Contemporary lifestyle fiction

Book SynopsisPregnant, abandoned and homeless, Maureen battles to survive a Swedish winter until help arrives in the form of a mysterious woman with a veiled past. With the prospect of being deported, Maureen learns who her real friends are, especially when she faces investigations due to her links to a suspected criminal. Meanwhile in Australia, Maureen’s family is scrambling to support her when the health of her unscrupulous father declines and he depends on the clever intervention of his estranged family members to salvage both his dignity and finances. In this engaging, rollicking yet poignant sequel to Lillian’s Eden, we see Maureen’s ambition to explore the world encounter its harsh realities, and her mother Lillian using her resourcefulness and intelligence to tackle the ongoing family dramas at home. This is a novel about women in the world in the 1960s, both in Australia and abroad, and their resilience and capacity to manage their lives at a time when others want to take that independence and decision-making from them.Trade Review"Out of Eden is an engaging story of a resilient mother and daughter who defy the conventions of their era. Cheryl Adam is a natural storyteller with a comic gift who succeeds in capturing the feel of the 1960s and its uneasy transition between the stifling conformity of postwar Australia and the move into the new freedoms of the 1970s. The novel also features that rare thing, a lively and unsentimental portrait of a truly good woman." - Amanda Lohrey

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Book SynopsisWidowed after a long marriage, Dorelia MacCraith swaps the family home for a house with a tower, and there, raised above the run of daily life, sets out to rewrite the stories of old women poorly treated by literature. Throughout this winding story, Dorelia and the elderly artist Elizabeth Bunting are sustained by a friendship that reaches back to their years at art school, and bonded by the secrets of a six-month period when they painted together in France. The loneliness of not belonging, of being cut adrift by grief, betrayal, or old age, binds these twelve connected stories into a dazzling composite novel. Within its complex crossings and connections, young and old inhabit separate yet overlapping firmaments; grown children, though loved and loving, cannot imagine their parents’ young lives. For most, the past is not past, but exerts a magnetic pull, while future happiness hinges on retreat, or escape.Trade Review"A perfect mosaic of women's lives and rooms lit by sinuous, perceptive writing." --Susan Wyndham, former Sydney Morning Herald Literary Editor "Stories of tenderness and compassion, with a keen eye for the telling detail. Rich in sentiment but always free of sentimentality, refusing easy judgements and neat endings, what ultimately endures is the power of female friendship and the desire to create beauty through the making of art, and in the spaces of everyday life." --Susan Midalia, author, Everyday Madness

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Book SynopsisAt fifteen Blanche Nero watches the electrocution of her Italian immigrant father, punishment for the inexplicable brutal murder of his recently acquired friend Old Man Flaherty. She resolves to do something with her life that values humanity over justice, mercy over sacrifice. But she is forever haunted by the mystery of her father. She is also drawn irresistibly to the bigger human mysteries of violence and death. After a gruelling but successful academic career at some of the nation's finest university hospitals, Blanche is almost sixty. Her long career as a trauma surgeon at Charity Hospital in New Orleans has been abruptly ended by Hurricane Katrina. She takes a year sabbatical from the medical school and leases a small flat in Venice, seeking an understanding of her father in the place where he lived his formative years--and of herself by reliving and recording her own remarkable life. On a cold morning in Piazza San Marco, Blanche meets Count Lorenzo Ludovici (Ludo), an aging, elegant, and charming Venetian who is dying of AIDS. Blanche is drawn to him and is uncharacteristically self-revealing. As he introduces her to his beautiful city as their relationship develops and is health deteriorates Blanche becomes ever more fond of the count. As she relives her past by writing down what she remembers, she sees the girl she was and the woman she became with new eyes; the mystery of her father's death; her distant mother; her sometimes misguided adolescent efforts to grow up. And then discovering the thrill of medicine, especially the sensual trill of trauma surgery and losing herself in in that career, immersed in violence. She recalls her attempts at relationships, especially with Jesse Pinto, the one man whom she has ever loved, and how she ended that. She remembers her love affair with the Big Easy and Charity Hospital (the Big Free) that came suddenly to a violent end. Through a series of painful and revealing conversations, Blanche and Ludo discover that each of them has private knowledge of interlocking pieces of their history. Blanche feels sadness of a depth that she has not felt before, but also a strange sense of freedom. Perhaps, at last, she is ready to begin her life.

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Book Synopsis1) Ram - Scion of Ikshvaku. 2) Sita: Warrior of Mithila. 3) Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta. 4) War of Lanka.

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Book SynopsisWith time, Madhu and Sanjam venture to the kingdom of Sonitpura, where they profess their love for each other, and all hell breaks loose. Who are Madhu and Sanjam in reality? Why does their love story cause political chaos in Aryavrata and result in a colossal war between two gods?

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Book SynopsisA wickedly witty tale of modern manners, happily suggesting that PC is not the only way to be.Trade Review‘Philippa Gregory reigns supreme’Today

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Book Synopsis During three eventful weeks in Paris, four friends visit old haunts, rekindle ties, and awaken in each other the sense of wonder, adventure, and possibilities they had shared so long ago. Trade Review Praise for Barbara Taylor Bradford: 'Queen of the genre.' Sunday Times ‘Few novelists are as consummate as Barbara Taylor Bradford at keeping the reader turning the page. She is one of the world’s best at spinning yarns.’ Guardian ‘As romantic and thrilling as the rest’ Independent on Sunday ‘Another great yarn from the ultimate storyteller’ The Sun ‘The storyteller of substance.’ The Times ‘A compulsive, emotional read about love, lies and the ties that bind… Taylor Bradford is the most fabulous teller of stories’ Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisNew novel about men, love and relationships by the author of the Book of the Year, Man and Boy.Trade ReviewPraise for One For My Baby: ‘Subtle and intelligent’ The Times ‘Full of hard-earned wisdom. An essential purchase’ GQ ‘The same combination of self-deprecating humour and well-intentioned bafflement that endeared Man and Boy to millions of readers’ Observer ‘Stylish, polished, complex and it really gets its teeth into the big issues of sex, love, family and friendship’ Mirror ‘Another brilliant novel that combines laughter and tears, love and sex – and real human emotions’ Evening Standard ‘The writing is confident and accomplished…He makes the reader care…This is art shot through with humanity’ Independent on Sunday ‘Heartbreakingly universal and full of killer lines on love and love lost’ Financial Times

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Book SynopsisThe controversial bestseller that sparked a Youtube frenzyTrade Review‘This funny and explicit tale is pure filth…’ Maxim ‘Morally irredeemable yet completely unputdownable’ Arena ‘This is a bit SCARY! It’s like someone’s writing a diary of your every waking moment’ Daily Sport ‘It’s a controversial bestseller that’s sparked a youtube frenzy’ Knave ‘WARNING: do not let your girlfriend read this…actually let her read it. The duchess might learn a thing or two’ Zoo 'I can't figure out if this book is a heartfelt dispatch from the front line in the battle of the sexes or a brilliant send-up of the way the male point of view has been misrepresented by militant feminists. I suspect both' Toby Young 'It's so primal, so dangerous, it might be the most ingenious book i've ever read' Josh Kilmer-Purcell 'The most brilliant author of the twenty-first century. But enough about me, buy Chad's book. It's a blueprint of how the mind – and penis-of the typical American male works' Maddox

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Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Man Asian Literary Prize, this is a superb second novel from the author of the multiple-award winning ‘Saraswati Park’.Trade Review‘Beautifully delineated…The writing throughout is cool and clear, and whilst the overall tone of the novel is hauntingly melancholic, it is also distinguished by a refreshingly abrasive wit’ Peter Parker, Sunday Times ‘Joseph has an unerring instinct for detail that brings a scene to life … Her descriptions … are gorgeously vivid’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Joseph's writing is rich and original. She can describe silences and what is left unsaid between her characters just as well as she describes what they do and say’ Observer ‘A readable and entertaining book’ Guardian ‘Subtle and affecting’ Catherine Taylor, Sunday Telegraph Books of the Year ‘Joseph’s eye for the myriad disappointments of young professional life is excruciatingly accurate, especially in the London section… Joseph is a skilled observer’ Metro

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Book SynopsisA swoon-worthy, fake dating romance perfect for fans of Sophie Kinsella and The Proposal!Trade Review‘If you like Jill Mansell and romantic comedies, you will enjoy Plus One is a Lucky Number.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This would make a great Hallmark Movie.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book SynopsisFor fans of reality dance shows, this series is strictly irresistible!Trade ReviewPraise for ‘Say it with Sequins: The Rumba’ – “A fast, fun and flirty read, with plenty of passion and humour mixed in with the sparkle – I loved it!” Miss Cupcake. “Georgia Hill brilliantly captures the thrills and excitement of a reality dancing show and her two leads are characters to love and root for.” Bryher. “If you are a Strictly fan, you will love this whirl through the laughter, sequins and tears that make that show so enthralling.” MaggieMS

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Book SynopsisThe gripping and emotional novel from the million-copy bestselling author of PS, I Love You*Preorder Cecelia''s next gripping novel INTO THE STORM now*She knows your secrets. Now discover hersYou've never met anyone like Alice. She sees the best in people. And the worst. She always seems to know exactly what everyone around her is feeling: a thousand different emotions. Every. Single. Day.In amongst all that noise, she's lost herself.But there's one person she can't read. And that's the person who could change her life.Is she ready to let him in?-Everyone loves In a Thousand Different WaysAhern makes Alice's plight touchingly convincing [her] pain is raw on the page' The TimesAn extraordinary and truly original story a must read this month' PrimaStunning' Irish IndependentBeautiful, moving and unexpected, In a Thousand Different ways is an unforgettable story. This is Cecelia Ahern at her very best' Louise O'NeillUtterly wonderful Cecelia Ahern is a master storyteller at the absolutTrade Review More reviews for In a Thousand Different Ways: ‘I can’t remember the last time I felt so invested in a character’s future; I was willing Alice on, with every page. This is such a poignant, quirky and satisfying story about taking charge of one’s life – and (like Alice’s pot plants) thriving, despite the odds’ Susan Fletcher ‘So original and compelling and heartbreaking, but also heartwarming . . . Alice is right up my street . . . that gorgeous blend of strength and vulnerability’ Ciara Geraghty ‘Highly original, fresh and exciting’ Hazel Gaynor ‘I loved this novel . . . a rich tapestry, full of characters seeking love and acceptance on their life’s journey’ Patricia Scanlan ‘Such a beautiful, tender and moving story’ Sinead Moriarty Acclaim for Cecelia Ahern: ‘It’s time to recognise Cecelia Ahern as one of our finest writers’ John Boyne, bestselling author of All The Broken Places ‘Sharp, clever, witty: a joy to read’ Donal Ryan, bestselling author of The Queen of Dirt Island ‘Witty, playful, entertaining but also thought-provoking, salutary and empowering’ Daily Mail ‘Impressive, timely and entertaining ’ Observer ‘Confidential, sympathetic and witty’ The Times ‘Funny, magical, her most powerful, most feminist work yet’ Irish Sunday Independent ‘Intriguing, substantial and impactful…The quiet call to arms that women never knew they needed’ Irish Independent ‘Inventive and ingenious, with a doffing of the cap to Angela Carter and Margaret Atwood’ Stylist ‘Wonderful, inspiring …the kind of book everyone should have on their shelf’ Libby Page, bestselling author of The Lido ‘An illuminating and touching story about memory, childhood and secrets’ Woman & Home ‘Beautiful and unexpected … both thought-provoking and life-affirming’ Sunday Express

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Book Synopsis*The new, deliciously festive Cosy' novel from the Kindle bestselling author of The Cosy Teashop in the Castle*The snow is falling, the hot chocolate's warming, and hearts are melting . . .Emma is the proud owner of The Chocolate Shop by the Sea, nestled in the heart of the cosy seaside village that's become her home. With Christmas right around the corner, she and her assistant Holly are busy cooking up the locals' festive favourites.From cinnamon hot chocolates to reindeer lollipops, Christmas wouldn't taste the same without a little cocoa magic. And for Emma it's the perfect distraction from her romantic pains of the past. So when the shop's miserly landlord threatens to hike up the rent, Emma's Christmas and New Year suddenly look a lot less cheerful.With the whole village rallying behind her and loyal spaniel Alfie by her side Emma's determined to hold onto her chocolate-box dream.The chocolate calendar countdown is on. Can Emma rescue her business and her broken heart?Trade ReviewPraise for Caroline Roberts: ‘A delightful, life affirming story. I wanted to retreat to a cottage by the sea after the first chapter!’ Ali McNamara ‘Such a wonderful book, heart-wrenching and uplifting and joyful! Cressida McLaughlin Praise for The Cosy Teashop in the Castle: ‘Oodles of charm, it’s pure escapism’ Cathy Bramley 'A top-rated romance which I devoured quicker than a slice of Victoria Sponge. Beautifully written, warm, funny, cosy, romantic and sweeter than a tray full of cookie dough' Bookaholic Confessions 'I found myself racing through to the end . . . A lovely book, one to be enjoyed over a few chilly evenings with your own cup of tea and cake' Chick Lit Chloe 'A warm and cosy read for a cold winter's day . . . will have you longing to be served in the tearoom' Rachel's Random Reads

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Book SynopsisThe Saunders sisters need a bit of Cornish magic this summer…Trade Review‘The Summer Theatre by the Sea is utterly irresistible. It's a perfect summery read with sunshine, laughter and bucketloads of fizz – romantic comedy at its sparkling best.’ Rosanna Ley, bestselling author of The Villa and Her Mother’s Secret ‘Refreshingly romantic. It was wonderful to lose myself in a story set in stunning Cornwall. With community at its heart, this book was beautifully written, the characters real and easy to relate to and the plot kept me hooked from beginning to end.’ Helen Rolfe ‘Enchanting and captivating, I was hooked! An utterly gorgeous story!’ Christie Barlow, bestselling author of The Cosy Canal Boat of Dreams ‘Sunshine in a book!’ The Book Trail ‘This book was hard to put down. It grabs you in instantly.’ Netgalley Reviewer ‘Perfect for romance and chicklit fans. Loved it.’ Netgalley Reviewer ‘Chicklit at its best’ Netgalley Reviewer ‘I loved everything about this novel, the engaging and colourful characters, the beautiful setting of Cornwall, the enjoyable and romantic plot. The author’s writing is captivating and she created realistic characters who have to deal with everyday problems with jobs, love, and life in general. I read it in two days and I wish there had been more. A simply fantastic read!’ Chicklit Club

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Book SynopsisGripping new suspense from the author of Little White Lies'Written with subtle intelligence and quiet menace' Daily MailBeautifully written and very tense' Jane Shemilt A tense, cat and mouse tale . . . compelling'' Catherine Cooper, Sunday Times bestselling author of The ChateauHad me gripped from start to finish. So original and clever'' Lesley Kara, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Apartment UpstairsWow! What a book! I couldn''t read it fast enough. The tension and pace were absolute magic' Lauren North, author of All the Wicked GamesKeep your family close, and your secrets closerTo the outside world, the Goodlights are perfect.Julia is a lawyer, Paul a stay-at-home dad who has dedicated his life to helping their daughter Chrissie achieve her dreams as a talented violinist.But on the night of a prestigious music competition, which has the power to change everything for Chrissie and her family, Chrissie goes missing.She puts on the performance of a lifetime, then completely disTrade Review‘The plotline is never obvious, while the fact that East is a qualified psychologist enables a skilful unpicking of the price people pay for living a “pretend perfect life”. Written with subtle intelligence and quiet menace’ Daily Mail ‘A tense, cat and mouse tale of a missing girl. Cleverly written, with many layers – a compelling read' CATHERINE COOPER , Sunday Times bestselling author of THE CHATEAU ‘Smart, fresh, beautifully written and very tense. I was caught up in the world of the book and caught out by the ending' JANE SHEMILT, author of THE PATIENT ‘Expertly plotted, another tense family drama’ LAURE VAN RENSBURG, author of, NOBODY BUT US ‘Brilliantly unsettling, with characters so deftly woven that you never quite know who – if anyone – you can trust’ GUY MORPUSS, author of BLACK LAKE MANOR ‘Wow! What a book! I couldn't read it fast enough. The tension and pace were absolute magic’ LAUREN NORTH, author of ALL THE WICKED GAMES ‘Hands down the best psychological thriller I’ve read all year’ TREVOR WOOD, author of ONE WAY STREET ‘A pitch perfect thriller! The tension builds to a stunning, electrifying conclusion. Philippa East is an absolute master of psychological suspense’ VICTORIA DOWD, author of A BOOK OF MURDER ‘Captivating, complex and insightful’ EMMA CHRISTIE, author of FIND HER FIRST ‘Philippa East has once again cleverly captured the intricacies of human nature and spun a brilliantly written, gripping tale that will have you immediately hooked and guessing throughout. Loved it!’ CHARLOTTE LEVIN, author of IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU

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Trade Review"A delight...Livesey is a lovely, fluid writer." -- Sarah Towers, New York Times Book Review "A cunning adaptation." -- Liza Nelson, O, the Oprah Magazine "Absorbing...Ms. Livesey writes lovely, understated prose...[her] treks through the novel's pleasing natural landscapes...are almost as engaging as her navigation of Gemma's restless psyche." -- Sam Sacks, Wall Street Journal "Livesey delivers a suspenseful, curl-up-by-the-fire romance with a willfully determined protagonist who's worthy of her literary role model." -- People "Jane Eyre gets a terrific modern makeover...Livesey works some sort of magic in The Flight of Gemma Hardy, which is too entertaining to be superfluous, too wise in its understanding of human nature to be a mere retread." -- Connie Ogle, Miami Herald "Livesey has pulled off the near-impossible task that the homage begs an author to do: create an original, fresh work that shines in its own light, while bringing an established, esteemed work to the attention of new readers, and showing off previously unseen facets to its fans..." -- Meredith Maran, Boston Globe "Livesey follows Bronte's form, but so convincingly does she create her own character's life and surroundings that the original soon recedes, its story a beloved, familiar body dressed in an entirely new and vibrant wardrobe." -- Atlantic Monthly "Marvelous...Gemma Hardy is one of those page turners in which you occasionally have to wrest yourself away from the plot to admire the language." -- Kristin Ohlson, Cleveland Plain Dealer "A brilliantly paced contemporary adventure about a headstrong orphan's struggle to claim a place for her generous heart in a secret-laden, sometimes loveless world." -- Lisa Shea, Elle "Inspired by Jane Eyre, Livesey (The House on Fortune Street) offers vibrant prose and a feisty heroine in her fascinating sixth novel... Captivating and moving, this book is a wonderful addition to Livesey's body of work." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review "The portrait of a delicate, iron-willed girl, an orphan and a heroine in the grand tradition... Here as in all of Livesey's novels, the real treasure is her gift for exploring the unreduced human psyche with all its radiant contradictions, mercurial insights, and desperate generosities." -- David Wroblewski, author of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle "In this modern day retelling of Jane Eyre - trade horses for private jets - novelist Margot Livesey pays homage to Bronte's literary classic." -- Marie Claire, "Four New Page-Turners to Keep Bedside"

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