The House of New Beginnings by Lucy Diamond

SeaView House (which doesn't have a sea view) is an elegant regency house near to the seafront in Brighton.  It has been split into 5 flats.  For different reasons all the inhabitants of the flats have moved there for a fresh start.  

Rosa has split from her boyfriend after finding that he was living a double life and she is now trying out a new career as a trainee chef.  Charlotte has parted from her husband and is struggling to come to terms with the death of their baby daughter.  Georgie and Simon have move from Yorkshire so that he can take on a dream job which will be the making of his career.  Jo lives with her daughter Bea after leaving her husband for another woman, and glamorous elderly Margot who moved to her flat 20 years with her lover now refuses to return home to France to be with her sons. 

The residents of SeaView House slowly start to bump into each other and new friendships begin.

The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths

Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway is involved in a dig at Norwich Castle and finds the bones of a victorian woman who was hanged for the murder of 5 children.  She was known as Mother Hook as she had a metal hook in place of one hand.  A television company becomes interested in including the find in a series of programmes called 'Women Who Kill'.  Ruth is asked to be involved in the programme and present some of her findings.  There is some evidence which may prove that Mother Hook was wrongly convicted.  The director of the series wants to investigate this whilst the presenter wants to just show her as a very scary and evil woman. 

DCI Harry Nelson is investigating the death of young child.  This is the third child in the same family that has died and Harry, unlike most of his colleagues, is not convinced that the mother is completely innocent.  Then a young child goes missing from her bed at night.  Ruth becomes involved in the investigations with the police.

One-Hit Wonder by Lisa Jewell

In 1985 Bee Bearhorn had a number one hit single.  Her next 2 records didn't do very well and her singing career ended.  Bee had then become estranged from her mother and younger half sister Ana after the death of her father. 

Ana is sent by her mother from Devon to London to sort out her sister's flat after Bee, at only 36 years old, has been found dead.  Ana had always imagined that Bee lived a really glamorous life but what she finds in the flat seems to indicate that she had been very much on her own.  Ana meets Bee's neighbour and also Bee's two closest friends, Lol and Flint, and discovers that they had all believed Bee was regularly visiting Ana, whereas they hadn't seen each other for years.  

Ana, Lol and Flint investigate where Bee was going each weekend and find she had a country cottage in Broadstairs, Kent.  They visit the cottage and more and more unusual things are discovered.  Together they need to work out what Bee was doing and why she died. 

The Cosy Seaside Chocolate Shop by Caroline Roberts

This is the sequel to The Cosy Christmas Chocolate Shop. 

Emma continues to run her chocolate shop and look for new ideas for both her range of chocolates and how to bring in extra income.  She trials a chocolate and prosecco party for some of the local ladies and this is very well received so she sets out to get a licence for the premises.  

Unfortunately her scheming landlord decides that he will only continue her lease on a month by month basis as he is really looking to sell and Emma can't afford to buy the property.  Her livelihood could be in danger if she can't find an alternative place to live and work.  A new sweet shop opening up at the harbour also impacts on her trade. 

Her relationship with Max is going well but as they are both busy running their own businesses they struggle to find much time for each other.  

There are a few recipes at the end of the book to try. 

Burning Bright by Tracy Chevalier

The story is set in London in 1792-93.  The Kellaway family move from Dorset to London as the father, chair maker Thomas Kellaway, has been offered work by Philip Astley who own an amphitheatre and circus.  

London is very different from Dorset and the family struggle to fit in and settle into their new life.  The children Jem and Maisie meet up with local streetwise girl Maggie and become friends.  Jem, along with Maggie, regularly visits the neighbour Mr William Blake who is a printer and a radical.  He is seen wearing the bonnet rouge in support of the French revoluntionaries.  Mr Blake shares his writing and drawings with Jem and Maggie.  They find them interesting although they do not always fully understand what they mean. 

The Telephone Box Library by Rachael Lucas

Little Maudley, a village in the Cotswolds near to Bletchley Park, is the perfect place for Lucy to spend a few months to unwind from her stressful job and to do some research into the work women were involved in during the second world war.  Lucy rents a small cottage which is next door to Bunty, the oldest person in the village, and as part of the rental agreement she needs to keep an eye on Bunty and help her out with odd jobs.  

The village is beautifully kept with the exception of the very old telephone box.  The telephone is about to be decommissioned and the village committee has to decide what to do with the box.  Bossy Helen would like the box to be removed and replaced with a bench and flowers.  Young teen Freya is upset that the nearby library is about to close and suggests that the telephone box is filled with books and converted into a small village library.  

Lucy quickly makes friends with a number of the locals and gets involved with the many activities they have planned. 

Girl on the Run by Jane Costello

Since starting her own business Abby Rogers has done no exercise and eaten very unhealthily.  When one of her employees makes a shocking annoucement which will affect her for life, Abby agrees to help to fundraise by running a half marathan.  She joins her best friend's running club and although her first session does not go very well and she wants to give up, she is persuaded to get a bit fitter and return to the club again to continue her training.  

Another reason for returning to the running club is to see Oliver the very attractive and single club captain.

The Child in Time by Ian McEwan

On a Sunday morning, whilst his wife Julie is still in bed, Stephen Lewis takes their 3 year old daughter to the local supermarket.  At the checkout he looks away for a moment as he puts items from his trolley onto the conveyor belt.  When he looks back his daughter Kate has gone.  

Stephen and Julie struggle with their loss and find their own different ways to cope.  They eventually end up living apart.  

Stephen, who is an author of childrens books, is asked to sit on a government committee who are looking at areas of childcare and at what age children should learn to read and write. Attending the meetings is often the only time he leaves the house. 

Stephen's relationship with Julie, his parents and the friend who published his first book are also covered.

By the same author I have also read:
On Chesil Beach
Saturday