Search results for ""author lesley pearse""

Dark secrets will be revealed in this unputdownable novel from international NO.1 BESTSELLING author Lesley Pearse'Gripping from start to finish' 5***** Reader Review________A woman washes up on a Sussex beach, barely alive.She's wearing an old-fashioned dress and her hair has been hacked off.There are signs she has been bound by her wrists and ankles.She doesn't know how she ended up there, or even her own name.The police are baffled and when the doctors examine her, they make a shocking discovery: She has recently given birth.Who is she?And where is her baby?________'Storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

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Lose yourself in this powerful historical novel based on a real life tragedy from the internationally bestselling author Lesley PearseFor one girl, betrayal goes hand in hand with trust . . .When their father tragically kills their mother, Dulcie and her sister are sent to an orphanage. Told that a 'better life' awaits them in another country, they are shipped off to Australia.But the promises made turn out to be lies.And it seems to Dulcie that everyone who ever said 'trust me' somehow betrayed that trust. So when she finds a kindred spirit in Ross, another orphanage survivor, hope swells in her heart.But can she ever get over the past betrayals and learn to trust again?And can she fight not only for herself, but also for her sister?Praise for Lesley Pearse:'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

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Betty is running for her life . . . The gripping Sunday Times bestseller about one woman doing whatever it takes to survive'You are in the story within minutes of opening the book . . . A brilliant story full of twists and turns' 5***** Reader Review'Compelling, rich in detail and vividly told. Storytelling at its best' Daily Express'A gripping read. It kept me hooked from the start' 5***** Reader ReviewFROM THE MULTI-MILLION COPY BESTSELLING AUTHOR LESLEY PEARSE_________ When her husband returns from the war broken and haunted, Betty knows her marriage is doomed. So she escapes. On the run and armed with a new identity, Betty becomes penniless and alone, quickly realising that starting again is much harder than she thought. And she never imagined it could end in murder . . . But sometimes you have to keep running if you want to survive. _________'A pacy page-turner' Woman & Home'Don't miss this suspenseful and emotional read' My Weekly Praise for Lesley Pearse: 'Gripping and suspenseful' Daily Express 'Evocative, compelling, told from the heart' Sunday Express 'Gripping and full of twists' My Weekly

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From the internationally bestselling author Lesley Pearse comes the compulsive page-turner about a girl searching for the truth, which may be a little too close to home . . .Her family is threatened and only she can save it.When sixteen-year-old Charlie witnesses a brutal attack on her mother by two strangers she is shocked and terrified.But after talking to the police, she realises that her father's business dealings can't be so innocent . . .With her father away, it is left to Charlie to protect her mother. And somehow she must find out who wants to hurt her family - and why - without losing faith in her beloved parents.Can she unravel the mysteries of the past that haunt her family?Or will the truth wreck everything she loves?___________'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'Evocative, compelling' Sunday Express'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

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Be whisked away in the moving story of a girl travelling far and wide for a better life, from the internationally bestselling author Lesley PearseTragedy sent her on a journey far from home . . .Fifteen-year-old Beth's life is shattered when she and her brother Sam are orphaned.Believing that only in America can they make a fresh start, brother and sister leave Liverpool and embark on the greatest adventure of their lives.In New York, Beth's talent with the fiddle earns her the friendship of gamblers, chancers and other rogues. Dodging trouble across America, Beth and her friends head for the Klondike river in search of gold.But how far must Beth go to find happiness?And will her travels lead this gypsy to a place she can ever call home?Praise for Lesley Pearse:'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

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Discover a compelling story of loyalty, love and the strength of friendship in war-torn Britain, from the international bestselling author Lesley Pearse'Glorious, heartwarming' Woman & Home'Full of love, passion and heartbreak' Best___________Spring 1935.On London's Hampstead Heath, two girls meet by chance: well-mannered and smartly dressed Verity and dishevelled and grubby Ruby.Somehow, the mismatched pair form an instant friendship strong enough to survive their parent's disapproval.When war engulfs the country - sending Ruby to Devon while Verity struggles to find a new beginning under a shadow from her past - the girls are convinced they will always be there for each other.Until the day one breaks the other's heart . . .Can Verity and Ruby find a way back to each other before it's too late?___________'Yet another great Lesley Pearse novel' Woman'Epic romantic drama set in post-war London' Heat'A heart-warming and evocative tale that is a real delight to read' Sun'A narrative that gallops along, this is quintessential Pearse that will delight her army of readers' Daily Mail'Evocative, compelling, told from the heart' Sunday Express'Utterly riveting, brilliant' Closer

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Rosie is a compelling novel by the bestselling author Lesley Pearse.Her brutal, violent family will be the death of her . . .Without a mother, Rosie is at the mercy of her father and thuggish brothers. Then one day a friend comes to the farm in the form of cockney housekeeper Heather Farley. But soon enough Heather vanishes, abandoning Rosie to her fate. Only when Thomas Farley comes to find his sister several years later, does Rosie learn the terrible truth about Heather - and her family.Running away from home, she finds herself pursued by the man who brought ruin on her family. Is he out to get her too? Or could he have some other reason for chasing her?Lesley Pearse, author of the UK and international best-sellers Stolen and Belle, tells a captivating and powerful story of family and secrets in her compelling novel Rosie. If you like Susan Lewis, you'll love Lesley Pearse. Praise for Lesley Pearse:'With characters it is impossible not to care about ... this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

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From the internationally bestselling author Lesley Pearse comes a moving story of family, adoption and identityLosing her adopted mother threatens all she's ever had . . .Daisy was adopted. But when her mother dies, she finds her secure existence thrown into turmoil by the discovery of a scrapbook.Inside it is information about her real mother.However, when Daisy drops everything to go in search of her roots, she uncovers a harrowing story of greed, misery and corruption. She also risks hurting her adored Dad, the only true family she has left.Can she cope with the truth about her real parents?And more importantly, who is the real Daisy?___________'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

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Uncover a web of thrilling secrets and injustices in this gripping novel from international bestselling author Lesley PearseShe was convicted of killing her best friend . . .Scotland, 1995.Laura Brannigan has been put away for murder.She insists that she didn't kill Jackie. But her search for true justice seems futile. Then she receives a letter that takes her back to her youth and the memory of an old love, Stuart . . .Twenty years ago was a heady time for Laura: she'd escaped an abusive home, and together with Jackie they had made a fresh start. They had sworn to be sisters forever.What could have possibly gone so wrong?And why is Stuart writing to her now?Does he believe Laura's innocence and can he help free her from prison . . . and her past?Praise for Lesley Pearse:'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

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Discover this thrilling exploration of love, life and morality from the internationally bestselling author Lesley PearseShe defied her parents and married for love . . .Following her heart, Fifi moves with Dan to London where they rent a seedy flat in Dale Street, Kennington.Though Fifi must now become acquainted with squalor, she is soon drawn into the goings on behind the shabby front doors of her new neighbours.But it is the Muckles, at number 11, who are the street's focus. Rumours of criminal depravity and shocking behaviour are rife.So when Fifi steps in to help their youngest child, she risks the wrath of this frightening family.Suddenly, not only her marriage and her family, but the lives of all the inhabitants of Dale Street are at the mercy of the immoral Muckles . . .Praise for Lesley Pearse:'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

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From the internationally bestselling author Lesley Pearse comes the compelling tale of one girl caught in a family mystery, a struggle against cruelty and a quest for loveWithout her mother she is alone in the world . . .1930.Twelve-year-old Adele is placed in a bleak, cruel children's home after a family tragedy drives her mother to madness. But when trust is betrayed Adele has no choice but to run away . . .Alone and friendless, she heads for Sussex, to seek out the grandmother she has never known. However, the journey, without food or shelter, leaves her desperately ill.Surrounded by the beautiful Rye Marshes, Adele is finally nursed back to health.Can she now dream of a new life?And what will happen when her mother reappears, bearing shocking family secrets?Praise for Lesley Pearse:'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'Utterly riveting, brilliant' Closer'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

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A heartbreaking, enduring and masterfully told story set in the battlefields of the First World War from the international number one bestselling author Lesley PearseWar threatens to take all she has loved and lived for . . .On the outbreak of war, Belle Reilly's husband Jimmy enlists and heads for the deadly trenches of northern France. But Belle knows she cannot stand idly by when so many are sacrificing their lives.Volunteering to help battlefield wounded, Belle is posted to France as a Red Cross ambulance driver. There, a tragic accident brings her face to face with Etienne - a man from her past she's never quite forgotten.Torn between forbidden passion, loyalty and love, Belle is caught in an impossible situation.Will she succumb to the dark forces of this most brutal of wars?Or will fate intervene and finally lead her to lasting happiness?_________'Pearse will pull your heartstrings' Sun'Characters it is impossible not to care about' Daily Mail'An addictive tear-jerker with characters you'll adore, laugh with and cry for' Bella'Full of love, passion and heartbreak' Best'Glorious, heartwarming' Woman & Home

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Take a journey across America with a poor Victorian flower girl in her epic journey to a better life, from the internationally bestselling author Lesley PearseAs voted by readers as their favourite Lesley Pearse novel___________One good deed takes her into another world . . .Sixteen-year-old Matilda is a poor Covent Garden flower girl until the day she saves the life of Tabitha, a minister's daughter. Welcomed into Tabitha's family, Matilda is offered the chance of a lifetime.She leaves behind London's slums and enters the darkest corners of New York. Traveling across the vast plains to the Wild West, she finds herself in San Francisco, a city in the grip of the gold rush.Streetwise and strong-willed, Matilda forges a new life for herself and Tabitha among pioneers like Captain James Russell - a man to whom she is deeply attracted.Yet a civil war will soon rip apart this new nation . . .Can Matilda and those she loves brave separation and carry on, never looking back?___________'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'Heart-warming and evocative . . . a real delight to read' Sun'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella'Utterly riveting, brilliant' Closer'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

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THE GRIPPING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERWhat happens when the person closest to you has led a life of deception?''Full of suspense and intriguing characters'' MY WEEKLY''A gritty, gripping drama'' WOMAN''S WEEKLY _______After the funeral of her mother, Sally, Alice Kent is approached by a man named Angus Tweedy. He claims to be her father and tells her that he served time in prison for marrying Sally bigamously.What does he hope to gain by telling her this now, thirty years on?How can her adored dad Ralph not be her true father?And why did her mother betray her so badly?She had accepted Sally''s many faults, and her reluctance to ever speak of the past. But faced with this staggering deception, Alice knows she must uncover the whole truth about her mother.Whatever the cost.As Alice journeys into the past she discovers her mother may never have been the woma

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Discover the addictive and gripping novel from the bestselling author of You'll Never See Me Again, Lesley Pearse'A gripping novel' HELLO! Magazine_______________London, 1960.The lives of teenage twins Maisy and Duncan change for ever the night their mother is sent away.Sent to live in the New Forest with their cold-hearted grandmother, Mrs Mitcham, they feel unloved and abandoned.And when one day Duncan doesn't come home from exploring in the forest, no one - least of all his grandmother - appears to care about his disappearance. The police, who've found the bodies of other missing boys, offer little hope of finding Duncan alive.Yet Maisy refuses to give up.Though she doesn't know the woods well, she knows someone who does. The strange old woman who lives at their heart . . .Dare Maisy enlist the help of the woman in the wood?And what will she find if she does?_______________'A real page-turner, a family story that is multi-layered just as you'd expect from Lesley Pearse, who is deservedly one of the world's favourite story tellers' My Weekly'Characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail

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The enthralling Sunday Times bestselling story of a young female journalist exposing murder and lies in her search for the truth, from the international bestseller Lesley PearseTHE SUNDAY TIMES TOP 5 BESTSELLER AND WINNER OF THE WOMAN & HOME BOOK CHOICE AWARD 2020'A compelling page-turner' DAILY MAIL______Find the liar. Find the killer . . .Amelia White didn't expect her career as a reporter to start like this: by finding a young woman's body, just around the corner from her Shepherd's Bush bedsit.With rumours already spreading about this poor murder victim, she seizes her chance to write the true story.But when more bodies are found, the police are baffled.Reporting on the story, Amelia meets witnesses as well as suspects. If she can only work out who the liar among them is, she may be able to stop the murders.Or might she turn herself into the next victim? . . .Gripping, suspenseful and completely unputdownable, Liar will have you on the very edge of your seat.______'Gripping and suspenseful, a fast-paced murder mystery, love story and a young woman's journey of self-discovery' Daily Express'This latest book from master storyteller Lesley Pearse is gripping and full of twists. With an addictive and pacy plot, this will keep you guessing until the end' My Weekly'A page turner full of suspense, compelling and heartwarming, Liar is a brilliant read. I couldn't put it down' Woman's Way'Gripping and suspenseful - a murder mystery, love story and journey of self discovery' S MagazinePraise for Lesley Pearse'Storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'Evocative, compelling, told from the heart' Sunday Express'Intriguing, heart-tugging, beautifully written' CloserLesley Pease, Sunday Times Top 5 bestseller, July 2022

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DISCOVER THE CAPTIVATING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF YOU'LL NEVER SEE ME AGAIN, LESLEY PEARSEIs there a murderer across the street?1964.Twenty-three-year-old Katy Speed is fascinated by glamorous Gloria and the goings-on at her house over the road.Who are the mysterious women that keep coming and going in the strange black car?Then one night, Gloria's house burns to the ground. Bodies are found in the wreckage.And Katy's horror turns to disbelief when her own father is arrested and charged with murder.Determined to prove his innocence, Katy sets out to uncover the truth about the mysterious house across the street and find the real murderer.But that means risking her own life . . ._________* * * * * - Heat'Must read' Saturday Express'Heart-warming and evocative, a real delight to read' Sun'A narrative that gallops along, this is quintessential Pearse that will delight her army of readers' Daily Mail'Glorious, heartwarming' Woman & Home'Evocative, compelling, told from the heart' Sunday Express'Gripping' Hello

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Would you stand by your childhood best friend if they turned out to be a murderer? The unputdownable tale of passion, friendship and heartbreak from the Sunday Times bestselling author of LIAR Lesley Pearse'Had me gripped from start to end' 5***** READER REVIEW'Outstanding . . . Lesley Pearse never disappoints' 5***** READER REVIEW_________She killed two people in cold blood . . . But why?Susan is the woman who walked in a doctor's surgery one day and committed murder.Beth is the lawyer assigned to defend Susan. But her client is uncooperative.Until both women realise that twenty-nine years earlier, they were childhood friends . . .While the evidence mounts up, their friendship starts to regrow.But for one of them, there can be no happy ending . . ._________'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

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_______________________________When nine-year-old orphan Georgia James is unexpectedly fostered by the kindly Celia and her bank manager husband she can hardly believe her luck. But then - on her fifteenth birthday - she suffers the cruellest betrayal of all at the hands of her foster father and is forced to run away, leaving everything she loves behind her. Penniless, sleeping rough, Georgia is soon introduced to the sleazy Soho world of brassy strippers, sweat shops, camaraderie and hardship. Fired by a fierce ambition, blessed with an extraordinary voice, her long struggle for fame and fortune begins. But even when she reaches the top she finds that the scars of the past can open up to ruin her... Steeped in atmosphere and raw emotion, Georgia is the story of a determination to succeed against all the odds and of a burning first love.

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''I couldn't put this book down. Although harrowing at times, Lesley's indomitable spirit shines through. What an inspiration, what a book!'' Katie Fforde''More extraordinary than any plot twist in Pearse''s novels'' Mail on SundayREAD THE SPELLBINDING MEMOIR NOWOne of the world's bestselling storytellers, Lesley Pearse writes brilliantly about survivors. Why? Because she is one herself . . .Born during the Second World War, Lesley's innocence came to an abrupt end when a neighbour found her, aged 3, coatless in the snow. The mother she'd been unable to wake had been dead for days. Sent to an orphanage, Lesley soon learned adults couldn't always be trusted.As a teenager in the swinging sixties, she took herself to London. Here, the second great tragedy of her life occurred. Falling pregnant, she was sent to a mother and baby home, and watched helplessly as her newborn was taken from her.But like so

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Discover the compelling story of courage, friendship and love from the bestselling author of You'll Never See Me Again, Lesley Pearse'A heart-warming and evocative tale . . . a real delight to read' SunCoronation Day, 1953.Molly Heywood slips away from the celebrations and makes a shocking discovery: her friend Cassie is dead and her six-year-old daughter Petal has vanished without a trace.The only clue is a letter from London, where Cassie once lived. Now it is up to Molly to head there and uncover the past that her friend kept so well hidden.The closer Molly gets to the truth, the more perilous her journey becomes.She has given up everything - her home, happiness and a chance at love - all to find Petal . . .But is she also risking her life?________'Epic romantic drama set in post-war London' Heat Magazine'A narrative that gallops along, this is quintessential Pearse that will delight her army of readers' Daily Mail'Must have' Sunday Express'Yet another great Lesley Pearse novel' Woman Magazine

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Discover the captivating story of courage, daring and love from the No. 1 international bestseller Lesley Pearse'Evocative, compelling, told from the heart' Sunday ExpressWith her reputation in tatters, 17-year-old Mari needs to get away from the gossip of her small town.So the chance to leave for London seems like the perfect fresh start.But war is brewing . . .And when London is overwhelmed by the Blitz, Mari's glamorous new life is blown apart.Lost and alone, she must learn what it means to survive . . .____________'Utterly riveting, brilliant' Closer'Characters it is impossible not to care about' Daily Mail'Full of love, passion and heartbreak' Best'Glorious, heartwarming' Woman & Home

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From the bestselling author of You'll Never See Me Again comes a compelling story about an old scandal and its consequences . . .Her existence would be the ruin of her mother.Baby Hope was the unfortunate proof of Lady Harvey's adultery.Smuggled out of a privileged aristocratic household to a nearby village, her true identity is kept secret as she grows up in the arms of the poor, but loving, Renton family.When the day comes for Hope to pay her way, what could be more natural than being taken into service by the Harveys?However, when she sees something she should not, she is blackmailed into leaving her beloved Rentons forever . . .Destitute and on the streets of an unfriendly city, Hope's courage and kindness sees her become a nurse destined for the horrific battlefields of the Crimea.But will Hope ever come home and uncover the true story of her birth?Praise for Lesley Pearse'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella'Glorious, heartwarming' Woman & Home'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

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Ellie is a sweet-natured brunette, generous of heart with a sparkling smile and an accent which reveals her East End background. Bonny is beautiful and spoilt, with cascades of blonde hair, the brightest pair of blue eyes and a mouth like Cupid's bow. The two girls meet in London at the end of the war when, seduced by two American airmen, they pool their wits and resources and set off to make a living on the stage. Set against the hardship and austerity of post-war Britain, and the glamour and ruthlessness of life in variety theatre, their story is one of sacrifice and burning ambition. But most of all of a powerful friendship that lasts against all odds.

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What do you do when your dream home becomes your worst nightmare? . . . THE GRIPPING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER FROM LESLEY PEARSE'A riveting page-turner' Woman's Weekly'A real page turner from beginning to end' 5***** Reader Review'Sensational storytelling' My Weekly________In Willow Close, everyone is a suspect . . .Nina and Conrad thought they'd discovered their dream home.But on the day they move in, a body is found - the victim attacked and killed in the woods.As police interview witnesses, they soon discover each resident hiding their own secrets. Because few in the Close are exactly who they seem . . .Nina and Conrad thought they'd found their dream home.Now, it might just be their worst nightmare . . .________READERS ARE GRIPPED BY SUSPECTS:'Kept me reading late in to the night . . . a great story with twists and turns' 5***** Reader Review'Gripping with lots of twists' 5***** Reader Review'Lesley Pearse knows how to bring her characters alive' 5***** Reader Review'A gripping storyline. Lesley at her best' 5***** Reader Review'A master storyteller' 5***** Reader Review'A suspenseful domestic drama' 5***** Reader Review

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Discover the story of a good woman with a terrible, haunting secretEve should never have married Don Hathaway . . . The man is a bully but, after one drunken rage too many, Eve takes their children and leaves him. Don, however, is bitter. And getting away from him entirely proves impossible. Until the day Eve decides to teach Don a lesson and it all goes horribly, hideously wrong. And this poor mother fears she's lost everything.Eve loves her children so much, but now she bears a terrible burden that she cannot ever share. And she knows it won't be long before her past catches up with her.Eve desperately wants to hide from the truth. But is she risking everything?PRAISE FOR LESLEY PEARSE: ''Storytelling at its very best'' Daily Mail ''Gripping and suspenseful'' Daily Express

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She committed the ultimate betrayal. Now someone knows the truth . . .Discover the gripping and page-turning new novel from Sunday Times bestseller Lesley Pearse'An engrossing read' WOMAN'S WEEKLY___________Eve should never have married Don Hathaway. Yes, he gave her two beautiful children - Olly and Tabitha - but he is a bully. Worse than that, he hurts her.But, after one drunken rage too many, she has the courage to leave him. Eve is warned that it's a difficult path, yet she needs to give her children hope for the future.Don, however, is bitter. And getting away from him entirely proves impossible.Until the day Eve tries to teach him a lesson - and it all goes horribly wrong . . .Eve loves her children, but now she carries a terrible burden that she dares not share.Can she protect her family from the truth? Or has she betrayed their trust forever?___________PRAISE FOR LESLEY PEARSE:'Storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'Gripping and suspenseful' Daily Express'A twisting and intense read' Woman's Own

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Discover the intense and gripping story of a daughter uncovering her mother's secret past from the international bestseller Lesley PearseEva's life was secure, until the death of her mother changed everything.For when Flora leaves Eva a London artist's studio in her will, she finds her mother had a secret past.In the studio's attic are Flora's paintings and diaries, and Eva learns her mother was a popular artist in the swinging sixties. Eva's hunt for answers uncovers clues to a shocking crime which led Flora to hide her past.But will discovering the truth destroy Eva's belief in everything she holds dear?And will this journey lead her and those she loves into danger?___________'Engrossing and emotional, it's another winner from Lesley Pearse' Woman's Own'I absolutely loved this book. The characters are likeable and the writing is always brilliant' Sun'Intriguing, heart-tugging, beautifully written' Closer

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Be transported from London to New Orleans and beyond in this powerful, moving historical novel from the international bestseller Lesley PearseShe witnessed a murder - and now her life is in danger . . .Fifteen year-old Belle, though raised in a London brothel, is an innocent young girl. But when she witnesses one of the girls brutally strangled by a client, she is cast into a cruel, heartless world.Snatched from the streets and sold into prostitution, she is made a courtesan in New Orleans. At the mercy of desperate men who crave her beauty and will do anything to keep her, Belle's dreams of home, family and freedom appear futile.Are Belle's courage and spirit strong enough to help her escape?And what will await her at the end of the long, dangerous journey home?Praise for Lesley Pearse'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'Lose yourself in this epic saga' Bella'Glorious, heartwarming' Woman & Home'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly

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Discover the moving novel based on a true story about a woman triumphing against overwhelming odds, from the international bestseller Lesley PearseShe made one mistake, and now she'll never see home again . . .Mary, a Cornish mariner's daughter, makes the biggest mistake of her short life when she steals a silk hat. Convicted and sentenced to be transported to Australia, she endures horrific conditions aboard ship before landing in a brutal and barbaric country.It will take all her courage just to survive.But Mary is also determined to make something of herself in this rugged man's world.And she dreams that one day she will find a way of crossing the cruel seas that lie between her and home . . ._________'With characters it is impossible not to care about . . . this is storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'An emotional and moving epic you won't forget in a hurry' Woman's Weekly'Utterly riveting, brilliant' Closer

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A heartbreaking historical novel from the No.1 bestselling author of StolenCharity Stratton's bleak childhood is changed for ever when both her parents are killed in a fire. Separated by the authorities from her younger brothers and sister, Charity is sent out to work as a skivvy in a boys' boarding school. Her loneliness and misery are eased when she falls deeply in love with the dashing but fickle sixth-former, Hugh Mainwaring, but when she discovers she is pregnant with Hugh's baby she soon realises just how alone she really is. Determined to be reunited with her siblings and to make something of herself, Charity runs away to London and begins to forge a new life.

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Camellia Norton is orphaned at fifteen when her mother's body is fished from a river in rural Sussex. And when she discovers a cache of letters amongst her mother's effects she realises that the past she has always been so sure of has been built on a tissue of lies. Devastated, she runs away to London, and loses herself in a metropolis that offers opportunity, temptation and danger, especially to a young girl hungry for love and acceptance. But her past won't stay buried forever, and eventually Camellia begins the long journey towards uncovering the truth about her background, and also, ultimately, about herself.

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In the East End, twelve-year-old Tara witnesses her villain of a father almost kill her mother. She forges a determination then and there to change her life. This is the story of three beautiful and talented women. Mabel, whose great love for a gambling man has brought her close to insanity; gentle Amy, who marries a man brutalised by war and failure; and Tara, who is hungry for success and life on her own terms. To have both, she must battle against the legacy these two women have left her, the deep prejudices and dangers of Whitechapel in the 1960s - with its gang leaders, rogues, market traders and dolly birds - and the passionate love she has had since girlhood for the charming wideboy and villain, Harry Collins.

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THE GRIPPING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER JULY 2022What happens when the person closest to you has led a life of deception?'Full of suspense and intriguing characters' MY WEEKLY'A gritty, gripping drama' WOMAN'S WEEKLY_______No one wants to believe their mother is a liar . . .After her mother's funeral, Alice Kent is approached by a man who insists he's her real father. Initially upset and disbelieving, Alice soon discovers that tugging at this loose thread unravels the expertly woven tapestry of lies which was her mother Sally's life.Faced with this staggering deception, Alice decides she must learn the whole, terrible truth about her mother.But is she prepared for the dark journey back to Sally's traumatic childhood and the evil forces which came to shape the woman who claimed to love her?_______'Brilliantly builds intrigue' WOMAN & HOME'A raw, truthful and moving account, building intrigue as Alice gradually uncovers her mother's life of deception, lies - and love' WOMAN'S WEEKLY'Written with Pearse's typically engaging and effortless style of storytelling, Deception is an intriguing book of highs, lows, struggles and perseverance' CULTUREFLYPraise for Lesley Pearse'Storytelling at its very best' Daily Mail'Gripping and suspenseful' Daily Express 'A twisting and intense read' Woman's Own

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'Funny, stark, fascinating' THE INDEPENDENT'An extraordinary celebration of a bygone era' KATE THOMPSON, author of The Stepney Doorstep Society'A vivid portrait of the post-war years, but also a unique community spirit that is in danger of being lost forever' Choice Magazine *** Featured on BBC RADIO, WOMAN & HOME, PEOPLE'S FRIEND, INSIDE SOAP & LONDON LIVE!***Life in Cockney London was tough in the post-war years. The government's broken promises had led to a chronic housing shortage, rampant crime and families living in squalor. But one thing prevailed: the unbeatable spirit of the East End, a tight-knit community who pulled through the dark times with humour and heart.Drawing on both family history and her own memories of growing up in the 1950s and '60s, as well as her working life as a district nurse and local police officer, Jean Fullerton vividly depicts this fascinating part of London - from tin baths, to jellied eels, to tigers in a Wapping warehouse.***Includes a bonus 8-page photo plate section!***-FIND OUT WHY READERS ARE FALLING IN LOVE WITH JEAN FULLERTON: 'Food for the soul, it's simply deliciously readable and enjoyable' LoveReading'Charming and full of detail... You will ride emotional highs and lows... Beautifully written' The Lady on A Ration Book Daughter 'A delightful, well researched story' bestselling author Lesley Pearse'A real page-turner with larger-than-life characters and convincing period detail' Daily Express

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'An enthralling page-turner' DILLY COURT'A heart-warming WW2 love story' ROSIE GOODWIN'A great new series from the queen of East End sagas' ELAINE EVEREST A brand new historical romance series from Jean Fullerton, charting the loves, hopes and heartaches of three women who move into a rectory in Stepney, East London during WW2.*East London, 1940. Prue Carmichael never dreamed that she'd end up working at a railway yard. But when her reverend father is called up to Stepney, she and her family are uprooted from their country home for a new life in the turbulent city.Determined to help with the war effort, Prue signs up for work and soon becomes intrigued by handsome train engineer Jack Quinn. But as the spark between them grows apparent, so does his troubled past - a past that Prue's mother would certainly not approve of.In between cleaning train carriages and helping to shelter Jewish refugees, Prue manages to stay busy. But she has more than one admirer, and when Jack is recruited into Churchill's secret army, a very different suitor begins to pursue her.As air raid sirens sound overhead, Prue Carmichael is facing her own battle - the fight between her heart and her head . . .Amidst the ruins of war, will Prue and Jack's love find a way?*PRAISE FOR JEAN FULLERTON 'Food for the soul, it's simply deliciously readable and enjoyable' Liz Robinson, LoveReading'Charming and full of detail... You will ride emotional highs and lows... Beautifully written' The Lady'A delightful, well researched story' bestselling author Lesley Pearse

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'An enthralling page-turner' DILLY COURT'A heart-warming WW2 love story' ROSIE GOODWIN'The queen of East End sagas' ELAINE EVEREST Jean Fullerton, the RNA-shortlisted queen of the East End, returns with the final nostalgic and heart-warming story of the Brogan family. _____In the final days of war, only love will pull her through . . . Queenie Brogan wasn't always an East End matriarch. Many years ago, before she married Fergus, she was Philomena Dooley, a daughter of Irish Travellers, planning to wed her childhood sweetheart, Patrick Mahone. But when tragedy struck and Patrick's narrow-minded sister, Nora, intervened, the lovers were torn apart.Fate can be cruel, and when Queenie arrives in London she finds that Patrick Mahone is her parish priest, and that the love she had tried to suppress flares again in her heart.But now in the final months of WW2, Queenie discovers Father Mahone is dying and must face losing him forever. Can she finally tell him the secret she has kept for over fifty years or will Nora once again come between them?And if Queenie does decide to finally tell Patrick, could the truth destroy the Brogan family?___Praise for Jean Fullerton: 'Charming and full of detail... You will ride emotional highs and lows... Beautifully written' The Lady on A Ration Book Daughter'A delightful, well researched story' bestselling author Lesley Pearse*What are readers saying about Jean Fullerton?'I loved it. Easy to read and loveable characters. If you love novels set during WW2 then this is a must read.''A must-read story that I'd strongly recommend for readers who enjoy historical family stories.''This author never fails to keep you enthralled with each page. Hopefully this isn't the last we see of the Brogans.'THE RATION BOOK SERIESA Ration Book DreamA Ration Book Christmas A Ration Book Childhood A Ration Book WeddingA Ration Book DaughterA Ration Book Christmas KissA Ration Book Christmas Broadcast A Ration Book Victory

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