The Sporty One - My Life as a Spice Girl by Melanie C, read by Melanie C.

I wasn’t really what I’d call a Spice Girls fan, not like some people were. I was probably a bit too old at twenty-something when they were at the height of their fame, but I enjoyed some of their music and, well; they are more or less the same age as me so of course I’m nosey and interested in how lives pan out.

Melanie Chisholm - Mel C - Sporty Spice, one of five girls who responded to an advertisement in the paper to form what was to become one of the most famous girl groups of all time.

Listening to Melanie narrate her own story was at times fun, at other times a hard listen, but amazingly entertaining and interesting. She is open and honest about the good and bad times. The difficult times she had with her fellow band members but also, and what stood out for me, was the amount of fun and friendship that was evident for much of the time.

Throughout the book, Melanie’s fighting spirit shone through, and I’m so glad she decided to share her story. I would recommend the audiobook to anyone who loved or was even the slightest bit interested in the Spice Girls. It was a delight to listen to.

About the Book

An intimate memoir from international pop star Melanie Chisholm--better known as Mel C. or Sporty Spice--chronicling her trajectory from small-town girl to overnight icon as part of the Spice Girls.

25 years ago, The Spice Girls, a girl band that began after five women answered an ad in the paper, released their first single. 'Wannabe' became a hit and from that moment and, almost overnight, Melanie Chisholm went from small town girl to Sporty Spice, part of one of the biggest music groups in history. 

Beginning in her bedroom in the north-west of England dreaming of performing on stage, THE SPORTY ONE follows the meteoric rise of the Melanie and The Spice Girls, from the incredible highs of becoming one of the world’s most recognizable popstars – playing at Wembley, conquering the BRITs, closing the Olympics – to the difficult lows. For the first time ever, Melanie talks about the pressures of fame, the shaming and bullying she experienced, the struggles she has had with her body image and mental health, and the difficulty of finding yourself when the whole world knows your name. 

THE SPORTY ONE is an incredible story of resilience, hope and how you can find your power.

Buy on Amazon UK | Buy on Amazon US

Read More

My Review for Dear Eliza by Andrea Stein

Dear Eliza is Andrea Stein’s second novel and just as with Typecast, it’s a winner from me. If I read a book fast, it means I’m loving it and I read this one, oh so fast! 

Eliza is twenty-six, and ten years ago, when she was sixteen, her world was upended when her Mum died. Now it’s being upended again, in more ways than one! Eliza went through a whirlwind of emotions during this book, her and me both! Grief, anger, acceptance and love. For me, Dear Eliza focuses on the importance of family and friendship and the people you can count on in life.

I cannot recommend this book enough. If you enjoy contemporary fiction with amazing characters, which is full of heartfelt emotion and a beautiful story, then pop along to your local bookstore and pick up a copy of Andrea’s new book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Andrea Stein for the opportunity to read and review Dear Eliza.

About the Book

Ten years after her mother’s death, Eliza Levinger never imagined she’d hear from her again. But then The Letter arrived. 

Eliza’s world broke apart when she was sixteen and her mom died of cancer. Now, years later, she has rebuilt her life to include a director-of-development job at a nonprofit, a Manhattan apartment, and an easy-on-the-eyes bedroom buddy—just the kind of no-strings relationship she wants, even if it’s less than her best friend, Mo, thinks she deserves. But when Eliza’s dad dies unexpectedly, her beloved aunt Claude arrives at the shiva with a letter from her mom—to be opened only after her father’s death. Inside the letter? A bombshell. 

Suddenly, all of Eliza’s relationships are upended. Her brother is angry, her stepmother is threatening to disinherit her, and Mo—who has always been her rock—doesn’t seem to understand what she’s going through. But as Eliza struggles to cope with the shocking news, she finds an unexpected ally—her brother’s best friend, Josh—her high school crush, whom she’s tried hard to forget. It’s not in Eliza’s nature to trust . . . but maybe it’s time for that to change. Dear Eliza explores the meaning of family, the complexities of grief, and the beauty in finding your way again.

About Andrea

Born in Brooklyn, she was raised in New Jersey before attending a small, quirky liberal arts college and a large, preppy university, both in New York State. A book publicist by profession, she lives with her husband and sons in suburban New Jersey. 

She spends an inordinate amount of time taking pretty photos of books. Things that make her happy include strong tea, turtles, sunshine, sheep, and the ocean.

Buy on Amazon UK | Buy on Amazon US

Follow Andrea on Facebook | Follow Andrea on Instagram | Follow Andrea on X

Andrea's Website

Read More

My Review for Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel by Rebecca Raisin

I love Rebecca’s books, and this was no exception. Christmas, books, intrigue and mystery, along with a little bit of romance. I’ve never fancied Paris, to be honest, but pick the hotel up and put it down somewhere else and I’m there!

The characters were all adorable, some quirky, some cute and some just a little bit grumpy! Manon and Anais have an adorable relationship as cousins. My cousin and I are really close and yes, actually, I could see us working together in a cute little bookshop in the windy streets of some seaside town somewhere. Definitely not a city though, we’re both country girls at heart!

As always, Rebecca has knocked it out of the park with this one, and I always want to read whatever she writes,

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Christmas at the Little Paris Hotel by Rebecca Raisin.

About the Book

Turn a tumbledown Paris hotel into a perfect boutique, bookish retreat, and have it open for Christmas? What could possibly go wrong? When Anais receives a near-derelict Paris hotel in her divorce settlement, her first thought is to tidy it up and sell it immediately. All she wants is to move on and forget her disaster of a marriage ever happened.

But selling it proves impossible, so she has only one to make it gorgeous and open by Christmas… when her funds will almost certainly run out.

She’s not counting on the grumpy American bar-owner next door, Noah, coming and interfering at every moment though. Nor is she expecting to find a mysterious room – which holds the key to a one-hundred-year-old secret – about a woman who chose love against the odds.

One thing’s for sure… as the fairy lights twinkle all over the city of lights and the first snowflakes start to fall… this will be a Christmas in Paris to remember.

About Rebecca

Rebecca Raisin writes heartwarming romance from her home in sunny Perth, Australia. Her heroines tend to be on the quirky side and her books are usually set in exotic locations so her readers can armchair travel any day of the week. The only downfall about writing about gorgeous heroes who have brains as well as brawn, is falling in love with them – just as well they’re fictional. Rebecca aims to write characters you can see yourself being friends with. People with big hearts who care about relationships and believe in true, once in a lifetime love. Her bestselling novel Rosie’s Travelling Tea Shop has been optioned for film with MRC studios and Frolic Media.

Buy on Amazon UK | Buy on Amazon US

Follow Rebecca on Facebook | Follow Rebecca on Instagram | Follow Rebecca on X

Rebecca's Website

Read More

My Review for The Last Bookshop in Prague by Helen Parusel.

Historical fiction is one of my favourite genres, so I jumped at the chance to read Helen Parusel’s latest book. Jana owns a bookshop and is also secretly involved with the resistance whilst working as a part-time cleaner at one of the German headquarters in Prague.

Helen’s writing provides intrigue, whilst showing empathy for the characters she writes about. Many books set during WWII are based on true events, and this is no exception. I love learning about events that took place during the war, how people dealt with horrific situations and how resilient they had to become.

Resistance, bookshop, wartime, secret codes - I just knew this was going to be a book I’d love!

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review The Last Bookshop in Prague by Helen Parusel.

About the Book

Was she incredibly brave or incredibly stupid? Neither. Just a bookshop girl doing what she could against her country’s oppressors.

The banned books club was only the beginning; a place for the women of Prague to come together and share the tales the Germans wanted to silence.

For bookshop owner, Jana, doing the right thing was never a question. So when opportunity comes to help the resistance, she offers herself – and her bookshop. Using her window displays as covert signals and hiding secret codes in book marks, she’ll do all in her power to help.

But the arrival of two people in her bookshop will change everything: a young Jewish boy with nowhere else to turn, and a fascist police captain Jana can’t read at all. In a time where secrets are currency and stories can be fatal, will she know who to trust?

About Helen, by Helen

I come from London but now live in Hamburg, Germany with my husband, daughter and rescue dog. Over the last twenty years I have taught English to students ranging in age from three to ninety- years-old! Many of the war time stories I heard further inspired my love of Historical Fiction. I’m particularly drawn to the lesser known stories. My debut novel, A Mother’s War, highlights the Lebensborn programme in occupied Norway, and was chosen as a finalist for The Romantic Novelist Association Debut award, 2024.

I have ancestors from Austria and spent my summer holidays there as a child which inspired my second novel, The Austrian Bride. The story is set in 1938 as Europe teeters on the brink of WW2. My third novel, The Last Bookshop in Prague, is set against the backdrop of true events that had dramatic repercussions in the course of the war.

I have always loved reading and writing, and now finally have the time to devote to my writing.

Buy on Amazon UK | Buy on Amazon US

Follow Helen on Facebook | Follow Helen on Instagram | Follow Helen on X

Read More

My Review for What Really Happens in Vegas by James Patterson with Mark Seal and Read by Phil Morris

Some of you will know that Las Vegas is my happy place, so when I saw that James Patterson had collaborated with Mark Seal to tell stories from a wide variety of people, I knew I just had to read it myself. Although in this case I actually grabbed myself a copy from Libby, settled down with my husband for a 6-hour drive and we both drifted off to the lights and fascination that is Las Vegas. 

Many of the stories we already knew, but many we didn’t. From the Elvis impersonator who officiates at weddings, to the millions of dollars spent on Cirque du Soleil shows, each story took us emotionally back to the neon city in the middle of the desert while physically we were driving along the dreary winter lanes of the UK.

A ton of research from both James and Mark has gone into this delightful insight into the sights and sounds of Las Vegas. I was particularly fascinated by the young man who unknowingly hit a jackpot as the machine failed and the Nevada Gaming Commission had just a few weeks to locate him before time ran out. The time and effort spent locating him, from tracking his movements along the strip and through casinos to actually finding out what his name was before they could even begin finding out where he lived. 

There are many, many stories in the book. Some are more interesting and outrageous than others, but if you love Vegas, or are even just a little bit curious, then perhaps try this book. You can dip in and out when you want to and maybe just read (or listen to) a story every now and again. I guarantee that if you have friends who love Vegas, you will want to share some of the stories with them too.

About the Book

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas—until now. James Patterson shows the real Vegas in a dazzling journey through “lively tales of those who labor and dream in Sin City" (Kirkus).

“Wild and wonderful…The magic of Sin City doesn’t just happen. Patterson and Seal tell its secrets in beautifully presented snippets that often overlap not just surprisingly, but charmingly too.” —Telegraph (UK)

Las Vegas is on Luxury Standard every clock in the airport is a Rolex. No dream is too big, no wish is too small—the VIP hosts in Vegas fulfill guests’ every (legal) desire. Jackpots hit when least expected. The Nevada Gaming Control Board has days to find a man who unknowingly won over $200,000 at the slots. “I love love”: the inventor of the Elvis impersonator wedding and the drive-thru wedding has performed hundreds of marriages—and believes in them all. Glamorous yogis take a helicopter across the desert to the Valley of Fire, where they perform sun salutations to the glory of Las Vegas. A gambling VIP “whale” loses $1 million at the casinos, yet still leaves saying, "Had a great time. I'll be back." ​

In What Really Happens in Vegas, full of surprises for both newcomers and Las Vegas regulars, James Patterson and Vanity Fair contributing editor Mark Seal transport readers from the thrill of adrenaline-fueled vice to the glitter of A-list celebrity and entertainment.

About James

James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time. He is the creator of unforgettable characters and series, including Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride, and of breathtaking true stories about the Kennedys, John Lennon, and Tiger Woods, as well as our military heroes, police officers, and ER nurses. Patterson has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton and Dolly Parton, and collaborated most recently with Michael Crichton on the blockbuster Eruption. He has told the story of his own life in James Patterson by James Patterson and received an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.

Buy on Amazon UK | Buy on Amazon US

Follow James on Facebook | Follow James on Instagram | Follow James on X

James's Website

Read More

My Review for Bella's Countryside Christmas by Caire Huston

Bella and Jack were a cuteness of 5ft nothing and 6ft something, who, after a chance meeting at a wedding Bella should never have been at, didn’t find each other again for more than a year.

The story was full of charm, Christmas and contentment, feisty old folk, and wayward sisters. I adore a small English village setting and Haileyfield delivered in spades. My only gripe is that it ended way too soon. I need more of Jack and Bella’s story. What happened next? Did they settle down to enjoy the quintessential English country life together, marriage, kids, dog? I need to know more, please Claire!

Thank you to Claire and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Bella’s Countryside Christmas by Claire Huston.

About the Book

Fleeing her heartache and horrendous job, Bella stumbles upon a December wedding in the beautiful village of Haileybrook and the spirit of the season moves her to act as a fake date to handsome stranger Jack.

Jack and Bella hit it off, but Bella has to leave in a hurry and their magical evening soon becomes nothing more than a blissful memory.

A year later, Bella is returning to Haileybrook, seeking a fresh start and a quieter life. With a new job close to her cosy cottage home, a peaceful Christmas is surely only days away.

But it’s not long before family surprises, small-town feuds and romantic drama disrupt Bella’s plans, and she has to wonder if being alone is what she really wants for Christmas.

About Claire

Claire Huston lives in Warwickshire, UK with her husband and two children. She writes uplifting modern love stories about characters who are meant for each other but sometimes need a little help to realise it. 

A keen amateur baker, she enjoys making cakes, biscuits and brownies almost as much as eating them.

Buy on Amazon UK | Buy on Amazon US

Follow Claire on Facebook | Follow Claire on Instagram | Follow Claire on X

Claire's Website

Read More

My Review for A New Arrival at Duck Pond Cottage by Della Galton

What a delightful start to a new series from Della Galton. I loved her Puddleduck Farm series, so I just knew this would become a favourite too. For those of you who read a lot of my reviews, you’ll know that I adore a warm and cosy countryside or seaside setting. Ideally with animals, the more the merrier and a cute couple or two. A New Arrival at Duck Pond Cottage had all of this and more and honestly, just look at that cover. Who couldn’t instantly fall in love with it?

All the characters in Della’s new book are adorable. I even fell in love with Fang. I was just hoping he would eventually find his forever home! Ben is a cutie pie. He inspired me that maybe I should try to draw something - after all - don’t they say everyone can draw?!

If you’re a fan of a typical English country village, with a pub, no street lights and miles and miles of surrounding countryside, then check out Della’s new book. I loved it and I think you’ll love it too. I can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review A New Arrival at Duck Pond Cottage.

About the Book

A story of love, second chances and the wonderful start of a BRAND NEW series from Della Galton featuring Duck Pond Lane Animal Rescue. It's not just animals who need to be rescued... Following the unexpected death of her mother, and the breakdown of her relationship, animal loving idealist Jade Foster, uses her inheritance to buy a smallholding in the beautiful Wiltshire countryside hoping to realise her dream of providing a sanctuary for unloved animals in need of a new home.

Jade employs the enigmatic Finn McTaggart to help out at Duck Pond Lane Rescue and forms a friendship with both Finn and her local Vet, Aiden Southerland. But Finn is running from his own demons and Aiden longs for a more romantic relationship with broken-hearted Jade.

Romance is not on the cards for Jade, but as both men fall for her natural beauty, the rivalry between them hots up. But can any of them heal enough to find lasting love?

What none of them realise is that a devastating secret from the past has the power to destroy the present and that love, however wonderful, isn’t always enough.

About Della 

Della Galton (aka Della Parker) writes novels set in Dorset, featuring quirky characters and very often a dog or two. She's had more than 2000 short stories published and she's run out of fingers to count her books on.

She is a popular speaker at writing conventions and the agony aunt for Writers' Forum Magazine.

When she is not writing she enjoys walking her dogs around the beautiful Dorset countryside and beaches.

Buy on Amazon UK | Buy on Amazon US

Follow Della on Facebook | Follow Della on Instagram | Follow Della on X

Della's Website

Read More