February 2018 – Page 2 – Everything Is Better With Dragons

Tales From Erce -Updates

The first of the three planned Tales From Erce, Bridas’ Justice will be available from next week.

With help from my sisters, it is now complete, has been edited and re-read, and is now ready to go to publication. I’m just getting the set up done on CreateSpace.

Bridas’ Justice is a short story of approximately 6500 words and will be available as a Kindle or paperback. The paperback will be the same dimensions as the FIRE books, so they’ll all sit nicely together on the bookshelf. The Tales From Erce covers are blue, a nice contrast to the orange-red of the FIRE books. It wasn’t meant to be the first to be published, but Charley’s War is taking longer than expected.

Review: ‘Comfort Food’, by Julia Bettelheim

Published By: Clink Street Publishing

Publication Date: 13th February 2018

I.S.B.N.: 9781912262632

Format: E-book/Paperback

I’m reviewing this book as part of a Clink Street Publishing blog tour and received an e-book copy of the book in return for an honest review.

Blurb

here’s nothing quite like Comfort Food to put a smile on your face and a feeling of contentment in your stomach.

Chef Julia Bettelheim is passionate about feeding people; from the students in her university kitchen to guests and family at home.

From recipes that are as simple as a sandwich to as technical as a fruit cake, she knows the importance of creating delicious meals that are full of flavour and which always have budget in mind.

Her recipes include easy to make classics and mouth-watering family favourites, using easy to find products that are fresh and economical.

Fun, fast, indulgent and nurturing, there’s a time and a place for Comfort Food in every kitchen.

Continue reading “Review: ‘Comfort Food’, by Julia Bettelheim”

Review: ‘The Mother’s Secret’, by Clare Swatman

36554818

Published By: Macmillan

Publication Date: 22nd February 2018

Format: Paperback

I.S.B.N.: 97815098248

Price: £7.99

Continue reading “Review: ‘The Mother’s Secret’, by Clare Swatman”

Bonus Review #3: ‘The Pug Who Bit Napoleon’, by Mimi Matthews

Published By: Pen & Sword History

Publication Date: 11th December 2017

Format: Paperback

I.S.B.N.: 9781526705006

Price: £14.99

Blurb

From elaborate Victorian cat funerals to a Regency era pony who took a ride in a hot air balloon, Mimi Matthews shares some of the quirkiest—and most poignant—animal tales of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Meet Fortune, the Pug who bit Napoleon on his wedding night, and Looty, the Pekingese sleeve dog who was presented to Queen Victoria after the 1860 sacking of the Summer Palace in Peking. The four-legged friends of Lord Byron, Emily Brontë, and Prince Albert also make an appearance, as do the treasured pets of Alexander Pope, Samuel Johnson, and Charles Dickens.

Less famous, but no less fascinating, are the animals that were the subject of historical lawsuits, scandals, and public curiosity. There’s Tuppy, the purloined pet donkey; Biddy, the regimental chicken; and Barnaby and Burgho, the bloodhounds hired to hunt Jack the Ripper. Wild animals also get a mention in tales that encompass everything from field mice and foxes to alligators and sharks lurking in the Thames.

Using research from eighteenth and nineteenth century books, letters, and newspapers, Mimi Matthews brings each animal’s unique history to vivid life. The details are sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking, but the stories are never anything less than fascinating reading for animal lovers of all ages.

Continue reading “Bonus Review #3: ‘The Pug Who Bit Napoleon’, by Mimi Matthews”

Bonus Review number two: ‘The Nature Fix’, by Florence Williams

Published by: W.W. Norton and Company

Publication Date: 7th February 2017

Format: Hardcover

I.S.B.N.: 9780393242713

Price: $26.95

Blurb

For centuries, poets and philosophers extolled the benefits of a walk in the woods: Beethoven drew inspiration from rocks and trees; Wordsworth composed while tromping over the heath; Nikola Tesla conceived the electric motor while visiting a park. Intrigued by our storied renewal in the natural world, Florence Williams sets out to uncover the science behind nature’s positive effects on the brain. From forest trails in Korea, to islands in Finland, to groves of eucalyptus in California, Williams investigates the science at the confluence of environment, mood, health, and creativity. Delving into completely new research, she uncovers the powers of the natural world to improve health, promote reflection and innovation, and ultimately strengthen our relationships. As our modern lives shift dramatically indoors, these ideas—and the answers they yield—are more urgent than ever.

Continue reading “Bonus Review number two: ‘The Nature Fix’, by Florence Williams”

Comfort Food Blog Tour

This is a blog tour I’m taking part in this month. My review of ‘Comfort Food’, by Julia Bettelheim will be part of the tour and published 17th February. Tour starts on the 12th and runs until the 28th February. Check out a few of the other blogs, there will be reviews and recipes sprinkled about the place. Enjoy.

Bonus Review #1: ‘Bring Me Back’, by B.A.Paris

Published By: HQ

Publication Date: 8th March 2018

I.S.B.N.: 9780008244873

Format: Paperback

Price: £7.99

Blurb

The Disappearance
Twelve years ago Finn’s girlfriend disappeared.

The Suspicion
He told the police the truth about that night.
Just not quite the whole truth.

The Fear
Now Finn has moved on.
But his past won’t stay buried

Continue reading “Bonus Review #1: ‘Bring Me Back’, by B.A.Paris”