Literature & Fiction

‘Nobody does cosy, get-away-from-it-all romance like Jenny Colgan’ Sunday Express

‘An evocative, sweet treat’ Jojo Moyes
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In a quaint seaside resort, a charming bakery holds the key to another world…

Curl up and escape with Jenny Colgan

‘An evocative, sweet treat’ Jojo Moyes
‘This sweet romance will lift your spirits’Sunday Mirror
‘Gorgeous, glorious, uplifting’ Marian Keyes
‘Irresistible’ Jill Mansell
‘Just lovely’ Katie Fforde
‘Naturally funny, warm-hearted’ Lisa Jewell
‘A gobble-it-all-up-in-one-sitting kind of book’ Mike Gayle
‘A sheer delight from start to finish’ Sophie Kinsella
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When she is given the opportunity to move to a remote tidal island off the Cornish Coast, Marisa Rossi decides some peace and quiet might be just what she needs.

Since the death of her beloved grandfather back in Italy, she’s been struggling to find a way out of her grief. Perhaps this will be the perfect place for her to recuperate.

But Mount Polbearne is a far cry from the sleepy little place she was imagining. Between her noisy piano-teaching Russian neighbour and the hustle and bustle of a busy community, Marisa finds solitude is not so easy to come by. Especially when she finds herself somehow involved with a tiny local bakery desperately in need of some new zest to save it . . .
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Why readers ADORE Jenny Colgan

‘Jenny Colgan has a way of writing that makes me melt inside’
‘Her books are so good I want to start over as soon as I have finished’
‘There’s something so engaging about her characters and plots’
‘Her books are like a big, warm blanket’
‘Her stories are just so fabulous’
‘She brings her settings and characters so vividly to life’
‘The woman is just magic’

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In the long, hot summer of 1995, twenty-two-year-old Alice Lang rents a caravan on a holiday park on the outskirts of the lively holiday resort of Severn Sands. She befriends Marnie, a shy, damaged little girl whose father is the park’s caretaker and whose mother died a few months earlier. Will, whose mother runs the bar, falls in love with Alice, and is unbearably jealous of anyone else she sees. Tensions rise until one evening Alice disappears from her caravan. She’s never seen again, and only her scarlet dress is found washed up on the shore.

A quarter of a century later, the town is run down and nobody comes there anymore. Mr and Mrs deVillars, former owners of the holiday park, have passed the failing business onto their son Guy, who promptly sells the land for development. Builders clearing the land to create an expanse of executive homes uncover human bones. It has to be Alice.

Will and Marnie’s lives were entirely shaped by what happened that summer, and now Alice has been found, they must struggle to pin down their memories, to escape the secrets of the past, the lies they told and the unbearable guilt they’re both carrying.

They need to find out what happened to Alice. Who killed her? And why?

Praise for Louise Douglas

‘Louise Douglas achieves the impossible and gets better with every book.’ Milly Johnson

‘A brilliantly written, gripping, clever, compelling story, that I struggled to put down. The vivid descriptions, the evocative plot and the intrigue that Louise created, which had me constantly asking questions, made it a highly enjoyable, absolute treasure of a read.’ Kim Nash on The Scarlet Dress

‘Another stunning read from the exceptionally talented Louise Douglas! I love the way in which Louise creates such an atmospheric mystery, building the intrigue and suspense brick by brick. Her writing is always beautiful and multi-layered, her characters warm and relatable and the intriguing nature of the mystery makes this unputdownable.’ Nicola Cornick on The Scarlet Dress

‘A tender, heart-breaking, page-turning read’Rachel Hore on The House by the Sea

‘The perfect combination of page-turning thriller and deeply emotional family story. Superb’ Nicola Cornick on The House by the Sea

‘Kept me guessing until the last few pages and the explosive ending took my breath away.’ C.L. Taylor, author of The Accident on Your Beautiful Lies

‘Beautifully written, chillingly atmospheric and utterly compelling, The Secret by the Lake is Louise Douglas at her brilliant best’ Tammy Cohen, author of The Broken

‘A master of her craft, Louise Douglas ratchets up the tension in this haunting and exquisitely written tale of buried secrets and past tragedy.’ Amanda Jennings, author of Sworn Secret

‘A clammy, atmospheric and suspenseful novel, it builds in tension all the way through to the startling final pages.’ Sunday Express, S Magazine

‘A chilling, unputdownable new novel from the bestselling author of The House By The Sea.

‘A brilliantly written, gripping, clever, compelling story, that I struggled to put down.’

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As the waves crash against the boat, Nicole wonders if the island will be as magical as she remembers… Will it offer her the new beginning she’s been searching for?

When Nicole finds herself in need of a new start, she instantly thinks of Morwen Island. She remembers the beautiful, remote place from her student days and, as she thinks of its cobbled streets and salty sea air, she wonders if this might be the place where she can begin again…

As she settles into island life, Nicole begins to feel like her old self. And when a knock on her cottage door brings handsome local Josh, who she remembers from her time on the island, she is instantly attracted to his charming smile. With their shared passion for the island’s wildlife, they spend more time together, and soon Nicole finds it hard to ignore her growing feelings. But is her fragile heart ready to embrace the possibility of love once more?

When Josh suggests they investigate the supposedly haunted old house where Nicole lived as a student, she is forced to put her feelings for him to one side. She recalls the past heartache she felt there all too well and, as she looks up at the crumbling old building, she wonders whether the locals are right. Does the house still have secrets to hide?

As she explores, Nicole learns about the women who lived there during the Second World War, a long-forgotten family secret, and a loss that will break her heart…

As Nicole pieces together what really happened during the war, she feels a stronger pull to the island than ever before. Will she be able to uncover what became of the women who lived in the old house? And, if she does, will she learn from their story, and open her heart to a new life with her one true love on Morwen Island?

An absolutely heartbreaking and unputdownable read, perfect for fans of gripping family dramas, and for those who enjoy the novels of Debbie Macomber, Fiona Valpy and Nancy Thayer.

Readers are loving Dreams of the Cottage by the Sea:

‘WOW!!!… Clear your schedules and grab the tissues as you will need them!!!… Devastatingly heartbreaking and beautiful… I was utterly glued to the pages and I could not bring myself to put it down… I had tears absolutely streaming down my face… I was completely mind-blown at the end and just when I thought I had run out of tears they started pouring out again… I LOVED it.’ Bookworm86 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wonderful… Intriguing, heart-warming and inspiring… This book hits all the feels… An amazing story, I loved it.’ PageTurners ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Beautiful… Heart-wrenching. I was so immersed in the story I couldn’t stop reading.’ @shortbookthyme ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Brilliant. I read the book in one night as I could not put it down… A must-read. Loved it.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Beautiful… It’s a wild ride… Intense, emotional and utterly compelling. Read this one!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wonderful… Devastating… Beautiful… An uplifting read.’ Cindy L Spear ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Wonderful… I loved everything about this book.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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As Ellie stood on the boat, watching the small island come into view, she wondered what awaited her on shore. What secrets would she uncover in this place?

When Ellie Roberts inherits a cottage on a remote Scilly Isle, she’s shocked. She’s never heard of the previous owner, Patience Ellis, so why did she leave Ellie her legacy?

Overwhelmed with unanswered questions, Ellie travels to the isolated island. Windswept from the boat, salt spray still on her skin, she searches for Patience’s whitewashed cottage, hidden behind overgrown ivy. But when she steps inside, the house feels strangely familiar, and she has a memory of laughing as a child with her beloved mother in the window seat overlooking the sea… The mother she lost when she was only a child.

Determined to find out more, Ellie meets enigmatic local Branok Shore. While at first he seems uninterested, he believes he can help. Charmed by his green eyes, and curious about his past on the island, he and Ellie grow closer, but Ellie knows she needs to understand her own story before she can embrace the future. And when Branok prises open Patience’s dresser, filled with letters from the Second World War, Ellie discovers the shocking secret Patience was forced to hide – and the truth that will change her own life forever.

The letters tell the story of a brutal storm on a dark night in the depths of war, and of an injured soldier who begged Patience for help, and asked her to make an impossible choice…

But the letters don’t hold the answers Ellie so desperately needs. Why did Patience leave her home to her? And how can Ellie have memories of the cottage, when she’s never been there before? When Ellie finally uncovers the truth, will she be strong enough to put the fragments of her life back together?

An absolutely heartbreaking and unforgettable read, perfect for fans of gripping family dramas, and for those who enjoy the novels of Debbie Macomber, Fiona Valpy and Nancy Thayer.

What readers are saying about Secrets of the Cottage by the Sea:

‘Oh my goodness… Wish I could give the book more than five stars.’ Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Outstanding. I’ll be sorry to not have it to read tonight, but couldn’t put the book down!’ Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Absolutely spectacular… best I’ve read… will pull at your heartstrings.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Beautiful… It really made me smile… took me back to a special place. Wonderful.’ @surfchicksarah ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Utterly captivating… Delightful beyond words!’ Rain ‘N’ Books ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A feel good book to read on a rainy day (or anytime!). I loved it.’ Niki’s Book Blog ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I was fully immersed in this from the start… fascinating.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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