You did what? By Tova Leigh

You did what? By Tova Leigh

A fantastic collection of funny, moving and outrageous confessions from people from all walks of life, chosen and introduced by popular digital creator and bestselling author Tova Leigh.

I was living with a nasty boyfriend who complained I didn’t put enough pepper in his egg sandwich. So I dried out some hamster poop and chopped it into tiny pieces. He said it was delicious. Revenge is sweet!’

Have you ever wondered what other people get up to when they think no one’s looking? Do you have a mortifying secret of your own you’ve never dared share? Whatever scandalous incidents lie hidden in your past, don’t worry: this wonderful collection of funny, sexy, hair-raising and heart-warming confessions will reassure you that you’re by no means alone.

These confessions have all been curated by bestselling author and digital creator Tova Leigh, who explains just why we should stop being ashamed of our secrets, and instead have the courage to make ourselves vulnerable, speak out and connect. In this ultimate page-turner, there are parenting confessions, sex confessions, workplace confessions, revenge confessions … not forgetting the all-important bodily fluids confessions! You need never feel embarrassed by your own slip-ups and misdemeanours again.

”So I was married for nine years and after the divorce, when I was ready to sleep with other men, I signed up on Tinder. After a few dates I was thinking … why do I give it for free, when men will pay for it? So I became an escort! I did it for about five months and I must say I had the best time ever … made a lot of money and met some really nice interesting people.”

My Thoughts:

I could not wait to read this book, it sounded brilliant and it lived up to expectations. It is a collection of funny, moving and brilliant confessions that will have you laughing at one and then crying at another. This book had my emotions all over the place. But it is a nice pick me up read that is quite interesting. I’ve never read a book all about confessions and it was a real eye opener. But you feel as though you are not alone and hopefully this will help people out there to know that. There are always struggles in everyday life and this book confirms that everyone can go through similar things.

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

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Safe at Home By Lauren North

Safe at Home By Lauren North


What if you left your child alone, and something terrible happened?

Anna James is an anxious mother. So when she has to leave eleven-year-old Harrie home alone one evening, she can’t stop worrying about her daughter. But nothing bad ever happens in the sleepy village of Barton St Martin.

Except something goes wrong that night, and Anna returns to find Harrie with bruises she won’t explain. The next morning a local businessman is reported missing and the village is sparking with gossip.

Anna is convinced there’s a connection and that Harrie is in trouble. But how can she protect her daughter if she doesn’t know where the danger is coming from?

My Thoughts:

This story is about Anna who is a mother to three girls, she is a very anxious mother and wont let them do things other mothers say is fine. When she has to leave one f her daughters home alone, she can’t stop worrying but something does go wrong that night and her daughter wont talk about it. Can Anne find out what happened that night to her daughter? I liked the idea of this story I found it had a good pace to it that kept me engaged, I liked the story and how it flowed, I liked how the story is set out, different chapters with different names so you find out what they are thinking and how it affects them. The ending was ok.

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

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A Mother’s Secret By Kitty Neale

A Mother’s Secret By Kitty Neale

Can she put right the secrets of the past?

London, 1939. Winnie Berry has been the landlady of the Battersea Tavern for nearly twenty-five years, and the pub is like home to her – a place of tears and laughter, full of customers that feel like family. A place where she’s learned to avoid the quick fists of her husband, and where she’s raised her beloved son, David.

He’s inherited his father’s lazy streak and can’t seem to hold down a job, but when war is declared Winnie is determined to keep her son safe. She’s still haunted by the choice she made years ago as a desperate young woman, and she won’t make the same mistake of letting her family be taken from her…

But when a young woman crosses her path, the secrets of Winnie’s past threaten to turn her world upside down. There’s nothing stronger than a mother’s love – but can it ever have a second chance?

My Thoughts:

This is book one in the Battersea Tavern Series and I cannot wait for the next one as book one was really good. I liked how the story flowed and you felt as though you were there in the thick of it. It’s set in 1939 and the Second World War has just been declared, we meet the Berry family who own the Battersea Tavern, Winnie is the mother and wife who looks after everything especially her nasty piece of work husband and her son is not really any better, they both take advantage of her in such cruel ways but she does it because she loves them. She has a secret she has been hiding from the both of them, but when a stranger comes into the pub will Winnie have to unlock the secret that has been kept hidden for a very long time? I loved all the characters apart from Winnie’s husband and Son, they were both so horrible to Winnie and I wanted to look after her and tell her to leave them both to it. It was interesting to see what life was like then and also life in that era working in a pub, I found it very interesting and the story was engaging. I have never read any of Kitty Neale’s books but I will definitely be reading more in the future and I look forward to the second book in this series in great anticipation.

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

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The Complete Book of Vegan Compleating By Ellen Tout

The Complete Book of Vegan Compleating By Ellen Tout

Plant-based diets are a wonderful way to protect the planet, but fruits and vegetables still have carbon footprints, and often the parts we throw away or compost are the most nutritious and delicious bits. Ellen Tout, sustainability expert and dedicated vegan, is passionate about maximizing the benefits of veganism, and through just a few simple tips, tricks and ingenious recipes she can revolutionize the way you cook.

Transform banana skins into pulled ”pork”; make amazing vegan butter from the liquid in a can of chickpeas; give new life to leftover wine by making your own vinegar; forget everything you knew about kiwi by whipping up a batch of ”whole kiwi” salsa for tacos. Arranged alphabetically, not only does each section include internationally-inspired recipes, but also tried-and-tested, environmentally-friendly alternatives to household cleaning, beauty products, and pet food. Dye fabrics pink with avocado skins; or transform a coconut half into a houseplant pot. ”Compleat recipes” show how to make dishes that use every part of the ingredient, such as Pumpkin Pie with Caramelized Seeds or Carrot Top Tabouleh, while techniques such as pickling, fermenting and off-cuts broths can save pretty much anything from the bin.

Whether you’re an experienced vegan cook, or just starting to explore plant-based eating, you’re sure to find inspiration from this encyclopaedic guide.

My Thoughts:

When I first picked up this book I was excited as I hate waste and love new ideas of how to reduce waste. This was the perfect book for me, I am not a vegan and I don’t think I ever will be but this gave me an insight into what I could do and should be doing to help combat waste. It is a really good book packed with lots of information but not too overloading, I can see myself coming back to the book time and time again. Compleating is completely eating all the parts of a fruit or vegetable, and in this book it is broken down into all the different types of fruit and veg and shows you how you can compleat eat. There are recipes, how to make it last, when in season and also the nutritional benefits. It is a very detailed book and I hope people that read it will be more conscious of what they are throwing away and I hope it helps the environment. This book is going to be a staple in my kitchen.

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

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Christmas Book releases for 2021

Christmas Book releases for 2021

I have compiled a list of Christmas books that are going to be released this year, I have included dates they are out as they might be out before Christmas but you can pre-order them now if you want to. There are some brilliant books here and I cannot wait to read them all. Enjoy.

  1. The Christmas Bookshop By Jenny Colgan – out 28th October 2021

Carmen needs a change of job so when her sister suggests working in a bookshop, Carmen jumps at the chance but when she gets there it is not what she is expecting at all, can she help turn it around before Christmas?

2. Flora’s Travelling Christmas Shop By Rebecca Raisin – out 28th October 2021

When Flora gets fired from her job, she has a chance to follow her dream and make her way to Lapland in her campervan cum Christmas shop, she meets some interesting characters along the way too. Especially one that hates Christmas, can she persuade him that Christmas is such a lovely time of the year?

3. The Christmas Escape By Sarah Morgan – out 21st October 2021

All Christy wants is to escape to Lapland for Christmas with her family and best friend but things are not good at home and she needs time alone away from everyone. Her and husband are facing a marriage crisis and need time to work out what to do. So her best friend takes her daughter to Lapland but can he save the day and make it as magical as it should be? will they all be reunited on Christmas day?

4. The Merry Christmas Project By Cathy Bramley – out 14th October 2021

Merry loves Christmas even without her own family she still loves Christmas, she has started up her own business which is candle making which she loves doing and it is doing really well. Her hometown is having an annual event and she just cannot resist helping, But meets Cole in the process who is struggling as a single dad and trying to do right for his kids, can they help heal each others wounds and have a happy Christmas.

5. Every Day in December By Kitty Wilson – out 2nd September 2021

Belle loves Christmas and everything about, she believes at this time of year magical things will happen, Rory hates Christmas, something in his past has made him hate this time of the month. But what? When back in his home town he has a chance meeting with Belle but can she find a way to make him see the magic of Christmas and will she get her Christmas wish?

6. Christmas Carols and a Cornish Cream Tea By Cressida McClaughlin – out 25th November 2021

Meridth has never liked Christmas but with her new job working in a gift shop in Cornwall she has to pretend to like it especially at Christmas time. Then she meets Finn, can he help show her how fantastic Christmas can really be?

Hope you enjoyed this blog post, some of the books at the time of writing this post are on offer on pre-order so get them whilst you can.

I know it is a little early but some of these books will be out very soon.

Happy Reading everyone

Mrs England By Stacey Halls

Mrs England By Stacey Halls

‘Something’s not right here.’
I was aware of Mr Booth’s eyes on me, and he seemed to hold his breath. ‘What do you mean?’
‘In the house. With the family.’

West Yorkshire, 1904. When newly graduated nurse Ruby May takes a position looking after the children of Charles and Lilian England, a wealthy couple from a powerful dynasty of mill owners, she hopes it will be the fresh start she needs. But as she adapts to life at the isolated Hardcastle House, it becomes clear there’s something not quite right about the beautiful, mysterious Mrs England.

Distant and withdrawn, Lilian shows little interest in her children or charming husband, and is far from the ‘angel of the house’ Ruby was expecting. As the warm, vivacious Charles welcomes Ruby into the family, a series of strange events forces her to question everything she thought she knew. Ostracised by the servants and feeling increasingly uneasy, Ruby must face her demons in order to prevent history from repeating itself. After all, there’s no such thing as the perfect family – and she should know.

My Thoughts:

This is a little different to my usual reads but for some reason I wanted to read it and it sounded good. After reading it I will be looking out for more of Stacey’s books in the future. I loved the writing in this, it is set in 1904 and is all about a nurse that looks after children. To read about what a nurse (though these days we call them a nanny or child minder) use to have to do and how different it was back then to what it is like today was very interesting. Ruby May is the new nanny to the four children of Mr and Mrs England. It is hard at first but once Ruby starts getting involved she can’t think of being anywhere else. Though she starts to wonder why Mrs England doesn’t show much interest in her children or her husband for that matter, but when she finds out why both her and the reader will be in shock. It is not easy being a nurse looking after four children and other struggles but Ruby is tough and can face whatever life throws at her, she is a very determined girl and I liked her for that. I just loved how the story flowed through out, it was a gentle and eye opening story.

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The Heron’s Cry By Ann Cleeves

The Heron’s Cry By Ann Cleeves

North Devon is enjoying a rare hot summer with tourists flocking to its coastline. Detective Matthew Venn is called out to a rural crime scene at the home of a group of artists. What he finds is an elaborately staged murder – Dr Nigel Yeo has been fatally stabbed. His daughter Eve is a glassblower, and the murder weapon is a shard of one of her broken vases.

Dr Yeo seems an unlikely murder victim. He’s a good man, a public servant, beloved by his daughter. Matthew is unnerved, though, to find that she is a close friend of Jonathan, his husband.

Then another body is found – killed in a similar way. Matthew finds himself treading carefully through the lies that fester at the heart of his community and a case that is dangerously close to home . . .

My Thoughts:

This is the second book in the Two Rivers crime series which I didn’t realise but you can read these books as a standalone. Though after reading this book, I will be purchasing the first book as it was a really good read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked how the story built up, it is a bit graphic when they talk about the murders but I was ok with that as I expected it. It was an engaging read and fast paced, I didn’t want to put it down. The story follows Detective Matthew Venn as he is put on the case of finding out who murdered Dr Nigel Yeo, the murder weapon is a piece of glass that is made by none other than his own daughter but who did it? then another body is found and they have been killed in a similar way, can Matthew piece it all together and catch the killer before they strike again. I couldn’t work out who the killer was, I like the way there are some red herrings thrown into the mix. The ending was superb and wraps up nicely.

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

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The List By Carys Jones

The List By Carys Jones

Beth Belmont runs every day, hard and fast on the trail near home. She knows every turn, every bump in the road. So when she spots something out of place – a slip of white paper at the base of a tree – she’s drawn to it.

On the paper are five names. The third is her own.

Beth can’t shake off the unease the list brings. Why is she on it? And what ties her to the other four strangers?

Then she discovers that the first two are dead.

Is she next?

My Thoughts:

I liked the sound of this book but for me it was not as good as I hoped. The first part was good but the middle was very slow going and nothing much happened, the ending didn’t seem to wrap anything up either. Beth has a nice life with her boyfriend but at night the nightmares come about what happened in her past. Whilst on her run Beth finds a list but one that has her name on it. Who is behind it? and do they know about her past? The story is broken down into each chapter being either Beth, the person who write the list and a young Beth, so we get a real sense that something bad happened in her past. It had everything to be a good thriller but it was a bit of a let down.

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Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Spy By Faye Brann

Tinker, Tailor, Schoolmum, Spy By Faye Brann

Vicky Turnbull has never regretted giving up her career for family life in the suburbs. And apart from being outstandingly good at paintball, no one would ever know that in a past life she was an undercover spy and has been trained to kill a man with her bare hands. Not even her husband, and certainly not the other mums at the school gate.

But beneath the school runs and bake sales, Vicky had never quite said goodbye to the past. So, when a newcomer on the PTA sets alarms bells ringing and MI5 comes calling, she’s determined to prove that despite her expanding waistline and love of pink gin, she’s still every bit the cold-eyed special operative.

When the assignment gets uncomfortably close to home, Vicky must decide if she has got what the job takes after all, and if home is really where her heart is…

My Thoughts:

If you are after a funny read, then this is the book for you, you don’t even have to be a parent to read it. I enjoyed this book so much and I can see why Faye has won Comedy Women in Print Prize, as this book is just hilarious. It is all about Vicky who is a wife and mother but what they don’t know is that she use to work for MI5, and now they want her back but can she factor the job into her life now that she is a mum and especially when her husband has no clue what she is up too. From the first couple of pages I knew this book was going to be good, when a story gets up laughing right away, that is good. I really enjoyed this book and want to read more from this author. It was a great pick me up.

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

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Freckles By Ceceila Ahern

Freckles By Ceceila Ahern

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.
 
When a stranger utters these words to Allegra Bird, nicknamed Freckles, it turns her highly ordered life upside down. In her current life as a parking warden, she has left her eccentric father and unconventional childhood behind for a bold new life in the city.
 
But a single encounter leads her to ask the question she’s been avoiding for so long:  who are the people who made her the way she is?  And who are the five people who can shape and determine her future? Just as she once joined the freckles on her skin to mirror the constellations in the night sky, she must once again look for connections.

Told in Allegra’s vivid, original voice, moving from Dublin to the fierce Atlantic coast, this is an unforgettable story of human connection, of friendship, and growing into your own skin. 

Five people. Five stars. Freckle to freckle. Star to star.

My Thoughts:

This is the story of Allegra Bird, having the nickname Freckles you can see why as you get to know Allegra, she likes to join the freckles on her arms up like they are constellations in the sky. She is a parking warden and there are some very funny encounters that she has with a certain person that did make me chuckle. When someone tells her You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with she decides to leave her life and go and live in the city. As she is moving from Dublin to London, when she is speaking you can imagine her with her Irish accent, I love the way she has followed her dream and branches out on her own to give herself the best life she can. This is such a hopeful and life affirming story that will touch many a heart.

I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for sending me a copy.

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