Truly Happy Baby ... It Worked for Me: A practical parenting guide from a mum you can trust by Holly Willoughby

Truly Happy Baby ... It Worked for Me: A practical parenting guide from a mum you can trust by Holly Willoughby
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Whether you’ve just had a baby or you’re about to welcome your new little bundle into the world, you probably have a LOT of questions …

I know I did! And I also know from first-hand experience with my three babies that one-size-fits all parenting doesn’t work. So this book is to help you find out what will work for you and your baby. I’ve included all the information and friendly advice I wish I’d been given before I became a mum for the first time, alongside the routines, shortcuts and tips that worked for me.

I hope this book will empower you during your first twelve months of parenthood to trust your own mummy intuition, and to care for your children in your own way – confidently and happily. We all have that intuition, we just need to learn to tune into it! With chapters on feeding, sleeping, wellbeing and lifestyle – as well as how to look after yourself – this book will equip you with all the know-how you need to get you through the sleepless nights and concerns, to all the magical first moments. It’s a collection of everything that worked for me as a new mum – and I hope it works for you, too.

Love, Holly xxx


Being a first time mum, it is daunting. I bought this book when I found out I was pregnant. I found this to be very informative, Holly although a celebrity, is one who is down to earth and I felt I could trust what she was saying after all, she has gone through it!

This is a book that I haven't read cover to cover but more of one that I can dip into when I feel the need. So far I have used it a lot and I feel I will continue to dip in and out of it. I love the layout of the book and also the images throughout.

I am tempted to purchase Holly's book on weaning so when the time comes I can be clued up with it.

I would recommend this to other first time mums.

The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World by Haemin Sunim

The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to be Calm in a Busy World by Haemin Sunim
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The world moves fast, but that doesn't mean we have to. In this timely guide to mindfulness, Haemin Sunim, a Buddhist monk born in Korea and educated in the United States, offers advice on everything from handling setbacks to dealing with rest and relationships, in a beautiful book combining his teachings with calming full-colour illustrations. Haemin Sunim's simple messages - which he first wrote when he responded to requests for advice on social media - speak directly to the anxieties that have become part of modern life and remind us of the strength and joy that come from slowing down.

Hugely popular in Korea, Haemin Sunim is a Zen meditation teacher whose teachings transcend religion, borders and ages. With insight and compassion drawn from a life full of change, the bestselling monk succeeds at encouraging all of us to notice that when you slow down, the world slows down with you.

I rarely read non - fiction, however I picked this little gem up for a little be of self pampering. This is a lovely little book, sectioned into different areas and is incredibly easy to read, not meant to be read cover to cover, just to be picked up here and there when you need time for yourself.

This is a thoughtful little book, which has some lovely quotes in that help you think about things, not too deeply but will help you slow down and reevaluate things in your life.

I really enjoyed this book and it will be one that I regularly pick up.

My Encyclopedia of Very Important Animals by DK Publishing

My Encyclopedia of Very Important Animals by DK Publishing
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For little animal lovers who want to know everything. From birds and frogs to sharks and dogs, this book is perfect for the curious little animal lover in your life.

Mixing photography and charming illustration, kids will discover important facts about the wonderful world of animals - from what they eat and where they live, to why people are animals too.

My Encyclopedia of Very Important Animals is a friendly book that gets children learning, reading, and laughing!

This is a very beautiful book, it is slightly padded front and back, it is A4 in size and has high quality paper and ink.

This is very easy to follow and understand, perfect for when children want to research on their own. I was impressed with the variety of animals in this book, not all you would think of straight away.

Each page has many interesting facts on it, it is perfect for children to read alone but also a book you could share. This is a brilliant book for helping children understand non - fiction as the features are very clear for them to be able to use independently. This is also the type of book children would enjoy reading just before bed.

Taking this into school, my class got a lot of use and enjoyment out of it, it also helped to enhance their learning and made them realise that non fiction books can also be fun.

This is a book that I would recommend to children as there is so much they can learn from it, it would also keep them entertained for hours.

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

Lesser Spotted Animals by Martin Brown

Lesser Spotted Animals by Martin Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Bison are banned and tigers are taboo! Say goodbye to the gnu, cheerio to the cheetah and poo poo to the panda. The world of Lesser Spotted Animals starts HERE! Discover the brilliant beasts you never knew you needed to know anything about - from the numbat to the zorilla and everything in between. Martin Brown's wonderfully funny and fact-tastic writing, teamed with his fabulous illustrations and tummy-tickling jokes is a winning combination.


This is a brilliant book full of animals that you rarely see in other children's books. It is non - fiction so children are learning about these more unusual animals, these facts are told in interesting and fun ways to engage the reader and want them to learn more about them.

I really enjoyed reading this book as an adult, however children equally enjoyed it, this is one that hooked in the boys too. They can be reluctant readers at time but this really did engage them and they were interested in finding new facts and information about them.

The illustrations are great, they are fun but also can bring discussions when sharing it with a group. I would highly recommend this book, it is really interesting and enjoyable.

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

Paris in Bloom by Georgianna Lane

Paris in Bloom by Georgianna Lane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Paris—City of Love, City of Light, City of Flowers. From elegant floral boutiques to lively flower markets to glorious blooming trees and expansive public gardens, flowers are the essential ingredient to the lush sensory bouquet that is Parisian life. With beautiful photography, Paris in Bloom transports readers on a stunning floral tour of the city, and provides recommendations to the best flower markets and a detailed guide to spring blooms. Timeless in content, Paris in Bloom is a book for Paris lovers to savor again and again, one to keep on the nightstand to conjure fond memories of their first visit and inspire dreams of the next.

This is an absolutely stunning coffee table book. It is clear the author has a passion for the city and enjoys photographing it.

I love how some of the photographs are obvious choices of Paris such as the Eiffel Tower, however there are also some hidden treasures in the book which is a joy to see. This really makes you want to jump on the next plane to Paris.

This is a beautiful book to return to time and time again, it has become a firm favourite on my coffee table, which has sparked conversation from guests, who love it as much as I do.

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

The Naturalista: Recipes for a healthier, happier life by Xochi Balfour

The Naturalista: Recipes for a healthier, happier life by Xochi Balfour
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Xochi Balfour changed her life from her little London kitchen and, as The Naturalista, has been blogging about her experience of balancing and simplifing her life in harmony with the natural world. Without recourse to expensive ingredients, all-consuming cleanses or dramatic diets, Xochi has taken the principles of naturopathy and created a way of life, from a gentler way of eating to simple beauty recipes as well as bringing relaxation and mindfulness into your everyday routine.

Her food is gluten- and dairy-free and predominantly plant based, but straightforward and delicious, her skincare recipes can also be made from kitchen ingredients and her techniques for everyday mindfulness can be fitted into the busiest of lives. Her recipes include power balls and energy bars, raw chocolate, sea salt and pistachio fudge, cornershop turmeric and coconut dahl and beetroot falafel as well as a gluten-free carrot and flax bread. For your body, there is a rosewater facial spray, passionfruit and papaya face mask and lavender and shea butter body lotion, while for your home, Xochi will show you the benefits of barefoot earthing and how to make your own incense.

This is truly a bright and beautiful guide to natural living in the modern age.


I thought this would be great for healthy recipes and it does have these in, along with beautiful photography. This book looks more at changing your lifestyle rather than just cooking one or two healthy recipes, which is great if you are looking for that kind of book.

The recipes are easy to follow and are clear.

I would recommend this for anyone looking at changing their lifestyle to make healthier choices.

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

Girl Up by Laura Bates

Girl Up by Laura Bates
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

They told you you need to be thin and beautiful.

They told you to wear longer skirts, avoid going out late at night and move in groups - never accept drinks from a stranger, and wear shoes you can run in more easily than heels.

They told you to wear just enough make-up to look presentable but not enough to be a slut; to dress to flatter your apple, pear, hourglass figure, but not to be too tarty.

They warned you that if you try to be strong, or take control, you'll be shrill, bossy, a ballbreaker. Of course it's fine for the boys, but you should know your place.

They told you 'that's not for girls' - 'take it as a compliment' - 'don't rock the boat' - 'that'll go straight to your hips'.

They told you 'beauty is on the inside', but you knew they didn't really mean it.

Well I'm here to tell you something different.

Hilarious, jaunty and bold, GIRL UP exposes the truth about the pressures surrounding body image, the false representations in media, the complexities of a sex and relationships, the trials of social media and all the other lies they told us.


I am not sure really how to review this book. It sits slightly awkwardly with me. I am not a feminist and never tried to be and so some of the way this book has been written wasn't for me.

This book is very crude in places, just not my cup of tea. Yes there are lots of good points in the book and I feel other women/ younger girls should know and read but perhaps not in this way. If you are a lover of feminism or even writing an essay for university on this subject I would recommend you pick this book up as there are lots of great points in it and the author is honest throughout.

I enjoyed the fact the book was broken up with illustrations and diagrams throughout, I thought this stopped it being too 'heavy'. I can recognise that the author has spent a lot of time researching and clearly has a passion for this area, but I feel that sometimes it has been represented in a crude way. One that doesn't sit kindly with me. This is probably a bit of a controversial review as I can see most people who have read this have really enjoyed it. However, I have always reviewed a book honestly. There were parts of this book that I skimmed as I could see I wasn't enjoying the way it was written. Saying this, it doesn't mean it is an awful book as many will love this and be able to relate to it.

I have given this book 3* for the authors clear interest in this area and the fact she has backed her thoughts and writing up with expert opinions. The grammar and English is also correct throughout which makes a book much more enjoyable to read.

Although this is not a book for me, others have loved it and I would recommend you read it to for your own opinions on it.

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

Forest Life and Woodland Creatures by DK Publishing

Forest Life and Woodland Creatures by DK Publishing
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Practical Facts Forest Life and Friendly Woodland Creatures introduces children to life in the forest through fun, educational activities.

Meet cheeping birds, winter wonders, brave bears and all their other forest friends in this fact-filled pre-school activity book. Children can learn how to make a bird feeder and create bear masks, all while learning about forest friends.

Perfect for supporting your little ones' development, Practical Facts Forest Life and Friendly Woodland Creatures engages young, curious minds with fun projects and facts.

This is a beautifully presented non- fiction book, it has been made with thick good quality pages, which have high ink and a protective hardback cover.

This is full of interesting facts about the forest and different creature found there. I particularly love the life cycle of the seed to tree page. This is an excellent educational resource and I love the 5 activities in the book. These are all beautifully presented and have instructions for children to read. These all do come with an advisory that an adult needs to be present when completing the activity.

The book is clear and easy to follow, which allow more confident readers to discover the facts for themselves. The book is made up of a mixture of illustrations and high quality photographs.

This is a great resource for schools or personal use if you have a small child. They would be able to learn a lot and having the added benefit of the activities may encourage those more reluctant readers to want to read this.

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

100 Places to Go Before They Disappear by Patrick Drew

100 Places to Go Before They Disappear by Patrick Drew
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

What would our world look like if the planet's average temperature were to rise by only a few degrees? Cities including Venice, Bangkok, London, Chicago, and New York would experience severe flooding. The tea fields of Sri Lanka and the vineyards of France would suffer under heat and drought. Beijing and Timbuktu would be transformed into deserts, and the Great Barrier Reef's coral colonies would die. The entire nation of Tuvalu would sink into the Pacific Ocean as water levels rise. As plants and animals vital to local ecosystems continue to perish due to climate change, the face of our planet is already being transformed. 100 Places to Go Before They Disappear features locations on all seven continents that are in the greatest danger of disappearing within our lifetime. With an essay by Desmond Tutu, this stunning book will inspire travellers and environmentalists to help save the gorgeous places that might soon be only a memory.



I love travel and visiting interesting places that are off the beaten track. I spend hours browsing travel photography and information books looking for inspiration on my next adventures. This is what I was expecting from this, a little gem, hopefully that would become one of my favourites in my collection. I was, however very disappointed in it.

When reading it, it turned into a nag basically at how the human race has damaged the world we live in and things like Global Warming and other things are making the world change and as a consequence a lot of wonderful places will soon no longer exist. I found the book was a little heavy at times and not really what I was looking forward to at all.

The photography is hit and miss also in the book I found, some of the photographs are beautiful, while others look like they could have been taken by an amateur and didn't really feel that they 'fit' in the book.

Some of the places highlighted in the book were unexpected such as 'Chicago' that perhaps initially you wouldn't have thought would be vulnerable. So the book did have an element of surprise for me, but unfortunately I found most of it was just a moan at how awful people are.

There are many very good 'coffee table' books out there and this is not one of them. It is smaller than expected and for me too deep. This will sit on my bookshelves, but I don't think I will be picking it up for some time. Perhaps I misinterpreted the book before I started reading it, but it was not what I expected at all and was just so disappointed it didn't live up to my expectations. Saying this, this book might be exactly what someone is looking for and love it. Don't get me wrong, this is very well researched and includes some background information on places. But it's not for me.

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

642 Things to Draw: Journal by Chronicle Books

642 Things to Draw: Journal by Chronicle Books
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This deceptively simple and addictive sketchbook-with-content includes tons of hip and entertaining things to draw. Encourages artists to try their hands at things like a bike, mistakes, Fred Astaire, synchronized swimmers, a sippy cup, RUN DMC, feelings, a waffle, the view from an airplane, and many many more

So I absolutely love this book. It will inspire even the reluctant artist. It is not intimidating and has different sized spaces for different items. I have been drawing with my husband and we have had a little 'draw off' for each item. We have had so much fun filling in the pages and have lots more to continue with.

We have only been using pencil to create our drawings, however you could use a range of media, water colour, acrylic, pastels or even graphite. We have mentioned that we think the book would be really great to put in our hallway so when guests come over they have to leave us a drawing and a little message. This would also be great in a hotel room as you could ask guests to leave a little drawing for you.

If you are expecting images in this book to insipire you, you will be disappointed as there are just written inspiration such as a rolling pin, fire escape etc. For us this was enough. :) This is a great book that will keep you entertained for hours. I would love to check out others in this range. I would certainly buy this as a gift for others and recommend it.

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

Art History Paper Dolls by Kyle Hilton

Art History Paper Dolls by Kyle Hilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Get a hands-on art history lesson with these giants of the art world, shrunk down to paper-doll form. Illustrator Kyle Hilton expertly captures the essence of such masters as Leonardo da Vinci, Henri Matisse, Jackson Pollock and more. Educational trivia and unique accoutrements accompany each artist. Art history has never been so fun!


When I saw this I knew I wanted a copy. This for me has many uses, I love art, history and I am a teacher. This book is brilliant for making art history for kids fun. There are interesting facts and quirky parts to cut out and stick on the dolls.

I love the fact that this books takes you through art history, with the art movements and famous artists. I honestly cannot say a bad word about this book and it makes it fun for kids too. Even as an art fanatic there were a few artists I was unsure of, this book encouraged me to find out more about them and research their work.

I would love to get more of these books to help teach history.

This is a well and truly awesome book, it is great for any age. I will be recommending this to other teachers and my friends. My review can not do this book justice, you just have to get it to see for yourself.

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

The Glam Guide - Fleur de Force

The Glam Guide by Fleur de Force
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Fleur De Force started making YouTube videos in 2009 out of a passion for everything beauty and fashion related. What began as a fun hobby quickly turned into something much bigger, and she's spent the past five years seeking out the best products, top tips and easiest ways for us all to look and feel more fabulous. In The Glam Guide she shares all of her secrets and discoveries so whether you're looking for makeup tips, wardrobe cheats, first-date pointers or healthy lifestyle motivation, this is the book for you.




This book I had seen a lot of and desperately wanted to get my hands on a copy. As a blogger I have recently got into reviewing the odd beauty item and Fleur being a beauty Youtuber I was interested in her take on beauty. I have never watched any of her videos but I will now be searching for her as I enjoyed this book so much.

I really love the look of it, the front cover is just so girly and the theme follows throughout. I love the layout of the book, it is very easy to follow and has some great tips in.

Personally I love the travel part of the book, I am going away soon and I found this extremely interesting and useful. I really enjoyed reading about taking a chunky scarf on a flight even in summer, some of the ideas for the uses of it were really useful and I hadn't thought of some of the uses. I will certainly be taking a big scarf on my flight after reading this. The Glam Guide is very easy to read and the sections are short which allows you to dip in and out of this book. This is a book that I feel I will always be using as it is so useful and covers so many things a girl wants to know.

The overall look of the book is very professional, mature and clean. A lot of Youtube books seem to be attracting a younger/teenage audience. This is the first Youtube book that I have seen that has a more adult look to it and I feel the book has been targeted well for the late 20's early 30's audience. I also believe it will do very well in this age bracket.

I do have one negative about this book, (it's not actually that negative, more like an opinion) that is that I would have liked to have seen more photographs in the book. I do like the mix between illustration and photo's, however I feel it would have benefited from more high definition photographs.

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

Naughty Girl's Guide to Las Vegas - Sienna Sinclaire

Naughty Girl's Guide to Las Vegas by Sienna Sinclaire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For locals and visitors alike, who want to experience something naughty in Las Vegas, look no further! Naughty lifestyle expert Sienna Sinclaire’s recently released second travel book, Naughty Girl’s Guide to Las Vegas covers everything saucy in Sin City - from dining to shopping to clubbing while also delving into the history of each venue. So rather than surf the internet for hours trying to finding fun in the most exciting city in the States, this single gal by choice compiled all the naughty information that’s fit to print for those looking for something different to do around town.

Sinclaire serves as a personal tour guide, leading the reader through planning the perfect getaway for singles, couples or just the girls. A must read for anyone planning to visit Las Vegas that makes Las Vegas sexy – not sleazy or slutty.



I requested this on Netgalley as I am going to be visiting Las Vegas next month for the first time and wanted to find out a bit more about the place.

The contents make this book very easy to follow and gives clear indication where to find things about Vegas. I decided to read the majority of this book as I found it all relevant.

I really enjoyed reading about the history of Vegas and seeing how it emerged. Building the Hoover Dam was also great to have in this book as it isn't the initial thing you think of when you think of Vegas and it reminds you that there are other areas of interest to visit outside the Strip.

I loved reading 'Vegas cleans up its act' this talked about different hotels on the strip and the hotel I am going to be staying at was mentioned here as a 'chic resort' which really made me excited about staying.

There were great tips in this guide for girls that you wouldn't actually think about before leaving home. When I read that the lobby to your hotel room can sometimes be 1 mile, and that you should be packing some flip flops for when you are out as well as your heels, this is something that is now high on my priority for packing. Thanks so much Sinclaire for this piece of advise. This is probably going to be the most valuable advise I will have before going.

There is some of the guide that I didn't care to read as I didn't have any interest in that when I am there but it is quite easy to filter that out as it is non fiction.

I would say that this is a good guide for Vegas, it has a selection of things to do during the day and night, plus info on hotels, spas, shopping and shows. I have discovered a lot since reading this guide that I didn't know before. I am really glad I decided to request this guide and I am glad it is handy on my kindle. I will be opening this book again closer to my visit to Vegas. I will also probably read it again on the plane and once I am there.

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

Writing and Selling Drama Screenplays by Lucy V Hay

Writing & Selling Drama Screenplays by Lucy V. Hay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It may be drama features that win the most awards and kudos from critics, but in the current marketplace you're unlikely to sell a drama screenplay in the way you would a genre script. Breaking down the nuts and bolts of what differentiates drama from genre, Writing and Selling Drama Screenplays will consider questions such as: What is 'emotional truth'? What separates stereotypical and authentic characters? What are the different types of drama feature screenplay? How do we make these films, when there's 'no money'? What are the distribution opportunities for dramas? Exploring the ways in which drama and authenticity work, it will empower screenwriters to make their own story and character choices, so they can write and also help to package, finance and even make their own drama features. Writing and Selling Drama Screenplays will include detailed case studies of produced dramas made on both shoestring and bigger budgets, and industry insights from their writers, directors and producers. It looks in-depth at Scottish BAFTA-winning Night People, the iconic coming out movie Beautiful Thing, the touching New Orleans drama Hours, starring the late Paul Walker, and the ambitious true story of Saving Mr Banks, based on the battle of wills between Mary Poppins author PL Travers and Walt Disney himself. It will also discuss films such as Brokeback Mountain, American Beauty, The King's Speech, Juno, Erin Brockovich, Changeling and Girl, Interrupted.


Writing and Selling Drama Screenplays is a very informative read and essential for anyone thinking about writing for the silver screen, whether it be Drama or any other genre.

The book is filled with great tips and tricks of the trade, it also gets the reader used to seeing filmic terms and language.

It is nicely formatted and laid out in 12 chapters (including preface) and has a handy resources section at the end of the book full of information on where you can go to further you screenwriting talents, it also lists competitions, industry contacts etc, that you can send your screenplays to.

This is not just a 'how to' book as it says 'there is no right way to tell a story' it is a book that offers guidance and encourages you to reach for your potential.

Having read screenwriting books before this one written by Lucy V. Hay actually sounds like it has come from someone who knows what they are talking about.

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

The World of Postsecret by Frank Warren

The World of PostSecret by Frank Warren
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

An addictive collection of new full-color postcard secrets and app secrets from the author of the smash bestselling PostSecret books—with more secrets than any previous PostSecret book!

A decade ago, Frank Warren began a community art project that captured the popular imagination and became a worldwide obsession. He handed out postcards to strangers and left them in public places—asking people to share a secret they had never told anyone and mail them back to him anonymously. More than half a million secrets, 600 million hits to the award-winning PostSecret blog, and five huge bestsellers later, the PostSecret phenomenon is bigger than ever. By turns this funny, heartbreaking, thoughtful, and moving, this compendium of graphic haiku offers an intimate glimpse into both individual private lives and into our shared humanity.

Included in this compelling new book are dozens of the best archived secrets from the original PostSecret app; inside stories about the most controversial secrets Frank Warren has received; moving text from the new PostSecret play, foreign secrets, "puzzle" secrets, and much more!

This is the first time I have come across postsecret before and I couldn't believe people do this.

This book is full of postcards and photographs that have been sent to Frank with secrets on them. Some of the secrets are funny, silly, others are harrowing and shocking. When I read some of the secrets I had an urge to help some of the authors and couldn't believe what I was reading.

This is a beautifully presented book of full colour images. This would make an amazing coffee table book and one that you share with family and friends. This actually got m thinking, did these people tell their partners/fAmily about their secrets or are they still unknown?

Frank is extremely clever for thinking up this unique book. After browsing this book I would love to discover others by him.

Paper Bliss - Skye Rogers

Paper Bliss by Skye Rogers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

In this beautiful book, containing 29 projects, 10 handy templates and 8 bespoke gift papers, along with plenty of great ideas, you can learn how to upcycle your paper waste, find a fun project for the kids this weekend or pursue the dream of selling your own hand-made objects, from jewellery to trinkets to stationery to sculpture. Turn your tax returns into artworks. Create unique paper jewellery. Transform old books into sculptures. Make your own journals and stationery.

 Follow the simple instructions in this beautiful book to make these projects and many more. Or, take your own inspiration from author, Skye Rogers' reflections on her love of paper and her insights into the journey that has taken this love and turned it into a viable business. Whether you are a committed crafter or first-timer, you'll find all the ideas and inspiration you need in this exquisite book. Skye Rogers has been an illustrator for a good part of her adult life. But the long apprenticeship to her career was her childhood passion: she has been drawing on, cutting up, stamping on and pasting bits of paper together since she was very young. 

Not so long ago, Skye Rogers spent a whole summer sitting around her lounge room cutting and pasting and drawing and sewing like a woman possessed! Some of the looks she received were on the 'astonished' side: this wasn't productive, this wasn't what a grown woman should do, this wasn't 'making money'. From her fever of creativity that summer came her burgeoning little business, Skye's The Limit, a unique range of stationery and gifts, each product created with Skye's unique sense of style. As her business grew and expanded, Skye was often asked, 'How did you come up with/do that?' Realising that there are so many people out there wanting a few tips on bringing some ideas together in an easy-to-follow fashion, Skye started collecting projects that she had admired or completed herself over the years and developed them into a beautiful book of 30 paper craft projects to do at home to help and inspire others in their creative journey. 

PAPER BLISS has fantastic paper craft projects for all levels: from those at 'infants school' and only at paper-aeroplane level to more advanced projects for 'paperians' to get their teeth into, to those at paper high school who want to advance their skills with some more complex and elaborate projects. With some easily sourced items: scissors, cutting blade and mat, glue, fancy fasteners, paper punches, needle and thread and some found, pre-loved, new, hand-decorated, plain or recycled paper, there are hours of fun to be had with these projects. Whether it's the simple completion of something that inspires you, a gift for a special friend or spending part of a day with the kids away from more pressing demands, you might be surprised by what you find.

I absolutely love craft books and this is no exception. This is simple stunning, the dust jacket of the book is beautiful and doubles up as patterns for some of the ideas inside the book, which is really clever. Once removed it exposes a wonderful cover to the book.

As I have already mentioned that I love any craft book, I also love any book which has a vintage theme or feel about it and again this book is just that! There is so much detail on every page and its very clear that a lot of time and effort has gone into creating this fabulous book.

Not only does this been have some great ideas in it, it also gives background info, recycling information and a toolkit that explains everything you will need in order to made some of these great crafts.

Now onto some of the great ideas, my favourite, being a book lover has to be the book sculpture. Love the inspiration paragraphs at the beginning of each idea; I feel that I have begun to know Skye Rogers as I am beginning to understand her line of thinking. Each idea is broken down into sections including What you will need, method and an idea. These are easy to follow and can be creating in very short period of time.

At the back of the book, resources are listed along with individual artists and inspiring sites. The only negative I have of this book is that all the supplies listed are based in Australia.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves to recycle, vintage or crafts. This will made a great addition to your bookshelf! A top 5* rating!

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

Live, Love, Bake, Wicked Cupcakes - Luisa Zissman

Live, Love, Bake! by Luisa Zissman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Luisa Zissman shot to fame when she became the runner-up in the 2013 series of the BBC's The Apprentice. A baker by trade, Luisa has been running her hugely successful St Albans cake shop, Dixie's Cupcakery, since 2011. It is her mission to show the world that you don't need a lot of time or complicated ingredients to create show-stopping cupcakes like hers.

In true Luisa style, her cupcakes are bold and brassy - a treat for the eyes as well as the tastebuds. Whatever the occasion, she has a cupcake that's the perfect fit: cocktail cupcakes for a girls' night in; ooh la la cupcakes for romantic liaisons; Dixie cakes, which are perfect cakes for busy mums to cook with their kids; vintage cakes for a stylish soiree and quirky cupcakes with unusual flavours, such as the genius Love Me Hate Me Marmite and Chocolate cupcake.

Packed with helpful advice on how to make and decorate your cakes, Luisa's book will put the fun and sparkle back into your kitchen.



I jumped at the chance to review this cupcake book. What girl does not like to bake cupcakes? I had the perfect opportunity to try some of these out, this week as I had some friends come to stay.

The book is beautiful, it is full colour and of excellent quality. Each page has a high gloss finish on it with beautiful photographs of the cakes you can make.

All recipes are very easy to follow and instructions are clear.

The book is broken into sections of different types of cupcakes such as skinny or signature etc. We learn a little about Luisa at the beginning of the book and she has even included her daughter in the book, which is a nice touch.

The recipes are very easy to follow, I don’t bake a lot and I could follow these well. I also thought that it was really good as it created the minimum amount of mess, I have no idea how but I used little equipment which is always a bonus when cooking!

At the beginning of the book there is a guide on how to create the tops of cupcakes, using a piping bag etc. This I also thought was very useful for a beginner.

The only suggestion I would have for this book is that the measurements could also have been written in cups. I couldn’t find my scales while I was making the cupcakes so had to google how many cups 220g etc was. This was O.K but I think it would have been helpful to have this information in the book or a conversion table in the front or back.

One other tiny issue I found with this book is the cooking time. It told me to cook the cakes for 20 mins, even though the oven was pre heated it took longer than 20 mins to cook them. I just used a knife in the centre of the cake to make sure it wasn’t wet anymore to check they were cooked.

So I choose to make the cookies and cream cupcakes, they tasted great, were slightly more dense than I expected but I would definitely recommend you to try them if you have this cupcake book. They looked fabulous; they weren’t dry and lasted for the full 3 days stated in the book.


Making Cookies and Cream Cakes:

I prepared my cases with a secret ingredient...

Easy instructions to mix the butter and sugar, plus licking the bowl brings me back to childhood ha ha!

Folding in the flour....

Out the oven and all decorated, using mini oreos. My guests thought they looked very professional. 

This was the final effect, as you can see they look really cute, my guests also loved them! 

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

I Am The Secret WAG - The Secret WAG

The Secret WAG by The Secret WAG
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

'Money, cars, homes, holidays, parties and all the shoes you've ever dreamed of. The life of a footballer's wife or girlfriend must be as glamorous and exciting as her other half, right? But behind the closed doors of the WAG's world, there are all the pressures as well as pleasures of success. So what is it really like?

The Secret WAG lays bare the reality of existence under the celebrity spotlight. It is about fashion and fame, sex and scandal, but, like the bestselling Secret Footballer books, is also an honest appraisal of life on and off the field of play which will change your preconceptions about footballers and their partners. It is sassy, outspoken, funny and above all, written from the heart. Meet The Secret WAG.'



I received this in the post from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I had no idea this book was winging its way to me in the post, but when it arrived I thought it looked interesting but hadn’t heard of it before. I used to really love to read about celebrities and WAG’s, I remembered the previous World Cup and followed the stories of the WAGS religiously. I don’t have as much time now to keep up with celebrities as much, however I do like to read about them if I can. So I was really looking forward to sitting down with this book.

The first thing that comes to mind when I began reading this book was can the WAG really be kept a secret? Surely by revealing details about the football world and other WAGS this would identify her. I had actually been talking to the secret wag on twitter and I asked her while I was reading the book, if we would find out who she was by the end of it? To which she replied that she hoped not as she didn’t want her family and friends to know.

The more I began to read the book I realised that anyone close to her, family or friends that move in the same circles as her, would know who she was, if they read the book. There are references to things that happened directly to her family such as so many break ins to their family home and her dad attending a football game with her.

The book begins when ‘The Secret WAG’ is at university and is a ‘normal’ person. I actually really enjoyed reading this part of the story as you felt you were able to connect with her more. I enjoyed reading about her relationship with said footballer and how she adapted her life to be a footballer’s wife.

I felt for the secret WAG at times when I read the book, there is an incident in a night club toilet where some girls bully the secret WAG and attack her. I feel that this was uncalled for, they never found the girls who attacked her, but I do agree with her husband when he said they were jealous of what she had. There are points like this that bring home to you how spiteful people can be and that no one deserves that. I felt the way it was written really sucked you in and you did want to read more.

As for finding out about other WAG’s, the secret WAG has referred to them in nicknames such as Boastful WAG, Destroyed WAG and Paranoid WAG. She does talk generally about other WAGs with their names such as the scandal that came out against Wayne Rooney and how Colleen stood by him. Saying this, it was nothing new; we all knew this did come out in the papers and what her reaction was to it.

We learn a lot about The Secret WAG’s own life and adapting to become a WAG. Beauty treatments, some of which I had never heard of before and to be honest after reading about them, never want to try. Although she talks about ‘adapting’ to life as a WAG, it doesn’t seem to take long and she becomes fixated with “looking good” just as the other WAG’s do. Going to the gym for numerous sessions during the week, having her boobs enlarged. Again all these things all WAG’s do, so again this is nothing new we are reading.

My only negative was I felt that sometimes the way the book was written kept trying to make you feel sorry for her, that it is awful being a WAG, as you have little to do, and your footballing husband doesn’t want you to get a job, you’re constantly moving away from your family due to his job. To be honest, this is part of being a WAG; most people would give their left arm to have the life they do. Being able to shop and not worry about money, eating out in fancy restaurants and being able to have swanky holidays and new cars. I felt that this was a little insensitive to the readers during a time when we as a country are still recovering from the recession.

Overall I did really enjoy the book, but I like to read about celebrities. Did we learn anything new about WAGs? I did about the WAG in question but not other than that. Will this change people’s opinions on WAG’s? Personally I don’t think it will. If you become a WAG you know there are sacrifices you have to make. You sacrifice your career, have to accept being in the public eye, move away from your family for your man’s job and have to put up with the chance of your man being unfaithful. (Let’s face it; it seems that all footballers are never happy with what they have). These are some of the things that come along with being a WAG and people are not going to feel sorry for them because of that. Something I don’t understand after reading this is why WAG’s don’t divorce their footballer after the has been unfaithful, Cheryl Cole managed it, however Cheryl Cole had her own career and money before she married Ashley so maybe that’s why…

I would recommend this as a beach read or for when your man is watching the World Cup this summer, it’s not taxing and a relatively light read. It had me hooked from the beginning, and I found it a quick and easy read; this could be because I was itching to find out who the secret WAG was. I feel that this is a very honest book and an account of a life of a woman who feels she has been living in the shadow of her husband, which is a very sad thought. It has made me wonder if all WAG's feel that they cannot live out their own life feel they are constantly in the shadow and have a lonely existence.  

I think this book will do very well, not only does it tie in the World Cup nicely but the mystery surrounding who the WAG is may encourage those who were only thinking about buying it to get it. 

The Wrong Knickers - A Decade of Chaos - Bryony Gordon

The Wrong Knickers - A Decade of Chaos by Bryony Gordon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

'For years, women have been told that their twenties are their golden years, filled with fun, parties, sex and glamour. Countless TV shows and movies tell us the same story: this is your perfect decade - don't waste it! You'll never be so happy - or thin - again.

Here, in her hilariously honest memoir, Bryony Gordon gives us a fresh perspective. Like Carrie Bradshaw, she may have had a column in a national newspaper, but her twenties weren't one long episode of Sex and the City, instead they were a decade of hangovers, heartbreak, and hideously awkward mornings-after, all over her overdraft limit.

Told with Bryony's trademark candour, humour and refreshing self-deprecation THE WRONG KNICKERS - A DECADE OF CHAOS is a memoir of a twenty-something Londoner who lived through her Bridget Jones years and survived. Embracing the messier side of life, it is a must-read for any woman who has survived, or is surviving, her twenties'


When I found out about The Wrong Knickers, I thought it sounded like a completely different read to my normal choice in genres. But it sounded a giggle so I thought I would give it ago.

I haven’t read a lot of memoires before as normally I don’t enjoy the way they are written. This however was different; I thought it read as a story, which I enjoyed. Gordon’s writing style is an addictive one that flows very well.

Bryony is young and has it mapped out in her head how her twenties should be, her actual life however seems to be taking the complete opposite direction. She begins by dropping out of Uni in search of her perfect career, coming from a middle class background; she feels this is not going to go down well, however her parents seem to support her choice.

The direction her life takes is a completely different one to my own and at times I felt it hard to connect with her. Saying this, what she is telling us has been written in a very humorous way, which does suck you in. One negative I would have about the book, is that I found at times Gordon was naive and came across as immature and lacked self esteem, this kept cropping up until around the half way mark of the book. I began to become a little irritated with this, but luckily her self esteem issues and immaturity began to develop.

As the book progressed I was hoping that soon Gordon would find her way in life and turn herself around. I thought that the book could have been a little longer; I would have liked to have known more about Gordon from now. As we seem to only get a little snippet from her present life.

I feel that the book is good for anyone thinking perhaps their life has not or isn’t turning out the way they originally expected and shows that there is hope along the way.

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

Please watch below for a brilliant video of Bryony Gordon sharing her 5 life lessons she learnt in her 20's!

Bryony Gordon -- 5 life lessons I learned in my 20s 

Pearl Lowe's Vintage Craft - Pearl Lowe

Pearl Lowe's Vintage Craft: 50 Craft Projects and Home Styling Advice by Pearl Lowe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

'Vintage designer Pearl Lowe shows you how to create the authentic vintage look in your own home with her expert advice and simple craft projects.

This practical guide, complete with inspiring photography includes …

• 50 step-by-step craft projects
• Sewing, painting, upcycling and crafting secrets
• A how-to guide to sourcing your own vintage treasures
• And Pearl’s little black book of shops and suppliers

An absolute must-have for lovers of vintage and all things handmade.

Craft projects include …
Dyed lace window panels
Vintage bunting
Midsummer and winter wreaths
Gypsy-style apron
Two-toned fringed lampshade
Personalised rubber stamp
Sumptuous padded headboard
Upcycled chest of draws
Antique ghost mirror

Handmade vintage-style tiles'





This is a beautifully presented book, which gives inspiration into upholstering and creating a ‘new look’ in the home.

The book is broken down into sections:

Heavenly Kitchen & Picture Perfect Dining
Dream Living Space
Bedroom Delights
Bathroom & Small and Special Spaces
Opulent Office

I particularly like this layout of the book as it is quick and easy to find which area you are looking for.

In each section there is a wide range of ideas for craft in that area. This is very clear and easy to understand and includes stunning photographs. Each idea comes with good instructions and what you will need section to help you get under way.

At the back of the book there is ‘Pearl’s Little Black Book of shops and suppliers’ which includes a selection of places to buy vintage furniture etc. Behind this section of the book there is a pattern section, and I really love this, it even gives you a colour code. These are linked with page numbers so you know which part of the book it relates to.

This book gives you great ideas to freshen up existing furniture, this is a craft book not a ‘make from scratch’ book so if you are looking at finding out how to make furniture this is the wrong book for you. If you are looking to bring some life to existing pieces and perhaps make things for craft fairs this is for you.