Blood had begun to trickle down Asha’s starched cotton salwar, and once more she tried to will herself to stay calm. It was nothing. These things happened.But these things haven’t happened before. It’s August 1947, the night before India’s independence. It is also the night before Pakistan’s creation and the brutal Partition of the two… Read More »

The tinsel and baubles are packed away, and the festivities are over for another year, but Hannah can’t forget the mysterious stranger who fell into her world on Christmas Day. She flings herself back into normal life in a bid to get him out of her head, which means dating other men and having fun with… Read More »

Secrets of the Sewing Bee tells the story of the defiant and courageous women on the home front, from the author of Secrets of the Singer Girls.Orphan Flossy Brown arrives at Trout’s garment factory in Bethnal Green amidst the uncertainty of the Second World War. In 1940s London, each cobbled street is strewn with ghosts… Read More »

I’m not really one of this world’s most comfortable party goers – you’re really not going to believe it when I tell you I’m shy, are you?! – but when I was lucky enough to win a ticket to last night’s glittering event for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Awards (#RoNAs) in their readers’ draw there was absolutely no… Read More »

Fashion designer Thérèse D’Alesandro has recently moved into Higher Padbury Manor with daughter Felica and stepson Marco. Joining forces with Ella Benedict’s exclusive functions venue Lawns at Little Court, she is about to open a bridal boutique.Working in London where he manages his father’s European restaurant chain, Marco has both the looks and charm to… Read More »

There’s one victim of crime no one notices…Something is wrong. With her marriage, with her husband, with her. But as she pours her heart out to her diary, it’s clear she doesn’t know what. Until one explosive night she finds a possible answer. Suddenly hated and vilified by everyone, she clings to her relationship – even while… Read More »

It’s not very often that I find myself chatting to an author on-line, decide that maybe his books aren’t quite my kind of reading, but then really want to feature both the author and his books on Being Anne. For author Alan Jones, I’ve made an exception. Both of Alan’s books – The Cabinetmaker and… Read More »

Sometimes, before you can find yourself, you must lose yourself in the desert.  Can Ros and Grady move on from the past, or will their pain drive them apart? Six years ago, the Balfours lost their son Cadel to a hit-and-run driver. A few months ago, Ros discovered Grady’s affair. With their marriage fast disintegrating,… Read More »

What if everything you knew was a lie… This house has a past that won’t stay hidden, and it is time for the dead to speak. Returning to Number 17, Coronation Square, Edie is shocked to find the place she remembers from childhood reeks of mould and decay. After her aunt Dolly’s death Edie must… Read More »

Four people. Four messy lives. One night that changes everything …Emily is obsessed with ending her father’s new relationship but is blind to the fact that her own is far from perfect. Dominic has spent so long making other people happy that he’s hardly noticed he’s not happy himself.Helen has loved the same man, unrequitedly, for… Read More »

They thought he belonged safely in the past. His return threatens everything. Marta, Carrie and Jane have been friends since they were at school in Edinburgh. Now one is bringing up her family, another is desperately trying for children of her own, and the third is focused on her career – and each takes the support… Read More »

I don’t write posts about every book event I go to – let’s face it, I wouldn’t have time to fit in all the reading. But last night I went to an event that was so special that I need to tell everyone about it, as it was the most perfect postscript to reading and… Read More »

Sally must deal with the grief of losing her father, a man she knew very little about. After the funeral she takes time out to be alone and reflect on her life. To find out the truth about him, she first has to make amends with her estranged mother and half-sisters, who she hasn’t spoken to… Read More »

I have something just a little different for you today. Author David J O’Brien contacted me after seeing my review of Katey Lovell’s One Night In Los Angeles – he’s published by Tirgearr Publishing too – and thought I might like to try one of his books, The Ecology of Lonesomeness. I liked the title, the description,… Read More »

Meet Mikey, every girl’s best friend – he bakes the creamiest cheesecake, loves movie nights and is a great dance partner.

For Jasmine, Mikey is the perfect flatmate – he owns a 50s diner that turns out the best food around, gives the best bear hugs and amazing romance advice – after all they’re scoping out… Read More »