Today I’m super excited to have Val Penny as my guest. Her Edinburgh-based debut detective story comes out on 2nd February. Erin Kelly, author of one of my favourite books ever, The Poison Tree, as well as the Broadchurch series says it’s “A gripping debut novel about power, politics and the importance – and danger – … More Author Visit – Val Penny, author of Hunter’s Chase

Paperback £5.99, kindle £1.99, KU ASIN B0776SKHMM, publisher: Crooked Cat Books I was drawn to this book by its gorgeous cover but as soon as I started reading I got pulled into the story and devoured it in one go. When dance teacher Gina Pendleton throws her cheating boyfriend out of the house she has … More Book review – Foxtrot in Freshby by Awen Thornber

Today’s visitor has set her new novel in beautiful Portugal where she lives. Forest Dancer is set in the magical forests just outside Lisbon, Portugal. It is a story that fans of Polina will enjoy with characters that are genuinely flawed yet decided on bringing out the best in themselves. Flora Gatehouse has just recently … More Author Visit – Susan Roebuck

Published by Random House UK, Transworld, Black Swan ISBN 9781784161002 An absolutely amazing book that I found completely absorbing. It’s powerful, heart-wrenching and in several places had me laughing out loud. In 1945 sixteen year-old Catherine Goggin is cast out of her parish in rural Ireland by the priest for being pregnant. She starts a … More Book review – The Heart’s Invisible Furies, John Boyne

I love stories where a main character is a mysterious building and had heard lots of good things about this one. When Anne Marie visited this blog recently to talk about her new book I was hooked. After a brutal attack Dakota Crow finds herself a guest at a grim Victorian hotel with a menacing … More Book review – Purgatory Hotel by Anne-Marie Ormsby

Tonight is Epiphany Eve, the night when Italian children hang up a stocking in preparation for a visit from the Befana. This benevolent Christmas witch flies from house to house on her broomstick coming down the chimney to fill stockings with sweets and treats. When my three were little they adored 5 January in Italy … More The Befana’s on her way!

The Couple Next Door, Shari Lapena, Penguin The story: it’s every parent’s worst nightmare – Anne and Marco’s six month-old baby daughter disappears from her bed. When their babysitter cancels at the last minute Marco persuades Anne to leave baby Cora sleeping while they go next door for a grown-up evening with friends, bringing a baby … More Book review: The Couple Next Door

Today’s coffee shop guest has come all the way from Australia. Heidi Catherine’s beautiful novel The Soul Weaver is published later this month. I have an Author Q&A but first let’s take a look at the book. She’s loved and lost him a hundred times across a thousand years. She can’t bear to lose him again. … More Meet the author of The Soul Weaver – Heidi Catherine