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Emma by Jane Austen

 

Emma by Jane Austern

This edition published 1st October 2009 by Penguin Classics. 

Originally published 1815.

From the cover of the book:

Beautiful, clever, rich - and single - Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage.

Nothing, however, delights her more than interfering in the romantic lives of others. But when she ignores the warnings of her good friend Mr Knightley and attempts to arrange a suitable match for her protégée Harriet Smith, her carefully laid plans soon unravel and have consequences that she never expected.

With its imperfect but charming heroine and its witty and subtle exploration of relationships, Emma is often seen as Jane Austen's most flawless work.

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Emma was published in 1815, and is a comedy of manners set in the fictional village of Highbury. Emma Woodhouse, the eponymous heroine of the novel, is the mistress of Hartfield (seat of the principal family), where she lives with her widowed father. With her governess just married to neighbour Mr Weston (a happening Emma likes to take credit for), Emma is lonely. Her beloved father, a terrible hypochondriac, is not good company for her, so she decides to take an interest in one Harriet Smith, a young lady of doubtful parentage who lives as a border at the local school for girls - against the advice of her brother-in-law, Mr Knightley.

Convinced her powers as matchmaker can bring about the marriage of Harriet with local clergyman, Mr Elton, Emma does her utmost to bring them together. Meanwhile, Frank Churchill, the prodigal son of Mr Weston who the whole village are preoccupied with (despite not having seen him) is expected any moment. Independent minded, and independently fortuned, Emma, has sworn off marriage herself, but feels the prospect of romance appoaching - especially since many in Highbury expect them to wed.

In a tangle of misconceptions, and dawning realisations, this tale involves just about every genteel family in the village to great comic effect, and the characters are delicious. Emma herself divides the crowd, as she is a bit full of herself, and has a tendency to meddle where she really should not - especially in empty-headed Harriet's affairs. I rather like her though, she is far from obnoxious, learns some lessons about herself, and has a good heart. 

Talking of obnoxious... smarmy Elton and his social climbing wife are definitely awful; and as for that player, Frank Churchill, I never can abide him... 🤣

I really enjoyed my revisit to Emma. It truly is comedy gold, with a lovely slow-burn friends-to-lovers romance. It has some really thought provoking reflections on class, and the dependency of women in Regency England too.

Emma is available to by now in multiple formats.

About the author:

Jane Austen, the daughter of a clergyman, was born in Hampshire in 1775, and later lived in Bath and the village of Chawton. As a child and teenager, she wrote brilliantly witty stories for her family's amusement, as well as a novella, Lady Susan.

Her first published novel was Sense and Sensibility, which appeared in 1811 and was soon followed by Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park and Emma.

Austen died in 1817, and Persuasion and Northanger Abbey were published posthumously in 1818.

The Nightingale Dilemma by Katy Moran

 

The Nightingale Dilemma by Katy Moran.

Published 3rd July 2025 by Apollo, Head of Zeus.

From the cover of the book:

**PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS MY LADY'S SECRETS**

1812...

Following the drum in Spain, rebellious aristocrat Cressida Nightingale has put her tumultuous past far behind her, and with it her short-lived marriage to Lord Greville.

Having escaped the constraints of her previous life and now scorned by society, Cressida has spent years surviving as a spy for her government. Whilst this is a hard life, it's hers and she will fight to keep it. Then her world comes crashing down when she is caught behind enemy lines by none other than her estranged husband.

Betrayed by those who have willingly taken the information she offered, Cressida is offered a deal. Entrap her childhood friend, Lord Byron, now the most famous man in England and one who is suspected of treason, or pay the ultimate price for her own treasonous acts.

Can this nightingale escape the shackles of her past, and what price will she pay for it is she can't?

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1812. Aristocrat Lady Cressida Nightingale has spent years following the drum in Spain, in the heat of battle of the Peninsular War. Secretly, she has spent much of her time spying for the government, but now she has been caught behind enemy lines by her estranged husband, Lord Greville, an officer in the Rifles - the man she has been pointedly avoiding since the collapse of her high society marriage in a flurry of scandal.

Arrested as a traitor, and brought back home in disgrace, Cressida has been betrayed by those who have made use of the information she has supplied. The only way she can save her skin is by taking on a another delicate mission - entrapping her friend Lord Byron, who is suspected of treasonous acts on British soil...

I am a big fan of Katy Moran's writing, having loved her Lamorna Family trilogy, and could not wait to get stuck into The Nightingale Dilemma for more of her gorgeous settings, compelling characters, and slow-burn story-telling rich with luscious detail of time and place.

This stand-alone novel is told from the perspectives of rebellious Cressida and her estranged husband Greville. Driving the story, Cressida's fight for survival gets her into a number of sticky situations that keep you firmly on your satin-slippered toes as she is required to reconcile with family and friends post-scandalous exit from the haut ton, and fight her way out of danger, not to mention negotiate a relationship with Greville that veers wildly between fiery sexual attraction and seething hate. Meanwhile, Greville has to wade through pretty much the same level of family difficulties, scandal, and attempts to decide out how he feels about seeing Cressida again too.

There is a fair amount of backstory to take-on-board about complicated family situations on both sides; their short tempestuous marriage; political unrest; and significant moments from the war, before you can understand quite what is happening in the book - but hold onto your fine-linen shifts and tattered shakos, because all this detail pays dividends once the action really gets going in Scotland. It does help if you know a little about the Peninsular War before embarking on the story as this has major bearing on Cressida and Greville's motives and relationship.

Lush plotlines revolve around political scheming, rebellion, betrayal, blackmail, smuggling, slavery, and the gulf between rich and poor, which show off Moran's skill when it comes to filling out her books with historical context and oodles of social history, and she also knows how to weave in romantic suspense and red-hot passion to stir your emotions. The resulting novel sits nicely somewhere between Bernard Cornwell's excellent Sharpe series (with a lovely nod to the green-jacketed Rifles through swoon-worthy Greville), Regency society yarn, and atmospheric Du Maurier mystery, which makes for a delicious combination. The inclusion of mad, bad, and dangerous to know Lord Byron also provides a lot of salacious fun, and touches on aspects of sexuality in Regency Britain that are quite thought provoking.

Just my kind of spellbinding historical adventure, with a love story between Cressida and Greville that is enemies-to-lovers gold. Another winner from Katy Moran!

The Nightingale Dilemma is available to buy now in paperback, and ebook formats.

Thank you to Head of Zeus for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Katy Moran writes romantic historical fiction filled with adventure, passion and political intrigue. Her books are set in an alternate history just a step away from our own. She lives in the Welsh borders with her family and four miniature sheep.

All Wrapped Up by Heidi Swain

All Wrapped Up by Heidi Swain.

Published 11th September 2025 by Simon and Schuster.

From the cover of the book:

In Wynbridge, the scent of autumn is on the breeze and love is in the air…

Clemmie Bennett has been renovating beautiful Rowan Cottage on the outskirts of the small town of Wynbridge, for eighteen months following a very public heartbreak back in her childhood hometown. The popular Instagram influencer, lost her husband, sold their home, and has been cosied up the Fens and living a very private life, but now she feels it’s time for a change.

A chance encounter with co-owner of The Cherry Tree Café, the bubbly Lizzie Dixon, pulls her into organizing Wynbridge’s first-ever Autumn Festival, and her once quiet life is soon a distant memory. With the whole town rallying behind the event, she discovers a new sense of purpose.

And when local vet Ash falls hard for Clemmie, she begins to wonder if she’s ready to move even further on from her past and fall in love again…

This autumn, cosy up with Heidi and this perfect seasonal romance.

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Three years ago Clemmie Bennet's life fell apart when her husband, Callum, died in a tragic accident. Broken-hearted she sold the house they had been doing-up together, closed the popular Instagram account where they had been posting about their renovation project, and moved to the Fenland town of Wynbridge for a new start.

For the last eighteen months Clemmie has kept herself to herself, anonymously sharing pictures of her autumnal colour schemes and designs on Instagram, as she transforms Rowan Cottage into a cosy haven where she can deal with her grief in her own quiet way. She now feels ready to dip her toe in Wynbridge life for the first time.

Lizzie Dixon, co-owner of The Cherry Tree Café, and handsome vet Ash become her first tentative friends. Encouraged by Lizzie, who recognises her talents, Clemmie agrees to organise Wynbridge's first Autumn Festival with Ash's help, despite her reservations. She and Ash are soon the best of pals, especially once he persuades her to adopt Pixie, a little dog who is suffering from the loss of her elderly owner.

Clemmie settles in to make this a festival to remember, but her confidence is knocked when some in the community are loudly unhappy about an outsider heading up the project. Her anxiety rises when she begins to suspect that Ash might want to be more than good friends. Can Clemmie overcome the challenges she faces, and open up her heart to love once more?

Heidi Swain's first Autumn book, All Wrapped Up, is set in her thriving community of Wynbridge, and follows the heart-warming tale of new character Clemmie. More than a few familiar faces make an appearance too, giving you a chance to catch up with the lives of the Wynbridge residents you have come to know and love.

Clemmie is a young widow, having undergone the tragic loss of her husband. Overwhelmed by grief, Clemmie has sworn off love and hidden herself away while renovating Rowan Cottage. She now feels ready to slowly discover the delights of Wynbridge, but this little Fenland community has other ideas... soon she has a lot more on her plate that she anticipated as she organises a festival, negotiates new friendships, and welcomes a special canine companion into her home.

The festival arrangements turn out to be problematic, but the fabulous community pulls together to save the day - and Clemmie eventually makes unexpected friends from the nay-sayers as well. Along the way, Swain weaves a gorgeous, gentle romance between Clemmie and Ash, with lots of will-they-won't-they suspense and Pixie playing cupid. Ahh!

With lashings of seasonal content, crisp forest walks, and super cosy settings, Swain makes the most of the atmospheric autumnal vibes. Her favourite themes of friendship, family, and community run through the story, and she touches deftly on relationships, loneliness, and dealing with loss in the heartfelt way she has.

I loved it. Perfect reading now we are into the season of mist and mellow fruitfulness! 

All Wrapped Up is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to take part in this Books and the City blog tour.

About the author:

Heidi Swain is a Sunday Times Top Ten best-selling author who writes feel good fiction for Simon & Schuster. She releases two books a year, and the stories all have a strong sense of community, family and friendship. She is currently writing books set in three locations - the Fenland town of Wynbridge, Nightingale Square in Norwich and Wynmouth on the Norfolk coast, as well as summer standalone titles. 

Heidi lives in beautiful west Norfolk. She is passionate about gardening, the countryside, collecting vintage paraphernalia and reading. Her tbr pile is always out of control!

 

 August 2025 Reading Round-Up

I managed to squeeze in a very healthy fourteen books in August, and there are at least two contenders here for my book of the year! You can find my reviews of these gems by clicking on the pictures below...

The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson

The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton

We Live Here Now by C.D. Rose

Home Before Dark by Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir

The House At Devil's Neck by Tom Mead

The Transcendent Tide by Doug Johnstone

Watching You by Helen Fields

The Cut by Richard Armitage

One, Two, Buckle My Shoe by Agatha Christie

Second Act At Appleton Green by Kate Forster

The Forest Hideaway by Sharon Gosling

Yours For The Season by Emily Stone

L.A. Women by Ella Berman

Heroes by Stephen Fry

September is off with a book to get you in the autumn mood,,, watch this space for more!

Heroes by Stephen Fry

 

Heroes: The myths of the Ancient Greek heroes retold: 2 (Stephen Fry’s Greek Myths, 2).

Published 1st November 2018 by Michael Joseph.

From the cover of the book:

Few mere mortals have ever embarked on such bold and heart-stirring adventures, overcome myriad monstrous perils, or outwitted scheming vengeful gods, quite as stylishly and triumphantly as Greek heroes.

In this companion to his bestselling Mythos, Stephen Fry brilliantly retells these dramatic, funny, tragic and timeless tales.

Join Jason aboard the Argo as he quests for the Golden Fleece. See Atalanta - who was raised by bears - outrun any man before being tricked with golden apples. Witness wily Oedipus solve the riddle of the Sphinx and discover how Bellerophon captures the winged horse Pegasus to help him slay the monster Chimera.

Filled with white-knuckle chases and battles, impossible puzzles and riddles, acts of base cowardice and real bravery, not to mention murders and selfless sacrifices, Heroes is the story of what we mortals are truly capable of - at our worst and our very best.

***********

I absolutely loved Stephen Fry's first foray into the world of Greek mythology, Mythos, and have been dipping into this second volume, Heroes, on and off for quite some time. However, no book by Fry is complete without taking in his expressive dulcet tones in the audio book version too - which I had the pleasure to listen to last month.

In this second volume, Fry concentrates on the fascinating adventures of a number of mythical Greek heroes, bringing alive the tales of Perseus, Heracles, Jason, Oedipus, Bellerophon, and Theseus, with the pleasing addition of Atalanta... and a few asides to related stories.

I thought I knew many of these myths well, but Fry proved that there was a lot more to discover about these famous characters, as he delves into their death defying feats of bravery, their monstrous foes, their loves, their motivations, and their tragic missteps. I have also never realised before quite how much the stories of the different heroes overlap and connect with each other, which was a bit of a revelation. Alongside the stories, Fry adds lovely snippets about language, repeating themes, motifs that echo through history, and how the significance of the acts of the heroes on how the modern world came into being.

This was just as entertaining as I was expecting, and a fabulous vehicle for Fry's prodigious wit, warmth, and accomplished storytelling talents. I cannot wait to devour book three next, Troy, which has been sitting on the shelf for far too long.

Heroes is available to buy now in hardcover, paperback, ebook and audio formats.

About the author:

Stephen Fry is an award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and director. He rose to fame alongside Hugh Laurie in A Bit of Fry and Laurie (which he co-wrote with Laurie) and Jeeves and Wooster and was unforgettable as General Melchett in Blackadder.

He has hosted over 180 episodes of QI and has narrated all seven of the Harry Potter novels for the audiobook recordings. He is the bestselling author of four novels - The Liar, The Hippopotamus, Making History and The Stars' Tennis Balls - as well as three volumes of autobiography - Moab is My Washpot, The Fry Chronicles and More Fool Me. Mythos, Heroes, Troy, and Odyssey, his retelling of the Greek myths, are all Sunday Times bestsellers.

L.A. Women by Ella Berman

 

L.A. Women by Ella Berman.

Published 5th August 2025 by Aria.

From the cover of the book:

After a steady descent from literary stardom, Lane Warren is back. She's secured a new book deal based off the life of her sometime friend and, more often, rival Gala Margolis. Lane's only problem is that notorious free spirit Gala has been missing for months.

Ten years earlier, Gala was a charming socialite and Lane was a Hollywood outsider amidst the glittering 1960s L.A. party scene. Though they were never best friends, Lane found Gala sharp and compelling. Gala liked that Lane took her seriously. They were both writers. They were drawn to each other.

That was until Gala's star began to rise, and Lane grew envious. Then Lane did something that she wouldn't ever be able to take back, changing the trajectories of both their lives.

Bold, dazzling, and crackling with tension, L.A. Women plunges readers into the legendary parties and unparalleled creativity of iconic Laurel Canyon, while exploring the impossible choices women face when ambition collides with intimacy. At what cost does great art emerge? And who pays the price?

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New Year's Eve, 1965/66. Journalist Lane is introduced to sparkling socialite Gala Margolis at an L.A. party. Outsider Lane is drawn to Gala, and although they never become quite what either would describe as friends, their lives touch time and time again over the years. Lane eventually makes the big time as a novelist, and when she discovers Gala has a talent for writing too, she decides to help her career along. But as her own star begins to wane, and Gala's rises, Lane's jealousy makes her do something that changes the direction of both of their lives.

1975, Los Angeles. Former literary icon Lane Warren's life has taken a downward turn. Struggling with the demands of motherhood, and marriage to a man who has failed to provide the stability he promised her, she hopes to pull herself out of a rut with a brand new book about her friend (and sometimes rival) Gala Margolis, whose life has been derailed following the death of her rock star boyfriend. But when Gala disappears, Lane is paralysed with writer's block, plagued with guilt about her possible part in Gala's decision to walk away from her life. She becomes consumed by the need to find out what has happened to Gala.

I absolutely loved Ella Berman's previous novel, The Comeback, which rings with delicious echoes of the late great Eve Babitz, so I was delighted when the Babitz vibe sparked again with the title of her new novel, L.A. Women! This time, my love affair with Berman's writing continues with a sharp and punchy novel set in L.A. of the 1960s and '70s.

The story unfurls via narratives from Lane and Gala in sections of Then story, exploring the history of their spiky relationship; and from the perspective of Lane in the Now, as she struggles with many aspects of her life in the wake of Gala's disappearance. From their fateful meeting, the two women develop an unconventional friendship that swings between moments of intimacy and disharmony, until it descends into bitterness when their careers as writers tip them into fierce rivalry.

Berman does an incredible job delving into the complexities of Lane and Gala's relationship, examining the legacy of the trauma Lane carries from her dysfunctional childhood, and how Gala's tragic love affair with a young rock star pulls her in and sends her off the rails. Both characters learn hard lessons about themselves, and the things expected of them, especially when it comes to how 'difficult' women are perceived. On the side-lines, Lane's friendship with music producer Charlie, a man who feels the need to keep his homosexuality under wraps in a city where his choices would destroy him, is intense too.

This book thrums with fabulous vibes of time and place, immersing you in the schizophrenic nature of L.A. of the era, veering between its heady permissive side, and the cynicism beneath the glamour. Berman hits her stride in an addictive story that reveals its secrets slowly, before gut-punching you with shocking twists and turns about the sad history of the rise and fall of Lane and Gala, and she still manages to finish this novel on a hopeful note. 

Fabulous from start to finish, with lashings of story that will appeal to fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid. Easily one of my novels of the year. 

L.A. Women is available to buy now in hardcover, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Aria for sending me a proof of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Ella Berman grew up in both London and Los Angeles and worked at Sony Music before starting the clothing brand London Loves LA. She lives in London with her husband, James, and their dog, Rocky. He previous novels are Before We Were Innocent and The Comeback.

Yours For The Season by Emily Stone

Yours for the Season by Emily Stone.

Published 1st August 2025 by Headline in ebook and audio formats. Paperback coming 9th October 2025.

From the cover of the book:

Escape with the BRAND-NEW unmissable festive holiday romance, perfect for fans of The Holidate and Anyone But You.

Christmas with your ex and his family in a cosy cottage in the snowy Scottish Highlands?

It's the last place Mel imagined spending the holidays.

But when her ex-boyfriend Finn shows up on her doorstep, only months after inexplicably dumping her at his sister's engagement party, asking her to pretend to his family they're back together, she agrees - on one condition. Mel can publicly dump Finn at the end of the week and show him just how it feels.

But with Finn's mother set on making this Christmas picture-perfect, can Mel and Finn keep up the act without falling back into old feelings? As their white lie snowballs out of control, and the ice between them starts to thaw, Mel must decide if she really wants their romance to be just for the season - or something more...

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With her parents travelling the world, and her best friend in Australia, Mel is facing her first Christmas alone since breaking up with Finn. Heartsore, and lonely, she plans to work through the holiday, preparing to entice celebrity Lillian Hart to promote her artisan jewellery business.

But then Finn shows up on her doorstep. Apparently unapologetic about the way he dumped Mel months ago at his sister's engagement party, Finn has an unusual proposal for his ex-girlfriend - he needs her to pretend they are still together and spend Christmas with his family in the Scottish Highlands. Mel agrees, but under the condition that she can publicly give him his marching orders on Boxing Day.

Mel arrives in Scotland looking forward to getting her revenge, but being back among Finn's family makes her realise just how much she has missed them all. Finn's mum is determined to make this the best Christmas ever, and as old feelings stir Mel is not sure whether she can keep up her side of the agreement...

This lovely festive tale from Emily Stone unfurls from the perspectives of Mel and Finn, with flashbacks to significant moments in their relationship, and thrums with entertaining romantic tropes of the fake dating, forced proximity, second chances, and exes to lovers kind. What's not to like?!

Immersed in a family holiday dominated with Christmas activities in a snowy location, Mel's plan to get her revenge on Finn is thrown into disarray when she not only feels old feelings for him resurfacing, but she is also reminded how much she loves his close-knit family. 

Themes of real love and expectation dominate, especially when it comes to how the marriages of our parents colour our own ideas of healthy relationships. Mel and Finn are the main focus of the story as they reassess their feelings for each other, but Stone also delves into the relationship issues of other members of Finn's family too, which I really enjoyed.

Running through the romantic plotlines, in present and past, Stone also explores Mel's dilemma about the direction of her jewellery business, which has separated her from the creative side of the operation (and from the closeness she used to share with Finn). As her feelings for Finn (and his family) resolve themselves, Mel also realises she has lost touch with the person she used to be and needs to make some professional changes is she is to find her happy place again.

This was a light and heart-warming read, full of love, laughter, family bonds, and friendship, which ticked many boxes on my festive story wish-list. A great way to head into the festive book season, now the days are growing shorter.

Yours for the Season is available to buy now in paperback (from October), ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Headline and Random Things Tours for sending me an ecopy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Emily Stone is the author of Always, in December, One Last Gift, Love, Holly, and A Winter Wish. She lives and works in the UK and wrote her first novel in an old Victorian manor house with an impressive literary heritage. 

The Forest Hideaway by Sharon Gosling

 

The Forest Hideaway by Sharon Gosling.

Published 28th August 2025 by Simon and Schuster.

From the cover of the book:

Saskia is building a home for herself out of the ruins of an old castle. Surrounded by forest, hidden away from everyone and everything, the place is special - it’s the only connection she has left to her father and it’s a hard-won chance to escape from her difficult past and create a new future. She’s spent her whole life trying to find a way to make this project work and finding someone to help her realise her dream has been almost impossible.

When local builder Owen finally signs up to manage the construction, things get off to a very bad start. But forced to find a way to work together, both realise that first impressions aren’t always the right ones, and when Owen discovers the forest is hiding a secret that could bring work to a halt, he realises he’s much more invested in the project – and Saskia – than he thought . . .

***********

Saskia has spent her whole life laying plans to transform the ruins of Gair Castle into her dream home. The time has finally come for them to be realised, but all her heartbreak will only be worth it if she can find a builder who will agree to work with her - and so far, she has been out of luck.

Local builder Owen is going through hard times on the personal and professional fronts, and needs a cash injection fast, so when Saskia comes to him as a final resort he agrees to take on her project - even though he realises it will be something of a challenge given the remoteness of the site in Gair Forest, the perilous state of the castle, and the presence of a huge, ancient oak tree slap bang in the centre of the courtyard.

Saskia and Owen bump heads from the start. His opinion of her as an entitled, wealthy developer does not make for good working relations, and Saskia's preoccupation with her personal struggles means she is determined to keep him at arm's length. But as Owen begins to understand Saskia and her vision, he realises he has been wrong about so many things. As the forest gives up its secrets, he becomes just as invested in the project as she is. Can they work together to succeed in their aims in the face of considerable obstacles...?

Sharon Gosling's latest lovely novel is set in beautifully atmospheric Cumbrian forest land, where Saskia longs to convert a ruined castle into an unconventional home, for very personal reasons. Saskia is carrying the burden of a whopping amount of trauma, and in somewhat of a dark fairy tale Gosling gives her many trials and tribulations to work through in pursuit of her happy ending. Enter stage right grumpy Owen, who is more than a little judgemental at the beginning of this tale, but he gradually earns his spurs as he gets to know Saskia, casts aside his misconceptions, and comes to see what she is trying to achieve at Gair.

The story unfurls from the perspectives of Saskia and Owen, and is full of luscious content about the gorgeous wild setting, the building project, and the hurdles thrown in the way by those with agendas of their own. Family (both good and seriously dysfunctional), friendship, and loss are themes that run throughout the book, and Gosling does a marvellous job of shedding light on the importance of conservation and custodianship of our natural and manmade history. Gair Forest, and the giant grandfather oak that is so important to Saskia, stand out as characters all of their own in this story, and they make a wonderful backdrop for the gentle romance that develops between Saskia and Owen (much to my delight).

I was completely immersed in this wonderful story of heartache, healing, and heritage from the first page to the last. The perfect pick to take you into a golden autumn.

The Forest Hideaway is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review, and for inviting me to be part of this Books and the City blog tour.

About the author:

Sharon started her career as an entertainment journalist, writing non-fiction books about film and television. She is also the author of multiple children's books. Sharon and her husband live in a small village in northern Cumbria.

Second Act At Appleton Green by Kate Forster

 

Second Act At Appleton Green by Kate Forster.

Published 7th August 2025 by Aria.

From the cover of the book:

After losing her voice before the audition of a lifetime, West End hopeful Lily Baxter flees to the one place that’s always felt like home: her grandmother Violet’s cosy cottage in the heart of Appleton Green.

Violet is overjoyed to have Lily back under her roof, even if it’s not under the happiest of circumstances. As Lily muddles through lost dreams and what-ifs, Violet is quietly nursing her own worries—and hoping this unexpected visit might help them both them heal.

When charming local nurse Nick encourages Lily to join the village’s amateur dramatics group, she reluctantly agrees — and soon finds herself swept up in script readings, prop-painting parties, and something that feels a lot like falling in love.

As opening night draws near, Lily must decide where her heart truly lies: back in the bright lights of London, or centre stage in Appleton Green.

***********

Lily Baxter finally gets the big break she has been yearning for, when the chance of a part in a West End musical comes her way, but on the day of the audition her voice disappears. Fearing she will never be able to sing again, Lily then gets the news that her beloved ninety-seven-year-old grandmother, Violet, is in hospital after a fall. Full of self-doubt, Lily heads home to Appleton Green to care for Violet, and ponder some big decisions.

Pippin Cottage is just the place for some rest and recuperation for both Lily and Violet, who has concerns of her own about making sure she leaves her family in a good place when she passes away. Then Violet's handsome nurse, Nick, appears on the scene. A budding friendship develops between Lily and Nick with the promise of something more... at least if Violet has anything to do with it.

When Nick encourages Lily to audition for a part in the local amateur production of My Fair Lady, she is worried her voice will fail her once again, but she soon gets caught up in the excitement of being on the stage that she thought she had lost. Does this mean she should return to London to pursue her stage career, or is Appleton Green where her future lies?

A Kate Forster book is always a treat, and this little interlude in the community of Appleton Green is full of lovely storylines about family, friendship, finding your path, and heart-warming romance - with lashings of musical theatre content too.

The story unfurls from the perspectives of Lily, and Violet. Letters Violet has written to her granddaughter over the years also pop up throughout the book, which help you to understand the strong bond that has been forged between them. Lily is at a crossroads, caught between the expectations of her mother, and her uncertainty about a stage career, but her time in Appleton Green helps her to rediscover herself - after all the misunderstandings and mishaps of scheming ex-girlfriends, stage dramas, health issues, confidence doubts, and family trials have been negotiated, of course. 

New beginnings, gentle romance, and the guiding strength of Violet's wisdom drive the story, and Forster touches on loneliness, and the pitfalls of a life in the entertainment industry too. She uses the story well to make you laugh and cry, especially when it comes to the emotional ending, which left me with a full heart, tears in my eyes... and some cracking tunes from My Fair Lady in my head. Just the ticket for a wholesome summer read.

Second Act at Appleton Green is available to buy now in paperback, ebook and audio formats.

Thank you to Aria for sending me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

About the author:

Kate Forster writes books filled with love, laughter, and the enchantment of everyday life.

Kate, a Melbourne-based author, crafts realistic characters and touching stories that feel like you're catching up with old friends. When she is not writing, you can find her sharing glimpses of her creative life on social media, soaking up inspiration from her dynamic online community, or spending time with her loving dogs, who are constantly by her side (and occasionally steal the spotlight).

Kate, who is tea-fueled and daydreaming on the beach, is all about finding joy in the little things and sharing them through her writing.