Paper Hearts and Summer Kisses by Carole Matthews

Christie is in her forties with a teen son, Finn and a divorce in her past as well as a career as a PA for a law firm which doesn't excite her like her passion for crafting does as she loves nothing better than her crafty TV channel and getting her hands going making many cards etc.

When she replies or rather her mum does on her behalf to an add for a future collaboration with an American craft company of which she would love to work for she never expects a reply or for what entails next!

However as her son becomes increasingly unwell with a permanent headache and collapsing which seems obviously a serious issue she doesn't get there for a diagnosis quickly as she wished and soon the worst is confirmed and torn between her son, love and work she feels pulled in many directions before the world helps her figure it out...

This book makes you appreciate family and those you love as well as bringing awareness of health issues and the importance of persistence! Follow your dreams and you never know where it may lead this left me feeling full of hope and positivity as well as wanting to get crafting again!

Women In Sports by Rachel Ignotofsky

When I saw this book I was so super happy. As a girl, I've actually always preferred male sports and been parts of Cricket, Golf, Football, Badminton and now weight lifting groups as well.

We often get judged for it and unfairly so and a book about women doing great in sports is just what is needed in society to be celebrated more.

The book goes through a timeline of history as well as including a wide range of sports. It talks of the challenges the women faced and some consequences were even death in past times!

This book would be brilliant for schools, in modern day we need women and young girls to not give up on sports and think its for boys and it's a subject I am passionate about greatly. An empowering and inspiring book with many modern athletes we know doing great today from Serena Williams to Simone Biles and Nicola Adams.

Thanks to the publishers for allowing me a copy to review!

Unstoppable by Dan Freedman

Roxy and Kaine are fourteen years old twins old Kaine is a bitter guy hanging out and causing trouble while his friend Aj is by his side.

With their mum working all hours and their dad jobless now money is tighter than ever.

However the kids futures look bright a possible football star in Kaine and a tennis star in Roxy.

But Kaine is a complex character after the death of his grandma he's after out becoming increasingly angry at the world and his family for not being there. He believes he's second best to them all and gets in trouble at school despite his chance with a football scout he gets taken in to a notorious gang alike his uncle wound up involved in even if his was by accident and soon enough he's in deep and carrying a knife...

For Roxy though her dad pushing her tennis career has ended the fun for HR as he likes on the pressure and drinks a lot to quell his own disappointment in himself being jobless treating her future as his job and controlling her whole life.

However as tragedy strikes second chances are granted but can everybody survive?

In this family both teens are unhappy but see each other as flipping ecstatic unable to see they're unhappy too. Their relationship is utterly broken and by the end of the book we see how they need to actually talk and be open to each other to be truly happy not be snippy with each other how they come across.
I really enjoyed how the characters and up and their contrast as Roxy has a bright future while Kaine looks an escape and winds up in with a gang he knows it wrong to do and the difference in how they cope with their situation after losing their grandma and deal with their pushy and ignorant parents highlights how no one should not tell their parents how they want to live their life!

This book is one you won't want to put down until you've finished, it's a fantastic gritty and gripping story.

With The Fire On High by Elizabeth Acevedo

Emoni is a teen mom in school with her babygirl Emma to care for she had with Tyrone her ex.

Malachi joins her class and elective, cookery which is what Emoni is passionate about and the pair strike up a relationship of acquaintances as Emoni knows boys are trouble despite her loving her Emma.

She dreams of being a chef and working creating magical dishes of food for people and has done all her life. Raised by her abuela while her mum passed and her dad flits in and out of their lives, they struggle for money and so when she helps to fundraise so they can all go to Spain on a trip, it looks to be a life-changing experience.

I loved Emonis situation though Tyrone got away with doing hardly any parenting unlike Emoni and his family are trouble for sure speaking harshly of Emoni but not their son for his role in baby making!

Emonis best friend being a lesbian was also included but not a great deal but she was a fun bubbly character to contrast the hard worker Emoni is and make the pair a good friendship match. The writing was very emotive and I enjoyed the journey we were taken on during the novel.

After all the hype I was wary to pick this book up, but I'm glad I did as it was a great read with a main character with courage to follow her dreams even when it got tough and a supportive family too.

Wilde Like Me by Louise Pentland

Alike her own life, Louise is very similar to Robin, her main character whom had a six year old daughter, Lyla Blue alike real life daughter, Darcy.

Robin deals with excelling in her career whilst trying to fit in with the school run mum's and fighting off the consuming loneliness which starts to hit her at times. Despite brushes with possible love in the form of Theo an English business man, it's a job in New York which lands her a beautiful future with new friends, a possible boyfriend and a dream career whilst also having the support of her aunt as well as her friend Lacey and her sharing many times together as Lacey fights to finally get pregnant as she so desires what  Robin has with Lyla.

Showing points about loneliness, dating and single parenting, it's honest and raw with emotional issues and the up's and down's of life mostly alone even if you have a young child or pet's at home and friends and family to call, the issues are all relatable and everyone who reads the book will feel for the characters I'm certain. It was an emotional ride but a lot of fun too with trips to New York and artist work with dates thrown into the mix too!

Gardenlust by Chris Woods

I am reading this outside under the Spring sunshine which seems a fitting location as Gardenlust is to take me on a tour of the world's best new gardens which have been unearthed or discovered if you prefer, in the more recent of years. Chris Woods evidently has a passion for gardens having his career beginning at the Kew gardens and thriving to go on creating with gardens and produce books leading up to this one now.

Set to a backdrop of gorgeously captured, crisp photographs of various forms of outdoor nature at it's best, from flowers to trees, details in seating arrangements, various statues and beyond, this book is a small sanctuary to those of us whom wish to be out in all weather's in a garden of some form.

The gardens we are introduced to are picturesque with complementing colours displayed and in all areas of countries these little gardens or not so little gardens in many cases can be found to explore. They are all different and have many similar but never the exact same features, from bridges to statues to the rare weird yet wonderful plants on offer in their displays.

I myself may be English, but I have always been drawn to and appreciate Japanese and Chinese gardens after our town centre's park has mini ones of those designs mixed in, the UK also boasts many botanical gardens alike we read about in this book many a time and if this book sends out any kind of message to those of us living in cities or villages, it's to escape into a new bliss, of a garden we have yet to explore and make it a top priority to take time to relax, distress and unwind there.

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

Bonjour Girl by Isabelle Lafleche

Clementine, half French and half Chinese, now runs a blog all about fashion and attends New York's Parsons school of design staying with her cousin Maddie. At Parsons, she meets Stella a fellow fan of colour clothing unlike most Parsons students, Jake, a fellow fashionista who stands up for her when someone acts meanly towards her and Jonathan a cute photographer whom her cousin introduces her to.

With her scholarship she affords to start her blog but it soon sours from a dream as she starts receiving a lot of hate comments online from people finding out that she had scholarship funding, famous relatives and her unique diverse ideas the hate evolves  as Stella and other student, Ellie keep up the cyberbullying until Jonathan gets Clem to use his lawyer friend to take action after learning what Stella gets up to at the college...

As ideas get stolen and clothes go missing, cattiness between students amps up Clem realises show cut throat New York really is.

She comes from a family of high flying ladies, a model, an opera singer, TV personality etc and we see how women are made to be the powerful ones in this book. I loved the collision between fiction and real life as real bloggers and style blogs were mentioned throughout as Clems inspirations.

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

Curves, Kisses and Chocolate Ice Cream by Sue Watson

Dani is an hilarious approaching forty year old who works with Marco a great cake maker unfortunately for her as she battles to lose weight throughout this book.

Dani returned to Appledore in Devon after fleeing to London years before as her nineteen year old self was broken hearted by the cad, Jude she was in love with.

The cafe she works in is alive with characters of all ages and Karla her beat friend is also staying with her right now which is great as she spurs her on in now deteriorating from her diet plans to be slim and trim by her birthday as she dreams of being!

As Dani battles the gym environment quite literally head on, am array of catastrophes in there result in Chris, a member of staff getting to know her rather well. He offers her personal training on the deal she doesn't quit and works with him for twelve weeks, she agrees and her life starts to change.

Through the book, we learn of Dani's insecurities being spurred on by her alcoholic mum who existed solely on a gin diet, calling Dani fat and not feeding her properly either. Her dad had left her mum and so she was heartbroken as a young child growing up in a tough situation all round as she was bullied at school too.

As her birthday approaches, a disastrous newspaper article printed,,she finds Jude reappearing in her life as well as Alex, a regular gym bunny appearing too close to Chris leaving her a little heartbroken until her birthday wish which may come true...

I devoured this book quicker than Dani could all her ice creams for sure I was hooked, hilarious and Miranda style Dani was a joy to read about and her story is so funny but probably relatable to some girls out there who read this book. Light hearted and beach perfect this is a summer read you definitely need!

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