Historical Fiction Books

Book SynopsisA captivating tale of love and loss and finding connection in the most unexpected places --Nikki Marmery, author of On Wilder SeasA lyrical and atmospheric homage to the strange and extraordinary, perfect for fans of Angela Carter and Erin Morgenstern.This is the story of The Greatest Funambulist Who Ever Lived...Born into a post-war circus family, our nameless star was unwanted and forgotten, abandoned in the shadows of the big top. Until the bright light of Serendipity Wilson threw her into focus.Now an adult, haunted by an incident in which a child was lost from the circus, our narrator, a tightrope artiste, weaves together her spellbinding tales of circus legends, earthy magic and folklore, all in the hope of finding the child... But will her story be enough to bring the pair together again?Beautiful and intoxicating, A Girl Made of Airbrings the circus to life in all of its grime an

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Book Synopsis'A captivating tale of love and loss and finding connection in the most unexpected places' Nikki Marmery, author of On Wilder Seas A lyrical and atmospheric homage to the strange and extraordinary, perfect for fans of Angela Carter and Erin Morgenstern. This is the story of The Greatest Funambulist Who Ever Lived...Born into a post-war circus family, our nameless star was unwanted and forgotten, abandoned in the shadows of the big top. Until the bright light of Serendipity Wilson threw her into focus. Now an adult, haunted by an incident in which a child was lost from the circus, our narrator, a tightrope artiste, weaves together her spellbinding tales of circus legends, earthy magic and folklore, all in the hope of finding the child... But will her story be enough to bring the pair together again? Beautiful and intoxicating, A Girl Made of Air brings the circus to life in all of its grime and glory; Marina, Manu, Serendipity Wilson, Fausto, Big Gen and Mouse will live long in the hearts of readers. As will this story of loss and reconciliation, of storytelling and truth.Trade ReviewA captivating tale of love and loss and finding connection in the most unexpected places * Nikki Marmery, author of ON WILDER SEAS *Hetherington tells her captivating tale from deep within the sequinned heart of the circus, with characters as darkly flawed as they are brilliantly talented. A Girl Made of Air is a poignant story of regret and redemption, brilliantly interlaced with magic and folklore * Sonia Velton, author of Blackberry & Wild Rose *Tells a story about stories in rich, lyrical magic realism . . . the language is elegant and beautiful and an atmospheric success in itself * Starburst *Anenchanting talesteeped in circuslegend - a trulymagical debut! * My Weekly *Fantasy, folklore and funambulism tread an impressive line in this richly imagined debut. Hetherington spins a kaleidoscopic patchwork of memory and magic, secrets and lies, ideal for fans of The Night Circus * Emma Stonex, author of THE LAMPLIGHTERS *This novel had me under its spell from start to finish, each page conjuring up such vivid imagery that I was utterly captivated. Breathtaking * Emma Cooper, author of IF I COULD SAY GOODBYE *Spellbinding! * Candis *There's a glamour and grimness in this captivating novel . . . a vivid tale of regret and redemption * Psychologies *Several fairy tales intertwined into one, this captivating novel tells the story of love and loss . . . A pacey and entirely enthralling read * Independent online *For fans of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and The Binding by Bridget Collins, this magical debut from actress-turned-writer Nydia Hetherington is just the kind of book to curl up and escape to as the days get shorter * Huffington Post, Super Thursday round-up *Be prepared to be dazzled by this debut novel . . . As strange and spectacular as the world it is set in, this narrative is lyrical storytelling at its most brutal and beautiful * My Weekly *An enchanting, lyrical and atmospheric tale that brings the circus to life * Publishing Post newsletter *An immensely assured first novel * Guardian *You'll find yourself completely immersed in this story of circus folk and magic * Woman's Weekly *A spellbinding piece of escapism that's perfect for autumn evenings * Stylist *There are sequins and suspicion in this captivating circus novel . . . a richly imagined debut * Sunday Express S magazine *Captivating * Good Housekeeping *

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Book Synopsis'A master at using humour to underscore the horror of racism, William Melvin Kelley is a writer whose work, decades later, continues to shed light on that which millions of people would rather remain hidden'MATEO ASKARIPOUR, AUTHOR OF BLACK BUCKA searing, provocative satire by one of the most important African-American novelists of the twentieth century that lays bare the abiding racism and the legacy of slavery on the psyche of white America.Mitchell Pierce is a well-off New York ad executive whose marriage is falling apart. He no longer feels any passion for his pregnant wife, Tam, and even feels estranged from his toddler son, Jake. Mitchell is trapped in an unrewarding and loveless life, and though domestic violence isn't in his character, it is never very far away, either.Mitchell's life will irrevocably change one day, though, when a young man appears at his apartment door to pick up the family's black maid, Opal, for a date. Cooley it turns out is not a stranger to the household. The twins that Tam is carrying are a result of superfecundation--the fertilization of two separate ova by two different males. So when one child is born black and the other white, Mitchell goes on a quest to find Cooley and make him take his baby.In the tradition of Brer Rabbit trickster tales, dem enacts a modern-day fable of turning the tables on the white oppressor and inverting the history of miscegenation and subjugation of African Americans.

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Book Synopsis'Dark, disturbing and utterly compelling' LIZ FENWICK'Haunting and skilfully crafted' PHOEBE WYNNE'Mysterious, atmospheric and chilling' ANITA FRANKA HOUSE CAN HOLD A THOUSAND SECRETS . . .2019When Henry Fox is found dead in his ancestral home in Cornwall, the police rule it a suicide, but his pregnant wife, Josie, believes it was murder. Desperate to make sense of Henry's death she embarks on a quest to learn the truth, all under the watchful eyes of Henry's overbearing mother. Josie soon finds herself wrestling against the dark history of Helygen House and ghosts from the past that refuse to stay buried.1881New bride Eliza arrives at Helygen House with high hopes for her marriage. Yet when she meets her new mother-in-law, an icy and forbidding woman, her dreams of a new life are dashed. And when Eliza starts to hear voices in the walls of the house, she begins to fear for her sanity and her life.Can Josie piece together the past to make sense of her present, or will the secrets of Helygen House and its inhabitants forever remain a mystery?PRAISE FOR THE HOUSE AT HELYGEN'Haunting and emotional' Lisa Hall 'I could not put it down' Louise Beech'Leaves you breathlessly wanting more' Nydia Hetherington'A chilling, unforgettable, historical drama' Karin Nordin'I absolutely loved this novel' Helen ScarlettTrade ReviewI thoroughly enjoyed The House at Helygen, an intriguing tale of dark family secrets that unravel down the generations with devastating consequences. Mysterious, atmospheric and chilling * Anita Frank *A thrilling read, led by dynamic women that call out through the centuries. The House at Helygen is inventive, haunting, and skilfully crafted * Phoebe Wynne *Dark, disturbing and utterly compelling. I couldn't put it down * Liz Fenwick *The House at Helygen is a great read. I was pinned to its pages. Thrilling and impossible to put down, with a split narrative that leaves you breathlessly wanting more * Nydia Hetherington *It's got everything going on in a historical fiction crime drama * Clare Whitfield *I absolutely loved this novel and its tale of dark secrets and links between the past and the present. It was impossible to put down * Helen Scarlett *A haunting and emotional read, one that had me thinking over the characters for days afterwards * Lisa Hall *Motherhood, murder and mystery spanning three timelines. I could not put it down! * Louise Beech *The House at Helygen is a chilling, unforgettable, historical drama with as many twists and turns as the leading estate has corridors. A beautiful and brutal illustration of family decay that had me second guessing all of my suspicions until the very end * Karin Nordin *

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Book SynopsisThe next heartwarming instalment of the Timber Girls Series. Perfect for fans of Elaine Everest and Pam Howes.Trixie and her fellow lumberjills are back in Scotland, newly stationed at the MacKay estate. When they arrive, they are shocked to find the place dilapidated and neglected and the taciturn and secretive Noah MacKay not at all happy to be meeting them.It quickly becomes apparent that MacKay was expecting men from the forestry commission to take charge, rather than four young women. Trixie, Jo, Hen and Vi decide he needs to be proven wrong - after all, don't they have stamina, skill and strength? But as the girls work to prove their worth, secrets from their own pasts threaten to follow them to Sutherland.

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The next heartwarming instalment of the Timber Girls Series. Perfect for fans of Elaine Everest and Pam Howes.Trixie and her fellow lumberjills are back in Scotland, newly stationed at the MacKay estate. When they arrive, they are shocked to find the place dilapidated and neglected and the taciturn and secretive Noah MacKay not at all happy to be meeting them.It quickly becomes apparent that MacKay was expecting men from the forestry commission to take charge, rather than four young women. Trixie, Jo, Hen and Vi decide he needs to be proven wrong - after all, don't they have stamina, skill and strength? But as the girls work to prove their worth, secrets from their own pasts threaten to follow them to Sutherland.

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Book Synopsis In Paris 1870, three wandering souls find themselves in a city set to descend into war.'A historical epic that Jessie Burton fans will adore' GRAZIA'Exquisite, relevant and immersive' ANNA MAZZOLA'A triumph' GUARDIANAnne is a former patient from a women's asylum trying to carve out a new life for herself in a world that doesn't understand her. Newcomer Lawrence is desperate to develop his talent as a photographer and escape the restrictions of his puritanical upbringing. Ellis, an army surgeon, has lived through the trauma of one civil war and will do anything to avoid another bloodbath. Each keeps company with the restless beasts of Paris' Menagerie, where they meet, fight their demons, lose their hearts, and rebel in a city under siege.A dazzling historical epic of love and survival, Stef Penney carries the reader captivated through war-torn Paris.***************************************** Praise for Stef Penney 'One of the best storytellers we have' The Scotsman 'Penney works hard to fill her canvas with colour and conviction' Sunday Times '[Her] prose is cinematic' Independent 'What has marked Penney out from the start is her ability to make her extensive historical research come alive' Sunday Herald'Hypnotically readable . . . Stef Penney is a mesmerising storyteller' Amanda CraigTrade ReviewHypnotically readable, suspenseful, romantic and humane, Stef Penney is a mesmerising storyteller * AMANDA CRAIG, author of THE GOLDEN RULE *A historical epic that Jessie Burton fans will adore * Grazia *In its balancing of exhilaration and horror, love and terror, despair and resurgence, The Beasts of Paris is a triumph * Guardian *A rich portrait of a city falling apart . . . [Penney] draws her main characters - and Paris - with great skill * TIMES, book of the month *Enthralling , vivid and utterly original * DAISY GOODWIN, author of THE FORTUNE HUNTER *Paris during the siege of 1870 and the Communard uprising are fabulous subjects and Stef Penney has triumphed . . . It's bold. It's beautifully written and totally absorbing * ELIZABETH BUCHAN, author of TWO WOMEN IN ROME *Brilliantly evocative of Paris under siege . . . I knew almost nothing about this shocking slice of history and now I feel I've lived through it * RACHEL BILLINGTON, author of WAR BABIES *An exquisite, relevant and immersive novel of humanity and beasts, self-discovery and survival set amid a Paris in flames * ANNA MAZZOLA, author of THE CLOCKWORK GIRL *A beautifully written story of the best and worst of humanity, of the triumph of love and the human spirit over the degradation and devastation of war . . . the characters will stay with me a long time * S. G. MACLEAN, author of THE BOOKSELLER OF INVERNESS *A thrilling novel . . . She follows the stories of both humans and animals with an eye for telling detail and a deep understanding of the human heart * ADÈLE GERAS, author of DANGEROUS WOMEN *What a stunning read! I was immersed in this epic of love and daring . . . The historical background is wonderfully vivid and thrilling. Stef Penney is one of our most exceptional storytellers * C. J. CAREY, author of QUEEN HIGH *A haunting and immersive novel that weaves together the lives of caged beasts and lost souls against a sweeping backdrop of war and revolution, love and loyalty. . . A tour de force * V. B. GREY, author of SISTERHOOD *Penney examines social class, gender and sexuality against a vividly imagined reconstruction of historic events. Readers will find much to enjoy in this exploration of love, loss and redemption * Daily Record *Intriguing cast of characters ... their fortunes intertwine in a multi-stranded narrative that highlights the lives and loves of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events * Sunday Times *Engrossing . . . Readers will find much to enjoy in this exploration of love, loss and redemption * S Magazine *Penney examines social class, gender and sexuality against a vividly imagined reconstruction of historic events. Readers will find much to enjoy in this exploration of love, loss and redemption. * Daily Record *Intriguing cast of characters ... their fortunes intertwine in a multi-stranded narrative that highlights the lives and loves of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events' * Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis In Paris 1870, three wandering souls find themselves in a city set to descend into war.'A historical epic that Jessie Burton fans will adore' GRAZIA'Exquisite, relevant and immersive' ANNA MAZZOLA'A triumph' GUARDIANAnne is a former patient from a women's asylum trying to carve out a new life for herself in a world that doesn't understand her. Newcomer Lawrence is desperate to develop his talent as a photographer and escape the restrictions of his puritanical upbringing. Ellis, an army surgeon, has lived through the trauma of one civil war and will do anything to avoid another bloodbath. Each keeps company with the restless beasts of Paris' Menagerie, where they meet, fight their demons, lose their hearts, and rebel in a city under siege.A dazzling historical epic of love and survival, Stef Penney carries the reader captivated through war-torn Paris.***************************************** Praise for Stef Penney 'One of the best storytellers we have' The Scotsman 'Penney works hard to fill her canvas with colour and conviction' Sunday Times '[Her] prose is cinematic' Independent 'What has marked Penney out from the start is her ability to make her extensive historical research come alive' Sunday Herald'Hypnotically readable . . . Stef Penney is a mesmerising storyteller' Amanda CraigTrade ReviewHypnotically readable, suspenseful, romantic and humane, Stef Penney is a mesmerising storyteller * AMANDA CRAIG, author of THE GOLDEN RULE *A historical epic that Jessie Burton fans will adore * Grazia *In its balancing of exhilaration and horror, love and terror, despair and resurgence, The Beasts of Paris is a triumph * Guardian *A rich portrait of a city falling apart . . . [Penney] draws her main characters - and Paris - with great skill * TIMES, book of the month *Enthralling , vivid and utterly original * DAISY GOODWIN, author of THE FORTUNE HUNTER *Paris during the siege of 1870 and the Communard uprising are fabulous subjects and Stef Penney has triumphed . . . It's bold. It's beautifully written and totally absorbing * ELIZABETH BUCHAN, author of TWO WOMEN IN ROME *Brilliantly evocative of Paris under siege . . . I knew almost nothing about this shocking slice of history and now I feel I've lived through it * RACHEL BILLINGTON, author of WAR BABIES *An exquisite, relevant and immersive novel of humanity and beasts, self-discovery and survival set amid a Paris in flames * ANNA MAZZOLA, author of THE CLOCKWORK GIRL *A beautifully written story of the best and worst of humanity, of the triumph of love and the human spirit over the degradation and devastation of war . . . the characters will stay with me a long time * S. G. MACLEAN, author of THE BOOKSELLER OF INVERNESS *A thrilling novel . . . She follows the stories of both humans and animals with an eye for telling detail and a deep understanding of the human heart * ADÈLE GERAS, author of DANGEROUS WOMEN *What a stunning read! I was immersed in this epic of love and daring . . . The historical background is wonderfully vivid and thrilling. Stef Penney is one of our most exceptional storytellers * C. J. CAREY, author of QUEEN HIGH *A haunting and immersive novel that weaves together the lives of caged beasts and lost souls against a sweeping backdrop of war and revolution, love and loyalty. . . A tour de force * V. B. GREY, author of SISTERHOOD *Penney examines social class, gender and sexuality against a vividly imagined reconstruction of historic events. Readers will find much to enjoy in this exploration of love, loss and redemption * Daily Record *Intriguing cast of characters ... their fortunes intertwine in a multi-stranded narrative that highlights the lives and loves of ordinary people caught up in extraordinary events * Sunday Times *Engrossing . . . Readers will find much to enjoy in this exploration of love, loss and redemption * S Magazine *

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Book Synopsis'A full throttle, adrenaline-laced espionage page-turner . . . Get ready to blast off and enjoy the ride!' Jack Carr, former Navy SEAL Sniper and #1 New York Times bestselling author of the James Reece Terminal List series'Continuous action, Mach-speed mayhem, sharp intrigue, and well-rounded characters - what more could you want from a thriller?' Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The 9th Man and the Cotton Malone seriesIsrael, late 1973. As the Yom Kippur War flares into life, a state-of-the-art Soviet MIG fighter is racing at breakneck speed over the arid scrublands below . . . and promptly disappears.NASA Flight Controller and former US Navy test pilot Kaz Zemeckis watches the scene from the ground - and is quickly pulled into a dizzying, high-stakes game of spies, lies and a possible high-level defection that plays out across three continents. The prize is beyond value: the secrets of the Soviets' mythical 'Foxbat' MiG-25, the fastest, highest-flying fighter plane in the world and the key to Cold War air supremacy. But every defection is double-edged with risk, and Kaz must tread a careful line between trust and suspicion. Ultimately, he must invite the fox into the henhouse - bringing the defector into the heart of the United States' most secret test site - and hope that, with skill and cunning, the game plays out his way. For Chris Hadfield's second heart-stopping thriller, we move from Space to another rich and exciting part of Chris's CV: his time as a top test pilot in both the US Air Force and the US Navy, and as an RCAF fighter pilot intercepting armed Soviet bombers in North American airspace. Full of insider detail, excitement and political intrigue drawn from real events, The Defector brings us the nerve-shredding rush of aerial combat, as told by one of the world's best fighter pilots.Praise for The Apollo Murders'A nail-biting Cold War thriller' James Cameron'An exciting journey to an alternate past' Andy Weir 'Not to be missed' Frederick Forsyth 'Explosive' Gregg Hurwitz 'Exciting, authentic' Linwood BarclayTrade ReviewTom Clancy-style fighter jets and a sprinkling of reality from Hadfield's time as a test pilot . . . It is a thriller in every sense * New Scientist *He controls the story with a fighter pilot's verve and confidence, bringing real insider expertise to a fast-paced cold war tale * Financial Times *As a writer, his strength is his ability to draw on his specialist knowledge to add verisimilitude . . . while his high-octane depiction of aerial dogfights stirs memories of Top Gun and Craig Thomas's Firefox. Afterburners on! * The Times *Chris Hadfield uses his experiences to great effect in this thrilling story about a defecting Russian pilot . . . [The Defector] moves at great speed and contains mesmerising descriptions of flying under supreme pressure * Literary Review *Nail-bitingly exciting . . . Hadfield is clearly destined to inherit the late Tom Clancy's mantle as master of the techno-thriller genre * Irish Independent *Action-packed, cleverly plotted and rich with the kind of satisfyingly authentic detail and keen insights that only a writer with Hadfield's extraordinary resume can provide, The Defector delivers on every level. Wondering what to do until Top Gun 3 arrives? Don't worry, Chris Hadfield's got it covered * Rowland White *Packed with the kind of insider knowledge you simply don't get in thrillers these days, The Defector is not just an intelligent book, it's an exciting book. Expertly paced with breathtaking set pieces, I raced through it in a couple of sittings. It reminded me of Frederick Forsyth in his pomp - highly recommended * M.W. Craven, Sunday Times bestselling author of Dead Ground and The Botanist *An extraordinary novel, brimming with detail and realism and full of pulse-pounding action * Mark Greaney, bestselling author of Burner, a Gray Man novel *Real-life figures collide with fictional espionage in former astronaut Hadfield's gripping sequel to The Apollo Murders . . . Hadfield keeps the suspense steady before delivering a knockout air battle that brings everything to a white-knuckle close. Kaz's adventures continue to electrify * Publishers Weekly *Ideal exciting escapist reading * Aerospace *

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Book SynopsisWhen Rosalind West leaves her native Durham for a job in London with the Doxbridge Motor Company she is determined to escape her background and build a new life. London is excitingly different and tantalisingly glamorous - especially when she meets the handsome and aristocratic Freddie Harrington, a rally driver, and the son of a once-wealthy Northumberland landowner. Against her friends' better judgement Freddie and Rosalind begin a relationship. But Freddie's family have plans for him which do not include marrying a Durham miner's daughter. Turning to a close companion for consolation, Rosalind suddenly finds herself torn between two men, both of strong passions, and fierce ambition.Note: this book was previously published under the title Home to the High Fells.Praise for Elizabeth Gill'Original and evocative - a born storyteller' Trisha Ashley 'A wonderful book, full of passion, pain, sweetness, twists and turns. I couldn't put it down' Sheila Newberry 'Elizabeth Gill writes with a masterful grasp of conflicts and passions' Leah Fleming 'An enthralling and satisfying novel that will leave you wanting more' Catherine King'If you love Catherine Cookson then you will love Elizabeth Gill' Northern EchoTrade ReviewOriginal and evocative - a born storyteller * Trisha Ashley *A wonderful book, full of passion, pain, sweetness, twists and turns. I couldn't put it down * Sheila Newberry *Elizabeth Gill writes with a masterful grasp of conflicts and passions * Leah Fleming *An enthralling and satisfying novel that will leave you wanting more * Catherine King *If you love Catherine Cookson then you will love Elizabeth Gill * Northern Echo *Original and evocative - a born storyteller * Trisha Ashley *Elizabeth Gill writes with a masterful grasp of conflicts and passions hidden among men and women of the wild North Country * Leah Fleming *

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Book SynopsisFrom Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the New York Times bestselling author of MEXICAN GOTHIC, comes UNTAMED SHORE, a dark cocktail mixing a nuanced coming-of-age story with a classical noir. 'Brutality takes on an almost divine quality' LA Review of BooksBaja California, 1979: Viridiana spends her days under the harsh sun, watching the fishermen pulling in their nets and the dead sharks piled beside the seashore. Her head is filled with dreams of romance, travel and of a future beyond this drab town where her only option is to marry and have children.When a wealthy American writer arrives with his wife and brother-in-law, Viridiana jumps at the offer of a job as his assistant, and she's soon entangled in the glamorous foreigners' lives. They offer excitement, and perhaps an escape from her humdrum life. When one of them dies, eager to protect her new friends, Viridiana lies - but soon enough, someone's asking questions. It's not long before Viridiana has some of her own questions about the identities of her new acquaintances.Sharks may be dangerous, but there are worse predators nearby, ready to devour a naïve young woman unwittingly entangled in a web of deceit. Trade ReviewThe descriptions of Baja are uncommonly evocative of gritty reality, with poverty and desperation made plain on the page, as well as the lengths people are willing to go to in order to escape . . . (an) insightful look at criminal life from the viewpoint of a sardonic yet lonely soul seems destined for more plaudits * BOOKLIST (Starred Review) *A sense of inevitable dread builds from seemingly innocuous events in this masterful crime debut from Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The period detail is fantastic, the Mexican setting vibrant and fresh, and the noir is as murky as seawater after a shark-feeding frenzy. I loved it! * LAVIE TIDHAR, multiple award-winning author of A Man Lies Dreaming and Osama *This thriller sets a quiet tone before building slowly and evenly, showing how a meek teenager trapped by circumstance grows into a strong woman who takes control of her future, though in the end it might change who she is * LIBRARY JOURNAL (Starred Review) *Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a wonderfully evocative writer, and she uses her skills to their best advantage in her first book of crime fiction. Atmospheric, compelling and very suspenseful, Untamed Shore is a welcome addition to the genre * ALISON GAYLIN, Edgar Award-winning author *Untamed Shore is both transporting and transfixing. Set in a small Baja town in the seedy 1970s, Silvia Moreno-Garcia's latest takes us into a world soaked in sunshine and secrets, where everyone is working an angle and the looming sense of menace builds with nearly each page-turn. A shrewd, exciting thriller by a writer with a fresh vision and a powerful voice * JULIA DAHL author of the award-winning Rebekah Roberts series *Untamed Shore is a masterpiece. I loved this book, and can't get Viridiana out of my head. Silvia Moreno-Garcia's characters are unforgettable and no one and nothing is quite what they seem. I devoured this like one of Viridiana's sharks. Truly a stunning work * AMINA AKHTAR, author of #FashionVictim *The Great Gatsby meets Night of the Iguana in this elegantly spare and darkly twisted story of undercurrents, deception and colliding cultures. Rich in atmosphere and sinister in tone . . . a haunting lesson in the dangers of desire and the illusion of glamour and how dreams can be devoured by deceit * HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN, author of The Murder List *Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Untamed Shore is a treat: the first thriller from a seasoned writer. This is a superb hybrid that's part classic whodunit, part sad love story, and part smart, pulpy noir packed with smiling snakes, a touch of mythology, and a strong female lead who's caught between her immediate reality and her dreams of escape, all inside the hermetic, oppressive hell of small-town gossip and old-fangled morality. This is a novel about greed, murder, and snowballing peccadilloes that moves forward with the power and grace of a shark. Don't miss it * GABINO IGLESIAS, author of Coyote Songs and Zero Saints *An engaging sojourn illuminated by prose as bright and clear as the Baja sun. A plot driven by characters whose motives are as murky and treacherous as stormy gulf waters * MARIO ACEVEDO, author of the Felix Gomez vampire-detective series *Moreno-Garcia is brilliant at conjuring up the hot, dead-end world that Viridiana occupies . . . recommended * British Science Fiction Association *The descriptions of Baja are uncommonly evocative of gritty reality, with poverty and desperation made plain on the page, as well as the lengths people are willing to go to in order to escape . . . (an) insightful look at criminal life from the viewpoint of a sardonic yet lonely soul seems destined for more plaudits * BOOKLIST (Starred Review) *A sense of inevitable dread builds from seemingly innocuous events in this masterful crime debut from Silvia Moreno-Garcia. The period detail is fantastic, the Mexican setting vibrant and fresh, and the noir is as murky as seawater after a shark-feeding frenzy. I loved it! * LAVIE TIDHAR, multiple award-winning author of A Man Lies Dreaming and Osama *This thriller sets a quiet tone before building slowly and evenly, showing how a meek teenager trapped by circumstance grows into a strong woman who takes control of her future, though in the end it might change who she is * LIBRARY JOURNAL (Starred Review) *Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a wonderfully evocative writer, and she uses her skills to their best advantage in her first book of crime fiction. Atmospheric, compelling and very suspenseful, Untamed Shore is a welcome addition to the genre * ALISON GAYLIN, Edgar Award-winning author *Untamed Shore is both transporting and transfixing. Set in a small Baja town in the seedy 1970s, Silvia Moreno-Garcia's latest takes us into a world soaked in sunshine and secrets, where everyone is working an angle and the looming sense of menace builds with nearly each page-turn. A shrewd, exciting thriller by a writer with a fresh vision and a powerful voice * JULIA DAHL author of the award-winning Rebekah Roberts series *Untamed Shore is a masterpiece. I loved this book, and can't get Viridiana out of my head. Silvia Moreno-Garcia's characters are unforgettable and no one and nothing is quite what they seem. I devoured this like one of Viridiana's sharks. Truly a stunning work * AMINA AKHTAR, author of #FashionVictim *The Great Gatsby meets Night of the Iguana in this elegantly spare and darkly twisted story of undercurrents, deception and colliding cultures. Rich in atmosphere and sinister in tone . . . a haunting lesson in the dangers of desire and the illusion of glamour and how dreams can be devoured by deceit * HANK PHILLIPPI RYAN, author of The Murder List *Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Untamed Shore is a treat: the first thriller from a seasoned writer. This is a superb hybrid that's part classic whodunit, part sad love story, and part smart, pulpy noir packed with smiling snakes, a touch of mythology, and a strong female lead who's caught between her immediate reality and her dreams of escape, all inside the hermetic, oppressive hell of small-town gossip and old-fangled morality. This is a novel about greed, murder, and snowballing peccadilloes that moves forward with the power and grace of a shark. Don't miss it * GABINO IGLESIAS, author of Coyote Songs and Zero Saints *An engaging sojourn illuminated by prose as bright and clear as the Baja sun. A plot driven by characters whose motives are as murky and treacherous as stormy gulf waters * MARIO ACEVEDO, author of the Felix Gomez vampire-detective series *Moreno-Garcia is brilliant at conjuring up the hot, dead-end world that Viridiana occupies . . . recommended * British Science Fiction Association *

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of An Orphan's Wish comes a tale of love and destiny perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Anna Jacobs and Ellie Dean.When Thomas Grant - one of the most eligible young men in London - proposes to Annabel Seaton, she can't say she's surprised, but she is delighted. He's been her best friend since she was a child, and she can't imagine life without him. What shocks her, however, is the reaction of her mother and father. Annabel knows that her parents disapprove of her forthright opinions, but their displeasure is both unexpected and unaccountable. As they permit the engagement, however, she decides to put it out of her mind. But before she can be married, tragedy strikes, and only then does Annabel learn of the shocking secret that her parents have kept from her. Determined to learn more, she travels to Durham on a personal search that will change everything . . .

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Book Synopsis'Vivid, enigmatic, enchanting' M. L. Rio'Irresistible' Sunday TimesSome people think foxes go around collecting qi, or life force, but nothing could be further than the truth. We are living creatures, just like you, only usually better looking . . .Manchuria, 1908: A young woman is found frozen in the snow. Her death is clouded by rumours of foxes, believed to lure people into peril by transforming into beautiful women and men. Bao, a detective with a reputation for sniffing out the truth, is hired to uncover the dead woman's identity. Since childhood, Bao has been intrigued by the fox gods, yet they've remained tantalizingly out of reach. Until, perhaps, now.Snow is a creature of many secrets, but most of all, she's a mother seeking vengeance. Hunting a murderer, the trail will take her from northern China to Japan, with Bao following doggedly behind. And as their paths draw ever closer together, both Snow and Bao will encounter old friends and new foes, even as more deaths occur. The Fox Wife is a stunning novel about old loves and second chances, the depth of maternal bonds, and ancient folktales that may very well be true.PRAISE FOR THE FOX WIFE'Magical, wondrous, transporting and illuminating' Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai'Rich and beguiling' Daily Mail 'Filled with wonder, mystery and folklore' Sue Lynn Tan'Enchanting' the i'A rich tangle of myth, mystery, and history' Alix E. HarrowTrade ReviewThe reader is taken on a journey from the underbelly of a Chinese town to the mountains of Japan. Among the more memorable characters along the way is a male fox spirit called Shiro. He is seductive, deadly and, like the book itself, quite irresistible to mere humans * Sunday Times *Like the foxes who populate its pages, The Fox Wife is vivid, enigmatic, and enchanting. Choo's fresh new fable conjures a world where danger and intrigue are forever entwined with sublime and sensory delights * M.L. Rio, author of IF WE WERE VILLAINS *Rich and beguiling * Daily Mail *A stunning story filled with wonder, mystery and folklore. I was utterly captivated by Yangsze Choo's exquisite prose and fascinating characters from the first page till the last. A remarkable tale, one that will stay with me * Sue Lynn Tan, author of Heart of the Sun Warrior *Witty and suspenseful * New York Times Book Review *Enchanting * The i *Magical, wonderous, transporting and illuminating, The Fox Wife reminds me that reading can be pure joy . . . I was captivated from the very first word of this novel until its very last. Yangsze Choo is a writer of immense talent * Nguyen Phan Que Mai, internationally best-selling author of The Mountains Sing and Dust Child *Masterfully plotted and superbly surprising, The Fox Wife will entice you into a world of magic and heartbreak, a beautiful tapestry woven from love and revenge and forgiveness. But beware: once you start, you may not be able to put it down! -- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, author of INDEPENDENCE and THE LAST QUEENThe Fox Wife is a rich tangle of myth, mystery, and history, delivered with Choo's inimitable grace and precision. It's not a book so much as a beguilement; it enchanted me entirely -- Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of STARLING HOUSEChoo's writing is lush and the slow revelations of complicated relationships and reunions hum with tension. This is a treat * Publishers Weekly *Snow's difficulties as both a fox and a young woman in a man's world are clearly drawn, as is the pathos of Bao's situation as a gentle soul who's always been in search of something or someone. An intriguing vulpine mystery worth the suspension of disbelief * Kirkus *A beguiling tale of a bygone era * Straits Times *

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Book SynopsisA beautiful imagining of the life lived by the great witch Sycorax before her banishment to the island in William Shakespeare's The Tempest

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of A Daughter''s Wish comes a gritty tale of one woman''s determination to find a home to call her own, perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Anna Jacobs and Ellie Dean.Abandoned by her father as a baby, Lorna Robson spends her days working long hours in her aunt''s hat shop in County Durham.When she unexpectedly inherits a property in the city from the grandfather she never knew, her aunt is furious at her for leaving and tells Lorna never to return.Arriving at Snow Hall, Lorna can''t help but fall in love with the dilapidated old house she''s been given. But with her grandfather''s disreputable family prepared to do anything to take it from her, will Lorna be able to keep Snow Hall and turn this house into a home?Readers love Elizabeth Gill''Everything you want from a novel . . . A damn good read'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review''Elizabeth Gill has the ability to bring her characters to life'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review''I loved this book and couldn''t put it down'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review''Well written and researched as per usual'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader review

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of A Daughter''s Wish comes a gritty tale of one woman''s determination to find a home to call her own, perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Anna Jacobs and Ellie Dean.Having been given up as a baby, Lorna Robson spends her days working long and tiring hours in her aunt''s hat shop in County Durham. But when she inherits a large property in the city from the grandfather she never knew, her aunt is furious at her for leaving, and tells Lorna not to come back.Arriving at Snow Hall, Lorna can''t help but fall in love with the dilapidated old house she''s been given. However, with her grandfather''s disreputable family willing to do anything to take the house from her, and no help or money of her own, will Lorna be able to keep Snow Hall and turn this house into a home?

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Book SynopsisFrom the author of A Home of Her Own comes a gripping historical saga full of love, loss and hope, perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Anna Jacobs and Ellie Dean.1909, NorthumberlandWhen Shona Hardy''s husband is lost at sea, she finds herself alone in a village which has always seen her as an outsider.A world away, Harry Darling has achieved wealth and respectability, but he has never forgotten the poverty and hardship that he grew up in or the girl who saved his life.When tragedy strikes again and Shona''s father passes away on Harry''s doorstep, Harry finally has a chance to pay Shona back for her kindness. But as their pasts and presents collide, will their lives be altered for ever?''Elizabeth writes such strong female characters, who never fail to succeed in the face of adversity'' - Trisha Ashley''Elizabeth reminds us that there is always hope in the face of darkness'' - Katie Fforde

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Book SynopsisGosport, 1943.Rita, Amelia, Ruby and Dorothy are all doing their bit to help Britain win the war. Their work at Priddy''s munitions factory, is dangerous and gruelling, but undoubtedly necessary. However, when an explosion at the factory almost kills several of the workers, the girls decide it''s time to find another way to contribute.Amelia sees an advertisement in the Evening News, seeking Hop Pickers in Kent, accommodation provided. Weeks later, they leave Gosport, ready for a new adventure. But what they discover about each other and the people they meet over the summer, will change their lives forever. A heart-warming saga about friendship, love and the hardest days of war. Perfect for fans of Elaine Everest and Pam Howes.

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Book SynopsisA breathtaking, joy-filled novel about the people we love, the secrets we keep, and the enduring power of family.

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Book SynopsisKatie Flynn is the pen name of the much-loved writer, Judy Turner, who published over ninety novels in her lifetime. Judy's unique stories were inspired by hearing family recollections of life in Liverpool during the early twentieth century, and her books went on to sell more than eight million copies. Judy passed away in January 2019, aged 82.The legacy of Katie Flynn lives on through her daughter, Holly Flynn, who continues to write under the Katie Flynn name. Holly worked as an assistant to her mother for many years and together they co-authored a number of Katie Flynn novels.Holly lives in the north east of Wales with her husband Simon and their two children. When she's not writing she enjoys walking her two dogs, Sparky and Tara, in the surrounding countryside, and cooking forbidden foods such as pies, cakes and puddings! She looks forward to sharing many more Katie Flynn stories, which she and her mother devised together, with readers in the years to come.

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Book SynopsisA wealthy landlord’s son, and a coal miner’s daughter…Growing up in poverty, one of six siblings, Hannah Armstrong never thought she’d know anything other than her little mining town. But then she falls for Timothy Durkin, a wealthy Oxford student…Following her heart, Hannah sacrifices everything she holds dear and follows her new husband to Oxford. But will her new life of luxury be everything she expected - or will she find that once a coal miner's daughter, always a coal miner's daughter...?

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Book Synopsis*Shortlist, Debut Fiction, 2023 Nero Book Awards * The Sunday Times Novel of the Year *London, 1894. John and Henry have a vision for a new way of life. But as the Oscar Wilde trial ignites public outcry, everything they long for could be under threat.'Beautifully written' Graham Norton'Subtle, sexy and beautifully crafted' Sarah Waters'Lavishly imagined' Sunday Times______________After a lifetime spent navigating his desires, John has finally found a man who returns his feelings. Meanwhile, Henry is convinced that his new unconventional marriage will bring freedom.United by a shared vision, they begin work on a revolutionary book arguing for the legalisation of homosexuality.Before it can be published however, Oscar Wilde is arrested and their daring book threatens to throw them, and all around them, into danger. How high a price are they willing to pay for a new way of living?______________'A very fine new writer' Kate Atkinson'I loved this book' Zadie Smith'Some of the best writing on desire I've read' Douglas Stuart'Extraordinary' Jonathan Bailey'Filled with nuance and tenderness . . . charting the lives of men and women who inspired not only political progress but an entire new way of living and loving' Colm TóibínTrade ReviewI loved this book -- Zadie SmithCompletely engrossed by this fascinating story of gay life in the London of the 1890’s. Beautifully written with fantastically complicated characters -- Graham Norton'Tom Crewe inhabits the minds, lives and bodies of his visionary late-nineteenth century characters with almost eerie precision and intensity. The result is subtle, sexy and beautifully crafted - a wonderful book' * Sarah Waters *'Clever and kind, The New Life is a book of wonderful generosity and compassion' * Alice Winn, author of In Memoriam *It is a pleasure to discover a young novelist with such a wise sensibility - and also, one who can construct such convincing characters. * Sunday Times *This is a corker... one of the literary debuts of the year * The Times, *Books to Look Out For 2023* *'Extraordinary in its depiction of reform and liberalism in Britain in the late-1800s' * Jonathan Bailey, star of Bridgerton *The New Life is filled with nuance and tenderness, steeped in the atmosphere of late nineteenth century London, a world on the brink of social and sexual change. Tom Crewe's brilliant novel dramatizes the relationship between the visionary and the brave, charting the lives of men and women who inspired not only political progress but an entire new way of living and loving. -- Colm Tóibín'A beautifully written debut set in Victorian London... some of the best writing on desire I've read' * Douglas Stuart *[Tom Crewe is] a very fine new writer -- Kate AtkinsonElectrifying. Tom Crewe's forensic love of the physical puts the body back into history and makes the past a living, changing place -- Anne EnrightAn excellent debut . . . It's extraordinary to think that this impeccably crafted, lyrically phrased and muscular book is Crewe's first . . . a brilliant evocation of the radical politics of turn-of-the-century Britain * Michael Donkor, Guardian *Emotionally vivid and erotically charged, The New Life brilliantly reveals a 'seething and boiling' world of 'loneliness and anger and lust,' as Crewe's complicated, compelling protagonists battle the restrictive mores of the day * Daily Mail *Powerful themes and lovingly polished prose . . . a fictional debut of rare quality and promise * Daily Telegraph *Intense and precise . . . It is refreshing to find any contemporary novel, let alone a debut, which is first and foremost one of ideas * Financial Times *[An] excellent new novel * Independent *'[An] intricate and finely crafted debut novel . . . The New Life brims with intelligence and insight, impressed with all the texture (and fog) of fin de siècle London' * New York Times *'Crewe distinguishes himself both as novelist and as historian . . . He has, more unusually, found a prose that can accommodate everything from the lofty to the romantic and the shamelessly sexy' * New Yorker *Unflinchingly bold . . . Crewe's language is striking in its originality, his protagonists are colourful and passionate, and their principles are brilliantly drawn * i paper *Sexy, cerebral and moving * Mail on Sunday *'Atmospheric . . . Extraordinary . . . Crewe's taut prose is shot through with descriptive vividness' -- James Cahill * TLS *Exhilarating . . . An adroit novel of ethics * New Statesman *'Lyrical, piercing . . . The New Life is a fine-cut gem, its sentences buffed to a gleam . . . [Crewe's book] brims with élan and feeling, an ode to eros and a lost world, and a warning about the dangers ahead' * Hamilton Cain, Washington Post *'Crewe deserves applause for his vivid scene-setting . . . There's much to admire in this meticulously researched, boldly envisioned debut' * Prospect *'Nothing less than remarkable . . . A beautiful, brave book that reminds us of the terrible human cost of bigotry; this is a novel against forgetting' * Michael Schaub, Boston Globe *'Rich and engrossing . . . blending the graceful ambiguity of literary fiction with the deftness of a page-turner . . . A smart, sensual debut' * Kirkus (starred review) *A few established novelists continue to write first-class literary fiction on LGBTQ themes... The debut novel by Tom Crewe...reveals a new talent in the field. It is underpinned by extensive research... [with] a great story at its heart. * Literary Review *The New Life drives with a satisfying pace and a pleasing sense of both conclusion and open endings... how impressive it is that Crewe has synthesised a coherent and compelling fiction from his elements * Critic *Superb . . . Remarkably sensuous and intimate * Spectator *Crewe demonstrates rare promise in this beautifully crafted story about two real-life pioneers who tried to make a case for homosexuality in Victorian Britain... Crewe brings this era pungently to life * Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis**LONGLISTED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE 2024**''Comrade Stalin wishes to speak with you.''A fascinating exploration of the relationship between writers and tyranny, from the winner of the first Man Booker International Prize.In June 1934, Joseph Stalin allegedly telephoned the famous novelist and poet Boris Pasternak to discuss the arrest of fellow Soviet poet Osip Mandelstam. In a fascinating combination of dreams and dossier facts, Ismail Kadare reconstructs the three minutes they spoke and the aftershocks of this tense, mysterious moment in modern history.Weaving together the accounts of witnesses, reporters and writers such as Isaiah Berlin and Anna Akhmatova, Kadare tells a gripping story of power and political structures, of the relationship between writers and tyranny. The telling brings to light uncanny parallels with Kadare''s experience writing under dictatorship, when he received an unexpected phone call of his

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Book SynopsisShe will breathe a new empire into life – but all worlds can escape their creator…‘Full of adventure… A celebration of the power of storytelling’ GUARDIANIn the wake of an unimportant battle between two long-forgotten kingdoms, a nine-year-old girl has a divine encounter that will change the course of history. Pampa Kampana becomes a vessel for a goddess, who tells her that she will be instrumental in the rise of a great city called Bisnaga, ‘victory city’.Over the next two hundred and fifty years, Pampa Kampana’s life becomes deeply interwoven with Bisnaga’s as she attempts to make good on the task that the goddess set for her: to give women equal agency in a patriarchal world. But all stories have a way of getting away from their creator, and Bisnaga is no exception.‘Mesmerising’ ELIF SHAFAK, author of The Island of Missing Trees‘A total pleasure to read’ SUNDAY TIMES‘One of the planet’s greatest writers’ EVENING STANDARD‘A triumph… Enthralling’ I***A FINANCIAL TIMES AND THE TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR******A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK***Trade ReviewIn its haunting, uncanny, predictive power Victory City shows once again why his work will always matter. * New York Times *A novel by a man who still, in his eighth decade, derives delight in his talent and all that he can do with it. The book is a total pleasure to read, a bright burst of colour in a grey winter season. * Sunday Times *A joyfully extravagant alternative Mahabharata... a mashup of myth and fairytale, comedy and melodrama, celebrating women's agency and the enduring power of storytelling. * Guardian, *Summer Reads of 2023* *Victory City is full of life and colour, and some of Rushdie's key themes: female strength, the importance of storytelling, the danger of censorship. * Sunday Times, *Summer Reads of 2023* *What of Rushdie's powers? We cannot know if they are god-given, but on the evidence of this profoundly entertaining tale... Rushdie certainly still has the gift of alchemy. * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisJanika Oza is the winner of the 2022 O. Henry Prize for Short Fiction, and the 2020 Kenyon Review Short Fiction Award. Her stories and essays have appeared in publications including The Best Small Fictions: 2019 Anthology and Catapult. She lives in Toronto.Website: janikaoza.comTwitter: @JanikaOzaInstagram: @o.janika

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Book SynopsisGabrielle Griffiths grew up in Aberdeenshire and now lives in Brighton. She was a Madeleine Milburn Agency mentee in 2021 and is a graduate of the Curtis Brown Creative novel writing course. Her short fiction has been shortlisted for the Bridport Prize.

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Book SynopsisA powerful and spine-tingling gothic tale exploring mother-daughter relationships, sexuality, and class. Bold, blazing, absolutely unforgettable' Elizabeth Macneal, bestselling author of The Doll FactoryProbably one of the best books I've read this year! It felt like an unholy mix of Ottessa Moshfegh and Leonora Carrington, whilst still being very much its own thing I loved it' Julia Armfield, author of Private Rites and Our Wives Under The SeaA gruesome, provocative, stylish fairytale.... A true Gothic gem' Kaliane Bradley, bestselling author of The Ministry of TimeThere are some facts about the world that only your mother can teach you. Marguerite had been confined for the sake of her wellbeing. That's what her mother had said. Marguerite Périgord is locked in the attic of her family home, a towering Chelsea house overlooking the stinking Thames. For company she has a sewing machine, Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management and a carrion crow who has come to nest in the rafters. Restless, she spends her waning energies on the fascinations of her own body, memorising Mrs Beeton's advice and longing for her life outside. Cécile Périgord has confined her daughter Marguerite for her own good. Cécile is concerned that Marguerite's engagement to a much older, near-penniless solicitor, will drag the family name her husband's name, that is into disrepute. And for Cécile, who has worked hard at her own betterment, this simply won't do. Cécile's life has taught her that no matter how high a woman climbs she can just as readily fall. Of course, both have their secrets, intentions and histories to hide. As Marguerite's patience turns into rage, the boundaries of her mind and body start to fray. And neither woman can recognise what the other is becoming. Praise for Carrion Crow:One of the most important new voices in fiction, with Carrion Crow Heather Parry deduces an unutterable Gothic horror of class and gender... magnificent and devastating' Alan Moore, award-winning author of Watchman and V for VendettaGrizzly, compelling, and utterly claustrophobic' Heather Darwent, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Things We Do to Our FriendsBeautifully written with such dark, claustrophobic precision, exploring the devastating control we assert upon one another. Such an achievement.' Rachelle Atalla, award-winning author of The PharmacistDelicate, deftly written and enticingly obscene, Carrion Crow will captivate you from the first sentence and haunt you long after the story ends. I've never read anything quite like it' Jan Carson, prize-winning author of The Raptures

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Book SynopsisShe is the downstairs maid; he is the Master's son...Forced to become a kitchen maid at Fortune Hall, Hetty Pearson strikes up an unlikely friendship with the younger son of the house, Richard.But Hetty is just a poor servant girl: what hope does she have of either winning Richard's heart or escaping his older brother's more base attentions?Note: previously published as THE JEWEL STREETS by Una Horne

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Book SynopsisKatie Flynn is the pen name of the much-loved writer, Judy Turner, who published over ninety novels in her lifetime. Judy's unique stories were inspired by hearing family recollections of life in Liverpool during the early twentieth century, and her books went on to sell more than eight million copies. Judy passed away in January 2019, aged 82.The legacy of Katie Flynn lives on through her daughter, Holly Flynn, who continues to write under the Katie Flynn name. Holly worked as an assistant to her mother for many years and together they co-authored a number of Katie Flynn novels.Holly lives in the north east of Wales with her husband Simon and their two children. When she's not writing she enjoys walking her two dogs, Sparky and Tara, in the surrounding countryside, and cooking forbidden foods such as pies, cakes and puddings! She looks forward to sharing many more Katie Flynn stories, which she and her mother devised together, with readers in the years to come.

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Book SynopsisAn artist, forced to paint swastikas on train cars for the Nazis during the Holocaust, has become an unlikely vigilante in pre-Cold War Europe. Alongside his army companion, Bruno, he hunts down the criminals responsible for murdering his wife, his family, and his people. SIMON SAYS is one part action-adventure, one part crime-noir and all high stakes drama!

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Book SynopsisISOLA returns! Following a brush with death, Queen Olwyn and Captain Rook find themselves far off course, without supplies or any hope of breaking the evil spell trapping Olwyn in the form of a magical blue tiger. The companions will face grave new threats and uncover long-held secrets in their quest to find Isola, the land of the dead, where they hope to return the Queen of Maar to human form before war breaks out. Collects issues 6 through 10 of the Eisner-nominated series

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Book SynopsisAs a master of disguise, Thomasina Wynchester can be a polite young lady-or a bawdy old man. She'll do whatever it takes to solve the cases her family takes on. But when Tommy's beautiful new client turns out to be the highborn lady she's secretly smitten with, more than her mission is at stake . . .Bluestocking Miss Philippa York doesn't believe in love. Her heart didn't pitter-patter when she was betrothed to a duke, nor did it break when he married someone else. All Philippa desires is to decode a centuries-old manuscript to keep a modern-day villain from claiming credit for work that wasn't his. She hates that she needs a man's help to do it-so she's delighted to discover the clever, charming baron at her side is in fact a woman. But as she and Tommy grow closer and the stakes of their discovery higher, more than just their hearts are at risk.Entertainment Weekly Best Romances of 2021Library Journal Best Romances of 2021

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Book SynopsisAs Marie Antoinette took her last breath as Queen of France in Paris, another formidable monarch-Antoinette's dearly beloved sister, Charlotte-was hundreds of miles away, in Naples, fighting desperately to secure her release from the revolutionaries who would take her life. Little did Charlotte know, however, that her sister's execution would change the course of history-and bring about the end of her own empire."You are the queen. You are the queen that Antoinette wanted to be."Austria 1767: Maria Carolina Charlotte-tenth daughter and one of sixteen children of Empress Maria Theresa of Austria-knows her position as a Habsburg archduchess will inevitably force her to leave her home, her family, and her cherished sister, Antoinette, whose companionship she values over all else. But not yet. The Habsburg family is celebrating a great triumph: Charlotte's older sister, Josepha, has been promised to King Ferdinand IV of Naples and will soon take her place as queen. Before she can journey to her new home, however, tragedy strikes. After visiting the family crypt, Josepha contracts smallpox and dies. Shocked, Charlotte is forced to face an unthinkable new reality: she must now marry Ferdinand in her sister's stead.Bereft and alone, Charlotte finds that her life in Naples is more complicated than she could ever have imagined. Ferdinand is weak and feckless, and a disastrous wedding night plunges her into despair. Her husband's regent, Tanucci, a controlling and power-hungry man, has pushed the country to the brink of ruin. Overwhelmed, she asks her brother Leopold, now the Holy Roman Emperor, to send help-which he does in the form of John Acton, a handsome military man twenty years Charlotte's senior who is tasked with overseeing the Navy. Now, Charlotte must gather the strength to do what her mother did before her: take control of a country.In a time of political uprisings and royal executions and with the increasingly desperate crisis her favorite sister, Queen Marie Antoinette, is facing in France, how is a young monarch to keep hold of everything-and everyone-she loves? Find out in this sweeping, luxurious tale of family, court intrigue, and power.Includes a Reading Group Guide.

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Book SynopsisA heartwarming story about sisters, falling in love, and discovering life’s greatest adventures are made with those who matter most by New York Times bestselling author Shirley Jump. The youngest of the three close-knit sisters, Emma Monroe is the family wild child. She’s never stayed with anything—job, apartment, boyfriend—for long, and she likes it that way. Except lately, her freedom has seemed less like a gift and more like a burden. Maybe that’s why a yoga retreat in Las Vegas leads to a spur-of-the-moment decision to marry Luke Carter, a man she’s met exactly three times. The next morning, instead of facing Luke, Emma sneaks back home to Harbor Cove, where she should have nama-stayed in the first place. Still, it shouldn’t be difficult to annul their hours-long marriage. Except Emma’s brand-new husband arrives in town to convince her to give their marriage a chance. With the support of her family, can Emma envision a future where her biggest adventures come not from running away but from staying… and risking it all on love?

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Book SynopsisTwo sisters discover the fairy tales written by their great-grandmother during WWII in this riveting tale of one woman's secrets lost in the chaos of war-perfect for fans of Julia Kelly and Natasha Lester.1940 - Stasia always found comfort in the idyllic French countryside where she spent her childhood summers, roaming the gardens of an old chateau and finding inspiration for fairy tales full of bravery and adventure. But these days are much darker, and with Nazis storming across Europe, she soon finds herself one of the most hunted agents of the Resistance. The only safe haven she can think of is Chateau de Montissaire. But she's about to discover that it just may be the center of her biggest mission yet.Present day - When Isabelle purchases a crumbling chateau in Rouen, it's not just a renovation project-it's a chance to reconnect with her sister, Emilie, the only family she has left. What she uncovers instead is an intriguing mystery... As the siblings piece together the incredible truth behind the books written by their great-grandmother Stasia, they discover an exciting story of courage in the face of treachery and an explosive secret that will change everything they believed about their family.

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Book SynopsisFrom an internationally bestselling author comes the powerful and poignant final book in his Rome Novels trilogy, following two soulmates whose lives will be intertwined forever-perfect for fans of Reminders of Him and In Five Years. Step Mancini has more than any man has a right to ask for. He has succeeded beyond his wildest dreams as a television producer and can afford to surround himself with beautiful things, including his lawyer wife. And now his life is even more perfect because they have a baby on the way.But there's nothing like the magic of first love. When Babi Gervasi suddenly reappears in Step's life, she brings back tender memories along with a shocking request for his help. Step knows that his wife can never find out, and so he begins a double life, torn between the two women he cares about most in the world.

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Book SynopsisNew York City, 1943Can one small act change the course of a life? Margaret's job at the Navy Yard brings her freedoms she never dared imagine, but she wants to do something more personal to help the war effort. Knitting socks for soldiers is a way to occupy her quiet nights and provide comfort to the boys abroad. But when a note she tucks inside one of her socks sparks a relationship with a long-distance pen pal, she finds herself drawn to a man she's never even met.Can a woman hold on to her independence if she gives away her heart? Gladys has been waiting her whole life for the kinds of opportunities available to her now that so many men are fighting overseas. She's not going to waste a single one. And she's not going to let her two best friends waste them either. Then she meets someone who values her opinions as much as she likes giving them, and suddenly she is questioning everything she once held dear.Can an unwed mother survive on her own? Dottie is in a dire situation-she's pregnant, her fiance is off fighting the war, and if her parents find out about the baby, they'll send her away and make her give up her child. Knitting helps take her mind off her uncertain future-until the worst happens and she must lean on her friends like never before.With their worlds changing in unimaginable ways, Margaret, Gladys, and Dottie will learn that the unbreakable bond of friendship between them is what matters most of all.

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Book SynopsisWhen her student goes missing, an independent bluestocking must seek the help of the arrogant duke who spurned her in this sizzling tale of romance that has 'sparkling banter, gentle mystery, and plenty of swoonworthy moments'—for fans of Netflix's Bridgerton series (Publishers Weekly). Phoebe Atkinson is what society might call unconventional. Instead of marrying well like other women born to wealth, she chose to be a schoolteacher. Not to mention she lives in a leaky flat in an unfashionable part of town rather than stay in her parents’ mansion. But when her most promising pupil goes missing she has only one option: beg her sister’s best friend, the powerful Duke of Ellis, for help.  The last thing William Margrave ever expected was to inherit a dukedom. But now that he has it, he’s determined to act the part perfectly—and that includes marrying the perfect duchess. A bluestocking Bohemian schoolteacher is decidedly not duchess material. But he can’t resist her plea for help regarding her missing student.  As they fall further into the mystery, William discovers that he never got over his childhood crush on Phoebe, and he doesn’t really want to.A “rising historical romance star.” –Booklist, starred review

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Book SynopsisFrom a bestselling author in Mexico comes her English-language debut—an enthralling historical novel about the tragic reign of Empress Carlota of Mexico. It’s 1863. Napoleon III has installed a foreign monarch in Mexico to squash the current regime. Maximilian von Habsburg of Austria accepts the emperor’s crown. But it is his wife, the brilliant and ambitious Princess Charlotte, who throws herself passionately into the role. Known to the people as Empress Carlota, she rules deftly from behind the scenes while her husband contents himself with philandering and decorating the palace. But Carlota bears a guilty secret. Trapped in a loveless marriage, she’s thrown herself into a reckless affair. Desire has blinded Carlota to its consequences, for it has left her vulnerable to her sole trusted confidante. Carlota’s devious lady-in-waiting has political beliefs of her own—and they are strong enough to cause her to betray the empress and join a plot to depose her from the throne. As Carlota grows increasingly, maddeningly defenseless, both her own fate and that of the empire are at stake. A sweeping historical novel of forbidden love, dangerous secrets, courtly intrigue, and treachery, The Empress passionately reimagines the tragic romance and ill-fated reign of the most unforgettable royal couple of nineteenth-century Europe during the last throes of the Second Empire.

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Book SynopsisA Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon Charts bestseller. From the bestselling author of The Beekeeper’s Promise comes a gripping story of three young women faced with impossible choices. How will history – and their families – judge them? Paris, 1940. With the city occupied by the Nazis, three young seamstresses go about their normal lives as best they can. But all three are hiding secrets. War-scarred Mireille is fighting with the Resistance; Claire has been seduced by a German officer; and Vivienne’s involvement is something she can’t reveal to either of them. Two generations later, Claire’s English granddaughter Harriet arrives in Paris, rootless and adrift, desperate to find a connection with her past. Living and working in the same building on the Rue Cardinale, she learns the truth about her grandmother – and herself – and unravels a family history that is darker and more painful than she ever imagined. In wartime, the three seamstresses face impossible choices when their secret activities put them in grave danger. Brought together by loyalty, threatened by betrayal, can they survive history’s darkest era without being torn apart?Trade Review“Must Read of the Week” —Saturday Express “A wartime story that captures the era well and is a real page-turner as the different lives and generations come together like a beautifully woven fabric.” —The People’s Friend “An intriguing and nostalgic read.” —Woman & Home “You’ll be immersed in this twisting, colorful tale.” —Take A Break “The historical detail and distinctive characters will draw you in.” —Woman’s Weekly “Equal parts heartbreaking and life-affirming, The Dressmaker’s Gift is sure to be welcomed by fans of historical fiction.” —Culturefly “This book broke me and left me utterly speechless, yet I cannot recommend it enough…A beautiful, powerful, and emotive read—one of the best books I have ever read.” —The Writing Garnet “The Dressmaker’s Gift is a commendable dual time story about love and survival against all odds. It shows us, without any shadow of doubt, the power and strength there is to be found in friendship.” —Jaffa Reads Too “The Dressmaker’s Gift is, in itself, a gift of a book to read…a beautifully written book with four interesting and inspiring women at its core. The historical detail is seamless and brings the experiences of the war to life in shocking detail.” —Bookliterati Book Reviews “Movingly written with great heart and immaculately researched, the love of true friends can support and sustain you through life altering trauma.” —Rachel Read It “The Dressmaker’s Gift portrays the strength within friendships and how women were also pivotal during the war. An emotional read and great story.” —Jera’s Jamboree “The Dressmaker’s Gift is a brilliant and thought provoking read that beautifully explores trauma, friendship, courage, love, and loss.” —Best Book Forward “It is full of suspense, twists, and turns but most importantly it is full of courage and heart. I hope you all have got a chance to check it out and read this incredible book.” —Sissi Reads

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Book SynopsisAs World War II rages, love, mystery, and secrets collide on the English coast in a riveting novel by the bestselling author of The Snow Gypsy. In April 1943 a young woman washes ashore on a deserted beach in Cornwall, England. With shorn hair and a number stitched on her tattered chemise, Alice is the survivor of a ship torpedoed by a German U-boat. She’s found by the mysterious Viscount Jack Trewella, who suspects that she’s a prisoner of war or a spy. But the secret Alice asks Jack to keep is one he could never have guessed, and it creates an intimate bond he never expected. With her true identity hidden beneath the waves, Alice grasps the chance to reinvent herself. But as she begins to fall for Jack, she discovers he has secrets too—ones echoing the legend of a mermaid said to lure men into the dark depths of the sea. For two strangers in the shadow of war, lost love, and haunting memories, is it time to let go of the past? Or to finally face it—whatever the risks?

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of Yellow Crocus and Mustard Seed comes the empowering novel of two generations of American women connected by the past and fighting for a brighter future. It’s 1894. Jordan Wallace and Sadie Wagner appear to have little in common. Jordan, a middle-aged black teacher, lives in segregated Chicago. Two thousand miles away, Sadie, the white wife of an ambitious German businessman, lives in more tolerant Oakland, California. But years ago, their families intertwined on a plantation in Virginia. There, Jordan’s and Sadie’s mothers developed a bond stronger than blood, despite the fact that one was enslaved and the other was the privileged daughter of the plantation’s owner. With Jordan’s mother on her deathbed, Sadie leaves her disapproving husband to make the arduous train journey with her mother to Chicago. But the reunion between two families is soon fraught with personal and political challenges. As the harsh realities of racial divides and the injustices of the Gilded Age conspire to hold them back, the women find they need each other more than ever. Their courage, their loyalty, and the ties that bind their families will be tested. Amid the tumult of a quickly changing nation, their destiny depends on what they’re willing to risk for liberation.Trade Review“Book clubs will find much to love in this impassioned tale of resilient women.” —Publishers Weekly

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