AllThingsGee

A little magic and sparkle

Summer Reading List: Self-Growth

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1st Aug 2021

Happy August!

I hope you had a lovely end to July and you are enjoying August so far. I thought I would share with you some of the books on my TBR list for this summer but for self growth and self development specifically. These kind of books have been on my list for a little while and I finally took the leap of faith to put some work into myself.

My Summer TBR list:

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear – Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert is a book of motivational passages, anecdotes, and quotes meant to inspire readers to embrace creativity in whatever form is most natural for them.  By exploring creativity through real life experiences and words of encouragement, readers learn to face what holds them back from embracing inspiration and activating their creative nature, also known as finding Big Magic…

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F#%k – Mark Manson

For decades, we’ve been told that positive thinking is the key to a happy, rich life. “F**k positivity,” Mark Manson says. “Let’s be honest, shit is f**ked and we have to live with it.” In his wildly popular Internet blog, Manson doesn’t sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it like it is—a dose of raw, refreshing, honest truth that is sorely lacking today. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k is his antidote to the coddling, let’s-all-feel-good mindset that has infected modern society and spoiled a generation, rewarding them with gold medals just for showing up.

Lean In – Sheryl Sandberg

Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In is a massive cultural phenomenon and its title has become an instant catchphrase for empowering women. The book soared to the top of bestseller lists internationally, igniting global conversations about women and ambition. Sandberg packed theatres, dominated opinion pages, appeared on every major television show and on the cover of Time magazine, and sparked ferocious debate about women and leadership.

20-Something, 20-Everything: A Quarter-life Woman’s Guide to Balance and Direction – Christine Hassler

The midtwenties through the midthirties can be a time of difficult transition: the security blankets of college and parents are gone, and it’s suddenly time to make far-reaching decisions about career, investments, and adult identity. When author Christine Hassler experienced what she calls the “twenties triangle”, she found that she was not alone. In fact, an entire generation of young women is questioning their choices, unsure if what they’ve been striving for is what they really want. They’re eager to set a new course for their lives, even if that means giving up what they have.

You Are A Badass – Jen Sincero

In this refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, bestselling author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 bitesized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word, helping you to:

– Identify and change the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviours that stop you from getting what you want.
– Create a life you totally love. And create it NOW!
– Make some damn money already. The kind you’ve never made before.

I Am That Girl – Alexis Jones

In a crazy, media distracted world the important questions often get lost like: What’s your passion? What’s your purpose? Who do you want to be? Alexis Jones has built a career listening to and helping girls around the world figure out those questions in order to inspire them to think for themselves, to speak their truth, to discover their purpose, and to dream HUGE! Alexis believes that you’re not broken nor do you need to be fixed. You already are that girl who creates magic wherever she goes, who lives fearlessly, who inspires those around her to dream bigger, and who will leave the world better, just for having been in it.

And a few extras that I am looking to get round to reading…

Braving the Wilderness – Brene Brown

‘A Year of Positive Thinking: Daily Inspiration, Wisdom, and Courage’ – Cyndie Spiegel

‘Girl, Stop Apologizing’ – Rachel Hollis

‘Evolution of Goddess: A Modern Girl’s Guide to Activating Your Feminine Superpowers’ – Emma Mildon

I am going to try and read a minimum of two self help books each months, trying to put in a little bit of self work.

What Self-Development books are you reading? Any Recommendations?

Love Always,

Gee xox

Devil Wears Prada: A Book Review

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31st Jul 2021

Happy July!

I hope you guys are having the most wonderful July! Someone informed me yesterday that it is 92 days until Halloween! Which means it is probably time for me to start planning of Blogtober. Strap yourself in! The festive content will be back this year! For now however I am back with another book review.

Synopsis:

A delightfully dishy novel about the all-time most impossible boss in the history of impossible bosses.
Andrea Sachs, a small-town girl fresh out of college, lands the job “a million girls would die for.” Hired as the assistant to Miranda Priestly, the high-profile, fabulously successful editor of “Runway “magazine, Andrea finds herself in an office that shouts “Prada! Armani! Versace!” at every turn, a world populated by impossibly thin, heart-wrenchingly stylish women and beautiful men clad in fine-ribbed turtlenecks and tight leather pants that show off their lifelong dedication to the gym. With breathtaking ease, Miranda can turn each and every one of these hip sophisticates into a scared, whimpering child.
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA gives a rich and hilarious new meaning to complaints about “The Boss from Hell.”

Narrated in Andrea’s smart, refreshingly disarming voice, it traces a deep, dark, devilish view of life at the top only hinted at in gossip columns and over Cosmopolitans at the trendiest cocktail parties. From sending the latest, not-yet-in-stores Harry Potter to Miranda’s children in Paris by private jet, to locating an unnamed antique store where Miranda had at some point admired a vintage dresser, to serving lattes to Miranda at precisely the piping hot temperature she prefers, Andrea is sorely tested each and every day—and often late into the night with orders barked over the phone. She puts up with it all by keeping her eyes on the prize: a recommendation from Miranda that will get Andrea a top job at any magazine of her choosing. As things escalate from the merely unacceptable to the downright outrageous, however, Andrea begins to realize that the job a million girls would die for may just kill her. And even if she survives, she has to decide whether or not the job is worth the price of her soul.

My Thoughts:

As someone who officially recently graduated it only felt right to go back and read a book That one of my all time favourite movies when I need a little motivation came from.

Andie is a recent college graduate, seeking a job in journalism in New York City. The search isn’t going very well until she interviews at the fictional “fashion Bible” Runway magazine for a position as assistant to the legendary fashion editor, Miranda Priestly.

With little interest in fashion, Andie nevertheless willingly accepts the position (“The job a million girls would kill for”), using it as an opportunity to get her foot in the door of her dream career within journalism.

She expected it to be difficult but was completely unprepared for the abuse she will be made to put up with on a daily basis to please her psychopathic boss.

I loved this book and its slight differences to the film but both are still incredibly enjoyable.

I love this book and movie when I am needing a little motivation.

Star Rating:

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Do you prefer the book or the film?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Illicit Affairs by Holly Dixon : A Book Review

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28th Jul 2021

Happy July!

To my gorgeous Holly and thank you for giving me the opportunity to review this for you. I am so proud of you and all your achievements. From the day I started All Things Gee you were right there with your support. I am so happy to be able to do the same for you my darling! congratulations again my love. I am so so proud of you and WHAT A BOOK.

Synopsis:

NOT ALL WOMEN ARE SUBMISSIVE.

Ava Archer had everything a woman could ever desire.

She was beautiful, rich, sociable, and free to do whatever she wanted between the sheets. Her job was easier than breathing when she worked as an assistant for her old man. Ava got everything she wanted and was used to getting her own way…

Until she met Nathaniel Brooks.

Order and control were all that Nate knew when he was a managing partner of the prestigious law firm Archer and Brooks. When his business partner takes ill, he must leave his comfortable Manhattan branch and tend to the firm in London. He didn’t foresee this change being problematic but then again…

He hadn’t yet met his fiery and tenacious assistant, Ava Archer.

In a battle for dominance, Ms. Archer would need to fall in line if she were to work under Mr. Brooks but there was just one problem: not all women are submissive.

When the clock strikes five, both would soon realise the difficulty in keeping things business as usual behind office doors…

Will Nate be able to maintain control over his heart?

Will Ava lose everything when she learns that for a lawyer, deception is their art?

My Thoughts:

Firstly a little note about the wonderful Holly Dixon, you will know already that I outright adore her and she is such a lovely human being, which is why I had to jump at the chance to review this for her. However this being said all thoughts are my own.

Now strap yourselves in it is about to get steamy.

Firstly I want to warn you that the majority of this book will give you a whole lot of Bi panic. However, it will leave you with some new fictional crushes.

If you used to be a wattpad reader (If you know, you know) you will love this book.

The thing is that I read Illicit Affairs in roughly about 2 days maybe a little less and I was obsessed with this book from the first page. Now you see from the moment we are introduced to Nate we are introduced to him knowing Avas first impressions but despite that my brain decided that I infact would develop a small thing for Nate until you get to the steamy scenes between them both and well god damn could I not decide.

Holly has always such a way with words and it is no different throughout this Illicit Affairs.

The characters in this book seem so real and as if you know them in person.

Aside from the steamy romance between Ava and her boss, Nate. Who it turns out I have a new found love for… Yes I am also aware that I should not love Nate but here we are with my questionable life choices. There are some hints of a mystery plot scattered throughout that in all honesty keeps you on your toes until the very end! You’ll gasp, you’ll moan, you may even shed a tear or two

Whilst reading this please remember to breathe. It turns out you may hold your breath without realising in some parts of the book. In addition to the feelings you have, there will be some shedding of tears.

If you’re looking for a spicy romance with a great sense of humor this is the book for you.

Read at your own caution it will start an obsession. You have been warned.

If you have not already go and follow Holly on TikTok and Instagram because the teasers for this book is something else.

Star Rating:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

This is a little sneak peak as publication is not until the 1st of September but go and grab yourself a copy. I swear it is worth it.

Do you think you would be team Ava or Nate?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

POEMS BY POST : Small Business Spotlight

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24th Jul 2021

Happy July!

I hope everyone is keeping safe and well! Whilst this post goes up I will finally be graduating or at least having the ceremony just a little late. It is all exciting stuff!

Today’s post is one I am very excited to share with you guys. If you have been around for a while I am sure by now you will have heard of Poems By Post! However today we are back with a little post all about them but this time I was lucky enough to be sent a copy of this months subscription to share with you guys!

* Disclaimer- Some of these links have affiliate links attached to them meaning that I earn a small commision of an subscriptions made through this link *

Who are they?

Poems By Post… if you have been around for a little while you will of heard of them before, and in all honesty if you know me personally I did not shut up about them for months. I had the absolute pleasure of working with these guys for a little while and not only are Alex and Reuben some really cool people, they also are part of an incredible platform.

Poems By Post is a subscription service which was created by a street poet called Alex during the first lockdown. This platform has been created to support the arts, small business and also has donated to several different charities. The platform was created to give a voice to the arts and to small business, whilst really trying to champion their voices.

Changing the world with one poem at at time.

What do they do?

By now I am sure you all know what they do but I just cannot get over how simple yet creative the concept is.

Poems By Post is a subscription service which allows you to get a poem in the post every month (yep, it does what it says on the tin). Each month the poet changes and alongside the poet there is a hugely talented artist, who creates art work inspired by the poem.

Not only are you receiving a poem in the post you are helping to support so many small businesses and creative minds. However this would not be possible without you guys subscribing.

A random side note I love that they have included a page on the website with all the information about the featured poets and artists, which includes their pronouns. I think this is pretty awesome!

July’s subscription:

I was lucky enough to receive July’s subscription in the post in exchange for this post. What an experience this was.

Not only do you get a typewriter copy of the months poem, you also get a card that you can send on to someone else.

July’s Poem:

July’s Poet was Matt Alton

Home To Call Your Own

My favourite line of this poem is “but a castle of new stories each morning, as you fling wide its doors” as someone who is a self proclaimed bookworm , who loves the idea of being the main character of their own lives. This line just hit different.

Card/Art design:

July’s Artist was Fay Troote.

I was going to show the inside of the card however I knew immediately who I wished to send the card off to and well I was just a little too excited to get writing to them. They themselves are the reason I fell in love doing drama at school and started my complete love of the theatre. So it was only right that I shared this little bit of art with them.

You also get a emailed newsletter with some updates about Poems by Post, which starts with a little note from Alex and if I am being honest these always make me smile because he channels himself so much into the little introductions, it is like being back in the office with him. All it is missing is Reuben randomly putting my name into songs that I cannot listen to anymore without hearing it. It is all fun and games.

Rating:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Link to subscription:

*Affilate link is included which means I earn a commission on every sign up made through this link. at no extra cost to you*

Link to Subscribe

Anyone who loves literature, art, poetry or even just the idea of being able to support small businesses will love this platform. I know I do. As someone who does nothing but read it is something I had to tell you all about!

Who doesn’t want to support artists, support small businesses all while getting a beautiful poem to read. Why not gift it to a friend or family member.

Links to Poems By Post Social Medias:

Instagram: Poemsby.post

Twitter: PoemsByPost

Facebook: PoemsByPost

As always a massive thank you to Alex and Reuben for the opportunity to work with you guys again.

Do you like the sound of Poems By Post?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Sherlock Holmes Museum!

allthingsgeexo

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19th Jul 2021

Happy July!

I hope you are all having a wonderful day and July. On Sunday the 20th of June not only was it Father’s Day but also my 23rd birthday! Our plans were some what changed but we still ended up going to London. However more importantly we visited somewhere that has been on my list for the longest time. If you know me well you will know that I have a slight mild obsession with Sherlock Holmes, the books, films, tv series even spin off shows have my heart. Since our original plans were cancelled we ended up visiting the Sherlock Holmes Museum.

What a day we had. I knew that I would have to write a blog post about it.

The Sherlock Holmes Museum was first opened to the public back in March of 1990. Located at the world famous 221b Baker Street stands one of the most famous address associated with Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson.

Tell me that you cannot just imagine them sat here discussing the next up and coming case.

Located on the first floor of house you will find the study which in all honesty was a little overwhelming and mesmerizing to me as it felt so much like you were on set of the Tv series. I was so stunned by how similar it was and honestly how many little added facts, extras such as books that Dr Watson read were put on display.

Dr Watsons desk. Which to me is so interesting just because it is so chaotic. It makes it seem like he was never really just working on one thing.

On the second floor there is just much stuff including things from each case and a really cool bust of Sherlock himself.

Bust of sherlock.

One of my favourite things about the museum was the incredibly cute collection of letters they had on the top floor from fans writing to Sherlock. It was actually an incredibly emotional experience reading all the letters from across the world. Yet they were all connected by their love of the incredible consulting dectective.

It felt so much like he could walk round the corner any moment and join you with a little sarcastic smirk and a witty comment.

I had the best time and I cannot wait to go back at some point.

A huge massive thank you to the wonderful team at the museum who made our trip so special and such great fun.

Have you visited the Sherlock Holmes Museum? Who plays your favourite Sherlock?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

If this would not be me and my best friend

Project for Bees – Small Business Spotlight

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18th Jul 2021

Happy Sunday!

I hope everyone is having a lovely Sunday and a wonderful start to your July. We are back with something I have not done in forever, it is a small business spotlight but with a slight twist to it.

I am incredibly touched and honoured that Josie got in contact with me. Not only do I love bees (when I’m not worried about being stung) but they are also a Pokemon lover which at this point means we are basically besties. However I think the work they are trying to do is incredible.

A little bit about Josie and the incredible work she is trying to do:

I am Josie, a girl formerly hiding from the world. I have Aspergers and I find it hard to engage with the world and express myself, but I am challenging myself every day by writing about bees and Pokemon. 

Although we often don’t talk about it much in every day life, everything we do is built on bees. Our ecosystem is everything we build on, bees are everything we build on. Our intricate ecosystem is so precious, held up by other ecosystems like supporting strands in a web and if there is a break, it can mean entire sections break off and collapse, including our own. It stands to reason that we should seek to care about our world around us – as a form of self care if nothing else. Approximately 70% of our food depends on bees but evidence shows us they are fast losing ground due to climate change but also the use of deeply damaging pesticides (neonicotinoids).

It’s really hard to know how to start or what to do to help – having Aspergers, I am used to feeling totally overwhelmed over even the smallest things. I have often found it so hard to do the things I know I want to do. I can’t organise myself and my thoughts and it’s so easy to end up in a downward spiral feeling so utterly overwhelmed. This leads to giving up. This is why I wanted to create a guide full of the most helpful, easiest ever actionable tips that anyone can jump on and complete and feel actually badass for the day.

You can find all the crazy bee challenges here and steps you can take to help right now!

Project bees!

Because when something is very accessible, easy to do and put in front of you, it is the easiest thing to jump on that rung of the ladder, so to speak. And it becomes the action you will most likely take because it provides the path of least resistance.

What I wanted to do is to turn helping bees into an entire campaign of fun! Having fun means we end up helping automatically while having a good time, which makes it so fulfilling for us at the same time, which makes us want to do it more. 

Turning a negative situation into a positive one is an incredibly powerful step to take for ourselves, as well as being an incredibly therapeutic tool for us wherever we are in life. Positive effects spiral. As like anything that has a tremendous and positive impact on ourselves, the effect will be amplified when it comes to the environment and the world around us, which then impacts ourselves and inspires us further. Call it the law of attraction or karma – it’s what we put out in the world, what we fill our hands with!

Have a little visit and get excited – there are so many fun and easy and out there, crazy steps to help out – even as simple as decking out your homescreen with an adorable girly bee wallpaper and then sharing them on. We can choose to fill our next moments with love and positivity and action and intention for a better world and future. When our hands are empty we can fill them with anything!

Now I do not know about you but I know I am buzzing to get involved. Also there are some really cool free phone backgrounds if you click through to her website. It has been nothing but a pleasure working with Josie on this post and I hope you guys will get involved and check it out.

What is your best Bee pun? Let us know below.

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Favourite Things About Summer

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13th Jul 2021

Happy July!

I hope you are all having a wonderful start to July and summer so far. As I have stated in the last post the summer content will be coming quick and fast. I am determined this year to make the most of the seasons. Which means actually putting my creative side to good use and creating some summer filled content for July and August!

*disclaimer some of the links within this post are affiliate links which means I earn a small commission any time you purchase through the link*

Today’s post is something I try to do for all the seasons but also think is something so simple but enjoyable to write about. Today I will be sharing with you some of my favourite things about the summer season.

It is all these things and more that we love about Summer. As a season not only does my birthday fall in a summer month but the vibes of the people and the places we love change.

Beach

Summer is one of my favourite seasons as you will normally find me sat on a beach with a book one hand and an iced coffee in the other. I am incredibly lucky to be able to live so close to the sea front.

You are most likely to find me with a book and my reusable Bird and Blend cup.

Ice Cream

Ice cream in the summer is a whole other vibe. Walking along the seafront with an ice cream in hand. (Trying to not get attacked by the seagulls, if you live by the sea you will know this struggle.)

One of my favourite places in Brighton to grab Ice Cream is at Boho Gelato, they are a little on the pricey side but they have some of the most incredible flavours. One of my personal favourite flavours is their Carrot Cake Ice Cream (I know, I know it sounds weird but it is unreal).

Seeing friends and family is one of my favourite things, this photo was of the Bury St Edmunds Abbey Gardens from a trip to see one of my best friends after a years apart.

Seeing friends and family is one of my favourite things especially in the summer when we can sit in the park and have a picnic or explore new places. It’s so nice to go out for the day when the sun is shining and go on an adventure.




Flowers


One of the things I love most about the summer is the beautiful flowers that bloom. There is something about a bunch of flowers that can just the home feel so put together!



What are some of your favourite things about summer?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

My Favourite Kind of Love- Unrequited Love

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11th Jul 2021

Happy July!

I hope you are all keeping well and safe! I am back with a slightly different post today but one I am so excited to share with you.

If you have been around for a while you will know back in February I guest posted for the lovely Bee. I wrote a post about my experiences of unrequited love and in some ways why I think it is one of my favourite kinds of love due to the personal growth you get from it. However when I wrote this post I wrote it knowing that if it was on her blog it would feel less like I was exposing a side of me to my followers. (My head works in weird ways but in my head it was less scary to post on her blog.) However, the last couple months for me have been massive in terms of self growth and progress and I felt it was only right for me to share it with those who may have not seen it. It is okay to be vulnerable it makes us human.

When we discussed our guest posts I was not really sure what I wanted to write about within my guest post but we discussed the idea of it being Valentine’s day themed. And you see the thing is Valentines for me has never really been a day I have chosen to celebrate. (mainly because being single on Valentines made it hard to celebrate.) So I was not sure what I wanted to talk about in this post.  

Obviously now that I am sharing it with you guys it is not February anymore but I think the points still stand I also thought it was so important to share with you guys as I want to be able to share with you some more personal things and also I think it is important to normalise the impact that unrequited love an have on someone. Below I have included the original guest post with a few added extras. I have also included a link to Bee’s blog throughout this because let’s be real she deserves all the love in the world.

UNREQUITED:

But after spending some time thinking about the different things that come to mind when thinking about love I thought I would talk about my favourite kind of love.  

I think that it important to note that many will find it insane for this to be my favourite kind of love! However I hope that once I will explain to you why it is my favourite. You see it is my favourite kind of love because it is there to teach you something. Now do not get me wrong I definitely did not have this opinion all the time and I was with you that unrequited love sucked so bad. However I now although you may not see it at the time, it is there for a lesson.

As someone who whether they like to admit it or not is a bit of a hopeless romantic, who loves to read romance novels and watch the cheesy romance films it was kinda inevitable that for me, It makes the most fascinating part of any love story because you want to know the outcome.

Most  importantly it is my favourite kind of love because of my experiences with it. I say my experiences but it is also important to note that sometimes this love doesn’t start out as what it is but is sometimes formed by mistakes made by ourselves or the interest of our hearts but as previously stated it is there for a lesson.  Now in the aim of being 100% honest with you guys this does not end like one of those romance novels/films, it just wasn’t meant to be. However, it is something I often find myself thinking about because looking back on it, in some forms it is very responsible for my self-growth journey.

I am of course talking about the extraordinary and remarkable excruciating pain that comes with Unrequited love.  Unrequited love is something I am positive we all go through at some point in our lives but it is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy, despite it holding a special place in my heart as a cherished kind of love.

I thought it was important to include a definition of unrequited love:  

“Unrequited love or one-sided love is love that is not openly reciprocated or  understood as such by the beloved. The beloved may not be aware of the admirer’s  deep and strong romantic affection, or may consciously reject it.”  

Because you see no matter how you look at it Unrequited love is in inevitable. In one form or another it is something we have all been through.  

My example of Unrequited Love: 

Have you ever loved someone so deeply that you would do anything for them? If answered yes, you will understand this story.

You see the way I saw it I could not sit here and tell you all about my love for unrequited love without giving you my example of it.

However for the sake of keeping things as anonymous as possible the names have been changed. To a certain degree the changing of names made this easier to tell as it is a chapter of my life the universe closed a long time ago. Whether you believe in the universes control over things or not, the way I saw it the universe said hey no we are not doing this anymore.

My story of  unrequited love nonetheless takes a very strange turn. I believe that this unrequited love took place at some point on both sides of this story. I am more than certain at one point had we both been completely honest with each other this story would have had a very different ending. It after all was just not meant to be.

The love you have for your friends is one you should never take for granted but sometimes friends  (The Best of Friends) make you stop and think. About whether the friendship is more than just a friendship. Sometimes for selfish reasons we chose to ignore these feelings and hold dear to the friendship you have created. You know the kind of friendships where everyone around you just seems to think that one day it would be you two as the couple. The two people just assumed that you would end up together. This was that.

To me however the worse thing is that sometimes it takes losing this friendship to make you realise how much you loved them. Despite this the time you have the courage to say anything it is too late. This is basically what happened in my story of unrequited love. It started with him being incredibly vocal about his feelings and me due to the feelings of other people choosing to ignore it and sta  friends, and then a really strange thing happened I realised quite how much they meant to me but we had drifted apart and it just never happened because they were seeing other people. When we finally reunited for a couple of months they were not the same, it just wasn’t the same as it used to be.

Now they have a family and I am so happy for them. In fact, I do not think I could imagine it any other way. In a selfish sense it meant I had to let go. I had to decide to let go of the in my heart because it had been so long since we had this weird connection that I was holding on to a dream of it coming back round in a circle. They have a family and it was the push I needed to let go of the past. Now do not get me wrong I will forever and always love them but sometimes the biggest reward is seeing them happy.

This story I think is a great example of how unrequited love sometimes kicks you in the teeth but still teaches you what you want in life.  

The thing is I am truly grateful for this experience because no matter how much I miss you, I know that it was a lesson that I had to learn and it is one I will hold on to forever. Sometimes it is okay to act like the fool and jump head first in to the magical mystery of love and friendship and I know the next time I feel like that I will have the courage to jump blindly into whatever the universe has sent my way. And for that I am eternally grateful.  

The benefits of Unrequited love:  

  • It makes for a great opening story line  
  • You learn to love whole heartedly  
  • It is one of life’s best lessons  
  • You learn what it is you truly want and deserve  
  • It tells you that you can love again  
  • Teaches you to take risks  

I thought the best way to end this little post would be a line from one of my favourite movies. I know it is no longer Christmas, although it is closer than it was when I first published this post but it is only right to end with a quote from Love Actually. Because you see I like David (HUGH GRANT) in this movie do believe that if you take a moment to truly look around you will see that “Love is actually all around.” Requited or not.  

I also wanted to just give a massive thank you to Brittany from Mind. Beauty. Simplicity for letting me be a guest post on her blog, I am truly a massive fan of her and her blog and will be forever  grateful for this opportunity.  And a massive thank you for letting me repost this today.

I would love to hear all about your experiences with Unrequited Love. Tell me all about it in the comments below.  

Love Always,  

Gee xoxo  

Coffeetzar -Coffee Shop Reviews: A Series

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2 comments

5th Jul 2021

Happy July!!

I hope you are all keeping safe and well as we enter July. I thought it would be the perfect time to share with you a little idea I have been toying with for a little while. A new little series I am bringing to All Things Gee. Over the next few months you will see a few new forms of content heading your way. Do not worry the book reviews are here to stay but I felt it was time to expand a little and let my creativity flow a little bit more.

Starting with the edition of Coffee Shop reviews now as someone who spends a lot of their time in Coffee shops (okay normally it is either to do work or read a book) I thought it would be a fun idea to start a little series reviewing a bunch of Coffee shops I visit. However it was only right that I start with one of my all time favourite Coffee shops in Brighton. It is highly likely you would find me sat outside with my book.

Location:

Although you only tend to find me in one of their shops, they actually have two locations. One at the top of the Lanes in Trafalgar Square and one in Kemptown. The cafés have the best little vibes and aesthetic around them. To me they remind me of the best meet cute locations within films and books. (I wonder if it may be found in a book or film soon). I love that everything is very clean and simple but yet has a real homey vibe about it. The one on Trafalgar Square is set on the corner of its street opposite a little private garden which reminds me a lot of the film Notting Hill.

Food:

From savouries to cakes. They provide a wide range of products that would appeal to everyone. They also make the cakes from scratch and you honestly can tell. They also make the most incredible vegan cakes. I have tried several over the amount of times I have been in this little cafe but my favourite has to be their red velvet cake. I love a good red velvet and theirs maybe my favourite.

Shown in this picture is their mint, pineapple and banana smoothie, alongside their raspberry and lemon polenta cake. Which I have to add is insanely tasty.

Coffee:

If you know me well you know I love me some coffee and it is certainly one of the main things I love about Coffeetzar. I have never had a bad cup of coffee in their store and I know that I can always grab a great cup of coffee from them. I tend to always go for my favourite of either a vanilla or hazelnut latte… sometimes an iced latte depending on what I am feeling for the day. I also love that they have a loyalty card which you can get stamped every time you have a coffee and you collect them for a free coffee.

shown in this photo is where you will normally find me outside with a good book and one of their lattes.

Staff:

Now this happens to be my favourite thing about the cafe, if you are looking for the world’s nicest staff who without fail will always put a smile on your face, you need to visit.

The owners are honestly some of the most incredibly kind people I have ever met and the staff they hire really match their vibe.

They are always happy to help and you can tell that they love where they work.

Overall Thoughts:

This little spot of heaven never fails to put me in a good mood and I love being able to stroll in and pick up a great cup of coffee along with a nice little chat with the people in there. Coffetzar provides a home away from home feel with the most incredible food and drinks. Not forgetting their outstanding customer service and the tempting cakes. It will be on my list of favourites for an incredibly long time I am sure.

Star Rating:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

What is your favourite coffee shop? What is your go to order?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Mirrorland Blog Tour – Spotlight

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2nd Jul 2021

Happy July!

I hope you are having a lovely July so far! We have come to another Blog Tour! Obviously hosted by my favourite @thewritereads. If you do not know who Dave is by this point WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN! As always a massive thank you to #TheWriteReads and Penguin for making this book available to me as part of the blog tour! Today’s blog tour is one I have been super excited for! However after not being able to finish this one I decided it would be best to Spotlight this one!

Publisher: Penguin

Length: 320 Pages

Age/Genre: Adult Thriller

Publishing: 20th April 2021

ISBN: 9781982136352

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08BZXHFR2/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54304146

About the Author 

(from https://carolejohnstone.com/about/)

Carole Johnstone is an award-winning writer from Scotland, whose short stories have been published all over the world. Mirrorland, a psychological suspense with a gothic twist, is her debut novel.

Having grown up in Lanarkshire, she now lives in the beautiful Argyll & Bute, and is currently working on her second novel: a very unusual murder-mystery, set in the equally beautiful Outer Hebrides.

Synopsis:

With the startling twists of Gone Girl and the haunting emotional power of Room, Mirrorland is a thrilling work of psychological suspense about twin sisters, the man they both love, and the dark childhood they can’t leave behind.

Cat lives in Los Angeles, far away from 36 Westeryk Road, the imposing gothic house in Edinburgh where she and her estranged twin sister, El, grew up. As girls, they invented Mirrorland, a dark, imaginary place under the pantry stairs full of pirates, witches, and clowns. These days Cat rarely thinks about their childhood home, or the fact that El now lives there with her husband Ross.

But when El mysteriously disappears after going out on her sailboat, Cat is forced to return to 36 Westeryk Road, which has scarcely changed in twenty years. The grand old house is still full of shadowy corners, and at every turn Cat finds herself stumbling on long-held secrets and terrifying ghosts from the past. Because someone—El?—has left Cat clues in almost every room: a treasure hunt that leads right back to Mirrorland, where she knows the truth lies crouched and waiting…

A twisty, dark, and brilliantly crafted thriller about love and betrayal, redemption and revenge, Mirrorland is a propulsive, page-turning debut about the power of imagination and the price of freedom.

Other bloggers:

The Artsy Reader

An Average Life

For Books Sake

Gina Rae Mitchell

A Book. A Thought

Does this sound like the book for you? Let me know your thoughts below.

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

She Believed She Could, So She Did!

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30th Jun 2021

Happy June!

I hope you are all well and safe and had a wonderful end to June!

For my birthday i added to my collection of self help/spiritual books. Now I understand that this is a topic that is not for everyone, however it is something that over the last year or so i have tried to educate myself in more. It is also something that I will continue to learn more about as at least for me it gives me yet another means of taking control of my life.

One of the books that I picked up and then read within literally a day was She Believed She Could, So She Did. A Modern Woman’s Guide to Life by Sam Lacey. I just knew that I would end up talking about it on here at some point and I finally got round to scheduling this in.

This book is broken down into four sections and in between is full of empowerment and quotes to inspire even the most uninspired person. This is a slightly different kind of book review for me because it is not fiction so i am going to talk about the four sections and what I loved along with sharing my favourite quotes that feature within this book.

Part One: Who Run The World?

This section is one of my favourites as it is so inspiring. It talks all about women that have had some impact on history whether it be through sports, fashion, NASA and so much more. There were so many inspirational women talked about in this section and facts that I did not know about. If you ever feel like you are stuck in a rut and have no inspiration I highly recommend just picking up this book amd reading all about the most incredible women and the things they have achieved. If they can do it, what is stopping you? (I say this knowing that I am right behind you all with the self-doubt) I swear it gives you the push you need even just to make the smallest step towards what you want to achieve.

My favourite fact i did not know about was the first man on the moon… we are all taught how incredible it was for the first man on the moon and what an achievement it is for him to have done so. At school we learn all about it however what we are very rarely taught is about the team of incredible women that were working behind the scenes to make this happen. For example in 1962 NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson worked on the detailed calculations and equations needed to successfully complete astronaut John Glenn’s journey into orbit. (I think we can chalk this up to a bloody awesome achievement for women everywhere.)

My favourite quote from this section has to be ” Well- Behaved Women Seldom Make History.” – Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

Part Two: Be Your Own Woman:

In this section it talks all about how awesome it is when you can stand tall and let people know who you are.Taking control of your independence. We are made to be different. The temptation to compare yourself to others especially today in our social media controlled generation is so large. This chapter reminds us that actually it is pretty awesome to step away from trying to be the same as other people.

Being different is what makes us unique and being unique is something we all take for granted. Some of my favourite people in life whether it be friends, family or celebrities are the ones who embrace their uniqueness and use it to have their voices heard. Now this is not to say I have this down because I promise you that it is not true. However it is certainly something I wish to work on.

My favourite page of this section is the one which talks about the importance of saying no. Which is something I know is an area of my life I need to work on. I know that setting boundaries is something that I struggle with so I found it really interesting to read about how learning to say no to a situation which is likely to make you feel bad or anxious, or you just do not want to do, gives a whole new feeling of empowerment. And I am all for empowerment especially when it comes to your own life.

My favourite quote from this section comes from one of my favourite actresses Emma Stone and she says “You’re only human once. You live once and life is wonderful. So eat the damned red velvet cupcake.”

Part Three: Achieve and Succeed:

This section is a little like what I would call tough love. If you want the truth and brutal honesty… this would be it. From career to relationships it discusses everything. However it gives you a little honest reminder that nothing is going to change unless you put the effort into making it change. Do not like your current job… find your dream role and make it happen. Stuck in bad relationships.. admit you deserve better and are worth so much more. Make the changes. Life is magical but without some effort from you it is just not going to happen.

My favourite page in this section is the little page on mind over matter. This section of the book is one that I love not only because reading the title had me singing Anthony Ramos (mind over matter) also yes the obsession is a little intense. But because it is a brutal reminder that it is mind over matter, the things you convince yourself you cannot do, what if I told you with a little change in mindset this is something that could be achieved. What if I told you that your way of thinking about yourself is what talks you out of doing the things you would be good at. This section reminds you to take that leap of faith. I believe in you. You should believe in yourself to.

My favourite quote from this section is “how can you expect anyone to believe in you and your ideas if you don’t believe in them yourself?”- Kelly Hoppen

Part Four: Give a little respect:

This section talks about respecting yourself and learning to love and embrace everything that makes you, who you are. (this section is one that I myself a currently working on. So I loved it a little more than the others).

My favourite page in this section talks about the power of positive thinking. This is something I have often thought a lot about. What if we turned the negative thoughts on their head and used them to create something positive! What would happen then? In this section they talk about how we can use this technique to increase your sense of self-worth, reduce stress and help exude that positive energy. Helping us increase our vibrations.

My favourite quote from this section is “Define success on your own terms, Achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live”- Anne Sweeney.

Star Rating:

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Do you like books like this? What are your recommendations?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Instructions for Dancing – Blog Tour

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28th Jun 2021

Happy June!!

I hope everyone is doing well! And enjoying the official start to the summer! As we come to the end of June I am back with another Blog Tour! Obviously hosted by my favourite @thewritereads. I am positive that you are all very aware of who Dave is now and how grateful I am for him and the blog tours. Thanks to #TheWriteReads and Penguin for making this book available to me as part of the blog tour!Todays blog tour is one I have been super excited for!

Yet again another amazing banner from my darling Noly... we know I adore her!

Publisher: Penguin

Length: 304 Pages

Publishing: 3rd June 2021

ISBN: 9780241516911

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1524718963

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55600878-instructions-for-dancing

About the Author:

Nicola Yoon is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Instructions for Dancing, Everything, Everythingand The Sun Is Also a Star. She is a National Book Award finalist, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book recipient and a Coretta Scott King New Talent Award winner. Two of her novels have been made into major motion pictures. She’s also co-publisher of Joy Revolution, a Random House young adult imprint dedicated to love stories starring people of color. She grew up in Jamaica and Brooklyn, and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, the novelist David Yoon, and their daughter.

Synopsis:

#1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything and The Sun is Also a Star Nicola Yoon is back with a new and utterly unique romance.

Evie is disillusioned about love ever since her dad left her mum for another woman – she’s even throwing out her beloved romance novel collection.

When she’s given a copy of a book called Instructions for Dancing, and follows a note inside to a dilapidated dance studio, she discovers she has a strange and unwelcome gift. When a couple kisses in front of her, she can see their whole relationship play out – from the moment they first catch each other’s eye to the last bitter moments of their break-up.

For Evie, it confirms everything she thinks she knows about love – that it doesn’t last.

But at the dance studio she meets X – tall, dreadlocked, fascinating – and they start to learn to dance, together. Can X help break the spell that Evie is under? Can he change Evie’s mind about love?

My Review:

Wow! Where to start… what a book!

As always I am going to try my best to avoid spoilers but if you did not already guess I LOVED THIS BOOK! I could spend hours literal hours discussing how much i enjoyed reading this book and the fact I had to keep making sure to stop reading it at night otherwise I would have finished it in one day but no sleep and Gee do not go together very well.

small side note if you are planning to give this book a read, which I would obviously 100% recommend, you are going to need to get the tissues out. It can only be described as a tear jerker.

The stories follow Evie Thomas whose faith in love since she found out the reason her parents got a divorce has depleted. It seems to her that everyone around her have gotten over the divorce and she is the only one still holding on and dealing with her loss of faith in love. She decides to get rid of all her romance novels. Which is something that I felt so so badly. I often feel the need to remove them from my life but I have a little attachment to them.

All the books she had and read gave her what she now considers as false standards when it comes to love. Whether it be the Contemporary and Paranormal genre romances that she used to enjoy. Sadly they no longer hold importance or even spark hope in her anymore. She takes all her books and donates them to the little library in her town. That is when she meets an old lady who advises her to pick up a book titled “Instructions for Dancing”.

Now to be clear I am going to avoid talking more about the book specifically right now because I really do not want to spoil this book for you. However as someone who has parents who divorced at a young age and have seen them find new partners. This book hit me hard and actually I found it so so much more emotional to read than I thought I was going to.

At first I could not workout if it was the mutual connection to divorce or the new lack of confidence of love. Whatever it was my heart was far too attached to this one. This being said that did not stop me loving this book so so much.

I think it is safe to say I am a hopeless romantic (Those romance novels are not going anywhere any time soon.) This book made me fall back in love with characters, back in love with the idea of love no matter how complicated it may be.

Star Rating:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Does this sound like something you would want to read? If you have read it what did you think?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Top 5 Favourite Book Quotes About Summer!

allthingsgeexo

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26th Jun 2021

Happy June!

I hope you are all having a wonderful June so far! With summer officially here! I thought it would be a good idea to share with you some of my favourite book quotes all about summer! These are often my favourite posts to have included in the schedule as it just gives off the best vibes. As a June baby I love me the summer however this being said if you know me well you will know its not my favourite season! In an attempt to appreciate the summer more this year I thought I would share the book quotes about summer that bring a warm fuzzy feeling to my heart.

I love this one particularly because it highlights that whether you are quiet or not you hold a magic within you which can make the most incredible things happen, especially when the sun is shining. I love me some magical moments.

As a Gemini and a June baby, I love this quote so so much! I think it sums up the beauty of June in the simplest of terms and yet paints the most beautiful picture.

Now although I do not believe summer to be my most magical time of the year (i love me some fall/winter magic) one of my best friends (soul sister) is also a June baby and I cannot think of a better proof that the world and universe is a magical thing. We have quite the meet cute.

Now it would not be me if Harry Potter was not included. (I know that some will disagree with the inclusion of these books but I want to make it perfectly clear in no form whatsoever do I support the authors views.) Harry potter books and films made up a massive part of my childhood and my escape from reality that I just find some comfort in getting lost in the world over and over again. Also Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton in general) has a small (large) spot in my heart (I am not sorry).

One of my all time favourite books and therefore just had to be mentioned.

I release after writing these out the majority of them talks about the magic of the summer in one way or another. It just seems very fitting for me really. We all know I love me some magic.

What are some of your favourite book quotes for the summer?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

24 Things I Would Like To Do Before 24!

allthingsgeexo

4 comments

24th Jun 2021

Happy June!

I hope you are having a lovely day! Last Sunday was my 23rd birthday and I thought as one way to celebrate this I would share with you 24 things that I would like to have achieved in a year times when I turn 24!

I am going to come back to this list in a year and update you all on what we managed to achieve.

What would you add to your list?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

My Favourite Places in Brighton!

allthingsgeexo

11 comments

20th May 2021

Happy May!

I hope you are well and keeping safe. A little side note… It is Gemini season so Happy Birthday to all my fellow Geminis. With this being said and having a little break between uni work I am able to get back to scheduling content for you guys and it is going to come at you thick and fast. Aiming for a minimum of a post a week but we know that sometimes I get a little excited and well it will be more than that.

After a break in April I am back with a post that I have been super excited to share with you all.

This post is in collaboration with quite a few other bloggers in the community. I will have all of them listed at the end of the post, so be sure to check out their blogs as well as their collaborated post. We wanted to showcase a few places we love in our areas to provide travel inspiration to our readers.We have all gained the itch to travel as soon as we are allowed and it is safe to. Along with this, as a blogger, one of the best parts is connecting with creators all around the world. We wanted to use this opportunity to share more about ourselves & connect more with our readers.

It is likely that this post will be one of the most personal posts I have done and will give you a little more of an insight into myself (all things Gee). I am writing this sat in my little apartment just outside the centre of Brighton (England). A place that I am so grateful to be able to call home.For those who know me you will know I have always been a little obsessed with Brighton and always wanted to live here. I was able to make that a reality back in July of last year. However I have visited Brighton so many occasions that to me it has always felt a little like home. Now as someone who gets to call Brighton home there are so many things about the city that for me just feel so magical. This post will share with you some of my favourite places.

The Lanes:

Now it would be a list of my favourite places in Brighton without mentioning the Laines. Here you will find some of the nicest jewellery shops and also some of the cutest and quaint shops. Along with one of my favourite small business coffee shops which to me just screams an ideal place to have that meet cute that you hear about in books and films.

From coffee shops to bars, cafés to restaurants, clothes stores to florists there is something for everyone. If like me you love yourself some crystals and anything that allows you to embrace your inner Witch they also have plenty of these stores.

I would highly recommend the Coffeetzar on trafalgar street for coffee. Honestly where you will find me most days. Some of the nicest staff ever.

If you are a crystal fan like me I would recommend heading into the lanes and checking out Two Feathers who not only have some of the nicest staff but so many crystals, jewellery, candles, tarot decks anything your magical selves could wish for.

If you are looking for somewhere to grab a bite to eat I would highly suggest you head out of the north laines and head down to the lanes with all the jewellery shops and take a pit stop at Donatello’s who are one of my all time favourite restaurants and my first point of call after lock down.

Hove:

Again with many cute restaurants and bars… along with coffee shops I thought I should give Hove a mention… Specifically because one of my favourite little book shops is located in hove and it would not be me if I did not mention a book shop. If you ever come to Brighton why not take a walk into Hove and stop at City Books shop. It is one of my favourite bookshops. Hove beach is also the perfect place to head if you are looking for a quieter beach to sit on.

Open Market:

Located just of of London Road in Brighton you will find one of my favourite places. The Open Market which has some of the best and quirkest little stalls for you to browse from Fruit and veg stalls that at Christmas also have real Christmas trees (if you know me well you will know the excitement.) to a book stall which has every classic novel you could ever think of and more.

One of my favourite stalls at the Open Market is the Crystal Therapy stall run by the loveliest lady Lorraine. Who stocks so many beautiful crystals and little magical treasure that just fill my heart with such joy. It is somewhere that I know my best friend would adore.

Open Air Theatre:

The theatre lover in me had to point this one out. Located a little outside of the centre of Brighton we have an open air theatre, which to me is one of my favourite places because I just think it is so beautiful and something a little different. If you love theatre like me it is a must see even if it is just to have a wander and grab a coffee from the little shop nearby.

The Pier:

Obviously it would be wrong not to include the Pier in my list of favourites, whether it is just going for a walk along the Pier to grab a coffee and take in the views, or spending way too long in the arcades, there is always plenty to do on the pier. And a little bit of local information it is also the location where some filming to place with Harry Styles for his new film My Policeman based on a book set in 50s Brighton. (Not out until 2022)

The Beach:

It would not be a list of some of my favourite places if we did not talk about the beach. Whether it is just going for a walk along the sea or stopping for a coffee and some food a one of the little restaurants. The beach is one of my favourite places of all time. Normally when the weather is gorgeous you will find me sat on the beach with a coffee either reading a book or journaling. There is just something about writing whilst sat by the sea.

You will notice a theme with a lot of these places a lot of them but each one has a little special place in my heart and all add up to some of the main reasons I have fallen head over heels with the place I am so lucky to call home.

Have you visited Brighton? Where are some of your favourite places? If not do you think it is somewhere you would want to visit?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

On a different note would you like to see more posts like this let me know? x

Be sure to check out all of these wonderful bloggers & leave a comment on their collab post. I absolutely adore all of these content creators & am grateful to have connected with them all through this community.

Simply Alex Jean

Alice Almeida

The Nutmeg Diaries

Mind.Beauty.Simplicity.

Envirolineblog

Thecurlysunshine

Diana Inspiring Positivity

Bloglife Erica

Faerie Lifestyle

Examine This Moment

Headphones Thoughts

Jessica Lasa

Korra Shay

Life Begins At Twenty

Growing With Spawn

Riyah Speaks Blogs

Sophia Patel

The Yorkshire Dreamer

Along Came Rosie

Victoria St. Michael

It’s Brit Life

Shards Of Earth: Blog Tour

allthingsgeexo

6 comments

19th May 2021

Happy May!

How crazy is it that it is May already and tomorrow we enter Gemini season ( as a fellow Gemini and someone who has a lot of Geminis as friends… I cannot bloody wait!)

After a brief period off in April I am back and we have some exciting content coming your way… Friday I am finally getting round to post an incredible collaboration that I have been so excited about. But for now we are back with some of my favourite kind of posts… It’s a Blog Tour. And we all know how much I love me a good Blog tour.

And with all my Blog Tours we are starting off with a little gush of appreciation for one of my favourite humans Dave because I swear I would miss half of these blog tours if it was not for him. So a massive Thanks to Dave at TheWriteReads for letting me take part in this blog tour. Also a Big thanks also to Tor UK and the author himself for my free Ecopy in exchange for an honest review…

Spoiler Alert we come back with a bang and another 5 star reviews. 2021 is turning out to be the year of 5 star reviews.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Adrian Tchaikovsky is the author of the acclaimed Shadows of the Apt fantasy series, from the first volume, Empire In Black and Gold in 2008 to the final book, Seal of the Worm, in 2014, with a new series and a standalone science fiction novel scheduled for 2015. He has been nominated for the David Gemmell Legend Award and a British Fantasy Society Award. In civilian life he is a lawyer, gamer and amateur entomologist.

Synopsis:

This high-stakes space-based adventure will be perfect for those who loved Children of Time, also by Adrian Tchaikovsky.

The war is over. Its heroes forgotten. Until one chance discovery . . .

Idris has neither aged nor slept since they remade his mind in the war. And one of humanity’s heroes now scrapes by on a freelance salvage vessel, to avoid the attention of greater powers.

Eighty years ago, Earth was destroyed by an alien enemy. Many escaped, but millions more died. So mankind created enhanced humans ­such as Idris – who could communicate mind-to-mind with our aggressors. Then these ‘Architects’ simply disappeared and Idris and his kind became obsolete.

Now, Idris and his crew have something strange, abandoned in space. It’s clearly the work of the Architects – but are they really returning? And if so, why? Hunted by gangsters, cults and governments, Idris and his crew race across the galaxy as they search for answers. For they now possess something of incalculable value, and many would kill to obtain it.

My Review:

As always I will aim to not give any spoilers to the book because when I say you need to read this yourself… I MEAN IF YOU LOVE SCI-FI… DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR AND GRAB A COPY! It is worth it I promise. With that being said here are some of my views.

This was my first book by Adrian Tchaikovsky, this will be rectified immediately, I am not normally a huge Sci-Fi lover but I think he may have converted me just a little. I loved that whilst reading this book I could feel myself having so many different emotions. Especially during the battles my heart was beating so fast. I think I managed to convince my brain that I was part of the battle.

Now do not get me wrong this book is LARGE so it took me a little longer than expected to finish it but I actually did not mind the length of the book… if I am being honest never wanted it to end.

One of my favourite things about this book is the how diverse the characters were… it feels like a rarity and something that should definitely mentioned about this book as it was something that made me love the book even more.

As someone who would not say that SCI-FI is their favourite genre I still ended up giving this book 5 stars because holy cow… I could not put it down. If you are a Sci-Fi lover I am certain you would love it even more than me… in fact it reminded me of someone I met the other day who had so much Sci-Fi knowledge I was lost but listening to him be that enthusiastic meant I just have to tell him about this book.

Star Rating:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Does this sound like a book you would enjoy? Let me know what you think?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Things to do before the end of the World: Spotlight

allthingsgeexo

3 comments

30th Apr 2021

Happy April!

I hope you are keeping well and safe. Today I am back with another blog tour with organised by my favourite Dave @thewritereads. As always it is a pleasure to be a part of these blog tours. However for todays blog tour spot I decided to do a mix between a review and a spotlight. Having only finished this book last night I still cant quite put into words my full thoughts. So I thought I would share my first thoughts and a little spotlight for this book with a list of some others who I know have reviewed this one. I hope you all enjoy.

Synopsis:

One minute you’re walking in the park, hiding from a party. Then you discover that the next nine months will probably be your last. Everyone’s last. You realise that you happen to be alive at the time when your species becomes extinct.
You have to decide whether to go with it meekly like you usually do, or to do something brave, to live your last months with all the energy and bravery you can muster, to rage against the dying of the light.

Olivia struggles to live her real life as fully as she wants to. She plans out conversations and events in her head but actually doing them and interacting with other people is hard. When the news breaks that humans have done such damage to the earth that there’s only nine months of safe air left everybody makes bucket lists and starts living their best lives – everyone, that is, but Olivia who is still struggling to figure out who she wants to be.

Then out of the blue comes contact from a long-lost cousin Olivia didn’t even know exsisted. Natasha is everything Olivia wants to be and more. And as the girls meet up for their last summer on earth Olivia finds Natasha’s ease and self-confidence having a effect on her. But what if Natasha isn’t everything she first appears to be . . . ?

My Review:

Okay in all honesty with this one I am not really sure where to start. I had very mixed feelings about this one throughout. However once I had got over a few little facts I did in fact make it to the end of the book and ended up enjoying it more than I first thought I would.

One of the biggest hurdles I had to get over with this book was realising that this book was not actually going to be about the end of the world. Which I was a little bit disappointed about when I started reading the book. However I continued to read this book and I am glad that I did. It may not have been what I expected but it still turned into a good read.

I should be clear though if you are looking for a thriller that focuses on the end of the world…. this may not be the one for you. Again this is not to say that it is not a good read but I would recommend ignoring the blurb and the cover a little for this one as for me they do not give the best representation of this book.

Star Rating:

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Does this book sound like something you would enjoy? Let me know? If you have already read it let me know what your thoughts were?

About The Author:

I started out working as a journalist in London, but always hankered after a quiet room and a book to write. I managed, somehow, to get commissioned to go travelling for a year, and came home with the beginnings of a novel set in the world of backpackers in Asia. This became Backpack, a thriller which won the WHSmith New Talent Award, and I have since written eleven more novels for adults, one novella, and three book for Young Adults, published in the UK and around the world. I live in Cornwall with my husband Craig and our children.

Other Bloggers on this tour:

Tessa Talks Books

Lous Book Stuff

Feathered Books

Marti Leimbach

Ellie Mai Blogs

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Kate in Waiting- Blog Tour!

allthingsgeexo

1 comment

28th Apr 2021

Happy April!!

I am back again with another blog tour and this one is one I have been so so excited about! As always I would like to say a massive thank you to Dave @thewritereads for having me on this tour. Also a massive thank you to Dave and Penguin UK for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

About the Author:

Becky Albertalli author photo

Becky Albertalli is the author of the acclaimed novels Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda (film: Love, Simon), The Upside of Unrequited, and Leah on the Offbeat. She is also the co-author of What If It’s Us with Adam Silvera. A former clinical psychologist who specialized in working with children and teens, Becky lives with her family in Atlanta.

You can visit her online at www.beckyalbertalli.com.

Twitter: @beckyalbertalli

Synopsis:


From bestselling YA rom-com queen Becky Albertalli (author of Love, Simon) comes a new novel about daring to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight in love, life and theatre.

[PRINCIPAL CAST LIST]
Kate Garfield
Anderson Walker

Best friends, and contrary to popular belief, not co-dependent. Examples:

Carpooling to and from theatre rehearsals? Environmentally sound and efficient.
Consulting each other on every single life decision? Basic good judgment.
Pining for the same guys from afar? Shared crushes are more fun anyway.

But when Kate and Andy’s latest long-distance crush shows up at their school, everything goes off-script.

Enter Stage Left: Matt Olsson

He is talented and sweet, and Kate likes him. She really likes him. The only problem? So does Anderson.

Turns out, communal crushes aren’t so fun when real feelings are involved. This one might even bring the curtains down on Kate and Anderson’s friendship…

My Review:

If you know me well you will know there are certain things I love in life… Theatre, Books and stories of love just happen to be some of those. As soon as I saw the synopsis of this book I knew I had to read it. I was not wrong! There is so much I want to talk about but as always we are going to try to avoid spoilers so somethings will just have to wait.

Firstly I loved all the theatrical references and all the references to the different theatre shows through out. Within one of the first chapters the drama teacher is mentioned and it had me laughing to myself on the bus because I immediately had my drama teacher in my head, who was just one of my favourite people in the whole entire world. From that moment I had a strong suspicion I was going to love this book.

As always I am going to try to avoid spoiling anything but the friendship between Kate and Anderson ended up being one of the things I loved most about this book. I think that it was because in some aspects it took me right back to high school and the memories of people I am no longer friends with. However to be truthful we never dealt with communal crushes as well as these two beautiful humans.

From the beginning I had a sneaky feeling I was going to be a fan of the duo. Friendship is a huge theme in this book and one of the reasons I loved it so much.

Another theme that unlike the friendship had me a little worried was the idea of them having a communal crush. If I am honest I was so so worried that this was going to blow up in their faces. (we have all been there… maybe just me) but I loved how the relationships turned out and I finished the book with a sense of relief and love for all the characters which I did not expect to happen. If I am truthful I did not expect to like their crush but hey turns out Matt wins my vote of how lovely he comes across.

I adore Becky Albertalli as an author and I was not disappointed this time round either. Kate in waiting is a brilliantly easy read that I know I will be reaching for again.

Star Rating:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Have you read this yet? What did you think? Is it one you would read?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

The Magpie Society- A Book Review

allthingsgeexo

2 comments

5th Apr 2021

Happy April!

I hope you are all well and safe! I have been so excited for this blog post because if we are being honest I knew I had to read this book the moment that it was released. For several different reasons 1. I love Zoe Sugg and I love that I have basically grown up alongside her content. 2. My Best friend and I have a lot of jokes when it comes to Magpies and 3. This book could not be any more up my street if it tried. So the moment it was released I knew I had to head and pick it up.

I finish reading The Magpie Society in two days. I literally could not put it down. So I thought it would only be fair to share these opinions with you.

RELEASE DATE:  29 October 2020

Format: Paperback

Pages: 330

Publisher: Penguin Books

Synopsis:

Illumen Hall is an elite boarding school. Tragedy strikes when the body of a student is discovered at their exclusive summer party – on her back is an elaborate tattoo of a magpie.

When new girl Audrey arrives the following term, running from her own secrets back home in America, she is thrown into solving the case. Despite her best efforts to avoid any drama, her new roommate Ivy was close to the murdered girl, and the two of them can’t help but get pulled in.

The two can’t stand each other, but as they are drawn deeper into the mystery of this strange and terrible murder, they will discover that something dangerous is at the heart of their superficially perfect school.

Welcome to The Magpie Society.

One for Sorrow will be told via the alternating first person perspectives of the lead characters Audrey – written by Amy – and Ivy – written by Zoe – with the narrative being jointly plotted by both authors.

Amazon | Goodreads | Hive

My Review:

If you have been around here for a while you will know that any books that are a little gothic in nature are bound to go down well with me. This was something that I loved about this book.

If you know me you know I had such high expectations from this book because I am a huge fan of Zoe. I was not disappointed. This book for me once I managed to get the time to read it in a block was an incredibly quick read.

The mystery of this book reminded me of the old style of classic gothic mysteries but set in todays society. I liked the way this was written as it showed a little bit of each of the authors styles of writing.

As always I am trying not to give you spoilers of the books I am reviewing. The authors did a great job of keeping the mystery alive throughout the entire novel and their writing styles collaborated smoothly to give you two characters which really give something for everyone.

I have so many questions about this book but as I know there is a second follow up book coming I cannot wait to see what they have planned for the rest of this story.

Star Rating:

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Have you read The Magpie Society? What did you think?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

March Round Up!

allthingsgeexo

3 comments

4th Apr 2021

Happy April!

I hope you have a wonderful start to your April 2021! It is officially Spring!

As March came to a close it is only right that we are back again with another monthly wrap up. Things have been a little strange and a little weird this month. However one of the great things that came out of March was the wonderful guest posts we had over here and I cannot explain how much I loved each and everyone of them. I was so grateful to be able to show off some of the incredible talent there is and from some of my favourite people.

We got some amazing things coming up for this April!

Books I have read:

Normally there would not be a need for a list here but all of a sudden I have read or finished reading far too many books in the first two weeks of March. For the first time in ages I am going to have to list them:

*Disclaimer some of these were books that I started reading back in February but have only just got round to finishing*

If it is not already linked there are book reviews coming for all of these! Which means a lot of new content.

Speaking of new content during April I am looking to guest post some of you amazing people, if this is something you are interested just drop me an email and I will get back to you.

My Favourite Blogs of March:

I am so lucky to be a part of a wonderful blogging community, and therefore there are so many blogs that I could include here.

The Artsy Reader– Noly is one of my favourite woman and she has been such an incredible support since the beginning of my blog and it is only right that I share the love I have with her xoxo

HollylovesBooks – I am forever grateful to have Holly in my life. She is the biggest support and one of the loveliest person in the world and she deserves all the love in the world. xoxo

Favourite TV show/series:

Again I have not really been watching any new TV series but I have been watching Lucifer right from season one and I forgot how much I loved Lucifer and if we are being honest Tom Ellis is just amazing.

Favourite Movie:

My Favourite movies of this month is again some old films I found an article with a list of films that were films every girl should watch before they turn 25 and since my 23rd birthday is coming around incredibly quickly. I decided that I would start watching the films on the list.

My favourite movie that I have watched this month has my two favourite actors. Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock star in The Proposal. This was such a charming film that left me with a warm fuzzy feeling. It is going on my list of favourite films.

Random Things I have been loving in March:

  • The sunshine we have had at the beginning of Spring
  • My Write Reads Gang
  • Gratitude Journals

As you can see there has already been some pretty cool things that have happened this March, and we will have another round up at the end of the month!

What is something that has happened in March that has made you smile?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Fid’s Crusade Spotlight- BBNYA TOUR

allthingsgeexo

3 comments

2nd Apr 2021

Today I am back with another Blog Tour and another spotlight for Fid’s Crusade by David H. Reiss for the #BBNYA2020 blog tour organised by Dave from @The_WriteReads. This book came 2nd place in the BBNYA 2020 competition, it was loved by so many people however it just was not for me so I have decided to do spotlight today rather than a review. I have included links of others who have reviewed it so if you would like to know more go and check them out.

BBNYA:

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors.

If you are an author and wish to learn more about the 2021 BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website here, or our Twitter account, @BBNYA_Official. If you would like to sign-up and enter your book, you can find the BBNYA 2021 author sign up form here. Please make sure to carefully read our terms and conditions before entering.

BBNYA is brought to you in association with the Folio Society (If you love beautiful books you NEED to check out their website!), and the book blogger support group The Write Reads.

GOODREADS SYNOPSIS:

Rage, grief and guilt have fueled Doctor Fid’s endless quest to punish the unworthy and he has left a long trail of blood and misery in his wake. For more than two decades, the sight of the villain’s powered armor has struck fear into the hearts of hero and civilian alike! But when a personal tragedy motivates Doctor Fid to investigate a crime, he uncovers a plot so heinous that even he is taken aback.

Haunted by painful memories and profound guilt, the veteran supervillain must race against time if he is to have any hope of confronting the approaching threat. Every battle takes its toll…but the stakes are too high for retreat to be an option.

In the end, it may take a villain to save the world from those entrusted with the world’s protection.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR – DAVID H. REISS:

While growing up, David was that weird kid with his nose in a book and his head in the clouds. He was the table-top role-playing game geek, the comic-book nerd, the story-teller and dreamer. Fortunately, he hasn’t changed much.

David is a software engineer by trade and a long-time sci-fi and fantasy devotee by passion, and he lives in Silicon Valley with his partner of twenty-eight years.

David’s first trilogy, the Chronicles of Fid, has just recently been completed; these were his first novel-length projects, but they certainly won’t be his last—he’s having far too much fun!

David’s Links: Website – Goodreads – Twitter

Links To Other Reviews:

Servillas Speaks

Pages, Places and Plates

I will update this list as more of the blog tours come out!

I hope you enjoyed! Would you read this book?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Mini Reviews- Guest Post – Her Bookish Obsession

allthingsgeexo

1 comment

31st Mar 2021

Happy March!!

I cannot believe we are hitting the end of March today, however today we have another guest post to finish off March with. Today’s guest post comes from the wonderful Haadiya over at HerBookishObsession. She has kindly guest posted with two little mini reviews. Incredibly grateful to have her post for me, she is incredible and someone I just know is going to go far. I hope you enjoyed this post as much as I did.

IN THE WILD LIGHT:

Synopsis:

From the award-winning author of The Serpent King comes a beautiful examination of grief, found family, and young love.

Life in a small Appalachian town is not easy. Cash lost his mother to an opioid addiction and his Papaw is dying slowly from emphysema. Dodging drug dealers and watching out for his best friend, Delaney, is second nature. He’s been spending his summer mowing lawns while she works at Dairy Queen.

But when Delaney manages to secure both of them full rides to an elite prep school in Connecticut, Cash will have to grapple with his need to protect and love Delaney, and his love for the grandparents who saved him and the town he would have to leave behind.

Review:

Easy 5 stars and maybe a new favorite author. Everything about this book was stunning. The characters and their journeys, the setting, the writing, the poetry…all of it. I wish this book were coming out sooner than August because it’s a book I want to talk about with so many people.

 I want them all to read it NOW and feel how I feel because the feeling is not one I can properly describe. Jeff Zentner’s writing is relatable, easy to grasp, yet the way he arranges his words and articulates his narrative absolutely knocks you over with its beauty. It’s something that I think he does better than anybody else. He brings beauty to the mundane, he makes you feel for people you’d usually overlook… he gives dignity to unremarkable, “average” people.

 I won’t go into too many details about the contents of this book, but I will say it will break you and you won’t want to read anything until you get over this, which will probably take quite a while.

This is my first Jeff Zentner book and based on reviews, I knew I was going to cry but I didn’t expect to cry THAT MUCH. All things considered, this was a beautiful story about family and friendship. All the feels – so good! Jeff Zentner is an amazing writer and writes in such a poetic and relatable way. A definite must-read for 2021.

TRIGGER WARNINGS include in-depth descriptions of anxiety and depression; drug abuse and overdose; sexual assault; and the deaths of close family members.

Jane Austen Investigates: The Abbey Mystery by  Julia Golding  : 

Synopsis:

Jane Austen turns detective in this spooky historical adventure by award-winning author Julia Golding!

It’s 1789 and a young Jane Austen turns detective as she seeks to solve the mysterious happenings at Southmoor Abbey. When a carriage accident forces a change of plans, 13-year-old Jane is sent to be a companion to Lady Cromwell for a week as the household prepares to celebrate the eldest son’s coming-of-age party. While there, Jane vows to solve the mystery of the ghostly monk in the Abbey grounds – for she does not believe in such stories!

But this is not the only strange occurrence for the adventurous young Jane to investigate. There are shivery night-time investigations, an Indian girl with secret talents, a library fire, two prize horses in danger, and friends to save from false accusations.

With notebook in hand and her faithful dog Grandison by her side, will Jane overcome the continuous obstacles and find out the truth?

Review:

The Abbey Mystery is a perfect blend of the classic Austen style and a Nancy Drew mystery. Jane Austen is a spirited young woman, sent to the Cromwell household to keep company with Lady Cromwell for a week until her son’s birthday party and ball. She is pretty bored from her obligation but soon she finds out a legend about a vengeful ghost that haunts the Abbey next to the house so she decides to investigate. Will Jane be able to stay out of trouble as was recommended by her mother? Or will she give in to her curiosity?

This book was absolutely charming; I wasn’t sure what to expect going in… having never read Jane Austen, but I was honestly so pleasantly surprised by this book. Classic books and I don’t get along but I really enjoyed this modern take on an old classic author.

I’ve been hearing so much about Jane Austen since I joined the book community a few months back and I was very excited to read The Abbey Mystery by Julia Golding which puts a young Jane as the protagonist. Jane Austen was a woman ahead of her time, proving just how much a clever girl can achieve – whether society is ready for it or not! In The Abbey Mystery, Jane is a heroine for the next generation. Her story is the perfect introduction to the world of Jane Austen novels for new readers as well as a deliciously nostalgic journey for those who are already long-time fans.  I truly hope that this book is the first of a series of wonderful mysteries.

I would highly recommend the story to middle-grade readers who enjoy delving into the world of historical mystery.

Haadiya’s Social Media Links:

Instagram

Twitter

Blog

Pinterest

I hope you enjoyed todays guest post! As a massive Jane Austen fan I will definitely be getting myself a copy of this book.

Do these books sound like something you would want to read? Have you read any of them?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Karolina Dalca, Dark Eyes: Blog Tour!

allthingsgeexo

4 comments

30th Mar 2021

Happy March!

I hope you are having a wonderful start to spring! We are back again with yet another Blog Tour! They are literally coming in left, right and centre but there are so many incredible books being published this year! Today’s Blog Tour is of a book that features some of my favourite things.

Karolina Dalca, Dark EyesDark Eyes, #1M.R. Noble16 December 2020Paranormal | UF201 pages

About The Author:

M. R. Noble has played a tug of war between science and art her whole life, but the rope broke when she wrote the first line of The Dark Eyes Series. Immersed up to her keyboard in paranormal romance and urban fantasy, she enjoys blending the real with the surreal. The only drawback is she misplaces her mug while dreaming up her next scene, and soon finds herself six cups over-poured.

Keeping to her Lake Simcoe roots, she is a member of the Writers Community of York Region (WCYR), where her muse is made not found . . . over a hefty cup of coffee.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | BookBub | Goodreads | Amazon

*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are mine*

Synopsis:

Blindsided by an attack that destroys her home and blamed for murder, Karolina Dalca, a half-vampire, escapes, only to plunge into the magical societies from which she was sheltered.

Betrayed by those around her, she abandons her dreams of becoming an investigator and flees, trusting only herself. Her police internship would never prove more useful. Hoofing it through the wilderness, she makes it to her university dorm, disheveled but delightfully deflowered.

Enter a full vampire: one wielding dark magic and a ride out of Canada. A fugitive from the law, Karo complies with his demands to escape, unsure whether his requests are bewitched. She vows to clear her name and avenge her mother’s death, but Karo’s family secrets aren’t so easily left behind. 

My Review:

Okay! Now I have to start this off with a small little warning…I am a little obsessed! I finished the book in literally an evening and I have so much I want to talk about but I also do not want to give away to many spoilers! So bare with me!

Firstly I have to start with a side note that I am always down to read anything with Vampires but I was not expecting to become a little attached to the characters.

The characters in this story had me completely invested in their lives.

The main character Karolina Dalca has my heart! She is incredible strong and has incredible will power. This half- vamp does not take s*** from anyone. I think I maybe a little in love with her. If this ever became a film she would be the one character I would want to play. She has a lot of sass.

Then there is Roman… he has me highly confused. He seems like a good guy (werewolf) however I am not sure if I am his biggest fan. Sometimes he seemed to try to control the situation and how Karolina acted. Whether it was purely out of love or there is something we do not know yet. I am on the edge with him a little.

Finally, I want to talk about Andre because OMG what a rollercoaster of emotions with this man. I loved him, then hated him, then kinda still loved him in the hope that there was good in him yet but then the book ended and I am still incredibly confused on how I feel. If you know me well you know that my favourite characters tend to be the ones you should not like. Andre to me will now be known as a Spicy Vampire because I think it is the only way to describe this man.

There are other characters that I had mixed feelings over but I cannot really discuss without giving a lot about this book away.

The ending…. I felt like I was watching the end of a soap opera when they cut you off at the most dramatic moment. I have so many questions, so many mixed feelings and I NEED THE SECOND BOOK NOW PLEASEEEE!

If you could not tell I loved this book and I know I will be rereading this on many an occasion. However this is probably not a surprise to those of you who know that I have a Vampire obsession and well this just made it a lot worse.

Star Rating:

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Link to Book:

Would you like to read this book? What are your thoughts on Vampires?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

What Beauty There Is by Cory Anderson: Blog Tour!

allthingsgeexo

5 comments

28th Mar 2021

Happy March!

I hope everyone is keeping safe and well! We are back again with another #UltimateBlogTour as always organised by the amazing Dave from @The_WriteReads along with Penguin for this book, What Beauty There Is by a debut author, Cory Anderson. I am so so grateful to be apart of this tour and getting the opportunity to read yet another amazing book!

TITLE: What Beauty There Is
BY: Cory Anderson
SERIES: What Beauty There Is #1
GENRES: Young Adult, Thriller
PUBLICATION: April 04th, 2021
NOTES: I received a physical copy from the author, publisher and blog tour organiser.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cory Anderson, a native of Idaho, is a storyteller who writes about her home in the Rocky Mountains. She is the winner of the League of Utah Writers Young Adult Novel Award and Grand Prize in the Storymakers Conference First Chapter Contest. What Beauty There Is is her debut novel.

 Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Instagram

Synopsis:

When everything you love is in danger, how long can you keep running to survive?

Life can be brutal. Winter in Idaho. The sky is dark. It is cold enough to crack bones. Jack knew it.

Jack Dahl has nothing left. Except his younger brother, Matty, who he’d die for. Their mother is gone, and their funds are quickly dwindling, Jack needs to make a choice: lose his brother to foster care, or find the drug money that sent his father to prison.

So did I

Ava lives in isolation, a life of silence. For seventeen years her father, a merciless man, has controlled her fate. He has taught her to love no one.

Did I feel the flutter of wings when Jack and I met? Did I sense the coming tornado?

But now Ava wants to break the rules – to let Jack in and open her heart. Then she discovers that Jack and her father are stalking the same money, and suddenly Ava is faced with a terrible choice: remain silent or speak out and help the brothers survive.

Looking back, I think I did . .

My Review:

What Beauty There Is had me hooked from the moment I picked up this book. Cory Anderson’s has a real talent in making her writing magical and she had me feeling incredible attached to the characters and honestly had me wanting them to get a little bit of happiness or normality. This book will stay in my mind for a long time I feel.

I think it is incredibly important to mention before I carry on with the rest of my review, that this book is really for the older readers of YA. It is pretty hard hitting with the dark and difficult topics which Cory Anderson does not choose to shy away from. There are certainly some trigger warnings for this one and some bits I personal struggled to read. Here are some trigger warnings: absent parent, child abuse, murder, suicide, animal death, violence and drug use/dealing.

The main character Jack is a 17 year old and he carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. Jack is also the responsible for his brother Matty. All Jack wants is to make sure his brother is safe and doesn’t end up in the hands of child services. Jack is a character is someone I felt so so sorry for he really has to cope with things I would not want anyone to deal with but his love for his brother is incredibly clear. I found myself wanting Jack to be able to be a teenager without having to carry so much pressure.

His brother Matty had my heart the whole way through, I felt the need to dive into the story myself just to wrap him up in a hug and let him know he would be okay. Again his love for his brother was clear. However he has already had so so much to deal with at such a young age and it broke my heart.

This story may not have been an easy read and at times had me crying hysterically. However it is one of the most beautifully written stories I have read in a long time and I would highly recommend. Just be warned it is not for the faint hearted.

Star Rating:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Links to buy the book:

*some of the links are affiliate links meaning I will get a small percentage from them if you use them to purchase*

Amazon /  Goodreads | Hive

Have you read What Beauty There Is? Is it something that you would read?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

10 Self care ideas to try this Easter

allthingsgeexo

3 comments

26th Mar 2021

Happy March!

I hope you are all keeping well and safe and with Easter around the corner I thought I would share with you some ways to practice self-care this Easter/Spring.

1. Spring closet clear out

Use this weekend to de-clutter and purge your wardrobe. Sort out the old from the new. You could also use this time to rid some of your unwanted make-up (do we really need broken palettes?) Time to declutter and cleanse your space.

2. Diffuse essential oils, light candles.

Candles and essential oils are some of my favourite ways to change the mood in my room, I think it always feels like completely clean and tidy once I have cleaned and then lit a candle.

3. Get baking

Baking is one of my favourite ways to escape from reality and what better time to make some of your favourite treats. For me I love making treats that we would have made during Easter as a child. Yes there will be a lot of mini egg decoration.

4. Adult colouring books.

I know I personally still love to colour every so often, because it’s therapeutic and stress-busting! I was recently bought a Harry Potter adult colouring books and it is still one of my favourite ways to relax and take a few moments out of day to day stress.

5. Practice gratitude with daily affirmations

This is something that I have only recently been getting into as part of my daily routine, I must admit it is something that I have often done on and off across the last few years but it is something I am trying to put into my day to day life. This became more of a goal this year after starting to listen to ‘The Law of Attraction Changed My Life’ podcast by Francesca Amber. If this is your sort of thing I highly recommend you giving it a listen.

6. Fill your home with flowers

Flowers make everyone happy; and since it’s Easter, you can find flowers everywhere in the local shops. My favourite flowers to fill my home with during spring are daffodils I just think the pop of yellow makes the home feel so much more warm and happy.

7. Dance like nobody’s around

Dancing around the house is always fun! One of my favourite memories with one of my old friends is us dancing around the kitchen in pure hysterical laughter just because we decided we wanted a little fun.

8. Take a break from social media

Whilst social media is great for keeping in touch with the world, it can also be a stressful place to be sometimes. Why not switch your phone off even if its just for an hour and spend time doing something you love.

9. Take time out and read a book

Well it would not be All Things Gee if I did not recommend you taking some time out to curl up with a good book.

10. Treat yourself

Use this weekend to care for yourself and indulge in something you’ve missed out on recently. It may not even just be due to the lockdown that you’ve avoided doing something; regardless you can pat yourself on the back by treating yourself to something you want.

What are some of your favourite things to do for self-care?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Stay Mad Sweetheart! – BBNYA 2020 BLOG TOUR!

allthingsgeexo

5 comments

22nd Mar 2021

Happy Spring!!!

It is finally spring and I am kicking off the season in style with my spot on the Stay Mad Sweetheart Blog Tour. As always organised and hosted by The Write Reads and The Folio Society.

I am going to really quickly take some time before my spotlight on this wonderful book (life got a bit mad so review pending) to thank Dave The Write Reads  for not only having me on another tour but just all round being the most awesome person ever! Your hard work never goes unnoticed or unappreciated and I am forever grateful to be part of the amazing write reads gang.

BBNYA:

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors.

If you are an author and wish to learn more about the 2021 BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website here, or our Twitter account, @BBNYA_Official. If you would like to sign-up and enter your book, you can find the BBNYA 2021 author sign up form here. Please make sure to carefully read our terms and conditions before entering.

If you are a book blogger or reviewer, you can apply to be part of BBNYA 2021 by filling out this form (also remember to read the terms and conditions before signing up)!

BBNYA is brought to you in association with the Folio Society (If you love beautiful books you NEED to check out their website!), and the book blogger support group The Write Reads.

Synopsis:

THERE’S A FINE LINE BETWEEN INNOCENCE AND GUILT-AN EVEN FINER LINE BETWEEN JUSTICE AND REVENGE.

Data scientist Laura prefers the company of her books to the real world – let alone that cesspit online. But when her best friend Emily becomes the victim of horrific cyberbullying, she makes it her all-engulfing mission to track down the worst culprits.

Petite corporate-financier Suki is about to outshine the stupid boys at her firm: she’s leading the acquisition of Edinburgh’s most exciting start-up. If only she could get its brilliant but distracted co-founder Laura to engage.

Event planner Claire is left to salvage the start-up’s annual conference after her colleague Emily fails to return to work. She’s determined to get a promotion out of it, but her boss isn’t playing ball.

As the women’s paths intertwine, the insidious discrimination they each face comes too light. Emboldened by Emily’s tragic experience, they join forces to plot the downfall of all those who’ve wronged them. But with emotions running high, will the punishments fit the crimes?

A pacy and suspenseful novel with its feet firmly in the #MeToo era. 9 to 5 meets Suits with a dash of Black Mirror.

About the author:

Heleen Kist Author Profile image

Throughout her life, Heleen Kist has been fondled, patronized, and ordered to smile by random men. So she wrote ‘Stay Mad, Sweetheart’, a feminist tale of justice, published November 2019. Whilst her professional knowledge of technology start-ups fed the novel’s setting, its theme of insidious harassment and discrimination required no research: it is familiar to all women.

Heleen was chosen as an up-and-coming new author at Bloody Scotland 2018. Her first novel, ‘In Servitude’ won the silver medal for Best European Fiction at the Independent Publishers Book Awards in the USA and was shortlisted for The Selfies awarded at London Book Fair.

A Dutch strategy consultant living in Glasgow and married to a Scotsman, she’s raising their son to be a good man and their daughter to kick ass.

Heleen hopes you enjoy her writing and would love to hear from you.

Other Reviews:

As I am only doing a spotlight for this one at the moment (review pending) I thought I would link some of the amazing bloggers that have reviewed this book. If you wanted to check them out and spread some love.

A Voracious Reader

Gina Rae Mitchell

For Books Sake

The Book xpert

BookbugWorld

Does this sound like a book you would enjoy?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

World Poetry Day!

allthingsgeexo

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21st Mar 2021

Happy March!

I Hope you are all keeping well and safe! I was recently informed that today is World Poetry Day! (who knew) So it is only right that I shared some content for it! I was not sure how to approach this post today but I figured that the only way to truly celebrate it would be to share with you some of my favourite poems. I also felt it is only right since it is world poetry day to mention my friends over at Poems By Post who work with some amazing poets, artists and small business. But more about them at the end. For now here are three of my favourite poems:

Poems By Post:

Poems By Post is a subscription service which was created by a street poet called Alex during the first lockdown. This platform has been created to support the arts, small business and also has donated to several different charities. The platform was created to give a voice to the arts and to small business, whilst really trying to champion their voices.

Poems by Post is a subscription service where you can receive a Poem typed up on a type writer and a newsletter with all the information you could want about the artists, small businesses and charity of the month that you would be supporting. The poet changes every month and through the newsletter you can hear the poem spoken by the poet themselves which I think is a really cool little addition.

Anyone who loves literature, art, poetry or even just the idea of being able to support small businesses will love this platform. I know I do. As someone who does nothing but read it is something I had to tell you all about!

Who doesn’t want to support artists, support small businesses all while getting a beautiful poem to read. Why not gift it to a friend or family member.

All social media links and the link to the website have been listed below:

Instagram: Poemsby.post

Twitter: PoemsByPost

Facebook: PoemsByPost

Website: Poems by Post

What are some of your favourite poems? Let me know in the comments.

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

My Favourite Book Quotes About Spring

allthingsgeexo

2 comments

17th Mar 2021

Happy March!

I hope you are all well and keeping safe! With spring just around the corner I thought I would do another quotes post as that seemed to go down well with everyone on the Valentine’s Day post! However today we are talking all things Spring! With the longer days and hopefully a little more sunshine it is only right to share with you my favourite book quotes about spring!

The Secret Garden is one of my all time favourite books and one of the first books I remember reading as a teen. Therefore it is no surprise when putting this list together I had to put this quote on the list.

We all know that I love Virginia Woolf and this is a quote I often think about because for me Autumn is one of my favourite seasons, and I wonder if this will change as I grow older.

Spring Walks are something I enjoy and I feel this quote embodies all my favourite things about going for a daily walk especially when the scenery is constantly changing. There is something incredibly special about taking a moment to breath in the Spring air and just take five minutes out to just relax.

Again we are back with Les Miserables! I actually think I may have to go back and reread it. I forgot how much I love this book and it is the second time it has been included in my favourite quotes.

I had to include this quote because I love how it looks at the idea of constant change and how bad days no matter how bad are exactly that a bad day there is always opportunity for rebirth.

Great Expectations is another one of my favourite ‘classic novels’ and it would be completely wrong for me to include one of my favourite quotes that literally feels me with so much warmth and familiar as all that is described is exactly how I picture spring.

What are some of your favourite book quotes about Spring?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Bird and Blend Tea Subscription Review

allthingsgeexo

2 comments

16th Mar 2021

Happy March!!

If you follow me on Instagram or even have just read some of my Christmas content you will know that I was gifted a years worth of Bird and Blend Tea subscription for Christmas. Since I have now received 3 months worth of the subscription I thought it was about time I provided you guys with a little review. Now I have to be very clear here I love my teas so it is right up my street to receive a gift like this but I was not expecting there to be such an incredible range of teas. I thought I would talk you through what teas I have received across the first three months and give you my opinions on them and a little star rating. If this is something you guys enjoy I may do a post for each month.

December:

Hazelnut Rocher:

Views:

This one is my absolute favourite of all of them. It is honestly the most incredible almost Nutella tasting tea. Yes out loud it sounds weird to want that from a tea but it is incredible.

Star Rating:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Butter Toffee Popcorn:

Views:

Harry Potter fans this one might be for you… As with most of their teas you can have this with or without milk and I found that when you have it with milk it does remind me a lot of butter beer. However it is a great go to cup of tea when you just cannot get your hands on some popcorn.

Star Rating:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Cherry Cola Bottles:

Views:

If you want Christmas in tea form all year round I would highly recommend this fruit tea. As a Christmas obsessed weirdo this is one I will definitely be repurchasing to make sure I have enough to keep me going through to Christmas!

Star Rating:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

January:

Good Kalmer:

Views:

I was not expecting to be a fan of this one as I am not a huge fan of ginger in teas but I was pleasantly surprised.

Star Rating:

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Relax:

Views:

This has become a go to flavour for before bed, along with their Dozy Girl blend. This one is also one I have recommended to my mumma as she does not really like tea but will drink Camomile tea. (I cannot be the only one that thinks of the High School Musical 2 scene anytime someone mentions Camomile tea.)

Star Rating:

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Zig-A-Zing Ahh! :

Views:

If you’re favourite thing about this tea does not include the fact that without fail every time you reach for it you want to sing along…You are doing it wrong! Again another one with ginger in it but one that I found I liked a lot. Maybe I do not dislike ginger as much as I thought.

Star Rating:

Rating: 3 out of 5.

February:

Maple Bacon Pancakes:

Views:

Again not something I thought I would want in a tea but as they always do they have proven me wrong! What an incredible Blend.

Star Rating:

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Blueberry Pancakes:

Views:

I was not expecting to like this one as much as I actually do. In fact this is the one I have recommended to people the most.

Star Rating:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Strawberry & Nutella:

Views:

This one is one that took me a while to decide how I felt about it but It has definitely grown on me.

Star Rating:

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Have you tried Bird and Blend Tea before? Which would these tea would be your favourite?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

The Gilded King by Josie Jaffery – BBNYA Book Tour Review

allthingsgeexo

4 comments

15th Mar 2021

Happy March!

We are back with another BBNYA book tour! This time however I could not be anymore excited because it is my turn to review yet another book from one of my favourite authors Josie Jaffery! As always hosted by my favourite @The_WriteReads as always a massive thank you to Dave for having me on this tour!

Today I am reviewing The Gilded King by Josie Jaffrey and *SPOILER ALERT* I LOVED IT.

However you are probably not shocked by this as it includes some of my favourite things. Mystery, Drama and more importantly VAMPIRES. Now if we are being honesty who does not have a little soft spot for Vampires.

BBNYA:

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors.

If you are an author and wish to learn more about the 2021 BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website here, or our Twitter account, @BBNYA_Official. If you would like to sign-up and enter your book, you can find the BBNYA 2021 author sign up form here. Please make sure to carefully read our terms and conditions before entering.

If you are a book blogger or reviewer, you can apply to be part of BBNYA 2021 by filling out this form (also remember to read the terms and conditions before signing up)!

BBNYA is brought to you in association with the Folio Society (If you love beautiful books you NEED to check out their website!), and the book blogger support group The Write Reads.

Author Bio:

Josie is the author of nine self-published novels plus short stories. She is currently working on a range of fantasy and historical fiction projects (both adult and YA), for which she is seeking representation. Ultimately, she hopes to be a hybrid author, both traditionally- and self-published.

After finishing her degree in Literae Humaniores (Classics) at the University of Oxford, Josie wasn’t sure what to do with her life.

She slogged through a brief stint working for an investment bank in London during the 2008 credit crunch, then converted to law and qualified as a solicitor specialising in intellectual property. She worked at a law firm for five years before moving to a UK-based international publisher in 2016. Whilst she loved law, in the end she didn’t love it quite as much as writing, which she now does almost full time.

Josie lives in Oxford with her husband and two cats (Sparky and Gussie), who graciously permit human cohabitation in return for regular feeding and cuddles. The resulting cat fluff makes it difficult for Josie to wear black, which is largely why she gave up being a goth. Although the cats are definitely worth it, she still misses her old wardrobe.

Her website is here if you want to learn more!

Synopsis:

In the Blue, the world’s last city, all is not well.

Julia is stuck within its walls. She serves the nobility from a distance until she meets Lucas, a boy who believes in fairytales that Julia’s world can’t accommodate. The Blue is her prison, not her castle, and she’d escape into the trees if she didn’t know that contamination and death awaited humanity outside.

But not everyone in the Blue is human, and not everyone can be contained.

Beyond the city’s boundaries, in the wild forests of the Red, Cameron has precious little humanity left to lose. As he searches for a lost queen, he finds an enemy rising that he thought long dead. An enemy that the humans have forgotten how to fight.

One way or another, the walls of the Blue are coming down. The only question is what side you’ll be on when they do.

My Review:

There is really no surprise here that I absolutely loved this book. Not only did I fall in love with the book but I found myself falling head over heels for the characters also. If you have followed my blog for a while you will know that I may as well be Josie’s number one fan, I fell in love with her writing when I had the opportunity to read May Day! I was hooked then and I have not been disappointed this time round! I would like to point out that as someone who forms connections to the characters I wish I had read reviews prior to reading The Gilded King because the ending had me screaming out loud.

I loved how we got to explore the world through the eyes of the characters and I have to admit for once I really enjoyed the changing perspectives. I felt like it gave us time to learn more about the characters individually. However this itself means I formed a slight obsession for both Cam and Julie. We shall never know if thats a good thing or not but I will include it as a warning.

Small side note if like me you get way to into a book and a little character obsessed I would strongly recommend reading the ending on your own. Not in a room of people who could potential get scared when you out loud scream at the ending. Yes! I had to learn this the hard way!

Star Rating:

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Does this sound like something you would read? If you have read it let me know your thoughts!

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Art and Soul by Claire Huston: A Book Review

allthingsgeexo

3 comments

9th Mar 2021

Happy March!!

Today is another book review but one that I have been meaning to publish forever, I was kindly gifted a copy of Art and Soul by Claire Huston back in October 2020 but life got a little bit crazy and I forgot to post this review! So we are finally getting around to posting about this incredible read.

Synopsis:

There’s no problem Becky Watson can’t fix. Except her own love life…

Struggling single mother Becky Watson longs to revive her career as a life-fixer, working miracles to solve her clients’ problems, no matter how big or small. Since the birth of her two-year-old son she has been stuck preventing wedding fiascos for the richest and rudest residents of the Comptons, a charming, leafy area of southern England known for its artistic heritage.

So when semi-reclusive local artist Charlie Handren reluctantly hires Becky to fix his six-year creative slump, she’s delighted to set him up with a come-back exhibition and Rachel Stone, the woman of his dreams.

Though they get off to a rocky start, Becky and Charlie soon become close. But as the beautiful Rachel becomes Charlie’s muse, Becky is forced to wonder: will giving Charlie everything he wants mean giving up her own happily ever after?

A heart-warming, uplifting romance served with a generous slice of cake. 

My Review:

Art and Soul is an incredibly heart-warming and pleasant read. For me it is a book that gives you an escape from reality with that not only is a great read but has an incredibly confident female main character which is what we love.

Charlie is a renowned local artist who has sadly found himself a little stuck. He’s been in this situation since receiving a negative review of his work some years ago. Enter Becky who loves to fix things. The two strike up a work agreement to improve his career and love life.

The characters in this story are fun and vivid. This makes it incredibly easy to enjoy the characters. I feel like this is definitely a book for when you are in the mood for an easy romance comedy with mature characters.

Becky and Charlie work together to bring him out of his gloomy situation. The storyline progressed in a way that I found myself rooting for him and his teenage daughter.

If you are looking for a feel-good story this is definitely one I would recommend.

Star Rating:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Does this sound like a book for you?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Ring The Bell by Josie Jaffrey: A Book Review

allthingsgeexo

4 comments

6th Mar 2021

Happy March!

With a little spare time this month I have been going back and reading books that I have been meaning to read forever! Today’s review is one of those… Finally getting round to reading Ring The Bell by Josie Jaffrey. This is a bit of a short review as it was a short story but that did not stop me from falling head over heels with emotion for this story!

•Thank you to the author for a review copy via StoryOrigin•

Synopsis:

Scale the mountain. Ring the bell. Buy your freedom. Or trade the prize to change the world.
Mia’s life is defined by the Surge. The race comes every five years, and she’s determined to win it. She’ll make it to the top first, ring the bell and set her family free.
But victory comes at a price. The faster she runs, the more people she’ll condemn to death in the valley below.
In Unterstrom, only the strongest survive.

My Review:

This book had me utterly shocked at how much I loved it, considering that it is a short story I was not expecting to fall in love with it as much as I did. I cannot believe how much Josie Jaffrey managed to fit within this short story. It is so in depth and powerful. I found myself struggling to put it down but also found myself highly emotional. Despite it only being a short story I fell in love with Mia and the characters.

By the end of the short story I found myself actually crying, my emotions thrown out of the window and being forced to finish this story that had so much important content had me fully shook. This is my fourth book of hers I have read and every time I find myself falling in love with her style more and more and very much can see her being one of my all time favourite authors.

Star Rating:

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Does this short story sound like one you would enjoy? Have you read this book?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

5 Spring Cleaning Hacks According to a Minimalist – Guest Post!

allthingsgeexo

7 comments

5th Mar 2021

Happy March!

With Spring just around the corner I am very excited to say that we have a guest post to get us in the mood for Spring. The wonderful Bee of Mind.Beauty.Simplicity Blog has kindly written a post for us. If you are new you will not know this but I am a little obsessed with their blog so it is incredible to be able to have them guest post. Working with them has been the most amazing experience.

Ah spring, the quintessential time to get your life & space in order for the new season. Goodbye to  the cold, dark shades of winter & hello to warm, bright colours of spring! Today, I wanted to share with you 5 Spring Cleaning Hacks According to a Minimalist 

So yes, if you are new to me & my writing, I’ve been a minimalist for 5 years now. And honestly, minimalism changed everything about my life. And I think with living with less, I’ve mastered the art of cleaning a space. And it’s such a wonderful feeling to start fresh. 

REVAMP YOUR WARDROBE

I love starting with my closet because each season begins with a shift in fashion. I love to go through & evaluate what I have, what no longer works & what replacements I may need. Recently, I did a full blown purge of my wardrobe & removed bags & bags full of items. It was quite liberating. I usually take everything completely out of my drawers or closet spaces & try on every single item. It might sound tedious, but it really helps you honestly see what works & what doesn’t. And once everything is back in your spaces all organized, you’ll be glad you did it. 

When cleaning your house it can seem like a rather daunting task. But if you focus on one room at a time, it will not seem as stressful. Always remember it’s not a sprint. You want to clean your house well instead of being rushed. I always go through each space & see what I can get rid of first. Why clean something, if you are going to throw it out anyway, right? Once all the junk is cleared, I take a multi surface cleaner & wipe off any surfaces. Keep in mind, if there are any future pieces you are down with & not serving a purpose, feel free to donate those items. 

YOU DON’T NEED A TON OF PRODUCTS

You know all the fancy cleaning products they sell? You don’t need all of them! I simply use a multi surface cleaner, Windex & a vacuum. We actually were gifted the Roomba for Christmas & it’s a game changer! A lot of cleaners are rather toxic for yourself, your children & pets. So, why have more than what you need? I’ve been trying to replace most of my cleaning products with sustainable alternatives as well. Baby steps. 

DECLUTTER YOUR DIGITAL SPACE
I feel like because we can’t literally see digital clutter as well as physical household items, we tend to ignore it. But I’m here to tell you to go through your digital space as well.  Clear out your contacts in your phone, delete old emails, unsubscribe from online stores & unfollow anyone on social media that isn’t inspiring or making you happy. You don’t realize how these platforms can affect your overall well being, so cleaning house of these places is so important. 

REFLECT ON YOUR FUTURE SELF

I think the most important part of going into a new season, especially spring, is to take the time to write down your goals & aspirations. Who do you wish to be this month or the months going forward? What changes do you want to make? What habits do you want to break? This is a perfect time to journal about these actions of self growth. Each day is a new beginning. Here’s to a fresh start. 

Thank you so much All Things Gee for allowing me to guest post on your blog. I hope your readers find these spring cleaning tips helpful. If you are interested in learning more about me, my journey to minimalism & my perspective on lifestyle topics, please join the Mind Beauty Simplicity Family – –  BLOG | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST

What do you think of Minimalism?

Again a massive thank you for guest posting I love this post so much!

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

World Book Day 2021!

allthingsgeexo

4 comments

4th Mar 2021

Happy March!!

It is the 4th of March and that can only mean one thing it is World Book Day! As a child this one of my favourite days of the year because it was an opportunity to dress up as my favourite book characters. If I am being honest it was pretty much the same costume every year, it was always Tracey Beaker for me as let’s be honest we all know that I had a little obsession with Jacqueline Wilson and her books.

I thought for World Book Day 2021 I would share with you a list of some of my favourite books from when I was a child/teen. I am sure some of these would be favourites of mine even now! Maybe I should go back and read them now.

CandyFloss – Jacqueline Wilson

I remember queuing with my mum when this book was released because I needed a copy!

Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne

Let’s be honest we all knew that this was going to be on here. My hard back copy of these stories is still today up there with one of my favourite books.

Grimms’ Fairy Tales by Brothers Grimm

I still have my special edition of this somewhere at my mums house but theses were some of my favourite books to read.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

This was one of my very first favourite books and I remember my teacher at infants school putting me in charge of the caterpillar because I had a little bit of a protective issue when it came to him.

The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy

Turns out I have always been a little obsessed with Witches who would have thought!

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

A lady my mum used to work with gifted me her hardback copy of this book a couple years back because she knew that it was one of my all time favourite stories and she was getting rid of it.

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

My dad bought me my first ever copy of this book and I just remember being utterly in love with this story. Maybe I should pick up a new copy.

I had so many more books that I loved growing up that this list could literally go on forever and not stop but I feel you may get a little bored if that was the case.

What was your favourite book growing up?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Ranger’s Oath (Fall of Radiance book 1) – BBNYA BlogTour

allthingsgeexo

11 comments

3rd Mar 2021

Happy March!

Today I’m am back with another blogtour! Today is my spot on the #blogtour organised by @The_WriteReads for Ranger’s Oath by Blake Arthur Peel. This book came 5thplace in the #BBNYA2020 competition. I had so much fun reading this.

BBNYA:

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors.

If you are an author and wish to learn more about the 2021 BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website here, or our Twitter account, @BBNYA_Official. If you would like to sign-up and enter your book, you can find the BBNYA 2021 author sign up form here. Please make sure to carefully read our terms and conditions before entering.

If you are a book blogger or reviewer, you can apply to be part of BBNYA 2021 by filling out this form (also remember to read the terms and conditions before signing up)!

BBNYA is brought to you in association with the Folio Society (If you love beautiful books you NEED to check out their website!), and the book blogger support group The Write Reads.

Synopsis:

The barrier between worlds is broken. Only he knows the truth…

Magic has protected Tarsynium for a thousand years, shielding its people from being ravaged by bloodthirsty demons. When a young ranger’s apprentice named Owyn Lund discovers that the Arc of Radiance has been breached, he tries to warn anybody who will listen.

But legends aren’t supposed to be real.

When a village is mysteriously destroyed, rangers, mages, and rebels all point the finger, blaming each other for the demons’ brutality. However, Zara Dennel, a mage’s ward, has heard Owyn’s tale—and she’s inclined to believe him.

Together, they must prove that friendship is greater than intolerance, unity is more important than division, and that even the most powerful magic can sometimes not be enough.

Failure means the end of all things. A second—and lasting—Doom.

Experience the beginning of a thrilling Epic Fantasy series suitable for all ages. It’s perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir, Sarah J. Maas, and Brandon Sanderson.

My Review:

Ranger’s Oath by Blake Arthur Peel the first book in the Fall in Radiance series, it takes you on a thrilling journey as you explore a world filled with magic, mystery, and danger. Which anyone who knows me will know that I have a little soft spot for magic and mystery. The book is one that leaves you wanting more.

The concept behind this book was on that I found incredibly intriguing. I did find that some parts however were a little slow but even still the writing allowed you to create an incredibly vivid picture in your head. That is something that always makes me want to not put the book down and this is one of those situations where I could have easily finished reading it in one day had I not had work to do.

There was so many different aspects to the world he has built that I think will be incredibly intriguing as the story continues and I cannot wait to learn more all about mages, rangers and demons. The plot to this story is one that is fast-paced but addictive with so many action scenes and moments that had me holding my breath. It had me hooked and as more twists were revealed I found myself needed to read on. The story is one that you can find yourself getting completely immersed in.

I loved that the characters were ones that in some way or another you could relate to them.

This is a book I can see myself constantly recommending for a while.

Star Rating:

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Have you read this book yet? Let me know your thoughts?

Gee xoxo

Love Always,

Born of Wind by J.B. Lesel: A Book Review

allthingsgeexo

1 comment

2nd Mar 2021

Happy March!!!

We are starting March off the only way I know how with another book review this time I am lucky enough to be reviewing the debut novel from J.B. Lesel throws you headlong into a diverse world where the elements take physical form to shape the lives of all. This is a book that actually I ended up enjoying a lot more than I thought I would.

*Disclaimer I was gifted a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review*

I would just like to say a massive thank you to Sarah from Vulpine Press for giving me the opportunity to review this incredible book.

Side note! It is also its publication date so happy publication day to this wonderful book and to J.B. Lesel xoxo

Synopsis:

Meleena never quite fitted in among her fellow aquatic Meruyans, always skipping school to hide out and marvel at the natural world around her. So when she wins a place on the coveted Council Apprenticeship team, no one is more surprised than her.

As she embarks on a tour of the nations, Meleena’s curiosity catches the attention of the Warix, a race born with the power to control wind. But she is unprepared for the secrets she uncovers as she explores this new land. The Warix are locked in a deadly civil war, and her own people are being oppressed and exploited with no way out.

Desperate to resolve this tangled conflict, Meleena sets out to locate an ancient weapon sought by both sides. Can she unite these warring peoples in time to save her own?

My Review:

When I first picked up this book it reminded me a lot of my old housemate who used to have an obsession with Avatar and The Last Airbender so I could see this book being one she would really enjoy. However, I was not sure whether this book would be one for me but I can safely say how wrong was I. I fell in love with this book, within very few pages I was hooked into this new world that I needed to know more about. The world for me became more interesting as the story progressed as I felt like I was discovering the world along side the characters if the story.

There are many incredible aspects to this story that I do not think I was expecting however this made the story that little bit more enjoyable for me. The characters in this story all come from a wide range of different backgrounds and it was intriguing to see how this effected them in learning how the world works.

I am a huge fan of the fact this book almost had a bit of everything that would appeal to all different people. I think it will be incredibly interesting to see how the world and characters further develop in the rest of the series and I cannot wait to read more.

Star Rating:

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Does this sound like something you would like to read?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Weekly TBR- March 1st

allthingsgeexo

2 comments

1st Mar 2021

Happy March!

How is it March already! This is absolute madness! I hope that you are all well and safe! I Thought I would kick March off with a little weekly TBR for the first week in March! I have some really exciting things coming up in March so keep your eyes peeled!

Something like Happy by Sasha Greene

Synopsis:

Jade is just trying to get by. She doesn’t want to talk about it. She doesn’t want a fuss.

But one day she meets Nick and everything changes.

Out of the most difficult of situations, Nick and Jade’s friendship grows into something both of them never knew they needed.

Jade used to be sure that she was better off alone. But could it be that together, with Nick by her side, she can start to feel something like happy again?

Pre-Read thoughts:

  • The cover to this book is just gorgeous!
  • Has not got the best reviews of good reads but I cannot wait to give it a read

Find Me by André Aciman

Synopsis:

No novel in recent memory has spoken more movingly to contemporary readers about the nature of love than André Aciman’s haunting Call Me by Your Name. First published in 2007, it was hailed as “a love letter, an invocation . . . an exceptionally beautiful book” (Stacey D’Erasmo, The New York Times Book Review). Nearly three quarters of a million copies have been sold, and the book became a much-loved, Academy Award–winning film starring Timothée Chalamet as the young Elio and Armie Hammer as Oliver, the graduate student with whom he falls in love.

In Find Me, Aciman shows us Elio’s father, Samuel, on a trip from Florence to Rome to visit Elio, who has become a gifted classical pianist. A chance encounter on the train with a beautiful young woman upends Sami’s plans and changes his life forever.

Elio soon moves to Paris, where he, too, has a consequential affair, while Oliver, now a New England college professor with a family, suddenly finds himself contemplating a return trip across the Atlantic.

Pre-Read thoughts:

  • Again has not got the best reviews of goodreads
  • Wonder if I will enjoy it as much as the first Call Me By Your Name
  • Seems like I have to focused to read it

Have you read any of these? What are you reading this week?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

February Round Up

allthingsgeexo

2 comments

28th Feb 2021

Happy February!!

We are coming to the end of February and you know what means it is time for my round up of February! What a month February has been! It has been on of my best months yet and there is so much exciting content to come with guest posts and as always some amazing book reviews coming in March.

Books I have read:

Normally there would not be a need for a list here but all of a sudden I have read or finished reading far too many books in the first two weeks of february. For the first time in ages I am going to have to list them:

  • Bad Habits – Flynn Meaney
  • Ever Alice – H.J.Ramsay
  • The Magpie Society – Zoe Sugg & Amy McCulloch
  • A Study in Scarlet- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Specter- Katie Jane Gallagher
  • Dear Life – Alice Munro
  • Prodigal Son – Danielle Steel
  • Thanks for the Memories- Cecelia Ahern

*Disclaimer some of these were books that I started reading back in January but have only just got round to finishing*

If it is not already linked there are book reviews coming for all of these! Which means a lot of new content.

Speaking of new content during March I am looking to guest post some of you amazing people, if this is something you are interested feel free to drop me a message and we will organise this.

My Favourite Blogs of February:

I am so lucky to be a part of a wonderful blogging community, and therefore there are so many blogs that I could include here.

Mind.Beauty.Simplicity– B is one of the most lovely people I have ever had the pleasure to get to know and work with. And not to be dramatic but we have an amazing guest post coming up on the 5th of March and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Her Bookish Obsession – I am incredibly glad to have been introduced to Haadu and her blog earlier this month. She is incredible and I honestly believe great things are coming her way- also have a guest post coming from her in March so keep your eyes peeled.

Favourite TV show/series:

We new it was coming and although I did not start watching it in February I did very much rewatch it in February so I am counting it, obviously I am talking about the Netflix show Bridgerton. Now listen I must admit I need to go and read the books, maybe I could do a little comparison however I am going to say it, the duke is everything I did not know that I needed in my life but hey.

Favourite Movie:

My Favourite movie of this month is actually a really old movie but on Valentine’s Day I spent the whole day watching a bunch of movies and I forgot how much I love The Devil wears Prada and The Intern. I basically had a day of Anne Hathaway and it could not have been any better.

Random Things I have been loving so far in February:

  • Gratitude Journal – something I have started to try to do everyday
  • Ted Talks – one of my new addictions is watching Ted Talks on youtube my favourite being every child deserves a champion it reminds me a lot of one of my old school teachers who definitely practiced this.
  • Bird and Blend tea – I have a tea addiction thanks to my subscription.

As you can see there has already been some pretty cool things that have happened this February, and we will have another round up at the end of the month!

What is something that has happened in February that has made you smile?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern: A Book Review.

allthingsgeexo

1 comment

27th Feb 2021

Happy February!!

We are coming to the end of February and I have had such a good month so many awesome blog tours but it is now time for a book review outside of the blog tours. This is a book that I have been meaning to read for years, as a massive fan of PS I love you and its follow on Postscript, I thought it was about time to catch up on some of her other work. Today’s book post is a review of Thanks for the Memories by Cecelia Ahern!

Synopsis:

How can you know someone you’ve never met?

Joyce Conway remembers things she shouldn’t. She knows about tiny cobbled streets in Paris, which she has never visited. And every night she dreams about an unknown little girl with blonde hair.

Justin Hitchcock is divorced, lonely and restless. He arrives in Dublin to give a lecture on art and meets an attractive doctor, who persuades him to donate blood. It’s the first thing to come straight from his heart in a long time.

When Joyce leaves hospital after a terrible accident, with her life and her marriage in pieces, she moves back in with her elderly father. All the while, a strong sense of déjà vu is overwhelming her and she can’t figure out why…

My Review:

I have been trying to read more of Cecelia Ahern’s work and I have to be clear this one did not disappoint. What a book!

This book was one of those books that grabbed me from the first chapter as a fan of her work already I had a lot of hope that this was going to be one that you can’t put down. And that is exactly what it became for me. I just had to keep reading to find out what is going to happen to the characters. The stories of the characters is such an interesting view point as they are side by side.
Thanks for the memories is a beautifully told story from the first page to the last.

I loved the diversity of the characters, the pain, the relationships, I laughed until I nearly cried and then I cried when I felt myself feeling their pain and getting a little attached to the characters. This however is one of the things that I loved about the book because my favourite books are the ones where I find myself holding on to the characters.

The story is set mainly in Ireland and it is about two people whose lives cross in a most unusual way and the interactions with their own families and friends. This being said the story also had a touch of fairytale magic in it (again we know I love me some fairy tales), yet was more a story about family relationships than romance
Disclaimer: There are parts to this book that are not factually correct but if you can ignore that then it is still a good read and I enjoyed it despite this.

Star Rating:

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

Marrow Charm- Blog Tour

allthingsgeexo

5 comments

26th Feb 2021

Happy February!

We are back today with another amazing blog tour hosted by my favourite @The_WriteReads as always a massive thank you to Dave for having me on this tour!

Such great fun reading this book and we have my second five star rating of 2021… it is shaping up to be a good year for five star ratings.

BBNYA information:

I received this book to read and review as part of the BBNYA 2020 competition and/or the BBNYA tours organised by the @The_WriteReads tours team. All opinions are my own, unbiased and honest (or insert your own standard version of the same). 

BBNYA is a yearly competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors. 

If you are an author and wish to learn more about the 2021 BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website (https://www.bbnya.com/) or our Twitter account, @BBNYA_Official. If you would like to sign-up and enter your book, you can find the BBNYA 2021 AUTHOR SIGN UP FORM HERE. Please make sure to carefully read our terms and conditions before entering. 

If you are a book blogger or reviewer, you can apply to be part of BBNYA 2021 by filling out this form (also remember to read the terms and conditions before signing up)! 

BBNYA is brought to you in association with the Folio Society (If you love beautiful books you NEED to check out their website!) And the book blogger support group TheWriteReads.

Synopsis:
Azure ‘Azzy’ Brimvine lives in a world decimated by magic, where humans have retreated underground from the overwhelming dangers of the surface. But Below is no safer than Above.

Magic borne plagues continue to eat away at the remaining human cities, a sickness that doesn’t merely kill, but creates aberrations from the stricken: people twisted by magic into something dark, dangerous, and powerful. It is an existence of fear and constant dread. When Azzy’s brother, Armin, is infected and cast out into the Above, she sets out after him, determined to be there for him no matter what he becomes.

The world Above is full of monsters, both wild and cunning, some more human than Azzy was led to believe. Armin is captured and bound for the Auction block of Avergard, a ruthless city of inhuman lords and twisted creatures. To reach him, Azzy must brave the perils of the Above and the chaotic life forms created by the Gate. To reach him, she must find allies and forge new bonds in this broken world.

And Azzy must reach him, before Armin’s new power is used to open the Gate once more.

My Review:

This is one that I was very excited to start reading the moment the opportunity arose the book cover looked so pretty and everyone knows that any book that has some reference to magic is going to be one that should be right up my street. WOW! How right I was.

Marrow Charm by Kristin Jacques is the first book in The Gate Cycle series. The book follows the story of Azzy who lives in the world Below with her brother Armin and their guardian, but their lives are quickly derailed when the Rot infects everyone, and her family is cast out to the world Above. Her brother and guardian face an uncertain and terrifying future at auction when they’re carted away by the Snatchers. This means that alone Azzy must face the dangers of Above if she has any chance of saving her family. Along the way she discovers that actually the differences between the humans and the monsters are not as different as she once thought. Which is worse? That is something that she cannot quite work out.

Marrow Charm has such an incredible vibe whilst you are reading it, the atmosphere created in the world built in this book by Kristin Jacques is one of my favourite parts of the novel.

I like how it is not all like the magic we have read about in so many books this focuses a little more on the negatives of the magic. I think this makes it more attractive to the reader as you do not know what to expect. I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of her journey.

I loved getting to read this novel and it in fact became my second five star review of 2021 so far. It is not very often that I give a five star review but 2021 is out here bringing some amazing reads.

Star Rating:

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Does this book sound like something you would like to read?

Love Always,

Gee xoxo

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