#Review By Lou of The Bravest Word By Kate Foster @kfosterauthor @WalkerBooksUK@LoveBooksTours #Kidslit #MiddleGrade #ChildrensBook #MentalHealth #Football #Dogs #TheBravestWord

The Bravest Word
By Kate Foster

A brave, heartfelt book for Middle-grade children that combines a dog, football and prevalent childhood issues.

Blurb

A rescue story of love and trust between a boy and a dog from the talented author of Paws.

Matt is a football superstar. He can handle anything. Except lately his chest feels empty and his head is screaming. He can’t concentrate in school or enjoy football any more, and he is so, so tired. When Matt stumbles across an abandoned dog, there’s no doubt in his mind that he has to save him. But maybe the dog isn’t the only one who needs help.

Review

The Bravest Word combines some childhood interests, such as football with mental health, or rather suffering from poor mental health. It’s a winning combo, especially when a cute dog is also added to the mix. It’s a book many children will relate to.

Matt is lost. He loved football. He was a superstar and this book shows that even heroes are not infallible and are human after all. They can also find life tough at times as well as see their mental health decline.
When Matt comes across a dog, he feels moved to rescue it, but it becomes a greater partnership than he could ever imagine, turning it into a positive, heartfelt story.

The book cleverly draws the readers in with the style of writing, which also includes text message format here and there, that adds to the story and something kids can easily latch onto too, along with a feeling of not being alone.
There’s a supportive and hopeful nature about the plot of this book.
This is a great book for kids to either read alone or as a group or with a parent/caregiver as it can be used as a talking point or to foster empathy.
There’s plenty food for thought and a great plot to keep kids engaged.

There’s also a rather interesting and informative author’s note at the end too.

#Review By Lou of: Went to London, Took the Dog: A Diary by Nina Stibbe @ninastibbe @CamillaElworthy @panmacmillan #WentToLondonTookTheDog

Went to London, Took The Dog: A Diary
By Nina Stibbe

Review by Louise (Lou)

Went To London, Took the Dog: A Diary is witty and candid and having being a fan of her books ever since a friend bought me Love, Nina for a Christmas present years ago, I’ve been enjoying her books ever since.

This book was another I just knew I really wanted to read. It’s perfect for travelling with or for those days where you want to be entertained. Let’s find out what it is about in the blurb and then as you travel down, you’ll come across my full review.

Blurb

Twenty years after leaving London, Nina Stibbe is back in town with her dog, Peggy. Together they take up lodging in the house of writer Deborah (Debby) Moggach in Camden for ‘a year-long sabbatical’. It’s a break from married life back in Cornwall, or even perhaps a fresh start altogether.

Debby does not have many demands – only to water the garden, watch for toads, and defrost the odd pie – so Nina is free to explore the city she once called home. Between scrutinising her son’s online dating developments, navigating the politics of the local pool, and taking detergent advice at the laundrette, this diary of a sixty-year-old runaway reunites us with the inimitable voice of Love, Nina, as the writer becomes, as she puts it, ‘a proper adult’ at last.

Review

Whether you want to dip into the diary entries every now and then or read in one go, Went to London, Took the Dog is an absolute delight to read. Nina and her dog Peggy are on an adventure back to London, where she once called home, about 20 years ago and she takes readers in a wise, humorous journey.

Friendship, parenthood and the literati are all spoken about. The way Stibbe writes is with great wit and fantastic comic-timing, but then she also brings emotion too, especially the reason why she’s taken this trip, it truly is a sabbatical and one because of how her marriage now is, bravely showing a bit of vulnerability. She magnificently brings the everyday, the life stuff that many people do like eat pie, complain about the dog poo, meet friends, contemplate being an adult etc. It’s all relatable. It’s the way that it is all written down on the page that makes this magnificent. She has a way of drawing her reader into her life, even from afar, just a little. Her creativity for bringing her life experiences onto the page and making it enthralling and ingeniously witty and warm, as, in turn, can’t help but care about what she writes and what she’s conveying. I love that she can still bring this, even through tough times.

Nina Stibbe is 61 and also now menopausal, but it doesn’t matter if you’re of similar age or, like me, younger, this is one of the best diaries published in book form that I’ve read in a while.

Published 2nd November 2023, you can treat yourself or buy as a gift at Bookshop.org Waterstones and many other retailers.

*Thanks to Camilla Elworthy for sending me the copy of the book.
Please note that opinions are my own and are impartial.

#CelebratingAuthorsSeries By Lo -Celebrating #CrimeAuthor – Lin Anderson @Lin_Anderson #CrimeFiction @BloodyScotland #BloodyScotland #RhonaMcLeod #BlazeDetectiveDog #Mystery

Celebrating Author – Lin Anderson

written by Louise at Bookmarks and Stages

As part of my blog in 2023 until it reaches 5 years old in September, I will be celebrating an author or publisher every so often, amongst reviewing and interviewing as usual. Join me as I celebrate works of Lin Anderson. I have included links to previous reviews that also include blurbs of a book from the Rhona McLeod series, a Thriller and a Middle Grade Book and a link to Bloody Scotland 2023 and talk write-ups.

Lin Anderson was shortlisted for the CWA Dagger in the Library Award, 2022.

CWA stands for Crime Writers Association. has She has written over 20 books, primarily in the crime fiction genre with her popular main protagonist being forensic scientist Rhona McLeod. She has also written a stand alone thriller – The Party House and mystery books for children – Blaze Detective series. She also created book festival Bloody Scotland. I have been fortunate to write some reviews for some of her books and the festival. You can find out more about the festival and then about her books as you read further.

Lin Anderson, on top of attending book festivals and talks in many venues, created a book festival just over 10 years ago called Bloody Scotland alongside some others. The location is Stirling. Dates: Friday 15th September to Sunday 17th September.

This festival goes from strength to strength each year, playing host to many crime authors from both the UK and across the world. It also has its own awards – The McIlvanney Prize. As well as hosting a stream of established authors, it is also a place that has Spotlight talks on the same stage as an established author for new authors and shortlists for debut novelists. There is also a torchlight parade through this town made millennium city, authors playing football, games, authors singing and a new addition for 2023 – guided walks through Stirling, which is steeped in history, including an old town jail and a castle.

Link to Bloody Scotland 2023: https://bloodyscotland.com/

Link to the write up of a 2022 panel Lin Anderson was on with Clare Mackintosh and Chris Brookmyre: Panel Talk

Lin Anderson’s first book was Driftnet and the latest (2023) is The Wild Coast in the Rhona McLeod series. Here is a link to the talk she gave for Time For the Dead on a Morecambe and Vice Festival on a panel with Noelle Holten – Panel talk

The Wild Coast sees Rhona McLeod on holiday and not all goes to plan with mysterious stickmen being left on murdered wild campers. There’s a slightly creepy vibe mixed with on-trend topics.
Here is the link to the blurb and review of The Wild Coast: The Wild Coast

The Party House is a standalone thriller set in the Highlands of Scotland. Something sinister and dark is happening in Blackrig and the ‘party house’ in this excellent, compelling book.
The Party House

Blaze the Detective Dog is a Middle Grade series. Book 1 is The Magic Flag Mystery. Blaze, the dog actually exists and lives with Donald McKay and his other dog – Laoch. In my review you will see photos of them.
In the book, there is a mystery to be solved – the all important fairy flag has been stolen from Dunvegan Castle, where the Chief of Clan McLeod lives, meaning the cancellation of a school trip. It’s a compelling mystery that children can really get absorbed in to solve the mystery, meet the characters and discover a castle, a secret passage and a map to follow. Here is a link to my review of Blaze The Detective Dog – Book 1 – The Magic Flag Mystery

#QuickReview By Lou of Best Buddies by Lynn Plourde Illustrated By Arthur Lin @LynnPlourde #ArthurLin #BestBuddies @RaintreePub #FriendshipStory #DownsSyndrome #Dogs

Best Buddies
by Lynn Plourde
Illustrated By Arthur Lin

Best Buddies is a picture book that tells a story of a boy with downs syndrome, the bond with his dog and starting school. Find out more in the blurb and my review below. Thanks firstly to Raintree Publishers for a review copy.

Best Buddies introduces a boy-and-dog duo who are BEST FRIENDS and who do EVERYTHING together! So how will they manage being apart when the boy heads to school for the first time? Find out how a clever boy with Down’s syndrome and his loyal pet find the perfect way to feel close even when they can’t be together. A sweet, inspiring story that will ease concerns about the first day of school and other big changes for kids.

Review

Boy and dog have a special bond and don’t ever want to apart from each other. The time comes for the boy to start school and it’s tough because it means leaving the dog behind. They literally do everything together. All is not lost though as slowly but surely they both find ways of coping and getting used to a new routine. By the end, the boy and his dog discover having to part for awhile isn’t all bad. The loyalty remains and they will reunite after school.

It’s a sweet story with fun illustrations and one that can be red for the joy of it and also to prepare for starting school, either in a new term, after a holiday or if you suddenly get a new pet and child and pet have bonded.

#Review By Lou of The Tail of Mum, Dad and A Dog Called Rupert By Helen Morrish @helenmbooks @RandomTTours #BlogTour #RupertsBook #ChildrensBook #Kidslit #Dogs #Grief

The Tail of Mum, Dad and A Dog Called Rupert
By Helen Morrish

Today I am on the blog tour for the delightful book – The Tail of Mum, Dad and a Dog Called Rupert. It is an entertaining story for children aged 5 plus then also then has a serious side of grief, giving opportunities for discussion in either preparation for this or if someone has died in the family or just to give pause for thought. Kids will love to see what Rupert gets up to and what he becomes through some resillience too. Thanks to Random T Tours and Helen Morrish for the review invite and for a copy of the book. Find out more below in my review.

Review

Rupert is a a mixed breed Staffordshire Bull Terrier. He has a bit of Maltese Terrier and Cocker Spaniel mixed in. He’s a rescue dog and it’s about him settling into his new home and loving his new owners. Readers get to know about the dog’s likes and how he has fun, much in the way Rupert is discovering as he grows more confident in his new home and feels comfortable, and much like owners would discover too. There is much humour. The story then twists to a sad note as it also deals with grief, which can be looked upon as how pets and owners handle it. One of his owners dies and this is a subject matter that can be discussed with children whilst reading the book or just to quietly contemplate and empathise and sympathise with. Fear not though, it also has an uplifting ending.
There are illustrations throughout that are often entertaining.

About the Author

After the sudden death of her husband, realising with a jolt that life really was too short, Helen
left her job as an art director to pursue a long-held dream of becoming an artist. To help her
through her grief, she spent five minutes every day drawing their beloved dog, Rupert, and these
are the illustrations that have evolved into her debut book.
When she’s not working on her next book, Helen freelances as a designer and illustrator and runs
her vintage clothes shop Lady Crimplene. Having a passion for all things retro, she has a huge
collection of Sindy dolls and kitsch collectibles. She’s a film buff and her favourite genre is horror,
she also dabbles in stand up comedy, and dancing to the ‘80s makes her feel very happy indeed!
To find out more about Helen, her book and general musings visit helenmorrish.co.uk
All photographs http://www.urszula-soltys.com

Adventure Caravanning With Dogs – It Never Rains But It Paws By Jacqueline Lambert @JacquelineLambertAuthor @RandomTTours #ItNeverRainsButItPaws #WorldWideWalkies #Dogs #Caravanning #TravelMemoir #Travelogue #NonFiction

Adventure Caravanning With Dogs
It Never Rains But It Paws
By Jacqueline Lambert

Adventures and human and dog interest abound in Adventure Caravanning With Dogs. Thanks to Random T. Tours for inviting me to review this travelogue. Join these pooches on an adventure like no other… (a pic of cute dogs is included in this review).
Discover more in the synopsis and my review below.

Synopsis:

Five years after giving up work to travel full time, Jackie and Mark race against time to leave the UK before Britain leaves the EU. If Brexit happens, their four precious pups may lose their pet passports, and will be unable to travel. But Brexit isn’t their only obstacle. A few months into their trip, the pandemic leaves them trapped in Europe’s No.1 coronavirus hotspot…

Review

This, in many ways is a trip of our times and in years to come, will serve as a reminder of how things were during the pandemic. In all of its fun and hilarity it reminds, in someways, that trips, however long or short an adventure people go on, should not be taken for granted because anything can happen…
This is perfect for armchair travelling and perhaps inspiring bucketlists or for giving a picture of some hometruths when worldwide events happen and you have adorable pooches in tow.
The locations that feature are France and Italy.

It all starts rather well on a journey across to France by ferry, as the memoir turns into quite the interesting travel-logue, with some historic facts here and there, adding extra interest to the places, Jacqueline and her furry, pawed friends go to. Not everything is plain-sailing as she and Mark runs into some issues and the rainy weather doesn’t help matters.

Mixed in with intrpid travels, are some politics about Brexit, although for a short spell, it gets a little heavy, it nonetheless doesn’t detract from the rest of the book as it then proceeds into the consequences to what had been unlimited travel around the European countries that are (at time of writing), still part of the EU, so for the main part, there is a point to bringing this up, as she navigates this.

It also documents some of the huge diseases the world had encountered, whilst travelling, including the global pandemic, brought by Covid-19, which Jacqueline encounters and ends up in a hotspot of in Italy, on her own, since Mark had to go back home to sort out a different sort of problem, beforehand, meaning they are separated more than what they may have been otherwise.

Even through, what was, at the time, unexpectedly hard times, there are snippets of some humour and some things that this couple have learnt along the way.

It goes to show that travelling, however well planned, isn’t always quite as smooth as it first seems, in this adventrous human story that is interesting and entertaining and emotional on many different levels. So, this is a book I recommend, so hop into this caravan from your armchair and join these pooches on their adventure of a lifetime.