Sheila Norton – författare

A cosy, heartwarming Christmas read about the growing friendship between a young journalist and an old woman who lives in a house teetering on the edge of the Devon cliffs, by the bestselling author of The Vets of Hope Green and The Petshop on Pennycombe Bay

Cliff''s End Cottage is a local landmark. Perched on the South Devon coast, its garden has begun slowly toppling into the sea, yet the elderly and infamously stubborn owner Stella refuses to leave her home. When Holly, a young journalist and single mum struggling to make ends meet, decides to interview Stella about her life, at first she''s given short shrift. However, helped by a slice or two of cake and a couple of friendly cats, a tentative friendship begins to develop between the two lonely women.

Stella and Holly may live different lives, but over the cold winter nights, as Stella shares her story, the two women discover more and more in common. Time is running out for the house on the edge, but perhaps, together, Stella and Holly can find a new way forward.

A heart-warming story by the author of The Vets of Hope Green, where two women from different generations find that a new friend - no matter how late in life they may appear - can mean everything

Winner of the RNA Award for Best Holiday Read

Praise for Sheila Norton''s delightful books

''Thoroughly enjoyable'' KATIE FFORDE

''A truly lovely read with delightful characters'' PHILLIPA ASHLEY

''Like a plate of hot-buttered crumpets and a mug of tea - warm, comforting and utterly delightful!'' ANNIE LYONS

''A charming and heartwarming book, that will bring a smile to every reader''s face'' CRESSIDA MCLAUGHLIN

''A charming read. Made me want to move to the country and buy a cottage with roses around the door'' SARAH MORGAN

''Sometimes you come across books that simply lift your spirits. The Secret of Angel Cove is precisely one of those books . . . gentle, heart-warming, and it leaves you with a smile on your face'' CourierA cosy, wintery story set on Devon''s beautiful coast, by beloved, award-winning author Sheila Norton.''I''ve woken up early. I really didn''t want to - today of all days, the first day of the rest of my life.'' After years working all hours as a senior practice nurse, Joy has taken a well-earned retirement. She''d been looking forward to it, to leisure and time and no alarms, but now that it''s happened, she''s not sure what to do with herself. Her husband Terry is buried in his business, and seems to be talking to her less and less - at home she feels, increasingly, rather in the way. But when a new neighbour, Sara, and her small son move into their remote Devon village, Joy befriends her, and inspired by Sara starts to look into the history of their beautiful Angel cove. Joy''s quest brings her to new friends, old secrets and eventually unearths a history that belies their sleepy village . . . Praise for Sheila Norton''Thoroughly enjoyable'' KATIE FFORDE ''A truly lovely read with delightful characters'' PHILLIPA ASHLEY ''A charming read. Made me want to move to the country and buy a cottage with roses around the door'' SARAH MORGAN

''A well-crafted and brilliantly suspenseful novel that kept me guessing until the end.'' Jo Bartlett

Mia is telling me a story. It’s about a princess, who lives on a street just like ours. I’m distracted for a moment by her little hand softly slipping into mine. My daughter. My angel.

But then she says something that snaps me back to reality. She says that there’s an old lady who’s a queen, and who’s kind. Except that she doesn’t treat the princess well. She punishes her and doesn’t let her eat anything…

Helen, my neighbour, has been so good to me. And more importantly, she’s amazing with the children, looking after them when I am struggling as a single parent, having escaped an abusive relationship. Surely this is just another story of Mia’s, just make believe?

But if it’s not, what if my own father was right, and I was never good enough to be a mother in the first place?

I tighten my grip on my sweet, trusting little girl’s hand. And vow I will do whatever it takes to protect her…

A heartbreaking and uplifting story about the choices a mother makes for the sake of her children, perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Emma Robinson and Kate Hewitt.

Readers love A Good Enough Mother:

‘Loved this book!!!!!… Addictive. There was no way I was putting it down, I literally started reading the book around 10am and couldn''t put it down until around 4am. Hahaha I''m so glad it was the weekend!!!!… I definitely recommend it!!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘A breathtaking novel about motherhood… I felt angst, tension, compassion, empathy, surprise and suspicion…. Do not miss this novel, especially if you enjoy reading about families and their realistic struggles and moments of joy…. Grabbed my heart… Phenomenally emotive.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘A masterpiece story of a family finding their way… Hit all the feels for me and I was invested in the story from the beginning to the brilliant end. My emotions ran wild throughout this story and I would love to see this become a Netflix hit.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘A remarkable tale depicting a family''s journey through the complexities of emotional challenges. Norton''s storytelling kept engrossed me from start to finish, leaving a lasting impact… Truly captivating.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘A really great read. I really enjoyed this story… Beautifully written and a mother’s love for her children shines throughout the book as Jess struggles to make a home for them all and keep them safe.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘I LOVED this book. I was so drawn in by the weird dynamics between Jess and the neighbours.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review