Historical romance

Book SynopsisThe spellbinding series continues in the icy beauty of Norway. Following the bestselling The Seven Sisters, The Storm Sister is the second book in Lucinda Riley's epic saga of love and loss, inspired by the mythology of the Seven Sisters constellation.Ally D'Aplièse, in her early thirties, is about to compete in one of the world's most perilous yacht races when she hears the news of her adoptive father's sudden, mysterious death. Rushing back to meet her five sisters at their family home, she discovers that her father – an elusive billionaire affectionately known to his daughters as Pa Salt – has left each of them a tantalizing clue to their true heritage.Ally recently embarked on a deeply passionate love affair that will change her destiny forever. But with her life now turned upside down, Ally decides to leave the open seas and follow the trail that her father left her, leading to the icy beauty of Norway . . .There, Ally begins to discover her roots – and how her story is inextricably bound to that of a young unknown singer, Anna Landvik, who lived there over a hundred years before, and sang in the first performance of Grieg's iconic music set to Ibsen's play 'Peer Gynt'. As Ally learns more about Anna, she also begins to question who her father, Pa Salt, really was. And she begins to wonder: why is their seventh sister missing?The epic, multi-million selling series continues with The Shadow Sister.'A brilliant page-turner just soaked in glamour and romance' – Daily MailPraise for the Seven Sisters:'A masterclass in beautiful writing' – The Sun'Heart-wrenching, uplifting and utterly enthralling' – Lucy Foley, author of The Hunting Party'A breathtaking adventure' – Lancashire Evening PostFive-Star Reader Reviews:'Absolutely incredible''Totally addictive''Ideal for when you need to escape'Trade Review[It] will keep you engaged until the very last page * Candis *A great page-turner, full of drama and romance * Daily Mail *The Storm Sister is like a literary musical score - crashing waves, staccato heartstopping moments and a crescendo waiting in the wings. * The Book Trail *

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Book SynopsisThe phenominal million-copy bestselling novel by Martha Hall Kelly.'Harrowing ... Lilac illuminates.' People'A compelling, page-turning narrative ... It's smart, thoughtful and also just an old-fashioned good read.' Fort Worth Star, Telegram'A powerful story for readers everywhere ... A novel that brings to life what these women and many others suffered ... I was moved to tears.' San Francisco Book Review__________or three women living through World War II, the threat of war poses very separate issues - that is, until their lives become intertwined in the most tragic of circumstances.New York socialite Caroline Ferriday has her hands full with her post at the French consulate and a new love on the horizon. But Caroline's world is forever changed when Hitler's army invades Poland in September 1939-and then sets its sights on France.An ocean away from Caroline, Kasia Kuzmerick, a Polish teenager, senses her carefree youth disappearing as she is drawn deeper into her role as courier for the underground resistance movement. In a tense atmosphere of watchful eyes and suspecting neighbors, one false move can have dire consequences.For the ambitious young German doctor, Herta Oberheuser, an ad for a government medical position seems her ticket out of a desolate life. Once hired, though, she finds herself trapped in a male-dominated realm of Nazi secrets and power.The lives of these three women are set on a collision course when the unthinkable happens and Kasia is sent to Ravensbrück, the notorious Nazi concentration camp for women. Their stories cross continents-from New York to Paris, Germany, and Poland-as Caroline and Kasia strive to bring justice to those whom history has forgotten.__________'[A] compelling first novel . . . This is a page-turner demonstrating the tests and triumphs civilians faced during war, complemented by Kelly's vivid depiction of history and excellent characters.' Publishers Weekly'Kelly vividly re-creates the world of Ravensbrück.' Kirkus Reviews'Martha Hall Kelly has woven together the stories of three women during World War II that reveal the bravery, cowardice, and cruelty of those days.' Lisa See'Lilac Girls is the best book I've read all year. It will haunt you.' Jamie Ford'I can't remember the last time I read a novel that moved me so deeply.' Beatriz Williams

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Book SynopsisBeing a woman was her only crime.Scottish Highlands, 1727. In the aftermath of a tragic fire that kills her father, Aila and her mother, Janet, move to the remote parish of Loth, north-west of Inverness. Blending in does not come easily to the women: Aila was badly burned in the fire and left with visible injuries, while her mother struggles to maintain her grip on reality. When a temporary minister is appointed in the area, rather than welcome the two women, he develops a strange curiosity for them that sets them even further apart from the community.Then arrives a motley troupe of travelling entertainers from Edinburgh, led by the charismatic but mysterious Jack. It is just the distraction Janet, and particularly Aila, needs: for the first time in a long while, their lives are filling with joy and friendship, and a kind of hope Aila hasn't known since her father's death. But in this small community, faith is more power

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Book SynopsisIf you're not with them... you're against them.Oxford, 1883. Young men are being found bound, gagged and hooded at the gates of their colleges in the small hours. Basil Rice, Jesus College fellow, is asked by the senior proctor to investigate. But matters of sexual purity are dangerous, as it lays Basil open to unwelcome scrutiny of his own private life. Meanwhile, an undergraduate has been imprisoned on false charges, and secures the services of young academic and budding journalist, Non Vaughan, to clear her name. The uncovering by Basil of a secret society, The Venatores, and the murder of a student, cause Non and Basil to join forces. But is justice possible in a world so unjust and dangerous?A scintillating historical mystery from the author of CWA Historical Dagger shortlisted A Bitter Remedy. Praise for the Oxford Mysteries series'An excellent historical mystery dripping with atmosphere that exposes the chauvinism, misogyny and bigotry of late Victorian England' The Times'Real figures from history rub shoulders with those invented by Hawkins and her inventiveness is prodigal' Financial Times'Fearlessly tackles taboo attitudes of the era, taking aim at misogyny, homophobia, and sexual politics. An excellent addition to the historical mystery canon. Marvellous!' Vaseem Khan'Brilliantly researched, rich in atmosphere and with two likeable and intriguing protagonists at the centre' Philip Gwynne Jones

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Book SynopsisA scandal will change the lives of two women forever...Veronica Hay is an acclaimed beauty but her downward spiral begins the moment she enters into a loveless marriage that removes her from her home in Edinburgh to Berwickshire. From there, she begins a luckless affair with Sire Alexander Renton which helps her to forget her longing for the fashions and energy of Edinburgh.Her husband seeks revenge, driving Veronica’s story to a tragic end. Veronica’s adultery causes a scandal, but it might be the making of her devoted friend and maidservant, Helen Cameron, who rises to become part of Edinburgh’s New Town story all on her own.A gripping Scottish saga based on true events, perfect for fans of Tessa Barclay and Dilly Court.

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

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Book SynopsisOne candid photograph will change the lives of four people forever. While taking photographs at an exposition in Seattle in 1909, Camera Girl Eleanor Bennett snaps an image of a woman in widow''s clothes with deep sorrow etched in her expression and a young infant in her arms.Eleanor longs to study botany at the University of Washington and soon becomes fast friends with botanist Bill Reed, but she can''t stop thinking about the widow in the photograph. She is stunned to learn Bill recognizes the woman as the sister-in-law he believed lost in a shipwreck.As Eleanor and Bill hunt for Amelia Reed to reunite her with her grief-stricken husband, they must stand together to face the danger that follows and learn to trust that God will direct their paths.   

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Book SynopsisJourney to the dusty plains of Central Australia in The Pearl Sister, the fourth book in the number one bestselling Seven Sisters series by Lucinda Riley. A spellbinding story of love and loss, inspired by the mythology of the famous star constellation.CeCe D’Aplièse, in her mid-twenties, has never felt she fitted in anywhere. Following the death of her father, the elusive billionaire Pa Salt – so-called by the six daughters he adopted from around the globe – she finds herself at breaking point. Dropping out of art college, CeCe watches as Star, her beloved sister, distances herself to follow her new love, leaving her completely alone.In desperation, CeCe decides to flee England and discover her past; the only clues she has are a black-and-white photograph and the name of a woman pioneer who lived in Australia over one hundred years ago. En-route to Sydney, CeCe heads to the one place she has ever felt close to being herself: the stunning beaches of Krabi, Thailand. There amongst the backpackers, she meets the mysterious Ace, a man as lonely as she is and whom she realizes has a secret to hide . . .A hundred years earlier Kitty McBride, daughter of an Edinburgh clergyman, is given the opportunity to travel to Australia as the companion of the wealthy Mrs McCrombie. In Adelaide, her fate becomes entwined with Mrs McCrombie’s family, including the identical, yet very different, twin brothers: impetuous Drummond, and ambitious Andrew, the heir to a pearling fortune.When CeCe finally reaches the searing heat of the Red Centre of Australia, she begins the search for her past. As something deep within her responds to the energy of the area and the ancient culture of the Aboriginal people, her creativity reawakens once more. With help from those she meets on her journey, CeCe begins to believe that this wild, vast continent could offer her something she never thought possible: a sense of belonging, and a home . . .The epic, multi-million selling series continues with The Moon Sister.'Delicious reading' - Daily MailPraise for the Seven Sisters:'A masterclass in beautiful writing' – The Sun'Heart-wrenching, uplifting and utterly enthralling' – Lucy Foley, author of The Hunting Party'A breathtaking adventure' – Lancashire Evening PostFive-Star Reader Reviews:'Absolutely incredible''Totally addictive''Ideal for when you need to escape'Trade ReviewDelicious reading. -- Daily MailSpanning continents and decades, this is a well-researched and compelling novel on an epic scale. -- Sunday ExpressEvery corner of the world has become a thrilling new adventure with master storyteller Lucinda Riley . . . Told through a breath-taking panorama of captivating stories, their fates and fortunes are painted on a broad canvas and all created from a vast sweep of the imagination. -- Lancashire Evening PostRiley’s meticulous research and attention to detail immerse readers in historical background and bring CeCe and Kitty to life. Fans of Kristin Hannah, Kate Morton, and Riley’s previous novels will adore this. -- Booklist, USALucinda paints another epic tale of love, loss and discovery. -- My WeeklyKitty's tangled history and its equally snarled connections to CeCe's origins unravel at a leisurely pace, with much lore about pearl fishing, aboriginal culture, and Australian race relations adding interest. -- Kirkus Reviews, USAThis is like going on a fantastic literary holiday - a magical mystery tour of hope and dreams . . . The locations evocative, the descriptions exquisite and the story woven like ribbons through time and history. I was transported to a world of amazement as well as art. -- The Book TrailThe Pearl Sister is absolutely wonderful . . . Lucinda enthralls and mesmerizes as she weaves the modern and the historical settings together so finely there's not a crack to be found in either the plot or the pacing. -- Random Things Through My Letterbox

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Book SynopsisChristmas with the Teashop Girls is a heartwarming and moving story of wartime love, bravery and hope, by the bestselling author of the Woolworths series, Elaine Everest.It is late 1940 and the war feels closer to home than ever for Rose Neville and her staff at the Lyon’s Teashop in Margate. The worry of rationing hangs overhead as the Nippies do their best to provide a happy smile and a hot cup of tea for their customers. When a heavy bombing raid targets the Kent coastline, Lyon’s is badly hit, throwing the future of the cafe into jeopardy.The light in Rose’s life is her dashing fiancé Capt. Ben Hargreaves and planning their Christmas Eve wedding. But she must also plan to take two new step-daughters into her life and get on the right side of her wealthy mother-in-law, Lady Diana. Is Rose ready to become a mother so soon? When Rose’s half-sister Eileen makes contact, it seems that Rose’s dreams of having a sibling are coming true at long last. But her friends begin to suspect that something is not right between Eileen and her husband: just what are they hiding?As the Christmas Eve wedding draws near, the bombings intensify in Kent and London, putting everything and everyone Rose loves in danger. Only one thing is for sure: it will be a Christmas she never forgets . . .

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewHER BEST NOVEL YET * The Times *Inspiring and wildly romantic * Daily Mail Books of the Year *Utterly enchanting * Mail on Sunday *An entertaining, immersive and moving read. The Giver of Stars is rip-roaring popular fiction . . . but it is also a novel that celebrates education, intellectual curiosity and, above all, books and the knowledge, comfort, company and power that they can bring. Moyes shines a light on a historic footnote to pay tribute to women's work, endurance and female solidarity * The Sunday Times *For years I've been a huge Jojo Moyes fan. It's such a great narrative about personal strength and really captures how books bring communities together, especially for these women who are completely bonded by their love of literature * Reese Witherspoon *A genuinely entertaining book that's a perfect gift for people who need some escape from the everyday and just want to be absorbed in a really cracking story. Set in rural America in the 1930s, it's got a band of feisty characters who are funny and sweet with contemporary resonances to boot * The best books to give this Christmas, Stylist *With characters so real they feel like dear friends and a compelling storyline, this is a beautiful, special novel. I loved it and didn't want it to end! * Liane Moriarty *What a wonderful novel. The Giver of Stars is the most sweeping, dramatic, richly evocative book, full of brilliantly feisty women. I whipped through the pages, utterly agog, pretty much feeling as though I was on a horse in 1930s Kentucky myself * Sophie Kinsella *Epic * David Nicholls, bestselling author of One Day *Timeless, Jojo Moyes' greatest work yet, and one of the most exquisitely-written - and absolutely compulsory - novels about women ever told. Brilliant and perfect and will remind you of why you read; even of why you breathe * Lisa Taddeo, bestselling author of Three Women *

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Book SynopsisA gritty story of two girls from opposite backgrounds and their search for freedom and happiness.1925 - The MidlandsBorn on the canals, feisty Beth Dawson knows danger lurks in the shadows and suspecting she might be pregnant after a vicious attack she quickly marries a fellow boatman.Her mundane existence is interrupted by the arrival of Anthony Wesley whose mission is to organise the impoverished boatmen for strike action. Feeling valued and soon falling for Anthony, Beth wants to help the cause in any way she can.Along the way she is befriended by the company owners rebellious daughter Abigail Gatehouse. She too is in love with Anthony and sensing the attraction between Beth and Anthony, Abigail is overcome with jealousy.Soon both young women are caught up in events that spiral out of control. Only time will tell what the future holds for them both.In the meantime, it’s all about survival...Previously published as Where the Wild Thyme Blows by Jeannie Johnson

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Book Synopsis'A powerful, stirring, wind-swept tale set in Depression-era America that makes your heart break and soar in equal measure.' - Matt Haig, author of The Midnight LibraryThe Four Winds, an instant New York Times number one bestseller and Richard and Judy Book Club Pick, is a deeply moving story about the strength and resilience of women and the bond between mother and daughter, by the multi-million-copy bestselling author of The Nightingale, Kristin Hannah.‘Powerful and compelling’ – Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads SingShe will discover the best of herself in the worst of times . . .Texas, 1934. Elsa Martinelli had finally found the life she’d yearned for. A family, a home and a livelihood on a farm on the Great Plains. But when drought threatens all she and her community hold dear, Elsa’s world is shattered to the winds.Fearful of the future, when Elsa wakes to find her husband has fled, she is forced to make the most agonizing decision of her life. Fight for the land she loves or take her beloved children, Loreda and Ant, west to California in search of a better life. Will it be the land of milk and honey? Or will their experience challenge every ounce of strength they possess?From the overriding love of a mother for her child, the value of female friendship and the ability to love again – against all odds – Elsa’s incredible journey is a story of survival, hope and what we do for the ones we love.'A story of love, family, unbreakable bonds, bravery and hope. I loved this book so much!' - Christy Lefteri, author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo****What readers LOVE about The Four Winds:‘Everyone should read this book. This is the new American classic’‘It will break your heart and bring you to tears. It will also be one of the best books you read all year!’‘This is historical fiction at its best: compelling, compassionate, enraging and courageous. I absolutely loved this book!’‘Gripping and captivating . . . heartbreaking and inspiring’‘We fall in love with a warrior who finds her power and strength, surrounded by love. Beautiful’‘BRAVO to the author, this is her best work yet’Trade ReviewWow. I have been left with a bursting heart . . . a story of love, family, unbreakable bonds, bravery and hope. I loved this book so much! -- Christy Lefteri, bestselling author of The Beekeeper of AleppoPowerful and compelling -- Delia Owens, author of Where the Crawdads SingA powerful, stirring, wind-swept tale set in Depression-era America that makes your heart break and soar in equal measure. -- Matt Haig, author of Reasons to Stay Alive and The HumansI didn’t just love this book, I became obsessed with it -- Karen Swan on The Great AloneEpic . . . By the end, I was surrounded by snow-drifts of tissues damp with my tears -- Washington Post on The Great AloneGreat characters, great plots, great emotions: who could ask for more in a novel? -- Isabel Allende on The NightingaleMovingly written and plotted with the skill of Greek tragedy. You’ll keep turning the pages until the last racking sob -- Daily Mail on The NightingaleA rich, compelling novel of love, sacrifice and survival, as epic as the Alaskan landscape it so vividly describes -- Kate Morton on The Great AloneA real page-turning read. Best book I’ve read all year -- Martina Cole

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Book SynopsisThe bestselling Richard and Judy Book Club pickThe Sunday Times Bestseller and BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick‘Dark, dramatic and full of danger’ - Daily MailFor readers of Circe and The Handmaid’s Tale, Kiran Millwood Hargrave's The Mercies is inspired by real historical events.The storm comes in like a finger snap . . .1617. The sea around the remote Norwegian island of Vardø is thrown into a vicious storm. A young woman, Maren, watches as the men of the island, out fishing, perish in an instant.Vardø is now a place of women . . .Eighteen months later, a sinister figure arrives. Absalom Cornet has been summoned to bring the women of the island to heel. With him travels his young wife, Ursa. In her new home, and in Maren, Ursa encounters something she has never seen before: independent women. But where Ursa finds happiness, even love, Absalom sees only a place flooded with a terrible evil, one he must root out at all costs . . .A story about how suspicion can twist its way through a community, about a love that could prove as dangerous as it is powerful.‘Gripping’ - Madeline Miller, author of Circe‘Took my breath away’ - Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl With a Pearl Earring‘A beautifully intimate story of friendship, love and hope’ - Douglas Stuart, author of Shuggie Bain ‘Something rare and beautiful’ - Marian Keyes, author of Again, Rachel‘Chilling and page-turning’ - The TimesTrade ReviewThe Mercies is among the best novels I’ve read in years. In addition to its beautiful writing, its subject matter is both enduring and timely * New York Times Book Review *A gripping novel . . . [Kiran Millwood Hargrave's] most vital insights are about the human heart: how terrifyingly quickly prejudices can turn into murder, and how desperately we need love and courage to oppose it. Beautiful and chilling -- Madeline Miller, author of CirceThis is a powerful story that gathers ever more momentum as it moves towards its conclusion * Sunday Times *The most interesting historical fiction speaks of the time of writing as much as of its subject . . . The Mercies shows us the patriarchal fear of women's strength and reason -- Sarah Moss, GuardianHistorical fiction fans looking for a Handmaid's Tale-style twist will love this novel . . . A story of danger, love and power - with Big Offred Energy * Cosmopolitan *The Mercies is storytelling at its most masterful. This is an exquisite tale of sisterhood, of love, of courage and of what happens when communities turn on each other . . . I raged, I laughed, I cried. I urge you to read this novel -- Elizabeth Macneal, author of The Doll FactoryExtraordinary! -- Jo Whiley, BBC Radio Book ClubA book for our times . . . Millwood Hargrave is a whirlwind, storm-building talent -- Daisy Johnson, Man Booker Prize shortlisted author of Everything UnderThe Mercies took my breath away . . . Kiran Millwood Hargrave has masterfully built up an incredible claustrophobic atmosphere, shot through with delicate intimacy. On finishing it I pressed the book to me, hoping to absorb some of her skill -- Tracy Chevalier, author of Girl With a Pearl EarringRead if you like Circe by Madeline Miller and Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel -- Sunday Times Style, 'Best New Books for 2020'Spun from real-life events, this lyrical novel charts the aftermath of a fatal storm in a 17th century Norwegian fishing village: a town almost exclusively composed of women and girls, and the violent witch-burning newcomer hell-bent on their conversion * Vanity Fair *Based on real events, this is a stunning, intensely told story about sisterhood, superstition and prejudice * Good Housekeeping *The Mercies is a gripping tale of love and obsession, inspired by the real events of a storm on the Norwegian island of Vardø in 1617 that prompted witch trials. Absalom Cornet, the man used to bring the women to submission, is a creepy creation by Millwood, in her debut adult novel * i-news *Elegant and chilling . . . an absorbing account of women finding power and grace and love even under the most harrowing circumstances * USA Today *A dark read filled with suspicion and fear * Psychologies *A mesmerising, heartwrenching novel which had me desperate for the women of Vardø to win through. A perfect book club choice -- AJ Pearce, author of Dear Mrs BirdPassionate, stirring and conveying a terrifying atmosphere of claustrophobic oppression, Hargrave’s gripping tale of courageous women facing overwhelming odds is helped along no end by the vividness of her bleak island location and her depiction of the dynamics of a God-fearing fishing village as opposing factions struggle for control * The Herald *Kiran Millwood Hargrave illuminates one of the darkest chapters of our history. -- Samantha Shannon, author of The Bone Season and The Priory of the Orange TreeBoth harrowing and beautiful. Through mesmerizing prose, Kiran Millwood Hargrave depicts the brutality of life for women on an isolated island in 1620 Norway during the witch trials. Yet amidst this horror and within the punishing landscape, she creates a set of brilliant characters and a moving love story full of tenderness and hope. This is a book to be savoured and read time and again. -- Jenny Quintana, author of The Missing GirlAbsolutely stunning. The Mercies is a very special book. -- Louise O'Neill, author of Asking For ItI loved The Mercies. It opened up a completely new chapter of history to me, and I loved the way it told its story in such beautiful language. I won't forget this story of these women in a Norway I knew little about. A searing historical novel -- Naomi Wood, author of Mrs HemingwayEvery once in a while, a modern day parable, perfectly told, reflects all that could happen in a world gone mad. Kiran Millwood Hargrave has written a novel for our times with artistry and skill. Maren's story is powerful, at turns, it is disturbing, and ultimately illuminating. You will ponder it long after you finish this magnificent work -- Adriana Trigiani, author of Lucia, LuciaBased on the real-life witch trials of 1621, this is an immersive and beautifully written tale. Highly recommended -- Alice O'Keeffe * Bookseller, Editor's Choice *Kiran Millwood Hargrave effortlessly transports us across hundreds of years and thousands of miles to a tiny Norwegian Island in the early seventeenth century and throws us into the lives and passions of an extraordinary cast of characters . . . deeply unsettling, entirely pertinent to our contemporary lives, and a completely addictive read. I cannot recommend it enough -- Sarah Butler, author of Jack and BetThis chilling tale of religious persecution is served up with a feminist bite -- Kirkus (starred review)Caught me from the very first page and held me right to the end. A vivid evocation of time and place and utterly believable, absorbing characters - I felt I breathed the same air . . . The Mercies is a story that will stay with me -- Helen Walmsley-Johnson, author of Look What You Made Me DoDark and menacing, retelling the story of a witch hunt on the isolated island of Vardo, off the coast of Norway . . . Millwood Hargrave slowly builds an atmosphere of suspicion and superstition as new loyalties and old rivalries rear up. * Express *

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Book SynopsisFrom Cairo 1939 on the eve of the war and then thirty years later to 1970s Beirut on the eve of yet another conflict A young archaeologist spends her life bringing the past to light - now she must dig through the secrets and lies about her own past to uncover the truth about her mother's life in wartime Cairo.

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Book Synopsis*SELECTED AS THE WATERSTONES SCOTTISH BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022*'Compelling, fascinating . . . A cracking good read' Val McDermid'An evocative, enjoyable portrait of 1820s Edinburgh' Sunday Times'Lush, seductive' Daily Mail'Completely enchanting' Scotsman'A beautiful tale of scandal and intrigue' Susan Stokes-Chapman, author of Pandora***Could one rare plant hold the key to a thousand riches?It's the summer of 1822 and Edinburgh is abuzz with rumours of King George IV's impending visit. In botanical circles, however, a different kind of excitement has gripped the city. In the newly-installed Botanic Garden, the Agave Americana plant looks set to flower - an event that only occurs once every few decades. When newly widowed Elizabeth arrives in Edinburgh to live with her late husband's aunt Clementina, she's determined to put her unhappy past in London behind her. As she settles into her new home, she becomes fascinated by the beautiful Botanic Garden which borders the grand house and offers her services as an artist to record the rare plant's impending bloom. In this pursuit, she meets Belle Brodie, a vivacious young woman with a passion for botany and the lucrative, dark art of perfume creation. Belle is determined to keep both her real identity and the reason for her interest the Garden secret from her new friend. But as Elizabeth and Belle are about to discover, secrets don't last long in this Enlightenment city . . . And when they are revealed, they can carry the greatest of consequences . . .***'Dazzling, original, full of wonderful characters' Katie Fforde'An absolute treat for fans of historical fiction and rich storytelling' Red Magzine'Lively and generous-hearted, with an array of utterly engaging characters, this enchanting novel reads like a warm tonic for the soul' Mary Paulson-Ellis'As rare and lush as the Agave flower itself, The Fair Botanists is a richly realised, transportive delight' Rachel Rhys'Beautiful . . . Every sentence is a gift. If you love The Doll Factory or The Binding, you'll love this' Miranda Dickinson'Delightfully original, sensuous historical fiction, led by a charge of female characters as captivating and complex as the brightest of botanical flowers' Cari ThomasTrade ReviewSheridan creates an evocative, enjoyable portrait of 1820s Edinburgh and of two women determined to lead independent lives. * Sunday Times *Completely enchanting and fascinating . . . a rollicking and immensely readable tale . . . Sheridan succeeds in what very few have attempted before; in imagining early 19th century Edinburgh as a genuine if imperfect city of enlightenment, a thrilling, optimistic and romantic landscape where science flourishes, beauty is created, wrongs are righted, possibilities are infinite, and women can begin to dream, at last, of how it might feel to be free. * Scotsman *A novel which challenges literary expectations about the perspectives from which major events and authors might be seen and interpreted. It knocks predictable conventions of perspective off kilter. It refocuses attention to priorities that are often neglected or oppressed - the experiences, perspectives and judgements of women. It's engagingly written, compelling, lucid and surprising, with a memorable cast of characters and a social vision of an Edinburgh caught up in the Hanoverian ascendancy, which it has never completely left behind. * The National, Scotland *Lush, seductive and scandalous, this is a gorgeous read. * Daily Mail *Compelling, fascinating and incisive about its social context. A cracking good read -- Val McDermidWhat a beautiful, immersive gem of historical fiction this is! * Good Housekeeping *An absolute treat for fans of historical fiction and rich storytelling. * Red Magazine *A vibrant mix of history, romance and mystery * I Paper *Dazzling, original, full of wonderful characters and so interesting! Anyone who's ever looked at a flower will love it as much as I do. -- Katie FfordeJoyously seductive prose with evocatively-drawn characters, The Fair Botanists is a beautiful tale of scandal and intrigue firmly rooted in the capital of 1820s Scotland. -- Susan Stokes-ChapmanBeautiful . . . Every sentence is a gift. If you love The Doll Factory or The Binding, you'll love this -- Miranda DickinsonI loved this vivid evocation of Enlightenment Edinburgh - a city in the throes of tumultuous change - filled with a cast of fascinating characters, both real and imagined. Highly recommended. -- Fiona ValpyA charm of a book. A spirited tale of female empowerment set amongst the blossoms of enlightenment Edinburgh, it is suffused with the rich perfume of its historical era. Lively and generous-hearted, with an array of utterly engaging characters, this enchanting novel reads like a warm tonic for the soul -- Mary Paulson-EllisAs rare and lush as the Agave flower itself, The Fair Botanists is a richly realised, transportive delight -- Rachel RhysDelightfully original, sensuous historical fiction, led by a charge of female characters as captivating and complex as the brightest of botanical flowers -- Cari ThomasEnchanting and absorbing . . . [I enjoyed it] because it's about women and women's lives, people I know and talk to, and am -- Anstey HarrisSara Sheridan weaves a vivid, bewitching tale of scandal and female empowerment. * Woman's Own *Pacy and beautifully realised historical fiction. * Best *Lush, seductive and scandalous, this is a romantic tale of two intriguing women and their evolving friendship. * Psychologies *With a cast of colourful characters, there's much to enjoy here. * Choice *The storyline is compelling, the pace perfect, and the characters consistently engaging, but what made this a stand-out book for me was the quality and quantity of the research, and the skilful way that this is interwoven throughout the narrative. * Buzz Magazine *A seductive, sensory romp through Georgian Edinburgh. Hugely enjoyable. Highly recommended -- Ambrose ParryThere's no enlightenment without enlightening women, and Sara Sheridan gives us two great ones to reckon with in Belle and Elizabeth. The Fair Botanists gives us a glimpse into the complex life of Edinburgh in the 1820's with joyous female characters at the heart of the story -- Annie GarthwaiteImpressively researched, The Fair Botanists weaves incredible fact - the transfer of the Botanic Gardens to a new site and the incredible journey of the trees across the city, and the much-anticipated flowering of the century aloe - with the intricately-plotted loves and fortunes of Belle, a forward-thinking courtesan and perfume maker, and Elizabeth, a widow who steps out of the shadows of her unhappy marriage to learn her own worth. -- Claire GradidgeThe Fair Botanists beguiles all the senses in this tale of intrigue in Enlightenment Edinburgh. An entertaining read -- Sarah MaineA cleverly crafted novel offering a heady mix of secrets, intrigue, skulduggery and romance. Immersive and engaging, I couldn't put it down! -- Anita FrankThe Fair Botanists is a ravishing tale of nature, love and secrets, told with lush prose and eloquent style. A historical, feminist masterpiece -- T.A. WillbergThe Fair Botanists brings 1820s Edinburgh to life in glorious, meticulously researched detail. I loved watching these characters blossom, as the flowering or a rare plant has repercussions for them all. Sara Sheridan has created a captivating, utterly convincing world and a wonderfully heartwarming story. -- Elizabeth LeeAtmospheric, absorbing and completely immersive - I lost myself in this brilliant book -- Rachael LucasA stunning, stylish book, packed to the brim with delicious and deeply sensual experiences. The setting, the brilliantly drawn cast of passionate characters and the vivid descriptions of the burgeoning plants and flowers will stay with me for a very long time. This is a gem to savour and read over and over again. -- Celia AndersonA fascinating and beautiful evocation of Edinburgh. I adored this wonderful book and didn't want it to end -- Elisabeth GiffordHistorical fiction at its best, full of atmosphere, with beautifully drawn characters and a thoroughly intriguing story -- Frances QuinnI enjoyed it so much! Such a gorgeous story full intrigue, plants and gorgeous imagery that utterly swept me away from the very first page. Glorious! -- Lily GrahamSheridan brings the Scottish Enlightenment brilliantly to life in this vibrant, evocative novel about female friendship, empowerment and transformation -- Nikki MarmeryWhat a setting and cast of characters! This seductive and sensual novel comes from a writer at the height of her powers. Captured my senses, and my heart -- Essie FoxA beautifully written, enchanting escapist delight, peopled with wonderful characters. I really enjoyed the exploration of growing female independence in a male world - Belle and Elizabeth will stay with me for a long time. -- Caroline LeaThe cinematic prologue had me instantly hooked, as did the world of botany, perfume, potions and intrigue. Sara's characters are wonderfully drawn, the writing is so evocative, and sumptuously imagined. Not since Patrick Suskind's Perfume has a book had such a strong sensory impact on me. I was intoxicated! A feast for the senses... The Fair Botanists is dazzling. -- Celia ReynoldsPerfectly paced, romantic and full of intrigue, The Fair Botanists is a truly wonderful story where women take centre stage. The writing is exquisite. -- Vikki PatisRich with period detail, this novel transported me to early nineteenth century Edinburgh. I loved the bold brave women at its heart and was captured by the sense of their historical moment when different futures were becoming possible for those who dared to reach for them. -- LM DillsworthSumptuous and atmospheric. A beautifully described jaunt through Georgian Edinburgh, with romance and intrigue. -- Clare WhitfieldSprinkled with deliciously tantalising scandal and intrigue, and colourful, engaging characters. A sheer joy to read -- Sue LawrenceIn The Fair Botanists, Sheridan has expertly woven multiple strands of machinations, a heady mix of sex, intrigue, scent, and flora. -- Ever DundasLike the Agave plant itself, this is a story full of sensual detail. I learnt new and surprising things about my city, its people and Botanic gardens -- Jemma NevilleThis wonderful dip into life in historical Edinburgh is both enlightening and entertaining and by using historically documented characters and places is sure to delight readers interested in both history and botany. * The Wee Review *This is a great book. An immersive read and a heartfelt, human story of science and botany * The Book Trail *Sara Sheridan, already one of the Scotland's finest historical fiction writers, excels herself in The Fair Botanists. A glorious and jaunty journey through 1820s Edinburgh, I fell in love with this book, its feisty women and luscious plants from the very first page. -- E.S. Thomson

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Book SynopsisShe must face the terror of war alone to survive…1939 - India When headstrong Nadine Burton learns that the woman, she thought was her Indian Ayah was in fact her mother, she rebels against her father in a flamboyant display of disrespect and dares to dance with her two local best friends at a public party. Her father, local official, Roland Frederick Burton is furious. He arranges for her to be exiled from India and married off to Australian Martin McPherson, owner of a rubber plantation north of Singapore. Within a year Singapore falls to the Japanese. Martin is killed and Nadine becomes a prisoner of war, imprisoned in Sumatra, where her dancing skills don’t go unnoticed by her captors. Amidst the horror she finds a friend in a Japanese American major caught up in the war whilst visiting his grandparents in Japan. Much like her, he straddles two cultures and worlds. As their love deepens, boundaries are crossed and together they must unite to survive. Don't miss this emotional and powerful saga about a woman's determination to beat the odds, perfect for fans of Dinah Jefferies and Fiona Valpy. Previously published as 'East of India' by Erica Brown

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Book Synopsis Chiltern creates the most beautiful editions of the World?s finest literature. Your favourite classic titles in a way you have never seen them before ; the tactile layers, fine details and beautiful colours of these remarkable covers make these titles feel extra special and will look striking on any shelf. This book has matching lined and blank journals (sold separately). They make a great gift when paired together but are also just as beautiful on their own. Mansfield Park By Jane Austen tells the story of Fanny Price, a frail, quiet young woman who has none of the high spirits or wit of Elizabeth Bennet or Marianne Dashwood. Reared from the age of ten among wealthy relatives, Fanny is an unobtrusive presence in the household at Mansfield Park, useful and agreeable to everyone and steadfast in her secret affection for her cousin, Edmund Bertram. Fanny?s manner contrasts sharply with the livelier, sometimes careless behavior of her cousins and their friends. Only Edmund spends time with the gentle Fanny, although his own affections have been captivated by the sophisticated Mary Crawford. With Fanny?s uncle, Sir Thomas Bertram, away on an extended stay in the West Indies, the cousins and their friends decide to put on an amateur theatrical production of a scandalous French play. Only Fanny refuses to participate, out of natural modesty and a certainty that her absent uncle would not approve. Sir Thomas returns unexpectedly and does not approve, much to his children?s chagrin, but Fanny quickly falls from his favor when she refuses the proposal of Mary Crawford?s brother, Henry, who had begun an unwelcome flirtation with her after Fanny?s cousin Maria married another man. Distressed by her uncle?s disapproval, Fanny visits her parents and her eight brothers and sisters, only to discover that her years at Mansfield Park have left her unable to fit easily into her noisy, often vulgar family. She is summoned back by Sir Thomas when Maria leaves her husband for Henry Crawford and Maria?s sister, Julia, elopes. Now fully appreciated by her uncle, Fanny comes into her own, winning the love of Edmund Bertram.

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Book SynopsisThroughout the 1940s, forgers helped thousands of children escape Nazi France. In this instant New York Times bestseller, Kristin Harmel reimagines their story... Perfect for readers of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, The Librarian of Auschwitz and The Book Thief. In 1942, Eva is forced to flee Paris after the arrest of her father, a Polish Jew. Finding refuge in a small mountain town, she begins forging identity documents for Jewish children escaping to neutral Switzerland. But erasing people comes with a price, and along with a mysterious, handsome forger named Rémy, Eva realises she must find a way to preserve the real names of the children who are too young to remember their own identities.When Rémy disappears and the resistance cell they work for is betrayed, the records they keep in The Book of Lost Names become even more crucial to remembering the truth...A present day discovery of the book leaves researchers fascinated by its origins and desperate to decipher its codes. Only Eva holds the answer but will she have the strength to face old memories and help reunite those lost during the war?If you loved The Book of Lost Names, don't miss Kristin Harmel's The Winemaker's Wife, available now. ___________What readers are saying about The Book of Lost Names: 'A heart-stopping tale of survival and heroism centered on a female forger who risks everything to help Jewish children escape Nazi-occupied France' People Magazine, '20 Best Books to Read this Summer''Brilliantly imagined ... This thoughtful work will touch readers with its testament to the endurance of hope' Publishers Weekly, Starred Review'Harmel illuminates heartbreakingly real but forgotten stories from WW2, blended with a dash of suspense and romance' Booklist'A fascinating, heartrending page-turner' Kristina McMorris, New York Times bestselling author'This moving novel will resonate with readers who love World War II stories about courage, survival and resilience' Bookbub'Smart, evocative and utterly engrossing' getliterary.com'An engaging and evocative novel ... A testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of bravery and love in the face of evil' Goodreads'One of my favourite July 2020 book releases ... The discussion of identity with themes of religion, family, selflessness, and nationhood will sit with you long after closing the last chapter' theuncorkedlibrarian.com'It's a fabulous read that you will fly through, but not without shedding some tears' freshfiction.com'This is a beautifully written story that captured my attention and heart from the very first pages!' Reading Between the Pages BlogWhat readers are saying about The Winemaker's Wife:'Engrossing ... A suspenseful tale of courage and sacrifice' Pam Jenoff, NYT bestselling author 'What could be better than [...] a writer as compulsively readable as Kristin Harmel? Pick up this epic and heart-wrenching WWII tale immediately!' Alyson Noël, #1 NYT bestselling author'Once you start reading this moving novel, you will not be able to put it down until you reach the last page' Armando Lucas Correa, bestselling author'Written in heart-wrenching prose, The Winemaker's Wife is a complex story of love, betrayal and impossible courage ... I couldn't turn the pages fast enough' Anita Hughes, bestselling authorTrade Review'A heart-stopping tale of survival and heroism centered on a female forger who risks everything to help Jewish children escape Nazi-occupied France' - People Magazine, '20 Best Books to Read this Summer''Brilliantly imagined ... This thoughtful work will touch readers with its testament to the endurance of hope' - Publishers Weekly, Starred Review'Harmel illuminates heartbreakingly real but forgotten stories from WW2, blended with a dash of suspense and romance' - Booklist'A fascinating, heartrending page-turner' - Kristina McMorris, New York Times bestselling author'This moving novel will resonate with readers who love World War II stories about courage, survival and resilience' - Bookbub'Smart, evocative and utterly engrossing' - getliterary.com'An engaging and evocative novel ... A testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of bravery and love in the face of evil' - Goodreads'One of my favourite July 2020 book releases ... The discussion of identity with themes of religion, family, selflessness, and nationhood will sit with you long after closing the last chapter' - theuncorkedlibrarian.com'It's a fabulous read that you will fly through, but not without shedding some tears' - freshfiction.com'This is a beautifully written story that captured my attention and heart from the very first pages!' - Reading Between the Pages Blog

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Book SynopsisFIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE JAMIE MET CLAIRE IN THIS BRILLIANT NEW OUTLANDER SHORT STORY.1740: Young Jamie Fraser has left Scotland and, with his best friend Ian Murray, is running with a band of mercenaries in France.Both men have good reason not to go back to their homeland: both are nursing wounds, and despite their best efforts to remedy the situation, both are still virgins.So when a Jewish doctor hires them to escort his granddaughter to Paris, they readily agree. Both men are instantly drawn to the beautiful young lady. What neither know is that their lives and their friendships are about to become infinitely more complicated - and a lot more dangerous ...

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Book Synopsis“A fine new edition at an affordable price.” —Bernard Duyfhuizen, University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire

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Book Synopsis1327. In a world swept by change, one day will change the lives of four children forever. World Without End is the stunning follow-up to international bestseller The Pillars of the Earth. Trade ReviewYou won't be able to put it down * Independent *Follett’s storytelling skills keep you compulsively turning the pages to the satisfactory ending of good triumphant over evil -- Daily MailSweeping and yet detailed, a powerful story packed with superbly drawn characters and which evokes the period that saw the devastating black death * Choice *

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Book SynopsisWhip-smart and utterly transportive, this is historical fiction of the highest order - an unforgettable coming-of-age story, a tender romance, and a portrait of a nation on the brink of change'A charming and uplifting tale - I LOVED every minute!' FAITH HOGAN'A ripping tale of friendship, survival and true love' CELIA IMRIE'Witty, amusing and touchingly emotive ' ROSIE GOODWIN'A page-turning original story' KATIE FFORDE-----------------------------------------------------------------------------Summer, 1919: Constance Haverhill is forced to relinquish her beloved job and cottage at the estate she helped to run during the war. Instead, she's sent as an old lady's companion to Hazelbourne-on-Sea, where she meets Poppy, a trouser-wearing local who runs a ladies' motorcycle (and, hopefully soon, flying) club, and Harris, her recalcitrant but handsome brother - a pilot wounded in battle - who warms in Constance's presence, among the other colourful inhabitants of this sunny pocket of high society. But things are increasingly complicated. As the country prepares to celebrate peace, the women of the club are forced to confront the fact that the freedoms gained during the war are being revoked. In a timeless comedy of manners, with sharp humour, biting wit and a warm heart, Simonson captures the mood of a generation facing the seismic changes brought on by war. Readers LOVE The Hazelbourne LadiesAn absolute must for lovers of historical fiction' *****What a delight! captured the essence of the era' *****This book was brilliant! Totally recommend it' *****I loved the characters ... and found out more than I expected *****

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Book Synopsis''This six-book series looks likely to become a landmark in historical fiction'' THE TIMES''With characteristic verve and stunning period detail, this novel will captivate you and break your heart. Utterly sublime'' TRACY BORMANAlison Weir, historian and author of the Sunday Times-bestselling Six Tudor Queens series, relates one of the most tragic stories in English history: Katheryn Howard, Henry VIII''s fifth queen.''Conveys the heart-rending pathos of a young woman executed, whose only real crime was her naïveté and her desire to be loved... It is a profoundly moving story that lingers long after the last page is turned'' ELIZABETH FREMANTLE''Alison''s sensitively drawn novel will change everyone''s preconceptions'' SUSAN RONALD...A NAIVE YOUNG WOMAN AT THE MERCY OF HER AMBITIOUS FAMILY.At just nineteen, Katheryn Howard Trade ReviewKatheryn emerges from the pages of this beautifully realised portrayal as beguiling, vivacious and, in the end, tragically naive . . .This novel will captivate you and break your heart. Utterly sublimeWeir demonstrates her deep knowledge of the period offering fascinating detail on all aspects of Tudor life. . .It is a profoundly moving story that lingers long after the last page is turnedAlison's sensitively drawn novel will change everyone's preconceptionsThis is my favourite of the seriesAlison Weir is an expert at weaving together historical detail, political powerplay and the feelings of a naive woman. * Woman & Home *

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Book SynopsisRediscover one of the twentieth century''s greatest romances in Lawrence Durrell''s seductive tale of four tangled lovers in wartime Egypt that is ''stunning'' (André Aciman) and ''wonderful'' (Elif Shafak)''A masterpiece.'' Guardian''A formidable, glittering achievement.'' TLS''One of the great works of English fiction.'' Times ''Dazzlingly exuberant ... Superb.'' Observer''Brave and brazen ... Lush and grandiose.'' Independent ''Legendary ... Casts a spell ... Reader, watch out!'' Guardian''Lushly beautiful ... One of the most important works of our time.'' NYTBR Alexandria, Egypt. Trams, palm trees and watermelon stalls lie honey-bathed in sunlight; in darkened bedrooms, sweaty lovers unfurl. But in a world trembling on the brink of the Second World War, passion and death are inextricable. When Darley, a penn

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Book SynopsisThe second book in the brand new Backshaw Moss series from million-copy bestseller Anna JacobsLancashire, 1930s. When her mother dies, leaving her an old sewing box and a clue to her father''s identity, 22-year-old Maisie Bassett is determined to make a fresh start.Changing her name and moving to the small town of Rivenshaw, she finds a respectable job in a grocery store. But unwanted attentions from a man at her new church make life increasingly difficult - until the shy, handsome Gabriel Harte comes to her rescue.Then she receives an inheritance from a distant relative and her world is turned upside down. The home she''s always dreamed of may finally be hers - if she can keep it safe from a grasping slum landlord. With Gabriel''s help, can Maisie untangle the secrets of her past and secure her future?Curl up with this heartwarming read from the Queen of the Rural Saga - perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Rosie Goodwin and Katie Flynn<

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Book SynopsisThe Secrets of the Lake is a gripping wartime novel, by the author of The Silk Weaver, Liz Trenow.'Masterful storytelling, immersive locations, and characters that inhabit your heart from the first page' – Gill Paul, author of The Secret Wife.The war may be over, but for Molly life is still in turmoil. Uprooted from London after the death of her mother, Molly, her father and younger brother Jimmy are starting again in a quiet village in the countryside of Colchester. As summer sets in, the heat is almost as oppressive as the village gossip. Molly dreams of becoming a journalist, finding a voice in the world, but most of the time must act as Jimmy’s carer. At just ten years old he is Molly’s shadow, following her around the village as she falls under the spell of local boy Kit. Kit is clever, funny and a natural-born rebel. Rowing on the waters of the lake with him becomes Molly’s escape from domestic duty. But there is something Kit is not telling Molly.As the village gossip starts building up with whispers against Molly’s father over missing church funds, everything Molly thought she knew is turned upside down. And on one stormy night, when she sneaks out of the house to try to put things right, Jimmy vanishes. Never to be seen again.Decades later, Molly is an elderly woman in sheltered housing, still haunted by the disappearance of her brother. When two police officers arrive to say that the remains of a body have been found at the bottom of the lake, it seems like Molly will at long last have her answer . . .Trade ReviewI loved it. I loved how it made me feel and I didn’t want it to the end. It is beautifully layered, and I found the story moving, magical and original. A book with a mystery at its heart, solved very cleverly -- Dinah JefferiesMasterful storytelling, immersive locations, and characters that inhabit your heart from the first page: this is a novel I know will stay with me for a long time -- Gill PaulAtmospheric and compelling, it's set during a post-war summer in a small village. I loved the touches of myth & fairytale & the wonderful characters of Jimmy & Molly -- Tracy ReesA wonderful story of love, family and the things we do to protect both. I loved the post-war setting of a small village rife with secrets and whispers, and Molly, Jimmy & Kit’s story stayed with me long after the last page was turned. A brilliant read for anyone who enjoys books by Pam Jenoff and Rachel Hore -- Nikola ScottWonderfully atmospheric, and with an intriguing mystery running through its pages, The Secrets of the Lake is a haunting and compelling tale of family, folklore, and the lingering ripples of tragedy in a quiet English village. Liz Trenow writes such authentic characters you feel as if you know them personally. I enjoyed every beautifully-written page -- Hazel GaynorThis atmospheric book is, on the surface, gently beguiling and evocative, but beneath float sinister undertones. Jimmy was a delight and my sympathies were with Molly from the beginning. The fusion of local legend into the plot, and the story Molly wrote for Jimmy were both clever and charming. I loved it, right up to the poignant end -- Louise FeinLiz is an utterly brilliant story-teller and, with her beautiful prose and page-turning plot, has given us another winner. I shall be highly recommending! -- Jenny AshcroftA great summer read * S Magazine *A compelling tale * Woman's Own *

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Book Synopsis'A sublime reading experience: delicate, restrained, surpassingly intelligent, uncommonly poised and truly beautiful' Zadie Smith**WINNER OF THE BETTY TRASK AWARD 2020**Midhat Kamal - dreamer, romantic, aesthete - leaves Palestine in 1914 to study medicine in France, under the tutelage of Dr Molineu. He falls deeply in love with Jeannette, the doctor's daughter. But Midhat soon discovers that everything is fragile: love turns to loss, friends become enemies and everyone is looking for a place to belong. Through Midhat's eyes we see the tangled politics and personal tragedies of a turbulent era - the Palestinian struggle for independence, the strife of the early twentieth century, and the looming shadow of the Second World War. Lush and immersive, and devastating in its power, The Parisian is an elegant, richly-imagined debut from a dazzling new voice in fiction.*SHORTLISTED FOR THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE FOR HISTORICAL FICTION 2020**SHORTLISTED FOR THE EDWARD STANFORD FICTION AWARD 2019*Trade ReviewIsabella Hammad’s remarkably accomplished debut novel very quickly snares the reader’s attention… Hammad is a natural storyteller... The writing is deeply humane, its wide vision combined with poised restraint… A story of cultures in simultaneous conflict and concord, The Parisian teems with riches – love, war, betrayal and madness – and marks the arrival of a bright new talent. * Guardian *Breathtaking… Isabella Hammad establishes herself here as a literary force to be reckoned with. The Parisian is, in many ways, an extraordinary achievement. * Irish Times *A stunning 576-page debut, both a lush rendering of Palestinian life a century ago under the British Mandate and a sumptuous epic about the enduring nature of love… a small, beautiful, human story blazing against the enormity of the sociopolitical one… a novel you sink into. * Vogue *One of the most ambitious first novels to have appeared in years… Written in soulful, searching prose, it’s a jam-packed epic… Hammad is a natural social novelist with an ear for lively dialogue as well as an ability to illuminate psychological interiority… Hammad is a writer of startling talent – and The Parisian has the rhythm of life. * Observer *The Parisian has an up-close immediacy and stylistic panache that are all the more impressive coming from a London-born writer still in her 20s… There are intimidating 19th-century precedents – Tolstoy, Turgenev, Stendhal… Isabella Hammad has crafted an exquisite novel that, like Midhat himself, delves back into the confusing past while remaining wholly anchored in the precarious present. * New York Times Book Review *

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Book SynopsisElisabeth Gifford grew up in a vicarage in the industrial Midlands. She studied French literature and world religions at Leeds University. She has a Diploma in Creative Writing from Oxford OUDCE and an MA in Creative Writing from Royal Holloway College. She is the author of five previous historical novels, including The Good Doctor of Warsaw and The Lost Lights of St Kilda. She is married with three children, and lives in Kingston upon Thames.

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If you love The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Beekeeper's Promise and then you'll adore this beautiful story of love, hope and survival. East of Paris in the sun-drenched vineyards of northern France lies the glamorous champagne house Maison Chauveau. But as the Nazis march closer and the Resistance builds strength, it becomes clear the grand house is not all it seems. 1940: When young Ines married into the famed Chauveau family she dreamt of peace and luxury. But with German occupation comes a life of fear: for herself, for family and friends joining the Resistance and for Celine, the Jewish wife of their chief vintner. As tensions mount and loyalties are tested, Ines will be faced with a terrible choice. 2019: Liv Kent has lost everything: her job, her husband and the family she thought they were building. Alone and adrift she leaps at the chance to join her eccentric grandmother on a trip to Champagne. But it's not long before past and present collide, and in a desperate search for the truth, Liv is led straight to the Maison Chauveau.If you loved The Winemaker's Wife then check out Kristin Harmel's instant bestseller The Book of Lost Names, out now.What readers are saying about The Book of Lost Names:'A heart-stopping tale of survival and heroism centered on a female forger who risks everything to help Jewish children escape Nazi-occupied France' People Magazine, '20 Best Books to Read this Summer''Brilliantly imagined' Publishers Weekly, Starred Review'Heartbreakingly real with a dash of suspense and romance' Booklist ___________What readers are saying about The Winemaker's Wife: 'A beautifully woven tale of love, betrayal and redemption' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'This is a story of love through generations, of the French Resistance and families of blood and choice. Fabulous read!' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars 'A memorable book that weaves a heartbreaking, yet hopeful, tale. This book is fascinating and a must read!' Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars 'It is a story of love and betrayal. It's also a story of forgiveness ... kept me intensely interested until the very end' Amazon reviewer, 5 stars 'A deeply thoughtful historical fiction novel, based on details of real-life Resistance activities that occurred in France during World War II' Gwendalynbooks.blog 'I would highly recommend The Winemaker's Wife to those who like historical fiction and women's fiction. A 5 star for me!' Stories Unfolded Blog 'This was a wonderfully twisty book ... I definitely want to read more from this author' The Good, the Bad and the Unread

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Book SynopsisThe stunning follow-up to The Lonely Wife from bestselling author Val Wood.''With fully developed characters and a compelling story, it''s no wonder the author won the Catherine Cookson Prize for Fiction for her debut... A great choice for a book club'' Belfast Telegraph--------------------------------1864: Following the untimely death of her cold-hearted husband, Beatrix and her three children are finally free. While Ambrose has already determined his path in life, eldest son Laurie''s future is less certain. With the responsibility of the family estate on his shoulders, Laurie must decide between staying in Yorkshire to farm the family land and following his dreams.Meanwhile, headstrong and independent Alicia is defying expectation and excelling at school. There she befriends the enigmatic Olivia Snowdon and they quickly become inseparable. But Olivia''s past is shrouded in mystery and as theTrade ReviewWith fully developed characters and a compelling story... A great choice for a book club * Belfast Telegraph *Hull's answer to Catherine Cookson * BBC Radio 4's Front Row *A heart-warming story filled with compelling action * Rosie Goodwin *Wonderfully fully-fleshed characters are the mainstay of [Val Wood's] stories * Peterborough Telegraph *A gripping saga * The People's Friend *

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Book SynopsisA war that could turn friends into enemies, lovers into fighters . . .Summer 1935. In Margaret Pemberton's Beneath the Cypress Tree best friends Kate Shelton, Ella Tetley and Daphne St. Maur are on the cusp of a new life, having graduated with Classics degrees. Kate is desperate to start work on an archaeological dig straightaway and she is thrilled to be given a position at the famous Knossos palace site in Crete. However, she doesn't bargain for working with gruff site director Lewis Sinclair - nor for her own complex feelings towards him.In Yorkshire, Ella's family expect her to marry Sam, her steady friend who is training to be a doctor, but Ella too feels pulled to the Mediterranean by the promise of freedom. When she meets Christos, life as a country GP's wife seems even less appealing . . . Daphne however throws herself into London's high society, falling madly in love with diplomat and heir Sholto Hertford - b

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Book SynopsisReturning to the magical Amsterdam of her million-copy bestseller The Miniaturist, Jessie Burton's The House of Fortune is a story of love, fate, and two women determined to make their own way.A Richard & Judy Book Club pickThe No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller'I absolutely loved it' – Marian Keyes'Awe-inspiring. Burton is a master storyteller' – Elizabeth Day1705, Amsterdam. Thea Brandt is about to turn eighteen, and at the theatre in the heart of the city she has met the love of her life. At home, however, her family faces ruin. Desperate to change their fortunes, Thea’s aunt Nella is convinced that she must find Thea a wealthy husband, to get her away from the theatre and solidify her place in the society in which she truly belongs.As Thea and Nella clash over the demands of duty and the heart, past secrets begin to overwhelm their present. And then there is the elusive miniaturist – when mysterious figurines begin to arrive on the family doorstep, it seems someone may have unexpected plans for Thea's family . . .Will each woman be able to rescue her destiny from the whims of fortune?Five Star Reader Reviews:'I didn't want this rich immersive book to end . . . magical''Every bit as beautiful as the first book''Fantastic!! We are going to need a third book, please!'Trade ReviewClever and satisfying . . . Burton is an acute observer . . . A worthy sequel, mature and thoughtful * Guardian *Satisfying . . . a moving celebration of the possibilities for change and regeneration in life * Sunday Times *A joyous read: compassionate, wise and fabulously immersive . . . a beguiling, tender sequel . . . Brilliant * i *A more than worthy sequel to The Miniaturist. Elegant, atmospheric, compelling. I absolutely loved it -- Marian KeyesA book of beauty and insight . . . awe-inspiring. Burton is a master storyteller . . . I felt I could see, smell, live and breathe every page . . . a delight for anyone who is about to read it -- Elizabeth Day, bestselling author of The Party and MagpieSumptuous, elegant and atmospheric * Prima *The most beautiful book you'll read this year. A spectacular achievement . . . [it] will break your heart and put it back together again . . . Shining, sinuous, truly a marvel -- Kate WilliamsElegant historical suspense * Grazia *Returning to the world of her bestselling The Miniaturist, Jessie Burton’s tale of a curious young woman in 18th-century Amsterdam finds her at the top of her game * Observer *A satisfying, page-turning romp with a heroine to root for * Sunday Express *Beautifully crafted and brimming with historical detail * Sunday Post *Fans of The Miniaturist are in for a treat with this sequel * Red *The mysterious writing draws in any curious reader * The Herald *

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Book Synopsis''Pray, pray be composed,'' cried Elinor, ''and do not betray what you feel to every body present. Perhaps he has not observed you yet.''For Elinor Dashwood, sensible and sensitive, and her romantic, impetuous younger sister Marianne, the prospect of marrying the men they love appears remote. In a world ruled by money and self-interest, the Dashwood sisters have neither fortune nor connections. Concerned for others and for social proprieties, Elinor is ill-equipped to compete with self-centred fortune-hunters like Lucy Steele, whilst Marianne''s unswerving belief in the truth of her own feelings makes her more dangerously susceptible to the designs of unscrupulous men. Through her heroines'' parallel experiences of love, loss, and hope, Jane Austen offers a powerful analysis of the ways in which women''s lives were shaped by the claustrophobic society in which they had to survive.

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for Pageturner of the Year at the British Book Awards A Waterstones Book of the Month Winner of the 2022 Glass Bell Award 'Vivid, wise and unflinching, this is a triumph' The Times 'I loved it' Jennifer Saint 'I couldn't put it down' Claire Douglas 'Utterly spellbinding' Woman & Home 'Deeply moving' William Ryan 'Gripping' Independent 'One of a kind' Red Sold by her mother. Enslaved in Pompeii's brothel. Determined to survive. Her name is Amara. Welcome to the Wolf Den... Amara was once a beloved daughter, until her father's death plunged her family into penury. Now, she is owned by a man she despises and lives as a slave in Pompeii's infamous brothel, her only value the desire she can stir in others. But Amara's spirit is far from broken. Sharp, resourceful and surrounded by women whose humour and dreams she shares, Amara comes to realise that everything in this city has its price. But how much will her freedom cost? The Wolf Den is the first in a trilogy of novels reimagining the long overlooked lives of women in Pompeii's lupanar. Perfect for fans of Pat Barker's The Silence of the Girls and Madeline Miller's Circe. Reviews for The Wolf Den: 'This is a mesmerising, richly detailed tale of sisterhood and courage that fans of Circe will love' Red 'A deeply moving and stunningly realised start to one of the most original historical fiction trilogies of our time' Dan Jones 'A compelling story of survival, friendship and courage. Amara and her fellow she-wolves are vividly drawn in a fascinating depiction of women at the time. Utterly spellbinding' Woman & Home 'Rich in historical detail, beauty and brutality, The Wolf Den brings to vivid life the doomed city of Pompeii and the powerlessness of its women. I loved it' Caroline Lea, author of The Glass Woman 'A vivacious piece of work underpinned by a woman's longing for freedom' LoveReading 'Utterly gripping' Daisy Dunn, author of In the Shadow of Vesuvius 'Unflinching... The best book I've read in ages' Sophie van Llewyn, author of Bottled Goods 'The best historical fiction holds a mirror up to the present and The Wolf Den is a triumph. Harper transports us thousands of years and thousands of miles and yet we see ourselves reflected there' Claire McGlasson, author of The Rapture 'A riveting tale of power, love, hate, privilege, female empowerment and female friendships found in the most unlikely situations' Buki Papillon, author of An Ordinary Wonder 'It is a wonderfully clear-sighted tale seen from the viewpoint of its main protagonist, Amara, a doctor's daughter, who was sold as a slave into prostitution when she and her mother became destitute after his death. You really live and feel Pompeii in this book. An amazing achievement' Financial TimesTrade ReviewHope and humour runs through this powerful, moving story – I loved it! Elodie portrays the brutal indignities and tragedy of these women's lives with so much warmth, sensitivity and respect. I was captivated by Amara – her strength, compassion and her determination to thrive in a cruel, unequal world. I can't wait to follow the rest of her story -- Jennifer Saint, author of AriadneAn utterly gripping story. It humanises the men and women who had their humanity taken away from them, and helps to remind us that the brothels of Pompeii were far more than seedy tourist attractions -- Daisy Dunn, author of In the Shadow of VesuviusHarper's style is exhilaratingly direct, with images lingering long in the mind's eye. You smell the oil lamps and temple incense, taste sticky figs, feel physical blows, and the dialogue packs powerful punch too. It's a vivacious piece of work, and all underpinned by a woman's longing for freedom * LoveReading *A riveting tale of power, love, hate, privilege, female empowerment and female friendships found in the most unlikely situations, The Wolf Den truly delivers and you will laugh and be heartbroken alongside the women nicknamed she-wolves, whose lives were deemed disposable, and their determination to find ways to escape the brothel both in body and mind. Set in a rich and prosperous Pompeii, Amara's story takes off at a brisk pace and ultimately delivers a stunning ending that left me both satisfied and very eager for the next book in the next book in this series -- Buki Papillon, author of An Ordinary WonderWhat a book! Utterly compelling, unflinching in describing Amara's life as a slave-prostitute in Pompeii and so incredibly transporting. Best book I read in ages -- Sophie van Llewyn, author of Bottled GoodsA gripping tale, which celebrates female solidarity and empowerment in the face of oppression and adversity. Rich in historical detail, beauty and brutality, The Wolf Den brings to vivid life the doomed city of Pompeii and the powerlessness of its women. I loved it -- Caroline Lea, author of The Glass WomanThe best historical fiction holds a mirror up to the present and The Wolf Den is a triumph. Elodie Harper transports us thousands of years and thousands of miles and yet we see ourselves reflected there -- Claire McGlasson, author of The RaptureCaptivating and compelling, at times heartbreaking... Reading this, it was hard to believe that this is a debut. It is well-written and deeply researched... Full of historical detail about the city so famous for its destruction... Sprinkled with just enough detail to make the setting come to life, without overpowering the story and characters at the heart of The Wolf Den... This will appeal to readers of books like Circe or Sistersong, straddling that fine line between genre fiction and broader literature... A truly modern book telling an ancient story' * Grimdark Magazine *A compelling story of survival, friendship and courage. Amara and her fellow she-wolves are vividly drawn in a fascinating depiction of women at the time. Utterly spellbinding * Woman & Home *An entertaining firecracker blazing with wolfish verve and a woman's desire to escape the Pompeii brothel she's enslaved to * LoveReading *A gripping historical story about a slave in Pompeii's infamous brothel * Independent *A one-of-a-kind historical novel... This is a mesmerising, richly detailed tale of sisterhood and courage that fans of Circe will love' * Red Magazine *A story of survival, friendship and courage, Amara and her fellow 'she-wolves' are vividly drawn in a fascinating depiction of women at the time. Spellbinding * Woman & Home *Vivid, wise and unflinching, this is a triumph * The Times *A tale of female solidarity and sisterhood, of women having each other's backs and caring for one another when nobody else will... If you enjoyed Jennifer Saint's Ariadne then you'll be unable to put The Wolf Den down... Elodie Harper's next book will be one to look out for' * CultureFly *Elodie Harper's vibrant and thrilling story is steeped in historical detail while remaining contemporary in its concerns... Harper tells her gripping tale with conviction and wit' * Observer *Well-researched, this first book of the trilogy follows Amara's growth in character and self-determination, revealing how even the lowest of slaves can strive for a reverse in fortune * Gazette & Herald (Ryedale) *Lifts the curtain on a world full of deceit, lies, abuse, lust, and above all, hope * Waterstones *Colourful, compelling... Harper's narrative never romanticises the exploitation Amara suffers, but it leads eventually to a kind of painful redemption' * Sunday Times *Utterly spellbinding * Woman *A wonderfully clear-sighted tale seen from the viewpoint of its main protagonist, Amara, a doctor's daughter, who was sold as a slave into prostitution when she and her mother became destitute after his death. You really live and feel Pompeii in this book. An amazing achievement * Financial Times *Fab cover; fab, compelling story – this deserves to do really well, and I can't wait to read the next one * The Bookseller *The first in a trilogy of novels centring on women in Pompeii, gift this Saturday Times bestseller to the friend who fell in love with Madeline Miller's Circe and Song of Achilles * Stylist *Amara's world is vividly realised * The Times *A compelling story of survival, friendship and courage ... Utterly immersive * Woman & Home *A perfectly imagined world of characters in Pompeii -- Hilary Rose, The Times

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Book SynopsisThe Butterfly Room is a spellbinding, multigenerational story full of heartbreaking secrets, from Lucinda Riley, international bestselling author of the Seven Sisters series.'Captivating . . . poignant yet uplifting' – Woman's OwnPosy Montague is approaching her seventieth birthday. Still living in her beautiful Suffolk family home, Admiral House, she is surrounded by memories of her idyllic childhood catching butterflies with her beloved father, and of raising her own children. But Posy knows she must make an agonizing decision.Despite the memories the house holds, and the exquisite garden she has spent twenty-five years creating, the house is crumbling around her, and Posy knows the time has come to sell it.Then a face appears from the past – Freddie, her first love, who abandoned her and left her heartbroken fifty years ago. Already struggling to cope with her son’s inept business dealings, and the sudden reappearance of her younger son after ten years in Australia, Posy is reluctant to trust in Freddie’s renewed affection. And, unbeknown to Posy, Freddie has a devastating secret to reveal . . .'Utterly enchanting . . . Prepare to be intrigued, moved to tears and ultimately uplifted' – Lancashire Evening PostTrade ReviewAbsorbing family sagas set in glamorous locations . . . A perfect beach read. * Daily Mail *Captivating . . . This multi-generational tale is a poignant yet uplifting novel that strikes just the right balance with its tone and characters. * Woman's Own *Riley brings us a cast of exquisitely drawn characters and as you slip effortlessly into their lives and share their hopes, dreams and fears, prepare to be intrigued, moved to tears . . . and ultimately uplifted -- Lancashire Evening PostA warm, romantic read * Prima *This multi-generational story is the perfect summer read * Woman's Weekly *Perfect summer escapism, with twists galore. -- Best magazine reviewing The Love Letter

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Book SynopsisSoldier. Farmer. Felon. Writer. Father. Lover.One man, many lives.Born in 1799, Cashel Greville Ross experiences myriad lives: joyous and devastating, years of luck and unexpected loss. Moving from County Cork to London, from Waterloo to Zanzibar, Cashel seeks his fortune across continents in war and in peace. He faces a terrible moral choice in a village in Sri Lanka as part of the East Indian Army. He enters the world of the Romantic Poets in Pisa. In Ravenna he meets a woman who will live in his heart for the rest of his days. As he travels the world as a soldier, a farmer, a felon, a writer, a father, a lover, he experiences all the vicissitudes of life and, through the accelerating turbulence of the nineteenth century, he discovers who he truly is. This is the romance of life itself, and the beating heart of The Romantic.From one of Britain''s best-loved and bestselling writers comes an intimate yet panoramic novel set across the nineteenth century.''Picaresque, big-hearted and moving, this is Boyd at the top of his game'' Guardian''There are few reading pleasures as great as giving in to a William Boyd novel'' Sunday Times''One of our best contemporary storytellers'' Spectator''Simply the best realistic storyteller of his generation'' Sebastian FaulksTrade ReviewThe Romantic by William Boyd was the novel I enjoyed most this year. It's incredibly ambitious, its hero moving from Co Cork to London, then from Waterloo to Zanzibar, and at one point even joining the East Indian Army, but it was such an easy, indulgent read -- Sathnam Sanghera * The Times, Best Books of the Year *[One of the] most enjoyable new novels I read this year . . . [it] offers deep pleasure to those who love novels, instruction to anyone setting out to write one -- Allan Massie * Scotsman, Best Books of 2022 *Boyd is as magically readable as ever, and, as always with his whole life novels, there is an invigorating air of spontaneity * Telegraph *William Boyd's The Romantic is disguised a an historical biography - The Real Life of Cashel Greville Ross - but is actually an utterly engrossing adventure story . . . Cashel, we understand, is searching for himself, but in the process he provides romance, entertainment and enlightenment for his readers. How better to spend the relaxed days around Xmas than following his footsteps -- Antonia Fraser * Tablet, Books of the Year *Storytelling is what floats my boat and William Boyd's The Romantic, a return to his "whole-life" novels, has it in spades. Following our hero Cashel Greville Ross (Boyd is big on names) from Ireland to the Battle of Waterloo, then India, Italy, New England, Africa and beyond, it has enough engrossing variety to fill several books, not just the one -- Peter Brookes * The Times, Best Books of 2022 *Cashel ultimately emerges as a one-off - an inimitable character, whether he knows it or not . . . what is often lost behind the sheer pleasure brought by [Boyd's] books is their layered Chekhovian subtleties: Boyd is abundantly talented at capturing life's disconnections . . . it is intoxicating to be in the company of a writer who seems to be having such fun * Guardian *William Boyd's new novel is one of his best * Scotsman *A rambunctious, swashbuckling tale, told with panache by a master storyteller . . . Those who fall in love with The Romantic may wonder whether their own lives lack adventure. Surrender to this fine novel's spell, though, and it will vicariously supply more than enough thrills for anyone * Observer *Boyd's back, baby. The great writer of big, splashy (mostly) historical adventures has gone all guns blazing on this one . . . The pages brim with famous names and exotic locations - with Florentine palazzos, debtors' prisons, scandalous love affairs, Byron and the Battle of Waterloo . . . pure, joyful escapism * The Times, Best Fiction Books of 2022 *If it's true escapism you're after, William Boyd can always be relied upon to transport the reader from reality and his next offering, The Romantic, another epic that follows Cashel Greville Ross from 19th-century Country Cork to Zanzibar via Oxford and Sri Lanka, offers a wonderful literary getaway as the nights draw in * Vogue, A Most Promising Page-Turner of the Season *Packed with passion, adventure, suspense, comic interludes and a range of colourful characters . . . the rollicking work of a masterful storyteller, The Romantic is both a vivid portrait of a life and a sweeping panorama of an age * Economist *The Romantic is certainly a crowd-pleaser . . . Boyd knows how to time the hights and lows, how to blend triumphs and tragedies, personal and historical . . . genuinely poignant and wise * Sunday Times *A satisfyingly meaty novel in the rich vein of his earlier classics The New Confessions and Any Human Heart. As we have come to expect, here is exceptional storytelling - pristine, immersive, and intoxicating. The elegant prose is characteristically detailed and precise . . . It has the expansiveness of many classic 19th century novels. There's a Dickensian warmth and verve, an epic scale, a spirited sense of chance and adventure. Boyd as ever stresses period detail, and the novel is as informative as it is entertaining . . . It is bravura, high octane stuff, eventful and sometimes on the edge of chaos * Irish Examiner *A panoramic and deeply satisfying narrative from an author on top form * Mail on Sunday *It's tremendously entertaining and, as always with Boyd, virtually impossible to stop reading * Daily Mirror *A globe-trotting adventure through the 19th century * i, Best Books for Autumn *Boyd's pile-up of set piece escapades offers a huge amount of fun * Daily Mail *Boyd's books are so enjoyable that it's hard for us to resent the tricks being played on us, even as we find ourselves constantly reaching for Google, wanting to know what is and isn't real * TLS *There's a cornucopia of fine things here . . . The Romantic, always enjoyable, ranks with two of his best: The New Confessions and Any Human Heart. Both were intelligent and engrossing, novels you lived with. Both told a fine story very well. The Romantic does just that * Scotsman *A ripping yarn. And as such, it is pretty much faultless: as moreish as good chocolate, terrifically entertaining, and deeply humane * i *A huge amount of fun * Daily Mail (Ireland) *One of our best contemporary storytellers * Spectator *A narrative that Charles Dickens or Jane Austen would surely have been happy to claim as their own . . . there's a joy to Boyd's storytelling throughout and his hero is one to cheer for * Business Post (Ireland) *A wonderful tale that spans a life of adventure, this is storytelling at its very best * Best *Crammed with incident, the novel has the wonderfully freewheeling quality that one associates with the great 19th-century novelists. As with most of Boyd's works, it manages to be warm-hearted and deliciously sardonic at the same time * Literary Review *William Boyd taps into the classic novel tradition with this sweeping tale of one man's century-spanning life * Spectator *There is no doubt that Boyd is a masterful storyteller . . . this is a book to get totally, utterly and delightfully lost in -- Anna BonetA new novel by William Boyd is always a treat and in his picaresque latest, The Romantic, his hero is Cashel Greville Ross, born in 1799, a soldier, lover, friend of poets, bankrupt and adventurer who is swept into many of the most important episodes of the 19th century -- Lucy Lethbridge * Oldie *This highly entertaining, engrossing page-turner is the fictionalised biography of Cashel Greville Ross, who was born in 1799 in Scotland and brought up in Cork. Such is William Boyd's mastery as a storyteller, one begins to believe that all of the events are entirely real -- James Lawless * Sunday Independent *The Romantic is a rollicking read that will delight his many fans -- Susie Mesure * i *A wild ride across the 19th century on the back of a narrative that never pauses for breath . . . this breakneck pace seems to be a function of Boyd's exceptional imaginative facility, which sees him just as irresistibly drawn to new ideas as his hero is -- John Self * Financial Times *What could be more reassuring in troubling times than a new William Boyd novel? Trio is immensely readable, its descriptions full of light and colour, its humour spot on, its mood a perfect mix of frolicsome and melancholy * Sunday Telegraph on Trio *Reading William Boyd's Trio is like shrugging on a worn leather jacket on the first brisk morning of autumn: cosy but cool . . . He has enormous fun with the worlds - and egos - of page and screen * The Times on Trio *Breakneck pace seems to be a function of Boyd's exceptional imaginative facility, which sees him just as irresistibly drawn to new ideas as his hero is . . . there's something irresistible about that energy . . . if a whole-life novel is intended to represent the span of a unique existence, then The Romantic gets it right * FT *The Romantic is a whole-life novel, a form in which Boyd excels . . . a terrific read * Country & Town House *

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Book Synopsis''As ever, Rosamunde Pilcher has kept me enthralled to the very last page'' Reader review ?????The endearing bestseller from the much-loved Rosamunde PilcherBorn in Colombo, Judith Dunbar spends her teenage years at boarding school, while her beloved mother and younger sister live abroad with her father. When her new friend Loveday Carey-Lewis invites Judith home for the weekend to Nancherrow, the Carey-Lewises'' beautiful estate on the Cornish coast, it is love at first sight. With the family''s generosity and kindness, Judith flourishes from a naïve girl into a confident young woman, basking in the warm affection of a surrogate family. But the gathering storm of war cannot be ignored. Judith herself has far to travel before at last . . . coming home.READERS ARE IN LOVE WITH COMING HOME:''In her typical writing style, the book has you engrossed in the characters'' lives and it is both upliftTrade ReviewThe novel has a gently sweet flavour, it continues to beguile because of Pilcher's warmth, sincerity and easy, undemanding prose * Sunday Times *Compelling pages packed with convincing characters, vivid settings and weepy bits * Daily Mail *A great featherbed of a novel, all the right ingredients * Woman & Home *Especially good on atmosphere and a lonely teenager's bewilderment, Pilcher's storytelling skills are serene and beguiling * The Times *Much-needed balm to soothe the troubled mind * Sunday Express *A well-upholstered good read * Daily Mail *Classy, lavish entertainment . . . literate pleasure * Publishers Weekly *Captivating . . . The best sort of book to come home to . . . Readers will undoubtedly hope Pilcher comes home to the typewriter again soon. * New York Daily News *

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Book SynopsisA moving story of the power of friendship, the cost of war and the strength of love. Perfect for fans of The Lilac Girls, A Woman of War and The Secret Orphan.

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Book SynopsisBY THE WINNER OF THE 2021 NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2021 ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL FICTION LONGLISTED FOR THE 2021 WALTER SCOTT PRIZE ‘Riveting and heartbreaking ... A compelling novel, one that gathers close all those who were meant to be forgotten, and refuses their erasure’ Maaza Mengiste, Guardian ‘A brilliant and important book for our times, by a wondrous writer’ Philippe Sands, New Statesman, Books of the Year _______________ While he was still a little boy, Ilyas was stolen from his parents by the German colonial troops. After years away, fighting in a war against his own people, he returns to his village to find his parents gone, and his sister Afiya given away. Another young man returns at the same time. Hamza was not stolen for the war, but sold into it; he has grown up at the right hand of an officer whose protection has marked him life. With nothing but the clothes on his back, he seeks only work and security – and the love of the beautiful Afiya. As fate knots these young people together, as they live and work and fall in love, the shadow of a new war on another continent lengthens and darkens, ready to snatch them up and carry them away… _______________ ‘One of the world’s most prominent postcolonial writers … He has consistently and with great compassion penetrated the effects of colonialism in East Africa and its effects on the lives of uprooted and migrating individuals’ Anders Olsson, chairman of the Nobel Committee ‘In book after book, he guides us through seismic historic moments and devastating societal ruptures while gently outlining what it is that keeps those families, friendships and loving spaces intact, if not fully whole’ Maaza Mengiste ‘Rarely in a lifetime can you open a book and find that reading it encapsulates the enchanting qualities of a love affair ... One scarcely dares breathe while reading it for fear of breaking the enchantment’ The TimesTrade ReviewAn aural archive of a lost Africa ... alive with the unexpected. In it, an obliterated world is enthrallingly retrieved * Sunday Times *From the first assured pages of Afterlives, a book of quiet beauty and tragedy, it is clear one is in the hands of a master storyteller * Financial Times *A tender account of the extraordinariness of ordinary lives, Afterlives combines entrancing storytelling with writing whose exquisite emotional precision confirms Gurnah’s place among the outstanding stylists of modern English prose. Like its predecessors, this is a novel that demands to be read and reread, for its humour, generosity of spirit and clear-sighted vision of the infinite contradictions of human nature * Evening Standard *Riveting and heartbreaking ... A compelling novel, one that gathers close all those who were meant to be forgotten, and refuses their erasure. -- Maaza Mengiste * Guardian *In clean, measured prose, Gurnah zooms in on individual acts of violence ... and unexpected acts of kindness. Affecting in its ordinariness, Afterlives is a compelling exploration of the urge to find places of sanctuary * Daily Telegraph *A remarkable novel, by a wondrous writer, deeply compelling, a thread that links our humanity with the colonial legacy that lies beneath, in ways that cut deep -- Philippe SandsTo read Afterlives is to be returned to the joy of storytelling as Abdulrazak Gurnah takes us to the place where imagined lives collide with history. In prose as clear and as rhythmic as the waters of the Indian Ocean, the story of Hamza and Afiya is one of simple lives buffeted by colonial ambitions, of the courage it takes to endure, to hold oneself with dignity, and to live with hope in the heart -- Aminatta FornaEffortlessly compelling storytelling ... Gurnah excels at depicting the lives of those made small by cruelty and injustice ... A beautiful, cruel world of bittersweet encounters and pockets of compassion, twists of fate and fluctuating fortunes ... You forget that you are reading fiction, it feels so real -- Leila AboulelaGurnah is a master storyteller -- Aminatta Forna * Financial Times *As beautifully written and pleasurable as anything I've read ... The work of a maestro * Guardian *Rarely in a lifetime can you open a book and find that reading it encapsulates the enchanting qualities of a love affair ... one scarcely dares breathe while reading it for fear of breaking the enchantment * The Times *Many layered, violent, beautiful and strange ... a poetic and vividly conjured book about Africa and the brooding power of the unknown * Independent on Sunday *A powerfully evocative oeuvre that keeps coming back to the same questions, in spare, graceful prose, about the ties that bind and the ties that fray * Daily Telegraph *A vibrant and vivid novel which shows human beings in all their generosity and greed, pettiness and nobility, so that even minor characters seem capable of carrying entire novels all by themselves * Herald *Abdulrazak Gurnah is a master of his craft ... An intricate, delicate novel, vitally necessary * New Internationalist *

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Book SynopsisA devastating story of love, loss and one woman''s terrible choice between duty and personal freedom. Fall in love with Brooklyn ahead of its bestselling follow-up, Long Island.It is Ireland in the early 1950s and for Eilis Lacey, as for so many young Irish girls, opportunities are scarce. So when her sister arranges for her to emigrate to New York, Eilis knows she must go, leaving behind her family and her home for the first time.Arriving in a crowded lodging house in Brooklyn, Eilis can only be reminded of what she has sacrificed. She is far from home - and homesick. And just as she takes tentative steps towards friendship, and perhaps something more, Eilis receives news which sends her back to Ireland. There she will be confronted by a terrible dilemma - a devastating choice between duty and one great love.***''With this elating and humane novel, Colm Tóibín has produced a masterwork'' Sunday Times''UnforgettaTrade ReviewWith this elating and humane novel, Colm Tóibín has produced a masterwork * Sunday Times *The most compelling and moving portrait of a young woman I have read in a long time -- Zoë Heller * Guardian, Books of the Year *A work of such skill, understatement and sly jewelled merriment could haunt your life -- Ali Smith * TLS, Books of the Year *Suffused with humane depth, funny, affecting, deftly plotted ... a novel of magnificent accomplishment -- Peter Kemp * Sunday Times, Novel of the Year *

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Book SynopsisIt is a truth universally acknowledged that you will go from enemies to lovers...Meet Elizabeth Bennet. Otherwise known as Eden Blake the understudy in Liz and Darcy, the musical adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Eden has toiled away for years as a working actress in terrible commercials. While she's not guaranteed a spot on stage, this production is one step on the road to her dreams.Until Brennon Thorne, their new Mr Darcy, and all-round theatre god joins the next leg of their tour. Brennon can't hide his contempt for Eden and anyone who isn't a classically trained actor. And he doesn't care who knows it.But at least they don't need to spend that much time together.Until the actress playing Elizabeth drops out last minute and suddenly the spotlight is on Eden. Opposite Brennon. On stage. Every night. Which always ends with a kiss.Brennon's arrogance and disdain is almo

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas comes Secrets of a Summer Night, the first title in the beloved romance series The Wallflowers - perfect for fans of Sarah MacLean, Julia Quinn and Eloisa James. ''Kleypas can make you laugh and cry - on the same page'' Julia Quinn, Sunday Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton series The Wallflowers: four young ladies at the side of the ballroom make a pact to help each other find husbands . . . no matter what it takesProud and beautiful Annabelle Peyton could have her pick of suitors - if only she had a dowry. Her family is on the brink of disaster, and the only way Annabelle can save them is to marry a very wealthy man. Unfortunately, her most persistent admirer is the brash Simon Hunt, a handsome and ambitious entrepreneur who wants her as his mistress.Annabelle is determined to resist Simon''s wicked propositions, but

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