Search results for ""Author Karen Swan""

Secrets, betrayal and shocking revelations await in Sweden’s stunning holiday islands . . . The Hidden Beach is the addictive page-turner by bestselling author, Karen Swan.Two’s a love story. Three’s a crowd.In Stockholm’s oldest quarter, Bell Everhurst loves her job working as a nanny for the rich and charming Hanna and Max Mogert, caring for their three children.But one morning, everything changes. A woman from a clinic Bell has never heard of asks her to pass on the message that Hanna’s husband is awake. But the man isn’t her husband Max.As the truth about Hanna’s past is revealed, the consequences are devastating. As the family heads off to spend their summer on Sweden’s idyllic islands, will Bell be caught in the crossfire?‘Deliciously glamorous, irresistibly romantic!’ - Hello!Enjoy more of Karen Swan's captivating seasonal novels: The Greek Escape and The Rome Affair.

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With stunning locations and page-turning tension, The Paris Secret is an intense and gripping tale from bestselling author Karen Swan, the perfect escapism for fans of Santa Montefiore.Not every door should be opened . . .Somewhere along the cobbled streets of Paris, an apartment lies thick with dust and secrets: full of priceless artworks hidden away for decades.High-flying fine art agent Flora from London, more comfortable with the tension of a million-pound auction than a cosy candlelit dinner for two, is called in to assess these suddenly discovered treasures. As an expert in her field, she must trace the history of each painting and discover who has concealed them for so long.Thrown in amongst the glamorous Vermeil family as they move between Paris and Antibes, Flora begins to discover that things aren’t all that they seem, while back at home her own family is recoiling from a seismic shock. The terse and brooding Xavier Vermeil seems intent on forcing Flora out of his family’s affairs – but just what is he hiding?'The next best thing to jumping on the Eurostar and being there' – Chris Manby, author of Three Days in Florence'Escaping into a world of art, beauty and heartbreaking history, I was caught on page one and didn’t put it down until I finished it' – Liz Fenwick, author of The Cornish HouseEnjoy more of Karen Swan's captivating seasonal novels with The Greek Escape and The Rome Affair.

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The Spanish Promise is a sizzling summer novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Karen Swan, set in the vibrant streets of Madrid, for fans of Victoria Hislop and Santa Montefiore. One of Spain’s richest men is dying. But as he prepares his estate, his family is shocked to discover he is making plans to give away his wealth to a young woman they have never even heard of. Who is she and what hold does she have over him? Charlotte Fairfax is asked to travel to the troubled family’s home in Spain to get to the bottom of the mysterious bequest. It’s the week before her wedding but she is confident she has time – there’s only one reason an older man leaves his money to a beautiful woman, isn’t there? But in Madrid, things don’t go to plan when the woman denies knowing anything about the gift. Is she lying? Looking for clues, Charlotte digs into the prominent family’s history and unearths a dark and shocking past in which two people were torn apart by conflict. But now, their long-buried secrets are starting to reach into the present and Charlotte starts to wonder whether love does not need to forgive or forget in order to endure – but just needs two hearts to keep beating.'The perfect summer read' - Hello!Enjoy more of Karen Swan's captivating summer novels with The Greek Escape and The Rome Affair.

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Taking us deep into the heart of the Costa Rican jungle, Sunday Times bestselling author Karen Swan returns with The Secret Path – complete with her trademark romance, glamour, and jaw-dropping twists.'A glamorous adventure' - Hello!'A twisty, glamorous read, bringing jungles, beaches and ancient towns to life' - My WeeklyAn old flame. A new spark. Love can find you in the most unlikely places . . .At only twenty, Tara Tremain has everything: she’s a trainee doctor, engaged to the man of her dreams – Alex, a passionate American biology student. But just when life seems perfect, Alex betrays her in the worst way possible.Ten years later, she’s moved on – with a successful career, good friends and a man who loves her. But when she’s pulled back into her wealthy family’s orbit for a party in the heart of Costa Rica, she’s flung into a crisis: a child is desperately ill and the only treatment is several days’ trek away, deep in the jungle.There's only one person who can help – but can she trust the man who broke her heart?Your Costa Rican adventure awaits . . .What Karen's readers are saying:'So immersive I could feel the heat, see the dense forest''Pure escapism, action, adventure, romance and intrigue''So detailed and real that I started itching with imaginary insect bites!'

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The Perfect Present is a glamorous and festive read from bestselling author of Christmas at Tiffany's, Karen Swan.Haunted by a past she can't escape, Laura Cunningham desires nothing more than to keep her world small and precise – her quiet relationship and growing jewellery business are all she needs to get by. Until the day when Rob Blake walks into her studio and commissions a necklace that will tell his enigmatic wife Cat's life in charms. As Laura interviews Cat's family, friends and former lovers, she steps out of her world and into theirs – a charmed world where weekends are spent in Verbier and the air is lavender-scented, where friends are wild, extravagant and jealous, and a big love has to compete with grand passions. Hearts are opened, secrets revealed and as the necklace begins to fill up with trinkets, Cat's intoxicating life envelops Laura's own. By the time she has to identify the final charm, Laura's metamorphosis is almost complete. But the last story left to tell has the power to change all of their lives forever, and Laura is forced to choose between who she really is and who it is she wants to be.Enjoy more of Karen Swan's captivating seasonal novels with The Christmas Secret and Midnight in the Snow.

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Set amongst the snow-covered mountains of the Austrian Alps, Midnight in the Snow is the story of a forbidden attraction that will reveal long-buried secrets, from Sunday Times bestselling author of Christmas at Tiffany's, Karen Swan.Award-winning director Clover Phillips is riding high when she encounters Kit Foley; a surfer and snowboarder as well-known for controversy as he is for winning championships.Involved in an accident that had devastating consequences for a bitter rival, Kit has never spoken about what really happened that day. Determined to find out the truth, Clover heads to the snowy wilderness of the Austrian Alps, sharing a romantic winter wonderland with a man who can’t stand her.But as she delves deeper, Clover finds herself both drawn to Kit, and even more convinced he’s hiding something. Is Kit Foley really as cold as he seems?***What readers are saying about Midnight in the Snow:‘Heartwarming, romantic, uplifting. Great writing that wraps you like a blanket’‘Real and wonderfully, subtly painted so that, yet again, her novel makes you stay up until silly o’clock’‘An amazing gift for taking you to fabulous locations & gradually unwrapping secrets about her characters’‘Glamorous, thrilling and unashamedly romantic’

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‘A gripping new series . . . beautifully told by one of our most prolific and talented writers’ - Santa Montefiore on The Last SummerA reluctant bride. A forbidden romance. An island full of secrets . . .It’s the summer of 1929 and Mhairi MacKinnon is in need of a husband. As the eldest girl among nine children, her father has made it clear he can’t support her past the coming winter. On the small, Scottish island of St Kilda, her options are limited. But the MacKinnons’ neighbour, Donald, has a business acquaintance on distant Harris also in need of a spouse. A plan is hatched for Donald to chaperone Mhairi and make the introduction on his final crossing of the year, before the autumn seas close them off to the outside world.Mhairi returns as an engaged woman who has lost her heart – but not to her fiancé. In love with the wrong man yet knowing he can never be hers, she awaits the spring with growing dread, for the onset of calm waters will see her sent from home to become a stranger’s wife.When word comes that St Kilda is to be evacuated, the lovers are granted a few months’ reprieve, enjoying a summer of stolen hours together. Only, those last days on St Kilda will also bring trauma and heartache for Mhairi and her friends, Effie and Flora. And when a dead body is later found on the abandoned isle, all three have reason enough to find themselves under the shadow of suspicion . . .The Stolen Hours is Book Two in Karen Swan's bestselling Wild Isle Series. Praise for The Last Summer (Book One):'Powerful writing and a wonderful premise make this a novel you’ll simultaneously want to savour and race through. I loved it and can’t wait for the next in the series!' - Jill Mansell, author of Should I Tell You?'The most exciting, enchanting and evocative story of forbidden love I’ve ever read. I truly loved it and am waiting feverishly for the second installment.' - Cathy Bramley, author of The Lemon Tree Café

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‘A gripping new series . . . beautifully told by one of our most prolific and talented writers’ - Santa Montefiore on The Last SummerA reluctant bride. A forbidden romance. An island full of secrets . . .It’s the summer of 1929 and Mhairi MacKinnon is in need of a husband. As the eldest girl among nine children, her father has made it clear he can’t support her past the coming winter. On the small, Scottish island of St Kilda, her options are limited. But the MacKinnons’ neighbour, Donald, has a business acquaintance on distant Harris also in need of a spouse. A plan is hatched for Donald to chaperone Mhairi and make the introduction on his final crossing of the year, before the autumn seas close them off to the outside world.Mhairi returns as an engaged woman who has lost her heart – but not to her fiancé. In love with the wrong man yet knowing he can never be hers, she awaits the spring with growing dread, for the onset of calm waters will see her sent from home to become a stranger’s wife.When word comes that St Kilda is to be evacuated, the lovers are granted a few months’ reprieve, enjoying a summer of stolen hours together. Only, those last days on St Kilda will also bring trauma and heartache for Mhairi and her friends, Effie and Flora. And when a dead body is later found on the abandoned isle, all three have reason enough to find themselves under the shadow of suspicion . . .The Stolen Hours is Book Two in Karen Swan's bestselling Wild Isle Series. Praise for The Last Summer (Book One):'Powerful writing and a wonderful premise make this a novel you’ll simultaneously want to savour and race through. I loved it and can’t wait for the next in the series!' - Jill Mansell, author of Should I Tell You?'The most exciting, enchanting and evocative story of forbidden love I’ve ever read. I truly loved it and am waiting feverishly for the second installment.' - Cathy Bramley, author of The Lemon Tree Café

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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER!'There’s nothing quite like a Karen Swan novel to get you in the festive mood - Seasonal escapism at its best' - Woman & HomeSnowed in for the holidays, old truths rise to the surface. Christmas by Candlelight is a cosy Christmas story from Karen Swan, bestselling author of The Stolen Hours. It’s three days before Christmas and starting to snow when high-flier Libby and her new boyfriend reluctantly attend her university reunion.Hosted by Archie Templeton – the heartbreaker of their group – at his grand family estate in Yorkshire, the night is a great success until they go to leave: the road is now blocked with snow.At first, being snowed in together is fun. But as hours pass everyone grows restless.Then the power goes out . . .Hunkered down together by candlelight, they reminisce about old times – and tensions soon start to rise. Secrets from the past begin to unravel and Libby is confronted with a truth she has long tried to deny.Reviews for Christmas By Candlelight:'You know that the festive season is well and truly here when a Karen Swan Christmas cracker appears . . . Sprinkled throughout with Swan’s trademark twists and turns, insight, cosy charm, and eye for comedy, this is the perfect warm-up for the Christmas holiday.' - Yorkshire Post'An author loved for her cosy, escapist, festive fiction' Prima'With well-drawn characters and plenty of romance and drama, this page-turner will leave you with a warm festive glow.' - The Mirror'Seasonal escapism at its best' - Women's Weekly'A cosy Christmas read with plenty of twists' - Woman's Own'This escapist, uplifting story explores old friends and fractured relationships . . . With relatable characters, plenty of secrets and a sprinkle of feel-good cosiness, this is the perfect winter read.' - My WeeklyWhat readers are saying about Christmas by Candlelight:'a Christmas/Winter read at its best. Dive in and escape any Winter Blues!''Christmas isn't Christmas without a Karen Swan book!''Perfect ingedients for a lovely Christmas read!'

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'The Last Summer is meticulously researched and beautifully told . . . a wonderfully satisfying read' – Santa MontefioreThe Sunday Times Bestselling Historical FictionSummer on St Kilda – a wild, remote Scottish island. In the 1930s, two strangers from drastically different worlds meet . . .Wild-spirited Effie Gillies has lived all her life on the small island of St Kilda. But when Lord Sholto, heir to the Earl of Dumfries, visits, the attraction between them is instant. For one glorious week she guides the handsome young visitor around the isle, falling in love for the first time – until a storm hits and her world falls apart.Three months later, St Kilda lays silent as the islanders are evacuated for a better life on the mainland. With her friends and family scattered, Effie is surprised to be offered a position working on the Earl’s estate. Sholto is back in her life but their differences now seem insurmountable, even as the simmering tension between them grows . . .Then, when a shocking discovery is made back on St Kilda, all her dreams for this bright new life are threatened by the dark secrets Effie and her friends thought they had left behind.Opposites attract in this epic and spellbinding novel, which transports us from the untamed beauty of St Kilda to the glamour and intrigues of high society in the 1930s.The Last Summer is the first book in the Wild Isle series by Sunday Times bestseller Karen Swan, inspired by the true history of St Kilda and its small island community. It is followed by The Stolen Hours.'The most exciting, enchanting and evocative story of forbidden love I’ve ever read. I truly loved it and am waiting feverishly for the second instalment' – Cathy Bramley'Powerful writing and a wonderful premise make this a novel you’ll simultaneously want to savour and race through. I loved it and can’t wait for the next in the series!' – Jill Mansell'A delicious romantic tale of wild 1930s Scotland . . . perfect for everyone dreaming of summer' – Rachel Hore

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Set in New York's happening Hamptons, The Summer Without You is a gorgeously escapist read from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Rome Affair, Karen Swan.Rowena Tipton isn't looking for a new life, just a new adventure, something to while away the months as her long-term boyfriend presses pause on their relationship before they become engaged. But when a chance encounter at a New York wedding leads to an audition for a coveted houseshare in The Hamptons – Manhattan's elite beach scene – suddenly a new life is exactly what she's got.Stretching before her is a summer with three eclectic housemates, long days on white sandy beaches and parties on gilded tennis courts. But high rewards bring high stakes and Rowena soon finds herself caught in the crossfire of a vicious intimidation campaign. Alone for the first time in her adult life, she has no-one to turn to but a stranger who is everything she doesn't want – but possibly everything she needs.'I truly managed to escape into the novel . . . it's the perfect read for summer day at the beach (or the Hamptons!)' ? GirlsLovetoReadEnjoy more of Karen Swan's captivating summer novels with The Greek Escape and The Hidden Beach.

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Set in snowy Amsterdam, Together by Christmas is a moving read of secrets, romance and heartbreaking dilemmas by Sunday Times bestseller Karen Swan. 'We couldn't put it down' – Bella magazineWhen Lee first came to Amsterdam, it was with a newborn baby and a secret. Five years later, her life is approaching normal: her career as a celebrity photographer is flourishing, her son Jasper is growing up, and they are enjoying the run-up to Christmas with their tight circle of close friends.But all this changes one morning when Lee finds a book in the basket of her bicycle – and scrawled inside it, a desperate message. Who left it for her, and why? Lee feels compelled to help and tracks down the book’s author, Sam. With an instant, undeniable connection it seems they might have a shot at a real future together. Until her past comes calling. As the snow falls and ice thickens on the city’s canals, the secret Lee has never told resurfaces. Suddenly everything she holds dear hangs in the balance. Christmas is a time for being together – but what if the truth means she ends up alone?'A real treat to get absolutely lost in. Go on - spoil yourself!' - Veronica Henry, bestselling author on The Christmas Party by Karen SwanReal readers love Karen Swan:'Gritty, real and romantic in equal measure' 'Something very special' 'Christmassy, romantic, heartbreaking' 'One of my favourite reads of the year' 'Laughed, cried . . . couldn't put it down'

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An island full of secrets. A gripping love story . . .her young life Effie Gillies has lived, wild and free, on the remote Scottish island of St Kilda. But when Lord Sholto visits the island, the attraction between them is instant. For one glorious week she guides the handsome young Lord around the isle, and falls in love for the first time. But a storm hits and her world falls apart.Three months later, all the islanders are moved to a better life on the mainland. And Effie is surprised to be offered a job working for Sholto's father. But Sholto and Effie come from two different worlds - can love ever win?The Last Summer is based on the true history of St Kilda and its small island community.Quick Reads are short books from bestselling authors, perfect for a fast and satisfying read – whether you're a regular reader, or just getting started. This edition is an abridged version of Karen Swan's beloved bestselle

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The Christmas Party is a delicious, page-turning story full of twists and turns. At an elegant country house party, shocking secrets and unexpected romances hide just beneath the surface . . . A must-read for the festive season by Karen Swan, the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Christmas Secret and Christmas at Tiffany's.When Declan Lorne, the last remaining knight in Ireland, dies suddenly, an ancient title passes with him. But his estate on Ireland’s rugged south-west coast is left to his three daughters. The two eldest, Ottie and Pip, inherit in line with expectations, but to everyone’s surprise – and dismay – it is the errant baby of the family, Willow, who gets the castle.Why her? Something unknown – something terrible - made her turn her back on her family three years earlier, escaping to Dublin and vowing never to return. So when Willow quickly announces she is selling up, her revenge seems sweet and the once-close sisters are pushed to breaking point: in desperation, Pip risks everything to secure her own future, and Ottie makes a decision that will ruin lives. It’s each woman for herself.Before moving in, Connor Shaye, the prospective new owner, negotiates throwing a lavish party at the castle just days before Christmas – his hello, their goodbye. But as their secrets begin to catch up with them, Ottie, Willow and Pip are forced to ask themselves which is harder: stepping into the future, or letting go of the past?'A real treat to get absolutely lost in. Go on - spoil yourself!' - Veronica Henry, bestselling author of Christmas at the Beach Hut What Karen's readers say . . .'This is a perfect winter's day read, that will have you utterly absorbed...''Full of intrigue, secrets, heartbreak, love''Crammed with love, heartbreak and powerful secrets this Christmas story with substance is not to be missed!''The festive season can now commence!'

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Scandal and intrigue among the rich and famous, Players is the glamorous debut novel from the bestselling author of The Paris Secret, Karen Swan.Harry Hunter is the new golden boy of the literary scene. With his books selling by the millions, the paparazzi on his tail, and a supermodel on each arm, he seems to have the world at his feet. Women all over the globe adore him but few suspect that his angelic looks hide a darker side, a side that conceals a lifetime of lies and deceit. Tor, Cress and Kate have been best friends for as long as they can remember. Through all the challenges of marriage, raising children and maintaining their high-flying careers, they have stuck together as a powerful and loyal force to be reckoned with – living proof that twenty-first-century women can have it all, and do. It is only when the captivating Harry comes into their lives that things begin to get complicated, as Tor, Cress and Kate are drawn into Harry's dangerous games . . .

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With glamorous locations and heart-breaking twists, Christmas in the Snow by Karen Swan is all you need for a truly decadent Christmas holiday. The perfect gift – even if it's just to yourself.No secret stays buried forever . . .In London, the snow is falling and Christmas is just around the corner – but Allegra Fisher barely has time to notice. She's pitching for the biggest deal of her career and can't afford to fail. And when she meets attractive stranger, Sam Kemp, on the plane to the meeting, she can't afford to lose her focus either. She learned to shut off her emotions long ago and only her sister and best friend Isobel knows why. But when Allegra finds herself up against Sam for the bid, their passion quickly turns sour.In Zermatt in the Swiss Alps, a long-lost mountain hut is discovered in the snow after sixty years and the last person expecting to become involved is Allegra – she hasn't even heard of the woman they found inside. But it soon becomes clear the two women are linked and, as she and Iz travel out to make sense of the mystery, hearts thaw and dark secrets are uncovered, long buried by the snow.'Hide indoors with a glass of wine and lose yourself in this.' – HeatEscape with more of Karen Swan's captivating novels: Christmas at Tiffany's and Midnight in the Snow.

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Set on a lush Greek island, The Greek Escape by Karen Swan is a Sunday Times bestseller, and the perfect getaway for fans of Victoria Hislop and Santa Montefiore.Before every new beginning, there must be an ending . . .Running from heartbreak, Chloe Marston leaves her old life in London for a fresh start in New York. Working at a luxury concierge company, she makes other people’s lives run perfectly, even if her own has ground to a halt. But a terrible accident forces her to step into a new role, up close and personal with the company’s most esteemed and powerful clients. Charismatic Joe Lincoln is one of them and his every wish is her command, so when he asks her to find him a secluded holiday home in the Greek Islands, she sets about sourcing the perfect retreat.But when Tom, her ex, unexpectedly shows up in Manhattan and the stability of her new life is thrown off-balance again, she jumps at the chance to help Joe inspect the holiday house; escaping to Greece will give her the time and space to decide where her future truly lies. Tom is the man she has loved for so long but he has hurt her before – can she give him another chance? And as she draws closer to Joe, does she even want to? As magnetic as he is mysterious, there’s an undeniable chemistry between them that she can’t resist.But whatever her heart is telling her, she’s in over her head – another client’s wife has mysteriously disappeared and serious allegations about Joe threaten more than just her happiness. Who can she trust? And will Chloe uncover the truth in time?'This irresistible story will sweep you right up into its pages and keep you there.' - Heat

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Karen Swan is a Sunday Times top three bestselling author and her novels sell all over the world. She writes two books each year, which are published in the summer and at Christmas. Previous summer titles include The Spanish Promise, The Hidden Beach and The Secret Path and for winter Together by Christmas, Midnight in the Snow and The Christmas Postcards.She lives in Sussex with her husband, three children and two dogs.The Stolen Hours is the second book in the historical Wild Isle series, based on the dramatic evacuation of Scottish island St Kilda in the summer of 1930.

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'Feel good stories to curl up with over Christmas . . . Escapist romance at its best' – Heat Magazine Set in a snow-covered Cotswolds village, The Christmas Postcards is a cosy, escapist festive delight about distant connections from Sunday Times bestselling author of The Stolen Hours, Karen Swan.'A romance you won’t be able to put down' – MetroThe right words can change everything . . .It had been a make-or-break winter holiday for their marriage, but Natasha and Rob’s rekindled romance is short-lived when their daughter’s beloved soft toy disappears on the journey home. As Natasha comforts her distraught child, she turns to social media for help. Miraculously, the toy is found, but it has become the lucky mascot of a man named Duffy, who is thousands of miles away trekking in Nepal.When Duffy promises to keep Natasha updated with pictures, a correspondence begins that soon becomes more meaningful. Sometimes, Natasha feels this stranger half way across the world understands her more than the man lying next to her.But as the weeks pass and Duffy heads deeper into the mountains, Natasha notices a change in him. Then, one day, the messages stop. Too late, Natasha wonders why he had ever needed a lucky mascot at all . . .'The queen of destination fiction' – Woman & HomeReaders are falling in love with The Christmas Postcards . . .'I was enthralled from the first pages' – 5* reader review'Definitely my favourite Karen Swan book so far' – 5* reader review'The story gripped me right from the start and still hasn't let me go' – 5* reader review'I read this in two sittings, I literally didn't want to put the book down' – 5* reader review'Addictive reading' – 5* reader review

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Indulge in the perfect winter's day treat and escape to the snow-fringed fjords of Norway with The Christmas Lights, a delicious tale full of drama and mystery, heartache and hope by Sunday Times bestseller Karen Swan.Bo lives a life most people can only dream of. She and her boyfriend Zac are paid to travel the globe, sharing their adventures with their online followers. And when Zac proposes, Bo's happiness is complete. With Christmas coming up, Bo can't wait to head to the snow-fringed fjords of Norway. Arriving at the picturesque and remote hillside farmhouse that will be their home for the next few weeks, Bo's determined to enjoy a romantic Christmas under the Northern Lights. Everything should be perfect.But the mountains hold secrets from the past and as temperatures plunge and tensions rise, Bo must face up to the fact that a life which looks perfect to the outside world may not be the life she should be living . . .What readers are saying:'This is a perfect winter's day read, that will have you utterly absorbed''Full of intrigue, secrets, heartbreak, love''If you're after a book with a truly Christmas feel, full of drama, mystery, heart and hope then The Christmas Lights is a book for you''Crammed with love, heartbreak and powerful secrets this Christmas story with substance is not to be missed!''The Christmas Lights is the perfect Christmas read . . . The festive season can now commence!'

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From rural Scotland to the most glamorous cities in the world, Christmas at Tiffany's is an exciting, globetrotting story of friendship and romance from Karen Swan.Cassie settled down too young, marrying her first serious boyfriend. Now, ten years later, she is betrayed and broken. With her marriage in tatters and no career or home of her own, she needs to work out where she belongs in the world and who she really is. So begins a year-long trial as Cassie leaves her sheltered life to stay with each of her best friends in New York, Paris and London. Exchanging grouse moor and mousy hair for low-carb diets and high-end highlights, Cassie tries on each city for size as she attempts to track down the life she was supposed to have been leading, and with it, the man who was supposed to love her all along.Christmas at Tiffany's is followed by the captivating sequel, Summer at Tiffany's.

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Opposites attract in this epic and spellbinding historical novel, which transports us from the untamed beauty of a remote Scottish island to the glamour and intrigues of high society in the 1930s. The Last Summer is the first book in The Wild Isle series by Sunday Times bestseller Karen Swan, inspired by the true history of St Kilda and its small island community.'The Last Summer is beautifully told . . . a wonderfully satisfying read.' - Santa MontefioreSummer on St Kilda – a wild, remote Scottish island.Two strangers from drastically different worlds meet . . .Wild-spirited Effie Gillies has lived all her life on the small island of St Kilda but when Lord Sholto, heir to the Earl of Dumfries, visits, the attraction between them is instant. For one glorious week she guides the handsome young visitor around the isle, falling in love for the first time – until a storm hits and her world falls apart.Three months later, St Kilda falls silent as the islanders are evacuated for a better life on the mainland. With her friends and family scattered, Effie is surprised to be offered a position working on the Earl’s estate. Sholto is back in her life but their differences now seem insurmountable, even as the simmering tension between them grows. And when a shocking discovery is made back on St Kilda, all her dreams for this bright new life are threatened by the dark secrets Effie and her friends thought they had left behind.'The most exciting, enchanting and evocative story of forbidden love I’ve ever read. I truly loved it and am waiting feverishly for the second instalment' - Cathy Bramley, author of The Summer That Changed Us'Powerful writing and a wonderful premise make this a novel you’ll simultaneously want to savour and race through. I loved it and can’t wait for the next in the series!' - Jill Mansell, author of And Now You're Back'A delicious romantic tale of wild 1930s Scotland . . . perfect for everyone dreaming of summer' - Rachel Hore, author of A Beautiful Spy

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From the bestselling author of The Last Summer, Karen Swan, the glamorous capital city of Italy is brought to startling life in The Rome Affair, a compelling story of love, life and long-held secrets. 1974. Elena Damiani lives a gilded life. Born to wealth and a noted beauty, no door is closed to her, no man can resist her. At twenty-six, she is already onto her third husband when she meets her love match. But he is the one man she can never have – and all the beauty and money in the world can't change it.2017. Francesca Hackett is living la dolce vita in Rome, leading tourist groups around the Eternal City and forgetting the ghosts she left behind in London.When chance brings her into the orbit of her neighbour across the piazza – famed socialite Viscontessa Elena dei Damiani Pignatelli della Mirandola – the two women are intrigued by one another – and agree to collaborate on Elena's memoirs. As summer unfurls, Elena tells her sensational stories, leaving Cesca in her thrall.But when a priceless diamond ring, found in an ancient tunnel below the city streets, is ascribed to Elena, Cesca begins to suspect a shocking secret at the heart of Elena's life . . .'Glittering jewels, designer labels galore and the most mouth-watering pizza in Rome make this a satisfying summer beach read' – Veronica Henry, Daily ExpressEnjoy more of Karen Swan's captivating seasonal novels with The Greek Escape and The Paris Secret.

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A story of love, laughter and happily ever after, Summer at Tiffany's by bestselling Karen Swan is the captivating and romantic sequel to Christmas at Tiffany's, perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore and Veronica Henry.A wedding to plan. A wedding to stop. What could go wrong? Cassie loves Henry. Henry loves Cassie. With a Tiffany ring on her finger, all that Cassie has left to do is plan the wedding. It should be so simple but when Henry pushes for a date, Cassie pulls back.Henry's wild, young cousin, Gem, has no such hesitations and is racing to the aisle at a sprint, determined to marry in the Cornish church where her parents were wed. But the family is set against it, and Cassie resolves to stop the wedding from going ahead. When Henry lands an expedition sailing the Pacific for the summer, Cassie decamps to Cornwall, hoping to find the peace of mind she needs to move forwards. But in the dunes and coves of the northern Cornish coast, she soon discovers the past isn't finished with her yet . . .

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Childbirth guru Dr Gowri Motha, who practises with Dr Yehudi Gordon – author of Birth and Beyond – shows women how her revolutionary method helps women carry the baby to full term, have less intervention in the birth; feel less pain in labour, and feel happy and in control. The Gentle Birth method is a concise pregnancy programme combining diverse therapies such as ‘creative healing’ massage, a simple diet, self-hypnosis, reflexology and affirmation techniques The method was created by Dr Gowri Motha as an alternative to conventional obstetric practise, when she became alarmed at the increasing number of women needing intervention during their births. It teaches expectant mothers how to train their bodies and minds in order to reduce or prevent complications during pregnancy and labour. This book outlines the Method, with a month-by-month programme explaining how to rebalance the body and tailor it to the optimum condition for the birthing process. It includes guides to treating problems such as:– back pain– nausea– heartburn– fluid retention– stretch marks The programme offers women a formal framework in which to prepare their bodies and so avoid facing a labour that is unnecessarily long, arduous and traumatic, with significantly lower uptakes of pain relief.

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Published in Association with 2020 AECT Division of Distance Learning Book AwardSocial presence continues to emerge as a key factor for successful online and blended learning experiences. It is commonly described as the degree to which online participants feel connected to one another. Understanding social presence—with its critical connections to community-building, retention, and learning outcomes—allows faculty and instructional designers to better support and engage students. This volume, Social Presence in Online Learning, addresses the evolution of social presence with three distinct perspectives, outlines the relevant research, and focuses on practical strategies that can immediately impact the teaching and learning experience. These strategies include creating connections to build community, applying content to authentic situations, integrating a careful mix of tools and media, leveraging reflective and interactive opportunities, providing early and continuous feedback, designing with assessment in mind, and encouraging change in small increments. Because student satisfaction and motivation plays a key role in retention rates and because increased social presence often leads to enriched learning experiences, it is advantageous to mindfully integrate social presence into learning environments.Social Presence in Online Learning brings together eminent scholars in the field to distinguish among three different perspectives of social presence and to address how these viewpoints immediately inform practice. This important volume: • Provides an overview of the evolution of social presence, key findings from social presence research, and practical strategies that can improve the online and blended learning experience• Differentiates three distinct perspectives on social presence and explains the ideas and models that inform these perspectives• Explores specific ways in which social presence relates to course satisfaction, retention, and outcomes• Offers practical implications and ready-to-use techniques that are applicable to multiple disciplines• Introduces current research on social presence by prominent researchers in the field with direct inferences to the practice of online and blended learning • Looks at future directions for social presenceSocial Presence in Online Learning is appropriate for practitioners, researchers and academics involved in any level of online learning program design, course design, instruction, support, and leadership as well as for graduate students studying educational technology, technology-enhanced learning, and online and blended learning. It brings together multiple perspectives on social presence from the most influential scholars in the field to help shape the future of online and blended learning.

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