Eating for England by Nigel Slater

 Eating for England 

Book Description from Amazon

 

The British have a relationship with their food that is unlike that of any other country. Once something that was never discussed in polite company, it is now something with which the nation is obsessed. But are they at last developing a food culture or are they just going through the motions? This entertaining, detailed, and somewhat tongue-in-cheek observation of the British and their food, cooking, eating, and behavior in restaurants, covers such topics as dinner parties, funeral teas, Indian restaurants, dieting, and eating while under the influence. Written in Nigel Slater’s trademark style, Eating for England highlights the nation's idiosyncratic attitude towards the fine art of dining.

 

Eating for England by Nigel Slater is the first book that I've read and am reviewing for the British Books Challenge 2012.  

 

Bread and butter pudding, Digestive biscuits, hard boiled eggs and soldiers, rice pudding with jam, Jaffa cakes, a full English breakfast, Jelly Babies, Cadbury's Flakes and Fruit and Nut bars, scones and clotted cream, Bourbon biscuits, trife, fish and chips, a Sunday roast. 

 

It's amazing how much of our childhood memories are connected to food, this paperback took me wayyyy back. This book was actually a Christmas gift from a very dear friend in the UK, who thought that this British expat living in the US would get a kick out of reminiscing about food from the old country. It did, and it made me hungry, for treacle pudding and many other dishes from my youth. I really enjoyed this gastronomic meander down memory lane. It's a quick, light hearted, witty read and gives Brits a look back at food from their youth and others an insight into the curious and sometimes eccentric life of the British and their food.

I loved this book and would recommend it for anglophiles, British expats and anyone that loves food, that just about covers everyone right? ;)

Attracted to Fire by DiAnn Mills

Attracted to Fire 

Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with a complimentary copy of Attracted to Fire by DiAnn Mills for review, all opinions are 100% mine. 

Book Description (From Amazon)

Special Agent Meghan Connors’ dream of one day protecting the president of the United States is about to come true. Only one assignment stands in her way. After the vice president’s rebellious daughter is threatened, Meghan is assigned to her protective detail on a secluded ranch in West Texas. Unfortunately, working with Special Agent in Charge Ash Zinders may be as tough as controlling her charge. Ash has a reputation for being critical and exacting, and he’s also after the same promotion as Meghan. But when the threats escalate and security on the ranch is breached, it becomes clear this isn’t the work of a single suspect—it’s part of a sophisticated plan that reaches deeper and higher than anyone imagined. And only Ash and Meghan can put the pieces together before it’s too late.

A book from the romance genre is not my usual pick for a good read but when I was offered the chance to read and review this book, I said yes because the nuts and bolts of this story appeared to be a suspenseful plot involving Secret Agents, strong minded women, the Presidency and a conspiracy that threatens to harm them all. I was not left disappointed. This book had a great plot and was suitably suspenseful, with believable characters and a satisfying finish. The romance was integral to the plot but subtlety played out as the story unfolded, the main thrust of the plot was definitely the good guys v the bad guys. I also enjoyed the vivid imagery that Mills painted of a working ranch deep in the heart of Texas. I would highly recommend this book for lovers of christian fiction, romance and thrillers. 

Read the first chapter here:

Attracted to Fire