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House of Secrets: A Novel (House of Secrets #1)
By V. C. Andrews. 2018
From the New York Times bestselling author and literary phenomenon V.C. Andrews (Flowers in the Attic, My Sweet Audrina) comes…
a shivery gothic tale of romance, class divisions, and the secrets that haunt families for generations.Ever since Fern could remember, she and her mother have lived as servants in Wyndemere House, the old gothic mansion of the Davenport family. She may have been a servant, but Fern developed a sweet friendship with Dr. Davenport&’s son, Ryder, and she was even allowed free range of the estate. But Dr. Davenport has remarried and his new wife has very different ideas about a servant&’s place. Now Fern and her mother are subject to cruel punishments, harsh conditions, and aren&’t even allowed to use the front door. Yet, for all her wrath, the cruel woman cannot break the mysterious bond between Ryder and Fern. And when Ryder invites Fern to join his friends at prom, there&’s nothing Mrs. Davenport can do to stop them nor can she continue to guard the secret that haunts the women of Wyndemere—but there&’s nothing she won&’t try. After all, reputation is everything.Small Pleasures: Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction
By Clare Chambers. 2020
LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2021'A WORD-OF-MOUTH HIT' Evening Standard 'A very fine book... It's witty and sharp…
and reads like something by Barbara Pym or Anita Brookner, without ever feeling like a pastiche'David Nicholls'Perfect'India Knight 'Beautiful' Jessie Burton'Wonderful'Richard Osman 'Miraculous'Tracy Chevalier 'A wonderful novel. I loved it'Nina Stibbe 'Effortless to read, but every sentence lingers in the mind' Lissa Evans 'This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. I honestly don't want you to be without it'Lucy Mangan'Gorgeous... If you're looking for something escapist and bittersweet, I could not recommend more' Pandora Sykes'Remarkable... Small Pleasures is no small pleasure'The Times'An irresistible novel - wry, perceptive and quietly devastating'Mail on Sunday'Chambers' eye for undemonstrative details achieves a Larkin-esque lucidity' Guardian'An almost flawlessly written tale of genuine, grown-up romantic anguish' The Sunday Times 1957, the suburbs of South East London. Jean Swinney is a journalist on a local paper, trapped in a life of duty and disappointment from which there is no likelihood of escape. When a young woman, Gretchen Tilbury, contacts the paper to claim that her daughter is the result of a virgin birth, it is down to Jean to discover whether she is a miracle or a fraud. As the investigation turns her quiet life inside out, Jean is suddenly given an unexpected chance at friendship, love and - possibly - happiness. But there will, inevitably, be a price to pay.Book of the Year for: The Times, Daily Telegraph, Evening Standard, Daily Express, Metro, Spectator, Red Magazine and Good HousekeepingNurse Kitty: After the War
By Maggie Campbell. 2024
It is 1950 and Kitty Longthorne is now a Sister at Manchester's Park Hospital, and as busy as ever. With…
dizzying numbers of children with polio being admitted to the children's ward, a sharp uptick of major trauma from road accidents and growing political and racial conflict affecting her patients and staff, there's no shortage of drama at the hospital. But Kitty is determined that everyone is treated with respect.Outside of the hospital, Kitty is finally ready to marry her fiancé, Dr James Williams. But with the growing Cold War tensions, Kitty and James come under scrutiny because of two people close to their hearts. With any suspicious activity grounds for treason, their happily ever after is suddenly on shaky ground... will they ever be able to set a date for the wedding?Inspired by the brave nurses and doctors from the first NHS hospital, the Trafford General, which opened after the end of World War II. Perfect for fans of Call the Midwife and The Nightingale Girls.Nurse Kitty: After the War
By Maggie Campbell. 2024
It is 1950 and Kitty Longthorne is now a Sister at Manchester's Park Hospital, and as busy as ever. With…
dizzying numbers of children with polio being admitted to the children's ward, a sharp uptick of major trauma from road accidents and growing political and racial conflict affecting her patients and staff, there's no shortage of drama at the hospital. But Kitty is determined that everyone is treated with respect.Outside of the hospital, Kitty is finally ready to marry her fiancé, Dr James Williams. But with the growing Cold War tensions, Kitty and James come under scrutiny because of two people close to their hearts. With any suspicious activity grounds for treason, their happily ever after is suddenly on shaky ground... will they ever be able to set a date for the wedding?Inspired by the brave nurses and doctors from the first NHS hospital, the Trafford General, which opened after the end of World War II. Perfect for fans of Call the Midwife and The Nightingale Girls.Nurse Kitty: After the War
By Maggie Campbell. 2024
It is 1950 and Kitty Longthorne is now a Sister at Manchester's Park Hospital, and as busy as ever. With…
dizzying numbers of children with polio being admitted to the children's ward, a sharp uptick of major trauma from road accidents and growing political and racial conflict affecting her patients and staff, there's no shortage of drama at the hospital. But Kitty is determined that everyone is treated with respect.Outside of the hospital, Kitty is finally ready to marry her fiancé, Dr James Williams. But with the growing Cold War tensions, Kitty and James come under scrutiny because of two people close to their hearts. With any suspicious activity grounds for treason, their happily ever after is suddenly on shaky ground... will they ever be able to set a date for the wedding?Inspired by the brave nurses and doctors from the first NHS hospital, the Trafford General, which opened after the end of World War II. Perfect for fans of Call the Midwife and The Nightingale Girls.All Waiting Is Long: A Novel
By Barbara J. Taylor. 2016
"Powerful...Every page is saturated with the 1930s milieu as the sisters navigate the adversities of their reality on a sea…
rough with the unrealistic expectations of well-intended idealists both religious and secular. As if to highlight those expectations, Taylor periodically interrupts her third-person narrative with Greek chorus-type commentary from the Scranton-based Isabelle Lumley Bible Class, including excerpts from a 1929 sex manual for women. The overall result is a thought-provoking book club discussion cornucopia."--Booklist, Starred review"Set in the 1930s, Taylor's suspenseful and intricate follow-up to Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night tells the story of sisters Violet and Lily Morgan...Taylor delivers startling plot twists and incisive commentary on the social unrest of a coal-mining town during the Great Depression. Covering a six-year span, the novel reveals the consequences of arduous labor and widespread sterilizations that came with the eugenics movement. Among the prostitutes, mobsters, and miners is a web of interconnected lives that come together for a breathtaking ending in Taylor's fine sequel."--Publishers Weekly"A good selection for book clubs, All Waiting Is Long is set in Pennsylvania coal country in the 1930s, a time of tumultuous change and social unrest, including the rise of the eugenics movement. Barbara Taylor's characters--a cast of nuns and prostitutes, mobsters and miners, social activists and church busybodies--reflect the varying pressures and expectations of small-town life with rich, insightful prose and dialogue that rings true to each character's voice. Will the web of lies the two sisters weave around themselves survive? You''ll have to read it yourself to find out. Recommended."--Historical Novel Review"Barbara J. Taylor has created another suspenseful page-turner . . . revealing shocking details of enlightened thinking in the 1930s against the backdrop of political corruption, unions, rampant prostitution, coal mine strikes, and judgmental Christians. But it's Taylor's finely honed characters and plot twists that make All Waiting Is Long an unforgettable novel."--BookMark on WPSU"In this richly populated community, old ties are either torn or tightened, and the characters left behind when the sisters went off are nicely fleshed out...Ms. Taylor writes with total mastery of her craft. Her similes and metaphors are born of a highly developed abstractive sensitivity, and her dialogues are unerringly true to their respective speakers."--BookPleasuresThe latest novel in Akashic's Kaylie Jones Books imprint.All Waiting Is Long tells the stories of the Morgan sisters, a study in contrasts. In 1930, twenty-five-year-old Violet travels with her sixteen-year-old sister Lily from Scranton, Pennsylvania, to the Good Shepherd Infant Asylum in Philadelphia, so Lily can deliver her illegitimate child in secret. In doing so, Violet jeopardizes her engagement to her longtime sweetheart, Stanley Adamski. Meanwhile, Mother Mary Joseph, who runs the Good Shepherd, has no idea the asylum's physician, Dr. Peters, is involved in eugenics and experimenting on the girls with various sterilization techniques.Five years later, Lily and Violet are back home in Scranton, one married, one about to be, each finding her own way in a place where a woman's worth is tied to her virtue. Against the backdrop of the sweeping eugenics movement and rogue coal mine strikes, the Morgan sisters must choose between duty and desire. Either way, they risk losing their marriages and each other.The novel picks up sixteen years after the close of Barbara J. Taylor's debut novel, Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night--a Publishers Weekly Best Summer Book of 2014--and continues her Dickensian exploration of the MorganLet the lion eat straw
By Ebele Oseye, Ellease Southerland. 2004
Young African American Abeba Williams moves from rural North Carolina to Brooklyn to live with her mother, who dreams of…
a better life. Abeba begins to develop a promising musical talent but soon becomes distracted by marriage and children. Despite economic and social hardships, Abeba perseveres with dignity. 1979The Granville Legacy (The Granville Sisters Trilogy)
By Una-Mary Parker. 2020
The war is over but life will never be the same again…The Second World War has finally ended, but times…
are still difficult and emotions run high. Juliet Granville is now married to a man she loves and is finally happy following years of turmoil, but she remains terrified he’ll find out about her scandalous past. Her sister Rosie, who is bored with her own life and desperate for another child, is jealous of Juliet. She has everything Rosie wants, so when the opportunity arises for her to spoil Juliet’s perfect life, she cannot resist…Meanwhile, their ambitious mother Liza Granville cannot accept that times have changed and is determined that her youngest daughter should follow the path that sisters did, but Charlotte has other dreams. When Liza makes a desperate decision to try and regain some of the glamour of their former life, it will rock the family and test their loyalties to the limit…A captivating post-war saga of love and betrayal, perfect for fans of Judith Lennox and Kate Williams.The Granville Affair (The Granville Sisters Trilogy)
By Una-Mary Parker. 2020
The Granville family is about to face hardships they could have never imagined. The Granville family have fled bomb-torn London…
for Hartley Hall in Surrey, but even away from the city life remains turbulent. Rosie is trapped in a loveless marriage to a penniless peer. With her husband away fighting, she finds the temptations that come with his absence too much to avoid.Meanwhile, her younger sister Juliet’s world comes crashing down when she must face a tragedy without the support of the only man she has ever loved. Desperate to forget her past, she puts herself in the line of danger as a Red Cross nurse, braving the carnage of the Blitz.The fragile peace at Hartley Hall is disrupted further when fifteen-year-old Louise becomes involved with an East End evacuee, and threatens the family with yet another scandal…An enthralling saga of family life in the Second World War, perfect for fans of Kate Williams and Catherine Gaskin.Out of the Rain (The Umbrella series #2)
By V. C. Andrews. 2021
Following the events of The Umbrella Lady, young Saffron Faith Anders searches for family and love in this spine-tingling gothic…
fairy tale from the New York Times bestselling author of the Flowers in the Attic series and Landry series—now popular Lifetime movies.After escaping the trauma of the Umbrella Lady&’s home, thirteen-year-old Saffron Faith Anders is determined to find the father who abandoned her all those years ago. But when she finds him in a nearby town, Saffron is shocked to discover that he has married a woman he clearly had been involved with before her mother&’s death. Worse, her father insists Saffron pretend to be his niece so he can continue to con his new wife&’s family. Desperate for her father&’s love, she goes along with the farce, but it soon becomes clear that perhaps it is better to face the world alone than trapped in a toxic and potentially dangerous family.Little Paula (The Eden Series #2)
By V. C. Andrews. 2023
Nothing can come between a mother and her child in this haunting sequel to Eden&’s Children from the #1 New…
York Times bestselling author of the Flowers in the Attic and Landry series—now popular Lifetime movie events.Faith Eden&’s brief foray into motherhood is marked by tragedy. Distraught that her baby was ripped away from her, she is determined to get little Paula back from the wealthy family who adopted her. Her brother, Trevor, is also anxious to get the baby back and will do anything necessary to do so. But when the dark truth comes to light, this twisted family will stop at nothing to keep outsiders out and secrets in—no matter the cost.Christopher's Diary: Secrets Of Foxworth (Dollanganger #6)
By V. C. Andrews. 2015
Jealousy, tragedy, survival, and revenge--the discovery of Christopher's diary in the ruins of Foxworth Hall brings new secrets of the…
Dollanganger family to light and obsesses a new generation. With Flowers in the Attic and Petals on the Wind both now major Lifetime TV events, this first new addition to the Dollanganger story in nearly thirty years is a timely look at the events in the attic--from teenage Christopher's point of view.And don't forget to preorder the follow-up, Christopher's Diary: Echoes of Dollanganger! Christopher Dollanganger was fourteen when he and his younger siblings--Cathy and the twins, Cory and Carrie--were locked away in the attic of Foxworth Hall, prisoners of their mother's greedy inheritance scheme. For three long years he kept hope alive for the sake of the others. But the shocking truth about how their ordeal affected him was always kept hidden--until now. Seventeen-year-old Kristin Masterwood is thrilled when her father's construction company is hired to inspect the Foxworth property for a prospective buyer. The once grand Southern mansion still sparks legends and half-truths about the four innocent Dollanganger children, even all these decades later. Foxworth holds a special fascination for Kristin, who was too young when her mother died to learn much about her distant blood tie to the notorious family. Accompanying her dad to the "forbidden territory," they find a leather-bound book, its yellowed pages filled with the neat script of Christopher Dollanganger himself. Her father grows increasingly uneasy about her reading it, but as she devours the teen's story page by page, his shattering account of temptation, heartache, courage, and betrayal overtakes Kristin's every thought. And soon her obsession with the doomed boy crosses a dangerous line...Becoming My Sister
By V. C. Andrews. 2022
Two sisters face love, rivalry, and a shocking disappearance amidst the luxury of Palm Springs from the #1 New York…
Times bestselling author of the Flowers in the Attic series and Landry series—now popular Lifetime movies.Like everyone else in Palm Springs, Gish idolizes her smart, beautiful, kind older sister. Even their parents compare Gish unfavorably to Gloria—threatening to send her to boarding school once the more perfect sister leaves for college. But Gloria has an unwavering love for Gish, even if that connection belies a weariness with her own accomplishments. Wanting a better life for her overlooked sibling, Gloria teaches Gish how to talk to boys, embrace her femininity, and finally develop a life of her own. And just as life is looking up for Gish, Gloria meets a handsome, mysterious boy. Obsessed with the stranger, Gloria closes off her life to her sister—then disappears without a trace. A police search yields nothing. Their father&’s manic investigation proves fruitless. And their already starstruck mother becomes increasingly lost in daydreams of the celebrities who partied in their house decades ago when the town was a Hollywood getaway. Untethered from the weight of her sister&’s presence—but also missing her sister&’s love—what will Gish do with this new terrible freedom, with this sense she could become anything?Eden's Children (The Eden Series #1)
By V. C. Andrews. 2022
Mother doesn&’t always know best in this atmospheric and twisty novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of…
the Flowers in the Attic series and Landry series—now popular Lifetime movies.When former teacher Paula Eden adopts Faith and Trevor, she is astounded by their natural intelligence and decides to homeschool them to nurture their brilliance. But as the years go on, Faith and Trevor itch for more independence. When Faith sets her sights on a handsome young man visiting from out of town, Paula grows increasingly desperate to preserve her small family and her plans for the children to carry on her legacy. Luckily, she has a cohort in loyal Trevor, who will do anything to please his mother, even at the risk of hurting his sister and potentially changing their lives forever.London, 1944. With bombs raining over London, keeping the Battersea Tavern open is no easy feat for owner Winnie Berry…
- but the community need the warmth and familiarity of the pub more than ever.After marriage, Maureen Fanning had moved out to Wandsworth with her bad-tempered husband Brancher. But when he loses both his job and their lodgings, the only people who will take them in are her kindly grandparents, Len and Renee. Getting a cleaning job at the Battersea Tavern is the least she can do to pay them back. It would all be fine... if it weren't for Brancher.Winnie is determined to take timid Maureen under her wing. But when tragedy strikes, it will be up to Maureen to find the strength she didn't know she possessed...London, 1944. With bombs raining over London, keeping the Battersea Tavern open is no easy feat for owner Winnie Berry…
- but the community need the warmth and familiarity of the pub more than ever.After marriage, Maureen Fanning had moved out to Wandsworth with her bad-tempered husband Brancher. But when he loses both his job and their lodgings, the only people who will take them in are her kindly grandparents, Len and Renee. Getting a cleaning job at the Battersea Tavern is the least she can do to pay them back. It would all be fine... if it weren't for Brancher.Winnie is determined to take timid Maureen under her wing. But when tragedy strikes, it will be up to Maureen to find the strength she didn't know she possessed...Maggie of Moss Street: Love, tragedy and a woman's struggle to do what's right
By Pamela Evans. 2012
A tale of temptation and tribulation set under the storm clouds of war and class. Pam Evans, much-loved author of…
In the Dark Streets Shining and Harvest Nights, weaves her magic yet again in this wartime saga, complete with romance, tragedy and a heart-breaking love triangle. Perfect for fans of Lindsey Hutchinson and Dilly Court.'An unforgettable tale of life during the war' - Our TimeThe Brightwells live in Moss Street in a shabby area of London's Shepherd's Bush. Maggie Brightwell's father was killed in the Blitz by a bomb that also injured her brother Tom. Yet Maggie is a lively, warm-hearted girl. She works as a typist in central London and becomes good friends with Chloe Anderson, the spoilt daughter of her rich boss. When her boss begins to take a more than paternal interest in Maggie, she is horrified and quickly changes jobs, becoming an assistant in a run-down flower shop in Moss Street. She soon falls for the happy-go-lucky owner Jack Radford and they marry. But their happiness is threatened by a developing relationship between Maggie and her best friend Chloe's new charismatic husband. Maggie is determined not to hurt those closest to her and provide a better life for her family, but can she resist temptation? What readers are saying about Maggie of Moss Street: 'A very readable book which I thoroughly recommend. 10/10!' 'This story had so many twists and turns which made it so exciting. I couldn't put it down'The Jubilee Letter
By Carol MacLean. 2015
Set against the backdrop of 1950s Glasgow and the grand drama of the young Queen's coronation, Avril has two suitors…
to choose from. However, both have secrets, and only once Avril finds out what they are hiding, will she be able to choose a love to last a lifetime. Will Avril be tempted by the charming Jack or choose the quiet Gordon? Caught between two lovers, a choice once made will affect her entire life.My Kind of Happy: The new feel-good, funny novel from the Sunday Times bestseller
By Cathy Bramley. 2020
It started with a wishlist... Now can she make it happen?'A story bursting at the seams with sunshine' Milly Johnson'Filled…
with warmth and laughter' Carole Matthews'A delightfully uplifting, inspiring read. You might just want to change your life too' Fiona Gibson------------'I think flowers are sunshine for the soul.'Flowers have always made Fearne smile. She treasures the memories of her beloved grandmother's floristry and helping her to arrange beautiful blooms that brought such joy to their recipients.But ever since a family tragedy a year ago, Fearne has been searching for her own contentment. When a chance discovery inspires her to start a happiness wishlist, it seems that Fearne might just have found her answer...Sometimes the scariest path can be the most rewarding. So is Fearne ready to take the risk and step into the unknown? And what kind of happiness might she find if she does?Fall in love with this romantic, feel-good story from bestseller Cathy Bramley about one woman's search for happiness!My Kind of Happy was originally published as a four-part serial. This is the complete story in one package.------------Readers are LOVING My Kind of Happy!'Inspiring and uplifting' 5*'Cathy just gets better and better' 5*'Like a dose of sunshine on a dismal day...' 5*'A feel-good story!' 5*'Draws you in from the beginning...' 5*'I laughed and cried my eyes out!' 5*------------Your other favourite authors love to curl up with Cathy Bramley too:'Delightful!' Katie Fforde'A page-turner of a story' Milly Johnson'Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns' Trisha Ashley'The perfect romantic tale, to warm your heart and make you smile' Ali McNamaraMy Kind of Happy: The new feel-good, funny novel from the Sunday Times bestseller
By Cathy Bramley. 2020
It started with a wishlist... Now can she make it happen?'A story bursting at the seams with sunshine' Milly Johnson'Filled…
with warmth and laughter' Carole Matthews'A delightfully uplifting, inspiring read. You might just want to change your life too' Fiona Gibson------------'I think flowers are sunshine for the soul.'Flowers have always made Fearne smile. She treasures the memories of her beloved grandmother's floristry and helping her to arrange beautiful blooms that brought such joy to their recipients.But ever since a family tragedy a year ago, Fearne has been searching for her own contentment. When a chance discovery inspires her to start a happiness wishlist, it seems that Fearne might just have found her answer...Sometimes the scariest path can be the most rewarding. So is Fearne ready to take the risk and step into the unknown? And what kind of happiness might she find if she does?Fall in love with this romantic, feel-good story from bestseller Cathy Bramley about one woman's search for happiness!My Kind of Happy was originally published as a four-part serial. This is the complete story in one package.------------Readers are LOVING My Kind of Happy!'Inspiring and uplifting' 5*'Cathy just gets better and better' 5*'Like a dose of sunshine on a dismal day...' 5*'A feel-good story!' 5*'Draws you in from the beginning...' 5*'I laughed and cried my eyes out!' 5*------------Your other favourite authors love to curl up with Cathy Bramley too:'Delightful!' Katie Fforde'A page-turner of a story' Milly Johnson'Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns' Trisha Ashley'The perfect romantic tale, to warm your heart and make you smile' Ali McNamara