The Book of the Gaels by James Yorkston Blog Tour

 Over the years I have found myself more and more drawn to poetry, and that includes books that use a sort of lyrical prose.

And that's exactly what I got with James Yorkston's books The Book of Gaels.

Rural West Cork, Ireland. Two Kids, Joseph and Paul, and their struggling, poet father, Fraser, are battling grief and poverty. When a letter arrives with a summons to Dublin and the promise of publication, it offers a chink of light – the hope of rescue. But Dublin is a long, wet and hungry way from West Cork in the mid-70s, especially when they have no money - just the clothes they stand up in and an old, battered suitcase.

So begins an almost anti-roadtrip of flipsides and contradictions – dreams and nightmares, promises and disappointments, generosity and meanness, unconditional love and shocking neglect.

The Fashion Fix by Lexi Rees Blog Tour

 I wouldn't say that I know my fashion but what I do know is that I love to experiment with what I wear. Different styles for various occasions and my youngest daughter is certainly following in my footsteps. She is always pairing her outfits with the perfect shoes (and make up). 

So when I was asked if I'd like to join the blog tour for The Fashion Fix, I just knew it was going to be a book cherished by my child.

suSTYLEability (noun)

The art of making small changes to the way we dress in order to make big changes in the world.

If you love fashion, this activity book will help you create a wardrobe which reflects your personal style AND is mindful of the impact the fashion industry has on the environment and human welfare.

• Learn the shocking facts about fashion

• Make better choices when shopping

• Develop your own unique style

• Get creative with friends and family

• Discover fun ways to upstyle and upcycle your wardrobe

• Be crafty with recycling garments and fabrics

Split into eight chapters, this is a truly helpful guide.

Into Gobyln Wood by Anna Kemp Book Review

 Do you believe in fairies?

Whether you're a believer or not, get yourself read to enter the Goblyn Wood where you might just change your mind.

Fairies are real, but their power is waning . . . Embark on the adventure of a lifetime and discover the magic of Goblyn Wood, with the first book in a major new fantasy series for fans of Nevermoor and Podkin One-Ear!

Are you ready to enter Goblyn Wood . . . ?

Hazel has always known she was different, but she doesn’t know where she came from. When her best friend Pete is kidnapped by strange creatures, she must gather her courage and enter Goblyn Wood, a forest inhabited by fairies. But their magic is being drained away, and Hazel soon realises that her own power is the key to saving both Pete and her new friends. Embarking on an epic journey of discovery, can Hazel restore the balance of the fairy realm?

The Rise by Shari Low and Ross King Blog Tour

 What do you get when you put two fantastic people together?

One epic book would be the answer.

Shari Low and Ross King have combined their expertise to create The Rise, spoiler alert, it's a story you won't want to miss.

Their rise was meteoric.

Only a few years before, they had been three friends from Glasgow, trying to survive in a world of danger and dysfunction.

Suddenly they were thrust on to the world’s biggest stage, accepting an Oscar in front of the watching world.

That night was the beginning of their careers. But it was the end of their friendships.

Over the next twenty years, Mirren McLean would become one of the most powerful writers in the industry.

Zander Leith would break box-office records as cinema’s most in-demand action hero.

And Davie Johnson would break the bank, raking in millions as producer of some of the biggest shows on TV.

For two decades they didn’t speak, driven apart by a horrific secret.

Until now…

Their past is coming back to bite them, and they have to decide whether to run, hide, or fight.

Because when you rise to the top, there’s always someone who wants to see you fall... 

A Chance in a Million by T. A. Williams Blog Tour

 You must be aware by now just how much I love T. A. Williams' books. You can look at my previous reviews here. 

And now I'm back on the blog tour for his latest release, A Chance in a Million. SPOILER ALERT, it's a corker! 

Having left the army to recover from a traumatic experience, Captain Jane Reed is on her way to Venice to assist Lady Veronica Cooper, a world-famous writer who has lost her mojo. Plagued by grief and sleepless nights, Jane soon finds a kindred spirit in Veronica, coping with her own loss after the death of her husband.

When the two relocate to Veronica’s villa in the countryside to escape the summer tourists, Jane meets the rest of the Cooper family – including Veronica’s brooding son, David. With his own tragic past, David has resigned himself to a life of solitude. Jane finds herself determined to bring joy back into his life, even if it means finally spilling her secrets.

Can Jane and David help each other heal, and find love in the process, or are some scars too deep to treat?

The House on Rockaway Beach by Emma Burstall Blog Tour

 What counts as a beach read?

Does it necessarily have to be summery or do you think any book counts as long as it allows you to sit and escape in the sunshine?

Whatever your answer to that question, Emma Burstall's latest novel definitely comes under that category.

The House on Rockaway Beach screams pure escapism. Its front cover showing an idyllic situation, a stunning house backing on to copious amounts of sun, sea and sand.

And the story held within is just as charming.

Sophie spent many happy summers at Rockaway Beach, visiting her beloved grandmother. Endless days playing in the sand with her sister Celia, watching day trippers come and go, never straying far from the quaint old house on the edge of the sea.

Then, one summer, the visits stopped. Sophie knows her mother and grandmother fell out, but she never found out why. So, many years later, it comes as a huge shock when she learns that her grandmother left the house to her and Celia in her will.

Together, the sisters return to Rockaway, but they cannot agree on anything. Sophie wants to keep the house, Celia is determined to sell. It seems they will never see eye to eye, until Sophie makes a chance discovery which will make her question everything...

Ten Years by Pernille Hughes Blog Tour

 Oh I'm a sucker for a good romance and that's exactly what Pernille Hughes offers in her latest novel Ten Years.

As the title suggests, this is a story told over the span of ten years, but let me tell you, those years go by fast (yes this is a quick and enjoyable read).

Becca and Charlie have known each other for years – ever since they met at university.

And for every one of those years, they've bickered, argued, offended, mocked and generally rubbed each other up the wrong way.

Until now. Until Ally’s bucket list. The death of their loved one should mean Becca and Charlie can go their separate ways and not look back. But completing the list is something neither Charlie nor Becca can walk away from.

And sometimes, those who bring out the worst in you, also bring out the very best…

Over the course of ten years, Becca and Charlie’s paths collide as they deal with grief, love and life after Ally.

Christmas at the Borrow a Bookshop by Kiley Dunbar Blog Tour

 I love Christmas and I don't think it should be exclusive to December.

I'll be honest, I read this book way back in July as I was in need of some warm and cosy feels, and that's exactly what Christmas at the Borrow a Bookshop had to offer.

Following on from Kiley's other novel The Borrow a Bookshop Holiday. Featuring many of the same characters (I've since read this book too) I can say with certainty that this story can be read as a stand-alone without the need to know previous characters back stories.

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

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

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

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

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

Every Shade of Happy by Phyllida Shrimpton Blog Tour

 Everyone loves a good, emotional read  don't they. You know the ones that have you reaching for the tissues.

Well that's exactly what I got from Phyllida Shrimpton's latest novel Every Shade of Happy.

Suddenly uprooted from everything and everyone she knows, bubbly fifteen-year-old Anna Maybury and her mother are forced to move in with the grandfather she has never met – a bad-tempered old man who disapproves of her very existence.

At ninety-seven, Algernon breaks his days up into a routine governed by the relentless ticking of the clock on the mantelpiece. It gives his life the structure and order he craves, but he's also incredibly lonely.

And soon, so is Anna. Her colourful personality doesn't seem to fit in at her new school and she begins to feel herself turning as dull and grey as the uniform.

Surprisingly, it's cranky old Algernon who is determined to do something about it. With a road trip to Cornwall on the cards and important life lessons to learn, it's going to be a summer neither of them will ever forget.