Sticks And Stones opening line: I expected to feel free, unburdened, but when the curtains close around Phillip Rochester's satin-lined coffin, all I feel is indigestion. My blurb: Imogen feels she will never feel free of her hopefully soon to be ex-husband. Phillip is still in control, even though he has left her. He will not … Continue reading Sticks And Stones, Jo Jakeman

Ottolenghi Simple In Ottolenghi Simple, SIMPLE stands for Short on time, 10 or less Ingredients, Make ahead, Pantry and Lazy. Where simple might mean anything to anyone, I'm with Yotam in that I like to shop each day for ingredients and spend half an hour or so getting dinner ready. Well, that's me during the … Continue reading Ottolenghi Simple, Yotam Ottolenghi

A Question Of Trust opening line: Tom Knelston was very fond of saying that the first time he met Diana Southcott he had been up to his waist in shit. My blurb: World War Two is going to change the face of British politics and society in ways that are unimaginable to Tom Knelston in 1936. … Continue reading A Question Of Trust, Penny Vincenzi

House Of Spies opening line: For something so unprecedented,so fraught with institutional risk, it was all handled with a minimum of fuss. My blurb: Gabriel Allon is the head of the Israeli secret service. He's followed the trail of an Islamic radical hell bent on attacking the Infidels in both Europe and America. This path leads him … Continue reading House Of Spies, Daniel Silva

The Fifth To Die opening line: Darkness   My blurb: Anson Bishop is Detective Sam Porter’s nemesis. But when Sam and his team are called in to investigate a murder, Sam believes there is a new killer on the loose. Sam let Anson free to save someone's life and he has not let the case go. He … Continue reading The Fifth To Die, J.D. Barker

Jan, The Journal I am lucky enough to be friends with Jan's father-in-law and so borrowed his copy of Jan, The Journal to page through. Given the price and how few recipes I would make from it, I am quite pleased about that. This is the début issue of Jan Hendrik's lifestyle magazine. It is … Continue reading Jan, The Journal, Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen

Ghost opening line: The panic filled him. My blurb: Marc Dane is part of an elite group of people. They are employed by Rubicon and act under the radar. Their main aim is to thwart Columbine. But along the way a group of hackers known as Ghost5 becomes their target. Kara Wei is part of Rubicon, … Continue reading Book Review: Ghost, James Swallow

Liar Liar opening line: Something was not right. My blurb: Harriet Blue is on the run. She has to put all of her police skills to use to stay off the grid. And commit crimes to get revenge. She will not stop until Regan Banks is dead. But will she have the courage to kill him? … Continue reading Liar Liar, James Patterson And Candice Fox

Chez Panisse Café Cookbook I'm not sure when I purchased Chez Panisse Café Cookbook, but I was recently reminded of it. I love that the ethos of Alice Waters’ and her team is to cook seasonally. They shop locally and ensure that the produce they use is sustainably grown. Chapters are divided into: Vegetables Eggs … Continue reading Chez Panisse Café Cookbook, Alice Waters

Eyes Like Mine opening line: The call comes in just after five in the morning. My blurb: Nora woke up pregnant. She does not know where she is, or how she got there. And as the story starts to unravel she realizes a few home truths. One, she has to stop drinking. Two, she cannot sing … Continue reading Book Review: Eyes Like Mine, Sheena Kamal