'Real sagas with female characters right at the heart' Woman's Hour If you love Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin, you'll LOVE Glenda Young's 'amazing novels!' (ITV's This Morning presenter Sharon Marshall) 'In the world of historical saga writers, there's a brand new voice' My Weekly What readers are saying about Glenda's dramatically powerful and romantic sagas of tragedy and triumph: 'Better than a Catherine Cookson' 5* reader review 'Wonderful read, full of rich characters, evocative description and a touch of romance' 5* reader review 'Just wanted it to go on forever and read more about the characters and their lives' 5* reader review ........................................... 'Put me to work on the pit lane, would you? Is that all you think I'm worth?' When her mother dies in childbirth, Pearl Edwards is left in the care of her aunt, Annie Grafton. Annie loves Pearl like her own daughter but it isn't easy to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Annie knows the best way to supplement their meagre income is to walk the pit lane at night, looking for men willing to pay for her company. As Pearl grows older she is unable to remain ignorant of Annie's profession, despite her aunt's attempts to shield her. But when Pearl finds herself unexpectedly without work and their landlord raises the rent, it becomes clear they have few choices left and Annie is forced to ask Pearl the unthinkable. Rather than submit to life on the pit lane, Pearl runs away. She has nothing and nowhere to go, but Pearl is determined to survive on her own terms... ........................................... Praise for Glenda Young: 'The feel of the story is totally authentic... Her heroine in the grand Cookson tradition is Pearl... Inspirationally delightful' Peterborough Evening Telegraph 'I really enjoyed Glenda's novel. It's well researched and well written and I found myself caring about her characters' Rosie Goodwin 'Will resonate with saga readers everywhere...a wonderful, uplifting story' Nancy Revell 'All the ingredients for a perfect saga and I loved Meg; she's such a strong and believable character. A fantastic debut' Emma Hornby 'Glenda has an exceptionally keen eye for domestic detail which brings this local community to vivid, colourful life and Meg is a likeable, loving heroine for whom the reader roots from start to finish' Jenny Holmes 'I found it difficult to believe that this was a debut novel, as "brilliant" was the word in my mind when I reached the end. I enjoyed it enormously, being totally absorbed from the first page. I found it extremely well written, and having always loved sagas, one of the best I've read' Margaret Kaine Look out for all of Glenda's compelling sagas - Belle of the Back Streets, The Tuppenny Child, Pearl of Pit Lane, The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon, The Paper Mill Girl and The Miner's Lass - out now! Plus, Glenda has launched a brand-new cosy-crime mystery series - don't miss Murder at the Seaview Hotel and Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel - out now!

2017 Beverly Hills Book Award Winner in New Fiction 2017 Beverly Hills Book Award Winner in Women's Fiction 2018 IBPA Ben Franklin Finalist in Best New Voices: Fiction Becca Meister Fitzpatrick-wife, mother, grandmother, and pillar of the community-is the dutiful steward of her family's iconic summer tradition . . . until she discovers her recently deceased husband squandered their nest egg. As she struggles to accept that this is likely her last season in Long Harbor, Becca is inspired by her granddaughter's boldness in the face of impending single-motherhood, and summons the courage to reveal a secret she was forced to bury long ago: the existence of a daughter she gave up fifty years ago. The question now is how her other daughter, Rachel-with whom Becca has always had a strained relationship-will react. Eden is the account of the days leading up to the Fourth of July weekend, as Becca prepares to disclose her secret and her son and brothers conspire to put the estate on the market, interwoven with the century-old history of Becca's family-her parents' beginnings and ascent into affluence, and her mother's own secret struggles in the grand home her father named "Eden."

In a snowbound railway station deep in the Soviet Union, a stranded passenger comes across an old man playing the piano in the dark, silent tears rolling down his cheeks. Once on the train to Moscow he begins to tell his story: a tale of loss, love and survival that movingly illustrates the strength of human resilience. 'A novella to be read in a lunch hour and remembered for ever' Jilly Cooper, Books of the Year, Sunday Telegraph

An emotional and compelling wartime drama from the author of Only a Mother Knows and A Christmas Promise. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn. The phoney war is over and Hitler's bombs are raining down on the city of Liverpool. Rita Kennedy is forced to face some unpalatable truths about her husband, Charlie. But she must still play the part of dutiful wife, while her childhood sweetheart, Jack Callaghan, has shown her nothing but kindness. Can they keep a check on their emotions or will their friendship develop into something more? For Kitty Callaghan, burying herself in her work distracts from the constant worry about her brothers. Tommy is back from his evacuee posting after falling ill, but now he faces danger in another guise. And what about Danny, always ducking and diving and up to no good? And then there's Frank Feeny, the man she adores. Will they ever be together? With a Christmas of rationing and 'going without' to look forward to, the women of Empire Street are being tested like never before. But their troubles are only just beginning...

Duty Nell Goodman is a good daughter. Her job in the local brewery is the only thing keeping her and her mother afloat. But with her mother becoming increasingly eccentric and requiring more and more attention, Nell is starting to feel the burden of her responsibilities. Dreams When Nell goes to George Wilmot, the brewery's owner, for help he offers her a job as a live-in servant at Wilmot Grange. And then she begins to grow closer to Devlin, George's son, and it looks like Nell's luck is finally changing. Despair An unwelcome discovery and a tragedy mean that things suddenly change. Devlin pulls away from Nell, her mother's behaviour is becoming worse, and there are secrets around every corner. Somehow Nell is at the heart of all the drama and yet she has no idea of the part she is supposed to play . . .

The Buffer Girls is an inspiring tale of love, heartache and ambition from bestselling author Margaret Dickinson. It is 1920 in the Derbyshire dales. The Ryan family are adjusting to life now that the war is over. Walter has returned home a broken man and so it falls to his son and daughter, Josh and Emily, to keep the family candle-making business going. The Ryan children grew up with Amy Clark, daughter of the village blacksmith, and Thomas 'Trip' Trippett, whose father owns a cutlery business in Sheffield. Romance blossoms for Josh and Amy while Emily falls in love with Trip, but she is unsure if the feeling is mutual. Martha Ryan is fiercely ambitious for her son and so she uproots her family to Sheffield, but all Josh wants is to continue the family business and marry Amy. As the Ryans do their best to adapt to city life, their friendly neighbour, Lizzie, helps Emily find employment as a Buffer Girl polishing cutlery at a local factory. It turns out that it is Emily who is best equipped to forge a career but, as time goes on, problems and even dangers arise that the Ryan family could not possibly have foreseen.

'A delightful, well researched story that really does depict nursing and the living conditions in the East End at the end of the war' Lesley Pearse on Call Nurse Millie London, 1948 and the nurses of the East End are getting ready for an eventful time ahead... Millie is settling into married life with her husband, MP Jim Smith, and is trying to balance her duties as a wife with her nursing duties to the people of the East End. Swept up in the expectations that go hand in hand with Jim's blossoming political career, Millie begins to wonder how much longer she'll be able to continue in the job she loves. Her patients need a nurse and midwife, but who needs Millie more? And in the end, will the decision even be hers to make? When a familiar face from the past makes an appearance, and shady secrets from her home life come to light, it's all change for Nurse Millie. But will she get the happy ending that she deserves? 'Charming and full of detail about the work of a nurse in 1940s London, you will ride emotional highs and lows with each new birth and death. Beautifully written with some sharp dialogue' The Lady

Will the coming war divide them . . . ? For as long as she can remember Peggy O'Shea has been expected to work at the family dairy, look after her younger siblings, and eventually marry cow-keeper Martin Gallagher. And that's the way it has predictably gone, apart from one glorious summer when, at the age of eight, she meets handsome Anthony Giardano. But there's bad blood between the Irish O'Sheas and the Italian Giardanos, so perhaps for the sake of both of their families, it's a good thing when Anthony suddenly disappears. Ten years later at the start of the war, Peggy bumps into Anthony again. But as they begin to rekindle their friendship, Italy joins forces with Germany and Liverpool turns on its Italian residents overnight, making any relationship between Peggy and Anthony impossible . . . A gritty World War Two historical saga from Elizabeth Morton the acclaimed author of Angel of Liverpool.

Standing on London's Victoria docks with the wind biting through her shawl, Rose Munday realises she's been abandoned by her sweetheart. She had risked everything to get to London but, stumbling through the peasoup fog, she has nowhere to go, and no one to turn to. Scared and alone, Rose steps straight into danger, only to be rescued by two women with even less to their names - a woman of the night and her young sidekick, Sparrow. With only a cluster of love letters to her name and all hope of her sweetheart's return fading, Rose finds herself forging a new life with her unlikely companions. But when a good deed turns sour, a dangerous enemy threatens to ruin them all. Will Rose be able to save her new friends and her future? If she can, a Christmas gift awaits that will change her life forever... The third book in the stunning 'River Maid' series from Sunday Times bestseller, Dilly Court!

A heartwarming story about sisters, falling in love, and discovering life's greatest adventures are made with those who matter most by New York Times bestselling author Shirley Jump. The youngest of the three close-knit sisters, Emma Monroe is the family wild child. She's never stayed with anything-job, apartment, boyfriend-for long, and she likes it that way. Except lately, her freedom has seemed less like a gift and more like a burden. Maybe that's why a yoga retreat in Las Vegas leads to a spur-of-the-moment decision to marry Luke Carter, a man she's met exactly three times. The next morning, instead of facing Luke, Emma sneaks back home to Harbor Cove, where she should have nama-stayed in the first place. Still, it shouldn't be difficult to annul their hours-long marriage. Except Emma's brand-new husband arrives in town to convince her to give their marriage a chance. With the support of her family, can Emma envision a future where her biggest adventures come not from running away but from staying... and risking it all on love?

Sisters Ella and Roberta O'Callaghan live in separate wings of their crumbling Irish mansion. They haven't spoken for decades, torn apart by a dark family secret from their past, and only communicate through the terse and bitter notes they leave for each other in the hallway. Debbie, an American woman, is searching for her birth mother. She has little time left but as she sets out to discover who she really is and what happened to her mother, she is met by silence and lies at the local convent. With the bank threatening, Ella tries to save the family home by opening a cafe in the ballroom much to Roberta's disgust. And when Debbie offers to help out in the cafe, the war between the sisters intensifies. But as Debbie finally begins to unravel the truth, she uncovers an adoption scandal that will rock both the community and the warring sisters. Powerful and poignant, The Ballroom Cafe is a moving story of love lost and found. PRAISE FOR THE BALLROOM CAFE 'Secrets emerge, there's a whopper of a twist and this unabashed tear-jerker ends with a well-earthed, well-calculated emotional finale.' THE IRISH TIMES 'A moving tale of loss, love and redemption.' BELLA MAGAZINE 'Deftly written, moving and courageous.' THE SUNDAY TIMES 'Slow-marching, romantic prose draws us into an old world that is rustic, genteel, quaint...[but] scandals lie in wait.' IRISH INDEPENDENT 'Highly engaging debut you will want to dive into.' SUNDAY INDEPENDENT, Ireland 'A lovely first novel.' CATHY KELLY, bestselling author. 'A warm and engaging story in a unique and original setting. I loved journeying through the lives of these fascinating characters. A beautifully drawn, skilfully written, well-researched novel.' KATE KERRIGAN, New York Times bestselling author of The Ellis Island Trilogy 'A lovely story of two women with the courage to confront the injustices of the past, bringing light to a dark corner of Ireland's recent history.' KATHLEEN MACMAHON, bestselling author of This Is How It Ends

A gritty, emotional saga from a bestselling author. Perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Maggie Hope and Nadine Dorries. 1915. As a child it never mattered to Blake that he has no mother, that no one knew who his father was. He was secure in his grandparents' love, happy on their farm in the Yorkshire dales. But when his grandparents die suddenly, Blake's world collapses.Taken in by a neighbouring farmer as hired help, Blake's life becomes focused on the land - and on his secret love for Annie, his employer's daughter. Annie may love Blake too, but she knows she doesn't want to spend her life on the farm. So Blake leaves for the busy shipyards of Sunderland, determined to make his name. He swears one day he will come back for Annie - but can he be sure she will wait for him?

A compelling story of tragedy and triumph in WWII -the second in a series of books featuring four young women whose lives will be forever changed by the war. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Annie Groves. When war is declared, four plucky girls from Dartford - Grace, Sally, Rose and Daisy - are keen to do their bit on the Home Front. For orphan Grace, it's a chance to start afresh. She's always has a soft spot for Sam Petrie, brother of Daisy and Rose, but realising that he is in love with their friend Sally, she puts her own feelings aside, and signs up for life as a Land Girl. Mucking out and early morning milking come as a big shock and life is harder than she expected. But Grace is nothing if not determined and though their lives will never be the same again, the four girls know they will always have each other - no matter what the war throws at them...

'One Cornish Summer captured my heart and didn't let it go until long after I'd finished it. A heart rending story about secrets, lies and the power of love' Cathy Bramley Against the beauty of Cornwall, a story of two women struggling with their past: one cannot remember hers, the other cannot forget... When Hebe receives a life-changing diagnosis at only 53, she struggles to make sense of what it will mean for her, her job and the man she loves. With memories slipping away by the day, she flees to the one place she has always felt safe and peaceful - Cornwall, and the house her family spent so many summers in. Lucy is having her own crisis, and seizes the chance to follow her aunt to Cornwall. Curious about what has driven Hebe there after so many years, she also has to battle with the secret she has kept since her family's last summer there more than ten years ago. Both women will learn that memories live in our hearts and that sharing secrets can set you free... But can they find their way back to the things that are truly important to them? The perfect escapist read for fans of Rachel Hore, Lucinda Riley and Karen Swan. 'Full of warmth, wisdom and compassion...Liz Fenwick's writing is vivid, satisfying and descriptive' Daily Express 'A moving and heart-felt story' The Lady 'Fenwick brings us her best novel yet in One Cornish Summer as she casts her humane and discerning eye over family bonds, relationships, the nature of love, and the power of the landscape to inspire, console and renew... Immaculately researched and emotionally astute, this is a fabulous holiday read with heart, drama, history and humour' Lancashire Post ***** Readers are enchanted by One Cornish Summer: 'A joy to read' 'Once more Liz has transported me to my favourite place in Cornwall to walk side by side with her characters...A perfect read in any season!' 'Wonderful characters, secrets and romance...hard to put down' 'Simply outstanding...a story that will carry you away' 'Liz Fenwick has done it again...A must read' 'Characters who become part of your life in a beautiful, evocative setting' 'Love, relationships, and secrets...a sublime read which is cleverly crafted, intricately researched and beautifully written' 'This book will always be a very special one for me' 'Absolutely perfect Cornish read' 'What a heartwarming but heartbreaking story'

'Wow wow wow. Loved this from page one' NetGalley review 'Absolutely wonderful. The perfect escape to Cornwall' NetGalley review 'Totally loved this book... Couldn't put it down... Brilliant' NetGalley review Under the golden Cornish sun, buried treasure and family secrets will change Emma's life forever... Emma loved her life in the seaside village of Silver Cove. But when the discovery of sunken treasure ignited a feud between her family and that of Luke, her first love, everything fell apart. Heartbroken and betrayed, she fled. Now, as she wades into the sparkling surf for the first time in fifteen years, she remembers everything she loved about this beautiful place. Then a huge wave knocks her off her feet. Dripping wet, Emma is rescued by none other than Luke - who is, to her dismay, even more handsome than ever. As their paths continue to cross, and Emma is reminded of everything she ran away from, she starts to wonder if returning home was a huge mistake. Or could the real treasure have been waiting here for her all along? A heart-warming read full of sun, sea, friendship and romance perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Trisha Ashley. Readers are falling in love with A Golden Cornish Summer! 'Perfect summer read, true escapism... The perfect location full of Cornish charm!... An entrancing read that I didn't want to end!... Absolutely loved it!' 'Absolutely wonderful. The perfect escape to Cornwall... I enjoyed it so much I really didn't want it to end' 'The perfect summer holiday read... like a pleasant cool breeze on a scorching summer day' 'Set in gorgeous Cornwall, this is a lovely summer read with characters you will like and a setting to savour' 'A long hot summer in Cornwall, some romance and a good story. What's not to love?' 'Great characters and a great read... Secrets and treasure are buried in equal measure... A joy to read!' 'Totally loved this book... Drama, love, family and friendship I couldn't put it down. Brilliant' 'Amazing... I loved this book it's so brilliant just reading it you can imagine being there on the coast'

'A terrific family drama of secrets ... and so cleverly plotted' Graham Norton 'A completely compelling story of family secrets, courage and resilience - the sense of place is just so powerful' Fearne Cotton 'With captivating characters and a richly drawn setting, this poignant story is the perfect book to curl up with' Catherine Isaac 'Moving, intriguing and beautifully written, this is a story about coming home' Katie Fforde 'An immensely enjoyable and absorbing novel: tender-hearted and infused with empathy and a great sense of place' Erica James 'Moving, emotional and tender and I was so taken with the protagonists, Nell and Dougie' Nina Pottell 'A tender exploration of family secrets and healing, it is the perfect read for our troubled times' Lucy Atkins 'A beautifully written and poignant exploration of family secrets spilling through the generations. Immersive and compelling' Elizabeth Buchan 'I can't remember the last time I read a book in one sitting or sobbed so hard at the end but Little Wing is a really special novel - if it doesn't get you right in all the feels then you're not human' RED 'Book of the month. What a treat: moving, emotional and tender. This filled my heart with joy and occasionally my eyes with tears; it is beautiful' Prima, Book of the Month 'Tender and touching. Keep the tissues close for this poignant story - characters you'll fall in love with' Good Housekeeping ___________ Little Wing is the powerful story of two families over three generations. 1969. Florence Lawson, a 16-year-old schoolgirl who dreams of being an artist, finds herself pregnant and banished to one of the most remote parts of the UK. 1986. Dougie Munro, searching for adventure, leaves the Isle of Harris - the island of his birth - for art college and a career in London as a photographer. 2005. Nell Hartley, content with her life managing a care-in-the-community cafe in Colchester, discovers a shocking truth about her family. Between the sprawl of London, suburban Essex, and the wild, unpredictable Outer Hebrides, three lives collide and interweave as questions are asked and secrets surface. What happened to Florence? Why is Dougie now so reluctant to return home? How can Nell make peace with the lies she's been told? Little Wing is a novel about resilience, forgiveness and the true meaning of family, about finding one's place in the world and discovering how we all belong somewhere and to someone.

A captivating Cornish saga set at the turn of the century, from the bestselling author of The Boy With No Boots and The Girl by the River Following a terrible storm, seven-year-old Lottie is rescued from a shipwreck by local Cornishman, Arnie Lanroska. Her clothing suggests she comes from a wealthy family, but Lottie's back bears the scars of a severe beating, and how she came to be on a cargo ship in the first place remains a mystery . . . Arnie and his wife already have two young children, Matt and Tom, but are desperate to keep Lottie. They decide to foster her, despite outcries from the local community, and though Matt appears hesitant to get close to Lottie, Tom quickly warms to the new sister in his life. But when tragedy strikes the very heart of the Lanroska family, the repercussions could change the lives of everyone close to them . . . A nostalgic and heart-warming family saga, perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Margaret Dickinson

At the close of the First World War, two sisters' battles are only just beginning... The Leaving of Liverpool is a poignant saga about the friendship between sisters, the threat of dangerous men and the promise of true love in post-World War I Liverpool. It is 1919. Liverpool has been devastated by World War I. But at last the war is over. Emily Parkinson goes back into service and enjoys the return to normality. But her sister Phoebe-Anne has ideas beyond her station. Working as a lady's maid, Phoebe-Ann hopes that one day she will be more than just a friend to her mistress's shell-shocked brother James Mercer. When Emily is brutally attacked, the sisters' lives come close to ruin. Phoebe-Ann is forced to leave the Mercer household and falls into the arms of notorious Jake Malone. But as Emily recovers it seems that Phoebe-Anne might just be able to escape the mistakes of her past after all . . . What readers are saying about The Leaving of Liverpool: 'Really enjoyed every moment of this book. It's a page turner right from the start' 'Excellent read - five stars' 'Enthralling to the end'

'A wonderful read with evocative descriptions and enough family secrets to create a gripping journey of discovery' Woman What happens when you discover that your glamorous movie star mother could never have given birth to you? Fans of Lucinda Riley, Santa Montefiore and Rachel Hore will be gripped by Muna Shehadi's Private Lies. 'Captures your interest straightaway' 5* reader review 'I adored this...so many twists and turns. I recommend this book highly' 5* reader review .............................................................. The three daughters of stunning but unstable movie star Jillian Croft and her famous acting-teacher husband, Daniel Braddock, grew up being treated as special, even after their mother's tragic death. Years later, their world is overturned when they discover a medical document suggesting Jillian could never have given birth to them. Whilst Olivia and Eve insist there's some mistake, quirky, impulsive middle sister Rosalind can't leave the matter alone. Rosalind has always felt separate from her poised, successful sisters. If she has a different birth mother, she wants to know. Investigation leads her to Leila Allerton, an opera singer from New Jersey with a vibrant, close-knit family to whom Rosalind aches to belong. At first its members warmly welcome their new neighbour - but circumstances and personalities soon clash, leaving a bewildered Rosalind unsure how they'll feel when they discover her true reason for seeking them out... ............................................................ Readers love Private Lies! 'Truly awesome' 'Draws you in and keeps you guessing' 'The storyline was perfect. I could not put it down' 'Would love to read more of this author's books' 'Very well written and insightful' 'A good holiday read' Don't miss Muna's other enthralling novels, Hidden Truths and Honest Secrets, out now!