My very first Heather's Pick - and still one of my favourite stories - was 'The Secret Book of Grazia Dei Rossi'. A love story between a poor young woman and a dashing Count, set against the backdrop of all that was happening in the time of the Medicis, the richly imagined saga was inspired when author Jacquie Parks came across two letters in the young woman's hand archived at The New York Public Library.

Similarly, People of the Book, written by Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks, takes its inspiration from a small truth - the real-life existence of a rare and richly illustrated Passover Haggadah, originally created in medieval Spain. 'People of the Book' has it all - romance, mystery, intrigue, history, and when all is said and done - a great life lesson.

It is storytelling at its best and will surely be considered one of the best novels of 2008. The perfect read to curl up with on these last few wintery weekends.