Talkie Tuesday: Around the World with Willy Fog

 

"We'll set a new world record!"

 

Hello everyone!

 

Ready to go on an adventure tonight?

 

Because we're about to travel around the world.

 

And no, we aren't going to take forever doing it, nor are we going to jet around in, like, 24 hours or something, the way some influencers online tend to do it.

 

We're going to be doing it in 80 solid days.

 

You probably already know where this might be going, but it's not ACTUALLY a Jules Verne thing, even though he's the one who originally wrote the book.

 

No no, this is an adaptation, and a really fun one to boot, because - and get this - it's animated with animals acting as characters, and an entire 600+ minutes series is condensed to roughly over 70 minutes, making it immediately watchable in one sitting.

 

So without further ado: Around the World with Willy Fog!

 

Talkie Tuesday: The Princess and the Pirate

 

"Long live Sandokan!" 

 

Hello everyone!

 

Boy, do I have a treat for you tonight.

 

An oldie but a goldie, so to speak.

 

Every once in a while I lean into the nostalgia factor and vibes here on this blog, especially and particularly because I tend to like diving into it myself personally as well.

 

So that's what I did with tonight's movie choice.

 

I also find it incredibly pointed to be talking about a movie from the nineties that was actually really good in comparison to some modern stuff circulating nowadays, while we all talk about Nolan's upcoming Odyssey, which looks ... well, the scope sure looks epic, but the individual details aren't what reaches the OG Troy, even a little bit.

 

We'll see about that, eventually.

 

God knows what that's going to look like. 

 

For now we're headed into the land of piracy once more, with The Princess and the Pirate!

 

Tome Thursday: Stay Until Sunrise

 

Hello everyone!

 

Long time no see with one of these, eh?

 

But here we are again.

 

As if I could ever NOT have a Serenity Woods book on my blog every now and then!

 

It just so happens that she's a wonderful contemporary romance writer that's still going strong, even after writing as many books as she has.

 

And she's got a brand new, sizzling romance coming out VERY soon, that has nothing to do with the particular series I'm going to talk about tonight, but it's still going to be exciting.

 

I mean, it'll have a billionaire and there'll be surprise babies and the works.

 

You know how it goes. But it'll be done RIGHT this time!

 

Enough of that. Let's jump into what we've got going tonight, shall we?

 

It's time to Stay Until Sunrise.

 

Talkie Tuesday: Kuch Kuch Hota Hai

 

"Love is friendship." 

 

Hello everyone!

 

Yes, I'm still in my Bollywood era.

 

No, I don't particularly care if this bothers anyone.

 

I'm finding it hard to get back into any other movie because these ones are just so entertaining for the most part, and also visually stunning! To say nothing of the acting chops on these stars, DUH.

 

So I'm slowly working my way through the list I've accumulated on Netflix so that I can confidently say I've seen everything that needs seeing.

 

Which does of course mean I VERY often run into none others than Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol, who seem to have been everywhere in an era of Hindi cinema that people look back on with fondness and nostalgia.

 

I mean, they even got a statue in the UK not too long ago! Talk about history.

 

Without further ado, let's hop right into tonight's installment, then, titled Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

 

Tome Thursday: Poison Petals

 

Hello everyone!

 

Welcome to tonight's book of choice.

 

And oh MAN is it a GOOD one!

 

So a while back in 2025, I joined this cute little ARC team - for Ms Lea Rose.

 

This was after I read Where We Burn, which introduced me to Hot Daddy Cowboy Christian Crawford and convinced me that I need to switch religions so I can worship at that altar.

 

I'm only partially joking.

 

But I've had the honour and privilege to read several more of Ms Rose's books, and pretty much all of them have been absolute bangers, so I wasn't even all that worried going into this one.

 

Did I not quite feel 100% about the beginning part of this duet? Yes.

 

But the ending one? Oh it's absolute magic.

 

Let's stop talking about the trappings and go straight into Poison Petals.

 

Tome Thursday: Lily & Thorne

 

Hello everyone!

 

Welcome to this week's book of choice.

 

Now if you've been following me for a bit, you might remember that this title seems familiar to some extent.

 

Perhaps you're thinking: have I seen this before?

 

Have you?

 

Well, turns out, you have!

 

Originally published as part of an anthology, this particular novella got expanded upon, rewritten, and re-published!

 

And, because I'm a good soul like that - and also, because Rhi Hargadon is an absolute ANGEL - I'm here to write a quick review about this new version of the tale.

 

Without further ado: Lily & Thorne!

 

Tome Thursday: Midnight Bargain

 

Hello everyone!

 

It's been a bit since I started this trilogy of books from Serenity Woods, and while it actually already concluded well before 2025 ended, I simply couldn't fit it into my review schedule otherwise.

 

So here we are tonight.

 

And I mean, you KNOW I'll be reviewing a Serenity Woods book any chance I get, right?

 

Obviously.

 

I love her romance stories, the realness of them, the obstacles she writes so cleverly, but most importantly the way she writes her couples, who never do the dramatic Hallmark-y thing but actually behave like real people in real situations.

 

THAT's the draw for me, and why I keep coming back for more.

 

... well, that and all her hot billionaire men LOL. 

 

Without further ado, let's wrap up Midnight Billionaires, shall we, since we're starting a new series soon enough? Here's Midnight Bargain.

 

Tome Thursday: Stay for Christmas

 

Hello everyone!

 

I know this particular book looks like it really ought to have been featured on the blog much, much earlier - oops!

 

I unfortunately lost blog space since I was doing some other reviews first, but I figured it might be a really great way to kick this all off, you know?

 

We started strong with Sandokan this Tuesday, and so now we're finishing the week off even stronger.

 

Serenity Woods is an author I will NEVER not feature on this blog, because her books are amazing. I've pretty much read almost her entire bibliography at this point, and I'm not ashamed to admit it. I've been a fan of hers since the Three Wise Men days, and it's all just gotten better and better.

 

Now, after focusing on billionaire romances for a good bit, she's returning to the small-town sort of feel with tight-knit communities, families who help each other out, and some wonderful animals that'll warm our hearts along the way.

 

With that said, let's hop straight into this series prequel, shall we?

 

Because everything has to start somewhere, and we're about to in Stay for Christmas.

 

Tome Thursday: His for Christmas

 

Hello everyone!

 

Merry Christmas!

 

I hope you've all had a wonderful time, whether with your friends and family, or alone, because the most important thing to remember during the holidays is that they are what YOU make them to be.

 

Not what the internet is trying to tell you they should be.

 

And now, with that PSA out of the way, let's dive into the last purely Christmas book review on this blog, shall we?

 

I was saving this one for last because it just hit me in all the feels, ya know?

 

Also, because Lea Rose just writes so BEAUTIFULLY (and just revealed the title for her next book set in Rosewood Falls, and I AM HERE FOR IT), and because her books always bring out all the emotions so well.

 

So without further ado, let's hop right into it.

 

Because it's time to settle down in His for Christmas.

 

Tome Thursday: Bouquets & Buckles

 

Hello everyone!

 

I hope the lead-up to the actual holidays is treating you well. I know it can be overwhelming and exhausting for a lot of people, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that everyone can get at least SOME breathing room in, and not have to worry about a single thing.

 

That said, it's time to buckle up, almost literally, on this blog again.

 

We're headed back to Crimson Ridge.

 

Because, get this: there's a holiday novella for you to read on there!

 

Not a full novel, not a massive book, so if you don't have the time to invest, but still want to have some hot holiday cowboy love, this is absolutely the one for you.

 

... and am I side-eyeing the new release by Elliott Rose even as I type this? Yes, yes I am, of course. Why wouldn't I be when she writes this beautifully?

 

But without further ado, it's time to forget about all the real stuff for a while, and disappear into the cozy and the sexy.

 

All of that and more gets delivered in Bouquets & Buckles!

 

Tome Thursday: Decked, Wrecked and Pucked

 

Hello everyone!

 

Welcome to the first of the Christmas books that will be featured here on this blog during the month of December.

 

And boy, have I got a zinger for you!

 

Honestly, I don't know how I haven't run around in circles talking about it.

 

It's the perfect length for the season, it's got a heck of a lot of steamy, spicy scenes, it's got some ice hockey thrown into the mix, and it's got those angsty, perfect feels that'll get you all up there while you're working through everything with the characters along the way.

 

If I haven't mentioned already, the book is written by Lea Rose.

 

Also, if I haven't mentioned already, Lea Rose might just be one of my new all-time favourite contemporary authors. She just has this way with words and writing YEARNING that it's beautiful to witness.

 

So kick back, relax, and get ready to be Decked, Wrecked and Pucked.

 

Talkie Tuesday: Cinderella

 

"A dream is a wish your heart makes."

 

Hello everyone!

 

Welcome to the review of a movie I swore, back in the day, I'd never do.

 

Times change, however.

 

Because I honestly can't remember if I've ever even seen this one before, though I think I must have. I mean, I've seen pretty much all the major OG titles Disney released back in the day, back when their movies were actually still GOOD (occasionally problematic, but certainly good in animated execution).

 

So I decided, what the heck, I might as well do it now, right?

 

Because, like I said, times change, and so do the people with them.

 

I certainly never expected to actually enjoy the movie as much as I did, because originally I said the princess was a waste, waiting and pining. Turns out she's a little bit more than that, but that's alright, that's what we're here for: to live and learn.

 

Without further ado: Cinderella.

 

Talkie Tuesday: Robin Hood

 

"Oo-de-lally!"

 

Hello everyone!

 

Welcome to tonight's blog post.

 

And I really, truly hope you enjoy the choice I made.

 

I mean, what's there not to like, though?

 

At some point, we all go nostalgic over what used to be, and this is DEFINITELY one of those that used to be.

 

Plus it's just really, really good. I think someone once said somewhere that Robin Hood is one of those stories with too many iterations to count, but the best one is still the one in which Prince John is a lion and his side-kick is a snake.

 

So I'm looking into this one tonight,

 

Grab your hats and your bows, and let's get on with Disney's Robin Hood!

 

Tome Thursday: Breed for the Beast

 

Hello everyone!

 

Hear me out.

 

Before you roll your eyes, scoff, and close the window down because of just what the title of this book is, let me try and sell it to you first.

 

I promise, it's actually a hell of a lot better than what it sounds.

 

It does, of course, also have them sexy, smutty scenes, and there's a list of kinks and warnings right at the beginning of it, HOWEVER.

 

Like I mentioned previously, but going through these Irish mafia books, the plot keeps thickening and actually gaining momentum more than the characters having sex does.

 

I'd never have believed it if I didn't read it for myself, and the only reason I actually kept reading was because there keeps being more plot padding added to the stories.

 

This one's got the best of all so far, actually.

 

So why don't you stick along for the ride with Breed for the Beast?

 

Talkie Tuesday: Sleeping Beauty

 

"I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream ..."

 

Hello everyone!

 

Welcome to the movie section of this blog post.

 

We're finally back after taking that slightly unplanned break last week, and let me tell you, I picked a classic for tonight's choice.

 

I mean, I thought it was going to be a classic to begin with before I started watching (or re-watching ... I actually can't remember if I've ever seen this one before), but then I sat down and watched and ... I have thoughts LOL.

 

I'll be explaining them down below as I move through the plot, I promise.

 

But without further ado, let's jump straight into it, shall we?

 

Time and tide - and in this case, fairies - wait for no man or woman.

 

Although they might make a mess of a lot of things in Sleeping Beauty.

 

Tome Thursday: Midnight Secret

 

Hello everyone!

 

Serenity Woods returns to the blog tonight in this book of choice, not that it's any surprise.

 

At this point, I'm only missing a handful of her works to both read and review on here, and I'm doing pretty well, I'd like to think!

 

Especially as she keeps on writing these amazing stories.

 

Tonight's is a little different in that it's an age gap romance, which I don't remember her taking a shot at before (I could be wrong, please correct me if I am!).

 

And also, there's a lot of modern day problematic included in this as well.

 

This isn't to discourage you, only to ensure you pay attention as you read and so you don't get fooled into thinking this is one thing, then emerge to find it's something else entirely.

 

I love the author. I want people to buy her books. And I want her readers to know what they're getting themselves into!

 

So without further ado, let's dive right into Midnight Secret.

 

Tome Thursday: Lover Eternal

 

Hello everyone!

 

Back into the world of the Black Dagger Brotherhood we go.

 

I've finally decided to at the very least get the first run of the series on here, and I know I still have like, 5 books to read in total before the new generation takes the stage, but I've been so sucked into The Apothecary Diaries that it's been rather difficult swerving back into vampires haha!

 

But here we are.

 

Chronologically working through the second book in the series, we're going to have a look at its legendary fighter who also happens to be known for his other exploits ... namely, in the bedroom.

 

Or out of it. He isn't all that picky, ya know.

 

This is the story of how he meets the woman who changes everything for him, how he learns to accept that which he's been given, and how, at the end of the day, we all need to accept our destiny with as much grace as possible.

 

Because once we do, we may find loopholes. That's what it's essentially all about in Lover Eternal.

 

Talkie Tuesday: Frozen the Broadway Musical

 

"Let it go."

 

Hello everyone!

 

Welcome to tonight's movie feast of choice.

 

Or should I say, musical?

 

Apparently, I've been in the musical mood lately, which is funny since Snow White very nearly undid all my desires when it comes to anything sing-along LOL

 

But this one was too good to miss.

 

Disney Plus keeps releasing absolute bangers on its streaming service, making me never regret for a single moment that I subscribe. This one is no exception either, and is by far probably one of my favourites (I still need to put my big girl pants on and watch the Lion King live thing they did ... I know I'll bawl).

 

I mean, how can it NOT be?

 

Anna and Elsa make a triumphant return in Frozen the Broadway Musical!

 

Talkie Tuesday: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs

 

"... and they lived happily ever after."

 

Hello everyone!

 

Welcome to tonight's movie of choice, which if you've seen last week's you knew this was coming.

 

As if I could just let the insult that is the 2025 version slide without touching the original.

 

And even then, the ACTUAL original is a fairy tale written way back when!

 

But I digress.

 

Back in the days before WWII, Disney decided it was going to try and launch this whole animation shindig.

 

This was the tale they chose to do it with.

 

They were so successful that they've been regularly pumping out animated features about "their" princesses ever since!

 

So remember to stay away from perfect-looking, delicious apples, and let's have a look at Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs!

 

Tome Thursday: Beyond the Veil

 

Hello everyone!

 

Welcome to tonight's book review of choice.

 

It's one that's been a while in the making, in the sense that the author took her time to ensure the book would be written well, consistently, and wrapped up in a neat bow to finish everything off.

 

We love authors like that!

 

Overall though, I just love interacting with THIS author in particular, as she's a total sweetheart. I was lucky enough to be sent an ARC directly from her, but I'd highly, HIGHLY recommend you look into purchasing these books to lend your support.

 

This is a very fun retelling of Sleeping Beauty, in which the "beauty" happens to be reversed, aka it's the prince rather than the girl, and the girl rescues him.

 

Then they go off on a quest together, discover her long-lost lineage, and then decide hey, maybe they'll take on that magical separating border between one realm and the next!

 

That's all (and more!) you get when you pick up the last book in the trilogy, Beyond the Veil.