Service Alert
Delay in delivery of ZIP and Direct to Player materials
You may experience a delay in delivery of Direct to Player materials. All requests for materials will be delivered as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.
You may experience a delay in delivery of Direct to Player materials. All requests for materials will be delivered as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience.
Showing 34221 - 34240 of 34552 items
By Maggie Hope. 2003
A gripping saga from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Coal Miner's DaughterA terrible choice between her sweetheart and…
her reputation...Orphaned from birth, Mary Trent has always dreamed of the day she can escape from poverty, and when she meets the dashing young doctor Tom Gallagher, it seems her prayers have been answered.But an untimely pregnancy spells disaster and the threat of returning to a life of destitution. Is a marriage of convenience the only thing that can save her?By Maggie Ford. 2000
Can this East End girl find a better life? Born in a tenement on the Isle of Dogs, Jessie has…
higher hopes for her future. When she manages to land a job at the Telephone Exchange, her earnings allow her to join the choir at the People's Palace. There, she catches the eye of the charming James Medway who sweeps her off her feet.But married life isn't a bed of roses, and when Jessie falls pregnant it quickly becomes clear that James is far from the doting husband she'd hoped for. Can Jessie find a way to stay strong for her baby?A heart-warming and gripping East End Saga, perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Maggie Hope.By Emma Smith-Barton. 2019
*Shortlisted for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2020**Shortlisted for the Branford Boase Award 2020**Shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists' Association Debut…
Romantic Novel Award 2020* 'Powerful, relatable and uplifting' - Emily Barr, author of The One Memory of Flora BanksHow can I hold myself together, when everything around me is falling apart?Neena's always been a good girl - great grades, parent-approved friends and absolutely no boyfriends. But ever since her brother Akash left her, she's been slowly falling apart - and uncovering a new version of herself who is freer, but altogether more dangerous. As her wild behaviour spirals more and more out of control, Neena's grip on her sanity begins to weaken too. And when her parents announce not one but two life-changing bombshells, she finally reaches breaking point. But as Neena is about to discover, when your life falls apart, only love can piece you back together.By George Eliot. 2010
Discover one of the most admired, best loved and influential novels in the history of English literature. The perfect long…
read to lose yourself in.‘If we had a keen vision and feeling of all ordinary human life…’Dorothea is bright, beautiful and rebellious. Lydgate is the ambitious new doctor in town. Both of them long to make a positive difference in the world. But their stories do not proceed as expected and both they, and the other inhabitants of Middlemarch, must struggle to reconcile themselves to their fates and find their places in the world.Middlemarch contains all of life: the rich and the poor, the conventional and the radical, literature and science, politics and romance, but above all it gives us a vision of what lies within the human heart, the roar on the other side of silence.'Glorious, sprawling, generous... It is a book I hope to read at every decade of my life, because I think each time it will have something new to teach me' Greta Gerwig**One of the BBC’s 100 Novels That Shaped Our World**By Katie Flynn. 1994
FROM SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR KATIE FLYNN: Set in Liverpool in the 1920s, The Mersey Girlsis a heartwarming novel of…
family, love and triumph against the odds. ____________________________________1913Seventeen-year-old Evie Murphy has chosen to leave behind her native Ireland for the city of Liverpool. She takes her baby daughter Linnet with her, but leaves behind her child’s frail twin, Lucy. A decision that will change their lives for ever.1924When tragedy strikes, Linnet is left destitute and alone, disappearing into the unforgiving Liverpool slums. Meanwhile, Lucy is desperate to find her sister but is she willing to leave behind the beautiful Irish countryside where she has grown up.With uncertain times ahead, will the sisters ever be reunited . . . ?With unforgettable characters, charming romance and lots of laughter, A Merry Mistletoe Wedding is a gorgeous Christmas read from much-loved…
and ever-popular author Judy Astley. Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Jenny Colgan, Lucy Diamond and Milly Johnson.'Elegant, witty writing, endearing characters and a wonderful romance. What more could you want?' -- Katie Fforde'A light-hearted, romantic and escapist read' -- Good Housekeeping'With dialogue that will have you laughing out loud, and well drawn characters to boot, this is an enjoyable light read' -- Sunday Mirror'It was like putting on your favourite jumper - warm and cosy - and great to cuddle up with this winter' -- ***** Reader review'Warm and witty' -- ***** Reader review'Full of fun and charm' -- ***** Reader review'Fantastic from start to finish!' -- ***** Reader review*****************************************************************************************CHURCH BELLS RING...ARE YOU LISTENING?It is almost a year since Sean and Thea met and it's been a roller-coaster ride: they're getting married on Christmas Day!Neither Thea or Sean want a big fuss - a simple wedding, with Christmas lights and just a few sprigs of mistletoe for decoration is all they need. But before they know it, things begin to get complicated...Trying to manage a long-distance relationship in the build-up to their Christmas wedding is one thing, but as one challenge after another comes their way, the happy couple begin to wonder if they'll ever make it down the aisle . . .Thea and Sean's story begins in It Must Have Been The Mistletoe - have you read it?By Cathy Cassidy. 2018
Ever since Lexie's mum vanished, her world hasn't stopped spinning. A new home, a new school - even a new…
family but Lexie never gives up hope that her mum will come back and writes her letters every day to tell her all about her new life. There's plenty to tell - the new group of misfits she calls friends, the talent for music she never knew she had and the gorgeous boy with blue eyes and secrets to hide. But her letters remain unanswered and she's starting to feel more alone than ever. Lexie's about to learn that sometimes you need to get lost in order to be found.The first in a gorgeous new series from the bestselling author of the Chocolate Box Girls and the perfect next step for fans of Jacqueline Wilson.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...By Susan Lewis. 2012
Lauren Scott is bright, talented and beautiful. At eighteen, she is the most precious gift in the world to her…
mother, and has a dazzling career ahead of her. Oliver Lomax is a young man full of promise, despite the shadow his own, deeply troubled, mother casts over him. Then one fateful night, Oliver makes a decision that tears their worlds apart. Until then, Lauren and Oliver had never met, but now they become so closely bound together that their families are forced to confront truths they hoped they'd never have to face, secrets they'd never even imagined...By A. L. Kennedy. 1993
Mary Margaret Hamilton was educated in Scotland. She was born there too. These may not have been the best possible…
options, but they were the only ones on offer at the time. Although her father did his best, her knowledge of life is perhaps a little incomplete. Margaret knows the best way to look at the moon, how to wake on time and how to breathe fire. Now she must learn how to live. A. L. Kennedy's absorbing, moving and gently political first novel dissects the intricate difficulties of human relationships, from Margaret's passionate attachment to her father and her more problematic involvement with Colin, her lover, to the wider social relations between pupil and teacher, employer and employee, individual and state.From 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...?This laugh-out-loud comedy from bestselling author Judy Astley is perfect for readers of Carole Matthews, Jenny Colgan, Lucy Diamond and…
Milly Johnson. Showing that life - and a fulfilling love life - doesn't have to end at 40, this is a marvellously modern rom-com that will have you hooked!'Astley is a great writer, funny and sharp... her prose is a pleasure to read, her dialogue sparkles... a perfect book to race through at the beach' -- Daily Mail'Love, life and reality TV. Great fun' -- Woman & Home'Romantic fiction at its best' -- ***** Reader review'Warm and witty' -- ***** Reader review'Riveting' -- ***** Reader review'Great story line, a lot of fun, kept my interest and didn't disappoint' -- ***** Reader review************************************************************************************************WHEN A MAKEOVER TURNS INTO A NIGHTMARE...Bella has given up on men.Her latest boyfriend 'forgot' to tell her about his current wife, so she's single again.Now, her ex-husband has turned up, wanting to sell the family home in which she and their two teenage children are happily living their lives.Then Bella sees a chance to stay in the house and earn some money. She rents it out for a reality TV makeover programme.And it turns out that the house isn't the only thing that will benefit from a change...By Louisa May Alcott. 2018
'I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning how to sail my ship.'Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth - four "little…
women" enduring hardships and enjoying adventures in Civil War New England The charming story of the March sisters, Little Women has been adored by generations. Readers have rooted for Laurie in his pursuit of Jo's hand, cried over little Beth's death, and dreamed of travelling through Europe with old Aunt March and Amy. Future writers have found inspiration in Jo's devotion to her writing. In this simple, enthralling tale, both parts of which are included here, Louisa May Alcott has created four of American literature's most beloved women.The Penguin English Library - collectable general readers' editions of the best fiction in English, from the eighteenth century to the end of the Second World War.By Frances Hodgson Burnett. 2008
Alone in a new country, wealthy Sara Crewe tries to make friends at boarding school and settle in.But when she…
learns that she'll never see her beloved father again, her life is turned upside down. Transformed from princess to pauper, she must swap dancing lessons and luxury for drudgery and a room in the attic. Will she find that kindness and generosity are all the riches she truly needs?With deeply poignant introduction written by bestselling author of Chinese Cinderella, A Little Princess is one of the twelve wonderful classic stories being relaunched in Puffin Classics in March 2008.By Mary Jane Staples. 1991
A moving family drama set against the backdrop of one of London's poorest areas from multi-million copy seller Mary Jane…
Staples. Perfect for fans of Maggie Ford, Kitty Neale and Katie Flynn.READERS ARE LOVING THE LODGER!"This was such a great read....... priceless I loved it" - 5 STARS"Leave[s] you with a smile on your face..." - 5 STARS"Once you start, you can't put it down..." - 5 STARS"I absolutely loved this book" - 5 STARS"Great for lifting your spirits" - 5 STARS"A good book, keeps you in suspense until the end" - 5 STARS************************************************IN TIMES OF TROUBLE, CAN SHE KEEP HER FAMILY SAFE FROM HARM?London, 1908: For years now, Maggie Wilson has had to bring up her four daughters alone with barely enough money to get by. Local Constable Harry Bradshaw looks out for them as best he can but there isn't much he can do for Maggie's small family.When the opportunity to take in a lodger arises, Maggie can't resist the extra income. But there's something strange about the man Maggie has let into her home... what if he's more trouble than he's worth?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 Katie Flynn. 1994
A brilliant romance novel set in 1930s Liverpool, from one of Britain's bestselling saga authors.Life is hard in 1930s Liverpool,…
and Biddy O'Shaughnessy is left destitute when her widowed mother dies. Forced to work all hours for Ma Kettle, owner of the local sweet shop, she can soon take no more and runs away.At first luck appears to be on her side. Sharing a flat with Ellen, an old school pal who has a special 'friend' paying the rent, keeps the wolf from the door. But fate conspires against them and Biddy finds herself homeless once more, living rough on the mean streets of Liverpool.When she applies for the post of maid with the Gallagher family, Biddy starts to feel she might at last be able to lead a normal life. Especially when she meets Dai, a young Welshman working the trawlers. But Nellie Gallagher has a secret that will change all their lives...Liverpool Taffy is a heartwarming story of love and courage from a wonderful storyteller, and one of the most popular saga writers of our time, Katie Flynn.By Katie Flynn. 2004
Liverpool, Christmas 1938. Rose McAllister is waiting for her husband, Steve, to come home. He is a seaman, often drunk…
and violent, but Rose does her best to cope and see that her daughters, Daisy and Petal, suffer as little as possible. Steve, however, realises that war is coming and tries to reform, but on his last night home, he pawns the girls' new dolls to go on a drinking binge. When war is declared Rose has a good job but agrees the children must be evacuated. Daisy and Petal are happy at first, but circumstances change and they are put in the care of a woman who hates all scousers and taunts them with the destruction of their city. They run away, arriving home on the worst night of the May Blitz. Rose is attending the birth of her friend's baby and goes back to Bernard Terrace to find her home has received a direct hit, and is told that the children were seen entering the house the previous evening. Devastated, she throws herself into the war effort, risking her life before she considers finding out what really happened that fateful night...A Long and Lonely Road is yet another confirmation of the brilliance and warmth of Katie Flynn's saga novels.By Frances Hodgson Burnett. 2012
‘I pretend I am a princess, so that I can try and behave like one’ Without her beloved father and…
miles from home, it is very hard for Sara Crewe to like her new life at boarding school. Luckily Sara is always dreaming up wonderful things and her power of telling stories wins her lots of friends. When a letter arrives that brings disastrous news, the wicked headmistress Miss Minchin forces Sara to become a servant. Her lovely clothes and toys are taken away from her. She must work from dawn until midnight. How will Sara cope with her new found poverty? Can her imagination help her overcome this horrible situation?BACKSTORY: Read why Jacqueline Wilson loves this book and find out which pupil of Sara's school you are most like.