Review: Meal by Blue Delliquanti and Soleil Ho

Yarrow is a young chef determined to make her mark on the cutting edge of cookery with her insect-based creations. Though her enthusiasm is infectious, it rubs some of her fellow cooks the wrong way, especially Chanda Flores, Yarrow's personal hero and executive chef of an exciting new restaurant. Her people have been eating bugs for centuries, and she's deeply suspicious of this newbie's attempt to turn her traditions into the next foodie trend. While Chanda and her scrappy team of talented devotees struggle to open on time, Yarrow must win over Chanda—and Milani, the neighbor she's been crushing on for weeks—or lose this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to achieve her dreams. Co-written with chef and food writer Soleil Ho, Blue Delliquanti's sweet coming-of-age story takes us deep into a world of art, mystery, and memory on the culinary frontier.

Review: I picked this book up based on a librarian recommendation and this graphic novel really does have it all, we have food, we have diversity and we have representation of marginalized groups. I really enjoyed this and it felt so different from anything I've read recently. 

I love the fact that this book introduces us to eating bugs, how to, what to and the history of where in the world eating bugs is part of the tradition and culture. I had no idea it was such a normal prat of cuisine in such culture and was really happy to learn about it through this graphic novel. 

I also really love the fact that the characters in this book are so diverse and really represent inter-sectional feminism at its b est. I loved watching relationships and friendships both professional and personal grow and develop. This graphic novel also contains some recipes and a note from world class chef and food pod caster Soleil Ho. It was such an interesting mix, I loved the story arc and I loved all the extras that came with this book.

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Salty, Bitter, Sweet by Mayra Cuevas

A slow-burn romance in a cutthroat kitchen! There’s more to becoming a top chef for 17-year-old Isabella Fields than just not getting chopped … especially when the chances of things heating up with an intriguing boy and becoming a food star in the kitchen are both on the chopping block.

Aspiring chef Isa’s family life has fallen apart after the death of her Cuban abuela and the divorce of her parents. She moves in with her dad and her new stepmom, Margo, in Lyon, France, where Isa feels like an outsider in her father’s new life. Isa balances her time between avoiding the awkward, “why-did-you-cheat-on-Mom” conversation with figuring out how a perpetually single woman can at least be a perpetually single chef.

The upside of Isa’s world being turned upside-down?

Her father’s house is located only 30 minutes away from the restaurant of world-famous Chef Pascal Grattard, who runs a prestigiously competitive international kitchen apprenticeship. The prize job at Chef Grattard’s renowned restaurant also represents a transformative opportunity for Isa who is desperate to get her life back in order—and desperate to prove she has what it takes to work in a haute kitchen. But Isa’s stress and repressed grief begin to unravel when the attractive, enigmatic Diego shows up unannounced with his albino dog.

How can Isa expect to hold it together when she’s at the bottom of her class at the apprenticeship, her new stepmom is pregnant, she misses her abuela dearly, and things with the mysterious Diego reach a boiling point?

Review: Oh this book had a little bit of everything and so therefore I ended up falling in love with Isa and her story. 

Isa is a great character to spend time with because she is at the stage in life where you think you have your identity as part of a family figured out and then you realise you really don’t. I love the fact that Isa is from Chicago with a French mother, a Cuban grandmother and is there in France with her father to pursue her dreams of being a chef-what a great mix for a novel. 

As if the pressure of family life and chef life wasn’t enough. This author has added in a possible love interest for Isa who is very much an annoyance to her and a hindrance to her career. I loved watching the relationships in this book grow and change. Isa is such a strong character and so seeing how her relationship with her dad evolves and has evolved, as well as the relationships with Margot and Diego and what will happen with those-just magic!

This story also deals with some excellent issues surrounding gender identity. It’s like every aspect of being 16 and one’s identity has been put into a pot and shaken up. I love how the role of women in haute cuisine is explored. The role of a daughter vs the role of a son and how gender bias can work both negatively and positively. Overall this book shows that there is still a gender bias, particularly in this industry and whether things work negatively or positively for you personally, that bias must be addressed. 

Of course I loved all the food in the book. It isn’t always delicious sounding but it is always very intriguing and definitely put me in the mood to be in the kitchen, or perhaps just enjoyed a French Omelette with a nice Cafe Au Lait. I really enjoyed this book. I did the audio and the narration was excellent. High recommend!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Guest Review: The Cornish Cream Tea Bus by Cressida McLaughlin

Baking fanatic, Charlie Quilter, inherits a vintage bus in her late uncle’s will and is keen to give it a new lease of life. Charlie thinks it will be the perfect mobile café for afternoon tea, so she heads to the picturesque Cornish village of Porthgolow, hoping for a new start. However, Daniel Harper, the owner of the posh spa up on the hill isn’t very pleased that her bus is parked outside his lovely hotel. Has Charlie’s Cornish dream developed a soggy bottom? Or can she convince Daniel that her bus could take them somewhere wonderful?

Review: I always look forward to a book from Cressida McLaughlin, sure of finding a heart-warming romance, with a side of humour. This one certainly didn’t disappoint. Originally published as a series of four ebook instalments, it is now available as a complete novel. It is one of those books that I enjoyed reading immensely, so much so that I didn’t want it to end.

The story concerns Charlie Quilter, who has been bequeathed an old Routemaster bus by her dear uncle Hal. Having reached a turning point in her life, Charlie decides to convert her bus into a rather grand mobile cafe and sets off complete with bus and charming little dog to visit a friend, who has moved to the somewhat rundown Cornish seaside village of Porthgolow. However, she hadn’t counted on falling in love with the village and the people there. Her brief visit turns into weeks, as she finds herself trying to bring Porthgolow back to its former glory, organising a weekly gathering of food vans and stalls over the summer. An additional attraction of the village is local hotelier Daniel Harper; her initial dislike of the man seems to melt away the longer she stays. Could there be romance in the air?

I absolutely loved this book. The concept of refitting an old bus to make an almost luxurious tea room where you could find the most delicious cakes and treats at the same time enjoying spectacular views was amazing. The seaside setting was just as inviting. Cressida McLaughlin’s descriptions of the little Cornish village were so vivid that I could perfectly picture the scene. There were plenty of interesting characters in addition to the central pair. I found Charlie herself a bit annoying from time to time; she was incredibly talented when it came to ideas for breathing life back into the village and promoting her business, but so quick to take things the wrong way when it came to poor Daniel. Just as well he was so patient. This would make a marvellous book to take on holiday, but equally suitable to lose yourself in when at home. I was pleased to find that the Cream Tea Bus is going to star in another book in the series.

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Big Bones by Laura Dockrill

The latest teen novel from the sparkling Laura Dockrill, introducing Bluebelle, and her moving, hilarious take on food, body image and how we look after ourselves and others

A heart-warming teen story from the unique voice of Laura Dockrill, about Bluebelle, aka BB, aka Big Bones - a sixteen-year-old girl encouraged to tackle her weight even though she's perfectly happy, thank you, and getting on with her life and in love with food. Then a tragedy in the family forces BB to find a new relationship with her body and herself. Moving, memorable and hilarious. 

Review: Oh my goodness this book was so good I wanted to go right back to the beginning again once I'd finished so that I could read it again!

First of all this book is hilarious. If you haven't read anything by Laura Dockrill before then you won't know what an amazingly funny person she is, but once you're into the first 5 pages of this one, you will soon realise. But this book gave me all the feels. I cried in pats of it, i was nodding along in agreement with BB in parts and I was laughing, loudly, in public, during all the other parts. I love the way Laura Dockrill writes, she just writes how she speaks and she tells it like it is and I love her and her books because of that. 

BB as a character is great. People often say that they wish they had had a book when they were x years old because it would have changed their lives and I don;t think I've really ever found anything like that before, but I wish I had had this book to read when I was 16 so I could know that someone else looked a bit like me and felt a bit like me but was still being a badass fierce member of society and just not giving a damn about what others thought about her. 

This book is also an amazing advocate for body positivity. BB speaks about her body candidly and often. She talks about the words she does and doesn't like being called and why she likes her stretch marks and her rolls and her shape. I loved every moment of that. She does questions things about herself but then she has a frank discussion with herself and gets on with it. 

There is also great coverage for teenagers in that time between GCSEs and sixth form and that identity crisis that it can cause. I think this is such a pivotal time and again I would have loved to hear from someone who was questioning their choices at that age and had the backup to support the choices she wanted to make. 

The structure of this book is like a food diary and this book does come with a health warning because you will definitely be hungry as you are reading this book. Laura Dockrill has amazing skills of description when it comes to anything and her purely descriptive paragraphs are always a joy to read but she has outdone herself in this book. She talks about crumpets and describes them the way I feel about them, with an obvious emotional attachment. There is description of Bakewell tart and shepherds pie and toast and chips and millionaires shortbread. My Favourite 'chapters' are the one on Nutella and the one on croissants 'Truth be told, my ideal boyfriend would be a proper buttery, warm, we-put-together croissant: you could almost imagine the fold of the croissant opening up and closing around you, tucking you in for a great bit puffy hug.'. That says it all really!

At the beginning of Laura Dockrill's novel Darcy Burdock, Darcy states that her novel is for everyone except two of her enemies and young babies and I think that this is true of Big Bones. I think that although it is YA, it is definitely suitable for the younger end of that audience and upwards. You will find truth in this novel and this novel will definitely entertain you. I loved it and I know you will too!

Click the link to order your copy now: UK or US

Review: Hello Sunshine by Laura Dave

From Laura Dave—the author of the “addictive” (Us Weekly), “winning” (Publishers Weekly) and critically acclaimed bestsellerEight Hundred Grapes—comes a new novel about the secrets we keep…even from ourselves.

Sunshine Mackenzie truly is living the dream. A lifestyle guru for the modern age, Sunshine is beloved by millions of people who tune into her YouTube cooking show, and millions more scour her website for recipes, wisdom, and her enticing suggestions for how to curate a perfect life. She boasts a series of #1 New York Times bestselling cookbooks, a devoted architect husband, and a reputation for sincerity and kindness—Sunshine seems to have it all. But she’s hiding who she really is. And when her secret is revealed, her fall from grace is catastrophic. What Sunshine does in the ashes of destruction will save her in more ways than she can imagine.

In our modern world, where celebrity is a careful construct, Laura Dave’s compelling, enticing novel explores the devastating effect of the secrets we keep in public…and in private. Hello, Sunshine is a fresh, provocative look at a woman teetering between a scrupulously assembled life and the redemptive power of revealing the truth.

Review: This was a great read really bringing home the point that we can't always get what we want but that's ok. Its also a very fitting storyline for the society that we live in today dealing with issues from social media and Internet celebrities to cost of living and the break up of families because of moving far away to advance our careers. This is essentially about someone who has made a name for themselves online and how quickly the bottom can fall out of it all because their online persona is not who they actually are. I loved the idea of this all breaking down over twitter and YouTube and could really relate to the idea of the numbers game across social media. I really enjoyed getting my teeth into this storyline. 

The character of Sunshine is also relatable. She has formed this career for herself and now she is facing a life without this celebrity she has built for herself. She really doesn't have anyone to turn to because everyone in her life was wrapped up in her former celebrityness and so she has to do some serious soul searching. She is open with the reader form the start that she isn't the best person, that she isn't an honest person and I admired that in her, it also meant that she's not necessarily a character you're going to like but she is someone you will find yourself rooting for. 

There are some other interesting characters in this novel too. I enjoyed meeting the various people involved in Sunshine's publicity team and the other people in her little online cooking show world but I also really enjoyed meeting her family and I defy anyone not to fall in love with her niece Sammy. This books obviously has a lot of talk of food in it but not a whole lot of food featured so it's not one of those books about cooking that is going to make you hungry all the time-something which I was grateful for! There are family issues, friendship issues and loyalty issues explored in this book which will definitely make you think, but there are also moments that will make you laugh and a few emotional moments too. This was a good read and I am glad to have discovered this new author, I hope to read more from her soon!

To order your copy now, just click the link: UK or US

Review: Singing in The Rain at The Picture House by The Sea by Holly Hepburn

Part Two in the brilliant new series from the bestselling author of the Star and Sixpence series. 

Gina has returned to her family in the picturesque Cornish town of Polwhipple, to help run the Italian family's ice-cream business while her grandfather recovers from an accident.

Dismayed to find her old haunt from childhood visits to Polwhipple, the little picture house by the sea, in a state of disrepair, Gina is determined to help. Long past its heyday now, the little art deco cinema needs all the help it can get. With the help of her old friend Ben, Gina goes to the town's committee to ask for funding to renovate the hearthstone of Polwhipple's community. And what better way to prove the little picture house's worth, than by throwing another fantastic themed screening... 

But Ben's activities are closely watched by the venomous Rose, who wants him all to herself. And how is it exactly that she knows Gina's boyfriend Max... Download it now to find out! 

Review: this is the second part in the new series from Holly Hepburn and I literally read this the moment it hit my Kindle! I am loving this series so far and the length of the instalments in the series mean that you can read them during a lazy afternoon or in an evening in the bath-they are a great length and each is a completely story from start to finish. 

The characters in this series are great too and by part 2 we are really getting to know them and how they all relate to one another.  I'm really enjoying spending time with Gina, she definitely has her head screwed on right. I love the relation ship she has with her grandparents and I really admire her determination. I love the fact that she can come against adversity and will try whatever she can to conquer it. I have also been enjoying getting to know Ben. It is always a little odd when you reconnect with a childhood friend but I am enjoying  seeing Ban and Gina's friendship develop and I love Ben's loyalty and sense of right and wrong. 

There are two other factors which make this series great, firstly the food. There are awesome descriptions of ice cream and coffee in these books so definitely be warned about that-you will need a decent snack to enjoy with these novellas. And secondly, the eponymous picture house itself. I loved the idea of this old cinema, left to rot and ruin, not being taken care of properly, bringing a community together and coming to life once more. Of course it makes me want to watch all of the films too, but I defy anyone not to fall in love with this cinema. 

I highly recommend downloading this series and I can't wait to find out what happens in the next instalment!

Review: Brief Encounter At The Picture House by The Sea: Part One by Holly Hepburn

The little picture house by the sea is the Palace at Polwhipple - a lovely art deco cinema, nestled in front of azure Cornish seas. But it is long past its heyday now, and its only saving grace is Ferelli's, the family run ice-cream concession in the foyer, which is widely known as the best ice cream for miles.

When Ferdie, the owner of Ferelli's, falls ill, his granddaughter Gina drops everything to come and help out. But when she arrives she is dismayed by the state of the cinema, which she remembers fondly from summer holidays when she was little, and she is determined to do anything she can to help. Alongside her old friend Ben Pascoe, she sets about reviving the Palace to its former glory with a themed Brief Encounter night. 



Review: I was so excited for this new series and as soon as I started reading this first installment, I knew my excitement was entirely appropriate. For a novella that I thought was going to be about a picture house, this book started off being far more about ice cream than anything else so this one definitely comes with a warning-reading this will make you hungry! I loved the premise behind this first installment though. Gina travels down to Cornwall to help out with her grandparents' gelato business and ever the events planner, gets sucked into planning something with the dilapidated cinema in the town. 

I loved Gina as a character, she is independent and forward thinking, and like may of us, she can't seem to leave her job behind. I liked that she was able to sort herself out with somewhere to stay, I admired her organisation. I also liked the fact that she is so loyal to her family, there isn't enough of that in books these days! Her grandparents are also excellent characters. I know there are going to be more fun times with them around and they certainly know how to make a good cappuccino! And then we have Ben, old childhood friend of Gina's. There is so much more to Ben than meets the eye and he is definitely shaping up to be a mystery man that we are all going to fall in love with. 

What is great about this first installment is that there is so much history that is alluded to that is obviously going to re-surface as the series goes on, but there are also other characters that are introduced that are going to take the story in another direction. I loved meeting Carrie in this first part, she seems like she's definitely going to be a keeper and an asset to Gina. Max is definitely the villain of the piece and so I'm looking forward to hearing how his story line develops. 

Obviously brief encounter is also featured in the storyline and so now I am going to go and check this out from the library so I can have my own magical moment with it, just like Gina planned. I loved this read, not only does it have my favourite flavour of ice cream in it, it finishes at the perfect point, leaving me wanting more. I so cannot wait for the next installment. Definitely get this one downloaded and spend an afternoon with Gina, Ben and a big bowl of ice cream!

To start reading this series now, click here!

Guest Review: Christmas At The Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson

Becca Fletcher hates Christmas so much, she’s considering getting ‘Bah Humbug!’ tattooed on her forehead. She has her reasons for being Little Miss Grinch; Reasons that make this the very worst time of year for her.

Now, though, she can’t avoid her version of ho-ho-hell – because she’s travelling to the Comfort Food Cafe to spend the festive season with her sister Laura, and her family. She’s expecting mulled wine, the smell of pine trees, 24-hour Christmas movie marathons and all kinds of very merry torture.

But little does Becca know that the Comfort Food Cafe is like no other place on earth. Perched on a snow-covered hill on a windswept bay, it’s a place full of friendship; a place where broken hearts can heal, and a place where new love can blossom. It’s a place where Becca’s Christmas miracle really could happen – if only she can let it…

Inviting readers new and old to pull up a cosy armchair, Christmas at the Comfort Food Cafe is the novella-length follow-up to the 2016 best-seller Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe.

Review: This book follows on from the brilliant Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe, which I read earlier in the year and absolutely loved. I was looking forward to reading this one and meeting up with all the lovely characters in the first book again. Even if I hadn't read the other book, I would have been drawn to this one not only by its theme, being a lover of all things Christmas, but by its cover - that's definitely one to stop you in your tracks. 

The earlier book in the series dealt mainly with Laura and her family when they first encounter The Comfort Food Cafe. This story, on the other hand, revolves around Laura's sister, Becca, who comes to spend Christmas and the preceding few weeks with her sister in the pretty little Dorset seaside town which is the setting for the cafe. Becca has always been the difficult sister growing up, and particularly hates Christmas for a reason that becomes apparent as the story unfolds. However, she is willing to try to join in the festivities this year to please her sister, who she loves very much. She is soon drawn into the community surrounding the cafe as she meets all the charming people who Laura has got to know through working at the cafe and living in the town. It was great to find all the zany characters from the earlier book, including the cafe's slightly eccentric owner, Cherie, her pink-haired helper, Willow, Edie, the elderly lady who is living partly in the past, the dishy local vet and Laura's boyfriend, Matt, and the hunky Surfer Sam.

I enjoyed this book just as much as I had its predecessor. It is a truly heart-warming tale, perfect for a Christmas story, and I loved all of the characters without exception.  At first, I thought it wasn't as amusing as the first story, but Debbie's humour came through as the book progressed. Having said that, the story doesn't lack depth and deals with some serious issues as we discover more about Becca's past. Although this is a sequel to an earlier book, it stands alone nicely, although if you haven't read the first one, you will almost certainly want to once you finish this. 

Review: Summer at the Comfort Food Cafe by Debbie Johnson

The Comfort Food Cafe is perched on a windswept clifftop at what feels like the edge of the world, serving up the most delicious cream teas; beautifully baked breads, and carefully crafted cupcakes. For tourists and locals alike, the ramshackle cafe overlooking the beach is a beacon of laughter, companionship, and security – a place like no other; a place that offers friendship as a daily special, and where a hearty welcome is always on the menu.

For widowed mum-of-two Laura Walker, the decision to uproot her teenaged children and make the trek from Manchester to Dorset for the summer isn’t one she takes lightly, and it’s certainly not winning her any awards from her kids, Nate and Lizzie. Even her own parents think she’s gone mad.

Her new job at the cafe, and the hilarious people she meets there, give Laura the chance she needs to make new friends; to learn to be herself again, and – just possibly – to learn to love again as well.

For her, the Comfort Food Cafe doesn’t just serve food – it serves a second chance to live her life to the full…

Review: Another masterpiece from Debbie Johnson! This is a really engaging story that I read in next to no time. It's really easy reading, full of Debbie's usual humour, but not lacking in depth of storyline. The book starts with the most amazing job application letter you could possibly imagine; that hooked me in immediately, as I'm sure it would most readers.

The main character is widower Laura Walker. She is an incredible woman, who has suffered a huge tragedy in her life, but is still brave enough to up sticks, pack the children and dog into the car and drive from Manchester to the Dorset coast to take up a summer job in the Comfort Food Cafe. The children, Lizzie, 14, and Nate, 12, are not fans of this idea and give her a hard time on the journey. The little seaside town where the cafe is set is fairly brimming with interesting, and sometimes hilarious, inhabitants, not least the owner of the establishment, Cherie Moon.  She has an amazing knack of knowing just what to serve her customers to make them happy, hence the name of the cafe. The cafe itself has a wonderful location, teetering on top of a hill that overlooks the beach. The other major character we meet is Matt, the somewhat dishy local vet. He is another incomer with a misfortune in his past.

Although the story is so funny it had me laughing out loud at times, Debbie is such a great writer that she could also have me sitting in tears, of sorrow or joy. There is a lot of humour in the situations that Laura and her family experience, but underneath it all is a story of people healing from a great shock, coming to life again and learning to let others back into their hearts. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone. If you are not familiar with Debbie Johnson's work, it would be a perfect place to start

Guest Review: The Little Village Bakery by Tilly Tennant

Help yourself to a generous slice of Victoria sponge, a perfect cup of tea and a big dollop of romance. Welcome to the Little Village Bakery. 

Meet Millie. Heartbreak has forced her to make a new start and when she arrives at the old bakery in the little village of Honeybourne she is determined that this will be her home sweet home. Her imagination has been captured by the tumbledown bakery but with no running water and dust everywhere, her cosy idea of making cakes in a rural idyll quickly crumbles. 

Luckily the locals are a friendly bunch and step in to help Millie. One in particular,Dylan, a laid-back lothario, soon captures her attention. 

But just as Millie is beginning to settle in, an unexpected visitor from her past suddenly turns up determined to ruin everything for her. It’s time for Millie to face the skeletons in her closet if she’s going to live the dream of running her little village bakery, and her blossoming romance with Dylan. 

Review: Tilly Tennant is a new author to me, but I was pleased to give this book a try as it sounded right up my street. Although the bakery of the title is central to the story, the whole tale is a wonderful and entertaining mix of romance and suspense.

The main character in the story is Millie, who has landed up in the little village of Honeybourne, where she has bought the old and, as it turns out, rather dilapidated village bakery. At the beginning of the tale, we have no idea what has driven Millie from her life in the town of Millrise to buy this building unseen with the idea of establishing a new life and a new business for herself. There is just the hint of a very tragic incident in her past that has led to her persecution by other people in the town and made her want to flee.

Honeybourne turns out to be a rich source of interesting characters, as can be found in many small communities. These include: Jasmine, a great friend to Millie from day one; her husband, Rich; her rather layabout brother Dylan; a local schoolteacher, Spencer; and, last but not least, the local busybody and source of much amusement, Ruth. A somewhat less pleasant character appears from Millie's past in the form of Rowena, who was really quite scary.

I found the story a little difficult to get into initially, especially as I wasn't sure what kind of person Millie was going to turn out to be. However, it soon began to grab my interest, and in the end had me picking it up at every opportunity to find out what would happen next. There were some incidents that had me laughing out loud and other parts that made me fearful for the village's inhabitants. All in all, I thought there was an excellent mixture of mystery and romance throughout. The whole book was very well written.

Tilly has promised another story focusing on these characters soon. I shall be looking out for it with anticipation. 

Guest Review: The Plumberry School of Comfort Food Part 2 by CathyBramley

Despite the drama of the opening day, Verity and the rest of the team are determined to tighten up their apron strings and make a success of the cookery school – even their previously hot-tempered chef is showing his soft side and getting stuck in. 

The charming village of Plumberry is working its magic on Verity too, and as Verity's plans for a major event at the cookery school come together, the whole community starts to get involved... 

But as friendships bubble and a sprinkling of romance is added to the mix, will Verity get her fingers burnt just when things were looking peachy? 

The Plumberry School of Comfort Food is an irresistibly charming novel told in four parts - following the adventures of Verity Bloom in love, friendship and cooking. This is Part Two.

This is the second part of a serialised story from a favourite of mine, Cathy Bramley. Her books are always entertaining, and this one is proving no exception. Part one left the poor reader on the edge of the cliff wondering what was going to become of the school and its owner, so I got round to reading this next instalment asap.

The story revolves around Verity Bloom, who has moved to the lovely Yorkshire village of Plumberry to help her friend Gloria get her new cookery school off the ground. This was meant to be a temporary arrangement for just a month while Verity is between jobs, but it looks like it will last a lot longer. Although Gloria has had a serious accident and is incapacitated, Verity, along with Michelin-star chef Tom, and friends Mags and Pixie, are proceeding with the courses planned for the opening of the new school. As with all new ventures, there are a few teething problems, but things are progressing nicely. Verity's relationship with Tom, both in and out of the kitchen, is strained at times, but there may be a hint of a romance there. Any disagreements between them are forgotten when a bad storm hits the village and everyone has to pull together to help the community.

I enjoyed watching the relationships amongst the characters in the story develop further in this part. I like that Verity is such an upbeat person, always ready with new ideas and solutions to problems. I'm sure that I wouldn't be the only person to envy her this ability. Once again, Cathy Bramley has described this quaint little village and the setting for the cookery school so well that I can picture all the lovely food shops and the converted mill that houses the cookery school.  As with the last part of the book, Cathy has added a few mouthwatering recipes at the end. So, if the story has inspired you to cook, there are some dishes to try. Looking forward to part three!

Review: Summer at Skylark Farm by Heidi Swain

For everyone dreaming of escaping to the country, fall in love this summer at Skylark Farm...

Amber is a city girl at heart. So when her boyfriend Jake Somerville suggests they move to the countryside to help out at his family farm, she doesn't quite know how to react. But work has been hectic and she needs a break so she decides to grasp the opportunity and make the best of it.

Dreaming of organic orchards, paddling in streams and frolicking in fields, Amber packs up her things and moves to Skylark Farm. But life is not quite how she imagined - it's cold and dirty and the farm buildings are dilapidated and crumbling.

But Amber is determined to make the best of it and throws herself into farm life. But can she really fit in here? And can she and Jake stay together when they are so different?

A story of love in the countryside from the author of the bestselling The Cherry Tree Café. Perfect for Escape to the Countrydreamers, Cath Kidston fans and Country Living addicts!

I was really looking forward to reading this second offering from Heidi Swain, having thoroughly enjoyed her debut novel, The Cherry Tree Cafe. I was hoping to find the same good standard in this book as there was in the first, and I wasn't disappointed. I found it an easy read that pulled me in from page one and kept me engaged throughout. 

The main characters in the story are Amber and her boyfriend Jake. They are both working for the same company, but while Amber is finding herself practically on call for her boss and enjoying the challenges of the job, Jake has his heart being pulled more and more to the family farm and his elderly Auntie Annie, who is struggling with the farm and her health. Things come to a head and they both move to Skylark Farm to help out. They meet up with some lovely people in the village of Wynbridge, where the farm is located. These include Jemma and Lizzie from the Cherry Tree Cafe; it was great to meet up with them again. Life on a farm is very different for city girl Amber, and there is a quite a bit of humour as we see her coping with tasks she never thought she would have to deal with. I was really cheering for her though as she turned her back on the life she knew and just simply got on with whatever she was faced with, even Jake's ex, Holly - now she really was a nasty piece of work!

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a thoroughly good read. It makes a lovely follow up to The Cherry Tree Cafe, although you don't have to have read that before this of course. It would be a good one to stow away in your holiday luggage. 

Guest Review: The Plumberry School of Comfort Food. Part One. FoodGlorious Food by Cathy Bramley

This is Part One in a brand-new serial from bestselling author Cathy Bramley.

Verity Bloom hasn't been interested in cooking anything more complicated than the perfect fish finger sandwich, ever since she lost her best friend and baking companion two years ago.

But an opportunity to help a friend is about to land her right back in the heart of the kitchen! The Plumberry School of Comfort Food is due to open in a few weeks’ time and has rather gone off the boil. It needs the kind of great ideas that only Verity could cook up . . .

But as Verity tries to balance stirring up publicity, keeping their top chef sweet and soothing her aching heart, will her move to Plumberry prove to be a sheer delight . . . or a recipe for disaster?

The Plumberry School of Comfort Food is an irresistibly charming novel told in four parts – following the adventures of Verity Bloom in love, friendship and cooking. This is the first part.

This is part one of a serialised story from the talented Cathy Bramley. There are three more parts to follow. I found that this instalment grabbed me from page one and had me turning the pages eager to find out what would happen next. I was particularly excited to learn that the inspiration behind the story is a lady who owns a cookery school and runs one of my favourite restaurants in the Lake District.

The heroine of the tale is Verity Bloom (great name) who has been double crossed by her boyfriend and, as a consequence, has lost her job in marketing. As one door closes, another one opens as they say, and Gloria, the mother of a dear friend, asks Verity to help out with the opening of her new cookery school. Gloria's daughter, Mimi, died tragically two years before, leaving husband, Gabe, and young son, Noah, look after themselves, although Verity and Gloria help out where they can. We see Verity begin to rediscover her interest in cooking, which she lost when Mimi died, and become increasingly involved in the cookery school. Other characters she meets include Michelin star chef Tom and Gloria's friend Mags, not forgetting two cute-sounding dachshunds.

I really like all of the characters in the story so far, with the exception of Verity's nasty boyfriend (now thankfully ex). The setting for the cookery school, an old mill just outside the Yorkshire village of Plumberry, sounds quite idyllic. As usual, everything is brought to life by Cathy's writing and the story flows nicely. Of course, being part of bigger story, it left me desperate to find the next part as it ended on quite a cliffhanger.  A nice touch is that Cathy has added a few recipes at the end of the story. Definitely not one to read if you're already hungry!

Guest Review: A Summer at Sea by Katie Fforde

Emily is happy with her life just as it is. 

She has a career as a midwife that she loves . She enjoys living on her own as a single woman. But she’s also feels it’s time for a change and a spot of some sea air.

So when her best friend Rebecca asks whether she’d like to spend the summer cooking on a ‘puffer’ boat just off the Scottish coast, she jumps at the chance.

But she barely has time to get to grips with the galley before she finds herself with a lot on her plate.

Rebecca is heavily pregnant and is thrilled to have her friend on board doing most of the work. Then there’s Emily’s competitive and jealous kitchen assistant who thinks she should be head-cook, not Emily.

And there’s Alasdair, the handsome local doctor who Emily is desperately trying not to notice.

Because if she falls in love with him, as he appears to be falling for her, will she ever want her old life back again?



Review: When I saw the synopsis for this book I knew that I had to read it. It had all sorts of elements that would appeal to me, especially the sea, Scotland and a puffer boat. I actually listened to the audiobook, which was my companion on a long car journey. It's only the second Katie Fforde story that I have 'read', but I doubt that it will be the last.

The heroine of the tale is Emily, a midwife who has become rather disillusioned with the restrictions put on her by her local health services. She is ready for a complete change, and jumps at the chance offered by her heavily pregnant best friend Rebecca, who runs a floating hotel and is in need of a replacement cook while she puts her feet up ready for the arrival of baby number three. This floating hotel is in fact a puffer boat operating off the west coast of Scotland. Catering to the requirements of the cruise passengers seems a far cry from midwifery, but Emily has had previous experience in this field and is happy to oblige for the summer season.

This temporary change in job brings many new acquaintances into Emily's life, and a number of interesting relationships develop. A friendship with one elderly passenger is particularly strong and reminds us all of the value of older people in our lives. At the other end of the spectrum, Emily also strikes up a friendship with Rebecca's nine-year-old niece, Kate, which reawakens the child within. Then there is romantic interest through Kate's dad and local GP, Alisdair, a widower.

Although I found this story a little predictable, the twists and turns of the plot kept it an enjoyable read. The characters were, in the most, strong and interesting, and there were some thought-provoking incidents along the way. There were also some lovely descriptions of Scottish scenery and wildlife. A cruise aboard the puffer boat certainly sounds a different and enjoyable type of holiday, especially for those who like seafood.

Review: The Greedily Yours Series by Emma Hamilton

Mia Maxwell loves food. She loves it so much that she's made it her career. On the surface Mia seems to have it all. She lives in trendy east London with her best friend, Lizzie, who owns a cupcake cafe. By day she runs her own food PR consultancy, and by night she's a food blogger with a burgeoning audience. Mia has a banker boyfriend, Paul, who enjoys travelling the world, enabling her to taste the globe's culinary delights. But Mia is still hungry and, when she heads down to Cornwall to run a food festival, she doesn't realise that her entire life is about to be cast adrift. 

Emma Hamilton is the pen name for a journalist and writer who loves food; She was a staff producer and then freelance reporter for the BBC, CBC, and Deutsche Welle. Emma has written for a number of magazines and newspapers, including The Guardian, BBC Magazines, The Mail on Sunday, Four Four Two and Italy Magazine. She has worked on many series and documentaries, including one about food and culture around the world. Emma spent six years reporting from Italy and has made radio programmes in many other countries including Lebanon, Ethiopia, the USA, France, Germany, Russia, and Cameroon. When she's not cooking, reading about food or eating it, she splits her time between presenting, producing and writing. She loves yoga, running, gardening and chilling out with her husband, friends and family at home.

Review: I know I have already reviewed the first couple of novellas in this series, but over Christmas I read right up to the end of the series (plus the Chrsitmas special) and so I wanted to review the books together as a whole series. Firstly I really think that the length of these novellas is perfect. Despite the fact that my Christmas holidays were very busy, I still managed to read the 5 books I had left in this series, one a day. If you are lucky enough to have an hour for lunch, you could probably devour one of these at the same time as that sand which/soup/leftovers! 

Secondly I would like to talk about the strength of the characters. Sometimes when you read a novella or a short story, you don't get the character development that you would in a full novel. The characters are almost secondary to telling the story in so few pages, but I loved Mia and Tom and their funny friends/dogs. They really stayed with me long after I had finished. Mia is a totally relatable female character but not someone who is just another clone of every other women's fiction heroine, I like my ladies a little different with an indepedner streak about them and I definitely got that with Mia. I found Tom frustrating at times but in learned to love him too! 

The food, these books should definitely come with a warning, the food is seriously tempting. I found myself drinking more coffee, eating more cake and pasta and curry and everything else whilst reading these novellas. Obviously they are food themed and Mia travels to different countries to try their cuisine and experience their food culture for her blog but I didn't think I would be quite so affected by the food.  The description Is second to none and you can practically see the Olive oil dripping from the pages! If you're looking for a new series to start or have a New Years resolution to read a novella between each novel you read then definitely definitely start this series now, I'm sure you're going to love it! 

Review: Greedily Yours Episode 4 by Emma Hamilton

Mia Maxwell loves food. She loves it so much that she's made it her career. On the surface Mia seems to have it all sewn up. She lives in trendy east London with her best friend. By day she runs her own food PR consultancy, and by night she's a food blogger enjoying a burgeoning audience. Mia has a banker boyfriend who enjoys travelling the world, enabling her to taste the globe's culinary delights. But Mia is still hungry and, when she heads down to Cornwall to run a food festival, she doesn't realize that her entire life is about to be cast adrift.

Episode 4 of 8: Mia Maxwell gets the break she's been hoping for - the chance to publish a book from her blog. She sets off excitedly on a culinary voyage of discovery to Ethiopia and Lebanon. From ancient grains to coffee ceremonies, will she learn enough about life and love to create her own recipe for love? 

Review: This Episode was particularly exciting because the love story is cranked up a whole massive notch and there was so much, will they, won't they, oh they will, oh it looks like they're not going to that it left me quite breathless-I loved it. I thought I would love this episode because it was to do with coffee, but in fact it isn't entirely coffee overload and there are still a lot of other tantalising recipes and mouthwatering food and drink description that any foodie or indeed anyone that enjoys food, will be happy. 

I feel like Mia is really developing as the series goes on, she's developing her independent, her career, branching out to try new places, it's really great to see and something which definitely drives me to buy/read the next installment. I really love her friends as well, there are secondary storylines going on left right and centre as that's really impressive for something which is so short each time you read it! 

The love story is of course fabulous and is turning into quite the triangle, if you've read any of this series, you'll know what in talking about, if not, get into it now! I love the fact that the two main characters are both bloggers as well and we get to see messages, emails and blog posts, it just mixes it up a bit and makes it even more fast paced! 

Needless to say, I love this series, it's well worth the money to get each installment and now you can read them all so YEY! 

Review: Greedily Yours Episodes 2 and 3 by Emma Hamilton

Greedily Yours is a serial novel about the quest for top dishes ... with a dash of accidental love. 

Mia Maxwell loves food. She loves it so much that she's made it her career. On the surface Mia seems to have it all sewn up. She lives in trendy east London with her best friend. By day she runs her own food PR consultancy, and by night she's a food blogger enjoying a burgeoning audience. Mia has a banker boyfriend who enjoys travelling the world, enabling her to taste the globe's culinary delights. But Mia is still hungry and, when she heads down to Cornwall to run a food festival, she doesn't realize that her entire life is about to be cast adrift. 

Episode 2 of 8: Food and travel are two of Mia Maxwell's greatest passions. So when Mia's boyfriend invites her to Miami for his birthday, she jumps at the chance. But will a fortune teller's words and a mysterious man give her food for thought? 

Episode 3 of 8: Mia loves to try new things, so Vietnam is the perfect place for her to make some culinary discoveries. But is her boyfriend's refusal to leave his comfort zone going to be a hindrance to their holiday or add new spice to her life? 

Review: I loved episodes 2 and 3 of this serial just as much as episode one. One of the great things a bout these novellas is that they literally follow straight on from one another, so you don't have to catch yourself up with anything, you are just straight in on the action. So when I finish one, I know that I can move straight onto the next one and because they are realise every Monday AND Thursday, I never have to wait very long. It's like a really good series but without the wait factor, something that there's a definitely a gap in the market for! 

In terms of character development these books are also great. Mia is so easy to get along with I totally wish I shared a flat with her and her best freind Lizzie. Paul is definitely the villain of this series and I can't wait for him to get his comeuppance but the books wouldn't be the same without him! Tom is. A great character to read about too and I really love the way that his blog compliments Mia's blog. Incidentally this series also gives me motivation to blog more too! 

The food in the series is the only problem I have with it. There is so much mention of food and such beautiful description of dishes and ingredients, I find myself having to eat something as I read these instalments, thank goodness they don't take too long to read otherwise I'd be eating all of the time! (I'll have to make sure I have coffee on hand to read episode 4!) this isn't a major problem obviously but future readers should be warned that they should have something yummy to nibble on whisky devouring this series! I'm really enjoying these books so far and I can't wait to read the next installment! 

Review: Summer at the Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

Summer has arrived in the Cornish town of Mount Polbearne and Polly Waterford couldn't be happier. Because Polly is in love: she's in love with the beautiful seaside town she calls home, she's in love with running the bakery on Beach Street, and she's in love with her boyfriend, Huckle.

And yet there's something unsettling about the gentle summer breeze that's floating through town. Selina, recently widowed, hopes that moving to Mount Polbearne will ease her grief, but Polly has a secret that could destroy her friend's fragile recovery. Responsibilities that Huckle thought he'd left behind are back and Polly finds it hard to cope with his increasingly long periods of absence.

Polly sifts flour, kneads dough and bakes bread, but nothing can calm the storm she knows is coming: is Polly about to lose everything she loves?

Review: gosh this book was high drama, high aww factor and a big dose of food description to make you go rushing to the bakers all mixed in together and then baked in a big Cornish Coastal oven! I loved revisiting the Little Bech Street Bakery, this book was always going to make me smile, and not just because I got to see Neil the Puffin again-his story line in this book by the way-amazing! 

It was great to be back with Polly again. She is a great character because she's so optimistic and so hopeful for herself and the people around her. She needs a lot of determination to cope with everything that is thrown at her in this book and boy does she have it in spades! She never gives up and she is a true friend to those around her. Of course I've already mentioned Neil. He is just ace and is a very close runner up for main character in this novel (and the previous one) as a far as I am concerned. I loved the ending that Neil got, it literally couldn't have been more perfect and that's all you need to go. 

In terms of make characters in this book, there is the hero and the villain and they play their parts just beautifully. Our hero does everything he can to make Polly happy, right up until the last page and some of the things he does for everyone around him will literally have you swooning over this novel! The villain in this book is also truly villainous and totally unexpected for a Jenny Colgan novel. He tries to thwart Polly and her happily ever after at every turn and again, does so right up until the final page (or so)!

Again the setting of this novel is fabulous,in really must get down and visit that part of the world and see this beautiful but dangerous coast line and of course take a trip by the puffin sanctuary to see if I can see Neil's mates! The description of the setting is just gorgeous, as is the description of the food. This book will have you jumping in the car to head down to Cornwall via several bakeries and possibly making your own yeast cultures on the way! I really enjoyed this novel, it is a perfect read for summer and definitely something you should be picking up to help you cope with the miserable British weather!