It was hard to pick just one, but I chose this one because when I first saw the cover I thought how striking the colours were and I don’t usually think that about a cover!
“In November 2019 Cassandra had a terrifying nightmare about a small Chinese demon spewing a deadly poison. In early January 2020 she had a subsequent and similarly disturbing dream in which she found herself in an empty and deserted Italian castle, furnished solely with a single ventilator tent. Forewarned by these dreams and feeling that something really bad was going to happen, she threw herself into a frenzy of logistical planning, laboriously turning her spare bedroom into a store cupboard stuffed to the rafters with many (rigorously disinfected) containers full of sensible, nutritious, long-life and probably disgusting dehydrated foods, ready to face whatever The Fates had in store.
On the 3rd March 2020, notwithstanding the dithering of the British Government, Cassandra unequivocally shut herself away, refusing to open the door to anyone and using a newly-acquired pink megaphone with which to communicate with the outside world. Almost a year later she is still locked away!
This is the story of a solitary Lockdown – a story of bloody-minded self-preservation replete with moments of anxiety, resignation and sadness but also with joy, hilarity and above all dogged determination. Cassandra – a single and somewhat immobile woman in her mid 60’s – struggles with myriad new challenges as she watches the world change from within her self-imposed fortress.”
I am not a fan of non-fiction, but I gave this book a go and found that it was actually quite enjoyable. It was written in a humerous way and I gave it a respectable 4/5.
And the rest of the series! Then you can watch all the films before going on to visit the Harry Potter Studios in London to see all the props and how the films were made!
I loved Harry Potter growing up and still do. I buy my partner Harry Potter themed gifts for Christmas and Birthdays and we have also started reading the books to my son (who is now 3).
If you don’t read the books then I feel that you are missing out on a lot of great things!!
Any bookshop in Cecil Court in London! Click here for link to their website:
“Nicknamed Bookseller’s Row, Cecil Court is a hidden gem in the heart of central London.
Packed with twenty-odd secondhand bookshops and antiquarian booksellers, it truly is a paradise for literature lovers. Just moments away from the hustle and bustle of Leicester Square, you’ll be surprised to stumble across such a peaceful gem. The shop fronts haven’t changed for over a century, so a walk through Cecil Court is like a trip back in time.”
A book that I’m really looking forward to reading next year is:
The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley – due out in February 2022
Book Description From Goodreads:
“Jess needs a fresh start. She’s broke and alone, and she’s just left her job under less than ideal circumstances. Her half-brother Ben didn’t sound thrilled when she asked if she could crash with him for a bit, but he didn’t say no, and surely everything will look better from Paris. Only when she shows up – to find a very nice apartment, could Ben really have afforded this? – he’s not there.
The longer Ben stays missing, the more Jess starts to dig into her brother’s situation, and the more questions she has. Ben’s neighbors are an eclectic bunch, and not particularly friendly. Jess may have come to Paris to escape her past, but it’s starting to look like it’s Ben’s future that’s in question.
The socialite – The nice guy – The alcoholic – The girl on the verge – The concierge
Everyone’s a neighbor. Everyone’s a suspect. And everyone knows something they’re not telling”
The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop by Caroline Roberts
Book Description From Goodreads:
“Emma is the proud owner of The Chocolate Shop by the Sea, nestled in the heart of the cosy seaside village that’s become her home. With Christmas right around the corner, she and her assistant Holly are busy cooking up the locals’ festive favourites.
From cinnamon hot chocolates to reindeer lollipops, Christmas wouldn’t taste the same without a little cocoa magic. And for Emma it’s the perfect distraction from her romantic pains of the past. So when the shop’s miserly landlord threatens to hike up the rent, Emma’s Christmas and New Year suddenly look a lot less cheerful.
With the whole village rallying behind her – and loyal spaniel Alfie by her side – Emma’s determined to hold onto her chocolate-box dream.
The chocolate calendar countdown is on. Can Emma rescue her business and her broken heart?”
Scattered Legacy – Murder in Southern Italy by Marlene M Bell
Book Description From Goodreads:
“To outsiders, the relationship between Manhattan antiquities assessor Annalisse Drury and sports car magnate Alec Zavos must look carefree and glamorous. In reality, it’s a love affair regularly punctuated by treasure hunting, action-packed adventure, and the occasional dead body.
When Alec schedules an overseas trip to show Annalisse his mother’s birthplace in Bari, Italy, he squeezes in the high-stakes business of divesting his family’s international corporation. But things go terribly wrong as murder makes its familiar reappearance in their lives – and this time it’s Alec’s disgraced former CFO who’s the main suspect.
Accompanied by friend and detective Bill Drake, Annalisse and Alec find themselves embroiled in a behind-closed-doors conspiracy that threatens the reputation and legacy of Alec’s late father – linking him to embezzlement, extortion, and the dirty business of the Sicilian Mafia. The search for the truth sends the trio straight into riddles, secrets, and an historic set of rosary beads. Annalisse leads Alec toward a discovery that is unthinkable, and events that will change their futures forever.
Scattered Legacy is the third in Marlene M. Bell’s thrilling Annalisse series, which weaves romance, crime, and historical mystery into addictive tales to instantly captivate fans of TV show Bones or Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.”
Budget Tales Book Blog 