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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 HousekeepingLondon, 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 Orchard Girls: The heartbreaking and unputdownable World War 2 romance
By Nikola Scott. 2021
'Full of intrigue, fascinating historical detail and brilliant characterisation . . . A truly fabulous novel!' LOUISE FEIN, author of…
PEOPLE LIKE US'Nikola Scott is the queen of dual narrative fiction. The Orchard Girls takes us on a beautifully twisty journey . . . It's like unwrapping a pass-the-parcel with a wonderful gift at its heart' LIZZIE PAGE, author of WHEN I WAS YOURS'The Orchard Girls is such a clever, wonderful, expertly woven story. I enjoyed every second of it!' LORNA COOK, author of THE GIRL FROM THE ISLANDReaders are loving THE ORCHARD GIRLS!***** 'The story really was a heartbreaking read, and totally believable' READER REVIEW***** 'The way in which the storylines connected was really good, and made me curious, wanting to find out more' READER REVIEW***** 'The Land Girls were quite amazing . . . Can highly recommend this lovely book' READER REVIEW***** 'Great characters and lots of surprises along the way. It's a must read book' READER REVIEW***** 'I felt a strong connection with Frankie and Violet . . . Would recommend!' READER REVIEWLondon, 2004. Frankie didn't always have it easy. Growing up motherless, she was raised by her grandmother, who loved her - and betrayed her. For years, the rift between them seemed irreparable. But when their paths suddenly cross again, Frankie is shocked to realise that her grandmother is slowly losing control of her memory. There is a darkness in her past that won't stay buried - secrets going back to wartime that may have a devastating effect on Frankie's own life.Somerset, 1940. When seventeen-year-old Violet's life is ripped apart by the London Blitz, she runs away to join the Women's Land Army. She wants nothing more than to leave her grief behind. But as well as the terror of enemy air raids, the land girls at Winterbourne Orchards face a powerful enemy closer to home. One terrible night, their courage will be put to the test - and the truth of what happened must be kept hidden, for ever . . .PRAISE FOR NIKOLA SCOTT: 'Intriguing, twisting... I loved it' Dinah Jefferies, author of The Tuscan Contessa'An atmospheric and gripping read.' My Weekly'A well-written, intriguing read full of family secrets... Brilliant' Fabulous'Characters you won't forget' Sunday Express'Full of intrigue, fascinating historical detail and brilliant characterisation . . . A truly fabulous novel!' LOUISE FEIN, author of…
PEOPLE LIKE US'Nikola Scott is the queen of dual narrative fiction. The Orchard Girls takes us on a beautifully twisty journey . . . It's like unwrapping a pass-the-parcel with a wonderful gift at its heart' LIZZIE PAGE, author of WHEN I WAS YOURS'The Orchard Girls is such a clever, wonderful, expertly woven story. I enjoyed every second of it!' LORNA COOK, author of THE GIRL FROM THE ISLANDLondon, 2004. Frankie didn't always have it easy. Growing up motherless, she was raised by her grandmother, who loved her - and betrayed her. For years, the rift between them seemed irreparable. But when their paths suddenly cross again, Frankie is shocked to realise that her grandmother is slowly losing control of her memory. There is a darkness in her past that won't stay buried - secrets going back to wartime that may have a devastating effect on Frankie's own life.Somerset, 1940. When seventeen-year-old Violet's life is ripped apart by the London Blitz, she runs away to join the Women's Land Army. She wants nothing more than to leave her grief behind. But as well as the terror of enemy air raids, the land girls at Winterbourne Orchards face a powerful enemy closer to home. One terrible night, their courage will be put to the test - and the truth of what happened must be kept hidden, for ever . . .PRAISE FOR NIKOLA SCOTT: 'Intriguing, twisting... I loved it' Dinah Jefferies, author of The Tuscan Contessa'An atmospheric and gripping read.' My Weekly'A well-written, intriguing read full of family secrets... Brilliant' Fabulous'Characters you won't forget' Sunday ExpressTHE SECOND NOVEL IN THE BRAND NEW SAGA SERIES BY MAGGIE MASON - MEET THE HALFPENNY GIRLS. . . 'In…
the grand tradition of sagas set down by the late and great Catherine Cookson ' Jean Fullerton on Blackpool LassWill their prayers be answered at the most wonderful time of the year?/font>As Christmas approaches, Alice, Edith and Marg continue to face hardships growing up on one of the poorest streets in Blackpool. Penniless, their friendship has helped them survive this far, but it'll take more than that to see them through the dark days that lie ahead . . .Newly married Alice receives shocking news about her pregnancy that threatens the future she's always dreamed of, Marg is struggling to care for her ailing mother and ensure her little sister receives the education she deserves, and Edith is grieving the loss of her family while preparing to marry her sweetheart. The Halfpenny Girls once again are faced with a struggle, but with the festive season upon them will family, friendship and Christmas spirit see them through?The second in a brand new series from reader favourite Maggie Mason, The Halfpenny Girls is the perfect heart-warming family saga about overcoming hardship and the value of friendship. Perfect for fans of Val Wood, Kitty Neale and Rosie Goodwin.Readers LOVE Maggie Mason's Blackpool sagas:'5 stars - I wish I could give it more. Wonderful read.''Another must read book''What a brilliant book. I couldn't put it down!''I was hooked from the first page . . . this author is a must read''A totally absorbing read'THE SECOND NOVEL IN THE BRAND NEW SAGA SERIES BY MAGGIE MASON - MEET THE HALFPENNY GIRLS. . . 'In…
the grand tradition of sagas set down by the late and great Catherine Cookson ' Jean Fullerton on Blackpool LassWill their prayers be answered at the most wonderful time of the year?/font>As Christmas approaches, Alice, Edith and Marg continue to face hardships growing up on one of the poorest streets in Blackpool. Penniless, their friendship has helped them survive this far, but it'll take more than that to see them through the dark days that lie ahead . . .Newly married Alice receives shocking news about her pregnancy that threatens the future she's always dreamed of, Marg is struggling to care for her ailing mother and ensure her little sister receives the education she deserves, and Edith is grieving the loss of her family while preparing to marry her sweetheart. The Halfpenny Girls once again are faced with a struggle, but with the festive season upon them will family, friendship and Christmas spirit see them through?The second in a brand new series from reader favourite Maggie Mason, The Halfpenny Girls is the perfect heart-warming family saga about overcoming hardship and the value of friendship. Perfect for fans of Val Wood, Kitty Neale and Rosie Goodwin.Readers LOVE Maggie Mason's Blackpool sagas:'5 stars - I wish I could give it more. Wonderful read.''Another must read book''What a brilliant book. I couldn't put it down!''I was hooked from the first page . . . this author is a must read''A totally absorbing read'In her nostalgic and heart-warming new saga, Sunday Times bestselling author Lyn Andrews evokes the ups and downs of life…
in the back streets of 1930s LiverpoolLiverpool, 1935. Monica Savage is delighted when new neighbours move in next door, and she and Joan Copperfield quickly become firm friends. While Monica's father has a good job as a guard on the railway, Joan's family are harder up, with her sailor dad Billy mostly off at sea, and restless when he's home - Mersey View is no substitute for the exotic places he sails to. Though money's tight, the Copperfield women are spirited and independent, and it's her friendship with the more confident Joan that gives Monica the courage to challenge her parents and pursue her dream of becoming a hairdresser. Joan is lucky enough to get a job at Crawford's biscuit factory, where she's even allowed to buy broken biscuits cheaply as a perk.But there are dark secrets lurking. When an abandoned child arrives unexpectedly on the Copperfields' doorstep, her arrival will change everything. As war clouds gather, can the girls make their back street dreams reality, or will the families of Mersey View be torn apart?(P)2020 Headline Publishing Group LtdThe Dublin Girls: A powerfully heartrending family saga of three sisters in 1950s Ireland
By Cathy Mansell. 2020
Dramatic, emotional and romantic, if you love Lorna Cook, Tracy Rees and Jenny Ashcroft, you'll love this gripping and heartrending…
novel from Cathy Mansell, author of A Place to Belong.In 1950s Dublin, life is hard and jobs are like gold dust.Nineteen-year-old Nell Flynn is training to be a nurse and planning to marry her boyfriend, Liam Connor, when her mother dies, leaving her younger sisters destitute. To save them from the workhouse, Nell returns to the family home - a mere two rooms at the top of a condemned tenement.Nell finds work at a biscuit factory and, at first, they scrape through each week. But then eight-year-old Róisín, a delicate from birth, is admitted to hospital with rheumatic fever and fifteen-year-old Kate, rebellious, headstrong and resentful of Nell taking her mother's place, runs away.When Liam finds work in London, Nell stays to struggle on alone - her unwavering devotion to her sisters stronger even than her love for him. She's determined that one day the Dublin girls will be reunited and only then will she be free to follow her heart.Look for more gripping, heartwrenching page-turners from Cathy Mansell - don't miss A Place to Belong, out now.(P)2020 Headline Publishing Group LtdThe Last Greek (Commander #2)
By Christian Cameron. 2020
Few writers are better at conjuring up a vision of Ancient Greece' THE TIMES* * * * * * *210BCE.The…
most powerful empires in the world brawl over the spoils of a declawed Greece.Philopoemen has a vision to end the chaos and anarchy that consumes his homeland - to stop the endless wars and preserve the world he loves. He must resist the urge of the oligarchs to surrender to their oppressors and raise an army to defend his countrymen from the all-conquering powers of Sparta, Macedon and Rome.It is the last roll of the dice for the Achean League. The moment Philopoemen has been training for his whole life.The new Achilles is poised to restore the glory of the former empire. To herald a new era.To become the last great hero of Greece.* * * * * * *Praise for Christian Cameron:'One of the finest writers of historical fiction in the world' BEN KANE'The master of historical fiction' SUNDAY TIMES'A storyteller at the height of his powers' HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETYA gesture life
By Chang-Rae Lee, Chang Rae Lee. 1999
Now in his seventies and retired, Doc Hata still resides in his large home of thirty years in Bedley Run,…
New York. A polite and unassuming man, he harbors secrets of his past as a medic in the Japanese Army during World War II. Some strong language. 1999The Last Greek (Commander #2)
By Christian Cameron. 2020
Few writers are better at conjuring up a vision of Ancient Greece' THE TIMES* * * * * * *210BCE.The…
most powerful empires in the world brawl over the spoils of a declawed Greece.Philopoemen has a vision to end the chaos and anarchy that consumes his homeland - to stop the endless wars and preserve the world he loves. He must resist the urge of the oligarchs to surrender to their oppressors and raise an army to defend his countrymen from the all-conquering powers of Sparta, Macedon and Rome.It is the last roll of the dice for the Achean League. The moment Philopoemen has been training for his whole life.The new Achilles is poised to restore the glory of the former empire. To herald a new era.To become the last great hero of Greece.* * * * * * *Praise for Christian Cameron:'One of the finest writers of historical fiction in the world' BEN KANE'The master of historical fiction' SUNDAY TIMES'A storyteller at the height of his powers' HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETYA Dangerous Age: A Novel
By Ellen Gilchrist. 2008
The winner of the National Book Award returns with a moving story of a family of women drawn together by…
the trials of the times.The women in the Hand family are no strangers to either controversy or sadness. Those traits seem, in fact, to be a part of their family’s heritage, one that stretches back through several generations and many wars. A Dangerous Age is a celebration of the strength of these women and of the bonds of blood and shared loss that hold them together. Louise, Winifred, and Olivia are reconnecting the pieces of their lives and rediscovering love, but each is unwittingly on a collision course with a seemingly distant war that is really never more than a breath away. By turns humorous and heartbreaking, this finely honed novel about the centuries-old struggle for women who are left to carry on with life when their men go off to war is by a writer the Washington Post says “should be declared a national cultural treasure.”When the Lights Go Down: The glamour of the cinema heals the heartbreak of war...
By Pamela Evans. 2016
It is 1938 and the threat of war looms on the streets of London. But, when the lights go down…
in the cinema aisles, usherette Daisy Blake is transported to a world of glamour and romance. Among the staff there is much merriment and Daisy soon falls in love with the handsome organist, Al Dawson. Then war is declared and, just after Al leaves for the frontline, Daisy discovers she's pregnant. Her mother is distraught; she doesn't think Al is right for her daughter and when Daisy's letters to him go unanswered, her mother encourages her to marry John, the cinema's projectionist, to spare her further heartache.As the blitz rages over London and disaster strikes, Daisy's morale is boosted by her work and her young son, Sam, brings her comfort and joy in the troubled times ahead...(P)2016 Headline DigitalA dangerous age: a novel
By Ellen Gilchrist. 2010
Half-Cherokee Olivia Hand, a newspaper editor in Tulsa, Oklahoma, confronts her mixed feelings about the war in Iraq as she…
and her cousins endure tragedies. Companion to I Cannot Get You Close Enough (DB 35282) and The Anna Papers (DB 28884). Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2008An Italian Affair: A gripping and emotional World War 2 novel of family, love and devastating secrets
By Caroline Montague. 2019
Love. War. Family. Betrayal.Italy, 1937. Alessandra Durante is grieving the loss of her husband when she discovers she has inherited…
her ancestral family seat, Villa Durante, deep in the Tuscan Hills. Longing for a new start, she moves from her home in London to Italy with her daughter Diana and sets about rebuilding her life. Under the threat of war, Alessandra's house becomes first a home and then a shelter to all those who need it. Then Davide, a young man who is hiding the truth about who he is, arrives, and Diana starts to find her heart going where her head knows it must not.Back home in Britain as war breaks out, Alessandra's son Robert, signs up to be a pilot, determined to play his part in freeing Italy from the grip of Fascism. His bravery marks him out as an asset to the Allies, and soon he is being sent deep undercover and further into danger than ever before.As war rages, the Durante family will love and lose, but will they survive the war...?'Thoroughly engrossing' - Julian Fellowes, creator of Downton Abbey'Enthralling...An Italian Affair snares us in an ever-tightening circle of love and despair, secrets and forgiveness' - Joanna LumleyThe war taught her to fight. The children taught her to hope...*The Lost Song of Paris, the new novel from…
Sarah Steele, is available to pre-order now!*Inspired by real acts of bravery and resistance, The Schoolteacher of Saint Michel is a heartrending and deeply moving story of one woman's courage and sacrifice during World War II, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Missing Piece of Nancy Moon. This exquisitely beautiful novel is perfect for readers of The Rose Code by Kate Quinn, The Postmistress, Lilac Girls and The Girl from Vichy.'A beautifully worked tale of bravery, woven into the reality of a time we can't forget' Mandy Robotham, author of The Berlin Girl'An emotional, beautifully constructed read. I loved the way the clues from the past and present slowly knitted together, answering the questions that had been missing their answers for so long' Sunday Times bestselling author Jill Mansell'Gripping, at times heartbreaking, but ultimately uplifting, I found this beautifully written novel impossible to put down' Sunday Times bestselling author Katie Fforde______'My darling girl, I need you to find someone for me . . .'France, 1942. At the end of the day, the schoolteacher releases her pupils. She checks they have their identity passes, and warns them not to stop until the German guards have let them through the barrier that separates occupied France from Free France. As the little ones fly across the border and into their mothers' arms, she breathes a sigh of relief. No one is safe now. Not even the children.Berkshire, present day. A letter left to her by her beloved late grandmother Gigi takes Hannah Stone on a journey deep into the heart of the Dordogne landscape. As she begins to unravel a forgotten history of wartime bravery and sacrifice, she discovers the heartrending secret that binds her grandmother to a village schoolteacher, the remarkable Lucie Laval . . .______'An engaging tale of courage and friendship. A triumph!' Gill Paul'Evocative writing and the storytelling is masterful. It really draws the reader in' Felicity Hayes-McCoy'A gripping journey about the quiet triumphs and breathtaking courage of so many women in wartime' Jane BaileyReaders ADORE The Schoolteacher of Saint Michel:'I loved this book, I finished reading it on VE Day. It is certainly a fitting tribute to the everyday people in France who resisted the German occupation in WW2. 5 stars''Absolutely fabulous. Highly recommend this. I've read The Missing Pieces of Nancy Moon - this is even better''Such a poignant story and beautiful characters. I can highly recommend this book''A lovely book, by turns emotional, exciting and heart-rending. The story is beautifully told. A book that will stay with me. Definitely recommended, particularly to anyone with an interest in World War II historical novels' 'A lovely story of courage and hope at a time of extreme adversity. Wonderfully written, descriptive and poignant. This one is special''Sheer escapism, beautifully written. I highly recommend it'The war taught her to fight. The children taught her to hope...Inspired by real acts of bravery and resistance, The…
Schoolteacher of Saint Michel is a heartrending and deeply moving story of one woman's courage and sacrifice during World War II, from the USA Today bestselling author of The Missing Piece of Nancy Moon. This exquisitely beautiful novel is perfect for readers of The Rose Code by Kate Quinn, The Postmistress, Lilac Girls and The Girl from Vichy.'A beautifully worked tale of bravery, woven into the reality of a time we can't forget' Mandy Robotham, author of The Berlin Girl'An emotional, beautifully constructed read. I loved the way the clues from the past and present slowly knitted together, answering the questions that had been missing their answers for so long' Sunday Times bestselling author Jill Mansell'Gripping, at times heartbreaking, but ultimately uplifting, I found this beautifully written novel impossible to put down' Sunday Times bestselling author Katie Fforde'My darling girl, I need you to find someone for me . . .'France, 1942. At the end of the day, the schoolteacher releases her pupils. She checks they have their identity passes, and warns them not to stop until the German guards have let them through the barrier that separates occupied France from Free France. As the little ones fly across the border and into their mothers' arms, she breathes a sigh of relief. No one is safe now. Not even the children.Berkshire, present day. A letter left to her by her beloved late grandmother Gigi takes Hannah Stone on a journey deep into the heart of the Dordogne landscape. As she begins to unravel a forgotten history of wartime bravery and sacrifice, she discovers the heartrending secret that binds her grandmother to a village schoolteacher, the remarkable Lucie Laval . . .'An engaging tale of courage and friendship. A triumph!' Gill Paul'Evocative writing and the storytelling is masterful. It really draws the reader in' Felicity Hayes-McCoy'A gripping journey about the quiet triumphs and breathtaking courage of so many women in wartime' Jane BaileyReaders ADORE The Schoolteacher of Saint Michel:'I loved this book, I finished reading it on VE Day. It is certainly a fitting tribute to the everyday people in France who resisted the German occupation in WW2. 5 stars''Absolutely fabulous. Highly recommend this. I've read The Missing Pieces of Nancy Moon - this is even better''Such a poignant story and beautiful characters. I can highly recommend this book''A lovely book, by turns emotional, exciting and heart-rending. The story is beautifully told. A book that will stay with me. Definitely recommended, particularly to anyone with an interest in World War II historical novels' 'A lovely story of courage and hope at a time of extreme adversity. Wonderfully written, descriptive and poignant. This one is special''Sheer escapism, beautifully written. I highly recommend it'The Orchard Girls: The heartbreaking and unputdownable World War 2 romance
By Nikola Scott. 2021
London, 2004. Frankie didn't always have it easy. Growing up motherless, she was raised by her grandmother, who loved her…
- and betrayed her. For years, the rift between them seemed irreparable. But when their paths suddenly cross again, Frankie is shocked to realise that her grandmother is slowly losing control of her memory. There is a darkness in her past that won't stay buried - secrets going back to wartime that may have a devastating effect on Frankie's own life.Somerset, 1940. When seventeen-year-old Violet's life is ripped apart by the London Blitz, she runs away to join the Women's Land Army. She wants nothing more than to leave her grief behind. But as well as the terror of enemy air raids, the land girls at Winterbourne Orchards face a powerful enemy closer to home. One terrible night, their courage will be put to the test - and the truth of what happened must be kept hidden, for ever . . .PRAISE FOR NIKOLA SCOTT: 'Intriguing, twisting... I loved it' Dinah Jefferies, author of The Tuscan Contessa'An atmospheric and gripping read.' My Weekly'A well-written, intriguing read full of family secrets... Brilliant' Fabulous'Characters you won't forget' Sunday Express(P) 2021 Headline Publishing Group Ltd