The Kings in the Kasbah

The Kings in the KasbahLocal English resident, Maggi Smith who has lived in the Algarve for 31 years has recently published her first novel.

The Kings in the Kasbah, which is set in Marrakech, Morocco and tells the tale of a widely conflicting group of people who are thrown together when the owner of their guesthouse goes out for an hour and doesn't return.

Countdown to Terror by Trevor Burton

Countdown to Terror by Trevor BurtonThe ultimate race against the clock is on to protect the London Olympics from an impending terrorist attack in this dangerous and exhilarating thriller. During the spring of 2012, against the backdrop of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and in the build-up to the London Olympics, a group of idealistic  young men are being prepared to form an Islamist terrorist cell in Manchester. Second generation immigrants living in the UK, the men are ‘ordinary guys’ who become manipulated by their mentor, Ibrahim, an immigrant cleric from Baghdad, with a penchant for militancy, and his bodyguard Hussein, a callous man from a small village in Afghanistan.

Clouds of Guilt - a new book by local author

Clouds og Guilt by Sally hope JohnsonThis is the second novel by Sally Hope Johnson, an author and human resources manager who spends as much time as she can in her beloved Algarve. She is married, has two grown-up children, and one cat. She writes in her spare time and has produced many short stories, some winning prizes locally and nationally. Sally is an active member of the Thames Valley Writers’ Circle in Berkshire, England. Her ambition is to write a best seller and win more prizes. Dreams do sometimes come true…

NEW BOOK: “Moving to Portugal" by Ben and Louise Taylor

Moving to Portugal by Ben and Louise TaylorMany people go on holiday to a beautiful sun-drenched location and say “I wish we lived here.” Louise and Ben Taylor decided to take the plunge and make their dream a reality, relocating from the UK to Portugal three years ago.

Documenting their life-changing experience, their new book, ‘Moving to Portugal’ is a warm and witty tale of why, when and how this upwardly mobile central London couple decided to throw the towel in and set up shop in the sun dappled haven of Tavira in the Algarve. 

Algarve author releases first book in a new series

The Ghost of Josiah GrimshawAlgarve resident Suzy Turner has launched brand new book, The Ghost of Josiah Grimshaw. It's the first of a brand new YA urban fantasy series, The Morgan Sisters.

Adopted sisters Lana Beth and Emma Jane are polar opposites, but when the same strange 'tattoo' suddenly appears and winds its way up their bodies within days of each other, they soon realize there's more to their relationship than they could ever have imagined.

Finding Mojo - adventure born out of a midlife crisis

Finding MojoThis frank and fascinating travelogue written by Algarve resident, Natalie Galland, transports the reader on a year-long journey to exotic and remote destinations. Packed with humour, romance and dubious sexual encounters, it is balanced by factual details and the author’s carefully described impressions.

The book is a ‘must’ read for anyone intending to make a similar journey, or for the armchair traveler, preferring vicarious to actual adventure. The author spends two weeks crossing Russia on the Trans Siberian railway, horse-rides over the Mongolian steppe, mountain hikes above the Yangtze River, experiences Vietnam on the back-seat of a 50cc moped, scuba-dives with Manta Ray and reef sharks in Bali and, whilst in India, is roped in as an unpaid extra in a Bollywood film!

New childrens' book about organic growing and cooking

Nettles & RosesNettles and Roses is first the English edition of an established series of books for children on organic gardening and cooking with garden produce. Written by Fernanda Botelho to get the next generation excited about knowing, using and growing plants, the book is lavishly illustrated with beautiful watercolour botanical paintings by Sara Simões, and is 36 pages in hardback format.  

This picture book invites us to spend a day with four children at an organic farm. Sarah’s friends live in flats and are very surprised when they discover the wonder and magic of the plant world.

A true-life story of an unimaginable nightmare

Wrong Place Wrong TimeWrong Place, Wrong Time - Having lost everything, I leave memories of  a London police cell behind me and head for Spain with it's promise of adventure and fun.

Little do I know that I'm about to be thrust into the  most terrifying time of my life.