Run Walk Crawl – Getting Fit in my Forties By Tim Lebbon

Run Walk Crawl – Getting Fit in my Forties By Tim Lebbon

by Hannah ♥ 1 Comment

At forty-one I was overweight and unfit. As I turned 50 I was thirty pounds lighter, having spent my fifth decade training for, and racing multiple Ironmans, marathons, and other crazy adventures. This account of that fitness journey through my forties includes broken bones, severe chafing, regular cursing, rubber and lycra, an element of masochism … and cake.

My Thoughts:

This is very different to what I would normally read but wanted to give it a try. I really enjoyed reading about Tim’s journey through it all. I found it very inspiring and the story is an incredible one how he goes from couch potato to running Ironmans. I have seen Ironmans on the tv and they look tough so I want to say well done to Tim for doing something awe inspiring and hopefully from writing this book he can help and inspire more people to get out there and do something worthwhile. There is a mixture of funny parts and also parts that really made me wince. But I am really glad I read this book, it is a short read too. But it has inspired me.

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

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Waiting to Begin By Amanda Prowse

Waiting to Begin By Amanda Prowse

by Hannah ♥ 2 Comments

1984. Bessie is a confident sixteen-year-old girl with the world at her feet, dreaming of what life will bring and what she’ll bring to this life. Then everything comes crashing down. Her bright and trusting smile is lost, banished by shame―and a secret she’ll carry with her for the rest of her life.

2021. The last thirty-seven years have not been easy for Bess. At fifty-three she is visibly weary, and her marriage to Mario is in tatters. Watching her son in newlywed bliss―the hope, the trust, the joy―Bess knows it is time to face her own demons, and try to save her relationship. But she’ll have to throw off the burden of shame if she is to honour that sixteen-year-old girl whose dreams lie frozen in time.

Can Bess face her past, finally come clean to Mario, and claim the love she has longed to fully experience all these years?

My Thoughts:

I thoroughly enjoyed this story about Bessie, we see Bessie as a young girl and then in the present as a older lady. Amanda’s books have a way that draws you in and makes you feel involved in the story. I liked how it goes from the past and present as we really see how Bessie grows up, I loved all the characters and the well thought out plot, it was a heartbreaking story that had me in tears as you truly never know what goes on behind closed doors. I think the story taught me that actions do have consequences and that you never really know what people are going through unless you are going through the same thing. Amanda’s books are brilliant and I look forward to the next book.

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

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Another Life By Nicholas Brown

Another Life By Nicholas Brown

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For the past year, not a day had gone by when Evan hadn’t thought about this exact moment, the moment he and Ben would be reunited. It was frozen in his time and memory, much like this cabin by the sea – or so it seemed.

There was the possibility that what was about to happen one weekend in Janus was in fact a very bad idea, that the loving reunion he’d so hoped for, would be dashed by their divided realities.

Reunited by a love and longing that tethers them to one another, Ben and Evan must struggle with their history, in order to accept the present.

Can Evan ask the right questions and get the answers he needs to move forwards?

Or, is their history enough to save them both?

My Thoughts:

Evan and Ben have not seen each other for a long time, but what happened back then? can they reacquaint their love for each other or did what happened in the past reflect on where they are both now? Will they be able to move on with their lives and be happy? I think this is the first book where the main characters and the story is about same sex relationships and I haven’t read many books that centre on this but I feel as though it should be as everyone is equal and you can love whoever you want. It was a good read with hidden struggles and one that taught me a few things. I am glad I gave this book a read. A good read.

Jigsaw Girl By Carmen Capuano

Jigsaw Girl By Carmen Capuano

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Nothing about fifteen-year-old Scarlett’s new life is average.

Tormented by the recent trauma and guilt of being rescued from a house fire when the fireman who rescued her died in the process, she travels a dangerous path of self-harm and alcohol abuse and becomes enmeshed with the darker side of life.

Fuelled by alcohol and guilt and unable to vent her feelings of inadequacy for the sacrifice the fireman made, she’s thrust further into despair when her family starts to fall apart around her…and there is nothing for her to hold on to.

When the world seems to turn away from her, one boy shows a keen interest in her, professing his love and swearing they will never part.

But is Matt Jones, Scarlett’s salvation, or will he be her final damnation?

My Thoughts:

After reading Carmen’s previous novels, I was excited to learn she had another book out. I love the way Carmen writes, it is like you are there in the thick of it and the first chapter really pulled me in and I wanted to see how the story was going to pan out. This story is about Scarlett who is a teenage, she has a new life after a bad things had happened, she is drinking and wont let anyone help her. When her family fall apart what can she do to help them? Matt seems to turn up at just the right time but can he help her or will her life come crushing down on her? I really wanted to find out if Matt would be her knight in shining armor, I just wanted everything to go right for her and her family for once. A story that shows that you can turn your life around that you just need someone supportive to help you.

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

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You need to know By Nicola Moriarty

You need to know By Nicola Moriarty

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Jill’s three grown-up sons mean everything to her.

She would do anything for her boys – protect them, lie for them, even die for them.

Then one day she receives an email with the subject line: ‘You Need To Know’.

Jill doesn’t want to know. She leaves the warning unread.

But some truths you can’t hide from.

Soon Jill will start to wonder if she knows her sons at all . . .

How long will these secrets stay hidden?
And when they are revealed . . . can Jill’s family survive?

My Thoughts:

I found with this book there was a lot going on and for me it was hard to keep up with everything and everyone. It is a story about family secrets with each person there is a different story, some of the things happening in the past and some in the present. The second half was a little better and I raced through it, this was where we see all the secrets being revealed. I liked how some of the chapters were short which meant you would just have to read another one.

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

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The Startup Wife By Tahmima Anam

The Startup Wife By Tahmima Anam

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Halfway through her PhD and already dreaming of running her own lab, computer scientist Asha has her future all mapped out. Then a chance meeting and whirlwind romance with her old high-school crush, Cyrus, changes everything.

Dreaming big, together with their friend Jules they come up with a revolutionary idea: to build a social networking app that could bring meaning to millions of lives. While Asha creates an ingenious algorithm, Cyrus’ charismatic appeal throws him into the spotlight.

When the app explodes into the next big thing, Asha should be happy, shouldn’t she? But why does she feel invisible in the boardroom of her own company? Why are decisions being made without her?

My Thoughts:

I found this an enjoyable read about romance, work and what really is the meaning of life. It is a smart and engaging read that follows Asha and her life. She is a very smart and clever lady who is a computer scientist, when she meets with an old flame her life changes completely. They decide to build a social networking app that could potentially be massive, will they be able to make their app stand out amongst all the rest? will romance bloom again? the only problem is Asha feels as though she is being pushed out a bit, can she rectify the problems before it is too late? I really liked Asha and feel as though she is a role model to everyone out there, that if you want something so bad, go out there and grab it.

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

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The Cookbook of Common Prayer By Francesca Haig

The Cookbook of Common Prayer By Francesca Haig

by Hannah ♥ 1 Comment

When Gill and Gabe’s elder son drowns overseas, they decide they must hide the truth from their desperately unwell teenaged daughter. But as Gill begins to send letters from her dead son to his sister, the increasingly elaborate lie threatens to prove more dangerous than the truth.

My Thoughts:

I didn’t know what to expect from the book, but was pleasantly surprised how quick I devoured it. It is all about a family who have a lot of heart ache in their family. They have a very unwell daughter whose life in on the brink, their oldest son has just died and they need to keep it a secret from their daughter. The lie becomes very elaborate through out but can Gill keep up with it or will the secret come out? Also in the picture is their youngest son who is having a hard time trying to work out why his sister is so poorly. I could never imagine what the family must be going through and it is heart breaking to read and see. I don’t know what I would do in their situation, I think this story will stay with me for a while. I liked how the chapters are all split up into the members of the family as it seems more personal and we get to hear how everyone is coping through out the story. I wasn’t sure if this broken family could ever be mended, but I hope it would. A story about loss, love, grief, and family pulling together. I adored it.

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

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Mother Mother By Annie MacManus

Mother Mother By Annie MacManus

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One Saturday morning, TJ McConnell wakes up to find his mother, Mary, gone. He doesn’t know where – or why – but he’s the only one who can help find her.

Mary grew up longing for information about the mother she never knew. Her brother could barely remember her, and their father numbed his pain with drink.

Now aged thirty-seven, Mary has lived in the same house her whole life. She’s never left Belfast. TJ, who’s about to turn eighteen, is itching to see more of the world.

But when his mother disappears, TJ begins to realise what he’s been taking for granted.

My Thoughts:

I couldn’t believe this was a debut novel, it was just so good. A well written and thought provoking read, one that when I wasn’t reading it, it made me think what would I do in Mary’s situation. The story goes from past to present, to really get a good idea of what Mary has been through in her life, I felt as though this really helped me to connect with Mary. In the present Mary is thirty seven with a son who is seventeen, he takes her for granted and when she disappears he has no clue what to do. He discovers that he hasn’t really ever learned to know his mum which I found quite sad and also that fact when she is there he takes her for granted. Whether you are a mother or not I found that you will understand Mary and where she is coming from. It is a sad and tragic story but one that stole my heart and one that I will keep in my heart for ever.

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

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Everyday Magic By Charlie Laidlaw

Everyday Magic By Charlie Laidlaw

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Carole Gunn leads an unfulfilled life and knows it. She’s married to someone who may, or may not, be in New York on business and, to make things worse, the family’s deaf cat has been run over by an electric car. But something has been changing in Carole’s mind. She’s decided to revisit places that hold special significance for her. She wants to better understand herself, and whether the person she is now is simply an older version of the person she once was. Instead, she’s taken on an unlikely journey to confront her past, present and future.

Everyday magic is an uplifting book filled with humour and poignancy, and reminds us that, while our pasts makes us who we are, we can always change the course of our futures.

My Thoughts:

I could not wait to read this book, I have enjoyed all of Charlie’s previous novels and knew this one would be just as good and it was. Carole finds her life has come to a stop, almost like a dead end, she feels as though life is passing her by and she can’t do anything to rectify the situation, she has a husband and daughter who take her for granted which I feel as though a lot of people will be able to relate too. It made me think what would I do in her situation. Hopefully this will help these people realize they are not alone. Carole then gets a look and see what life is like in the future for her, we see her letting go of things near the end. I felt as though I warmed to Carole and could see where she was coming from, this was a uplifting read that shows us that if we want to change then we can but we have to do it for ourselves. I really enjoyed this book.

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

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Falling By T. J. Newman

Falling By T. J. Newman

by Hannah ♥ 3 Comments

You just boarded a flight to New York.

There are one hundred and forty-three other passengers onboard.

What you don’t know is that thirty minutes before the flight your pilot’s family was kidnapped.

For his family to live, everyone on your plane must die.

The only way the family will survive is if the pilot follows his orders and crashes the plane.

Enjoy the flight.

My Thoughts:

OMG. This was so good, I want to read it again and again. It is such a change from the usual thrillers as this one is set in the air in an airplane. All these passengers aboard don’t even realize what has happened, the pilot’s family has been kidnapped, but the only way his family will stay alive is for all the passengers to die, what a predicament he has. They want him to crash the plane but what does he decide to do? I really felt how tense the pilot was and how scared he was, I couldn’t believe what happened in the end. If you are after a nonstop thrilling ride then this is the book for you. I loved it. Wow.

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

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