The second book in the Smythe-Smiths, a dazzlingly witty series by the bestselling author of Bridgerton.

Anne Wynter's job as governess to three highborn young ladies can be a challenge - in a single week she finds herself hiding in a closet full of tubas, playing an evil queen in a play and tending to the wounds of the oh-so-dashing Earl of Winstead. After years of dodging unwanted advances, he's the first man who has truly tempted her, and it's getting harder and harder to remind herself that a governess has no business flirting with a nobleman.

Daniel Smythe-Smith might be in mortal danger, but that's not going to stop the young earl from falling in love. And when he spies a mysterious woman at his family's annual musicale, he vows to pursue her. But Daniel has an enemy, one who has vowed to see him dead. And when Anne is thrown into peril, he will stop at nothing to ensure their happy ending . . .

Unemployed mill worker Zoe Hart jumps at the opportunity to emigrate to British Columbia in 1863 to find a better life and be reunited with her brother, who fled from home after being accused of a crime. Pastor to miners in the mountains, Abe Merivale discovers an abandoned baby during a routine visit to Victoria and joins efforts with Zoe, one of the newly arrived bride-ship women, to care for the infant. While there, he's devastated by the news from his fiancee in England that she's marrying another man. With mounting pressure to find the baby a home, Zoe accepts a proposal from a miner of questionable character after he promises to help her locate her brother. Intent on protecting Zoe and frustrated by his failed engagement, Abe offers his own hand as groom. After a hasty wedding, they soon realize their marriage of convenience is not so convenient after all.

THE MAGICAL INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER Brought together by magic. Torn apart by war. 'A magical, vibrant parade of a novel about extraordinary people finding light in history's darkest decades. Spellbinding stuff' ERIN KELLY 'DAZZLING' Ellen Keith 'SUPERB' Reader Review (5 stars) 'EXTRAORDINARY' Kristin Harmel 'PHENOMENAL' Reader Review (5 stars) 'CAPTIVATING' Constance Sayers 'MESMERIZING' Reader Review (5 stars) 'SPELLBINDING' Carol Windley _________ Europe, 1938. Even as the daughter of the extraordinary headlining illusionist, Lena Papadopoulos has never quite found her place within the World of Wonders - a travelling circus that traverses the continent in a luxury steam engine. Brilliant and curious, Lena yearns for the real-world magic of science and medicine, despite the limitations she feels in her wheelchair. But when a young French orphan, Alexandre, comes aboard the circus train, Lena's life is infused with magic and wonder for the first time. But outside the bright lights of the circus, darkness is descending on Europe. War is about to shatter Lena's world, and take away everything she holds dear. And to recover what she has lost, Lena will have to believe in the impossible. A must-read for fans of Water for Elephants, The Circus Train will take readers on a heart-wrenching two-decade journey across a continent in which great beauty and unimaginable horror live side by side. _________ 'BEAUTIFUL' Reader Review (5 stars) 'POWERFUL' Pam Jenoff 'DELIGHTFUL' Reader Review (5 stars) 'TRIUMPHANT' Lorelei Savaryn 'EXQUISITE' Reader Review (5 stars)

'The story is equal parts Downton Abbey and wartime action, with enough romance and intrigue to make it 100% not-put-down-able.' - Australian Women's Weekly on Miss Lily's Lovely Ladies Australian heiress Sophie Higgs was 'a rose of no-man's land', founding hospitals across war-torn Europe during the horror that was WW1. Now, in the 1920s, Sophie's wartime work must be erased so that the men who returned can find some kind of 'normality'. Sophie is, however, a graduate of the mysterious Miss Lily's school of charm and intrigue, and once more she risks her own life as she attempts to save others still trapped in the turmoil and aftermath of war. But in this new world, nothing is clear, in politics or in love. For the role of men has changed too. Torn between the love of three very different men, Sophie will face her greatest danger yet as she attempts an impossible journey across the world to save Nigel, Earl of Shillings - and her beloved Miss Lily. In this sequel to the bestselling Miss Lily's Lovely Ladies, Jackie French draws us further into a compelling story that celebrates the passion and adventure of an unstoppable army of women who changed the world.

From the bestselling author of The Lioness of Morocco comes the beguiling novel of a young woman trapped between the expectations of her family and the desire to live free. Ceylon, 1803. In the royal city of Kandy, a daughter is born to the king's elephant keeper-an esteemed position in the court reserved only for males. To ensure the line of succession, Phera's parents raise her as a boy. As she bonds with her elephant companion, Siddhi, Phera grows into a confident, fiercely independent woman torn between the expectations of her family and her desire to live life on her own terms. Only when British colonists invade is she allowed to live her true identity, but when the conquerors commit unspeakable violence against her people, Phera must add survival to the list of freedoms for which she's willing to fight. Possessed by thoughts of revenge yet drawn into an unexpected romance with a kindly British physician, the elephant keeper's daughter faces a choice: Love or hatred? Forgiveness or retribution?

It's 1911 and, against her mother's wishes, quiet New Yorker Emma dreams of winning the right to vote. She is sent away by her parents in the hope distance will curb her desire to be involved with the growing suffrage movement and told to spend time learning about where her grandparents came from. Across the Atlantic - Queenstown, southern Ireland - hotelier Thomas dreams of being loved, even noticed, by his actress wife, Alice. On their wedding day, Alice's father had assured him that adoration comes with time. It's been eight years. But Alice has plans of her own and they certainly don't include the fight for equality or her dull husband. Emma's arrival in Ireland leads her to discover family secrets and become involved in the Irish Women's Suffrage Society in Cork. However, Emma's path to suffrage was never meant to lead to a forbidden love affair...

'Gripping' The Times 'Fans of Philippa Gregory and other historical fiction writers will love Anne O'Brien's A Tapestry of Treason' Yours Her actions could make history - but at what price? 1399: Constance of York, Lady Despenser, proves herself more than a mere observer in the devious intrigues of her magnificently dysfunctional family, The House of York. Surrounded by power-hungry men, including her aggressively self-centred husband Thomas and ruthless siblings Edward and Richard, Constance places herself at the heart of two treasonous plots against King Henry IV. Will it be possible for this Plantagenet family to safeguard its own political power by restoring either King Richard II to the throne, or the precarious Mortimer claimant? Although the execution of these conspiracies will place them all in jeopardy, Constance is not deterred, even when the cost of her ambition threatens to overwhelm her. Even when it endangers her new-found happiness. With treason, tragedy, heartbreak and betrayal, this is the story of a woman ahead of her time, fighting for herself and what she believes to be right in a world of men. Praise for A Tapestry of Treason 'O'Brien's page-turner vividly brings to life the restriction of women, and the compassion and strength of this real-life figure from medieval times' Woman 'Anne O'Brien does not disappoint . . . there are so many twists and turns . . . If you love Philippa Gregory or Alison Weir, you will love Anne O'Brien too' My Weekly 'A wonderful novel . . . a rich, gripping, enchanting read. Anne's vivid writing took me straight to the year 1400 and kept me wonderfully lost there throughout' Joanna Courtney 'A detailed portrayal of a fascinating character' Woman's Weekly 'An engaging novel of political intrigue' Choice Praise for Anne O'Brien 'O'Brien cleverly intertwines the personal and political in this enjoyable, gripping tale' The Times 'O'Brien is a terrific storyteller' Daily Telegraph 'A gripping story of love, heartache and political intrigue' Woman & Home 'Packed with drama, danger, romance and history ... the perfect reading choice for the long winter nights' The Press Association 'A gripping historical drama' Bella

The perfect summer read for fans of Santa Montefiore, Victoria Hislop and Dinah Jeffries Will Alba find the music of her heart? Sardinia, 1968. When eleven-year-old Alba Fresu witnesses her father and brother kidnapped by bandits, her previously happy and secure family life is shaken to the core. The pair are eventually released, but the experience leaves Alba deeply disturbed, unable to give voice to her inner turmoil. While accompanying her mother to cleaning jobs, Alba visits the villa of an eccentric Signora and touches the keys of a piano for the first time. She is transported to another world, one where she can finally express emotion too powerful for words alone. She takes secret piano lessons and, against her parents' wishes, accepts a scholarship to the Rome conservatoire. There she immerses herself in the vibrant world of the city, full of heat and passion she's never experienced before - and embarks on an affair that will change the course of her life forever. But Alba soon reaches a crossroads, and must decide how to reconcile her musical talent with her longing for love and family . . . Praise for Sara Alexander: 'Will leave readers riveted until the explosive conclusion' Publishers Weekly 'This enchanting novel is a delightful read, perfectly suited for a warm beach with a cold beverage. Readers who enjoy Adriana Trigiani's historical Italian family sagas will adore Alexander's debut.' Booklist

A heart-warming and nostalgic Cornish family saga. Perfect for fans of Sheila Newberry and Katie Flynn. WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES, WILL HER FAMILY COME TOGETHER AGAIN? Almost a decade after being rescued from a shipwreck by a local Cornish family, sixteen-year-old Lottie is settled in St Ives with her adoptive family. But after a trip to America to meet her birth mother ends badly, Lottie fears her new life might be falling apart . . . Arriving back in Cornwall, Lottie struggles to adjust to life with her temperamental mother around, and her very arrival shakes up their quiet community. Lottie, too, faces a more difficult problem - she's hiding the secret of her first love. And soon she is forced to make a choice between her duty to her family and to her heart. As new challenges arrive for Lottie and the community in St Ives, will she and her family be able to overcome their troubles and find their way back to each other? From the bestselling author of The Boy With No Boots, An Orphan's Winter is the most captivating story you'll read this winter! 'Jeffries is an outstanding writer of sagas with heart and feeling. Her writing is warm and sympathetic - I recommend whatever she writes!' ROSIE CLARKE

Her first wedding was a scandal... What will her next one be? Moments away from becoming a viscountess, Marietta Harrington realises that she cannot marry the man her father has chosen for her. Wedding guest Edmund Fitzroy whisks her away from the church...and as she gets to know this virtual stranger she's drawn into a delicious courtship. When Edmund mysteriously disappears, Marietta faces a terrible choice. Should she trust the man she loves, or submit to another arranged marriage?

Drawing on her own experience, Anne Brontë exposes the isolated world of a nineteenth-century governess in her debut novel, Agnes Grey.

Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is introduced by historian and biographer, Juliet Barker.

Agnes Grey is the youngest daughter of a clergyman. When the family falls on hard times, she insists on finding work as a governess in order to help her family and prove to them that she’s no longer a child. But her idealistic spirit is tested in her first position with the Bloomfield family and their unruly and spoilt children. Next she works for the even wealthier Murray family, whose scheming daughter Rosalie threatens to jeopardize the only bright spot in Agnes’s life: the young curate Edward Weston.

From the bestselling author of The Lioness of Morocco and The Elephant Keeper's Daughter, the story of an ambitious young woman discovering friendship, love, and her own identity on the eve of World War I. Christmas 1889. A baby is born in the early hours at Vienna General Hospital, only to be abandoned by her unwed mother and entrusted to a foundling home and its loving caretaker. Fanny Schindler grows from a precocious girl into a strong-willed young woman. Undeterred by the rules of her station, she's determined to rise above her humble origins and pursue her dreams at all costs, becoming an apprentice to one of the most glamorous fashion houses in Austria-Hungary. All the while, as Fanny searches for a sense of belonging, her path crosses with those of three people who will change her future. To one, she is a cherished friend. To another, a confidant. And to a handsome career soldier, something more. When hostilities in Europe burst into flame as a brutal world war, the future of the dual monarchy is at stake, friendships are strained, loyalties are tested, and everything is at risk. And when long-buried secrets about Fanny's past come to light, she must decide what truly matters-and what is worth fighting for in a new world of infinite possibilities.

A sweeping, action-packed Scottish historical romance filled with adventure, history, and longing from USA Today bestselling author Eliza Knight. When Highlander Toran Fraser encounters a mysterious rebel for the prince, he can't resist being recruited to her cause... Toran Fraser is hell-bent on taking down the Jacobites. On a late-night mission, he's intercepted by a woman known only as "Mistress J," who's determined to put Prince Charlie back on the throne of Scotland. Toran can't resist her appeal-especially with her pistol pointed at his heart-and suddenly finds himself joining the rebellion... By day, highborn Jenny Mackintosh runs her estate in the Highlands. By night, she's one of Prince Charlie's Angels-a band of Jacobite rebels. Scoffing at mortal danger, she raises coin, delivers weapons, and recruits soldiers for the rebellion. When she encounters a handsome Highlander who is clearly on the run, she is more than a little intrigued. She isn't expecting to be his enemy... Jenny's story has a flavor of the lives of Lady Anne (Farquharson) Mackintosh, Jenny Cameron, and Lady Margaret Ogilvy, who raised troops, collected funds and weapons for the rebels, fought in battles, and aided men in escaping the wrath of their enemies. Readers love Eliza Knight: "Passion and intrigue collide... Knight mixes emotional conflicts with interesting historic detail and produces a hero whose honor and prowess is memorable indeed."-RT Book Reviews for The Highlander's Reward "Ms. Knight has a gift for writing wonderful characters that pull the reader into the story... This series is a must-read."-Night Owl Reviews TOP PICK for The Stolen Bride Series

A fake engagement and plenty of charm keep the pages turning in this delightful Regency romance which the USA Today bestselling author Julia Quinn hails as "terrific." "I have come to ask you to kill me, my lord." Miss Abigail Abbott desperately needs to disappear--permanently--and the only person she trusts to help her do that is Lord Stephen Wentworth, heir to the Duke of Walden. Stephen is brilliant, charming, and--when he needs to be--absolutely ruthless. So ruthless that he proposes marriage instead of "murder" to keep Abigail safe. Stephen was smitten the instant his sister introduced him to Abigail, a woman with the dignity and determination of a duchess and the courage of a lioness. When she accepts his courtship of convenience, he also discovers she kisses like his most intimate wish come true. For Abigail, their arrangement is a sham to escape her dangerous enemies. For Stephen, it's his one chance to share a lifetime with the lady of his dreams--if only he can convince her his love is real.

One of Amazon's Best Romances for October 2021 New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath continues her Once Upon a Dukedom series with this lush love story of a duke who discovers what he desires in a wife may not be what he needs... Hugh Brinsley-Norton, the Duke of Kingsland, is in need of a duchess. However, restoring the dukedom-left in ruins by his father-to its former glory demands all his time, with little room for sentiment. He places an advert encouraging the single ladies of the ton to write why they should be the one chosen, and leaves it to his efficient secretary to select his future wife. If there exists a more unpleasant task in the world than deciding who is to marry the man you love, Penelope Pettypeace certainly can't imagine what it might be. Still, she is determined to find the perfect bride for her clueless, yet ruthlessly charming employer. But when an anonymous note threatens to reveal truths best hidden, Kingsland has no choice but to confront the danger with Penelope at his side. Beguiled by the strong-willed, courageous beauty, he realizes he's willing to risk everything, including his heart, to keep her safe within his arms. Could it be the duchess he's hunting for has been in front of him all along?

The third book in the Bevelstoke series: witty, irresistibly romantic and by the bestselling author of the global phenomenon Bridgerton

Sebastian Grey is in limbo. He is the heir presumptive to the Earl of Newbury, unless the current earl, a widower, can find a bride who will bear him a son. Newbury is in his sixties and somewhat portly, but as an earl he's considered quite a catch. Sebastian, on the other hand, is twenty-nine and devilishly handsome, but in no hurry to find a wife.

Annabel Winslow, a country girl through and through, has received an offer to go to London for the season. The eldest of a family of eight, she knows that a good marriage might be the only thing that will save her family from ruin. After a few weeks in town, Annabel attracts the attention of the Earl of Newbury. The thought of submitting to him makes her skin crawl, but she is practical and determined to do her duty.

But when Sebastian meets Annabel, sparks fly, and best laid plans look set to combust . . .

USA Today bestselling author Beverly Jenkins continues her captivating Women Who Dare series with a female rancher who forges her own path in the wake of the Civil War... Banished by her grandfather at the age of eighteen, Spring Lee has survived scandal to claim her own little slice of Paradise, Wyoming. She's proud of working her ranch alone and unwilling to share it with a stranger-especially one like Garrett McCray, who makes her second-guess her resolve to avoid men. Garrett escaped slavery years ago and is now a reporter in Washington. He's traveled west to interview Dr. Colton Lee for an article, yet it's Lee's fearless sister, Spring, who captures his interest. Clad in denim and buckskins instead of dresses, she's the most fascinating woman he's ever met. And he's certain she also feels the connection that sizzles between them. But when a shadow from Spring's past returns, all is on the line: her ranch, her safety-and this wild, fierce love.

Lorraine Heath ends her bestselling Sins for All Seasons series with the hero readers have been waiting for! She wants lessons in seduction Althea Stanwick was a perfect lady destined to marry a wealthy lord, until betrayal left her family penniless. Though she's lost friends, fortune, and respectability, Althea has gained a scandalous plan. If she can learn to seduce, she can obtain power over men and return to Society on her terms. She even has the perfect teacher in mind, a man whose sense of honor and dark good looks belie his nickname: Beast. But desire like this can't be taught Benedict Trewlove may not know his parentage but he knows where he belongs-on the dark side of London, offering protection wherever it's needed. Yet no woman has ever made such an outrageous request as this mysterious beauty. Althea is out of place amongst vice and sin, even if she offers a wicked temptation he can't resist. But as the truth of his origin emerges at last, it will take a fierce, wild love to overcome their pasts.

April 1942. Enemy gunfire on Penzance beach brings the Cornish Girls rushing to the rescue... Yearning for adventure, Demelza dreams of one day joining the fire wardens. But before she can do so, gunfire during a trip to the beach provides her with an unexpected opportunity to get stuck in. On hand to help the wounded beachgoers, Lily draws admiration with her nursing skills and is offered an exciting new position in the hospital in Penzance. And swayed by her niece, Lily's Aunt Violet agrees to take in three evacuees rescued on the beach, though they turn out to be more of a handful than she bargained for. But even as the war rages around them, the biggest challenge facing each woman turns out to be one of the heart. Can the Cornish Girls help one another to open themselves up to love...? Readers are dazzled by Courage for the Cornish Girls: 'Romance...friendship...orphans...family...women helping in any way they can...Don't miss this book' Reader Review 'A lovely historical war story. Can't wait to read what happens next in this saga...' Reader Review 'How nice it was to catch up with [the Cornish Girls]. I so hope [they] continue with their antics...' Reader Review 'Plenty of twists and turns, well written, likeable characters and easy to follow. I'm already looking forward to the next in the series...' Reader Review 'A great read - highly recommended' Reader Review 'A lovely five star read! I look forward to the next one!' Reader Review 'Much loved characters that will stay with you, due to their courage, determination and patriotic spirit - five stars from me' Reader Review

Paris, 1891 Laura is living on the streets, far from the American Prairies where she was born. When rescued by the entrancing aerialists, Ena and Auguste Gaudron, she soon finds herself ensconced in the family hot air balloon business, and offered the chance to learn how to fly. Cardiff, 1896 The Gaudrons accept an invitation to be part of the Cardiff Fine Art, Industrial and Maritime Exhibition, presenting a daring show of balloon ascents and parachute descents. Then late one night, a young girl, Grace, knocks on the Gaudrons' door. She is desperate to fly, whatever the cost. As Grace's dreams begin to take wing, can Laura be the one to keep her grounded? Or will both girls risk it all for one dazzling moment of flight? 'A heady and stylish read that had me swept away from the first page. Munnik has captured a fascinating world of daring with both beauty and heart' MAHSUDA SNAITH 'Vivid and meticulous, Katie Munnik's The Aerialists captures the tangled desires of people living on the thin air of their own daring - a glorious vision of a time, a place, a welter of human manipulations and hopes, and ultimately, their tragic effects. A really fine read' JOAN BARFOOT 'Based on a true story, this rich novel will capture your imagination' BEST magazine

'This six-book series looks likely to become a landmark in historical fiction' The Times Alison Weir, historian and author of the Sunday Times-bestselling Six Tudor Queens series, relates one of the most tragic stories in English history: Katheryn Howard, Henry VIII's fifth queen. 'With characteristic verve and stunning period detail, this novel will captivate you and break your heart. Utterly sublime' TRACY BORMAN 'Conveys the heart-rending pathos of a young woman executed, whose only real crime was her naivete and her desire to be loved... It is a profoundly moving story that lingers long after the last page is turned' ELIZABETH FREEMANTLE 'Alison's sensitively drawn novel will change everyone's preconceptions' SUSAN RONALD ... A NAIVE YOUNG WOMAN AT THE MERCY OF HER AMBITIOUS FAMILY. At just nineteen, Katheryn Howard is quick to trust and fall in love. She comes to court. She sings, she dances. She captures the heart of the King. Henry declares she is his rose without a thorn. But Katheryn has a past of which he knows nothing. It comes back increasingly to haunt her. For those who share her secrets are waiting in the shadows, whispering words of love... and blackmail. KATHERYN HOWARD THE FIFTH OF HENRY'S QUEENS. HER STORY. Acclaimed, bestselling historian Alison Weir draws on extensive research to recount one of the most tragic tales in English history - that of a lively, sweet but neglected girl, used by powerful men for their own gain. History tells us she died too soon. This mesmerising novel brings her to life. PRAISE FOR THE SIX TUDOR QUEENS SERIES: 'Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life' Guardian 'Alison Weir makes history come alive as no one else' Barbara Erskine 'Well researched and engrossing' Good Housekeeping 'Utterly gripping and endlessly surprising' Tracy Borman 'Hugely enjoyable . . . Alison Weir knows her subject and has a knack for the telling and textural detail' Daily Mail

Six notorious cousins, known to the ton as the Bar Cynster, have cut a swath through the ballrooms of London. Yet one by one, each has fallen in love and married the woman of his heart, until only one of them is left unclaimed...the most rakish of Stephanie Laurens' captivating clan...and he's not about to go easily.

Alasdair Cynster -- known to his intimates as Lucifer -- decides to rusticate in the country before the matchmaking skills of London's mamas become firmly focused on him, the last unwed Cynster. But an escape to Devon leads him straight to his destiny in the irresistible form of Phyllida Tallent, a willful, independent beauty of means who brings all his masterful Cynster instincts rioting to the fore. Lucifer tries to deny the desire Phyllida evokes -- acting on it will land him in a parson's mousetrap, one place he's sworn never to go. But destiny intervenes, leaving him to face the greatest Cynster challenge -- wooing a reluctant bride.

Phyllida has had a bevy of suitors -- her charm and wit are well known throughout the countryside -- but none of them has tempted her the way Lucifer does. His offer to teach her all about the ways of love is almost too tantalizing to resist. And though she's not yet completely surrendered, she knows only a fool stands against a Cynster...and Phyllida is no one's fool.