Annette Shaw is a freelance journalist with 30 years of experience, and has a regular column in Devon Life, sharing her pick of brilliant books with Devon connections.

Annette writes: “Books have been a lifelong passion. I was lucky with my early home life as we had bookshelves in every room as well as reading with mum and dad. As a teenager, when all my friends had Saturday jobs in clothes shops like Etam, I worked in the library. Bliss! From reading to the children in the creche to eating a sandwich in the staff room, surrounded by books, I was in heaven. Took a slightly wrong career turn for a while but by 1993 I was writing for a nationwide medical magazine and became a member of the Guild of Health Writers. A fascinating time followed and I was a regular contributor to many newspapers and women’s magazines. Devon Life has been pure pleasure since 2015 and given me the opportunity to meet many inspirational celebrities and authors at all levels.

It’s also been hugely rewarding as Devon authors have been generous with their time. Shelia Norton, recent award winner, spent an afternoon at the Living Tree Cancer Support Group – talking about her life and work and the importance of pets and how they can help with the healing of shattered lives.”

With her reputation for championing books and authors around the county, we’re delighted to have the opportunity to showcase her reviews here.

The Tomluc Tree by Triona Harris, illustrations by Sarah Miles
The illustrations in Triona’s new book for early readers are so striking. The colours have such depth that the reader does a double-take. Also, the little details from birds to butterflies make it look very much as if it’s been created with a great deal of love. The Tomluc Tree expresses some beautiful sentiments in a gentle but determined manner. It’s a tale of hope, positivity and patience, teamwork, and never giving up on nature and the environment. Our hero, Jack, lives in Burywood where nothing grows. But he decides to change that and, with the help of his community, plants the first tree. Triona, an NHS nurse, lives in East Devon. She comments, “Bringing up a young family meant that we have a very outdoors lifestyle and spend much of our time in forests, on moors, in the sea, and our children have shown a lot of interest in nature.”

Indian Vegan & Vegetarian: 200 Traditional Plant-Based Recipes by Mridula Baljekar
As the days lengthen, the herbs in my garden are coming back to life. I’m always looking for ways to include more aromatic leaves in meals and found Mridula’s book full of ideas. Add to the mix our well-stocked farm shops from Dart’s Farm to Riverford and vegetarian cooking is a taste sensation. The recipes are grouped by region and each section explores the food of the area. As winner of the Best Indian Cookbook UK 2022, this book provides masses of vibrant dishes. For example, marrow is stuffed and coated with a heady mix of coriander, mint, garlic, ginger and spices. Humble turnips are transformed, and spinach served with a clove-infused yogurt sauce looks delicious. Mridula Baljekar is a best-selling and award-winning author. She was raised in Assam, and has appeared on television. Her food has been described as “heaven on earth for the senses.”

Farringdon’s Fate by Linda Finlay
It was a pleasure to actually have a face-to-face meeting with Linda. We met at The Victoria Hotel in Sidmouth, close to her home and locations featured in the book. Readers may spot Beer Caves and that the home of fictional Lord Farringdon is similar to the Jacobean manor Bovey House. “I loved writing this!” says Linda. “It’s a break-away from the one person, one craft formula, and the research was fascinating.” Set in 1854, this engaging story revolves around an Exeter corset-maker, with references to the lace makers for which East Devon is famed. “Given the popularity of TV dramas like Bridgerton, it felt timely to look more closely at the nobility’s underwear or underpinnings as they were called.” Thus, we follow the life of apprentice Jane Haydon and how she copes with fitting the aristocracy into their finery whilst tragedy strikes her own life. Good news – a sequel is promised.