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.