Paul Cleave is a master! I have read quite a few of his novels and I have never been disappointed. Some are arguably better than others but I have to say I think this one is his best (so far). The Quiet People, like many of his novels, is set …

There are lots of factors that come in to play when deciding whether to move into a retirement village. These can be health, social, financial, security and lifestyle. Although not all retirement villages are the same, all of them have some similar characteristics that make them appealing to people. Have a …

Although my children are now ‘grown up’ enough to be able to speak for themselves (rather more freely than I would like sometimes!), they’re not too grown up that I can’t clearly recall the ‘baby chat’ or ‘trying toddler’ stage.   This book would have been a real asset to me during those early years. It is filled with …

The Keto Chef’s Kitchen by Nery Whelan  I have every intent on reviewing this cookbook as I usually do – by reading through and choosing a recipe and actually cooking it. But as I read through this book I realised this is not your ‘usual’ cookbook, this is a stunning cookbook made for a very defined …

When I picked up this book and read the first few pages I knew that I was in for a ‘deep read’. Deep reads, for me, are those where I cannot power ahead at my normal speed (which is quite fast). I usually find that deep reads result when a …

My feelings towards this book have morphed both during the reading and afterward. This is quite unusual for me; I tend to know if I like something (or not) and time has not often changed my opinion (expect perhaps when I’ve re-read some of those Sweet Valley High books and …

The Operator Gretchen Berg Hachette $34.99 This book held so much promise! It looked exciting in the publisher’s summary and I was so very happy to see a copy arrive in the office for us to read. I started just before COVID (and all that went with it) and I …

The Jacaranda House Deborah Challinor HarperCollins RRP: $36.99 Set in both Australia and New Zealand, this book drew me in instantly. Perhaps that’s because I like a sense of where something is happening, a time and space in which to place my thoughts. Because this novel is set in places …

To Kill A Man Sam Bourne Hachette $34.99 I have to admit that despite its flaws (and they’re not massive or insurmountable) I inhaled this book. So while I will outline some of the bits I didn’t love, remember that I tend to speed read when I enjoy a book! …

Catherine House Elisabeth Thomas Hachette RRP: $37.99 The cover boasts “Deliciously sinister. It’s almost impossible not to be seduced” and for the first quarter of the book I’d agree; but sadly, three quarters of the book remains and my love affair with Catherine House soon went from seduction to boredom. …