• The Queen's Necklace by Adrienne Chinn
    What I'm reading

    The Queen’s Necklace by Adrienne Chinn {book review}

    August 1, 2025 - By 

    I love family history and have been researching my own since I started a school project on it years ago. Now I have my own family history blog and regularly share my research. When I heard about The Queen’s Necklace by Adrienne Chinn it sounded like I would enjoy it. Let me tell you more about it. The Queen’s Necklace by Adrienne Chinn The most famous necklace in the world has finally been found… Bryher Finch’s life isn’t just a disaster, it’s a catastrophe, until a chance invitation to chart her family tree changes everything. As Bryher uncovers the ancestry…

  • Easy Embroidery Embellishment
    Craft book review - What I'm reading

    Easy Embroidery Embellishment {book review}

    July 24, 2025 - By 

    I’ve been so lucky to receive a couple of new craft books to review recently. Last week I told you about the Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery book. This week I’m sharing Easy Embroidery Embellishment: learn to customise your clothes with simple stitch techniques. If you love spending time on Instagram browsing for the latest craft trends, then you may recognise the author Jenny Billingham as Flynn and Mabel on Insta where she shares many of her embroidery projects. Easy Embroidery Embellishment Transform your wardrobe and elevate your style sustainably – no experience needed! Learn how to personalise your clothes and accessories…

  • Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery
    Craft book review - What I'm reading

    Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery by Hilary Leslie

    July 16, 2025 - By 

    As a longtime fan of the enchanting world of Bridgerton, I was beyond excited to get my hands on a copy of Bridgerton Unofficial Embroidery: 20 Patterns Inspired by the World of Regency Romance to review. The moment it arrived, I couldn’t wait to dive in and see how the elegance of the Regency era was translated into embroidery patterns. Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery by Hilary Leslie Create elegant, Regency-inspired in-the-hoop embroidery projects with Unofficial Bridgerton Embroidery: 20 patterns inspired by the World of Regency Romance, and bring the opulence of your favourite Netflix drama to your stitching. Whether you’re looking…

  • What I'm reading

    {What I’m reading} The Seeker of Lost Paintings

    July 4, 2025 - By 

    I seem to be drawn to historical fiction. I loved the sound of The Seeker of Lost Paintings and was delighted to receive a copy to review. Unfortunately the book is not published until March 2026 but read on for my review, I promise it will be worth waiting for! The Seeker of Lost Paintings by Sarah Freethy The Seeker of Lost Paintings is an unforgettable story of love and betrayal across the decades from the author of The Porcelain Maker by Sarah Freethy. Interweaving war-torn Rome with modern-day London, this sophisticated and thrilling historical page-turner about love, betrayal and a quest…

  • What I'm reading

    Top 5 Educational Books Every Child Should Read

    June 23, 2025 - By 

    Studies show that children who engage with educational books are 30% more likely to develop a lifelong love for learning. You might wonder which titles truly make a difference in a child’s formative years. The right books not only entertain but also impart valuable lessons and spark curiosity. As we explore the top five educational books every child should encounter, you’ll discover how these stories can shape young minds and inspire a deeper understanding of the world around them. What makes these selections stand out? The Very Hungry Caterpillar Often regarded as a classic in children’s literature, “The Very Hungry…

  • Dear Miss Lake by AJ Pearce
    What I'm reading

    {What I’m reading} Dear Miss Lake by AJ Pearce

    June 9, 2025 - By 

    Have you heard of the The Emmy Lake Chronicle Series by AJ Pearce? The fourth book is Dear Miss Lake, following Dear Mrs Bird, Yours Cheerfully and Mrs Porter Calling. From the author of the Sunday Times bestseller Dear Mrs Bird, Dear Miss Lake returns us to wartime London, where Emmy Lake is facing her greatest challenge yet. Dear Miss Lake by AJ Pearce London, July 1944. Journalist Emmy Lake’s career is soaring: Woman’s Friend magazine is a huge success, and she is finally realising her dream of becoming a Lady War Correspondent. On the personal front, Emmy’s husband Charles has been posted closer to home, and they and their friends…

  • The elopement by gill hornby cover
    What I'm reading

    The Elopement by Gill Hornby {book review}

    April 26, 2025 - By 

    Did you watch Miss Austen, a recent tv adaptation of the book by Gill Hornby? I love a period drama and really enjoyed seeing the story come to life with some great actors. Gill Hornby also wrote Godmersham Park which is inspired by the real life friendship between Anne Sharp and Jane Austen. I was delighted to see Gill Hornby has written another book based on real life events in the world of Jane Austen. The Elopement by Gill Hornby The Elopement tells the story of Mary Dorothea Knatchbull, the step-daughter of Fanny Austen Knight (late of Godmersham Park and…

  • The Greek House by Dinah Jefferies
    What I'm reading

    The Greek House by Dinah Jefferies

    April 11, 2025 - By 

    I was happy to have the latest book by Dinah Jefferies to read whilst we were away during the Easter holidays. Titled The Greek House by Dinah Jefferies, this story is set in Corfu in the 1930s. I’ve enjoyed reading her previous books and was excited to read this one. The Greek House by Dinah Jefferies Can one house hold a lifetime of secrets? Corfu, 1930 The moment Thirza Caruthers sets foot on Corfu, memories flood back: the scent of jasmine, the green shutters of her family’s home — and her brother Billy’s tragic disappearance years before. Returning to the Greek…

  • Craft book review - Crafts for adults - What I'm reading

    Bouquet in a Book by Prudence Rogers

    March 13, 2025 - By 

    I love to try new crafts so was delighted to receive a copy of Bouquet in a Book by Prudence Rogers to review. This clever book has pre-punched pages to press out and make the flowers. Bouquet in a Book by Prudence Rogers Unlock your inner artist and create a stunning, everlasting floral arrangement with The Bouquet in a Book. This innovative press-out and make book of ready-to-use press-out paper pieces offers step-by-step instructions to help you craft an exquisite paper bouquet that will never wilt. Inside this book, you’ll find: Diverse Floral Designs: From classic roses and blooming peonies to bright anemones and…