Challenge Participant

Pages

Thursday, 19 December 2019

Blog Tour - You Can Change The World by Margaret Rook



You Can Change the World!: Everyday Teen Heroes Making a Difference Everywhere



This inspirational book tells the stories of more than 50 of today's teenagers who've dared to change the world they live in. It's been written to show other teens they can do the same. Bestselling author Margaret Rooke asks teens about their experiences of being volunteers, social entrepreneurs and campaigners, online and beyond. They explain how they have survived in a world often obsessed by celebrity, social media and appearance, by refusing to conform to other's expectations.

If you want to achieve against the odds and create genuine impact, this book may be the encouragement you need. The interviews cover race, sexuality, violence, grief, neurodiversity, bullying and other issues central to life today.


Read about teens from around the world including:
- Trisha, 18, who has invented a way of preventing bullying online
- Dillon, 18, who takes damaged and donated clothing and upcycles it for the homeless
- Guro, 13, who persuaded a pop band to portray women differently in its video
- 'Happy D', 19, who learned to read at 14 and found ways to build his confidence
- Heraa, 19, who fights Islamophobia online
.

- Ruben, 18, bullied because of Down's Syndrome, now a successful actor
- Lucy who, at 14, walked into Tesco head office and persuaded them not to sell eggs from caged hens.
- Cameron, 17, who has cerebral palsy and was side-lined by soccer teams who set up his own team 'Adversity United'
- Alex, 18, who broke his back on his 15th birthday and says his injury has taught him to care for others
- Amika, 18, who fights 'Period Poverty'

- Jesse, 15, who's seven feet tall and embraces his stature
- Billy, 18, who wore full make up every day at high school



A fantastic book that captures the work of young changemakers. Powerful and inspiring, a catalogue of real role models. It will make you want to chase your passion. After all what better cause is there?
Matteo Bergamini, CEO & Founder, Shout Out UK

'You Can Rule The World ' is a truly inspirational book that should be shown to every teenager regardless of age, colour, ethnicity or ability or country of origin.

The book contains a number of real accounts of teenagers lives who have achieved great things and, for many of them, have changed the world around them.

I particularly was impressed by Lucy and Happy D, who both had very different backgrounds. Lucy, at the age of 14, took on Tesco's and lobbied for them to stop selling eggs from caged hens - a huge task which changed the dairy industry for ever. Happy D's story was very different and learnt to read at the age of 14, ignoring the opinions of his peers and learnt to read, which opened up a world of possibilities for him.

The book is very well written and each story is told compassionately and engages the reader. I enjoyed learning about each child and found their stories inspirational and heartwarming. It really shows that anybody is capable of achieving what they strive to with hard work and determination.

This is a great book to give to a teenager with low confidence or who is currently overcoming difficulties. It would also be a great addition to a school or college library and highlighted to the students.

Thank you to Random Things Blog Tours and Jessica Kingsley Publishers for a copy of the book and for an invite to join in the blog tour in return for an honest review.

Saturday, 14 December 2019

Blog Tour - Six Steps to Happiness by Suzie Tullett



When Ronnie’s husband, Nick, leaves her for their next-door neighbour, Gaye, Ronnie’s life starts to fall apart.
Devastated by the break-up of her marriage, Ronnie is desperate for Nick and Gaye to set up home elsewhere. But Nick and Gaye won’t budge.
To add to her problems, Ronnie’s daughter and mother-in-law decide to stage an intervention. With her family keeping a close eye on her, Ronnie is forced to become more devious in her actions to get rid of Nick and Gaye.
But just how far will she go?
And is moving on ever that easy?
Six Steps to Happiness is a hilarious look at just how far one woman will go to recover from a broken heart and find happiness again.
'Six Steps to Happiness' is a fantastic romantic comedy which I devoured between festive reads. It was a breath of fresh air with some great characters, who I became invested in and loved seeing their relationships form.
There are some great comedic sections to the story, as well times of sadness and tears. The story is one of those that makes you forget all about your own dramas as you become invested in Ronnie's life.
Thank you to Bombshell Books (an imprint of Bloodhound Books) and to Book On The Bright Side Publicity & Promo for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.



BlogTour - High Heels and Beetle Crushes by Jackie Skingley




A compelling memoir of post-war Britain. Jackie Skingley grew up with limited career choices but joining the Women's Royal Army Corps offered her a different life, living and working in a military world, against the backdrop of the Cold War. Packed full of stories reflecting the changing sexual attitudes prior to the arrival of the pill and the sexual revolution of the mid 60s, Skingley's memoir denotes a shift in the political and social fabric of the era. Follow her relationships with the men in her life from finding her first true love, which through a cruel act of fate was denied her, to embarking on a path of recovery.

I love reading books that are full of social history and 'High Heels and Beetle Crushers' is one such book. I really enjoyed reading about post war Britain from a woman's point of view, Jackie Skingley.

The author, Jackie, grew up in post war Britain, and was determined to enter the Military world, a world which was dominated by men and one which women struggled to enter into. However Jackie was very determined and got into the Women's Royal Army Corps. I really enjoyed reading about Jackie's determination and her successes in her career.

However, this book is not just about life in the military. As I said this is a book about social history and Jackie talks about the many of the historical milestones that took place and the  book really bought history to life. Parts of it have also been covered in 'Call the Midwife' on BBC1 and was really good to learn more about it from someone who lived through it. 

This is a great book for anyone who loves reading about social history or who is wanting to learn more about the position of women through the ages.

Thank you to Chronos Books and to Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for a copy of the book in return for an honest review. 

Thursday, 12 December 2019

Who Did YouTell by Lesley Kara

 










I really enjoyed reading Lesley Kara's debut novel, The Rumour, and have been eagerly awaiting her second release and 'Who Did You Tell?' is a fantastic second novel.

The book's main character is a recovering alcoholic. I have a close relation who is currently two months sober and I am trying my hardest to support them but find it difficult as I don't know (or understand) what is currently going through their mind. However, I found that 'Who Did You Tell?' gave me an insight into their mind - I would be very interested to know how Lesley approached this difficult subject when she was researching this book.

|However, this is a book about so much more than a recovering alcoholic trying to stay sober and not give in to the demon drink. Lesley has written a brilliant psychological thriller, which is full of suspense and drama as it appears someone is trying to play with the main characters thoughts and life. The book really allows the reader to get into Astrid's mind as she tries to work out who could know her secrets, those that she thought only she knew, and who wants her to fail.

I highly recommend this read. It really is a great book that will stay with you for many a weeks after that final last word.

Thank you to Transworld and to Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Wednesday, 11 December 2019

Blog Tour - Unexpected Lessons in Love by Lucy Dillon

Today I am very excited to be taking part in Lucy Dillon's latest release, Unexpected Lessons in Love.


What happens when 'I do' turns into 'I don't know'?

Jeannie always wanted to fall in love, and now she’s finally got the whirlwind romance she dreamed of. Dan’s gorgeous, he’s a successful young vet, and he flew her to New York and proposed on Brooklyn Bridge. Jeannie has to remind herself this is actually her life. It seems too perfect, too magical, to be real. Yet it is.

But now she’s on her way to the wedding she can’t shake off the tight sensation crushing her chest. Is it just nerves . . . or is this all happening a bit too fast?

Jeannie has one last chance to shout, ‘Stop!’ But just as she grabs it, a twist of fate throws everything she knows into the air like confetti. What Jeannie learns about Dan, about her own heart, and about the power of love itself, will change her world for ever . . .




Lucy Diamond is one of my favourite authors. I know that when I pick up a Lucy Dillon book that I was going to be reading a fantastic story with realistic characters and one which I will loose myself in until it is finished!

'Unexpected Lessons in Love' begins with a marriage proposal and the subsequent wedding day, however Jeannie gets cold feet and asks the wedding car to pull over so she can ring the groom to call off the ceremony, however Dan doesn't answer. What happens next is a bride's worst nightmare.

I really enjoyed the story and it was great to learn more about both Jeannie and Dan and I really  hoped that this story would end with a happily every after. Does this happen? I am not going to spoil the story for my blog readers but it was definitely a roller coaster of emotion and I found myself swapping sides and how I was hoping the story would end.

Lucy Dillon regularly includes animals in her books, mostly dogs, and I loved reading about Jeannie's friend's dog rescue centre - who's residents come with upsetting histories but they all added light relief to this story. 

I highly recommend 'Unexpected Lessons in Love' to my blog readers, but be prepared to shed a few tears as well as laugh out loud throughout the book.
Thank you to Harper Collins for inviting me to take part in this blog tour and for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Monday, 9 December 2019

All the Wrong Places by Joy Fielding




All the Wrong PlacesFour women--friends, family, rivals--turn to online dating for companionship, only to find themselves in the crosshairs of a tech-savvy killer using an app to target his victims in this harrowing thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of See Jane Run and The Bad Daughter.

A husband's death, a difficult divorce, a brutal break-up, dissatisfaction with a boring relationship: for various reasons, four women turn to online dating, hoping to right-swipe the way to love and happiness.

Paige and Heather are cousins, locked in a lifelong rivalry that recently culminated in Heather taking Paige's boyfriend for herself, although now Heather isn't quite sure she wants him. Paige's mother, Joan, is trying to get back on her feet after the death of the love of her life two years ago. And Paige's longtime friend, Chloe, is considering giving her unfaithful husband a taste of his own medicine.

Together, the women are navigating the choppy waters of online dating, until one of them unwittingly makes a date with a killer, starting the clock on a race to save her life.

New York Times bestselling author Joy Fielding has written a complex, electrifying thriller about friendship, jealousy, and passion--a deadly combination


This is the first book I have read by Joy Fielding and I really enjoyed it. It is told from a number of peoples viewpoints, including the killer's, something which I found really interesting. 

The cast of characters are wide and varied and enjoyed watching them from a number of different perspectives. I particularly enjoyed cousins, Paige and Heather, who have a rivalry like no other.

The story is based around online dating, something which is becoming every more the norm in modern Britain and should be a warning for its users about what could happen!

The author, Joy Fielding, creates fantastic suspense which leaves the reader with chills down the spine. I definitely recommend this to my readers.

Thank you to Zaffre Books and to Compulsive Readers blog tours for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.


Friday, 6 December 2019

Blog Tour - Christmas in Chamonix by Sasha Wagstaff






48167121When life goes downhill... head to the snow-capped Alps for roaring fires, apres-ski and festive romance.

Lily Jackson loves Christmas. She also loves her childhood friend Jamie, but when her plan to kick-start their romance goes drastically wrong and her job gets her down, Lily decides it’s time to make changes. A job opens up in snowy Chamonix and egged on by her best friend Imogen, Lily decides to go for it.

As Lily settles in with the eccentric Devereux family at their gorgeous boutique ski hotel, she starts to confront her past. But when she meets handsome ski instructor Luc, who hates Christmas, Lily might have taken on more than she can handle.

Can Lily make a new life – with or without skis? And can she get Luc to see how truly romantic Christmas can be?

A heart-warming, feel-good romantic comedy, perfect for fans of Holly Martin, Carole Matthews and Tilly Tennant

'Christmas in Chamonix' is a great festive read set in The Alps, which Sasha Wagstaff describes beautifully and I would love to take my own festive trip to experience The Alps for myself.

I enjoyed the storyline, and thought that Lily's phobia about heights was well handled and approached - and I am sure that Luc, the ski instructor, was a great distraction technique! Of course Luc has his own demons and together they have a fantastic Christmas.

Thank you to the publishers, Canelo, and to Rachel's Random Resources Blog Tours for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Blog Tour - Country Lovers by Fiona Walker



39070695. sy475 They say you should never go back, but glamorous Ronnie Percy did just that, to the home she ran away from with her lover.

But not everyone is finding it easy to forgive and forget.
Daughter Pax, fighting for custody of her small son as her own marriage disintegrates, is furious to have to spend New Year's Eve waiting for some stranger her mother has invited to help run the family stud farm.

Even more annoyed is the staunchly loyal stud head groom, Lester. Does Ronnie think he's lost his touch with the horses? And anyway, who is this so-called Horsemaker, Luca O'Brien? Why does he seem to be running away from something? And what is the true story of his relationship with grey stallion Beck, once destined for the Olympics, now broken and unrideable, screaming his anger from the Compton Magna stables.

Passionate, sexy, gripping, laced with her trademark wisdom and humour, this is bestselling Fiona Walker at her dazzling best.


Today I am pleased to be taking part in the third week of Fiona Walker's blog tour to celebrate the publication of 'Country Lovers', Fiona's second book in the Compton Magna series.

'Country Lovers' has lots of humour throughout the book.There are twists within the storyline and episodes of passion which spiced up the read, although nothing too graphic. Set in The Cotswolds, it has a beautiful backdrop.

The cast of characters were great.There were some quirky characters, most likeable, a few I wasn't sure of and I especially liked, Luca, the Irishman with a sparkle in his eye. The horses and stables also play a big part in this book, now I must admit I don't really like horses, I have never had the urge to go horse riding and neither have I really read any books that are set around horses and/or stables but I really did enjoy Country Lovers.

Thank you to the publishers,Head of Zeus, for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.


I really like Fiona's writing style. It is easy to read, and although the book is over 600 pages long, it kept my attention and I lost a number of hours as I was engrossed in the stories.

Wednesday, 4 December 2019

Blog Tour - The Matchmaker by Catriona Innes


44563587. sy475 For Caitlin Carter, love means business.

She's taken matchmaking back to basics. There is no swiping left. No creepy location tracker. Definitely no unsolicited pics of areas of the anatomy literally no one wants to see. She's made dating great again: personal, patient... and profitable. Her startup is going from strength to strength, the brand her very own happy marriage (her wedding went viral), and now she even has celebrities wanting to use her services.

Caitlin is living the perfect life.

Except it's all a perfect lie. And Caitlin doesn't know how long she can keep it up.

In an era of social media and dating apps, when we have never been more connected yet more isolated, the matchmaker is a story about love, loss and loneliness, and learning to accept your reality.

This is an emotionally charged, funny and warm novel, perfect for fans of THE MAN WHO DIDN'T CALL by Rosie Walsh, SOME KIND OF WONDERFUL by Giovanna Fletcher and IT STARTED WITH A TWEET by Anna Bell.




'The Matchmaker' caught my attention from the synopsis as it was something different and I was looking forward to reading it. Caitlin has set up a business as a matchmaker, in a world where social media and apps are taking the market to a new level, whereas Caitlin has kept it traditional and personal, where she matches potential partners to their ideal match.

I did enjoy the book and loved the cast of characters. There were many characters that I could relate to friends and family and they each had their own traits and back story which all added to the story. It was great to read about a 'dating agency' that had the personal touch, where the owner used their own instincts to find their clients matches and I loved reading about the potential happily ever after dates. These all bought lots of humour and disaster to the read, all reflecting the world today and the perils of dating.

The Matchmaker is a great, easy read, which is perfect for a long autumn weekend. 

Thank you to the publishers, Orion, and to Compulsive Readers Blog Tours for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Monday, 2 December 2019

Blog Tour - Happy Christmas Eve by Jackie Ladbury





All I want for Christmas is you … or you?



Eve Halligan is back in her hometown for Christmas after a whirlwind few years touring with her band, the Molotovs. A lot has changed since she left, but two things have stayed the same. One: Eve is head-over-heels in love with Lucien Malikov, the Molotovs’ bad boy lead singer. Two: Lucien is completely indifferent to her.

Still, Eve dreams that this could be the Christmas where she convinces Lucien that they’re made for each other. But when childhood friend and local caterer Theo Wright comes back into her life bringing with him festive cupcake and sausage roll conundrums, Eve begins to question whether her Christmas dreams have been wasted on the wrong man …




'Happy Christmas Eve' is the first book I have read by Jackie Ladbury and I really enjoyed it.  

The main character, Eve, has returned home following a career touring with her band, the Molotoys.  The story is about romance, past friendships and making difficult decisions about who is the true love of her life.

The book has short chapters which made me fly through the book and I really enjoyed reading it. There is lots of Christmas cheer and festive fun and therefore is the perfect book to curl up with on a cold autumn evening.



Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources and the publishers, Ruby Fiction, for inviting me to take part in the blog tour and for a copy of the book in return for an honest review.