Song Of Summer by Laura Lee Andersen

Seven weeks of summer left for Carter away from his New York home start off in a diner as he teaches ASL to his latest student and friend, Barry but at the diner they meet Robin, a petite waitress who also takes a like to Carter once realising he's deaf and not gay.

However, Robin's life isn't great right now as she has just broke up with Trent, who's also in her church band and they still have to perform together where he still acts flirty with her despite them breaking up. So when Jeni encourages her to pursue Carter after he comes back to the diner alone, she does and a great mini romance occurs despite her love of music not being shared with a guy she cares so much about. Trent also causes some trouble for the pair but doesn't faze them at first.

This book was super unique in the fact that Carter's family is a mix of deaf and hearing with his siblings being adopted by their deaf father and hearing but teaching ASL mum. I really enjoyed this book and the elements of dealing with the love in your life unable to share your biggest passion and hobby which to me made me think so hard about how great this pair worked as a couple until it ran it's course. I would suggest you read this if your a fan of love stories of drama not just the deaf or hearing aspect.

In Too Deep by Amanda Grace

When Sam is all dolled up in her best girliest and sexiest clothing, she turns the head of Carter much to his ex's disapproval, Rayna wants him still while Sam wants Nick her best friend to notice her as girlfriend material.

As Sam can't handle being drunk as she is, then Carter's insult towards her, her friend Michelle thinks he's taken advantage of her and raped her. Then next day, remembering nothing except drinking too much.

When Nick splits up with Rayna and later kisses Sam, all is amazing until they realize why Carter's car was egged recently and drama ensues as graduation nears and Carter gets more angry at the lies someone's feeling guilty about telling by accident...

Full of drama and a bit too much worry, Sam's life changes based on the actions of a night any teen can relate to about parties. An essential lesson to everyone about the danger lies can cause.

Summer Bird Blue by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Rumi and Lea were sisters who loved to sing and write and perform their songs together, best friends.

Until a tragic car crash...

As Rumi gets sent away to her aunt's by her mother she has to cope with losing her beloved sister and her mum too.

Whilst away her neighbour Kai and his friends hang out with Rumi but its an elderly neighbour who truly gives her friendship and no messing guidance as she grieves and struggles to accept all that has changed and she has lost.

There's also the fact of finishing the final song they began together, Summer Bird Blue.

Ann emotional story of how to adapt and accept a close death and the Many ways people deal with the turmoil it can lead their lives to be affected by. I really liked that Rumi also touches on the fact of not being sure if her sexuality and it made her realistic as a teenager in today's times. A fast flowing hard hitting read.

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

Boy Seeking Band by Steve Brezenoff

Starting a new school, Terrence meets Eddie, an alternative styled girl who also secretly sings in the school basement after school. Her brother who is a well built sax player and her twin acts like he doesn't like Terence and he feels intimidated easily by him.

At his new school they have a jazz band in which anyone joins if they play an instrument and Terence plays bass guitar already which is why he went to his old school, a private music and art school first. Unfortunately, his mum died from illness leaving his dad depressed hardly leaving the house and his bed at all.

Yet as Terence forms his own band at his new school and they enter into a competition battle of the bands style, he has to face his old band from his last school.

We see Terence's struggle to get emotionally attached to people after losing his mum suddenly. The lessons in the book's storyline's show friendship and standing up for each other as well as how fitting in with others you judge wrongly at first isn't always a bad thing.

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

Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott

Stella lives with cystic fibrosis only as it worsens and her lung function plummets she needs a transplant fast.

She wishes she could be with her best friends in Cabo.

Also in the hospital is Poe her gay friend and new boy, Will who wants to be living the end of his life not wasting time on a hospital trial that may extend his life as he fights a bacterial infections that's resistant to antibiotics.

Stella and Will keep meeting and seeing each other only getting closer and closer and one cough between the pair could spread infection and kill them...

So as the pair communicate by Skype, phone and partial contact, maybe Will can have some faith this times drug trial might work and Stella can move on from her family's trauma but as she fights an infection, Poe prepares to finally visit his family and Will awaits news of his trial drug, who will be left alive?

I can't wait for the film this year after reading this and loving it! The main two characters have an instant connection that is super and beyond their illness, the story was intriguing and led us to hope the pair survived if not end up together as we'd hope!

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

How To Draw Cool Stuff by Catherine V. Holmes

I have honestly not read a more beautifully designed, themed and simple drawing book before now!

I have an array of drawing books and none of them are at all like this one. In this book, set up in months of the year and themed with each month's major events such as; Easter with drawing rainy puddles, rabbits and daffodils.
I have also never managed to draw a convincing rose that didn't end up looking like layered semicircles, but with this books detailed illustrations and instructions, I managed it!

If you can't draw, can do a little but want more confidence or a complete novice, this book is sure to fire you up and make you proud of yourself and your talent as you will grow confident in tackling the most tricky of designs as have I!

I hope you pursue purchasing this book and giving it a whole hearted go, thank you to the publisher for allowing me a copy to review for you all!

Succulents by Robin Stockwell

Filled with history to inspiring growing plants at all, this book is beautiful with photographs that are high quality, rich with colours so vibrant you feel you're by the plants not just reading a book!

From pots, edgings, roof gardens and more we are shown that everywhere and anywhere can make way for a succulent or a few. There are plenty of tips and tricks to help get your own display started in many various forms you are sure to find inspiration for a modern, classic or own style succulent garden of some kind. There's even ideas for gifts, hair accessories along with funky indoor planter or outdoor hanging succulents too.

Complete with a guide to the various names along with pictures of the succulents you may come across, it is sure to teach you many things all in one handy book.

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

Plantopedia by Adrienne Barman

I was drawn to this plant guide as despite being a children's non fiction guide, the illustration is very eye-catching, set into colour pages such as all black plants, aquatic plants featuring animals too, dyes from plants, types of trees, fruit and veg, herbs and medicinal healing plants, this guide shares everything across all types of outdoor wildlife flower, tree and plant wise in a perfect way for children.

The guide also warns of the dangers plants like cactus can pose as well as a guide to poisonous plants to be wary of.

Packed with colours popping from the page and simple plant labelling for kids to follow, this book would be a great introduction to learning what plants are safe or not and maybe even get them involved in gardening too.

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

How To Train Your Cactus by Tonwen Jones

I was inspired by my local botanical garden's cactus house to get a succulent myself to grow and keep at home. Months later at the end of last summer, I acquired a small succulent which is still with me and healthy to this day!

However I do wish I had this book back then as I would've saved hours researching how to care for it properly!

From discussing types of them available, tools you will need from a simple trowel and pot to gravel, guide to growing from seeds and how to train certain types of succulents to thrive daily.

Each plant type has a simple page of typed instructions on care and upkeep while the second page of the double page layout features a colourful illustration of what the chosen cacti/succulent looks like so you know what to expect it to grow like.

The cover is a simple green with a colourful cactus on the cover centred to stand out for the subject alike the title anyway. The guide is clear and concise for all ages to be able to follow easily and learn from.

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

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!