Talking Feet

After the loss of her husband, Jack, Molly faces an uncertain future. She embarks on a quest to secure the survival of the steel sculpture museum they built together. Against the backdrop of her ongoing struggles with obstructive Officials, copious amounts of red tape and the British weather, she finds herself thrust into the role of amateur detective, when a bizarre and unexpected incident, leads her to confront forces that could threaten everything she holds dear. Can Molly unravel the truth behind this perplexing mystery, while ensuring the museum’s enduring legacy?

The Meeting of the Feeling

The handsome Ben Thomas is one of four deputies to the Director of Education in a town hall in the south of England. His main interests are his feud with Andy Patfoul, an Inspector; his pursuit of Linda Foxton, his would-be girlfriend; and his love of intrigue.

This leads him into the clutches of a powerful politician who wants Ben to take part in an ambitious scheme to renovate the city. He also becomes involved with a devious priest. He humiliates the headteacher in an interview and his wife suspects his affair with Lindy. He appoints a useless candidate to Andy’s team. His father-in-law evicts him from his home. His enemies are meeting each other. Ben needs a miracle!

Sarah Sommerfeld: So Deep Is the Heart WWII

This evocative narrative weaves together medical insights, psychological analyses, philosophical musings, and spiritual reflections to explore the theme of love: the core and essence of our very being, the perpetual yearning of our deepest true self. As fashioned in and after Love’s image and likeness, love ever seeks its fulfilment; and the closer touched, the stronger it draws, as seeking its own perfected end. And from the joyous foretasting sips here, the measure of contentment of future fulness may wisely be guessed at. And since the subconscious depths of the heart are surfaced by crises such as war, its study then is particularly instructive, namely of true feeling, humanity, compassion – as of a different level and type of happiness.

Set against the backdrop of wartime Germany, the story centres on two interconnected families. One family endures the harsh realities of urban warfare, while in a rural setting, a grandfather discovers four Jewish children and a French outcast hiding in the woods. He hides them on his farm. Naturally, relationships developed and bloomed. Among these, however, one relationship fails tragically, the loss leading to a poignant journey of desperately seeking solace – culminating in an encounter with Sarah. This book is not just a tale of love of some common peoples’ joys and sorrows but a quest to better understand the very nature of the human heart and its profound, universal principles.

Der Wache Mann / The Awake Man

Daniel, a globe-trotting sweets and chocolate taster, embarks on a flavorful journey that takes an unexpected turn when he meets Naomi, an aspiring singer in Japan. As Daniel immerses himself in his passion, purchasing candy to bring back to Munich, his wife Diane harbors suspicions of infidelity. Unbeknownst to Daniel, Diane is entangled in her own affair with Mr. Schalter, one of Daniel’s business associates. As relationships unravel and new connections form, Daniel finds solace in his correspondence with Naomi and his close bond with his daughter, Lisel. Through the twists and turns of love, betrayal, and self-discovery, this story emphasizes the paramount importance of cherishing the relationships that truly matter.

Guru Pi

Set during the first pivotal year of the Covid-19 pandemic, Guru Pi, a teacher, finds himself staying with a family in the UK. He embraces three challenges: reading a stack of books equal to his own height within a year, contemplating the vastness of a Googol (10¹⁰⁰), and participating in a unique cultural interview.

As Pi shares his eccentric ideas, some are welcomed while others are met with skepticism. This unexpected situation provides Pi with an opportunity to explore his life in ways he never thought possible. His world expands as he discovers the beauty of wildflowers, the wonder of birds, and other captivating aspects of nature.

At its core, this novel celebrates the camaraderie among the characters at the Beck household and the diverse friends Pi makes at the local café, bars, and allotment. Through his eclectic reading and encounters with literary characters, Pi embarks on a transformative journey, ultimately embracing a profound shift in his personal philosophy.

The Woman in the Wings

How far would you go to win over the woman you love?

The picturesque village of East Upbury still looks much as it did a century ago, but middle-class professionals have long since replaced the agricultural workers who once lived there. When the villagers decide to stage an open-air summer production to commemorate the centenary of the tragic events that occurred there during the Great War, rivalries quickly emerge. The director intends her production to be authentic, but her vision conflicts with the nostalgic view of the past held by influential village factions.

Toby has never harboured any desire to appear on stage but has always been fascinated by the history of the Great War. He supports all the director’s plans and is delighted to be appointed as stage manager. However, he finds it difficult to focus on his responsibilities because of his fascination with Sarah, a visitor to the village who is helping him backstage. Sarah appears to like him, but the demands of the production mean that whenever they secure any time together events conspire to interrupt them.

As the last night of the production approaches, disaster strikes when one of the actors disappears. This forces Toby to confront his fears and decide exactly how far he is willing to go to win over Sarah before she returns to London.

By turns tragic, comic, historic, and pastoral, The Woman in the Wings shows that a tragic history can sometimes repeat itself as romantic comedy.

The Wonderbra Manoeuvre

Saoirse Fitzgerald, a glamorous Dublin-based executive in the high-fashion world, globe-trots her way through life. At 39, she’s acutely aware of her ticking biological clock, and a looming legal deadline threatens to derail her long-delayed ambition of starting a family.

Julian Bracken, a flamboyant and well-respected doctor, privately grieves the loss of his wife and unborn child.

When Saoirse and Julian find themselves staying at the same Mayfair hotel, Saoirse, emboldened by her PA Aoife, resolves to seduce Julian. What begins as a contrived encounter blossoms into a genuine love affair as they confide in each other, realizing they share the same hopes and dreams.

However, their plans for a happy future are brutally interrupted when Julian is accused of sexual assault, voyeurism involving a teenage model, and a further sexual assault on a theatre nurse.

Referred to the General Medical Council, Julian learns from his legal team that the GMC case is being prosecuted by Connie Cornwall QC, a fierce and tenacious barrister known as the ‘ice-maiden’ who rarely loses. To make matters worse, if his case goes poorly, he will face criminal charges and a lengthy prison sentence. His reputation, career, and liberty hang in the balance as his lawyers battle against a determined and clever opponent.

The Wonderbra Manoeuvre is a modern love story with an utterly unpredictable ending. It explores themes of self-belief, loyalty, commitment, and the consequences of keeping secrets that would have been better shared.

The Artist

Emilia, an aspiring actress, works as a waitress at a Parisian restaurant called The Ship. There, she meets Heinrich, an architect who falls deeply in love with her. As Emilia’s acting career flourishes, she decides to return to Germany to work on her father’s farm. Undeterred by the distance, Heinrich follows her back to Germany and continues his work as an architect there. This heartwarming story emphasizes the significance of family bonds and romance in a contemporary context.

During her time in Germany, Emilia reminisces about her Aunt Sophia, who supported her family during the difficult period following her mother’s untimely death in Emilia’s childhood. She seizes the opportunity to reconnect with Sophia, her cousin David, and his wife Gina at a dinner party. Emilia’s father is overjoyed when she returns to Germany to assist with his farming endeavours.

While Emilia may eventually return to Paris, for now, she chooses to focus on nurturing her blossoming romance with Heinrich and cherishing the time spent with her loved ones in Germany.

Tangled Web

‘Oh what a tangled web we weave

When first we practise to deceive.’

- Sir Walter Scott

In Tangled Web, the past isn’t merely history, it’s a living, breathing entity that refuses to be ignored. Each character has been outrunning their history, seeking sanctuary in the present. But when long-buried secrets come to light, the impact reverberates through relationships, forever altering the course of their lives. As each individual becomes entangled in the complicated web of consequences, they encounter both loss and gain. Yet, in the midst of upheaval, an unexpected boon emerges: a deeper understanding of themselves. This emotionally resonant story explores the complexities of family, friends, and neighbours, ultimately revealing the transformative power of self-discovery.

Yellow Leaf

In Yellow Leaf, discover the journey of pianist Will as he navigates the uncharted waters of starting again after the unexpected breakdown of his fourteen-year long marriage to his childhood sweetheart. As he reflects on his past and his marriage, Will must confront the question of who he is outside of his relationship and what he truly wants from life, work, and love. With humour and heart, the novel follows Will’s evolution as he immerses himself in the world of film making and encounters a diverse cast of characters from the music, media, academic and cultural spheres. Through this journey of self-discovery, Will not only reinvents himself but also challenges the perceptions of classical music. This introspective and thought-provoking story offers a rare glimpse into the mind and heart of a man amid a mid-life awakening.

Sliding Across Mountains

Sliding Across Mountains is a book about the power of friendship. In a small town in Tennessee, a writer, a mother, a widow, and a parish nurse form an unlikely friendship and a curling team. These four ladies learn more than sliding rocks down a sheet of ice. They learn what they can accomplish with a team of support and love is not always on the rocks.

Transcending Me

This breathlessly compulsive novel, by turns savage and tender, funny and wise, horrifying and uplifting, tells the story of Aloisio, born male in Latin America, who is convinced from an early age that she is a woman in a man’s body. Moving to the United States to work in the theatre, the butterfly emerges; she finds love and her place in the world, but also depravity and danger, as the book’s narrator, Aloisio—Holly to her friends—navigates the ups and downs of her life with style, wit, perceptive intelligence and blazing honesty.Taking inspiration from the impact of transgenderism on the women’s movement, Elba Barnes has created a wonderfully rich, fully alive protagonist and surrounded her with a supporting cast of vividly realised characters.