August 1939.

Thirty-year-old Hetty Cartwright is tasked with the evacuation and safekeeping of the natural history museum’s collection of mammals. Once she and her exhibits arrive at Lockwood Manor, however, where they are to stay for the duration of the war, Hetty soon realizes that she’s taken on more than she’d bargained for.

Protecting her charges from the irascible Lord Lockwood and resentful servants is work enough, but when some of the animals go missing, and worse, Hetty begins to suspect someone – or something – is stalking her through the darkened corridors of the house.

As the disasters mount, Hetty finds herself falling under the spell of Lucy, Lord Lockwood’s beautiful but clearly haunted daughter. But why is Lucy so traumatized? Does she know something she’s not telling? And is there any truth to local rumours of ghosts and curses?

Part love story, part mystery, The Animals at Lockwood Manor by Jane Healey is a gripping and atmospheric tale of family madness, long-buried secrets and hidden desires.

Bristol 1941 Having left her abusive husband for very good reasons, Mary Anne Randall finds herself judged harshly by her friends and neighbours, after courageously risking everything for a second chance at happiness with Michael. With Michael away fighting Mary Anne is less concerned by her tarnished reputation and focusses on keeping her beloved children safe. But with the bombs beginning to fall on Bristol, danger is all too close to home. Will Mary Anne rise above her tarnished reputation and protect those she loves from the uncertainty of a world at war? A sequel to A Wartime Wife. Praise for Lizzie Lane: 'A gripping saga and a storyline that will keep you hooked' Rosie Goodwin 'The Tobacco Girls is another heartwarming tale of love and friendship and a must-read for all saga fans.' Jean Fullerton 'Lizzie Lane opens the door to a past of factory girls, redolent with life-affirming friendship, drama, and choices that are as relevant today as they were then.' Catrin Collier 'If you want an exciting, authentic historical saga then look no further than Lizzie Lane.' Fenella J Miller

She's always determined to be the stable, reliable one. But now her commitment may destroy her. On the surface, Whitney Powell is happy working with her sled dogs and welcoming the new additions to her family through her sisters' marriages and an upcoming birth. But her life is full of complications, including an estranged father, that have her on the edge of losing control. Growing up, she was the strong sister, and she can't give that up now. When villagers in outlying areas come down with a horrible sickness, Dr. Peter Cameron turns to Whitney and her dogs for help navigating the deep snow, and they become close while ministering to the sick together. Peter has long recognized her finer qualities but is troubled by the emotions and secrets she keeps buried within. He wants to help but wonders if she is more of a risk than his heart can take. As sickness spreads throughout Nome and another man courts Whitney, she and Peter will discover that sometimes it is only in weakness that you can find strength.

A STORY OF ENDURING LOVE SET IN THE MURKY HISTORICAL SETTING IN THE ERA BETWEEN ROME'S COLLAPSE AND THE ESTABLISHEMENT OF IMPERIAL MONARCHIES AND THE PROBLEMS CREATED BY THEM

From Ann Weisgarber, the critically acclaimed author of The Personal History of Rachel DuPree, comes The Glovemaker - a stunning historical novel for fans of Cold Mountain. Winter, 1888. Utah Territory. As glovemaker Deborah Tyler awaits her husband's long-anticipated return home, a desperate stranger arrives on her doorstep asking for help. Everything about the man feels wrong. Deborah is sure he's on the run from the law, and the deputies chasing him can't be far behind. But to turn him away on this bitter January night could risk his life. With her husband's absence felt stronger by the minute, Deborah must make a decision. A decision that will change her life forever . . . 'Weisgarber, in The Glovemaker, has once again created a heroine of extraordinary grace and courage in a challenging, at times violent, but ultimately sublime landscape.' - Kathleen Kent, author of The Heretic's Daughter

Pearl Harbor and the tentacles of Word War II turn San Francisco into a raucous, electrifying city. Twenty-year-old Carmel St. John moves into this maelstrom with dreams of winning the heart of Dr. Phillip Barron and becoming a big band singer.

There, Carmel meets Caesar Almalto, a black-market kingpin, and Jerry Cassidy, a musician who helps her and hopes to win her love. Nightclub life, lust, and murder swirl around her, as does her tenuous relationship with Phillip, who leaves as a commissioned officer aboard the first hospital ship in the Pacific theater. A family crisis threatens to destroy Carmel's dreams when she is called home to San Jose to manage the family's 1,100-acre ranch during the war.

"The Stone Must Break" tells the saga of two families, the St. Johns and the Barrons, as they grapple with tragedy, love, and responsibility in a world at war.

The Harvester (1911) by Gene Stratton Porter is the story of a Thoreau-esque idealist and naturalist and his search for the love of his dreams, the Dream Girl.

David Langston, the Harvester, lives in the woods and harvests medicinal herbs which he sells for a living. Suddenly he encounters Ruth Jameson, the real flesh-and-blood girl that had appeared to him only in his imagination. The Harvester woos her with all the impossible idealistic extremes of his heart, against all odds and with a selfless intensity.

An uplifting turn-of-the-century Indiana classic for all ages.

A lively competition draws her into her rival's blueprints--and maybe even his heart. Olive Kentworth has spent her life hiding her interest in architecture, even though she pores over architectural books and sketches buildings. When she accepts a job on a home expansion, it's only because her cousin Amos agrees to pose as the builder. To further hide her involvement, Olive takes a position as a nanny--not knowing that she'll be working for her idol, Joplin's leading architect, widower Maxfield Scott. Maxfield is intrigued by his new nanny--she makes his home and his life bearable again. His work, on the other hand, is a disaster. An untrained builder is remodeling a completed project of his. What's worse, Maxfield's current client wants changes to his plans because of that builder's work. As the architectural one-upmanship heats up, Olive's involvement becomes harder to hide. Will the relationship between her and Maxfield survive, or will they both miss out on building something for their future?

Her heart seeks safety. But will trouble find her even here? After her sister's marriage, Michelle Stiles is left hiding at Two Harts Ranch with the handsome but stubborn Zane Hart. She's managed to stay one step ahead of her stepfather and his devious plans, but if he finds her, she will no longer be safe. Zane has problems of his own. Having discovered a gold mine on his property, he must figure out how to harvest it without kicking off a gold rush. Michelle, educated and trained to run her father's business, wants to manage all aspects of the mine, but Zane thinks for a person so smart she can have some misguided ideas. Running the mining operation will be a dangerous job, and he can't risk putting her in harm's way. But danger finds Michelle anyway when she's suddenly attacked. If they go to the sheriff, they'll reveal her location, but if they do nothing . . . their troubles have only just begun.

Out of the depression that darkened Germany in the late 1800s came a group of brave women who dedicated their lives to a new order in the Catholic Church: the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother.

In the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, Frances Streitel knows her work will center on the poorest of the poor. But Frances doesn't realize that she and her followers will travel across continents, narrowly avoiding grave dangers, to start hospitals and schools in the wilds of the American frontier and elsewhere.

It is difficult for the nuns to earn the trust of local families and endure the elements and insecurities of their new home in America. Later, as their story moves from the 1880s to the start of a world war, they are deeply affected by what occurs in Germany, where their order is headquartered and where many Catholics and Jews alike are banished.

A sweeping portrayal of loyalty and sacrifice, "Into America with Love" captures the anxiety and hope of a handful of women who dared to look past hardships and build a bright future.