Review: Dinner For Vampires - Bethany Joy Lenz - October 2024 Bethany Joy Lenz, known to millions as Haley James Scott on One Tree Hill , offers readers a raw, heartfelt, and darkly humorous glimpse into her tumultuous journey in Dinner for Vampires . This memoir is more than just a celebrity tell-all—it’s a story of resilience, self-discovery, and faith in the aftermath of manipulation and betrayal. The memoir begins with Lenz’s rise to fame, juxtaposed against her desperate yearning for a sense of belonging. An only child with an independent streak, she found solace in a Bible study group of Hollywood creatives. But what started as a supportive community soon spiraled into a cult-like nightmare known as The Big House Family. Under the control of a manipulative minister and his authoritarian covenant, Lenz was coerced into relocating to a remote compound in the Pacific Northwest, surrendering her freedom, finances, and ultimately, her identity. Through candid storytelling and a sha...

Review: Good Girls Don't - Mara Wilson - April 2023 One of my reading goals for 2024 is to read more non-fiction as over the past years, I have just been more focused on fiction reads. I have aimed to read a minimum of 12 non-fiction books over the year. My first one was a celebrity memoir from Mara Wilson who we know mostly for her role as Matilda. Mara also starred in Miracle on 34th Street, Mrs Doubtfire, and A Simple Wish. In this memoir, Mara talks about the pressure of being a Good Girl in Hollywood and how even the slightest untoward step can turn you into a bad girl or in her case a spoilt brat. She talks about how her life changed as her mum died when she was filming A Simple Wish and the impact it caused on being out in public and all they could see was Matilda and the image of her rather than Mara herself. I felt for Mara as she was going through her grief as a child and still having to have this perfect image for the world as they saw Matilda as a role model. The oth...

Review: The Essential Taylor Swift Fanbook - March 2024 As the curtains close on 2023, what better way to bid farewell to the year than with "The Essential Taylor Swift Fanbook" provided by Welbeck Publishing ANZ? A delightful treat for Swifties of all ages, this book encapsulates the journey of the iconic Taylor Swift from her roots as a country music sensation to her current status as a global megastar. This comprehensive and up-to-date fanbook is a treasure trove of Taylor Swift knowledge. It intricately weaves together the threads of her life, offering a backstage pass to her evolution as a performer and movie star. Delve into the hidden meanings behind her greatest songs, unlocking the secrets that make her music resonate across generations. The book goes beyond the ordinary, presenting readers with an array of quotes and TayTay trivia that adds an extra layer of depth to their understanding of the artist. For the avid Swifties, there's an exciting quiz that challeng...

"I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, the second of four children. Growing up with the influence of a long line of teachers with a passion for classical education, my time was filled with lessons in violin, cello, piano, ballet…and not-so-classical Girl Scouts and softball. At the age of twelve, I traveled throughout Europe with my Grandmother and aunts, who filled my days with the shared reading of classics such as Jane Eyre and Sherlock Holmes, developing my love of literature early on. I pursued my love of literature into college, earning a Bachelor's of English, a Master's of Education, and I am currently working to complete a Master's in English. My first novel, All the Wrong Places, started as a short story for a creative writing course and chronicles many of my experiences living in a mortuary, raising my daughter on my own and discovering my Christian faith. My years in college writing programs have left me with a v...