A book club based in a south Powys library welcomed a special guest earlier this month to coincide with a book that club members have been reading.

Brecon-born Holly Müller visited Brecon Library Book Club to read extracts from her latest novel ‘My Own Dear Brother’ and discussed it with club members.

The novel was launched at the Hours Bookshop and Café in Brecon during Brecon Woman’s Festival in March and was the book that book club members had agreed to read.

Sian Patten, library assistant and Brecon Library’s Book Club Co-ordinator, said: “When Holly heard we were reading and discussing her new book, she kindly offered to come and talk to use and to do a reading.

“We’re pleased she attended because our participants got a better insight into how she came to write this astonishing book and how she honed and developed her skills before creating this compelling read.”

Since its launch, Holly’s book has gone from strength to strength and has had favourable books reviews in the UK and Australia. The novel is a powerful story, set in the troubled war years of Austria under the Third Reich and seen from the viewpoint of a young teenage girl called Ursula.

“Ursula is my teenage heroine in this novel, and she is forced to come to terms with the threats of the adult world, while discovering her own bravery,” said Cardiff-based Holly Müller.

“It’s a coming of age story which unravels elements of her life from dark childhood memories.”

Cllr Graham Brown, cabinet member for library services, said: “This has been a great opportunity for our library users to not only read a newly written book but to meet the author and discuss the issues in the story.

“A group setting is a great way to meet people with similar interests in literature and to share and discuss their ideas. The library quite simply opens up these opportunities for anyone.”

Brecon Library’s Book Club meets at the library on the second Tuesday of each month. For more information or if you are interested in joining, please contact Brecon Library on 01874 623346 or email [email protected]