Get swept away by the new Regency romance from the author who Publishers Weekly calls 'irresistible.'Perhaps she could have survived the first scandal, or even the second, but when Miss Lenora Hartley finds herself left at the altar, victim to a third broken engagement, it's time to escape the ton's judgmental stares. A visit to the Isle of Synne is just what's needed to calm her nerves and avoid her father's overbearing attempts to find another suitor. But this carefree respite in the seaside resort town is clouded by the meddling of her hostess, the eccentric Lady Tesh.Peter Ashford has traveled from the Americas with a sinister plan. He's heir to the Duke of Dane, a man he despises for refusing to aid his mother on her deathbed. Now that the man is quite ill himself, Peter is eager to take his revenge. But between the manipulations of his great-aunt, Lady Tesh, and the allure of her beautiful houseguest, Peter feels his heart and conscience being pulled. Can years of hatred and his thirst for vengeance be vanquished by a single kiss and the promise of a future with Lenora Hartley?

A charming new saga by Sheila Newberry, author of The Nursemaid's Secret and The Winter Baby, for fans of Call the Midwife. Sunny grew up in the Mother and Baby Home on Grove Lane, London. The daughter of a wartime nurse and a pilot, she was abandoned by her mother shortly after her birth and taken in by Nan, the warm and gentle proprietor of the home. Never having known her parents, Sunny has always felt like she doesn't quite fit in, but now at sixteen-years-old she is ready to find her place in the world. Heading out to start her first job, she finally feels she has some idea of who she wants to be. As 1950s London is changing at a rapid pace, so is Sunny. And when someone from her past returns, Sunny has some tough decisions to make. Decisions that could affect the rest of her life . . . - - - - Praise for Sheila Newberry 'The Forget-Me-Not Girl is a drama-packed and emotional saga full of nostalgia, warmth and charm.' The Lancashire Post 'So gloriously nostalgic . . . a perfect example of her talent.' Maureen Lee, bestselling author of The Seven Streets of Liverpool 'Like having dinner with your mother in her warm and cosy kitchen.' Diane Allen, bestselling author of For the Sake of Her Family Readers are already loving The Mother and Baby Home: 'A lovely emotional book.' Netgalley reviewer 'A delightful read . . . will pull at your heartstrings.' Netgalley reviewer

A poignant story of courage and compassion in eighteenth-century Penzance.Jessica Trenchard is a spirited and wayward daughter - to the point that her father Clem is considering remarrying, to provide her with a suitable role model. Until, that is, her tender care of a speechless girl found abandoned in a field touches the heart of Kane Pengarron, the landlord's eldest son. But when Jessica's attempts to unearth her new friend's true identity threaten her safety, she realises that nothing is quite as it seems. For a murderous rogue who has been terrorising Mount's Bay for years has every reason to hate the Pengarrons... This thrilling saga is perfect for fans of Nicola Pryce and Poldark.

The escapist Sunday Times bestselling debut from the nation's best loved TV presenter, Carol Kirkwood. 'Loved it! It sizzles with secrets and passion. A real page turner!' Jo Thomas 'Utterly engaging, deliciously escapist, with a heart as warm as its author's' Cathy Kelly, bestselling author of The Family Gift One woman returns to the island that changed her life forever A-list actress Shauna Jackson has the perfect life. Fame, fortune, marriage. Or so it seems. Running from a scandal, Shauna flees to the place that changed her life twenty years ago, the idyllic Greek island of Ithos. Captivated once more by the azure seas and scented olive groves, bittersweet memories resurface of one summer, one unforgettable man, and a long-hidden secret. Shauna can escape Hollywood, but can she escape her past? 'An absolute cracking read - it's brilliant!' Steph McGovern presenter of Packed Lunch 'Sun-soaked, glamorous escapism.' Cressida McLaughlin 'A sizzling summer read. I couldn't put it down.' Alex Brown, bestselling author of The Secret of Orchard Cottage 'An exquisite tale of love lost and found that's full of intriguing characters and romantic locations. A Perfect summer read.' Judy Murray Five Star reviews from NetGalley: Excellent debut novel ***** You had me hooked from the very first page, right through to the very last word! I was riveted. I'm in awe. ***** 100% recommend sitting and relaxing with your favourite cocktail and getting lost in this truly wonderful romance. I loved it. ***** A great summer read! ***** Full of wonderful descriptions of sun-drenched Greek islands, Hollywood and its screen icons; I didn't want to put it down. ***** This book makes for a perfect summer read and one I definitely recommend reading. ***** Absolutely adored this book. I'm pretty sure I didn't move the whole time I was reading it! *****

Filled with characters you'll fall in love with, VICTORY GIRLS is Helen Carey's new World War Two saga about the resilient residents of a south London street. Not to be missed by readers of Katie Flynn, Annie Murray and Lilian Harry. Praise for the Lavender Road novels: 'Funny, poignant, emotional and unputdownable' London Evening Standard August 1944. Allied troops are fighting their way across Europe. But rocket attacks on London are a chilling reminder that the war is far from over. Helen knows all too well how dangerous it is in war-torn France. But it's a long-time since she heard from her French fiance, Andre, and nothing is going to stop her going back to track him down, before he is lost to her forever. Her friend Molly is finding it hard to stop thinking about the lovely Canadian pilot she met while nursing overseas, and the future she might have had, if only she had been good enough for him. Now Molly is back in London, determined to discover the truth about the mother who gave her up for adoption when she was four years old. Victory may be just round the corner, but the fighting is far from over for the women of Lavender Road. What readers are saying about VICTORY GIRLS: 'I laughed, cried and once again I found I just couldn't stop reading. Wonderful characters, a gripping storyline and great wartime detail' 'The girls' lives are embedded in fascinating historical detail and I almost felt I was a Lavender Road resident watching events unfold. The storyline is gripping right up to the final pages' 'The characters are finely drawn, and it was interesting to follow them on their various journeys. Excellent'

What could tear the sisters apart? Sisters Margaret and Annie lost their mother years ago, they long for her every day. Their frightfully protective father keeps the girls close but he can't protect them forever . . . When a scandal rocks the family, the girls are forced to leave their home. The girls flee to Birmingham's jewellery quarter to stay with the one person they can rely on - their uncle, goldsmith Ebenezer Watts and his warm-hearted wife, Hatt. Annie takes up work at a nearby factory, where she learns to forge cutlery, and Margaret is employed as a chain maker. By day Margaret works in cramped confines, alongside a local silversmith, and soon the links between the pair begin to bond . . . Annie's work in the factory exposes her to great horrors but it also opens her heart to great possibility. But what are the Sisters of Gold hiding? They've escaped their past once - can it remain hidden? Sisters of Gold is an emotional and heart-warming story set against a richly imagined Birmingham setting, from Annie Murray, author of The Doorstep Child.

A moment of distraction, an unlocked car and a missing baby. How on earth could this happen? All Malia needed was a single litre of milk and now she's surrounded by police and Zach has disappeared. Detective Ali Greenberg knows that this is not the best case for her, not with her history - but she of all people knows what Malia is going through and what is at stake. And then there is someone else. Someone whose heart is broken. Someone who feels she has been unfairly punished for her mistakes. Someone who wants what she can't have. What follows is a heart-stopping game of cat-and-mouse and a race against the clock. As the hours pass and the day heats up, all hope begins to fade. A gripping, haunting family drama shot through with emotion and suspense.

No.1 bestselling writer Josephine Cox is 'hailed quite rightly as a gifted writer in the tradition of Catherine Cookson' (Manchester Evening News). A Little Badness is a compelling story of love and family, perfect for fans of Lyn Andrews and Rosie Goodwin. Rita Blackthorn's heart was barren and hard. In all of her life she had never truly loved. But she had hated. Beneath the loving gaze of her daughter's soft green eyes, her heart swelled with dark and dangerous emotions. Young Cathy Blackthorn has never experienced any loving response from her mother; it is her beloved aunt Margaret, with a heart as big and warm as the summer sky, who has been more of a mother than her own could ever be. And when Cathy's father Frank Blackthorn brings home a London street urchin and announces this will be the son he and Rita have never had, Cathy despairs of ever winning her parents' love. Cathy is a generous soul, though, and tries to give the young lad a chance to prove himself but, unlike her best friend, David Leyton, something about him makes her more than uneasy . . .

The fourth novel in the Lancashire-based Gibson series by beloved saga writer Anna Jacobs. In 1858 Annie Hallam has at last found complete happiness. She has three healthy babies and adores her husband Frederick. After years of struggling to make a living in the small Lancashire town of Bilsden, Annie knows she deserves to sit back and enjoy her life - after all, she's not yet forty, and still in her prime. But worries - at first faint clouds on the horizon - are imminent. Frederick has been looking pale and ill lately. Her brother Tom hasn't moved on after the death of his wife. Rebecca, her half-sister, is longing for something more than her work in the salon. And William, her son, isn't happy at university. In spite of Frederick's gentle urging not to take the entire burden of the Gibson family on her shoulders, Annie can't help feeling concerned. And something much more dangerous is looming - a threat not only to Annie's peace of mind, but to her life...

A moving and emotional family drama set between France and Britain from bestselling author, Mary Wood. They would fight for their country, at all costs . . . When Sibbie and Marjie arrive at RAF Digby, they are about to take on roles of national importance. It's a cause of great excitement for everyone around them. Perhaps they will become code-breakers, spies even? Soon the pair embark on a rigorous training regime, but nothing can prepare them for what they're about to face . . . Amid the vineyards of rural France, Flora and Ella can't bear the thought of another war. But as the thunderclouds grow darker, hanging over Europe, a sense of deep foreboding sets in, not just for their safety but for the fate of their families . . . With danger looming, as the threat of war becomes real, Flora and Ella are forced to leave their idyllic home and flee. Can they make it to safety, or will the war have further horrors in store for them? The Brave Daughters is the fourth book in the Girls Who Went to War series by Mary Wood.

Third in a series of hardcover box sets celebrating the literary achievement of Christopher Tolkien, featuring double-sided dust jackets—one side featuring artwork by John Howe, and the original graphic treatment on the other. Set 3 contains The Return of the Shadow, The Treason of Isengard, The War of the Ring, and Sauron Defeated (Books 6–9 of The History of Middle-earth).

The Return of the Shadow is the story of the first part of the history of the creation of The Lord of the Rings, a fascinating study of Tolkien’s great masterpiece, from its inception to the end of the first volume, The Fellowship of the Ring.

The Treason of Isengard continues the account of the creation of The Lord of the Rings started in the earlier volume, tracing the great expansion of the tale into new lands and peoples south and east of the Misty Mountains: the emergence of Lothlorien, of Ents, of the Riders of Rohan, and of Saruman the White in the fortress of Isengard.

The War of the Ring takes up the story with the Battle of Helm’s Deep and the drowning of Isengard by the Ents; continues with the journey of Frodo, Sam, and Gollum to the Pass of Cirith Ungol; describes the war in Gondor; and ends with the parley between Gandalf and the ambassador of the Dark Lord before the Black Gate of Mordor.

Sauron Defeated completes Christopher Tolkien’s fascinating study of The Lord of the Rings, beginning with Sam’s rescue of Frodo from the Tower of Cirith Ungol, and giving a very different account of the Scouring of the Shire, with many additional scenes and the unpublished Epilogue in its entirety.

Published together for the first time, these four books collect a fascinating period of Christopher Tolkien’s forty-year career devoted to presenting his father J.R.R. Tolkien’s writings on Middle-earth, a unique accomplishment that celebrates the greatest invented world in all of fantasy literature.

Shortlisted for the RNA Romantic Saga of the Year Award When Evie's dreams come crashing down, she's determined to still make something of herself in these trying times... It is 1939 and working class Evie Bishop has received a scholarship to study mathematics at Oxford when tragedy turns her life upside down. Evie must seek a new future for herself and, inspired to contribute to the war effort, joins the Women's Auxiliary Air Force as an Ops Room plotter. Posted to a fighter station on the Sussex Coast, Evie befriends two other WAAFs - shy, awkward May and flirty, glamorous Jess. Faced with earning the approval of strict officers and finding their way in a male dominated world, the three girls band together to overcome challenges, navigate new romances and keep their pilots safe in the skies. But the German bombers seem to know more than they should about the base's operations, and soon Evie, May and Jess are caught up in a world more dangerous than they ever imagined... This heartwarming, dramatic World War II saga is perfect for fans of Daisy Styles, Kate Thompson and Rosie Clarke. Praise for The Ops Room Girls 'A fabulous tale of courage, comradeship and romance.' Glynis Peters, author of The Secret Orphan 'A lovely book. Vicki Beeby is a saga author to watch.' Margaret Dickinson, Sunday Times Top Ten bestselling author 'Full of excitement, energy and romance, this story kept me turning the pages eagerly.' Lesley Eames, author of The Brighton Guest House Girls 'An exceptional historical saga about young women forging new paths in an uncertain world at war... rich with historical detail, and a must read for historical fiction fans.' Andie Newton, author of The Girl I Left Behind 'An utter joy to read, from the first page to the last. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone with a liking for strong characters, a taste for danger, and a deeply romantic soul.' Terri Nixon, author of Penhaligon's Gift 'Entertaining from beginning to end. I can't recommend it highly enough.' Gemma Jackson, bestselling author of the Ivy Rose series

Ellis's life has crumbled without warning. Her boyfriend has fallen in love with someone else, her job's insecure, her bank account's empty and she has a mouthful of unreliable teeth. Forced back to her childhood home, there is little in the way of comfort. Her mum is dating a younger man (a dentist, no less) and is talking of selling the house, her sister, Lana, is furious all the time, and a distant cousin has now arrived from the States to stay with them. During a long, hot Edinburgh summer, Ellis's world spins out of control. She's dogged by toothache, her ex won't compensate her for the flat and somehow she's found herself stalking his new lover on Facebook. Will Ellis realise before it's too late that the bite she was born with is worth preserving?

'One of my all-time favourites' LORRAINE KELLY 'An absolute joy. Maeve sweeps you away to an island paradise!' VERONICA HENRY ___________ 'They were still talking as the first stars came into the sky...' Four strangers meet at a taverna on a beautiful Greek island, with nothing in common except a need to escape. But over one magical summer they'll discover that sometimes, the people who understand you the best can be the ones who don't know you at all... ___________ Find out why millions of readers adore Maeve Binchy... 'A story to lift your heart and bring you peace.' (Five stars) 'Maeve Binchy in the sunshine of Greece - what more could one want?' (Five stars) 'Happy and life-affirming' (Five stars) 'The Greek island itself was so real, it made you want to pack a suitcase an rush off to live there.' (Five stars) 'Set on a beautiful Greek island, and as you get caught up in the story you feel as if you have been there yourself.' (Five stars) 'Romance, disappointments, opportunities taken, beautiful Greece all tied up in a holiday package.' (Five stars) ___________ SPECIAL EDITION FEATURING 'MEMORIES OF MAEVE' FROM: Minnie Driver - Marian Keyes - Cathy Kelly - Veronica Henry Jilly Cooper - Lorraine Kelly - Jenny Colgan - Katie Fforde - Ruby Wax Patricia Scanlan - Liz Nugent - Megan Nolan - Maeve's friends & colleagues Introduced by Maeve's husband, Gordon Snell. ___________ 'A brilliant storyteller' GRAHAM NORTON 'A master storyteller' NEW YORK TIMES 'Maeve Binchy was my hero' MARIAN KEYES 'The Queen of Fiction' IRISH TIMES 'A true star' JILLY COOPER 'A remarkable writer' RUBY WAX 'Wielded her pen with dizzying genius' CATHY KELLY ___________

A sweeping Liverpool saga following the fortunes of one woman from the 1940s to the 1990s, by the ever-popular, award-winning author. Annie Harrison has a difficult childhood, and she eventually goes to live in the Grand Hotel with a rich schoolfriend. Marriage follows and when her husband dies, she throws herself into providing for her children. Starting with a market stall, she discovers a talent for designing clothes that develops into a successful business. But there comes a time amid the success when Annie feel she can no longer go on. Then a chance meeting leads to events she has no control over, and at last she finds the happiness that has previously eluded her.

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With her bestselling debut novel, Knowing, Rosalyn McMillan charged mainstream fiction with fresh insight and forceful true-to-life drama, and established herself in the first rank of African-American contemporary authors. Now she more than fulfills her great promise with a powerful, extraordinary new novel -- the story of two generations of successful, independent women...

Spice Witherspoon. Desperate to free her children from misery and poverty, Spice harnessed ambition with an unparalleled sense of style to establish Southern Spice, an elegant, world-renowned restaurant. She has since become one of Michigan's wealthiest, most respected community leaders. Yet in spite of her success, she must decide between the unexpected love of two very different men -- even as she fights to shield her two troubled daughters from the devastating secrets that can destroy all she's fought to build...

Sterling. Spice's brilliant, beautiful youngest daughter craves her mother's love -- and courts it with rebellion. Trapped by a dangerous lover and the endless high of drugs, she finds herself sliding to a new low, where only a miracle love can save her...

Mink. Sterling's older sister had a hunger to win that made her one of the nation's first female African-American airline pilots. Instead of rejoicing in her success, she pushes her goals ever higher, alienating herself from her family and plunging into a reckless affair ...

Carmen. Spice's lifelong friend was the heart and soul of Southern Spice's success. But when a dangerous addiction threatens her life, she must realize the limits of friendship and face a shattering truth ...

Golden Westbrook. A dynamic civil rights activist and leading preacher, he offered Spice a man's deepest love and commitment. He would inspire her in ways that would bring her joy, desire, and heartbreak -- as well as the promise of life's sweetest rewards ...

With One Better, Rosalyn McMillan truly comes into her own, delivering an exotically sensual, breathtakingly glamorous, and unforgettably poignant story of mothers and daughters, dreams and hopes, desires and illusions...and everyone's search to define for themselves that one true happiness.

An Alternate Selection of The Literary Guild and of Doubleday Book Club

'Enjoyed this book so much I didn't want it to end!!!' - 5-star reader review In the untamed outback of Western Australia, the Blake sisters are together again despite what seemed like unsurmountable odds. For Cassandra - reunited again with the man she loves - the Swan River Colony is a refuge that seems like a miracle after all her ordeals. And two of her sisters have fallen in love with their new way of life. But then a messenger arrives from faraway England, and it is the fourth sister, Pandora, who jumps at the chance to make her way back to the Lancashire moors that she misses so badly. The way home, though, will be even harder than the voyage to Australia. The only ship that can take her and her new protector back to England lies many days' journey away, across country that would daunt even a hardened explorer. And when she reaches Outham, a devious, dangerous enemy will do anything to prevent her from taking charge of her family's inheritance . . . What readers are saying about BEYOND THE SUNSET 'Another Anna Jacobs novel I could not put down' - 5 stars 'Just loved this book - a great read - couldn't put it down!' - 5 stars 'A great book' - 5 stars 'I enjoyed every page' - 5 stars 'Anna Jacobs is brilliant at her craft' - 5 stars

Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2020 Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2020 The long-awaited sequel to Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, the stunning conclusion to Hilary Mantel's Man Booker Prize-winning Wolf Hall trilogy. 'It is a book not read, but lived' Telegraph 'Her Cromwell novels are, for my money, the greatest English novels of this century' Observer 'If you cannot speak truth at a beheading, when can you speak it?' England, May 1536. Anne Boleyn is dead, decapitated in the space of a heartbeat by a hired French executioner. As her remains are bundled into oblivion, Thomas Cromwell breakfasts with the victors. The blacksmith's son from Putney emerges from the spring's bloodbath to continue his climb to power and wealth, while his formidable master, Henry VIII, settles to short-lived happiness with his third queen, Jane Seymour. Cromwell is a man with only his wits to rely on; he has no great family to back him, no private army. Despite rebellion at home, traitors plotting abroad and the threat of invasion testing Henry's regime to breaking point, Cromwell's robust imagination sees a new country in the mirror of the future. But can a nation, or a person, shed the past like a skin? Do the dead continually unbury themselves? What will you do, the Spanish ambassador asks Cromwell, when the king turns on you, as sooner or later he turns on everyone close to him? With The Mirror and the Light, Hilary Mantel brings to a triumphant close the trilogy she began with Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies. She traces the final years of Thomas Cromwell, the boy from nowhere who climbs to the heights of power, offering a defining portrait of predator and prey, of a ferocious contest between present and past, between royal will and a common man's vision: of a modern nation making itself through conflict, passion and courage. A Guardian Book of the Year * A Times Book of the Year * A Daily Telegraph Book of the Year * A Telegraph Book of the Year * A Sunday Times Book of the Year * A New Statesman Book of the Year * A Spectator Book of the Year

The heartwarming new wartime saga from the Sunday Times bestselling author of A Maiden's Voyage. 'A vibrant page-turner with entrancing characters' Margaret Dickinson 'Rosie writes such heartwarming sagas' Lyn Andrews Nuneaton, 1911 When Holly Farthing's overbearing grandfather tries to force her to marry a widower twice her age, she finally says no. After he refuses to support her any longer, Holly flees to London, bringing her best friend and maid, Ivy, with her. In the big smoke, Holly searches for the father she's never met and begins nurse training in the local hospital. There she meets the dashing Doctor Parkin. Kind and compassionate, he is everything Holly has ever dreamt of. When Doctor Parkin proposes, Holly finally feels like she'll have the family she so longs for. But soon, she discovers some shocking news that means they can never be together, and her life is suddenly thrown into turmoil. Supporting the war effort, she heads to France and throws herself into volunteering on the front line. Can Holly ever find the happiness she so truly deserves? A Precious Gift is the sixth book in Rosie Goodwin's Days of the Week Collection. Why not try the rest, Mothering Sunday, The Little Angel, A Mother's Grace, The Blessed Child, A Maiden's Voyage and Time to Say Goodbye?

Don't miss the new summer novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Morgan! A family wedding Catherine Swift is a bestselling romance author, but her personal story hasn't been quite so successful; three failed marriages have left her relationship with her daughters strained. Engaged once again, Catherine is counting on this wedding, at her villa in Corfu, to finally bring the family together. A summer of secrets Adeline can't believe her mother is getting married for a fourth time, or that she's expected to attend. It brings back the pain of her mother's infidelity and the baby who was the result. Not that she blames her half-sister Cassie, but then she's never tried to know her, either. Cassie, on the other hand, is thrilled by her mother's news - she's always admired Catherine's resilience, and is excited to meet the mystery groom. Cassie also has a secret of her own, and a summer in Corfu will give her the time she needs to process everything. A chance to start over again As the guests arrive on the island, and the big day approaches, Catherine begins to reveal secrets from her past, and suddenly both Cassie and Adeline realise that they don't know their mother at all . . .

September 1953, London's East End. Edie Birch, who believes herself to be a war widow, has finally allowed herself to fall in love again. Engaged to be married, she is happily planning her wedding day. But fate has a blow in store - her 15-year-old daughter, Maggie, is pregnant. A plan has been hatched to stop her daughter from falling from grace. Hidden away above an Italian cafe in Islington until she is ready to give birth Maggie works long hours behind the scenes while her mother Edie feigns pregnancy. The charade works until the baby arrives and hard decisions are to be made. Can Maggie return home and cope with the pretense of her own child being her brother? And will the truth out once Edie's first husband turns up to demand his rights as grandfather?

A wonderful new Christmas story of friendship, love and duty in wartime by the author of The Air Raid Girls, for fans of Elaine Everest and Rosie Hendry. November, 1941. Christmas is coming... and despite the blackout, shortages and a constant threat of air raids, the inhabitants of Kelthorpe on the Yorkshire coast are determined that war won't stop them celebrating. The run-up to Christmas sees sisters Connie and Lizzie, and their good friend Pamela, busier than ever. Between their jobs, carol-singing rehearsals with the church choir and night shifts doing their bit as Air Raid Wardens and ambulance drivers, it's all go. But when Connie and Lizzie's dear dad falls ill, their sweethearts Tom and Bill are called up by the Royal Navy for dangerous mine-sweeping duties, and Pamela's sweetheart Fred is targeted by vicious locals, the girls have to believe in miracles to keep soldiering on. Can their dearest wishes come true this Christmas? --------------------------------------------- Readers love Jenny Holmes: 'There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book' 5 star review 'I couldn't put this book down' 5 star review 'Loved the whole story' 5 star review 'This is a totally absorbing book' 5 star review 'An excellent read put together in fine style' 5 star review

1939. After the sudden and tragic loss of her husband, Helen is returning home to her mother's house in Biggin Hill, Kent - the one place she vowed she'd never go back to again. Alone and not knowing where to turn, Helen finds herself joining the local women's sewing circle despite being hopeless with a needle and thread. These resourceful women can not only make do and mend clothes, quilts and woolly hats, but their friendship mends something deeper in Helen too. Lizzie is a natural leader, always ready to lend a helping hand or a listening ear. Effie has uprooted her life from London to keep her two little girls away from the bombing raids, and the sewing circle is a welcome distraction from worries about how to keep a roof over their heads and about her husband too, now serving in active duty overseas. When the reason for Helen's husband's death comes to light, her world is turned upside down yet again. The investigating officer on the case, Richard, will leave no stone unturned, but it's not long before his interest in Helen goes beyond the professional. As she pieces together old fabrics into a beautiful quilt, will Helen patch up the rifts in her own life? The Patchwork Girls by Elaine Everest is a moving story about the ties of friends and family, set during the turbulence of World War II.