Author Archives: Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

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About Smorgasbord - Variety is the Spice of Life.

My name is Sally Cronin and I am doing what I love.. Writing. Books, short stories, Haiku and blog posts. . I move between non-fiction health books and posts and fairy stories, romance and humour. I love variety which is why I called my blog Smorgasbord Invitation and you will find a wide range of subjects. Free Book Marketing, Music, Health, Book Reviews, Short Stories, Poetry and Humour.

Smorgasbord Health Column 2026 – Recipes that Pack a Punch -#Summer Eating – Stuffed Peppers and Fajitas by Sally Cronin

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Continuing on with the series of meals that pack a punch… here are some more of my go to recipes, particularly when we have friends around in the summer and it is great to eat outside in the sunshine.

This week I have two recipes for a main course, one of which is vegetarian and the other is a low fat version of one of my favourite Mexican meals, Fajitas.

Summer is not all about eating salads and cold meals. Especially if you are entertaining and certainly in Texas which has long, and very hot and humid summers, was the place that we were introduced to fajitas. Since your family or guests are basically compiling the meal themselves it is great to stick bowls in the centre of the table and tell them to dig in.

First a vegetarian option although you can add chicken, prawns, salmon etc to the dish if you wish.

Stuffed Red Peppers.

Here is a recipe that is packed with many of the nutrients needed to keep your circulatory system healthy and clear of blockages. Full of B-vitamins, vitamin C, fibre and essential fatty acids. If you wish you can add some lean meat, fish or chicken to the stuffing.

Ingredients for four people.

  • 4 large red peppers
  • 1 large red onion
  • 1 courgette chopped
  • 4 oz of shitake mushrooms
  • 4 oz of chopped walnuts
  • 4 oz of finely chopped celery
  • 2oz of porridge oats.
  • 2 large tomatoes finely chopped.
  • 2 tablespoons of fresh chopped basil
  • ½ teaspoon of pimiento
  • 4 oz of grated Edam cheese.
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoon of olive oil.
  • Optional extra. Add a chopped (cooked) chicken breast, lean lamb or fresh salmon.

Method.

The oven needs to be preheated to 180 C.

Put the oil, onion, celery, courgette and shitake mushrooms into a pan and cook for about 5 minutes gently. Stir in your tomatoes and cook for another 8 to 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and stir in the oats, walnuts, basil and seasoning.

Cut the peppers in half lengthways and seed them. Either put into boiling water for two or three minutes or microwave in a steamer for the same time. Put them in a shallow ovenproof dish and fill each one with the vegetable mixture.

Cover with foil and bake for 15 to 20 minutes and then remove foil. Put the grated Edam cheese over the top of each pepper and replace in the oven for another 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese has melted.

Serve with large spinach, rocket, tomato, walnut salad or with some wholegrain and wild rice.

Turkey Fajitas for 6 people.

I usually allow three tortillas per person and I also use the soft maize tortillas as being the best and the largest for this dish.

In last week’s post  I gave you the recipe for Guacamole and also a Salsa and you can use both of these as garnish for the fajitas. It is also customary to use sour cream but I substitute fromage blanc or frais both of which you can get in low fat varieties in the supermarkets.

There is nothing worse than a mean fajita. So I use plenty of lean turkey instead of beef or chicken or you can use large peeled prawns if you prefer.

SEASONING. I use this low salt recipe to sprinkle over the vegetables and meat during cooking.

  • Pimiento 5 teaspoons
  • Chili Powder 6 teaspoons
  • Garlic Powder 2 teaspoons
  • Ground Cumin 4 teaspoons
  • Salt ¼ teaspoon
  • Black pepper ¼ teaspoon.

Turkey filling

  • 2 whole turkey breasts, sliced into long strips.
  • 2 large Red Peppers sliced lengthwise into strips
  • 2 large Green or yellow peppers sliced lengthwise into strips
  • 4 large Onions sliced into thick rings
  • 18 soft corn or wheat tortillas.
  • Olive Oil

Method

In a large oven proof dish arrange all the vegetables in layers sprinkling a little of the seasoning onto each lager drizzle a little olive oil over the dish and put into a hot oven around 200 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove and add the strips of turkey so that they do not overlap and put the remaining seasoning over the entire dish. Drizzle with a little more olive oil and put back in the oven until the turkey is cooked thoroughly which is about 15 to 20 minutes.

Serve in the oven dish at the table.

Warm your tortillas and a tip here is to put 6 each in a foil packet and pop in the oven for the last 5 minutes cooking time. Or you can use a microwave Spanish tortilla container and put 6 tortillas in at a time for 2 minutes. Turn the oven off and leave two of the packets in there until you need them.

On the table you will need dishes of guacamole, salsa and fromage blanc. By all means use sour cream or Crème Fraiche is you are not worried about the calories. You can also serve grated cheese with the other dressings.

How to eat if you are a fajita novice…..

For anyone who has not eaten fajitas before, a teaspoon of each sauce is spread over a warm tortilla and then the peppers, onions and turkey mix is placed in the middle. The bottom end of the tortilla is folded towards the middle and the two sides are brought over to form a wrap. The whole thing is eaten with your hands.

I usually have a large bowl of the spinach salad on the table as well as it helps if the food is spicier for some people than normal.

You can substitute lean beef, chicken fresh peeled prawns in the recipe and adjust the cooking times slightly. If you are vegetarian then add your favourite vegetables and roasted these make a delicious alternative.

I hope these recipes have whet your appetite and next time I am going to share some posts on a great way to start the day… as they say eat breakfast like a king… 

©Sally Cronin Just Food for Health 1998 – 2026

About Sally Cronin

Sally Cronin is the author of nineteen books including her memoir Size Always Matters in 2024. This was an updated version of her first book, Size Matters published in 2001 which followed her weight loss of 150lbs and the programme she designed to regain her health. A programme she shared with her clients over her 27 year career as a nutritional therapist and on her blog. This has been followed by another eighteen books both fiction and non-fiction including multi-genre collections of short stories and poetry.

Her latest book is part of a three book series set in a garden in Spain and then in Ireland. Tales from the Irish Garden: The Missing Pieces brings together creatures and people in need of a sanctuary, where they can spend their lives in peace.

As an author she understands how important it is to have support in marketing books and offers a number of FREE promotional opportunities on her blog Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and across her social media.

After leading a nomadic existence exploring the world, she now lives with her husband on the coast of Southern Ireland enjoying the seasonal fluctuations in the temperature of the rain.

You can read the reviews: My books 2026

Thanks for visiting and I am always delighted to receive your feedback.. stay safe Sally 

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – #Poetry #Life #Love #Loss Lauren Scott, Nicole Sara, Balroop Singh

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Welcome to another summer book fair and today I am sharing some outstanding collections of poetry.

The first review is for the collection by Lauren Scott which is a poignant tribute to a wonderful family member who graced their home for 13 years…King Copper: Our Dog’s Life in Poetry.

About the book

When I knelt down to Copper’s level, my heart melted. His amber, soul-searching eyes told me all I needed to know.

I recalled sitting at the table, perusing a Labrador rescue website. A lab sporting a copper-colored coat stood out like a citrine crystal in a bowl of black diamonds. I had to meet the handsome fellow.

So, on a late winter March day in 2012, my family drove to Oakland to meet Copper. A woman was fostering him in her small apartment. He had a gentle demeanor, and after a walk around the block and some play time, I was ready to take him home. My son and I were excited to welcome Copper into our lives. But my husband and daughter were hesitant to adopt another dog so soon. Would we be replacing Lucky Girl, our black lab mix, who passed just four months earlier?

Despite telling the woman we needed time to make a decision, only three days later, we found ourselves signing the adoption papers. Copper effortlessly jumped into the back of our car for a ride to his new home. We heard that the best way to get past the grief of losing a pet is to get a new one, and that’s what we did. Lucky Girl would always be in our hearts. But after many conversations, we felt the timing was right. I, especially, couldn’t shake the feeling that Copper was meant to be our next canine friend.

From the hugs, cuddles, and games of fetch, Copper learned to trust us. And so, he became family. For thirteen years, he gave us unconditional love. He crossed over the rainbow bridge this past March. It is serendipitous to know that he came into our lives in March and left our earthly world also in March – the month of new beginnings. He was a bright light in our lives that will shine eternally. This is the power of our dogs or any pet. They leave a positive, long-lasting imprint on our souls.

One of the reviews for the book 

Thomas Wikman
5 out of 5 stars
The Life of a Dog named Copper

Copper, a rescue Chocolate Lab was picked up from a foster home in March of 2012 by a loving family and in return they received 13 years of unconditional love from Copper, who turned out to be a quite remarkable dog. This touching and beautiful book recounts his life in the form of poetry. What better way to tell the life of a dog, than through poetry. Some of the poems are from Copper’s perspective and some of them are from the author’s perspective. Some of the poems are fun, some speak of love, and some speak of grief. I think that everyone who’s ever owned dogs will recognize themselves in this book. I certainly did.

Dogs have personalities, they can express themselves, they are innocent, they are fun, they are loving, they can sense your mood and feelings, and they want to comfort you when you are sad. They love you and they can do amazing things, and they are part of the family. All of this is beautifully expressed in this book. This is a heartwarming book that will leave no heart untouched.

There are also a lot of great color photos in the book. I thought it was fun to look at the various photos of Copper and the people he interacted with. There is also explanatory background information. The book is well written and well laid out and the author is obviously a great poet. I highly recommend this book to all dog lovers. Actually, I recommend it to everyone.

Head over to buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

Also by Lauren Scott

Discover more about Lauren Scott, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Website/Blog: Baydreamer – Facebook: Lauren Scott Author – More Reviews: Goodreads – Instagram: baydreamerwrites 

The next delightful poetry collection is by Nicole Sara – The Blues and the Beautiful 

About the collection

The Blues and the Beautiful is a luminous collection of poems celebrating life and love in all its forms – the sweet and tender or the painful, the fleeting and the eternal. Written over a period of almost three years, the poems trace the way beauty and sadness intertwine in our life, highlighting bright or black times… and especially the quiet radiance that follows heavier moments, thus showing how heartache, regret or sorrow can shimmer with meaning eventually.

These rhyming poems together with their accompanying photographs honor the simple joys that fill our days: the breeze and the sunlight frolic through the leaves, the magical colors of flowers, sweet smiles shared in happy moments, the soothing presence of the ones we love. Through the delicate imagery and reflective verse, this collection celebrates life’s richness and radiance, its inner rhythm and rhyme, and our resilience… the grace of ultimately finding beauty and light in the deepest shades of blue, darkness or despair.

In its colorful beauty and soft sadness, the collection essentially sings of gratitude – reminding us that beauty and love never truly fade; they transform and they return, living on in everything and everyone we touch.

In pure deep eyes and hearts of searing blue
there are no words,
just rays, affectionate and sweet,
serene new glimmer, peace in every quiver,

and for the passing cloud…
a mesmerizing treat
(from Treat with Radiant Roses)

One of the reviews for the collection  

Yvette Prior
5 out of 5 stars
Poetry where Color, Nature, and Feeling Meet

The Blues and the Beautiful is Nicole Sara’s second poetry collection, following her debut Rhyming Dreams. In this book, she continues developing her signature style—pairing original poems with her own photographs and thoughtful quotes—creating an experience that blends visual and literary art on every page.

Sara has a distinctive way of weaving color, nature, and emotion together so that feelings appear almost like shades in a landscape. Her poems often move through everyday moments and quiet reflections, using color and simple imagery to express the changing moods of life. In “Quotidian Riddle,” she captures this playful, reflective tone:

“So… it is old and new

purple brown or blue

with pink touches and eyes

sweet hello’s and bye bye’s

in a rush or… a hush”

The poem shows how she layers colors with ordinary human moments, suggesting how life constantly shifts between movement and stillness.

Another example appears in “Multicolored Minutes,” where the act of remembering becomes creative and intentional:

“I create a remembrance I draw a sign in the sun…

and I color the way in a hue or another

with the choice that I make or I shun.”

Here, Sara reflects on how people shape their memories and experiences much like an artist choosing colors for a canvas.

The Blues and the Beautiful expands on the artistic approach introduced in Rhyming Dreams, continuing Nicole Sara’s thoughtful blend of poetry, photography, and reflective quotes. The collection invites readers to pause, notice the colors within everyday life, and consider the emotional shades that shape human experience. 

Read the reviews and buy the collection Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

Also by Nicole Sara

Discover more about Nicole, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Nicole: Goodreads – Blog WordPress: Starrysteps – Romanian/English blog WordPress: Doarnicol – Facebook: NicoleSaraArt – Instagram: Nicoles Steps 

The third collection today is a wonderful reflection on life by Balroop Singh – Fusion: Poems of Life.

About the collection

Fusion is the elixir of life. We seek it in every aspect of the cosmos. The magic of fusion manifests itself in the colors of dawn and dusk, in the melodies of nature, in the singing of birds, in the miniscule moments of joy, inspiring us to live in harmony with each other despite the edges that threaten to swallow us.

The poems in this collection are an amalgamation of harmonies and edges that bind us firmly. We have to wade into murky waters to measure the depth. We have to risk the heights to know our worth. Slippery snow makes us learn how to create footholds. Some songs of life dilute in the hourglass of time to erase the shadows – dark or light, all the colors play an equal role to create a fusion.

One of the reviews for the collection 

Robbie Cheadle
5 out of 5 stars
Highly recommended

Reading this collection of poems is an elixir for the soul. There is a thread of peaceful acceptance of life’s worse and best that runs throughout this collection and is very soothing for a restless mind like mine. Some of the poems I read over a few times and thought about for a long time afterwards as some of the words seemed to reach out to me and demand additional thought and attention. I found myself approaching things I’m not as fond of in life with a better attitude as a result of these reflections which really is a remarkable thing.

This book is a marvelous read for anyone, but it can be a guiding spirit if you let it.

The poem that resonated with me the most is I Wish I knew Then What I Know Now! I am going to share two of the beautiful stanzas:

“I wish I had known

That the dark clouds would crumble

And the streamers of joy

Would dance around me.”

and (not consecutive)

“When I drowning in the sea of tears

I wish I had known –

There is life beyond distress

A life of liberation, of jubilation, of celebrations!” 

Head over to read the reviews and buy the collection: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A selection of other books by Balroop Singh

Find out more about Balroop read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – and : Amazon UK – Follow Balroop : Goodreads – blog:Balroop Singh on WordPress – Twitter: @BalroopShado

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.

 

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Cookery Column with Carol Taylor – How to add fuss free flavor to your food.

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How to add fuss free flavor to your food.

To make delicious family food you don’t need to spend a fortune on fancy ingredients which cost a fortune. Most of us have access to a whole range of simple herbs, spices and aromatics which we can use to accentuate and bring maximum flavor to food.

I will tell you how to match the seasoning to the ingredient without spending a fortune…

It could be a stuffing, glazing, infusing, dry rubbing or marinating and viola it takes that simple dish to another level…

Making a bouquet Garni…

Is one of the simplest and easiest things to make…It is a classic flavouring for soups, stews and casseroles. All you need is a piece of string or a muslin square…and some herbs…Just tie together a bay leaf and a sprig of parsley and thyme or enclose in a muslin or cheesecloth square…You may also come across recipes which include rosemary, chervil, basil, tarragon and or peppercorns.

The Bouquet Garni is added at the beginning of the cooking and removed at the end…

Flavours for meat or poultry…

Flavour can be added to meat or poultry by using a dry rub, marinades or sticky glazes…so easy to introduce a bit more flavour…

If you marinade tougher cuts of meat it also helps to tenderize the meat.

A simple Cajun spice rub consists of a tsp/5ml of dried thyme, oregano, finely crushed black peppercorns, salt, crushed cumin seeds and hot paprika pepper mixed together.Just rub the spice into the raw meat or poultry then bake or BBQ until cooked.

This one is a favourite rub and again so easy just…

Combine 1 tbsp water and 2 tsp instant espresso powder in a small bowl, stirring until espresso dissolves. Stir in 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp unsweetened cocoa, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1 tsp olive oil, and ¼ tsp salt.

Time to get those fingers mucky…Rub the mix into your pork or chicken then bake or BBQ until cooked…ENJOY!

To Marinate red meat such as beef, pork or lamb…

Thanks to a successful marketing campaign by the pork industry, we almost reflexively think of pork as “the other white meat.” Technically, pork is still classified as red meat because it is a livestock product, like beef, lamb, and veal and all livestock are classed as red meat.

For us you can’t beat a good olive oil, lots of garlic and bruised fresh rosemary sprigs…Just add the meat and turn to coat the meat…Cover and chill for at least two hours or overnight before cooking in your normal way…

I always prefer to marinate my meat in a bag as it is easy to turn…

We love pork fillet and my favourite marinade is…Mix together…

• 6 cloves of garlic finely chopped or crushed
• 12 juniper berries crushed
• 1 tbsp fennel seeds crushed
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil

I cook mine in the oven and then make gravy from the juices…

Sticky Glazes…

This glaze is suitable for chicken or pork…

• 3 tbsp each of Dijon mustard clear honey and demerara sugar.
• ½ – 1 tsp chilli flakes
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• Salt and ground black pepper

Cook under a grill or BBQ and brush with the glaze throughout…

For Fish…You can either stuff the cavity of a whole fish with herbs or coat a fillet of fish…These e all add a fresh flavor to fish and don’t over power the delicate flavor.
For fish or shellfish use lemon, lime, parsley, dill, fennel, lemongrass, Thai basil, bay leaves. Chillies…Stuffed steamed fish is very popular here…

For shellfish like mussels …..which are very popular here lots of crushed lemongrass, basil and chillies are used….For the recipe https://carolcooks2.com/2017/11/10/fish-friday-beautiful-thai-steamed-mussels/

To flavor rice and grains like couscous…

Adding herbs, spices and aromatics can help perk up rice and grains subtle flavours and add some colour. Always choose flavourings which compliment the dish the rice or grain will be served with.

To add some fragrance to rice which is served with Asian style stir fries and braised dishes add a whole star anise, cumin seeds or a few cardamom pods to a pan of rice before cooking. The rice will absorb the flavor during cooking.

I also sometimes add stock instead of water to flavor my rice which is a favourite with cumin seeds and some onion in this house…It is something my sister passed on to me from her Iraqi mother in law …

For a zesty rice or couscous heat a little chopped tarragon and grated lemon rind in olive oil or melted butter then drizzle over the freshly cooked rice or couscous.

To make an herby rice or couscous fork plenty of chopped fresh parsley or watercress through cooked rice or grains and drizzle with a little oil before serving.

Watercress Rice…with Orange Pork

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups of rice
• 1 ¼ lb Pork tenderloin cut into cubes
• 3 cups of coarsely chopped watercress reserving a few sprigs for garnish.
• 4-6 cloves of garlic finely chopped
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 3 tbsp of oil
• 3 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 2/3 cup Orange marmalade
• A ½ cup of finely julienned ginger
• Salt and pepper to season

Let’s Cook

  1. Cook the rice and toss in the watercress with ½ to 1 tbsp oil, cover and leave to stand for at least 10 minutes.
  2. Season the pork and with the pan on medium heat add the oil and add half of the ginger and cook until the ginger is golden, drain and set to one side.
  3. Add the pork and brown for 3-4 minutes and then remove from the pan.
  4. Add the remainder of the ginger and the garlic and cook for 30 seconds add the marmalade, fish sauce and lime juice bring to a slow rolling boil stirring until it is syrupy then return the pork to the pan simmer for 1 minute and serve over the rice.
  5. Garnish with the crispy ginger and watercress sprigs.

To add flavour to vegetables…Most fresh vegetables have a subtle flavour which when steaming or stir frying adding light flavourings is best…For example is you are steaming vegetables add a couple of bruised lemon grass stalks to the steaming water or a few kaffir lime leaves alternately add these aromatics under the vegetables in the steamer and steam until the vegetables are just tender.

When stir frying vegetables add a splash no more than a tsp of sesame oil just before the end of cooking…

Naturally sweet vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes and parsnips are lovely roasted… the taste can be enhanced by using honey and mustard as a glaze or maple syrup.

I hope these have given you some ideas how you can enhance the flavour of your dishes quite simply and easily using herbs and spices…

 ©Carol Taylor

About Carol Taylor

Carol Taylor now lives in Thailand having been brought up in England and has built a dedicated following of her blog and guest posts where she creates not only amazing dishes, but sources fantastic ingredients in line with her philosophy of sustainable food ‘cooked from scratch’. Having travelled extensively Carol has incorporated the cuisines of many different cultures into her recipes, and shares her research into the backgrounds to both the traditional cultures and the origins of the ingredients.

She loves shopping at local markets and wherever she is, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetables she has never seen or cooked with.

Health and the environment are key priorities, particularly the concern about our oceans and fisheries. Also, how many of our foods on the shelves of our supermarkets are ultra processed and contain additives that do not add to the nutritional value and are not healthy. She is an advocate about growing our own food where or when we can even it it is only a few pots or a window box of herbs.

She wishes everyone would count chemicals and not calories as they would be much healthier…it’s true ‘we are what we eat‘ and while a cake or a bar of chocolate does no harm on occasions, sticking to a fresh food, balanced diet will keep our bodies healthy as we age…

Cookbooks by Carol Taylor

Head over to buy the books:  Amazon UK  – And: Amazon US For reviews: Goodreads – Connect to Carol – Blog: Carol Cooks 2 – Twitter: @CarolCooksTwo – Facebook: Carol Taylor 

 

Thanks Carol for another fascinating post..and join us again in two weeks for the next in the series. </p

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Letters from America 1985-1987 – Dallas, A Texas Menace and Realtors by Sally Cronin

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I wrote letters home to my parents every week during our two years living in Texas… it was an adventure and we met incredible people who greeted us with open arms… and some became friends for life.

 Dallas, A Texas Menace and Realtors – February 1985

We received your letter and the big packet yesterday thank you, and mail seems to be taking about ten days to come through which is pretty standard. In the apartment complex there are mail boxes and you collect your post from there. Makes sense otherwise the mail man would be traipsing all over the place for hours delivering the post.

The weather here is quite warm considering it is only February, but at least it is not yet as humid as they promised for later in the year. Certainly a big difference from the snowy weather we left in Tring only two weeks ago.

We drove to Dallas yesterday which is why this is written on a Holiday Inn letterhead. We shared the driving and I must say the freeway system is pretty efficient. Of course the speed limit is only 55 mph, which is a bit slower than we are used to. However, most of the cars and pickup trucks seem to be doing between 60 and 65. Being a little bit wary of how the system works at the moment we are sticking firmly to the speed limit. I am very impressed with the hire car which is the first automatic that I have driven. It has a very neat feature which is called cruise control.

When you are on the freeway, which is straight and hundreds of miles long, you can set your speed, such as 55 and then press a button and it will automatically stay at that speed unless you touch the brake or accelerator. So you can take your feet of the pedals, and just steer. I don’t think it would be as useful in the UK, as the motorways are so busy you would be forever hitting the brakes. Anyway here it is fantastic.

We are staying north of Dallas so had to come through the city itself. It was dark and all the tower blocks were lit up which was an incredible sight. David was driving and I navigated and it was quite hairy as you are not allowed to go LESS than 45 mph and it was very busy. Cars came in from both sides and there doesn’t seem to be any rules about lanes, so they weave in and out including enormous trucks. It was like being on a fairground roller coaster. Added to the fact that it was dark and I was trying to read the map to find our exit and the hotel, we arrived stressed and in need of a drink.

David has a meeting this morning and then we hope to drive back to Houston in daylight around 3.00 this afternoon. At least I have seen the famous Dallas and although we have not got time this trip, next time we plan to visit Southfork. I will say hello to J.R. Mollie for you!

Amazing last night to find our waitress was English and came from only 20 miles from Tring in St. Albans. Talk about a small world. She and her husband have been here two years and love it.

We have settled into our executive apartment but are planning to move out in the next month. It is very comfortable and the complex team are very helpful. However, I might have given them something to laugh about.

David was a way for the night last week and it was only our second night in the apartment. I got ready for bed and turned down the covers and just as I was about to climb in, I saw a movement on the beige carpet out of the corner of my eye. I leapt onto the bed and moved across to get a better look. It was the largest cockroach I have ever seen….. then I saw another even bigger… it was huge with great long antenna.

There was no way I was spending the night in the bedroom with them and so shut the door and slept on the couch in the living room.

The next morning I popped into the office and mentioned that we seemed to have an infestation of these creatures and they laughed their heads off, especially when I said that I had seen two of them. They said that the whole complex was due to have exterminators in during the week and gave me three small cardboard boxes called Roach Motels. They told me to put a couple under the beds and one in the kitchen under the sink.

Apparently these things live in the walls everywhere and usually disappear when the lights go on. This is not a comforting thought and I am not sure that I will be sleeping well for some time. I shall be checking out our permanent place a little more thoroughly and certainly checking to see how regularly they exterminate the apartments!

We spent last weekend looking at houses, we don’t want a garden particularly so going for what they call town homes. Although they only have two bedrooms they are en-suite with an extra half bathroom (shower and loo) downstairs for visitors. What is amazing is the kitchen and laundry equipment. Huge ovens and grills and laundromat size washing machines and tumble dryers. Puts my pressure washer and spin dryer to shame. Everywhere is certainly very well equipped.

David is going to Kansas on Thursday and Friday so I am going house hunting on my own. The realtors are very good and pick you up, take you around the house and bring you back. You have to read between the lines as they enthuse about everything and it is very easy to get carried along with them. They have an entirely different attitude to business here; you can almost see the dollar signs neon lit in their eyes when you mention it is a company let. However, I like them; they have an open curiosity which is refreshing. As soon as they hear your accent they are want to know all about England and London.

We are going to have to take a driving test in the next two weeks. Otherwise we cannot be insured on the new car that we have yet to buy. There is certainly a massive selection as there is in everything here in the US. I could certainly spend a fortune without any problem.

Will come back to you next week, after I have entered my 33rd year.

©Sally Cronin

I hope you have enjoyed my letter home and more next week…

A selection of my books

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More reviews : Goodreads –Blog: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Twitter: @sgc58 – Facebook: Sally Cronin – LinkedIn: Sally Cronin – Bluesky: @sallycronin.bsky.social

Sally Cronin is the author of nineteen books including her memoir Size Always Matters in 2024. This was an updated version of her first book, Size Matters published in 2001 which followed her weight loss of 150lbs and the programme she designed to regain her health. A programme she shared with her clients over her 27 year career as a nutritional therapist and on her blog. This has been followed by another eighteen books both fiction and non-fiction including multi-genre collections of short stories and poetry.

Her latest book is part of a three book series set in a garden in Spain and then in Ireland. Tales from the Irish Garden: The Missing Pieces brings together creatures and people in need of a sanctuary, where they can spend their lives in peace.

As an author she understands how important it is to have support in marketing books and offers a number of FREE promotional opportunities on her blog Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and across her social media.

After leading a nomadic existence exploring the world, she now lives with her husband on the coast of Southern Ireland enjoying the seasonal fluctuations in the temperature of the rain.

Thank you for dropping in today and as always delighted to receive your feedback.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Music Column Retro – The Big Band Era with William Price King and Sally Cronin – 1940s – Ella Fitzgerald with The Delta Rhythm Boys, Louis Jordan, Eleanor Powell

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Welcome to the 2026 series of the music column where I am joined as always by Jazz singer and composer William Price King.  We hope you will join us every Tuesday for some of the chart hits of the big band era from the 1930s through to the 1950s.

Some of the earlier videos are not of the best quality however where possible we have sourced remastered copies to share with you. Considering some are almost 100 years old, it is remarkable that they exist at all.  A testament to the love of the music of that era. Along with our selections each week we will also be showcasing some of the iconic dancers of the era.

Here is my next selection from the Big Band chart in the 1940s from Ella Fitzgerald & The Delta Rhythm Boys

Ella Fitzgerald & the Delta Rhythm Boys “It’s Only a Paper Moon” (1945)

“It’s Only a Paper Moon,” composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Yip Harburg and Billy Rose, was originally titled “If You Believed in Me,” and was written for an unsuccessful 1932 Broadway play called “The Great Magoo.” It was introduced in the 1933 movie “Take a Chance” starring James Dunn, June Knight, Lillian Roth, Cliff Edwards, Lilian Bond, Dorothy Lee, and Lona Andre. The song’s lasting fame stems from its revival by popular artists during the last years of WW II, with hit recordings being made by Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Benny Goodman.

Here is my next selection from the 1940s from – Louis Jordan

Louis Jordan “Choo Choo Ch’ Boogie” (1946)

“Choo Choo Ch’Boogie” is a popular song written by Vaughn Horton, Denver Darling, and Milt Gabler.

The song was recorded in January 1946 by Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five and released by Decca Records. It topped the R&B charts for 18 weeks from August 1946, a record equalled by only one other hit, “The Honeydripper.” The record was one of Jordan’s biggest hits with both black and white audiences, peaking at number seven on the national chart and provided an important link between blues and country music, foreshadowing the development of “rock and roll” a few years later. Walt Eb

Other sources: Wikipedia – And: Jazz Standards

Eleanor Torrey Powell (November 21, 1912 – February 11, 1982) was an American dancer and actress. Best remembered for her tap dance numbers in musical films in the 1930s and 1940s, she was one of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s top dancing stars during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Powell appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, and most prominently, in a series of movie musical vehicles tailored especially to showcase her dance talents, including Born to Dance (1936), Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937), Rosalie (1937), and Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940).[2] She retired from films in the mid-1940s and settled into a career on television hosting a Christian children’s show, but resurfaced for the occasional specialty dance scene in films such as Thousands Cheer and eventually headlined a successful nightclub act in Las Vegas. She died from cancer at 69 years of age. Powell is known as one of the most versatile and powerful female dancers of the Hollywood studio era

Fascinatin’ Rhythm from Lady Be Good

 Your Hosts for The Big Band Era

William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.

His interest in music began at an early age when he studied piano and clarinet in high school. At Morehouse College in Atlanta where he grew up, he sang in the Glee Club and studied classical music. After graduation he went off to the Yale School of Music where he earned a Masters degree. From there he journeyed to New York where he created a jazz trio ‘Au Naturel’ which performed in some of the hottest venues in Manhattan including gigs on Broadway and the famous ‘Rainbow Room.’ These gigs opened doors for performances in Montreal and a European tour.

While touring Europe he met a lovely French lady, Jeanne Maïstre, who, a year later became his wife. King left the group ‘Au Naturel’ and settled in the south of France where he started a new life on the French Riviera, opening his own music school – the “Price King Ecole Internationale de Chant.” He has had the pleasure over the years of seeing many of his students excel as singers on a professional level, and some going on to become national celebrities. He continues to coach young singers today, in his spare time.

Blog– IMPROVISATION – William Price King on Tumblr – Buy William’s music: William Price King iTunes – Facebook – William Price King – Twitter – @wpkofficial
Regular Venue – Cave Wilson

Sally Cronin is an author, blogger and broadcaster who enjoyed four years as part of the team on Onda Cero International’s English speaking morning show in Marbella and then for two years as a presenter on Expressfm the local radio station in Portsmouth. She co-presented two ‘Drive Time’ shows a week with Adrian Knight, hosted the live Thursday Afternoon Show and The Sunday Morning Show guests including musicians and authors. Following this she became Station Director for a local internet television station for two years, producing and presenting the daily news segment, outside broadcasts and co-presenting the Adrian and Sally chat show live on Friday evenings.

She and her husband David have now returned to Ireland where they live on the Wexford Coast where she blogs and continues to write books.

Books :Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More reviews: Goodreads – blog: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Twitter: @sgc58 – Facebook: Sally Cronin – LinkedIn: Sally Cronin

Thanks for tuning in and as always we love to hear from you.. thanks William and Sally.

 

 

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – #Military #Thriller #Paranormal by T. W. Dittmer, #Psychological #Thriller John Dolan, #Mystery #Thriller Allan Hudson

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The first book today is a fast paced paranormal thriller from Tim Dittmer… The Valley Walker..

About the book

“Yeah, though I walk through the valley…”

Special Investigator Teri Altro is a hard-driving member of the Drug Interdiction Task Force. She is cold and aloof, with no room in her life for personal entanglements. No one is allowed to call her by her first name. No one is allowed to get close to her. Any form of physical contact is unacceptable to her, except when her body demands it. People who work with Altro respect her, but have learned to stay out her way. She carries a gun in her shoulder bag.

When Altro first notices the man staring at her, he doesn’t seem like anything special… just some guy in the drugstore. But when three men walk in the door to assassinate her, he kills them all with fluid ease, and so quickly that she doesn’t even have time to pull her own gun. The confrontation is so eerily violent that it leaves Altro wondering just who… or what… the man is.

Over the next four days she learns the man is John Walker Michaels, a man known to the Hmong of Laos as the Valley Walker, a man the army has classified as a deserter. He is an openly emotional man who draws her out of her shell and into the world of Hmong mysticism. At the end of this time… even after talking to him, learning his history and meeting his family… Altro can only shake her head when asked what he is like.

She had touched him and felt his warmth. She knew he was real. Or was he?

One of the reviews for the book  

Richard L. Muniz
5 out of 5 stars
An incredible read that left me wanting more. Well done T.W..

I’ve never been into books where magic plays a part. It gets flowery and too much into explanations.

But in this case, I’m making a definite exception. The magic and the dragon in it are the framework for a novel that just grabs you. T.W. doesn’t explain magic; it simply exists and it simply works. That works for us here. It was like the Force in Star Wars. It worked better before they went into explanations. It simply worked for the stories.

It starts with a woman named Terr Altro. She’s a special investigator as part of a drug task force. She’s been careful to build a wall around herself that’s high, deep, and wide. No one comes into her world. Physical touch is something she disdains. She doesn’t reach out and lets no one in. Her coldness is an island, and there’s a big sign posted on its shore that reads “Go away.”

That doesn’t stop someone from painting a target on her.

Enter John Walker, a man who kills three assassins sent against her and is out the door before the first assassin has even hit the floor. John is a complex person interested in doing the right thing. He’s targeting the heroin trade and those behind it. And he’s invaded Teri’s island and is drawing her out of it into the world of men and women.

And that’s just the opening pages.

What follows is an investigation into the drug world, ranging from the lowest users to the upper echelons of corporate America and the halls of the Pentagon.

And smack in the middle of it is Walker. A man the Hmong people call the Valley Walker. He’s a warrior with immense powers. He considers some people family and will do anything for them.

All this brings him and Teri into a collision course with the men behind the heroin trade.

But the battle is much bigger than that. It’s a clash of good versus evil.

And h has one hell of an ending that I suspected about halfway through but wasn’t confirmed until the end.

The book is easy to read, and once I started, I had trouble putting it down. It made me want to learn more about the Hmong people and some of the darker parts of the Vietnam War.

And to T.W… This book would make one hell of a graphic novel. If you ever get it out there in that form, I’ll be the first in line to buy it. 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Also by T. M. Dittmer

Discover more about Tim, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK –  Follow Tim: Goodreads – Blog : T.W. Dittmer – X – @TWDittmer – Facebook: T. W. Dittmer Author 

The next author today is John Dolan.with his psychological thriller set in the Philippines...For the Hell of It…

About the book

“Apologies for all the deaths. But in my defense, I was really, really bored.”

James Fosse – psychopath and all-round bad egg – has been declared officially dead.

But he’s not enjoying his afterlife in the Philippines, where so many people around him are having fun committing crimes and getting away with it.

Perhaps it’s time he started killing again?

One of the reviews for the book 

Lizzy
5 out of 5 stars
Another terrific thriller by John Dolan

It is always a pleasure to read John Dolan’s work. His characters, well-drawn, are always real, rife with flaws, and no matter how harsh or dark their predicaments may be, often amusing.

As Dolan’s character Jim Fosse, who faked his own death by murdering his twin brother, returns in this expertly woven thriller to carry out his final plans for revenge/murder on a list of targets he’s put together in his “For the hell of it” folder. As the quote above this book’s blurb indicates, Fosse doesn’t need a “good” reason to kill. Boredom is a perfectly acceptable motivation. So true, especially when one is devoid of conscience.

On Fosse (aka James Martin)’s kill list, is P.I. David Braddock, who readers have come to know in Dolan’s many other books: a wonderful character whose exploits I always enjoying reading. As I’m not one to recap a plot, I’d like to tell prospective readers why they should read this author’s work.

First, this engaging thriller is beautifully crafted. Each of the many characters play their roles ingeniously, in a plot that makes sense and feels as if everything comes together naturally. That is Dolan’s gift — to easily thread together a tantalizing story with none of it feeling contrived. What else do I like about this author? He has a wonderful use of language and his snarky, oft-times cheeky humor is never too far away. In fact, I guarantee you it’s always waiting just around the corner. 

Read the reviews and buy the book Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

A selection of books by John Dolan and one he has written an introduction for.

Find out more about John, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – More reviews: Goodreads – Website: John Dolan Author – Twitter: @JohnDolanAuthor – Bookbub: John Dolan – And: Bluesky

The final book today is a crime thriller from Allan Hudson… the third book in the Jo Naylor adventure series. Shattered Dreams.

About the book

Jo Naylor has to leave the sunny skies and beaches of Thailand. It’s too dangerous for her to remain. A return home to Canada isn’t an option. Stepping off the plane in Paris, she’s greeted by freezing rain and a new adventure. Befriended by an older man, Jo is introduced to the glamourous city and unforgettable characters. Brandy Williams is an Australian expat who dreams of reporting for Le Figaro, one of Paris’ leading dailies. The lead she uncovers of forced prostitution may be her last.

When Brandy disappears, Jo is not one to turn away from trouble. She wonders who she can trust with her own secret. She doesn’t know the city well enough to search on her own. Bertrand Poitras, a small time bookie and man about town offers to help.

Having been a cop for so many years has made Jo leery of his type. Handsome, tough and with the right connections, she decides to give him a chance.

One of the reviews for the book 

Mark Scott Piper
5 out of 5 stars
An Action-Packed Adventure and a Great Read

I previously enjoyed Allan Hudson’s short story collection, A Box of Memories, and I wanted to try another of his works. I chose the third release in the Jo Naylor Adventure series, Shattered Dreams. The cover art and the idea of a tough woman protagonist were intriguing. I was not disappointed.

Jo Naylor is attractive, an ex-cop, and a highly skilled combatant. She arrives in Paris to try to stay under the radar, but she’s soon involved in confronting a human trafficking ring. She’s the instigator of the plan to find and stop the bad guys. Jo meets an intriguing, unconventional group of friends—Max, Aurora, Brandy, and eventually Bertrand—all likable and relatable characters who’ll live long in the memories of readers. The criminals, on the other hand, are pure evil, cruel, and dangerous, although they stop short of becoming mere stereotypes.

Although she takes charge and jumps into the fray with enthusiasm and skill, we learn that Jo Naylor is more than just a tough combatant who’s bent on stopping evildoers—even though that might be enough in this genre. As her relationship with Bertrand develops we find that Jo has a softer side.

The ending wasn’t what I expected, probably because I haven’t yet read the first two books in the series, but Jo’s decision at the close of the narrative fits her personality perfectly. The plot is fast-moving and action-packed. I read Shattered Dreams in a day. Yes, it’s a short piece, but I was racing to the end before I remembered I meant to be doing other things. That’s the mark of a well-written, compelling novel.

I highly recommend Allan Hudson and Shattered Dreams. Find out for yourself. Trust me, you won’t be disappointed. 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon CA – And: Amazon US– And: Amazon UK

A selection of other books and anthologies by Allan Hudson.

 

Discover more about Allan,read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Allan: Goodreads – Website: South Branch Scribbler – Twitter: @hudson_allan  – And: Bluesky

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.

 

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – #Life #Aging Sneaky Changes – Habits, Digestive, Sleep – As We Age by D.G. Kaye

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Welcome back to my As We Age series. Today I’m going to cover some of the new issues that creep up on us – as we age. Often, as we get older, we may find that not only our opinions or agility changes, but other little ‘syndromes’ seem to sneak up on us concerning our appetites, taste buds, sleep patterns, as well as some new aches and pains.

Let’s start with appetite. I know this may not affect everyone, but according to studies – and from my own experience, I know that my own appetite has shrunk immensely from my younger days, and apparently, approximately 30% of people moving up to senior years from middle-age experience this phenomenon as it is referred to – an ‘Anorexia of aging’.

As we age, our metabolisms slow down, we lose muscle mass, and many of us aren’t active enough to stimulate that appetite. Our digestive systems also slow down, which can leave us feeling full for longer. I must be an exception because I am very active, have acquired good muscle mass, yet my appetite has severely waned over the last eight years or so, worse after losing my husband. But that could have lots to do with my grief I carry with me daily. Again, as I’ve mentioned previously, people react differently to upsetting or scary events in life. They either eat a lot more to comfort themselves or their appetites wane when upsetting events occur. I know I’m the latter.  But I also have digestive issues and a very slow transit system, so this tells me exactly why my appetite has shrunk.

Honestly, I don’t know how to correct this waning appetite situation. But I can clearly state that no matter how we choose our eating habits, it’s always important to remember to include the essential nutrients into our diets that our bodies require, and if we simply cannot eat enough then I highly recommend appropriate supplementation to compensate for what we aren’t getting in our food. I can also suggest eating more smaller meals a few times daily, essential to get enough protein. Sometimes I just boil up some eggs and eat one randomly for protein. Also bear in mind that our tastes and senses may also diminish. We may find foods we loved before no longer appeal to us and perhaps it may be a time to try new foods we may not have gravitated to before. On the same note, it is also possible we discover that foods we may have been allergic to since childhood, no longer pose a problem. This happened to me for decades; I couldn’t eat eggs without getting severe stomach pains. I stayed away from them for over twenty years until my naturopath suggested I give the yolks a try because he discovered it was the albumen in the whites of the egg that may cause a problem because of a childhood vaccination where albumen was used in the tincture. And surprisingly, I’ve heard of people allergic to peanuts their whole lives and suddenly were no longer as adults. Really not surprising as our bodies change with time.

Have any of you noticed how your sleep patterns change through aging?

We may have been sound sleepers once upon a time and now find it harder to either fall asleep or sleep through the night. Many of us awaken for bathroom runs as our bladders don’t seem to have the same capacity as when we were younger, as well as other health issues, like sleep apnea, and for men, possible prostate issues. Some suffer gastro issues, while others may awaken frequently because of medications. Also, as we age, our Circadian Rhythms also shift. Some of us may get tired much earlier and sleep lighter, causing us to awaken more frequently. Our brains produce less melatonin as we age. Melatonin is a sleep-regulating hormone, thus making our sleep more disturbed and more sensitive to our environments without enough.

Often, caffeine, alcohol and/or nicotine can play a part in disrupting our sleep. This doesn’t only apply to aging, but all of these are stimulants to the nervous system so it’s no surprise these vices will keep us up at night. It’s essential we get the proper amount of sleep for our bodies to function optimally so if you’re anything like me, we need to find some work arounds for those disturbing wake-up calls in order to fall back asleep.

If you aren’t one of the lucky ones who can fall back asleep easily after awakening in the middle of the night, like me, we need to find what works for us individually to help us get back to sleep. The worst thing we can do is allow our brains to take over with all our daily worries and to-do’s. The things I do to help me fall back asleep are deep slow inhalations and equally slow exhalations. When I do this, I’m always back asleep before I can see ten more minutes move on the clock. If for some stubborn reason that doesn’t work at times, I’ll put on my glasses and pick up my Kindle and read. When getting absorbed in a book, especially when we’re tired, the words and letters will soon run into each other and I’ll awaken to my Kindle left open somewhere on the bed, and a search for my glasses – if they aren’t still on my face. But it works! I think the worst thing we can do is turn on a TV or start scrolling on a phone because those things awaken and stimulate the mind when the goal is to tire the mind. Creating a similar bedtime nightly routine is a good idea to get on a regular sleep schedule. Also, consider a comfortable sleeping room temperature. I know I can’t sleep when it’s too warm. I have a ceiling fan over my bed as I feel the need for ever-circulating air. It’s easier to sleep in a cooler room with layered blankets for putting on and off. Layering blankets and clothing helps to regulate the temperature we feel most comfortable in for sleeping.

New aches and pains are inevitable. And it’s important to always get them checked out. When we’re younger, our bodies and bones can take more than they can as we age. Bones get more brittle, muscles fade (unless we keep fit), and suddenly, it’s much easier to hurt ourselves – sometimes without realizing. I know I’ve been walking around with a stiff neck for over a week now, just from sleeping weird on my pillow. If I sit too long, it takes me a minute to straighten out when I get up. I’m also always aware of my posture when I sit so my neck isn’t tilted down looking at the computer or phone. Sitting or standing in same positions for some time can definitely leave us with stiff necks and/or bones, even pinched nerves. Make sure when you spend time on the couch you are propped up properly. I use a lower back lumbar support pillow behind my lower back, and a neck pillow to keep upright while on the computer. Admittedly, I’ve tried many contraptions and alternate them when some part is giving me pain.

                                                                      ~

It’s important to be aware of our postures when sitting for lengths of time. Make sure your hips rest comfortably, not contorted and use whatever you have around to prop yourselves up – be it a pillow or anything that can support our backs properly, and a good foot rest can help too.

As far as food goes, we need it for sustenance. So, if you’re anything like me – an extremely picky eater with many dislikes and a few allergies, or just a slow appetite, remember to get in your essential vitamins – if not from food, look into supplementation. If you aren’t aware of supplemental conflicts with medications you may currently be taking, I highly advise you to purchase your supplements in person at a health food store and ask a rep for help. Let them know what meds you’re taking because they know what meds may interfere with a supplement and they can guide you. Alternatively, if they aren’t sure, they can ask the person in charge of the department. It’s their job to know.

Eat smaller meals – and more frequently. My friends call me the grazer. I never can finish a plate, but the rest will go into the fridge until later in the day when I’ll stab at it again or perhaps finish for dinner. I also eat a two-inch block of goat cheese daily to top up my calcium. If I’m not very hungry when dinner time comes along, I may wait an extra hour or two, and if still not too hungry, I will just make an omelette with goat cheese and some veggies and call it dinner. Whatever works, there are no set rules or times to eat, only that we get enough of what we need for fuel to keep us living healthier in our older years.

If any of you are experiencing or have experienced any weird changes through aging, feel free to share here with us any tricks you’ve found helpful to alleviate your symptoms.

©DGKaye2026

My thanks to Debby for another reminder that getting older is not for the faint-hearted but you can do something positive about the process.

Books by D.G. Kaye

One of the reviews for Meno-What?

Di R
5 out of 5 stars
A make you smile and nod your head and laugh out loud kind of book!

This one was an EASY read for me! I could not put it down and didn’t till the last page! Not only is it filled with humor, it has some great information! I found myself nodding my head a LOT!

I feel it will be a great seller for those in the throws of a very confusing time in life.

I lucked out, for some reason I have never experienced the HOT flashes but wasn’t so blessed to miss out on all the other chapters of this book!

We have groups for everything. Grief and Loss groups and such and there is something about gathering in a group that can relate to whatever you are going through! THIS book does that! You feel as if you can relate and are not alone! This author writes as if you are talking over an iced tea with a friend! I love her humor and look forward to her next book! I am a fan! 

Read all the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – and: Amazon UK – follow Debby: Goodreads – Blog: D.G. Kaye Writer – Twitter: @pokercubster – Linkedin: D.G. Kaye – Facebook: D.G. Kaye – Podcast: YouTube –  Bluesky: @dgkayewriter.bsky.social – All Links: Linktree

About D.G. Kaye

D.G. Kaye is a Canadian nonfiction/ memoir writer who writes about life, relationships, matters of the heart and women’s issues, and the author of eight published memoirs. She writes to inspire others by sharing her stories about events she’s encountered, and the lessons that came along with them.

D.G. loves to laugh and self-medicate with a daily dose of humor. She is an empath and fashionista, and shopper extraordinaire. When not writing intimate memoirs, you’ll find D.G. writing with humor in some of her other works and blog posts.

“My passions: obsessed with shoes, colorful sunsets, sandy beaches, and margaritas on the rocks (in no particular order). My blog is an eclectic mix of randomness, where you’ll find anything from writing tips to tales from the past, an occasional rant about injustice, spiritual awareness, relationship talk, travel tips, book reviews, author interviews, and sometimes dabbles in political poetry. It’s almost impossible for me to dwindle it down to just one niche, because it never is. I’m an eclectic memoirist and conversationalist who writes to empower by sharing slices of life.”

Thank you for joining us and Debby will be back again next month with another post in the series.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Weekly Round Up – 29th June – 5th July – Writing community, Big Band Era, Movie Hits, Recipes, short stories, reviews, Summer Book Fair.

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Welcome to the round up of posts you might have missed this week on Smorgasbord.

I hope you have had a good week… whatever your temperatures. We have had sunshine but also a cooling breeze to very pleasant. The cat is happy so I am too.

For those who celebrated July 4th I hope you had an amazing time with family and friends and I suspect the party will spill over to today as well.

Another lovely review for Tales from the Irish Garden… this time from author Beth Haslam and as always so happy to hear that the storyteller and the other residents of the garden have been enjoyed. Tales from the Irish Garden.

Balroop Singh shared her reviews for Wildflower by Maggie Watson and for Tales from the Irish Garden on her blog this week and gave me another lovely boost. Must Read Books

And Darlene Foster shared a lovely story in the Authors in the Sun series that had everyone guessing right to the end… and she kindly reblogged with a lovely feature for Tales from the Irish Garden..Darlene Foster Reblog

My thanks as always to the amazing contributors for their posts and support.

William Price King joined me for a Big Band era and on Friday another in the Chart Toppers and Blockbuster series and we are delighted you are enjoying along with us.  You can catch up with William on his own Blog– IMPROVISATION– William Price King on Tumblr

Debby Gies will be back with another post in her series on Monday. On her own blog you will find the latest in her series on courageous women and as always her Sunday Book Review and this week it is for When Things Go Missing by Deborah Brasket  D.G. Kaye

Carol Taylor was here on Wednesday with the second part of spicing up your food and.on her own blog Carol shared  the most recent of the cuisines of Peru. CarolCook 

Thomas Wikman will be here on July 23rd with his next in the Superfact series. Amazon US

The Big Band Era with William Price King and Sally Cronin – 1940s – Tommy Dorsey, Russell Case Orchestra with Perry Como, Martha Graham

Chart Toppers and Blockbusters 1980s with William Price King – U.S.A. For Africa – “We Are The World” and Platoon

The Cookery Column Retro with Carol Taylor – Family Favourites and Spices in action Part Two

Letters from America 1985-1987 – Introduction and Arrival – We get the Call by Sally Cronin

Recipes that Pack a Punch – Salads don’t have to be boring by Sally Cronin

#Anthology #Historical – COURAGE: Tales of History, Mystery and Hope

Round up of June 2026 Book Reviews – #Spitfires #Dunkirk Suzy Henderson, #Psychological #thrillers Terry Tyler, #Shortstories #America #Heartland Joy Neal Kidney, #Noir #Crime #Thriller Alison J. Moore

#Anticipation Precious Time by Darlene Foster

#Anthologies #Eat #Work #Stories Yvette Prior and Marsha Ingrao

New Book on the Shelves – #Family #Murder #Mystery – The Secret Collector by Beem Weeks

#Fantasy #Sciencefiction D. Wallace Peach, #Mythical #Fantasy Grace Blair, #Fantasy #Adventure Luciana Cavallaro,

#Children’s #Bathtime Sue Wickstead, #Rhymes #cats Cheryl Spears, #Easter #Hoglets Lynette Creswell, #Mystery #Dragons Esther Moonstomp

#Travel #Albania Jacqueline Lambert, #Barge #Canals #Continent Valerie Poore, #Travel Greece Sally Jane Smith

 

Thank you very much for dropping in today and I hope you will join us again next week..

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – Round up of June 2026 Book Reviews – #Spitfires #Dunkirk Suzy Henderson, #Psychological #thrillers Terry Tyler, #Shortstories #America #Heartland Joy Neal Kidney, #Noir #Crime #Thriller Alison J. Moore

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Delighted to share a round up of my recommended books for June 2026

My first review of the month fell on the anniversary of the evacuation of Dunkirk.

It is 86 years since 338,000 British, French and Belgian soldiers were evacuated between 26th May and June 4th 1940 from France, in an operation involving the Royal Navy, The Royal Air Force and hundreds of incredibly brave civilians in their small boats who were able to get close enough to the beach to take the soldiers on board.

I thought it was appropriate to share my review for this tribute to the bravery of young men whose life expectancy was counted in weeks if not days. Suzy Henderson Spitfire: Operation Dynamo. A WWII short story of Courage and Survival.

About the short story

From the author of the WW2 Novels, THE BEAUTY SHOP and MADAME FIOCCA, comes a gripping, heart wrenching story of a Spitfire pilot caught up in the storm of the Dunkirk evacuations in France, 1940.

May 1940: Hitler’s blitzkrieg storms through France, forcing Allied forces into retreat towards the coast at Dunkirk. With nowhere left to flee, thousands of soldiers wait on the beaches for rescue while the Luftwaffe bomb and strafe from the skies above.

Churchill is determined to rescue as many men as possible, for without her army, Britain is sunk. A plan is hatched to evacuate the men from the beaches by sea, but it will take the combined strength of all the forces to ensure its success.

Sam, a young RAF Spitfire pilot flies sorties daily over France, engaging the enemy in the skies over Dunkirk. He is determined to protect the men trapped on the beaches below and give them a fighting chance of returning to home shores.

Day after day he returns to base when others do not. He witnesses friends shot down by the Luftwaffe, sometimes lost at sea. And each time he wonders when his luck will run out, yet still, he returns to the hell in the skies. Survival is Victory, friendship a daily sacrifice.

Remember the glorious “Few” by reading about those remarkable times, and in doing so, remember all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for freedom and humanity. Lest We Forget.

An emotional and evocative 20th century tale of the courage and heroism of Churchill’s “Few” based on true events. Perfect for fans of Robert Radcliffe and Laura Hillenbrand.

My review for the story June 6th 2026

I had previously read and can recommend ‘The Beauty Shop’ by this author which paid tribute to the bomber pilots from allied countries who flew missions over Europe day after day, and the extraordinary surgeon Sir Archie McIndoe who worked tirelessly to repair their injuries. 

After reading the book, I knew this short story would be equally compelling and filled with an accurate depiction of life in the air for these courageous and dedicated young Spitfire pilots. Their mission during this particular period of time was to protect the men on the beaches, the Royal Naval ships and the incredible civilian flotilla desperately attempting to evacuate them all.

We follow a young pilot, Sam. over 24 hours as he flies mission after mission with barely time to refuel and grab something to eat before taking to the air again in his patched up aircraft he calls Grace. Becoming close friends with your fellow pilots was necessary, as the bonds in the air, and on the ground were needed to bolster the courage required of them. But this close bond made it even more difficult when one of them was lost, something that happened on a daily basis.

This story will not take you long to read, but it is one that you will relive in your mind long after it is finished. It is a tribute to all those involved in the operation, but in particular to young men whose lives were cut short in the line of duty, and those who had to live with the physical and mental scars for the rest of their lives.

Whilst it may not be a light-hearted read, it is without doubt one that captures that week in the summer of 1940 and the inspiring courage of a generation of young men who gave their all in the service of others.

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

The second book I reviewed in June was for the latest release by Terry Tyler... book three in her riveting Revenge Series in the form of two novellas…Two Graves –

About the book

When you plan revenge, be sure to dig two graves

Two novellas. Two lives changed forever by the need for retribution.

The Torment of Frances Cullen

Frances loves married life. Her husband, her daughters and her beloved home, which she has made so many sacrifices to keep. She socialises with the wives-and-girlfriends mafia of the upmarket Edgehill Gated Community, even though she despises them. It’s what husband Jarvis requires of her.

Sadly, nothing she can do will stop the walls crumbling around her. When the collapse begins, reason vanishes.

The Content Creator

Jennifer was a journalist, back in the day. Twenty years ago, she presented a local TV show. Now she’s happily single, loving her work as a script editor, her busy social life and her daughter. She’s even friends with ex-husband Tony’s new girlfriend.

Then Tony switches partners yet again. The new lady on the block embodies everything Jennifer detests about new media. Soon, her resentment of Sook Lee will become an obsession…

My review for the book June 13th 2026

Two very compelling and cautionary novellas which illustrate how the veneer of civilisation can crumble under the influence of the need for revenge.

The Torment of Frances Cullen

Living within a close knit community has its advantages with regard to support but it also has its downside… when something might be contagious!

Sisterhood comes with some terms and conditions which allow only a little leeway when offering a shoulder to cry on. You don’t realise just how far out of favour you are until you are infected and are placed in isolation. Away from everything you love and being manipulated into believing the world is against you.

And when you reach rock bottom and decide you are going to get your own back it becomes a lonely and dangerous path leading to far more than you bargained for.

The author sets up the story, presents the reader with complex characters and then delivers the final blow, seamlessly.

As always a riveting read and particularly relatable for any who might have found themselves in a similar situation. 

The Content Creator

When everybody is seeking their spot in the limelight on social media, TikTok, Youtube it is clear for many, professional qualifications or experience is not considered a necessity. This makes it even harder for anyone in the cut throat media industry of film and television to remain current and at the top of their game. Especially as you get older and the cracks literally begin to appear.

It is this world that the author brilliantly creates as we follow the career and life of Jennifer Marlow who finds herself on the sliding scale of success in the world of television. Love, family can become casualties and it is bitter to watch from the sidelines as those younger and considered more relevant step into the limelight.

If you are gifted content creator it is not unexpected that you might exploit plot holes as they appear and perhaps use them to your advantage… When you feel a deep sense of loss and have the person in your headlights that you hold responsible, the gloves come off.  You may think you are in charge of the script but others may have a different ending in mind.

Both stories, as always with this author, keep you turning the pages and there are plenty of surprises in store along the way… as with Terry Tyler’s other books, this one is highly recommended.

Head over to read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – And Universal link 

Next I was delighted to share my review for the release by Joy Neal Kidney The Immigrant and the Outlaw…stories from the American Heartland.

About the collection

For years, Joy Neal Kidney carried a story she felt called to tell—a World War II family history marked by love, courage, and devastating loss.

In the journey toward writing that book, she discovered something more: a gift for telling true American stories. Beginning her freelance career in her forties, Joy has published dozens of narratives in newspapers, magazines, and through the popular podcast Our American Stories.

The Immigrant and the Outlaw gathers some of her most compelling work—stories rooted in Iowa soil yet echoing far beyond it. Tales of grit, heritage, sacrifice, and the quiet heroism woven through everyday lives.

These are stories worth remembering.

Just some of the stories waiting for you in the collection.

Chapter 1: Celestial – meteors (this was my first byline, first $50), comets, the moon, thunderstorms

Chapter 2: Childhood on a Farm – an old upright piano, roller-skating in the house, old barns

Chapter 3: Flora and Fauna – monarch larva, birds, lilacs, winter, spiders, morning glories

Chapter 4: Discovering Ancestors – the cover story is in this chapter, a small cemetery (Lee Habeeb mentioned this one in his Foreword), a family tragedy, a Victorian house, the story behind an old quilt, first women’s suffrage, a Civil War story

My review for the collection June 20th 2026

This collection of stories and poetry represent a life time of observation, memories passed on by previous generations, shared with the reader by a wonderful storyteller and guardian of the past.

In the first section of the stories titled Celestial, we are invited to join into rituals, such as the long cherished rite since childhood of watching the annual firework display of the Perseids, lighting up the sky for a tantalising few hours. And a glimpse of Halley’s Comet, the complexities associated with the moon and its phases and weather and how rain on the roof can be “good sleeping weather.

Next we move into the childhood years on the homestead…beginning with the glorious decades of an old upright piano. For a child growing up on the farm there is also the special atmosphere to be found in a barn including ‘a horse’s nicker’ and ‘grunt of a sow with baby pigs’.

There are wonderful stories on the flora and fauna and you can almost smell the fragrance of the lilacs as they brightened the garden each May and filled their home with their aroma. There is also the delight of watching squirrels cleverly circumnavigating deterrents to sample the bird seed on a snowy day and a persistent spiders intruding into a Sunday service

We are introduced to ancestors from the past including those from Denmark in the 1830s who moved to America leading to the birth of dynasty, and a connection to a well-known outlaw. In the town’s cemetery the lives of many others over six generations are remembered with each stone a brief reminder of their lives and accomplishments and links within the family tree. There were terrible tragedies associated with deadly diseases which ran rampant through the community, but also resilience and courage. There are wonderful times shared too, such family celebrations for mother’s day, tooth fairies and refrigerator art.

The author’s family history of service to the country is shared in a wonderful chapter on Veterans including a poignant poem of remembrance. And those honoured include her father who flew as a pilot in the iconic B-17 Flying Fortress during WWII before donning the mantle of farmer. Also her Uncle Don who was on The Yorktown during the battle of the Midway but has also had to abandon ship twice and went on to earn a great many commendation and service medals. Memorial days were particularly poignant with Leora Wilson’s loss of three sons during the conflict. There is also the fascinating story about the origins of the Iowa’s Freedom Rocks where the author’s five uncles are honoured for their service.

The stories are not only about the family and their close friends but also the newcomers such as the Bosnian immigrants who arrive in search of safety and a new life in Iowa which fostered a pro-immigration policy. The author found her life enriched as they did the whole community where they still live today with their extended families.

When you have finished reading the stories, and if you should feel peckish, you can enjoy Doris Neal’s Potato Salad… definitely a comfort food.

This collection is poignant, inspiring and a reminder of how a close knit community offers a level of support which sadly is lacking for so many living in cities today. I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading new stories and a reminder of the other books I have read by Joy Neal Kidney. They are to be treasured.  

Read the reviews and buy the collection: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK 

My final review this month was for Dead Jealous: A Fliss Dawes Investigation (Fliss Dawes Investigations Book 1) by Alison J. Moore

About the book

When Richard walked out the door, Fliss Dawes was unaware that her life would change forever – or that she was stepping into a nightmare.

In a bid to escape her grief, she accepts the invitation to a school reunion. But familiar faces bring back more than old memories; they awaken long-buried grudges and dangerous secrets.

Someone at the reunion has a deadly agenda.

As dark secrets unravel and alliances shift, Fliss is drawn into a chilling psychological game where survival means uncovering the truth.

And when everyone is a suspect, who can she trust?

My review for the book June 27th 2026

Life for Fliss Dawes seems to be routine with her journalism and occasional work for the police as a forensic profiler, however her family are thriving and settled but things are about to change dramatically. The unthinkable happens and the story follows the family as they deal with the aftermath of a tragedy

As the family attempts to find ways of overcoming their grief, her children suggest that Fliss undertakes a trip to revisit her past and the places she had lived and enjoyed so many years before along with her beloved dog Jake. Not all the memories are thought of fondly as she realises when she meets old acquaintances. Then the unthinkable happens and Fliss is thrown into murder case which leads to a dangerous and complex set of events, with her at its centre.

This is a gripping crime thriller with plenty of twists and turns as secrets are unearthed and the facades created by some of the suspects are shattered. I certainly found it compelling reading. 

This story is also about family and how when disaster strikes they pull together and support and love each other. The author did a great job in making this an important element throughout the book.

Great characters, well researched on the criminal investigation procedures and an exciting lead up to the climax of the story… with the door left open for the next book in the series. I can highly recommend.

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US 

 

Thanks very much for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – #Travel #Albania Jacqueline Lambert, #Barge #Canals #Continent Valerie Poore, #Travel Greece Sally Jane Smith

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The first book today is the latest release by Jacqueline Lambert with more adventures on the road in The Beast… From B to A: Britain to Albania: The True Story of an Overland Van Life Adventure Through Europe towards the Balkans – With Dogs (Never Mind The Balkans Book 1)

 

About the book

The Comic Memoir of a Questionable Road Trip

“Don’t go there,” they said – but Jackie and Mark did. In their 16-tonne truck, The Beast – with four dogs. .

Looking beyond the headlines – and drawn by curiosity – they set course for a misunderstood country on the fringes of Europe.

Their slow, dog-filled adventure winds through France and Italy, where they seek out quiet roads, wild camps, and experiences you won’t find in guidebooks.

But the journey didn’t quite go to plan.

When they finally cross into Albania, a frightening incident forces them to confront the realities that come with choosing an unconventional life – particularly when others depend on you.

Rich in history and populated with unforgettable characters, this is not a glossy van-life fantasy. It’s a wry, honest, and witty memoir about choosing curiosity over fear – even when it comes at a price.

If you’ve ever wondered what lies beyond the well-trodden routes – and whether it’s worth the risk – this journey is for you.

Perfect for readers who enjoy: van life • overland expeditions • The Balkans • dog-friendly travel • slow adventure • funny, heartfelt travel memoirs.

Book 1 of Never Mind the Balkans– the hit new series from bestselling author Jacqueline Lambert.

One of the reviews for the book

MacTrish
5 out of 5 stars
Entertaining and beautifully written

There’s a great fairytale opening about Brexit and a topical reference to Iran which made me anxious about their travel plans to Albania – although I’ve never been to Albania…

The writing is vivid and original. When their sixteen-tonne, ten-metre truck (the Beast) develops a list because of a flat tyre, it’s ‘like a drunk at closing time trying to whisper a secret to the pavement.’ And their Ten Commandments of Considerate Camping is both excellent advice and wonderfully witty.

There are fascinating snippets of geography, history, mythology, flora and fauna that bring the places they visit to life both now and in the past. The author has an empathy and understanding of bygone times and imagined the situation in Pompeii before and during the eruption. She studied the artefacts, but wouldn’t look at the plaster casts of the people themselves. She explains how the rear end of a horse led to the standard width of half the world’s railway lines and the design of the space shuttle.

They face many problems negotiating roads that become narrow tracks, or have tight bends, low bridges or bridges that won’t take the 16-tonnes weight. There are inevitable hassles with officialdom, but through it all, their close relationship, practical approach and sense of humour come to the fore. There’s an appreciation of the kindness of strangers, of their luck and those who haven’t been so lucky. They take people at face value and leave prejudice behind.

What I find remarkable is that they do all of this with four dogs in tow and they are remarkable too.

Throughout this book are quotations from Seneca. One of these sums them up nicely: ‘If you wish to be loved, love.’

There are even recipes at the end. 

Head over to buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US –

A selection of other books by Jacqueline Lambert

Discover more about Jackie’s travels, read the reviews and buy the books: author.to/JLambert – Follow Jacqueline: Goodreads – Blog: Worldwide Walkies – Facebook: Jacqueline Lambert Author – Twitter: @JLambertAuthor 

The next intrepid voyager is Valerie Poore who has shared her barge living in a number of books.. this is the first in the Living Aboard Series – Watery Ways.

About the book

In this account of her first year of living on a barge in Rotterdam’s Oude Haven, Valerie Poore’s overriding impression is that “one of the first things you learn about living on a barge is that an awful lot of stuff is going to end up in the water”.The year in question is 2001, and at forty something, the author takes the plunge to exchange her life in the corporate fast lane of Johannesburg, for life on a historic Dutch barge. Every month brings new challenges, obstacles and experiences.

She meets a whole world of fascinating people, not least of whom are an endlessly smiling, but absent minded ‘landlord’, an intellectual, but quirky friend and confidante and an old world charmer whose mastery at the helm wins more than just her respect. She also learns how to cope with the sometimes strenuous demands of casting ropes and negotiating locks when acting as skipper’s mate during numerous nail-biting watery adventures.If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to live on a barge, this book may be the bait that hooks you; whatever your reaction, it will certainly give you an off beat and amusing insight into the ways of living on the water.

One of the reviews for the book. 

Yorkshire lass
5 out of 5 stars
One gutsy lady!

This highly entertaining memoir kept me glued to the pages until the early hours. I knew that once I started reading it would be difficult to stop, having read other of her interesting and informative memoirs.

It was intriguing to learn about what it means to live on the water and all that this entails. I knew little about barges or the Oude Haven, the oldest and first harbour museum in Rotterdam which is used exclusively for the mooring of historic boats. Nor did I realise what a multitude of skills is required to restore and maintain them.

Ms Poore does an excellent job in describing the diverse characters at the heart of the harbour community and their daily lives, the bonhomie that prevails and their generosity of spirit. We are given a true sense of these very special people who helped to make her transition to a life on the water a less daunting experience; their warmth and friendship on a par with the community she left behind in her beloved South Africa and convincing her that this was the place she wanted to be – if any convincing were needed, given the tranquil environment along the canals and the enthralling places she gets to explore.

Written with her inimitable wit and humour, we follow her exploits as a newbie and journey with her to the historic villages of the Netherlands as well as to France. Without giving away any spoilers, I found the incidents with her cat highly amusing and marvelled at her patience when forced to retrieve it from the most unexpected places. There are lots of disasters along the way, but this resourceful and determined lady always manages to come through unscathed and invariably with a smile on her face.

There is much to entertain the reader, Val Poore’s books being breath-taking accounts of the interesting life she has led that are rich in detail. Above all, they are uplifting at a time when we are all in need of something positive to brighten our days – an absolute pleasure to read! 5* 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

A small selection of other books by Valerie Poore

 

Find out more about Val, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – Follow Valerie: Goodreads – Blog: River Girl Rotterdam – Facebook: Val Poore – Twitter: @vallypee – Bluesky: @vallypee.bsky.social 

The final book today is the wonderful memoir Unpacking for Greece: Travel in a Land of Fortresses, Fables, Ferries and Feta by Sally Jane Smith.

About the book

When Sally sets out for Europe with her mother’s 1978 travel diary in her pocket, she is searching for the wanderlust she lost in a devastating overseas road accident.

As she ventures into the heart of the Mediterranean – wandering volatile landscapes, exploring historical sites, pairing books with places and savouring the tastes of Greece – she finds it is possible for a clumsy, out-of-shape woman on a budget to experience a life-changing journey.

In a story told with warmth, humour and a fascination with Greece’s natural and cultural heritage, Sally connects with her past, overcomes her fears and falls in love with life again, one olive at a time.

One of the reviews for the book 

Peter Barber
5 out of 5 stars
Beautifully written. Travel with a twist.

I have just finished this excellent book By Sally Jane Smith, Unpacking for Greece. This is more than a travelog. It’s a story of overcoming adversity, facing fears and conquering them. After a near death experience which would have ensured most would never leave the safety of home again. Sally set off alone on her very own Greek Odyssey, accompanied by only a journal her mother wrote during her own visit to Greece in 1978. Following in her mother’s footsteps around this remarkable ancient country. Sally struggles with the Greek language, negotiates public transport. Gets to know the local food and culture, changes her mind about olives, then packages it neatly for us into bite-sized portions to be enjoyed at our leisure.

Sally’s writing style is enthralling. She took me with her while exploring the ancient cultural landmarks. Although I have visited many of the places described in her book,. Her writing contained so much more detail than I could have possibly gleaned from a quick visit. After reading her account, I need to return and enjoy these historic sites again. This time, armed with my newfound knowledge.

This book is an essential for anyone visiting Greece.

Can we compare her to Shirley Valentine? Not according to Sally. Read her book and find out why.

Read the reviews and buy the book: Universal Link – Amazon AU – Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Also by Sally Jane Smith

 

Find out about Sally Jane, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon AU – Amazon US – Amazon UK – Follow Sally Jane: Goodreads –  Website – Facebook: Journeys In Pages – Twitter: @JourneysInPages – And: Bluesky

 

Thanks very much for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.

 

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – Book Review – #Anthology #Historical – COURAGE: Tales of History, Mystery and Hope

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My book review this week is for the compelling and inspirational collection of stories –COURAGE: Tales of History, Mystery and Hope...

About the anthology

Fifteen historical short stories by Judith Arnopp, Anna Belfrage, Derek Birks, Cathie Dunn, Patricia Furstenberg, Jean Gill, Kathy Hollick-Bater, Helen Hollick, Carolyn Hughes, Amy Maroney, Alison Morton, Elizabeth St. John, Marian L. Thorpe, Antoine Vanner, Annie Whitehead. With an introduction by Lorna Fergusson

The lion has long been a symbol of courage, loyalty, and hope. A creature of power and, in some traditions, of the divine. We imagine it unflinching, unafraid. Yet the truest bravery is not found in the open, but within, where the lion lies hidden, waiting to be called upon. In moments of uncertainty or grief. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision to face it. It is the moment when we would rather flee, but instead, find a strength we did not know we possessed.

These powerful and often emotional stories follow men, women, and children as they face profound adversity, the resilience to endure, cling to hope for the future, and the courage to change their lives forever.

My review for the anthology July 4th 2026

This collection is written by outstanding authors contributing stories that bring history alive across the centuries and around the world, along with the bravery of men and women from the highest born to slaves and serfs.

The stories are set as far back as Ancient Rome where conflicting beliefs force many into exile, leaving them at risk of attack from several directions and requiring even the meekest of young women to take a stand in defence of others. A riveting story that celebrated courage at its finest when it means overcoming your own fears. The stories follow in chronological order which makes it all the more fascinating to revisit times and events in history the reader might be familiar with. There are also some action packed adventures on land and sea which will keep you riveted to the stories.

There are stories that demonstrate how love or honour can become the driving force behind what ignites something primal in all humans, the need to stand your ground and survive, such as a young forester who discovers he can fight back despite his inexperience and fear.

As we progress through the centuries we continue to meet extraordinary men and women forced into protecting themselves and those they love from invading forces who scorch the land and ravage the inhabitants leaving behind the legacy of their genes in our modern day populations. For hundreds of years the land is plagued by wars and destitution with each generation finding the courage to carry on and to survive. Disease is rampant and facing the plague for a second time knowing its devastation requires extraordinary bravery. And in each generation it is the children who suffer from hunger and cruelty, showing courage in protecting a younger sibling at great cost.

For some it is the courage required to face those in power despite the cost to themselves. Other authors have based their stories on their own family history and this makes them even more poignant.

I have read books by some of the authors in the anthology including the wonderful Patricia Furstenberg but it was a great way to be introduced to the work of the authors I was less familiar with.

Amazing stories written by highly skilled writers and I am very happy to highly recommend this collection. 

Head over to read the reviews and buy the anthology: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More reviews: Goodreads

 

I hope you have enjoyed my review. I have linked to each of the author’s Amazon pages and I hope you will explore their books as well as pick up a copy of this anthology..

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – #Children’s #Bathtime Sue Wickstead, #Rhymes #cats Cheryl Spears, #Easter #Hoglets Lynette Creswell, #Mystery #Dragons Esther Moonstomp

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The first children’s book today is the delightful David’s Bathtime Adventure by Sue Wickstead  

About the book

David loves his bath time!

As Mum fills the bath with water, David gets himself ready for a swimming adventure.

With toys and his fishing gear, he certainly enjoys splashing around in the water.

(And making a mess for Mum!)

Where will his imagination take him?

Learning through Play

(Water)

Children love splashing and pouring, spraying and making waves.

It enhances their creativity and imagination and provides opportunities for some wonderful investigation and scientific learning.

Finding out what sinks, what floats, testing and idea.

Developing awareness of the physical world.

One of the reviews for the book

Julia Wilson
5 out of 5 stars
Perfectly Charming

David’s Bathtime Adventure by Sue Wickstead is an absolutely delightful book for the under fives. It is perfect to read aloud at bedtime.

David’s Bathtime Adventure is a book that fires the imagination – bathtime is not just a time for baths but a time to play and let your imagination run wild. Each time David enters the bathroom, he brings something else water-based to play with and to change where he is going in his mind.

The whole book is beautifully illustrated. Each page is packed full of water-based images. All these are perfect starting points for discussions with our children.

David is a lively young boy who is easy to empathise with. Our children will be able to recognize themselves in him.

David’s Bathtime Adventure is a perfectly charming and beautiful addition to any young child’s library. 

Head over to buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

A small selection of books by Sue Wickstead

Discover more about Sue Wickstead, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – More reviews: Goodreads – Website/Blog: Sue Wickstead – Facebook: Stories Sue – Facebook: Teacher Page – Twitter: @JayJayBus – LinkedIn: Sue Wickstead 

Now for some rhyming stories for children from Finn The Kitty courtesy of Cheryl Spears.

About the book

Dive into the whimsical world of Finn the Kitty, where every page brings a new adventure! This enchanting collection of short, rhyming stories follows the lovable Finn as he embarks on delightful escapades, capturing the hearts of young readers. Each tale is not only filled with fun and adorable moments but also encourages wonderful discussions with children. Perfect for bedtime or any time, these stories will spark imagination and create lasting memories.

One of the reviews for the book 

Adam Spears
5.0 out of 5 stars A Purrfectly Delightful Read for Little Kids

“Finn the Kitty” is an absolute gem of a book for young children! The story is heartwarming, engaging, and filled with adorable illustrations that capture the essence of a playful kitty’s adventures. The simple, yet delightful narrative is perfect for the 2-6 age group, and the bright, colourful pages make it a joy to flip through together.

The language is easy to understand, and the repetitive phrases are great for reinforcing key words and phrases, making it a fun read for toddlers learning to recognize words. The soft, durable pages make it ideal for little hands, and the quality of the hardcopy is top-notch. 

Read the reviews and buy the book in print and ebook: Amazon CA – And: Amazon US – And:Amazon UK – Goodreads

A selection of other books by Cheryl Spears

Find out more about Cheryl Spears, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon CA – And: Amazon UK – Connect with Cheryl: Website: Finn the Kitty – Blog: Finn the Kitty – Facebook: Finn the Kitty Stories – Tiktok: Finn the Kitty – Instagram: Finn the Kitty Stories – Bluesky: Finn the Kit 

The next colourful read for children is Hoglets’ Great Egg Hunt by Lynette Creswell.

About the book

The eggs are ready, but the Easter Bunny’s sick.

When the Easter Bunny catches a cold, the Egg Hunt is in jeopardy. Determined to save the day, two brave hoglets, Prickles and Primrose, team up with their friend Rosie Rabbit on a race against the clock to decorate and hide the eggs.
With mischievous Freddie Fox up to his old tricks and a secret helper working behind the scenes, surprises await at every turn.

Can Prickles and Primrose save the hunt?

Through teamwork, kindness, and a sprinkle of wonder, the friends embark on an unforgettable adventure, ensuring the hunt remains as special as ever.

A delightful tale in the spirit of Peter Rabbit and The Gruffalo.

One of the reviews for the book

Joy Shelton-York
5 out of 5 stars
A delightful children’s story.

Hoglets’ Great Egg Hunt is a delightful children’s story for ages 3-7 years old. With an engaging story, beautiful, vibrant illustrations, and an interactive egg hunt within the graphics, the child will be totally captivated.

The animals of Briarwood are looking forward to this year’s Easter Egg Hunt, but as hoglets Primrose and Prickles discover, it might not happen at all. The Easter Bunny is too sick to decorate and hide the eggs. With Rosie Rabit’s encouragement and determination and the help of Primrose and Prickles, she believes they can pull it off.

This charming story emphasizes themes of friendship, teamwork, perseverance, helping others, and forgiveness. Children and adults will both enjoy this engaging story. 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

Also by Lynette Cresswell

Discover more about Lynette Cresswell, read the reviews and buy both adult and children’s books: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – Goodreads: Lynette E. Creswell – Blog: Lynetteswebsiteblog – Facebook: Lynette Creswell – Twitter: @creswelll 

And the final children’s book today is by Esther Moonstomp…Myths and Magic (Saffy’s Secret Quest Book 2)

About the book

Saffy has solved the first clue in her quest to save the magical world of Mandoreum from danger. Now it’s time to find the second.

She isn’t alone. Her new friend, Lily, a dragon from Mandoreum, wants to help. Together they take a trip and uncover special stories and unexpected surprises.

But Saffy soon learns that first appearances are not always what they seem. And plotting in the background is a witch who will do everything she can to stop them…

One of the reviews for the book 

Thomas Wikman
5 out of 5 stars
Saffy and her Dragon at the Museum

First a note. I bought this book for the children of friends of ours, but I read it myself first without bending the pages. This book is an adventure filled and imaginative book that is excellent for reading out loud to children, or for young readers to read on their own.

Lily is a friendly dragon from the magical land of Mandoreum. In the earthly realm she appears as a small dragon statue that you can put in your pocket but in Mandoreum she is something quite different, but she is still friendly. Dragons are not bad and dangerous, just misunderstood. Saffy, the little girl who is the protagonist of the story, is friends with Lily and she carries her around when in the earthly realm. I should add that Mandoreum is under the threat from a witch, Narla. Saffy, her mom and brother, and Lily, visit a museum when the magic of Mandoreum begins to manifest. Magical beings appear and dangerous things start to happen in the museum.

The story is full of adventure; it is very imaginative and features harmless and non-scary drama of the kind that children love. It is a sweet and fun book that is captivating. In the book there are a couple of dozens of illustrations of dragons, dragon eggs, magical books, ogres, mermaids, museum rooms, king and queens, flying brooms, and more. In the paperback edition, which I bought, the illustrations are black and white. The book is well written, and it is a good story. I highly recommend this imaginative and entertaining book. 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Other books as Esther Chilton

Find out more about Esther, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – Follow Esther: Goodreads – Blog: Esther Chilton – Blog: Esther Moonstomp – Twitter: @esthernewton201 – Facebook: Esther Chilton 1 – LinkedIn: Esther Chilt 

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – The Music Column – Chart Toppers and Blockbusters 1980s with William Price King – U.S.A. For Africa – “We Are The World” and Platoon

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Welcome to the series where I will be sharing the chart toppers and blockbusters through the decades… be prepared for some nostalgia and some foot tapping music. William

🎶   U.S.A. For Africa – “We Are The World”

“We Are The World” a charity single, was recorded by the group USA for Africa. The project was Harry Belafonte’s idea, which was inspired by Bob Geldof’s African famine relief song, “Do They Know Its Christmas.” The song was composed by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie and produced by Quincy Jones.

“We Are The World” won four Grammy Awards for 1986: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and Best Music Video.

When “We Are The World” was the anthem of the moment, “Platoon” was the powerful must see movie of the year.

🎬   “Platoon”  

“Platoon” was written and directed by Oliver Stone. It is the first of a trilogy of Vietnam War films directed by Stone and stars Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe, Charlie Sheen, Forest Whitaker, and Johnny Depp. The film, based on Stone’s experience from the war, covers the lives of a platoon of American soldiers as they patrol, fight and die in the jungles of Vietnam.

“Platoon” was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won four in 1986, including Best Picture, and Best Director (Stone).

Join William again next week for more entertainment…

Your Host

William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.

His interest in music began at an early age when he studied piano and clarinet in high school. At Morehouse College in Atlanta where he grew up, he sang in the Glee Club and studied classical music. After graduation he went off to the Yale School of Music where he earned a Masters degree. From there he journeyed to New York where he created a jazz trio ‘Au Naturel’ which performed in some of the hottest venues in Manhattan including gigs on Broadway and the famous ‘Rainbow Room.’ These gigs opened doors for performances in Montreal and a European tour.

While touring Europe he met a lovely French lady, Jeanne Maïstre, who, a year later became his wife. King left the group ‘Au Naturel’ and settled in the south of France where he started a new life on the French Riviera, opening his own music school – the “Price King Ecole Internationale de Chant.” He has had the pleasure over the years of seeing many of his students excel as singers on a professional level, and some going on to become national celebrities. He continues to coach young singers today, in his spare time.

Blog– IMPROVISATION – William Price King on Tumblr – Buy William’s music: William Price King iTunes – Facebook – William Price King – Twitter – @wpkofficial
Regular Venue – Cave Wilson

 

Thanks very much for dropping in today and it would be great if you could share the music with your connections.

Smorgasbord Authors in the Sun – #Anticipation Precious Time by Darlene Foster

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Today a poignant story by Darlene Foster 

Precious Time by Darlene Foster

Tick! Tock!

Emily stared at the clock on the wall, wishing the hands would go around faster. Why did time go so slowly when she was waiting for him?

She wore her new blue dress with lace sleeves and curled her hair. She even borrowed some makeup from her mom. Well, not really borrowed, as her mom didn’t know she had snuck into her bathroom and used her blusher and lipstick.

She looked at the clock and couldn’t believe only one minute had passed. She fingered the silver locket hanging around her neck – a gift from him.

They always had such a good time together. He usually took her for a nice meal at a restaurant of her choice, and sometimes attended a movie afterward. One time, they went for a walk on the beach after dinner and watched the sunset. It was so lovely.

They held hands and talked and talked. She could tell him anything. He was such a good listener. They sat on a log, and he put his arm around her. She snuggled up beside him. He smelled so good. Emily felt so safe and happy when she was with him.

She smiled at the memory and glanced at the clock again.

If only the time would hurry up. She sighed.

He was her knight in shining armour. She wished her mom would let her spend more time with him. She loved him so much.

But six-year-old Emily only saw her dad once every two weeks since the divorce.

©Darlene Foster

A selection of books by Darlene Foster.

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One of the reviews for Amanda in Spain 

Balroop Singh
5 out of 5 stars
Fun, adventure and values for children

Amanda in Spain by Darlene Foster recounts the charming adventures of a twelve-year old girl who goes to Spain to meet her friend, Leah. I enjoyed this book with my seven-year-old grand daughter who could read most of the story herself, as it is written in simple language to engage young children. Besides focusing on fun, this book highlights the spirit of curiosity, kindness and determination to succeed and fosters love for travel. The mystery girl Dona meets Amanda again and again and why does she get pulled toward her – a tale well told to keep children hooked till the truth tumbles out!

All the characters are realistic – a wonderful friend who stands by you, parents of Leah who encourage independence and a kind stranger who offers to help. While the wickedness of the world is revealed, it is kept within bounds so that it may not trouble tender minds. There is enough within the story to know Spain and its traditions. I’ve recommended the series to my grandchildren and they would be reading more of Amanda’s adventures. 

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Website/Blog: Darlene Foster WordPress – Goodreads: Goodreads – Twitter: @supermegawoman – Bluesky: @darlenefoster.bsky.social  

About Darlene Foster

Growing up on a ranch near Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, Darlene Foster dreamt of writing, traveling the world, and meeting interesting people. She also believed in making her dreams come true. It’s no surprise she’s now the award-winning author of Amanda Travels, a children’s adventure series featuring a spunky twelve-year-old who loves to travel to unique places. Readers of all ages enjoy following Amanda as she unravels one mystery after another. When not traveling herself, Darlene divides her time between the west coast of Canada and the Costa Blanca, Spain with her husband and entertaining rescue dogs, Dot and Lia.

 

My thanks to Darlene for sharing this story with us and I know she would love to hear from you… 

 

Smorgasbord Health Column 2026 – Recipes that Pack a Punch – Salads don’t have to be boring by Sally Cronin

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In this rewind series I am sharing recipes that pack a punch of nutrition and still taste delicious..By now you know that I believe in a ‘cook from scratch’ approach to preparing meals and I have followed that philosophy for over forty years. In my mid-20s I was cooking food for 110 growing children three times a day, and the focus had to be on the nutrition as well as the taste. As a nutritional therapist for the last 27 years, I have shared these recipes with my clients to ensure that they never went hungry or deficient in the essential nutrients their bodies needed to be healthy.

I appreciate that some of you are enjoying the sunshine of summer and the thought of hot, stodgy food just does not always appeal… We got in the habit, when living in Spain, to have light meals in the really hot months, of chilled soups and homemade wholegrain soda bread, with a little butter (why not).

Even those living in the Northern Hemisphere can enjoy chilled soups and salads as a light meal and I often add a jacket potato or a rice salad to add a little body.

In the previous posts in the health series I have given you the nutritional breakdown of the foods that are very beneficial to include in your diet, but if you would like a reminder here is my alternative shopping list by nutrient that will illustrate how packed with goodness even the most simplest of ingredients are. Weekly grocery shopping list by nutrient.

Here are some of my recipes for soup, salads and dressings with a little twist or two….

In the winter months it is very easy to stock up on nutrients with all the wonderful root vegetables available and also combining ingredients to make hearty soups and stews. However, there are a great many nutrients in the summer vegetables that make a great addition to our winter diet in the form of chilled soups and salads.

Anyway, I thought you might like these recipes to store away for those days when you feel like eating light or crave the tangy taste of fresh summer produce.. They are very versatile and you can always add your favourite protein on top.

Tasty but healthy soups and salads.

Any time of year it is lovely to start off a meal with a fresh tasting, chilled soup or a wonderful refreshing salad. They can accompany main meals from around the world and because they are raw these starters will be carrying a very healthy and nutritious punch.

Gazpacho and other chilled soups.

When we lived in Spain we were blessed with an abundance of fresh vegetables that are perfect for making these summer soups. The most common of course is Gazpacho. I was a little concerned that when I came back to Ireland that there would not be the same range of vegetables, but I am delighted to say that apart from one or two ingredients, there is a wonderful range of home grown produce.

Recipe for a very simple version of Gazpacho for 6 people

  • 2 Tablespoons of olive oil.
  • Juice of half a fresh lemon.
  • 2 cloves of garlic crushed.
  • 1lb of fresh tomatoes skinned and chopped
  • 1 red pepper – deseeded and chopped.
  • 1 medium sized onion, chopped.
  • ½ a cucumber roughly chopped
  • ¾ pint fresh tomato juice
  • Salt and pepper to taste.
  • 4 tablespoons of cider vinegar (optional)

Garnish – you can make your own choices here of chopped black olives, cucumber, spring onions or onion, red or green pepper, tomatoes and chives.

Prepare

  1. Put everything into a blender except the salt and pepper which you can add to taste when blended.
  2. Chill and serve with the garnish and perhaps warm corn tortillas or Pitta bread.

Avocado and vegetable soup.

Ingredients for 6 people.

  • 150 grm or cooked and chopped asparagus
  • 100 grm of raw broccoli chopped
  • 100 grm of raw mushrooms chopped
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 250 ml of cold water or as needed for consistency
  • Seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon of soy sauce (optional)
  • 1 large avocado chopped

Method

  1. Blend the vegetables with water in the blender.
  2. Add the avocado and soy sauce and blend until smooth.
  3. Add seasoning to taste and serve straight away.

vegetablesSuperfood Salad

This salad is a wonderful accompaniment to fish, poultry or lean meat and will give your body a nutrient packed boost. The combined ingredients have been recognised as foods that actively work with your body to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, prevent heart disease, boost the immune system, help prevent cancer and are anti-ageing. This raw and unprocessed mix contains many wonderful nutrients but particularly Omega 3, Vitamins A,C,E and all the B vitamins. Minerals such as manganese, copper, calcium, iron, potassium and amino acids including tryptophan.

You can add any fresh vegetables that you like including grated carrot, finely chopped celery or red cabbage.

To serve four people.

  • Packet of fresh, whole leaf baby spinach
  • Large onion in finely chopped rings.
  • 12 walnut halves
  • Four firm, ripe tomatoes,
  • One head of broccoli
  • 50 grm Sesame Seeds
  • I ripe and firm avocado.
  • Olive oil.

Prepare

  1. Wash and put the spinach leaves in a large salad bowl.
  2. Cut the broccoli into small florets and add with the thinly sliced onion rings.
  3. Throw in the walnuts.
  4. Toss the mix thoroughly.
  5. Decorate around the edge with tomato segments and just before serving add chopped avocado to the centre.
  6. You can either sprinkle with sesame seeds or add the seeds to two tablespoons of Olive oil and drizzle over the salad as a dressing.

Serve with toasted wholegrain French bread.

Avocado and orange salad with cold salmon with Yoghurt and Date Dressing

Ingredients for the dressing

  • 250mil of natural yoghurt
  • 100 grm of finely chopped stoned dates.
  • ½ teaspoon of grated orange rind.
  • 2 tablespoons of orange juice.

Combine all the ingredients together and chill in the refrigerator.

Avocado, Apple and Orange salad with cold salmon

Ingredients

  • 3 large ripe avocados, stoned and quartered.
  • 2 large oranges, peeled and separated into segments.
  • 2 Large green apples, washed and cut into segments.
  • Mixed lettuce leaves and ½ bag of young fresh spinach leaves.
  • 2 teaspoons of sesame seeds
  • Large Salmon fillet cut into 6 equal portions, grilled or steamed.

Prepare

  1. Arrange the lettuce and spinach leaves in the bottom of a large bowl.
  2. Arrange alternate segments of the oranges and apples.
  3. Arrange the avocado quarters in the centre of the bowl.
  4. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
  5. Serve the dressing in a separate serving bowl on the table.
  6. Is lovely with fresh warm slices of Pitta bread or corn tortillas.

Papaya and prawn salad with tomato and herb dressing.

Serves 6 (alternative to papaya use avocado)

Ingredients Tomato and herb dressing

  • 2 large tomatoes skinned and chopped
  • 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds
  • ½ teaspoon of fresh basil, rosemary and cilantro.
  • 4 tablespoons of olive oil.
  • Pimiento

Prepare

Blend together and then chill in the refrigerator.

The Papaya Salad

  • Assorted lettuce leaves
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Thinly sliced cucumber
  • 500gm of peeled prawns
  • 3 ripe Papaya cut in cut in half, seeded.

Prepare

  1. Arrange the leaves on individual plates and place the Papaya in the centre.
  2. Place the tomatoes and cucumber around the plate.
  3. Mix the prawns with the dressing and place in the centre of the papaya
  4. Sprinkle with pimiento

Alternative Salad Dressings

Banana and Yoghurt dressing.

  • 2 bananas mashed.
  • 500 ml of natural yoghurt
  • 2 tablespoons of honey

Homemade mayonnaise

  • 2 egg yolks
  • 1 teaspoon of mustard
  • 240 ml of olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon of cider vinegar
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or to taste.

Prepare

Put the egg yolks into a blender bowl with the cider vinegar and blend gently until well mixed then add the olive oil drop by drop with the blender moving.

Gradually increase to a thin stream of oil and as the mayonnaise thickens you can increase the volume of oil.

After the oil has been added continue to blend until the mixture has thickened.

Season to taste with the lemon juice,mustard, pepper and salt.

I hope that this has given you some ideas for lighter lunches and suppers… Please feel free to share.. thanks Sally.

©Sally Cronin Just Food for Health 1998 – 2026

About Sally Cronin

Sally Cronin is the author of nineteen books including her memoir Size Always Matters in 2024. This was an updated version of her first book, Size Matters published in 2001 which followed her weight loss of 150lbs and the programme she designed to regain her health. A programme she shared with her clients over her 27 year career as a nutritional therapist and on her blog. This has been followed by another eighteen books both fiction and non-fiction including multi-genre collections of short stories and poetry.

Her latest book is part of a three book series set in a garden in Spain and then in Ireland. Tales from the Irish Garden: The Missing Pieces brings together creatures and people in need of a sanctuary, where they can spend their lives in peace.

As an author she understands how important it is to have support in marketing books and offers a number of FREE promotional opportunities on her blog Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and across her social media.

After leading a nomadic existence exploring the world, she now lives with her husband on the coast of Southern Ireland enjoying the seasonal fluctuations in the temperature of the rain.

You can read the reviews: My books 2026

Thanks for visiting and I am always delighted to receive your feedback.. stay safe Sally 

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – #Fantasy #Sciencefiction D. Wallace Peach, #Mythical #Fantasy Grace Blair, #Fantasy #Adventure Luciana Cavallaro,

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The first book is one by Diana Wallace Peach and is the fantasy Catling’s Bane (The Rose Shield Book One).

About the book

Catling – She’s a weapon desired by those who reign and those who rebel.

In the tiered cities of Ellegeance, the elite Influencers’ Guild holds the power to manipulate emotions. Love and fear, pleasure and pain mark the extremes of their sway. But it’s the subtle blends that hook their victims’ hearts. They hide behind oaths of loyalty and rule the world.

Until Catling discovers the gift that will be her bane. She is the shield that disrupts the influencer’s sway.

Born in the grim warrens beneath the city, Catling rues the rose birthmark encircling her eye. Yet, it grants her a unique ability, the means to remake a civilization. To the Guild, she an aberration, a threat, and they order her death. No longer a helpless child, Catling has other plans.

As chaos shakes the foundations of order and rule, will she become the realm’s savior? Or its executioner?

Welcome to a world of three moons, a sentient landscape, rivers of light, and tier cities that rise from the swamps like otherworld flowers. A planet of waterdragons, where humans are the aliens living among three-fingered natives with spotted skin. Where a half-blood converses with the fog and the goddess plans her final reckoning.

In the spirit of the fantasy tradition set by Patrick Rothfuss, Karen Miller, and Glenda Larke, follow Catling’s journey as she grows into the deadly force that shapes the future. She is the realm’s shield, an influencer, assassin, healer, mother, and avenger. And all she desires is to go home.

One of the reviews for the book

D. J. Brasket
5 out of 5 stars
Fantastic world-building and characters you care about

Love this fantasy series opener. I was dazzled by the world-building and had visions of the cinematic version of the book that would rival Avatar’s spectacular scenes. Catling’s homeland is a watery world with fantastic cities built on tiered pylons that rise above the squalor of the masses who live below. Here you will find luminescent rivers full of colorfully spotted river-folk, water-dragons harnessed to ships to pull them upriver, mist and fog that take the shape of sentient beings.

This land is ruled by royal Elites and Influencers who mesmerize and exploit the common folk. When Catling’s mother abandons her, she is adopted by a family of pig-farmers who welcome her into their home. She grows deeply attached to them, and especially to Whitt, a boy her age who is drawn to her as well.

When tragedy strikes again, she is whisked away by Vianne, a powerful Influencer who realizes Catling has the unique ability to cut through the mesmerism that keeps the masses subdued and compliant. She sees what a threat Catling is to the powerful Elite, but also how she might be trained to be useful to them instead. In the meantime, Whitt goes searching for Catling, and the stories of other colorful characters who realize her potential to remake their world are woven into the rich tapestry of this narrative.

All of these characters are richly drawn, unique, and compelling. Catling and Whitt, my favorites, are people you come to love and admire, even as you fear for them, seeing what a dangerous world they live in.

Aside from the fantastic world-building and compelling characters, I loved the beautiful way the story was written: “rafts dappled the river like harvest leaves,” “his stomach snarled like a cornered crag bear,” “stars salted the sky,” “sorrow melted from his skin,” “he picked at his supper like a dying man,” “a boundless sky sparkled with stars so fat and round a man might mistake them for pearls.”

If you love fantasies set in dramatic, Avatar-like worlds, with unique, complex characters you care about, gorgeous language, and magical powers that can be used for good or evil, you will thoroughly enjoy Catling’s Bane and eagerly look forward to the next book in the Rose Shield series, as I am.

Read the reviews: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A selection of other books by D.Wallace Peach

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Find out more about D. Wallace Peach, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Follow Diana: Goodreads – blog: Myths of the Mirror – Facebook: Diana Peach

The next book today is by Grace Blair with  Poseidon’s Atlantis Adventure: The Human Hybrid Experiment (Atlantis Book Series 1)

About the book

Betrayal Vengeance Power

In the depths of Tartarus, their father, Cronus, imprisoned the Olympian gods. Only by working together can Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades escape eternal torment and defeat Cronus to claim their destiny. But freedom comes at a price. The gods’ struggle for control over Atlantis, their mythical kingdom, will put their love and trust in the test.

Poseidon finds himself torn between his developing relationship with the mortal Cleito and his larger purpose when he’s approached by Kyrie, a star being, who reveals Poseidon’s true origins. To protect Atlantis, Poseidon must stop the Order of the Black Sun from corrupting its power.

Guiding him is an ancient prophecy and a mysterious compass – but even with these tools, Poseidon’s path forward remains unclear. With the help of unexpected allies, he navigates visions of the past and future, battles with his niece Artemis, and ultimately discovers his role in determining the fate of Atlantis.

In this captivating work of fiction, ancient mythology, and archetypes meld with themes of purpose, unity, and self-discovery. Ideal for fans of thrilling adventures and page-turning drama, this book transports readers into the heart of the power struggle between the Olympian gods as they fight to shape the destiny of Atlantis.

One of the reviews for the book

Jacqui Murray
5.0 out of 5 stars The Greek Gods Unleashed

In Grace Blair’s latest fantastical fiction, Poseidon’s Atlantis Adventure (2023), Book 1 of the Atlantis Book Series, Poseidon and the Titans have been entombed most of their lives by their father, Cronus, who considers them a threat to his leadership of the gods. Poseidon and his brother Hades create an alliance with the one brother who wasn’t relegated to prison–Zeus. In a fiery battle, they kill Cronus and gain their freedom. As victors, Hades is awarded Lord of the Underworld, Zeus the skies and the land, and Poseidon the seas. This works for a while, but Poseidon tires of being relegated to the underwater realm, without access to land and sun, and seeks a plan to change his destiny. That, of course, involves Atlantis. In his quest to redefine his future, Poseidon finds himself in an unlikely alliance with another extraterrestrial being who promises him the power he wants in return for his aid stopping the evil forces that threaten the world. But, is the godly power of Poseidon enough to stop those who fight against him. Even he doesn’t know that answer.

This is a clever twist on the Olympian gods providing a peek into what could be if each of the gods didn’t remain in complete control of their domains. The story is told in vivid detail as befits a tale of mythical gods and is filled with passion and action. It is highly recommended for those who love reading about the gods and fantasy.

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Also by Grace Blair

Discover more about Grace Blair, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Grace: Goodreads – Websites: Modern Mystic Media – And: Modern Mystic Media Blog – And: Poseidon’s Atlantic Adventure – And: Einstein’s Compass Book – Linkedin: Grace the Mystic – X: @GraceBAuthor – YouTube: Grace Blair  – Instagram: Einstein’s Compass Novel 

The final book is by Luciana Cavallaro and is The Guardian’s Legacy (Coin of Time Book 1)

About the book

2025 Gold Book Award Literary Titan – 2023 B.R.A.G. Medallion Award – 2022 Silver Medal Global Book Awards – 2022 Finalist Page Turner Awards – 2022 Finalist New Media Film Festival – 2022 Quarterfinalist ScreenCraft Awards

An ancient cover up, a dangerous legacy and the search for the most powerful object.

A three-thousand-year old magical coin, the disappearance of an old man, fanatical neo-Nazis, and the hunt by Interpol, merge in this gripping story of an ancient cover up, and the transition of an ordinary man into the guardian of the most powerful coin on earth.

High school teacher Nik Zosimos, leads an uncomplicated life until he receives a cryptic phone message from his grandfather, Iasos. He hurries to his grandfather’s finding him relaxed and pleased to see him. A few beers later, Nik leaves his grandfather’s place, stupefied and astounded. Iasos has a secret, one that dates back to the time of Herakles.

But that was just a myth, wasn’t it?

If you like Dan Brown and Wilbur Smith books or enjoys action, fast-paced dramatic shows similar to National Treasure and The Librarians, then you’ll love The Guardian’s Legacy. Award-winning author of Historical Fantasy/Adventure, Luciana Cavallaro, pens a thrilling mystery. Click the BUY NOW button at the top and find out how Nik’s life changes.

One of the reviews for the book 

L D Tanner
5 out of 5 stars
Promising Start to Action-Packed Tale

Flip a coin and see where you land in the action/adventure book, “The Guardian’s Legacy,” by Luciana Cavallaro. This is Book 1 in the “Coin of Time” series that promises to be an action-packed tale with a likable hero reminiscent of Indiana Jones and Ben Gates in “National Treasure.” The prologue begins in a heart-throbbing chase scene in which Nik and a mysterious woman are being chased by assailants on motorcycles. With a flip of an ancient coin, Nik teleports back in time and meets the Greek historian, Herodotus. I asked myself, “Whoah! What just happened?” and was compelled to read the book to find out.

In Chapter 1, the story begins ten months earlier when we are introduced to an unmarried high school teacher, Nicolaos Zosimos (Nik), with an unremarkable life. He receives an urgent call from his grandfather who then urges him to be the next protector of an ancient coin minted by Heracles. At first, Nik wonders if his grandfather has lost his mind but reconsiders after seeing treasures of ancient weapons in his grandfather’s house. Further, his grandfather uses high-powered computers to search for clues where the second, identical coin might be. Together, the two coins have unknown powers that have been kept secret through the centuries in case they fall into the wrong hands. When Nik’s grandfather detects clues that the second coin has popped in and out of different shops in Europe, he travels there to investigate. When Nik flies later to Europe, he discovers his grandfather has disappeared. More alarming, Nik is being hunted by fanatical neo-Nazis and Interpol, forcing him into action to become the guardian of the most powerful coin in the world.

Author Luciana Cavallaro has written a gripping action-adventure that promises time travel and teleporting in the series. As with her other books, the tale contains a fascinating historical backdrop on how Heracles forged metals used to mint the coins. Details from Greek mythology and the development of minting coins are seamlessly weaved into the plot without distracting from the fast-paced plot. The story follows the traditional structure of Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces. The unlikely hero, Nik, is an ordinary man propelled into the role of a fierce protector of the ancient coin. The story ends on a climactic cliff-hanger. Lingering curiosity about the prologue compels me to read the entire series.

I highly recommend “The Guardian’s Legacy” for readers who enjoy action/adventure with an archaeological flair and the unique premise of discovering the secrets of two ancient coins that could destroy civilization if it flips into the wrong hands. 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon AU And: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK 

A selection of other books by Luciana Cavallaro

Discover more about Luciana, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon AU – and: Amazon UK – and: Amazon US – Follow Luciana: Goodreads – Website: Luccav/about – Facebook: Luciana Cavallaro – Twitter: @ClucianaLuciana – Instagram: author Luciana 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – The Cookery Column Retro with Carol Taylor – Family Favourites and Spices in action Part Two

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I will be sharing a series we originally ran back in 2018, and with many more visitors to the blog now and fans of Carol’s food posts, we thought you might enjoy all the foods and recipes that she covered in that series.

Last week I gave you recipes for mixes and spices that I always make but thinking about it, I wasn’t really very fair, as I didn’t give you my recipes that I made with the mixes did I?

This week I will be using my spices /mixes and giving you the recipes that again are ones we know and love here at home… Of course if you have recipes which you make using the mixes I shared then please share with us…Sally and I would love to know what you cook…

Green Sauce… A wonderful dressing for fish or chicken… made with tahini

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp white miso
• 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp fresh lime juice
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 4 tsp Tahini
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbsp honey, preferably raw
• 2 cups cilantro leaves with tender stems
• ⅓ cup sliced chives
• 1½ tsp grated peeled ginger
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• Coarse salt, freshly ground pepper

I love these sauces because they are quick and easy to make once the ingredients are measured out. Liquids first, and a quick whizz until the miso is dissolved and the sauce smooth, then add the herbs another quick whizz and you are done …It will keep in the fridge for at least 3 days so you can make it in advance.

Next is the chicken or pork Masala curry we make using my Chettinad spice mix.

Ingredients:

• 500 gm Chicken thighs or legs cut into two or pork hip cubed
• 2 tbsp ghee or Oil.
• 1 large Onion., chopped
• 2 Large tomatoes pureed.
• 1-2 sprigs Curry Leaves.
• 1 Bay Leaf( Optional)

Marinade:

• 1/8th tsp Turmeric.
• 1-2 tsp Chilli Powder.
• 2 tbsp Natural Yoghurt.

For paste:

• 4 /6 garlic cloves
• 2/3 in piece fresh ginger chopped finely.
• Salt as required.

Let’s Cook

  • Marinade the chicken in the yoghurt, turmeric and chilli powder for about 20 minutes.
    Blitz the ginger and garlic together I have a small blender for this purpose
  • Add ghee/oil to pan and add the ginger and garlic paste with some cumin seeds and cook for a few minutes add the onions and Masala powder and let this mixture sweat until the onions are golden this adds more flavour.
  • Then add the chicken, curry leaves and tomatoes stir well to combine.
  • Add little water, bring to slow boil and reduce heat to simmer until chicken cooked.

N.B. If this is the first time you have used the masala mix then start with 1 spoonful you can always add more.

If I am making more, then I increase either the tomatoes or the yoghurt as we prefer ours with more tomatoes. If you prefer a creamier one, increase the yoghurt…personal choice and practice makes perfect. Ours are definitely much better than when we first started making them I believe that with Indian the same as Thai food the ingredients are just a guide.

Enjoy!

Lemon grass Chicken Skewers.

Ingredients:

• 1 kg minced chicken
• 4 – 5 garlic cloves , grated ( adjust to taste )
• 4 tsp white pepper powder
• 2 1/2 tsp salt ( to taste )
• 1/2 egg yolks
• 5 tbsp pounded lemongrass , white part only
• 10 pieces of coriander roots , pounded
• 2 tbsp coriander leaves , finely chopped
• 1 carrot , regular size , grated
• 10 stalks of lemongrass (maybe more), cut the green bit into 10 cm long pieces to make skewers.

Let’s Cook!

  • Mix all the ingredients above together, you may not need all the egg yolk ( I would separate 1 ) to start with and just add it bit by bit If the mixture is too sticky you may add a little bit of bread crumb.
  • Take one dessert spoon of the mixture and shape it on the lemongrass stalk.
  • Arrange the chicken skewers on a baking tray lined with aluminium foil
  • Bake it in preheated oven at 180 degree C, for 20 – 30 minutes. The baking time may vary.
  • My oven tends to be very hot and it takes only 20 minutes , then I switched the oven off , left the chicken there for while to get the slight brown colour .
  • Serve with the Thai Peanut sauce or the Rujak sauce if you want something a little spicer.

We love these and the lemon grass imparts a lovely flavour but a dish I make more so when I have guests.

For quickness I just cut a couple of chicken breasts in slices and put a few pieces on a wooden skewer brush with the peanut sauce and cook either on the BBQ or on the griddle turning often so as not to burn them.

Then serve them with additional peanut sauce and a salad maybe some cucumber relish.

Now for some versatile Fajitas

Fajitas were very popular when had our bar/restaurant in Phuket…Quick to make and served sizzling on a cast iron skillet they went down a treat…

Fajitas are a versatile meal and you can you thin slices of beef/ pork instead of chicken and add some baby corns sliced if you have them…

Ingredients:

• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into thin strips
• 1/2 medium sweet red pepper, julienned
• 1/2 medium green pepper, julienned
• ½ medium yellow pepper ( optional)
• 4 spring onions, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 6 flour tortillas (8 inches), warmed
• Shredded cheddar cheese, taco sauce, salsa, guacamole and sour cream
• Lime Juice
• Oil to cook

Let’s Cook!

  • In a large zip loc bag, combine 1 tbsp oil, lime juice and 1-2 tbsp of fajita spice add the chicken. Seal and turn to coat; refrigerate for 1-3 hours.
  • In a large skillet, saute peppers and onions in a little oil until crisp-tender. Remove and keep warm.
  • In the same skillet, cook chicken not the marinade over medium-high heat for 5-6 minutes or until no longer pink. Return pepper mixture to pan; heat through.
  • Spoon filling down the centre of tortillas; fold in half. Serve with cheese, taco sauce, salsa, guacamole and sour cream or take to the table and let everyone make their own.

N.B. As with any spice mix the first time you use it start small you can always add more when cooking your chicken.

Enjoy!

That is all for this week I hope you enjoy the recipes and careful with the spice …start small …Have fun xxx

 ©Carol Taylor

About Carol Taylor

Carol Taylor now lives in Thailand having been brought up in England and has built a dedicated following of her blog and guest posts where she creates not only amazing dishes, but sources fantastic ingredients in line with her philosophy of sustainable food ‘cooked from scratch’. Having travelled extensively Carol has incorporated the cuisines of many different cultures into her recipes, and shares her research into the backgrounds to both the traditional cultures and the origins of the ingredients.

She loves shopping at local markets and wherever she is, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetables she has never seen or cooked with.

Health and the environment are key priorities, particularly the concern about our oceans and fisheries. Also, how many of our foods on the shelves of our supermarkets are ultra processed and contain additives that do not add to the nutritional value and are not healthy. She is an advocate about growing our own food where or when we can even it it is only a few pots or a window box of herbs.

She wishes everyone would count chemicals and not calories as they would be much healthier…it’s true ‘we are what we eat‘ and while a cake or a bar of chocolate does no harm on occasions, sticking to a fresh food, balanced diet will keep our bodies healthy as we age…

Cookbooks by Carol Taylor

Head over to buy the books:  Amazon UK  – And: Amazon US For reviews: Goodreads – Connect to Carol – Blog: Carol Cooks 2 – Twitter: @CarolCooksTwo – Facebook: Carol Taylor 

 

Thanks Carol for another fascinating post..and join us again in two weeks for the next in the series.

 

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Letters from America 1985-1987 – Introduction and Arrival – We get the Call by Sally Cronin

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Introduction

In 1984, having moved to Tring in Hertfordshire only six months earlier, my husband David was made redundant. He had moved to a new division of his company and it simply didn’t take off. However, his former boss rang a couple of days later and suggested a change of role. David was an engineer and had never really considered sales as an option. But his boss offered him the position of VP of sales for the company in the USA, initially based in Houston. This was December and Christmas was around the corner. It also meant putting the house on the market and moving to the US in late January or early February.

Of course we jumped at the opportunity.

First however we had to let our families know and so we decided to invite my parents and David’s parents over from Ireland for Christmas along with my brother and my husband’s uncle who lived in London. That little house rocked with laughter over the holidays and it was also sad knowing we wouldn’t see them for possibly a long time.

For those of you who have read Geoff Cronin’s stories here… you can imagine how many tales were told over the holidays when joined by his brother David on the right in the picture.

Over the next two years we travelled thousands of miles across America to cram in as much adventure as possible. In those days there were no emails and phone calls were expensive, so I wrote to my parents every week sharing our travels and adventures. We were delighted when they made the long trip over themselves in 1985 and met all our friends and experienced both Texas and its wonderful people for themselves.

After my father died in 1996 my mother found a folder with my name on it. He had kept every letter I wrote to them and on the folder he had left a message.  Write the book!

Initially I shared the letters on my blog and some of the articles that I wrote about specific events or trips that stood out for us both five years ago. Rather than turn into what would be quite a lengthy book,  I have decided I would rather recreate a new series here over the next year or so.

I hope you enjoy the nostalgic trip back in time to an America that welcomed us with open arms, and where we met such amazing people some who became friends for life.  

My first letter home January 1985 – Arrival

We arrived safely and just about over our jet lag. The flight was very cramped, apparently due to SNOW in Houston, Friday’s flight had been cancelled, so it was booked solid. It was a DC10 and really too small for an 11 hour flight. However, we landed at about 6 p.m. local time and thankfully allowed through immigration. (I couldn’t have faced deportation and the return flight!)

We picked up our hire car and proceeded to get lost. I was driving, my first time on the wrong side of the road, in an automatic, in the dark! Nobody told us that Green’s Road where the Marriott is situated is 26 miles long…. or felt like it. An hour later and with short fuses we arrived at the hotel. By now it was 2 a.m. our time so we were pretty shattered. We broke open the duty free and dressed for dinner. They certainly believe in big portions. David ended up with half a barbecued cow on his plate!! We got to bed about 11p.m. (5a.m. body time) and slept through until 8 a.m.

Sunday, someone from the Houston office rang and asked us to dinner which was very pleasant. They eat early here, around 6pm, so it was still light out thankfully and we found the place without too much trouble. What was quite interesting was seeing some of the pick-up trucks on the road with rifles on racks at the back of the cab. Obviously not a good idea to carve anyone up in Texas!

David had to go into the office Monday and as we only have two weeks at the Marriott I had to find us a temporary apartment. This meant driving on my own for the first time and you need eyes in the back of your head. There were some pretty fancy moves going on and some of those trucks are big and intimidating.

The office had given me a short list of apartment/hotels to rent on a monthly basis, which suits us whilst we look for a more permanent place. The one I decided on has everything included in the rent (it would need to be at 800 dollars a month!). There is one bedroom, dining area, large living room and a bathroom. Maid service is included twice a week (this is the life) and a large swimming pool (ice covered at the moment).

The price is a little over what the company have allowed for but when they do their sums, they will see that keeping us in the hotel would cost 4,500 dollars a month!

We move in on Saturday and at least we will have our privacy again. It is surrounded by a security fence and you have to use a credit card to get in and out.

We had our first dinner out on our own on Monday night. We went to a place called TGI Fridays. (Thank God It’s Friday) I think. We met Jesus… really… our waiter was called Jesus but you pronounce it Heysus. Having already experienced a cow on a plate, we opted for their appetisers (starters) and shared them. Delicious and the service was a lot more attentive than you would get at home! I also had my first margarita … tequila and lime and absolutely amazing.

David is already booked on business trips which means I now know the route back and forth to the airport. He is away today until Friday in Kansas and Virginia and then next week in Los Angeles Monday and Tuesday. We are both going to Dallas as we can drive up and then to New Orleans for my birthday.

My first impressions of Houston are very favourable. It is very flat and spread out and because no-one walks anywhere, there are hardly any side walks. There is little public transport at all, and as we are 30 miles from the actual centre of Houston is can be a bit restricting.

They have great big shopping malls every mile or so and thankfully there is one around the corner from the hotel that I can walk to.

Everything seems very expensive, especially to eat out and we will both be glad to get back to home cooking again next week.

Things here are very different and we have had some surprises. On our first morning we went to the supermarket to buy some essentials and there were horses tied up outside and cowboys in the full gear including holsters inside, stocking up on beer and chips (crisps). We thought we had walked into the set of a Western… we asked one of the staff if this was normal and he told us it was Rodeo Week… some things to get used to.

However, I am sure that once we get over the strangeness of everything we will be more relaxed. Always difficult to know how to act in a new environment but at least I have had lots of practice with all the travelling we did when I was growing up.

We know that our time here is limited and we want to experience as much as possible in the next two years. The people we had dinner with the second day are British, and we got the impression that in the six years they have been here they haven’t seemed to integrate very much. The recommendation was to find a complex where there are other English families but to be honest, we both feel if we are to enjoy the real flavour of Texas and the USA, we should find somewhere we can join in more.

The weather is very cold and unseasonal, to us it’s just like home and probably easier than arriving into the very high temperatures they have from April onwards. Thank goodness I bought my thick winter coat at the last minute.

Well I think that covers most things. I have saved my letter writing until David was away so I had plenty to do in his absence. Hotels however luxurious are pretty boring when you are on your own and I only go out in daylight. There are some quite good films on the television so I will be square-eyed when David gets back. I think he is pleased that at least I don’t moan about being left on my own. He has so much to do initially, that he has enough on his plate.

Hopefully before you come out for your visit later this year we will be settled, although there is a possibility that we might be moved to Washington. At least it will mean a shorter flight for you and more moderate weather in the summer.

©Sally Cronin

I hope you have enjoyed my first letter home and more next week…

A selection of my books

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More reviews : Goodreads –Blog: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Twitter: @sgc58 – Facebook: Sally Cronin – LinkedIn: Sally Cronin – Bluesky: @sallycronin.bsky.social

Sally Cronin is the author of nineteen books including her memoir Size Always Matters in 2024. This was an updated version of her first book, Size Matters published in 2001 which followed her weight loss of 150lbs and the programme she designed to regain her health. A programme she shared with her clients over her 27 year career as a nutritional therapist and on her blog. This has been followed by another eighteen books both fiction and non-fiction including multi-genre collections of short stories and poetry.

Her latest book is part of a three book series set in a garden in Spain and then in Ireland. Tales from the Irish Garden: The Missing Pieces brings together creatures and people in need of a sanctuary, where they can spend their lives in peace.

As an author she understands how important it is to have support in marketing books and offers a number of FREE promotional opportunities on her blog Smorgasbord Blog Magazine and across her social media.

After leading a nomadic existence exploring the world, she now lives with her husband on the coast of Southern Ireland enjoying the seasonal fluctuations in the temperature of the rain.

Thank you for dropping in today and as always delighted to receive your feedback.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Music Column Retro – The Big Band Era with William Price King and Sally Cronin – 1940s – Tommy Dorsey, Russell Case Orchestra with Perry Como, Martha Graham

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Welcome to the 2026 series of the music column where I am joined as always by Jazz singer and composer William Price King.  We hope you will join us every Tuesday for some of the chart hits of the big band era from the 1930s through to the 1950s.

Some of the earlier videos are not of the best quality however where possible we have sourced remastered copies to share with you. Considering some are almost 100 years old, it is remarkable that they exist at all.  A testament to the love of the music of that era. Along with our selections each week we will also be showcasing some of the iconic dancers of the era.

Here is my next selection from the Big Band chart in the 1940s from Tommy Dorsey

Tommy Dorsey “Opus One” (1945)

Sy Oliver composed “Opus One” with lyrics by Sid Garrison for the film “Broadway Rhythm” in 1943, but the song was cut before the film’s release. The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra recorded it in 1944, and was released by RCA Records featuring Buddy DeFranco on clarinet, Milt Golden on piano and Nelson Riddle on trombone. The tune is often titled “Opus One” or “Opus #1.” It entered theThe Billboard Records Most Played on the Air chart on 3 March 1945, and peaked at #8 during its three weeks stay.

Here is my next selection from the 1940s from – Russell Case Orchestra and Perry Como

Perry Como with Russel Case’s Orchestra “If I Loved You” (1945)

“If I Loved You” is a show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel.

There were four hit versions of the song in 1945: Perry Como (#3), Frank Sinatra (#7), Bing Crosby (#8) and Harry James (#8). In 1954, Roy Hamilton’s recording went to #4 on Billboard’s, Best Sellers in Stores chart.

Many artists have recorded the song over the years.

Other sources: Wikipedia – And: Jazz Standards

Martha Graham (May 11, 1894 – April 1, 1991) was an American modern dancer and choreographer. Her style, the Graham technique, reshaped American dance and is still taught worldwide.

Graham danced and taught for over seventy years. She was the first dancer to perform at the White House, travel abroad as a cultural ambassador, and receive the highest civilian award of the US: the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction. In her lifetime she received honors ranging from the Key to the City of Paris to Japan’s Imperial Order of the Precious Crown.

She said, in the 1994 documentary The Dancer Revealed: “I have spent all my life with dance and being a dancer. It’s permitting life to use you in a very intense way. Sometimes it is not pleasant. Sometimes it is fearful. But nevertheless it is inevitable.”

Founded in 1926 (the same year as Graham’s professional dance company), the Martha Graham School is the oldest school of dance in the United States. First located in a small studio within Carnegie Hall, the school currently has two different studios in New York City.

 Your Hosts for The Big Band Era

William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.

His interest in music began at an early age when he studied piano and clarinet in high school. At Morehouse College in Atlanta where he grew up, he sang in the Glee Club and studied classical music. After graduation he went off to the Yale School of Music where he earned a Masters degree. From there he journeyed to New York where he created a jazz trio ‘Au Naturel’ which performed in some of the hottest venues in Manhattan including gigs on Broadway and the famous ‘Rainbow Room.’ These gigs opened doors for performances in Montreal and a European tour.

While touring Europe he met a lovely French lady, Jeanne Maïstre, who, a year later became his wife. King left the group ‘Au Naturel’ and settled in the south of France where he started a new life on the French Riviera, opening his own music school – the “Price King Ecole Internationale de Chant.” He has had the pleasure over the years of seeing many of his students excel as singers on a professional level, and some going on to become national celebrities. He continues to coach young singers today, in his spare time.

Blog– IMPROVISATION – William Price King on Tumblr – Buy William’s music: William Price King iTunes – Facebook – William Price King – Twitter – @wpkofficial
Regular Venue – Cave Wilson

Sally Cronin is an author, blogger and broadcaster who enjoyed four years as part of the team on Onda Cero International’s English speaking morning show in Marbella and then for two years as a presenter on Expressfm the local radio station in Portsmouth. She co-presented two ‘Drive Time’ shows a week with Adrian Knight, hosted the live Thursday Afternoon Show and The Sunday Morning Show guests including musicians and authors. Following this she became Station Director for a local internet television station for two years, producing and presenting the daily news segment, outside broadcasts and co-presenting the Adrian and Sally chat show live on Friday evenings.

She and her husband David have now returned to Ireland where they live on the Wexford Coast where she blogs and continues to write books.

Books :Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More reviews: Goodreads – blog: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Twitter: @sgc58 – Facebook: Sally Cronin – LinkedIn: Sally Cronin

Thanks for tuning in and as always we love to hear from you.. thanks William and Sally.

 

 

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – New Book on the Shelves – #Family #Murder #Mystery – The Secret Collector by Beem Weeks

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Delighted to share the news of the latest release by Beem Weeks… The murder mystery… The Secret Collector.

About the book.

Violet Marie Glass has a hunger for adventure. She dreams of leaving her family’s farm one day for a life in any big city that will have her.

As the teenager comes of age in 1910 Alabama, she collects secrets during her nightly traipsing with best friend Ruthie Sender. Most of her secrets are harmless experiences rooted in the girl’s own rebellion—she drinks liquor, dances to ragtime music, and mingles with a group of determined suffragettes.

It’s during a visit with her oldest sister that Violet becomes aware of a long-kept family secret that carries the potential for ruin for the entire Glass clan.

Life begins to unravel when a missing neighbor turns up dead. Violet suspects her grandfather may have had a hand in the man’s demise. Will the girl turn him in to the authorities, or will she add this secret to her growing collection?

Violet soon discovers that a girl can keep only so many secrets before the weight of them becomes unbearable.

Head over to buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Also by Beem Weeks

One of the reviews for Jazz Baby 

Spice
5 out of 5 stars
A gem of a book

This was my first download from the Rave Reviews Book Club selection and I must say that it is a spellbinding piece of writing.

Set in Mississippi in the 1920s there is masterful detail of lives led on either side of the river, and Emily Ann Teegarten is the daring young protagonist whose dream of making it as a jazz singer finds her taking risks a young girl cannot hope to get away with all the time. I was immediately bewitched by her outspoken ideas and tenacity, her naivety and her curiously promiscuous nature. She is no shrinking violet when it comes to sex, but her animal instincts are beautifully tempered by the gift she has of seeing the good in everyone. Of course her trust is often misplaced and as the story progresses, ‘Baby’ is the victim of the all too familiar greed and desire of people who have their own harsh agendas.

Quite apart from a plot that is as action-packed as any gangster blockbuster, and a heroine who scatters chaos and hope wherever she lands, the language is what makes this book exceptional. When I read, I expect to find new metaphors, striking collocations, similes to make me see more clearly what the author is trying to show me, but Jazz Baby knocked me down on every page with breathtaking imagery. And I don’t mean verbose, tangled, literary descriptions that leave the reader impressed but unmoved; I mean crisp, succinct phraseology that cuts right to the quick and gets to the bottom of a shared genetic knowledge of what it is to be human.

Beem Weeks has written a magical, masterful book that shouts ‘this is what life was really like’. Beautiful, tragic, optimistic and unmissable. 

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Beem Weeks: Goodreads – Website/Blog: Beem Weeks – Twitter: @BeemWeeks –  Bluesky: Beem Weeks Author – Podcast: Voice of Indie 

About Beem Weeks

Beem Weeks is the author of short stories, poems, essays, and novels. A pop-culture trivia buff, Beem’s passions include indie films, loud music, and a well-told story. He has also penned short story collections entitled Slivers of Life, and Strange Hwy: Short Stories and the novel Jazz Baby.

He is also an editor, audio/video producer, blogger, and podcaster.

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – #Anthologies #Eat #Work #Stories Yvette Prior and Marsha Ingrao

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Over the last year I have read and reviewed three multi-author anthologies and found them intriguing and also relatable in many ways. Anthologies is a wonderful way to introduce new writers, offer bloggers an opportunity to be published and offers a varied and interesting opportunity to discover a fresh perspective on life.

The first anthology edited by Yvette Prior who also shares her own contribution is This is How We Work Stories, Memoirs and Poems about the Social Dimensions of Work. 

Yvette Prior Contributing Editor andJoseph Jerome Dwyer, PhD, Sherri Matthews, Mabel Kwong, Brieuc Martin-Onraet, Mike. F. Martelli, PhD, Kelvin M. Knight, Geetashree Chatterjee, Chad Prior, Marsha Ingrao, Robbie Cheadle’ Frank Prem and Jeffrey D. Simmons

About the anthology

This anthology offers a thoughtful exploration of the social dimensions of work, bringing together a diverse collection of voices through memoir, fiction, and poetry. The contributors share their unique experiences of labor, identity, and motivation, revealing the complex interplay between cultural expectations, relationships, and personal growth in the workplace.

Beyond the practicalities of pay and productivity, this volume illuminates how work shapes our sense of self and community. Whether paid or unpaid, each chapter invites readers to reflect on the meaning and impact of their own work lives, fostering empathy and deeper understanding in a rapidly changing world.

Perfect for anyone interested in the real stories behind work, this book offers rich perspectives that will resonate with readers from all walks of life.

Memoir

Fiction

Poetry

My review for the anthology 

The contributors to this anthology, including eminent scientists, teachers, business executives, writers and poets, offer a realistic and thought provoking perspective on our working lives. For most of us work is a necessity to earn money and provide for our families. However, there are so many other elements involved as you will discover.

In my 70s I can look back at my career of over 50 years across a number of industries, and latterly as a therapist, and relate to many of the chapters in this anthology. It made for a fascinating read, and it encouraged me to reflect on some of my many career decisions over the years. And this is true, not just for the excellent chapters on work in an academic field, industry, school or business environment, but also when that labour is a personal commitment.

Having been a full- time carer for my mother for her last years, I could empathise with Sherri Matthews and her contribution “The Quiet Work of Love”.

“The truth is, I’ve been a full-time caregiver to my mother for years now. What started as gentle support gradually turned into full-time management of her well-being. Caregiving doesn’t start with one big event; it creeps in, reshaping your days slowly, almost invisibly”.

Mabel Kwong addresses the stress involved when you are being paid to be creative, where your own choices come second to the message those paying you want to project.

Kelvin Knight offers two stories with a cycling theme. The first demonstrating that going that extra mile to impress may well be a case of careful what you wish for…

Marsha Ingrao shares the challenge facing a young teacher whose young students are suffering during a heat wave, to the point when their health is severely compromised. This becomes an effective teaching moment as the class research and plan a strategy to get the problem noticed by the right people and resolved.

I can definitely relate to Robbie Cheadle’s poetry which touches on a woman’s place in the management hierarchy and what she considers to be true leadership qualities. Also how as a wife and mother, a balance must be found which rarely faces men in the same position, particularly in relation to promotion.

I’m a modern woman
I make my own choices
I didn’t have a family
To spend all my time
Trapped in board rooms
Eating biscuits and drinking coffee
While discussing old issues
Rehashed to look new
I have many hobbies
Work one of many interests
So, I stay on the second floor
They call me when they need me

Yvette Prior shares her thoughts in verse and this short extract, sums up life and work very effectively.

Life’s a dash, a vapor, a flame.
You leave a funeral not quite the same
Titles fade, so does your name
A funeral seat gives a wider view
Of life’s work and all we do.
Legacy stays behind,
God’s design, keep this in mind.
So work and live with love and grace
Because one day, we all leave this place

All the chapters offer a different perspective and if you are still working for a living, are self-employed, or retired you will find this an opportunity to reflect on your own experiences and choices. And perhaps discover some changes you can apply to your own current situation. A recommended read.

Buy the anthology: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

This was followed by the next in the This is How series This is How We Eat with many authors from the writing community you will be familiar with…

About the anthology

Food is never just nourishment; it is a lens through which we experience connection, culture, memory, emotions, and growth. The content in This is How We Eat highlights topics like special meals, everyday dishes, family recipes, baked goods, airplane food, feasts, snacks, solitary dining, communal gatherings, food interventions, and signature dishes. We also see how stressors are linked to foods, early priming, and social messages. The foods we consume and the ways we take our meals carry deep meaning. Seventeen authors came together to contribute their voices, blending fiction and nonfiction to explore the many ways food shapes our lives.

  • Some stories focus on the small, intimate moments in the kitchen: the comforting ritual of making pancakes on a quiet morning, the satisfaction of slicing into a potato casserole, the making of Mum’s apple pie and learning about different types of flour, or the simple pleasure of jams, scones, and cookies. Even minor mishaps, like burnt toast or over-salted soup, become opportunities for reflection, gratitude, and insight, showing how the act of preparing and sharing food shapes our experience. Napkin folds, table arrangements, food preparation, and the careful presentation of meals highlight how food can express care, creativity, and intention.
  • Other stories examine how food intersects with health, body image, and personal well-being. Experiences with vegetable dishes, indulgent red meats, and airplane meals depict social pressures and the ways personal choice influences our relationship with food. Through mindful routines and intentional meals, eating becomes a practice of self-care, reflection, learning, and emotional grounding.
  • The anthology also explores the cultural and social dimensions of food: dining out alone, imagining a meal fit for a king, almost dropping a turkey while receiving shocking news, fasting for ten days, feeling unsure about what counts as a healthy diet, or preparing traditional family meals. Food carries stories across generations, marks celebrations and transitions, and reflects identity in ways that can lift us up, weigh us down, or anchor us in who we truly are. Every bite—from scones to casseroles, pancakes to apple pie, red meat to vegan dishes, or other culturally distinct foods—reveals how eating holds memory, identity, and the full complexity of human experience.

Join us as we share both fictional and nonfictional experiences about food to discover how eating brings meaning, insight, and connection to everyday life. As you read, you may feel textures under your fingers, imagine the smells of freshly baked treats, taste flavors in your mind, and maybe even lick your chops at stories about food and recipes. You might need tissues for heart-tugging moments or feel tension from social dynamics.

Contributing Authors.

  • Marnie Birch (here)
  • Robbie Cheadle (here)
  • Donna Connolly (here)
  • Joseph J. Dwyer (here)
  • Nancy Franz ( here)
  • Cindy Georgakas (here)
  • Miriam Hurdle (here)
  • Marsha Ingrao (here)
  • Kelvin M. Knight (here)
  • Mabel Kwong (here)
  • Ana Linden (here)
  • Sherri Matthews (here)
  • Frank Prem (here)
  • Pete Springer (here)
  • Carol Ann Taylor (here)
  • Gary A. Wilson (here)

My review for the anthology 

There is no doubt that anyone reading this collection will relate to one or more of the stories since the theme is food. Human beings require food to survive, but those of us lucky enough to have an abundance of produce at our disposal, do not just recognise the physical requirement, but often an emotional connection, associated with the people and events in our lives.

In these stories we are invited into the lives of the writers to experience their memories, attachments to certain foods, moments when something as simple as burning a piece of toast evokes a memory of a very lucky escape. How very different Christmas in Romania was in the 1980s, when oranges were rationed and getting one as a gift was precious.

I enjoyed reading all the stories and applaud their authors for writing about their lives and their association to food with such honesty and often emotion. Clearly the concept evoked times in their lives when food brought families together, falling in love and moving a continent away or a classroom of young students baking cookies with mathematical precision. I could certainly relate to Cindy Georgakas exploration of the obsession with dieting and how it developed from the 1800s when curves were the fashion. She also shares some effective strategies for the childhood years helping children find a healthy way to relate to food that will stand them in good stead in later years.

Robbie Cheadle’s personal story demonstrates how not finding that healthy way to relate to food and exercise can result in an obsessive approach to dieting and intense exercise which she candidly shares with us. Thankfully Robbie’s approach changed dramatically when something very special changed her perspective.

Marsha Ingrao shares her cancer journey and the dieting variations she was encouraged to follow despite her sugar addiction, something many of us suffer from. At the end of the day it is a daunting challenge to stick to a very restrictive regimen, and is more likely to lead to relapses that are tough to come back from. This is mirrored by Miriam Hurdle who found financial awareness was a way to evaluate the cost of buying commercial coffee and muffins versus making her own, reaping the benefits in both income and health. This led to not one major change but small incremental ones over many years leading to a freedom most will never attain.

Yvette Prior shares her A-Z of foods and nutrients that are tried and tested over the years and it is a comprehensive list, which form a strong foundation of physical, emotional and mental health.

The literary table offers the reader a fictionalised perspective on food and Gary Wilson’s story certainly got me thinking about long haul flights I have taken and the people I met as we endured hours of static sitting. I recall often this resulted people taking the opportunity to share more personal information than usual, perhaps due to the knowledge this would be a brief encounter before going separate ways

What are also highly enjoyable are the recipes attached to the stories associated with family and memories of childhood. I will certainly be trying Donna Connolly’s Nancy Franz’s Potatoes, Marnie Birch’s Granny Mac’s Scones, Carol Taylor’s apple pies and certainly admired Gary Wilson’s creative way of getting his children to eat more vegetables. Cindy Georgakas shares a wonderful lentil soup and Robbie Cheadle’s oxtail with red wine are winter winners. 

As an addition to the stories at the end of the collection, Yvette Prior shares her thoughts on each of them and awards them an appropriate Limerick which are a joy in themselves.

Food is an essential component of all our lives and this collection is a reminder of how it also bonds people together in a very special way. I also appreciate all the work that went into bringing these talented writers together to make such a compelling read. I can highly recommend.

 Read the reviews and buy the collection: Amazon US– And: Amazon CA – And: Amazon UK 

And the last anthology is the Story Chat Digest with many authors and poets from our writing community… Marsha Ingrao is the editor and also contributor to the stories and poetry.

Contributing authors are:

Marian Allen – Nigel Byng – Cathy Cade – Robbie Cheadle – Esther Chilton – Diana Coombs – Philip Cumberland – Miram Elen – Grant P. Ferguson – Amanda Forestwood – Darlene Foster – Cindy Georgakas – Marsha Ingrao – Doug Jacquier – Geoff Lepard – Jules Paige – Yvette Prior – Hugh W. Roberts – Sadje – Lauren Scott – J. T. Twissel – Smitha Vishwanath – Maggie Watson – Gary A. Wilson

About Story Chat Digest Where Stories Meet An Anthology of Short Stories and Poems

Story Chat Digest Where Stories Meet brings together a vibrant collection of short fiction and contemporary poetry from writers across continents. Each piece stands on its own, yet together they form a thoughtful conversation about life’s moments—large and small, joyful and difficult, humorous and reflective.

Within these pages, you’ll encounter stories that linger like candlelit conversations and poems that capture the quiet textures of everyday life. Mystery, memory, family, resilience, faith, and friendship all find their place in this rich and varied collection.

The anthology grew out of the Story Chat community—an international group of writers and readers who share a love of storytelling and the discussions stories inspire. Throughout the book, readers will find Book Club Questions and Story Chat reflections designed to encourage conversation and deeper engagement.

Whether you are reading alone or with friends, this anthology invites you to pause, reflect, and enjoy the power of stories shared across cultures and experiences.

Story Chat Digest Where Stories Meet is more than a collection of writing—it is an invitation to join the circle where stories meet, and conversations begin.

My review for the anthology

This is a multi-genre anthology with stories and poems that explore and capture the many different sides to life and its impact on us.

This is not just a collection of stories, as the reader is also invited into a book club chat room where the short stories and poetry are discussed, offering a more intimate inclusion for a reader as they are introduced to the contributing writers.  All the stories are to be celebrated but I have selected a few to highlight.

Certainly the stories will keep you fully engaged from the first page where Cathy Cade,  kicks the collection off with ‘But Is It Poetry?’, exploring the departure from rhyming poetry to free verse…which she achieved with great skill. As she did in a following ‘Acrostic’ poem…Another poem which was thought provoking was Robbie Cheadle’s ‘Invisible’ which was a reminder of how grateful we should be for all we have.

This is followed by the story  ‘All About Sophia’ by Nigel Byng and her ambitions in life, which certainly resulted in some interesting interactions with others, which served to showcase her creative thinking. This resulted in quite the discussion between the members of the book club and I can understand why..

The stories vary in length and it was in the Flash Fiction where you will find some compelling gems. ‘The Fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse’ by Doug Jacquier captured the devastation caused by fire. And if you are in the habit of talking to your domestic helpers, then you will relate to Marsha Ingrao’s ‘Creative Snow Removal’.

There are some stories which will break your heart such as ‘Going Home’ by Esther Chilton.  As does Geoff LePard’s poem ‘How Do I Love You’ and Darlene Foster’s mystery ‘The Right Wrong Man’ will keep you guessing right to the end. As does The ‘Shrew of Termagant Court’ by Gary A. Wilson.

Hugh Roberts offers a masterclass in the art of Flash Fiction… a tricky form of storytelling but very satisfying when done with skill. As you will discover when you read the examples the writers share in the collection.

Yvette Prior contributes a mystery that has you turning the pages as you learn the fate of Uncle Ted, and Limerick in tribute to a form colleague.

I particularly related to ‘I Walk in Circles’ by Cindy Georgakas as I am sure all readers will. And I loved ‘If Not For That Old Tower’ by Gary A. Wilson…have tissues to hand. And intrigued by Grant Ferguson’s story ‘Countdown’.

Unforgettable is the original artwork and poem by Robbie Cheadle in the ‘Cape Buffalo of Black Death’… chilling as well as beautiful.

Geoff Le Pard features a number of times in the collection and one of his pieces shares a poem by his father Desmond called ‘Our Garden’ and it is a celebration of love as well as nature.

I was very taken with Doug Jacquier’s ‘Bear Air’ and the exploration of the future of air travel… intriguing and rather disturbing but since modern air travel is equally disturbing these days… who knows it might be an improvement. And a tissue alert for ‘Jenny’ by Philip Cumberland and it if doesn’t put you in the Christmas spirit nothing will.

I can highly recommend this anthology for its creativity and originality.

Read the reviews and buy the anthology: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will explore these fascinating anthologies and enjoy them as much as I did.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Weekly Round Up – 22nd – 28th June – #Heatwave, Big Band Era, Out of Africa, #Spices #Accents, Summer Book Fair, Shortstories, Funnies.

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Welcome to the round up of posts you might have missed this week on Smorgasbord..

I know some of you have been enduring record temperatures and even here we have had some scorchers. It is not often we get the fans out we brought back from Spain but I have one next to me night and day at the moment.  I am not complaining as early mornings and evenings are very pleasant.

I did wonder how Babycat would get on in the heat but he was very sensible, during the day in and out from under the thick hedge and I made sure he had plenty of wet food and water. Not much fun with a fur coat but during the summer he spends his life outside sleeping at night in the safety of his purpose built house. Another couple of months and he will be back on the bed upstairs moaning about the wet weather lol.

I received another lovely review this week for Tales from the Irish Garden from Balroop Singh and another terrific boost for the book.

You can read Balroop’s review along with the others for the book: Goodreads Tales from the Irish Garden.  

On the blog front.

It is five years since I last shared the letters from America I sent to my parents about our adventures over the two years we lived in Houston. I was going to put them in a book but to be honest I think they might be better enjoyed as a series again… I hope… they start on Tuesday and will continue for the next ten years…. only kidding… next two years lol.

My thanks as always to the amazing contributors for their posts and support.

William Price King joined me for a Big Band era and on Friday another in the Chart Toppers and Blockbuster series and we are delighted you are enjoying along with us.  You can catch up with William on his own Blog– IMPROVISATION– William Price King on Tumblr

Debby Gies will be back with another post in her series on ageing July 6th. On her own blog her monthly writer’s tips and as always her Sunday Book Review and this week it is for The Destination: Harbor Pointe – Book 3 by D. L. Finn   D.G. Kaye

Carol Taylor was here on Wednesday sharing recipes for Fajita Spice, Tahini, Peanut Butter and Hummus..this week the second part of spicing up your food and.on her own blog Carol shared  the most recent of the cuisines of Peru. CarolCook 

Malcolm Allen was here on Monday with a rewind of his funnies… always entertaining.

Thomas Wikman was here on Thursday with a very interesting exploration of accents and how hard it is to lose even when you learn another language. Amazon US

And my thanks to you for all your support during the week.

Music Column Retro- The Big Band Era with William Price King and Sally Cronin – 1940s – Georgie Stoll with Judy Garland, Victor Young with Dick Haymes, Tommy Rall

Chart Toppers and Blockbusters 1980s with William Price King – “What’s Love Got To Do With It” and Out of Africa

The Cookery Column Retro with Carol Taylor #Fajita Spice, #Tahini #Peanut Butter #Hummus

Comedy with Malcolm Allen Rewind – Book Groups and Bank Heists

Thomas Wikman’s Superfacts – #Accents are very difficult to lose

Book Review – #Noir #Crime #Thriller – Dead Jealous by Alison J. Moore

Posts from last six months of 2025 – #Poetry #Tanka Love at First Sight by Gwen Plano

#Memoir #Teaching Pete Springer, #Memoir #Leonbergers Thomas Wikman, #Christmas #Cookbook Carol Taylor

#Shortstories #Life Alex Craigie, #Ireland, #Contemporary #Recipes Mary Crowley, #Shortstories #Flash Janet Gogerty

#Romance #France #Artists J. Arlene Culiner, #Romance #PostWWII Jan K Sikes, #Western #Romance Silverhills’ Rescue by Sandra Cox

#Murder #Mystery Noelle A Granger, #Mystery #Thriller Anne Louise O’Connell, #pyschological #family Stevie Turner

Smorgasbord Authors in the Sun – #Summer #Spain #Rain – Skyhorses, ‘Los caballos del cielo’ by Sue Wickstead

Host Sally Cronin and the Social Media Team – Loan Repayment and Bathroom cleaning

 

Thanks very much for dropping in today and I hope you will join us again next week.

 

 

Smorgasbord Funnies 2026 – Host Sally Cronin and the Social Media Team – Loan Repayment and Bathroom cleaning

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Over the years I have been saving funnies from my various social media platforms and particularly Facebook… some from members of our writing community and I hope they don’t mind if I share here just two of the frequent flyers are Laura Lyndhurst  Jim Webster– … I hope you enjoy.

And to finish – Teenagers…

When he was a teenager, little Johnny’s father caught him reading one of his older sister’s magazines. “Son, why are you reading that sissy magazine?” he asked.

“There’s an article that tells women where to meet men,” Johnny responded, pointing to the magazine’s cover. “I need to know where I’m supposed to be.”

****************************************************

A teenager confesses to her mother
T: “I have decided to run away and elope with Marty the mail man”
M: “Oh, but honey he could be your father”
T: “I don’t care, he loves me, age is just a number”
M: “Oh no, dearie, I didn’t mean it that way…”

*********************************************************

The teenager lost a contact lens while playing basketball in his driveway. After a brief, fruitless search, he gave up. His mother took up the cause and within minutes found the lens.

“How did you do it?” he asked.

“We weren’t looking for the same thing,” she explained. “You were looking for a piece of plastic. I was looking for £150.”

My thanks to those who serve up the humour on social media… 

If you would like to browse my books and reviews you can find them here Sally’s Books and Reviews 

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – #Murder #Mystery Noelle A Granger, #Mystery #Thriller Anne Louise O’Connell, #pyschological #family Stevie Turner

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The first book today is one of the riveting mysteries by Noelle A. Granger…Death by Pumpkin ( A Rhe Brewster Mystery)

About the book

At the annual Pumpkin Festival in the coastal town of Pequod, Maine, Rhe Brewster, an ER nurse and Police Department consultant, responds to screams at the site of the Pumpkin Drop. Racing to the scene, where a one-ton pumpkin was dropped from a crane to crush an old car, Rhe and her brother-in-law, Sam, Pequod’s Chief of Police, discover the car contains the smashed remains of a man’s body. After the police confirm the death as a homicide, Rhe embarks on a statewide search to identify the victim and find the killer. During the course of the emotional investigation, she survives an attempt on her life at 10,000 feet, endures the trauma of witnessing the murder of an old flame, and escapes an arson attack on her family’s home. There is clearly a sociopath on the loose who is gunning for Rhe and leaving bodies behind. With Sam unable to offer his usual support due to an election recall and a needy new girlfriend, Rhe realizes that the only way to stop the insanity is to risk it all and play the killer’s game.

Maine’s most tenacious sleuth is back, this time to confront a menace that threatens to destroy her life and those closest to her. The latest installment of the Rhe Brewster Mystery Series, Death by Pumpkin, is a murder mystery and thriller that tests the limits of Rhe’s strength and resolve like never before.

One of the reviews for the book 

Kate Loveton  5 out of 5 stars I love these books

I have been a fan of Ms. Granger’s series of novels about the intrepid Rhe Brewster since the first was published several years ago. I love these books!

Rhe is an ER nurse who works part time with the Pequod, Maine Police Department. She has a brother in law who is crazy about her and who just happens to be the chief of police, a boisterous young son, and a best friend who must be the world’s best cook. I think I gained 5 pounds just reading about the meals consumed by Rhe and the other characters in the book.

One of the things I like most about this series is Granger’s endearing characters. Picking up this latest book is like saying hello again to old friends you haven’t seen in a while. It is both warm and inviting to spend some time with Rhe and friends. Um, yes, I did just say that about a novel dealing with murder!

In this latest outing, Rhe has her hands full as she investigates a murder at a pumpkin festival, organizes a campaign to help her brother in law maintain his position with the Pequod PD in the face of ugly student protests from the local college, and tries to evade the clutches of a crazy person out to kill her. She does all this while eating meals that induced hunger in this reader, and while juggling a male suitor or two. Whew!

If you’re unfamiliar with N.A. Granger’s Rhe Brewster mysteries, check them out. They are fun to read and will definitely hold your interest.

Just get ready to gain a pound or two… 

Head over to read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Other books by Noelle Granger

Head over to read more about Noelle A. Granger, read the reviews and buy her books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Blog: Sayling Away – Goodreads:Noelle A. Granger – Twitter: @NAGrangerAuthor 

The next book is the mystery thriller set in Dubai by Anne Louise O’Connell – Deep Deceit

About the book

When Celeste Parker’s daughter Tamara goes missing in Dubai the all-out search and rescue mission she anticipates never materializes. She is put off by the police as 18-year-old Tamara is technically an adult, and no foul play is apparent. Celeste faces the gut-wrenching fear every mother dreads… the possibility of losing a child. And, with the unfamiliar laws of the Middle East, the stress level skyrockets. The longer Tamara is missing the more Celeste’s feelings of dread escalate. Her maternal instinct tells her something is terribly wrong. New to the city and with her husband away working in Saudi Arabia, she turns to her new friend and fellow expat, Susan Morris, for help. This suspenseful mystery/thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat as the duo set off on a hunt, which takes them down a dark alley of deep deceit. From exotic nightclubs and high-class call girls to mysterious Saudi palaces hidden behind ominous walls, they follow each lead while uncovering the unthinkable. The suspense builds as they come closer to finding Tamara and the secrets Celeste and Susan uncover threaten not only her daughter’s life but everyone in their families’ as well.

If you enjoy reading about international intrigue and cultural clashes, you’ll love Deep Deceit. If you like what you read, there’s more to come in Deep Freeze, the next installment in the Susan Morris Expat Mystery series.

An award-winning Canadian Author, Anne’s first novel, Mental Pause, a murder mystery/suspense with an unusual twist, won an Independent Publisher Book Award (IPPY) for best adult fiction.

One of the reviews for the book. 

Pamela F. Stanley  5 out of 5 stars
You Had me at “Give me ten more!”

Right off the bat, the title and the photo had me intrigued. The opening lines portrayed a friendship developing through hardship that would grow, permeate and infuse the arc of the story.

This is a book about love, betrayal, loyalty, and friendship written beneath the backdrop of colorful, exotic, androcentric Dubai. For anyone who’s ever traveled as an ex-patriot, you’ll empathize with the character’s needs to find their own “tribal members” and learn the lay of the land quickly. For any of us who are parents, and more fear instilling, parents in a foreign land, this roller coaster ride of emotions will keep you reading through to the satisfying end.

While the story itself was a mystery thriller, the author painted life in Dubai with such vivid and evocative language, I felt myself immersed in the region. The descriptions of the wedding and the night club scene were particularly striking.

I look forward to more from this author and to learn more about the character Susan, a natural-born caregiver and sleuth. Well done! 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Other books by Anne Louise O’Connell and anthologies contributed to.

Head over to find out more about Anne, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More reviews: Goodreads – Website: OC Publishing – Blog:Writing Just Because – Facebook:OC Publishing– Instagram: ocpubhfx – YouTube: Ocpublishing 

The final book today is a short story packed with drama… Holding Hands by Stevie Turner  

About the book

Elderly widower Tom Hopkins is lonely. In-between going to Bingo, taking bus rides for the sake of it to look around shops, and trying line dancing for beginners, he often spends his time doing voluntary work as a hand-holder in the Ophthalmology Department of his local hospital where nervous people arrive to undergo injections for the eye condition ‘wet age-related macular degeneration’

Ellen Wilkinson, also widowed, is a patient in the clinic. She soon makes a friend of Tom after they meet by chance in the hospital’s café. Unbeknown to Tom, Ellen is a wealthy woman and has not yet made a will. Her son Bob is against the friendship, and tries his best to stop the burgeoning relationship between his mother and Tom.

When Bob finds out that a wedding might be on the cards, he is sure Tom is a gold-digger and is determined to stop the marriage once and for all. Ellen and Tom, however, have other ideas, but are unprepared for the lengths Bob will go in order to scupper their plans.

Shortlisted for the 2025 Page Turner Golden Author/Writer/Screenwriter Award and the Phoenix Award.

“The voice of Tom rings loud and clear, bringing his character and those he encounters to life. The minute observations are spot on and are often qualified by the kind of sharp, erudite comments that reflect his advanced years. Excellent writing.” – Judge Stewart Carry  

One of the reviews for the book 

MacTrish
5 out of 5 stars
A tale of loneliness, bordom, fun and friendship – with a sting in the tail!

This is a delightful book about an elderly man who volunteers to hold the hands of anxious patients awaiting eye injections. His accounts of his daily life are masterfully done and really capture the loneliness, boredom and humour of a man approaching his 87th year. His wife died just over a year ago and there’s a touching description of him standing inside her empty wardrobe to capture the lingering scent of her.

Tom is so lonely at the beginning of the book he passes the time volunteering, sleeping, going to bingo, and even attempting line dancing just to be with people.

Then he meets a fun-loving woman, Ellen, at the eye clinic and things change for him in ways that he couldn’t have anticipated. The only fly in the ointment is Ellen’s controlling and disapproving son Bob. This isn’t a ‘cosy’ story, as such, but I’ll not give away any spoilers except to say that the ending came as quite a surprise.

This is a well-written tale that captures the fun and loneliness of people in a way I found enchanting. 

Buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

A small selection of other books by Stevie Turner

Discover more about Stevie Turner, read the reviews and buy the books : Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Stevie : Goodreads blog: Stevie Turner on WordPress – Twitter: @StevieTurner6 – And: Bluesky

 

Thanks very much for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – Book Review – #Noir #Crime #Thriller – Dead Jealous by Alison J. Moore

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My review this week is for Dead Jealous: A Fliss Dawes Investigation (Fliss Dawes Investigations Book 1) by Alison J. Moore

About the book

When Richard walked out the door, Fliss Dawes was unaware that her life would change forever – or that she was stepping into a nightmare.

In a bid to escape her grief, she accepts the invitation to a school reunion. But familiar faces bring back more than old memories; they awaken long-buried grudges and dangerous secrets.

Someone at the reunion has a deadly agenda.

As dark secrets unravel and alliances shift, Fliss is drawn into a chilling psychological game where survival means uncovering the truth.

And when everyone is a suspect, who can she trust?

My review for the book June 27th 2026

Life for Fliss Dawes seems to be routine with her journalism and occasional work for the police as a forensic profiler, however her family are thriving and settled but things are about to change dramatically. The unthinkable happens and the story follows the family as they deal with the aftermath of a tragedy

As the family attempts to find ways of overcoming their grief, her children suggest that Fliss undertakes a trip to revisit her past and the places she had lived and enjoyed so many years before along with her beloved dog Jake. Not all the memories are thought of fondly as she realises when she meets old acquaintances. Then the unthinkable happens and Fliss is thrown into murder case which leads to a dangerous and complex set of events, with her at its centre.

This is a gripping crime thriller with plenty of twists and turns as secrets are unearthed and the facades created by some of the suspects are shattered. I certainly found it compelling reading. 

This story is also about family and how when disaster strikes they pull together and support and love each other. The author did a great job in making this an important element throughout the book.

Great characters, well researched on the criminal investigation procedures and an exciting lead up to the climax of the story… with the door left open for the next book in the series. I can highly recommend.

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

Also by Alison J. Moore.

Discover more about Alison Moore, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – Read more reviews: Goodreads – Website: Alison J. Moore – Facebook: DesignWritePrint – Instagram:Author.amoore 

About Alison J. Moore

Alison Moore is a writer and illustrator with a lifelong love of storytelling. Inspired by childhood adventures in the countryside and a fondness for noticing the quirky side of life, she now writes psychological crime fiction exploring hidden lives, dark secrets, and the consequences of the past.

After more than thirty years as a graphic designer and printer, Alison returned fully to writing and illustration. She lives in the countryside, where she continues to create stories that linger long after the final page.

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.

Smorgasbord Posts from Your Archives 2026 – Posts from last six months of 2025 – #Poetry #Tanka Love at First Sight by Gwen Plano

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Welcome to the  series of Posts from Your Archives for 2026 and I will be sharing posts from the SECOND six months of 2025 from your archives which I will select. This series is now closed but there will be another later in the year.

This is the second post from the archives of Gwen Plano who is a wonderful writer and poet. Gwen sadly lost her lovely daughter-in-law in May so we moved this post from its original date.

 Love at First Sight by Gwen Plano 

Hello, blog friends ~

In my part of the world, surrounded by the Prescott National Forest and elevations stretching upwards of 7,000 ft., wildlife are abundant. Almost every day, I see pronghorn. At certain times of the year, I encounter javelina, but more commonly, I see coyotes and rabbits–and many varieties of birds.

Recently, I was surprised by a mountain lion. It was early morning, and I was driving into Prescott. This magnificent cat leapt in front of the car as she headed into the mountains. It was love at first sight. ❤️ She glanced at me, and I at her, and to this day, I see her beautiful face.

Since today is Tanka Tuesday, I’ve chosen to use the above encounter as the inspiration for my poem. Colleen Chesebro invites participants to use metaphors to stir the reader’s senses. I’ve given it a try through my simple tanka.

I wish I could say that I took the photo, but all the glory goes to Canva. I didn’t have time to dig out my phone and snap a shot or two. The visit was, unfortunately, much too brief.

I hope you have a wonderful week, and if you’ve encountered a mountain lion, please share. This was my first and only sighting.

©Gwen Plano

My thanks to Gwen for inviting me to share from her archives and I know she would love to hear from you.

Books by Gwen M. Plano

One of the reviews for Redemption 

Mae Clair
5.0 out of 5 stars Part Thriller, Part Family Drama

Part family drama, part thriller, Redemption moves at a swift pace with events occurring in rapid succession. Lisa has barely arrived at her parents’ home for a visit when an assailant murders her father, Eric, and sends her mother to the hospital with gunshot wounds. Never truly close with her father, Lisa soon realizes his past was filled with secrets—shadows of a dangerous life that threaten her safety and the lives of her family.

Along with her brother, Trace, and his friend, Ryan, they attempt to unearth her father’s secrets, but there are hurdles at every turn. Stalkers trail them, a hotel room that should be a safe haven is bugged, and even the police and FBI are suspect.

The author did a great job of keeping things moving at a fast clip. One scene spirals into the next as Eric’s life unravels. It’s almost as if he left puzzle pieces behind, laying out a trail for his children to follow. The three main characters—Lisa, Trace, and Ryan—make an excellent team. All are likeable individually but have great chemistry when together. And there is one supporting character I truly loved (I don’t want to say more for fear of spoiling a thread).

The message of redemption and the way things wrap at the end make this not only an exciting read, but a heartwarming one too. A polished book with a fast plot, wonderful characters, and a beautiful message! 

Read the reviews and buy the books: : Amazon UK –and : Amazon US – As Gwendolyn M. Plano: Amazon US follow Gwen : Goodreads –website:Gwen Plano – Twitter: @gmplano

About Gwen M. Plano

Gwen M. Plano, aka Gwendolyn M. Plano, grew up in Southern California and spent most of her professional life in higher education. She taught and served as an administrator in colleges in Japan, New York, Connecticut, and California. Recently retired, she now lives in the high desert of Arizona, where she writes, gardens, and travels with her husband.

Gwen’s first book is an acclaimed memoir, Letting Go into Perfect Love. Her second book, The Contract between Heaven and Earth, is a thriller novel, co-authored by John W. Howell. It has received multiple awards and is an Amazon Best Seller. The Choice, the unexpected heroes, is the sequel to The Contract. It is also a thriller, involving the attempt of an unfriendly nation to take over the world. The third book in the series, The Culmination, a new beginning, is an action-packed military thriller that concludes that the only hope for humanity is love.

Gwen’s most recent novels focus on family and the spiritual dimension of life. Redemption, A Father’s Fatal Decision, is a suspense story about a broken family that finds healing in the unexpected. The next novel, The Soul Whisperer’s Decision, involves a mother and her experience of the supernatural. The novella, The Gift, brings together three families through the blessing of a baby.

When Gwen is not writing, she’s often in the beautiful Red Rocks of Sedona, where she finds inspiration.

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you are leaving with some books. 

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – The Music Column – Chart Toppers and Blockbusters 1980s with William Price King – “What’s Love Got To Do With It” and Out of Africa

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Welcome to the series where I will be sharing the chart toppers and blockbusters through the decades… be prepared for some nostalgia and some foot tapping music. William

🎶   Tina Turner – “What’s Love Got To Do With It”

“What’s Love Got To Do With It” was penned by Graham Lyle and Terry Britten and released as a single on Turner’s 1984 album “Private Dancer.” It became Turner’s biggest-selling single. At the time, aged 44, Turner became the oldest solo female artist to top the Hot 100.

“What’s Love Got to Do with It” received three Grammy Awards in 1985, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. In 1993, the song’s title was used as the title for the film based on Tina Turner’s life.

While “What’s Love Got To Do With It” blasted on the radio – “Out of Africa” exploded at the movies. 

🎬   “Out of Africa”

“Out of Africa” starring Meryl Streep and Robert Redford, was directed and produced by Sydney Pollack. The film is loosely based on the 1937 autobiographical book “Out of Africa” which was penned by Isak Dinesen (the pseudonym of the Danish author Karen Blixen) and portrays the life of a Danish baroness/plantation owner who has a passionate love affair with a free-spirited big-game hunter in 20th-century colonial Kenya.

A commercial success, the film garnered seven Academy Awards in 1985, including Best Picture, Best Director (Pollack), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Kurt Luedtke).

Join William again next week for more entertainment…

Your Host

William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.

His interest in music began at an early age when he studied piano and clarinet in high school. At Morehouse College in Atlanta where he grew up, he sang in the Glee Club and studied classical music. After graduation he went off to the Yale School of Music where he earned a Masters degree. From there he journeyed to New York where he created a jazz trio ‘Au Naturel’ which performed in some of the hottest venues in Manhattan including gigs on Broadway and the famous ‘Rainbow Room.’ These gigs opened doors for performances in Montreal and a European tour.

While touring Europe he met a lovely French lady, Jeanne Maïstre, who, a year later became his wife. King left the group ‘Au Naturel’ and settled in the south of France where he started a new life on the French Riviera, opening his own music school – the “Price King Ecole Internationale de Chant.” He has had the pleasure over the years of seeing many of his students excel as singers on a professional level, and some going on to become national celebrities. He continues to coach young singers today, in his spare time.

Blog– IMPROVISATION – William Price King on Tumblr – Buy William’s music: William Price King iTunes – Facebook – William Price King – Twitter – @wpkofficial
Regular Venue – Cave Wilson

 

Thanks very much for dropping in today and it would be great if you could share the music with your connections.

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – #Romance #France #Artists J. Arlene Culiner, #Romance #PostWWII Jan K Sikes, #Western #Romance Silverhills’ Rescue by Sandra Cox

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The first book today is by J. Arlene Culiner’s a wonderful romance set in rural France. The Unpredictable Colors of Love.

 About the book

Callie Patterson, an unsuccessful artist, hopes that a relationship with the irresistible and magnetic Nicholas Trier will pave the way to success. She follows him to France where, in a magnificent château, he holds his artists’ retreats. But famous men surround themselves with hangers-on and demand complete loyalty.

Callie soon finds herself far more attracted to Michel Alexandre, the estate gardener, who loves and protects trees and every living creature. But if she wants to make a name for herself, she’ll have to choose Nicholas and his world.

Except nothing is quite the way it seems, and perhaps success isn’t the most important thing, after all.

My review for the book

S. G. Cronin
5 out of 5 stars
A wonderful romance in a beautiful setting

It is always easy to get lost in the romances written by this author, especially when they feature those who are at an age when they might imagine the search for the love of their life is over. After all there are other things to consider for the future such as financial security, finally achieving success after years of trying to be noticed and a natural reticence to give too much of yourself away.

Callie has all of these issues on her mind as she applies for and is accepted into an artist’s retreat in a magnificent chateau in France. The artist heading up the retreat is the charismatic and current art world darling, who she believes holds the key to her being noticed for her work. However, her interest is pulled in a number of different directions once she begins to see the true colours of her surroundings and those who dwell within its walls and gardens.

As always the author creates characters who are not always perfect, have enjoyed full lives up to the point where she brings them together, and who are on a journey of discovery. As we learn more about Callie’s childhood and that of Michel Alexandre it is clear how deeply they have been affected and how it has determined their lives to this point.

The story is set within in the luxurious and lovingly renovated chateau and in the glorious countryside where its ancient fields and hedgerows are also being brought back to life. The perfect setting for two people who might have given up hope on finding a soul mate to explore the possibility there might just be a chance for them after all. 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A selection of other books by Jill Arlene Culiner

Discover more about Jill, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow J. Arlene Culiner: Goodreads – Websites: J. Arlene Culiner – And: Jill Culiner Facebook: J. Arlene Culiner Romance Writer – Twitter: @JArleneCuliner – And: Bluesky

The next book is by Jan Sikes… a world war two romance – A Beggar’s Bargain.

About the book

A shocking proposal that changes everything.

Desperate to honor his father’s dying wish, Layken Martin vows to do whatever it takes to save the family farm.

Once the Army discharges him following World War II, Layken returns to Missouri to find his legacy in shambles and in jeopardy. A foreclosure notice from the bank doubles the threat. He appeals to the local banker for more time—a chance to rebuild, plant, and harvest crops and time to heal far away from the noise of bombs and gunfire.

But the banker firmly denies his request. Now what?

Then, the banker makes an alternative proposition—marry his unwanted daughter, Sara Beth, in exchange for a two-year extension. Out of options, money, and time, Layken agrees to the bargain.

Now, he has two years to make a living off the land while he shares his life with a stranger.
If he fails at either, he’ll lose it all.

One of the reviews for the book 

Joy Shelton-York
5 out of 5 stars
A beautifully written and heartwarming story.

I absolutely fell I love with everything about this beautifully written, heartwarming story by Jan Sikes. After WWll and the death of his parents, Layken Martin returns home to his 200-acre family farm in Missouri, finding it neglected and in disrepair with a notice of foreclosure hanging over his head. Layken is desperate to save the land that his ancestors fought with blood, sweat, and tears to make a productive and a safe home. Despite his long relationship with Layken’s father, the banker has no sympathy for Layken’s plight, but he does make an offer to the desperate man. If Layken will marry his unwanted daughter Sara Beth, he can buy himself a two-year extension to pay back the loan and save the family farm. Bound by a since of loyalty and duty to his parents and family heritage, Layken agrees to the bargain. Sara Beth is just as dismayed by their forced marriage as Layken, but her abusive and controlling father gives her no choice.

Layken and Sara Beth are the heart of this story. Though they come from totally different backgrounds, they are both endearing, strong, caring, protective, compassionate, and fiercely loyal. Layken offers kindness and safety to Sara Beth, and they too make a bargain of their own to work in tandem for their mutual interest. Sikes has meticulously and richly developed not just her protagonists, but all her characters are authentic and add value and layers to the story. I adored Seymour who is a stabilizing force and a voice of calm. He could have his own story. The time period is well-researched and is vividly described, drawing me into every scene from the sweltering heat while planting and watering the dry, dusty fields to the cozy evening gatherings around the radio for a night of entertainment. I don’t want to give away the story, but I loved it all and didn’t want it to end.

I said the heart of the characters were Layken and Sara Beth, but I left out the crucial motivation for this story that Sikes often personifies…the land. The steadfast provider through thick and thin.

“He loved every square inch of the two-hundred-acre farm surrounded by ancient walnut trees, black oak, cottonwood, sweetgum, and silverleaf maple trees. Embedded in his soul, the spirit of the land and his connection with it had kept him going when he lay sleepless on foreign soil.”

“The land could help heal deep grief and wounds. It offered a new life. It was worth fighting to keep.”

A few of my favorite quotes.

This is a wonderfully woven story that I highly recommend. 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US –  And: Amazon UK

A small selection of other books by Jan Sikes

Discover more about Jan Sikes, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – Website: Jan Sikes – Goodreads: Jan on Goodreads – Twitter: @rijanjks  – Bluesky: Jksikes-author

The final book today is by Sandra Cox… the third book in the wonderful Silverhills saga… Silverhills’ Rescue.

About the book

A marker is called in.

Brandon comes home from a trail drive to find his wife on her way to Mexico to help the mission folk that took her in. Putting herself in danger. Crossing perilous terrain, where not only the weather kills, but Comancheros and bandoleros as well. He climbs back into the saddle and heads out after her. Both of them now embarked on separate journeys that involves killers, flooded arroyos and narrow divides where one misstep means a plunge to certain death. And, if that’s not enough to challenge them, at journey’s end they’ll face the most dangerous situation of all.

One of the reviews for the book May 23rd 2026 

MK Alexander
5 out of 5 stars
Buckle Up Buckaroos!

In the hot Summer 1874 there’s trouble south of the Rio Grande: an outbreak of highly contagious and deadly smallpox at a tiny Mission. Not many would care, but Alex O’Malley does. That Mission saved her life and the life of her two children. There’s a debt to be paid, people to save.

Once the message arrives she’s determined to help, saddles up and leaves behind everything she loves: the Silverhills Ranch, her family, all her friends, and her beloved husband Brandon, who’s yet to return from a cattle drive.

She’s not quite alone on the arduous ride south of the border. Manuel knows the way, and her favorite cowpoke Charlie decides to come along whether she likes it or not. Every imaginable danger is encountered: a trapped wild cat that must be saved, a harrowing canyon trail where one misstep means death, and a near impossible forge across the raging Rio Grande.

Meanwhile, Brandon Wade returns and immediately sets off in pursuit, hell-bent on saving his wife no matter the cost. He has his own troubles crossing the border, running into some bad hombres to say the least. He finds children dying and his wife infected. Worse, angry villagers are trying to storm the Mission, worse still, a large band of ruthless Comancheros arrive, guns a blazing.

Traveling back to their Texas ranch is another matter entirely with so many banditos hot on their trail. To survive this ordeal, Alex is forced to conjure up every ounce of strength and courage, and love. The same can be said for her husband and their fiercely loyal friend Charlie.

Author Sandra Cox is in great form in her third Silverhills offering, and I reckon there’s another one in the works— still— it can be read as a stand-alone. The story is filled with unstoppable action, danger, and heartfelt characters to make for a worthwhile read. This is the seventh time I’ve hitched up to the Western world of author Sandra Cox… Mucho Recommended. 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A small selection of other books by Sandra Cox

Find out more about Sandra Cox, read the reviews and buy the books : Amazon UK –And: Amazon US- follow Sandra Cox: Goodreads – Blog: Sandra Cox Blogspot – Twitter:@Sandra_Cox  – Bluesky: @scoxauthor.bsky.social 

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Thomas Wikman’s Superfacts – #Accents are very difficult to lose

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Delighted to welcome Thomas Wikman to the blog as a contributor and every month he will be sharing one of the posts from his Superfacts series… always fascinating and enlightening.

This month Thomas is exploring how difficult it is to lose your natural accent you grew up with. Having moved several times as a child including two years in South Africa, I found adopting the local accent at school was a way to be integrated faster. But I always reverted back to my usual accent at home after school and as I got older. I am sure you will find as fascinating as I did.

Superfact: Accents are very difficult to lose

Accents are very difficult to lose. People may speak and understand a second language perfectly and still have a strong accent in that language assuming they did not learn the second language in childhood. This is a fact that is well known to the 20.6% of people in the US who are bilingual and to the 43% of people in the world who are bilingual. Yet many monolingual people are unaware of and surprised by this basic and important language fact.

I can’t lose my accent

On one occasion when I took my oldest son to the playground a guy doing the same started talking to me. Hearing my accent, he asked me where I was from (Sweden) and how long I had been here (10 years). Then the guy said, “I am surprised that after all these years you still have an accent”.

This is a sentiment I’ve come across many times here in the US, but not as often in Europe. Monolingual people are surprised to hear bilingual people’s accent. When I tell people about the reality of accents and that it is difficult to lose one without major speech therapy, they act very surprised. It is a basic and important language fact that is surprising to those who don’t know it. That’s why I think this counts as a super fact.

Black dog with a Swedish flag | Accents are very difficult to lose

Photo by Efrem Efre on Pexels.com

I have difficulty hearing my own accent, which is to be expected according to this article.  However, my accent becomes obvious to me when I hear myself speaking on a recording such as when I was interviewed by NBC about the tornado that ravaged our neighborhood five years ago. At first, I was thinking “oh shoot my accent is so obvious and now the whole world knows”, then I was thinking it is no big deal. If you want to hear my accent, click on this link. It is NBC news and my interview is located at : 1 minute and 11 seconds.

Accents are very difficult to lose

What monolingual people typically do not know but practically all bilingual people do know, is that it’s difficult to lose an accent as an adult learning a new language. Children can do it but not adults, not without major speech therapy. This article states that the cut off age is around 12 years old.

According to a test I took, my vocabulary and understanding of English grammar at the time of the incident above was above the average for native English speakers, and it was just as easy for me to understand, speak, read and write English, as Swedish. Yet my accent was obvious.

It should not really come as a surprise to monolingual people, but it does. After all, if you think about it, famous foreign actors such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Werner Herzog, Marion Cotillard, Stellan Skarsgård. etc., speak with an accent even after living in the US and/or working for Hollywood, several decades, and they are not faking it. I have several friends and relatives who speak with a strong foreign accent after living in the United States for 30, 40, 50, and 60 years. If they came as adults, they still have their accent.

As this article states, “accents are extremely difficult to lose because our infant brains codify a lifetime’s worth of sounds before we’ve spoken our first word”. As this article explains as we age our brains become more specialized in our native language sounds, making it harder to accurately perceive and produce new sounds from another language, a phenomenon often referred to as the “critical period hypothesis” in language acquisition; essentially, the window for easily acquiring perfect pronunciation closes during childhood.

Image by Gino Crescoli from Pixabay

A few second language facts.

The most popular second language in the world with respect to the number of non-native speakers (data taken from this site).

  • (1) English – 1,140 million non-native speakers
  • (2) Hindi – 264 million non-native speakers
  • (3) Chinese (Mandarin) – 199 million non-native speakers
  • (4) Urdu – 162 million non-native speakers
  • (5) French – 132 million non-native speakers
  • (6) Arabic – 109 million non-native speakers
  • (7) Russian – 107 million non-native speakers
  • (8) Spanish – 74 million non-native speakers
  • (9) Bengali – 43 million non-native speakers
  • (10) Portuguese – 28 million non-native speakers

The most popular second language in the world with respect to  number of countries

  • (1) English – 55 countries
  • (2) French – 14 countries
  • (3) Russian – 13 countries
  • (4) Spanish – 8 countries
  • (5) Creole – 8 countries
  • 6) Arabic – 6 countries
  • (7) Kurdish – 4 countries
  • (8) Portuguese – 4 countries
  • (9) Italian – 3 countries
  • (10) Quechua – 3 countries

©Thomas Wikman

My thanks to Thomas for sharing these facts with us and l know he would love to hear from you.

About Thomas Wikman and his Superfacts series.

Thomas Wikman is a retired automation, robotics, and software engineer and inveterate dog lover who emigrated from Sweden to the United States, where he and his wife raised three children. Their cherished Leonberger, Bronco, crossed the Rainbow Bridge in 2020. The Wikmans live in Dallas, Texas, with their two dogs-a pug and a miniature Australian shepherd

The goal of my Superfact blog is to create a list of simply stated facts or insights that are important and not trivia and known to be true with very high certainty and yet surprising, misunderstood, or disputed by many. However, the super facts are not disputed to any significant degree among the scientists or experts in the relevant fields.

Even though I have some expertise in a few fields I am certainly not an expert in hundreds of fields, so I am relying on the experts in the relevant fields and the evidence they provide to determine whether a fact is true. Super facts are not scientific theories but may be facts that are part of scientific theories. In lack of a better moniker, I am referring to these shocking, surprising or controversial but true facts as super-facts. Super-facts are special because they are both challenging and important.

I hope you will enjoy this new series on Smorgasbord and I look forward to sharing more superfacts with you over the next year.

Thomas is the author of The Life and Times of Le Bronco

One of the reviews for the book 

Lauren Scott
5 out of 5 stars
A touching book for dog lovers and for anyone who loves an endearing book about family!

My chocolate lab, Copper, had just crossed over the Rainbow Bridge in March, so when I saw The Life and Times of Le Bronco by Thomas Wikman come across many blogs, I knew it would resonate. Bronco was part of Wikman’s family for thirteen years, and Copper was part of my family for the same amount of time. Timing for me to read this wonderful book was serendipitous. The opening paragraphs are delightful. I could feel Bronco’s paws on my shoulders, and I could see the look in his beautiful eyes wanting that delicious ham sandwich. I also love how he became the hero in a story, and the details of how his name came to be. The way Bronco hugged by leaning and snuggling evoked sweet, cuddly memories of Copper’s hugs.

Wikman writes about Leonbergers, how to prepare to welcome one of these gorgeous, big dogs into your home, the food they eat, and the many costs involved. He shares humorous Bronco antics that made me smile. He includes his family’s other adorable dogs: Baby, Ryu, and Daisy. Wikman compiled this book to be both informational and entertaining. I was impressed with the organization. I laughed, and I felt tears pushing for freedom. I discovered joy and felt heartbreak. The drawings are fantastic and a bonus. One fact I remember is that Bronco wore a gentle leader and so did Copper. We opposed shock collars just like Wikman and his family did. Speaking of walking dogs, below is a snippet from “The Joys of Walking” Page 15.

“I often find myself amazed by how keenly perceptive and curious dogs are. Sometimes when Bronco saw a squirrel, he would watch it intently until it disappeared up a tree. Then he would turn around and look at me as if asking, “Where did it go?” I would point to the squirrel up in the tree, and he would look to the place where I was pointing, seeming to say, “Oh, never mind.” Then we would continue walking.” This moment reminds me of Copper because his fascination with squirrels matched Bronco’s. He never caught one but always tried. Though I’m not sure what he would’ve done if he caught one. He was a gentle 80 pound giant, so I think he just wanted to play!

There is more to reveal, but I’ll let you flip through the pages. I highly recommend this book if you’re a parent of a Leonberger, or if you’re considering bringing this breed into your home. If you’re simply a dog lover, or you truly enjoy endearing books about family, this book is for you. I found comfort throughout the pages as my grief remains for my family’s Copper Boy. Thank you, Thomas!

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US –  And: Amazon UK – Connect to Thomas: Website/Blog – Personal Facebook – Facebook book page – Instagram – LinkedIn 

Thanks very much for dropping in today and I hope you will join Thomas again next month for another super-fact post.

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – #Shortstories #Life Alex Craigie, #Ireland, #Contemporary #Recipes Mary Crowley, #Shortstories #Flash Janet Gogerty

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The first book today is a wonderful collection of stories by Alex Craigie..Hopes, Fears and Reality: Stories, Poems and Personal Tales

About the collection

What do a terrified boy, a ruthless beauty queen, a fairy godmother from hell, and a group of quietly rebellious pensioners have in common?

In this eclectic collection of short stories, poems, and anecdotes, everyday moments uncover the hopes we cherish, the fears we try to hide, and the realities that shape us.

Inside this collection:

• Gently humorous pieces that find laughter in life’s small absurdities
• Reflective moments that explore the experiences that shape who we are
• Sharper, unexpected stories that catch you off guard and linger

Meet unforgettable characters and moments:

• A child facing what lurks beneath the bed
• A teenager consumed by image
• Elderly friends with secrets—and mischief—of their own
• Twists on the familiar that don’t go quite as expected

Many of these pieces are brief and powerful, born from creative challenges—flash fiction, structured poetry, and writing shaped by rules and constraints—alongside glimpses drawn from real life.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:

• Short, impactful reads
• A mix of humour, reflection, and edge
• Dipping in and out whenever time allows

Open the book anywhere.
There’s always something waiting—something to make you smile, pause, or see things a little differently.

One of the reviews for the collection 

judithanne 5 out of 5 stars I Read and Savoured Every Word

Hopes, Fears and Reality – the title says it all for me. In this book whether it’s in prose or poetry there are those moments in life that live forever in our memories. The characters we meet are multi-layered and unforgettable, their dialogue reveals their personalities, and the settings of the stories all give a brilliant sense of place.

I have favourites in this anthology, there are too many to list them all, so I’ll just mention one or two: Fear from the Past will stay with me, as will the poems Alone and Our World of Beauty and Hope. I chuckled at Stayin’ Alive and I was fascinated by the anecdotes of the author’s grandparents.

Alex Craigie’s work consistently portrays the emotions she intends to reveal in everything she writes. and instantly evoke a response in the reader.

And so I have no hesitation in recommending Hopes, Fears and Reality to any reader. Please read and savour every word. 

Head over to buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

Also by Alex Craigie

 

Find out more about Alex Craigie, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – Follow Alex: Goodreads – Alex Craigie via: Facebook 

The next book is by Mary Crowley, an author I enjoy reading, and her book Recipes and Tales from the Kitchen of Oceanic Temptations: A Taste of the Wild Atlantic Way

About the book

Meet the women of Oceanic Temptations and try their recipes…..

Oceanic Temptations Café is featured in the novel, A Sweet Smell of Strawberries.

Kilmer Cove sits on the beautiful coastline of Donegal where the Connolly family has strived to keep their beloved father’s legacy alive by adapting their farmland and extending their businesses, one of which is Oceanic Temptations.

Ocean Temptations started out as a small farm shop run by Sarah Connolly and her sister-in-law Lily selling fresh produce from the farm and home baking. The two women soon discovered the need to expand their business and take on more staff, due to its idyllic spot along The Wild Atlantic Way. Oceanic Temptations Café was built to accommodate passing coaches of tourists on their way to Fanad Head Lighthouse. It also became a place for locals from the seaside town of Kilmer Cove to meet and socialise.

This book tells the stories of the four women who work together in Oceanic Temptations. Lily, Olive, Lena, and Sarah along with their specialty deserts, some prose, and a selection of recipes.

A Taste of the Wild Atlantic Way

The Wild Atlantic Way is Ireland’s first defined touring route, stretching along the Atlantic coast from Donegal to West Cork. It was a yearly trip to Donegal where my son Steven competed in the Errigal Youth Tour in 2016, 2017 and 2018, which inspired the setting for A Sweet Smell of Strawberries, having fallen in love with the beautiful coastline of the Wild Atlantic Way.

My review for the book

I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Sweet Smell of Strawberries by Mary Crowley and was delighted that some of those memorable characters from that book would be featured again.

This is an unusual recipe book, as it is combined with short stories reflecting the lives of four women who work together at The Kitchen of Oceanic Temptations on the coast of Donegal. It is based after the Covid lockdown when all businesses are struggling with getting back on their feet, particularly in the heavily restricted hospitality industry.

Lily is strong and resilient but is hiding a frightening secret from her husband and friends and will need all their love and support.

Olive has a grown family but realises after many years of marriage that life has passed her by and now wonders if her relationship can survive sudden and shocking news.

Lena and her husband have built a life far from their homeland, leaving behind a tragedy that still haunts them and might drive them apart.

Sarah has built a wall around her emotions and is reluctant to love again, happy to be friends with and a substitute mother and sister to the other women in her life and the one man she trusts but keeps at a distance.

Kilmer Cove as also attracted the attention of a gang of thieves who will impact the lives of these women and those they love in a dangerous way, adding an extra edginess to the book.

Between the stories you will find some delicious recipes with a larger section towards the end of the book, before a satisfying final story to bring the book to a close.

The recipes include such delights as apple tart, cup cakes, mini chocolate eclairs, chocolate brownies, scones and homemade strawberry jam, coronation chicken filling, strawberry cheesecake, raspberry and chocolate roulade, bacon and onion quiche and lasagne.

With wonderfully crafted stories and memorable characters, easy to follow recipes, I have no doubt you will leave as satisfied with this book as I was.

Head over to buy the book: Amazon UK –  And: Amazon US

Also by Mary Crowley

Discover more about Mary Crowley and buy the books: Amazon UK – And on : Amazon US – Follow Mary : Goodreads – Blog/Website: Mary Crowley WordPress – Twitter: @marycrowleym 

Today and excerpt from the short story collection Tidalscribe Tales by Janet Gogerty and perhaps a cautionary tale for those who blog….

About the collection

Tales light and dark, bending reality, unexpected endings…
Dip into an ABC of stories including four chapters of flash fiction.

My review for the collection 

There is a little bit of everything in this intriguing short story collection by Janet Gogerty… be prepared to read with an open mind and for some stories a sofa to hide behind might be a good idea.

I particularly enjoyed the blogging flash fiction where there were some interesting perspectives on the advent of the first printing press and the advanced drone originating from my own home town of Portsmouth who decides to veer from its test flight…And for those of us who think we might not come face to face with our blog followers a reminder about the misconceptions attached to our profile photos.

Each story offers the readers something to think about, certainly in relation to modern advances in technology… some definitely open to interesting unintended outcomes. Others offer a glimpse into the distant past when wisdom and traditions are at risk. And if you fancy a bit of horror in your reading… the Holiday Cottage will be perfect for you.

The future features too with some cleverly crafted stories of how family relationships and travel might evolve in the coming decades including time travel. And challenges some of our perceptions of earth,infinity and the after life.

The author touches on several issues that are part of our modern world sadly such as homelessness and one story in particular, New Shoes, I found very moving.

The stories are certainly thought provoking and whilst there is a thread of humour running through the collection,there are some on the darker side of life… I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.

Read the reviews and buy the collection: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

A selection of other books by Janet Gogerty

Find out more about Janet Gogerty, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – Follow Janet: Goodreads – Blog: Tidal Scribe – Facebook : Beachwriter 

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – The Cookery Column Retro with Carol Taylor #Fajita Spice, #Tahini #Peanut Butter #Hummus

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Over the next alternate Wednesdays I will be sharing a series we originally ran back in 2018, and with many more visitors to the blog now and fans of Carol’s food posts, we thought you might enjoy all the foods and recipes that she covered in that series.

Carol Cook’s …My favourite spice mixes.

Welcome to this week’s Cookery column …This week I thought I would share with you some of my go to recipes ones which I make on a regular basis. My staples really I suppose ones, which I make quite often as they are family favourites.

As you know I mostly cook from scratch and it is something I have always done. Now more than ever as there are so many additives in products on the shelf.

Much of the time I either can’t get what I want here, or as it is imported, it is silly prices, but also because of all the negative articles about processed and manufactured food stuff.  I prefer to make my own as I know what it contains …So much now is laden with added sugars and preservatives that it is quite scary, and also increasing evidence that many chronic illnesses can be prevented or improved by eating less pre-prepared unhealthy foods.

This Chettinad Curry powder is one which I always make from scratch and it has lots of ingredients, but once you have measured them out and roasted them, all you have to do is pop them in a grinder. I have a small grinder and do it in a couple of batches it makes enough for 3-5 curries so it is always lovely and fresh.

Ingredients:

• 2 tsp black pepper
• 8 dried red chillies…
• 1 ½ tbsp cumin seeds
• 1 ½ tbsp dried coconut… I use fresh coconut which I dry but if you are unable to do that buy an unsweetened desiccated coconut.
• 2 tbsp coriander seeds
• 2 bay leaves
• 2 star anise
• 4 cloves
• 2 1” pieces of cinnamon
• 2 tbsp fennel seeds
• 10 curry leaves

Let’s Cook!

Dry roast all your ingredients in a frying pan or wok stirring to make sure you don’t burn them …Turn out on to a plate or board to cool down and then grind to a powder. Store in an airtight container.

Then make your curry as usual using your homemade powder. To test the strength of the curry you prefer, start with a smaller amount and add to it as necessary. I use about 3 tbsps per curry.

My next one is a Buffalo wing mixture which is so easy to make and I just make the amount I need at the time .

Buffalo Wing Spice Mix… For 2 lbs of chicken

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp of chilli flakes or powder…I just grind some dry fried chillies and blitz.
• 1 tbsp sweet paprika
• 1 ½ tsp cumin powder
• 2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 ½ tsp dried garlic not garlic salt.
• 1 ½ tsp salt
• 1 ½ tsp black pepper.

Mix all the dry ingredients together put in zip loc bag with the chicken and about a tbsp of olive oil either seal the bag and move it about to coat the chicken or get your hands in the bag like we do and make sure the chicken is all coated. Put in the fridge for at least 20-30 mins and cook as normal.

N.B Depending on who I am cooking for I may add more cayenne or chilli flakes but as with all homemade mixes …Play with the flavours …Have fun.

My Final Mix is my Fajita Mix

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp Cornstarch.
• 2 tbsp Chilli Powder.( I use dried chillies ground to a powder)
• 1 tbsp Salt.( I use Himalayan pink salt or mineral salt which is produced locally)
• 1 tbsp Sugar.
• 1 tbsp Paprika
• 2 1/2 tsp Powdered chicken stock/seasoning.
• 1 1/2 tsp Onion Powder.
• 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder.
• 1/2 tsp Cayenne Pepper.
• 1/2 tsp Cumin Powder.

I always make my own mixes as I find that I can save money by buying larger packs of spices and also I have a quicker rotation so the spices stay fresh and not linger in the cupboard forever.

This little dip is a recipe from Bali given to me by my grandson’s girlfriend it is very easy to
make but made more special by the addition of tamarind.

Called Rujak sauce it is lovely with mangoes or with chicken.

• Take 200 gm of palm sugar shaved.
• 15 gm of tamarind flesh and 5 tbsp of water leave to infuse for 5 mins and then drain and keep the tamarind flavoured water.
• 6 or more Thai chillies.
• 1/4 tsp shrimp paste and 1/4tsp salt.

Blitz all these ingredients together and you have fiery little sauce.

Thai Peanut Sauce.

Peanut sauce for use with satay or vegetables, pancakes or anything you fancy as it goes with almost anything. I love this easy sauce as it has so much flavour and can be made up really quickly.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts (unsalted)
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon sweet soy sauce
• 1 1/2 tablespoon sugar (palm sugar preferred)
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1 heaping tablespoon tamarind pulp (soaked in 1/4 cup water for 15 minutes, squeeze the tamarind pulp for juice and discard the pulp)
Spice Paste:
• 6-8 dried red chillies (seeded and soaked in warm water)
• 3 cloves garlic
• 3 shallots
• 2 lemon grass (white parts only)
• 1 inch galangal
• 1 tablespoon coriander powder (optional)

Let’s Cook!

  • Crush the peanuts with mortar and pestle or mini food processor until quite coarse and set aside.
  • Chop the spice paste ingredients and blend until fine. Heat oil and fry the spice paste until aromatic and smells spicy.
  • Add the peanuts, tamarind juice, water, sugar, sweet soy sauce and stir thoroughly.
  • Simmer on a low heat while continuing to stir for about 3 minutes until the peanut sauce turns smooth. Serve at room temperature with the satay or vegetables.

N.B. I use fresh peanuts and dry cook in hot pan just make sure you keep stirring or shaking them as they cook very quickly.

I just love this peanut sauce and keep a little pot in the fridge… the taste is far superior to any peanut satay sauce I had ever had before I came to Thailand.

While we are on the subject of peanuts I always make my own peanut butter…It is the simplest thing to make and once you have tried it you will never buy a shop brought jar of peanut butter again.

Peanuts are a good source of Vitamin E, niacin, folate, protein and manganese as well as providing resveratrol, the phenolic antioxidant also found in red grapes and red wine. While it cannot compare with the fruits highest in antioxidants i.e. pomegranate, roasted peanuts do compare with the antioxidants of apples, carrots and beets.

Rather than buying store bought peanut butter which is full of nasties it is easier and it is very quick to make your own.

It is the quickest easiest recipe to make ever, the kids can help blitz it and as well as being tasty it has no preservatives or added sugars.

Let’s Cook!

  • Take 500 gm raw peanuts. Put in oven on tray and cook on high for 10 mins.
  • Take out of oven and reserve a few (if you like crunchy peanut butter) like me.
  • Put the remainder of nuts in a food processor and blitz at 1 min intervals scrapping down the sides. Do this for 4 mins or until smooth.
  • Add 1tsp of salt, 1 tbsp oil and remainder of reserved nuts if using. If you want to add honey or flavouring of your choice then add now.
  • Blitz again for 1 min and put in a suitable container. Stores in fridge for 3/4 weeks…….IT’S DELISH!

Lastly I always make my own Tahini Paste… Very easy and cheap as chips as they say.
How to make your very own Tahini paste/butter…it is so quick and easy and the cost of a packet of sesame seeds is virtually pennies against the cost of a store-bought jar of tahini and no nasties….

Let’s Cook!

Into the kitchen, Take 1 cup of sesame seeds and give them a quick toasting of the Sesame Seeds, then into the mini blender, 3 tbsp Olive oil, and a quick whizz, scrape down the sides, another tbsp Olive oil and another scrape, a bit more oil and a quick whizz and voilà your Tahini Paste is made.

How easy is that?

The next favourite follows on from the tahini…Hummus

• 3 tbsp Tahini Paste
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon/lime juice

Blitz these together in the food processor.
Add

• 2tbsp Olive Oil
• 1 clove Garlic
• ½ tsp ground Cumin
• ½ – 1 tsp salt and blitz.
• 1 can of drained, rinsed chickpeas

Add half a can of the drained, rinsed chickpeas and again blitz 1-2 mins.

Add the other half of Chick Peas and blitz again 1-2 mins.

Put in a suitable container or serving bowl drizzle with tbsp Olive Oil and sprinkle with Paprika.

So easy and healthy and it’s now ready to eat with sliced pitta bread or cut up vegetables of your choice.

This will keep up to 1 week in the fridge.

I hope you have enjoyed some of my favourite recipes and mixes and will let me know how you get on when you try them. I am sure that the whole family will enjoy.

©Carol Taylor

About Carol Taylor

Carol Taylor now lives in Thailand having been brought up in England and has built a dedicated following of her blog and guest posts where she creates not only amazing dishes, but sources fantastic ingredients in line with her philosophy of sustainable food ‘cooked from scratch’. Having travelled extensively Carol has incorporated the cuisines of many different cultures into her recipes, and shares her research into the backgrounds to both the traditional cultures and the origins of the ingredients.

She loves shopping at local markets and wherever she is, finding fresh, natural ingredients, new strange fruits and vegetables she has never seen or cooked with.

Health and the environment are key priorities, particularly the concern about our oceans and fisheries. Also, how many of our foods on the shelves of our supermarkets are ultra processed and contain additives that do not add to the nutritional value and are not healthy. She is an advocate about growing our own food where or when we can even it it is only a few pots or a window box of herbs.

She wishes everyone would count chemicals and not calories as they would be much healthier…it’s true ‘we are what we eat‘ and while a cake or a bar of chocolate does no harm on occasions, sticking to a fresh food, balanced diet will keep our bodies healthy as we age…

Cookbooks by Carol Taylor

Head over to buy the books:  Amazon UK  – And: Amazon US For reviews: Goodreads – Connect to Carol – Blog: Carol Cooks 2 – Twitter: @CarolCooksTwo – Facebook: Carol Taylor 

 

Thanks Carol for another fascinating post..and join us again in two weeks for the next in the series.

 

Smorgasbord Authors in the Sun – #Summer #Spain #Rain – Skyhorses, ‘Los caballos del cielo’ by Sue Wickstead

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Today something slightly different with a reminder that sometimes during the hot summer months in exotic locations the weather can surprise you with its ferocity… Sue Wickstead with a story written as for a prompt for one of her writing groups. It is based on an real life adventure she and her sister experienced on one of their frequent visits to Spain.

Skyhorse by Sue Wickstead.

It begins with a riddle; ‘A slender staff that touches earth and sky at the same time.’

Who knows where a fable starts? Where reality ends and your imagination takes over?
Stories told from generation to generation to explain the reality turning the event into a myth or a legend.

*****

The day had been full of hot sunshine with a warm breeze that blew in from the sea.
There were a few grey clouds hanging over the distant hills but nothing to worry about, here it was blue skies, blue sea and a hot sun.

The little town was a buzz of activity as preparations were being made for the fiesta. Tonight, would be an open-air musical celebration of music and dance. We were looking forward to joining in.

The grey clouds rolled in briefly with a short shower that drifted out to sea.

The rain soon dried up as evening approached. It would not stop us going and we were ready.

‘El caballo del cielo’, whispered the man in the local bar.

We joined the people as they began to arrive, some with seats to sit and listen, some finding places to perch and rest, some sat nearby in local bars and some, like us, were ready to join in and dance the night away.

The lights lit up the stage as the evening’s entertainment began.

Loudly the bands played and with some familiar songs we joined in.

The chatter from the nearby bars was lost as the bands took over the proceedings with flashing laser lights and musical instruments playing.

The dark night drew in and there was a welcome breeze in the air. The laser light show lit up the skies above and we were soon dancing and joining in with enthusiasm.

The skies seemed darker than usual and the clouds above were hiding the stars from view. Mother nature seemed to want to join in with the celebration too as she sent rumbles of thunder to echo the drums and lightening to mirror the flashes of the lasers.

Nature at its best joining in enthusiastically.

The storm seemed so far away and like so often, might just pass on by.

‘Los caballos del cielo’ people muttered as they nervously watched the display of nature while at the same time listening to the bands playing. Some were getting up ready to leave. But we were having fun and stayed.

Suddenly, the direction of the wind changed and blew a cool gust, it was becoming harder and more difficult to focus. Our eyes were watching both Mother Nature and man playing together, it was becoming a battle.

Loudly the band continued to play as if to drown out the rumbles of thunder!

The flashes of light mingled with the flashes of the lasers. Where did one start and one end? Was that man or nature?

Still, we danced on trying to ignore the battle overhead and the battle on the ground!

People were leaving quickly now but we were determined to stick it out, it might just pass after all!

Then suddenly the breeze stopped and an icy cold down draft hit the scene with strong gusting winds blowing everything and everybody with a fierce push.

We stayed as heavy drops of rain fell, putting covers over our heads but mother nature would have the last laugh as she dropped her rain cloud in one great downfall.

The last of the bands had to give up the fight as the lights sparked dangerously and the tent blew dynamically across the arena.

Laughing we held on for a moment, but we could not have been wetter if we had jumped into the sea itself, now was the time to admit defeat.

Running to the nearby doorway full of sheltering people it was evident Mother Nature had not finished yet and she decided to throw hailstones at us now.

As the roads became torrents of cascading water racing past it was time to beat a retreat and leaping over the raging rivers, head for home.

Mother Nature had certainly shown her power. She had won the battle, for now.

‘Los caballos del cielo’, laughed the man in the bar!

‘The Skyhorses!’ Indeed, with their hooves creating sparks of light in the black clouds overhead the Skyhorses had raced across the sky that night, turning and swirling neighing with loud roars, this was certainly a legend that we would remember!

*****

The riddle; ‘A slender staff that touches earth and sky at the same time.’

It is the rain!

©Sue Wickstead

My thanks to Sue for participating in the series and I know she would love to hear from you.

A small selection of other books by Sue Wickstead

One of the reviews for Jay Jay and his Island Adventure 

Simon
5 out of 5 stars
brilliant read

This is the second Jay Jay book I have read with Amelia and we both loved it just as much as the first one.

In this story Jay Jay has to go on a ferry to visit some children who have never seen a double decker bus before, and he gets into a few scrapes both getting onto the ferry and also whilst he is travelling across the water.

Once on the Island Jay Jay meets lots of children who all have a great time playing on him and having adventures with all the toys and fancy dress he takes to them.

We really loved this book as there are lots of nice bright pictures for Amelia to look at and she could also read quite a lot of it as the words weren’t too long. When I told her that I was getting this book she was really excited and couldn’t wait to read it. We now also read and enjoyed book 3. 

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – More reviews: Goodreads – Website/Blog: Sue Wickstead – Facebook: Stories Sue – Facebook: Teacher Page – Twitter: @JayJayBus – LinkedIn: Sue Wickstead 

About Sue Wickstead

Award winning books. Shortlisted in the Wishing Shelf Book awards.

Sue Wickstead is a teacher and an author and has written children’s picture books with a bus theme. In addition, she has also written a photographic history book about the real bus behind her story writing.

Her bus stories are about a playbus. Have you ever been on a Playbus?

When Sue’s two children were young, they attended a playgroup on a bus, but not an ordinary bus taking you on a journey, exciting though this is, but a Playbus stuffed full of toys to capture their imagination!

For over 20 years, alongside her teaching career, she worked with the charity, the Bewbush Playbus Association.

As part of the committee she painted the bus, worked in the groups, helped raise the profile of the project and its work and was part of the team involved in raising funds to replace the old bus with a newer vehicle. This led her to write a photographic history book about it.

‘It really was a fun journey to be involved in’, said Sue. The bus really got into her blood and became a work of the heart.

Having written the history book Sue soon found that many children had never been on a bus before, let alone a ‘Playbus’ and they wanted to know more. So, she decided to write a fictional tale, his number plate JJK261, gave him his name.

‘Jay-Jay the Supersonic Bus,’ came out in print in 2014. It is the story behind the original project and is his journey from a scrap-yard to being changed into a playbus for children to play in. From Fact to fiction the bus journey continues.

This story has now been followed by more picture books.‘A Spooky Tale’ and ‘The Christmas Play Rehearsal’ do indeed have a bus connection as well as links to her teaching journey.

Sue has undertaken events and author bookings and loves to share her stories, she is also proud to be ‘a patron of reading’.

The books have all received 5-star awards from ‘Readers Favourite’. Sue’s books have also been short-listed in ‘The wishing Shelf’ book awards. With ‘A Spooky Tale’ a silver medal winner.

If you have a fiction short story to share with us then here is what I will need. Please send to sallygcronin@gmail.com

  • A word document with your edited story. A new story or one you have written and published on your blog.
  • 1000 to 1500 words.. but if it is slightly shorter or longer that is no problem. It can be any genre except for erotica as I have younger readers.
  • If you are an author or blogger who has featured here before I don’t need anything else.
  • If you are new to the blog then I will need an Amazon page link, blog or website links, three main social media links and a profile photograph.

I look forward to hearing from you and sharing your writing here… thanks Sally.

 

 

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Music Column Retro- The Big Band Era with William Price King and Sally Cronin – 1940s – Georgie Stoll with Judy Garland, Victor Young with Dick Haymes, Tommy Rall

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Welcome to the 2026 series of the music column where I am joined as always by Jazz singer and composer William Price King.  We hope you will join us every Tuesday for some of the chart hits of the big band era from the 1930s through to the 1950s.

Some of the earlier videos are not of the best quality however where possible we have sourced remastered copies to share with you. Considering some are almost 100 years old, it is remarkable that they exist at all.  A testament to the love of the music of that era. Along with our selections each week we will also be showcasing some of the iconic dancers of the era.

Here is my next selection from the Big Band chart in the 1940s from Georgie Stoll’s Orchestra with Judy Garland

Judy Garland with Georgie Stoll’s Orchestra “The Trolley Song” (1944)

“The Trolley Song” was composed by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane for the film “Meet Me in St. Louis.” The song was inspired by a picture of a trolley car in a turn-of-the-century newspaper seen in a book found at the Beverly Hills Public Library which had the caption “Clang, Clang, Clang, went the trolly.”Blane and Martin were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1945. “The Trolly Song” was ranked #26 by the American Film Institute in 2004 on the AFI’s 100 Years . . . 100 Songs list.

Here is my next selection from the 1940s from – Victor Young’s Orchestra and Dick Haymes

Dick Haymes with Victor Young’s Orchestra “It Might As Well Be Spring” (1945)

“It Might as Well Be Spring” is a song from the 1945 film State Fair. which features the only original film score by the songwriting team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. “It Might as Well Be Spring” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for that year.[

Dick Haymes, who played Margy’s brother Wayne Frake in the 1945 film, made the first hit recording of the song released by Decca Records. Debuting on the Billboard magazine Best Seller chart dated 8 November 1945, the disc had a chart tenure of 12 weeks with a peak of #5. It was the flip side of “That’s for Me” (also from State Fair), another top-10 best seller.  Dick Haymes – Topic

Other sources: Wikipedia – And: Jazz Standards

Tommy Rall – Thomas Edward Rall (December 27, 1929 – October 6, 2020) was an American actor, ballet dancer, tap dancer, and acrobatic dancer who was a prominent featured player in 1950s musical comedies. He later became a successful operatic tenor in the 1960s, making appearances with the Opera Company of Boston, the New York City Opera, and the American National Opera Company.

Rall was born in Kansas City, Missouri to Edward and Margaret Rall, but raised in Seattle, Washington. An only child, he had a crossed eye which made it hard for him to read books, so his mother enrolled him in dancing classes. In his early years he performed a dance and acrobatic vaudeville act in Seattle theaters and attempted small acting roles.

His family moved to Los Angeles in the 1940s, and Rall began to appear in small movie roles. His first film appearance was a short MGM film called Vendetta. He began taking tap dancing lessons and became a member of the jitterbugging Jivin’ Jacks and Jills at Universal Studios.

Rall joined Donald O’Connor, Peggy Ryan, and Shirley Mills in several light wartime Andrews Sisters vehicles including Give Out, Sisters (1942), Get Hep to Love (1942),and Mister Big (1943), among others. He appeared in the films The North Star and Song of Russia (1944).

Rall took ballet lessons and danced in classical and Broadway shows, including Milk and Honey, Call Me Madam, and Cry for Us All. Jerry Herman said of Rall in Milk and Honey:

Rall was highly respected by his contemporaries—including dance greats Gene Kelly and Donald O’Connor—with the latter describing Rall as one of the “greatest dancers living…above Astaire and Kelly.

Tommy Rall Invitation to Dance Sam Francis

 Your Hosts for The Big Band Era

 

William Price King is an American jazz singer, crooner, and composer.

His interest in music began at an early age when he studied piano and clarinet in high school. At Morehouse College in Atlanta where he grew up, he sang in the Glee Club and studied classical music. After graduation he went off to the Yale School of Music where he earned a Masters degree. From there he journeyed to New York where he created a jazz trio ‘Au Naturel’ which performed in some of the hottest venues in Manhattan including gigs on Broadway and the famous ‘Rainbow Room.’ These gigs opened doors for performances in Montreal and a European tour.

While touring Europe he met a lovely French lady, Jeanne Maïstre, who, a year later became his wife. King left the group ‘Au Naturel’ and settled in the south of France where he started a new life on the French Riviera, opening his own music school – the “Price King Ecole Internationale de Chant.” He has had the pleasure over the years of seeing many of his students excel as singers on a professional level, and some going on to become national celebrities. He continues to coach young singers today, in his spare time.

Blog– IMPROVISATION – William Price King on Tumblr – Buy William’s music: William Price King iTunes – Facebook – William Price King – Twitter – @wpkofficial
Regular Venue – Cave Wilson

Sally Cronin is an author, blogger and broadcaster who enjoyed four years as part of the team on Onda Cero International’s English speaking morning show in Marbella and then for two years as a presenter on Expressfm the local radio station in Portsmouth. She co-presented two ‘Drive Time’ shows a week with Adrian Knight, hosted the live Thursday Afternoon Show and The Sunday Morning Show guests including musicians and authors. Following this she became Station Director for a local internet television station for two years, producing and presenting the daily news segment, outside broadcasts and co-presenting the Adrian and Sally chat show live on Friday evenings.

She and her husband David have now returned to Ireland where they live on the Wexford Coast where she blogs and continues to write books.

Books :Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More reviews: Goodreads – blog: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Twitter: @sgc58 – Facebook: Sally Cronin – LinkedIn: Sally Cronin

Thanks for tuning in and as always we love to hear from you.. thanks William and Sally.

 

 

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Comedy with Malcolm Allen Rewind – Book Groups and Bank Heists

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Like food, I don’t like to see great humour wasted. So I will be sharing a post from the archives as well as new funnies from Malcolm Allen in Australia every month… something to get your weekend off to a good start.       

My thanks to Malcolm for excellent foraging and we hope you are leaving with a smile on your face.

About Malcolm Allen

The author was born in London UK and experienced a challenging childhood, leaving school with no academic qualifications at the age of 15. He had mixed fortunes in his early working days but managed to secure a job in the banking industry at the age of 19. During a period of 32 years he enjoyed a demanding and successful career in London, the pinnacle of which was becoming a Company Director at the age of 37. Following a life changing experience in November 1998 he emigrated to Perth, Western Australia in September 2001, relocating to his current home in Melbourne, Australia in November 2015.

My thanks to Malcolm for bringing laughter into our lives and it would be great if you could share.

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – #Memoir #Teaching Pete Springer, #Memoir #Leonbergers Thomas Wikman, #Christmas #Cookbook Carol Taylor

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Today some memoirs with a common theme… a passion for something very important in the author’s lives… teaching, Leonbergers and cookery

The first book is what I consider to be the gold standard for teaching the youngest members of our society… They Call Me Mom by Pete Springer

 

About the book

Who Will You Inspire Today? Teachers face this challenge and responsibility each day, but in the process, the author discovers that his students can also have a profound influence on him. Pete Springer takes you on his memorable thirty-one-year journey in education as an elementary school teacher and offers the many valuable life and teaching lessons he learned along the way. Get ready to laugh out loud at some of the humorous and memorable experiences that all teachers face, feel inspired by the inherent goodness of children, and appreciate the importance of developing a sense of teamwork among the staff.

Learn valuable tips for working with children, parents, fellow staff members, and administrators. This book is ideal for young teachers, but also a reminder to all educators of the importance and responsibility of being a role model. This book is a must-read for all new teachers and those teachers that need a reminder they are human! Mr. Springer educates others in his easy-to-read, story-like, first-hand manuscript. You will laugh, cry, and get motivated to be the best educator you can. After reading this, I have a better outlook on relationships with my colleagues and am reminded to savor every moment. -Tami Beall (Principal, Pine Hill School)

One of the reviews for the book

Marsha Ingrao
5 out of 5 stars
Information for Teachers, Administrators, Parents, and Public About Public Education

This book should be in the hands of every new teacher in California, if not the United States. The only problem with giving it to them outside a classroom setting is that new teachers, who are already overwhelmed, would probably be even more overwhelmed when they read about all the facets of the careers they are about to undertake. To be honest, I felt a little guilty in places, knowing that I had had similar situations that I hadn’t handled as calmly.

I expected a light-hearted, feel-good book with lots of funny stories about what happened during his teaching career. It’s not every man who is called Mom – even in the teacher world.

I didn’t mind being called Mom. I got a little offended when they started calling me grandma in my thirties and early forties.

Pete shared enough stories to make it an interesting read, fun at times, and touching at others.

“…I was outside with my class, taking part in physical education with them. … supervising a game my students were playing. Three police cars pulled up abruptly in front of the house across the street. The officers ran up to the house, and my instinct was to immediately bring my class inside because I wasn’t sure if this was a potentially dangerous situation. … I remember (Travis) didn’t want to go back into the classroom, and his eyes focused on the activity that was taking place at his home.” p. 135-136.

You’ll have to read the book to find out what happened. This riveting story is a prime example of how Pete not only kept my interest, but also moved his agenda forward of sharing what teachers did in different situations – both good and bad.

Reading this book primed my memory, and I wanted to immediately write back to the author about my similar experiences, joys, projects, and frustrations. It felt like I was reading the bible of education.

The book covers setting up the classroom, working with students, parents, colleagues, and administration. He moves on to discipline and its opposite—recognition and awards. There are some funny moments and some frustrations. At the end, he includes some of his helpful forms for communication with students and parents.

I’m not sure this book would appeal to everyone. To any teacher, new parent of an elementary student, principal, media person who wants the inside scoop on what teachers really do, or district administrator, I think it’s a must-read and re-read kind of resource. 

Read the reviews and buy the book:Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Pete Springer profile image

Find out more about Pete Springer, read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – and:Amazon UK – Read more reviews:Goodreads – Website: Pete Springer WordPress – Twitter: @OfficerWoof 

The next book is definitely for dog lovers by Thomas Wikman – The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle: Stories and Tips from Thirteen Years with a Leonberger (Thomas is now a member of the contributing team with a monthly post based on his superfacts series.)

About the book

If you’re thinking of getting a Leonberger, or if you’ve already owned one and know how rewarding the experience can be, you’ll want to read the story of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle, called Bronco, who came into the lives of the Wikman family of Dallas, Texas, in 2007. Bronco, a recipient of the Leonberger Health Foundation International’s Grey Muzzle Award, lived an unusually long life for a Leonberger—almost thirteen years. His human family is convinced that what helped him exceed his breed’s normal life expectancy was his brave and loving heart.

Here you’ll read about some of Bronco’s amazing feats: the night he scared away a prowler; the day he performed a hamster search and rescue; the time he stumped the Geek Squad; and the late night he snuck into the kitchen and ate a two-pound bag of dog treats, a box of pastries, a loaf of bread, a grilled chicken, and a Key lime pie, all in one sitting. You’ll also read about his unflappable calm during a north Texas tornado and his stoicism as he endured health challenges in his later years.

In addition to entertaining stories, these pages contain a wealth of practical guidance, including

  • a history of the Leonberger breed;
  • advice for the care of very large dogs;
  • breed-specific health and genetic information;
  • training and feeding tips;
  • suggestions for finding a breeder;
  • the official breed standard;
  • and an extensive resource guide.

Bronco’s fearlessness, tolerance, and affectionate nature warmed the hearts of everyone who met him, and his sometimes uncanny adventures with his human and canine companions will bring a smile to the face of every dog lover.

The author is donating the proceeds from the sale of this book to the Leonberger Health Foundation International

One of the reviews for the book

Alex Diaz-Granados
5 out of 5 stars
Bronco’s Biography is a good story, well told!

Back in 2007, an automation, robotics, and software engineer named Thomas Wikman of Dallas, TX bought a Leonberger puppy for his son’s upcoming 14th birthday. Wikman and his family, which also included his wife Claudia and two other children, already had two dogs (a Labrador mix named Baylor and a German Shepherd named Baby), but Thomas wanted to get a Leonberger, too. So, after being vetted by the breeders in Canada, the cute furball they’d eventually name Le Bronco von der Lowenhole was shipped from our northern neighbor by air to the Lone Star State.

Thus began the Wikmans’ 13-year journey of love and friendship with their big – and I mean BIG – Leonberger, who despite his aristocratic name for his American Kennel Club papers answered to plain, simple, and unforgettable “Bronco.”

Bronco – as the book’s title, The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle: Stories and Tips from Thirteen Years with a Leonberger, foreshadows – was unusually long-lived for a big dog. He lived long enough to earn the Leonberger Health Foundation International’s Grey Muzzle Award, which is earned by dogs who live to be 12 years old. As a result, Thomas Wikman and his family have a treasure trove of memories, not just of Bronco himself, but the other dogs in the family.

There are some wonderfully touching vignettes in The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle, such as the one early in the book in which Thomas – who finds himself alone in the house on a quiet Dallas evening – is making a sandwich in the kitchen when, suddenly, he feels what he thinks is a human hand on his shoulder. Thinking that it is an intruder, Thomas turns around, only to see the sweet, loving face of his big furry Leonberger, asking for half a sandwich.

And, of course, because Thomas tells the reader about the ups and downs of life with multiple dogs, there are some sobering stories in The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle: Stories and Tips from Thirteen Years with a Leonberger as well, including one about the Dogsitter from Hell. Having been a pet- and house-sitter when I lived in Miami, I could not understand how someone like that young lady that Thomas and his wife Claudia hired to take care of their dogs while the Wikmans went on vacation could be so inept and irresponsible. (What did she do? Read the Intermezzo – pages 73-80 – to find out.)

If you’re like me and love dogs, or if you’re interested in adding a Leonberger to your family, The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle: Stories and Tips from Thirteen Years with a Leonberger is a must-have book that will entertain, enthrall, and inform you from the first chapter to the last one. It is excellently designed – by Susan Hood Design – and features many illustrations, including Wikman family photos of their furry family members and drawings by artist Naomi Rosenblatt.

This is a terrific book. Not only does Wikman know how to tell a story, but he also gives potential Leonberger owners lots of tips on how to properly care for a Leonberger. In The Life and Times of Le Bronco von der Löwenhöhle, you’ll find out what types of dog food you should give to a Leonberger in all the stages of his (or her) life, what Leonbergers are like personality-wise, and what to look for in canine health issues, especially since Leonbergers are a large breed and require lots of tender loving care, especially as they grow older.

I smiled a lot while reading this book, but I have to admit that I shed more than a couple of tears, too. That’s the hallmark of a good story, well told. And it’s a true story, at that.

Read the reviews and buy the book:Amazon US –  And:Amazon UK

Find out more about Thomas on his:Website/Blog – Personal Facebook – Facebook book page – Instagram – LinkedIn 

And the last book today is from Carol Taylor who is a wonderful friend and long-term contributor to the blog with her food columns. And whilst it is some time until Christmas it is never too early to enjoy some of the special treat we enjoy at that time of year. A Homemade Christmas, I can tell you it is a feast for the eyes…

About the cookbook

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! But what would Christmas be without delicious homemade food that reminds us of our childhood? “A Homemade Christmas” is a collection of recipes passed down through the generations, gathered from friends and travels, which will help readers revive memories of Christmastime.

This book will allow readers to:

  • Enjoy the comfort of homemade holiday meals with family and loved ones
  • Create lasting memories of joy and warmth
  • Transform their home into a winter wonderland

This book includes:

  • Delicious recipes from Great Britain and around the world
  • Easy-to-follow instructions
  • Step-by-step guides to making the perfect holiday dishes

This book is the perfect way to make your home feel like a winter wonderland. Happy Holidays.

One of the reviews for the cookbook 

D. W. Peach
5 out of 5 stars
I tried seven of the recipes

First, I must confess to being a terrible cook. Some people have a natural ability and, with a mere glance in the pantry, know how to whip up a feast. That’s not me. At all. So, when I find a blogger who offers me some hope in the kitchen, I’m a fan. It made sense that when Taylor came out with a book of Christmas recipes, I’d give it a try. I made 7 different recipes for a Christmas Eve meal with visiting family.

The Appetizers:

– Ricotta Blackberry Walnut Toasts – This app was delicious. The family gobbled it down, and because it was easy to make, I made a second batch, which we also finished in no time.

– Cheesy Bacon Cob Dip – The dip was excellent. I didn’t use a bread bowl (just a baking dish) and served it with crackers. Taylor suggests experimenting with cheeses, meats, and mushrooms. I will be trying it with crab and artichoke hearts next. Yum.

– Cheese Bourekas – This appetizer was a hit. I made them in cupcake trays instead of a springform cake pan. We finished off one tray, and I reheated the other in the morning to accompany our breakfast.

Christmas Eve Dinner:

– Beef Brisket with Asian Twist – US packaged briskets are very salty, so I used a no-salt beef stock and low sodium soy sauce for this recipe. It came out great!

– Christmas Cheese Bread Sharing Wreath – Another hit, beautiful and savory bread. The recipe seemed more complicated than it was, and the bread did exactly what it was supposed to do. Next time, I’ll make more of the parmesan herb mix to coat the dough before baking.

– Glazed Orange Carrots – A good traditional staple.

– Spiced Red Cabbage – This recipe reminded me of borscht with the slight vinegary seasoning which I loved. This dish cooks for a long time, and I ended up getting distracted and burning it. Fortunately, we were already full of appetizers. I’ll have to try this one again.

The cookbook has dessert recipes too, but I didn’t try them since my daughter brought homemade pies. I was intrigued by the Traditional Christmas Pudding and Traditional Christmas (fruit) Cake, UK recipes I’ve never tried. The last section of the book offers ideas for dealing with leftovers.

Ingredients were easy to find in my grocery store. The measurements in the book (dry and liquid) are sometimes in US cups, sometimes in UK grams and milliliters, and occasionally in both. A conversion table at the back is extremely helpful. I did all my conversions early on when preparing my shopping list. If I messed anything up, I couldn’t tell.

All in all, it was a successful Christmas Eve feast. I highly recommend this book of recipes to anyone who enjoys cooking and wants to expand their repertoire of dishes, especially for Christmas, but honestly, for any time of year. 

Head over to buy the book: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US – 

Also by Carol Taylor

Find out more about Carol, read the reviews and buy the books:  Amazon UK  – And: Amazon USFor reviews: Goodreads – Connect to Carol – Blog:Carol Cooks 2 – Twitter: @CarolCooksTwo – Facebook:Carol Taylor  – And: Bluesky

 

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.

 

Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Weekly Round Up – June 15th – 21st – Blogger Meet Up, Big Band, Chart toppers, Cuisine Pakistan, Book Review, Summer Book Fair, Funnies

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Welcome to the round up of posts you might have missed this week on Smorgasbord.

I hope you have enjoyed your week so far… it has certainly thrown up one or two surprises for us.

One being the email I received earlier in the week from lovely blogger and author Cheryl Oreglia. 

Cheryl and her husband Larry were on a cruise around the UK stopping off at various points and taking to the road on their cycles. Those of you who are familiar with Cheryl’s Living in the Gap posts will know this intrepid couple are well known for their road trips with its ups and downs!

Anyway the surprise was they were going to be in Ireland from Wednesday and would like to meet up if possible. You bet it was!  We arranged to connect on Friday at Powerscourt house, gardens and distillery for lunch.  And had the company of the garden’s crows for our photographs.

It was such a delight to spend what was a far too short a time with this wonderful couple..Here are just  two of photos taken when the sun popped out at just the right moment. From left to right… Larry, Cheryl and David.

Hopefully not the last time we will meet but certainly something we will treasure.

Toni Pike very kindly posted a wonderful review for Tales from the Irish Garden to her blog on Friday which finished the week on another high note…. Thanks so much Toni ♥

Book Review – Tales Irish Garden by Toni Pike

My thanks as always to the amazing contributors for their posts and support.

William Price King joined me for a Big Band era and on Friday another in the Chart Toppers and Blockbuster series and we are delighted you are enjoying along with us.  You can catch up with William on his own Blog– IMPROVISATION– William Price King on Tumblr

Debby Gies will be back with another post in her series on ageing July 6th. On her own blog an exploration of toxic relationships and walking away from them.and as always her Sunday Book Review and this week it is for the exciting thriller Two Graves by Terry Tyler   D.G. Kaye

Carol Taylor was here on Wednesday exploring the cuisine of Pakistan and this coming Wednesday she will be sharing recipes for Fajita Spice, Tahini, Peanut Butter and Hummus...on her own blog Carol shared  the most recent of the cuisines of Panama. CarolCook 

The Big Band Era with William Price King and Sally Cronin – 1940s – Nat King Cole, John Scott Trotter and Bing Crosby, Bob Fosse

Chart Toppers and Blockbusters 1980s with William Price King “Beat It” and Amadeus

A-Z World Cuisines with Carol Taylor Reblog – Discovering the Cuisine of Pakistan…traditionally known as Sapta-Sindhu-Land of seven rivers…

The Alexander Technique – Part Three – Standing, Sitting and Walking Correctly by Sally Cronin

#AmericanHeartland #Stories The Immigrant and the Outlaw by Joy Neal Kidney

#Life #Redemption #Respect – Gravy by Alex Craigie

Shortstories- #Fantasy – The Girl and the Bear by D.L. Finn

#Romantic #Thriller Joy York, #Noir #Crime Alison J. Moore, #Murder #Mystery Sharon Marchisello

#SocialHistory #Compassion #Audio Elizabeth Gauffreau, #Love #War #Courage Apple Gidley, #History #SouthAfrica Pat Spencer

#Historical #Prehistoric #Trilogy Jacqui Murray, #Medieval Patricia Furstenburg, #WWII Paulette Mahurin

#Life #Shortstories #Poetry – Beem Weeks, M.J. Mallon and Sally Cronin

Share an Excerpt – Boost one of your books – #Supernatural #Paranormal #Thriller Five-Toed Tigress by T.W. Dittmer

Host Sally Cronin and the Social Media Team – Kindles, Air Fares Nutritional Advice.

Thank you for dropping in and I hope you will join us again next week… 

Smorgasbord Funnies 2026 – Host Sally Cronin and the Social Media Team – Kindles, Air Fares Nutritional Advice.

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Over the years I have been saving funnies from my various social media platforms and particularly Facebook… some from members of our writing community and I hope they don’t mind if I share here just two of the frequent flyers are Laura Lyndhurst  Jim Webster– and Janet Gogerty – … I hope you enjoy.

And to finish

Anniversary Gift
A woman walks into a travel agency. She approaches the travel agent and says, “Hello. My fortieth anniversary is coming up and I’d like to plan a special trip for my husband.”

“Wow,” replies the travel agent, “Forty years? How do you keep the magic alive for so long?”

“Well,” replies the woman, “For us, it’s all about keeping things interesting and spontaneous. For example, on our twentieth anniversary, I took my husband to the Bahamas.”

“Oh! How exotic? What are you doing for your fortieth?”

“Going back to collect him,” the woman replies.

And for the nutritional message this week…

For those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on nutrition and health. It’s a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies.

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.
2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.
3. The Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.
4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.
5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Brits.

CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

My thanks to those who serve up the humour on social media… 

If you would like to browse my books and reviews you can find them here Sally’s Books and Reviews 

 

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – #Life #Shortstories #Poetry – Beem Weeks, M.J. Mallon and Sally Cronin

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The first recommended collection today is by Beem Weeks…Slivers of Life

About the collection.

These twenty short stories are a peek into individual lives caught up in spectacular moments in time. Children, teens, mothers, and the elderly each have stories to share.

Readers witness tragedy and fulfillment, love and hate, loss and renewal. Historical events become backdrops in the lives of ordinary people, those souls forgotten with the passage of time.

Beem Weeks tackles diverse issues running the gamut from Alzheimer’s disease to civil rights, abandonment to abuse, from young love to the death of a child. Long-hidden secrets and notions of revenge unfold at the promptings of rich and realistic characters; plot lines often lead readers into strange and dark corners. Within Slivers of Life, Weeks proves that everybody has a story to tell—and no two are ever exactly alike.

One of the reviews for the collection October 28th 2025

John W. Howell
5 out of 5 stars
An outstanding Collection of Short Stories

Often, a collection of short stories includes one or two memorable stories. The best way to get more is to buy an anthology or read Slivers of Life by Beem Weeks. Given the state of my TBR, I bought this book in 2018 and only now got to it. The quality of the stories individually and the collection as a whole gave me a pleasant surprise. I had to kick myself for not getting to it sooner.

The dialogue in each story is not overburdened with colloquial dialect, but the reader can tell that the folks involved are from different times or places. Beem Weeks has an enviable talent for pegging personalities, giving the reader distinct impressions of how they will behave. To get a vivid picture, the reader does not need to read long descriptions of the character’s dress or appearance. A few words coming out of their mouth is all it takes, and the author is a master at doing this.

The stories themselves are about people. These could be a next-door neighbor or someone in the family involved in a creative condition created by Mr. Weeks. The point is these stories are so good as a result of the writing and not a contrived situation. Rest assured, each story will cause the reader to pause and think about the lesson. Yes, there is a lesson in each one, and that is the beauty of this collection. The reader can be entertained, educated, and challenged all at the same time.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys well-written literature.

Read the reviews and buy the collection: Amazon UK – And: Amazon US

Also by Beem Weeks 

Find out more about  Beem Weeks, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Beem Weeks: Goodreads – Website/Blog: Beem Weeks – Twitter: @BeemWeeks –  Bluesky: Beem Weeks Author – Podcast: Voice of Indie 

The next book today is another I can highly recommend. The flash fiction and poetry collection The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet by M.J. Mallon.

About the collection

The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet is a collection of poetry and flash fiction celebrating the beautiful vulnerability of the forest kingdom. It begins with the poetic tale of the kind-hearted Hedge Witch, Fern, who discovers an injured stranger in desperate need of her woodland spells and magic.

The sweet pairing learn from each other and through Fern’s guidance, Devin embraces the power of magic to leave behind his trouble past to become The Musical Poet.

Poetry/flash fiction titles in section one of the collection include:

The Hedge Witch & The Musical Poet, Rain Forest Love, A Forest Baby Boy, A Forest Baby Girl, A Modern Witch, Rock of Mine, Chester Don & I, The Network of Trees, More Trees Not Less, Two Boys Watching War, Mum Climbing Trees, Let’s Play, The Scorched Tree, Owl’s Holiday Home, A Man’s Holiday Home, A Child’s Excitement, The Teddy In The Woods, Run! The Organutans, All Hallow’s Eve Candy Girl The Forest Bash, Dreaming At Halloween, A Face on Bark, Golden Willow Tree, Rainbow – Parasol of Light, Lollipop Sunshine Tree,

In Section two I pay tribute to the following poets:Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Evangeline, Ruby Archer, King Forest, Bliss Carman, Woodland Rain, Emily Dickinson, Who Robbed the Woods, Rupert Blake, Stopping by The Woods on A Winter Evening,Oscar Wilde, In the Forest.

With my poetry: The Forest Weeps, The Forest King, Raindrops and Childhood Dreams, The Woodland Treasures, Winter Woodland Moon, Child Me.

One of the reviews for the collection

Best Books Money Can Buy
5 out of 5 stars
A Lyrical Journey into the Heart of the Forest of Life

If you enjoyed reading Brothers Grimm’s “Hansel and Gretel” in your childhood, then you will take delight in reading Mrs Mallon’s new fairy tale about Fern and Devin, a kind-hearted hedge witch and a lost and injured stranger who discovers inspiration and his hidden talent as a poet.

Another lovely collection of beautifully written poetry and flash fiction, that transports the readers into a magical and peaceful forest world. And to quote from the author’s dedication: “to the trees, there would be no words, and no poetry without your beauty.”

“The Hedge Witch and the Musical Poet” is a charming and enchanting read that will appeal to fans of fantasy, poetry, and nature. It’s a delightful escape into a world of magic and wonder, offering a heartwarming and uplifting love story. 

Head over to read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon UK– And:Amazon US

A selection of other books by M. J. Mallon

Find out more about Marjorie Mallon, read the reviews and buy the books:Amazon US –And: Amazon UK – Website: M.J. Mallon – Goodreads: Goodreads – Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon 

And the final book today is my selection for the summer book fair… it has received a wonderful boost recently with a review which I would like to share. Life’s Rich Tapestry: Woven in Words.

About Life’s Rich Tapestry

Life’s Rich Tapestry is a collection of verse, micro-fiction and short stories that explore many aspects of our human nature and the wonders of the natural world. Reflections on our earliest beginnings and what is yet to come, with characters as diverse as a French speaking elephant and a cyborg warrior.

Finding the right number of syllables for a Haiku, Tanka, Etheree or Cinquain focuses the mind; as does 99 word micro-fiction, bringing a different level of intensity to storytelling. You will find stories about the past, the present and the future told in 17 syllables to 2,000 words, all celebrating life.

This book is also recognition of the value to a writer, of being part of a generous and inspiring blogging community, where writing challenges encourage us to explore new styles and genres.

A recent review for the collection

Laura Lyndhurst 10th June 2026

A Wonderful Weaving of Words – 5*

The more of Sally Cronin’s books I read the more I’m drawn into the world she creates, and Life’s Rich Tapestry: Woven in Words is no exception. It may well be my favourite of her books which I’ve read to date.

The cover features a weaving loom, matching the title, and I can’t help but see the structure of this slim volume as forming a similar frame upon which the author constructs her views on life. The work is divided into sections which form the ‘warp’, threads which run lengthwise, stretched taut on the loom to provide a strong foundation, resistant to the tension of life. The ‘weft’ is the words used, woven under and over the warp threads, to which they’re set horizontally, to fill in the framework and add decoration. Hence, Sally Cronin gives us a broad tapestry picture of life, completed and coloured by the experiences which her words provide.

There’s an order to the sections which to me represents the landscape through which our lives will travel. “The Seasons of the Year” represents Nature, the weather, the flora and fauna as a background against which we move and within which we interact. “All things Human” brings we, the people, into the picture; our evolution and development, our survival from youth through the various trials of life: ‘Romance’, ‘Rejection’, ‘Betrayal’ and other ‘Wonders I have seen’ while ‘Age Defying’ we move towards ‘Devolution’, a not-necessarily rosy future for the species.

“Fairies and other Folk” moves into the world of the imagination, of ‘Fairy Tales’ and ‘Enchantment’, while “The Natural World” looks with more focus through the developed human eye at those with whom we share this planet: ‘The Peacock’, ‘The Eagle’ and ‘The Fish’, amongst others, as well as the habitat we share—including the ‘New Moon’, ‘The Yellow Rose’ and ‘The Magnolia’—and conditions which affect it, such as ‘The Storm’ and ‘The Drought’.

“Remembrance” looks at the negative side of what mankind has brought to the world, with ‘Young Soldiers’ and ‘Old Soldiers’ remembered through ‘The Poppies.’ On the positive side there’s a section “Celebrating Pets”, in which dogs, cats and even a spider are considered, while “Random Thoughts” are just that; a collection of arbitrary reflections on aspects of our existence.

Thus far the sections are made up of poems, short pieces no more than a page long and perhaps representing the enthusiasm and speed with which young people enter upon life, keen to experience as much as possible as fast as possible. However, at a certain point they’re forced to adopt a slower pace and think more deeply about it all; and in this text the section entitled “99 Words in a Flash” is that point.

The pieces here are flash fiction, short but written in prose, not flowing in quite the same manner as the poetry. Short paragraphs chart issues, of present and future worlds, of the animal kingdom; siblings separated, broken relationships, new beginnings, old life ebbing. There’s a polar-bear’s-eye-view of the problems posed by melting ice caps, and that of a boy ‘Following Elephants’ in his search for water; and on the lighter side there’s even a recipe for ‘The Devilish Mojito’.

Things slow down at last with three sections of “Short Stories”, of which two deal with humans and their relationship to their pets. The first concerns dogs, via “The Underdogs”, with the next being set around “The Superiority of Cats”. As a cat person I couldn’t help but love the marmalade cat of ‘The Good Neighbour’, Millicent and her care for her cat, Lily, in ‘For the Love of Lily’ and Napoleon, ‘The Maine Coon King’. Finally there’s a section of “Speculative Fiction”, where characters reflect upon what might have been, sometimes able to make a change, sometimes not.

My favourites? Pretty much all of the poetry section, along with ‘DNA’ from the flash fiction, in which the distant past is connected with the present via the DNA from prehistoric bones found in a cave, which was ‘matched to millions of women who migrated across the continent … populating almost every part of Europe and beyond’. As I recall, the subject matter also relates to ‘Origins’, published in the author’s Variety is the Spice of Life, where she identifies herself as one woman to whom the DNA had come down. I also liked the bittersweet charm of ‘Great Aunt Georgina’, where a woman finds out a family secret too late to act upon the information.

All in all it’s a great collection, a tangled web woven by the actions of mankind and teased into some sort of order by the authorial skill of Sally Cronin; one which I highly recommend. 

Read the reviews and buy the book Amazon  :Amazon UK – Amazon US : Amazon US 

You can find out more about me on Amazon US: Amazon US – Amazon UK: Amazon UK – More reviews : Goodreads – blog: Smorgasbord Blog Magazine Twitter: @sgc58 – Facebook: Sally Cronin – LinkedIn: Sally Cronin – Bluesky: @sallycronin.bsky.social

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – Book Review – #AmericanHeartland #Stories The Immigrant and the Outlaw by Joy Neal Kidney

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Delighted to share my review for the release by Joy Neal Kidney The Immigrant and the Outlaw…stories from the American Heartland.

About the collection

For years, Joy Neal Kidney carried a story she felt called to tell—a World War II family history marked by love, courage, and devastating loss.

In the journey toward writing that book, she discovered something more: a gift for telling true American stories. Beginning her freelance career in her forties, Joy has published dozens of narratives in newspapers, magazines, and through the popular podcast Our American Stories.

The Immigrant and the Outlaw gathers some of her most compelling work—stories rooted in Iowa soil yet echoing far beyond it. Tales of grit, heritage, sacrifice, and the quiet heroism woven through everyday lives.

These are stories worth remembering.

Just some of the stories waiting for you in the collection.

Chapter 1: Celestial – meteors (this was my first byline, first $50), comets, the moon, thunderstorms

Chapter 2: Childhood on a Farm – an old upright piano, roller-skating in the house, old barns

Chapter 3: Flora and Fauna – monarch larva, birds, lilacs, winter, spiders, morning glories

Chapter 4: Discovering Ancestors – the cover story is in this chapter, a small cemetery (Lee Habeeb mentioned this one in his Foreword), a family tragedy, a Victorian house, the story behind an old quilt, first women’s suffrage, a Civil War story

My review for the collection June 20th 2026

This collection of stories and poetry represent a life time of observation, memories passed on by previous generations, shared with the reader by a wonderful storyteller and guardian of the past.

In the first section of the stories titled Celestial, we are invited to join into rituals, such as the long cherished rite since childhood of watching the annual firework display of the Perseids, lighting up the sky for a tantalising few hours. And a glimpse of Halley’s Comet, the complexities associated with the moon and its phases and weather and how rain on the roof can be “good sleeping weather.

Next we move into the childhood years on the homestead…beginning with the glorious decades of an old upright piano. For a child growing up on the farm there is also the special atmosphere to be found in a barn including ‘a horse’s nicker’ and ‘grunt of a sow with baby pigs’.

There are wonderful stories on the flora and fauna and you can almost smell the fragrance of the lilacs as they brightened the garden each May and filled their home with their aroma. There is also the delight of watching squirrels cleverly circumnavigating deterrents to sample the bird seed on a snowy day and a persistent spiders intruding into a Sunday service

We are introduced to ancestors from the past including those from Denmark in the 1830s who moved to America leading to the birth of dynasty, and a connection to a well-known outlaw. In the town’s cemetery the lives of many others over six generations are remembered with each stone a brief reminder of their lives and accomplishments and links within the family tree. There were terrible tragedies associated with deadly diseases which ran rampant through the community, but also resilience and courage. There are wonderful times shared too, such family celebrations for mother’s day, tooth fairies and refrigerator art.

The author’s family history of service to the country is shared in a wonderful chapter on Veterans including a poignant poem of remembrance. And those honoured include her father who flew as a pilot in the iconic B-17 Flying Fortress during WWII before donning the mantle of farmer. Also her Uncle Don who was on The Yorktown during the battle of the Midway but has also had to abandon ship twice and went on to earn a great many commendation and service medals. Memorial days were particularly poignant with Leora Wilson’s loss of three sons during the conflict. There is also the fascinating story about the origins of the Iowa’s Freedom Rocks where the author’s five uncles are honoured for their service.

The stories are not only about the family and their close friends but also the newcomers such as the Bosnian immigrants who arrive in search of safety and a new life in Iowa which fostered a pro-immigration policy. The author found her life enriched as they did the whole community where they still live today with their extended families.

When you have finished reading the stories, and if you should feel peckish, you can enjoy Doris Neal’s Potato Salad… definitely a comfort food.

This collection is poignant, inspiring and a reminder of how a close knit community offers a level of support which sadly is lacking for so many living in cities today. I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading new stories and a reminder of the other books I have read by Joy Neal Kidney. They are to be treasured.  

Read the reviews and buy the collection: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

Books by Joy Neal Kidney

Read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – More reviews: Goodreads – Website: Joy Neal Kidney – Facebook: Joy Neal Kidney Author – Twitter: @JoyNealKidney – Instagram: Joy Neal Kidney

About Joy Neal Kidney

Joy Neal Kidney is the oldest granddaughter of Leora Wilson, who lost three sons during WWII and was widowed, all during a three-year period. Through the decades, Joy helped take Memorial Day bouquets to the graves of those three young uncles, not knowing that only one of them is buried there–until decades later, after the death of her courageous little Grandma Leora.

Joy became a writer in order to tell her stories.

She and her husband, Guy (an Air Force Veteran of the Vietnam War and retired Air Traffic Controller) live in central Iowa. Their son is married and they live out-of-state with a small daughter named Kate.

A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, Joy has lived with fibromyalgia for two dozen years, giving her plenty of home-bound days to write blog posts and books, working with research from decades earlier.

All of the “Leora books” tell stories about world and national events reaching into the American Heartland–westward expansion, two world wars, pandemics, how mental health issues were handled, the Great Depression, and surviving great personal losses. But they are hopeful as well.

Thanks for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books 

Smorgasbord Summer Book Fair – #Historical #Prehistoric #Trilogy Jacqui Murray, #Medieval Patricia Furstenburg, #WWII Paulette Mahurin

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The first author today, Jacqui Murray has created a box set of the Crossroads Trilogy at an amazing offer price and I am including one of the reviews for the first book in the series to encourage you to read this amazing series.

About the series

From Book 1: Five tribes. One leader. A treacherous journey across three continents in search of a new home. Written in the spirit of Jean Auel, Survival of the Fittest is an unforgettable saga of hardship and determination, conflict and passion.

Chased by a ruthless enemy, Xhosa leads her People on a grueling journey through unknown and dangerous lands following a path laid out decades before by her father, to be followed only as a last resort. She is joined by other fleeing tribes from Indonesia, China, South Africa, East Africa, and the Levant, all similarly forced by timeless events to find new lives. As they struggle to overcome treachery, lies, tragedy, secrets, and Nature itself, Xhosa is forced to face the reality that her enemy doesn’t want to ruin her People. It wants to ruin her.

The story is set 850,000 years ago, a time in prehistory when man populated most of Eurasia, where ‘survival of the fittest’ was not a slogan. It was a destiny. Xhosa’s People were from a violent species, one fully capable of addressing the many hardships that threatened their lives except for one: future man, a smarter version of themselves, one destined to obliterate all those who came before.

One of the reviews for the first book in the series Survival of the Fittest 

D. J. Brasket
5 out of 5 stars
I loved this well-researched, riveting series about our ancient beginnings

Over the past several weeks, I’ve been captivated by Murray’s Crossroads Trilogy. I ate up the first book, Survival of the Fittest, dove eagerly into The Quest for Home, and am well into the last book, Against All Odds. I don’t know how this series will end so there are no spoilers here, but I didn’t want to put off reviewing this series, which I highly recommend.

Not since reading Clan of the Cave Bear so long ago have I been caught up in a series that takes us back to the root of our humanity, where it all began. This series gathers the various strands of our cave-dwelling nomadic cousins from the far corners of the earth and brings them to a crossroads that becomes a melting pot, forging the species that eventually dominates the earth and creates the civilizations of our common heritage.

Here we get glimpses into humanity’s most basic and brilliant discoveries: how to capture and maintain fire to keep us warm, how to cover ourselves with animal skins prepared in such a way as to not rot, how fashion a spearhead and fasten it to a shaft, how to keep wounds from festering and treat pain, and how mutual care and grooming between clanmates and the copulation to sustain the race gives rise to what we now call love.

And all this is told through fascinating characters that we come to love, and in some cases dread. At the heart of the story is Xhosa, a young woman of fierce determination and wisdom who comes to lead her clan when her father dies, how she partners with the brilliantly brutal warrior Nightshade who covets Zhosa’s power, as well as the gentle Pan-do, leader of another migrating clan who joins with hers. We meet Pan-do’s neurodivergent daughter, whose soothing songs mimic the sounds of the forest, even while her crippled body struggles to keep up. And Seeker who talks to the stars who tell him where the clan must go to find their new home.

As Xhosa’s clan travels further north, they meet Hawk, the charismatic leader of a clan with advanced survival skills that help them survive the colder climates where they travel. And eventually they meet Wind, outcast from the clan of the Big Heads, the homo-sapiens whose advance warcraft drives away or dominates the other clans whose lands they conquer.

Through three books we follow Xhosa’s clan and those that merge with hers, as well as splinter groups, from what we now call central Africa up through Egypt into the fertile crescent and across Europe to the Spanish plains. Along the way we encounter earthquakes and floods, wildfires and famine, cannibals and slavers. We learn what “survival of the fittest” really means, what true leadership demands, and get a glimpse of how the heart, stamina, and ingenuity of our most distant ancestors lives on in us, enabling us to survive the equally brutal and challenging times we live in.

Kudos to Murray for this well-researched and riveting story of our ancient beginnings. It gives me hope that we too, despite our flaws, can and will survive even in these turbulent times, which, after all, are not so different from what our earliest ancestors encountered. 

Read the reviews and buy the first book in the series: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Or buy the box set: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A selection of other books by Jacqui Murray

Discover more about Jacqui Murray, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – Follow Jacqui: goodreads – Blog: Worddreams – Twitter: @WordDreams

The next book is the fascinating historical novel set in medieval times by Patricia Furstenberg – When Secrets Bloom.

About the book

Transylvania, 1463 – Some secrets heal. Others kill.

Kate Webber, a 28-year-old Saxon healer, has long walked the line between reverence and suspicion. Trained in the healing arts under the guidance of Lord Vlad Dracula, she has learned that skill alone cannot protect a woman in a city ruled by fear. Her marriage to the powerful but secretive Magyar promised stability, yet left her silenced and watched. On a bitter Advent night, when a mother and her newborn face death, Kate defies her husband’s command and steps into danger — for life, not reputation.

When Kate succeeds, the city notices. Some with awe. Others with fury. The town physician, threatened by her talent and humiliated by her success, seizes his moment. And as rumors flare into accusations, old alliances stir. Iancu, Kate’s childhood friend and now captain of the Militia, comes to her aid during the perilous birth — rekindling memories of freedom, laughter, and trust, before marriage shackled her to duty.

Back in her workshop, a girl appears, pleading for a love potion. But Margit brings more than need. She leads a mob. Elsewhere in the city, Moise, a Jewish apprentice at the printing press, notices a cloaked figure drifting across the square: a Shaman whose presence draws whispers of Magyar’s hidden dealings. When a rare manuscript disappears from the press Moise begins to uncover a darker purpose: a sought-after book. On the day of execution Kate performs a final act of defiance, she saves another child, while Moise is framed for more than he could have ever imagined.

Kate and Moise’s fates, as well as the map’s legacy, unfold as some secrets must be read not in books, but in the hearts of those who hide them.

One of the reviews for the book  

Kimber
5 out of 5 stars
Prepare to be swept into fifteenth-century Romania

Step into 1463 Kronstadt, Transylvania—a time steeped in shadow, where darkness reigns but flickers of light persist. Amid the turmoil, healers, printers, and militia men rise, each fighting for something greater than themselves.

Kate, a gifted healer, follows the call of those in need. Since her release from captivity under Vlad the Impaler, she’s built a reputation in Kronstadt—but was she truly his prisoner? Or were their fates bound by something deeper, more mysterious? In this tale, neither Vlad nor Kate are what they seem.

Iancu, towering and stoic, carries secrets as heavy as his frame. Life in the military has hardened him, but not beyond recognition. Beneath the scars and silence, the boy who once played beside Kate still lingers. Their shared past glows faintly, even as war threatens to extinguish it.

Moise, a Jewish printer in a world that barely tolerates his existence, is driven by prophecy. His quest: to recover what was stolen and ensure destiny unfolds. But his path is treacherous, haunted by demons both literal and figurative. To find the map he seeks, he must move like a whisper through a world that wants him silenced.

These are but a few of the unforgettable souls awaiting you within the pages of ‘When Secrets Bloom’. Prepare to be swept into fifteenth-century Romania—a land of mysticism, peril, and passion. But tread carefully: death and devilry lurk behind every corner. 

 Head over to buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK – And Universal link: When Secrets Bloom

A small selection of other books by Patricia Furstenberg (some in Afrikaans)

Head over to find out more about Patricia, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – and: Amazon UK – Blog: Alluring Creations Goodreads: Goodreads – Twitter: @PatFurstenberg – Bluesky: Pat Furstenberg 

And the third book today is one that brings to life the horrors of war by Paulette Mahurin set in WW2 and The Netherlands – The Girl From Huizen

About the book

The German occupation of the Netherlands brings with it food shortages, harsh treatment for resistants and deportation of Jews. The changes dramatically affect Rosamond Jansen’s life on her family’s farm on the outskirts of Huizen. When she finds herself under constant surveillance and oppressive treatment in her government typist job and the Nazis deport her best friend, her resentment turns to fear and a deepening hatred. Verbal cruelty, belittlement and emotional turmoil take their toll on her until a man arrives at the farm who, along with her uncle from Amsterdam, enlist her father into resistance work. When her father does not return home, Rosamond, too, is drawn into resistance activity. As more people disappear from her life, her involvement goes deeper, bringing her to a villa in Huizen where a woman named Madelief has a secret. As Rosamond becomes close to Madelief and the secret is revealed, her life starts to unravel.

Based on actual events at the villa, The Girl from Huizen tells the story of how Rosamond, working with Madelief, dared to defy the SS and their collaborators. But this is no ordinary Resistance versus Nazi story, rather it is a story of a shocking and unexpected unfolding where flames of tension ignite the page, as loss and grief consume and drive the girl from Huizen. It is a powerful story about the trusting friendship between two women. Ultimately The Girl from Huizen is a homage to the brave resistance members who risked everything to fight against Nazi oppression. Their efforts saved thousands upon thousands of lives.

One of the reviews for the book  

Marina Osipova
5 out of 5 stars
Intense, beautiful, and unforgettable

WWII. The Nazi occupied Holland. The nation divided into two camps. This is the backdrop for the story of the kind and brave hearts, of deadly danger and sacrifice, in a time when life and death balances on a razor blade. It’s a chilling experience to read about heinous crimes committed by Nazis and the local collaborators. The most often feeling I had while reading was fear of what would come next. And often it was the loss of a family member, or a fellow resistant fighter, or a child. Because that’s what they did: they risked their lives trying to save as many Jewish children as possible. Roz and her parents, Karl and Madelief, and many others are the characters this reader instantly rooted for. The writing is so sensual and detailed that you can truly picture the scenes in your mind’s eye.

The prose is captivating and beautiful, the events—horrendous or of jubilation at the end of the story—breathtaking. Along the way, I got goosebumps many times.

The story is page-turning and with an ending that’s impossible not to tug at your heart.

To say I loved this book is an understatement. For writers like me who need an exemplar of what good writing looks like, sounds like, and how it is built, this is the book. For readers, it may be a story they will not forget soon if ever. I can’t help but heartily recommend this heart-warming, passionately told story from the author of many highly acclaimed books. 

Read the reviews and buy the book: Amazon US – And: Amazon UK

A small selection of other books by Paulette Mahurin

Profits from Pauline’s books go to help rescue dogs from kill shelters.

Discover more about Paulette, read the reviews and buy the books: Amazon US – And : Amazon UK – follow Paulette : Goodreads – Blog: The Persecution of Mildred Dunlap on WordPress – Twitter: @MahurinPaulette

 

Thank you for dropping in today and I hope you will be leaving with some books.