April Hardy - Sitting Pretty

A warm romantic comedy with an international feel. Beth is preparing to make a fresh start in Dubai with her new Greek husband, Alex. But unexpectedly he leaves without her, and she finds herself homeless. Luckily her old job as a pet-sitter is still open, so she slots back in quickly. Moreover, all those houses which are empty while the owners are away give her somewhere to lay her head at night. She's careful to leave no trace of her occupancy, but there are some tricky, not to mention hairy, moments! The inevitable happens, and she's discovered - and it leads to an unexpected change of direction that forces her to sort out her  feelings for her absent husband, as well as choose the future she wants. A delightful read, also with a wonderful cast of furry characters.

Amie K. Runyan - Daughters of the Night Sky

I found this novel to be pleasantly different. It's the story of a pioneering member of the Russian women's air force during World War II. Katya has always had the yearning to fly an aeroplane, and despite the poverty of her widowed mother, manages to gain the qualifications to do so. It's a battle right from the start at the Academy, but she's championed by talented and good-looking Vanya. Against a backdrop of taxing battles, rivalry and discrimination, she and her fellow women pilots blaze a new trail as they fight for their country and their own honour. Their company becomes known as the NIght Witches, their courage and tenacity legendary. Against this backdrop unfolds a story of love, family, friendship and loyalty. Powerful writing.

Dinah Jefferies - The Missing Sister

An author who is fast becoming a favourite for me. This novel is set in nineteen thirties Burma, when Belle arrives in Rangoon to take up a job as singer in a hotel. But she has a strong reason to visit the city - before she was born, her parents lived there, and their baby daughter was stolen from their garden. Belle had a difficult childhood, blighted by her mother's poor health, culminating in her mother's disappearance and subsequent death while she was still a young child. It was only after her father's recent death that she discovered documents telling of the lost sister Belle never knew she had. It's a new adventure for her in an exotic location, getting used to the unfamiliar climate, and the political undercurrents between the local inhabitants and the foreigners who live in their country. Uncomfortable colonial tensions are highlighted by her growing friendship with American journalist Oliver, and conflicting emotions war within her as she struggles to know who she can trust. Mystery, love and historical colour all combine to make a page-turning book.

A new year and a new decade! New Year greetings - wishing everyone health and happiness for 2020.

I've been reading plenty of good books recently, and here is a selection of my best reads:

Lee Child - Past Tense

I like reading a thriller from time to time, and always enjoy Lee Child's Jack Reacher novels. The retired army police officer travels where the road takes him, but trouble always seems to find him. His strong sense of justice means that he can't resist looking out for the oppressed, the weak, the wronged, and putting a small part of the world to rights. Living outside the system, he's a man of few possessions, no home, no family, tough and fearless, but we can be satisfied that he will put some bad guys out of business. In Past Tense he happens by chance to pass the town where his father grew up, and he goes to have a look round out of curiosity. He begins to uncover puzzling facts about his father's past. Meanwhile, a young Canadian couple find themselves prisoners at a nearby motel, with sinister results. Inevitably, Reacher crosses their paths and a showdown begins. Tense, exciting and written in the easy, taut style characteristic of this author.

Susan Lewis - No Place to Hide

This is another author whose books I return to. She explores difficult situations with compassion. In this novel, we follow Justine who is making a new life for herself and her three year old daughter Lula in the USA in the town where her mother was born. But Justine is hiding under a false name, fleeing from a difficult past. But why is she still in touch with her husband Matt back home? - and why has she abandoned her family and her successful career? Flashbacks to her earlier life eventually lead to the reason for her flight. There's also a mystery surrounding her deceased grandmother, rousing Justine's curiosity as she begins to forge new ties in America. Tense and emotional, this book covers some uncomfortable experiences with sensitivity, and keeps the reader turning the pages.

Carole Matthews - Christmas Cakes and Mistletoe Nights

A deliciously seasonal novel from this ever-popular author. Despite this book being a sequel (I hadn't read its predecessor) I was able to pick up enough of the back story to enjoy it on its own. Fay lives with her partner, Danny, on his canal boat, and can't believe her luck in finding him. But their idyllic life is interrupted when she gets a cry for help from her former life, and returns to the Cafe in the Garden which she used to run. Although she loves being back helping out in the cafe and looking after her friends, she worries about the long separation from Danny. Can their relationship survive being apart for so long, and does she have the strength to help those she cares about? Uplifting and delightful, this is a charming novel, full of atmosphere and vivid characters.