Katharine E Smith

Ada Morgan has finished university and is heading home... or she would be if she had a home to return to.In the time she's been away, her mum has upped sticks and sold their beautiful house in London, moving to an upmarket apartment in Cornwall. While Louisa is desperate for Ada to feel at home in this swanky new flat, she is also in the throes of a new relationship and distracted, to say the least.Luckily, Ada's gran Elise lives just a few streets away - and while she might be in her nineties, she's definitely not your average grandma. Inevitably, though, the years are catching up with her, and Ada finds herself desperate for company of her own age. Her best friend Clara is as loved up as her mum, and in any case she's miles away. And while Ada is eager for a visit from Archie (who she definitely, probably, isn't falling for), Louisa isn't keen. Ada is increasingly frustrated; she had just begun to find her feet and her independence and now her mum is telling her what to do. It doesn't help that Louisa seems to be pushing Ada towards her friend Josh, who just happens to be a boy.It feels like she's taken two steps forward only to fall three steps back. With no plans, no boyfriend, and no place to call her own, Ada has come to a crossroads in her life. But how does she decide which way to go?Preceded by Elise, Maggie and Louisa, this fourth Connections book brings Ada's story into the spotlight, while drawing on those readers have already come to know and (mostly ) love.

Louisa Morgan is coming home. Back to Cornwall after forty years in London, a high-flying career, a daughter who to all intents and purposes appears to have no father, and a failed love affair. Like all good mums, Elise thinks she knows what's going on, but like all good daughters, Louisa has been somewhat economical with the truth.Shame and embarrassment are not words she would normally apply to herself, but times have changed, she's getting older, and it feels like she is returning home a failure. With long, empty days stretching ahead of her, can she find a new sense of place and belonging, or will life in a small town by the sea get the better of her?

A woman's work is never done, or so the saying goes. Annie Hebden is not bothered about this; she loves her work and would be lost without it. So when a threat to her job comes, just as she is settling into her pregnancy, her world is thrown into disarray. This on top of the loss of her mum not a year before, not to mention the breakdown of her marriage. As ever, Ruth can only watch on and try in vain to reach out, to not just Annie but her other daughter Kitty, and son Tom. While they may occasionally think 'what if Mum could see me now', they really have no idea. Meanwhile, Graham meanders on through life, in this year of firsts without his wife: now come a wedding anniversary, a birthday, and the anniversary of her death. But a first grandchild is coming too and while he can't wait to be a grandparent but he's bereft that it won't be with Ruth. And while he's helping Annie, what will happen to Kitty and Tom? How can he do it all? If Ruth was there, she'd manage somehow. She was an expert at this woman's work.

It's going to be a quiet Christmas this year for Alice, Sam and their two children (not forgetting Meg the dog). Their parents and best friends are all out of town, and it's a chance to make their own traditions. That's what they're telling themselves anyway.Alice, however, is feeling a little down at the thought of missing so many people. After a difficult year when she's had to say goodbye to Julie, and to the beautiful business they built together, she could really do with the people she loves most around her. Instead, she is working from home, spending too much time on her own, and starting to wonder if Christmas is all it's cracked up to be. She also has her new neighbour Natalie making a beeline for her but she's just not sure she has the energy for this friendship.Nevertheless, as the countdown to Christmas begins, it's the usual whirl of Christmas parties, school plays, evenings out and present-swapping and Alice can't fail to start feeling a little bit festive. And as she discovers more about Natalie's situation she begins to see that she really could make more of an effort.A much-anticipated return to Cornwall and all the people and places readers have come to love, this is a thoughtful, nostalgic and heartwarming festive tale that is guaranteed to raise your Christmas spirits.

Christmas is a time of joy, love and togetherness... until it's not. Ruth's family are coming to terms with their first Christmas, and life, without her. As they gather at the long barrow, where Ruth's ashes are interred, husband Graham and their three grown-up children, Annie, Kitty and Tom (plus Ruth's beloved dog Mavis - and Annie's slightly less beloved husband, Alex) try to accept the new, delicate balance of their family. Their story is told by Ruth herself, who offers great insight into the dynamics between her husband, children and their partners, as well as her own marriage, and reveals that family life was not always as straightforward as it may have seemed. With bereaved strangers becoming friends, all coming together on Christmas Day, this is a heartwarming, uplifting and intriguing story, laying the ground for an exciting new series.

It's tough, being a grown-up. Alice has never appreciated that as much as she does now.When a friend's parent dies, and with her own parents experiencing health issues, Alice is beginning to understand the meaning of the term 'sandwich generation', and even more so when one of her children becomes ill. With a business to manage, and rapidly increasing bills, the last thing she needs is her best friend and business partner Julie throwing a spanner in the works. When Lydia's relationship with the famous actor Si Davey comes under strain, Alice is glad for the chance to help her, and focus on somebody else's problems for once.Nevertheless, suffering from sleep deprivation and stress, Alice finds herself challenging other relationships in her life, looking for somebody to provide the answers and support that she needs. Does she have the strength and resilience to find her way through these troubling times? And is it possible to salvage her friendship with Julie before it's too late?Shifting Sands is the final book of the Coming Back to Cornwall series, and a chance to see how far life has come for Alice, Julie and the important people in their lives. It is also a reminder that there is no such thing as a happy ending - merely happy moments, which inevitably will be followed by other moments: happy, sad, stressful, relaxing... life goes on, and the sands never stop shifting beneath our feet.

With their wedding on hold and rented house sold to new owners, Sam and Alice are all at sea - moving in with Julie and Luke, along with toddler Ben and new dog Meg, until they find a place of their own.Sam struggles to adjust to the changes - particularly as teenage daughter Sophie has moved away - and compensates by throwing himself into his work and lifeboat training. Alice finds herself missing him; even when he's at home, he is clearly not happy. This is only exacerbated by the problems between Sam's sister Janie and Alice's chef Jonathan, whose relationship appears to be in trouble.Add to this the untimely appearance of a significant ex, the advent of a new hotel (which threatens direct competition for Amethi), and a frightening accident one dark, rainy night...Alice should know by now that nothing is straightforward - but at least there's never time to get bored.

"I LOVE this book. It flowed perfectly from beginning to end. I couldn't put it down." All is set to change for Alice and Sam as they expect their first child together. Just how they are going to fit themselves, their baby and Sam's daughter Sophie into their little two-bed cottage is a mystery, but Alice is determined not to get stressed out. Her focus is on best friend Julie, who is trying unsuccessfully for a baby, and on Sophie, who is torn between staying in Cornwall with Sam, or moving to Devon with her mum. Then there are Alice's parents, who don't seem happy with their own move to Cornwall, and Jonathan, who also appears to be falling out of love with life there. At least work is going well, with a glowing review of Amethi in Staycation magazine, and the possibility of picking up some tourism awards. But it should be no surprise when life throws a couple more challenges in the way. Can Alice really survive her pregnancy stress-free, and can her friendship with Julie survive the strain of the differing situations they now find themselves in? Preceded by A Second Chance Summer, After the Sun, As Boundless as the Sea and Sticks and Stones, this much-anticipated fifth book will not disappoint. As we travel through a long, cold winter, from the solstice to Christmas and into new year, the emphasis is on fresh starts and new beginnings. An inspirational read.

As the new year swings into view, Ruth's family are sticking together, yet quietly coming apart at the seams.While eldest daughter Annie becomes increasingly distant from her husband, middle child Kitty is reeling from the break-up of her own relationship. In the midst of their grief, feelings become muddled, and a complex situation begins to take shape.Husband Graham is lost in his own world, stunned by his bereavement and struggling to forge a route through these darkest months, or even find a reason he should want to. Blinkered, he is missing what is happening in his own family, under his own roof.Only Tom, the youngest, seems to have things in hand, presenting an admirable appearance of acceptance to the world. With a new relationship on the cards, life doesn't look quite so bleak for him. Appearances can be deceptive, however, as Ruth knows only too well.From her unique vantage point, she sees it all and longs to help. While her family learn to live without her, she faces new lessons of her own, chief amongst them that she must let them find their own way.

Cornwall is warming up for the summer and, this year more than ever, it promises to be a season packed with celebrations.Alice is in for an emotional time, with son Ben's fourth birthday, stepmum Karen's hen do and wedding, and the end of stepdaughter Sophie's school days, just as Ben's are about to begin. David and Martin are returning from the States, and in the slow emergence from covid restrictions, everybody is eager for life to return to some kind of normality.Amethi is coming to life once more, with a return to the much-loved yoga retreats and solstice celebrations, while down at the Harbour Hotel, there are whispers about manager Lydia's rumoured relationship with a famous actor, but Lydia is giving nothing away.Before the high season begins in earnest, the town is planning a special festival. Just as long as the sun is out, and the sky is blue, it promises to be a beautiful day, and the perfect opportunity for the community to come together.Of course, there are never any guarantees in life. The unpredictable British weather threatens to ruin the longed-for celebrations and, while the world is slowly finding its feet again, it's clear that the pandemic is still not really over. Covid creeps closer to Alice and the people she loves. How will the summer really play out? Only time will tell.

Book six of this fantastic series sees Alice and Julie move on again in their lives, this time on different continents. Parenthood, teenage angst, the stresses and strains of running a business... all these things come into play while Alice and Sam try not to lose focus on their relationship.

The scene is set for the perfect summer. Business is booming. The weather couldn't be better. Best of all, Sam is coming back to Cornwall. For good.A storm is brewing, however. It seems that somebody, somewhere, has it in for Alice, although it is not clear who, or why. As Julie tries to help her friend, she finds her own thoughts turning progressively towards motherhood. Sam, meanwhile, has the pressure of a new job, as well as a stressed-out girlfriend and a teenage daughter to contend with.Fearing for her business, her relationship, and her sanity, can Alice get to the root of the problem before any permanent damage is done?

Two years into her new life in Cornwall, and while Alice Griffiths' own romantic hopes have been dashed, it appears that whichever way she looks, her friends are getting hitched. A handsome stranger at Bea's wedding could well change Alice's fortunes but she may be better off ploughing her energies into her working life.

When things seem too good to be true, they usually are. Alice is finding her feet managing the Sail Loft Hotel when Sam is presented with an offer he can't refuse. The bad news is, if he says yes, he will have to leave Cornwall.Sam's visits home see him split in his loyalties between his daughter Sophie, and spending time with Alice. Sophie's mother, Kate, seems to be doing her best to make things difficult.Meanwhile, Alice's friend Julie is also facing a long-distance relationship as her new partner, and Sam's best friend, Luke, is working in London. With no children to think of, and plenty of disposable income (on Luke's part at least), life should be more simple but Julie has yet to find a long-term job and Luke is still getting over the recent death of his mother.Can these fledgling relationships pass the long-distance test, and can Julie and Alice make life in Cornwall work for them now that the summer sun has gone?