The team at Joffe Books is helping us to relax in this warm spell with a great selection – please don’t say it’s our summer.

Posted on May 31, 2021 by Margaret Graham

MURDER IN THE LIBRARY BY BRIAN BATTISON 99p/99c

A BODY IS FOUND IN THE HOME OF A WEALTHY ANTIQUES DEALER. Enter Detective Ashworth whose search for the killer leads him straight into the dark world of gangsters and drug dealers.

And if that’s not enough, then another murder, this time a frenzied knife attack. Can Detective Ashworth find the answers to connect the attacks? Well, Frost Magazine isn’t going to tell you. Great read by Brian Battison.

SAFE HAVEN BY PATRICIA MACDONALD 99p/99c

After reuniting with her high school crush, Dena is seemingly living her dream life. But behind closed doors, Dena’s perfect life becomes a total nightmare. She flees to her best friend’s house – her safe haven – but after Dena’s friend is found battered to death, it’s clear someone wants to take everything from her.

MURDER IN THE FARMHOUSE BY ROY LEWIS 99p/99c

“The skilful Mr Lewis has made Arnold Landon an unforgettable character.” New York Times

A bitter dispute over land takes place between developers and a defenceless old woman. To Sarah Ellis, her ramshackle old farm is home and the developers can have the place over her dead body. Of course, no one ever expected it to come to that . . .

CONSTABLE NICK BOX SET 6 – 10 BY NICHOLAS RHEA 99p/99c ( Discover the books that inspired Heartbeat.

“It’s original, it’s funny . . . one of life’s little pleasures.” Yorkshire Post

“Stories of a constable on his village beat in North Yorkshire. All very gentle and far, far removed from the hurly burly of modern-day city policing.” Daily Telegraph

And so say all of us. Something to read in the deckchair, the waves lapping on the shore, the gulls…

Maybe do the same while reading The Harbour Master’s Daughter. Don’t forget the knotted handkerchief on the head.

THE HARBOUR MASTER’S DAUGHTER BY TANIA CROSSE 99p/99c

Devon, 1867. Rebecca Westbrook is the harbour master’s daughter and she’s met her perfect match, Captain Adam Bradley. He is the most eligible captain ever to sail into the quay.

But when tragedy strikes, what will Rebecca choose?

Discover a host of Joffe Books: here

And the little one said by Elizabeth Coffey – reviewed by Natalie Jayne Peeke West Country Correspondent

Posted on May 31, 2021 by Margaret Graham

Elizabeth Coffey once had seven brothers and sisters, but today only she and one brother remain. Thanks to ‘an insane series of cruel blows’ variously involving illness, accidents, mental health mismanagement and suicide, not one of her other siblings made it past their sixties. And yet through it all, the love, life and laughter have shone bright; sometimes, it has seemed, even from beyond the grave. This is Elizabeth’s funny, shocking, tragic, heart-rending story. She says: “It struck me, at an early age, being the ‘little one’ of the family, that there was a high probability my dearly loved brothers and sisters were going to die before me. I didn’t expect it to happen quite so soon, and quite so tragically.”

When I was contacted and asked if I would like to read “And The Little One Said” I was a bit hesitant – i am not good with sad stories. However after reading the rave reviews that are attached to this story I knew that I simply had to read it. I was prepared to feel a sad throughout this book but boy was I wrong.

And The Little One Said is a incredible emotional rollercoaster, I cried, yes but I also laughed and I was moved by the honesty and love alongside the heartache and tragedy.

I found myself asking how much could one family bear? Quite frankly, if it was fiction it would surely be implausible. The fact is, And The Little One Said is true and is believable, such is Elizabeth’s writing. And such a clever title – which is indeed a reflection of Elizabeth’s life.

Elizabeth is a incredible writer, I was hooked from the word go and I became so absorbed in her life that I struggled to put the book down.

I cannot praise Elizabeth Coffey, And The Little One Said, enough. I highly recommend that you pick up a copy and trust me, have tissues at the ready.

And the Little One Said by Elizabeth Coffey is available here

CARIADS’ CHOICE: MAY BOOK REVIEWS

Posted on May 31, 2021 by Jane Cable

Jan Baynham’s Her Mother’s Secret, reviewed by Judith Barrow

Her Mother’s Secret is set against the background of the Greek island of Péfka during different eras; 1969 and 2011. Two time frames linked by the two main characters, Alexandra and her mother, Elin; connected through time, by the diary that Alexandra finds after her mother’s death.

Elin and Alexandra are complex, well-rounded characters; very much of their time. Although never together in any scenes, the love they have for each other is threaded throughout the story. And the author has ensured that the reader becomes engrossed in these characters by intertwining their stories with a cast of believable minor characters.

The portrayals of the settings give an evocative sense of place.

There are many themes: of love, relationships, mystery, crime, secrets and friendships, woven to give a good balance of romance with a believable darker side of life.

Her Mother’s Secret is a novel I recommend to readers who enjoys a story grounded in the Romance genre but reveals itself to be so much more.

Angela Petch’s The Tuscan House, reviewed by Jessie Cahalin

A story about the extraordinary lives of ordinary people during World War Two. The colours and culture of Italy are scarred with the horrors of war, and I was transported to war torn Italy by this clever, sensory writer.

Fosca’s resilience and resourcefulness impressed me. She recounts the bravery of women resistance fighters (partigiani) who took unthinkable risks, but never boasts about her own wonderful courage. Petch creates wonderfully real characters who involve you in their emotional journeys and you witness them change. Fosca shares the wisdom she had learned throughout.

Tuscan House is also crammed with action sequences and a wonderful secret. This complex world is presented effortlessly and explores love, motherhood, friendship and courage.

Another gripping novel from this writer. This novel is so much more than another story of a Tuscan house and I highly recommend it. I can’t wait to read the next book.

Kate Field’s Finding Home, reviewed by Morton Gray

Loved this book and the concept that a chance encounter can lead to a whole new way of life. I related to Mim and her wounded soul. The story made me long to be at the seaside again and to find out more about fossil hunting. The characters are well drawn and the hero, Corin very attractive on the page. I even worried about the dog! I’ve loved all of Kate Field’s books and this was no exception. More please …

Suzanne Fortin’s The Forgotten Life of Arthur Pettinger, reviewed by Carol Thomas

When I saw this book’s gorgeous front cover I knew I wanted to read it. From the very start, I was drawn into Arthur Pettinger’s life, a man in his nineties struggling with his memory as dementia is increasingly taking hold.

I adored Arthur, who has led an incredible life, including his SOE role in the war. His granddaughter, Maddy, and great-granddaughter, Esther, were lovely, supportive characters. Their warmth towards Arthur, compassion and understanding was touching.

The dual timeline that runs through the book, revealing snippets of Arthur’s life and love in WWII occupied France, had me turning the pages, as did the present-day search for Maryse (his past love).

The story is one of emotional highs and lows, love and loss. The ending is beautifully written, albeit that it had me sobbing. I loved this emotional, heartfelt read as much as I did Arthur, but I would advise having tissues at the ready.

Horses in the UK are under serious threat as rescue charities report a nationwide welfare catastrophe: by Hilary Boughton

Posted on May 30, 2021 by Margaret Graham

Zorro at the time of rescue – image courtesy of RSPCA

While the market for proven ridden and competition horses is booming, thousands of horses find themselves in an invisible lower layer of neglect, only becoming visible when they are abandoned or are found in squalid living conditions.

Having always had horses of my own, when the time came to find a new riding horse I contacted the RSPCA. By offering a home to a rescue horse I would be helping two horses – the one that I re-homed, and the next horse that would be able to fill the vacated space in the rescue centre. I was offered the opportunity to view a 16.1hh, 8 year old, French Standardbred gelding called Zorro. He was an ex-harness racer and had been ridden for about a month during his time with the RSPCA. Although he had only just started his ridden career, he was a well-mannered ride and seemed keen to please. As soon as I sat on him, I knew I’d found my horse!

Research into Zorro’s background revealed that he had won a 10,000 Euro trotting race in Paris as a 3 year old and continued as a regular winner in Ireland until 2016. He was sold out of the harness racing industry and found himself in a bad home, where, along with another retired trotter, he was neglected and became severely emaciated. His fur was infested with lice, he was full of intestinal worms, and he had an untreated sheath injury. Fortunately, the RSPCA found both the horses in time and, following a prosecution, they were successfully rehabilitated.

Zorro back on form, ridden by Hilary

Zorro is a wonderful gentleman; he’s highly intelligent and learns quickly, and is a pleasure to have as part of my family.

I chose the RSPCA over other charities because I wanted to own the horse myself, rather than have one on loan. In contrast to other charities, following a successful six-month probation period, the horse is signed over into your ownership and it is hoped that the horse will remain with you permanently. If the horse isn’t suitable, you are able to return it during the first six months – a big advantage over buying a horse where there is usually little or no trial period. The donation fee is much less than a normal purchase price and is a small contribution towards the huge cost of vet bills, specialist care, and, in some instances, legal action against cruelty or neglect.

Zorro and Hilary having a lesson with Sam Brown

For those who prefer the safety net of being able to return a horse to a charity if their situation changes, many equine charities retain ownership and you can return the horse at any time.

It’s difficult to believe that a kind, loving, gentle and talented horse like Zorro could end up as a rescue case. He’s admired and loved by everyone and is a great ambassador for rescue horses and for the ridden potential of ex-harness racers; a type that tends to be overlooked as a riding horse. I hope that Zorro may inspire riders to consider giving a home to a rescue horse, and perhaps to choose a type that is often ignored but that has a great deal to offer.

If you enjoy the company of horses but don’t want to ride, charities are bursting at the seams with horses that cannot be ridden, perhaps due to a previous injury. Non-ridden horses may often be suitable for activities such as horse agility, a growing sport that you can do for fun or competitively.

I was incredibly lucky to find my dream horse in a rescue centre. Yours may be waiting for you.

Zorro, everyone’s dream horse. It could all have been so different. Thank heavens he was saved.

For more information: WWW.RSPCA.ORG.UK

CARIADS’ CHOICE: BANK HOLIDAY SPECIAL BOOK REVIEWS

Posted on May 30, 2021 by Jane Cable

Lizzie Lamb’s Harper’s Highland Fling, reviewed by Jessie Cahalin

Harper expected to travel to Tibet on her holiday adventure, but her niece decided to run away to Scotland with the son of the local car mechanic. Witty, feisty headmistress, Harper, meets her match and is forced to squeeze into biker’s leathers to travel with Rocco to Scotland.

‘At least she hadn’t fallen off the motorbike…or clung to him like a medieval maiden slung across a knight’s errant saddle.’

Forget Nepal, Harper must save Ariel, or does Harper really need to save herself? The novel is packed with expectation, and stereotypes of a headmistress and car mechanic are challenged as we get to know and love the characters – perfect.

Rocco is not about to save the feisty maiden but ‘without meaning to she’d got under his skin and he couldn’t resist winding her up.’ On the other hand, Harper thinks Rocco is ‘an enigma wrapped in a conundrum.’

Maggie Mason’s The Halfpenny Girls, reviewed by Susanna Bavin

What I loved about this book, and what made it, for me, a stand-out saga, was the concentration on family life. Sagas often revolve around the work-place, but this pre-war story is firmly rooted in the hardships faced by three close friends because of their family circumstances. Violence, alcoholism, betrayal and dementia are all woven into the tale – alongside love, loyalty and the determination of the three young heroines to do their very best for their nearest and dearest, despite every hardship. There are no easy answers to the problems each family faces – just a wealth of warmth and understanding from an accomplished author. This is a complex story with strong, cleverly interwoven plots; well-drawn, multi-layered characters; and, above all, a powerful sense of the importance of family.

Faith Hogan’s The Ladies’ Midnight Swimming Club, reviewed by Morton Gray

Loved this book on so many different levels – the characters and the challenges they face. I didn’t think I would like the book being written from so many different points of view, but it was seamless and added to the story. He doesn’t even feature in the novel, but I wanted to bop Elizabeth’s late husband on the nose, especially towards the end of the book. I was praying for Lucy’s son, Niall to make the right choices, shed tears over Jo and Dan. I want to go and stay in Dan’s rented house on the hill and take part in the Ladies’ Midnight Swimming Club. Great book and I’m off to find the author’s other stories.

Helga Jensen’s Twice in a Lifetime, reviewed by Natalie Normann

This book is pure enjoyment from start to finish.

Amelia is the mother of twin boys, recently divorced and mostly a sensible woman. She struggles with how her life has turned out. When Amelia finds the phone number of a gorgeous man she met in New York years earlier, her best friend Sian starts looking for him. And despite all of Amelia’s attempts to hold back, she soon finds herself in a huge mess. It’s hilarious!

This book got me through tax season, by providing a wonderful distraction and lots of laughs. Amelia is such a lovely person who tries so hard, you can’t help falling in love with her. There are twists that I didn’t see coming, and I loved the surprises. All I wanted was for it not to end! Helga Jensen knows how to tell a good story that stands out in the crowd. It’s right there on my top romcoms list now. That’s a five stars from me!

Ocean Refresh Flip-Flops – Freeing Our Oceans of Plastic, One Step At A Time

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Catherine Balavage

Now that the sun is finally out and we can start to emerge from lockdown, we can shake off our shoes and wear these stylish flip-flops instead. I love these sustainable flip flops. They look great and are so comfortable. I feel like my feet are being massaged while I wear them. I cannot recommend them enough.

These flip-flops are made completely from the plastic waste gathered from our oceans and coastlines, with each pair containing up to 24 plastic bottles!

Ocean Refresh Flip-Flops are made from their unique silky smooth Oceatex™ carpet for extra comfort, which is non-slip and water resistant.

They are:

✔ Made from Organic & Natural Materials

✔ 100% Vegan

✔ 100% Recyclable – Qualifies for their 360 Programme

✔ Lightweight ‘Noodle’ Microstructure

✔ Cushioned Massaging

✔ Anti Abrasive – Outsoles do not mark any type of surface

✔ Anti Bacterial – The material eliminates Funghi & Bacterial odours

www.oceanrefresh.com

ERIC CARLE, 1929 – 2021

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Catherine Balavage

Eric Clarke, author, hungry caterpillar.

‘In the light of the moon,
holding on to a good star,
a painter of rainbows
is now traveling across the night sky’

The Carle family announces with great sadness that Eric Carle, beloved artist, illustrator, and writer, passed away peacefully and surrounded by family members on May 23, 2021 at his summer studio in Northampton, Massachusetts. Eric was 91.

A true creator, Eric Carle is renowned for his multi-dimensional practice, spanning a large body of fine art works in collage, painting, works on paper and fabric, and sculpture; theater and furniture design; and the stories he envisioned in over 70 brilliantly illustrated and designed children’s picture books. The books Eric created across more than 60 decades have sold over 170 million copies and include timeless classics such as Do You Want to Be My Friend? (1971), The Grouchy Ladybug (1977), Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me(1986), “Slowly, Slowly, Slowly,” said the Sloth (2002), The Very Clumsy Cricket (2017), and so many more. His best-known work, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has been translated into over 70 languages (including Mongolian) and shared around the world since its publication in 1969.

Drawing on his formal training and ongoing practice as an artist (which Eric fondly referred to as his “art art”), Eric quickly developed a distinctive, personal style that he continued to explore and refine in his books, illustrations, and fine art. Numerous artistic influences came together in Eric’s creative output. His art took root in the long tradition of collage, an artistic technique tracing back to the 1900s Dadaist movement, combined with his hand-painted, colorful, and textured tissue papers, which recall the work of abstract artists associated with the Academy of Fine Art Stuttgart (the so-called Stuttgart avantgardists), from where he earned his fine art degree.

Eric Carle. Photo: Motoko Inoue

Eric’s prolific career as a picture book illustrator began by chance in 1967 when author Bill Martin Jr, while in a doctor’s office waiting room, saw a medical advertisement in a medical journal for antihistamines with an illustration Eric had done of a big red lobster. Soon after, Martin invited him to illustrate Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? and the experience sparked his interest in creating his own stories, combining his artistic abilities with his experience in the field of printing.

His first original, 1,2,3 to the Zoo, was published the very same year. The book was published by Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, and edited by the late Ann Beneduce, who Eric has always credited the success of his early works. They would go on to work together for the next fifty years.

Bright collage images, imaginative stories, and little details – die cut pages, a firefly’s twinkling lights, a quiet cricket’s song – made Eric’s illustrations uniquely playful. Eric was the recipient of the 2003 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award (now called Children’s Literature Legacy Award) and held eight honorary degrees, including from Williams College and Amherst College. He remains an important influence on artists and illustrators at work today.

In 2018, Penguin Young Readers established The World of Eric Carle, an imprint dedicated to Eric’s work. Eric is also published by Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins Children’s Books, and Macmillan. In 2020, the World of Eric Carle was the #1 bestselling literary preschool brand, led by The Very Hungry Caterpillar,which was 2020’s 16th bestselling book of the year, and the #1 best-selling board book. Penguin Young Readers continues to publish new books featuring Eric’s iconic and beloved characters and artwork under The World of Eric Carle imprint.

Eric’s career as a creator extended far beyond his beloved children’s books—his independent artwork (or “art art”) is the root of his deeply individual style, reflecting a sense of whimsy, unfettered creativity, and calculated spontaneity. Utilizing materials such as aluminum, silk, glass, including scraps, and objects found in his studio, Eric amassed an extensive body of visual artworks throughout his lifetime including abstract collages, glass sculptures, and works on paper. Part of Eric’s early training as an artist was to treat all the arts, commercial or otherwise, with the same dedication, the same passion, and the same respect.

Eric was a true artist until the end—creating drawings as recently as this spring. Eric’s last drawing series, created in his final years, include several with “50 cents” written onto the image. When asked about this choice, he said that “children should know they too can sell their artwork.” A child at heart, the secret to Eric’s incredible legacy as a creator of picture books lay in his intuitive understanding of young minds—their feelings and their inquisitiveness, their creativity, and their intellectual growth. Besides being beautiful and entertaining, his books always offer children the opportunity to learn something about the world around them and encourage them to engage as artists themselves.

It was in this spirit that Eric and his wife Bobbie Carle (1938-2015) co-founded The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts in 2002. The Carles envisioned the museum as “a place for young visitors’ very first visit to a museum”, preparing them to develop the habits of museum going and discovery. The first major museum in the country dedicated to picture book art, it is a champion for illustrated children’s literature, collecting and exhibiting original illustration, and encouraging guests of all ages to read and create art. In summer 2020, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art presented Eric Carle’s Angels: An Homage to Paul Klee, an exhibition of 20 abstract assemblages dedicated to artist Paul Klee (1879-1940), who created over 70 drawings and paintings of angels during his lifetime. Eric’s singular, bold, three-dimensional “Angels”, created from painted cardboard and found objects, are a testament to the expressive power of collage in the hands of a master. His wishes for this series were that they never be conserved. Instead, he asked they be allowed to naturally disintegrate. The series represents a small but notable period of Eric’s extensive work in visual art.

Eric was born is Syracuse, New York on June 25th, 1929, and at the age of six moved with his parents Johanna and Erich Carle, both German immigrants, back to their hometown of Stuttgart, Germany. After graduating in 1950 from the prestigious Academy of Fine Arts Stuttgart (Akademie der bildenden Künste), he fulfilled his dream to return to America—the place of his happiest childhood memories. In 1952, with a portfolio in hand and $40 in his pocket, he arrived in New York City. With the help of the illustrator and art director Leo Lionni, who would go on to become a mentor, Eric landed a job as a graphic designer at The New York Times. He was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War; after discharge he returned to his job with The New York Times and later he became an art director of a medical advertising agency, L.W. Frolich. Eventually, he was promoted to oversee International Hiring, recruiting art directors for the agency’s international offices (London, Mexico City, and Frankfurt), a job that took him away from designing himself. He soon left and began a career as a freelancer designing book jackets, album covers, and eventually children’s books.

Eric is survived by his two children from his first marriage to Dorothea Carle (née Dorothea Wohlenberg), Rolf Carle and Cirsten Carle, and Rolf’s wife Teresa Toro; his sister Christa Bareis, and his sister-in-law Rita Wiseman. Eric was preceded in death by his wife of 42 years Barbara ‘Bobbie’ Carle (1938 – 2015). Eric was a resident of Key Largo, Florida, where he and Bobbie lived since 2004.

An artist till the end, Eric continued to create art until early May 2021. Some of his latest works on paper can be seen here.

Online condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the Carle family at:

Website: www.ericcarle.art/
Facebook: @ericcarleartist
Instagram: @ericcarleartist
#RememberingEricCarle

How To Wean Your Baby by Charlotte Stirling-Reed Book Review

Posted on May 27, 2021 by Catherine Balavage

The easy weaning plan to ensure your baby becomes a happy and adventurous little eater.
Weaning a baby, especially if it is your first, can be hard and scary. You are so worried about getting it right. I wish I had this wonderful book from Charlotte Stirling-Reed years ago. It would have made my life so much easier. It is a step-by-step guide and it starts with vegetables. Not the cliché baby rice.

It has key principles, the basics, milestones and everything else. When it comes to weaning, what is not in this book is not worth knowing. It also has plenty of recipes. Joe Wicks and Ella Mills are fans and so am I. I also love Charlotte’s feeding webinars. Watch one if you can. Essential reading for parents.

In this beautiful, full-colour book, expert nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed reveals her renowned method that has helped thousands of parents wean their babies confidently.

Based on a vegetable first approach, the perfect way to develop healthy eating habits and to tackle fussy eating before it begins, you’ll be hand-held through the first 30 days of weaning as well as given lots of delicious recipes all the family can enjoy.

Packed with tried and tested tips, as well as the latest evidence-based guidance, How to Wean Your Baby will fully equip and empower you to take this exciting next step.

How to Wean Your Baby is available here.