Historical Fiction Books

Book SynopsisA brilliant murder mystery with shades of Agatha Christie and The Great Gatsby . . . a glamorous and fun read' Reader review ?????Louise Hare does it again fabulous! Absolutely loved it and it kept me guessing until the very end! Very highly recommended' Reader review?????* * *London, 1936Lena Aldridge is wondering if life has passed her by. The dazzling theatre career she hoped for hasn't worked out. Instead, she's stuck singing in a sticky-floored basement club in Soho and her married lover has just left her. She has nothing to look forward to until a stranger offers her the chance of a lifetime: a starring role on Broadway and a first-class ticket on the Queen Mary bound for New York.After a murder at the club, the timing couldn't be better and Lena jumps at the chance to escape England. Until death follows her onto the ship and she realises that her greatest performance has already begun.Because someone is making manoeuvres behind the scenes, and there's only one thing on their miTrade Review Praise for Miss Aldridge Regrets ‘Charming characters, a cross-Atlantic setting, jazz, cocktails, sex and a brilliant murder mystery. You couldn’t ask for more! I loved it’ Harriet Tyce ‘This is a cracker. A thoroughly absorbing and thought-provoking historical crime novel that oozes glamour’ Cathy Rentzenbrink, The Last Act of Love ‘A sublimely told murder mystery which oozes class in every sense. Fully deserves the Christie comparisons’ Trevor Wood, The Man on the Street ‘A fabulous Christie-esque mystery. Brilliantly written, so evocative, and keeps you guessing all the way through’ Charlotte Levin, If I Can’t Have You 'Glamour and grit combine in this smartly plotted, wonderfully atmospheric historical murder mystery, with a heroine I won't forget. I loved it' Frances Quinn, The Smallest Man ‘Giving off the best Agatha Christie vibes but also compelling issues of race and identity . . . Keeps you guessing until the end’ Julie Owen Moylan, The Green Eyed Girl ‘Perfectly evokes the glamour of the Queen Mary as well as the gritty underbelly of 1930s Soho. Beautiful writing, striking characters and a twisting plot make this a compelling read’ Anita Frank, The Return ‘All the intrigue of a juicy Agatha Christie with a shot of something extra strong and dry. It’s a sumptuous voyage with the most unexpected conclusion’ Beth Morrey, Saving Missy ‘An engrossing read’ Guardian ‘Hare’s well-crafted second novel oozes glamour . . . Did someone mention Agatha Christie? Yes, but with the bonus of subtle reflections on race and class’ Observer ‘Completely thrilling . . . enormously entertaining . . . Miss Aldridge Regrets deserves recognition every bit as much as the books from Golden Age crime writers like Agatha Christie because it’s so well written’ My Weekly Online

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Book SynopsisA gripping and stunning historical romance set in the British Raj for fans of Janet MacLeod Trotter, Dinah Jefferies and global bestseller Lucinda RileyAt midnight where the jasmine blooms, a woman waits for her loverSara Archer's future as the dutiful wife of a British official in India seems assured, until a chance meeting with the gorgeous and powerful Ravi Sabran changes everything.Under the heat of the Indian sun, the veneer of polite society wears off quickly and soon Sara realises that nothing is as it appears to be, especially her husband CharlesBut in the beautiful jasmine gardens of the Maharajah's palace, Sara follows a forbidden path away from her bullying husband, towards Ravi and the long-buried secrets of her own birth.

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Book SynopsisSome houses are NEVER at peaceSHORTLISTED FOR THE GOLDSBORO BOOKS GLASS BELL AWARDSHORTLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS' ASSOCIATION DEBUT CROWNA gothic gem of intrigue and atmosphere' HWA Debut Crown JudgesEngland, 1917Reeling from the death of her fiancé, Stella Marcham welcomes the opportunity to stay with her pregnant sister, Madeleine, at her imposing country mansion, Greyswick but she arrives to discover a house of unease and her sister gripped by fear and suspicion.Before long, strange incidents begin to trouble Stella sobbing in the night, little footsteps on the stairs and as events escalate, she finds herself drawn to the tragic history of the house.Aided by a wounded war veteran, Stella sets about uncovering Greyswick's dark and terrible secrets secrets the dead whisper from the other sideIn the classic tradition of The Woman in Black, Anita Frank weaves a spellbinding debut of family tragedy, loss and redemption.Praise for The Lost Ones:Supernatural and historical inteTrade Review Praise for The Lost Ones: ‘A gothic gem of intrigue and atmosphere’ Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown Judges ‘Supernatural and historical intertwine in Anita Frank’s unsettling first novel … reminiscent of other tales of the supernatural, but conveys its own frissons and shocks’Sunday Times ‘With wonderful character … This is a brilliantly gothic adventure – and the perfect winter page-turner’ Sunday Mirror ‘A spine-tingling debut from Anita Frank is part ghost story, part murder mystery, and the perfect chilling read as the nights turn colder and longer’ OK! ‘I loved it SO MUCH – so creepy and compelling, full of atmosphere and gave me goosebumps…’ Lisa Hall ‘If you liked A Woman in Black, you’ll love this utterly gripping and atmospheric book’ Woman & Home ‘Haunting, emotional and exquisitely written’ Amanda Jennings ‘For fans of Henry James and Susan Hill, this chilling supernatural mystery is written in the classic mould. Intriguing, moving and assured’ Essie Fox ‘My coffee is stone cold. My palms are sweaty. I’ve raced to the shocking final twist of this lush, beautifully written historical novel. A gripping ghost story with an achingly poignant family mystery at its heart’ Samantha King ‘The perfect read for dark, chilly winter evenings … This beautifully written gothic tale interlaces history, intrigue and atmosphere, and offers a fresh take on the classic ghost story tradition’ Jane Bettany, Big Issue North ‘Will send shivers down your spine … An eerie, emotionally supernatural tale’ Sunday Express ‘Dark and devilish’ Sunday Post ‘A spine-tingling gothic tale of family tragedy, loss and redemption’ My Weekly ‘Anita Frank’s fiendishly devised plot springs a succession of shocks and revelations that keep you gripped until the final page’ Noel O’Reilly

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Book SynopsisAn intimate portrait of Patrick O'Brian, written by his stepson Nikolai Tolstoy.Patrick O'Brian was one of the greatest British novelists of the twentieth century, securing his place in literary history with the bestselling AubreyMaturin series, books that have sold millions of copies worldwide and been hailed as the best historical fiction of all time.An exquisite novelist, translator and biographer, O'Brian moved in 1949 to Collioure in the south of France, where he led a secluded life with his wife Mary and wrote all his major works. The twenty books that make up the beloved AubreyMaturin series earned O'Brian the epithet Jane Austen at sea' for their authentic depiction of Nelson's navy, and the relationship between Captain Jack Aubrey and his friend and ship's surgeon Stephen Maturin. Outside his triumphant popularity in fiction, O'Brian also wrote erudite biographies of both Pablo Picasso and Joseph Banks, as well as publishing translations of Simone de Beauvoir and Henri CharrièTrade Review Praise for Nikolai Tolstoy: 'One of the most gripping literary biographies of recent years' Sunday Times Culture 'Admirers of O'Brian's work will regard it as required reading' Guardian ‘Tolstoy writes with that passion to understand that characterises the best biographies’ Spectator ‘Reading Tolstoy is like reading a fine, detailed detective story … To be treasured because it exposes and rebuts much falseness that has been written about O'Brian.’ The Times

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Book SynopsisTwo women.A wild Island.A truth buried deep in the past. ‘Like a surreal cabinet of curiosities – haunting, eerie, evocative’ Bridget Collins, Sunday Times bestselling author of The BindingTrade Review‘Like a surreal cabinet of curiosities – haunting, eerie, evocative.’ Bridget Collins, author of The Binding ‘Polly Crosby whips up a lush, mythical world . . . realised beautifully in vivid writing. A book worm’s treat!’ Eve Chase, author of The Glass House ‘This moving tale is set in a mesmerising world. Like a butterfly emerging from a chrysalis, the story emerges slowly, allowing you to immerse yourself in its wonders.’ Heat ‘A luminous and beautiful novel that gently lures the reader into a captivating story with a mystery at its heart.’ Jennifer Saint, author of Ariadne ‘Rich and evocative storytelling is at the heart of this beautifully atmospheric book.’ My Weekly ‘A beautifully written tale of butterflies, secrets and silk’ Sonia Velton, author of Blackberry and Wild Rose ‘Immersive, atmospheric and so very imaginative.’ Kate Sawyer, author of The Stranding ‘Polly Crosby is a skilled storyteller, drawing the reader in . . . Will keep you enthralled’ Elizabeth Lee, author of Cunning Women ‘Dreamy image after image, The Unravelling is like a series of beautiful paintings’ Sara Sheridan, author of The Fair Botanists ‘Fluid and poetic … the story is of butterflies and silkworms, of flying free and being pinned, of characters and landscapes concealing layer upon layer of tightly wound secrets which eventually unspool in a series of dramatic metamorphosis.’Norfolk Magazine ‘Utterly transporting. Polly Crosby plunges us into a hauntingly beautiful landscape with complex and compelling characters.’ Annabel Abbs, author of The Language of Food ‘Imaginative and intriguing, this is packed with tender moments.’ Woman’s Weekly ‘Mysterious and suspenseful, The Unravelling is a story of visceral beauty and the transformations life undergoes to survive.’ A. J. Gnuse, author of The Girl in the Walls

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Book SynopsisWhat if everything your family ever told you was a lie?Frankfurt, 1963At the war's end, Frankfurt was a smoldering ruin, severely damaged by the Allied bombings. But that was two decades ago. Now it is 1963, and the city's streets, once cratered are smooth and paved. Shiny new stores replace scorched rubble. For twenty-four-year-old Eva Bruhn, World War II is a foggy childhood memory. Eager for her wealthy suitor, Jürgen Schoorman, to propose, Eva dreams of starting a new life away from her parents and sister. But Eva's plans are turned upside down when an American investigator, David Miller, hires her as a translator for a war crimes trial.As she becomes more and more involved in the Frankfurt Trials, Eva begins to question her family's silence on the war and her future. Why do her parents refuse to talk about what happened? What are they hiding? Does she really love Jürgen and will she be happy as a housewife? Though it means going against the wishes of her family and her lover, Eva,Trade Review‘From the first pages The German House creates a movie in the reader’s mind and it doesn’t tear off until the last chapter’ Der Spiegel

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Book SynopsisFrom the internationally bestselling author of The Secret OrphanA world at warA secret from her pastA chance to be togetherA book full of emotion, secrets, hope and loveExcellent writing and I would definitely recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction' LisaA moving and compelling historical novel about love, second chances and resilience in the darkest of times.Southampton 1940Abandoned when she was tiny, Maisie Reynolds was separated from her twin brother and forced to grow up in Holly Bush orphanage a place where she has never known love or kindness.But with the world at war and Hitler's devastating bombs coming ever closer, fate has other plans for Maisie and a secret from her past changes everything.When she meets handsome Canadian paratrooper, Cam, Maisie learns that love might not be lost to her after all but not before her past life and D Day bring a tragic twist to her happiness.Readers are loving The Forgotten Orphan:Absolutely fantasticBoy I wasn''t disappointed' BriTrade ReviewReaders LOVE The Secret Orphan: ‘Keeps you wanting to read into the small hours’ Lisa, Goodreads ‘The best and most beautiful book I've read in a long time’ Brid, Netgalley ‘Simply amazing’ Rikki-Doodlebug's Book Reviews ‘Captivated from beginning to end’ Jessyca, Goodreads ‘A gripping, page turner set in WWI … Loved it’ Amanda, Netgalley ‘A real page turner … You will find yourself in England during the war with a story that will stay with you’ Lou, Goodreads ‘A stunning novel and one that should be recommended’ Postcard Reviews ‘A must read for WWII historical fiction fans’ Lizbeth, Goodreads ‘One of my new favourite novels … I love everything about this story’ Ashley Murphy Reads ‘The depiction of wartime life in the Coventry bombings and on a Cornish farm were realistic and compelling’ Vivien Brown ‘A story that I will remember for a long time to come’ Shirley, Goodreads Reviewer ‘Loved every minute of this hard to put down book … highly recommend putting this on your reading list – especially if you love historical fiction and WWII’ Roxane, Goodreads ‘A must-read for anyone who loves historical fiction (especially World War II fiction) or romance’ Kindred Connection Reviews

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Book SynopsisAn incredible historical novel inspired by the true story behind the Boots empire.Jersey 1885On the beautiful island of Jersey, Florence Rowe lives a quiet life working in her father's bookshop. Life for the Rowe family is good, but Florence can't help yearning for moreWhen Jesse Boot, the successful owner of Boots the chemist, arrives on the island, Florence is immediately captivated by his tales of life in a busy, bustling city on the mainland. For the first time ever, Florence imagines a life away from the constraints of Jersey society, of being someone more than just a shopgirl.Until her parents reveal the shocking news they will refuse any marriage proposal from Mr Boot. Can Florence find a way to be with the man she loves and make a new life for herself?Readers are loving Mrs Boots:A book that drew me inI cuddle up on my reading chair and entered the world of Boots' AbbyVibrant, believable, characters and an absorbing plot' TabbyThis will definitely pull at your heartstringsLoved it' BeverleyI'm so glad this is the beginning of a series and I can''t wait to read the rest! Wonderfully written' GraceIf you like historical novels this is a book for you' Bookoholic CafeA gorgeous start to a new historical series that captivated, charmed and inspired me' AdeleA great and powerful read about love, relationships, and the trials and tribulations in betweena true thrill' DonnaWatch this authorthis is a series you''ll want to stick with' Micah

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Book Synopsis Winner of The HWA Gold Crown 2020 From the No.1 bestselling author of The Ashes of London and The Fire Court comes the next book in the phenomenally successful series following James Marwood at the time of King Charles II.Trade Review‘I loved this! It's a treat to read a book that is so immersive, that pulls the reader into an entirely different world…This is a complex story told with clarity – a masterclass in writing for the genre’ Ann Cleeves, bestselling author of the Shetland and Vera Stanhope series 'The King’s Evil is an absolute treat from start to finish – a hugely engaging, atmospheric historical thriller with not one but two smart and lovable protagonists. Andrew Taylor is one of our finest storytellers' Antonia Hodgson ‘Taylor, one of the best historical crime writers today, is on great form with this novel. The plot weaves in and out of Restoration politics with seamless grace’ The Times ‘Few historical novelists write with more authority and a greater sense of authenticity than Andrew Taylor’ Sunday Times ‘This is historical crime fiction at its dazzling best’ Guardian ‘Another fine outing from one of the best historical novelists around’ Sunday Times ‘Taylor has a rare knack for conjuring up an authentic historical atmosphere, and his description of a teeming, uncertain London in a state of flux is vivid and compelling’ Observer ‘A novel filled with intrigue, duplicity, scandal and betrayal, whose author now vies with another master of the genre, C. J. Sansom’ Spectator ‘Another rich, sumptuous glory of a novel: perfectly plotted, perfectly peopled, perfectly thrilling and with enough twists to keep a maze-maker happy…I love all of Andrew Taylor’s writing and this is a novelist of consummate skill at the absolute peak of his power’ Manda Scott ‘Glorious’ Sunday Express ‘Taylor’s mantelpiece already groans under awards for his nonpareil historical crime novels, and this latest is as striking as anything he has written’ Financial Times ‘An involving detective tale’ The Sunday Times Praise for Andrew Taylor: ‘If you like C. J. Sansom, or Hilary Mantel, you’ll love Andrew Taylor’ Peter James

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Book SynopsisA heart-wrenching novel of love, resilience and courage in World War II, from the author of Sisters of War perfect for readers who loved The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The German Midwife.Ukraine, 1943On a train from Ukraine to Germany, Lisa Smirnova is terrified for her life. The train is under Nazi command, heading for one of Hitler's rumoured labour camps. As she is taken away from everything she holds dear, Lisa wonders if she will ever see her family again.In Nazi-occupied Kiev, Irina Antonova knows she could be arrested at any moment. Trapped in a job registering the endless deaths of the people of Kiev, she risks her life every day by secretly helping her neighbours, while her husband has joined the Soviet partisans, who are carrying out life-threatening work to frustrate the German efforts.When Lisa's train is intercepted by the partisans, Irina's husband among them, these women's lives will take an unimaginable turn. As Irina fights to protect her family and Lisa is forced to Trade Review‘A powerful and hard-hitting novel, it tackles the themes of loyalty and compassion, and emphasizes the hard choices that need to be made in wartime’ Deborah Swift, author of The Lady's Slipper 'The author, Lana Kortchik, has done her homework, and it shows. Her writing style is crisp and vivid, and she gives us dialogue that jumps off the page’Harry Fox, author of The Stonegate Sword ‘Pulls you in to the bleakness of war, the longing for peace, and the exhilaration of profound, unconditional love’ Marie Silk, author of Davenport House 'Miss Kortchik takes the reader on a whirlwind journey, full of emotions, loss, love, and faith in this well-researched novel’ Heather Osborne, author of Bitter Bonds ‘I didn't want this story to end. It's one of those books you hold close to your heart and don't want to let go. By the time I got to the last page I felt I knew these wonderful characters well. Lana talks of such tragedy, hard times, loss, betrayal, sorrow, love and happiness with such class and sophistication for one so young, she left me speechless and wanting more. Such woe was there in this story, but such love, it will melt you’ Sharon Laker, author of The Railway Mice of Countesthorpe 'I cried, smiled, gasped, and laughed while reading this book. It will stay with me long after I've finished it' J.L. Leslie, author of Tame Me

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Book SynopsisAn absolute *blinder* so so funny and sexy. So excited now to read everything by Crystal Jeans' Caroline O'Donoghue, author of Scenes of a Graphic NatureA glorious celebration of queer friendship and all kinds of love. Funny, outrageous, heartbreaking and so much fun' Kate Davies, winner of the Polari PrizeHilarious, fresh and sexy, with a tale that takes the reader from Egypt to Hollywood' Irish IndependentFunny, filthy and phenomenally good' Matt CainFilthy and hilarious, this is a gloriously naughty romp of a read that also has something serious to say about queer love. I didn't want it to end' S.J. WatsonPerfect for fans of Tipping the Velvet and Gentleman Jack a delicious and diligent piece of fiction that will provide you with enough great comebacks to last a lifetime This is a delightful book I wish to fling at my friends with affectionate abandon'' DIVABy turns raucous and poignant, hilarious and shattering this is a wonder of a story' Jess KiddThis delicious romp is the sort Trade Review‘A glorious celebration of queer friendship and all kinds of love. Funny, outrageous, heartbreaking and so much fun’ Kate Davies, winner of the Polari Prize 2020 ‘Hilarious, fresh and sexy, with a tale that takes the reader from Egypt to Hollywood’ Irish Independent ‘Very funny and touching and quite filthy’ Louisa Young, author of My Dear I Wanted To Tell You ‘I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a book so much. The Inverts is funny, filthy and phenomenally good – an exhilarating, extraordinary book, packed with dazzling dialogue, stiletto-sharp wit and a glorious serving of filth. It's like Sarah Waters and Alan Hollinghurst go to a party in Downton Abbey – and things get gloriously, hilariously, out of hand’ Matt Cain ‘Filthy and hilarious, this is a gloriously naughty romp of a read that also has something serious to say about queer love. I didn’t want it to end’ S.J. Watson ‘Perfect for fans of Tipping the Velvet and Gentleman Jack… a delicious and diligent piece of fiction that will provide you with enough great comebacks to last a lifetime… This is a delightful book I wish to fling at my friends with affectionate abandon' DIVA ‘Bettina and Bart are not just larger-than-life – they are alive. By turns raucous and poignant, hilarious and shattering this is a wonder of a story. A lifelong friendship, warts-and-all, where the sparkling moments and the sad are told in a voice as irresistible as the pair themselves. I LOVED it’ Jess Kidd ‘This delicious romp is the sort of thing Nancy Mitford might have written if she’d been gay… wonderfully blithe, witty and moving’ Rowan Pelling, DAILY MAIL ‘An absolute *blinder* … so so funny and sexy. So excited now to read everything by Crystal Jeans’ Caroline O’Donoghue, author of Scenes of a Graphic Nature

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Book SynopsisA beautiful, heart-warming yet sometimes heart-wrenching book Beautiful I was left with a smile on my face' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Can a second chance heal their broken family?Since their mother walked out on them as children, Izzie's taken responsibility for her younger sister, Linda. And when their father's temper flares up, Izzie knows the girls are better off on their own.But when a handsome Italian chef moves to Worthing and offers Izzie a job in his cafe, she is forced to choose between her responsibilities and her desires. Then her mother resurfaces, and Izzie discovers there's more to her abandonment than meets the eye.Will Izzie be able to come to terms with the past in order to pursue the future she deserves?A gripping and emotional family drama from the Sunday Times bestselling author, perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Rosie Clarke.Readers love At Home by the Sea:Such a remarkable book from start to finish It will touch your heart Loved it' Goodreads reviewer,?????I coulTrade Review PRAISE FOR PAM WEAVER: ‘A heartrending story about mothers and daughters’ Kitty Neale ‘What a terrific read – saga fans everywhere will love it and be asking for more from this talented author.’ Annie Groves ‘The characters are so richly drawn and authentic that they pull the reader along through the story effortlessly. This book is a real page turner, which I enjoyed very much.’ Anne Bennett

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Book Synopsis?Spellbinding. Once you start reading you don?t want to put it down. It is emotional and your heart will go out to these children? I loved it. I couldn?t put it down?USA TodayTwo sisters. One secret. A daring wartime journey?Trade Review PRAISE FOR PAM WEAVER: ‘A heartrending story about mothers and daughters’ Kitty Neale ‘What a terrific read – saga fans everywhere will love it and be asking for more from this talented author.’ Annie Groves ‘The characters are so richly drawn and authentic that they pull the reader along through the story effortlessly. This book is a real page turner, which I enjoyed very much.’ Anne Bennett

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestsellerShortlisted for the Women's Prize for FictionLonglisted for the Booker PrizeIt is a book not read, but lived' TelegraphMantel has taken us to the dark heart of history and what a show' The TimesThe Sunday Times bestselling sequel to Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, the stunning conclusion to Hilary Mantel's Man Booker Prize-winning Wolf Hall trilogy.If you cannot speak truth at a beheading, when can you speak it?'England, May 1536. Anne Boleyn is dead, decapitated in the space of a heartbeat by a hired French executioner. As her remains are bundled into oblivion, Thomas Cromwell breakfasts with the victors. The blacksmith's son from Putney emerges from the spring's bloodbath to continue his climb to power and wealth, while his formidable master, Henry VIII, settles to short-lived happiness with his third queen, Jane Seymour.Cromwell is a man with only his wits to rely on; he has no great family to back him, no private army. Despite rebellion at home, traitTrade Review‘Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall novels make 99 per cent of contemporary literary fiction feel utterly pale and bloodless by comparison’ The Times ‘Hilary Mantel has written an epic of English history that does what the Aeneid did for the Romans and War and Peace for the Russians. We are lucky to have it.’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Very few writers manage not just to excavate the sedimented remains of the past, but bring them up again into the light and air so that they shine brightly once more before us. Hilary Mantel has done just that.’ Simon Schama, Financial Times ‘A masterpiece that will keep yielding its riches, changing as its readers change, going forward with us into the future’ Guardian ‘The most masterful story telling imaginable’ Graham Norton ‘The final book in the trilogy charts [Cromwell’s] inexorable downfall with the dark brilliance and profound humanity that makes it, like its forerunners, a masterpiece’ Daily Mail ‘Ambitious, compassionate, clear-eyed yet emotional, passionate and pragmatic, The Mirror & the Light lays down a marker for historical fiction that will set the standard for generations to come’ Independent ‘It’s the crowning glory of a towering achievement’ Mail on Sunday ‘This is a must-read’ Good Housekeeping ‘On closing the book I wept as I’ve not wept over a novel since I was a child . . . Mantel struck her spear against the flint of Thomas Cromwell, and lit such a candle in England as will never go out’Telegraph, Sarah Perry, ‘A masterpiece . . . Mantel has redefined what the historical novel is capable of . . . Taken together, her Cromwell novels are, for my money, the greatest English novels of this century’ Observer, Stephanie Merritt

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Book SynopsisPART TWO OF THE TROY QUARTETBringing ancient myth to life with passion, humour, and humanity, Lindsay Clarke vividly retells the story of Troy and of the heroes who fought there.Enraged by the betrayal of Helen and Paris, Menelaus and his brother, the High King Agamemnon, gather their allies and set out to conquer the city of Troy.Aboard their ships and behind the city's walls are figures whose names and deeds echo through history the wily strategist Odysseus, the Trojan champion Hector, and the fiercely proud, impetuous warrior Achilles.An engaging retelling of the whole story, neatly blending mythic archaism with modern psychodrama and satire'Mary Beard1 A PRINCE OF TROY2 THE WAR AT TROY3 THE SPOILS OF TROY4 THE RETURN FROM TROYTrade Review‘An engaging retelling of the whole story, neatly blending mythic archaism with modern psychodrama and satire’Mary Beard, GUARDIAN ‘I’m awed by the web you’ve spun. Not only the beautiful complexities of it but the fine texture of the threads’Ted Hughes ‘A triumph of retelling the ancient story…a readable and freshened version that keeps one turning the pages’Alan Sillitoe ‘Wonderfully clear and dramatic’OBSERVER ‘Expertly handled, drawing on the best of this classic tale and shaping it into a riveting page-turner well-suited to our times’DAILY MAIL

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Book SynopsisPART THREE OF THE TROY QUARTETBringing ancient myth to life with passion, humour, and humanity, Lindsay Clarke vividly retells the story of Troy and of the heroes who fought there.Troy has fallen. After ten years of fighting and a savage final massacre, the victors quarrel over what remains and turn their minds to home.Menelaus must decide the fate of Helen, whose incomparable beauty ignited the war. And Agamemnon must return to the fury of Clytaemnestra, who has neither forgotten nor forgiven his choice to sacrifice their daughter.An engaging retelling of the whole story, neatly blending mythic archaism with modern psychodrama and satire'Mary Beard1 A PRINCE OF TROY2 THE WAR AT TROY3 THE SPOILS OF TROY4 THE RETURN FROM TROYTrade Review‘An engaging retelling of the whole story, neatly blending mythic archaism with modern psychodrama and satire’Mary Beard, GUARDIAN ‘I’m awed by the web you’ve spun. Not only the beautiful complexities of it but the fine texture of the threads’Ted Hughes ‘A triumph of retelling the ancient story…a readable and freshened version that keeps one turning the pages’Alan Sillitoe ‘Wonderfully clear and dramatic’OBSERVER ‘Expertly handled, drawing on the best of this classic tale and shaping it into a riveting page-turner well-suited to our times’DAILY MAIL

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Book SynopsisThe former director of the Museum of Modern Art in Stockholm makes his literary debut with this dramatic and riveting novel of book publishing, émigrés, spies, and diplomats in World War II Sweden, based on his grandfather's lifeIn 1933, after Hitler and the Nazi Party consolidated power in Germany, Immanuel Birnbaum, a German-Jewish journalist based in Warsaw, is forbidden from writing for newspapers in his homeland. Six years later, just months before the German invasion of Poland that ignites World War II, Immanuel escapes to Sweden with his wife and two young sons.Living as a refugee in Stockholm, Immanuel continues to write, contributing articles to a liberal Swiss newspaper under the name Dr. B. He becomes increasingly entangled with British intelligence agents who plan several acts of sabotage on the orders of Winston Churchill. But when the Swedish postal service picks up a letter written in invisible ink, clearly by Dr. B. himself, the Allied plotters are exposed. But could a Trade Review ‘A superb thriller, a cross between Tom Stoppard’s Travesties and The Thirty-Nine Steps, full of mysteries, twists and turns … You can’t put it down. This is an astonishing debut and Daniel Birnbaum is clearly a talent to look out for’ The Jewish Chronicle ‘If you’re looking for a ridiculously brilliant story, you can stop looking … He’s got the world’s best story – he’s got Dr B’ Svenska Dagbladet ‘Dr B is an astonishing thriller-novel … reminiscent of both Hjalmar Söderberg’s Doctor Glass as well as the dreamy melancholy in The Rings of Saturn by W.G Sebald … This moral ambiguity makes Dr. B. no less fascinating a character than Stefan Zweig’s version of the same’ Aftonbladet ‘A moving evocation of a life beset by conflicts in a troubled time’ Kirkus Reviews ‘Illuminating … Birnbaum skillfully delineates the social and political tensions shaping a culture caught between the national interests of Germany and Russia, and he poignantly conveys the plight of individuals for whom each day is a potential tragedy waiting to happen’ Publishers Weekly ‘Who was Dr. B.? A spy? A member of the resistance? A journalist manipulated by competing political forces in the Casablanca of the North that was Stockholm during World War II? Dr. B brings to life the feverish atmosphere of the capital … where Immanuel Birnbaum becomes entangled in a whirlwind of confusing intrigue’ Le Monde ‘A spy novel as complex as it is captivating … Dr. B. evokes so vividly the apocalyptic chaos of 1939-40 Stockholm, where different political forces jockey for power … and Immanuel Birnbaum, Dr. B, finds himself caught in the confusion’ Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

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Book SynopsisThe former director of the Museum of Modern Art in Stockholm makes his literary debut with this dramatic and riveting novel of book publishing, émigrés, spies, and diplomats in World War II Sweden based on his grandfather's lifeIn 1933, after Hitler and the Nazi Party consolidated power in Germany, Immanuel Birnbaum, a German-Jewish journalist based in Warsaw, is forbidden from writing for newspapers in his homeland. Six years later, just months before the German invasion of Poland that ignites World War II, Immanuel escapes to Sweden with his wife and two young sons.Living as a refugee in Stockholm, Immanuel continues to write, contributing articles to a liberal Swiss newspaper under the name Dr. B. He becomes increasingly entangled with British intelligence agents who plan several acts of sabotage on the orders of Winston Churchill. But when the Swedish postal service picks up a letter written in invisible ink, clearly by Dr. B. himself, the Allied plotters are exposed. But could a JTrade Review ‘A superb thriller, a cross between Tom Stoppard’s Travesties and The Thirty-Nine Steps, full of mysteries, twists and turns … You can’t put it down. This is an astonishing debut and Daniel Birnbaum is clearly a talent to look out for’ The Jewish Chronicle ‘If you’re looking for a ridiculously brilliant story, you can stop looking … He’s got the world’s best story – he’s got Dr B’ Svenska Dagbladet ‘Dr B is an astonishing thriller-novel … reminiscent of both Hjalmar Söderberg’s Doctor Glass as well as the dreamy melancholy in The Rings of Saturn by W.G Sebald … This moral ambiguity makes Dr. B. no less fascinating a character than Stefan Zweig’s version of the same’ Aftonbladet ‘A moving evocation of a life beset by conflicts in a troubled time’ Kirkus Reviews ‘Illuminating … Birnbaum skillfully delineates the social and political tensions shaping a culture caught between the national interests of Germany and Russia, and he poignantly conveys the plight of individuals for whom each day is a potential tragedy waiting to happen’ Publishers Weekly ‘Who was Dr. B.? A spy? A member of the resistance? A journalist manipulated by competing political forces in the Casablanca of the North that was Stockholm during World War II? Dr. B brings to life the feverish atmosphere of the capital … where Immanuel Birnbaum becomes entangled in a whirlwind of confusing intrigue’ Le Monde ‘A spy novel as complex as it is captivating … Dr. B. evokes so vividly the apocalyptic chaos of 1939-40 Stockholm, where different political forces jockey for power … and Immanuel Birnbaum, Dr. B, finds himself caught in the confusion’ Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author: a dazzling WWII epic spanning London, New York and the Bahamas and the most infamous couple of the age, the Duke and Duchess of WindsorThe Bahamas, 1941. Newly-widowed Lulu Randolph arrives in Nassau to investigate the Governor and his wife for a New York society magazine whose readers have an insatiable appetite for news of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, that glamorous couple whose love affair nearly brought the British monarchy to its knees five years earlier.But beneath the glitter of Wallis and Edward's marriage lies an ugly and even treasonous reality. In the middle of it all stands Benedict Thorpe: a handsome scientist of tremendous charm and murky national loyalties. When Nassau's wealthiest man is murdered in one of the most notorious cases of the century, Lulu embarks on a journey to discover the truth behind the crime.The stories of two unforgettable women thread together in this extraordinary epic of sacrifice, human love and hTrade ReviewPraise for Beatriz Williams: ‘A world filled with elegance, charm, and bygone manners … No-one does it better than Beatriz' Jane Green ‘Full of wit, romance, and surprising twists’ Popsugar ‘Definitely worth squeezing into your hand luggage’ RED ‘Summer of 1938: A scandalous love triangle and a famous hurricane converge… a perfect storm.’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING ‘A fantastic summer read’ HELLO ‘Delightful and rewarding from an author to watch’ WE LOVE THIS BOOK ‘Williams' historical masterpiece is an all-encompassing, period-perfect read.’ RT Book Reviews (Top Pick!) ‘[A] fast-paced love story…the scorching sun illuminates a friend’s betrayal and reignites a romance’ O, The Oprah Magazine ‘A candidate for this year's best beach read – the period story of a derailed love affair seen through a sequence of summers’ Kirkus Book Reviews

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Book SynopsisPresented for the first time as a standalone work, the epic tale of The Fall of Gondolin reunites fans of The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings with Elves, Balrogs, Dragons & Orcs and the rich landscape unique to Tolkien's Middle-earth. This brand new unabridged audio book is read by Timothy West & Samuel West.Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable, is central to the enmity of two of the greatest powers in the world.Morgoth of the uttermost evil seeks in vain to discover the marvellously hidden city of his Elven enemies, while the gods in Valinor refuse to support Ulmo Lord of Waters'' designs to protect it.Into this world comes Tuor, cousin of Túrin, and guided unseen by Ulmo he sets out on the fearful journey to Gondolin to warn them of their coming doom. Then Morgoth learns through an act of supreme treachery all that he needs to mount a devastating attack on the city, with Balrogs and dragons and numberless Orcs.Trade Review‘Never did [Tolkien] write a more sustained account of battle. With dragons and fiery balrogs galore, the attack on Gondolin makes Peter Jackson’s souped-up cinema battles look like tabletop games.’The Times ‘The text is rife with references to characters and creatures that come to play a role in The Lord of the Rings… one passage in particular seems to set up one of the most famous scenes from the LOTR trilogy.’Time ‘It’s a load-bearing pillar in the grander narrative that eventually came to encompass better-known works. Tolkien explicitly expressed his wish later in life that the three Great Tales of Middle-earth’s early days — The Children of Húrin, Beren and Lúthien, and The Fall of Gondolin — along with The Lord of the Rings and other writings, should be considered as “one long Saga of the Jewels and the Rings”.’Entertainment Weekly

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Book SynopsisEverything is about to change1789. Pierre and Catherine Aubert, the Comte and Comtesse de Verais, have fled the palace of Versailles for their château, deep in the French Alps. But as revolution spreads through the country, even hidden away the Auberts will not be safe forever. Soon they must make a terrible decision in order to protect themselves, and their children, from harm.Present day. When Lu's mother dies leaving her heartbroken, the chance to move to a château in the south of France with her husband and best friends seems an opportunity for a new beginning. But Lu can't resist digging into their new home's history, and when she stumbles across the unexplained disappearance of Catherine Aubert, the château begins to reveal its secrets and a mystery unsolved for centuries is uncoveredUnlock the secret of the château today. Perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Fiona Valpy and The Forgotten Village!Readers love The Secret of the Château!I absolutely loved this book Enthralling I reallTrade Review‘Brilliant! Kath writes the most wonderful time-slip and I urge you to snap this up.’ Nicola Cornick, author of The Forgotten Sister ‘Enthralling… A beautiful and heartbreaking time-slip story… A gripping story of love and redemption across two centuries… The perfect escape.’ The Lancashire Post

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Book SynopsisBe ready to be wowed and amazed and lose sleep as you stay up to reach the last pages! You absolutely must read it!' NetGalley reviewer, 5 starsWhat would you do to protect the ones you love?1861. George's life changes forever the day he meets Lucy. She's beautiful and charming, and he sees a future with her that his position as the second son in a wealthy family has never offered him. But when Lucy dies in a suspected poisoning days after rejecting George, he finds himself swept up into a murder investigation. George loved Lucy; he would never have harmed her. So who did?Now. On the surface Cassie is happy with her life: a secure job, good friends, and a loving family. When a mysterious gift in a long-forgotten will leads her to a dark secret in her family's history she's desperate to learn more. But the secrets in Cassie's family aren't all hidden in the past, and her research will soon lead her to a revelation much closer to home and which will turn everything she knows on its head

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Book SynopsisBefore the crown there was a love storyIf you're a fan of The Crown, you'll love this' Woman's WeeklyFascinatinga beautiful love story' WomanWindsor Castle, 1943As war rages across the world, Princess Elizabeth comes face to face with the dashing naval officer she first met in London nine years before.One of the youngest first lieutenants in the Royal Navy, Philip represents everything she has always been taught to avoid. Instability. Audacity. Adventure.But when the king learns of their relationship, the suitability of the foreign prince is questioned by all at court.He is the risk she has never been allowed to take. The risk not even the shadow of the crown will stop her from takingStep through the palace gates and discover a captivating historical novel of royal secrets and forbidden love exploring the tempestuous courtship between Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in the wake of WWII.Readers are LOVING Before the Crown:Magnificent. It carries so much depth and warmness, and closTrade Review ‘A wonderfully poignant love story involving characters whose lives we all think we know about’ Celia Anderson, bestselling author of 59 Memory Lane ‘I loved this story… it felt like a sneak peek into the Queen’s life’ Glynis Peters, USA Today-bestselling author of The Secret Orphan

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Book SynopsisAll the Button Street children deserve a good homeAlone and on the streets after their mother ends up in hospital, Charlie has promised his little sister Maisie he'll never let her feel frightened again. That promise is hard to keep when Maisie falls ill.Hope comes in the shape of Susan and the other nurses at the local hospital. Times are tough and lately they've seen even more children come through their doors who need kindness and a loving home.The only way to keep Charlie and Maisie out of the orphanage is to find them a good foster home, but there are far too many people who'd take them in for their own ruthless ends. With decent folk in short supply, can Susan help Charlie to keep his promise?Perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Rosie Goodwin and Glenda Young!Trade ReviewReader’s love Cathy Sharp ‘A brilliant book!’ 5* Amazon reviewer ‘Enjoyed every page’ 5*Goodreads reviewer ‘Another brilliant book’ 5* Amazon reviewer ‘Loved this book … had me gripped waiting for next page’ 5* Amazon reviewer

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Book SynopsisThe compelling new book from the author of The Girl in the Ragged Shawl and The Orphans of Halfpenny StreetDanny gets a terrible start in life and runs away from his drunken father when he thrashes him to within an inch of his life. But life on the streets is no better and he falls into the clutches of evil men, finding that being big and strong for his age is no protection from the people who want to do him harm.Help comes in the form of Constable Jones, who is determined to help out the children who need it, and new friends Ron and Cassie, who are also runaways. Can Danny's dream of a loving home ever be a reality?Trade ReviewReader’s love Cathy Sharp ‘A brilliant book!’ 5* Amazon reviewer ‘Enjoyed every page’ 5*Goodreads reviewer ‘Another brilliant book’ 5* Amazon reviewer ‘Loved this book … had me gripped waiting for next page’ 5* Amazon reviewer

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Book SynopsisThe emotional, heartrending story from the bestselling author of The Orphans of Halfpenny Street and An Orphan's DreamCan he find a new family?Schoolboy Luke runs away to London, far from the abusive orphanage where he grew up. Desperate not to end up as a petty criminal, forced to beg for scraps on the street. Luke wanders the East End docks searching for honest employment and a morsel of food.Longing to be a part of the close-knit community, Luke volunteers to work with the local doctor and his wife. Their welcoming home is all he's ever wished for. But not everyone wants the best for Luke and his new friends.A dangerous man is looking for revenge, and Luke risks being pulled into the dark criminal underworld of the docks. Will he be forced to sacrifice the life he's built for himself in order to protect those he's grown to love?Reader's love Cathy SharpA brilliant book!' 5* Amazon reviewerEnjoyed every page' 5* Goodreads reviewerTrade Review Reader’s love Cathy Sharp ‘Loved this book … had me gripped waiting for the next page’ 5* Amazon reviewer ‘Another brilliant book’ 5* Amazon reviewer ‘A must read’ 5* Amazon reviewer ‘I could not put it down’ 5* Amazon reviewer ‘Keeps you captivated start to finish.’ 5* Goodreads reviewer ‘Absolutely brilliant’ 5* Goodreads reviewer

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Book SynopsisA fantastic and engaging read. Kerry Barrett truly is a very talented author.' Babs (Goodreads)Two women. Two decades. One story.Fearne has landed her dream job to run Mode. Except the dream isn't quite so rosy in reality, the print magazine is struggling and Fearne is determined to save it!In 1966, desperate to escape her life, Nancy moves to London with her brilliantly unpredictable friend Suze to achieve their dream of writing for Mode magazine together.For Mode to survive Fearne needs to recreate the magic of the early issues and she is on track to find Suze Mode's longest-serving editor. Unbeknownst to Fearne, what she uncovers might be the biggest story of her careerIf you loved The Forgotten Girl then don't miss out on A Step in Time, another emotional novel from Kerry Barrett out now!What reviewers are saying about A Step in TimeIt's all set against the backdrop of Strictly Stars Dancing, adding an extra element of glitz and glamour to the proceedings. This is a great book t

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Book SynopsisFar from home, she never gave up hopeA heart-warming tale from the Queen of West Country Saga, Linda Finlay.The Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author Dilly Court says Linda Finlay is SURE TO DELIGHT'!AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER NOW.London, 1910.A cruel twist of fate means Daisy must give up the job she loves painting for a theatre company and move to Devon.Only the silver bangle she wears on her wrist brings comfort, reminding her of a young man who once promised her his heart.In Devon, life is very different. Lodging with her uncle at his busy tavern, Daisy must scrub and serve for her keep.And when her uncle catches her sketching, he is furious and forbids her to draw.But a chance meeting with two travelling artists offers Daisy a different path, and steeling her courage, Daisy runs away with them to Lamorna, Cornwall, home to a famous group of bohemian artistsThis heart-warming tale of love and triumph from Linda Finlay, the Queen of West Country saga, will enchant readers.Praise for LindTrade ReviewPraise for Linda Finlay‘Sure to delight her ever-growing legion of fans’ Dilly Court 'Warm and atmospheric, you can practically taste the sea breeze' The Express ‘Rich with carefully drawn characters who really come to life in the hands of this skilled writer’ NorthernReader ‘Evocative’ Frost Magazine ‘A treasure of a read with romance, rural history and a happy ending’ Devon Life

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Book SynopsisA house.A dynasty.A gypsy's curse.Another gorgeous escapist read from the Queen of West Country Saga, Linda Finlay.One noble family. Five eligible daughters. A sealed fate.Nettlecombe Manor, nestled in the rolling hills of Devon, is home to the Lord Farringdon and his second wife, Lady Charlotte.As if running the vast estate wasn't enough, Lord Farringdon has five daughters to keep him busy.Lady Charlotte is determined that the betrothal of the eldest, Louisa, should be celebrated with a ball which is the envy of Devon society and summons a corsetière from Exeter to measure them up for new corsets. Apprentice Jane Haydon arrives at Nettlecombe to do the fittings.Having never set foot in such a grand home, Jane is disturbed to hear tell of a gypsy's curse which has haunted the family for generations, and a local wise woman's vision that there will never be a wedding at NettlecombeLinda Finlay returns with this glorious tale set in the West Country.Praise for Linda Finlay:Sure to delightTrade Review Praise for Linda Finlay: ‘Sure to delight her ever-growing legion of fans’ Dilly Court 'Warm and atmospheric, you can practically taste the sea breeze' The Express ‘Rich with carefully drawn characters who really come to life in the hands of this skilled writer’ NorthernReader ‘Evocative’ Frost Magazine ‘A treasure of a read with romance, rural history and a happy ending’ Devon Life

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Book SynopsisAnother gorgeous escapist read from the Queen of West Country Saga, Linda Finlay, author of Farringdon's Fate.One noble family. Five eager daughters. An upcoming ball.Having five daughters, Lord Farringdon has more than enough to keep him busy at Nettlecombe Manor. With his wife Lady Charlotte already in London, Edwin must help his daughter Victoria prepare for the Season as she gets ready to follow her stepmother to the city to make her Society debut.But with little time to prepare a wardrobe for the balls and parties that lie ahead, Victoria must turn to trusted seamstress Jane Haydon for help and in doing so unearths a fascinating secret hidden for decades in a beautiful piece of white silk . . .Meanwhile, Edwin's exuberant younger daughter Beatrice embarks on a very unexpected path becoming a nurse to wounded soldiers in London under the keen eye of Florence Nightingale.And with the girls' stepmother Lady Charlotte spending Edwin's money while keeping a secret of her own, it's goTrade Review Praise for Linda Finlay: ‘Sure to delight her ever-growing legion of fans’ Dilly Court 'Warm and atmospheric, you can practically taste the sea breeze' The Express ‘Rich with carefully drawn characters who really come to life in the hands of this skilled writer’ NorthernReader ‘Evocative’ Frost Magazine ‘A treasure of a read with romance, rural history and a happy ending’ Devon Life

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Book SynopsisA charming and nostalgic read, perfect for fans of Coronation Street and readers who love stories set in wartime.They are digging for victory on the nation's favourite street.Vera Sharples longs for independence from her interfering mother, Coronation Street's tyrant in a hairnet, Ena Sharples.Vera's friend, Lily Longhurst, has found herself on the wrong side of a doomed romance and decides it's high time she and Vera took their lives into their own hands.The girls sign up for the Land Army and are sent to Kent, where life is very different from the familiar cobbles they know so well. Expected to work from daybreak until sunset, the routine and the constant air raids come as a shock.Even as the girls comes to grips with the country at war, back home Ena can't stop meddling. Will the two plucky Lancashire lasses come home to Coronation Street with their dreams intact, or is Ena about to shatter them forever?Readers love Maggie Sullivan A must read' AmazonA real page-turner' AmazonA wonderful trip down memory lane' GoodreadsTrade Review Praise for Maggie Sullivan: ‘A wonderfully nostalgic tale’ Choice Magazine ‘A perfect festive read’ Woman Magazine ‘A must read’ Amazon ‘A real page-turner’ Amazon ‘A wonderful trip down memory lane’ Goodreads

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Book SynopsisA charming and nostalgic read, perfect for fans of Coronation Street and readers who love stories set in wartime.They've waited a long time to be togetherAfter years of war, the residents of Coronation Street are looking forward to saying goodbye to rations books, blackouts and bombs. However, life is slow to change and they are still waiting for the good times to return.Ida Barlow thought she was happy to have her husband back from the war. Frank can't understand that his wife has no intention of giving up her new independence to wait on him hand and foot. Wendy Collins, a new arrival to the street, wants a fresh start, but struggles to fit in to her teaching job at the local school.Elsie Tanner's latest fella has put a spring in her step. She thinks the rest of the street need a pick-me-up too, and they are soon planning a trip to Blackpool. The folk of Coronation Street have waited a long time to let their hair down ? will sticks of rock and kiss-me-quick hats be enough to bring theTrade ReviewPraise for Maggie Sullivan: ‘A wonderfully nostalgic tale’ Choice Magazine ‘A perfect festive read’ Woman Magazine ‘A must read’ Amazon ‘A real page-turner’ Amazon ‘A wonderful trip down memory lane’ Goodreads

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Book SynopsisTrade Review‘I am sitting here, stunned, after finishing this book. It was so incredibly harrowing, heartfelt and heartbreaking … I could never hope to give it the justice it truly deserves’ Netgalley reviewer ‘This book is so moving. It is harrowing and stunning, really well written and heartbreakingly raw. The author writes this book with such compassion’ Netgalley reviewer ‘I sat down and read this within a few hours, my wife is now reading it and it is bringing tears to her eyes’ Amazon reviewer ‘The story is so incredible and the author writes so beautifully that it is impossible to stay indifferent. I gave the book to my mom and she called me after she finished crying and telling me how much she loved it’ Amazon reviewer ‘It is a book we all must read, read in order to know … It is harsh, enthralling, earth-shattering, rattling – but we must. And nothing less’ Aliza Ziegler, Editor-in-Chief at Proza Books, Yedioth Ahronoth Publishing House ‘Great courage is needed to write as Adler does – without softening, without beautifying, without leaving any room to imagination’ Yehudith Rotem, Haaretz newspaper ‘This is a book we are not allowed not to read’ Leah Roditi, At Magazine

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Book SynopsisA captivating and page-turning romance perfect for fans of Christina Courtenay and Barbara Erskine!On a windswept British coastline the tide bestows an unexpected giftIt was the cry that she first noticed, the plaintive wail that called to her over the crash of winter waves. Wrapped only in a sealskin, the baby girl looks up at Effie and instantly captures her heart. Effie has always been an outcast in her village, the only granddaughter of a woman people whisper is a witch, so she's used to a solitary existence. But when Midsummer arrives so too does a man claiming to be the child's father. Effie is surprised when he asks her to continue looking after his daughter, mysteriously refusing to explain why. When he returns six months hence she pushes him for answers. And Lachlan tells a story she never anticipated one of selkies, legend, and the power of the seaReaders are loving Daughter of the Sea:????? I am lost for wordsfrom beginning to end this book took my breath away' Jeannie?????Trade Review Readers are absolutely loving The Secret Agent: ‘Captivated my heart…5 out of 5 stars for me’ Megan ‘A beautiful historical novel describing the plight of a brave young woman willing to put her own life at risk for the sake of saving others’ Julia ‘A wonderful novel with exciting twists and a satisfying ending’ Emily ‘I sat up through the night reading this book and I would definitely recommend it’ Julie ‘Perfect for a flight or a night curled up with a cup of tea or wine’ Sarah ‘A heartbreaking story of the sacrifices made by the young women of the S.O.E’ Anne ‘I would give this a higher rating than 5 it was that good’ Patricia ‘There is romance, drama and tension … an enjoyable read’ Karyn

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Book SynopsisThe second heartwarming book in the Cornish Girls saga series perfect for fans of Ginny Bell and Elaine Everest1941. The bombs still fall, but in St. Ives Christmas is finally approaching for the Cornish GirlsWith the war ongoing, Lily is feeling anything but festive. That is, until Eva asks if she'll join her in working at an officers' convalescent home, lifting her spirits no end.Eva came to St. Ives to be near the man who almost gave his life to protect hers. But will the wounded pilot ever help to heal himself by opening his heart to love?Rose suspects the local orphanage is mistreating its charges and it's her job to uncover the truth before it's too lateCan the Cornish Girls help one another through the darkest days in order to give everyone in St. Ives the sparkling Christmas they so deserve?The second in the uplifting wartime Cornish Girls series, perfect for fans of Nancy Revell and Donna Douglas.Readers LOVE the Cornish Girls:A wonderful story that I couldn''t put down Beautiful.' Goodreads reviewer, ?????A lovely story about friendship, bravery, and the strength of women in hard times!' Goodreads reviewer, ?????I wanted this book to go on and on' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Truly beautiful historical fiction set in WWII. What a wonderful cast of characters to meet!' Goodreads reviewer, ?????I simply adored this book! Wonderful It leaves you wanting more!' Goodreads reviewer, ?????Trade ReviewPraise for the Cornish Girls series: ‘A fascinating story, beautifully written, with interesting characters I really liked. A most enjoyable read!’ Kitty Neale, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Daughter’s Ruin ‘A warm-hearted story – at times I laughed and at others I held my breath … I loved the characters and I’m delighted it is the first in a series’ Pam Weaver, Sunday Times bestselling author of Goodnight Sweetheart ‘This is the first in a series, which is great news for fans of Betty Walker and the Cornish Girls!’ Historical Novel Society

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Book SynopsisExam board: OCR, EduqasLevel & Subject: GCSE English LiteratureFirst teaching: September 2015Next exams: 2024This edition of The War of the Worlds is perfect for GCSE-level students, with the complete novel, engaging introduction written by a teacher and a handy glossary at the back of the book.Fantastic value for H G Wells The War of the Worlds bookEasy to read font in an accessible formatA new introduction provides contextBespoke glossary explains key termsTrade Review“The new Collins Classroom Classic editions are perfect for schools – clear text, bright covers, a good size for pockets and bags, and a great price that makes buying new class or cohort sets very attractive in these budget-conscious times.” de Stafford School

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Book SynopsisThe heartwarming new novel from the author of The District Nurses of Victory Walk. It's autumn 1940 and the Blitz has cast its shadow over London. Everyone is doing their bit to help, including the three Harrison sisters of the East End's Victory Walk.Nurse Rose is snowed under in the hospital tending to victims of the bombings. Her sister Clover is on active duty on the south coast, while the baby of the family, Daisy, is growing up quickly working on the London Underground, now that thousands of people are taking shelter down below.Even in wartime, the sisters find time for a wedding, but the bride is keeping a secret, which threatens to come to light. Can the three sisters stick together, for each other, and for King and Country?Trade ReviewPraise for Annie Groves: ‘An engrossing story’ My Weekly ‘A stirring and heartrending family saga…Against a backdrop of change when the suffragette movement was coming to the fore, the choices and dreams of a generation of women combine to create this passionate story’ Liverpool Daily Post ‘Heartwrenching and uplifting in equal measure – a tragic indictment of what can happen when you swap passion for duty. Roll on the sequel!’ Take a Break ‘Written from the heart’ My Weekly

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Book SynopsisIn the war against Hitler every secret countsShines a light on a part of the British war effort I'd previously not been aware ofa fascinating, informative and heartwarming novel, and I loved it' The New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller Jill MansellSociety heiress Evelyn Brooke-Edwards is a skilled interrogator her beauty making her a non-threat in the eyes of the prisoners.Farm girl Betty Connors may not be able to type as she claimed, but her crack analytical skills soon find her unearthing covert connections.German ex-pat Judith Stern never expected to find herself listening in to German POW's whispered conversations, but the Nazis took her father from her so she will do whatever it takes to help the Allies end this war.Billeted together in the attic of Latimer House a place where secrets abound Evelyn, Betty and Judith soon form a bond of friendship that carries them through the war. Because nothing is stronger than women united.Tucked away in the Buckinghamshire countryside, Latimer House, a grand country estate, stands proudly a witness to some of greatest secrets of WW2.Used by the SOE to hold Nazi prisoners of war, this stunning historical novel is inspired by the untold story of the secret listeners of M Room' who worked day and night to help the Allies win the war. A must-read for fans of Mandy Robotham, Fiona Valpy and Kate Quinn.Readers love The Secrets of Latimer House:Freaking fabulous! Five perfect stars for this perfect book!The writing was wowza. So beautifully done. It flowed amazingly and honestly I couldn''t tear my eyes from my Kindle' RubieA truly fabulous read, full of drama intrigue and three fabulous characters' JeanieI really enjoy this type of book which brings strong women together in exceptional circumstances, and this one did not disappoint' AngelaThis five-star read is the first historical fiction novel for Jules Wake and I think you'll agree with me it's a real treat for lovers of this genre!!!' NormaAn excellent WWII-era historical fiction novel that is gripping, suspenseful, and engaging. I really enjoyed it!' Rachel

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Book SynopsisFor fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz ‘Heart-wrenching. Emotional. A powerful story of wartime love and devotion’ Glynis Peters, author of The Secret Orphan A powerful and incredibly moving historical novel inspired by an untold story of the Second World War.

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Book Synopsis ***A USA Today Bestseller.*** The heart-wrenching and unforgettable tale of a world on the brink of war from the internationally bestselling author of The German Midwife. Trade Review Praise for The Berlin Girl: ‘A gripping read, filled with tension and suspense as war brews in 1930s Berlin.’ Fiona Valpy, bestselling author of The Dressmaker’s Gift ‘The Berlin Girl paints a vibrant picture of some of the chilling harbingers of World War II. You'll gasp aloud and shed a few tears on this insightful, bold, fast-paced ride through Berlin's last moments of crumbling glory before the cloud of World War II descends.’ Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Lost Names ‘I was gripped by Georgie’s mission to alert the world to the horrors to come, as Hitler’s Germany prepares to create a new Europe. Mandy Robotham’s description of Berlin on the brink of war crackles with tension and shows us the best and worst of humanity.’ Sarah Steele, author of The Missing Pieces of Nancy Moon 'An absorbing read and a fascinating glimpse into Berlin and Germany just before the outbreak of the Second World War.'Janet MacLeod Trotter, bestselling author of The Tea Planter’s Daughter ‘A powerful and poignant look at how the world turned upside down. Full of things I love in a novel from strong heroines to forgotten history, this is Mandy’s best book yet.’ Lorna Cook, #1 bestselling author of The Forgotten Village ‘Mandy captured a chilling sense of tension and fear, knowing what was on the horizon.’ Suzanne Goldring, author of My Name is Eva ‘Yet again, Robotham shines a forensic light on another little-known story of WW2… in the writer’s expert hands, this [novel] becomes agonisingly tense as Georgie refuses to stand by as witness and becomes embroiled in a terrifying game of cat and mouse.’ L P Fergusson, author of The Summer Fields

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Book SynopsisHeartwarming and nostalgic new Saga series from the author of Mother's Day on Coronation Street. One ordinary street in Lancashire is getting ready for war, who knows what else is going on behind the net curtains?Vicky Parrot wanted more out of life than working all hours in her father's Post Office. Her dreams were ruined when tragedy came calling, and now happiness seems impossible.The other townsfolk have their problems too. Sylvia Barker runs the haberdashery shop and she's hiding more than a few secrets behind the bales of wool in the shop window. Her daughter Rosie wants more out of life than needles and cotton, but her headstrong ways are about to get her into trouble.Life goes on for the people of Greenhill, what they can't know is that their world is about to change foreverPraise for Maggie SullivanA wonderfully nostalgic tale' Choice MagazineTrade ReviewPraise for Maggie Sullivan: ‘A wonderfully nostalgic tale’ Choice Magazine ‘A perfect festive read’ Woman Magazine ‘A must read’ Amazon ‘A real page-turner’ Amazon ‘A wonderful trip down memory lane’ Goodreads

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Book SynopsisHeartwarming and nostalgic new Saga series from the author of Mother's Day on Coronation Street. It's 1940 and for the Lancashire town of Greenhill, everything is about to changeLocal schoolteacher Violet Pegg is surprised to get a letter out of the blue. Her Canadian pen-friend, Daniel, will soon be joining the RAF and be stationed close by. Violet hopes their long-distant friendship is about to become something more.Vicky Buckley, the town postmistress, has recently married the local doctor, but she is shocked when an unexpected visitor turns up on her doorstep.Claire Gold works with her aunt, Sylvia, in the haberdashery shop. When Violet asks her for a favour, it sets off a chain of events that will threaten their friendship.With the dark clouds of conflict looming, will it be love, and not war, that Greenhill must contend with?Praise for Maggie Sullivan:A lovely, nostalgic choice read' Choice MagazinePerfect' WomanTrade ReviewPraise for Maggie Sullivan: ‘A wonderfully nostalgic tale’ Choice Magazine ‘A perfect festive read’ Woman Magazine ‘A must read’ Amazon ‘A real page-turner’ Amazon ‘A wonderful trip down memory lane’ Goodreads

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Book SynopsisA mesmerising story of love and hopethe best book that I have read this year' Penny, Reader ReviewThe most heartbreaking historical fiction novel you will read this year from the USA Today bestseller!A train journey into the pastA love that echoes through timePaddington Station, present day A young woman boards the sleeper train to Cornwall with only a beautiful emerald silk evening dress and an old, well-read diary full of sketches. Ellie Nightingale is a shy violinist who plays like her heart is broken. But when she meets fellow passenger Joe she feels like she has been given that rarest of giftsa second chance.Paddington Station, 1944Beneath the shadow of the war which rages across Europe, Alex and Eliza meet by chance. She is a gutsy painter desperate to get to the frontline as a war artist and he is a wounded RAF pilot now commissioned as a war correspondent. With time slipping away they make only one promise: to meet in Berlin when this is all over. But this is a time when promisTrade ReviewReaders love The Last Letter from Juliet ‘OK…. I’ve finished the book. Holy ******…I had to keep taking breaks in the last 15% just so I didn’t break down in a flood of tears’ Zoe Hartgen ‘Read the first chapter and I. Was. HOOKED!’ Skye’s Mum ‘If you only read one book this year make it The Last Letter from Juliet’ Tracey Shults ‘I just couldn't put it down until finished’ Jeanette ‘Captures those stolen moments in dangerous and desperate times…beautiful, nostalgic and emotional’ Cheryl M-M ‘Jam packed full of emotion…I don't usually read historical fiction but I'm so glad I read this’ Jennie Scanlan ‘I can highly recommend this beautiful tale of love, sacrifice, friendship, courage and so much more’ Nessa Stimpson

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Book SynopsisThe International No.1 BestsellerThe perfect summer escape' Sarah MorganYou will love this' Philippa Ashley This will sweep you away to Italian citrus groves' FabulousHer summer escape will awaken the pastIn the Golden Age of Hollywood, Kelly Sinclair is on the cusp of becoming the next big movie star. Until then, she's spending the summer of 1953 on the magical island of Capri Sixty years later, on a visit to her elderly grandmother's cottage, photographer Maddie Williams unearths a box of old film memorabilia featuring a glamorous and beautiful young woman with platinum blonde hair. She also finds a postcard from the island of Capri, detailing the heart-breaking end of a passionate love affair.Her grandmother now has trouble remembering anything from all those years ago. So when Maddie is commissioned for a photoshoot in Italy, she visits Capri to see if she can find out the truth. Can she unravel the mystery and discover what really happened in the summer of 1953, and will her magiTrade ReviewPraise for A Postcard From Capri: ‘A gorgoeusly evocative summer read’ My Weekly ‘The best escapist fiction’ Prima Praise for Alex Brown: 'A glamorous and moving portrayal of love, war and friendship.' – Carmel Harrington ‘I adored it’ – Milly Johnson ‘A really lovely read' – Sarah Morgan ‘Very lovely’ – Jill Mansell ‘An intriguing and heart-warming story you will love’ – Katie Fforde ‘Warm and cosy’ – Lucy Diamond 'Poignant and moving, the cleverly entwined stories kept me turning the pages.’ – Trisha Ashley ‘Alex Brown at her very best – charming, witty, heartwarming and full of absorbing characters' – Carmel Harrington 'A lovely, warm-hearted and compassionate tale’ – LoveReading ‘This was genuinely one of the most special books I've read this year.’ – Bookish Escapes ‘A lovely book to curl up and unwind with, as sweet and charming as home made apple pie’ – Milly Johnson

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Book SynopsisHistorical fiction at its best' Reader reviewThe Tattooist of Auschwitz meets Girl with a Pearl Earring in this gripping, dual-timeline historical novel about one of Leonardo da Vinci''s most famous paintingsand the woman who fought to save it from the Nazis.Simply a masterpiece Fans of Kristin Hannah'sNightingaleand Anthony Doerr'sAll the Light We Cannot Seewill delight in this epic novel' Lori Nelson SpielmanBetween 1939 and 1943, the Nazis attempted to steal every known painting by Leonardo Da Vinci, imprisoning the original owners or worse. This is the story of the most infamous of these theftsMunich, 1939In fear of the brutal Nazi regime, art conservator Edith Becker is forced to find one of the world's most priceless works of art and hand it over to none other than Hans Frank the Butcher of Poland.Confronted by the horrors she witnesses in Poland and risking her own life, Edith tries to hide her own small acts of resistance and avoid the unpredictable gaze of Frank himself.MilaTrade Review‘Absolutely splendid’ Booklist ‘Wonderfully intertwined, quiet tale set during unquiet times reveals truths about the human character and the will to survive… The theme of survival appears often in the narrative, connected to both people and objects alike and creating another layer for readers to enjoy’ Library Journal ‘Set in Poland and Germany during World War II, The Night Portrait chronicles the ultimate of art heists, those of Nazis stealing the artistic patrimony—including Da Vinci’s great “Lady with an Ermine.” In a brilliantly written narrative that deftly cuts back and forth between the 15th and the 20th centuries, Morelli brings to vivid life the attempts by a German art restorer and an American soldier to rescue works of art from the destruction of war. This is a compelling story of two heroic people, of the young Cecelia who posed for Da Vinci, the artist, and the times they lived in.’ Frances Mayes ‘A compelling page turner at the same time as it is a mesmerizing meditation on legacy, guilt and complicity, the horrors of war, and most of all, the singular power of art’-Alyssa Palombo, author of THE BORGIA CONFESSIONS ‘A gorgeous and propulsive novel that brings to dramatic life the stories of Leonardo da Vinci, the subject of one of his most famous paintings, and the Monuments Men's quest to rescue that masterpiece from the Nazis during World War II’-Stephanie Storey, author of OIL AND MARBLE and RAPHAEL, PAINTER IN ROME ‘An astonishing, epic tale that seamlessly spans centuries of history and art, encompassing the beauty of the Renaissance and the horrible truths of Nazi Germany. Masterfully imagined and unforgettable, this riveting novel shows us the power of art to bring hope in a world of despair’-Crystal King, author of THE CHEF’S SECRET and FEAST OF SORROW

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Book SynopsisWhen war breaks out, friendship will see them throughA heart-warming story perfect for saga lovers', Nancy Revell,Sunday Times bestselling author of The Shipyard Girls seriesSheffield, 1939. With war declared, these brave women will step up and do their bit for their countryHousewife Nancy never dreamed that she'd end up in Vickers steelworks factory but when husband Bert is called up to serve, she needs to put food on the table for her two young children.Betty's sweetheart William has joined the RAF Reserves so she can't sit around and do nothing even if it means giving up her ambitions to study law at night school.Young Patty is relishing the excitement the war brings. But this shop-girl is going to have to grow up quickly, especially now she's undertaking such back-breaking and dangerous work in the factory.The Steel Girls start off as strangers but quickly forge an unbreakable bond of friendship as these feisty factory sisters vow to keep the foundry fires burning during wartime.HTrade Review Praise for The Steel Girls: ‘A riveting saga about love, courage and, above all, female friendship’ Best ‘A lovely read’ Bella ‘Hardship, courage and hope on the Home Front’ Kate Thompson, bestselling author of Secrets of the Lavender Girls ‘A heart-warming story perfect for saga lovers’ Nancy Revell, bestselling author of The Shipyard Girls on the Home Front ‘A great read’ Yorkshire Post ’A heart-warming tale of the brave women who stepped up to become the backbone of Sheffield’s steel industry during the Second World War’ Yours

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