My enormous thanks to Will Dean for giving me a very early copy of Adrift at Capital Crime last June, as one Lincolnshire dweller to another. I’ve been desperate to share my review of Adrift for months and, although there’s a few weeks still to go until publication, I can’t wait any longer. Consequently, I am delighted that Adrift is my first review of 2026.

I adore Will Dean’s writing and you’ll find my reviews of other books by Will here.

Adrift is published by Hodder and Stoughton on 19th February 2026 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

Adrift

Three of them adrift on the narrowboat.

Mother, son, and wickedness.

Peggy Jenkins and her teenage son, Samson, live on a remote stretch of canal in the Midlands. She is a writer and he is a schoolboy. Together, they battle against the hardness and manipulation of the man they live with. To the outside world he is a husband and father. To them, he is a captor.

Their lives are tightly controlled; if any perceived threat appears, their mooring is moved further down the canal, further away from civilisation. Until the day when the power suddenly shifts, and nothing can be the same again.

My Review of Adrift

Sam and his parents, Drew and Peggy, are living on a narrowboat.

My goodness! I don’t think I’ve ever read a more tense novel in my life. It’s astonishing. What Will Dean has done in Adrift is, quite literally, prevent the reader from breathing normally. My heart was pounding as I read and I was frequently aware I hadn’t exhaled for some time. And the most effective aspect of this is that much of the menace, the evil and the fear, is often merely suggested, so that the reader’s imagination is manipulated and disturbed. With coercive control as one of the themes of the novel, the author manages to create on the reader the same effect that Drew has on Peggy. 

That’s not to say that there are not highly dramatic moments too, from the very opening of Adrift through to the end, but rather than being the most disquieting elements, I found them more of a release from the tension. It was a relief when something awful happened! A couple of moments truly shocked me as I simply hadn’t seen them coming. Obviously I’m not going to spoil the story for others, but I found the plotting painfully exquisite in its construction and its impact on both characters and reader. Adrift is a masterclass in storytelling.

There’s a claustrophobic atmosphere in the way the family live on the houseboat. As Drew isolates Peggy mentally and emotionally, he also moves the family increasingly physically further away from society. Whilst what Peggy endures is filled with simmering menace that is mesmerising,  I found the developing relationship between Drew and Sam utterly terrifying. Drew is threatening and dangerous, frequently belittling Sam and yet he teaches Sam how to stand up for himself in the face of school bullies so that Sam’s life improves. There’s a chilling realisation that nothing in life is straightforward. Through their relationship, Will Dean explores the impact of nature and nurture, and the role of a father figure. Whilst Drew is abhorrent and we believe he carries out atrocious actions, there is also a seed of doubt that what has happened ‘off screen’ may not have been Drew’s fault. This is brilliantly manipulative.

I thought the themes of family, mental health, control, misogyny, friendship, love, marriage and relationship were superbly interwoven. I also adored the love letter to libraries and librarians that underpins the action. There’s a real affection for libraries as places of education and refuge, hope and solace that ameliorates some of the awful events and provides pitch-perfect balance in the narrative. 

I’m aware I’ve not really said anything tangible about Adrift, but it is so, so difficult not to provide spoilers. Adrift is one of those books that you find yourself thinking about in the middle of the night, wondering what is happening to characters after this particular part of their lives is over. It’s beautifully written without a wasted word so that it’s taut, terrifying and thrilling. I adored it. 

About Will Dean

Will Dean grew up in the East Midlands and had lived in nine different villages before the age of eighteen. After studying Law at the LSE and working in London, he settled in rural Sweden where he built a house in a boggy clearing at the centre of a vast elk forest, and it’s from this base that he compulsively reads and writes. His debut novel in the Tuva Moodyson series, Dark Pines, was selected for Zoe Ball’s Book Club, shortlisted for the Guardian Not the Booker prize and named a Daily Telegraph Book of the Year. Red Snow was published in January 2019 and won Best Independent Voice at the Amazon Publishing Readers’ Awards, 2019. Black River was shortlisted for the Theakstons Old Peculier Award in 2021. Will also writes standalone thrillers: The Last Thing to Burn, First Born, the top twenty hardback bestseller The Last Passenger and One at a Time.

For further information, visit Will’s website, follow him on X @willrdean and Instagram or find Will on Facebook.

Having selected lovely Clare Swatman’s The Garden of Shared Stories for one of my The People’s Friend column choices this month, I wasn’t going to write a full review here on Linda’s book Bag because I didn’t have time to write complete reviews of all the books I featured, but there are several reasons why I simply must.

Firstly, there’s a typo on Clare’s name in the magazine which is mortifying – even if it is correct later on, so I need to pass on apologies. 

Secondly, I have a very personal reason for wanting to share my thoughts. You see, I was lucky enough to bid in a charity auction to name a character in Clare’s book and to win. Some of you know that my great-niece, Emma, died some ninety minutes before birth at full term and as she would be coming up to her 10th birthday in 2026, I wanted to give her a life she didn’t otherwise have through Clare’s writing. Clare has given her the most wonderful story and I could not be more grateful. Emma has a starring role in The Garden of Shared Stories. 

What Clare doesn’t know is that two other minor characters she has named have Emma’s mum’s name and my Mum, Emma’s great-grandma’s, name. Given that Mum died this year, The Garden of Shared Stories feels all the more special.

Lastly, I have loved Clare’s writing in the past and you’ll find my reviews of some of her books here.  

The Garden of Shared Stories was published by Boldwood on 3rd December 2025 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here. 

The Garden of Shared Stories

Emma is at an all-time low the day she meets Nick. She sits down in a quiet rose garden in her local park, and from nowhere a handsome man sits next to her and turns her world upside down.

Over the weeks, she and Nick meet regularly, always in the same place, always at the same time. They discover they have a lot in common – shared heartbreak, and shared dreams. They tell each other stories about the people they’ve lost – things they’ve never told anyone else. Bit by bit, they get to know each other, and fall in love.

But there’s a catch, because however much they have in common, they have one big thing keeping them apart… twenty years apart. Because when Nick is sitting in the garden it’s 1999 – two decades before Emma is there.

Emma never expected to fall in love again, but now she has, she’s not going to give up on it without a fight. But how do you turn something impossible into a happy ever after?

My Review of The Garden of Shared Stories 

Emma and Nick have both lost someone they love.

Oh. What can I say about The Garden of Shared Stories? I attended a panel discussion involving Clare Swatman earlier this year where she said she likes to break a reader’s heart and then mend it again. If that is her desired aim then she’s done so magnificently here. I adored this book.

The plot is so unusual. The timeslip aspect is unique and as Emma and Nick’s lives come together and move apart, the beat of the novel feels very much like a heartbeat to me. It’s a story that simply pulsates with emotion. Indeed, the two perspectives from Emma and Nick feel like a living cardiac rhythm, bringing vitality and life to the story as we get their perspectives in turn.

Essentially, The Garden of Shared Stories draws on tradition where two grieving people meet up by chance and fall in love, but there are obstacles in the way of their happiness. If that makes the narrative sound mundane or ordinary, think again. The structure is fabulous. I was held spellbound as I wondered how, or even if, the two time frames might be brought together. 

And I adored the characters. Both Emma and Nick are relatable. I loved the way their previous relationships were positive ones because it added to their sense of loss and felt cathartic to encounter and to grieve alongside them. 

Grief is only one of the themes explored in this narrative. The nature of relationships and how age is perceived within them is important. Parenthood and marriage feature strongly alongside friendship and a wonderful sense of place. Equally vital is the nature of life and fate and how our choices, actions or inactions, can affect our lives and those of the people around us. All these aspects give incredible interest and depth to the narrative.

But what is so captivating in The Garden of Shared Stories, so utterly all enveloping, is the love story between Emma and Nick. I felt it like a physical ache in my chest as I read and found myself experiencing all manner of emotions around their relationship, from fear to how it might evolve, frustration that their lives were so inextricably interwoven and yet so separate, joy at the moments they shared so positively and heartbreak at the times they couldn’t – or wouldn’t – be together. 

I really loved The Garden of Shared Stories. It’s engaging, entertaining and emotional so that it’s one of those narratives that swirls in the reader’s mind long after the final page is turned. I really recommend it.   

About Clare Swatman

Clare Swatman is the author of 11 women’s fiction novels. Her latest, The Garden of Shared Stories, is a time travel love story about fate and overcoming the impossible. It was released worldwide on 3 December 2025. Her next book, as yet untitled, will be released later in 2026.

She also writes psychological thrillers under the name CL Swatman. Her debut thriller, No Son of Mine, was released in December 2024, and her second, After the Party, was published on 13 September 2025.

Clare lives in Hertfordshire in the UK with her husband and two boys. Even the cat is male, which means she’s destined to be outnumbered forever.

For further information, visit Clare’s website or find her on Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.

A little while ago I had the pleasure of having lunch with author Lorna Hunting which I wrote about in a post you’ll find here. Consequently, I am delighted that Lorna agreed to stay in with me and chat about one of her books today.

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with Lorna Hunting

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Lorna and thank you for staying in with me.  Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it?

I have brought New Beginnings on Vancouver Island which is book one of the Colville trilogy and my debut novel. 

You’re a Lincolnshire author. Why Vancouver for your debut?

It is historical fiction based on fact. My great grandparents, John and Rhoda Malpass travelled around The Horn to Canada in 1854 to open up the coal mines for The Hudson’s Bay Company. 

Crikey. That must have taken some courage! Is New Beginnings on Vancouver Island about John and Rhoda then?

I’ve taken the bare bones of their journey and created fictionalised characters and events. There was much deprivation and hardship during the journey, but all the real people – true pioneers – who emigrated saw out their 5-year contracts and settled in Canada. I am one of their descendants through my Canadian mother. Colville is now known as Nanaimo and as a personal aside, I understand I took my very first steps there, although I don’t remember it!

It must have been fascinating to delve into family history as part of your research. How has New Beginnings on Vancouver Island been received by readers?

Looking through the reviews, it seems my readers have enjoyed learning about pioneer life in the mid-19th century and appreciate the research I put into my books. As a historian, (I lectured on Chinese history) I do like my settings to be as historically accurate as possible. I was lucky enough to be able to read a relative’s diary of the original journey and to source other familial papers deposited in the British Columbia archives in Canada.

That all sounds as if there’s more than enough for one novel. You say New Beginnings on Vancouver Island is the first of a trilogy…

There are two more stories in the Colville trilogy – Called to Vancouver Island and Farewell to Vancouver Island. I am currently writing book 4 of my Shackleton saga books which are set in Whitehaven in Cumbria.

You sound incredibly busy. What motivates you to write?

My aim is to tell a good story with interesting characters that will entertain my readers with action, romance, tragedy, and joy. One of my Canadian reviewers has written “She spins a good tale in a superbly intriguing style” and I’m happy with that. 

I imagine you are. How brilliant!

What else have you brought along and why have you brought it?

I have brought the Staffordshire figures that John and Rhoda Malpass, my 3 x great grandparents took with them when they left England in 1854. These figures have travelled round The Horn in winter and miraculously been passed down through the generations from log cabin in Colville to Vancouver town house, and then on to live with me in Stamford.

That’s just wonderful. I wonder why John and Rhoda chose to take something so fragile?

My guess is that my forebears wanted to take a piece of England with them. Something to remind them of home. A home they’d left forever. I like to think that because they are still in one piece that all the generations that followed on knew they were special and have looked after them with care. It’s quite a responsibility, but one I’m more than happy to take on and hopefully to pass on to the next generation.

I think it’s wonderful that you have such an important family artefact Lorna. You have really whetted my appetite for your books. Thank you so much for staying in with me to chat about New Beginnings on Vancouver Island. It sounds fabulous and I’ll just give readers a few more details:

New Beginnings on Vancouver Island

The year is 1854 and Stag Liddell, a young collier from Whitehaven, signs up to work in Vancouver Island’s new coal mines. Whilst waiting for his ship to Canada, he meets ambitious school teacher Kate McAvoy who is also making the trip.

As the ship nears its destination, Stag and Kate’s relationship begins to blossom, but damning information comes to light and a pact made years before comes into play.

Will their budding romance survive these devastating revelations? And will they both achieve their dreams in this new land?

New Beginnings on Vancouver Island is available for purchase here.

About Lorna Hunting

Lorna Hunting was born and brought up in north Lincolnshire and now lives in Stamford. She writes Historical Fiction set in the mid-19th century. Her aim is to write stories about interesting fictional characters set in historically accurate settings.  

After teaching the piano and raising a family, Lorna exhibited and lectured on antique Chinese textiles in the UK and abroad. Following on from this she taught Chinese history at the School of Oriental and African Studies [SOAS] in London, and at Bristol and Sheffield universities. 

Lorna is a member of the Leicester chapter of the RNA – Romantic Novelists’ Association -, The Society of Authors, and the Retford Authors’ Group.

Now Lorna writes full-time in what she calls the Command Centre in what used to be her upstairs spare bedroom. 

For further information, visit Lorna’s website where she writes occasional blogs and publicises her books. You’ll also find Lorna on X @lornahunting, Facebook and Instagram. 

It’s my very great pleasure to welcome Ros Rendle to the blog today. Ros lives just up the road from me and we have served together on the Deepings Literary Festival committee. I caught up with Ros in person recently and realised she’d never actually featured on Linda’s Book Bag so we’re putting that omission right today.

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with Ros Rendle

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Ros and thank you for staying in with me.

It’s lovely to spend an evening with you, Linda.

Tell me, which of your books have you brought along this evening?

The book I’ve brought is Sisters At War. It’s the first of a series of books about three sisters in times of early 20th century turbulence in Europe and beyond. 

A series of books in that era must have taken considerable research. 

With the extent of research I’ve done for the subject matters, the stories have the possibility of being grim but, while painting a picture of those times, WW1, WW2, and the Cold War, each is definitely interesting (I’m told), and ultimately uplifting. In each, they look at the position of women in a ‘man’s world’ and how they show bravery, and conquer setbacks to reach fulfilment.

I love a bit of ‘herstory’ as a counterbalance to history Ros! Tell me more…

Sisters At War is set during WW1, and covers life for men in the trenches but also the things women did to contribute and survive. I’ve brought Rose, my main character from the first book along with me. Let me introduce her to you.

  Rose gives a small self-conscious smile, pushes her glasses up her nose, and pats her fly-away hair. 

  “She has agreed that we might tell the background to her story.” I glance at her. “Rose, you  are serious and intelligent, and I know you’ve loved Michael for as long as you can remember.”

  “Yes, It’s true but I’ve secured a place at Oxford university. I know, as a woman, I can’t win the degree even if I qualify but it will be marvellous, and Father is so generous to let me go. It’s causing problems, though.”

  “Oh?”

  “Delphi is far from happy. She’s so vivacious and beautiful, exotic-looking, really, but she’s always struggled as the middle sister. She’s envious of me and this opportunity, and Iris, Izzy we call her, is the young one and spoiled, I suppose.

  “I gather Delphi has told you a secret.”

   “Yes, I’m not sure whether to believe her or not. Perhaps she’s being malicious. She’s complex, but I do love her dearly. She told me Michael has said he loves her and has asked her to wait for him when he goes away to France. It shouldn’t be a surprise. She’s so lovely.” Rose needlessly brushes her skirt and takes a moment.

  I give her time, and say, “I’m not giving anything away to say that Delphi will eventually go to France, too. She will grow and develop but she’ll have a major life-changing experience.”

  “Indeed, and maybe I’ll even develop some sense of my own place,” Rose says.

  “My dear Rose, it’s not always wise to be too self-deprecating. I know you try to see the best in everyone but if it’s at the expense of your own worth and well-being, well…”  I pause. “Michael’s going to France, you say?”

I like the sound of Rose. What made you decide on WW1 as your narrative background for Sisters at War? 

My grandfather, who fought at the battle of the Somme, survived those ordeals and when we went to live in France we weren’t far from the battlefields. 

My grandfather was at the Somme too – reported missing in action, blinded in one eye and with shrapnel embedded in him for the rest of his life. I find the battlefields fascinating so I think I’d love Sisters at War.

Through significant research and looking at war diaries of the time, my husband and I found him mentioned, and were able to walk within ten metres of his positions on that first day – 1st July 1916. When he died, a small memento was found among his effects. It was a tiny ‘touch wood’ figure. He would have worn it on his watch chain. They were given to soldiers  for good luck and a swift return, hence the four-leaved clover stamped on its little wooden head and the wings on its heels. The arms can be raised to touch the wood. This one has a silver body but others were brass or gold, and some had precious stones for the eyes. I have a collection of nearly forty now and each is slightly different. 

Oh! I haven’t heard of them. I’d love to see that collection sometime. What else have you brought along?

I’ve also brought some slices of trench cake. The women at home sometimes made this and sent it out as a taste of home to their men in France. Sometimes eggs were in short supply, and were substituted with vinegar and baking soda to make it rise. I shan’t be offended if you don’t want to try it. It’s a little dense, shall we say!

I think I’d better just give it a quality control test Ros, even if it doesn’t sound the most appetising! Thanks so much for staying in with me to chat about Sisters at War. You serve up a couple of slices of cake and I’ll give readers a few more details about Sisters at War:

Sisters at War

In the shadow of war, a young woman battles with her heart…

England, 1913

Eighteen-year-old Rose Strong has loved childhood friend Michael Redfern for as long as she can remember.

However, believing that Michael loves her beautiful but aloof younger sister, Delphi, Rose vows to keep her feelings hidden.

When war breaks out, Michael enlists, and Rose fears for his life as he heads to the trenches in France.

As the war rages on, Rose strikes up a friendship with Thom, a budding engineer. And when Thom’s feelings for her grow warmer, Rose must decide whether she is prepared to betray her heart.

And with Delphi joining the Women’s Legion while Rose remains at home, it seems Michael and Delphi may grow closer. But Delphi is harbouring a secret of her own…

Will Michael make it home safely? Is he destined to be with Delphi?

Or could Rose be the one to win his heart…?

Published by Sapere Books on 13th July 2021, Sisters at War is available for purchase here.

About Ros Rendle

After taking early retirement as a headteacher, when Ros Rendle had to write many policy documents and also had fun story-writing for children, she moved with her husband and dogs to France. She lived there for over ten years and began writing seriously for adults. She joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers’ Scheme. This afforded a detailed critique of her first novel and subsequently she was fortunate enough to gain a publishing contract. Ros has twelve historical and romance books published and another three contracted, frequently featuring the French countryside and sometimes even a handsome, enigmatic Frenchman!

The new mediaeval series (first book published 25/07/2025 and two others, so far, to follow), is published under the pseudonym of Cara Clayton.

Now, as well as writing, Ros and her husband are raising a guide dog puppy for the blind and enjoy walking him and their new pet dog.

For further information, visit Ros’s website, follow her on X @ros_rendle or find Ros on Facebook and Bluesky.

Having spectacularly failed to get beyond page 30 of my U3A Reading Group book in November, I’m delighted actually to have read this month’s choice, Miss Austen by Gill Hornby, which we will be discussing today. It’s my pleasure to share my review of Miss Austen here on Linda’s Book Bag. 

Miss Austen was originally published by Penguin imprint Arrow in 2020, was given a rebranding to coincide with the BBC television series in 2025 and is available for purchase through the publisher links here.

Miss Austen

Throughout her lifetime, Jane Austen wrote countless letters to her sister. But why did Cassandra burn them all?

1840: twenty three years after the death of her famous sister Jane, Cassandra Austen returns to the village of Kintbury, and the home of her family’s friends, the Fowles.

She knows that, in some dusty corner of the sprawling vicarage, there is a cache of family letters which hold secrets she can never allow to be revealed.

As Cassandra recalls her youth and her relationship with her brilliant yet complex sister, she pieces together buried truths about Jane’s history, and her own. And she faces a stark choice: should she act to protect Jane’s reputation, or leave the contents of the letters to go unguarded into posterity?

My Review of Miss Austen

Cassandra Austen is on the hunt for her sister, Jane’s, letters.

What a super book! I thoroughly enjoyed Miss Austen.

Gill Hornby’s narrative style is pitch perfect, being accessible to the modern reader, but with a tone that Jane Austen herself would recognise. I loved the wry, observational humor threaded throughout the narrative that echoes the type of wit found in Jane Austen’s novels. The direct speech, the societal norms, the place of women in society added a fabulous sense of the era so that the historical setting of the book feels every bit as engaging as plot and character.

What I found so brilliant was that Miss Austen stands as a fascinating story in its own right without the need to know anything about Jane Austen or her writing. However, a little knowledge adds absolute delight in seeing where themes and characters have been woven into those books from real life. It makes reading Miss Austen great fun.

Normally I am not a fan of narratives that range backwards and forwards across timeframes, but in Miss Austen I loved it. The letters, the times before and after Jane’s death, the meticulous detail that is never intrusive – all add up to a satisfying and entertaining read. 

I loved discovering more about Cassandra – and indeed Jane. Gill Hornby writes with such assured knowledge that, whilst Miss Austen is a work of fiction, I felt I had learnt a considerable amount whilst being thoroughly entertained. Neither sister is presented superficially, so that they feel authentic and real. Both women have flaws and I felt one of the great strengths of the narrative was the development of Cassandra’s self-knowledge by the end of the story.

The themes of Miss Austen are perfectly pitched and whilst they represent the times in which the novel is set, they have huge resonance for today’s society. Through Cassandra’s life we encounter the impact of wealth, gender, societal position and expectation, familial duty and all manner of relationships, marriage and friendship. This has the effect of providing an aspect for any reader to engage with and enjoy.

At a time when reading has eluded me, Miss Austen has been a great solace. I found it compelling, interesting and written with assured originality and depth. Indeed, I loved it!

About Gill Hornby

Gill Hornby is the author of The Hive and All Together Now, as well as The Story of Jane Austen, a biography of Austen for younger readers.

Her subsequent novels, Miss Austen and Godmersham Park were Sunday Times bestsellers, and Miss Austen is a four-part BBC adaptation starring Keely Hawes as Cassandra Austen. She is also the President of the Jane Austen Society.

Gill lives in West Berkshire with her husband and four children.

For further information, follow Gill on X @GillHornby and Instagram. 

Having thoroughly enjoyed Jo Middleton’s Happy BLOODY Christmas (reviewed here), I was delighted when a copy of her latest book Not Another BLOODY Christmas arrived in surprise book mail. My huge thanks to Laura Sherlock for sending it to me. It’s my pleasure to share my review today.

Not Another BLOODY Christmas was published by Harper Collins imprint Avon on 23rd October 2025 and is available for purchase through the links here. 

Not Another BLOODY Christmas 

Anna’s taking the family away for a quiet Christmas in this hilarious, standalone murder mystery…

Unlike last year, there will be no risk of her burning the turkey, far less nagging from her mother-in-law and – crucially – a zero per cent chance of finding a dead body in her larder.

All she wants is to relax with a glass of wine in front of the fire. But when another group of guests show up just before a snowstorm, her plans begin to go awry. And the appearance of a dead body threatens to bugger up Christmas once again…

Can Anna get merry and root out the murderer? Or will this be another bloody Christmas nightmare?

My Review of Not Another BLOODY Christmas 

Anna is in search of the perfect family Christmas away. 

Not Another BLOODY Christmas is enormous fun and I really enjoyed it. It was thoroughly entertaining to be back in the company of Anna, whose desperate attempts to have an Instagram worthy Christmas in a wonderful country house, backfire spectacularly. 

I think Anna is hugely relatable. The contrast between the perfection of ourselves on social media as presented by one of the characters, Everlie, and the reality of dealing with true family life feels so realistic. Anna has a disapproving mother-in-law, an endearing (occasionally slightly dim) and always supportive husband, and two children who represent youngsters any one of us might know. Indeed, I’m not a great fan of children in books (or in real life come to that), but both Ben and Lily feel authentic and add to the humour of the book.

And Not Another Bloody Christmas is funny. Anna’s thoughts resonate brilliantly and I laughed aloud. This, along with her first person narrative voice, ensures that the reader feels included in the plot because it is as if Anna is speaking directly to them. The inclusion of Jennie on the end of the phone is such a clever device. It adds detail to the humour and the plot and provides another perspective. 

It seems somehow wrong to say that a book about a murder is the perfect escapist Christmas read, but this story is exactly that. It’s fast paced, and any one of the characters could have committed the crime so that the reader is kept guessing throughout. All the familiar features of the genre create a brilliant blend of tradition and freshness. There’s a confused double booking, there’s a large country house with suits of armour, creepy portraits and there are secrets that only gradually reveal themselves. Add in a dour housekeeper who seems able to appear and disappear at will, and Jo Middleton provides an action packed, witty and engaging read. 

But there’s additional depth for consideration too. In amongst the humour and mad-cap action, Jo MIddleton drops weightier aspects for consideration, such as nature and nurture for children, family and business rivalries, marriage and relationships and so on, making the story surprisingly thought-provoking as well as diverting.

I have struggled to settle to reading recently and I picked up Not Another BLOODY Christmas thinking I might as well give it a go. How wonderful to find a story that allowed me to escape the cares of the world, that made me laugh and brought joy into my life. I thoroughly recommend it.

About Jo Middleton

Jo Middleton is a writer, mum of two grown up children and slave to a golden retriever and three cats, named after fictional detectives. Jo published her first novel, Playgroups and Prosecco, in 2019 and has since gone on to work with her good friend Gill Sims, hosting her 2022 theatre tour and co-hosting a podcast, It’s Five O’clock Somewhere. Happy Bloody Christmas was her first crime novel.

Jo lives in Somerset and when she’s not working or tending to a pet she loves reading murder mysteries, binge-watching dating reality TV shows and being dragged around the countryside by her disrespectful dog Mako.

For further information, follow Jo on X @mummyblogger and Instagram.

With Dr H having abandoned me (only for the week whilst he’s on an intensive Welsh language course) it was a real treat on Wednesday to head across to the Crown Hotel in nearby Stamford to meet up with four smashing authors, Adrienne Vaughan, Cara Clayton (Ros Rendle), Lizzie Lamb and Lorna Hunting.

We had a super lunch (even I couldn’t eat all my excellent fish and chips) with lots of chat, including celebrating a special anniversary of the day Adrienne and Lizzie became published authors which we toasted with a bottle of fizz –  thanks Adrienne! I was thrilled when each of the ladies gave me a signed copy of one of their books.

As a thank you to the ladies for being so kind, inclusive and generous, I thought I’d share details of the books I was given here, as I’m certain many, many, readers would love them too but may not have discovered them yet.

They included:

Summer of Secrets by Adrienne Vaughan

Mia Flanagan has never been told who her father is and, aged ten, stopped asking. Now she keeps her own secrets.

But when the movie she’s working on ends in disaster, she flies home to discover her fiancé has a secret too; leaving her dreams crushed.

Broken-hearted, a lonely summer in London looms. Until family friend, Archie Fitzgerald, invites her to stay at his fading mansion on Ireland’s ancient east coast.For Archie also has a secret, and the longer Mia stays, the more she wonders if Archie really is her father after all…

Summer of Secrets is a tale of how the ghost of love can blight many lives. And how Mia, realising the past cannot hurt her, must make way for new love and the promise of happiness waiting in the wings.

Summer of Secrets is available for purchase here. 

Mistress of the Manor by Cara Clayton

Life is wonderful at the manor … or is it?

1342, Lincolnshire, England

Clémence Masson has always yearned for more than her expected marriage to an apprentice or farmer’s son.

So when an opportunity arises at the nearby Grimsthorpe Manor House to be a companion to a newly-arrived bride-to-be, Clémence is excited by the opportunity.

The young bride is soon to be handfasted to the lord of the manor, Ruadhán Amundeville, who is recently returned from battles with the Scots.

Ruadhán’s uncle Aedric has been overseeing the estates in the young lord’s absence, and it soon becomes clear to Clémence that Aedric does not have Ruadhán’s best interests at heart.

But Clémence does. She has found herself falling for the charming lord of Grimsthorpe.

When Ruadhán leaves for war with the French, Clémence is left with Emma to deter Aedric’s unwanted advances.

And with the Black Death threatening, all of their lives could be at stake…

Will Clémence achieve her dream of rising above her station? Could Grimsthorpe hold the key to her happiness?

Or will the darkness surrounding the manor destroy everything in its grasp…?

Mistress of the Manor is available for purchase here. 

Winter Star in the Scottish Highlands by Lizzie Lamb

This tale weaves together the magic of Scotland’s breathtaking scenery and the complexities of relationships, set against a natural, snowy wonderland.

As the harsh Lochaber winter approaches and with Halley expecting a baby, living in the converted Airstream caravan, Beag air Bheag, becomes impractical. Tor’s family home – Eagles Crag – offers shelter, but his mother’s inevitable meddling is holding them back from moving there. Instead, they find refuge in the Dower House and prepare for the arrival of their baby with optimism and hope, embracing the magic of a Highland Christmas, culminating in the Ghillies’ Ball on Hogmanay.

However, an old flame of Tor’s rents the nearby bothy threatening to disrupt their idyllic life . . .

Is their love strong enough to survive the trials of family, winter and a ghost from the past?

Winter Star in the Scottish Highlands is available for purchase here. 

Farewell Vancouver Island by Lorna Hunting

In May 1858, English collier Sam Gray breaks his contract with the Hudson’s Bay Company on Vancouver Island and deserts to the mainland. He’s haunted by memories of his dead wife and a failed romance, and his dream is to make enough money in the Canadian goldfields to start a new life in San Francisco.

Forced to live under an assumed name to avoid arrest, Sam finds himself inhabiting a hard-hitting world of fellow diggers, gun-toters, card sharps and saloon gals.

Cheerful and resourceful, Kitty Muldoon has adapted to this hard life in Canada, but she has her own troubles looking after her hot-headed father, Frank. When Sam rescues Frank from trouble in a bar, it’s the start of something new for both of them.

A promising future seems to await the couple in San Francisco…

Farewell Vancouver Island is available for purchase here.

****

So, you can see that I’m in for a real reading treat. Thank you very much ladies. 

It’s my very great pleasure to welcome Caroline England to stay in with me today and discuss her latest book. Caroline has appeared many times on Linda’s Book Bag in posts you’ll find here.

Let’s find out more:

Staying in with Caroline England

Welcome back to Linda’s Book Bag, Caroline, and thank you for agreeing to stay in with me.

Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it? 

I have brought along my hot-off-the-press new psychological suspense thriller, Behind Her Smile, out today!

Oo! Happy Behind Her Smile publication day. That’s rather a disturbing cover. Am I right to be disturbed?

To give you a taster, here is the prologue:

This isn’t real, she says to herself, as she watches the man’s chins wag, his mouth yawn open. And yet she can smell his fusty breath, so perhaps she’s really there in his sour, tobacco-stained study. Only she’s not in his upright office chair and her small feet don’t come anywhere near the end of this footrest. Molly Dolly is by her side, her sweet lips ugly and swollen, her creamy skin stained with tears, and the light above her is blinding.

Her chest feels heavy, her throat scratchy and sore and … she darts her tongue around her gums. There’s one – no, several – loose teeth and that salty, sickening taste of blood.

‘Wake up. Darling, please wake up!’

Her ears prick at the urgent tones from afar. She shapes her arms and her legs to kick out, to escape the depths of this dark, sludgy world and swim to the surface. She can’t; she just can’t. She’s paralysed, stuck. Yet she can see the black staring eyes in the timber knots above her, so she must be in her bedroom.

And someone is near, silently watching her.

‘You’re mistaken.’

She rocks her head to the voice. It’s the man. He’s still there, his bushy eyebrows knitted, his fetid muzzle moving. ‘You’re mistaken.’

‘I’m not. I remember it.’

His ruddy features twist and distort. ‘You are mistaken.’ ‘No, I’m not.’

‘Then you are a liar!’

His leery smile moves nearer, and nearer again. Then it opens like a furnace, blasting whisky fumes and loud words in her face.

‘Bad things happen to liars, you know that, don’t you?’

Goodness me. I AM right to feel very unsettled. So, what can we expect from an evening in with Behind Her Smile? 

As the title suggests, you can expect lots of smiling in the story! The question is whose particular smile or smiles we are talking about, why those characters are smiling and what those smiles might mask. Of course the answer could be simple emotional expressions of joy and happiness, genuine pleasure or profound relief, but Laurie’s Dunn’s dark and twisty tale falls in the arena of psychological fiction, so the reasons are likely to be far more complicated — and disturbing — than that! 

I imagine so. Why have you chosen to focus on the concept of a smile?

Psychological thrillers, domestic noir and psychological suspense novels focus on the chasm between inner and outer life, so whilst the smile can function on the superficial level, it is also likely to be a central motif of deception, concealment and psychological tension, the ultimate tool used by authors to blindside their readers. It’s the perfect way to maintain the true façades of the characters or to hide the turbulent realities beneath their calm exteriors, to generate the instability, dark secrets and suspense that readers of this genre crave. Indeed, I hope the title serves as a signal that the primary tension of the novel lies in the deliberate discrepancy between outward appearances and the dark realities concealed beneath it.

I have a horrible feeling that’s pretty much a spot-on assessment of the world in general Caroline. Behind Her Smile sounds fabulous. 

What else have you brought along and why have you brought it?

The story is set in city centre Manchester in the build up to Christmas, so I’ve wrapped myself in my vintage puffa jacket and nipped out to the chilly winter evening. I’ve duly waved to the giant Santa Claus outside Central Library, then I’ve weaved through the glut of pink-faced shoppers until I’ve reached the Christmas Markets where I’ve and ambled around the busy stalls and brightly lit Alpine huts. Singing along to ‘Fairytale of New York’, I’ve smiled at the round-bellied gnomes, the pink-nosed Rudolphs and marching tin soldiers and I’ve carefully scrutinised the plethora of deli goodies, flavoured fudges and other treats, deciding on which we could nibble during our night in. In the end I’ve chosen roast chestnut butter cookies, toffee strawberries and frosted Macadamia nuts from a Norwegian kiosk, a selection of cheese, salami and ham from Made in Italy, and a mug of Manc mulled wine for you and a gluhwein “glögg” for me! Yet even as I arrive and we settle down on your comfy sofa, I can quite shake off the sensation that someone had been watching and even following me… 

I rather think I’m going to need that mulled wine (the only kind I can drink by the way), if you’re going to tell me things like that…

Thank you so much for staying in with me on Behind Her Smile publication day. Help yourself to the food and gluhwein Caroline and I’ll give readers a few more details about Behind Her Smile – if I dare!

Behind Her Smile

Buried secrets are dangerous.
Unearthing them might be deadly …

Laurie Dunn has returned to her childhood attic bedroom and her old nightmares have come rushing back. Terrorised by a client-related mugging, her job as a criminal solicitor causes more problems than solutions.

Finn Ballentine yearns for a fresh start, but even the glossy façade of his new law firm can’t protect him from the past he’s running from.

After a disturbing remark by her confused father, Laurie joins forces with Finn to uncover dark truths. But the long-buried secrets they unearth are laced with danger for them both.

Published in paperback by Bullington press today, 27th November 2025, Behind Her Smile is available for purchase here.

About Caroline England

Known as the ‘Duchess of Dark Domestic Noir’, Caroline England is the author of eight psychological suspense thrillers, Beneath the Skin, the bestseller My Husband’s Lies, Betray Her, The Sinner, The Stranger Beside Me, The Return of Whittle and her new thriller, Behind Her Smile. She also writes gothic-tinged psychological thrillers as CE Rose, namely The House of Hidden Secrets, The House on the Water’s Edge, The Shadows of Rutherford House and The Attic at Wilton Place.

Caroline writes ‘scarily brilliant’, dark twisty stories that delve into complicated relationships, secrets and the moral grey area. Drawing on her career as a criminal and divorce lawyer, she creates characters who get caught up in extraordinary situations, moral dilemmas and crime. She guarantees a jaw-dropping ending!

To find out more about Caroline, visit her website or follow her on X @CazEngland, Facebook, Instagram and Bluesky.

It was my pleasure to stay in with lovely Freya North recently to chat about her new novella Christmas at Flora’s House. You’ll find that conversation here. I was thrilled when Freya sent me a copy of Christmas at Flora’s House and am delighted to share my review today.

Published on 6th November 2025, Christmas at Flora’s House is available for purchase in the usual places, but LIMITED EDITION COPIES – each personally signed at Freya’s kitchen table – are available directly from Freya here.

Christmas at Flora’s House

On the windswept dunes of the Isle of Harris in the wild and beautiful Outer Hebrides of Scotland, is a small white house with a big history. These days, Flora’s House is a holiday home – the perfect base for visitors from far and wide to explore the stunning and often dramatic landscape.

Arriving with one suitcase for clothes and another for their own decorations, retired couple Maggie and Roger have booked Flora’s House for the festive season. It’s their first trip to the island and their first Christmas away from home – but where does Roger disappear to on his long walks? And why is Maggie so taken with one particular member of staff at the local shop?

Christmas is coming: a time for family and togetherness, for joy and forgiveness. Out there, high on the hills and deep in the heather, across the shimmering lochs and hidden in the waves, this Christmas will soon become unlike any Maggie and Roger have had before.

My Review of Christmas at Flora’s House

Maggie and Roger have booked Flora’s House on the Isle of Harris for Christmas.

Christmas at Flora’s House is a wonderful read. Firstly, the Isle of Harris itself is so clearly depicted it is as if the reader has been transported there in the car with Roger and Maggie’s Christmas decorations. I adored descriptions of the landscape and the warm sense of community created through Freya North’s evocative writing. The manner in which the weather changes and alters the landscape is the perfect accompaniment to Maggie’s changing moods. I also fully appreciated the boundary of the Christmas timeframe, because it gave a satisfying structure to events. 

Those events are actually quite ordinary – putting up decorations, some walks, a bit of sightseeing and shopping with a meal or two. And that is the huge success of this story. Maggie’s first person narrative could belong to any one of us, making everything here totally relatable and all the more affecting as a result.

Whilst Roger has an enticing enthusiasm and love of life that is so attractive, initially I was unsure how I felt about Maggie. She is petulant, quick tempered and seems unreasonably angry with Roger. However, as the narrative unfolds, Maggie’s reasons for being as she is become clear. Indeed, I found the impact of those reasons hit me like a physical blow. I was completely undone by Christmas at Flora’s House and frequently found tears slipping down my face. From being uncertain about Maggie, I ended loving her unreservedly.

I also thought Shona was a superb creation. Her physical appearance belies her character and I thought it was very touching to show how often we erroneously judge those by what they wear or how they style their hair. Indeed, Christmas at Flora’s House might be a novella, but its themes are every bit as profound and affecting as any full length book. The story is a beautiful exploration of how we can get out of step with ourselves, but more importantly, how we can also find ourselves again through the enduring power of love.

I adored Christmas at Flora’s House. It reminded me of the importance of kindness towards others, of making memories and of being present enough to make the most of every moment of life. Don’t miss this little gem of a book.

About Freya North

Freya North’s novels explore the emotions and complexities of everyday relationships and families. First published in 1996 with her ground-breaking debut Sally, Freya has written 15 further bestsellers including the highly acclaimed Little Wing and The Unfinished Business of Eadie Browne. Translated into many languages, Freya won the Romantic Novel of the Year award for Pillow Talk and has been short-listed for others. A sense of place is central to Freya’s writing. Never a backdrop, always a leading character, locations featured in her novels include New England, France, British Columbia, North Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Norfolk, Freya’s own county of Hertfordshire and of course the Outer Hebrides.

Freya holds degrees in History of Art from the University of Manchester and the Courtauld Institute, London. She lives on a small farm in Hertfordshire with her dogs, horses and sheep. She enjoys ceramic classes and road cycling and loves to connect with her readers.

For further information, visit Freya’s website, follow her on X @freya_north or find Freya on Instagram and Facebook.