Tag: sa bloggers


Mar
2018

Fiction Friday: Book Review- The Trouble With Flirting by Rochelle Morgan

categories: Books, Reviews

The Trouble with Flirting (The Trouble Series, #2)The Trouble with Flirting by Rochelle Morgan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was much longer than previous ones in the series but it didn’t drag so that was good. Livi makes a very convincing misfit who longs to change her nerd status as she enters college. I loved that this book was so real. I’ve seen so many people struggle with their image the way that Livi did and I was glad for the insight that this book brought me. Originally I thought that the romance would seem cliché but it happened gradually enough to seem natural.
My favorite part was that this book didn’t seem forced to me. It told the story of a rich girl trying to fit in. This story was not rushed. It was written well and there were themes such as friendship, fitting in and infidelity.

View all my reviews


Nov
2017

5 Productive Things to Do While Looking for a Job

categories: Career

Job-hunting is difficult. It is even more difficult when you’re unemployed and have nothing to distract you from job-hunting. Here are five productive things to do while you’re looking for a job.

5 Productive Things to Do While Looking for a Job

 

1) Volunteer somewhere- This shows that you haven’t just spent your time as a job-seeker at home. You made a meaningful change. Also, staying at home can get depressing so volunteering lets you make a positive change to someone which in turn makes you feel better. It also looks great when you can show that you did something productive without needing to get compensated in any way.

2) Learn a new skill- There are so many amazing online classes out there. I found some on Criminology and Management only to be distracted by the free Microsoft tutorials offered on the Microsoft Office website. (Fun fact- after I finished the Microsoft Excel tutorials I actually ended up getting a job that used Excel regularly).

3) Take time to perfect your resume and cover letter- A great thing about not having a job is that you have lots of time. Spend some of that time on tailoring your resume and cover letter for each position. This will maximize the impact of your application as well.

4) Network to get a job- Talk to people you know to see if they know anyone who is hiring. This was one of the best ways that I could get my CV out there and I definitely recommend it to others. You never know who knows who and where you could land up.

5) Take unpaid work or an internship – While working for no pay is not something most people want to do, sometimes the experience and lessons learnt are invaluable. You could learn skills that could be put to use in another field.

These tips are sure to help you be super-productive and ready to kick butt at your next interview.


Oct
2017

How I Schedule My Blog Posts

categories: Blogging Tips

Since I started work, it has been getting harder and harder to write blog posts. However I think I have some sort of system going now. It is by no means perfect but I’m sharing it hoping it may help you.

Person with laptop

1) Generating Ideas:

I use Trello and OneNote to keep track of my blog post ideas. I basically just make a list of blog ideas in Trello and then expand on them in OneNote. I know I can write the entire blog post out on a Trello card but I am just more comfortable using OneNote. I write down ideas as soon as they come to me so that I don’t forget them. I also use a regular planner so that I can see in print when I want to schedule my posts.

2) Actually Writing the Posts:

Like I said above, I usually use OneNote to write down the blog post. On occasion, I do write the blog post on WordPress. WordPress is my last stop before actually publishing so I make sure that I edit the post here before publishing it. I write blog posts every Saturday or every spare moment I can get.

3) Getting images:

In my opinion, this is where the magic begins. In the last week of the month, I spend an hour or two on Canva, creating images for my blog posts. I know that I usually have a TBR, Book Haul and four book reviews. While the book reviews don’t need any images, the TBR and book haul posts do so these are easy to create. I also use my Trello list of blog ideas to see what blog posts I’m writing for the month and then create those posts.

4) Publishing and Promoting:

In the first week of the new month (eg, first week of October), I combine my blog draft with the Canva images. Voila! A blog post. I read through the post to make sure it reads well, I add the relevant tags and publish. I try and make sure that at the very least, I have four book reviews for the month already queued. Then I use Buffer to schedule social media posts for the week. Honestly I usually just do this the first week and then forget the rest of the month. (Hey, I am trying here. Like I pointed out above, finding time to blog is TRICKY!). On the day that a blog post is published, I promote it on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. I repeat this a week or two later.

My process is not perfect and sometimes I do fall behind. Okay, lots of times. But I’m working on it and I found that having an actual process in place makes it easier to blog. How do you schedule your blog posts? I’d love to know below!


Jun
2017

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Spring at Blueberry Bay by Holly Martin

categories: Books, Reviews

Spring at Blueberry BaySpring at Blueberry Bay by Holly Martin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Bella has been abandoned by her parents as a kid. She is also very broke. But when she finds a homeless man, Isaac on her doorstep, she takes him in and shares her last meal with him. What Bella doesn’t know is that Isaac is lying to her and is not who he seems to be.
I can’t say more without giving too much of the story away but if you’ve read Holly Martin’s other books then you probably will be able to predict the story. This book reminded me of Holly Martin’s other books so at first, I wasn’t really interested. It just seemed like a story that was told one too many times before. However I love Holly Martin’s writing so I pushed though and I’m glad that I did. Bella and Isaac are an adorable couple. It pissed me off that he lied to her but I eventually got over it. I loved their chemistry in this book and was really sad once it was over. Like all Holly Martin books, this one is full of colourful characters and I cannot wait to read more. I’ve developed an attachment to Bella’s cousins and would love to see them all get their happy endings.

View all my reviews


May
2017

Fiction Friday: My Seven Favourite Contemporary Romance Authors

categories: Books

I don’t always read contemporary romance but when I do, I go for authors that I’ve already read before. Here are seven of my favourite contemporary romance authors.

 

My 7 Favourite Contemporary Romance Authors

 

  1. Nora Roberts- I feel like most of the world is obsessed with Nora Roberts and rightfully so. Her characters are real and her writing feels soothing. I’ve yet to find a Nora Roberts book that I didn’t enjoy.
  2. Lisa Kleypas- Like Nora Roberts, reading Lisa Kleypas books soothes me. I think it’s because I’ve read them all so often that rereading them feels like coming home to an old friend.
  3. Rachel Morgan- Rachel Morgan writes contemporary YA romance as Richelle Morgan. Her Trouble series is one of my all-time favourite YA contemporary books. It still breaks my heart that the series is over. The books were SOO good.
  4. Jennifer Gracen- Another automatic go-to author is Jennifer Gracen. Her characters usually have some sort of darkness or issue holding them back but it just makes me love them more.
  5. Holly Martin- Holly Martin’s books are light and lovely and they make me want to curl up in bed with a snack and read read read. LOVE THEM!
  6. Joanne Macgregor- I haven’t read that many YA contemporary romances by Joanne Macgregor (just Scarred which I really enjoyed!) but I love her writing and how real her characters are. She’s recently released a contemporary retelling of The Little Mermaid called Hushed.
  7. Kody Keplinger- I loved loved LOVED The Duff book and the movie. I haven’t read anything else by Kody Keplinger but it’s fine. I trust her writing. Also, I kinda threw myself at her books when I found them on sale at the bookstore (there was only one copy of each left and I didn’t want anyone else to get them).

What are some of your favourite contemporary books and authors? What authors do you buy even if you don’t know much about their books? I’d love to know below.


May
2017

5 Bookish Gift Ideas

categories: Books

Have a bookish bestie? Need a birthday gift for them? Here are 5 ideas for gifts for the bookworm in your life

 

  1. A Kindle (or another newer Kindle if the bookworm already has one)- For those who don’t mind eBooks, Kindles are beyond amazing. You can store tons of your favourite books and read them on the go. I would gladly sacrifice my firstborn for one. (Kids just get in the way of your reading anyway).
  2. Book vouchers- I’ve never been gifted with a book voucher and this makes me sad. But if you give the bookworm in your life a book voucher, know that they will appreciate it immensely. It’s like you bought them a book but you let them choose the book (which is also another idea).
  3. A book- Okay this one is obvious but still a goodie. If you’re not sure what books they already have, go with treasured boxset. Like the pretty Harry Potter ones with the matching spines. Swoon.
  4. Bookmarks- Some bookworms really like bookmarks. Personally I always lose mine but I appreciate them nonetheless. Exclusive Books and Bargain Books have some really great bookmarks.
  5. Cash (so that they can buy books)- nuff said.

What gift suggestions do you have for a bookworm? What’s the one gift you always wanted? I’d love to know below.


Apr
2017

April Book Haul

categories: Books

It’s that time of the month again! April is almost over (HOW is the year moving so quickly???) which means it’s time for another book haul.

April Book Haul

I was really good this month and bought a pretty reasonable amount of books. Are you laughing at me? Stop it. I swear I’m serious! I’ll show you.

My SPCA book haul was pretty small especially considering I made my mother buy a few of these. It was just slightly over R100 and I am incredibly proud of myself for that.

SPCA Book Haul There are a few Buffy books that I realised only after buying that they were all part of various series so I’m probably not going to read them. Then there’s “The Ship of Brides” by Jojo Moyes. I haven’t read much by her besides “Me Before You” and “After You”. I enjoyed those books immensely though so I’m guessing I’ll enjoy this too. Nora Robert’s “Dance Upon the Air” and “Heaven and Earth” were two books I had been looking for since I found the third book (I think it’s called “Face the Fire” but I’m not too sure) at the SPCA book sale earlier on in the year. I don’t remember the series that well but I know that I loved it. “The Heroes of Olympus: The Mark of Athena” was one of those “I’m going to read this series eventually so I should just buy the books” purchases. Have I started the series yet? Nope. Are you surprised? I didn’t think so. Lastly I bought Kardashian Konfidential. I wasn’t sure if I wanted it but since it was R20 my mother convinced me to take it. Can you see where I get my spending habits from?

Of course after this small haul I felt a bit bad because none of these books were books that made me go “Omg I can’t wait to read these”. So I decided  to go to Bargain Books and they were having a sale. So I just browsed. And came home with this:

Bargain Books Haul

Now THOSE books made me say “Omg I can’t wait to get home and start reading”. Especially since every time I visited Bargain Books  since last year November, I would pick up “All the Bright Places” and wish that it was discounted. All of these books actually are books that I really wanted for a long time so this haul made me really happy.

Then the week after that I was working on a Saturday and decided to reward myself with a visit to the bookstore. I found this gem for sale.

Empire of Storms
Look at how gorgeous it looks in the sun. Why don’t I take more book pictures in the sun?

I didn’t do much reading this month (hey I just started work okay? I am adjusting to being an adult) but I did read and enjoy Glass Faerie by Rachel Morgan.

What was your April book haul like? What did you read? I’d love to know below.


Feb
2017

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Glided Cage by Vic James

categories: Books, Reviews

Gilded Cage (Dark Gifts, #1)Gilded Cage by Vic James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a review copy of this book on Netgalley.
Abi and her family go to work as servants for a wealthy and powerful family. But while their job is considered safer and better than working in the slave town, it still has its own horrors. Meanwhile Abi’s brother, Luke is in the brutal slave town where he is subjected to abuse. I spent the first half of the book wondering who got the worse job. Sure Abi’s job was mainly administration but the family she serves, the Jadines, are absolutely terrifying. While Luke has to work under uncomfortable circumstances, he atleast has some sort of solitude at the end of the day.
But then everyone seemed like a friend and then everyone seemed like a foe so I was just confused. Can anyone be trusted? Should no one be trusted? This book had me second-guessing every character and I loved every second of it. The writing is flawless, the plot moves quickly and the twists are unimaginable.
This is one of those books that leave you with a thousand questions. Just give me the rest of the series already. I NEED MORE!!! Go read this book. You won’t regret it.

View all my reviews


Feb
2017

The Unexpected January Book Haul

categories: Books

The day after I posted my January book haul, I got an unexpected delivery. I was delighted since it was obviously books but I had no idea what books it was. I opened up the package to find two books from Jonathan Ball Publishers.

Books January Book Haul

I can’t wait to start reading these. I’ve read very few (probably none) traditionally published books. I’m also really excited to read “Almost Anastacia” which releases in May. The synopsis itself was so intriguing and drew me in instantly.


Jul
2016

Fiction Friday: Book Review- A Faerie’s Curse (Creepy Hollow #6) by Rachel Morgan

categories: Books, Reviews

A Faerie's Curse (Creepy Hollow, #6)A Faerie’s Curse by Rachel  Morgan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I didn’t really want to finish this book because this is the end of Calla’s part of the Creepy Hollow series. At the same time I couldn’t stop reading it. The ending was so dramatic in the previous book that I desperately needed to know what was going to happen.Calla is working on a plan to break Chase out of his mother’s childhood home. Meanwhile the Guild still thinks she and Lord Draven are evil and need to be stopped. Her family is under scrutiny and things just seem to be going from bad to worse.Rachel Morgan did not hold back at all on this novel. I cried so much because how is it possible that one girl could have such bad luck?I found the ending a bit incomplete but I’m betting it’s just going to make the next part of the Creepy Hollow series even more intriguing. This book was romantic and sad, heartbreaking and well-written. I loved seeing Violet and Ryn as more fleshed-out characters and I can’t wait to see what else happens in this world. Creepy Hollow is a great series but as time goes on the Creepy Hollow world seems to get darker and darker which makes for a highly enjoyable read.

View all my reviews

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