Book Review: The Money Journal by Gemma Bird

With the cost of living crisis, like many I’ve been searching for ways to save money and streamline my outgoings so I was excited to be invited to the tour for Gemma Bird’s The Money Journal by Random Thing Tours.

The Money Journal by Gemma Bird

Title: The Money Journal

Author: Gemma Bird

Publisher: Octopus

Genre: Financial non-fiction

Release date: 2nd February 2023

Blurb:

If you are worried about the cost-of-living crisis, rising fuel bills, heating or eating, being able to afford birthday and Christmas presents and holidays – then this is the journal to help you to take back control of your bank balance!

The problem with saving money is that many of us don’t know where to start. And with so much shame and secrecy around the topic of finances, it can be difficult to ask for support. However, Gemma Bird aka Instagram sensation @MoneyMumOfficial is here to help you tackle your money mindset and bank more money! Because money isn’t a secret recipe that only rich people know, it’s a mindset and an attitude that anyone can have. All it takes is a little every day to build your funds!

Imagine knowing you have all your money problems sorted: bills, Christmas, holidays, the baby fund, school uniform – you have enough put aside to cover it all! The Money Journal goes beyond your typical budget planner and dives deeper and tackles your mindset and financial anxiety at its core. Discover bank boosting tips and learn how to tailor your savings goals to your own lifestyle by formulating a personalised budget plan. With this practical handbook, you can also keep on top of your monthly spending, so you always stay on track.
Inside this journal you’ll find:

✓ A spender quiz to help you discover your money mindset
✓ A guide to setting your savings goals
✓ A checklist for getting out of debt
✓ A monthly to-do list to help you reach your targets
✓ Space for taking notes and reflecting on your progress
Let The Money Journal empower you to take back control of your bank balance and achieve
your money goals.

My Thoughts

Every New Year, I vow to keep a tighter rein on my finances but like many the last year has made it crucial and searching for ways to cut outgoings and save money. Every year, I stumble as the spreadsheet on my desktop remains unopened. This convenient sized journal sat on my desk, in sight so therefore used. It is a twelve month journal but because it isn’t dated it can be begun at anytime not just in the New Year’s resolution rush.

The high accessible format and language makes it easy to use. I may only be a couple of months in but it has helped me focus on my finances and saving rather than putting it off for another day and then panic as the bank balance goes down. With a slant towards exploring the mindset around finances rather than just pounds or pence in the account, I’m finding it enlightening. From asking questions about your saving type to planning no spend days (harder than it sounds) and make money days it made me consider not only my spending but other ways to boost my bank balance.

Each month provides monthly saving checklist with different tips to try, a budget review and spend tracker and space to write own thoughts and successes. Colouring pencils and stickers came out to personalise my journal too. Alongside small but useful tips which do help bit by bit, there is a bigger varied topic spotlighted e.g gratitude and ISAs. By having set goals and checklists, it was nice to feel more in control than completely overwhelmed which is a win for mental health.

Would I recommend?

If you’re looking for an effective journal to keep track of your finances and give yourself a nudge into saving, this could be one for you. Easy to understand in a clear layout, it does exactly as describes (as long as you use it).

Author Biography

Gemma Bird

Instagram sensation Money Mum Official, aka Gemma Bird is a hard-working mother of two from Essex. After years of working
multiple jobs at once, from picking mushrooms to working as an estate agent, Gemma never earned more than £25k a
year and yet managed to pay off her £225k mortgage. To achieve this, Gemma had to come up with some careful and creative
methods of saving every penny.
Gemma Bird launched @MoneyMumofficial on Instagram to help others save cash. She now regularly shares
money-saving tips to her 225k loyal followers. As her platform has continued to grow, brands like Amazon, Pampers, Tesco,
Compare the Market, Wilko, Poundland, Superdrug, Febreze and McDonalds have reached out to partner with her.
Gemma’s first book Money Mum Official: Save Yourself Happy has sold over 14.5k copies since publication in January 2022 and
was a Sunday Times bestseller.

Instagram.com/moneymumofficial

Thank you Random Things Tours for inviting me to this tour and providing an advanced copy for me to review and give my honest and unbiased opinion.

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Book Review: Together Again By Milly Johnson

Today I’m excited to be part of Milly Johnson’s blog tour for her newest novel, Together Again. Most of her books are on my forever shelf so I can return to them when I need a warm pick me up.

Scroll down to see if this one will be added next to them.

Together Again by Milly Johnson

Title: Together Again

Author: Milly Johnson

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Release date: 3rd March 2023

Blurb

Together again after years apart, can they find a new beginning? The brilliant novel full of laughter, love, tears and hope from the Sunday Times bestselling author Milly Johnson.

‘This masterpiece honestly describes the strength and acceptance required to be a family. 5 STARS’ Adele Parks, Book of the Month, Platinum magazine

Sisters Jolene, Marsha and Annis have convened at their beautiful family home, Fox House, following the death of their mother, the tricky Eleanor Vamplew. Born seven years apart, the women are more strangers than sisters.

Jolene, the eldest, is a successful romantic novelist who writes about beautiful relationships even though her own marriage to the handsome and charming Warren is complicated.

Marsha, the neglected middle child, has put all of her energy into her work, hoping money will plug the gap in her life left by the man who broke her young heart.

Annis is the renegade, who left home aged sixteen and never returned, not even for the death of their beloved father Julian. Until now.

So when the sisters discover that their mother has left everything to Annis in her will, it undermines everything they thought they knew. Can saying their final goodbyes to Eleanor bring them together again?

Together, Again is the story of truths uncovered and lies exposed, of secrets told – and kept. It is a novel about sister helping sister to heal from childhood scars and finding in each other support, forgiveness, courage and love.

My Thoughts

While love, friendship and character’s finding their own self or strength are fundamental in all her books, this one is different. With less romance, it focused on the relationship between sisters from a dysfunctional family and their horrid mother but Milly Johnson’s trademark warmth, humour is there which balanced out the emotional rollercoaster this novel took me on.

Told from the different sisters viewpoints, a full picture of their family life was formed when secrets and experiences shared. It was easy to see how their relationship fell apart and shows how siblings can have different childhoods despite living in the same family home. It’s a realistic, hard hitting depiction of grief and guilt when the parent who has died isn’t the loving, caring one you needed. All the characters have the depth you’d expect from Milly’s writing and lodged themselves into my heart. 

Despite the hard and sensitive topics covered, the care in the writing provided an uplifting ending with the feeling of hope that sisters can be reconciled and move towards a better future with support and friendship. 

Of course, this one will be added to my forever shelf for a reread. It’s a powerful, emotional read about grief, reconciliation and the strength of sisters that will resonate with many readers giving them hope and a hug. 

Author Biography

Milly Johnson

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. She is the author of 20 novels, 4 short story ebooks, a book of poetry and a Quick Reads Novella (‘The Little Dreams of Lara Cliffe’) and was an erstwhile leading copywriter for the greetings card industry. She is also a poem and joke-writer, a newspaper columnist and a seasoned after dinner speaker.

She won the RoNA for Best Romantic Comedy Novel of 2014 and 2016, the Yorkshire Society award for Arts and Culture 2015, the Romantic Novelist Association Outstanding Achievement award in 2020 and the Richard Whiteley Award for Inspiration to the County of Yorkshire in 2022.

She writes about love, life, friendships and the importance of community spirit. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience and celebrate her beloved Yorkshire.

Website http://www.millyjohnson.co.uk

Twitter @millyjohnson,

Instagram @themillyjohnson,

TikTok @millyjohnsonauthor

Facebook @MillyJohnsonAuthor

Thank you Simon and Schuster for inviting me to this tour and providing an advanced copy for me to review and give my honest and unbiased opinion.

Love

Book Review: The Empire by Michael Ball

I adore books about the glitzy 1920s so I was thrilled to be on the tour for The Empire by Michael Ball. With her experience and knowledge of the theatre I’ve high expectations of this novel and can’t wait to jump in.

The Empire by Michael Ball

The Empire by Michael Ball

Title: The Empire

Author: Michael Ball

Publisher: Zaffre

Genre: Women’s fiction, historical fiction

Release Date: 13th October 2022

Purchase Links – http://unbouncepages.com/Michael-ball/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Empire-charming-romantic-Cameron-Mackintosh-ebook/dp/B09X1725SP

https://www.amazon.com/Empire-charming-romantic-Cameron-Mackintosh-ebook/dp/B09X1725SP

Blurb

Welcome to The Empire theatre

1922. When Jack Treadwell arrives at The Empire, in the middle of a rehearsal, he is instantly mesmerised. But amid the glitz and glamour, he soon learns that the true magic of the theatre lies in its cast of characters – both on stage and behind the scenes.

There’s stunning starlet Stella Stanmore and Hollywood heartthrob Lancelot Drake; and Ruby Rowntree, who keeps the music playing, while Lady Lillian Lassiter, theatre owner and former showgirl, is determined to take on a bigger role. And then there’s cool, competent Grace Hawkins, without whom the show would never go on . . . could she be the leading lady Jack is looking for?

When long-held rivalries threaten The Empire’s future, tensions rise along with the curtain. There is treachery at the heart of the company and a shocking secret waiting in the wings. Can Jack discover the truth before it’s too late, and the theatre he loves goes dark?

Musical theatre legend Michael Ball brings his trademark warmth, wit and glamour to this, his debut novel.

Enjoy the show!

My Thoughts

This novel showcases Michael Ball’s passion and knowledge of the theatre giving it depth and soul that wouldn’t have been replicated without his theatrical background.

By following Jack Treadwell’s discovery of the Empire, I saw the atmospheric building through his eyes and as his love for the theatre and the larger than life cast grew so did mine. There were many characters to love and hate who drove story forward while I was immersed in the atmospheric setting and era. 

Behind the glamour of showbiz, lingered the shadows cast from the first world war and the murkier aspects of the time. These rose the tension and making me turn the page to discover how all the subplots concluded.

Would I recommend?

Yes, I’m currently in hospital and The Empire provided an entertaining, escape into my favourite era.  The strong sense of place immersed me into the characters’ lives which was quite a feat when battling with the distraction of a busy ward. With a full cast of characters and glamorous location it could easily be adapted into a tv series. 

Author Biography

Michael Ball OBE is a singer, actor, presenter and now author. He’s been a star of musical theatre for over three decades, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical twice, he’s also won two BRIT awards and been nominated for a Grammy. Michael regularly sells out both his solo tours and his Ball & Boe shows with Alfie Boe and has multiple platinum albums. The Empire is his first novel.

Social Media Links 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrmichaelball/   //  https://twitter.com/ZaffreBooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrmichaelball/?hl=en // https://www.instagram.com/zaffrebooks/

Thank you Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to this tour and providing an advanced copy for me to review and give my honest and unbiased opinion.

Love

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Book Spotlight and giveaway: One Last Dream for December by Lottie Cardew

It may only be October but it never too early for a Christmas books so I’m excited to share with you a book on my TBR pile One Last Dream for December by Lottie Cardew

One Last Dream for December by Lottie Cardew

One Last Dream for December by Lottie Cardew

Title: One Last Dream for December

Author: Lottie Cardew

Publisher: Cloverdilli House Press

Genre: festive romance

Release Date: 3rd October 2022

Purchase Link – https://viewbook.at/LastDreamForDecember

Blurb

Sometimes, the dream we think we don’t deserve is the one that’s trying to come true…

Esme Blythe has led a nomadic existence for the last ten years, never thinking she fits anywhere, and never feeling she’s earned the right to. But when she moves in above Percival’s, the charming old toy shop in Market Square, Pebblestow, it seems the village is about to weave its signature fairy-tale magic.

Surrounded by wooden toy soldiers, rocking horses, and vintage doll’s houses, not to mention the locals who seem determined to be part of her life – from her endearing grumpy uncle, to warm-hearted co-worker Blodwyn, and smouldering single dad Seth – Esme has to face up to everything she’s been missing, or turn her back on an incredible opportunity.

New friends, formidable foes, and the thrill of a budding romance, conspire to make this the most bittersweet December ever. But when she finally learns the truth about the toy shop’s owner, her elusive benefactor, the mysterious Mr Percival, is it already too late for Esme to change her mind… and heal her heart?

Author Biography

Lottie Cardew writes uplifting, contemporary romcoms set around the picturesque village of Pebblestow, and is an advocate for diversity in fiction.

Regarded as the bossy one at Novelistas Ink, Lottie often subdues the other members if they misbehave (they don’t really) including the popular authors Trisha Ashley and Sophie Claire. She is a longstanding member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, scooping their New Writer’s Award in her twenties under a different pen-name. More recently, Lottie also joined the Society of Authors where as an active participant in the ADCI group (Authors with Disabilities and Chronic Illnesses) she interviewed bestselling author Holly Smale in 2021 for the first ever Disability Issue of The Bookseller.

Lottie is diagnosed autistic with suspected ADHD. Her home in North Wales is overrun by husband, not-very-small children, and a ball of fluff masquerading as a Pomeranian, so Lottie frequently takes refuge at her desk.

Social Media Links – Twitter: https://twitter.com/MsLottieCardew

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bossynovelista

Newsletter sign up form: Subscribe to my Newsletter

Website: www.lottiecardew.co.uk/

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/LottieCardew.Books

Giveaway to Win a Festive Bundle of goodies (Open to UK Only)

Giveaway prize

Prize includes:

A handy winter-themed reusable shopping bag with pouch; a notebook to organise Christmas gifts and to-do lists; and a Scandi-style Christmas stocking. 

Enter here

Thank you Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to this tour .

Good luck everyone and happy reading!

Love

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*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Book Review: Simply Vegan Baking by Freya Cox

I’ve always been a fan of the Great British Bake Off. There is nothing like curling up on the sofa, with a slice of cake and a cuppa watching the year’s group of bakers tackle the challenges. There are highs and lows but they are always a supportive and friendly group. One baker, I enjoyed watching was Freya Cox. I may not be vegan but family members are lactose-intolerant so always on the look out for new recipes suitable for them. When the invitation for this blog tour came up, it was a wish come true.

Scroll down to see if this book was all I longed it to be.

Simply Vegan Baking by Freya Cox

Simply Vegan Baking by Freya Cox

Title: Simply Vegan Baking

Author: Freya Cox

Publisher: Murdoch books

Genre: Cookery Non-fiction

Release Date: 29th September 2022

Blurb

70 fun and accessible recipes for all your favourite classic bakes made vegan – from Great British Bake Off’s young vegan star, Freya Cox.

Vegan baking needn’t be difficult or boring – it can be simple and delicious! Freya’s mission is to show that it’s just as delicious if not more so than ‘regular’ baking and, when all the ingredients are available from your local supermarket, there’s no reason not to give it a try. Anyone who’s new to baking or to veganism will find these recipes reassuringly familiar and be amazed that they’re so effortlessly vegan.

From simple cakes, traybakes, pastry and bread to special desserts and showstopping cakes, there’s something for every occasion. Try Salted Caramel Cupcakes, Triple Chocolate Cookies, Cinnamon Rolls, Banoffee Pie Slices, Lemon Meringue Pie and the most incredible Black Forest Gateau!

With veganism on the rise and the range of mainstream plant-based products growing all the time, there’s never been a better time for a classic vegan baking book from a rising vegan star with a fast-growing profile.

My Thoughts

Oh how I longed not to be in the middle of a flare, so I could get in the kitchen to try some of these recipes. With a clear layout, and stunning photographs to illustrate the bakes, this book is full of inspiration from adaptations to classic bakes like stollen, gingerbread cookies and carrot cake to more original ideas. I’ve bookmarked many, particularly those that are also gluten-free. Who can resist the lure of Lemon and Almond cupcakes?

Being in Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Rascal recipe leapt from the page. I can’t wait to see if the taste as good as they sound.

The instructions are clear and well explained – unlike some of the technical challenges set on the GBBO – as seen in the illustrations below

Recipes to tempt

Would I recommend?

Yes, with an abundance of delicious recipes to try there is plenty of inspiration in this well presented and easy to understand cookbook. Though aimed at the vegan market, it is versatile and ideal for those who need a dairy-free option for allergy reasons too.

Author Biography

Freya Cox

Freya is a 20-year-old psychology student who has taken a year out to pursue baking. From Scarborough, she was a breath of fresh air on GBBO in 2021 with her North Yorkshire accent and her status as the first vegan baker on the show. She’s passionate about simple vegan baking and about showing everyone how effortless and delicious it is.

Thank you Random Thing Tours for inviting me to this tour and providing an advanced copy for me to review and give my honest and unbiased opinion.

Love

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Book Review: Folly Ditch by Anna Sayburn Lane

I’m a fan of Christmas Carol and I’m always intrigued by Charles Dickens’ life so the blurb of Folly Ditch by Anna Sayburn Lane drew me in.

Scroll down to see if the novel lived up to my expectations

Folly Ditch by Anna Sayburn Lane

Title: Folly Ditch

Author: Anna Sayburn Lane

Genre: Crime history

Release Date: 23^rd August 2022

Blurb

A Dickensian murder mystery. A brutal modern-day gang. Can Helen Oddfellow outwit an old enemy – or will she be his next victim?

When literary researcher Helen Oddfellow finds an old newspaper cutting in an antiquarian bookshop, she uncovers a mystery dating back 200 years. Her quest to find the real woman behind one of Charles Dickens’ best-loved characters takes an unexpected turn, when the bookshop owner goes missing.

Helen befriends his distraught teenage daughter as they try to find the missing man. But the marshes of north Kent are home to a criminal gang more brutal than anything Dickens imagined. Murky money, royal connections and desperate people link the past with the present. But it’s the unexpected return of an old enemy that puts Helen herself in mortal peril.

FOLLY DITCH is latest in the series of mysteries featuring literary sleuth and London tour guide Helen Oddfellow.

Long-listed for the Stockholm Writers’ Festival 2022 First 5 Pages prize.

My Thoughts

The tone of this novel was set at the start with the raw scenes depicting people trafficking. They made my heart stop despite not being over graphic, so I knew I was in for a tense look into organised crime and the vulnerability of illegal immigrants. Luckily for my nerves, this was well balanced with the mystery surrounding a book which was potentially the key to Charles Dickens’ inspiration for Oliver Twist.

Despite Folly Ditch being my first introduction to amateur sleuth, Helen Oddfellow, she was easy to connect to. As her research placed her and others in danger and the tension increased, I was heavily invested in the characters and kept turning the page.

Would I recommend?

This is a series for fans of crime with historical threads. Folly Ditch can easily be read as a standalone but like all crime series, reading them as a whole adds to the reading experience. Well paced, with an intriguing plot and determined characters made this an ideal read for these cooler evenings. Tapping into my love of crime mysteries, novels about books and my fascination with Charles Dickens’ life made me wish to go on Helen Oddfellows’ Charles Dickens literary tour visiting all his haunts and inspiration.

Author Biography

Anna Sayburn Lane

Anna Sayburn Lane is a writer, editor and journalist. She lives on the Kent coast, at Deal.

Anna has published award-winning short stories and was picked as a Crime in the Spotlight new author at the 2019 Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival. Her 2018 debut novel Unlawful Things was shortlisted for the Virago New Crime Writer award.

Contact hello@annasayburnlane.com

Find out more at www.annasayburnlane.com

Thank you Random Thing Tours for inviting me to this tour and providing an advanced copy for me to review and give my honest and unbiased opinion.

Love

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Book Review: Christmas at the Borrow a Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar

It’s never to early for festive reads and I’m excited to be on the blog tour for Kiley Dunbar’s Christmas at the Borrow a Bookshop. This is a follow on from one of my favourite romances, The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday – review is here – so I couldn’t wait to revisit the idyllic village of Clove Lore.

Christmas at the Borrow the Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar

Title: Christmas at the Borrow a Bookshop

Author: Kiley Dunbar

Publisher: Hera

Genre: festive romance

Release Date: 1st September 2022

Purchase Links

AMZ: https://amzn.to/39v0coN

Kobo: https://bit.ly/3QpSgpj

Apple: https://apple.co/3Oewbs0

Hive: https://bit.ly/3HI1olz

Blurb

‘Tis the season for finding love… and the perfect book

With just two weeks until Christmas, everything in Clove Lore should be perfect. But the latest holidaymaker to the Borrow a Bookshop is feeling far from festive…

Icelandic ex-bookseller Magnús Sturluson might be surrounded by love stories in the Bookshop, but he’s nursing a sadness that not even fiction can fix.

When Alexandra Robinson finds herself stranded in Clove Lore, she finds a safe place to hide from heartbreak. After all, all that’s waiting for her at home is a cheater boyfriend and the memories of her parents. As Alex finds herself embraced by the quirky village community, she finds her tough exterior thawing – and as she grows closer to Magnús, she finds an equally soft heart under his gruff shell.

It seems that Clove Lore is working its magic once again – until a great flood on Christmas Eve brings devastation in its wake. It’s up to Magnús and Alex to batten down the hatches and help bring the village back together again, while also introducing the locals to the Icelandic tradition of the jólabókaflóð – Yule book flood – where families and friends gather on Christmas Eve to exchange books and read together.

But can Magnús and Alex truly rescue the ruins of the village, and salvage their Christmas spirit? Or is there another complication lurking even closer than they thought?

My Thoughts

Kiley Dunbar is an author I know I can turn to for a comfort read with quirky characters to love and a location I can immerse myself in. This book was no exception. Clove Lore and the bookshop welcomed me back like a hug and it was a joy to catch up with old favourite characters like Minty, Jude and Eliot, and of course, Aldous the dog.

The bookshop and its café is a perfect location for a Christmas story as it oozes cosiness and warmth especially when the characters sink into chairs in front of the fire surrounded by books. With the village decorated with Christmas decorations it made me feel festive even in September.

Magnus and Alex provided a fresh story and when their pasts were revealed, I was cheering them both on hoping they would both get the happy ending they deserved. Unlike many romances, Magnus and Alex get on so it was lovely to see the friendship flourish but then it meant the heartache cuts deeper when trials come their way.

The flood highlighted the devasting wide ranging effects disasters like this have but also showed the strength communities and people have when pushed to the brink.

Would I recommend?

Yes, with bookshops, the Christmas tradition of jólabókaflóð, a strong community and romance in the air, it’s an ideal match for a heart-warming festive read. It deserves to be read while huddled under your duvet with a hot chocolate or favourite drink.

It can be read as a standalone, but like all novels set in a village location, reading the first novel will give added depth to the reading experience as you have a connection with the secondary characters too.

Author Biography

Kiley Dunbar

Kiley Dunbar writes heart-warming, escapist, romantic fiction set in beautiful places, with One Winter’s Night being shortlisted for the RNA Romantic Comedy Novel Award 2021.

Kiley’s five novels include: The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday (May 2021), One Winter’s Night (September 2020), Summer at the Highland Coral Beach (2020), Christmas at Frozen Falls (2019) and One Summer’s Night (2019).

Social Media Links

Website and newsletter: http://www.kileydunbar.co.uk

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI8wM4Fmkbyg4S_XGSnfUCA

https://twitter.com/kileydunbar

https://www.facebook.com/KileyDunbarAuthor/

Thank you Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to this tour and providing an advanced copy for me to review and give my honest and unbiased opinion.

Love

Book review: The Little Theatre of Halfpenny Lane by Clodagh Murphy

Today’s review is for an Irish romance called The Little Theatre of Halfpenny Lane by Clodagh Murphy. It’s been a while since I’ve read a book set in Ireland but there is always something special about the location so I couldn’t wait to visit this novel.

The Little Theatre of Halfpenny Lane by Clodagh Murphy

The Little Theatre of Halfpenny Lane by Clodagh Murphy

Title: The Little Theatre of Halfpenny Lane

Author: Clodagh Murphy

Publisher: Balally Books

Genre: Romance

Release Date: 11th August 2022

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Theatre-Halfpenny-Lane-heartwarming-ebook/dp/B0B4KNC9QX

US – https://www.amazon.com/Little-Theatre-Halfpenny-Lane-heartwarming-ebook/dp/B0B4KNC9QX

Blurb

Aoife and her sisters know exactly what to do when they inherit their Great-aunt Detta’s theatre on Halfpenny Lane:

• Restore the dilapidated building to its former glory.
• Perform together on its stage to packed houses and rapturous applause.
• Live happily ever after.

But they didn’t count on Detta leaving a share in the theatre to her godson, Jonathan. Now they’ll have to persuade him to buy into their vision of stardust and magic – or find the money to buy him out.

As they fight to save the theatre, Aoife also battles her growing feelings for Jonathan. Because she can’t let herself fall for the man who’s about to bring the curtain down on their dreams.

My Thoughts

I love going to the theatre, especially those with a history and original features, so I was invested along with the sisters to save this theatre on the delightful Halfpenny Lane. Despite its decrepit state, the detail and atmosphere of the building brought the story to life. The theatre on Halfpenny Lane had a character of its own.

Told in Aoife viewpoint, the close relationship between the sisters, despite their differences in personality, was evident from the start. Their loyalty and love of performing reminded me of the March sisters in Little Women and I was eager for the impossible dream of saving the theatre to become possible for all
of them but especially Aoife. As the elder daughter, her sense of responsibility had meant she put her ambitions on hold for the sake of others. She deserved a break.

The romantic thread with Jonathon worked well. From the start, the reader knows there is something more to Jonathan’s determination to sell his share than the other characters believe, and it was fun to follow the clues and discover why.

Would I recommend?

Yes, this an entertaining read about family, determination and following your dreams and your heart. With many other places on Halfpenny Lane, I’d be interested in reading more.

Author Biography

Clodagh Murphy

Clodagh Murphy lives in Dublin, Ireland. She has worked as a bar waitress, cleaner, secretary, editorial assistant, mystery shopper and movie extra. But she always dreamed of being an author, and after more jobs than she cares to (or can) remember, she now writes full-time. For more information about her books or to sign up to her newsletter, visit her website at http://clodaghmurphy.com/.

Social Media Links

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClodaghMMurphy

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clodaghmurphybooks/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/clodagh-murphy

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/clodagh

Thank you Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to this tour and providing an advanced copy for me to review and give my honest and unbiased opinion.

Love

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Book Review: The Hive by Scarlett Brade

Book Review: The Hive by Scarlett Brade

The Hive by Scarlett Brade

Title: The Hive  

Author: Scarlett Brade

Publisher: Zaffre

Genre: Thriller, Psychological

Release Date: 21^st July 2022

Purchase:

Blurb

SHOULD HE LIVE OR DIE? YOU DECIDE.

Charlotte Goodwin looks directly at the camera and reveals a chilling truth to the thousands watching her Instagram Live broadcast. She has killed her ex-boyfriend’s new partner in cold blood. But she is not finished yet. With bloodied hands she takes a calm sip of tea before continuing. Lincoln Jackson will now make his confession, then the viewers must vote to decide whether he should live or die.

The public display sends shockwaves rippling through the online community and the numbers of viewers skyrockets. But as Lincoln’s past is revealed, how will he be judged?

Bonded by mutual tragedy, Charlotte’s three best friends have supported each other through the soaring highs and devastating lows of their lives. Now, in Charlotte’s hour of need, her friends also face a choice, whether to help her get away with murder.

The Hive explores our darkest fears of the relationship between social media and mental health, but, most importantly, the strength of sisterhood against all the odds.

My Thoughts

This is one of those books that begins with the end and carries the reader into the protagonist’s life to explain why that outcome was inevitable. With a strong beginning where viewers of a live broadcast can choose whether Lincoln lives or dies, I was hooked. Social media has its bonuses but has a dark side which this novel taps into well. As much as I’d like to think the opening scenario was veering to the realms of fantasy, people have been encouraged to suicide so why not murder?

Charlotte is flawed and damaged but has a strong moral code but along with her friends tiptoe on the edge of the law. Her friendship group has strong bonds thanks to past traumas, shared experiences, and they all have issues. This connection and loyalty is pushed to the limits and can only admire the sense of sisterhood that drives them and the plot.

Living the Instagram dream with flash house, clothes, jewellery and meals, Charlotte lives in a different world than I and in reality, we could never be friends, but I needed to know what she’d do next, making me read past bedtime. When horrific events happen leading to the potentially deadly consequences, I had to feel sorry for her.  

With the judgemental and spiteful world of social media at its core, it threw up intriguing thoughts so would be a good book club choice to have in depth discussions especially the unexpected ending.

Would I recommend?

If you love your psychological thrillers, with flawed characters and moral dilemmas, this is a book to try. With an unusual view of the dark side of social media at its core, it is a fast paced and intriguing read.

Scarlett Brade has a strong voice and style so I’m looking forward to seeing what she writes next.

Author Biography

Scarlett Brade is the daughter of parents who migrated from the Caribbean to England in the early 1970s. She was born and educated in London, though as a child she spent her summers in Canada, where she developed her love affair with reading. When not writing Scarlett spends most of her time cooking, drinking fine wines, and entertaining family and friends. The Hive is her first psychological thriller novel, and she is currently writing her second.

Thank you Random Thing Tours for inviting me to this tour and providing an advanced copy for me to review and give my honest and unbiased opinion.

Love

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Book Review: Love from A to Z by Linda Corbett

I’m excited to share my review for a debut romance, Love You From A to Z by Linda Corbett.

Love You from A to Z by Linda Corbett

Title: Love You From A to Z

Author: Linda Corbett

Publisher: One More Chapter

Genre: Romance

Release Date: 24^th June 2022

Purchase Link –mybook.to/LoveYouFromAToZ

Blurb

Experience has told Jenna Oakhurst that Happy Ever After may happen in all the best stories, but Happy For Now is the best one ought to expect in real life. Yet lately even that isn’t quite enough, so when a strange set of circumstances leads her to discover a mysterious letter in an abandoned storage unit, she takes the chance to embark on a journey into the unknown…just like the heroines from the storybooks.

Reaching out to the letter’s author, Henry Somners, changes Jenna’s world irrevocably and she starts to realise that the magic she believed in as a child might not be such a fanciful notion after all…

My Thoughts

I’ve read novels where a letter is found and the protagonist searches for the sender, but this one has a unique twist. I never knew storage containers contents could be sold if they were effectively abandoned. The tense consequences of a purchase allowed this tender love story to happen.

Jenna was a protagonist I could relate to on many levels, from her desire to have financial security to her dealing with chronic pain and the adaptations she makes on a daily basis. It was refreshing for disability to be represented as part of everyday life rather than inspiration porn, which Jenna, like many disabled people, hate. This is how disabled representation should be and I really need the t-shirt she wears. You’ll have to read this book to find out why. She may think she’s happy settling for a stable life, but she isn’t boring. I enjoyed watching her embrace different things and the relationship between her and Henry grow.

The guinea pig rescue centre was wonderful to read, and I loved the characters portrayed. I used to have them as a child and they are adorable creatures. Jenna’s sister and partner Kat add much to the novel and I’d love to hear more of their story.

Would I recommend?

Yes. Love You From A to Z is a lovely tender romance with oodles of cuddly guinea pigs to love. With a fun premise, it is ideal for a lazy weekend or holiday read and ideal for fans of Jessica Redland. I look forward to reading more books from Linda Corbett in the future.

Author Biography

Linda Corbett

Linda Corbett lives in Surrey with her husband Andrew and three permanently hungry guinea pigs. As well as being an author, Linda is treasurer for Shine Surrey – a volunteer-led charity that supports individuals and families living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. For many years she also wrote a regular column for Link, a disability magazine, illustrating the humorous aspects of life with a complex disability and she is a passionate advocate of disability representation in fiction. When not writing, Linda can be found papercrafting, cross stitching, or cuddling guinea pigs. Love You From A-Z is her first published novel.

Social Media Links –

Twitter:                https://twitter.com/lcorbettauthor

Instagram:          @lindacorbettauthor

Facebook www.facebook.com/lindacorbettauthor

Thank you /Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to this tour and providing an advanced copy for me to review and give my honest and unbiased opinion.

Love

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