A list of Children's Books to enjoy this Halloween!


Happy Halloween! 
Do you like or loathe Halloween?
My children and I love an excuse to dress up and have a bit of fun, so we enjoy celebrating it in our household.

I've compiled a list of some children's books that would be suitable to read with your kids (after all the Trick Or Treating is done!)


Room On The Broom by Julia Donaldson

When the witch's things are blown away by the wind, three animals offer to help find them, and in return, they ask for a ride on the witch's broom. 
But does the witch, along with her cat, have enough room on her broom to fit them all? A lovely rhyming picture book that your child is sure to enjoy!


Meg & Mog Series by Helen Nicoll & Jan Pienkowski

I loved reading books from the Meg & Mog series as a young girl, and I am delighted that these books are still being enjoyed by children today. 
In this first book of the series titled Meg & Mog, Meg is a witch, and has a cat named Mog. Together, they attend a Halloween party. They cast a spell that doesn't go as planned!!


The Witch's Britches by P.Crumble and Lucinda Gifford

Ethel is a young witch who receives a very special package on her first day of attending witch school. The package contains Ethel's britches, and she must look after them. But what happens if her britches become loose? 
Find out what happens to Ethel's magical underwear in this hilarious tale!

Ghost In The House by Ammi-Joan Paquette

This picture book features a blue ghost that is all alone in a haunted house, until one day, he hears a sound that leads him to discovering a mummy in the house. 
Together, they hear another noise which alerts them to another character, and by the end of the book, we are introduced to a few more ghoulish creatures!

Peppa's Halloween Party

This one features the adorable Peppa Pig enjoying Halloween celebrations with all her family. They enjoy carving pumpkins and dressing up for a Halloween party with her friends. 

The Berenstain Bears And The Spooky Old Tree by Stan & Jan Berenstain

I have an old copy of this book that I'd purchased from a book sale many years ago. 
It is one that I remember reading as a child.
My daughters have all enjoyed this tale of the three young Berenstain Bears as they explore the Spooky Old Tree.
It's a great book for early readers. 
Did you know that the Berenstain Bears series feature over 300 books?!


Whether you enjoy the celebrations of Halloween or not, these books are sure to delight young readers!
What are your thoughts on Halloween? Have you read any of the books I've listed?
I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Book Review:   
Since You've Been Gone - Christa Allan 

Olivia Kavanaugh is meant to be walking down the aisle to the love of her life, Wyatt Hammond.
Instead, on the morning of their wedding day, she discovers that Wyatt has been involved in a fatal car crash, heading fifty miles away from the church.
In the backseat, is a gift that appears to be for a baby boy.
Olivia is shocked that her fiance may have been living a double life, and she frantically tries to piece together the mystery that surrounds his actions before his death.
Without any real answers, she decides that a change of scenery may do her good, and goes to stay a while with her best friend, but returns after her mother undergoes an operation.
The relationship between Olivia and her mother is rather strained. Her mother is unsupportive, judgemental, and quite often, harsh, so I was a bit surprised that Olivia would return home to help.Her father is quite often the peacemaker when they have a falling out. Towards the end of the story, we find out why her mother has this personality, but I don't think it fully justifies her behaviour. 
Olivia's grandmother Ruthie, on the other hand, is adorable, and her great sense of humour and wit shine through the novel.
Olivia relentlessly tries to get back on her feet, and I really admired her courage and her determination, even when she is faced with yet more heartache. 
I enjoyed the first part of the story more than the latter part, as it felt a little bit rushed towards the ending. 
But is a story of hope, and the power of positivity and love. 
It has been released this month. 

Disclaimer: I was given an ARC of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review:  The Other Wives Club - Shari Low

I've had such a busy week! How about you?
Luckily, this book was such a great way to unwind at the end of a jam-packed day.
I've read one of Shari Low's other novels (you can read my review for it here), and was given this digital ARC to review before it is released next month.

The Other Wives Club by Shari Low is a title you should be jotting down to buy for yourself, a sister, a girlfriend - or basically anyone who enjoys a book that has a lot of humour and a great storyline with a few twists!

Drew Gold is a newspaper editor and workaholic who is currently married to Tess Gold.
Tess is 28 years old and works in marketing. She often eats dinner alone, or with her best friend Cameron as Drew is always cancelling plans. 
He plans a trip on a cruise around the Mediterranean to celebrate his upcoming 50th birthday.
But it's not just for him and Tess - he also asks his two ex-wives along! 

Mona Gold is a fashion editor, 37 years old, and is now remarried to a man named Piers, and has a step-son. She reminded me so much of Samantha from Sex And The City. Her taste for fashion, and her love of men knows no bounds!

Sarah Gold was Drew's first wife; they divorced 14 years ago. Together they have a couple of grown children. Sarah loves country music and baking cakes, and has become quite a homebody since being single.

So when they all get together for the trip of a lifetime (with children, step-children, and grandchildren thrown into the mix!), it's certainly entertaining to say the least!!

I really enjoyed this book. Yes, there are a lot of characters, and it was a little tricky to envision each one in my mind initially, but by the end of the book, the story came together very well, and I liked the few twists thrown in.
The locations of the cruise stops along the way were portrayed beautifully, and with a great amount of detail, as were the descriptions of the cruiseliner itself.

There are a lot of funny moments, and it is a really cleverly written story that I know many will enjoy.
It's just over a couple of hundred pages long, so it is quite a quick read, but having said that, there is a lot packed into it!
If you do read it once it's released, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

And there's still time to enter my children's book giveaway here! 

Disclosure: I was given an ARC through Aria publishers in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way

Children's Book Review & Giveaway!! 

Jinny & Cooper series by Tania Ingram

Jinny & Cooper is a book series targeted at children aged 7+ years, written by Australian author Tania Ingram.

There are 4 books in the series so far:

Book 1 - My Teacher's Big Bad Secret
Book 2 - Revenge Of The Stone Witch
Book 3 - Curse Of The Genie's Ring
Book 4 - Search For The Sea Bogle

So, who are Jinny & Cooper?

Well, Jinny is a young girl, and Cooper is her pet guinea pig that she got for her 10th birthday.

But Cooper isn't just an ordinary guinea pig. 
You see, Cooper has magical powers that allow him to become invisible, teleport, and talk!

In each book, Jinny and Cooper face magical adventures together. The stories captivate both young and older readers with their fun and fantastic storylines.

Thanks to Penguin Books Australia and Tania, I've been reading books 3 and 4 in the series with my 9-year-old daughter, and we both think that they are great! My daughter especially loves Cooper's cheeky antics and his voracious appetite!

We will definitely be checking out the other two books because we've really enjoyed reading about the adventures that Jinny & Cooper get up to in books 3 and 4. 

And I'm happy to announce that I'm giving away two books from the series! Read below for details on how to enter.

Search For The Sea Bogle

Curse Of The Genie's Ring

In order to win:

You MUST be a follower of my blog (either by liking my Facebook page/twitter/Instagram, or following via email or bloglovin' - I don't mind which one you opt for but you must do at least one please), and

Answer in the comments section below:

If you could make yourself invisible, what would you do, and why?

**Get creative, and please include your email with your answer so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner!**

(There will be two winners; each winner will receive a copy of either Jinny & Cooper Search For The Sea Bogle, or Jinny & Cooper Curse Of The Genie's Ring.)

Terms & Conditions:

1. This giveaway is open to residents of Australia only.

2. Giveaway closes on 30th October, 6 pm; winner/s will be contacted via email within 48 hours. Failure to receive a response from the winner/s will mean the prize is forfeited and a new winner/s  will be chosen.

3. Winner will be selected on a basis of skill, not chance - the most creative and/or interesting answer deemed by the judge/s wins

4. The prize is not redeemable for cash.

5. In  The Good Books blog will not be responsible for items that go missing through Australia Post postal services.

6. This promotion is not associated or endorsed by Facebook.

7. Those who 'unlike' or 'unfollow' after the giveaway ends will be disqualified from entering future giveaways.

Disclosure: I was given 2 copies of books 3 & 4 from the series. One set to review, and the other to offer as a giveaway. I was not paid for this review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced in any way.

Book Review: The Best Of Adam Sharp - Graeme Simsion 

I was really happy when I found out that Graeme Simsion had written a new book, as I'm a big fan of both of his other books, The Rosie Project and The Rosie Effect.



In this book, Adam Sharp is a British man, fast approaching 50, and has been in a committed (though not very passionate) relationship with his partner Claire for over twenty years. 
But his relationship is put to the test when Angelina Brown, an old flame of Adam's, resurfaces after she sends him an email out of the blue.

The first part of the book is mainly a look back at Adam and Angelina's relationship/affair - we learn that they had met in 1989; he was a database architect, and was in Australia on a working visa. 
He also played piano in a bar part-time, and it was at the bar that he first met her. (I have to mention that, as a fellow Melbournian, I loved Graeme's references to many of the local settings and hang-outs in Melbourne!)
At the time, she was studying law but gave  it up to become an actress. Angelina had a partner named Richard, but their relationship was rocky.
After Adam and Angelina's first encounter, they began a rather steamy affair, but after much deliberation, Adam made the difficult decision to return home. They parted ways even though they were in love, and he thought she was 'the one'.

Fast forward 22 years without contact, when the email arrives.
Adam decides to reply, and the spark that was there all those years ago is quickly reignited. 
After a few months, Angelina invites Adam back into her life again, on a trip away to France, accompanied by her husband Charlie. 
Charlie is totally devoted to Angelina, a fantastic cook, and a pretty decent gent. Angelina is now an Equal Opportunities Commissioner, and seems to be enjoying the rewards of her success.

What unfolds on the trip away is quite a complex, and rather bizarre relationship between all three. 
Adam and Angelina try to work out whether the love they once had in the past is enough to bring them back together for the future. 
But be aware that this is far from a traditional love story!

I really enjoyed the characters, and whilst I didn't always agree with their reasons for their decisions, I thought that the characters were all very believable and real.

I made mention earlier that Adam is a piano player, and I liked that the book had quite a few references to music throughout the story, complete with a soundtrack of songs that Graeme Simsion has included. 
Although this book is different from Graeme's 'Rosie' books, I enjoyed it just as much!

Have you read any of Graeme's books? Which one is your favourite? 

Book Review: Swear On This Life by Renee Carlino 

Emiline is a writing instructor at UC San Diego. She is in a shaky seven-year relationship with Trevor, and is often frustrated by both her literary career and her boyfriend. 

When Emiline's roommate, Cara, hands her a copy of the debut book 'All The Roads Between' by author J. Colby, she takes it (somewhat reluctantly) to read.

As she reads the story, she is intrigued by the two main characters, Emerson and Jackson. They are childhood friends who certainly don't have the best of everything, but dream of one day making the best of what they have. Over the years, their relationship develops from friendship to something more, and they fall in love. 

As Emiline continues to read, she realises that there are way too many similarities between the descriptions of events in the book and the events that took place in her own childhood to be a coincidence.

She works out that the author, J. Colby, must in fact be Jase; her best friend and first love, who she hasn't been in contact with in over 12 years.  

She is angry that he has shared their history with the world, and sets about confronting him to find out his reasons why. But uncovering the answers will be an emotional journey for all involved...

I loved reading about this 'story within a story.' It is such a clever concept, and so unlike any other story I have read. Renee Carlino writes with a lot of heart and her characters are so real. 

At just over 300 pages, this book was a fast and fantastic read!

Adult Colouring In & A Giveaway!!

Now that the kids back at school, I have been busy tidying up around the house, and having a general clean-out.
I came across two brand new adult colouring that I'd purchased a while back and forgotten about, and thought that I'd offer them as a giveaway to my readers. 

The titles are:
Johanna Basford Secret Garden - Mini 1, and
Johanna Basford Secret Garden - Mini 2

As the titles suggest, these are smaller versions of the original Secret Garden, so the size makes them ideal for travel, or anywhere! (They'd even make a great Christmas stocking filler!) 

 Gorgeous intricate details in the illustrations provide hours of colouring fun!

So, if you'd like to win of of these books, follow the instructions below!

In order to win:

You MUST be a follower of my blog (either by liking my Facebook page/twitter/Instagram, or following via email or bloglovin' - I don't mind which one you opt for but you must do at least one please), and

Answer in the comments section below:

What is your favourite flower, and why?


**Get creative, and please include your email with your answer so I can contact you if you're the lucky winner!**

(There will be 2 winners; each one will receive either the Mini Book 1 or Mini Book 2)

Terms & Conditions:
1. This giveaway is open to residents of Australia only.
2. Giveaway closes on 12th October, 6 pm; winner will be contacted via email within 48 hours. Failure to receive a response from the winner/s will mean the prize is forfeited and a new winner/s  will be chosen.
3. Winner will be selected on a basis of skill, not chance - the most creative and/or interesting answer deemed by the judge/s wins
4. The prize is not redeemable for cash.
5. In  The Good Books blog will not be responsible for items that go missing through Australia Post postal services.
6. This promotion is not associated or endorsed by Facebook.
7. Those who 'unlike' or 'unfollow' after the giveaway ends will be disqualified from entering future giveaways.

Book Review: The Assistants - Camille Perri

There's a quote on the front cover of this book that says, 'this is the next Devil Wears Prada'. But I'll go a bit further and say that I enjoyed this even more than The Devil Wears Prada!

I simply adored the main character, Tina Fontana, a 30-yr-old woman who has been an assistant to the CEO of a billion-dollar corporation, Robert Barlow, for six years.
Tina is over-worked and underpaid, and whilst Robert has been a good boss for the most part, she still feels as though she won't ever move forward in her career.
She does so much for him, including handling the purchasing of birthday gifts for his family, making reservations at restaurants, and booking flights.
One day, Tina is faced with the biggest dilemma of all when she books a flight for Robert. There is a technical error which results in a reimbursement of a cheque for the flight cost back into her account.
Whilst it would only be seen as a small amount of money to Robert, for Tina, this could change her life as she would be able to pay off her student loan debt.

So, after some deliberation, she cashes the cheque, but is soon caught out by Emily Johnson, the (fairly nasty) accounting assistant. Tina finds herself being blackmailed by Emily, and before she knows it, things spiral out from bad to worse. It's up to Tina to make things right again, but can she?

Ok, so this book condones embezzlement a little, but it doesn't take away the fact that it is was a fast-paced and very fun read, and at under 300 pages, a quick read too.  Even though there have been mixed reviews, I personally think Camille Perri has done a really great job with this debut novel! 

Book Review: The Darkest Secret - Alex Marwood 

After having this book recommended to me, I finally picked up a copy from my library late last week, and tore through it in a couple of days.

The story starts off with an email being sent out to raise awareness regarding the disappearance of three-year-old Coco. It is sent out by Coco's godmother, Maria.
We learn that Coco goes missing on a long weekend, when her family and parents' friends gather to celebrate her father Sean's 50th birthday.
On the guest list are interior designer Linda, (who happens to be Sean's mistress), and her husband, Dr James Orizio. As well as politician Charles Clutterbuck, his wife Imogen, Maria and husband Robert Gavila, Robert's teenaged daughter, Simone, and a few younger children from previous relationships. 
Also, Camilla and India, who are Sean's older daughters from his first marriage.
Sean is very well-off, and, much like the company he keeps, he is bitter, selfish, and downright awful.

The story is told in two alternating timelines; 2004, when Coco disappeared, and then 12 years later, when we learn that Sean has died in suspicious circumstances...
His now teenaged daughter Ruby, is accompanied by her step-sister Mila (formerly Camilla), to his funeral, and together, they hope to uncover the real truth about what happened to Coco on that tragic weekend all those years ago..

Alex Marwood has done a brilliant job of pacing the story, and interweaving the two time lines, so as the plot unravels, it is all linked in a riveting way.

As there are a lot of characters in the book, it took a bit of time to get used to them all, and on more than one occasion I was a little confused, but I think this would be the sort of book that you would benefit from reading a second time, to develop a better understanding of the complexity of the characters. 
I really couldn't put the book down until I knew what had happened to little Coco, and it isn't until the final pages (literally the last page or two of the novel!) that the truth is revealed. 
I was so drawn into all of the mystery and suspense, and I felt a lot of emotion towards a lot of the characters, in particular, Sean, and his group of friends. 

I'd highly recommend this book, as it is really absorbing and very cleverly written. 
I'll definitely be checking out more books from Alex Marwood in the near future.