📖 Book Review ~ Celebrating All Creatures Great and Small : For the Love of the Yorkshire Dales written by James Steen

 

Michael O’Mara Books
17 December  2024

Thanks to the publisher and Alison Menzies for my copy of this book

Featuring hundreds of spectacular shots from all four series, plus an in-depth look at the characters and real-life inspiration for the show, this book tells the fascinating story of the programme’s main character : the Yorkshire Dales.

Packed full of heartwarming photographs of the landscape, the set and the characters, as well as soundbites from the cast, this is everything you need to know about James and Helen Herriot, the beloved setting of Skeldale House and, of course, the animals.

Lavish, celebratory and richly detailed, this is an unmissable and sumptuous guide to All Creatures Great & Small, which showcases how Darrowby and its inhabitants have paid homage to such an incredible heritage. The perfect book for anyone with an interest in the Yorkshire Dales and James Herriot.

Foreword written by Rosie Page, James Herriot’s daughter.

📖 My Review..

I’m old enough to remember the original series of All Great and Small and living in Yorkshire at the time I had various spin off touristy type books which I used to explore the beautiful Yorkshire countryside. It was such a treat therefore when Channel 5 decided, in 2020, to launch a new adaptation of the books which were originally published by James Herriot, pen name of vet Alf Wight, in the 1970s. Whilst this new version is different from the original stories it still has all the charm of the original TV series, which ran from 1978 to 1990. With a new cast and sumptuous production, the charming tales of life in a country veterinary practice were once again brought to life and set to charm a new generation of fans by showcasing the beautiful Yorkshire Dales countryside.

Having watched all five of the Channel 5 series I consider myself to be something of a fan as not only have I thoroughly enjoyed this latest production but to have this official companion has been a real treat to read. With its beautiful glossy pages and stunning photographs it is definitely a book to treasure and re-read. Nicely divided into five distinct sections we are whisked away to the fictional village of Darrowby and meet those well loved characters who call this lovely place ‘home’. With lots of background information about the making of the series and vignettes of the cast there is a sense that this is a close knit community of talented people who really care about what they are producing and it shows in the popularity of the series which continues to grow and grow.

Just as James Herriot’s original novels were a love story to the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales and its people so this companion book is a love story to the TV series and to all the talented cast, including the animals, and amazing crew who bring All Creatures Great and Small to life in such glorious detail. 

If you’re  a fan of the series as I am or if you love the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, then treat yourself  by pre-ordering this lovely book in time for Christmas, and then just sit back, read and enjoy.

X @OMARABOOKS #AllCreaturesGreatAndSmall

📖 Blog Tour~ The Last Princess by Ellen Alpsten

Sunbird Stories
7 November 2024

My thanks to the publisher , author and Random Things Tours for the invitation to be part of this tour

Young and beautiful Gytha Godwinson is the envy of England when her father Harold seizes the country’s crown in early 1066.

But soon, treachery tears her house apart, and triumph turns to terror.

An evil star appears, heralding the end of an era and a new beginning for Britain.

Her family and the country seem cursed.

Yet even as she suffers loss, betrayal and humiliation, Gytha is determined to regain what is rightfully hers.

In a stunning re-telling of 1066, international bestselling author Ellen Alpsten has created a captivating new heroine in Gytha Godwinson.

Witness the end of England's ancient house, the demise of a cursed kingdom and the emergence of a new empire: 'The Last Princess' bridges between myth and modernity.

📖My Review..

It’s difficult for us to image life in Anglo-Saxon Britain as these dark ages are now over a millennium ago and yet we continue to be fascinated by this ancient way of life and of the blood feuds which existed between members of the same family and the ever present threat of treachery from usurpers from across the sea. This re-imagining of the events leading up to the Norman conquest in 1066, and beyond, takes us into the heart of the Godwin family and we meet our feisty heroine, Gytha Godwinson, daughter of Harold, who will become King of England. However, the fickle finger of fate has a nasty way of interfering in history and even though there are changes ahead for the house of Godwinson, it is unfortunately the start of their downfall rather than a glorious beginning.

Nicely written, and imaginatively described, The Last Princess is the first book in a proposed series, which tells the story of Gytha Godwinson as she experiences the dramatic changes to herself and her family in 1066 and of the tumultuous events which followed the conquest of England by William of Normandy. I enjoyed experiencing the history as described by this talented author who relates everything with a fine eye for historical detail, bringing place and people to life in a believable way. Superstition, fear and dread all play their part and Gytha’s life is not without its challenges as she finds herself a stranger in a strange land. Darkness and cruelty serves to remind us that these were the dark ages of our time and many lives were lost and bartered with little thought or regard. 

The author does a great job of bringing history alive and I look forward to continuing the story in the next book, The Sunrise Queen, which is due for publication in Autumn 2025.

About the author

Ellen Alpsten was born and raised in the Kenyan highlands, where she dressed up her many pets and forced them to listen to her stories.

Upon graduating from the 'Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris', she worked as a news-anchor for Bloomberg TV London. While working gruesome night shifts on breakfast TV, she started to write in earnest, every day, after work, a nap and a run. So much for burning midnight oil!

Today, Ellen works as an author and as a journalist for international publications such as Vogue, Standpoint, and CN Traveller. She lives in London with her husband, three sons, and a moody fox red Labrador.

X @EALPSTEN_AUTHOR #THELASTPRINCESS

X @RANDOMTTOURS

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📖 Blog Tour ~ The Viscount and the Thief by Emma Orchard

Boldwood Books
11 November 2024

Thanks to the publisher and Rachel's Random Resources for the book
and the invitation to the blog tour

Spring, 1811... A stranger arrives at Wyverne Hall

Sophie Delavallois is the new companion to the ageing Dowager Marchioness, but she also has another reason for coming to the infamous Wyverne mansion, one that will shake the family to their core.

Lord Drake left his childhood home many years ago, and only returns now to see his beloved grandmother. He takes little interest in the goings on of the house, until the arrival of Mademoiselle Delavallois. There’s something about her that he can’t put his finger on; it's as if he’s seen her before, but surely, that is not possible…

Sophie is also drawn to Drake, but he is a Wyverne, and she cannot allow herself to fall for him, because her intentions towards the family are resolute – revenge. But inside the walls of Wyverne Hall, she discovers the rumours about the family barely scratch the surface, and she can’t escape the dangerous allure of the Viscount.

Once her plans are set in motion, will he be her saviour or her ruin?

📖 Book Review

Sophie Delavallois has accepted the post of companion to the aging Dowager Marchioness but enters the Wyvern mansion with some trepidation as the family’s reputation is somewhat disreputable. However, Sophie has her own special reason for entering into this den of iniquity and nothing, and no-one, is going to get in her way. 

When Sophie meets Lord Drake, heir to Wyvern estate, she is determined to carry out her mission but with an instant attraction flaring between them, this is going to make her quest to seek revenge on Drake’s family all the more difficult. Sophie is a determined heroine with a real sense of bravado but it is in her relationship with the handsome Lord Drake where the story really starts to come together.

As always, this talented author has captured the essence of Regency England and with a style all of her own she delivers a lively romp, which is rich filled with an abundance of fascinating characters, not all of whom are very likeable, with the exception of the Marchioness, who is definitely someone I would have liked to have encountered in real life. 

I have found much to enjoy in this thrilling Regency romance, it’s filled with delicious intrigue, smouldering passion and a real hint of danger which kept me entertained from first page to last. I’m already looking forward to the next Regency mystery/romance from Emma Orchard😊

About the Author

Emma Orchard grew up in Salford and was given tickets to the grown-up library at the age of 11 because she’d read all the children’s books and the librarians were sick of the sight of her. She became obsessed with Georgette Heyer and hasn’t stopped reading her novels since. She studied English Literature at university and went on to work at Mills & Boon and behind the scenes in television and in publishing.

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📖 Blog Tour ~ The Wives by Valerie Keogh

Boldwood
6 November 2024

My thanks to the publishers and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book
and the invitation to the blog tour

When Natasha meets Daniel, she knows her life is made. Rich, handsome and charming, Daniel will make the perfect husband. Even if she won’t make the perfect wife…

She is thrilled when Daniel suggests an all-expenses paid cruise for Natasha, her friends, Barbara, Tracy Ann and Michelle, and their husbands. What better way to show everyone that Natasha has finally made it?

But as the ship sets sail, she learns that far from being the perfect husband, Daniel has terrible secrets that are about to be revealed. And each of the wives has their own reasons for wanting him dead.

This trip might cost more than any of them ever imagined…

📖 My Review..

Secrets and lies are the focus of this cleverly controlled thriller which looks at the minutiae of the lives of a group of four wives, and their husbands, who embark on a fabulous all-expenses paid cruise which has been organised by Natasha’s wealthy husband, Daniel. The four women have been friends for a long time however, Natasha and Daniel, newly married, have changed the dynamic of this group of friends and it must be said that these changes are not for the better. As the cruise gets underway, it soon becomes apparent that there are a whole heap of secrets between the group which, if discovered, could have devastating consequences for all of them. As always this talented writer draws you into her world, creating friendships, bringing to life characters, who in this story were all largely unlikeable, and yet even with people you really dislike you can’t help but be connected to them on an emotional level. There were plot twists and turns aplenty, a jaw dropping moment which I really didn’t see coming and a thoroughly satisfying ending which made me close the book with a wry smile. 

I read The Wives over the space of a couple of afternoons as I simply couldn’t put the book down, eagerly turning the pages faster and faster in my eagerness to get to the final denouement. The Wives is another masterclass in thriller writing from an author who really knows how to keep the reader glued to the page. I’m already looking forward to the next book 😄 

About the Author

Valerie Keogh is the internationally bestselling author of several psychological thrillers and crime series, most recently published by Bloodhound. She originally comes from Dublin but now lives in Wiltshire and worked as a nurse for many years. Her first thriller for Boldwood was published in August 2022.

​

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📖 Book Review ~ Ten Poems of Light from Candlestick Press

October 2024

Thanks to the publisher for my copy of this pamphlet 

This celebration title offers light in many glorious guises, helping mark one million pamphlet sales for Candlestick Press. We encounter celestial light in the form of the sun, moon and stars as well as the miracle of the Northern Lights. There’s the dazzle of the sea and mysterious bioluminescence from the natural world.

The poems also explore what light can mean to us as humans, with its promise of hope and a happier future. And there’s lighting a candle in remembrance of a loved one:

“…a sign says, and say a prayer, so I do.
I light it for you, you who made the world
a brighter place, and leave it burning.’

from ‘Fire lit up the sky’ by Carole Bromley

We hope that this dazzling selection – which includes the winning poems in our recent competition – will offer moments of delight and lasting joy, a poem (like a candlestick) being a lovely bearer of illumination.

Poems by Shasta Hanif Ali, Carole Bromley, Jane Burn, Rosie Jackson, Rachel Jeffcoat, Stephen Keeler,Nairn Kennedy, DA Prince, Penny Sherman and Laura Theis.

Cover illustration by Rebecca Vincent.

Donation to Starlight Children Foundation

📖 My review..

Helping to commemorate the millionth poetry pamphlet sold by Candlestick Press Ten Poems of Light is the perfect way to celebrate this amazing achievement. We all need light during some of our darkest times and I found so much to enjoy in these ten brand new poems, nine of whom are from winners in a Candlestick competition and what a talented bunch of poets they all are 😄 

I enjoyed Telling My Child About Light by Jane Burn especially this line :

-‘wherever you are in the world, somewhere there is light’

Whenever I visit a holy place I light a candle to remember those in my family who are no longer with me:

‘Light A Candle,

a sign says, and say a prayer, so I do.

I light it for you, you who made the world 

A brighter place, and leave it burning.’

Fire lit up the sky by Carole Bromley 

The final poem in the anthology, Things that hold light by Shasta Hanif Ali processes grief through tiny glimpses of joy in a hospice ‘When we fall, we are gathered’  - what a beautiful thought.

I’ve loved reading Ten Poems of Light, it’s beautifully presented, with a stunning cover and colourful inside papers which fit the theme of light perfectly. Each of the poems compliment each other, making this a truly special anthology and a wonderful celebration of a million pamphlets sold by this small publisher whose passion for each pamphlet, they so lovingly produce, shines like a beacon of light.

 About the Publisher

Candlestick Press is a small, independent press publishing sumptuously produced poetry pamphlets that serve as a wonderful alternative to a greetings card, with matching envelopes and bookmarks left blank for your message. Their subjects include Mountains, Clouds, Walking, Birds, Wine and Happiness. Candlestick Press pamphlets are stocked by chain and independent bookshops, galleries and garden centres nationwide and available to order online.

Twitter/X @poetrycandle

Website

Remembrance Sunday 2024🌹

Lest We Forget




We lay a wreath of poppies
To remember those who died
A Garland of red ribbon
To show the tears we cried
For lost ones and for loved ones
For those who gave their all
In battles and in trenches
In graveyards large and small.


We lay a wreath of poppies
To remember those who died
A cluster of red petals
For those we left behind
A laurel of remembrance
A sorry vale of tears
For generations lost and gone
We remember through the years.

🌹


In Our Family - We Remember

Private John Hopkins

The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment

Died 24 January 1919

Driver Frederick Arkwright

Royal Army Service Corps

Died 1 February 1945

Buried Schoonselhof Cemetery 
Antwerp, Belgium

📖 Book Review ~ Detox Your Culture by Colin D. Ellis

Bloomsbury Business
August 2024

Thanks to Midas for my copy of this book

 

In an era where stories of toxic workplaces dominate headlines—from public institutions like police forces and healthcare trusts to high-profile companies such as Twitter and ITV’s This Morning — Ellis’ Detox Your Culture arrives as a timely and critical resource.

Ellis draws on a wealth of experience and a global range of case studies throughout the personable and engaging guide, including insights from the CBI, London Fire Brigade, Uber, Sony Music, and Amnesty International. He provides leaders with practical actions to create positive cultural conditions, emphasising the importance of a work environment characterised by belonging, inclusivity, flexibility, and value creation.

Detox Your Culture is an indispensable read for any leader or manager committed to safeguarding their organisation's reputation and performance, and for any employee looking to avoid the detrimental effects of a toxic culture. Even the most comfortable in their role will be able to learn how to avoid falling down the slippery slope into a hostile work environment.

📖My Review..

This is an interesting look at work place culture and the toxicity which exists and what can be done to avoid the pitfalls when managing a team of people. It’s a well organised resource which looks at eleven specific areas, from explaining in Chapter One What is toxic culture? through to the final section which explains What to do if you work in a toxic culture now? I found the book to be well written and informative and it gave me much to consider about attitudes and behaviour and how we all play a part in workplace culture be that in positive or negative role. 

Detox your Culture gets the message across in a succinct manner which makes it an easy book to dip into and out of and the case studies help to put certain key issues into perspective. In today’s work based environments this is an informative book for anyone, be they managing a company, a team or indeed being part of a team, as it reiterates the importance of having safe working environments for everyone and provides an understanding of how to avoid the toxicity of a work place culture which benefits no-one.

About the Author

Colin D Ellis is an award winning international speaker and highly sought after culture consultant, who works with a global client base across a wide range of sectors to help them build and maintain vibrant working cultures that deliver results.

X @MidasCampaigns