Best Summer Ever by Heidi Swain

Simon & Schuster, £9.99

This is Heidi’s 20th novel and fittingly, it takes us back to Wynmouth, a fictional seaside town in North Norfolk. Daisy breaks up with her boyfriend and moves back in with her parents after returning from London, jobless and a bit lost. Things look up though, when Daisy encounters summer visitor, Josh. But who is this mysterious, handsome stranger and will our heroine find her path in life? This is a sunny feel-good read, perfect for a bit of escapism.

The Body in the Kitchen Garden by Paula Sutton

Renegade Books, £16.99

Pudding Corner, a fictional Norfolk village; sounds idyllic, doesn’t it. Vintage aficionado Daphne Brewster is thrilled when Lord Darlington returns to the area; and with his fiancée Helena, intends to renovate his family home, Darlington Hall. Who better to help them, than Daphne? But there’s rising unease in Pudding Corner, and something is discovered in the estate’s kitchen garden which shocks the village and puts Daphne’s sleuthing skills to the test. This is the second of Paula’s ‘cosy crime’ novels based in Pudding Corner, with its rich cast of characters. It works equally well as a stand-alone read – although you’ll probably want to read them both!

A Joyful Springtime at Rookery House by Rosie Hendry

Rookery House Press, £9.99

Ignore the season in the title; this is a lovely read for summer, whether you’re a Rookery House devotee, or new to the series (who doesn’t love a good series, especially at this time of year?) It’s April 1943, and we’re reunited with Thea, Prue, Hettie and the gang in Great Plumstead, as they contribute to the war effort and support one another through life’s trials. This book focuses mainly on the stories of Evie, a VAD nurse, and young mother Marianne, whose husband is a prisoner of war. A heartwarming read celebrating friendship, community spirit and second chances.  

Harrap’s Wild Flowers: A Field Guide to the Wild Flowers of Britain & Ireland by Simon Harrap

Bloomsbury Wildlife, £20

It’s been a busy year for local naturalist, Simon Harrap. The second edition of Harrap’s Wild Flowers was published in February, revised and expanded to cover more than 1225 wild flowers, shrubs and trees. It’s a reader-friendly guide whether you’re a beginner or expert, with range maps, a very good selection of photographs and enough detail so you’re well-informed but not overwhelmed. And just out, is a second, expanded edition of Simon’s Flowers of the Norfolk Coast (Norfolk Nature, £12), formerly out of print, so there’s really no excuse not to know your lax-flowered sea lavender from your matted sea lavender (the latter unique to Norfolk)!  

The Boleyns of Blickling: From Plough to Crown in 100 Years by Charles Weigand

Bittern Books, £11.95

In 1433, Geoffrey Bullen owned a few acres of farmland in the Norfolk village of Salle; soon, the family became known as Boleyn and purchased the Blickling estate, where, according to the latest research, Anne Boleyn and her siblings were all born. In June 1533, Anne, Geoffrey Bullen’s great-great-granddaughter, was crowned Queen Consort. This fascinating, highly readable account of the family’s meteoric rise through the ranks of English society is National Trust volunteer Charles’ first book, published at age 78.