The Gypsy Bride by Katie Hutton, pub. Zaffre in pb, eBook and audio

This is a cross-cultural love story written with warmth and drama. Ellen is the granddaughter of  Methodist preacher and intends to marry Charlie, from her own village. But Charlie is killed in the 1st World War.

Fortunately Ellen meets Sam Loveridge, from a local Gypsy community. Such a heady moment, such excitement, which becomes passion and true love.

But how does this ‘sit’ in a Methodist community? Ah well, read and see.

The Devil you Know by Emma Kavanagh, pub by Orion in pb, eBook and audio.

A different kettle of fish altogether as good girl Rosa Fisher, who is halfway through her PhD, is in her house, alone, when she hears an intruder on the stairs. Arghh. Who hasn’t thought they have heard someone: the heart stops, fear freezes you, but then there is no-one there.

But what if it IS someone? Who is he? What does he want? Well, he’s after someone else that opens a window on Rosa’s life.  Now, she goes back in time, to her origins, and her ‘goodness’.

Full of pace, twists and written with grit. Clever, and great characters.

The Path to the Sea by Liz Fenwick, pub HQ. pb, eBook and audio.

Such an evocative title, and great jacket but set on the Cornish coast, how could it not be.

Boskenna, the imposing house on the Cornish cliffs which means something different to each of the Trewin women. Joan found it a paradise back in the 60s when she and her husband could be away from their normal world, but did they escape into happiness?

Diana is Joan’s daughter,  looking for the happiness of her childhood, symbolised by Boskenna, but was it really happy?

Then there’s Lottie, in disarray, heading for Boskenna escaping her life, in an echo of her parents, but how will the return end?

There they are, all three together. Time for the lid to be lifted on the past. Will their relationship survive?

Warm, evocative, you can taste the salt on your lips, feel the breeze in your hair as Liz Fenwick weaves her magic.

Annie Clarke is the author the Home Front Girls series.