Shopaholic to the rescue by Sophie Kinsella

To Las Vegas...and beyond! Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) is on a major rescue mission! Hollywood was full of surprises, and now she's on a road trip to Las Vegas to help her friends and family. She's determined to get to the bottom of why her dad has mysteriously disappeared, help her best friend Suze and even bond with long-time enemy Alicia Bitch Long-legs (maybe...). As Becky discovers just how much her friends and family need help, she comes up with her biggest, boldest, most brilliant plan yet! So can she save the day just when they need her most? Becky is setting out to make things right in this laugh-out-loud, feel-good conclusion to her American adventure that beglan with Shopaholic To The Stars.

Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd
ISBN: 9780593074626

I have read all of the Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series and have enjoyed them, however I am beginning to feel that the series has run its course and over the past two-three novels I have found that the enjoyment is beginning to fade.

At the end of the last book, Shopaholic to the stars, Becky Brandon was begininng a road trip to find her father and best friend's husband, who they fear may have been brainwashed by a Hollywood sect. This book follows them on this road trip and in true Becky Brandon style things don't go quite according to plan.

What I did like in this book was that Becky is beginning to 'act her age' and is not the centre of attention - there are times in the book where she has the oppurtunity to spend, spend, spend but she doesn't and is beginning to retalise that other things are more important. I would like to see if Kinsella continues with this new way of thinking for Brandon and takes her down the family route - as her daughter is definitely taking over the Becky Brandon mantal!

Kinsella is a fantastic writer and I do enjoy reading her books, although I would love to see her write more of her standalone novels and leave Becky Brandon on the shelf for a few years.

Thank you to the publisher, Transworld Publishers, for sending me the book to read in return for an honest review.

Star Teacher by Jack Sheffield

It's 1985, and as Jack returns for another year as headteacher at Ragley village school, some changes are in store. It's the year of Halley's Comet, Band Aid, Trivial Pursuit, Dynasty shoulder pads, Roland Rat and Microsoft Windows. And at Ragley-on-the-Forest, Heathcliffe Earnshaw decides to enter the village scarecrow competition, Ruby the caretaker finds romance, and retirement looms for Vera the secretary. Meanwhile, Jack has to battle with some rising stars of the teaching profession to save his job and his school...Readers love Jack Sheffield: "Wry observation and heart-warming humour in equal measure." (Alan Titchmarsh). "Overflowing with amusing anecdotes." (Daily Express). "Amusing adventures at the North Yorkshire village school." (Choice). "Jack Sheffield's in a class of his own." York Press).

Publisher: Transworld Publishers Ltd
ISBN: 9780593075067

I have read and loved every one of this series and each year look forward to dipping back into the lives of Ragley village school and reminisce about years gone by. 

Star Teacher takes us back to 1985 and it is another jam packed school year for Jack and his pupils and staff. The book is a mixture of both fact and fiction and Sheffield's clever storytelling makes the book a great piece of social history. The storyline is full of a cast of village residents from the very young to the very old, each of whom has their own backstory and who readers might recognise in their own families or neighbours.

One thing I love about these books is the attention to detail. They are a walk through history, in this book alone Halley's Comet, Band Aid, Trivial Pursuit, Roland Rat and Microsoft Windows are introduced and the villagers all have their own views and concerns which are similar to those felt by many at the time.

The school children of Ragley village school are fantastic - the dialogue the children have throughout the book is priceless, out of the mouth of babes ...... There are some great one liners which leave the readers laughing out loud on many occassion. 

This book, similar to others, leave the readers on a knife edge - the beginning of the next book is going to be one I am going to be itching to read,I want to know where Jack goes next but as they are usually released around the last quarter of the year, I still have a long time to wait - however readers who are discovering Ragley for the first time have plenty of time to catch up on the history of the school.

Another fantastic book by Sheffield and a series I continue to recommend to all who love a good series to loose themselves in. 

Thank you to the publishers for sending me the book to review in return for an honest review. 

How to be a cowboy by Alice V Lickens

The ultimate guide to becoming a cowboy. This activity book contains maps of the cowboys' favourite stomping grounds, a dress-your-own-cowboy paper doll (with cut-out clothes, colonial spurs, woollies and batwing chaps), a talk-like-a-cowboy guide, a sheet of super-cool stickers, and real-life cowboy recipes to try cooking at home. And for when you're ready to become a cowboy, you can pick and choose your own ranch name. Beautiful illustrations and fun activities from illustrator Alice Lickens, who was awarded the prestigious Sendak Fellowship in 2012, make this an exquisite gift book to treasure, ideal for aspiring cowboys and cowgirls of all ages from 3 to 83. 

Publisher: Pavilion Books
ISBN: 9781843652410

Firstly, I feel that I must make a confession, I love anything to do with cowboys! As a teenager I spent my weekends at Country and Western events and loved the history, the attire and regalia. And now back to the book - I loved it!

Lickens has created a fantastic book, filled with history, geography and fashion lowdown, teaching you how to walk, talk and dress like a cowboy and  all accompanied by lots of related craft activities. There is a good old fashioned paper cowboy doll to dress and recipes to try.

The book is interactive - there are paper dolls to pop out, stickers to decorate the pages or other media, pages to open out to discover hidden facts and lots of fun activities to try.

I really do love this book - it would be a great gift to give to a child but is also one that would be a good starting point for any school project on the Wild West. I hope that the author, Alice Lickens, continues with this fantastic format to publish more books on different topics in the future. The illustrations are briliant - Licken has a distinctive style which I think would be great on stationary or decor for walls (oh and I would love to own a pair of cowboy boots designed by Licken).

I received this book in return for an honest review from the publishers, Pavilion Books.

Happy by Pharrell Williams

Grammy Award winner Pharrell Williams' super-hit song "Happy" is now a picture book nominated for an Academy Award, "Happy" was the best-selling song of 2014 in the United Kingdom, and has topped the charts in more than seventy-five countries worldwide. Now Pharrell Williams brings his beloved song to the youngest of readers in photographs of children across cultures celebrating what it means to be happy. All the exuberance of the song pulses from these vibrant photographs of excited, happy kids. This is a picture book full of memorable, precious childhood moments that will move readers in the same way they were moved by the song. "Happy" has had the world dancing ever since it first hit the airwaves, and now the irresistibly cheerful tune will come to life on the page with Pharrell Williams' very first picture book! This is a keepsake and true classic in the making.

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
ISBN: 9780141365282

As soon as I picked up this book I couldn't help but start humming the song. It was one of those infectious songs of recent years and is still popular now.

The book is the song words and they are accompanied by photographs of children clapping and dancing along. The photographs have been cleverly selected, featuring children from all cultures and backgrounds and all with fantastic smiles.

Although I can't say this is one of those children books that I would give as a gift and that I would imagine being treasured and reread each night, and saved to pass on to their children in years to come, it is one that would be great for circle time in settings to assist discussion about feelings etc.

I received this book in return for an honest review fro the publishers, Puffin Books.

I love you more and more by Nicky Benson and Jonny Lambert

I Love You More and More is a touching celebration of the endless love and the very special relationship between a parent and child. With a lyrical, rhyming text, stunning illustrations by Jonny Lambert and a beautiful shiny silver title and trees on the cover, this sumptuous tall-format picture book would make the perfect gift for any child or new parent. Ideal for fans of Guess How Much I Love You and I Love You to the Moon and Back. As a bear leads his cub on a breathtaking journey through sparkling starlit nights, past misty blue mountains and gushing waterfalls, he shows him just how special and loved he is.

Publisher: Little Tiger Press Group
ISBN: 9781848692114

This book has it all - beautiful illustrations, fantastic rhyming verse and an enduring message throughout. 

Every parent or carer loves to tell their child how much they love them and there are many books on the market that reinforces this message and this book is one of them, however after reading this one I think this is perfect for a slightly older child with a love of nature.

The illustrator, Jonny Lambert, is very talented. I think his illustrations throughout the book are beautiful and have a unique style - they remind me of finnish scenery and I would love to have these prints on my walls.

This is one of those books that I would love to give to a child as a special gift and to think that it will be kept on their shelves to be passed on to their own children in years to come.

I received this book in return for an honest review from Little Tiger Press.

Dream a little Christmas dream by Giovanna Fletcher

Sarah's life is great.

Okay, her dreams might still be totally bananas, but her real life is definitely back on track. She's got a fantastic job, amazing friends and she’s planning on spending all Christmas wrapped up with Brett, her handsome boyfriend.

But after another night of increasingly bizarre dreams, Sarah wakes to find her lovely housemate suddenly announcing she's moving out. Then later that same day, Brett begins to act strangely. It’s clear he’s hiding something – but what?

Soon Sarah can't help but wonder if she's living out her own festive nightmare. Will any of her dreams come true in time for Christmas?

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

ISBN: 9781405925877

Giovanna Fletcher is back with a new novella which follows on from her summer novel, Dream a little Dream. Although it is a follow on, I am sure readers will love it if they pick it up as an introduction to Fletcher's fantastic reads. There are references to the novel and it is great to return to these characters and the plot is a great one. 

I love Fletcher's writing style. She is one of those authors who I have seen on the television and love her humour and she is able to capture this and weave it throughout her written work. There are definite laugh out loud moments within Dream a little Christmas dream, and add to those a few places where I may have shed a little tear and the book is complete. 

I am already looking forward to Giovanna's next release - although I know she is expecting a second child, so sending lots of good wishes for baby number two and I hope the next release will be out later in the year. 

Blog Tour - Murder on Sea - Julie Wassmer

It's not the season of good will to all men...The festive month is kicking off in style and Pearl is rushed off her feet with her restaurant, The Whitstable Pearl. She's also busy planning her own family Christmas and providing mulled wine for a charity church fundraiser when Christmas cards begin arriving all over town - filled with spiteful messages from an anonymous writer. Pearl's curiosity is piqued but having pledged not to take on a case at her detective agency before Christmas, she reluctantly agrees that Canterbury's DCI Mike McGuire should take over; poisoned pen cards are after all a matter for the police. And with only the church fundraiser now between Pearl and Christmas, she invites McGuire along as her guest. The event appears to be a great success; St Alfred's church hall is packed and Pearl happily finds herself standing close to McGuire beneath some mistletoe ...but then a guest suddenly collapses. Too much of Pearl's delicious mulled wine - or could it be something more sinister? The last thing Pearl expects for Christmas is murder but soon the bodies are piling up. Can Pearl possibly solve the mystery in time to make 25th December an unforgettable day - or will the murderer contrive to ensure her goose is well and truly cooked before then?

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group
ISBN: 9781472119124

I am a big fan of Agatha Raisin and Rebecca Tope and the 'cosy crime' genre and so was excited when I was introduced to Julie Wassmer.

This is the second book in the new series featuring Pearl, a private investigator and after reading this book i will be finding the first book, The Whitstable Pearl Mystery, to be introduced properly to Pearl and her new business.

This is one of those books that the reader can curl up with on a lazy weekend and loose yourself in. It is well written and Wassmer drip feeds the reader with clues throughout the story before the concluding chapter revealing the completed crime. Quite often with this genre of books the author allows the reader to solve the crime before it is revealed, however this book kept me guessing until the last moment.

I really liked Pearl and there were a number of supporting characters who brought the story to life, including Pearl's mum adding humour and warmth to the story.

This was my first festive book of the year and it was a great one to start with, the setting and the descriptive writing has started my festive preparations perfectly.

I really enjoyed this book and will be looking forward to investigating another crime with Pearl soon.

Thank you to the publishers for the opportunity to take part in the tour and a copy of the book in return for an honest review.