The Dartmoor Bookworm

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 cov...

                                                       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...

 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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

 I really enjoyed this book, the story of Diana Clare (pianist extraordinaire)and her love song written and performed once by her, and then lost after her tragic death. Her husband Arie, grieving for his wife,  but his instant love of Evie after a brief encounter, a true love story, a song that finds its way to different couples, all who appreciate the song for what it is, but all who know nothing of its whereabouts or where it came from, and the way in which the song travels around the world, to be brought back to Arie.   The couples are all very different, brought together in different ways, across different generations, and so something in the love story will appeal to most readers. It was very cleverly thought through and put together and beautifully written. The characters were well developed and likeable, and the story and the way in which it was interlinked was fabulous. If you like an easy read, and romance then I'd definitely recommend this book.  I gave it ...

I was sent a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review. The story follows that of Rita, 19, a nanny for a wealthy London family who after a fire in  the family home in London, moves with the mother and children to Foxcote Manor, their home in the Forest of Dean. It follows Rita whilst nannying but also in the modern day after a fall. It also follows the story of Sylvie, her daughter, in the modern day, recently separated and with her mother in hospital and her daughter discovering she's pregnant, she decides to do some digging into her past, the summer of 1971. I quickly realised the link between the then and now and was captivated to read on and find out what happened. The story had many plot lines all beautifully written and well thought through, the tragedy of the London home, the loss of a child, the mothers affair, a foundling, Rita's relationship with the mother and the two children, a glimpse back to Rita's own tragic childhood and her need...

I was sent a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review. OMG! I haven't read a psychological thriller like this for some time.  This is on a totally different level to The Family Upstairs, and so much better. What can I say without giving the story away.  It's about 13 year old Elissa who is a bright young girl, living with her mother.  They go away for a weekend chess tournament that Elissa is playing in and whilst Elissa goes to return something to the car she is abducted. When she comes around she is in the cellar of "The Gingerbread House', chained up and in the dark.  Her captor visits her but so does Elijah, a 12 year old boy who doesn't want Elissa to leave. He sees her as his new friend. Elissa realises that she isn't the first girl who has been brought here and the story follows the time after Elissa's disappearance. The story is brilliantly written, even when you think you've sussed it out, there's a twist a...