Thriller ...
The Circus of Ghosts
by Barbara Ewing, Hachette (NZ) $34.99
Reviewed by: Elisabeth Marrow
A riveting bodice ripper of the best variety.
The tale is that of the beautiful Cordelia Preston who, having been cleared of murdering her estranged husband, has escaped London with her new husband - the loyal Arthur Rivers (Inspector of Scotland Yard), her daughter Gwenlliam and her friends Rillie and Monsieur Roland.
Cordelia is a mesmerist (someone who uses hypnotism to heal) and she and Gwenlliam are employed by Silas P Swift in his travelling circus. Meanwhile, back in London, the dastardly Duke of Llannefydd wants his granddaughter (Gwenlliam) back and her mother dead.
He promises the nasty but devastatingly handsome Mr Doveribbon £10,000 if he brings Cordelia to him ...
A highly enjoyable read. The novel continues from Ewing's previous book The Mesmerist but if you haven't read it it really does not matter, although I will be looking out for it in the library.
Barbara Ewing is a New Zealander living in London. As well as being an accomplished author, she is also a professional actress.
Food ...
Quick & easy cupcakes, slices, macaroons, biscuits, cakes and more
by Robyn Martin, Chanel Publishers, $24.99
Reviewed by: Christine Dornan
I've had great fun with this book, trying out recipes from cakes to biscuits and slices. I confess to being lazy about baking and having to cream butter and sugar tends to put me off getting around to it. Now my prayers have been answered with this great book from Robyn Martin in which you don't need to do the "creaming" bit. One pot does the lot and saves on the washing up routine as well.
The little rock cakes and honey oat cookies went down well with the menfolk, the mochaccino brownie was a hit with workmates but my favourite was the banana and lemon sour cream cake.
If you have keen "child cooks" they'll love the mochaccino brownie as the marshmallows perch on the top then swell in size in the oven and finally melt over the brownie - a great visual effect.
Great value for money.
Kids ...
Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site
by Sherri Duskey Rinker, Chronicle books, $34.99
Reviewed by: Colleen Thorpe
As the sun sets on the big construction site, all the hard-working trucks get ready to say goodnight. One by one, crane truck, cement mixer, dump truck, bulldozer and excavator finish their work and lie down to rest so they'll be ready for another day of construction play. A lovely hardcover book for tough little boys aged between 4 and 8. Each page is filled with delightful drawings, all the trucks show expressive eys and amusing details. The story is fun with rhyming text. Perfect for the wee man in your life.