The Secret Seaside Escape by Heidi Swain

Tess goes away to the Norfolk coast where she has good memories of her mum after making a shocking discovery at home about her parents.

Leaving her father's business in the lurch and switching off her phone she sets about helping the lovely locals, Sam, Hope and there she meets brother's Joe and Charlie.

However as she grows closer to them she finds out a huge life changing secret and her workaholic dad surprises her beyond belief...

The ending was phenomenal, a huge unexpected plot twist which made me gasp I was shocked and hooked on reading on about her family what a twist! A perfect read to distract through current times I was immersed in this wonderful world and the characters lives.

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

Going Up! By Sherry J Lee

This book is fabulous for showing a sense of community in a tower block of flats/appartments. People and dogs of all ages join in the party fun with their friends and family to celebrate their friends birthday all together bringing their own treats to the party to share together.

The illustrations brought the story to life and I loved how the characters had a pencil sketch and coloured in feel about them too.

It was a great read that'll teach children about sharing, caring and helping others especially those in the same community.

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

Owen And The Soldier by Lisa Thompson

Owen likes to visit the local memorial garden where he talks to a stone soldier statue after losing his dad and his mum becoming withdrawn and depressed.

So when he learns the garden is to be changed and the soldier gotten rid of, an opportunity at school to speak up and tell the council and everyone how he feels may help change their minds.

He also gets the chance to get help for his mum's grief and depression as well as make a friend himself in Megan.

A powerful story about a boy channelling his grief and finding a cause to move forward and fight/live for to make his dad proud.

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!

RHS A Nation In Bloom by Matthew Biggs

In this book we get a great mixture of gorgeous photography and informative text about the history past to present about the RHS from set up to how it plans to do even more in the future.

Showing about gardening being therapeutic and great for everyone it encourages all ages to give it a go and shows how it unites communities and provides a fun way to meet others and tackle loneliness among other things.

I have to say since reading this book I plan to visit RHS Wisely and Rosemoor. I have visited the flower shows which feature in this book in a chapter too and it highlights the importance of expansion to be more inclusive to more areas of the country.
I'm off now to Gardner's World live now to enjoy the flower displays there too!

What Lexie Did by Emma Shevah

Lexie and Eleni are as close as twins, growing up together after spending their lives literally by each others sides as Lexie helped Eleni stay alive after she had to have many operations on her heart as a young baby.

Now, their huge Greek family is divided after a lie and secrets hidden from the family by Lexie. Also missing Eleni as she becomes best friends with new girl Anastasia Lexus feels left out and a bit lonely.

As she tries to get her mum talking to her sister and her family again to reunite the two halves of their huge family once again, she comes to realise how different life could've been growing up but more importantly that the truth is always best and lying is the worst thing ever not to mention how her grandma and God would feel watching her lie to everyone...

A family divided by a lie this book shows how harmful lies can be and the impact they have on all those effected not just the one person telling the lie. We see how friendships can be changed and how death can cause people to react differently. It's an emotional and honest book sure to win your heart.

Smart by Kim Slater

After finding a dead body floating in the river, Kieron
promises to find out whom was responsible for Colin the homeless man's murder as Jean a homeless women also helps him too a free Colin had been a kind friend to her.

It helps that his dream career is as a crime reporter like his idol off Sky News. He even gets a signed picture from him and has to hide it as his stepbrother destroys everything when he's not playing video games.

Though his home life is horrible, his grandma no longer in touch, he vows to find her and while his mum works all the time, his step dad hates him and he spends most of his time in his room sketching, inspired by Lowry creating art when he can.

His mum suffers domestic abuse from his stepdad, a lazy drug dealing thug whom doesn't even send his son to school, just letting him play video games all day long. So when things get interesting in his investigations, he finds a surprising new family member as well as revealing the true murderer.

This was a book that kept on giving when the story got gritty. I excited by the developments and the way he gets a family of true sorts back by his investigationinvestigation. A true young detective in the making he is indeed!