Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
I've never done a favourites blog post but I have always watched them on YouTube so thought why not write one. The beginning of a new season and the beginning of a new blog series! Obviously I'm not a beauty blogger or fashion blogger so my favourites will be a mixture of everything lifestyle with a lot of recommendations. So lets get started!
This month I have loved watching the new season of Nashville. I love a bit of Country music and with a great cast and gripping story lines this TV show is definitely in my all time top 10. I also love Hayden Panetierre and her character in this is amazing with so many up's and down's that everyone can relate to. I have to admit that the gamer in me was also excited that she is a part of the new game Until Dawn - which I had on pre-order weeks before the release.
Favourite Film
Everyone is loving a bit of Netflix and/or Amazon Prime Instant Video lately and I'm part of that everyone! I have to confess that I use both services but *cough* prefer Amazon *cough*. That being said they both have great films and this month I have loved the film 'What If' starring Daniel Radcliffe. It is cute, funny, serious, sad and charming - it has it all and something for everyone. This should be on all of your watch lists!
Favourite Book
I have been reading a lot more since finishing University and this month saw me post my second book review lately of Until You're Mine by Samantha Hayes and wow that book is so good! Go read my review then head straight to your nearest book store or online and buy your own copy.
Favourite Food
So the month of September has seen me become vegan! If you follow me on Twitter or Instagram you would have seen my recent food pictures and shares of vegan food and tweets. This means I have been trying new foods and have become obsessed with avocado and hummus on pitta bread. Wow they are so yummy and easy to make - especially with The Food Doctor multi seed and cereal pitta breads! Also, look out for a post soon about my decision to be vegan - leave any questions you want me to answer below!
Favourite YouTuber
I haven't been watching videos as much as usual due to internet issues at home but when I have been watching them there are two that I have been choosing over others. Kalel from erm Kalel and Victoria from In the Frow. As mentioned I have recently became vegan and Kalel's videos of why she became vegan plus her what I ate videos were definitely influences over my change. I have been a BIG fan of Victoria for years now and her videos never fail to entertain me and I just love her style so much #goals.
Favourite Blogger
I couldn't do a monthly favourites post (almost wrote video there) without mentioning a favourite blogger! This month I have definitely been reading Lauren from Britton Loves blog more than others. She too is vegan but for different reasons to myself and her posts on supplements and healthy eating plus blogging and photography tips really do keep me coming back for every new post. I would recommend her blog for anyone wanting lifestyle advice, health advice or blogging advice.
Favourite Blogger
I couldn't do a monthly favourites post (almost wrote video there) without mentioning a favourite blogger! This month I have definitely been reading Lauren from Britton Loves blog more than others. She too is vegan but for different reasons to myself and her posts on supplements and healthy eating plus blogging and photography tips really do keep me coming back for every new post. I would recommend her blog for anyone wanting lifestyle advice, health advice or blogging advice.
So that is the end of my September Favourites post and hopefully you all enjoy it enough for me to write more of these each month. Let me know if you have any recommendations for me to try that could end up on a future favourites post! Don't forget to leave any questions for my vegan post too! xx
I received Until You're Mine as a birthday present - after putting it on my Amazon wish list! The back of the book says:
'Claudia is heavily pregnant with a much wanted baby, she has a loving husband and a beautiful home.
And then Zoe steps into her life.
Zoe has come to help Claudia when her baby arrives. But there's something about Zoe that Claudia doesn't like or trust. And when she finds Zoe in her bedroom, Claudia's anxiety turns to real fear.'
The book is written from the 1st person perspective of Claudia and Zoe and in a 3rd person narrative when focusing on the two detectives, Adam and Lorraine, and the cases that are being given to them involving pregnant women.
The book begins with a prologue in first person explaining how this anonymous woman has always wanted a baby from a young age. How she wished her dolls would come alive and how she would sprinkle magic talcum powder on her abdomen in the bath hoping she would get pregnant. The prologue ends with the sentence 'Having a baby, I decided, would be my life's mission.' It is from this prologue we understand this person clearly has an obsession with pregnancy and could possibly be mentally ill.
As the first few chapters progress we learn that Claudia is looking for a nanny to look after her unborn child and two step-children, twin five year old boys, whilst her Naval Officer husband goes back out on a mission and she continues working.
In comes Zoe who is determined to get this job and cannot stop looking at Claudia's pregnant stomach. Of course she gets the job (there wouldn't be a book otherwise) and readers start to discover that Zoe has a secret relationship with a woman named Cecelia - someone she can only contact occasionally and cannot afford to leave an electronic trace that people can track. With a determination to find everything out about Claudia - even snooping through her family's finances - things start to take a turn when Claudia catches her in her bedroom "putting up the moses basket". Claudia is in two minds as to whether she is to not to trust Zoe or whether she is just hormonal because of the pregnancy.
Whilst Zoe is obsessing over Claudia and Claudia is deciding whether to trust Zoe we have a side story involving Adam and Lorraine, the two detectives, who have been called in on a new case. Someone has killed a woman by trying to taker her baby in an at home caesarean operation. It is a gruesome murder scene that affects both characters and their home life. Adam and Zoe are a married couple in a dispute and when not at a crime scene are at home trying to parent their troubled teenage daughters.
As another attack happens the story starts to progress with more connections being made between characters and a build up to a dark, psychological twist that no one will see coming!!
This is the first book I have read by Samantha Hayes and will not be the last. She is an amazing author and this book is now probably the number one book on my recommendations list.
If you buy any book this week, month or year it has to be this one!
I was looking into the beta
reader hashtag on Twitter one day when I came across Zoe’s request for someone
to read her book before it gets released on the 19th June. As an
avid reader I couldn’t help but jump at the chance to beta read for her up-and-coming romantic comedy novel which sounded just up my street. After a few emails I was set to go with a copy of the book in my
inbox and a cup of tea in my hand.
Written in first person from the
view of Bailey, a struggling actress working in a restaurant and sharing a
flat with a student, I was hooked from page one. There are funny and relatable
moments and also shocking page turner moments where you are left screaming at
the characters to open their eyes and just fall in love. This is definitely a
book for the 18-30 age group where everyone can relate to something and have
an easy read of the hardships of romance, working life and actually trying to
have a life all at the same time.
Bailey struggles with the notion that she may not make it as a successful actress and may have to work in the diner for the rest of her life. Her best friend Mark is also her manager and he tries his best to find her the perfect roles that will keep her hopes up. As the story progresses readers are introduced to Bailey's family and friends and their opinions of how she lives her life; things soon start to look up for Bailey when she lands an under-study part in a play. She hates being around her cheating ex-boyfriend who is somehow trying to get back into her life and she wants a relationship with someone she can trust but believes she just hasn't found him yet. Think He's Just Not That Into You meets Made of Honour meets The Ugly Truth and you get the idea of where this story is going.
I presumed at first this book was
going to be for a younger audience but soon realised it fell right in with the
readers of Sophie Kinsella and Jodi Picoult – this book is definitely for the
romantic girl in all of us that is wanting to get hooked by a gritty storyline
and a deep romance that we all wish would happen but realise it actually might not. The
characters are believable and as a beta reader I had practically no criticism
to give to Zoe.
As her first novel Zoe has really
captured the life of a fast paced single girl who wants more. This is a book
you can read all year round – on the beach, by the fire at Christmas or maybe
on the bus as a distraction from your own fast paced hardworking life.
Until It Doesn't is currently available
to pre-order from Amazon as an e-Book for £1.99 but if you prefer the actual thing then paperback copies will be available to order from the release date.
Zoe is currently living in
California and writing a second novel with a young adult fantasy theme after
finding her love for all things romantic and dark. I would definitely recommend
her first book to anyone looking for a new author to get attached to or a group
of characters to fall in love with. If you want to keep up to date with all of the latest news from Zoe then follow her on Twitter or Facebook.
Let me know if you have ever been
a beta reader or what books you have waiting on your bookshelf to get lost in! xx
Until It Doesn't will be released on June 19th 2015. As a beta reader I was sent a digital copy of the book for review purposes.
Located on the cobbled side street of Cobden Chambers, Ideas on Paper is providing the local community with high quality and unique books, magazines and stationary items. In an intimate room on the first floor you will find Alex Smith perched on his stool ready to greet any customer coming in to browse or chat.
After growing up in Nottingham, Alex moved to London to study business with retail marketing and to pursue a career in management for the likes of Harvey Nichols and Selfridges, where he worked on both the shop floor and in the head offices. With the dream of always wanting to open his own store selling magazines, Alex began to sell them from the drawer of his counter in Hugo Boss - but don't tell anyone!
The experience he has gained over the years led him back to Nottingham with hopes of beginning his new adventure, after working for his brother and selling shares on the stock market there was time for change on the horizon. His great love for books and materials led Alex to become passionate about the love of writing and interesting articles that are not found in the average chain bookstore. By combining his luxury retail and marketing knowledge with his knowledge of independent publishers Alex was able to produce a plan for a local book store specialising in the bold and beautiful world of art and text combined.
In 2013, Alex entered in the Nottingham City Council Inspiring Retail competition but sadly did not win. This spurred on his ambition to open the store even more to create a space for the local community to enjoy and benefit from. His experience in retail gave him the knowledge to know that a retail store in Nottingham would not be a wise decision; he also knew this would be an unappealing project to stay focused on. The book store is a way for him to be unique and take the opportunity to be located in a growing area full of small businesses, bring ideas back to Nottingham and to also be a catalyst for change and positive experiences in the city.
As all start up entrepreneurs are aware it is not easy to find funding and progress into the market at the right time for you. Alex was able to stay confident and positive in order to set his mind to achieving his goals and was lucky enough to be introduced to Cobden Chambers who have been able to provide further support. Social media has proven really useful to the business and has been a great tool to promote the company in a cost effective manner as the only cost is the time taken to continuously produce material. With a lot of students living in Nottingham Alex's target market are the younger generations and therefore he can use Instagram in a successful way to target these customers.
When asked about the world of blogging Alex commented that he believes the community to be a phenomenon in the twenty first century of marketing and content generation. There is no longer a requirement to gain permission before writing a post and therefore everyone is able to voice their opinion on any topic they feel passionate about. This doesn't mean all blogs are good but the concept of blogging is useful and benefits businesses greatly.
I spoke more with Alex about the environment of social media and blogging where he began to discuss his views of using the platforms as a way to communicate and build a conversation rather than having a one sided advertisement in the forms of traditional marketing. All businesses and individuals can see the opinions of customers and can interact with them whilst indirectly pushing advertising messages in a more discreet way. Brands and individuals have to be ready to communicate with each other and build a genuine conversation in order to make social media effective.
In order to generate inspiration Alex looks at his day to day deliveries of new products he can Tweet about or post on Instagram for customers to see what is new in stock and request a copy to be held for them. He is also able to take requests and recommendations through his platforms and build a more personal relationship with his returning customers. Alex likes to stimulate conversations with individuals and local businesses to generate more sales but to also generate more interest in the city of Nottingham and for surrounding businesses.
So what are the plans for Ideas on Paper in 2015?
Alex is a very committed citizen to Nottingham and advocates the growth and need of small businesses. His aims are to open a larger store in the city where he can provide a coffee shop service alongside his bookstore to create a more comfortable environment for all of his customers. If he had the time he would also write a blog himself however, working 7 days a week as the only employee, it can be difficult to find the time. Local universities, such as Nottingham Trent University, are also looking to Alex for work placements in the business which will benefit his awareness in the city as more students will become aware of the store and also prospective customers linked with the university.
For bloggers, entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners Alex's top recommendations are to do more of what you love because you will be more effective if you love doing it; do what you believe in and care about because people will know if you are not genuine and to start now and grow organically.
Ideas on Paper, Cobden Chambers, Pelham Street, NG1 2ED
Twitter and Instagram: Ideas_on_Paper
Please let me know if you enjoyed this interview, comment and share! Thank you to Alex for your time during the interview!
(All images from Amazon)
Well, it is Christmas Eve and I always enjoy reading a romantic festive book at this time of year, so I thought I would share with you some of my favourites. They can all be bought online from Amazon at reasonable prices - why not treat yourself and get lost in a book this Christmas? Here are my Top 8 for you to take a pick from and enjoy on your Kindle's next to a twinkling Christmas tree and with a glass of Mulled Wine.
1 - Not Quite Dating by Catherine Bybee
2 - The Undomesticated Goddess by Sophie Kinsella
3 - The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult
4 - Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan
5 - P.s. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern
6 - The Other Woman by Jane Green
7 - Cupcakes at Carrington's by Alexandra Brown
8 - A Little Love by Amanda Prowse
I hope you all have a lovely Christmas Day, what ever you are doing! Let me know what you will be reading this Christmas and if you have any recommendations! xx
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