Whether your passion is The Ancient Greeks, The Wars of The Roses or The Russian Revolution, you'll find stories of life during these eras and every other, often using factual accounts to build a fictional narrative.
Historical Fiction Books
Oneworld Publications Clara Olivia
Book SynopsisPerfect twins. Perfect victims. Trade Review'Clara & Olivia dances with historical details, with unease and atmosphere. You can feel the mist of the London canals, hear the ballet shoes touching the stage.' Abigail Dean, author of Girl A‘This unsettling tale… As the story follows the rehearsals for the ballet Coppelia, we receive a quick-fire education on how the ballet works and why it inspires obsession… An original thriller with a crafty plot.’ Daily Mail'This book was a joy to read from start to finish. Ashe's writing is razor-sharp with a lyrical edge to it, and there were times when I wished I could write just as well. Rich, mesmerising and compelling, Clara & Olivia heralds the arrival of a bright new voice in literary fiction. This one will have the cash registers ringing.' Awais Khan, author of No Honour‘A spellbinding thriller, set against a fascinating background and so beautifully written.’ Frances Quinn, author of The Smallest Man'Lucy has created a mesmerising atmosphere in her debut novel. This story is one of dreadful, delirious ambition as well as the relentless drive for perfection - both as a woman and a performer - that cannot be sustained. Every violent act is a protest against this paralysing perfection. Beautiful.' Sally Oliver, author of The Weight of Loss'Vividly rich and full of depth... A compellingly chilling work by a debut author who makes storytelling look easy. An expertly crafted filmic depiction of gritty twin leads desperate to succeed in these dark streets while harbouring even darker motivations. A novel that entraps you within its web of sinister secrets; I pirouetted from page to page desperate to know what happens. This book has everything and I will be recommending it to everybody.' Ashley Hickson-Lovence, author of The 392‘Ashe trained with the Royal Ballet School, and she is fascinating on the detail of the girls’ lives; on the pain and the bloodied feet that underpin the perfection of the dance... A wonderful, eye-opening debut.’ Times'Haunting and richly evocative, Clara & Olivia takes the reader on a spell-binding journey through the 1930s London ballet scene, in which the beauty and elegance of the participants is the flip side of a destructive drive for perfection and darkly murderous obsessions. Lucy Ashe’s debut is absolutely en pointe.' Lexie Elliott, author of How to Kill Your Best Friend'Lucy Ashe’s debut novel is a clever thriller set in a world which she knows so well, having trained at the Royal Ballet School and being a twin... Take a bow, Ms Ashe.' Historical Novel Review'Clara and Olivia is a delight, a book that is at times historical fiction, at times a love story to ballet, and at times even a bit of a thrilling whodunit.' Bookbag‘Quite a debut, very assured and confident… A wonderfully told story which will appeal to a wide range of people because of the interesting characters and a strong plot threaded throughout.’ @emreadsthebooks
£9.49
Oneworld Publications On the Rooftop
Book SynopsisDancing to the rhythm of Jazz Era San Francisco, On the Rooftop is a stunning story of ambition, success, and three sisters who long to pursue their own dreamsTrade Review'Beautiful, moving, and truly unforgettable!' Deesha Philyaw, author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies'It will get inside your heart, break it wide open and stay there for a long time.' Good Housekeeping'In On the Rooftop, Margaret Wilkerson Sexton’s mellifluous third novel, readers have a front-row seat to a timeless drama about a mother with dreams that don’t quite line up with her daughters’ realities... Riveting.' New York Times'An utterly original and brilliant story about learning how to mother children who have very different dreams and how to encourage them to reach for the stars.' Reese Witherspoon'The kind of expansive, lush novel that envelops with charm while provoking with its fierce intelligence.' Kaitlyn Greenidge, author of Libertie'The exceptional storytelling hooks you in and before you know it, you're rooting for every single one of the characters. Their dreams become yours.' Melody Razak, author of Moth'In this stellar novel, Margaret Wilkerson Sexton takes us deeply into the dynamics of mothers and daughters, their individual—and collective—dreams and struggles.' Luis Alberto Urrea, author of The House of Broken Angels'Richly observed and beautifully written, On the Rooftop weaves the lives of its characters together into a story bursting with music and feeling.' Charles Yu, author of Interior Chinatown'A creative exploration of family, community and resilience... On the Rooftop is a quiet page turner that can serve as a beacon of hope in any trying time.' BookPage (starred review)'Narrating duties rotate among Vivian and each of her daughters, illuminating the stressors and conflicting values that the women must navigate as they try to find themselves within their singing family, their Black community, and their unjust country. Once again, Sexton delivers.' Booklist'A powerful drama set during a pivotal moment in US history.' Real Simple'A showstopper of a third novel… On the Rooftop is a powerhouse novel that reflects both how high we can fly and how quickly we can be knocked down.' San Francisco Chronicle'This novel about The Salvations, a trio of singing sisters, hits the right note… A great exploration of ambition and success.' Sunday Post (Dundee)
£9.49
Oneworld Publications A True Account
Book SynopsisTrade Review'An absolute page turner, full of unexpected twists and turns. I really could not put it down.' Celia Rees, author of Pirates!'A story of seafaring derring-do with a wonderful twist.' Mail on Sunday'Irresistible... A breathless adventure that will stay with you long after the final page has been read.' Julie Walker, author of Bonny & Read'A feast for the sea-loving senses... This is more than just a pirate's tale: it's a story of abandoning convention in favour of self-discovery and exploring the sort of freedoms only the sea can offer.' Sarah Penner, author of The Lost Apothecary'A wild ride. I loved this book.' Christina Baker Kline, author of The Exiles'A True Account is a compelling tale of pirates, treasure hunting and wild adventure, wonderfully told in vivid detail. Sailing the high seas with Hannah Masury was an absolute thrill!' Sophie Keetch, author of Morgan is My Name'Hannah Masury’s pirate tale reads like a fever dream, told in a voice so authentic and with such vivid, authoritative detail, it compels belief that this must indeed be a true account.' Peter Nichols, author of A Voyage for Madmen'Katherine Howe richly evokes the social world of docks, ships, and seafaring outlaws, producing, in my view, one of the best 'pirate novels' ever written ― even better than ones by Daniel Defoe!' Marcus Rediker, author of Villains of All Nations: Atlantic Pirates in the Golden Age'Right from the very start of this book, I found myself caught up in Hannah's world. It is so vivid… I certainly felt like I'd been on a wild adventure whilst reading it [and] I really enjoyed the ride.' Bookbag'A fiendish twist pulls its strands apart and braids them back together with the burnished patina of real historic discovery... A True Account belongs on the shelf beside Treasure Island.’ Lit Hub'Dazzlingly fun historical fiction... A wild voyage of satisfying twists and an even more satisfying ending.' ABC News 'A suspenseful, swashbuckling adventure filled with fiendish characters and historical detail.' Library Journal'Never less than intriguing. One of the real strengths of the novel is the portrait of two complex and powerful women. This is an insightful and thought-provoking feminist retelling of history.' CrimeTime FM'There is no one I trust more with historical fiction than Katherine Howe, whose work always manages to capture not only the prosaic details of the past, but the lived experience of it… [a] swashbuckling story.' CrimeReads, 'Best Historical Fiction of 2023'
£15.29
Oneworld Publications The Sleeping Beauties
Book SynopsisAn unputdownable tale of obsession, jealousy and heartache against the backdrop of WW2Trade Review'This was such a well-written and gripping read and I was completely in awe of how Ashe kept me guessing with the story’s twists. You will not be able to put it down!' Stacey Thomas, author of The Revels 'A compelling novel with a twist that you won't see coming! It completely arrested my attention and I couldn't stop reading until I'd devoured every single page.' Awais Khan, author of No Honour'Rich with historical detail and high-stakes drama. Mesmerising.' Alice Robb, author of Don't Think, Dear'An enchanting mix of historical fiction, fairy tale, and above all, ballet novel. Ashe's ballet background shines through as her dancers come to life... Well researched, but communicated with a light touch. Recommended for anyone who ever dreamed of becoming a dancer.' Laura Shepperson, author of Sunday Times bestseller The Heroines'A wonderfully compelling, truly competent thriller... Rarely have I been so keen to uncover the truth. Simply excellent.' Historical Novel Society'Lucy Ashe has done it again - a beautiful, intriguing historical novel... Rich and compelling... This is a novel to sink into and luxuriate in.' Cailean Steed, author of Home
£15.29
Oneworld Publications The Great Deception
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Oneworld Publications Ghost Wedding
Book SynopsisA POIGNANT STORY OF LOVE AND REGRET, FROM A MASTER OF CONTEMPORARY IRISH FICTION * ''David Park is one of Ireland''s great novelists.'' Roddy Doyle, author of The Commitments * For fans of Sebastian Faulks, Donal Ryan and Anne Tyler comes this beautiful novel following two troubled men, separated by nearly a century, bound by the ghosts of their past When George Allenby is put in charge of building a lake in the grounds of an imposing Irish manor house, he intends to do the job as swiftly as possible and return to Belfast. Allenby is still wrestling with his time as an officer during the First World War, burdened by the many things he could have done differently. Almost a century later, Alex and Ellie are preparing for their wedding, sparing no expense to hire a venue overlooking the very lake Allenby built all those years ago. Like Allenby before him, Alex is haunted by decisions he made in the past. Now, with the wedding drawing ever closer, he is at a crossroads. Telling the truth might free him from his guilt; it might also take away everything he cares about, including Ellie. In this masterful portrait of love and betrayal, David Park reveals the many ways the past seeps into the present: destructive, formidable, but also hopeful, in the moments of fragile beauty that remain.
£15.29
Canongate Books Witch Wood
Book SynopsisSet against the religious struggles of seventeenth-century Scotland, with Montrose for the king against a convenanted kirk, John Buchan''s Witch Wood is a gripping atmospheric tale in the spirit of Stevenson and Neil Munro.As a moderate Presbyterian minister, young David Sempill disputes with the extremists of his faith. All around, the defeated remnants of Montrose''s men are being harried and slaughtered by the faithful, and Sempill''s plea for compassion, like his love for the beautiful Katrine Yester, is out of joint with the times.There are still older conflicts to be faced however, symbolised by the presence of the Melanudrigill Wood, a last remnant of the ancient Caledonian forest. Here there is black magic to be uncovered, but also the more positive pre-Christian intimations of nature worship.In such setting, and faced with the onset of the plague, David Sempill''s struggle and eventual disappearance take on a strange and timeless a
£9.50
Quill Publications The Man Who shot Siegfried Sassoon
Book Synopsis
£14.36
Association for Scottish Literary Studies Kirsteen The Story of a Scotch Family Seventy
Book SynopsisMargaret Oliphant (1828 - 1897) was a Scottish woman of letters who relied on her prolific writing to support her family. Much of her fiction confronts the injustice of denying women outlets of fulfilment. Acutely observant and formidably intelligent, her works provide an illuminating commentary on Victorian society.
£11.74
Oxgarth Press A Dodo at Oxford
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£9.49
Doonreaghan Press The Sphere of Light
Book Synopsis"A whore, a witch and a bitch" - or victims of male supremacy? The myths of Mary, Anne and Jane Boleyn have survived for five hundred years, but they were created by powerful men pursuing their own hidden agendas. A closer look at the allegations of immorality, sorcery and plain madness tells of female vulnerability still prevailing.Trade Review"Captivating, sumptuous in detail and thrillingly plotted - a triumph!" Dr Owen Emmerson." "After Hilary Mantel and Alison Weir, is there room for more on the Boleyn story? Actually, there is. It is an engrossing story, and Jocelyn deserves credit for finding a lucid structure in which to unravel it once more, getting the balance right between the complexities of family and court politics under Henry VIII." Professor Tim Hochstrasser. "Engaging and deeply moving, bringing convincing new insights into the Boleyn story." Dr Damien Duffy. "Ann Henning Jocelyn's brilliant book has rewritten English history. I recommend in particular her clear and concise Author's Notes. They transform our understanding of the English Reformation and are essential reading for anyone interested in the Tudor period." Dr Gerald Morgan FTCD.Table of Contents1) Foreword; 2) The Sphere of Light; 3) Hever Castle, Christmas Day 1525.; 4) A London Tavern, Christmas Day 1525; 5) Hever Castle, Christmas Day 1525; 6) Hever Castle, March 1527; 7) Hever Castle, June 1528; 8) Hever Castle, December 1529; 9) The Exchequer, Calais, October 1532; 10) The Tower of London, May 1533; 11) A Field by the Thames, June 1533; 12) Whitehall Palace, September 1534; 13) The Tower of London, May 1536; 14) Whitehall Palace, February 1540; 15) A London Square, January 1542; 16) The Tower of London, February 1542; 17) The Sphere of Light; 18) Author's notes
£10.44
Petrak Press CHAUCERS TRIUMPH INCLUDING THE CASE OF CECILIA
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£14.39
Henry Vyner-Brooks The Shadow of Cain
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£18.99
Quercus Publishing Revolt
Book SynopsisA multi-layered, multi-faceted story of love, loss and mixed-race marriage, Revolt is the tale of three wealthy sisters and the problems that no amount of money can solve.Trade Review"Intimately reveals Pakistani family life. Traditional Muslim values meet modern Western one, setting off a whimsical collection of problems and events." -- World Lit Today "World Lit Today"
£11.39
New Academia Publishing, LLC Love and Samsara
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£37.80
Comics Workshop The Civil War Diary of Freeman Colby Volume 2
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£24.30
Atacama Books Genealogy
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£12.34
Old Salt Press The Torrid Zone
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£10.95
Sanderling Books A House Divided 2 Munro saga
Book SynopsisAyrshire 1597. The truce between the Cunninghame and Montgomerie clans is fragile. For the Munros living in hiding under assumed names, these are dangerous times. Clan feuds, skullduggery and medieval warfare abound in this turbulent tale of Scotland and France, which will appeal to fans of Winston Graham's Poldark and C J Sansom's Shardlake.Table of ContentsMain Characters Part One Part Two Part Three Historical Note Glossary
£8.99
Sanderling Books Turn of the Tide
Book SynopsisThe Munro Saga is the story of a fictional family trapped within the 'Ayrshire Vendetta', a long-running, historic feud between the Cunninghame and Montgomerie families, dubbed the Montagues and Capulets of Ayrshire. It is a tale of diverse loyalties, and the pressure conflict places on family, on relationships and on personal integrity.Trade Review'I thought the quality of the writing and of the research was outstanding.' Jeffrey Archer - 'Margaret Skea brings sixteenth Scotland to vivid life. I enjoyed travelling back in time with her.' Sharon K Penman - 'The sheer villainy of some characters will take your breath away.' Historical Novels Review. - 'Set against the backdrop of a 16th century Scottish clan feud, a wonderful novel of blood, dirt, political manipulation and the cost to a family when one man struggles against the tide. As meticulously researched as Philippa Gregory, it's touching, fierce and surprising, with a sprinkling of humour. The Bookbag.Table of ContentsMain Characters Foreword Map Part One Part Two Part Three Afterword Glossary
£10.44
Sanderling Books Katharina
Book SynopsisRUNNER-UP Historical Novel Society Novel Award'Assured, evocative, compelling. A fascinating reading experience.'At five Katharina is placed in a convent. At twenty-three she escapes. At twenty-five she marries Martin Luther, the most controversial man in Europe. A story of courage and resilience in the face of adversity.Trade Review`Margaret Skea has a brilliant eye for historical detail. She creates characters who take us by the hand so that we never stumble or wonder where we are. An engrossing read.' A. Bacon Between the Lines. - `A dramatic and most moving story, which transported me back to the 16th century and into Katharina's mind. I felt what she was feeling and was both fascinated by and anxious for her right from the start. I loved it.' Books Please - 'A wonderfully vivid portrait of how a headstrong girl grows into a wry, steely and impassioned woman, carves a path for herself through tumultuous times, and changes the course of history in the process. Skea knows her history, but more importantly, she writes with imagination and humanity.' Professor Alec Ryrie, Durham University, author of Protestants.
£10.44
Sanderling Books Katharina
Book Synopsis1525. The unexpected marriage of Martin Luther to Katharina von Bora has no fairytale ending.A sign of apostasy to their enemies, and a source of consternation to their friends, it sends shock waves throughout Europe.Facing persecution, poverty, war, plague and family tragedy, Katharina's resilience and strength of character shines through.Trade ReviewBehind even a great (sometimes, noisy, fractious) man, there is often a quietly strong, more amenable woman. Margaret Skea's deep research and empathy brings alive one of those. If you like your historical fiction truthful and complex, then this novel about Katharina Luther is for you.' Sarah Dunant; 'Beautifully written and meticulously researched - historical fiction at its best.' BooksPleaseTable of ContentsList of Characters, Map.
£10.44
Sanderling Books By Sword and Storm
Book Synopsis1598. The French Wars of Religion are drawing to an end as the Munros begin a new life in Picardie despite their lingering nostalgia for the friendship of the Montgomeries. Called to court they find religious tensions remain high, and Paris holds dangers as well as delights. For the Munros and Montgomeries alike, these are troubled times...Trade Review'In Sword and Storm Skea threads two interconnected storyines into a fast-paced novel which paints a realistic and highly believable picture of life at the highest levels of society in both the Scottish and French courts. There are colourful characters, opulent settings and clashes of personality aplenty. There are thoughtful and level-headed characters, as well as those wholet their tempers get the better of them. There are relationships which work and those that are destined to fail. The result is a hugely satisfying read which leaves this reader in particular hoping there will be another book in this excellent series.' Undiscovered Scotland.Table of ContentsCharacter List Part One Part Two Part Three Historical note Glossary
£10.44
David Sachs Tragically Hip Twisted
£23.32
Sepia Stories Publishing Bathing Beauty
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£14.96
Liz Treacher The Wrong Envelope
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£9.99
McEllisons call BILLY 07899 232007 Have you called Billy yet
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£8.54
Hammonasset House Books The Prodigy
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£15.09
Little York Books Hemingway Three Angels and Me
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£12.32
Destinations Sports, Incorporated The Sentinels Voices Behind the Curtains 4
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£12.74
Legare Street Press Isabella DEste Marchioness of Mantua 14741539 a
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£29.40
Creative Media Partners, LLC Northanger Abbey and Persuasion v. 1
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£25.60
Legare Street Press Melmoth the Wanderer a Tale 1
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£26.55
Legare Street Press The Romance of Fra Filippo Lippi microform
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£18.00
Legare Street Press The Dangerous Age microform Letters Fragments
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£15.15
Legare Street Press The Tale Of The Tulsi Plant And Other Studies
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£13.25
Legare Street Press Silas Strong Emperor of the Woods
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£19.95
Legare Street Press The Liberator 1833 v.3
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£999.99
Legare Street Press Miss Hildreth. A Novel 3
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£17.05
Legare Street Press Melmoth the Wanderer
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£24.26
Creative Media Partners, LLC Jos Boys And How They Turned Out
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£25.16
Legare Street Press Egeria
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£25.60
LEGARE STREET PR La Derniere Marquise Du Pontdoye...
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£23.70
Pan Macmillan Saffron Skies and New Beginnings
Book SynopsisRita Bradshaw was born in Northamptonshire, where she lives today. At the age of sixteen she met her husband whom she considers her soulmate and they have two daughters, a son and six grandchildren. Much to her delight, Rita's first novel was accepted for publication and she has gone on to write many more successful novels since, including the number one bestseller Dancing in the Moonlight.As a committed Christian and passionate animal-lover her life is busy, and she enjoys reading, eating out and visiting the cinema and theatre, as well as being involved in her church and animal welfare.
£8.54
Pan Macmillan Mrs Porter Calling
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£9.49
Pan Macmillan The Crossing
Book SynopsisCormac McCarthy was the author of many acclaimed novels, including Blood Meridian, Child of God and The Passenger. Among his honours are the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. His works adapted to film include All the Pretty Horses, The Road and No Country for Old Men the latter film receiving four Academy Awards, including the award for Best Picture. McCarthy died in 2023 in Santa Fe, NM at the age of 89.Trade ReviewThe Crossing, together with its predecessor All the Pretty Horses, towers over most contemporary fiction. An American epic infused with a grand solemnity * Sunday Times *McCarthy writes prose as clean as a bullet cutting through the air and constructs tales as compelling as any you will read . . . They are stories about people as real as the land they ride and as disturbing as the rituals they enact * Daily Telegraph *Admirers of All the Pretty Horses will need little encouragement . . . McCarthy speaks to us in the thrilling, apocalyptic tones of an Old Testament prophet. We must treasure him * Sunday Telegraph *The Crossing is like a river in full spate: beautiful and dangerous * The Times *Nominally Westerns, these books are too entropic and philosophical to fit within the limits of the genre. They summon the ghosts of history, and haunt the gaps between justice and reality -- Rachel Kushner, author of The Mars Room
£9.49
Pan Macmillan Cities of the Plain
Book SynopsisCormac McCarthy was the author of many acclaimed novels, including Blood Meridian, Child of God and The Passenger. Among his honours are the National Book Award, the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. His works adapted to film include All the Pretty Horses, The Road and No Country for Old Men the latter film receiving four Academy Awards, including the award for Best Picture. McCarthy died in 2023 in Santa Fe, NM at the age of 89.Trade ReviewIn a lovely and terrible landscape of natural beauty and impending loss we find John Grady; a young cowboy of the old school, trusted by men and horses, and a fragile young woman, whose salvation becomes his obsession . . . McCarthy makes the sweeping plains a miracle. * Scotsman *Like the Western settings he captures to perfection, his work is both heart-wrenchingly beautiful and uncompromisingly brutal. * Express *The completed trilogy emerges as a landmark in American literature * Guardian *This haunting, deeply felt novel completes one of the literary masterworks of the 1990s * Telegraph *Like a slow-acting hallucinogen, the book has managed to transform a Texas boy of sixteen looking for adventure into a mysterious figure that augurs the destruction of the world -- Rachel Kushner, author of The Mars Room
£9.49
Pan Macmillan Meet Me Under the Clock
Book SynopsisTwo families. Two wartime loves. Their lives changed forever . . .Trade ReviewAnnie Murray’s superbly drawn characters will live with you long after you have finished reading -- Margaret DickinsonHeart-warming... gripping read, full of drama, love and compassion * Take a Break *
£999.99
