Welcome to Day 10 of #12booksofchristmas. During December I am sharing 12 festive reads. The idea came from the wonderful Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod where a book is given on Christmas Eve

Welcome to Day 8 of #12booksofchristmas. During December I am sharing 12 festive reads. The idea came from the wonderful Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod where a book is given on Christmas Eve

Welcome to Day 5 of #12booksofchristmas. During December I am sharing 2 festive reads. The idea came from the wonderful Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod where a book is given on Christmas Eve

Welcome to Day 3 of #12booksofchristmas. During December I am sharing 12 festive reads. The idea came from the wonderful Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod where a book is given on Christmas Eve

Welcome to Day 1 of #12booksofchristmas. During December I am sharing 12 festive reads. The idea came from the wonderful Icelandic tradition of Jolabokaflod where a book is given on Christmas Eve

One guest has revealed he only stops reading when he gets to a page ending in a 0 e.g. 50, 60 and so on, regardless if it ends in the middle of a chapter or an exciting bit. Lots of guests are book sniffers

Good morning everyone. In honour of today's review I've had some coffee today and am now feeling a little chatty. One of my favourite bloggers Peanut Butter Fingers published a currently post on her blog,

Today I am reviewing a book so autumnal, it might as well have a witch's hat on and be surrounded by Pumpkin Spice Lattes. It has also been on my To Be Read Pile the longest,

I turned to my dear friend Miss Read and picked up the next in the Fairacre series which featured the most beautiful autumnal cover. It was meant to be!

For those of you not familiar with Peter Kay, he is a comedian from Bolton in the North of England who does the most wonderful and funny observational comedy.

Full disclosure here readers, I honestly am not sure what part of the cover of today's book to photograph! It features the torso and crotch of a muscly man

My heart is heavy at the moment at events in the UK. I was unsure whether to speak of this on my blog, it is after all meant to be a cosy look into the books I am reading

Today's review is a wonderful book, perfect for those lazy, summer days when only a boiling hot cup of tea with an old friend will do. I have gone rogue and am reading this Fairacre series out of sequence

Happy Wednesday all. I have just eaten the biggest biscuit I have ever seen....it was a Marks and Spencer custard cream covered in chocolate. I swear I almost dislocated my jaw

I attended a Eurovision party dressed as Ireland along with a ballerina, Gene Simmons, 2 Vikings and SuperMario. The performances have definitely become ruder! If I didn't see a pair of buttocks it would not be too soon

Right, do not adjust your set you did that right. I have finally reviewed not one, but two BBC Big Read titles! Back when I first started my blog I decided to re-read the BBC Big Read

Let me tell you, there is something especially distinctive about a Jilly Cooper novel. You can almost spot one from a 100 paces. Usually a white cover, and a bottom

At the moment I can't remember a time when it wasn't raining in the UK and rather than driving to work I am contemplating a canoe.

Back in January, I celebrated a rather large birthday and received the most wonderful present from my friends...a year of books. Each month on the 1st I open up a parcel and find a book inside

Lots of sunbathing was done (under a tree, I am from Yorkshire of course!), cocktails imbibed and of course books were read, 7 in total. It was the perfect place to switch off

Happy St David's Day to all. It seems a particularly appropriate day to say this as we have the most spring-like weather and currently have a plethora of daffodils in the garden.

You may remember me telling you all about the wonderful present I received from my Strictly ladies. It was a year in books. In a large bag, 12 individually wrapped books with a month of the year on it

January turned out to be rather a fabulous month. Despite January being roughly 636 days long, I enjoyed celebrating a milestone birthday at the end of the month

Long term readers of the blog will know how much I enjoy the wonderful Shipyard Girls series of books by Nancy Revell. This set of books set in Sunderland during the Second World War has a special place in my heart,

I'm not going to lie folks, I am running on empty today so heaven knows what post you will get today or, indeed, if it will make any sense. We had the loveliest weekend seeing family and friends

Like many people at the festive time of year, we have our traditions. These are ones we repeat each year, either with friends or family. One such tradition is my annual visit to Wentworth Garden Centr

There is something magical about Christmas time, you can almost taste it in the air. Whether it is the glittery whirl of snow, the magical flavour of kindness sprinkled by the Ghost of Christmas Present

Welcome to Day 1 of #12booksofchristmas. Woohoo!!! Over the month of December, I will be bringing you 12 festive books to get you in the mood for this festive time of year.

I am publishing this slightly early, as I am fully in the reading of (and sweating a bit about if I'm honest) my #12booksofchristmas. I have not been organised this year at all.

Apologies for the lack of post on Tuesday, Panto rehearsals ramped up this week. The first performance is tonight, with 2 more scheduled for tomorrow and then that is panto over for the year.

Is there anywhere else where we can go from Arnold Schwarzenegger to Miss Read? I enjoyed sharing my love for Mr Schwarzenegger, but today thought we would return to something comfy and cosy.

Every now and then social media can be a force for good. It connects people with shared passions, we find new stories to read, and sometimes allow us to tell a very important story.

Today, I have a lovely story I want to tell you. In early September a lovely lady called Lynn reached out to me with a story that she had been wanting to share for a long time.

We watched The Shop Round the Corner, had lunches out, read books and of course enjoyed a large number of cuddles with Hattie. It was a much needed break and I feel a lot better for it.

Everyone, please meet Hattie! Hattie arrived at our home at Monday night and has filled our lives with love and fun. She is an older lady, who loves walks and as many cuddles as it is possible to give.

We had decided to treat ourselves by staying a hotel and going out to breakfast on the Sunday, before indulging in a spot of shopping. No books were bought which is almost unheard of.

Each year in the bookshop, a set of delicious posters would arrive with images of azure seas and lazy, summer days on them.

Well I've only gone and opened my big mouth haven't I? My last post was all about summer reads and the general marvellousness of the sunny weather.

The glorious weather has pushed me firmly into ALL THE SUMMER READS! and I knew instantly where to turn, as a mainstay of any summer is Sarah Morgan.

I am currently sat writing this post in the middle of a heatwave. I'm on my 3rd pint of orange squash and am feeling the heat. It's heaven! This weekend has also been lovely

I watched the Coronation and was so impressed with the members of the armed forces marching in sync whilst playing the same tune. And also, who knew you could play a trombone on a horse?

Standing pride of place on my book shelves is a copy of Martha Hall Kelly's Sunflower Sisters, a well-researched historical novel of epic proportions. Indeed a lot of my history with this blog is tied up with Martha Hall Kelly.

Life has been extremely busy at Coffee Books and Cake Towers. Last week saw 12 of my husband's family come to stay for a very special birthday celebration. Pool was played, people hot tubbed and plenty of meals were enjoyed.

Good morning everyone, I'm coming to you a day late as I have had a lovely week celebrating my birthday, and woke up yesterday all chilled and relaxed so much so, I forgot to blog.

I'm digressing again because I am currently in a state of confusion. At the time of writing, it is actually Thursday, as I have switched my working day for this week only. I am convinced it is Friday or blogging day.

First of all, I want to start by saying a massive thank you to all of you who have been reading my reviews, joining in over on Insta, and recommending even more lovely Christmas reads.

Yesterday I finished work for Christmas, a lovely long holiday beckons. I celebrated with cake, a bath and a face-mask which was a lovely treat. it is a real treat to finish early for Christmas.

I spotted this beautifully cloth bound edition of these stories on the shelves of my local Waterstones and it is beautiful. A linen feel with dark blue Christmas Trees. Even better are the delights within.

Today's book was actually a book I read all the way back in January. I loved it so very much and knew this was going to be the first book to be added to the 2022 collection!

Confession time folks, I don't actually read a book a day in December, instead I read Christmas books throughout the year. It's almost got to be a bit of a problem. I actually had another Jo Thomas all lined up

Today, I am coming at you with a review by an author whose novels at Christmas I have come to look out for. This novel was actually published last year, but was so enjoyable I had to include it on my list.

Welcome to #12booksofChristmas Day 1! I'm starting off with the final book in a series I've come to love over the years by Elin Hildebrand.

Do not adjust your TV sets everyone. It is a Saturday and I am coming to you with a new review and an announcement. #12booksofchristmas is back!!!!!

I was having a chat with my colleagues at work the other day and we cannot believe how quick this year is going. It doesn't feel like 2 minutes since we were looking at the spring bulbs coming out

I'm stopping by quickly as I am actually having a holiday day with my lovely husband, we are going Christmas shopping, maybe enjoying a festive afternoon tea and I am so ready for this!

Each year my friends and I visit Wentworth Garden Centre in South Yorkshire for the Christmas displays. Our excitement usually starts in September when Wentworth announces 'Something is coming'.

I've mentioned before that there is a lot going on in our village. Not least the Classics Book Club. There are 9 of us who meet and each month we choose a different classic to read from a variety of genres.

Since returning to work, I have had a bit of a mini-crisis over the blog. I still love reading, coffee and cake and that will never change, and I love sharing good reads with you all. But heavens I am struggling to fit it in

I wrote this review about a wonderful character called Elizabeth before the sad news about Queen Elizabeth II was announced yesterday. Today feels strange and emotional.

At the time of typing this up, the UK is in yet another heatwave. Hosepipe bans are looming and we are trying to work out the best formula for keeping the house cool. (Blinds down, windows closed open everything at 7.30pm).

I've spoken about my love for the novels of Douglas Kennedy already on this blog. Kennedy is an author I first discovered in my early days as a bookseller when I was asked to read his novel

At the time of writing, we are at the end of a week where the UK has seen record-breaking temperatures. I left work on Tuesday and could feel the 40 degree heat bouncing off the asphalt.

I am becoming quite the fan of Sarah Morgan. I follow her on twitter, Instagram and keep an eye out for the latest releases. Having firmly been a fan of her Christmas novels,

I am in a definite full-blown summer reads moods over here which has been helped by the heatwave we are currently having in the UK. This week, I found myself craving something light, fun and foreign

I'm not quite sure when this happened but we seem to be in full blown summer right now. The school terms are coming to an end, I am sat in the middle of a heatwave and everyone seems to be jetting off to white sandy beaches

In 2007 and thereabouts it became popular for music albums to be advertised with the tagline 'An album that defines a generation'. This pithy line was often spoken by Jo Whiley in her smokiest tones

I love the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. 4 days off work stretch ahead, the weather is usually OK, the lambs have been born and there is chocolate EVERYWHERE. It's like Christmas with less presents but better weather.

Happy Tuesday everyone! Do not adjust your set, I am here blogging on a Tuesday, rather than my usual Friday just like old times with a review of a book that is very close to my heart.

Long time readers of the blog may remember that last year, I read War and Peace with the rather wonderful @fictionaddictionangela over on Instagram. This year's challenge is to read Anna Karenina

Yorkshire people are known for being hardy and straight-talking and I'd like to think we take most things in our stride with a nod and a 'it'll be reet'.

I'm continuing the theme of embracing the dark months of January and having finished the rather bloodthirsty Oliver Twist felt like reading something that would make me laugh.

I tend to get a bit depressed when the decorations come down and we have 2 months of dark nights. Well no longer! I've had a bit of an epiphany and it is all thanks to the delightful Claudia Winkleman.

I've decided to go rogue for this post, much in keeping with our #missreadreadalong group! If you were expecting to read about my favourite books of the year, then apologies.

A couple of years ago, before the pandemic hit, I was invited by my sister to go to the ballet. We saw Cinderella performed and if I had to use one word to describe the experience, it would be magical.

As I've already alluded to, I have been reading and choosing my favourite festive reads throughout 2021. I am someone who can read a book a Christmas book any month of the year

What memories do you have of Christmas as a child? For me, we always knew the Christmas Tree was going to be decorated as soon as my mum did her 'Christmas Clean'

Whilst I adore writing this blog, at times, it is possible to feel on a treadmill of reading and reviewing. I’m certainly not complaining and it’s so important to remember I read for pleasure and to slow down

It's day 6 of #12booksofchristmas already. I hope you are enjoying the choices so far. I am extremely honoured to be sharing the next book with you as part of my #12booksofchristmas.

Long time readers and fans of Karen Swan will notice a cover change. Gone is a picture of a woman wearing a red coat walking away from us. Instead we have a striking midnight blue cover

No your eyes are not deceiving you! There are 2 reviews in this post as part of the #MissReadReadalong. The Instagram group I am part of have gone rogue! If you were to check out my list of Miss Read Books in Order

I've been a bit AWOL this week, but it was much needed as it gave me some thinking time about the blog and the regularity with which I post. At the moment, I committed to myself to publish a post twice a week,

Each year 8 of us gather together in December for a meal at one of our favourite restaurants. The tradition started with 4 of us, and then our partners and husbands joined us.

We have moved!!!! It was a very emotional start to the week, saying farewell (but not goodbye!!) to friends and neighbours, a slight delay at the Solicitors and sorting removals, but we did it and made it into to our new home.

I am very excited to tell you that today is my stop on the #ShipyardGirlsUndertheMistletoe blog tour. This is the first blog tour I have done, so bear with me folks.

One of the very best things about reading is discovering gems and then re-reading them when the mood strikes. A number of the blog posts on the blog feature books I read in my childhood, teens, 20s and 30s.

Sometimes books come along at opportune moments, for no other reason than to speak to you. We are in the process of moving house, which it turns out is one of the most stressful things to do in life

I'm definitely having a bit of a crime fiction bonanza at the moment, mainly because the publication lists are stuffed full of great titles. We are off on holiday soon and I always love to take a jolly good thriller away with me

My 5⭐️ paddle has been extremely elusive as of late, but I am happy to report I have finally taken it out, dusted it down and give it a spritz, all to joyfully award 5⭐️ to Malibu Rising.

As August draws to a close and thoughts turn to Autumn, It's time to discuss the 8th book in the Thrush Green series which I am reading with a lovely group of people over on Instagram.

I'm not sure if it was the mood I was in, but I've had a run of reading novels that have all spoken to me in some way and this continued that trend. There is a lovely message here and the novel feels inspirational on many levels

I read this novel whilst on holiday and wrote my notes up on the way back home. A very bumpy train made all the notes indecipherable, but I battled through my scrawlings to write this post.

Regular readers to the blog must know by now that I am a huge fan of Karen Swan. This prolific author writes 2 books a year, one in summer, one in winter, all set in a vast array of locations.

I was quite late to this particular party reading this, having seen it on Instagram absolutely everywhere. This had been touted as the summer feel-good book of the year.

July's title in the #MissReadReadalong certainly came around quickly and continues the story of our beloved characters who live in the Cotswold village of Thrush Green.

On my wedding anniversary, and having stocked up on coffee (a flat white) and cake (a delicious orange carrot cake), I decided that a visit to our local charity shop was definitely in order to peruse the novels there.

In the middle of a reading rut, I decided to turn to one of my favourite authors, Sarah Morgan. I would credit this novel with getting me out of the reading rut as this was just perfect for the moment I was reading it in.

In my review of Gossip from Thrush Green, I mentioned that I was in a reading funk. I've felt like this for a few weeks, but had put it down to needing a holiday, so took a mini-break and decided to read something different.

One of the many wonderful things about reading is its ability to bring people together. At the time of writing I am a member of three groups devoted to a particular author;

I am in serious need of a holiday and have been in a reading funk for a few weeks. This sometimes happens when I don't really know what I want to read next, or if I'm just not feeling the book I'm reading.

As the end of lockdown approaches, one of the things I have particularly enjoyed and hope to continue is our family book group. We don't meet at set times, but as and when we have all read the book.

At the time of writing the review, I had a whole different start to this post about Fredrik Backman's writing and how I did not want this book to end. And then over the weekend, the Euro's started.

At the time of writing, I am looking forward to visiting my family with my lovely husband tomorrow. I cannot wait to see them. I haven't seen my parents since earlier this year and my Sister since September last year.

After being transported to early 19th Century Russia with War and Peace, and having developed Popeye style biceps from reading said book, I was in the mood for something a little lighter.

Thank you for bearing with me this week as I publish both my posts a day late Doh! Yesterday I did a 17 hour working day, so heaven knows what you will be reading this morning. But I have a good series of books for you

At the time of writing, the UK has started to come out of lockdown. Hairdressers and gyms are now open. And you can treat yourself to a takeaway drink and sit outside with it. Pubs are able to serve alcohol outside again

Like many people at the very start of lockdown, unsure about the times that lay ahead, I decided to join an online Book Group. The first book chosen to read by the group was Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly.

In the UK at the moment there is a real feeling of Spring and the end of winter. March, at the moment has 'come in like a lion' which I hope means it goes out 'like a lamb'.

I first discovered the books of Katie Fforde when I was a bookseller. She had just released 'The Rose Revived' which had a Penguin Orange Spine and I fell in love with these books.

I have to confess dear reader that I am starting to feel slightly anxious about The Shipyard Girls series. I have followed and read this wonderful set of novels since its first book. These books remain very close to my heart.

I am sat here writing this with the windows open, it's a proper March blustery day with blue skies and fresh air aplenty. Spring is definitely here! With March upon us, it's time for the next book in the #missreadreadalong21

I am seeing this novel everywhere and it continues to pick up a lot of interest. So I was delighted when I was approached by a friend on Instagram who asked if I would like to read this with her and a few friends.

At the time of reading A Christmas Party, the UK and parts of Europe are in a cold snap. We had plenty of snow and our night-time thermometers showed minus six degrees for a few nights.

As previously mentioned in my book review for Thrush Green, I have signed up for the #missreadreadalong2021 on Instagram. This challenge lasts 12 months, and participants read a novel in the Thrush Green series each month.

I don't believe that I can be the only person with a towering to be read pile. What I can tell you, is that Dr Zhivago has been on that pile forever! Over Christmas I spotted that the Dr Zhivago film was on the BBC.

There are many wonderful things available to book-lovers on Instagram. Not only are there a plethora of book recommendations guaranteed to bolster anyone's wishlist, but there are also giveaways, buddy reads and read-a-longs.

Coming in at number 76 on the BBC Big Read List is The Secret History by Donna Tartt. I can honestly say I have lost count of the number of times I have bought and re-bought this book.

The way that my book reviews are going, I'll probably be reading Christmas books well into July! The reason is that with doing #12 Books of Christmas, over the Christmas period, I stored up a number of Christmas reads.

In the lead up to Christmas, I challenged myself to read #12 Books of Christmas and now also appear to be reading #12 Christmas Books of January ahem. I do enjoy reading Debbie Macomber's novels

Just before the Christmas break, I was told by my wonderful Mother-in Law, in no uncertain terms, that I was NOT to buy this book. Having not clocked that this had been released I then proceeded to see it everywhere.

I appreciate that a lot of books reviewed on the blog are fiction, but what you may not know is that I am fascinated by journalist's stories, particularly those who have bravely put themselves in the very worst of situations.

Happy New Year!! I hope you all had a lovely Christmas break and a great New Year. Ours, like a lot of people around the world, was a quiet one. We made up a cheese-board of the 345 varieties of cheese we seemed to have amassed.

I have a collection of precisely 4 Rosamunde Pilcher novels. I am aware that she has written plenty more and that her short stories are thoughtful and second to none, but I love seeing the sight of 4 huge tomes on my bookshelves.

This Christmas please do spare a thought for my very dear husband. Christmas always makes me slightly emotional thinking of loved ones, the tree, heartwarming films and all the feel good stories at this time of year.

Do you remember me talking about 'The Readers Rest', a gorgeous little second hand bookshop halfway up Steep Hill in Lincoln? For me, any Miss Read book is synonymous with the Readers Rest.

Last week we had our first snow of Winter 2020. I live in the shadow of the Pennines in the North of England and the really bad weather happens on the higher ground. But as usually happens, the town came to a standstill

Each year my husband and I partake in what we have lovingly christened 'Christmas Film Sunday'. Unsurprisingly this takes place on a Sunday in December (well doh!).

If someone were to ask me to recommend a great Christmas fiction author, then with no hesitation I would recommend Karen Swan. She usually releases books twice a year; in winter come the Christmassy reads

Over the month of December I'm going to be posting some of my favourite Christmassy reads across a number of different genres. I hope you enjoy it and that it puts you in the Christmas spirit and leaves you feeling all aglow.

Each year, my husband and I try to have a mini-break away in November. The idea being that we will be all fresh and shiny new for December. In the past we have stayed overnight on the Moors enjoying a nice meal

I'm not going to lie I don't have the best history with winners of the Booker Prize. As Booksellers we had to know about all the latest prizewinners, from the Theakston's Crime Award, through the Pulitzer and to the Nibbies.

I have been lucky throughout my Bookselling career to have had some great bosses, many of which I still count as jolly good friends. One manager, Bec bought me The Devil Wears Prada and it is a book I still love today.

There is a wonderful Icelandic tradition called Jolabokaflod which involves the exchanging of books and chocolate on Christmas Eve and roughly translates as 'Book Flood'.

Now that the mini-holiday is over, I am back in full Autumn mode, even writing this post with an orange pen. It's playing havoc with my eyes. I had big plans for Halloween this year and was hoping to have a review for The Stand.

The final book of my holiday is by one of my favourite authors. I have mentioned him before in one of my Book Chat posts about going back to school and I needed a bit of fun after the gloriously bleak The Stone Diaries. ​

Like a lot of folks at the start of lockdown, I took part in book swaps with neighbours. People who were shielding were desperate for books to read, especially with the libraries and bookshops closed.

Having dived into Autumn like a labrador into a pile of leaves, I was left with a couple of beach reads promised for my holiday. Luckily we had a couple of days on the Kent coast planned instead and the weather was blazing hot.

Every now and then a book comes along that has a personal meaning. It could be represent a part of your life, a gift from a loved one or a novel that elicits powerful emotion. In the case of To Kill a Mockingbird, it is all 3.

This year I seem to have finally got my act together with reading appropriate books at appropriate times. From Jane Eyre on Yorkshire Day, namesake birthdays and even Back to School books for the start of term

One of the very first books I reviewed on the blog was The Hunting Party by Lucy Foley. This was a delicious thriller about a group of pretty ghastly friends drinking and drugging too much on a New Years break in Scotland

I'm going to whisper this very quietly because currently there about 6000 variables at work here but *whispers I may be going on holiday to Barbados. Obviously all of this depends on Government protocols

Despite being Yorkshire born, I did end up growing up in a county called Lincolnshire, a county so flat you could stick a load of lemon and sugar on it and call it a pancake. The only exception to this is a road called Steep Hill

I decided to treat myself to a couple of Karen Swan's backlist. These are the perfect summer reads, perfect for the beach or a summer holiday. Given that a holiday abroad is looking a bit tricky at the mo, I curled up on the sofa

I have just started on Instagram (@coffeebooksandcake - if you want to come and say hi). I both love and hate Instagram. It can be great for connecting with people, meeting new friends and following your favourite author

I have just realised something, gosh I'm daft at times. During this novel, at no point do you ever learn the name of the narrator, we only ever know her as 'My Wife' or 'Mrs de Winter'. More on this later.

We are currently in the middle of a heatwave at the moment and I appear to have transformed into an 18th Century lady, swooning on chaise longue and needing a lot of delicate macaroons to eat.

I first discovered the wonderful Douglas Kennedy during my stint as a Bookseller when I was lucky enough to be asked to be on a reading Panel for 'Six for Summer' as it was known back in the day.

I am currently a Playstation widow. My husband is playing the hot new game 'Ghosts of Tsushima' which is set in Japan and looks very beautiful on screen. Think Samurai, falling leaves and bubbling streams.

Being from the marvellous county of Yorkshire, we celebrate Yorkshire Day on August 1st. By a happy set of circumstances, I found myself reading this novel by one of Yorkshire's greatest authors, Charlotte Bronte

First off, can I just take the time to praise these particular set of book covers. I have the editions that were first published, they are very striking with a woman's face dominating half of the cover, which makes them stand out

One of the good things to come out of the Pandemic is the myriad of ways that events can now be accessed virtually instead of in person. This has been a godsend in such times.

Back in my days as a Bookseller, it was normal to re-order new titles in quantities of 10 from publishers. I remember the first time I had to 'hotline' 200 copies of Dan Brown's bestseller I must have looked a sight!

There was a moment where I suddenly had an image of bowling pins lined up waiting for a great big bowling ball to come hurtling down the lane as the waft of slightly dodgy hot dogs and fried food attacked my nostrils.

Like quite a few of the novels I review on the blog, I read this book back in the 1990s and had a real phase of devouring anything written by Paullina Simons. Red Leaves has all the 'Secret History' feels.

The British Book Awards AKA the Nibbies took place virtually this week and Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams was named Book of the Year as well as picking up Debut Book of the Year.

At this time of year, I would be thinking of all those delicious beach reads that I would like to take on holiday. I enjoy perusing the cheery covers and choosing the ones that best appeal. This year, things are different.

Have you ever met someone, for example a new colleague or a friend of a friend and think instantly 'Oh I do like you!'. There is no rhyme or reason to this, you probably had no more than 5 words with them.

I first read Fried Green Tomatoes back in the 1990s and remember it as a truly heartwarming read and a great novel to curl up with. The story telling is sublime. Released in 1987, parts of the novel feel very progressive.

Please may I mention the book cover. This book could sit quite happily next to your favourite biography of Kurt Cobain or Nick Drake. It looks an album cover of the 1970s that all the cool kids would have owned. Very stylish.

As a nation, we have just celebrated VE day. Our TV screens were filled with images and moving stories of the celebrations that took place in 1945. At times these were bittersweet, happiness that the war in Europe was over

There is a moment where Kya, the main character, on reading her first book says 'I wadna aware that words could hold so much. I didn't know a sentence could be so full'.

I really enjoyed being part of a Book Club again and couldn't wait to find out what our second book would be. I was delighted that it was a novel that has been getting a lot of love at the moment The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo

As soon as I'd finished 'Some Kind of Wonderful', I knew I wanted to go straight into the next book of the Puffin Island series. Well hello there Christmas Ever After!

I recently reviewed book one of the Puffin Island Trilogy - First Time in Forever and then ended up devouring the rest of the trilogy in the space of a week. What can I say? I was motivated.

I saw recently that following the end of the lockdown process only 9% of people want to return to life as it was before lockdown. That's 91% of us who want our normal to change in someway. Our normal looks very different now.

Like everyone in the UK, we are currently in lockdown and finding ways to fill our days. One of my most favourite bloggers, Helene in Between, offered to start a book group which sounded like a great idea!

Big Stone Gap epitomises this small town feel and features in my Top 10 favourite books. It was first released when I was a bookseller and had a quote on the cover from Sarah Jessica Parker.

At times, it is a very hard read. Sebastian Faulkes evokes the feel of a small, French town, its inhabitants and their differing political views. Peoples everyday lives go on, but the threat of German occupation of the town

The book centres on the Boleyn sisters, Mary and her soon to be more famous Anne, and their lives in the court of Henry VIII. At the start of the novel, Henry is married to Catherine of Aragon and is desperate for a son

Nancy Revell has taken inspiration from the real life 'Shipyard Girls' who had been wives and mothers, but during the Second World War took on the jobs that the men left behind. Sunderland had a thriving ship building industry