Month: December 2020

My Favourite Reads of 2020

My Favourite Reads of 2020

by Hannah ♥ 9 Comments

I think most of us have found solace in books this year, I certainly have. These are my favourite reads of this year in no particular order. It was hard to whittle them down to just 26. There have just been some brilliant books out this year.

Hunting Abigail By Jeremy Costello

Six idiots witness a murder By Rob Hickman

Mainely Fear By Matt Cost

The Boy Between Us By Amanda Prowse and Josiah Hartley

The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside By Jessica Ryn

Your Life for Mine By Karen Clarke

Hungry By Grace Dent

Silent Night By Nell Pattison

The Silent House By Nell Pattison

The Chalet By Catherine Cooper

Remember Me? By Shobna Gulati

Too scared to tell By Cathy Glass

One More For Christmas By Sarah Morgan

A patchwork Family By Cathy Bramley

The Lonely Fajita By Abigail Mann

The Minute I saw you By Paige Toon

Meet me at Pebble Beach By Bella Osborne

One family Christmas By Bella Osborne

How to save a life By S. D. Robertson

Where We Belong By Anstey Harris

Finding Love at Hedgehog Hollow By Jessica Redland

Secrets of a serial killer By Rosie Walker

A Terrible Secret By Cathy Glass

Coming Home to Glendale Hall By Victoria Walters

Why Mummy’s Sloshed By Gill Sims

A Surprise Christmas Wedding By Phillipa Ashley

Hope you have enjoyed this post. Post in the comments what your favourite read of this year has been?

The Flatshare By Beth O’ Leary

The Flatshare By Beth O’ Leary

by Hannah ♥ 4 Comments

Tiffy and Leon share a flat
Tiffy and Leon share a bed
Tiffy and Leon have never met…

Tiffy Moore needs a cheap flat, and fast. Leon Twomey works nights and needs cash. Their friends think they’re crazy, but it’s the perfect solution: Leon occupies the one-bed flat while Tiffy’s at work in the day, and she has the run of the place the rest of the time.

But with obsessive ex-boyfriends, demanding clients at work, wrongly imprisoned brothers and, of course, the fact that they still haven’t met yet, they’re about to discover that if you want the perfect home you need to throw the rulebook out the window…

My Thoughts:

I love books were the storyline is quite unique, I have never heard of two people sharing a bed but working different shifts to each other, but it works as a interesting storyline, one that I really enjoyed reading. I felt as though I wanted to be friends with all the characters that make this book so charming, it is hilarious yet a little bit sad. But you will not be disappointed as it really will make you smile. I look forward to Beth’s next book.

Get your copy here:

Six Idiots Witness a Robbery – Different Country – Same Idiots By Rob Hickman

Six Idiots Witness a Robbery – Different Country – Same Idiots By Rob Hickman

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The idiots are back in the sequel to the 5-star reviewed ‘Six Idiots Witness a Murder.’

After unwittingly helping to solve a murder in the hot sun of Atlanta in April, six random transatlantic friends now find themselves in the UK during a cold and wet October. Three of them are dealing with an embarrassing scandal at the company they work for while the others just want to get drunk and have a good time.

A night out puts them in the wrong place at the wrong time and they find themselves in the middle of an audacious robbery in Brighton city centre.

As police suspicion falls upon them, can they help catch the crooks or will their presence just lead to more chaos?!

The second absurd comedy in the ‘Six Idiots’ series flows back and forth across the Atlantic as Dwayne P. Cleverley’s crematorium business begins to struggle and he looks for a way to increase the body count in Atlanta, Detective Schroedinger is left to look after Wendy’s cats and Lloyd hosts another disastrous self-help workshop.

And as for Vinny…just don’t be late if he’s around.

My Thoughts:

I cannot believe this is the Six Idiots sequel, I have genuinely loved them all. If you after some laughs and entertainment then these are the books for you. Here we find them in the UK and three of them find themselves in hot water at work, whilst the other three are just having a good time. Nothing ever goes right for them and they end up being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was thinking not again What will happen to them? and can they find a way out? This book is a hoot and I could not stop laughing through out. We definitely need more books like this at this time.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Get your copy here:

Twenty Four Days to Christmas By Fred Arthur

Twenty Four Days to Christmas By Fred Arthur

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Poppy is in agony – it is the First of December and she has twenty fours days to wait until Christmas and she is convinced that she will not be able to contain her excitement and impatience: How can she possibly wait so long for Santa to arrive? Poppy’s parents put their heads together and come up with a cunning plan that has Poppy completing a different, Christmas themed activity every day, to keep her busy until Christmas (and Santa) finally arrives.

Twenty four days to Christmas is an Advent Calendar of a book, which can be read one day at a time, or as a complete story and centres on Christmas, family and the magic of Christmas season.

My Thoughts:

This is a really good book if you are wanting to teach your child to learn the importance of Christmas and waiting. All of the ideas in this book are perfect for the lead up to Christmas. The illustrations are bright and colourful and on both pages, so children can look for certain objects, which is always fun. It is a fun and festive read and all the activities are easy enough to do and I am sure all children will love doing it.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Get your copy here:

Angelina’s Children By Alice Ferney

Angelina’s Children By Alice Ferney

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‘Few gypsies want to be seen as poor, although many are. Such was the case with old Angelina’s sons, who possessed nothing other than their caravan and their gypsy blood. But it was young blood that coursed through their veins, a dark and vital flow that attracted women and fathered numberless children. And, like their mother, who had known the era of horses and caravans, they spat upon the very thought that they might be pitied.’

So begins the story of a tribe exiled to the outskirts of the city, outlawed and ostracized by society. Esther, a young librarian from the town, wants to teach Angelina’s grandchildren to read. She runs into a wall of suspicion but eventually manages to tame the children and gain Angelina’s confidence. Dealing with the widow’s five sons is another matter.

My Thoughts:

Set in France this is the story about a group of Gypsies who have set up their camp on an abandoned wasteland. This story shows they were ostracized by their own people but that they are free spirited and proud of who they are, it shows a family that never can stay in one place for too long, not knowing when they will have to be moved on. Angelina’s families lives are harsh, no job to go to so no money coming in, can Esther a local librarian help to change the children’s lives for the better? I found this book to be a very honest portrayal of a gypsie’s life. Some of the things were hard to hear and sad but in reality it is the truth.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Get your copy here:

The Boy Between By Amanda Prowse and Josiah Hartley

The Boy Between By Amanda Prowse and Josiah Hartley

by Hannah ♥ 2 Comments

Bestselling novelist Amanda Prowse knew how to resolve a fictional family crisis. But then her son came to her with a real one…

Josiah was nineteen with the world at his feet when things changed. Without warning, the new university student’s mental health deteriorated to the point that he planned his own death. His mother, bestselling author Amanda Prowse, found herself grappling for ways to help him, with no clear sense of where that could be found. This is the book they wish had been there for them during those dark times.

Josiah’s situation is not unusual: the statistics on student mental health are terrifying. And he was not the only one suffering; his family was also hijacked by his illness, watching him struggle and fearing the day he might succeed in taking his life.

In this book, Josiah and Amanda hope to give a voice to those who suffer, and to show them that help can be found. It is Josiah’s raw, at times bleak, sometimes humorous, but always honest account of what it is like to live with depression. It is Amanda’s heart-rending account of her pain at watching him suffer, speaking from the heart about a mother’s love for her child.

My Thoughts:

I have read many of Amanda’s books but this one was so moving. It is a non fiction story about Amanda and her son’s journey through depression. I think it is a good thing that Amanda and Josh have written this book as I am sure there are a number of people that can relate, I want everyone to read this book especially if you or a family member is struggling as I think this book will help people realise they are not alone. Josh is very brave to write about what he has been through and I really admire him for being strong and helping others that are in a similar situation. I could never imagine what Amanda went through but she has great support from her husband who helped her and Josh, when Josh was in a bad place. I feel admiration that Amanda and Josh are able to share their story, showing that depression can happen in anyone at any age and that you are not alone and there is help available, there are some really good websites at the back of this book too that I think will help people. I liked seeing Josh’s side but also the side of his mum Amanda, it gave the story two different perspectives. I wish Josh all the best in the future.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Get your copy here:

Kingdom of Kairo By Emma Everett and Kieran Powell

Kingdom of Kairo By Emma Everett and Kieran Powell

by Hannah ♥ 1 Comment

When a dreaded storm separates compassionate Kairo from his family, he is left to fend for himself on the outskirts of the jungle. Thankfully, the kind-hearted elephant matriarch Melina discovers his plight and decides to raise Kairo as her own.

Kairo learns to love life in the jungle, but when his parents come looking for him, Kairo is torn between returning to the life he once knew and staying with the elephant that saved his life.

My Thoughts:

I loved this story about Kairo, when a storm separates him from his family, he is left all alone on the Jungle. A very kind and caring elephant decides to take him on as her own. Just when Kairo is loving living in the Jungle, his family find him and the elephant has to give him back. I loved all the colourful pictures in this book, this is such a heartwarming read that I am sure any child will love to read over and over again. It did remind me a little of the Jungle book.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Get your copy here:

A BIG THANKYOU

A BIG THANKYOU

by Hannah ♥ 2 Comments

I just wanted to say a big thank you to many authors and publishers who have sent me books this year, I am incredibly grateful to just be asked to read and review a book for an author. I have read some amazing books this year from debut authors who I look forward to reading more of in the future. The authors that have taken their time out to email me asking to read and review their books is brilliant, there have been a few which I have had to decline but only because I have been inundated with review requests. But next year I hope authors and publishers still ask me review their books as it shows me that I am doing a good job and I do work hard on my blog and my reviews.

I know this year has been weird and I have had to do more reading on my kindle but I am very grateful for the proof copies I have been sent through my door. I have gone absolutely crazy on netgalley this year and some of the books I have read (which are not out until next year) have been amazing.

I really appreciate the Publishers too that sent me proof copies or ask me to be on a blog tour, they work so hard to sort out all these things and I am truly grateful for their time and for sending me the books. I want to say a big thank you Avon, lovereading, Mills and Boon, Bitter Lemon Press, Simon and Schuster, Harper Collins, HQ for sending me incredible reads.

I have been lucky this year to have had my review quote published in three books and I already know I will be in one next year which is so exciting. I never thought I would have my review quoted in a book and over the years I am in nine books. This is one of my biggest achivements.

For next year I just want to grow my little blog more and be quoted in more books. To receive more proof copies also and to do lots more giveaways.

My blog has some exciting things coming for next year, so be sure to stick around.

Dad You’ve Trumped By Andrew Rogerson

Dad You’ve Trumped By Andrew Rogerson

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This is the story about how a dad tries to explain away his moments of flatulent indiscretion to Poppy, his five year old daughter.

These are real moments. They are real excuses.

My Thoughts:

I found this a very comical and amusing story, it reminded me of when I was growing up and my dad use to let out trumps, I swear every dad does it and blames something or someone else. I think this story is great for kids and at the back of the book is ways to make fart noises, which I think boys will love. All the excuses are really funny too, a lighthearted funny book.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Get your copy here:

Mainely Fear (A Goff Langdon Mainely Mystery Book 2) By Matt Cost

Mainely Fear (A Goff Langdon Mainely Mystery Book 2) By Matt Cost

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“I want you to find out who is responsible for ruining his life and I want them to pay for it.”
This is the desire of Latricia Jones as she hires Goff Langdon to investigate her son’s arrest for burglary, vandalism, and possibly hate crimes.
Langdon is a laid back, slacker detective, happy with his work, friends, and way of life in the town of Brunswick, Maine. To complement his income in Brunswick’s scarce private detective market, Langdon also owns and operates a mystery bookstore named after his trusted companion, Coffee Dog.
He was on the fast track to success. And then something happened.
Jamal Jones is an eighteen-year-old rising star attending a post-grad prep school in central Maine to bring his grades up so he can play college basketball at the D1 level. Then he is arrested for crimes that his mother knows he committed, but not why. She’s sure someone has put him up to it, the behavior so unlike him as to be unthinkable, especially since Jamal was on the verge of beginning a better life. Latricia wants Langdon to track down those responsible for her son’s sudden turn from grace, and she wants them to pay.

My Thoughts:

This is book two in the Goff Langdon Mainely Mystery series. I have read book one which is called Mainley Power and loved it, this one was just as good maybe even better. We follow Goff trying to work out a mystery about a teenager called Jamal, his mother gets in touch with Goff after her son is arrested, he is guilty but has someone set him up and why? We meet previous characters again, can Goff and his friends find out who has set Jamal up or is there more than meets the eye? I like trying to work out the mystery alongside Goff, I never have come to the right conclusion though, I found it fast paced, I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough and there is the right amount of intrigue too. I look forward to reading book three now to see what mystery Goff has to solve next.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.

Get your copy here: