1. Rosanna Ley - The Saffron Trail
I've read one of Rosanna Ley's previous novels and enjoyed it very much. This one did not disappoint. Crossing different generations, we follow a World War II story, a 1970s story, both visited in the framework of the main plot thread which is present day. Nell and Amy meet in Marrakesh, where both are searching to uncover family stories. Swept up in the characters and the exciting settings, this is a novel of escapism and past secrets coming to light.
2. Deborah Lawrenson - The Lantern
This novel pulls the reader into a world where things are not as they seem. The heroine relocates with her new love to a dilapidated house in rural France. There are many layers of mystery - ghostly apparitions, a suspected serial killer in the area, and what is the truth about Dominic's first wife? Fears and doubts wrack the heroine. There are shades of Du Maurier's Rebecca in the intriguing plot, which the author acknowledges freely. A wonderful bonus was my discovery on the author's website of a perfectly atmospheric video trailer. Well worth visiting.
3. Ali Harris - Miracle on Regent Street
A Christmas novel with a feel-good factor, this is charmingly written with a sensitive heroine. The pages overflow with interesting characters that draw the reader into a delightful old-world atmosphere and a plot full of nostalgia. Set in modern day, it explores behind the scenes of a fading old department store threatened with closure. An enjoyable romantic read.