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

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

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

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

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

The Family Holiday opening line: The photographs in Charlie's smart, glossy brochure seemed to have been taken in high summer. My blurb: Daphne was the glue that held their family together. But Charlie knows he has to do something to bring his children closer. Not knowing just how much effect a family holiday will have, … Continue reading The Family Holiday, Elizabeth Noble

Knife opening lines: A ragged dress was hanging from one branch of a rotting pine tree. It put the old man in mind of a song from his youth, about a dress on a washing line. My blurb: Harry cannot get it together. He and Rakel are no longer living together and he is firmly … Continue reading Knife: Harry Hole 12, Jo Nesbo

There are 20 essential ingredients in Ottolenghi Flavour, some of which are easy for us to get here. And others not so much. For an experienced cook, one would be able to swap these out with ease. Thankfully the recipe book gives detailed descriptions of each ingredient which is extremely helpful. Flavour-forward, vegetable-based recipes are … Continue reading Ottolenghi Flavour, Yotam Ottolenghi & Ixta Belfrage