Historical Fiction Books

Book SynopsisSummer, 1660. Cromwell is dead and Charles Stuart has been restored to the throne. Men who supported the Protectorate are being hunted down as traitors. 'S. G. MacLean can make any historical period sing with life' Antonia HodgsonBy the summer of 1660 the last remnants of the Republic have been swept away and the Stuarts have been restored under their king, Charles II. A list of regicides believed to be involved in the death of Charles I is drawn up. Gruesome executions begin to take place and the hunt intensifies for those who have gone into hiding at home or abroad.Although not a regicide, staunch Republican Damian Seeker is on a list of traitors to the king. Royalist spy, Lady Anne Winter, is employed to find evidence of guilt or innocence among the names on this Winter List. Seeker has fled England but his beloved daughter Manon remains, married to Seeker's friend, the lawyer Lawrence Ingolby, and living in York.As the conduit to her father and to others on the Winter List and surrounded by spies and watchers, Manon lives in constant danger and fear of discovery. One of those spies is closer than even she could have imagined.Perfect for fans of Robert Harris and Andrew Taylor.******************************Praise for The Winter List 'A wonderful storyteller' The Times 'Vividly imaginative, this builds the world of 1660 from the ground up, with all its romance and tragedy' Sun 'A propulsive plot . . . well-researched and fascinating' Guardian'Gripping fiction with historical fact' Sunday Times'What a fabulous book . . . there is murder, there is intrigue, there is revenge' 5* Reader Review'Kept me hooked right up to the end' 5* Reader Review'A glorious tale of revenge and retribution . . . Highly recommended' 5* Reader ReviewTrade ReviewWith a propulsive plot, this is a well-researched and fascinating portrait of a febrile, still divided nation, where long-held grudges fester in an atmosphere of broken trust * Guardian *Vividly imaginative, this builds the world of 1660 from the ground up, with all its romance and tragedy * Sun *Manon faces daily danger in a novel that shows MacLean's ability to invest gripping fiction with historical fact * Sunday Times *A wonderful storyteller * The Times *

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Book SynopsisTomorrow the World is a breathtaking family drama of of heartache, friendship and longing. Bridget Mulligan loves her husband. He is caring, loyal and dependable - everything a woman could ask for. But she can''t quite forget Harry - the one that got away - and when a snowstorm drives her into his arms, the inevitable happens. Nine months later a child is born.Overcome with remorse, Bridget is determined that her husband should know the truth, but her confession can lead only to heartbreak. Although he allows his wife and her child to continue living in his home, Tom Mulligan makes it clear that their marriage is over. Lonely and afraid, Bridget finds comfort in the friendship of Fanny, a feisty young mother who knows what it is to be alone. But Bridget''s life can never be complete until she has the love of the only man she ever really wanted . . .

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Book SynopsisNo.1 bestselling writer Josephine Cox''s Love Me or Leave Me is a heartrending story of love and friendship and the obstacles that may come between. Beautiful Eva Bereton has just three close friends: Patsy, whom she looks upon as a sister; Bill, once her childhood sweetheart, now married and living in Canada; and her mother, to whom she is devoted. When a tragic accident turns Eva''s world upside down, Patsy is the only one she can turn to.A hated figure from the past comes to reclaim the farm and business that Eva had always believed were her parents''. Not even Bill, still in love with Eva, can stop Eva being thrown out on the streets. Together with Patsy, Eva starts a new life far away.Luckily, they find work and lodgings wherever they settle. But when Eva arrives in Blackburn her past mistakes rise up to haunt her. Yet even when threatened from all sides Eva will never accept that her chances of happiness have been destroyed. Determined and optimistic, she fights on to change her life for the better.

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Book Synopsis***LONGLISTED FOR THE HISTORICAL WRITERS' ASSOCIATION DEBUT CROWN 2022******'Excellent writing, intricate plotting and masterful senses of place and time make Harvey's books compulsive reads.' - Historia******'Superb storytelling. [...] Readers everywhere are in for a treat!' - Tracy Chevalier******'Multi-layered, compelling and intriguing, The Silver Wolf draws us into the murky underbelly of Europe's Thirty Years' War.' - Minette Walters******'[A] marvellous [...] intelligently written romp through history' - NB Magazine******With a huge cast of characters and great storytelling, this is epic, action-packed historical fiction.' - Choice***The extraordinarily rich, dark, panoramic tale of an orphaned boy's quest for truth and then for vengeance as war rages across 17th-century Europe.Amidst the chaos of the Thirty Years' War, Jack Fiskardo embarks upon a quest that will carry him inexorably from France to Amsterdam and then onto the battlefields of Germany. As he grows to manhood will he be able to unravel the mystery of his father's death? Or will his father's killers find him first?The Silver Wolf is a tale of secrets and treachery and the relentlessness of fate - but it is also a story of courage and compassion, of love and loyalty and ultimately of salvation too.Book One of Fiskardo's War marks the start of a series of unforgettable, epic historical fiction for readers of Ken Follett and Kate Mosse.'Harvey handles a huge cast of characters and a mountain of research with enviable confidence, and gives us a gift of a hero. I am completely invested in Jack Fiskardo now, and will eagerly follow him through many more battles and beds, murders and mayhem, to reach his nemesis.' - Tracy Chevalier'A powerfully impressive debut.' - Minette WaltersTrade ReviewThis is superb storytelling. Harvey handles a huge cast of characters and a mountain of research with enviable confidence, and gives us a gift of a hero. I am completely invested in Jack Fiskardo now, and will eagerly follow him through many more battles and beds, murders and mayhem, to reach his nemesis. Readers everywhere are in for a treat! -- Tracy ChevalierA powerfully impressive debut. Multi-layered, compelling and intriguing, The Silver Wolf draws us into the murky underbelly of Europe's Thirty Years' War. Gripping stuff! -- Minette Waltersmarvellous [...] intelligently written romp through history -- Sara Boorman * NB Magazine *With a huge cast of characters and great storytelling, this is epic, action-packed historical fiction. -- Choice * Choice *Outstanding -- S. W. PerryA feast of a read . . . I defy anyone not to pick up this book and not be carried away into another world and another time. -- NetGalley * NetGalley *

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Book SynopsisBOOK 2 IN A THRILLING NEW ANCIENT EGYPTIAN SERIES, FROM INTERNATIONAL SENSATION WILBUR SMITH'Best historical novelist' - Stephen King'A master storyteller' - Sunday Times'Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared' - The Times'No one does adventure quite like Smith' - Daily MirrorA RUTHLESS ENEMY. A CIVILIZATION IN RUINS. A QUEST FOR SALVATION. For over fifty years Egypt has known nothing but war and devastation at the hands of the Hyksos, a bloodthirsty barbarian people from the distant east who continue to advance, crushing armies in their wake. Times are desperate, but throughout the conflict, a brave resistance fights on under the great Taita, a slave who has risen far beyond his ranks.Piay, entrusted into Taita's care by his parents at the age of just five, has been trained to become a great spy, unmatched by any other. Determined to prove his worth, he embarks on a dangerous mission to the north - to Mycenae and through the heart of Hyksos land and across the great sea - to find allies to help defend Egypt. As the situation becomes increasingly precarious, and the fate of the kingdom is hanging in the balance, can Piay succeed in his quest or will this mean the end of the glory that is Egypt once and for all?Book 2 in the New Kingdom sequence and Book 8 in the Ancient Egyptian series from international sensation Wilbur Smith. Don't miss the next in the series, Testament, coming soon.'Titans of War' was a Sunday Times bestseller for w/e 04/09/2022.Trade ReviewBest historical novelist - I say Wilbur Smith * Stephen King *A master storyteller * Sunday Times *Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared * The Times *No one does adventure quite like Smith * Daily Mirror *

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Book SynopsisLong-listed for the CWA Historical Dagger Award 2018. Summer 1941. Four violent deaths, French double agents, daring fraud - DCI Frank Merlin sets out on his most complex case yet.

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Book SynopsisA daughter pulled between two worlds and a mother willing to destroy both to protect her...Demeter: a goddess of life, living half of one.Demeter did not always live in fear. Once, she loved the world and the humans who inhabited it. But after an act of devastating violence, she hides herself away among the grasses and wildflowers. Her only solace is her daughterBefore she was Persephone, she was Core.Core is as bright as summer and devoted to her mother, even during their millennia in exile from Olympus. But she craves freedom. Naïve and determined, she secretly builds a life of her own?and as she does so, she catches the eye of a powerful godThe daughters of Olympus will have the last wordHades kidnaps Core and renames her as Queen of the Underworld. In the land without sun, she realises she may have a chance to regain what she thought she'd lost forever. But Demeter will destroy anything?even the humans s

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Book Synopsis''A book designed to be read in a dark January chill; it begs for a fireside and the sound of wind and rain howling outside'' THE LADYThis winter, escape to a warm and wonderful clifftop hotel with the world''s favourite storyteller. Now with brand new introduction by Cathy Bramley, bestselling author of Merrily Ever After.''Sometimes she would go and walk the cliffs at night and look out over the ocean...''Set high on the cliffs on the west coast of Ireland, Stone House was falling into disrepair until one woman, with a past she needed to forget, breathed new life into the place. Now a hotel with a big warm kitchen and log fires, it provides a welcome few can resist. And so gather the guests: some with secrets, some longing to leave their old lives behind, and some hoping the break at Stone House will help them find a way to face the future...''A book to treasure'' HELLO''Full Trade ReviewA book to treasure. It's classic Maeve Binchy territory, filled with characteristic warmth and captivating storytelling * HELLO *Set in a country house hotel on the West coast of Ireland it's full of her trademark warmth, humour and lovable characters * WOMAN *Binchy's compassion and warmth are undimmed ... Over her long career as a novelist she tackled many serious issues with the compassion, intelligence and wit that anyone who ever read her wonderful journalism would expect. ... All the characters in A Week in Winter are struggling - with traumatic memories, with isolation, with regret. Yet Binchy guides her creations through their troubles with a firm and kind hand, leaving them ready for a happier future. Maybe that's why so many readers loved her so much. That and the fact that she always knew how to tell a very good story * IRISH TIMES *This is a book designed to be read in a dark January chill; it begs for a fireside and the sound of wind and rain howling outside ... If you haven't come across her before, you've got a real treat in store * THE LADY *It is no exaggeration to say that Maeve and her books were loved. Deservedly so. A Week in Winter is shot through with her trademark charm ... here is an author who had a zest for life * BELFAST TELEGRAPH *Warm, witty and with a deep understanding of what makes us tick, it's little wonder that Maeve Binchy's bewitching stories have become world-beaters * OK MAGAZINE *An unsurpassed grasp of what makes a good story -- Anne EnrightBinchy makes you laugh, cry, and care. Her warmth and sympathy render the daily struggles of ordinary people heroic and turn storytelling into art * SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE *A book to treasure. It's classic Maeve Binchy territory, filled with characteristic warmth and captivating storytelling * HELLO *The final novel by late Irish author Maeve Binchy is out now. Set in a country house hotel on the West coast of Ireland it's full of her trademark warmth, humour and lovable characters. * WOMAN *Binchy's compassion and warmth are undimmed to the very end. Over her long career as a novelist she tackled many serious issues with with the compassion, intelligence and wit that anyone who ever read her wonderful journalism would expect. ... All the characters in A WEEK IN WINTER are struggling - with traumatic memories, with isolation, with regret. Yet Binchy guides her creations through their troubles with a firm and kind hand, leaving them ready for a happier future. Maybe that's why so many readers loved her so much. That and the fact that she always knew how to tell a very good story. * IRISH TIMES *It is no exaggeration to say that Maeve and her books were loved. Deservedly so. A WEEK IN WINTER is shot through with her trademark charm ... here is an author who had a zest for life * BELFAST TELEGRAPH *In the final novel from the Irish legend, we meet the motley holidaymakers of Stone House hotel, each nursing their secrets or sadness during a winter break. The plot is almost irrelevant though; what matters is the warmth and charm of Binchy's storytelling. * SUNDAY EXPRESS *This is a book designed to be read in a dark January chill; it begs for a fireside and the sound of wind and rain howling outside. ... Binchy died this year after a prolific career that began in 1982 and during which she wrote more than 20 books, all of them bestsellers. If you haven't come across her before, you've got a real treat in store. * THE LADY *Beguiling and heartwarming, this is a story of everyday Irish life made extraordinary by the author's trademark blend of compassionate humour and insight into human nature * GOOD BOOK GUIDE *One of the world's best story-tellers, Maeve Binchy, died in 2012, so I do hope you enjoy her final magically weaved story . . . This is a must-read. * WELSH COUNTRY *

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Book SynopsisPraise for Judy Summers: 'I thoroughly enjoyed this book... The characters are well drawn and believable' Lyn Andrews 'Fascinating insights into Victorian Liverpool and a heart-warming story make for an inspiring read' Mollie Walton Can she save her family when they need her the most? Liverpool, 1847. At seventeen, Delilah Shaw is the eldest of the eight Shaw siblings, and the one who must take charge when her mother and brother die in a tragic manner, and her father is left disabled in an accident at the docks.Taking care of the cooking, cleaning, washing and childcare is hard enough, but when they can no longer afford to live in the family home, Delilah must make the heartbreaking choice to leave it and to take two of her younger sisters to the workhouse.Determined to earn enough to get them back, Delilah conjures up a plan to start a flower-selling business, with the support of her new friends, Irish siblings Bridget and Frank, as well as trusted dockworker Abraham.But as her father's drinking habit gets worse, and her siblings grow weaker, Delilah must ask whether she can really forge a better life for her family before it's too late?Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR JUDY SUMMERS: 'I thoroughly enjoyed this book... The characters are well drawn and believable' Lyn Andrews. 'Fascinating insights into Victorian Liverpool and a heart-warming story make for an inspiring read' -- Mollie Walton

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Book SynopsisJack Sheffield grew up in the tough environment of Gipton Estate, in North East Leeds. After a job as a 'pitch boy', repairing roofs, he became a Corona Pop man before going to St John's College, York, and training to be a teacher. In the late seventies and eighties, he was a headteacher of two schools in North Yorkshire before becoming Senior Lecturer in Primary Education at Bretton Hall College of the University of Leeds. It was at this time he began to record his many amusing stories of village life as portrayed in Teacher, Teacher!, Mister Teacher, Dear Teacher, Village Teacher, Please Sir!, Educating Jack, School's Out!, Silent Night, Star Teacher, Happiest Days, Starting Over, Changing Times, Back to School and School Days. He lives in Hampshire.

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Book SynopsisAn eerie tale of young girls’ obsession and what happens when it grows out of hand, perfect for fans of dark academia, The Secret History and Picnic at Hanging Rock. 1864. Banished from her parents’ farm to a boarding school for young ladies, Ivy feels utterly alone. In a crumbling and isolated seminary that has seen better days, she is shunned by the other pupils for her working-class origins, and mourns for her sister, who died not long after she was sent away. Hope comes in the form of a new teacher, Miss Emily White, but almost immediately, suspicions are raised that she is not all she should be. Ivy is captivated, yet as her devotion grows, odd reports begin to circulate that Miss White has been glimpsed in the garden picking flowers whilst also teaching a class, leaving the school but stalking the halls at the same time. As increasingly strange rumours abound, Ivy’s obsession spins out of control, and with Emily White’s future at stake, she will do anything to keep her only friend.

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Book SynopsisD. V. Bishop is the pseudonym of award-winning writer David Bishop. His love for the city of Florence and the Renaissance period meant there could be only one setting for his historical thrillers. The first Cesare Aldo novel, City of Vengeance, won the Pitch Perfect competition at the Bloody Scotland crime writing festival and the NZ Booklovers Award for Best Adult Fiction Book. Book two in the series, The Darkest Sin, won the prestigious Crime Writers' Association Historical Dagger. He teaches creative writing at Edinburgh Napier University. A Divine Fury is the fourth Cesare Aldo mystery, preceded by City of Vengeance, The Darkest Sin and Ritual of Fire.

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Book SynopsisKate Morton’s heartbreaking novel, The Secret Keeper, is a spellbinding story of mysteries and secrets, murder and enduring love, moving between the 1930s, the 1960s and the 2010s.1961: On a sweltering summer’s day, while her family picnics by the stream on their Suffolk farm, sixteen-year-old Laurel hides out in her childhood tree-house dreaming of a boy called Billy, a move to London, and the bright future she can’t wait to seize. But before the idyllic afternoon is over, Laurel will have witnessed a shocking crime that changes everything.2011: Now a much-loved actress, Laurel finds herself overwhelmed by shades of the past. Haunted by memories, and the mystery of what she saw that day, she returns to her family home and begins to piece together a secret history. A tale of three strangers from vastly different worlds – Dorothy, Vivien and Jimmy – who are brought together by chance in war-time London and whose lives become fiercely and fatefully entwined.

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Book SynopsisAmid the Jacobite uprising of 1715, an English heiress flees to the Scottish lowlands to stay with allies of her powerful family. But while castle walls may protect her from the enemy outside, a whirlwind of intrigue, shifting allegiances, and temptations of the heart lie within.

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Book SynopsisEve has spent all of her days in the Garden, exploring with Adam and walking with their Creator--until the day everything changes. Suddenly she faces darkness she has never before experienced. How will she find the courage to face the unknown future and trust in the promises God has given?

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Book SynopsisIn this action-packed new Bernicia Chronicles adventure from Matthew Harffy, Beobrand finds himself in a dangerous foreign land, caught between warring factions of royalty and the Church. AD 652. Beobrand has been ordered to lead a group of pilgrims to the holy city of Rome. Chief among them is Wilfrid, a novice of the church with some surprisingly important connections. Taking only Cynan and some of his best men, Beobrand hopes to make the journey through Frankia quickly and return to Northumbria without delay, though the road is long and perilous. But where Beobrand treads, menace is never far behind. The lands of the Merovingian kings are rife with intrigue. The queen of Frankia is unpopular and her ambitious schemes, though benevolent, have made her powerful enemies. Soon Wilfrid, and Beobrand, are caught up in sinister plots against the royal house. After interrupting a brutal ambush in a forest, Beobrand and his trusted gesithas find their lives on the line. Dark forces will stop at nothing to seize control of the Frankish throne, and Beobrand is thrown into a deadly race for survival through foreign lands where he cannot be sure who is friend and who is foe. The only certainty is that if he is to save his men, thwart the plots, and unmask his enemies, blood will flow. Reviews for Matthew Harffy 'A brilliant characterization of a difficult hero in a dangerous time. Excellent!' Christian Cameron 'He is really proving himself the rightful heir to Gemmell's crown.' Jemahl Evans 'A genuinely superb novel.' Steven McKay 'Beobrand is the warrior to follow.' David GilmanTrade ReviewREVIEWS FOR MATTHEW HARFFY 'Harffy's writing just gets better and better... He is really proving himself the rightful heir to Gemmell's crown' Jemahl Evans. 'Historical fiction doesn't get much better than this' Angus Donald. 'Matthew Harffy tells a great story' Joanna Hickson. 'Beobrand is the warrior to follow' David Gilman

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Book SynopsisA richly-detailed and compelling historical saga for fans of Dilly Court, Sheila Newberry and Rosie Goodwin!Una Kelly has grown up to be a rough-and-tumble grifter, able to filch a pocketbook in five seconds flat. But when another con-woman pins her for a murder she didn't commit, Una is forced to flee. Running from the police, Una lies her way into an unlikely refuge: the nursing school at Bellevue Hospital.Based on Florence Nightingale's nursing principles, Bellevue is the first school of its kind in the country. Where once nurses were assumed to be ignorant and unskilled, Bellevue prizes discipline, intellect, and moral character, and only young women of good breeding need apply. At first, Una balks at her prim classmates and the doctors' endless commands. Yet life on the streets has prepared her for the horrors of injury and disease found on the wards, and she slowly gains friendship and self-respect.Just as she finds her footing, Una's suspicions about a patient's death put her atTrade ReviewPraise for The Second Life of Mirielle West"Scrupulous in her research and practically clairvoyant in her choice of urgent subjects – from the Indigenous boarding schools of her first novel to the disease and quarantine of The Second Life of Mirielle West – historical novelist Amanda Skenandore has quietly become one of the valley's finest authors."–The Las Vegas Review Journal "Despite being a fictional work, in her book The Second Life of Mirielle West Amanda Skenandore has used her medical background as a registered nurse–and her storytelling skills as a writer–to describe the sorrows experienced by patients with leprosy who were quarantined at the Carville Leper Home, a hospital in Louisiana that used to provide quarantine and treatment services for leprosy in the USA throughout the 20th century."–The Lancet

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Book SynopsisIf you're a fan of The Crown, Bridgerton and Downton Abbey that this book will not disappoint. This book will have you gasp, laugh and cry. Not one to be missed!' NetGalley reviewer, ????? A young Queen. Two sisters. A voyage that will change their fates forever.

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Book SynopsisFascinating' ChoiceThis well-researched novel draws you straight into the heart of this engaging story' My Weekly'A stunning evocative novel I was completely captivated' Clare Marchant, author of The Queen's SpyCan she tread a dangerous line between love and duty?Raven-haired and fiercely independent, Joan Guildford has always remained true to herself. As lady-in-waiting and confidante to Queen Elizabeth, wife of Henry VII, Joan understands royal patronage is vital if she and her husband, Sir Richard, are to thrive in the volatile atmosphere of court life.But Tudor England is in mourning following the death of the Prince of Wales, and within a year, the queen herself. With Prince Henry now heir to the throne, the court murmurs with the sound of conspiracy. Is the entire Tudor project now at stake or can young Henry secure the dynasty?Drawn into the heart of the crisis, Joan's own life is in turmoil, and her future far from secure. She faces a stark choice be true to her heart and riskTrade Review Praise for The Queen’s Lady: ‘A stunning evocative novel which weaves together the personal and the political, immersing the reader in vivid historical detail. I was completely captivated.’ Clare Marchant, author of The Queen’s Spy ‘Fascinating’ Choice ‘This well-researched novel draws you straight into the heart of this engaging story’ My Weekly Praise for Joanna Hickson: ‘An intriguing tale, told with confidence’ The Times ‘A great tale… the golden thread that led to the crown of England’ Conn Iggulden ‘Bewitching … the characters and the narrative work seamlessly together.’ Woman & Home ‘Evocative … well-researched’ Woman’s Weekly ‘Excellent’ Carol McGrath author of The Handfasted Wife ‘A great book… loving it!’ Joanna Courtney, author of The Chosen Queen ‘Rich and Warm’ Sunday Express 'Colourful and vivid' Elizabeth Chadwick ‘A big-hearted and engrossing novel.’ Elizabeth Freemantle ‘Thoroughly engrossing’ The Lady A gripping and emotional story’ Woman ‘I couldn’t have been more riveted’ For Winter Nights blog 'Well written, well researched and utterly captivating' 5*Netgalley review 'I found it very difficult to put down' 5*Netgalley review 'A most enjoyable read' 5*Netgalley review

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Book SynopsisStep into the world of Dilly Court and uncover her utterly heartwarming and emotional historical romance!Clinging tightly to the penny in her palm, Flora's fortune was about to changeFlora is forever grateful for the day the Stewart family rescued her from her life of poverty on London's streets. Adopted as one of their own, she shed her rags and was finally given a place to call home.When a twist of fate calls her back to the cobbles, Flora's new life is torn apart.Flora must make her own way if she is ever to find where she truly belongsFrom the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Rockwood Chronicles comes an emotional and captivating fireside read about finding home in the most unlikely places.Don''t miss Dilly Court''s next captivating novel, coming October 2024 available to pre-order now!Readers LOVE Dilly Court!''Another truly special book from Dilly. Warm and touching, with friendship and romance in the mix'' ?????''There is a great selection of characters, so vividly dTrade Review Praise for Dilly Court: ‘Feisty female characters to fall in love with in a spirited, adventurous novel’ Sunday Express ‘Dilly Court’s latest novel is another page-turner that will keep you gripped to the end – 5 stars’ The People’s Friend ‘As always Dilly keeps you absorbed right to the end’ Choice ‘A rollicking, fast-paced adventure with a hint of romance!’ My Weekly ‘Spellbinding . . . you just keep turning the pages’ Daily Mail ‘Perfect for Downton Abbey fans … heart-tugging’ Peterborough Telegraph

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Book SynopsisCan she choose between her duty and her heart?While World War One changes the country beyond measure, with food becoming scarce and Britain’s young men being called up to foreign battlefields, it is harder than ever to keep the grand Beach Hotel in Littlehampton running smoothly.Waitress Lili Probert, a young woman who escaped her demanding family in Wales in search of a new life in Sussex, has seen her hard work rewarded at the Beach Hotel, but hides heartbreak behind her sunny personality. Her sweetheart, Norman, is missing in action and has been presumed dead, but she cannot give up hope that he may be found.But when she meets injured soldier Rhodri, a fellow Welshman now living near Littlehampton, she fights hard to ignore her growing attraction for him, torn between her feelings for him and her loyalty to the man she thought she’d spend her life with.But her emotions run ever higher when she suddenly receives a call from home; her mother is gravely ill and Lili is needed for her care. Returning to Wales, Lili must make a difficult choice. Follow her dreams and make her own life, or return to the place she tried so hard to escape?Torn between her duty and her heart, Lili faces her own battle far from the conflicts in Europe…An emotional, gripping and heart-tugging romantic World War One saga that fans of Annemarie Brear, Pam Weaver and Rosie James will adore.Readers are loving their stay at the Beach Hotel:‘Brilliant storyline, brilliant book. Couldn’t put it down. Family saga at its best’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘I loved this enchanting read…could not put it down…’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘Well, what a start to a new series! There are many secrets to be uncovered…I loved this book.’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘Charming…this book felt like an escape…The story was heartwarming’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review‘I thoroughly enjoyed this book…I’m glad there is more to come from the Beach Hotel.’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

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Book SynopsisFormer cinematographer Julius Sewell journeys across Europe with his family to his sister's wedding in Rome. But this will be an unusual road trip. For one thing, Julius has been in an institution and has only just been released to travel. And then there is his family. This is Easter 1934 and Julius' stepfather and mother are keen members of Oswald Mosley's new party, the British Union of Fascists. One of Julius' half-sisters is in studying in Munich, where she dreams of meeting her idol, Adolf Hitler. Another half-sister is a member of the British Communist Party, and is determined to wreck the approaching wedding, because the groom is a rising figure in Italy's Fascist regime. As the family motors south, to Paris, across Nazi Germany - taking in a bus tour to Dachau concentration camp - and through Mussolini's Italy to Rome, gathering relatives and a stray dog along the way, Julius' mental stability will be put sorely to the test, as will be the sanity of his relatives.Trade ReviewKneale is a master of complex narratives and this elegant, fast moving novel is one of his best. * Daily Mail *A madcap journey... flickers with cinematic energy * Sunday Times *Panoramic... written with cinematic precision * Observer *[A] tongue-in-cheek evocation of pernicious dogmas... a reminder that murderous ideologies often first appear in forms that feel like parodies of societal norms * TLS *An enthralling and wonderfully vivid novel from a master storyteller. * Joseph O'Connor on PILGRIMS *Matthew Kneale's new novel could hardly be a more welcome getaway... Humane outrage pulses through this novel along with comic ebullience. * Sunday Times on PILGRIMS *Humane, generous, enjoyable. * TLS on PILGRIMS *Comedy and tragedy lie uncomfortably but brilliantly close in this confident, cinematic novel. * Sunday Times, 100 Best Books for Summer 2023 *

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Book SynopsisAnna Jacobs was born in Lancashire at the beginning of the Second World War. She has lived in different parts of England as well as Australia and has enjoyed setting her modern and historical novels in both countries. She is addicted to telling stories and recently celebrated the publication of her one hundredth novel, as well as sixty years of marriage. Anna has sold over four million copies of her books to date.

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Book Synopsis''Live for the day'' is the motto for the times, and our girls plan to waltz their worries away...Ever-ambitious Sylvia wants more from her life, so starts planning a Dance Weekend at the Winter Gardens not easy in wartime when air raids could cancel an event at the last minute. What she doesn''t expect is for the competition to bring the dashing Vernon into her life too! Could everything finally fall into place for Sylvia?Joy''s life has entirely turned around in the last year. Newly married to her beloved Tommy and at the helm of her family''s business in Manchester, she can''t believe how far she''s come. But will the plight of her young employee Mildred throw things off course? Or will she and Tommy still be able to perfect their waltz in time for the competition?Pearl is still longing for her darling Bernie to return from the war. Dancing is the best way to distract herself from her worries, so she throws herself into rehearsing the jive w

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Book Synopsis'Irrefutable and beautiful' New York Times'Only Kiyoko Murata can convey this world' YOKO OGAWA, author of The Memory Police, Yomiuri ShibunThe year is 1903, and tenacious and spirited Aoi Ichi is sold to the most exclusive brothel in Kumamoto, Japan, becoming the protégée of Shinonome, the oiran, or the highest-ranking courtesan.Through Shinonome's teachings, fifteen-year-old Ichi begins to understand the intertwined power of sex and money. Education for a courtesan extends beyond the art of seduction, and as Ichi is taught to read and write she develops a voice that refuses to be dampened by the brothel's rigid hierarchy.Outside the cloistered world of the red-light district, rumours of local worker strikes grow, and as the seasons change in Kumamoto, Ichi, Shinonome and their fellow courtesans begin to wonder how they might redistribute the power and wealth of the brothels among themselves.<

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Book SynopsisBestselling historical fiction author Molly Green is back with her most engrossing, heartfelt World War Two saga yet! Preorder The Wartime Librarian''s Secret now!With war raging on, there are still battles of the heart to be wonWhen Rosie Frost was jilted on her wedding day, she didn't think life could get any worse. But six years later in the throes of the Second World War, she is unceremoniously dismissed from her dream job after they discover her illegitimate child.Thankfully, top secret war office Bletchley Park recognises Rosie's talent and recruits her to decipher their Italian naval signals. Happy to be doing her bit for the war effort, Rosie settles into her new life.But when she spots a familiar face at the Park, Rosie's world threatens to come crashing down once more. Can she put her heartbreak behind her? And will wedding bells ring out across Bletchley Park before the year is out?The second in an heartwarming and hopeful wartime series set at Bletchley Park from the queen of saga, Molly Green, perfect for fans of Vicki Beeby Nancy Revell and Donna Douglas.Readers are LOVING Molly Green's Bletchley Park series:A journey for the readertantalizinginterestingtry this one!' Reader Review ?????What can I sayI love it! Can't wait to read more' Reader Review ?????Outstandingly fabulous' Reader Review ?????A lovely story' Reader Review ?????One of those can''t-put-down books' Reader Review ?????A cracking good read!' Reader Review ?????Moments of being held spellboundKept me on the edge of my seat. Couldn''t put it down' Reader Review ?????A fantastic addition to what has been a fantastic series so far' Reader Review ?????Great story. Great characters. Wonderfully written and oozing wartime spirit. Couldn't ask for more!' Reader Review ?????Trade Review PRAISE FOR MOLLY GREEN: ‘Molly Green creates realistic characters and situations that keep you turning the pages’ Katie Fforde 'A moving, gripping story set during WW2, of a woman's dedication to the orphans in her care and her heart wrenching love’ Kitty Neale ‘Redolent of wartime Britain and brimming with heartfelt stories from several characters, Molly Green's sure-footed novel shows just how challenging it was to find love and a place to call home in the dark days of the war’ Terri Fleming ‘A lovely, heartfelt, warming slice of saga fiction … There is a gentleness to the writing as it walks some difficult paths, ensuring AN ORPHAN’S WAR is an engaging, generous read’ Liz Robinson, LoveReading ‘A gripping read’ My Weekly ‘Meticulously researched and brings into focus the sterling work of the women of the ATA … An engrossing story, with a strong, likeable female protagonist facing issues we still face today’ Historical Novel Society Magazine ‘Memorable characters, a well written, plausible plot and very good descriptions of the time and place. The scenes and details of Dr Barnardo’s are especially interesting as the plight of orphans is rarely considered when we think of World War Two … We often forget the ordinary people surviving day-to-day ‘back home’’ Discovering Diamonds Blog

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Book SynopsisWhat the sea takes for its own can never returnPortugal, 1754. Cecilia Lamb knew being a sea captain's wife would mean a life of waiting and watching the horizon for her husband's ship. But John has been gone longer than any voyage should last. Everyone else has given up hope of his return. But she knows in her bones that he is not lost. Gone, but not lost.Barely able to tear her eyes from the shimmering sea, she feels drawn to the sun-baked shoreline, and amid the bustle of the docks she feels certain that her husband will come back to her. Though along with that feeling is another sense that something darker is coming. As she sickens, she doesn't know what the next tide will bring but she begins to fear as well as crave her husband's homecoming.Soon, even on dry land, Cecilia can feel the pull of the ocean at her feet, the movement of the tides within her. Warning, seduction or promise, she cannot tell, but one thing is certain the sea holds many secrets, and some of them are too Trade ReviewPraise for The House of Footsteps: ‘I don't believe in reincarnation, but Mathew West seems the very spirit of M.R. James. With urbane wit and an ever-lurking dread, The House of Footsteps broods to an unsettling climax, choking with atmosphere.’A.J. West, author of The Spirit Engineer ‘Enthralling, unnerving and unsettling’ Katie Lumsden, author of The Secrets of Hartwood Hall

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Book SynopsisInspired by the true events of the most notorious evictions in Irish history1861, Donegal, IrelandTen years ago Declan Conaghan's father died in the Great Famine, and since then, Declan has kept his promise to keep his family out of the workhouse. But all that is threatened with the arrival of new landlord, John Adair. Adair is quick to cause trouble and fear among his tenants. When he turns them off his land, Declan has no option but to break his promiseDeclan is in despair until he receives a letter from America offering him the chance of a new life and salvation for his family. But it would mean signing up to the US Army and fighting for Lincoln. Despite knowing nothing of war, or US politics, Declan leaves behind all he knows.Set against the wild landscapes of Ireland and the turbulent times of the American Civil War, this sweeping narrative takes us on an epic journey to understand the strength and endurance of the human spirit.Praise for Anne Madden:''The author seems to have put

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Book SynopsisNAMED ONE OF '51 FAVORITE BOOKS OF 2023' (WASHINGTON INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF BOOKS)LONGLISTED FOR THE BRIDPORT NOVEL AWARDIn beautifully rendered prose, a mother and a daughter struggle as outsiders in Baghdad and London in this intergenerational drama set against a background of political tension and intrigue“Who would be charmed by tales of life in the beautiful old house on the banks of the Tigris—looted now no doubt, its shutters torn and the courtyard strewn with mattresses?”One night in 2003, Anglo-Iraqi psychiatrist Mona Haddad has a surprise visitor to her London office, an old acquaintance Duncan Claybourne. But why has he come? Will his confession finally lay bare what happened to her family before they escaped Iraq? Their stories begin in 1937, when Mona’s mother Diane, a lively Englishwoman newly married to Ibrahim, an ambitious Iraqi doctor, meets Duncan by chance. Diane is working as a nanny for the Iraqi royal family. Duncan is a young British Embassy officer in Baghdad. When the king dies in a mysterious accident, Ibrahim and his family suspect Diane of colluding with Duncan and the British.Summoning up the vanished world of mid-twentieth-century Baghdad, Elizabeth Loudon’s richly evocative story of one family calls into question British attitudes and policies in Iraq and offers up a penetrating reflection on cross-cultural marriage and the lives of women caught between different worlds.Trade Review"This intergenerational drama is deftly written with graceful prose and psychological acuity. . . . Loudon pens the history of Western involvement in Iraq, dating back to the 1930s, with stunning acumen and imagination."—The New Arab“An intimate, intricate portrait of how people’s lives are jostled and remade . . . an engrossing read.”—Washington Independent Review of Books“A stirring novel about a family—and their involvement in Iraqi and British politics—who resist difficult times in Iraq, including political changes that have defined and highlighted their lives.”—World Literature Today“[A] sweeping debut novel. . . . a meditation on the impact of colonialism”—Daily Hampshire Gazette"The mastery of this novel is that the author gives equal importance to all the intricacies that she writes."—Middle East Monitor“A crisis of family and identity . . . recommend[ed].”—Enterprise"A haunting, beautifully written book about twentieth century Baghdad and the long aftermath of colonialism. Full of subtle, empathetic details that ring like bells, intricately plotted with unforgettable twists, this book will stay with you long after you think you finished it."—Annia Ciezadlo, author of Day of Honey"A Stranger in Baghdad is vivid and fascinating. There is an elegance to the writing which makes every page distinctive. I found it completely enthralling."—Lissa Evans, author of Crooked Heart"Original, beautifully written and intriguing. Elizabeth Loudon is an exciting new voice."—Katie Fforde, author of Stately Pursuits"A page-turner that is also full of marvellous description and atmosphere. It feels beautifully true and of its time but with a contemporary sensibility. The conflict between Britain and Iraq at a political and a family level is brilliantly done, with the cross-cutting allegiances dividing and uniting in a web of love, ambition and lies."—Sofka Zinovieff, author Putney“An intriguing and thoughtfully worked examination of one family’s cross-cultural collisions between Britain and Iraq.”—Justin Marozzi, author Baghdad and Islamic Empires"The story of Diane and Ibrahim and their torn loyalties to family and nation, and how their children grow up in post-royalist police-state Iraq, is told with mesmerizing power. Elizabeth Loudon's mastery of the historical, cultural as well as psychological details of such a narrative is truly moving."—Rana Haddad, author of The Unexpected Love Objects of Dunya Noor"Intriguing and atmospheric"—Alice Jolly, author of Mary Ann Sate, Imbecile

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Book SynopsisA death in the family rarely brings out the best in people - even the deceased Jonathan Coulter planned for his death meticulously, leaving nothing to chance. His will states that his three adult children must decide between them how to dispose of his estate. If they cannot come together over their inheritance, then they risk losing it. But Liv, Noah and Chloe never agree on anything. And now, with only one weekend to overcome their rivalry, tensions begin to rise. Why has Jonathan left the decision to them? And why has he made no mention of his new partner, Megan, or the children's mother, Eloise? If he wanted to teach them a lesson from beyond the grave, what is it? And can the siblings put their differences aside for long enough to learn it? A powerful novel about love and loss, and what we truly pass on to our children.Trade ReviewThere is a raw realism to all of Caroline Bond's novels. This latest, The Legacy, reminds us that sometimes it's the loss of a loved one that gives us newfound appreciation for family, and for choices we previously couldn't understand. Redemptive and satisfying. * Carol Mason *What an astute and thoughtful writer Caroline Bond is. Exposing the dynamics of a family struggling to regroup after bereavement rings blisteringly true. * Elizabeth Buchan *A beautifully crafted exploration of family resentments and vulnerability. Caroline Bond writes with a keen eye for human frailty, bringing her characters vividly to life, flaws and all. * Charity Norman *A powerful, character-led story, ideal for book groups * Woman's Own *Caroline Bond has a gift for weaving heart-rending tales of impossible decisions and The Forgotten Sister is no exception. A beautifully written story that will stay with me for quite some time. Would I have made the same choices? -- Amanda Brooke on 'The Forgotten Sister'A deftly written novel [and] a moving exploration of love between sisters and the tangled, often complex emotions that exist in families. -- Madeleine Reiss on 'The Forgotten Sister'Caroline Bond takes a complex situation and has written a thoughtful, wrenching and, at times, tear-jerking novel. -- Elizabeth Buchan on 'The Second Child'

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Book SynopsisTHE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!"A powerful portrait of the courageous women who fought against ignorance, misogyny, and racial prejudice." -William Kent Krueger, New York Times bestselling author of This Tender Land and Lightning StrikeThe new novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek!Bestselling historical fiction author Kim Michele Richardson is back with the perfect book club read following Honey Lovett, the daughter of the beloved Troublesome book woman, who must fight for her own independence with the help of the women who guide her and the books that set her free.In the ruggedness of the beautiful Kentucky mountains, Honey Lovett has always known that the old ways can make a hard life harder. As the daughter of the famed blue-skinned, Troublesome Creek packhorse librarian, Honey and her family have been hiding from the law all her life. But when her mother and father are imprisoned, Honey realizes she must fight to stay free, or risk being sent away for good.Picking up her mother's old packhorse library route, Honey begins to deliver books to the remote hollers of Appalachia. Honey is looking to prove that she doesn't need anyone telling her how to survive. But the route can be treacherous, and some folks aren't as keen to let a woman pave her own way.If Honey wants to bring the freedom books provide to the families who need it most, she's going to have to fight for her place, and along the way, learn that the extraordinary women who run the hills and hollers can make all the difference in the world.Praise for The Book Woman's Daughter:"In Kim Michele Richardson's beautifully and authentically rendered The Book Woman's Daughter she once again paints a stunning portrait of the raw, somber beauty of Appalachia, the strong resolve of remarkable women living in a world dominated by men, and the power of books and sisterhood to prevail in the harshest circumstances. A critical and profoundly important read for our time. Badassery womanhood at its best!"-Sara Gruen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants"Fierce, beautiful and inspirational, Kim Michele Richardson has created a powerful tale about brave extraordinary heroines who are downright haunting and unforgettable."-Abbott Kahler, New York Times bestselling author (as Karen Abbott) of The Ghosts of Eden ParkTrade Review"In Kim Michele Richardson's beautifully and authentically rendered The Book Woman's Daughter she once again paints a stunning portrait of the raw, somber beauty of Appalachia, the strong resolve of remarkable women living in a world dominated by men, and the power of books and sisterhood to prevail in the harshest circumstances. A critical and profoundly important read for our time. Badassery womanhood at its best!" - Sara Gruen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Water for Elephants"Fierce, beautiful and inspirational, Kim Michele Richardson has created a powerful tale about brave extraordinary heroines who are downright haunting and unforgettable." - Abbott Kahler, New York Times bestselling author (as Karen Abbott) of The Ghosts of Eden Park"A mesmerizing and beautifully rendered Appalachian tale of strong women, bravery, and resilience, told through the eyes of a new heroine reminiscent of Harper Lee's own Scout Finch." - Ron Rash, New York Times bestselling author of One Foot in Eden and Serena

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Book Synopsis1901. Night draws in.With the stealth of a spy vessel, the royal ship Aziziye approaches the famous vistas of Mingheria. 'An emerald built of pink stone'. The 29th state of the ailing Ottoman Empire.The ship carries Princess Pakize, the daughter of a deposed sultan, her doctor husband, and the Royal Chemist, Bonkowski Pasha. Each of them holds a separate mission. Not all of them will survive the weeks ahead. Because Mingheria is on the cusp of catastrophe. There are rumours of plague - rumours some in power will try to suppress.But plague is not the only killer.Soon, the eyes of the world will turn to this ancient island, where the future of a fragile empire is at stake, in an epic and playful mystery of passion, fear, scandal and murder, from one of history's master storytellers.

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Book SynopsisThe second novel in the Ashmore Castle series, perfect for fans of DOWNTON ABBEY, from the author of the hugely successful MORLAND DYNASTY novelsBehind the doors of the magnificent Ashmore Castle, secrets are waiting to be uncovered . . .  England, 1903. Giles, the new Earl of Stainton, is struggling to bring his family's estate back to order after the death of his father, and he has little time to spare for his young pregnant wife, Kitty. She lives in fear of her mother-in-law, who won't give up the reins of the household. Will she ever truly be mistress of Ashmore Castle? Perhaps if her coming child is a boy, that will change the balance of power...   Meanwhile, the Earl's younger sisters are having their first taste of romance, but not necessarily with the right people. Richard is pursuing his forbidden relationship with Molly, while Nina makes a lively new friend who leads her straight into trouble and pu

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Book SynopsisAt the dawn of the nineteenth century, John Stewart Zarco lives out an inquisitive, naive childhood in his idyllic Porto community. But societal prejudices against his family’s Jewish faith shatter his innocence and even come to threaten his life. Following the tragic death of his dearest friend, it is only his unlikely bond with Midnight, an African healer and freed slave, that restores a sense of safety. But this fragile, fleeting peace is destroyed when Napoleon’s armies invade Portugal and John suffers another devastating loss – one rooted in unspeakable betrayal and authored by those closest to him. The revelation sets John on course for antebellum America, in what might ultimately prove to be a doomed quest for hope amid unspeakable cruelty and sin. Rich in historical detail and mysticism, Hunting Midnight is Richard Zimler’s mesmerising tale of deception, guilt, forgiveness and devotion, played out against a backdrop of war, slavery and religious oppression.Trade Review‘Zimler’s writing is pacey and accessible without ever patronising the reader. Deeply moving.’ – The Observer; ‘A gripping adventure story, which can also be read at deeper levels’ – The Independent; ‘I defy anyone to put this book down. It is a wonderful novel; a big, bold-hearted love story that will sweep you up and take you, uncomplaining, on a journey full of heartbreak and light.’ – Nicholas Shakespeare; ‘Shocking, colorful and absorbing!’ – Publishers Weekly

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Book Synopsis'The doctor hits the spot and deserves to be read' - Jeffrey Archer 'A story to get the heart racing' - Daily Express 'An enthralling tale' - Daily Mirror 'Dr Hilary is a master storyteller' - Lorraine Kelly CBE ___________LOVE GAVE THEM STRENGTH. LOVING EACH OTHER GAVE THEM COURAGE. Britain and her allies are engaged in a long war with Germany.Grace is the daughter of landed gentry, volunteering as a nurse on the Western Front.Will is the son of a dockworker, driven to enlist by a sense of patriotism and the thrill of adventure.When their lives collide in a field hospital in France, they form a passionate connection.This is a sweeping and sumptuous WW1 drama and historical epic, perfect for fans of Ken Follett, Kate Mosse and Jeffrey Archer. Trade Review'The doctor hits the spot and deserves to be read' -- Jeffrey Archer'My diagnosis is that Frontline is a story to get the heart racing' * Daily Express *'An enthralling tale and Jones' medical expertise never gets in the way of the action' * Daily Mirror *'Dr Hilary is a master storyteller, and Frontline is an utterly absorbing page-turner' -- Lorraine Kelly, CBE'Frontline succeeded where (Sebastian Faulks') Birdsong failed; in actually making me cry' * National Federation of Pensioners magazine. *'This is an ambitious, sweeping epic of a story, visceral in its descriptions, and written with great insight and empathy' * Historical Novel Society *

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Book Synopsis'A detective story with a very considerable difference. Ingenious, stimulating and very enjoyable' SUNDAY TIMES'As interesting and enjoyable a book as they will meet in a month of Sundays' OBSERVERScotland Yard inspector Alan Grant, recovering from a broken leg, becomes fascinated with a contemporary portrait of Richard III, believed to have brutally killed his brother's children - the Princes in the Tower - to make his crown secure. But is the hunchback with such a sensitive, noble face really one of the world's most heinous villains? Or was he the victim of one of the most insidious plots in history?'One of the best mysteries of all time' NEW YORK TIMES'Suspense is achieved by unexpected twists and extremely competent storytelling . . . credible and convincing' SPECTATORTrade ReviewA detective story with a very considerable difference. Ingenious, stimulating and very enjoyable * Sunday Times *As interesting and enjoyable a book as they will meet in a month of Sundays * Observer *One of the best mysteries of all time * New York Times *First-rate mystery, ably plotted and beautifully written * Los Angeles Times *Suspense is achieved by unexpected twists and extremely competent storytelling . . . credible and convincing * Spectator *Really first class . . . a continual delight * Times Literary Supplement *Josephine Tey enjoys a category to herself, as a virtuoso in the spurious . . . the nature of the deception on this occasion is too good to give away * New Statesman *Tey's style and her knack for creating bizarre characters are among the best in the field * New Yorker *Most people will find The Daughter Of Time as interesting and enjoyable a book as they will meet in a month of Sundays * Observer *A detective story with a very considerable difference. Ingenious, stimulating and very enjoyable * Sunday Times *Josephine Tey has always been absolutely reliable in producing original and mysterious plots with interesting characters and unguessable endings * Spectator *

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