Indie in Disguise: Stylist-ing and Other Jobs by Katie Clapham and Illustrated by Emma Farrarons - #bookreview

Indie woke up feeling fabulous. She put on: star-shaped sunglasses, a dress over a top under a jacket, three necklaces and the fancy socks...

***

I am required to make it clear at the beginning of my reviews that I received this book for free from the publisher. I have not been paid for doing this and all opinions are my own. I am Bookshop.org affiliated, which means I earn a very small amount of money if you buy from there using my direct link. Although I include purchase links to Amazon, I am not affiliated with them. I include them to make it easy for you to navigate to them if you so wish.

***

The Blurb

Meet Indie, a girl who loves imaginary play, in these full colour illustrated stories – perfect for encouraging independent reading for children aged 5-7.

Hilarious, playful and perfectly true to both imaginary play and family life, this is the first title in a sparky chapter books series for newly independent readers.

Indie is a little girl with a big personality – and quite the flair for the dramatics! What job will she roleplay today? In these four stories, Indie takes on four very important jobs: a librarian, a cleaner, a dentist, and even a stylist – star-shaped sunglasses at the ready! But these jobs are never easy. Indie's dentist chair (balanced backwards on a skateboard) isn't particularly stable, and when Mum doesn't look like Mum anymore in her big floppy hat and fur-trim gloves, Fashionista Indie ponders... Is there such a thing as TOO much style?

The adventures continue in Indie in Disguise: Astronaut-ing and Other Jobs.

My Review

This is a delightful book aimed at both girls and boys who enjoy imaginative play.

Based on the cover alone, it would be easy to assume that this early reader chapter book is aimed at girls. However, I think boys would enjoy it just as much.

The opening story, Indie the Stylist, is followed by Indie the Cleaner, Indie the Dentist and Indie the Librarian. Indie is an adorable character, full of enthusiasm and trying new things. Children will be able to engage with her character very well.

It has been nicely illustrated by Emma Farrarons.  Children will enjoy following the illustrations alongside reading the text.

It is full of humour and is ideal for children aged around six to eight years of age, depending on their reading ability. Any child who enjoys playing dress up will love this book.

I can't wait to share it with my grandchildren. I think this would be perfect for sharing as well as for early chapter reading.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1529522099

Publisher:  Walker Books Ltd

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:   64 (paperback)

Series:  First book in a planned series

Purchase Links

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Vinted

About the Author

Katie Clapham is the co-owner of independent bookshop Storytellers, Inc. with her mum. Picked by The Bookseller as a rising star, Katie was also named Best Young Bookseller at the British Book Awards. Katie is the author of acclaimed teen comedy Three Girls (UCLan, 2022), and The Missing Bookshop (Stripes, 2019). She lives by the sea with her husband, daughter and dog, where she writes the popular Substack newsletter, Receipt from the Bookshop, as well as working in the bookshop. 

You can also find Katie at:

Instagram

X

My Other Blog Posts Featuring This Author

The Tour at School (Because You're the New Kid!)

(ARC and media courtesy of the publisher)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Lisa Doyle is Absolutely Fine by Mo Fanning - #bookreview

Lisa Doyle's father left her two things: a battered blue armchair, and his talent for making a terrible situation catastrophically worse...

***

I am required to make it clear at the beginning of my reviews that I received this book for free from the author. I have not been paid for doing this and all opinions are my own. I am Bookshop.org affiliated, which means I earn a very small amount of money if you buy from there using my direct link. Although I include purchase links to Amazon, I am not affiliated with them. I include them to make it easy for you to navigate to them if you so wish.

***

The Blurb

Lisa Doyle is fine. Absolutely fine.

At least, that's the story she's been telling herself.

Her best friend is getting married. Everyone around her seems to have a partner, a plan, and a life that makes sense. Lisa, meanwhile, has four glasses of wine in her, a talent for making bad situations worse, and a growing sense of being left behind.

So she does what any sensible woman in a crisis would do. She announces that she's engaged.

There is only one problem.

Brian does not exist.

Now Lisa needs a fiancé before the wedding, her actor flatmate is far too willing to get involved, and the real Brian, who is very much married and very much her boss, is starting to look at her in ways that suggest this lie may have got seriously out of hand.

Warm, witty, and painfully recognisable, Lisa Doyle is Absolutely Fine is a grown-up romantic comedy about love, pressure, friendship, and the exhausting performance of holding everything together when you're quietly falling apart.

My Review

I enjoyed reading this wonderful romantic comedy very much.

The main character, the titular Lisa Doyle, was wonderful and was easy to relate to.  Feeling as though she is the only one not getting married, one drunken evening Lisa posts on her social media that she is engaged to Brian. However, Brian doesn't exist and it is also the name of her boss.  What follows is some very funny and poignant  narrative which kept my attention throughout the novel.

It was so easy to empathise with Lisa. The reader realises that her actions are the result of loneliness and my heart went out to her. However, she digs herself into a deeper hole when her actor flatmate, Andy, assumes the role of the nonexistent Brian and is introduced to her family and friends; not forgetting on her social media. 

The author has created a wonderful cast of characters in this book. The minor characters are just as charming, and I adored Lisa's family and friends.

It is obvious from the beginning that Lisa's lie is going to blow up in her face at some point and, when it does, I loved the way the author allowed those close to her to treat her with kindness, understanding and compassion. 

The book had a fun premise which completely delivered. This isn't the first novel that I have read by this author. There is a link to my review of his book, Rainbows and Lollipops, at the bottom of this post.

This was a fabulous book which I highly recommend. Publishing on 18th June, it is worth getting your hands on a copy. It is perfect for readers of Mhairi McFarlane, Beth O'Leary, and Marian Keyes.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1068394720

Publisher:  Spring Street Books

Formats:  e-book, audio, hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  344 (paperback)

Preorder Links

Bookshop.org

Direct From the Author

Amazon UK

About the Author

Mo has always believed stories can do two things at once: make you laugh and make you feel less alone. That’s what he tries to do on every page that he writes.

He didn’t grow up planning to be a novelist — but he grew up needing books. They were his escape, his company, and his way of making sense of the world. Now, he gets to create those escapes for other people. His novels explore love, loss, friendship, and the messy, hopeful business of being human.

At the heart of it all is a simple promise: even in life’s toughest moments, there’s humour, there’s connection, and there’s always a glimmer of light. That’s the world he writes about, and he's thrilled to be sharing it with others.

You can also find Mo at:

Bluesky

Instagram

Other Blog Posts Featuring This Author

Rainbows and Lollipops

(ARC and media courtesy of the author)

(all opinions are my own)

(Bookshop.org affiliated)

Bunnies in a Sleigh by Philip Ardagh and Illustrated by Ben Mantle - #bookreview #repost

It's Christmas Eve at the North Pole, a magical, wondrous night. 

But inside Santa's workshop, somethings not quite right...

***

The Blurb

The Sunnytown bunnies are back for a third picture book adventure, and it might just be their best one yet! It’s Christmas Eve and Santa’s elves have fallen suspiciously unwell (just WHO gave them all those candy canes?), so it looks like Santa needs some help. Luckily, our gang of vehicle-loving bunnies are here to the rescue. Cue chaos at every turn – hopping in and out of chimneys, getting stuck in snow, stuffed in stockings, and having the time of their lives on Santa’s sleigh. It’s a crazy Christmas, but it’s SO MUCH FUN.

My Review

Today I am republishing my review of this book from last year. The paperback edition has recently been released. It is such a lovely story to share with children at Christmas time.

To be honest, I almost knew I would love this book before I even opened the cover. There is a slight craziness to the titular bunnies on the front cover which I found very appealing.

Pre-schoolers and infant aged children (3-6 years) will adore this book. It is the story of how when the elves get tummy ache from eating too many candy canes on Christmas Eve, and are too poorly to help Santa out with his deliveries, the bunnies step in and save the day.

Children will love the rhyming text and the quirky delightful illustrations by Ben Mantle. They are vibrant, joyous and colourful and are a great accompaniment to the text. It is fun and humorous, and adults will enjoy sharing this with their little ones.

Philip Ardagh, Ben Mantle and Walker Books make an excellent team as they have produced this fabulous book that children will love. I highly recommend slipping a copy of this into the stocking of a little one.

There have been two previous 'Bunnies' books, Bunnies on the Bus and Bunnies in a Boat which I think would be worth reading.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1529507126

Publisher:  Walker Books

Formats: Hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  32 (paperback)

Purchase Details

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Blackwell's

Waterstones

About the Author:

Philip Ardagh is a prolific writer who has been published in 40 languages around the world. His titles include the bestselling Eddie Dickens trilogy, High in the Clouds, co-written with Paul McCartney, and Stinking Rich and Just Plain Stinky, the winner of the 2009 Roald Dahl Funny Prize. He stands two metres tall with a most impressive beard, and lives with his wife and son in Kent, the Garden of England. Find him on twitter and instagram as @PhilipArdagh.

About the Illustrator:

Ben Mantle is the illustrator of Follow the Track All the Way Back by Timothy Knapman, Kiss the Crocodile by Sean Teylor, Bunnies on the Bus and Bunnies in a Boat by Philip Ardagh, and is also the author-illustrator of Frog vs Toad. Find him on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram as @BenMMantle.

( book and media courtesy of Walker Books)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.org affiliated)

Stoic in Love: Ancient wisdom to make dating, domestic boredom and breakups a bit less terrible by Annie Lawson & Illustrated by Oslo Davis - #blogtour #bookreview

 

The path to love is strewn with swipes in the wrong direction, unanswered texts, declarations of love followed by silence, and disappointment when someone claims to be 30 and then tuurns up to a date looking like Dumbledore...

***

The Blurb

You're on date #17 since your last relationship ended in flames, and within a nanosecond of meeting Doug at a bar you realise you've made a huge mistake. You head to the bathroom to text your mate Lizzy and complain about how your date says aaaahh after every sip of beer, seems to style himself after Donald Trump, and definitely sniffed your hair. Ten seconds later, you realise you accidentally texted this to Doug. You sit frozen on the loo, wondering if there's a back exit, or if you should fake your own death.

The philosophy of the Stoics can help us all navigate the life cycles of love, whether it's dating someone wearing horns and a kaftan, a relationship where blobs of toothpaste are left smeared in the bathroom sink, or being dumped via text with just one word – enough! Across 45 rules, from dating tips like Do your due diligence to relationship advice like Don't tell your partner to calm down to break-up wisdoms like Resist putting your foot in your mouth, Annie Lawson applies ancient wisdom to the modern world of being in love, out of love, lovesick, love-bombed or just love-tired.

Romance and its rocky pursuit often sucks but, fortunately, not always, and Stoic in Love helps us realise that we can all use a little help getting together, staying together, or moving on.

My Review

This is the perfect little book to read in snippets and is brilliant for dipping in and out of. 

It is broken up into three main sections Dating, Relationships and Breaking Up. Most of us will recognise ourselves in some of the elements that the author describes, and many of them caused me to smile or have a little chuckle to myself.

There are 45 individual areas where she discusses the pitfalls of the seeking/doing/finishing of a relationship. The author then provides examples of how the wisdom of the Ancient Greeks can be applied to modern situations such as ghosting and gaslighting. It is a unique presentation of a book on relationships and I enjoyed reading it.

It is full of amusing anecdotes from the authors own experience, along with a good dollop of sound advice.

The illustrations by Oslo Davis are of a cartoonish style and add another layer of amusement to the text.  

I would recommend this book.

Book Details:

ISBN:  978 1761500404

Publisher:  Murdoch

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  224 (paperback)

About the Author

Annie Lawson is a former journalist who has had a diverse love life, from a first pash as a teenage with braces to several boyfriends including one who alphabetised cereal packets, and finally to marriage, which ended. This all taught her that the key to a good relationship is not only lots of storage, regular holidays at a nice resort and someone who is funny, but finding a partner to do nothing with. She now works on the dark side of the corporate world and is a devoted student of the

Stoics, taking every opportunity to apply their wisdom to life's hard things – from the workplace to matters of the heart.

(book and media courtesy of Random Things Tours)

(all opinions are my own)

10 Ten Exciting New Releases in December 2024

 

There are some gorgeous new releases coming next month and here are just ten that have caught my eye...

A Christmas Surprise in Pelican Crossing by Maggie Christensen

Beyond Treats: Revolutionary Dog Training for Lasting Behaviour Change: A Story-Based Force-Free Compassionate Dog Training Guide by George Tran

The Silver-Haired Sisterhood by Judy Leigh

A Short History of the World in 50 Failures by Ben Gazur

Reach for the Stars by Maxine Morrey

Stuck in Second Gear by Carmen Reid

The House of Echoes by Rachel Crowther

A Better Tomorrow for the East End Library Girls by Patricia McBride

The Girl in the Window by Diana Wilkinson

su

A Series of Rooms by A J Barlowe

Happy Reading!

One Midnight With You by Shari Low - #bookreview #blogtour

 Ailish Ryan, 54 - Newly divorced mum, primary school teacher, recently moved from her family home to a two-bedroom flat where she is supposed to be embracing single life. And she will - just as soon as she works up the motivation to get out of her comfy clothes and Crocs...

***

What would you do if you had just twenty-four hours to change your life?

Ailish Ryan has been in hiding since her husband’s affair ended their marriage. But when a friend forces her to face her new reality, will she choose to revisit the past or embrace a brand new future?

Ailish’s daughter, Emmy, thought her boyfriend was nothing like her cheating father, but now she’s not so sure. As the hours pass, she turns detective to find out if she picked the right man, or if history is repeating itself.

Grandmother, Minnie Ryan is on a mission to deliver a very special gift to a lifelong friend. But will grit and a touch of divine intervention be enough to overcome the obstacles that fate is putting in her way?

Dario Moretti has spent his whole life working in the family business, but now it’s in trouble and he’s all out of options. Will he have the strength to let it go, even if it means hurting the people he loves?

The clock is ticking… but will twenty-four hours be long enough to heal four broken hearts?

***

This book is set in Scotland during the Hogmanay celebrations. I liked the way the narrative of this novel took place over a 24-hour period. Furthermore, each section is broken down into two hour time periods. This gave the book much immediacy and I enjoyed it very much.

It is a light-hearted, humorous and entertaining read. The chapters are written from the perspective of four of the characters, Ailish, her daughter Emmy,  Ailish's ex-mother-in-law Minnie and Dario, an old friend of the family. I enjoyed the way each of the characters moved the story along through their different perspectives.

 There was much to like about Ailish, and she was easy to engage with. However, there is a great cast of secondary characters who were equally entertaining. Ailish's friends Rhonda and Gwen were excellent, as were the individual men who revolve around the three women and contribute to the story.

There was much humour included in the story. However, there were also some more serious elements that the author handled well. At no time did this feel heavy. It remained along an upbeat tone and was joyous to read.

I very much liked the way the story covered the 24 hours leading up to the Hogmanay celebrations. The new year is a time to anticipate new beginnings and the author conveyed that very well.

I would say that this book would make for a wonderful read over the New Year period. However, we are now in early September and I doubt that I would want to wait until then. As it is available on Kindle Unlimited at the moment I recommend giving it a read. It would then make for a fantastic Christmas gift in the run up to the New Year celebrations.

ISBN: 978 1835184608

Publisher:  Boldwood Books

Formats:  e-book, audio, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)

No. of Pages:  304 (paperback)

***

About the Author:

Shari Low is the #1 bestselling author of over 30 novels, including My One Month Marriage and One Summer Sunrise and a collection of parenthood memories called Because Mummy Said So. She lives near Glasgow.

(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

(all opinions are my own)

Next of Kin by Hannah Bonam-Young - #bookreview

 

My phone rings, flashing a number that immediately sends a chill down my spine. I follow my instincts, ditching my cart and spot in the checkout line to find quiet in the grocery store's bathroom, which, thankfully is empty.

"Hello, this is Chloe." My voice already shaking.

"Hi, Chloe, this is Rachel Feroux calling from Child Protective Services. Is this a good time to talk?..

***

Two bickering strangers trying to foster their younger siblings team up to create a stable home, but the undeniable chemistry between them threatens to ruin everything.

When she discovers her biological mother has had a new baby, Chloe doesn't hesitate to provide a home for her. Failing to meet social services' financial evaluation, she's forced into a new initiative: joining households with another prospective guardian.

Surly garage mechanic Warren, who is trying to gain custody of his deaf teenage brother, does not make a great first impression. But as their lives intertwine, Chloe and Warren discover they have more in common than they thought. So much so that the chemistry between them threatens everything they've fought for...

***

Publishing today, this funny, lovely book is well worth getting your hands on.

The main character, Chloe, is in her early twenties and finds herself in the unusual position of fostering her newborn baby sister when her biological mother gives birth. Instantly, the reader expects Chloe to be kind-hearted, and it is this, coupled with her protectiveness of her sister that propels her and the story along.

The love interest in this book is Warren, who teams up with Chloe as he is also caring for his teenage younger brother. However, although these two are thrown together and take a dislike to one another, the reader can happily anticipate the potential relationship that they might fall into.

The book does not disappoint in this respect. In fact, some scenes are a little racy at times. However, this felt natural, but you may choose to avoid this book if you prefer the hanky panky to remain out of sight in your reading. The budding relationship between them played out really well, and I was completely hooked by this book. Both Chloe and Warren are flawed characters but with the turn of each page I was rooting for them more and more.

The book deals with themes of identity, belonging and what constitutes family. It is written with humour and is also romantic and highly readable.  I enjoyed it very much. It is a heartwarming read with a feel-good factor, and I turned the final page with a satisfied smile. 

If you enjoy the friends to lovers romance trope, infused with humour and chemistry then you will love this book every bit as much as I did. I highly recommend it.

ISBN: 978  1835010938

Publisher:  Bedford Square Publishers 

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages:  368 (paperback)

About the Author:

Hannah writes romances featuring a cast of diverse, disabled, marginalized, and LGBTQIA+ folks wherein swoon-worthy storylines blend with the beautiful, messy, and challenging realities of life.

When not reading or writing romance you can find her having living room dance parties with her kids or planning any occasion that warrants a cheese board. Originally from Ontario, Canada, she lives with her childhood friend turned husband, Ben,  their two kids, a feisty orange cat, and a sleepy bulldog near Niagara Falls on the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe peoples.

(ARC courtesy of the publisher)

(author media coutesy of the author's webiste)

(all opinions are my own)

Love, Julie by Jamie Anderson - #coverreveal #blogtour

 

I am pleased to be part of the cover reveal for this gorgeous looking book, Love, Julie by Jamie Anderson. The book is due to be published in April and I hope to get my hands on a copy of this.

The Blurb

A Poignant and Humorous Journey of Self-discovery, Resilience, and Redemption.

Once, Julie dreamed of a life filled with love and laughter. Now, in her mid-forties, she faces a starkly different reality. She's single, lonely, and reeling from breaking her hard-earned sobriety in front of her family and friends.

Opting for self-recovery over romance, Julie dives into planning her best friend Kate’s wedding. However, sharing this task with the irritatingly cheerful best man, single dad Luke, proves to be an unexpected challenge.

As Luke’s persistent kindness chips away at her icy exterior, a friendship forms, stirring a longing she’d sworn to suppress. But with self-forgiveness as her biggest hurdle, and her past ready to sabotage her future, can Julie confront the shame and trauma that have darkened so much of her life and find the courage to love again? Or will her demons shatter both her and Luke’s hearts in the process?

Jamie Anderson, author of the hilarious and heartwarming Someone to Kiss, is back with another witty, acerbic, and relatable story. Love, Julie is a richly emotional tale of recovery, forgiveness, and romance that readers have praised for “nailing the humor and snarky nature of our generation.”

***

Sign up to be the first to know when Love, Julie is available for pre-order, plus grab a FREE romance

novella by Jamie instantly! �� �� 

Click Here https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ou026lucw0 To Claim Your Free Novella! �� �� 

By signing up, you’ll get notified the moment Love, Julie is available for pre-order and receive a launch reminder. Plus, you'll have the chance to win lots of great prizes and enjoy more freebies along the way!

About the Author:

Jamie Anderson is based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. A proud Canadian and Saskatchewanian, she wanted to set her first two novels in the place she was born and raised.

She’s been writing for as long as she can remember, and has been reading for longer than that. She lives happily with her mountain of books, her TV and her two plants.

You can read Jamie’s first novel Someone to Kiss here: https://mybook.to/someonetokiss

(all media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)

Ghosted by Rosie Mullender - #bookreview

Before Andy had tried to contact her from beyond the grave, Emily was panicking about the guacamole going brown. Later, remembering this, she wished she'd realised just how lucky she'd been to be spending her time worrying about avocados, instead of the afterlife.

Zoe poked a finger knuckle-deep into the gloopy green dip, which Emily was dolloping into a row of tiny, jewel-hued mezze bowls.

'Not until the adults get here,' she said, slapping Zoe's hand away from the bowl...

***

How badly have you been ghosted? No, literally.

A year ago, Emily was ghosted.

But it's fine, she's over it. And Andy was never part of the plan anyway. She's working on Project New Emily - New Emily goes to cocktail bars, wears ankle-breaking heels and has her life together. She's looking for a new man to match; Andy's old Converse and bad jokes were never going to work.

Thoughts about Andy are firmly in the past - until his name is spelled out on a Ouija board at a party. Emily discovers that Andy didn't ghost her - he died. And just as she's trying to work out how she feels, Andy turns up in her flat as a ghost. A ghost. In her flat.

Once she's over the shock, Emily realises she needs to get rid of this ghost of dating past so she can focus on the new man in her sights - and that the only way she can do that is to help Andy solve the mystery of his death. But as she spends more time with him, she remembers how nice it was to let her guard down and just be Old Emily sometimes.

Emily must choose between her new life and the past that's come back to haunt her. But she soon discovers that when it comes to putting her ghosts to rest, it's not as easy as she might think...

***

I loved this book from start to finish. I do not read many romantic comedy books but this one has caused me think I really should try more of this genre. Anyone who has any suggestions please let me know in the comments below.

It is a delightful story about a ghost and being ghosted, and it has been written with wit and humour.

It has been well executed and kept me engaged throughout. There is also a suspense element to the story as the characters attempt to solve the mystery of what led to Andy's death. They were a few twists and turns in resolving this which added another level to the story.

Ms. Mullender has created a wonderful cast of characters; not only the main characters of Emily, Zoe and Andy but the secondary characters added much to the story. Emily's work friends and the charismatic Oliver were all well drawn and came to life on the page.

Emily was a great character, despite some of her decisions being questionable. However, in a way this made her even more likeable because as a reader, I was hanging in there waiting for her to realise the error of her ways.

Ghosted was an easy book to read and had time permitted I would have devoured it over the course of a weekend. It was a heartwarming story with a lot of charm. I finished the book with a warm fuzzy feeling; it very much had a feel good factor in the end.

I highly recommend this lovely book to anyone who likes humourous romantic comedy.

ISBN:  978 0751585254

Publisher:  Sphere

Formats:  e-book, audio and hardback

No. of Pages:  400 (hardback)

About the Author:

Rosie has worked in journalism for 20 years and her experience includes full-time roles as Cosmopolitan's Features Director (and sometime Sex and the Single Girl columnist), and Co-op Food magazine's editor.

 In 2018, she decided to go freelance, and now writes for publications including The Guardian, The Observer, Stella, Sunday Times Style, Grazia, Stylist and Psychologies. She is also an experienced product reviewer.

 As a copywriter, she has produced content for clients including Mars, All Bar One, Fuller's, Rosa's Thai and ibis hotels, as well as volunteering her writing skills to FEAST With Us, a charity that fights food poverty in London.

 Her debut novel, The Time of My Life, was published in hardback by Sphere on 7 July 2022, and her second, Ghosted, was released in July 2023.

(author media courtesy of her website https://www.rosiemullender.co.uk/)

(all opinions are my own)

Bunnies in a Sleigh by Philip Ardagh and Illustrated by Ben Mantle - #bookreview

 

It's Christmas Eve at the North Pole, a magical, wondrous night. 

But inside Santa's workshop, somethings not quite right...

***

The Blurb

The Sunnytown bunnies are back for a third picture book adventure, and it might just be their best one yet! It’s Christmas Eve and Santa’s elves have fallen suspiciously unwell (just WHO gave them all those candy canes?), so it looks like Santa needs some help. Luckily, our gang of vehicle-loving bunnies are here to the rescue. Cue chaos at every turn – hopping in and out of chimneys, getting stuck in snow, stuffed in stockings, and having the time of their lives on Santa’s sleigh. It’s a crazy Christmas, but it’s SO MUCH FUN.

My Review

To be honest, I almost knew I would love this book before I even opened the cover. There is a slight craziness to the titular bunnies on the front cover which I found very appealing.

Pre-schoolers and infant aged children (3-6 years) will adore this book. It is the story of how when the elves get tummy ache from eating too many candy canes on Christmas Eve, and are too poorly to help Santa out with his deliveries, the bunnies step in and save the day.

Children will love the rhyming text and the quirky delightful illustrations by Ben Mantle. They are vibrant, joyous and colourful and are a great accompaniment to the text. It is fun and humorous, and adults will enjoy sharing this with their little ones.

Philip Ardagh, Ben Mantle and Walker Books make an excellent team as they have produced this fabulous book that children will love. I highly recommend slipping a copy of this into the stocking of a little one.

There have been two previous 'Bunnies' books, Bunnies on the Bus and Bunnies in a Boat which I think would be worth reading.

Book Details

ISBN:  978 1529507126

Publisher:  Walker Books

Formats: Hardback and paperback

No. of Pages:  32 (paperback)

Purchase Details

Bookshop.org

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Blackwell's

Waterstones

About the Author:

Philip Ardagh is a prolific writer who has been published in 40 languages around the world. His titles include the bestselling Eddie Dickens trilogy, High in the Clouds, co-written with Paul McCartney, and Stinking Rich and Just Plain Stinky, the winner of the 2009 Roald Dahl Funny Prize. He stands two metres tall with a most impressive beard, and lives with his wife and son in Kent, the Garden of England. Find him on twitter and instagram as @PhilipArdagh.

About the Illustrator:

Ben Mantle is the illustrator of Follow the Track All the Way Back by Timothy Knapman, Kiss the Crocodile by Sean Teylor, Bunnies on the Bus and Bunnies in a Boat by Philip Ardagh, and is also the author-illustrator of Frog vs Toad. Find him on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram as @BenMMantle.

( book and media courtesy of Walker Books)

(all opinions are my own)

(bookshop.org affiliated)

How Does Santa Go Down the Chimney? by Mac Barnett & Illustrated by Jon Klassen - #bookreview

 

How does he do it?

How does it work?

Does he tighten his belt?

Or shrink himself down to the size of a mouse?

***

The multi-award-winning duo of Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen tackle a perennial question: how does Santa go down the chimney?

When Santa arrives at a child’s house on Christmas Eve, does he go down the chimney feet first or head first? What if he gets stuck? What if there’s no chimney? Maybe he slides under the door, as thin as a piece of paper? Or is it possible he pours himself through the tap? What happens once he’s inside?

Mac Barnett’s iconic talent for earnest deadpan humour and Jon Klassen’s irresistibly funny art honour this timeless question with answers both ridiculous and plausible, mounting in hilarity as the night continues. Channeling a child’s fanciful explanations, this latest collaboration by a bestselling team will find a secure spot among family Christmas traditions.

***

This is a delightful picture book which aims to answer the question that every child has asked at some point, how does Santa get into the house? He is so quiet he never wakes anyone up including the dog!

Aimed at pre-school/infant aged children, every theory is purported in this book and accompanied by stylised illustrations from Jon Klassen. These completely support the text which will aid early independent readers.

It is a charming story with humour throughout and would make a perfect gift. I think most children would be thrilled to discover this in their stocking on Christmas morning.

When my sons were young, we would share a Christmas/Winter themed book every evening at bedtime. With one hundred percent certainty, I can say that they would have adored this book, and it would have fit the bill perfectly.

My little boys are now full grown men with families of their own, and they will love sharing this book with my grandchildren.

ISBN: 978 1529512779

Publisher:  Walker Books

Formats:  e-book and hardback

No. of Pages:  32 (hardback)

About the Author:

Mac Barnett is a New York Times-bestselling author of stories for children. His work has been translated into more than 30 languages and sold more than 4 million copies worldwide. Mac’s books have won many prizes, including two Caldecott Honors, three New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Awards, three E.B. White Read Aloud Awards, the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Germany’s Jugendliteraturpreis, China’s Chen Bochui International Children’s Literature Award, The Netherlands’ Silver Griffel, and Italy’s Premio Orbil. He is the co-creator, with Jon Klassen, of Shape Island, a stop-motion animated series on Apple TV+, based on their best-selling Shapes series of picture books. Mac lives in Oakland, California.

About the Illustrator:

Illustrator, cartoonist, enthusiast. An appreciator and advocate of work that is honest and genuine from its conceptualization to its execution.

Specializing in children’s picture book illustration, editorial cartoons and character design.

Jon currently lives and works in Toronto, Canada.

(book courtesy of the publisher)

(author media courtesy of his own website)

(illustrator photo courtesy of Wikipedia and bio info courtesy of the illustrators website)

(all opinions are my own)

Playing the Witch Card by KJ Dell'Antonia - #BookReview

 

Other people, when forced to start over, do so in appropriate places. New York. Los Angeles. Bozeman. Only Flair would wind up in Kansas, dragging a hand-painted, life-sized figue of Jack Skellington into her bakery and wondering where to hide it until the horror show that was Halloween in Rattleboro finally lurched to an end this weekend.

Flair hated seeing even the outside of her tidy space besmirched with the trappings of a ridiculous holiday that invited exactly the kind of chaos that she normally kept firmly at bay...

***

When Flair Hardwicke returns to the tiny town of Rattleboro to take over her grandmother’s beloved bakery, she believes she’s prepared for anything. All she needs is her daughter Lucie, and to get as far away from her cheating ex-husband as physically possible. But sweet treats weren’t the only thing her grandmother was known for in Rattleboro, and as determined as Flair is to avoid it, a misbehaving deck of tarot card-shaped cookies draws her back into the web of family magic she’s fought so hard to escape.

Even worse: her first love is in town. Flair hasn’t spoken to Jude Oakes, now a famous chocolatier, since he broke her heart at seventeen. When Flair finds she’s accidentally summoned Lucie’s father to Rattleboro under a curse she can’t break, the recipe for Halloween chaos seems to be complete.

But not everything in Rattleboro is as it seems. As Flair’s family is threatened, she is forced to put aside everything she thinks she knows about love, witchcraft, motherhood―and herself. Because Flair might think she’s done with magic, but magic certainly isn’t done with Flair.

***

This is a lighthearted cozy witchy book that is ideal to read in the run-up to Halloween.

Set in the town of Rattleboro, this book oozes with the atmosphere of this small town in America. It sparks with rivalry, romance and relationships. It was very much about the relationship between mother and daughter.

The main character, Flair, is at times funny and there were many times I chuckled at her reactions. Indeed, many of the characters were larger than life. I particularly enjoyed watching the relationship between Flair, her mother and her daughter play out. 

Flair originally left Rattleboro in an attempt to leave behind her magical skills, and she certainly does not want her daughter, Lucie, to be any part of it. However, now that she has inherited her grandmother's bakery, she is back in her home town, attempting to resist it's and her magic. However, when she makes tarot shaped biscuits they are imbued with a magic of their own and she and the magic are thrust back together.

This is a fun and entertaining read which will appeal to fans of light hearted witch themed books.

ISBN: 978 1803366845

Publisher: Titan Books

Formats: e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  336 (paperback)

About the Author:

KJ Dell’Antonia is a New York Times best-selling author whose novels The Chicken Sisters and In Her Boots explore the same themes she once explored as a journalist: the importance of finding joy in our families, the challenge of figuring out what makes us happy and the need to value the life we’re living more than the one in our phones and laptops, every single time. Her third novel, Playing the Witch Card, throws magic into the mix, but witchcraft, like reality TV and literary fraud, rarely really solves anyone’s problems. She is also the former editor of the New York Times’ Motherlode blog, the co-host of the #AmWriting podcast,  and a passionate bookstagrammer (@kjda).  She lives in Lyme, New Hampshire, with her husband, children and assorted dogs, cats, chickens and horses.

(author photo and bio courtesy of the author's website https://kjdellantonia.com/)

(ARC courtesy of NetGalley)

(all opinions are my own)

The Scandalous Confessions of Lydia Bennet, Witch by Melinda Taub - #BookReview #BlogTour

 

I suppose if this were a proper book I'd begin it something like, "Miss Lydia Bennet, youngest of five daughters to a father hopelessly entailed, had few advantages in life, but not too few to squander." That sounds fine, and important, and promises that no matter how exciting the story may become it will all resolve with a tidy boring moral at the end. That is why Kitty and I prefer to skip the last chapter of novels.

However, that bit about squandering isn't true. Oh, I daresay many in Meryton would whisper that I had indeed squandered all my advantages of birth and position; and Lord knows I have shed many a tear over it...

***

Miss Lydia Bennet may be the youngest, but what she lacks in maturity and responsibility, she more than makes up for in energy, fun - and magic.

In this exuberant reimagining of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Lydia Bennet puts pen to paper to relate the real events and aftermath of the classic story from her own perspective. Some facts are well known: Mrs. Bennet suffers from her nerves; Mr. Bennet suffers from Mrs. Bennet, and all five daughters suffer from an estate that is entailed only to male heirs.

But Lydia also suffers from entirely different concerns: her best-loved sister Kitty is really a barn cat, and Wickham is every bit as wicked as the world believes him to be, but what else would you expect from a demon? And if you think Mr. Darcy was uptight about dancing etiquette, wait till you see how he reacts to witchcraft. Most of all, Lydia has yet to learn that when you're a witch, promises have power . . 

Full of enchantment, intrigue, danger, and boundless magic, The Scandalous Confessions of Miss Lydia Bennet, Witch, has all the irreverent wit, strength, and romance of Pride and Prejudice - while offering a highly unexpected redemption for the wildest Bennet sister.

***

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen is one of my favourite books. I am always a little hesitant to read books which move the story on in one way or another, although I have read some that make an excellent job of it, The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow springs to mind of an excellent example of this. Sadly this is not always the case.

However, Melinda Taub delivers a book based on the youngest Bennet sister, Lydia, and takes the story off in a direction that is both fun and amusing. This is an entertaining romp of a story centred around witchcraft in Recency England. 

It is very much a book that does not take itself too seriously. Austen purists may not care for the liberties taken with the characters. However, read as a book that is intended to be read as a lively, witty and enjoyable retelling of a familiar story, it cannot fail to please.

The author has taken a familiar tale and spun a whole new perspective of the story from it. The characters are all recognizable from the original story, but seen through Lydia's eyes we observe a very different perspective. 

Pride and Prejudice is a book I re-read often. However, I will never be able to look at Kitty Bennet in quite the same way again. I shall say no more as I would hate to spoil your own discovery and enjoyment of Kitty's place within the family.

Happy reading!

ISBN: 978 1529426243

Publisher:  Jo Fletcher Books

Formats:  e-book, audio and hardback

No. of Pages: 400 (hardback)

About the Author:

Melinda is the former head writer and executive producer of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee and was the co-producer of the 2020 Daily Show special on the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The idea for Lydia Bennet came to her when she was Sam Bee's head writer during the Trump years and, often stressed and sad, all she could read were her best-loved books - Pride & Prejudice being high on the list.

(book courtesy of the publicist)

(all opinions are my own)