The Warring Heart by Ros Rendle

 

"You need to find yourself another suitor, and fast," Papa said, before taking another mouthful of food. "Mm, this is good. Yes, another fella will take you out of yourself and stop all the idle chatter of empty-headed housewives." He glanced at his own wife and decided to say no more.

Pretoria knew full well he considered women to be uncomplicated creatures who could be jollied through a crisis with a new hat... or a new suitor."

Young Pretoria Redfern, the main character of the period romance The Warring Heart by Ros Rendle, is crushed and inconsolable. The man she loves deserts her, and the gossip mill is in full swing. Simon Rashbrooke, the man who broke her heart, is already married but living apart from his wife. "It might be 1914 and the world is indeed changing, but this is disgraceful behaviour".

The local gossips are having a field day, enjoying the juicy bits of scandal. Her father's advice is to find a new suitor to stop the idle chatter. As a man of his generation, he has a very old-fashioned and patronising view on what women want and need.

Pretoria only recently turns nineteen and believes Simon to be the love of her life. She thinks her life is ruined, and to deflect gossip and save her face after such a public embarrassment, she agrees to marry the first man who proposes to her.

Nathaniel Moore, a local land-owning farmer, is much older than Pretoria. He has noticed her beauty a while ago and was watching her all summer, "hearing of her antics with the wretched Simon Rashbrooke. With hard-won patience, he had quelled his own longings. She was young and needed this experience. He would wait. He must hold back".

His proposal sounds pragmatic and lacking in romance, as he tries to hide his true feelings. If anything, it is set up as a business proposal - this will be a marriage of convenience. "I think you are an extremely beautiful girl who would fill the position charmingly." "You make it sound like a job interview," Pretoria said, athough she was partially mollified by his compliment. "There are many kinds of love," Nathaniel said."

Pretoria knows this marriage will give her a position and protection from the nasty scandal. She also senses his affection and concern. Once married, Pretoria settles into her new life and gets to know her husband better. Her emotions are in turmoil: she is attracted to Nathaniel more and more, but also has a lingering infatuation with Simon. She is unsure about his feelings as well. 

Britain is at war with Germany, and Nathaniel feels duty-bound to serve his country. He could stay on the farm as his work on the land is important to the war effort, but he feels guilty sitting in the comfort of his home. Nathaniel enlists and leaves for the front line across the Channel.

Pretoria is not in love with her husband, but she misses his company, affection and kindness. She longs for his safe return. Their correspondence is vital to both of them.

While Nathaniel is fighting in France, Pretoria's past catches up with her. She receives a request which she cannot refuse. If her secret is discovered, it would fuel the long-forgotten scandal.

Will Nathaniel survive the war? Will Pretoria be able to share her secret with him, will it put a strain on their relationship? Will she spend the rest of her life with a man who could offer her no more than friendly kindness?

The Warring Heart is what the Americans would call a clean romance. There are some amorous scenes but none too graphic, thus the book fits into this category. The book blends emotional drama with authentic period details. It has a real feel for time, morals and ideas. The author's grasp of the social mores of the time is spot on. 

The war scenes tell a tragic tale of devastation, loss and grief, but also hope.

Full of drama, romance and the true meaning of love.

Many thanks to Ros Rendle and Sapere Books for my e-copy of the book!

A Murder at Rosings by Annette Purdey Pugh

 

"You will ride with me to Rosings, immediately. There has been terrible mischief afoot there and I need my constable to assist me".

"We won't be safe in our beds, not with a murderer on the loose. And to think it's happened at Rosings, of all places!"

A Murder at Rosings by Annette Purdey Pugh is an engaging and entertaining Austenesque murder mystery. This is a sequel to Pride and Prejudice, set a few years later after the wedding of Elizabeth and Mr Darcy (who are barely mentioned in this book).

This sequel is historically accurate, and is written in the Regency literature style, without any glaring period language errors.

The book begins with the old gardener at Rosings observing his domain, when he hears loud summons from his mistress, the one and only Lady Catherine. Near the coleus bed they find a shape among the plants. His black clerical garb is unmistakeable. This is Mr Collins, dead. He has a knife in his chest.

The magistarate is sent for without delay. Sir John Bright is the local magistrate, who has appointed Robert Archer to the post of the village constable. Archer is a wheelwright, he is young, but he has made a thriving business for himself, and is well respected in the village. As Sir John says, "His strength and level humour stand him in good stead when dealing with lawbreakers". 

Sir John intends to use the modern methods of investigation and questioning, meaning he is going to talk to all the household members to gather information to complete the entire picture.

The murder is quite perplexing. "It has neither rhyme nor reason. If it were not for the weapon, I should be content to conclude that Mr Collins was the unfortunate victim of some random felon, now escaped". However, Mr Collins has been killed with a paper knife which has the de Bourgh family crest upon it.

Who is the murderer? And why was Mr Collins slayed in the garden? It is clearly not because "his sermons were too long".

Mr Bennet and his daughter Mary are staying at the Collinses, while Mrs Bennet is attending the confinement of one of her daughters. 

During the investigation it becomes obvious that Mr Bennet and Mr Collins have had a few heated arguments. If you've read P&P, you know that Mr Collins was the heir to Mr Bennet's estate, which was entailed to the male line only. This has caused a rift between the two families. Now that Mr Collins is dead, Mr Bennet may find his family's future restored.

Mr Bennet's predicament is serious indeed, as he becomes the principal suspect.

Mary uncovers a scandalous secret that may well hold a big clue as to why Mr Collins was murdered.

Will she be able to solve the mystery and prove her father's innocence before he is sent to the gallows?

A Murder at Rosings is a satisfying and diverting homage to Pride and Prejudice.

This is not the first book, where Mary, the overlooked middle Bennet girl with less charisma or talent than the other sisters, takes a leading part. Just last year Mary's life was re-imagined in The Other Bennet Sister. And Charlotte Lucas's life has been re-explored by Helen Moffett in Charlotte.

"Mary had, for all her life, been compared unfavourably with her sisters. She had neither Jane's beauty, not Lizzy's clever tongue, while her younger sisters' animation made her seem dull indeed. She had accepted at an early age that she was destined to be overlooked, and any attempts to put herself forward were generally not welcomed". 

So, Mary devotes her life to studies. Greek is her passion, and she is teaching herself the ancient language. Mr Bennet, as usual, makes fun of her studies. When she is reluctant to travel to Huntsford, content with the company of books, he remarks, "I must insist you come to Huntsford this time, Greek has been with us for thousands of years so far, and I assure you it will not disappear if you leave it alone for a week or two more".

Unlike her family, she is inclined to be of a kinder opinion of Mr Collins, and appreciates his help. She considers him to be most patient and kind (it shows how neglectful her own family is, if she finds Mr Collins accommodating and good company). Her opinion of Mr Collins will change as the story develops.

The characters stay reasonably faithful to the originals, apart from maybe Lady Catherine. She is portrayed as a benevolent mistress who takes care of her servants (i.e. makes their living quarters more comfortable etc). In real life, I doubt that the likes of her would take notice of the sleeping arrangements of their bootboys. 

Mr Collins, for whom the word pompous was invented, has been derided enough, without making him even more unpleasant.

 My first thoughts were, Oh No, poor Charlotte with three little children, how is she going to cope now, with no income of her own?! Mr Collins was a pain in the neck, and one of the most unpleasant characters in all Austen's books, but he would have cared for his wife and provided her with all possible comforts, suitable for his status and position in life.

A Murder at Rosings is a novel about skeletons in the cupboard, family, loyalty and friendship.

Many thanks to Annette Purdey Pugh and NetGalley for my e-copy of the book!

Photo diary: week 36, project 365

 Yesterday's 20th anniversary of 9/11 brought back lots of memories. We lived in New Haven, CT, at the time, I was pregnant with our first son. That morning my husband called me from the office and asked if I've seen the news. I switched on the TV, and watched with horror the tragic events. Just a few weeks before we strolled in New York, and went to the cinema. We used to take a train to NYC from New Haven every few weeks to visit the museums, galleries, cinema. On that day we didn't know how the world would change.

I was looking at the photos from our life in the States, and found some pics from the time when my brother and his wife stayed with us for a short visit in 2000. There is a picture of two of them, smiling happily. You turn the photo, and it says World Trade Center. 

This week I've been reading a WWI romance The Warring Heart by Ros Rendle. The plot centres around the marriage of convenience, and the emotional journey the main character goes through. I didn't warm up to the heroine, finding her rather shallow and immature. 

There are vivid descriptions of the Great War, but none too graphic. There are some amorous scenes too, but overall this book is what the Americans describe as a clean romance.

On Monday Sasha woke up early, very excited to go to college. My impression is that he expected to go to his old school, because he arrived back home looking disappointed. Hope as time goes, he will realise that he has to accept the fact that he won't be going back to his much-loved old school.

I had a quick coffee at Costa, and without kids it definitely felt like a treat. Their lemon muffins are to die for, so tasty, with the lemony zing.

Another grocery delivery from Ocado, and another couple of Ritter Sport chocolate bars, this time a Buenos Dias White Mango Passion Fruit and Cashew. Both way too sweet. I had high hopes for the Cashew flavour as it promised salted cashews, but the nuts are not salty enough, while the milk chocolate tastes of nothing but sugar. Won't be buying any of these flavours again.

While Sasha was in college for a three-hours' session, and Eddie at school, I ventured into the local book shop. I spotted this display of books, inspired by the Greek myths and legends. And while I love the Greek myths, I think this trend for re-told/re-imagined stories, with a modern, often feminist twist, is becoming a bit unimaginative.

It's as if authors cannot come up with new independent ideas of their own. When the Harry Potter series was published, so many copycats about schools for magicians have sprouted overnight.

Or Cressida Cowell's HTTYD series "inspired" zillions of books about dragons.

What other book themes/trends did you notice appearing again and again?

I was having a chat to Sarah (Mum of 3) on Twitter, having seen her stash of books bought in Sainsbury's and told her that I was on a self-imposed ban of buying more books until I clear out at least some of my already bought paperbacks. Lo and behold, my feet took me to The Works, and I couldn't resist getting three paperbacks for a fiver, plus one of the books I ordered online has arrived. So much for the ban. 

A very wet and rainy Friday... I grabbed a phone to snap a few webs covered with droplets in the garden. They were sparkling like gems. 

One more of my American pictures from 2000: my sister-in-law Masha and me, enjoying a day in NYC. These were the days before we both had children. Next year we moved to Williamstown, MA, and then back to the UK in 2002. I've never been back to the States for over 19 years.

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Lethal Ties by Helen Christmas #BlogTour

"Maisie, Joe and Sam. That's how it began.

We were three kids in a care home, too young to protect ourselves/

Three kids who were inseparable until the night Sam went missing.

And all we had ever wanted to know was what happened to him". 

"I couldn't explain it but I could sense the danger pouring in, a vortex of all-consuming evil that had no form but threatened to swallow us as we lay there. I knew we were powerless... but was I the only one who saw those spidery branches encircling us from above? Heard the whisper that sliced through the darkness?

"Silence her!"

Lethal Ties by Helen Christmas is a chilling psychological thriller. This shocking dark story is based on repressed childhood traumas.

The author's note tells that "the idea of this novel arose in 2015, when a series of stories appeared in the news concerning the historic child abuse of children by people in power, including TV celebrities and high establishment figures". Some of the allegations were never proved. The author says she has chosen to write her story from two perspectives, "one of the abused, and the long term damage they suffer, including anxiety, low self-esteem and in some cases victims feeling suicidal; but I also had to focus on the effect allegations may have on those who are falsely accused, on how lives can be ruined before they are proven innocent".

Lethal Ties is a fictional account, and the exposė of the abominable cruelty inflicted on the vulnerable children in care.

Maisie works for West Sussex County Council in the childcare and fostering department. As a child, she had been fostered herself, and knows the world of institutions and foster care from inside out.

She is undergoing psychotherapy and worries what if her employers find out about it. Would any exposure of her mental state be a real problem? "My foster mother had suggested this a month ago, through fear my panic attacks and nightmares would forever hang over me, and sure enough, something dark had been prodding at my subconscious mind lately".

Maisie could never forget her arrival at the children's home. "A day when all I wanted to do was retreat. Shut out all the cruelty in the world". But she was left at the mercy of the other inhabitants of the home, both children and grown-ups. Joe, another child in the children's home, came to her rescue.

Joe, Maisie and Sam became close friends and pledged to look out for each other, and they were loyal and constant friends until the night Sam disappeared.

Twenty years later, Maisie's nightmares become  recurring pattern. Her mind is unsettled, she sees things that are not real. Trying to understand why she is suffering flashbacks, Maisie keeps confiding to her psychotherapist.

Then one day she meets Joe again in the most stressful circumstances. Joe is now homeless, sleeping rough on the Bognor seafront. She is happy to see him and wants to help him turn his life around.

Now that Joe is by her side, Maisie is determined to find out what's happened to Sam. "Too many years have passed under the bridge to go our separate ways again. We never did discover what happened to Sam but wouldn't it be good to get to the bottom of it? I don't think I can move on until we do..."

Maisie wants to go to the police, but Joe is sceptical, "It's complicated, not to mention dangerous if it means going up against Mortimer [head of the children's home]. We can't prove nothing! I mean who's gonna believe someone like me?"

Maisie is hell-bent on finding the truth, and nothing can stop her now. Before long their past comes back to haunt them. Their investigation opens a sinister can of worms. A mysterious black car trails them, Joe is being trolled on social media, online threats make it clear that the old enemies are keeping a close eye on them.

What has really happened all those years ago at their children's home? 

Why is Maisie scared stiff of the woods? What do her flashbacks try to tell her?

Where did Sam disappear? If they can find him, he would be able to provide some answers.

Lethal Ties is not an easy read as it tackles difficult issues of child abuse in care homes. 

It is a sensitive exploration of repressed childhood trauma, and its damaging effects on the mental and emotional health of the individual later on in life, and how addressing the past ordeal could trigger severe anxiety, mental daze and emotional upheaval. Creepy, twisty and deeply unnerving.

This book review is part of the blog tour for Lethal Ties.

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

Author Bio:

I’ve had a passion for writing since childhood and wrote my first full length novel in 2011. This grew into a five-book mystery thriller series (Same Face Different Place).  I love networking with other authors and the highlight of my writing journey was in 2015 when I was selected as a winner in a short story competition “Write Across Sussex,” judged by Kate Mosse and Peter Lovesey. I love where we live and with a passion for walking and photography, found the inspiration to base my novel in West Sussex

I am active on social media and have written various articles about my characters on my blog. The underlying premise of ‘Lethal Ties’ is to raise awareness of mental health problems and promote a better understanding of conditions such as Asperger’s. Lethal Ties’ is my first standalone psychological thriller and set in my local town, Bognor Regis.

Social Media Links:

Blog https://samefacedifferentplace.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.helenchristmas
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SFDPBeginnings
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/helenchristmas7/
Website: http://www.samefacedifferentplace.com/

If you cannot have enough of psychological thrillers, now you have a chance to win a copy of Lethal Ties (see below).

Giveaway to Win a signed paperback of Lethal Ties (Open to UK Only)

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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 is being run across several blogs. 

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

I am not responsible for the selection of the winner, or have to do anything with the prize allocation, dispatch or delivery.

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The Surplus Girls' Orphans by Polly Heron

 

"She's a lucky girl, especially at her age," Mum would agree. "There are plenty of girls left on't shelf these days."

Aye, there were. Surplus girls, they were called. Molly had read about them in Mum's Vera's Voice... They hadn't been woe-is-me articles, but cheerful, encouraging pieces about how surplus girls should plan for the future and get themselves trained up to do the most highly qualified work they were capable of, to give themselves a chance of a reasonable salary in a world where women earned less than men simply because they were women".

Molly Watson, the main character of The Surplus Girls' Orphans is considered to be lucky. In her late 20s, she has "a fiancѐ with a decent job and good prospects. Good-looking too..." "And when they got married, he was going to buy her a bar of Cadbury's Dairy Milk every Saturday." 

Molly's family and friends think Molly is a lucky girl indeed. It is 1922, and for many young women their dreams of marriage have perished in the Great War. Millions of young men died in the war, and the gender gap has increased dramatically.

Norris is a penny-pincher and a pedant, who enjoys teasing Molly, but somewhat you can see why he would be considered a catch. Theirs is a long engagement, as Norris is saving money to provide a house for her with all the modern cons. He talks about a future house with the electricity and indoor plumbing, and such a fancy gadget as a vacuum cleaner. In his own way, he loves Molly and wants the best for her. If only he were not so miserly, avoiding to pay for drinks at the pub, or dances. He can be very convincing, and Molly tries to persuade herself that "her future had been all mapped out by Norris - by Norris? With Norris. Her future was mapped out with Norris".

Her mother and grandmother are thrilled with Norris, "it's what yoy want for your daughters and your grandaughters: marriage to a good provider. It was a weight off all our minds".

If you've read the previous book in the series, The Surplus Girls, or any other historical sagas set in the 1920s, you would know how back-breaking the house tasks were in those times for women, and how many men spent all the earnings on the drink, and other "hobbies" rather than their own families. 

However, Molly has reservations about her long engagement. Yes, Norris was "safe harbour and she was lucky he wanted her. What a relief it had been to have this opportunity to build a happy and prosperous new life". After three years of watching Norris's penny-pinching and small, needless economies, and being patronised and kept in her place, she's had enough.

As time passes, Molly feels stronger in herself, and decides that she would rather be a surplus girl than marry someone she doesn't respect or love. She knows the chances of her finding someone else to marry are almost non-existent, and she will stay single and will need to support herself all her life.

After meeting a lady who works for the new Board of Health, Molly wants to get a job where she can help those less fortunate. She knows she is capable to do more than working in the sweet shop. She applies to the business school run by Miss Hesketh and Miss Patience.

"The future. That was what this was about. Choices. Opportunities. Self-sufficiency."

It was wonderful to revisit the Hesketh school, and see what progress they made since we first met the ladies in the first book of the series. "Their business school: this was how they had rescued their house - yes, their house, whatever Pa's will said - from Lawrence's grasping fingers. Using Prudence's years of office experience and Patience's social skills, they had set themselves up to train girls to be office workers; and not just any girls, but surplus girls, that blighted generation whose chances of matrimony had perished in the fields of Flanders".

The sisters make a delightful duo of supporting characters, and their own sub-story is moving, sad yet positive and productive.

As a student at the business school, Molly is offered an opportunity to do a voluntary job at St Anthony's Orphanage. There she befriends caretaker Aaron Abrams. Before the war he used to be a carpenter, and he could have returned to his old job and earned more, but it was no longer enough for him. 

"Some might see his role as caretaker of St Anthony's as a step backwards for a skilled craftsman, but he didn't view it like that. To his mind, it was a way to contribute to the well-being of the next generation, especially here, in this environment, where the children had already lost so much".

Will Aaron and Molly's friendship blossom into something more meaningful, or will jealous Norris ruin it by revealing Molly's big secret of what has happened to her during the war?

The Surplus Girls' Orphans is a delightful read, which tells a moving story with confidence and realism.

Molly is a sweet character, she is gentle, caring, thoughtful and a little bit impulsive. 

Mrs Wardle, a snobbish lady who "does charity"and  who takes great pleasure in interfering into the Board of Health' decisions makes a brilliant baddie, whom you would love to hate. 

I love the theme of the surplus girls, and the way Polly Heron recreates Manchester in the 1920s as an evocative, authentic and dynamic setting.

P.S. At the time of writing this paperback is available from Amazon at £4.49. I bought it at The Works (3 for £5 deal).

Photo diary: week 35, project 365

 We said Good bye to summer and greeted September, not without a certain degree of apprehension. The evenings are getting dark much earlier now, and the mornings have that mild crispy chill which is unmistakably autumnal.

Eddie started school, while Sash will have the first day of college tomorrow. Thankfully, his transport has been sorted out, but sadly, it is a totally new company, so everything will be new for him: college, staff, class mates and transport. It won't be easy for him to adjust. He seems eager to go, but I'm not sure how much he understands that he won't see his old school again.

Our garden is not particularly colourful at the moment. The leaves are still green, and most flowers are over, apart from a few phloxes, cyclamens and single roses. The iris seed pods add a touch of colour.

My life has been so uneventful in the last couple of weeks, since I haven't been out. Hence my photos are quite unimaginative. I was looking at the chocolate offers on Ocado (as you do), and spotted new Ritter Sport flavours. Of course, I just had to try them. 

Marhaba Yogurt Honey Hazelnuts sounds better than it tastes, though it didn't last long here, as we're all chocoholics. 

Hula Hula Coconut Wafer is a lovely discovery, I will definitely buy it again. 

Have you tried these flavours?

Eddie and I started another Marvel marathon, watching all films from the beginning (we decided to skip Hulk, as it's not one of our favourites). Loki is as gorgeous as always. And I just love all the banter and jokes.

My DH is coming back from Italy tonight. Seeing the reports from the Heathrow, I suspect he'll be stuck there for a while on his arrival, but no sympathy from me. He's been away for two weeks, and left us in a predicament.

I asked him to take some photos of my in-laws' house for Sasha, as he loves looking at the pictures of familiar places. 

On Thursday Eddie had to go to school to have a Covid test. While in the queue, he sent me a selfie to let me know he arrived at school safely. 

They are not allowed to have a phone in school, but did ask to bring it on that day to register the app.

On Friday it was a shorter school day for him. Some photos from eight years before have popped up among the Memories on FB, taken on his first day at the nursery. Goodness, how small and cute he was. I will probably say the same in eight years' time, looking at this picture.

Yesterday I finished reading Polly Heron's The Surplus Girls' Orphans, set in Manchester in 1929. This is the second book in the series, and a very enjoyable read, immersive and moving, with a lovable main protagonist. Also very interesting social history. 

And how did your week go?

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Back to School & On the Go Degustabox

 A new season, with that special autumnal crispness in the air and early dark evenings... A new school term, with enough enthusiasm to last for a few days at least, and school lunchboxes, filled with nutritious and tasty snacks.

Back to School & On the Go is the theme of the latest Degustabox delivery.

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.

Let's have a look at what we got in Back to School & On the Go box.

We have discovered Pagen Gifflar Cinnamon rolls  (£1.70) last year. Tasty little pastries, with a curly-swirly cinnamon filling, they are pretty irresistible. They come in bite size and are great for sharing.

Nutritional information: 370kcal and 18g of sugar per 100g.

Available at Tesco, Asda and on Ocado.

Oreo Original Cookies 154g (£1.08) are well-known and much-loved chocolate cookies with a smooth vanilla flavour cream. 

My boys enjoy Oreos, and I often buy the mini snack packs to add to lunchboxes as a treat.

I also enjoy cooking with Oreos, using them as an ingredient in such tasty desserts as white chocolate Oreo fudge (a big hit with my family), Oreo Brownies, Oreo cheesecake (baked).

There are many versions of Oreos now, but we tend to return to the Original flavour, as we find it just the right combination of textures and flavours.

These cookies are made with cocoa, sourced through the Cocoa Life sustainability programme.

You should receive two items in your box. This is a limited edition Lady Gaga Oreo, not sure what's the connection. Maybe she is a fan?!

Available in all major supermarket chains.

5th Season Fruit Strawberry Bites (£1.50) are freeze-dried strawberries. They are melt-in-the-mouth and crunchy pieces, made with 100% real strawberries. 

There's less than 30kcal in a pack. A guilt-free snack, these strawberry bites are gluten-free, vegan, contain high fibre, no added sugar. Equivalent of 80g of fresh fruit, they make 1 of your 5 a day.

Available at Sainsbury's, The Good Club, Mighty Small, Amazon and at https://5thseasonfruit.com/.

Shreddies The Simple One (£2.50) is a satisfyingly tasty less than 5% sugar breakfast made with just four simple ingredients: whole grain wheat, sweetened with banana puree and date syrup and a pinch of salt.

Each 460g box contains 11 servings. Nutritional information: 146kcal and 1.9g of sugar per 40g serving.

Available at Tesco, Morrisons Sainsburys, Waitrose and on Ocado.

TWEEK Sweets with benefits (£1.99) are a juicy sensation of raspberry/strawberry, lemon/lime/mandarin and forest fruits. These Swedish sweets are not vegetarian, as they are made with bovine gelatine.

You should receive 1 of 2 ites in your box. We got a pack of Sour Supreme (a sour mix of jellies), and by Jove, they have a sour kick.

Nutritional information: 95% less sugar, high in fibre, 45% less calories, natural flavours and colours.

Available at WHSmith Travel.

Clifbar White Chocolate Macadamia/Crunchy Peanut Butter (0.75p per 28g bar, or £1.69 for the 68g bar) are the ultimate energy bars, designed for active lifestyles. They incorporate plant-based ingredients from sustainable sources and deliver an optimal blend of carbs and protein.

These bars come in 6 flavours. Very handy to have with you when you are out and about.

You should receive 2 items in your box.

The 68g pack is available at most supermarkets, sports retailers and health stores. The 28g bar is currently unavailable.

SKIPPY Peanut Butter Choc Chip Swirl (£2.65) is a classic peanut butter with a twist. Every jar is swirled with chocolate chip pieces melted into peanut butter. Smooth, creamy and indulgent, it will enhance your morning toast or crumpet.

It will also make a great ingredient for oat-based cookies, or brownies. It's a good source of protein.

Available at Morrisons and on Ocado.

Have a look at my Peanut butter crinkles post for an idea on what you can cook with it.

Knorr Zero Salt Veggie Stock Cubes (£1.49) are full of flavour, with sustainably farmed veggies. They are vegan, gluten free and lactose free, and as the name says - contain zero salt.

Knorr and Netmums are celebrating the launch of the first Zero salt stock cube. In a poll of 103 Netmums members, 93% would recommend Knorr Zero Salt to friends and family. For more info and inspiration visit www.knorr.com/uk.

Available at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Waitrose and on Ocado.

Cirio Pasta Sauce Ragùs (£2) is a unique range of rustic style pasta sauces made with 100% Italian meat and tomatoes, plus extra virgin olive oil. This range comes in 3 flavours: Beef, Pork & White Wine, Mushroom & Sausage and Pancetta, Mushrooms and Grilled Peppers.

These pasta sauces will turn a simple pasta dish into a special experience, just "like Nonna used to make".

You can always trust Cirio to add an authentic taste to many Mediterranean-inspired dishes.

You should receive 1 of 3 items in your box.

Available on Ocado.

UP&GO Breakfast Drinks Banana & Honey 250 ml (£1 for a single unit or £2.75 for a multipack of 3) is a nutritious breakfast on the go. All of us have mornings when we just don't have enough time to sit down to have a breakfast meal, even a bite of toast with tea. This drink is perfect for such busy mornings.

Each carton is made with milk and oats, and is high in protein, fibre and calcium. It has the same sugar content as a glass of semi-skimmed milk.

This drink is available in two flavours: Banana & Honey and Chocolate.

This multipack is available at Tesco, Morrisons and on Ocado. The single unit isn't currently available to purchase.

Virtue Clean Energy (£1.50) is a healthy energy drink, with zero sugar and zero calories, made with all natural ingredients. It has the same amount of natural caffeine (80mg) as the leading energy drink or coffee. Virtue Drinks' natural energy is sourced from green coffee beans, plus B-vitamins.

These energy drinks are suitable for vegans, diabetics, and are keto friendly, gluten free, dairy and soy free. made in the UK.

Each can sold contributes to the conservation of plants, animals and natural comunities in the rainforest.

Perfect on the go, or for the workout.

You should receive 1 of 2 items in your box. Available on Amazon, Holland & Barrett, Crussh, Planet Organic and Ocado.

And finally, the Product of the Month, as chosen by Degustabox team:

Nescafé Gold Iced Salted Caramel Latte (£2.98) will delight fans of iced coffee. Just add cold water and ice to make a glass of refreshing and tasty iced salted caramel latte. For an even creamier taste, add cold milk instead of water. 

Nutritional information: 53kcal and 9g of sugar per glass. It is fat free when prepared, has no artificial flavours or hydrogenated oil. Suitable for vegetarians.

Available online and in all major supermarkets.

Peanut butter crinkles

 

It being the first proper day of school for my younger son, I wanted to make a little treat for him, when he comes home. And my older boy is very fond of my bakes too. 

I fancied making something with the peanut butter. There was a jar of SKIPPY peanut butter choc chip swirl in the latest Degustabox. If you haven't seen it yet, it's the classic peanut butter with chocolate chip pieces. It's smooth and creamy, and if you like a peanut butter and chocolate combination, then you'll enjoy it very much.

I have bookmarked a recipe for peanut butter crinkles in The Big Book of Beautiful Biscuits (The Australian Women's Weekly) a while ago. I have adapted it, making minor swaps and adjustments. 

Peanut Butter Crinkles (makes 16)

Ingredients:

110g butter, softened

100g sugar (I used a 50/50 mix of caster and raw cane vanilla sugar, the original recipe asks for sugar and brown sugar)

80g peanut butter (SKIPPY peanut butter choc chip swirl)

a dash of vanilla essence

zest of 1 lemon + 1tsp lemon juice

240g plain flour

1tsp baking powder

Cream together softened butter with sugar and peanut butter, add lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla essence, flour and baking powder and mix well, using a fork. You might need to use hands for the cookie dough to get less crumbly and more elastic.

Pinch blobs of cookie dough, the size of big walnuts, roll them and then flatten into discs. Place the cookies on the greased cookie tray. Using a fork, make a crosswise pattern on each cookie.

Place the tray in the oven preheated to 180C and bake for about 15 minutes.

Take the tray out and carefully place cookies on the cooling rack. They are quite fragile at this stage, soft and crumbly. 

These are short biscuits, not dissimilar to shortbread.

The chocolate flavour was quite subtle, as the chocolate chips have dissolved during the cooking. I think adding extra chocolate chips for a more pronounced chocolate kick might be a good idea.

Summer in Tintagel by Amanda James

 

"Everything she had ever known to be true was being pushed to the limit. Surety in the scientific and rational explanation was diminishing, shifting out of focus like the edges of a sepia photograph. She wanted to scream but instead out of her mouth came, "I can't begin to understand how this all works, I-".

Summer in Tintagel by Amanda James is a modern-day romance with a paranormal twist, set in Cornwall. 

Rosa Fernley is a travel journalist. Her assignments take her to often far-flung places, and she finds her job exciting and fulfilling. 

Visiting her dying grandmother Jocelyn, Rosa is burdened with a tragic secret from the distant past. She listens in disbelief to the story of what has happened in August 1968, when her grandmother had a short-lived affair in Cornwall. There was no happy ending. Jocelyn had a young daughter who she couldn't abandon to the care of her abusive husband. Jocelyn thinks of those six days in Tintagel as the best days of her life, and tells Rosa that she had never been so happy before or since. 

Jocelyn confides in Rosa that she had a dream of her lover Jory the night before and he told her they would be reunited, and that she needs to tell her granddaughter to visit the castle. Rosa is dubious about the task, thinking it doesn't make any sense, and that her grandmother is clearly under the influence of her medication. She begs and begs, and reluctantly, Rosa agrees to travel to Tintagel, as this could well be the very last request from her beloved grandmother.

When she arrives to Cornwall, she embraces the spirit of adventure. "She began to feel for the first time that she was no longer chasing after Jocelyn's wild goose, but was here for an important reason. That reason was as yet unknown, but Rosa had the unshakeable notion that it wouldn't be too long before she discovered what it was".

While on a mission to discover her grandmother's lost love, she manages to antagonise quite a few locals. She appears rude, whether it's due to her nerves, or the feeling of superiority towards the villagers, for example, she tells the waiter in the pub that "people come here with all sorts of twaddle in their heads, don't they?" and claims the locals just "fool the gullible city folk".

On her first evening in Tintagel she has a strange encounter which she cannot explain rationally. And then another one the next day. Is it her imagination playing up?

Rosa meets a handsome local guide Talan, who bears a distinctive resemblance to Jory. He is as unpredictable as the Cornish weather, and as mysterious.

"Into her hitherto normal and carefully planned life had come the spirit world, legends, unfathomable messages from a dead man, sightings of the aforementioned dead man, no idea about what was going to happen next, and of course the incredibly lovely Talan. Ah yes, the incredibly lovely Talan... the look-alike of the dead man".

Will Rosa be able to accept that life is not always explained in rational terms, and help her grandmother to come to terms with her past? Will Tintagel work its magic on her?

Rosa has to confront her own hidden secrets, buried deep inside her childhood memories and psyche. It's hard for her, as she's been brought up to be a rational human being, who finds a scientific explanation to everything.

She also has to work on her manners, as she is a bit of a social disaster.

Even during her fist date with Talan, she sends contradictory messages. She is described a few times as having two personalities: one shy, another over-confident who "flirts outrageously". 

For having the sixth sense, Rosa is pretty clueless at reading other people's reactions and moods. She appears to be a very naive 28-year-old, who enjoys cracking juvenile jokes which are not funny at all.

It's difficult to relate to her.

Talan can also be incredibly rude. He makes a wrong judgment, based on the previous tragic events related to someone he deeply cares about, but his rudeness has no excuses.

There are so many misunderstandings and misinterpretations, it's almost a "comedy of errors". And the romantic story is rather predictable.

The sex scene made me laugh, because it was so cheesy. "He had taken her to the most wonderful places already that morning. Places she'd never dreamed of". 

The Cornish setting was the most attractive element of the novel for me. I bought the book, based on the title and melancholy image of the rugged coastline. And atmospheric descriptions of Tintagel didn't fail.

Amanda James does a stellar job, describing the coastal village, the castle and church, as the land steeped in mystery. I could see in my mind the route the main character was taking, going down the sheer path towards the castle. The rendition of the unpredictable Cornish weather rings true as well.

We visited Tintagel a year ago, when we stayed in Cornwall. We didn't go all the way up to see the ruins of the castle, as it was a spontaneous visit, and you have to book everything in advance these days.

We saw that bridge from below, and I was glad I didn't have to walk across it, just the sight of it gave me palpitations.

Summer in Tintagel will remind you why Cornwall is so special. You will want to pack your bags and book the train ticket. A quirky and certainly unusual story and a great sense of place.