Search results for ""author erica james""

Bestselling author Erica James explores the stories of a potent mix of characters who meet at a creative writers' group.Dulcie Ballantyne knows that creative writers' groups attract an unlikely mix of people, so when she starts up Hidden Talents, she is well prepared for the assortment of people she is bringing together.Beth King is facing empty-nest syndrome as her only son, Nathan, leaves home for university. Jack Solomon, a local estate agent, is having trouble coming to terms with the shock of his wife leaving him for his best friend. Jaz Rafferty is an intensely private seventeen-year-old girl who writes to escape her large, boisterous family. Victor Blackmore is a know-it-all, who claims to be writing the blockbuster novel every publisher will be clamouring for. What they all have in common is a need to escape, as well as a desire to keep their lives as private as possible. As they grow more confident in their writing skills, friendships develop, and gradually they come to realise that a little openness isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Read more less

Wonderful on characterisation and family dynamics, and done very deftly, with that wry humour of hers. I was very entertained by her clever, tongue-in-cheek plotting.' Marian KeyesThe uplifting new story of fresh starts and second chances from the Sunday Times bestselling author Erica James??After a long and seemingly happy marriage, and a wonderful family Christmas, Louisa is stunned when husband Kip asks for a divorce on Boxing Day. He'd never seemed unhappy and they've raised three children together.For months, Kip has been secretly seeing a younger woman and if that wasn't bad enough it's the woman who broke their youngest son's heart.Now Kip is moving out and embarking on a new life with Zoe, and Louisa is left to pick up the pieces. Their beloved family home, Charity Cottage, is up for sale, and tensions are running high.Yet, despite the betrayal and anger, when Louisa lays eyes on what might be a unique and welcoming new home, she feels a first glimmer of hope that life might

Read more less

A sweeping family drama of old secrets and new beginnings… ‘A satisfying treat’ Adele Parks, Platinum ‘A compelling family drama’ Sarah Morgan ‘Wise and warm with plenty of twists and turns’ Rachel Hore ‘Emotional and uplifting’ Veronica Henry ‘Captivating and vivid’ Miranda Dickinson Even happy families have their secrets… Anchor House is the coastal home where Naomi and her husband raised their two girls. Now widowed, Naomi is building a new life alone, but the arrival of Ellis next door is bringing some long-awaited fun back too. Naomi’s daughters are very different: Martha is determined and driven like her father, while Willow is a free spirit. The three women have always been close, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have secrets of their own. There are things Naomi has kept from her girls, like the fact that her marriage to their father wasn’t quite what it seemed… The Sunday Times bestselling author Erica James returns with this gloriously compelling tale of mothers and daughters, secrets and love. Praise for Mothers and Daughters: ‘A beautifully written story that examines the wonderful intimacy between mothers and daughters … a satisfying treat’ Adele Parks, Platinum ‘A brilliant read. A compelling family drama, full of twists and turns. Completely absorbing’ Sarah Morgan ‘Wise and warm with plenty of twists and turns, you'll love this engrossing family story’ Rachel Hore ‘A wonderfully compelling family drama that deftly touches upon some serious issues’ Sunday Express ‘You’ll be swept away then brought gently back to harbour in this beautiful portrait of a family and its multigenerational secrets. Emotional and uplifting, it unfolds in the most glorious coastal setting’ Veronica Henry ‘Glorious … a real treat’ Sunday Post ‘Surprising and reassuringly wise, captivating and vivid, beautiful and authentic … I adored this book’ Miranda Dickinson ‘Deliciously immersive … tracing the complex emotions and dangerous undercurrents that lie beneath the deceptively smooth surface of family life’ Iona Grey ‘A brilliant and gripping family drama … full of heart’ My Weekly ‘A captivating read’ OK!

Read more less

The captivating new drama of family secrets and second chances, from Sunday Times bestselling author Erica JamesIt's the autumn of 1962 in the idyllic Suffolk village of Melstead St Mary. Evelyn Devereux's husband Kit is planning their 20th wedding anniversary party. But as they prepare to celebrate, Evelyn receives an anonymous letter that threatens to unravel the secrets she's kept hidden for many years - secrets that reach back to the war and her days at Bletchley Park.Evelyn's sister-in-law, Hope, has brought joy to countless children with her bestselling books, but despite having a loving husband and caring family, happiness has never come easily to her. Then in an instant her fragile world is turned upside down when she too receives an anonymous letter.Across the village, up at Melstead Hall, Julia Devereux has married into a life beyond anything she could have dreamt of, not realising until it's too late that it comes with a heavy price.Meanwhile, in the sun-baked desert of Palm Springs, Romily Devereux-Temple, crime-writer and former ATA pilot, is homesick for her beloved Island House, where she's saved the day more times than she can count. On her return home, and shocked to learn what has been going on in her absence, she finds herself reluctantly confronting a secret she's kept hidden for a very long time. Once again Romily is challenged to save the day and hold the family together. Can she do it, and maybe seize some happiness for herself at the same time?From the gorgeous Suffolk countryside to the glamorous villas of Palm Springs, let Erica James sweep you away...***Readers are enchanted by Erica's storytelling...'A glorious summer story which sizzles with passion: idyllic location, compelling characters and lives so interwoven that their secrets have the power to change everything. I wanted it to go on forever' Cathy Bramley 'Joyously readable' Woman & Home 'The setting is almost a character in itself in this evocative tale of tears and laughter' Woman Magazine'Erica James offers glorious escapism set in a house to die for' Sunday Express Magazine 'Full of warmth and appeal' Good Housekeeping'A captivating read: beautifully written and heartrendingly sad' Daily Telegraph 'Absorbing and uplifting' My Weekly

Read more less

Recapture the summer sunshine this autumn with the Sunday Times bestseller that readers are calling ‘captivating’ and ‘a treasure of a read’… 🌼🌻 Love grows where you least expect it… July 1981. As the country prepares to celebrate Prince Charles’ wedding to Lady Diana, Libby flees London – and her cheating fiancé Marcus – for the Suffolk countryside. At Larkspur House, she hopes to put the pieces of her life back together. And Libby’s great-aunt Bess and renowned garden designer and former socialite Elfrida are happy to help. But for lifelong friends Bess and Elfrida, Libby’s arrival has stirred up the ghosts of the past. And before they can help her rebuild her shattered future, they must confront their own secrets, lost loves, and tragedies… From the Sunday Times bestselling author Erica James comes a captivating story that sweeps through sixty years of history, love, and family drama. Readers love A Secret Garden Affair: ‘Having read all of Erica James’s books and thoroughly enjoyed every single one, I absolutely loved this one! The plot, characters and descriptions of beautiful Lake Como… were spot on. My only disappointment was that the book ended as I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Elfrida, Bess and Libby!’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Captivating. Thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish, I didn't want the story to end’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Skillfully written, compelling family drama. Erica James is expert at writing about families and relationships, and she skilfully brings the characters alive, exploring past secrets as the story unfolds. Settings are described beautifully, especially the gardens… Richly detailed, with intriguing characters, I was absorbed in this book, and highly recommend.’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An excellent read from page 1. I love the way the reader is immediately enthralled’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved this book from start to finish, I was left wanting more of it. A definite favourite Erica James book’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Erica James is one of my long time favourite authors for a guaranteed agreeable read. Once again she has not disappointed me… Highly recommended to lovers of romantic escapism at its best.’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘What a fantastic read. I absolutely loved this story it had everything I love about a novel: really interesting characters, secrets, relationships and love interests. Really enjoyed the relationship between between Elfrida and Bess and their background stories… Highly recommend this book’ Amazon reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Read more less

A superb blend of humour and emotion in this moving tale of family love and sacrifice from the bestselling author of MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS and SUMMER AT THE LAKEMia Channing appears to have an enviable life: a beautiful home, a happy marriage, a job she enjoys and three grown-up children to whom she's devoted. But appearances can be deceptive...When the family gathers for her son's thirtieth birthday, he brings with him his latest girlfriend, who, to their surprise, has a nine-year-old daughter. Then, before the birthday cake has even been cut, Mia's youngest daughter Daisy has seized the opportunity to drop a bombshell. It's an evening that marks a turning point in all their lives, when old resentments and regrets surface and the carefully ordered world Mia has created begins to unravel.

Read more less

Erica James at her best - 'A very moving novel about life, families and love' Sunday Express'James is a great storyteller - a really enjoyable read' Woman's Weekly'A terrific tearjerker ... Humorous and sensitive' Bella'Brilliant!' Prizes MagazineHarriet Swift thinks she has the perfect life - a satisfying career, her own flat and a new boyfriend who respects her need for her own space. But then her only sister is killed in a car crash, and Harriet is forced to give up her well-ordered life to help look after her orphaned niece and nephew. Moving back to her childhood home in Maple Drive, and sacrificing so much, doesn't come easy and before long Harriet discovers things about her family she never believed possible. Meanwhile, the shabbiest house in Maple Drive has a new occupant. Will Hart also thinks he has the perfect life. Having swapped his successful career as a lawyer for that of an antiques dealer, he believes in living for the moment and is entirely happy with his lot. Then from nowhere tragedy strikes and he faces the biggest challenge of his life. Harriet and Will have no choice but to piece together a new future for themselves, but can they see it through?

Read more less

Set in the beautiful city of Venice, a captivating novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Summer at the Lake and Paradise House'A dramatically dark tale of the joy, pain and all-consuming passion of first love' Cosmopolitan'Intense, compelling stuff' OK Magazine'A captivating read: beautifully written and heartrendingly sad' Daily TelegraphVenice has been Lydia's home for many years, a place where she has found peace and fulfilment. Then one day she glimpses a young man's face in the crowd that threatens to change everything. He's a heart-stopping reminder of a dreadful secret she believed she had banished to the past...As a young child, Lydia and her sister were sent to live with grandparents they'd never even met before. It was a cruel and loveless new world for them and it forced Lydia to grow up fast. She learned to keep secrets and to trust sparingly, and through it all she was shadowed by grief and guilt.Now, twenty-eight years later, Lydia is persuaded to leave behind the safe new life she has created for herself and return to England to face the past. And maybe her future.The perfect escapist read for fans of Santa Montefiore and Katie Fforde.

Read more less

Praise for Erica James'A wonderfully humorous novel following the dysfunctional Baxter family' Woman's Own'Completely absorbing' Sarah Morgan'A brilliant and gripping family drama ... full of heart' My Weekly'A captivating read' OK!Home is where the heart is... Paradise House, with its gorgeous views of the sea, was the perfect home for the Baxter girls to grow up in - that was, until their mother ran away to 'find herself'. Since then, it's been down to Genevieve to keep the family-owned B&B afloat - which hasn't always been easy, when her father spends most of his time hiding away from the flirtatious local women! And there's little help from her sisters, either. Nattie is too busy offending her long-term admirer and Polly spends most of her days with her head in a book. But when Genevieve hears that a nearby tumbledown barn has been sold, she's forced to take a bittersweet trip down memory lane. Because sometimes coming home means facing the secrets of the past...

Read more less

'A genuinely heartwarming yet unsentimental tale - a perfect recipe for restoring, if only briefly, our damaged trust in humanity' SUNDAY EXPRESSIn order to spend more time with her four-year-old son Ned, Clara Costello trades in her secure, well-paid job and two-seater sports car for a camper van called Winnie, and the three of them set off on a mystery tour of England. Of course, her friends and family think she's gone mad. But when they arrive in Deaconsbridge, a small market town on the edge of the Peak District, Clara and Ned become drawn into the lives of the locals. Two in particular seem destined to get under Clara's skin: Gabriel Liberty, a cranky widower who terrifies his family; and Archie Merryman, a local dealer in second-hand furniture who possesses a heart of gold.Then Clara finds herself having to confront a problem much closer to home, and one she had hoped she would never have to face...

Read more less

'A beautifully crafted and hugely uplifting tale of friendship, history and love. A real gem' HEAT magazine'A captivating tale of love and loss' SUNDAY EXPRESS magazine'A stunning book, brilliantly written ... THE SONG OF THE SKYLARK will totally captivate you and your emotions, impossible to put down' Kaye ThorneLizzie has an unfortunate knack for attracting bad luck, but this time she's hit the jackpot. Losing her heart to her boss at the radio station where she works leads directly to losing her job, and with no money in the bank she's forced to swallow her pride and return home to her parents. As if that wasn't bad enough, her mother finds her work at the local care home for the elderly, and it's there that Lizzie meets Mrs Dallimore. In her nineties, Mrs Dallimore also finds herself in a situation which she's reluctantly coming to terms with. Old age has finally caught up with her, and with her life drawing to a close she gives in to the temptation to relive the past by sharing it with Lizzie.She tells Lizzie of the day when, as a young girl, and shortly before the outbreak of World War II, she left her home in America to cross the Atlantic to England where she hoped to meet her English grandparents for the first time. At best she hoped for a family reconciliation, but before long her visit turned into so much more. As Lizzie listens to Mrs Dallimore's story, she begins to realize that she's not the only person to attract bad luck, or make mistakes, and maybe things aren't so bad for her after all . . .

Read more less

A long summer holiday on the beautiful island of Corfu is just what Izzy Jordan needs, but is she prepared for the romance and drama? New edition of one of Erica James' very best.Torn between struggling to live up to the expectations of being a Modern Woman and ridding herself of the effect of a repressed upbringing, Izzy Jordan would be the first to admit that it's time to take stock of her life. She's thirty-one, with a teaching career on the skids - not surprising, really, given that she harbours a strong desire to lock her pupils in the art room cupboard and throw away the key. She also has a manipulative mother and an ex-boyfriend whose parting shot was to tell her she was boring in bed!So when she's invited to spend the summer on Corfu and is offered the chance of a no-strings holiday romance with the irresistible Theo, what should she do? Go for it, or listen to the voice of Modern Woman and tell him to sling his hook? Just as she thinks she's made up her mind, along comes Mark, whose turbulent past sets in motion a series of dramatic events...

Read more less

New edition of the Sunday Times bestseller - winner of the RNA Novel of the Year Award''A captivating read: beautifully written and heartrendingly sad'' TelegraphThe Gardens of Delight brochure promises the opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful gardens in the Lake Como area of Italy. For Lucy, the chance to go to Italy offers more than just gardens. Lake Como is where her father lives, and the last time she saw him was when she was just a teenager. Recently married Helen and her wealthy husband have just moved into the Old Rectory. With her husband spending so much time away from home, Helen throws herself into caring for the garden. But Helen needs help - and friends - and so decides to take the plunge and join the local Garden Club. Conrad isn''t the least bit interested in gardening. Widowed for five years, his life revolves around work and humouring Mac, his elderly uncle who lives with him, and who has

Read more less

'Someone had made a perfect job of creating a place in which to hide a notebook . . . there was no address, only a date: September 1943 . . .''The twists and turns in this unconventional love story will keep you guessing until the end' WOMAN'Stuffed full of engaging characters you'll root for from the start' DAILY MAILAshcombe was the most beautiful house Saskia had ever seen as a little girl. A rambling cottage on the edge of a Suffolk village, it provided a perfect sanctuary to hide from the tragedy which shattered her childhood.Now an adult, Saskia is still living at Ashcombe and as a book restorer devotes her days tending to broken and battered books, daydreaming about the people who had once turned their pages. When she discovers a hidden notebook - and realises someone has gone to a great deal of trouble to hide a story of their own - Saskia finds herself drawn into a heart-rending tale of wartime love.

Read more less

A secret that changed everything...'A great big romantic, emotional and involving read' Woman & Home'With marvellous writing, eccentric characters and a great plot, this has it all' Closer'This will make you giggle and weep in equal measure' WomanKatie Lavender has always thought she was pretty unshockable, until a year after her mother's death she receives a letter from a solicitor telling her that the man she thought was her father, in fact wasn't. Her real father, a man named Stirling Nightingale, has for years been building a trust fund for her. And now she's of an age to collect it. But Katie's not interested in the money. She wants to know about the man instead. So decides to do some snooping. She tracks him down to a beautiful riverside home on the night he's hosting a birthday party for his ninety-year-old mother. And as she's hovering outside, Katie is mistaken for a replacement waitress - an opportunity just too good to miss. And so Katie discovers that the Nightingales are far from your normal family...But what makes a normal family anyway?

Read more less

This summer, escape to Lake Como - where the scene is set for romance, fate and second chances...'A big hug of a novel that leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy' Woman'A tale of lost love, fate and second chances' NewFor Floriana, it is the place where the love of her life is getting married to another woman. And she's been invited to the wedding.Esme fell in love there for the first time - over sixty years ago. But what happened to the man who stole her heart, and changed the course of her life?Adam has buried himself in work to distract from his broken heart. A trip to Lake Como might just be the fresh start he needs...Even in the dazzling summer sun, the past casts a poignant shadow... But can the magic of the Italian lake finally set them all free? Let Erica James sweep you away...'Glorious escapism' Sunday Express Magazine'Joyously readable' Woman & Home'I wanted it to go on forever' Cathy Bramley

Read more less

A vibrant, often humorous tale of life, love - and infidelity - from the bestselling author of MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS and PARADISE HOUSE.Hilary had always thought she'd lived a charmed life. With a caring husband, David, and two lively children, she took an active part in both family and village life. Then, one Monday morning, Hilary's world is turned upside down. She discovers that David is having an affair. How could he? How could he put at risk their children and everything they have built together over the years? The question is, what should Hilary do? Turn a blind eye, much as neighbour Cindy has done over her own husband's various dalliances? Confront him, as her outspoken new friend Georgia suggests? Or perhaps she should throw herself at attractive newcomer to the village Nick Bradshaw...Whatever happens, it seems certain that for Hilary, life is never going to be quite the same again.

Read more less

'A brilliant read you'll find impossible to put down' Best'A Friends-style romantic comedy set in Cheshire, where a disparate group of people move into an old barn converted into cottages' Express'The characters are beautifully drawn, each of them totally believable ... the novel conjures up perfectly that hope of belonging and the need for peace. A Sense of Belonging is more than a mere book for the beach - it's a well-constructed story and a heart-warming read, all set to the tune of extremely good writing' Irish NewsIn the heart of the Cheshire countryside, Cholmford Hall Mews, a converted eighteenth-century barn, is far more than an exclusive home to its new inhabitants.For Jessica Lloyd, it is a haven where she can recover from a love affair long past its sell-by date; Amanda Fergusson, whose marriage is one of straightforward convenience, is determined to get the most out of the situation; for Kate Morris it offers a fresh start where her love for newly divorced Alec can flourish; and for Josh Crawford, his new home offers a sanctuary where he can come to terms with the most devastating news of his life. In their different ways, all the newcomers to Cholmford Hall Mews are searching for something - love, peace, a sense of belonging. But will they find rather more than they bargained for...?

Read more less

'Erica James' sensitive story of a woman coming to terms with guilt and grief is as sparklingly fresh as dew on the village's surrounding meadows ... thoroughly enjoyable' SUNDAY EXPRESS'Wry humour and romance ... Erica James is a breath of fresh air' DAILY MAILCharlotte Lawrence, widowed at thirty-four, decides to return to all things pre-Peter, and that means moving back to the Cheshire village of her childhood. It also means exchanging a clinical company flat for the pretty but overgrown garden of Ivy Cottage, and the constant attentions of her interfering sister Hilary. Most of all it means Alex, Ivy Cottage's drop-dead-gorgeous tenant, with whom Hilary is determined Charlotte should find love anew, and whose charming exterior hides his own secret tragedy...

Read more less

If you've ever dreamed of starting over, then this superbly entertaining novel from Erica James is just what you need...Alice Shoemaker habitually goes to great lengths to avoid telling the truth about herself and her past. After agreeing to help out a friend by shopping and cleaning for the unknown man staying at Cuckoo House, she soon becomes suspicious that her strange and obnoxiously rude client has something to hide... Clayton Miller's life is a mess. His career as one of the country's best comedy scriptwriters has stalled and his long-term girlfriend has left him for his ex-best friend and ex-writing partner. Just when he thinks his life couldn't get any worse, he commits a spectacularly public fall from grace and with the press hounding him, his agent banishes him to the middle of nowhere until the dust has settled. And there he meets Alice...When Alice and Clayton discover the truth about each other they form an unlikely friendship - until Alice discovers Clayton has betrayed her in the worst possible way.

Read more less

A captivating story about friendship, making changes, and learning to live life to the fullest from SUNDAY TIMES bestseller Erica JamesA cherished home, a circle of friends and a summer that will change everything...Linston End has been the summer holiday home for three families for many years. A rambling thatched house nestled on the water's edge on the Norfolk Broads, it's a haven of long, lazy picnics on the river, gin and tonics in the garden; a place to spend time together. But this year, the friends are rocked by unexpected news, and it seems that Linston End will never be the same again. For some, this summer feels like the end. For others, it might just be the beginning. . . 'Joyously readable' Woman & Home'I wanted it to go on forever' Cathy Bramley

Read more less

'A captivating read: beautifully written and heartrendingly sad' TelegraphThe Gardens of Delight brochure promises the opportunity to visit some of the most beautiful gardens in the Lake Como area of Italy. For Lucy, the chance to go to Italy offers more than just gardens. Lake Como is where her father lives, and the last time she saw him was when she was just a teenager. Recently married Helen and her wealthy husband have just moved into the Old Rectory. With her husband spending so much time away from home, Helen throws herself into caring for the garden. But Helen needs help - and friends - and so decides to take the plunge and join the local Garden Club. Conrad isn't the least bit interested in gardening. Widowed for five years, his life revolves around work and humouring Mac, his elderly uncle who lives with him, and who has expressed a desire to go on the Gardens of Delight tour. Reluctantly, Conrad agrees to accompany him. 'Anything for a peaceful life,' he concedes. But a peaceful life is the last thing any of them are in for...

Read more less

'A poignant read with plenty of laugh-out-loud moments' HEAT magazine'A great holiday read whether you're escaping to sunnier climes or curled up in front of a log fire' DAILY EXPRESS'I Must Stand Up for Myself More', promises Maggie Storm, who spends her days cleaning houses for people who often have more money than manners. Married to a man with as much sex appeal as Mr Blobby, she dreams of a life straight from the pages of a romantic novel. 'My Head Must Rule Over My Heart', promises Ella Moore, who, determined never to let her heart get the better of her again, is recovering from seven wasted years of failing to win over the daughter of the man with whom she wanted to spend the rest of her life. 'No More Women', promises Ethan Edwards, who, to distract himself from the depressing sham of his marriage, is a repeat offender when it comes to turning to other women for sexual consolation. But when Ella appears unexpectedly in his life, he finds himself turning to her for very different reasons...

Read more less

'A captivating novel of love, deception and misunderstanding' WOMANDan and Sally Oliver and their friend Chloe Hennessey are lucky to be alive. Three years on, after surviving one of the world's biggest natural disasters - the Boxing Day tsunami - their lives have changed dramatically.Dan and Sally are now parents. Dan is enjoying being a stay-at-home father taking care of their young son, and Sally is the breadwinner and loves her job as a partner in a Manchester law firm. The arrangement has so far worked well, but when Dan starts to question whether Sally has got her priorities right, the cracks in their marriage begin to appear. Dan and Sally have everything Chloe wishes for in life - a happy marriage and a beautiful child. Dumped by her long-term boyfriend just weeks after the tsunami, she's been on a mission ever since to find the perfect father for the child she craves. When she meets Seth Hawthorne, she thinks she may have hit the jackpot. But is Seth the man she thinks he is?IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS is a moving, compelling story of how a life can change in a heartbeat.

Read more less

A wonderfully fresh novel about love and life from the Sunday Times bestselling author of MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS and PARADISE HOUSEEllen has been living on her own in a picturesque if damp cottage in Cheshire since her husband abandoned her to go and live with another woman in Provence. Having married once for love, she is now determined that the second time around it will be for money. Close at hand is Duncan, her not unattractive, and enticingly single, divorce lawyer...But then two new people enter her life: Jo-Jo, a homeless girl several months pregnant, and Matthew, an artist who paints murals in country houses and who, on first meeting Ellen, openly criticises her for being mercenary and devious. But, as hostility gives way to friendship, Ellen realises that she has wavered off course from her original plan and has to remind herself very strongly indeed that Duncan is the man for her...

Read more less

'A captivating read: beautifully written and heartrendingly sad' Daily Telegraph'A poignant story, written with humour and emotion' Daily Mail'Heartbreaking, gripping novel about one woman's attempt to sort out her best friend's marriage' Woman & HomeIt's almost Christmas. But for Ali, the season of good cheer is the anniversary of her baby's death. As she stands at her son's grave, she is poignantly aware of how dramatically her life has changed. Determined to stand on her own two feet and get through Christmas alone, Ali turns down her ex-husband's unexpected invitation to spend the holiday with him and his father, only to give in to her best friend's cajoling to share the festive season with her. The only trouble is, it means having to be nice to Sarah's awful husband, Trevor.Sarah may be a saint for putting up with Trevor, but Ali is no such thing, and as his cranky behaviour escalates, she takes it upon herself, in an extraordinary act of daring impetuosity, to play God with her friend's incomprehensible marriage. But Ali's meddling has consequences even she could not have foreseen...

Read more less

Meet Bertie Wiggins, a champion ear wiggler, in Bertie Wiggins' Amazing Ears. Unfortunately, no one is interested in Bertie's ear wiggling, not even his mum and dad. They would prefer Bertie to be good at sums. But one day Bertie gets a chance to show off his skill. TreeTops Fiction contains a wide range of quality stories enabling children to explore and develop their own reading tastes and interests. It contains stories from a variety of genres including humour, sci-fi, adventure, mystery and historical fiction. These exciting stories are ideal for introducing children to a wide selection of authors and illustrators. There is huge variety to ensure every reader finds books they will enjoy and can read. Books contain inside cover notes to support children in their reading. Help with children's reading development also available at www.oxfordowl.co.uk. The books are finely levelled, making it easy to match every child to the right book.

Read more less