Shibui Matcha Green Tea

Shibui Tea

A bit about who Shibui Tea are:

Shibui Tea was set up over a few pots of tea with the simple philosophy of sourcing and sharing great quality tea. We have created a menu which covers a wide range of loose leaf tea with flavours to suit all palates. With a choice of premium classics through to fun and modern concepts, Shibui’s tea drinkers can be assured of a consistent quality product they can trust.

We are a family run business - together with over 35 years of experience in the industry - with our head office split between the UK and Canada. Two brothers run the operation - John in the UK and Paul in Canada.

Our teas are sourced from all over the world, primarily from China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Africa, and Taiwan. Our locations in both the UK and Canada give us the ability to effectively service both the European and North American market places.

By visiting Shibui Tea online, you can browse and choose from over 200 teas and be assured of our excellent customer service. (Taken from their website)

So far I have reviewed Blueberry Rooibos and Chocolate and Ginger, today I decided to give their Matcha Green Tea a go. 

This is how my sample arrived - just with all Shibui teas, vacuum packed and sealed for freshness.  

The first thing I noticed about this Matcha was the colour, this seemed a much more vivid green than some I have tried in the past. I did a bit of research and the brighter more vivid the green, the better quality it is. This did not surprise me as so far Shibui tea seem to be high quality with all of their products. 

I realised that it is very important to follow the instructions when making Matcha tea, if you don't it is very easy to get residue at the bottom of the cup. Shibui make it easy for you by including instructions on their page. Once I had whisked the tea I got a frothy foam across the top, I knew then that I had followed the instructions correctly. 

To be honest I did not like the smell of this tea when brewing it, however all the Matchas I have brewed smell similar and I didn't like them either. Taste for me was the key, I have tasted some really bitter ones in the past and the less bitter the taste the better quality it should be. With Matcha, you will always get some better taste but it should be smoother. I did find that this once, although slightly bitter to begin with, a. got better the more I drank and b. was smooth to drink. This again showed me that it was of good quality. 

Out of all the Matchas I have tasted I would say this was one of the better ones and if I was to regularly drink it I would happily purchase this one. 

Unlike a lot of Shibui teas this cannot be bought in tea bags. This tea is one that is mixed within the water. 

The tea is quite expensive at £22.99 for a 30g tin, however I believe that this is of good quality Matcha and that you pay for what you get. A 30g tin should last you a long time. 

If you would like to purchase these or see what other teas are available please visit their website: Shibui Tea

I would like to thank Shibui tea for supplying this sample for an honest review. 

Weekly Wrap Up - 30.8.15

The weather this week has been dreadful! This has given me some reading time as I was unable to do anything out in the garden this week, I did also have a wedding to go to though, which made me loose a bit of reading time. I am a little sad too as the summer holidays have whizzed by and next week I am back at school! I thought I would do a wrap up of all the books I have read over the summer - not as many as I had of hoped. 

It is an exciting time going back to school though as I am at a new school, I think this will make the weeks go so quick as I am learning all the time again, I cannot wait for my holiday in December, I am hoping this hurry's up. :)

Books I have read over the summer: 

Why we broke up by Daniel Handler - Review

Sing No Evil by J.P. Ahonen - Review

In Their Shoes: Fairy Tales and Folktales by Lucie Arnoux - Review

The Other Me by Saskia Sarginson - Review

Love Comes Home: A Collection of Short Stories by Kristi Rose - Review

Johnny's Girl by Paige Toon - Review

Colour Me Mindful: Tropical by Anastasia Catris - Review

Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers - Review to come 

The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson by Paige Toon - Review to come 

Asking for it by Louise O'Neill - Review to come 

Burnt Paper Sky by Gilly Macmillan - Review to come 

I need a Hero by Emma Bennet - Review to come 

Books I have read this week:

Burnt Paper Sky - Gilly Macmillan 

I need a Hero - Emma Bennet


So I read 12 books over the summer, I don't think that is that bad, I also have a few days still off the beginning of next week so hopefully I will be able to up that amount. Considering I have had to move home and had 2 weddings to attend, which have been longer than the day. I think I managed to fit quite a few in. 

I also have reviewed other products over the summer including the Bookish Box You can find that review here along with tea and beauty.

Thanks for stopping by at The Book Corner, I loved hearing what you have got this week so please leave a comment to let me know

Shibui Chocolate and Ginger tea

Shibui Tea 

A bit about who Shibui Tea are:

Shibui Tea was set up over a few pots of tea with the simple philosophy of sourcing and sharing great quality tea. We have created a menu which covers a wide range of loose leaf tea with flavours to suit all palates. With a choice of premium classics through to fun and modern concepts, Shibui’s tea drinkers can be assured of a consistent quality product they can trust.

We are a family run business - together with over 35 years of experience in the industry - with our head office split between the UK and Canada. Two brothers run the operation - John in the UK and Paul in Canada.

Our teas are sourced from all over the world, primarily from China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Africa, and Taiwan. Our locations in both the UK and Canada give us the ability to effectively service both the European and North American market places.

By visiting Shibui Tea online, you can browse and choose from over 200 teas and be assured of our excellent customer service. (Taken from their website)

So far I have reviewed one of the teas I was sent - Blueberry Rooibos, today I am reviewing Chocolate and Ginger. 

How my sample arrived: 

                                                                            

Once again I was very impressed with the quality of the product, it came in a lovely sealed bag, which made sure the tea was fresh and ready to use. The tea bag is made of material rather than paper and it has small holes in it, which allow the air and water to move around the leaves inside the bag. 

Once placed in a cup, I began to pour the boiling water over the tea bag I left it to brew for some time to allow all the flavours from the bag to be released and create a lovely cup of tea. You can see below the brewing process.

                                                                               

                                                                              

During the brewing process I got a really strong flavour of chocolate. I was really excited to try this tea as I love hot chocolate and was hoping this maybe similar. This would certainly be a hot chocolate which would be better for you! 

Just like the Blueberry tea that I sampled the depth of smell from this little bag was incredible, it was so strong and I was really looking forward to trying the tea once it had cooled down. 

After 5 or so minutes, when I began to try the tea, to be honest I was a little disappointed. I had been so spoilt with the smell coming from my cup that I expected the same level of taste. For me this did not live up to it's expectation. It was sweet to drink and you could certainly taste the ginger coming through but the chocolate that smelt so wonderful seemed to get a little lost in the flavours. Even though the tea was left to brew with the teabag in for a good 3 minutes there seemed to be a lack of depth of taste of the tea. This was something that I didn't find with the blueberry bag. 

Just like most of Shibui tea's this one can be purchased as bags or as loose tea. For a tube of 15 bags its £3.95, I think this is extremely reasonable. If you buy fruity tea bags from the super market you can pay more than this, this is a family run business, who personally I would prefer to support. You are getting good quality in these tea bags and good service. 

If you would like to purchase these or see what other teas are available please visit their website: Shibui Tea

I would like to thank Shibui Tea for sending the samples in exchange for an honest review. Please check back for more reviews of their teas. 

Exclusive Short Story by Emylia Hall - The Seashell

I am extremely excited to the able to bring this post to you today. I recently entered a competition to win a short story by Emylia Hall. Emylia has got a new book out today and to celebrate this she has written me an exclusive short story!!! 

This short story you will find no where else, so you can imagine how pleased I was when I found out I was the winner! 

Anyway back to the short story! - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

The Seashell

Emylia Hall

I stood in my kitchen, holding in my hand a dogwhelk. It was pretty enough, with its pointed end and so smooth shape, but not an uncommon shell, not, to many, an object of particular curiosity. But I folded my fingers around it, and held it tightly. To me, it was one of the most remarkable things I’d ever seen.

Ever since I left home, I’ve been a gatherer of seashells, a collector of shoreline curiosities. I’m the person you see skirting the edges of the tide, with their head dipped, eyes fixed. I stoop to pick up rounded fragments of sea glass, lengths of razor clam, a piece of cuttlebone looking just like a bar of soap gone dry in a dish. I’ve made many a necklace threaded with periwinkles, the sound of clicking and clacking accompanying me wherever I’ve gone - and on the infrequent occasions when my path has crossed with my mother’s, a tut-tut-tut joining in, the sound of her obvious disapproval.

My mother was never one for trinkets, and certainly not the salvaged kind. There were no rings on her fingers, no flowers in her hair. Apart from a single string of pearls, an occasional bracelet, she was an unadorned woman. Starchy, in truth. She always told me that she didn’t believe in happy endings, and yet when her time came she was sleeping in a chair by the fire, her old cat Sammy curled in her lap. She was eighty-three, and I know those years of hers will have contained mysteries I’ll never, ever fathom, but I thought I had the basic measure of her, all the same. I thought I knew the person she was. Brisk, and tightly buttoned. A hard hand, and a harder tongue. For most of my childhood she rode a blue bicycle without any sense of pleasure. The socks she wore were always beige, and always matched.

When she passed away, she left me her jewellery box. Even though some part of it seemed familiar – the black lacquered lid, perhaps, or the pale velvet lining – I’m sure I don’t remember it from my childhood. I’m surprised, in truth, that she owned enough pieces to warrant a box to keep them in. Although, perhaps this last makes sense, because for my mother, everything

had its place. All was boxed. Where else to keep a string of pearls? Certainly not on her bedside table, coiled like a sleeping snake. Inside, alongside her necklace, I found a plain brooch, her silver bracelet, a scattering of hairpins and… a seashell. I’d taken it out, so very carefully, holding it between my finger and thumb. I’d held it to the light, as though looking for a silver mark, or the kind of hologram that appears on banknotes. I’d peered inside it, its interior as pale and delicate looking as the underside of a wrist. The faintest traces of beach sand were still caught in its groove.

I’d thought of him, then. My father. Or the few pictures I’d seen of him, anyway. Their wedding day, with the two of them standing side by side on the steps of a registry office in a landlocked town. Him in a suit, straight-legged, narrow shouldered, a mass of wayward curls throw up by the wind. Her in an uncharacteristically flouncy, high-necked dress, a modest bouquet of garden flowers gripped in her hand, a nervous not-quite laughing mouth. Another version of him – this time holding me, the baby me, the only picture I have of the two of us together. I’m curled in the crook of his arm, tight as a limpet to a rock, and on his face he wears a look of puzzlement – as though he’d seen the world in a grain of sand and found it to be nothing like he’d imagined.

I know he’d been living by the sea when they’d met, and that she’d lured him inland, briefly, to a place where seagulls still wheeled in the skies but didn’t know how it was to steal a chip from a holidaymaker’s fingers. My parents lived in a terrace of miners’ cottages, with a fire that spat sparks on a grey rug and a wailing baby in the room upstairs. My mother hadn’t held on to him for long. Nor I, despite the mollusc me, the limpet me, soft-headed and pudgy-handed and wrapped in a blanket that my grandmother would never have knitted us. He went back to the waves, she said, followed that siren song all the way to the sea, leaving the pair of us tossing grimly in his wake. I suppose that was the reason why, throughout my childhood, we never went anywhere near this island nation’s shore. There were no sandy sandwiches for me. My hair never grew salted and tangled. I never stood on the shoreline,

icy water stopping my tracks, only to go running in with my skirt held up above my knees, my voice coming shrill and unguarded. I discovered these things for myself at a much grander age, my own children happily in tow, them not understanding what strange beauty it was to kick through beach sand, how very precious it was, for me, to lie as human starfish, bobbing on an incoming tide.

Now, somewhere behind me a kettle was boiling. My toast popped and stayed put. Later I’ll find it, cold and rigid. I’ll make a cup of tea with lukewarm water, and probably drink it anyway. There has always been much I haven’t known, but life has found its way of tricking me, just as it tricks so many. It has permitted me to drift, unquestioning, from one day into the next.

And now I know this: My mother kept a seashell in her jewellery box.

I release it from my hand, reluctantly, and place it on the table. The light from the window catches it, sends its surface gleaming. For a moment it appears just-washed, sea-wet, a dazzling little dogwhelk on the shoreline, ripe enough to pluck. Precious enough to pocket. While the memories it holds can’t be mine to know, I try to imagine them all the same. Or, to be more accurate, I try to imagine my mother in possession of them. Permitting herself this much, after all. Sitting on the edge of her bed in her brown slippers and stiff housecoat, a certain look, one I never once saw, or perhaps never recognised, lighting her eyes. Or dozing in an armchair by the fire, lulled by the softest sound of the sea, not an uncomplicated sound, but neither a wholly unwanted one. Or, only really for the first time, I see her walking by the water, back when she was young, and breezy, and, I like to think, in love. The world is at my mother’s feet, and in her hand she holds a seashell.

The Sea Between Us is Emylia's new novel out today! 

The blurb:

In a remote Cornish cove, on one of the last days of summer, Robyn Swinton is drowning. She is saved - just - by local boy Jago Winters, and it is a moment that will change both of them forever.

Over the next seven years, Robyn and Jago's paths lead them in different directions, to city streets and foreign shores. Will the bond forged that day Jago dragged Robyn in from the sea be strong enough to bring them back to one another, or has life already pulled them too far apart? - Taken from Amazon

To buy a copy of this stunning book here

I would like to thank Emylia for writing this short story and for allowing me to feature it on The Book Corner, I would also like to thank Headline for running the competition. 

Free Audio Book download - Every download helps animals under threat.

Recently we have heard in the news about Cecil the Lion in Africa, who was hunted. Everyone wanted to do what they could, and of course they wanted to make sure that the 'hunter' was caught. Most of us, however sad we felt about it, could do very little. Perhaps offer some support through social networking sites, but not a lot else. 

I for one, wanted to help the animals, not just the lions but all of the endangered animals and try to protect them. Unfortunately I am not in a financial position to be able to offer money to the cause. When I got sent the information about this I couldn't believe it. I had the opportunity to download a book AND help the animals. This was perfect for me, knowing that my download was going towards helping them. This is where you can help too, every time the adaptation of The Jungle Book is downloaded for FREE 25p will go to help ZSL build a future for the wildlife. 

So all I am asking you to do is, if you care about animals and felt appalled about what happened to Cecil the lion then please use the link below and download it. 

Here is some more information: 

Bill Bailey, Richard E Grant, Colin Salmon and Celia Imrie join host of talent in new audio adaptation of The Jungle Book



Audible.co.uk to donate 25p per free download of new all-star audio adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book- The Mowgli Stories to ZSL



UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 00:00 26 August 2015: Audible.co.uk has produced a new full-cast dramatisation of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book – The Mowgli Stories, in association with charity partner the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).



Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book - The Mowgli Stories is out on 26 August and available for free at: www.audible.co.uk/jungle. 25p from every download goes to help ZSL build a future for wildlife.



The magical story-telling and unforgettable characters in Bev Doyle and Richard Kurti’s audio adaptation of this children’s classic have been brought to life by many well-known voices from British film, TV, radio and comedy, including Bill Bailey as Baloo, Richard E Grant as Kaa and Martin Shaw as Shere Khan.



The partnership between Audible.co.uk and ZSL will help highlight the plight of many of the animals who featured in The Jungle Book and are under threat in the wild, such as the Bengal tiger (Shere Khan). The creation of India’s tiger reserves in the 1970s helped to stabilise numbers, but poaching to meet a growing demand from Asia in recent years has once again put the Bengal tiger at risk. The sloth bear (represented by Baloo), which could once be found throughout India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, is now threatened by hunting and habitat loss. Sloth bear numbers continue to decline and it is now listed as vulnerable by IUCN.



Sandra Crewe, Head of Corporate Partnerships for international conservation charity, the Zoological Society of London said: “It’s a sad fact that many of the animals that inspired the characters of The Jungle Book are today battling against unprecedented threats in the wild, with some, like the tiger and elephant, facing the terrifying prospect of extinction. We are delighted to be the official charity partner of Audible’s production of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book – The Mowgli Stories. This fantastic new adaptation is an opportunity to raise awareness of this issue and raise funds to support our worldwide conservation of wildlife and their habitats.”



Audible.co.uk head Tracey Markham said: “We are committed to producing new exciting audio content for our listeners and this adaptation is really something special. We are working with some of the most talented writers and actors around to make brilliant new audio entertainment. The charity partnership with ZSL is the first of its kind for us and we are really excited to be working with them to support wildlife conservation around the world.”



The cast of Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book – The Mowgli Stories includes:

· Bill Bailey (Black Books, Stand-Up Comic) as Baloo

· Richard E Grant (Withnail & I, Downton Abbey) as Kaa

· Colin Salmon (James Bond, 24: Live Another Day) as Bagheera

· Sacha Dhawan (History Boys, Last Tango in Halifax) as Mowgli

· Celia Imrie (Bridget Jones’s Diary, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) as Mother Wolf

· Meera Syal (Broadchurch, Goodness Gracious Me) as Chil

· Ralph Ineson (The Kingsman, Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows) as Father Wolf

· Martin Shaw (Inspector George Gently, Judge John Deed) as Shere Khan

· Tim McInnerny (Blackadder, Notting Hill) as Kipling

· Bernard Cribbins (The Wombles, Jackanory) as White Cobra

· Russell Tovey (History Boys, Being Human) as Banderlog 1



Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book – The Mowgli Stories can be downloaded and enjoyed on a wide range of devices including Kindle Keyboard, Kindle Touch, Kindle Fire, the Audible apps for iOS, Android, and Windows Phone 8, PC, Mac or an MP3 player. The production provides three hours of listening entertainment and it is most suitable for children aged 8 and over, as well as adults of all ages.



It is the fourth production from the original programming team of Audible.co.uk. Previous productions include The Child and AMOK, two full-cast adaptations of best-selling novels by Sebastian Fitzek, and Six Degrees of Assassination, an original thriller by Meadowlands and Silent Witness writer Matt J Arlidge.

Thank you again for reading this post and I hope like me you want to help the wildlife and you will show your support by downloading this for free. 

I would like to thank Audible for sending me this information to share with you. I did not receive any compensation nor will I receive anything if you download a free copy.

Colour Me Mindful: Tropical by Anastasia Catris

Colour Me Mindful: Tropical by Anastasia Catris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Not just for kids anymore, colouring delivers a deeply satisfying experience that is almost meditative and colouring books are growing in popularity as anti-stress aids for adults.

Complete with intricately detailed and beautiful line-art, this book depicts beautiful tropical scenes.

Your mind will focus as you fill the pages with colour, becoming calm and reducing stress. This is mindful, simple therapy for adults that can be carried out every day.

With stunning illustrations to colour in and admire, this book provides a creative outlet and a deeply soothing mindful experience for those in need of a little artistic stress-busting.


When I found out I had won a competition and this was one of the colouring books I had won I was jumping for joy. I loved the look of this book, it is perfect to fit in your bag to keep it with you. Whether you use it for commuting to work, travelling on holiday or just relaxing at home. This is the perfect size.

This comes with a mix of wonderful illustrations, it is clear that Anastasia is very talented, she has included just the right amount of detail in the images- which don't become so over whelming for you to colour.

I am currently just using colour pencils, however I feel that pens could be used in this book as the paper seems quite thick and of good quality. I did find that the sharper the pencils the better the effect you get, as some of the images are quite tiny, due to the size of the paper. I like to make sure that the pencil stays inside the lines and this is a way of helping that.

I would recommend this colouring book, I have got a few now and this is one of my favourites. Anastasia is also bringing out some more later in the year, I cannot wait to try these as they look like they are going to be even better than this one!

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

These are a few of the pages that I have coloured. 

         




Buy it today from the Bookdepository for only £2.99!!! Click here to grab a bargain!

Johnny's Girl by Paige Toon

Johnny's Girl by Paige Toon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Meg's life has taken a turn for the perfect. She is the envy of millions with her drop dead gorgeous husband, their two beautiful sons and her new mansion in Henley. Her celebrity PA days are over. But desperate to keep up with her rock star husband, Johnny Jefferson, she uproots her perfect family and moves back to LA. 

Meg has to learn to live with her new celebrity status and the insecurities of her old life, which keep reappearing. Under the paparazzi flash of an A-List party, complete with red carpet, champagne and canapés, Johnny's rock star past catches up with him and Meg's worst nightmare becomes a reality…



Paige Toon is one of my favourite authors and when I knew she was writing a novella as a sequel for Baby Be Mine I knew I would have to read it. I have read it quite late actually, it came out over a year ago but I decided to wait so I could read her YA book based on these characters after. I am glad I read them in the correct order and that I fit the short story in before, this helped me remember what had happened and got back up to speed with the characters.

During this short story we get to meet the characters again, Meg and Johnny are living in England, (where Meg is from) but his work is driving them back to the States. After having a holiday over there Meg realises that maybe it wouldn't be so bad to move back again.

I really loved this novella, it was fun and hooked you straight in, even if you haven't read the other two books you would be able to fill in the blanks. On the other hand though, why would you not of read the other two? They are pretty fantastic!

One thing I love about Paige's books is that they seem to all connect in some way or another, I liked the added bonus of hearing about Alice and Joseph Strike, I always think that reading a Paige Toon novel is like a hug in a mug, you feel warm when you read her books and that you're at home. This novella for me was no exception.

After reading this novella I was well equipped to begin The Accidental Life of Jessie Jefferson, and cannot wait to begin, I feel like I have had a small taster of what is in store and I love it. This novella was only about 100 pages but I whizzed through it and if that is anything to go by then I know I will be finishing the two YA's in no time at all.

The added bonus is that this ebook is free at the moment so you have no excuse not to grab yourself a copy.

Well done Paige for me you have done it again, loved every minute of it.

Weekly Wrap up 23.8.15

This week I have been busy trying to sort the garden at my new house, it has been very unloved and we wanted to try and make it a little better before the summer is over. It has also been an exciting week due to the read-a-thon that has been going on Bout of Books 14. Please check back at my previous post to see how I got on.

Bout of Books 14



This week I have been sent:

The Widow -
The Photographs - Various



This week I have bought:

None



Books I have read this week:

Asking for it by Louise O'Neill
Burnt Paper Sky - Gilly Macmillan - currently reading


Thanks for stopping by at The Book Corner, I loved hearing what you have got this week so please leave a comment to let me know

Very Berry Montagne Jeunesse Face Mask

Very Berry Montagne Jeunesse Face Mask

What they say:

Bursting with the juice of pressed Blueberries and crushed Cranberries our fruity beauty is packed with antioxidants. Nourishing Peach Kernel oil and soothing Aloe will leave your skin refreshed and cleansed. *Suitable for Combination/Oily/Dry/Mature/Normal Skin. (Taken from Amazon.)

What I think:

This face mask, just like all other Montagne Jeunesse masks are easy to apply and give you just the right amount for your face. It was very thick when applying it and it smelt delicious! I removed this in the shower, which I prefer to do. (I can make sure I have completely removed all traces of the mask!) It left my skin feeling smooth. 

I was hoping that it was going to help my skin, I used this around the time of the month and I was hoping it would help my breakout. To be honest, I didn't actually notice a difference to my skin other than it feeling very smooth. It could be that I would need to apply it a lot more to see affects of the product. 

I think this face mask would be great for dry skin. I don't actually suffer from this and maybe this is why it didn't seem to do anything for me. 

love comes home - Kristi Rose

LOVE COMES HOME: A Collection of Second Chance 

Short Stories

by Kristi Rose | August 18, 2015

A collection of 5 sweet, heartwarming contemporary romances about forgiveness, second chances, and loving through difficult times. The perfect length books to satisfy your need to read when time is limited. Great for the carpool, waiting in line, running kids to practice, or lounging on the beach.



Book 1: Second Chances Fourteen years ago Lorelei Parker fell in love with her best friend, Cole Williams, but instead of forever she ended up with a broken heart. Now, if they can put their past behind them, Lorelei and Cole may find a second chance.



Book 2: Once Again Evie Barker works hard, takes care of her ailing mother, and finds pleasure in her simple life. The memory of a complicated childhood is all that remains of the old days—And good riddance.



Grady Duke blew out of town before the ink on his high school diploma was dry. A six year stint in the Marine Corps gave him a good dose of the real world. Returning home, sixteen years later, Ph.D in hand, the last person he expects to find next door is Evie.



Neither can escape the memory of one reckless summer together nor the wild attraction they still feel. But taking risks is not in Evie’s disposition. Even if Grady is the one man who can offer her the happiness she’s been missing. But he could also break her in an unimaginable way. Regardless, Grady must atone for the past and prove he’s worth a second chance.



Book 3: Reason to Stay Shea Barker ran away on a greyhound ten years ago. Now a rising Nashville song-writer, determined to make it on her own, she’s set her eyes on everything but her past.



When her momma’s funeral forces her back to her hometown, she has no intention of staying longer than necessary. Until she meets Leo Marshall, the soft spoken journalist who sees her for who she wants to be, and suddenly a future she never expected opens up. Maybe her lyrics aren’t the only place where love is found.



Book 4: He’s the One Having given up on the dream of a husband but refusing to give up the dream of a

baby, Melinda Bane is putting her eggs into the sperm bank basket. When a fire puts her dreams on hold, she turns to her oldest friend Jared to help her through, like he always has.



Jared doesn’t mind running to help his brother’s ex-wife, Melinda, whenever she needs him. But while helping her repair her sunroom and learning of her hopes for a family, Jared has an idea of how he can fix even more than her home.



Book 5: Kiss me Again Andee’s ten-year marriage has lost its spark. Whether it’s attending couples counseling or a BDSM dungeon, Andee will do whatever it takes to reignite the flame. But when all her measures fail and leave her frustrated, Andee wonders if anything will rekindle the fire she so desperately desires.

Love Comes Home: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Goodreads

About Kristi Rose

Kristi Rose was raised in central Florida on boiled peanuts and iced tea. She’s been lucky enough to travel the world but now, a wife and mother, she's resigned to traveling to the grocery store. No matter where she is, she enjoys watching people and wondering about their story. That’s what Kristi likes to write. Stories about everyday people, the love that brings them together, and their journey getting there. Kristi is a member of RWA.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

Review: 

This is a collection of short stories, which are perfect for your hectic life, you can dip in and out of the book for a quick light hearted read that will leave you feeling fluffy inside. 

If you are looking for cliff hangers you are not going to get it, they are perfectly wrapped up, my only wish for a few of the stories was that they could have been a little longer, as I was left feeling that I may have liked to know more about the characters, that however is my only negative. 

Books 1 - Second Chances.
Loreli has not seen Cole for years and when he wanders back to their hometown Loreli is not best pleased, he was the love of her life so how are things so bad now between them? Why is she so mad at him? 
Although the story was so short, I felt the characters were developed well and it was a very sweet story. I am not going to say anymore for the risk of spoiling it. This is one though that you must read. 

Book 2 - Once Again.
Just as the first book, this is a sweet story about second chances, the plot and storyline is very different from the first but still very enjoyable. Evie looks after her mother, who is ill. Grady, after leaving the town after school is suddenly back after six years away. One summer something happened between to two, Grady is surprised to find that Evie lives next door, all the feelings they had for eachother begin to come flooding back. Evie is not convinced this is the right thing, will she give him a second chance? You will need to read to find out. This I thought was well written and again the characters were will developed. 

Book 3 - Reason to Stay.
This is a perfect read for a rainy afternoon, you begin to want to be part of this world and feel that you have a true connection to the characters. Shea is forced back to her home town for her mothers funeral, she wants to go, make it as painless as possible and leave as soon as she can. That is until she meets Leo, Leo believes in her dreams and wants to help make them a reality. This is a sweet romance story that will leave you wanting more. 

Book 4 - He's the one.
Melinda is desperate for a baby and when she decides to give up looking for a husband, who is right for her, the one thing she wont compromise is her desire to have a baby. She decides to turn to a sperm donor, after an incident her dreams once again are put on hold but can Jared, her ex brother in law help her out? When reading this book because of the fire it felt a little more tense at times than the previous books as there was more drama. I really enjoyed reading this novella. 

I have not currently read book 5 but I am looking forward to it. I would recommend this series for those who lead busy lives and can only fit half an hour a day or reading in. 

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

GIVEAWAY

Grand Prize: One signed ebook or paperback, 2 fun diner/kitchen signs (see images), and $25 gift card of choice (US or FPO/APO address only)

1st Prize: One digitally signed LOVE COMES HOME ebook, $15 gift card of choice  (international)

2nd Prize: One digitally signed LOVE COMES HOME ebook, and $10 gift card of choice (international)

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TOUR SCHEDULE 

Monday, August 17th – Curling Up With A Good Book 

Tuesday, August 18th (Release Day!) – GReads! 

Wednesday, August 19th – Maureen’s Books 

Thursday, August 20th – The Book Corner 

Friday, August 21st – We’re Jumpin’ Books 

Monday,August 24th – Gemma’s Giornale 

Tuesday, August 25th – Juliette Cross 

Wednesday, August 26th – LuLo Fangirl 

Thursday, August 27th – Deal Sharing Aunt 

Monday, August 31st – JeanzBookReadNReview 

Monday, August 31st – Stuck in Books 

Tuesday, September 1st – Refreshingly Riki 

Wednesday, September 2nd – Kindle and Me

Thursday, September 3rd – Books, Etc. 

Friday, September 4th – Jersey Girl Book Reviews

IN THEIR SHOES: FAIRY TALES AND FOLKTALES by Lucie Arnoux

IN THEIR SHOES: FAIRY TALES AND FOLKTALES by Lucie Arnoux
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


To coincide with a major V&A exhibition: the best shoe stories from around the world

Red shoes, golden slippers, seven-league boots... Just step into the shoes of princes and princesses, ogres and orphans, cats and rabbits, and discover a fascinating fairy-tale world of footwear.

Did you know that long ago Cinderella lived in China? That dogs in America wear boots? And that a small pair of shoes in France can fall in love?

With original illustrations by Lucie Arnoux, this is a timeless and captivating collection of fairy tales and folktales, whose footprints have lasted through the generations, over the centuries, and all around the world.


This little book is just beautiful! The cover is stunning, the gold shoes glisten in the light and parts of it are embossed. Although this is marketed for the children's audience adults will enjoy this little gem just as much.

This is a collection of short stories, which are all old fairy tales or folktales from around the world. When reading, some of these I did find shocking, considering they are for children. In example The Red Shoes by Hans Christian Anderson has moments of gore and horror in it.

My favourite story was The Story of Yexian, this is the earliest known to date story of Cinderella, set in China. Although it is different to the Cinderella we know today, you can quite clearly see the similarities of it.

Some of the stories I found a little difficult to follow and my attention began to drift. However, I enjoyed the majority of the stories, just at times I couldn't believe how dark they were, saying that though the Grimm Brothers are well known for their dark fairy tales.

If you are a fairy tale lover this is certainly a little book to add to your collection. I liked how short the book was as a whole but included a lot of stories. These are perfect for reading just before you go to be as they are short enough for you to enjoy a whole story before falling asleep!

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

The Bookish Box review

                                       

The Book(ish) Box review. 

This month I have been lucky enough to have been sent The Book(ish) Box by Appraising Pages, thanks so much Justine. 

So what is The Book(ish) Box? 

The Book(ish) box is a monthly subscription. Each month has a bookish theme, and you'll receive a shirt and some special items currated just for the theme. Each shirt is selected in your size, and only available in the box. (Taken from Appraising Pages website.)

This box comes all the way from America so they do ship internationally. Which is great for us book lovers! I do love the idea of this box, there are many subscription boxes out there right now and it is hard to find one that offers something different. I love this box for a couple of reasons (which I will go into later in the review.) 

How it works: 

Every month you'll receive a shirt by Appraising Pages Shop and 3-5 home, beauty, and fashion items. Designed with the the fashionable literary obsessed lady in mind. Just 29.99 plus shipping! The shirts are exclusive to The Book(ish) Box and sent in your size. We search for the perfect items to add to each box, creating products with your favorite small shops. (Taken from Appraising Pages website.)

The Book(ish) Box was dispatched around the 10th of August and I received mine across the pond, in the U.K on 17th August. I thought that this was really speedily and I was impressed how the box arrived very securely and not damaged. 

Side of box. 

                                           

When I opened up the box I had no idea what to expect as this is my first subscription book box, but I was rather excited. Inside there was some beautiful tissue paper with a tiny peg attached. This had a little card on, (see below) which gave me information about what I should expect to find in my box. 

Info card. 

                                            

Already my first impression of this box was a good one. It is so professional looking and it is clear that a lot of time and thought has gone into creating this box. The card is of good quality with an high content of ink used on it. On closer inspection there is a little logo in the corner of the card, this now stated the theme to me - you can see the cube? I am not sure if this is a regular feature of the presentation of the box as this was my first, but it would be interesting to see if this changes with the different boxes monthly. 

So what was in the box??

Star Wars book mark

The first thing I spotted in the box was this really cute little star wars book mark, as stated on the card there were two characters you could potentially get this month, Dr Who or Luke Sky walker. I am really pleased with my bookmark, as Star Wars is going to be making another appearance on our screens this winter, I think this was the perfect one to receive.

This is a magnetic book mark, these I find are great, much better than ones you just slide in your books as they are secure but don't mark your pages. I also find that they last longer than original book marks. 

The Fragrance Library Candle - The Maze

The next item I have received is The Maze candle, this is where I can chat to you about one of the major thing I love about this subscription box, which I think is a little different from others. This is the fact they support smaller businesses and  in your box each month you will get a selection of hand made items from independent sellers.                                                                                                                                                                                                 The Maze candle is from the etsy shop - The Fragrance Library . Since receiving this in my box I have visited the shop and I love what they have to offer. All of their candles are linked in some way to novels. I think this is such a unique idea and this one in particular is absolutely beautiful. The smell is divine! All of the scents of the front of the tin are delivered in this little candle. I so far have been very impressed with The Fragrance Library and I think I will be visiting this store in the future to purchase some wonderful candles. 

Candle with the lid off, a beautiful colour and smells divine!

Rich Love Shoppe - Necklace

This necklace is absolutely wonderful. It arrived in a lovely fabric bag, along with a couple of cards to promote the shop. It was wrapped in gold tissue paper to make sure it was secure in the post. The necklace itself is very heavy, it is on a long silver chain which suits the necklace well. The pendent is quite large with a bubble of glass on the front of it. Inside it says 'I'll cross the sky for you.' I think this is stunning and I am so glad I have had the opportunity to review this item. It is well made and I know it is going to go with anything I choose to wear. 

I have visited this shop Rich Love Shoppe and I have been amazed at the products on there, they are all reasonably priced and are very good quality. My favourite items from the shop I think have to be the bracelets, however their are also key rings and items for little girls. (If you have little sisters or a daughter, make sure to check them out!) 

I am going to be wearing this necklace at every opportunity I get, thanks so much Appraising Pages for popping this in my box!

Night and Day Baby - Dr Who Headwrap

I was very excited to see this in my box, I will be honest to begin with I had absolutely no idea what it was but it didn't take me long to work it out. The colours on this head wrap are amazing! It is extremely long, no worries if you have thick hair and if not then you can double tie it maybe! This depicts time travelling in this head wrap, there is even a tardis! The material is very good quality and it very strong. I cannot wait to try this one out. 

Again, just as the other products in my box I visited the etsy shop NightandDayBaby to check out the sellers other items. This mainly consists of  material items and baby items, if you have a small baby this maybe the shop for you, there seem to be some good teething rings on here. 

All of the products are once again good quality and priced reasonably. For me this has been my least favourite product in the box, only because I am not that keen on Dr Who, however I would be able to wear this without it being obvious and I like that feature. The colours are great and will go with a lot of things I wear. 

T-Shirt - A Wrinkle in Time  

 Finally was the T-shirt in the box for this month, by now I had worked out that it was a Sci - Fi themed box so was interested to see what the T-Shirt was going to be like. Whenever I purchase clothes online I always am a bit nervous with the sizing. I decided I would choose a small, I am glad I did, this was a perfect size for me. If you are thinking about getting one of these Book(ish) Boxes but are unsure of which size to choose, just make sure you visit the website where you will be able to select the size by measuring. visit here

Back to the T-shirt, I love this colour blue, it's so deep and dreamy! It is not my usual type T-shirt I would buy, but saying that I will wear it. What I do like about it is that you cannot buy this particular top from Appraising Pages website, they are unique to The Book(ish) Box, which I feel makes it more exclusive. 


Overall I am very impressed with this box, the complete look, the amount of time and thought that has gone into creating it. Although Sci-Fi is probably the only genre that I do not read as I don't enjoy it, this didn't stop me loving the box any less. Personally I think if I have loved a box on a genre I don't enjoy I am going to think the others are incredible! 

For $29.99 I think this is a good, high quality subscription box and the fact they ship overseas is also a bonus! You can buy monthly, 3 or 6 month subscriptions too, so if you have in mind a gift for someone this would be great. I know if someone bought me this as a gift I would be over the moon. So far I cannot say a negative thing about Appraising Pages, the idea they have come up with is great. It appeals to many and I love how they help smaller businesses. 

I cannot thank Appraising Pages enough for sending me this to review, I am so glad I had the opportunity to help promote this wonderful subscription box. This is something that I have not seen or heard a lot about in the U.K, if you are looking for something unique then this is for you. Give it a go, you will not be disappointed once it arrives to you. 

If you would like to see my youtube unboxing video then please see below. (note order of items maybe slightly different to the written review order.)

I was sent this in exchange for an honest review. 

Book(ish) Box unboxing