• The Mega Complicated Crushes of Lottie Brooks by Katie Kirby
    What I'm reading

    The Mega Complicated Crushes of Lottie Brooks by Katie Kirby

    September 7, 2022 - By 

    My daughter came home from her first day in Year 6 with a new badge, that of Librarian! She is a real book-worm and I’m always finding her asleep next to her latest book. She reads a lot which I couldn’t be happier about and we love to read together. We were recently gifted a copy of The Mega Complicated Crushes of Lottie Brooks by Katie Kirby. I love Katie Kirby’s cartoons but I had no idea she had written books for children. The Mega Complicated Crushes of Lottie Brooks The Mega Complicated Crushes of Lottie Brooks is the third…

  • {book review} A Loom of One's Own
    What I'm reading

    {book review} A Loom of One’s Own

    September 3, 2022 - By 

    I love browsing craft books for inspiration and was recently gifted a copy of A Loom of One’s Own: Crafts for Book Lovers by Virginia Wool. This book is the perfect gift for fans of classic novels, crafting and puns. A Loom of One’s Own “Take old, damaged or under-loved books and give them a new reason to be – a new purpose.” – Virginia Wool A Loom of One’s Own is a crafting celebration of literary classics. Packed full of designs, these crafts are all uniquely created by cutting, painting and slicing those old, under-loved books you have lying…

  • The Hidden Palace by Dinah Jefferies
    What I'm reading

    The Hidden Palace by Dinah Jefferies

    August 19, 2022 - By 

    We’re currently away for a week and I was delighted to receive a copy of The Hidden Palace by Dinah Jefferies to review. This was the second novel in the trilogy about one family. You can read my review of the first book, Daughters of War, in this post. The Hidden Palace can be read on its own, but it makes frequent references to what preceded it, and I would recommend reading it first. The Hidden Palace follows on straight away from Daughters of War. The Hidden Palace by Dinah Jefferies A rebellious daughter 1925. Among the ancient honey-coloured walls of…

  • Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women Written Out of It
    What I'm reading

    Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women Written Out of It

    August 11, 2022 - By 

    I’ve been reading a lot of fiction recently, working my way though the trilogy of books about Miss Buncle by DE Stevenson. Set in the 1930s and 1940s they were light hearted and fun, just what I needed. But I was delighted to get my hands on Femina: A New History of the Middle Ages, Through the Women Written Out of It by Janina Ramirez. The author is an art historian and TV presenter and hugely entertaining and interesting to watch. I knew I would love to read her latest non-fiction book, Femina. Femina: A New History of the Middle…

  • The Extraordinary Voyage of Katy Willacott by Sharon Gosling
    What I'm reading

    The Extraordinary Voyage of Katy Willacott {blog tour}

    July 6, 2022 - By 

    We were recently sent a copy of The Extraordinary Voyage of Katy Willacott by Sharon Gosling. Little Sis is 10 and a real book worm but she tends to re-read her favourite authors over and over. I thought this would be a great opportunity to discover a new author and share a book together. The Extraordinary Voyage of Katy Willacott Living among the flowers and ferns of Kew Gardens, Katy has always dreamed of more – of the sky and the stars and the sea. Unfortunately for Katy, her father doesn’t understand. He says young girls should be content to…

  • Hoop Quilts for Beginners {book review}
    What I'm reading

    Hoop Quilts for Beginners {book review}

    May 7, 2022 - By 

    I love reading craft books, I find them so inspiring especially when I want to try something new. I was recently gifted a copy of Hoop Quilts for Beginners by Anne Marie Chany via NetGalley. I loved the cover of the book – I know you should never judge a book by its cover – which was bright and colourful! Hoop Quilts for Beginners by Anne Marie Chany Hoop Quilts for Beginners: 15 Designs Using Easy Patchwork and Embroidery is by Anne Marie Chany. The craft of hoop quilts combine simple quilting techniques with embroidery, patchwork, and other favourite fabric…

  • The Ship Asunder: A Maritime History of Britain in Eleven Vessels by Tom Nancollas
    What I'm reading

    The Ship Asunder {book review}

    April 23, 2022 - By 

    I’ve enjoyed a few great fact and fiction books about the coast recently. The Storm Girl was a great story with a twin timeline entwining the life of a smuggler from the 17th century with a woman renovating an old smugglers pub in Dorset. Shadowlands: A Journey Through Lost Britain was about Britain’s lost cities, ghost towns and vanished villages, some of which were washed away into the sea, such as Winchelsea and Dunwich. Being surrounded by the sea can have a profound effect on a person, and we all love to escape to the coast when we can. The next…

  • The Storm Girl {book review}
    What I'm reading

    The Storm Girl {book review}

    April 16, 2022 - By 

    Image source Over the last few days I couldn’t put down The Storm Girl by Kathleen McGurl. I love historical fiction and the blurb sounded like something I would enjoy. The Storm Girl {book review} A heartbreaking choice. A secret kept for centuries. 1784. When Esther Harris’s father hurts his back, she takes over his role helping smugglers hide contraband in the secret cellar in their pub. But when the free traders’ ships are trapped in the harbour, a battle between the smugglers and the revenue officers leads to murder and betrayal – and Esther is forced to choose between the…

  • Not Your Average Maths Book {review}
    book review - What I'm reading

    Not Your Average Maths Book {review}

    March 2, 2022 - By 

    I’ve reviewed quite a few fiction and non-fiction books for adults recently, so I was delighted to receive a copy of Not Your Average Maths Book by Anna Weltmann to review with my children. Not Your Average Maths Book Can animals count? … Why is zero the most useful number? … Why are bubbles always round? … Where did maths come from? Discover the answers to these questions and so much more in this fun and accessible book all about numbers and their history! Not Your Average Maths Book looks at how maths is useful in our everyday lives, from its…