New Releases, Free & Bargain Books Link-Up - Week 2 2017

How are you all this week?  After a short pause in proceedings the book linky is back and, if you've spent a bit too much over Christmas, rest assured you'll definitely find a bargain here.

The kids are back to school.  The Christmas cake is gone (although the Stollen lingers on) and I've eaten ALL the After Eight Mints so a bit of quiet time with a good book is definitely in order.

Don't forget that I still have plenty to be won on my competitions page and don't forget my problem page here.

Happy bargain and freebie book hunting on this link.

Have a great week!

Sharing the Love of Books
Enjoy our selection of New Releases / Free & Bargain Books this week

Authors please feel free to add your own books
Readers please free to add your own finds
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...
Monday
 Life as Leels | IrishdaisylovesRomance | Book Babble | All Romance Reader
Tuesday
It's My Side of Life | Celticlady's Reviews | First Time Mommy Adventures 
Wednesday
Beck Valley Books | Cinnamon Hollow Reviews
Thursday
Miki's Hope | Nicki's Nook
Friday
Ebook Addicts | I Love Romance | Colorimetry | The Ultimate Fan Blog
Saturday
Totally Addicted to Reading | 3 Partners in Shopping | Angie's Angle | I Create Purty Thangs | Wishful Endings
Sunday
Lynchburg Mama | LibriAmoriMiei | Ali - The Dragon Slayer | Wondermom Wannabe | Deal Sharing Aunt | Rambling Reviews | Mother Distracted

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author

For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author

For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date 

For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Click here for this weeks awesome selection!

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Is The Secret To Happiness Living Life By Your Values?

New research reveals that the secret to happiness is living life by your values.

In the new global study of more than 2500 people, it was found that those who lived life by their values felt they were three times happier in every area of their lives.

The research, carried out by human insight consultancy, One Minute to Midnight, found that 

91% of people agreed that they live their lives by their values to some extent.

Those who lived life strongly by their values were 3 times happier and significantly more satisfied in every area of their lives from their financial situation, their relationships, their job and their health.

The results of the study, named ‘The Dimensions Study’ and which vary from country to country, show that the happiest country is India (with 50% agreeing with the statement ‘I am happy’), followed by Brazil (39%), the USA (33%), the UK (22%) and China (16%).

Interestingly this order was identical when asking to what extent people in each country lived life by their values, with India living their life by their values most strongly and China the least.

The survey found that each country has its own preferred values. The happiest people were those who said that creativity or benevolence was their top value, suggesting that ideas and looking after others are beneficial to our well-being and directly impact on our own happiness.

Whereas the UK values security – reflecting concern around recent high profile terrorism and the state of flux resulting from Brexit, and the value of fun (hedonism), the population of China most commonly choose tradition and power as their most dominant values.

Conflictingly, the USA deemed these two values as their least important, holding the value of adventure dear, one of China’s least picked values.

60% of Britons (the most in the world) think they will be worse off than their parents, comprised of Generation X, born roughly from the early 1960s to mid 1970s, and Millennials, reaching young adulthood in the early noughties.

Britons were the least likely to describe themselves strongly as being a good person at 28.01%, with India coming out on top (49.30%), followed by Brazil (46.51%) and the US at 43.74%.

Generation X were more likely to give themselves this label than Millennials, with those classified as the older Generation X having a better perception of self versus the younger Generation X.

The survey revealed that there were even differences when looking at London compared to the rest of the UK, with Londoners (65%) thinking of themselves as being more influential that the rest of the UK (43%). Millennials (59%) deemed themselves as more influential than Generation X (47%).

The conclusion of The Dimensions Study uncovers that whatever their values were, everyone was happier if living life by their values.

But how do we know what our values are?  What happens when our values conflict?  For example, I value security but I also value freedom.

And what happens when some of our values are subconscious or programmed into us by our parents or significant others?

I'd suggest that those who successfully live by their values have found a way to discover greater self-knowledge and understanding.

Perhaps skills such as meditation or practising mindfulness may help.

A useful exercise is to brainstorm your top 10 values and then to rank them in order of their importance to you.

Here are some examples of values you might find on your list - and there are many more here.

Adventure
Dependability
Discipline
Excitement
Family
Freedom
Financial Independence
Integrity
Justice
Loyalty
Respect

You may have an "a-ha" moment when you see them written down and realise why you made some of the decisions you have made.

You might also finally understand the real reason for some arguments or personality clashes.  That person you can't stand?  It might simply be that your values clash.

A great example of times when clashing values can cause havoc is during an argument with a tween or teenager (in fact any child!).  They value freedom, independence and freedom of expression.  You value security, personal safety, financial prudence and respect.   You can see how friction might arise.

Our values certainly change as we get older.  In fact those of us who have spent years valuing security and order may reach middle age and suddenly realise that the second half of life should be more about adventure, freedom and risk taking!

Our values may also change depending on the situation we are in.  If you have clashing values such as "adventure" with "dependability",  it would be sensible to indulge your sense of adventure on holiday rather than at work.

Or, find a way to incorporate adventure into your daily work by learning a new skill or striking up a conversation with someone you don't normally talk to.

I would say that whilst knowing your values is important, knowing yourself should be our main goal.

As Shakespeare's Hamlet said "to thine own self be true".

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Keeping Children Warm In Winter

When freezing cold weather strikes, as adults we know what to do to keep ourselves warm - but what about our kids?

Image Source

This January the Met Office is predicting a prolonged cold snap with temperatures often plummeting below zero degrees.

We all know how challenging childcare can be during a spell of cold weather. We really want them to play outdoors but it's easy to avoid it because we worry that they'll be back in two minutes flat, complaining of frozen fingers or slipping on the ice.

As you might imagine, Norway experiences much lower winter temperatures than we do - often -10 degrees so here are some great tips for keeping kids warm in winter from childcare expert Elaine Kobbeltvedt.

Elaine is a mother and grandmother with more than 25 years of childcare experience, having run her own family of nurseries in both Scotland and Norway.

Want to know how to protect a child from the cold?  Read on.

1) Layering

The Norwegians all use the layering concept when it comes to dressing children for cold weather.

Place a layer next to the skin which is made from a soft material to prevent any rubbing or irritation, then add a fleece layer to keep them warm.

Over the top of this you then add another layer of  a coverall or rainsuit (depending on the weather) to protect them from the elements.

This ensures the child is kept warm and protected, but prevents overheating from too many bulky items because us Brits tend to just pile on jumper after jumper!

2) Cover the extremities

Heads and hands always need to be kept warm and covered to prevent frostbite and cracked skin which can be really painful for a child.

3) Keep feet warm and dry

Shoes and boots need to be waterproof and preferably lined.  Don't forget thick socks if the footwear allows it, or two pairs of thin socks.

4) Keep them active

Use the layering concept and invest in children's clothing ranges designed for cold weather, such as Tiny Trolls of Norway.

The ideal cold weather clothing will allow children to stay warm but still move around with ease. Bulky layers will restrict their freedom of movement.

Ideally kids will be active and enjoying the fresh air, rather than getting chilly - and grumpy!

5) Care for their skin

Elaine recommends putting a cold cream on a child's face as an extra protective layer against the elements. But make sure it isn't a water-based product or the water can freeze on their skin.

Two great creams to try are Weleda Weather Protection Cream which is a water free cream to protect babies and small children against the wind and cold, and Eucerin Aquaphor Soothing Skin Balm which can be used to treat dry spots and chapped skin or lips and is suitable for the whole family.

You might also consider a Tusseladden which is an all-weather coverall. These can be used all year round as they are  totally breathable.

This makes them just as useful for the great British summertime when it may be a bit windy or rainy, but not too cold, and great as an outer layer for cold winters when the mercury plummets.

Comfortable and easy to take on and off, the ones for under-3s also have a handy two-way zip for quick and easy nappy changes.

Do you have any winter health tips for kids to share?  Do you wrap your kids up and send them out to play?

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My Problem Page - Edition 1 2017

This week I'm talking about coming clean about your past with drugs, what makes a person toxic and what to do when you've broken the 'girl code'.

If you would like any advice, feel free to treat me as your agony aunt. Just message me or pop a comment in the comment box at the end of this post. I promise to be gentle.

Here's this week's questions.

Q: A girl I really like claims to have sent me a text that clearly wasn't meant for me. How do I respond to this? 

We have been talking on and off for 3 years. She constantly cuts people out of her life and she told me that I'm different from other people. When I asked her to explain she sent a text hours later saying how she was excited to hold hands and kiss me.  She then claimed it was a mistake, and a paste from three weeks ago.

A: This girl sounds really confused about what she wants. 

It could have been a simple error or she may be backtracking. 

Either way it really isn’t clear where you stand with her. 

If you are really interested in her, I would try to meet up and talk about things face to face. 

As I always say, you really can’t have a relationship ‘by text’ - and 3 years is a long investment in time for a relationship which isn’t making you all that happy or isn’t really going anywhere.

Q: I cheated on my best friend with her boyfriend and she knows. I want to end things with him and make amends with my best friend. How? 

While my best friend was gone I slept with her boyfriend. I felt so guilty that I told her. She didn't act mad but was really upset. Her boyfriend also told me that he loves me more than her but she still loves him back. I don't love her boyfriend anymore because I feel so guilty.

A: The sad truth is that it will probably take a very long time for her to forgive you - and even if she does she will never forget your actions. 

The boyfriend sounds as if he is revelling in having the attention of two women. 

Are you sure that you won’t be pursuing him once your guilt subsides. 

I’m afraid neither you, nor the boyfriend, come out of this very well and if I were your friend I would want nothing to do with either of you. 

I suspect that you might not be the first other woman the boyfriend has hooked up with. 

Your best hope is to out him as a serial philanderer and paint yourself as his ‘victim’ but it’s unlikely she’ll be convinced. 

Time may soften her feelings but otherwise, next time, don’t break the ‘girl code’ as they say.

Q: Is someone who brings the worst in you a toxic friend/parent? 

I'm generally very empathetic and have positive thoughts about other people, but I have a friend who constantly makes fun of my weight and my appearance and I catch myself thinking bad things like "what a bitch" etc.

A: Toxic your friend may well be but the question is why on earth do you stay around them? 

We cannot control others’ behaviour - only our own - and we teach them how to treat us. 

I’m really not surprised you think the things you do when you are criticised. 

In your shoes, I would not be so patient and would have told this ‘friend’ in no uncertain terms (although without the expletives) that if that is how they feel they are no friend and to leave you alone in future. 

It’s not so easy with parents, of course. 

Sometimes their criticism of us is actually justified and the child in us rankles at being talked to as if we are still a kid. 

This does not necessarily make them toxic. 

Toxic is really just a buzzword for someone whose behaviour makes them nasty, unpleasant and dangerous to be near. 

The antidote to your toxic friend is a new social circle full of positive, equally empathetic people. 

I’d take that antidote as soon as possible.

Q: I told my guy friend about my past with drugs and anxiety and now I'm a little scared since no one but my family knows. Is this bad?

A: Sometimes to heal we need to make ourselves vulnerable - and that involves taking the risk to be honest and open up to others.

You don’t say whether the drugs are class A or whether they were prescribed to help you cope with your anxiety.

I hope you are receiving support from a professional - whether that is a doctor or a counsellor to help you with your issues.

Our family are not always the best people to help us - particularly if they are partially or wholly responsible for causing the problem in the first place.

What was the reaction of your guy friend? Has he gone off to tell all and sundry?

Are you doing him a bit of disservice by assuming he’ll just run off and blab?

If he is not the most trust worthy person then, again, I would urge you to seek professional support to help you boost your self esteem and confidence.

I am sure they will encourage you to see that you are defined by your bad choices - we all make them.

What defines us is how we deal with them. Remember: nobody is perfect and nobody has any right to judge (apart from him upstairs if you are religious).

Take a deep breath. All will be fine.

Q: What do you do if you want to avoid a person and you and they are in the same environment?

A: What was it Michelle Obama said - something along the lines of “if they go low, I go high”, wasn’t it?

Short of resolving your dispute or animosity, I’m afraid you have to act like an adult and take the moral high ground by ensuring your behaviour and manners are impeccable.

Paste a smile on your face and behave with dignity.

If others are aware of this animosity, you can bet they will be watching you with interest.

This is even more important in a work situation where you will be expected to be professional to the hilt.

If it is really unbearable to be in the same place as them (I imagine working with an ex who cheated on you would be particularly tough), then your only option is to leave.

Unfair though it seems, you can’t force someone else to go.

Q: Is it right to hold a grudge on your girlfriend/boyfriend and keep reminding them of it? 

The last guy I dated held the biggest grudges of the century! in the heat of an argument caused by his wrong doing I only said one line to him and I swear to you this guy mentioned that one line nearly every time we ended a conversation. How unhealthy and hurtful is that? 

A: Well it rather depends what that one line was, doesn’t it and it’s curious that you don’t mention what it was. 

It clearly cut him to the quick and he has not forgiven you for it. 

You said the argument was “caused by his wrong doing” but it doesn’t sound as if, even now, he has accepted any responsibility for whatever it was he did. 

That is more of a concern than his constantly harping on about that hurtful thing you once said. You also say that he was the last guy you dated. 

Is he still in your life? If not, it sounds as though you are missing him and feel guilty about that humdinger of a one-liner. 

Some people cannot take criticism if they are insecure and have low self esteem. 

If you rowed a lot then it doesn’t sound as if the relationship was destined to last in any case. 

I’d just chalk it up to the weirdness of the human psyche and find a guy who has a more relaxed and easy going nature - and one who finds it a bit easier to brush off the odd slight.

How would you have responded to these questions? I'd love to know. You can find more advice on my problem page.

Disclaimer: All materials included in this post are intended for informational purposes only. This post/information is not intended to and should not be used to replace medical or psychiatric advice offered by physicians or other health care providers. The author will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages arising therefrom.

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10 Life Lessons I've Learned From Candy Crush Saga

We all know how addictive crushing candy is but if you’re looking to, ahem, justify the doubtless hours of investment you’ve put into trying to get that little plane to fly you to the next level, here are 10 life lessons you can say you’ve mastered.

I'm hoping this will stop the Husband and my sister from berating my fecklessness but my hopes aren't too high.

1. Collaboration gets you there faster

If you play the game via Facebook (or connect your app to Facebook on a tablet), you get to send and receive lives and moves to and from your friends. I strongly suspect I’ve got new Facebook friends solely for them to get Candy Crush lives.

2. Play on more than one platform

If you play Candy Crush on a desktop and then on a tablet or phone, you get a whole new set of 5 lives.

You don’t make chances in life by staying put now, do you?

Bloggers, Marketers and Social Media Managers all know that widening your bases brings in dividends.

3. You need a strategy

It took me a while to realise this (d’oh!) but there is a specific ‘key’ to getting through each level. Each game is like a mini logic puzzle you need to figure out.

Just sitting there clicking those computer keys is going to keep you there a very long time.

And if you need some strategic help (it's not cheating!!!),  this is my favourite, um, online resource.

4. Sometimes you need to slow down to speed up

And before you start clicking, take a short while to take a good look at the level – where do those bombs come from? Where do those cherries and nuts fall out? Do you really need to get rid of all that jelly?

As the Husband frequently says in an exasperated tone - "you need to look at the bigger picture".

5. Sometimes you’ve just got to invest

My family tell me buying boosters is outright cheating. I disagree. Sometimes you need to invest a little to achieve your goals.

Note, I said a little. No point investing if you haven’t got a strategy.

So yes, I have purchased some lollipop hammers. Go me.

6. Practice Makes Perfect

To master anything you need to practise. I appreciate mastering Candy Crush may not be a particularly noble goal but it’s the principle, isn’t it?

The kids are already Minecraft professionals and you have to keep up with your kids in some form, don't you?

7. Boasting is annoying

I never click the ‘share’ button to announce I’ve reached the next level or beaten one of my Facebook friends.

For a start, announcing you’re spending your time crushing Candy is often frowned upon and nobody likes a smart alec.

I accidentally clicked the 'share with your friends' button once and the social shame stung for weeks.

8. But competition is good

On the other hand there’s nothing wrong with wanting to become champion of each episode. When you can see your friends are numerous levels ahead of you, don’t you just want to get ahead of them?

There's no liberal namby-pamby two inches behind you soothing "oh well you gave it your best shot and it's the taking part that matters".

Nope.  It's Candy Crush or Level Fail.  Deal with it.

9. Watch your ‘bombs’ but don’t rush to explode them.

Sometimes you can waste loads of moves only to find that the bombs detonate themselves on a move of the candy conveyor belt.

In the same way sometimes problems resolve themselves without you having to waste your time and energy.

The trick is knowing when you need to detonate and when time will sort a problem out for you.

10. ‘Me time’ is good

I find Candy Crush incredibly relaxing –although the Husband says I’m usually shouting at the screen and cursing the invasion of chocolate.

Still, there are no calories in Candy Crush and it’s a very cheap hobby – as long as you keep your fingers off the buy booster buttons.

I like to think it gives my brain a work-out and one thing’s for sure, when I’m crushing that candy I’m not worrying about my tinnitus or the list of tasks I have for my blog.

So do you play Candy Crush? Could you send me a life and 3 more moves please?

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Tips To Get Your Home Ready For Spring

Whilst it's supposed to be bad luck to take your Christmas decorations down before 12th Night (January 6th), I suspect many of us have already removed them.

Once the tree and baubles have been put away, the house looks bare, a bit unloved and, if you've got kids, in need of a thorough Spring clean!

Grab yourself a coffee and draw up a plan of action - and I've a great giveaway of some fabulous cleaning products from Kilrock to help you at the bottom of this post.

So where to start?

These are my 'grubby hotspots' which usually need tackling first.

The Bathroom

Attack the bathroom with a product such as Blast Away Mould – in spray or gel format, which is ideal for ridding door and window seals, shower units, bathrooms, sinks and WCs of mould and mildew. You can use it on plastic furniture too.

If the bath or sink are running sluggishly and have become clogged with yucky hair, try Kil-Block Drain Unblocker which is a powerful, fast-acting, multi-purpose drain and plughole unblocker.

Now is also a good time to chuck threadbare towels and flannels and replace them with some fresh new linen in bright spring colours.  Giving each member of the family their own colour flannel is a good idea too - and stops arguments!

Whilst you're at it, why not replace frayed toothbrushes and chuck any toothbrush mugs in the dishwasher.  Electric toothbrush heads can also be replaced.

I like to splash out on some fancy French soap - anything from Roger & Gallet is heaven.

If you want to go a bit "Marie Kondo" (from the cult decluttering book "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying"), you should throw out anything that does not "spark joy".

That should include all those half used bottles of shampoo, face creams which just don't do the job, all those hotel toiletries you convinced yourself you'd use and those bath gels you hate the smell of.

The Kitchen

The kitchen is really the heart of the home yet it can often appear quite unloved (and grimy!).

Attack those surfaces and worktops with an effective, multi-purpose product like Bar Keepers Friend - a specialist, multi-surface cleaner that cuts through grease, grime, rust, and stains to give gleaming results every time. You can use it on steel, ceramics, copper, brass, chrome, glass and more.

Descale your kettle, coffee machine and iron with a product such as Kilrock-K Multi Purpose descaler which will totally clears heavily scaled appliances in minutes. You can also use it on your shower head.

Clear out any out of date food and leftovers which are unlikely to be used from the fridge and give it a thorough wipe down.

Put a date in your diary to defrost the freezer and make a note to start using up the food you have in there.

For example, chicken can be frozen for up to 9 months but bacon only lasts a month.

Emptying all the bins and adding a fresh bunch or two of Daffodils also works wonders!

The Bedrooms

Start by stripping the beds and vacuuming the mattresses to get rid of dust mites.  This is particularly important when you or your little ones have allergies.

Next, check that your mattress protectors are up to the job and actually cover the mattress.  If your mattress is over 8 years old, the advice is that is should be replaced.

Check that your pillows are not damp or mildewed and that they have their own protectors.  The Sleep Council advises that pillows should be replaced at least every two years.

Tidy up your bedding by storing a double sheet and pillowcases inside a double duvet cover so that everything is altogether.  I've wasted hours trying to find the right bedding.

If bedrooms are damp, you could try Damp Clear Moisture Trap which is an effective, hassle-free solution for the removal of excessive moisture. It protects against mould, mildew and damp, combats musty odours, lasts three months and is refillable.

If you would like to win a selection of Kilrock products worth £50 to help you get your home sparkling for spring, just enter the giveaway via the Rafflecopter widget below.

Kilrock manufactures problem solving household products many of which are firm favourites among British households and motorhome owners. Available, variously, at Robert Dyas, Lakeland, John Lewis, B & Q, Homebase, independent homeware stores or www.kilrock.co.uk.

The prize is a selection of Kilrock Products - Contents May Differ From This Picture

The prize consists of:-

Damp Clear Moisture Trap x 2
Blast Away Mould x 4
Bar Keepers Friend x 3
Kilrock K x 2
KilBlock Drain Unblocker x 2

Please note that Kilrock K works best in hard water areas where limescale is a problem.

Terms and conditions apply and can be viewed on my competitions page.

UK entrants only and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 27th January 2017.

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Good luck!

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Win Callanetics Countdown: 30 Days To A More Beautiful Body Exercise DVD

30 years ago Callan Pinckney created the very first Callanetics exercise programme which was released on video and subsequently garnered world wide fame.

Pinckney’s first book Callanetics: 10 Years Younger in 10 Hours was first published in 1984 and spent two years at the top of the New York Best Seller list. The first video of the program, “Callanetics” was released in 1986 and became the All Time Biggest Selling fitness video in both the UK and US.

Callan Pinckney was declared the “High Priestess of the new Fitness” by Vogue magazine.

Now Callan has released a new version "Countdown: 30 Days To A More Beautiful Body" on DVD.

It's a 30-day program designed to get your body in great shape, quickly and effectively.

Callanetics is a series of stretching and contracting exercises that activate the body’s largest muscles groups, using tiny, gentle, precise movements, called pulses. These pulses reach deep into the muscles to give you a strong, firm body, without adding bulk.

The exercise classes are presented by Lacey Kondi and her team as they help you to take your first step towards a lovelier body.

CaIlanetics helps you defy gravity. As many students have said, Callanetics is like a face-lift for your body. Most of all, the unique movements of Callanetics strengthen and relax you at the same time.

No longer will you feel exhausted or drained after a workout. You’ll feel energized and empowered.

The Callanetics Countdown is made up of 3 levels, each one getting progressively more challenging and included with the DVD is a 30 day recipe booklet to follow alongside the Callanetics 30 day programme, with delicious nutritionally balanced meal suggestions and recipes to try.

I really enjoyed this DVD and am currently on the first level of the 30 day programme.  I find it leaves me feeling invigorated without feeling hot and sweaty (very good for us ladies of a certain age!).

Lacey does speak rather fast so you do have to pay attention but for those of us with hearing loss there are great subtitles!  I wish other exercise DVDs had these.

The routines are easy to understand and follow in a gentle way.  This isn't a power-based, shouty work-out.

If you are looking for something that allows you to really focus on the parts of the body you are working, why not give this one a try?

I will certainly be carrying on to complete my 30 days to get rid of those Christmas excesses!

I have one copy to give away to a lucky winner.  Simply enter via the Rafflecopter widget in the usual way.  Terms and conditions are available to read on my Competitions Page.  UK entrants only and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 20th January.


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If you can't wait to start your Callanetics Countdown, you can find the DVD on Amazon and the other usual retail outlets priced £12.99.

*promotional copy received for the purpose of this review. Post contains affiliate link

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