2020 Personal Goals Update

I cannot believe we’re already over half way through 2020, like where is the year going! Also I don’t even feel like I’ve achieved or done that much to be honest this year, and I suppose that’s kinda true with the whole lockdown and Coronavirus thing. At the moment, every month is definitely rolling into one, during lockdown, I even lost track of days. I’m glad I’m finally back into a ‘normal’. I hope you and your family are all keeping well.

Back in January, I shared with you my 2020 Personal Goals, here I outlined exactly what I wanted to achieve over the course of the year. Now we’re nearly in August, I thought it would be the perfect time to reflect on my Personal Goals and provide an update on progress. It also helps me to know where I am with my Goals and with five months remaining in 2020, if I have yet to achieve something that I set out at the beginning of the year, then I’ve definitely got the time too!

I know I share my Monthly Goals but this doesn’t show the overall year story. When I’m setting my Monthly Goals, I try and keep my 2020 Goals in mind. It can be hard achieving your Goals, especially if it’s one you want to achieve in one year. Your Goals can be a lot easier to achieve if you think about them monthly but then also break them down to weekly and daily. If you don’t create Monthly Goals, now, more than ever, is a great time to start creating Monthly Goals!

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Book Review // Wasteland*

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I am very excited to share with you today’s post, it’s my very first book review of July. It’s definitely not quiet at the moment for book reviews! I’ve even got a couple more lined up to share with you over the next couple of weeks. Today, I will be reviewing Wasteland by Terry Tyler, I’m super excited to share this one with you today. This review opportunity has been made possible by Reads & Reels.

Before we start my review and what I thought, let’s read the book bio for background context.

Wasteland? Let me tell you a little bit about it;

‘Those who escape ‘the system’ are left to survive outside society. The fortunate find places in off-grid communities; the others disappear into the wasteland.’

The year is 2061, and in the new UK megacities, the government watches every move you make. Speech is no longer free – an ‘offensive’ word reaching the wrong ear means a social demerit and a hefty fine. One too many demerits? Job loss and eviction, with free transport to your nearest community for the homeless: the Hope Villages.

Rae Farrer is a megacity girl through and through, proud of her educational and career achievements, until a shocking discovery about her birth forces her to question every aspect of life in UK Megacity 12. On the other side of the supposedly safe megacity walls, a few wastelanders suspect that their freedom cannot last forever…

When I picked up this book I knew it was a sequel and to be honest, that didn’t stop me! It’s unique because it is a true standalone as well. We’re treated to a book that shares the action between several protagonists but Rae Farrer is the central character. Rae’s thoughts is in the first person and the other characters are in the third person. Terry Tyler portrays Rae as a fairly typical conformist member of society. For me the first half of the book was a little slow but the second half of the book definitely explodes into life!

By the end I was definitely engrossed and then I realised I finished the book. I’m glad the unanswered questions are tied up at the end, it’s definitely allows the book to be a stand-alone one as mentioned above. You go through so many different emotions throughout this book, Terry Tyler has definitely done well with this one. There are some poignant, sad and disturbing moments. I also love the writing style of Terry Tyler!

This is the first book I have read from Terry Tyler and I’ve fallen in love with her style so I’m definitely going to look at her other books. Of course, like my other reviews, I don’t want to reveal too much! If you want to find out more, then you’ll have to read it for yourself. I can thoroughly recommend Wasteland to any reader who loves the Dystopia genre, to be honest, even if you just want to try Terry Tyler’s work.

How about a little about the author, Terry Tyler;

Terry Tyler is the author of twenty books available from Amazon, the latest being ‘Blackthorn’, set in a post apocalyptic England, 115 years in the future. Proud to be independently published, Terry is an avid reader and book reviewer, and a member of Rosie Amber’s Book Review Team.

Terry is a Walking Dead addict, and has a great interest in history (particularly 14th-17th century), and sociological/cultural/anthropological stuff, generally. She loves South Park, Netflix, autumn and winter, and going for long walks in quiet places where there are lots of trees.

You can follow Terry Tyler on Twitter and her official website.

Please give some love to Terry Tyler and if you can not wait any longer to read it for yourself, you can buy Wasteland to read in Ebook (Kindle Format). You can also find it on Goodreads now!

I hope you have enjoyed this little review! What are your
thoughts on these books?

Also, make sure to follow me on my blog (in the sidebar) and don’t forget to follow me on Bloglovin’FacebookInstagram and Twitter.

Love Gemma x

*Thank you Reads & Reels for gifting me the Wasteland eBook, in return for an honest review. The featured image was sent to me in the Media Pack, for more information please see my About Page.

Book Review // Link*

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It feels like yesterday where I shared my last book review here on An Ocean Glimmer. Oh wait, it was only last week! That’s right, I shared with you my thoughts on Cutlass and Flintlock by Ashley Nixon. Today, I will be reviewing Link by Summer Wier, I’m super excited to share this one with you today. This review opportunity has been made possible by Lola’s Blog Tours.

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Monthly Goals // June 2020

Goodbye May! Hello June!

I hope you’ve had a lovely start to June. As it’s the beginning of a new month, now is the perfect time to reflect on the Goals I set myself at the beginning of May. Then create new Goals for June. I love setting new Goals, they get you excited for the upcoming month. If you want to see what I got up to in May, I have shared my adventures in my Monthly Favourites // May 2020 here.

It’s great to review and reflect each month, sometimes you even forget what you’ve done. I love sharing these Monthly Goals with you. They definitely help me to stay on top of my Goals and to always think about them. If you’re trying to achieve Yearly Goals, I would definitely recommend breaking them down into Monthly Goals, that way they’re more manageable and you remember them!

Before I set myself some new Goals for June, let’s reflect on my May Goals!

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Book Review // After Darkness*

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I’m excited to be a part of today’s blog book tour. Today, I am reviewing After Darkness by J. F. Johns – on the third day of the blog book tour hosted by R&R Book Tours. I love sharing book reviews on An Ocean Glimmer, I love exploring new genres. This is my second blog book tour in May! Before that, I shared The Vatican Games in February. My Goodreads 2020 Reading Challenge is looking good at the moment, after reading this book, I am now half way over!

Before we start my review and what I thought, let’s read the book bio for background context.

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My productive morning routine

Has anyone else been having productive mornings since the start of lockdown? Now I have an extra two hours in the morning before work, rather than travelling to work, my mornings have been completely different. I know I could have a line in but I prefer to be productive in the mornings. Also, I’m still going to bed the same time, so why not a couple of hours to my self.

I hope I can keep this routine going after lockdown but it will be difficult Monday to Friday with travelling to work. I can see this continuing Saturday and Sunday though, we will have to see! I recently shared ways to keep busy during the lockdown, but I didn’t explain what my mornings are like. How is your quarantine going? Let me know in the comments!

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Book Review // Undead Ultra*

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I’m excited to be a part of today’s blog book tour. Today, I am reviewing Undead Ultra by Camille Picott – on the fifth and final day of the blog book tour hosted by R&R Book Tours. It’s been a little while since my last blog book tour, the last one was back in February with The Vatican Games. There should be just a few book reviews coming to An Ocean Glimmer in the next couple of months – I’m excited to share these with you!

Before we start my review and what I thought, let’s read the book bio for background context.

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The Coffee Book Tag

It’s no surprise that I love a good tag! I have done plenty over the years of being a blogger. They’re always something I have a passion for. Unfortunately, it has been a little while since I have done one and if I’m honest, I have missed doing them. There’s not been one that has jumped out to me, until now of course! I found this tag over at The Wordy Habitat and it’s called Coffee Book Tag – two of my favourite things!

I’m definitely a coffee girl, I know my Instagram doesn’t show it at the moment, being in the lockdown and all but I used to spend quite a lot of my time at Starbucks. Also, there’s nothing better than grabbing a book and escaping from the world around you for a couple of hours. The Coffee Book Tag was really fun to answer; let me know what your answers would be down in the comments!

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Book Review // Never Date a Siren*

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Three books completed for 2020, which means I’m only one book behind where I should be on my 2020 Goodreads Challenge – I think that’s pretty good if I say so myself. I’m treating you this month, here’s my second book review of the month! Today I am reviewing Never Date a Siren by Byrd Nash.

Before we start my review and what I thought, let’s read the book bio for background context.

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Book Review // Passage

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I’m behind already on my 2020 Goodreads Challenge but I’m pushing myself to achieve and get back on the road. That’s where today’s post comes in! Today I am reviewing Passage by Indie Gantz. This is my second book review on An Ocean Glimmer in two months which compared to previously, is a good achievement. I have got a couple on my to-read list, I just need to find the time!

Before we start my review and what I thought, let’s read the book bio for background context.

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