Happy Easter weekend! Think of us – three generations of the Johnson family + boyfriend squashed into a car for a 1000-mile drive – and the forecast is rain, rain, rain. What can go wrong? We have no alternative but to pack light. Which means I won’t be able to bring many books (apart from … More Easter bargain reads

  Come a Little Closer, Rachel Abbott Publisher: Black Dot Genre: psychological thriller A group of strangers is brought together because of a bad choice they each made. Now they’re living with the consequences in a strange old house but it’s gradually apparent that things are not what they seem – and what is about … More Book review: Come A Little Closer by Rachel Abbott

Love reading? Love writing? Love Italy? Then you’re invited! The book festival takes place right here on this blog, Facebook and Twitter from 1st to 8th May So you can take a virtual road trip around the Bel Paese Be transported to Venice, Verona, Tuscany, Rome, the Lakes, Liguria, Umbria, Le Marche, Amalfi, Sicily and more! And … More Come to the festival!

Sophia – Princess, Suffragette, Revolutionary by Anita Anand Publisher: Bloomsbury Genre: non fiction, history A shocking story of disposession and discovery. Sophia Duleep Singh was born in 1876 after her father the Maharaja Duleep Singh’s Sikh kingdom (as well as the Koh-i-nor diamond) was taken by the British and he was exiled to England. Queen … More Book review – Sophia by Anita Anand

This has been such an exciting week. For one thing, my edits have just come back so I’ll be going into hiding for a day or two while I go through these. A top notch editor makes such a difference to a book and I’m so pleased to be working with Christine McPherson again who … More My Love Affair with an Ape

Hunters Chase, Val Penny, Crooked Cat Books The story: When a burglary turns into a murder enquiry, DI Hunter Wilson is called to investigate. Shortly after the grisly post mortem, he witnesses a second murder. A young woman’s life hangs in the balance and her physical similarity to the first victim raises questions. To add … More Book review – Hunter’s Chase by Val Penny