The Dartmoor Bookworm

I was given a prepublication copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review. Quinn is something of a swimming prodigy, but having failed to make it to the Olympics, she is still piecing her confidence back together and is now aiming for the World Championships. She cannot let herself become distracted by anything or anyone, no matter how pretty they are. At high school everyone knows about Quinn's sexuality but her best friend deserted her when she moved away and since coming back their relationship has been non existent. Kennedy Reed won't even look at Quinn, let alone have a conversation with her and Quinn is unsure why. Go back to when they were 13 and Kennedy was about to move away and a kiss between them on the front porch of Kennedy's house and the story starts to unwind. To add to the confusion, there is also the relationship between Quinn and her twin brother Liam, who also has a massive crush of Kennedy, and the problems that creates. The s...

Claire's theme for June was a really gorgeous one and one of my favourite books from my childhood, "The Secret Garden," it was as always beautifully thought out and the box was so exciting to receive. As always I opened it on my own, with a cup of tea and took the time to enjoy every little item as I opened them. As always Claire wraps everything in tissue paper (pink) and everything is neatly packed inside the box. So what was inside this month? First off we have some lovely flowery stickers, a cute fabric button badge, and some washi tape (also floral). There is a little craft project for you to make, with everything you need to make it. This time it's how to make a paper flower. Then we have three art prints, i really love these this month and they'd look great framed somewhere in the house. Two are prints and the third is one to colour! Then we have notecards and gift tags - all matching and floral - these are lovely! ...

I was actually away on holiday last week when my happy post arrived. It's always a nice feeling when you see it on your doormat but even nicer when you know it's at home waiting for you. We arrived home early on Monday morning and no I didn't open it straight away. Later onMonday afternoon i got to sit down and open it on my own. This months theme is Spring Clean, very apt for my house at the moment. We have been having lots of work done over the past seven weeks which includes a new kitchen which arrives this Monday! I'm a little excited about that! So in amongst all the chaos of my house - I get this, and as always its perfect. Inside wrapped in tissue paper as always, is a journal, a Paperchase pen, three organisation sheets to help you organise your life, a decluttering one, a cleaning one and one for things you like doing. There is also an art card with the quote, "This could be the beginning of anything you want." That's going i...

I was sent a pre publication copy of this book in return for an honest review by Netgalley. The first thing I will say about this book is that it is the third in a series - I haven’t read the other two and you don’t need to. From what I understand a few of the characters and settings are the same but this book is fine to read on its own without the prior knowledge of storylines or characters. The book is set in a small Cornish village and the main character is Pippa Parkin, a teaching assistant, full of life, bubbly and who brings a smile to the room whenever she enters but who’s love life is not so flamboyant! Her mother is desperately trying to get her together with childhood and family friend James, who is polite and courteous when he needs to be but Pippa sees straight through him and decides he’s not the man for her! When her class teacher leaves on maternity at Easter, her temporary cover teacher, Kam, (male, good looking- we know where this is going) joins th...

I couldn’t resist. Having started reading this in school with a year 9 child I was too impatient to wait to read it together.  I held out for quite some time, but on realising that we wouldn’t finish reading it before half term I pressed ahead. This book is aimed at young adults/ pre teens/ key stage two children and is suitable for all of them. (And adults too!).  The story as I’m sure you are aware is about August Pullman, a ten year old boy, who was born with a facial deformity. He had up until then been home schooled by his mother but she felt that he was ready for proper school at the start of fifth grade. The story follows August’s first year at school, the friendships he creates and the bullies that torment him. It also follows and dips into the views and perspectives of other close to him, his sister Via, his new best friend Jack, Via’s friend Miranda and Via’s boyfriend Justin, as well as Summer another friend he has made at school. I like the fact the the ...

I said I’d show you what’s inside the stationery box this month and here it is. The first item is this cute little tin, complete with a stationery addict sticker. Inside the tin are a selection of little bullet journal stickers, two tiny weeny stencils and a pom pom paperclip. Next is the journal papers, pictures on one side, writing space on the other and another paperclip, which holds on the next item. These are super cute. Bookmarks and page markers. How adorable are they? Next we have a fine line pen, love these! And a gorgeous pale pink highlighter. We then have a bag tag and some washi tape, great for decorating journals, letters, scrap books! Then we have an amazing selection of stickers, all bullet journalling themed. I love the designs that Claire creates and the fact that each box is different and based on a different theme. I'm not much of a bullet journal diva but I try and these will definitely help.

Today my stationery subscription box from Sherbet Lane arrived. I love these little boxes of stationery goodness. It’s always nice to come home from work to and today I’m home alone for an hour so I get to sit down with a cuppa and open it in peace and quiet.  I love the little 'Happy Post' sticker - it really is - every month! Claire always tells us the theme before the boxes are sent out, so we have some sort of idea on what might be in there. This months theme was "Planner Queen".  I'm not great at planner using, I have a Filofax (old school) for work and I try and keep a bullet journal but never get very far with them, I'm not that creative, and just don't have the time to spend making it all look pretty. I'm sure at some point in the future I'll come up with something that works for me. This is how Claire wraps them every month. Claire always provides a little bit of confetti and its always in tissue paper, it looks so nice that so...