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Burn This Night by Alex Kenna

 

Burn this Night by Alex Kenna.

Published 12th November 2024 by Crooked Lane Books.

From the cover of the book:

Struggling private investigator Kate Myles is shattered to learn her late father isn’t her biological dad. She’s still reeling when she discovers that an unknown distant relative is the prime suspect in a decades-old murder investigation. Trying to convince her to take on the case for free, an old colleague recommends her as an investigator for a recent arson murder in the same small town.

After giving up on a failed acting career, Abby Coburn is starting over as a promising social work student. With her life on the right track, she’s determined to help her brother, Jacob, whose meth addiction triggered a psychotic break and descent into crime. But when Abby dies in a fire that kills two other people and destroys part of the town, the police immediately suspect Jacob.

As the Coburn family grapples with the tragedy, Kate begins unravelling the cold case but finds herself caught in the middle of an emotional minefield. Pretty soon, she discovers that this town is full of dark secrets, and as she comes closer and closer to figuring out the truth, Kate must solve both murders before she becomes the next victim.

***********

PI Kate Myles is trying to pick up the pieces of her life after an injury that meant the end of her police career, and led to a struggle with opioid addiction, the break-up of her marriage, and the loss of custody of her daughter. Learning that the man she thought was her dad was not actually her biological father is an extra blow she does not even know how to deal with.

When an old colleague comes to her for some free help with a cold case that he suspects might have something to do with a distant relative, Kate is unsure about the prospect of finding a possible murderer in her family tree, especially without payment. But a solution presents itself... there is also a paying role on offer as an investigator into a case of arson in the same small town where the cold case death took place. Kate will be able to take on both cases at the same time after all... if she is prepared to confront what she may find.

Kate arrives in town to find the Coburn family struggling with the tragic loss of their daughter, actress-turned-social worker, Abby. Their distress is made worse by the fact that their son Jacob has been arrested for the murder of the sister who had been trying to help him with his meth addiction, and for subsequently setting fire to her cabin to hide the evidence of his crime. As Kate gets to work, she soon finds holes in the investigation into Abby's death, and a web of secrets and lies as the heart of this small community. Can she get to the bottom of the sins of the past and present before she becomes a victim herself?

Burn this Night is the second book featuring PI Kate Myles, following on from Alex Kenna's debut, What Meets the Eye. It can, however, easily be read as a standalone.

The story unfurls in past and present via a prologue and the narratives of Abby, Jacob and Kate. This does make the beginning a little fractured, as there are multiple time hops and the different voices come at you thick and fast before you have a real handle on the characters (though possibly this is easier in Kate's case if you have read the first book).

However, once Kate rolls into town and gets into the nitty gritty of both the mysterious cold case connected to her family and the arson/murder case involving Abby and Jacob, the story absolutely takes off  - there is a well-spun thread of romance for Kate too. It was not long before I was hooked, and fully invested in following all the nicely contrived twists and turns to their truly gripping conclusion, and discovering what this would all mean for Kate's heart too.

Kenna does a great job of keeping the slow-burn, small town suspense going in every aspect of the story, whether it be in Kate's personal life, or the cases she is investigating, and she throws in so much lovely misdirection that you will find yourself looking completely the wrong way when the grisly truths are revealed. She also explores some very thought-provoking themes in the telling, especially around second chances, family, broken marriages, parenthood, and addiction.

I thoroughly enjoyed the combination of mystery, thriller, and romantic elements that make this a real page-turner. I really hope Alex Kenna picks up Kate's story from the ending of this cracking second book too, because I really want to find out what happens next!

Burn this Night is available to buy now in hardcover and ebook formats.

Thank you to Alex Kenna for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Alex Kenna is a mystery writer, prosecutor, and amateur painter. Her first novel, What Meets the Eye, was a 2023 Shamus Award Finalist for best first P.I. novel. Kirkus Reviews called it a “righteous, painful debut,” and Bookpage called her “a master in the making.”

Alex lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, and giant schnauzer. Before law school, she studied art and art history, worked as a freelance culture writer for the Atlantic and other publications, and sold paintings in a gallery. 

When she’s not writing Alex can be found exploring Southern California, toddler-wrangling, and playing string instruments badly

Tales From Beyond The Stars by Adam Roberts and Evangeline Gallagher

 

Tales from Beyond the Stars by Adam Roberts and Evangeline Gallagher.

Published 7th November 2024 by Big Picture Press.

From the cover of the book:

Long before humans ventured into outer space, writers spun stories of what might lie in the unknown worlds beyond our planet and speculated about the future.

This striking collection features retellings of seven classic science fiction stories. From tales of space exploration, to time travellers and alien invaders, this striking anthology is the perfect introduction to the world of science fiction.

Includes:
The Star by H G Wells
Micromegas by Voltaire
The Last Man by Mary Shelley
From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne
Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
Buck Rogers: Armageddon 2419 AD by Philip Francis Nowlan

Written by Adam Roberts and with vivid illustrations by artist Evangeline Gallagher.

***********

Having really enjoyed Tales of the Damned from Big Picture Press, I was delighted to have the chance to read another of their beautifully produced editions of retellings, this time celebrating a genre that absolutely fascinates me - science fiction. Tales from Beyond the Stars by Adam Roberts contains seven retellings of a variety of classic science fictions tales, with gorgeous, full-colour illustrations by Evangeline Gallagher that really are a feast for the eyes (fabulous endpapers too).

The book follows the same engaging format as Tales of the Damned. Roberts kicks off the literary adventure with an intriguing introduction to what lies within this lovely volume, and then proceeds to retell seven tales - accompanied by after-words which offer insight into both the authors and their place in shaping what we now know as the science fiction genre.

The widely acknowledged 'father of science fiction' H.G. Wells (even though he was not the earliest author to write in a speculative vein by any means), gets two appearances here with The Star, which I was not familiar with, and The War of the Worlds, which is arguably one of the most famous science fiction stories of all. There are also stories from sci-fi maestros Mary Shelley and Jules Verne, in the form of The Last Man and From the Earth to the Moon, respectively; a little pulp fiction with a Buck Rogers tale from Philip Francis Mowlam; as well as an unexpected story from Voltaire, Micromegus. The most surprising inclusion for me, however, is Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, who I had no idea wrote a story worthy of being among the greats, as I previously only knew her work through her outstanding feminist piece, The Yellow Wallpaper. Mindblowing!

Each tale is chosen with care by Roberts to take you through many different facets of the genre, and really show off its breadth: tales about discovery and journeys into the unknown, apocalyptic plague scenarios, space exploration, what the future might hold, utopia, dystopia, and knotty philosophical aspects of the human condition, all are examined in the most thought-provoking way - just in case you were in any doubt about how far reaching science fiction stories can be.

This is a great introduction to science fiction for teens to adults of all ages, and I guarantee it will whet your appetite to explore not only the original classics included here, but also delve 'beyond the stars' as the title suggests. It will look stunning as part of your book collection too. 

Tales from Beyond the Stars is available to buy now in hardcover.

Thank you to Big Picture Books for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Adam is a British science fiction and fantasy novelist. In 2018 he was elected vice-president of the H.G. Wells Society. Adam has a degree in English from the University of Aberdeen and a Ph.D. from Cambridge University on Robert Browning and the Classics. He teaches English literature and creative writing at Royal Holloway, University of London. He has been nominated three times for the Arthur C. Clarke Award: in 2001 for his debut novel, Salt, in 2007 for Gradisil and in 2010 for Yellow Blue Tibia. He won both the 2012 BSFA Award for Best Novel, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award, for Jack Glass. It was further shortlisted for The Kitschies Red Tentacle award. His short story "Tollund" was nominated for the 2014 Sidewise Award. Adam was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2018.

About the illustrator:

Evangeline Gallagher is a freelance illustrator from Baltimore, Maryland whose work has been featured by clients including the New York Times, ProPublica, The New Republic, and The Guardian. They received their BFA in Illustration from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2018. When they aren't drawing, you can find them hanging out with their dog, Charlie and playing Dungeons and Dragons.

Dead Sweet by Katrin Juliusdottir (Paperback Release)

 

Dead Sweet by Katrín Júlíusdóttir .

Translated by Quentin Bates.

Published in paperback 5th December 2024.

From the cover of the book:

A murder is just the beginning…

When Óttar Karlsson, a wealthy and respected government official and businessman, is found murdered, after failing to turn up at his own surprise birthday party, the police are at a loss. It isn’t until young police officer Sigurdís finds a well-hidden safe in his impersonal luxury apartment that clues start emerging.

As Óttar’s shady business dealings become clear, a second, unexpected line of enquiry emerges, when Sigurdís finds a US phone number in the safe, along with papers showing regular money transfers to an American account.

Following the trail to Minnesota, trauma rooted in Sigurdís’s own childhood threatens to resurface and the investigation strikes chillingly close to home…

Atmospheric, deeply unsettling and full of unexpected twists and turns, Dead Sweet is a startling debut thriller that uncovers a terrifying world of financial crime, sinister cults and disturbing secret lives, kicking off an addictive, chilling new series.

***********

The body of wealthy civil servant and businessman Óttar Karlsson is found on a beach, after he failed to arrive at his surprise birthday party. The signs point to him having been murdered, but why anyone would want to harm such a respected member of Reykjavik's political set is a mystery.

Young police officer Sigurdís is keen to get involved in her first major case, but having only just returned to active duty after assaulting a member of the public (albeit with good reason), her boss is reluctant to assign her more than administrative tasks. However, when her observational skills bring about the important discovery of a hidden safe in the victim's luxury apartment, she finds herself involved in the thick of an unusual murder investigation.

As the enquiry develops, it becomes clear that Óttar Karlsson's reputation for transparency and integrity was nothing but a sham. The sheer scale of his shady business dealings leads the police to the conclusion that this must be the reason for his murder... but Sigurdís is not so sure. The discovery of an American phone number among Karlsson's paperwork, and a series of payments to a bank account in Minnesota, whisper of an even darker side to Óttar Karlsson, and Sigurdís' own experiences of trauma make her the ideal person to uncover the disturbing truth about the man so many held in high regard...

Dead Sweet is the first in an intriguing new series by debut author Katrin Júlíusdóttir. At first sight, this is a tale of financial misconduct in the wake of the Icelandic economic collapse, which thrums with the heft of Júlíusdóttir's political and tech company backgrounds, but it soon becomes clear that she has something much more sinister in mind. Building on a cleverly wrought framework that combines far-reaching domestic and international plotlines, Júlíusdóttir sows the seeds of an unsettling Nordic noir crime yarn, and before you know it she has subverted the story into one rife with themes of manipulation and abuse that burgeon to encompass, not just the present police investigation, but also Sigurdís' personal life.

Júlíusdóttir takes great care with her characters in this story, doing an excellent job of introducing you to their strengths and weaknesses, and all the little shades of grey that make them who they are. This is especially true of the police team and family members surrounding Sigurdís, who I look forward to getting to know and love over the course of this series. Sigurdís is written with incredible depth, and insight, and I love how she discovers a lot about herself as the story progresses. She carries the weight of many burdens from the domestic abuse she lived through as a child, and Júlíusdóttir uses this nicely to explore multiple facets of fear, control, insecurity, and guilt that are also reflected through the lives of many of the other characters, who she strips back beautifully to their bare bones as the twists come thick and fast towards the end of the book - particularly those people connected to the 'real' Óttar Karlsson, 

This is a cracking debut. Júlíusdóttir 's writing flows well, and she knows how to bring her obvious knowledge to bear to flesh out slick plotlines with authenticity and atmosphere. There is nothing lacking in thrills, spills and suspense, and I love, love, love the way Juliusdottir plays with the aspects of 'Dead Sweet' throughout. Quentin Bates does a great job, as always, keeping the pace and intensity going, which is impressive given the breadth of this story.

It is always such a joy to be in at the beginning of an author's journey, particularly one writing in one of my absolute favourite genres. I predict great things Katrin Júlíusdóttir, and am really looking forward to book two!

Dead Sweet is available to buy now in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audio formats. You can support indie publushing by buying direct from Orenda Books HERE.

Thank you to Random Things Tours for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.

About the author:

Katrín Júlíusdóttir has a political background and was a member of the Icelandic parliament from 2003 until 2016. Before she was elected to parliament, Katrín was an advisor and project manager at a tech company and a senior buyer and CEO in the retail sector. She worked from a young age in the fishing industry, was a store clerk and also worked the night shift at a pizza restaurant. She studied anthropology and has an MBA from Reykjavík University. 

Katrin's debut novel, Dead Sweet, was published in English in 2023, and longlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize. 

She is married to critically acclaimed author Bjarni M. Bjarnason, who encouraged her to start writing. They have four boys and live in Garðabær.

About the translator:

Quentin Bates escaped English suburbia as a teenager, jumping at the chance of a gap year working in Iceland. For a variety of reasons, the gap year stretched to become a gap decade, during which time he went native in the north of Iceland, acquiring a new language a new profession as a seaman and a family, before decamping en masse for England. He worked as a truck driver, teacher, netmaker and trawlerman at various times before falling into journalism, largely by accident. 

He is the author of a series of crime novels set in present-day Iceland (Frozen Out, Cold Steal, Chilled to the Bone, Winterlude, Cold Comfort and Thin Ice which have been published worldwide. 

He has translated all of Ragnar Jónasson’s Dark Iceland series.

Mistletoe Magic In The Highlands by Bella Osborne

 

Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands by Bella Osborne.

Published 10th October 2024 by Aria.

From the cover of the book:

Olivia Bingham is unlucky in love...

She's been ghosted more times than she can count, but this Christmas brings a glimmer of hope: Fraser Douglas, a Scottish chef working at an idyllic hotel in the Highlands. He's sweet and sensitive, thoughtful and funny, not to mention incredibly good looking - but there's a catch.

They've never actually met.

When Olivia tries to show her friends the hunky new man in her life, Fraser's online dating profile has vanished, and Olivia fears the worst. Frustrated and wounded, she decides she's going to confront Fraser - face to face, in Scotland.

But when she arrives, things don't go exactly as planned. Worse still, Fraser doesn't seem to have any idea who she is...

***********

Olivia does not have the best track record with men, but when she matches on a dating app with handsome Scottish chef, Fraser, she thinks she has finally hit gold. Fraser is thoughtful, funny and even shares her love of Mariah Carey, and she cannot wait to finally meet him.

Sadly, Liv's hopes of romance are dashed when his dating profile mysteriously disappears, and she realises she has been ghosted once more. Deciding she is not going to take this lying down, Liv heads to Scotland to confront Fraser at his hotel in the Highlands. However, things do not go quite as planned when she arrives north of the border in the middle of a snowstorm, and realises that Fraser has absolutely no idea who she is...

Bella Osborne's latest escapist romance is full of mistletoe magic, when Liv decides to head to Scotland and give a piece of her mind to the man she thinks has done her wrong. After a series of unfortunate incidents involving a mishap on the road and a painful encounter with a highland cow called Ginger, Liv finds herself snowed in with Fraser and his family in a dilapidated castle/hotel, pretending she has amnesia. 

What follows is a delightful Highland caper full of fun and snowy frolics, as Fraser tries to get his dream of a fancy restaurant off the ground from the mire of some very complicated family history, in the midst of more than one romantic-themed mystery. There is a spark between accident-prone, social media guru Liv and grumpy chef Fraser from the start, and Osborne throws all the bumps in the road on the way to happiness that you need for the best sort of rom-com, in an atmospheric setting, with a deliciously quirky cast of characters for you to take to your heart. I just loved Fraser's adorable cousin Effie; his charismatic grandmother Dolly; Jock-O, the sock-loving dog; Robbie, the hapless, bag-pipe playing local copper; the oldsters who come to the rescue; and of course, Ginger the cow. There is even a very creditable villain for you to loath in the shape of Fraser's conniving ex, a comical interlude with unexpected guests in a blizzard, and a surprise twist that I really did not see coming.

This was a joyous little Christmas gem, with lots of moments that hit the heart-warming hot-spot, and more than a few chuckles along the way. It touches gently on some quite thought-provoking subjects about family secrets, loss, and the pitfalls of internet dating, and has a nice hit of Scottish history and culture too. Just right for getting you in the festive mood.

Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Aria for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Bella has been jotting down stories as far back as she can remember but decided that 2013 would be the year that she finished a full length novel. Since then she’s written a number of best-selling romantic comedies and book club reads and won the RNA Romantic Comedy Novel of the Year Award 2022.

Bella's stories are about friendship, love and coping with what life throws at you. She likes to find the humour in the darker moments of life and weaves these into her stories. Her novels are often serialised in four parts ahead of the full book publication.

Bella lives in The Midlands, UK with her husband, daughter and a cat who thinks she’s a dog. When not writing Bella is usually eating custard creams and planning holidays.

The Healthy Bones Plant-Based Nutrition Plan And Cookbook by Dr Laura Kelly, Helen Bryman Kelly and Jummee Park

 

The Healthy Bones Plant-Based Nutrition Plan And Cookbook by Dr Laura Kelly, Helen Bryman Kelly and Jummee Park.

Published 21st November 2024 by Chelsea Green Publishing Company.

From the cover of the book:

A unique nutritional guide and cookbook--with over 100 delicious recipes--that can help both women and men of any age maintain optimal bone density and prevent osteoporosis.

Can you have healthy bones while following a diet of more, mostly, or entirely plants? Is lower bone density an inescapable price even young people must pay for choosing plant foods?

Dr. Laura Kelly, a specialist in precision medicine for bone health, hears these questions from patients and colleagues who cite studies showing that as a group, vegetarians and vegans can have lower bone density than do people who eat animal food. In The Healthy Bones Plant-Based Nutrition Plan and Cookbook, Dr. Kelly puts these questions to rest, offering readers the same expert guidance she provides to her patients who are on a plant-forward or vegetarian diet, ensuring they have a plan to meet their nutritional needs for healthy bones or working toward reversal of bone loss. 

As the authors of The Healthy Bones Nutrition Plan and Cookbook, Laura and Helen Kelly specialize in explaining science to non-scientists, and this book is a must-have for anyone who is giving plant foods a bigger share--or a full share--of their daily diet. The authors guide readers to learn about the wide variety of plant foods and how to select, prepare, and cook with them, as well as best food combinations in order to achieve optimum bone health.

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I am not planning to become a vegetarian (or vegan) any time soon, but it is widely acknowledged these days that there are nutritional (and environmental) advantages to pursuing a more plant-based diet, so I am always looking for new and interesting ways to do this as part of making healthy choices. 

My interest was particularly piqued by this book, The Healthy Bones Plant-Based Nutrition Plan And Cookbook, because it also promises to offer sound advice about not only incorporating tasty plant-based foods into your diet, but also finding a way to maintain optimal bone density at the same time - something that is more and more of interest to me as I have got older and begun thinking about staving off the dangers of osteoporosis.

It is worth noting off the bat that this is a book intended primarily for an American audience, so its references and the language used are trans-Atlantic (as are the recipes it includes). I did not find this an issue, although there are obviously certain adjustments to be made if you are using the book in the UK, as I was. It is beautifully produced by Chelsea Green, with full colour illustrations throughout, and is very tactile - something I always enjoy in a cookery book.

So, what does this book offer the person keen to get to grips with how plant-based nutrition can transform your diet, and your health in terms of content? 

What struck me straightaway is that this book really does offer a lot of comprehensive information and advice about the science around bones, bone health, nutrition and the relationship between plant-based foods and a healthy body. In fact almost the first third of the book concerns itself with almost a text book level of information, which seems a little daunting at first, but although some of it may be on the technical side for the lay-person, the style is engaging and informative. Everything you need to think about when pursuing a healthy plant-based diet while caring for your bones is presented for your consideration, with a leaning towards Chinese medicine (natural given the background of Dr Laura Kelly).  I particularly liked that is includes personal information about the authors and their own experiences with diet, lifestyle, and bone density issues too. It is all very reassuring, and well thought out.

What about the recipes?

The rest of the book is all about food to make your taste-buds zing, and this is where food and wellness consultant Jummee Park takes the reins.

This section begins with a general introduction to equipment and basic pantry items, and then proceeds on a gentle journey through some really interesting recipes from juices and smoothies, through soups, breads, salads, main meals, side dishes, and desserts - ending with seasonal meal plans for the dedicated plant-based cook.

Several recipes jumped out to me as ones I wanted to try on a first reading, which is always a good sign, and I was itching to get cooking...

So, which recipes proved to be a hit? I tried a good selection throughout the book, and particularly liked the Mushroom and Cashew Pate, the Broccoli-Potato-Leek Soup, the Tomato Soup With Basil And Capers, the Cauliflower Steak With Moroccan Spices, the Sweet Potato Boats With Creamy Spinach, and the Rainbow Veggie Frittata With Feta. Each one was a tasty delight and looked good on the plate too.

What did I think overall?

As an experienced cook, I would say that you do require a good level of cookery knowledge to tackles these recipes, so if you are beginner I would suggest this is not going to be the right option for you (especially given the American recipes). 

Some require specialist ingredients that might be tricky to find in your local supermarket, so access to a wholefoods store is recommended. However, since I am not a vegetarian or vegan I simply substituted ingredients where necessary - particularly when it came to including dairy where non-dairy, plant-based ingredients were called for. Again, you should find this easy to do if you are an experienced cook - there is always room for experimenting with your cooking!

I think it is fair to say that there is a definite New Age/modern twist to the content, which I really enjoyed. It made me think a lot about ingredients and their nutritional content, as well as flavour and presentation, which is a good thing - it is very easy to fall into a rut into the kitchen, and this is definitely a book that pushes you out of your comfort zone.

This book will make a valuable addition to my cookbook collection, and I can definitely see myself picking it up again when a plant-based feast is called for, especially one which is good for your bones too!

The Healthy Bones Plant-Based Nutrition Plan And Cookbook is available to buy now in paperback and ebook formats.

Thank you to Chelsea Green Publishing Company for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the authors:

Dr. Laura Kelly is a Traditional Chinese Medicine physician-scientist, CEO, activist educator, and the co-author of The Healthy Bones Nutrition Plan and Cookbook. She takes a hybrid approach to diagnosis, disease care, and wellness, drawing on principles and practices of precision medicine, integrative medicine, and Chinese medicine to investigate and treat malfunctioning mechanisms in the body. In her private practice, Dr. Kelly has worked with hundreds of people, from age 30 to 93, tailoring nutrition to prevent, mitigate, or reverse bone loss. She incorporates whole genome sequence genetics and individualized biomarkers to treat and prevent bone density decline and osteoporosis. This personalized precision approach has produced a range of bone density improvements of 12 to 18 percent among the patients she works with, with individual increases of up to 44 percent over two years.

To make her approach more widely available, in 2019 Dr. Kelly developed Opal, a protocol that offers the public access to testing and specifies treatment in the form of a personalized nutrition plan. In 2022, Laura founded O-Co, a company built to provide sexual wellness care for women, especially women 50+.

Helen Kelly is the co-author of The Healthy Bones Nutrition Plan and Cookbook. She writes about health, medicine, and management topics for a variety of publications. She has worked as international editor for The Working Manager, as an editor for McGraw Hill, and served as a writer for Yale University's Medical School, Child Study Center, and Joint Program in Medicine and Public Health, which earned her a US Education Press Association Award for a series on children and television. Since the 2016 publication of The Healthy Bones Nutrition Plan and Cookbook, Helen has taught bone health as an adult education instructor. Throughout her career Helen has been an active volunteer with inner city students and prison populations, helping people become fully engaged with ideas and education. In the 1990s Helen served as a policy advisor to the UK Education Minister. She is currently writing Early Years Learning in the Later Years, a book on the educational methods and materials she developed in the course of her work with disadvantaged populations.

Jummee Park, food shaman and wellness consultant, is the founder of Jummee's Bliss Kitchen, where she has developed authentic Korean food remedies that cater to Western palates, including a line of kimchi. Jummee shares her insights as a speaker in cooking classes and lectures, emphasizing the benefits and significance of food as remedies, promoting longevity, health, and spiritual practices. She was born in the mountainous village of An Dong, South Korea, surrounded by the rich traditions of Korean food, but eventually departed Korea for the United States, where she became an executive at a Fortune 500 multimedia company. Later, listening to her inner calling, she left her corporate position to pursue culinary training, Eastern Medicine, and healing arts. After decades of studying Western and Eastern knowledge of longevity and health transformations, Jummee offers preventive medicine through food, integrated with her roots in Korea's ancient food culture and philosophy, where she seamlessly transforms traditional recipes into easy, accessible, everyday, delicious and highly nutritious dishes.

Christmas At The Board Game Cafe (The Little Board Game Cafe Book Four) by Jennifer Page

 

Christmas at the Board Game Cafe (The Little Board Game Cafe Book Four) by Jennifer Page.

Published 10th October by Aria.

From the cover of the book:

Kate seems to have it all – wonderful friends, a successful career, and an idyllic life in the quirky Yorkshire town of Essendale. But under the surface, Kate is lonely and yearns for family – especially at Christmas.

With the holidays approaching and the town desperate to attract more visitors, Kate plans an enchanting living Advent calendar to feature the local businesses. But Kate's picture-perfect plans take an unexpected turn when her ex-boyfriend returns, determined to create the pivotal Christmas Eve display.

Caught between a new spark and an old flame, Kate must pull off her festive campaign and protect her heart. Will she let go of the past and embrace the future she dreams of?

***********

Over the past few years Kate has seen her friends find love in the Yorkshire towns of Essendale and Hebbleswick, but somehow she has never been able to find her own happy ending, despite being something of a dating guru.

Christmas is approaching, and Kate longs for more than the dreary festivities with her distant father, but her romantic prospects are looking thin. At least she has a project to keep her busy - creating a series of special Advent windows to put these little towns on the map, and hopefully give the local economy a boost.

Unexpectedly, this project brings with it a possible love match with a person she had not considered before. On paper, they make the perfect couple, but Kate is unsure - especially when an old flame appears on the scene and sets her heart a-flutter... Can Kate make peace with her past and allow herself to open her heart up to the kind of love she deserves?

Welcome to the fourth lovely adventure in the world of the Little Board Game Cafe, which revisits the life of marketing executive Kate, a character that has always been on the sidelines when it comes to finding happiness for herself, even though she has been on hand to help her friends make their own love matches in the previous three books. Feeling a bit depressed about her lack of romantic possibilities in the midst of all the happy couples who have got together around the Little Board Game Cafe set, Kate is a bit down in the dumps. However, her marketing brain is as full of sparkling ideas as ever, and her Advent window initiative gets the community fired up in more ways than one. 

As the community come together to back Kate's ideas, loads of familiar faces from the series put in a welcome appearance - one in a role which Kate really does not expect. However, she finds herself torn between heart and head when an old flame turns up out of the blue and makes her reconsider how the past has shaped her ideas of love, to seriously poignant effect.

Page pulls out all the stops in this super festive tale, plucking your heartstrings with a practised hand as she throws in all the necessary twists and turns in Kate's journey towards happiness, and floods the story with her favourite themes of friendship, family, loneliness, love, and the many issues that come with living in small rural communities. The advent theme works so well with the romantic suspense that keeps the will-they-won't-they vibes going strong throughout too - all the way to the most gorgeous of endings that makes good use of the final window display to hit the heart-melting sweet spot to perfection. 

Festive, fabulous, and a thoroughly enjoyable sob-fest of a fourth instalment to the series!

Christmas at the Board Game Cafe is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Aria for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Jennifer Page wrote her first novel - a book about ponies - when she was eight. These days she prefers to write romance. When she isn't writing, Jennifer can usually be found playing board games which are the inspiration for her first novel. She has worked as a television producer, a music teacher and has even run a children's opera company. She now lives near Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire with her husband and his large collection of games.

A Poem For Every Day Of Christmas edited by Allie Esiri

 

A Poem for Every Day of Christmas edited by Allie Esiri.

Published 7th November 2024 by Pan macmillan.

From the cover of the book:

This stunning hardback gift book is the perfect pocket-sized stocking-filler for everyone on your list.

A Poem for Every Day of Christmas is a splendid collection of thirty-one poems, compiled by award-winning anthologist Allie Esiri, to take you through the month of December.

Perfect for reading aloud and sharing with friends and family, this book is the ideal companion for the holiday season. It features festive poems and carols by Brian Bilston, Robert Burns, Wendy Cope, T. S. Eliot, Christina Rossetti. E. E. Cummings, Dylan Thomas, Clement Clarke Moore and many more.

The day-to-day format of this fabulous and fun anthology invites readers to make poetry a part of their holiday season.

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I am a big fan of award-winning anthologist Allie Esiri's poetry collections, and have several of them nestled among the gems on my poetry shelf, so I was delighted to have a chance to read her brand new festive collection, A Poem for Every Day of Christmas.

This gorgeous little anthology contains a wealth of specially selected festive pieces chosen by Esiri to take you through every day of the month of December. There is something here to touch the heart of every reader, whether your tastes range from the work of contemporary poets like Brian Bilston, the witty delights of Wendy Cope (one of my absolute favourites), or more traditional traditional rhymes and prose by some of our best loved writers of days gone by (many of which have inspired Christmas songs that have become beloved fixtures of the Christmas season).

I think the most moving piece in this joyous gem is the timely Let There Be Peace by the amazing Lemn Sissay, which marks 13th December. It seems particularly apt given the chaotic state of the world at the moment, and I make no apology for reproducing Sissay's words here, even though it is actually 12th December today...

Let There Be Peace by Lemn Sissay

Let there be peace
So frowns fly away like albatross
And skeletons foxtrot from cupboards,
So war correspondants become travel show presenters
And magpies bring back lost property,
Children, engagement rings, broken things.

Let there be peace
So storms can go out to sea to be
Angry and return to me calm,
So the broken can rise up and dance in the hospitals.
Let the aged Ethiopian man in the grey block of flats
Peer through his window and see Addis before him,
So his thrilled outstretched arms become frames
For his dreams.

Let there be peace
Let tears evaporate to form clouds, cleanse themselves
And fall into reservoirs of drinking water.
Let harsh memories burst into fireworks that melt
In the dark pupils of a child’s eyes
And disappear like shoals of silver darting fish,
And let the waves reach the shore with a
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

If this does not leave you with a tear in your eye, I do not know what will...

There is nothing quite like beautiful poetry to touch your heart, and this delightful festive collection does that with ease. It is just lovely.

A Poem for Every Day of Christmas is available to buy now in hardcover and ebook formats.

Thank you to Midas PR for sending me an e-copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the editor:

Allie Esiri read Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge and is an award-winning curator, described by The Sunday Times as a ‘poetry powerhouse’. Her anthology A Poem for Every Day of the Year was in the best books of the year list in The Times and the Observer. 

Her previous anthology, A Poem for Every Night of the Year was a best book of the year in The Times and the New Statesman and won the IBW book award. 

She hosts an annual poetry show at the National Theatre and regular events at major festivals including Hay, Cheltenham and Edinburgh.

All I Want For Christmas by Karen Swan

 

All I Want for Christmas by Karen Swan.

Published 10th October 2024 by Pan Macmillan.

From the cover of the book:

Can she find love this Christmas?

Christmas in Copenhagen is a magical time of year but Darcy Cotterell isn’t feeling festive. Newly single, again, she's not even going home for Christmas. Instead she will be spending her holiday finishing her art history PhD. Her best friend, Freja, has other ideas. She signs Darcy up to a dating app, determined that she won't be lonely this Christmas.

Darcy agrees to three dates – but her mind is on work, not play: an unknown portrait by Denmark’s greatest painter has been found and she is tasked with identifying the woman in the painting. During her research, she encounters sexy, arrogant lawyer Max Lorensen – who happens to be bachelor number one! The attraction is instant but, knowing they must work together, they abandon the match. Or try to. But their feelings are undeniable - until Darcy discovers Max has an agenda . . .

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Darcy Cotterell will be spending Christmas in beautiful Copenhagen this year, where she has been studying for her PhD in art history. With her heart recently broken, after one more failed love affair, she is planning to forget all about romance this festive season and concentrate on putting all her efforts into her thesis - but her flatmate Freja has other ideas. Freja signs Darcy up to a dating app for the rich and famous and challenges her to choose three eligible bachelors to date over the Christmas period, which she reluctantly agrees to - who knows, it might be the chance for cosy kisses under the mistletoe without any sort of commitment.

But any thoughts of love, however fleeting, are pushed rapidly aside when Darcy is called into consult on a high profile project at work. A mysterious portrait of a young woman has been found on the reverse of a painting by Denmark's most famous artist, and it falls to Darcy to try to discover who this woman might be. Her research into the archives of a prominent Danish family brings her into contact with arrogant lawyer Max Lorensen, who just happens to be one of the men she matched with on the dating app. She immediately feels a strong attraction to him, but it is soon clear that his interests put him firmly against her when it comes to what this new finding means for the provenance of the painting...

The story unfurls against the deliciously snowy backdrop of Copenhagen, in the run up to Christmas, but typically this is not your average take on a traditional festive romance, which I always really enjoy about Swan's wintery stories. Instead, this is a fabulous combination of beautifully wrought mystery set in the art world, with a heart-wrenching love story running through it, which makes for a real page-turner of a novel.

As Darcy gets to grips with her research into the archives, searching for clues about who this woman could be, she gradually uncovers links to possible secrets within a prominent Danish family who have a very firm eye on their reputation and pecuniary interests - a family connected to the man she cannot keep from her thoughts, Max Lorensen, who is full of fathomless depth despite appearing to be a player. Pretty soon, things are getting complicated on the love and work fronts, with oodles of tension and suspense, and I really did not know where this story would land until all the emotionally power-packed threads of past and present tied up in a very satisfying bow at the end. 

I loved everything about this book from the magical setting, to the fabulous cast of characters, and the glimpses of Danish high society past and present. I am especially partial to an art mystery, and Swan weaves a really clever one on these pages that brought in lovely themes of family, reputation, and early twentieth century misdeeds that works beautifully with the contemporary elements of the story too. An absolute cracker. 

All I Want for Christmas is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Karen Swan is the Sunday Times top three bestselling author and her novels sell all over the world. She writes two books each year – one for the summer period and one for the Christmas season. Previous summer titles include The Spanish Promise, The Hidden Beach and The Secret Path and for winter, Christmas at Tiffany’s, The Christmas Secret and Together by Christmas.

Her books are known for their evocative locations and Karen sees travel as vital research for each story. She loves to set deep, complicated love stories within twisting plots.

Her historical series called The Wild Isle, is based upon the dramatic evacuation of the Scottish island St Kilda in the summer of 1930.

Being Henry: The Fonz And Beyond by Henry Winkler (Audio Book)

 

Being Henry: The Fonz And Beyond by Henry Winkler (Audio Book).

Narrated by Henry Winkler.

Released 31st October 2023 by Pan Macmilllan.

From the cover:

Henry Winkler, launched into prominence by his role as 'The Fonz' in the beloved Happy Days, has transcended the role that made him who he is.

Brilliant, funny, and widely-regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood (though he would be the first to tell you that it’s simply not the case, he’s really just grateful to be here), Henry shares in this achingly vulnerable memoir the disheartening truth of his childhood, the difficulties of a life with severe dyslexia, the pressures of a role that takes on a life of its own, and the path forward once your wildest dream seems behind you.

Since the glorious era of Happy Days fame, Henry has endeared himself to a new generation with roles in such adored shows as Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and Barry, where he’s revealed himself as an actor with immense depth and pathos, a departure from the period of his life when he was so distinctly typecast as 'The Fonz', he could hardly find work.

Filled with profound heart, charm, and self-deprecating humor, Being Henry is a memoir about so much more than a life in Hollywood and the curse of stardom. It is a meaningful testament to the power of sharing truth and kindness and of finding fulfillment within yourself.

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As someone who remembers watching the American sitcom Happy Days as a child in the 1970s, I have fond memories of Henry Winkler playing 'The Fonz' - the role that launched him into stardom. Henry is now seventy-nine years old, and Being Henry is his candid memoir about his life, the highs and lows of his career, and his, not always easy, relationship with the part that made his name. It is more or less a chronological journey through Henry's life, from his childhood to the present day, and he comes across just as funny, self-effacing, and genial as I expected - in fact, the all-round good guy that he is reputed to be, which I was rather pleased about (illusions very much unshattered). 

Henry talks a lot here about his struggles with dyslexia, which I was already familiar with, but what really surprised me is the frank way he speaks about the difficult relationship he had with his German emigre parents, and how this shaped him. He is so honest about how he now recognises that life-long feelings of low self-esteem, complicated attitudes to money and work, and the inability to connect emotionally with his loved ones stemmed from growing up with parents that openly displayed disappointment in his achievements and choices. I found that quite refreshing.

While Henry fails to mention my recent favourite role of his in the delightfully cheesy Christmas movie, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, there is plenty here to entertain anyone interested in his long and varied career. His narration is very easy on the ear, which makes it a delight to listen to. I really liked that his wife of forty-six years, Stacey, narrates part of this book too, giving her take on fascinating aspects of living with an actor, the ups and downs of their life together, and how Henry has overcome his issues through therapy.

I did not laugh as much as I thought I would reading this memoir, but there is added depth and poignancy in Henry's account of his life and journey that makes this a really interesting listen, and lifts it above what could otherwise simply be another acting story full of talk of roles and amusing anecdotes. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Being Henry is available to buy now in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audio formats.

About the author:

Henry Winkler is an American actor, comedian, author, executive producer and director. He rose to fame playing Arthur Fonzarelli on the long-running hit television series Happy Days, and won over a new generation with roles like Barry Zuckerkorn in Arrested Development, Uncle Joe in The French Dispatch, Dr Saperstein in Parks and Recreation and Gene Cousineau in Barry. He has won a Primetime Emmy, two Daytime Emmys, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Critics Choice Award. In 2011, he was awarded an OBE for his work around dyslexia. Being Henry is his first autobiography.