Birmingham Rose by Annie Murray

As a Brummie born and bred, there was an obvious attraction for me in the title of this book but once started, Annie Murray's wonderful and powerful novel needed no strings to keep me attached. I just had to keep reading.

The Wedding Diary by Margaret James

Margaret James doesn’t normally write modern-day chicklit and I don’t normally read modern-day chicklit (well not very often anyway), so we were both on new territory here. But you can’t go far wrong with a book opening with the line: “All chocolate is medicinal. It’s a well known fact.”

Crossing Qalandiya by Daniela Norris and Shireen Anabtawi

The early bonds of friendship were forged between Daniela Norris and Shireen Anabtawi before they had time to realise they were, or should be, ‘enemies’. Daniela is Israeli while Shireen is Palestinian. While they could meet in a neutral setting like a party in Geneva, where they were both working at the time, it would not be possible for them to spend time together when they returned to their respective homelands.