From the award-winning author of Eliza Waite comes a gripping tale of adventure and survival based on the true story of the ill-fated Donner Party on their 2,200-mile trek on the Oregon-California Trail from 1846 to '47. Nineteen-year-old Ada Weeks confronts danger and calamity along the hazard-filled journey to California. After a fateful decision that delays the overlanders more than a month, she-along with eighty-one other members of the Donner Party-finds herself stranded at Truckee Lake on the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, stuck there for the entirety of a despairing, blizzard-filled winter. Forced to eat shoe leather and blankets to survive, will Ada be able to battle the elements-and her own demons-as she envisions a new life in California? Researched with impeccable detail and filled with imagery as wide as the western prairie, Answer Creek blends history and hearsay in an unforgettable story of challenging the limits of human endurance and experiencing the triumphant power of love.

THE TULIP TEAROOMS is a heartwarming and poignant saga from Pam Evans, set in London just after the Second World War. Perfect for readers of Kitty Neale, Katie Flynn and Dilly Court. The Second World War is finally over when Lola Brown meets Harry Riggs at a dance. It is love at first sight but when Harry tells Lola that he is a policeman, her heart sinks. Lola's father is a petty criminal, and if Harry ever finds out and turns him in, it will destroy her family... Harry reluctantly accepts that Lola doesn't want to see him again, and eventually starts to find happiness without her. In the meantime, Lola encounters the eccentric Pickford sisters and sets about transforming their run-down tearooms in London's West End, only to find her own life transformed as well. Despite everything, Harry and Lola continue to feel drawn to each other, but the truth about Lola's family can't stay hidden for ever...

THE THIRD NOVEL IN THE BRAND NEW SAGA SERIES BY MAGGIE MASON - MEET THE HALFPENNY GIRLS. . . 'In the grand tradition of sagas set down by the late and great Catherine Cookson ' Jean Fullerton on Blackpool Lass Will friendship see them through the struggles of war? As war approaches, Alice, Edith and Marg fear for the safety of their families, while trying to decide the best way they can do their bit for their country. Alice decides to volunteer with the Red Cross, helping those most in need, Marg is preparing to marry her true love at the most dangerous of times, and Edith hopes to finally realise her dream of becoming a teacher, and starting a family of her own. Things have never been easy for The Halfpenny Girls, but family, friendship and community spirit will always see them through the darkest of days. . . The third in a brand new series from reader favourite Maggie Mason, The Halfpenny Girls at War is the perfect heart-warming family saga about overcoming hardship and the value of friendship. Perfect for fans of Val Wood, Kitty Neale and Rosie Goodwin 'In the grand tradition of sagas set down by the late and great Catherine Cookson' Jean Fullerton on Blackpool Lass Readers LOVE Maggie Mason's Blackpool sagas: '5 stars - I wish I could give it more. Wonderful read.' 'Another must read book' 'What a brilliant book. I couldn't put it down!' 'I was hooked from the first page . . . this author is a must read' 'A totally absorbing read'

An epic tale of brothers divided, family rivalry, fortunes lost and won, set against the dramatic background of the early days of the oil industry. Two boys are raised as brothers. Alan is the son of the lord of the manor, with all the privileges which come with that birthright. The other, Tom, is the son of the gardener. Together, they learn to argue, fight and bond in friendship. Social difference divides their paths as adults but nothing can break their bond until a tragic misunderstanding occurs in the trenches of World War I. Now instead of the closest of friends they will be the bitterest of rivals in a burgeoning industry: oil. From the early days of drilling in Persia, to wildcatting in Texas, to the corridors of Whitehall and Washington, this is the story of two remarkable men and the very different women who loved them.

The year is 878. Uhtred, the dispossessed son of a Northumbrian lord, has helped the Saxons of Wessex defeat the invading Danes. Now, finally free of his allegiance to the victorious, ungrateful King Alfred, he is heading home to rescue his stepsister, a prisoner of Kjartan the Cruel in the formidable Danish stronghold of Dunholm. Uhtred's best hope is his sword, Serpent-Breath, for his only allies are Hild, a West Saxon nun fleeing her calling, and Guthred, a slave who believes himself king. Rebellion, chaos, fear, and betrayal await them in the north, forcing Uhtred to turn once more, reluctantly, to the liege he formerly served in battle and blood: Alfred the Great.

Einar must take back control of his destiny in this thrilling Viking adventure. How do you defeat the undefeatable? 935 AD, Norway. Recovering from horrendous injuries, Einar finds himself unable to fight. He is not strong enough to defeat his rival, Eirik, who has seized Orkney despite Einar being the rightful Jarl. Eirik's men soon raid the Norwegian coast, led by a warrior called the Bear. Cruel and ferocious, the Bear possesses a legendary blade - one that gives him a skill in battle that cannot be matched. Such an extraordinary sword could be key to Einar's plans - but first he and the Wolf Coats must contend with the Bear himself. Caught between old foes and new ones, Einar must use all his wits to survive. But is a man who cannot wield a sword capable of being a true Viking warrior? Reviews for Tim Hodkinson: 'Will appeal to fans of Bernard Cornwell, George R.R. Martin, and especially Theodore Brun' Historical Novel Society 'A gripping action adventure like the sagas of old' Melisende's Library 'An excellently written page-turner' Historical Writers Association

Hannah Delaney is a young woman with a secret. It is not one that she can share with her large family back home in Ireland, and especially not with her dying sister. Hannah moved to England to build a better life, where she met and fell in love with a soldier. They intended to marry on his next leave, but then D-day arrived and he didn't come back. Devastated, Hannah is left alone and penniless.

Grimly picking up the pieces of her life, Hannah goes to work in a Birmingham guest house. Common sense tells her to agree to marry sensible Arthur Bradley, but he too has a secret. And their secrets are destined to have unimaginable consequences.

"The beauty of Anne's books is that they are sewn through with human emotions which affect us all"
'Birmingham Post'

Will their friendship survive against all odds?In the early 1900s two girls see each other through good times and bad. But can their friendship endure when an dreadful act of violence sees their families turn against one another? Hannah Kirk and Alice Moran have been friends since childhood. Growing up in the back streets of Chester, they support each other through hard times. But when Alice's mother dies in childbirth, the girls both must take on great burdens. Alice's violent father attacks Hannah's mother and the friends are separated when Alice is forced to flee with her father while Hannah cares for her bedridden mother and the rest of the family. As Hannah struggles to cope and suffers awful mistreatment at the hands of her devious older brother, she questions whether Alice is her friend - or the cause of all her troubles. Will Hannah and Alice reconcile, or are the wrongs of the past impossible to make right?

The action-packed and gripping historical adventure by number one bestselling author, Wilbur Smith, about one man's quest for revenge. 'An exciting, taut and thrilling journey you will never forget' - The Sun THE DESIRE FOR REVENGE CAN BURN THE HEART OUT OF A MAN. The son of a wealthy plantation owner and a doting mother, Mungo St John is accustomed to wealth and luxury - until he returns from university to discover his family ruined, his inheritance stolen and his childhood sweetheart, Camilla, taken by the conniving Chester Marion. Mungo swears vengeance and devotes his life to saving Camilla - and destroying Chester. As Mungo battles his own fate and misfortune, he must question what it takes for a man to regain his power in the world when he has nothing, and what he is willing to do to exact revenge . . . Call of the Raven is the prequel to Wilbur Smith's bestselling novel, A Falcon Flies, part of the Ballantyne Series. Don't miss the rest of the series, Men of Men, The Angels Weep, The Leopard Hunts in Darkness, Triumph of the Sun and King of Kings, all available in paperback and ebook now. Praise for Wilbur Smith 'Best historical novelist' - Stephen King 'A master storyteller' - Sunday Times 'Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared' - The Times 'No one does adventure quite like Smith' - Daily Mirror

She's rescued a knight Now she needs the favour returned...

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

The Road Home lies in the shadows of Manifest Destiny and Wounded Knee; it is etched into the landscape of an old man's memory and into the stubborn dreams of a young man's heart. In Jim Harrison's latest masterpiece, five members of the Northridge family narrate the tangled epic of their history on the expanses of the Nebraska plains. They strive to understand their fates, reconcile with demons of the past, love with honor, live in accordance with the land and the lessons in humility it teaches them. And to die with grace. As the family grapples with the mysterious forces that both pull them apart and draw them inextricably back together, they learn of life's lessons: the deception of passion, the pain of love, the vitality of art, and the supplication to nature's generosity and fury.

The second volume of bestselling saga author Sheelagh Kelly's new Yorkshire trilogy. Like his favourite Aunt Kit, Probyn Kilmaster wants more out of life than to follow his father down the pit. The youngest of seven children, six of them girls, Probyn is sick of being ordered around. He has always admired Aunt Kit's disregard for convention and, using her as inspiration, runs away to join the army, thus alienating himself from the rest of his family. On his first foreign posting he becomes involved with a woman much older than himself who persuades him to go through an unofficial wedding ceremony. But when, like his sisters, his 'wife' starts to boss him around, Probyn searches for escape. Narrowly avoiding court martial, he is sent back to England seeking to rectify his mistakes and make peace with his family. When he falls in love and marries a young inexperienced woman, Agnes, his family are horrified - she is a Catholic unlike themselves. But Probyn stands by his decision and finds success in his work and domestic life - until the 'wife' from his youth turns up on the doorstep one day, and his world is thrown into turmoil.

The triumphant conclusion to this epic historical trilogy about a Scottish family's rise to power during the Holy Crusades Duncan has returned with his new wife to the fastness of Banvard, to continue his father Murdo's good work in building a powerful and devout community. Even more precious a gift than his wife, though, is the other item that Duncan has brought to the Scottish clan: the Black Rood, the holy Cross of the Crucifixion that Duncan rescued from the clutches of the Knights Templar. Yet the reach of the Templars is long, and soon Duncan and his loved ones find themselves under attack from the Christian Knights. Duncan's daughter Cait is forced to flee, and soon finds herself on a boat heading for the Moorish strongholds of Spain, where she will find herself mired in a battle for religious supremacy which threatens to leave only corpses in its wake. Cait appears to have little hope of survival, but it seems that the pious devotion of her forebears is about to bear miraculous fruit. And the possibility of her survival becomes intertwined with the discovery of the most holy relic of all... In the final part of this enthralling trilogy of historical adventure, Stephen Lawhead delivers an explosive and revelatory climax to this unique religious fantasy quest.

Rags-to-riches saga set in Lancashire HUNTER'S MOON tells the story of Alice Rimmer, a rebellious child brought up in a Salford orphanage, who discovers her true identity. She tracks down and plans revenge upon the remaining members of her rich, privileged family, and thus begins her involvement with the troubled household. She learns the hard way that money can't buy happiness nor a sense of self-worth, and every act undertaken in spite causes even more trouble...

A house. A dynasty. A gypsy's curse. Another gorgeous escapist read from the Queen of West Country Saga, Linda Finlay. One noble family. Five eligible daughters. A sealed fate. Nettlecombe Manor, nestled in the rolling hills of Devon, is home to the Lord Farringdon and his second wife, Lady Charlotte. As if running the vast estate wasn't enough, Lord Farringdon has five daughters to keep him busy. Lady Charlotte is determined that the betrothal of the eldest, Louisa, should be celebrated with a ball which is the envy of Devon society and summons a corsetiere from Exeter to measure them up for new corsets. Apprentice Jane Haydon arrives at Nettlecombe to do the fittings. Having never set foot in such a grand home, Jane is disturbed to hear tell of a gypsy's curse which has haunted the family for generations, and a local wise woman's vision that there will never be a wedding at Nettlecombe... Linda Finlay returns with this glorious tale set in the West Country. Praise for Linda Finlay: 'Sure to delight her ever-growing legion of fans' Dilly Court 'Warm and atmospheric, you can practically taste the sea breeze' The Express 'Rich with carefully drawn characters who really come to life in the hands of this skilled writer' NorthernReader 'Evocative' Frost Magazine 'A treasure of a read with romance, rural history and a happy ending' Devon Life

A knight's protection... That she doesn't want...or need?

The seductively beautiful, street-smart, and powerful Lucky Santangelo, star of four of Jackie Collins's previous international number-one bestsellers -- Chances, Lucky, Lady Boss, and Vendetta: Lucky's Revenge -- returns in Dangerous Kiss.

In Chances, Lucky grew up in a top crime family; in Lucky, she was married three times; in Lady Boss, she took on Hollywood and bought Panther Studios; and in Vendetta, she fought off a lifelong enemy to keep the studio, and her husband.

Now, in Dangerous Kiss, when a member of her family is brutally gunned down in a random holdup, her fury knows no bounds. While she is tracking the killer, her relationship with her husband, charismatic writer and director Lennie Golden, is put to the test. Then, suddenly, into her life comes a man from her past -- a man with a dangerous kiss.

Dangerous Kiss is a story of raw anger, love, lust, murder, and revenge, and at its white-hot center is Lucky Santangelo, a strong, exciting woman who dares to take chances -- and always wins.

In Dangerous Kiss, you will encounter many familiar faces, among them:

Brigette Stanislopoulos, Lucky's twenty-five-year-old goddaughter -- an heiress due to become one of the richest women in the world. Now a top supermodel in New York, Brigette is put in desperate peril when she meets a man who is out to ruin her life.

Alex Woods, a Hollywood producer with a lethal smile and a deadly obsession...

Venus Maria, America's most controversial superstar...and...

Charlie Dollar, the off-the-wall, fifty-something movie star with an eye for teenage girls.

You will also meet an exciting cast of newcomers:

Count Carlo Vittorio Vitti, a dangerously handsome playboy with his own twisted agenda...

Lina, a devastatingly sexy black supermodel with an insatiable yen for men, money, and a big film career...

Price Washington, a famous black comedian with a crack-addicted past...

Teddy Washington, his sixteen-year-old son who unintentionally gets caught up in murder...

Claudia, a simple Italian girl with a secret from Lennie's past that will rock Lucky's world...

And the Kopistanis:

Irena -- Price's Russian housekeeper who knows all his secrets; and

Mila -- her eighteen-year-old daughter with a heart of steel and the cunning of a fox.

Can she find the strength to carry on without him?Rosie Curtis is distraught when her brother Tommy is viciously murdered after dabbling in the criminal underworld. Life at home isn't the same and without Tommy's support, her dreams of becoming a dancer are shattered. Powerless to avenge her brother's death, Rosie throws herself into saving a local music hall from closure and plans a musical spectacular, despite the misgivings of her family. But then Rosie comes face to face with her brother's killer, and she decides she will stop at nothing to see him punished. While she fights to stage her show and put Tommy's killers away for good, her brother's smiling face appears in her thoughts, telling her to keep on dancing - but will she be able to? A gritty historical saga set in the East End, perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Nadine Dorries.

The third novel in Sheelagh Kelly's bestselling 'Feeney' saga is now reissued as a HarperCollins Paperback. By the year 1875, the Feeneys have left the squalor of the slums far behind them, yet the spectre of tragedy still stalks their path. Patrick remains the simple man of simple tastes, out of sympathy with Thomasin's ambition to expand her business empire still further across Yorkshire's broad acres. They have already lost a son to a fiery death, when their granddaughter Rosanne follows a rebel lover down a star-crossed road. Now they must look to their other grandchildren -- Nick, a cool young man who's privy to everone's secrets, and Erin's daughter Belle, who has problems of her own -- to fill the wide chasm of sadness... When the clouds crack open with a shaft of sunlit hope, Patrick Feeney has come full circle, home to the hills of Ireland half a century on.

Loss Phyllis Kimber's entire future is called into question after her father is killed in Earl Redfern's employ. But the earl knows something about Phyllis that means she will always be looked after. Lies As lady's maid to Martha, Phyllis is the American heiress's only confidant in England: she knows Martha doesn't love the recently widowed Lord Melton, the man Martha's socially ambitious father is determined she marries, but there's another secret - a secret that makes Phyllis give up everything to protect her friend. Loyalty Martha begins making preparations to return to America with Phyllis, her father and new husband on the Titanic but the burden of deception eclipses Phyllis's hope for a new future. As she struggles to protect Martha, Phyllis must decide where her loyalties lie, unaware of the undiscovered secrets in her own past and of the tragedy that is about to unfold on that fateful crossing.

'FAST-PACED, DETAILED AND BRILLIANTLY WRITTEN [FOR] FANS OF BERNARD CORNWELL, GEORGE R.R. MARTIN AND THEODORE BRUN' HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY. Einar Unnsson will be a great warrior, whether he wants it or not. AD 935 - Late Winter, City of Jorvik. Einar Unnsson is destined to be a great Icelandic warrior. He has already defeated the men sent to kill him by his notorious father, Jarl Thorfinn, the 'Skull Cleaver' of Orkney. He has a gift that makes him lethal in battle. Yet he has cast it all off to be a bard. When three men attack him, Einar's poetry provides little protection. Luckily, the skilled archer and Norse-Irish princess Affreca saves him. She'd assumed Einar had left to raise an army, challenge Thorfinn and seize the Jarldom of Orkney. Now she's determined to set him back onto his rightful path. Einar soon finds himself entangled on Affreca's own mission. She's seeking the Raven Banner for King Eirik. Legend has it that the banner is imbued with powerful magic. That it was a gift from the Norse God Odin and any army that marches behind it will be victorious. The quest sets events in motion that are beyond Einar's control. Einar has no choice but to face his fate and swing his sword once more... Praise for Tim Hodkinson: 'An excellently written page-turner, with a feel for the period which invites you into the era and keeps you there' Historical Writers Association. 'A gripping action adventure like the sagas of old; and once finished, you just want to go back and read it all over again' Melisende's Library.

What do you do when your dream home becomes your worst nightmare? . . . THE GRIPPING SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER FROM LESLEY PEARSE 'A riveting page-turner' Woman's Weekly 'A real page turner from beginning to end' 5***** Reader Review 'Sensational storytelling' My Weekly ________ In Willow Close, everyone is a suspect . . . Nina and Conrad thought they'd discovered their dream home. But on the day they move in, a body is found - the victim attacked and killed in the woods. As police interview witnesses, they soon discover each resident hiding their own secrets. Because few in the Close are exactly who they seem . . . Nina and Conrad thought they'd found their dream home. Now, it might just be their worst nightmare . . . ________ READERS ARE GRIPPED BY SUSPECTS: 'Kept me reading late in to the night . . . a great story with twists and turns' 5***** Reader Review 'Gripping with lots of twists' 5***** Reader Review 'Lesley Pearse knows how to bring her characters alive' 5***** Reader Review 'A gripping storyline. Lesley at her best' 5***** Reader Review 'A master storyteller' 5***** Reader Review 'A suspenseful domestic drama' 5***** Reader Review