Book Review | #NoFilter by Maxine Morrey

Title: #NoFilter
Author: Maxine Morrey
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Published: 7th November 2019
Pages: 348
Length: 14hrs 27 minutes
Buy Now: Kindle UK | Amazon UK | Audible UK | The Works
Format: Audio
Rating: 5 * * * * *
Acquired: Bought using Audible Credit / bought via Kindle UK

Blurb:

In an Instagram world, can you find love just by being yourself…

Popular lifestyle blogger, Libby Cartwright, is being boggled by business when help shows up in the shape of gorgeous but shy, Charlie Richmond. Libby’s determined to keep it at ‘just good friends’ – she’s dated someone from ‘Corporate Land’ before and it didn’t end well. As she and Charlie begin spending more time together, Libby is starting to waiver  – until she discovers something which makes her question if she’s ready for love.

Still reeling, she suffers another blow as her blog is attacked in a national newspaper, for promoting unachievable perfection. Libby knows it’s not true – but the only way to prove that is to strip off the armour she’s been wearing for years. 

Is she brave enough to show the world she’s far from perfect? And will Charlie be by her side if she does…

Review:

I absolutely loved this book. I started reading it on Monday morning then finished it Wednesday night and it's really unlike me to come home from work and finish a book. I rarely read in the evening because I'm too tired (12 hour work days do that!).

I have started my #MaxineMorreyMarch and I think I picked a stunner of a book to start with. I had recently read her Winters Fairytale and loved that so knew I'd be in for a treat regardless of what she wrote.

#NoFilter follows Libby. An 'up and coming' Lifestyle and Beauty YouTuber and Blogger. She's happily single and enjoying her life. She struggles with the financial side of her blogger business. So when her Friend offers his Brothers accounting services she obliges without expecting the drop dead gorgeous but very shy Charlie to turn p to save her day. #NoFilter follows Lbby throughout all the highs and lows that come with the blogging world and the real commitments that come with it. I think Maxine managed to find the pure soul of what being a blogger means and it was really nice to see and read. I absolutely fell in love with Libby, she's pure gold. I think she reflected what being a woman in this day is really about. She isn't perfect and doesn't pretend to be either. She has mishaps and downs and manages them the way any strong woman would. Although reading more and more about Libby and having had many a conversation with Maxine it is evident she is the life and soul of this novel.

Charlie, Charlie, Charlie. Don't you just love it when an Author writes a truly perfect, yet realistic hero of the novel? Me too! Charlie was a beautiful character. You can imagine him in real life, and he was written in a truly perfect manner. Without giving too much away I loved how he was with Libby. He is such a kind hearted character that Maxine makes sure you fall head over heels in love with him and their journey together, even as friends.

There were other characters in this story of course. Amy, Libby best friend is such a laugh. I loved her. She's bubbly and she was exactly what Libby needed in her life to make her see exactly what she needed and where she needed to be and with who! Tilly, her assistant was wonderful. A good soul with a good nature and she always meant well. Even if it doesn't quite go to plan for her.

I ended up getting about 30% into this book and became utterly addicted with even word. I had to know what happened. There were so many moments that took me by surprise and I really think this gave it an edge against other romance novels out there. I did listen to he rest of this via Audible because I wanted to get more reading in and even read after work which I am usually far too tired to do.

I just utterly adored every page.

Will you be picking up #NoFilter ?

Rebecca x

Tea's (Brews) I Drink in a Day

Happy Saturday! Today I bring you my Tea's I Drink in a Day post in Collaboration with Kim from Tea is a Wish. My post is a day last, as usual, because... well I'm lazy. If you want to read Kims post, you can do here (or click the image below!) and check out the kind of teas she drinks in her day! Mine is slightly different as I do drink a lot of coffee, so mine is more Brews I Drink in a Day. 

Firstly around 7am I'll start my day with a coffee. 9 times out of 10 this'll be instant coffee, but today I opted for something a little fancier and had a Bones Coffee Oh Fuuudge Coffee topped with hot frothy milk. I absolutely adore this blend and got their Festive Collection for Christmas. It has such a delicious fudge flavour and it really comes through without masking the strong notes from the ground coffee beans, Bones Coffee use a high quality bean and this shows in all of their blends I have tried. Black it's lovely, but adding hot frothy milk gives a very creamy, indulgent flavour. (I use Oatly Barista)

Then when I leave for work around 8am I'll pop a bottle of Cold Brew Tea into my bag to enjoy throughout the day. I'm drinking to wean myself off fizzy drinks (I've even given up Diet Coke for Lent!) and I'm not a huge fan of Water so this gives me the chance to up my liquid intake without getting bored. Today I opted for Cold Brew Snoozy Fox Tea from Small & Wild, I was actually gifted this tea from Kim through one of our Tea Swaps. The tea is a blend of sweet spearmint, lavender and chamomile and blue pea flowers. It was a very different blend but I loved the unique flavour and the cold brew really brought the flavours out.

Ingredients:

Rosehip (30%), Camomile (18%), Blue Pea Flowers (15%), Freeze-dried Apple, Spearmint (9%), Rose Petals, Linden Blossom, Lavender (3%)

Then once I get into Manchester, as I now work in the Centre, I generally get here around 9:15am. I usually pop to a coffee shop on my walk into work to grab a brew. It's been snowing/raining nearly every morning for the last few weeks so this has made the walk more bearable. Today I popped into Black Sheep Coffee who are quite a new coffee company to me but they're a hidden gem! Nestle behind a big building I came across them because I'd headed for Starbucks. But this is levels above Starbucks! I ordered a Latte with Hazelnut milk. It had a nice nutty under flavour but the coffee really came through, 100% a new favourite. 

Then once I'm in work, I usually work a 10am to 8pm shift. So I try to keep my caffeine to a minimum. But I will have 2 or 3 basic instant coffee's throughout the day. These are basic bitch things so I've left these out. I might throw in a peppermint tea to. 

Once I get home I usually try to grab myself a coffee to rest and relax whilst tea is cooking. This is usually around 9pm so quite late. My days are looooong! So I'll grab myself a nice coffee that usually comes from my Nespresso Machine. Today I have a Bianco Forte, thesis from their Barista Range which is personally my fave! I absolutely love these coffee's, they're strong and bold and perfect for that 'I'm hella tired' kinda mood. Topped with some frothy milk from my Nespresso Milk frother. 

Then at the end of the day around 10pm after tea I'll generally brew Me and Mum a pot of tea to wind down and relax for the day. Today I opted for Cocoa Power Ranger from Leaves of the World (use TEANOMADBECCA20 for 20% off!) because this is a really relaxing and soothing blend. The strong flavours from the liquorice and cocoa are my absolute fave. This is an adorable blend. 

What do you drink in a day?

Teaware | Bjorn Teaset by Viva Scandinavia

Item: Bjorn Tea Set

Colour: Glass

Brand: Viva Scandnavia 

Cost: £40.00

Buy Links: Online

Acquired: Gifted for Review

Materials: Borosilicate Glass, Silicone and Stainless Steel

Description: Brewing the feels indulgent, yet tea is one of the healthiest drinks you can make for yourself. Share your love of intoxicating green teas and flavoursome herbal teas with this glass-bodied teapot. This thoughtfully designed set if meant to be shared.

First of all I want to say thank you to Kees at Viva for sending me this beautiful set to review. This is truly a stunning piece and it fits so perfectly well on my tea ware shelf. 

The Bjorn tea set is my favourite of all the pieces Kees sent out to me. It's elegant, stylish and functional. It comes with four little teacups which are around Espresso size (sorry for coffee terminology). It would sit perfectly in the kitchen of any modern lifestyle. 

The teapot size is more suited to a 4 small cups of tasting, 2 teacups of tea or one big mug. Which is kind of perfect for me. I do also love that it comes with a serving tray, it makes this set more homely and perfect for guests. Which is a really nice touch, as seriously how many people own tea trays anymore? It's the little touches like this that VIVA seem to touch on so perfectly. 

The teapot does get very hot, given that its glass, this would be expected from this time. But the handle stays nice and cool and is perfect carry handle without spilling the tea. The little teacups also stay cool enough for you to drink, being double walled this is a great asset to these cups. But be aware that you tea will cool quickly too, as these don't hold a huge amount of tea the tea will cooler at a more rapid rate than it will with a mug or teacup for example. Although, the teapot keeps the tea hot for a really long time and this was something I was very impressed with. I am the kind of girl who makes a pot of tea and drinks through it slowly whilst I'm reading or blogging or catching up on youtube videos. Generally when my focus can be somewhat adrift. I do have a teapot warmer and obviously this helps, but this time I kept it tea warmer free and I did drink through the full pot before it went cold! 

Will you be trying out this tea set? Can I just say this tea set is exceptionally high quality, fit for purpose and stunningly beautiful AND it's only £40!! 

Rebecca x