Interview with Sara-Jade Virtue

Today's guest on the blog is someone who is very well known and highly regarded in the world of publishing, especially in the romantic fiction genre. Sara-Jade Virtue is an absolute powerhouse in  shining the spotlight on romance whether that be editing, consulting, volunteering as a book doctor at her local library or organising events such as Love Stories Etc. I first met Sara-Jade eleven years ago at a blogger event she organised whilst at Simon and Schuster and have absolutely loved being part of the community she created with Books and the City. It's enabled me to meet many of my favourite authors, especially Milly Johnson and I have made friends for life with many of the authors and bloggers and since become an author myself. So I'm delighted to welcome SJ today.

About Sara-Jade

Sara-Jade Virtue has worked in the book industry for 23 years, firstly in the Fiction buying team at Waterstones Head Office, before a brief stint as Book Buyer at Fopp. She spent 18 years at Simon & Schuster - firstly as Special Sales Director before moving into Editorial in 2019 as Brand Development Director, identifying new talent and developing growth strategies for brand and emerging authors. She's co-founder and co-director of the #LoveStoriesEtc literary festival that returns to Manchester Central Library in July 2026, and volunteers at her local Community Library.

Hi SJ and welcome to Sincerely Book Angels, after 23 years in the book industry you must have met some fascinating people, can you tell us a little about them. 

I’ve been so lucky to meet some incredible authors and go to some very special events during my time in the industry - there’s almost too many to count to be honest. I’ve had pre movie premier champagne with Arnold Schwarzenegger and brownies with Oti Mabuse. Shook the hand of President Bill Clinton and held the actual Harry Potter sorting hat at the midnight opening launch of the Half Blood Prince. I’ve danced with Nadifa Mohamed at the top of Centre Point and sang round a piano with Veronica Henry in a hotel foyer in Paddington. I’ve laughed till I cried with Jojo Moyes at the Savoy, gone clubbing with Greg Rutherford and hugged Tia Williams so hard I thought she might faint. I’ve fixed the heel of Lisa Faulkner’s Louboutin stilettos, helped Santa Montefiore choose a fancy outfit for a fancy event, made cocktails at Lynda La Plantes house and drank cocktails with the cast of Big Brother 6. I’ve had breakfast with Gillian McKeith, brunch with Lorraine Brown, lunch with Richard Madeley, shared half an M&S prawn sandwich with Jackie Collins, afternoon tea with Marian Keyes, dinner with Gianluca Vialli and Janet Street Porter (not at the same time!) and more late night cocktails with the likes of Bernadette Strachan, Lisa Jewell, Isabelle Broom and Louise Candlish than is wise… see, too many to count!

What would you say have been your greatest achievements in the world of publishing? 

Wowzers. I mean, that’s a BIG question. Personally, I don’t think I’ll ever get over winning the RNA Publisher/Editor of the Year award in 2022. I’ve always suffered extreme levels of imposter syndrome, so it felt momentous to me that someone from my background – with literally zero qualifications, let alone an English Literature degree – could receive such an accolade and recognition from the very people whose books I love with all my heart.

Since leaving S&S you’ve decided to have a gap year and have been keeping yourself really busy with various jobs and volunteer roles. What have you been up to? 

You’re right, when I left S&S at the end of 2025 I said, jokingly, that I was going to have a gap year. I’d been working full-time and non-stop since the age of 15 when I dropped out of school, and thought after 40 years – if not now, when? I did an intensive Start-Up Business course during January and February, and then, you know, life has a way of offering up opportunities that seem silly to turn down, so I set myself up as a sole trader and am now working full-time as a freelance editor and publishing consultant! I’m absolutely loving it.

Are your services just for new authors or for authors at all stages of their career? 

I’m lucky enough to be working with authors at all different stages of their writing journey. Some have been self or independently publishing their work for a while, but are looking to seek agent representation to take their careers to another level, so I’m helping them prepare their submission packages. Some are debut authors at Draft Zero stage and need manuscript assessments, developmental edits or coaching sessions. I’ve done a ton of full manuscript line edits where I go through every word, sentence, paragraph and chapter with a fine tooth comb to help enhance the readability, style, flow and tone of their novels. The only service I’m not doing is copy editing. Grammar and punctuation is best left to those that know the difference between a hyphen, en dash and em dash! 

How would someone contact you to consult about their novel?

I’ve got a very simple ‘calling card’ site - https://bookminxsjv.carrd.co/ - with a link to my email address, or someone can just drop me a message on Instagram if that’s easier for them @bookminxsjv.

I went to your Love Stories Etc event in Manchester which was brilliant and am really excited about this year’s one too. Can you tell us how the events came about and what we have to look forward to this year?

Absolutely. Back in early September 2023, Alice Murphy-Pyle and I were having a coffee and slice of cake, moaning. The 3,826th crime thriller literary festival had just been announced, and there still wasn’t ONE for lovers of love stories. We were ranting and raving and one of us, I genuinely can’t remember which, said ‘Shall we just do it ourselves?’ A week or so later, I was up in Manchester for an event, and Alice and I popped in to see Danny Middleton, Events and Reader Development Manager at Manchester Central Library and the rest, as they say, is history. In 2024 we welcomed 28 authors, in 2025 we had 39 and this year we have an absolute killer line-up of 42! We’re releasing the full schedule and timetable on 27th June, so do follow us on Instagram @lovestoriesetc to see what we have planned.

How do we book tickets for the event? 

We sold out of the initial number weeks ago, so have just released a handful more on Eventbrite - https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/love-stories-etc-festival-tickets-1987984952508 

Sara-Jade with author Lizzie Huxley-Jones
at Love Stories Etc 2025

What else do you have up your sleeve for the future? 

I’m still volunteering at my local community library once a month, which I absolutely love, but I’m also really looking forward to running some more workshops this year. I was at the inaugural For the Love of Books event hosted by Mia Caven and the bi-annual Deepings Literary Festival back in April, then I’m at MeetCute again at the beginning of July, the newly announced Market Harborough Literary Festival  in September and at the Bournemouth Romance Writing Festival again in October.  I’ll be celebrating 24 years in the industry at the end of October, so I might arrange a party or something for then!

What are your top writing tips for authors? 

1. Treat your writing time with the same importance you do everything else in your life. Its work, so turn up on time and get the job done.

2. Your Draft Zero doesn’t have to be perfect, and probably won’t be. You just need to get 90,000 to 100,000 words down on the page.

3. Write the novel you want to write, and would most like to read.

4. Tell a story that we haven’t read before.

5. Introduce us to characters we’ll believe in.

6. Aim to grab us from the very first line.

7. Make sure every word, sentence, paragraph and chapter is working hard to move the story along.

8. When you think you’re done, edit, edit and then edit again.

9. Spellcheck is your friend. Replace all isn’t!

10. Read your dialogue out loud!

Thank you so much for joining us on the blog today SJ and thanks for all you have done for romantic fiction and for me because if I hadn't met you then I wouldn't have become a blogger in the first place and eventually an author. Best of luck for all your future plans and I'll see you soon at the Love Stories Etc event.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

Walking on Sunshine by Heidi Swain

About the Book

A Summer in Suffolk could be just what she needs…

When Tilly heads to the river in Willowell, Suffolk, to scatter her dad’s ashes, she’s in need of some rest and relaxation. Life has been tough lately, and she wants a new start.

Constance has lived in Fernside forever. She owns the beautiful Willowell Woods – but she can’t manage them alone, and they’re now up for sale.

Her nephew, James, has always loved Willowell Woods – and he doesn’t want anyone taking them over. So when Tilly asks to buy them, with an exciting idea for the land, sparks begin to fly… the problem is, they’re already falling in love.

Can Tilly and James find a way to turn sparks into fireworks? And will Constance finally realise that letting in the new doesn’t have to mean getting rid of the old…?

                                                                ***

Title:   Walking on Sunshine

Author:   Heidi Swain

Publisher:   Simon & Schuster UK

Publication Date:  23rd April 2026

Links:   UK:   Amazon    US:   Amazon

                                                               ***

Our Review

Walking on sunshine was an absolute delight of a read especially as it was in a brand new setting called Willowell which sounded just as gorgeous as Heidi's previous settings in Nightingale Square and Wynbridge.

When Tilly loses her dad she thinks of the perfect place to scatter his ashes and decides to visit Willowell, a place where she and her brother spent childhood holidays with their dad after they sadly lost their mum. Once there she notices that the woods are up for sale and decides to invest her inheritance from her dad into them and start a business of a woodland retreat.

When she meets the owner of the woods, an old lady called Constance she forms a friendship with her and they become very close, so much so that Constance offers Tilly a place to stay.

Although Tilly isn't looking for love she does meet handsome solicitor James when she loses her hat on a windy day and he helps her to retrieve it. It doesnt take long before the sparks begin to fly.

Just when Tilly think that everything is sorted she finds that someone throws a spanner in the works and things become alot more difficult.

The description of Willowell with the woods and the little cabin were beautiful and most of the community was very friendly and helpful. It really was the sort of place I'd like to visit.

When Tilly finds herself torn between Constance and James she really doesn't know who to choose because she desperately doesn't want to upset either of them but she has no choice but to make a decision that she considers is best in the long run even if it means she has to give up on her dreams.

Emotions run high for Tilly, James and Constance as they are all struggling with the loss of someone close to them but happiness is just around the corner and they have to learn to trust each other to make choices for themselves. A tender, emotional and uplifting love story.

Sincerely 

Book Angel x

About the Author

Hello everyone,

I'm a Sunday Times Top Ten best-selling author who writes uplifting love stories for Simon and Schuster. I write two books a year and they all feature romance, friendship, family, a wonderful sense of community and settings to fall in love with.

A lifelong lover of books - both reading and writing them - I'm now living my childhood dream as a full-time author. I live in picturesque west Norfolk, not all that far from the beautiful coast and the county provides plenty of inspiration for my writing.

I'm passionate about gardening, my daily walks to the woods, collecting vintage paraphernalia and of course, reading! There's nothing lovelier than curling up with my cat, with a cup of tea at my side and a book on my lap.

I very much look forward to extending a warm welcome to you when you enter my fictional worlds and you can always find me on social media (Insta and Facebook) or via my website.

Happy reading, my loves!

Lift Me Up by Milly Johnson (Audio Book)

About the Book

A heartwarming story from Sunday Times bestseller Milly Johnson. Tam Remington had her life planned out. Until a conversation in a broken lift—with her worst enemy—changes everything.

For a decade, Tam has quietly held YorkMart together whilst others took the credit, making herself smaller in the process. When she’s briefly promoted to acting Managing Director, she finally has a chance to shine—until her promotion is snatched away and handed to Jack Cesaroni—the man brought in to do the job that should have been hers.

Tam expects nothing but disappointment from Jack. But when they’re trapped in a lift between floors thirteen and fourteen, he sees what no one else has: Tam is exceptional. That single word of recognition sparks something Tam thought she’d lost—and an unexpected connection she never saw coming.

Now Tam faces an impossible choice: stay being the smaller version of herself she’s become used to, or take a leap and reclaim the vibrant, authentic woman she once was—and discover how wonderful it could be if she lets someone see the real her…

Title: Lift Me Up

Author:   Milly Johnson

Published By: Amazon Originals

Publication Date: 1st May 2026

Links:   UK:   Amazon    US:   Amazon

                                                              ***

Our Review

I’ve only ever listened to one audio book a few years ago and ended up getting on the wrong train because I missed my announcement so thought as I was on a relaxing holiday in Spain it was about time I tried another and I absolutely loved it. Audio books are perfect for when you have tired eyes and just want to lie in the sun and listen to a fabulous story written by your favourite author. 

Lift Me Up, a short story by Milly Johnson was the perfect pick me up for when you only have time for a bite sized read. 

Written with Milly’s trademark sense of humour and brilliant turn of phrase it captured the raw emotion of Tam, a woman who after being overlooked by almost everyone in her life becomes trapped in a lift with her arch nemesis. Jack, her boss, who was given the promotion that she deserved. When he told her he needed her to be in a meeting with the board she assumed the worst and due to her nerves at being locked in a metal box with him she developed a case of verbal diarrhoea and told him exactly what she thought of everyone in the company, good and bad. 

She also tells him about her home life and her impending wedding to Harris, I say her wedding but she hasn’t had anything to do with the arrangements because her awful snobby in laws are deciding everything including snotty green bridesmaid dresses. 

When Jack uses one word to describe Tam it has a positive effect on her and she begins to believe in herself more and when rekindled with a blast from the past she starts to reacquaint herself with the girl she used to be. Tam is innovative and thoughtful and I think a lot of companies in real life could learn so much from someone who realises that whilst profit is important so is the well being of staff and their knowledge and experience in actually doing the jobs counts for a lot. 

Milly is an expert at observing people, their nuances and how they react to certain situations, she subtly drops information like breadcrumbs throughout her stories which build up to make you quickly change from laughing out loud to wanting to punch a really annoying character to wanting to give Tam a huge hug which she so desperately lacks. 

Another cracking and uplifting short story from Milly Johnson that will make you want to read her whole fantastic back catalogue if you haven’t already, an absolute ten out of ten.

Sincerely

Book Angel x 

About the Author 

Milly Johnson was born, raised and still lives in Barnsley, South Yorkshire. A Sunday Times bestseller, she is one of the Top 10 Female Fiction authors in the UK, and has sold millions of copies of her books sold across the world.

Milly's writing highlights the importance of community spirit and the magic of kindness. Her books inspire and uplift but she packs a punch and never shies away from the hard realities of life and the complexities of relationships in her stories. Her books champion women, their strength and resilience, and celebrate love, friendship and the possibility and joy of second chances and renaissances.

Love Blooms at the Cornish Cottage

About the Book

The BRAND NEW instalment in the gorgeously uplifting, romantic Sandpiper Shores series, perfect for fans of Veronica Henry, Trisha Ashley and Cathy Bramley. ✨

Every book in the Sandpiper Shores series can be read as a STANDALONE

💔 How do you mend a broken heart? 💔

Michelle finally thought she’d found love with her hot Greek doctor. But when Demetri reveals he’s returning home to care for his sick mother, Michelle’s dream future crumbles. Choosing not to follow him feels like losing more than just love - it feels like losing who she’d started to become.

Determined not to fall apart, Michelle decides to throw herself into rebuilding her life in Sandpiper Shore, but then unexpectedly, Demetri’s brother, Makkis, arrives on her doorstep. Offering him a room seems like the kind thing to do… but the constant reminder of her lost love is difficult for her heartbroken soul.

And the more time she spends with Makkis, the clearer it becomes: there are parts of Demetri she never knew… Just as Michelle starts to heal with a little help from her friends, she’s faced with a decision: fight for the love she knows she deserves, or finally learn how to let go…

A heartwarming and hopeful story about second chances, rediscovering yourself, and finding love that feels like home. Perfect for fans Jessica Redland and Jo Bartlett.

Title: Love Blooms at the Cornish Cottage

Author:   Kim Nash

Publisher: Boldwood Books

Publication Day: 1st April

Links:   UK:   Amazon     US:   Amazon

Our Review

I loved heading back to the Cornish Cottage for the third and final book in the Sandpiper Shore series. 

This book is about Michelle, at the start of the book she is very happy with her boyfriend, the sexy Doctor Demetri but life has a habit of throwing a spanner in the works and Michelle finds she has to embark on a different journey that the one she had planned. As they can't reach a compromise she and Demetri both decide to go separate ways. He needs to go to Greece and she wants to stay where she is in Sandpiper shore which is pretty understandable really considering she hadn’t long moved there and has two best friends nearby in Jo and Emma. 

When Demetri’s brother Makis shows up looking just as handsome as him she finds it really hard to differentiate between them and through their conversations she suspects that things might not be all they seem where Demetri is involved.  he has some interesting propositions for Michelle to look into but can she trust him or is one or both of the brothers lying to her. 

I felt that this book was really written from the heart as Michelle’s parents had died and the feeling of loss and grief comes over really vividly and I could feel the strength of the emotions behind it.

I don’t want to give any spoilers away but certain situations in this story will make you want to shout out and warn Michelle but with two best mates who’ve always got her back I knew she was in safe hands and I couldn’t have been happier for her when love came knocking on her door again. 

This book will put you through the mill emotion wise but as is guaranteed with all good romances there is a beautiful happy ending which just rounds off the Sandpiper Shore series off wonderfully. 

A lovely story about ride or die friendships, grief and a deep love that defied the odds and all attempts to derail it. Kim Nash has written another fabulous book and I can't wait to read what she writes next which I believe will be in a new setting. All this whilst also opening up a new bookshop called Fiction and Fairy Lights she is literally wonder woman.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Kim Nash is the bestselling author of romantic, heartwarming, uplifting, feel-good fiction, published by Boldwood Books. As a little girl, she dreamed of becoming an author. 

Love Blooms at the Cornish Cottage is out on 1st April and available to pre-order now. 

One of Kim's greatest writing achievements is being nominated for the Kindle Storyteller Award in 2020, and she was delighted when Claudia Winkleman read her book and said it was 'totally warm and absolutely lovely.' 

She lives in Staffordshire with her son Ollie and English Setter rescue dog Roni and has recently opened her very own bookshop in her hometown, another childhood dream. Before that, for thirteen years she worked at publisher Bookouture (a division of Hachette UK) as Publicity Director and Author Community Director. As an avid reader, her career in the publishing industry started through book blogging.

When she's not working in her bookshop or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog at Cannock Chase, reading, and binge-watching TV. She's also quite partial to a spa day, lemon drizzle cake, and a gin and tonic (not all at the same time!) 

Kim also runs a book club in Staffordshire and organises local and national reader/author events. 

You can follow the rest of the blog tour here:-

Life Begins at the Cornish Cottage by Kim Nash

About the Book

Set against the sparkling shores of Cornwall☀️, this BRAND NEW heartwarming, uplifting and gorgeously romantic tale of second chances is perfect for fans of Veronica Henry, Trisha Ashley and Cathy Bramley. ✨

When life gives you heartbreak 💔, sometimes it also gives you a second chance… 💕

When Tom Sullivan returns to the quiet village of Sandpiper Shore, Emma can hardly believe her eyes. She hasn’t seen him since they played Romeo and Juliet in their school play – a lifetime ago, before real heartbreak, and long before she ever imagined life as a widow.

The last thing she wants is to relive the past, especially with someone who once made her teenage heart flutter. But when Emma agrees to put on a charity pantomime to raise money for the air ambulance service that helped her late husband, she’s thrown firmly back into Tom’s path.

As rehearsals begin and the local community rallies around her, Emma finds unexpected joy in bringing people together – and a surprising connection with Tom that feels far too real to ignore. Maybe it’s time for Emma to become the leading lady in her own life, not just for the show, but for herself.

Full of warmth, humour and heart, this is a story about letting go and discovering that it’s never too late to take a chance on love.

While this novel is set in the same village as the other books in the Sandpiper Shore series, it can be read as a STANDALONE 

                                                              xxx

Title:  Life Begins at the Cornish Cottage

Author:   Kim Nash

Published By:   Boldwood Books

Publication Date:  31st October 2025

Links:   UK:    Amazon     US:   Amazon

Our Review

This is book two of the Sandpipers Shore series by Kim Nash. The first book is The Cornish Cottage by the Sea which I reviewed here. 

Life begins at the Cornish Cottage follows Emma’s story, we originally meet Emma in the first book as she finds a home and friendship in the Cornish Cottage by the Sea. 

Emma is looking forward to a lunch with her friends when she spots them talking to the last person she expected to see. 

Tom is looking good but she really doesn’t want to see him after he broke her heart years before when they were still at school. As she was bullied at school she really didn't want to be reminded of those days.

In order to keep out of Tom's way Emma volunteers to organise the local pantomime but no such luck because guess who’s going to be the leading man? 

There were a lot of emotions that Emma had to face and go through regarding her late husband but Tom’s situation was also very complicated and even more so when someone was desperate to get her claws into him. Could history repeat itself and Tom be whisked away from her once again before she can get her chance at happiness?

Kim always manages to create a lovely community where I would quite happily live. She also focuses very strongly on female friendships and I laughed out loud a number of times at the conversations that Emma, Jo and Michelle had. The good thing about their friendship was that they weren’t frightened of being honest with each other which Emma appreciated, maybe not straight away but after she’d had time to cool down. I really loved spending time with these lovely ladies and watching as Emma brought a community together with a Christmas panto. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.

An emotional rollercoaster from start to finish, I absolutely loved Life Begins at the Cornish Cottage it's the perfect read to cosy up with on a cold winter’s night with a steamy mug of hot chocolate or better still cocktails in the hot tub a la Emma, Jo and Michelle.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Kim Nash is the bestselling author of uplifting, heartwarming, romantic, feel-good fiction. She has wanted to write books since she was a little girl. Her other dream, is to live in a home that has a view of a golden sandy beach and the sea sparkling in the sunlight. Until that dream comes true, she’ll continue to write second chance romances about women who live or move to the seaside on her behalf. 

Life Begins at the Cornish Cottage, the second book set in the Sandpiper Shores series, is out now.

One of Kim's greatest writing achievements is to be nominated for the Kindle Storyteller Award in 2020, and she was delighted when Claudia Winkleman read her book and said it was 'totally warm and absolutely lovely.' 

She lives in Staffordshire with her son Ollie and English Setter rescue dog Roni, is Author Community Director for publisher Bookouture (a division of Hachette UK) and, as an avid reader, started her career in the publishing industry as a book blogger.

When she's not working or writing, Kim can be found walking her dog at Cannock Chase, reading and binge-watching TV. She's also quite partial to a spa day, lemon drizzle cake and a gin and tonic (not all at the same time!) 

Kim also runs a book club in Staffordshire and organises local and national reader/author events. 

Just A Taste by Anise Starre

About the Book

A Christmas romance featuring a personal chef who is snowed-in with her least favourite client – a sexy but miserable technopreneur.

The only thing personal chef Noelle Jones loves more than cooking is Christmas. She has a roster of extremely wealthy clients, including the elusive and stoic Alexander Hoxton.

When he asks her to cook a last-minute business meal he’s having, offering triple her pay for the short notice, Noelle jumps at the chance. It’s easy money, one of her favourite dishes and she'll still have plenty of time to get to her family’s annual Christmas reunion.

But, when a sudden blizzard leaves Noelle snowed-in with Alexander, she quickly realises he wants absolutely nothing to do with anything festive. Stuck with a veritable grinch, she’s sure this Christmas is about to become one of her worst . . .

Title: Just A Taste

Author:  Anise Starre

Published By:   Simon & Schuster UK

Publication Day: 23rd October 2025

Links:   UK:   Amazon    US:   Amazon

Our Review

Despite multi millionaire Alex Hoxton hiring Noelle Jones as his private Chef two years earlier, he has always kept his distance from her meaning she knows nothing more about him than she did at the start. 

So when Noelle finds herself snowed in at his house with him after a Board meeting she can’t think of anything worse especially as she was looking forward to a traditional family Christmas at her Grandma’s house. 

Alex is completely unwelcoming and Noelle feels extremely awkward in his home, especially as he expects her to still cook for him even though she's not getting paid for it but she soon puts him in his place about that.

Alex is very grinch like about Christmas whereas Noelle loves the season and is desperate to get to see her family. The tension is broken a few times when Noelle facetimes her twin sister Eve who is hilarious and a huge tease, she can't resist winding Noelle up about the situation she has got herself into. Despite being cheered up by Eve's conversations they also make her sad because she can see a glimpse of the family christmas going on at her Grandma's house but Alex can also see what's going on and I think he begins to get to know Noelle more through those interactions than he has done in the years she has been working for him.

When the heating breaks down things get very cosy and Noelle wonders whether Alex's cold heart will begin to thaw and will she ever feel warm again?

I loved how Noelle always seemed to make the most of whatever situation she found herself in, despite being stuck in a freezing cold house with someone that could give the Grinch a run for his money, she still managed to scrape together amazing culinary, seasonal treats and between them they found a little spice to keep themselves warm.

Just a Taste has all the ingredients for the perfect sexy, Christmassy story, start with one handsome but troubled hero, throw in a beautiful and talented heroine, whisk together with a snowstorm, add a tablespoon of sass and a sprinkling of spice to raise the temperature. Then cook on hot hot hot.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author

Anise Starre is a born and bred Londoner who now travels the world with her husband. She loves writing sweet, fluffy romances featuring Black women being loved on and adored, with a hint of steam and spice to get the heart going.

You can keep up to date with Anise by following her on Instagram: @authoranisestarre

Bea's Book Wagon by Julie Haworth

About the Book

Set in the fictional Sussex village of Blossom Heath, and featuring characters you will know and love from Julie Haworth’s RNA Katie Fforde Debut of the Year Always By Your Side and follow up New Beginnings at The Cosy Cat Café, Bea’s Book Wagon is a cosy, uplifting and comforting romance that tells the story of two love-interest heroes vying for Bea’s heart – her artisan-cheesemaking childhood sweetheart and a knock-you-off-your-feet property developer. 

After impulsively jacking in her dead-end temp job and investing her life savings in a ramshackle old horsebox, Bea sets about turning her dream of running a bookshop into a reality, and opens Bea’s Book Wagon. But it’s not all smooth sailing, and as Bea struggles with the challenges of running her own small business, she can only hope that her love of literature and the power of reading can help transform the lives of her friends, her community and herself in the process.

Title:  Bea's Book Waggon

Author: Julie Haworth

Published By: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: 9th October 2025

Links:   UK:   Amazon    US:   Amazon

Waterstones

Our Review

First of all I just love this gorgeous cover, the colours are just so beautiful and secondly I just love stories when the main character gets to do up something old and give it a whole new purpose in life. So I was in my element reading about Bea when she drunkenly purchases a decrepit old horse box and has the brainwave to turn it into a book shop. I thoroughly enjoyed Bea's journey of doing up the van especially when a hunky old flame Nate turns up and offers to help. Things don't always go to plan though and Bea suffers a bit of a disaster which sets her back alot and makes her wonder whether the whole venture was a huge mistake.

It doesn't take long before she is swept off her feet by rich and handsome property developer Lochlan and flattered that he shows an interest in her. But when Bea decides to go down a more serious route with her business she finds out that all is not quite as it seems. 

I loved my visit back to Blossom Heath and revisiting some of the familiar characters there from Always By Your Side and New Beginnings at the Cosy Cat Cafe.

Bea's Book Wagon is a real feel good book about love and friendship and someone finding their self worth and following their dreams despite what might be thrown at them on the way and there is a lovely little surprise at the end especially for book lovers.

Sincerely

Book Angel x

About the Author 

With a degree in English and American Literature, Julie Haworth worked as an English teacher for a number of years, specialising in working with learners with literacy difficulties, before launching her own freelance copywriting business. She is  a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association, and her debut novel, Always By Your Side, which she wrote whilst recovering from Covid in 2020, won the Katie Fforde Debut Romantic Novel Award in 2023. --This text refers to the paperback edition.