The Kindness Journal - Jaime Thurston @jaimethurston / @52lives @omarabooks @lovebooksgroup #lovebookstours

I'm pleased to be on the blog tour for this book today with Love Books Tours.

Description 

Kindness is something we all have to give and we all need, regardless of status or background. The current global effort to protect our communities' most vulnerable shows how kindness spreads and that when we are kind to others it lifts our spirits. In The Kindness Journal, Jaime Thurston, founder of the charity 52 Lives, motivates and inspires readers to practice kindness as much for their own wellbeing as for the wellbeing of others.

The book will help readers cultivate kindness habits, with simple exercises that make a positive impact on others and themselves, and provide a place for readers to acknowledge and remind themselves how being kind to others made them feel. Through prompts suggesting simple actions, inspirational quotes and scientifically supported facts, readers will understand the positive effect kindness has on our physical and mental health.

52 Lives is a registered charity that has been changing a life every week since 2013, with the support of almost 100,000 strangers who work collectively to help a person in need of some kindness. Through the charity, Jaime sees first-hand the impact kindness has, not only on those we are kind to but on us when we are kind.

Review 

The first thing to say is how beautifully made this book is, it's a joy just to hold. I love the rounded corners of the pages and the quality of the paper.

Usually the word "Journal" has me running from a book, but whilst this one does have room for writing, it is not the sole purpose. The illustrations throughout are so pretty and it's a book to be dipped in and out of, something new will always catch your eye.

The message is all about kindness, but not just to others. The biggest take way from this book for me is "kindness to yourself". The book asks "are you kind to yourself, or a bit of a bully?" This struck a chord with me, as I would never behave to someone else the way I do to myself! I'd never thought of it before, but I certainly do have negative internal words with myself that I need to stop.

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Love Books Tours for my copy of the book to review.

Author bio

Jaime is the founder of 52 Lives - a charity and global movement that aims to change a life every week and spread kindness.

What started as a simple Facebook page encouraging her friends and family to help people changed overnight after Jaime was featured on ITV's Surprise Surprise. Soon after, 52 Lives became a registered charity and now has almost 100,000 supporters around the world.

Jaime is originally from Australia. She began her career as a journalist, before moving to the UK, where she worked for a Member of the European Parliament, a wildlife charity and an organisation that supported families of prisoners.

She was a Member of the Independent Monitoring Board for a local prison, and a Trustee of a Richmond-based charity that helped isolated groups of people. She now runs 52 Lives and recently launched a School Kindness Project, aiming to empower children to make a difference in the world through kindness.

Jaime was named Clarins Most Dynamisante Woman of the Year in 2016. She also received a Points of Light Award from former UK Prime Minister David Cameron and a Richmond Community Award for her work.

Jaime lives in Berkshire with her partner Greig and her three children, Abbey, Max and Joseph.

Buy Link 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kindness-Journal-Little-Activities-Difference/dp/1912785382

Another Life - Owen W Knight

I'm pleased to be on the Book Tour today with Love Books Tours.

Description

Imagine if we could combine dreams and reality in a world where we live forever.
Oliver believes his life to be one of disappointment and failure. Haunted by the memory of a mysterious woman he encountered thirty years ago, and obsessed with finding her, he embarks on a strange journey of grief, hope, myths and legends where dreams and truth merge.

This diligently written novel has been described as 'It's a Wonderful Life for the 21st Century'. Oliver is drawn into diverse worlds, from ancient rural beliefs and traditions to emerging medical science, as he and the reader are led to question the boundaries between dreams, reality and imagination.
"Another Life is a beautiful and thought-provoking meditation on the meaning and purpose of life, seen through the lens of a mystery story steeped in English folklore...The book’s narrative voice and its depiction of details from the natural world are outstanding." British Fantasy Society.

Review

Trigger warnings - Death of a child, suicide.

A writing style and voice which I find to be unique in this day and age and put me in mind of Mark Twain and his book A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court. Both for the tone of the writing and the merging of reality with the another world.

I do like a mystery and this book certainly contained one. Oliver visited a village 30 years ago, although he never found it on a map and I doesn't know how to get back there to hopefully meet the woman he fleetingly saw all those years ago. He does know she had an unusual tattoo on her wrist. 

Oliver narrates the story and takes us to and fro through his past and his dreams. We find out that he has suffered losses in his life and he feels his life is meaningless. At times I wasn't sure what was real and what was a dream. My advice is to stick with it, there is a reason behind all of it and your perseverance will be rewarded.  

When I got near the end of the book and the message of cause and effect became evident I did get a little emotional. This is where the comparison with the film "It's a Wonderful Life" became clear to me. Certainly an interesting and different book which was well researched as showed in the writing.

My thanks to Love Books Tours for a copy of the book to review.

Author Bio

Owen W Knight is a writer of contemporary and speculative fiction. His works include Another Life, described as ‘It’s a Wonderful Life for the 21st Century’ and The Invisible College Trilogy, an apocalyptic dystopian conspiracy tale for young adults, described as ‘1984 Meets the Book of Revelation’.
Owen was born in Southend-on-Sea at a time when children spent their days outdoors, creating imaginary worlds that formed the basis of their adventures and social interaction.
He has used this experience to create a world based on documented myths, with elements of dystopia, mystery and science fiction, highlighting the use and abuse of power and the conflicts associated with maintaining ethical values.
Owen lives in Essex, close to the countryside that inspired his trilogy.

Buy‌ ‌Link‌ ‌ ‌

https://amzn.to/3ozRgQI

The Strange Book of Jacob Boyce by Tom Gillespie @tom_gillespie @VineLeavesPress @lovebooksgroup

I'm republishing my review from July today, as part of the Book Blitz.

Description

A spiralling obsession. A missing wife. A terrifying secret. Will he find her before it’s too late?

When Dr Jacob Boyce’s wife goes missing, the police put it down to a simple marital dispute. Jacob, however, fears something darker. Following her trail to Spain, he becomes convinced that Ella’s disappearance is tied to a mysterious painting whose hidden geometric and numerical riddles he’s been obsessively trying to solve for months. Obscure, hallucinogenic clues, and bizarre, larger-than-life characters, guide an increasingly unhinged Jacob through a nightmarish Spanish landscape to an art forger’s studio in Madrid, where he comes face-to-face with a centuries-old horror, and the terrifying, mind-bending, truth about his wife.

Review

I doubt you have read a book quite like this before. The title says it all really it is a "strange book" and it's all about Jacob Boyce. I admit to having to re read the first few pages of the book as I thought I had misread them. As the book went on I began to realise that this could be a regular occurrence if I wasn't careful and just decided to go with the "strangeness".

Jacob is obsessed with a painting and it's hidden meaning, and for me this had echoes of the Di Vinci code. It's well known that paintings possess hidden meanings through the objects placed in them and I do love it when someone explains a painting for you. So, I fell hook line and sinker for this aspect of the plot including the mathematics. There is a mention of Napiers Bones which I remember from school - there my maths knowledge ended but it didn't spoil the enjoyment of the book. 

The book has three parts, two of which are set in Glasgow which I've visited and I certainly felt a sense of place, especially the underground and the art gallery (although it's not named). The middle part of the book is set in Spain and whilst I haven't been to either of the places Jacob goes to I still got that sense of knowing the places. 

The last part of the book sees Jacob engage in what I would politely say is earthy language, so if you are easily offended this may not be the book for you. Brilliantly written this is a tale which won't be for everyone, but if you like intrigue, mystery and disappearing down the rabbit hole then this will be for you.

I'm giving this book 4 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Kelly at Love Books Tours for sending me the ARC to review. 

About the Author

Tom Gillespie grew up in a small town just outside Glasgow. After completing a Masters in English at Glasgow University, he spent the next ten years pursuing a musical career as a singer/songwriter, playing, recording and touring the UK and Europe with his band. He now lives in Bath with his wife, daughter and hyper-neurotic cat, where he works at the university as an English lecturer. Tom writes long and short stories. His stories have appeared in many magazines, journals and e-zines. He is co-author of Glass Work Humans-an anthology of stories and poems, published by Valley Press. Visit Tom at tom-gillespie.com

Buy Link

https://amzn.to/2zspp0N

Plant Magic - Dr Greg J. Kenicer @thebotanics @lovebooksgroup #lovebookstours

Description

An informative and entertaining look at why plants have been used in magic and what that tells us about people and plants in a post-magic world.

With chapters on subjects as diverse as Witchcraft, Curses and Blessings, Divination, the Plants of Faery, Hallucinogens, Divine Plants in the Christian and Pagan traditions and a Plant Bestiary, Greg Kenicer’s book is an erudite and informative look at how and why various plants have had a role in Europe’s supernatural and magical traditions.

Individual entries look at particular plants combining botanical analysis with historical examples and anecdote to explain exactly why each plant came to be used in this way. Considerations of dangers and actual efficacy cast light on how modern science is now re-examining the uses of many of the plants and how the evolution of the plants themselves has been influenced by our use of them.

Whether Foxglove or Mandrake, Hawthorn or Aspen, Rowan or Oak, St. John’s Wort or Bird Cherry, Plant Magic  shines a bright and fascinating new light on dozens of familiar plants.

Review

The cover of this book is absolutely beautiful and there are also some lovely illustrations of plants within its pages. Although the electronic copy of the book is obviously still factual, I think you miss out on the atmosphere the hardback would provide you with. A book to be dipped in and out of when you have a moment rather to sit and read through. There are so many interesting facts and things I had never heard of.

One of the sections that interested me most was the Doctrine of Signatures which dates back to the Ancient Egyptians. This is using a plant that looked like an organ or the condition that needed treating. Nature's way of guiding you to using the correct plant!

There is also referencing to literature and myths and legends in which plants feature. If you are interested in mythology you will find many links to the Gods through the plants featured providing a good cross over of knowledge. The book sets out an explanation of how it is organised and the parameters (and disclaimer) of it's contents. It's meant as an historical look at magic, not to be used as a book of modern day charms!

My thanks to Love Book Tours for the ARC of this book for review. 

Dr. Greg J Kenicer is the author of Plant Magic.  He is also a botanist and a lecturer at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. He is an expert in the evolution and diversity of peas and beans but the fantastical relationship between plants and people is where his heart really lies.

Buy Link 

rbgeshop.org

When in Doubt: Applying the Programmer’s Debugging Mindset to Your Everyday Life - Émile Perron @cunrakes @lovebooksgroup #lovebookstours

 

It's great to be on the Book Tour for this book today.

Description

If a simple change of mindset could help you improve the quality of your relationships, your work and your day-to-day life... would you try it?

In When in Doubt, the reader is encouraged to turn self-doubt into a tool that can be used to their advantage to create a better life for themselves. There are no magic tricks in this book, just a simple mindset: “when in doubt, assume you’re wrong”.

The key principle behind everything this book teaches is a mindset observed in almost every great leader and entrepreneur this world has seen. When in Doubt offers a fresh point of view on this ancient principle, allowing people to better relate to it in today’s fast-paced and technology-centred society.

Value-packed and straight-to-the-point with a sprinkle of playfulness, this short 60-page book is a great tool for any goal-oriented person with a desire for improvement.

Review

If you've ever lost something, looked for it for days and then found it somewhere you thought it would never be, or shouted at a machine telling it that it is useless; then this is probably the book for you.

The author is here to help us solve problems, improve ourselves and our relationships, all with the help of the mindset of a programmer. The premise of this book is "when in doubt, assume you're wrong". It's not easy, because why would you doubt yourself? But if you begin from this view point you will find yourself getting answers so much faster.

You don't need to know how to code to understand this book, just come with an open mind to try a new way of looking at the world. In a very short time (it's not a long book) you will be equipped with a different mindset to help you.

Author

The principle behind this book is not going to make you rich, successful or popular overnight. However, if applied correctly, this simple change of mindset can help you to improve your relationships. It can help you to get that raise that you are hoping for. It can help you increase your quality of life on a day to day basis.

Although the contents of the book are derived from the programmer's mindset, I did my best to explain the more technical concepts in plain English for everyone to easily understand. Whether you are a high school student, an executive, an artist, a retired fisherman or anything in between, you can take advantage of this book's lessons.

https://www.whenindoubtbook.com/

Buy Link 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0881D5BDV/?ref=exp_kellysloveofbooks_dp_vv_d

The Unravelling - Liz Treacher @Liztreacher @lovebooksgroup

So pleased to be on the Book Tour today.

Description

'The Unravelling combines sinister atmosphere with witty insight, and characters we can relate to facing the supernatural fear of our most human nightmares' - Helen Sedgwick, author of The Comet Seekers

‘A cappuccino.’ He spoke clearly but slowly, as if he were a stranger here.
‘One shot or two?’
He gazed at me with thinly veiled contempt. ‘Oh, you only get one shot.’

For Ella Aldridge, a brilliant Classics student, life was supposed to be exciting. Thirty years on, she’s stuck in the suburbs in a boring job and a failing marriage. Even her daughter, the one she gave it all up for, seems distant.
But a sinister encounter on platform three is about to change everything. Under the watchful eye of a shadowy ticket inspector and his mysterious associate, Ella finds herself spiralling into a murky underworld where portentous signs appear from nowhere, thoughts are stored on memory sticks and speeding express trains may be more than they seem. As she begins to lose her grip on reality, Ella embarks on an extraordinary journey that touches everyone around her, forcing her to confront the biggest question of all.
By turns poignant, chilling and tinged with dark humour, The Unravelling is a novel full of heart and beauty, about the myth and magic of everyday life, and the sacrifices we make for what really matters.

Review

This is the third book of Liz's I have read and it is a departure in a different direction for her, and one I liked very much.

The book begins with Ella finding a railway station car park ticket on the ground that she can use for the day. She thinks this means it's going to be a good day for her. However, a little later this misdemeanour and an out of date season ticket, land her in the Transport Police office - but it's not of this world!

I enjoyed the character of Ella who puts up with her nosey neighbour Ken and his daily salutation of "Salve" with more than a little good grace on the surface. Her innermost thoughts are a little different though, and could be the undoing of her. Unless she follows the coaching from Nigel Roach who she met in the Transport police office. But then she catches sight of a miniature Nigel inside the photocopier at work, and everything starts to spiral away from her.

As her the hold on her life seems to be slipping out of her grasp who can she turn to?  Her husband has other priorities with an exhibition of his photographs and is for most of the book a complete arse. Her daughter has her own worries.  It seems only little Lily her grand daughter can sense things are not as usual for her Granny.

You've probably guessed by now this is not a tale of ordinary life - or rather it is but with encounters of some other forces which may or may not be at work. As Ella's dreams and reality begin to merge, it felt like the things that happened were so prescient of the Covid-19 lockdown, that it almost seemed normal. 

I enjoyed this book so much and Liz's writing is really quite superb. I'm not one for over descriptive writing but in Liz's hands she makes every word count and you feel yourself savouring them as you devour each one.

I'm giving this book five out of five stars and fingers crossed for a sequel. My thanks to Liz and Love Books Tours for a copy of the book to review.

Unravelled - Briony Marshall @lovebooksgroup #lovebookstours @brionywrites @thewritinghall

 

Excited to be a part of the book tour for this book today.

Synopsis:

“For crying out loud! I can’t even cast on now.”

Claire has never unravelled anything before, being a confident knitter. But now, to her dismay, everything she creates is a disaster, riddled with dropped stitches and glaring holes. It’s almost as if her hands have a mind of their own. Maybe it’s because her longest relationship to date has just ended, or perhaps it has something to do with the fact her career is on the ropes.

“Don’t get frustrated with your needles! The problem lies with the knitter, not the knitting,” said Adrian, owner of Oddballs wool shop. Following his advice, in the desperate hope it will cure her woolly woes, Claire begins to turn her life around. Her grand plan involves FishTank, the online dating site. She convinces Adrian that if they sign up and find love, their problems will be solved (and she’ll have at least one area of her life sorted!). The trouble starts when he has far more luck in the romance department than she does.

But it’s little wonder Claire can’t throw herself into dating. She’s already found her perfect match.

A must-read for avid knitters and those with a passion for crafting, this comical yarn will melt any reader’s heart.

Will they? Won't they? Romance enthusiasts will be rooting for the pair to be knitted together, forever!

Review:

Being a crafter and having done my fair share of knitting over the years this book appealed to me immediately. You don't have to be a crafter or knitter to enjoy the book though. But the bits where I melted at the description of yarns, their colours and a wool shop, might not be quite the same for you!

The book begins with Claire (28) having a domestic with her boyfriend of two years, it doesn't go well and so she's on Fish Tank (an online dating site) looking for Mr Right. But before that she goes looking for a self help book and literally bumps into Adrian. When she asked him what he did and he replied he owned a wool shop, I might have let out a little squeal of delight! 

What follows is a will they won't they romance of a novel between two knitters.Complete with a wool shop and a stitch and bitch group of which some maturer members even have knitting inspired tattoos! To say I loved it would be an understatement. Once the wool shop appeared I never put the book down until I had finished reading it to the end.

If you are looking for a crafting hug along with a comical look at life, then this is the read for you. If you are a crafter then really all I can say is just read it. Only don't get too downhearted that you don't have a local wool shop like the one in the book or even an owner like Adrian to go with it.

I'm giving this book four out of five stars. My thanks to Love Book Tours and Briony for my copy to review.

Author Bio:

Briony Marshall s an author from the West Midlands in the UK. She is a graduate of the University of Wolverhampton with a degree in 'Creative and Professional Writing with English'. Briony currently lives at home with her mum, dad, fiancé and fur brother: Bob the Dog. When Briony is not writing, she’s crafting, and when she’s not crafting, she’s drinking coffee.

Buy Link: 

http://hallgoodbooks.com/product/unravelled/

@lovebooksgroup #lovebookstours @brionywrites @thewritinghall

Sisters of Berlin - Juliet Conlin @Julietconlin @bwpublishing @lovebooksgroup #lovebookstours

I'm on the tour for this wonderful book today.

Blurb

Berlin 2014. The 25th anniversary of the fall of the Wall, and the city is gearing up for

a celebration of unity and liberation. But, beneath the surface, are those for whom the

divisions and allegiances of the past remain close to home.

In her hushed and leafy corner of Berlin, Nina’s life is a comfortable, conventional one

– until her younger sister Marie, a free-spirited writer, is attacked and left for dead.

For Nina, Marie’s brutal demise – and that of her unborn child – tips her own carefully

controlled life into a nightmare. Stonewalled by official incompetence and subterfuge,

Nina begins to realise that her sister’s past and the secrets of the once-divided city

are connected in unimaginable ways. As she seeks out justice for Marie, Nina becomes

caught in a tangle of obsessions, lies and hidden truths that threatens to destroy her

marriage, her livelihood and all that she holds dear.

Review

The book begins with Nina and her sister Marie talking. Marie states that everyone is entitled to a secret or two. What Nina doesn't know is she won't see her sister again and maybe she did have a secret or two.

When Nina's sister is found murdered as can be expected her world starts to fall apart. However Nina has a family and her own medical practice, so she needs to keep it together for the sake of them. The book follows Nina as she tries to piece together why her sister died and at whose hands. She thought she knew her sister so well, but things start to come to light which show maybe she did have a secret or two afterall.

At times I felt like I was spiralling down into the book with Nina and her grief, it really hooked me in. The book being set in Berlin really added another dimension to the plot and it was interesting to hear about the East and West, and the subsequent fall out from the wall coming down from an internal point of view.

Running alongside the tale of grief and loss is the mystery of who killed Marie. I had my suspicions but I won't spoil it by telling you what they were. There really is so much packed into this book but the writing is so good you just don't realise it at the time of reading. It's what I would call a tale of everyday writing, but that really is so hard to do, to make it seem natural and real.

I've never been to Berlin but would love to one day, this book really brought it to life for me, although it seems they have a lot of problems with parking!

I'm giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. My thanks to Love Book Tours and Black & White Publishing for a copy of the book to review.

Author

Juliet Conlin was born in London and grew up in England and Germany. She has an MA in Creative Writing from Lancaster University and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Durham. She works as a writer and translator and lives with her family in Berlin. Her novels include The Fractured Man (Cargo, 2013), The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner in Six Days (Black & White, 2017), The Lives Before Us (Black & White, 2019).

Buy Link

http://blackandwhitepublishing.com/shop.html

Publisher

Black & White Publishing was founded in 1999 by Managing Director Campbell Brown and Publishing Director Alison McBride. Since then, the business has grown into one of Scotland's leading independent publishers with over 300 books in print across a variety of genres. Committed to publishing the best books from the most talented writers in the UK and beyond, some of our bestselling authors include Daniela Sacerdoti, James Robertson, Estelle Maskame, Nick Alexander, Richard Gordon, Alex Norton, Millie Gray, Sally Magnusson and Tony Black. We produce an extensive range of titles, including general non-fiction, biography, sport and humour, as well as selected fiction, young adult and children's books.


This year, we've started an exciting new alliance with PGUK who now provide sales representation for our titles, and GBS continues to distribute our books. Our eBooks are distributed by Faber Factory. Over recent years, our range of fiction has grown following recent eBook successes such as Daniela Sacerdoti's Glen Avich series, which has sold nearly a million copies to date. These new alliances and our e-book successes are helping us shape and develop the list in new ways to bring more exciting new titles to both local and global markets.

Sisters of Berlin by Juliet Conlin @julietconlin @bwpublishing @lovebookstours 

Hector at Ground Level - Gary Finnan Book Blitz

This Little Book is about being present to the wonders that exist around us At Ground Level, discovering all that we fail to see when we spend so much of our lives chasing bigger, better, faster, more, endeavouring to fly higher.

Everything else seems much more desirable around us than ourselves, or our lives and loves, after a long day at the slug farm.

When do we decide how to proceed with the life we have built thus far: Joy, Passion,

Marriage, Divorce, Suicide, Enlightenment? Choices we have made. What if you built from a place of strength rather than always feeling diminished and unfulfilled? A life built upon the life you have, rather than the elusive life you imagine, yet fear. Build a great life in balance with your best self and your nurtured relationships. Transformation is seeing the hidden gems that truly exist in plain sight.

We have all heard someone say, The grass is greener on the other side. Is it?

Most of us were 4 or 5 years old when the belief structure we made with life set in: I

am stupid, I am weak, I don’t deserve, etc. We engaged believing that we should spend

our lives proving that we are who we believe everyone else thinks we are. Breaking the

cycle of doubt is essential. Loving self is the first love.

The grass is greenest where you are!

Author Bio

Born in Scotland and raised in Zimbabwe and South Africa, Gary Finnan splits his time between Sonoma Wine country in California and his farm in Aiken South Carolina, along with his wife Eva and two daughters. Gary is an award-winning inspirational author. 

Buy Link 

https://amzn.to/3eUUSs6