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MAKE ME A WINNER: WIN £542,000!

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Fiction Feast – Issue 7

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Take a Break – Issue 27

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Take a Break – Issue 25

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Take a Break July

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Take a Break June Answers

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Take a Break – Issue 26

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Take a Break – Issue 23

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Fiction Feast – Issue 6

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Take a Break Issue 10 Answers

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Take a Break Bingo is welcoming you with a £50 bingo bonus!

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Sneak peek at issue 27’s cover stories

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Sneak peek at issue 26’s cover stories

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Sneak peek at issue 24’s cover stories

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Sneak peek at issue 11’s cover stories

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Sneak peek at issue 1’s cover stories

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**Take a Break** has teamed up with **Win Happy** to bring you their iconic ‘MAKE ME A WINNER’ competition!

This week you have the chance to win an incredible **£542,000 cash prize**! It’s tax-free cash, and there’s a guaranteed winner every Friday!

Whether you want to clear your mortgage, take the holiday of a lifetime, or set yourself up for the rest of 2025 and beyond, this is your chance to make it happen.  
Entry is quick and easy, using the form below – and every entry has an equal chance of winning.

There's no special phrase or amount to remember, and you don't even have to pick up within five rings.

Simply answer your phone if Gemma Atkinson calls after the competition closes at 5pm on Friday, 11th July, and you will instantly win £542,000, paid directly to your bank account before the end of the day!

This competition closes on Friday, the 11th of July at 5pm. Good luck!

All the terms for this network competition can be found :a[here]{href='https://winhappy.com/campaign/MAKEMEAWINNER?utm_campaign=T&amp;C-page&amp;utm_source=TVC&amp;utm_medium=website' }

Looking for a fun and rewarding way to relax this summer while keeping your mind active? Look no further than our range of **:a[Puzzle Magazines]{href='https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/subscriptions/puzzle-magazines?utm_source=takeabreak&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=summer_all&amp;utm_content=article' }**. Whether you’re soaking up the sun on the beach, enjoying a peaceful moment in your garden, or simply taking a quiet break with a cup of tea, these magazines are the ideal companions for your summer downtime.

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Take a Puzzle offers an exciting mix of puzzles to suit every mood and skill level. From number puzzles, sudoku to word searches to logic challenges and codebreakers, there’s something for everyone. Whether you have just a few minutes or a leisurely hour to spare, you’ll always find the perfect puzzle waiting for you.

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If crosswords are your favourite, Take a Crossword delivers a fantastic range of puzzles that will keep you hooked. From quick, light-hearted crosswords to more challenging cryptics, each issue is packed with clever clues and satisfying solves. It’s the perfect way to give your brain a workout without feeling pressured - just pure puzzle enjoyment.

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Each issue is packed with Over 150 wordsearches, featuring a wide range of fun, seasonal themes. Wordsearches are more than just a fun pastime - they can help improve focus, boost memory, and give you a break from screens. It’s that perfect mix of mental stimulation and satisfaction, ideal for quiet mornings, sunny afternoons, or laid-back evenings.

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Each issue is filled with clever arrowword puzzles that blend wordplay, trivia, and logical thinking. With a variety of difficulty levels - from quick wins to trickier challenges - Arrowwords offers something for everyone. Whether you’re a seasoned solver or just starting out, you’ll find plenty to enjoy with every puzzle. Designed to fit seamlessly into your day, Arrowwords makes the perfect screen-free break.

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Each issue is full of arrowwords with a visual twist, using picture clues to keep things fresh and interesting from start to finish. And there’s more than just a good challenge waiting. Every issue gives you the chance to win a share of £3000 in cash prizes, so you could end up with more than just a completed grid.

There's a chance to win **CASH prizes** in every issue of our Puzzle Magazines! Plus, get **FREE UK delivery** straight to your door. Enjoy our summer offer and receive **3 issues for just £6** today!

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Your summer puzzle companions are here!

**_Here's a sneak peek at issue 27's cover stories_**

Closing date for issue 7 is midnight 7th August 2025. Only one entry per person.


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Bounce, balance, leap and climb, as family adventures are taken to new heights at Center Parcs.

An exciting :a[treetop experience]{href='https://takeabreak.co.uk/holidays/take-a-break-holidays/we-visited-the-world-famous-gardens-where-you-can-take-a-walk-through-the-trees-59-feet-off-the-ground/' } has opened today (1 July) among the redwood canopy of the Longleat holiday park.

Adventure Nets features a series of treehouses connected by a network of suspended nets, seven metres in the air.

Fun-seekers, who love an :a[adventure playground]{href='https://takeabreak.co.uk/holidays/take-a-break-holidays/blenheim-palace-review-everything-you-need-to-know-when-visiting-this-unesco-world-heritage-site-with-kids/' } can navigate their way through tunnels, rope bridges, and a trampoline area.

The course also includes TAG Active technology, which allows guests to ‘tag’ beacons around the course and play TAG games such as treasure hunts during their hour-long session.

Sarah Deverill, Village Director at Center Parcs, said: 'We're thrilled to launch our first-ever Adventure Nets attraction, which will allow kids to connect with nature in a daring way, building their confidence and sense of adventure, immersed amongst the stunning redwood at Longleat Forest.'

This fun :a[outdoor adventure activity]{href='https://takeabreak.co.uk/holidays/take-a-break-holidays/throw-yourself-into-an-adrenaline-fuelled-day-out-read-our-full-review-of-gripped-here/' } is available to pre-book for all Longleat Forest guests and is available for children aged three years old and over.

Let the treetop adventure score battle begin!

Center Parcs has launched a new treetop family activity in time for the summer holidays…

Our book club special is the unmissable new edge-of-your seat thriller from the bestselling author of _The Mother_ and _The Dream Home_. You can get a MONEY OFF voucher for _The Daughter_ by T.M. Logan in this week's Take a Break (issue 27), ON SALE NOW!

Lauren can't wait to see her daughter again, to pick her up from university at the end of her first term. But when she arrives at her hall and knocks on the door to her room, a stranger opens it.

At first, Lauren thinks she must have the wrong room, or the wrong floor. Maybe even the wrong building.

But she soon realises the truth: Evie's not there. She hasn't been there for weeks. _So where is she?_

Lauren's family find themselves in a desperate race against time as one terrifying moment unravels into a living nightmare.

_The Daughter by T.M. Logan_ is available now in paperback priced £9.99 from Bonnier Books, but you can pick up the book for £5 at Morrisons with the £1 off voucher in this week's Take a Break, ON SALE NOW!

Take a Break BOOK CLUB special offer!

Flicking through the job adverts, I sighed.

For five years, I’d been working my way up the career ladder in marketing.  
But office life wasn’t for me — I hated the mundane routine and the poor pay.  
I’ll apply for this one, I thought, clicking on a marketing manager role.  
A few weeks later, I made my way to their office for my first day.  
I was introduced to the team and my line manager.  
Everyone was nice and I started getting to grips with my new role.  
But by day two, I was bored.  
‘I’m going upstairs to film some bits,’ I said to my mum as  I arrived home.  
As well as my job, I’d recently started an OnlyFans account after seeing girls online talking about earning £15,000 a month.  
It began as a way to earn some extra money so I could finally move out of my family home, and start saving for a house.  
But I loved it.  
Stripping down to nothing, I snapped a few pics and uploaded them on the site.  
The likes and comments flooded in, and soon so did the requests for pay per view videos.

You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, one fan wrote.  
OnlyFans felt like such a safe space for me, everyone was lovely and never sleazy.  
My fans made me feel confident and empowered.  
‘I wish I could do OnlyFans full-time,’ I told a friend.  
‘It’s such a risk, Annie. Give the new job a bit longer before you make any decisions,’ she suggested.  
I knew they were right.  
The next day, my fifth in the new job, I was sat at my desk clicking though spreadsheets when an email pinged in my inbox.  
Are you making any money through other businesses? the HR department had asked.  
I’d had a bikini brand a few years before, but I’d shut it down.  
And I didn’t consider OnlyFans a business, I wasn’t even making enough to pay tax, so I said no.  
Just two hours later, another email arrived.  
Your contract has been terminated, the subject line read.  
Clicking on the email, I read that the company believed I’d falsely advertised myself to them, and explained they’d found nude photos and explicit videos of me online, which was against their company policy.  
They’d even attached a screenshot of my OnlyFans account — a direct violation of OnlyFans’ terms.  
At first, I was angry.  
How dare they go behind my back! I thought.  
My account was something I did outside of work, I’d never let it impact my job.  
But the anger quickly dissipated and a wave of relief washed over me.

Now I could do what I really wanted and go full-time with  my OnlyFans.  
I felt free.  
‘I’m going for it!’ I texted my friend.  
Since then, my OnlyFans account has really taken off.  
I have more than 7,000  loyal subscribers who love  my content.  
In my first month, I made £15,000.  
OnlyFans isn’t my long-term plan, but for now, I’m loving it.  
My followers range from 18-year-olds to 70-year-olds, who are all respectful and kind.  
I make around £100,000 a month, way more than I  could have possibly earned  in marketing.  
And I’m never bored with my job any more.  
Although I was angry at  the time, I’m now glad I got  fired, because it’s allowed me to do what I always wanted to do.

You’re FIRED! When work found out about my side hustle, they let me go. But it gave me the freedom to follow my dreams…

**_Time with our daughter Violet was running out, and there was a memorable moment we needed to share before it was too late.  By Emily Taylor, 30_**

My partner James  took my hand as  we got ready to have another glimpse of our baby on screen.

We already had two boys, Theo and Logan, and now I was 20 weeks pregnant with their baby sister.  
‘How’s she doing?’ James asked.  
There was a pause and then the doctor said: ‘Your baby has a potential brain abnormality.’  
In an instant, all the excitement we’d felt when entering the room, evaporated.  
‘She’ll be OK, won’t she?’ James asked.  
‘It’s too early to tell what the effects are, if there are any,’ he said. ‘But they appear to be mild.’  
As we left to go home, we clung to that word — mild.  
‘It’s probably nothing to worry about,’ I said.

I was closely monitored for the rest of the pregnancy, and at 38 weeks I went into hospital for a planned Caesarean.

When they placed  baby Violet on my chest, I felt a huge wave of love and relief.  
‘My precious little girl,’ I said, holding her.

We were kept in for two days while doctors monitored Violet. But despite their fears, she seemed fit and well, so they let us go home to Caerphilly, Gwent.  
Her big brothers were instantly besotted with her too, and we began to settle into life as a family of five.  
But over the next weeks, Violet ended up back in hospital twice — first with an infected saliva gland and then with bronchiolitis.

Although our little warrior bounced back both times, I began to notice a few things that worried me.  
One day, as I played with Violet, I noticed her eyes weren’t following my movements.  
Picking up a flashing toy,  I moved it around in front of her, but it made no difference.  
Her development seemed delayed compared to her brothers.  
‘The boys were both smiling by six weeks,’ I fretted to James when Violet was two months old.  
‘Maybe we should get her checked out,’ he agreed.  
We took her to the hospital where she underwent genetic testing, but the results were inconclusive.  
‘I still think something  isn’t right,’ I said anxiously.  
Over the next months, Violet was back and forth to hospital. First with Covid, and then with what the doctors thought were reflux issues.  
She was admitted again when her blood-oxygen levels dropped, causing severe episodes of sleep apnoea.  
Then, while she was in hospital, Violet caught chickenpox and had to be isolated.  
Although it was a wrench to be away from the boys, we needed to be by her side. So they went to stay with our parents while we remained  at the hospital.

But now, as we spoke to the doctor about everything our little fighter had been through in the eight months since she’d been born, it felt like someone was finally listening and trying to join the dots between all the seemingly different issues.  
And after further genetic tests, Violet was diagnosed with  a rare neurogenetic disorder called TBCK.  
‘There are only  100 cases worldwide.’ the doctor explained. ‘Violet is the first person in Wales ever to be diagnosed with it.’  
For a moment, I felt relieved to have a name for what was causing our little girl all these problems.  
Now, there’ll surely be  a clear way to treat it,  I thought.

But my relief quickly vanished when James asked: ‘What does it mean for Violet?’  
‘Unfortunately, it’s life-limiting,’  the doctor replied. ‘And Violet has a severe form of the condition.’  
‘How has this happened?’ I asked, tearfully.  
The doctor explained  that both James and I were carriers of the gene mutation that Violet had inherited.  
Our parents brought Theo and Logan to visit Violet.

They were still only six  and four, so we didn’t want to scare them, but I sat them down and said: ‘Violet is  very poorly.’  
My heart broke as I watched them gently cuddle and fuss over their baby sister.  
Over the next weeks, we sat with our little girl, talking to her and holding her hand.  
There were more tests while doctors tried to work out what they could do for her.  
But in the end, we had to accept her needs were  too complex.  
Anything they could try might only keep her alive for a little time, but likely cause her more suffering.

As she couldn’t remain on  a ventilator for much longer, we began talking about things we wanted to do,  like taking footprints and hand casts.  
Then James said: ‘Let’s  get married.’  
‘Are you serious?’ I replied.  
‘Of course,’ he said.  
We’d often thought about it, and I knew I couldn’t do it without Violet being there.  
So we spoke to the hospital, who threw themselves into planning  a little ceremony and reception for us there.  
Days later, we got married at the local register office. Then we headed to the hospital where they’d dressed Violet in a beautiful little white dress and a crown, and decorated her cot with fairy lights and flowers.  
As I took her little  hand in mine, I fought back tears.  
Then we gathered around her cot and, led by the hospital chaplain, James and I made our vows.  
Afterwards family joined  us for a reception, complete with cake.  
It meant so much for us  to share that moment with Violet.  
But we couldn’t stop time and just days later, doctors told us: ‘There’s nothing more  we can do.’  
Violet was moved to a hospice, where she was  taken off the ventilator and machines keeping her alive.  
There, we were able  to share a bed with her, snuggling close as we watched TV together.  
Out of intensive care, Violet finally began smiling too. But as her condition deteriorated, we knew it was time.  
‘I think we should give her a cuddle now,’ I whispered  to James.  
He held Violet for about an hour, and then I had a  long cuddle.  
Holding her to my chest, I felt her breathing slow, until she took one last breath.

Although my heart was breaking, having her in my arms felt like the gentlest way for her to go.  
When we held her funeral soon after, it felt fitting that the hospital chaplain who’d blessed our marriage led the celebration of Violet’s life.  
We all placed purple flowers on her coffin.  
Afterwards, the grief felt overwhelming, but we carried on for the boys’ sake.  
Now, it’s been 10 months since we lost Violet. And while she opened our eyes  to how much pain and suffering is in this world, she also showed us how much kindness exists too.  
Her strength and bravery inspired us to fundraise for the charities that have helped us so much.  
We share her story and everything we’re doing in her name on our Facebook page, which we’ve called ‘Violet’s Wildflowers’.  
And while we miss her immeasurably, we are so grateful for the 11 months  we had with her — and we’ll treasure that time forever.

● To find out more, search ‘Violet’s Wildflowers’ on Facebook.

Mummy’s little flower girl: My baby girl was slipping away. So we created a special memory to last forever…

Closing date for issue 27 is midnight 21 July 2025. Only one entry per person


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**_Hearing my kids’ voices was causing me severe pain. What was happening to me?_**

There was a feeling of fullness or pressure in my ears that wouldn’t go away.  
I worked for an airline as  crew, so it wasn’t unusual to have that feeling just before my ears ‘popped’.  
It lasted for a couple of days before it finally went. But then, three weeks later, it was replaced by something else — a ringing sound that seemed to be coming from inside my ears.  
I could barely hear it in silence but, when I was listening to music or watching TV, the noise got louder. It competed with other sounds, too, like the car engine, the wind and other people’s voices.  
I was sent to a specialist for a hearing test, but I was told everything was fine.  
Four months later, however, I suddenly felt a burning sensation in my ear.  
I went back and forth to the doctor, but was told  I had anxiety from the tinnitus I’d developed.  
‘Your brain will eventually adjust to it,’ one doctor  told me.  
In the meantime, I was offered antidepressants. But I knew there was more to it than that.  
I said to my husband Nick: ‘Something isn’t right.’  
I started experiencing a migraine-type pain behind my eyes soon after. It got so bad I had to give up my job and became housebound.  
Worse, the sound of Nick’s voice and our two boys laughing became torture, so I had to shut myself away from them.  
I missed being a mum and enjoying family life.  
There were no more family outings. Instead it was like Groundhog Day.  
‘It feels like I’ve lost my best friend,’ Nick said, struggling to understand what I was going through.  
I researched my symptoms online and one condition kept on appearing.  
It was called pain hyperacusis, which was when everyday sounds were accompanied by pain.  
I went back to the doctor and told him what I’d found, but I was given the same diagnosis as before.  
With no treatment on offer, I tried lots of different things from pain medication to holistic therapies, but nothing worked.  
I started wearing ear plugs and ear defenders all the time and communicated to family and friends through whispers or written notes.  
But it was very hard and my mental health suffered.  
In time, I got in touch with two medical professionals in the UK, and after I met them, they diagnosed me with something called severe pain hyperacusis, sometimes called noxacusis.  
Finally, I had validation that alongside tinnitus,  I also had another sound-related disorder.  
Nick began to understand what I was going through.  
One professional I saw believed my condition could have been the cumulative result of childhood ear infections, operations and noise trauma from a deployed car airbag.  
Now, I hope someone may read my story, and be able to help me get back to leading a normal life with my family again.

**_From Karen Cook, 49, of Southport, Merseyside_**

● Karen has donated her fee to Hyperacusis Research and Tinnitus UK

**What is it?** A condition  in which everyday sounds seem much louder and cause discomfort and pain.  
**What are the symptoms?** Ear pain, ringing in the ears, a feeling of fullness or pressure. Mental health can be affected.  
**What’s the treatment?** There is no standard medical treatment. Earplugs and earmuffs may manage the pain  and prevent it worsening.  
**Where can I find  out more?** Visit hyperacusisresearch.org, a charity funding research into sound-induced pain.

I couldn’t stand the sound of my boys’ laughter, and had to shut myself away. What on earth was going on?

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**Here's a sneak peek at issue 26's cover stories**

**_She’d always felt like the odd one out growing up - then Delimar learned the unbelievable reason why…_**

The photographer pointed his camera towards me and I flashed my biggest smile.

I was just six years old and already getting jobs as a child model.

‘Isn’t my daughter beautiful?’ my mum Carolyn smiled, proudly.

In front of others, Mum acted so loving, but behind closed doors she was anything but.

More often than not she wasn’t at home and I was left with my three older siblings and mum’s sister-in-law Antoinette.

Her kindness helped make up for Mum’s behaviour.

Once she hit me so hard her belt left red circle marks on my skin.

I’d never know what would set her off and I grew up feeling like I didn’t belong in my own family.

One afternoon, when Mum was in a good mood, she took me to a birthday party for one of her friend’s kids.

As I got stuck into the games, my eyes kept being drawn to a tall, beautiful woman standing in the corner.

She had thick dark hair, warm brown eyes, and gave me the biggest smile.

‘Oh my goodness, you’ve got chewing gum in your hair,’ she said gently. ‘Let me take it out for you.’

‘Ouch!’ I yelped as she gave my locks a firm tug.

But almost as soon as the stranger had wandered off, Mum rushed over to me with a face like thunder.

‘Come on Aaliyah we’re going home,’ she snapped.

Weirdly, after that, Mum started spoiling me with presents and fussing over me.

It was like a switch had been flicked and it made me nervous.

Then Mum confided, ‘There’s a bad woman who wants to take you away from me and your family. But you’re not going to let her, are you?’

Later, Mum told me we’d been asked to go to a clinic for tests.

Yet when we got there she kept ushering me away to the toilets and spraying something into my mouth.

‘Just to make your breath smell fresh,’ she insisted.

Eventually doctors took a swab from the inside of my cheek and we left.

I had no idea then that the results of that test would change my life forever…

Mum and I were at home when suddenly police turned up at our door.

Before I knew it, an officer was leading Mum into one car and a social worker was taking me off to another.

‘I want Mummy!’ I yelped, terrified, as Mum was carted away and I was driven to a temporary foster home.

‘What I’m about to tell you will come as a shock,’ the social worker began.

Then she said, ‘Your name isn’t Aaliyah, it’s Delimar – and Carolyn isn’t your mum. She kidnapped you when you were just 10 days old.’

‘Your real Mummy is called Luz and your real daddy is called Pedro,’ she continued. ‘Your family were told you’d died when their house caught fire, but your mummy Luz never believed you were dead. She never gave up hope of finding you. ‘

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