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The Apartment Upstairs opening lines: The bus idled in traffic. Scarlett rubbed a circle in the steamed-up window. My blurb: Scarlett's Aunt Rebecca was brutally murdered in the apartment upstairs from hers. It has been a month since she was last in the converted house, but now she has returned to carry on with her … Continue reading The Apartment Upstairs, Lesley Kara
On our last evening in The Cotswolds, Dave and I went to The Frog for supper. This quaint pub situated on the Avon should have been the perfect ending to our midweek break. Sadly, our food choices did not match the ambiance of the place. The Frog Dave chose this pub because he thought that … Continue reading The Frog, Bidford
The Family Remains opening lines: 'Jason Mott?' 'Yes. Here. That's me.' I stare down at the young man who stands below me ankle-deep in the mud of the banks of the Thames. My blurb: Changing your name cannot change your past. And when that past appears in the form of a bag of bones, many … Continue reading The Family Remains, Lisa Jewell
Michael Olivier says Friends. Food. Flavour. is the culmination of a long journey. He was invited by the Voyager Wine Estate in Western Australia to prepare a ‘Cape Buffet’ for the duration of the Margaret River November Wine Festival. He and his wife, Madeleine, researched, deconstructed, and rebuilt the recipes, leaving them with a collection … Continue reading Friends. Food. Flavour. Michael Olivier
Every overseas trip we like to eat at one really top notch restaurant if possible. On our visit to England this year Dave and I went to The Tavern Broom. They make local seasonal food which is perfectly aligned with the way we love to eat. The Tavern Chef patrons Fritz Ronneburg and Richard Walton … Continue reading The Tavern Broom
Last year I was invited to attend a function at Sense of Taste Cooking School. Somehow my email got lost on the way back to Debs which meant my space was taken up by someone else. She kindly arranged for me to attend the SA Pork event the next day and I am so glad … Continue reading 100 Choice Recipes With Pork
Every visit to England needs to include a traditional pub meal. Dave and I had several on our recent holiday. While in the Vale of Evesham we went to Norton Grange. Norton Grange All pubs in the UK offer a variety of beers and ciders on tap. This is always our first choice. Dave chose … Continue reading Norton Grange, Evesham
Buck’s Pantry, opening line: Lianna's hands gripped the steering wheel at ten and two as she drove five miles under the speed limit down the country highway. My blurb: Lianna has been sent to rural Texas to buy out a private bank. She is focussed on one thing, and one thing only, and that is … Continue reading Buck’s Pantry, Khristin Wierman
To Herman, Home Cooking is like Rachel from Friends. To me, it's about memories, old and new. Home Cooking is Herman Lensing’s sixth cookbook and follows the highly successful Dit Proe Soos Huis (Human & Rousseau), published in 2019 and 2020 winner of the SA Boekprys best nonfiction title. Home Cooking tells the story – in his own … Continue reading Home Cooking, Herman Lensing
Shattered opening lines: Early morning was one of her favorite times of the day. The sun had just cracked the horizon and traffic was still light. My blurb: Michael is in Ireland, on honeymoon, and decides that a call from his FBI agent friend can wait for his return to New York. But he will … Continue reading Shattered, James Patterson & James O. Born
Dave and I had the best ever curry meal when we were in England earlier this year. We went to The Ivy Inn in North Littleton Evesham for their curry night. The Ivy Inn The Ivy Inn is a village pub located in the heart of the picturesque village of North Littleton. In winter expect … Continue reading The Ivy Inn
Escape opening lines: He's here somewhere. I know it. And the girl might still be alive. The girl: fifteen-year-old Bridget Leone, abducted off the streets of Hyde Park forty-four hours ago. My blurb: Detective Billy Harney cannot understand why he has been taken off a case and moved into a special unit. But he follows … Continue reading Escape, James Patterson And David Ellis
As author Chantal Lascaris says, it’s time for the salad to take centre stage! Traditionally salads have been viewed as side dishes, but those featured in The Ultimate Salad Book, are anything but as they move boldly into the realm of main dishes. And nobody knows better how to achieve this than Chantal as she presents … Continue reading The Ultimate Salad Book, Chantal Lascaris
The World Of African Wildlife is a safari guide for young explorers. Here are examples of the information you can find in the book: Birds that are most often seen walking or packing on the ground include francolins, sangrouse, guineafowl, ostriches, cranes, bustards and korhaans., the secretary bird and the large and boldly coloured ground … Continue reading The World Of African Wildlife
I cannot emphasize how important it is to read to children. And using children's picture books is a great way to get them to engage and participate in being read to. Luckily for Hannah her parents are both avid readers. And she will ask for a book when she wants to be entertained. Here are … Continue reading Picture Books
Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love, written by Yotam Ottolenghi and Noor Murad, was egged on by the Pandemic. The recipes were inspired by what was in their kitchen and is a guide to making the ordinary, extraordinary. This handbook has many recipes that are similar to others in the Ottolenghi collection, using ingredients I associate … Continue reading Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Shelf Love
Here is a selection of books for children that I have been sent to review. All of these get gifted to Hannah for her birthday. She is turning 4 this month so they are age appropriate. I See a Buffalo I See a Buffalo tells the tale of a young buffalo who is distressed by her size. … Continue reading Books For Children
Expect neither a palace nor ostriches when you visit Rietfontein Ostrich Palace along Route 62. Famed as the longest wine route in the world, Route 62 can be located in the Western Cape of South Africa. We spent one night at the guest house which is just outside Calitzdorp. Best known for Port, this is … Continue reading Rietfontein Ostrich Palace
22 Seconds opening line: Cindy Thomas was working at the dining table she'd bought at a tag sale down the block. My blurb: Detective Lindsay Boxer and her husband Joe are working the same case. He has been called in by the FBI as a consultant and together they are tracking a large gun shipment. … Continue reading 22 Seconds, James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
The Auschwitz Photographer opening line: Wilhelm Brasse switched on the enlarger and a bright beam of white light fell on to the sheet of photographic paper. My blurb: Wilhelm Brasse was inmate 3444 in Auschwitz. His skills as a photographer were noted and used to document all incoming prisoners. Until it was decided that there … Continue reading The Auschwitz Photographer
