Crucial Black by Colin Garrow (extract)

 

I'm thrilled to welcome Colin Garrow to my blog today.

Crucial Black

A brace of corpses. A bone-crunching machine. A new recruit.

Now employed by an Inverness organised crime gang, former petty thief Relic Black is teamed up with hitman Ali McKay, the man he almost killed a few weeks earlier. As the team tidy up the loose ends after the shooting, gang member and bent cop DI McKenzie must investigate the disappearance of two people, knowing Relic and Ali have already disposed of the bodies.

Meanwhile, Rebecca’s unpopular colleague DI Swinney, suspects her of involvement in the shooting. Knowing one of the bodies currently taking up space in the mortuary remains anonymous, he discovers the man’s identity. Can Swinney uncover the truth, dig the dirt on McKenzie and regain his former status with the DCI, or will the gang step in to stop him?

Warning - strong language and adult situations throughout.

Crucial Black is book #2 in the Relic Black Thriller series set in Inverness, Scotland.

NB book #2 is not a standalone – the series must be read in order.

 

Purchase Link

AMAZON https://geni.us/gXeQFS

SMASHWORDS https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1345380

Author Bio –

Colin Garrow grew up in a former mining town in Northumberland. He has worked in a plethora of professions including taxi driver, antiques dealer, drama facilitator, theatre director and fish processor, and has occasionally masqueraded as a pirate.

His short stories have appeared in several literary mags, including SN Review, Flash Fiction Magazine, Word Bohemia, Every Day Fiction, The Grind, A3 Review, 1,000 Words, Inkapture and Scribble Magazine. He currently lives in a humble cottage in Northeast Scotland where he writes novels, stories, poems and the occasional song.

He also makes rather nice vegan cakes.

 

Social Media Links –

Twitter https://twitter.com/colingarrow

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/colinngarrow/

Website https://colingarrow.co.uk/ 

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/colin-garrow

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

TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@colingarrowauthor

Extract from Crucial Black

Owing bent cop Rebecca McKenzie a few favours, barber Hughie McVitie finds himself agreeing to do some spying on her behalf…

The Twa Heids Barber Shop, Castle Street, Inverness 7:12pm

Hughie McVitie flicks the cigarette away and locks the shop door. Standing for a minute, he tells himself to calm down. After all, it’s not as if the bitch is calling him night and day for favours. He looks at the address she’s sent him. It’s only a ten-minute walk from where he is, so not massively out of his way. Walking down past the castle, he veers right onto View Place, then into Haugh Road. Turning left, he gets confused. Halfway along, the road goes straight on to a dead end but also leads off to his left. Both, apparently, are Gordonville Road. Not confusing at all. Taking the left one, he follows it along almost to the corner of Paton Street and realises he’s walked in a full circle. Backing up, he finds the flats on the right-hand side.

Gazing around, there’s no-one lurking in the bushes. In fact, there aren’t any bushes to lurk in. If anyone were spying on the place, as McKenzie seems to think, it’d be near impossible to do it without being spotted. Crossing to the opposite pavement, he continues along, ducking under the tree overhanging the house on the corner and promptly colliding with a man doing the same thing coming the other way.

‘Fuck’s sake,’ Hughie mutters.

The other man steps aside. ‘Aye, my fault, mate, sorry…’ Then he pauses. ‘Hang on…’

‘Oh, Christ,’ says Hughie. ‘What is it noo? Am I no even allowed to walk the fuckin streets on ma ain?’

Swinney mumbles something Hughie can’t hear and hurries off past the flats.

Hughie stands watching until the copper reaches the other end and turns the corner. Unsure what to do, he dithers for a minute, then follows the cop back down to the main road. By the time he gets to the junction there’s no sign of him.

Fine. Well, that’s me done, he thinks to himself. Taking out his mobile, he sends a text. A minute later, he gets a reply.

Hang around for an hour, will ye? See if he comes back.

Scanning the message, Hughie groans. ‘Fuck’s sake. Like I’ve no got onythin else to do.’

Murder on the Italian Riviera by T.A. Williams

 

"Just you be careful. I wouldn't want this to be some kind of hoax or, even worse, like an attempt to incriminate you in return or even kill you".

Murder on the Italian Riviera by T.A. Williams is an entertaining cozy mystery, with grips and twists until the very end.

This is the 7th book in the Armstrong and Oscar Cozy Mysteries series. It reads as a standalone, but it might help understand the dynamics between the main characters, as well as their back story, if you've read some - or all - of the previous books in the series. (If you haven't discovered this series yet, I suggest you start with the 1st book. You will thank me later.)

Blurb:

A brand-new cozy crime series set in gorgeous Tuscany... It's murder in paradise!

An ex-con...

Private investigator Dan Armstrong is no stranger to working with criminals, but when he's approached for help by Bianca Moretti, he's on high alert. Biance is intelligent and beautiful, and Dan likes her, but he also once sent her to prison...

A suspicious death...

Bianca explains that a guest has been found dead at her father's luxurious and private retreat on the beautiful Italian Riviera. The police are sure the death is accidental, but Bianca is convinced the man's been murdered. Dan's sure he can get to the bottom of things... as long as Bianca is telling him the whole truth.

A very revealing case!

But when Dan arrives at the resort, he's in for a shock. He finds that the place is a naturist retreat, and everybody is walking around stark naked! Dan is determined to discover the truth, but this is going to mean revealing a whole lot more of himself than he expected.

Can Dan sniff out the truth about this case before Oscar's cold wet nose causes havoc?

Dan Armstrong and his loyal sidekick Oscar the labrador are back in action. Dan works as a private detective in Tuscany. He is a retired Met DCI, and also a published author with a bestselling book.

Dan loves Italy and he enjoys his job. "There was no doubt about it, my decision to settle in Tuscany two years ago was one of the best of my life..." 

When Bianca Moretti asks him to look into a death of a British tourist named Jospeh Beck at her father's private retreat, Dan is rather surprised. The last time he met Bianca was back in the UK, when he sent her to prison.

Bianca is a mystery figure. Can Dan trust her motives for approaching him? Is it some kind of a revenge plot to pay back? Why couldn't Bianca find someone else to look into the case of the dead Brit?

The police pronounce it the accidental death, yet Bianca is convinced that Beck has been murdered.

When Dan arrives at the resort on the Italian Riviera, he is in for a big surprise. This is the naturist retreat. To uncover the truth, Dan has to blend in with the guests. But where and how will he carry his notebook and phone?

The retreat welcomes guests from all over Europe. Finding the right information is rather tricky.

"I was feeling curious to know more about the mysterious Joseph Beck. Who had he been: a harmless, trilingual Brit with a penchant for letting it all hang out or somebody altogether less clear-cut?... had his death really been a simple accident or might there have been a more sinister reason behind it?"

This series combines all the winning elements of the genre, a clever mystery, a sympathetic main character, a gentle humour, dramatic and eye-catching locations (a new one in each book), wonderful descriptions of local cuisine, colourful supporting characters and much more.

And Oscar is truly a shining star of each instalment in the series.

I've said it before that there are many cosy mysteries with a token dog/cat/mouse, "helping" with the investigation, but Oscar has become a truly integral part of the series. He has a great personality, and his interactions with Dan and people he meets are a joy to observe.

Murder on the Italian Riviera is an intriguing puzzle with plenty of twists, red herrings and false leads. I've enjoyed all the books in the series, Dan and Oscar have become my friends, and I'm looking forward to each new mystery with great anticipation.

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

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/italianrivierasocial

Author Bio –

I write under the androgynous name T A Williams because 65% of books are read by women. In my first book one of the (female) characters suggests the imbalance is due to the fact that men spend too much time getting drunk and watching football. I couldn't possibly comment. Ask my wife...

I've written all sorts: thrillers, historical novels, short stories and now I'm enjoying myself hugely writing romance and whodunnits. Romantic comedies are what we all need from time to time. Life isn’t always very fair. It isn’t always a lot of fun, but when it is, we need to embrace it. Murder mystery is all very well, but it needs to put a smile on your face, so that's why I like to inject some humour. I'm having a lot of fun writing the Armstrong and Oscar cozy mystery series set in sunny Italy. They are all standalone books but if you really want to do it properly, start with the first one in the series, Murder in Tuscany. If my books can whisk you away to gorgeous locations, put a smile on your face and maybe give your heartstrings a tug, then I know I’ve done my job.

I‘ve lived all over Europe, but now I live in a little village in sleepy Devon, tucked away in south west England. I love the place. That’s why you’ll find leafy lanes and thatched cottages in many of my books. Oh, yes, and a black Labrador.

I've been writing since I was 14 and that is well over half a century ago. However, underneath this bald, wrinkly exterior, there beats the heart of a youngster. My wife is convinced I will never grow up. I hope she's right.

Social Media Links –  

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TAWilliamsBooks

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/TAWilliamsNews  

April Box 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 April Box Degustabox?

Snatt's Green Pea Piselli Mediterranean style snacks (£2.20) are vegetable and spice flavoured baked snacks. Totally addictive! My guys loved them, and we're hoping they will be available in the local shops soon. Top marks for flavour and texture! 10/10

Ingredients: pea flour, corn flour, rice flour, sunflower oil, sugar, onion powder, salt, natural flavourings, tomato powder, garlic powder, spices, parsley etc.

Natural ingredients, not fried, no palm oil, gluten free, no added MSG, vegan.

Nutritional values: 477kcal and 1.6g of salt per 100g (one pack is 85g).

Available in major supermarket chains soon.

The Food Doctor Salted Caramel High Fibre Protein Bar (£2.20) is a high fibre lower carb snack bar. 

Recommended for those who follow a Keto or a low carb diet.

Nutritional values: 143kcal and 0.7g of sugar per serving; high protein 12.2g per bar Keto friendly, low sugar, vegan.

It has a slightly bitter, powdery aftertaste.

Available in Sainsbury's, Ocado and Amazon.

Ryvita Snack It Thins Sour Cream & Chime Flavour (£2.20) are a wonderful new addition to Ryvita range. 

Perfect for snacking, these wheat and rye flatbreads with sour cream and chive flavouring are great to eat on their own, or as part of the cheese or mezze board. Try them with cream cheese and sliced cucumber as a tasty snack.

Nutritional values: 38kcal and 0.08g of salr per thin.

Vegetarian friendly, British-baked, no artificial preservatives.

Available at Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Ocado and Amazon.

Nature's Path Gluten Free Organic Mesa Sunrise Cereal (£3.50) is a delicate blend of corn, quinoa, buckwheat, amaranth and flaxseed, combined and lightly toasted to create crisp, whole-grain flakes.

This cereal is high in fibre, gluten free and vegan. Serve with dairy or plant-based milk of your choice, and a scattering of fresh berries for an extra flavourful breakfast.

Nutritional values: 120kcal and 3.9g of sugar per 30g serving (without milk). There are 12 servings in a pack.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Yogiyo Korean Hot Chilli sauce/ Korean Sesame Soy or Korean Chilli Sauce (£0.85 each) are made in Thailand, using only finest ingredients.

You should receive 2 items in your box. We got the Chilli sauce and Sesame soy sauce. Both could be added to stir-fry dishes. 

Chilli sauce could also be used as a marinade for chicken, beef, pork or fish. These authentic sauces will jazz up any noodle dish.

Nutritional values: 72kcal and 11g of sugar per serving (Chilli sauce), 84kcal and 11g of sugar (sesame soy sauce).

Available in Waitrose and Amazon.

E.Wedel Snack Popcorn (£1.30) is a milk chocolate bar with roasted salted corn and salted crispy cereals. We've tried several different E.Wedel chocolate treats in the past with Degustabox, and it's always a pleasure to discover new flavours and textures.

If you enjoy the combination of sweet and salty, this chocolate bar is for you. 

Nutritional values: 540kcal and 50g of sugar per 100g

Available in Tesco, ASDA, Sainsbury's and Amazon.uk.

ManiLife Deep Roast Salted Peanuts/or Cocoa Dusted Peanuts (£2.80)

When it comes to peanuts, ManiLife are experts. 

You should receive 1 item of two in your box. We got ManiLife Deep Roast Salted Peanuts. Fab with a glass of cold white wine or cold beer, or as part of a cheese or mezze board. You could also add them crushed to noodle or curry dishes.

These peanuts are wonderfully crunchy, with a creamy smooth taste.

Nutritional values: 156kcal and 0.18g of salt per 25g serving.

Available in Sainsbury's, Ocado and Whole Food Market.

Lamb Weston Farmer's Mash (£1.69) is made from real British potatoes. A handy pantry staple for making a bowl of mashed potatoes when you don't have enough time to make it from scratch.

One packet contains 4 servings. Just add water.

Serve with bangers, coleslaw, top up Shepherd's pie, or use as an ingredient in making potato blini.

Nutritional information: 134kcal and 0.81g of salt per serving.

Available at Ocado.

Mixologist's Garden Zesty Limes (£2.75) are freeze dried lime garnishes for drinks. 

Adding a lovely fruity taste to a variety of drinks, these garnishes have no additives, no nasties, and no surprises. 

Nutritional values: 278kcal and 16g of sugar per 100g (one pack is 10g).

Available in ASDA, East of England, Co-Op and larger Tescos.

Teapigs Liquorice & Peppermint/or Peppermint Leaves organic tea (£4.60) is a blend of peppermint leaves with liquorice root.

This naturally caffeine-free tea is made, using only big, quality, whole leaves and no dust. 100% natural, with no artificial flavourings. All tea temples are plastic free.

I'm a fan of Teapigs tea (their Earl Grey, Everyday Brew and Peppermint are exceptionally good), but I'm not a fan of liquorice generally, and will pass this pack on to a friend who likes sweet tea.

You should receive 1 flavour in your box.

Available in all major supermarkets and online at teapigs.co.uk.

AquaLibra Blood Orange & Mango and Raspberry & Blackcurrant (£1.15) are lovely, refreshing summery drinks. We've had AquaLibra in some previous Degustabox deliveries, and enjoyed them.

You will find two items in your box. 

Contains no sweeteners, no sugar, no artificials. Just sparkling water, natural fruit flavours and a dash of lemon.

Best enjoyed chilled. And lovely as an ingredient for a white wine spritz too.

Nutritional values: 0.5 kcal per 100ml.

Available in single 330ml cans and multipacks of 4 cans in all major supermarkets.

And finally, the Products of the Month - Maggi Pan Perfect Gingery Teriyaki and So Juicy Cajun Chicken (£0.99).

Maggi Pan Perfect Sweet Teriyaki recipe mix could be used with chicken, salmon or tofu. 

Just mix the contents of the pouch with water to make a smooth paste, and pour over the protein of your choice. Serve with stir-fried vegetables, noodles or rice. 

Our favourite Teriyaki recipe is tofu, cooked with sweet peppers, carrots and sweetcorn, and served with rice.

Nutritional values: 233kcal and 4.7g of sugar per serving.

Maggi Aromatic'n'peppery Cajun is a seasoning mix. The pouch contains a cooking bag, where you place chicken drumsticks and vegetables. It's a quick and easy way to cook a flavourful chicken dish with the bold flavours of Louisiana cuisine.

No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

Cajun chicken is available in all major supermarket chains. Teriyai mix is available in Sainsbury's only.

You should receive two items in your box.

What is your favourite product in the latest Degustabox box?

The Maiden of Florence by Katherine Mezzacappa ( review + #giveaway )

 

"It is unwise to write all this, for I am not so artless that I don't know that it amounts to a confession... Perhaps I should burn these pages".

The Maiden of Florence is a historical novel, set in 16C Florence and Venice. This is a gripping, heart-rending story of a remarkable woman.

Blurb:

"My defloration was talked about in all the courts of Europe. The Prince boasted of his prowess, even as preparations were being made for his wedding, as boldly as if he had ridden across that causeway with bloodstained sheet tied to his lance".

1584, Italy: Twenty-year-old Giulia expects she will live and die incarcerated as a silk weaver within the walls of her Florentine orphanage, where she has never so much as glimpsed her own face. This all changes with the visit of the Medici family's most trusted advisor, promising her a generous dowry and a husband if she agrees to a small sacrifice that will bring honour and glory to her native city.

Vincenzo Gonzaga, libertine heir to the dukedom of Mantua, wants to marry the Grand-Duke of Tuscany's eldest daughter, but the rumours around his unconsummated first marriage must be silenced first. Eager for a dynastic alliance that will be a bulwark against the threat of Protestant heresy beyond the Alps, the Pope and his cardinals turn a blind eye to a mortal sin.

A powerful #MeToo story of the Renaissance, based on true events.

We meet Giulia as she looks back at her life and writes her story. The memoirs are Giulia's way of communicating to her late mother, who she never knew as a child. 

"Those events are almost thirty years old, but I remember them as though they happened thirty days ago, though I have tried to bury the memories. Nearly every player in this story is dead. It is only now that what happened can be told by me, not by the men - and woman - who decided my fate".

Growing up in an orphanage in Florence, Giulia learnt the art of silk weaving. Abandoned as a newborn at the portico of the Innocenti orphanage, she knows nothing of her origins and dreams of being taken away one day by her father. But nobody claims her as their own, and her life is sad and cold. Children are brought up without love or compassion, and are reminded daily they are the fruit of sin.

One day Giulia is brought into the Lady Prioress's parlour to be displayed in front of the important visitors. Giulia is chosen to represent her city and carry out a sordid task "with grace and diligence, in gratitude for the care that has been taken of her".

Defenceless and vulnerable, Giulia cannot refuse her superiors. She is also promised money and a husband by the end of her ordeal.

The young prince of Mantua, Vincenzo Gonzaga, has failed to consummate his first marriage. His family is eager for him to get married again and be allied with the Dukedom of Tuscany. To squash the rumours that he is incapable of consummating the marriage, the Prince has to prove his virility, and the witnesses will have to ascertain the proof. If he succeeds the test, he will marry Lady Leonora. And Giulia is chosen for her beauty, purity and lack of family who would protect her honour.

And thus Giulia's story unfolds, as written by her thirty years later. 

Will she be able to find happiness after the fateful events? Is there ever an escape from the past?

The novel is based on true events. The author mentions the correspondence in the Medici archives, with the explicit details, which has been used as a source of inspiration. There is not much known about Giulia herself. Mezzacappa gives voice to a woman who has become a footnote in history books.

I found it hard to read the first part of the book, where there is too much emphasis on the physical side of Giulia's plight. While I understand the significance of the detailed description of her torment, it felt unnecessarily prolonged and graphic, and uncomfortably voyeuristic.

Deprived of human touch and love in the orphanage, Giulia is looking for any crumbs of affectiom where there are none. Her story is harrowing, yet also redemptive. 

The Maiden of Florence is a poignant evocation of the aspirations, hopes and healing, human suffering and spiritual integrity. Masterfully researched and elegantly written, the book shines a light on the struggles of the Renaissance women.

Potential triggers: rape/sexual abuse, murder.

Many thanks to Katherine Mezzacappa, Fairlight Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book!

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Maiden-Florence-Katherine-Mezzacappa/dp/1914148509/

https://www.amazon.com/Maiden-Florence-Katherine-Mezzacappa/dp/1914148509/

Author Bio –

Katherine Mezzacappa is an Irish writer of mainly historical fiction, currently living in Italy. She has published several novels under pen names with publishers Bonnier Zaffre and eXtasy. She works as a manuscript assessor for The Literary Consultancy. Katherine reviews for Historical Novel Society’s quarterly journal and is one of the organisers of the Society’s 2022 UK conference. In her spare time she volunteers with a used book charity of which she is a founder member.

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

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

https://katherinemezzacappa.ie/

 

Giveaway to Win a vintage postcard, early 1900s, of the babies from the façade of the Innocenti orphanage. (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 passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  

Chez Maximka is hosting a Rafflecopter gadget for free for the purposes of the book promotion. 

I have no access to the data collected, and have no say in the selection of the winner.

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

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

March Box 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 March Box Degustabox?

We start with the Product of the Month - Kellogg's Coco Pops Mega Pops (£3.35). It is a chocolate flavoured wheat and maize cereal fortified with iron and vitamin D.

It will appeal to those who enjoy their cereal sweet and chocolatey.

High in fibre, natural grains, no artificial colours or flavours.

Nutritional information: 115kcal and 6.3g of sugar per 30g serving.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Doisy & Dam Good Eggs (£2.25) is a vegan Easter treat.

The brand's motto is: Better ingredients, better ethics, better chocolate.

These dark chocolate eggs with a crunchy coating are made with ethical cocoa, natural ingredients and no palm oil.

Nutritional values: 472kcal and 66g of sugar per 100g.

Available at Amazon, Aldi, Sainsbury's, Ocado, Holland and Barratt.

More sweet treats in the pre-Easter box: Jelly Belly Bubble Tea jelly beans (£2.40). These new jelly beans come in five popular milk tea flavours: Mango Milk Tea, Taro Milk Tea, Matcha Milk Tea, Strawberry Milk Tea and Thai Milk Tea. They look so pretty, in pastel colours.

My boys are big fans of Jelly Belly beans, and the new flavour was a big hit.

Nutritional information: 366kcal and 67g of sugar per 100g. Dairy and tapioca free.

Available at John Lewis Stores.

Nakd Fruit & Fibre bars Apple & Cinnamon/ or Strawberry & Raspberry (£3) are dried fruit and peanut bars with oats, seeds and natural flavouring. Sweet and chewy, enjoy them as a snack, when you're feeling peckish.

These vegan bars consist of 100% natural ingredients: dates, peanuts, raisins, chicory fibre, gluten free oats, peanut butter, dried apples, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cinnamon and natural flavouring.

Nutritional values: 172kcal and 15g of sugar per 44g bar; 1 of your 5 a day; no added sugar, pressed together without heat into tasty raw bars.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

You should receive 1 item in your box.

Proper Chips Katsu Curry/or Jerk Sauce flavour chickpea chips (£2) are new spicy CHIPS on the block. These flavourful plant-based crisps are powered by chickpeas, are vegan and gluten free.

Nutritional values: 97kcal per serve (appr. 4 servings in a pack); natural flavouring, powered by pulses, gluten free, vegan, source of protein, iron and fibre.

You should receive 1 item in your box. We've received Katsu Curry flavoured chips, which proved to be really lovely.

Available at ASDA, Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Ocado.

PizzaExpress Sweet & Smoky BBQ Dipping Sauce (£2) is a delicious sauce for pizza. 

This vegetarian sauce is available in two tasty flavours: Sweet & Smoky and Garlic & Herb.

BBQ sauce is my favourite sauce to go with pizza (it doesn't have to be a PizzaExpress pizza, you can use any brand that you like), or chips. It is sweet, aromatic, and very moreish.

Nutritional information: 130kcal and 27g of sugar per 100g.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Jacob's Cheddars Cheese & Pickle (£1.50) is a new addition to the Cheddars range. 

Flavourful and crunchy, these savory biscuits are tasty on their own, or as part of the cheese board, with a selection of cheeses, chutneys and pickles.

We're big fans of Cheddars, and especially mini-Cheddars, and enjoyed trying this new flavour.

Available at Sainsbury's, ASDA and on Ocado.

Knorr Lamb Stock Pot (£1.90) is a carefully balanced mix of gluten-free ingredients to enhance a lamb-based meal. Made with slow cooked lamb simmered with rosemary and thyme, these stock pots add an irresistible meaty flavour to a variety of stews and tagines.

Nutritional values: 7kcal and 1.1g of salt per portion.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Mocktails Karma Sucra Mockapolitan (£2.49) is an award-winning alcohol free non-carbonated drink. 

You get a strong cranberry flavour with notes of lime, grapefruit peel and bitter orange. Very refreshing.

Nutritional values: 80kcal per bottle GMO free, gluten free, allergen free, no artificial colours or flavours, no preservatives, no high fructose corn syrup, vegan.

Available at www.drinkmocktails.co.uk and Amazon UK.

Only available for £29.99 per 12 pack.

Double Dutch Skinny Tonic Water (£1.20, see above) is a carbonated low calorie tonic water. Drink it straight up or use in a cocktail.

Double Dutch is a range of premium mixers and tonics. In the last couple of years we've had a few different flavours of Double Ducth Drinks in Degustabox deliveries, and they are all high quality drinks.

With pink grapefruit and juniper berry, well balanced with the crispy quinine, it is very drinkable.

Low in calories,natural flavours.

Available online and in all major supermarkets.

Illy Iced Coffee Cold Brew Classico/ or Latte Macchiato/or Cappuccino (£2.50) is a delicious iced coffee drink.

Illy blend is 100% Arabica. Cold brewed for 12 hours. No preservatives, no added sugar.

Illy Instant coffee is my coffee of choice, I always buy it, and we often use Illy ground coffee too, but it's the first time I tried an iced one. It was really lovely.

Nutritional values: 5kcal and 0g sugar per 250ml.

Available at Ocado and Amazon.

So many lovely products, it's not easy to choose the best one. What product would you choose as your product of the month?

Maid of Steel by Kate Baker (Guest post + #giveaway )

 

Maid of Steel by Kate Baker is celebrating its first anniversary. I reviewed this evocative, gripping historical novel last year (see my post for Maid of Steel).

Today I welcome Kate Baker to my blog to share an update on what's been happening in her life since the book's publication.

Please read Kate's guest post and scroll down to enter a book giveaway as well.

"A year on...

As I wandered around the 2024 London Book Fair in Kensington Olympia, I thought about what I’ve learned since becoming a published author:

• Having a book out there has brought me into contact with many other authors; people I simply would never have met had I not put pen to paper. I love meeting new people and hearing about the lives of other writers - and most don’t spend their time smelling of dirty horse rugs, I assure you. (That will sound terrible unless I clarify that I wash, re proof and repair horse rugs in my day job!)

• The same goes for readers, many from whom I’ve received lovely direct messages (not all readers leave reviews and ratings on Amazon; it just doesn’t enter their mind to do so, and that’s something I’ve learnt to accept). So, when a reader reaches out and enthuses how enamoured they are that I finished a book, I’m reminded to give myself a pat on the back. How many of us actually begin a story and then let it fall away because we couldn’t think how to take the idea forward?

• I know I can do it again, because I’ve done it once, right? I’m 60k into my second novel, The Projectionist, a story about a man called Frank who is named in memory of my grandfather. 

There’s a short story you can read for free of the same name which was published by Fairlight Books in 2022 - https://www.fairlightbooks.co.uk/short_stories/the-projectionist/

I know that my next book will have taken many years to go from idea to published book – Maid of Steel took four years from a 2019 weekend break in Cobh, Cork to its February 2023 publication date. The idea for The Projectionist took root when I watched a 2018 Michael Portillo episode of ‘Hidden Histories’ where he walked around Bradford Cinema wearing a hard hat, learning about its history and how it was being redeveloped... so that story will have actually taken longer to come to fruition!

• I love research. To the point where I went back to Cobh twice to ensure the details of St Colman’s cathedral on the coast and Sunday Wells Gaol just outside Cork city in Maid of Steel were as accurate as I could make them. I’ve also been to Bradford for the next book’s research as my fictitious cinema is in a made-up East Anglian town called Bradwich; an amalgamation of Bradford and Harwich. Harwich, on the east coast suffered terrible floods in 1953 and it’s that real historical event around which my backstory will play (spoiler – I’m going to put my characters through some heartache!).

• Being at the Book Fair was another reminder to do things our own way. Of course, we must listen to the expert advice we will receive along the way, from editors for example, whose aim will be to help make the book the best it can be. But the other ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ can all be listened to and filed away, and not taken as gospel. Self and indie-published authors are being not only catered for, but celebrated at the Book Fair these days. That’s a big step forward from ten years ago, when the publishing industry as a whole skirted around the generally-held belief that anyone who self-published had done so as a last resort.

Thank you for having me, Galina, and I hope your readers enjoy Maid of Steel if they venture into 1911 Irish territory with a forbidden romance at its core. Wish me luck as I have to go away and dig deep to finish the first draft of Frank’s story. Xx"

Good luck, Kate, I am looking forward to reading your next book!

Maid Of Steel

It’s 1911 and, against her mother’s wishes, quiet New Yorker Emma dreams of winning the right to vote. She is sent away by her parents in the hope distance will curb her desire to be involved with the growing suffrage movement and told to spend time learning about where her grandparents came from.

Across the Atlantic – Queenstown, southern Ireland – hotelier Thomas dreams of being loved, even noticed, by his actress wife, Alice. On their wedding day, Alice’s father had assured him that adoration comes with time. It’s been eight years. But Alice has plans of her own and they certainly don’t include the fight for equality or her dull husband.

Emma’s arrival in Ireland leads her to discover family secrets and become involved in the Irish Women’s Suffrage Society in Cork. However, Emma’s path to suffrage was never meant to lead to a forbidden love affair…

Purchase Links

Publisher’s link: https://www.bookguild.co.uk/bookshop/book/486/maid-of-steel-SMwd/

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/191535269X/

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/191535269X/

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/maid-of-steel/kate-baker/9781915352699

Author Bio – Maid of Steel is Kate’s first full length novel to be published. She also writes short stories and is presently drafting a second novel.

She writes at a desk covered in to-do lists and lights candles in the hope the lists disappear in the shadows.

She lives in East Anglia in the UK with her husband where they attempt to look after farmland for generations to come.

A small, very small, dog can be frequently found on Kate's lap. Otis is her first miniature dachshund.

https://twitter.com/katefbaker

https://www.instagram.com/KateFrancesWrites/

https://www.facebook.com/KateBakerAuthor

https://katefrancesbaker.com/

 

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