Tangled Webs

'One of the most anticipated book launches of the year' You Magazine

When Sage Deverill flees her abusive marriage, she takes her young son to the only place that has ever felt like home: her grandparents’ manor house in Newmarket, the beating heart of the racing world. Surrounded by ivy-clad walls, the kindness of her family and the thunder of hooves on the heath, Sage reconnects with the place, people and creatures she loves most.

Riding beneath the wide Suffolk skies, Sage encounters Rafe Dunbarton – ­an ambitious, intriguing trainer with a gentle soul. What begins as friendship soon becomes an irresistible pull between two people who never expected to find each other.

But just as Sage rediscovers her freedom, her ex-husband returns in a tangle of destruction . . .

A heartrending romance about courage, healing and hope, and the first book in Callie Coles’s ‘Spinning Silks’ trilogy.

Readers have fallen in love with Tangled Webs:

‘Romantic, atmospheric and full of emotional depth. Tangled Webs is a gorgeous escape’
‘Absolutely enchanting. I can’t put it down’
‘Beautifully written . . . filled me with a deep sense of nostalgia’
‘The author’s talent for bringing characters to life makes them leap off the page’
‘Captivated me form start to finish. I can’t wait for the next in the series’

Callie Coles is a British debut novelist whose love of animals, nature and family life in the countryside infuses her storytelling. Callie balances her life as a mother with her passion for writing and horses, sharing her journey through her Instagram and Substack accounts, where she has a combined following of over one million. In addition to her work as a novelist, Callie has contributed to various publications and collaborated with several leading British brands. Her writing reflects themes of resilience, connection to the land and the emotional bonds between people and animals, all set against the vivid backdrop of rural life. Tangled Webs is the first instalment in the ‘Spinning Silks’ trilogy, with books 2 and 3 due to follow in July 2027 and July 2028.

Callie Coles’s debut novel, Tangled Webs, is the sweeping and atmospheric first installment of "The Spinning Silks" trilogy, offering readers a heartfelt escape into the elite, high-stakes world of British horse racing. Blending elements of domestic fiction with a deeply emotional second-chance romance, the book explores the harrowing realities of escaping an abusive relationship while celebrating the profound healing power of family, nature, and the gentle companionship of animals. Set primarily against the lush, vividly depicted backdrop of the Suffolk countryside, the narrative weaves a story of resilience and hope, following a woman who must risk everything to protect her child and reclaim the freedom she thought she had lost forever.

At the center of the story is Sage Deverill, a woman who, to the outside world, appears to live a life of unparalleled privilege and glamour. However, behind the closed doors of her crumbling estate in Panama, the reality of her daily existence is starkly different. Her marriage is nothing more than a terrifying, gilded cage, ruled by an oppressive and abusive husband. Driven by a desperate need to protect her young son from the toxic environment, Sage summons immense courage to flee the destructive relationship. Leaving her suffocating life behind, she embarks on a journey back to the only place that has ever offered her genuine comfort, safety, and a sense of belonging: her grandparents’ sprawling manor house in Newmarket, the historical and cultural beating heart of the English horse-racing world.

Upon her arrival in Suffolk, the novel shifts its tone, enveloping both the protagonist and the reader in the comforting, ivy-clad walls of the ancestral estate. The setting itself functions as a vital character in the book, providing a stark contrast to the trauma Sage left behind. Surrounded by the wide, expansive skies of the British countryside, the unconditional kindness of her extended family, and the rhythmic, thunderous sound of hooves echoing across the heath, Sage slowly begins the arduous process of piecing her life back together. Coles excels at painting a vivid, nostalgic portrait of rural life, emphasizing how reconnecting with the land and the majestic creatures she has always loved helps Sage to ground herself and rediscover her own identity.

As Sage finds solace in riding across the open landscapes, her path crosses with Rafe Dunbarton, a character who introduces a gentle but compelling romantic arc to the narrative. Rafe is an ambitious, highly skilled racehorse trainer who possesses a surprisingly tender soul, standing in stark, refreshing contrast to the cruelty of Sage's ex-husband. Their relationship is not rushed; instead, it develops organically, beginning as a supportive friendship rooted in their shared passion for horses and the racing world. Over time, this quiet companionship deepens into an irresistible, undeniable pull between two people who never anticipated finding love under such complicated circumstances. Rafe represents the possibility of a new, healthier chapter for Sage, offering her a glimpse of a future where she can be cherished rather than controlled.

However, the tranquility of the Suffolk countryside and the promising blossom of new love are soon jeopardized when the dark shadows of Sage's past catch up with her. Just as she begins to fully embrace her hard-won freedom and the possibility of a future with Rafe, her ex-husband makes a chilling return, bringing with him a tangled web of lies and destruction. This inciting incident sharply raises the stakes of the novel, transforming it from a quiet story of healing into a tense, emotionally charged drama. Sage is forced to confront the very nightmare she fled, faced with the agonizing decision of how much she is willing to risk, and how hard she is willing to fight, to protect her son, her newfound happiness, and the man she has come to love.

Throughout the narrative, Coles infuses her own deep-seated passion for animals, nature, and country life into the prose, creating a richly textured and authentic reading experience. Her background shines through in the meticulous, loving descriptions of equestrian life and the deeply empathetic portrayal of the bond between humans and horses. The novel highlights that true courage is not just about the initial act of running away from danger, but also about the daily, exhausting effort to build a new life from the wreckage of the old one.

Ultimately, Tangled Webs is a beautifully written, nostalgic, and deeply romantic saga that captivates its audience from the very first page. By grounding its high-stakes drama in the realistic, subtle developments of its characters, the book delivers a story that feels both grand in its scope and intimately personal. As the foundational first book in the trilogy, it perfectly sets the stage for Sage's ongoing journey, leaving readers thoroughly invested in her fight for a peaceful, loving future.