• The Vintage Shop of Second Chances
    What I'm reading

    The Vintage Shop of Second Chances by Libby Page

    January 23, 2023 - By 

    The start of the year is usually pretty quiet for me which means I can make a great start on my Reading Challenge! For the last few years I’ve taken part in the Goodreads Reading Challenge and this year have set myself a slightly lower target which I’m hoping is realistic. Today I’m delighted to share my review of The Vintage Shop of Second Chances by Libby Page. The Vintage Shop of Second Chances by Libby Page Among the cobbled streets of the Somerset town of Frome, Lou is embarking on the start of something new. After the death of her beloved mother,…

  • Mrs Van Gogh by Caroline Cauchi
    What I'm reading

    Mrs Van Gogh by Caroline Cauchi

    January 16, 2023 - By 

    I’m excited to share my first book review of 2023! This year I’ve signed up to the Goodreads 2023 Reading Challenge and set myself a target of reading 35 books. This is slightly less than last year but hopefully more achievable – as I didn’t reach my target last year. I’ve noticed the books I read with the kids are longer and we just don’t have time to read as much as we used to when they were little. Mrs Van Gogh by Caroline Cauchi She’s been painted out of history…until now Who tells her story? In 1890, Vincent Van…

  • 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…

  • What I'm reading

    Shadowlands A Journey Through Lost Britain by Matthew Green

    February 15, 2022 - By 

    Although I read a lot of historical fiction, I enjoy history books too. I loved the sound of Shadowlands: A Journey Through Lost Britain by Matthew Green, a book about Britain’s lost cities, ghost towns and vanished villages. We were lucky enough to visit the ghost village of Imber on Salisbury Plain a few years ago and found the village both haunting and fascinating. I was really interested to read Shadowlands. Shadowlands: A Journey Through Lost Britain Drowned. Buried by sand. Decimated by plague. Plunged off a cliff. This is the forgotten history of Britain’s lost cities, ghost towns and…

  • From Shetland, With Love at Christmas
    What I'm reading

    From Shetland, With Love at Christmas {book review}

    October 30, 2021 - By 

    I know we haven’t enjoyed Halloween but Christmas is already creeping in. I find this time of year goes really quickly so I was delighted to get an early start on my seasonal reading. Thanks to NetGalley I received a copy of From Shetland, With Love at Christmas by Erin Green which is published next month. I didn’t realise that the book was set after the events of From Shetland, With Love which was published by the author earlier this year. Both books can be read independently. From Shetland, With Love at Christmas Friendship can be the greatest gift you’ll ever…

  • Catching up with my 2020 reading list
    Family Life

    Catching up with my 2020 reading list

    July 25, 2020 - By 

    Top of my list of things to do over the next 6 weeks is to catch up on my reading. I thought I would read a lot during the lockdown period but I didn’t. Home learning took up most of the week, normal household duties and taking the dog for a walk seemed to take up the rest. However I want to return to work with a few things crossed off my to do list including working through a pile of new books, making my own clothes, and taking a few online courses. So far this year I’ve read 14…

  • The Tuscan Contessa by Dinah Jefferies
    What I'm reading

    The Tuscan Contessa by Dinah Jefferies

    June 22, 2020 - By 

    I’ve made sure to make more time to read lately. It’s so easy to slip into bad habits of going to bed later and later, so I’m trying to go to bed earlier so I have time to read a few chapters before bed. I really enjoy reading books by Dinah Jefferies, so was delighted to find her latest book available to review on NetGalley. The Tuscan Contessa by Dinah Jefferies Contessa Sofia de’ Corsi’s peaceful Tuscan home has been upturned by the arrival of German soldiers. Desperate to fight back, she provides shelter, medical aid and any help she…

  • The Lost Lights of St Kilda by Elisabeth Gifford
    book review - What I'm reading

    The Lost Lights of St Kilda by Elisabeth Gifford

    February 1, 2020 - By 

    I felt that I wasn’t doing very well in my 2020 Goodreads challenge until I saw the front cover of The Lost Lights of St Kilda by Elisabeth Gifford on NetGalley (thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this book!). I spent 5 years living in Scotland, which is where I first heard about the magical islands of St Kilda, an isolated archipelago of islands some 40 miles off the west coast of Scotland. The Lost Lights of St Kilda is set on the beautiful and remote islands, linking one of the islands inhabitants, Chrissie, to a parallel story…

  • Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi
    What I'm reading

    Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi {book review}

    January 17, 2020 - By 

    2019 was the first year I decided to join up to Goodreads and take part in a challenge to read more books. I found it fun to share my book reviews and recommendations and discovered lots of great books to read. Last year I aimed to read 12 books but ended up reading 50, this year I hope to do even better. My first book of 2020 was the delightful Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi. Gingerbread by Helen Oyeyemi Perdita Lee may appear your average British schoolgirl; Harriet Lee may seem just a working mother trying to penetrate the school social hierarchy;…