Recently widowed, Hannah Firth is still young - young enough to dream of a new life. When her spiteful daughter-in-law uses her as an unpaid servant, Hannah tries to leave, but she is unaware of the depths that Patty's spite will lead her to. Nathaniel King's life is ruined when his landlord's son lays waste to his market garden for a prank - and the resulting feud puts Nathaniel's livelihood at stake. Hannah has only a few coins and dreams of a happier future to sustain her as she tramps the roads and evades pursuit. When she meets Nathaniel, the attraction between them cannot be denied and they join forces. But their enemies have money and powerful allies on their side and will stop at nothing to get rid of them.

An intensely gripping story of two extraordinary families from bestseller Teresa Crane1929: Siobhan Clough and her three children are enjoying a holiday on the English coast. With them is Mary McCarthy and her volatile son, Liam. All is well until the arrival of Siobhan's husband George. A man of strong views and even stronger temper, he browbeats his gentle wife, belittles his daughter Christine and treats Liam like a servant... A year later, on a visit to Ireland, Liam unexpectedly comes face to face with the father he has never known. Liam wants nothing to do with him, but when George Clough throws him out, he has little choice but to enter his father's dangerous world of Irish politics... As the Clough children grow up they each react to their domineering father in different ways, and his daughter Christine finds herself attracted to the man her father would disapprove of above all others, the wild card Liam McCarthy... Perfect for fans of Emily Gunnis, Fiona Valpy and Santa Montefiore, The Wild Card is an intensely gripping and unforgettable read.

Lizzie Conway has clawed her way out of the worst slums of the Gorbals, all for the sake of her three daughters, her most prized possessions. She would do anything to protect Polly, Babs and poor, deaf Rosie. In this tough part of Glasgow, there are many dangers - physical and moral - facing women. And the girls themselves seem sometimes to be determined to make marriages as unwise as the one that landed her with crippling debts, three small children and no man to take care of them . . . But Lizzie is a fighter, and - to her surprise - so are more than one of her girls.

One of America's most powerful and thought-provoking novelists, "New York Times" bestselling author Jodi Picoult brilliantly examines belief, miracles, and the complex core of family.

When the marriage of Mariah White and her cheating husband, Colin, turns ugly and disintegrates, their seven-year-old daughter, Faith, is there to witness it all. In the aftermath of a rapid divorce, Mariah falls into a deep depression -- and suddenly Faith, a child with no religious background whatsoever, hears divine voices, starts reciting biblical passages, and develops stigmata. And when the miraculous healings begin, mother and daughter are thrust into the volatile center of controversy and into the heat of a custody battle -- trapped in a mad media circus that threatens what little stability the family has left.

The Piper family is steeped in secrets, lies, and unspoken truths. At the eye of the storm is one secret that threatens to shake their lives -- even destroy them.

Set on stormy Cape Breton Island off Nova Scotia, Fall on Your Knees is an internationally acclaimed multigenerational saga that chronicles the lives of four unforgettable sisters. Theirs is a world filled with driving ambition, inescapable family bonds, and forbidden love.

Compellingly written, by turns menacingly dark and hilariously funny, this is an epic tale of five generations of sin, guilt, and redemption.

The third novel in the brand new Backshaw Moss series by beloved million-copy bestselling author Anna Jacobs Lancashire, 1936. With her son Gabriel finally married, and her youngest following his dreams of becoming a doctor, Gwynneth Harte finds herself with an empty nest - until a fire forces her to move in with Gabriel and his wife Maisie at their home on Daisy Street. Arthur Chapman has been at a low ebb ever since the death of his wife. Turning to drink in his grief, he lost both his job and contact with his grandchild, Beatie - but now the inheritance of a house from a distant relative is the fresh start he needs. When Beatie runs away from her cruel grandmother and takes refuge with Gwynneth, she and Arthur are thrown together - and find themselves growing closer. But trouble is brewing in the valley, from the ambitions of the bullying local landlord to rumours of a Fascist spy. Can the residents of Backshaw Moss band together to keep each other safe, and will there be wedding bells on Daisy Street? Readers love Anna Jacobs' heartwarming sagas! 'Amazing' - 5 STARS 'Thank you, Anna, for the pleasure you give in all your books' - 5 STARS 'Another brilliant, hard-to-put-down book' - 5 STARS 'Can't wait for the next instalment' - 5 STARS 'A real page turner, I can't wait to read the next one' - 5 STARS 'Another triumph for Anna Jacobs' - 5 STARS 'BRILLIANT READ' - 5 STARS

'As heart-warming as it is heartbreaking, this novel is unputdownable' Sunday Express. It is 1953 and five very different girls are arriving at the nurses' home in Lovely Lane, Liverpool, to start their training at St Angelus Hospital. Dana has escaped from her family farm on the west coast of Ireland. Victoria is running away from a debt-ridden aristocratic background. Beth is an army brat and throws her lot in with bitchy Celia Forsyth. And Pammy has come from quite the wrong side of the tracks in Liverpool. The world in which they now find themselves is complicated and hierarchical, with rules that must be obeyed. Everyone has their place at St Angelus and woe betide anyone who strays from it. But when an unknown girl is admitted, after a botched late abortion in a backstreet kitchen, a tragedy begins to unfold which will rock the world of St Angelus to its foundations. Can't wait for the next one? THE CHILDREN OF LOVELY LANE is out now! What people are saying about THE ANGELS OF LOVELY LANE: 'Nadine Dorries's writing is sparkling and vibrant, her books are a joy to read' 'The book was like a dream - difficult to put down' 'You feel as if you know the characters personally!' 'Enthralling read, can't wait to read more'

A Winter Love Song is a heartwarming and moving story of survival and love from bestselling author Rita Bradshaw. Bonnie Lindsay is born into a travelling fair community in the north-east in 1918, and when her mother dies just months later, Bonnie's beloved father becomes everything to her. Then at the tender age of ten years old, disaster strikes. Heartbroken, Bonnie's left at the mercy of her embittered grandmother and her lecherous step-grandfather. Five years later, the events of one terrible night cause Bonnie to flee to London where she starts to earn her living as a singer. She changes her name and cuts all links with the past. Time passes. Bonnie falls in love, but just when she dares to hope for a rosy future, WW2 is declared. She does her bit for the war effort, singing for the troops and travelling to Burma to boost morale, but heartache and pain are just around the corner, and she begins to ask herself if she will ever find happiness again?

At the age of fourteen, happy-go-lucky Polly Perkins faces untold sadness when her beloved father is diagnosed with tuberculosis. As Tommy's stay in hospital turns from weeks into months, Polly's mother, Ada, becomes increasingly anxious as to how she will make ends meet. In an attempt to help out, Polly takes a job as a flowerseller, and when she sells a buttonhole to Charles Denholme, a member of the Liverpool gentry, she sets in motion a chain of events that changes her life forever...

When Elsa Gripper dies in childbirth on Christmas Eve, 1912, her grief-stricken husband is unable to cope with his two newborn babies, Lucy and Patsy, so the twins are separated. Lucy is taken home with Elsa's parents, who run a successful business, Mersey Antiques, and she grows up spoiled and pampered with no interest in the family firm. Patsy has a more down-to-earth upbringing, living with their father and other grandmother above the Railway Arms. And through further tragedy she learns to be responsible from an early age. Then Patsy is invited to work for her grandfather at Mersey Antiques, which she hopes will bring her closer to Lucy. But it is to take a series of dramatic events for the twins to be drawn together.

How far would you go to protect your family? 'Full of heart and essential truth, this moving book will sweep you to a very satisfying ending and perhaps a few happy tears' KATIE FFORDE 'A riveting family saga, with terrific characters, that has you utterly engrossed from start to finish. I loved it' PATRICIA SCANLAN 'I absolutely adored every page of it . . . No one blends love and loss, happiness and heartbreak quite the way Carmel does. Not since the late, great Maeve Binchy' CLAUDIA CARROLL 'An emotional family drama . . . full of the warmth we've come to associate with Carmel's writing' HAZEL GAYNOR 'An exploration of familial love and grief . . . and how in the face of our greatest trials, our strongest bonds can be forged' ROISIN MEANEY 'Warm, uplifting and thought-provoking . . . The perfect book club read!' DEBBIE JOHNSON 'Beautifully written, warm and wise. I adored it' ALEX BROWN Hawke's Bay, New Zealand While Rachel Butler likes her life in a pretty Dublin coastal village, her heart lies in Hawke's Bay, where she grew up. Visiting for the first time since tragedy tore her family apart, she and her stepchildren fall for its beauty and outdoor lifestyle. Malahide, Ireland As Rachel picks up the threads of her life as a single parent, she can't shake off the memories of her loving family in New Zealand - and her dream house, the villa on the bay. But it's time to move forwards with their life in Ireland, close to the children's grandparents, amid the familiar surroundings they all know well. Until the children's grandmother, still grieving, starts to interfere, questioning Rachel's position as stepmother. Until Rachel's attempts to strengthen the family she loves so dearly backfires, pitting everyone against each other. And until her late husband's parents mend the rift that has existed as long as she's been married - bringing with them an explosive secret . . .

Previously published as The Liberation of Brigid Dunne *** THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER *** One explosive family reunion. A lifetime of secrets revealed.Spanning generations and covering seismic shifts in the lives of women, A Family Reunion is a compelling, thought-provoking, important and highly emotional novel from a trailblazing author in women's fiction. Praise for A Family Reunion: 'Bestselling writer Patricia Scanlan returns with a dramatic novel that tracks four feisty women as they prepare to meet up for a family reunion... Dramatic and twisty, this novel is a riveting read' OK! 'A must-read' Bella 'Explosive' Best Number 1 bestselling author Patricia Scanlan is set to capture the hearts and enchant the minds of a whole new generation of readers who will fall in love with her sublime storytelling. A trailblazing women's fiction author, all of her novels have been #1 international bestsellers, most recently With All My Love, A Time for Friends and Orange Blossom Days. She writes multi-generational family dramas with compassion and authenticity, and a hint of comforting escapism. 'If you love Maeve Binchy, you MUST try Patricia Scanlan' Woman & Home 'Utterly magical and wonderful... warmth and compassion shine through' MARIAN KEYES 'Like being enfolded in a hug from the great writer herself: warm, comforting and full of love' CATHY KELLY 'There can be little doubt that Patricia Scanlan is the prolific queen of contemporary Irish popular fiction' Sunday Times 'There is a heartbreaking authenticity in her observations' Irish Times 'The ultimate comfort read' Glamour 'If you love Maeve Binchy, you will love Patricia Scanlan' Mirror

The Fortune of the Rougons (1871) is a novel by French author Emile Zola. The first of twenty volumes of Zola's monumental Les Rougon-Macquart series is an epic story of family, politics, class, and history that traces the disparate paths of several French citizens raised by the same mother. Spanning the entirety of the French Second Empire, Zola provides a sweeping portrait of change that refuses to shy away from controversy and truth as it gets to the heart of heredity and human nature. Adelaide Fouque is a woman of Plassans, a town in southern France. Alongside her son Pierre Rougon, whose deceased father was her husband, Adelaide raises the Macquart siblings, her children from a brief, passionate affair. Despite their shared upbringing, the three children take vastly diverging paths in life. Pierre, desperate to prove his legitimacy, becomes an ambitious middle-class man whose deepest desire is to win favor with the aristocracy and to climb even further from his humble roots. Meanwhile, his half siblings struggle to make a living for themselves and their working-class families. As Pierre's ambitions lead him to not only disinherit the Macquarts, but to position himself as a supporter of Napoleon III in his attempt to overthrow the French government. At the same time, Silvere Mouret, Adelaide's grandson, and his lover Miette Chantegreil find themselves on the side of the republicans who attempt to resist Napoleon's coup. The Fortune of the Rougons is a story of family and fate, a thrilling and detailed novel that sets up a world rich enough for its author to explore in nineteen subsequent volumes. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Emile Zola's The Fortune of the Rougons is a classic work of French literature reimagined for modern readers.

Though Charles rarely finds himself in the sticky situations many of his friends do, he is happy to listen, sympathize, and offer advice. Known for being charming and morally upright, Charles enjoys his reputation of strong values, because of the turbulent adolescence he experienced which led to the adoption of these beliefs. As a child, Charles was forced to give up special occasions, such as birthday parties, to accommodate his sick mother. Finding solace in faith as she succumbed to her illness, Charles' mother did her best to impart her ideals on her young son. After her passing, Charles was raised by his father and Leah, a loyal worker employed by the family. As he grows, Charles struggles to adjust to the constant changes in his life. From losing his mother, growing older, and accepting his father's new marriage, Charles must hold tight to the values passed on to him from his family and community, careful not to lose them in the chaotic journey of becoming an adult. Featuring themes of friendship, family, and morality, The Story of Charles Strange by Mrs. Henry Wood follows the life of an idealistic man. With perfect prose and intimate detail, readers are allowed to accompany Charles as he comes of age, overcoming tragedy and adversity. First published in the late 19th century, The Story of Charles Strange continues to fascinate and delight audiences with its insight on the culture and customs of the time, as well as its lovely storyline. This edition of The Story of Charles Strange by Mrs. Henry Wood now features a new, eye-catching cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, this edition of The Story of Charles Strange crafts an accessible and pleasant reading experience for modern audiences while restoring the original sentiment and drama of Mrs. Henry Wood's work.

In Victorian era England, longtime friends Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley experience love and loss alongside the many colorful members of their unique social circle. Despite the ups and downs, they attempt to maintain their dignity and connection. Becky Sharp is a bold spitfire who's driven by ambition and eager to solidify her station in life. Her childhood friend, Amelia Sedley, is a modest and passive woman, who is mostly viewed as warm and endearing. Their glaring personalities are on full display as they encounter various male suitors including Rawdon Crawley and George Osborne. Becky's flirtatious and manipulative manner makes her a topic of conversation, while Amelia's loyalty proves to be a cross too heavy to bear. Vanity Fair is one of William Makepeace Thackeray's most famous novels. It has been adapted multiple times for television and film, including a 2004 feature starring Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon as the feisty Becky. She is often considered Thackeray's most memorable character. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Vanity Fair is both modern and readable.

The Forest Gods Reign is a purely fictional and escapist teen fiction novel. It follows the story of a group of fifteen-year-olds who find out they are reincarnations of the Greek gods of Olympus. Forced into a war that pits them against one another, the gods struggle to balance their lives as both gods and regular students, especially when a mysterious human boy of the same age suddenly shows up in their beloved forest. While portraying relatable emotional struggles, The Forest Gods Reign also delves into deeper topics such as the real difference (or lack thereof) between humans, gods, and monsters.

George Eliot's most acclaimed work, Middlemarch displays the author at the peak of her powers, weaving multiple plotlines and a memorable collection of characters together to create a wide-ranging novel of remarkable insight. First appearing in 1871, Middlemarch is a historical novel set 42 years before its publication. Political and social concerns of the era are present but serve as background and contrast to four compelling plotlines focused on a set of unforgettable characters striving against circumstance, each other, and themselves. Powerful themes, religion, love, marriage, education, society's treatment of women and much more, are dealt with as fully fused elements of the story and integral parts of the lives of the characters. The author conveys a sweeping vision of small-town England in the Victorian era, the rich and the poor, the people of the countryside and the people of the city, while unspooling several interlocked storylines full of passion, uncertainty and suspense. Middlemarch received a mixed reaction upon its initial appearance, but has gained in standing among critics and general readers until it is now commonly considered one of the high points of 19th century fiction and even of English literature as a whole. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Middlemarch is both modern and readable.

A tale of hardship and survival, The Doorstep Child is a heart-rending story from bestselling author Annie Murray. From a tender age little Evie struggled . . . Evie spent her early years left outside on the step. With a drunk for a father and a neglectful mother, all little Evie has ever craved is a safe home and a normal existence. Her young eyes had seen so much but this never tainted her spirit. If it wasn't for her best friend Gary, and friendly dog called Whisky - Evie might never have made it to the sixteenth birthday. At sixteen she meets Ken, a sweet brown-eyed boy, not much older than she is. Perhaps her fortunes have changed? But no sooner does she give over her heart, she is betrayed, not for the first time in her young life . . . Will Evie ever find the love and warmth she's always craved?

Nancy, Amy and Katie Siddons are three of the prettiest nurses south of the Mersey. They've been brought up to respect their elders and uphold family honour at all times. Then sweet, naive Katie falls pregnant, bringing shame upon the family's name. Alec Siddons, a local police constable, cannot and will not forgive his daughter for her immoral behaviour. But Katie isn't the only one with troubles ahead. Amy is in love with her cousin Paul, but owing to a family feud the mere mention of his name is forbidden in her father's presence; and Nancy is eager to wed her fiance Stan before the Second World War takes him away. With the outbreak of war, the three sisters offer each other comfort and support. Their mother, meanwhile, is battling with painful memories of the past, and their father lives in dread that his own dark secrets will be revealed. As the war takes its toll on the Merseyside girls they learn that few things in life are more precious than honesty, love and forgiveness.

An unexpected windfall gives Peggie Cartwright the lucky break she deserves. At last she can save her family from financial ruin. Ever since Cyrus Crabbe stole her father Septimus's brake and claimed it as his own vehicle, Sep has dreamed of the day he would run a bus service for the villagers of Leicester to put the Crabbes out of business once and for all. It now looks like that day is in sight. But Cyrus Crabbe is a dangerous man, determined to stop the Cartwrights from succeeding. A wicked remark from his acid tongue forces Septimus to abandon his beloved brood, and as Sep's absence stretches from weeks to months, Peggie watches her mother sink into a deep decline. Peggie's brothers and sisters are used to heartache but when Billy is beaten black and blue and Cyrus's son Reginald turns his attentions to young Letty it seems that none of the family is to be spared... Peggie knows it's up to her to keep the business afloat and spirits raised. For no matter what obstacles are thrown her way she is determined to fulfil her father's dream.

Gulliver's strange adventures in some of the most unusual lands ever imagined have made this one of the rare classics with an enduring and wide-ranging appeal to all ages. Gulliver's bad luck at sea not only gets him shipwrecked and castaway, but repeatedly throws him into strange societies of even stranger people. Readers are likely aware of Gulliver's experiences in Lilliput, where he meets a kingdom of six-inch-tall people with a set of prejudices that are as rigid as they are ridiculous. They may be less familiar with Gulliver's time among the giants of Brobdingnag, the science-obsessed residents of the flying island of Laputa or the horse-like and thoughtful Houyhnhnms, all of which are much less well known despite being every bit as inventive and thought-provoking. Swift's straightforward narrative style adds both realism and a kind of deadpan humor to his outrageous flights of the imagination. The fantastical nature of Gulliver's adventures have led the book, especially the section taking place in Lilliput, to be seen by some as a story for children, but the tale's political and philosophical underpinnings are not hidden and cast a decidedly skeptical eye on humanity. Seen as a collection of delightful fairy tales or as fables that probe the nature of society, Gulliver's Travels occupies a unique position in the canon of English literature and will undoubtedly be reinterpreted, and enjoyed, as long as books are read. Included in this Mint Edition is Swift's fierce satirical essay, A Modest Proposal. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Gulliver's Travels is both modern and readable.

Two hundred years have not dimmed Fielding's realism. His humor is closer to our own than that of any other writer before the present century."-Kingsley Amis "An exquisite picture of human manners."-Edward Gibbon "The plotting is complex, astonishing and perfect. It brims with good nature and generosity of spirit....it's full of jokes, suspense, cliffhangers, narrative reversals and pathos."-Jonathan Cole The History of Tom Jones is Henry Fielding's greatest work and one of literature's earliest examples of a fully realized protagonist, with both virtues and vices on abundant display. The picaresque story of the orphan Tom, his exile, then subsequent adventures and loves is bristling with the spirit of mid-18th century Britain yet remains a deeply ambitious novel.The frank portrayal of human nature and innovative narrative structure of this classic continues to entice readers hundreds of years after it's publication. When Mr. Allworthy, a kind country squire, returns from London he finds a baby boy in one of the beds of his estate. Through his inquiry, he determines that the mother is a local woman named Jenny Jones. Allworthy sends her away from the country, and decides to raise the boy, named Tom Jones, with his unmarried sister in their home. Soon after, Allworthy's sister marries and gives birth to her own boy, known as Blifil. He initially appears to be virtuous, yet as he grows it becomes apparent he inherently deceitful. Years later, when Squire Allworthy falls ill Blifil betrays Tom, and he is banished from the house. In his exile, Tom's adventures across his country begin. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of The History of Tom Jones is both modern and readable.