tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23017382132608098872024-03-18T03:00:07.037+00:00Page to Stage ReviewsBookish girl, foodie and avid theatre-goer writing about fun things in and around LondonZarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.comBlogger1081125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-33303578698257736022024-02-01T07:00:00.000+00:002024-02-01T07:03:28.649+00:00Book review: Spell Bound (Phoebe Winchester #2) by Gretchen RueAt the end of last year I randomly picked up a copy of Something Wicked by Gretchen Rue and it was everything I wanted from a witchy romcom. The story was set in a very quaint town (think Gilmore Girls' Stars Hollow), it had fabulous characters (which included a fluffy feline wringing its way into the protagonist's life), and an intriguing murder mystery to boot. The book screamed adorable and I Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-32660556281169016322024-01-24T09:00:00.012+00:002024-01-24T09:24:19.804+00:00A taste of Calcutta at Paro in Covent GardenNearly seven years ago I had the absolute pleasure to review City Spice in Brick Lane. It's still one of my favourite restaurants, and I make sure to take friends to it when they're visiting London. However, it's not very central and I'm not often in Brick Lane these days. So I am thrilled that its executive chef, Niaz Caan, has opened a brand-new Indian restaurant smack-down in the centre Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-65148700577009834882024-01-18T08:00:00.002+00:002024-01-18T08:05:46.018+00:00Book review: The Queen of Poisons (The Marlow Murder Club #3) by Robert ThorogoodIt's only January and I've already read one of the best books of the year! The Queen of Poisons – the third instalment in Robert Thorogood's Marlow Murder Club series – was one of my most anticipated novels for 2024 and it didn't disappoint. Main characters Judith, Suzie, and Becks feel like old friends at this stage and I was so delighted to reunite with them for another riotous murder Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-63460906508017241672024-01-04T08:00:00.128+00:002024-01-04T10:10:23.335+00:00Book review: Return to Half Moon Farm by Holly Hepburn [blog tour]I fell in love with Holly Hepburn's charming writing after reading The Little Shop of Hidden Treasures last year – and Return to Half Moon Farm has really cemented her as one of my favourite contemporary women's fiction authors. I am thrilled that I've got a few more of Holly's novels to catch up with as her books are the perfect blend of picturesque settings, gentle plot withZarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-387484374468425032023-12-14T06:00:00.002+00:002023-12-14T12:25:15.227+00:00Book review: Murder All Inclusive by Alastair Puddick [blog tour]What's more festive than a whodunnit set in the hot Spanish sun at an all-inclusive hotel?! Okay, it's maybe not the most Christmassy setting but I do love a dash of murder this time of year – and I was delighted to dive into a to me entirely new series with Murder All Inclusive by Alastair Puddick.
About Murder All InclusiveFreddie Winters is a crime writer with one successful novel underZarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-77832910303058494122023-12-08T08:00:00.122+00:002023-12-08T08:00:00.381+00:00Book review: Murder on the Menu by Alex Coombs [blog tour]Murder mysteries seem to really be the popular genre of the last few years and I'm absolutely loving it. There are so many wonderful new authors I've discovered that are pro whodunnit writers, from Robert Thorogood to Janice Hallett, and Alex Coombs has quickly joined their ranks as one of my new favs!
About Murder on the MenuChef Charlie Hunter uses every last penny of her savings to open a Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-59625495356038904292023-11-23T06:00:00.000+00:002023-11-23T07:22:59.461+00:00Book review: Bookshops & Bonedust (Legends & Lattes #0.5) by Travis Baldree [blog tour]I have to start by admitting that high fantasy isn't for me. I usually don't pick up a book if it's set on other planets, has big battle sequences, and centres on creatures with names I've never heard of before. But I met author Travis Baldree at MCM Comic Con last year – and not only was he the absolute loveliest human being, he also completely sold his first novel, Legends & Lattes, toZarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-27221103311547539472023-11-15T07:30:00.004+00:002023-11-15T07:30:00.126+00:00Book review: Murder at Holly House by Denzil Meyrick [blog tour]It's the season for murder mysteries! OK, I admit, I do love a good whodunnit any time of year, but nothing beats cosying up on a cold and dark evening with a gripping tale of killings, secrets, and red herrings. And Murder at Holly House by Denzil Meyrick hit the murderous spot just right.
About Murder at Holly HouseFrank Grasby is a police inspector in York. But after an unfortunate eventZarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-14287234109434554742023-11-03T08:00:00.005+00:002023-11-05T19:20:57.802+00:00Theatre review: The Time Traveller's Wife at the Apollo TheatreBased on the book of the same name by Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveller's Wife at its core is the love story between Henry and Clare. The twist? Henry is a time traveller and Clare first meets him when she's still a child. In his own chronological timeline, however, Henry doesn't meet Clare until they're both in their 20s. Are you confused yet? Not only that, but Henry cannot Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-18178409034805204022023-11-02T07:00:00.004+00:002023-11-10T05:41:33.373+00:00Book review: The Christmas Appeal by Janice Hallett [blog tour]October was a truly festive reading month for me. But rather than devouring another romance book, this time around I returned to the fictional town of Lockwood, and particularly the Fairway Players from Janice Hallett's novel The Appeal as they gear up for their seasonal production. After all, no Christmas is complete without a dash of murder...
About The Christmas AppealIt's the seasonZarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-90148084234281034542023-10-30T07:30:00.003+00:002023-10-30T11:06:51.433+00:00Book review: The Cat Who Solved Three Murders (Conrad the Cat Detective #2) by L T ShearerThe Cat Who Solved Three Murders had me sold with its premise (and lovely cover) as our family cat is a calico so I have a particular soft spot for these mischievous creatures. Not only that, but I also know an adorable cat who lives on a London canal boat, just like Conrad – it was clearly meant to be! And I'm so glad to say that this book lived up to its furry expectations, and then some. Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-33161911972546237082023-10-20T06:30:00.000+01:002023-10-20T06:38:53.464+01:00Book review: Countdown to Christmas by Jo Thomas [blog tour]Around Christmas I'm usually busy spending time with family, playing games, and cooking and baking – not so much reading. So I'm delighted to get my festive fix early on with the plethora of seasonal novels that have just been released. I'm one of those people who gets in the autumn mode in late August and a festive one just a few months later, so I never find it too early to crack open Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-83109136883619143912023-10-12T06:30:00.000+01:002023-10-12T06:43:13.386+01:00Book review: That Festive Feeling by Heidi Swain [blog tour]I'm a latecomer to the Heidi Swain fan club, but after reading both the fantastic The Book-Lovers' Retreat and the delightful Coming Home to Cuckoo Cottage this year, I was really excited for her new festive novel. I cannot resist a Christmas romance at the best of times and especially not from one of my newest favourite authors!
Holly is in a funk in her life. She's still struggling Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-1659659652361107582023-10-12T06:00:00.000+01:002023-10-12T06:29:54.014+01:00Book review: It Always Snows on Mistletoe Square by Ali McNamaraI can't believe it's been 10 years since I devoured my first Ali McNamara book with Step Back in Time – and what a delightful journey it's been. From Letters From Lighthouse Cottage and From Nothing Hill With Four Weddings... Actually through to her novels set in the fictional Cornish town of St Felix, such as The Little Flower Shop By the Sea (still my absolute fav!) and Cornish Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-9887082251698227612023-09-13T07:30:00.001+01:002023-09-13T07:47:59.444+01:00Book review: The Turnglass by Gareth Rubin [blog tour]When I saw that The Turnglass by Gareth Rubin isn't only a murder mystery but a tête-bêche as well, I was instantly sold. This is a type of novel made up of two separate books that are linked in unexpected ways, one story providing clues to the mystery within the other. It may sound a little confusing at first, but it is a very clever and fun way to read a novel. Some of my all-time favourite Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-88545654772360104042023-08-24T08:00:00.211+01:002023-08-24T08:00:00.144+01:00Book review: Always By Your Side by Julie Haworth [blog tour]I tend to read a lot of murder mysteries and historical fiction novels, but after a while I just need some cosy comfort in my life. And when I saw the cover for Julie Haworth's debut novel, Always By Your Side, it immediately hit the spot for me. Wholesome English countryside goodness? Yes, please.
Rose has been unhappy with her big city London life for a while. The new head at her Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-29741784524258083722023-08-23T08:00:00.006+01:002023-08-24T08:55:53.890+01:00Theatre review: Death Note: The Musical in Concert at the London PalladiumDeath Note is a popular manga series by writer Tsugumi Ohba and illustrator Takeshi Obata, which has garnered a steady fan base throughout its 20-year history and countless adaptations, from anime to a live action Netflix movie. A musical version was inevitable to bring this epic story to the stage – and it's finally made it to the London stage! High school student Light Yagami is frustratedZarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-83489646094697770952023-07-05T06:30:00.000+01:002023-07-05T06:45:55.021+01:00Book review: The Shell House Detectives by Emylia Hall [blog tour]I've hugely enjoyed Emylia Hall's writing ever since I had the opportunity to review her debut novel The Book of Summers back in 2012 (I cannot believe this is over 10 years ago now, where does time go?!). And I love that as my reading preferences have moved away from contemporary women's fiction, so have her stories. The Shell House Detectives is the first book in a new cosy crime series – Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-2344043654944093722023-06-26T07:30:00.004+01:002023-06-26T07:40:08.542+01:00Book review: The First Bright Thing by J.R. Dawson [blog tour]The Caraval series by Stephanie Garber is one of my all-time favourite reads; I love how it mixes the fantastical and theatrical with a gripping tale of good vs evil (with a nice dash of romance thrown in too). For that reason I thought I'd also adore the much hyped The Night Circus by Erin Morgensten, but that one wasn't for me at all. Thankfully this didn't turn me off reading circus-themed Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-81051978543097089242023-06-22T07:00:00.005+01:002023-06-22T07:23:49.727+01:00Book review: The Other Side of Mrs Wood by Lucy BarkerMrs Wood is one of the most famous and respected medium in Victorian London. She's been around for decades and her devoted patrons ensure that her seances continue to be popular. But her loyal followers are getting older and they won't be around forever to keep Mrs Wood in a job. Not only that, but many of her peers are unmasked as frauds so she has an added job of disassociating herself from Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-62873860407401949762023-06-21T07:00:00.000+01:002023-06-21T07:03:42.539+01:00Book review: From Cornwall With Love (The Cornish Cream Tea #8) by Cressida McLaughlin [blog tour]Ever since I had the pleasure of spending a summer holiday in Cornwall a few years ago, I've become obsessed with this beautiful part of England. And I cannot thank Cressida McLaughlin enough for continuing to give me my Cornwall fix. Every time I'm craving a Cornish read, a new one by her hand is just around the corner. In the last year alone she has published The Cornish Cream Tea Holiday and Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-85131644457612879122023-06-15T08:00:00.000+01:002023-06-15T10:13:09.101+01:00Book review: Morgan Is My Name by Sophie KeetchArthurian legends seem to be the latest slice of fictional history that's getting reinvented (after fairy tale retellings and Greek myth reimaginings) and I love it. I've always been fascinated by this lore thanks to Disney's The Sword in the Stone and the very cheesy but hugely entertaining BBC series Merlin back in the late 2000s. Morgan Is My Name by Sophie Keetch is, you Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-53460046067439045732023-06-04T08:00:00.005+01:002023-06-04T15:28:44.602+01:00Theatre review: Gypsy at The Mill at SonningI've only been to dinner theatre The Mill at Sonning twice so far (my first visit was for the toe-tappingly tremendous Top Hat), but it's already established itself as a firm-favourite venue in my book. Aside from the stunning countryside setting (making this feel like a proper day out) and delicious two-course buffet that accompanies every performance, the quality of the productions they Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-58732437471645262222023-05-30T07:30:00.008+01:002023-05-30T07:47:57.258+01:00Book review: Psyche and Eros by Luna McNamara [blog tour]I've been a big fan of retellings for many years now, and Greek ones are definitely the flavour of the 2020s (see Circe, Atalanta, Ariadne, Ithaca, and many more). I was getting a little bit tired of seeing the same-old, same-old characters and myths being reimagined, as there are only so many different angles a story can take, so I was thrilled when I discovered that Luna McNamara's book Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2301738213260809887.post-947928250963007182023-05-26T08:00:00.148+01:002023-05-31T07:44:35.380+01:00Theatre review: Aspects of Love at the Lyric TheatreAspects of Love is a sung-through Andrew Lloyd Webber musical that is not quite as well-known as his classics Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Phantom of the Opera. But he wrote it immediately after the latter and there are recurring themes of unrequited love, the dramatics of the theatre, and obsession running throughout both. The show was first staged in the West End in the late 1980s with Zarinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17601286894453607084noreply@blogger.com0