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West Yorkshire, 1904 When newly graduated nurse Ruby May takes a position looking after the children of Charles and Lilian England, a wealthy couple from a powerful dynasty of mill owners, she hopes it will be the fresh start she needs. But as she adapts to life at the isolated Hardcastle House, it becomes clearContinue reading “Book Review: Mrs England, by Stacey Halls”

In November I went on a spree in the local library leaving with eleven books, as seen below, winding my way through a couple of carefully selected shops to get myself some seasonal treats on the way home. You can all rest assured that the chocolate reindeer was dealt with appropriately, that the pumpkin moisturiserContinue reading “November Library Haul Update”

It‘s been a year since Lottie’s fiance walked out, leaving her heartbroken. But things start to look up when she lands her dream job at a beautiful Lake District estate, with a handsome groundskeeper for a neighbour. So when Lottie is asked to organise a last-minute Christmas wedding she can’t wait to get started. UntilContinue reading “Book Review: A Surprise Christmas Wedding, by Phillipa Ashley”

“Do you like poetry?” a friend asked me a couple of years ago, after we had been enthusiastically discussing books. My instant answer was ‘yes’, but then when asked which poems I liked most I came up short. In truth, at that point I enjoyed writing poetry, but my own taste and knowledge of poetryContinue reading “Writing about Poetry”

I was discussing poetry with a friend of mine and she sent me this short poem, which I instantly adored. He tells her He tells her that the earth is flat He knows the facts, and that is that In altercations fierce and long She tries her best to prove him wrong But he hasContinue reading “Differences of Opinion, by Wendy Cope”

Each year the magicians of Imardin gater to purge the city streets of vagrants, urchins and miscreants. Masters of the disciplines of magic, they know that no one can oppose them. But their protective shield is not as impenetrable as they believe. As the mob is herded from the city, a young street girl, furiousContinue reading “Book Review: The Magicians Guild, by Trudi Canavan”

Nell is twenty-six and has never been to Paris. She has never even been on a weekend away with her boyfriend. Everyone knows she is just not the adventurous type. But when her boyfriend doesn’t show up for their romantic mini-break, Nell has the chance to prove everyone wrong. Alone in Paris, Nell meets theContinue reading “Paris For One, by JoJo Moyes”

Today, I was feeling a little rubbish in the morning and wondered what to do with my day to make everything better. The weather was unseasonably warm, and the sunshine was poking through the clouds just often enough to light up the autumnal bounty of turning leaves falling down from trees. I decided that thisContinue reading “The Library Haul”

I have long felt that it was a real shame that I have never read an Agatha Christie murder mystery, they are meant to be wonderful. I was ruminating on this fact as I drove down the road, and there as if by fate was a sign by the side of the road was aContinue reading “The Hollow, by Agatha Christie – A play by the Taunton Thespians”

Eleanor Oliphant leads a simply life. She wears the same clothes to work every day, eats the same meal deal for lunch every day and buys the same two bottles of vodka to drink every weekend. Eleanor Oliphant is happy. Nothing is missing from her carefully timetabled existence. Except, sometimes, everything… I have seen severalContinue reading “Book Review: Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman”