Release date - 17th May 2018
Book length - 400 pages Publisher - Orion Book Depository - www.bookdepository.com Amazon UK - www.amazon.co.uk Amazon US - www.amazon.com I want to thank Lauren from www.orionbooks.co.uk for the opportunity to take part in this blog tour and for providing me with a copy of this stunning book for review. I am also very lucky to have a guest post & a delicious recipe from Veronica (thank you!) to whet your appetite so happy reading and happy cooking!! ABOUT THE BOOK What's the secret ingredient to your happiness? Laura Griffin is preparing for an empty nest. The thought of Number 11 Lark Hill falling silent - a home usually bustling with noise, people and the fragrant smells of something cooking on the Aga - seems impossible. Laura hopes it will mean more time for herself, and more time with her husband, Dom. But when an exposed secret shakes their marriage, Laura suddenly feels as though her family is shrinking around her. Feeling lost, she turns to her greatest comfort: her grandmother's recipe box, a treasured collection dating back to the Second World War. Everyone has always adored Laura's jams and chutneys, piled their sandwiches high with her pickles . . . Inspired by a bit of the old Blitz spirit, Laura has an idea that gives her a fresh sense of purpose. Full of fierce determination, Laura starts carving her own path. But even the bravest woman needs the people who love her. And now, they need her in return . . . MY REVIEW Wow, did this book really get to me. Beautifully written, which we all know is a trademark of the fabulous Veronica Henry, A FAMILY RECIPE is so much more than a great story - the characters and everything that they have been through and are experiencing now comes alive in front of your eyes and I defy you not to fall in love with this family and everything it represents. Laura Griffin is a little lost now that her children have flown the coop. Having spent most of her time nurturing and worrying about her daughters, especially Willow who battles with asthma, Laura isn't quite sure what the future holds for herself and her husband Dom now that they have more time to rediscover themselves. But her life takes a sudden turn when she discovers something that threatens the foundations of her happy family. At least she can count on her wonderful grandmother, Kanga, who has been there for her every step of the way, a strong woman who survived the Blitz and oozes kindness and compassion. Maybe with the help of those she loves, Laura can find her own strength and forge a new path for herself and for her family ... The story moves from Kanga's past during the war to the present day which works really well as you get to see the foundation of Laura's family from the beginning, and Kanga is some woman, everything you would want and love in a friend and mother! A FAMILY RECIPE by Veronica Henry has drama, scrumptious food that will make your mouth water, love, friendship, heartache, and everything else that life can throw at you, all set against the stunning backdrop of Bath which will make you want to book a flight as soon as possible. I laughed, I teared up, and I felt the ups and downs of this beautiful family on every single page, and when I finished it I felt a little dazed at what I had read. And after all of my nattering on, this book can be summed up simply in one word: perfection. GUESTPOST & RECIPE I’ve always loved entertaining. From the age of about 15, I started giving dinner parties. What amuses me is how formal I was at that age – a properly laid table, and my friends always turned up dressed to the nines. Nowadays I prefer much more casual affairs. I never do a proper starter, but will do something delicious to pass around while people chat over a cocktail or a glass of wine: guacamole, or crab mayonnaise in chicory leaves, or little parmesan biscuits. Then it’s a one-pot dish – something like chicken with apples and cider and crème fraiche, or a big fish pie, with a pile of crunchy mange touts and broccoli. What I’ve realised is that as the meal wears on and the wine goes down, so people lose interest in the food. So I have long given up slaving over an elaborate dessert. Apart from anything I’ve lost interest myself by then! So I have acquired a collection of recipes for what I call ‘minimum effort; maximum impact’ puddings, and these lemon pots are my absolute favourite. They couldn’t take less time – just leave a couple of hours for them to set. The key is in the presentation. I have inherited my grandmother’s Waterford collection – dozens of crystal glasses which are stunningly beautiful but rather outdated and to be honest I’m too scared to use them to drink out of! But the shallow champagne coupes are perfect for these lemon pots. I put them on a white plate and serve with a crispy buttery galette or a piece of shortbread (shop-bought if time is short!). I serve cheese at the same time, mostly so there is no argument as to whether to do it the French way (cheese then dessert) or English way (dessert then cheese). People can choose their preference and the greedy can do both! LEMON POTS This fills six of my glasses but it is very rich so you could do even smaller portions. It’s very easy to double up or halve this recipe. 600 ml double cream 150g caster sugar Juice and zest of four lemons Dissolve the sugar very gently in the cream on a low heat, stirring all the while to make sure the bottom doesn’t catch. Then turn the heat up and simmer for about three minutes. Take off the heat and add the lemon juice and zest. Cool before pouring into glasses, then refrigerate until needed. The pots will set quite firm after a couple of hours. AUTHOR BIO Veronica Henry was a television script writer before turning her hand to fiction. She has published sixteen novels which she describes as realistic escapism - her setting are gorgeous, but her characters have problems and dilemmas everyone can identify with. For more information: Website - www.veronicahenry.co.uk Twitter - twitter.com/veronica_henry Facebook - www.facebook.com/veronicahenryauthor/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/veronicahenryauthor/ DON'T FORGET TO CHECK OUT ALL OF THE OTHER STOPS ALONG THE WAY!!!
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WelcomeHi fellow bookworms. My name is Linda and I'm a reviewer & blogger, wife & mother who loves all things books! Currently ReadingUPCOMING BLOG TOURS
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