Dear Readers, You may have noticed Bookshine blog has been a little quiet of late? Unsurprisingly for someone with a long-term chronic illness, I have been grappling with a bout of ill health and after weeks of chastising myself for the resulting lack of review activity, I have finally decided to (temporarily!) throw in the towel. In other words, I am clocking off early for Christmas this year to get some proper rest.

Dear book-loving blog readers I have been delaying this post in the hopes of giving you an update with some actual news, but sadly that is not to be (for now, anyway!). The planned operation was unavoidably postponed at the last minute but I remain 'top of the waiting list' and am just waiting for the call with my new date, which will hopefully be before the end of this month.

Dear fellow book-lovers Bookshine will be on a summer hiatus as of this Friday, as I will be on holiday for a week and then (hopefully!) heading immediately for a planned and long-awaited operation. Depending on the recovery time, I am hoping to be back sharing the #booklove by September, if not sooner, but I have scheduled one or two posts in the meantime just to keep things going.

*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the authors, Canongate Books and Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.* Blurb: Wh…

Welcome to the fifth of my ‘Year of the Book’ posts, in which I take the books I received in my 2025 book advent – each cover representing an animal from the Chinese Zodiac – and review them for you! May is the DRAGON and the book is A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan. Read on to find out more…

First a quick explanation! Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrabbling ever since to get it back on track. In an attempt to try to regain some lost ground, I have been scrunching some of my (overdue) reviews together into one or two posts each week: shorter reviews, but still covering all of the points I intended to.

Token While I sleepBeside my bed, unseen,A daisy wilts.A gift from my son,Who ran in the sunTumbled and roaredThought of meAnd picked a flower;My share of his sunshine day. While I sleepI miss itI mis...

*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opin…

*I received a free copy of this book, with thanks to the author, Avon Books UK and Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.* Blurb: Maste…

*I received a free DRC of this book with thanks to the authors, Coconut Milk and Ashley Kurland - Entertainment PR.  The decision to review and my opinions are my own.* Blurb: A love letter to immigrant families everywhere! Jerk Chicken Magic is a heartwarming story of a multi-generational immigrant family (The Higgins), through the eyes of a charming 6-year-old girl named, Lizzy — as she explores the culinary magic of Jamaica's most famous cultural export, jerk chicken.

*I personally know this author but purchased my own copy of the book for the purposes of this review (and for my own personal use, but I will explain that more in my review!)* Blurb: Over the years I’ve learnt how to make purposeful blends that make a real difference, packing nutrition, calories and comfort into powerful meals designed for small tummies with big needs.

First a quick explanation! Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrab…

*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author, Boldwood Books and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review a…

First a quick explanation! Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrabbling ever since to get it back on track. In an attempt to try to regain some lost ground, I have been scrunching some of my (overdue) reviews together into one or two posts each week: shorter reviews, but still covering all of the points I intended to.

*I received a free copy of this book with thanks to the author, Storm Publishing and Rachel Gilbey at Rachel’s Random Resources blog tours. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.* Blurb: Beyond the village of Raven’s Edge stands the Gateway to the Dead – a crumbling stone arch marking the site where a long-ago battle raged and the dead were buried where they fell.

First a quick explanation! Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrabbling ever since to get it back on track. In an attempt to try to regain some lost ground, I have been scrunching some of my (overdue) NetGalley reviews together into one or two posts each week: shorter reviews, but still covering all of the points I intended to.

Welcome to the seventh of my ‘Year of the Book’ posts, in which I take the books I received in my 2025 book advent – each cover representing an animal from the Chinese Zodiac – and review them for you! July is the HORSE and the book is White Horse Black Nights by Evie Marceau. Read on to find out more…

First a quick explanation! Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrabbling ever since to get it back on track. In an attempt to try to regain some lost ground, I have been scrunching some of my (overdue) NetGalley reviews together into one or two posts each week: shorter reviews, but still covering all of the points I intended to.

First a quick explanation! Due to some severe health issues over the last few years, and a lingering chronic condition, my planned review schedule went right out of the window and I have been scrabbling ever since to get it back on track. In an attempt to try to regain some lost ground, I have been scrunching some of my (overdue) reviews together into one or two posts each week: shorter reviews, but still covering all of the points I intended to.

Welcome to the twenty-third of my ‘Calendar Chaos’ posts, in which I take the books I received in my 2024 book advent – each cover representing a different period of time – and review them for you! Up first in December is DECEMBER and the book is One Day in December by Josie Silver. Read on to find out more…