Historical romance

Book SynopsisEliza Morton was born in Liverpool and worked as an actress. She is known for playing Madeline Basset in Jeeves and Wooster and Lucinda in the Liverpool sitcom, Watching. As well as TV, she has also worked in theatre and film. She trained at Guildhall School of Drama and as a writer, with The Royal Court Young Writers' Group. She is an award-winning short-story writer and has also written drama for TV, film and theatre. In her formative years at convent school, she spent her weekends playing the piano accordion in Northern Working Men's Clubs. She lives with her husband - the actor Peter Davison - in Middlesex. She is author of A Liverpool Girl and A Last Dance in Liverpool under the name Elizabeth Morton. Most recently, as Eliza Morton, she has written the Liverpool Orpans series: The Orphans of Liverpool Lane, The Children Left Behind and Betsy's War.

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Book SynopsisThe inspiration behind the Oscar-winning film Green Dolphin Street, Green Dolphin Country is a haunting love story set between the Channel Islands and New Zealand in the 19th century.Trade ReviewBreathtaking...A long vista of undulating story, with here and there peaks of volcanic excitement - Daily Telegraph

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Book Synopsis'Mesmerising from beginning to end' Lizzie LaneYorkshire Dales 1850As a terrible storm rages, Annabelle Wallis is shocked to find a distressed young woman at her cottage door, heavy with child. Moments later a baby girl is born. But by dawn, the mother has vanished, leaving behind the helpless child wrapped only in a silk peacock shawl. When news spreads that Lady Eliza Hartley, sister to wealthy estate owner, John Hartley, has been found dead, Annabelle realises the terrible secret she has stumbled on. Terrified she’ll be blamed for Eliza’s death, Annabelle flees to the filthy slums of York, where she plans to raise the precious orphan as her own.The cobbled streets of York’s slums are no place for a young woman like Annabelle or a Hartley babe and John Hartley is determined to bring them both home. But Annabelle proves impossible to find.Annabelle can’t hide forever from the wealthy Hartley family, but can she ever give up the baby she loves?Praise for AnneMarie Brear:'AnneMarie Brear writes gritty, compelling sagas that grip from the first page.' Fenella J Miller'Poignant, powerful and searingly emotional, AnneMarie Brear stands shoulder to shoulder with the finest works by some of the genre’s greatest writers such as Catherine Cookson, Audrey Howard and Rosamunde Pilcher.'

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Book SynopsisTRAVEL FROM IRELAND TO NEW YORK IN THIS COMPELLING HISTORICAL ROMANCE OF HEARTBREAK AND SECOND CHANCES SET IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY. Aran Islands, 1898. Rose O'Neill learns that her beloved brother Donal has died fighting in the Spanish-American war. The news is followed by Donal's comrade-in-arms, Adam Blakely, who arrives a month later on Kilronan's scenic shores. He's come to return Rose's letters. Letters that Adam has re-read a hundred times. Two weeks stretch into two glorious months, then Adam's father falls ill, and he's summoned home to New York. He leaves Rose with the memory of a beautiful night and the promise of marriage. Yet Rose's eighteenth birthday comes and goes, and she doesn't hear a word. Unable to ignore the child growing inside of her, she leaves the only home she's ever known, clutching Adam's address. But in New York's crowded harbor, she's met with a cruel awakening. Penniless, pregnant, and alone in a foreign city, Rose must ford through sweatshops, Lower East Side tenements, and personal tragedy, before she can let go of her first love and hope for a second chance with a good, steady man. Then, just as Rose makes peace with her past, changes nobody could have foreseen threaten to topple the life for which she has sacrificed so much.Trade Review'An expansive, breath-taking tale . . . Rose's voice is eloquent and lyrical, the writing glorious, and the historical detail superb.' - Fiona Davis, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author

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Book SynopsisPRE-ORDER THE KING'S MESSENGER, A STORY OF TREACHERY, BETRAYAL AND LOVE, COMING AUGUST 2024. From the New York Times bestselling author of The Winter Sea and The Vanished Days When a woman brings a small wooden carving into the art dealership, claiming it once belonged to a Russian Empress, Nicola Marter’s boss believes it is worthless. But Nicola has an unwanted, if rare, psychic gift. Holding 'The Firebird' in her hands, she knows this woman is telling the truth. Compelled to uncover its true history, Nicola must put her own past behind her. She contacts an old flame who can access the past in a way no one else can. Together they can find the real story of 'The Firebird'… Following history from Scotland, to Belgium and to St Petersburg, The Firebird is a sweeping story of love, sacrifice, courage and redemption. A journey that spans centuries and lifetimes t

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Book SynopsisAuthor of over fifty books, Georgette Heyer is the best-known and best-loved of all historical novelists, who made the Regency period her own. Her first novel, The Black Moth, published in 1921, was written at the age of seventeen to amuse her convalescent brother; her last was My Lord John. Although most famous for her historical novels, she also wrote eleven detective stories. Georgette Heyer died in 1974 at the age of seventy-one.Trade Review"My favourite historical novelist - stylish, romantic, sharp, and witty. Her sense of period is superb, her heroines are enterprising, and her heroes dashing. I owe her many happy hours" -- Margaret Drabble "Wonderful characters, elegant, witty writing, perfect period detail, and rapturously romantic. Georgette Heyer achieves what the rest of us only aspire to" -- Katie Fforde "A writer of great wit and style -. I've read her books to ragged shreds" -- Kate Fenton Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisThe epistolary novel Lady Susan is the darkly humorous tale of the amatory schemes and machinations of an ambitious and unprincipled coquette. The Watsons is the story of the refined and well-educated Emma Watson, forced by the second marriage of her aunt to return to the house of her impecunious father and face the marital plots and intrigues of her sisters. Begun by the author in the last few months of her life, Sanditon, set in a fast-growing former fi shing village, swiftly becoming a fashionable resort, pokes fun at the inhabitants of the new coastal town, with all their hypochondria, witlessness and self-obsession.Trade ReviewHere was a woman about the year 1800 writing without hate, without bitterness, without fear, without protest, without preaching. That was how Shakespeare wrote. -- Virginia Woolf

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

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas comes the next 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 takesQuirky and fun-loving American heiress Daisy Bowman is the last unmarried Wallflower. Her exasperated father has informed her that if she can''t find a husband by the end of her third London season, she will be forced to marry a man she hates - the ruthless entrepreneur Matthew Swift.Daisy is horrified. A Bowman never admits defeat, so she decides to do whatever it takes to marry someone . . . anyone . . . other than Matthew. What she doesn''t

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Book Synopsis''Anyone who binge-watched Bridgerton needs this feminist regency romance on their radar'' Cosmopolitan''Pulls on every heartstring: perfection'' Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling author''Excellent'' Jodi Picoult, No.1 New York Times bestselling authorGoing toe-to-toe with a brooding Scotsman is rather bold for a respectable suffragist, but when he happens to be one''s unexpected husband, what else is an unwilling bride to do?London banking heiress Hattie Greenfield wanted just three things in life:1. Acclaim as an artist2. A noble cause3. Marriage to a young lord who puts the gentle in gentlemanWhy then does this Oxford scholar find herself at the altar with the darkly attractive financier Lucian Blackstone? Trust Hattie to take an invigorating little adventure too far. Now she''s stuck with a churlish Scot who just might be the enTrade ReviewPortrait of a Scotsman, like all of Evie Dunmore's excellent books, sits squarely at the unique intersection of history, romance, and women's rights... a spot where I could happily stay forever -- Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling authorRemarkably sexy and surprisingly complex . . . A novel that crackles with tension and pulls on every heartstring: perfection -- Emily Henry, New York Times bestselling authorPortrait of a Scotsman is a captivating mix of history, romance, and politics that transports readers back in time. ?Evie Dunmore's gorgeous prose, electric chemistry, witty dialogue, poignant plot, and compelling characters light up the page in this delightful novel. A stunning read! -- Chanel Cleeton, New York Times bestselling authorDunmore is in a league of her own with these romances! Vivid, magical and with a steam factor that'll make you get up and open a window in your house. An absolute triumph and a joy to read -- Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling authorIntelligent and achingly poignant. Dunmore is a genre-defying storyteller -- Lauren Layne, New York Times bestselling authorPortrait of a Scotsman crackles with passion, both in the bedroom and when it comes to righting social ills. This is why Evie Dunmore is my favourite historical romance author! -- Stephanie Marie Thornton, USA Today bestselling authorFans of Outlander and Poldark, listen up! Dunmore's Scotsman has it all: a talented heroine who's true to herself, a hero who respects her, and whip-smart social commentary that illuminates a lesser known chapter of English history - all wrapped up in the sexiest possible package -- Kerri Maher, author of The Girl in White Gloves

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Book Synopsis1955. Vivien Lowry''s latest play, the only female-authored in London''s West End that winter, opened to a rapturous reception from the audience. However, the critics'' savage reviews have forced its closure and called into question her entire career. So, when then the opportunity arises for her to work as a script doctor on a film shooting in Rome''s Cinecittà Studios, a world populated with the likes of Ava Gardner and Sophia Loren, she takes it. What Vivien doesn''t count on is the greatest male bastion of them all: the Vatican. Caught between church and censors, as well as two very different men, Vivien must also face the long-buried truth of the recent World War and what really happened to her fiancé if she''s to deal with her past and step into the future.

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Book Synopsis''An author who makes history come gloriously alive'' The Times ''Meticulous research and strong storytelling'' Woman & Home ''A sumptuous ride'' Toby Clements, Daily Telegraph **********************Eleanor of Aquitaine A loving mother. A betrayed wife. A queen beyond compare.Eleanor of Aquitaine''s story is legendary. She is an icon who has fascinated readers for over eight hundred years. But the real Eleanor remains elusive - until now. Based on the most up-to-date research, bestselling novelist Elizabeth Chadwick brings Eleanor''s magnificent story to life, as never before. Young, vibrant, privileged, Eleanor''s future is golden as the heiress to wealthy Aquitaine. But when her beloved father dies suddenly in the summer of 1137, her childhood ends abruptly. ForcedTrade ReviewLeaves the reader longing for part two * Good Book Guide *

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Book SynopsisFrom the top-ten bestselling author of Beneath a Frosty Moon, Rita Bradshaw, comes One Snowy Night, a sweeping family saga set between the two world wars in the north-east of England.It’s 1922 and the Depression is just beginning to rear its head in Britain, but Ruby Morgan is about to marry her childhood sweetheart and nothing can mar her happiness. Or so she thinks. An unimaginable betrayal by those she loves causes her to flee her home and family one snowy night. Crushed and heartbroken, Ruby vows that despite the odds stacked against her she will not only survive, but one day will show the ones she left behind that she’s succeeded in making something of herself. Brave words, but the reality is far from easy. Dangers Ruby could never have foreseen and more tragedy threaten her new life, and love always seems just out of reach. Can a happy ending ever be hers?Trade ReviewRaw passion and power on every page * Northern Echo *Gritty and touching * Newcastle Evening Chronicle *

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Book SynopsisThe New York Times Top Ten BestsellerFrom the author of Writers & Lovers, Euphoria is Lily King’s gripping novel inspired by the true story of a woman who changed the way we understand our world.‘Pretty much perfect’ – Curtis Sittenfeld, author of RodhamIn 1933 three young, gifted anthropologists are thrown together in the jungle of New Guinea. They are Nell Stone, fascinating, magnetic and famous for her controversial work; her intelligent but aggressive husband Fen, who is uneasy with her success; and Andrew Bankson, who stumbles into the lives of this strange couple and becomes totally enthralled by Nell. Within months the trio are producing their best ever work, but soon a firestorm of fierce love and jealousy begins to burn out of control, threatening their bonds, their careers and, ultimately, their lives . . .‘Lily King is one of our great literary treasures’ – Madeline Miller, author of The Song of Achilles‘Dazzling’ – Emma Donoghue, author of Room‘Taut, witty, fiercely intelligent . . . a love triangle in extremis’ – The New York TimesTrade ReviewPretty much perfect. It's a novel about a Margaret Mead-like character in New Guinea in the 30s, and it's so smart and rich and alive. -- Curtis Sittenfeld, author of American Wife, Best Books of 2014This dazzling novel bites like a tropical insect, and makes anthropology seem more exciting than any other profession -- Emma Donogue, author of RoomA brilliant reimagining of Mead's pioneering exploits . . . the artfulness of her characterisation is so adept that her prose has the force of truth. * Daily Telegraph *Jaw-droppingly, heart-stoppingly beautiful -- Paula McLain, author of The Paris WifeA taut, witty, fiercely intelligent tale of competing egos and desires in a landscape of exotic menace . . . Exquisite * New York Times *Dramatic, insightful and absorbing . . . she captures the amber of one man's exquisite longing for a woman who changed the way we look at ourselves * Washington Post *Persuasive and evocative . . . Finely crafted . . . it shows a talented writer unwilling to settle for what she already does well and eager to give herself new challenges; her ambition is laudable * Los Angeles Times *From Conrad to Kingsolver, the misdeeds of Westerners have inspired their own literary subgenre, and in King's insightful, romantic addition, the work of novelist and anthropologist find resonant parallel: In the beauty and cruelty of others, we discover our own * Vogue *Thrilling . . . intense, seductive, sexual, and intellectual . . . It's grit-in-your-teeth sensuous * San Francisco Chronicle *Euphoria is simply one of the finest novels I've read in years -- Andre Dubus III, author of House of Sand and FogI have come to expect Lily King's nuanced explorations of the human heart, but in this novel she pulled me in to the exotic world of a woman anthropologist working with undiscovered tribes in 1930s New Guinea and I was totally captivated -- Karl Marlantes, author of MatterhornDazzling . . . in King's expert hands the three protagonists soon become richly rendered characters, each with her or his own suspenseful narrative . . . an exhilarating novel * Boston Globe *This impeccably researched story illuminates the state of the world as clearly as the passion of its characters . . . a thrilling read that, at its end, does indeed feel like 'the briefest, purest euphoria'' * Publishers Weekly *A small gem, disturbing and haunting * Kirkus *Atmospheric and sensual, with startling images throughout, Euphoria is an intellectually stimulating tour de force -- Jane Ciabattari, author of Stealing the FireAdventure and romance, danger and knowledge, desire and desolation . . . exquisitely braided, they form the core of Euphoria . . . I'm left breathless, excited, ready to wander and explore, a little afraid, enamored, enlightened -- Bill Roorbach, author of Life Among GiantsMasterful . . . A great novelist is like an anthropologist, examining what humans do by habit and custom . . . This is a riveting and provocative novel, absolutely first-rate * Seattle Times *Fresh, brilliantly structured, and fully imagined -- Andrea Barrett, author of Archangel and Ship FeverEuphoria is a brilliantly written book and entirely fascinating from start to finish -- Alice Greenway, author of The Bird SkinnerKing's novel turns an episode in the life of Margaret Mead into a taut tale of competing egos and desires in a landscape of exotic menace -- Notable Books of 2014 * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisLondon, 1918: the world is being torn apart by war, but for the girls of London’s Foyles bookshop, where there is friendship, there is hope… Perfect for fans of Rosie Clarke and Elaine Everest.Ellen Beckford and her sister Mary are living under their father’s shadow. Before their beloved mother died, they had dreamed of bright futures, but torn apart by grief, Harold Beckford barely lets his daughters out of his sight. Then Harold is injured during a break-in at his office at London’s docklands, and can no longer work. And with prices rising and food scarce, Ellen has no choice but to defy her father’s rules and seek employment. She finds a position at London’s renowned Foyles bookshop, and the other shop girls quickly take her under their wing.But there are dark times ahead. Ellen’s father is accused of gathering intelligence from the docklands for the enemy, and the police seem determined to see him shot for spying. With the help of her new friends, can Ellen clear her father’s name and save her family from destitution?

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Book SynopsisDiscover Kate Morton's multi-million copy bestselling debut novel, The House at Riverton, a mesmerising story of tragedy and buried secrets, with this new edition.Winner of the Richard and Judy Book Club Best Read of the YearSummer, 1924.On the eve of a glittering society party, by the lake of a grand English country house, a young poet takes his life. The only witnesses, sisters Hannah and Emmeline Hartford, will never speak to each other again.Winter, 1999.Grace Bradley, ninety-eight, one-time housemaid at Riverton Manor, is visited by a young director making a film about the poet's suicide. Ghosts awaken, and memories, long-consigned to the dark reaches of Grace's mind, begin to sneak back through the cracks. A shocking secret threatens to emerge; something history has forgotten, but Grace never could . . .

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas comes the next stunning novel in the Hathaways series - perfect for fans of Sarah MacLean, Julia Quinn and Eloisa James. ''Lisa Kleypas is the best'' Sarah MacLean She harbours a secret yearning . . .As a lover of animals and nature, Beatrix Hathaway has always been more comfortable outdoors than in the ballroom. Even though she participated in the London season in the past, the classic beauty and free-spirited Beatrix has never been swept away or seriously courted . . . and she has resigned herself to the fate of never finding love. Has the time come for the most unconventional of the Hathaway sisters to settle for an ordinary man - just to avoid spinsterhood?He is a world-weary cynic . . .Captain Christopher Phelan is a handsome, daring soldier who plans to marry Beatrix''s friend, the vivacious flirt Prudence Mercer, when he retur

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Book SynopsisA splendid and sumptuous historical novel from the internationally bestselling author, Philippa Gregory, telling of the early life of Katherine of Aragon.I was born a princess, destined to be queen, and I know my duty.1491. Henry VII's eldest son Arthur Tudor, Prince of Wales, has been betrothed since childhood to the Spanish princess Katherine of Aragon. Their marriage will cement the alliance Henry Tudor craves to secure his country.But when Arthur's sudden death leaves an 11-year-old boy heir to the kingdom, Henry Tudor must choose whether to send Katherine back to Spain, or to marry her himself. Katherine has no son from her brief marriage to secure her future; her substantial dowry and his powerful contract are at stake.Henry has reckoned without the determination of a young woman set on fulfilling her own destiny to be a queen and the ambition of Prince Harry, the future Henry VIII.Trade Review‘One of Gregory's great strengths as a novelist is her ability to take familiar historical figures and flesh them into living breathing human beings. The Constant Princess is a worthy successor to her previous novels about the Tudors’ Daily Express ‘Gregory's research is impeccable which makes her imaginative fiction all the more convincing’ Daily Mail ‘Gregory is great at conjuring a Tudor film-set of gorgeous gowns and golden-lattered dining. She invokes some swoonsome images…while the politics are personal enough to remain pertinent’ DailyTelegraph

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Book SynopsisIf you love Bridgerton, you''ll love Georgette Heyer!''The greatest writer who ever lived'' ANTONIA FRASER''A rollicking good read that will be of particular joy to Bridgerton viewers ... the permanent glister of scandal [...] ties the whole thing together'' INDEPENDENT''[My] generation''s Julia Quinn'' ADJOA ANDOH, star of Bridgerton__________________Leonie Bonnard is being drawn into a twenty-year-old feud.Justin Alastair, the Duke of Avon, is a reprehensible rake with an axe to grind. Decades ago the Comte de Saint-Vire did something unforgivable and ever since Justin has been lying in wait to settle the score.When Justin meets Leon, a street urchin with a striking resemblance to his nemesis, he aims to use him as a pawn in his plans for revenge on the Comte. Except Leon is in fact Leonie, a beautiful young ingénue who may just steal Justin''s heaTrade Review"My favourite historical novelist, stylish, romantic, sharp, and witty. Her sense of period is superb, her heroines are enterprising, and her heroes dashing. I owe her many happy hours" -- Margaret Drabble "Sparkling" The Independent

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas comes the next stunning novel in the Hathaways series - perfect for fans of Sarah MacLean, Julia Quinn and Eloisa James. ''Lisa Kleypas is the best'' Sarah MacLean He is everything she wants to avoid . . . For two years, Catherine Marks has been a paid companion to the Hathaway sisters - a pleasant position, with one caveat. Her charges'' older brother, Leo Hathaway, is thoroughly exasperating. Cat can hardly believe that their constant arguing could mask a mutual attraction. But when one quarrel ends in a sudden kiss, Cat is shocked at her powerful response - and even more so when Leo proposes a dangerous liaison. She is not at all what she seems . . . Leo must marry and produce an heir within a year to save his family home. Catherine''s respectable demeanour hides a secret that would utterly destroy her. But to Leo, Cat is intrigui

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Book SynopsisBored with the distractions of London, Judy Cameron insists on taking herself, her parents and her fiance to remote Glen Suilag in the Scottish Highlands. Leaving behind the busy whirl of the capital, she becomes absorbed in an unknown and yet strangely familiar world. As Judy explores the house and glen, secrets begin to unravel and questions arise that she must find the answers to. Why does the strange house feel so familiar? How does she know the laird, Ian Macdonald? Why does she feel so terrified of the middle window in the parlour? And who is the mysterious Judith who haunts her dreams?Trade ReviewMiss Goudge is an artist of very considerable ability - Oxford MailAbout the novels of Elizabeth Goudge there is always something of the fairy-tale - The ScotsmanElizabeth Goudge's novels, long or short, have always been distinguished by a quality of lyrical joyousness more usually associated with poetry than with prose and, perhaps, with music than with writing. - New York TimesMiss Goudge has the art of presenting men and women, to say nothing of children, as genuinely convincing persons, too human to be either wholly good or wholly bad - The ScotsmanGenuine discernment and poignancy - The Sunday Times

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Book Synopsis'Beautifully written and extraordinarily moving' SUNDAY TIMES 'A powerful story of love, conscience, will and desire' OBSERVER 'A poised and well-judged work' FINANCIAL TIMES Anne Louvet needs to escape from Paris and from memories she cannot face. In the year 1936 she arrives at the faded Hotel du Lion d'Or on the Brittany coast, to work as a maid. There she meets Hartmann, a man she believes will change her life and save her from her past.From the author of Birdsong, comes a deeply moving story of love and conscience, will and desire.Trade Review[A] story of restrained emotions played out in a period setting among picturesque locations . . . Faulks gives every sign of being a real novelist, who thinks and feels through the written word * Guardian *

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Book Synopsis''Heart-breaking, heart-lifting, and enchanting'' CAROL KIRKWOOD''Downton Abbey with dance'' SANTA MONTEFIOREWelcome to 1960s Monte Carlo, a world of glitz, glamour, scandal and betrayal...Princess Grace of Monaco has invited the world-famous Forsyth Variety Company to perform at her annual high society ball. Monaco is in the heat of its preparations for the Grand Prix when the Forsyth family makes their emotional return to the city, stirring up painful memories for father Ed Forsyth.When daughter Evie Forsyth meets Formula 1 driver Charles, their chemistry is unforgettable and a passionate affair begins. Meanwhile her brother Cal Forsyth is on location with Hollywood''s biggest star, his new glittering career shaken by the arrival of a stranger from his past.As the past and present collide in the sun-drenched French Riviera, will dangerous secrets destroy the Forsyth family once and for all?***Readers love Anton du Beke:''You won''t be disappointed!'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Captivated me from beginning to end'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''Full of gossip and glamour, wealth and privilege'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''You feel as if you''re watching the story unfold'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐''I just couldn''t put it down!'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Book SynopsisThere's a fine line between love and hate.Bobby Mason is sick of being second best: born the spare with the personality of the heir.James Demeroven, is a Viscount who wishes he wasn't one. His title brings far too much attention.They can barely get through a single conversation without tensions boiling over. Neither Bobby nor James has ever met a more intriguing, infuriating, infatuating man.If only they could avoid each other entirely.But when an extortionist starts targeting their families, Bobby and James must find a way to work together, without pushing each other's buttons (or tearing them off) in the process. . .-----Praise for Emma R Alban''Gives us all the top tier wit, spice, and swoons.... One to watch!'' Evie DunmoreSweet, angsty, and ingeniously subversive. A delightfully refreshing historical romance! Amalie Howard''A beautifully rendered setting, whip-smart banter,

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Book SynopsisBehind the Moon Gate lies a mystery... The most mesmerising story of family secrets, sweeping from wartime London to Ireland to Australia. From the author of the beloved Richard and Judy Book Club pick The Midnight House.''A rich, sweeping mystery . . . beautifully written, atmospheric and intriguing'' TRACY REES''Magnificent. Cleverly woven plots, storylines and heartbreak . . . I loved it'' LORNA COOK''Divine. I relished every single word of this heartrending story, full of love and sacrifice'' JENNY ASHCROFT-----A faded photograph. An abandoned house. A wartime mystery. . .1939: On the eve of war, young English heiress Grace Grey travels from London to the wilderness of Tasmania. Coaxed out of her shell by the attentions of her Irish neighbour, Daniel - Grace finally learns to live. But when Australian forces are called to the frontline, and Trade Review'A fabulous, immersive read! Right from the start [the] beautifully written, evocative settings swept me away, and wonderful characters, seamless interweave of timelines & layers of mystery kept me enthralled' -- Zoe Miller, author of The House in the WoodsGreat storytelling . . . The Moon Gate is a richly layered atmospheric story that transports the reader from 00s London to 1970s Tasmania and beyond . . . I was drawn in from the first page -- Jacquie Bloese, author of The French HouseA rich, sweeping mystery . . . beautifully written, atmospheric and intriguing -- Tracy Rees, author of The ElopementMagnificent! Cleverly woven plots, storylines and heartbreak . . . I loved it -- Lorna Cook, bestselling author of The Forgotten VillageDivine . . . I relished every single word of this heart-rending story, full of love and sacrifice . . . I'm highly, highly recommending everyone puts it straight to the top of their summer reading list! -- Jenny AshcroftReminiscent of Lucinda Riley . . . twisty, emotional and absorbing * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisBlack Country Orphan is a moving story of the courage and strength of women, by the Sunday Times bestselling author Annie Murray.The early 1900s: Cradley Heath, a town in the Black Country near Birmingham and centre of the world’s chain-making trade. Lucy Butler, a young girl crippled by a cruel accident, lives with her two brothers and widowed mother, a chain-maker barely making ends meet. When tragedy strikes, the Butler family is separated and Lucy is taken in by Bertha Hipkiss, another impoverished chain maker, struggling to look after her own family.Lucy, while feeling the loss of her own family, relies on the company of Bertha’s two sons, charming Clem and straight-laced John. Though clever at school, Lucy knows she must leave and earn her keep, working many hours in the backyard forge. The five women toiling side by side, inevitably have their own friendships and squabbles. But they’re united in their hatred of loathsome middleman Seth Dawson, who treats the women with contempt, and keeps their pay punishingly low. But by the 1910s, there is a movement stirring, as across the country workers begin unionising for their rights. For Lucy, Bertha and the women of Cradley Heath, the promise of a better life seems almost too much to hope for – and the fight may end up costing them everything . . .Trade ReviewThis heart-warming story is a gripping read, full of drama, love and compassion (Soldier Girl) * Take a Break *This epic saga will have you gripped from start to finish (Chocolate Girls) * Birmingham Evening Mail *Just the right mix of mystery and nostalgia (Birmingham Friends) * Parents' Magazine *A tale of passion and empathy which will keep you hooked (Birmingham Blitz) * Woman's Own *

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Book SynopsisA brand new series full of friendship, singing and laughter as war looms...Cleethorpes 1939 With the country teetering on the brink of war everyone faces an uncertain future. Destitute after the tragic death of her father, aspiring singer Jessie Delaney and her family have no choice other than to accept the charity of relatives to ensure a roof over their heads. Spiteful Aunt Iris soon has Jessie dreaming of a life filled with colour and excitement that she knows the theatre can offer. How can Jessie escape the drudgery, support her family and pursue her dreams? Through her father’s connections Jessie finds work as a Variety Girl in a new show at the Empire in Cleethorpes, a small seaside theatre on the east coast. But taking the job means flying solo and leaving her family and her sweetheart, Harry behind. Friendships are forged but will the glamour of show business lose its shine without those she loves close by?A gritty and heart-warming saga perfect for readers of Elaine Everest, Nancy Revell and Pam Howes.Praise for Tracy Baines:‘A charming, heart-warming saga about ambition, hard work and courage in the cut and thrust of a world often driven by jealousy and spite’. Rosie Clarke‘Immerse yourself in the exciting, evocative world of Wartime musical theatre. I highly recommend this book.’ Fenella Miller‘An emotional, entertaining read that had me gripped!’ Sheila Riley'An absorbing and poignant saga. I loved it from the very beginning and would highly recommend it...' Elaine Roberts'Terrific - beautifully written. The book twinkles. A well-crafted and satisfying story' Maisie Thomas‘A pleasure from start to finish.’ Glenda Young‘…you will have to read this well-researched song and dance of a novel in great gulps as I did’ Annie Clark‘I just loved this book! Molly WaltonThe Variety Girls is terrific - beautifully written & with an unusual background. The stage costumes twinkle with sequins and the book twinkles with tiny details of theatre life that add depth and atmosphere to this well-crafted and satisfying story. Maisie Thomas, The Railway Girls‘A pleasure from start to finish.’ Glenda Young, Belle of the Backstreets‘…you will have to read this well-researched song and dance of a novel in great gulps as I did’ Milly Adams‘an evocative, busy, entertaining read, which has well balanced touches of humour, vying with angst, and of course, more than a dollop of tension.’ Margaret Graham, Frost Magazine‘Characterisation is one of the book’s strong points – the individual characters stay in your mind long after you finish the story.’ Barbara Dynes, The Voice

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Book SynopsisBook two in Fenella J. Miller's gripping and emotional WWII series.Will her secret destroy her chance at happiness?The phony war is over and Hitler is beginning his rampage through Europe. But back home Barbara Sinclair has troubles of her own. With her wedding to Spitfire Pilot Alex Everton imminent, Barbara is worried about a secret she is keeping from her new husband – one that could ruin everything.Determined to try and maintain some normality in her life, the wedding goes ahead, but Alex leaves almost immediately to continue fighting the Germans. Barbara fears for his safety and for the moment, her secret must wait…But when bombs fall on Barbara’s new home, the war feels closer than ever. And Barbara realises that time could be running out for both of them…'Curl up in a chair with Fenella J Miller's characters and lose yourself in another time and another place.' Lizzie LanePlease note: This books was originally published as Barbara's War: The Middle years.

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Book Synopsis"A lush page-turner about two women who fight for their futures in a patriarchal society" ?Janet Skeslien Charles, author, The Paris Library"An engrossing tale of superstition, rebellion and love"?Esther Freud, author, Love Falls"Storytelling at its best"?Ellen Keith, author, The Dutch WifeIn medieval Moldova, two women from opposing backgrounds fall in love.But this is a world where a woman?s role is defined by religion and class. To make a life together means defying their families, the law, and the Church. The closer they become, and the more they refuse the roles assigned to them, the more sacrifices they have to make. While Mira?s rebellion puts her life in the gravest danger, Elina must fight to change her legal status to "son"so she can inherit her father?s land and change their destiny.Set in Stone delves into the past to uncover a story which is just as relevant today: the desire to forge your own path while constantly having to resist a patriarchal fear of women?s strength ? and how ultimately love can help you choose your own truth.

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of The House at Riverton and The Forgotten Garden, Kate Morton brings us her trademark mix of secrets, lies, and haunting, intricately layered mysteries. Set across the Victorian era and present day, The Clockmaker's Daughter is a perfect summer read.My real name, no one remembers.The truth about that summer, no one else knows.Summer, 1862. Abandoned as a child, Birdie grew up in the hands of a mysterious stranger, becoming by turns a thief, a friend, a muse and a lover. Shortly after her eighteenth birthday, she retreats with a group of artists to Birchwood Manor – a beautiful house on a quiet bend of the Upper Thames. The scene is idyllic but, one hot afternoon, a gunshot rings out. A woman is killed, another disappears, and the truth of what happened slips through the cracks of time.2017. Over one hundred years later, Birchwood Manor has welcomed many newcomers – but guards its secrets closely. That is, until another young woman is drawn to the house. And, as the mystery begins to unravel, we discover the stories of those who have passed through Birchwood Manor since that fateful day in 1862 . . .‘The Clockmaker’s Daughter is an ambitious, complex, compelling historical mystery with a fabulous cast of characters. This is Kate Morton at her very best’ – Kristin Hannah, bestselling author of The NightingaleTrade ReviewThe Clockmaker’s Daughter is an ambitious, complex, compelling historical mystery with a fabulous cast of characters. This is Kate Morton at her very best -- Kristin Hannah, bestselling author of The NightingaleBig houses, dark secrets and ruined lives all play their part in the latest from the bestselling Morton. The perfect book to curl up with as the evenings draw in. * i newspaper *This is an immersive, beautifully told story which was made to be devoured on a drizzly Sunday afternoon with a round of crumpets and a pot of tea * Red Magazine *Moving back and forth in time, Morton weaves her disparate stories together involving murder, theft, love and loss, secrets and lies. She’s a deft and consummate storyteller * Woman & Home *When it comes to epic and captivating novels, Kate Morton is up there with the best * Heat *A centuries-spanning epic * Metro *Morton knows how to eke out tantalizing secrets and drama * Sunday Telegraph (Australia) *The Clockmaker’s Daughter is packed with rich historical detail and seductive lyricism . . . An exciting, atmospheric reading treat that moves seamlessly through time and space, and ensures that Morton retains her place in the pantheon of much-loved historical novelists * Lancashire Evening Post *

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Book SynopsisSet in the beloved world of Jane Austen, The Unlikely Pursuit of Mary Bennet is the sapphic regency romance that readers have been waiting for.

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Book Synopsis**PRE-ORDERDAWNLANDS, THE STUNNING NEW NOVEL FROM PHILIPPA GREGORY, OUT NOVEMBER 2022** Number One bestselling author Philippa Gregory's new historical novel tracks the rise of the Tidelands family in London, Venice and New England.  Midsummer Eve, 1670. A turbulent time to seek the truth . . .  A wealthy man waits outside a poor London warehouse to meet with Alinor, the woman he failed twenty-one years before. He has everything to offer: money, land, status. He believes she has the only thing he cannot buy: his son and heir. Meanwhile in New England, Alinor’s brother Ned cannot find justice in the New World, as the King’s revenge stretches across the Atlantic and turns the pioneers against each other and against the American Indians. Then, a beautiful widow, Livia, arrives from Venice. She claims Alinor as her mother-in-law and has come with the news that

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Book SynopsisUtah, 1888. As one woman awaits her husbandâs return home, a stranger arrives on her doorstep . . .Trade ReviewWeisgarber's exploration of a woman struggling to satisfy her conscience is telling and touching * Sunday Times *The Glovemaker, Ann Weisgarber’s engrossing, troubling, honest-to-goodness third novel, is as stark and touching as the lives described, as tense and testing as the Utah backlands where it’s set, as fine as any fiction you will read this year -- Jim Crace, author of Harvest and The MelodyA tense, taut, historically faithful tale * Saga *Weisgarber, in The Glovemaker, has once again created a heroine of extraordinary grace and courage in a challenging, at times violent, but ultimately sublime landscape. -- Kathleen Kent, author of The Heretic's DaughterI loved everything about this book – the characters, the plot, the vivid and unique setting – but most of all I loved the fact that it felt so raw and honest -- Juliet West, author of The FaithfulAnother triumph from one of our country’s finest historical novelists . . . Weisgarber gives us a spellbinding, multi-layered heroine whose survival is jeopardized by the harshness of the land and the man she loves. A tale of moral complexity . . . Compelling and suspenseful -- Sarah Bird, author of Daughter of a QueenA compelling story balanced on the knife edge between religion and ethics, crime and sin, compassion and fear -- Mary Doria Russell, author of Doc and EpitaphWhen I first started reading Ann Weisgarber’s new book, I had no expectation that a novel about renegade Mormons in Utah in the 1880’s could turn out to be so precisely suspenseful that, if Alfred Hitchcock were alive, he might snap up the film rights. The Glovemaker is a humane, high-velocity glimpse into the ever-simmering dilemmas of faith and conscience -- Stephen Harrigan, author of The Gates of the Alamo and Remember Ben ClaytonMarvelous . . . This is a rich, powerful, and wholly immersive tale * Publisher's Weekly *Weisgarber makes effective use of early Mormon history to explore moral choice, and compression in language, setting, number of characters, and chronology lends this tale an unusual force * Booklist *Historical novelist Ann Weisgarber beautifully paints the harsh, lonely environment of the Utah Territory . . . while creating tense moments and life-altering revelations of her heroine . . . Weisgarber's strong grip on suspense keeps the pages turning until the last storm passes * Book Page *Ann Weisgarber excels at the slowly unfurling tale, where the characters’ waiting and indecisionbuild tension as deftly as any action sequence. Highly recommend. * Historical Novel Society *Compelling, passionate, and adventurous . . . for readers of Tracy Chevalier * PDE *

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Book SynopsisRead the most captivating historical debut of the year![A] scintillating, swash-buckling debut terrifically fun' SUNDAY TIMESSharp, modern and absolutely delicious' TAYLOR JENKINS REIDFans of Bridgerton will swoon' NITA PROSEKitty Talbot needs a fortune. Love is not requiredShe's got just twelve weeks to find a rich husband and save her sisters and she must use every ounce of cunning and ingenuity she possesses to climb London society if she is to succeed.The only person she can't fool is Lord Radcliffe, who sees straight through her plans, and is determined to stop her at any cost.There is not a day to lose and no one not even a lord will stand in her wayReaders LOVE A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting:Like Bridgerton, but better' ?????The best book I have read in a long time' ?????Sassy, outrageous and bingeable' ?????MUST READ' ?????LOVED it!' ?????Sophie Irwin is going to be an author to watch' ?????An utter delight of a book' ?????Great fun and hugely entertaining' ?????What a chTrade Review‘[A] scintillating, swash-buckling debut … terrifically fun’ Sunday Times ‘Sharp, modern, and absolutely delicious … one of the most fun, romantic books I've read in a long time’ Taylor Jenkins Reid ‘What a sassy, witty, delicious tale [with] a fabulous, fearless heroine’ Sophie Kinsella ‘A thoroughly modern heroine with wit, style and energy … a formidable Austentacious talent’ Janice Hallett ‘Delicious – frothy, gossipy and glamorous’ Daily Mail ‘Charming, witty and infectiously exuberant’ Santa Montefiore ‘Divine – an utter delight’ Nina Stibbe ‘Will fill the Bridgerton-shaped hole in your life’ Red ‘Plucky, witty and bright … Readers of Austen and fans of Bridgerton will swoon’ Nita Prose ‘A diamond of the first water! Shades of Heyer with a dash of modern roguishness … Full of heart and swooningly romantic’ Beth Morrey ‘An addictive read’ Sunday Express ‘Utterly delightful and impossible to put down’ Louise O’Neill ‘[A] whip-smart, beautifully observed, sparkling romance’ Lindsey Kelk ‘Full of spirit and gumption … enormous fun: just what we all need’ AJ Pearce ‘Funny, fresh and original – you’ll want to put it straight on your dance card’ Cesca Major ‘Very clever and hugely entertaining’ Sarah Hilary ‘This is SO much fun. The most pleasing homage to Georgette Heyer with a thoroughly modern sensibility. Tremendous stuff’ Harriet Tyce ‘A huge, warm treat of a book. Refreshing, funny and sparklingly smart … The debut of the season’ Cressida McLaughlin 'A sparkling debut that reads like a turbo-charged Jane Austen’ Joanna Toye ‘I cheered for Kitty as she confronts polite society in her outrageous pursuit of a rich husband….an impressive debut’ Mary Balogh ‘Move over, Mr Darcy! [A] hilarious, sparkling debut! Utterly irresistible’ Eloisa James

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Book SynopsisA FAMILIAR FOE. A BATTLE FOR THE HEART OF A COUNTRY AT WAR WITH ITSELF.South Africa, 1899 - the smouldering hostility between the Boers of the Transvaal and Orange Free State and the British colonies of the Cape and Natal is about to burst into flame. War is coming and no one can prevent it. Colonel Penrod Ballantyne, hero of Abu Klea and Omdurman, is sent to Mafeking, 'the place of stones', to recruit and train men for the fighting ahead. Amber, his wife, the successful novelist, accompanies him - eager to see more of the country her husband is about to risk his life for. But when war is declared, Amber must flee with their baby son and pray for her husband's survival against impossible odds.Eight hundred miles to the south, in Cape Town, Ryder Courtney - adventurer, maverick, industrialist - is using his wealth and connections to bankroll the British war effort. His artist wife Saffron, frustrated by stuffy Cairo society, has joined him with thei

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Breathless...Alyan plants the riches of the city with stealthy precision, making the maddening conundrum of Beirut yours...From Lebanon, we visit Syria. We reach back to Palestine. The three nations mirror the imperfect, strained yet inextricable relationship of the Nasr children, now adults...Alyan distilled the fog of displacement and exposes the ways an unfamiliar culture can devour the traits that make us special. And when plumbing the intricacies of race and womanhood, Alyan turns paragraphs into poetry.” — New York Times Book Review "Feels revolutionary in its freshness...The book has all the elements we expect from a family saga, but set against the backdrop of Lebanon’s long, sad history, the narrative stakes are so much higher." — Entertainment Weekly "Beautifully illustrating the complexities, fragilities and flaws of families, this heartfelt novel centers siblings struggling to make a decision about the sale of the family home in Beirut as secrets, bonds and the legacies of war come to the fore." — Ms. magazine “I didn’t think I could love The Arsonists’ City as much as Salt Houses, but I did. It was sharp, thought-provoking. I couldn’t put it down. Hala Alyan is a lyrical force, a much-needed Arab American voice.” — Etaf Rum, New York Times best-selling author of A Woman Is No Man “I don’t exactly understand how Hala Alyan does it—conjures love, sorrow, betrayal, and joy; goes from being funny and warm to incisive and thoughtful—but as a reader, I’m glad that she does. The Arsonists’ City delivers all the pleasures of a good old-fashioned saga but in Alyan’s hands, one family’s tale becomes the story of a nation—Lebanon and Syria, yes, but also the United States. It’s the kind of book we are lucky to have.” — Rumaan Alam, author of Leave the World Behind "Alyan’s novel brims with life as the Nasr family’s secrets are revealed, pushing past into present. Spanning across the globe, from Palestine to Lebanon and from Syria to America, each character is housed in pockets of social and identity politics, exile, civil war, and everything in between...They must relive their lives, where love rushes to the fore as quickly as heartbreak." — Arab News "A profound inquiry into what it means to be a family, determine your identity, and hold onto a home — particularly in a world that doesn't always weigh equally the importance of everyone's home, identity, and family...Alyan is virtuosic at portraying the complicated bonds that exist between family members, and she is unafraid to show both the beauty and the despair that come with true intimacy, love, and loss." — Refinery 29 "Simultaneously a sprawling look across five decades at the legacy of unending violence in the Middle East, especially in Lebanon and Syria, and an intimate, heartfelt portrait of a family gathering at their ancestral home in Beirut." — The OC Register "Alyan’s varied talents never cease to amaze." — The Millions "Alyan, author of the award-winning Salt Houses, has written another family saga studded with the same beautiful lyricism...Makes for great fiction." — Lit Hub "A sweeping family saga that examines the insidious long shadow of war...Alyan brings her talents to examine the ongoing crisis of Palestinian displacement in The Arsonist’s City through deeply imagined characters, place-based descriptions that teem with life, and attention to conflicts from past to present day." — Jacqueline Alnes, Electric Literature "Alyan, who is a family therapist as well as a poet and novelist, has a gift for depicting the knotty, messy but ultimately resilient bonds of family love. Though The Arsonists’ City lays bare how civil war and brutal violence impact a single family, it is the everyday, sometimes petty squabbles between husband and wife, brother and sister, parent and child that make this novel both memorable and relatable." — BookPage "This multi-generational story is deeply thought-provoking." — HelloGiggles “No one knows the human heart like Hala Alyan. Her ability to show its unexpected contours is on full display in The Arsonists' City—a book so gorgeously written I found myself reading sentences aloud just to keep them with me a little longer." — Mira Jacob, author of Good Talk and The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing

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Book SynopsisMarch 1941. As the war rages on, the Buckingham Hotel has become a microcosm of the world. Its ballroom and restaurant are peopled with exiled royal families, politicians and dignitaries, but the beating heart of the Buckingham remains its hardworking, talented staff.  With the heroic Raymond de Guise away fighting in North Africa, his beloved wife Nancy must balance her new position in life- as Head of Housekeeping at the Buckingham, but also as a new mother to their child.  And all the while, mysterious new figures are beginning to take centre stage: a secretive new bandleader from across the Atlantic, an unknown thief pilfering luxury goods from the Buckingham's larders, and a charismatic ghost from Raymond's past, stirring up old memories from his time on the circuit in 1920s Paris. As tensions flare and dark secrets rise to the surface, it's all the Buckingham staff can do to retain their trademark elegance a

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Book SynopsisFrom the New York Times bestselling author Lisa Kleypas comes the next 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 takesIt happened at the ball . . . Where beautiful but bold Lillian Bowman quickly learned that her independent American ways weren''t entirely ''the thing''. And the most disapproving of all was insufferable, snobbish, and impossible Marcus, Lord Westcliff, London''s most eligible aristocrat. It happened in the garden . . .When Marcus shockingly - and dangerously - swept her into his arms. Lillian was overcome with a

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Book SynopsisA sumptuous historical novel set in the court of Elizabeth I, from Sunday Times No.1 bestseller Philippa Gregory, the author of The Other Boleyn Girl.Now I can be the queen that my mother intended me to be . . . the queen I was born to be.1558. After years of waiting, Princess Elizabeth accedes to the throne of England.But the country is divided, the restoration of the Protestant faith ignites opposition from the church and beyond, and court remains a treacherous place.Many believe that Elizabeth must marry if she is to survive. For Robert Dudley, Elizabeth's ascension is a glorious new dawn, and he quickly positions himself as the young queen's favourite. Dudley is a man of powerful lineage; his father had been a kingmaker at the court of Henry VIII. But Dudley has many enemies, amongst them William Cecil, the queen's most trusted advisor.As powerful families vie for stakes in the emerging kingdom, Elizabeth must secure her own future.Trade ReviewPraise for The Virgin’s Lover: ‘A book to lose yourself in…a simmering mixture of intrigue, lust and betrayal at the court of Elizabeth I, it breathes new life into the suspected love affair between the young queen and Robert Dudley’ Daily Mail ‘Convincing and entertaining’ Daily Telegraph ‘An enjoyable read, and Gregory’s energetic writing carries one along’ Sunday Telegraph ‘Gregory’s success lies in restoring humanity to her historical figures’ Daily Mail ‘Gregory is one of the best chroniclers of the ups and downs of the turbulent Tudors…This superbly plotted drama unfolds like an exquisitely embroidered Tudor ruff’ Sainsbury’s Magazine

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Book SynopsisJane Austen's wickedly satirical final novel, and the inspiration for a major motion picture starring Dakota Johnson, Henry Golding and Richard E. Grant.Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful hardbacks make perfect gifts for book lovers, or wonderful additions to your own collection. Gorgeously illustrated by the celebrated Hugh Thomson, this edition also includes an afterword by author and critic Henry Hitchings.Persuasion follows the story of Anne Elliott who, as a teenager, was engaged to a seemingly ideal man, Frederick Wentworth. But after being persuaded by her friend Lady Russell that he is too poor to be a suitable match, Anne ends their engagement. When they are reacquainted eight years later, their circumstances are transformed: Frederick is returning triumphantly from the Napoleonic War, while Anne's fortunes are floundering. Will their past regrets prevent them from finding future happiness?Trade ReviewPersuasion seems to be the Jane Austen novel that has most touched our readers’ hearts -- Sam Jordison * Guardian *Persuasion is Austen’s most mature and melancholic novel, a frost-tipped exploration of the meaning of love and a quietly savage critique of Regency England’s obsessions with money and class -- Claire Allfree * Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisDrawing on her own experience, Anne Brontë exposes the isolated world of a nineteenth-century governess in her debut novel, Agnes Grey. Complete & Unabridged. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is introduced by historian and biographer, Juliet Barker.Agnes Grey is the youngest daughter of a clergyman. When the family falls on hard times, she insists on finding work as a governess in order to help her family and prove to them that she’s no longer a child. But her idealistic spirit is tested in her first position with the Bloomfield family and their unruly and spoilt children. Next she works for the even wealthier Murray family, whose scheming daughter Rosalie threatens to jeopardize the only bright spot in Agnes’s life: the young curate Edward Weston.Trade ReviewThe most perfect prose narrative in English letters -- George MooreAnne provided her heroine with a hero who was actually nice to women. This still feels revolutionary * Guardian *A compelling Victorian take on the iniquities of the wealth gap * Telegraph *For too long [Anne] has been undervalued as the third-best Brontë. But her fiction, exploring the lamentably still-current themes of addiction and domestic violence and the abuse of vulnerable women working away from home, has a vigour and bracing satirical intelligence which places her in the first rank of what is arguably the greatest ever generation of novelists in English -- Lucy Hughes-Hallett

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Book SynopsisA rich and gripping war story that hooked me from the first pageI was effortlessly swept into the drama' USA Today bestseller Andie NewtonDivided by war. Reunited by courage.Phoebe is a volunteer nurse at a Base Hospital in Étaples, France, treating men who've served on hte Western Front. Their courage and resilience inspires her, and though she's meant to keep her distance, Captain Archie Bailey soon captivates her heart.Her younger sister Celia is a nurse at a POW camp on the island of Jersey. These men fight for the forces that bombed her brother and parents, but long hours spent healing them shows her they aren't the monsters she expected.Despite the miles between them, both Celia and Phoebe come to see the commonality in their experiences the sense of community and friendship, the unexpected moments of love and laughter, and a bond so strong that even war can't break itReaders are loving The Poppy Sisters:What a first class read! Definitely recommend it' ?????An excellent and emoTrade Review Readers love Deborah Carr: ‘A ‘mesmerizing’ story of a island captured by the Nazi's in World War II’ Debbie ‘I fell head over heels in love with this book…It brings to light strong female characters, who have bravery and courage to stand up for themselves and for what is right’ Jenny ‘I loved getting to know the characters and truly experiencing their rather unique predicament…a fascinating read to those who enjoy WWII fiction’ Denise ‘Absorbing and full of emotion, compassion and wisdom’ Joan ‘Very well written and a great curl up with a cuppa and get lost in the story kind of book’ Gill ‘Will pull at your heartstrings…beautifully written’ Louise ‘The story was much more meaningful knowing it was written by someone that was from the island…I enjoyed reading about the beautiful island and the community that stuck together to help each other’ Shirley ‘It ticked the boxes of love, family, strength, and character and I would recommend it for others looking for an engaging historical fiction read’ Stacey ‘An emotional story of how life changed for the residents of Jersey during the German occupation’ Ethel

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Book SynopsisA gorgeous new historical standalone from the brilliant Charlotte Betts. Perfect for fans of Natasha Lester, Tracy Rees and Santa Montefiore.

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