Guest Review: A Gift From the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson

Christmas has never been Katie Seddon’s favourite time of year. Whilst everyone else shares memories of families coming together and festive number ones, the soundtrack to Katie’s childhood wasn’t quite so merry.

But since she moved to the village of Budbury on the gorgeous Dorset coast, Katie and her baby son have found a new family. A family who have been brought together by life’s unexpected roads and the healing magic of a slice of cake and a cupful of kindess at the Comfort Food Café.

This year, Katie’s new friends are determined to give her a Christmas to remember, and with a gorgeous newcomer in town, Katie’s Christmas wish for a happy home for her son might just come true.

Review: This is the fifth book in the series about The Comfort Food Cafe, the amazing venue in the seaside village of Bunbury, Dorset, that is so much more than just an eating establishment. As readers of previous books in the series know, the Cafe is a place where the perfect dish to soothe your soul appears as if by magic in front of you, served up by proprietor Cherie Moon, or chef Laura. I have read, and thoroughly enjoyed, all of the titles in this series, and was looking forward to this Christmassy story.

As the series has progressed, we have met the regulars at the cafe and a procession of characters who have discovered its healing powers.  In this story, we learn more about Katie and young son Saul, who have been present from the start, but with Katie always keeping herself to herself. As the pages turn, Katie's background and reason for relocating to Budbury emerge. Cherie and Laura are, as usual, matchmaking and hoping to get Katie together with local man, Van, but can she overcome her misgivings about entering into a relationship at all? While this is the central story in the book, there are, of course, other things happening with the cafe's clientele, making for an entertaining read. 

This book contains the wonderful blend of comedy, romance and drama I have come to expect from Debbie Johnson. I cannot recommend this series highly enough. Each story can be read as a standalone, but it would be a shame not to read them in order. They are full of strong, believable characters, each with interesting back stories. Each time I read about the Comfort Food Cafe, I have a longing to visit and sit there watching the sea, with a plate of their delicious food in front of me. I'm sure other readers would join me. 

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Top Ten Tuesday: Bookstores/Libraries I've always wanted to visit 16/10/18

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Again I've been very lucky when it comes to bookstore and libraries, I always make a point of seeking them out when I travel, however there are definitely some that I haven't managed to get to yet!

Books are Magic, Brooklyn, USA

El Ateneo, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Libreria Acqua Alta, Venice, Italy

Honesty Bookshop, Hay-on-Wye, UK

Shakespeare and Company, Paris, France

Seattle Public Library, USA

Copenhagen University Library, Denmark

Bodleian Library, Oxford, UK

Admont Abbey’s Library, Austria

Vienna National Library, Austria

Review: Short and Skinny by Mark Tatulli

New from syndicated comic strip artist Mark Tatulli comes a full-color middle grade graphic novel that centers on Mark's own experience in the summer after seventh grade.

As a middle schooler, Mark finds himself on the smaller side of the physical spectrum--being short AND skinny has really wreaked havoc on his confidence. So to end his bullying woes and get the girl--or at least the confidence to talk to the girl--he starts to explore bulking up by way of the miracle cures in the backs of his comics. But his obsession with beefing up is soon derailed by a new obsession: Star Wars, the hottest thing to hit the summer of 1977. As he explores his creative outlets as well as his cures to body image woes, Mark sets out to make his own stamp on the film that he loves.

Mark Tatulli's graphic novel debut is a humorous and heartfelt take on body-image, finding a creative outlet, and spending a summer in the 70's.

Review: this was the first graphic novel I have read all of, I normally struggle with them and so I think a graphic memoir was a great place for me to start. I was endeared to the setting, time wise, straight away and loved the fact that not only is this a memoir but takes place when Mark is in middle school in the 70s, what a great period in recent history. 

I also loved the illustrations in this novel. I actually liked the black and white that was used, especially for the more dramatic pages when there is a lot of dark in the story and on the page, as well as the illustrations of the Star Wars parody, they looked great in black and white so I am VERY curious to see how this one looks when it is out in full colour. 

I really liked Mark's story, being short and skinny but finding something he loved to do and was good at. He goes through everything we all do as teenagers, but this is also a fab example of male body positivity in a novel-so great to see. I love the fact that he calls himself short and skinny and we see what that does to him and the reaction of his classmates and yet he doesn't let that stop him from winning friends and trying something a lot of people wouldn't go to the effort to. 

I will definitely be seeking out more from this author and publisher because I really enjoyed this and will certainly be looking for more graphic memoirs in the future!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Movie Reviews: October 7th-13th

As always, if you would like longer, more comprehensive reviews of the movies I saw this week, you can check out the weekly review video over on my YouTube channel, I will always try and link this at the bottom of the post as well. There will be no movie review post next week just because I am away from Tuesday to Sunday and so won't be watching as many movies this week and also won't be able to film and post next weekend. They'll be back in 2 weeks though!

This film was good. This lighting and the camera angles were great. I also loved the fact that we got to see the impact these NASA mission had on the wives and families left behind. This film was very long though and really felt that way. I thought the actors were good as well, I thought they obviously embodied the characters enough to make me believe in them and make me cry. I could definitely see this getting some Oscar nominations. 

This film definitely has some care warnings where sexual assault, physical assault and rape are concerned. But this film is perfect for the climate that we have right now of women coming forward about the assault or abuse they have suffered in the past/present. It is a film that is a good survivor story. It is also a film where marginalised groups are well-represented so it has that going for it. This film is about a stand up comedian so it has some really funny moments too and all of us in the cinema were laughing out loud despite the dark content and subject matter. 

I'd been wanting to see this one for ages and waiting for it to come out. Obviously everyone else had been waiting for it to come out too since the screen I saw it in was full! It was more of a thriller even though I feel like the trailer paint it to be a horror film. It plays out like a really good thriller novel and its structured so that each of the characters get their own back story played out by the room in the hotel they are staying in. These stories overlap and then obviously all come together at the end. The ending isn't tied with a neat bow which I liked and this film has some amazing actors in it. It is also long but doesn't feel that way-definitely recommend if you love a good thriller!

What movies have you seen recently?

Guest Review: Wedding Bells at Butterfly Cove by Sarah Bennett

A second chance by the sea?

When Kiki Jackson’s marriage falls to pieces, there’s only one place that she knows she can escape to – her sister’s little guesthouse in Butterfly Cove.

But she’s worried that turning up on bride-to-be Mia’s doorstep, especially with her two adorable children in tow, will spoil her sister’s imminent wedding plans!

Luckily, handsome neighbour Aaron Spenser offers to share his new cottage with Kiki until she’s back on her feet. And as the wedding draws closer, Kiki realises that Butterfly Cove may be offering her little family more than just a new home…

Maybe this is where her new life begins…?

Review: This is the second book in the Butterfly Cove series from Sarah Bennett. I recently finished the first in the series and was keen to find out what would happen next with the central characters, their friends and family. I think the title gives a clue to the main event, but there is a little more than that going on in the story. Once again, I found this an easy read and an entertaining way of spending a few hours. Although this is part of a series, it can definitely be read as a standalone, but whets the appetite to find out what transpired before. 

The first book in the series saw Mia renovating a guest house in the beautiful seaside setting of Butterfly Cove with the help of new friend artist Daniel, his best friends Aaron and Luke, and neighbours Madeline and Richard. Although Mia and Daniel's friendship has moved on, this story centres more on Mia's sister, Kiki, who arrives at Mia's guest house with her two young children after finally giving up on her marriage to controlling and abusive Neil. Kiki and the children end up sharing Aaron's cottage since Mia has no room, and she begins to see a chink of light at the end of the tunnel of despair she has become stuck in as these idyllic surroundings work their magic. Everyone is surprised when the third, and youngest, sister, Nee, shows up for the wedding with a shock revelation. 

I have really enjoyed this sequel to Sunrise at Butterfly Cove and would recommend it to other readers. It was good to revisit the characters I met in the first book and to find them all moving on with their lives. As before, I found them likeable (with the exception of Kiki's husband of course) and so eager to help one another that it makes Butterfly Cove a place you would want to visit, if not to live. I am looking forward to catching up with everybody in the next part of the series. 

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Top Ten Tuesday: Longest Books I've Read 9/10/18

Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

I have to admit I am intimidated by longer books, I tend to keep my longer books for audiobooks just because then they don't take up weight in my bag and if a book on kindle is overly long I get obsessed with getting to the next percentage point and don't concentrate on reading! I've basically just listed almost everything I've read over 500 pages. 

 584 pages

576 pages

560 pages

544 pages

536 pages

531 pages

528 pages

521 pages

516 pages

516 pages

503 pages

Review: What If It's Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Arthur is only in New York for the summer, but if Broadway has taught him anything, it’s that the universe can deliver a showstopping romance when you least expect it.

Ben thinks the universe needs to mind its business. If the universe had his back, he wouldn’t be on his way to the post office carrying a box of his ex-boyfriend’s things.

But when Arthur and Ben meet-cute at the post office, what exactly does the universe have in store for them?

Maybe nothing. After all, they get separated.

Maybe everything. After all, they get reunited.

But what if they can’t quite nail a first date . . . or a second first date . . . or a third?

What if Arthur tries too hard to make it work . . . and Ben doesn’t try hard enough?

What if life really isn’t like a Broadway play?

But what if it is?

Review: Of course I absolutely loved this story, I am obsessed with Becky Albertalli's words and have recently discovered Adam Silvera too so the two of them working together was going to be an amazing story. 

This book has some super sweet moments but also some heartbreaking moments. These two authors are known for that and I wasn't sure how the two elements were going to work together but they really do. I love the concept of a missed connection and the search of trying to find one another was probably one of my favourite parts of the storyline. There are also threads of terrible dates, getting over your ex and of course more serious issues like racism, homophobia and anxiety also feature. I thought the more serious issues explored in the book were handled very sensitively and also as part of the the storyline, this didn't feel like an 'issues' book. 

I loved Ben and Arthur as characters, I had a strong sense of obligation to look after them because they're just both so sweet. I also love the fact that this is entirely a gay romance novel featuring Jewish and non-Jewish characters as well as someone with ADHD. There are also some wonderful friendships with side-characters, some of whom I would like to see more of *hint* and all of the characters seem to really know what it means to be there for someone! The romantic moments of this book are really super romantic and make me melt just a little bit inside every time. But the real world definitely does factor in here as well, there is no such thing as a romance bubble for these two. 

One of my favourite features was the fact that Arthur is brand new to New York whereas Ben has grown up there and so we also get to discover the city, both the negative and the positive side, along with Arthur. I think this made the setting feel fresh and meant that it was also an influence on the storyline and more specifically Ben and Arthur's dating life. I don't think that any other setting apart from maybe another metropolis of similar ilk would have worked for this story and the description f the various meeting places and journeys that these two guys have were really wonderful. 

I really loved this novel and I think that if you are a fan of either of these writers then you will definitely enjoy this book. If you have never read anything by these authors then you don;t need to have, you will still love it. If you're looking for a fabulously gay romance to snuggle up with this fall then definitely do yourself a favour and pick this one up now!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US