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By Andrew Swanston. 2015
The king’s coronation brings hope. Until a murderer strikes.Spring 1661: After years of civil war followed by Oliver Cromwell's joyless…
rule as Lord Protector, England awaits the coronation of King Charles II. The mood in London is one of relief and hope for a better future. But when two respectable gentlemen are found in a foul lane with their throats cut, it becomes apparent that England’s enemies are using the newly re-established post office for their own ends. There are traitors at work and plans to overthrow the king. Another war is possible. Thomas Hill, in London visiting friends, is approached by the king’s security advisor and asked to take charge of deciphering coded letters intercepted by the post office. As the body count rises and the killer starts preying on women, the action draws closer to Thomas – and his loved ones. He finds himself dragged into the hunt for the traitors and the murderer, but will he find them before it’s too late?By J. P O’Connell. 2024
Romance, intrigue, and dangerous ambitions combine to create the perfect escape: welcome to the beautiful Hotel Portofino on the magical Italian Riviera. …
***NOW A MAJOR TV DRAMA*** It is the summer of 1927 and Hotel Portofino is prospering under Bella&’s stewardship. As the season begins, Bella is keenly looking forward to her son Lucian&’s imminent arrival and the chance to discuss with him her plans to convert the hotel&’s basement into a spa. But then Bella&’s husband Cecil turns up unannounced, Over the course of several hot weeks in the middle of the Italian summer, Bella is forced to confront the reality of her relationship with Cecil and to decide to what extent she is prepared to go against social convention to get what she wants. As she welcomes her guests, old and new, an anonymous visit from a travel guide inspector threatens to make or break the hotel&’s future.Enjoy a new season at Hotel Portofino, a heady historical drama set during the 1920s. Perfect for fans of Downton Abbey and The Durrells.The thrilling adventure story about history's greatest warrior: Richard the Lionheart Autumn 1192. At the end of the Third Crusade…
Jerusalem remains in the Saracens' hands, and a peace treaty is agreed with their leader Saladin. Richard the Lionheart is finally free to travel to England and restore peace to his kingdom, under threat from his treacherous brother John. However, the epic journey will test every limit of his endurance as it takes him deeper into lands controlled by his enemies. He is ultimately captured near Vienna, imprisoned for three years, which further fans the flames of unrest in England and beyond. If he finally returns home, what will remain of his kingdom? And what deadly price must he pay to restore order?The thrilling adventure story about history's greatest warrior: Richard the Lionheart Autumn 1192. At the end of the Third Crusade…
Jerusalem remains in the Saracens' hands, and a peace treaty is agreed with their leader Saladin. Richard the Lionheart is finally free to travel to England and restore peace to his kingdom, under threat from his treacherous brother John. However, the epic journey will test every limit of his endurance as it takes him deeper into lands controlled by his enemies. He is ultimately captured near Vienna, imprisoned for three years, which further fans the flames of unrest in England and beyond. If he finally returns home, what will remain of his kingdom? And what deadly price must he pay to restore order?By Cay Rademacher. 2020
Hamburg, 1948. During a routine operation, Chief Inspector Frank Stave is shot. After he recovers, he transfers from the office…
combatting the black market. But then the women clearing rubble discover works of art from the Weimar period--next to a corpse. Translated from original 2013 German edition. Some violence and some strong language. 2018'GRIPPING' JILL MANSELL'TENSE AND THRILLING' NATASHA LESTER'INTRIGUES AND ENTHRALS' KATE QUINN'A TOUR DE FORCE' GILL PAULEVERY CANVAS HOLDS A SECRET…
. . .PARIS, 1940.Three years ago, talented art restorer Sophie fled to Paris to escape the horrors of the Nazi regime. But now, with her beloved adoptive city under occupation, Sophie is forced to work at the renowned Jeu de Paume, restoring the art ruthlessly stolen from Jewish families.Fabienne was a rising star of the glamorous Parisian art scene, until the Nazis put a stop to her craft. Mourning the loss of her husband, she's a shadow of her former self - until her estranged sister-in-law Sophie arrives at her door with a stolen painting in hand. The two women embark on a treacherous plan: to save stolen artwork by replacing it with skilful forgeries, right under the watchful eyes of the Nazis. But just how long can they sustain their masterful illusion?__________________________________________________READERS LOVE THE PARIS DECEPTION:'Anyone who likes historical fiction with a hint of danger will enjoy this' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Real reader review'This novel will keep the reader on the edge of their seat. If more than five stars were an option, this book would earn them' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Real reader review'Totally absorbing and I had to finish the novel once I had stared . . . a real page turner' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Real reader review'Clear your table, historical fiction lovers! This one deserves that coveted space' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Real reader review'Stunning and compelling' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Real reader review'The Paris Deception is so difficult to put down' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Real reader reviewA captivating novel of wartime Paris and the women who risked everything to protect priceless treasures for their country. A…
beautiful story of love and courage, from the internationally bestselling author of The Woman Before Wallis, perfect for fans of Natasha Lester and Rachel Hore.EVERY CANVAS HOLDS A SECRET...PARIS, 1940.Three years ago, talented art restorer Sophie fled to Paris to escape the horrors of the Nazi regime. But now, with her beloved adoptive city under occupation, Sophie is forced to work at the renowned Jeu de Paume, restoring the art ruthlessly stolen from Jewish families.Fabienne was a rising star of the glamorous Parisian art scene, until the Nazis put a stop to her craft. Mourning the loss of her husband, she's a shadow of her former self - until her estranged sister-in-law Sophie arrives at her door with a stolen painting in hand. The two women embark on a treacherous plan: to save stolen artwork by replacing it with skilful forgeries, right under the watchful eyes of the Nazis. But just how long can they sustain their masterful illusion?YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHORS LOVE THE PARIS DECEPTION:'Deceives, intrigues, and enthrals' - Kate Quinn, bestselling author of The Rose Code'Gripping, dramatic and packed with fascinating detail . . .' - Jill Mansell, bestselling author of Should I Tell You?'Bryn Turnbull is a natural storyteller and her prose sparkles with all the fizz of vintage champagne. A tour de force' - Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Secret Wife'The Paris Deception is an engrossing tale filled with art, intrigue, and champagne.' - Kaia Alderson, author of Sisters in Arms'The Paris Deception is a moving and intimate look at two sisters-in-law whose friendship has fractured . . . Another thought-provoking, impressively researched and richly realized work from one of Canada's best historical fiction authors' - Natalie Jenner, USA Today bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society 'Had me gripped from beginning to end' - Sarah Steele, author of The Schoolteacher of Saint-Michel(P) 2023 HarperCollins PublishersBy Richard Morris. 2023
'A stunningly good and surely definitive biography of one of the most fascinating British engineers ever to have lived' JAMES…
HOLLANDBarnes Wallis became a household name after the hit 1955 film The Dam Busters, in which Michael Redgrave portrayed him as a shy genius at odds with bureaucracy. This simplified a complicated man. Wallis is remembered for contributions to aviation that spanned most of the 20th century, from airships at its start to reusable spacecraft near the end. In the years between he pioneered new kinds of aircraft structure, bombs to alter the way in which wars are fought, and aeroplanes that could change shape in flight. Later work extended to radio telescopy, prosthetic limbs, and plans for a fleet of high-speed cargo submarines to travel the world's oceans in silence. For all his fame, little is known about the man himself - the confirmed bachelor who in his mid-30s fell hopelessly in love with his teenage cousin-in-law, the enthusiast for outdoor life who in his eighties still liked to walk up a mountain, or the rationalist who dallied with Catholic spiritualty. Dam Buster draws on family records to reveal someone thick with contradictions: a Victorian who in his imagination ranged far into the 21st century; a romantic for whom nostalgic pastoral and advanced technology went together; an unassuming man who kept a close eye on his legacy.Wallis was last in a line of engineers who combined hands-on experience with searching vision. Richard Morris sets out to locate him in Britain's grand narrative.By Richard Morris. 2023
'A stunningly good and surely definitive biography of one of the most fascinating British engineers ever to have lived' JAMES…
HOLLANDBarnes Wallis became a household name after the hit 1955 film The Dam Busters, in which Michael Redgrave portrayed him as a shy genius at odds with bureaucracy. This simplified a complicated man. Wallis is remembered for contributions to aviation that spanned most of the 20th century, from airships at its start to reusable spacecraft near the end. In the years between he pioneered new kinds of aircraft structure, bombs to alter the way in which wars are fought, and aeroplanes that could change shape in flight. Later work extended to radio telescopy, prosthetic limbs, and plans for a fleet of high-speed cargo submarines to travel the world's oceans in silence. For all his fame, little is known about the man himself - the confirmed bachelor who in his mid-30s fell hopelessly in love with his teenage cousin-in-law, the enthusiast for outdoor life who in his eighties still liked to walk up a mountain, or the rationalist who dallied with Catholic spiritualty. Dam Buster draws on family records to reveal someone thick with contradictions: a Victorian who in his imagination ranged far into the 21st century; a romantic for whom nostalgic pastoral and advanced technology went together; an unassuming man who kept a close eye on his legacy.Wallis was last in a line of engineers who combined hands-on experience with searching vision. Richard Morris sets out to locate him in Britain's grand narrative.REBEL. LEADER. BROTHER. KING.1179. Henry II is King of England, Wales, Ireland, Normandy, Brittany and Aquitaine. The House of Plantagenet…
reigns supreme.But there is unrest in Henry's house. Not for the first time, his family talks of rebellion.Ferdia - an Irish nobleman taken captive during the conquest of his homeland - saves the life of Richard, the king's son. In reward for his bravery, he is made squire to Richard, who is already a renowned warrior.Crossing the English Channel, the two are plunged into a campaign to crush rebels in Aquitaine. The bloody battles and gruelling sieges which followed would earn Richard the legendary name of Lionheart.But Richard's older brother, Henry, is infuriated by his sibling's newfound fame. Soon it becomes clear that the biggest threat to Richard's life may not be rebel or French armies, but his own family...'A rip-roaring epic, filled with arrows and spattered with blood. Gird yourself with mail when you start.' Paul Finch'Ben's deeply authoritative depiction of the time is delivered in a deft manner.' Simon ScarrowBy Ben Kane. 2020
REBEL. LEADER. BROTHER. KING.1179. Henry II is King of England, Wales, Ireland, Normandy, Brittany and Aquitaine. The House of Plantagenet…
reigns supreme.But there is unrest in Henry's house. Not for the first time, his family talks of rebellion.Ferdia - an Irish nobleman taken captive during the conquest of his homeland - saves the life of Richard, the king's son. In reward for his bravery, he is made squire to Richard, who is already a renowned warrior.Crossing the English Channel, the two are plunged into a campaign to crush rebels in Aquitaine. The bloody battles and gruelling sieges which followed would earn Richard the legendary name of Lionheart.But Richard's older brother, Henry, is infuriated by his sibling's newfound fame. Soon it becomes clear that the biggest threat to Richard's life may not be rebel or French armies, but his own family...'A rip-roaring epic, filled with arrows and spattered with blood. Gird yourself with mail when you start.' Paul Finch'Ben's deeply authoritative depiction of the time is delivered in a deft manner.' Simon ScarrowBy Magda Szabó. 1959
"One of Hungary's most important twentieth-century writers" New York Times"Magda Szabó's fiction shows the travails of modern Hungarian history from…
oblique but sharply illuminating angles" EconomistEszter Encsy is an acclaimed actress, funny and outrageous, quick-witted but callous. Yet even flushed with the success of adulthood, Eszter craves acceptance of herself as she really is and of the person she has been. The only child of an impoverished aristocrat and a harried music teacher failing to make ends meet, Eszter grew up poor and painfully aware of it in a provincial Hungarian town.The feelings of resentment and envy acquired during her fraught childhood have hardened into an obsessional hatred for one person, the beautiful, saintly and pampered Angéla, Eszter's former classmate and the wife of the man who becomes her lover. Set against newly communist 1950s Hungary, The Fawn embraces the lies and falsehoods people were obliged to live with in those nightmarish times, and displays Szabó's uncanny ability to convey how the past can haunt and consume us.Translated from the Hungarian by Len Rix.By Marcello Fois. 2012
When Samuele Stocchino is two years old the village sage can already see a heart shaped like a wolf's head…
beating in his breast: the heart of a murderer. As a colonial soldier in Northern Africa, recruited from one subject land to subdue another, the sixteen-year-old Stocchino learns to kill before he has learned to love, and it is a skill he hones to perfection on the pitiless battlefields of the Corso Front in the Great War. Returning to Sardinia a hero to a pauper's welcome, he finds his family swindled and his sweetheart stolen away by the richest clan in the region, and from one first crime of passion a bitter feud is born. Stocchino terrorizes his wealthy neighbours and anyone who dares to till their land until, with Italy now firmly under Mussolini's boot, his elimination becomes Il Duce's priority. As he continues to elude capture, the seeds of myth are sown and the legend of Samuele Stocchino is forged. Shrouded by mystery and portent, Memory of the Abyss is a stirring fusion of myth, history and fiction, a daring re-imagining of the true story of a notorious Sardinian bandit and a deft excavation of the island's cultural roots by one of Italy's most gifted and celebrated writers.War brings them together.Liberation will tear them apart.A POWERFUL PORTRAIT OF WAR. A HEARTBREAKING STORY OF LOVE. THE EXTRAORDINARY NEW…
NOVEL FROM THE AUTHOR OF WHILE PARIS SLEPT. Paris 1944. Elise Chevalier knows what it is to love...and to hate. Her fiancé, a young French soldier, was killed by the German army at the Maginot Line. Living amongst the enemy Elise must keep her rage buried deep within.Sebastian Kleinhaus no longer recognises himself. After four years spent fighting a war he doesn't believe in, wearing a uniform he despises, he longs for a way out. For something, someone, to be his salvation.Brittany 1963. Reaching for the suitcase under her mother's bed, eighteen-year-old Josephine Chevalier uncovers a secret that shakes her to the core. Determined to find the truth, she travels to Paris where she discovers the story of a dangerous love that grew as a city fought for its freedom. Of the last stolen hours before the first light of liberation. And of a betrayal so deep that it would irrevocably change the course of two young lives life for ever.Acclaim for the unforgettable international bestseller WHILE PARIS SLEPT:'A heartbreaking debut' JANET SKESLIEN CHARLES, AUTHOR OF THE PARIS LIBRARY'What a book... Emotional and heartrending...absolutely phenomenal. I was on tenterhooks throughout. A wonderful achievement' JILL MANSELL'I absolutely loved it. An ingenious plot, wonderful believable characters and it moved me to tears. A fabulous read' LESLEY PEARSE'A gripping tale of love and sacrifice' WOMAN & HOME'An amazing story of love, resilience and the human spirit' TRACY REES'You'll have your heart in your mouth and tears on your cheeks as it reaches its rich, life-affirming conclusion... Had me completely and utterly enraptured' LOUISE CANDLISH'Brace yourself for a brilliant read. This will tug at your heartstrings' BEST'Made me think and cry and rage and smile at mankind's capacity for both terrible, heartbreaking cruelty and beautiful, selfless love' NATASHA LESTER(P) 2022 Headline Publishing Group LtdBy Giacometti, Ravenne. 2020
OUT NOW: the second volume in the bestselling, exhilarating WWII treasure-hunt thriller series for fans of Dan Brown*** RATED 5…
STARS BY REAL READERS *** *** PREORDER BOOK 3, HELLBOUND, NOW: https://amz.run/3tyk ***November 1941. Germany is about to win the war. Only one thing still separates the Nazis from a certain victory: they must find the three remaining all-powerful swastikas and reunite them with a fourth that is safely hidden away in Himmler's mountain stronghold. Churchill has no choice but to mobilize his best man, double agent Tristan Marcas, and employ the most risky techniques to beat them to it. It all comes to a showdown at a ball in Venice...(P) 2020 Hodder & Stoughton LtdBy Judithe Little. 2020
'Delicious and utterly absorbing... This is a book to be relished and savoured. I can't recommend it enough' GILL THOMPSON,…
author of THE CHILD ON PLATFORM ONE'Historical fiction at its finest. Antoinette Chanel will capture your heart' ANN WEISGARBER, author of THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF RACHEL DUPREE---The unforgettable story of the sisters who changed fashion forever. For readers who fell in love with THE PARIS WIFE and THE AGE OF LIGHT.Gabrielle and Antoinette know they're destined for something better. Abandoned to a convent orphanage, they are raised for simple lives. But at night they dream of a glittering future, and the Chanel sisters are determined to prove themselves worthy.Their journey propels Coco and Ninette out of poverty to performing in bohemian cafés and stylish music halls, and soon on to Paris and a small hat shop on the rue Cambon, where a boutique business takes hold and expands to the glamorous French resort towns.But when war breaks out, everything changes, and the Chanel sisters must navigate great loves, devastating losses and fight harder than ever to make their mark on the world.THE CHANEL SISTERS draws readers through all different walks of Parisian life in the early twentieth century to the extraordinary legacy that lives on today - the most iconic fashion house in haute couture.Praise for THE CHANEL SISTERS:'I loved this story of two ambitious women who dare to envision brilliant futures for themselves and refuse to settle for anything less... A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the rags-to-riches rise of fashion's most intriguing icon' Elise Hooper, author of The Other Alcott and Fast Girls'Hits all the right notes: luxury settings, especially Paris, love and betrayal, and family bonds that both build and bind' Karen Harper, New York Times bestselling author of The Queen's Secret(P)2020 Headline Publishing Group LimitedBy Giacometti, Ravenne. 2021
The third volume in the million-copy bestselling Nazi spy series for fans of Dan Brown, Steve Berry and Wilbur Smith.'I…
can't wait to read the next instalment!' -Kindle customer, Amazon'The 3rd instalment in a fantastic series.' -Julien, Amazon'Excellent.' -Dominique, Amazon'Such a pleasure to read... can be read as a standalone.' -Tacha, AmazonJuly 1942. Never has the outcome of the war been more uncertain. Britain might have ruled out any risk of invasion, but Stalin's Russia is bowing under the blows of Hitler's armies. The Nazis unleash an occult war in an attempt to tip the scales: whoever reunites the four sacred Swastikas will win. Double agent Tristan Marcas sets out in search of the Romanov treasure, which is said to harbour the final relic. He's got no time to lose: the battle is about to come to a head...(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton LtdBy Elizabeth Chadwick. 2020
Shortlisted for the RNA Historical Romantic Novel AwardThe long-awaited prequel to Elizabeth Chadwick's bestselling and beloved first novel The Wild…
Hunt'Picking up an Elizabeth Chadwick novel you know you are in for a sumptuous ride'Daily Telegraph The Welsh Borders, 1069 When Ashdyke Manor is attacked, Lady Christen is forced to witness her husband's murder and the pillaging of her lands at the hands of brutal Norman invaders. It seems the pain is finally over when Miles Le Gallois, Lord of Milnham-on-Wye, calls off the attack. But he has Christen's brother under armed guard and a deal to offer: her brother's freedom for her hand in marriage. Christen finds herself hastily married into the enemy side, with her brother swearing his vengeance on her new husband. Miles and Christen's precarious union invites enemies from all sides and when Miles is summoned for a lengthy campaign by the King, Christen is left to watch his lands. In the midst of war, two enemies must somehow learn to trust one another if they are to survive . . .Praise for Elizabeth Chadwick 'An author who makes history come gloriously alive'The Times 'Stunning . . . Her characters are beguiling, and the story is intriguing'Barbara Erskine 'I rank Elizabeth Chadwick with such historical novelist stars as Dorothy Dunnett and Anya Seton'Sharon Kay Penman 'Enjoyable and sensuous'Daily Mail'Meticulous research and strong storytelling'Woman & Home 'A riveting read . . . A glorious adventure not to be missed!'CandisBy 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 LtdBy Giacometti, Ravenne. 2019
From multi-million copy bestselling authors Giacometti & Ravenne comes a Nazi spy thriller for fans of Dan Brown, Steve Berry…
and Wilbur Smith."I couldn't put it down ... the authors write like Dan Brown!" -Anthony, 5-Star NetGalley reviewer*** RATED 5 STARS BY REAL READERS *** *** GET BOOK 2, GOOD & EVIL, NOW: https://amz.run/3tyl ****** PREORDER BOOK 3, HELLBOUND, NEXT: https://amz.run/3tyk ***A secret Nazi organisation.Four swastikas with occult powers.A spy.What readers think:"I can't wait to read the next book in the series!" -Sens Critique"A spellbinding read from start to finish." -5-Star Amazon Review"There are twists aplenty" -5-Star Netgalley Review"A real page turner." -Art Six Mic"If you like books with lots of action and cliff hangers, this is for you." -5-Star Netgalley Review"The authors' best book so far." -5-Star Amazon Review"A book full of action and mystery." -Au Detour d'un LivreIn a Europe on the verge of collapse, the Nazi organisation Ahnenerbe is pillaging sacred landmarks across the world. Their aim is to collect treasures with occult powers, which will help them establish the Third Reich. The organisation's head, Himmler, has sent SS officers to search a forgotten sanctuary in the Himalayas, whilst he tries to track down a mysterious painting. Which ancient power do the Nazis believe they hold the key to?Meanwhile, in London, Churchill has discovered that the war against Germany will also be a spiritual one: their light must fight the occult if they are to win . . .(P) 2020 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd