Finding Mr Perfectly Fine Tasheem Abdur-Rasshid blog tour

Finding Mr Perfectly Fine By Tasneem Abdur-Rashid

Paperback published by Bonnier Books 7th July 2022

ISBN 9781838778156

Pages 480

Last week I turned 29. Along with the usual homemade Victoria sponge, helium ballon and Selfridges gift vouchers, my mum’s birthday present to me was the threat that if I’m not engaged by 30th birthday she’s sending me off to the Motherland to find a fresh-form-the-Desh husband.

When Zara’s mum puts together the most archaic of arranged marriage resources (not exactly the romcom-worthy love story she had envisioned for herself). Zara’s soon exhausted by her family’s failed attempts to set her up with every vaguely suitable Abdul, Ahmed and Farook. So she decides to take matters into her own hands by signing up for marriage apps and speed dating. After all, how hard can it be to find a husband?

When she meets Hamza, a kind British Egyptian who shares her values. Zara knows he would make a good husband. Whilst she’s aware not all marriages are based on love (or lust) at first sight, Zara struggles with a lack of spark. Particularly when she can’t stop thinking of someone else.

As her 30th looms, and family pressure intensifies, Zara knows she must make a decision, but will she make the right one?

MY REVIEW

My biggest shout out today is buy your self a copy of Finding Mr Perfectly Fine, about Zara why she has to find a husband.

When the pressure’s on to find someone, does it matter if he’s not the one? I loved reading Tasneem Abdul-Rashid’s debut novel Finding Mr Perfectly Fine, as I’m interested in reading fictional stories about different cultures.

Zara Choudhury, comes from a Bengali background who still lives with her parents and grandmother in London. Zara has just turned 29, and the race is on, she needs to find a husband, quickly before she is 30.

If Zara doesn’t find a husband by 30th birthday her mother will send her on a flight to Bangladesh straight to Shahjala airport, with an arranged marriage, to find a fresh from the Desh husband.

With the help from her mother and her sister, Zara downloads the MuslimMate app, to find a husband. She puts together a Bengali marriage CV under her family’s strict directions. I was totally into this story to see if Zara can find her Mr right online.

Zara works in a department, Community Engagement, where she once thought an attractive colleague Adam who is Turkish, might have possibly been the one guy for her.

Zara knows she can’t just meet any man without her mother’s approval. But she meets Hamza a British Egyptian with a lovely Arabic accent at a chocolate making event. He is nothing more than real proper gentleman who really likes Zara. But I must say it’s a shame she doesn’t fancy him.

It isn’t long before Zara starts to get the men that’s is interested in her, all mixed up, causing some disastrously events.

My heart raced along with reading on how is Zara going to get out of the disaster that unfolds, and as I just love happy ending, I was still thinking to myself will Zara ever meet her Mr right, husband?

A mega huge thank you to Tracy Fenton for inviting me to take part in this exciting blog tour. I would also like to thank Bonnier Books for sending me a printed copy of this fantastic novel.

About Tasneem Abdur-Rashid

Tasneem Abdur-Rashid is a British Bengali writer born and raised in London. A mother of two, Tasneem has worked across media, PR and communications both in the UK and in the UAE. Today, Tasneem spends her days writing novels and her nights co-hosting the award-winning podcast Not Another Mum Pod – and in between, she’s busy trying (and often failing) to be super mum, super wife and super chef. Having recently completed a Master’s in Creative Writing with distinction, Tasneem’s debut rom-com Finding Mr Perfectly Fine will be published by Zaffre/Bonnier on July 7, 2022.

You can find Tasneem on Instagram: @tasneemarashid and @notanothermumpod

The Start Up Wife Tahmima Anam

THE START UP WIFE BY TAHMIMA ANAM

Paperback published by Canongate 26th May 2022

ISBN 9781838852528

Pages 304

A LIFE – CHANGING APP THE WOMAN WHO CREATED IT AND THE MAN WHO TOOK THE CREDIT

When Asha starts work on a revolutionary app together with her new husband Cyrus, she’s thrilled. But while she creates an ingenious algorithm, Cyrus’ charismatic appeal throws him into the spotlight. What happens when the app explodes into the next big thing?

Gripping, witty and razor-sharp, The Startup Wife is a blistering novel about big ambitions, speaking out and standing up for what you believe in.

Poignant as well as savagely witty OBSERVER

Beautifully written, often hilarious and always thought – provoking MAIL ON SUNDAY

Like a boxset for your bedside STYLIST

Impossibly timely and bewilderingly smart ELIF SHAFAK

Stylish and funny SUNDAY TIMES

Fresh, funny, brave, savage, smart KAMILA SHAMSIE

A rambunctious and radiant riot of a novel MONICA ALI

MY REVIEW

This story has gone where no other authors have ever gone before, inventing a fabulous fictional story based on creating an ingenious algorithm.

For Asha, her idea could explode into the next big thing. It will be a life-changing app.

A new social media platform that is going to get people to form connections with others on the basis of what they like or don’t. It will do this by providing rituals for people based on their interests, beliefs, and passion. If someone was about to die ,it would be able to come up with a way to have a special funeral.

Asha Ray and Cyrus Jones got married exactly two months after they met for the second time, which was thirteen years after they met for the first time.

I found it strange why Asha never told her parents about Cyrus and why she didn’t inform them she had got married.

Asha now Mrs Jones, comes up with an idea to invent the Empathy Module site. She believes that had met her husband Cyrus after all these years, that she was capable of having some magic and putting it to her human replica. It will be a platform that will anticipate people’s need for meaning and ritual.

I personally enjoyed reading this unique story, and decided not to reveal too much as I don’t want to spoil it for readers who want to read The Start Up Wife.

I would like to thank Canongate for sending me a printed paperback in exchange for an honest review and for the invite to the read along.

About author Tahmima Anam

Tahmima Anam is the recipient of a Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and an O. Henry Award, and has been named one of Granta’s best young British novelists. She is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times and was recently elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. Born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, she was educated at Mount Holyoke College and Harvard University, and now lives in London, where she is on the board of ROLI, a music tech company founded by her husband

Lucie Yi is not a romantic Lauren Ho Blog Tour

Lucie Yi has tried love – it didn’t work.

She’s decided that finding Mr Right is a myth, and that finding Mr Right-enough-to-have-children-with is the next best option. So when she meets easy-going Collin Read on a platonic co-parenting website, it finally feels like she has found her version of happily ever after.

But things take a turn for the worse when they move back home to Singapore where her very traditional family and remorseful ex-fiancé await.

With pressure mounting on all sides and her perfect plan unravelling, Lucie has to decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice for a chance at happiness – and maybe, just maybe, love.

MY REVIEW

Lauren Ho is a new author to me, so once I had finished reading Lucie Yi is not a Romantic with loving every minute of this romcom I ordered the first book by this author Last Tang Standing.

The one thing that stood out for me is that Lauren Ho is an amazing talented author from Singapore, who has a such an incredible imagination, with making her story literally unputdownable and quite funny.

The novel Lucie Yi is not a Romantic is about friendship, pregnancy, pregnancy loss, grief and cheating.

This story has a splendid cast of characters that all have a history of their own, making this story delightful to read, and above all, I loved reading this story as it is so unique.

Lucie living in New York has a good job being a manger, but she longs for a baby to raise in Singapore where her home is and where her parents live. She wants to find that special someone who shares her culture, to have a baby with. I did feel really sorry for Lucie as she bursts out crying in a baby shop, buying a present for her best friend that has baby triplets.

Lucie knows she can’t just sleep with a random guy to get pregnant. Well the good thing about having best friends is that they will always help you, no matter what. That’s what I liked about this story, when one of her best friends really wants to help Lucie have a baby with the right man. One of her best friends suggests going on the website co-parenting. All Lucie has to do is add her profile, and to find a man who is willing to be a father, that is either based in Singapore or who will move to Singapore should she become pregnant.

Today my biggest shout out is don’t miss Lucie Yi Is Not A Romantic, it’s a page turner. I highly recommend reading it, as the author Lauren Ho has created this really brilliant unique contemporary novel, that everyone is talking about!

I would like to say a huge thank you to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours I’m very greatful for having me on board of this amazing blog tour. ❤️ Thank you so much to Harper Collins for sending me a physical copy to review 💕

About author Lauren Ho

She can be found here @hellolaurenho on Twitter, IG, FB and hellolaurenho.com.

Here is the link to buy this fabulous novel Lucie Is Not A Romantic

Poppy Loves Devon Gillian Young Blog Tour

Poppy Loves Devon By Gillian Young

Paperback published by Troubadour 24th May 2022

Pages 272

ISBN 9781803132655

Get ready for the second in the Crazy Cream Adventure Series following on form Poppy on Safari the pampered life of this crazy cream retriever is turned upside down when she discovers a lost puppy whilst on holiday with her family.

Poppy wants to befriend anything that moves, but she’s never successful. It seems all the other animals find her too big, loud and boisterous. DD is convinced she needs a playmate, but Poppy’s unsure. She enjoys the fuss and attention from her family so much, she is not willing to share. The choice is taken away from her when one day a puppy comes along.

However, Poppy soon discovers the puppy is lost and alone. Her big heart and caring nature kicks in when she discovers a monster lurking in a nearby wood. Poppy must act fast to save the farm, her family and the puppy. Meanwhile, a handsome border collie ticks all the boxes as the perfect dog but is he ? Poppy Loves Devon follows her pursuit of making friends but not realising what’s under her very nose.

MY REVIEW

This is my first ever novel about a dog, and although this novel Poppy Loves Devon is aimed at children, I really enjoyed reading this story. The reason I enjoyed this story is because when I was young I used to go to Devon for my holiday and secondly I love dogs and I used to have a Westie dog up to about five years ago.

Poppy is a retriever, that is big, clumsy and pampered who talks to itself telling part of the storyline, and is very much part of the family who take Poppy to Devon on holiday.

Poppy made me laugh for growling at the sea, and refusing to in.

Evie get a new fluffy golden retriever puppy, and there’s something Poppy doesn’t like about the puppy, maybe it’s because the new puppy is getting all the attention.

I loved the illustrations that Gillian has done to mark every chapter, which are the authors own illustrations as she studied art.

Gillian Young is extremely talented getting the idea to write about a retriever, using her inspiration from her own adorable retrievers.

I think author Gillian Young may have started a craze for other People who would like to write about their pet. But it’s not that easy to write a fictional story about your pet. You have to be determined to turn your story into an adventure that everyone will want to read, just like author Gillian Young has done. With the love of her retrievers she has started an excellent exciting series of books about Poppy the retriever, starting with Poppy On Safari and now she has done a splendid job with this second book in the series Poppy Loves Devon. I’m all ready excited for the third book in the series.

Calling all children, all YA fictional readers, dog lovers, you will want to read this amazing adventure about Poppy Loves Devon and Poppy on Safari.

I would like to thank literallypr for inviting me to be part of the blog tour for Poppy Loves Devon and for sending me the paperback to read and review.

About author Gillian Young

Gillian Young is a full time writer and illustrator of children’s middle grade fiction.

Gillian has always been passionate about writing and art. Following art college, she worked as a Graphic Artist. During this time, she settled down, got married and had two children. Becoming a mother reintroduced her to the magic of children’s fiction. Every night she’d read Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny to her kids. Eventually she had the idea of writing stories of her own.

To be an author was still her dream that had never gone away. Snatches of time between going to work and taking care of her children were spent bent over lapping writing until 2015. A battle with cancer led Gillian to re-evaluate her life. Writing was her medicine and it was because of this she decided to go for it and focus on becoming an author.

Much of Gillian’s work is inspired by her golden retrievers who have achieved some fame around the world through their Instagram page ( crazy.cream.retrievers). Following her previous books, Poppy on Safari, and Tammy and Willow, Gillian has appeared on radio and magazines talking both about her books and her experiences fighting and defeating the big C. Gillian lives with her family in Worcestershire.

You can visit Gillian Young on her author website.

https://www.gillianyoungauthor.com/

You can find Gillian’s gorgeous dogs on Instagram

crazy.cream.retrievers.x.

I’m following author Gillian Young on Twitter @CornDollyXx56

Bob the Dog Gets a Job Tracey Hammett

Bob the Dog Gets a Job By Tracey Hammett

Illustrator Angie Stevens

Paperback Published By Graffeg 15th June 202

ISBN 9781802580815

Pages 36

Bob the dog is a busy dog, she always likes to have a job. One Sunny day she gets a job selling ice cream in a dinky van. But when she runs out of cones and the ice-cream nozzle sticks, Bob has to think quickly to save the day.

MY REVIEW

This book Nob the Dog Gets a Job is absolutely a gorgeous story. I do hope this is the start of a brand new series all about Bob the Dog.

Bob the Dog is a busy dog. She always likes to have a job. One Sunny day, Bob heads to his local park and sees a poster on a tree it said ICE_ CREAM FESTIVAL TODAY. SHINY TROPHY FOR THE BEST ICE CREAM!

Bob asks all the ice cream vans for a job, but no one will hiring him. That’s until one ice cream van did. Things go so well for Bob until he runs out of cones. But cleaver Bob comes up with creations of his own. Will Bob the Dog get the trophy he read about? If you love dogs then you’ll throughly enjoy every minute of this book like I did!

I highly recommend this book for all children and I do hope that all schools will stock this fabulous book as it’s so enjoyable and entertaining for everyone.

About author Tracey Hammett

Tracey Hammett is a Welsh-born writer who shares her time between Cardiff and London. She has written numerous stories, scripts and poems for BBC children’s television, including several BAFTA-nominated and award-winning programmes and likes to combine her love of words, stories and rhyme with a good dollop of humour and an awareness of social. Bob the Dog Gets a Job is Tracey’s second children’s book, following Monsters Not Allowed!.

About Illustrator Angie Stevens

Angie Stevens is an illustrator and mother of three based in Swansea. Angie is the author of Doodlemum: A Year of Family Life and illustrator of My Mummy Says.

Note to Self Anna Bell Blog Tour

NOTE TO SELF BY ANNA BELL

Paperback published by Harper Collins 23rd June 2022

Pages 384

ISBN 9780008467630

It’s never too late to follow your heart.

One Summer’s day seventeen years ago Edie and Joel meet. Their connection is instant and friendship is born, although Edie can’t help but wish for more. But just as she builds up the courage to lay her heart on the line, one night changes everything.

Edie moved on from the heartbreak of years ago. So the last thing she expects to receive on her thirty-fifth birthday is an email from her eighteen-year-old self. As more emails arrive, she starts to remember what or rather who she left behind.

Following her own advice, Edie heads back to the place where it all began and finds her path unexpectedly crossing with Joel’s once more. Could this finally be their chance at love? Or are some things better left in the past?

MY REVIEW

I have really missed reading Anna Bell’s books, as the last book that I read was The Good Girlfriend’s Guide to Getting Even, that I totally found unputdownable. So when I received Note to Self I was so excited I jumped up and down. I’m now back in my comfort zone again with fresh idea, the Anna Bell has come up with in Note to Self.

When Edie Porter, was 18 she used a website where she could input the date in the future to receive notes that she had made in form of emails to herself. Now it is Eddie’s 35th birthday she starts to receive email to herself, that she had written 17 years ago.

In one email to herself she reads that before university she was dating Scott, for two years then broke up because he cheated on her.

Edie feels quite sad as her birthdays haven’t never been the same since her mother died seventeen years ago.

Edie has now been dating Miles a corporate lawyer for five months, but is he really enough for Edie? I personally didn’t think so, I didn’t like the fact that he changed his mind to where they would spend Edie’s 35th birthday and I didn’t really like what Miles gave Edie as her birthday present.

Edie and her dad are co-directors of an office supply company, where Layla, a work colleague is Edie’s best friend too.

I adored the imagination how the author used the emails that Edie receives from her younger self as a great way of finding out all about Edie’s past.

My biggest shout out is buy Note to Self you’ll be taken in by Edie the main character!

Praise for Anna Bell

The perfect rollercoaster of emotions by Laura Jane Williams!

A warm hug in book form by Holly Miler The Sight of You !

A love story to make you swoon by Emily Stone Always in December !

ABOUT AUTHOR ANNA BELL

Anna lives in the South of France with her young family and energetic labrador. When not chained to her laptop, Anna can be found basking in the sun in the summer, heading to the ski slopes in the winter (to drink hot chocolate and watch – she can’t ski) or having a sneaky treat from the patisserie – all year round!

You can find our more about Anna on her website www.Annabellwrites.com

Twitter @annabell_writes

Instagram @anna_bell_writes

Please note these advertisements are not mine!

Ebb and Flo and the Sea Monster Jane Simmons

Ebb and Flo and the Sea Monster by Jane Simmons

Paperback published by graffeg 26th May 2022

Size of large paperback 250 x 250mm

ISBN 97811802580730

Pages 36

A journey home from Granny’s house turns into a big adventure when the family’s boat is stranded and they have to camp out for the night. Ebb and Flo keep a lookout for the mythical Morgawr, but sea monsters don’t really exist do they?

An enchanting seaside tale about the myth of a local sea monster.

MY REVIEW

All grannies love reading to young children !

While Flo is at her Grannies house, her grannie reads Flo a story from the newspaper of sightings of the Morgawr Sea Monster.

On the way home by boat Flo looks out for the sea monster. And Ebb the dog drops his ball in the sea.

Flo and her mum, with Ebb the dog are on their way home and stop of on the sand to make a camp for the night before setting of agin to go home. Flo and Ebb see a really dark big shadow appearing over the sea and sand. But sea monsters don’t really exist do they?

This is a lovely illustrated children’s book to add to the collection of Ebb and Flo series.

The other books in the collection of this series are,

Ebb and Flo and Their New Friend

Ebb and Flo and the Sea Monster

Ebb and Flo and the Baby Seal

Ebb and Flo and the Greedy Gulls.

About Author Jane Simmons

Before I could walk I was painting and drawing. I was desperate to go to school and cried after my first day, because they hadn’t taught me how to read and write in one day. When I was a child, I painted, drew and wrote all the time as I moved with my family around the world, living in houses, flats and camper vans moving from school to school, sometimes home ed., and back to school again. We always had animals, usually strays we picked up on the way and they were often my closest friends. I have continued to travel, write, draw and paint, always with animals, living in squats, tents, vans and boats. As a mature student I studied a BA in illustration at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge and won the highest awards given in the Macmillan Children’s Book Prize for both my final two years. I had a great success with the DAISY picture books and EBB AND FLO, whose characters were brought to life on television. 

I am now, after many years of living on an old fishing boat with my husband whilst travelling around the Mediterranean(the same one featured in SHIP’S CAT DORIS and EBB and FLO), have settled with three rescued dogs, a horse and 4 donkeys in a barn we’re converting in France.

Rita Wants a Genie Maire Zepf

Rita Wants a Genie by Maire Zepf

Illustrated by Mr Ando

Paperback published by Graffeg 28th April 2022

Size of paperback 250 x 250mm

ISBN 9781802580464

Pages 28

Meet Rita. She’s a little girl with very big ideas. Rita wants a genie who will obey her every command and give her all that she dreams of. Alacazam! Alacazee! Zim! Zam! Alacazoo! But what if someone else gets their hands on the genie?

MY REVIEW

It’s great to see Rita back again!

Rita wants a genie as it will do anything you ask no matter what. The only thing is a genie will obey anyone who rubs the lamp. This story children will love its as full of special magic. I highly recommend Rita Wants series as they are so much fun.

This is a fabulous book to add the collection of the book series.

The other books in the series are

Rita Wants a Dragon

Rita Wants a Robot

Rita Wants a Ninja

Rita Wants a Fairy Godmother

Rita Wants a Witch

Rita Wants a Genie.

Máire Zepf has written 12 books for children, from picture books to a YA verse novel. Winner of the KPMG Children’s Book of the Year, the Réics Carl Award and a White Raven in 2020, her books appear in 8 languages worldwide. The Co. Down author was the first Children’s Writing Fellow for Northern Ireland and is Artistic Director for Quotidian.

Andrew Whitson is an award-winning artist and Belfast native who likes to be called Mr. Ando! He lives in an old house which is nestled discreetly on the side of a misty hill; at the edge of a magic wood, below an enchanted castle in the shadow of a giant’s nose. His house looks down over Belfast Harbour where the Titanic was built and up at the Belfast Cavehill.

I Saw What He Did Kemi Estephane Blog Tour

I SAW WHAT HE DID BY KEMI ESTEPHANE

PAPERBACK PUBLISHED BY CLINK STREET 7TH JUNE 2022

ISBN 9781915229144

Pages 246

Ren Shephard is at a comfortable crossroads. Enjoying the temporary freedom of her recent redundancy, her life revolves around her cherished friendship, sporadic communication with her unconventional parents and occasionally bailing her errant sister out of trouble.

However, when she signs up for an online writing course, she meets a group of people who will impact her in unimaginable, unexpected and tragic ways.

When a gruesome murder takes place during one of the lessons, Ren becomes embroiled in a dangerous and terrifying sequence of events.

With the police stonewalling and Ren overtaken by a desperate urge to find the truth and justice for the victim she uncovers some shocking and mystifying evidence that sends her word spiralling out of control, whilst simultaneously placing her life in jeopardy.

MY REVIEW

Today I’m giving my biggest shout out! Don’t miss this page- turning thriller, I Saw What He Did.

The story starts of like a contemporary read, twisting into a murder.

Two great friends. Wanderlust parents. A problematic sister.

You witness a fatal attack online. Your life may be in danger. But who can you trust?

Well I honestly couldn’t put this thriller down, it’s one if the best thrillers I’ve read in a very long time.

Ren Shephard meets up with her friends, that have very different situations in life. Ren had just retired from being a university lecturer and had split up from her boyfriend. Lex had found out her husband is having an affair. Kizzy has a baby’s and wants to go back to work.

Ren’s Faye is in trouble where good hearted Ren helps her sister.

A one bedroom flat is home for Ren, when she decided to do an online writing course she witnessed a murder, only one other person on the writing course see the murder.

The writing instructor won’t take charge of the murder that happened to one of the fellow budding writer.

Ren takes matters into her own hands trying to solve who the murder is. But as everyone can be seen in the online writing zoom course, could the murderer of seen Ren ?

I absolutely loved every minute of this thriller, and I know you all will do too, that’s why I highly recommend reading I Saw What He Did.

I would like to thank kaleidoscopic tours for arranging for this paperback to be sent to me and for the invite for the I Saw What He Did blog tour.

ABOUT AUTHOR KEMI ESTEPHANE

Imagine Eating Lemons Jason Rhodes

IMAGINE EATING LEMONS BY JASON RHODES

ILLUSTRATOR RICHARD DEARING PAPERBACK

PUBLISHED BY GRAFFEG 16TH JUNE 2022.

ISBN 9781802580891

Pages 36

Follow Chester’s journey as he gains a clearer understanding of his thoughts and feelings through the practice of mindfulness. With vibrant instructions and playful rhyme we discover some of the simple benefits of mindfulness and how we can use it to settle our busy everyday minds.

MY REVIEW

Chester Chestnut is a happy little chap, but sometimes even the happiest of chaps get worried or nervous and when this happens Chester’s tummy starts to hurt. Follow the journey of Chester Chestnut as he learns about his anxious thoughts and feelings, where they come from and how to control them.

Imagine Eating Lemons, is an important book for children, as they often suffer from anxiety, or feeling nervous with having to do something at school.

This book shows children what they can do when they find themselves in a situation of feeling nervous of how they can simply gain the confidence they need, to do what ever they want to. This book is an introduction to mindfulness and mental health, with nice and exercises, aimed for children, with anxiety problems.

About author Jason Rhodes

Jason Rhodes came to write the children’s bookImagine Eating Lemons as part of a much larger vision. He wants to educate the younger generation with the simple tools needed to help manage their thoughts and feelings, resulting in a much more peaceful and connected world. Having suffered from extreme anxiety himself for many years he discovered the practice of mindfulness and life quickly began to change. He has now ended his career as a film actor and decided to focus all of his energy on helping to spread awareness of this life-changing practice.

About Illustrator Richard Dearing

Richard Dearing is a digital illustrator based in Bristol, UK. In the past, Richard has created illustrations for Swedish Prog band PreHistoric Animals, Californian wine company Stella Rosa, musician Von Geigerfelt and the card game “Exploriana”. He was also featured in the Broken Frontier Award nominated Jeremy Corbyn Comic, for Selfmadehero and in the Amazing Adventures Exhibition in London April 2019.