have been shortened, but personally, I feel it was the right length. You get to know the characters well enough to be taken on their journey with them and feel connected to them, which is the whole purpose of a book. So I say Mile High by Liz Tomforde of the Windy City series is definitely worth the read. Intrigued? If my review has convinced you to give this book a go, then you can read it on Amazon, and Kindle Unlimited. Just click the cover below. If you decide to read it or have read Mile High before, let me know what you think. Until next time...

Deep rest is essential for us to feel fully relaxed and rejuvenated and avoid burning out. If you've read some of my blog posts before, then you will know that I have been prone to burning out. The definition of burnout, according to Mental Health UK is a "state of physical and emotional exhaustion." Typically, burnout results from workplace stress that hasn't been properly managed. It can leave you feeling exhausted, depleted of energy, feeling overwhelmed and having a more negative outlook on things. A lot of the time, when someone is suffering from burnout, they may try, for example, to sleep a few more hours each night or improve their diet. However, feeling exhausted and burnt out won't go away with a consistent eight hours of sleep. Earlier this week, I read an article in The Independent that talked all about deep rest and it got me thinking. What is deep rest? Deep rest is the term used to describe anything that allows you to switch off completely, in both emotional and physical respects. In the article, Dr Sophie Bostock from thesleepscientist.com said: "There's a difference between doing something relaxing and really relaxing the body." This really resonated with me because as someone who struggles to relax and take time away from work, it was intriguing to learn more about how to fully unwind, especially since I've felt overwhelmed with work and university recently. Dr Bostock also mentioned in the article that whilst we can sit down and watch TV, we're not actually relaxing. And I can attest to that because there have been several times when I've sat down to watch a movie or read a book or do some crafts and said that's me taking a break. But by the end of it, I didn't feel fully relaxed because my mind was still working. What we actually need to do is to switch off from everything in all respects. Dr Bostock mentioned that anything that helps you turn off cognitively, emotionally and physically is the key, which doesn't always mean a good night's sleep. In a more scientific explanation, practising deep rest allows for your body's sympathetic nervous system to be turned off whilst your parasympathetic nervous system gets turned on. The difference between these two is that the sympathetic nervous system is your body's fight or flight response that results in an increased heart rate etc, whilst your parasympathetic nervous system regulates the "rest and digest" functions. But how do we achieve deep rest? Sleep is essential to our wellbeing and if we don't get enough sleep each night, then we won't feel as good as we could do in the morning. However, sleep is only one pillar contributing to deep rest. It is only one form of rest. To feel fully energised and awake we need to focus on relaxing cognitively, emotionally and physically. It can be difficult to allow yourself time to relax fully and switch off, but it is necessary because otherwise, you could become chronically exhausted and burnt out, which isn't a good feeling for anyone. To achieve deep rest, the first thing to do is schedule it. A lot of the time, if something isn't scheduled and we say, we'll do it later, we rarely do. So scheduling time to properly relax means you're taking it seriously but increases your chances of actually relaxing. Now examples of different things you can do are: Brain dumping Walking in nature Watching mindless TV Put your phone away Express your feelings without embarrassment Spend time with true friends Brain dumping allows you to mentally, and also emotionally, switch off because you expel all the thoughts in your head onto a piece of paper - or a voice note if you prefer - and can forget about them. Walking in nature isn't for everyone, especially if you aren't a fan of bugs or the cold. But it can be an activity that inspires you, calms you down, and lets you mentally rest. Taking in your surroundings and just letting yourself feel what's around you is a way to relax and let the tension go from your body. Watching mindless TV makes way for you to physically relax. Sitting on the sofa, or lying down, gives your body a moment of rest because it's not doing anything but taking oxygen into your lungs. This activity could also help you mentally if you choose a programme, or film, that doesn't require a lot of attention and focus. Phones are a part of everyday life and as someone who has social media involved in their job, it can be hard to have time without your phone. But it is so important to do so. Looking at screens all day does nothing to help your eyes, but it can also be overwhelming, so when you can try to avoid using your phone. Stacey Solomon has shared that she's had days on the weekend without her phone and puts it in a drawer. Other people avoid using their phones an hour before they go to sleep. Emotions are complex and they can be daunting. Society has ingrained in us that for men, it's not very masculine to cry, and when women are annoyed or stressed, it's their hormones. Emotional rest is something everybody should be striving for, but it is difficult. However, letting your emotions out and expressing them without fear or embarrassment can be very freeing and restorative, so find a place to scream or cry, talk to a trusted friend or even journal. Whatever you choose, emotional rest is key. Socialising can be draining - as an introvert, I know. But sometimes, after being around people where you've felt the need to be switched on, present yourself in a certain way and always be aware, it can be relaxing to spend time with those who accept you for you and don't expect anything. Deep rest is not an easy feat to achieve, but in a day and age where there are lots of conflicts, it's important to take care of yourself, especially in the colder months of the year. I'm not a scientist or health expert, but if you're feeling burnt out, exhausted or overwhelmed, maybe give some of these activities a go and try to fully relax to achieve deep rest. Until next time...

Mark Wahlberg's latest movie, The Family Plan, was one of action, hilarity, romance and family, and I loved it so much that I thought I'd share my opinion on the film with you all. Last week I wrote a blog post reviewing the movie Lift. The film starred Kevin Hart and was an action-comedy involving a mid-air heist. At the time, I thought this film was the best I'd watched all year. However, things have now changed and Lift has been bumped down the order to second. The reason is because last night I watched the film The Family Plan. My mum suggested it as a potential movie to watch for the whole family and we all loved it. Throughout the entire film, we were smiling, laughing and really enjoying the action. Having now seen five movies in total this year, The Family Plan is definitely at the top and I'll tell you why. Synopsis The basic premise for The Family Plan is: "A former top assassin living incognito as a suburban dad must take his unsuspecting family on the run when his past catches up to him." Mark Wahlberg plays Dan Morgan, a car salesman. He drives a mini-van, is married to Michelle Monaghan's character, Jessica, and has three kids, Nina, Kyle and Max. Dan may seem a bit predictable and a bit boring and to his kids, rather strict when it comes to social media and technology. Little do they know, it's for their safety. But things go awry when a photo surfaces online of Dan and Jessica, resulting in his former colleagues hunting him down. What follows is lots of action, fights, comedic moments, and eventually the climax when his family find out. Review Now, let's get into my thoughts on The Family Plan. First of all, it has a lot of famous faces with the likes of Mark Wahlberg, Michelle Monaghan, Maggie Q and Ciarán Hinds. As someone who loves action movies, Mark Wahlberg is an actor whose movies I enjoy. I loved him in Transformers and Deepwater Horizon, so I was pretty confident I'd like The Family Plan. And I did. Immediately, we're introduced to Dan's character in his status-quo world as a car salesman. The first scenes we're shown are snippets of Buffalo and then Dan talking to a customer and trying to sell him a car. There is a voice-over before we actually see Dan that has two purposes: persuading the customer to buy the car and also giving the audience an insight into Dan's mind, revealing there's more to him than one would think. The film's opening shows the family in their everyday lives and we get a good sense of who their characters are. I liked the development of the characters because you do get attached to them as a family and you hope that when they find out about Dan being an assassin, they're not too mad. Throughout the entire film, there are lots of action sequences, which one would expect when the protagonist is a former assassin. But I thought they were well executed. There's one scene in particular that involves Maggie Q and Michelle Monaghan, towards the end of the film, and I loved it. I've always wanted to learn self-defence and do some kickboxing and this film only made me want to learn more. Whilst The Family Plan is an action movie, there were lots of comedic moments throughout. Mark Wahlberg and Michelle Monaghan's characters provided a lot of hilarity throughout the film with their arguments and their banter, but it was really Max who stole the show. Max is a toddler in the film and straightaway, before we even started the film and had just seen the preview photo on AppleTV+, I said that Max was so cute. And as the film progressed, he became even cuter. During The Family Plan, there were moments when Max was the only Morgan child to be aware that his dad was actually an assassin, which resulted in a lot of laughs. I think Max's character added a lot to the film and if he wasn't in it, then in my opinion, The Family Plan would be less entertaining. However, with the family of five on the run, travelling from Buffalo to Vegas, The Family Plan is certainly a worthwhile action movie. Personally, I will rewatch The Family Plan this year because I love it so much. And it may seem early for me to say it's one of my favourite movies this year given that we're only 21 days into 2024, but I'm confident that The Family Plan has every aspect of a movie that I love. So if you have access to AppleTV+ and you enjoy action comedies, then give The Family Plan a watch. If you do watch it, let me know in the comments what you think. Until next time...

My goal for 2024 is to read 100 books and there are quite a few books already on my reading list for the year ahead, so I thought I'd share some books I will be reading. We are over two weeks into the new year and Christmas feels like ages ago. So far, 2024 has been a rather busy year for me, but I've enjoyed it nonetheless. With a new year, of course, comes new books. As someone who will never have enough books, reading is a big part of my life. Ever since I was younger and forced to read at school, I've enjoyed slipping into a fantasy world and meeting new characters. However, it can be overwhelming at times because, like a lot of my bookish friends, our reading lists can get so long and be filled with lots of books that we don't know where to start. This morning, I attended my book club's first gathering of the year. There was only a small group of us but it was a great way to start off my day by catching up with everyone there and discussing the books we've read since our last meet-up. But coming away from book club meant I have more books on my TBR list, so I thought I'd share some of the books that are on my reading list for 2024. Chestnut Springs Series by Elsie Silver First up is a series I will always recommend. The Chestnut Springs series is a small-town country romance series comprising of five interconnected standalones. I have read the first three but still need to read Reckless and Hopeless. To be honest, I'm not sure why I haven't read books four and five yet because I know they're going to be so good, but 2024 is the year I will definitely read them, especially with Elsie's new book, Wild Love, being released too. Love Redesigned by Lauren Asher For Christmas, I was gifted Love Redesigned by Lauren Asher by my sister. It's the first book in Lauren's latest series - Lakefront Billionaires - and I've been very excited to read it because I haven't read a book of Lauren's that hasn't made me smile. However, I do actually have Final Offer by Lauren to read beforehand, which gives a sneak peek into the couple that Love Redesigned is about. The Happy Hour by Cressida McLaughlin When Cressida writes a book, it's a must-read, so it's no surprise that when her new book, The Happy Hour, comes out later this year, I'll be reading it. It is a contemporary romance with the premise of: Can they fall in love, sixty minutes at a time? The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan Sarah Morgan is another author, whose books I love and she also has a summer read being released later this year. The Summer Swap is a summery romance that is about friendship as well and I know that I will thoroughly enjoy reading Sarah's latest book. Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton I received this book for Christmas and it is actually a non-fiction book. Everything I Know About Love has been promoted on social media for a while and I kept seeing reviews of it saying that it's a book every girl in their 20s should read. And so I have it and I will read it. Happy Place by Emily Henry Previously, I have read two of Emily Henry's books and I rated them highly. Then I saw Happy Place and desperately wanted it, but it isn't out in the UK in paperback yet. But when it is released in paperback, I will be buying Happy Place. It is another romance and it's about a couple who have broken up but make a pact to pretend to still be together for the sake of their friends as they all go away on their annual holiday. It's giving fake-dating vibes, which is a trope I love, so I will probably love this book too. Crescent City by Sarah J Maas Sarah J Maas is a master at writing fantasy novels and I have been dying to read her Crescent City series for a while. I read ACOTAR and loved it and everyone keeps telling me that Crescent City is just as good. Sarah is releasing the third book in the series this year - House of Flame and Shadow - so I would love to read the first two books beforehand and then read book three once it's released. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller The Song of Achilles is one of those books where I haven't seen a single person dislike the story. From what I understand, it's a Greek Mythology retelling of the Trojan War. My friend gave it to me and I can't wait to read it, but I know it's probably going to be an emotional read. Thursday Murder Club series by Richard Osman This murder mystery series is one that's been read by my book club, but not me. It's on my reading list for 2024 because at my book club, it's caused some differing opinions. Some people love the books and some people dislike them. So 2024 is the year where I find out which side of book club I'm on. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern The Night Circus is a fantasy book that has been deemed "intensely imaginative". It's been on my bookcase for quite a while and I've never gotten around to reading it. But this year, it will be read because the plot of the book has always intrigued me and I love fantasy novels, so I have a good feeling about it. So there are 10 books/series that I will be ticking off my 2024 reading list. Are any of these books you've read or want to read? If so, let me know in the comments. Until next time...

Kevin Hart's latest film, Lift, was one of surprise but it was entertaining and worth the watch. This weekend, for movie night, my family and I decided to watch the new film Lift on Netflix. It's an action-comedy that stars Kevin Hart, Sam Worthington, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Vincent D'Onofrio and many more. As a family, we enjoy action movies and whilst we find Kevin Hart funny as a comedian, his movies aren't always our cup of tea. However, we liked the sound of Lift and thought we'd give it a go. I am glad we did watch Lift because out of the four movies I've watched this year so far, it's perhaps the best one I've seen, although Knight and Day is always a great film to watch. But because I enjoyed Lift so much, which came as a surprise, I thought I'd write a film review of it. Synopsis Lift is an action-comedy film that follows a master thief, Cyrus portrayed by Kevin Hart, and his crew as they team up with Abby, an Interpol Agent played by Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who just so happens to be Cyrus' ex-girlfriend. With Abby onboard, Cyrus and his crew plan to steal $500million in gold from a notoriously bad billionaire, Lars Jorgenson, who is cast by Jean Reno. However, it's not a simple heist but a seemingly impossible one. The gold is being flown from London to Zurich and within that time, Kevin Hart's character and his crew have to steal the gold to stop it reaching its target. Review Now, Lift could be seen as a typical Netflix action-comedy movie that's star-studded, has a good plot but doesn't really have much depth. And for some, that may be the case. However, for me, I actually really enjoyed watching Lift. Yes, it has outlandish plotlines - stealing gold in mid-air, for one - but with films nowadays, you expect that. Especially action movies because a lot of movies are completely out there and have a protagonist who never gets injured or just so happens to be able to avoid every bullet and take down all the bad guys. But in Lift, there were moments of realism and for me, the best part about the film that was a surprise was Kevin Hart. I love him as a comedian and I have liked some of his previous films, such as Jumanji, The Man from Toronto and Think Like a Man. Kevin Hart's films usually have him playing a wacky character, who likes to swear a lot and is rather unfortunate and often incompetent. Lift was different though. Kevin Hart played an intelligent, competent and skilled thief, who was respectable and a leader - not a sidekick. This type of character wasn't one I expected from Kevin Hart and it made the film more enjoyable because there weren't swear words in every other sentence and there weren't stupid moments of forced comedy. I liked his character and also the others. Yes, there wasn't as much depth with the rest of the crew as there is with Cyrus and Abby, but they were still great characters to watch. The screenwriter, Daniel Kunka, obviously did a good job because my sister and I became attached to the characters, not wanting any of them to die towards the end of the climax. So Kevin Hart's portrayal of his character and the general characterisation was a great aspect of the film. But another thing that stood out to me was the director. F. Gary Gray directed Lift and he's also directed the likes of The Italian Job, The Fate of the Furious, Straight Outta Compton etc. With Lift, I think it was clear that the experience of directing The Italian Job and The Fate of the Furious influenced this movie because it is very much the other two combined. It's about a heist (that does have scenes in Italy) but this time it's in the sky. It includes chase scenes, much like the scene on the ice in The Fate of the Furious and it has some a-bit-out-there plot points, also like The Fate of the Furious. But combining the two and creating Lift worked really well. It was an action film with plenty of action and it was a comedy film too, even with a little bit of romance for those who like a romantic sub-plot. There is tension and there is suspense. Watching a crew of thieves, all with their own roles (the boss, the pilot, the hacker, the engineer, the safecracker, the disguise expert and the Interpol agent) may not seem like it's worth the watch and it may seem predictable. However, in my opinion, Lift is definitely worth the watch and there is plenty to keep you hooked until the very end. So if you fancy a new movie to watch, try out Lift and if you do, let me know your thoughts in the comments. Until next time...

Productivity can be difficult to maintain, especially if you have a lot of things in life to juggle, but here are some tips to help you be more productive each day. January is never the best month for a lot of people. It marks the start of a new year, but it's filled with January blues, cold weather, and having to get back to work after the festive holidays. However, whilst January can be a month where people struggle, it can also be the month where you start the year as you mean to go on. For me, January has gotten off to a great start. We're in the second week of 2024 and I feel good about the year ahead. In the past week and a bit of the new year, I've carried over some lessons and habits from 2023. These all help me in my work/uni student/personal life. But I've also created new habits that I do daily to help too. All of the habits I'm doing allow me to be more productive and I think, especially at this time of year, we could all use some help to feel more positive and get things ticked off our to-do lists. I'm no expert in productivity, but I wanted to share 8 things I do daily that help me be more productive and allow me to look back on the week and feel happy, and proud, of what I achieved and completed. Write a daily to-do list I've mentioned this habit before in previous posts, but it is one I stand by. I like to think of myself as an organised person; I thrive off organisation and I love lists. And a to-do list is one of my favourites. Each morning, I sit at my desk and take a post-it note or my to-do notepad. I then write down all the tasks for the day ahead. Now, these aren't just work-related tasks or exercises for my degree; I include things such as Facetiming my grandparents, Replying to a specific email, Sorting out the Tesco order etc. Adding each task not only helps me focus each day but it also gives me a sense of accomplishment when I have completed a job and can tick it off. Journal each night For Christmas, I asked for a Wellbeing Journal. I wanted something that would hold me accountable and make me reflect on my days and mindset. I've struggled with burnout in the past and it's something I'm trying to get better at avoiding this year and the wellbeing journal is one of the ways I'm doing this. So each night, just before bed, I write about my day and fill out the prompts, which include: Today I'm grateful for..., Today I achieved..., My self-care for today was..., My positive self-affirmation..., and My mood today has been.... This helps me reflect on my day and remember the things I've done and it also calms my mind before bed, allowing me to fall asleep quicker, setting me up for the following day. Go for a morning walk 2024 is the year I'm determined to become healthier and fitter. Therefore, each day of the year so far, I've gone for a morning walk. Last year, I did go for daily walks, but it wasn't at a set time and sometimes if it was really cold out, or really hot in the summer, I stayed inside. But in the first week and a half of January, I have committed to my daily walks and maintained them. I go after my breakfast, so before I start any work, and my aim is to increase the distance little by little each week. Going for a walk in the morning, whatever the weather, has made such a difference, I think. Not only does it allow you to get fresh air (and it has been very fresh recently), it gives you that boost of energy from exercise for your working day, and gets the blood pumping. When you return home, you made be a bit out of breath or a little bit sweaty, but having started the day with exercise and being active sets you up to be more productive and determined to continue being active by completing tasks. Drink your water Now this habit is rather new to me. I've never really drunk as much water as I probably should have. In school, I always disliked the toilets and so tried to avoid using them, meaning I didn't drink much. And last year when working at home, I would just sit at my desk and think, I'm in the middle of a task, I'm in the flow so I don't really want to go downstairs and refill my water bottle. However, that mindset has gone out the window for 2024. This year, I'm using a different water bottle that holds one litre of liquid and it has the times of day marked on the side. I'm trying to be more aware of how much I drink because whilst it means you'll need to go to the toilet more, drinking water is incredibly important for your health. Getting your water content for each day will not only help your body function better, but it can help you feel better in yourself because you'll feel refreshed and it energises your muscles, which will help you be more productive. Habit stack Habit stacking is a term I learnt from Media and Content Strategist Shelby Sacco. Essentially, it means to combine habits and do them at the same time. For example, if you're going for a walk but like to listen podcasts, why not listen to the podcast on your walk. This year, I've tried to habit stack more so I'm not spending time doing tasks that could have been done earlier in the day or more efficiently. For me, I find when I'm having breakfast, that's a good time to habit stack. So I either read the news, check emails and text messages, check out the ERIC app, or simply, look at social media, which I know if I did in the middle of the day, I'd probably waste a lot of time on it. Habit stacking combines tasks and gives you extra time later on to do something else. It allows you to do the things you want to do but in a more efficient and productive manner. Read part of a book As a bookworm, I love to read, so it's no surprise that I read daily. However, even if you're not a book lover, reading each day can benefit you. It can be fiction or non-fiction - whatever your preference is - but you have to make sure you do read. Reading can help you be more productive because it sharpens your mind, exposes you to different topics, and boosts communication skills. Plus, it also lowers your cortisol/stress levels. Having lowered stress levels will make you be more productive because you'll approach the tasks on your to-do list in a calm manner, meaning you'll most likely complete them more efficiently. Have your diary visible I have a diary for 2024, which gives me a monthly and weekly overview of the whole year. On the first couple of days of January, I filled out my diary with all the events/birthdays/deadlines that I knew of so far. As each week goes on, I fill it out with more tasks and have even had to colour-code it this year to make it clear what is what. But one thing I do daily for productivity is having my diary open on my desk. I don't write in it each day, I simply have it there for me to look at. And this may sound a bit strange, but I've found that having my diary accessible to me, even for a quick glance, helps me feel productive because it gives a sense of organisation. Organise your workspace This is perhaps one of the most important daily habits you could do. Organising your workspace can have such a big impact on how you work and function throughout the day, so it's imperative that to be as productive as you can, that it's tidy. I love organisation, as I mentioned above, and this year I'm determined to keep my desk clean, tidy and uncluttered. Each morning, I set up my desk with everything I need. I have my stationary tools on one side with a stand for my phone, I open my diary but so it's out of the way if I need to write or bring my laptop forward, and I set up my water bottle, lip balm and hand cream on the other side. Having a set place for the essential tools that I need, and having a clean desk, allows me to be more productive because I'm not stressed when working, I can easily find the things I need and it calms my mind. As the saying goes: Clear your space, clear your mind. I hope these eight tips help you in becoming more productive or perhaps give you ideas on what you can do daily to increase productivity. If you have any other habits or tips, feel free to let me know in the comments below. Until next time...

Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score was a gift for me at Christmas and I am so grateful I received this book because...wow! I love books. You readers all know that I'm a bookworm, so it was no surprise when I received some books for Christmas. One of the books I was gifted was Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score. I started the book on Boxing Day 2023 and finished it a couple of days ago, so it is officially my first book of 2024. I loved Things We Never Got Over so much that I was trying to put off finishing for as long as I could because I didn't want the story to end. But my TBR (to-be-read) list is so long already, I did finish it. It is the first book in the Knockemout series by Lucy Score. Recently, it was also announced that a TV series based on the book will be produced, which made me even more excited whilst reading. And because I loved it so much, I wanted to do a review here on my blog to spread the word about just how amazing a romance book it is. Review of Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score Genre: Contemporary Romance Tropes: Enemies-to-lovers: 9/10 Found family: 8.5/10 Small-town romance: 9/10 Grumpy/sunshine: 9.5/10 Fake dating: 8.5/10 Overall Rating: 5 Stars Towards the end of last year, I felt like I was in a bit of a reading slump. However, Things We Never Got Over has most certainly put an end to that. This book was the best way to start 2024 - a year where I'm prioritising myself and trying to be an improved version of me. Things We Never Got Over follows the story of Naomi Witt and Knox Morgan. Now let me tell you, these two characters are some of my favourite fictional characters that I've read about in a long while. Knox is Knockemout's resident grumpy barber and bar owner, who everyone knows and respects. Having come into some good fortune, Knox has tried to pay it forward to those he cares about, including his brother, Nash, but he likes to keep himself to himself. He's tattooed, gorgeous, a little possessive (but morally grey is the trend of fictional guys) and all-around charming. He comes across as an insensitive bloke, but in actual fact, he is sweet and pays attention to the little things. But Knox's solitary life gets disrupted when Naomi comes into town. The brunette runaway bride has come to Knockemout to help her estranged twin sister, Tina. Little did Naomi know that Tina is somewhat of a hated person in town and at first, Knox thinks they're the same person. But when he sees the differences between the twins, he just can't help himself from trying to help Naomi. With a grumpy barber insistent on being in her life and helping her, Naomi juggles having her perfectly planned life turned upside down, especially when her sister left her an eleven-year-old niece she didn't know she had. Things We Never Got Over hooked me from the first page because of the sparks between Naomi and Knox. It wasn't an enemies-to-lovers where they pretend to hate each other; in the beginning, they literally hated each other, which made the whole development of their relationship even greater. Naomi was a character I related to quite a lot - not the runaway bride or unexpected aunt part, but her personality. She's a planner. She writes to-do lists and schedules her weeks, has a tendency to follow the rules and not put a toe out of line. She's also a people pleaser and incredibly selfless. These qualities are very much instilled in me and I loved seeing Naomi transform from a too-selfless woman to someone who learnt to prioritise herself more. Her transformation as well as Knox's character development, I thought were really good. Lucy wrote them as flawed characters that overcome their weaknesses and face harsh truths, Knox especially, but they also learnt to embrace their flaws, which I think is an important lesson we can all learn. The side characters of Waylay (the niece), Nash, Lucian, Sloane and the Honky Tonk girls were also well-written. I liked seeing Waylay and Naomi's relationship develop throughout the story, and there was a line in the third-act breakup from Waylay that nearly had me in tears! Also, the characters of Amanda, Lou, Stef, and Liza J (as well as Waylon the dog), were good minor characters because they added to the humorous aspects of the story, but also helped convey the theme of family too. Nash and Lucian have their own stories (books two and three in the Knockemout series) and I am so excited to read them. I loved both of them for different reasons in Things We Never Got Over and the hints of who their stories will include were great. Things We Never Got Over is an emotional book (the ending nearly had me in tears as well), heart-warming, swoon-worthy, spicy, and just overall fab. The scenes with Tina and the mystery element of the story really added to the tension and suspense, creating another layer to the plot, making it not only about romance, but also family, crime and secrets. It was the first book of Lucy's I've ever read and I will be going to read the next book in the series, I guarantee you. I really enjoyed reading Naomi and Knox's story, I think it's a book that has definitely had a lasting effect on me as a reader, but also as a writer. And some of the quotes from it, I love. If you like contemporary romance novels, you should 100% give Things We Never Got Over a try. Intrigued? Check out Things We Never Got Over, book one in the Knockemout series, on Amazon here. Until next time...

The new year of 2024 has begun and it is a time when people make resolutions and set goals, but how can you create goals and actually stick to them? Each new year, you often hear the phrase 'New Year, New Me'. Many people try to reinvent themselves when a new year comes around because it is a time for fresh starts and new beginnings. In the past, I've made lists of resolutions that I wanted to stick to each year, and for a while I did, but eventually, life got in the way and I became too busy that I forgot about them. And in the past three or four years, I didn't get round to writing a resolutions list. However, 2024 is different. My Vision Board This year, I do want to try and become a better version of myself. I don't want to reinvent myself but build on the foundations I've already got from previous years. To do this, I made a 2024 vision board, which is something I've never done before. But I kept seeing TikTok videos all about creating vision boards - some content creators even made an evening with their friends out of it. Having seen the videos, I was invested. I turned on my laptop, opened up Canva and Pinterest and got to work. For those of you who aren't certain about what a vision board is, it is essentially a board/poster of all your goals for the year ahead. You can use anything to create your vision board whether that be song lyrics, photos, quotes, sayings etc. Personally, I used Pinterest because I love the social media platform and you can almost always find what you want on there. Setting your goals Before I began searching for the images I wanted for my vision board, I got an A4 notepad, split it into four sections and wrote down some goals I wanted to achieve this year. The sections I used were: Professional, Personal, Lifestyle and Health & Wellbeing. I tried to jot down at least five goals in each category, which then made it easier to tailor my search down to specifics for my vision board. It was difficult at first thinking of some goals, but if you search on social media and Google, there is lots of inspiration for new goals you can strive to achieve. Some goals I wrote down included: Read 100 books, drink three litres of water each day, complete my novel manuscript and set aside time each week without my phone. Once I'd got all the photos I needed, I put them into Canva and voila...vision board complete. If you don't want to create a vision board though, another way of goal-setting is creating your own bingo card of 25 goals you want to do this year. Either way will help you visualise your goals. But how do you stick to your goals? The above question is a good one I often think about because I'm quite an ambitious person and have a lot of goals and things I want to achieve in my life. However, it can be difficult to achieve what you want. Creating a vision board is only the first step. Having the images and quotes you want to channel this year is a good beginning, but you can go further. Life tends to get in the way. Work becomes too stressful, you're juggling family relationships, friendships, and maybe a partner, and sticking to the goals you set in January can fall off the priority list. But if you take your vision board a step further, you can stick to the goals you set. My complete vision board was great to have but it wasn't a constant in my daily life. So on the first of January, I made it my desktop background. And I also made a portrait version to have as my phone's lock screen. Now whenever I'm on my laptop, or my phone screen lights up, I will see my 2024 vision board and the goals I want to achieve. Having the goals you want to achieve visually in your life daily is a massive help because it will keep reminding you of them, and hopefully, keep you motivated to strive for them. I know it has for me. If you have a specific goal in mind or changes you want to make to your life in 2024, maybe think about creating a vision board, or something similar. It is the third day of January but it's never too late to strive for something better and to do something for you. Creating a vision board has honestly altered my mindset these first few days of the year, so I'd definitely recommend it. Any questions or comments, let me know down below. Until next time...