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Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children | Book Review

10:00 am

Books

Dinner With a Vampire by Abigail Gibbs | Book Review

10:00 am

"P.S. Murderers kill for pleasure.

Vampires kill to survive."

- Abigail Gibbs

Dinner With a Vampire

Series: The Dark Heroine #1

Author: Abigail Gibbs
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Harper Voyager

Pages: 549

Rating: ★★★★☆

I absolutely adored Dinner With a Vampire, book number one in the trilogy by, London author, Abigail Gibbs. From the very beginning I was completely immersed in the world of Violet Lee and Kaspar Varn. Throughout 17-year-old Violet's action packed journey I was captivated. From being kidnapped in Trafalgar square, to being held hostage at Varnley, a lavish mansion hidden from society, by a vampiric Royal family, to then be told you have only two options; become a vampire or die at the hands of your captors. The story of Violet Lee and Kasper Varn completely beguiled me.

A sexy and dark paranormal romance that had a bit of everything; politics, deception, secrets, lies and never-ending drama. The story-line was well written and I found myself not being able to put it down. I devoured this novel in a little under three days and I am highly anticipating reading Autumn Rose, the second book in the trilogy.

Talk about cliff-hanger ... I was devastated that I did not have Autumn Rose on my bookshelf to continue on with Violet's story right there and then. Gibbs has a beautiful way of writing that allows for an easy read but she still manages to completely engross you in the story-line.

I am a sucker for vampire books so when I picked this novel up I was looking forward to a good read and Gibbs most certainly did not disappoint. The protagonists were amazing and I found myself loving both of them equally. The love hate relationship they had going on was evident from the moment they first met and I loved watching their relationship develop and grow. I was cheering them on from the very start, the chemistry was undeniable and I loved watching their story unfold.

Personally, there is just something magical about vampire based story-lines that entice and captivate me and Dinner With a Vampire was no different. Violet with her quick wit, stubbornness and her say it how it is attitude alongside Kaspar's bad boy attitude eventually opening up and showing his softer side made for a very interest pair needless to say, a pair you couldn't help but fall in love with.

"Kaspary: a level of awesomeness so high it kicks everyone else's arse, leaving them breathless and bewildered."

Many people had said to expect a similar story to Twilight, sorry but I most definitely disagree. This was nothing Ike Twilight. The only similarities, well for me anyway, was the fact that both novels contained vampires but that was that.

I had no expectations when I picked up Dinner With a Vampire I just wanted to sit down with a book and get lost between the pages. This is a book I would recommend to anyone who, like myself, enjoys a bit of paranormal romance.

SHOP THE POST

- Dinner With a Vampire (The Dark Heroine #1) by Abigail Gibbs

- Autumn Rose (The Dark Heroine #2) by Abigail Gibbs

Lifestyle

My Men of Substance; A Father's Day Tribute

2:00 pm

"A "Daddy's Little Girl" is the one who would rather get her hands covered in engine oil with Dad, than stay in the house and bake buns with her Mum."

- Mishelly

With Father's day encroaching rapidly upon us for yet another year, what better time than now to pay recognition and celebrate the first man in a Daughter's life, the only one that is guaranteed never to hurt her - her Dad!

So this year in honour of the men in my life I have decided to nominate them both as my Men of Substance! Tommy John, the men's underwear company started the Man of Substance campaign in honour of men like my Dad and Grandad.

Whether your Dad is a Father by biology, step, adoptive or foster nobody ever compares to a little girl's Daddy, and I definitely struck gold with mine.

Dad has stood by my side through the proudest and most challenging times of my life. From standing at the barriers watching me compete in my first skating competition at four - which he lost his job over -, to attending my University Graduation Ceremony, to helping me spread my wings and move into my own home at 24, my Dad has never let me down.

From bringing me into this world to watching me grow into a woman my Dad has stood by my side with unwavering and unconditional love and support, to which I will forever be grateful. A Dad is the first man in a Daughter's life and is the standard by which she judges every other man, but let's be honest no one comes close to Dad.

I was that kid who would rather go fishing with Dad or help him build something in the shed that sit inside and play with Barbie Dolls and to this day I am happy to ditch anything to go and spend the day with Dad. From going on motorbike rides and teaching me how to ride, to perusing through little antique markets on the weekend, or even just vegeing out on the sofa. I still love nothing more that spending the day with Dad, just as much as I did as a child.

I have been blessed with an extremely close relationship with my Dad - I am aware that not everyone has that opportunity, due to a variety of circumstances - and from an extremely young age I remember always loving spending time with Dad. Whether that entailed rolling around on the living room floor wrestling, Dad sitting on the toilet playing the guitar while I had a bath, to letting me cuddle in when I was sick my relationship with my Dad has always been full of laughs and surprises.

"My Father didn't tell me how to live; He lived and let me watch him do it"

- Clarence B. Kelland

"A Grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart"

- Anonymous

As with Dad, I have always had a very close relationship with Grandad. I was lucky enough to spend my younger years living one street away from my Grandparents so I was there just as much as I was at home. Having countless sleepovers on the weekends with Gran and Grandad to running to their house when I had, had an argument with Mum they were always right there - no questions asked.

Most of my childhood memories with my Grandad revolve around weekends away with him and Gran at the caravan. From six weeks of age my Gran and Grandad would whisk me off to the caravan in Elie, Scotland, where I have accumulated some of the best memories of my childhood. From catching tadpoles by the sea and bike rides to the Clubhouse and the point during the day to building jigsaws and playing Scrabble with Grandad at night - what more could a Granddaughter want? - It was at the Clubhouse where Grandad would buy us chips or a Freddo while Gran played Bingo and he would take me into the games room, where he taught me how to play snooker and obviously let me win every time.

From sitting on Grandad's knee driving the van up the driveway to driving his Hyundai through the caravan park. Singing a bit of Bob Marley and even some R. Kelly, Grandad has always been down for a laugh with us all. From taking us to the driving range at St. Andrews - he's a bit of a golf fanatic - to driving me to and from music festivals Grandad has always been there when I need him and he would do anything for any of his four Grandkids.

Going from living one street away to living half way around the world to now living a half hour drive away. My Grandad has always been there for me whether near or far. If I just wanted to have a bit of a whinge or I was super excited about something my Grandad has always been at the other end of a phone or just a short drive away with welcoming ears. Grandad always knows how to make me laugh even if it's the last think I feel like doing. He has been there for me through every hurdle I have ever had to face and he has supported my wholeheartedly in all of my endeavours, no matter how big or small - he is definitely my diamond in the rough.

But with all that said a Dad or a Grandad is not defined by being blood related. A true Dad and Grandad - well to me anyway - is any man who loves you unconditionally, putting your needs before his without any hesitation and raises you as his own. So this is a shoutout to all those Dads and Grandads around the world. We may cause slight premature ageing, we may add a couple of lines to perfect uncreased face, we may even help grow a couple of grey hairs - well more than a few in my case - but, hey, in the words of Clarence Darrow; "The first half or our lives are ruined by our parents, the second half by our children."

Dad (22) & Grandad (45); Tenerife, 1989

Who is your Man - or in my case, Men - of Substance?

Life

WHEN LIFE THROWS YOU LEMONS ... GRAB SOME TEQUILA

10:00 am

“Do not judge my story by the chapter you walked in on."

- Unknown

Firstly please let me apologise for my lack of presence the last couple of months. I am very aware that I have been seriously MIA of late but I am back on track now. Poppetal is in the process of a massive revamp. I have spent a lot of time arranging new and exciting content for you all.

So I am here now with the new and improved Poppetal with new and exciting posts on the way. I have spent the last couple of weeks planning this re-vamp and brainstorming ideas for different posts and content that I would like to get into. So this is my new chapter for not only myself but for Poppetal too and I am truly excited to embark on this new journey with you all.

This last year for me has been full of up and downs and has posed numerous life challenges for myself. I will not delve into the ins and outs of my life here but please note that I feel I am now truly back on track and my life has taken a much needed turn for the better. I am in a much better frame of mind now and I can really focus on getting quality content together for you all.

The end of last year was an enormously difficult period in my life but I truly believe I have learned from my experiences and come out the other side a much stronger, happier and healthier person.

I am truly grateful for the family and friends that have stood by me through such a challenging period in my life. So to each and every one of you I just want you to know that I love you all with every bit of my heart. I cannot thank you enough for your un-waivering support and your total understanding. I love you all to the moon and back.

<3 You are all true diamonds in the rough! <3

So I thought I would give you all a brief update on my life at the moment. I have completely re-vamped my lifestyle and my lifestyle habits and I am feeling great about myself for the first time in a good couple of years.

I have finally moved out of home with my two fur babies - yes I expanded my little family. I am now proud Mumma to not only my 7 year old Pomeranian, Chip but also to my, now, 9 month old ragdoll Ajax Phoenix. A lot of people comment on his name but his name was chosen based on meaning. Ajax phoenix literally translates to "My little white knight rising from the ashes".

I was gifted Jax from my parents last November as an early Christmas present when he was 8 weeks old and I fell in love the moment I met him. So between him and Chippie I''m definitely kept on my toes but I wouldn't change it for the world.

I have secured myself a new job in the administrative sector and I'm loving the Monday to Friday work-life indeed and I have started a brand new healthy lifestyle to maintain my weight and keep me nice and healthy - all of which will be coming in an upcoming post very soon!!

Please let me know what you would like to see more of on Poppetal, I am open to all of your suggestions.

July Wrap Up | 2017

December Wrap Up | 2016

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children | Book Review

November Wrap Up | 2016

Dinner With a Vampire by Abigail Gibbs | Book Review

My Men of Substance; A Father's Day Tribute

"A Grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart"

- Anonymous

WHEN LIFE THROWS YOU LEMONS ... GRAB SOME TEQUILA

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