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I'm Just a Teenage Punchbag: POIGNANT AND FUNNY: A NOVEL FOR A GENERATION OF WOMEN
By Jackie Clune. 2020
'Obligatory reading for all parents of teenagers!' NIGELLA LAWSON'Bloody marvellous. Horribly familiar, funny, touching, sad, brutally honest...clutch this book to…
your stained T-shirt and never let it go.' JO BRAND'Terrific. A remarkable blend of hilarity and heartbreak with a really satisfying plot. Being childless never felt so good.' GRAHAM NORTON'Warm and witty... The competitive mothering, the hell that is other people's children, the fights and accusations of Homeland inquisition all rang deliciously true... a most entertaining read.' KATHY LETTE'Very poignant... A moving read as well as a funny one.' JANE GARVEY 'Honest, hilarious and painful' WOMAN & HOMEWarning!! This novel may lead you to make rash and life-changing decisions!**Probably don't read if you fear you may be ripe for liberation. Or if you sometimes wee when you laugh...First there was Having It All, then there was Bridget Jones' s Diary and I Don't Know How She Does It. Now there is Teenage Punchbag.I'm Just A Teenage Punchbag is a laugh-out-loud, sob-on-the bus journey through the so-called life of a middle-aged woman.Ciara is mother to three ungrateful, entitled teenagers, is married to steady Martin, a man with hairy udders, and is grieving for her mum who now lives in the wardrobe in a cardboard box from the crematorium. She finds solace in her anonymous blog, and in the daily chats she has with her mum's ashes (often the best conversations she has all day.)Despite the menopause, the invisibility of middle age and the daily self-esteem bashings, courtesy of her kids, Ciara manages to navigate the stormy waters of grief and family life - until her mask slips and she is cast out from the family bosom. She embarks on a mission to fulfil her mum's dying wishes to have her remains sprinkled from the top of the Empire State Building, finding company, distraction and - ultimately - herself in the process.If motherhood is a job - who says you can't resign?Madame Bovary of the Suburbs
By Sophie Divry. 2014
The story of a woman's life, from childhood to death, somewhere in provincial France, from the 1950s to just shy…
of 2025. She has doting parents, does well at school, finds a loving husband after one abortive attempt at passion, buys a big house with a moonlit terrace, makes decent money, has children, changes jobs, retires, grows old and dies. All in the comfort that the middle-classes have grown accustomed to. But she's bored. She takes up all sorts of outlets to try to make something happen in her life: adultery, charity work, esotericism, manic house-cleaning, motherhood and various hobbies - each one abandoned faster than the last. But no matter what she does, her life remains unfocussed and unfulfilled. Nothing truly satisfies her, because deep down - just like the town where she lives - the landscape is non-descript, flat, horizontal.Sophie Divry dramatises the philosophical conflict between freedom and comfort that marks women's lives in a materialistic world. Our heroine is an endearing, contemporary Emma Bovary, and Divry's prose will remind readers of the best of Houellebecq, the cold, implacable historian who paints a precise portrait of an era and those who inhabit it and in doing so renders existence indelibly absurd.Translated from the French by Alison AndersonMadame Bovary of the Suburbs
By Sophie Divry. 2014
The story of a woman's life, from childhood to death, somewhere in provincial France, from the 1950s to just shy…
of 2025. She has doting parents, does well at school, finds a loving husband after one abortive attempt at passion, buys a big house with a moonlit terrace, makes decent money, has children, changes jobs, retires, grows old and dies. All in the comfort that the middle-classes have grown accustomed to. But she's bored. She takes up all sorts of outlets to try to make something happen in her life: adultery, charity work, esotericism, manic house-cleaning, motherhood and various hobbies - each one abandoned faster than the last. But no matter what she does, her life remains unfocussed and unfulfilled. Nothing truly satisfies her, because deep down - just like the town where she lives - the landscape is non-descript, flat, horizontal.Sophie Divry dramatises the philosophical conflict between freedom and comfort that marks women's lives in a materialistic world. Our heroine is an endearing, contemporary Emma Bovary, and Divry's prose will remind readers of the best of Houellebecq, the cold, implacable historian who paints a precise portrait of an era and those who inhabit it and in doing so renders existence indelibly absurd.Translated from the French by Alison AndersonA Season of Secrets
By Kate Lord Brown. 2015
'The perfect read for a cosy winter's evening beside a crackling log fire' Sussex LifeDiamonds are forever.And hold a thousand…
secrets... When Grace Manners moves to a little cottage on the Wittering Manor estate, she hopes it will be the perfect new beginning after her life was torn apart seven months ago. Ever since her husband disappeared, along with most of their money, Grace has struggled to make ends meet - but now, working for the eccentric Fraser Stratton, she has her own space to make her delicate jewellery once again.Yet as Grace begins to uncover the story behind a beautiful diamond brooch, she becomes drawn into a mysterious family secret that threatens to destroy what little she has left...Praise for Kate Lord Brown:'Absolutely exquisite' Marian Keyes'A wonderful, escapist, nostalgic read' RED'Sweepingly romantic' Katherine Webb'Captivating' YOU'A story of love and adventure, of loss and pain, and heroism' DAILY MAIL----------------------------------------------------Previously published as The Christmas We MetNo Reservations: Salon Games Book 2 (Salon Games)
By Stephanie Julian. 2013
For fans of Maya Banks, Beth Kery and Jo Davis comes the second scorching-hot and intoxicatingly romantic installment in Stephanie…
Julian's Salon Games series.Play by the rules and you'll never get what you deserve.Tyler Golden is all about control. It's an attitude that helped him and his brother build Haven, a boutique hotel in Philadelphia. The only thing Tyler couldn't control was his fiancee's death. It left him emotionally guarded, and willing to go only so far with women: satisfying his sexual needs. Kate Song knows the feeling. Her sole focus is her dream to be a lingerie designer. She's not about to be distracted by any man. No matter who he is. Or how demanding. Or forceful. Or captivatingly sexy. Or so she thought. Tyler has the power to make her dream come true. Who can say no to such a dominating personality? Who would want to? Not Kate. Offering her body for submission is one thing. But giving her heart and soul is another. Now Tyler may discover that the one woman who taught him to love again is the one woman he might not be able to keep.This game isn't over yet... To play more seductive Salon Games, return to the series with Over Exposed. And don't miss Book One in the series, By Private Invitation.The Weekend: The international bestseller, shortlisted for the Stella Prize 2020
By Charlotte Wood. 2020
A #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER One of The Times books of the year: 'Ripples with wit, insight and vitality' 'The Weekend…
is so great I am struggling to find the words to do it justice... Wood is an agonisingly gifted writer: I am now going to read all her other books!'Marian Keyes'It was refreshing to encounter a novel that so profoundly sympathises with women on the forbidding cusp of being classified as "elderly". Wood ably conveys that older women didn't used to be old, and that the experience of ageing is universally bewildering'Lionel Shriver (Observer, Books of the year) 'Riveting' Elizabeth Day 'A perfect, funny, insightful, novel about women, friendship, and ageing. I loved it'Nina Stibbe 'Authentic, funny, brutally well-observed... As with the novels of Elizabeth Strout or Anne Tyler, these are characters not written to please, but to feel true'The Sunday Times 'Glorious... Charlotte Wood joins the ranks of writers such as Nora Ephron, Penelope Lively and Elizabeth Strout' Guardian'The Weekend triumphantly brings to life the honest, inner lives of women' Independent'A lovely, lively, intelligent, funny book' Tessa Hadley 'One sharp, funny, heartbreaking and gorgeously-written package. I loved it' Paula Hawkins'One of those deceptively compact novels that continues to open doors in your mind long after the last page' Patrick GaleSylvie, Jude, Wendy and Adele have a lifelong friendship of the best kind: loving, practical, frank and steadfast. But when Sylvie dies, the ground shifts dangerously for the remaining three.These women couldn't be more different: Jude, a once-famous restaurateur with a spotless life and a long-standing affair with a married man; Wendy, an acclaimed feminist intellectual; Adele, a former star of the stage, now practically homeless. Struggling to recall exactly why they've remained close all these years, the grieving women gather for one last weekend at Sylvie's old beach house. But fraying tempers, an elderly dog, unwelcome guests and too much wine collide in a storm that brings long-buried hurts to the surface - a storm that will either remind them of the bond they share, or sweep away their friendship for good.Red at the Bone: Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2020
By Jacqueline Woodson. 2019
THE TIMES '100 BEST SUMMER READS'NEW YORK TIMES TOP 10 BESTSELLERLONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE 2020'Sublime' Candice Carty-Williams'An epic in…
miniature' Tayari Jones 'A banger' Ta-Nehisi Coates'Generous and big-hearted' Brit Bennett 'A true spell of a book' Ocean Vuong 'A proclamation' R.O. Kwon'A little masterpiece' Paula Hawkins'I adored this book' Elizabeth MacNeal'Pure poetry' Observer'A sharply focused gem' Sunday Times'Will remind you why you love reading' Stylist'Haunting' Guardian'A wonderful, tragic, inspiring story' Metro'Prose that sings off the page... Gorgeous' Mail on Sunday'A nuanced portrait of shifting family relationships' Financial Times'As seductive as a Prince bop' O, The Oprah Magazine'Razor-sharp' Vanity Fair'Dazzling... With urgent, vital insights into questions of class, gender, race, history, queerness and sex' New York Times An unexpected teenage pregnancy brings together two families from different social classes, and exposes the private hopes, disappointments and longings that can bind or divide us. From the New York Times-bestselling and National Book Award-winning author of Another Brooklyn and Brown Girl Dreaming. Brooklyn, 2001. It is the evening of sixteen-year-old Melody's coming of age ceremony in her grandparents' brownstone. Watched lovingly by her relatives and friends, making her entrance to the music of Prince, she wears a special custom-made dress - the very same dress that was sewn for a different wearer, Melody's mother, for a celebration that ultimately never took place.Unfurling the history of Melody's family - from the 1921 Tulsa race massacre to post 9/11 New York - Red at the Bone explores sexual desire, identity, class, and the life-altering facts of parenthood, as it looks at the ways in which young people must so often make fateful decisions about their lives before they have even begun to figure out who they are and what they want to be. *** ONE OF THE BOOKS OF THE YEAR FOR: New York Times; Washington Post; Time; USA Today; O, The Oprah Magazine; Elle; Good Housekeeping; Esquire; NPR; New York Public Library; Library Journal; Kirkus; BookRiot; She Reads; The Undefeated ***Pretty Things
By Janelle Brown. 2020
SOON TO BE A LIMITED SERIES STARRING NICOLE KIDMAN'Pretty Things is awesome. Simple as that. I loved every page'Harlan Coben'It's…
Dynasty meets Patricia Highsmith' Washington Post 'Will keep you turning pages till the end'Attica Locke 'Outrageously entertaining'Times Crime Club Nina once bought into the idea that her fancy arts degree would lead to a fulfilling career. When that dream crashed, she turned to stealing from rich kids in L.A. alongside her wily Irish boyfriend, Lachlan. But when her mom falls ill, Nina puts everything on the line to help her, running her most dangerous scam yet.Vanessa is a privileged young heiress who wanted to make her mark in the world. Instead she becomes an Instagram influencer - but behind the covetable façade is a life marked by tragedy.After a broken engagement, Vanessa retreats to her family's sprawling mountain estate, a mansion of dark secrets. It's there that her path collides with Nina's and gives way to a winter of desire and aspiration, duplicity and revenge.'Smart, seductive, and utterly captivating' PopSugar'Deliciously fun' The Week'A can't-look-away story of and for our generation' Chandler Baker, author of Whisper Network'Literary suspense at its best' Angie Kim, author of Miracle CreekThe Hummingbird: ‘Magnificent’ (Guardian)
By Sandro Veronesi. 2019
'MAGNIFICENT' GUARDIAN'A TOWERING ACHIEVEMENT' FINANCIAL TIMES'INVENTIVE, BOLD, UNEXPECTED' THE SUNDAY TIMES'Everything that makes the novel worthwhile and engaging is here:…
warmth, wit, intelligence, love, death, high seriousness, low comedy, philosophy, subtle personal relationships and the complex interior life of human beings'Guardian'Not since William Boyd's Any Human Heart has a novel captured the feast and famine nature of a single life with such invention and tenderness'Financial Times'There is a pleasing sense of having grappled with the real stuff of life: loss, grief, love, desire, pain, uncertainty, confusion, joy, despair - all while having fun'The Sunday Times'The kind of novel summer is made for: instantly immersive, playfully inventive, effortlessly wise'Observer'Masterly: a cabinet of curiosities and delights, packed with small wonders'Ian McEwan'A real masterpiece. A funny, touching, profound book that made me cry like a little girl on the last page'Leïla Slimani'A remarkable accomplishment, a true gift to the world'Michael Cunningham'Ardent, gripping, and inventive to the core'Jhumpa LahiriMarco Carrera is 'the hummingbird,' a man with the almost supernatural ability to stay still as the world around him continues to change.As he navigates the challenges of life - confronting the death of his sister and the absence of his brother; taking care of his parents as they approach the end of their lives; raising his granddaughter when her mother, Marco's own child, can no longer be there for her; coming to terms with his love for the enigmatic Luisa - Marco Carrera comes to represent the quiet heroism that pervades so much of our everyday existence.A thrilling novel about the need to look to the future with hope and live with intensity to the very end.THE NO. 1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLEROver 300,000 copies soldSoon to be a major motion pictureWinner of the Premio StregaWinner of the Prix du Livre EtrangerBook of the Year for the Corriere della SeraBy Private Invitation: Salon Games Book 1 (Salon Games)
By Stephanie Julian. 2012
For fans of Maya Banks, Beth Kery and Jo Davis comes the first sizzlingly romantic and highly erotic installment in…
Stephanie Julian's Salon Games series.Some invitations don't need to be sent...only accepted. Antiques dealer Annabelle Elder's life is nowhere near as passionate as the erotic art she collects. Intending to explore her desires at a decadent New Year's Eve party, she finds unexpected passion in the arms of Jared Golden... Handsome, rich and charming, Jared has created an anything-goes pleasure palace at the Haven Hotel, catering to every special wish. Seducing Annabelle was easy, yet being seduced in turn was unanticipated... But in exploring their sensual fantasies, Jared and Annabelle are caught in a web of painful secrets and troubled pasts. And to face the truth they must trust in the power of true love...This game is only the beginning... To play more seductive Salon Games, return to the series with No Reservations and Over Exposed.By Private Invitation: Salon Games Book 1 (Salon Games)
By Stephanie Julian. 2012
For fans of Maya Banks, Beth Kery and Jo Davis comes the first sizzlingly romantic and highly erotic installment in…
Stephanie Julian's Salon Games series.Some invitations don't need to be sent...only accepted. Antiques dealer Annabelle Elder's life is nowhere near as passionate as the erotic art she collects. Intending to explore her desires at a decadent New Year's Eve party, she finds unexpected passion in the arms of Jared Golden... Handsome, rich and charming, Jared has created an anything-goes pleasure palace at the Haven Hotel, catering to every special wish. Seducing Annabelle was easy, yet being seduced in turn was unanticipated... But in exploring their sensual fantasies, Jared and Annabelle are caught in a web of painful secrets and troubled pasts. And to face the truth they must trust in the power of true love...This game is only the beginning... To play more seductive Salon Games, return to the series with No Reservations and Over Exposed.'A warm, funny, uplifting writer to celebrate!' KATIE FFORDEIf you love Lucy Diamond, Phillipa Ashley, Sue Moorcroft and Holly Martin,…
you'll LOVE Erin Green's novels of love, life and laughter!Readers are enchanted by From Shetland, With Love at Christmas!'A lovely Christmas read . . . made me feel good. Excellent''An essential for anyone's pre-Christmas light and relaxing reading list''I couldn't put this book down it was that good. . . 10 stars at least''A wonderful festive read that makes you wish you were there''This was a beautiful escapist read''Great characters, great storyline and a big hug in book form will be found within the pages of this amazing festive book. Loved it''A lovely story of friendship, love, and starting over. I wish I lived in this town, could shop at their stores and be friends with these lovely characters'...........................................................................Friendship can be the greatest gift you'll ever give...Verity is embarking on a better-late-than-never gap year now that her sons have flown the nest, and dreams of turning a lifetime's hobby of knitting and crocheting into a profitable new enterprise at Lerwick Manor's gallery. Nessie has returned to Shetland after two years spent retraining as a blacksmith on the Scottish mainland. She's determined to do whatever it takes to reignite the traditional craft and prove that gender is no obstacle to taking on her family's heritage. Isla is fresh out of catering college, but she is desperate to prove she has what it takes to run Lerwick Manor's artisan café. Focused on perfecting her grandmother's traditional recipes, Isla has no time for anything else - especially not her pesky ex.With the island's Yule Day celebration fast approaching, it's the ideal moment for their crafts to shine. But they can't do it alone - and their friendship might turn out to be their greatest creation yet..............................................................................'A perfect story full of hope, love and friendship' 5* reader review'An uplifting, engaging and heart warming book. Loved it' 5* reader review'An amazing book and makes you really think that your dreams of changing your life can really happen' 5* reader review'The author has the knack of making her characters spring off the pages so real that you'll care about them' Peterborough TelegraphDon't miss Erin's uplifting From Shetland, With Love - out now!You are invited to holiday at gorgeous Rose Cottage - where friendship, home comforts and romance are guaranteed... look for New Beginnings at Rose Cottage - out now! - 'Utterly charming...an uplifting and optimistic story' Hot Brands Cool PlacesIf you don't ask you'll never know... don't miss Taking a Chance on Love - out now!'A warm, funny, uplifting writer to celebrate!' KATIE FFORDEIf you love Lucy Diamond, Phillipa Ashley, Sue Moorcroft and Holly Martin,…
you'll LOVE Erin Green's novels of love, life and laughter!Readers are enchanted by From Shetland, With Love at Christmas!'A lovely Christmas read . . . made me feel good. Excellent''An essential for anyone's pre-Christmas light and relaxing reading list''I couldn't put this book down it was that good. . . 10 stars at least''A wonderful festive read that makes you wish you were there''This was a beautiful escapist read''Great characters, great storyline and a big hug in book form will be found within the pages of this amazing festive book. Loved it''A lovely story of friendship, love, and starting over. I wish I lived in this town, could shop at their stores and be friends with these lovely characters'...........................................................................Friendship can be the greatest gift you'll ever give...Verity is embarking on a better-late-than-never gap year now that her sons have flown the nest, and dreams of turning a lifetime's hobby of knitting and crocheting into a profitable new enterprise at Lerwick Manor's gallery. Nessie has returned to Shetland after two years spent retraining as a blacksmith on the Scottish mainland. She's determined to do whatever it takes to reignite the traditional craft and prove that gender is no obstacle to taking on her family's heritage. Isla is fresh out of catering college, but she is desperate to prove she has what it takes to run Lerwick Manor's artisan café. Focused on perfecting her grandmother's traditional recipes, Isla has no time for anything else - especially not her pesky ex.With the island's Yule Day celebration fast approaching, it's the ideal moment for their crafts to shine. But they can't do it alone - and their friendship might turn out to be their greatest creation yet..............................................................................'A perfect story full of hope, love and friendship' 5* reader review'An uplifting, engaging and heart warming book. Loved it' 5* reader review'An amazing book and makes you really think that your dreams of changing your life can really happen' 5* reader review'The author has the knack of making her characters spring off the pages so real that you'll care about them' Peterborough TelegraphDon't miss Erin's uplifting From Shetland, With Love - out now!You are invited to holiday at gorgeous Rose Cottage - where friendship, home comforts and romance are guaranteed... look for New Beginnings at Rose Cottage - out now! - 'Utterly charming...an uplifting and optimistic story' Hot Brands Cool PlacesIf you don't ask you'll never know... don't miss Taking a Chance on Love - out now!'A warm, funny, uplifting writer to celebrate!' KATIE FFORDEIf you love Lucy Diamond, Phillipa Ashley, Sue Moorcroft and Holly Martin,…
you'll LOVE Erin Green's novels of love, life and laughter!'A lovely, heart-warming story . . . I was hooked!' CHRISTINA COURTENAY'A delightful tale of friendship, family and love' JENNI KEER'Thoroughly entertaining. The characters are warm and well drawn' SUE ROBERTSReaders are loving the latest From Shetland, With Love book!'An excellent and highly enjoyable read' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Brilliant escapism' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'A good cozy read!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐...................................... Will the gift of friendship save their past, present and future?Callie has taken multiple jobs to make the money she desperately needs. Her favourite is being the new guide for Lerwick Manor's alpaca walks. But her troublesome past is making it difficult to prove to others that she's learned from her mistakes. Heather has been content breeding Sheltie sheepdogs and taking care of her grownup daughters. But now she feels that something is missing. Taking the leap into online dating, she makes an unexpected connection to which her daughters react very differently. Tabitha sells homemade soap at the Stables Gallery, but her true passion is for amateur dramatics. Winning a role in the group's festive production of A Christmas Carol, Tabby is determined to make her mark - but will her growing feelings for fellow actor Rabbie distract her? As Christmas draws near, can true friendship save the past, present and future of the Lerwick community?...................................... Don't miss any of Erin Green's gloriously uplifting reads in Lerwick - look out for From Shetland, With Love; From Shetland, With Love at Christmas and Sunny Stays at the Shetland Hotel - perfect for any season! 'Wow! Reading this book was like comfrey tea. The more it fermented the better it got' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'What a lovely and uplifting read. I really really enjoyed it' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'A perfect heartwarming read which has provided a great escape' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Loved this thoroughly feel good read & now I'm just off into my garden to plant some carrot seedlings!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ You are invited to holiday at gorgeous Rose Cottage - where friendship, home comforts and romance are guaranteed . . . look for New Beginnings at Rose Cottage - out now! 'Utterly charming . . . an uplifting and optimistic story' Hot Brands Cool Places If you don't ask you'll never know . . . don't miss Taking a Chance on Love - out now! 'A perfect story full of hope, love and friendship' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'An uplifting, engaging and heart warming book. Loved it' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'An amazing book and makes you really think that your dreams of changing your life can really happen' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'The author has the knack of making her characters spring off the pages so real that you'll care about them' Peterborough Telegraph'A warm, funny, uplifting writer to celebrate!' KATIE FFORDEIf you love Lucy Diamond, Phillipa Ashley, Sue Moorcroft and Holly Martin,…
you'll LOVE Erin Green's novels of love, life and laughter!'A lovely, heart-warming story . . . I was hooked!' CHRISTINA COURTENAY'A delightful tale of friendship, family and love' JENNI KEER'Thoroughly entertaining. The characters are warm and well drawn' SUE ROBERTSReaders are loving the latest From Shetland, With Love book!'An excellent and highly enjoyable read' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Brilliant escapism' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'A good cozy read!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐...................................... Will the gift of friendship save their past, present and future?Callie has taken multiple jobs to make the money she desperately needs. Her favourite is being the new guide for Lerwick Manor's alpaca walks. But her troublesome past is making it difficult to prove to others that she's learned from her mistakes. Heather has been content breeding Sheltie sheepdogs and taking care of her grownup daughters. But now she feels that something is missing. Taking the leap into online dating, she makes an unexpected connection to which her daughters react very differently. Tabitha sells homemade soap at the Stables Gallery, but her true passion is for amateur dramatics. Winning a role in the group's festive production of A Christmas Carol, Tabby is determined to make her mark - but will her growing feelings for fellow actor Rabbie distract her? As Christmas draws near, can true friendship save the past, present and future of the Lerwick community?...................................... Don't miss any of Erin Green's gloriously uplifting reads in Lerwick - look out for From Shetland, With Love; From Shetland, With Love at Christmas and Sunny Stays at the Shetland Hotel - perfect for any season! 'Wow! Reading this book was like comfrey tea. The more it fermented the better it got' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'What a lovely and uplifting read. I really really enjoyed it' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'A perfect heartwarming read which has provided a great escape' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Loved this thoroughly feel good read & now I'm just off into my garden to plant some carrot seedlings!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ You are invited to holiday at gorgeous Rose Cottage - where friendship, home comforts and romance are guaranteed . . . look for New Beginnings at Rose Cottage - out now! 'Utterly charming . . . an uplifting and optimistic story' Hot Brands Cool Places If you don't ask you'll never know . . . don't miss Taking a Chance on Love - out now! 'A perfect story full of hope, love and friendship' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'An uplifting, engaging and heart warming book. Loved it' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'An amazing book and makes you really think that your dreams of changing your life can really happen' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'The author has the knack of making her characters spring off the pages so real that you'll care about them' Peterborough TelegraphThe Gown: Perfect for fans of The Crown! An enthralling tale of making the Queen's wedding dress
By Jennifer Robson. 2019
Perfect for anyone who's captivated by The Crown, The Gown 'will dazzle and delight' (Independent)!The Gown is an enthralling historical…
novel about one of the most famous wedding dresses of the twentieth century - Queen Elizabeth's wedding gown - and the fascinating women who made it. London, 1947: Besieged by a harsh winter, burdened by shortages and rationing, the people of post-war Britain are suffering despite their nation's recent victory. For Ann Hughes and Miriam Dassin, embroiderers at the famed Mayfair fashion house of Norman Hartnell, a glimmer of brightness comes in the form of their unlikely friendship and being chosen for a once-in-a-lifetime honour: taking part in the creation of Princess Elizabeth's wedding gown. Toronto, 2016: Heather Mackenzie seeks to unravel the mystery of a legacy from her late grandmother. How did her beloved nan, who never spoke of her old life in Britain, come to possess the priceless embroideries that so closely resemble the motifs on the stunning gown worn by Queen Elizabeth II at her wedding almost seventy years before? And what was her nan's connection to the celebrated textile artist and Holocaust survivor Miriam Dassin?With The Gown, Jennifer Robson takes us inside the workrooms where one of the most famous wedding gowns in history was created to tell a story of women whose lives are woven together by the pain of survival, the bonds of friendship, and the redemptive power of love.'Robson succeeds in creating a riveting drama of female friendship, of lives fully lived despite unbearable loss, and of the steadfast effort required to bring forth beauty after surviving war' Independent'A great tale of female friendship' The People's FriendThe Dressmaker's Secret: A heart-warming family saga – 'Loved it' VAL WOOD
By Karen Dickson. 2021
&‘A compelling saga that will hold you fast from the first page to the last. Loved it&’ VAL WOOD, author…
of The Lonely WifePerfect for fans of Dilly Court and Gracie Hart, The Dressmaker&’s Secret is a moving and heartfelt family saga from the talented author of The Shop Girl&’s Soldier. Dorset, 1876. When young Beatrice Cullen shows up in the local church with her illegitimate child in her arms, Reverend Michael Redfern takes it upon himself to help her. He finds her daughter, Lily, a home with a kindly couple. But when, at the age of 9, Lily loses her adopted parents, she is forced to live with her awful Aunt Doris and cousin Jez, who treat her no better than a slave. Lily can only seek solace in her dream of one day escaping her aunt and becoming a seamstress. Five years later, now aged fourteen, Lily makes a startling discovery: that her birth father is none other than local aristocrat Sir Frederick Copperfield. Lily is stunned. And when she gets the chance to work for the Copperfields, she can't pass up the opportunity to get to know her half-sister Eleanor. But will Eleanor ever really get to know her, or will Lily&’s true identity forever remain a secret? 'This rollercoaster of a novel draws you in from the first page. Expertly researched and a fabulous storyline with real heart at the centre... I devoured this in one sitting and look forward to more from this author. In short a gem of a read' FIONA FORD, author of Wartime at Liberty's 'A delight to read... Lily Hayter is a wonderful heroine whose resilience and integrity shine through as she struggles to claim a life of her choosing and find a family. At the heart of the story is a warmth and humanity that makes it a truly uplifting read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was sorry when I reached the end because I wanted to linger in Dickson&’s world. I eagerly await more from Karen Dickson' VICKI BEEBY, author of The Ops Room Girls'The characters in this novel are so believable that I cared deeply about them from the first chapter. A heartfelt, hopeful account of one young woman&’s fight to keep her child safe when all the odds are against her. Atmospheric and beautifully written' JAN CASEY, author of The Women of Waterloo Bridge &‘An exciting, fresh and talented new voice – a five-star read!&’ CAROL RIVERS on The Shop Girl&’s SoldierLuck Be A Lady: Rules for the Reckless 4 (Rules for the Reckless #5)
By Meredith Duran. 2015
Meredith Duran returns with another witty, humorous and smart romance in the fourth book of her Rules for the Reckless…
series. Fans of Julia Quinn, Jane Feather and Eloisa James will delight in Meredith's trademark headstrong heroine, cunning hero and tale of deep emotional intensity!Enter Eveleigh's Auction Rooms at your own risk. Prepare to part with your fortune...and lose your heart.They call her the Ice Queen. Catherine Everleigh is London's loveliest heiress, but a bitter lesson in heartbreak has taught her to keep to herself. All she desires is her birthright - the auction house that was mercilessly stolen from her. To win this war, she'll need a powerful ally. Who better than infamous crime lord Nicholas O'Shea? A marriage of convenience will serve them both.Having conquered the city's underworld, Nick seeks a new challenge. Marrying Catherine will give him the guise of legitimacy and access to her elite world - no one need know he's coveted her for a year now. Their arrangement is strictly business, free from the weakness of love. Seduction, however, is an altogether different matter - an enticing game that he's determined she'll play, and what's more, enjoy... Want more Rules for the Reckless? Don't miss Your Wicked Heart or Fool Me Twice.Christmas at the Village Sewing Shop
By Helen Rolfe. 2021
'The perfect festive read!' DEBBIE JOHNSON 'Full of festive spirit and intriguing family secrets!' HEIDI SWAINCan three sisters stitch their…
family back together? Loretta loves running the little village sewing shop in Butterbury. Some of her most precious memories are sitting with her three daughters Daisy, Ginny and Fern, stitching together pieces of material - and their hopes and dreams.But this Christmas the family is coming apart at the seams: Fern feels like she's failing at motherhood and marriage, Ginny's passion for her job as a midwife is fading, Daisy is desperate to prove she ' s changed since her wild younger years - and most of all, Loretta seems to be hiding something...As they come together to create a new festive quilt, the bond between the sisters begins to heal. But when Loretta reveals the real reason she's brought them all home, can the sisters mend the quilt, and their family, in time for Christmas?Full of kindness, community and festive magic, this is a treat to curl up with this Christmas! Perfect for fans of Cathy Bramley, Jenny Colgan and Ali McNamaraA Season of Secrets
By Kate Lord Brown. 2015
'The perfect read for a cosy winter's evening beside a crackling log fire' Sussex LifeDiamonds are forever.And hold a thousand…
secrets... When Grace Manners moves to a little cottage on the Wittering Manor estate, she hopes it will be the perfect new beginning after her life was torn apart seven months ago. Ever since her husband disappeared, along with most of their money, Grace has struggled to make ends meet - but now, working for the eccentric Fraser Stratton, she has her own space to make her delicate jewellery once again.Yet as Grace begins to uncover the story behind a beautiful diamond brooch, she becomes drawn into a mysterious family secret that threatens to destroy what little she has left...Praise for Kate Lord Brown:'Absolutely exquisite' Marian Keyes'A wonderful, escapist, nostalgic read' RED'Sweepingly romantic' Katherine Webb'Captivating' YOU'A story of love and adventure, of loss and pain, and heroism' DAILY MAIL----------------------------------------------------Previously published as The Christmas We Met