'Sarah Bennett is back, and better than ever!' Rachel Burton When her dreams of young love were cruelly shattered, Nerissa Morgan found it hard to move on. Now, at forty-three, everyone around her is enjoying life while she's just going through the motions. With her boss retiring and rumours of a new doctor coming in to take over the practice she manages, change is coming, whether she's ready for it or not. Following the death of his beloved wife, Tom Nelson buried himself in work at his busy inner-London GP practice. When his teenage children find themselves in trouble at school, he realises he's completely lost touch with them. Desperate to reconnect before it's too late, he whisks his family away to the pretty seaside village of Mermaids Point determined to make a fresh start. But all is not as idyllic as it seems. With his predecessor reluctant to let go of the reins and the children as distant as ever, the last thing Tom needs is an undeniable attraction to the woman he unexpectedly finds himself sharing a roof with... Warm, escapist, feel-good and altogether brilliant story-telling from bestselling author Sarah Bennett. Perfect for all fans of Trisha Ashley and Milly Johnson. Praise for Sarah Bennett: 'A wonderful tale of taking a chance on love again. Sarah writes with such warmth, in a setting that feels like home, with characters who feel like friends. A gorgeous escapist read.' Jessica Redland 'I adored this book. From the moment I read the first page, I was swept up in the beautiful setting, the wonderfully rounded characters and the masterful storytelling. This is a must for fans of emotional storytelling, escapist reading and people and places that will take your breath away. I can't wait to read the next one!' Fay Keenan 'A joyful, heart-warming book full of human kindness and affection. I adored it.' Celia Anderson 'A charming, delightful book. Pour yourself a cup of tea and hunker down. You'll want to read this in one go.' Terry-Lynn Thomas 'This is the perfect escapist read and I can't wait to follow the characters in what promises to be a wonderful series. Five sparkling stars!' Rachel Griffiths'What a Mer-mazing book! I'm so glad this is a series and I'll get to meet the characters again because you won't want to leave them after the final page.' Catherine Miller 'Wonderful! So great to read the story of an older heroine getting a second chance. Highly recommended. Five stars.' Rachel Burton 'An absolutely gorgeous book. It's wonderful from start to finish. The ending had me sniffing back tears. And, as usual, it was beautifully written.' Katie Ginger 'Another fabulous trip to the beautiful setting of Mermaids Point which will have you rooting for Nerissa all the way. The perfect cosy read.' Bella Osborne 'This adorable book was an absolute joy to read - everything about it was wonderful.' Victoria Cooke

Rural England is a mythic space, a complex canvas on which people from many different backgrounds project all kinds of fantasies, prejudices, desires and fears. This book seeks to challenge many of these ideas, showing how the artificial divide between rural and urban works to conceal the underlying relationship between these two fundamental poles of human settlement. This investigation of rurality is oriented from a fixed point in north-west Hampshire, marked by a signpost that points in four directions to two towns, four villages and two hamlets. Through stories, interviews and reportage gathered over two decades, the book demolishes tired notions of rural England that cast it as a separate realm of existence, whether marooned in a perpetual time-warp, or reduced to a refuge for the retired, wealthy urbanites, extreme nature-lovers, and, more recently, anyone tired of waiting out the pandemic in towns and cities. It poses two simple questions: what does the word rural mean today? What will it mean tomorrow? The author is an ambivalent native, held captive to the land by an umbilical cord but always on the verge of fleeing home to the city. Both argument and narrative are propelled by the urgent need to reconsider the concept of 'countryside' in the context of the climate emergency and the patent collapse of ecosystems due to intensive farming which has poisoned the land. She writes from a feminist, postcolonial standpoint that is alert to the slow violence of historical processes taking place over many centuries; enslavement, colonialism, industrialisation, globalisation.

A fresh start in a picture-perfect English town brings the hope of new friends, new adventures and even new romance in this heart-warming novel from readers' top pick Fay Keenan. When Kate Harris accepts the job of redecorating her brother Aidan's house in the picturesque town of Willowbury, she knows it's just a stop gap before she has to decide what to do with the rest of her life. While her three sons spend the summer holiday with their father, Kate has an opportunity to prove to herself that there is a new life, after her divorce. Harry Sinclair is the owner of Vale Volumes book shop on Willowbury High Street. Content, if a little bored with his lot, his shop, as well as his life, could do with freshening up. When Kate offers to spruce up Vale Volumes ready for the visit of a famous author, they find they have a lot more in common than colour schemes. But both have secrets and responsibilities, and when the trials of family life threaten their burgeoning friendship, can they overcome the experiences of their pasts? Will Somerset's most magical town cast its spell on them? Or will Kate and Harry have to concede that their friendship really is just for the summer? Let Fay Keenan transport you to the perfect British summertime, with beautiful countryside, an unforgettable romance, and just the right dose of escapism. Perfect for all fans of Debbie Macomber, Cathy Bramley and Katie Fforde. What authors and readers say about Fay Keenan's novels: 'Guaranteed to put a spring in your step. Feel-good, frisky and great fun with a hearty dash of romance and intrigue.' Julie Houston 'Moving, funny, thoughtful and romantic. Bring on the next one!' Jenny Kane 'This is a lovely and heart-warming story, that has a serious side hidden within the romance.' Amazon reviewer ' It was a wonderful book, guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Amazon reviewer 'I was so engrossed in the storyline, which is thoroughly heart-warming, that I read the entire book without stopping. I always enjoy Keenan's books and am looking forward to the next one!' Amazon reviewer

Using the cultural history of Oregon's Nestucca Valley as a case study, Taylor illustrates the wisdom of seasonal labor, the complex relationships between work and identity, and the resilience of rural economics across a century of almost continual change.

Brand NEW from the bestselling author of The Village Shop For Lonely Hearts.After escaping her parents' unhappy marriage to sleepy Cranbridge a long time ago, Belle Clarke dreams of staying at The Black Swan Inn forever. But with the rundown Inn threatened with closure, Belle may be forced to leave, unless a buyer can be found ... quickly. So, when her oldest friend Pete Kennedy returns from working abroad with a plan to save the Inn, Belle should be overjoyed. The trouble is, Pete has some rather radical ideas for the renovation which Belle disagrees with. But when a snow storm hits, Belle and Pete are forced to put aside their differences and work together to help the village. Can Belle realise her dreams to stay in Cranbridge and can Pete ever stop running from his past? As they try to save The Black Swan Inn, secrets are revealed and just maybe they'll finally find out how they really feel about each other. Praise for Alison Sherlock: 'Glorious escapism. Uplifting, heartwarming and joyful, Alison Sherlock writes with a warmth and lightness of touch' Kerry Fisher 'A lovely story of finding yourself and discovering what home means. I couldn't stop turning the pages. Loved it.' Jessica Redland

From the top 10 bestselling author of The Cornish Midwife. Two years after losing her husband, Finn, Lexie Turner is still struggling. She knows she needs to move on, but she has no idea where to begin. Packing up her life in London, Lexie heads to the coastal town of Port Kara to spend the summer working out her next move. With only her beloved Labrador for company, it's the perfect place to start again. But life in Port Kara is nothing like Lexie expected! Soon, she finds herself drawn into the close-knit community, unable to hide away. And when she meets local man, Elliott Dorton, Lexie begins to feel her broken heart slowly come back to life... Elliott is kind but adventurous and his job requires him to take risks daily - something Lexie isn't ready to deal with. Can she trust in Elliott and risk her heart breaking a second time, or will their one Cornish summer be all that Lexie can hope for? From Jo Bartlett, the bestselling author of The Cornish Midwives Series, comes another emotional read about second chances and having the courage to grab them with all your heart. Praise for Jo Bartlett: 'I love second chance stories. I love returning home stories. So a book combining both is an absolute winner for me. The Cornish Midwife is simply gorgeous. Stunning setting, wonderful characters, and oozing with warmth. A triumph from Jo Bartlett.' Jessica Redland 'Perfectly written and set in the beating heart of a community, this story is a wonderful slice of Cornish escapism.' Helen J Rolfe

Rural Health: A Framework for Understanding the Issues and Their Impact on Rural Populations examines the factors that affect health care access and health status of individuals who live in rural areas. The text employs a unique structure called the Rural Health Framework, a methodology created by the authors during their years of teaching rural health at the undergraduate and graduate level. This framework challenges students to collect data and facts about rural areas to help them better understand rural health issues. The book emphasizes the complexity of rural health, the interprofessional nature of rural health care, and the importance of appropriate health care interventions for rural populations. The opening chapter provides readers with an overview of rural health terms and concepts. Additional chapters explore how geographic, economic, sociocultural, demographic, and support factors can impact heath status, access, and outcomes. The final chapter features an array of rural health case assessments to help students connect theory to real-world practice. Offering students an innovative and essential approach, Rural Health is an exemplary resource for courses in nursing, public health, medicine, social work, nutrition, and allied health.

The annual celebrations of Plough Sunday, Rogation and Harvest are hugely important for churches serving rural communities and are a key way for those churches to engage in mission, usually seeing congregations swell at such times. Ploughshares and First Fruits draws on the inspired work being done by one rural church to celebrate rural living throughout the year and thereby grow its congregation. As well as providing many fresh ideas for keeping the established festivals, it provides ready-to-use, participative liturgies that engage all the senses, appeal to all ages and give small churches a round-the-year resource. Included are creative liturgies for: * A pet service for the Feast of St Francis * Walking and pilgrimage * Lambing season * Riders' Sunday * Lammas * A Summer Festival (an instant jam-jar flower festival)

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press's mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1968.

In rural South African clinics, Black nurses played critical roles. Charged with administering valuable and life-saving health care measures despite a lack of equipment and personnel, these nurses had to navigate the intersections of traditional African healing practices, changing gender relations, and increasing educational and economic opportunities for South Africa's Black middle class between the 1960s and 1980s. Leslie Anne Hadfield compellingly demonstrates how these women were able to successfully carve out their own professional space and reshape notions of health and healing in the Eastern Cape. Bringing forth the stories of these nurses in their own voices, A Bold Profession is an homage to their dedication to the well-being of their communities. Hadfield sheds light on the struggles of balancing commitment to career and family lives during an oppressive apartheid. The volume fills an important gap for scholars studying the history of women, nursing, and health care in South Africa, illuminating the humanity of health care workers.