Roam by C H Armstrong

Abby is homeless living in her mum's truck after a scandal involving her mum at their last school where her mum was a math teacher.

On her first day she meets Josh and his bunch of girl friends he ironically nicknames Disney characters after they are lookalikes.

She also meets Zach, a hot guy she falls for only to make an enemy of his jealous ex girlfriend Trish who takes an instant dislike to Abby.

As Abby and her family live in their van, we see the trials they face from sleeping in it in the perishing cold weather, begging for money on the street, washing and using public shop bathrooms and having to rely on salvation army food and church food donations too as well as in desperation after being ill the family find themselves squatting too.

The book shows how normal families can fall into poverty and not even have a home nor money for basic supplies we all have a right to for survival. We see the dangerous effects of sleeping out in the cold as they become ill and especially how it can take a toll emotionally on the whole family not just the children in the family either. Realistic, moving and tragically hopeful too.

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

A Home At Honeysuckle Farm by Christie Barlow

Alice aged ten was moved from Honeysuckle Farm, her home to New York thanks to an argument and rift between her mum and her grandfather or Grandie and now she's heading back after learning her Grandie is ill and she longs for her real home still, despite leaving thirteen years before.

Her New York dream failed and she leaves her best friend Molly there but back home is reunited with her oldest friend Grace who informed her of her Grandie not being well. Connie is another old friend whom picks her up and takes her back to the unchanged village where the residents may be older but still the same. She also meets Sam Reid, a fellow performer Grace knows and whom lives next door too her.

When her ill Grandie hands her keys to their now long shut down and disused dance school and Honeysuckle Farm, Alice faces a choice whether to travel back to her dreary in debt life in New York or stay where she feels at home and welcomed.

She also uncovers many secrets not only about her real father but also her grandma and the link between Sam and the villager's attitude towards him which obviously rightly surprises her despite her feelings for him. Alice is a determined woman and changes attitudes while reopening the dance school she so loved as a child whilst she organizes Village Day celebrations to bring their community together even more. As well as finally getting her mum and Grandie to spill what the rift was about and why it started.

Alice is a weak and fragile character for a start, totally unfulfilled in her life but as she returns home we see how she flourishes into a strong and determined woman. Sam and her friends are all supportive and aiding friends to her and are great representations of how bonds can be created and unbroken. The rift was an amazing plot twist which was totally unpredictable for once and I loved it, an amazing homely book! I also loved the dance school aspect worked into the novel too as I'm sure any dance fans will do too.

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

The Secrets Of The Superglue Sisters by Susie Day

Georgie and her mum move in with Jem and her dad, brother Noah and sister Tilly.

Georgie and Jem are best friends and through their parents now actual sisters too as they move in, start school and get used to their new family set up.

However their friendship comes to blows when a school secret sharing box project goes missing and the girls find their deepest secrets are set loose for everyone to know...

A book that shows how secrets can be dangerous but also unite people. It was a book with likable characters and the family worked well on a whole. This secret aspect added another more mischievous side to the girls tale showing how a bond can be torn and mended. A great book to educate children on the value of truth and lies.

I Spy The Boy Next Door Exclusive Preview!

I Spy the Boy Next Door
by Samantha Armstrong
Publication date: May 25th 2019

Synopsis:

Four p.m. spy sessions are the highlight of Mallory Taylor’s day. Observing the boy next door—one with a body and an attitude to match—has her perched beside her window so often it can’t be healthy.

When she finally convinces her mom to let her go to public school, Mallory comes face to face with her neighbor, Troy Parker. And he makes it clear he wants nothing to do with her. His rejection awakens a newfound tenacity and maybe even a touch of recklessness. But when Troy starts to show up when she needs him the most, Mallory can’t help but wonder if there’s more to him than he’s let on.

Taking chances, breaking rules, and following her heart is all new to Mallory. And no one warned her just how fickle hearts can be. When she discovers that Troy isn’t at all the guy she imagined him to be, secrets rise to the surface that will change her life forever.

 This is a standalone mature YA/new adult contemporary romance.

Here's an excerpt for you all to get a feel for the book:

“Friends don’t cuddle,” I whisper.
“No, really?” The corners of his mouth tip up a fraction. 
The more he talks, the tighter my chest squeezes. The longer I look at him, the harder it is to keep it from crushing. 
My gaze flicks to his lips, and a shiver shoots through my veins. 
He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, and my eyes snap to his. 
Hungry. Wild. Daring.
The look works knots into my stomach.
I’ve fantasized what our first kiss would be like, and it’s always resembled the feeling I’m getting right now as I look into his eyes. It wouldn’t be something soft, or innocent. It would dance on the edge of dangerous. He’d kiss me hard and fast. Our lips would hurt, our breaths would turn ragged, and our chests would almost break from the racket inside. 
I gasp when his fingers brush along my jaw, trailing over my cheekbone, leaving me breathless. My eyes flutter open and shut. It’s hard not to lean into his palm. It’s hard not to lean into him entirely. 
His nostrils flare as he inhales a sharp breath and leans forward. 
My skin prickles with eagerness. I’m about to make the connection when my computer sounds from across the room.
We both jerk back, my pulse plummeting faster than it ever has. It’s like I’m in a fighter jet and the captain has just pointed the nose at the ground and opened up the throttle. 
Great. Just great!
Thanks a lot, Nicole. 
His hand drops, and he rolls onto his back, staring up at the ceiling. I can’t see his face, so I don’t know what he’s thinking or feeling. But I sure as hell know I’m going to virtually wring Nicole’s neck.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43724738-i-spy-the-boy-next-door?ac=1&from_search=true

Pre-order: 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2L8db2E

AUTHOR BIO:

Samantha Armstrong's novels incorporate all of the feels--from swoon-worthy heroes to sweet-but-mostly-sassy heroines, quirk and laughter to emotional grit and panty melting-heat. She has written in multiple genres, but never strays far from romance.

Born and raised in New Zealand, Samantha Armstrong prefers to be tucked away writing whenever she can -- or, rather, whenever her adorable yet demanding baby boy allows.

A normal day for her includes diapers--lots of them--walks with both babies (i.e. human baby and dog baby), writing between naps, and staying up late to write even more. Then somehow fitting all the other stuff in between.

To sign up for information on upcoming releases, giveaways and more: https://www.samantharmstrong.com/subscribe

Author links:

https://www.samantharmstrong.com/

https://www.facebook.com/samantharmstrongbooks

https://www.instagram.com/samantharmstrong/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5011549.Samantha_Armstrong

Many thanks to Xpresso book tours for allowing me to post this!