The Summer of the Bear by Bella Pollen is set in 1979 and follows the Fleming family who make their way from Bonn, Germany to the Outer Hebrides. Letitia or Letty to her friends takes a three-day journey with her bickering children Georgie (18), Alba (16) and Jamie (8) after she is forced to relocate. […]
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The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah is a powerful historical family drama set in the 1930s during The Dust Bowl and The Great Depression. The novel follows Elsa, a young woman starved of affection by her family who finds herself pregnant and dumped on the young man’s family farm. From its opening pages, Hannah draws
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How exciting. Agnes Karapetsa is All at Sea has scooped a Red Ribbon Award in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards. A prize chosen entirely by real readers in the UK and Sweden. This recognition means a lot because every score comes from people who sat down, opened my story, and genuinely enjoyed the ride. What
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Our latest book club pick was The Temptation of Gracie by Santa Montefiore. Mainly set in Tuscany it’s a second-chance story about love, family bonds and friendship that spans fifty-five years. What is The Temptation of Gracie about? Sixty-eight-year-old widow Gracie Burton is a dependable soul living in Devon. A person Badley Compton residents can
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True Blue by David Baldacci was our book club pick this month. A fast-paced, high‑energy crime thriller set in the heart of Washington D.C. Firstly, let me say I love David Baldacci novels. I devoured the Atlee Pine four-part series. I couldn’t get enough of the Amos Decker seven-part series (last part on my TBR
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If you pick up The Messenger of Athens by Anne Zouroudi expecting a gentle Greek escape – think again. The prequel to The Mysteries of the Greek Detective series delivers something far darker. The opening pages quickly strip away any dream of sun‑drenched beaches and friendly locals. Instead, we’re led into the murky world of
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Isn’t there something wonderfully comforting about a TBR pile. Mine sits patiently on a bookshelf. Calling to me, and to my good intentions. But every time I promise myself I’ll make progress, I immediately add in another one. Or if I’ve gone to the fabulous Barter Books, there’s usually a few. It’s a habit, like
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Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel by Glenda Young is a sparkling seaside whodunnit full of heart. We return to Scarborough’s sweeping bays in the second instalment of a hugely enjoyable cosy crime series. This novel blends mystery, humour and heartfelt emotion with the easy confidence of a writer who knows exactly how to entertain
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A huge thank you to County Durham Libraries for inviting me to their Festival of Local Adult Authors. The festival brought writers and readers together and I’m so thankful to have been included. It left me feeling grateful, energised and inspired. Celebrating Stories and Community The festival ran across libraries throughout County Durham and celebrated
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Join me at the Greek Easter Market in Newcastle if you love Greek food, handmade gifts and a warm community atmosphere. We might only be in March, but the 2026 season of craft fairs and artisan markets is already buzzing. And I’m thrilled to share this latest one on Saturday 28th March 11am – 4pm.
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