Category Archives: Book Reviews
Disability Discrimination and Me.
โDisability Discrimination and Me.
I’ve seen posts circulating social media recently about how discrimination has affected people and their lives, and also about how people should be free to be themselves without the worry of being mocked, judged or bullied.
Being disabled, I’ve been discriminated against a few times in my life. But it’s not just in the workplace or at a job interview, it was in my personal life, too. It was from high school crushes and so-called friends. It was random people in the street. I’ve had guys say they wouldn’t date me because I’m a “cripple”; me having a stump was repulsive to them and a total turn off. I’ve had friends say they don’t want me to go swimming with them in case my stump scares their younger sibling. I’ve had another friend say I can’t go for a bike ride with them because I’d be too slow. Those are just a couple of examples. Kids can be cruel, too. Growing up, I had my fair share of comments from kids making nasty remarks about the way I walk and even about the way I talk (I’ve scarring from having tubes down my throat as I was a prem baby, born 13 weeks early so my voice is now husky and quiet). And I’m not going to lie, it really affected me! I often worry what people will think when I tell them I’m disabled. Every time I got into a relationship with a new guy I’d brace myself when telling them about my disabilities (I’m also blind in one eye) in case of rejection. It can be scary. You don’t know what their reaction is going to be. Will they accept you for who you are or run for the hills?
Other than a few bad apples, I’ve been fairly lucky in my life to have surrounded myself with very caring and supportive friends and family who love me for me. We’ve certainly had some laughs down the road in regards to my prosthetic leg and funny mishaps. I will never live down the toe socks episode, that’s for sure! Or there was the time my sister and I went down the slide as kids. She was in front of me and for some reason held on to my prosthetic leg. As we were sliding down she accidentally pulled it off and it flew a few feet on to the wood chip ground. Suffice to say there were a few shocked faces! And that’s just a couple out of many stories for you haha. I’ve never taken myself seriously. Why have a chip on your shoulder and be angry at the world when you can find the funny? Laugh, love and live life to the best of your ability. There’s no point being angry and bitter all the time; it’s faaar too exhausting!
I went on to have a career in business administration where I was with the same company for 12 years before I left to start a family. I have since worked in retail over the Christmas period for the past few years. Marks and Spencer were incredibly understanding of my disability and were so lovely to work for. Sadly, I couldn’t work for them last Christmas because I’d had my second baby so wasn’t ready to return to work yet.
Now that I have a little family of my own, I hope to bring them up with the same outlook on life. I will always teach them to be whoever the heck they want to be, do whatever job they want to do, and love whoever they want to love. They’ll get no judgement from me, just my love and support.
#disability #discrimination #loveislove #livelife #beyou #thisisme #acceptance #bekind #amputee #disabled
Book Review – Heavy Souls by Andie M. Long.
Book Review – Heavy Souls by Andie M. Long.
Heavy Souls is the second book in the Paranormals series. This time it centres around Zak, the rockstar with no soul and Erica, the woman behind The Paranormals fan club who just so happens to have a huge crush on Zak, their lead singer, and sets out in hope of bagging herself a rockstar boyfriend when Erica and her bestie, Freya, get invited to stay at their hotel for a week to get the inside scoop for the fan club!
I’m pretty sure I say this every time but I love Andie’s writing! Her stories are always written so well. Once again I’m drawn in and fall in love with her characters. Heavy Souls was hilariously funny with some real laugh out loud moments! The panties scene had me laughing so hard that I unattractedly snorted! Poooor Erica hahaha but oh so freaking funny! We were also left with a surprise ending that had me shocked and wanting more! It was such an awesome read and I can’t wait for book 3, We Wolf Rock You! Bring it on!
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Book Release Blitz – Heavy Souls by Andie M. Long.
๐๐๐๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ & ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐ง๐ฅ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ญ๐๐!
Heavy Souls by Andie M Long
Book 2 in The Paranormals Series
๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ก๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฒ:
๐๐๐ ๐ญ๐จ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐๐๐:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54364374-heavy-souls
๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ง๐๐ฎ๐๐ฎ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ค ๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ก๐ข๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ง๐ฌโฆ
The Paranormals are riding high and Zak should be ecstatic. Instead, he’s exhausted. Having to supply the demon Abaddon with a quota of souls, as well as rehearse, record, and tour means his workload is just too heavy.
Shop Assistant Erica is feeling down. Running The Paranormals Fan Club in her spare time, their fans believe she’s in constant touch with her idols, while the truth is she’s not seen them since the final of Britain’s Best New Band and she weirdly can’t remember much of that.
When Erica demands a face-to-face interview with Zak, he surprisingly invites her to spend a week accompanying the band as they play London. The band are annoyed at not being consulted, apart from guitarist Noah, who knows that Zak’s deal with the demon can be undone if Zak finds his true love, and what if Erica just happens to be the one?
All hell (well, the seventh dimension), is about to break loose.
๐๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ฌ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก ๐๐๐ฑ ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐!
๐๐ฆ๐๐ณ๐จ๐ง: https://geni.us/HexFactor
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
We Wolf Rock You – Out 28th September
Satyrday Night Fever – Out 26th October
About Andie M Long:
Andie M. Long is author of the popular Supernatural Dating Agency series amongst many others.
She lives in Sheffield with her son and long-suffering partner.
When not being partner, mother, writer, or book editor, she can usually be found on Facebook or walking her whippet, Bella.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Andie-M-Long/e/B00HP5D2NK
Website: https://www.andiemlongwriter.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/andiemlongwriter
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/andiemichelle
Newsletter: http://www.subscribepage.com/f8v2u5
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/andie-m-long
Book Review- Blossom In Winter By Melanie Martins.
Book Review – Blossom In Winter by Melanie Martins.
I thought this was a fantastic dark, romance readโฆ in the beginning. However, I felt it inconsistent and slow. The characters needed more development and so did the story, in my opinion. Itโs classed as a romantic thriller so I was waiting for something to happen with maybe her best friend Emma, seeing as she liked to torture a boy or 2, but no. Or maybe thereโd be some stand-off between her and Alex (the love interest) for Petraโs affections as itโs later revealed Emma seems to have feelings for her, but no. Instead, apart from at the beginning, Emmaโs scenes are fleeting. I donโt even understand why Petra was best friends with her as she was a horrible person!
I couldnโt quite believe the relationship between Petra and Alex Van Dieren or that her dad came around to the idea of Petra dating and ultimately getting engaged to his best friend. The relationship just progressed too quickly!
It surprised me to find out quite late on in the book that Alex was a dom. Although it was hinted at that he had a dark sexual side and had a fetish/kink quite early on in the book, the author didnโt go into any detail until he mentioned about the girls that he had dom/sub relationships with. And this was only mentioned in passing in his narrative, it wasnโt a big revelation.
โIf I recall properly, only my former subs used to beg me to f*ck their asses. Wow. I tremble at the thought that Petra might actually want to become one.โ Page 388
That is well over half way through the story. There IS a contract drawn up but this is in relation to their relationship and the media (heโs a wall street businessman in his 40s, sheโs just turned 18). Hmm I do wonder what a person living the sub/dom lifestyle would think to this bookโฆ
He never actually discusses this dom/sub lifestyle with her so he just comes across as controlling. Especially with him giving her rules such as not leaving the table without his permission and having to change into a nightgown when she does so. But also when he forces her to have sex with no warning at all just so he can selfishly get his rocks off! She had absolutely no idea whatโs going on and is so confused and upset by it. Later, out of nowhere, Petraโs personality then changes and she goes on to be the dominatrix when she next sees him. I mean, I get her thought process, she wants to beat him at his own game and prove sheโs not gonna be walked over BUT this isnโt explained. Itโs just as though sheโs turned into someone else. Sheโs also portrayed as naive yet mature but they donโt really go hand in hand and it was shocking to see her go from virgin to wanting to explore everything sexual within weeks of losing her virginity! Now, I donโt know about you, but I wouldnโt wanna try anal so soon after having sex for the first time!
In the end I just really struggled with this book. The dialogue was cringey at timeโs, especially during the sex scenes when Petra would say, โAhhh…โ instead of the author simply stating that she groaned/moaned. I was expecting more thriller alongside the romance but it left a lot to be desired and a lot of unanswered scenes and questions! Scenes which could have lead the book into a thriller but didnโt really take off. The sub genre is more taboo (age-gap plus heโs her godfather who brought her up like she was his own) than anything else.
this book was given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review
#bookreview #bookreviewer #blossominwinter #tabooreads #taboobooks #domsubdynamic #romancebooks #goodreads #amazon #kindle #ku #booklover #bookaddict #bookblog #bookblogger
Book Review – Waiting For Milo by Angel Devlin.
Book Review – Waiting For Milo by Angel Devlin.
Blurb:
โHe called her Rapunzel.
Now sheโs back in a tower of her own making.
Can he rescue his princess and live happily ever after?
After purchasing her nanโs old home, Violet Blake wonders if the mysterious Waite family still live in the house across the garden. But there are bigger things to worry aboutโlike how sheโs going to get the hole in the ceiling repaired and the neglected house modernised. Lucky for her, the Waite family do turn out to be her neighbours and run a property renovation business.
Enter Milo Waite.
Caveman. Protector. Stubborn as hell.
He wonโt take no for an answer and sets about making sure his princess has her castle. But repairing the house isnโt his only project. He wants Violet.
Real life isnโt a fairy tale though, and buried family secrets threaten not only their budding relationship but to tear their families apart.โ
Review:
I canโt tell you how much I enjoyed this book! Itโs one of those romance books that is perfect for taking on holiday to read in the sun whilst lazing by the pool or on the beach! It was so easy to get into that I finished it in just over a day, reading whenever I got a spare moment.
It was wonderfully written. The characters were all lovable making you want to get to know each and every one of them. But Milo Waite… Milo is my new book boyfriend! Oh heโs so dreamy! Everything youโd want in a boyfriend. He absolutely worships Violet and wants the best for her. Oh sure heโs a Neanderthal, as Violet would say, but sheโs not afraid to put him in his place and point out when heโs being an idiot and overreacting. I loved seeing their romance blossom. Although a couple of obstacles were thrown their way and I wasnโt sure if theyโd overcome them!
The book ends on such a cliffhanger! Oh my god! I was so shocked! I absolutely need to know what happens next!! Hurry up and release the sequel, Waiting For Cal, Angel Devlin!
You can purchase Waiting For Milo here:
US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081Y545JN
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B081Y545JN
#waitingformilo #angeldevlin #waitefamily #romancebooks #romancereads #bookreview #bookreviews #bookblog #bookblogger #bookpromo #bookstagram #outnow #summerreads
Book Review – If We Were Young by Anna Bloom.
๐คโค๏ธ๐คโค๏ธ๐ค Book Review – If We Were Young by @annabloombooks. ๐คโค๏ธ๐คโค๏ธ๐คโค๏ธ๐ค
If We Were Young is wonderfully written with fantastic characters and great character development. I found Ronnie to be so relatable and wondered how Iโd be once my own daughter becomes a teenager. I love the way her daughter was portrayed, as well as the moody teen mannerisms. What really resonated with me personally was the fact that Ronnie has social anxiety. She has it so bad that she canโt speak and/or throws up. I love that although this is primarily a romance, Anna touched upon the affects of anxiety and how it can affect us so that those who donโt have it can understand it better and those who do can relate right along with Ronnie and know exactly what sheโs going through.
Ronnie and Matthewโs friendship had come to an end one sad night back in uni, then 15 years later they were reunited through a business opportunity. I loved seeing it all unfold before my eyes and found myself frustrated and on edge wondering if Ronnie and Matthew would be able to see past their anger and become friends again, wishing and hoping theyโd become much more than that. You learn throughout the story that so many obstacles had been thrown in the way over the years, unbeknownst to them at the time, that had stopped them coming together and it made me feel so sad because their lives could have been sooo different!
This book captured my heart and didnโt want to let go! I have so many feels! Iโm incredibly excited that thereโs going to be a sequel! I need to know whatโs next for Ronnie and Matthew! Iโm also still mad at Angela and her selfishness!! Grrr!
This is a second change romance, friends to lovers story (will they/wonโt they?) that is so easy to get into you wonโt want to put it down!
You can purchase Anna Bloomโs If Were Young here: viewbook.at/AnnabloomIWWY
#bookstagram #bookstagrammer #ifwewereyoung #annabloom #author #bookreviewer #bookreview #romancereadersofinstagram #romancereads #bookpromotion #bookpromo #bookblog #bookblogger #lovetoread #goodreads #kindle
Book Review – Summer Princess by Sloane Murphy.
Book Review – Summer Princess by Sloane Murphy.
Summer Princess, previously known as A Princessโ Duty, is revised and revamped with an additional 12K words (if memory serves). It was just as engaging as the first time around. That twist at the end! Omg Iโd forgot about that twist, though! Oooh the double betrayal is real! I feel more hurt by the second betrayal than I do about the first. The second cut deeeeep! Yeah, you bet I felt it just as much as poor Emilia did!
Emilia, her twin brother, Edimere, and older brother Erion, have been friends with Rowan and Cade for years. Each month, the Summer or Winter fae court hosts a party. Itโs not like your normal human party. These parties are brutal and bloody, a time for the fae to embrace their darker side. 19 year old Emiliaโs world is turned upside down when her twin brother, Edimere, meets his death after he kills a Summer court villager who, unbeknownst to him, is Rowanโs love and was set up by Rowan and Cadeโs father in an effort to show Rowan that the villagers are beneath them.
5 years later Emiliaโs life is not what it was. Her parents blame her for the death of her brother and have been and done awful things to her ever since. She seeks love in the form of Oberon, a half fae Hunter, but keeps it secret because no one would approve of her being with a hunter. One day her father finds out and Oberon is captured and sent to the cages. Emilia is told the only way she can save him is to go to the Winter court and win Cadeโs hand in marriage, forming a truce between the two courts. Emilia has never forgiven Cade so itโs the last thing she wants to do but she does it in an effort to save Oberon. But can she?
Youโre really pulled into this story, feeling all the emotions the characters do, feeling as though youโre right there with them. The twists and turns were fantastic! I loved the character development of Emilia and Cade. Her friendship with Rowan was so precious. The writing is beautiful and really grips you, keeping you reading and not wanting it to end. I canโt wait for book two to be released. I need to know what happens! If you love a dark fantasy read then this one is for you!
The only negative Iโd have to comment about is the grammar/spelling mistakes I came across. However, I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review so Iโm hoping they will have been smoothed out in the mean time ready for the final copy to be released to the public.
Blog Tour and Book Review – Dark Secret by Danielle Rose.
Dark Secret Blog Tour and Book Review!
Book Review – Dark Secret by Danielle Rose.
I fell in love with this book straight away! Witches AND vampires?! Whatโs not to love if youโre a fan of YA paranormal reads? I love how in-depth Danielle went with the witches and their magic lore and I love the spin that she took with the main character, Ava, after a fight with a vampire didnโt quite go to plan. Ava is tasked with protecting her coven and the village of Darkhaven from the vampires but her coven doesnโt trust her ability to sense the darkness that is coming which she tries to prove otherwise. Throughout the book she goes from strength to strength, but not without her flaws and weaknesses, whilst she struggles to adapt to a life she never wanted. There is a hint of romance running through this book which I really enjoyed and am excited to see where itโll lead in the second book. Danielleโs writing is incredibly detailed and such a delight to read. I really enjoyed that it was written in first person too. This would be the perfect book if youโre just starting out on your YA paranormal journey.
๐นBlog Tour!๐น
Dark Secret (Darkhaven Saga #1)
by USA Today Bestselling author Danielle Rose
AVAILABLE NOW!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/33j5oDL
Print: https://amzn.to/2WMW3BR
Nook: http://bit.ly/2oQlGFn
Apple Books: https://apple.co/36BA1X3
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2LkrOxE
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2qnXxX2
#DarkSecret #DanielleRose #ReleaseBlitz #YAParanormal #Waterhouse #BareNakedWords
Synopsis
There’s no wrath like that of a witch scorned.
Seventeen-year-old spirit witch Ava Lรณpez is the self-appointed guardian of the witches and humans of Darkhaven, an idyllic village nestled between the forest and the sea. Her watch: vicious and bloodthirsty vampires.
Ava is a novice in the eyes of her coven. If she expects to protect them and the secrecy of their powers, she must gain better control of her own. When a full moon ritual goes awry, control may be lost forever, and Ava is exiled from her coven. Forced to seek refuge among the beings she had always sworn herself to hunt, she vows revenge on those who have upended her life.
But the more time Ava spends away from her coven, the more she discovers a startling truth: the witches havenโt been honest with her. Avaโs quest to strip the truth from everything sheโs ever known begins with the toughest realization of allโcoming to terms with who she has become.
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Antonia Nicole Home Fragrance Wax Melts.
Some #happypost arrived from Antonia Nicole Home Fragrance today!
Some gorgeous wax melts in scents:
๐ Zoblue
โInspired by a popular cleaning scent.
A fresh clean scent with citrus notes of bergamot and orange, followed by a heart of pine, rose and lilac, resting on a base of cedarwood and amber.โ
๐ Enchanted Ale
โInspired by a drink from a well known film series.
A sweet, sugary scent with sticky toffee, caramel and soft fluffy vanilla.โ
๐ Peony and Blush Suede
โA fruity, floral fragrance with peony and red apple, followed by hearty notes of rose, jasmine and carnation. The fragrance is completed with soft notes of violet and plum and rich notes of musks and dry amber. This is truly stunning.โ
They all smell absolutely amazing! And thatโs before Iโve even melted them! I canโt wait to get them burning tomorrow whilst Willow is at nursery!
Purchase link for my fellow wax melt lovers: https://antonianicole.co.uk
#waxmelts #waxmeltsaddict #homefragrance #candles #smallbusiness #smallbusinessowner #womeninbusiness #womensupportingwomen #localbusiness #blogger #ukblogger #mummyblog #mummyblogger #mommyblog #mommyblogger #zoflora #harrypotter
Book Review – The Cake Fairies by Isabella May,
Book review – The Cake Fairies by Isabella May.
Blurb:
1960’s Somerset is no fun for cousins Polly and Annabelle Williams. Mourning their non-existent love lives, and the mundanity of village life, their only pleasure is baking – until a chance encounter has them magically transported to the bright lights of London… in 2019!
Promised a chance of love, first they must teach the people of the future about the simpler pleasures of life by becoming Cake Fairies. Over the course of a year they set off on a delectable tour of the UK, dropping off cakes in the most unexpected of places and replacing the lure of technology with much sweeter temptations.
But will their philanthropical endeavours lead them to everlasting love? Or will they discover you can’t have your cake and eat it?
My review:
What a book this is! It is so much more than a book about two cake making cousins running their own cake shop in the sixties, who may or may not find love! Sooo much more! For one, thereโs time travel!! Which I thought was an awesome part of the book. What really spoke to me, though, was that it tackles the issues of how modern tech, like our phones, affects us today and how most of us just seem glued to our phones instead of engaging with the people and taking in the environment around us. In come Polly and Annabelle with their cake making skills who are sent forward in time to hopefully make people see how important it is to take a step back from their phones and really pay attention to those around them. It really hit home for me because I often think we should spend less time on phones, tablets, PCs etc. and more time with the ones we love! Itโs a fabulous read and one Iโll cherish for a long time!
Purchase links:
UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cake-Fairies-Because-century-having-ebook/dp/B07Z2S41TZ
US – https://www.amazon.com/Cake-Fairies-Because-century-having-ebook/dp/B07Z2S41TZ
#bookreview #bookreviews #thecakefairies #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #romancereads #romancebooks #isabellamay #timetravel #timetravelbooks #bookblog #bookblogger
