I am featured in an interview......

I was kindly offered the chance to be part of a blog anniversary at 'Kelsey's Clutter Bookshelf', her blog is 1 year old this month! I feel extremely honoured to be asked by Kelsey to do this and what a privilege it is.  We decided that i would complete an interview.

To check out this interview, click here. But also have a look at Kelsey's blog because it is amazing! She is lovely and so friendly, bless her she taught me how to make a blog button!!!! Wish her a happy 1 year of blogging, and hopefully many more to come.  :) No laughing at my interview lol.

Happy 1st birthday.........

'Kelsey's Cluttered Bookshelf' !!!!

SWUR; Wrap-up!........

Well , yesterday marked the end of the Summer Wrap-up readathon! It was hosted by  Jennifer @ Some Like it Paranormal and Jude @ In Between. Again thank you to them!  They have set one final challenge, which i will complete towards the end of this post :).

My thoughts.
The readathon started off great for me!  I really made progress and enjoyed it.  Unfortunately, i ended up being ill towards the end, and therefore due to my medication i slept a lot= no reading apart from a few pages.  I only popped onto twitter a few times, i completely forgot that there would be a twitter chat organised.  I planned to occasionally pop onto twitter in the beginning and then when i was making progress i thought i would be on more but obviously been ill ruined that plan!  I participated in a few challenges and LOVED them! they were great challenges! But unfortunately towards the last few days i didn't and challenges i had put off to do later, well never got done :(  Shame really.

 My Progress.
The links to my posts;

Day 1-3 update here

Day 4-6 update here

Day 7-9. update here.

My goals was to finish the book i was reading and then i had 3 other books;

*well i completed the post i was reading (Pushing the Limit) -NEED TO WRITE A REVIEW

*I finished 1 book- January First- NEED TO WRITE A REVIEW.

*I read 30% of Thy Neighbor book.

I managed to read 481 pages during the readathon!!! Very proud!!!! 

The challenges i completed.

*On Saturday 1st, the challenge by Jessica on her blog Wickedly Bookish,, Here is the link to my post for the 'Cover Hunt Challenge'

*On Sunday 2nd, the challenge-  Hotter than Summer and is hosted by Trini @ A Book Lover's Review Blog. Here is my link for the 'Swoon challenge'

*On Monday 3rd, the challenge-Cover Love by  Emily at 'Falling for YA'   and my link here.

* On Tuesday 7th, the challenge by Mackenzie @ 'Oh for the Love of Books!' 

which was to plan a summer party-I didn't have a post for this as it was in a comment & i pasted it onto my daily post and i also did a pinterest board for it, to create a visual idea. Here goes-

A quiet intimate affair with close family & friends towards the end of the summer season, as a celebration of the summer. It would be held sort of late evening and in a large garden area. There would be a long wooden table (or two) with wooden chairs (decorated) all set out with the cutlery/summer plates & glasses etc, the middle would include candles and colourful flowers. The candles could be lit late evening. The food would be a sort of bbq and also a buffet with yummy summer puddings and desserts. There would even be a big colourful cake that would be cut to celebrate summer like celebrating a wedding with a wedding cake. There would a dance area with music so that as the night went on they could have a dance. For those more quiet, there would be a secluded area with comfy seats/couches/bean bags etc so people could read (we all love to read yeah!) and finally there would be an area with an hot tub so people could enjoy a cocktail or too maybe while they chill out and soak. Speaking of cocktails, there would cocktails-alcoholic and non, fancy drinks, punch bowls, fancy glasses with straws. The whole place would be decorated with bunting, flowers and twinkly lights!! twinkly lights above the tables and dance area. Low background music would be there whilst people ate at the table area, but later on the dance area would have more energetic music so people could enjoy themselves. I have included a link for Pinterest whereby i have done a summer party board just for this challenge to show visual pictures of all my ideas for this party. You will get a better idea of the party i have planned. Please click here.

 For the final challenge, our hosts, Jude at In Between and Jennifer at Some Like it Paranormal, asked us to show or describe places we had read during the readathon.

Now i am sad to say that my reading places in limited t0;
1- sofa- Big lovely comity sofa with a low window next to it, so i could sit with the views of outside (not great view but still) and i could have the window open with a lovely breeze, nice having the sun shining in too. Best still, it is a recliner! Perfect!
2-my bed- Especially when ill i did a lot of reading here! Soft bed with piles of pillows, quilts, blankets, with a fan that keeps me cool and awake! Nothing better than curling up, having my blankets wrapped around me so i'm snuggled and the fan blowing on my face as i read. 
3-the bath- This is one of my fav places to read but i am limited, i dare not take the kindle in there, i do take paperback but i still feel a bit tetchy incase i get it wet. I didn't use to mind a book getting a bit curly from getting wet but now i am crazy about keeping them pristine!
4-the car-This week, i had some hospital appointments that were a good 30 mins in the car, taking the kindle meant i did lots of reading! No glare from the sun and lucky i do not experience motion sickness!!
5.the garden-Don't faint, in the UK we had some gorgeous weather, i spent a little bit of time in the garden, soaking up the rays, the warmth of the sun on my skin, and luxkily reading with a kindle..the sun can shine but doesn't effect your reading-no glare!! I wish i had comfortable garden furniture though as i got so unsettled and achy i had to go into, laying on the grass isn't a possibility anymore for me :(.

**I do not have any piccies to show! but this is where i would LOVE to have spent the week reading lol. 

Liebster Blog Award

Wow! I am completely over the moon to have received my first blog award - the Liebster Blog Award! Infact i won two of them in the same week.  I am very thankful to the lovely bloggers, 'Einstein' @ 'Think Books' and Kimberly @ 'Love Ya Books'.  I was nominated on their blogs- check them out, they are fantastic!

And for those of you wondering, the Liebster Blog Award is an award given to upcoming bloggers who have 200 followers or less. The word 'liebster' is German in origin and is a term on endearment and means beloved, dearest, sweet, kindest etc. I feel so honored to be thought of that way, I  feel that way about everyone who follows my blog or who comments.

So, here's the rules:

1) Each person must post 11 random facts about themselves

2) Answer 11 questions the tagger has given you, and give 11 questions for the people you have tagged

3) Choose 11 people and link them in your post

4) Tell them you've tagged them

5) Remember, no tag back

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Here are my 11 random facts;

1. I am 27 (28 in October) and live in England.

2. I am a mum of 2 kiddies, James-8 and Amelia-4.

3. I am engaged to be married, we have not set a date yet.

4. I am a qualifed midwife.

5. I have a variety of health problems meaning that i am on large doses of slow release moprhine twice daily and i have lignocaine infusions frequently.

6. My favourite subjects at school; science, maths and art.

7. I am a vegetarian

8. I get obsessed with conspiracy theories! 

9. I am a shopaholic!

10. I have phobia of oranges!!! and banana skins (i cannot peel a banana lol).

11. I would do anything to help people.  I treat people how i like to be treated.

My answer to the questions ( i have answered both sets of questions from the two bloggers who have awarded me the blog).

*****Here are the one's from Kimberly

1) Who are your three favorite authors? JK Rowling, Diane Chamberlain and Cecilia Ahern.  Only 3 that was tough because i have a lot more!

2) What are your three favorite books (links please)? Harry Potter bks! 'A Midwife's Confession' by Diane Chamberlain and 'The Book of Tomorrow' by Celicia Ahern. Arghhh that was difficult!

3) What are your three favorite book series (links please)? Only 3 again, argh lol.  Ummm I already said Harry Potter above, so, Twilight, Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella and Hourglass Trilogy (1st two books are out) by Myra McEntire.

4) Who are your five most "swoon-worthy" characters? Edward from Twilight, Jake from Saving June, Travis from 'The GoodFather', Kaleb from 'Hourglass trilogy,but more so Timepiece) and Oliver from The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight.

5) If you could make a soundtrack to your favorite novel or series, what songs would you put on it?

A variety, so there would be some slow lovey dovey ones, some fun upbeat ones, some rock ones and some eerie ones hehe.

6) Say you could visit any fictional world for one week. Which would you choose and why?

Harry Potter's wizarding world, because i love Harry Potter and i just think it would be amazing to not be in reality for a while hehe.

7) Which character do you think you could be best friends with, and why?  Becky Bloomwood from the Shopaholic series by Sophie Kinsella.  I just relate to this character so much and both shopaholic's, how fab! but both having to be 'good' with money.  We could work together to achieve this and the humour that Becky has would be fun to be around.

8) What were five books you loved most during your childhood (links please)? 5? it was only 3 for my favourites now lol.  Doubt i will get 5 here but from what i can remember; The babysitter's club books (there is hundreds!), Chicken Licken, The ugly duckling, the hungry caterpillar.

9) Why do you read? I just love it, it occupies my mind, takes me away from reality and makes me smile- or tear up :)

10) Why did you decide to start blogging? Initially, to keep a record of books that i have read and the thoughts that i had.

11) What blog post are you most proud of (link please)? This one because it has taken a lot of putting together, and these questions are hard-going, it has taken a lot out of me!  oh and this post here because again putting it together took so much from me,lol, it was all to do with the images, argh!! check it out lol.

****and here's the one's from 'Einstein'

1. What is your opinion of my blog content/design? I love it hence i'm a subbie, easy on the eyes, not too complicated, good size font!, informative and interesting posts!  2. Who do you relate to most, Daphne or Velma? Why? Haha, love this question!  Velma for the brains! but Daphne for the hair colour (kinda) lol.3. How much time do you spend blogging vs. blog networking? I probably spend more time blogging! but i do try and do as much networking as possible.  The problem is that when i'm networking i don't feel like i have done much when i'm doing it,lol.4. Mac or PC? Why? PC but that is because i have never being on a mac.5. Einstein Vs. The Beatles: Who had the biggest impact on history? Very different influences and impacts and therefore really difficult to compare but because i'm a brainy geek (or that is how some people thought of me at school!) I would say Einstein!!6. What is the best name you have ever given a pet? Squeak! my guinea pig at age 15 and that was because he squeaked lol.  Oh and with the kids, we called our fish.....Spongebob and Patrick,lol.7. What do you consider your highest achievements in life? Obviously my children!! The next would be my degree in midwifery :)8. Care Bears or Ewoks? Care bears because i love everything cute! I loved these as a kid9. Rainbow Brite or Strawberry Shortcake? Neither lol.10. Who is your favorite musical artist/band? I seriously can never answer this question because i have such a wide variety of likes in music and i have too many favourites.  Right now i am loving Lana Del Rey and Emelie Sande.11. What are your thoughts on the world ending on December 21st, 2012? A load of rubbish! Best not cos i LOVE CHRISTMAS lol x

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NOW FOR THE IMPORTANT BIT~

Here's the lovely award to display on your blog;

and the people i award, in no particular order are;
1.  Jenna @ Little Bird Reads.
2.  Nea @ The Life is a Fairytale That will Never End.
3.  Kaye @ Kaye Makes, Bakes, Creates.
4.  Lauren @ Northern Plunder.
5.  Theta @ Resolution Corner.
6.  Kelsey @ Kelsey's Cluttered Bookshelf.
7.  Hannah @ The Girl in a Cafe.
8.  Liz @ Five Go Glamping
9.  Karen @ Attack the Stacks
10.  Megan @ Books and Teacups
11. Becky @ A Reader's Devotion.


The questions for the above people to answer;
1. What is your star-sign?
2.  Do you believe in the afterlife and spirits/ghosts etc?  If so, do you have any experiences you would like to share?
3.  Do you have any tattoo's? Would you say what of and where?
4.  Can you drive? If so, what car do you have?
5.  What is your favourite month of the year?
6.  Do you like burning scented candle? If so, what is your favourite scents?
7.  Are you right or left- handed?
8.  Do you have any phobias? wish to share them if so?
9.  What is your favourite alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks?
10.  What was your favourite cartoon as a child?
11.  If you were to change your name, what would you change it too? 


Please comment to this post with your link if you do a post in answer to this :) thank you x


No-one needs to participate if they do not want too :)

ArmchairBEA- Wrap-up....

Well it's over.....ArmchairBEA has finished.........HOW QUICK DID THAT GO? 
I can't quite believe it to be honest lol.

I have to say that i LOVED it.  It wasn't the best week for me because i was really busy and my health problems were causing me to be really sleepy.  So, that image above is actually me,lol.  Well, i actually had a laptop and fell asleep with it on my knee (not good).  I did this twice and missed the twitter parties :(
It was a chaotic week but fun!; writing posts, the linking, reading LOADS of posts, commenting, checking back on your blog, replying to comments and chatting on twitter. I really could not keep up AT ALL :(  But i know i wasn't the only one!

I have met some amazingly funny and sweet people on twitter and on the blogs, who gave motivation and made you feel positive about everything.  I have discovered some outstanding blogs (i don't always mean all sing and dancing ones BUT the content ;) ) and they have made me think wow!  I have followed about hundred more blogs and gained lots of ideas and thoughts.  It's just brilliant and i'm loving it.  For me, the book community through the blogs and on twitter is what it is all about!  This is why the armchair BEA is successful for book bloggers in a way that the BEA isn't.

I have also gained vast amounts of valuable knowledge from experts in relation to blogging and all the issues around book reviewing.  People gave their time, they shared their knowledge- knowledge that they had maybe built up through lots of research.  It should be about sharing and supporting each other but only if the other individual has done some work themselves and done some research.  You cannot just expect to be spoon-fed.  I am new to all of this and i have known that from the start.

Just because it is the end, it doesn't mean it is over- there is still giveaways going on to enter and you can still comment on people's posts from the last 5 days.

Post links for your last 5days to help people, here is mine;

Day 5; Ask the Experts....

Day 4; Beyond the Blog......

Day 3; Networking.......

Day 2; Best of 2012.....

Day 1; Introductions......

Will you be back next year?  I will definitely be joining in next year, fingers crossed!! 

MANY THANKS to all the organisers of ArmchairBEA and all those who made this happen and possible- including US the participants!!

ArmchairBEA-Day5; Ask the experts......

With that title it means don't ask me haha, i'm a novice at this BUT learning quick ;)

This isn't 'my advice' because that means i'm telling you how to do something and i'm not so this is........

Information i have gained; (along the way from many bloggers and a lot of reading blogs and making my own opinions about things.  I am sure a lot of bloggers will be saying similar things here)

*Always quality over quantity. Having post after post to get your blog 'bulked' out will not necessarily add anything to the blog in reality.  The quality of the content is what is important, even if you do post everyday,it's what is in that post that's important.  I honestly believe that it is better to only post say 3-4times a week, enough for people have see regular posts from you but not too much.

*Cite info-If you get inspiration from others then link them, it's a lovely way to say thank you and then people who like the post may go and see what this other blogger does.  If you quote something or take words from another post then cite!  Ask permission if you are doing almost identical or using a lot of their ideas and information.  Citing can be within the post or as a footnote at the end of the post.  Bloggers don't tend to mind.

*Networking-Twitter!  This is fantastic for letting others know about your posts, to met others and have chats.  I recommend this to all bloggers. I have met some GREAT people doing this. I never used this before i did blogging.  Be careful when you tweet your post, maybe twice in a day to cover the different time-zones but doing lots will annoy people.

*Meme's-Are fantastic, great idea, they are fun, get's ideas out there, you learn a lot and it helps you to meet more people a long the way. However, if you did every meme out there, then that is all your blog is about.  It doesn't make it 'your' blog that way, you need original content.  I would say do 2 maximum, maybe 3 at a push.

*Your blog- Following on from the above topic- this is YOUR BLOG.  Be yourself, be truthful to yourself.  Don't think you have to be anything else!!  Don't try and replicate any other blog or their style, don't try and do stuff that you think you have to do, in a way that others expect.  If people don't like something they won't read or follow you, and if they don't then look at it as their loss and there will always be people who like what others don't.  We are all individuals and UNIQUE!  Think why your blog started and keep that in your mind- I started because i wanted to keep a record of the books i was reading,  to review them and to learn of other books i may like.  A long the way i found other things i like- memes, etc BUT also it was the book community and i have met some great people!! With reviews- there is no right or wrong, it is YOUR review! (I should have broken this down).

*Ask for help. Nothing wrong with this at all, contact bloggers; on twitter, on their posts and however you want.  This is how we learn and clarify information.


EXPERTS...HELP HELP HELP........plz........

*Blog tours-What exactly are these? and how do i get authors to use my blog to advertise their books? do you contact them.

*Organisation-How do you keep organised with posts that are coming up? With when to blog and what.  With your review and your books that need reading etc.

*Contacts-I am not at the point yet whether i really want to be contacting publishers etc but i did wonder how do you get on their mailing lists?  How long did you leave it from blogging to contact them in regard to being put on the mailing list?  What are people's experience of contacting publishers...is there alot of rejection out there. At present i receive ARCs digitally- this is great for me! however, how long was it before you requested/were sent physical copies? Was it a case of being on their mailing list to receive physical copies? I know this is way way off for me so please don't think i am planning on doing anything yet. I just want to gain information and to learn more about the blogging world.

Thank you..... =D
Honestly, any bit of information or help would be amazing.  I want to say thank you to all the people who have sent me comments and chatted with me on twitter.  I have LOVED armchair BEA and it has gone by SO fast!! It was a difficult week for me because i have being so busy and also ill but i did it :) I have neglected my reading though ...yikes!! My June TBR list will not be completed now haha.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Thank you so much*~*~*~*~ keep in touch*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

My new twitter button.....

I'm sure people already know that i was the winner of the boutofbooks 4.0 read-a-thon grand prize giveaway.  I did blog about it, so please read.  The amazingly talented Shirley from @creativedeeds, designed in conjunction with me (not that i helped that much haha) my bookmarks (my winning prize) but the final design of these will not be published until Shirley has them in her hand :) . Whilst designing these, Shirley was kind enough to design me my header for my blog (see above) and also a twitter avi , (see image) and they are so fantastic, i just love love love them.  Another 'extra' i have is my ladybird/ladybug design in a heart shape to use when i rate books, rather than using stars. I am beyond thrilled.  I appreciate everything she has done, she put the biggest smile on my face-not an easy task lol.  I hope you like the designs we have come up with and i will post when we have the bookmarks. 

Anyone who wishes to have a bookmark is welcome, they just need to say in the comments :) 

Shirley has an amazing blog too, check it out :) 

Twitter Avi (close up)

my ladybird/ladybug hearts.

Winning Streak....maybe????

Before, i start this blog post, i want to say that i am only posting these wins mainly for my own record but also because i am so happy and i want to say thanks the blogger who has held a giveaway contest, to give them some credit that is due.  It is not too brag!!!!

 Now the blogger who held this giveaway- i follow them on youtube, twitter and their blog and i'm a big fan of hers.  When she hauled this book and reviewed it, i was thrilled and when she posted the giveaway post i almost had an heart attack with excitement, seriously. I mean read my comment's left on the post, but this giveaway was done properly through 'rafflecopter' and the publisher sent me the copy from themselves.
The blogger is Debra at Debra's Book Cafe, which i am sure you are all familiar, with so i have so my very own copy of 'The Camera Never Lies by Tess Daly'.  Thank you so much for hosting this giveaway Debra, it is very much appreciated.  

I am SOOO in love with this book, the picture doesn't do it justice but the lettering and her dress is all glittery and it feel gorgeous. I just love it.  Imagine my shock when i opened it up to find that it was a signed copy for Tess herself. OMG!!!!! I am just so so happy. I cannot wait to read this book.  The order of my TBR pile changes by the second.

OMG I WON!!!!!!

I cannot believe it, I won, I won the grand prize giveaway for the Bout of books read-a-thon.  The post from their blog announcing me as the winner is here and this is the prize i have won.  To say i was shocked is an understatement, i couldn't believe it, i was so overwhelmed and so so happy.  Initially i felt like i didn't deserve it, with being a newbie to all this and this being my first read-a-thon, i thought that someone else deserved it more.  Especially since hardly anyone has even said congrats-on that page or to my twitter and i think that's really sad.  However, after some chatting to some other bloggers, i realised that everyone deserves it and everyones has the chance to win if they enter.  I have worked hard on my blog and i know i need to put more into it, which i will but it takes time to build an 'all singing and dancing blog'.  Yet, it was never my intention to have that sort of blog, i did this for me, and for the content of the blog but i will work on the aesthetics.  Another thing is that i put so much into effort into the read-a-thon as i discussed in the wrap-up, so i did participate and i even met my goals on my first read-a-thon even with all the health problems i have.  Soooooo i am really happy!!! I cannot wait to see what the lovely Shirley comes up with me for my prize.  I have definitely decided upon a bookmark design, so if anyone would like one sending when they are done let me know in the comments on via my twitter. I will post the completed design when i receive it :)

READ-A-THON WRAP-UP boutofbooks

Well it's over :( the read-a-thon has finished after 7 days and it flew by, it really did.  This was my 1st read-a-thon and i loved it.  This is the link for my goals and also on that is an overview of everyday during the week.  Each day i did a full update and posted them as individual blog posts (apart from 1 post when i did 2 days in one as i got behind due to ill health).

So my goal was to read 4 books and these were;
*The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
*The Good Father
*Saving June
*Putting Alice Back Together.

The 1st book was mine to read and the other 3 were review books i needed to finish and review via netgalley.

I MET MY GOALS OF THE 4 BOOKS.

Yep, i managed to read all 4 this week (1028 pages).  It was a challenge!! There was no way i could read more than this, i have too much going off in 'life' to read more.  If i didn't i think i could challenge myself to 8.  All the books i read were just amazing and i just loved each one.  I am yet to do review posts on each book BUT i will do it.......i have sticky notes and scribbles of notes all over the room so that i have my thoughts there and can put them together into the review, so watch out :) I am soooo happy about accomplishing this and so proud of myself :) 

BOUTOFBOOKS CHALLENGES- There were some fantastic challenges, ones that made you really think but were interesting and fun!! I only entered a few at the start of the week and then unfortunately i was too busy to complete the ones later on.  I was really disappointed because they seemed such great challenges to do.. This is a target goal for my next read-a-thon, to do all the challenges if they are international.

TWITTER- I did go on twitter quite a bit and learnt about tweetdeck (which i have now lol) and learnt some new tips with it lol (i'm a novice).  I chatted to some lovely people on there- especially Ellie and Jen who always posted to me on my blog and chatted on twitter and backed me up ;) (Ellie lol).  Anyways, the twitter chats-i managed to say hi and a couple of posts in 1 that was at 2am our time...i was too tired to continue though.  Then unfortunately i couldn't make the other 2, i planned to attend Sundays, however, i was reading that final book and couldn't stop.  Again, a target for next time is to participate in at least 1 twitter chat and to tweet a little bit more than i did.  I did good for a novice though lol.

Blogs- I read some blog posts, comments on a few but added loads to my favourites tab and also joined them on google reader (this is all new to me-normally i just use my favourites tab lol)  I just didn't have time to do all i wanted with reading blogs, commenting etc.  However, i have time now and i will do this and check out the blogs and do some commenting.  I just feel a bit guilty that i didn't get the chance to read people's updates as they were going- it was only what ppl said on twitter that i knew some people's progress.  My own blog i have explained. I definitely want to improve my blog, to re-arrange it and do some regular fun posts etc, but for now, i have all the reviews to do.

Overall, i can't believe how much i feel i have got from this read-a-thon and thank you so much to the women who hosted it, who took their time to put it together, to twitter etc and cause themselves mental and physical exhaustion- not forgetting they were also reading books and have 'life' commitments etc.  I will be participating in the next 1 which i believe is in August (bout of books 5.0). I am so excited!! I am not sure my goals in view of books but from reflecting on this week, i have some non-book goals *happy smile* , it will be the summer holidays from school so i have my kids home so i don't think i will go for 4 books.

********Well done everyone, thanks for making my feel welcome and thanks for the support and encouragement.**************

I hope this wrap-up is enough x

Wow the kindness ..........

I am so amazed at the kindness of individuals and the actions they take to make people happy.  The act of human kindness seems none existence these days, but actually it is thriving in some places, especially in the book blogging community.  One of these individuals is Ellie, (her kickass blog is; http://curiositykilledthebookworm.blogspot.com)  she was giving away random books, due to moving, and having far too many on her shelves and posted a note on twitter.  I said 'me please' but didn't think i would be chosen (i believe she gave to a few people-see how generous that is!) or that the random book would be one i didn't knew.  Bless her, she looked at my goodreads wishlist and sent me........................................

Yes, she sent me Divergent by Veronica Roth. HOW FRICKING AMAZING IS THAT!!!! I MEAN SERIOUSLY.  I was blown away!!!! I literally screamed and jumped up and down hugging the book lol, it doesn't even look like it has being read.  OMG i am in love with the cover, way more spectacular than i thought when i saw it on Youtube--it's all shiny and special. I WILL TREASURE THIS BOOK! I have wanted to read it for ages.........and now i have it 'BIG SMILES'
I have twittered like crazy about this and overly said thanks to Ellie, she's going to think i'm crazy,lol. Did i say......i'm so happy, she made my day!!!! my month even!!! lol

Special thanks to........

I entered a giveaway on 'Goodreads' that was ran by Leigh, who is an author who lives in NZ. I was thrilled to pieces when i won a copy of the book 'Crush' and since Leigh is SO kind, she included a copy of her 1st book (self published) called 'Beauty'.  I am definitely adding these books to my TBR pile!!! Here is a little summary of both books.

When Philippa Ballantyne is knocked off her feet while dog-walking, she is rescued by a a knight in steel-toed boots - Ben. A handsome bee-keeper and firefighter who smells delectably of honey - who could resist him? But Philippa has recently moved back to her hometown, Glory Falls, and it seems like the past is waiting for her around every corner. She can't forget Cam, her crush, who she's adored since she was eleven years old. When Philippa hears he might be returning to Glory Falls she is excited - and scared. Should she give up someone ... perfectly good ... to follow an impossible dream? 
Her friends Gill and Sean rally around, but things aren't easy for them either. Sean is finding out just how hard it is to be gay in a small town - especially when random prejudice turns into a series of sinister attacks - and Gill is trying to revive her foundering marriage. But will one more erotic adventure save or destroy her relationship? Glory Falls is a small town with a dark heart and Philippa, Gill and Sean are about to find out just how dark it can get.

It's easier to be happy when you don't know what's going on behind the scenes. There's a reason it's called blissful ignorance ...

Mena joins a luxury motor yacht in the Mediterranean, enticed by rumours of the fast-paced, highly paid crew lifestyle. Shocked to uncover the literally sick secrets of yachting's achingly slim women and shattered by the reality of life onboard, Mena soon discovers that yachting's glamorous image is merely an illusion. During a cruise around the Balearic Islands, Mena and the yacht's crew and guests battle with illicit affairs, closet addictions and the pressure of maintaining a slender waistline. Enter a world where the quest for the body beautiful surpasses everything and nothing is as it seems.

  A novel that takes a daring look at bulimia from behind closed bathroom doors, Beauty will make readers think twice about the grim reality lurking behind today's size-zero phenomenon, while shedding light on the sleep-deprived, often drug-fuelled existence of yacht crew.

And here are my little beauties waiting to be read.........

Thanks again to Leigh :) 

The books will be reviewed on Goodreads when finished.