The second book in your Kindred Ties series, Emergence, came out in 2018 (yay!). Can you please tell us a little bit about the series, and what inspired you to write it? 
 In the Kindred Ties series, a small percentage of the population has a rare gene mutation that allows them to communicate with animals, a mutation that has lain dormant and forgotten for millennia. As a solar storm brews, a small group of researchers discovers three teenagers with unique abilities, able to communicate with animals from each of the three major biomes: earth, air, and water. These teenagers are walkers, able to bridge our world and the spirit world, destined to bring Earth into balance. Yet they’re hunted by a powerful genetics organisation, the MRI, which will stop at nothing to control their powers. Trying to stay one step ahead of the MRI, the walkers must unlock the full potential of their abilities. Can they figure out the MRI’s plans before it’s too late? This series is inspired by my time at university studying science and working on organic farms in Europe and Australia, in addition to my love of the series Avatar: The Last Airbender!

Do you like to read seasonal books, and do you have a favourite Christmas story or book?
I’m always a sucker for Christmas at Hogwarts!

Is there a particular book you'd love to find under your Christmas tree this year? 
The Rift by Rachael Craw. I am PSYCHED.

Do you have a favourite book you've read this year that you'll be recommending (or giving as a Christmas present!) to everyone you know? 
Circe by Madeline Miller - I love Greek mythology, and this is such a beautiful and creative story. I can’t shut up about it!

Can you share a favourite Christmas tradition or memory? 
 Reading The Night Before Christmas with the family and leaving biscuits and milk out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve (plus a carrot for the reindeer).

Can you tell us a bit about what you are working on next?
I am currently busy with edits on Book 3!

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Thanks so much to Marita for taking the time to answer my questions! Just between us, I can't wait to get my hands on book 3 of the Kindred Ties series! You can check out my (spoiler-free!) review of the series so far here.

Find Marita online here 

The Way I See It is the debut novel from Sydney writer Lucy Marrett, and is a compelling story about a young woman living with anxiety.



Holly has something on her mind, but it’s not something she wants to admit to. It’s only after the funeral of a high school friend that she begins to realise she might have to speak up. It’s the reason she tears her hair out, the reason she picks at her skin, and the reason she sometimes has trouble breathing.

She has two friends on her side, Lara a friend from university who she lives with and Jem, a high school friend who she couldn’t live without. Jem is her rock and the one person in the world she trusts most, while Lara is everything Holly wishes she could be herself.

But time feels like it’s running out for Holly, and she’s not sure how much longer she can live the way she is. It’s time for her to stand up and speak out.

The Way I See It is is not a self-help book, nor is it full of inspirational quotes or success stories. It is a realistic portrayal of the ongoing, daily battle a young woman has with her anxiety, and how she decides to deal with it.

To be honest, I wasn't sure how I would go with The Way I See It - I think I've talked before about how I can have some trouble with books that put me inside the minds of young women who spend a lot of their time worrying about how other see them and putting themselves down. This was definitely not the case with The Way I See It! I found this a compelling, honest, and well written look inside the life (and thoughts) of a young woman living with anxiety. I really felt like I got to know - and become friends with - main character Holly.

Fellow Book Riot Read Harder Challenge participants might be interested to know that The Way I See It would count for at least two categories from the 2019 challenge (which was released last week - check it out here):
8. An #ownvoices book set in Oceania
9. A book published prior to January 1, 2019, with fewer than 100 reviews on Goodreads
(I also think Lucy might be a journalist, in which case 5. A book by a journalist or about journalism would also work)

I gave this 3.5 stars, and I think it is essential reading for anyone who wants to learn more about what it's like to live with anxiety.

xo Bron


***The Way I See It***

Huge thanks to Elephant Tree Publishing for sending me a free copy for review. 

 First up one of my very favourite Christmas books - The Christmas Cookie Club by Ann Pearlman. I first read this one a few years ago, and absolutely loved it! It's a story about a group of women who get together to swap cookies every Christmas, and it has all of the things I love in a story about women's friendships and lives.

I think the Gingerbread Man tea is perfect to go with The Christmas Cookie Club - probably for pretty obvious reasons! I really liked that you can actually taste the ginger in this, unlike some other ginger teas I've tried before - it makes it feel cosy and definitely Christmassy.

And for something a bit different to the usual wintry Christmas romances - Our Country Christmas, a collection of short stories by aussie romance authors, which I talked a bit about last week.


A big mug of hot tea just isn't quite right for an Australian summer story, so I followed  Tea Garden Co's tips to brew iced tea from their If Rudolph Was a Tea. It was so delicious - totally sweet and refreshing, but not too sweet. I had mine over ice and topped up with soda water, but I think it would be perfect with sparkling wine or even a bit of vodka! It's a really pretty shade of red, which makes it feel festive too!

I'd love to know if you try these, or if you have a favourite drink to go with your festive reading sessions!

xo Bron
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This post isn't sponsored, I just really love these teas from Tea Garden Co!
The links in this post are affiliate links, so if you purchase through them I'll earn a little bit too.
Our Country Christmas was kindly sent to me for review by Harlequin Books.

Most of the Christmas books I have read are set in the Northern Hemisphere, so I think it's super fun to find some with an Aussie summer setting. Christmas in Ghost Gum Springs is a really fun, short and sweet Christmas story set in rural Australia! It's a little bit spicy, but most of the book focuses on the main characters trying not to get together, so there is a lot of "will they/won't they".

I really enjoyed this one and gave it 3.5 stars. Because it's so short I think it's a good one if you're not sure that Christmas romance is for you and want to give it a try.

xo Bron

*** I received a free ebook from Escape Publishing (via NetGalley) in exchange for my review. All views are my own***