Veronica Henry – Love On The Rocks
(Orion Books, £7.99) ****

I really enjoyed this delightful seaside romp, frothy yet full of interesting characters. When Lisa and her boyfriend George escape to Mariscombe and put in an offer for a run-down hotel, they have no idea what it will take before their dream to create a boutique hotel becomes a reality. Will Bruno Thorne, owner of the biggest hotel in the place, become a friend or enemy? Secrets abound in this chick-lit with plenty of depth to it. It fizzles with surprise in a plot which makes it unputdownable and a brilliant holiday read.

Patricia Roberts, Elland Road, Brighouse

Robert Wilson – Capital Punishment
(Orion, £7.99) ***

Alyshia D’Cruz is kidnapped from a busy London street and her wealthy family expect to receive a ransom demand. When it appears that the kidnappers don’t want money, Alyshia’s father Frank hires Charles Boxer, who has a troubled relationship with his own daughter, to find her. As the action moves between London and Pakistan, it’s clear that Frank’s past is catching up with him and someone is out for revenge. Lots of political intrigue and double-dealing make this a complex and tense thriller.

Angela Fowler, Poplar Grove, Shipley