The Overflowing Library

Here is my first library loans post of the year. I started doing this as a way for me to share the many many books I've borrowed and loved from the library but didn't necessarily have time to review. These are a selection of the books I borrowed from Norfolk Library Service, read and loved over the course of January. Hearts and Minds by Jane Robinson   Set against the colourful background of the entire campaign for women to win the vote, Hearts and Minds tells the remarkable and inspiring story of the suffragists' march on London. 1913: the last long summer before the war. The country is gripped by suffragette fever. These impassioned crusaders have their admirers; some agree with their aims if not their forceful methods, while others are aghast at the thought of giving any female a vote. Meanwhile, hundreds of women are stepping out on to the streets of Britain. They are the suffragists: non-militant campaigners for the vote, on an astonishing six-week prot...

No one is good enough for Xavier. Not according to Sasha, his best friend. There's nothing Sasha wouldn't do to protect Xavier from getting hurt, especially by his cheating ex Ivy, who's suddenly slithered back into the picture. Worried that Xavier is ready to forgive and forget, Sasha decides to do a little catfishing. She poses as a hot guy online, to prove cheaters never change. But Sasha's plan goes wrong fast, and soon the lies lead down a path from which there's no return . . . This will be a deliberately short review, not because I didn't like it but because I don't know how to review it without giving away spoilers. This book is intense and dark. It has a lot to say about social media and image. The relationships in it are intense to the point of unhealthy and the story goes to a dark and shocking place. I couldn't put it down as I needed to know what happened next and thoroughly enjoyed it. Well worth a read.

MEET FLOYD. He's a tennis star. Possibly even good enough to win Wimbledon one day. MEET MIKE. He's . . . different. Apart from anything else, Floyd seems to be the only one who can see him. But Mike must have appeared for a reason and nding out why is perhaps the most important thing Floyd will ever do . . . Mike is one of those books that arrive at my house from the publishers without warning and without me knowing anything about it before it arrives. I have come to learn that books like that from David Fickling Books tend to be little gems and this was definitely the case with this book. Mike was an enjoyable and quick read for me. Mike is the story of a young tennis player who is destined for big things and his imaginary friend Mike. Except aren't you supposed to have grown out of imaginary friends by your teens. Over the course of the book this imaginary friend enables the author to discussed mental health and well being in a thoughtful way which I ...

Before he was Batman, he was Bruce Wayne. A reckless boy willing to break the rules for a girl who may be his worst enemy. The Nightwalkers are terrorizing Gotham City, and Bruce Wayne is next on their list. One by one, the city's elites are being executed as their mansions' security systems turn against them, trapping them like prey. Meanwhile, Bruce is turning eighteen and about to inherit his family's fortune, not to mention the keys to Wayne Enterprises and all the tech gadgetry his heart could ever desire. But after a run-in with the police, he's forced to do community service at Arkham Asylum, the infamous prison that holds the city's most brutal criminals. Madeleine Wallace is a brilliant killer . . . and Bruce's only hope. In Arkham, Bruce meets Madeleine, a brilliant girl with ties to the Nightwalkers. What is she hiding? And why will she speak only to Bruce? Madeleine is the mystery Bruce must unravel. But is he getting her to divulge...

 Today I am incredibly pleased to be hosting a stop on the Traitor blog tour. I love good historical fiction and I love novels with an awesome female lead and this series has both. Also it's one of those series that is really strong from book to book which made me so very impatient between books as I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next one.  May 1665. With winter passed, Mercia Blakewood is at last headed back to England from America, hoping to leave behind the shadow cast by death and heartache. She expects a welcome from the King considering her earlier mission at his behalf, but the reception she receives after her long voyage home could hardly be called warm. With the country now at war with the Dutch, the Crown has decided that Mercia is an asset to be used once again. More manipulation lies ahead as Mercia must accept a clandestine role at the heart of the glittering and debauched royal court to unmask a spy and traitor. My thoughts I loved t...

I'm not a huge one for resolutions but this year I've been thinking a lot about 2017 and I want to do better in 2018. These are the things I want to do and achieve in 2018 in no particular order. All of them are linked to me wanting to be healthier, use my time better and save money. Run 5k faster. I started couch to 5k in September 2016. It took a lot longer than the nine weeks promised to get to the point where I could run 5k, 16 months to be exact, but considering how slow I run and my previously broken leg I'm quite happy that I've finally got to the point where I can actually run 5k. Ideally I want to start doing park run but I want to get my time down from the 48 mins I'm currently running 5k in to closer to 30 mins so that I'm not the last over the line by a long margin. Swim more I have a swim membership. I love swimming. I need to make time to go at least once a week. Eat healthier I'm generally pretty good with the meals we prepare at home ...