Are you an avid reader looking for your next "fix"? Can't bear to be without some form of reading material in your spare time? Welcome to my world! Whether you are seeking a new book to "feed your need", or you are an author seeking an unbiased point of view on your own recent masterpiece, this is the place to be. With life as with books, you never know where the next step might take you...

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

RRR presents... THE VINTAGE VILLAGE BAKE OFF by Judy Leigh - REVIEW!



Hi friends!
Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining the masses as we welcome Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books to celebrate the latest from author Judy Leigh.  If you're a frequent visitor to my site, you've probably seen a post or two featuring her work before, so you know what a treat you're in store for; if not, surprises are grand too...especially when they're good ones!  Ladies and gents, grab a cup of tea and a freshly baked scone with jam or cream as we take a look between the pages of today's featured title...



The Vintage Village Bake Off 
by
Judy Leigh


About the book...
Now in his seventies, Robert Parkin is stunned to find himself the unlikely sex symbol of the village gardening club.

Living in happy solitude with his cat Isaac Mewton in the Devon village of Millbrook, entertained by his mischievous chickens and goats, Robert has never figured out the rules of romance. But as the local ladies vie for his company, it soon becomes clear that Robert’s Victoria Sponge cake is the lure, and as his baking prowess grows, so does his confidence.

Cheesecakes, meringues, puddings, Robert can do it all, but his real masterpieces are his scones – ginger, rosemary, coconut, fruit, his recipes are inspired and soon come to the attention of the local media. Which county does the best cream tea – Devon or Cornwall? It’s time for an age-old debate to be settled with a competition.

Robert’s sisters Bunty and Hattie are both at crossroads in their lives, so news of their brother’s baking competition is the perfect excuse to bring them to Millbrook. And as the siblings relish each other’s company, and Robert relishes being at the heart of his community, a summer of scones may just light the way to long-lasting happiness for them all.

Enjoy Judy Leigh’s wonderful world of family, friendship and feasting in this perfect feel-good story for all fans of Maddie Please, Dawn French and Caroline James.





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Okay, okay, as much as the synopsis makes this seem like the story is predominantly about Robert, it's not!  Yes, he's a key player, but his siblings share the spotlight equally as much, if not more so...and that's just the way we like it.

This is a character driven story...that is to say there's a story/plot line, but without this fascinating sibling trio, it'd be just another story.  Robert is the brother that was always there, but more so in the background.  He is a lovely man with a kind heart, knowledge to share, and great baking as well as gardening skills.  What he lacked was more in the presence department.  He didn't speak up, stand out, or rock the boat...for better or worse, or in this case, for the worst of his sister Hattie.  No, she was pressed into a doomed marriage because no one had the gall to stand up for her, let alone would she stand up for herself.  Which brings us to Hattie...whom I was rooting for from the very start.  I love how we meet her, though the emotional turmoil she's in isn't pleasant, because we can see that while her sparkle may have been dimmed by the louse she was married to for so long, she was still there shining like a diamond underneath.  All she needed for a little care, and her moment to shine...which THANK GOODNESS she gets in spades.  In the mean time, her soft heart allows more shenanigans from her younger sister, Bunty, but it's not a kindness that goes completely to waste.  Realizations are made, progress is reached for, and when the cards eventually fall, everything is as it should be.  As for Bunty, she came off as the spoiled younger sibling that she was, not taking anything too seriously unless it was all about her, and yet she still had some redeeming qualities even if they were harder to find.

So you see, they were all STRONG characters, and they certainly left their mark on me, which can be a hard task considering I read so much!  It's hard enough at times to remember the character names, let alone specific traits, after a book ends, but I have a feeling this trio will stick with me for a while.  If you're looking for your next read this holiday season, or perhaps a gift for the Women's Fiction fan in your life, this is definitely a book I wouldn't pass over, and an author I'd make room for in your reading world!





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About the author...



Judy Leigh is the bestselling author of Five French Hens, A Grand Old Time and The Age of Misadventure and the doyenne of the ‘it’s never too late’ genre of women’s fiction. She has lived all over the UK from Liverpool to Cornwall, but currently resides in Somerset.






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Special thanks to Rachel at Rachel's Random Resources for the chance to bring this tour to you, and for the ecopy for review. (THANKS!) For more information on this title, the author, this promotion, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above. This title is available now, so click on over to your favorite online retailer to snag your copy today and be sure to check out the rest of the tour for more bookish fun!


Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!


Monday, December 4, 2023

Merry GIFT-mas...for one and all!



It’s the most MAGICAL time of the year and you know what that means...the holidays have arrived! In all the rush and the fuss, it’s easy to forget to make your own list and check it twice because we all know you’ve been nice...or at least naughty in a “still-on-the-nice-list” kind of way, right? Right! If not, you know you know someone that has, and I’m here to give you a little nudge in the direction of a couple titles that should be on those MUST BUY lists for your gifting needs. So whether you’re shopping for the kiddos, your grandparents, friends, or even yourself, there’s bound to be something bookishly delightful in today’s MERRY GIFT-MAS post! Ready, set, here we go… 



by Phillip Pullman
Illustrated by Chris Wormell 
Knopf | November 13th, 2023

Once upon a time, I read the His Dark Materials trilogy.  Once upon a time, I was ensconced in the world of the North, Lyra, magical companions, DUST, and so much more.  Once upon a time is here once again in this beautifully rendered tale that sweeps us back into the story with gorgeous illustrations to steal your breath away.   If you read (or watched) any of the first stories, you'll remember Iorek Byrinson (the battle ready bear?) fondly, and even perhaps Lee Scoresby with a kind smile on your face.  This is the story of how they first met, so it's technically a prequel to the original trio of books, but that just means that those familiar and those just stepping into this magicial world are on equal footing.  You get to see the adventure before the biggest battle/quest has begun, while meeting those that will play memorable parts in the tales to come...all while having your eyes dazzled along with your mind because of the rich illustrations throughout.  It's an edition that collector's will adore, but readers will cherish just the same.







by Eoin Colfer
Illustrated by P.J. Lynch 
Candlewick | October 2023

Dragons are definitely a thing right now (well, I guess they were always a thing, but I digress), and so it should come as no surprise that this tale of knights, dragons, and a maiden with magical powers (of a sort) caught my attention, and I think it might do just that for the readers in your life (even yourself!).  The illustrations are grand, the story one of the ages and yet new all the same, and it's something that can be shared with kiddos embarking on their own knightly quests because who doesn't love a challenge, especially when you get to turn the tables on the one's that sent you!






by Kate DiCamillo
Illustrated by Julie Morstad 
Candlewick | October 2023

The author alone would have drawn my attention, but when combined with the curious cover and illustrations, and I was sold.  It's a shorter story in length, but big on presentation, and the first in a projected trilogy of tales.  Puppets of different walks of life, sharing a journey to a most unexpected end...but along the way they draw strength from one another, and build courage within to face whatever comes their way.  A tale that begs to be experienced, whether on ones own, or with an audience!






by Jorge Cham 
Amulet | September 2023

An 11 year-old boy taking on middle school while tackling subjects like the Big Bang, Mercury, and sun burps?  I can definitely see this one being a draw to fans of the Wimpy Kid series, and even MacKenzie Blue.  It totes the fact that Science is not a subject to be shunned, nor the person who has an interest in it (score one for STEAM!), and elevates the leading lad for his brainy triumphs.  Grant it, he has a side that could end him on the Naughty List, but who doesn't love a challenge, am I right?






by Jason Shiga 
Amulet | August 2023

Part book, part graphic novel....part story, part literary escape room, this is definitely a CURIOUS read indeed!  Although it is book 2 in the series, it seems to read perfectly fine on its own, and I'm loving the fact that we, the readers, only become privy to things along the way that the author and illustrator want us to.  We don't start out with all the facts, merely a direction, and it's up to us to follow in order to uncover where we are, why we are, and find a way out.  A good selection for hesitant readers, or those wanting to crossover from one reading style to another without embarking on a lengthy tome.







by Emma Carroll
Illustrated by Lauren Child 
Candlewick | September 2023

Most have heard of the classic Little Match Girl, and while it's a story that spans the ages, this one was written for a new generation.  This one takes the sad tale and spins it in a new direction.  No longer is the little girl doomed to spend her last match on dreams and visions, but empowered to spark change in her circumstances and bring about a revolution (of a sort).  I love the powerful retelling, and the striking illustrations scattered throughout where the pops of color really bring it to life.   A great way to introduce the story of yesteryear, while setting the light of forward motion in the hearts of those taking those steps towards the future. 






by Claire McFall 
Walker Books US | October 2023

OMG.  When I saw this one land on my doorstep, I legit did a happy dance.  No, you don't understand!  If you haven't read any of the Ferryman trilogy, you really don't know what you're missing.  I've read the first, and second...the third (TADA!) is happily added to my own reading list, and I can't recommend this series of books enough for YA lit fans that love the lush world of folklore and legend brought to life, love found against impossible odds, strength found that could conquer death itself, and ultimately the realization of whether all that fighting, all that pushing against the norm was worth it in the end.  DON'T WALK, RUN TO SNAG THIS TRILOGY!






by Elodie Harper 
Union Square & Co | November 23rd, 2023

Book three in The Wolf Den trilogy...of which I have still only read the first (don't judge!).  It's not that I didn't like the first one (you can see how much I did or did not right here on my site if you type the title into the little search bar over there on the left), it's just that it took me a bit because it was darker, and heavier than I imagined, and ye olde reading schedule has been a bit overbooked this year (hence to purposefully open December, and a bit of January...but watch out for February! 😁).  Perhaps I can catch a break and sneak back into the set, but this is definitely one for those that like some historical in their fiction, some romantic elements in their literature, but also keep it to the ADULT READERS because some of the topic matter is definitely geared in that direction.  Don't miss what I've heard has been a trilogy that has gotten better and better with each release!






by Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone 
Avon Books | October 2023

A holiday rom-com with some steamy fun?  Yes please!  Sounds like just to ticket to heat up those cold winter nights...not that it's actually cold down here (we joke that our winter weather passed us last week), but that doesn't mean warming up is frowned at either.  😉  I'd come in from the cold to check out this tale of opposites attract, where catching feelings is easier than dodging a snow ball!





by Vivienne Lorret 
Avon Books | November 28th, 2023

I won this little beauty over on GoodReads (yeah, can you believe it because I STILL can't!), and I'm happy to say it was definitely a title on my wish list...so Merry Christmas to me! 🤶 Spinsters, dukes, enemies to lovers, and fake engagements...color me trope happy!  All I can say is that I love a good Historical Romance and this sounds like a great add to MY reading list, and even more so because it's the first of a new series!  Woo hoo!  Also...GORGEOUS cover, no?






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Special thanks to the publishers, and publicists for the copies for review and feature here today, and to the authors and illustrators for sharing their amazing talent.  (THANK YOU!)  For more information on any titles featured above, feel free to click through the links provided.  Don't forget to snag your copies when you're out and about this holiday season because books are definitely the gift that keeps on giving!

Until next time, happy holidays and remember...if it looks good, READ IT!



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