Handle With Care by Louisa Reid

Ruby has a baby, unexpectedly and leaving Ash her best friend shocked especially ehen the truth comes out about the baby more so, no spoilers here. It explores the hard hitting subject or teenage motherhood and all the challenges a baby in someone's life can bring up, let alone coping with raising a baby unexpectedly for both wider families involved and the mental health of a young struggling mum. There were many tough situations faced in this book written beautifully from both main character best friends perspectives as they come to terms with what the baby brings up and into their lives it was both beautiful in verse and gut wrenchingly honest and utterly gripping to me I really enjoyed exploring the worlds of Ash and Ruby and had me questioning, how would I feel in either girls situations.

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.

In Paris With You by Clementine Beauvais

Tatiana and Eugene met years ago as teenageers, thanks to Tatiana's sister Olga and her boyfriend, Lensky.

For Tatiana it was love at first sight of the young man Eugene.

However years later after the crush has faded, Eugene is the one infatuated if not obsessed with Tatiana but as she is set to move for a new job, will the pair staying Paris or leave together?

A very different and emotive book, it was not what I was expecting and was more poetic than young adult novel like though the expressionism was appreciated and enhanced the novel greatly padding it out else it would simply be a love story with a tragedy partly reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet, only in modern day. I did enjoy it but not the expected hype build up I'd seen online about it and it seemed more of an adult fiction that young adult fiction.

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

We Come Apart by Sarah Crossan and Brian Conaghan

In this book we meet Jess, caught shoplifting when out with her so called friends whom help to really put her in the mess she winds up in. Unhappy at home with her mum and stepdad whom seems a sleazy guy whom commits severe domestic abuse.

We also meet Nicu, escaped to Britain whilst his parents try to find him a wife back home for him who's suitable for which they'd return home eventually for them to marry after earning enough money.

As the pair both partake in an ordered community service charge of cleaning the community they meet, but both hide their secrets from the other until they start to hang out more, coming together before they get brutally ripped apart by a tragic act of self defence but too serious to ignore...

A tragic love story of right blooming out of wrong doing as the pair fall into their very short love story. Told in verse it was quick to read and the action flowed featuring an array of important topics from refugees, immigration, kleptomania, domestic abuse and general life wrong from right.

This book will haunt your memories of books you've read as you'll never find one like it again, I'm sure.

Father Christmas And Me by Matt Haig

Amelia lives in Elfhelm, a magic place hidden from humans thanks to Father Christmas saving her from a bad life in a workhouse along with her cat, Captain Soot.

When Father Vodol starts to cause trouble at Father Christmas's wedding, Amelia gets threatened by Vodol and along with starting her new elf school, she worries of what's to come.

There's bonding with pixie's and elves, breaking sleighs and riding reindeers. But there's danger ahead as Amelia learns of a threat to them all, an old evil enemy of their folk, living not too far away are the evil rabbits in Elfhelm. Unlike rabbits in the human world and they're ruled by the Easter bunny but they're not nice or to be celebrated!

Amelia, the elves and father and Mary Christmas have a battle on their hands to keep the peace and save Christmas...

Wow, what a book this was! It was truly different in a crazy creative way, evil Easter rabbits and Vodol alike Harry Potter's sounding Voldemort both enemies too this was a battle for Christmas which makes you laugh and worry at the same time. Amelia has faced all the bad things in her life and battles on strong even when the going gets tough again and it's great to have a strong young girl character in a book for children. I loved it and I'm not even a child, one for the family I feel this book can be.

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

Love Me Not by M. J. Arlidge

Set in Southampton, nine months after being in prison, DI Helen Grace is back out there fighting crime. Emilia our junior crime reporter disgraced from previous actions, is looking to turn her career around.

Sonia is a polish mum and wife apprehended on her way to work as a probation officer by a couple on the road whom shoot her dead in the chest and leave her to be found by Helen.
She is the first victim of many within the twenty four hours.
Alan Samson was a  respected pharmaceutical for his family business for over thirty years then found brutally murdered whilst there's a woman and her baby trapped in his shop too.
He's the second victim of brutal murder, whilst the woman provides crucial information for DI Helen.

A story of two criminals, two lovers, who've faced too much wrong done to them to let things lie. They have hearts of stone with cold grudges towards the victims and towards each other...

A dramatic, thrilling, shocking story of how much love can get you so far but how much more hate can cause trouble and change lives forever.

Another fantastic installment to the series I've loved so far!

Thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Geekerella by Ashley Poston

This book was kindly sent to me for review by the publishers and its a great geeky read to enjoy!

A modern day retelling of Cinderella mixed in with a Comic Con style event is the center of this novel.

Elle's life is ruled by her stepmum, Catherine whom is a wedding planner and thinks highly of herself. She blames poor Elle for her father's not buying them a bigger house, earning and leaving them with more, more, more and poor Elle has to put up with it.
Although, she has her escapism in the forms of Sci-Fi she adores to indulge in to escape her life.

We also experience the flip side of things, life in the form of the actor new to her favourite show, Darien and the life he leads and how he unexpectedly meets Elle.

I don't want to spoil it but I loved how the two met up and Elle recreating her outfit for her how she did and all the work it took and learning from YouTube was very real!

I really loved all the modern references in the book to running blogs, using social media etc as obviously the classic tale of Cinderella would have no idea of any technology let alone the concept of it!

Following Ophelia by Sophia Bennett

Mary and Harriett are cousins and now Mary is also becoming a servant like her cousin Harriett. Mary is new to London and its busy city life with horses and carriages and busy people rushing around with jobs to do and people to meet.
Mary reflects on the life she has left behind as she worked in a haberdashery shop. Very happily until being let go and left to this life upon recommendation by Harriett.
Arriving at her new home to be a lowly servant as she seems to feel she is introduced to the other servant, Annie an Irish maid who at first seemed unkindly towards Mary and her choice of fine dress upon arrival.
As we delve into the story, Mary makes friends with Felix, a painter and he introduces her to the story of Ophelia upon seeing a painting featuring her when she is so alike to Mary.
This sparks off Mary becoming Persephone, withe the help of Felix and his friends, Roly and Kitty. Persephone, who is a new socialite from Kent allows Mary to see both sides of life alike Ophelia new. She learns of love and society rules, feeling thrilled and saddened over events which occur and prove to her life can be awash with different joys and heartaches alike.
Its a great read from Sophia Bennett, I have enjoyed all her novels thus far and look forward to more books from her.

This book was kindly sent to me for review by the publishers.

Hello Me It's You by Anonymous, Hannah Todd

As someone who knows others as well as myself, who have suffered with mental and physical health issues, this intrigued me to read this book. The publisher has very kindly allowed me a copy to review.

This book is a collection of letters written by people, mostly anonymously, years after they were around sixteen years old. Upon their reflection on their own personal struggle with mental health and opens up to us to read, empathise and realise again there should be no stigma around such a huge subject that effects so many of us around the world.

The author herself states in the beginning of the book, she herself was diagnosed with anxiety and depression which are two most aware of common mental health issues that effect so many of us.

In between each of the letters written, there is a quote to inspire and give us a sense of hope in a beautiful paintbrush style water stroke text.

The story's told in each letter are intimate and honest allowing us to feel how they feel/felt and allows us to think of how they tackled their health issues.

For me, letter 9 stood out for pain as I suffer with Fibromyalgia. As well as letter 10 during which is written, distraction is key as I have found that has helped me when I have an anxiety moment or think back on my own issues in my teens with more severe issues.

Overall this books talks on subjects of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self harm, body dysmorphia and more mental health issues so openly it's refreshing and I honestly hope we can stop the stigma.

If you are suffering with your mental health, there is help, this book may help open up otherwise please talk to a family member, friend, GP or if you are in school or college a counsellor or teacher.

Quick Read 2017 A Very Distant Shore by Jenny Colgan

This book arrived at my door yesterday thank you to Amazon for remembering I'd ordered this quick read book back at Christmas.

Now, I love Jenny Colgan and currently own all of her books she has written to date and have tonight added this one to that dedicated shelf. This book didn't disappoint, I wanted it to go on and on!

In this book, Saif is a doctor and Lorna is a resident on Mure a little Island off of Scotland. The two meet after Saif is sent to the island from a refugee camp. His arrival causes a stir in the village and for him too as he doesn't know where his family or friends are. Lorna however meets Saif under unfortunate circumstances of her father being seriously ill with unexplained headache's.

I wont spoil the book as it is so quick to read and is a heart warming but tear drawing read, a real bundle of emotions were felt through relatable circumstances in one case. 

Crochet Stories: Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland by Pat Olski

I am a huge crafty person from painting and jewellery making as a young child, to now being hugely into cross stitching, knitting and crocheting.

As a child I think everyone gets introduced to Alice in Wonderland and the amazing story has every young child enchanted and wondering how likely the events are to occur to them too quite possibly! For me, little juice pots made me think and pretend I was going to shrink to the size of a small child doll.

This book was kindly sent to me to review and I loved the way the book reads. Not just straight forward into pattern after pattern of each character, between each one pretty much is an excerpt of a scene from Alice in Wonderland. Enabling a family friendly like feel to the book as a whole.

The patterns are intricate and finely detailed. Characters are portrayed as alike as I personally feel possible to the ones drawn in the picture books and all are sure to have children engrossed in the classic tale that will share the magic of storytelling from generation to generation.