Features

BETRAYAL by Lesley Pearce ‘We’ve all been betrayed at some point,’ says Lesley. We’re having coffee overlooking Meadfoot Beach near her home in Torbay. In such an idyllic setting it feels incongruous to be discussing predatory people, violence, and how trust can be blown to smithereens. This is Lesley at her best. It’s all in seamless context, a story that is gripping and with poignant reflection on the nature of relationships. I asked how she developed the plot. ‘I met … Read more

2023 Nature Month-By-Month: A Children’s Almanac by Anna Wilson I’d like to have consulted my junior helper on this one, but it was past his bedtime. However, I think I know what his reaction would be: ‘Auntie Nette, this book says everything!’ It certainly does. ‘It’s got lists of special dates, food we can cook and how to make a garden in an egg cup!’ I’m quite excited by the scope of the Almanac. It’s a fantastic, fully illustrated delight, … Read more

Browse this years’ 20 Top Titles. The reviews below are written by our schools team, who read hundreds of books and selected these as good reads offering a range of themes and cultural and gender diversity to promote Reading for Pleasure.  Click on the covers to find out more about individual titles and click to buy discounted book bundles from £40.00. Picture Books Ten Delicious Teachers by Ross Montgomery This funny, colourfully illustrated counting book tells the story of 10 … Read more

We’re really proud to be supporting children’s author Clare Helen Welsh with an important new initiative Books That Help, a collection of sharing books to help people through tough times. Clare has collated a list of sharing picture books to open conversations about challenging topics and create emotionally honest spaces where children (and adults) feel able to express their feelings and are supported to navigate them. You can find a range of picture books that offer support through life’s ups … Read more

Divine Love: The Art Of The Nativity by Sarah Drummond In the introduction Sarah writes: “The feast of Christmas is embedded in our earliest childhood memories: a crescendo of excitement leads up to the day following weeks of preparation…’ How this has been depicted over the years is shown through the best offerings from the art world from Bruegel to Lippi. In typical Unicorn Publishing style, the book is lavish and high quality. I’ve had the privilege of meeting both … Read more

“Outside of a dog, man’s best friend is a book” wrote Groucho Marx. Adding “Inside of a dog, it’s too dark to read.” We are always surrounded by darkness at Christmas. This year the match of the festive spirit seems difficult to ignite. Never mind, a book is the perfect pressie that informs, educates and entertains. It rarely needs charging and generally delights the soul. I read a lot of books and blog about them so you can make an … Read more

Kev McCready is a writer, born in Liverpool but now living in Devon. Always with his nose in a book and a cuppa brewing. A fanatical reader since the age of five, Kev has a collection of bookmarks as esoteric as his bookshelves… The 13th of October was “Super Thursday”. No, it’s nothing to do with superheroes, or posh expressions of delight that it’s nearly the weekend. It marked the start of the season for Christmas books. And I know … Read more

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. With her reputation for championing books and authors around the county, we’re delighted to have the opportunity to showcase her reviews here. The Drowning Hour by S.K. Tremayne This man, who hails from Devon, writes brilliant books. The kind where you ring a friend for a reality check because it haunts, mystifies and … Read more

Kev McCready is a writer, born in Liverpool but now living in Devon. Always with his nose in a book and a cuppa brewing. A fanatical reader since the age of five, Kev has a collection of bookmarks as esoteric as his bookshelves… It’s easy to dismiss Marian Keyes work as romantic fluff and you would be foolish to do so. Her books are a delicate balancing act of dry wit; combined with big issues addiction, mental illness, domestic violence … Read more

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. With her reputation for championing books and authors around the county, we’re delighted to have the opportunity to showcase her reviews here. How To Live in The Country by Tom Hodgkinson Lockdown has caused many of us to re-evaluate our lives. Pondering more self-reliance and living in closer harmony with nature, priorities have … Read more