Movie Night Degustabox

 Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Each time a monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order. 

What did we get in the Movie Night Degustabox box?

Shaken Udder Vanillalicious! (£1.59) is a silky-smooth milkshake made with real vanilla beans.

This is a milkshake with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

50% RI calcium per 330ml serving, B12 for natural immunity support, less than 5% added sugar, good source of calcium and protein, no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, low fat, suitable for vegetarians, gluten free

Nutritional values: 62kcal and 7.5g of sugar per 100ml.

Available in selected Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Boots stores and more. Does not need to be refrigerated prior to using.

Shaken Udder Chocolush! is a milkshake made with Belgian chocolate. It is a lovely milkshake, not too sweet, when compared with similar products.

Nutritional values: 74kcal and 8.4g of sugar per 100ml.

Available in selected Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Boots stores and more. Does not need to be refrigerated prior to using.

Brixton Brewer Reliance Pale Ale (£2) is an easy-going, flavourful drink.

Heritage English Maris Otter barley provides the clean, crisp backdrop to bright hop flavours. Biscuity malts, pine aromas and citrus flavours (pronounced), it's an easy drinking beer for all occasions. Great with pizza.

And it's suitable for vegans.

Available at Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Ocado, Amazon and brixtonbrewery.com.

Dalston's Cherry Seltzer/Rhubarb soda (£1.25) - born in an East London nightclub and made by chefs, Dalston's make soda with soul. 

It has real fruit, no added sugar, no artificial sweeteners. It's carbon neutral and farm friendly.

This sweet and sour drink is very refreshing and light, and comes at 49kcal per can. Cherry flavour was my favourite, but rhubarb is lovely too.

You should receive two items in your box.

Available at Waitrose, Sainsbury's, ASDA, Ocado, Amazon and www.dalstons.com.

Starbucks Signature Chocolate Salted Caramel (£4.25 for 10 stick of 20g) is a special treat for Starbucks' fans. This hot chocolate is a decadent combination of caramelly sweetness with a salty flavour.

Simply stir with warm milk of your choice for an indulgent experience. You can also use it as ingredient in baking brownies. I prefer a more bitter and less sweet hot chocolate, but if you have a sweet tooth, this might be a hot drink for you.

Nutritional information: 178kcal and 21.1g of sugar per mug.

Available in ASDA and Sainsbury's.

Dorset Cereals Dark Chocolate & Hazelnut Muesli Crunch (£3.69) is the signature muesli grains mixed with light and crispy granola clusters, with deluxe dark chocolate curls and cocoa caramelised hazelnuts.

Personally I'm more of a granola rather than muesli girl, but this combination of two is pretty good. I also like the addition of seeds. 

It is high in fibre, non-GMO and is suitable for vegetarians.

Nutritional values: 208kcal and 4.7g of sugar per 45g serving. The pack contains about eight portions.

Available in Tesco, Ocado and Amazon.

Nature's Heart Smoky BBQ Crunch/Chilli & Lemon Crunch/Sea Salt & Pepper Crunch (£2.25) is a new tasty snack made with edamame, peas, broad beans and seeds. An enjoyable crunchy snack, full of flavour.

It comes in 3 flavours: BBQ Crunch, Chilli & Lemon Crunch, and Sea Salt & Pepper Crunch. This snack is a good source of fibre and protein and counts as one of your five a day (1 portion contains at least 4tbsp of veg). 

Suitable for vegans. Typical values: 255kcal and 0.44g of salt per 50g serving.

Nature's Heart was founded in Ecuador by three brothers committed to sharing the most delicious and nutritious plant based products with the power to boost everyone's lives.

You should receive 1 of 3 items in your box.

Available at H&B, WHSmith, Ocado and Amazon.

Knorr Crofter's Thick Vegetable and Super Chicken Noodle Soups (£0.90) are a staple of many a kitchen cupboard. 

Seeing these packets brought back memories of my student days, when I used to buy lots of Knorr soups, and would add a few vegetables for a quick meal.

They contain no artificial colours or preservatives, no added MSG. One pack serves four.

Nutritional values: 68kcal and 1.5g of salt per portion (vegetarian soup) and 45kcal and 1.2g of salt per portion (chicken soup).

Use them as a base for a variety of soups, with added spices, herbs and vegetables. I love the sound of the suggested recipe for Keralan vegetable soup, made with Knorr vegetable soup, Balti paste, curry leaves, coconut milk and baby spinach.

I also tried a suggestion of adding Chinese leaf to the Knorr chicken noodle soup, it was light and flavourful.

You should receive 2 items in your box. Available in the major supermarket chains.

Ballymaloe Original Tomato Relish (£2.20) - for those of us who love a sweet chutney or zingy relish to go with the cheeseboard. 

Ballymaloe Relish was created by Myrtle Allen, Ireland's first female Michelin star chef in 1964. This is a tried and tested recipe, made in small batches, using only 100% natural ingredients. It is gluten free.

Ingredients: tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, onions, sultanas, tomato puree, sea salt, mustard seed and spices.

Nutritional values: 161kcal and 33.1g of sugar per 100g.

Add to the burgers, sausages, cold meats or cheese sandwich for an extra oomph.

Available in Tesco, Ocado, Sainsbury's Iirish section.z.

N!CK'S Peanuts n'fudge (£1.50) is a peanut bar with a creamy fudge, wrapped in milk chocolate. It has no added sugar, no palm oil or gluten.

Nutritional values: 175kcal and 2.2g of sugar per 40g bar. Ideal for Keto diet. Suitable for vegetarians but not vegans as it contains milk in chocolate. Great to take away that chocolate craving.

Available at WHSmith, Amazon and try-nicks.co.uk.

And finally, the Product of the Month - KitKat Chunky Caramel (£0.70) - a twist on the classic bar. It is a combination of a crispy wafer topped with a runny caramel filling, all wrapped in a layer of smooth milk chocolate.

It will appeal to those who have a sweet tooth (I found it way too sweet, but my sons appreciated it much more).

You should receive 2 items in your box.

Available in all major retailers and convenience stores.

What was your favourite product from the latest Degustabox?

The Haunting Season: Ghostly Tales for Long Winter Nights

 

"I wasn't dreaming. There wasn't quite that kind of absurdity to it. There was more direction. As if I were being shown things that I had no choice but to watch.

I don't remember feeling frightened - that came later - only numb. It was a sort of paralysis, maybe. I don't know what to call it. The best I can do is to compare it to how I'd imagine someone waking up under anaesthetic to feel: conscious but immobile; a mute onlooker".

If you enjoy reading ghost stories during the Hallowe'en time,The Haunting Season, an atmospheric selection of stories by contemporary authors, might just put you in the right mood.

A Study in Black and White by Bridget Collins is one of the more masterful stories, in style of the classic ghost stories of the early XXC. 

A man named Morton passes by an imposing dark house on the way to the pub, and is intrigued by the garden, arranged as a giant chess board with the yews cut like chess pieces. He finds out that the house is empty and could be rented. He moves in, and strange things begin to happen. There is a malevolent presence in the house, watching him, and moving pieces on the chess board, as if inviting to play a game.

The sense of disquiet and unease is escalating, to the dramatic ending. Atmospheric setting, though the main character is not likable. It would have been interesting to get to know more of the history of the house. There is no visceral horror, but a decent build-up of a dramatic tension.

Thwaite's Tenant by Imogen Hermes Gowar

Lucinda is fleeing her abusive husband, taking their young son Stanley with her. Her father doesn't approve of the scandal, he is a firm believer that it is a woman's lot to obey her husband and endure marital rape. He plans to take her back to her husband, in the meantime she is staying in one of a desolate houses that belongs to the family.

The Thwaite house has a sad history of its own, as apparently the mother of the family has left her husband and children, never to be seen again. The old man is haunting the house, but could it be that he is not the only ghost?

The story has a slightly cliched theme of a Victorian wife as a victim of domestic abuse.

The Eel Singers by Natasha Pulley. I understand that this story is a spin-off from The Watchmaker of Filigree Street series, and features characters that you will recognise if you're familiar with her books. I have never read Pulley's books, and found the beginning of the story rather confusing, as to who is who, what's their relationship and dynamics.

Thaniel, Keita Mori and Six want to escape the hustle and bustle of London by staying in a remote house in The Fens. Mori is overwhelmed with the glimpses of the future, and knows that the place among the marshes can quieten his mind and give him a respite from an onslaught of unwelcome memories of the future. 

The local couple taking them to the house appear quite creepy. They hum a strange melody, which seems to be haunting the place. The locals are welcoming, weird and nightmarish. Will the visitors to the house be able to escape with their lives intact?

"There was one island, and on that island, sudden and stark, was the house. Its lights looked disembodied from here, in a way that made Thaniel think of alchemy. He glanced at Mori and grinned. He's never seen anywhere like this before, much less stayed. He found himself quite hoping for a ghost".

The actual plotline of the eel singers is pretty good, and creepy enough. The story is slow-paced, with macabre touches and vague explanations of the mystery. There are some bizarre footnotes, which don't clear up anything, and only appear to annoy you.

Lily Wilt by Jess Kidd is a strange story, bizarre and not well developed. It was my least favourite story of the collection.

Lily Wilt is dead, and her body is being viewed by numerous visitors as a symbol of eternal beauty. Her parents invite a memorial photographer Walter Pemble to take the photos of Lily in repose. But is Lily truly dead? She manages to communicate and promise Walter her undying love, if only he could bring her back to life, by any means necessary.

Pemble achieves the miracle, only the resurrected Lily is not what he expected. 

We never know the cause of Lily's death (or what she was like when alive), how she was able to communicate to the photographer. Also how does the maid, Nan, suspect Lily of going rogue as a ghostly entity, yet doesn't seem to be perturbed or surprised? What makes her behave as if it is normal? 

The Chillingham Chair by Laura Purcell is similar to dozens of stories, where someone is trying to kill off the main character for their money/inheritance. It was quite obvious from the beginning who the culprit might be.

Evelyn Lennox is visiting Chillingham House, when her horse is spooked, and she has a bad fall. Recuperating in the house which will soon become her younger sister's home (the wedding is imminent), Evelyn feels trapped. The owner of the house, Victor Chillingham, offers her the use of a wheelchair which belonged to his late father. 

This wheelchair is haunted, with a mind of its own. Evelyn tries to escape its powerful grip before it's too late, only to have her eyes open to the truth. 

Ghastly parents border on a caricature. The ending is open.

The Hanging of the Greens by Andrew Michael Hurley has the hints of the Wicker Man.

David cannot stand the smell of Christmas greenery, as it reminds him of what has happened many years ago, when he was a young pastor. 

Running a Christian club to help struggling parishioners, he meets Joe Gull, a recovering alcoholic, who is guilt-ridden for letting down his friends. They took care of him years ago, and tried to wean him off alcohol. Joe is dying, and wants to aplogise to the couple before it's too late. 

David travels to Salter Farm, where the couple lives. What he finds there, will haunt him forever.

The sequence of getting rid of the spirit is disturbing and unsettling. 

Confinement by Kiran Millwood Hargrave portrays another Victorian woman as a victim. Living in a secluded house, with her husband, Catherine Blake is expecting her first baby. Their housekeeper, Mrs Noakes, is the Mrs Danvers-type - cruel, judgmental and pitiless. 

Catherine spent her childhood in India, and often thinks of her ayah, who was her comfort and confidante. She has no family or friends in England.

On the way to church her husband tells her a story of a witch who used to live outside the village. She was hanged as a murderess for buying babies and murdering her charges. Catherine, already nervous and agitated, sees the witch in the woods, which brings on the labour.

The old-fashioned doctor believes in separating mother and baby, and rendering mother oblivious of the world with the help of laudnum. Tension is palpable, Catherine believes the witch is coming to snatch her baby.

In the author's note, Hargrave mentions that the plotline is vaguely based on the real life story of the Victorian baby murderer. She also says that Catherine's audio-hallucinatory symptoms are influenced by her own experiences of psychotic depression postpartum. The postpartum process is described in an honest, unflinching way, that some readers might find upsetting.

Monster by Elizabeth McNeal

Victor and Mabel are newlyweds who arrive to a coastal town in Dorset on a honeymoon-cum-fossil hunting expedition. Mabel appears to be placid and only interested in her scrapbook. Victor wants to find fame and glory by finding a big fossil which would bear his name.

On arrival to Lyme Regis, they are told that the hotel where they are staying is haunted  by Selkies, mythical women who are able to transform into seals.

On a rainy day after a mudslide on the shore, the cliffs give way, the earth crashes down, and Victor finds his great "monster". At a very great cost. A child dies in tragic circumstances. For Victor this death is irrelevant, he is ecstatic about his magnificent find, and can only think about his future fame. However, his wife Mabel doesn't share his joy. 

As days go, he becomes unsettled more and more, and his wife grows more distant.

The Haunting Season offers a miscellany of disquieting plotlines, the style of writing and level of engagement differ from story to story. 

They are intriguing enough, but none of them have the same level of hair-raising creepiness of the classic ghost stories, like Oh Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad by M.R.James.

Light a candle, and prepare to be spooked.

Victoria & Violet by Rachel Brimble

 

"She had thought herself free, but she was still trapped, still caged in her mother's invisible dungeon. She needed to ensure her liberty and Victoria's."

Victoria & Violet by Rachel Brimble is a historical romance, set during the early years of Queen Victoria's reign. 

Young Violet Parker is excited, when she learns she will be appointed a personal housemaid to Queen Victoria. Her overbearing, cruel mother, "a woman possibly more hateful than the queen's mother, the Duchess of Kent", has secured Violet a place to work under the authority of Baroness Lehzen, Victoria's ex-governess and companion. 

"Was she about to find herself free of her mother's long-reachng fingers?" However, her mother quickly dashes her excitement. "The only reason you will be there is to orchestrate a reunion between the queen and the duchess. You will become Victoria's confidante, her friend, and do everything in your power to recall her love and need for her mother".

Still, Victoria hopes to find peace at the other end of the vast castle, working solely for the Queen. And maybe even have some free time to paint without ridicule. Painting is her passion, but her mother scoffs at her ambitions.

Entering Victoria's inner circle is a dream come true. Violet feels noticed and valued.

At court she meets James Greene who is employed as an assitant to Lord Melbourne, the queen's chief political advisor. James knows full well what it is to grow up with an overbearing parent.

Working at court is his way of escaping the clutches of the family. Yet as his father is nearing his sixtieth birthday, "James could no longer ignore that sooner or later he would be forced to step into his role as heir of the estate. A place that had been in his family for generations". 

The family estate has been extended by the generations of the Greene family. "The estate was a living, breathing entity. A source of income and prosperity..." and a symbol of personal repression and maltreatment. His father is a dictatorial head of the family, who despises any weakness. He insists that James should return to the estate, get married and sire children.

James and Violet belong to different social class and background, yet they share the same bond of having tyrannical, brutish parents and a miserable childhood.

Through their service, their paths inevitably cross, and there's a magnetic pull of mutual attraction. Both understand that to do his duty to the family, James has to marry well, and Violet is definitely not a suitable candidate.

The royal court is a vipers' nest, with intrigues and conspiracies galore, scandals and deadly gossip. It is not a place for romance. 

Young Victoria has her own dilemma. She must marry and have an heir. Meeting Prince Albert changes her views on the attraction of marriage. This also changes the dynamics of the court.

Prince Albert, with his old-fashioned views, believes Victoria should reconcile with her mother. To appease him, Victoria would do anything, she is utterly besotted with her fiancé. Her mind filled with romance, Victoria is more inclined to encourage courtship for her ladies. 

Rebellious Violet hopes that her mother's days of dictating her future are over. Little does she know that her mother doesn't give up easily.

Will Violet be able to escape her mother's power? Is there a future for her and James? 

Victoria & Albert is a gripping historical romance, that shines a light on the intrigues of the early Victorian court. It is a novel of love, secrets and ambitions, reawakening of inner strength and determination to rule one's own destiny.

It gives an insight in the world of young Queen Victoria, her struggles to establish her independence from the avaricious and unscrupulous mother, her early relationship with Prince Albert and the beginning of dependence on his support and guidance.

I loved the idea of seeing young Victoria through the eyes of her devoted maid. It gives an interesting, alluring angle to the otherwise known historical background.

Readers will delight at the atmosphere and the vivid characters, both historical and fictional.

And slightly moving away from the novel, my musings on Queen Victoria.

I have read several fiction and non-fiction accounts of Queen Victoria's life. Growing up with a toxic parent turned Victoria herself into an inadequate parent. She was a horrible mother, who expected a total devotion from her children but gave little in return. Just look at that wedding photo of her son. She is sitting in full mourning, between the young couple, and looks at the bust of her long dead husband. How ghastly!

In the novel, she says, "Yes, we might need others from time to time, but it is our husband or wife whom we must aim to build a beautiful life. Even over our children. Do you understand?" To me it's wrong on so many levels. 

This book review is part of the blog tour for Victoria & Violet.

Many thanks to Rachel Brimble and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Victoria-Violet-Royal-Maids-Book-ebook/dp/B0B6T47ZX5

US - https://www.amazon.com/Victoria-Violet-Royal-Maids-Book-ebook/dp/B0B6T47ZX5

Author Bio –

Rachel lives in a small town near Bath, England. She is the author of 29 published novels including the Ladies of Carson Street trilogy, the Shop Girl series (Aria Fiction) and the Templeton Cove Stories (Harlequin). Her latest novel, Victoria & Violet is the first book in her new Royal Maids series with the Wild Rose Press.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association as well as the Historical Novel Society and has thousands of social media followers all over the world.

 

 

Social Media Links –

Website: https://bit.ly/3wH7HQs

Twitter: https://bit.ly/3AQvK0A

Facebook: https://bit.ly/3i49GZ3

Instagram: https://bit.ly/3lTQZbF

Murder in Tuscany by T. A. Williams

 

"I was retired and the task of maintaining law and order was someone else's problem. Not mine. That chapter if my life had finished and, however much I might secretly regret no longer being involved with the thrill of the chase and pitting my wits against the criminal fraternity, I knew I had to be realistic. What was done was done, and I was now an ex-detective and I should remember that".

Murder in Tuscany by T.A. Williams is an enjoyable and engaging cozy mystery, set in Tuscany.

This is book 1 in a brand new Armstrong and Oscar cozy crime series.

Newly retired DCI Dan Armstrong arrives to an old villa, nestled in the Tuscan hills, to take part in a writing course. This two-weeks-long course has been a retirement gift from his colleagues. Supposedly they didn't check the small print when they bought the gift. Erotica is the main theme of the course. 

Armstrong's daughter tries to persuade him to enjoy the retreat, thinking of it as a free holiday in a place he always wanted to visit. On his arrival, Dan confesses that he doesn't write erotica. He is half-way through writing a historical mystery set in Italy. At crossroads in his personal life, he has to re-assess his priorities and decide what to do with the near future.

Villa Volpone is a home of the famed crime writer Jonah Moore. Jonah loves to pontificate about rewards of penning a bestseller. He also loves his drink too much. 

Dan is an acute observer of people. He instinctively gathers information about the group attending the course as well as its organisers and house staff. Once a detective, always a detective. "The more I got to hear about Jonah, the more I began to think that the man's illustrious career was probably every bit as much of an invention as the plots of his books". 

As Dan muses to himself, "Our illustrious leader appeared to be a less than perfect husband and a bit too full of himself - and red wine - for my taste".

It doesn't take long to notice that the family dynamics is unhealthy, to say the least. "As family groups went, this one wasn't exactly as serene as it could have been - the word "dysfunctional" came to mind". The relationship between Jonah, his wife Maria and sister Millicent is strained and volatile.

Some of the course participants might not be all they appear to be. Dan's investigative curiosity is piqued, and he is resolved to keep a close eye on all his companions over the next two weeks.

A few days into the course, and a macabre murder is committed. Jonah Moore is found stabbed with a dagger. Not just any old dagger. A ceremonial Silver Dagger, an award which Jonah is mighty proud of.

There are eleven possible suspects, including Jonah's family, villa staff and course participants. 

"Has he made enemies? Had he been threatened? If so, by whom? One thing was for sure: a lot of investigation needed to be done into the background of Jonah Moore and those around him".

As a former DCI of the Met, Dan finds the lure of the puzzle totally irresistible. When an Italian Commissario Virgilio Pisano begins the investigation, he asks Dan for his insights. It becomes clear quite quickly that everyone at Villa Volpone has secrets and skeletons in the closet.

Dan is happy to help. "I might be retired, and I might be in a different car belonging to a foreign police force, but this was what I knew and where I belonged..." Officially he is not the member of the investigation team. He is a free agent, and as such, could involve himself as much ot as little as he liked in the investigation.

Will the murderer be apprehended before they strike again?

There is a colourful spectrum of supporting characters, some rather eccentric, including a marvellous butler, who looks like Count Dracula minus the cape. And there is a lovable Oscar, a boisterous Labrador who enjoys long walks with Dan. No spoilers, but he would prove to be more crucial to the plot than a token dog character in most cozy mysteries.

This is the second book by the author that I have read, and I am impressed by his comprehensive gastronomic knowledge. The descriptions of food are absolutely mouth-watering, and give an insight in the intricacies of the regional food of Tuscany. 

Murder in Tuscany boasts an atmospheric scene-setting, and compelling characterisation. It's twisty, page-turning, playful at times, and wholly satisfying.

A delectable, intricately plotted piece of escapism. Mystery and suspence are peppered with humour, and plot twists.

This review is part of the blog tour.

Many thanks to T.A. Williams, NetGalley and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book!

Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/3Pnw7q3

 

Author Bio –

T A Williams is the author of over twenty bestselling romances for HQ and Canelo and is now turning his hand to cosy crime, set in his beloved Italy, for Boldwood. The series will introduce us to retired DCI Armstrong and his labrador Oscar and the first book, entitled Murder in Tuscany, will be published in October 2022. Trevor lives in Devon with his Italian wife.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TrevorWilliamsBooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TAWilliamsBooks

The Empire by Michael Ball

 "...Absolutely cracking theatre you have here."

Apparently these were the magic words. Poole's attitude softened dramatically and he blinked rapidly. "The Empire's a jewel, Mr Treadwell. A corker, a paradigm, a diamond of the first water! There's not a finer theatre north of London, and I don't care who hears me say it."

The Empire is a delightful debut by the musical theatre legend Michael Ball. It is an enjoyable historical novel set in the 1920s, that has all the right elements of an entertaining read - romance, humour, glamour, drama and suspence.

1922.

Jack Treadwell arrives at The Theatre, looking for a job. It happens to be a rehearsal time, and he is instantly smitten with the glitz and the glamour. Jack is awfully eager to get into the theatre business and is hired as a new doorman, and he immediately proves himself useful. As Jack says, he would be delighted to take any job they can offer.

"The last ten minutes had been the most exciting and stimulating of his adult life... this was fun".

Jack's charm and outgoing personality win the hearts of the theatre staff. 

Lady Lassiter is the owner of The Empire, which has been a gift from her late husband. She was a showgirl years ago, before she married Sir Barnabas Lassiter. Coming from the humble background, she used to work at the Lassiter textile works in her young years, together with Jack Treadwell's mother. It was Bessie's wish that her son would work in the theatre.

For Jack, his job in the theatre, is the link to his late mother. "Coming to the theatre, starting a career she'd picked out for him - it was almost like she wasn't gone at all. His heart ached with missing her and Dad. "I'm beginning to think she was a genius," he went on... "I love it here. Mam always said she knew me better than I knew myself. Seems she was right".

Jack enjoys his job. He proves so capable that soon Miss Grace Hawkins, the manager's assistant, gives him all kinds of important tasks. He is quickly promoted to the position of the manager's spokesman and company manager for the musical. 

Grace is strong, competent, cool and creative. She is devoted to The Empire and would do anything to save it from the machinations of its competitors. There is an immediate attraction between Jack and Grace.

There are long-term schemes, threatening the future of the theatre and its staff. Joe Allerdyce who wants to destroy and then take over the successful venue, makes a perfect villain with Machiavellian plans and ambitions. (He is not a one-dimensional character. While being quite a monster towards his competitors, he genuinely loves the theatre and despises those who just "dabble" in theatre).How far would he go to get his hands on The Empire?

The newspaper reporters are digging into the background of the theatre manager, Mr Musgrove, and Lady Lassiter's step son who has a reputation for profligacy. There is a treachery inside The Empire... and plenty of skeletons in the closet too.

Will The Empire survive the disastrous events? Will Jack be able to discover the truth before it's too late and the theatre is doomed? 

There is a wide set of characters including the theatre stars and people working their magic behind the scenes. 

And of course, The Empire itself has its own personality. It is a living-breathing entity.

"The Empire stood right in the heart of the city, a hundred feet from the pavement to the tip of the stone torch held by Melpomene, the Muse of Drama, on the roof. The theatre was the heart of the city, facing the town hall across St Mary's Parade and the old market square... It was a joyous, glamorous, welcoming building that made everything around it look staid by comparison."

The Empire is a terrific homage to the world of theatre, from stars of the stage to the doorman. The atmosphere of the stage is portrayed with the in-depth knowledge. 

Special mention should go to Jen Richards for jacket design, and Michael Crampton/Meiklejohn for the jacket illustration. The book cover design is stylish, elegant, and reminiscent of the illustrations of the 1920s. It also makes me think of the opening sequence to Jeeves and Wooster, you feel like the glamorous couple on the front will drop off their coats and start dancing to the lively jazz music.

The Empire is beautifully imagined, evocative, vivid, immersive and heartwarming. Bravo and Encore!

Curl up, open a box of chocolates and fall under the spell of The Empire!

Many thanks to Michael Ball, Zaffre and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book!

This post is part of the blog tour.

Purchase Links - http://unbouncepages.com/Michael-ball/

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Empire-charming-romantic-Cameron-Mackintosh-ebook/dp/B09X1725SP

https://www.amazon.com/Empire-charming-romantic-Cameron-Mackintosh-ebook/dp/B09X1725SP

Author Bio – 

Michael Ball OBE is a singer, actor, presenter and now author. He's been a star of musical theatre for over three decades, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical twice, he's also won two BRIT awards and been nominated for a Grammy. Michael regularly sells out both his solo tours and his Ball & Boe shows with Alfie Boe and has multiple platinum albums. The Empire is his first novel.

Social Media Links – Twitter: https://twitter.com/mrmichaelball/   // 

 https://twitter.com/ZaffreBooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrmichaelball/?hl=en // 

https://www.instagram.com/zaffrebooks/

Life on Mars: The Vikings are Coming by Hugh Duncan

 

Today I'm delighted to welcome Hugh Duncan, the author of Life on Mars: The Viking are Coming to talk about his love of writing. You can also read an excerpt from his book.

Life on Mars: The Vikings are coming

 

Racing against time, Jade and her friends must hide evidence of Life on Mars to stop the probes from Earth finding them

 Jade is on her way to meet up with her dad, Elvis, for her sixteen-millionth birthday (tortles live a long time in spite of the harsh conditions on Mars), when she gets side-tracked by a strange object that appears to have fallen from the sky. Elvis’ travelling companion Starkwood, an electrostatic plant, is hearing voices, claiming that “The Vikings Are Coming”, while their football-pitch-sized flying friend Fionix confirms the rumour: the Earth has sent two craft to look for life on Mars.

  It then becomes a race against time to hide any evidence of such life before Earth destroys it for good. Can Jade and her friends succeed, with help from a Lung Whale, a liquid horse, some flying cats, the Hellas Angels, the Pyrites and a couple of House Martins from the South of France? Oh, and a quantum tunnelling worm – all while avoiding Zombie Vegetables and trouble with a Gravity Artist and the Physics Police?! A gentle and lightly humorous science fantasy adventure.

Elsewhen: https://bit.ly/LifeOnMars-Vikings

 

The main buy links are as follows:

 

https://Books2Read.com/LifeOnMars

 

eBook:

https://books.apple.com/gb/book/id6443120642

https://bit.ly/LifeOnMars-Google

https://bit.ly/LifeOnMars-Kobo

https://bit.ly/LifeOnMars-NookUS

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B61SSNVC

 

paperback:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Mars-Vikings-are-coming/dp/1915304024/

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/life-on-mars-hugh-duncan/1141765229?ean=9781915304025

https://www.bookdepository.com/x/9781915304025

An excerpt from the book:

The four dimensional characters Turkan and Amelius III are having a chat.

 

‘Amelius?’ said Turkan, having now placed all his chess pieces in what appeared to be a random way along the ‘single file’ board, with some small gaps, large gaps, three pieces in a row and some on the underside (though to Amelius they would have looked to be on the top side in view of the 4 dimensional positioning, a bit like a Mobius strip). ‘Amelius?’

‘Yes?’ he said, now offering him some nuts, by extending his hand down below him and then seeing his hand appear from the opposite direction above and in front of Turkan.

‘Thanks. Why are you called Amelius the Third? Is it because your father was Amelius the Second?’

‘No.’

‘Oh, well, was your grandfather Amelius the Second and your father had a different name?’

‘No.’

‘So why are you called Amelius the Third?’

‘Oh, because two thirds of me is not here…’

Turkan did a little double-take, then thought about it.

‘I’ll go first,’ he said to Amelius and he picked up his first pawn by reaching to the left and his hand came up from below to grab the white piece on the lower side of the strip. He moved it to the top surface and placed it between two black pawns. ‘Your turn…’

‘Ok,’ said Amelius, then he looked thoughtful as he surveyed the placement of the pieces, making out he knew how to play much better than he actually could.

‘So,’ continued Turkan, ‘where are the other two thirds?’

This third of Amelius had picked up one of his black pawns and was fingering it absentmindedly.

‘What?’

‘Well, if only a third of you is here, where are the other two thirds of your body?’

‘Um, well like you, I’m also on Mars.’

‘I know,’ said Turkan, ‘but that’s only a tiny bit. Where’s the rest?’

‘Oh, well, my parents told me I have several holdings rolled up in those off shore hidden dimensions.

‘You must be huge!’ said Turkan, looking at his friend and trying to consider the big picture.

‘Big boned my mum said,’ replied Amelius, still toying with his first pawn.

‘Where are they?’ Turkan asked.

‘What, my bones?’

‘The rest of you?’

‘Oh,’ he thought then pointed using the pawn in his hand, ‘over there somewhere…’

Amelius’ arm stretched off out of the right of the bubble, then came down from the ceiling through the floor and came in and out several times, crisscrossing itself around him and Turkan.

Turkan tutted and shook his head four dimensionally, which looked odd as it grew and shrunk and split into many parts like he was caught in a kaleidoscope.

‘No,’ he corrected his friend, ‘that’s the way to Mars, where your rocky butt sticks out!’

‘Ah,’ realised Amelius, retracting his arm, ‘then it’s in the opposite direction…’

As he was about to indicate the hiding place of his missing mass, Turkan grabbed his wrist and looked with concern.

‘Where’s the pawn?!’

‘What?’

‘You were holding your black pawn when you pointed. Your hand’s empty now!’

‘Oh,’ said Amelius, examining it then looking in all his other hands in case he’d passed it on.

‘You didn’t let go of it did you?!’

‘Um I don’t know, maybe it slipped out…’

‘This could be serious,’ said Turkan.

‘But I saw you had some spare pieces in the hypercuboid box where you got them from…’

 ‘No Amelius,’ said Turkan in a worried and annoyed voice, ‘you rub anything from our world against the three dimensional universe and there could be consequences. I told you this before!’

‘Sorry,’ said Amelius awkwardly, ‘but you did say the chance was very small.’

‘Yea, a hundred million to one I know!’ said Turkan. ‘Let’s hope nothing comes from this…’

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Now that you have had a little taster of the book, you might want to discover more about its author.

People will be interested in your writing

I have been a lifelong diary writer, but that, along with most creative writings before about age 30 I wouldn’t show to the public for fear of being ridiculed. If I don’t count my Dr Who book when I was aged six, my first completed science fantasy novel ‘Kessia 499’, was in 1978 when I was twenty, about two very different civilisations, cave man like and greek like and how a guy from the cultured crowd ends up stuck with the savages and I think I subconsciously stole part of the plot from One Million Years BC. Next I wrote ‘I want to be a machine’ about a young man who falls in love with his computer, obviously with a humorous slant. Then I wrote ‘Robots should be seen not heard’, about a time of too many robots and their unemployment problems. Douglas Adams must take some blame for that one.

The first full novel I sent off was called ‘Reproduce or Die’ about a genetic engineering team that designed a virus to stop the spread of killer bees, but the project was tampered with and there then follows a body swap type plot with the dark humour of Ben Elton rolled up with Michael Critchon’s intrigue.  Suffice to say no one, not even Elsewhen Press, wanted it so I went and hid up Short Story Street.

I wrote a humorous weekly review for teachers that started out more like Private Eye but the regular parody story about the teachers being doctors and nurses and the student being the patients in a M*A*S*H like setting became the most popular item so I felt I had finally found my niche.

Enter now into the third millennium and with Discworld, Lord of the Rings films appearing and Harry Potter on the rise, I felt inspired to write a parody for the students. I created the Deskworld Stories with teachers and students being witches and wizards in a magical school. This ran for over a decade with several dozen short stories, until I got back to the Life on Mars Project, which had been on the back burner since 1976. 

I love writing, whether it’s the diary, songs, poems, physics revision books, maths articles or fictions novels. I had never really stopped to ask myself why I like writing until it was posed to me for the blog tour. To be able to conjure up a tale, to be able to create a whole new world, a universe even, brings great personal joy. For other people to enjoy it too is the cherry on the cake. If that sounds too cheesy then I guess it must a cheese cake.

 

Black Panther: Panther's Rage by Sheree Renée Thomas

"One second, T'Challa was dressed in his formal, light-colored, embroidered travel clothes; the next, his entire body and face were enveloped by an extraordinary black suit, so dark and smooth it looked as if black water, the night itself, had risen up and swallowed him whole.

Sharp anti-metal claws emerged from his fingertips like silver lightning.

The Black Panther released a guttural growl. The sound was so menacing that, if you heard it in the jungle or on a street, you would think you had already been eaten".

Black Panther: Panther's Rage by Sheree Renée Thomas (Titan Books, out today, 11 October 2022) is an evocative, creative re-imagining of the original story by Don McGregor, Rich Buckler and Billy Graham. 

We meet T'Challa as he enjoys the company of  his girlfriend Monica Lynne, during her final show in the States before being whisked to see his home in Wakanada. His close friend N'Jadaka is present at the show as well.

Avenging his father's death didn't bring peace to his soul. "Instead, anger burned in his heart, consumed his waking thoughts. Rage and grief courses through his spirit like twin poisons. T'Challa fled his homeland, seeking an oulet for his rage." After being away from home for so long, he was glad to meet a Wakandan, who was exiled as a child. T'Challa and N'Jadaka share the bond of grief and loss.

When urgent summons arrive, T'Challa has to return to Wakanda. Monica Lynne and N'Jadaka come with him. He desires to share the greatness of his country with Monica, but their arrival doesn't go smoothly. The glorious return escalates in the nightmare pretty fast. The empire is anything but tranquil, and something sinister is afoot.

The country is in turmoil, and the violence is rapidly spreading through the land. At the centre of it all is a mysterious figurehead Erik Killmonger. Killmonger is a follower of K'Liluna the Betrayer, the goddess who feeds off rage and vengeance.

T'Challa's old mentor and revered storyteller, G'Sere, is one of the victims of Killmonger's spree of hate. 

In his last moments G'Sere whispers, "Stay on your father's path. The Betrayer has hooked her claws into Killmonger's spirit and granted him extraordinary power, but remember, T'Challa, none is greater than the avatar of Bast. Find harmony in the chaos".

The new enemy is greater than any Wakanda had yet faced. "No one ever had the power to turn Wakandans against themselves. Not until now".

T'Challa has to unravel many threads to discover the scope of the rebellion. To do that he must travel across Wakanda, from the savannah to the snow-topped mountains and the deepest jungle. Along the way, to get to Erik Killmonger, he has to battle bloodthirsty foes such as Venomm, Malice, Baron Macabre and many others.

I haven't read the original comics, only watched the film (twice), and cannot comment on how true it is to the primary source. It is a beautiful adaptation of the Black Panther's story. Translating the comic book format, full of illustrations, caption boxes and bubbles with sound effects, into a novel format seems to be a formidable challenge, but Thomas did a great job.

Wakanda is not just a distinguished location , it acquires a living- breathing character of its own. You will learn a lot about its different tribes, landscapes, customs and traditions, folk lore, and food.

Black Panther is a complicated character. He is intelligent, but also makes rather foolish decisions. As an avatar of the Goddess, you would expect him to be more intuitive in knowing who to (dis)trust, and be aware of danger ahead. He prefers to go off solo into the danger zone, rather than be surrounded by the best fighters of Dora Milaje. Is he reckless or over-confident in his own powers? He nearly dies on several occasions, when he could have taken his bodyguards with him.

T'Challa is also immensely likable and vulnerable, still grieving the loss of his father.

If you've only seen the film, you would not be familiar with the character of Monica Lynne. She is a talented singer. Her rare gift is that her singing has a healing power.

While she is important in the book, and their romance story is engaging, I side up with those Wakandans who didn't warm up to her. I'm glad in the film they have removed this character altogether, and have chosen a grown-up Nakia as the King's future queen. 

Unlike in the film, Shuri, Nakia and Okoye are still children, full of mischief. Their characters provide a humourous note to the tense and dramatic action plotline.

This book is aimed at the audience who enjoys YA fiction, and the fans of the Marvel world.

I absolutely loved the dedication to the late Chadwick Boseman, "Greatness Never Dies". My younger son and I have just watched the film again, and Boseman is superb as Black Panther. We cannot wait for Black Panther-2 coming to the big screens next month. It won't be the same without him, but the trailers look good. 

The timing is perfect - the book is published just a month before the opening date of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.

Some of the scenes in the novel pulse with energy and tension, you feel like you are there, right in the middle of the battle.

T'Challa addresses his army, "I believe in the Wakandan way of life, and I will not have our world destroyed. Come. Fight with me. Help me defend the heart of the Panther God. Help me defend Wakanda."

All around T'Challa, the hordes bent their knees and raised their fists. He stood and stared at his people, his soldiers, cheered and roared. The Black Panther crossed his arms, raised the ancient symbol of his country for all to see - mortal and spectral eyes were invited to bear witness.

"Wakanda forever!" T'Challa shoured. Then he roared, with all the power of his lungs. The soldiers returned the ancient greeting, and with their arms crossed they all yelled in mighty, thundering unison.

"Wakanda forever! Wakanda forever!"

Black Panther: Panther's Rage is a remarkable, compelling retelling of the familar story. Accomplished, multi-layered and enjoyable.

Many thanks to Sheree Renée Thomas and Titan Books for my copy of the book!

Family Sharing Degustabox

 Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Each time a monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order. 

What did we get in the Family Sharing Degustabox box?

PITCH Chocolate Filled Brioche (£1.50) is a soft, squishy brioche roll with a delicious dark hazelnut chocolate filling. While not a new product as such, it now comes in a new cardboard packaging (the regular plastic packs are still available in shops).

Each brioche is individually wrapped, for freshness, and convenience - great for lunch boxes, picnics and long trips. There are four brioche rolls in a box.

Nutritional information: 132kcal and 9.4g of sugar per serving.

Suitable for vegetarians, free from artificial colours, preservatives and hydrogenated fats.

New boxes are available at Tesco Express. The regular packs can be found at Tesco, Sainsbury's, ASDA, Morrisons, Co-Op and on Ocado.

Rose Marketing UK Robinsons Jelly Pouches 80g (£2.49) - new Robinsons jelly 4pk pouch multipack is another lovely on the go snack or dessert. Mess-free and easy to slurp, they make a welcome addition to a lunch box.

Made with real fruit juice, no added sugar and bursting with classic Robinsons flavours. Suitable for vegans.

Nutritional values: only 5kcal and 0.9g of sugar per pouch. 

Available at Tesco.

Kellogg's Krave Cookies and Cream Flavour (£2.99) is a new cereal from Kellogg's. Add some fun to your breakfast with the delightful chocolate flavour mixed cereal pillows, fortified with vitamins.

Source of vitamins B1, B2, B6 and B12. Vitamin B1 contributes to normal energy-yielding metabolism. Enjoy as part of a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. 

Nutritional values: 126kcal and 7.8g of sugar per 30g serving. No artificial colours or flavours.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Weetabox On the Go Family pack Chocolate or Strawberry (£3) - for those who prefer a smooth breakfast drink with energy fibre and protein. This is the UK's no.1 breakfast drink

Nutritional information: 207kcal and 12g of sugar per 250ml (same sugar as a glass of milk). Iron contributes to normal energy yielding metabolism as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle.

You should receive 1 of 2 items in your box.

Available at ASDA and Morrisons.

Yogi Tea Classic Organic/Bedtime Organic/Throat Comfort Organic (£2.59) is the original organic & ayurvedic tea brand. Each blend is a combination of unique herbs and spices.

You should receive one of 3 items in your box.

We got Bedtime blend, which is a mix of fennel, chamomile flowers and valerian root, all ingredients that help you relax. This calming and warming blend will allow you to gently round off your day.

Among other ingredients you will find peppermint, cardamom, lemon balm, lemon grass, sage, lavender flowers, nutmeg. This is a warming fragrant tea, easing you into a restorative night's sleep.

Available at Holland & Barrett, on Ocado, Amazon and many independent health food stores. Selected products can be found in Waitrose and Morrisons.

Nissin Cup Noodles Chicken Teriyaki/Kaisen Seafood (£1.79) is hailed as no.1 in Japan. While meat-flavoured and vegetarian cup noodles are quite common, I haven't come across a seafood-flavoured one before.

Love the cup design, with the wave of noodles as a creative, witty replica of the Great Wave off Kanagawa by Hokusai, as well as his Mount Fuji. This winning design deserves a round of applause. 

The noodles are creamy and well-seasoned, with a rich flavour of seafood. Ready in just 3 minutes.

Nutritional information: 90kcal and 0.9g of salt per pot.

You should receive 1 item of 2. Available in all major supermarket chains.

Knorr Onion Gravy Pot (£1.79) is gently cooked for a homemade taste. Especially handy for busy parents who don't have time to cook a gravy from scratch, i.e. when you just chuck in some sausages, either meat-based or vegetarian, under the grill. 

Very easy to make: just add one gravy pot to warm water, keep whisking, let it boil for a minute, and that's all. 

Free from artificial preservatives, colours; no added MSG, suitable for vegetarians.

Nutritional values: 15kcal and 0.91g of salt per portion.

Dr Will's Miso Tahini Dressing (£3.50) is a full fusion dressing to jazz up your cooking. Drizzle over salads, rice bowls or noodles, for an added zing. 

All natural, fermented miso, vegan friendly, sweetened naturally.

Nutritional information: 39kcal and 0.5g of sugar per 15g.

This was a new product for me. I used it in the so called fridge-raid rice bowl, which was really lovely.

Available at Tesco, Waitrose and on Ocado.

Very Lazy Chopped Garlic (£1.60) is a handy kitchen shortcut for everyday cooking. 1 teaspoon is equal to a clove of garlic. The garlic is preserved in white wine vinegar, which evaporates during cooking. Once opened, use within six weeks.

Veggie and vegan friendly.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Ritter Sport Don Choco (£1.50) is a delicously dark milk chocolate, made with 100% certified sustainable cocoa, from the cocoa plantation El Cacao. It is rich and creamy, and very moreish. Lovely with a cup of coffee, or tea.

Nutritional information: 561kcal and 44g of sugar per 100g bar.

You should receive 3 items in your box. Available at shop.ritter-sport.co.uk, and on Amazon (I have bought it before somewhere else, maybe on Ocado).

And finally, the Product of the Month - McVitie's Hobnobs Coconut Macaroon (£1.75) is the latest addition to the McVitie's range of flavours. You get a coconut macaroon flavoured Hobnob, what's not to like?! 

Baked with 100% wholegrain oats, these biscuits contain no artificial colours or flavours, or hydrogenated vegetable oil.

Nutritional values: 92kcal and 6.1g of sugar per biscuit.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Moving from the current Degustabox, if you enjoy foodie advent calendars, don't miss Degustabox Christmas Advent Calendar. Go to degustabox.com/en and click on Limited Editions. You will have a choice of a Cold Degustabox or an Advent calendar.

Last year's Degustabox advent calendar was excellent. I don't know what treats there will be in this year's edition, but I am going to order it. Stock is limited, so don't dawdle for too long, or it will be gone. At £41.99 it has a value of over £50.