Sink or Swim, by Kirstie Pelling

7th May 2026: Kirstie Pelling's latest novel hits the shops, and what a fabulous read it is! "Sink Or Swim" is a laugh-out-loud and spicy romance set in the Lake District, with Aria and Nic - will they or won't they... ?

He’s a fish out of water, she’s fighting the current, but together will they Sink or Swim?

Arriving back in the small Lake District town of Inglemere, Aria thinks she’s reclaiming her childhood home after her dad’s untimely death. Resentful of her self-involved stepmother, and dodging her insufferable ex, Aria has no choice but to move into the falling-apart fishing hut she’s been left instead.

Enter Nic, a southern property tycoon with a desperate plan to transform the untouched lake shore into a luxury haven for the rich. But when his development plans hit a snag, the only way forward is to convince the locals he’s one of them.

With Aria’s financial situation worsening, a deal with this handsome devil feels like her only option…

This steamy small-town story is all about how thin the line between love and hate is, and about discovering what – and who – makes a home.

You can buy it as a paperback, ebook or audio book from Amazon, also on sale at Waterstones and Bookends (and probably other bookshops too!)

Moonbeams by BJ Morgan

Who is randomly destroying Earth's settlements on other worlds, and why have they apparently spared Earth itself? The truth is stranger than anyone could have imagined!

Moonbeams, a sci-fi novel by BJ Morgan.

"A glimmer on the horizon attracted his attention. Earth's Moon was rising, as it had done for millennia and would do so for millennia to come. As he watched it climb, Paul remembered the fear that this sight had struck into the hearts of mankind..."

One galaxy, two budding Galactic Empires, a recipe for disaster? Follow the struggles of Jan Oremus, Demil Verne, Paul Trevell, Admiral Stern, and others as they make their first tentative moves towards escaping from the planet of their birth.

In 2012, the author BJ Morgan said...

Moonbeams came to me in a flash (is that a pun?) some 30 years ago and has fought to see the light of day ever since. Often on the 'back burner' of life but the flame never went out.

I was an industrial chemist for the greater part of my working life, and now am a self-employed computer repair technician (always had an interest in electronic things - fixing TV's when only a schoolboy.) Quite a change of direction, but after 33 years playing with smelly chemicals I thought enough was enough, and being made redundant proved to be the catalyst (once a chemist, always a chemist!)

Listen on YouTube to the author being interviewed by Sally Moon on BBC Radio Cumbria in 2013.

Kirstie Pelling's new novel The Happiness Project

The Happiness Project by Kirstie Pelling

1st December 2022: Kirstie Pelling's second novel, hot off the press: "The Happiness Project" is now available on Amazon, in paperback and Kindle format. Kirstie's first novel was such a good read that we have no hesitation in recommending this one - why not add it to your Christmas present list, or treat a friend to a copy? You can find it here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Happiness-Project-hilarious-heart-warming-romantic-ebook/dp/B0BG4WXBDS

'I loved it! I didn't see the twist coming... Daisy was so endearing and I really felt for her, it was lovely to read her happy ending' NetGalley review, 5 stars

Daisy Blane is a self-certified Happiness Expert - but does she have all the answers when it comes to her own love life?

Daisy is determined to bring happiness into the lives of others, and as a happiness guru she has the skills to brighten everyone's day. Well, she would if her fledgling business would take off. Instead she's stuck cleaning hotel rooms for minimum wage with her best friend, Eva.

But after a chance encounter with superstar celebrity Vince Marino, Daisy's client list starts taking shape. With her career on the up, and her lodgers settled in - including Doodle, the scruffiest dog in the world - it's time for Daisy to tackle the final piece of the puzzle. Her love life.

Local barista Joe has been flashing his gorgeous blue eyes at her for months now, but he doesn't seem to feel the same spark. Can Daisy turn her happiness tactics on herself to put her heart on the line? Or does she risk having it broken in the process?

"I'm Alan Hubbard, who are you?" book by Alan Hubbard, Burton-based author

I'm Alan Hubbard, who are you? by Alan Hubbard

4th December 2021: We've known Alan Hubbard for a long time, he's a near neighbour of ours, so when we heard that he has written his life story, "I'm Alan Hubbard, who are you?" we felt he deserves a mention on BurtonWeb. The book is a chunky tome: some 337 pages, and is peppered with an assortment of colour and black and white photographs illustrating Alan's life.

fancy a dirty weekend? the travels of a navvies' cook by Anne Nichols

One woman's story of her life amongst a group of waterways restoration enthusiasts, known as navvies. Unsuited to the physical activities of navvying, she offered her catering skills to the group, travelling round the country in the back of a van, feeding anything from 6 to 1000 people at a time. It offers an insight into the world of the volunteer movement on the canal network as seen through the eyes of the woman who kept them very well fed.

Written by Anne Nichols (the founder of BurtonWeb) the book chronicles a decade of feeding hungry canal restoration volunteers during the 1990s. Included are some of her recipes as used on the canal camps.

Available as a Kindle book from Amazon.

Life's a Catastrophe by Kirstie Pelling

1st March 2022: We love reading books and finding new authors to talk about, and when it's someone we know from our village it's even better!

So can we introduce you to Kirstie Pelling's new novel, hot off the press: "Life's a Catastrophe".

It's funny, it's romantic, it has cats, and it's a will they... won't they... sort of tale (or should that be tail?!)

Highly recommended debut novel, and we look forward to reading more from Kirstie.

P.S. Villagers with long memories may recall her amusing articles for Burton News too.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lifes-Catastrophe-laugh-out-loud-romantic-comedy-ebook/dp/B09KN7MRR1/

'Excellent contemporary rom com by Kirstie Pelling. Comical and warm, well done!' Danielle Owen-Jones, author of Stone Broke Heiress

What if thinking like your cat could solve your problems?

Aly Meadows is a self-proclaimed 'catfluencer' using her two beloved pets to earn thousands of likes on Instagram. But behind the lens, Aly is broke, facing eviction and living a life that's a million miles away from the glamorous world of social media stardom.

Rick Harvard, the CEO of talent agency Glimmer, has the power to change her life, but only if Aly agrees to dive in at the deep end. Can Aly come out of her shell and channel the confidence of her insta-famous cats? And if so, will she finally find the love and laughter she deserves?