The Tiger In The Smoke by Margery Allingham

As the word goes round that Jack Havoc, jail-breaker and knife-artist, is at large again, carving his way into more (or less) innocent lives, the hunt goes up for the Tiger in the Smoke and Albert Campion and Chief Inspector Luke draw a tight net round a man-eater loose in London's November smog. 

A well written, interesting, intricate mystery. Very much a product of it's time (late 1940's).

The Tea Chest by Josephine Moon

Kate Fullerton, talented tea designer and now co-owner of The Tea Chest, could never have imagined that she'd be flying from Brisbane to London, risking her young family's future, to save the business she loves from the woman who wants to shut it down.

Meanwhile, Leila Morton has just lost her job; and if Elizabeth Clancy had known today was the day she would appear on the nightly news, she might at least have put on some clothes. Both need to start again.

When Kate's, Leila's and Elizabeth's paths unexpectedly cross, they throw themselves into realising Kate's magical vision of London's branch of the newest and most delectable tea shop, The Tea Chest. But every time success is within their grasp, increasing tensions damage their trust in each other.

With the very real possibility that The Tea Chest will fail, Kate, Leila and Elizabeth must decide what's important to each of them. Are they willing to walk away or can they learn to believe in themselves?

I really enjoyed this book. A light hearted story with characters keep you interested. I enjoyed the bits about tea and the different ingredients and flavours. 

Dragon Bones by Murray Gunn

Dragon Bones' by Murray Gunn is a delightful read. A great escape to a faraway land.

Dressed in a traditional `gho', Murray blends colourful observations of local characters, their culture, cuisine, language and etiquette, globalisation and politics, with Bhutan's breathtaking scenery to transport you right into the heart of this secretive Himalayan kingdom.

Murray has a keen eye for the quirky aspects and contradictions in Bhutan life - some that have you laughing out loud, while others remind you of your own nightmares abroad. His candid narrative as he struggles to appease a somewhat dismissive wife, together with a plethora of shockingly un-Buddhist experiences, gives powerful insight into this believed-to-be Shangri-la.

A very enjoyable glimpse into life in a country I am unlikely to visit. I rather liked the way it was written, the short glimpses of day to day life. Murray is Australian, his wife French.  I was not at all surprised when their marriage didn't last.  She lied to him from the start and was way too needy (when it suited her) and manipulative.

Season of Salt and Honey by Hannah Tunnicliffe

Francesca 'Frankie' Caputo has it all figured out. She's finally going to marry the man she loves and then they will live happily ever after. But when a freak accident cuts her fiancé Alex's life tragically short, all of Frankie's future plans suddenly disintegrate.

Drowning in grief, Frankie flees from her overbearing Italian-American family, and escapes to an abandoned cabin owned by Alex's parents in a remote part of Washington forest.

As her heart slowly begins to heal, Frankie discovers a freedom that's both exhilarating and unsettling to everything she has always known for sure. So when her old life comes crashing back in, Frankie must decide: will she slip quietly back into her safe, former existence? Or will a stronger, wiser Frankie Caputo stand up and claim her new life? 

Disappointing.  The best thing about this book was the cover.  The heroine was insipid and annoying, the hero had the opportunity to be an interesting character but wasn't well developed.
Great cover.

Guilty Little Secrets by Connie Lane

Seduction has no limits when two people with secrets come together in a hot little town called Vegas.

The last place Special Agent Rosie Malone expected to find herself was in a clown suit in a back alley in Vegas. It was part of an undercover sting...until a guy named Mack started muscling in on her territory. The sexy male stripper may be making them swoon every night at the Silver Swan Casino, but Rosie’s no pushover. Except there’s something about the guy...something that goes beyond just another gorgeous bod. And Rosie needs some answers. Such as what Mack’s really after–and who in the world he is.

It’s bad enough having to resurrect his old strip routine to infiltrate a master criminal ring. Now Mack’s got a beautiful clown in his sights who’s making him hotter than a desert summer. She’s also the target of some nasty thugs, and Mack knows he has to move fast–even if it means revealing his true identity. But it’s going to take some pretty inventive thinking to convince Rosie she’s safe with him. Not easy when he and Rosie are being pursued across state lines, posing as newlyweds and trying to pretend they’re anywhere but in the deepest danger–and doing anything but falling in love...

Light, fluffy and rather silly.  The heroine was annoying and I would be very concerned if that was really how the FBI carried out an investigation.

The Reason I Jump by Naomi Higashida

Written by Naoki Higashida when he was only thirteen, this remarkable book provides a rare insight into the often baffling behaviour of autistic children. Using a question and answer format, Naoki explains things like why he talks loudly or repeats the same questions, what causes him to have panic attacks, and why he likes to jump. He also shows the way he thinks and feels about his world - other people, nature, time and beauty, and himself. Abundantly proving that people with autism do possess imagination, humour and empathy, he also makes clear how badly they need our compassion, patience and understanding. 

An uplifting, fascinating look into what is really going on in the mind of an autistic person. 

Nurses of the Outback by Annabelle Brayley

The work of a nurse is challenging enough, but when you add a remote location, the stakes are so much higher. Meet fifteen courageous people who have chosen to pursue careers in remote area nursing.

There's Anna, who is on duty in Georgetown as the fury of Cyclone Yasi tears through inland Queensland; Maureen in outback New South Wales, who faces everything from a snakebite to a helicopter crash; Aggie, who overcomes her demons to help young people in the Kimberley; and Catherine, newly graduated and determined to make a difference in the Gulf Country she and her rodeo-riding husband call home.

From some of the most remote places on earth, these stories bring the outback to life – we witness the harshness and isolation as well as the camaraderie of life in small towns in the middle of nowhere. These intrepid nurses manage everyday health care and life-threatening emergencies, patch up the local pets and fundraise for their towns. They are the heartbeat of their communities.

From Bidyadanga to Broken Hill, from Mount Isa to Marree, these tales are by turns moving and inspiring, full of gutsy feats and classic outback spirit. 

 A very interesting read about a varied group of people all over Australia. Their stories of how and why they ended up working remotely were fascinating.