Category Archives: Featured

Fantastic Books For International Women’s Day

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The Natural Menopause Method by Karen Newby (1st September 2022)

Women’s Health

Everything you need to know about achieving nutritional balance to support flagging vitality and celebrate the potential of your midlife.

Femlandia by Christina Dalcher (15th September 2022)

Dystopia

‘A compelling, fast paced read.’   Guardian

‘The queen of dystopia’          Nina Pottell, Prima

The Happy Vagina by Mika Simmons (4th August 2022 – Pavilion)

Women’s Health

‘Mika Simmons’s book is fun, relevant, and extremely accessible. Every home should have a Happy Vagina!’              Dita von Teese

Confident and Killing It by Tiwa Ogunlesi (7th July 2022 – HQ)

Self-Help

Confident and Killing It will help you master your mind, overcome fear and live life to the fullest.

You Are Not A Before Picture by Alex Light (9th June 2022 – HQ)

Self-Help

An urgent, enlightening and empowering guide.

Second Spring by Kate Codrington (17th February 2022 – HQ)

Women’s Health

‘A wealth of guidance to navigate and celebrate the mind body and spirit aspects of the menopausal journey.’                                     Tami Lynn Kent, author of Wild Feminine

Roaring Girls by Holly Kyte (3rd March 2022 – HQ)

Feminism

‘An extraordinary, vivacious account of eight remarkable invisible women whose stories were crying out to be heard.’ Paula Byrne

Menopausing by Davina McCall (26th May 2022 – HQ)

Women’s Health

Menopausing is more than just a book, it’s a movement. An uprising

Good Grief by Catherine Mayer and Anne Mayer Bird (3rd February 2022 – HQ)

Biography

‘One of the saddest things I’ve ever read but also the most powerful. It’s made me want to cling tight to the people I love while acknowledging their mortality and mine too.’     Marian Keyes

Make It Happen by Amika George (20th January 2022 – HQ)

Activism

‘A personal, powerful, passionate, pragmatic, punchy book from one of Britain’s most exciting Gen Z activists. A great guide to moving and shaking with joy, spirit and real-world results.’       Deborah Frances-White from The Guilty Feminist

Black Skin by Dija Ayodele (25th November 2021 – HQ)

Skincare

‘Timely and game-changing, Ayodele’s comprehensive guide to skincare for Black women busts beauty myths at the same time as dispensing invaluable advice.’                         Waterstones

The Girl With No Soul by Morgan Owen Book Review

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I always remember how much I loved YA books when I was growing up. They meant so much to me and made me the woman I am today. On the note I can confirm that Morgan Owen is a new outstanding YA talent. The Girl With No Soul is an exciting book. It takes an original and exciting concept, a glorious love story, and amazing world building all in once exciting novel.

The writing is flowing and engaging in that way that is so hard to write but makes reading it so compulsive. I may be older than the market for this book, but I will definitely recommend it to any teens that I know. You cannot beat this book for sheer imagination, passion and excitement. I loved it. Pre-order now, it’s out in March.

Perfect for fans of Alice Broadway and Leigh Bardugo

How can you find your soul mate, when you don’t have a soul?

Iris lives in a world ruled by The Order. Inspectors police the population by keeping careful watch over people’s souls. If they shine their lanterns on you, your soul is projected for the world to see… and judge.

But Iris has a deadly secret … she is a hollow, a person with no soul. She must hide from the Order at all costs, scraping a living in the shadows.

When she’s sent to steal a ring said to hold the memory of a soul’s destruction, she is reunited with her Spark – one of the five parts that make up her own missing soul.

Now she must rely on the help of a young scholar named Evander Mountebank to track down the other four missing pieces of her soul, all the while evading The Order.

Will she be able to protect her heart as well as find her soul?

 

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka Book Review

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The cultural obsession with serial killer’s, and the glamorisation of them has always sat uneasily with me. Add on the objectification of the victims and I start to feel angry. Women deserve better.

When I read the press release for Danya Kukafka’s book Notes on an Execution I was bowled over. A novel about a serial killer, told through the women left behind. It is a smart idea and the way she has written it is just superb. I was left in complete awe. I am not sure exactly how Danya Kukafka managed to write such a perfect book, but I will be reading it again to try and find out.

The subject is met with feminist delicacy and outstanding talent. What a combination. This is the book that women deserve. There is so much compassion in this book, and once you have read it you will not forget it. A completely triumph.

Ansel Packer is scheduled to die in twelve hours.

He knows what he’s done, and now awaits the same fate he forced on those girls, years ago. Ansel doesn’t want to die; he wants to be celebrated, understood.

But this is not his story.

As the clock ticks down, three women uncover the history of a tragedy and the long shadow it casts. Lavender, Ansel’s mother, is a seventeen-year-old girl pushed to desperation. Hazel, twin sister to his wife, is forced to watch helplessly as the relationship threatens to devour them all. And Saffy, the detective hot on his trail, is devoted to bringing bad men to justice but struggling to see her own life clearly.

This is the story of the women left behind.

Blending breathtaking suspense with astonishing empathy, Notes On An Execution presents a chilling portrait of womanhood as it unravels the familiar narrative of the American serial killer, interrogating our cultural obsession with crime stories, and asking readers to consider the false promise of looking for meaning in the minds of violent men.

 

Hive by April Doyle Book Review

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hive April Doyle

Every now and then a book comes along that feels timely, Hive is such a book. The bees are dying and the world is struggling. Food is scarce and people are desperate. Commercial bee farmer Victor Martin and research entomologist Dr Annie Abrams team up to stop people starving.

April Doyle takes a subject that is worthy and turns it into a brilliant book that is entertaining and riveting. I hated putting this book down to return to real life. I would have read it in one sitting if I could have. I want Hive to be turned into a film because what a film it would be. I did not see the ending coming, and how clever that twist is. I really loved this book. Hive is destined for classic status.

Near-future Britain.
Climate change has led to food shortages and civil unrest.
Pollinating insects are in steep decline.

Commercial bee farmer Victor Martin travels around the farms of Kent with his hives to pollinate fruit trees and crops.

Local research entomologist Dr Annie Abrams is devastated when she’s ordered to give up her captive bee colonies – her life’s work – to join forces with Victor and ensure a harvest.

But the bees are dying.

Their only hope seems to be an experimental alternative to insect pollination: robot pollinators called nanodrones. But why does the drone designer seem so familiar? And who is behind the shadowy organisation intent on sabotaging their vital work?

Can Annie and Victor win their battle to save the bees… or is it too late?

The Truth Will Out by Rosemary Hennigan.

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I love books set in the acting world so I was super excited to read The Truth Will Out by Rosemary Hennigan. This debut novel did not disappoint at all. The story itself is fantastic and leaves a lot of room for intrigue, but the prose is just glorious. I truly got lost in Rosemary Hennigan’s beautiful writing.
The character of Dara is pulled between the light and the dark, no one knows what is true in this mysterious novel. The plot is clever and every page is as brilliant as the last. I raced through it. A must read. Out March 17th.
Rosemary Hennigan. the truth will out
‘Maybe I’ve told that version of the story so often,
that I can’t remember the truth of it anymore.’

Dara Gaffney is fresh out of drama school when she lands the leading role in the revival of Eabha de Lacey’s hugely successful yet controversial play.

Based on the true story of the death of Cillian Butler, many claim that Eabha had an ulterior motive when she penned it. Cillian’s death remains a mystery to this day, and Eabha and her brother, Austin, the only witnesses.

As the media storm builds and the opening night draws closer, the cast find it harder and harder to separate themselves from the characters.

And as the truth of Cillian’s fate becomes clear, Dara’s loyalty to her role will be irrevocably questioned as the terrible history starts to repeat itself…

Glorious Books To Add To Your TBR

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I have read a huge number of amazing books recently and I need to share them. Add these to your To Be Read list now.

The Island by Adrian McKinty

A dark and delicious read. High-concept, edge-of-your-seat stuff. This thriller is unputdownable. Out May 26th. From the author of The Chain.

A pulse-pounding, high-concept new thriller from the author of the “propulsive and original” instant Sunday Times bestseller The Chain (Stephen King).

You should not have come to the island

You should not have been speeding

You should not have tried to hide the body

You should not have told your children that you could keep them safe

No one can run forever…

The Siege by John Sutherland.

The is the fiction debut from ex-chief Superintendent John Sutherland, author of the Sunday Times Bestselling Blue. You can tell that he knows his stuff. This is masterful and gripping. John Sutherland is a hot new talent. One to watch. Our June 23rd.

Nine hostages. Ten hours. One chance to save them all.

Lee James Connor has found his purpose in life: to follow the teachings of far-right extremist leader, Nicholas Farmer. So when his idol is jailed, he comes up with the perfect plan: take a local immigrant support group hostage until Farmer is released.

Grace Wheatley is no stranger to loneliness having weathered the passing of her husband, whilst being left to raise her son alone. The local support group is her only source of comfort. Until the day Lee James Connor walks in and threatens the existence of everything she’s ever known.

Superintendent Alex Lewis may be one of the most experienced hostage negotiators on the force, but there’s no such thing as a perfect record. Still haunted by his last case, can he connect with Connor – and save his nine hostages – before it’s too late?

One Night With You by Laura Jane Williams. 

I loved this novel so much. Brilliant characters, a fun premise, and a whole lot of love. Set partly in the north, this book has such depth, along with characters who are so flawed and human. Gorgeous.  Out May 26th.

It’s his first night in London. And her last…

Ruby’s leaving London. She’s not running away from her ex per se, but an exciting opportunity in a new city has landed at the perfect time.

Nic is moving to London. After a bad break-up, he’s excited to see where big-city life could take him.

When a chance meeting throws the pair of them together for just one night, it’s clear that this could be the start of something special. But there’s one problem: she’s leaving, and he’s just arriving. So, after tonight, they’ll never see each other again . . . will they?

Hot Water by Christopher Fowler. 

Clever and witty, this is set in the French Rivera. A first-class thriller that you won’t want to put down. Our March 1st.

She sees everything, but can never tell anyone… a wickedly compulsive thriller from the bestselling author of the Bryant & May series.

At a beautiful villa near Nice in the south of France, Hannah Carreras works as a maid. Under strict instructions never to speak to the guests, she blends into the background – but she sees everything. Including the mistress Summer, lounging by the pool awaiting the arrival of her married lover, Steve.

When Steve finally shows at the villa – with his family unexpectedly in tow – Summer has vanished. Steve claims he never saw her. But Steve’s wife is no fool: she knows there’s something going on. Whose tiny bikini lies by the pool? Whose perfume is in the bathroom?

Before long, the local police start asking questions, and the villa’s occupants have something to hide. Only Hannah, always listening, watching, saw broken glass and blood on the patio the day Summer disappeared. Only Hannah thinks she knows what lies are being told…

One Last Letter From Greece by Emma Cowell

The gorgeous Greece setting, the beautiful journey the character takes. A beautiful tale of hope and love. I was gripped from the first page. Out June 9th.

The breathtaking, escapist debut novel from Emma Cowell, perfect for fans of Victoria Hislop, Carol Kirkwood and Karen Swan.

Devastated by her mother’s death, Sophie longs to get away from an empty house full of memories and a life that hasn’t quite turned out as she had imagined.

So when a chance discovery among her mother’s belongings hints at a past Sophie knows nothing of, she jumps at the opportunity for escape and a chance to heal. The magical, idyllic Greek town of Methoni awaits…

But Sophie – determined to uncover her mother’s secrets – is about to discover so much more. Among the tranquil waters and cosy tavernas, Methoni’s locals offer Sophie the answers she craves, along with unexpected romance and, if she’ll take it, a chance at her own happiness…

Will walking in her mother’s footsteps help Sophie discover who she was meant to be all along…?

The Dark by Sharon Bolton

The Dark takes after its name. A deeply dark thriller that will leave your heart pounding and your hand turning the page as quickly as possible. Out May 26th.

ONCE, SHE SAVED HIS LIFE…
NOW, HE’LL TAKE HERS.

When a baby is snatched from its pram and cast into the river Thames, off-duty police officer Lacey Flint is there to prevent disaster. But who would want to hurt a child?

DCI Mark Joesbury has been expecting this. Monitoring a complex network of dark web sites, Joesbury and his team have spotted a new terrorist threat from the extremist, women-hating, group known as ‘incels’ or ‘involuntary celibates.’ Joesbury’s team are trying to infiltrate the ring of power at its core, but the dark web is built for anonymity, and the incel army is vast.

Pressure builds when the team learn the snatched child was just the first in a series of violent attacks designed to terrorise women. Worse, the leaders of the movement seem to have singled out Lacey as the embodiment of everything they hate, placing her in terrible danger…

After Dark by Jayne Cowie. 

This book is so clever and timely. It is written so well and is so clever. Original and brilliant. Out May 12th.

WELCOME TO A WORLD WHERE WOMEN HOLD THE POWER.

They dominate workplaces, public spaces and government.

They are no longer afraid to cross a dark car park, catch the last train, or walk home alone.

With the Curfew law in place, all men are electronically tagged and must stay at home after 7pm.

It changed things for the better. Until now.

A woman is murdered late at night and evidence suggests she knew her attacker.

It couldn’t have been a man because a Curfew tag is a solid alibi… Isn’t it?

Glimpses by Pat Fowle. 

A clever idea well executed. Stories on a colourful life well lived.

Most of one’s life is not always memorable. I spent a fair amount of my past just chasing the wind, however, I can recall certain events, some of which I will share. I’ll stick to glimpses.

This is what could be described as a fragmented autobiography; a story told through noteworthy events that have occurred during a colourful life.

Some are mystical, some inexplicable. Short stories that involve humour, but most of all love, like threads of gold that run through a lifetime.

4 Benefits of Non-Stim Pre-Workouts

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Traditional pre-workouts use caffeine and other stimulants to produce an energy boost, but sometimes it’s good to switch things up and use stim-free pre-workouts instead. This can be especially beneficial if you have issues with anxiety or trouble sleeping due to stimulants in your pre-workout supplement. This article will discuss the four benefits of using stim-free pre-workouts and recommend products that fit the bill.

1) Improve Your Mood

If you find that pre-workout supplements get you hyped for your training, but leave you feeling overstimulated and anxious in your everyday life, then a stim free pre workout could be just what you need. Stimulant free pre-workouts can also help with poor mood from dieting. In addition, stimulants can increase appetite, so reducing them can help keep hunger at bay.

Studies show that increased fitness levels link to reduced anxiety. Part of reducing your anxiety could be as simple as going for a morning run or hitting up a HIIT class.

2) Increase Focus

Non-stim pre-workouts help you get in your best workout without having to worry about experiencing a crash afterward. Because they’re stimulant-free, you can increase focus without worrying about feeling exhausted at work later on.

Also, the best pre-workouts contain choline. According to Legion Athletics, “Choline is a nutrient that’s vital for brain health and function, and glycerophosphate is a substance that helps transport choline to the brain.”

The benefits are plentiful. If you’re worried about stimulants and think they might be causing your increased heart rate or feelings of jitteriness, try one of these non-stim pre-workouts instead.

It’s a good idea to start slow with these products and see how you feel. Don’t use too much at first, as your body might not be used to it. If you still have negative side effects, try taking half of your normal serving size or discontinue use altogether.

3) No Crash After Workout

A stim-free pre-workout will ensure that you have enough energy to work out effectively without crashing after your workout. Many people report experiencing dizziness, fatigue, and mood swings after taking pre-workouts that contain stimulants. These issues can deter some people from working out altogether, so if you’re looking for a way to increase your motivation and enthusiasm while exercising, try a stim-free pre-workout.

There are a variety of ways to avoid experiencing these negative side effects, but switching from pre-workouts that contain stimulants is a smart choice.

4) Help Muscle Recovery

If you exercise regularly, it’s common to experience muscle soreness. Stimulant pre-workouts are known for making people feel good, but they can also speed up muscle recovery and repair by increasing blood flow throughout your body. If you have access to a gym, consider checking out your options in stim-free pre-workouts. Since they don’t have caffeine or other stimulants in them, they won’t keep you awake at night or cause any jitters.

Stim-free pre-workouts are an excellent alternative to those who don’t want to use stimulants. They’re not for everyone, but they have many benefits for those who use them.

Collaborative post with our brand partner.

Different Ways Your Bathtub Pillow Can Help Your Head, Body, and Back

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Nothing is more aggravating than attempting to relax in the tub and not finding a comfortable position. Resting your head on the tub’s edge might become uncomfortable and painful after a long, and it can place your neck and back in an awkward position. You won’t rest even if you sit in the bath for a few minutes. Taking a relaxing bath, particularly with the assistance of a bath cushion, has several health and emotional benefits:

Nonslip and Hygienic

Without a doubt, you’ve tried using a towel as a headrest before discovering the bath pillows. Even yet, it continued to fall out and became inconvenient because it had to be replaced every time you took a bath. All bathtub pillows for head and back come with extra-strong suction cups to keep them firmly connected to the bathtub’s surface. Because of the material utilized in its manufacturing, it does not stick to the skin. 

It Helps Adjust Your Posture

Posture is extremely important, and it should never be overlooked. Look for a store that sells high-quality goods to help you keep a proper stance in the tub and avoid suffering. During the day, people create strange body postures; thus taking a bath helps them relax and avoid making themselves feel even worse. The bath pillows for tub are available in a variety of sizes, so you’ll be able to find one that fits your neck, shoulders, and head. This allows you to bath for as long as you like without becoming tired.

Stress and Neck Tightness Can Be Eased

A bath after a long day can be a relaxing way to unwind and let go of some of life’s concerns. Warm water helps you stay cool, and a bath pillow can make the experience more relaxing and comfortable. All of your troubles will go if you use a beautiful pillow. A cushion also supports your neck, which is an important feature. You’re likely to endure pain and discomfort if you sit for a long time without supporting your neck. Resting your neck and head on something will help, and the best option is a cushion.

Creates A Spa Experience and Staying in The Tub for Longer

Going to a spa is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, you may recreate this sensation at home with the help of a bathtub pillows for head and back. To make the experience merrier, add some candles and your bath bomb of choice. If you can’t relax in the bathtub, you’re not going to stay in the warm water long enough to reap all of the therapeutic effects. Use a pillow to allow you to spend as much time as you like in the bath.

Taking a bath can be a great way to unwind when you finish your day. Turn on the faucet after your nighttime workout, or take a warm bath to start your day. Whatever the case may be, you’ll feel more at ease, productive, and capable of dealing with whatever life throws at you. If you have a bath pillows for tub, you’ll be on your way to heaven in no time.

Collaborative post with our brand partner.