The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse

As I mentioned in my previous post, I've been poorly sick with an irritating sinus-achey-coldy thing this last week (woe me!). This has meant a lot of lounging around in my pjs with a book in my hand, or Downton Abbey on DVD, and not a lot of anything else, including blogging. So I have a fair bit of catching up to do!

During this lazy, blanket-clad week, I finished The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse. I didn't love it as much as Labyrinth or Sepulchre, but I did really enjoy it. It follows Freddie as he struggles to fight his personal demons, only to experience some weird and wonderful happenings and unravel a long-hidden secret or two along the way. Kate Mosse paints such a picture of the French landscapes that the story is set among, the small, history-rich villages and the inhabitants that Freddie meets on his journey. However, I have to admit, the ending (which I'm not going to spoil) was too easy. Everything seemed to fit too easily, unlike with her previous novels which have all been a lot longer, with plenty of unexpected twists and turns. Definitely worth a read, I got completely caught up in the story almost straight away, but I don't think it's one I'll read again, unlike her previous two books.

Nigella Express...

During my first few weeks at university, I phoned my mum to ask how to cook tinned soup. Needless to say, I've come a long way since that day which left mum convinced I wouldn't survive the year. I have a little stash of recipe books in the kitchen but my favourite by far is Nigella Express. I love Nigella. Although her recipes can hardly be classed as healthy, they work every time. So, after a week of feeling absolutely rubbish with a cold that left me melty-faced and squinty-eyed, I decided I needed to indulge in something comforting like eating cake. I'd also purchased 15 eggs at the supermarket (don't ask) so baking seemed like a good way of using some of them up. I flicked through my cooking bible and came across a childhood favourite - butterfly cakes.

Now, my favourite thing about Nigella is that she actively encourages you to experiment. Her recipes are the only ones I ever mess about with - she suggests plain flour, bicarbonate of soda and baking powder, I only had self-raising flour, so rejigged the recipe accordingly. Nigella also favours a whipped cream topping, but I'm old school and wanted traditional buttercream. I also decided that a blob of jam hidden in the centre couldn't hurt!

Every recipe I've made from this book has been a success - my favourites are the oaty breakfast bars, home-made guacamole, chicken and ham pie, and easy-peasy rocky road bars. Although some recipes are repeated from earlier books, I don't mind this. I also have Nigella Lawson: How to Be A Domestic Goddess, but I don't seem to use that one quite as often. I'm now debating whether to invest in Nigella's latest offering - Nigella Kitchen, so watch this space! Now, I'm off to scoff some butterfly cakes - I've decided they're the cure to the grotty cold that I can't shift!



The best kind of Sunday afternoon

Saturday was spent in the company of good friends, lots of wine and plenty of fireworks - as well as a couple of amazing cupcakes, courtesy of my Auntie Joyce. The woman is a cake-making hero, and I managed to squirrel one away to scoff with a cup of tea this afternoon - just look at that icing! I also got the chance to spend a WHSmith giftcard, given to me by a friend of my mum's after I made her a set of jewellery for her son's wedding. It took me ages to decide which books to get, but I finally settled on A Place of Secrets by Rachel Hore and The Winter Ghosts by Kate Mosse. I'm already half-way through The Winter Ghosts and am really enjoying it - it's faster paced than some of her previous work without any of the flashbacks that are so frequent in her other stories. Nevertheless, I'm gripped already - I'm hoping for a real twist at the end.
Now, I'm going to sit down with a cup of tea, that cupcake (I'm surprised it lasted long enough to be photographed) and this view of the London skyline....

...all in all, it's a pretty good Sunday afternoon!

Audiobook: The Queen's Fool by Philippa Gregory

There's nothing quite like losing a couple of hours to an armchair and a good book, but at some point over the last couple of years the wonder of the audiobook has managed to worm its way into my affections too. Listening to an audiobook is a totally different experience to holding a well-read classic, but it's a brilliant incentive to get down the gym and get engrossed in another chapter while you do your worst on the cross trainer.
However, audiobooks not only need a captivating story to hold my attention - they also need an excellent narrator and that's where The Queen's Fool comes into its own. Read by the lovely Emilia Fox, she makes every single character come to life and I soon became lost in the grand tale of Hannah, fool to Queen Mary. On the run from the Spanish Inquisition, Hannah and her father come to London to start a new life, where Hannah is given the opportunity to become a fool to King Edward, the child king. Upon his death she finds herself in service to the new Queen; Mary, and from then on you're thrown into thrilling conspiracies, beheadings, the executions of 'heretics' and the bitter enmity between the Princess Elizabeth, daughter of Anne Boleyn, and Queen Mary.
The tale is told through Hannah's eyes, and demonstrates her struggles to remain loyal to those important to her beautifully - I'm not going to go into any detail here as I don't want to spoil it but lets just say she finds herself in some very compromising and dangerous positions, all while trying to do the right thing. Although at times I wanted to shout at her for her foolish decisions (well, she is a fool after all!) it's because I was completely lost in the story.
Philippa Gregory has the amazing talent of bringing history, along with all of its great characters, to life with a real authenticity - she paints a vivid picture of life at court, with ever-present threats lurking around every corner. Just hearing about the Tower of London and all the various palaces and castles that the royals inhabit made me want to go and visit them once I'd finished the story. 
I really liked the way Gregory finished this one, but was sad when it finished - I could have continued to listen for hours. Well worth a listen (or read!) - if you enjoy historical fiction you won't be disappointed. 

Vintage Shoes by Caroline Cox

"Never judge a book by its cover...." so the saying goes. Am I the only one who completely disagrees with this? Don't get me wrong, it's definitely not the only way to choose your reads, but it's a massive factor in whether it gets a second glance. Sometimes I spot a book on a shop shelf and I already know I'm going to buy it, even before I've read the blurb or checked the price. This was absolutely the case with Vintage Shoes by Caroline Cox. Just look it at - you already know it's beautiful inside. Clearly a coffee table book, this is also a fascinating insight into the world of shoes. For some of us, footwear is just that; something to protect our feet from the great outdoors. For others, shoes are an obsession. There are women out there (and undoubtedly men too!) who treat their extensive collection of stilettos, sandals and boots with the same love and attention they would their pets or children. I think (hope) I'm not quite that bad, although I do boast a collection of over 60 pairs at last count (and that's not including flipflips). Although my affection for shoes is largely what drew me to this title in the first place, I've also found it an interesting, informative read. Caroline Cox covers every era, highlights iconic styles and designers and offers a guideline as to what you should be looking out for if you'd like to start collecting vintage footwear. Everything from embellished Edwardian shoes to 50s Roger Vivier courts are inside, and I found myself intrigued by the stories behind the designs.

I'm sure this book isn't for everyone, but anyone who is a lover of fashion will definitely enjoy it, especially with the resurgance of retro styling that's taking over the catwalks this season. At £16.99 it's quite pricey - in fact I probably could have bought a pair of shoes instead! Having said that, I'm pleased to be able to add it to my collection and know I'll be taking it down from the shelf again and again, even if it's just to cast envious looks at the beautiful shoes inside!