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With Hannah about to turn 3, I thought I should share with you the three books she is getting for her birthday. I See A Leopard by Elaine Macdonald is first on the list. I See a Leopard I See a Leopard tells the tale of a leopard who goes swimming in order to visit his … Continue reading I See a Leopard And Other Children’s Books
We recently went away for a Gourmet Getaway to Swellendam. Organized by Alison from Schoone Oordt, this gave us the opportunity to try new restaurants. One of them being La Sosta. La Sosta Serving traditional Italian food, lovingly prepared by an Italian chef, expect a menu that starts with Antipasti. This is followed by primi, … Continue reading La Sosta, Swellendam, South Africa
Fast Ice opening lines: The droning of aircraft propellers echoed across the stark winter landscape. It caromed off snowfields and along rivers of ice, a reverberating hum never heard before in this part of Antarctica. My blurb: Kurt Austin is playing around with his ice yacht when he and Joe Zavala get a call to … Continue reading Fast Ice, Clive Cussler And Graham Brown
Dumplings and Noodles explores the traditional cooking methods behind some of our best-loved Asian dishes. With over 70 recipes and techniques, step-by-step instructions, options for quick and easy substitutes and even the science behind dumplings and noodles, this book is an essential guide for modern home cooks. Dumplings And Noodles After watching Britain's Best Home Cook … Continue reading Dumplings And Noodles, Pippa Middlehurst
Tall Bones opening line: The roar of the bonfire is hard to distinguish from the sound of the trailer-park boys and the schoolgirls who holler and dance in the shadow of the Tall Bones. My blurb: Abigail Blake is everything Emma is not. She is white, and accepted by the locals. And that is because … Continue reading Tall Bones, Anna Bailey | Book Review
The Burning Girls opening lines: What kind of man am I? It was a question he had asked himself a lot lately. I am a man of G-d. I am His servant. My blurb: Flo is really all that Jack cares about. Moving to be the new Reverend of Chapel Croft comes with a whole lot of issues. … Continue reading The Burning Girls, C. J. Tudor
Sometimes, the perfect getaway falls into your lap, like it did for us with Rose Cottage. Desperate for a weekend away I scoured suitable places within a 2 hour drive of us. I found Tulbagh Mountain Manor and everything sounded idyll. Rose Cottage We were warmly greeted upon our arrival, told to make ourselves at … Continue reading Rose Cottage, Tulbagh Mountain Manor
Prodigal Son Evan Smoak 6 opening line: A stir moves through the Pride House Group Home, and seconds later adolescent faces pig against the muggy front window. My blurb: Evan Smoak has reached a deal with the President of the United States. He will cease and desist, and she will keep him out of prison. … Continue reading Prodigal Son Evan Smoak 6, Gregg Hurwitz
Ella’s new collection, Quick And Easy, shows us that vegan cooking doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming. It’s easy to embrace a plant-based lifestyle with her fuss-free, simple recipes that cater for our busy lives. Divided into 7 sections, the new book offers – for the first time – recipes with an approximate cooking … Continue reading Quick And Easy, Ella Mills | Vegan Recipe Book
A Wedding In The Country opening line: 'Garlic should be the same size as an 'azelnut in its shell,' said Mme Wilson in her strong French accent. My blurb: Lizzie has been sent to a finishing school of sorts. Here she will learn to cook, and sew, lay a table and entertain guests. Most of … Continue reading A Wedding In The Country, Katie Fforde
Situated in Dorp Street Stellenbosch is our latest find, Oppie Dorp. Expect generous portions, a relaxed atmosphere and al fresco dining. Oppie Dorp Despite the restaurant having booked us a table outside, we chose to dine indoors. This was perfect for us as the weather turned a bit chilly. And I for one do not … Continue reading Oppie Dorp, Stellenbosch, South Africa
21st Birthday opening line: Cindy Thomas followed Robert Barnett's assistant down the long corridor at the law firm of Barnett and Associates in Washington, DC. My blurb: When Tara Burke and her baby Lorrie go missing it is her mother that reports the fact. Her husband Lucas, is of the opinion she has just left … Continue reading 21st Birthday, James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
The best anniversary gift I have ever given Dave is his Weber gas braai. We use it nearly every single night and braai anything we can. So when I got the copy of Weber's Ultimate Braai Book to review I handed it to him. He chose the recipes and did all the braaiing. This latest offering … Continue reading Ultimate Braai Book | Weber, Jamie Purviance
The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot opening lines: When people say 'terminal', I think of the airport. I picture a wide check-in area with a high ceiling and glass walls, the staff in matching uniforms waiting to take my name and flight information, waiting to ask me if I packed my bags myself, … Continue reading The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot
The Kingdom opening lines: It was the day dog died. I was sixteen, Carl fifteen. A few days earlier Dad had shown us the hunting knife I killed him with. My blurb: Roy wanted to be Carl's protector, but it took him a long time to grow into that person. But when he did, he … Continue reading The Kingdom, Jo Nesbo | Book Review
Our anniversary evening last year was spent at the Tulbagh Hotel. We had all agreed that we wanted to go back to Mo & Rose, as the food has been exceptional. But due to Covid, the chef had left, and the restaurant was closed. A few years ago I had done a media tour that … Continue reading Tulbagh Hotel, Western Cape South Africa
The Volunteer opening line: Witold stood on the manor house steps and watched the car kick up a trail of dust as it drove down the lime tree avenue toward the yard and came to a stop in a white cloud before the gnarled chestnut. My sentiment: "I do not know how history will judge … Continue reading The Volunteer, Jack Fairweather
Eight Detectives opening line: The two suspects sat on mismatched furniture in the white and almost featureless lounge, waiting for something to happen. My blurb: Julia Hart wants to know the method behind the seven murder mysteries. Grant McAllister states that all tales of this genre have their basis in mathematics. And he has written … Continue reading Eight Detectives, Alex Pavesi
Unique to Welcome To My Table are QR codes which can take you straight to quick videos where you can watch Siba create the recipes. Siba Mtongana is a local cooking celebrity and her food reflects her heritage as well as her love for family. Welcome To My Table For busy professionals, married or single … Continue reading Welcome To My Table, Siba Mtongana
Don't Turn Around opening lines: The smell hits her first: burnt rubber and gasoline. Then the pain comes. The roar of blood in her ears, the gurgled strangle of her breath. My blurb: All Cait wants to do is be a writer. And when one of her pieces gets published she is disappointed that her … Continue reading Don’t Turn Around, Jessica Barry