A Human Condition

A Human Condition is a novel from established author and GP Lyn Miller.

It's a touching story of family life and friendships between women.

It's at about the time in her life when things should be just starting to get a little bit easier for Edinburgh GP and single mom, Marion. Her daughter Rose has departed for the life of a student in Bristol so Marion should, hopefully, have a little more time for herself.

But unfortunately fate decides to intervene and the health of Marion's mother begins to worsen. Her increasing Alzheimer's disease means that she is becoming more vulnerable and she is growing more and more dependant on Marion.

This begins to test Marion's abilities to cope especially when she has to deal with a discovery from the past of her family.

There's Marion's friend Nyaga who moved to Scotland from Botswana in the hope that it would advance her career as a nurse and increase her earning potential.

But she'd not counted on the fact that she'd be so lonely and homesick.

But her growing friendship with Marion helps things look better for Nyaga.

Whilst in Bristol, everything is going to well for Rose. She's in love, going to star in a drama society play, but then things start to get a little less easy for Rose in Bristol.

How will each of these woman progress through life?

Will they be able to rely on each other for support and love as they progress through their Human Condition?

It's a heartwarming book that will make you smile because you may very well have been where these women have been, in one way or another.

It's published by Matador at £10.99.

Coronach

Coronach is an novel of over 782 pages in length.

It is written by Kimberley Jordan Reeman and it's an epic tale of love, heartache, loss war and death set against tragic backdrop of the doomed Jacobite Rebellion.

It's July in 1746, and the Scotish Highlands are suffering under the occupation of an invading army. Atrocities are committed and the cost will be felt through generation after generation to come.

Even so, there are individual acts of compassion and a battle-weary English soldier by the name of Mordaunt saves an infant who will eventually become his heiress and his obsession.

On what remains of his ruined estate, a shocked Franco-Scottish Laird, Earl Stirling offers refuge to a boy who had been damaged by a dreadful horror.

These apparently separate lives are bound together by fate as their destiny plays out against the turbulent and violent times of the 18th century.

It's published by Matador at £13.99 and will be most welcomed by fans for historical romances.

Pigeon Fancying in Leicestershire

Pigeon Fancying in Leicestershire is a debut novel from John Littlefair.

Lanfranco DeLuca is an avid pigeon racer. But unfortunately his top stud bird, recently bought for an exorbitant fee, just isn't able to perform is duties as a stud.

So, what's to do for DeLuca? He believes that desperate measures are required to regain his standing in the pigeon world and to regain some of his money.

But he wouldn't stoop to some pigeon kidnapping. Would he?

The matter becomes more complicated when Jon Landseer, fed up of life in London, can't really decide what he wants out of two options. A career in Briton as a struggling journalist supported by his perhaps overly ambitious partner, Louse. Or a life of rural bliss on his aunt's somewhat tumbedown smallholding in Leicestershire.

To add to the mess of complications Joe falls for a scientist called Alice who is working in the city of Leicester on research into the condition Pigeon Fancier's Lung. Unfortunately Alice is embroiled in DeLuca's pigeon scam.

They try to resolve their own issues with their suddenly more complicated lives and also to solve the mystery of the male pigeon who couldn't perform.

Will they find a cure for Pigeon Fancier's Lung? Will the stud bird perform again? Will anyone find true love? Will Deluca get his just deserts?

It's published by The Book Guild at £9.99.

Hedgehog Magic

Hedgehog Magic is a new and exciting adventure for Alistair and his hedgehog friends from Dave Hills.

It's Autumn time and Alistair has had a surprise. The badge that the Hedgehog Queen presented to him is no ordinary badge. It's magic! He gives the badge a bit of a gentle rub and there's instantly a massive burst of sparkle dust and Hamish the hedgehog reappears.

Not long after a tiny hedgehog comes into Alistair's garden. He is seeking out the Hedgehog Queen because he needs assistance in his search for his two sisters who are lost.

He meets with a strange creature who seems to be unfriendly. Hector calls out for help and eventually the weird creature finds the little hedgehog and becomes his friend. It turns out that he is a small rat who wears a white waistcoat and a pair of glasses that are not level. His name is Mr Tilly.

Hector is in the garden and making a call to the Hedgehog Queen for her help.

Because Alistair can hear his calls he quickly finds him to see what he can do for him.

When he learns of his plight he uses the magic badge to call Hamish to see if they can help Hector in his mission to find his lost sisters.

Alistair, together with Hamish and Hector, then proceed on an exciting journey through the shiny, spooky forest where they discover that the two sister's are trapped inside a tree guarded by bats!

Can they rescue the sisters? Will Mr Tilly be able to help and might the badge be called in for some magical assistance?

It's the second in the series and it is published by The Book Guild at £6.99.

Moorland Blue

Paul and Solley are London-based property developers and in Moorland Blue, a novel by Charlie Gibb's, receive some details about the go-ahead for an extension to the HS2 railway line to Leeds.

They discover that there is a nearby property for sale which would be perfect for converting into luxury apartments.

They head to Yorkshire in an attempt to buy the property, but they are unaware that things are not quite what they seem.

When they arrive in Yorkshire they suddenly become entangled in a situation where bribery, double crossing and blackmail are the order of the day, with several other groups desperate to buy the property.

Why? What is so special about the property? And exactly how far will some of the groups go in order to make certain that they will become the owners of the property?

And how will the outsiders, Paul and Solley, fair against their northern rivals? Will they ultimately triumph? And if so, how?

This is a very well-crafted first novel. Hopefully it'll be the first of many from Chsrlie Gibb.

It's published by The Book Guild at £9.99

Maisie Daisy Strawberry Fayre

Maisie Daisy Strawberry Fayre is written by Elizabeth Willdon Bas and illustrated by Sarah-Leigh Wills.

Maisie Daisy is a lovely, sweet natured little girl who is loved by everyone she meets, wherever she goes.

This is the story of what happens when Maisie Daisy and her friends smell the delicious strawberries and decide to go strawberry picking.

And they end up visiting the Strawberry Faye.

It's a great book for sharing between children and adults.

It's published by Matador at £7.99.

Poppy Haviland & the Secret of the Lively Widow

Poppy Haviland & the Secret of the Lively Widow Father and daughter team Michael and Annabel Lively Barra have written the first in an exciting series of adventures.

Poppy Petunia Haviland is 12 years old and she is an aspiring actress. She loves to have adventures with her friends.

Poppy is also the daughter of one of the world's most famous movie stars. Which can be a bit daunting, at times.

Her family goes to live in a small town in an unexpected move and the sudden appearance of her mother Holly Haviland has an amazing impact on the town.

In the meantime Poppy discovers an old map within the ancient house they are renting which seems to point to the location of some buried treasure.

Poppy recruits her best friend and a rather odd neighbour to help her work out the clues in the map.

She discovers that their town was a key stopping point for the Underground Railroad, the secret method by which freed slaves were smuggled to freedom in non-slave states in the USA.

Furthermore she finds hints that her ancestors might have been involved in operating the Underground Railroad.

Can they discover the treasure indicated in the map? But who is the odd elderly fedora hatted man  who is dogging their steps? Will he or they find the treasure first?

And who was really menacing the friends?

Interestingly, the writing team is made up of Michael Barra and his daughter Annabel Lively Barra who is aged 9. They live just outside New York city with actress mum Katie and Amelia who is 6.

This is a great book, a really good thriller for children.

It's published by Matador at £8.99 and really does belong on the "must buy" list of children's books for 2019.

Parents and children will all love this book.