Foodie Penpal Reveal - November

Where did November go to?  Time seems to fly away so quickly, it's hard to believe that we are almost at the end of 2012 already.

I'm still really enjoying being part of the Foodie Penpal project, I get really excited when my parcel arrives and I love creating my parcel to send out too.  This month, my parcel sender was Claire from Grimsby in North Lincolnshire, so not very far away at all.  Claire runs her own business which produces Scrubbys Crisps; really classy crisps made from root vegetables, they are well worth trying out if you like good savoury snacks.  Claire is on Twitter @scrubbyscrisps

My parcel from Claire was packed with delicious goodies, she did really well and sent things that really are perfect for me.

Strawberry covered Coffee Beans:  These are pretty unusual, but very moreish.  The coating is sweet and fruity and inside there is a whole coffee bean - strawberry coffee - yum.

Tangy Orange Drinking Fudge from Fudge Kitchen - Wow! I've never seen drinking fudge before so was really keen to try it - it's DELICIOUS!!  The fudge is liquid form, packaged in a sachet and you just add boiling water - simple, but oh so good!

Thai Rock Salt from Flavour Magic - I love herbs and spices and seasoning and have a special shelf in my kitchen with lots of different varieties but I'd never come across these before.  It's rock salt infused with different flavours, the Thai variety includes lemongrass, chilli, ginger and garlic.  I've had a little taste and am going to use this in my next Thai Curry.

A slab of Scorcher Chedder from The Cherry Tree - this is HOT HOT HOT!  Chedder with pieces of red chilli and green jalapenos running through it - I like it, I like it alot - but I can only bear a small piece at a time!

A pot of Super Sweet Chilli Jam from Mercers of Yorkshire - again, this is HOT, but yet again, this is GOOD.  Sweet Chilli is one of my favourite flavours and this one is especially nice.

A packet of Organic Oatcakes from Side Oven Bakery  - these are really delicate and crumbly and go perfectly with a slice of the Scorcher Chedder and a smear of Sweet Chilli Jam.

What a really fantastic parcel, I've been so lucky with my Foodie Penpal parcels so far.

I sent my parcel over to Anna who lives in the Republic of Ireland and has her own blog that you can take a look at here .  I sent Anna a selection of Lincolnshire goodies, including Poacher cheese and plum bread.

If you are interested in signing up for the Foodie Penpal project, just fill out the form at the Rock Salt blog here

Beautiful Boohoo.com Bargain

It's only very recently that I've started to shop at boohoo.com, I bought a dress from them at the beginning of the summer and was really impressed by it.  Ever since then, I've been having a little browse every now and then and adding to that good old checkout basket!

Aswell as the dress, I've had a pair of black velvet slipper shoes and some really funky black and leopard skin print ankle boots.  I've been complimented every time I've worn any of them and I'm really pleased with the items even though they really are as cheap as chips.



I ordered a skater dress a couple of weeks ago.  I've always like the skater style but I've never really been sure about the waistline, or the length.  It's pretty difficult to get things to fit nicely when you're not quite five feet tall.    The dress arrived, and I love it!     It fits perfectly, it's comfy and just the right length.  It has long sleeves and is made of a really warm material, so it's going to be perfect for the winter months.

The picture on the left is the stock photo from boohoo.com - the dress is a little longer on me, but still looks and feels great

I wore it with thick black tights and a pair of burgundy suede cowboy boots.  I bought the boots from Shelley's in Covent Garden about 6 years ago and they are still in great condition.   Apparently cowboy boots are 'on trend' this season - it's a good job I never throw anything away!!

Up Close by Henriette Gyland

Publisher Choc Lit were recently awarded 'Publisher of the Year' at the 2012 Festival of Romance, and quite rightly so.  Choc Lit consistently publish well-written, intelligent and grown up contemporary fiction.  Up Close by Henriette Gyland will be published on 7 December and is sure to be another winner for them.

The setting is deepest Norfolk with it's chilling winds, deserted fens. swirling fogs and close-knit communities.  Dr Lia Thompson has arrived back to her roots; a cold, damp and unsettling old house that she must sort through after the sudden death of her grandmother.   Lia has a new life, she is a successful A&E doctor in America, engaged to a high-flying lawyer and seemingly settled, it's difficult for her to have to start dealing with the memories that are evoked as she goes through her grandmother's possessions.   Then there are the niggling doubts that start to crop up.  Why did her grandmother get a dog?   What made her order a high-spec security system and did this traditional, set in her ways old woman really order a take away curry just before she died?

And then there is Aiden, injured during an accident whilst serving in the Navy, now producing some quite disturbing works of art and most definitely hiding something.   How much does he really know about the death of Lia's grandmother?

Henriette Gyland

Up Close is a chilling story that literally sent a shiver or two down my spine.  It's a complex story, with a cast of characters that are not to be trusted, who have back-stories that interleave together to create a quite unexpected conclusion.   Lia and Aiden are complicated characters who at first fight against their attraction to each other, hurting each other in the process.  There is real passion in this story, not just the blossoming romance, but also the passion felt by the characters for what they believe in - there is also an undercurrent of hate running through the book - terrible deeds carried out in the past that have shaped the characters and their futures.

This is a clever and gripping read - with a twist.

A Guest Review of The Merde Factor by Stephen Clarke

I'm delighted to introduced another of my guest reviewers to my blog today.   Susan has read and reviewed Stephen Clarke's The Merde Factor which was published in September by Century, part of Cornerstone Publishing.

I'll let Susan introduce herself to you:

Susan

I am a 33-year-old girl (lady always makes me feel old!), who until recently worked as a retail manager, and after facing redundancy have begun working part-time hours in retail and offering more time to Samaritans where I currently volunteer.  I am unmarried, and live alone.  Needless to say, my favourite hobby is reading; mostly chic-lit, crime and thrillers.

So back to The Merde Factor   and a little about the author.  Stephen Clarke lives in France where he divides his time between writing and not writing.  His first novel, A Year In The Merde, originally became a word of mouth hit in Paris in 2004, and is now published all over the world.  Since then he as published three more best-selling Merde novels.

Here are Susan's thoughts on The Merde Factor:

I looked at the title and synopsis of this book and thought it looked like an enjoyable read.  The front cover is amusing and the storyline blurb on the back of the book had enough content to make me want to read on.

I didn't realise that the book is a part of a series, and maybe due to this, I found myself struggling to follow everything that was happening in the story.

I don't speak French, and I think this too made it a little difficult to follow at times.

However, I must say that I really enjoyed the wit and humour in the book.  I found Stephen very funny in his style of writing and there were times when I was reading that I had a little chuckle to myself.  I can honestly say that I believe Stephen has a unique style of writing which is very good.

The main characters in the story are likeable, and I was keen to find out how the story would end.  My favourite character is Jake who is a 'wannabe' poet with the inability to compose poems!

Huge thanks Susan for your honest review, thanks so much for contributing to my blog.

Every Step of the Way by Kit Domino

A couple of months ago I agreed to be a reviewer for a new book site; The Love A Happy Ending Bookshelf.    The Bookshelf is the 'sister' site of loveahappyending.com which has been up and running since June 2011 and showcases 30 authors from around the world who write fiction, poetry and real-life.  The featured authors are beginning to get noticed and 7 of them have now signed deals with publishers.  The Love A Happy Ending Bookshelf site features these authors and their publishers.

My first review is for Every Step of the Way by Kit Domino which was shortlisted for the Harry Bowling Prize in 2004 and is published by Thornberry Publishing

Beth Brixham is a 16-year-old London girl.  It's 1952 and the city is beginning to recover from the War.  Beth is desperately looking for an office job, something that will please her parents and allow her a little more freedom and independence, away from her bullish, somewhat overbearing Father and her overworked and tired Mother.  Beth is making her way to an interview when she becomes lost in a terrible 'pea-souper' of a fog, a fog like nothing ever seen before in London which becomes known as the 'Great Smog'.  Beth takes refuge in a cafe, and gets talking to the staff and owner who offers her a job there and then.    Working in a cafe is not what Beth had hoped for, but once there, she soon starts to enjoy her days.   

Eventually, after four days the smog cleared and the aftermath for the city is huge.  Thousands of people have died and lives have been changed forever.  The aftermath for Beth is that instead of getting an office job, she is now a waitress - but has met the handsome and charming Terry who has quickly stolen her heart.

Life deals Beth and her family a really hard hand.  As she encounters tragedy and disappointment her character's strength shines through.  Kit Domino paints a wonderfully evocative picture of life in the 1950s, of the newly emerging coffee shop culture, the music and the fashion.  Throughout the story, as Beth deals with the pain and grief around her, she never weakens.   Sometimes she may make the wrong decisions in life, but always for the right reasons.  Beth is loyal and devoted to her family, despite her Father's treatment of her and her siblings, and indeed, his own wife.  She is also determined to fight for her rights as a woman, often going against the wishes of others, to make sure that she as a woman can have the same opportunities as the men.

The story moves to rural Gloucestershire for a while and again Kit Domino is able to paint a wonderfully realistic picture of life on a farm in the 50s.

Kit Domino

I was very impressed by the quality of the writing, the descriptions of murky London transport the reader back into the midst of the smog.   Each of the characters were well-rounded, realistic and likeable, especially the heroine Beth, who with her forward-thinking ways really makes the reader stop and think about how much women today owe to those who fought the equality cause all those years ago.

This is a historical family drama done very well.   The ending is left wide open for a sequel and I'd like to think that Kit Domino will let her readers know what happens next for Beth.

My thanks go to Linn and all at The Love A Happy Ending Bookshelf for inviting me to be a reviewer on their new site and sending a copy of Every Step of the Way as my first review.

Wonderful Parcel from Caroline James

A little while ago I entered a giveaway hosted by Carol on her fabulous blog; Dizzy C's Little Book Blog.  Carol always has some interesting book reviews and great author interviews and giveaways.  I was delighted to find that I was the winner of a copy of Coffee, Tea, The Gypsy and Me by Caroline James.

This morning the postman knocked on the door and handed over a parcel, to be honest I'd completely forgotten about the prize so it was a really wonderful surprise to open up the parcel and find such wonderful treats inside.

Caroline had made a really special effort with my prize.  A copy of her book and a postcard all wrapped up in gorgeous pink ribbon.  Alongside these there was another little parcel, again beautifully wrapped and tied with ribbon and inside I found a really scrumptious piece of home-made tiffin.  What a great surprise!   Immediately, the kettle was on, a cup of tea made and I sat down to sample the cake - wonderful!  Moist, full of chocolate and fruit and nuts - it really is to die for.

I've since been and checked out Caroline's webpage and blog and what an interesting life she's led, I've found we have a few things in common too.  Like me, she loves Greece, and again like me, she especially loves the Ionian islands.   People who know me know just how much I love our holidays to Greece and especially the Ionians.   Arillas in northern Corfu is our very special place, we visit every May for 2 weeks without fail and this year we were lucky enough to have a second holiday - a wonderful week in a cottage on the island of Paxos.

So, huge thanks go to Carol (Dizzy C) and to Caroline for my surprise parcel.   I'm really looking forward to reading the book, and will be back just as soon as I've read it to let everyone know what I think of it.

Please do check out Carol's blog here, and Caroline's webpage here.

Astray by Emma Donoghue

Definition of astray

adverb

• 1away from the correct path or direction:

  we went astray but a man redirected us

• 2into error or morally questionable behavior:

  he was led astray by boozy colleagues

Astray was published by Picador in October and is Emma Donoghue's latest collection of short stories.  Like her previous collection; 'The Woman Who Gave Birth To Rabbits', these stories are based on true events and make up a collection of fictionalised fact.

The central theme of each story, and that which links them together is 'astray', not just geographically astray, but morally and in some cases criminally too.   The collection is divided into four parts; Departures, In Transit, Arrivals and Aftermaths and are mainly set in the 19th Century.

Emma Donoghue

There is a quote on the back of this book from author Colum McCann; he describes Emma Donoghue as 'one of the great literary ventriloquists of our time' - I can add nothing to that statement for it really is spot on.

Emma Donoghue has a writing style and a voice like no other, it doesn't matter whether she is writing short pieces or a full length novel, whether it is historical or contemporary fiction, or even if the voice that she is using is that of an adult or a child.   Her writing skill takes my breath away and I was totally immersed in this collection, literally reading it from beginning to end in one day.    It takes special skill to be able to transport a reader to Deep South USA on one page and then to Victorian London on the next so seamlessly.  Her voices are realistic, entrancing and so vividly written.

With many thanks to Emma at Picador for forwarding a copy for review.