Sunday, 9 April 2023
Saturday, 8 April 2023
Guest Review: How to be an Ex Footballer By Peter Crouch
Often recruited before they've worn long trousers, today's footballers become superstars who earn huge amounts without ever learning much about the world beyond the training ground. Coddled by their support teams, everything is done for them. They live their lives in the glaring media spotlight, yet only really develop one life skill - how to kick a ball better. Then inevitably, when age catches up with them or injury strikes, these
man-children are thrown out into the real world, utterly defenceless apart from their multi-million-pound bank accounts.
So what do these Peter Pans, whose careers end just as most people's are getting going, do with the rest of their lives? Crouch speaks from his own experience and discusses with fellow former professionals too - just how do you safely release a near seven-foot striker back into the wild?
Peter goes in search of the answer to what his second career might be and encounters stories far more bizarre than anything you'll find on the pitch. From the pleasure and pain of management to the lessons we can learn from Jamie Carragher and Joe Cole on not going to seed. From those staying in the sport - the diehard veterans, coaches, managers, owners and of course the legion of pundits, to those moving on to pastures new. Peter talks to entrepreneurs, men of the cloth, eco warriors, artists, private detectives and budding actors, as well as those who've lost their way in addiction, crime and NFTs.
Review: Peter Crouch is a former footballer who, in his 20 year professional career, scored over 100 goals in the Premier League and holds the record for the most headed goals in that League (he may refer to this record once or twice in the book). He also represented England on 42 occasions, scoring 22 goals for his country. He retired from playing at the end of the 2018-2019 season. This book is a natural sequel to his previous two books, “How to be a Footballer” and “How to be Footballer 2”.
In this book, the author documents how ex footballers move from a high earning and heavily regimented world into one where they have to fend for themselves. He does this by exploring the different opportunities that may lie ahead. The book is divided into chapters covering the various options available, including the more obvious ones of coaching and management to radio and television punditry. There are also chapters covering other career options such as the worlds of finance or politics. There are a number of interviews with former footballers about the path they have followed since retiring and why they chose it, together with the author’s thoughts on how he would cope with that particular choice. As in his previous books, his sense of humour comes through. However, there is a more serious note in one chapter that discusses the struggles that a number of ex players have had with various issues since retiring.
So, if you want to know which ex footballers went on to have careers as: a funeral director; a hedge fund manager; a police detective; a pastor; or even President of Liberia, then this book, which is both humorous and thought provoking, is the one for you.
To order your copy now, just click here!
Friday, 7 April 2023
Wednesday, 5 April 2023
Guest Review: Summer Nights at the Starfish Cafe by Jessica Redland
Welcome back to The Starfish Café for a glorious summer, but with a few dark clouds on the horizon...
A new beginning...
As her summer wedding to Jake approaches, Hollie is excited for their new beginning as a family. But when some unexpected news threatens the future she and Jake had hoped for, Hollie will need to find the strength to overcome heartache once more.
A fragile heart….
Single mum, Kerry, loves her job at The Starfish Café, but behind the brave smiles and laughter with customers there is a sadness deep within. So when someone from her past re-appears in her life, Kerry can either hide away or face her demons and try to finally move on from her heartbreak.
A summer to remember…
For Hollie and Kerry it promises to be an emotional rollercoaster of a summer, but the community at The Starfish Café will always be there to help them through - after all, with courage nothing is impossible…
Review: This is the final book in the Starfish Cafe Series by Jessica Redland. The stories in this series feature the staff and customers of this establishment, which is set on the outskirts of the North Yorkshire coastal town of Whitsburgh Bay, the setting of many of Jessica’s other books. At the beginning of the book there is a very useful list of recurring characters, with details of how they fit into the series. In common with the other books in this series, this one features a striking cover that makes you want to set off for the seaside and enjoy a peaceful evening looking out over the water while enjoying a treat from the cafe.
This story centres predominantly on Hollie, owner of the Starfish Cafe, and Kerry, a part-time member of staff and single mother of four. Hollie is looking forward to her forthcoming wedding to Jake and a wonderful honeymoon in Italy. However, the couple are dismayed when their happy future is jeopardised by distressing events, including the unwelcome reappearance of a figure from the past. In the case of Kerry, the reader learns about her past and her busy life in the present looking after her four lively children. Someone from her past also makes an appearance, making her worry how this will affect her and her children’s lives. It promises to be an eventful summer for both of the ladies, where they may well need the support of their friends and colleagues.
I very much enjoyed this highly emotional story and am sad to be saying goodbye to the characters I have got to know through the books in this series. I liked that individual chapters were told from either Hollie’s or Kerry’s perspective. It has been wonderful following Hollie and Jake through their growing relationship since book 1. They are both strong characters and deserved a happy future after their previous trials and tribulations. It was frustrating to find that there was more heartache in store for them. I liked learning more about Kerry, and became really immersed in her story to the extent of positively disliking the person from her past who decided to come out from the woodwork. Of course, there are many other familiar faces in the story and one little dog who was central to Hollie and Jake’s relationship. I like the fact that the author rounds off the story with an epilogue that gives the reader a peek into the future for each of the main characters. This book would undoubtedly make a lovely summer read; it could be read as a standalone, but I can recommend the whole 3-book series.
To order your copy now, just click here!
Tuesday, 4 April 2023
March 2023 Reading Wrap Up
March was such a weird month. I had a buddy read that took me 2 and a half weeks to get through instead of the week I had planned. I read an ebook in one day and I just didn't seem to have time alone in the car or in the house to listen to the audiobooks I wanted to.
Nevertheless, unusually I do have something in each category of book. I have an audiobook, an ebook and an paperback to shared with you...and tht's it!
eBook
Paperback
Audiobook
Monday, 3 April 2023
April 2023 TBR
Well here we are in a new month again. I am on holiday this month but I am also moving house and when school does start I know it's going to be busy again! I am hopeful that I can get to more books this month than I did last month though so let's jump into yet another ambitious TBR!
April Releases
May Releases
Book Vs Movie
Other Audiobooks I Want to Read
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