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Showing 16801 - 16820 of 16997 items
By Maggie Hope. 1997
Will her courage be enough to protect her family?Eleanor Saint spends as much time as she can helping in the…
community of her small mining town, even though her snobbish grandmother disapproves of her visiting the poor. When she comes of age, Eleanor is married to Frances Tait, a missionary, and she is delighted to have a husband who shares her passion for helping others. It is not long before Eleanor starts a family of her own. But when Mr Tait’s work takes their family far from home, her children face dangers that Eleanor could never have imagined. She will need to put her family first, before everything else, if she wants to protect them… A gripping saga from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Coal Miner's DaughterBy Val Wood. 2017
For ten years, Delia has had to fend for herself and her son Jack, and as a young unmarried mother,…
life has never been easy. Every new coat and pair of shoes was bought with what little money she could scrape together as a singer on the stage. But when the theatre work dries up, Delia faces a dilemma: continue the search for employment with no knowing whether she’ll find the stability and security her son needs, or return to the place that should be home . . . where only spite and hatred await them. Desperate now, a chance encounter suddenly presents a lifeline. But Delia is faced with an impossible, heart-wrenching choice. Can she bear to leave Jack behind, hoping another family will care for him? Will they ever be reunited? What else can a mother do to give her son the life he deserves?Val Wood's wonderful historical sagas are perfect for readers of Dilly Court, Maggie Hope and Rosie Goodwin.By Vesna Goldsworthy. 2018
'A beautiful haunting novel… looking at a familiar London through a frosty, snowy lens. Wonderful' Caryl PhillipsThe London winter of…
1947 is as cold as St Petersburg during the Revolution. Albertine, the wife of a British army officer often abroad on covert government business, finds herself increasingly lonely. Eager to distract herself with work, she takes a job as companion to the mysterious 'Monsieur Ka', a Russian émigré. As she is drawn into Ka’s dramatic past, her own life is shaken to its foundations. For in this family of former princes, there are present temptations which could profoundly affect her future.Set in the small fishing village of Bexham, this follows the fortunes of the characters we met in The Chestnut…
Tree and The Wind off the Sea. Million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham has penned a novel so engaging and captivating, you won't be able to put it down. Fans of Louise Douglas, Dinah Jefferies and Kristin Hannah will not be disappointed.'Charlotte Bingham portrays the characters with great sympathy and sets them firmly in the sixties. There is tragedy, humour and warmth. If you like a good realistic story you will enjoy this.' -- HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW'I couldn't wait to go to bed each night to continue reading the story'-- ***** Reader review'Comfortable and stylish' -- ***** Reader review'Just wonderful!' -- ***** Reader review'I found I couldn't put it down... FANTASTIC!!' -- ***** Reader review*******************************************************************************************WAR IS LONG OVER, BUT NEW BATTLES ARE JUST BEGINNING...1962: times feel bleak again. The threat of atomic warfare feels real and, for many, life seems all the more bewildering as they struggle to understand the new generation of the Sixties, a generation for whom they made so many wartime sacrifices, for whom they had such high hopes.No sooner has the threat of nuclear war seemed to have passed than Judy, Mathilda and Rusty are facing a new, personal crisis brought about by their teenage children. Still grieving for his lost wife, Waldo Astley tries his best to help his three friends, only to find himself falling in love with one of them...Meanwhile the younger generation have their own problems, all of which involve their families.That all the generations find themselves once more united in a battle, this time to save the village they love, is both an irony and finally, a saving grace.Once more an enemy has to be defeated, once more they must arm themselves, but this time for a war of a very different kind.By Katie Flynn. 2010
It was only a mistletoe kiss, Miss Preece told herself, stepping out into the icy December evening and locking the…
library doors behind her. A mistletoe kiss means nothing, everyone knows that; but this did not quench the warm glow inside her. Hetty Gilbert is a canal child with no permanent address, so when she needs to join the library, she cannot do so. Miss Preece dislikes children, but Hetty's longing for books touches a chord and she stretches the rules to allow the girl to read on the premises.Soon, Hetty's chief desire is to become a librarian like her friend. But with war on the horizon, their lives will never be the same. In 1939 Hetty joins in the war effort, for her knowledge of canal boats is desperately needed, whilst Miss Preece can only sit and listen to the dangers her young friend faces, knowing she herself can do nothing to help.But her chance will come, and with it the meaning behind that fragile mistletoe kiss ...By Dinah Jefferies. 2019
A STOLEN SISTER. A DAUGHTER DETERMINED TO UNCOVER THE TRUTH.'I was gripped, moved and utterly in thrall to this deeply…
emotional and compelling tale' Kate Furnivall'A moving and complex story, beautifully told' Isabel WolffBelle Hatton has embarked upon an exciting new life: a glamorous job as a nightclub singer in 1930s Burma. But she's haunted by a family mystery - a 25-year-old newspaper clipping found in her deceased parents' belongings about the disappearance of their baby daughter, Elvira.Desperate to find out what happened to the sister she never knew she had, when Belle starts asking questions, she is confronted with unsettling rumours, outright threats and a handsome American journalist named Oliver.Can she trust her growing feelings for Oliver? Is her sister really dead? And could there still be a chance Belle might find her?*****What readers are saying about The Missing Sister:'I have loved all Dinah's books, this one has been my favourite. It lured me in from the first page' Amazon Reviewer 'I became engrossed in this wonderful story and read long into the wee small hours. Atmospheric and emotional' Amazon Reviewer 'Mystery, intrigue, romance, history - and all in a breath-taking setting - equal a book I couldn't put down! Absolutely loved it. What a fantastic writer Dinah Jeffries is! Amazon ReviewerDiscover the first heartwarming novel in Kate Eastham's nursing series in this gripping and compelling story of strength'Deftly written .…
. . a moving account of loss, as well as self-discovery and achievement' Woman's Own'A vivid, entertaining read which brought history alive' 5***** Reader Review_________ From the docks of Liverpool to a distant battlefield, can one girl find her brother and save herself? Ada Houston's life is shattered when her brother Frank goes missing following an accident at the docks. But a short time later she hears a rumour that he survived and left Liverpool to fight a foreign war. Determined not to lose him a second time she boards a ship to bring him home. But the battlefields of the Crimea are a hostile place for a penniless young woman. Then one day a lifeline is thrown her way as she is offered the chance to train as a nurse under the famous Florence Nightingale. Working in the most terrible of conditions, Ada shows an aptitude beyond anyone's expectations as she cares for her injured countrymen, makes new friends and enjoys the first flutter of romance. But Frank is still missing and she needs to find him before it's too late . . ._________'A wonderfully written book' 5***** Reader Review'Gripped me right from the start' 5***** Reader Review'You felt you were with them' 5***** Reader ReviewBy Jenny Holmes. 2015
**Don't miss Jenny Holmes's latest wartime series, The Air Raid Girls. Part 3 - The Air Raid Girls: Wartime Brides…
- is available now!** ----------------------------On the cobbled streets of a Yorkshire mill town in 1931, Lily Briggs does all she can to keep trouble at bay for her and her family.She works hard at Calvert Mill to make ends meet and take care of her parents and younger siblings. Saturday nights at the dance hall and dressmaking with her two best friends keep Lily upbeat, and now there's a blossoming romance with childhood friend Harry Bainbridge to put an extra spring in her step, too.But then a run of misfortune threatens Lily's work, home and personal life, and she has to rely on the community at the mill to rally together for support. With so many others to worry about, will Lily always put them first or can she find her own happy ending?A heart-warming, nostalgic tale of triumph over adversity that readers of Katie Flynn, Donna Douglas and Call the Midwife will adore.---------------------------- Readers love Jenny Holmes: 'There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book' 5 star review 'I couldn't put this book down' 5 star review 'Loved the whole story' 5 star review 'This is a totally absorbing book' 5 star review 'An excellent read put together in fine style' 5 star reviewBy June Francis. 1995
Happiness always comes at a cost...Having grown up in a convent after the death of her mother, Lizzie Knight has…
never known what it’s like to have a real family. So when a strange woman turns up with promises of a new life in Liverpool, she is thrilled.Warm-hearted and kind, Phyl is everything she wants in a stepmother. But then Lizzie falls in love with the one man who should have been out of bounds. Should she follow her heart and risk losing it all?From the author of A Sister’s Duty and Lily’s War(Note: previously published as Going Home to Liverpool)By Mary Jane Staples. 2012
A must read for fans of Katie Flynn, Fiona Valpy and Kristin Hannah - this is an enthralling and gripping…
romantic adventure from the multi-million copy seller Mary Jane Staples.READERS ARE LOVING LOVE FOR A SOLDIER! "As with all books by this author it is a top quality read..." - 5 STARS "What a great book - had a job to put it down. Recommend this book: 5 stars and more..." - 5 STARS "Excellent, thrilling and exciting." - 5 STARS****************************SHOULD SHE STAY LOYAL TO HER COUNTRY, OR THE MAN SHE LOVES?France, 1918: When Sophia, the rebellious daughter of a distinguished German general, witnesses a dramatic battle in the skies that leaves an English pilot without a plane and under the misapprehension that Sophia is on his side, she finds she has no choice but to agree to assist him in his attempt to avoid capture. He joins her in the family car she has stolen, trailed by both the German Army and a staff officer under strict instructions from Sophia's father to bring her home. With their pursuers hot on their heels, how will Sophia explain her behaviour, protecting a man she is supposed to hate? And after sharing so many adventures, will she be able to turn the flying officer in when the time comes?By Constance Heaven. 1997
Lose yourself in this beautifully written, emotional and enthralling novel from much loved author Constance Heaven. It conjures up the…
glittering society and changing times of the 1870s in London and Russia so wonderfully, you'll feel as if you are there yourself!'Heady romance with glittering background' -- SUNDAY TELEGRAPH'Readable and atmospheric' -- DUBLIN TIMES'Excellent! Difficult to put down' - ***** Reader review'Exciting read' - ***** Reader review'A great novel from a great writer' - ***** Reader review***************************************************************************Louise Defour's life is idyllic: as the love-child of a British diplomat and Russian dancer, she wants for nothing.But when her parents are killed, she finds herself penniless and alone, and must travel to England to meet a half-sister who does not even know of her existence.There, she becomes part of the world of the mysterious Daniel and Christine Hunter - with a potentially destructive effect.Let much-loved multi-million copy bestseller Rosie Harris sweep you away to Cardiff in this captivating and emotionally charged wartime saga.…
Perfect for readers of Dilly Court, Kitty Neale, Emma Hornby and Rosie Goodwin.'A tale of triumph over tragedy in the tradition of Catherine Cookson, and a rattling good read' -- activelife'Enjoyed from start to finish' -- ***** Reader review'I loved this book and read it in a couple of days' -- ***** Reader review'Excellent' -- ***** Reader review'I was hooked from the first page right to the end' -- ***** Reader review******************************************************************WAS SHE ALWAYS TO BE FATED IN LOVE?When Gaynor's God-fearing father drives her childhood sweetheart away, she's certain she will never love again. But a young German soon helps her to forget her sorrows - that is until, with war looming, he must return home and Gaynor is left heartbroken once more.When her parents discover she's pregnant and insist she cannot keep the child, Gaynor runs away to Cardiff.Penniless and alone in a strange city she is forced to give birth in the workhouse. Luckily, shortly afterwards she is taken in by a friendly Spanish family who care for her and little Sara.She quickly falls for the charms of the eldest son. But just when she thought she'd found love and a chance of happiness at last, a telegram shatters her dreams...When war breaks out in Britain, Nell Whitaker is sent to live with her aunt on a remote farm in…
Anglesey.She sorely misses thriving Liverpool but slowly begins to embrace country life. Nell even finds herself growing closer to Auntie Kath whose harsh attitude hides a kind heart.But when personal tragedy strikes, Nell's world crumbles around her.Can a blossoming friendship with Hywell, a boy from the neighbouring village, allow Nell to overcome her past and enjoy a brighter future?By Kate Eastham. 2019
A heart-warming and moving tale of courage and friendship set in Victorian Liverpool, for fans of Call the Midwife, Daisy…
Styles and Nadine Dorries. 'Deftly written and moving' Woman's Own__________Liverpool, 1870One act of kindness will change a young woman's life forever . . .On the dirty backstreets of Liverpool, housemaid Maud Linklater witnesses an appalling accident. Rushing young chimney-sweep Alfie to hospital, she helps nurse the boy on the overcrowded ward - and finds herself with a new job. Maud cannot believe her luck at joining trainees Alice and Eddy at the new Nurses' Training School and they form the closest of bonds. Then one day Alfie is abducted. Maud and the girls know the alleyways and slums of Liverpool are no place for a lost little boy. Can these determined women find Alfie before it's too late?'A heartwarming and tear-inducing tale with wonderfully realistic characters' WomanFrom much-loved multi-million copy bestseller Rosie Harris comes this engaging and enthralling saga about relationships - those between families, between…
friends and between lovers - and the forces that can make or break them. Perfect for readers of Dilly Court, Kitty Neale, Emma Hornby and Rosie Goodwin.What readers are saying!'An unmissable read, finished in a day' - 5 STARS'Brilliant' - 5 STARS'I couldn't put it down' - 5 STARS****************************************************************WILL SHE FIND THE SECURITY AND AFFECTION SHE'S BEEN LOOKING FOR ALL HER LIFE?Abbie Martin has grown up in squalor in one of Liverpool's most deprived areas. The youngest of three, she longs to be loved by her mother, but Ellen spends all her time with her eldest son, while Abbie and her brother, Sam, take refuge with their neighbours, Sandra Lewis and Peter Ryan.Although vibrant and attractive, Abbie pushes people away with her constant need for reassurance. Infatuated with Peter, she longs for the day when he tells her that he loves her. And Sam is courting Sandra. But Peter and Sandra have a secret - one that could destroy the friends' relationship should it become known.Will Abbie finally find what she most desires, or will she always be looking for love...?THE FIRST NOVEL IN A HEART-WARMING NEW SERIES BY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, KATIE FLYNN______________________________'Home is where the heart is, and…
my heart belongs to Liverpool. We would not dream of leavin' our beloved cit . .'August 1940: As the Luftwaffe swarm over Liverpool, Shane Quinn decides to move his family back to the safety of Ireland. But his only child, the beautiful Dana, would rather stay and serve her country than flee to a foreign land.Determined to make it on her own, she joins the WAAF with newfound pals Patty and Lucy. There is plenty of excitement to be had on a RAF station, and even a chance or two at love.But the stark reality of war begins to take its toll and the three girls soon discover they need their friendship more than ever. And when shocking news arrives from Ireland, Dana will realise the true importance of family.______________________________Praise for Katie Flynn:'If you pick up a Katie Flynn book it's going to be a wrench to put it down again' Holyhead and Anglesey Mail'Packed with romance and poignancy' Woman'One of the best Liverpool writers' Liverpool Echo'Heart-warming' Take a BreakFrom bestselling author Margaret Mayhew, an emotional and gripping wartime saga, full of the tension and adventure of World War…
Two. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn, Donna Douglas and Rosie Clarke. READERS ARE LOVING THE LITTLE SHIP!"Brilliant. Very moving, funny and sad all at the same time" - 5 STARS"[The] characterisation is wonderful. The reader is able to put themselves right there as the book unfolds." - 5 STARS"Absolutely fantastic" - 5 STARS"A fantastic storyteller" - 5 STARS"I found it fascinating historical fiction at its best" - 5 STARS***************************************************************CAN FRIENDSHIPS FORGED IN CHILDHOOD SURVIVE THE HORRORS OF WAR?In the summers leading up to the war, Matt, Guy, and their young cousin Lizzie meet up on the Essex coast and bum around in an old boat. Guy is the eldest, handsome, skilled at everything, a tad selfish. Matt is quieter and has a crippled right arm. Lizzie adores them both. These are idyllic days of sun, and sea, the golden era of the thirties.As the thirties progress, things take a darker turn. Lizzie's family take the daughter of a Viennese colleague of Lizzie's father into their home, a Jewish girl called Anna, who is miserable and homesick. Soon Otto joins the band of children - the son of a German diplomat, reared in the best traditions of the Hitler doctrine and destined for the army. As they grow up, their relationships become tense and highly involved. Resentment, love, confusion, hate all intermingle... Then the world explodes into war and they go their separate ways until they all meet again at Dunkirk...with very different aims and ambitions....By Katie Flynn. 1993
Liverpool. December, 1905. In the breaking dawn of a raw windswept morning, a new-born baby girl is left at the…
door of an orphange. So helpless and appealing is the foundling that young Nellie McDowell, the maid-of-all-work, decides there and then to adopt her as her own sister.In the years that follow, Nellie and Lilac become even closer than sisters in their shared struggle to survive the grinding poverty of their lot. But they cannot lean on each other for ever. Nellie delights in the promise of love - and tastes the bitterness of betrayal - just as the long finger of war stretches out to divide the girls and rob Liverpool of a whole generation of its young men ...Sure to please fans and newcomers alike, this is classic Katie Flynn saga writing at its best.By Katie Flynn. 2001
Liverpool, 1923Lizzie is an orphan living with her Aunt Annie, Uncle Perce and two boy cousins in Cranberry Court, within…
a stone's throw of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. Lizzie loves her aunt but is hated by her uncle and escapes whenever she can.She makes friends with Geoff Gardiner, another orphan, and is teaching him to swim in the Scaldy when Clem Gilligan rescues the pair of them from drowning. Clem works on the Canal boat, The Liverpool Rose, with Jake Pridmore and his wife, plying between the great cities of Leeds and Liverpool.But Lizzie's situation at home starts to worsen as her uncle grows surlier and more violent. Eventually the worst happens and Lizzie is forced to flee from the Court or risk serious injury, perhaps even death. Her first instinct is to make for the canal, but finding Clem is not so easy . . .By Mary Jane Staples. 1978
If you like Katie Flynn, Kristin Hannah and Fiona Valpy, you will love this page-turner of a romantic adventure from…
multi-million copy seller Mary Jane Staples. READERS ARE LOVING THE LONGEST WINTER!"A really good read from cover to cover. Read it on holiday almost non stop..." - 5 STARS"I thoroughly enjoyed this story and found it held my interest from beginning to end..." - 5 STARS"Didn't want to put it down" - 5 STARS*********************************CAN THEIR LOVE SURVIVE THE LONG WINTER OF WAR? When Baroness Sophie von Korvacs meets British painter James Fraser one hot summer's day in Vienna, the attraction is instant. A whirlwind romance follows, with Vienna bathed in the brilliance of the last days of the emperor. And when James proposes to Sophie it seems a fitting end to that wonderful, enchanting summer.But darker days are on the horizon as Europe teeters on the brink of war. James must make the ultimate choice: love for King and Country or love for Sophie. Before he knows it, his difficult decision is made for him, and he and Sophie are on opposite sides of a bloody and devastating conflict.Four bleak years of fighting and death roll by. Will Sophie's long winter ever end and can their love conquer all?The Longest Winter was previously published as Appointment in Sarajevo.