The Riviera Secret

Sarah Steele

THE lives of two troubled women from different timelines converge in an unforgettable tale of lost love and tragic secrets set against the stunning light and coastal beauty of the French Riviera.

From the glitz and glamour of the Cap d’Antibes in the wild days of the Twenties Jazz Age to the dark and dangerous build-up to the Second World War, one breathtaking cliff top mansion takes centre stage in a sunshine and drama-filled mystery that delights and dazzles from start to finish.

Written by bestselling author Sarah Steele (pictured below), who trained as a classical pianist and violinist, The Riviera Secret brings to breathtaking life the intrigue and excesses of the aristocracy and celebrities who flocked to the Côte d’Azur and partied their way through the inter-war years. Thrust into this glittering and garish world are British diplomat Lord Sinclair Castlemere, his young half-Jewish wife Daisy and their four-year-old son Milo who move into the spectacular white Château Violette – nestled into the pine-dusted, rocky coastline of the Cap d’Antibes – in the summer of 1938.

Sinclair, who is twenty years older than his wife and has been appointed as government envoy to Paris, believes the move to the Riviera will be beneficial for Daisy who suffered a devastating nervous breakdown after the stillbirth of their baby daughter and remains in fragile health.

But despite their magnificent home quickly becoming a beacon for the wild and wealthy expat set, the very intimate and deeply romantic touches inside Château Violette make Daisy feel like she is ‘living someone else’s life’ and she is haunted by a figure she constantly sees ‘in the shadows.’

The summertime gossip, meanwhile, centres mainly on their royal neighbours, the exiled Duke of Windsor and his wife Wallis Simpson, and everyone parties on, in denial about the grumblings across the border in Italy and refusing to acknowledge the menace of Hitler’s increasing expansionism.

But as Germany tightens its grip on Europe, Daisy digs into the history of Château Violette and discovers that the house holds a dark and unsettling past that could threaten her own future. And while she unravels the tragic secrets of the woman who commissioned the building of the chateau, war begins to rage across the continent, and soon, no one is safe… least of all Daisy with her Jewish heritage.

Rooted firmly in authentic history, and set against a stellar array of real-life big names like Winston and Clemmie Churchill, the exiled Windsors, composer Ivor Stravinsky and avant garde artist and film director Jean Cocteau, The Riviera Secret explores the human tribulations and tragedies that can tear lives apart, however happy and carefree they might appear to be.

Through her impressive research and emotional insight,  Steele immerses readers in a tumultuous age which veered from a cruel and destructive war, through the frenetic partying of the Twenties’ ‘beautiful set’, and on to a second, all-consuming conflict which brought fear, menace and danger to people from all walks of life, and in all corners of Europe.

And at a time when the evil of antisemitism is once more rearing its ugly head, the deadly threat posed to all those of Jewish ancestry becomes a visceral thread in the lives of the various inhabitants of the stunningly beautiful, but seemingly cursed, Château Violette.

Steele reminds us in her Author’s Note that the Côte d’Azur, with its sapphire blue sea and nearby snow-capped mountains, ‘holds some kind of magic’ and with its growing sense of unease, unexpected twists and turns, and a simmering, shimmering mystery at its core, this time-travelling trip to the eternally alluring Riviera really is this spring’s most magical read!
(Headline, paperback, £12.99)

The Pledge

Sarah Yarwood-Lovett

AFTER climbing the ‘slippery slope’ of her legal career to a level higher and more dizzying than she ever expected, ambitious barrister Thea Harrington receives a mysterious invitation to join a gathering of the world’s super-rich on a remote paradise island.

But in the space of just four days, Thea will discover ‘what the untouchable are truly capable of, with no one to hold them to account’ and that even murder is not off limits when it comes to power play.

After spending sixteen years as an ecologist, Sarah Yarwood-Lovett (pictured below) has found a new career as author of suspense-filled destination crime mysteries and, always eager to find ways to make big tech companies meet climate change responsibilities, she pens stories with an intriguing ecological twist. And this new escapist page-turner – featuring a spectacular collision of the super-rich, the political elite and the celebrity world – exposes the stratospherically wealthy at their worst, and a plot tingling with suspense and emotional intensity.

Lawyer Thea has just won the biggest case of her professional life, letting the government ‘off its ethical hook,’ but it is controversial and hasn’t gone down well with climate activists who have reacted in ‘a cacophony of fury’ and accused her of a ‘conflict of interest’ as her husband is the Energy Minster.

As a young intern, Thea had always thought she would use her powers for good and that it was possible to ‘steer the juggernaut course of economy on to ethical tracks.’

That evening she receives a mysterious cryptic invitation from the OneT Club. She deciphers the message but can’t believe it's real and yet the next moment she is lured into accepting and finds herself on a jet, being whisked off to the privately owned Caribbean island of St Innocent.

But this is no ordinary holiday. Thea’s fellow guests are some of the world’s richest people… billionaires, tech bros, even royalty, and all in ‘paradise’ to sign a global deal. Their host is

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Celebrate Easter with some exciting Usborne activity books

Easter is almost here and children’s publisher Usborne have put some spring fun, learning and sunshine into a colourful array of new activity books

Age 5 plus
Sticker Dolly Dressing Easter Party
Fiona Watt, Johanna Fürst and Antonia Miller

EASTER is on the way and it’s time to dress the fairies and explore Fairyland as preparations get underway for an exciting party. Hours of hands-on entertainment are guaranteed with the new Sticker Dolly Dressing book, one of Usborne Publishing’s best and most popular series. And this colourful new book is bulging with gorgeous sticker clothes and accessories to dress the dolls and decorate the twelve enchanting scenes as the fairies skip, flutter and fly through the colourful pages. Join the fairies as they deliver invitations to a special party, decorate Easter trees, hide Easter eggs, go on an Easter egg hunt and have lots of magical fun! Use the colourful array of 200 stickers to dress the fairies and decorate the scenes. Children won’t be stuck for something to do with this beautiful activity book and with so many stickers to choose from and easy-to-remove perforated sticker pages for decorating each scene, this is a Fairyland adventure no fun-loving fashionista will want to miss!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Easter Fun (First Activities)
Fiona Watt, Rosie Dickins and Katie Lovell

GET your pre-school children drawing, painting and crafting with this charming Easter activity book which offers hands-on fun as well as some simple picture puzzles. Easter Fun is part of Usborne’s First Activities series which is designed to introduce young children to a variety of creative and engaging activities. Make colourful hanging eggs and have fun colouring them in, and create your own happy Easter hens with cardboard, paper and glue. These books are perfect for younger children who enjoy exploring and learning through play, with each title featuring simple, step-by-step instructions for easy projects using everyday materials, and illustrated with vibrant images to encourage children’s creativity and imagination. A ‘smashing’ way to have fun at Easter!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £4.99)

Age 3 plus
First Sticker Book Easter
Holly Bathie and Abigail Hall

CREATE your own Easter scenes with this super interactive book which lets children use their own imagination to choose where to place the stickers. Children will love using over 150 stickers to decorate eggs and bonnets ready for the Easter parade, and stick on sweet treats and hidden eggs in scenes of celebration. The scenes featuring children enjoying Easter preparations, and the array of colourful stickers encourage creativity and help develop motor skills and independent thinking. Easter fun at your fingertips!
(Usborne Publishing, paperback, £5.99)

Age 5 plus
Easter Bunnies Magic Painting Book
Kimberley Kinloch and Prue Pittock

WHAT child can resist the enchantment of a magic painting book! All you need is water and the brush provided, and then abracadabra, marvel as the black and white pages turn into a rainbow of vibrant colours. And here’s a magic painting book that is perfect for the Easter holidays as it comes packed with illustrations of a delightful Easter bunny family making, hiding and sharing Easter eggs with lots of animal friends. And with tear-out pages and a waterproof laminated flap to tuck behind your work to stop the water seeping through to the rest of the book, youngsters can be sure of a perfect result every time. Magic at a paintbrush stroke... and ideal for entertainment on-the-go, on road trips, holidays, restaurants or just those endless rainy days.
(Usborne, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 plus
Easter Egg Snap
Abigail Wheatley and Emily Ritson

LITTLE ones will be seeing double when they learn to play the game of Snap or other matching games with this super boxed set of 52 beautifully-illustrated, egg-shaped cards. The ideal way to learn important skills like turn-taking, rules, and winning and losing, and all whilst enjoying the fun of spotting pairs, these robust, easy-to-handle cards are delightfully decorated with brightly coloured patterns and designs to look like an Easter egg. Playing games is a vital part of a child’s early education, helping them to understand concepts such as co-operation with other people, conversation and concentration. An entertaining introduction to matching and card games, this box of Easter-shaped fun is perfectly created to help youngsters ‘snap’ out of their boredom!
(Usborne, card pack, £6.99)

CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Dragon dangers, wartime struggles and a pet’s tale

Share adventures with a girl who was born to be a dragon, discover if three sisters can survive two bomb blasts and a life-changing war, meet the animals who witnessed life in Ancient Rome, and take a poetic tour through the streets of New York in a magnificent selection of March books

Age 9 plus
Dragonborn
Struan Murray

SOMETIMES children are born to be dragons… and sometimes an epic fantasy series is born to set imaginations on fire! Scottish author Struan Murray – whose debut novel, Orphans of the Tide, won the prestigious Branford Boase Award – plays his best card yet with the first electrifying adventure in a series that takes world-building to dizzy new heights. Life is no fun for Alex Evans. Ever since her dad’s death, her overprotective mother has smothered her with unbreakable rules and unspoken fears. When the frustration inside Alex finally gets too big to bear, it rushes to the surface. And flames spill from her mouth. Because Alex is a dragon… one of the many who live among us, unless something awakens their true nature. Led by the mighty Oliphos to the legendary island of Skralla, Alex must now train alongside fierce, frightening dragon children if she is to unlock the power of her birthright. But other dragons are rising, too. Drak Midna, the greatest dragon of all, seeks to free himself from the curse that has trapped him for three thousand years… the curse that has kept the world safe. Now he is preparing a war against the human world, and Alex has to be strong enough for this fight, or all of us will be caught in the flames…

Murray has given us a true, inspirational hero… a thrilling young girl on a journey of self-discovery who is ready to sideline her fears and emotions and take on dragon skulls, ferocious battles and a fiery, fearsome enemy in order to save the world. Littered with fire-breathing danger, an endless layer of mind-blowing secrets, and an emotional intensity that will burn its way into young hearts, Dragonborn is simply unputdownable.
(Puffin, paperback, £8.99)

Age 9 plus
The Blitz Sisters
Judith Eagle

THREE sisters, two devastating bomb blasts, one life-changing war… they can survive anything if they have each other. Billed as Little Women for younger readers, and set during World War Two and beyond, this heartwarming, poignant and page-turning tale from critically acclaimed author Judith Eagle brings real history to life with dazzling mastery and authenticity. Focusing on the fears, friendships and fortunes of one London family, Eagle thrusts readers into the lives of three sisters, Lydia, Peggy and Teddy Linden, just after war is declared and at the point where their world is about to be turned upside down. In 1939, the girls have been evacuated to the countryside and Lydia, the oldest and always the sensible sister, is finding a way to make everyone feel safe… with her cooking! But the weight of responsibility begins to feel unbearably heavy and Lydia decides to take drastic, dangerous action. In 1943, we find the girls back in London and crammed into a house in Peckham Rye with numerous friends and relatives. Peggy, the arty one, is at school and hating it. Inspired by her new friend Arno, a refugee from Germany, Peggy is determined to go to art school, whatever the cost. By 1946, the girls are living through the war’s aftermath. Teddy, the clever one, is excelling at school. So when a school trip to Paris is on the cards, the family are keen to find the money for Teddy to go. Little do they know that, instead of learning French, Teddy plans to try to find one of the family’s very dearest lost loved ones…

A new generation of children will marvel at the danger and disruption that many youngsters faced during the long war years including bombs raining down on cities like London, and losing their homes, their things, their loved ones. But Eagle also reminds us that there were always comforting bright spots like finding you have the strength and love to carry on, enjoying a greater sense of family, and discovering the essence of who you truly are.
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)

Age 7 plus
Pets Tell Tales: Ancient Rome
Rik Worth and Jordan Collver

IF you thought Ancient Rome was all about the colosseum, gladiators and toga-wearers, this laugh-out-loud graphic novel guide from northern writer Rik Worth and Canadian illustrator Jordan Collver is guaranteed to come up with more than a few surprises! So what REALLY happened in Ancient Rome? Meet the animals of this long-ago civilisation as they prepare to spring to life and give readers the REAL history of the world they inhabited. They’re going to talk about the really good stuff and introduce you to the coolest Romans, including elephant soldiers, lion gladiators, celebrity horses and even superstitious chickens. Did you know that you could also find bears and tigers in the ancient city of Rome or that at the height of the Roman Empire, their power (and pets) spread from Scotland all the way through Europe, to North Africa and the Middle East? Prepare to giggle and gape as Worth – who is fascinated with why people believe in unusual things and the odder side of history – has fun digging out some of Ancient Rome’s most bizarre secrets. Brilliantly illustrated by Collver, the Pets Tell Tales guides are the perfect teaching tool to inspire reluctant readers!
(Wren & Rook, paperback, £10.99)

Age 7 plus
On The Streets of New York
Sarah Kay and Ryan Johnson

TAKE a poetic tour through New York, ‘the city that never sleeps,’ and discover some of its hidden corners as well as its major landmarks. On The Streets of New York is filled with the verse of Sarah Kay, a writer, performer and educator from New York City, and the artwork of Brooklyn-based illustrator Ryan Johnson, and is part of the On the Streets series from Big Picture Press. Through vibrant illustrated poetry – written by a poet from the city – readers can enjoy an armchair stroll through busy city streets and visit some of its familiar and not-so-familiar sights. Whether you are gazing up at the shimmering skyscrapers, walking through sprawling Central Park, grabbing a slice of pizza, visiting a bagel stand, or being overawed by the Statue of Liberty, every block of New York has a story to tell and each landmark holds special memories. Blending Kay’s lyrical text with non-fiction and Johnson’s beautifully detailed illustrations, this bold and bright book captures the heart and soul of the Big Apple.
(Big Picture Press, hardback, £14.99)

Age 5 plus
The Gumdrops: Quest for Bravery
Elissa Elwick

YOUNG imaginations are propelled into overdrive in this fun and interactive graphic novel from Elissa Elwick, an award-winning children’s books illustrator and author who loves helping children to find their voice, get creative, and discover the power of their unique and special imagination. So meet Hope, Bubbles, Sparky and Rainbow, they’re the Gumdrops… guardians of a magical land, full of magical beings! You might meet imaginary friends, your favourite characters from a story, or creations from your dreams. The Gumdrops are always up for a challenge… and when they get a letter from a child in need of an imaginary friend, they have their work cut out. Can YOU help them search for the ingredients to make the perfect companion? But you’ll have to keep an eye out for the mischievous, but adorable, Evilee along the way! Brought to vibrant life by Elwick’s gallery of gorgeous, colourful illustrations, and with an enchanting cast of quirky characters, this is the perfect package for youngsters setting out on the road to independent reading.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 5 plus
Ocean (Sticker by Numbers)
Jonny Marx and Christiane Engel

DIVE into the deep ocean and make your own wild and watery wonders with a fun and fact-filled sticker-by-numbers book which lets little explorers learn as they create. With ten pictures, over 130 stickers and perforated pull-out pages, this sparkling numbers book is the perfect gift for animal lovers and budding explorers. Youngsters will love searching the ocean depths and meeting a whole array of animals along the way, from splashing sea turtles, playful penguins and astonishing orcas to eerie anglerfish and stunning starfish. Vibrant and beautifully detailed artwork from Christiane Engel brings the mysterious underwater world to life, and the fun facts which accompanying the sticker projects encourage an interest in all sorts of sea creatures.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £6.99)

Age 3 plus
Nature Pop-ups: World of Birds
Patricia Hegarty, Xuan Le
and Yoojin Kim

DISCOVER nature in all its incredible colour, glory and life in a spectacular pop-up book showcasing a menagerie of magnificent birds. World of Birds is the second book of a dazzling pop-up board book series from Little Tiger Press. Feast your eyes on a tiny hovering hummingbird as she noiselessly beats her wings and flits from flower to flower! Each spread in this stunning book is brought to life by a pop-up scene featuring birds ranging from preening peacocks to parakeets, and majestic flamingos to diving ducks. Little ones will love watching birds pop up from the ingeniously engineered pages of this stylish board book. With Xuan Le’s gorgeous illustrations, Patricia Hegarty’s simple rhyming text, lots of fascinating facts, and the jaw-dropping paper engineering of Yoojin Kim, this beautiful book is a perfect introduction to the amazing world of birds and an exciting way for children to watch nature spring to life!
(Little Tiger Press, board book, £14.99)

Age 3 plus
Pass the Parcel
Carly Gledhill

HANDS up if you’re ready for a first class adventure! Young readers will be raring to join all the fun and frolics as Parcel gears up to travel to somewhere far, far away on a rollicking journey by sea, sky and snail mail. Pass the Parcel – a vibrant picture book bursting with energy, imagination and humour – comes from Manchester-based illustrator Carly Gledhill who channels her love of colour, character design and hand-drawn lettering into everything she creates. So can you guess where Parcel is going and would you like to come along, too? You would? Well, let’s GO! Follow Parcel as he gets passed all around the world, finding joy in the most unexpected places and celebrating all the fun you can have with a cardboard box. Expect delightfully whacky detours as you follow Parcel’s epic journey and discover where he really belongs in a super fold-out reveal that is guaranteed to give everyone a surprise!
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Mr Norton’s New Truck
Huw Lewis Jones and Corey Egbert

HOW on earth is Mr Norton going to get to work on time?! Author Huw Lewis Jones – whose own work has led to him voyaging in Antarctica – and Virginia-based illustrator Corey Egbert have fun with the second of their addictive picture book romps which offer a captivating reading experience and are perfect for sharing together… again and again and again! One Monday morning, Horace Norton finds that a bear has been on his bicycle and left both of his wheels rather wonky! How ever will he get to work? On Tuesday the bus is too busy for him to squeeze on to it, on Wednesday he picks up a scooter but it’s too small, and when he tries a pair of roller skates on Thursday it doesn't end at all well. Will Mr Norton find the perfect vehicle and finally get to work on time? With a text that repeats and builds with each new day and a story that ends with a peace offering from his animal friends, this celebration of kindness, brought to life by Egbert’s stylish and timeless illustrations, is set to be another much-loved classic!
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 3 plus
Follow the Leader
Harriet Howe and Ariel Landy

TAKE three hot animals and one cool lake… all we need now is someone to lead the way! Author Harriet Howe and illustrator Ariel Landy have fun with a playful, rhyming picture book caper which gently explores concepts of leadership and teamwork. Monkey, Bear and Armadillo are melting in the jungle heat so off they go on a wild journey to the cool, sparkling lake. But wait! How should they get there, who gets to hold the map and who should lead the way? Youngsters will love tagging along with three big personalities on this sun-soaked jungle adventure which is packed with map-reading mishaps, flying fruit and swamp splats! Landy’s gloriously expressive and high-energy illustrations are the perfect match for Howe's anarchic story. A hilarious take on bossiness, bickering and just being silly!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)

Age 3 plus
Mo’s Stick
Fiona Lumbers

THE power of a child’s imagination is celebrated in simple words and expressive pictures in this exceptionally creative and beautifully illustrated book from Fiona Lumbers. Mo is sad… the little mouse’s favourite stick is gone! It could take Mo up to the stars and across the sea, and no other stick will ever be as good. But was it the stick that was special… or could it have been Mo’s wild and wonderful imagination? Lumbers’ charming and lovable little mouse character captures the determination and creativity of young children through cleverly rendered illustrations, complete with eye-catching collage elements and intriguing die-cut pages. The perfect book to inspire imaginative play!
(Little Tiger Press, hardback, £12.99)

Age 2 plus
My Busy Noisy Farm
Sophie Aggett and Malgorzata Detner

TODAY it's YOU who is the farmer! Get ready for fun as little ones become busy farmers for the day, carrying out the NOISY tasks in the farmyard, with this brilliant pretend and play board book full of bright illustrations and 26 real-life farm sounds. ‘Over fields, turn giant wheels. Press buttons, bright and BIG! Chug-beep-beep and sprinkle! Vroom! There's so much soil to dig.’ From grooming the neighing horses, to driving the chugging tractor, children will love immersing themselves into a busy day at work with the farm sounds, Sophie Aggett’s vibrant rhyming text and Malgorzata Detner’s adorable illustrations. Nurture your child’s imagination with the questions and tasks at the bottom of the page… name your favourite horse, count the number of piglets and scatter seeds into the field. This chunky book is perfect to engage little ones in an interactive play experience, helping to develop their social, emotional, language and thinking skills!
(Little Tiger, board book, £12.99)

Age one plus
Busy Vehicles: Dino Rescue
Danielle McLean and Damien Barlow

MEET the busy rescue dinos and then watch them transform into emergency vehicles! All little fans of ‘things that go’ will be slipping and sliding through the pages of this fun and interactive board book from author Danielle McLean and illustrator Damien Barlow. ‘A dino tumbles from a tree with an almighty CRASH. We need an ambulance right now… to bring help in a flash!’ The dinos are in trouble and need rescue vehicles to zoom along to save them! By pulling the sliding tabs on each page, youngsters can watch the dinosaurs transform into busy vehicles and carry out some ROAR-some rescues. With magic transformations and sliding pictures on every page, fun dino facts, a read-aloud rhyming text and Barlow’s clever, colourful illustrations, this chunky board book has heroes and high-stakes adventures on every page!
(Little Tiger, board book, £7.99)

Some of Us Are Liars

Fiona Cummins

TRAGEDY, betrayal and the simmering menace of long-held resentments are just some of the delicious ingredients that combine to make Essex-based writer Fiona Cummins’ gripping new thriller one of this summer’s best reads.

Some of Us Are Liars is the third book starring Cummins’ brooding, anti-hero detective Saul Anguish, a complex man whose deeply emotional and empathetic skills have won the hearts and minds of readers in his two previous outings, Into the Dark and All Of Us Are Broken.

Set against the backdrop of a terrible tragedy, and the slow unfurling of a family’s hidden history, deceptions and secrets, this tension-packed new case for young Detective Constable Anguish comes with Cummins’ (pictured below) now trademark ‘never saw it coming’ twist which will leave readers gasping for breath.

When Jen Miller entrusts her youngest child – four-year-old Teddy – to the care of her beloved sisters for ‘the party to end all parties’ in celebration of Jen’s recent wedding, their parents’ golden wedding and her youngest sister’s fortieth birthday, she has no idea of the devastating tragedy that is about to unfold.

 

The lavish party is in the hands of Jen’s eldest sister, the renowned beauty and global superstar Winter Kellaway, who is pulling out all the stops at her luxurious beachside estate in Essex after filming a lucrative television series. Winter (real name Deborah) has always been generous to a fault to her two sisters, Jen and youngest sibling Alyssa, telling them, ‘All for one and one for all.’

And so the decorations are flawless, the champagne is on ice and the guests start arriving for what Winter promises will be ‘the greatest weekend of our lives.’ But one misstep will have heartbreaking consequences that will rock this close-knit family to their core. With her life in pieces, how can Jen ever begin to forgive?

Enter Saul, the brilliant but tormented Essex police detective who is called in to investigate and uncovers a long-buried and shocking family secret. As the trail to find the truth takes a dramatic turn, they must now all face the reality that you can never truly leave the past behind…

Cummins, a former journalist and a graduate of the Faber Academy, delivers one of her most intriguing and heart-rending thrillers yet… a deep, dark, devastating and immaculately plotted tale full of powerful emotions, unique and compelling characters, and nail-biting suspense.

With a drip-feed of shocking revelations, a sense of dread that permeates every page, and a mystery that explores some of humanity’s shadowy corners, Some of Us Are Liars is an unforgettable whodunit and destined to be another winner for an exciting author.
(Pan, paperback, £9.99)