1918. In the last week of the First World War, a uniformed soldier is arrested in Durham Cathedral. When questioned, it becomes clear he has no memory of who he is or how he came to be there.
The soldier is given the name Adam and transferred to a rehabilitation home. His doctor James is determined to recover who this man once was. But Adam doesn’t want to remember. Unwilling to relive the trauma of war, Adam has locked his memory away, seemingly for good.
When a newspaper publishes a feature about Adam, three women come forward, each claiming that he is someone she lost in the war. But does he believe any of these women? Or is there another family out there waiting for him to come home?
My Thoughts:
A young soldier is found at the end of the First World War, he cannot remember his name or anything about himself, so he is sent to a rehabilitation home where a man called James tries to help him recover his memory. After quite some time with no luck, James decides to post a photograph of the young soldier in a newspaper article, they get more than they bargained for when lots of people come forward but do they have anything to do with this young soldier? Will they ever find his real family and recover his memory? I found this story really moving, I can never imagine what poor Adam ( that is what they called him) was going through it must of been really tough for him, not knowing anything at all. Atleast he had James in his corner. Reading about the First World War made me realise I didn’t know much about the First World War but now I feel as though I have a better understanding.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to Simon and Schuster and Jess Barrett for sending me a copy of this book.
I love a festive Christmas read, I normally start them in October if I am lucky, but never read them after January.
The first book I would have to choose is Jenny Colgan’s, Christmas at Rosie Hopkins Sweet shop, doesn’t it sound great? this one actually follows on from Welcome to Rosie Hopkin’s sweet shop of dreams. You have to read this one first though as it is just brilliant. They are fun and festive and just a lovely lighthearted read about a girl owning a sweet shop. Do not read when you are hungry though as all the delicious sounding sweets will make you hungry.
2. Milly Johnson -The Mother of All Christmases, this is such a wonderful and feel good book, so much so it will get you wanting to crack open the mulled wine and hang up the tinsel. It is about three women who all have their own story and how they become friends at the Christmas Pudding Club and help each other. Such a lovely festive read.
3. Carole Matthews – The Chocolate Lovers Christmas and the first book in the series is The Chocolate Lovers Club, you have to read the chocolate lovers club before the Christmas book as you get to meet all the characters and get to know their stories. I loved these books so much, I am a big fan of chocolate so didn’t hesitate to dive right it. All relatable characters. It is a book that I will read time and time again. There is also the Chocolate Lover wedding and The chocolate lovers diet too.
3.Sarah Morgan- One more for Christmas, though I would recommend any of her Christmas books as they are all fabulous and festive reads. You can almost imagine you are there in the thick of it. The covers of these books are always festive and sparkly too. This story made me want to go out and play in the snow ( if we ever get any in the UK). I can never wait to dive straight in to a book by Sarah. There are heartwarming and uplifting reads.
4. Emily Harvale- A Christmas Hideaway, this is book one in the Hideaway Down Series, I have read them all and loved them. This is one that really makes me think of Christmas, and spending time with loved ones. Bring on the Christmas cheer. Once you have read this one, you certainly will want to read the other books in this series.
5.Heidi Swain- The Christmas Wish List is another festive winter warmer that will get you in the spirit of Christmas, Heidi has actually written quite a few Christmas books and some of them I have not read yet but will be adding to my Christmas list this year. A little romance at Christmas never hurt anyone.
I hope you enjoyed reading what my favourite Christmas reads are, I may have found you a read that you haven’t read before. What is your favourite all time Christmas read?
The House With 46 Chimneys is an adventure story set against the background of the early days of the coronavirus lockdown.
Life changes dramatically for Kaleb, Jude and Sequoia when they move to live with their aunt in a rural corner of central Scotland. But then life is changing dramatically for everyone. It’s the beginning of April 2020, the early days of the coronavirus lockdown. The roads are nearly empty of cars and the blue skies almost clear of aeroplanes.
Three local children they meet – in a socially distanced way – draw them into a two-century old family mystery involving the haunting of the nearby ruins of Dunmore Park, ‘The House With 46 Chimneys’. As the book builds to its climax, the children are faced with a decision. Do they try to right a wrong that was done in 1828, a wrong that has had consequences ever since? Or is doing so simply too dangerous?
My Thoughts:
This is an adventure story aimed at younger readers, it is set in April 2020 just before the onset of Coronavirus had impacted. The story involves three children and we see how their life changes especially when their parents are key workers and they have to go and live with their aunt. I think this is a good book to help children learn about the impact the Virus has on children and also adults. It teaches us the importance of social distancing too. When the children start exploring, they come across the house with 46 Chimneys, what will they uncover? I found this book to be very well written and engaging.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Alison and David have been engaged for so long that even Alison’s mother has given up asking when, but it’s second time around for both of them and they’re not in any particular hurry. That said, Alison is beginning to wonder if living with her has put David off the idea of marriage so when he suggests they set a date she is delighted.
But that date is six months’ away and a lot can happen in six months – especially if you’re Alison!‘My son’s been arrested, Great-aunt Millie’s fallen in love, my best friend suspects her husband of having an affair, and I still need to lose weight. How on earth can I think about getting married?’
My Thoughts:
The cover of this book really cheered me up, it is very bright and the flowers are just lovely. I knew I would love this book just from reading the blurb. The story is about Alison and David who are a couple and have been engaged for a long time, David is not that bothered (typical man) and Alison wasn’t until they started living together, I mean they both have been engaged before so what is the hurry? It kind of reminded me of my story slightly similar, I had to wait 12 years for my now husband to pop the question. Lots of things had happened before then so I know why he didn’t do it for ages but you start to think is it something to do with me. I found the story sad but uplifting and there are some funny things that happen too. I think women will be able to relate to this story, all together a great story.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
The true story of Laura Marchant, a fanatical animal lover who lived all her life in a quite seaside resort in England. After many years loyal service she was pushed out of the office leaving her at a crossroads in her life not knowing which path to take. After a short unsuccessful stint working as a volunteer in a charity shop she decided to follow her heart and set up a pet sitting business. For 7 years she lived amongst dogs, with her own trusty Golden Retriever ‘Brece’ at her side the whole time. Laura didn’t know what had hit her.
Eventually the pair found their feet, Brece earned her keep by keeping the dogs in order whilst Laura dealt with the owners. Whilst watching over her furry friends in the evening she makes her observations of the dogs especially in relation to the pack mentality.
Trials and Tribulations of a Pet Sitter describes the hilarious antics that she encountered and also the many highs and the lows whilst trying to keep her customers pets safe. The lowest point being committing the cardinal sin by losing a customers beloved dog on more than one occasion. Laura Marchant is the Bridget Jones of the pet sitting world!
My Thoughts:
I am a big fan of animals, dogs included there is just something heartwarming about a dog, I don’t even own a dog but when I was younger I always wanted to be a pet sitter or a dog walker. It never happened but after reading this book I realise it is a lot more harder work than I could ever have thought. It really gives a true insight into being a professional dog walker and all the good and bad things that go into it. I like how Laura has written this story, it is written well with funny and heartwarming moments.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Struggling with grief after the death of her mother, successful author Kaylee Sloan needs a distraction, to come to terms with life and meet her looming deadline.
With Christmas approaching, Kaylee rents a cabin in Virgin River. She knows the isolation will help her writing and as she drives north through the mountains she immediately feels inspired. Until she arrives at a building that has just gone up in flames. Devastated, she heads to Jack’s Bar to plan her next steps. The local bar is the heart of the town and once she crosses the threshold, she’s surprised to be embraced by people who are more than willing to help a stranger in need.
Welcomed by those in Virgin River, Kaylee starts to see her life in a new light. And as she becomes more involved in the town and the people in it, especially local artist and dog trainer Landry Moore, Kaylee realises she may have found her peace. As Christmas approaches, Kaylee’s dread turns to wonder. Because there’s no better place to mend a broken heart than Virgin River.
My Thoughts:
I am a big fan of Virgin River, even though I have not read the first book I have watched it on Netflix and absolutely loved it. I am looking forward to watching return to Virgin River on Netflix too. I loved the small town setting and all the people that lived there. The characters are brought to life but the way Robyn the author writes. You can almost feel as though you are there in the thick of it. I love when characters we have met in the past crop up too. I didn’t realise there was so many books in the series so will have to get read those. It is a perfect pick me up book that is a nice and easy read. I cannot wait to read the rest.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
Dawn Elisabeth Brightside has been running from her past for twenty-two years and two months, precisely.
So when she is offered a bed in St Jude’s Hostel for the Homeless, it means so much more than just a roof over her head.
But with St Jude’s threatened with closure, Dawn worries that everything is about to crumble around her all over again.
Perhaps, with a little help from her new friends, she can find a way to save this light in the darkness?
And maybe, just maybe, Dawn will finally have a place to call home….
My Thoughts:
This is a story of kindness and hope. It is a charming read about Dawn who needs to get as far away as she can, when she is offered a bed at St Jude’s hostel she is over the moon, can she make a better go at living a fairly normal life? Will life be plain sailing or will it come crashing down again? I really liked Dawn and wanted the best for her. I am sure people can relate to her story and also we get to see the lives of the other characters which could be relatable too. I feel like in times like these we need books to be uplifting and promising warmth and with Jessica’s writing we get the best of both worlds.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
In our family we have a few book worms, as much as they love books, it is always nice to get them another book related gift I think. Here I have chosen my favourite book related gifts, hopefully there will be a something for everyone. Clicking on the picture, will take you to the page.
The first gift I have chosen is:
There are lots of different places you can buy these socks, but I think they are reasonably priced and a fun little stocking filler. My favourite ones are these with the shhh I am reading on the bottom of them.
2. Ipad/Kindle/book cushion. I personally haven’t used one of these but think it is a great gift idea whether you want to watch a film with someone or some one has problems with their hands and can’t hold a book or device for too long, this one comes in all different colours and has a small pocket on the side for cables etc. It is a good size and will fold down to make carrying easy. I have actually bought one for my gran for Christmas as she has trouble holding things for too long as she has arthritis. So I think this would be perfect for her. There are many different ones out on the market, so maybe shop around and see what you like best.
3. On a cold Winter’s night, there is nothing better than getting out your book to read and snuggling up on the sofa under a soft blanket, Personally my favourite this year is definetely these ones from Marks and Spencers, the quality is superb. They are so soft and wash really well. A good price too.They come in three different colours and all look good quality.
This one is from amazon and it is slightly cheaper but still looks good quality.
4. I mean who doesn’t like a warm drink when reading, how about getting a book related mug for your favourite bookworm. This is one of my favourite mugs, this is exactly what every book worm says if you ask them if they really need all the books they have. They really do make the perfect gift. And there are many differet ones out there.
5. This is a great idea for a book lover, a book journal, they can keep track of what books they have read, books they have loaned out, what they thought of the book, rating for the book and a whole heap of other things too. I really like this idea as you can look back at it over the years and it is a good keepsake. Fits very nicely in a handbag too.
6. Tote Bags- there are many tote bags out there, this is a great stocking filler,I personally love a tote bag, they are so handy to have, I have one on my handbag that I use if I am out and about, they are hardwearing and durable, and they are just a bit more fun than just a carrier bag, they are not flimsy at all. There are lots of different designs too.
7. bookmarks, these are always handy to have incase the current one gets lost, I have quite a few from over the years that people have given me and I find they are quite personal. So many too choose from, my favourite has to be these. These are great for kids and adults, they are well designed, have a range of different animals to choose from and look really funny. They are also 3d, which makes them more unique.
8. reading lights are always a great gift, there are a range of different styles to suit everyone. I like the ones that clip on to your book, you can position the light so it doesn’t disturb anyone else but it still gives you a decent glow. This one has nine different modes to get the right setting for your needs. It is small and fits very well into a bag, it is lightweight too, should you need to take it anywhere.
9. Book lamp- We actually bought one of these for my sister in law who loves it. These are unique but look really nice and are perfect for any book lover. This one has twelve different controls and the battery lasts for more than eight hours. This one is colour changing too.
10.This is such a fun idea of a 100 Books scratch off poster, how it works is the books are all listed under the scratch panel and once it has been read, you scratch it off, you can hang it on the wall or put it in a frame, I feel as though this is just something a little different and may get people to read more books that they necessarily wouldn’t pick themselves.
So, these are just some of my favourite gift ideas, there are plenty more book related gifts out there but I hope this has given you some ideas for presents.
At just 15 years old Janet’s eldest daughter, Kirsty, who has Down syndrome, was diagnosed with leukaemia. Janet, a General Practitioner, and her husband Neil, a Paediatrician, were forced to think as parents, not doctors. ‘Our Family’s Journey Through Disability and Cancer’ provides an honest and insightful account of their family’s experience; from the moment Kirsty was born until her cancer diagnosis, when their lives were turned upside down.
Janet tells of the physical and psychological toll taken on herself and the family, and the strength instilled in them through the love and support of their family and friends, and through Kirsty’s determination to fight. In this memoir, Janet shares all that she and her family have learned, in the hope that it will help others who find themselves navigating an uncertain path, and provide guidance to health professionals involved in the care of these families.
My Thoughts:
This is the story of Kirsty who has Down Syndrome and also later on in life has Cancer. The first thing I want to say is how incredibly brave and wonderful Kirsty is. Her family are a very kind and caring family that will do their upmost to get Kirsty the right care that she needs. My cousin has Down Syndrome and I helped looked after him when he was young and he has grown in such a wonderful young man who has a job and is taking good care of himself. This book is going to help families that may have Down Syndrome children that have other illnesses and help them to realize they are not alone, I remember it is hard for them to acknowledge when something is not right and Janet and her family show through love and support that they will do anything for Kirsty. It is lovely to see the pictures throughout the book and also there are some very good websites at the back of this book for support and for more information. I wish Kirsty and her family all the best in the future.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
From the outside she looks like any other thirty-three-year-old woman, with a gorgeous house and beautiful daughter.
But when Beth receives a threatening text message from an anonymous number on the way to her surprise birthday party, she knows her time is up.
Enjoy your birthday, Beth. It’ll be your last.
Beth has a secret that has haunted her past for as long as she can remember. A secret that only those closest to her know. A stranger died once… because of Beth.
As she arrives at her house, there’s only one thing she knows for certain, someone at the party wants her to pay.
My Thoughts:
This is a really good, keep you guessing kind of read. It is well paced that makes you want to keep reading until the end. Thinking I knew early on was a big mistake in my eyes, you won’t be prepared to find out who it actually is. Everyone is actually suspiciously and everyone is a suspect but who is it really? I was gripped from the first page and was shocked by the ending to this chilly and tense story.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for sending me a e copy of this book.
Echoes In An Empty Room 