The many lives of theoretical physicist Elsie Hannaway have finally caught up with her. By day, she’s an adjunct professor, toiling away at grading labs and teaching thermodynamics in the hopes of landing tenure. By otherday, Elsie makes up for her non-existent paycheck by offering her services as a fake girlfriend, tapping into her expertly honed people-pleasing skills to embody whichever version of herself the client needs.
Honestly, it’s a pretty sweet gig – until her carefully constructed Elsie-verse comes crashing down. Because Jack Smith, the annoyingly attractive and arrogant older brother of her favourite client, turns out to be the cold-hearted experimental physicist who ruined her mentor’s career and undermined the reputation of theorists everywhere. And he’s the same Jack Smith who rules over the physics department at MIT, standing right between Elsie and her dream job.
Elsie is prepared for an all-out war of scholarly sabotage but… those long, penetrating looks? Not having to be anything other than her true self when she’s with him? Will falling into an experimentalist’s orbit finally tempt her to put her most guarded theories on love into practice?
Book Review
This was a very interesting read- so different and unique! Was lovely to see lots of science facts well written in a story and how empowering the main character was -hopefully it inspires a future generation in science and especially in physics. Love the mix of STEM, rivals to lovers/ slow burn romance with humour and drama all into one hard to put down book! Few little plot twists here and there with a steady plot. I enjoyed her style of writing and the character development throughout the book was believable. The ending I feel was abit rushed however. Would recommend as a nice summer read.
A dream home- Beca Valentino is ready to escape the city. When she sees the perfect house for sale in her hometown, it seems like fate. Is this her chance to build the foster family she dreams of, on the beautiful Pembrokeshire coast?
A big mistake? Returning home isn’t as easy as she thought, however. Her family’s beloved ice cream café is gone – turned into a soulless wine bar by her hateful ex-boyfriend. Reconnecting with her oldest friend, fisherman Griff, isn’t straightforward either. And when, instead of the children she expected to take in, two wary teenage boys appear on her doorstep, Beca fears she’s made a terrible mistake.
A recipe for change- But an old family recipe book is just the inspiration she needs. Soon, with a little help from friends old and new, Beca is selling mouth-watering homemade gelato from a pop-up café on the beach.
Then disaster strikes. Will the Valentino family legacy be lost forever? Or can Beca create a new recipe for happiness?
Book Review
Was a quick and enjoyable cozy read. Abit predictable but a lovely story anyway with a few twists. The characters were an interesting bunch and character development throughout the story was good but a little bit unrealistic at times.
A nice summer holiday beach type read or for days leading up to summer to get you in the summer vibe mood!
n the darkest days of the Blitz, family is more important than ever. With her family struggling amidst the nightly bombing raids in London’s East End, Ida Brogan is doing her very best to keep their spirits up. The Blitz has hit the Brogans hard, and rationing is more challenging than ever, but they are doing all they can to help the war effort. When Ida’s oldest friend Ellen returns to town, sick and in dire need of help, it is to Ida that she turns. But Ellen carries a secret, one that threatens not only Ida’s marriage, but the entire foundation of the Brogan family. Can Ida let go of the past and see a way to forgive her friend? And can she overcome her sadness to find a place in her heart for a little boy, one who will need a mother more than ever in these dark times?
Book Review–
I didn’t know until I finished reading that this book is a part of a series! This is book 3 of 8 and will definitely read the rest of the series as the book did leave me wanting more and I wanted to have some questions answered 🙂
I really enjoyed this book and the characters. With many plot twists (and the main plot ramps up not to far into the book), it provided many late nights as this book is a gripping page turner! The storyline progressed at a nice pace and the characters personalities shone and you felt for each character and their problems.
Would recommend this book 🙂 A nice authentic wartime read.
May, 1941. Meet the Air Raid Girls: three young women keen to do their bit during the Yorkshire blitz.
Connie’s life has taken an unexpected turn since her husband died – she’s living at home and working in the family bakery – but night shifts as an ARP Warden give her a firm sense of purpose.
Her younger sister Lizzie is eager to play her part too, perhaps as an ambulance driver. Her fiance refuses to support her decision… but does he really know what’s best for her?
Twenty-year-old Pamela has led a sheltered life, but when her family’s home is destroyed in a raid she must learn to stand on her own two feet – helped by new friends.
As bombs fall and fires rage, the young women face the destruction of everything they’ve ever known. Can their fighting spirit prevail? And what of their families and the men they love? (Book Blurb)
Review
I really enjoyed this book and the way the story and characters progressed. I liked the style of writing and lots of little twists and lots of action kept me turning the pages. The characters were likeable. Very good read and would recommend.
The Air Raid Girls at Christmas (Book 2)
Description
November, 1941.
Christmas is coming… and despite the blackout, shortages and a constant threat of air raids, the inhabitants of Kelthorpe on the Yorkshire coast are determined that war won’t stop them celebrating.
The run-up to Christmas sees sisters Connie and Lizzie, and their good friend Pamela, busier than ever. Between their jobs, carol-singing rehearsals with the church choir and night shifts doing their bit as Air Raid Wardens and ambulance drivers, it’s all go.
But when Connie and Lizzie’s dear dad falls ill, their sweethearts Tom and Bill are called up by the Royal Navy for dangerous mine-sweeping duties, and Pamela’s sweetheart Fred is targeted by vicious locals, the girls have to believe in miracles to keep soldiering on (Book Blurb)
Review
The second in the series but just as good as the first but with a Christmas theme. Can be read as a stand alone. Loved how the characters matured over time and how they coped with issues raised from those times. Another gripping page turner.
The Air Raid Girls- Wartime Brides (Book 3)
Description
Spring, 1942.
Lizzie is making plans for her wedding with fiancé Bill. But preparations during wartime aren’t easy, and attacks on the Yorkshire port of Kelthorpe are only getting worse.
Connie wants to be there for her sister, but she has troubles of her own – a secret that is driving a wedge between herself and those who love her.
Meanwhile, Pamela faces new complications in her romance with Fred, and the arrival of two new RAF servicemen stirs up trouble.
As bombs fall and friendships are tested, will the air raid girls keep their fighting spirit and find their happy endings? (Book Blurb)
Review
Last of the three books and more issues and twists with a steady plot. Was sad to finish though as I wanted to know more. Felt it was abit rushed towards the end but still enjoyed how the girls progressed from when we first saw them and how they had grown.
All three books showed you a glimpse of what life was like in war times as they make you think of how you would have dealt with various issues and the severity of War. Almost perfect ending but a great read nonetheless.
I have had a very long break with writing but an anthology prompt in a writing group kick started me back into the world of writing and I’m so happy I’m back and that my writers block has finally gone (well for now at least!)
I have been focusing on reading and other creative outlets during my long break however (and finally learnt how to crochet a granny square!) so not all was lost as I am a creative soul after all 🙂 In the book The Sucsessful Author Mindset by Joanna Penn she has a chapter about filling the creative well- where you set aside some time to do something for your creative self. I found this quite helpful and helped calm my mind and it helped put ideas in my head which I then put to paper for another time… little did I know I would be using some of those ideas into this new story! It’s great how when your doing something else it helps spark other things.
So I thought I would kick start my writing by joining this months Camp Nano (halfway) with a goal of 2-3k and this morning I wrote….
Woop!
Not bad eh? 😉 The story is a superhero as the theme for the anthology is Hero’s.
Are you doing this months Camp Nano? What are you working on? Do you have other creative outlets that help your writing?
So just wanted to pop on and say hello and to update you all on what I’m working on. Over the next few weeks I will be having some more blog posts up including goals and book reviews to list a few.
When Suzy hears a strange noise in the middle of the night, she creeps downstairs to find a train roaring through her house. But this is no ordinary train. This is the magical delivery express for the Union of Impossible Places.
Whisked on board by a troll-boy, Suzy’s world is turned upside down when she’s asked to deliver a cursed package to a fearsome sorceress. And quite suddenly, Suzy realizes the fate of the Impossible Places is in her hands…
Book Review:
What a magical story! Jess and I absolutely loved this (and the series).
The plot twists were unexpected and a lovely and all the characters were loveable and unique (trolls, talking bear, witches and ghosts to name a few). It was packed with action and adventure from the start. The plot progressed nicely and lots of imagination and creativity was used. Loved the illustrations.
We loved Wilmot (we drew him) and Fletch the most- Jess even dressed up as Suzy for World Book Day!
Prop of Fredrick for World Book Day
Good for bedtime reading 🙂 Great fun throughout and would definitely recommend to all those that love magical worlds and adventure.
Manhattan’s wealthy Upper East Side has its own rigid code of behaviour. One strictly adhered to by the Wilder-Bingham family.
Emotional displays – unacceptable. Unruly behaviour – definitely not welcome. Fun – no thanks.
So when Rosie Kitto, an eccentric primary school teacher from England, bounces into this fortress of restraint with a heart as big as the city, the family quickly discovers that she hasn’t read the rule book. And after a lifetime of saying no, what happens when everyone starts saying . . . YES?.
Book Review
When I started reading it I was enjoying it (think modern version of Mary Poppins) but then halfway through a shift changed and it got terrible and then got uncomfortable reading it and that I wasn’t going to continue (I did though as I always finish a book!).
The plot line I could see kind of where it wanted to go (bringing light to the home/changing the house for the better) but it was very unbelievable and wrong in many ways (don’t want to spoil it so if you want spoilers then look at other reviews on Amazon/goodreads for what I mean).
Don’t think I will recommend this book. Was disappointing.
Have you ever found yourself struggling with information overload?
Have you ever felt both overworked and underutilised?
Do you ever feel busy but not productive?
If you answered yes to any of these, the way out is to become an Essentialist.
In Essentialism, Greg McKeown, CEO of a Leadership and Strategy agency in Silicon Valley who has run courses at Apple, Google and Facebook, shows you how to achieve what he calls the disciplined pursuit of less. Being an Essentialist is about a disciplined way of thinking. It means challenging the core assumption of ‘We can have it all’ and ‘I have to do everything’ and replacing it with the pursuit of ‘the right thing, in the right way, at the right time’.
By applying a more selective criteria for what is essential, the pursuit of less allows us to regain control of our own choices so we can channel our time, energy and effort into making the highest possible contribution toward the goals and activities that matter.
Using the experience and insight of working with the leaders of the most innovative companies and organisations in the world, McKeown shows you how to put Essentialism into practice in your own life, so you too can achieve something great.
Book Review:
I liked reading this and even though there was a lot of business/ceo stories some were quite inspiring. I did feel towards the end more ideas that I could relate to and think the book did drag the main message out.
I like at the end there is a 21 day challenge to put it all into practise.
There are some tiny nuggets to try but other than that it was a quick read and a good introduction to how to minimise your life to the things that matter. More helpful if you run a business or have a lot on in your life.
Learning to how to say No and to create buffer chapters were good. The chapters are short and simple with some practical tips at the end of each section. Also at the end it gives you a comparison of what a non essentialist and an essentialist think about and how they are different in their thinking.
The big message- in this busy world what are we truly focusing on? What’s the most important thing you can do today/now? With society becoming busy for busy sake or to try how about we don’t? Remove activity’s that you won’t miss and identify obstacles that slow your purpose down.
Based loosely on Robert Martineau’s The Office and Work of a Priest which was written in the 1970s, this new practical guide is for those considering whether they have a call to the priesthood, and those newly ordained who are tackling a new job and want wise advice on how best to set about the many different aspects of parish life.
Book Review:
I found this book easy to read and I really enjoyed it. I liked the structure of the book in how each chapter was a category of what defines a priest and each section had in-depth knowledge of each role. It was a refreshing eye opener into the many roles- not just the typical Sunday’s, weddings, baptisms and funerals! Some of the notes that stood out to me for each role were:
Leader of worship
They have the responsibility of helping worship to represent and express the life of the congregation- needs to be competent and aware of many factors when preparing worship and designing it for everyone. They need to be attentive and great at multitasking!
Person of prayer
To be Visible and to do prayer privately so they can demonstrate that it’s comfortable and natural in a rage of situations.
Preacher
That they are in charge to proclaim the Word and engage in Gods wisdom. The sermons are co-written by the Holy Spirit (I love that line). Also to help people grow and to be prepared for hard questions- handle with sensitivity, judge responses and defend the faith.
That priests need to read and listen to the culture of the world and adapt to it.
Theologian
To help make connections between the Word and the world
Intercessor
To bear the pain with others and move it on- difficult but rewarding. To help the community stay on its feet which can be overwhelming but your not alone. I love the quote “keeping vigil with a damaged world until God comes to put it right” speaks volumes.
The pastoral side of it is such a huge blessing and responsibility as they are given access to people’s lives and struggles at their most vulnerable points in life. They get to see each encounter as unique.
But need to know own limitations – refer those and know a range of services available. To “steward my enthusiasm” felt that line spoke to me.
As an apostle
The whole identity as a representative of Christ- big one! As an icon of the church and open for conversations (Like the Operation Insasmch idea of helping the community for a weekend page 96))
I liked the Jewish sabbath example on page 157.
Team leader
That they will have many distractions so never loose sight of the big picture! Everything is important so delegate if can. Focus on people and thank them- it will go along way.
Teacher
Don’t need to know all the answers! Help connect faith to everyday issues by asking connecting questions such as “where do you think God might be in all that” and “what would be the Christian like thing to do?) abit like What Would Jesus Do. Christian maturity is a life long task and That they are Christ teaching assistants! It’s how they help people to learn and
Be the church but stay human! Page 151 liked “ vocation is what’s left over when the thrill of being called vicar has gone” I have to say I’m still thrilled and excited and not sure if that will ever go anytime in the future (unless he meant once you’re a vicar it might go?)
All in all a practical guide and a great introduction to starting the process. I can see myself re reading it and keeping it close by as references. It has highlighted my calling even more. This book has many low and high moments (personal stories added that extra nice touch) and spoke all truth not skipping over the nitty gritty (such as the future of the world chapter 14 and the future of the church chapter 15)) but included everything. Some bits such as p159 where it said it’s mentally and physically draining worried me slightly as to how will I be fit for the job and could I do it but the last chapter was uplifting (just like the calling)
The book is all what a priest IS and not just a job. I also enjoyed the images and prayers given to help make this book fun and entertaining. I liked the advice of the family to let them be them, to have their freedom to choose and that they are the first church , especially the question at ordination snippets (the book gives a few out) that I need to take it as it’s richest meaning.
How can we convey the love of God to our neighbours in a post-Christian world that has largely forgotten the gospel of Jesus Christ?
In Living His Story, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 2021, Hannah Steele uncovers liberating and practical ways of sharing the gospel story afresh. With warmth and encouragement, She shows us how we can live Jesus’ story in our own lives simply by being the people God made us and allowing people to be drawn to him through our natural gifts.
Living His Story is a Lent devotional that will change the way you think about evangelism, show how ideally suited it is for the world we live in and fill you with confidence in sharing God’s love with the people around you.
Set out in six sessions to take you through Lent, each chapter of the 2021 Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book can be used as a single study for individuals or small groups to prepare for Easter. It will help you find space to see evangelism from a new practical perspective.
Book Review:
I really enjoyed this book and found it extremely engaging throughout. Easy read. I like the further for discussion topics after each chapter. It had the same feel of The Life and Work of the Priest and also had at the start of each chapter little verses.
It talks about how evangelism works and how to re image it that it should be the most natural thing in the world. She adds about COVID into a few parts and into the relevance of the gospel and that we do not need to fear death.
She tells of all the misconceptions of evangelism in chapter 1 and how she turns them around into truths. That it is for all of us and not experts.
Chapter 2 Is how we can respond to God and she shares her stories on how she shared the good news- even a random chat at a hairdressers lead to the conversation. That we are all storytellers. Jesus told 35!
Chapter 3 was how personal stories can authenticate the gospel and I loved the story of Lara on page 55 (grew up a Roman Catholic but when she got to uni she hit the party scene hard- one day she went to the beach that was empty as she suffered from insomnia and regularly walked the beach- she cried out to god of what she was living for and then heard a voice in her head to tell her to look around and saw a homeless man and the voice told her that was what she was living for and that the realisation was that she focused on herself. She then went back home and made the man a cuppa and went back to him feeling a sense of change. Afterwards she dug out bible verses her mum gave to her during her hard times. A week later an old friend randomly asked if she wants to attend her church and since going it changed her and is now training for ordination. What a dramatic turn of events!
Chapter 3 also tells us how we can share our stories as we all have a story to share “like a thumbprint which is unique to us, so is the story of our faith journey”
Chapter 4 is learning how to have life transforming chats and how Jesus related to all different kinds of people. He prioritised people and gave them all time individually. As a church we need to be thinking of how we spend time outside church the 110 waking hours we are not there then the 2 or three that we are. Also who we spend time with and not confined to – get out the safety zone. He allowed himself to be interrupted and listened plus he knew how to ask good questions. That’s what we need to do.
Chapter 5 is how the Spirit guides us when we speak and that it is an integral part of evangelism. God does not have Favourites! She talks about the pandemic and how people stepped outside comfort zones for instance a lady called Laura who had Covid done videos on YouTube on the experience of the virus and how faith was helping her- and found non Christians engaging with her-she also found a blackboard and a basket and filled them with booklets as many people walk past her house and so she wrote verses everyday with the booklets and noticed how some took i. It just shows that we don’t have to start huge.
Chapter 6 was all about building bridges of the gospel to books and film, to notice what’s going on around us and to understand what other people cherish as most important in life. I like how it talked about the Netflix show The Good Place 🙂 I liked that series (didn’t mention The Chosen but I feel that’s the best Christian series)
The last chapter is understanding different ways people come to faith. She compares the two roads- Damascus and Emmaus (I think I’m the Emmaus road). That we need to move forward from the negative or preconceptions of Christianity as most when to talk to someone/starting point of faith they already have some idea and it already be a reason why they have discounted it as being relevant to them. It guides us on how we can do this by developing an open mind to asking questions.
Overall it was a great straight forward introduction to evangelism and how to approach it with fresh ways. There are so many little more nuggets but it’s definitely book I will re-read many times.
Easy, do-able, down to earth ideas and suggestions for everyone to help save the planet.
If you want to save the planet, but your to-do list is already pretty long and remembering your re-usable coffee cup feels like a Herculean task, then this is the book for you. Covering every aspect of our lives from the stuff we buy and the food we eat, to how we travel, work, and celebrate. This book provides stacks of practical, down to earth ideas to slot into your daily life, alongside a gentle kick up the butt to put your newfound knowledge into action.
Practical tips include unsubscribing from all the tempting emails that drop into your inbox with details of the newest clothing range or the latest sale, and keeping a mug next to your kettle to work out how much water you actually need to boil each time, as over filling kettles costs British households £68 million on energy bills each year.
Find out how to fit “sustainable living” into your life, in a way that works for you. Change your impact without radically changing your life and figure out the small steps you can make that will add up to make a big difference (halo not included).
Book Review
I love how easy to read this book is! I love how it is in sections and at the end of each 12 sections are to try lists, more suggestions and checklists to help you on your way to change 🙂
There are many facts that are eye opening (and quite scary) and it is a user freindly practical guide for everyone – from total beginner to the more advanced this book is inspiring and much needed in this ever changing world. Many simple techniques that if many others try it can make such a difference.
Sometimes you have to hit the bottom before you can float to the top.
Maria Birch is seventy years old and, for her, every week is the same.
On Monday, she does her weekly shop. On Tuesday, she goes for a blow-dry. On Wednesday, she visits the laundrette. But Thursday is her favourite day of all – everything hurts less on a Thursday.
Every Thursday Maria walks to her local café. Waiting for her at one of the red gingham-topped tables is Albie Young, a charming man with a twinkle in his eye and an impressive collection of tweed flat caps. Every week, the pair share a slice of marble cake and a pot of tea.
Except, one week, Albie doesn’t turn up.
When Maria finds out what has happened, her perfectly ordered life is ripped apart at the seams. Suddenly, she is very lonely. Without her Thursday friend – her only friend – she no longer has the energy to circle the weekly TV listings, she has no reason to leave her apartment, no reason to laugh.
Then she discovers that Albie isn’t who she thought he was, and she’s left wondering if she knew her friend at all. But Albie has left behind a legacy – a handwritten list of wishes he never got the chance to complete.
Maria is resigned to facing the rest of her days heartbroken and alone. But fulfilling Albie’s wishes could hold the key to her happiness – if only she’s able to look past his secret…
Book Review
It took me a little while to get into this and the main character (who at the start just wanted to give her big hugs) It made me think of how lonely it could get when older and that life just keeps going. But as the story grew, so did the plot and the idea of her blooming was heartfelt. It was lovely seeing what she got up to and how she found friendships- that she was living her life again. The flashbacks were a nice touch and again shows you how life moves forward with or without you. It shows us that we must make the most of it and second chances are always available.
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