Jamie Matson had once enjoyed a wonderful life working alongside her best friend, organising adventures for single-parent families, and her son Bo’s artistic flair a source of pride rather than concern.

She hadn’t been prepared to lose her business, her home and her friend. Not all in one dreadful year.

Jamie certainly hadn’t expected to find such hope and camaraderie in the queue at her local food bank. Thrown together with an unlikely and colourful group of people, their friendships flourish and, finding it easier to be objective about each other than about themselves, they decide that – when you’re all out of options – it’s okay to bend the rules a little and create your own.

What a difference a year could make . . .

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this story about Jamie. She had the perfect life until one day changed everything. Now she is left with nothing. But when she hears about the local food bank and what little food she has left for her and her son, she decides to bite the bullet and go. What she didn’t realise is the food bank has helped her not only for food but the community too. The friends she makes are an interesting bunch but Jamie wouldn’t have it any other way. The story tackles relatable issues but also shows if you are struggling you are not alone and their is help put there for everyone. I really enjoyed this heart warming story full of love and hope. It has made me want to look into volunteering at my local food bank.

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

Get your copy here:

The Shipping Forecast has been described as the UK’s national lullaby: a source of dependability and calm in our often chaotic world, it has charmed millions of listeners and aided generations of seafarers across the decades. No stranger to weathering a storm after living with a rare life-limiting condition and facing the death of his brother, avid kayaker Toby Carr set out to explore the areas of the Forecast.

On a journey that took him to the harshest and most tranquil stretches of our sea, Toby found the real people, places and stories behind the familiar names and imagined environments of the well-loved BBC broadcast. From the wildness and peace of the sea, looking back at the land, Toby hoped to gain the strength and balance he knew nature could provide and to discover what anchors us to each other.

My Thoughts:

This is not my usual read but something about the plot drew me to it and I am so glad I did. It is all about one man who goes sea kayaking, I never imagined how I would be so captured with this story but it is so engaging and I didn’t want to stop reading. I actually felt I learnt a great deal from this book about things I had no clue about. I enjoyed looking at the maps at the start of the book and they helped me make sense of things throughout the story. There was something so fascinating about this read and Toby. I found reading about Toby very moving and emotional, he is an inspiration. It is sad he never got to see the book but I think he would be very proud of his sister showing the world what an amazing man he was.

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

Get your copy here:

We are taught to hate mess, whether it’s an untidy bedroom or a chaotic divorce. But mess is important, because, like it or not, it is a big part of our lives and who we are. Things go wrong all the time and life rarely goes to plan. How do we stop that from being a recurring negative point in our lives, though?

Life is messy, the process of cleansing and healing is hard, and the only way is through. But what if the process of ‘sorting through’ didn’t have to feel as draining as it often does? What if there were a way of resolving life’s mess that could set you upon a path of discovering deeper and truer versions of yourself? What if the mess that comes up along the way liberated you into living an integrated, wholesome, blossoming life?

In The Power of Mess Samantha Lourie offers a way of working through the messy aspects of life that develops a sense of resilience and a quiet assurance that we will be okay. She encourages us to own the mess and see our lives as an epic journey where we pick up the pieces along the way and make something authentic out of them. The loss, hurt and mess are still there, but our perception of their place in our lives has changed.

My Thoughts:

This is the book everyone needs. It is a book about Life, and how to deal with certain situations, it covers quite a few different things, to help everyone that might be struggling with life. As you read through the book it gives you the tools to help in these situations. It makes you confront it head on and that is something I have never done before but it has really helped me. Even if some chapters don’t appeal you I still read it and found it useful. It is a useful and handy book that will help everyone and anyone in any situation. I will definitely be consulting this book whenever I need them.

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

Get your copy here:

What if you could never tell anyone how a relationship really ended?

Then

Ruby is starting to realise her boyfriend, Jonathan, is manipulating her every move. He’s the life and soul of a party, everyone loves him, but she’s starting to see him differently. She wants to make a change, but does she have the strength to let go of the life they have built?

Now

Ruby’s life in England has hit an all-time low, so she agrees to spend the summer working for her aunt in Corfu. While there, she’s mortified to feel an attraction to her step cousin, Yianni, who runs the family restaurant.

However much she tries to avoid her feelings, she can’t avoid Yianni or the romantic setting of Corfu. But is there any point trying to get close to him when she harbours an all-consuming secret. Is Ruby able to tell him the truth about how her relationship with Jonathan really ended? A truth she has never told a soul? And if she can trust him enough to tell him, what will he think of Ruby’s shocking past?

My Thoughts:

This book is part of The Little Blue Door Series but can be read as a standalone. I couldn’t wait to read this one after reading one of Francesca’s previous books. It is pure escapism and I now want to book a holiday to Corfu, Francesca’s writing will transport you to the warmth of the sun and the idyllic setting of Corfu. The story is about Ruby and we see the story flit back to the past to find out why she is in Corfu now. After agreeing to work for her aunt for the summer in Corfu, she feels an attraction towards someone but it is not as plain sailing as it could be. Will she ever be happy again? it was a nice story, the descriptions of Corfu really drew me into the book. It is a great holiday read and a lovely love story.

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

Get your copy here:

1. The Dad Book by Dan Bridges is a great book for any dad that likes puzzles, games and trivia – Such a great book.

2. Picture You Dead By Peter James – A great read

3. Nook Farm Honey – if your dad loves honey this is the website to check out: Free wrapping for your honey for Fathers day and if you buy 3 jars you get 15% off and a free wooden spoon. – it is absolutely delicious.

https://nookfarmhoney.co.uk/

4. If you want to treat your dad to an experience, there are dozens on this website, and they are all really good.

https://www.virginexperiencedays.co.uk/?opti_ca=1360959538&opti_ag=54090395506&opti_ad=652073687267&opti_key=aud-389489630622:kwd-404647819914&utm_term=www+virginexperiencedays+co+uk&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxdqj9p25_wIVTdftCh1HkASYEAAYASAAEgJ8ZPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Hope there is something here for any dad.

Remember fathers day is on Sunday 18Th June.

With her marriage falling apart and her longed-for holiday cancelled, Georgina Greenhills gets an unexpected offer: a holiday in the small seaside town nestling in the beautiful South Downs where she grew up. There is only one catch: she must try and solve the mystery of the valuable antiques disappearing from the remote manor house belonging to an old lady called Maudie.

Gina gathers her childhood friends, scatty Ruth and feisty Eve, to help her. In the middle of a blazing summer they swim, sunbathe and share cocktails as they watch the sun sparkling on the sea, and Gina realizes how much she missed them and how happy she is to be back here in the summertime. Not least because of bumping into Daniel Napier, her shy and awkward teenage dancing partner, now an alarmingly attractive man. Although there is the small problem of his annoying girlfriend.

As Gina tries to solve the mystery at the manor and wonders how to get rid of the girlfriend, an even bigger secret emerges that will take all their skill and experience to resolve.

My Thoughts:

This is the perfect summer read that will whisk you away. It is about three good friends that all have real life issues, after being let down on their summer holiday, an opportunity to head to the South Downs comes up but Gina will have to solve a puzzle whilst she is there. They have a lovely time enjoying each other’s company and letting all their worries melt away. It was a nice easy read that is full of good friendships in a beautiful setting.

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

Get your copy here:

Jessie Else disappeared the summer the Lambs came to Magpie Beach. Not that the two events were connected at all, in reality; only in my own head, in my own world. They marked for me the end of a certain quiet time and the start of a more complicated living.

Magpie Beach is a quiet seaside town – full of small-town prejudices and small-town cliques. Meg, Rosemary and Lily are all outsiders. Meg and Lily because they came to Magpie Beach to escape their former lives, Rosemary because her upbringing was the subject of much local gossip and upturned noses. The three women come together as friends, partly because their homes are so close together on the outskirts of town – and partly because their neighbours treat them with such suspicion.

When Jessie Else, all of 9 years old, goes missing – it’s easy to see why this small band of outcasts are first on the list of suspects – but what they didn’t realise is that Jessie’s disappearance is only the beginning of their troubles. Soon all those secrets they’ve been trying to hide are going to be uncovered – and nothing will ever be the same again.

My Thoughts:

I loved the sound of this mystery, it was a slow burner to start with but I didn’t mind that as it meant I appreciated the story even more. I didn’t know what to expect at each chapter let alone each page, it also kept me guessing until the end. The story is set at Magpie Beach which is a quiet seaside town and Meg, Rosemary and Lily are all outsiders, the story follows on them to see if they are accepted into the community but when a child goes missing, all the secrets come tumbling out. I found it such a captivating and powerful read. It is a thought provoker too, what would you do in that situation? I wasn’t expecting the ending either so good. I was sad to finish but I look forward to reading more of Louise’s books.

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

Get your copy here:

Three generations of women, and the summer that saved them.

The holidays are here, and in Salcombe, Liz longs for the arrival of her god-daughters, Skye and Clare and Clare’s daughter baby Ivy. After years on her own, she needs help to save the catering business she built with Clare’s late mother, Jen.

However, half-sisters Skye and Clare couldn’t be more different, struggling with family secrets and hidden jealousies. As the women navigate this unexpected summer together, truths are revealed and their relationships are put to the test.

My Thoughts:

Cathy is one of my go to authors, as soon as I saw this one, I knew I was going to love it and I did. It is all about three women and what the summer did for them. They all are going through things in their lives that they need help with so spending the summer together means they can all help each other out. I felt as though I warmed to all three women and felt a connection. I loved the way the story flowed and how I just wanted to keep reading on. It is a heart warming story that is full to the brim of friendship, families and love. Perfect reading.

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

Get your copy here:

From the first time I saw them together I knew it felt wrong. I didn’t like the way he touched her or the self-conscious way he played with Molly and Luke. Joanne saw none of it of course. So I did it to prove to her that she was wrong. I did it for us.

Emily’s instincts tell her that best friend Joanne’s new boyfriend is bad news. Emily fears for Joanne. Fears for Joanne’s children. But Joanne won’t listen because she’s in love. So Emily watches, and waits . . . and then she makes a choice.

But Emily has a past, and secrets too. And is she really as good a friend to Joanne as she claims?

My Thoughts:

This was a bit of a wild card for me, I had never heard of the author but the plot sounded really intriguing. I loved it, this is an author I will be keeping my eyes out for. It is a story that will keep you guessing and was a really good psychological thriller that keeps you on your toes. It is a fairly short story but one that packs a punch. A gripping read that I really enjoyed.

Get your copy here:

Rachel has loved Alistair since she was seventeen.

Even though she hasn’t seen him for sixteen years and she’s now married to someone else.

Even though she was a teenager when they met.

Even though he is almost twenty years older than her.

Now in her thirties, Rachel has never been able to forget their golden summer together on a remote, sun-trapped Greek island. But as dark and deeply suppressed memories rise to the surface, Rachel begins to understand that Alistair – and the enigmatic, wealthy man he worked for – controlled much more than she ever realized.

Rachel has never once considered herself a victim – until now.

My Thoughts:

I found this debut novel such a mesmerising and thought provoking read that I will be recommending to people to read. It is a raw and engaging read that makes you think what you would do in that situation. It is a read that I am sure women will be able to relate to and is about coming to terms with a trauma which I hope people that read this and are in that situation realise they are not alone. Rachel is a married woman and when she sees her first true love again, it brings back memories of back then. But being older now she realises that life was not all it seemed back then. For a debut this was really good and I look forward to seeing what Katie will write about next.

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

Get your copy here: