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Showing posts from 2020

Married at First Swipe by Claire Frost

  SYNOPSIS Hannah lives life on the edge. Never one to pass up on a new adventure, she has truly been living her best life. But once the adrenaline wears off, she wishes she had someone to spend the quieter moments with too. Learning that her best friend's online dating business has taken a hit, she comes up with an idea that just might solve both of their problems... Jess has been with her husband for twenty years. They have a stable marriage, great kids and run their own businesses. But what looks like a perfect life from the outside has its own problems within, and with her business on the brink Jess can't help but wonder where the spark has gone in her life, and whether settling down is all that it's cracked up to be. When Hannah embarks upon her latest scheme: finding a man using Jess's dating app and meeting him for the first time at the altar, both women start to realise the grass isn't always greener. Can Hannah help her friend save her failing business or w

I Wish It Could be Christmas Every Day by Milly Johnson

  SYNOPSIS Its nearly Christmas and it's snowing, hard.  Six people have an unexpected stay in the tiny hamlet of Figgy Hollow. Stuck inside a beautiful old Inn, how long will it take before the joy of Christmas seeps into their souls and offers them all a new beginning?

Blog Tour: Her Name is Mercie by Chris Roy

  SYNOPSIS Mercie Hillbrook lives a simple, quiet life working as a gas station attendant. Then her parents are killed. Her home is taken. The people responsible are excused for just doing their job. When an attempt to get justice her way lands her in trouble with the law, Mercie realises she still has something to lose: her own life. Then she finds reason to believe her parents were murdered... and she doesn't care anymore. Alongside this rollercoaster of a novella, this book includes 4 very dark short stories.

Blog Tour: Christmas for the Shop Girls by Joanna Toye

SYNOPSIS 'For Lily Collins and her fellow shop girls at Marlows Department Store, another Christmas with ration books, shortages of goods and staff not to mention a store coping with war damage will be a real challenge. But the girls rally round and put their worries aside to make this, the hardest wartime Christmas yet, one that their families, and their own town, will never forget.'

Just the Two of Us (Book 1) by Ryu Hyang

  SYNOPSIS 'Soohyuk: a paediatric emergency medicine specialist. A man who never eats something someone else gives him.  Soohyuk, the tyrant who rules S University Hospital's paediatric emergency room. He only cares about treating sick children, whether or not that gets in the way of advancing his career. He, a grouch to everyone aside from the patients, suddenly starts noticing a woman: the woman who feeds him. Yuna: a chef who makes boxed lunches. A woman who panics and collapses whenever she meets a man, due to trauma from her past. Wanting to do what she likes rather than going off to college, Yuna opens up her own business that specialises in boxed lunches. A Tasty Meal. She gets scared when one day she sees the tall Soohyuk standing outside her restaurant, but she soon learns he is only drawn to the delicious smell. And, somehow, she comes to be in charge of his everyday meals. When Soohyuk meets Yuna, a confident, surefooted woman who gets startled and scared when he com

The Spark by Jules Wake

  SYNOPSIS Jess is falling for Sam. Sam is falling for Jess. But it seems life will do whatever it takes to make them fall apart. When Jess and Sam lock eyes at a party, a spark ignites. The spark. But love at first sight isn't like the movies, especially when Sam's ex, Victoria, is determined to make their honeymoon period a living hell. Is love at first sight enough?

Heiress Apparently (Daughters of the Dynasty) by Diana Ma

  SYNOPSIS Gemma Huang is a recent transplant to Los Angeles from Illinois, having abandoned plans for college to pursue a career in acting, much to the dismay of her parents. Now she is living with three roommates in a two-bedroom hovel, auditioning for bit roles that hardly cover rent. Gemma's big break comes when she's asked to play a lead role in an update of M. Butterfly filming for the summer in Beijing. When she arrives, she's stopped by paparazzi at the airport. She quickly realises she may as well be the twin of one of the most notorious young socialites in Beijing. Thus kicks off a summer of revelations, in which Gemma uncovers a legacy her parents have spent their lives protecting her from - one her mother would conceal from her daughter at any cost.

The Snow Song by Sally Gardner

Synopsis : 'Women imprisoned by superstition, chained by guilt. Perched on a mountain in a land of ancient forests is a village, rife with secrets. Cut off from the outside world it is run by the elders, men to whom tradition is all. Edith lives alone with her alcoholic father who is forcing her to marry the village butcher. But she is in love with a shepherd who promised to return to her. As the village becomes isolated in a sea of snow, Edith loses her power of speech. And it is this enchantment that will have far-reaching consequences, not only for Edith but for the whole village.'

It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn

  So I have finally finished the seventh instalment to the Bridgerton series and I have a lot of thoughts. I mean a lot.  In this book the main focus is the youngest of the Bridgerton clan, Hyacinth. Hyacinth in some ways feels very progressive compared to her previous brothers and sisters in the way that she is not bothered too much about making a match to appease the ton. In some ways this makes it refreshing, as she only believes that she should have someone match her in the same way before accepting any sort of proposal. However, I feel in some ways this instalment has let her down. For instance, some of the things that she does within this book doesn't always match up with things she did in the previous Bridgerton books. To the point that it feels as though, in order for the author to write in her voice she has had to have some sort of change of personality. This is quite sad as it would have been quite interesting to see how Hyacinth would have reacted to certain situations t

One Winter’s Night by Kiley Dunbar

  Synopsis:  ' It's Autumn in beautiful Stratford-Upon-Avon and Kelsey Anderson is enjoying her new life in her adopted town. Her Shakespearean tour guide days behind her, she's now opened her own photography studio and loved up with boyfriend Jonathan - even if a long-distance relationship is sometimes lonely. When best friend Mirren Imrie moves from Scotland, Kelsey is delighted to have her friend at her side - and as the nights turn colder, Mirren throws herself into dating, until she finds herself growing closer to sexy journalist, Adrian Armadale. But when Mirren uncovers a long-buried scandal while working at the local newspaper, her big scoop might throw Kelsey's - and Jonathan's - life upside down. Will she choose her career over her friends' happiness? And when Jonathan returns from America and discovers the secrets Mirren has uncovered about his family, it throws his relationship with Kelsey onto shaky ground. Can they find their way back to love, befo

Cat Step by Alison Irvine

  Synopsis: One mistake can unravel everything. She only left her daughter in the car for a minute; just a quick minute whilst she ran into the shop. She barely thought twice about making the decision, but it soon began to consume her every thought. And not just her thoughts, but those of every neighbour, police officer and social security worker in a 15-mile radius. But this is her child. Surely she knows best? After she'd made the move to a small town in Scotland, the rolling hills and blustery beaches seemed to be the perfect backdrop for her and her four-year old daughter, Emily, to start again. It wasn't always easy just the two of them, but Liz, was sure that she could manage this time. And now this? Sometimes, one mistake is all it takes to unravel everything.

Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

CONTENT WARNING! Synopsis:   'Korey Fields is dead. When Enchanted Jones wakes with blood on her hands and zero memory of the previous night, no one - the police and Korey's fan included - has more questions than she does. All she really knows is that this isn't how things are supposed to be. Korey's was Enchanted's ticket to stardom. Before there was a dead body, Enchanted was an aspiring singer, struggling with her tight knit family's recent move to the suburbs while trying to find her place as the lone Black girl in high school. But then legendary R&B artist Korey Fields spots at an audition. And suddenly her dream of being a professional singer takes flight. Enchanted is dazzled by Korey's luxurious life but soon her dream turns into a nightmare. Behind Korey's charm and power hides a dark side, one that wants to control her every move, with rage and consequences. Except now he's dead and the police are at the door. Who killed Korey Fields? A

Daisy on the Outer Line by Ross Sayers

  Synopsis : 'Life, Death & Time Travel on the Glasgow Subway. After selfish student Daisy makes a scene at her stepdad's funeral, she drunkenly falls asleep on the Glasgow subway. To make amends for her behaviour, she must save a life - but she doesn't know who, how, or where to begin. She'll have to find out fast if she wants to make it back to her old life and avoid being trapped in the wrong timeline forever.' This book is very different in terms of the time-travel genre. It is not something that you would consider to be traditional, but somehow it works. Daisy is an interesting character. Sometimes you love her, sometimes you can't help but laugh at her humour and sometimes you are frustrated by her. She's perfectly imperfect. But it is clear that she is not only on a journey by catching the subway, but she is also having a character journey as well. Figuring out how people are around her, as well as the confidence to understand that she does matter

Baby Koala Rescue by Tilda Kelly

  'A tragic bush fire sparks a beautiful friendship between a young girl and a baby koala. Ruby is dreading changing schools as her autism makes it hard to befriend other kids. But when her dog finds a baby koala and her family agrees to foster it, Ruby quickly becomes the koala's best friend. Ruby loves quiet and routine, which makes her a perfect koala carer! A talented artist, she names the koala Pablo - after her favourite artist. Through looking after Pablo, Ruby befriends a neighbouring girl who loves painting as much as she does. Soon Pablo is well enough to move to a koala kindergarten. But is Ruby ready to move to her own new school?' If you want to give your child a heart-warming little story about how a girl on the autism spectrum looks after a koala joey; makes a new friend; comes to terms with important life-changing events in her family life and factual information about the ongoing, upsetting tragedy of Australia's bushfires then this book is a must in an

Loner by Georgina Young

    'Set in Melbourne, Loner is a humorous and heartfelt exploration of new adulthood. Lona kills her days by sneaking into the dark room at her old art school to develop photographs. She kills her nights DJ-ing the roller disco at Planet Skate. She is in inexplicably, debilitatingly love with a bespectacled Doctor Who-obsessed former classmate, and in comfortable, platonic love with her best friend Tab. Lona works hard to portray a permanent attitude of cynicism and ennui but will her carefully constructed persona be enough to protect her from the inevitable sorrows and unexpected joys of adult life? Loner re-examines notions of social isolation experienced by young people, suggesting sometimes our own company can be a choice and not a failing.' Lona is clearly a young woman on the cusp on trying to figure out what she wants from life and whether societal expectations are the right path to go down. What this means is that it is clear that she is having a dilemma as to what she

Dances & Dreams on Diamond Street by Craig Revel Horwood

  'Set against the colourful boho backdrop of London's Camden in the 1990s, Craig Revel Horwood's first novel,  Dances and Dreams on Diamond Street , tells the story of an unlikely family of friends who each rent a room in a ramshackle six-bedroom, four-storey townhouse. Like any family, the residents of Diamond Street sometimes fights and often act up but when the chips are down, they're there for each other in an instant - usually brandishing a cheap bottle of booze, and the offer of an impromptu kitchen disco.  Presided over by the wise-cracking but warm-hearted patriarch of the family, Danny Hall, a professional dancer turned choreographer, the novel follows a year in the life of the inhabitants of Diamond Street, rough diamonds one and all, as they try to achieve their dreams - with unexpected, heart-warming and sometimes hilarious results.' Set in the heart of the 1990's, Horwood's first novel feels like a time-capsule from a pocket of what could be de

The Little Cottage In Lantern Square by Helen Rolfe

Lantern Square feels like a place where not only can you find great people to be around, but also be open to so many different possibilities. It is clear that our protagonist, Hannah, feels the same way after moving to the Little Cottage after having quite an interesting history. I found this book thoroughly enjoyable. There is no other way I can put it. Yes, there were occasions where I wasn't able to follow along properly. I'm not sure whether it was the style of the writing or simply my own fault. But the heart of the book was truly good. It had a main character who was clearly real and has some interesting and mysterious plot details which if you get further enough along, you can't help but continue on the journey. I think that the only way I can really describe this book is like a warm hot chocolate with a toasty blanket by the fireplace. It's definitely one of those which you would without a doubt read during those cold winter nights. It has that true community fe

Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron

  At the moment fairytale retellings in the YA genre is not a new concept, which somehow seems to increase in the market as each year passes. Bayron has opted on this occasion to choose the classic of Cinderella and twist it on its head with themes such as the patriarchy, LGBT, and good old feminism at its finest. We see the main character Sophia, grapple with real and ongoing concepts that relate to the real world and what it means to have self-worth in the case where not many women are able to. Her inquisitive nature of how things must be done identifies with so many people across the world, whether they feel segregated, the victim of hatred, or victim of any kind of malicious act, no matter whether it is from the spoken word, or a physical act. This is something that we all must talk about, especially to this age-range where influences are a huge part of their lives. Because when we break down the meaning of Cinderella itself, what does this truly say to a young girl or boy? That it

Creativity by John Cleese

  I have never thought much about creativity. Yes, I know that it exists, because why wouldn't I know with reading so many books? But I have never broken it down to see what it truly is and how we all come about it in different ways. That creativity is not something which is simply for the arts, it's everywhere if you know where to look for it. It is just sometimes you need to know the basics to create new rules. But in other cases, the rules stifle creativity and thinking can just as much be a problem for some principled subjects compared to others. 'Creativity' is one of those books that you can have as a quick read if you are bored, want to read something new, or to pass the time if you can't get to sleep (which was in my case when reading it originally). To put it simply, it is a bible for creativity. One that you can easily refer back to if you are having a rough day with your creative piece and need something to show you that it is possible to find the right w

Just Friends by Holly McCulloch

  I would have to say one of the main cliché's of rom-coms is the traditional friend-zone, which the book shown above falls into this category. It's familiar for the reader, it's entertaining and more often than not, it gives us something all to invest in for those few painfully silent hours at home alone. Particularly, this book ticks all the boxes as what is described as a entertaining rom-com read. They both somehow have come to have the feels for each other, they hide it because they believe that they are not good enough for the other person and all of a sudden one decides they want a change of location (very Bridget Jones if you ask me).   But weirdly I have somehow grown attached to both characters, Bea and Peter. Bea, who is at that stage where she feels like she has to prove to society that she can go and date people and maybe end up in a well-meaning relationship (although the scenes that had boilerman Colin always made me cringe. All I can say is the word, Chicken

Adult Virgins Anonymous by Amber Crewe

It seems that finally we have something that resembles some form of reality in a Romance book. Hoorah! Let's all celebrate the realistic qualities that some of us actually do possess! It is finally nice to see something that I could talk about to another human being and they would just as much appreciate what this book is able to offer to a great part of the population. Kate and Freddie are shown to be on two varying paths in life. One in IT, the other recently having a rejig of her life, due to her redundancy in a very well paid job and now working in a gallery. So what makes the similar? Having that one secret, that really shouldn't be a secret, they are still virgins. Something that is perceived by both themselves and some parts of society to be weirdly bad. But as luck would have it, they both find the same advertisement of other virgins who meet up and chat about how it bothers them and life in general.  This story in particular has reminded me of so many indie/foreign fil

My TBR List for September 2020

  Recently, I have been going through some of the books which I have bought either not so long ago, or have been on my pile for a very long time. So, I have decided that today I will be going through some of books which have made their way onto my pile in the last couple of months. THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY BY MATT HAIG Really excited about this one. Heard that there was rave reviews and have only received this in the post two days ago! I've read books by Haig before and they always are deep and interesting. HOW TO SAVE A LIFE BY LIZ FENTON AND LISA STEINKE This story is simply one that I stumbled upon on Goodreads. I don't tend to see anything of interest when looking around Goodreads, but this one seemed different as it has been described as it very own Groundhog Day. PLEASE DON'T HUG ME BY KAY KERR This book stood out to me because of Autism Spectrum Disorder (represent!) and DOUGHNUTS! The idea that the story seems to be thought-provoking is just the cherry on the cake! PEAC

The Kingdom by Jess Rothenberg

It is fairly well-known that throughout many people's lives one company has had influence in many childhoods is Disney. Disney is a company which owns so many franchises throughout the world and the best of it is showcased at their resorts. This is one of the many childhood dreams to go to such a place like this for any child or adult for that matter, but what if things are not what they seem?  Rothenberg creates a fictional version of a resort, similar in kind to all the theme park resorts that we have all come to love throughout our lives, but it holds a massive difference, robots. Not just ordinary robots either. Robots that act in a way that makes them just as human as the actors that perform alongside them. In particular it focuses on seven particular robots, known as the princesses, which have been designed in a way that satisfies every dream that a visitor asks for as soon as they enter through their doors.  But trouble is brewing. Things are changing. Memories are coming to

Heartstopper Vol. 1 by Alice Oseman

A long time ago back in 2014 I reviewed Alice Oseman's book 'Solitaire' which gave the impression that this universe is vast and in no ways done yet. We got to know a little about Tori Spring, but what about the story between Charlie Spring and Nick Nelson? Well, we have it now and it is glorious; captured in the pages of a comic book which Oseman had drawn herself. Oseman captures themes such as being gay at school and sometimes how bullying might ensue because of their lack of knowledge. There are close friendships and diversity that I don't think I have ever seen before on this level, such as the mention of transgender people, bisexuality, lesbians and of course gay men. In particular this focuses on the love story between Charlie and Nick and how they became to be such a powerhouse that they are in the universe. It's real, it's relatable, it's completely brilliant. I've never been one to really read comic books in this way. I have comics and bought t

The Bro Code by Elizabeth A. Seibert

For a while now it seems normal to have a book which relates itself to the teenager. Mainly, relating to school and sometimes the pitfalls of romantic interests. It's one of those genres that has fluctuated the market with the likes of Twilight all the way to Percy Jackson and back to others such as Eleanor and Park. It seems like a formula that works on so many levels, yet there is no indication that this trend will die anytime soon. Seibert sets her characters out with the idea of there being a 'Bro Code' between a clique of guys known as 'Bros'. I know, very original right? This follows the many rules that the 'Bros' must abide by in order to stay within the clan, but also be a part of their way of life with their friends. However, one of the rules (which is also the one which seems to stick out the most, as well as being the main device to move the plot) is to not date another Bro's relative, especially if it is their sister. Well, we can see how thi

Archibald Lox and the Bridge Between Worlds by Darren Shan

It's been a while since Darren Shan has written a children's book. Focusing more on his adult audience these last few years it seemed like this was the avenue he would have stayed in. However, I'm glad he made the transition back. I can't believe how much I have missed him doing a children's book until now. Covid-19 is at least good for one thing. I get to start on a new series that I can't wait to read. This first book in the serial seems different from previous children's books that he has written in the past. Almost mysterious and part of a realm that is more metaphysical rather than anything. Yet still enchanting in a way that makes look at the world in a new-found way In some ways it kind of reminds me of Plato's cave in the sense that there is something more to reality than what most people let on. Something that can be seen to be incomprehensible to the person that has not experienced The Merge and will never understand the importance of it. Once

Bookish and the Beast by Ashley Poston

                                                      Poston continues her comic con serial of books based on her take on fairy-tale retellings. There has been Cinderella, Prince and the Pauper, but now she shines a light on her interpretation of Beauty and the Beast. It is clear from the beginning who are the main characters in this book: Rosie and Vance. Vance, if you have already read the previous book, The Princess and the Fangirl, you would see his introduction to the Starfield fandom at ExcelsiCon. Introduced as being a bad guy and not very likeable, this seems like the perfect character in this world to become the Beast of this tale. Rosie on the other hand, seems like the perfect Belle type person. Has a great love of books, lives with just her Dad, as her Mum has died, but just as loved. Struggling to live and having to take on work so that both of them can survive on two incomes instead of the one. But also having that one guy in the background, Garrett (yes, a play on the wo

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

'Romancing Mister Bridgerton' is part of a serial of books, which this particular one is the fourth instalment. However, in my opinion, it can be read as a singular entity, as I have come to find that I accidentally started this series on the third book, 'An Offer From a Gentleman'.  In the Bridgerton series, Quinn delves deep into high society of the ton and the peaks and troughs of being on the 'marriage mart'. The Bridgertons consist of eight siblings, each named after the next letter in the alphabet: Anthony, Benedict, Colin, Daphne, Eloise, Francesca, Gregory and Hyacinth. However, in the context of this book, the sibling which the story is based is on Colin.  However, the other main protagonist in the book is Penelope. Penelope is someone who is considered to be one day a spinster, rather than married off to anyone of interest to the ton. In fact, it is assumed by her mother that she will grow old and look after her when she is much older. But this is not

Fat Girl Finishing School by Rachel Wiley

Personally, I'm not one for poetry. It was never a strength of mine when at school, as it was hard to decipher what could be seen as being metaphorical to the literal meaning. But I really wanted to try something new on this occasion.  I fell in love with this cover and when I looked at the description of body positivity and feminism, I was entranced into this new world I never have really wanted to step into before. Fat Girl Finishing School is composed of several poems talking all about the fear of being in a public place and being ridiculed for your weight, to the idols that Wiley has come to love even from the beginning of her childhood, where there was not as much positivity for women of certain bodies. It is also a very personal piece allowing for us all to get to know what really is most important to Wiley and how she has the opinions that she does and how they have come to formulate together. Which is quite fascinating to see.  There is one particular poem that I have come