Guaranteed to get you singing....

How lovely to be transported from a dismal year to the beautiful scenery of the Swiss mountains and villages.  Let it Snow by Sue Moorcroft will certainly delight you and get you feeling seasonal. 

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Lily learns that her mums both had baby girls by different methods which leads her on a quest to meet up with biological half-brothers.  In a temporary bar job in Middledip she ponders on whether she will ever tell her boss Tubb they are related.  There is much conflict between her sister, her mums and her own heart too.  

She has a trip to Switzerland with her other job for the Food, Lifestyle and Health show and arranges to take the Middletones choir with her to help promotional work.  Singing well known British carols will attract attention to her stall.

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Isaac, having broken up with his girlfriend Hayley, moves into the flat above the pub and soon finds Lily attractive.  An accident to Lily's hand prevents her from driving the mini bus of excited members of the Middletones, so Isaac steps in to save the day.  Doggo the dalmation joins the trip too.  However, a tragedy with his ex has him dashing back to the UK just as he and Lily are finding love.  Will they hook up back in the UK or was it to be a holiday romance? Will Lily's brothers accept her into the fold?  Will she manage driving back with her injured hand?  There is a lot of tension, drama, health issues and family relationships to keep you turning the pages.

The trip to Switzerland has it all - snow ❅, lights🎄, expensive gifts🎁, romance, work, play and singing 🎸.  It is Christmas in text, fueling the imagination and reminding us of better times.  I don't think I'll ever hear Michael Buble singing 'Let it Snow' without thinking of this book and its contents.  

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Well done Sue Moorcroft, five star reviews on Goodreads and Amazon.  Looking forward to reading this years' Christmas novel - Christmas Wishes. 

 

Who doesn't love a toy panda?

 Pandemonium

By Gail Aldwin

I was asked by the author to review her book and it was a priviledge to do.  I think it will make an ideal Christmas or Birthday present - this beautifully illustrated book is aimed at children between the ages of 2 – 7 years.

The adorable purple Panda will warm hearts as each page captures a scene even without the words.  An adult reader can point out other elements to the growing child – where is Peta, what else is in the picture, who else is in the picture, what are they doing, what colour is Peta the Panda?  Conversations the story evokes can be interesting and encourage the child’s imagination to build more into the story.  It will be one they remember when they are older.

 Early readers will enjoy the bold lettered short sentences.  There are new words to learn the meaning of – Pandemonium and haberdashery – explanations again encouraging conversations between the child and reader.  Also an opportunity to tell young readers about breaking big words down into syllables to make reading and spelling easier – the cover is a good ‘showing’ example.

 As the book progresses Peta’s purple is disguised to make her look like the other Panda’s but her peers mock her which makes her unhappy.  Lessons on how to deal with unhelpful comments from friends at school could take place from this page and how Mama Panda rescues Peta by undoing the disguise, freeing her and encouraging Peta to be herself.  Conversation about love could be had here and how being accepted as we are makes us happy.

 I love the messages –

• It’s ok to be different
• It’s ok to have fun
• It encourages and affirms
• Love and acceptance help us be true to ourselves

 It is also sweet and cute.  It will appeal to lively children and make quiet children laugh at Peta’s antics.  Ideal for girls or boys, schools, parents, grandparents, childminders, nursery nurses, etc etc.

Five star rating.  Well done Author Gail Aldwin and Illustrator Fiona Zechmeister.

Available from www.victoriapress.com and https://www.waterstones.com/book/pandemonium/gailaldwin/fiona-zechmeister/9781999369675  pre-order now, publication December 2020.

Other reviews can be found on https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55315976-pandemonium

You can follow the author on Twitter @gailaldwin or Facebook: Gail Aldwin, Writer