The Dartmoor Bookworm

When I requested this book from Netgalley, it sounded ideal, a book about books, what more could a book loving girl ask for, and yet, there is a tell tale sign with me about how much I enjoy a book. The time it takes for me to write a review is the first giveaway. I can devour a book in an evening if it's really good, others take a few days, a week maybe, some when I'm three or four weeks in, you can tell I'm struggling and this one, however idyllic it sounded, is just one of those. I started reading it with great expectations.  I love historical, war stories and as this is set at the end of World War 2, I thought I'd love, but I just can't get into it. There is nothing in the first part of the story that inspires to read on. The story itself is very slow, the characters come across as quite dull and boring, and even though I'm a quarter of the way through it doesn't grab me like a book should, I can't even tell you what has happened because noth...

I was sent a free copy of this book by NetGalley in return for an honest review. This book tells the story of Poppy, a nanny working for a well off family who one days speaks her mind and finds herself out on the street. She is rescued by Drew, (Rich, good looking, older)  who offers immediate help and a whirlwind romance quickly materialises. Within weeks they are married and on returning to England , Drew buys a home in the country for them.  The house is big and beautiful but there is something about it that doesn’t sit right with Poppy.  Her one and only friend, Gina, comes to stay and helps Poppy make the house feel a bit more like home and Gina is amazed to discover that Poppy and Drew made a promise never to discuss the past (before they met). After a weekend with Drew’s friends, secrets start to unfold and the past eventually catches up with  both of them.  The book floats between the here and now throughout, looking back at Poppy’s past and gi...

So November's stationery box was "Warm and Cosy'. Beautifully packaged as ever! IT's such nice feeling when you see the box on your door mat. Lots of nice treats for me inside. Starting off with habit trackers, really useful for lots of different things, mine will probably be used for weight lose and running! There were three cards in this box but I've already used one and forgot to take a picture before I sent it. It went to a running friend who fell over and broke her arm. Some stickers and gift tags. A 'To Do' list - really handy for me, I love a list and two badges! And a colouring book- I might get to do this once Christmas is over and done with. If you fancy treating yourself or giving a box to a friend check out the Sherbet Lane website.

I've been reading this book with a student this term.  I chose it for him after the good reviews I had seen about it.  He's not a reader and has Autism so most of the book was read to him but he listened well and we enjoyed the story together, doing written work based on it as we went. The story line is great, really exciting stuff of about 9-12 years old. Four children are returning from the Amazon when their plane crashes into the jungle killing the pilot.  Their only way to help themselves is to find a way of escape. The story follows the children as they fight for survival, firstly on their own and later in the book after meeting "The Explorer", it is an adventure story with danger around every corner.  We loved some of the things they got up to (the bees, the raft ride) and really enjoyed the whole book. The characters were likeable, Fred, Con and Lila were really relatable, we could image children that age being exactly as they were described, Max howe...

I was sent a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review. I loved the look of the book, there was something magical about the cover, I chose a lot of books based on their covers and this one looked so lovely and Christmassy that I had to read it. It took some time to get into but I really enjoyed it once I did.  The story is about Rosie and her family, her sister Kate and their parents. Rosie is living in the US and Katie is a A&E doctor here in England. One night Katie receives a phone call from her sister telling her she is marrying her boyfriend of a few months this coming Christmas in the US. Katie who feels that it is all too quick decides she's going to stop the wedding. Rosie parents and Katie travel to the US for the wedding, but things aren't all they seem, secrets are being kept by all members of the family and the story, however predictable is heart warming. Love blossoms between unexpected people, (though i guessed early on that it ...

I haven't  posted these for a while, I have a back log of photos of them to post but I'll start with this months box. Claire's theme for October was "Cute Autumn' and yet again she hasn't  disappointed! Autumn is definitely my favourite time of the year, even though I don't like the clocks changing, the early darker nights and the darker mornings, I love the cold crisp days, the rain on the Velux windows, that cosy warm feeling as you put the winter duvet back on the bed, hot chocolate, the woodburner lit, a good book in front of the fire. So what's in the box this month? Claire always puts an overview in the inside, so you know what everything is! Beautifully wrapped as always! Lots of different things - you never know what you are going to get! A cute little notebook. A selection of stickers, magnets and Washi tape. Postcards and art work. Two cute bookmarks. And Owl origami - I do love an...

It's been a bit manic around here lately, work has taken over and I've started running (that's another blog post!) and I'm hooked but it means I've struggled to find time to read. However, I was given a free copy of this book by HQ and NetGalley in return for an honest review and as I said in part one, the free ebook version I couldn't cope with. I'm really funny about things like that, a slight formatting issue and my head can't cope so I managed to get a paperback copy in my local supermarket. It's taken me a while to read, that's usually a good indication of how I find a book. But not this one! It was quite slow to start, building the story up.  Laura recently widowed and mother of Tilly, together they are about to lose everything, her job, their house, their family. A business deal gone wrong, a break down with their family it's all looking dire.  But when Laura finds out about a local community who are willing to help, she decide...