A very insightful book into how nutrition plays a part in the healthy functioning of the mind and body.
 
Although the book contains recipes it is a lifestyle book rather than cookbook. Good Mood Food covers Energy and brain fuel, calming an anxious mind, Focus and concentration support, Mood maintenance, Soothing belly stress, Appetite regulation, Sleep support, Balancing female hormones, Feel-good diet basics. I was looking forward to reading the chapters on sleep and hormone regulation but found that all the chapters were able to offer advice and insight into how food and nutrition can be used (and misused!).
 
The book is a good springboard into nutrition. It was is easy to understand and it broke down more complex ideas into bitesize (sorry, pun intended!) chunks. Rather than a New Year fad I feel like this book will get many re-reads and will be used to dip in and out when feeling out of balance.
 
Definitely food for thought!
I will update this review as I try some of the recipes.
 
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
 
Thank you so much the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy in return for an honest review. 

There is nothing more satisfying than finishing a good book. The Six Loves of Billy Binns is a beautiful tale that pivots around the small decisions that prove to have momentous consequences.
 
It did take me a few chapters to get into the story, which starts in 1900 and journeys the life and loves of the 117-year life of Billy Binns. The story flits between Billy Binn's history and current day in a retirement home where he tries to remember his lost loves. 
 
An exceptional debut. Mr Lumsden beautifully weaves Billy Binn's journey with historical and poignant moments of the twentieth century. He brings Shepherd's Bush to life. So much so you can almost smell the fish market.
 
It is heartbreaking, uplifting, and altogether inspiring.
 
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
 
Thank you so much the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy in return for an honest review. 

The Banker's Wife has been out as an e-book since July 2018, and this review coincides with the paperback release (out 10 January 2019).
 
Annabel is the Banker's Wife, and now that her husband is dead, she needs to rebuild her life. She is super suspicious about how he came to be in the wrong country, on the wrong plane, with the wrong wrong. And everyone she talks to her tells her she can trust no one. Marina was looking to retire from journalism when her boss gets murdered and she is determined to follow-up on what he has started.

Ms Alger navigates you through the murky world of private and offshore banking so you know enough without being crushed by boring facts and legal jargon.
 
Annabel and Marina's respective stories merge beautifully. The dramatic pace is brilliant, and every paragraph seems to invoke more tension and drama.
 
It's a dead heat for who can be in the most danger at any one time; Annabel or Marina.
 
I did predict the final twist and it brought a smile to my face as the book came to close. But for the rest it was a riveting romp.
 
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
 
I have seen that it is soon to be made into a television series, which is perfect, and I hope it brings a bigger audience to this deserving thriller.
 
Thank you so much the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary electronic copy in return for an honest review. 

Thanks to Jamie at www.perpetualpageturner.com I have been inspired to post my own end of year highlights for 2018. I haven't answered all of Jamie's questions but have left the original question numbers in.
Note from Jamie: The survey is for books you read throughout the year, no matter when they were published, and is not limited to just books that came out in 2018!!

Number Of Books You Read: 52
Number of Re-Reads: 2 (Both Audiobooks)
Genre You Read The Most From: Crime & Thrillers

3. Favourite bookish related photo you took in 2018?
 
I read most of my books on a Kindle, as such I miss actual books. But with travelling it's impossible to carry around all the physical books I want to read. So it's a treat to read a book by the pool!

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2018 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2019?
The Six Loves of Billy Binns by Richard Lumsden
 
2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2019 (non-debut)?
I can't wait for Amy Lloyd's One More Lie.
 
3. 2019 Debut You Are Most Anticipating?
I'm really looking forward to both:
Blood & Sugar by Laura Shepherd-Robinson
The Confessions of Frannie Langton by Sara Collins

5. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging Life In 2019?
Read more, blog more, instagram more!