A Must Read Blog: AimeeRaindropWrites*

Hello lovelies and a very happy weekend to you all! Today I want to write about one of my favourite blogs, AimeeRaindropWrites.

If I cast my mind back to 2015, I think Aimee was one of the first bloggers who reached out to me. In fact she very kindly sent me a book. (Do you remember that Aimee?) Fast forward to present day and not only do I still speak to Aimee daily but I consider her a real friend too. That's one of the reasons I love blogging. It has introduced me to so many lovely and like minded people.

I love Aimee's posts because they're frequent and always of interest. There's nothing worse than following a blogger who hasn't posted for 69786 weeks. (Over exaggeration maybe but you get my point.) I get bored easily. Thankfully most of my fav bloggers post on a regular basis, Aimee included.

Some of my favourite posts have to be Aimee's book reviews. I'm a sucker for a good book so I make  a point of reading any and every review I come across. She's also honest enough to say when a book disappoints. I think most of my current 'TBR' list is down to her recommendations and fantastic reviews.

As well as writing content Aimee also offers blog services. So if you need an ad/blog button coding, links fixing or even Twitter scheduling then Aimee does all this at really reasonable rates. And if that wasn't enough, she also offers advertising in her side bar and works her backside off doing promo work.

Enough talking from me. Here is a little bit from the lady herself:

'Hi! My name's Aimee. I'm 26, a lifestyle and book blogger, and cat momma. Unicorns are my obsession and they've been cropping up a lot lately on my blog. I spend too much time watching Netflix, and am partial to a good cup of tea. So, what do I blog about? Well everything and anything really! You can expect to find haul posts, book reviews and lots of posts about (or at least featuring) my kitty. Come stop by and say hello!'

Please pop on over to AimeeRaindropWrites and see what you think. If you like what you read then why not give her a follow too? I'm sure she'd be grateful.



Here's wishing you all a lovely weekend. Hope you all make the most of this glorious sunshine while it lasts!


Until next time...


Justine xxx



All photos via AimeeRaindropWrites

*Although Aimee is in fact one of my monthly advertisers, I'd still 'big her up' anyway as she really does write great content and is of course as I've mentioned, a friend. :)

Just a catch up...

Happy Friday! I'm off to a party shortly but first I thought I'd just write a quick post and check in with all of you lovelies. Hope the week has treated you kindly.

Last weekend I made the trip to Kirkby Lonsdale with my six year old nephew, Isaac. I was especially proud of myself because I didn't think I'd be able to do it. Usually I'm with another grown up and rely on their directions. However, Isaac fancied a jaunt to the countryside so off we went. To my surprise I didn't get lost along the way!

In other news, Jemma of Dorkface is working on the header for my new 'community' book blog. I think she is incredibly talented. Just look at her new fancy Halloween header below! Click HERE to check out more of her designs. Prices usually range from £14-£28.
And while I'm on the topic of the book blog, if you love reading and fancy trying your hand at a book review then please do get in touch. I'd love to hear from you.

Last but not least, I have another book recommendation! I am totally obsessed with Jennifer Niven's new book, 'Holding Up The Universe.' I read and wrote about her previous YA novel, 'All The Bright Places' for my very first blog post and ever since I have been anticipating the release of this. Do check it out. I got my copy from the supermarket for a bargain £3.99. Review to follow soon.

That's it from me for now. Better go get my glad rags on! Have a lovely weekend. I'll catch you all soon xxx





All images my own except Jemma's 'Dorkface' header which was taken from her website - http://www.dorkface.co.uk/ and 'Holding Up The Universe' book cover which was taken from Jennifer Niven's website - http://www.jenniferniven.com/books/holdinguptheuniverse/

Book Review: Billy and Me

I'm going to hold my hands up and confess that before I read Giovanna Fletcher's 'Billy and Me' I had been expecting another run of the mill 'predictable' romance. Not that there's anything wrong with that don't get me wrong, but I've read my fair share and therefore have a tendency to get easily bored.
It takes something a little bit out of the ordinary to capture and hold my attention for what is usually about four hundred odd pages. However, because my friend Jody had sung high praises for this debut novel I decided to give it a go.

The blurb goes a little like this -

Sophie May has a secret that has mean't she's given up on all her dreams to instead stay at home with her mum whilst working in the local village tea shop. Then one day, she meets and falls for Billy - a hotshot actor who is about to hit the big time. Miles away from the life she's been used to, their relationship suddenly throws Sophie into the spotlight and into a world that is alien to her. Can she handle the constant scrutiny that comes with dating Billy? And is she ready for her secret to be discovered and shared with the nation?

Let's get the bits that disappointed me out of the way first before I tell you all to go out and buy a copy! Which I am totally going to do btw! ;)

(SPOILER ALERT)

I wouldn't say that the opening paragraph really did it for me. If anything it felt unnecessary, (sorry Giovanna) and I wanted to skip straight to the part where Sophie enters Molly's tea shop. And truth be told, after the build up, I was expecting some huge dark and dirty secret that would tarnish Sophie's reputation for life, not the tragedy that actually unfolds in chapter seventeen.

That said, there was something special about this story that grabbed me and just wouldn't let go. It's so well written that the characters and environments literally spring from the very pages. I couldn't help but feel as though Sophie was an old friend and that I was living in her world. If the tea shop was a real place I'd be straight on a road trip to Kent tomorrow. And as for dear old Molly? She was an absolute delight of a character who I warmed to from the very beginning. You'll no doubt find yourself rooting for Billy and Sophie the entire way through, even though at times you may - as I did - want to give him a boot up the backside and to tell him to shape himself.

This is one to devour when you have some time on your hands because believe me, you'll struggle to put it down!

I don't want to give any more spoilers away because - well that would just spoil it for you wouldn't it? But I will say that any novel that gets such an emotional reaction from me gets a five star rating. So take it from me, go and buy or download a copy today!

And as for me... I'm off to hound Jody for the follow up 'Always with Love.'

Author Giovanna Fletcher

You can buy Billy and Me by visiting any of the links on Giovanna's website:

http://www.giovannasworld.com/booksbyme


Photos my own except Giovanna pic which was taken from Giovanna's website as below -


http://www.giovannasworld.com/about