About Me

Hi, I’m Sam, and welcome to Sam’s Fireside — a cosy corner of the internet dedicated to books, reading, and all the stories that stay with us long after the final page.

I live in a small village in South Norfolk with my husband Dave and our cocker spaniel, Freddie. I’m also a proud stepmum and grandmother to three wonderful grandchildren who bring constant joy and laughter to my life.

Before starting Sam’s Fireside, I worked in the NHS for 24 years as an Administrative Assistant and later as a Personal Assistant. In 2020, I decided to step away from my career to focus more fully on the things I love most — reading, photography, baking, gardening, cooking, and creating a quieter, more intentional life.

Books have always been a huge part of who I am, and this blog began as a place to share my thoughts and reflections on the stories I was reading. Over time, Sam’s Fireside has grown into a cosy space for thoughtful book reviews, fantasy favourites, emotional reads, and recommendations for fellow book lovers.

Whether you’ve found your way here through Instagram, Goodreads, or simply a shared love of reading, I’m so glad you’ve stopped by.

You can also find me across social media, and I always love connecting with other readers.

Settle in, grab a cosy drink, and welcome to Sam’s Fireside.



Popular posts from this blog

US Road Trip - May 2023 - Summary

Summary  Thank you if you've managed to read this far and I hope you found at least some of it helpful and interesting. As a quick summary, we booked Hilton hotels (primarily Hampton Inn & Suites) throughout all the time on the actual road, apart from Yellowstone where we chose an independent hotel. We were more than happy with Hilton; choosing the same hotel means you know what you're getting. We had a budget of £150 per night (apart from Yellowstone) so that should give you some idea of what we were getting for our money. Food has always been expensive in Vegas but it seems to have increased, even in the last twelve months. To put this into perspective, we had a Subway in Vegas and for two, foot-long subs it was $46. We had the same in Rexburg and it was $19.  That was just one example, it's easy to spend $50-$70 on breakfast/lunch in a restaurant and upwards of $100 for dinner. We went to Prime at Bellagio on our last night and there wasn't much change from $400....
Read more

My Review for Summer Secrets at Duck Pond Cottage by Della Galton

Image
A rescue centre, jam-packed with animals - what's not to love?! Mr Spock the parrot is back! I first remember him from one of Della's previous books, and he's still as naughty and hilarious as he was then, but now he's moved into the rescue centre and there are lots of people available to teach him new words! Summer Secrets at Duck Pond Cottage is the second in the series about Jade's rescue centre and all the animals that she loves, cares for and rehomes. It's full of cuteness, with puppies, foxes, wedding plans and kids and easily a book that you could devour on a rainy afternoon while you're waiting for the sun to make an appearance (I'm still waiting)! This can be easily read as a standalone book, but I'd recommend reading the first in the series to begin with, just because it's another great read. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for the opportunity to read and review Summer Secrets at Duck Pond Cotta...
Read more

My Review for Jamaica Inn by Daphne du Maurier

Image
I've lost track of how many times I've read this book, and all I know is that Daphne du Maurier has been a favourite of mine since I was a teenager. So when Jamaica Inn was chosen as our January read for the classics chat I'm in, I couldn't wait to disappear again onto the wild Cornish moors! This is such a good story, and I'd forgotten a lot of what happened. I remembered the gist, the Inn in the middle of Bodmin Moor, the smuggling and the wrecks at sea, but I'd forgotten many of the characters and how influential they are to the story.  Daphne du Maurier has an incredible imagination, her vivid descriptions of the dank and dreary Jamaica Inn and the wilderness and inhospitable Bodmin Moor are something which will stay with the reader, long after the last page has been turned.  Jamaica Inn is a gothic, dark, gruesome and twisted novel, and so much more than many people perceive it. There is nothing fun and fanciful about Du Maurier's writing, so if that...
Read more