Book Review: Thirteen Weddings By Paige Toon

Blurb: A year ago, Bronte left Sydney for a wedding in England, where she met newly single Alex. After one amazing night together they parted ways.

Now working on the picture desk for a glossy magazine in London, Bronte is about to meet a new colleague – who turns out to be all too familiar. Alex is now engaged, but the memory of the spark they felt when they met hasn’t died. As Alex’s wedding day looms, it is clear that he and Bronte have unfinished business…

Review: Now in re-listening to this I was looking back through my blog where I realised I hadn’t written a review the first time around. What I will say is now I’ve met more of the people in this story I found myself smiling more and understanding more.

In my chat with Catriona she called Bridget a friend and that’s definitely how she feels now…Bridget was my first leading lady in The Last Piece of my Heart and she feels like a totally different person to the woman I met there. Alongside Bronte she’s a truly amazing friend.

I listened to Thirteen Weddings just before A Christmas Wedding was released and I went through so many emotions. I loved Bronte from the get go and just like Bronte I fell hard for both Alex and Lockie. It’s weird because on the reread I was still thinking like that but my thoughts were somewhat different. On both reads I loved both guys but on the second read I felt more for Lockie although I was 100% full on team Alex from the off.

The story starts with a hen and stag party colliding and that’s where Bronte and Alex first meet. I loved everything about their interaction and the way their nights changed. All the fancy dress types were amusing for me especially with the talk of Michael J Fox from Back to the Future one of my personal favourites.

Fast forward and both Alex and Brontes lives changed dramatically until they become reunited once again. I can’t go into that too much without revealing a lot of the plot. There are a number of themes that are showcased within this novel and as ever Paige Toon does so beautifully and with grace. Brontes back story really pulled at my heart strings although it felt different the second time around as I already knew the heart of the story.

Bronte accompanying Rachel as a wedding photographers assistant was great. I love how Bronte took one of her passions and ran with it even if weddings weren’t her best place to be although that comes clear a lot later in the novel.

This read along has been heart warming even before the Coronavirus took over our lives. Due to my mental week of headaches I’m a bit behind in my reading but I’m coming back strong having finished a novella this morning.

If you haven’t discovered Paige Toon now is the time to rectify that.

Book Review: Random Acts Of Kindness Part Four – New Adventures

Blurb: Welcome to Littlewood, a small town community with a big heart…

Summer is drawing to a close as Huntley Manor is due to have its grand re-opening. Abbie is determined to save the hotel from closure but she has to remember her own career too… As she and Thomas grow ever closer, will she end up making Littlewood her home for good? Or will she set up her own PR company back in London…?

Eszter has to decide whether it is time to go back to Hungary… But what has she got to return to? She has no career to speak of, and their home is filled with painful memories of her beloved husband. But can a new job, a new home and a surprise new dog convince Eszter and Zoe to stay?

Louise wants to tell Alex how she feels but decides she needs to show him after pushing him away for so long. Will a grand gesture be enough to show him she won’t run away this time?

As the town of Littlewood comes together to help Huntley Manor, we’ll find out if kindness really does have the power to save the day….

Packed full of love and kindness, this heart-warming story will reaffirm your faith in humanity!

Review: Now it goes without saying I have been waiting for the final part of this story since I finished reading part three back in April. Although I must admit I was also worrying about saying goodbye to Littlewood and its residents.

I did think I would have devoured this a lot quicker than I did but I am going to blame work, my fitness sessions and the fact I was blooming scared to say goodbye to the gang.

The town and characters that Victoria has created instantly had an impact on me. Being kind is definitely something we should all do more of. I have started to make these changes in being kinder to myself although I am still very much a work in progress my mindset is changing for the better. I just wished I had a place like Brew, to head to whenever I needed that little pick me up and reminder that being kind to yourself and others really does make a difference in a world full of such sadness. The kindness board really has made me think and I loved how Victoria wove it into certain aspects of the story especially with Louise. I wont be adding any spoilers here but that note melted me. There are aspects to Louise and her wariness that I can see in me, and maybe I just need to up the kindness stakes in being kinder to myself and the rest will fall into place, when I least expect it.

In part four the story comes together and loose ends are tied up for the three main ladies Louise, Abbie and Eszter. They all have life-changing and affirming decisions and what I will say is their journey truly is beautiful. At the beginning of the Summer these ladies really didn’t know just how much they needed one another. I love that it ends in a way where Victoria could and I truly hope that she does return to Littlewood and its residents as everyone could do with a little bit of kindness in each and every day.

If you are looking for a read that will not only let you truly escape the trials and tribulations of everyday life, it will also have you asking yourself thought provoking on how you can be kinder in general and to yourself, then Random Acts of Kindness is definitely for you. You will not regret it, you will be sad to see it end but you will be left with tears of joy and genuine smiles.

This serial truly inspired me and I loved all of the leading ladies for different reasons. Sometimes you have to go with your gut instinct and sometimes you have to choose the wrong path to see the right one. I’m not done with kindness, I need more of this in my day to day. It’s not always easy with the rollercoaster that is life but if we all make a concious effort we can start little by little.

If there are any truly kind books that I should be adding to that ever growing TBR list feel free to let me know below. If you want to chat about this serial some more also do get in touch.

I already have Eva Woods How to be Happy – which I have heard good things about so I am hoping to bump that up my list. Very shortly I will be devouring Miranda Dickinson’s latest I was meant to buddy read that one but life got in the way. She is another author who lets me escape and who also inspires. I also have Derren Brown’s Happy which I am sure will be enlightening, but I am looking forward to what suggestions you give me.

Friend Friday welcome Erica….

So today sees the second #FriendFriday here at Hayley Reviews and today I welcome Erica….

1.How do you know me?

We met through Twitter. 

2.Have we met in real life?
Negative 😦 

3.What is your bookish inspiration?
I have a number of bookish inspirational accounts. Just a few include:

For book blogging: Alicia of A Kernel of Nonsense- https://akernelofnonsense.wordpress.com

For bookstagram: readingwithkat- https://www.instagram.com/readingwithkat/

For booktube: Kelsey Lee Reads- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCF6Hs1Hgg0Xacj0xvu9v0g

4.What is your favourite book and why? (I know this won’t be an easy ask so you can list more than one)
My automatic answer here is The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. This book had such an impact on me the first time I read it, and now it is the book I have re-read the most. 

5. What book got you into reading?
For as long as I can remember, I have always been a reader. The very first book I have any memory of reading is Corduroy by Don Freeman. 

6. What is your fave series and why?
I have to go with Harry Potter. This series is just so timeless and it is so easy to get totally lost in the story.

7. Favourite authors and why?
Michael Crichton. I haven’t read a single book by him that I didn’t love!

8. Tell us a bit about you and your blog?
I started my book blog in December of 2016 and have been going strong ever since! I’m so excited to reach my one year mark. On my blog, I post book reviews, comic and graphic novel reviews, book tags, favorites lists, bookish discussions, and other bookish related things. 

9. What’s your favourite colour?
Currently it is mint green, but it changes all the time.

10. Here’s your chance to tell us all a bit about the last book you read and your thoughts?
The last book that I read and loved was Here and Gone by Haylen Beck. It’s a suspense novel that is sure to get your heart pounding! I thought that the premise was incredibly spooky because it was so realistic. I highly recommend giving it a read if you like thrillers! 

Thank you Erica for joining me on this Autumnal looking Friday ooooh that Thriller sounds fab 😉 

Also if you want to answer my questions and share your blog and bookish inspiration then feel free to get in touch.

Remembering Nan June

For those of you who are new to this blog all you will see is bookish chat.

Originally this blog was called life’s too short blogger and it was aimed at my volunteering for Cancer Research. I volunteered for a year after my Nan was diagnosed with Cancer the first time and I had watched a work colleague lose her mum and saw a friend pass.

I’m glad my Nan was still here when I began my Cancer Research journey, as she loved nothing more than trawling through charity shops. She would often ask me about my experiences and she had me on the hunt for a red scarf. It’s safe to say I never found a red scarf in good condition when she was alive.

But today I am going to purchase a gorgeous red scarf in honour of my beautiful Nan and I will wear it proudly. 

In January 2016 I started a new journey I became Assistant Manager in the Cancer Research store in Lewisham. So this blog was kind of redundant as I was no longer a volunteer. However, I didn’t want to get rid of this page as I was and still am proud of what I achieved here and where it took me.

Today is the anniversary of that horrid day when I didn’t make it to work, where we said goodbye to the strongest and bravest woman I have ever known. I used to love this day in January as it is exactly one month until my birthday now I remember saying goodbye. The only blessing is that me and my siblings, my mum and auntie were there until the very end.

It was a heartbreaking experience that will never leave me but we wouldn’t have let her be on her own. The other blessing is that my Nan was no longer in pain and was reunited with my Grandad.

So apologises for the change in posts but I couldn’t let today pass without saying something. Bookish chat will be resumed tomorrow with a snippet of a book that has left me eager for more.

Love you Nan June.

Now for the back story…life is a rollercoaster…

Today is day fourteen of my #Dryathlon twist and in some ways not drinking tea and coffee is getting easier and in others it really isn’t. I have some Starbucks treats to look forward to come the 1st October. Having had a fair few donation free days today I received an additional £10 from my mate Amy. I have to say I am feeling very humbled by all my friends, some like Amy I don’t see that often these days but it is awesome to know they are still there to cheer me on and support me, and for that I am truly thankful to everyone who has donated and supported me in any and every way they can. Your kind words of encouragement really do mean a lot. Some days really are better than others, believe me, I work in retail.

I have wanted to and will start writing up my snapshots about my time at Cancer Research these will become Dear Readers….there are some lovely tales that I will share with you soon. So, I wanted to give you a bit of a back story explaining my reasons and motivations for not only volunteering but also to this blog.

I had already started writing a post that was named 2014 but as much as 2014 was the major changing point that is not where this post or where this story starts.

In December of 2013 I remember being told that Nan had a growth on her bladder. Every single member of my family tried to instantly think differently but deep down we were all thinking the worst. Each one of us broke down in one way or another. I remember thinking Ronan Keating sure was right Life is a bloody Rollercoaster. The one thing I was certain of during every moment of worry was that my Nan is a fighter and one of the strongest women I have ever known, she wouldn’t give up. I was so angry and extremely upset, I am an emotional person at the best of times but every little thing was making me teary. I knew that we had to be there for Nan and for Granddad during this emotional and tense time, so that is exactly what we did.

Onto 2014, in February of 2014 Sophie one of my beloved work colleagues lost her mother to Cancer. We were all deeply saddened for Sophie, and when she asked a number of us to attend her mum’s funeral we did just that. (I was not prepared for how this year would turn out and how many funerals that I would attend – that is later on) I like to think that me and my colleagues have well and truly been there for Sophie in her time of need. Since then she went onto organise an awesome event in memory of her mother where she raised a shed load of cash for Cancer Research. Well done Sophie.

Nan had her operation/treatment in March and was recovering well but then a series of events changed not only her life but that of every member of my family, In April 2014, my beloved Granddad Sam passed away – he had been unwell for a while having been diagnosed with COPD but he carried on with life to an extent. None of us were ready to lose Granddad and Nan was lost without him. What I will say is I did truly love the time I spent with them both, Granddad shared my love of books and I am still reading some of his books to this day, and a number of them live on his old book shelf. Last May I read an awesome intriguing book called We Were Liars and at the end I cried as it was exactly the sort of book I would have passed onto him and I couldn’t. Watching films with Nan will be a memory I treasure. I even got the chance to show her the video of me and my best mate swimming with Dolphins these memories are priceless.

In August 2014, a friend of mine Katherine Bones passed away from liver Cancer she had had a beautiful baby boy just over a month earlier. This was heartbreaking, Kat was a kind-hearted soul who I will remember as being my Shane buddy and Mummy Kat. She was a people person and she loved sharing her love for music and boy-bands with anyone and everyone. It makes me sad that she had just got the one thing she wanted and her life was cruelly taken away. The number of people who attended her funeral and swarmed to Facebook to post condolence messages really proved how many lives she touched in her life. When Shane Filan’s new album gets released next week I will be yet again thinking of Kat – who I won’t bump into any longer.

In October 2014, we received the news we never wanted Nan now had stomach cancer, we were told to make the most of our time with her which is exactly what we did. In January of this year my Nan passed away in front of me and my closest family members. It was by far one of the hardest things that I have ever witnessed in my life, but I am glad we could be with her before she returned to Granddad and was suffering no longer. In all honesty the last week or so was the hardest before that she was just Nan – same as ever. My brother and sister are both grateful that she met both of their daughters. Nan had two and a bit years with Pippa and a few weeks with Freya and those memories are once again priceless.

My Nan was a huge lover of a bargain from a charity shop and I started volunteering in the November of last year and every week I would visit her and she would ask me about the shop and if I was enjoying working there. She also had me on the hunt for a red scarf, I never did find one but this year I will and I will wear it with pride when I do.

So that is a little into why I volunteer, why I have given up tea and coffee argh! lack of caffeine lol and what inspired me to get back blogging.

Until next time 🙂