WW2 Manchester: Newlyweds Helen and Jim Harrison have big plans - to leave the family shop where Helen works and set up home together. But when Jim is tragically killed in an air raid, Helen is heartbroken, her life in ruins. Battling grief and despair, Helen resolves to escape her domineering mother and rebuild her shattered world. Wartime Manchester is a dangerous place, besieged by crime and poverty. So when Helen joins the Women's Auxiliary Police Corps, working with evacuees, the destitute and the vulnerable, she finds a renewed sense of purpose. She's come a long way from her place behind the counter in the corner shop. But there's still something missing in her heart. Is Helen able to accept love and happiness and find the courage to change her life?

Living in their two-up-two-down in Rotherhithe in 1938, Eileen and Ronald Wells lead a happy and settled existence with their three daughters, all of whom have jobs, boyfriends and promising lives ahead of them. But soon the storm clouds of war engulf Europe and they suddenly find their idyllic family life thrown into chaos. Throughout the country young people hasten to join up, and Eileen watches anxiously as her two older girls do the same, one in the air force and one in the land army, while the youngest goes into a factory. With her family scattered and the war getting worse by the day, Eileen throws herself into the community, always on hand to help friends and neighbours when tragedy strikes, while savouring any rare moments of celebration.

Li Er, whose innovative works of fiction have earned the admiration of scholars and critics - and a passionate fan base of readers - is one of China's most prominent writers. This landmark publication of his Coloratura, a tour de force of literary innovation, marks the first translation of the author's novels into English. Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Chinese Civil War, Coloratura revolves around the mysterious Ge Ren, whose story is told by three narrators and a host of other voices. Who was Ge Ren really? Just about the only thing anyone can agree on is that he is dead. But how he died, and who he was when alive, are less than certain. Was Ge Ren a hero, a Nationalist or Communist, a poet, translator, scholar, or spy - or some combination of all these identities? And how much of his story is merely fanciful ""coloratura"" nonsense? As different factions fight for control of China, Ge Ren traverses the political and intellectual life of the country, managing to affect countless lives. Years later, in the present day, his final surviving descendant, the intriguing ""compiler"" of the novel, pieces together the stories of her enigmatic ancestor from a patchwork of narrators, reliable or otherwise, and historical documents, real or invented. But readers also will wonder if she has an agenda of her own. The search for Ge Ren takes us from Chairman Mao's stronghold at Yan'an to a barren People's Commune, and then farther afield, with excursions into Russia, Japan, and even a small town in England. Many of the characters and incidents are actual historical figures and events, woven seamlessly into the fictional storyline. Told with swashbuckling brio and painstaking historical detail, Coloratura is both an illuminating journey through twentieth-century Chinese history and a profound exploration of the elusive nature of truth.

He could have any deb Except his best friend's sister...

1910. Anna Garvey arrives in Caernoweth, Cornwall with her daughter and a secret. Having come from Ireland to take up an inheritance of the local pub, she and her eighteen year-old daughter Mairead are initially viewed with suspicion by the close-knit community. Anna soon becomes acquainted with Freya Penhaligon, a vulnerable girl struggling to keep her family business afloat in the wake of her grandmother's death, and starts to gain the trust of the locals. As their friendship deepens, and Freya is brought out of her shell by the clever and lively Mairead, even Freya's protective father Matthew begins to thaw. But when a part of Anna's past she'd long tried to escape turns up in the town, she is forced to confront the life she left behind - for her sake and her daughter's too . . .

Chocolate can also be bitter...It is a truth universally acknowledged that everyone dotes on Aunty Dot, as much as they do on her homemade sweets. The plump, smiling woman has provided a loving home for many a troubled child over the years, and Lizzie Pringle is no exception. Lizzie would do anything for her foster mother - even take on local sweet manufacturer and notorious bully, Cedric Finch. Until, that is, she falls for his son, Charlie. Meanwhile, Dena can't believe that Barry Holmes would hurt her beloved daughter: he's been like a favourite uncle to the little girl. But rumours are rife and her fears only grow... A thrilling saga of new love and old rivalries set around a sumptuous sweet shop in 1950s Manchester, perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries and Rosie Goodwin. Praise for Candy Kisses 'You can't put a price on Freda Lightfoot's stories from Manchester's 1950s Champion Street Market. They bubble with enough life and colour to brighten up the dreariest day and they have characters you can easily take to your heart' Northern Echo 'Brings to life the characters and the goings on in a close local community' 5* Reader review 'Superb reading with a mixture of pathos and victory' 5* Reader review 'This book will tug at your heart' 5* Reader review

A heart-breaking and nostalgic family saga set around the launch of Titanic. Perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Rosie Goodwin and Val Wood Will the secrets in her past protect her from that fateful crossing? After her father is killed in the employ of an Earl, Phyllis Kimber's entire future is called into question. But the Earl knows something about Phyllis that means she will always be looked after . . . Lady's maid to American heiress Martha, Phyllis is her only confidant in England: she knows Martha doesn't love the recently widowed Lord Melton, the man Martha's socially ambitious father is determined she marries, but there's another secret - a secret that makes Phyllis give up everything to protect her friend. As the Titanic prepares for its maiden voyage, Phyllis makes preparations to journey to America with Martha and her family, but the secret she's keeping threatens to destroy all hope for a new future. Unaware of the undiscovered secrets in her own past, Phyllis must decide where her loyalties lie . . . unaware too of the tragedy that is about to unfold on that fateful crossing . . . Readers love Catherine King's heart-breaking and nostalgic, Titanic-set novel: 'I was completely immersed in the way this story unfolded . . . I shall be looking for more books by this same author' 'Brilliant read. Just couldn't put it down!' 'Catherine King never fails to tell a great story' 'Love this author! Excellent read' 'Could not put it down - better than watching TV'

Connie and Eva are best friends but their families are the worst of enemies

During the VE Day celebrations, two women meet completely by chance. As Connie and Eva talk they discover they are from feuding families, the Maxwells and the Dixons. But when they both begin nurses training, they can t deny their natural bond of friendship and become more like sisters.

Their lives intertwine as Connie starts courting Eva s brother, Roger, a bomb disposal expert. In her heart, Connie holds a torch for local artist and freespirit Eugene, but a dark memory from her past makes her wary of trusting any man.

The two women are determined to uncover the secrets that have plagued them and kept the two families at war for so long. But can their friendship survive the shocking truth?

A moving family drama for fans of Maureen Lee and Katie Flynn."

Has this dissolute rogue... Finally met his match?

Mackenzie Cooper took her eyes off the road for just a moment, but the resulting collision was enough to rob her of her life as she knew it. Forced to start again, she moved to a small town under a new name - Maggie Reid - and her only goal is to stay under the radar.

She's thankful for the few friends she's made, although she can't risk telling them too much about her previous life. But Maggie isn't the only one in this peaceful town with secrets. When a friend's teenage son is thrust into the national spotlight, Maggie is torn between protecting herself or stepping into the glare to be at their side.

Will she find the courage to face the world again?

Her rugged prisoner ...becomes her fiercest protector Capturing legendary Highlander Malcolm of Clan Colquhoun is Andreona's last chance to win her tyrannical father's respect. Instead he orders them both to be killed! Resigned to her devastating role as the family outcast, she escapes with her prisoner and he continues on his quest to return a treasured heirloom. They find solace in their unexpected passion but, haunted by a lifetime of betrayal, will either dare to hope it could last beyond their journey?

The quiet sister And the only man to charm her!

Will love be enough to protect her children?After her husband Jack is transported to Australia as a convict, Hannah and her children are sent to the workhouse. Hearing nothing from Jack and believing he's dead, Hannah reluctantly agrees to marry widower Ellis Duxbury. But her children must remain in the workhouse, and when they are sent away as apprentices, it's up to Hannah to track them down. On Christmas Eve, Hannah is blessed with a miracle when Jack returns to the village. Yet more trouble lies ahead as Hannah is arrested, accused of bigamy and threatened with deportation herself. Having fought so long for her and her children's freedom, Hannah must once more dig deep to keep her family together. A gripping and inspiring saga for readers of Val Wood and Emma Hornby. Praise for A Mother's Fight 'I loved reading this book. It was so well written I couldn't put it down.' Reader review 'An absorbing story... I am never normally a fan of historical fiction but this book had me hooked from page one!' Reader review 'A lovely emotional read with good characterisation. Well written storyline.' Reader review 'I enjoyed this exciting read and the poor plight of Hannah and her children. It was well written with a great story and interesting characters.' Reader review 'What a brilliant book - so many emotions! If you love family saga you will definitely love A Mother's Fight.' Reader review 'Love Libby Ashworth books and this was no exception. It followed on so well from The Convict's Wife... the style of writing hooked me. I really enjoyed it and highly recommend this absorbing tale.' Reader review

In this savage saga of love, war, lust, and magic set in the tenth century, young Sigrid is destined to be the mother of the king of the Nordic lands that would become Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and England. A devout believer in the old Nordic gods, Sigrid is visited regularly in her dreams by the goddess Freya, who whispers to her of the future. Though Sigrid is beautiful, rich, arrogant, and matchlessly clever, her uncanny ability to foresee the future and manipulate the present guides her through dangerous politics as a bloody war between Vikings and Christians rages on. Sigrid's father wants her to marry Erik, a local king, to secure the peace between the Goths and the Swedes. Thinking she is doing Freya's will, she accepts the marriage offer, only to find that her destiny lies not with Erik but with Sweyn, a warrior who dreams of dethroning Harald Bluetooth, the legendary ruler of Denmark. Will Sigrid sacrifice her will for the greatest Viking kingdom of all time, or will she follow her heart at the risk of losing everything?

'Inventive, excellent ... a pure pleasure to read' THE TIMES In this compelling debut, an unknowable legacy passes through generations of one family living on the beautiful island of Barbados. There is Iapetus, a lonely soul haunted by the memory of his father; his son Atlas, dreaming of a life far removed from his reality; Atlas's daughter Calypso, struggling to find her place in an unforgiving society; and her son Nautilus, grappling with various parts of a complex identity. Each of them longs to escape - to go beyond the borders and circumstances that have contained them for so long - but each finds that they are trapped by a history found only in whispers and half-remembered fragments; and that it is dictating a future over which they have little control. With every passing decade another generation must contend with the same doubts about their identity, about their place in the small world they have carved out for themselves and the same question: how can the things we don't know define our futures? Perfect for fans of Girl, Woman, Other and Homegoing, THE ISLAND OF FORGETTING is a powerful story of family and hope, and marks the arrival of a stunning new voice in literary fiction. THE TIMES FICTION BOOK OF THE MONTH

Unbound: A Tale of Love and Betrayal in Shanghai is the sweeping, multigenerational story of two women-a grandmother and granddaughter-who fight to carve out a place for themselves as women in Shanghai society. Mini Pao lives with her sister and two parents in the British-occupied Shanghai of the 1930s, renowned for its vibrant night life, stunning architecture, and repressive social mores. Mini's struggle to provide for herself and her family while grappling with her desire for romance and independence comes into sharp contrast with the life of her granddaughter, Ting, told in alternating chapters. Ting also resides in Shanghai, decades later in the 1980s, when the city has been transformed beyond recognition by the communist strictures of Chairman Mao. Ting's strict, sheltered upbringing only fuels her curiosity about her grandmother's glamorous past, and she is driven to uncover tragic secrets, grapple with painful truths, and face the hard reality of what the future holds for her if she remains in Shanghai.