Month: November 2020

Recent Reads: A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide by Rachel McMillan

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide by Rachel McMillan is designed to help you find the perfect made for tv (or streaming) Christmas film!  It’s separated into themes, so if you want a film with baking in, it will give you a number of suggestions.  It also gives you some ideas for new traditions with each theme.  There are also activities, such as Christmas film bingo, hot drinks to make, and facts that you probably didn’t know!

It’s a lovely book if you want some inspiration of what to watch next!  There is also a list of other Christmas and holiday films at the back!

A Very Merry Holiday Movie Guide was published on 6th October 2020, and is available to buy from Amazon.

You can follow Rachel McMillan on her website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Harvest House.

Recent Reads: The No-Till Organic Vegetable Farm by Daniel Mays

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

The No-Till Organic Vegetable Farm by Daniel Mays is a guide for how to develop your own no-till farm.

It has information on how they deal with weeds, pests, and watering.  It tells you all about how to lay out beds, how to layer plants, and gives you lots of tips.

I was reading it as I am interested in gardening, and grown my own vegetables this year for the first time.  Sadly, no hints about slugs in here for me, but there was so much other information in here that if you’re interested in ideas for how to grow organically, then you should give it a read!

The No-Till Organic Vegetable Farm was published on 10th November 2020.  It’s available to buy on Amazon and through your local independent bookshop.

You can follow Daniel Mays on  Instagram and on Firth Farm’s website.

I was given this book in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Storey (the publishers).

Recent Reads: Glassheart by Katharine Orton

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

Glassheart by Katharine Orton is a YA fantasy book, with our heroine, Nona, being 11 years old, and it is set after the World War II, with descriptions of the Blitz.

She lives with her uncle, who creates stained glass windows, but she wakes one night to find her uncle talking to someone she can only see as a reflection in a mirror.  The next day they go to the middle of nowhere on the moors of Dartmoor.  Who has enchanted her uncle and why is what Nona has to find out.

This is a very emotive book, with lots of memories of those who have been lost.  It’s a good story of a young girl taking on forces stronger than her for those she cares about.

Glassheart was published on 5th November 2020, and is available on Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.

You can follow Katharine Orton on her website and on Twitter.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Walker Books.

Recent Reads: The Forgers by Bradford Morrow

Posted on by Pam

My review: ????

The Forgers by Bradford Morrow starts with rare book collector, Adam Diehl, being found with both of his hands cut off.  His sister Meghan is left with the repercussions of his death, and her boyfriend, Will, another rare book collector, but also a convicted forger who still feels the itch.

Will and Meghan try to start their life anew, but someone knows about Will’s past, and writes to him in the handwriting of long death author’s.  The same someone who tipped the police off about Will’s forging.  

This is a suspenseful book, with twists and turns.  I enjoyed the ride, and was kept guessing all the way along.

The Forgers by Bradford Morrow was published on 5th November 2020, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and your local independent bookshop.

You can follow Bradford Morrow on Twitter, Facebook and his website.

I was given this book in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Atlantic Books. 

Recent Reads: Mr Wilder and Me by Jonathan Coe

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

Mr Wilder and Me by Jonathan Coe is the story of Calista’s youth, which she looks back on as a middle aged woman, with 1 daughter leaving the nest, and the other making a big life decision.  Calista is remembering Billy Wilder, a Hollywood director, whom she follows to Germany for the filming of his latest film, as  he is fading out of favour with Hollywood.

This was an enjoyable book, with characters that seemed vivid, interesting and a glimpse at old Hollywood.

This is my first Jonathan Coe book, and I would read more of them!

Mr Wilder and Me was published on 5th November 2020, and is available on Amazon, Waterstones and Bookshop.

You can follow Jonathan Coe on Twitter.

I was given this book in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Penguin Random House. 

Recent Reads: Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss is about Kate Turner, who has gone back to the village where she grew up, to look after her father after her mother left him.  She’s a fabric designer who works for Liberty, and so can work wherever she likes, and as she specialises in nature, this is perfect.

She hasn’t had a lot of luck with love, and so when her friend Laura pesters her into signing up for the Twelve Dates of Christmas, she’s a little bit hopeful.  She’s going to have 12 different dates in different settings, and with different men.  Her friend Matt is worried about her doing this, but she’s confident it’s going to be fine. After all, she might meet the one.

This is a wonderfully festive read, with lots of festive activities, food, drink and snow!  I very much enjoyed reading it, and found it very evocative.  

The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss was published on 12th November 2020, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and your local independent bookshop.

You can follow Jenny Bayliss on Twitter and her website.

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Pan MacMillan.

Recent Reads: Zeus Is A Dick by Susie Donkin

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

Zeus Is A Dick by Susie Donkin is a rewritting of Greek myths, putting them into modern language and setting, as they would have been for the ancient Greeks. This means the gods and goddesses do things like using Google, swearing, and talking about swiping right.

If you’ve found Greek myths boring, then this might be a good starting point for you!

I found them entertaining, and a good reminder for some of the myths that I didn’t remember, and the order they go in.

Zeus Is A Dick was published on 5th November 2020, and is available on Amazon, Waterstones and your local independent bookshop.

You can follow Susie Donkin on her Twitter.  And you might know her from Horrible Histories!

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to Hodder & Stoughton.

Recent Reads: The Chalet by Catherine Cooper

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

The Chalet by Catherine Cooper is set at a ski resort, present day, and 20 something years ago.  Then there was an incident where 2 men went skiing, and only 1 of them was found.

Present day, the other body shows up, just as people connected to the men are at the resort at the same time, and someone is out for revenge.  

This was a great thriller, with flashbacks over the years to certain characters, which meant you were forever guessing what was going to happen.  The twists kept coming, and I really enjoyed them all!

The Chalet was published on 31st October 2020.  You can buy it on Amazon, Waterstones, or through your local independent bookshop.

You can follow Catherine Cooper on her website.

I was given this book in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to HarperCollins.

Recent Reads: A Surprise Christmas Wedding by Phillipa Ashley

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

A Surprise Christmas Wedding by Phillipa Ashley is the sweet story of Lottie after her fiancé walks out on her.  She has gotten her life back together, and works at a beautiful manor house that is just opening back up for weddings and other events.  It’s a crucial time, and what would really help is a Christmas wedding!

Which makes it such luck that a couple turns up wanting to have their Christmas wedding there.  Lottie knows before meeting the couple that she’ll do whatever she needs to in order to make this wedding happen.  Then her former fiancé turns out to be the groom.

A Surprise Christmas Wedding by Phillipa Ashley was published on 19th October 2020, and is available from Amazon, Waterstones and your local independent bookshop.

I have previously read A Perfect Cornish Christmas, which is also by Phillipa Ashley.

You can follow Phillipa Ashley on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or through her website.

I was given this book for free in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to  Avon Books for this book.

Recent Reads: The Illustrated Child by Polly Crosby

Posted on by Pam

My review:????

The Illustrated Child by Polly Crosby is the story of Romily as she grows up.  When she is little, her father writes a book which makes her famous.  It’s a picture book about her adventures, with things hidden in the pictures, which people decide is a treasure hunt.

Romily grows up in the public eye, with her distinctive red hair, and we’re told how she and her father deal with this.  There are mental health issues and illness for some characters, and the past is a mystery that is explained.

I enjoyed the book, and the look at how people deal with fame.  The mental health and illness is dealt with well, and Romily at different ages is believable. 

The Illustrated Child by Polly Crosby was published on 29th October 2020, and it’s available from Amazon, Waterstones and your local independent bookshop.

You can follow Polly Crosby on Twitter and her website.

I was given this book in return for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to HQ.