Latest posts Into the Fire by Rachael Blok review4 April 2021UncategorisedKey Summary of Into the Fire by Rachael Blok Welcome to my review for Into the Fire by Rachael Blok. My thanks to Sophie Ransom of Midas PR for my spot on the blog tour. Thanks also to Head of Zeus for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Into the Fire is a crime fiction thriller It’s told from several perspectives and different time points. A new business venture launches at a country house one weekend with disastrous consequences. It’s Blok’s 3rd novel and she’s really making a name for herself in thrillers. I really enjoy the slow burn of this book because the plot line is convincing and the characters are solid. Into the Fire is out now in hardback and ebook. My Review of Into the Fire by Rachael Blok This is the story of two sisters launching a new business venture one weekend at a country house in Hertfordshire. Sisters Ebba and Lois own Archipelago, a virtual reality game company. It’s run in sucha way as not to exploit people or the environment (if it wasn’t fictitious it would be exactly the sort of thing which would be reviewed on this blog!). They invite investors to their launch party held at their old family home – a stately pile – which they recently reacquired. One of the guests is a politician whose stance against modern slavery sees her receive regular death threats. So there is also Police presence from the local St Albans constabulary. The book opens with a great hook because a dramatic event occurs at the start. From this, the reader has a lot of questions and is drawn straight into the story. Was it an accident? Was it murder? The story is a slow burn because author slowly reveals details of different strands but the plot itself isn’t slow. So, we learn how about the past of each character and how strands fit together. The plot is compelling and told from different time points and from different characters’ point of view. This is a popular style of writing and Blok does it well. The characters are interesting and well developed. The bulk of the story and key events take place at the country house in Hertfordshire, but we learn a lot of the characters backstory which occurs elsewhere. I like how believable and engaging the plot is and how detailed the characters feel. I also enjoy how well Blok has crafted the ‘murder mystery at a country house weekend’ trope in a fresh and modern way. If you enjoyed my review please check out some other books I’ve enjoyed recently. And don’t forget to visit the other stops on the tour if you’ve not already seen them – details in the poster below. Cover Blurb for Into the Fire Eleven guests. Three nights. One murderer… This is the haunting and atmospheric new thriller from rising star of crime fiction, Rachael Blok. In a gorgeous mansion in the Hertfordshire countryside, sisters Lois and Ebba prepare to launch their new venture. Archipelago is an exploitation-free tech company whose virtual reality game promises to unite the worlds of technology, politics and the environment. Invited to the launch party are their investors: current and ex-politicians, international business moguls and activists, one of whom – Marieke – has been receiving online abuse and death threats for her views on eco-politics. DCI Maarten Jansen has been summoned to join the house party. He is sure the threats are from online trolls with nothing better to do – he’s only offering police protection because his boss wants to put the VIP guests at ease. But when eight of the guests are involved in a suspicious helicopter crash, Maarten starts to uncover long-buried secrets – and a murderer in their midst…... The Three Locks by Bonnie MacBird Review26 March 2021BooksKey Summary Welcome to my review for The Three Locks by Bonnie MacBird. My thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for my spot on the blog tour. Thanks also to Harper Collins for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The Three Locks is a Sherlock Holmes and John Watson mystery. Out on 1st April in hardback and ebook format. This is the 4th book in MacBird’s popular Holmes and Watson series. This is my first experience of MacBird’s writing and I’m blown away by her take on the adventures of this famous crime fighting, mystery solving duo! The Three Locks by Bonnie MacBird Review My Motivation The MacBird series has been on my radar for a while. I’m usually very sceptical about anyone taking on a former artist’s work whether it’s books, music or film. For me, it’s very rare that a remake is as good (and rarer still, better) than the original. Hearing though that MacBird does Sherlock stories well, spurred me into putting myself forward for this tour. And I’m not disappointed! I truly enjoy MacBird’s take on the Conan Doyle style. She is faithful to their characters and historical setting, and the mysteries she conjures up are puzzling perfection. Plot The story opens in London during a sweltering Indian summer with Watson wondering why he’s not seen Sherlock for a while. It’s not long though before Holmes and Watson have not one, but three mysteries to solve. Watson receives a small, silver locked box, which a locksmith offers to open in exchange for an unusual fee. This is a very personal storyline to Watson and allows the reader to know more about his childhood. Another mystery sees an Italian escape artist who dies during a performance on stage at a music hall. He is immolated in a cauldron which his wife designed. The third mystery is away from London, in Cambridge. A beautiful woman is found drowned, her long blonde hair tangled in the Jesus Lock on the River Cam. The daughter of a Don she has several suitors… or should that be suspects? Writing Style I love how faithful MacBird is to both the characters and the time period. It truly feels as though all the details are accurate. The style is also very good, the mysteries are gripping and there are lots of red herrings so each time you think you’ve got a handle on the solution you find yourself re-thinking it entirely! That is one of the things I love best about the original mysteries. I also enjoy the aspect of finding out more about secrets from Watson’s life and how the theme of secrets (and the proce of keeping them) run through the story. MacBird has done a brilliant job of sending Holmes and Watson bouncing between London and Cambridge to solve 3 perplexing cases and without confusing or loosing the reader. A triumph! I’m definitely going to read her previous books. Do check out the other stops on this blog tour, see poster below for details: The Three Locks by Bonnie MacBird Cover Blurb The Three Locks – a gripping new Sherlock Holmes adventure by Bonnie MacBird – is published by Collins Crime Club, an imprint of HarperCollins, on 18 March 2021. It is the fourth in her acclaimed series. The year is 1887 and an Indian Summer broils London and Cambridge. A mysterious impregnable box arrives for Watson, locked and with a secret from his past. Then a famous escape artist/conjurer fails to unlock his “cauldron” and burns to a crisp during a performance at Wilton’s Music Hall. And in Cambridge, three suitors including a priest, an aristocrat and a young physicist vie for the love of a spiteful beauty, who vanishes after her lookalike doll is found dismembered in the Jesus Lock on the River Cam. The cases convolve as Holmes and Watson tangle with clergy, police, academics and scheming siblings, risking life and limb to solve the murders and to keep the innocent from the gallows. MacBird’s stylish updates to Conan Doyle’s canon bring all the wit, camaraderie and deductions one expects from Holmes and Watson, but with the extended arc of a novel allowing not only more character development but also action, which carries them far beyond the locked room mystery and into danger. Each of MacBird’s four Holmes books explores a theme. Just as Art in the Blood revealed the perils and gifts of the artistic temperament, Unquiet Spirits uncovered the danger of letting ghosts of the past lie unresolved, and The Devil’s Due touched upon the cost of corruption, The Three Locks examines the risk of keeping dark secrets locked away. Meticulous research and attention to period detail enrich the reading experience. The Three Locks is a must-read for fans of the original Sherlock Holmes adventures and for readers new to the genre. About Author Bonnie MacBird Bonnie MacBird was born and raised in San Francisco and fell in love with Sherlock Holmes by reading the canon at age ten. She now lives in London and Lost Angeles. Her long Hollywood career includes feature film development at Universal, the original screenplay for the movie TRON, three Emmy Awards for documentary writing and producing, numerous produced plays and musicals, and theatre credits as an actor and director. In addition to her work in entertainment, Bonnie teaches writing at UCLA Extension, as well as being an accomplished watercolourist. She is active in the Sherlockian community in both the UK and the US, and lectures regularly on Sherlock Holmes, writing, and creativity. Bonnie’s previous three Sherlock Holmes adventures are: Art in the Blood; Unquiet Spirits and The Devil’s Due. Her books are now available in 17 languages worldwide. For further information about Bonnie MacBird visit: http://www.macbird.com Twitter: @macbird / Instagram: bmacbird Facebook: SherlockHolmesAdventureSeries... Review: The Measure of Time by Gianrico Carofiglio21 March 2021BooksKey Summary of The Measure of Time by Gianrico Carofiglio Welcome to my review for The Measure of Time by Gianrico Carofiglio. My thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours for my spot on the blog tour. Thanks also to Bitter Lemon Press for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. The Measure of Time is about the appeal case of a young man accused of murder. It’s told from the perspective of defence barrister Guido Guerrieri who was once in a relationship with the defendant’s mother. It’s the 6th novel in the best selling Guido Guerrieri series, although each works as a stand alone. I found this a fantastic novel, both authentic and enthralling, and can’t wait to read the rest of the series! The Measure of Time is out now in paperback and ebook. Review: The Measure of Time by Gianrico Carofiglio – My Thoughts I have two main motivations for putting myself forward for this tour. First, I love a crime thriller and often read police procedurals; this is a little different as it’s told from the defence barrister’s perspective. Secondly, it’s set in Italy which is a place I adore and have often visited both for holidays and work. I have not previously read any of Carofiglio’s work and after reading The Measure of Time, I feel so fortunate to have found a new series I know I’ll love! This is definitely the best thing about book blogging. I particularly enjoy the characters, story, writing style, and setting; where else would you find an only-open-at-night-bookshop-which-serves-alcohol-and-cakes? For this review I’ll focus on 3 aspects which I loved: the plot, themes and writing style. Plot A woman, Lorenza, comes to the office of avvocato Guido Guerrieri concerned with the appeal case for her son Jacopo. Jacopo’s original lawyer has died and he needs new representation for the appeal. Jacopo is a delinquent found guilty of murdering his drug dealing associate. It turns out that, almost three decades ago, Guerrieri was in a relatioship with Lorenza. At the time, he was in love with a sophisticated bohemian woman, who briefly took an interest in him and then ghosted him. Jacopo’s case is not the nature Guerrieri’s practice usually takes on. Also, Guerrieri isn’t sure whether Jacopo is innocent. Nevertheless, he decides to accept the case. The reader witnesses the appeal preparation, it’s execution and outcome. This is a very well rounded story, which follows a linear progression. The plot details have an authentic feel, no doubt informed by the author’s previous career as an anti-mafia prosecutor and member of Italy’s Senate. The pace is good with some parts faster and some slower. The main story is the appeal case, though every few chapters there is a short interlude where Guerrieri looks back at his relationship with Lorenza. There are also a couple of brief digressions, which are short enough to keep the reader’s attention but detailed enough to be interesting. Themes There are several themes in this story, the main ones being justice, perception and the passage of time. Justice is the over-aching theme of the story as we follow Jacopo’s journey. There are sections where Guerrieri has discussions and gives a philosophical lecture where this theme is discussed in detail. I also enjoy the theme of perception, that of Jacopo and Guerrieri’s perception of Lorenza. The fact that the accused is a confirmed criminal makes him more challenging in terms of whether the reader (and the novel’s characters) can consider him innocent. The perception of Lorenza by Guerrieri is more than just a man reflecting on a previous love. It holds up a mirror to the human condition and shows how the passage of time changes one’s perspective. Time is also a recurring theme and as Guerrieri gets older he finds himself noticing how it speeds up. Writing Style Carofiglio has a succinct and precise writing style. There is enough detail that gives authenticity; but without any superfluous words. I find the writing very engaging and immersive. There are a few places where the author takes the reader on a digression, which although interesting in itself, does have me eager to return to the main plot. Do visit the other reviews on this blog tour, details of dates and blog names are given in the poster below. About the Author Gianrico Carofiglio is an award-winning, best-selling novelist. Born in Bari in 1961, he worked for many years as a prosecutor specializing in organized crime. He was appointed advisor of the anti-Mafia committee in the Italian parliament in 2007 and served as a senator from 2008 to 2013. Carofiglio is best known for the Guido Guerrieri crime series: Involuntary Witness, A Walk in the Dark, Reasonable Doubts, Temporary Perfections, A Fine Line, and now The Measure of Time all published by Bitter Lemon Press. Carofiglio was shortlisted for the 2020 STREGA prize, Italy’s most prestigious literary award. His other novels include The Silence of the Wave. Carofiglio’s books have sold more than four million copies in Italy and have been translated into twenty-four languages worldwide. The translator is Howard Curtis, a well-known translator from the Italian who has translated other titles in the Guerrieri series.... 3 Inspirational Disabled Heroines for International Women’s Day 20217 March 2021UncategorisedIntroduction International Women’s Day (IWD) is held annually on March 8th. It is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. The first IWD took place in 1911 and was celebrated by over a million people; today IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. You can find out more on the United Nations Women Page. Greater Challenges for Disabled Women For disabled women, inequality is even greater and even more so for disabled women of colour. 10% of the world’s population has a disability which in the UK is 14.1 million. In most of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries, women have higher rates of disability than men. Disabled women have a much more challenging time accessing healthcare, education and employment. According to the United Nations “Men with disabilities are almost twice as likely to have jobs than women with disabilities. When women with disabilities work, they often experience unequal hiring and promotion standards, unequal access to training and retraining, unequal access to credit and other productive resources, unequal pay for equal work and occupational segregation, and they rarely participate in economic decision making.” This IWD 2021 I’d like to celebrate those women with significant disabilities who not only work, but who excel in what they do. Their achievements are not only inspirational because they’re winning on a grossly uneven playing field; they do so whilst suffering chronic pain, exhaustion and other symptoms, as well as the financial burden which disability brings. Here, 3 amazing women are featured: Kate Stanforth a disabled dancer who runs an inclusive dance academy, Myra Ali a disabled journalist and woman of the year runner up, and Eiko Kimura a disabled politician in the Japanese Parliament. I did a Q&A with UK-based Kate and Myra, and researched a profile for Eiko as I don’t have access to a Japanese translator. Profile: Kate Stanforth Disabled dancer, teacher, choreographer and inclusive dance academy owner Hello Kate, can you tell me a bit about your journey? I’m Kate, 26, from Northumberland. I was training to be a professional ballerina when I suddenly became ill at the age of 14. After spending years extremely unwell, I was able to get back into the dance studio in my wheelchair and started small amounts of teaching. From then on, I was determined to make the dance industry more accessible as I came across many barriers and now have opened my own inclusive dance academy. What has helped you come to terms with, and adapt to, life with disability? Time. For the first 6 years I hated my wheelchair and could not come to terms with the fact I was disabled. It was a grieving process and one which will always be difficult. Now, I am a much more confident wheelchair user but I do, as everyone does, still have my days where my disability just is that little bit too hard. What do you wish you’d have known/been told at the start of your journey? I wish I had known where I’d be now! I thought my dance journey was over, not that I’d be flown to Miami to dance for George ASDA, dance for brands such as Kappa and open my own dance school. Also, I wish I knew that I would eventually adapt and make a career out of helping others with disabilities and still pursue my dream in the dance world. What gets you through the tough days now? My assistance dog, Spencer. I got him around 3 years ago from Canine Partners charity and I really mean it when I say I probably wouldn’t be here without him. He helps me so much, both physically and emotionally, I really love that dog! What advice or encouragement would you give to people struggling with disability or chronic health problems? Take your time. It’s ok to not know where your ’new’ life is taking you. It’s ok to grieve the life you had before. Just take time to process things and ‘run your own race’ as I say. It’s easy to compare your journey to someone else’s but make it your own. You’ve got this. How has lockdown made things more challenging than usual? Lockdown has been difficult because I’ve been shielding on and off for nearly a year now. I haven’t seen many of my friends in a year, or taught students in a dance studio, or just continued with my usual routine. I’ve felt very isolated which means my mood and anxiety has suffered, so I’d just love my mental health especially to get back to being more stable. Anything else you’d like to add? A shout out to all the chronically ill women on IWD – you are fighting so many battles people don’t know about and I just want to say I appreciate you all. You can find out more about Kate and her work on www.katestanforth.com she’s on twitter @katestanforth and also instagram @katestanforth @katestanforthdance Profile: Myra Ali Disabled Entertainment Journalist and advocate of disabled women of colour in the UK. Credits include New York Post, Marie Claire, Stylist, UK GQ and Cosmo. Woman of the Year runner-up (2019) Hello Myra, can you tell me a bit about your journey? I was born with the most severe form of Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). Constant pain and scarring has caused my hands to mitten; when I was younger my fingers were open and I had a lot of dexterity, but with increased scarring the fingers have closed into fists. I work as a freelance celebrity journalist writing articles and interviewing celebrities at press junkets and red carpet events. At the same time, I live with family and I have nurses who come to the house to do my dressings. What has helped you come to terms with, and adapt to, life with disability? I’ve accepted it is a difficult condition I have but it could be a lot worse and it’s important to remember the struggles of others too – I try to keep positive about it I’m a believer in if you think positive you’ll attract positivity. What do you wish you’d have known/been told at the start of your journey? That believe in yourself and not to listen to people around you who try to put you down or put their beliefs on you. Amazing things can happen if you have faith and believe in yourself. And always aim high in every aspect of life. What gets you through the tough days now? My faith and belief that everything will be ok and a struggle is just a test – being positive can help get you through the worst times. What advice or encouragement would you give to people struggling with disability or chronic health problems Make sure you have a strong support system around you – family , medical professionals and friends , never be worried about talking about your struggles. Always remember your life and journey is unique and you will get through this – try to find something in your life you really enjoy this will make you feel better- your condition doesn’t define you at all. How has lockdown made things more challenging than usual? Being fearful of going to the Drs. etc because of covid that’s all. You can follow Myra on instagram and twitter. I highly recommend her article: Women of colour with disabilities are always left out of the conversation about diversity. Profile: Eiko Kimura Eiko Kimura became disabled at 8 months old. She spent most of her childhood in a nursing home and school for disabled children. She suffers from cerebral palsy and tetraplegia. At 19 she decided she wanted to live in the community and not in an institution. At the time, this was a rare and ground breaking move for a severely disabled person in Japan. Eiko moved from Yokohama to Tokyo, married and had a son. In her 30’s she began advocating for disability rights and founded an organization that helps the disabled to live independently. In 2019, she made headlines around the world when she was elected to the National Diet (the Japanese Parliament) alongside Yasuhiko Funago who is also severely disabled. Whilst not the first wheelchair users at the Senate, they are the first to be severely disabled. So, modifications were made to accommodate their reclining wheelchairs. They are also given dispensation for their carers to attend with them. You can read more about Eiko’s election in this BBC article. Both Eiko Kimura and Yasuhiko Funago are members of the small leftist opposition party named Reiwa Shinsengumi. It is founded by actor-turned-politician Taro Yamamoto. The party advocates for a society that does not cut anyone off, especially those usually overlooked. You can read more about Eiko’s life and political journey in this excellent post on the disability visibility project.... 5 ways to drink FAIR Café Liqueur7 March 2021Food & DrinkIntroduction: FAIR Café liqueur Welcome to my post on 5 ways to drink FAIR Café Liqueur. This is a best seller from fairtrade spirits brand FAIR, you learn more about the brand in my fairtrade fortnight spotlight. It’s a versatile liqueur made with Arabica coffee beans from Mexico. Here I review the liqueur and suggest 5 different ways to enjoy it. I received PR samples of FAIR cafe liquer from FAIR in exchange for an honest review. Tasting Notes and Awards FAIR Café liqueur is a translucent chesnut brown, it contains 22% ABV and comes in a 70cl bottle. It has an aroma of roasted coffee primarily, with notes of nuttiness and chocolate coming through. The flavour profile is strongly nutty with flavours of coffee and chocolate developing, then a slightly bitter finish. I very much enjoy this liqueur both on it’s own and in cocktails where it is surprisingly versatile. It has won a host of awards including: 2019 Master Medal at Liqueur Masters, 2017 Silver Medal at BTI Chicago and 2017 Best tasting liqueur at New York Spirits Awards. 1 Espresso Martini This cocktail is an absolute classic and perennially popular. Fill a martini glass with ice to chill. To a cocktail shaker add a handful of ice, 50ml of FAIR Vodka, 35ml of FAIR Café liqueur and 25ml of espresso. Shake well. Remove ice from the glass. Pour the cocktail through a strainer into the glass. Garnish with coffee beans. If you prefer your drink slightly sweeter, dissolve a little sugar in the espresso before mixing. 2 Café d’amour This cocktail is a long, refreshing drink; the flavours of coffee, ginger and apple meld very well. Add ice cubes to a tall glass, pour in 25ml FAIR Café Liqueur, 100ml spiced ginger ale and top up with apple cider Garnish with fresh apple slices. 3 Café Tonic When I first saw this recipe, I was sceptical. Surely coffee and tonic water don’t go together? Turns out the combination is very pleasant! I think it helps to use a more delicate tonic, I love it with the Fever-tree Mediterranean variety which has a more subtle quinine flavour. To a tall glass add 50ml FAIR Vodka, 25ml FAIR Café Liqueur and top up with tonic. Add a slice of lime as garnish. 4 Iced Coffee This is an indulgent and cool way to drink iced coffee, perfect for the warmer days coming up. Take a scoop of vanilla icecream and blend with 300ml of milky coffee and 50ml FAIR Café Liqueur. Serve in a large glass over ice. Add cream and chocolate shavings if desired. 5 Affogato Affogato is essentially a scoop of vanilla ice cream with a shot of espresso poured over it. It is popular in Italy after a meal, instead of dessert. This version uses half a shot of espresso and half a shot of FAIR Café liqueur poured over a scoop of vanilla ice cream. For a mocha version you can use chocolate ice cream like I’m doing here!... FAIR Q&A: A Fairtrade Fortnight Brand Spotlight5 March 2021Food & DrinkIntroduction: FAIR a Fairtrade Brand Spotlight Regular readers know that I like to support ethical brands. So for Fairtrade Fortnight I am trying to help raise awareness of consumer choice. To do this, I am showcasing ethical, fairtrade brands. This post is a spotlight on FAIR, a drinks company who are fairtrade pioneers in their industry. For example, FAIR are the first company to make a fairtrade vodka. They also have a range of other spirits and liqueurs which are also made with fairtrade ingredients. You can choose FAIR at Waitrose or Ocado. I’m speaking to FAIR’s sales director Paul Bungener about FAIR’s journey from concept to trailblazing brand. How did FAIR get started? FAIR was started in 2009 by Alexandre Koiransky and I (Paul Bungener) joined 3 months later. We wanted FAIR spirits to be made in the Cognac region of France because it’s famous for the quality of it’s production. It was challenging however, to convince producers to work with a start-up when they typically worked with prestigious international brands. It took 18 months of going from one producer to another, but we found one willing to try us and they’ve not looked back. How has FAIR developed over the 12 years? We’ve always had a small core team, a handful of people. We outsource the production and distribution, and have taken time to build good relationships. We take care in developing our spirits using the best fairtrade ingredients. I spend time promoting our products, for example I lived for a few years in the USA, building the brand there. Our spirits have won many awards, which has made them popular globally. Is it challenging to create fairtrade spirits? No, not really. We wanted to create the world’s first fairtrade vodka, so we approached the fairtrade foundation and asked about which grains are fairtrade. There is only quinoa, so we chose to make quinoa vodka. The fairtrade foundation has strict rules about awarding certification, so for example we had a few varieties of rum but we now only make Belize rum. This is because the other countries began to fall below the required standard of care for their sugar cane farmers, so fairtrade revoked their certification. We also wanted to create a fairtrade gin and fairtrade juniper (an essential ingredient in gin) comes only from Uzbekistan. It then turns out that a neighbouring cooperative of farmers to our Uzbek juniper growers, produce fairtrade certified goji berries, so we are able to include them as ingredients too. What to you are the key aspects of fairtrade? There are 3 key aspects to our fairtrade production. Firstly, we pay farmers above market rate for their produce. Secondly 2.5% of our turnover is invested in promoting fairtrade, so that consumers know they can choose to support the developing world when they shop. Thirdly, there is a 15% fairtrade premium which we pay towards social and environmental initiatives. The former include better working conditions, access to healthcare and education. There is a drive to support young people and create entrepreneurial opportunities so they can create a better society at home, rather than becoming economic migrants and facing very harsh or even dangerous living conditions. The environmental projects include initiatives to protect the land, for example ensuring it stays organic. Organic farming often goes hand in hand with fairtrade, why is it important? In the developed world the use of pesticides and other chemicals led to higher farming yields. Which meant a more plentiful supply and greater profits. Over time however, it became clear that this type of farming was damaging to the environment. The soil became depleted in nutrients and the chemicals created widespread pollution. This in turn led to a lower quality of produce, because if the soil is nutrient depleted so is anything that grows in it. Lessons have been learned and farming has returned to more organic processes, but soil restoration carries a great expense. We want the developing world to learn from our mistakes. For thousands of years, quinoa has grown on the altiplano, an area of high plains in Bolivia, Peru, Chile and Argentina. Peru has started to use pesticides on their crops so they can harvest twice a year instead of once. Whilst their exports have now overtaken Bolivia’s, it will likely turn out to be a short-term win, with costly remediation later, much like in the developing world. Fairtrade land protection helps to ensure farming remains organic in Bolivia. Tell me about the FAIR range of spirits and what are your plans for the future? Our range has grown over time, with more than 20 products offered over the last 12 years. Both the vodka and coffee liqueur our best sellers. So, looking forward we are creating a more streamlined range with a focus on our top 5 products. We are also changing the packaging, making it more premium and we will be completely plastic-free by the end of 2022. We would like FAIR to be part of people’s lifestyles, because our ethics reflect theirs. In 2022 we will have a new, niche product; I can’t reveal too much other than to say it’s ery exciting and absolutely delicious! My huge thanks to Paul for being so generous with his time and expertise. Check out Paul’s insta for the most stylish cocktail posts!... Seed and Bean: A Fairtrade Fortnight Brand Spotlight3 March 2021Food & DrinkIntroduction: Seed and Bean a Fairtrade Brand Spotlight At rosegold reports I like supporting companies whose products offer value, quality and sustainability. I care about ethical consumerism, so I try to choose products which are kind to people and the environment. To do this, I look for things like: fairtrade ingredients, good company ethics (e.g. b corp) and recyclable packaging. For Fairtrade Fortnight, I’m showcasing Seed & Bean, a chocolate producer based in the UK. Seed and Bean (founded 2005) make over 20 varieties of chocolate, I review four of them here. Their batch size is just 45 litres, this makes them artisans (industrial chocolatiers produce 20,000 – 50,000 litres). Seed and Bean: Award Winning Ethics Seed and Bean has received awards as one of the most ethical chocolate producers in Britain. They’re the only chocolate brand to receive a perfect 100 ECI (top marks across all ethical categories) in The Good Shopper Guide 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019. In 2020 Seed and Bean receive 92, purely due to leaving the Vegan Association, but they still produce vegan dark chocolate. Seed and Bean: Organic and Fairtrade Every ingredient in Seed and Bean chocolate is organic, which is great news because organic food is better for you. Organic food has more nutrients and fewer chemicals (e.g. pesticides). More nutrients means the cocoa contains higher levels of antioxidants which are good for health. It’s also kinder to the environment, for example rain doesn’t leach pesticides from the soil into rivers, causing pollution. Organic farms are also kinder to animals including the livestock they breed and the wild insects living there. The cocoa used in 16 of Seed and Bean’s chocolate bars is fairtrade. Fairtrade is a certification proving that producers in the developing world receive “better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade.” In real terms this means that the farmers receive market rate or above for their beans. They also receive proper proper working conditions and can participate in local projects (funded by the fairtrade foundation). For instance access to healthcare and education. Seed and Bean: 100% compostable packaging Seed and Bean chocolate bars come sealed in a paper outer wrapper and a foil inner wrapper. The outer paper layer is recyclable. The inner foil is made from Natureflex™ . This is a special flexible cellulose film made from eucalyptus wood pulp! This means the inner foil can go straight in your home compost bin.... Is Seed and Bean Chocolate Good?26 February 2021Food & DrinkKey Summary Hello! The first week of Fairtrade Fortnight is well underway and today I’m featuring a review for Seed and Bean chocolate. I’m gifted four different flavoured bars from Seed and Bean in exchange for an honest review. I’ve not tried these before, but am eager to because the flavours sound delicious! The chocolate is fairtrade and organic, and the wrapping is 100% recyclable; which fits perfectly with the brand ethos at rosegold reports. I’ll tell you a bit about the different flavours, where to buy and a bit about the brand. I’ll share more about Seed and Bean themselves in a company spotlight. Seed and Bean chocolate comes in over 20 flavour combinations from classic to wild! As well as bars, there are also truffles. You can buy single bars, sets or even subscribe to get bars sent to you every month (I mention the subscription service here). They’re available in selected Sainsbury’s stores (and online), on Amazon and directly from Seed and Bean. And I have an amazing discount code to share with you – scroll down for the details! View this post on Instagram A post shared by rosegold reports (@rosegoldreports) My Thoughts on Seed and Bean Chocolate I received four dark chocolate, vegan bars, in the following flavours: Extra Dark, Mandarin and Ginger, Lavender, and Orange and Thyme. Extra Dark This dark chocolate contains 72% cocoa and is made from Trinitarian cocoa from the Dominican Republic. The mouth feel is smooth and velvety, with a rich flavour. I can imagine this being a bar I always have on the go; whether a piece or two with my mid-morning coffee or for dessert – either on it’s own or in a recipe. As you can see from the picture, it went down well with some espressos. Orange and Thyme This is one of the more ‘wild’ combinations and I’m excited to try it! It’s 58% cocoa and again made with Dominican Trinitarian cocoa. It’s a delicious orange chocolate, both aromatic and well flavoured. The delicate balance with thyme really elevates this compared with more ‘ordinary’ orange chocolate. I love it! As it slowly dissolves in my mouth I’m imagining all the different recipes I could use it in. The first one I try is from Seed and Bean’s own (extensive!) recipe page, for orange and thyme hot chocolate. It’s the most decadent, perfect balance of flavours and moreish hot chocolate I’ve ever had! You can find the recipe here. Lavender I’m very intrigued by this one as my experience of flowers in chocolate is limited only to Turkish delight and floral creams. This lavender bar is 72% cocoa and infused with French lavender oil. The flavour was subtle but strong enough to be detectable without being overpowering. It balances well with the dark chocolate; I don’t think it would work as well with a ‘milder’ milk chocolate. I like this one because it’s that little bit different and reminds me of childhood holidays to France. This is really nice on a breakfast bowl with porridge, fruit and nuts or seeds. Mandarin and Ginger Citrus and ginger is a combination which stands the test of time. This bar contains Italian mandarin oil, Sri Lankan ginger and 72% Dominican cocoa. It’s a lovely warm blend, very smooth (there are no ‘bits’) and with a gorgeous, velvet mouth feel. The mandarin flavour is subtle but tasty and the gentle fire of the ginger has a nice longevity. Another very moreish flavour which I can see keeping me company on chilly evenings. Keen to try this with red wine and see how it works! Overall Verdict I’ve tried four different flavours here and enjoyed all of them. So, in answer to this post’s question of whether Seed and Bean chocolate is good, it’s definitely yes from me! Actually it’s very good chocolate because of it’s rich, smooth and velvet mouth feel, well balanced flavours and wide range of varieties. It’s also kind to the environment and communities which produce it, as attested to be the Fairtrade certification. Once you’ve finished eating it, it’s also kind to the environment. This is due to the recyclable paper outer wrapper and home compostable inner foil. 20% Discount on Seed and Bean Chocolate Tempted to try Seed and Bean chocolates? I don’t blame you! I can’t wait to try the other flavours available. Do you think you’re more a fan of classic flavours or will you try the wild ones? Let me know in the comments below. Seed and Bean have kindly given me a 20% discount code which you can use on all of the full-priced items on their website. Just pop ROSEGOLDREPORTS into the box at checkout. The code is valid until the end of May so you have plenty of time to stock up on treats for Mother’s Day and Easter! Plus if you spend over £15 you get free delivery too. About Seed and Bean the Brand Seed & Bean was founded in June 2005 with the idea to create an ethical range of confectionery. The focus was on always using organic ingredients, small-scale suppliers and bravely developing wild with flavours. Seed and Bean is accredited as one of the most ethical chocolate producer in Britain. To find out more about Seed and Bean, check out my Fairtrade Fortnight Company Spotlight.... Calico Thunder Rides Again by T. A. Hernandez Spotlight20 February 2021BooksIntroduction Roll up, roll up! Welcome to my spotlight post on Calico Thunder Rides Again by T A Hernandez. I received this book to read and review as part of the BBNYA (Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Award) tours organised by the @The_WriteReads tours team. All opinions are my own, unbiased and honest. BBNYA is an annual competition where book bloggers from all over the world read and score books written by indie authors. If you are an author and wish to learn more about the 2021 BBNYA competition, you can visit the official website (https://www.bbnya.com/) or our Twitter account, @BBNYA_Official. If you would like to sign-up and enter your book, you can find the BBNYA 2021 AUTHOR SIGN UP FORM HERE. Please make sure to carefully read our terms and conditions before entering. If you are a book blogger or reviewer, you can apply to be part of BBNYA 2021 by filling out this form (also remember to read the terms and conditions before signing up)! BBNYA is brought to you in association with the Folio Society (If you love beautiful books you NEED to check out their website!) And the book blogger support group TheWriteReads. Calico Thunder Rides Again My Thoughts As this is a spotlight post, I am sharing my impression having read only the prologue and 1st chapter of this book. I read completely blind, with no idea of what it’s about or even what genre it is. It opens with a circus performance, presented from the POV of a man who is accompanied by a boy. The circus atmosphere really creates an impression! My own memories of the circus came flooding back as I read the description of the trapeze artists performing above a fire. But this is no ordinary circus! Two griffins and a dragon then come on stage. At this point I’m super excited for the magic! The man and boy go to introduce themselves to the circus owner and we learn that something nefarious and enchanted is afoot. I’m intrigued by the prologue and launch straight into chapter 1! I don’t want to give any more of the plot away but I’m enjoying it so far. I liked the pace of the story and it was easy to read, I’m curious about the characters and about the dragon Calico Thunder. There’s a glossary at the start which introduces the magical world. I promised to do a spotlight review based upon my first impressions of reading only to the end of Chapter 1. I’ve broken off reading to write this post but I can’t wait to get back to reading… so I will definitely finish this book and likely very quickly! Calico Thunder Rides Again came 7th in the Book Bloggers Novel of the Year Awards 2020. It is out now in ebook, paperback and hardback (affiliate links): Cover Blurb for Calico Thunder Rides Again Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to the Most Fantastic Show on Earth… Three years ago, the Ban changed everything, outlawing certain forms of magic and bringing about the rise of powerful crime syndicates. Now, speakeasies in every city sell illegal charms and jinxes, and bootleggers traffic restricted potion ingredients across the country. But even in this changing world, the magic of the circus still acts as a wondrous escape and provides entertainment for all. Jake Strickland owns one such circus, inherited after an accident ended his career as a rodeo dragon rider. He also inherited the circus’ financial troubles, but since the show became his, he’s slowly managed to turn it into a profitable business once more. Or at least, that’s what he thought. When a dangerous mobster comes to collect an old debt, Jake resorts to desperate measures to get the money before a strict deadline. With lives and livelihoods at stake, he battles the clock, his responsibilities to the circus, and a longstanding personal grudge that has festered for years. Can he pay back the mob before it’s too late? If you enjoy fantasy novels, why not check out my review for the brilliant Amari and the Night Brothers.... Review: The Burning Girls by C J Tudor9 February 2021BooksKey Summary Welcome to my review for The Burning Girls by C J Tudor. Many thanks indeed to Gaby Young and Penguin Michael Joseph for my blog tour space and copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I am keen to be on this tour because I loved C J Tudor’s The Taking of Annie Thorne which came out last summer. I am not disappointed! A fantastic spine chilling thriller; it’s darkly menacing and utterly compelling. The Burning Girls is out now in hardback and ebook. Review The Burning Girls by C J Tudor – My Thoughts I genuinely love everything about this book: the writing, characterisation, plot, atmosphere, dialogue and even the pop culture references. It’s a gripping read so I found it difficult to put down. Having read only two novels by this author, I’m going to read the other two: The Chalk Man, and The Other People. Plot The story opens with Rev Jack Brooks and daughter Flo moving to a parish in Chapel Croft, Sussex. It’s an intriguing location because it’s the site where 500 years ago, eight martyrs were burnt to death. Each year, the villagers burn straw dolls in their memory. That’s not Chapel Croft’s only haunting event though; because 30 years ago, two teenage girls disappeared without a trace. On arrival, Brooks also learns that the vacancy arose because two months ago, the previous vicar committed suicide. If that’s not the perfect construct for a chilling mystery, I don’t know what is! Rev Brooks wants the fresh start to go well for her and Flo, but it’s not as simple as just getting the villagers onside. Brooks receives sinister messages, whilst Flo has visions of burning girls which local superstition suggests is a bad omen. As the story progresses, Brooks tries to find out more about the missing girls and what happened to the last vicar, uncovering more mystery in the process. The plot has a good pace with a bit of variation in it which I find keeps my attention well engaged. There is also a magnificent twist at the end which I absolutely did not see coming. Setting and Characterisation The setting for the novel is a quiet Sussex village in summer. The heat is oppressive and the events seem somehow more malevolent than had they taken place during a cold, dark winter. The village is rural and isolated which also adds to the claustrophobic feel. I really liked the characters, especially protagonist Jack Brooks. The reverend is likeable, funny and down to earth. All of the characters are well developed and realistic, the slow reveal as we get to know them better, feels natural and works really well here. Do visit the other stops on this blog tour, listed below. Cover Blurb – The Burning Girls 500 years ago: eight martyrs were burnt to death 30 years ago: two teenagers vanished without trace Two months ago: the vicar committed suicide Welcome to Chapel Croft. For Rev Jack Brooks and teenage daughter Flo it’s supposed to be a fresh start. New job, new home. But, as Jack knows, the past isn’t easily forgotten. And in a close-knit community where the residents seem as proud as they are haunted by Chapel Croft’s history, Jack must tread carefully. Ancient superstitions as well as a mistrust of outsiders will be hard to overcome. Yet right away Jack has more frightening concerns. Why is Flo plagued by visions of burning girls? Who’s sending them sinister, threatening messages? And why did no one mention that the last vicar killed himself? Chapel Croft’s secrets lie deep and dark as the tomb. Jack wouldn’t touch them if not for Flo – anything to protect Flo. But the past is catching up with Chapel Croft – and with Jack. For old ghosts with scores to settle will never rest . . . And Finally If you’d like to have a go at making your own straw doll, the instructions I used are here. To learn more about the Sussex Martyrs check out this website. If you’ve enjoyed the review for The Burning Girls and it sounds like your sort of book, you might also like The Puppet Show, a police procedural thriller which also has a strong theme of fire.... Categories Books Beauty Food & Drink Health House & Garden
