The Mystery of Montague House by Emma Davies

"Only that it has something of a reputation locally. The former owner mysteriously vanished years ago and has never been found, depsite an extensive police enquiry... I know Montague House because of its historical significance, but most folk know it as the place where strange lights are seen at night, where things move around even though no one lives here, that kind of thing".

It so happened, that I was reading The Mystery of Montague House by Emma Davies during one the the most anxious episodes of our lives. My elder son has tested positive for the dreaded virus, and I believe I've had it too, though it was asymptomaic for me. I was totally flattened, and could only just about get up to make a cup of tea and then plop myself down back in bed. Christmas time would have been totally miserable, if not for books and kindness of friends who kept sending messages of support and leaving gifts outside the front door.

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy Noir and gritty crime stories, but at times I feel I need a break from gore and violence in books. Cozy (or cosy) mysteries satisfy my taste for crime fiction, without making me feel too alarmed or leaving sleepless after finishing a book. I love the locations like quaint villages, manor houses or castles, a choice of amateur or accidental detectives, and a good portion of gentle humour. If there's a four-legged friend introduced into the story, it's even better. 

The Mystery of Montague House (out on 14 January) is a classic cozy mystery, with a paranormal twist. And an adorable canine protagonist - a basset hound called Hamish. 

Back in November I took part in the cover reveal for this book (you can read about the author and see the cover at The Mystery of Montague House post), and was happy to receive an advance copy of the mystery. 

Andie Summer is a Finder of Things. She has an innate ability to "read" the ground, looking for clues. She is not your standard paranormal/psychic detective, she is quite pragmatic, almost playing down her own abilities. Yet she can see and sense things which can only be described as supernatural. 

Police is well aware of her talents, in fact, "most of her work came via established contacts on the police force". 

One day Andie's approached by the mysterious Mr Mayfair, who wants to hire her to investigate the possibility of the hidden treasure at Montague House, "a rather large country property that sits in the small village of Much Marden, not far from Hereford".. As Mr Mayfair discloses in confidence, "It isn't actually me who wishes to engage you, but rather a client of mine. A client from the governmnet legal department." Andie feels there's something fishy about her new employer, but she is down on her last few tins of baked beans, and the case sounds promising.

The last owner of the house Frank Maynard died, leaving no heirs - all his estate has to be examined and disposed of. His father Peter Maynard, a famous physicist and a deeply private man, disappeared many years ago. "He was an old man, admittedly, but despite a thorough police investigation, neither he, nor his body, was ever found". 

The house has been preserved by Frank like a museum - "everything exactly as it was when his father was alive. Almost as if he expected him to come home".

On arrival to Montague House, Andie meets Clodagh Wynter. She seems an opposite of spontaneous Andie - rather uptight, formal and on edge. She knows of the manor house's reputation, but doesn't seem to be bothered by the rumours of ghostly shenanigans. She prides herself at being good at her job, valuying and cataloguing the contents of the house, hoping to find a priceless painting or rare manuscript. 

She does not believe in ghosts. But when strange happenings start to manifest themselves in the house, it is clear that someone or something is not happy with Clodagh and Andie's presence in the house. 

The ladies are alarmed and terrified. Rather than leave the property, Andie makes up her mind, "...now I'm angry. And when I get angry, my bloody-minded streak kicks in, so I'm going to be like a dog with a bone until I find out how this happened. And why... First we have to acknowledge why we're both here - which is to find some sort of "treasure" that local rumour has it is somewhere in or around the house. Then we also have to acknowledge that if someone is trying to scare us, a reasonable assumption would be that we're not the only ones looking for it... we have to do two things - find the treasure and this other party".

Montague House is the perfect setting for the classic mystery game like Cluedo. There are plenty of rooms to roam about, grand stairs, inner courtyard and hidden tunnels. 

Clodagh and Andie have to pool together their detective skills to solve the mystery of the house. They will need all their intelligence and imagination, plus lots of chocolate biscuits and bacon sandwiches to work out the puzzle of Montague House.

They are assisted in their search by sweet Hamish. He's more of a psychological support rather than a defender. "And the dog of course, let's not forget about the dog, who, as far as Clodagh could see, was going to be of no use at all unless they wanted something drooled all over."

I enjoyed this cosy mystery; the first adventure of the most unlikely detective duo has a great potential for a new series. I loved the description of the manor house, with its wonderful library and hidden passageways. 

It is entertaining, light-hearted, and if the books with gruesome murders are not your cuppa tea, then cosies/cozies like The Mystery of Montague House will allow you to escape from the rather anxiety-ridden reality. 

Buckle up, and read into the early hours in one sitting! 

Many thanks to Emma Davies for my e-copy of the book!

Sainsbury's Degustabox (December 2020)

 This was supposed to be one of the last blog posts for 2020, but December passed in a blur. I spent many days in bed, being weak and dizzy. All our Christmas plans were cancelled, and though I made a bit of an effort to cook something simple for Christmas, it was so tiring, I was back in bed for the next few days. Friends helped with shopping for essentials, as well as treats.

I was grateful to have extra snacks for my guys, courtesy of Degustabox food delivery.

Last Degustabox of the year was created in partnership with Sainsbury's - it includes a selection of products, all of which you can find at Sainsbury's (though they are not exclusive to this supermarket).

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 probably wouldn't have tried otherwise.

Each time the 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 ave a £3 off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when you place an order.

What did we find in Sainsbury's Degustabox?

Tony's Chocolonely is my younger son's current favourite brand of chocolate. And I agree with him, it is tasty. Tony's Chocolonely Caramel Sea Salt (£1.35 for a small bar) didn't last long. The brand is on a mission to make all chocolate 100% slave free (an inspiring decision, Nestle, take note!). 

Nexba Pineapple Soft Drink 1 litre (£1.25) is a sugar free soft drink. It contains no sugar, no artificial sweeteners, no fructose, it's non-GMO, all natural, low calorie and 100% vegan. It is surprisingly non-sweet, not what you'd expect from similar soft drinks. Very drinkable on its own, it's also lovely in a white wine spritzer (that is, if you're not doing the Dry January).

Clwb Tropica Tropical IPA (£2) is the UK's no.1 Tropical IPA. It's hailed as a non-alcoholic party in a can. It offers an interesting combination of hops and tropical fruit like pineapples, mango, passionfruit and peaches. It tastes like a shandy, though not as sweet.

Dash Water Peach (£1.25) is a healthy soft drink. Real, wonky fruit is infused into fresh spring water to create a lovely refreshing drink that contains 0 sugar, 0 sweetener and 0 calories. I'd say it's more of a summer drink, served with ice, and ideally served in the garden on a warm evening.

Good Earth Tea Ginger, Turmeric & Lemon Tea (£2.75) is a herbal tea. Last month I drank gallons of herbal teas, mostly ginger-flavoured. Ginger, Turmeric & Lemon tea is a lovely combination of flavours, zingy and refreshing.

LEON Aioli (£2.50) is a vegan garlic-flavoured mayonnaise. It is rich and creamy, slightly vinegary, and is made with rapeseed oil and aquafaba (chickpea liquid) instead of eggs. Perfect for anyone who follows Veganuary or has an egg allergy. 

Nutritional information: 565kcal, 58.7g fat and 8.1g sugar per 100g.

Odyssea Aubergine Meze Dip (£2.15) is a premium dip that doesn't need to be kept in the fridge before opening. It's based on a traditional Greek recipe. If you like aubergines (and I am a big fan), then you will enjoy this smoky, thick dip, which is silky smooth in texture. Great both for dipping and spreading, it's a delicious addition to grazing boards or meze platters. 

You can also add a couple of spoonfuls, when making an omelette. 

A handy standby to have in a pantry for a quick and easy meal. It is vegan-friendly. Made with roasted aubergines, extra virgin olive oil, garlic and parsley without added nasties.

Peter's Yard Sourdough Bites (£2) are made using the signature sourdough starter that's slowly fermented for 16 hours. Peter's Yard make the best crispbreads and crackers for cheese. They combine the Swedish tradition with British craft. 

Crafted from Shipton Mill flour, the sourdough bites are baked and richly flavoured with soured cream from West Country frams and British-grown chives.

Nutritional information: 98kcal per 26g serving, baked not fried, made with natural ingredients, low in saturated fat, a good source of fibre and suitable for vegetarians.

Pipers crisps (£1.20 for 40g bag or £2.50 for 150g bag) are made from the finest British potatoes for quality and seasoned with carefully sourced unique flavourings for a great taste.

Great as a sharing snack for a movie night on the sofa, or when you're entertaining (do you remember the days when we used to have guests?).

There were two flavours to choose from - Atlas Mountains Wild Thyme & Rosemary and Lye Cross Cheddar & Onion crisps, both delicious.

Capsicana Mexican Tomato and Chipotle Tinga Cooking Paste (£1.30) is the latest addition to Capsicana range of Latin American flavours. It's based on the dish Chicken Tinga, a classic shredded chicken dish ooriginally from the state of Puebla. It's smoky in flavour, with a promise of just enough heat from the chipotle. It could also work with fajitas, BBQ, marinades and more.

You can discover delicious recipes and cooking tips at capsicana.co.uk or @capsicana on Instagram.

Brave Roasted Chickpeas Sea Salt, Dark Choc or Sweet Chilli (£1) are moreish roasted chickpeas, wonderfully crunchy and seasoned with all-natural flavours. They remind me of the roasted chickpeas you can buy from vendors in the streets of Italian towns. 

They are also packed with protein, high in fibre and completely vegan. And the packaging is recyclable.

We received a Sweet Chilli-flavoured pack, and enjoyed the crunchy texture and a little heat.

The Curators Cocoa Caramel Peanuts (£1.20) is another tasty plant-based snack. Lightly caramelised peanuts are dusted with cocoa powder and a pinch of salt.

They are gluten free, a source of fibre, contain 7g protein and only 191kcal per pack.

Crab Salad with Apple

 

Oh, all those plans I had, to spend Christmas with our friends aka the childcare bubble, and have some semblance of normality. I have bought plenty of food to please all tastes and diets (gluten free, vegetarian, meat eaters). But as they say, man proposes, God disposes. On the last day of school our son got poorly, and a few days later we discovered he tested positive and we all needed to self-isolate.

We informed our friends, and I felt rather guilty that they had to change their plans accordingly, and would need to buy and prepare their own Christmas meal. 

I had to re-think what to do with some of the foods. The turkey crown went in the freezer. I did cook a small ham for our boys at Christmas and also a nut roast, plus lots of veggies for grown-ups, but didn't bother with the cranberry sauce or any side dishes like pigs in blankets or stuffing. 

On the original menu I was planning to do a big platter with blini as a starter - with smoked salmon and crab meat, as well as vegetarian "scampi" and pickled carrots. The crab meat tin has been sitting in the fridge for several weeks, and finally I decided to make a crab salad with it. It is similar to the Soviet crab salad, though in the days of my childhood we rarely had access to the crab meat (you had to live somewhere nearby the sea to get access to this product, or be a member of the apparatchik's family), and used the seafood sticks, which of course, are anything but crab meat. 

For this quick and easy recipe you will need:

100g crab meat (or seafood sticks)

1 small apple, grated or finely chopped

2 hard-boiled eggs, grated or finely chopped

60g hard cheese (like Emmental), grated or cubed

1 small carrot, cooked and chopped finely

1 medium potato, cooked and chopped

3tbsp aioli with garlic (or garlic mayo)

juice of 1/2 small lime

lettuce, to serve in

First, cook a potato and carrot in slightly salted water. Peel and chot finely. Hard-boil a couple of eggs. Once cold, grate them.

In a big mixing bowl, mix together grated eggs, potato, carrot, crab meat, grated cheese. Add the aioli and lime juice, and mix well. 

If you don't have aioli, mayonnaise (with/out garlic) will do, and lime could be substituted with lemon juice. 

Season with salt and a bit of pepper.

Spoon the crab salad into salad leaves to serve.

There are several variations on the theme. Some cooks prefer to use rice rather than potato. Many add several tablespoons of tinned sweetcorn.

It's a lovely, quite light old-fashioned salad.

I have googled what could be a vegetarian/vegan substitute for crab meat, and apparently, it is a shredded jackfruit, palm or artichoke hearts. I haven't tried them as a crab meat substitute, so cannot vouch for how much the flavour is altered. I love artichokes in oil, and often use them in salads, but the taste is very distinct, and nothing like seafood. I guess, you just need to re-think the whole concept.

In this recipe I used Leon Aioli, which was one of the products from the latest Degustabox. This garlic mayo has been the heart of LEON restaurant menus since 2004. This mayo is made with aquafaba (chickpea stock) instead of eggs, and happens to be vegan. To be honest, if I didn't know it is made without eggs, I wouldn't have guessed. So, if you're doing a Veganuary (which I don't), and are looking for great subs for family favourites, this mayo is very creamy and tasty.

Photo diary: mid-December to January 2021, project 365

 It's been almost a month since my last blog post was published. You might have been too busy to notice, or maybe you did wonder what's happened. The second half of December passed in a blur. My older boy tested positive on the last day of school. It looked like he had a cold, with a mild cough and temperature, and the school has provided us with a free test. A few days later, to our shock, the notifications started pinging on my phone that he has tested positive, and we all need to go into self-isolation.

At that point, I was going into a panic mode, anxious about my son, that he might need to go to the hospital, which due to the nature of his disability, he would never understand. I couldn't sleep with worry. Thankfully, he had it in a mild form. Then I caught some sort of lurgy, I haven't done the test, so nothing's been confirmed either way. I spent the next couple of weeks mostly in bed, feeling totally flattened. 

I was also very worried about how we're going to manage with the food shopping. We obviously couldn't go out, and getting a delivery slot nowadays is like winning a lottery, especially around Christmas time.

The NHS people kept calling, just to check if we stayed at home. We did. There was no help offered whatsoever, basically you're left to cope on your own. Criticise Russia what you like, but if you are sick, you get a home visit from the GP, and if you test positive, you get free medication.

Our friends rallied around us, doing shopping for us and leaving bags outside. We had Christmas gifts dropped off by the door as well. I am most grateful for their help and kindess at that difficult time.

And before all the virus drama, I was scrolling through Twitter at bedtime, when I spotted an announcement from The Guardian that John Le Carré died. We were very saddened by the news. My husband and I have been big fans for many years, and have known him personally. My husband was a young academic, when he met David for the first time in the 1990s. 

I remember our stay at David and Jane's guest cottage in Cornwall many years ago, when we were newly married. We had the cottage all to ourselves, with the kitchen and wine rack to our full disposal. Late one evening, there was a knock on the door, and David comes in, bringing more wine, just in case we've run out of it. It makes me smile thinking of that. 

David had this amazing talent of being a great listener, he would ask you questions and listen to what you had to say, as if you were the most important person in the world. And he was a wonderful storyteller as well, and a good actor. 

We visited them many times, first with little Sasha, later with Eddie as well, when we stayed in Cornwall. They were incredibly kind and attentive to Sasha. When a world-famous writer cares about your child with a disability, you never forget this kindness.

I was looking through the old photos of our trips to Cornwall, when I came across this snap, taken on our visit to Le Carré's house with my in-laws. This was in 2009. Sasha loved their extensive gardens and roamed free there. Cherished memories.

If you have access to TLS, you might want to read my husband's article Beyond the Cold War.

It's hard to imagine we will never hear David's beautiful voice again.

The last week of school was still full of hope that we might spend Christmas with our bubble. I bought food to please both vegetarians and meat eaters. Little did I know that by the end of the week, all our plans would be cancelled. 

Eddie had a Christmas jumper day at school and wore his festive stormtropper jumper.

A frosty morning in the flood fields...

The teddy bears of Witney had a Christmas-themed window display, but the teddies looked sad, perhaps they were also thinking of better days.

I don't buy chestnuts throughout the year, but at Christmas time do fancy some roast chestnuts. Though the home ones never taste the same as those roasted on big metal trays outdoors, like you see in the streets of Italian towns.

On Christmas day I made an effort of getting out of bed to cook a simple lunch. We had a small ham in marmalade glaze for the boys, and a nut roast for vegetarians, plus plenty of veggies. It was a bit sad, but at least we were together, and slowly gaining strength.

We watched the Queen's speech, and I thought she also looked sad. My brother who watched her speech on Youtube, said she appeared wise and dignified.

I insisted that Eddie should eat at least one sprout. He hates sprouts. I love them, and would happily eat the lot. I always liked them, even as a child. At that time we could only buy them in packs of mixed frozen vegetables from Poland. And I would sneakily take them out of the freezer and eat icy cold. OK, I might have been a weird child.

On Boxing day I cooked a risotto, with a splash of champagne. We opened the bottle the day before, but we really don't drink much. I think we still have half a bottle in the fridge, I bet it's all gone flat now.

Every Christmas I buy a box of Fazer Finlandia jelly fruits from Lakeland. For some stupid reason they're only available at Christmas. They are soooo good, truly the best jelly fruits ever.

You can get them on amazon, but they cost an arm and a leg there.

A few days before new year's eve our town was on the flood alert. The flood fields and the streets nearby were actually flooded, and you could see the sandbags outside the doors in the town centre, nearby the bridge over the Windrush. 

That's the picture my husband has taken for me. I bet the people who live in that house by the river were very worried. 

It has become a tradition for me that I call my brother on new year's eve, when the clock strikes midnight their time. He turns the camera towards the TV, when the Kremlin chimes go Boom! We hold the champagne flutes up and wish each other a happy new year! This is a screenshot from our conversation.

Typically my Mum would be spending the evening/night with my brother and his family, but this year my Mum was on her own. I called her, of course, but she's a Luddite, when it comes to technology, so we cannot see each other.

For four days ClassicFM were running their Ultimate Hall of Fame to mark the 25th chart countdown. I listened to it, on and off, with great pleasure, and was delighted that Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No.2 won the 1st place. I tweeted to them, and they RTed my tweet. That made my day.

I was still feeling too weak to venture outside, but my husband did take our boys for a walk, and took a photo of the manger outside St Mary's Church.

I might have not been blogging but I have read several books for the forthcoming book blogs and reviews. The Mystery of Montague House by Emma Davies is a cosy mystery, with a supernatural twist (check out my review on the 14th of January, the day of the publication of the book).

The other day when Eddie and I looked in the garden from the bedroom window, we spotted this tree surgeon, balancing precariously among the branches. It makes me sad to see big trees cut down.

Our snowy morning was a bit of a disappointment. There was not even snow enough to build a snowman. By afternoon it has all melted.

Homeschooling is not much fun, though it's better organised this lockdown in comparison to the first one. Kids have a Zoom meeting with their teacher at 9.20am and 2.30pm, when they can discuss any issues and report on the work done.

During the holidays, as we were stuck at home, Eddie has been reading a lot, and also doing some art projects. This is a competition entry for Pokemon magazine.

If you've managed to read until the very end of this long post, I give you a big virtual hug. Hope I won't disappear for another month.

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Scavenger Art by Lexi Rees

Do your children enjoy drawing? Are they brimming with ideas or do they need  prompts and suggestions? My younger son loves drawing, but is not a confident artist, at times asking me, "What shall I draw?" If you child is similar to mine and needs a bit of help with creative ideas for drawing, look no further.

Scavenger Art by Lexi Rees (illustrated by Molly O'Donoghue) is an inspiring book for children which is bursting with ideas and prompts for art.

In the introduction to the book, Lexi and Molly write, "Scavenger hunts are fun. Drawing is fun. Both encourage us to look at the world around us more closely. They're also a way for us to practise mindfulness, by being in the present moment, noticing things we might otherwise rush past, focusing on them as we draw, and taking the time to appreciate them".

This original art-based activity book includes 52 scavenger hunts designed to encourage curious minds, spark creativity, practise mindfulness and develop drawing skills.

What exactly is a scavenger hunt? Basically it's an idea, a mini-project - each page has a grid with nine little boxes. You have a challenge to fill in each box with a different sketch to follow the suggested theme - for example, my bedroom, views from windows, books, knick knacks, trees, cats, clouds, family, faces etc.

You don't have to complete each page, you can start with any page that takes your fancy. These prompts will boost self-confidence of any aspiring artist. It is aimed at children aged 6 to 12, but might also entertain an adult who likes doodling.

The way the book is designed, it will motivate children's interest and imagination, and ability to observe. After looking through the book the other day, we walked in town and had fun, looking at the different door knockers, noticing different details and particular features. And this being the festive season, we were also spotting all kinds of Christmas decorations and wreaths.

Scavenger Art supports and stimulates children's imagination. The projects are simple and easy to try. The instructions on each page inspire you to think and create.

This book will make a great Christmas stocking filler for any budding artist.

Purchase Links

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1913799042/

US -  https://www.amazon.com/dp/1913799042/

Author Bio

Lexi Rees was born in Scotland but now lives down south. She writes action-packed adventures brim full of witch-doctors, fortune-tellers, warriors and smugglers, combining elemental magic with hints of dystopia. She also writes fun activity books for children. 

Her fantasy adventure, Eternal Seas, was awarded a "loved by" badge from LoveReading4Kids. The sequel, Wild Sky, is available now. 

She's passionate about developing a love of reading and writing in children and, as well as her Creative Writing Skills workbook, she has an active programme of school visits and other events, is a Book PenPal for three primary schools, and runs a free online #kidsclub and newsletter which includes book recommendations and creative writing activities.

In her spare time, she's a keen crafter and spends a considerable amount of time trying not to fall off horses or boats.

 

Social Media Links – 

Website: https://lexirees.co.uk

Twitter: @lexi_rees  or https://twitter.com/lexi_rees

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

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/lexireesbooks/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lexi.rees/

Many thanks to Lexi Rees and Rachel's Random Resources for our copy of the book!

The Watchful Neighbour by Debbie Viggiano

"She caught a glimpse of Greg Good. He was standing behind the curtains of his downstairs bay window, watching Jade leave. Bloody man. He was always watching. And she didn't like it one little bit"

The Watchful Neighbour by Debbie Viggiano is a dark psychological thriller, creepy and tense.

Jade Ferguson is recovering from a broken heart. She takes a six-month rental on the dwelling whilst deciding what to do next with her life. 

"She'd recently spent three months in a psychiatric unit... She'd spent her time at Clarendon House piecing back together the fragments of her shattered emotions. All because of one man. Tom Harrison."

Sleazeball Tom had been twenty years older than her. "The age difference hadn't mattered. This was a guy in his prime who'd oozed charisma". 

Jade thinks of herself as "An ordinary girl who'd regrettably fallen in love with a man claiming to be unhappily married to an unattractive, lazy, neurotic woman and - for the sake of his family's mental well-being - had been toughing it out". Even ten years later, Jade doesn't want to take responsibility for her actions. She insists in her conversation with her Mum that she is not a marriage wrecker. "Jade had hoped for some sympathy. A hug. A few kind words. Instead, her own mother was pointing the finger, and she didn't like it".

She needs a fresh start, hence a new job and a place to live, which also means new neighbours, The residents of Gresham Terrace seem civilised enough, except for one...

Next door neighbour introduces himself when Jade moves into her new house. Greg Good is a carer for his elderly mother with dementia, who spends a lot of time at home, sitting by the window and watching all that's happening in the neighbourhood. "Jade gave him the once over. Somewhere in his fifties. Balding. Fat. Scruffy. She took an instant dislike to the guy".

As he explains, "Caring for Mother can be very isolating... So, to give me something else to focus on, I look out for everyone at Gresham Terrace... I think of myself as" - he chuckled deprecatingly - "a protector. The street's very own watchman".

Greg is the main key-holder for the landlord, and has access to all the properties, and oh boy, how Jade resents the fact. She is positively bristling. It doesn't help that Greg seems to be enjoying his task a bit too much.

"Whilst caring for his helpless parent was a necessity, looking after the residents of Gresham Terrace was Greg's pleasure. This was the road that he'd grown up in. Indeed, he'd been born at Number 2..."

Greg is not exactly a likeable character, yet you have to admire him for being a devoted son and carer: "Mother had been a wonderful parent. And now Greg was repaying her by being a wonderful son."

Jade is suspicious and even paranoid, things seem to be moved in the house in her absence. She is convinced it must be her neighbour. Without informing her landlord, she changes the locks: "No way was Greg Good having access to this house. No way was anyone having the chance to invade her space. It had happened once before, and she would never permit it to happen again."

But this doesn't help. Someone is messing with her belongings. More importantly, they mess with her mind. Jade accuses Greg of being an interfering busybody who needs to keep his nose out of her business.

"Now Jade was here, at Gresham Terrace, with all her emotional baggage which included paranoia and rudeness. She'd disturbed the harmony of the street for almost everyone".

And Jade is rude to everyone around, from Di, an older woman, who moves next door, to the twinkly eyed Brad Grimshaw.

Brad seems like a nice guy, but his past is far from being nice. Making big mistakes in his youth, now he's "determined to help kids stay out of trouble. Despite his criminal record, he'd been lucky enough to work alongside the authorities by offering advice, counselling, and support for youngsters. Music therapy was part of the scene".

In Jade he recognises someone hurting, someone vulnerable - "the young woman was one the edge. He'd sussed her out from the moment they'd first met. She was a fragile soul. After all, it took one to know one".

Does he believe Jade that someone is playing cruel games with her, or is it all in her mind?

There's lots of creepy twists, as the story becomes more and more claustrophobic.

It's hard to sympathise with Jade who knows she is shagging a married guy, and who justifies her actions that his wife Deanna kind of deserves it because she doesn't look good. Tom is a disgusting character who promises Jade that he will leave his wife, and he comes up with one excuse after another, some of which are so outlandish that only a deluded idiot would believe any of his words. Such a cliche. In a way, they totally deserve each other. Jade never considers Deanna's feelings. She enjoys a decade-long relationship behind the wife's back. What a waste of her life, to spend waiting for her lover to abandon his old frumpy wife.

The Watchful Neighbour is a riveting psychological thriller. The plotline throbs with suspicions, tension and deep jealousies.

Purchase Links   

US – https://www.amazon.com/Watchful-Neighbour-absolutely-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B08MDL32X4  

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Watchful-Neighbour-absolutely-psychological-thriller-ebook/dp/B08MDL32X4  

Author Bio –   

Prior to turning her attention to writing, Debbie Viggiano was, for more years than she cares to remember, a legal secretary. She lives with her Italian husband, a rescued pooch from Crete, and a very disgruntled cat. Occasionally her adult children return home bringing her much joy... apart from when they want to raid the fridge or eat her secret stash of chocolate. Tweet @DebbieViggiano or follow her on Facebook!  

Social Media Links –   

Twitter: @DebbieViggiano  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/debbie.viggiano.5  

Instagram: debbieviggiano 

Photo diary: week 49, project 366

 Two weeks of school to go, and Christmas holidays will start. I'm absolutely unprepared - I have bought hardly any gifts. I have a food delivery booked for the 21st by miracle with Ocado, and still undecided what to cook as the main for Christmas lunch. Most likely we'll have a vegetarian main, but for the boys I will make pigs in blanket, and maybe a little ham. 

I was browsing Fortnum & Mason Christmas hampers (just for fun, I haven't actually bought anything), and saw their famous hamper for £6,000. It made me think that even if I won a lottery, I wouldn't spend this amount of money on a hamper. Don't think I could justify it to myself. I don't pontificate, if anything, I have always wanted a little F&M hamper as a gift. There are several competitions running at the moment where you can win one. Have you spotted the competition at Nigella.com, you need to find a pudding every day for 24 days to be entered in the draw. You can catch up on the previous days as well.

Talking of giveaways, don't miss a chance to win over 1,4kg of chocolate - I am running my annual 12 days of chocolate giveaway, and you still have a chance to win, just go through all the questions and answer in separate comments. And good luck! I have enjoyed choosing different chocolate bars for this giveaway.

Are you working on your advent comps? Any wins to report? Nothing here so far, but I'm ever hopeful.

The bleak beauty of naked trees - walking across the bridge over the Windrush river.

A lovely sunny morning... St Mary's Church and the Church Green.

As soon as the cafes were open after the second lockdown on the 2nd, I had a latte at Costa. It was lovely too. It was nice to see the familiar faces of the staff and have a quick chat. 

This month One More Chapter is running a book photo challenge, there are daily prompts and ideas. On the 3rd you had to choose a book with snow on the cover. I read The Girl Who Speaks Bear last year, and loved it. We even met Sophie Anderson in person last year (live book events, do you remember these things happening in the past life?!), and she signed a copy to Eddie. 

If you're looking for a great stocking filler for someone who enjoys YA/middle grade fiction, this is a fantastic story.

The Blue Boar has decorated its interior for Christmas. Even their boar head is wearing a Santa hat. It was nice and toasty indoors, with a roaring fire and a hot drink.

We braved the cold and ventured to the playground on the Leys, but I could just about endure half an hour before begging Eddie to leave. My fingers were so frozen, I couldn't even catch Pokemons.

We walked in town and admired all Christmas decorations. Someone has added a huge ribbon to the front door, it was very pretty (my second photo from Saturday, as on Monday I haven't done any pictures).

What else is "newsworthy"? We have set up our Christmas tree, it only needs a string of lights to be added. It's one of my favourite seasonal tasks, to take the ornaments from the box, unwrap them and lovingly place them on the branches. So many memories...

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Christmas at Moonshine Hollow by Angela Britnell

"Oh, it's beautiful." She stopped after they'd crossed the road. "If someone asked me to draw a picture of my vision of small-town America, this is how it would look". The tree-lined road of classic Victorian-era buildings glowed with white fairy lights and, halfway along the right-hand side, the Franklin Cinema's neon-red frontage looked like something from an old film.

"Yea, it's Leiper's Fork on steroids".

On these dark winter evenings there's nothing better than to snuggle up with a cosy Christmas book. Christmas at Moonshine Hollow by Angela Britnell is a festive, sparkling treat, filled with romance, family secrets and Christmas miracles.

There's not many books where the main romantic interest is running a moonshine business, is there?! Meet Cole Landon.

We first encounter Cole at Landon Hollow Distillery, being told off by his mother, for not looking friendly during the tours around it. Cole might be a gruff, unpolished guide, but he sure is committed to his business. He is a workaholic. "He basically lived in the distillery. Ever since he'd chucked in his job as a corporate lawyer in Washington DC a decade ago".

He also believes that "his great-grandfather, the notorious moonshiner "Lightning Landon", would laugh at the idea of conducting tours to show off the handmade copper still he used to make his illegal moonshine."

Cole "was the sort of man people would always notice - tour guide or not... it was his air of suppressed energy that couldn't be ignored".

Cole's family lives nearby. His relationship with his mother Sylvia and step-father is complicated. And then there's the extended family, with the bossy matriarch who loves to meddle. 

The drama is brewing at the distillery, as Sylvia and her husband have been profligate with the money and sold shares of the distillery to an unsavoury local businessman, who also happens to be Cole's competitor. Not everything is merry and bright with the Landons.

Jenna Pendean has travelled to Tennessee all the way from Cornwall, but she is not here for the sightseeing or other touristy delights. She has a hidden agenda. There is an old family document in her possession which might alarm the current owners of the moonshine business.

"As a child, Jenna had spent endless happy hours listening to her Grandpa Jimmy's stories when her parents were busy at work in their family pub." She plans to spend her time in Tennessee checking out a few facts, then confronting the owners of the Landon Hollow Distillery. Only the fate decides otherwise - Jenna didn't count on meeting Cole and his family. There's an immediate attraction between the two.

Jenna's English accent seems to fascinate the locals, and she's given a job at the distillery on the spot, without checking out any of her credentials. She enjoys hosting tours for the distillery, and feels apprehensive.

"If his [Cole's] family discovered the truth about why she was here, they certainly wouldn't put out the welcome mat."

"His family couldn't be friendlier towards her, but that's where the trouble lay."

Jenna doesn't want to shatter the bubble of good will and confess why she arrived to Tennessee in the first place. Her own parents have a toxic relationship. She craves the warmth and good humour of Cole's extended family. How can she be honest with them, now that they've accepted her into the bosom of their family? Everything spirals out from control. And how will hot-head Cole react, when he finds out her secret?

Can Cole and Jenna have a perfect Christmas together?

Christmas at Moonshine Hollow is a heart-warming story about love, family and Christmas. Perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Tilly Tennant, Milly Johnson and Sue Moorcroft.

The cover design deserves a special mention. I loved the traditional red house and barn against the background of blue mountains. And all that snow reminded me of the very long winter we had in Massachusetts 18 years ago, when the little college town we lived in was completely snowed down. It was my older son's first Christmas, and our lovely neighbours took me to buy a Christmas tree. Wonderful memories.

Purchase Link  - https://tinyurl.com/yyn5c56k  

 

Author Bio – Angela grew up in Cornwall, England and returns frequently from her new home in Nashville, Tennessee to visit family and friends, drink tea and eat far too many Cornish pasties!   

 

A lifelong love of reading turned into a passion for writing contemporary romance and her novels are usually set in the many places she's visited or lived on her extensive travels. Thanks to over three decades of marriage to her wonderful American husband she's a huge fan of transatlantic romance and always makes sure her characters get their own happy-ever-after.  

 

She is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association, the Romance Writers of America and the Music City Romance Writers. Her first novel ‘Truth and Consequence’ was published in 2006 and she’s now had over 30 novels published internationally and several short stories in women’s magazines.  

 

If you'd like to find out more of what Angela gets up to (Advance warning: this may include references to wine, dark chocolate, Poldark and the hunky Aidan Turner) check out www.angelabritnellromance.com  or follow her on 

www.facebook.com/angelabritnell , 

www.twitter.com/angelabritnell and on Instagram as Angela Golley Britnell.  

This post is part of the blog tour.

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