Monday 30 September 2019

Not My Fault by Cath Howe

After an accident on a playground roundabout, sisters Rose and Maya barely talk and never nicely.

Maya went off the tracks behaving badly after her leg was injured severely caused by Rose.

Rose loves gymnastics to escape home where Maya is a black cloud.

On a school trip away, Maya's moods and actions towards her sister become even more extreme and an act of rebellion see's her facing up to her reality that her leg is causing her pain again for a reason as well as Rose coming to realise what matters, speaking up about how her sister makes her feel and what she really wants to do in life, not just be biased around by her so called  best friend...

There's friendship drama, missing hamsters and tense times at sea as the group gets into danger...

This was a great book detailing how a sibling fight can be very extreme and we see from both girls how they each feel from the split POV which was great and both girls were well developed characters and we could see how the event and their points of view fitted in and how they felt to everything said about them.



Sunday 29 September 2019

Cinnamon Bun Besties by Stacia Deutsch

In this book we meet Suki and her rival in everything JJ who wants to take her place in helping to sell Cupid Cards at school for their valentine's school council project.

Suki really wants a dog to and when she meets a stray she instantly loves it especially as it loves her favourite Cinnamon drink, so she calls the dog after it!

However as she discovers JJ knows Cinnamon Bun she finds herself feeling heartbroken however another dog at the shelter catches her eye for being the longest resident there and as she tries to sell her Cupid Cards at school, she realises she can do a good deed and possibly save the shelter from having to close down forever...

I love stories about saving animals and this is a great Valentine's book with a sweet hearted story and lovable characters.


Saturday 28 September 2019

My Best Friend The Suffragette by Sally Morgan

Christine is brought up in a family against suffrage and makes friends with Mary who is a wannabe detective who is a suffragette as her family support it. The two communicate with letters back and forth which tell the story as the girls families suffer for the effort of getting the vote even pulling in some historic people references too.

A great way of telling a story which is unique as well as being a gripping but fun historical read children can get into easily and get a taste of the time back then with the dedication it took women to get to vote.


Friday 27 September 2019

The Girl With Space In Her Heart by Lara Williams

In this book Mabel faces even more space being made in her heart as after her dad left, her mum met Gavin or as her sister Terrible Topaz as she calls her calls Gavin, Galactic Gavin as he's a huge fan of astronomy like Mabel is.

As Topaz gets Mabel involved in figuring out a way to tell their mum that Gavin is cheating on her, Mabel feels even more lonely as Gavin was helping her and they got on especially as she discovers a letter from her dad to her, while she discovers Topaz has a while other reason to not be happy about after a run in with some girls after school one day, Mabel starts to realise her family may have more secrets than she thought...

This is a story that many will relate to about missing a parents and being left with a space to be filled. Topaz was a typical teenager and a troublemaker who was a great contrast to Mabel and her good girl persona. I loved the unique hobby of astrology and think it gets greatly overlooked in fiction but it works so well in this book!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!





Thursday 26 September 2019

Frosting And Friendship by Lisa Schroeder

In the final book in the trilogy of sweet treats, this time told from Sophies camp friend, Lily's perspective, we see how she takes on too much and struggles to cope.

From baking and hosting Sophie's birthday party to helping her band win and to play at their spring fling dance as well as become good enough at baking to fit in with their baking book club.

All about joining and trying new things as Lily tries to feel a proper part of the group and for in properly as each girl had a passion for either books or baking, but Lily feels a tag along friend as her baking isn't good at all! Final fun and joy in the final of the trilogy!


Sprinkles And Secrets by Lisa Schroeder

In the second of the trilogy, this time we continue the story from Sophie's perspective as we see how her aim for fame and acting threatens her friendship with Isabel after she wins a commercial call back for a rival to Isabel's mums cupcake shop.

We also see her battle jealousy over Isabel's success with her cupcakes and how she discovers boys can be friends with girls too after making a new buddy during all the chaos in her life! Showing how friendship can survive anything and supporting each other is best this celebrates friendship and passion for our hobbies at it's best!


It's Raining Cupcakes by Lisa Schroeder

In this book, her parents opening up a cupcake shop leads Isabelle to discover she wants to travel and see more than just of their rainy town. When a competition to win a trip to New York and a part in a baking competition arises she sets to working on getting there.

Sophie best friend however is also entering the competition so can their friendship survive the test?

A sweet fun read as a girl follows her mum's footsteps as they set about baking up a cupcake storm. Her best friend is ambitious by nature while laid back Isabelle just goes with the chaos her mum's new shop brings to their lives and sure there's hard times but good too and I loved this book!


Wednesday 25 September 2019

The Forgotten Sister by Caroline Bond

Erin is the youngest sister, Cassie is seventeen dating Ryan a guy her dad can't stand until things go wrong and he can't help his daughter as she shuts herself off withdrawing from the family.

For Grace and Tom, Cassie completed their lives their adopted daughter until a shock pregnancy also gave them Erin their true genetic daughter.

So when Cassie starts to question her adoption, life starts to change dramatically with her mood worsening and her parents being pushed away as she posts online an appeal for information about her adoption and gets a reply from Leah, her sister, supposedly.

Then Tom and Grace get a phone call that day their daughter has been in an accident months and then they realise their family could be in danger, they know Leah and a lot of truths about her come to light, she is 'damaged' from her childhood and they couldn't help her...

Full of intrigue this is a book that will leave you questioning and guessing parts of the plot until the very end. I have to say I didn't love the end I would've liked to see a different outcome maybe darker even but that's just me you'll have to read it to judge for yourself! However I liked the character variation for the family being a mix race family and the use of adoption too as in adult fiction books it's rarely written about, the sisters had a good realistic relationship in the family and Leah was an understandable character when you learn of her past. I really loved the book and am going to eagerly await more from Caroline.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!


Love, Lucie by Marita Conlon-McKenna

This book is set from Lucie's perspective as she writes in her notebook to her mum after she dies from cancer.

The year noted in the notebook shows how the family do and don't cope with the matters as their dad struggles to cope with work and childcare whilst older sister Chloe develops anorexia it seems as she hardly eats and becomes worryingly thin.

The stress on the family is obviously amped up but the summer holiday to their grandparents in France makes them happier as the girls find summer crushes and can relax away from home and school more. The year shows how tough all their relative's take their mum's passing and how much it can affect someone but Lucie copes well writing all the thoughts down while in contrast we see how it can make someone else become destructive to themselves. It was a touching book and a truthful one as many families are effected by cancer year by year.


Tuesday 24 September 2019

The Wrong Side Of Kai by Estelle Maskame

When Vanessa's mum died her life fell apart as her dad was battling his grief and her and her sister were left to fend for themselves which made Vanessa acting out and sleeping with random guys easy to do with no one to stop her.

However after breaking off her latest fling with Harrison, she discovers he has leaked a recording of her to their whole school and her life starts to fall apart...

Until Kai transfers in from another school also with a grudge against Harrison and the pair team up to get revenge...

This book was fabulous, I loved the dynamic of a good duo teaming up to get revenge in YA and it was done really well and the twist at the end while being easy to predict was a great twist nonetheless and made me as a reader happy with the outcome of the book overall.


Monday 23 September 2019

An Otter Called Pebble by Helen Peters

Jasmine and Tom find a single otter cub alone on the riverbank and set to take care of it until it can be released safely once she's older and stronger, however, a charity comes to collect him sadly but with crafty brother Manu causing mayhem it maybe just be the right move.

But just where did the otter come from and can they find his family?

A lovely story about the joy the friends have looking after their beloved local animals once again and unique finding an otter around the UK too the series is great for getting kids involved in learning about animals.



A Lamb Called Lucky by Helen Peters

When Jasmine finds a lamb passed away but a newborn baby lamb by her side, she takes great care and pride in helping to raise the baby lamb like she's seen her farm owner parents do for years.

As the lamb grows up, she enjoys helping him learn how to walk on his poorly back legs and also enjoys playing with him and helping integrate him into the sheep herd.

However, with lambs and sheep being stolen around the country, could their flock be in danger of being targeted next?

A lovely read about animals but saddening obviously talking about the loss of a beautiful animal despite it being the natural way of life sadly. Younger children may find it quite a teary read while older reader around eight plus should be able to enjoy the story more and appreciate the natural life cycle however the story was great how the children take responsibility and help the new born lamb.


Sunday 22 September 2019

Isadora Moon Has A Birthday by Harriet Muncaster

In this book Isadora wants a normal human birthday party but as her vampire dad and fairy mum plan it we can expect a lot of non traditional party antics especially a cloud bouncy castle that goes awry!

This story was so fun! The adventure they have at the party is crazy cool I only wish such a party could exist!


Isadora Moon Goes To School by Harriet Muncaster

Isadora has to try out both fairy and vampire school in this fun little book as her parents are a vampire and a fairy mix and needs to find where she fits!

Isadora is a fab character the illustrations made her come alive as this story was a great beginning to her story truly unique and wonderful debut!


Saturday 21 September 2019

Shake It Off by Suzanne Nelson

When Briais forced to stay with her countryside cousin's on their farm all summer away from her home of Chicago and her best friend Leila, she is angry and for a start hates her time on the chore filled farm.

From dirt mucking, waitressing, milking and more she discovers she can't and won't help until she's fuelled by and angry customer and a curious one about her fun hometown crazy monster shakes where a milkshake is taken to the extreme with ice cream, sweets, cream, marshmallows and chocolate all get in the mix to create a wacky unique shake experience!

As their farm is threatened to be closed and paid off to a top creamery company, Bria and her cousin Wren fall for the same guy, Gabe.

Suddenly summer is not so boring and there's so much drama that Bria finds she might just be able to follow her heart and decide some tough decisions about her friends back home...

A sweet unlikely love story set within a book about friendship troubles and finding your own way and opinions discovering who you are and about growing up. A more serious book than the previous standalone by Suzanne in a good way as more drama amps up the action and storyline, this teamed up with the monster shakes idea makes it my favourite yet!




A Change Is Gonna Come by Mary Bello

My favourites from this book were Aisha Busby, Tanya Byrne, Yasmin Rahman and Ayisha Maliks stories but overall the stories celebrate everything from difference in life situation, sexual orientation, friendship, family, religion and more. These short stories pack a punch and really show how difference can be great and helps us to appreciate each other too.


Thursday 19 September 2019

The Land Of Roar by Jenny McLachlan

Arthur and Rose grew up playing together inventing The Land Of Roar only now they're older, Rose and Arthur no longer play those games however when Arthur and his grandad discover Road is real and get into trouble while reuniting with old friends, Rose too ventures into the land and everything changes as they discover their world is real!

This book is for anyone who wishes the places they invented when they were kids existed and for a fantasy book it seemed to flow better than others I've tried to read with a good amount of action and great world building there's something to intrigue everyone!


Wednesday 18 September 2019

Twisted Tales Let It Go by Jen Calonita

In this retelling of Frozen, Elsa grew up as an only child while Anna grew up adopted to her knowledge unknowing her rarely visiting aunt is actually the queen and her mum!

When their parents die, Elsa discovers the secret with Olaf's help and sets off to find Anna while Anna feels drawn to Arandelle as she always has and so plots to venture there with the help of Kristoff and Sven.

Can the girls find and heal their lost sisterly relationship?

This was literally a Frozen retelling through pieces of the film being moved around like a jigsaw with alterations added throughout and you know what, it worked so well I prefer this version I think!


Tuesday 17 September 2019

Hotel Flamingo Holiday Heatwave Book 2 by Alex Milway

In this book Anna the hotel manager has a task to create the perfect welcoming setting for the royal penguins!

However as a heatwave occurs, sabotage also does and their rival Glitz hotel is the suspect but a shock changes everything...

It was a great mystery throughout especially with the animal twist at the end, no spoilers here but it was clever and not a simple story the setting was a hotel suffering a heatwave while trying to accommodate penguins which in itself was intriguing to how it would work!


Monday 16 September 2019

Fat Angie by E.E. Charlton-Trujillo

Angie or as she's known at school, fat Angie, put on weight after her sister at eighteen suddenly joined the army and now is missing presumed dead meanwhile her family fell apart as her dad moved out leaving her with her mum and brother Wang who has turned into a criminal and been in major trouble.
Also, Wang's therapist is dating their mum.

At school, Angie isn't popular and so when new girl KC starts to hang around with her she can't believe it as well as one of the most popular jocks in school Jake standing up for her against a violent bully. Stacey Ann is the worst bully but everyone seems to throw degrading weight comments her way.

KC reveals she knew Angie before moving and knows about her sister, the pair also find themselves having mutual feelings about each other despite Angie being warned by Jake that something's not right about the situation that Angie later ends up in while trying to live up to her sister's sporty history and lose weight too.

This book was amazing, it brought up a lot of mental health issues from PTSD, self harm, borderline personality disorder and behavior disorders too as well as bullying and how it progresses and shows everyone's transparency.


Sunday 15 September 2019

The Way It Hurts by Patty Blount

Elijah needs to win to support his special needs sister, Anna who is thirteen to his seventeen and facing being admitted to a residential facility due to her severe autism.

Kristen wants to make her grandma proud so getting rejected from New York performance college hits her hard until Elijah approaches her about singing with his band after hearing her perform live at their school despite her singing musical theatre not rock. Eli supports her as her grandma later suffers a bad stroke despite their turbulent relationship.

Throughout the book, there are a lot of sexists remarks made as well as online interactions under pseudonym handles on websites. When Eli and Kristen confront what's being said about mainly Kristen, they argue but get past it eventually despite feeling attracted to each other and sharing a kiss, they go on to date others for a while as the pressure gets too much as news stations pick up on their band's drama the pressure could prove too much for them all...

It was a very dramatic book and I did feel like Kristen was a weak female character throughout just taking what's said and letting Eli try and deal with it especially at the end of the book when the future is revealed about what they're doing now.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!


Wishbones by Virginia Macgregor

Feather was a small and light baby, her mum however is obese and seemingly always has been on the larger side of the scale which over time has attracted local press attention as her mum has many phobias and one means she can't leave their house and she actually hasn't in thirteen years.
(This reminded me of Tracy's mum in Hairspray.)
Virginia has her best friend Jake and his mum, Steph around for her to rely on. Jake has a girlfriend we learn early on as Feather nearly full on kisses him as she leaves to go home to celebrate new years at home with her parents.

Unfortunately, events take a turn for the worst and Feather's mum is rushed into hospital, resulting in the village watching on as a crane is used through the living room window to reach her mum and get her out. This is a wake up calk for Feather who sets out on getting her mum healthy again after learning her mum weights over 30 stone. She tries to entice her mum to eat healthy foods, invites the local slimming group round and wishes her mum would make friends again especially with Steph.

Throughout the novel the issues surrounding weight gain such as depression and postnatal depression arise as well as the issues surrounding weight loss in the form of character, Clay whom feels guilt over past events and suffers severely with anorexia.

The novel is great for raising awareness around the mostly silent issue of male anorexia and also pushes the point that it's never just about the food, it's mental abuse we often use towards ourselves in the form of past horrible memories and feeling towards ourselves.

The book has a brilliant mystery woven into it around the issue of Clay arriving and Feather's mum acting weird around him raising Feather's awareness that's things aren't right.

There is a great contrast between healthy and competitive swimming in Feather and proving that passions shared through families can keep them together even if one takes a step back and how families share the same interests.

This book is sure to be a hit with many of us young adults and teens alike. This book was sent to me by the publishers for review and I can't rate highly enough that this book is one of 2017's best to come out this year for sure.


Friday 13 September 2019

Catdoodles by Akiko Masuda

This book is beautiful, with many types of cats drawn and tips on how to create them yourself too.
Each page is full of colourful cats which all vary showing the versatility on how to create your own types of cats. From doodles, to rainbow cats covering the page, this book shows you them all.

The book is suitable for any age and any capability of drawing talent from young children to adults, these cats are all simple doodles and we can all manage a cat doodle with this book if you're unsure how to!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!


Creative Marker Art & Beyond by Lee Foster-Wilson

Starting with a tools and materials list alongside a colour wheel explaining colour types and drawing tips all fully explained, the book sets you up with all the tips and tricks you need to understand creative marker art and colours that work and pattern types to try out too.

With ideas to try out with space on the page for you to work within the book if you wanted to, the book guides you through many ideas from nature inspired design to creative lettering and hand drawn gifts. 

The book is beautiful, colourful and laid out in a way that's still easy to read and not distracting from the colourful drawings! Each page is more and more inspiring and is sure to get you out of a creative rut or just get you involved in marker craft.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!


Boy 2 Girl by Terence Blacker

When Sam arrives in Matthew's life after his mum dies, the people around them all have their views on Sam from his jailed dad to his crazy anger outbursts.

Then Sam gets dared to start school as a girl, Sam takes the challenge, fooling them all getting friends in Elena and Charley while Gary dislikes her after she turns a him down for a date.

However, Sam has a mighty inheritance coming his way but while his jailbird dad tracks him down to Matthew's he doesn't suspect Sam is Sam the girl or Simone from Canada either as he poses with Matthew to cover his identity and soon the transition becomes permanent while his father hangs around.

We hear from lots of the characters in this book and their take on new American Sam joining their school. It was an interesting read but I did honestly find the ending very anti climactic and not how I expected. The rest of the book was fun but hard hitting at the same time as people fell trick to the gender swap not realising the truth.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!


Wednesday 11 September 2019

Chinglish by Sue Cheung

Jo and her crazy Chinese and English aka Chinglish, family move to Coventry to live in two rooms above a Chinese takeaway her parents run.

As her younger sister makes friends with an older girl, shoplifts and smokes, her brother Simon was caught stealing and went to live with their grandparents while Jo is left longing for a better future than being married off or owning the takeaway!

We see Jo make friends with goth Tina, get her first boyfriend, deal with bullies, discover a passion for art as a career and also how disappointed she feels about her parents as we get to see how truly horrific home life can secretly be behind doors.

Raising awareness of domestic abuse/violence this book was open and honest showing the raw side of life within some families. I loved hearing about dancing bonkers goats and entering a competition to win a scholarship to fashion school which sounds crazy amazing and in general this book was a fabulous debut and everyone will laugh, cry and love this book, I guarantee.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!


Tuesday 10 September 2019

The Summer Theatre By The Sea by Tracy Corbett

Charlotte, an interior designer living in London loses her job the same day she also loses her boyfriend, Ethan and the flat they shared.

Her sister Lauren and her two young children moved from London to Cornwall seven years previous and never has Charlotte visited until now when she poses coming to stay for a while as her father and sister relocated there years ago after their mother's unfortunate death due to cancer.

Lauren is a member of the same theatre group performing A Midsummer Nights Dream at an outdoor theatre, it's here that friendships and relationships are made and we also meet young doctor Barney, on a break from junior doctor training in London.

As Charlotte joins the play as a set designer, Lauren's still struggling with her debts piling up as Glenda the loan shark applies pressure and Barney's parents are pressuring him to go home and choose a specialty to train up in at the hospital and build a 'real career' for himself. Nate picks up on Lauren's debt issues and tries to help despite his feelings for her risking her never speaking to him again. Charlotte finds herself relaxing more and even ends up with Barney on a few occasion's...

I loved the character of Dusty as a drag queen alter ego who finally helps the girls realise what they need to do to be truly happy for once. Her out there attitude and talk of risk taking makes them both realise what they want instead of staying miserable especially in Lauren's case. This book was a good one and although it started out with Charlotte being the main character, we transitioned fluidly throughout the book between both sisters and Barney to see how their lives collided with each other's. The plot was gripping with Glenda the money lender being the drawing point for me more so than seeing if the play went off without a hitch! Perhaps as it's so rare to come across in a women's fiction that single parents do often need to borrow from characters like her it drew me in more to that part of the story.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!


Monday 9 September 2019

The Summer House Of Happiness by Daisy James

After losing her mother, Gabbie fulfilled her dream of becoming a perfumer, now though after rejecting a deal which would be left her working away from customers like she wanted, she is returning back home to Devon to see her father whom works in a garage he owns.

Only she doesn't expect Max, a mechanic at the garage who also restores his uncle's old vintage car. There's an instant sizzle of attraction and desire between the pair as they connect seamlessly bonding over their car knowledge and combined loss of mum's.

However, Gabbie can only help so much and when she has tidied up enough to make sense of the accounts does she realise the baggage is on the precipice of bankruptcy!

Gabbie also helps out locals wanting remedies as she rediscovers her mum's old personal summer house of aromatherapy oils and creams. While it makes them some money it's not enough, so when she gets offered another perfumery postion, will she take it and manage to save the business?

Ooh so much action especially in the last quarter of this book as everything comes to a head health, work and relationship wise! As a knight in garage overalls may just save them all from worrying anymore. Love, friendship, following your dreams and of course passion for your career shine through this book in every page as each character is dealing with something in those categories. I loved the idea of Gabbie working as a perfumer as it's so rare to fiction to hear of as a career and plot around that As I would love that job imagine the fun! It was a true show of family love throughout!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!


Sunday 8 September 2019

Cherry Blossom Dreams by Gwyneth Rees

In this book we meet Sasha who's mum is moving in her toyboy boyfriend who just happens to be a teacher at her school!

Her best friend is Lily, a girl who's brother Rafferty she has a crush on while she discovers that her brother Sean's best friend Zack is who actually like her!

As their strict grandma is set to come visit as she disapproves of their mother's actions and choices things are a bit tense especially as Sean's snake goes missing in Blossom House, a place they love going to to escape life at home as their mum is an estate agent with the keys to the house Sean takes!

I easily saw what was coming and even the last few pages were no surprise sadly but the story was still great even if it didn't shock me with what happened! I really did enjoy this book however especially the Blossom House part as the kid's feel it's their place to get away to and also how the kids adapted to their mum and teacher getting together too.


Saturday 7 September 2019

A Patchwork Family Part 1 by Cathy Bramley

Gina and her husband Eric split amicably where she leaves being a teacher behind to become a child minder. Eric evidently winds her up and belittles what she does from the off and her parents never gave her much attention either despite her wacky cool hair colours.

As she discovers a dishy new headteacher, gets an Ofsted inspection and faces taking on more kids to childmind including a selective mute girl who's just lost her dad, she has her hands full so facing buying not renting her home from her elderly friends is exciting until a huge shock flips her plan upside down...

This book intrigued me into the ways of a working and older friendship and especially as they lose a beloved friend and family member sending their lives into chaos Cathy has me hooked I need to know what happens next!

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!


Friday 6 September 2019

Because Of You by Eve Ainsworth

In this book, Poppy is Struggling with her mum moving in her boyfriend after throwing her dad out months ago.

Poppy lives her dad but hardly sees him now he's got a job but he also likes to drink and forgets about everything when he does...

In school however Poppy starts to have a tough time as she stands up for a girl who's getting picked on by a bully. However the tables turn as the bully who's her ex friend then turns her attention to Poppy and picking on her and when a video she takes of Poppy goes online things get out of hand...

I enjoyed this book but I did think there would be more incidents of bullying in the book, even though obviously any is bad enough! It raised so many issues from new families and missing parents, being bullied, fake friends and more it was a great little story though and another great book from a fellow Eve.



Thursday 5 September 2019

Isadora Moon Gets In Trouble by Harriet Muncaster

In this book Isadora and her cousin Mirabelle have fun with a dolls house and even become part of it with a nifty spell!

However as pink rabbit remains miniature, the girls also struggle with a new oet, a dragon!

As the Dragon causes havoc at school and Isadora's parents have no idea about any of this going on, how long will they be able to keep it all a secret?

It was such a cute and fun story to read and especially as we meet more of Isadora's family it shows how they have different skills and creates more fun for us to read!


Wednesday 4 September 2019

Toffee by Sarah Crossan

Sarah Crossan has once again written a brilliant verse book telling the story of Allie who becomes Toffee to Marla, a woman suffering from dementia who's house and shed she ends up squatting in after running away from home.

Only her home wasn't a home as we see through flashback memories Allie recall's as her father was violent towards her and his girlfriends after Allie's mum died.

We see how Allie tries to find Kelly-Ann who was her dad's last girlfriend and stayed the longest, caring the most and discovers a life changing fact from her too, can they find each other and rebuild their lives together?

Marla was a spot on depiction of dementia as I have an aunt who's even worse with her dementia though at one time she was like this she is now bedridden and doesn't understand a thing. The abuse was horrific but made the novel pack a punch, that phase may not be the most nicest way to put it considering the subject matter but the book will shock and make you empathetic to Allie and her situation, a true masterpiece.


Tuesday 3 September 2019

Help Wanted Must Love Books by Janet Sumner Johnson

In this book Shailey is sick of her dad being too tired after work to read her a bed time story and so she sets about interviewing all of the fairytale characters from the ginger bread man, Hook, Goldilocks, Snow White and her dwarfs and more!

All about appreciating your family and the joys of sharing a bed time story it was a great book and with lovely illustrations to bring it to life.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!


One More Time by Nancy Loewen

A story all about perseverance and getting up and trying again in this case riding a new scooter, this will teach kids try and try again, never give up and is very short and to the point.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!


Sophie's Shell by Jo Rooks

Sophie is a lovely little snail shy about starting school and likes to pop back into her shell when it all gets too much until she makes a new friend, Stanley!

This picture book was super sweet all about overcoming shyness and the initial starting school jitters and nerves, the illustrations were great to illustrate the take and were super sweet and vibrant.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!


Monday 2 September 2019

Beautiful Bodies by Kimberley Rae Miller

In this memoir about lifestyle, nutrition and bodies, Kimberley opens up on her life and opinions about how harmful so called diet culture can be in modern day.

Talking openly about her struggles with weight and anorexia like behaviour, to gaining all the weight back after another restrictive and dangerous diet.

Talking about diet culture and media influence, as well as her own early modelling days and adults telling her younger self to watch her weight, we learn how damaging and worrying it plants itself into youngsters and still happens nowadays too.

She also talks about refeeding syndrome and how it takes time to repair metabolic damage once it has occurred, it can take months to repair properly a damaged metabolism.

Kimberley has opened her life to us for judging, relating and commiserating with through every high and low all women face she is brave and beautiful for doing so, any girl who has struggled will appreciate this book.


Sunday 1 September 2019

Running From The Rainbow by Karen McCombie

For Rainbow starting a new school is hard as she has to hide the fact her mum is the new teacher and in a bid to not stand out choses to go by Rosie a more simple less attention grabbing name after she suffered bullying from class mates at her old school.

She slowly makes new friends and also friends with the school class president who helps her feel more confident in herself and her name.

This book is great for showing how not everyone is the same and things can get better and friends will come along and understand you even if last ones didn't. A fun little read about dealing with a lot of change.


Great Destinations Of A Lifetime by Claudia Martin

In this book packed with stunning photography my stand out faves were the blue lagoon, ice caves and northern luights in Iceland as well as...