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Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > Sagas
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?
As the clouds of war gather over Cavendon Hall, the next generation must step forward... The great house of Cavendon Hall has stood on the Yorkshire moors for centuries. Two families, the aristocratic Inghams and the Swanns who serve them, have been bound by loyalty since the first stone was laid. But when war looms, sons, husbands and brothers are called up to fight; trials and tragedies strike the great house itself. The women of every generation and background must rise to meet the terrible threat posed by Hitler. The Cavendon Luck has held for a long time. Can it hold in the face of this greatest threat of all - and can it protect the next generation?
Ginny is devastated by the death of her mother, her two little brothers and her sister - but her father is destroyed by the loss. After a series of drunken mistakes, her father is imprisoned for murder, and Ginny and her little brother Charlie lose the only home they've ever known. Worse is to come. Charlie is only eight years old and has a weak chest. Ginny is determined to keep him with her, but he is taken to the workhouse before she has a chance to save him. Lonely and desperate, Ginny wanders the streets of Nuneaton. She finds honest work at the pie shop - until she is forced to fight off the unwanted advances of the baker and she's out on the streets. It's only then that she remembers her father's final words - the housekeeper of Lamp Hill Hall will help her. Soon Ginny is employed as a laundry maid, the very lowest rung of the ladder. Her beauty and grace mean that she catches the eye of the house's mistress, who raises Ginny up to play lady's maid to the difficult and demanding Miss Diana. All Ginny wants is to find her brother - and it will take all her strength of heart and courage to bring her family together again.
A new emotional and gritty drama from the bestselling author of The Throwaway Children. After her mother's death, twenty-year-old Sophie Ross is left orphaned, with only her erstwhile nursemaid and faithful friend, Hannah for company. Penniless and little chance of an income, she looks for work as a governess in London to avoid destitution. But unbeknown to Sophie, her mother instructed Hannah to post a letter to Trescadinnick House in Cornwall upon her death. The letter will be the catalyst that changes Sophie's life forever as she learns of her mother's doomed romance and family she left behind in Cornwall. The Penvarrow family welcomes Sophie into their fold, but the new life she's built is threatened by secrets and lies that soon come to light... What readers are saying about Miss Mary's Daughter: 'Diney Costeloe's books are always first on my list, she writes such wonderful stories' 'I loved everything about this novel. It's an intriguing plot with a well-rounded group of characters and a beautifully written setting'.
Escape to the French chateau in this gripping, sweeping tale of love, lies and divided loyalties. Perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore and Lucinda Riley. _________________________________________________________________ ONE FAMILY GENERATIONS OF SECRETS IT'S TIME TO ESCAPE TO THE CHATEAU . . . Elise is a true daughter of the chateau. She'd die before anything happened to Sainte Madeleine - even if it means betraying her own family. Alexandre, Elise's brother, is destined to inherit - yet a dangerous rift with their father puts his future, and the chateau, in jeopardy. And for distant cousin Laurent, his life-long love for Elise will always call him back to Sainte Madeleine. But the peace of Europe rests on a knife-edge, and history has bigger plans than them all. Through love and war, danger and deceit, can the chateau - and the Salignac family - weather the storm? Readers are getting swept away by Sainte Madeleine: 'It is perfect escapism' Netgalley reviewer 'A beautiful love story that captures your attention and your heart from beginning to end' Netgalley reviewer 'Everything from sensitivity to heartache as well as a great story' Netgalley reviewer 'A definite feel of Gone with the Wind' Netgalley reviewer 'Lovers of romance and wine will be enraptured by the story' Netgalley reviewer 'Tilly Bagshawe has weaved a larger than life family saga set in the most gorgeous setting possible' Netgalley reviewer
Jill Ridley's childhood was one of loneliness and fear, and returning to her family home in Merseyside to join her stepmother's medical practice she decides to uncover the truth behind such painful memories. The discovery of a photograph of her stepmother holding an unknown baby prompts Jill to ask questions. But no one seems willing to answer her. It is only when Jill's stoical stepgrandmother, Victoria, tells the harrowing tale of her tragic past that the pieces of the puzzle start to fall into place. Coming to terms with shocking revelations, Jill must also face the future. The surgery's prospects are bleak; Jill's father is buckling under work pressures; and Felix Kingsley, a young journalist, has started paying attention to Jill - but are his intentions honourable, or is he using Jill to probe for secrets that affect his own family...?
This epic novel of a wide-eyed missionary and a rebellious woman thrust into China's Communist revolution is "an excellent read, panoramic in scope" (Financial Times). In 1931, young English-born missionary Jakob Kellner brings all the crusading passion of his untried Christian faith to a China racked by famine and bloody civil war. He burns to save the world's largest nation from Communism. But when he is swept along on the cold, unforgiving Long March, Jakob becomes entangled with Mei-ling, a beautiful and fervent revolutionary. Soon, powerful new emotions challenge and reshape his faith-and entrap him forever in the vast country's tortured destiny. Once held hostage by Red Guards in Peking for more than two years, author Anthony Grey traces the path of China's Communist party from its covert inception through purge and revolution. He crafts a portrait of China as a land of great beauty and harshness-of triumph and tragedy-in a sweeping narrative, rich in historical and cultural revelations.
'The Iliad meets Friday Night Lights in this muscular, captivating debut' Oprah Magazine 'A gorgeous debut that conjures one small town and the big emotions of its wealthiest family, the Briscoes, whose saga plays out over six days of pain, rage and love' People, Best of Summer 'I read without breathing - OK, maybe I gasped - and I experienced the characters' grief and regret as if they were my own' New York Times 'The novel is based on Greek myths but you don't need to know your Zeus from your Apollo to enjoy this saga full of deceit and drama' Good Housekeeping 'Beautifully written and filled with atmosphere... a hugely accomplished debut' Prima 'Secrets, lies and deceptions with Greek myth-like undertones... A literary family saga that spans one week and packs in everything from infidelity to a shooting' High Life 'A total page-turner' Kirkus (starred review) 'The most wildly entertaining novel I've read in a long time' Richard Russo winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction When March Briscoe returns to East Texas two years after he was caught having an affair with his brother's wife, the Briscoe family becomes once again the talk of the small town of Olympus. His mother, June, hardly welcomes him back with open arms: her husband's own past affairs have made her tired of being the long-suffering spouse. Is it, perhaps, time for a change? But within days of March's arrival, someone is dead, marriages are upended, and even the strongest of alliances are shattered. In the end, the ties that hold the Briscoes together might be exactly what drag them all down. An expansive tour de force, Olympus, Texas combines the archetypes of Greek and Roman mythology with the psychological complexity of a messy family. After all, at some point, we all wonder: what good is this destructive force we call love?
August, 1939. Three young women watch the headlines in fear of another devastating war with Germany. A war that could force them to choose between friendship and country. Determined to find her place in the Home Office's Air Raid Precautions Department, Nora is hopeful that they will be able to avoid another war. Meanwhile, Hazel's irrepressible optimism is disguising two closely guarded secrets from her friends. But it is Marie who has the most to fear. A German ex-pat with family living under Nazi rule, what will happen to her if war is declared? When Germany invades Poland and tensions on the home front rise, Marie is labelled an enemy alien. Faced with a terrible choice between loyalty and patriotism, her friends must fight to keep Marie safe at any cost. The Whispers of War is a moving and unforgettable tale of the power and strength of friendship in a time of conflict. Perfect for fans of Lilac Girls, A Woman of War and The Secret Orphan. Praise for Julia Kelly: 'A heartbreaking romance that will grip you from the very beginning' Washington Post 'Kelly deftly balances intrigue with mystery and historical detail in her latest novel... A charming imagining of the historical gunner girls' Kirkus Review 'Kelly weaves an intricate, tender, and convincing tale of war and romance with skill and suspense' Publishers Weekly
Though she is still grieving the death of her mother, nineteen-year-old Sally Fuller has little choice but to carry on with the everyday business of life in 1930s Rotherhithe, caring for her father and young brother and sister, spending as much time with her boyfriend Pete as he can spare from his moneymaking schemes. But at the back of her mind she feels a nagging dissatisfaction - her matter-of-fact relationship with Pete, for instance, bears little resemblance to the romances of her movie-star idols, or even to the colourful liaisons of some of her more adventurous friends. And what about her more modest hopes for marriage and a baby of her own? Once again, Pete shows little interest. As war grows closer, Sally sees she must focus her mind on keeping those she loves safe and put her own selfish longings behind her. But war changes things ...
A brilliant debut and powerful tale of sisterhood and home, set on the beautiful beaches of the Isle of Wight... 'A rare and wonderful delight' Lucy Foley 'Utterly beautiful... incredibly moving' Joanna Cannon 'I adored it' Bryony Gordon 'A delicious read - intimate, intricate, immersive' Rachel Joyce 'Love makes you do things you never thought you were capable of.' Forbidden, passionate and all-encompassing, Margo and Richard's love affair was the stuff of legend- but, ultimately, doomed. When Richard walked out, Margo locked herself away, leaving her three daughters, Rachel, Imogen and Sasha, to run wild. Years later, charismatic Margo entertains lovers and friends in her cottage on the Isle of Wight, refusing to ever speak of Richard and her painful past. But her silence is keeping each of the Garnett girls from finding true happiness. Rachel is desperate to return to London, but is held hostage by responsibility for Sandcove, their beloved but crumbling family home. Dreamy Imogen feels the pressure to marry her kind, considerate fiance, even when life is taking an unexpected turn. And wild, passionate Sasha, trapped between her fractured family and controlling husband, is weighed down by a secret that could shake the family to its core... The Garnett Girls, the captivating debut from Georgina Moore, asks whether children can ever be free of the mistakes of their parents. Praise for The Garnett Girls: 'A rare and wonderful delight' Lucy Foley 'I adored it' Bryony Gordon 'A delicious read' Rachel Joyce 'Richly drawn' Patrick Gale 'What a gem of a book!' Erica James 'Pure pleasure' Emmma Stonex 'Beautifully written' Jill Mansell 'A wonderfully woven tale of love, friendship and family' Catherine Alliott 'Brings this enchanting, maddening, wounded family to life' Susie Boyt 'A deft, evocative storyteller' Sheila O'Flanagan 'Written with skill and passion' Elizabeth Buchan 'An elegant page-turner' Julie Owen Moylan 'A fabulous debut' Fanny Blake 'This novel has it all' Marika Cobbold
In care at four. A runaway at six. On the streets at fifteen. For some kids, there's no hope. Rosie Goodwin writes an unforgettable saga in The Boy From Nowhere, a tale of a young boy's desperate search for a place to call home. Perfect for fans of Lindsey Hutchinson and Cathy Sharp. 'A touching and powerful new novel from a wonderful writer' - Bookseller Alex never stood a chance. After one 'accident' too many, he's taken into care aged four. Although his mother promises to get him back, he's adopted by a childless couple and renamed Franky. It should be a fresh start, but his new dad has a twisted idea of fatherhood. Abused and alone, Franky escapes - but his freedom is short-lived, and after a series of foster homes no one can get through to him. He says he's 'the boy from nowhere', but deep down he's still waiting for his mum to take him home. Franky slips into a dangerous world on the streets of London, earning a living the only way he can. One day he might find a way out, but can he ever trust again? What readers are saying about The Boy From Nowhere: 'You read the whole book waiting for a happy ending... When I finished the book I cried and cried and it has remained in my thoughts ever since. What an amazing author Rosie Goodwin is to be able to do that. I find myself really caring about what happens to the people she writes about' 'What a great read this was! With Rosie Goodwin you never know what to expect, apart from the fact that it will be a fantastic read! This is a very sad story with quite a twist... You won't be able to put this down once you start reading it!' 'One of the best books I have ever read. So far everyone of Rosie Goodwin's books have been brilliant reads, but this one surpassed them all'
An incredible historical novel inspired by the true story behind the Boots empire. Jersey 1885 On the beautiful island of Jersey, Florence Rowe lives a quiet life working in her father's bookshop. Life for the Rowe family is good, but Florence can't help yearning for more... When Jesse Boot, the successful owner of Boots the chemist, arrives on the island, Florence is immediately captivated by his tales of life in a busy, bustling city on the mainland. For the first time ever, Florence imagines a life away from the constraints of Jersey society, of being someone more than just a shopgirl. Until her parents reveal the shocking news they will refuse any marriage proposal from Mr Boot. Can Florence find a way to be with the man she loves and make a new life for herself? Readers are loving Mrs Boots: 'A book that drew me in...I cuddle up on my reading chair and entered the world of Boots' Abby 'Vibrant, believable, characters and an absorbing plot' Tabby 'This will definitely pull at your heartstrings...Loved it' Beverley 'I'm so glad this is the beginning of a series and I can't wait to read the rest! Wonderfully written' Grace 'If you like historical novels this is a book for you' Bookoholic Cafe 'A gorgeous start to a new historical series that captivated, charmed and inspired me' Adele 'A great and powerful read about love, relationships, and the trials and tribulations in between...a true thrill' Donna 'Watch this author-this is a series you'll want to stick with' Micah
When a new feature on Pete Newbury's popular TV programme shows his adult image digitally transformed to that of a young child, Beth is shocked to realise that he's her baby brother, who disappeared without a trace thirty-eight years ago. He vanished at the age of three and her family has grieved for him ever since, believing him to be dead. But the path to reunion and happiness is fraught with complications, not least Beth's feelings towards a close friend of her long-lost brother and then the reappearance of her runaway daughter, complete with child. Bridges take time to build, but after so many years of heartache, can Beth manage to keep hold of everything she holds dear?
Gripping and tense...a work of literary art." This new edition of The Power of the Dog marks the return of one of the most powerful and distinctive voices in the literature of the American West. Set in 1920s Montana, this compelling domestic drama tells the story of two brothers—and of the woman and young boy, mother and son, whose arrival on the brothers' ranch shatters an already tenuous peace. From the novel's startling first paragraph to its very last word, Thomas Savage's voice—and the intense passion and cruelty of his characters—holds readers in thrall.
Torn apart by war - a promise will hold them together... As the shadows of the Blitz hang over London, young Davey finds himself the man of the house when his father leaves to fight in the war. Trying his best to support his mum and to protect his sister, Davey's good intentions find him mixed up with the wrong crowd. To keep him safe, and out of trouble, Davey is sent away from everything he has ever known, to a new life far away in Canada. He has always craved adventure and a place to fit in, though it could mean losing his family forever. Starting on his new journey will take all of Davey's courage, but he also made a promise to see his precious little sister again, and he'll need to be fearless if he is to keep it ... Reader's love Cathy Sharp 'Had me gripped' 5* Amazon reviewer 'Absolutely brilliant' 5* Goodreads reviewer
'Draws you in from the start and doesn't let you go until the end' Reader Review 'Wonderfully written and oozing wartime spirit. Couldn't ask for more!' Reader Review The second inspiring novel in the heartwarming and hopeful Bletchley Park Girls series from the queen of saga, Molly Green... When Rosie Frost was jilted on her wedding day, she didn't think life could get any worse. But six years later in the throes of the Second World War, she is unceremoniously dismissed from her dream job after they discover her illegitimate child. Thankfully, top secret war office Bletchley Park recognises Rosie's talent and recruits her to decipher their Italian naval signals. Happy to be doing her bit for the war effort, Rosie settles into her new life. But when she spots a familiar face at the Park, Rosie's world threatens to come crashing down once more. Can she put her heartbreak behind her? And will wedding bells ring out across Bletchley Park before the year is out? The second in an uplifting wartime series set at Bletchley Park, perfect for fans of Nancy Revell and Donna Douglas. Readers are LOVING Molly Green's Bletchley Park series: 'A journey for the reader...tantalizing...interesting...try this one!' Reader Review 'What can I say...I love it! Can't wait to read more' Reader Review 'Outstandingly fabulous' Reader Review 'A lovely story' Reader Review 'One of those can't-put-down books' Reader Review 'A cracking good read!' Reader Review 'Moments of being held spellbound...Kept me on the edge of my seat. Couldn't put it down' Reader Review 'A fantastic addition to what has been a fantastic series so far' Reader Review 'Great story. Great characters. Wonderfully written and oozing wartime spirit. Couldn't ask for more!' Reader Review
The bestselling author of Last Train to Istanbul returns with a tale of love defying all boundaries. Sabahat, a beautiful young Muslim woman, is known in her family for her intelligence, drive, and stubbornness. She believes there is more in store for her life than a good marriage and convinces her parents to let her pursue her education, rare for young Turkish women in the 1920s. But no one-least of all Sabahat herself-expects that in the course of her studies she will fall for a handsome Armenian student named Aram. After precious moments alone together, their love begins to blossom. Try as she might to simplify her life and move on, Sabahat has no choice but to follow her heart's desire. But Aram is Christian, and neither family approves. With only hope to guide their way, they defy age-old traditions, cross into dangerous territory, and risk everything to find their way back to each other. One of Turkey's most beloved authors brings us an evocative story of two star-crossed lovers inspired by her own family's history.
Don't miss the brand-new Christmas read from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author Dilly Court! As the first Christmas snowflakes fall, Rosalind finds herself pregnant and alone... Christmas is coming to the village of Rockwood. But the happiest time of the year is marred by the news that Rosalind Blanchard's husband, Piers, is close to death after a shipwreck at sea. The fate of her beloved family home, the crumbling Rockwood Castle, is once more in her hands. She must find the strength to keep her family together. Pregnant, Rosalind comes face to face with the only man who ever made her heart truly sing: her husband's brother, Alex. As the Christmas bells ring, news of Piers arrives that changes everything. And another chance of happiness might be the gift Rosalind has been waiting for...
Wartime Friends is a tale of unbreakable bonds in times of strife, by bestselling author Margaret Dickinson. As the storm clouds of war gather over Britain, two brave, young women will discover the value of true friendship as they deal with troubles of their own while the lives of those they love are put at risk. It is 1940's coastal Lincolnshire and Carolyn Holmes is keen to do what she can for the war effort. Raised on the family farm, she battles with her mother, Lilian, to further her education although nothing is too good for her brother, Tom. Phyllis Carter, a bitter widow from the Great War, lives close by with her son, Peter, who works on the farm. When Peter decides to volunteer, a distraught Phyllis blames Carolyn who leaves to join the ATS where she meets Beryl Morley who will become a lifelong friend. Carolyn and Beryl are posted to Beaumanor Hall in Leicestershire as 'listeners', the most difficult of signals intelligence gathering. As the war unfolds and their work becomes even more vital, Carolyn and Beryl's friendship deepens and in the dangerous times that follow, they support each other through some of the darkest days they will ever know. |
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