I Am Enough: A 90-day challenge to find contentment - Sheridan Stewart

Stressed by your spending? Always feeling like you should do more? Join Sheridan Stewart on an inspiring journey towards spending less, feeling happier and focusing on the important things.

What began as a 90-Day challenge simply to spend less, becomes an exploration of what matters most. I Am Enough contemplates what it means to have enough, do enough and ultimately be enough. Told with insight and humour, this book is an antidote to the constant pressure we are under to do more, have more and be more.

Busy radio presenter and broadcaster, author and mid-lifer Sheridan Stewart created the 90-Day Enough Challenge out of necessity. She had been struggling with burnout for years but couldn’t find a way to break the cycle of dashing about feeling guilty about spending too much, eating too much and not being a good enough wife, friend, volunteer, work colleague and human being.

Sheridan’s quest to prioritise calm, self-care and what really matters in life is inspirational. The practical programme which she has created is in three parts with a detailed timeline, tips and checklists for every step of the journey.

 

SURRENDER:

• The first part of the book is about surrender – learning to let go and strip life back to the essentials: getting enough sleep and support, utilizing what we have instead of buying more and doing enough without being sucked into the relentless pursuit of perfectionism. 

MAYBE I CAN BE ENOUGH?

• The second part of the book makes a shift from not only doing things differently but beginning to feel and view things differently. Even though to the outside observer, Sheridan’s life may appear the same – same job, same relationships, same environment – she learns to see life through a different lens. She begins to take small actions that better served her physical, emotional and financial wellbeing and shows the reader how to do the same.

CHOOSE TO MAKE THE CHANGE LAST:

• The third part of the book is about choice. As Sheridan nears the end of her 90-Day Challenge, she starts to explore implementing lasting change. As a chronic dieter and a driven over-achiever, she is aware of how quickly old patterns and behaviours can take hold. Why will this time different?

Over the course of this journey, Sheridan learns to trust herself, and you can too by following in her footsteps on a journey towards financial and emotional happiness.

 

What did I think?

This book is very well written with short chapters that are easy to follow and hold your interest.  Having, being and doing ‘enough’ is a simple idea but it makes a lot of sense and it’s comforting to know that you’re not the only one with a harsh inner critic that never shuts up.

I’m pretty good at saving money, but it was absolutely mindblowing to see how much money is wasted on coffee shops and restaurants; it’s ok to have a treat now and again but you can save so much money by making things yourself at home.  Yes, that’s a no-brainer but seeing Sheridan Stewart quantify it in monetary terms would’ve given me a cold sweat if I was someone who had a takeaway coffee every day.

For me, what I want to get out of this book is learning to accept that I’m enough.  There’s no manual for life so we’re all just doing the best we can but I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t want the elusive ‘more’.  I think just looking at what you already have is a really good philosophy as we waste so much these days.  I’m as guilty of this as the next person: my other half says I’m more thrilled by the purchase of a bargain than by actually consuming said bargain, that is likely to be languishing at the back of the cupboard six months after its best before date.

It almost takes the pressure off by changing the way you think, by saying for example: ‘I’m going to TRY to lose weight’ rather than ‘I’m going to lose weight’, that sets you up to fail the minute you step on the scales and put on 0.5kg so you might as well eat that whole packet of ginger nuts.

I’m really pleased I have discovered Sheridan Stewart’s I Am Enough book.  The small steps approach is one that is easy to follow and you really can’t fail, as you’re only trying after all.

My rating:

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Semi-Detached - Deborah Stone

Bill and Amanda are living in a semi-detached house, stuck in a depressing rut of boredom and disappointment, when Terry and Fiona – glamorous, successful and very much in love – move in next door. Despite their different outlooks on life, the couples befriend each other and life appears to improve for both pairs. But all is not what it seems, and their increasingly interconnected relationships are fated for tragedy.

 

What did I think?

I really enjoyed reading Semi-Detached, despite not particularly liking a single character in it.  It's the odious characters that drive the narrative and kept me hooked as I peeked behind the curtains of this fictional pair of semi-detached houses.

Bill and Amanda have a marriage made in hell; Bill sees Amanda's function as a homemaker and babymaker but she is failing miserably at both.  I did feel sorry for Amanda as she's not even aware that she is living in an abusive relationship and life has clearly dealt her a bad hand.  Then Terry and Fiona move in next door and both couples strike up an unlikely friendship.

It is very much like watching your favourite soap as we follow the lives of the two couples.  There are times when you just know what is going to happen next but there are plenty of other surprises in store and I found myself constantly itching to read the next chapter throughout the whole book.  

With characters you will love to hate, Semi-Detached is a page-turning soap opera of a book - there's lots of drama, tension, shocks and surprises that make it a hugely entertaining read.

Many thanks to the author for sending me a digital ARC; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from Amazon

SPOTLIGHT TOUR: Conviction - Jack Jordan

If you have been following my blog, you will already know that I am a huge Jack Jordan fan.  His fantastic 2015 debut, Anything for Her is one of the best debuts I've ever read and just when you think you've read the best Jack Jordan book, he publishes another one that beats it.

I'm not sure how he could ever beat Do No Harm, which I absolutely loved and I'm still recommending to everyone (you can read my review HERE), but his new novel Conviction is coming out on 22nd June 2023 and I can't wait to read it.

To steal a man’s freedom all it takes is…

CONVICTION

Wade Darling stands accused of killing his wife and teenage children as they slept and burning their house to the ground.

When the case lands on barrister Neve Harper’s desk, she knows it could make her career.

A matter of days before the case, as Neve is travelling home for the night, she is approached by a man. He tells her she must throw the case or the secret about her husband’s disappearance will be revealed. Failing that, he will kill everyone she cares about, until she does as she is told.

Neve must make a choice – go against every principle she has ever had, or the people she loves will die.

Now, before you click HERE and rush off to Waterstones to preorder a SIGNED copy of Conviction, take a look at the fabulous book trailer:

About the author:

Jack Jordan is the global bestselling author of Do No Harm, Anything for Her, My Girl, A Woman Scorned, Before Her Eyes, and Night by Night an Amazon No.1 bestseller in the UK, Canada, and Australia. Jack's novel Do No Harm was a Saturday Times Bestseller and was longlisted for a Dead Good Reader Award in 2022.

Follow Jack:

Twitter: @JackJordanBooks

Instagram: @JackJordan_author

Facebook: @JackJordanOfficial

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COVER REVEAL: Man on a Murder Cycle - Mark Pepper

Having absolutely LOVED Veteran Avenue, I consider myself to be a Mark Pepper fan so I'm delighted to be taking part in the cover reveal today for his new novel, Man on a Murder Cycle. So, scroll down to have a look at the cover and find out more about the book below. 

Well, isn't that an awesome cover?  It looks like something you might see in your nightmares and I can't wait to read it.

Here's a little bit about the book:

HELL HATH NO FURY LIKE AN AUTHOR BETRAYED.

Tom Roker’s debut thriller was an instant bestseller. Since then, he has written four more books, none of which have been published. His reputation has faded from overnight success to one-hit wonder.

Now, finally, he’s making a comeback. His latest novel, Man on a Murder Cycle, is a blockbuster. The dark tale of Milton, a vengeful biker with a penchant for brutal acts of violence, perfectly recaptures the mood of Roker’s first novel. And everyone loves it!

It’s just a shame he didn’t write it.

The real author is recently deceased. Roker stole the manuscript, passing it off as his own. He’s covered his tracks well, so the trivial matter of who wrote what can be overlooked.

That is, until a mad man on a big bike starts killing people, exactly as described in the stolen novel – even those scenes that didn’t make the final cut.

Only one person can know what was written in those scenes, and he’s dead. 

Isn’t he?

Preorder HERE from Red Dog Press

BLOG TOUR: Queens of the Underworld - Caitlin Davies

Robin Hood, Dick Turpin, Ronnie Biggs, the Krays … All have become folk heroes, glamorised and romanticised, even when they killed. But where are all the female crooks? Where are the street robbers, gang leaders, diamond thieves, bank robbers and gold smugglers?

Queens of the Underworld reveals the incredible story of professional female criminals from the 17th century to today. From Moll Cutpurse who ruled the Jacobean underworld, to Victorian jewel thief Emily Lawrence and 1960s burglar Zoe Progl, these were charismatic women at the top of their game.

But female criminals have long been dismissed as either not ‘real women’ or not ‘real criminals’, and in the process their stories have been lost. Caitlin Davies unravels the myths, confronts the lies, and tracks down modern-day descendants in order to tell the truth about their lives.

 

What did I think?

Queens of the Underworld is a fascinating non-fiction book that's really easy to read as each chapter leads nicely on to the next one.  You may have never heard of any of the women in this book but that's something that Caitlin Davies aims to put right by giving these women their rightful place in history.

As I was reading about all of these women I had never heard of, I wondered how on earth their stories had been lost when we know all about their male counterparts.  It was only as I got to one of the latter chapters that I recognised a story, although her name wasn't familiar to me at first.  

It must have taken quite a lot of research to uncover these long buried stories so I really must applaud Caitlin Davies for shining a spotlight on these remarkable women.  I loved how each woman was brought to life along with some insights into the era in which they were living.  Reading this book has made me want to find out more about these extraordinary women.  

Insightful and fascinating, Queens of the Underworld is a very well-written and captivating account of unforgettable women who had almost been forgotten.  A recommended read for anyone who loves true crime and history.

I chose to read and review an ARC for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Caitlin Davies is the author of six novels and eight non-fiction books, many of which have a criminal theme. The Ghost of Lily Painter was based on the true story of two Edwardian baby farmers, while Bad Girls: The Rebels and Renegades of Holloway Prison was the first comprehensive history of Europe’s most infamous female jail. It was nominated for the Orwell Prize for Political Writing, 2019.

Caitlin is a trained teacher, who started her writing career as a human rights reporter in Botswana. She currently works as a Royal Literary Fund writing fellow at NHS Kent & Medway.

Queens of the Underworld tells of her journey into the lives of female crooks from the 17th century to today. Her upcoming book, Private Inquiries: the secret history of female sleuths, to be published in October 2023, reveals the true tales of female private eyes from the 1850s to the present. Caitlin trained as a private investigator as part of her research, but wasn’t nearly as observant as she hoped she’d be.

Social Media links:

Twitter: @CaitlinDavies2

Website: www.caitlindavies.co.uk

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COVER REVEAL: A Beautiful Rival - Gill Paul

I'm a huge fan of Gill Paul's books so I’m very excited for the publication new novel about the rivalry between cosmetic queens Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden.  A Beautiful Rival is publishing on 31st August 2023 in UK, Australia and New Zealand and 5th September 2023 in US. So without further ado, let's have a look at the cover... 

Isn't it just gorgeous?  It looks so glamorous (and bitchy) and I can't wait to read it.

Here's a little bit about the book:

In this stunning new novel, bestselling author Gill Paul reveals the infamous rivalry of cosmetic titans Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein.

They could have been allies: two self-made millionaires who invented a global industry, in an era when wife and mother were supposed to be any woman’s highest goal. Elizabeth Arden and Helena Rubinstein each founded empires built on grit and determination…and yet they became locked in a feud spanning three continents, two world wars, and the Great Depression.

Brought up in poverty, Canadian-born Arden changed popular opinion about make up—persuading women from all walks of life to buy skincare products promising them youth and beauty. Rubinstein left her native Poland, launching her own company with scientific claims about miracle creams and anti-aging herbs.

And when it came to business, nothing was off-limits: poaching employees, copying products, planting spies, hiring ex-husbands, and one-upping each other every chance they had. This was a rivalry from which there was no surrender!  And through it all, were two women, bold, brazen, and determined to succeed—no matter the personal cost.

Preorder links:

UK

US

Australia

New Zealand

BLOG TOUR: Isaac and the Egg - Bobby Palmer

When Isaac Addy walks into the woods on the worst day of his life and finds something extraordinary there, he already knows he's going to take it home.

A grieving Isaac and his curious new friend are unlikely companions. They don't even speak the same language. But their chance encounter will transform Isaac's life in ways he cannot yet imagine.

And maybe he will finally be able to tell the truth.

Sometimes, to get out of the woods, you have to go into them. Isaac and the Egg is one of the most hopeful, honest and wildly imaginative novels you will ever read.

 

What did I think?

I had seen a lot of excitement on social media about #ThatEggBook so I couldn't wait to read it; now I can see why everyone is talking about it as I absolutely loved it.  It really is an emotional rollercoaster; it's proper laugh out loud funny one minute and sob into your hanky heartbreaking the next.

Isaac is emotionally lost and my heart went out to him almost immediately - I wished I could have reached into the book and hugged him, but then he found Egg.  Egg!!!  I adored Egg - I don't think I have ever laughed so much when reading a book.  Egg's naivety and innocence completely stole my heart and I love how Bobby Palmer's vivid writing brings both Egg and Isaac to life.

This is very much a light and dark novel: there's Egg's hilarity that provides light entertainment and cracked me up (I had to get an egg pun in somewhere) and Isaac's devastating story that broke my heart.  It's so perfectly balanced and beautifully written that I had to triple check that this was Bobby Palmer's debut novel.

Original, unmissable and unforgettable, Isaac and the Egg will steal your heart and never return it.  It will make you laugh and cry but also make you want to read it all over again.  It's off to the favourites shelf for Isaac and the Egg.  If I compiled a books of the year list, Isaac and the Egg would definitely be on it.  Very highly recommended - don't miss it!

I chose to read an ARC that I received for the blog tour and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

Buy it from:

UK.Bookshop.org

Amazon

About the author:

Bobby Palmer is a freelance journalist who writes for publications including Time Out, GQ, Men's Health and Cosmopolitan. Isaac and the Egg is his debut novel.

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @thebobpalmer

Instagram: @thebobpalmer

Website: www.bobbypalmer.co.uk

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