It's that time of year again for me and maybe for you also where we look to hunkering down a little for the coming winter months. If you love the thought of cozy blankets,  fluffy bed socks and snuggled in on the couch, then its a given that beautiful aromas emanating from the kitchen sets the scene for relaxing. There are so many wonderful recipes in this cook book, that dare I say like the experts, tried and tested, that its difficult to choose one. Since i err on the sweet tooth kinda life then I am going to nail it down to an amazingly moist sweetened cheesecake, Mahas Knafeh with rose and pistachios. OMG YUMMY!! If your like me and really missing the travel, then grab yourself a copy and let your imagination fly away into the heady delights of Palestinian cuisine.
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Click here to buy BALADI: RECIPES FROM PALESTINE

Official Blurb: Joudie Kalla‭, ‬author of the bestselling‭ ‬Palestine on a Plate‭, ‬introduces readers to more of the Middle East's best-kept secret‭ ‬-‭ ‬Palestinian cuisine‭.‬
'Baladi'‭ ‬means‭ ‬'my home‭, ‬my land‭, ‬my country'‭, ‬and Joudie once again pays homage to her homeland of Palestine by showcasing the wide-ranging‭, ‬vibrant and truly delicious dishes of this country‭.‬
Baladi‭ ‬features recipes that are broadly categorized according to the differing environments they primarily hail from‭, ‬such as the land‭, ‬the sea‭, ‬the forest‭, ‬the orchard‭. ‬Experience the wonderful flavours of Palestine through‭ ‬daoud basha‭ (‬lamb meatballs cooked in a tamarind and tomato sauce served with caramelized onions and vermicelli rice‭), ‬fatayer sabanekh‭ (‬spinach‭, ‬sumac and onion patties‭), ‬samak makli‭ (‬fried fish selection with courgette‭, ‬mint and yoghurt dip‭), ‬atayef‭ (‬soft pancakes filled with cream‭, ‬cheese or nuts in an orange blossom sugar syrup‭), ‬and many more sensational recipes‭.‬
Dishes are designed to complement one another‭, ‬and Joudie explains which work well together as a meal‭, ‬as well as the varied and‭ ‬diverse origins of the recipes‭. ‬At the end of the day she takes an entirely flexible approach‭, ‬using influences from her homeland to create new dishes‭, ‬and bringing her own twist to more traditional recipes‭.‬
'An important cuisine and culinary tradition that needs to be understood, celebrated, and enjoyed.' Anthony Bourdain
 
'This book goes to the heart of the relationship between food and identity, and conveys a sense of belonging through beautiful, compelling and, yes, joyous recipes. I just want to eat everything in it.' Nigella Lawson

Cracker of a crime story. I'm not normally the biggest fan of crime fiction, however after reading Shore Leave, I'm now a convert. Had me glued from start to finish on what is a fast paced and action packed journey. If you lived in or around Fremantle in the late 80s you'll know what a heady place it was after the Amercias Cup. Big tick from me.
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Click here to buy Shore Leave by David Whish-Wilson

​Official Blurb - It is Fremantle in 1989 and Frank Swann is at home, suffering from an undiagnosed and debilitating illness. When Frank is called in to investigate an incident at a local brothel, it soon appears there is a link between the death of two women and the arrival of the US nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Carl Vinson in the port city. Shore Leave is the fourth book in the Frank Swann series and also features Lee Southern, the main character from True West.

If you are in Australia at the moment you cant help but notice the women's movement that is gathering momentum around the country. The decades of misogynic behaviour by those in power. This story by Louise Milligan is shortlisted for this years The Stella Prize Award and its no surprise that it should be. Its counting the cost of witnesses and victims in a brutal legal system. I highly recommend this as you will never see our justice system the same way again. Truly inspiring and brave woman. If your thinking how do I know this womans name, then let me remind you, she is the journalist who is being sued along with the ABC for defamation by none other than our Attorney-General Christian Porter. 
Click here to buy Witness by Louise Milligan

Official Blurb - From the best-selling author of CARDINAL comes a searing examination of the power imbalance in our legal system - where exposing the truth is never guaranteed and, for victims, justice is often elusive.
A masterful and deeply troubling expose, Witness is the culmination of almost five years' work for award-winning investigative journalist Louise Milligan. Charting the experiences of those who have the courage to come forward and face their abusers in high-profile child abuse and sexual assault cases, Milligan was profoundly shocked by what she found.

During this time, the #MeToo movement changed the zeitgeist, but time and again during her investigations Milligan watched how witnesses were treated in the courtroom and listened to them afterwards as they relived the associated trauma. Then she was a witness herself in the trial of the decade, R v George Pell.

She interviews high-profile members of the legal profession, including judges and prosecutors. And she speaks to the defence lawyers who have worked in these cases, discovering what they really think about victims and the process, and the impact that this has on their own lives. Milligan also reveals never-before-published court transcripts, laying bare the flaws that are ignored, and a court system that can be sexist, unfeeling and weighted towards the rich and powerful.

Witness is a call for change. Milligan exposes the devastating reality of the Australian legal system where truth is never guaranteed and, for victims, justice is often elusive. And even when they get justice, the process is so bruising, they wish they had never tried.

 Yet again another amazing West Australian author hits the mark. It really goes into the depths of a crumbling marriage after tragedy, beautifully written in a way that you feel the pain and suffering of this couple. Heartbreaking and yet triumphant in the resilience of the soul. All the feels with this story, grab the tissues. Bonus recipes at the end of the book. 

Click here to buy Wherever you go 
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Official Blurb - A life-shattering tragedy threatens to tear apart chef Amy Bennet's marriage. Desperate to save it, she moves with her husband Matt to Blackwood, a country town where no one knows who they are.


Forced to deal with her crumbling marriage and the crippling grief that follows her wherever she goes, Amy turns to what she knows best: cooking. She opens a caf showcasing regional seasonal produce, and forms the Around the World Supper Club, serving mouth-watering feasts to new friends. As her passion for food returns, she finds a place for herself in Blackwood. But when a Pandora's Box of shame and blame is unlocked, Matt gives Amy an ultimatum that takes their marriage to the edge.


Rich with unexpected characters and extraordinary insight, Wherever You Go is a powerful and ultimately uplifting tale of heartbreaking loss, recovery, and redemption.

This book came out of nowhere for me. I basically thought the title sounded pretty cool,  intriguing and lo and behold what a cracker of a story. Its a drama of a teenage girls family life in Naples. Its sometimes brutal but beautifully written, it really does give a great perspective from her point of view and how she interprets adult conversation. Grab yourself a copy as its definitely worth a read.
Click here to buy The Lying Life of Adults
Official Blurb - A powerful new novel set in a divided Naples by Elena Ferrante, the beloved best-selling author of My Brilliant Friend.
'Two years before leaving home my father said to my mother that I was very ugly. The sentence was uttered under his breath, in the apartment that my parents, newly married, had bought in Rione Alto, at the top of Via San Giacomo dei Capri. Everything - the spaces of Naples, the blue light of a very cold February, those words - remained fixed. But I slipped away, and am still slipping away, within these lines that are intended to give me a story, while in fact I am nothing, nothing of my own, nothing that has really begun or really been brought to completion: only a tangled knot, and nobody, not even the one who at this moment is writing, knows if it contains the right thread for a story or is merely a snarled confusion of suffering, without redemption.'

Giovanna's pretty face has changed: it's turning into the face of an ugly, spiteful adolescent. But is she seeing things as they really are? Into which mirror must she look to find herself and save herself?

She is searching for a new face in two kindred cities that fear and detest one another: the Naples of the heights, which assumes a mask of refinement, and the Naples of the depths, which professes to be a place of excess and vulgarity. She moves between these two cities, disoriented by the fact that, whether high or low, the city seems to offer no answer and no escape.

Another fantastic read by an Aussie author. Inspired by her own experiences in Iraq during Saddam Hussein’s rule, Gina Wilkinson’s evocative, suspenseful debut is told through the eyes of three very different women confronting the limits of friendship and forgiveness, and the strength of a mother’s love. Def one for the summer read collection!!

Official Blurb - What would you do if the secret police demanded you spy on a friend in order to protect your family? Three women confront the complexities of trust, friendship and motherhood under the rule of a dictator in this debut inspired by the author's own experiences in Iraq
At night, in Huda's fragrant garden, a breeze sweeps in from the desert encircling Baghdad, rustling the leaves of her apricot trees and carrying warning of visitors at her gate. Huda, a secretary at the Australian embassy, lives in fear of the secret police, who have ordered her to befriend Ally, the deputy ambassador's wife.
Huda's former friend Rania, an artist, enjoyed a privileged upbringing as the daughter of a sheikh. Now her family's wealth is gone, and Rania is battling to keep her child safe and a roof over their heads.
As the women's lives intersect, their hidden pasts spill into the present. Facing possible betrayal at every turn, all three must trust in a fragile, newfound loyalty, even as they discover how much they are willing to sacrifice to protect their families.
Transporting readers to one of the world's most legendary cities, with mouth-watering cuisine, incredible history, a surprising art scene and bustling book markets, Gina Wilkinson's suspenseful debut is told through the eyes of three very different women confronting the limits of friendship and forgiveness, and the strength of a mother's love.
Click here to buy When the Apricots Bloom

 The quandary began a couple of weeks ago. Making a list and checking it twice. What book to choose as my best read of this year. I just cant go past this beauty from Brit Bennett as ( drumroll please ) my favourite  for 2020. 
 I read this book in one sitting on a rare Sunday afternoon with free time. It got me from the very first chapter and there I stayed until it was finished. I felt like I was interfering in their lives, looking through the window like a nosy neighbour to see what was going to happen next. Each character was described and their innermost thoughts revealed in such a human and fragile way. Generational family drama with the issues of racism and identity front and centre.  Do yourselves a favour over summer and pop this on your TBR list.
Click here to buy The Vanishing Half

Official Blurb: The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities.
Ten years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined.
What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters' story lines intersect?  Weaving together multiple strands and generations of this family, from the Deep South to California, from the 1950s to the 1990s, Brit Bennett produces a story that is at once a riveting, emotional family story and a brilliant exploration of the American history of passing.
Looking well beyond issues of race, THE VANISHING HALF considers the lasting influence of the past as it shapes a person's decisions, desires, and expectations, and explores some of the multiple reasons and realms in which people sometimes feel pulled to live as something other than their origins.

Well there's no need for an introduction to this new mega book out on 10th November. Its a massive blockbuster, hard cover edition and oh so popular. So on with the show.....

Official blurb -
The Ickabog is coming... A mythical monster, a kingdom in peril, an adventure that will test two children's bravery to the limit. Discover a brilliantly original fairy tale about the power of hope and friendship to triumph against all odds, from one of the world's best storytellers.
The kingdom of Cornucopia was once the happiest in the world. It had plenty of gold, a king with the finest moustaches you could possibly imagine, and butchers, bakers and cheesemongers whose exquisite foods made a person dance with delight when they ate them.
Everything was perfect - except for the misty Marshlands to the north which, according to legend, were home to the monstrous Ickabog. Anyone sensible knew that the Ickabog was just a myth, to scare children into behaving. But the funny thing about myths is that sometimes they take on a life of their own.
Could a myth unseat a beloved king? Could a myth bring a once happy country to its knees? Could a myth thrust two children into an adventure they didn't ask for and never expected?
If you're feeling brave, step into the pages of this book to find out...
A beautiful hardback edition, perfect for sharing and gift-giving. Brought to life with full-colour illustrations by the young winners of The Ickabog Illustration Competition.

SOPHIA SPARKS by ELANOR BEST
This story is such a great way to show that girls can do anything. Sophia is an inventor and her bow is the magical key to it all. Included with the book is a beautiful blue bow to wear. With help from her friends they create wonderful things. I love the rhyming text and the colours just pop out at you. If you have girls in your life between the ages of four to eight then this book is perfect.  Super cool, super fun!!
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Official blurb - Sophia wears her bow whenever she needs to come up with a new, dazzling invention. But one day, she can't find it! Join Sophia as she learns — through the power of mashed potato and friends — that she didn't need a bow on her head to think of brilliant things, after all.

Fun, rhyming text and Lara Ede's sweet illustrations combine to bring Sophia's world of incredible inventions to life! From glitter-fueled rockets to dancing robots, there's something in this story that will spark the imagination of every little reader who hears it.
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

Starts with a bang from the very first page. Gritty, raw and very emotional. Its a story that will have you reading into the wee hours. I know there was some controversy surrounding this book when it first came out earlier this year but as a work of fiction I found it thoroughly engaging from beginning to end. Its a Yes from me and a Meh from Miss Bella who was not impressed that the bedside lamp stayed on while she was trying to slumber. 
Official blurb - También de este lado hay sueños. On this side, too, there are dreams.
Lydia Quixano Pérez lives in the Mexican city of Acapulco. She runs a bookstore. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. And while there are cracks beginning to show in Acapulco because of the drug cartels, her life is, by and large, fairly comfortable.
Even though she knows they’ll never sell, Lydia stocks some of her all-time favorite books in her store. And then one day a man enters the shop to browse and comes up to the register with a few books he would like to buy—two of them her favorites. Javier is erudite. He is charming. And, unbeknownst to Lydia, he is the jefe of the newest drug cartel that has gruesomely taken over the city. When Lydia’s husband’s tell-all profile of Javier is published, none of their lives will ever be the same.
Forced to flee, Lydia and eight-year-old Luca soon find themselves miles and worlds away from their comfortable middle-class existence. Instantly transformed into migrants, Lydia and Luca ride la bestia—trains that make their way north toward the United States, which is the only place Javier’s reach doesn’t extend. As they join the countless people trying to reach el norte, Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something. But what exactly are they running to?
CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE