"In the ancient city of York, a master charm has been stolen - one powerful enough to raise an army of metal guardians across the country. Built to protect, they can just as easily destroy, and in the wrong hands, they will. Which is bad enough. But if the charm isn't recovered soon, they won't be the only ones on the rampage. Because Heather - near-goddess of the wood and wild, and deeply unimpressed partner of the charm's creator - will tear the city apart to stop them. DI Adams never asked to be the magical community's go-to fixer, but with York on the brink of collapse, she's the only one standing between humanity and a full-blown nature-vs-machine catastrophe. Armed with her invisible, caffeine-addicted dog, her duck, and a bunch of Folk with more opinions than usefulness, Adams descends into the hidden underworld of York. There, she'll face light-fearing gerbils, ravenous beasts, and allies with questionable loyalties. And let's not mention unstable dimensions and reality playing fast and loose with physics. But she's got no time to learn how to navigate any of it. Time's running out. The charm is waking. And when tree and root rise to meet steel and iron, nothing will survive the collision. . ."
"A call from an old colleague has DI Adams off her patch and out of her depth, dealing with a mysterious new beer that has unexpected side effects. Side effects that are much more dangerous and far-reaching than a simple hangover. Missing brewers. Inexplicable superpowers. Erratic behaviour. And it's not just the punters. Half the police in Yorkshire seem to have fallen under the beer's spell, and she's barely keeping a step ahead of them. If she doesn't figure this out before the festival opening night the whole county will be under the influence of Niddered Ale, and there'll be no sobering up from it. Not ever. But she's got her invisible dog, her inanimate duck, and some unusual sidekicks. Plus she's just dying to arrest someone. As soon as she can catch them, of course. . ."
"A stranger can change your life in a moment of kindness
1952: Bella is a young French Jew in post-war London, having lost everything in WWII. When she meets Adebayo, a doctor from Nigeria, Archibald's Café is the only place they feel like they belong.
1977: With London tense with anger, Amara decides to take action.
2010: Gina is a daydreaming artist whose efforts crumble into disaster. Her hopes for a career are over as she finds herself making lattes at the café where her grandparents went on their first date.
Across the lives of three generations of women, London can be a harsh and beautiful place. Yet, chance friendships hold people together, when the world feels like it is falling apart.
Fans of Clare Pooley and Freya Sampson will love The Café on Manor Lane
‘A powerful story of hope, community and friendship… a real love letter to London’ Katie Lumsdon, author of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall
‘A beautiful story about the power of community and friendships’ Eleanor Goymer, author of The Fallback
‘A heartwarming and necessary story to make you fall in love with London’ Eve Edwards, author of The Summer of Wishful Thinking
‘Amidst all the ugliness in the world…friendship, kindness, chosen family and community can heal’ Tina Baker, author of What We Did in the Storm
‘The writing has an uplifting side reflecting on the importance of love, family and friends helping relieve trauma across generations.’ Historical Novel Society
‘THIS BOOK GIVES ME HOPE! It was so beautiful and so powerful! The impact of community in this book is amazing!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The story and situation is very unique… all elements of this book are done extremely well. I adored it!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A fun sweet read! Highly recommend’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The setting was beautifully done… I found the characters interesting and engaging and could only ask for more’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘The author found the beautiful in the everyday and created a rich narrative firmly rooted in Lewisham’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A heartwarming tale of community, love, and new beginnings. Charming characters and a cozy setting make it an enchanting, feel-good read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐"
"DI Adams fled London to escape bridge-dwelling monsters and magical toasties - a one-time experience she's in no hurry to repeat. She's police, not some cryptid hunter. Leeds has other plans, though. Tasked with the seemingly mundane case of a missing necklace, Adams soon realises she's stumbled into something inexplicable. The trinket is dangerous, and she's the only one who recognises it for what it is - a weapon that could tear the North apart. Juggling unhelpful colleagues, amnesiac witnesses, and problematic women of a certain age, Adams plunges into the treacherous, magic-soaked streets of Leeds. She may not have backup, but at least she has the invisible, caffeine-addicted dog by her side. Plus a duck. And a very big stick. She's got this. She has to. Because there's no one else who can. . ."
"Baton. Light. Chocolate. Duck. This is not DS Adams' usual kit. This is not DS Adams' usual case. She doesn't think it's anyone's usual case, not with the vanishing children and the looming bridge and the hungry river. Not with the snap-snap-snap.
But six kids are missing, and she's not going to let there be a seventh. Not on her watch. And she knows how to handle human monsters, after all. How different can this really be? So: Baton. Light. Chocolate. And the bloody duck. Let's be having you, then."
"Jomi's mum left him to seek her destiny in Lagos. Now Jomi and his friendly bushbaby follow her - but their only starting place is a TV dance competition his mum used to love. If Jomi and his new Lagos friends can get on that TV show, then maybe his mum will see him, and they can find their destiny together . . ."
