A pocket of my life

  Book number 9 complete! The closesst thing to flying is based for a younger audience but I had been recomended it a few times at work so thought that I would give it a go and wow! It is such a beautiful story. The story starts with a girl names Semira, she lives with her Mum, who can't speak English and a man named Robel who is controlling and not nice. She develops an unusual freidnship which makes her strong and helps her become brave. The story also brings about how the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) came about and slightly introduces the idea of the suffragettes. The feelings that this book made me feel when reading were all over the place, I felt the happiness and the sadness of the story, it is beautifully written and I am intrigued what others book Gill Lewis has written, For a quick filler book or for something a little different I would recommend this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Victoria x

Book 8 of 2026 is in full swing, this book has really been the change that I had needed.  As a reader I am very good at sticking to a certain author for a very long time and I do feel like I really needed to venture out a little more, Debbie Johnson's book, Summer at the comfort food cafe, has really shown me this.  The story starts with Laura, a widowed Mum of two from Manchester who makes a life changing decision to apply for a summer job the other end of the country to try and find herself again. This story delivers sweet treats with its characters and the stories that follow them who help he to rebuild her world, including someone sweet in her eyes too. You certainly join a rollercoaster of emotions with this one, from laughter to crying and all that comes inbetweeen. This is the start of an 8 book series which follows the seasons and much more, I am certainly intrigued where this story will take me and what adventures there will be in the future.  I am ve...

Book 7, and I am not going to lie this one has been a lot harder to get into. This could change everything is a book filled with romance, friendship and finding yourself after disaster. This story starts with Essie, a young women who finally feels like she has fallen on her feet, this all comes crashing down after someone presses SEND on a email never intended to be seen. This turns her world upside down and now she has to work her way back up. We also meet Zillah, a women who is later in life and seems to know what to do a when to do it. Connor, the person who lives in the same building as her who is great with a camera and Lucas, her new boss who Essie struggles to work with. I am finally feeling the vibe off the book and definitely want to find out where this story goes but unlike previous Jill Mansell books I had read in the past I havent been sucked into the story as well, its taken a third of the book to get hang of the characters. Victoria 

CONTAINS SPOILERS Book 6! I actually cannot believe that I am over half way through my target of 10 reads this year. This one is the final book in the series of Johnny be good. Johnny's girl is a novella which ties the story together, there are also a few chapters from the story that come off from this series which follows his daughter.  The story starts about a year on from the last story and gives you a insight to how Johnny and Meg are getting on as a family, they also introduce there new addition to the family.  After restarting there LA life everything comes crashing down and we meet a new arrival, a daughter he never knew about which leads on to a new book series. The novella is quite a short on but I loved being able to see where there story goes, I really have enjoyed the emotion and twists that Paige has managed to bring into her stories.  If you have read the first two books then I would highly recommend finishing with this one.  Victoria 

Book 5 of 2026 is well under way! I really have got into my grove. Baby be mine is a sequel to Johnny be good written by Paige Toon. It is set a year after there last story and starts off with a very **** question, 'He's not kine, is he?'. This set the story off with wonder and questioning what is going to happen which really draws you in. Meg Stiles was one a PA to one of the most famous rock stars going, Johnny Jefferson when she fell for his bad boy charm, times changed and she left the job, and Johnny due to his lack of respect. She later moves in with his friend, Christian, and life seems brighter until a silly mistakes causes a whole lot of turmoil for her and many around her. I am half way through the story already and I honestly find it hard to put down, I want to know more at the end of each chapter. The one thing that I am not liking quite so much is that there is a bit of repetition of the turmoil through the book, being the reader we already know th...

 Book 4 of 2026 is well on the way and I am so far loving it. Johnny be good is the first one a 2 and a half books, including 2 full books and a novella. The story starts off with a young girl, Meg getting the job that all her friends envy, a personal assistant to a hot, well known rock star, the only problem is she starts falling for him whilst on the job. With a mixture of humour, romance and all inbetween its certainly a book that I struggle to put down and that has me hooked already. I want to know more with the end of every chapter and feel the emotions that Meg is feeling through the story. I found out about this story from the short story book that Paige created called One perfect Christmas and other stories  and i was intrigued. If your looking for an easy read that makes you smile then this is the book for you.  Victoria x

My third book of 2026 has got me hooked, theatre and ghosts all in one story. As you know I am a huge theatre fan so this one really sits well with me. The book in question is ' When the curtain falls ' by Carrie Hope Fletcher, this is a story which tells two tales in one that intertwine. The first is of a stage hand, Walter, and an actress, Fawn, who fall in love but must not show it, their story ends in heartache and sorrow, the second is off two actors 70 years later falling in love whilst performing the same show as Fawn, the first time it has been shown since she played the part. Oscar and Olive grow close whilst performing but strange things start to happen around them. The book pulls you in, makes you feel there emotions and the atmosphere of the setting and makes you want to know more and feel so intwined in the story. This really has had me hooked from chapter one and I have been loving the build up to it all. The chapters will bounce from present day to 19...

This year I have set a reading goal, I would like to try and read at least 10 book by the end of 2026. So far it is going well, this book is technically my second with my last book having many different stories. The story starts off with Alice leaving for a holiday with her Mum, soon after arriving she catches the eye of the local barman (Joe) and falls head over heals, but before the end of summer Joe flees leaving Alice heartbroken. Will Alice move on or will there paths cross again? I have been hooked since the first page and struggle to put it down at night. Its a beautiful, easy read and one that really sucks you in. I am around half way through so far and there have already been tears and laughter. Finding this story after reading the sequel novella, one perfect summer is lovely being able to find out more about the characters and there background but I do wish that I had read this before the sequel.  I would definitely recommend this story if you are into a roma...

Christmas time is the perfect time to slide into a festive story and take your mind of the pressure for a bit. My book of choice this year is One Perfect Christmas and other stories by Paige Toon. The first story is a novella of another book called One Perfect Summer.  The story starts with and girl called Alice getting ready for her uni friends wedding, and is set in Cambridge. Each character is introduced with a small backstory making you familiar with them quickly.  We eventually meet Joe, Alice's love interest and a huge movie star. They have managed to keep there relationship under wraps but Alice's wonders how long she can keep her normal life before it becomes unravelled. From the first sentence you are sucked into the story, Paige adds so much detail so you feel like you are there. ★★★★★   Victoria x

With Halloween being just days away I wanted to share a few of our favourite seasonal books with you. In the new house with have this beautiful sheflf built into the wall and the moment I saw it I new I had to use it to display these books and future seasonal books too. Room on the broom  - An absoloutle classic in my eyes and one that we do read throughout the year as we all love it so much. The dinosaur that pooped Halloween  - This is another story that is always in our book baskets that we have as Olivia loves the dinosaur that pooped series. Where's Mrs Witch  - This one one that may be retiring this year as Olivia is slowly avoiding this more and more but I no and certain someone who will benefit from it.  Were going on a pumpkin hunt  - A story that has been adapted from a well known story meaning that we both love this, we both make the noises whilst reading it.  Little Miss Sunshine and the wicked witch  - We have had this story for a while an...

Reading more in 2025 has not happened as much as I had hoped but I am loving this book so far. The magpie society two for joy is the second book of a two part story and I have flown through this one! The story is based in a boarding school on the south East coast of the UK where things aren't fully what they seem, Ivy and Audrey (room mates) are trying to find out how a friend had died, what the magpie society are and what is happening to the school behind the scenes.The chapters are written in the perspective of the two main characters, meaning you get two sides of the story from each friends thoughts and feelings. There are so many twists and turns which I have not seen coming and that have had me hooked from page one. I can honestly say that I am enjoying this story more than I did the first one, I feel more involved with the characters knowing there story.  with only 100 pages to go I can't wait to see where this story goes and ends too. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ⭐️ Victoria

Finding presents isn't easy sometimes, especially when they are young and change ideas so quickly but I managed to fulfill my daughters loves and make her day with her presents. My daughter has just turned 5, a bluey lover, book reader and love a good bathbomb so here are a few ideas to make your little ones special day great. Bluey House Moana doll Rocky Vehicle Frogs Day Out Hares New Dress Bluey Family The dinosaur that pooped a pirate This was the main bulk of her gifts but I do also create a paper mache egg filled with little bitd such a mashems, hair accessories and anything else I think she will like.  Victoria

I am on a mission in 2025 to read more, I absolutely love reading but go through spurts of it then stopping. I love falling into a story and feeling like I am in the scene, one that really grips you. My first book of the year is   The Magpie Society  written by Zoe Sugg and Amy McCulloch. I am around half way through (which is good for me) and so fas I a hooked, I just want to know what happens next and often find myself struggling to put the book down.  The story is set in a boarding school in the south of the UK and starts the term after tragedy has struck when a student, Lola, was found dead. Following the stories of two students, Ivy, a prefect who wants to know what happened to her friend and Audrey, a new student from America who needs to find her way in this new school. The school is rattled when a podcast comes on stating that Lola was murdered! I am really intrigued on how this story will continue and whether the truth about how Lola died will co...

Halloween is fast approaching and I love changing the books up to fit the vibe of the seasons, we have a range of Halloweeny books to read but these are the fond favourites this year for Olivia.  1. The dinosaur that pooped Halloween is her most read so far this year, this is a new edition with it only being released this year but it's such a funny story and one that makes Olivia laugh and join in too. The flaps in the story make it more engaging for Olivia too and she is so keen to open them to continue the story. 2. Peppa's Magical Halloween is one that we have had for a couple of years now and one that she picks out often. It's fun and full of Peppa charm along with the humour the older ones can understand. It's one of the longer books that we have in our collection but it makes her really excited for Halloween. 3. Room on the broom , who doesn't love a Julia Donaldson. We have many in our collection and I try to gravitate to this one during October...

Book 3 of 2024 |  Wilde like me  by Louise Pentland Now I have read this before but I now have the sequel which means that I need to refresh my memory of what happens. This is a beautiful story which starts with a Mum, Robin and her daughter, Lyla and how single parenting life isn't always easy but she makes it work whilst being an aspiring make up artist. The book is written in a diary style staring from January to December and follows her through a year of her life. The story is so well written with you being able to feel the emotions of the characters and always wanting to know more. With it being diary style it feels a little like you are part of the story and is so relatable to every day life. Wilde like me really is a great pick up story and is an easy light hearted read with a few heart string moments, it one that you find hard to stop reading. I am excited to finish this one and get on to the next story. Victoria x Book 1 of 2024 Book 2 of 2024

Booked number 2 of 2024! I am a terribly slow reader but do love a good book to emerse myself with and this one is definitely one that I am enjoying. Promise me by Jill Mansell has had me hooked from page 1, it's a story of romance, loss and a cantankerous old man who you can't help but have a soft spot for. Lou is trying to cope with the loss of her husband and job finds a fresh start in the Cotswolds. Jill Mansell manages to captivate me with every book that I have read of her and I am intrigued to see how this story falls together. I love the fact that 'Promise me' is unpredictable and I have no real insight on how this story is going to end.  If you like a good romance that holds the heart then I would certainly check out anything by Jill Mansell. Victoria

A story from 3 sides, a story of love, loss and adventure, that's what you get with this beautiful novel from Giovanna Fletcher. I have been reading this book for around 2 weeks now and I'm around half way through (which is fast for me). I am so far loving the story and the way that it flows between characters with ease. Walking on Sunshine revolves around three main characters, Mike, Vicky and Zaza, and there families too, each chapter is dedicated to a different character and there perspective of what is happening within the scene.   Giovanna knows how to pull at your emotions with every book she writes and this one is no exception, I have laughed and cried so far and I'm sure there be more tears before the end. I would highly recommend if you love a romance / friendship story.

  Looking for a book....or 3 to get those endorphins flowing? Then look no further, Stephanie Jean has created a French Destiny trilogy full of suspense, joy and excitement which will keep you captivated from the first page to the last. Set in beautiful Provence in France, the story follows Angie and Mikes story of emigrating and how there story changes from life before. There story is full of burning romance, unforeseen intrigue, passion and despair. Stephanie is a life coach and has had a lot of experience with connections between people and how behaviors can change within different scenarios which has given her such a passion to write these novels, It means that she has created strong characters that have many layers which reveal themselves as you read on. Take a look at them here  Stephanie Jean | Amazon Victoria 

I used to write similar posts on my old blog and wanted to start making a record of the book that I have read and enjoyed, the first book that I am going to talk about and am still currently reading is  Beyond the Wand  by Tom Felton. This is one of the first Autobiographies that I have read. I have been a Potter fan for a very long time and I am always intrigued to know more about the wizarding world and find out about behind the scenes of the filming side of the world. It starts off from the start of his acting career and goes through his struggles and successes of auditioning, life and being part of the public eye.  I have so far found his book fantastic, he really has gone into detail things that have made him who he is today and its refreshing to hear that they are only human as sometimes I think we find celebrities a different breed to us. The chapters in the book have two different versions, one more personal to the events in the chapter. I find that th...

Today's blog post is another toddler book one, we love reading to Olivia, its one of my favourite things to do. Stories are a great way to introduce so many things to your child and its a great way to broaden there imagination. I wanted to share the books that Olivia has been loving lately and the books that we ready probably on a daily basis.   The dinosaur that pooped a planet   This book is a funny one and one that I know off by heart, The dinosaur that pooped series are fantastic stories with beautiful illustrations too. Olivia really enjoys this story and loved to point out how the characters emotions change through the story.  3-4 years £4 Postman bear   This is another one of Olivia's books that I know word for word, this is such a cute little story and a great way to introduce animals into your toddlers vocabulary. This story also has flaps to open which Olivia loves.  1-2 £3.50 Peppa Pig My Grandpa   This is a new story to our coll...