Warrior Prince by J.C. Duncan

 

"You probably expected glory, eh? Well, the truth is never as glorious as we wish it could be."

"He had entered the great game of leaders and conquerors, where success brings only more enemies and failure gives only death. It is not something I have ever wanted for myself, but it was what he was born to do. And so, tied by love and by oath, I followed him without regret".

Warrior Prince by J.C. Duncan is a thrilling historical adventure story about one of the greatest warriors.

Blurb:

1030AD

Some men are gifted a crown. Others have to fight to claim it.

Exiled from Norway, Harald Sigurdsson, brother to murdered King Olaf, must battle mercilessly for survival in the lands of the Kievan Rus.

His brother's legacy gifts him a warband of hardened warriors and entry to the court of Prince Yaroslav the Wise. By his wits, sword and skill in battle, Harald must learn not just to survive but to triumph.

He fights for glory, for fame, and to regain his family's battle-stolen throne. But his greatest challenge may not come from battlefield foes but from those who stand by his side.

Warrior Prince is the story of the legendary Harald Hardrada Sigurdsson, as narrated by an old warrior Eric Alvarsson, known among the warriors as "Sveitungr" (The Follower). 

In his twentieth year Eric  returns to Sweden with King Olaf from the lands of the Rus. Eric is Olaf's kin, and loves him dearly. Olaf asks Eric to stay with his younger brother Harald, and "look after him, in whatever follows". And thus he becomes the right hand and confidante of the young prince.

"I lost my king that day, but I saw Olaf's strength arise in Harald. It was his first battle and he was barely a man, but while others despaired he never showed fear".

Exiled from Norway, Harald and his warband travel to the land of the Rus, gaining friends and enemies along the way.

"Harald Sigurdsson had gone into that marsh as an irrelevant exile, one of many Norse forced to sell their sword to pay for their failures at home. He left as a man who commanded respect, and had the power to take it where it was not given". 

Tied by love and by oath, Eric follows him without regret. Telling the adventures of his youth, The Follower as an elderly man is a wise protagonist. Looking back at the decisions he has taken and mistakes he has made, Eric is a good storyteller, still devoted to Harald, but also sagacious enough to see his flaws and failings.

There are scenes of numerous skirmishes and battles, cruelty meted towards friends and foes alike. We follow Harald and Eric from one battlefield to another.

I was curious to read this book because it is partly set in Kievan/Kyivan Rus, which is currently a bone of contention among the Eastern European historians. We meet Yaroslav the Wise, the Grand Prince of Kiev/Kyiv, who was a ruthless and cunning politician, and get to learn the ways and the intrigues of his court. 

The story is set during a complicated historical period for the Norse. Harald was not destined to be a king by his birthright. He earned his riches and position, having faced many challenges and death.

Eric recounts the past without glorifying it. He doesn't romanticise the past or spare us any gory details of the battles.

"The sagas don't tell of the inglorious parts of these stories, the parts where everything nearly failed simply because men thought maybe they didn't want to die, or thought there was better silver or better food somewhere else. It's not all glorious". In fact, hardly anything of it is. Being led by the avaricious leaders who don't value the price of human lives and are ready to sacrifice their military forces as well as innocent civilians for the sake of their ambition is not worthy of admiration.

Warrior Prince is an immersive, absorbing story, which gives an in-depth vision of the convoluted politics, intrigues and treacherous exploits of the times. The historical characters blend seamlessly with the fictional ones.

Duncan brings the brutal historical period to life with gritty realism, without embellishments and glamorising.

This review is part of the blog tour for Warrior Prince. Many thanks to J.C. Duncan, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

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

Author Bio –

J. C. Duncan is a well-reviewed historical fiction author and amateur bladesmith, with a passion for Vikings.

Social Media Links –  

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JCDuncanauthor

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/j.c.duncan/?hl=enn  

Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-c-duncan

The Sardinian Story by Francesca Scanacapra

"I feel like a little boat. I yearn to be out at sea, sailing away, travelling and seeing the world. But instead I'm stuck on a mountain where a boat is pretty much useless".
 

Blurb:

Apennine Mountains, Italy, 1965

Leonora Bacchetti was once a happy child. But at the age of seventeen she has become a wild and rebellious young woman who leaves her parents in despair when she runs away from home with a group of itinerant travellers.

In the eyes of their friends and neighbours in the tight-knit village of Montacciolo, her parents' good name is ruined.

At first, Leonora keeps in touch with her mother and father, sending letters and postcards from different countries until, very abruptly, her correspondence stops. The girl has vanished.

Vague, unreliable rumours of her fate abound, but newspaper appeals, police and private investigations reveal nothing.

Until, eighteen years later, in the midst of a snowstorm, a stranger from Sardinia knocks on the door of Leonora's father's little mountain house.

Now a widower, he has come to terms with never knowing what happened to his daughter. But everything changes when the unexpected visitor claims that he has new information.

The two men quickly bond and gradually begin to piece together the truth about Leonora, provoking deep questions about her life and how they have lived their own - questions about love, loyalty, honesty and what being a family really means.

The Sardinian Story is a novel of exquisite power and deep emotion which will live long in the memories of its readers.

An elderly widower Dante Bacchetti is living a quiet life of solitude in his little mountain house in the Apennines, with just a goat Gineprina for company. One February day, when there is a blizzard raging outside, a stranger arrives at his doorstep. Dante is amazed and alarmed at the same time. Who would travel in such weather to find his remote home and why?

The stranger introduces himself. Jubanne Melis Paddu comes to see Dante all the way from Sardinia, with information about his missing daughter. Leonora has been missing for many years, and Dante has given up all hope that she might be still alive.

As two men share their recollections of Leonora, their own personal stories slowly unfold, to overturn all our preconceptions. There are many secrets in Dante's life, and Jubanne, with his life-changing head injury is not the most reliable witness. 

The story of Leonora is revealed, bit by bit, like a jigsaw puzzle, pieces of which are slotted together. We see glimpses of real Leonora too, and not just as she appears in the narratives of both men. 

It starts as a deceptively simple story. You think you know where it is going but you will be totally blown away by the ending.

Leonora is a bright girl, with a great imagination and a talent for poetry. Living with her parents in Montacciolo, she feels suffocated by her own family drama, and the narrow-minded outlook of the villagers. 

When Leonora meets the groups of travellers, she is bewitched. Their lives seem to her to be so free and rich in experience, especially when "compared with her stifling, shut-up existence in Montacciolo, where a trip into the nearest town to borrow a book from the library was like a foreign expedition". They greet her with warmth, and embrace her wholeheartedly, and Leonora is smitten. Having tasted a sip of freedom, going back to her oppressed life feels impossible now. 

She hesitates to leave her mother, of course, she does, but staying at home is akin to self-destruction. In the parochial isolated world of Montacciolo, Leonora has committed a crime. Her departure with the group of travellers has left an indelible stain on the reputation of her parents. Dante becomes an object of mockery and distrust, a pariah.

At first, the postcards and short letters arrive to her parents' house from all over the world, then they suddenly stop as if Leonora has vanished into the thin air. The police is useless, and not overly interested in finding the missing woman. The private investigators fail as well. It seems, nobody knows anything about Leonora.

That is, until Jubannu arrives to Dante's house many years later with his own story. 

Jubannu is a complicated character, portrayed with compassion and empathy. His life has changed dramatically after a head injury. He is a "tortured, half-existing man". "...the exhausting confusion, the constant questioning of what was real, the crazy, illogical way his brain cherry-picked what to remember". You heart will go to the afflicted man, and you will feel his pain.

Franscesca Scanacapra is such a talented storyteller. Just seeing her name on the book cover is enough for me to know that it will be another moving  and emotionally charged story.  Without hesitation Scanacapra is one of my favourite modern writers. 

With a piercing psychological insight and a deep compassion, she creates believable characters. The author writes with great elegance and perfect pacing. Her writing style is exquisite, lyrical and ferociously honest at the same time.

The Sardinian Story is an affecting and poignant tale, deceptive and lucid, heartbreakingly tender and deeply moving. It will sweep you away.

This review is part of the blog tour for The Sardinian Story. Many thanks to Francesca Scanacapra, Silvertail Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book!

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sardinian-Story-absolutely-heartbreaking-unputdownable-ebook/dp/B0CF5ZVTRY

https://www.amazon.com/Sardinian-Story-absolutely-heartbreaking-unputdownable-ebook/dp/B0CF5ZVTRY

 

Author Bio –

 

Francesca Scanacapra was born in Italy to an English mother and Italian father, and her childhood was spent living between England and Italy. Her adult life has been somewhat nomadic with periods spent living in Italy, England, France, Senegal and Spain. She describes herself as 'unconventional' and has pursued an eclectic mixture of career paths – from working in translation, the fitness industry, education and even several years as a builder. In 2021 she returned to her native country and back to her earliest roots to pursue her writing career full time. Francesca now resides permanently in rural Lombardy in the house built by her great-grandfather which was the inspiration for her Paradiso Novels: Paradiso, Return to Paradiso and The Daughter of Paradiso. Her novel The Lost Boy of Bologna was also published by Silvertail Books.

 

Social Media Links –

Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancescaScana2

Insta @francescascana2

 

The Promise Tree by Elisabeth J. Hobbes

 

"You are funny, Sapling."

"Why do you still call me that?" he asked.

She smiled mischievously. "Because it's what you are. It's what you were when I first met you and you still are. You're green inside. Fresh and young. Unbent and unformed. My tree has stood for a century and more. It could live another hundred with care. You are like a newborn lamb to the old shepherd".

The Promise Tree by Elisabeth J. Hobbes is an inspired blend of historical romance and fantasy. 

Blurb:

When does a story begin?

For Edwin Hope, it begins with a childhood dare and a forbidden tree. It begins with him falling... in more ways than one.

Called home from his studies by the grandfather who has always hated him, eighteen-year-old Edwin is once again trapped in a house that is colder than the winds whipping across the fields. Seeking sanctuary, he escapes into the untamed beauty of the Peaks and meets a woman who sparks an old memory. A memory of the sycamore that broke him, and the little girl who saved him.

Drusilla has had many acolytes over the centuries but none like Edwin. With the Great War looming and Edwin's future uncertain, she knows the right thing to do is to set him free from her spell, but can she do so if it means breaking her own heart?

1902.

One day a little boy named Edwin climbs up a sycamore tree on a dare, and stumbles upon a mysterious girl among the tree branches. He is rather clumsy, and falls from the tree, only to have his arm broken.

Edwin is a lonely child, an orphan growing up in the house of his grandfather Stephen Brice, who seems to detest his very existence. Unloved and uncared for, he seeks the company of the girl on the tree. For his disobedience, Edwin is packed off to live with his aunt and her family.

Once he is eighteen, Edwin is called back by his domineering grandfather to learn the ropes of the business he's going to inherit one day. The grandfather is as unloving and stern as Edwin remembers him to be. 

The house feels like a prison, and to escape its constaints, Edwin goes back to the sycamore tree, on an impulse. There he meets a young woman, and the memories of the chance encounter all those years ago rush back. She claims again to be the goddess of the tree, and the whole grove.

Edwin is not a baby anymore, and doesn't believe in the faerie world, yet he is eager to humour the beautiful stranger. "She was an odd thing but her eccentricity was appealing. If she wanted to play at being a goddess then who was he to object?"

And thus the strange friendship/infatuation begins. Edwin brings little gifts to Drusilla. At first she asks what he wants in retrun. "Nothing. That's the thing about gifts. They aren't in exchange for anything nor do they come with conditions". Yet he is not quite honest with himself, as he is drawn to Drusilla. She intrigues and excites him, and there's another appeal in their relationship, as Edwin knows it would mightily annoy his grandfather that he meets up with someone of unknown origins.

When Edwin enlists and is called to fight in France, his future is more than uncertain. Hardship and war horros are all around him. Will the love of the tree dryad sustain him and protect from death? Will the magic sycamore bring him safely home?

Drusilla's calling herself a tree goddess, and there is a hint of a story about her origins and how she has come to be who she is. Is she one with nature, or the nature itself?! Being confined to a limited location, she is not aware of the political or economical undercurrents in the wider world. She wants to preserve her little piece of the world, but is it even possible to keep it intact, when the world around is crashing down?!

And there's Edwin, we watch him growing from an innocent vulnerable child to a young man, who is changed by the hard reality of the war. Edwin struggles to understand what he wants in life after his return home from the battlefrields of France. He is embittered that the whole generation of young men from his area is lost. Only two men survive from his own battaglion. 

He also keeps trying to find any semblance of connection to his grandfather.

Though the grandfather is not a likeable character, he's not a one-dimensional villain. Mr Brice is grieving the loss of his daughter, but like many men of his generation he keeps the stiff upper lip, and is hiding his emotions behind the stern facade. What in his eyes is a self-restraint becomes a cruelty towards a young child who has also lost his mother. Rather than be united in grief and memories, the old man chooses to be an unemotional stoic.

The Promise Tree is an unusual book. It's an amalgam of historical fiction and ecological fantasy. Told in a lyrical prose, The Promise Tree is a mythical, otherwordly story that feels timeless. A story of love and hope, of metamorphosis and renewal, both of nature and human beings.

The descriptions of nature and the circle of life are beautifully rendered, as opposed to the ugliness and brutality of war.

This post is part of the blog tour for The Promise Tree.

Many thanks to Elisabeth J. Hobbes and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

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

Author Bio – Elisabeth’s writing career began in 2013 when she entered Harlequin's So You Think You Can Write contest and it turned out she could. She writes romantic Historical fiction as Elisabeth Hobbes and Historical folklore/fantasy inspired romance as Elisabeth J. Hobbes.

She teaches Primary school but would rather write full time because unlike five year olds her characters generally do what she tells them. She spends most of her spare time reading and is a pro at cooking one-handed while holding a book.

She lives in Cheshire because the car broke down there in 1999 and she never left. Elisabeth has two almost grown kids, two cats, two dogs and a husband. The whole family are on the autistic spectrum and that probably includes the pets! She dreams of having a tidy house one day.

Social Media Links

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/elisabeth-hobbes?follow=true

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

Twitter https://twitter.com/ElisabethHobbes

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

Amazon https://viewauthor.at/ElisabethHobbes

The House With Chicken Legs, Les Enfants Terribles

 

"My house has chicken legs. Two or three times a year, without warning, it stands up in the middle of the night, and walks away from where we've been living. It might walk a hundred miles or it might walk a thousand, but where it lands is always the same. A lonely, bleak place at the edge of..."

The House with Chicken Legs (Les Enfants Terribles) 

There are some wonderful books that stay with you forever. I read The House with Chicken Legs by Sophie Anderson several years ago. It might be a YA fiction, yet it is so deep and multi-layered that readers of all ages will find wisdom and solace in reading it. I was delighted to find out that this  beautiful story has been recreated as a stage production by Les Enfants Terribles.

This fabulous show tells the story of Marinka (Eve de Leon Allen), a 12-year-old girl who lives with her grandma, Baba Yaga (Lisa Howard), in a house with chicken legs. 

Unlike the Baba Yaga of many a folk tale, Marinka's grandma is a compassionate, kind and eccentric woman. She is the guardian of the portal that sends off the souls of the dead in the other dimension. She helps the dead celebrate their lives before they pass on to the stars. Lisa Howard is a spirited Baba Yaga, big-hearted and quirky. She is a true free spirit.

Baba likes her drink and loud music, she is also very protective of Marinka, who is not allowed to meet up with the living. 

Even before the show starts, while the spectators are being seated, you can hear the lyrical music. That alone set me off. I think my eyes were welling up soon after the souls started arriving to the house and sharing their stories.

At first, Marinka doesn't understand the language of the dead, and needs her Baba to interpret their stories. It's not that she has no talent for languages, it's a self-imposed psychological barrier. Marinka doesn't want to follow in Baba's footsteps, she wants to be a normal teenager, living among the people, and doing all the things that people do. 

She feels particularly sad about the absence of friends. Marinka's only friend is her jackdaw Jack (played brilliantly by Dan Willis).

Eve de Leon Allen makes an impressive lead. Her character is vulnerable and stubborn at the same time, and very likeable. Allen's voice conveys the emotions of a lonely child on the brink of the adolescence. She skilfully portrays a young pre-teen who can be endearing and exasperating at the same time. 

Her desire to make friends either with the living, or the dead is so intense it's almost tangible. 

There are several supporting characters that add more dimensions to the story. The local boy Ben (Michael Barker) accidentally stumbles upon the location of the House. Ben is another loner, who is bullied at school. He lost his Mum, and talks movingly about living with his Dad. There's innocent Nina (Elouise Warboys), who is sad that she hasn't been able to see the world during her short life.

The duet of Marinka and Nina about their life choices, or the lack of them, is poignant and very emotional. 

Marinka longs of staying in one place long enough, so that she could finally acquire friends, but the House has a mind of its own, and would move whenever it makes a decision. 

The production itself is a riot of colour  with clever puppetry and big screen projections, touching and hilarious dialogues, flamboyant music and intricate costumes.

The music is a mix of modern and folk, Slavic and Romani tunes, a blend of nostalgic and upbeat.

Costumes by Samuel Wyer deserve a special mention. They are bold, colourful, folk-inspired and cleverly re-interpreted in a modern, creative way. Some of the motives made me think of The Rite of Spring. When I later looked up the artist's mood boards and spotted Roerich's costume designs for Snegurochka, you can see the influence of the prehistoric Slav and ancient Rus' motives.

We loved the House, with its expanding platforms and playful interior. The House itself is not an inanimate entity, it is a living, breathing creature, which takes care of Marinka, and is full of love and compassion. 

The House with Chicken Legs is an evocative, beautiful story that will stay with you for a long time. Escape to the faraway lands through the magic of theatre and marvellous storytelling.

The show is very sad at times, yet also uplifting and full of joy. Be prepared to laugh and cry.

If there's only one play you plan to see this year, The House is the best choice.

Les Enfants Terribles continue their spectacular Autumn tour. Check out their itinerary below.

The London run comes hot on the heels of an Autumn tour, with forthcoming dates including Theatre Royal Plymouth (4-7 October), Harlequin Theatre, Redhill (11-14 October), Aberystwyth Arts Centre (18-20 October), Bacon Theatre, Cheltenham (26-28 October), New Theatre Royal Portsmouth (2-3 November), Crescent Theatre, Birmingham (7-10 November) and The Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple (14-18 November).

 The production had its world premiere at HOME Manchester in 2022, where it won an Offie Commendation (OffComm) recognising excellence in theatre outside of London.

 

The House with Chicken Legs is Written by Sophie Anderson and Adapted by Oliver Lansley and Directed by Oliver Lansley & James Seager with Music & Sound Design by Alexander Wolfe, Songs Co-written by Alexander Wolfe & Oliver Lansley, Costume & Puppetry Design by Samuel Wyer, Set Design by Jasmine Swan, Video Design by Nina Dunn, Lighting Design by Jane Lalljee and Original Illustrations by Melissa Castrillón and Elisa Paganelli © Usborne Publishing Ltd, 2018. 

 To book tickets, visit the Southbank Centre website:  https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/performance-dance/house-chicken-legs

LONDON LISTINGS-

Show: The House with Chicken Legs

Company: Les Enfants Terribles

Dates: 13 –⁠ 30 Dec, 1pm, 2.30pm & 7pm (check show schedule for individual days)

Running time: 2 hrs 30 mins (inc. interval)

Online booking: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/performance-dance/house-chicken-legs

Tickets: £20-40 (excl. £3.50 booking fee)

Age recommendation: 9+

Content warnings: The show contains minimal haze and smoke effects and some flashing lights. The story contains themes of loss.

Relaxed Performance: Sat 16 Dec, 2.30pm & Wed 27 Dec, 7pm.

Pre-show Touch Tour and Audio Description available: Thu 21 Dec, 2.30pm. British Sign Language interpreted (BSL): Thu 28 Dec, 7pm.

 

CREATIVE TEAM

• Written by: Sophie Anderson
• Adapted by: Oliver Lansley
• Directed by: Oliver Lansley & James Seager
• Music & Sound Design by: Alexander Wolfe
• Songs Co-written by: Alexander Wolfe & Oliver Lansley
• Costume & Puppetry Design by: Samuel Wyer
• Set Design by: Jasmine Swan
• Video Design by: Nina Dunn
• Lighting Design by: Jane Lalljee

SOPHIE ANDERSON 

Author

Sophie Anderson was born in Swansea, and now lives in the Lake District with her family. Her writing is most often inspired by folk and fairy stories, especially the Slavic tales her Prussian grandmother told her when she was young.

Across her bestselling novels, Sophie has won the Independent Bookshop Book of the Year Award and the Wales Book of the Year Award, and has been shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal twice, the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize, the Blue Peter Book Award, the British Book Awards’ Children’s Fiction Book of the Year, the Andersen Prize, and the Branford Boase Award.

Sophie’s books have been translated into over twenty-five languages and her much anticipated next novel, The Snow Girl, publishes on 23 October 2023.

My younger son and I were lucky to meet Sophie in person in Oxford, days before Covid, I follow her on social media, and she is the nicest person ever. 

The Snow Girl is out in a couple of weeks, and will make a wonderful Christmas gift for any young (and young at heart too) reader who enjoys magic stories.

Degustabox September Box

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

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

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

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

What did we get in the September Box Degustabox box?

Let's start with the Product of the Month - Mutti Regional Passata Tuscany made with Rossoro tomatoes (£2.70).

Mutti is a well-known and much-loved Italian brand. This passata is made using only the highest quality Rossoro tomatoes from Tuscany, harvested at their peak ripeness and processed within 24 hours.

The Rossoro tomatoes are grown in the heart of the Valle d'Oro and bring a distinct fruity flavour to this smooth passata.

Nutritional information: 31kcal and 4.5g of sugar per 100g.

This is an outstanding tomato product, which could be used in a great variety of dishes, from pasta to soup, from casseroles to pizza. I cooked potatoes with sweet peppers, onions, carrots and tikka masala paste, and added passata for a lovely side dish to roast salmon.

Available at Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

Pasta Garofalo Rigatoni Pasta (£2.50) is a large tubular-shaped pasta, excellent with chunky robust sauces, or in baked pasta dishes.

The ridges on the pasta hold the sauce well. Excellent pasta, suitable for many dishes, from tuna casserole to rigatoni sausage bake.

Nutritional values: 351kcal and 0,01g of salt per 100g.

Available on Ocado, Amazo, in Booths and local stockists.

Wagamama House Dressing (vg; £2.50) is perfect for dressing an Asian salad.

Since opening their first restaurant in London's Bloomsbury in 1992, Wagamama has set out to create a unique way of eating, bringing in authentic Asian flavours.

The House Dressing is inspired by Wagamama iconic katsu side salad.

Ingredients include rapeseed oil, rice vinegar, soy sauce, shallots, ginger puree, garlic puree and more.

I confess I've never eaten at Wagamama (we don't have one in town, and when eating out elsewhere we opt for the local cuisine), so I was curious to try their famous dressing. There is a recipe suggestion on the bottle to prepare a salad with cooked prawns, cooked beetroot, rice noodles, mangetout, red onion and apple. 

It is bold, fragrant and tasty.

Nutritional information: 264kcal and 10g of sugar per 100ml.

Available at Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's and Asda.

SimplyCook Goan Curry or Creamy Chorizo Penne (£2.50) is a handy recipe kit, which contains 3 flavour pots to create an authentic dish.

Cook 140+ chef-created recipes in 30 minutes or less with SimplyCook unique recipe kits.

We received a Goan Curry Recipe Kit, which includes 3 pots with Masala paste, Coconut paste and spice blend. You just need to add fresh ingredients (cod or chicken or cauliflower, onion, tomatoes, coconut milk), and your meal is ready in 20 minutes.

Nutritional information (Goan curry): 359kcal and 9.1g of sugar per 100g.

Available in the major supermarket chains. 

You should receive 1 item in the box.

Jordan's No Added Sugar Granola (£3.60) is a mix of tasty wholegrain oats, baked to perfection, satisfyingly crispy and crunchy, with no added sugar, and with an abundance of fruits, such as juicy dates, apple, blueberries and zingy cranberries.

Nutritional information: 221kcal and 3.7g of sugar per portion, a source of fibre and minerals, no palm oil, suitable for vegetarians.

Available at Waitrose.

You should receive 1 item in your box (either Triple Nut or Apple & Berries).

Mission Plain XL Wraps (£2)  are mega-sized 30cm plain wraps, perfect for burritos. 

These soft wheat flour tortilla wraps are suitable for vegans.

You can even make a dessert with wraps, by cutting them into smaller pieces, mixing with melted butter, cocoa, spices and baking in the oven until crispy.

Nutritional information: 276kcal and 1.3g of salt per 90g wrap.

If you struggle a bit with the size of them, the wraps are suitable for freezing.

Available in ASDA.

Ryvita Crackerbread (£1.59) are packed with wholegrainy goodness. Top it up with any of your favourite toppings, from peanut butter and jam, to hummus and pine nuts. Great with both sweet and savoury toppings.

At 20kcal per slice, these crackerbreads make a light snack. Low sugar and saturated fat, no artificial preservatives.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

You should receive 1 item in your box (Original or Wholegrain).

Chipoys Chilli & Lime (£1.99) are popular flavoured rolled tortilla chips. They are made in Mexico.

Crunchy and flavourful, serve them as part of the Mexican-inspired feast.

Typical values per 100g: 571kcal and 1g of salt.

Available across independent and symbol convenience stores and on Amazon.

Fruit-tella Out in Space Jelly Sweets (£1.50) are fruit-tella jellies in Moon, planet and rocket shapes, in pineapple, strawberry and peach flavours.

Jelly in texture, made with more real fruit juice (when compared to Fruit-tella juicy chews), natural colourings and flavours. 

Perfect for sharing Saying that, they were the first to disappear, and nobody shared with me. :)

Available at Co-Op.

6 o'clock London Dry Gin & Tonic (£3) is a G&T for gin lovers. 

It is classic, well-balanced and elegant. This drink is made using the iconic London Dry Gin and premium tonic water. Best served chilled.

7% alcohol

Available at Co-Op, and on Ocado.

Green Cola and Lemonade (£1.19) are healthier and more natural soft drinks, without aspartame.

Green drinks are low in sugar/no sugar, low calorie, and crafted with the finest ingredients, including natural, plant-based stevia, and bursting with real fruit.

Refreshing drinks for any occasion.

Available at Sainsbury's, Holland & Barrett, on Ocado and Amazon, with free delivery for Prime customers.

You should receive 2 items in your box.

What is your favourite product from September box?

A Long Time Burning by J.A. Higgins (review + #giveaway )

 

"... as she walked away she couldn't shake the feeling that lately she had been making too many excuses for too many weird occurrences. It couldn't all be just her imagination".

"Somewhere, somehow, something had been set in motion, and like the avalanche of Christmas she was dreading, there was nothing to stop it or Nell crashing into each other".

A Long Time Burning by J.A. Higgins is an atmospheric mystery, with paranormal elements. 

Blurb:

Nell has had a terrible year, so she travels to North Chase to find some true Christmas magic. But the town has its own problems; its solstice festival is tainted by the disappearance of two teenage boys and a witch's curse is blamed.

Then, nine-month-old Ava is threatened. Has a medieval killer been awoken or does something else haunt the woods?

Nell must battle through horrific nightmares and face her own demons to expose the truth before another child is spirited away. There is magic in the air this Christmas, but behind the tinsel and baubles glitters a terrifying secret that one family has hidden for centuries, and only Nell can uncover it.

A Long Time Burning is the second book in the Nell Montague Mystery series. It reads as a standalone (there are some references to the events which happen in the first mystery). I read the first book, Finding Ruby, four years ago, and had to re-read my own review to remind myself of who Nell is, and what's happened to her previously.

Nell is recovering from the abusive relationship with her ex Gary, death of her beloved Grandma, as well as strange and dramatic events that have changed her life. Her vivid nightmares border on hallucinations. 

She recently lost her grandmother, and is grieving, being engulfed by a torrent of emotions. Feelings of loss and love are interwoven with sadness, confusion and pain. "Nana was out of pain and Gary out of her life, unable to bully her anymore".

Nell lives on her own, she doesn't feel lonely as such, but she is dreading the approaching Christmas with its preconception of being a jolly family celebration. She doesn't have a family, and her group of friends is limited to Austin and Max.

"The finding of Ruby and Emily had forged a strange relationship betwen herself, Max, and Austin. Three introverts, who, she suspected, found making close friends a long process."

Max has a gift, she is a psychic. She works as a nurse, and her psychic abilities are pushed at the back of her mind. Austin is a private detective. Both try to support Nell, and help her adjust to the new pace of life. Without them she would be lost and alone.

In order to escape the forced jollity of Christmas celebrations, Nell decides to stay in North Chase. However, it's not exactly a peaceful little town. Two teenagers are gone missing in strange circumstances. 

There is some evil force at large. Is it related to the legends of Mother Maundrell, the healer and wise woman who was blamed for the deaths of many children during the great plague and who had been hanged for  witchcraft? Just who or what is haunting the woods nearby? What's the dark figure moving slielntly about?

Nell is susceptible to emotional distress and isolation of the suppressed menace of the past events.

She is trying to concentrate on her own personal quandary, yet is compelled to reveal the truth before another child is snatched. 

The themes of the horrors of the past never going away without a trace continue in this book.

From the start, A Long Time Burning introduces a feeling of slowly-creeping unease, that is totally eerie. A haunting and bewitching tale.

Though set before and around Christmas, it is a perfect read for the pre-Halloween weeks, as it gives the creepy, spooky vibe of the season. This story will make you reluctant to go to bed, and you might want to leave your night light on... just in case.

This post is part of the blog tour for A Long Time Burning.

Many thanks to J.A. Higgins and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B7CDCQV1

Author Bio –

J A Higgins was born and raised at Porton Down in Wiltshire, and currently works for the NHS in Salisbury. She has always been fascinated by history, crime and the unexplained.

A Long Time Burning is the second book in the Nell Montague Mystery series which explores how horrors from the past are still very relevant today. The first book, Finding Ruby, was a

Page Turner Book Award winner in 2021.

Social Media Links –

Twitter - https://twitter.com/AuthorJahiggins

Instagram – higgins_author

If you like the sound of this story, don't forget to enter the giveaway below.

Giveaway to Win a signed copy of A Long Time Burning and matching bookmark (Open to UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –

UK entries welcome.  

Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  

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

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

Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  

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

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

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

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

Chez Maximka hosts the Rafflecopter gadget for free for the purposes of promotion of the book. 

I don't have access to the data collected, and don't take part in choosing the winner or dispatching the prize.

Good luck!

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Lemon Madeleines (recipe by Florence Rebattet)

Madeleines photo courtesy of En Cuisine

 "She sent out for one of those short, plump little cakes called "petites madeleines", which look as though they had been moulded in the fluted scallop of a pilgrim's shell... I raised to my lips a spoonful of the tea in which I had soaked a morsel of the cake. No sooner had the warm liquid, and the crumbs with it, touched my palate than a shudder ran through my whole body, and I stopped, intent upon the extraordinary changes that were taking place. An exquisite pleasure had invaded my senses, but individual, detached, with no suggestion of its origin. And at once the vicissitudes of life had become indifferent to me, its disasters innocuous, its brevity illusory - this new sensation having had on me the effect which love has of filling me with a precious essence..."

Remembrance of Things Past, Marcel Proust

While I cannot promise you that all your worries will go away and you will be filled with happiness as soon as you eat a madeleine or two, these lovely little cakes will certainly cheer you up, even on a grey dull day like today.

Florence Rebattet, chef, founder of En Cuisine Cooking School, and finalist of Gordon Ramsay's "Future Food Stars" (series 2) shares her recipe for mouthwatering madeleines - check out her recipe book "Cook with Flo".

This recipe is suitable for children (with adult supervision, if necessary) and is one of many recipes Flo teaches children at En Cuisine Cooking School.

MADELEINES

Prep time: 20 minutes

Cooking time: 15 minutes

Ingredients (20 madeleines):

120g plain flour

120g granulated white sugar

120g unsalted butter

3 medium eggs

zest of one unwaxed lemon

1 lemon (juice)

1tsp baking powder

Utensils:

A madeleine tray

2 bowls

a wooden spoon

a grater

a scale

1. In a large bowl, mix the flour, the sugar and the baking powder.

2. Crack the eggs and separate the yolks from the whites. The yolk goes with the dry ingredients and the whites in a separate bowl.

3. Whisk the whites with a fork until you get bubbles on the top. Add them to the flour and yolks mix and combine.

4. Melt the butter and wait until it cools down before pouring it on the mix.

5. Add the lemon juice (from one lemon, G.V.) and the zest. Stir well.

6. Pour into madeleine moulds and put them in the oven at 240C for 6 minutes and then 180C for 8 minutes. Your madeleines are ready when you see a little mountain on the top and a nice golden colour.

Tip:

Swap the lemon for 1/2 orange or rose water. "I really like mine with rose water and dry peices of rose in the dough".

I have forgotten just how good madeleines are. I bought a madeleine tray years ago, and at first used it quite often, but for the last several years it's been staying in the kitchen unit, totally abandoned.

Last week my younger son and I tried the recipe for lemon madeleines, and it was a great hit with the whole family. Our madelienes were very tasty, and I will definitely bake them again.

The recipe is pretty straighforward and easy, and perfect for cooking with children. Try it, and enjoy the soft spongy bakes, with a delicate lemon flavour.

Many thanks to Florence for the recipe, and reminding us how delicious these little cakes are!

Loki's Deceit by Donovan Cook

"The gods are bastards. We all know that. They are mischievous and like to cause chaos just to amuse themselves. And it seems that was what they intended when they brought my grandson to me. Chaos." 

"All he knew was that God had placed the cross in his hands and the kings of Francia wanted him dead because of it".

Loki's Deceit by Donovan Cook is an enthralling and accomplished historical novel, set in Denmark and Francia, AD 854.

This is the second book in the Charlemagne's Cross series, following Odin's Betrayal. This book reads as a standalone, as the events of the first book are recounted here, though it would help reading the previous novel to better understand the dynamics between the main protagonists, and also the political intrigues that set the actions.

Blurb:

Loki's Deceit

A king, old and frail

A challenger filled with vengeance. A kingdom's fate at stake.

Sven the Boar is Jarl of Ribe once more. He and Charles try to settle into their new lives, but trouble and treachery are never too far away.

Tormented by recent events, Charles struggles to adapt to life among the heathens that mock his Christian God and the arrival of a priest from the south only makes things worse.

Meanwhile, Sven is burdened with the responsibilities of being Jarl again and protecting his grandson from those hunting him.

When forced into an alliance with King Horik's nephew who is raising an army to challenge his uncle for the throne of Denmark, Sven makes and important decision.

As the threat of war becomes real, Sven rides to fight the battle that will change the destiny of Denmark.

But while he fights, will Charles remain safe or are other games in play that threaten him?

Summer AD 854

Following the events narrated in Odin's Betrayal, we meet young Charles and his grandfather Sven the Boar in Ribe. After killing his own brother for the ultimate betrayal, Sven is a Jarl, albeit a reluctant one. All he is looking for is safety and protection for his grandson. 

"Sven had hated the gods because Odin refused to let him die, no matter how much he wanted to or how badly others had beaten him. He had survived when he should have died many times over... Sven lived because Odin wanted him alive. Or perhaps it had been Loki all along, tormenting Sven to amuse himself."

Once a powerful jarl and a warrior of great renown, Sven is not accepted by everyone as the new Jarl of Ribe. There are old factions which hate him and want him gone. And he would have left, if he didn't have to protect his grandson.

Like his late father, Torkel, Charles is a Christian. This puts a big strain on his relationship with Sven who adheres to the "false idols" rather than one true God. Despite being threatened many times, he doesn't believe in violence being a solution. The stubborn child doesn't even want to train and be able to defend himself, and insists that he wants to be a priest.

Charles "wondered if he would ever find a place where he would not be judged or beaten up because of who he was or who his family was".

On Sven's insistence, Charles is tutored by the shield maiden Thora to defend himself. 

Sven "knew it was his fault for the strained relationship between him and his grandson. He had tried to understand the boy, who looked more like Torkel every day, but Charles's Christianity was a difficult thing for him to accept..."

King Horik is weak, and his exiled nephew Guttrom is raising a rebellion against him, in order to usurp the power. Sven is approached by Guttrom with an offer he cannot refuse. His own and his grandson's survival will depend on the outcome of the battle for the throne of Denmark. 

Charles is a chess piece on a big board, played by two opposing parties. There are threats on all sides. Is he going to remain in a relative safety while the big events are taking place?

Charles' character is portrayed sympathetically. An orphaned child, surviving among the people who distrust his faith, he is vulnerable, earnest, naive.

The main characters are masterfully developed, and are multi-dimensional.

Love the character of shield maiden Thora, she is a total badass, courageous, brave and also compassionate and kind. She becomes a wise mentor to young Charles.

The pace of the story doesn't slow down. The intricate plot is full of twists and intrigues. The battle scenes feel realistic, with all the gore, sounds and smells.

If you're a fan of historical fiction set in the Dark Ages, you will not be disappointed.

Donovan Cook blends authentic period background with a cinematographic penchant for dramatic. You can easily see these novels adapted as a TV series.

Loki's Deceit is very enjoyable, intriguing and dramatic. A gripping page turner.

This post is part of the blog tour for Loki's Deceit. Many thanks to Donovan Cook and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

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

Author Bio –

Donovan Cook is the author of the well-received Ormstunga Saga series which combines fast-paced narrative with meticulously researched history of the Viking world, and is inspired by his interest in Norse Mythology

Social Media Links –  

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

Twitter  https://twitter.com/DonovanCook20

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

Clues to You by Claire Huston

"You and Max are as bad as each other."

"What do you mean?"

"This sleuthing business. You both take it far too seriously. It's a game, Kate. No one's dead for real."

Not yet, thought Kate as she trained her sights on Max. Not yet." 

Clues to You by Claire Huston is a sweet romantic comedy and a cosy mystery in one.

This is book 3 in the Love in the Comptons series (all are standalone romcoms).

Clues to You

One murder mystery weekend. Two rival sleuths.

They’re looking for answers. But will they find love?

 

Kate Brannon is delighted to be attending her first murder mystery weekend in a movie-worthy Victorian manor house. Still getting over being dumped, cracking the case would be a welcome boost to her flagging confidence. And the prize money wouldn’t hurt either.

But Kate’s dreams of victory become a nightmare with the arrival of Max Ravenscroft. Smart, enigmatic and annoyingly handsome, Max is Kate’s sleuthing nemesis.

 When she and Max are forced to work together, Kate despairs. But, as the investigation brings them closer, she finds being his partner in solving crime isn’t all bad.

 With growing suspicions that the game is rigged against them, can Kate and Max beat the odds to find the killer? And, as their partnership deepens, can they find romance too?

 

Kate Brannon arrives to The Old Grange Hotel for Merryman's Murder Mystery Weekend with great hopes. For her, spending a weekend, trying to solve the murder mystery, is pure happiness. Her best friend Bella is expected to attend the event with her fiance Ethan. With these two on her team, Kate knows she has a chance.

She " was determined to have a fun weekend with good friends. And maybe, just maybe, it would be a weekend with a dream ending. Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment and she pictured her team solving the case to rapturous applause and carrying off fifty thousand pounds".

Her bubble of excitement is burst, when Max Ravenscroft makes his appearance, "her old rival, sleuthing nemesis and destroyer of dreams of detective glory..." She dreads working together with Max on the same team.

"She had hoped she stood a small chance of cracking the case. But the addition of another mystery - and none other than the diabolical enigma that was Max Ravenscroft - could well make the weekend more than she could handle".

To be fair, Kate does exaggerate her dislike of the formidable Max. In fact, he is very considerate to her, offering Kate cookies, when her stomach makes embarrassing noises.

With his sharp mind, Max asks direct questions that help their team. "In the middle of a weekend of extended role play, a weird fictional situation in which everyone was voluntarily suspending their disbelief, he was unwaveringly present and solid".

Like Elizabeth to her Mr Darcy, Kate's prejudices begin to melt away.

As Kate and Max probe further into the secrets of the family, they seem to be drawn together. Max shows that he can be caring and attentive, and not at all the monster she has envisaged in her mind. As each clue is being revealed, their mutual attraction grows.

There are rumours that the game has been rigged, and the game organisers are not playing fair, which they obviously deny. Is it possible for anyone to solve the clues and win the game?

Kate and Max are determined to find the answers. Will they find the killer? They are following the clues, but is it finally the time to start following their hearts as well?

Kate is a sweet likeable character, shy and not overly bursting with confidence, and with a quirky style in clothes. 

Max is the epitome of elegance and poise, and at first appears borderline smug over-confident.

They make an awesome duo of sleuths, complementing each other's strenghts. And they do take their hobby seriously (which is quite endearing).

The murder mystery is set in the 1930s, and at times you forget that the main action is happening at present, and the murder investigation is staged and performed by the team of actors. The murder mystery characters are fleshed out effortlessly, with insightful glimpses into their backstories. 

The whole story would make a fabulous TV series with a delightful set of characters, Archie "Tinkety-Tonk" Forbes being one of my personal favourites.

Clues to You is a very entertaining and an immensely enjoyable story, with a great charm and a sense of humour. 

A charming and fun read, with an original concept.

This review is part of the blog tour for Clues to You.

Many thanks to Claire Huston, Goldcrest Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book (and it's also signed by the author!)

Purchase Link - 

https://mybook.to/CluesToYou

Author Bio:

Claire Huston lives in Warwickshire with her husband and two children. She writes uplifting modern love stories about characters who are meant for each other but sometimes need a little help to realise it.

A keen amateur baker, she enjoys making cakes, biscuits and brownies almost as much as eating them. You can find recipes for over a hundred sweet treats at clairehuston.co.uk. This is also where she talks about and reviews books.

Social Media Links: 

https://linktr.ee/clairehuston_author