Search results for ""Author Wendy Holden""

Wild and Free by Sunday Times bestselling author Wendy Holden sees the author of Bad Heir Day and The Wives of Bath at the top of her game. Fun for fans of Jane Costello and Carole Matthews.'Super-sharp ... This hugely entertaining novel is chick lit at its best!' CloserWild & Free is the festival du jour. Everyone piles through its gates - and Cupid lies in wait to sprinkle a little midsummer madness on them all.Teacher Ginnie is desperate to forget her crush on headmaster Mark, and hopes glamping might do the trick. But Mark is also heading for Wild & Free to reform his college band ... desperate not to be seen by anyone he knows. Mark's bandmate James dreams of a festival blow-out with his son, Guy ... until his wife Victoria's ambition kills the dream. Now she and Guy are en route to Wild & Free instead but when Guy meets Shanna-Mae and falls for her earthy charms, Victoria is determined to snap Cupid's arrow.Will the magic of the festival send them wild? Or set them free to find peace and love?

Read more less

'Touching and distinctive . . . getting beneath the fairytale pomp and glamour' - Rachel Hore 'Fabulous behind-the-scenes royal drama . . . Riveting, revealing, an absolute must-read' - Imogen Edwards-Jones 'This delicate, sometimes wistful story will delight fans of historical fiction and British royalty' - Booklist 'A fresh perspective on a woman whom many people feel they already know' - Library Journal 'Diana is depicted as warm, empathetic and mischievous' - Mail on Sunday, Best New Fiction 'Fascinating' - Woman's Weekly 'Fictionalises Diana's life in riveting and tender detail' - Platinum 'Perfect for fans of The Crown' - Bella 'A compelling read' - Prima 'Scurrilous, funny, sharp, shot through with pathos' - Saga magazine, Pick of the Month 'A super-romantic royal wedding that was nothing like it seemed. Wendy delves beneath the glamour and public persona. Fascinating' - Woman magazine ___________The moving new novel about the young Diana.Diana believes in love. Growing up amid the fallout of her parents' bitter divorce, she takes refuge in romantic novels. She dreams of being rescued by a handsome prince.Prince Charles loves his freedom. He's in no rush to wed, but his family have other ideas. Charles must marry for the future of the Crown.The right girl needs to be found, and fast. She must be young, aristocratic and free of past liaisons.The teenage Diana Spencer is just about the only candidate. Her desperation to be loved dovetails with royal desperation for a bride.But the route to the altar is full of hidden obstacles and people with their own agendas.When she steps from the golden carriage on her wedding day, has Diana's romantic dream come true?Or is it already over?

Read more less

Before there was Elizabeth, there was Lilibet...'A hugely entertaining, emotionally satisfying story of love and loyalty' DAILY MAIL'A poignant, fictional reimagining of a woman condemned by history, with plenty of modern-day echoes' MAIL ON SUNDAY___________She Came From Nothing . . . and Raised a QueenThe drama of the Abdication, the glamour of the Coronation, the trauma of World War II – Marion Crawford, affectionately known as Crawfie, stood by the side of the royal family through it all.In 1933, a progressive young teacher became governess to the little Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Determined to give her pupils a fun and normal childhood, she took them on buses, swimming at public baths and Christmas shopping at Woolworths.For seventeen years she served at the heart of the royal family. But her devotion and loyalty counted for nothing when a perceived betrayal brought everything crashing down.This sweeping, sumptuous novel brings her long-buried story to life and shines a completely new and captivating light into the world's most famous family.___________'Brilliantly researched . . . I was completely absorbed and transported' ADELE PARKS, author of Just My Luck'Compelling characters and a wonderful blend of historical accuracy and real narrative drive . . . a heart-breaking study of loyalty and love' SALLY MORRIS, Daily Mail'[A] beautifully researched and captivating novel . . . Wendy Holden's tender and intimate portrait of Lilibet, the future Queen Elizabeth II, is masterly' RACHEL HORE'I adored this wonderful book. What a great story Wendy Holden has told' JILLY COOPER'A great book for escaping into . . . I loved this!' KATIE FFORDE'Sensitive, funny and fascinating – this masterful novel gives the reader fly-on-the-wall privileges into the early life of the Queen' FREYA NORTH'A brilliantly imagined and poignant novel . . . of sacrifice, deep affection, strained loyalties and divided English society in the post-Downton Abbey era' ELIZABETH BUCHAN'An intimate view of the royal family at a time of great uncertainty and change . . . Marion Crawford's dedication to her charges, as well as her passion for education and reform, shines through the pages' CHANEL CLEETON'Wendy Holden absolutely delivers in this perfect blend of story and history . . . Lovers of The Crown series on Netflix will adore this!' SUSAN MEISSNER'I loved, loved, LOVED this book and if it isn't adapted for the screen, I’ll eat my crown!' ERICA JAMES'A beautifully woven and exquisitely detailed story' HEATHER MORRIS, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Read more less

'Touching and distinctive . . . getting beneath the fairytale pomp and glamour' - Rachel Hore 'Fabulous behind-the-scenes royal drama . . . Riveting, revealing, an absolute must-read' - Imogen Edwards-Jones 'This delicate, sometimes wistful story will delight fans of historical fiction and British royalty' - Booklist 'A fresh perspective on a woman whom many people feel they already know' - Library Journal 'Diana is depicted as warm, empathetic and mischievous' - Mail on Sunday, Best New Fiction 'Fascinating' - Woman's Weekly 'Fictionalises Diana's life in riveting and tender detail' - Platinum 'Perfect for fans of The Crown' - Bella 'A compelling read' - Prima 'Scurrilous, funny, sharp, shot through with pathos' - Saga magazine, Pick of the Month 'A super-romantic royal wedding that was nothing like it seemed. Wendy delves beneath the glamour and public persona. Fascinating' - Woman magazine ___________The moving new novel about the young Diana.Diana believes in love. Growing up amid the fallout of her parents' bitter divorce, she takes refuge in romantic novels. She dreams of being rescued by a handsome prince.Prince Charles loves his freedom. He's in no rush to wed, but his family have other ideas. Charles must marry for the future of the Crown.The right girl needs to be found, and fast. She must be young, aristocratic and free of past liaisons.The teenage Diana Spencer is just about the only candidate. Her desperation to be loved dovetails with royal desperation for a bride.But the route to the altar is full of hidden obstacles and people with their own agendas.When she steps from the golden carriage on her wedding day, has Diana's romantic dream come true?Or is it already over?

Read more less

An incredible, inspirational story of resilience, resourcefulness, and maternal courage, set against the background of the holocaust.

Read more less

TREAT YOURSELF to a sparkling romantic comedy... Last of the Summer Moët is a bottle of champagne in book form! 'Effing marvellous' JILLY COOPER. 'Funny and smart' INDIA KNIGHT. 'Total bliss' DAILY MAIL. Wendy Holden's warm and funny comic heroine Laura Lake is back. And this time, she's gone rural... Laura Lake, editor of glossy magazine Society, is always on the hunt for scandalous scoops to fill her pages. Now she's discovered a top-secret village in the English countryside where the rich and famous own weekend retreats. Where film stars, Turner-prize winners and billionaires park their helicopters outside the gastropub and buy £100 sourdough loaves from the deli. Outsiders are strictly forbidden. But luckily Laura's best friend Lulu, a logo-obsessed socialite with a heart as huge as her sunglasses, suddenly fancies a quiet life in the country... But life in this enchanted rural idyll is harder than it looks. A brawl at the world's poshest pub quiz nearly brings down the government. And gossip from rehearsals of the midsummer pantomime threatens to tear the village apart... Can Laura write her exposé before the snobbish villagers blow her cover and suss her true identity? WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT WENDY HOLDEN: 'A brilliant, funny read... Perfect escapism from the daily grind' 'Move over Sophie Kinsella - there's a new Chick Lit queen in town' 'Escapism in its purest form... A little gem' 'Pure fun, escapism and self indulgence. Delicious!'

Read more less

Before there was Elizabeth, there was Lilibet...'A hugely entertaining, emotionally satisfying story of love and loyalty' DAILY MAIL'A poignant, fictional reimagining of a woman condemned by history, with plenty of modern-day echoes' MAIL ON SUNDAY___________She Came From Nothing . . . and Raised a QueenThe drama of the Abdication, the glamour of the Coronation, the trauma of World War II – Marion Crawford, affectionately known as Crawfie, stood by the side of the royal family through it all.In 1933, a progressive young teacher became governess to the little Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. Determined to give her pupils a fun and normal childhood, she took them on buses, swimming at public baths and Christmas shopping at Woolworths.For seventeen years she served at the heart of the royal family. But her devotion and loyalty counted for nothing when a perceived betrayal brought everything crashing down.This sweeping, sumptuous novel brings her long-buried story to life and shines a completely new and captivating light into the world's most famous family.___________'Brilliantly researched . . . I was completely absorbed and transported' ADELE PARKS, author of Just My Luck'Compelling characters and a wonderful blend of historical accuracy and real narrative drive . . . a heart-breaking study of loyalty and love' SALLY MORRIS, Daily Mail'[A] beautifully researched and captivating novel . . . Wendy Holden's tender and intimate portrait of Lilibet, the future Queen Elizabeth II, is masterly' RACHEL HORE'I adored this wonderful book. What a great story Wendy Holden has told' JILLY COOPER'A great book for escaping into . . . I loved this!' KATIE FFORDE'Sensitive, funny and fascinating – this masterful novel gives the reader fly-on-the-wall privileges into the early life of the Queen' FREYA NORTH'A brilliantly imagined and poignant novel . . . of sacrifice, deep affection, strained loyalties and divided English society in the post-Downton Abbey era' ELIZABETH BUCHAN'An intimate view of the royal family at a time of great uncertainty and change . . . Marion Crawford's dedication to her charges, as well as her passion for education and reform, shines through the pages' CHANEL CLEETON'Wendy Holden absolutely delivers in this perfect blend of story and history . . . Lovers of The Crown series on Netflix will adore this!' SUSAN MEISSNER'I loved, loved, LOVED this book and if it isn't adapted for the screen, I’ll eat my crown!' ERICA JAMES'A beautifully woven and exquisitely detailed story' HEATHER MORRIS, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Read more less

Fame, love and happiness. Can anyone have it all?Darcy's a struggling English-rose actress when The Call comes from LA. An Oscar-tastic director. A movie to make her famous. The hunkiest co-star in Hollywood. So why doesn't she want to go?Belle's a size-zero film star but she's in big, fat trouble. Hotter than the earth's core a year ago, she's now Tinseltown toast after her last film bombed. Can she get back to the big time?When the two women lock horns over men, movies and megadiets, there's more drama than even Hollywood can handle. And after a celebrity nanny, reluctant supermodel and passionate star chef enter the mix, things get seriously hot and spicy.

Read more less

'Enthralling' – Daily Mail 'Fizzing with gossip, intrigue and wit' – Mail on Sunday If you love The Crown, you will love this fictional look inside the life of Wallis Simpson... ___________Love can change the course of history... Arriving in 1928, Wallis was a divorced, penniless, middle-aged foreigner with average looks and no connections. Yet, just eight years later, a king renounced his throne for her.How did a woman from nowhere capture the heart of the world's most glamorous bachelor? Wendy Holden tells the amazing story... ___________What readers are saying about The Duchess: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A great read, fabulous story line and such a different perspective. Massive fun'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A powerful read. Perhaps we all got Wallis Simpson wrong'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Superb and powerful writing! I loved it'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A great read and I'd highly recommend to anyone who wants a less stilted piece of history'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A fascinating tale, well told'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An amazing, fictionalised retelling of the story of Edward and Mrs Simpson'

Read more less

Cash-strapped Rosie and her boyfriend Mark are city folk longing for a country cottage. Rampantly nouveaux-riches Samantha and Guy are also searching for rustic bliss - a mansion complete with mile-long drive and hot and cold running gardeners. The village of Eight Mile Bottom seems quiet enough, despite a nosy postman, a reclusive rock star, a glamorous Bond Girl and a ghost with a knife in its back. But there are unexpected thrills in the hills. The local siren seduces Guy while mysterious millionaire makes Rosie an offer she can't refuse. But should she?

Read more less

''Touching and distinctive'' Rachel Hore''Riveting, revealing, an absolute must-read'' Imogen Edwards-Jones''Perfect for fans of The Crown'' BellaIt was all she ever wanted. Until her dreams came true...The moving new novel about the young Diana.Diana believes in love. Growing up amid the fallout of her parents'' bitter divorce, she takes refuge in romantic novels. She dreams of being rescued by a handsome prince.Prince Charles loves his freedom. He''s in no rush to wed, but his family have other ideas. Charles must marry for the future of the Crown.The right girl needs to be found, and fast. She must be young, aristocratic and free of past liaisons.The teenage Diana Spencer is just about the only candidate. Her desperation to be loved dovetails with royal desperation for a bride.But the route to the altar is full of hidden obstacles and people with their own agendas.When she s

Read more less

Forget about Cool Britannia and Gallic Chic. Scotland is having a fashion moment... 'Effing marvellous' JILLY COOPER. 'Funny and smart' INDIA KNIGHT. 'Total bliss' DAILY MAIL. London's most glamorous glossy magazine is in trouble. Advertising revenues are non existent, and if editor Laura Lake can't pick them up, she's out of a job. According to those in the know, Scotland is having a fashion moment. Smart spas are offering porridge facials, and a chain of eco-hotels is offering celebrity bagpipe lessons. So Laura's off to a baronial estate in the Scottish Highlands to get a slice of this ultra-high-end market. It's supposed to be gorgeous, glitzy and glamorous. But intrigue follows Laura like night follows day. And at Glenravish Castle – a shooting lodge fit for a billionaire – Laura finds herself hunting for a scoop that won't just save her job, it could save her life... WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT WENDY HOLDEN: 'A brilliant, funny read... Perfect escapism from the daily grind' 'Move over Sophie Kinsella – there's a new Chick Lit queen in town' 'Escapism in its purest form... A little gem' 'Pure fun, escapism and self indulgence. Delicious!'

Read more less

'[A] fun and fizzy romantic comedy' says the Daily Mail. Wendy Holden, the number one bestselling queen of romantic comedy, returns with a wonderfully warm and witty tale, guaranteed to delight her legions of fans. 'With plenty of laughter, love, fun and characters you really care about, this is the perfect companion for a weekend spent curled up on the sofa' Heat magazineWhen Nell is marooned at the altar, her feisty best friend Rachel says she'll come with her on honeymoon instead. Why waste a week in a posh country hotel?So the duo, plus Rachel's Agatha Christie-obsessed small daughter Juno, head for the hills and idyllic Edenville, on the edge of the beautiful Pemberton estate. Awaiting them is a cast of colourful characters from Jason the harassed hotel manager to the ruthless Angela, Director of HR. Not to mention the handsome Dylan, a bestselling writer on the run from his past. Nell doesn't want to go back to London, so when a job on the estate comes up, she's happy to stay. Even if it is arranging weddings in the Big House! As she becomes entangled in the lives of the locals - and they weave their way into her heart - she realises there might be a way to reach the rainbow's end after all

Read more less

'This is a remarkable book . . . Read it and use it: you may find you are doing nothing less than giving back to your children their childhood, while they still have the chance to live it' Mark Williams, Director, University of Oxford Mindfulness Centre and author of MINDFULNESS FINDING PEACE IN A FRANTIC WORLD'10 MINDFUL MINUTES can help any adult - parent, grandparent, teacher - make double use of their moments with the children they love and have a terrific time while helping shape that child's brain for a lifetime of resilience and happiness' Daniel Goleman, author of EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCEBestselling author Goldie Hawn offers parents a practical guide for helping their children to learn better and live more happily. Based on the MindUP programme, supported by the Hawn Foundation, 10 MINDFUL MINUTES outlines short, practical exercises for parents and children - taking less than 10 minutes - to help young children and teenagers reduce stress and anxiety, improve concentration and academic performance, effectively manage emotions and behaviour, develop greater empathy for others and the world, and be more optimistic and happy. Representing the culmination of years of research and programmes developed by the Hawn Foundation currently being used by schools internationally, this book will help children and parents develop mindfulness which has been proven to promote more effective learning and happier lives.

Read more less

'Enthralling' – Daily Mail 'Fizzing with gossip, intrigue and wit' – Mail on Sunday If you love The Crown, you will love this fictional look inside the life of Wallis Simpson... ___________Love can change the course of history... Arriving in 1928, Wallis was a divorced, penniless, middle-aged foreigner with average looks and no connections. Yet, just eight years later, a king renounced his throne for her.How did a woman from nowhere capture the heart of the world's most glamorous bachelor? Wendy Holden tells the amazing story... ___________What readers are saying about The Duchess: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A great read, fabulous story line and such a different perspective. Massive fun'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A powerful read. Perhaps we all got Wallis Simpson wrong'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Superb and powerful writing! I loved it'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A great read and I'd highly recommend to anyone who wants a less stilted piece of history'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A fascinating tale, well told'⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An amazing, fictionalised retelling of the story of Edward and Mrs Simpson'

Read more less

Welcome to Branston College ... We are an academic institution in the heart of an ancient university town. Our architecture might not feature dreaming spires, but the central dome nonetheless casts a characterful shadow. Amenities include a distinctive subterranean bar and a newly renovated garden where you can observe local wildlife.Diana is starting a new life as gardener at Branston, a challenging restoration project which allows her to indulge a love of delphiniums beneath the disconcerting gaze of dishy but remote Richard, the recently widowed College Master.A new term brings new students, among them It Girl Amber, darling of the gossip columns and dead ringer for inclusion in the university's notorious elite society. As lustful teenagers and crabby tutors run riot in Diana's garden, her peaceful haven is trampled, and then a blast from the past threatens to ruin a new romance. Can anything save Diana's hard-won happiness, let alone her herbaceous borders?

Read more less

Bestselling author Goldie Hawn offers parents a practical guide for helping their children to learn better and live more happily. Based on the MindUP programme, supported by the Hawn Foundation, 10 Mindful Minutes outlines short, practical exercises for parents and children - taking less than 10 minutes - to help young children and teenagers reduce stress and anxiety, improve concentration and academic performance, effectively manage emotions and behaviour, develop greater empathy for others and the world, and be more optimistic and happy. Representing the culmination of years of research and programmes developed by the Hawn Foundation currently being used by schools internationally, this book will help children and parents develop mindfulness which has been proven to promote more effective learning and happier lives.

Read more less

This story poses a profound question - do we accept the hand that fate deals us, or do we battle to make the most of the life we have and help others in the process? Chris Graham, just 38 years old but already facing the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, has emphatically chosen the latter.Having lived through a troubled childhood, Chris joined the British Army at a young age and found that the life of a soldier provided him with a much-needed sense of stability. However, his world was turned upside down when, at just 34 years of age, he was diagnosed with a form of early onset dementia. This brutal disease had already claimed the life of his father at 42, along with several other members of his family, and tragically had already confined his brother to a nursing home at the age of 43. In his brother's life, Chris could see a terrifying window into his own near future.Chris, though, is an extraordinary human being. Having been handed nothing less than a death sentence, he decided overnight to stand up to this horrendous disease and do something to leave his mark before it was too late. And so it was that last year, Chris embarked on an awareness-raising 16,000-mile solo cycle around North America, armed only with his bike, a sense of humour, and some good old-fashioned British grit. Leaving his ever-supportive wife Vicky and baby son Dexter at home, he took on huge challenges - for instance, the fear that the ability to discern left from right might leave him at any point while navigating an entire continent - and made it home in time for Christmas, determined to spending however long he has left pouring his love and attention into his family life. Five Minutes of Amazing is both the story of Chris' epic journey and of his fight against the disease increasingly being recognised as the defining disease of our generation. Inspiring and heart-rending in equal measure, it's as important as it is moving, and it will touch everyone who reads it.

Read more less

‘The Muslim Mother Teresa’ Huffington Post Winner of the 2023 Templeton Prize Imprisonment. Mutilation. Persecution. Edna Adan Ismail endured it all – for the women of Africa. A Woman of Firsts tells the inspirational story of a remarkable daughter, nurse and First Lady. The indomitable Edna Adan Ismail survived imprisonment, persecution, and civil war to become a pioneering politician, a leading light in the World Health Organisation, and a global campaigner for women’s rights. The eldest child of an overworked doctor in the British Protectorate of Somaliland, Edna was the first midwife in Somaliland, she campaigned tirelessly for better healthcare for women and fought for women on a global stage as the first female Foreign Minister of her country. But mixing with presidents and princes, she still never forgot her roots and continued to deliver children and train midwives – a role she has to this day. At 81 years old, she still runs what is hailed as the Horn of Africa’s finest university hospital where she trains future generations and still delivers babies. After all – as she puts it – she is simply a midwife.

Read more less

The remarkable memoir of Zuzana Ružicková, Holocaust survivor and world-famous harpsichordist. 'Extraordinary' Sunday Times 'Compelling' Daily Telegraph Zuzana Ružicková grew up in 1930s Czechoslovakia dreaming of two things: Johann Sebastian Bach and the piano. But her peaceful, melodic childhood was torn apart when, in 1939, the Nazis invaded. Uprooted from her home, transported from Auschwitz to Hamburg to Bergen-Belsen, bereaved, starved, and afflicted with crippling injuries to her musician’s hands, the teenage Zuzana faced a series of devastating losses. Yet with every truck and train ride, a small slip of paper printed with her favourite piece of Bach’s music became her talisman. Armed with this ‘proof that beauty still existed’, Zuzana’s fierce bravery and passion ensured her survival of the greatest human atrocities of all time, and would continue to sustain her through the brutalities of post-war Communist rule. Harnessing her talent and dedication, and fortified by the love of her husband, the Czech composer Viktor Kalabis, Zuzana went on to become one of the twentieth century’s most renowned musicians and the first harpsichordist to record the entirety of Bach’s keyboard works. Zuzana’s story, told here in her own words before her death in 2017, is a profound and powerful testimony of the horrors of the Holocaust, and a testament in itself to the importance of amplifying the voices of its survivors today. It is also a joyful celebration of art and resistance that defined the life of the ‘first lady of the harpsichord’– a woman who spent her life being ceaselessly reborn through her music.

Read more less