Book Reviews

‘The best moments in reading are when you come across something - a thought, a feeling, a way of looking at things - which you had thought special and particular to you. And now, here it is, set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead. And it is as if a hand has come out, and taken yours.’ Alan Bennett

“Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.” ― Franz Kafka

Tuesday 25 March 2014

Blog Anniversary & Big Book Giveaway!



It's hard to believe but the blog is three years young and has also recently passed the 250,000 views mark, so I'm having a giveaway to celebrate both of these things! 

An enormous, heartfelt thank you to all the authors who have so generously and kindly offered a prize to be won in the giveaway, there are so many absolutely lovely books on offer so do have a look below, many of them are signed and being offered by the authors, a few are contributed by myself. Just leave a comment to enter.

Blogging has had to take a back seat a bit recently, in particular for health reasons. I still post something new when I can, especially sharing author guest posts and spreading the word about books. I don't know if i'll get back up to my previous amount of reading and review writing one day or not. I still want to have more of a go at writing fiction myself, but confidence is still an issue. It's nice to see so many other book blogs that I've followed for a few years still going, the community is always growing at the moment with lots of variety and I read about more books than ever, even though my to be read pile is already crazy, it's hard not to add more to it, or at least to the wishlist. 

Anyway, thank you very much to everyone who has supported the blog in any way, and please celebrate with me with a slice of cake and a cuppa.



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Books on offer in the big book giveaway...


First prize - the first winner drawn from the hat will win 10 books, selected at random 

Runner-up prizes - three runner-up prizes of 5 books each, selected at random










Late addition - a copy of House of Silence by Linda Gillard also to be won!


A-Z by author, the prize books are:

Beautiful Day by Kate Anthony, signed by the author!

The Secrets Women Keep by Fanny Blake, signed by the author!

The Mistress's Revenge by Tammy Cohen, signed by the author!

Just What Kind of Mother Are You? by Paula Daly, signed by the author!

A Place Called Perfect by Helena Duggansigned by the author plus a poster designed by the author!

Fearsome Dreamer by Laure Eve, signed by the author!

The Cornish House, and A Cornish Affair by Liz Fenwick, signed by the author!

Kept by Elle Field, signed by the author!

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, a brand new copy of the recent film tie-in edition.

House of Silence by Linda Gillard, signed by the author!

Into the Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynessigned and personalised by the author!

Goodness Grace and Me by Julie Houston, signed by the author!

When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr, a preloved copy in nice condition.

Don't Stand So Close by Luana Lewis, signed by the author!

The Visitors by Rebecca Mascull, signed by the author!

Casting the Net by Julie McDowall, signed by the author!

Spirit of Lost Angels by Liza Perrat, signed by the author!

Secrets of the Tides and The Shadow Year by Hannah Richell, signed by the author!


Amity and Sorrow by Peggy Riley, signed by the author!

Brighton Belle by Sara Sheridan, signed by the author!

A Woman's Choice by Annie Thomas, Kindle copy!

Black Roses and The Winter Garden by Jane Thynne, both signed by the author!

The Pimlico Kid by Barry Walsh, signed by the author!

Into the Trees by Robert Williams, signed by the author, with a dedication if preferred!

Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates, a preloved copy in nice condition.
This is one of my all-time favourite novels so it's one I'd love to share the love of!

One Apple Tasted by Josa Young, signed by the author!

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How to enter:

Please leave a comment below to enter. 

A HUGE THANK YOU FOR ALL THE ENTRIES. THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. THE WINNERS WILL BE DRAWN AND CONTACTED ASAP.


UPDATE - CONGRATULATIONS TO WINNERS TERESA M, VICKY T, SAM B and TRACY T!


If you'd like to, please mention which book you'd most like to win. If you are drawn as a winner, although the books will be selected for each winner at random, I will try and allocate you your favourite if possible!

Please note, where an author has offered two books, they are counted as one book for the prize, so if you do win, you could end up with more than 5 or more than 10 books! 

(No need to leave contact details if I already have a way of contacting you - whether twitter, facebook, email, via your blog. Otherwise please let me know a way of contacting you.)

The giveaway ends on Wednesday 2nd April 2014. Winners will be picked at random and contacted, if they don't reply within 48 hours with their choice of prize, a new winner or winners may be selected. The giveaway is open to entrants based in the UK.

Thanks and good luck!

91 comments:

  1. Congrats on your 3rd birthday! My blog has had to take a backseat too for similar reasons - my sympathies ! As for a book choice absolutely any is fine - such a generous offer; thanks to you and our lovely authors :) x

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  2. Congratulations Lindsay, a great achievement xx

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  3. Congratulations on your 3rd blog anniversary! We all appreciate your work so much - and are looking forward to your 4th anniversary :-) Thank you so much for offering such a big, mouth-watering prize too! Personally, I have only read Elizabeth Haynes's book of those listed above so - if I were one of the winners - I'd love to be surprised!

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  4. Congratulations Lindsay on your blog's third anniversary. Sure this must call for cake!! Thanks for the giveaway and I'd be happy with any of the books, they all sound fantastic!!

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  5. Congrats!!
    So many books to read!
    I would love to win Into the Trees by Robert Williams!

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  6. Happy Blog Birthday and what a great giveaway. Personally if I could have a signed copy of Elizabeth Haynes I would probably kill for it - metaphorically speaking -as she is one of my writing heroes.

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  7. Massive congratulations on your 3rd blog birthday! Hope there are many more years of blogging ahead of you :)

    What an amazing lists of books you have to give away, wow. I have had my eye on The Shadow Year for a while and I love the cover for A Place to Call Perfect too!

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  8. Happy Blogiversary! May you have many more years of Blogging!

    Into the Trees looks very interesting.

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  9. Happy Birthday, Lindsay! Can authors enter? If so I'd love to win one of the Jane Thynnes. (I'm also happy to donate a signed copy of HOUSE OF SILENCE if you need any more prizes.)

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  10. Well done for a succesful 3 years! :)
    I would love to read any of these books, I don't have a favourite as they all look great :)

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  11. Congrats Lindsay - i dont really know to to chose from so many fab books there - think i would chose either the Shadow year or "dont stand so close...so exciting to think they are signed too! THanks so much Marie xx

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  12. Just found this blog and have spent all morning reading it. Excellent site and here's to more birthdays to come. If I am chosen as a winner, I would love to get Just What Kind of Mother Are You? by Paula Daly. Thank you xx

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  13. Bon Anniversaire!! Such lovely books. I've already read and really enjoyed Spirit of Lost Angels, A Place Called Perfect, The Great Gatsby, The Hannah Richell books, Pink Rabbit and have Beautiful Day and Amity and Sorrow to read so any of the others are appealing! Congratulations and here's to many more years blogging and a start to your writing career. xx

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  14. Happy third blog anniversary Lindsay, I appreciate all your hard work in bringing your reviews for us to share. It must be so rewarding yet very time consuming. It's a great credit to your obvious joy in reading. There are so many wonderful novels in your list that I couldn't really chose any one over another but either of the Liz Fenwick would be lovely. Thanks again for this opportunity.

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  15. 3rd Birthday already, well done and here's to many more!!!

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  16. Many congratulations on the three year blogoversary Lindsay, and for your consistently excellent features and reviews - 253,000 (and counting...) views tells its own story. I'd love to win one of the Liz Fenwick books, but anything would be lovely!

    A xx
    http://beingannereading.blogspot.co.uk/

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  17. Hey Lindsay! Happy Blog Birthday, I love your celebration banner. I think I'd most like to win Brighton Belle, the cover is gorgeous. Wishing you many more happy blogging birthdays to come :)

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  18. Happy Blog Anniversary! Wishing you many happy blogging years to come :)

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  19. Congratulations Lindsay on your blog anniversary. Jaffa and I wish you many more happy years blogging and chatting about books. xx

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  20. Happy Anniversary, Lindsay! 3 years is wonderful! Thank you for all your support too! Would love to enter the giveaway, all the books sound fabulous! xx

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  21. Happy blog birthday! Congratulations on 3 years lets hope for many more. I would love to read Secrets of the Tides but all the books sound great.

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  22. Congratulations for reaching out to a massive audience. And happy 3rd anniversary. I would love to be entered in your giveaway for so many brilliant books. Thanks xx

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  23. Happy blog birthday! May you have many, many more. I'd love to be entered. Any of the books would be wonderful, but a fave would be The Visitors. I was very kindly bought it as a Kindle version, but the real thing is so much better!

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  24. Happy Blogaversary! This is a great giveaway, thanks for the opportunity to win some fab books! My first choice would be When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit but was a hard choice as a few there that looked good. xx

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  25. Happy 3rd Bloggerversary! A little is better than not at all and it's always great to spread the word about reading :) Thanks for the generous giveaway - all fab and would be gratefully received but I have especially had my eye on The Visitors; and teen daughter would love Fearsome Dreamer.
    Have faith, don't give up on your dream... and maybe some day you'll be having a giveaway of your very own book on here ;)

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  26. Happy 3rd Bloggerversary! A little is better than not at all and it's always great to spread the word about reading :) Thanks for the generous giveaway - all fab and would be gratefully received but I have especially had my eye on The Visitors; and teen daughter would love Fearsome Dreamer.
    Have faith, don't give up on your dream... and maybe some day you'll be having a giveaway of your very own book on here ;)

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  27. Any of one titles would be lovely - even Gatsby, although I have 2 editions already. A host of fascinating books that titillate and inspire.

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  28. Happy blogeversary, Lindsay. Very happy to donate signed copy of Spirit of Lost Angels, and if authors are allowed to enter, then please put me in the bag. Thank you!

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  29. Happy 3rd blog birthday! Many thanks for all the wonderful reviews you have done over the past 3 years. What a wonderful giveaway as well, any book alone would be most acceptable but to win 5 or more would be brilliant! the TBR would get even bigger! Hope to meet up with you soon Take care

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  30. A very happy blogoversary. Here's to the next three years and the next and the next ......
    So many wonderful books, I'd be grateful to be given the opportunity to read any of them but have to admit its The Visitor that has really caught my eye.
    Enjoy the rest of the day and happy reading. x

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  31. Happy 3rd Blog Birthday :) I've only read one of those :)

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  32. Happy 3rd Blog Birthday :) I've only read one of those :)

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  33. Congratulations on your 3rd anniversary. What a great blog. You put me to shame!

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  34. Oh wow, three years already?! Huge congratulations and here's to many more blogoversaries! :) *throws confetti*

    And thank you so much for the giveaway! I'd love to read Just What Kind of Mother Are You? - I've heard so many great things about it! x

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  35. Great giveaway and congrats on your 3 rd blog anniversary , I,d be happy to receive any book

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  36. Congratulations Lindsay. It's a great blog -and not only for the guest reviews hehe! Keep on blogging on! X

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  37. Thanks for running this wonderful giveaway, Lindsay. This blog is indeed a great achievement and I am left in awe. A great selection of books has been given. I have read a few of them and some I have here to be reviewed.

    Both 'The Cornish House' and 'A Cornish Affair' by Liz Fenwick sounds interesting to me.

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  38. Many congratulations on your third blogging anniversary Lindsay and long may your blog and reviews continue. Thank you for such a great giveaway. Karen x

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  39. Well done on such an active and lovely blog. Plus happy birthday. Im entering your fabulous giveaway and have everything crossed in the hope that my name is a winning one. I LOVE to read. Not had chance lately but once the weather warms up I'll take more time out to sit in the sunshine and read. Gaynor. Aka @ArtisanGaynor on twitter xx

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  40. Congratulations and well done! I'd love Liz Fenwick's books! xx

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  41. CONGRATS on your 3rd blog anniversary.

    You have a very lovely, informative blog.

    Here's to many more wonderful years of blogging fun.

    I don't need entered in the contest, but best of luck to everyone who does enter.

    Elizabeth
    Silver's Reviews
    My Blog

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  42. Huuuge congratulations on your third blogoversary, Lindsay, and here's to many more of 'em. There's always something interesting to read on here and it all looks stunning too - you should be VERY proud!

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  44. Happy blogoversary! I'm amazed how many of us started at the same time (and are still going).

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  45. Happy 3rd Blogoversary Lins! Love reading your blog.

    Thank you for being so supportive towards me and my blog :)

    I'm not entering - but wanted to say we're still here :D
    x

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  46. WoW! So Many Lovely Books. I Don't Mind Which Book I Have Chosen For Me If I Am One Of The Lucky Winners xxx

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  47. Congrats on the milestone! And what a fab giveaway - so many great books, finding it difficult to pick just one book I'd want to read, but at a push I'd say Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates :)

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  48. Bit late to the party as I was in London on your blog's big day but I just wanted to wish you and it a very happy 3rd blogoversary, and hope that you carry on to the next one. But I'm also looking forward to seeing you do some of your own writing and reading it and hope your health improves. xx

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  49. I don't mind which book I, would be grateful for any

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  50. Happy Birthday Little Reader Library! Keep up the great work Lindsay - 250000 views: woah!!!

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  51. Into The Darkest Corner by Elizabeth Haynes

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  52. as l love to read, l would like any of the books if l were to win, but if l HAVE to choose, then l'd go for
    Don't Stand So Close by Luana Lewis, signed by the author!

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  53. You've done so much in three years! I hope everything is ok and that you have the confidence for your writing to go in whichever direction you want it to.
    My choice would be The Mistress' Revenge.

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  54. Wow 3 years & 250,00 views, keep it going

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  55. Congratulations on a successful 3 years!

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  56. Happy 3rd Blog Birthday. May you have many more!!

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  57. Happy 3rd blog anniversary, what a great giveaway! I wouldn't mind any of them but would like to read the great gatsby

    Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net

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  58. Just What Kind of Mother Are You? by Paula Daly,

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  59. Happy blogoversary! They all look amazing so I'd be happy to win any but I like the look of The Visitors by Rebecca Mascull

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  60. Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates, and congratulations

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  61. Great giveaway! I would love any of these books

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  62. Congratulations! I am particularly interested in the books by Liz Fenwick as I live in Cornwall.

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  63. congrats! any would be fine

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  64. Kept by Elle Field
    Please put me into the draw - thank you xx
    gholmes724 ((at)) gmail ((d0t)) com
    @gholmes724

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  65. I'd love to win the Paula Daly book but I love reading so I'd read any of the books

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  66. Congratulations! I tried to set up a blog once and didn't last a week, let alone three years! I think I'd most like to win Into the Trees. The best way to contact me is by twitter @buurgwin.

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  67. Congratulations. I love books of all genres, reading 5 or 6 a week so any books would be more than welcome. Real books are the best.

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  68. Congratulations. I love all the books above i adore reading and try and read as much as possible. I if was to win i would be happy with any :D

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  69. I would be happy to win any of these books

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  70. I would like to win the visitors

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  71. I would love to win The Secrets Women Keep as it sounds intriguing!

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  72. Wow what amazing books - I'd be happy with any, but not The Great Gatsby, I have it twice already

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  73. i want to read them all!!
    Id especially love Just What Kind of Mother Are You?

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  74. Congratulations!! Great prize

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  75. Ooh, I'd like to read Brighton Belle as I'm from Brighton.

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  76. Congrats on 3 years!! :) I would love to win - The Cornish House, and A Cornish Affair by Liz Fenwick. As I'm a Cornish girl - Born and Bred!! :)

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  77. Congratulations! I'd like a surprise if I win please. @ericahughes

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  78. Happy Blog Anniversary! I'd love to win Brighton Belle by Sara Sheridan x

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  79. Happy 3rd Blog anniversary. Great selection of books - I would really enjoy reading them. I think House of Silence by Linda Gillard sounds really fascinating

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  80. What a brilliant prize, well done all you generous people
    would love ;- The Secrets Women Keep by Fanny Blake

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  81. Congratulations! And so many readers, well done! I'd love to win The Visitors.

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  82. Congratulations on your Blog's 3rd Anniversary!

    It would be nice to have a surprise random selection of books if I were to win :-)

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  83. Congratulations!!! heres to many more years :)
    i love the sound of The Mistress's Revenge by Tammy Cohen :)
    can be contacted via twitter if im lucky enough :) @jodieh1131
    thank you for a lovely giveaway x

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  84. Happy anniversary! This is lovely

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  85. Congratulations on your blog's 3rd birthday and your fabulous amount of page views! I am a total book addict so this would be an amazing prize for me! I love the sound of A Cornish House by Liz Fenwick but would love any of these amazing books!
    Twitter: @solarsangel

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  86. Happy Anniversary! I would love to win the cornish house!

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  87. Congratulations on your 3rd anniversary! I would love to read A Place Called Perfect by Helena Duggan, although all of the books look amazing!

    Sophie - www.followyourarrow.co.uk x

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  88. GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. MANY THANKS FOR ALL THE COMMENTS!!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to visit and leave a comment. It's great reading your comments and I really appreciate them :)