Alison Goldfrapp - Flux (2025)

I recently got Alison Goldfrapp's lovely new album "Flux" (2025) on CD. It's an amazing album of electronic pop music, such as the singles "Find Xanadu", "Reverberotic" and "Sound & Light". The only thing missing is the non-album single "I Wanna Be Loved (Just A Little Better)", my favourite song of hers, but I added it as a bonus track myself.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see more stuff from my life. You can also find more information about me on DennisAlexis.com.

Julie Pietri, Bonnie Bianco and Joan Orleans

New CDs in my collection: "Le Premier Jour" (1987) by Julie Pietri, "True Love, Lory" (1988) by Bonnie Bianco (Lory Bianco) and finally "Joan Orleans" (1987) and "With You Or Never" (1989) by Joan Orleans. Fabulous eighties dance-pop albums.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see more stuff from my life. You can also find more information about me on DennisAlexis.com.

Review: The Mitford Murders by Jessica Fellowes (2017)

I just finished reading "The Mitford Murders" (2017) by Jessica Fellowes. In 1920, retired war nurse Florence Nightingale Shore is murdered on board a train. At the same time, Louisa Cannon, a poor girl living in London with her mother and uncle, is hired as a nursery maid for the rich Mitford family at their luxurious country estate Asthall Manor.

Louisa is relieved to get away from her abusive uncle and soon befriends Nancy, the oldest of the Mitford children. Together, the two girls start looking for clues in the Shore murder case, assisted by Louisa's new friend Guy Sullivan, a young man working for the railroad police.

I really enjoyed "The Mitford Murders". It's an easy read and obviously inspired by the work of Agatha Christie, which is right up my alley. I like how the book shifts perspective between Louisa and Guy. I also like how Louisa's relationship with the people at Asthall Manor – both upstairs and downstairs – evolve over time.

There are more books in the series that I look forward to reading. However, you can read this as a stand-alone story as well. Check it out if you love cosy mystery novels set in the past. "Downton Abbey" meets "Miss Marple", which is great in my book.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see more stuff from my life. You can also find more information about me on DennisAlexis.com.

Sheena Easton - Modern Girl: The Complete EMI Recordings Vol I

I'm very happy with the Sheena Easton CD box set "Modern Girl: The Complete EMI Recordings Vol I". It's packed with rare and unreleased tracks. I can't wait for volume two.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see more stuff from my life. You can also find more information about me on DennisAlexis.com.

Monthly chart - July 2025

1. Jennifer Bell - I Just Can't Get Enough
2. Kikka - Mä Haluun Viihdyttää
3. Lana Pellay - Pistol In My Pocket
4. Macho Gang - When Somebody Loves Me
5. Lana Pellay - I Can Make A Man Out Of You
6. Taffy - I Love My Radio (Midnight Radio)
7. Sylvester - Do Ya Wanna Funk
8. Timerider - Cocoon
9. Paul Mc Douglas - Theme From "Dallas"
10. Brandi Wells - She Or Me
11. Regina Belle - Good Lovin'
12. Maria Nayler - Naked And Sacred
13. Brandi Wells - Tonight-Tonight
14. Regina Belle - When Will You Be Mine
15. Maria Nayler - Angry Skies
16. Angeé Griffin - The Rain
17. Kenny Thomas - Trippin' On Your Love (Sassy 7")
18. Angeé Griffin - Who's First
19. Shona Laing - (Glad I'm) Not A Kennedy
20. Sydney Youngblood - If Only I Could
21. Shona Laing - Soviet Snow
22. Sonja Lumme - There's Life On Earth
23. Lana Pellay - Pistol In My Pocket (Extended Version)
24. Lana Pellay - I Can Make A Man Out Of You (Extended Version)



This list shows which songs I've listened to the most this month, on my computer and my iPod. A regularly updated list of my all-time favourite songs can be found here.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see more stuff from my life. You can also find more information about me on DennisAlexis.com.

Cheryl Lynn, Jennifer Bell, D'Atra Hicks, Rena Scott, Girlfriend and Stacy Lattisaw

New additions in my CD collection: Japanese reissue of "It's Gonna Be Right" (1985) by Cheryl Lynn, "I Just Can't Get Enough" (1988) by Jennifer Bell, "D'Atra Hicks" (1989) by D'Atra Hicks, "Love Zone" (1988) by Rena Scott, "Make It Come True" (1992) by Girlfriend and finally "What You Need" (1989) by Stacy Lattisaw.

The Girlfriend CD was a gift from my kind friend Jordan Tetzlaff who thought I would like it, which I did. That made me so happy!

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see more stuff from my life. You can also find more information about me on DennisAlexis.com.

Review: The French Photographer by Natasha Lester (2019)

I just finished reading "The French Photographer" (2019), also known as "The Paris Orphan", by Natasha Lester.

In the nineteen-forties, fashion model Jessica May wants to become a war correspondent. But nothing can prepare her for the horrors of war, or the countless men who hate her presence in war-stricken Europe, simply for being a woman. Luckily, she befriends other female correspondents and the kind-hearted soldier Dan Hallworth, who is caring for an orphaned girl who will become very important to Jessica.

In the noughties, D'Arcy Hallworth visits a chateau in France to help pack a famous photographer's work. The plan is to exhibit the photographs at a gallery in D'Arcy's home country Australia, but while going through them, D'Arcy discovers a big family secret that pertains to her mother Victorine. How is she connected to the photographer and what other surprises are hidden in the old chateau?

I really enjoyed this novel. It has a perfect mix of romance and drama. Lester makes you feel invested in the characters and when I found out that the main character is a fictitious version of real life correspondent Lee Miller, I started reading up on her too.

At one point I got a bit confused by the many plot twists during the final chapters of the book. However, it's a small complaint because "The French Photographer" is a wonderful read, both heartwarming and tragic. I found myself crying at the many hardships of the main characters and the people they meet during the war.

This is the second novel by Natasha Lester that I've read, but it won't be the last. I really enjoy her historical romances and can't wait for the next one.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see more stuff from my life. You can also find more information about me on DennisAlexis.com.

Monthly chart - June 2025

1. Sissal - Hallucination
2. Erika Vikman - Ich Komme
3. Go-Jo - Milkshake Man
4. Theo Evan - Shh
5. Melody - Esa Diva
6. VÆB - RÓA
7. Jennifer Holliday - No Frills Love
8. Janice McClain - We're Not Too Young
9. Jennifer Holliday - What Kind Of Love Is This?
10. Laura Thorn - La Poupée Monte Le Son
11. Kyle Alessandro - Lighter
12. Janice McClain - Passion And Pain
13. Jennifer Holliday - I Rest My Case
14. Janice McClain - When Love Calls
15. Claude - C'est La Vie
16. Emmy - Laika Party
17. Abor & Tynna - Baller
18. Miriana Conte - Serving Kant
19. Gabry Ponte - Tutta L'Italia
20. Red Sebastian - Strobe Lights
21. Paul McCartney - Où Est Le Soleil? (7" Mix)
22. Theo Evan - Don't Kill My Summer
23. Annica Burman - Crazy World
24. ADONXS - Kiss Kiss Goodbye
25. Small Talk - Falling 4 You (Float Mix)



This list shows which songs I've listened to the most this month, on my computer and my iPod. A regularly updated list of my all-time favourite songs can be found here.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see more stuff from my life. You can also find more information about me on DennisAlexis.com.

Review: The Italian Girl by Lucinda Riley (2014)

I just finished reading "The Italian Girl" (2014) by Lucinda Riley. The book follows Rosanna Menici, a young small town girl who, after being discovered by famous opera singer Roberto Rossini, starts working towards becoming a singer in her own right. But she also falls in love with Roberto which is the start of a toxic relationship that spans over many years.

I really enjoy romantic novels, but there are many problems with "The Italian Girl". The biggest one is that the main character's love interest is extremely unlikable. I kept hoping that Rosanna would get over this sexist and move on. I get that love can be illogical, but the way this toxic relationship was labelled as a love story really frustrated me, and made me feel like Rosanna's character didn't evolve much over the years.

There are things I liked about the novel though, for example, the subplot with Rosanna's older brother Luca who is torn between becoming a priest and giving himself to the girl he loves. I also enjoyed the scheming Donatella Bianchi who is one of Roberto's mistresses. She reminded me of a soap opera character.

The author jumps around a lot, with many short parts within each chapter, which could have been expanded with more descriptions of the locations and characters, something that is lacking throughout the novel. It made many scenes feel rushed.

"The Italian Girl" was originally released back in 1996 as "Aria", but Riley reworked it for this new 2014 edition. Sadly, she didn't rework it enough in my opinion. The book is okay and I don't regret reading it, but it could have been a lot better. I've been told that the author's latter books are much better so I might give them a try.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see more stuff from my life. You can also find more information about me on DennisAlexis.com.

Louise - Confessions (2025)

I recently received the deluxe edition of Louise's brand new album "Confessions" (2025) and I absolutely love it. It's one of the best albums of 2025 for me. Not one boring song, just dance-pop perfection, including the fabulous singles "Confession", "Love Me More" and "Borderline".

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see more stuff from my life. You can also find more information about me on DennisAlexis.com.

Monthly chart - May 2025

1. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Vertigo
2. Alison Goldfrapp - Find Xanadu
3. David Archuleta - Crème Brulée
4. Andy Bell - Breaking Thru The Interstellar
5. Adam Lambert - Deep House
6. Robert Miles & Maria Nayler - One And One
7. Andy Bell - Put Your Empathy On Ice
8. Adam Lambert - Face
9. Deee-Lite - Power Of Love (Turn Up The Radio Mix)
10. Straight Up! - Show The World Tonight
11. Deee-Lite - Good Beat (Turn Up The Radio Mix)
12. Supersister - Coffee
13. Becky Baeling - Diva
14. David Archuleta - Afraid To Love
15. Supersister - Lock Your Boyfriends Up
16. Becky Baeling - If You Love Me (Remix)
17. La Voix - The Show Isn't Over (7th Heaven Radio Edit)
18. Supersister - Shopping
19. Becky Baeling - Without Love
20. KAJ - Bara Bada Bastu
21. Supersister - Disco Dance
22. La Voix - It's Raining Men (7th Heaven Mirrorball Radio Edit)
23. Chris - Lucky Boy
24. Stef - Ready For Love
25. Cleo - Go Go Dynamo
26. Morgana - Ready For Love
27. Danny Elfman - Desperate Housewives Theme



This list shows which songs I've listened to the most this month, on my computer and my iPod. A regularly updated list of my all-time favourite songs can be found here.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see more stuff from my life. You can also find more information about me on DennisAlexis.com.

Review: A Kiss From Mr Fitzgerald by Natasha Lester (2016)

I just finished reading "A Kiss From Mr Fitzgerald" (2016) by Natasha Lester. The novel is set in the 1920s and follows Evelyn Lockhart, a girl from a wealthy Concord family, who dreams of moving to New York City to study to become a doctor. Her conservative parents are dead set against it so she comes up with a secret plan to make her dream come true.

But there are many other obstacles standing in her way, for example the sexism she endures from her male colleagues. Has Evelyn taken on more than she can handle? And what will her crush, the handsome banker Thomas Whitman, think when he finds out that she's financing her studies working as a performer in the famous Ziegfeld Follies?

"A Kiss From Mr Fitzgerald" is just my kind of book: a well-written historical romance filled with glamour and dark family secrets. I also learned a lot about the time period, which is always a big plus. The plot twists may not be very original, but that's a minor complaint.

I loved my time with the book and I'm looking forward to reading more by this author. If you like period dramas with powerful female characters, then this is the book for you.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see more stuff from my life. You can also find more information about me on DennisAlexis.com.

Andy Bell - Ten Crowns

I recently got the brand new solo album "Ten Crowns" (2025) by Erasure singer Andy Bell. It's produced by Dave Audé and packed with amazing dance-pop music, like the amazing single "Breaking Thru The Interstellar". The album also includes duets with Deborah Harry and Sarah Potenza. Go check it out.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see more stuff from my life. You can also find more information about me on DennisAlexis.com.

Review: Christmas At Emmerdale by Pamela Bell (2018)

For as long as I can remember, I have loved soap operas. The crazier the better. The iconic British soap "Emmerdale" first started airing in 1972 and is still going strong. I first started watching it in the 2010s and got hooked right away. Who would have guessed that so much drama and action could go down in such a small village?

"Christmas At Emmerdale" (2018), written by Pamela Bell, takes place between 1914 and 1915, when the village of Emmerdale was still called Beckindale. We follow Maggie Sugden who has been forced to marry the violent farmer Joe. She dreams of being with her true love Ralph, but his parents have forbidden him to marry someone of Maggie's class.

We also meet Rose Haywood, the daughter of the village priest. She too is in love with Ralph and therefor dislikes Maggie. However, after getting to know her rival, she starts to change her mind and they become friends. Rose also meets Mick Dingle – an Irish soldier who is in Beckindale with his two brothers Nat and Levi – and sparks start to fly.

Levi Dingle is the third and final main character. He has followed his older brothers to England to join the army. He is only seventeen so his brothers try to keep him from having to fight in the war against Germany. Levi falls in love with Rose but when he finds out that his brother is pursuing her too, he vows to come between them.

I really enjoyed "Christmas At Emmerdale" with it's cosy settings, innocent romance and tear-inducing tragedy. It's well-written and you don't have to know anything about the TV series to enjoy it, since it takes place so many years ago. But it's a nice treat for fans of the show to recognise certain names and locations.

The only negative I can think of is that the ending feels a little rushed and it's clear that they wanted to leave some storylines open in order to tease the sequel. But other than that, this is a great read for anyone who loves period dramas. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see more stuff from my life. You can also find more information about me on DennisAlexis.com.

Monthly chart - April 2025

1. Louise - Confession
2. Sugababes - Jungle
3. Sophie Ellis-Bextor - Relentless Love
4. Dreamworld - Unreal
5. Louise - Love Me More
6. Sabrina Washington - OMG
7. Charlotte Hatherley - Good Ways To Cry
8. Dreamworld - Heaven Sent
9. Heidi Montag - Sex Ed
10. Jeffreymixed - Where Are You My Love (7th Heaven Radio Mix)
11. Neo - On A Mission
12. Everything But The Girl - Missing (Todd Terry Remix Radio Edit)
13. Honeyz - Definitely Something (Soulshaker Radio Edit)
14. Dreamworld - Holdin' On
15. No Angels - We Keep The Spirit Alive
16. Honeyz - I Don't Know (Almighty Radio Edit)
17. No Angels - Mad Wild (Radiomix)
18. Honeyz - Talk To The Hand (Almighty Radio Edit)
19. Dreamworld - Movin' Up
20. No Angels - Daylight In Your Eyes (W.I.P. "Wonderkins" Remix Edit)
21. Alexander Faris - The Edwardians



This list shows which songs I've listened to the most this month, on my computer and my iPod. A regularly updated list of my all-time favourite songs can be found here.

Follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube to see more stuff from my life. You can also find more information about me on DennisAlexis.com.