I was really pleased to review this book and was really thought provoking. World War 2 and the Jewish people are suffering and dying under the Nazi and we think all SS were the same but take Josef who had little choice but to go through what the Fuhrer and other high ranking officers. It was a complicated time in history and brain washing which had taken place over a period of time- difficult to say now what you would do? 

The story takes some leaps and bounds at times as the timeline flips around - between Friedrich in 1957 and Josef in the early 1940s, as well as young Friedrich at the same time, we essentially follow the journeys of the two men.

This highlights being forced in situations that are terrible but at the same time moving forward to a better future.

A well researched story that is heart-breaking but there is kindness, finding oneself and a better future. 

Recommended and was out for publication June 2025.

 

As I get all the school holidays off in summer I love a Christmas read in the sun, so for those groaning try it. Thank you NetGalley.

I have to confess that this is the fist book by Jenny Baylis, and I can say this is not the last.

Christmas stamped all the way through this cute story. Set in a Scottish village called Pine Bluff, Fred returns home to her mother and aunt after a relationship break up and Fred has lost her job into the bargain. 

You can feel the cold winter and Christmas vibes ( even in July at 30 degrees) 

There is an encounter with a childhood friend Ryan and Warren form London to add into the mix of the festive season. 

The story is about finding yourself, healing and a good dose of alcohol laden hot chocolate and Christmas. 

Recommended read and out for publication October Half term - 23 October 2025.

interesting look back on the history of food as well as the 90s

 

I was intrigued about this book and the 90s for me was a fun time-not being able to afford Michelin star restaurant food, but there seemed to be a influx of "celebrity chefs" - thank you to NetGalley for letting me review.

First of all as the author has written many Good Food Guides this was a theme running through the book. Essentially ,the description of this book calls “a tasting tour of 33 iconic dishes that still shape restaurant menus today,” There is a huge emphasis on the chef Marco Pierre White - so maybe the author was going to write a biography of Marco then thought differently as there were many famous chefs around this time. Although the emphasis on the 90s - there is history about foods we grew up - I was born 19 year after the war ended so a lot is familiar to me.

One thing to say was the sheer amount of testosterone in the kitchens and shocking bullying that went on that appears to have been accepted to get on within this cut throat industry some survived, some could not cope with the stress of a coveted Michelin star and I read in one of Hugh Fearnley Whitingstall books about his experience of having his head flushed down the toilet at River Cafe!!! We saw on TV Gordon Ramsey and Marco Pierre Whites way of managing a kitchen was to shout and swear which was shocking then and still is. 

For readers not so familiar with some chefs this may not be so interesting for readers and although ground-breaking we were not all able to have expensive meals with mortgage interest rates late 80s at 13% and juggling jobs to get through. 

I did travel and airline meals were included so we made to feel grateful that Brian Turner had spent a long time with his skills to be given a cheese and pickle sandwich with his name on or a chicken roast dinner with James Martin name on it - how they must have burnt the midnight oil with the recipes.

It did bring back nostalgia - Jamie Oliver showed you could make fab supper dishes for your friends with good ingredients and less faff.

I hoped Bradford would have got a mention as we ate some great curries in the 90s there, we also enjoyed micro breweries in West Yorkshire and I did enjoy a chicken in a basket and a Yorkshire pudding filled with roast beef and gravy. 

We watched Ready Steady Cook and were amazed at what chefs could cook with a few ingredients - I would now say what we have in the house so not really cheffy now.

It does show the chefs like Heston cooking with science, and Rick Stein and his empire in Padstow and the differing trends such as organic, field to fork, local and season ( which is one of the best) and definitely better food- the thing about resurrecting your grandmother meals - well for me they were awful so liver and onions today is well cooked but not in my mothers or grandmothers day.

In this time it was very male dominated and there was a lack of woman at the top, which thank fully has moved on and today, we have vegan which has taken us by storm.

I did think at times where was I in the 90s - but like a lot of us there was still industry long hours and we could not afford some of the meals.

In the 200s I did review a couple of recipes for a Gordon Ramsey cook book, saddle of lamb and the other fishcakes and my name is mentioned in the Olive and Good Food Magazine.

Interesting book and due for publication September 25 2025.

A lovely summer read

 

I was so pleased to be able to review this novel- thank you NetGalley and it was on my Kindle for the long school holidays. I loved this sweet story written by Clare Balding. Clare has a love for equestrian and farming and felt there was elements of Clarkson's farm in there too.

I have just been on a trip to Hay on Wye and can see the appeal for the black mountains - it is a beautiful part of the world.

Predictable in some ways, finding yourself, some beautiful characters and some not!!

Well researched and written and Clare can write a good story. 

Readers- please read this for what it is don't get hung up about how the protagonist financially manages the farm and legal aspects. 

Due for publication October 2nd 2025 - a recommended read.

 

I was over the moon to be asked by Net Galley to review the last in the Series of the Emmy Lake books. I first came across the first book in a National Trust bookshop when on holiday and thought I will see what the first book was like - well I was hooked and read the 3 other books.

Sad to say goodbye to Emmy, Bunty and the other characters AJ Pearce has developed. The author has researched this period of time during World War 2 and those who remained on the home front.

The stories are a bit of a romp with fab friends and colleagues but there is the serious side of this time and the author tackles some of the war time issues especially in this last book - with the turmoil in Europe, prisoners of war and how the war is nearing an end.

Great series which I will now miss 

So recommended this summer and published on 3rd July 2025.

 

I was so pleased to be able to review this book. I work as a Learning Advisor and Senior Invigilator at the local School. I first came upon Lee and Adam Parkinson on Facebook  ICT with Mr P - Tech to Raise Standards which I love- their anecdotes, warm wit from the staff, pupil and parent perspective had me in stitches sitting out in the sunshine laughing out loud so so true.

This is Andy Seed, Gervaise Phinn and Jack Sheffield rolled into one.

Highly recommended read this summer holiday to get you chuckling into the September term time.

Due for publication August 29th 2025.