Strong Female Character

Strong Female Character

By Fern Brady

Genre:-Biography/Autism

Pages:-288

Publisher:-Brazen/Octopus Books

Blurb:-WINNER, NON FICTION BOOK 2023, BOOKS ARE MY BAG AWARDS SHORTLIST, NERO BOOK AWARDS SHORTLIST, BOOKSHOP.ORG INDIE CHAMPIONS SHORTLIST, AMAZON NON-FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR SHORTLIST, GOODREADS CHOICE BOOK OF THE YEAR.

Audible Books of the Year 2023

The Times Books of the Year 2023

Apple Best Audiobooks of 2023

BOOKSHOP.ORG Book of the Month January 2024

A summary of my book:

1. I'm diagnosed with autism 20 years after telling a doctor I had it.

2. My terrible Catholic childhood: I hate my parents etc.

3. My friendship with an elderly man who runs the corner shop and is definitely not trying to groom me. I get groomed.

4. Homelessness

5. Stripping.

6. More stripping but with more nervous breakdowns.

7. I hate everyone at uni and live with a psycho etc.

8. REDACTED as too spicy.

9. After everyone tells me I don't look autistic, I try to cure my autism and get addicted to Xanax

10. REDACTED as too embarrassing.

 In this book, Fern uses her voice as a neurodivergent, working class woman from Scotland to bring her experiences with sex work, abusive relationships and her time spent in a teenage mental health unit to the page.

 Written with unflinching honesty, Strong Female Character is a game-changing memoir on sexism and neurodiversity.

Thank you #AD #Gifted #FreeHonestReview @randonthingstours

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My Review:-Fern Brady is a Scottish Comedian and writer. Fern tells her story in her own words given us a look into the life she has had growing up with undiagnosed autism. Fern shares the good and the bad in this book. Growing up in a dysfunctional family life and not being diagnosed until 2021. Life hasn't been easy for Fern, she learned to hide things and  pretending she was ok just to fit in with others. Fern shares how self harming herself, prescription drugs and depression became part of her life. Even being sent to a mental health unit for teenagers, she was still misdiagnosed. Fern still has meltdowns, which did happen while writing this book. This book will have you crying and laughing in parts. This is a book I would recommend you should read, it will open your eyes to how the system misses and misdiagnoses people.

Be More Lucy

Be More Lucy: (Dashford Book 2)

By Suzanna Lissaman

Genre:-Romantic Comedy

Pages:-294

Blurb:-Best friends Em and Lucy are back in this heartwarming, second chance, rom com sequel to Be More Octopus.

 While Jack moves in with Em, Lucy is looking for a serious relationship, but finding a man who wants to commit is proving difficult. Then an unexpected meeting with an ex stirs up old emotions. Does he still feel the same about Lucy, and can they learn to trust one another again?

 Set in Birmingham, London and the fictional town of Dashford in North Devon, Be More Lucy is a feel-good story of love and friendship.

 Whether you're new to their world or a returning reader, this novel promises a fast-paced story filled with tears and laughter.

Thank you #AD #Gifted @randomthingstours

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My Review:-This is Book Two in 'The Dashford Comedies'. This book can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend that you read Book One 'Be More Octopus' as it will understanding each of the characters. Em is secretly planning with wedding to Jack, but she's not to sure if anything is going on since Clara is in Jack's new film. This is where Lucy come to Em's help, Lucy decides to see if there is anything going on with Jack and Clara. Lucy is still looking for love but she's in her 30s now and wondering will she ever find love and the man of her dreams. There are a few little twists on the way. I found this an easy and enjoyable read, which I finished in one sitting. If you like rom coms you'll really love this book,

The Climb

The Climb (Audio)

By Amra Pajalic

Narrator:-Nina Nikolic, Alec Shea

Length:-2 hours 13 minutes

Genre:-Romance/Contemporary/YA Fiction

Publisher:-Pishkin Press

Blurb:-Noah and Zephyra have been best friends since they started high school. Zephyra thinks of Noah as a brother. Noah thinks Zephyra is the one.

 Zephyra's only interest in romance is between the covers of her favourite romance novels. Noah believes now that they're sixteen it's just a matter of time until their friendship becomes a relationship.

 When they are completing a one week bike marathon their friendship hits some unexpected speed bumps. Will their friendship turn into something more or will they crash?

 The Climb, a young adult contemporary romance.

Thank you #AD #Gifted #FreeHonestReview @lovebookstours

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My Review:-Noah has eye for one person, Zephyra wants to wait until she's older and would love it to be like the romance she reads in her books. The friendship Noah and Zephyra share is lovely, even when they can't to family or there is problems at home, they have here other. Noah is willing to wait for Zephyra, even when they join the bike club and he starts to work out a bit and she notices that he is looking different. Noah even stands up to the person that has picked on him so much. Will Zephyra ever see Noah as the person that loves her or are they always going to be just friends? I'm not telling you, you can either read the book or do as I did and listened to it. the book focusses on friendship and the feelings that they start to explore. I found it easy to listen to and it flowed well. With it only being just over 2 hours, it keeps you engaged.

Over The Garden Fence

Over The Garden Fence

By Karen Louise Hollis

Genre:-Women's Romance/Women's Contemporary

Pages:-334

Blurb:-What can two elderly women do, when they want to live their best lives, but don't know where to start?

 Next-door neighbours, Molly and Janice, are in their seventies and are both widowed and lonely. In lockdown, they had their garden fence removed so they could have socially-distanced chats outside. Now the pandemic is over, but the conversation continues. In fact, it has become a daily ritual-weather permitting.

As their friendship develops, talk turns from news headlines, the Sewing Bee and the Royal Family to their own long-lost hopes and dreams. Is it ever too late to contact a former boyfriend? Or to heal family rifts? Or to try new things? Of course not! Because growing older doesn't mean giving up.

Thank you #AD #Gifted @rachelsrandomresources

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My Review:-Janice and Molly are elderly characters, which I love see in books. They has a lovely friendship, always there for each other. When we were all told to stay at home and social distance, some people found this hard but Janice and Molly found a way to keep their friendship strong. the fence between gardens was taken down and they could put the world to rights with cups of tea and still stay safe. I don't want to say to much as this is a lovely stories to read yourself, it will have you laughing. 

 Karen made this book so easy to read. The way Karen has wrote it makes you feel that you're sitting in the garden with Janice and Molly. Even having conversations about Strictly, The Chase, name but a few. 

I will be recommending this book to friends 

Artificial Wisdom-Read Along

Artificial Wisdom-Read along Starts today

Artificial Wisdom

By Thomas R. Weaver

Genre:-Crime/Thriller/Mystery

Pages:-386

Publisher:-Chainmaker Press

Blurb:-SALVATION HAS A PRICE.

 A enthralling murder mystery with a vividly realised future world, forcing readers to grapple hard hitting questions about the climate crisis, our relationship with Artificial Intelligence and the price we would be willing to pay, as a species, to be saved. Perfect for fans of Blake Crouch, Neal Stephenson, Philip K Dick, Kim Stanley Robinson and RR Haywood. It's 2050, a decade after a heatwave that killed four hundred million across the Persian Gulf, including journalist Marcus Tully's wife. Now he must uncover the truth: was the disaster natural? Or is the weather now a weapon of genocide? A whistleblower pulls Tully into a murder investigation at the centre of an election battle for a global dictator, with a mandate to prevent a climate apocalypse. A former US President campaign's against the first Al politician of the position, but someone is trying to sway the outcome. Tully must convince the world to face the truth and make hard choices about the future of the species. But will humanity ultimately choose salvation over freedom, whatever the cost?

Thank you #AD #Gifted #FreeHonestReview @lovebookstours

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Where the f**k is Blonduos

Where the f**k is Blonduos

By Emma Strandberg

Genre:-Non Fiction/Travel Writing

Pages:-216

Blurb:-"Where the f**k is Blonduos? is both a triumph of travel writing and a masterpiece of memoir. It deserves a space on every bookcase and in every suitcase" Richard Moriarty-The Sun

 Having survived a terrifying burglary, Emma had reached a point in life where she feared being awake and dreaded falling asleep. She grabbed her late mother's notebooks, packed her car with warm clothes, a swimsuit that had seen better days, a set of winter tyres and a brand new tent, and caught a ferry to Iceland.

 Surtsey was an unexpected eruption-just as my own birth was unplanned and something of an interruption. So captivated by the magic of Iceland, our mother returned home with a bar of Toblerone for each of us. There were no hugs or questions as to our welfare. My sisters and I had been alone for three weeks. I was almost 5 years old.

 Inspired by a six-month journey to Iceland in wintertime, "Where the f**k is Blonduos?" is moving, honest, and entertaining. Why would a middle-aged woman choose to spend a winter alone in the far north of Iceland? It's a fair question, though the answer isn't quite so straightforward.

 I dreamed of lying on a blanket gazing up into the night sky, holding my breath in anticipation of the colourful aurora that may soon dance overhead, without being asked, "Will you be long?"

 Battling the elements, conquering her fears, and learning to knit, all under the watchful gaze of the small community, Emma made sense of the past, found peace with the present, and felt strong enough to deal with the future.

 'Authentic, gripping, and as vivid as a cold winter's night, this inspirational Icelandic adventure will take you on an unforgettable journey of discovery and healing" Chris Riches-Daily Express

Thank you #AD #Gifted #FreeHonestReview @palamedespr

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My Review:-Emma Strandberg has had enough, no more sleepless nights and fear that someone is going to get into her house. Emma make up her mind what she was going to do, well in a way she knows. Emma packs her car with what she needs, firstly her late mother's notebooks, warm clothes, winter tyres and of course a bran new tent. Heading to a remote part of Northern Iceland, just as her mother had done fifty years before. This is not like any other travel book, Emma shows that there is more to do than the everyday places to eat or visit. I love that Emma took the time to learn to knit, buying every size needles and almost the same as wool, not something you would expect on holiday, (I would love this part as knitting/crocheting is one of my hobbies). I did like the PPS: ESSENTIAL ITEMS AND PPPS: RULES OF THE ROAD at the back of the book. My son and his wife went to Iceland a few years ago, so I've gave him this book as they are going back over to Iceland. I really enjoyed this book as it's not like any other and I felt like I went on the journey with Emma.

Meet Me In The Dark

It's Here

Meet Me In The Dark is LIVE!!!

The final book in the Bad Heroes trilogy is now available on Amazon! 

Get your copy today!

Meet Me In The Dark (Bad Heroes #3)

By Jo Brenner

Genre:-Why Choose/Dark Navy Seals Romance

Blurb:-

❤Why Choose

❤Bad ASS FMC

❤Touch Her/Him and Di3

❤Blud Play

❤Forc3d Proximity

❤Second Chance

❤Sword Crossing

❤CNC

❤Guaranteed HEA

Obsession tied them together. She won't let anything tear them apart.

For Micah, Luke, and Conor, there are no limits to why they'll do to win Kara's heart. Lie, cheat, steal...and kill. But just when it seems like they've succeeded, an old enemy strikes. The ex-Navy SEALs will do anything to keep Kara safe-including surrendering to the predator intent on destroying them. But Kara refuses to lose them. After years of them protecting her, it's time to return the favor. And if it involves payback against their enemy, well, she's not the woman she used to be. Running was easy when she had nothing to lose. But now? Forged into someone stronger, she's no longer afraid of her own power. Kara's determined to fight-for her men, for their family, and for herself.

 Even if it means the fight of her life.

Meet Me In The Dark is the third and final book in the Bad Heroes series and ends with an HEA. The heroine never has to choose her and each between the heroes for her HEA, and the heroes choose her and each other. Please check the author's website, jobrenner dot com, for content notes. 

Thank you #AD #Gifted 

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