Category Archives: Bookish Reflections

Bookish Reflections – May and June 2021

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A monthly round up of all things bookish at Sammi Loves Books…It’s my attempt at becoming more accountable in my reading and reviewing habits…

the last battle front cover sign-of-the-cross-front-cover the-last-of-the-mohicans-front-cover half-of-a-yellow-sun-front-cover The Silver Chair front cover when-hitler-stole-pink-rabbit-front-cover

In a nutshell

I feel like I’m pretty behind with all my self-set reading goals this year. Sigh. Yet, I am making good progress on catching up, with six reviews posted over the past two months. The problem I’m having is that I don’t seem to have as much time to read as I once had, yet where it’s gone I couldn’t tell you. This does not help me read, review and rehome the far-too-many books I have in my house, so this is something I am going to have to work on. I’ve also managed to give individual posts for the handful of titles I reviewed as part of my failed attempt at speed reviewing…

July is Indie Only Month at Sammi Loves Books, so if there are any indie authors, be they fiction writers or poets, who would like to see their work reviewed on this site, please feel free to reach out to me.  You can find out about my review policy and FAQs here.  Just ignore the bit that says closed to reviews, as I am only open to Indie Authors at this time.

If any writers / poets / authors / etc, would like to be interviewed as part of Afternoon Tea at Sammi Loves Books check out this page for more information, FAQs and an index of all the previous interviews. And, if you have previously been interviewed as part of this series, there is now a second set of questions, if you fancy being interviewed again! If you’ve any questions, please do get in touch at: sammicoxbooks@gmail.com

To keep up-to-date with what I’m reading and reviewing, find me on Facebook and Goodreads.

Books I’ve Read and Reviewed

Other Book-Related Posts

This month, I’ve been back through my reading round-up posts, to post Quick Reviews of individual title, which seems to be a better format for my shorter book thoughts:

Favourite Read(s) of The Month

  • Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  • When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr

Books I’ve Bought or Been Given

  • Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear
  • The Illustrated Odyssey by E. V. Rieu

Books I’ve Downloaded

  • None – woohoo!

What I’ve Been Reading on Wattpad

  • Progressive Dinner Deadly by Elizabeth Spann Craig

May and June’s “Read and Review” Goals

  • Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  • Death in Captivity by Michael Gilbert (read, awaiting review)
  • The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
  • The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
  • Sign of The Cross by Chris Kuzneski

* Light blue = review posted | Blue = read but review not posted | Black = did not read / review

What I’m reading and reviewing in July

  • Progressive Dinner Deadly by Elizabeth Spann Craig (currently reading)
  • And that’s all I’ve decided so far…

The Very Informal Classic Reads Book Club Challenge 2021

  • January’s Book – The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells – Read and reviewed!
  • February’s Book – Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon – Read and reviewed!
  • March’s Book – Last of The Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper – Read and reviewed!
  • April’s Book – Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte – Currently Reading
  • May’s book – David Copperfield by Charles Dickens – Not started yet
  • June’s book – Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen – Not started yet
  • Next month’s book – The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas – Not started yet

Basic Book Review Challenge 2021

To read (at least) one book a week, to reach a target of 60 over the course of the year, with the aim of posting a review for some of them.

  • Month started at: 7 / 60
  • Month finished at: 13 / 60

Sammi Loves Books Reading Challenge 2019

I’m revisiting this challenge I started in 2019, to complete the challenges I missed. I’ve completed the following challenges from the list this month:

  • none
  • Total challenges completed in 2019: 8 / 20
  • Total challenges completed in 2020: 9 / 12
  • Total challenges completed in 2021: 0 / 3
  • Total: 16 / 20
  • You can find the complete list of challenges here.

Read, Rate, Review, Rehome

Goal: 35 | Total so far: 9 / 35

  • The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis
  • The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis
  • Sign of the Cross by Chris Kuzneski
  • Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  • When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr

Note: I’ve actually far-exceeded my goal as I’ve been having a sort out of my books, with two big bags set aside for donating to charity. So this tally will focus on books I’ve Read, Rated, and Reviewed in 2021, with an aim to also being Rehomed in 2021 😉

Bookish Reflections – February, March & April 2021

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A monthly round up of all things bookish at Sammi Loves Books…It’s my attempt at becoming more accountable in my reading and reviewing habits…

In a nutshell

Welcome to this bumper Bookish Reflections.  I’ve spent a little over a month away from blogging.  This unexpected hiatus was needed as I tried to find the balance between everything I have to do and everything I want to do.  And, sometimes, the best way to do this is to simply stop, step back and look objectively at everything. Is this break over? Probably, though it might take a little while for me to work out a regular schedule again.  But that is fine.

My plan to post a “Read, Reading Now, Reading Next” update every couple of weeks did not work out so well in practice. I think there was just too much going on in those posts, so the updated plan is post shorter reviews alongside my longer posts.  Over the next few weeks, I will go back over the books that were reviewed as part of these bigger round-ups and post the reviews singularly…

Thanks to my taking a break from blogging, I’m a little bit behind with my classic reads challenge but hopefully it won’t take me too long to get caught up with it.  I have, however, still been reading a fair bit, so have a number of reviews to share here over the coming weeks.

If any writers / poets / authors / etc, would like to be interviewed as part of Afternoon Tea at Sammi Loves Books check out this page for more information, FAQs and an index of all the previous interviews. And, if you have previously been interviewed as part of this series, there is now a second set of questions, if you fancy being interviewed again! If you’ve any questions, please do get in touch at: sammicoxbooks@gmail.com

To keep up-to-date with what I’m reading and reviewing, find me on Facebook and Goodreads.

Books I’ve Read and Reviewed

Other Book-Related Posts

Favourite Read(s) of The Month

  • Learning to Fly by Crispina Kemp

Books I’ve Bought or Been Given

  • The Hog’s Back Mystery by Freeman Wills Croft

Books I’ve Downloaded

  • None this month

What I’ve Been Reading on Wattpad

  • Not much as I’ve not spent much time on the site these past weeks…sigh

February’s “Read and Review” Goals

  • Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
  • The Good Knight by Sarah Woodbury
  • The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

* Light blue = review posted | Blue = read but review not posted | Black = did not read / review

What I’m reading and reviewing in May

  • Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (read, awaiting review)
  • Death in Captivity by Michael Gilbert
  • The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis (read, review awaiting posting)
  • The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis (read, review awaiting posting)
  • Sign of The Cross by Chris Kuzneski (currently reading)

The Very Informal Classic Reads Book Club Challenge 2021

  • January’s Book – The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells – Read and reviewed!
  • February’s Book – Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon – Read and reviewed!
  • March’s Book – Last of The Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper – Almost finished reading
  • April’s Book – Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte – Not started yet
  • Next month’s book – David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Basic Book Review Challenge 2021

To read (at least) one book a week, to reach a target of 60 over the course of the year, with the aim of posting a review for some of them.

  • Month started at: 4 / 60
  • Month finished at: 8 / 60

Sammi Loves Books Reading Challenge 2019

I’m revisiting this challenge I started in 2019, to complete the challenges I missed. I’ve completed the following challenges from the list this month:

  • none
  • Total challenges completed in 2019: 8 / 20
  • Total challenges completed in 2020: 8 / 12
  • Total challenges completed in 2021: 0 / 4
  • Total: 16 / 20
  • You can find the complete list of challenges here.

Read, Rate, Review, Rehome

Goal: 35 | Total so far: 4 / 35

  • The Good Knight by Sarah Woodbury

Note: I’ve actually far-exceeded my goal as I’ve been having a sort out of my books, with two big bags set aside for donating to charity. So this tally will focus on books I’ve Read, Rated, and Reviewed in 2021, with an aim to also being Rehomed in 2021 😉

Bookish Reflections – January 2021

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A monthly round up of all things bookish at Sammi Loves Books…It’s my attempt at becoming more accountable in my reading and reviewing habits…

In a nutshell

This month, I spent a good deal of time editing, which inevitably means I read less.  Sigh.  However, four books is one a week, and so not too shabby for this bookworm, methinks.  Hopefully, I can pick up the pace in February…

January saw me trial my new “review only some books and rate the rest” policy. To be honest, it did feel like it took the pressure off, and I doubt I would have been able to claim the above four books for the month if I was still reviewing them all.  So, a month in, and it seems to be working so far…

I also started my classic reads challenge this month, which I am enjoying at the moment.  January’s read was H.G. Wells’, The Island of Dr. Moreau, which I think will stay with me for a while yet. February’s book is one I’ve been meaning to read for a while, Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, which is supposed to be one of the great sensational novels of the Victorian period…

If any writers / poets / authors / etc, would like to be interviewed as part of Afternoon Tea at Sammi Loves Books check out this page for more information, FAQs and an index of all the previous interviews.  If you’ve any questions, please do get in touch at: sammicoxbooks@gmail.com

To keep up-to-date with what I’m reading and reviewing, find me on Facebook and Goodreads.

Books I’ve Read

Books I’ve Read and Reviewed

Other Book-Related Posts

Favourite Read(s) of The Month

  • All of January’s books were rated 4 / 5, so I’m guessing I enjoyed them all equally 😉

Books I’ve Bought or Been Given

  • none this month

Books I’ve Downloaded

  • Lady Audley Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

What I’ve Been Reading on Wattpad

  • Not much as I’ve not had a great deal of time for reading really this month…sigh

January’s “Read and Review” Goals

  • The Voyage of The Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis
  • The Mangle Street Murders by M.R.C. Kasasian
  • The Island of Dr Moreau by H. G. Wells

* Light blue = review posted | Blue = read but review not posted | Black = did not read / review

What I’m reading in February

  • Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon
  • The Good Knight by Sarah Woodbury
  • The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis

The Very Informal Classic Reads Book Club Challenge 2021

  • January’s Book – The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells – Read and reviewed!
  • Next month’s book – Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon

Basic Book Review Challenge 2021

To read (at least) one book a week, to reach a target of 60 over the course of the year, with the aim of posting a review for some of them.

  • Month started at: 0 / 60
  • Month finished at: 4 / 60

Sammi Loves Books Reading Challenge 2019

I’m revisiting this challenge I started in 2019, to complete the challenges I missed. I’ve completed the following challenges from the list this month:

  • none
  • Total challenges completed in 2019: 8 / 20
  • Total challenges completed in 2020: 8 / 12
  • Total challenges completed in 2021: 0 / 4
  • Total: 16 / 20
  • You can find the complete list of challenges here.

Read, Rate, Review, Rehome

Goal: 35 | Total so far: 3 / 35

  • The Mangle Street Murders by M.R.C. Kasasian
  • The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis
  • Pardonable Lies by Jacqueline Winspear

Bookish Reflections – December 2020

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A monthly round up of all things bookish at Sammi Loves Books…It’s my attempt at becoming more accountable in my reading and reviewing habits…

In a nutshell

December saw a lot of activity at Sammi Loves Books with nine reviews in total being posted on the site, which must be a record for me…It sounds like one, at any rate 😉

With another Festive Reads Fortnight complete, some of the reviews for which rolled over from the previous year, this Christmas-themed reading challenge and it’s subsequent page is now up to date.

In my last round-up post (November 2020), I mentioned I was going to attempt to not review absolutely everything I read in 2021. Instead, I’m going to be more selective about my reviews going forward, and move towards focusing on review requests and book blogging. I think this will lead to me reading more and worrying about keeping up with the reviews a lot less, so my aim is to trial this for a few months and see how things go.

I have also posted my “Very Informal Classic Reads Book Club Challenge” for 2021 – a list of 12 classic books, one to be read each month, in an attempt to read more of them.  It was surprisingly difficult to narrow the list down to just 12, but I did it, and I’m looking forward to reading them all, though I’m especially looking forward to Lady Audley’s Secret by Mary Elizabeth Braddon and the re-reading The Epic of Gilgamesh.  For more information or to have a look at the list, you can find the page under the “Themes and Challenges” tab on the menu, or follow this link.

Speaking of challenges, I completed a number of self-set ones in 2020: The Basic Book Review Challenge where the aim was to review 52 books over the course of the year, my A-Z Review Index Challenge where I hoped to be able to list at least one review under each section / letter of the index, and my Read, Review, Rehome challenge, which worked out so well I actually lost count of the final numbers…

For 2021, I am challenging myself to read more over the course of the year – I aiming for 60, though I do not intend on reviewing them all.  I am also hoping to complete the challenge I set myself in 2019 (the Sammi Loves Books Reading Challenge) where I still have 4 challenges to go.  I’ve already mentioned my 12 classic reads for 2021, but there is one more challenge I am planning on continuing with: my Read, Review, Rehome, as I still attempt to thin out the number of books in my home.  The target for 2021 is going to be higher than 2020, at 35…we shall see how well I do…

If any writers / poets / authors / etc, would like to be interviewed as part of Afternoon Tea at Sammi Loves Books check out this page for more information, FAQs and an index of all the previous interviews.  If you’ve any questions, please do get in touch at: sammicoxbooks@gmail.com

To keep up-to-date with what I’m reading and reviewing, find me on Facebook and Goodreads.

Books I’ve reviewed

Other Book-Related Posts

  • None

Favourite read(s) of the month

  • Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis and The Mistletoe Murder and Other Stories by P.D. James

Books I’ve bought (or been given)

  • None – woohoo!

Books I’ve downloaded

  • None

What I’ve been reading on Wattpad

  • Once again, not very much…

November’s “Read and Review” Goals*

  • Agatha Raisin and The Walkers of Dembley by M.C. Beaton
  • Agatha Raisin and The Murderous Marriage by M.C. Beaton
  • Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
  • Mystery in White by J. Jefferson Farjeon
  • The Gift of The Magi by O. Henry
  • A Strange Christmas Game by Charlotte Riddell

* Light blue = review posted | Blue = review not posted | Black = did not read / review

What I’m reading in January

  • The Voyage of The Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis
  • The Mangle Street Murders by M.R.C. Kasasian
  • The Island of Dr Moreau by H. G. Wells

Basic Book Review Challenge 2020

To post (at least) one book review a week, to reach a target of 52 over the course of the year. – COMPLETED! YAY!

Month started at: 39 / 52

Month finished at: 53 / 52

Sammi Loves Books Reading Challenge 2019

I’m revisiting this challenge I started last year, to complete the challenges I missed. I’ve completed the following challenges from the list this month:

  • #3: a book set in a place you’ve lived / visited – A Strange Christmas Game by Charlotte Riddell

Total challenges completed in 2019: 8 / 20

Total challenges completed in 2020: 8 / 12

Total: 16 / 20

You can find the complete list of challenges here.

A to Z Review Index Challenge

  • Completed

Read, Review, Rehome

Goal: 20 | Total so far: 25+ / 20 * Completed *

  • Agatha Raisin and The Walkers of Dembley by M.C. Beaton
  • Agatha Raisin and The Murderous Marriage by M.C. Beaton
  • Prince Caspian by C. S. Lewis
  • Agatha Raisin and The Terrible Tourist by M.C. Beaton
  • plus a big bag of books I put together over Christmas, including duplicate copies, books that I’ve read in the past but have held on to for some reason, as well as books from part-way through a series when I’ve not even read the first book yet…this put the numbers significantly over my goal for the year – WOOHOO!

Bookish Reflections – November 2020

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A monthly round up of all things bookish at Sammi Loves Books…It’s my attempt at becoming more accountable in my reading and reviewing habits…

In a nutshell

My main focus for November was NaNoWriMo, so posting around here went a little quite.  However, I did get a few reviews written in November, even if I didn’t get around to posting them all until the first few days of December. Surprisingly, my level of reading didn’t slow in November as it usually does when I’m concentrating on NaNo, so there is as always, an ever-growing pile of books awaiting to be reviewed here…

On my list are a couple of Christmas reads from last year, which I didn’t get around to reviewing, as well as some new Festive reads for 2020, because Festive Reads Fortnight begins on 11 December. If anyone has any Christmas or wintry themed book recommendations I would gladly hear them.  Also, any author out there with a Christmas / winter-themed book / collection / poetry pamphlet etc, who would like to have their work reviewed on Sammi Loves Books, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. You can find all the information regarding Review Requests here. Ignore the “Currently Closed To Review Requests” status; I’m closed to general requests at this time but not Christmas-themed reads.

As we draw towards the end of the year, naturally my mind turns to my plans for this site for 2021.  I am thinking of starting a Classic Reads Book Club or Reading Challenge.  If anyone would be interested in joining in, please do let me know, and I can finalise and share the book list.

I am also thinking of moving away from reviewing absolutely everything I read (because it is getting a little exhausting, and I’m struggling to find the time to keep up with it).  Instead, my focus here would be on review requests and book blogging, with more informal posts about what I’m reading, planning on reading, and what I’ve been enjoying.

If any writers / poets / authors / etc, would like to be interviewed as part of Afternoon Tea at Sammi Loves Books check out this page for more information, FAQs and an index of all the previous interviews.  If you’ve any questions, please do get in touch at: sammicoxbooks@gmail.com

To keep up-to-date with what I’m reading and reviewing, find me on Facebook and Goodreads.

Books I’ve reviewed

Other Book-Related Posts

  • None

Favourite read(s) of the month

  • The Mezzotint by M. R. James

Books I’ve bought (or been given)

  • None this month – woohoo!

Books I’ve downloaded

  • None

What I’ve been reading on Wattpad

  • My reading time has been limited to physical books recently rather than ebooks / digital books to help reduce my screen time…

November’s “Read and Review” Goals*

  • A handful of M.R. James short stories (Halloween Reads 2020)
  • The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
  • The Shakespeare Secret by J.L Carrell

* Light blue = review posted | Blue = review not posted | Black = did not read / review

What I’m reading and reviewing in December

  • Agatha Raisin and The Walkers of Dembley by M.C. Beaton
  • Agatha Raisin and The Murderous Marriage by M.C. Beaton
  • Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis
  • Mystery in White by J. Jefferson Farjeon
  • The Gift of The Magi by O. Henry
  • A Strange Christmas Game by Charlotte Riddell

Basic Book Review Challenge 2020

To post (at least) one book review a week, to reach a target of 52 over the course of the year.

Month started at: 39 / 52

Month finished at: 45 / 52

Sammi Loves Books Reading Challenge 2019

I’m revisiting this challenge I started last year, to complete the challenges I missed. I’ve completed the following challenges from the list this month:

  • No new challenges have been completed since August 😦. I can see this challenge rolling over into 2021…

Total challenges completed in 2019: 8 / 20

Total challenges completed in 2020: 7 / 12

Total: 15 / 20

You can find the complete list of challenges here.

A to Z Review Index Challenge

  • Completed

Read, Review, Rehome

Goal: 20 | Total so far: 21 / 20 * Completed *

  • The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
  • The Shakespeare Secret by J.L. Carrell
  • Plus, 3 books I read ages ago and / or no longer wish to keep (Evermore by Alyson Noel, Odin’s Wolves by Giles Kristian, Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl), a Sweet-shop recipe book, and a knitting book

Bookish Reflections – September and October 2020

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A monthly round up of all things bookish at Sammi Loves Books…It’s my attempt at becoming more accountable in my reading and reviewing habits…

In a nutshell

I’m super late in posting this, and did wonder if it might not just be better holding off for another couple of weeks and then include my November bookish content with it…The problem with that idea was that I’ve been neglecting the blog and so there isn’t any.  Sigh…

I was pretty good at reading and catching up with my reviews in September and early October, and the majority of books I worked my way through were ones that were heading for my “Read, Review, Rehome” pile, so I’ve made a small (read: barely perceptible 😉 ) dent in my To Read List.

November’s review list is slowly growing, thanks to the three spooky short stories by M.R. James which I read for this year’s Halloweens Read.  And next month, with the arrival of the festive season, we have Festive Reads Fortnight. If any there are any authors with Christmas-themes stories out there who would like to see their books reviewed as part of Festive Reads Fortnight, please do get in touch.  You can find all the information regarding Review Requests here. Ignore the “Currently Closed To Review Requests” status; I’m closed to general requests at this time but not Christmas-themed reads.

If any writers / poets / authors / etc, would like to be interviewed as part of Afternoon Tea at Sammi Loves Books check out this page for more information, FAQs and an index of all the previous interviews.  If you’ve any questions, please do get in touch at: sammicoxbooks@gmail.com

To keep up-to-date with what I’m reading and reviewing, find me on Facebook and Goodreads.

Books I’ve reviewed

Other Book-Related Posts

  • None

Favourite read(s) of the month

  • The Hound of The Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

Books I’ve bought (or been given)

Now here’s the thing…*cough*… a great big bag full of books found their way into my house in September, the result of a combination of going on holiday for a few days (and while I’m on holiday I have to buy books as I just can’t seem to resist them), and seeing family that we hadn’t seen since March.  I’ll not list them all here because I’d quickly run out of space, but here are a few highlights from the newly acquired volumes:

  • When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
  • The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells
  • The BFG by Roald Dahl
  • The Man in the Green Coat by Carola Dunn

Books I’ve downloaded

  • None

What I’ve been reading on Wattpad

  • My reading time has been limited to physical books recently rather than ebooks / digital books to help reduce my screen time…

August’s “Read and Review” Goals*

  • The Hound of The Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Forever by Maggie Stiefvatar

* Light blue = review posted | Blue = review not posted | Black = did not read / review

What I’m reading and reviewing in November

  • A handful of M.R. James short stories (Halloween Reads 2020)
  • The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis
  • The Shakespeare Secret by J.L Carrell

Basic Book Review Challenge 2020

To post (at least) one book review a week, to reach a target of 52 over the course of the year.

Month started at: 33 / 52

Month finished at: 39 / 52

Sammi Loves Books Reading Challenge 2019

I’m revisiting this challenge I started last year, to complete the challenges I missed. I’ve completed the following challenges from the list this month:

  • No new challenges have been completed since August 😦

Total challenges completed in 2019: 8 / 20

Total challenges completed in 2020: 7 / 12

Total: 15 / 20

You can find the complete list of challenges here.

A to Z Review Index Challenge

  • Complete! Woohoo! With a review posted of “Dunstan” by Conn Iggulden, I now have an author listed under each category of my A to Z Index! Yay!

Challenge status: 2 / 2

Read, Review, Rehome

Goal: 20 | Total so far: 14 / 20

  • Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
  • Lights, Camera by Carolyn Keene
  • Death at The Priory by James Ruddock
  • The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
  • Dunstan by Conn Iggulden

Bookish Reflections – August 2020

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A monthly round up of all things bookish at Sammi Loves Books…It’s my attempt at becoming more accountable in my reading and reviewing habits…

In a nutshell

August was Historical Fiction Month at Sammi Loves Books, one of my most favourite times of the year.  I read and reviewed five books and all bar one I really enjoyed.  I’m pleased with what I did read, as part way through the month I hit a bit of reading slump, but that was quickly overcome when I picked up the Phryne Fisher Mystery – I do love Phryne. 🙂

September will be a little quiet round here as I have planned a bit of a blogging break, just so I can rest the brain for a bit and blow out the cobwebs.  This will be the only post for (at least) the first two weeks in September…or that is what I am hoping.  I have a terrible habit of making claims like these and then completely ignoring them, so we will have to see what happens…

If any writers / poets / authors / etc, would like to be interviewed as part of Afternoon Tea at Sammi Loves Books check out this page for more information, FAQs and an index of all the previous interviews.  If you’ve any questions, please do get in touch at: sammicoxbooks@gmail.com

To keep up-to-date with what I’m reading and reviewing, find me on Facebook and Goodreads.

Books I’ve reviewed

Other Book-Related Posts

  • None

Favourite read(s) of the month

  • Tough question this month…four out of the five got five stars from me, so it could be any or all of the following: Speaking Among The Bones and The Dead In Their Vaulted Arches, both by Alan Bradley, Murder on the Ballarat Train by Kerry Greenwood and Death at Daisy’s Folly by Robin Paige.

Books I’ve bought (or been given)

  • Death at Victoria Dock by Kerry Greenwood…I could not resist!

Books I’ve downloaded

  • None

What I’ve been reading on Wattpad

  • Not been on Wattpad for a while now… 😦

August’s “Read and Review” Goals*

  • Speaking From Among The Bones by Alan Bradley
  • The Dead In Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley (read, review awaiting posting)
  • The Railway Detective by Edward Marston

* Light blue = review posted | Blue = review not posted | Black = did not read / review

What I’m reading and reviewing in September

  • The Hound of The Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Forever by Maggie Stiefvatar

Basic Book Review Challenge 2020

To post (at least) one book review a week, to reach a target of 52 over the course of the year.

Month started at: 28 / 52

Month finished at: 33 / 52

Sammi Loves Books Reading Challenge 2019

I’m revisiting this challenge I started last year, to complete the challenges I missed. I’ve completed the following challenges from the list this month:

  • #6: a book with a girl’s name in the title

Total challenges completed in 2019: 8 / 20

Total challenges completed in 2020: 7 / 12

Total: 15 / 20

You can find the complete list of challenges here.

A to Z Review Index Challenge

  • No change here – Still the letter “I” to go.

Challenge status: 1 / 2

Read, Review, Rehome

Goal: 20 | Total so far: 14 / 20

  • The Railway Detective by Edward Marston
  • The Dead In Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley
  • Speaking From Amongst The Bones by Alan Bradley

Bookish Reflections – July 2020

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A monthly round up of all things bookish at Sammi Loves Books…It’s my attempt at becoming more accountable in my reading and reviewing habits…

In a nutshell

July felt like a quiet month book-wise, even though I got four reviews posted.  Most of the month was taken up with writing as I’m juggling a number of projects at the moment that I want to make decent headway on over the coming months…and the concentration feels like it’s paying off.  Woohoo!  The only downside is that when I write a lot, I read a lot less…For once I might be happy to be behind with my book reviews so I can keep Sammi Loves Books ticking over, as well as keeping on track with this year’s reading goals.

August is Historical Fiction Month at Sammi Loves Books, and I’m ahead of myself as I’ve already read three historical fiction books and have one of the reviews written and ready to post.  I’ve decided not to reopen to review requests at this time, simply because I don’t have the time to dedicate it.  However, I will respond to everyone who has contacted me so far, though it may take me a short while to do so.

If any writers / poets / authors / etc, would like to be interviewed as part of Afternoon Tea at Sammi Loves Books check out this page for more information, FAQs and an index of all the previous interviews.  If you’ve any questions, please do get in touch at: sammicoxbooks@gmail.com

To keep up-to-date with what I’m reading and reviewing, find me on Facebook and Goodreads.

Books I’ve reviewed

Other Book-Related Posts

  •  None…

Favourite read(s) of the month

  • We All Die In The End by Elizabeth Merry & Lake of Dreams by Crispina Kemp

Books I’ve bought (or been given)

  • The Railway Viaduct by Edward Marston
  • A Decline in Prophets by Sulari Gentill
  • A Few Right Thinking Men by Sulari Gentill

Books I’ve downloaded

  • Review copy of Lake of Dreams from Crispina Kemp

What I’ve been reading on Wattpad

  • Only “The Medium” by C. J. Archer…

July’s “Read and Review” Goals*

  • We All Die In The End by Elizabeth Merry
  • One of the Myrtle Clover Mysteries by Elizabeth Spann Craig, though I’ve not yet decided which one
  • The Medium by C.J. Archer

* Light blue = review posted | Blue = review not posted | Black = did not read / review

What I’m reading and reviewing in August

  • The Dead In Their Vaulted Arches by Alan Bradley (read, awaiting review)
  • Speaking From Amongst The Bones by Alan Bradley (review awaiting posting)
  • The Railway Detective by Edward Marston (currently reading)

Basic Book Review Challenge 2020

To post (at least) one book review a week, to reach a target of 52 over the course of the year.

Month started at: 24 / 52

Month finished at: 28 / 52

Sammi Loves Books Reading Challenge 2019

I’m revisiting this challenge I started last year, to complete the challenges I missed. I’ve completed the following challenges from the list this month:

  • Oops…I didn’t complete a single one…there’s till 6 to go! Sigh…

Total challenges completed in 2019: 8 / 20

Total challenges completed in 2020: 6 / 12

Total: 14 / 20

You can find the complete list of challenges here.

A to Z Review Index Challenge

  • No change here – Still the letter “I” to go.

Challenge status: 1 / 2

Read, Review, Rehome

Goal: 20 | Total so far: 11 / 20

  • None this month as all the books were digital copies

Bookish Reflections – June 2020

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A monthly round up of all things bookish at Sammi Loves Books…It’s my attempt at becoming more accountable in my reading and reviewing habits…

In a nutshell

June was a busy month at Sammi Loves Books HQ! Plenty of deadlines ensured my reading and reviewing goal for the month of posting 5 or 6 reviews to catch up with my backlog didn’t happen, but I did average out at a review a week, so I won’t complain too much.

Unfortunately, July looks set to be just as busy…but as it is Indie Only Month, I’m not going to let that bother me.  I have a couple of books I’m really excited to read, and I’ve already a review set for sharing tomorrow…Elizabeth Merry’s “We All Die In The End”, which was a fantastic read.

I am going to remain open to review requests until the end of 7th July for any authors interested in having their work reviewed as part of Indie Only 2020, and I have now indicated that in the sidebar on the left.  And, for any historical fiction authors out there, there is a good chance I will open them again for historical fiction only, at the end of this month or the beginning of next. So, if you are interested please do get in touch – you can find out all you need to know on this page.

If any writers / poets / authors / etc, would like to be interviewed as part of Afternoon Tea at Sammi Loves Books check out this page for more information, FAQs and an index of all the previous interviews.  If you’ve any questions, please do get in touch at: sammicoxbooks@gmail.com

To keep up-to-date with what I’m reading and reviewing, find me on Facebook and Goodreads.

Books I’ve reviewed

Other Book-Related Posts

Favourite read(s) of the month

  • Death Comes As The End by Agatha Christie

Books I’ve bought (or been given)

  • None – None, none, none…Woohoo! I am on such an amazing roll with not acquiring any new books at the moment.  You can not possibly imagine how chuffed I am! 😉

Books I’ve downloaded

  • A review copy of We All Die In The End by Elizabeth Merry

What I’ve been reading on Wattpad

  • Not very much recently as I’ve not been using the platform…There are not enough hours in the day

June’s “Read and Review” Goals*

  • The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Death Comes As The End by Agatha Christie
  • The Ancient Curse by Valerio Massimo Manfredi
  • The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle

* Light blue = review posted | Blue = review not posted | Black = did not read / review

What I’m reading and reviewing in July

  • We All Die In The End by Elizabeth Merry
  • One of the Myrtle Clover Mysteries by Elizabeth Spann Craig, though I’ve not yet decided which one
  • The Medium by C.J. Archer

Basic Book Review Challenge 2020

To post (at least) one book review a week, to reach a target of 52 over the course of the year.

Month started at: 20 / 52

Month finished at: 24 / 52

Sammi Loves Books Reading Challenge 2019

I’m revisiting this challenge I started last year, to complete the challenges I missed. I’ve completed the following challenges from the list this month:

  • Oops…I didn’t complete a single one…there’s till 6 to go! Sigh…

Total challenges completed in 2019: 8 / 20

Total challenges completed in 2020: 6 / 12

Total: 14 / 20

You can find the complete list of challenges here.

A to Z Review Index Challenge

  • No change here – Still the letter “I” to go.

Challenge status: 1 / 2

Read, Review, Rehome

Goal: 20 | Total so far: 11 / 20

  • Death Comes As The End by Agatha Christie
  • The Ancient Curse by Valerio Massimo Manfredi
  • The Magician’s Nephew by C.S Lewis

Bookish Reflections – May 2020

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A monthly round up of all things bookish at Sammi Loves Books…It’s my attempt at becoming more accountable in my reading and reviewing habits…

In a nutshell

A fairly balanced month in terms of reading versus reviews, but I’m still a little bit behind.  Finger’s crossed I’ll make up some ground in June, otherwise these outstanding reviews will not be posted until August.  Why? We have Indie Only Month coming up, followed by Historical Fiction Month…

It’s been a good long while since I was open to review requests on this site, and I’m considering altering that for a short period of time for this year’s Indie Only Month (for those who do not know, that falls in July) and if the genre allows, Historical Fiction Month (August) too.  If there’s any interest please get in touch – you can find out all you need to know on this page.

If any writers / poets / authors / etc, would like to be interviewed as part of Afternoon Tea at Sammi Loves Books check out this page for more information, FAQs and an index of all the previous interviews.  If you’ve any questions, please do get in touch at: sammicoxbooks@gmail.com

To keep up-to-date with what I’m reading and reviewing, find me on Facebook and Goodreads.

Books I’ve reviewed

Other Book-Related Posts

  •  None

Favourite read(s) of the month

  •  Circe by Madeline Miller
  • What the Owl Taught Me by Annest Gwilym

Books I’ve bought (or been given)

  • None

Books I’ve downloaded

  •  None

What I’ve been reading on Wattpad

  • Not very much recently as I’ve not been using the platform…

May’s “Read and Review” Goals*

  • Thornyhold by Mary Stewart
  • Circe by Madeline Miller
  • The Leper of St Giles by Ellis Peters
  • The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle
  • A Plague on Both Your Houses by Susanna Gregory

* Light blue = review posted | Blue = review not posted | Black = did not read / review

What I’m reading and reviewing in June

  • The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle (read, awaiting review)
  • Death Comes As The End by Agatha Christie (read, awaiting review)
  • The Ancient Curse by Valerio Massimo Manfredi (currently reading)
  • The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle (currently reading)

Basic Book Review Challenge 2020

To post (at least) one book review a week, to reach a target of 52 over the course of the year.

Month started at: 15 / 52

Month finished at: 20 / 52

Sammi Loves Books Reading Challenge 2019

I’m revisiting this challenge I started last year, to complete the challenges I missed. I’ve completed the following challenges from the list this month:

  • #14 – a book of poetry or short fiction
  • #17 – a book that has been adapted for TV or film

Total challenges completed in 2019: 8 / 20

Total challenges completed in 2020: 6 / 12

Total: 14 / 20

You can find the complete list of challenges here.

A to Z Review Index Challenge

  • No change here – Still the letter “I” to go.

Challenge status: 1 / 2

Read, Review, Rehome

Goal: 20 | Total so far: 8 / 20

  • A Plague On Both Your Houses by Susanna Gregory
  • Thornyhold by Mary Stewart
  • Circe by Madeline Miller