Sunday, February 19, 2023

Indie Love Wales 2023 Cardiff

 

Indie Love is hosting its first ever signing event in 2023! Come and join the fun with over 50 of your favourite Indie Romance authors. Grab your tickets today!

Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/109672577632


Important Information

Date: 

Saturday 18 November 2023

Time: 

10:00 – 16:00 GMT

Location:

Cardiff City Hall Cathays Park Cardiff CF10 3ND

Saturday, February 18, 2023

Saturday Review - The Anarchist's Wife by Margo Laurie

 


Title: The Anarchist’s Wife
Author: Margo Laurie
Pages: 173
Release Date: October 24th 2022
Format: eBook (ARC)
Buy it: Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Synopsis: In 1920, anarchists Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti were accused of a payroll robbery and double murder at a factory in Massachusetts. The case became one of the most notorious miscarriages of justice of the 20th century.
The Anarchist's Wife is a historical fiction novella which reimagines this American tragedy from the perspective of Rosa Sacco. Her husband was likely innocent of the crime he was accused of, but his possible involvement in anarchist violence was a murkier question. The story is framed as a memoir for her daughter Ines, in which she attempts to shape this difficult past into one which can be lived with.
 
My Review: I'm not a big fan of historical books and generally stay away from them but I was asked to read this story by the author and I enjoyed it.
 
The story is based around real people who I've never heard of before, it was interesting to learn about something I had no prior knowledge about and I looked up the 1920s Sacco & Vanzetti case afterwards just to read about what actually happened.
 
The story starts off in the present of that time period and then goes back in time to tell the story upto the point of it being written down. It is told by Rosa the wife of one of the men (Nick) who was accused of a crime. Rosa is writing a journal of sorts to her daughter Ina so Ina can get to know her father starting from when Nick and Rosa's first meet leading up to when Nick was arrested and sentence to death with some events that lead up to Nick being arrested in between.
 
Although historical fiction is not my thing I was intrigued enough to keep reading and enjoyed the characters and the storyline which is why this only got 3 stars from me and not 4.
 
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
 
Currently Reading: Fastening the Grave by L A McBride
Read in 2023: 5/40

Sunday, January 01, 2023

Happy New Year


I would just like to wish everyone a very happy New Year


Have a great New Year love Annamarie

Sunday, December 25, 2022

Happy Christmas


I would just like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas, I hope you were good this year.

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Check Out Drumendus: Mission the Drum Planet by Andrew Ashwin

 

If you love a middle grade fantasy story then check out Drumendus: Mission the Drum Planet by Andrew Ashwin

Released: September 13th 2022

Blurb: A mysterious planet. A remarkable family secret.

And music . . . EVERYWHERE!

Blast off to the planet Drumendus with twelve-year-old Ella Crinkle and her best friend Freddie, on a homemade spaceship invented by brilliant and eccentric Aunt Belinda, the most famous astronaut in history.

Will Ella be able to face her fears and uncover the truth about her family's past? What other secrets will she uncover on this unexpected, musical adventure to the extraordinary purple planet? 

Check back in the New Year to see what I thought of this book.

Monday, November 21, 2022

Check Out The Travelers Detective Club by Sussi Voak

 


If you love childrens mysteries then check out The Travelers Detective Club by Sussi Voak

Released: September 6th 2022

Blurb: The Grand Wizard is dead, his powers transferred to a stuffed eagle who appears on the front porch of a ten-year-old in Philadelphia. Travis and his friends must confront an evil warlock intent on stealing magical powers. Their days are complicated by the school bully who not only terrorizes them at school, but teams up with the evil wizard. Will the members of the newly formed Travelers Detective Club find the courage to stand up to the boy who has intimidated them for so long? And when they discover that the bully needs help, can they find it in themselves to forgive?


Check back in the New Year to see what I thought of this book.

Friday, November 18, 2022

Check Out - The Search of Synergy by Brett Salter

 


The Search for Synergy by Brett Salter is book one in a Middle Grade fantasy series about dragons and knights

Released: May 31st 2017

Blurb: The Search For Synergy follows the exploits of two middle-school boys, Rome Lockheed and Julian Rider, as they transition from normal kids into epic warriors fighting for the existence of the Earth realm. Rome is secretly a fire dragon from the Den of Volcana placed under a spell which hides his true form. Julian is an oddball, up-and-coming knight with a case of the "try-hards". Together, they perform an ancient pact which bonds their lives and souls forever. Under the tutelage and guidance of an eccentric, local librarian, Mr. Jones, the two learn of an impending invasion from an archaic evil desperate to invade from the other side of The Void.


Check back in the New Year to see what I thought of the first book in the Talisman Series

Friday, September 30, 2022

September Wrap Up


1. Hear Me Out by Sarah Harding

2. The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

3. The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

4. The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh

5. Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen

Thursday, September 29, 2022

Bookopoly – October’s TBR


Here's My Picks:

Roll 1: Alyson Noel – Saving Zoe by Alyson Noel

Roll 2: TBR VET – A Witch in Winter by Ruth Warburton

Roll 3: (Double) Poll Pick – The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah

Roll 4: Library Book – Blood and Honey by Shelby Mahurin

 

Books I also want to read in October:

The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

September Book Haul

 

1.    The Chimera Code by Wayne Santos

2.    A Demon in Silver by R S Ford

3.    Seven Minutes Later by Bonnie Kistler

4.    The Girl Upstairs by Georgina Lees

5.    A Family Torn Apart by Cathy Glass

6.    Meet Me in London by Georgia Toffolo

7.    The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

8.    Belladonna by Adalyn Grace

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

Book Box Subscritions and Out of Control TBRs

So I currently get 3 book box subscriptions, A Box of Stories which comes every other month and FairyLoot and Illumicrate which come every month.

I love my A Box of Stories box as its inexpensive and you never know what your going to get (I currently get the 2 box Fantasy box down from the 4 books Sci-Fi and Fantasy box) the only problem is some of the books really don't sound interesting and out of the 5 boxes that I've recieved so far this year I've read about 4 of the books. I have 15 books unread from A Box of Stories.

I started getting Illumicrate in May and I have had the May, June and July box. With Illumicrate they do a varity of genres so you could get YA or Adult Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Contemporary etc and I'm predomantly a YA Fantasy reader. I didn't want the book in the August box and I couldn't afford the box for September and out of all the boxes there's only been 1 book that I've read and that was May's book The book of Night by Holly Black which I really didn't enjoy, I'm unsure on Junes book We All Fall Down by Rose Szabo and I am dying to read July's book The Drowned Woods by Emily Lloyd-Jones (I just have to get through my library stack first). So I have 2 books unread from Illumicrate.

I started getting FairyLoot in May also and I have had all of the boxes so far as I prefer YA Fantasy and thats why FairyLoot does so when it came to having to only have 1 book box for September I picked FairyLoot (even though I also wanted the book that was in the Illumictare box). I have had 5 books from FairyLoot since May (June was a double book month). May's book was The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah, June's book was This Vicious Grace by Emily Thiede and Twin Crowns by Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber, July's book was The Darkening by Sunya Maya and August's book was Violet Made of Thorns by Gina Chen but I haven't actually read any of the book even though I am looking forward to geting to The Darkening and Violet Made of Thornes. So I have 5 unread books from FairyLoot.

Altogether I have 22 unread books from book boxes, 25 if I include the 2 A Box of Story books and September's FairyLoot book which will be here sometime this month (and countless books that I already own that I haven't read yet) and even though I seem to be going through a lot of books this year (I'm currently reading book 49)

I think I really need to start reading some of the books I already own and as well as the one's I've been getting from the library and maybe cut back on book box subscritions and buying new books just so I can unhaul the books that have been on my shelf for years that I am either not going to read or that I've read and I'm not going to read again as my shelves are almost full.

How many of you are also having this trouble? Being subscribed to various book boxes but are not actually reading the books I'm curious to know.

I'm thinking of maybe cancelling my subscription with Illumicrate and just keeping FairyLoot and A Box of Stories for the rest of the year and if I'm still inthis situation in the new year cancelling the A Box of Stories box to or at least spreading the subscription out so it comes every 4 months instead of every 2.

Thursday, September 01, 2022

September's TBR

So I've decided to give Becca's Bookopoly a go this month to see how I get on with it. I'm only doing 4 rolls as I don't read that many books in a month.

Here's My Picks:
Roll 1: Building - The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh
Roll 2: Community Shelf (An A Box of Stories book I've not read yet) - Skyfarer by Joseph Brassey
Roll 3: Features a Mystery - The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Roll 4: Becca Rec - The Ex Hex by Erin Sterling

Books I need to finish from last month:
Hear Me Out by Sarah Harding

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

August Wrap-Up

 This month I read 8 books some I enjoyed more than others.

  1. The Gilded Ones by Namina Forna
  2. The Night the Angels Came by Cathy Glass
  3. Family of Liars by E Lockhart
  4. Cruel to Be Kind by Cathy Glass
  5. Verity by Colleen Hoover
  6. Winters Snow by Carrie Hope Fletcher
  7. A Last Kiss for Mummy by Casey Watson
  8. The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Favourite this month
Verity

Least Favourite this month
A Last Kiss for Mummy

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Review - The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside by Jessica Ryn


Title:
 The Extraordinary Hope of Dawn Brightside
Author: Jessica Ryn
Pages: 400
Release Date: November 26th 2020
Format: Hardback
Buy it: Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Synopsis: She’s always looking on the bright side...
Dawn Elisabeth Brightside has been running from her past for twenty-two years and two months, precisely.
So when she is offered a bed in St Jude’s Hostel for the Homeless, it means so much more than just a roof over her head.
But with St Jude’s threatened with closure, Dawn worries that everything is about to crumble around her all over again.
Perhaps, with a little help from her new friends, she can find a way to save this light in the darkness?
And maybe, just maybe, Dawn will finally have a place to call home….
 
My Review: This story follows two women who are very different. Grace is the manager of St. Jude’s Hostel and Dawn is running away from her past and is given a room in the hostel.
 
Grace starts to fall for one of the residents even though it’s forbidden and she has to try and keep her feelings hidden while she tries to keep St. Jude’s open.
 
Dawn has been through a terrible time and has been living on the streets for the last 20 years until she is given a room at St. Jude’s, she loves to help people even breaking the hostel rules by allowing a young lad to stay in her room with her and coming up with fundraising ideas to keep St. Jude’s open.
 
I enjoyed the story but I thought the ending was a bit rushed and lacking, I think there could have been another chapter or two on both Dawn and Grace.
 
Currently Reading: 
Read in 2022: /40

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

Review - News of the World by Paulette Jiles


Title:
 News of the World
Author: Paulette Jiles
Pages: 209
Release Date: 
Format: Paperback
Buy it: Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Synopsis: In the aftermath of the Civil War, an aging itinerant news reader agrees to transport a young captive of the Kiowa back to her people in this exquisitely rendered, morally complex, multilayered novel of historical fiction from the author of Enemy Women that explores the boundaries of family, responsibility, honor, and trust.
 
In the wake of the Civil War, Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd travels through northern Texas, giving live readings from newspapers to paying audiences hungry for news of the world. An elderly widower who has lived through three wars and fought in two of them, the captain enjoys his rootless, solitary existence.
 
In Wichita Falls, he is offered a $50 gold piece to deliver a young orphan to her relatives in San Antonio. Four years earlier, a band of Kiowa raiders killed Johanna’s parents and sister; sparing the little girl, they raised her as one of their own. Recently rescued by the U.S. army, the ten-year-old has once again been torn away from the only home she knows.
 
Their 400-mile journey south through unsettled territory and unforgiving terrain proves difficult and at times dangerous. Johanna has forgotten the English language, tries to escape at every opportunity, throws away her shoes, and refuses to act “civilized.” Yet as the miles pass, the two lonely survivors tentatively begin to trust each other, forming a bond that marks the difference between life and death in this treacherous land.
 
Arriving in San Antonio, the reunion is neither happy nor welcome. The captain must hand Johanna over to an aunt and uncle she does not remember—strangers who regard her as an unwanted burden. A respectable man, Captain Kidd is faced with a terrible choice: abandon the girl to her fate or become—in the eyes of the law—a kidnapper himself.
 
 
My Review: This was a nice quick historical fiction read about an old army captain named Jefferson Kyle Kidd who travels around Texas reading the news of the world from his newspapers.
 
He is offered a $50 gold piece to transport a 10 year old girl Johanna who was kidnapped by the Kiowas at the age of 6 back to her aunt and uncle.
 
During their 400 mile journey from Wichita Falls to San Antoni they encounter various issues along the way from Johanna trying to escape and go back to the Kiowa’s to an evil man wanting to buy her.
 
This book isn’t something that I would normally read but I enjoyed the story and the ending was fantastic. If you are looking for a quick historical fiction book to read I would recommend giving this a try.
 
Currently Reading: 
Read in 2022: /40

Saturday, May 14, 2022

Saturday Review - Isabella: The Warrior Queen by Kirstin Downey

 




Title:
 Isabella: The Warrior Queen

Author:  Kirstin Downey

Narrator: Kimberly Farr

Release Date: October 28th 2014

Format: Audiobook

Buy it: Amazon

Add it: Goodreads

 

Synopsis: An engrossing and revolutionary biography of Isabella of Castile, the controversial Queen of Spain who sponsored Christopher Columbus's journey to the New World, established the Spanish Inquisition, and became one of the most influential female rulers in history

Born at a time when Christianity was dying out and the Ottoman Empire was aggressively expanding, Isabella was inspired in her youth by tales of Joan of Arc, a devout young woman who unified her people and led them to victory against foreign invaders. In 1474, when most women were almost powerless, twenty-three-year-old Isabella defied a hostile brother and mercurial husband to seize control of Castile and León. Her subsequent feats were legendary. She ended a twenty-four-generation struggle between Muslims and Christians, forcing Moorish invaders back over the Mediterranean Sea. She laid the foundation for a unified Spain. She sponsored Columbus's trip to the Indies and negotiated Spanish control over much of the New World with the help of Rodrigo Borgia, the infamous Pope Alexander VI. She also annihilated all who stood against her by establishing a bloody religious Inquisition that would darken Spain's reputation for centuries. Whether saintly or satanic, no female leader has done more to shape our modern world, where millions of people in two hemispheres speak Spanish and practice Catholicism. Yet history has all but forgotten Isabella's influence, due to hundreds of years of misreporting that often attributed her accomplishments to Ferdinand, the bold and philandering husband she adored. Using new scholarship, Downey's luminous biography tells the story of this brilliant, fervent, forgotten woman, the faith that propelled her through life, and the land of ancient conflicts and intrigue she brought under her command.

 

My Review: This audiobook was recommended by a true crime YouTuber that I like to watch and I am glad that I was able to listen to it.

 

This audiobook tells the story of Queen Isabella, Catharine of Aragon’s mother. It tells of her struggles in life and how she became a warrior of a queen. Isabella snuck away and married someone she wanted to marry and not someone she was forced to marry for political reasons even though she knew there would be backlash which shows just how strong minded she was.

 

The story tells of how Isabella was able to unite Spain and England and help Christopher Columbus's expeditions.

 

I love this period of time so I was quite happy to sit and listen to the story while I was playing video games and walking to and from various places and while in the car.

 

Currently Reading: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V E Schwab
Read in 2022: 23/40

 

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Review - Eden's Story by Louise Allen

 



Title:
 Eden’s Story

Author: Louise Allen

Series: Thrown Away Children #3

Pages: 276

Release Date: January 14th 2021

Format: Paperback

Buy it: Amazon

Add it: Goodreads

 

Synopsis: Ashley is a young single mum raising her daughter, Eden, and working hard to do the very best job she can—until, one night, she can't find a babysitter and makes the decision to leave Eden home alone for a couple of hours, asleep inside a wardrobe. It is an action that begins a terrible downward spiral for both of them.

When Eden arrives at experienced foster carer Louise Allen's home, she has entered the care system, because her mother is in prison. Eden is five years old and will not speak to any human. She begins exhibiting some other disturbing behaviours alongside the mutism, too, including torturing the family pets she loves. This eventually leads Louise to discover the pain and tragic reality behind Eden's Story.

 

My Review: Five year old Eden comes to Louise after her mother Ashley makes a bunch of wrong decisions and ends up in prison; she leaves Eden at home alone as a baby while she goes out partying after her friend refuses to keep babysitting for her.

 

While out partying Ashley meets a guy who supplies her with drugs and after a while he meets Eden who is only a baby still and he eventually moves into Ashley’s home this guy is a creep.

 

When Eden finally goes to Louise she won’t talk no matter how much Louise and her family tries to get her to. In true Louise fashion she does all she can to help this poor child.

 

Louise tells us about the troubles she has with the social services while looking after Eden as well as the trouble she has looking after Eden who has her own issues, I am glad that Eden got to go and live with her dad and have a happy life.

 

Currently Reading: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V E Schwab
Read in 2022: 23/40

 

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Review - Jacobs Story by Louise Allen

 



Title:
 Jacob’s Story

Author: Louise Allen

Series: Thrown Away Children #4

Pages: 288

Release Date: August 19th 2021

Format: Paperback

Buy it: Amazon

Add it: Goodreads

 

Synopsis: Officers from the RSPCA investigate reports of animal cruelty and neglect on a farm, only to discover a 5-year-old boy curled up asleep in a dog bed, amidst filth and squalor.

He has severe physical and cognitive impairments, and no one outside the family seems to know of the existence of little Jacob.

When he arrives in the Allen household, a terrified Louise wonders how on earth she will cope looking after a child with his level of physical and emotional damage. With the support of veteran social worker, Mary, the fight begins to get Jacob the support he needs – as medical investigations begin to reveal more shocking details about Jacob’s story.

 

My Review: Poor Jacob was found curled up like a dog in a dog bed under the kitchen table by Anna an RSPCA officer who went to his home because of reports about the farm animals being mistreated.

 

5 year old Jacob is not able to walk or talk and is swiftly taken into care, we get to read about Jacob with his first foster family who seemed to be more in it for the money and having parties than actually looking after a child with sever learning difficulties, they just leave him lying on the floor with baby toys.

 

Louise is not shy about telling the reader how she really feels about the social care system which in this case I can understand why she was annoyed at them too.

 

Louise is backed up by her social worker Dara and Jacob’s social worker Mary to get everything they need to help Jacob to give him the life he deserves despite the obstacles that the social serves put in the way. Louise manages to do this while looking after her two biological children and her long term foster child Lily who is also struggling with her own issues from her childhood.

 

This was the first book by this author that I read and it’s safe to say I’ve now read all of her book and become friends with Louise.

 

Currently Reading: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V E Schwab
Read in 2022: 23/40

 

Monday, May 09, 2022

Review - The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

 



Title:
 A Bad Beginning

Author: Lemony Snicket

Series: A Series of Unfortunate Events #1

Pages: 162

Release Date: May 12th 2003

Format: Paperback

Buy it: Amazon

Add it: Goodreads

 

Synopsis: Dear Reader, I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe.

 

My Review: In the first story in the series we meet the Baudelaire children Violet the eldest, Clause the middle child and Sunny the youngest.

 

While they are enjoying a nice day at the beach Mr Poe a banker arrives and informs the children that there has been a fire at their family home which has killed their parents and they are now going into foster care.

 

The Baudelaire’s go to live with Mr Poe and his family for a few days while he sorts out for them to go and live with their ‘uncle’ Count Olaf.

 

Count Olaf turns out to be a horrible man who makes the children do a very many chores and the only relief that they get is when they visit his neighbour Justice Straus.

 

Count Olaf only wants the children for their inheritance and he conjures up a plan to marry Violet to get at the money but the children manage to thwart him and he gets arrested and the children are taken back to the Poe’s but that is not the end of the story.

 

I’m enjoying this series and cheering the children each time they are able to put a slight hitch in Count Olaf’s plans.

 

Currently Reading: To Haunt or Be Lost by B L Allen

Read in 2022: 22/40

 

Sunday, May 08, 2022

Review - Keeper of the Peace by Jennifer Malone Wright

 



Title:
 Keeper of the Peace

Author: Jennifer Malone Wright

Series: Graveyard Guardians #2

Pages: 287

Release Date: March 25th 2015

Format: Kindle

Buy it: Amazon

Add it: Goodreads

 

Synopsis: The love of her life left her long ago, shattering her heart into a million pieces. It’s taken Hannah almost twelve years to push away the hurt and move on with life. That is, until the death of a Reaper brings Detective David Foster back to town and their paths cross once again.

With more and more of the soul-eating Reapers passing through town in search of the Chosen One, who happens to be her sister Lucy, the Estmond family has been busy enough. Now, they rally together in hopes of keeping Hannah out of prison.

With all the trouble lately, being a Keeper, a protector of souls, has never been more difficult for Hannah. Will she forgive David and rekindle their relationship? More importantly, will he find out she is the one responsible for the murder he is investigating?

Sparks fly in more ways than one in the second installment of the Graveyard Guardians.

 

My Review: This instalment of the Graveyard Guardians follows Lucy’s sister Hannah and a police detective David who happen to be former lovers.

 

Hannah is working in the morgue on a dead body that is there because he was a Reaper and Lucy had to kill him and David is there working on the case to discover who the murderer is.

 

Hannah doesn’t want him around especially as her sister would be the one to get arrested for murder and David wants to put the case behind him and go back home however when David finds out who the Estmonds are the two of them end up working together to help cover up the murder so Lucy doesn’t get into trouble and then they end up getting together again.

 

I was looking forward to reading the second book in this series but I was very disappointed and I’m not sure if I will finish this series.

 

Currently Reading: A Terrible Secret by Cathy Glass

Read in 2022: 22/40

 

Saturday, May 07, 2022

Saturday Review - The Saddest Girl in the World by Cathy Glass

 


Title:
 The Saddest Girl in the World

Author: Cathy Glass

Pages: 326

Release Date: April 1st 2009

Format: Paperback

Buy it: Amazon

Add it: Goodreads

 

Synopsis: The Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of Damaged tells the true story of Donna, who came into foster care aged ten, having been abused, victimised and rejected by her family.

 

Donna had been in foster care with her two young brothers for three weeks when she is abruptly moved to Cathy’s. When Donna arrives she is silent, withdrawn and walks with her shoulders hunched forward and her head down. Donna is clearly a very haunted child and refuses to interact with Cathy’s children Adrian and Paula.

 

After patience and encouragement from Cathy, Donna slowly starts to talk and tells Cathy that she blames herself for her and her brothers being placed in care. The social services were aware that Donna and her brothers had been neglected by their alcoholic mother, but no one realised the extent of the abuse they were forced to suffer. The truth of the physical torment she was put through slowly emerges, and as Donna grows to trust Cathy she tells her how her mother used to make her wash herself with wire wool so that she could get rid of her skin colour as her mother was so ashamed that Donna was mixed race.

 

The psychological wounds caused by the bullying she received also start to resurface when Donna starts reenacting the ways she was treated at home by hitting and bullying Paula, so much so that Cathy can’t let Donna out of her sight.

 

As the pressure begins to mount on Cathy to help this child, things start to get worse and Donna begins behaving in erratic ways, trashing her bedroom and being regularly abusive towards Cathy’s children. Cathy begins to wonder if she can find a way to help this child or if Donna’s scars run too deep.

 

My Review: Donna is Cathy’s latest foster child, she is placed into Cathy’s care after being removed from another foster family where she went with her brothers when they were all taken into care.

 

Donna is quiet and withdrawn when she arrives with Cathy and does not want to get involved with Cathy’s children, but after a while Donna confides in Cathy blaming herself for being placed into care even though Donna’s mum was an alcoholic who neglected her children, however no one knows the full extent to her abuse.

 

Donna’s mum hates her because she is mixed race and she and her son’s abuse Donna, beating her and forcing her to do all the housework and even makes Donna scrub her skin to try and get rid of her darker skin. At contact Donna’s mum ignored her and spent the whole time talking and playing with Donna’s brothers.

 

This story was horrible and Donna’s mother was evil but I am glad that Donna was able to be given the chance to work through her issues.


Currently Reading: A Terrible Secret by Cathy Glass

Read in 2022: 22/40

 

Friday, May 06, 2022

Review - Daddy's Little Princess by Cathy Glass

 



Title:
 Daddy’s Little Princess

Author: Cathy Glass

Pages: 315

Release Date: March 27th 2014

Format: Paperback

Buy it: Amazon

Add it: Goodreads

 

Synopsis: The latest title from the internationally bestselling author and foster carer Cathy Glass.

Beth is a sweet-natured child who appears to have been well looked after. But it isn’t long before Cathy begins to have concerns that the relationship between Beth and her father is not as it should be.

Little Beth, aged 7, has been brought up by her father Derek after her mother left when she was a toddler. When Derek is suddenly admitted to hospital with psychiatric problems Beth is taken into care and arrives at Cathy’s.

Beth and her father clearly love each other very much and Derek spoils his daughter, treating her like a princess, but there is something bothering Cathy, something she can’t quite put her finger on.

Meanwhile Cathy’s husband is working away a lot and coming home less at weekends. Then, suddenly, everything changes. Events take a dramatic turn for both Beth and Cathy and her family; as Cathy strives to pick up the pieces all their lives are changed forever.

 

My Review: Beth goes to stay with Cathy because her dad who is a single parent is admitted to hospital. You can tell that Beth loves her dad but Cathy fears that her dad may have been abusing her due to him treating her like a princess.

 

Beth seems to dress up for her dad when she’s going to visit him in the hospital, she wears heels, make-up and a provocative dress (well provocative to an 8 year old), Cathy finds out that Beth has ran her dads girlfriend away so that she can have her dad to herself.

 

When Cathy relays her suspicions to the social worker they launch an investigation into their relationship which eventually turns out to be nothing other than a father showing his daughter love and not setting boundaries about what is right and wrong for a father-daughter relationship, he gets the help he needs and starts seeing his girlfriend again and he has to get Beth to accept the new rules and way that they are going to live their life from then on.

 

I think that Cathy did a great job with Beth and her father given the things that were going on in her own life, she does seem to make a difference for those that she looks after.

 

Currently Reading: Stella's Story by Louise Allen

Read in 2022: 21/40

 

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