LOOKING FOR YOUR NEXT GOOD READ?

Annabel has recently read three books that she has very much enjoyed and thinks you might be entertained by them too. So, if you’re looking for your next good read…


‘A writer at the peak of her powers’ The Telegraph

Kilburn, 1873. The ‘Tichborne Trial’ has captivated the widowed Scottish housekeeper Mrs Eliza Touchet and all of England. Readers are at odds over whether the defendant is who he claims to be – or an imposter.

Mrs Touchet is a woman of many interests: literature, justice, abolitionism, class, her novelist cousin and his wives, this life and the next. But she is also sceptical. She suspects England of being a land of façades, in which nothing is quite what it seems.

Andrew Bogle meanwhile finds himself the star witness, his future depending on telling the right story. Growing up enslaved on the Hope Plantation, Jamaica, he knows every lump of sugar comes at a human cost. That the rich deceive the poor. And that people are more easily manipulated than they realise.

Based on real historical events, The Fraud is a dazzling novel about how in a world of hypocrisy and self-deception, deciding what’s true can prove a complicated task. BUY HERE


‘Full of horrors but energetic, funny and tense as a spring . . . plants its devilish brilliance deep in the reader and won’t let go.’ John Self, Observer

Giles Trenchard is born into privilege – and an atmosphere of hidden violence and isolation. Wholly unloved, he is shipped off to one boarding school after another. Always hoping to live up to his family’s expectations he joins the Navy on the outbreak of war. The camaraderie of life offer him some semblance of purpose and contentment. Yet on his return from war, he finds himself adrift and one day – like the hero of Joseph Conrad’s classic Lord Jim – he commits an act so shocking that it calls his past, his character and his whole world into question.

BUY HERE


‘Haunting, compelling and brilliant’ The Times

‘Irresistible and seductive’ Guardian

Under the influence of a charismatic classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at a New England college discover a way of thought and life a world away from their banal contemporaries. But their search for the transcendent leads them down a dangerous path, beyond human constructs of morality. From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Goldfinch.

BUY HERE




Roast Sweet Potato, Tomato & Harissa Soup

Roast Sweet Potato, Tomato & Harissa Soup

Recipe by RiverfordDifficulty: Easy
Servings

2 -3

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

20

minutes
Calories

389

kcal

Ingredients

  • 400g sweet potatoes

  • 125g cherry tomatoes

  • 1 onion

  • 1 celery stick

  • 1 garlic clove

  • 2 cm ginger

  • 20g harissa

  • 1 lemon

  • 3 tbsp olive oil

  • salt and pepper

  • if you like spice add any you like e.g. turmeric, cayenne pepper

Directions

  • Preheat your oven to 200 /Gas 6. Peel the sweet potato and chop into 2 cm chunks. Halve the tomatoes. Place them both in a roasting tray with 2 tbsp olive oil. Season with salt and pepper, and mix well. Roast for 20 mins until tender and well-coloured.
  • Meanwhile, peel and slice the onion. Dice the celery stalk. Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large saucepan. Gently fry the onion and celery for 10 minutes until they start to soften.
  • While the veg is frying, peel and roughly chop the garlic and half the ginger along with any of the spices you want to use. Cook for 1 more min before tipping in 700ml of water. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 mins.
  • Tip the roasted veg into the saucepan. Add the harissa and a squeeze of lemon juice. Blend until smooth, adding a dash more hot after if it seems too thick.
  • Taste and tweak with more salt, pepper, and lemon to your liking.

More tried and tasted recipes can be found here

THESE TROUSERS WERE MADE FOR WALKING…

Annabel spotted these waterproof trousers and we thought you might also find them really useful. Grace often goes out walking in her jeans in wet weather and comes back covered in mud and has to put on a clean pair. Not with these!

The boots were also waterproof and, importantly, lightweight. And Grace finally found a flattering navy puffer that doesn’t make her look like a Michelin man, has a useful hood and is toasty warm!

THE ONE-STOP CHRISTMAS VILLAGE

M&S is our favourite one-stop Christmas Village. We really look forward to our visit to Camberley (one of their largest stores) each year to see what treats they have for us all. December is so often a really busy time for women, there’s so much to organise. So why not make life easier for yourself and visit the Christmas Village either in person or online…

SUPERCHARGED DAILY SKINCARE

Apparently skincare legend Liz Earle is a fan of Studio 10’s Hydra-fusion Daily Defence SPF30. This 5-in-1 formula instantly hydrates your skin, nourishing, perfecting, protecting, restoring and priming in a single effortless step. And who doesn’t like effortless?!

A – TISHOO!

Brilliant little packs of easy-access 4 ply tissues that fit into your car cup holders. Infused with hyaluronic acid they are supplied in reusable plastic-free Tishoo tubes. 4 for £10.99 (lots of different colourways available)

MIDLIFE ISSUES?

We women often suffer from lack of self- esteem, losing our zest and battle on regardless neglecting our own self-care in midlife. Take a breath to read the positive ideas in this midlife journal which could help you re-set your life.

GO GREEN!

Green is a part vegan, part vegetarian, no-fuss cookbook. Featuring recipes for freezable food, simple traybakes, one-pot dishes and whole host of meals you can make in 20 minutes.

100% ORGANIC TEA

Top grade ethical, 100% organic tea – and truly delicious. No pesticides or plastics. Hampstead Teas are assessed as ‘The Most Ethical Tea Brand’ by the Ethical Consumer. The three pack makes a great gift for a lucky friend.

SIMPLY RED!

The ultimate in comfort if you have bunions or wide feet. Go bold with these statement red leather Beatrice loafers. Soft and stylish, these flats are guaranteed to give you happy feet.

NEW WASH

An innovative hair cleansing cream that washes, conditions, nourishes, detangles and texture – all at once. The no foam shampoo that gets Annabel’s vote.