Blog Tour: Dear You By Tessa Broad

Today I am privileged to be a part of a very special blog tour as part of National Fertility Awareness week. When I was approached by the RedDoor team about this book I knew it was going to be a special one and I jumped at the chance to be involved. Now let me tell you about Dear You…

Blurb: Tess Broad wanted children. She longed for them. It wasn’t to be. In this candid and moving memoir, Tess writes to the children that never were. She writes to them as their adult selves with openness and honesty and tells them of the childhood she envisaged for them and the mother she believed she would be. She describes her reluctant transformation from the woebegone, wannabe mummy that she once was, to the woman she is now; childless but chilled, sailing through Mother’s Day with a smile on her face. Happy. From the ‘trying for a family’ stage to the relentless treadmill of infertility treatment, Tess recounts her story with humour and pathos, taking the reader on her journey with her, sharing her experiences, the roller-coaster ride of IVF, the sudden departure of the husband whose children she wanted to have and ultimately to acceptance that the life she wanted and expected was not hers for the taking. This is a breathtaking memoir that offers a shoulder to lean on for everyone experiencing the uncertainties and pain of infertility.

Review: As I say when this pinged through to my email I knew I had to get involved. I have had this book sat on my side table for a while now but I wanted to read it right in time for National Fertility Awareness week. 

What can I say? 

Dear you is a poignant and heartfelt letter from a mother to her unborn children. This book is special, Tessa has a way of conveying a serious and in the most part a sad tale with her own added humour. I guess we all use humour where we need to help protect our feelings. Don’t get me wrong she conveys her anguish and anger also. I like the quote she has used from Stephen Fry – Making light of something heavy makes it easier to bear. It’s so true and that statement can be said for other situations. 

I love how real and raw this memoir is and I feel bad for saying this as this is something that has really happened to Tess. Nowadays the stigma has changed slightly but there is still a lot of work to be done, thanks to Tess and I’m sure there are others who have shared their own stories there is more out there. 

Her story is real and it will make you stop and think. I don’t have any children myself and I am getting along in age where the questions come up. I haven’t felt the sadness that Tessa has but I haven’t tried but for me there is still a stigma where people ask questions when they have no knowledge of the other persons situation. 

In this take Tessa explains about various forms of treatments and tests and it sounds so hard going. I don’t want to say too much as I want you to read this gorgeous book for yourself. Tessa’s letters to her children are gorgeous and will stay with you…

Never ever judge anyone you don’t know what battles they are fighting, or why their situation is the way it is.

Thank you to RedDoor books and for Tessa for this heart wrenching story….

Be sure to catch the rest of this heartfelt blog tour.

Publication day love for A Little Christmas Faith By Kathryn Freeman

Today is publication day for Kathryn Freeman with her Christmas read A Little Christmas Faith. I asked Kathryn if she would like to feature on my blog and she has been kind enough to have accepted once again. She has interviewed both her main characters about Christmas. Before I let her get started how gorgeously festive is the cover….

When do you start looking forward to Christmas?

Faith: I try not to get too carried away, because otherwise it feels as if I’m wishing my life away, but when the Christmas decorations start appearing in the shops, I can’t help myself. I start getting excited. And I start getting out my credit card…

Adam: Sorry, did you say look forward to Christmas? I look forward to when it’s all over.

Where do you usually spend Christmas?

Faith: Christmas for me has always been spent at my parents’ house, but this year is all change. I’ve just bought a hotel. Wow, I can’t believe I just said that. It still doesn’t feel real, though I’m sure it will when the first guests arrive. So this Christmas you’ll find me at The Old Mill Hotel in the Lake District. If you fancy the sound of that, please come and pay us a visit J.

Adam: I don’t care where I spend Christmas, as long as it’s away from home.

Who do you usually spend Christmas with?

Faith: My family. They drive me crazy a lot of the time, but when it comes to the best day of the year, there’s nobody I’d rather spend it with. Well, except Ryan Gosling, but do you think he’d leave the sunshine of California to come to the Lakes?

Adam: I spend Christmas by myself. And for God’s sake don’t feel sorry for me, or worse, ask me to spend it with you. I’m perfectly happy, thanks.

What’s the best part of Christmas, for you?

Faith: What a tough question. There are so many best parts, it’s hard to choose. I’ve mentioned being with my family. Ooh, I know, how about decorating the tree. I absolutely love doing that. My philosophy is that no tree is too big, and no amount of decorations, too many.

Adam: Look, I don’t want to come across as a grump, but to be honest, for me the best part of Christmas is January.

Which Christmas traditions do you enjoy most?

Faith: It has to be the food. I’m rubbish at cooking, but I’m brilliant at eating. Mince pies and Christmas pudding. Turkey with all the trimmings. I even enjoy eggnog, but don’t tell my dad. He thinks I buy it just for him.

Adam: [Deep sigh]. If you’ve read my previous answers, this one will be obvious. I don’t enjoy Christmas. Now, can we talk about something else please?

You can contact Kathryn on the below links…

Website: http://kathrynfreeman.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathrynfreeman

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathrynFreeman1

 Amazon link to A Little Christmas Faith:

 https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Christmas-Faith-Choc-Lit-ebook/dp/B0756KRVLX

 Thank you Kathryn! As you know I’m a huge fan and I cannot wait to devour your Christmas 🎄 treat….I hope you have a brilliant publication day with lots of festive treats…

Once a bookworm always a bookworm….

Happy Monday….today I got up when it was still dark and most of you were still in bed. 

I was up at 5am to spend some time fundraising for work at Paddington Station as part of #SU2C – Stand Up To Cancer….now I have been to Paddington Station lots before today but I didn’t realise how much Paddington Bear was there…….as a child I devoured these books by the late Michael Bond – my nieces love the film and I cannot wait for them to be old enough to devour Paddington’s tales and I can relive the magic with them. 

So today I became a bit of a child once again…

So I didn’t have a picture without my silly wig but here I am just gone 7am this morning. Ready for the day…doing my bit for Stand Up To Cancer when you work got a charity you end up realising you don’t mind dressing like a bit of a twit in aid of said charity. When I found this outfit I instantly thought of Stand Up fundraising. 

It all started for Paddington at Paddington Station.

I love that he’s sat on a book…I didn’t take a picture of the other side where you can see the other side of the actual book.

There’s also a gorgeous little gift shop full of stuff including some gorgeous pin badges and tote bags. I refrained from purchasing but alongside my work day I sure did have fun embracing my childhood. 

Paddington was one of my favourites and I cannot wait for the second film which is in the cinema on the 10th November….

I wonder if Michael Bond ever realised the bear he created would become just as famous as he has.? What a legacy he has left with new stories being created in the films alongside new fans in youngsters just like my nieces.

I hope to share more bookish adventures very soon. Happy Monday back to my book 📖 

Audio Review: I heart Hollywood By Lindsey Kelk

Blurb: I Heart series book 2. Celebs, sunshine and beautiful boys…enough to lead a girl astray?
Angela Clark can’t believe her luck… she’s an English girl living in New York with a dream job at hip magazine The Look and a sexy boyfriend.
Her latest assignment takes her to Hollywood to interview hot actor and fellow Brit James Jacobs.Thrown in at the deep end she heads west with best friend Jenny dreaming of Rodeo Drive and Malibu beach.
Soon Angela discovers that celebrity life in Hollywood is not all glamour, gloss and sunshine. Despite his lady-killer reputation, the only person who seems genuine is James.
Then a paparazzi snaps them in an uncompromising position and suddenly Angela is thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons…
Can she convince all those close to her – especially her boss and her boyfriend – not to believe everything they read? And will Hollywood ever win Angela’s heart?

Review: I know I know how behind am I? I read I heart New York whilst on my first ever trip to the States. I was on a trip exploring California and the West Coast and it kept me entertained. I had vowed that when I returned home I would devour the rest but as most bookworms know there are always too many books. It’s been on my TBR for a while and I thought it was time I made use of my Audible credits. 

From the get go I loved Lindsey’s writing and I adored Angela. A number of bloggers were re-reading the series ahead of the latest novel I heart Forever, and it got me thinking so I downloaded the audio version and away I went. I don’t know what I did before audio books I love them but of late I really don’t feel like I have got as much out of them. When I was walking to and from work I was smashing my audio reads but as I’m still struggling with my ankle that isn’t happening. In re-aquainting myself with Angela and Jenny I fell under Lindsey’s spell once again. I’m still not walking to work much but I have managed to walk in once so that’s progress yay I may well get more reading and audio in. I loved this story from start to finish although I wasn’t totally into Angela’s boyfriend. James however had me intrigued from start to finish and I wasn’t expecting the revelation, I won’t spoil as I know there may well be some of you out there who are also behind or those who haven’t started this tantalising series. What I will say is the situations that Angela got herself into because of James were laugh out loud funny. I must have looked crazy sitting on a bus and walking listening and laughing but it was just the tonic I needed. Angela’s boss reminded me of Joey from friends agent and that alone made me laugh. 

I love Lindsey’s writing and I cannot wait to keep devouring this series. Have you read it? If so what’s your fave? My next Audible download will be I Heart Paris which I believe is the next in the series. I hope you all have had a fab Saturday – I had the day off so a lazy day, a lie in, Swimming and Costa with my sister and niece. Plus organising some blog tours and stuff. Another me day tomorrow where I hope to devour a Christmas short…

Friend Friday Returns welcome Nicki

1..How do you know me?  

Through you’re Wandering Wednesday posts.

 2.Have we met in real life?   

No 

3.What is your bookish inspiration?  

I read to escape, to be educated and to be entertained.

4.What is your favourite book and why? (I know this won’t be an easy ask so you can list more than one) 

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis both are books I read as a child that hold nostalgic feelings for me, they are my real comfort reads. 

5. What book got you into reading?  

Sorry I have no idea

6. What is your fave series and why?  

I love Eva Dolan’s Zigic & Ferreira series set in a police Hate Crime Unit in Peterborough. It’s a fantastic series with very real stories that always manages to challenge my views about life in the UK.  

7. Favourite authors and why?  

Lisa Jewell for her multi-layered characters and stories,  
Nicky Pellegrino for her wonderful depictions of Italian life and food.  
Margaret James is a new author I’ve recently discovered on Twitter who deserves more readers for her wonderful Charton Minster series.

8. Tell us a bit about you and your blog? 

I’m Nicki a 40 something wife and mother to a 16 year old son. I live on the beautiful island of Jersey where we only have a Waterstones bookshop and a WHSmith to buy books from. Fortunately, we have a fantastic library service over here and all the charity shops sell second hand books too. Twice a year the local guide Dogs for the Blind charity have their second-hand book sales which raise thousands of pounds each time.  
I’ve dabbled with blogging for years and have been reviewing books for a long time on Goodreads, Amazon and Waterstones but wanted a central place for all my reviews. I had a book blog on Booklikes for a few years but actually started this blog last October when Booklikes looked like it was dying. It recovered but I preferred the new format on WordPress and so made this my blog home. I’m very happy here and have been made very welcome by all the lovely book bloggers out there. 

9. What’s your favourite colour?  

I don’t really have one at the moment. 

10. Here’s your chance to tell us all a bit about the last book you read and your thoughts? 

It was Still Christian a short memoir by David Gushee, an American Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University in the US. It caught my attention on NetGalley when I was looking for a particular title. It was a fascinating, and bewildering read at times, making me realise how interlinked religion and politics are across the Atlantic, despite the fact that America is a secular nation! 

Thank you so much for jumping on board Nicki you have been a tower of strength for my memes and have kept me going. You can check her blog out here https://thesecretlibrarysite.wordpress.com/ her blog is amazing. 

The Meet Cute Series… The Boy on the Bus By Katey Lovell

So my poll on Twitter wanted a Review and my Thursday Thoughts so I did not want to disappoint. I’m sorry I have been in and out work has overtaken my life thanks to my blogger pals who have checked in with me esp Catriona aka Fabbookfiend it means a lot. 

I must admit this review had been half written and left in drafts for a while. See I’m semi organised I just don’t always get the time. It’s better late than never eh? Without further ado. 

I downloaded this one a while ago and in between finishing The One We Fell In Love With I decided to go for a short before starting something new. I loved the fact I read this gorgeous treat on the bus although was sad there wasn’t a gorgeous guy for me to ogle and wonder about.

Katey Lovell’s Meet Cute series are gorgeous snippet reads that you can devour over a coffee on a bus (no pun intended although I did read it on the bus) generally something that can be read during a short break. I have read a few of these and I’m loving every single one of them and I’m glad I’m behind as I still have a few gorgeous love stories to devour when I’m down. Katey always manages to put a smile on my face and Lucy reminded me of me in some ways. I have had a fair few crushes over the years and my friends will all say I don’t have much confidence in myself and I often miss the boat. Lucy’s day is made by seeing this boy yet she doesn’t know his name or a single thing about him – all she has is the thoughts in her head….

I love these stories go devour you won’t be disappointed….

Download it here The Boy On The Bus

Thursday Thoughts – Sleep and Relaxation

This week has been tough going physically and mentally. What hasn’t helped my mood is that I’m losing sleep thanks to the streetlight and or my neighbours night light – meaning I’m waking more and more so my sleep is incredibly disturbed which doesn’t help when you already have a busy and full on working week. I am looking at a black out blind to save my sleep. 

At work It’s SU2C (Stand Up To Cancer) and we are in full swing with cash collections tomorrow. 

Relaxation definition – The state of being free from tension and anxiety.

Recreation or rest, especially after a period of work.

I have some amazing friends and family who I should be more grateful for and I am trying to make more time for me. Whether it be listening/reading a good book. Watching TV or a film or just a good bath or a coffee. (Could do with an Irish coffee right now – although very soon I’m hoping to do a review post on something connected to Irish coffee) 

What do you do to unwind? Feel free to share your thoughts with me. 

Blog Tour: The Note by Zoe Folbigg

Blurb: The note changed everything. . . One very ordinary day, Maya Flowers sees a new commuter board her train to London, and suddenly the day isn’t ordinary at all. Maya knows immediately and irrevocably, that he is The One. But the beautiful man on the train always has his head in a book and never seems to notice Maya sitting just down the carriage from him every day. Eventually, though, inspired by a very wise friend, Maya plucks up the courage to give the stranger a note asking him out for a drink. Afterall, what’s the worst that can happen? And so begins a story of sliding doors, missed opportunities and finding happiness where you least expect it. Based on the author’s true story, The Note is an uplifting, life-affirming reminder that taking a chance can change everything. . .

Firstly I want to say I’m sorry I feel like a huge failure today. From the minute I heard about this book I wanted to devour it. I wanted to read it as close to my day and thanks to headaches and crazy work schedules I’m not finished. In between work I have been reading as much as I can but I’m still not finished what I can say is Zoe has written an amazing story that keeps you hooked. The perfect book to keep my reading up, The Note is inspiring and it’s real.

Seize the day….you never know it may work out for you. I’m hoping my next post will be my full review sorry Zoe. Right bath for me and then I’m back to my 📖. 

A side note a great friend in Catriona reached out to me today as I have been quiet, work is pretty crazy with Stand Up To Cancer but I am getting organised and hope to be back to my normal self. Ankle is in agony today. 

Book Review: The Hygge Holiday By Rosie Blake

Blurb: The perfect recipe for hygge this autumn: make a hot chocolate, draw the curtains, snuggle under a blanket and read your way to happiness!

It’s autumn in Yulethorpe and everyone is gloomy. It’s cold, drizzly and the skies are permagrey. The last shop on the high street – an adorable little toy shop – has just shut its doors. Everything is going wrong for Yulethorpe this autumn. Until Clara Kristensen arrives.
Clara is on holiday but she can see the potential in the pretty town, so she rolls up her sleeves and sets to work. Things are looking up until Joe comes to Yulethorpe to find out exactly what is going on with his mother’s shop. Joe is Very Busy and Important in the City and very sure that Clara is up to no good. Surely no one would work this hard just for the fun of it?
Can a man who answers emails at 3 a. m. learn to appreciate the slower, happier, hygge things in life – naps, candles, good friends and maybe even falling in love?

Review: Firstly anyone who knows me knows I simply cannot resist anything written by Rosie Blake ever since I devoured How To Get A Love Life I have literally been blown away by every single novel. I must admit the day this pinged through to my Kindle I was reading a few other books. Both of which are excellent and will be read and reviewed but for some reason it just wasn’t flowing for me. I have been feeling so so in my own day to day and I haven’t had as much time to read – which sucks as I am always at my happiest whilst my head is stuck in a novel. I love escaping to a whole new world and as ever Rosie has managed to hook me in from the get go once again. Although in some ways I am pleased that I managed to long this book out as I was so sad to see it go but I do feel like this book not only let me escape it also made me think….in an extremely good way.

what is Hygge? It’s a Danish word for a quality of cosiness, feeling warm, comfortable and safe that comes from doing simple thins such as lighting candles, baking, or spending time at home with your family enjoying simple pleasures and indulgences. The high season of hygge is Christmas, when the Danes don’t hold back with the candles and mulled wine.

What Clara teaches us in this story is that it doesn’t have to be the festive season to appreciate the simple pleasures and to take more time for us. I wouldn’t say I work as manic as Joe does in this story but I do wholeheartedly believe we should all make more time for ourselves. As I say I do read but do I always make time for me no? No I don’t.

If you are looking for the perfect Autumnal read then look no further it’s not quite Christmas but it has the gorgeous cosy aspect from the very beginning when Clara is sat in the cosy corner of the pub minding her own business with a drink and her head in the book and her life changes. Clara is a positively optimistic young woman with her own troubles but seeing a scene unfold in the pub between Louisa and Roz she realises she has her work cut out for her. Yulethorpe is a gorgeous little town with lots of potential but when Clara stumbles across it it’s at it’s lowest ebb with many shops closing and not a coffee shop in sight. When Louisa decides to leave it all and go to Spain she leaves Clara in charge of the Toy Shop her home and her pets – Lady Caca (the greatest parrot ever) the movie and show lines had me laughing and crying it seemed bittersweet to hear Brucie’s favourite catch phrases among others.

Clara is such a creative person that she soon changes the town and peoples perceptions. She transforms the Toy shop, the local pub and even manages to calm a workaholic in Joe. From the get go Joe is wary as he worries about his mother – but I loved the sudden shift in him and you could see the friendship between Clara and Joe was slowly blossoming. I love how Clara managed to show a number of people that not everyone is out for themselves – showing that there really are some good eggs in the world amongst the bad.

I loved Gavin, Louisa, Clara and Joe so much and turning the final page had me aching for more. I wanted to know more about all of them and how their happy ever afters unfolded. Another gorgeous book from Rosie and one that will stay with me forever more. I even managed to find a book on Hygge that I hope to devour and review at a later date. Watch this space…

I just wanted to add a side note here I have been reading as much as I can but I must admit my reviews haven’t been as prompt as I would like. I hope to be more back on track this week including a Wandering Wednesday and a Friend Friday piece. And if I get a chance another beauty post….do feel free to get in touch I love connecting with other bookish people…until next time…:)  

Memories that last a lifetime….

I have been thinking about this post all day….in my subconscious alongside my manic work day. 

It’s been eight years since the beautiful Stephen Gately left this earth as Keith Duffy said eight years an angel and to me that’s the perfect description of him. 

Today I got up put on a red top (in his honour) and got on with my day. Listening to Magic I found myself laughing and crying – what really makes me smile is how social media changes all the gorgeous pictures come up and we remember.

This is a picture that I longed for from a small age and it still makes me remember every single second of how it came to be.

Thank you Stephen for being you. Boyzone have been a huge part of my life. When I was bullied and when I suffered hard times their music, the concerts and the friends I made along the way helped me more than he will ever know. 

This Summer this happened….

 

I’m totally in love with it but there’s only one thing missing and that’s Steo. 

I couldn’t let today pass without mentioning Steo. He’s always in my thoughts….