Berta Smiths-Jacob Books

As the editor-in-chief of a prominent fashion magazine, Fiona Monaghan enjoyed a vibrant life, balancing her time between Manhattan and Europe. Everything changed when John Anderson, a conservative widower with two daughters, entered her world. Fiona, accustomed to high-strung designers and glamorous events, found herself both amused and challenged by John's more traditional values. After an impulsive invitation to the Paris couture shows, their connection deepened amidst the enchanting backdrop of the city. Upon returning to New York, John quickly bonded with Fiona’s bulldog, Sir Winston, while she began to adjust her lifestyle for him. However, complications arose when Fiona met John's hostile daughters and their fierce Pekingese, alongside a disastrous dinner party with John's client that strained their relationship. As tensions escalated, Fiona embarked on a journey of self-discovery, leading her back to Paris alone. There, a series of unexpected events unfolded against the backdrop of falling snow, setting the stage for a transformative second act in her life. In this captivating tale, the magic of instant attraction intertwines with the challenges of change, ultimately revealing the hope that comes when one dares to embrace new beginnings.

Chuck it all in and buy a zoo? Why not thought Benjamin Mee, unaware of the grim living conditions, creditors and escaped big cat that lay in wait. This is his funny, touching and ultimately tragic story of how the Mee family adapted to life in the zoo.

Saudi Arabia - where marriages are arranged and there are no cinemas or parties to go to, where social life consists of trying to keep girls and boys apart rather than put them together. But as Rajaa Alsanea reveals in this absorbing novel, that's not the whole story: determination, mobile phones and the internet have made life easier for young Saudis, and the four girls in this novel are all finding romance even though mostly it goes badly wrong. Girls of Riyadh captures the trials and tribulations of a middle-class society quite unlike our own and blows the lid off all our preconceptions of Arab life.