Historical Fiction Books

Book SynopsisSaramago's Jesus is the son not of God but of Joseph. Mary Magdalene is his lover not his convert. In the wilderness he tussles not with the Devil – a kindly and necessary evil – but with God, a fallible, power-hungry autocrat. And he must die not for the sins of the fathers but for the sins of the Father. By investigating these simple inversions Saramago has woven a dark parable; a secular gospel of astonishing richness and depth.‘An original, wild and beautiful book’ Times Literary SupplementTrade ReviewProfound and poignant * Independent *An original, wild and beautiful book * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the beloved author of the nationwide best seller Dept. of Speculation comes a “darkly funny and urgent” (NPR) tour de force about a family, and a nation, in crisis. Lizzie works in the library of a university where she was once a promising graduate student. Her side hustle is answering the letters that come in to Hell and High Water, the doom-laden podcast hosted by her former mentor. At first it suits her, this chance to practice her other calling as an unofficial shrink—she has always played this role to her divorced mother and brother recovering from addiction—but soon Lizzie finds herself struggling to strike the obligatory note of hope in her responses. The reassuring rhythms of her life as a wife and mother begin to falter as her obsession with disaster psychology and people preparing for the end of the world grows. A marvelous feat of compression, a mix of great feeling and wry humor,

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Book SynopsisA gripping, meticulously researched and richly detailed historical thriller moving from London during the Blitz, to divided post-war Berlin.John Holderness, known to most as 'Wilderness', comes of age during World War II in Stepney, breaking in to houses with his grandfather. After the war, Wilderness is recruited as MI5's resident 'cat burglar' and finds himself in Berlin, involved with schemes in the booming black market that put both him and his relationships in danger. In 1963 it is a most unusual and lucrative request that persuades Wilderness to return - to smuggle someone under the Berlin Wall and out of East Germany. But this final scheme may prove to be one challenge too far...Trade ReviewLawton's up there with Philip Kerr and Alan Furst. Yes, he's that good. * The Sun *While Lawton's previous novels were distinguished by their precise and elegant prose, Then We Take Berlin offers, courtesy of its Cockney protagonist, a cruder but equally effective vernacular style underpinned by mordant black humour. * Irish Times *Lawton builds a wonderfully convincing picture...writing with remarkable authority... as usual with Lawton's books, it's rather more than the sum of its parts. * Spectator *A stylish spy thriller. * The New York Times Book Review *A candidate for the most entertaining historical novel of the year... fantastically engaging. * USA Today *John Lawton finds himself in the same boat as the late Patrick O'Brian - a sublimely elegant historical novelist as addictive as crack but overlooked by too many readers for too long. * Daily Telegraph on A Lily of the Field *John Lawton's books contain such a wealth of period detail, character description and background information that they are lifted out of any category. Every word is enriched by the author's sophistication and irreverent intelligence, by his meticulous research and his wit. * Literary Review on A Lily of the Field *Never mind the comparisons-Lawton can stand up on his own, and Then We Take Berlin is a gem. * Seattle Times *

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Book Synopsis'Enthralling' – Daily Mail 'Fizzing with gossip, intrigue and wit' – Mail on Sunday If you love The Crown, you will love this fictional look inside the life of Wallis Simpson... ___________Love can change the course of history... Arriving in 1928, Wallis was a divorced, penniless, middle-aged foreigner with average looks and no connections. Yet, just eight years later, a king renounced his throne for her.How did a woman from nowhere capture the heart of the world's most glamorous bachelor? Wendy Holden tells the amazing story... ___________What readers are saying about The Duchess: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A great read, fabulous story line and such a different perspective. Massive fun'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A powerful read. Perhaps we all got Wallis Simpson wrong'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Superb and powerful writing! I loved it'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A great read and I'd highly recommend to anyone who wants a less stilted piece of history'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A fascinating tale, well told'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An amazing, fictionalised retelling of the story of Edward and Mrs Simpson'Trade Review'One of the delights of historical fiction is the what-if factor, and Holden poses a whopper: What if Edward never really wanted to be king and pursued Wallis, whom he knew he couldn't marry as monarch, to avoid the throne We'll never know, but fans of biographical fiction and British royalty will thoroughly enjoy this sparkling tale of love and loss' * Booklist *

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Book Synopsis'Utterly compulsive' Daily Telegraph'A gripping gothic read' Sarah Hall, Guardian'So seductive ... I was hooked' IndependentThe Forest of Pendle used to be a hunting ground, but some say that the hill is the hunter - alive in its black-and-green coat cropped like an animal pelt.Good Friday, 1612. Two notorious witches await trial and certain death in Lancaster Castle, whilst a small group gathers in secret protest. Into this group the self-made Alice Nutter stakes her claim and swears to fight against the rule of fear. But what is Alice's connection to these witches? What is magic if not power, and what will happen to the women who possess it?Trade ReviewIf you like her other novels, you will adore this. She has done her homework... the beauty of the writing, exemplary in its pared-down simplicity. It’s so seductive that by the middle I was hooked. * Independent *If you like her other novels, you will adore this. She has done her homework... the beauty of the writing, exemplary in its pared-down simplicity. It’s so seductive that by the middle I was hooked. * Independent *Sharp-eyed view of history... Winterson is at her best her when she’s dealing with real horrors. * Observer *This is a dazzling book. Winterson is a deft storyteller and a writer of wonderful economy. It is one of the very few contemporary novels that I actually wished were longer. * Literary Review *A book worth reading – utterly compulsive, thick with atmosphere and dread, but sharp intelligence too...Ultimately she combines compelling history and poetic dialogue with suspense...This rather more sophisticated story would make a particularly vivid film. * Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisA powerful and heartbreaking WWII historical novel for fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Nightingale and Beneath a Scarlet Sky. A secret past. A forbidden love. A terrifying choice.Her past could kill you.Guernsey, 1940. As war storms through Europe, Churchill orders the evacuation of all military personnel from the island. Boats ferry soldiers and vulnerable young children to England, leaving their parents and loved ones behind to face the invading German army on their own.Her love could save you.One of the few remaining policemen on the island, Jack must protect not only his friends and family, but also the woman he loves: Johanna, a Jewish nurse from Germany, whose secret faith could prove fatal to them both.Her fate is in your hands.When the Nazis arrive, everything changes. Jack is forced to come to terms with the pain and loss of a world re-making itself around him. And then a list of Jews on the island is drawn up, and he must make an awful choice: write down Johanna's namTrade ReviewReaders LOVE M. J. Hollows ‘Absolutely heart breaking. Absolutely brilliant. Absolutely riveting… Read it with tissues close by – you're going to need them.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘Absolutely wonderful book, can't recommend it enough!’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘Absolutely fantastic.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘The further I got into the story, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages turned. At one point, the pages were turning that quickly that it was almost as if they were turning themselves.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘A wonderful book… I really enjoyed this story.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars ‘Will make you cry (I did!)… Incredibly well crafted with well-rounded characters. Heart-wrenching and thought-provoking, this is definitely not to be missed by historical fiction fans.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

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Book SynopsisBlade of the Immortal returns in deluxe hardcover editions, collecting Hiroaki Samura's epic series for the first time in its original 7x10 serialized format.A young survivor continues her quest across feudal Japan to avenge the murder of her parents, joined by her seemingly immortal protector.The eccentric Ittö-ryü sword school carves a path to Edo castle--led by the bloodthirsty Anotsu--as they obliterate all rival schools along the way. They don't know that the deadly Mugai-ryü has formed and is waiting--with the sole purpose of destroying Anotsu's clan! This epic manga series won Japan's Media Arts Award, several British Eagle Awards, and an Eisner Award, among other international accolades. Relentless and shocking, Blade takes Edo-era samurai action and combines it with modernist street idioms to create a style and mood like no other work of graphic fiction. Collects Blade of the Immortal volumes 4 to 6 in the original 7x10 serialized format, in a faux-leather hardcover treatment, and with a bookmark ribbon.

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Book SynopsisNate Long has always watched over his twin, even if it's led him to be an outlaw. When his brother is wounded in a shootout, it's their former prisoner, Laura, who ends up nursing his wounds at Settler's Fort. She knows Nate wants a fresh start, but struggles with how his devotion blinds him. Do the futures they seek include love, or is too much in the way?

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Book SynopsisGrommets is both an authentic look at '80s skate culturea snapshot of the generation that turned skating into a worldwide phenomenon as well as a heartfelt coming-of-age story following two friends from troubled homes navigating their damage in an era when no one cared. The series' title sprints from skater slang, a grommet is a commonly used term for a young up-and-coming skater or surfer. Since the '60s it's been used to describe the next generation of kids who, with youthful exuberance, love the sport but want to put their spin on it. Collects the complete story, Grommets #1-7.

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Book SynopsisA house full of secrets is at the heart A Winter Memory, an absorbing family drama from bestselling author Lulu Taylor – perfect for the winter months.NowYears ago, Helen fell for the charming Hamish and was enchanted by his family home, the romantic Ballintyre House. Elegantly sat on the edge of a loch in western Scotland, the house has been home to the Ballintyre family for decades. Now, seeking refuge from a scandal that has cost Hamish his job, they are living with his older brother Charlie at the house, while his troubled mother is never too far away. Struggling with her own problems, Helen is surprised to find that Charlie’s wife has vanished. No one else seems at all concerned. Where has she gone, and why?ThenIn 1968, sixteen-year-old Tigs is madly in love with James Ballintyre, her childhood friend and hero. When he marries another woman, her heart is broken. She tries to find her way to a new life and a new love but, somehow, everyone is called back to Ballintyre in the end. Tigs is no exception . . .ForeverBallintyre has always been the setting for revelations of love, obsession and betrayal. Now, as Helen seeks the answer to Charlie's wife's disappearance, she is forced to confront her own difficult truths – as the events of the past reach forward to touch the lives of those who still call Ballintyre home, and reveal their secrets . . .'Don’t you just want to grab this, switch off the phone and curl up on the sofa? Winter bliss from Lulu Taylor' – Veronica Henry, author of Escape To The Cornish Bakery series.Trade ReviewDon’t you just want to grab this, switch off the phone and curl up on the sofa? Winter bliss from Lulu Taylor -- Veronica Henry

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Book SynopsisCan Irene find a new home by the docks?Newly married to dashing RAF officer, Tom, Irene Farley leaves behind her safe countryside life to move in with his family by the docks in South Shields. Little prepares her for the devastation the Jerry bombers have wreaked on the Sixteen Streets or that they would be living under her mother-in-law''s roof, alongside Tom''s three brothers and two wives!Irene''s only escape is her job at the local Wright''s Biscuit factory packing up a little taste of home for the brave boys fighting for King and country across the channel. As the threat of war creeps ever closer to the Sixteen Streets, the biscuit factory girls bond together, because no one can get through this war alone...

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Book SynopsisTHREE EXTRAORDINARY LIVES INTERTWINE ACROSS OCEANS AND TIME'Bold in its weaving of three ingeniously linked storylines and rich in sensuous detail and vivid characterisation. I can't wait for her next.' PATRICK GALE'A stunning, stirring story told with exceptional skill and rare beauty' TERRI WHITE 'Glittering. A triumph.' RACHEL JOYCE **LONGLISTED FOR THE HWA GOLD CROWN 2020**On the banks of the River Seine in 1899, a young woman takes her final breath before plunging into the icy water. Although she does not know it, her decision will set in motion an astonishing chain of events. It will lead to 1950s Norway, where a grieving toy-maker is on the cusp of a transformative invention, all the way to present-day Canada where a journalist, battling a terrible disease, risks everything for one last chance to live. Taking inspiration from a remarkable true story, Coming Up for Air is a bold, richly imagined novel about the transcendent power of storytelling and the immeasurable impact of every human life.MORE PRAISE FOR COMING UP FOR AIR:'Extraordinary.' FRANCIS SPUFFORD'Vivid, evocative, moving. I loved it' CLAIRE FULLER'Spellbinding and beautifully written.' CARYS BRAY'Dazzling . . . I savoured every word of its beautiful prose' PRIMATrade ReviewComing Up For Air confirms Sarah Leipciger as a major talent. A meditation on mortality and our will to survive and save, it's really bold in its weaving of three ingeniously linked storylines and rich in sensuous detail and vivid characterisation. I can't wait for her next. * Patrick Gale *A stunning, stirring story told with exceptional skill and rare beauty. * Terri White *Sarah Leipciger captures the nature of solitude and stillness in a way that no other writer does. THE MOUNTAIN CAN WAIT was a wonder. COMING UP FOR AIR expands her range even further, exploring that eerie shoreline where land and ocean meet, where breathing becomes drowning, and life teeters on the very edge. * Mark Haddon *An extraordinary, three-century braid of air and water: the way we float, the way we drown, the way we surface again against the odds. * Francis Spufford *Vivid, evocative, moving. I loved it * Claire Fuller *Here is a novel that dares to cross the boundaries of time, the elements, life and death, and does so with the twists and hooks and magic of a consummate story teller. * Rachel Joyce *Spellbinding and beautifully written . . . an extraordinary novel. I can’t wait to read what Leipciger writes next. * Carys Bray *Exceptional skill... exquisite descriptions... Fact and fiction flow together like two rivers conjoining and making together for the sea... a beautiful novel of compassion... * The New European *Dazzling . . . A stunning interwoven story of three threads set in different times and countries . . . I savoured every word of its beautiful prose. * Prima *Hauntingly melancholic and richly detailed * Scottish Herald. *

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Book SynopsisAn abandoned young girl finds herself at the mercy of a mysterious woman who is not quite what she seems in this atmospheric and unputdownable novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Flowers in the Attic—now a popular Lifetime movie.Left on a train platform in an unfamiliar village, little Saffron Faith Anders is certain her father will return shortly, just like he promised. She holds out hope even as the hours pass and the station grows dark. When a strange old woman with a large umbrella approaches and inquiries about her situation, Saffron doesn’t immediately trust the imposing do-gooder, but with the chances of her father returning growing ever slimmer, she agrees to rest at the old woman’s house. Her stay was supposed to be for a few minutes, hours at most, but soon, Saffron soon realizes she has been confined to a house of dark secrets and is now at the mercy of the enigmatic Umbrella Lady. One minute grandmotherly and the next wickedly cruel, she shears Saffron’s hair, burns all the clothes she had in her suitcase, and pretends that the photo of a young girl hanging on her bedroom wall is no one in particular. When strange letters arrive from Saffron’s father, claiming that he will send for her shortly, hope returns to her young heart. But Saffron soon discovers that those who claim to love you will often hurt you the most.

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Book SynopsisAn utterly gripping love story set in nineteenth-century Norway, about a woman rescued from the sea, the fisherman who marries her, their tiny and unusually gifted daughter, and the shapeshifter who follows their every move, perfect for fans of Alice Hoffman, Yangsze Choo, Eowyn Ivey, and Neil Gaiman.The sky opens up... I hear them laugh. They don’t feel the sadness in the air. They don’t feel the danger coming, riding in on the wind. In the hinterlands of old Norway, Leidah Pietersdatter is born blue-skinned, with webbed hands and feet. Upon every turn of season, her mother, Maeva, worries as her daughter’s peculiarities blossom—inside the root of the tiny child, a strange power is taking hold. Maeva tries to hide the girl from the suspicious townsfolk of the austere village of Ørken, just as she conceals her own magical ancestry from her daughter. And Maeva’s adoring husband, Pieter, wants nothing more than for his new family to be accepted by all. But unlike Pieter, who is blinded by love, Maeva is aware that the villagers, who profess a rigid faith to the new God and claim to have abandoned the old ways, are watching for any sign of transgression—and are eager to pounce and punish. Following both mother and daughter from the shadows and through time, an inquisitive shapeshifter waits for the Fates to spin their web, and for Maeva to finally reclaim who she once was. And as Maeva’s elusive past begins to beckon, she realizes that she must help her daughter navigate and control her own singular birthright if the child is to survive the human world. But the protective love Pieter has for his family is threatening the secure life they have slowly built and increasingly becoming a tragic obstacle. Witnessing this, Maeva comes to a drastic conclusion: she must make Leidah promise to keep a secret from Pieter—a perilous one that may eventually free them all.Trade Review“If you prefer your history with a dash of fantasy, dig in to Becoming Leidah, a novel that blends myth with the harsh reality of life in Norway in the distant past. This is the story of a man who married a woman rescued from the sea—and their super powered daughter. Even the most supernatural skeptics will find the Becoming Leidah’s details about nineteenth-century Norway fascinating.” — Oprah.com“Set in old Norway, where shapeshifters and wise women live alongside fishermen and farmers, this Canadian debut is a magical new entrée into the world of Norse mythology and Scandinavian history.” — The Globe and Mail“A complex novel with many layers of realities, voices, themes, and times that the author spins together to the final scene. The writing is rich with imagery." Historical Novel Society

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Book SynopsisTwo Americans meet in 1938 in the heart of Nazi Germany. Their efforts to expose oppression attract unwanted attention, pulling them deeper into danger as the world marches toward war.

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Book SynopsisLuke Delacroix's hidden past as a spy has him carrying out an ambitious agenda--thwarting the reelection of his only real enemy. But trouble begins when he falls for Marianne Magruder, the congressman's daughter. Can their newfound love survive a political firestorm, or will three generations of family rivalry drive them apart forever?

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Book SynopsisBeth Morrey''s brand new, joyful and uplifting novel, LUCKY DAY, is available to pre-order now*The Sunday Times bestseller*Sometimes it takes a lifetime to find where you truly belongSeventy-nine is too late for a second chance. Isn't it?Missy Carmichael is prickly, stubborn and terribly lonely. Until a chance encounter in the park with two very different women opens the door to something new. Something wonderful.Missy was used to her small, solitary existence, listening to her footsteps echoing around the empty house, the tick-tick-tick of the watching clock. After all, she had made her life her way.Now another life is beckoning to Missy if she's brave enoughAtouching, deftly written debutthat celebrates community and kindness'Sunday TimesMoving and optimisticwill delight readers right up to the very last page'StylistBittersweet, tender, thoughtful and uplifting . . . I loved it' Nina StibbeA Sunday Times #6 hardback bestseller w/e 15th FebTrade Review‘Bittersweet, tender, thoughtful and uplifting. Reminds you that everyone deserves a second chance. I loved it’ Nina Stibbe, Reasons to be Cheerful ‘A touching, deftly written debut that celebrates community and kindness’ Sunday Times ‘A thought-provoking, uplifting read that is far from predictable’ The Independent ‘Tender, funny and thoughtful… wholeheartedly celebrates second chances and the power of friendship’ Daily Express ‘Moving and optimistic… will delight readers right up to the very last page’ Stylist ‘A beautiful story about love, loss, guilt and the power of friendship’ Jill Mansell, Maybe This Time ‘The most beautiful and moving book I’ve read in a long time’ Emma Flint, Little Deaths ‘A story of friendship and having a second chance at life – one to savour’ Woman & Home ‘[A] glorious debut… simply stunning’ Woman’s Weekly ‘A generous-hearted story showing the transformative power of friendship and community… fabulously enjoyable’ Sarah Haywood, The Cactus ‘A heartwarming tale of sacrifice, courage and reward – a hymn to the power of basic human kindness’ Rosie Walsh, The Man Who Didn’t Call ‘A soulful, refreshing and tender book, written with grace, humour and empathy’ Stephanie Butland, Lost for Words ‘Moving but not sentimental… [a character] as complex, frustrating, vulnerable and surprising as any I’ve met in print’ Eleanor Wasserberg, Foxlowe ‘A truly uplifting ‘coming-of-old novel with a subtle twist’ Saga ‘A heartfelt reminder of the affirmative joy of being kind to others, and to yourself’ Piers Torday, The Lost Magician ‘Exquisitely written and uplifting… A book to hold close when you’ve finished’ Katy Regan, Little Big Love

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Book SynopsisBobby Bancroft faces heartache after fiancé Charlie is sent to the front line, distracting herself with her WAAF training. Separated by war, will Bobby and Charlie make it down the aisle?

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Book SynopsisRichard & Judy Book Club Pick --- Sunday Times BestsellerSet during London's blitz and filled with warmth, wit and heartbreak, Dear Mrs Bird is a wartime story about the power of friendship, the kindness of strangers and the courage of ordinary people.London, 1941. Amid the falling bombs Emmeline Lake dreams of becoming a fearless Lady War Correspondent. Unfortunately, Emmy instead finds herself employed as a typist for the terrifying Henrietta Bird, the renowned agony aunt at Woman’s Friend magazine. Mrs Bird refuses to read, let alone answer, letters containing any form of Unpleasantness, and definitely not letters from the women the war has left lovelorn, grief-stricken or conflicted.But the thought of these desperate women waiting for an answer becomes impossible for Emmy to ignore. She decides she simply must help and secretly starts to write back – after all, what harm could that possibly do?'The most uplifting, lovely book about courage, friendship, love' – Marian Keyes'Utterly charming and helplessly funny' – Jenny Colgan'A proper comfort read' – India KnightTrade ReviewIf I had only known how much I was going to adore Dear Mrs Bird, I wouldn’t have gobbled it down all at once. Funny, fresh, and touching, Dear Mrs Bird is a treat of a read. -- Annie Barrows, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie SocietyI fell in love with Dear Mrs Bird on page one and completely adored every single word . . . a wonderfully heartwarming book, which I will recommend to everyone I know -- Jill MansellUtterly charming and helplessly funny -- Jenny ColganWitty, wise and full of charm . . . I absolutely loved it -- Rachel LucasThe sweetest, most uplifting, lovely book about courage, friendship, love . . . It'll be huge; it deserves to be -- Marian Keyes, author of The BreakA winning wartime romp . . . as hilarious as it is moving. Emmy is truly charming. When her upper lip finally wobbles, the reader’s will, too. In the end, the novel’s spirit is madly winning, and its foregrounding of wartime women seems spiffingly modern. * Guardian *This story of female friendship is just the tonic for that jaded feeling that the world is ugly and mad. * The Times *A joyfully uplifting and optimistic novel . . . a timely story of courage and good humour in adversity. * Observer *A marvellous treat. Charming and delightful. -- Nina Stibbe, author of Love, NinaWhen we need it most, Dear Mrs Bird is a wonderful, uplifting novel and, like its heroine, its breathless, giddy tone has real depth and heart. -- Sarra Manning * Red *Here’s a refreshing take on the Second World War novel. Dear Mrs Bird is charming without being twee, full of fun and heart, and will being you to tears. -- Sarah Shaffi * Stylist *Dear Mrs Bird is an adorable novel, charming, funny, and uplifting . . . Catch a cold immediately and retire to bed with it -- Louisa Young, author of My Dear I Wanted To Tell YouIrresistibly charming and delightful -- Kate Eberlen, author of Miss YouA joy from start to finish. Dear Mrs Bird is as funny as it is heart-warming. -- John Boyne, author The Boy in the Striped PyjamasAn utterly charming story of friendship, heartbreak and heroism... You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll love it -- Lucy DiamondI've never read a novel that has grabbed me by the heart quite so much as this one * Shelley Harris *Books that make you shake with laughter and sob with tears are rare. I gulped this one down but didn’t stop thinking about it for a long time -- Katie FfordeDear Mrs Bird is an utterly enchanting debut: cheering, compelling, charming. If you loved Their Finest this is for you. -- Amanda Craig, author of The Lie of The LandA thoroughly lovely book, and reading it is like a great big shot of serotonin in the arm. I defy anyone not to fall for its numerous charms -- Kate RiordanDear Mrs Bird is an adorable novel, charming, funny, and uplifting; a WW2 London-Blitz tears ’n’ cheers plucky-gal romance. -- Louisa Young, author of My Dear I Wanted to Tell YouA story bathed in good cheer, it celebrates the power of female friendship in difficult times and how writing a letter might heal the sorest of hearts. -- Mary Paulson-Ellis, author of The Other Mrs WalkerDear Mrs Bird is a triumph – authentic, funny and packed with heart. -- Miranda Dickinson, Sunday Times Bestselling AuthorImagine Bridget Jones running amok in the wartime world of Mrs Miniver. AJ Pearce’s hoot of a debut, Dear Mrs Bird is a comic confection that is sweetly uplifting. * Sunday Times *I loved the concept of a light-hearted historical novel inspired by real Forties letters sent into advice columns, which highlight how women’s lives were affected amid the ‘stiff upper lip’ attitudes of the time. -- Millie Hurst * Stylist *A wonderful wartime story that is funny, yet poignant and realistic. I can't wait for the next in the series. -- Kate Fforde * Daily Mail *A delight: witty, tear-jerking and a vivid depiction of the time. I absolutely loved it. -- Woman & Home magazine ‘Pick of the Month’Like Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine, Dear Mrs Bird manages to strike a delicate balance between funny and heart breaking. When we need it most, Dear Mrs Bird is a wonderful, uplifting novel and, like its heroine, its breathless, giddy tone has real depth and heart. * Red magazine *A proper comfort read -- India KnightIncredibly funny yet very touching, [Dear Mrs Bird] explores friendship and romance against the bleak backdrop of the Blitz with trademark British humour and a stiff upper lip. * Daily Express *Charming, funny and moving, this is a total joy of a read -- Fabulous magazineI loved Dear Mrs Bird, the joyous debut of AJ Pearce * Good Housekeeping *(A) moving and funny debut of friendship and kindness in the Blitz. -- Elle magazineA sweet and charming read -- Prima magazineEmmy, her best friend, Bunty, and Mrs Bird herself are wonderful characters. Rich, warm, funny….I loved them. […]And I loved A.J. Pearce’s writing. It’s warm and humorous, and brilliantly engaging. * The People’s Friend *I just adored Dear Mrs Bird and think it should be available on prescription, it is such a tonic. It’s so clever and wise but sweet and moving too. Just the ticket -- Harriet Evans, author of The Wildflowers

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Book SynopsisTwo women, a mysterious map, and a family secret spanning hundreds of years ... A stunning art history thriller set around the life, times, and feuds of the artist Peter Paul Rubens. 'An inspired blend of history and suspense ... This wonderful debut novel will inhabit your dreams' Dominic Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Painting of Sara de Vos and Return to Valetto'Art and history collide in this sumptuous novel of dark secrets, family, violence and treachery' Karen Brooks, bestselling author of The Good Wife of Bath, The Brewer's Tale and The Escapades of Tribulation Johnson Innocence and delight, guile and misapprehension, the hint of indifference, even disdain on her pretty features. Fickle, he called her, a mixture of surprise and confidence. She is all that and more, brought to life with the ink strokes of a genius. Spanish Netherlands, 1620s: raised by her father Lucas to know her mind, Antonia Vorsterman sees everything that goes on in her world - all the rivalries and jealousies that course through the artists' studios and workshops of Antwerp. Drawn into the lively household of the artist Peter Paul Rubens, whose work her father engraves for a living, Antonia begins to see a life of colour and possibility for herself - until Lucas entrusts her with a terrible secret that will alter the course of their family's future. Belgium, present day: haunted by the recent loss of her mother, art historian Charlotte Hubert moves to Antwerp to research her hero, the Baroque master Rubens, and to seek answers about the father she's never met. But a startling discovery hidden inside an ancient map folio turns Charlotte's quiet academic life into a dangerous hunt for long-lost treasures, missing for 400 years. In the shadowy cloisters of the university, where ambition, obsession and violence run deep, nothing is as it seems. Charlotte is certain of one thing - no one can be trusted. Centuries apart, Charlotte's and Antonia's lives intertwine as they unearth long-buried secrets about a master and his engraver where theft, betrayal and the fallout of family loyalty run rampant. What do you do when the weight of betrayal grows too heavy to bear?

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Book SynopsisAn enticing new historical romance from No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsey. Marry Me By Sundown takes you on a captivating adventure in 1880s Montana where passions and gold fever run high as an American heiress turns to a rugged mountain man to help her locate her father''s fortune. Perfect for fans of Julia Quinn''s Bridgerton.Summoned back to Philadelphia from the social whirl in London, Violet Mitchell never expected to find her brothers living on the edge of financial ruin while their father seeks new wealth in Montana''s gold fields. With the family''s home and social standing at risk, Violet makes a drastic decision.Morgan Callahan rode away from his family''s cattle ranch to make his own fortune. Now as he finishes exploiting a mother lode of silver, a young woman claiming to be his late partner''s daughter turns up wanting to be taken to her father''s mine. Suspecting that the pretty schemer works for tTrade ReviewIf readers need to remember why they are Lindsey fans, she delivers every reason in this spinoff of One Heart to Win. She incorporates her signature captive/captor plotline with sassy dialogue, plenty of verbal sparring, lots of heat and a bit of humor, all in perfect proportions * Romantic Times *

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Book Synopsis''Intelligent, beautifully written'' The Times''Historical fiction fans, meet your new favourite author'' Stella Magazine''Beautifully written, immaculately researched and powerfully imagined'' Lancashire Evening PostOceania, 1879. For two years the Peacocks, a determined family of settlers, have struggled to make a remote volcanic island their home. At last, a ship appears. The six Pacific Islanders on board have travelled over eight hundred miles in search of new horizons. Hopes are high, until a vulnerable boy vanishes. In their search for the lost child, settlers and newcomers together uncover far more than they were looking for. The island''s secrets force young Lizzie Peacock to question her deepest convictions, and slowly this tiny, fragile community begins to fracture . . .An intimate, intense and beautifully realised novel of possession, power and the liberating loss of innocence. The perfect Christmas gift for fans of MISTER PIP and THE POISONWOOD BIBLE.Trade ReviewSyson's novel, a modern take on the literary genre known (after Robinson Crusoe) as the robinsonade, is a haunting exploration of Lizzie's disillusion with her father's dreams and their damaging consequences * The Sunday Times *Syson's novel is richly evocative of a Pacific world in flux, as cultures clash and individuals battle to find their place amid the ensuing confusion . . . a very moving story of fathers and children, of faith and disillusion, and of the dangerous consequences of trying to take possession of people as well as land * BBC History Magazine *An intelligent, beautifully written story about a dysfunctional family in a sinister paradise * The Times *Lushly written, with immaculate historical detail, it worked for me on many levels * Woman and Home *Mr Peacock's Possessions is a wonderful book, full of drama, courage and aspirations. The language is rich and the characters so humanely drawn * Carol Drinkwater *A thrilling story of love and courage, brutality and hope all told with equal measures of deep humanity, imagination and élan. Lydia Syson has an amazing gift of bringing history alive through richness of language, dramatic pace and fabulous visual imagery. This is better than watching a film! -- Anne SebbaWith its chorus of vivid voices, Lydia Syson's novel reminds us why we consumed The Poisonwood Bible and The Underground Railway so avidly, but it has a (literally) breathtaking bravura and an intensity all of its own * Michelle Lovric *What a powerful, rich and fascinating book. Dark historical events are interwoven with the mystery of a missing child on a remote Pacific island in 1879. Highly compelling * Anna Mazzola *Swiss Family Robinson meets Lord of the Flies in Lydia Syson's superb and engrossing book. This scintillating story evokes an island paradise which descends into a nightmarish hell as Mr Peacock's Possessions builds towards a shocking revelation and a thrilling climax * Wendy Moore *This tense, evocative, richly-imagined novel conjures the voices of a strange time and place, and makes them universal * Emma Darwin *As compelling, mysterious and haunting as the troubled tropical paradise it portrays . . . Syson doesn't just write about the past, she transports us there. A tour de force * Piers Torday *Lydia Syson writes very well about the natural world . . . [and] the dark tensions in family life that overwhelm the Peacocks * Miranda Miller *Dazzling . . . A vividly realised, compelling novel * Linda Newbery *Mr Peacock's Possessions - one of those rare novels which keeps you up much later than you'd planned - is everything I love in a book. What starts out as a wonderful adventure slowly reveals itself as something altogether darker. Then you realise you can't put it down until you discover the truth. Swallows and Amazons for grown-ups * Alex Monroe *A gripping yarn with unexpected outcomes . . . Syson writes engagingly and evocatively * Morning Star *Syson's eye for character is immediate - her narrative voice reaching out from the page and grabbing the reader from the off. They're drawn into a small but compelling community, one full of interesting characters and complicated relationships that only becomes more intriguing as the book goes on . . . Syson brings things to a climax that's as rewarding as it is moving - and allows her to examine community, youth and family in a beautifully drawn setting * The Bookbag *That's perhaps the greatest achievement of this novel: it stays with you. I've been haunted by it since I finished reading it. I hope very much that it gets the attention and praise it deserves . . . This novel is pleasurable on so many levels * The History Girls *Powerful, intense and beautiful, this novel will stay with me for a long time * Historical Novel Society *A wonderfully written piece from Lydia Syson * A Book And Tea *Mr Peacock's Possessions is a gripping novel . . . I'm in love with Lydia Syson's writing * Globe Trove *I absolutely love this book. It was an amazing read * Novel Thief *Lydia Syson's skill as a storyteller, brings Monday Island, the place and its eccentric inhabitants so vividly to life * Jaffa Reads Too *Mr Peacock's Possessions was an enjoyable historical read which offered an intriguing family story within an unfamiliar landscape * The Owl on the Bookshelf *This certainly is one of the most powerful, brilliantly written books * Breakaway Reviews *A dazzling tale of colonisation and corruption, enterprise and abuse . . . Lord of the Flies as if written by Barbara Kingsolver, perhaps, with a dash of The Wicker Man. But I think readers will find various other parallels and echoes in this vividly realised, compelling novel * Reviews by Writers *Haunting * Sunday Times Culture *Historical fiction fans, meet your new favourite author . . . intense and beautiful -- Stella Magazine * Sunday Telegraph *Mr Peacock's Possessions offers an intriguing and tension-packed exploration of family dynamics, colonialism, loss of innocence, and the perilous power of both possession and obsession . . . Beautifully written, immaculately researched and powerfully imagined * Lancashire Evening Post *Syson succeeds splendidly . . . Her main narrator, 15-year-old Lizzie, is utterly authentic: idealistic, frightened and pitiless. The narrative counterpoint between her and Kalala is deftly balanced. Pa is a memorable creation, driving and driven * Weekend, NZ *Atmospheric and compelling, Syson's novel exerts a grip that doesn't relax till the very end * The Herald, Scotland *

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Book SynopsisBOOK 16 IN THE EPIC HISTORICAL SAGA OF THE COURTNEY FAMILY, 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 MirrorTWO HEROES. ONE UNBREAKABLE BOND.Torn apart by war, Saffron Courtney and Gerhard von Meerbach are thousands of miles apart, both struggling for their lives.Gerhard - despite his objections to the Nazi regime - is fighting for the Fatherland, hoping one day to rid Germany of Hitler and his cronies. But as his unit is thrown into the hellish attrition of the Battle of Stalingrad, he knows his chances of survival are dwindling by the day.Meanwhile Saffron - recruited by the Special Operations Executive and sent to occupied Belgium to discover how the Nazis have infiltrated SOE's network - soon finds herself hunted by Germany's most ruthless spymaster. Confronted by evil beyond their worst imaginings, the lovers must each make the hardest choice of all: sacrifice themselves, or do whatever they can to survive, hoping that one day they will be reunited.A Courtney Series adventure - Book 3 in the Assegai sequence.Courtney's War is an epic historical adventure of courage, betrayal and undying love that takes the reader to the very heart of a world at war, from Wilbur Smith, one of the best and most beloved authors of the century. Don't miss the thrilling conclusion of the Assegai sequence, Legacy of War, available now.Book 17 in the Courtney family series, Ghost Fire, is available now.'Courtney's War' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/e 09-09-2018.

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Book Synopsis''The story telling in this book is right up there with Nora Roberts, who is an expert at drawing you into a story'' 5* reader review''To say I loved reading this book would be an understatement! I simply couldn''t put it down'' 5* reader reviewWhat happens when you discover that your glamorous movie star mother could never have given birth to you?Fans of Lucinda Riley, Santa Montefiore and Rachel Hore will be gripped by Muna Shehadi''s Hidden Truths.''A really gripping book which is lovely and fast paced. I found it really hard to put down!'' 5* reader review''Such a beautiful story with the family drama that I love... It was my first book by the author but it definitely won''t be the last'' 5* reader review''Brilliant novel'' 5* reader review''Fascinating...with an exciting group of characters'' 5* reader review<

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Book SynopsisSusan Stokes-Chapman was born in 1985 and grew up in the historic Georgian city of Lichfield, Staffordshire. She studied for four years at Aberystwyth University, graduating with a BA in Education & English Literature and an MA in Creative Writing. Her debut novel, Pandora, was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish Fiction prize 2020 and the Glass Bell Award and became an instant Sunday Times number-one bestseller. You can find Susan on Instagram and Twitter under the handle @SStokesChapman. Her website is www.susanstokeschapman.com.

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Book SynopsisA follow-up to the Pulitzer Prize- and National Book Award-winning, The Underground Railroad, follows the harrowing experiences of two African-American teens at an abusive reform school in Jim Crow-era Florida.

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Book SynopsisYoung Maisie Halliday has escaped the grinding poverty of the northern town where she was born and now lives in the glittering world of professional dancing. At the outbreak of the Second World War, she volunteers as an ambulance driver, finding joy both in helping the wounded during the Blitz and also in her friends among the other drivers in the Bloomsbury Auxiliary Ambulance Depot. Maisie is at the Cafe de Paris nightclub when it is bombed. In the chaos, she attempts to help an injured man, and by this charitable act she becomes mixed up in what may well be a murder. A series of incidents, all connected to a handsome, arrogant American, throw Maisie's life into a dangerous spin. Is anything what it seems in wartime? With one serious misjudgement, Maisie risks losing everything she holds dear...

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Book SynopsisThe mighty epic of Masada tells of Jews who preferred liberty to life itself. Their story centres on the bleak fortress of Masada in the Judean Desert after the conquest of Jerusalem and the destruction of the Holy Temple by the Romans in 70 CE.Table of ContentsPrologue One Masada Two Between Heaven and Earth Three Yeshu and Aviel Four “Pax Romana” Five Urzillah, Child of the Negev Six Come to the Fair! Seven Mortar Eight The Ingathering of the Exiles Nine Sicarii! Ten The New Moon Eleven The Last Days Twelve Iddo Helps Thirteen Rome Is Impatient Fourteen Herod’s Palace Fifteen “How Can I Be Strong . . . ?” Sixteen The Gods Have Spoken! Seventeen Is There Hope? Eighteen Is There One God? Nineteen Free at Last Twenty “Death to the Jews!” Epilogue Word List

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Book Synopsis'Moving, and vastly informative, a real page turner of a historical novel' FAY WELDONThe first instalment in Carol McGrath's captivating The Daughters of Hastings trilogy!'This novel is a marvellous mixture of historical fact and imagination... I would heartily recommend this delightful novel. I couldn't put it down' 5* Reader review'This is a beautifully crafted book which has been meticulously researched' 5* Reader review'Fiction and history are woven together almost seamlessly' 5* Reader review'I found it an engaging book and I wanted to keep reading' 5* Reader review'A real page turner thanks to great characterisation' 5* Reader review_____________________________An adventure story of love, loss, survival and reconciliation . . .The Handfasted Wife is the story of the Norman Conquest from the perspective of Edith (Elditha) Swanneck, Harold's common-law wife. She is set aside for a political marriage when Harold becomes king in 1066. Determined to protect her children's destinies and control her economic future, she is taken to William's camp when her estate is sacked on the eve of the Battle of Hastings. She later identifies Harold's body on the battlefield and her youngest son becomes a Norman hostage.Elditha avoids an arranged marriage with a Breton knight by which her son might or might not be given into his care. She makes her own choice and sets out through strife-torn England to seek help from her sons in Dublin. However, events again overtake her.Harold's mother, Gytha, holds up in her city of Exeter with other aristocratic women, including Elditha's eldest daughter. The girl is at risk, drawing Elditha back to Exeter and resistance. Initially supported by Exeter's burghers the women withstand William's siege. However, after three horrific weeks they negotiate exile and the removal of their treasure. Elditha takes sanctuary in a convent where eventually she is reunited with her hostage son.Love the novels of Carol McGrath? Don't miss THE SILKEN ROSE, starring one of the most fierce and courageous forgotten queens of England!AND COMING IN APRIL 2022: DISCOVER THE STONE ROSE: THE SUMPTUOUS AND GRIPPING NEW NOVEL FROM CAROL McGRATHAVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOW!Trade ReviewThis is an era and a family that I can't get enough of reading and the author surely did them justice... Carol McGrath has done impeccable research and is so very knowledgeable on these troubled times -- Kathleen Ingram, Reading the AgesMcGrath's research into the medieval quotidian is superb, and beautifully translated into a pastoral fiction in the tradition of Hardy * Historical Novel Society *Moving, and vastly informative, a real page turner of a historical novel -- Fay Weldon

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Book SynopsisIn the canyons of the Southwest, the Akote must learn to adapt as the invading US encroaches on their land while welcoming Francis Meavy, a white trader, into their tribe -- Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru

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Book SynopsisFlorence, 1429 Giovanni de' Medici is dead. A lifetime of shrewd investment, strategic alliance and sly manipulation saw Giovanni climb from mere money-lender to the top echelon of Florentine society. But success has left a slew of bitter enemies in his wake – and there are whispers his untimely demise wasn't accidental. Florence is a nest of vipers, and with the Medici family's wealth in the hands of Giovanni's untested sons, Cosimo and Lorenzo, there are those who feel that now is the time to strike, to destroy the upstarts and seize their holdings. First in an award-winning, bestselling quartet charting ten generations of rise to power. Praise for Matteo Strukul: 'Strukul has a brilliant style and a rare imagination' TIM WILLOCKS 'One of the most important new voices in Italian crime fiction' JOE R. LANSDALETrade ReviewPRAISE FOR MATTEO STRUKUL: 'Matteo Strukul is one of the most important new voices in Italian crime fiction' Joe R. Lansdale, Edgar Winner for The Bottoms. 'Strukul has a brilliant style and a rare imagination' -- Tim Willocks, bestselling author of Green River Rising

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