The Writing Garnet turns 5! Happy birthday TWG! #blogger #blogbirthday #TWGTurns5 #Awardwinningblogger

The Writing Garnet is officially 5 years old TODAY! When I started my blog back in 2016, I never envisioned it turning out the way that it has. It never even crossed my mind that my blog could turn into a multi award winning blog (yes, multi), nor did it cross my mind that my review quotes would make their way into physical copies of books or even on the cover of some. Without blowing my own trumpet, I am unbelievably proud of all of that. At the very beginning, my blog was created as my way of saying thank you to authors for writing their books which has allowed me to escape via their words, when things in my personal life have been difficult. It wasn’t created as a popularity tool (because clearly I wouldn’t have lasted 5 minutes had that have been the case), nor was it created merely to get free things because, in all honesty, I had no idea that that was even a thing when I first started.

Over the last 5 years I have met a wide variety of authors, met fellow bloggers, other like minded bookish folk, and found myself involved in a world that went beyond just loving books. I had never really had that before. I had never been able to sit and discuss books with people who had read the same book as I, nor would I have ever found the confidence to cart myself off to events such as Edinburgh Book Festival, Aye Write in Glasgow, or even more intimate events such as meeting the Orenda gang in Edinburgh (to name a few), if it wasn’t for a select few of people who, after ‘meeting’ through the online book world, have gone on to becoming real life friends (Jen, Mandie, Kelly, Joanne, Lainy, DC to name a few). Not only that, despite not having met them in real life yet, I have come to know even more people who I consider to be friends now, who one day I would love to be able to give them a hug (COVID permitting, obvs – special shout out to Liz B for being as true as they come). If I named each and every one of the people who I called friends and who I would do anything for, I would be here a while and would no doubt miss someone off so, to put it simply, if we talk, I adore you. Simple as, and I thank you for your kindness and support over the last 5 years.

For me, the highlight so far has got to be meeting Sue Perkins and Tom Fletcher as those were the times where I unintentionally embarrassed my little girl with my high pitched squealing and trampoline bounces. I think I was fair excited……. Would I have been able to meet them had it not been for my blog? Honestly? Probably not as I never knew events like that existed until I became a blogger. I have so many other authors, bloggers, publicists etc, that I would love to meet and I have everything crossed that that will become a reality.

I know blogging isn’t all about stats, but for the first time in ages I had a quick nose at the stats of TWG. In the last 5 years TWG has had:

160,424 views.
84,689 visitors.
1837 blog posts have been posted.

Also, I even worked out roughly how many books I have read over that time…..1270!!! Ermmmmmmmm, say what?

As I may have mentioned previously, 2020 for TWG wasn’t the greatest as, putting it quite bluntly, I was treated like dirt via the bookish community (not all of you, just to clarify), and it hurt me so much that I ended up retreating because I didn’t know what else to do because, as I have also said many times, I’m not the most popular of people and I don’t fit into the tight knit groups. I suppose my face doesn’t fit, so I knew that regardless of what I said and what I did, I wouldn’t have been believed which is unfair and incredibly hurtful. Because of that, my posts within the last year have been few and far between, however I still have been ‘here’ from afar and still able to keep my feet in the door so to speak. Again, I want to thank those who have stood by me, supported me, and been true friends during that time and continue to do so. I see you.

I am super shocked that my little, multi award winning blog turns 5 today. Yes there have been some ups and downs and confidence knocks along the way, and yes, at times I bit off more than I can chew and left myself over stretched. However the joys of anything in life is that you can learn from your mistakes and realise where you went wrong or what needs to change. There is only me running this blog and, even though I like to think that I can do everything, I physically can’t….I just wish it hadn’t taken me 5 years to realise that! Well, in all fairness it’s probably taken me over 20 years to realise that as I recently turned 31 but y’know, semantics.

Creating The Writing Garnet was probably one of the best, on the spur decisions I have ever made and I just want to thank every single author, publisher and publicist who have sent me countless books over the years and trusted me to review your books. I want to thank the organisers of book events of their hard work and dedication in bringing likeminded bookish folk together. I also want to thank each and every person I have come to know and admire for being true to themselves and becoming good friends of mine. I have your backs – you are all awesome. Major shout out to my fellow bloggers, and anyone who is thinking about starting a blog – you’ve got this! Just remember it’s okay to say no….

On that note, happy birthday to TWG! Heres to another year full of weird and wonderful books, intriguing debuts, and a truck load of reviews.

TWG x

Grab some paper, it’s time to get #WrappedUpForChristmas! @katlyn_duncan @HQDigitalUK @RaRaResources

I don’t think anyone is thinking about wrapping up their Christmas presents just yet, but if you are, what better book to get you in the mood than one titled ‘Wrapped Up For Christmas’. Many thanks to RaRaResources for the blog tour invite, and thank you to HQ for the ARC. Here is my review:

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… but not for Angie Martinelli…

Having lost her boyfriend, job, and apartment all in the space of a week, Angie has no choice but to leave California and return to her family in New England.

Determined not to let life weigh her down, Angie finds work at the local mall where she worked as a teenager. After an embarrassing run-in with a handsome stranger, Nick, she’s convinced her luck is about to change.

But Nick has secrets of his own… and as the first flakes of snow begin to fall, Angie can’t help but wonder if she’ll ever find love.

What does TWG think?

Cute dog? CHECK.

Strong female lead? CHECK.

Ideal person to tickle the main characters fancy? CHECK.

Heartwarming and full of festive cheer? DOUBLE CHECK!

You know the TV channel that’s dedicated to Christmas movies? ‘Wrapped Up For Christmas’ needs to be put on there! It screamed ‘Hallmark’ movie to me after the first couple of chapters!

Angie has had to reboot her life after things went disastrously wrong. She would have preferred not to move back into her family home, but due to the lack of funds and employment, it was the only option Angie had. With her best friend, Reese, being close to popping, the thought of leaving home yet again filled Angie with dread. Could she really make a new life in the place that she was so desperate to leave?

The romantic elements to this story were absolutely spot on, if somewhat frustrating at times! I just wanted to bang the heads of Angie and her love interest! Seriously! Communication clearly wasnt their strong point at all. Despite that, I was rooting for both of their happiness and had everything crossed that they crossed find themselves on the paths that they needed to be on.

As for the festive cheer, Katlyn Duncan sprinkled it throughout the book like snowflakes. It wasn’t too much, nor was it too little, in fact it was just right.

I adored Reese’s character and ended up laughing out loud at her antics involving her stomach – oh I remember it well!

‘Wrapped Up For Christmas’ is a book version of the candy cane – significant, festive, and the ideal thing to get you feeling christmassy. I thoroughly enjoyed following Angie’s journey; it really is a cushty, snugfest of a Christmas treat.

Buy now!

#BlogTour! #Review – Sunshine Over Bluebell Castle by Sarah Bennett (@sarahlou_writes) @RaRaResources @HQDigitalUK

Massive congratulations to Sarah Bennett on the publication of her latest release, ‘Sunshine Over Bluebell Castle’. Many thanks to RaRaResources for the blog tour invite, and to the publisher for the ARC. Here is my review:

The summer she will never forget…

Time’s running out for Iggy Ludworth to restore the wild gardens of Camland Castle in time for the Summer Fete, so she ropes in hotshot gardener Will Talbot…

But she regrets her decision as soon as he sets foot in the historic grounds – not only is Will arrogant and bossy, he’s totally gorgeous!

And very soon, sparks are flying amongst the bluebells. Yet with summer nearly over, will their summer fling convince Will and Iggy to go the distance?

What does TWG think?

It feels like yonks since we last caught up with the lord of the castle and his family! ‘Sunshine Over Bluebell Castle’ is book two in the ‘Bluebell Castle’ series, and personally I would advise that you read the books in order so that you’re able to get a real feel for Arthur, Tristian and Iggy’s life. If you’re feeling a bit rebellious, I guess reading the books out of order would be ‘ok’ for some readers, however I do think that you will be missing out on too much character history if you do. Each to their own of course!

Forgive me for saying this, but I wasn’t really taken with the book at first as Iggy really grated on me! She came across as such a marmite character who had such potential, but she wasn’t offering that positive side to her personality very often. Iggy seemed to think that everyone was out to get her, didn’t think that she was capable to do things because shes a woman….I don’t recall anyone saying that to her! However, when a certain relative of Iggy’s came on the scene, it became shockingly clear as to why she is the way that she is.

Believe it or not, I did warm up to Iggy the more I got to know her, especially when Will came to town. He brought out the positive side of her personality and i thought it was such a shame that Iggy has very little faith in herself. She is a good egg, really.

Romance is in the air and in every nook and cranny of the castle, what on Earth was the housekeeper putting in their food!! I felt quite emotional watching the main characters flourish after their recent heartache as discussed in book one. It can’t have been at all easy for the siblings yet they’re doing themselves proud…..most of the time.

What I love most about Sarah Bennett’s storytelling, is the way she captures the essence of her characters. She creates them like they’re real human beings instead of fictional characters, which allows the readers to relate to their emotions and their lives as though they’re right in front of them. I loved the cosy, feel good factor of this book, and I loved how each of the siblings started off as caterpillars, yet by the end of the book they had turned into beautiful, empathetic butterflies who weren’t afraid to spread their wings. Sarah Bennett has written a story which is guaranteed to make you feel untouchable, ready to conquer the world. I really, really enjoyed it.

Buy now.

#BlogTour! #Review – When Polly Met Olly by Zoe May (@zoe_writes) @HQDigitalUK @RaRaResources

Many thanks to RaRaResources for the blog tour invite and ARC. Here is my review of ‘When Polly Met Olly’ by Zoe May.

Polly and Olly were never supposed to meet…

Polly might spend her days searching for eligible matches for her elite list of clients at her New York dating agency, but her own love life is starting to go up in smoke.

Even worse, she can’t stop thinking about the very person she’s meant to be setting her latest client up with… surely it can’t get any worse!

But then Polly bumps into oh-so-handsome Olly, who heads up a rival agency, and realizes that perhaps all really is fair in love and dating war…

What does TWG think?

Ahhh, I really don’t know what to think about this one!

Polly has found a new job working in a dating agency, despite her own love life containing more tumble weed than Texas. Her actual niche is photography, but seeing as jobs like that are few and far between, Polly needed something to tide her over. By tiding her over I mean ending up actually enjoying her new job.

Like supermarkets and other businesses, dating agencies have to deal with the competition too. I mean, if you’re wanting someone to find you ‘the one’, they had better give you an experience never to forget….right? Owner of the competition, Olly, is a ladies man and one to watch. Polly clearly didn’t get that memo as she ends up having a major crush on the man who is twenty years her senior.

I was gutted that Gabe was gay as I thought him and Polly would have made THE ideal couple. I couldn’t see her with Olly, and to be perfectly honest, i found their coupling a bit too rushed and unbelievable. There wasn’t enough storyline about Olly as a character, and the only parts of the book which focused on the pair, ended up being quite short and sweet which surprised me given the title of the book.

Polly’s character is definitely that, a character. She had me giggling at times, but she also irked me at times. I found her to be someone who was far too easily led and didn’t seem competent enough to think for herself, relying on other people to point her in the right direction for every little thing. It was sweet at first as I put it down to vulnerability.

Overall, ‘When Polly Met Olly’ is a romantic read that is ideal for lovebirds everywhere. I did enjoy the easy to read storyline and unique characters and, whilst I did feel as though the storyline itself was a little bit weak, the premise was fun and certainly one of a kind.

Buy now.

#BlogTour! #Review – The Morning After the Wedding Before by Laura Ziepe (@LauraZiepe) @HQDigitalUK

I am closing the blog tour for Laura Ziepe and ‘The Morning After the Wedding Before’ today, which will be published by HQDigital on the 10th June. I really enjoyed Laura’s previous book, ”Tis the Season to be Single’! Many thanks to HQDigitalUK for the blog tour invite and ARC. Here is my review:

Did she really say ‘I do’?!

Holly is happily single with two gorgeous kids but when she finds out her ex is moving on she jumps at the chance of attending her friend Emma’s wedding in Vegas – it’s the perfect distraction…

Kim used to be the life and soul of the party, but now there’s nothing she loves more than a quiet night at home with the family. But in Vegas her past quickly catches up with her – in a way that could make or break her marriage!

Emma is getting married! She knows it should be the happiest time of her life, but she can’t help feeling she’s marrying the wrong man. So when she wakes up on her wedding day with a ring already on her finger, she panics – who did she marry last night?

What does TWG think?

Wow, I wasn’t expecting that! Have you ever heard of the term ‘coercive control’? Not many people have. The definition of ‘coercive control’ from the Women’s Aid website states that:

‘Domestic abuse isn’t always physical. Coercive control is an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.

This controlling behaviour is designed to make a person dependent by isolating them from support, exploiting them, depriving them of independence and regulating their everyday behaviour.’

With the above in mind, and the fact that this novel is predominantly lighthearted and fun, the topic of coercive control is rife via one of the main characters, Emma. Now I won’t go into detail due to spoilers, however I felt exceptionally sorry for her because, as readers, we get to see all sides of the coin as it were. We get to witness things that characters haven’t found out yet. So when this character goes through her day to day life as an Instagram influencer, it’s pretty hard not to shout and scream at the book to tell her to run. Reality hadn’t hit Emma at that point. She wasn’t aware that what her fiancé was doing, could in fact be deemed as abuse. Actually, the reality is that not many people in that situation realise that controlling, abusive behaviour is actually abuse. People automatically assume that domestic abuse needs to be physical. It doesn’t. I am talking from experience unfortunately.

Anyway, despite the in-depth topic of the storyline, ‘The Morning After the Wedding Before’ has a lot of scenarios which readers will be able to relate too, especially if they’re a parent who is struggling with their relationship with their partner, or if they’re a single mum who has done nothing except care for her children for however many years.

I was impressed by how the author managed to incorporate a lot of relatable subjects in amongst the fun and laughter of the book. At times I did feel as though the womanising of several of the characters got a bit much and didn’t really add anymore depth to the overall vibe of the book. I appreciated why those particular characters were involved in the story, don’t get me wrong, it just made me feel a little exasperated at times.

I really do recommend Laura Ziepe’s writing as she manages to make me laugh at the most random of times! I enjoyed the overall premise of the book, and like I said before, I felt that the author wrote about certain topics brilliantly and sensitively.

‘The Morning After the Wedding Before’ is the ideal poolside read both for a holiday read, and for a read by the blow up pool in the garden!

Pre-order now from Amazon

#BlogTour! #Review – Coming Home to Wishington Bay by Maxine Morrey (@Scribbler_Maxi) @HQDigitalUK

I am honoured to be closing the blog tour for Maxine Morrey’s beautiful new read, ‘Coming Home to Wishington Bay’. Many thanks to HQ for the blog tour invite and ARC. Here is my review:

Home is where the heart is…

Holly doesn’t have time for a holiday this year. But when her job threatens to send her over the brink, her boss insists she take a sabbatical. So she packs her bags and escapes to her beloved grandmother Gigi’s house on Wishington Bay, which has sat empty since Gigi passed away.

But Holly’s dreams of a coastal escape take an unexpected turn. Holly didn’t expect to spend time with any man this summer – let alone an Aussie Adonis…but when she meets her next door neighbour Gabe and his little dog Bryan, it’s clear her quiet summer of strolling along the sand and wandering through the seaside village’s tiny streets on her own will come with a hefty dose of distraction.

With a summer to fill and Gigi’s wonderful and surprising house to sort through, Holly knew it would be a summer packed with old memories. She just didn’t expect to make so many new ones…

What does TWG think?

Oh wow – I’m just putting this straight out there; this book is utterly divine! A pint sized, touching novel which couldn’t be any closer to perfection if it tried. Well, it would compete with Gabe, naturally, but I’m sure that would be allowed considering!!

Holly is a character who readers will see themselves in big time. She works a lot yet doesn’t take time out to look after her own needs, which unfortunately has set things in motion for her body to pretty much tell her to stop. Pronto. Poor Holly has lost her beloved Gigi, and now she has absolutely no idea where she fits in anymore. Thankfully, she has the whole summer to try and work that out.

As for Gabe, the character whose name has already appeared in this post, he is a dreamboat of the fictional variety. Unfortunately. I mean, if only the world contained men like him – I sure as hell wouldn’t be single if they did! He has his flaws, yet he has such a massive heart and the ability to make me laugh out loud. Don’t worry, I’m not writing his profile for Tinder!

‘Coming Home to Wishington Bay’ had me laughing my head off, literally hearing my heart break in two due to the raw and poignant emotion which made itself known every now and then, and made my heart soar due to the beauty of the storyline and everything it stood for. Gabe and Holly haven’t had it easy, but despite that, they’re willing to make their future one to be proud of, regardless of how many baby steps it takes to get there.

I would love to see more from the characters in Wishington Bay – Maxine Morrey has created something really special with this book, and I would love to be able to lose myself in the authors spellbinding storytelling and incredible creation that is, Wishington Bay.

A moving, humour filled novel which put a spring in my limp like never before. Such a stunning, perfect novel – it literally took my breath away.

Buy now!

#CoverReveal – The Ingredients for Happiness by Lucy Knott (@LucyCKnott) @TheBlossomTwins @HQDigitalUK

You should all be aware by now that TWG does love a cover reveal! I love cover reveals even more when they’re as pretty as this one! Now, I don’t have a blurb to share with you alongside the cover, but I can tell you that Lucy Knott’s new novel, The Ingredients for Happiness’ is due to be published by HQ Digital on the 1st August. If you wish to preorder it now, you can do so via Amazon.

So, without further ado, here is the scrumptious cover for Lucy’s upcoming novel, The Ingredients for Happiness! Let me know what you think in the comments!

#BlogTour! #Review – The Time of Our Lives by Portia MacIntosh (@PortiaMacIntosh) @HQDigitalUK

Really didn’t think I was going to have the book read in time for this tour, but I am delighted to say that yay, I did and now I get to review it! It’s TWG’s turn to host Portia MacIntosh and ‘The Time of Our Lives’ today, thank you to HQDigitalUK for the blog tour invite and ARC.

Love is in the air…?

Luca is used to being the ‘single one’ at weddings – it happens, when all your other friends are engaged, married or taken. But when she bumps into Tom, her friend from university who broke her heart into a million pieces, she finds herself wondering what could have been.

It’s ten years later, surely she should be over that Tom by now? So why is he looking even more gorgeous than ever – and why doesn’t he seem to be able to keep his eyes off her either?

And as the champagne flows and old secrets resurface, Luca realises that perhaps the time to take a chance on love and life is…now?

What does TWG think?

Snigger….

Sorry, but Marky Clarky Whathisface is a door knob, he really is. I mean, I can only assume that friendship groups always have that one person in it who decides to make a fool of themselves, not caring whether their actions end up hurting their so called friends. I wouldn’t know, I didn’t go to university and, in all honesty, I am a bit of a loner as an adult. However, he is still a door knob. Or a knob cheese. Whichever.

Portia MacIntosh always laces her storylines with such relatable and witty humour, often allowing her readers to step back in time to some point in the eighties or nineties, where cone bras were a thing, and SClub7 weren’t vintage. So, I’m sure you can guess what I am about to say here – I snorted my little ass off multiple times whilst reading this! I can’t pinpoint exactly what made me laugh, but the situations Luca found herself in, literally had me doing the seal having an epileptic fit kinda laugh.

And Al….I couldn’t help but hum the popular Paul Simon tune every time the character went, ‘it’s not Alan, it’s Al.’ Snort!!

Sorry, veering off a little.

‘The Time of Our Lives’ reminded me of a modern day Friends…with more males and one less female. Anyway, specifics aside, the friendships and the lengths they all went to protect each other from landing themselves in the shizzle, gave me a warm fuzzy vibe….whilst also reminding me of Friends. Naturally.

I really enjoyed this book. As soon as I started to read it, I couldn’t put it down! I actually didn’t put it down until I finished reading it an hour or so later. I just found the whole storyline such a realistic and laugh out loud read. The author didn’t need to pad out the storyline with unnecessary things, instead she wrote about the embarrassing situations people found themselves in, the fake niceness between people who would rather stick pins in the other persons eyes instead of making small talk with them, as well as the ‘ughhhhhhh’ feelings at coming face to face with an ex….or two. It’s real life really, isn’t it? How many of us going to a social event, find out that someone who we wouldn’t wee on in a fire is there, yet have to spend ages trying to gear ourselves up to be fake nice? We all do it, but reading about it in this storyline really brought it home just how quirky us human beans are.

‘The Time of Our Lives’ is a read which just delivers on humour, wit, warmth, and everything else in between. I wouldn’t have been fussed if the conclusion of the book had a happily ever after or not because I felt that the storyline was such a refreshing, breath of fresh air which, as far as I am concerned, gave me my own little happily ever after by laughing. Because, if you’re a chronically ill loner like me, laughing out loud is an absolute tonic. I recommend that everyone shove this on their TBR piles, and prepare to be taken on an energetic, hilarious and heartwarming, rollercoaster ride of a journey. A belter!

Buy now!

#BlogTour! #Review – Spring Skies Over Bluebell Castle by Sarah Bennett (@Sarahlou_writes) @RaRaResources @HQDigitalUK

Happy publication day, Sarah Bennett! It’s day one of the blog tour for ‘Spring Skies Over Bluebell Castle’ where I will be sharing my review with you all. Huge thanks to RaRaResources for the blog tour invite, and thank you to HQDigitalUK for the ARC. Here is my review:

She wasn’t looking for love…

When Lucie Kennington flees the bright lights of London for the quiet Derbyshire countryside, she’s shocked to discover that the heir to the Bluebell Castle estate is far from the wizened employer she expected.

In fact, Arthur Ludworth might just be the most handsome man Lucie’s ever laid eyes on – and a terrible distraction! So when she stumbles across a legendary painting feared lost for centuries, she can’t believe her luck – perhaps this is the hidden treasure to save Arthur and his family from ruin?

But it’s only a matter of time before Lucie’s past catches up with her and by then it’s too late, she’s falling for him…

What does TWG think?

Yay! A brand new series! There’s nothing like snuggling up with one of Sarah Bennett’s novels, especially when you know that its the start of a three part series. Exciting!

It took me a little while to get into the swing of things, I will admit. The storyline seemed to have a different vibe to it, one that I wouldn’t usually associate with a Sarah Bennett novel. Not saying that as a negative by the way, I just felt like the story wasn’t written in the authors usual writing style.

‘Spring Skies over Bluebell Castle’ tells the story of a Baronet, his wares, and a lady who attracted bad luck like a moth to a flame. I’m not even being dramatic, trust me. Poor Lucie wouldn’t know a bowt of good luck if it came to bite on the toosh, which is a shame. Shes a naive character, but I think that’s down to the way her life has panned out so far. It’s as though she is unsure about simply being, just in case things were too good to be true and her life crashed down around her. It’s a shame really.

You’re probably wondering what a Baronet has to do with Lucie, however I cannot divulge as that’s a spoiler and I am not a doorknob. That said, it is an unlikely friendship, yet one that just proves that a person has a lot more to them than what they have, or don’t have, in their bank account.

For me, the storyline was a little slow to begin with and I was eagerly awaiting the magic. Probably why I felt that the story was a different style for the author as I am usually hooked straight away. I’m not complaining too much though as I did end up falling head over heels with the characters and their flourishing journey. I was so pleased to see Lucie again confidence and believe in herself. I thought that that was a very important message to convey to readers, that and the fact that judging people by their amount of wares, lack of wares, or being in the wrong place at the wrong, isn’t acceptable and that people may find that they’re missing out on true friendships far too late.

‘Spring Skies over Bluebell Castle’ is a romantic, heartwarming novel with such strong messages hidden beneath the words of such colourful and magnetic characters. I am so looking forward to finding out what happens in book two! A lovely, lovely read.

Buy now!

About the author.

Sarah Bennett has been reading for as long as she can remember. Raised in a family of bookworms, her love affair with books of all genres has culminated in the ultimate Happy Ever After – getting to write her own stories to share with others.
Born and raised in a military family, she is happily married to her own Officer (who is sometimes even A Gentleman). Home is wherever he lays his hat, and life has taught them both that the best family is the one you create from friends as well as relatives.

When not reading or writing, Sarah is a devotee of afternoon naps and sailing the high seas, but only on vessels large enough to accommodate a casino and a choice of restaurants.

Sarah is the author of the Butterfly Cove, Lavender Bay and the forthcoming Bluebell Castle trilogies, published by HQ Digital UK.

#BlogTour! #Review – The Pieces of You and Me by Rachel Burton (@bookish_yogi) @HQDigitalUK @RaRaResources

I am a huge fan of Rachel’s books, so it gives me great pleasure to be reviewing her latest novel, ‘The Pieces of You and Me’. Its quite ironic that, being a book about illnesses, my post is late due to my own mental health and physical health issues. I do apologise and I thank RaRaResources for her patience and for asking me to be involved in the tour. Also, thank you to HQDigitalUK for the ARC. Here is my review:

They say time can heal all wounds…

When Jess and Rupert parted ways, it was the end of a great love story that might have been. Now ten years later, the very different paths they have taken in life will bring them back together for a chance meeting.

But with so much left unsaid about the break up neither ever recovered from and with each keeping their own devastating secrets, will they finally be able to make the fractured pieces of their love for one another whole again?

What does TWG think?

If I were to choose one voice which could speak on my behalf regarding my thoughts and feelings surrounding invisible illnesses, i would pick this book every single time. Not only does the author make it clear that she suffers from ME/chronic fatigue syndrome herself, she puts the reality of day to day life with illnesses, into the storyline in a way which non sufferers will understand.

Granted, there’s a character in this book which unknowingly ends up representing a percentage of people who invisible illness sufferers unfortunately come across (spoiler – shes a battleaxe), but the characters who mattered gave me hope for the future.

As I mentioned above, the theme of ‘The Pieces of You and Me’ centres around Jess’ journey with ME and Rupert’s journey with mental health, and I think a lot of people could learn a thing or two from every inch of this book.

As someone who has multiple chronic illnesses and who suffers with their mental health, I found the content of the story both emotional and hopeful. Emotional because it was hard reading the similarities between fact and fiction, watching Jess struggle with something that was so far out of her control and being able to empathise with her. Emotional because the author wrote the words which I struggle to speak. Emotional because I wanted to thank the author for doing justice for chronic illness warriors everywhere. Emotional because it made my own situation become more real. Emotional because it made me realise just how much people expect of me….

Not forgetting hopeful, I mean you only have to pay attention to Jess’ mum and the word ‘hope’s ends up being everywhere. Caro is like an angel – I want one!

There were several dislikeable characters in this book for me, and I will hold my hands up and say that Rupert, a lot of the time, fit that criteria well. I know he had a hard time, and still was, yet the way in which he conducted himself at times made me feel as though he was throwing a tantrum purely because of his personality. Some may say a bit marmite.

I thought the split narrative was done brilliantly and gave the storyline a great variation. That said, I did struggle to work out what the ‘IT’ was for the storyline. You know, what the hook was if you took away the illnesses. I mean, I could see what Jess and Rupert were trying to achieve, but if they didn’t have the illnesses they had, what would have been their final destination because I actually thought they didn’t fit that well together!

All in all, I loved the fact that chronic illnesses are being written about, and I adored how Rachel Burton conveyed the harsh truths alongside the hope and belief. I am in awe at the authors strength, as well as the strength of her characters and if I could reach inside the book and give them all a big hug, I totally would.

A beautiful portrayal of missing puzzle pieces, the power of hope and understanding, as well as the thought provoking realities of hidden illnesses – I would recommend Rachel Burton’s words in a heartbeat.

Buy now.

About the author.

Rachel Burton is the author of the international ebook bestseller The Many Colours of Us.

Rachel spent most of her life between Cambridge and London but now lives in Yorkshire with her fiance and their three cats. The main loves of her life are The Beatles and very tall romantic heroes.

Find her on Twitter & Instagram as @bookish_yogi or follow her blog at rachelburtonwrites.com. She is always happy to talk books, writing, music, cats and how the weather in Yorkshire is rubbish. She is mostly dreaming of her next holiday….