The Dartmoor Bookworm

  Strangers living worlds apart. Strangers with nothing in common. But it wasn’t always that way… Kerry Hayes  is single mum, living on a tough south London estate. She provides for her son by cleaning houses she could never afford. Taken into care as a child, Kerry cannot forget her past. Noah Martineau  is a successful barrister with a beautiful wife, daughter and home in fashionable Primrose Hill. Adopted as a young child, Noah never looks back. When Kerry contacts Noah , the sibling she lost on the day they were torn apart as children, she sets in motion a chain of events that will change both of their lives forever. By turns funny and moving,  Half a World Away  is a story that will stay with you long after you read its final page. Again I read this last year but haven't been on here and updated it.  My first Mike Gayle book and It was a good one. The story of broken families reuniting at a dark time in their life and offering support like no other.  Kerry and Noah were both r

Three women. Three different stages of life. United by one thing: the chance to start again. 'Uplifting, emotional and brimming with warmth and humour' – Cathy Bramley When Elizabeth's husband dies, leaving her with crippling debt, the only person she can turn to is her friend, Jo. Soon Jo has called in her daughter, Lucy, to help save Elizabeth from bankruptcy. Leaving her old life behind, Lucy is determined to make the most of her fresh start. As life slowly begins to return to normal, these three women, thrown together by circumstance, become fast friends. But then Jo's world is turned upside down when she receives some shocking news. In search of solace, Jo and Elizabeth find themselves enjoying midnight dips in the freezing Irish Sea. Here they can laugh, cry and wash away all their fears. As well as conjure a fundraising plan for the local hospice that will bring the whole community together... From bestselling Irish writer Faith Hogan, The Ladies' Midnight Sw

I bought this book myself after seeing so many positive reviews. I read it on my kindle.  The story is about Tiffy, and after leaving an abusive relationship and finally accepting it was over she needs to move out and find somewhere to live. Leon advertises his flat share, but it’s only a one bedroom flat but that’s okay as he works nights and spends  the weekends with his girlfriend.  It’s sounds ideal so after his girlfriends shows Tiffy around (checks her out) she agrees to move in. The relationship blossoms through the notes they leave each other. Until the inevitable happens. Tiffy oversleeps and Leon returns home. Their meeting not as expected.  The story is predictable, you know they end up together but it also looks at their friendships, Tiffy with Gertie and Mo and Leon with his brother, Richard and how they all help each other and help Tiffy get away from her abusive ex.  It is a great read and a good story which I really loved but there are topics covered that could be trigg

                                                       If you’ve read One Day in December then you’ll know how great Josie Silver’s books are and this one, her latest, is no exception.  It’s taken me longer than normal to read this but that’s not a reflection on the story at all, more my head space and I know I need to read to help and this is just one of those stories that takes you into another world that you can  totally imagine. Or at least I can.  Cleo Wilder, 29, writer, is about to turn 30 and her relationship status is nowhere near marriage. Her work sets her an experiment of travelling to an island off the Irish coast to find her true self and to marry herself on her 30th birthday. When she arrives at Otter Lodge she finds it double booked and with no where else to go in this tiny island, Cleo and the other new resident have no choice but to share the accommodation.  Rules written, line drawn, Cleo struggles to do what she set out to do. Be alone and write but in the process o

 I'm back and trying desperately to get back to reading more regularly. Last year was a difficult year for us and my head just couldn't cope trying to read a book. I struggled to pick up my crochet hook too but I think I'm ready to get back to both. Time to myself is so important so hopefully I'll be posting again more regularly.

I read this with a student (Home Ed) that I teach. The story is about Alve (Alfie) who is 1000 years old. He is befriended by Aiden and Roxy who at first don’t believe him but there’s something different about this 11 year old that doesn’t quite make sense. From his knowledge of historical events, to the way he speaks. After a fire destroys his home and what little family he has, he gets put into care and has to rely on Aiden and Roxy to help him lead a normal life and finally grow up normally.  This book is amazingly well written and left so many questions that we were desperate to discover the answers to. We couldn’t put the book down and wanted to continue reading it just to find out the how’s and why. Lots of twists and turns, and lots of adventure to keep anyone happy.  Recommended for good readers in year 5 and above.  5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️