The Paradise Chapter by Blake Salazar (guest post + #giveaway)

 

I'm delighted to welcome Blake Salazar to my blog today. 

The Paradise Chapter: A Digital Nomad Adventures novel

Have you ever dreamed of leaving your job and humdrum life behind? Have you ever wanted your vacation to continue indefinitely?

Have you ever fantasized about dropping everything you know and boarding a plane to the other side of the world?

The Paradise Chapter follows a group of characters who answered YES to all those questions and have become DIGITAL NOMADS.

Lose yourself in a tropical paradise and experience the intoxicating freedom, fun and adventures of a diverse bunch of location independent workers who have decided that the office is wherever they can find Wi-Fi.

This is the debut novel from a real-life digital nomad.

If you like the wild adventures of The Beach combined with the thirst for life of Eat, Pray, Love, then you'll love The Paradise Chapter.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08VJKPM8J

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VJKPM8J

 https://books2read.com/u/mqgPrv

Author Bio – Blake Salazar is a European writer who managed, a few years ago, to throw off the shackles of the rat-race and travel the world as one of a growing breed of "digital nomads". Blake has a remote day job that allows them to work from anywhere, so they have chosen to be EVERYwhere. Blake has ticked off all continents from their bucket list, and shows no signs of stopping. The Digital Nomad Adventure series is their first work of fiction: the inspiration from this nomadic lifestyle was too much of a temptation!

Social Media Links –

 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066429552703

Twitter https://twitter.com/BlakeSalazar_

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Please welcome Blake Salazar who discusses the joys of reading on holidays, and the advantages of Kindle versus physical books. 

I love e-readers but miss the extra from physical books.

I distinctly remember the first time I read about the invention of the Kindle. My mind was blown by the tantalising idea that one single slim device, much smaller and lighter than the doorstop-sized novels I tend to enjoy, could contain thousands of books and access literally any book in a few seconds. For those born in the analogue era, this instantaneous access to content that, up to that point, had been obtained via eclectic combinations of library access, taping live television, copying friends’ CDs, photocopying essays, ordering books and waiting weeks for them to arrive, is something that continues to produce a sense of wonder in many of us.

The first time I went on a long backpacking trip, I carted with me several paper books. You know those doorstops I mentioned above? These babies were all 600+ pages (“Anna Karenina” towering among them) and, as I devoured them, I shed them, to lighten my load, sure, but also to leave them for the next person who might turn up on a remote Cambodian beach and suddenly find themselves without anything to read. Heaven forfend!

I really enjoyed picking small family-run resorts that had a bookshelf where they encouraged guests to leave and/or take a book. The selection was always very interesting, and it would tell you a lot about a place’s clientele (some places were full of just crime novels, others had books in mostly one non-English language). There I would leave my “brick” offering with a fun dedication inside, and take something else to read, which I would leave at the next stop, and so on and so forth.

Since I have been travelling with an e-reader, and it’s been several years, I obviously don’t do this anymore. Yes, it is super convenient to have all books at my fingertips, to never run out of something to read, to not kill my back carrying kilos of dead tree matter. But I still go into hotels and cafés and look at their bookshelves. Things there seem to have frozen in time, I guess because many others like me are reading on e-readers, but it is still really enjoyable to look through what people choose to read on holiday. And sometimes you find some little gems, like a book left by its author (I may have been guilty of this too!) hoping that the copy makes its way through as many readers as possible, or you find a different edition of a book you’ve already read, which is always fun.

Nothing can replace that wonderful feeling of looking up from reading a book and finding someone opposite, reading the same book. I miss this also when travelling on public transport in large cities. I used to play “spot the cover” and did sometimes spark up a conversation with people whom I found reading more obscure, beloved books of mine (bonus points if they were cute too!), but e-readers have robbed us of this. Ok, I hear you, maybe you didn’t want everybody to know you were reading Chuck Tingle’s latest work, and that’s fair enough, but I do wish that there was a way to show, IRL, what we are reading even on a Kindle, if we choose to. I wonder if I need to develop this idea more? Who’s in?

 

Giveaway to Win a £25 Amazon Gift Card (Open to UK only)

*Terms and Conditions – 

UK entries welcome.  

Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  

The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. 

If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. 

Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  

Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. 

This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  

I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Please note that this giveaway appears on several blogs along the blog tour. 

Chez Maximka hosts the Rafflecopter gadget for free for the purposes of the blog tour. I have no access to the date collected, and do not take part in the selection of the winner or dispatch of the prize.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ascent by Cathie Dunn (review + #giveaway )

 

Ascent by Cathie Dunn is a captivating historical novel, set in Neustria, Kingdom of the West Franks, from AD 890 onwards. This is the first book in the gripping new series about the female founders of the House of Normandy.

Blurb:

A brutal Viking raid heralds the dawn of a new, powerful dynasty - the House of Normandy.

Nesutria, Kingdom of the West Franks

AD 890

Fourteen-year-old Poppa's life changes when Northmen land near Bayeux. Count Berengar, her father, submits to them, and she is handfasted to Hrólfr, the Northmen's heathen leader, as part of their agreement.

To her relief, Hrólfr leaves immediately in search of further conquest, only returning to claim her years later. In the face of retaliating Franks, they flee to East Anglia, where she gives birth to their son and daughter.

When Hrólfr and Poppa return to reclaim Bayeux, his new campaign strikes at the heart of Frankish power, and King Charles of the West Franks offers him a pact he cannot refuse. In exchange for vast tracts of land in Neustria, Hrólfr must convert to Christianity and accept marriage to Gisela, the king's illegitimate daughter.

Poppa's world shatters. She remains in Bayeux, with her daughter, Adela. When Gisela arrives one day, demanding she hand over Adela, to be raised in Rouen, Poppa's patience is at an end. But Gisela makes for a dangerous enemy, and only one woman will survive their confrontation high up on the cliffs.

Will Poppa live to witness the dawn of a new era?

At the centre of this novel is a young woman, Poppa of Bayeux. We first meet her as a naive and immature fourteen-year-old girl, we follow her dreams and hopes, watch her through the stages of womanhood, as she acquires wisdom and fortitude.

Hrólfr, aka Rollo the Viking plays a less prominent part in this narrative. It is very much a women-centered tale, which captures the resilience of the women living through such a turbulent historical period.

Poppa is the daughter of Count Berengar, and knows her value. She is well aware that as the only child of the Count, she is an important marriage pawn. "Her old way of life was gone, banished by the arrival of these northern Pagans. Everyone's future held nothing but uncertainty".

Hrólfr comes to the lands of Franks, looking for lands and riches. Marriage does not enter his plans, until the Count of Bayeux proposes the union. "A marriage to a Frankish count's daughter would validate his reason to stay and pursue his strategy in Nesutria. His plan was to seize Rouen and set up his base there".

Having settled in Rouen, Hrólfr is in no hurry to return to Poppa. "He saw what happened to his friends who settled down. A wife and offspring mellowed them; only a few had shown themselves prepared to join him on raids along the coast".

Poppa and Hrólfr have to mend the bridges if they want to have a future together. "Her own feelings towards her husband were still torn. Hrólfr was a man of honour. Yet he'd neglected her for years, only to turn up and demand she join him in Rouen... in the end, she had no choice but to comply".

Both strong-willed and passionate, Poppa and Hrólfr become the founders of the great dynasty. "...their offspring would end up ruling vast lands; and... their lives would be spoken of for centuries to come". Their characters are complicated, and their relationship is multi-faceted.

While reading this novel, I couldn't help noticing certain historical anachronisims. When Poppa's father Berengar and Hrólfr discuss the terms of the wedding, Berengar suggests a handfasting ceremony, but on the steps of the Church. Hrólfr agrees, "as long as it's not inside any church". In fact, during the middle ages, weddings typically took place at the church door, rather than inside the church.

It is questionable whether Hrolfr would be angry at Berengar for "selling his daughter like a cow. No, worse. Like a piece of meat". This is a very modern way of thinking. The same modern sensibilities are perceptible, when Hrólfr refuses to bed his new wife because she is too young for him.

Quote from an excellent historical volume by Eileen Power, Medieval Women, "Advantages given to women by their position as landowners outweighed the disadvantages in an age in which marriage was a business contract in all classes of society and child marriage the rule rather than the exception". "The careful father would expect to arrange for his daughter's marriage and often to marry her off before she was fourteen". It is the modern civilisation that has extended the duration of childhood. Fourteen would have been a pretty reasonable age to marry by the standards of the society of that historical period.

Ascent is an action-packed and compelling read, a tale of love, compassion and forgiveness, with a spirited and fiercely determined female protagonist. It vividly revives a more obscure historical period From being a footnote in the historical article on the house of Normandy, Poppa of Bayeux acquires a prominent role. This is the story of the woman whose valour and vision make her the matriarch of the emerging House of Normandy. 

Trigger warning: death of a child, miscarriage, battle scenes.

This post is part of the blog tour for Ascent.

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

Purchase Links

International Buy Link: http://mybook.to/NormandyAscent 

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09RNB6N5L/

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09RNB6N5L/

Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B09RNB6N5L/

Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09RNB6N5L/

 

Author Bio –

Cathie Dunn is an award-winning author of historical fiction, mystery, and romance. The focus of her historical fiction novels is on strong women through time.

Cathie has been writing for over twenty years. She studied Creative Writing online, with a focus on novel writing, which she also taught in the south of France. She loves researching for her novels, delving into history books, and visiting castles and historic sites. A voracious reader, primarily of historical fiction / romance, she often reviews books on her blog, Ruins & Reading.

Cathie is a member of the Historical Novel Society, the Richard III Society, and the Alliance of Independent Authors.

After many years in Scotland, Cathie now lives in south of France with her husband, and rescued Charlie Cat and Ellie Dog. Discover more about Cathie at www.cathiedunn.com!

 

Social Media Links –

Website: https://www.cathiedunn.com

Amazon Author Page: https://author.to/CathieDunn

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cathiedunn

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

Ruins & Reading FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/722966445318513

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/cathiedunnwrites/_saved/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5066224.Cathie_Dunn

If you enjoy historical fiction and like the sound of this book, here is your chance to win a signed paperback of Ascent.

Giveaway to Win a signed paperback copy of Ascent by Cathie Dunn (Open INT)

*Terms and Conditions –

Worldwide entries welcome.  

Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  

The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. 

If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. 

Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  

Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. 

This will be passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  

I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

Please note that this giveaway is promoted on several blogs taking part in the blog tour.

Chez Maximka hosts the Rafflecopter gadget for free for the purposes of the book promotion. I have no access to the data collected, selection of the winner or dispatch of the prize.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont

"Her whole life, Agatha refused to answer any questions about the eleven days she went missing, and it wasn't only because she needed to protect herself".

"For years I'd been swept in directions I never meant to go. I'd made mistakes, acting by accident or imperative. Finally, in this moment, I was the author of my story".

Every couple of years there is yet another fictionalised account of Agatha Christie's disappearance in December 1926. The real life mystery has never been solved. Dame Agatha who died in 1976, never uttered a word about it.

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont is a psychological mystery novel set in 1926. It comes up with a totally unverified version of what might have happened, when Agatha went missing. It's definitely inventive, but is not supported by any real data.

Blurb:

In 1926, Agatha Christie disappeared for 11 days. Only I know the truth of her disappearance.

I'm no Hercule Poirot.

I'm her husband's mistress.

Agatha Christie's world is one of glamorous society parties, country house weekends, and growing literary fame.

Nan O'Dea's world is something very different. Her attempts to escape a tough London upbringing during the Great War led to a life in Ireland marred by a hidden tragedy. After fighting her way back to England, she's set her sights on Agatha. Because Agatha Christie has something Nan wants. And it's not just her husband.

Despite their differences, the two women will become the most unlikely of allies. And during the mysterious eleven days that Agatha goes missing, they will unravel a dark secret that only Nan holds the key to.

The premises of the story of what might have happened, when Agatha Christie went missing for eleven days was promising.

The story is told in the first person narrative by Nan O'Dea, the mistress of Agatha Christie's husband Archie. In real life she was called Nancy Neele.

The Other Woman is too intelligent and perceptive in the novel. Her sympathy towards Agatha is so insincere. Her re-imagining of what Agatha might have felt is bordering on stalkerish-obsessive, while in real life she was most likely just an unscrupulous opportunist who enjoyed the thrill of sleeping with the married man, "just because she can". 

Nan is quite patronising, convincing herself that she almost does a favour to the woman whose husband she covets. "And I decided - the way someone who's doing something cruel can decide - it's all to the good: she deserves better than Archie, this pretty and ambitious woman".

Nancy Neele was a manipulative and ego-centric woman. In a way, she and Archie totally deserve each other, both uncaring whose lives they trample over. 

There are three storylines: Nan's younger years, tragic events in Ireland; Agatha's disappearance and a very convoluted murder at the hotel. The title of the book is quite misleading, as it's less about Agatha, and more about Nan.

Nan is telling her story, as if throwing a challenge, "Perhaps you're finding it difficult to feel kindly towards a homewrecker like me. But I don't require your affection". And hence lies the problem, she justifies her own behaviour by the moral wrongs done to her.

The backstory of Nan's earlier years and personal tragedy is elaborate and complicated. The murder plot is tangled, to say the least.

The literary trope of the first person narrative in this case is unconvincing to the point of being ridiculous. Nan narrates things that she has no clue about, as if she were there, and events she couldn't even imagine would happen. Propelled to act by revenge and grief, Nan's obsession with becoming the second Mrs Christie turns her into a dramatic figure of Fury. Her story is tragic, but it's hard to sympathise with her, as she doesn't care who she hurts along the way.

 

Nina de Gramont's book is endorsed by several authors in the field. For example, another author of mysteries gushes, "Literally out-Christies Agatha". So does NOT...

I don't write negative reviews frequently, but this book somehow infuriated me. I can easily imagine the ghost of Agatha Chrisie clutching her famous pearls in indignation, and gasping in dismay. It's not that it's badly written, it's just the main premises is based on zero facts. 

I've read this book to join in the discussion at the book club at the local Waterstones last year. It appeared that the majority enjoyed the novel, and I was the only one who openly disliked it. If you do plan to read this book, please don't let my criticism stop you.

SPOILERS ALERT:

If you haven't read the book, and don't want to read the spoilers, please stop here. I would like to mention a few things that bother me and see if people who have read the book agree with me, or if you think that the creative licence is perfectly fine when applied to the real life characters.

The alliance between two women is rather unlikely, and the romance side-story of Agatha and the detective is completely unsubstantiated, and preposterous.

The whole concept of Agatha's child being adopted is again based on zero data. Agatha's mother was "adopted" by her aunt, when her own father died. There is a fascinating Obituary of Rosalind Hicks in The Guardian, which you can find online, if you want to read more about Agatha's daughter.

The abuse in the religious institution where unwed mothers were sent to give birth as described in the book is going into the brutal sex cult territory. The priest abuses pregnant women, while nuns stand guard outside the door. The despair of those women who were subjected to cruelty would have been enough, without the added sex pest figure, and nuns willingly working as pimps. 

Trigger alert: adultery, infant death, sexual abuse at the convent.

Murder on the Safari Star by M.G. Leonard & Sam Sedgman

"The whistle of the Safari Star was followed by the huff, huff, huff of smoke being expelled from her chimney and the compressed hiss of pistons turning her giant wheels, as the towering locomotive heaved her carriages away from Hoedspruit through the savannah." 

Murder on the Safari Star is the 3rd book in the Adventures on trains series by M.G.Leonard and Sam Sedgman. Genre-wise, it is a mixture of mystery and adventure for middle-grade children.

This story is like a Murder on the Orient Express, kids' version. There is still plenty of suspence, drama, red herrings and unpalatable characters. We encounter danger at every corner, from a venomous mamba to the deadly fight above Victoria falls.

At Christmas, Hal (Harrison) Beck is surprised by his Uncle Nat with a generous gift of tickets for the Safari Star trip, from Pretoria to the incredible Victoria Falls on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Both Hal and Nat love trains, and they are super excited.

Hal is a talented young artist who enjoys sketching on his trips. He is also very observant, and dabbles in sleuthing along the way. (In the prvious two books he managed to solve two mysteries).

Before they board the train Nat introduces Hal to his old friend, Erik Lovejoy. Erik is a retired detective now.

On board the train, Hal befriends a child of his own age named Winston. Winston's mother Liana is a safari guide and an experienced zoologist, who knows a lot about the animals. Winston's pet mongoose Chipo provides a lot of chuckles with her antics.

Liana tells the assembled guests on the train, "It is my pleasure and responsibility to lead two safari expeditions on this journey. You will be seeing a rich variety of wildlife on this trip. It may seem obvious, but these are wild animals. When outside the train, in the parks, you must always follow my instructions. Nature is beautiful, but she is dangerous, and even on land fenced in by man we must be respectful and cautious at all times".

We meet a whole set of characters, including the family of the horrible media magnate Mervyn Crosby. Crosby is a powerful man, who owns several newspapers and TV companies. He's also a trophy hunter who has been shooting big game in Africa for years. Despite the fact that hunting animals on the train journey is prohibited by law, he still believes he can shoot at his own pleasure. His dream is to kill a rhino, one of the most endangered species on the planet.

He manages to antagonise everyone on the train with his outlandish remarks and rudeness.

When one of the passengers is found dead inside a locked compartment, the police comes to the conclusion that the death was a tragic accident. However, Hal's "peter-tingle" intensifies, he's convinced that something is wrong. Hal and his new friend Winston are trying to get to the bottom of the mysterious death.

Will Hal and Winston be able to discover the truth before the train arrives at its final destination?

Adventures on trains is an entertaining series, we've read almost all the books (half-way through book no.6 right now). 

On the plus side:

- detailed descriptions of trains. You get to know all the details of the locomotive, and the train intinerary. We enjoy reading the descriptions of carriages and suites, the stops along the way and the food served during the journey. The love of trains is one of the distinctive attributes of the series. 

- Each story follows Hal and Nat's adventures. They are the main protagonists who meet an unfamiliar set of characters as they travel. There is usually a new sidekick of Hal's on each trip.

- Each book is set in a different country: this time we see South Africa and Zimbabwe. We get a glimpse of Hwange National Park and Kruger National Park, and learn a lot about the local fauna and flora. The descriptions of nature create a convincing, atmospheric setting.

- Ethical and moral dilemmas. There is an insight into the horrible sport of safari killings, and illegal trade.

- Elisa Paganelli's charming illustrations throughout the book bring the characters to life. The map at the beginning of the book traces the train journey through the Southern Africa. Every time we look at the map, we say to each other how much we'd have liked to take a trip on a sleeper train.

On the minus side:

- Hal's behaviour at times borders on obnoxious, he is overconfident, judgmental and self-important. He says, "I've learnt to spot strange behaviour, working on previous cases... I'm a real detective. I've solved two cases in the last seven months, a jewel theft and a kidnapping". And here lies his problem, he believes he a legit detective. 

The idea that children are present during an interrogation of the murder investigation and are given a prominent part is not very believable. If you found yourself in a situation where you have to give an account to a child, wouldn't you categorically refuse to indulge them?!

- In this story Hal shows that he's not caring whether his investigation might jeopardise the livelihood of the people who work on the train.

- Hal's uncle Nat is a wishy-washy man, who is not doing a good job of looking after his nephew. Hal puts himself in danger, entering a no-go zone during the safari trip against the guide's clear instructions, he is allowed to climb on top of the train, hop off the moving train, and tackle a murderer, brandishing a weapon. Nat fails as a responsible adult on all accounts. Instead he smiles benevolently every time Hal says something. He is a Disney uncle who enjoys distributing gifts, without a responsibility. 

- I appreciate that I am not a target audience for this series, but we read it together with my younger son, and we come to the same conclusions. 

- We enjoyed the first book, were less enthusiastic about book no.2. and found the third instalment open to discussion. Book four was my personal favourite, and the sixth is amusing as well. 

Reading the series, you will have a strong impulse to go on a long train journey and discover new places.

Murder on the Safari Star is a fun cosy mystery for younger readers, a fast-paced adventure, with lots of twists and intriguing clues. 

Breakfast & Brunch 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 Breakfast & Brunch Degustabox box?

Dorset Cereals Simply Delicious Muesli/ Simply Fruity Muesli/ Simply Nutty Muesli (£3.39) is a perfect start to a day. Made with juicy fruit and crunchy nuts, these breakfast cereals make a lovely morning meal.

All high in fibre and vegan, with no added sugar (only naturally occurring sugars), no added colours or preservatives, no artificial colours, contains wholegrains.

You should receive one of three items in your box. We received Dorset Cereals Simply Delicious Muesli with juicy dates, seeds and crunchy brazils.

Nutritional information: 166kcal and 6.6g of sugar per 45g portion.

I love to add a handful of Dorset Cereals muesli to chocolate chip dough, when I am making cookies, for an extra crunch and texture.

There is a Woodland Trust logo on the pack. As Dorset Cereals says, "we've proudly planted 38,000 trees by supporting the Woodland Trust".

MOMA Barista Oat Drink (£1.90) is an oat drink with added calcium and vitamins, crafted to pair perfectly with coffee. Made in the UK with British oats, this award-winning oat drink is not from concentrate, fully-foamable and non-splitting.

Ingredients: oat, rapeseed oil, acidity regulator, calcium carbonate, salt, vitamins D3, B2, B12, potassium iodide.

Suitable for vegetarians and vegans, contains naturally occurring sugars.

Nutritional information: 58kcal and 4g of sugar per 100ml.

Available at Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Morrisons, Ocado and on Amazon and Momafoods.co.uk.

MOMA Almond Butter and Salted Caramel porridge pot (£1.15) is an instant porridge with almonds and dates. 

This is a vegan and gluten free breakfast on the go. Simply add hot water, stir, wait for 3 minutes and enjoy.

Ingredients include wholegrain gluten free oats, roasted ground almonds, dates, sugar, roasted almond pieces, sea salt, natural flavourings.

Nutritional values: 218kcal and 9.6g of sugar per pot.

I used the dry contents of the pot as an ingredient, when making cookies.

Available at Waitrose, Tesco, Ocado and on Amazon and Momafoods.co.uk.

H!P Chocolate Salted Caramel Mini Bar (£1.50) is a modern-day classic plant-based chocolate bar, made with creamy oat milk and Colombian chocolate. The packaging is plastic free.

Nutritional information: 537kcal and 40.9g of sugar per 100g (one bar is 25g).

I  find it very sweet, with a slightly powdery aftertaste, but that's my personal experience, as I know H!P chocolate has an army of vegan fans. 

70g bar is available at Sainsbury's.

Fitbakes Millionaire Cake (£1.30) is a morning/afternoon snack. Fluffy vanilla sponge is covered with one layer of signature sugar free caramel and milk chocolate.

Nutritional values: 98kcal and 0.74g of sugar per 30g cake; low sugar (94% less sugar), natural sweeteners and flavourings, source of protein, vegetarian and slimming club friendly.

Available at Tesco, Waitrose and on Amazon.

Human Nature Smoky BBQ flavour pea rings/ Hot Jalapeño and lime flavour lentil sticks/ Caramelised Onion flavour pea rings (£2) are plant-based snacks.

You should receive one of three flavours. We got Smoky BBQ flavour pea rings.

These snacks are made using plant-based ingredients, like peas, onions, chipotle, tomatoes and seasonings.

They are good for you as they contain 13g of protein per pack, they are vegan, a source of fibre, and palm oil free.

Nutritional values: 91kcal per 20g serving.

These crunchy flavourful snacks are good for the planet too, as every pack plants a tree. There is a Keep it Green promise on the pack -  helping fight climate change through their goal of planting one million angrove trees every year.

Available on www.humannaturefood.com.

Hellmann's Vegan Mayo (£2.60) is made with four key ingredients: oil, vinegar, corn starch and lemon.

This is a perfect mayo for anyone who cannot have dairy. It's pretty amazing, how close it replicates the taste and flavour of the dairy mayo. Unlike many vegan products which try to substitute dairy, this tastes like the real thing, and doesn't have any artificial aftertaste of plant-based dairy switches.

Nutritional values: 98kcal per 15g portion; same great taste, 100% plant based, no artificial colours or flavours, gluten free, source of Omega 3

Available at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, ASDA, Waitrose, Ocado and Co-Op.

Leon Mango'ed Ketchup (£2.65) has been selected Product of the Month. This is a vegan, gluten free condiment made with mango chutney, tomatoes, chipotle peppers and red jalapenos.

This fruity and spicy ketchup is made with all natural ingredients. Add a big dollop to your sandwiches, burgers, muffins, sausages (either meat or plant-based), stir a spoonful into gravy, stew or pasta.

It will also be great with baked cheese like camembert.

Nutritional values: 101kcal and 15.5g of sugar per 100g.

Available at Sainsbury's, Ocado and ASDA.

Knorr Chicken Stock Pot (£1.65) is a handy product to have in the kitchen pantry for any quick and easy meals that require stock: soup, risotto, stew, pasta etc.

Gluten free, no added MSG, artificial colours and preservatives; it is slowly simmered with garlic and parsley.

Typical values: 6kcal and 1.1g of salt per portion.

Available in major supermarket chains.

Ryvita Fruit Crunch (£1.99) is a lovely sweet treat, when you're feeling peckish. Made with wholegrain rye flour, these ryvitas also contain currants, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, sugar, wholegrain wheat flour, wholegrain kibbled rye, wholegrain oat flakes and honey.

Spread a big spponful of cottage cheese or cream cheese, drizzle a bit of honey over, and sprinkle chopped nuts for an indulgent but pretty healthy sweet snack.

Each 15g slice contains 56kcal and 2.6g of sugar.

Available in major supermarket chains.

Swizzels Scrumptious Sweets (£1.90) is a selection of classic Swizzels sweets, like Double Lollies, Parma Violets, Refreshers, Love Hearts, Drumsticks and Fizzers.

Vegan, free from artificial colours.

Typical values: 81kcal and 16g of sugar per portion.

The word scrumptious always makes me think of Perfect Peter (Horrid Henry's younger sibling). Needless to say, my two would totally agree with the description.

Available in most major supermarkets.

Breakfast & Brunch Degustabox reflects the values of Veganuary with a wide choice of vegan products. As I've mentioned before, it might be worth offering a choice between vegan and non-vegan boxes in the future, as for vegans there are products that they wouldn't want, and non-vegans might not enjoy just so many vegan products. Personally, I would try anything, but do prefer dairy chocolate, with a very few exceptions.

The Paris Sister by Adrienne Chinn

 

"She likes her life in Paris. She likes the parties and the music and the high-spirited crowd that she has found her way into. Paris is the centre of the world and she is at the centre of it".

The Paris Sister by Adrienne Chinn is a historical novel, set in the 1920s. There is romance, moral quandary, tragedy, heartache, and secrets and lies aplenty.

This is the second book in the family saga series, inspired by the author's grandmother and other family members. I enjoyed the first book Love in a Time of War, and found The Paris Sister even more poignant and moving. 

This is the story of three sisters who end up living in different countries and even continents. Despite differences in their personalities, there is a special bond between them.

The Fry sisters are torn apart by the paths they followed.

Celie finds herself in Canada, building a life of a farmer's wife. She has to suppress her intellectual abilities and talents to accommodate the moods of her husband Frank who comes damaged from the war. She has a daughter who is the apple of her parents' eye, the promising farm that requires a lot of work, and husband who has old-fashioned views on the roles between husband and wife. 

And all this time her heart is still aching for her first love, Max. "She has to pack her memories of Max away and lock down the lid... Her life now lies ahead of her, not behind her in Britain or Germany... She has this innate urge to improve things. To do her bit in the world around her. And now God has set her out on this new path, and, come what may, she will do everything to make it work".

Celie tries her hardest to make a life in their own house on their own farm, with one hundred and sixty acres of land around them, but it all comes at a great cost. "Where has that Celie gone? The Celie full of self-belief and convictions, looking to carve a future for herself that mattered... She is trying to be a good wife to Frank and a good mother to Lulu, but she is losing herself".

Jessie is running the Altumanina health clinic in Cairo. Her husband, Dr Aziz Khalid, is a caring, understanding and loving man. Her sister-in-law Zara is the practice manager, much to the chagrin to her mother, who believes the woman's role is to be a wife and a mother. Jessie dreams of becoming a doctor one day, but women are not permitted to study medicine in Egypt.

Jessie yearns to become a mother, and struggles to adapt to the different social norms of the Egyptian society. Her mother-in-law Leila is a bad-tempered dragon, who resents her son's marriage to the English woman.

The Egyptian society is changing, with the political unrest too close to home. After a traumatic loss, Jessie has to reconsider her position and re-establish herself beyond the confines of the family life.

And there's Etta, the eponymous Paris sister. She is the most carefree of the sisters, who eloped with the handsome Italian artist Carlo Marinetti only to discover that he is still married. Finding herself in Capri, Etta feels buried alive in the parochial world of the little town. "Here it is like she is in her own prison, with eyes everywhere and everyone wanting to know her business, Some days she can barely breathe for the oppressiveness of it all".

Etta's twin, Jessie, calls her selfish and irresponsible, and with passing years, that doesn't change. Etta has grown up, but is still very egocentric. Even when working hard as an artist to support her family, it's ultimately on her own terms. 

"She has always been one to float through life like a feather on a breeze, without a thought or care for the consequences of her actions, relying on others to solve any problems that arose - her sisters, her mother, Cousin Roger, Cousin Stefania, Carlo." 

To promote the artwork and save the man she loves, Etta goes to Paris and enters the flamboyant, dissolute, and pretty immoral world of the Parisian socialites and arty world.

Like in the first book, where we meet the intellectuals of the Bloomsbury group, here we come across real historical figures, like Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Man Ray, Kiki de Montparnasse, Mistinguett, de Lempicka and others. 

The extravagance of the literary and arty circles, heavy drinking and non-stop partying, hedonistic lifestyle are vividly brought to life. The word decadent was invented for this group of "high-strung creative people with big dreams, little money and love of liquor". 

And Etta loves every moment of it. All her responsibilities are set aside, while Etta is living her life to the full in the Parisian euphoria.

In London their mother Christina lives alone, with her grumpy and loyal maid. Her past secrets seem to be catching up with her, when she re-enters the liasion that nearly ruined her many years previously. Her ex-lover Harry is a cad of the highest level, unscrupulous and ever so charming.

"The Christina Fry she had constructed so carefully - the devout Catholic, the strict but loving mother of three daughters, the respected member of community organisations - was nothing, she had discovered, but a veneer concealing the real Christina. The naive, romantic, trusting Christina Bishop whom she had thought she had left on Capri in 1892". 

Christina despises herself for being weak and for allowing herself to be lulled into the belief that Harry had fallen under her spell again. 

The stories of four strong-willed women are interwoven into one colourful tapestry. Adrienne Chinn has a gift of storytelling. Etta ponders to herself that "dreams and reality rarely mirror each other", which could be said about all Fry sisters and their mother. At the same time, they all refuse to be victims of their circumstances and want to create their own fate.

The Paris Sister is a beautiful, spellbinding family saga/ historical novel, which transports readers to the roaring 1920s. It is a moving tale of compassion, forgiveness, courage and strength of character. 

The compelling characters of four Fry women will live with you long after you close the book.

I loved the book, even if I found the ending slightly melodramatic. Saying that, I can't wait for the third part of the family saga (and I'm seriously rooting for Christina and Celie).

P.S. My husband has recently stayed in Paris, in a university apartment just next to the famous Shakespeare and Company bookshop, and sent me photos of the shop, as I was reading about it in the novel. There was a group of Japanese tourists who projected a video of Before Sunrise on the wall outside the shop, as it's one of the locations of the film.

I absolutely loved the chapter describing the bookshop, its owner Sylvia Beach and its visitors.

P.P.S. Etta's hat on the book cover!!! 💖

This review is part of the blog tour for The Paris Sister.

Many thanks to Adrienne Chinn, One More Chapter and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paris-Sister-sweeping-historical-perfect-ebook/dp/B0B5PW9X63

https://www.amazon.com/Paris-Sister-sweeping-historical-perfect-ebook/dp/B0B5PW9X63

Author Bio –

Adrienne Chinn was born in Grand Falls, Newfoundland, grew up in Quebec, and eventually made her way to London, England after a career as a journalist. In England she worked as a TV and film researcher before embarking on a career as an interior designer, lecturer, and writer. Her debut novel, The Lost Letter, a timeslip love story set in Morocco, was published by Avon Books UK in 2019. Her second novel, The English Wife -- a timeslip story set in World War II England and contemporary Newfoundland -- was published in June 2020 and has become an international bestseller. Her third novel, Love in a Time of War, the first in a series of four books in The Three Fry Sisters series, was published in February 2022. The second book in the series, The Paris Sister, will be published in February 2023.

Social Media Links –

https://www.facebook.com/adriennechinnauthor/

https://www.adrienne-chinn.co.uk/

https://twitter.com/adriennechinn

https://www.instagram.com/adriennechinn/