The Dog Who Came in From the Cold by Alexander McCall Smith

This book is from The Corduroy Mansions series

William French receives a visit from Angelica Brockelbank who used to run a bookshop next to William's first wine shop.  They have not seen each other for around 15 years.  She now works for MI6 and wants to recruit William's dog, Freddie de la Hay, into their service. 

Caroline, another resident, is frustrated that her friend James seems to be rather lacking in romance. 

Barbara Ragg, whose flat is coveted by her business partner, has found romance and considers moving to Scotland to live with her new love.  

This is a gentle story which tells us about the lives of some of the residents within Corduroy Mansions.  

I have read many Alexander McCall Smith books from The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency series, The Sunday Philosophy Club series and the Von Igelfeld series.  I also have books from the 44 Scotland Street series on my bookshelf. 

Manana Manana: One Mallorcan Summer by Peter Kerr

This is the second travel biography book by Peter Kerr telling the story of him and his family setting up a new home on a fruit farm in Mallorca.  

The trees continue to produce plenty of fruit, even after a severe pruning by Pepe which leaves them looking in a sorry state after he has thinned out the branches.  Pepe and the neighbouring farmers all offer helpful advice to the family on how to look after the trees and which tasks should be undertaken during a waxing or a waning moon!  

As they head into their first summer at Ca's Mayoral and temperatures steadily rise they finally learn that they have to be as tranquilo as everyone else and work slowly to get all the jobs done.  They are now really settling into their new life, all except Sandy their eldest son who is not quite sure if he wants to stay or go back to Scotland.