Vets_photo_Banner-snippet.jpg

Interviews

The Penguin Q&A: Sheila Norton

The Lonely Hearts Dog Walkers

A heartwarming and uplifting new novel from the author of The Pets at Primrose Cottage. Perfect for fans of Debbie Johnson and Cathy Bramley.

Sheila Norton lives near Chelmsford in Essex with her husband, and worked for most of her life as a medical secretary, before retiring early to concentrate on her writing. Sheila is the award-winning writer of numerous women’s fiction novels and over 100 short stories, published in women’s magazines. 
 
She has three married daughters, six little grandchildren, and over the years has enjoyed the companionship of three cats and two dogs. She derived lots of inspiration for her animal books from remembering the pleasure and fun of sharing life with her own pets. 
 
When not working on her writing Sheila enjoys spending time with her family and friends, as well as reading, walking, swimming, photography and travel. For more information please see www.sheilanorton.com

Could this be the perfect place to start over…? 
 
When Nicola’s marriage falls apart and she’s left broken-hearted, she decides to move back home to the idyllic village of Furzewell. But her fresh start isn’t everything she hoped it would be – daughter Mia is struggling to fit in at school and she’s finding it challenging living with her overbearing mother. 
 
But when she joins the local dog-walkers group, Nicky finds the support she’s been looking for – The Lonely Hearts Dog Walkers never fail to be there for each other in a crisis. When their local park is threatened by developers, they are determined to rally together to save it. Can Nicky fight to protect her new community and find her happy furever after? 
 
A heart-warming tale of love, family and four-legged friends – perfect for fans of Lucy Diamond, Phillipa Ashley and Katie Fforde.

An uplifting story about community and friendship

The Pet Shop at Pennycombe Bay

A heartwarming read for fans of Cathy Bramley and Philippa Ashley

A heartwarming and uplifting tale of community, friendship and love to curl up with this summer – perfect for fans of Phillipa Ashley, Milly Johnson and Jill Mansell. 
 
'A thoroughly enjoyable read' Katie Fforde, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Country Escape 
 
When the going gets ruff, it’s time to make a change… 
 
In need of a fresh start, Jess has moved to the beautiful Devon seaside town of Pennycombe Bay. However it isn’t the new beginning she was hoping for – she enjoys her new job at the local pet shop but feels like she’s treading on eggshells living with her moody cousin Ruth. 
 
When she meets handsome stranger, Nick, on the beach, she thinks she’s made a new friend or something more. Although her hopes of romance are quickly dashed when she finds out he’s seeing another woman… 
 
Can Jess make Pennycombe feel like home? 
 
Fans of Cathy Bramley, Carole Matthews and Katie Fforde will love Sheila Norton’s charming, wonderfully warm, feel-good books.

The Pets at Primrose Cottage

A romantic and heartfelt read for people who love animals, from the author of The Vets at Hope Green

A charming and romantic story about living the simple life and the joy of animals, from the author of THE VETS AT HOPE GREEN. 
 
Emma Nightingale needs a place to hide away. 
 
Fresh from the heartbreak of a failed relationship, she takes refuge in quiet Crickleford. And not before long – and quite accidentally too – Emma finds herself the town’s favourite pet-sitter, a role she isn’t certain of at first, but soon her heart is warmed by the animals; they expect nothing more of her than she is able to give. 
 
The last thing Emma wants is for people to discover the real reason she is lying low, but then the handsome reporter from the local paper takes an interest in her story. Can Emma keep her secret and follow her heart’s desire…?

The Pets at Primrose Cottage: Part Four No Place Like Home

PART FOUR of a serialised novel - a charming and romantic story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. 
 
With Emma’s past threatening to ruin her life in quiet Crickleford, she’s running out of options. If people – especially Matt, her reporter friend – find out her secret, it might force her to leave the place she’s come to think of as home. 
 
When flooding strikes the town while Emma is looking after an elderly couple’s dog, she has to take her biggest risk yet – but could this be the one that blows her cover for good? And if it does, can Crickleford – and Matt – ever accept Emma for who she truly is? 
 
Note: this is part four of a four-part serialised novel.

The Pets at Primrose Cottage: Part Three Trust Your Heart

PART THREE of a serialised novel - a charming and romantic story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. 
 
Emma Nightingale finds she’s accidentally becoming something of a local celebrity in the small town of Crickleford, and it seems that everyone wants her to look after their pets. 
 
While looking after a hamster, she accidentally uncovers a mystery that threatens to draw even more attention to her. With nowhere to turn, soon Emma will have to make a decision that could cost her everything… 
 
Note: this is part three of a four-part serialised novel.

The Pets at Primrose Cottage: Part Two New Beginnings

PART TWO of a serialised novel - a charming and romantic story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. 
 
All Emma wants is a quiet life in sleepy Crickleford, away from the prying eyes of the press who are obsessed with the life she used to lead. 
 
She is enjoying her new vocation: the town's most in-demand pet-sitter. But her journalist friend and fellow animal lover Matt is desperate for a big story to make his career – such as Emma’s true identity… 
 
Emma doesn’t want the spotlight, but it keeps finding her anyway. Can she keep her past a secret and live the life she’s dreamed of? 
 
Note: this is part two of a four-part serialised novel.

The Pets at Primrose Cottage: Part One A Place to Hide

PART ONE of a serialised novel - a charming and romantic story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. 
 
Emma Nightingale needs a place to hide away. Pursued by the demons left by her ex-boyfriend, she takes refuge in quiet Crickleford, a sleepy town in Dartmoor, where she can lay low. 
 
Life in Crickleford is quiet and peaceful, but it won’t be for long if people discover the truth about Emma’s past. Not wanting to make too much of a fuss, she ends up lying about why she's there - she's looking after some cats, she says - then suddenly the town’s new ‘pet-sitter’ is in high demand! 
 
While looking after an Alsatian, Emma finds all attention is on her, and the handsome young reporter from the local paper takes an interest in her story... 
 
Note: this is part one of a four-part serialised novel.

The Vets at Hope Green

A warm and charming animal novel, from the author of Oliver the Cat Who Saved Christmas 
Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Cathy Woodman and Rachel Wells

A gentle tale, in a lovely setting, a thoroughly enjoyable read

such a heartwarming and engaging story, with a wonderful setting in Hope Green ... It’s a charming and heartwarming book, that will bring a smile to every reader’s face.

A charming read. Made me want to move to the country and buy a cottage with roses around the door

Like a plate of hot-buttered crumpets and a mug of tea - warm, comforting and utterly delightful!

It was a truly lovely read with delightful characters, both human and animal and I'm dying to know what happens next to Joe, Sam and their family and menagerie.

I adored this book! I fell in love with the sleepy little village of Hope Green and all the characters in it. Just as I found myself smiling in a complete state of delight, something would happen that would send me frantically page-turning to find out more. Perfect pace, beautiful descriptions, and fantastic characters. 5 warm and fuzzy stars!

An uplifting read, full of warmth and wonderful characters; four-legged and human!

Anyone dreaming of escaping to a rural life is going to love this. Pups, paw prints and piglets! A purr-fect curl-up read for country lovers!

author of The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea

A heart-warming and inspiring story about living the simple life, which readers are already likening to All Creatures Great and Small, 'like a Sunday Night ITV drama' 
 
'Like a plate of hot-buttered crumpets and a mug of tea - warm, comforting and utterly delightful!' 
Annie Lyons (author of The Choir on Hope Street) 
 
Sam has always dreamed of working with animals... 
 
But her receptionist job in a London vets is not hitting the spot. Unsure whether a busy city life is for her, she flees to her Nana Peggy’s idyllic country village. 
 
But despite the rolling hills and its charming feel, life in Hope Green is far from peaceful. On first meeting Joe, the abrupt and bad-tempered local vet, Sam knows she must get him on side, but that is easier said than done... 
 
With her dream close enough to touch, will she get there, or will events conspire against her...?

A New Start

The Vets at Hope Green: Part Four

PART FOUR of this warm and charming animal novel, from the author of Oliver the Cat Who Saved Christmas 
Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Cressida McLaughlin and Rachel Wells

A gentle tale, in a lovely setting, a thoroughly enjoyable read

Such a heartwarming and engaging story, with a wonderful setting in Hope Green ... It’s a charming and heartwarming book, that will bring a smile to every reader’s face

It was a truly lovely read with delightful characters, both human and animal and I'm dying to know what happens next to Joe, Sam and their family and menagerie

Like a plate of hot-buttered crumpets and a mug of tea - warm, comforting and utterly delightful!

An uplifting read, full of warmth and wonderful characters; four-legged and human!

Anyone dreaming of escaping to a rural life is going to love this. Pups, paw prints and piglets! A purr-fect curl-up read for country lovers!

A charming read. Made me want to move to the country and buy a cottage with roses around the door

PART FOUR of a serialised novel - a heartwarming and inspiring story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. 
 
The last few months have been hard for Sam. But her dream to work as a vet is slowly becoming reality, and she is beginning to encounter the struggles and heartbreaks that someone in a job like this must face. 
 
But what’s more heartwarming and inspiring than a litter of new piglets? On a call to a farm with Joe, Sam can’t help but feel a sense of renewal in her own life as she witnesses one of the most glorious and natural processes of all. 
 
Sam's thoughts inevitably turn to her own life. With everything in flux around her, is she ready for change? And will she ever find her happy ending? 
 
Note: this is part four of a four-part serialised novel. The full length paperback will be available in June.

Too Close to Home

The Vets at Hope Green: Part Three

PART THREE of this warm and charming animal novel, from the author of Oliver the Cat Who Saved Christmas 
Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Cressida McLaughlin and Rachel Wells

PART THREE of a serialised novel - a heartwarming and inspiring story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. 
 
Things are finally starting to look up for Sam – a chance at her dream job as a vet, and a new friend (who is a huge animal lover himself – a very important detail!) What more could she ask for? 
 
But something is eating away at her: her boss Joe is acting strangely around her - he's definitely hiding something. And having dreamed of being a vet for so long, she cannot afford to put a foot wrong. 
 
When a call to tend to a sick pony comes into the practice, it all strikes too close to home for Sam and Joe. The odds are stacked against her, and she risks losing everything… 
 
Note: this is part three of a four-part serialised novel. The full length paperback will be available in June.

Follow Your Heart

The Vets at Hope Green: Part Two

PART TWO of this warm and charming animal novel, from the author of Oliver the Cat Who Saved Christmas 
Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Cressida McLaughlin and Rachel Wells

PART TWO of a serialised novel - a heartwarming and inspiring story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. 
 
Working as the receptionist at her local London vets, Sam dreams of escaping to a quieter life in the country. Spending time with her Nana and her lovely but elderly dog Rufus has sparked something within Sam, and all she wants is to start afresh. But her boyfriend Adam is in London, and something tells her that it won’t be an easy conversation. 
 
But then something happens that makes her going-nowhere receptionist job seem much more appealing: she finds a little stray cat called Ebony, in need of love and nurturing back to health. Faced with a dilemma, she must choose between her heart’s desire and the little ball of fluff burrowing her way into Sam's heart… 
 
Is it possible to have it all? 
 
Note: this is part two of a four-part serialised novel. The full length paperback will be available in June.

Escape to the Country

The Vets at Hope Green: Part One

PART ONE of this warm and charming animal novel, from the author of Oliver the Cat Who Saved Christmas 
Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Cressida McLaughlin and Rachel Wells

PART ONE of a serialised novel - a heartwarming and inspiring story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. 
 
Working as a receptionist in a London vets, Sam is living far from her idea of a simple life. She’s always broke, rents a tiny flat, and is constantly arguing with her boyfriend. But the worst part is that her career is going nowhere. She wants to be a vet, but the most contact time with the animals she has is a quick hello when she books in their next appointment. 
 
Something’s got to give, so when her parents suggest visiting her Nana Peggy in a small quiet picturesque village, she agrees, thinking a bit of R&amp;R could do her good. 
 
But rest and relaxation may not be the order of the day. Poor Nana Peggy’s lovely dog Rufus is unwell, and Sam can’t help but grow fond of him. With the help of Joe the local vet, a charming yet strangely distant man, Sam sets out on looking after him, despite her London life trying to call her back… 
 
Note: this is part one of a four part serialised novel. The full length paperback will be available in June.

Oliver The Cat Who Saved Christmas

Heartfelt, moving and inspiring, a Christmas book perfect for fans of Alfie the Doorstep Cat

A friend who brings light at the darkest of times... 
 
Oliver the cat is a timid little thing, and rarely ventures from his home in the Foresters’ Arms. 
 
Then his life changes dramatically when a fire breaks out in the pub kitchen and he is left homeless and afraid. But, with the kindness of the humans around him, he soon learns to trust again – and, in his own special way, he helps them heal. 
 
However, it isn’t until he meets a little girl in desperate need of a friend that he realises this village needs a Christmas miracle... 
 
A warm and uplifting novel, this is the tale of a little cat with a big heart. Perfect for fans of A Streetcat Named Bob and Alfie the Doorstep Cat.

Charlie the Kitten Who Saved A Life

Heartfelt, moving and inspiring, the heartwarming sequel to Oliver the Cat Who Saved Christmas

Heartwarming and lovable, Charlie will squirm his way into your heart. Perfect for fans of A Streetcat Named Bob and Alfie the Doorstep Cat. 
 
But what could I do? I was just a little cat and nobody ever listened to me. I made a promise to myself that I’d do everything I possibly could to save her, whatever the danger to me, and no matter how many lives I lost in the process... 
 
Charlie the kitten would do anything for his human. Having just recovered from a debilitating illness, eleven-year-old Caroline isn’t feeling her best, and the arrival of a new baby only makes her feel even more left out. 
 
So when Caroline decides to run away, Charlie follows, vowing to protect her at all costs. But for such a little kitten, it’s a big and scary world outside the comfort of the cottage – how far will he go to save his greatest friend?

Sheila Norton

Can happiness be made in Devon?... 
 
After the sudden death of her estranged husband, Clare is shocked to discover she has inherited a dog and a small fortune. Convinced by her adult children to finally do something for herself, Clare embarks on a coast-to-coast adventure - until she stumbles upon an unmarked location on the fringes of South Devon. 
 
When Clare finds herself driving down a narrow road to the tiny village of Little Sorrell, she is met with distant, cold, and rude locals. But as she falls in love with a cottage she wishes to call home, can Little Sorrell truly be the place of second chances?...

Sheila Norton

Books by Sheila Norton

Series by Sheila Norton

Vets at Hope Green

Articles featuring Sheila Norton

The Penguin Q&A: Sheila Norton

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter