Surely it can't be hard to stay peaceful at one of the oldest yoga and mindfulness retreats in the Algarve, surrounded by sea, sun and serenity? Mostly, owner Layla Garcia manages it—with the help of meditation and plenty of camomile tea, of course. But keeping her grandparents' legacy alive is stressful, and Layla has become so shackled to the work that, for her, The House on the Hill is fast becoming 'The Fortress on the Hill'. Then writer Luke Mackie moves to the villa next door, bringing with him a healthy dose of chaos to disrupt Layla's plans.

Alice Dorothy Matthews is sensible. Whilst her best friend Kathy is living it up in Portugal and her insufferable ex Adam is travelling the world, Alice is working hard to pay for the beloved London house she has put her heart and soul into renovating. But then a postcard from Buenos Aires turns Alice’s life upside down. One very unsensible decision later and she is in Cascais, Portugal, and so begins her lesson in 'going with the flow'. But perhaps the most important part of the lesson for Alice is that you don’t always need a house to be at home. 

Running her busy concierge service usually keeps Cassie Travers fully occupied. But when a new client offers her the strangest commission she's ever handled, she suddenly finds herself on the cusp of an Italian adventure, with a man she thought she would never see again. 

If you won a gorgeous purple motorbike and your domineering husband said you were too fat for leathers and should sell it, would you do as you were told - or learn to ride it in secret? Artist and café owner Lucy Daumier intends to do just that - but learning to ride is far from easy, especially under the critical eye of prickly motorcycle instructor Ash Connor. So starts an exciting summer of new friendships and fun - as well as a realisation that there is more to Ash than meets the eye when she is introduced to his seven-year-old daughter, Daisy.

It was meant to be the perfect romantic holiday. But then Flora Bexton’s boyfriend does the unthinkable, and she responds in the only logical way: she steals his motorbike and escapes for a holiday by herself on the Welsh coast. Far from the lonely trip she imagined, Flora soon finds comfort at the friendly local Art Café, where the legendary hot chocolate and cake help to ease her troubled mind. And when Aussie Welsh lifeguard Jake Foley steps in just when Flora needs help the most, she realises that her ‘holiday’ feels more like home with every passing day.

That’s the question single mum Jo Morris has to ask herself when she collides with local bike mechanic Ed Griffiths on a rainy Welsh hillside. Working at the Art Café, Jo hears the gossip and is all too aware of Ed’s reputation. But whilst he’s certainly no angel, there is something about Ed’s daredevil antics that Jo can’t ignore. And as she gets to know him better and watches the kind way he deals with her young son Liam, she begins to wonder - is there more to this 'bad boy' than meets the eye? 

Marketing guru Amelia has it all. She's tied the knot with Declan, the love of her life, ready to start their perfect future together after an idyllic honeymoon in Italy. Until Amelia loses her job. And returns home to find a note from Declan, demanding a divorce. The Isle of Arran seems like the perfect place to lick her wounds and begin again. But a passing van drenching Amelia in water isn't the best start. Even worse, it belongs to dreamy Scotsman Fergus. Despite Amelia's best efforts, she finds herself drawn to Fergus. He has his own tragic past, but he makes Amelia feel alive again.

When Jenny Simpson returns to the seaside town of Borteen, her childhood home, it’s for a less than happy reason. But it’s also a chance for her to start again. A new job leads to her working for Carver Rodgers, a man who lives alone in a house that looks like it comes from the pages of a fairy tale - until you see the disaster zone inside....

When high-flying American lawyer Samantha Muir finds out she’s lost her partnership whilst on an assignment in London, she has a dramatic reaction. Rather than returning home, she resigns, leaves her business suits behind and jumps on the first train to Cornwall at the encouragement of a friendly stranger. The village of Little Penhaven, where Samantha eventually ends up, is a world away from her life in Knoxville, Tennessee - and local farmer Cadan Day is certainly a world away from any man she has met before. 

Dr Liv Emery is at her wits end. She’s been dumped by her long-term boyfriend. Then on top of everything else, a patient goes berserk on her. It’s the final straw. So she jumps at the chance to cover her former professor’s GP surgery in the Cotswolds. Life in the village of Broclington is a far cry from London — and her cottage is a welcome change from her old shoebox flat. But her relief is short-lived after meeting her prickly boss Callum. But perhaps he has his reasons.

Fran's waved goodbye to the force and hello to her pension. But who is she without her job? She decides to get away from it all in Llanbryn, an idyllic seaside village in Wales. It beats feeling sorry for herself and watching Homes Under the Hammer all day. Fran's soon taken under the wing of the Sea Sisters, a group of inspirational women of all ages and sizes who swim in the ocean. They challenge her to move on from the past and face her life-long fear of the sea. And the strapping Wyn catches her eye. 

Soundings and Choc Lit present the audiobook edition of Christmas at Black Cherry Retreat. When Fee Winter books a winter break at the remote Black Cherry Retreat in the small town of Pine Ridge, Tennessee, it’s with the idea that the peace and quiet will help her recuperate from her hectic life as a photographer. But what she didn’t bank on was meeting Tom Chambers and his huge, interfering yet lovable family. With them, could Fee finally experience the warmth and support that’s been missing from her own life - and maybe even find a place to call home in time for Christmas? 

Essy Havers is good at finding things. Her company specialises in helping clients track down anything, from missing china pieces to rare vintage clothing. But now Essy has something more important to find: herself. Essy has always been curious about her mother’s secret past and her Cornish roots. So, when the opportunity arises, she hops on a plane ends up in Herring Bay in Cornwall, the village where her mother grew up. But once there, she’s mystified by the reactions of the villagers when they realise who she is.

Workaholic art historian Aurora Black doesn’t have time for fairy tales or Prince Charmings, even in the most romantic city in the world. She has recently been hired by a Parisian auction house for a job that could make or break her career. Unfortunately, daredevil journalist Cédric Castel seems intent on disrupting Aurora’s routine. As Aurora and Cédric embark on a journey across France, they get more than they bargained for as they find themselves battling rogue antiques dealers and personal demons, not to mention a growing attraction to each other. 

Advertising executive Chloe Walsh thought she was visiting her friend Roisin to get away from it all, but little does she know her kooky friend has a plan to breathe some life into her sleepy seaside village through a new wellness retreat - and she needs Chloe’s skills. So starts a community effort to put the retreat, Serenity Bay, on the map. But Chloe strikes gold almost too soon, attracting the attention of a major production company.