Book Spotlight: Gathering of the Four by A.E. Bennett

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Book Title: Gathering of the Four 

Author: A.E. Bennett

Genre: Fantasy

Available on: Amazon.com / Amazon.co.uk

Book description:

"In the Realm, every citizen knows their place." 

Leora of Mae is a young woman orphaned at birth and raised on a remote farm. As a wielder of Xanthcraft, her abilities set her apart from her adoptive family and the other villagers. 

Shortly before her twentieth birthday, she learns of her family’s plot to sell her into servitude. Fearing for her life, she flees from the only home she’s ever known—defying societal conventions and breaking the edicts of the Realm. 

As she runs, Leora meets Roland Shallowbrook, a traveler on the Thieves’ Road; Lady Aurora Verte, daughter of a powerful member of the gentry; and the White Rider Leopold, a soldier with a secret. 

Together, this found family will have to band together to survive. 

Set in the distant future during the return of the Hale-Bopp comet, Gathering of the Four is the first book in the Serrulata Saga. 

Author Bio:

A.E. Bennett (she/her) lives in Washington, D.C. She is originally from North Carolina.

Links:

Website

Email: booksbybennett@gmail.com 

Twitter/Insta: @aebennettwrites

Helping Children To Prepare For Exams- Tips For Parents

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Thousands of children will be taking exams this year after what has been a very challenging, topsy-turvy year. If you have kids who will be sitting exams in the coming months, this guide contains tips to help children prepare.

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Announcements, bookshelf rearranging, writing & reading vlog!

I am now solely making reading vlogs with some cooking and games shown sometimes! This is the first more relaxed vlog with all the announcements, rearranging my bookshelf, writing poetry and reading 3 books. Check out the vlog here.

TBR Challenge: All of the books on my TBR

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So my boyfriend has issued me a challenge: try to read the books on my shelves before buying any new ones. Ok, challenge accepted! 

I've created a list of all of my physical TBR books that I need to read on my Amazon affiliate page (UK-US). Once I've read a book I can move it from my TBR list (UK-US) to my books I've read this year list (UK-US). I'm quite excited for this challenge! I'm not going to put pressure on myself but just have an enjoyable reading time at my own pace. I have a mix of different genres to read and I will be showing some of these books in reading vlogs over on my YouTube channel.

Let me know if you've read any of the books on my TBR list and your thoughts on them or if you also would like to read any of the books on my TBR! 

Think Big: How To Grow Your Small Business

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As a small business owner, you’ll often have dreams of becoming the next big thing. But if you’re still new to the game, you might not know how to take your budding business to the next level.

Just because you’re a small business doesn’t mean you can’t think big. And thinking bigger will actually help your small business grow.

Image by Akil Mazumder via Pexels

4 Tips For Ultimate Relaxation In Your Bedroom

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There are only a few things you should do in your bedroom, and one of the most important is rest. Some people choose to play video games, while others prefer to watch movies or read books, and yet others prefer to sleep. Whatever you decide to do, the end result should be relaxation and a restful night's sleep.

So how do you make your bedroom more relaxing?

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Add candles

Putting a few candles in a room can instantly change the vibe. Of course, if you don't like the thought of an open flame in your bedroom, a reed diffuser can be substituted. The reed diffuser has the added benefit of releasing aroma all day.

Many people like jasmine or lavender in the evenings to help them relax. The aromas of the sea breeze and fresh linens help to create a light, airy atmosphere in the room. An oil burner with a variety of essential oils is another wonderful alternative for people who like to make their own custom blend.

Make sure your bed is comfortable

Your sleep quality will be drastically diminished if your mattress is worn, has a sag in the middle, or is really bumpy. Even if you don't realise it, being uncomfortable causes you to toss and turn at night, waking you up.

The ideal mattress will provide both support and comfort. Your mattress firmness is a personal preference. The tog of your duvet can also affect the quality of your sleep. There should be a difference between the seasons of winter and summer. So that you can stay at a comfortable temperature throughout the evening. You will also be disturbed from your sleep if it becomes too hot or too chilly.

If you don't want to store an extra duvet, consider investing in a thick luxurious blanket to layer over your duvet in the winter. If you’re in need of a new bed, take a look at Divan Bed Warehouse for high-quality beds and mattresses.

Keep your bedroom clean

If your bedroom is messy, it will play on your mind and make it difficult for you to relax. There are a few options available to you here. The most obvious is cleaning. However, having better storage in the first place can help. Consider purchasing a fitted bedroom, as they usually have enough storage without sacrificing design or space.

Establish a cleaning schedule so that you declutter and clean at least once a week.

Add some music

If you can't imagine your life without music, bringing it into your bedroom on a more permanent basis could be just what you need. An antique record player may add a sense of class to your room, and you can listen to your favourite vinyl while getting ready in the morning. Of course, most households these days have an Alexa or a Google Home, so you can instantly request any type of music.

Finally, add some plants, whether they're fake or genuine. However, the green they bring is soothing and gives a touch of luxury.

Book Spotlight: Amulet of Wishes (Chronicles of the Guardians #1) by Rita A. Rubin

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Title: Amulet of Wishes (Chronicles of the Guardians #1)
Author: Rita A. Rubin
Genre: YA Fantasy
Available on: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo and Booktopia

Synopsis:

The Guardians are the protectors of Aloseria. They are the keepers of the peace and they have a unique ability–they can turn into dragons. Derek Draco is one of them. Haunted by the memories of his past, Derek comes across a piece of a mythical amulet, said to hold the power to grant wishes once all three pieces are brought together. Seeing an opportunity to right the wrongs of his past, Derek sets out on a journey to find the rest of the amulet, along with his friends, Jared and Arabelle. However, Derek is unaware of the true power of the amulet and using it to fulfil his seemingly innocent wish could have disastrous consequences.

This book includes:

• Dragons  
• A high stakes adventure  
• Magic  
• Lots of queer characters  
• A healthy dose of mystery  
• Characters that are morally grey

Praise for Amulet of Wishes:
“Rubin weaves a compelling fantasy full of dragons and darkness. It’s not just an exciting romp – it’ll touch your heart as well.” – E.M. Wright, author of SEDITION.

Check out Rita's website with links to buy the book here!

Content warnings for Amulet of Wishes:

• Violence
• Blood & gore
• References to childhood abuse
• Brief description of corpses
• Sexual references
• Brief mentions of suicide

Mental Health Picture Books

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Hi everyone! I wanted to share 3 amazing picture books with writing/quotes and illustrations that I have loved. Two of these are 5 star favourites that I have re-read twice each! These are all short but stunning reads that will make you ponder and leave you feeling emotional.

1. The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse by Charlie Mackesy

You've probably heard of this book, it's been around everywhere but in this book you follow a boy who meets a mole, a fox and a horse. This book is filled with beautiful quotes about life, mental health and kindness. Best of all this book is suitable for children and adults alike- everyone can get something out of it. I highly recommend everyone to read this book! 

2. Night Shift by Debi Gliori

This book is all about depression. In this book, depression is represented as dragons. The representation is great and I feel like this book would be great for children to see that it's ok to feel sad all the time but it won't last forever. If you've ever suffered with depression or you know someone who does, I would recommend picking this up. If you have depression please be aware of trigger warnings.

3. Big Panda and Tiny Dragon by James Norbury

This is a new release that is very similar to The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse. It follows a big panda and a tiny dragon (as the name suggests) who go on a long journey through different seasons. The illustrations are remarkable and it is filled with lovely quotes about friendship, life and mental health. This book is a bit longer than the pre-mentioned book and I have grown to love it even more over time. I would highly recommend this if you liked Charlie Mackesy's book.

If you liked this post, you might like to check out my poetry page which includes poems about mental health.

Support me via Ko-Fi- here you can join my Ko-Fi exclusive book club, request content, join our Discord server and more!

Book Spotlight: On Virgin Moors by Alexandrina Wilson

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Title: On Virgin Moors

Author: Alexandrina Wilson

Synopsis:
The Unity holds dominion over the breadth of space. And now, at last, they've set their sights on the final prize. That prize is Essegena - a planet at the farthest edge of the universe, ripe for human habitation and yet completely untouched.

But all is not well on Essegena. Three of the colony's pioneers have vanished without a trace, and in their place a man has appeared who - according to all the records - simply does not exist. Worse still, the infant colony is beset with concerning reports of mysterious lights in the distant trees, shadowy phantoms haunting the edges of their nascent home, strange noises from high up on the cliffs.

The colonists need to stay united if they're to make Essegena a success story - but with ambitious vipers around every corner, they've never been more divided.

Once they dreamed of a fresh start, far away from their former lives. Now that dream is fast becoming a nightmare.

Buy On Virgin Moors: Amazon UK - Amazon US 

Author bio:
Alexandrina Wilson is an author and poet. She made her authorial debut with 2021's "On Virgin Moors", the first in her sweeping space-fantasy epic series. Between books, she makes time to write a brand new poem every week too - and when she's not writing, she's probably reading. She lives in Hereford, in the UK, and greatly appreciates her geographical proximity to the local cider makers.

How To Start Making Money As a Blogger

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Blogging is a growing business that shows no sign of slowing down any time soon. In fact, after the pandemic, there was a surge of new blogs that launched in a bid to make sense of what was happening. If you feel that you want to start a blog, here are some of the first steps you can take to make sure that you earn money.

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