Details: Rosie Goodwin's dramatic addition to Catherine Cookson's series. Each and every generation of the Mallen family has been beset by unhappiness and tragedy - it is said that they are cursed by the dramatic white streak in their jet-black hair. Now, the horror of World War One has finally come to an end and, as with so many other families, the Mallen family has been devastated by loss, injury, and memories that are almost too terrible to bear. But even as they struggle to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of war, secrets and lies from generations past will come to light - causing destruction of a different kind... Ideal for: Fans of contemporary and historical fiction books. This paperback book has 431 pages and measures: 19.7 x 12.8 x 3cm
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.
It's 44 AD, and Vespasian and the Second Legion are forging ahead in their campaign to seize the south-west of Britain. Macro and newly appointed centurion Cato are ordered to provide Verica, ruler of the Atrebatans, with an army. They must train his tribal levies into a force that can protect him and take on the increasingly ambitious raids that the enemy is launching. But despite the Atrebatans' official allegiance to Rome, open revolt is brewing, for many want to resist the Roman invaders. Macro and Cato must win the loyalty of the disgruntled levies - but can they succeed whilst surviving a deadly plot to destroy both them? Macro and Cato face the greatest test of their army careers as only they stand between the destiny of Rome and bloody defeat...
A throne will be claimed Heroes will fall A destiny will be fulfilled Merlyn Britannicus returns to his home of Camelot to keep a sacred promise: to lead Arthur Pendragon to the throne. But between Merlyn and victory lie opponents who would destroy those that he loves the most. As friends and family face violent judgement, Merlyn transforms himself into the feared sorcerer of legend. Time is running out for Merlyn to unite a Britain divided by war and lust for power, and for him to turn Arthur from young hero into the High King of Britain. Discover the most authentic telling of the Arthurian legend ever written.
Details: The book leads the reader through these vibrant stories, from the origins of the gods through to the homecomings of the Trojan heroes. All the familiar narratives are here, along with some less familiar characters and motifs. In addition to the tales, the book explains key issues arising from the narratives, and discusses the myths and their wider relevance. This long-overdue book crystallises three key areas of interest: the nature of the tales; the stories themselves; and how they have and might be interpreted. For the first time, it brings together aspects of Greek mythology only usually available in disparate forms namely children s books and academic works. There will be much here that is interesting, surprising, and strange as well as familiar. Experts and non-experts, adults, students and schoolchildren alike will gain entertainment and insight from this fascinating and important volume. As inhuman fire sweeps on in fury through the deep angles of a drywood mountain and sets ablaze the depth of the timber and the blustering wind lashes the flame along, so Achilleus swept everywhere with his spear like something more than a mortal harrying them as they died, and the black earth ran blood. Homer "Iliad" 20. 490-4 - On the surface the recent Hollywood blockbuster "Troy", directed by Wolfgang Petersen, tries to read the "Iliad" rightly, but makes a number of interesting modifications to the story, presumably in the interests of commercial success & In searching for a contemporary Achilles there are those who look towards the action heroes played by the likes of Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jean-Claude van Damme. But Rambo does not die young, the Terminator does not weep, and the Universal Soldier does not eat with the father of his victims. Ideal for: anyone who has a working knowledge of Greek Mythology and wants to know more. This paperback book has 531 pages and measures: 19.7 x 13.1 x 3.7cm
1765. Filipo di Vecellio of Florence, portrait painter, is the toast of London: rich, successful, and married to Angelica, known as the most beautiful woman in the city. Their Pall Mall home is the hub of the art world; their impressive social gatherings run so smoothly by Filipo's silent sister, Francesca. But beneath the surface, the house conceals a swarm of dangerous secrets. Where does Francesca di Vecellio go as the sun sets over Covent Garden? And why are there always candles lit in her attic, while no candles burn for her brother's exquisite wife? Within the bustling artistic lives of the di Vecellios hides corruption and lies; love and tragedy. And wild ambition unbalances the capital's art world as, finally, a wonderful portrait battles for the right to paint the truth.. .
Details: The stunning new novel from the bestselling author of Girl with a Pearl Earring. Honor Bright is a sheltered Quaker who has rarely ventured out of 1850s Dorset when she impulsively emigrates to America. Opposed to the slavery that defines and divides the country, she finds her principles tested to the limit when a runaway slave appears at the farm of her new family. In this tough, unsentimental place, where whisky bottles sit alongside quilts, Honor befriends two spirited women who will teach her how to turn ideas into actions. Ideal for: Fans of Literary Fiction and historical fiction books. This paperback book has 386 pages and measures: 19.7x 12.8 x 3cm
Details: When a rotting torso is discovered in the vault of New Scotland Yard, it doesn't take Dr Thomas Bond, Police Surgeon, long to realise that there is a second killer at work in the city where, only a few days before, Jack the Ripper brutally murdered two women in one night. Though just as gruesome, this is the hand of a colder killer, one who lacks Jack's emotion. And, as more headless and limbless torsos find their way into the Thames, Dr Bond becomes obsessed with finding the killer. As his investigations lead him into an unholy alliance, he starts to wonder: is it a man who has brought mayhem to the streets of London, or a monster? Ideal for: Fans of thriller and historical fiction books. This paperback book has 338 pages and measures: 19.7 x 12.7 x 2.2cm
Patrick Paniter was James IV's right-hand man, a diplomatic genius who was in charge of the guns at the disastrous battle of Flodden in September 1513 in which the English annihilated the Scots. After the death of his king he is tormented by guilt as he relives the events that led to war. When Louise Brenier, daughter of a rogue sea trader, asks his help in finding out if her brother Benoit was killed in action, it is the least he can do to salve his conscience. Not satisfied with the news he brings, Louise sets off to find out the truth herself, and swiftly falls foul of one of the lawless clans that rule the ungovernable borderlands. After Flodden is a novel about the consequences of the battle of Flodden, as seen through the eyes of several characters who either had a hand in bringing the country to war, or were profoundly affected by the outcome. There have been very few novels about Flodden, despite its significance, and none from this perspective. It's a racy adventure, combining political intrigue and romance, and its readership will be anyone who loves historical fiction, or is interested in the history of Scotland and the turbulent, ungovernable borderlands between Scotland and England.
July 1209: in Carcassonne a seventeen-year-old girl is given a mysterious book by her father which he claims contains the secret of the true Grail. Although Alais cannot understand the strange words and symbols hidden within, she knows that her destiny lies in keeping the secret of the labyrinth safe... July 2005: Alice Tanner discovers two skeletons in a forgotten cave in the French Pyrenees. Puzzled by the labyrinth symbol carved into the rock, she realises she's disturbed something that was meant to remain hidden. Somehow, a link to a horrific past - her past - has been revealed.
Meg Kirkland fears her impudent tongue has caused her fathers dismissal from his job and forced her whole family from their home on Middleditch Farm. Worse still, her father abandons them outside the workhouse, leaving Meg to care for her devastated mother, Sarah, and little brother as tragedy continues to haunt the family. Isaac Pendleton, Master of the workhouse, rules the lives of all those within its walls but when Sarah becomes his latest mistress, Meg is disgusted. Her loyal friend, Jake, born and bred in the workhouse, has a maturity and understanding beyond his years. Yet it is Megs fiery independence that encourages Jake to leave the workhouse and seek employment on Middleditch Farm. His future is assured, but who will take care of Meg? The pretty, vivacious girl, once so innocent, becomes a calculating and manipulative young woman who will stop at nothing to get her own way even if it means betraying those she has loved. WITHOUT SIN is Margaret Dickinsons spirited historical saga of a passionate young woman who learns to fight for her own survival in a cruel world.
Richard the Lionheart is bound for England. But with the princes of Europe united against him?can the greatest warrior in Christendom make it home safely? Captured, bound and imprisoned. King Richard's slim salvation rests on one man - a former outlaw who scoffs at the Holy Mothers Church - that man is Robin Hood! For King and country Robin and his loyal lieutenant Alan Dale will risk it all - from blood-soaked battlefields to deadly assassins - to see the Lionheart restored to his rightful throne. This exciting historical novel is a saga of courage and comradeship that brings the medieval world roaring to life.
A nation will fight for its freedom. The first novel in a major new series as Robert Low moves from the Vikings to the making of Scotland. In the dying days of the 13th century, Scotland is in turmoil. The death of Alexander III has plunged the country into war, both with itself and with Edward I of England. Determined to bring the north under his control, Edward instead unleashes a Scottish rebellion which unites the many warring factions against him - though the old hatreds are not easily put aside. Sir Hal Sientcler of Herdmanston, a minor noble of Lothian, finds himself caught up in the chivalry and honour, as well as the betrayal and murder that form these desperate days. As the rebellion gathers pace, Sir Hal is thrust into the maelstrom of plot and counterplot which shapes the lives of the great and good in both realms - including rebel leaders William Wallace and Robert the Bruce - as well as neighbours who now find themselves on opposite sides of the battlefield. Hal makes a powerful enemy out of the Earl of Buchan, arch-rival of the Bruces, and swears revenge. But first he must survive battles at Stirling Brig and Falkirk; the treachery of rival factions; and guard a secret that Robert the Bruce would protect from the outside world at any cost. When the lion wakes, everyone must fear its fangs...
Young marine lieutenant, Waino Mellas, and his comrades in Bravo Company have been dropped into the mountain jungle of Vietnam, combatants in an increasingly desperate war. Standing in their way are the North Vietnamese, the monsoon rain and mud, leeches and tigers, and disease and malnutrition. As racial tension and competing ambition build, the group threatens to crack at any moment. When the company is surrounded and outnumbered by a massive enemy regiment, the Marines are thrust into the raw and all-consuming terror of combat. The experience will change them forever.
A gorgeously written, English Patient-style novel about the real-life romance between the war photographers Robert Capa and Gerda Taro during the Spanish Civil War. Already optioned to be the next film by Michael Mann (PUBLIC ENEMIES, THE INSIDER, MANHUNTER, COLLATERAL). Love, war and photography marked their lives. They were young, anti-Fascist, good-looking, and nonconformist. They had everything in life, and they put everything at risk. They created their own legend and remained faithful to it until the very end? A young German woman named Gerta Pohorylle and a young Hungarian man named Endre Friedmann meet in Paris in 1935. Both Communists, Jewish, exiled, and photographers, they decide to change their names in order to sell their work more easily, and so they become Gerda Taro and Robert Capa. With these new identities, they travel to Spain and begin to document the Spanish Civil War. Two years later, tragedy will befall them ? but until then, theirs is a romance for the ages. Based on the true story of these legendary figures and set to be the next film by award-winning director Michael Mann waiting for Robert Capa is a moving tribute to all journalists and photographers who lose their lives to show us the world's daily transformations.
One Sunday morning in 1993 a 16-year-old girl named Eliza Claps goes missing from a church in the centre of Potenza, Italy. Shortly before her disappearance, Elisa had met Danilo Restivo, a strange local boy with a fetish for cutting women's hair on the back of buses. Elisa's family are convinced that Resitvo is responsible for their daughter's disappearance, but he is protected by local big-wigs: by his Sicilian father, by a doctor with links to organised crime, by a priest who had vices of his own. Years went by and Elisa's family could find only false leads. 2002, and Restivo is now living in Bournemouth. In November that year, his neighbour is found murdered, with strands of her own hair in her hands. Once again the police are at a loss to pin anything on him. It's not until 2010, when Elisa's decomposed body is found in the church where she went missing, that the two cases are linked and Restivo is finally dealt with. Blood on the Altar combines a gripping true crime case with Jones's deep understanding of Italian culture - the impunity it offers to the powerful - he so expertly demonstrated in his bestseller: The Dark Heart of Italy.
Rebellion is brewing in Napoleonic Paris, in the new action-packed novel from the author of the bestselling Ratcatcher October 1812: Britain and France are still at war. France is engaged on two battle fronts - Spain and Russia - and her civilians are growing weary of the fight. Rebellion is brewing. Since Napoleon Bonaparte appointed himself as First Consul, there have been several attempts to either kill or overthrow him. All have failed, so far. Meanwhile in London, Bow Street Runner Matthew Hawkwood has been seconded to the foreign arm of the Secret Service. There, he meets the urbane Henry Brooke, who tells him hes to join a colleague in Paris on a special mission. Brooke's agent has come up with a daring plan and he needs Hawkwood's help to put it into action. If the plan is successful it could lead to a negotiated peace treaty between France and the allies. Failure would mean prison, torture and a meeting with the guillotine.
Following her husband's death, Minna runs a small boarding house in Torquay and brings up her son, Tim. Tim becomes a journalist for the local paper, struggling to get by-lines and hoping to make it to a national some day. However, the outbreak of the Great War disrupts his life. Tim resists volunteering for the sake of his mother who can't bear to see her only son go to war, but eventually his guilt at not helping his country makes him sign up for the Royal Flying Corps. For two years he escapes death and injury but finally has a breakdown and is sent home. Elyse Davenport, an actress just past her prime, introduces him to the joys of lovemaking, but his true love is Katherine whose mother pressurises her to marry the wealthy and eminently suitable Miles. Following his death in action, Katherine becomes a VAD in France, but Tim and Katherine don't meet up again until peace is declared.
From the author of the Orange New Writers shortlisted 'The Book of Fires', an extraordinary tale of love and science. When Henry Lyte brings his young bride Frances home to his Somerset estate, he hopes she will share in his devotion to the garden - a refuge of fruit trees and flower beds, with a knot of herbs at its heart. Henry is a scholar, and his life's work is his 'herbal' - a book of plants and their medicinal properties, intended for those who cannot afford physicians' expensive cures. But life on the edges of the flood plains makes Frances uneasy, and there are strange rumours abroad concerning the death of Henry's first wife - rumours that can be traced to Henry's step-mother Joan Young, a grasping woman eager to seize control of the family's lands. And while Henry cannot tear himself from his studies, he stands the risk of losing everything he loves...
A man controlled by his desires... Infamous for his wild, sensual needs, Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, is searching for a savage killer in St. Giles, London's most notorious slum. Widowed Temperance Dews knows St. Giles like the back of her hand - she's spent a lifetime caring for its inhabitants at the foundling home her family established. Now that home is at risk... A woman haunted by her past... Caire makes a simple offer - in return for Temperance's help navigating the perilous alleys of St. Giles, he will introduce her to London's high society so that she can find a benefactor for the home. But Temperance may not be the innocent she seems, and what begins as cold calculation soon falls prey to a passion that neither can control - one that may well destroy them both. A bargain neither could refuse.
The first instalment of a page-turning trilogy set against the backdrop of the English Civil War. September 1625: Plague cart driver, Matthew Neave, is sent to pick up the corpse of a baby. Yet, on the way to the plague pit, he hears a cry - the baby is alive. A plague child himself, and now immune from the disease, Matthew decides to raise it as his own. Fifteen years on, Matthew's son Tom is apprenticed to a printer in the City. Somebody is interested in him and is keen to turn him into a gentleman. He is even given an education. But Tom is unaware that he has a benefactor and soon he discovers that someone else is determined to kill him. The civil war divides families, yet Tom is divided in himself. Devil or saint? Royalist or radicalist? He is at the bottom of the social ladder, yet soon finds himself within reach of a great estate - one which he must give up to be with the girl he loves. Set against the fervent political climate of the period, 'Plague Child' is a remarkable story of discovery, identity and an England of the past.
In OSCAR WILDE AND THE DEAD MAN'S SMILE, the third in Gyles Brandreth's acclaimed Oscar Wilde Murder Mysteries series featuring Oscar Wilde and Arthur Conan Doyle, Oscar risks his life to solve a series of deadly murders in bohemian Paris...'Intelligent, amusing and entertaining' Alexander McCall Smith Paris, 1883. Oscar Wilde, aged twenty-seven, has come to the city of decadence to discover its charms, to rekindle his friendship with the divine Sarah Bernhardt and to collaborate with France's most celebrated actor-manager, Edmond La Grange. Oscar discovers dark secrets lying at the heart of the La Grange company, and is confronted by murders both foul and bizarre. To solve the crimes, to unravel the mystery, Oscar risks his life - and his reputation - embarking on a dangerous adventure that takes him from bohemian night clubs to an asylum for the insane, from a duel in the Buttes de Chaumont to the gates of Reading Gaol.
'This is the original Game of Thrones' George R.R. Martin The King is dead. Long live the King. Philip IV is dead and his great kingdom is in disarray. It seems the fatal curse of the Templars is plaguing the royal house of France. His son has been enthroned as Louis X; but with his disgraced wife Marguerite imprisoned in the Chateau Gaillard for her adultery, Louis can produce no heir with which to secure the succession. But neither can he marry again while she lives...The web of scandal, murder and intrigue that once wove itself around the court of the Iron King continues to draw in his descendants, as the destruction of his dynasty continues apace.
Kate, Sally, Maxine and Elsie work at the naval armament depot on the shores of Portsmouth harbour. The hours are long and the work difficult and dangerous but even in the dark days of World War II they still find time to enjoy themselves, at the ENSA concerts and hops in the local drill hall. However, beneath the careless laughter each girl nurses a secret. Kate is terrified that she carries a jinx, while Maxine has discovered a family secret which turns her bitterly against both her parents. Elsie is still grieving over the loss of her son Graham, killed in the Blitz. And spirited young Sally has lied about her age in order to get her job. Each faces a dilemma that will be resolved only after D-Day in June 1944. What happens then brings each woman face to face with her own strengths and failings and, ultimately, her own destiny.
Set in 1795, a year since Lord Roland Stratton left Cornwall for France to undertake a secret mission for the British government. When her father is felled by a stroke brought on by desperate financial problems, Melissa Tregonning has to try to keep the family boatyard running and pay off his debts. Determined to protect his reputation, she must keep his plight and her efforts a secret, even from her family. She is helped by a mysterious stranger discovered living in woods on her fathers land. But who is he? Why does he seek solitude? And what ? or who ? caused his terrible wounds? Attraction neither dare acknowledge deepens into love. But dark secrets threaten to part them forever, until Melissas courage leads to a revelation that changes everything.
Elizabeth Stavely sits in the Bodleian Library, her hands trembling as she holds a fragment of parchment, the key to a story untold for four hundred years Constantinople 1599: the English merchant Paul Pindar must deliver an extraordinary gift to the Sultan. Grieving for his lost love, drowned in a shipwreck, he hears rumours of a new golden-haired slave in the Sultan's harem. Could this be his Celia?
Sacrifice When her mother passed away, Meg Parker was forced to sacrifice her chance at love for the sake of her family. She hopes she will be able to live a full life once again after her father remarries - until tragedy strikes a second time. Suddenly, Meg is facing a darker future altogether. Struggles Lady Alice Langton is travelling the Yorkshire Dales, spreading the suffragette message. Florence Brookes, the daughter of a prosperous grocer, accompanies her, impassioned by the cause but seeking distraction from her own troubles. Appalled by their lack of domestic skills, Meg decides to flee her old life and joins the two women as their maidservant as they make their way to London. Strength When Meg is reunited with her old flame, she is hesitant about her feelings for him - not least because of the rift this causes between her and Lady Alice. It's not until Florence's actions land them in jeopardy that Meg realises she must find the courage to make a heartbreaking choice.
'I swore by Elvis and all the saints that this last teenage year of mine was going to be a real rave. Yes, man, come whatever, this last year of the teenage dream I was out for kicks and fantasy' London, 1958. A new phenomenon is causing a stir: the teenager. In the smoky jazz clubs of Soho and the coffee bars of Notting Hill the young and the restless - the absolute beginners - are revolutionising youth culture and forging a new carefree lifestyle of sex, drugs and rock'n'roll. Moving in the midst of this world of mods and rockers, Teddy gangs and trads., and snapping every scene with his trusty Rolleiflex, is MacInnes' young photographer, whose unique wit and honest views remain the definitive account of London life in the 1950s and what it means to be a teenager. In this twentieth century cult classic, MacInnes captures the spirit of a generation and creates the style bible for anyone interested in Mod culture, and the changing face of London in the era of the first race riots and the lead up to the swinging Sixties...
Miles from anywhere, Darracott Place is presided over by irascible Lord Darracott. The recent drowning of his eldest son has done nothing to improve his temper. For now he must send for the unknown offspring of the uncle whom the family are never permitted to mention. Yet none of that beleaguered family are prepared for the arrival of the weaver's brat and heir apparent.. . Yet again Georgette Heyer shows the qualities that made her one of the most successful and best-loved romantic novelists of her age, and why her popularity endures to this day.
During an air-raid, Joan gives birth to a son just as a bomb hits the hospital. The electricity is cut and panic ensues but this is nothing compared to the anguish Joan will suffer in the following years. In the aftermath of confusion her son is mis-tagged with another baby boy, a fact that only comes to light twenty years later. The knowledge results in much trauma for both sets of parents and all have to come to terms with what has happened.
The new novel from Pulitzer Prize-winner Geraldine Brooks, author of the Richard and Judy bestseller ?March?, Sunday Times bestseller ?Year of Wonders? and ?People of the Book?. Marthas Vineyard, 1650s: Bethia Mayfield is a young girl growing up in the tiny settlement of Great Harbour, amid a small band of pioneers and Puritans. Restless, bright and curious, but denied the education that her brothers receive, she slips away as often as she can to explore the islands wild landscapes and observe its native Wampanoag inhabitants. At the age of twelve, she encounters Caleb, the young son of a chieftain, and the children form a secret friendship that gradually draws each into the alien world of the other. Meanwhile, Bethias minister father is trying to convert the Wampanoag, awakening the wrath of the tribes shaman against whose magic he must test his own beliefs. And when he takes it upon himself to educate Caleb, it will further divide the communities ? within a year the boy is learning Latin and Greek, and leaves the island to study at Harvard. As Caleb makes the crossing into white culture, Bethia finds herself pulled in the opposite direction. Trapped by the narrow strictures of her faith and her gender, she seeks connections with Calebs world that will challenge her beliefs and set her at odds with her community?
Two women. One secret. A heart-breaking choice. Skye, 1903. Jessie, the young daughter of a local midwife, is determined to become a nurse one day, but family loss and heartache jeopardise her dreams. Isabel, the doctor's daughter, is planning to follow in her father's footsteps - even though medicine is not considered a fitting career for a woman. And then there's Archie, Jessie's older brother, whom Isabel just can't stay away from. After an unsettling encounter in the woods, Archie disappears, and all their lives are irrevocably changed... Years later, Isabel is a qualified doctor and Jessie is a nurse and when their paths cross again, neither is certain what the other woman knows about that fateful day. But when war breaks out and they find themselves working shoulder to shoulder, they have no option but to confront all they have kept hidden. Taking in Skye and Edinburgh, France and Serbia, When the Dawn Breaks is a sweeping wartime story of two determined women and the dark secret that will bind them forever...
Details: Luc and Lisette Ravens - a former French Resistance fighter and one-time British spy - have survived the crushing war in Europe, and casting their fate to the winds, they sail to Tasmania, hoping to rebuild their lives. In his darkest hour, law student Max Vogel learns a startling truth. A long-held family secret links him to the Ravens and he finds himself holding the key to his own future and to Luc's troubled past. From the south coast of England to the rugged farmland of northern Tasmania and the lively streets of post-war Paris, this is an extraordinary story of courage, determination and everlasting love. Ideal for: Fans of contemporary fiction books. This paperback book has 509 pages and measures: 19.7 x 12.8 x 3.3cm
Lord Simon Lovat was the last of the great Scottish chiefs ? and the last nobleman to be executed for treason. He is one of Scotlands most notorious and romantic figures, a shrewd and calculating soldier of unlimited ambition, wit and double-dealing who died a martyr for his country and for an independent Scotland. Born into the unpredictable world of the late seventeenth-century as a younger son of a junior branch of the Frasers, Simon determined to enforce his claim to be chief of the Fraser clan and enjoy the income from its lands. In a life packed with plotting and incident, spells as a wanted outlaw, a prisoner in the Bastille, as loyal British soldier and aspirant Duke, Simon became the greatest double-agent of the age. Determined in 1701 to seek his fortune with exiled Jacobite king in France, Fraser acted as a spy for both the Stuarts and the Hanoverian Georges; claimed to be both Protestant and Roman Catholic. He was feudal, a Highland warrior chief, and benevolent despot. He disputed theological niceties with the Papal Nuncio in France, while courting Louis XIV for money to fund an invasion of England. He was fluent in five languages. In July 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie landed on Eriskay ? a tiny Hebridean island and launched his last and greatest attempt to seize back his throne, joined after victory at Preston Pans by Simon Fraser and his clans. They reached Derby before retreating ignominiously and facing final defeat at the hands of the British at Culloden. Fraser ? one of Scotland's most colourful characters ? was found hiding in a tree. This gripping adventure and swash-buckling spy story uses the events of Lovats life to recreate this extraordinary period of history. As Sarah Fraser argues, the defeat at Culloden led directly to the end of traditional Gaelic civilization; to the brutal clearances and ?pacification? of the Highlands which followed and the lost civilisations of Scotland that were destroyed after 1745 by English repression.
It is the year 1152 and a beautiful woman of thirty, attended by only a small armed escort, is riding like the wind southwards through what is now France, leaving behind her crown, her two young daughters and a shattered marriage to Louis of France, who had been more like a monk than a king, and certainly not much of a lover. This woman is Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine, and her sole purpose now is to return to her vast duchy and marry the man she loves, Henry Plantagenet, a man destined for greatness as King of England. Theirs is a union founded on lust which will create a great empire stretching from the wilds of Scotland to the Pyrenees. It will also create the devils brood of Plantagenets ? including Richard C?ur de Lion and King John ? and the most notoriously vicious marriage in history. The Captive Queen is a novel on the grand scale, an epic subject for Alison Weir. It tells of the making of nations, and of passionate conflicts: between Henry II and Thomas Becket, his closest friend who is murdered in Canterbury Cathedral on his orders; between Eleanor and Henrys formidable mother Matilda; between father and sons, as Henrys children take up arms against him; and finally between Henry and Eleanor herself.
I was to stand trial for my life. I was twenty-two years old. I had been married for ten weeks and a widow for six. In the summer of 1914, the Empress Alexandra, a magnificent ocean liner, suffers a mysterious explosion on its voyage from London to New York City. On board are Henry Winter, a rich banker, and his young new wife, Grace. Somehow, Henry manages to secure a place in a lifeboat for Grace. But the survivors quickly realize it is over capacity and could sink at any moment. For any to live, some must die. As the castaways battle the elements, and each other, Grace watches and waits. She is a woman who has learned the value of patience - her journey to a life of glittering privilege has been far from straightforward. Now, she knows, it is in jeopardy, and her very survival is at stake. Over the course of three perilous weeks, the passengers on the lifeboat plot, scheme, gossip and console one another while sitting inches apart. Their deepest beliefs about goodness, humanity and God are tested to the limit as they begin to discover what they will do in order to survive. The Lifeboat is a page-turning story of moral dilemmas, and also the moving and haunting story of Grace, a woman as unforgettable and complicated as the story she recounts.
As the year draws to a close, Richard Bolitho, commanding the seventy-four gun ship of the line, Hyperion, is dispatched from Plymouth to join a squadron blockading the coast of Revolutionary France. Unfortunately there is little time for Bolitho's raw crew to settle their new duty before the French Admiral slips past into the Atlantic with a powerful squadron. Hyperion must give chase from the squally Bay of Biscay to the sultry heat of the Caribbean. Soon Bolitho finds himself not only in command of the Hyperion but strategist for the entire British force. Success or failure in the coming engagement falls on his shoulders.
In Regency England, a beautiful young woman finds her life thrown into turmoil by the arrival of a handsome scoundrel. Lady Elizabeth, the youngest and most headstrong of the three Banning sisters, has been engaged three times, and has scandalously broken off all three engagements. Her fear of becoming any man's property has kept her from marriage and earned her a reputation in the 'ton' as a heartbreaking flirt. Neil Severin is a wicked rogue, black of heart and black of reputation. A man of no morals, devoid of compassion, he is a government-sanctioned assassin. And his newest target is a man Beth holds dear. When the flame-haired beauty thwarts his plan, Neil exacts his own brand of spicy revenge. But circumstances unexpectedly throw them together, and with Beth's life in danger, Neil finds himself in the unexpected role of hero, racing to save her. What he never expects is that instead of him saving her, Beth winds up saving him. When the ruthless organisation he works for turns its agents loose on Neil, he and Beth travel the British countryside, fleeing the killers, their attraction to each other growing. Can Neil forgive himself for his past and accept Beth's love? Can Beth overcome her fear and trust Neil? Can they both survive long enough to begin a new life together?
1072 AD. The Normans have captured England. The Turks have captured a Norman knight. And in order to free him, a Frank warrior named Vallon must capture four rare hawks. In the company of a Sicilian scholar and an English falconer, Vallon sets off a heart-stopping odyssey to the far ends of the earth - from Greenland to Russia to Constantinople, across raging Arctic seas and blood-drenched battlefields. Braving Viking warlords, vengeful Normans, and the unforgiving elements, Vallon and his comrades must track down their quarry one by one in a relentless race against time. Ten years in the making, Hawk Quest is high adventure in the grand tradition of Bernard Cornwell and Robyn Young, an epic story packed with visceral combat, marvellous period detail, and gripping suspense. The scale is huge. The journey is incredible. The history is real. This is - Hawk Quest
The Earl of Spenborough has always been noted for his eccentricity. Leaving a widow younger than his own daughter Serena is one thing, but quite another is leaving Serena's fortune to the trusteeship of the Marquis of Rotherham -- a man whom Serena once jilted and who now has the power to give or withhold his consent to any marriage she might contemplate. When Serena and her lovely young stepmother Fanny decide to move to Bath, Serena makes an odd new friend and discovers an old love, Major Hector Kirkby. Before long, Serena, Fanny, Kirkby, and Rotherham are entangled in a welter of marriage and manners the like of which even Regency Bath has rarely seen.
1688. Beth Ambrose has led a sheltered life within Merryfields, her family home on the outskirts of London; a place where her parents provide a sanctuary for melancholic souls. A passionate and gifted artist, Beth shares a close bond with Johannes the painter, who nurtures her talents and takes her on as his apprentice. But as political tensions begin to rise in the capital, Noah Leyton arrives at her family home in the middle of the night with a proposition that turns Beth's world upside down. And when Merryfields becomes refuge to a mysterious new guest, whose connections provide an opportunity for Beth to fulfil her artistic ambitions, she soon realises that it comes at a price
A gripping novel of love, passion, betrayal and heartbreak. Katherine Parr survived Henry VIII to find true love with Thomas Seymour ? only to realise that her love was based on a lie. Clever, sensible and well-liked, Katherine Parr trod a knife edge of diplomacy and risk during her marriage to an ageing, cantankerous King Henry. When he died, she was in her late thirties and love, it seemed, had passed her by. Until, that is, the popular Thomas Seymour ? bold, handsome, witty and irresistible ? began a relentless courtship that won her heart. Kate fell passionately in love for the first time in her life and, also for the first time, threw caution to the wind with a marriage that shocked the worldly courtiers around her. But all too soon it becomes obvious that Thomas has plans beyond his marriage for the young, capricious, quick-witted heir to the throne ? Elizabeth ? and that in his quest for power, he might even be prepared to betray his now pregnant wife? Kate's whirlwind romance is witnessed and recounted by her closest friend, Catherine, Duchess of Suffolk, who lives through the tumultuous years after Henry's death at Kate's side. A sharp and canny courtier in her own right, Cathy is keenly aware of the political realities of life at court and is, apparently, a loyal supporter of her friend. As her story weaves its way through that of Kate and Thomas's heady passion and tragic denouement, however, it gradually becomes clear that Cathy has her own tale of betrayal and regret to tell?
Liverpool, 1939. The Second World War is about to start when pretty Laura Oliver meets Queenie Todd. Laura is 21 and happily married. At 14, Queenie lacks Laura's confidence, and has been deserted by her good-time mother. The two become friends, but when the air raids begin Queenie is trusted to look after two young children, and the three of them are evacuated to a small town on the coast of Wales. At first it is a haven of peace and quiet. The girls have a wonderful time - and then something happens, so terrifying that it will haunt them for the rest of their lives.
Hard work had made Jeremiah rich: at the age of forty-four he was one of the wealthiest mining barons in America. When he married the captivating Camille - less than half his age - he was looking for more than love. He was looking for a woman to found a great family. And for that family, he built a mansion: Thurston House. The vast mansion was the finest in the city - a palace for a prince, a princess and their children. In bricks and mortar, turrets and columns, it symbolised the great power of the new dynasty it was to house. Many generations would live and love and die in Thurston House. Each generation would ask itself whether money alone can buy happiness, a family and love.
The secrets in a woman's heart are deeper than the ocean...For May Smith, travelling with her husband and baby girl Ellen, stepping foot on the Titanic marks the start of an incredible journey, one which is destined to take her from the back streets of Bolton to the land of opportunity: the United States. But when the 'unsinkable' Titanic hits an iceberg one cold dark night, May's dreams are instantly shattered. Jumping from the sinking ship at the last minute, May loses sight of Joe and Ellen. Distraught, she is pulled into a lifeboat. Minutes later, the real-life Captain Smith swims to the lifeboat and hands May a baby swaddled in blankets. Beside herself, and in virtual darkness, May believes the baby to be Ellen. This rescue is witnessed by fellow survivor, Celeste Parkes, married to an American industrialist who is on her way back to Ohio after her mother's funeral. In horror, they both watch the death throes of the mighty ship; May traumatised, knowing her husband has drowned, Celeste wishing her bully of a husband had been on board and out of her life. As the dawn comes up, and the two women are rescued by the Carpathia, a friendship is formed, one which is destined to transcend the Atlantic and social differences between them and last a lifetime. Then May makes a shocking discovery and a split-second decision which will change the lives of so many.
When Tony Thorne first turned up for his medical in 1956 he had little idea of the adventures he would face and the people he would encounter over the next two years in service. Brasso, Blanco & Bull is the hilarious account of life in National Service, where 23339788 Thorne faced the horrors of basic training, the boredom of the drill yard as well as the unforgettable camaraderie of the squad. Praise: 'This book took me back more years than I care to remember.
In a dusty post-war summer in rural Warwickshire, a doctor is called to a patient at lonely Hundreds Hall.
Home to the Ayres family for over two centuries, the Georgian house, once grand and handsome, is now in decline, its masonry crumbling, its gardens choked with weeds, its owners - mother, son and daughter - struggling to keep pace.
But are the Ayreses haunted by something more sinister than a dying way of life? Little does Dr Faraday know how closely, and how terrifyingly, their story is about to become entwined with his.
Product Information: • ISBN: 9781844086061 • Author: Sarah Waters • Publisher: Little Brown • Format: Paperback • Pages: 501 • Dimensions: 20 x 13 x 3.5cm
Tooting, 1950: After losing her husband in the war, Ida Wilcox is not so sure that bringing children into the world is such a good idea after all. However much her loving family in Tooting rally round, she still has her hands full coping with whatever life throws at her three. Ida is used to Alan chancing his luck and dreaming his life away, but had not expected Norman, usually so responsible and reliable, to give up his steady job at the post office for the sake of Alans latest scheme to make them all rich.And then there is poor Ruby, vulnerable to Brian Brookshaw and her father-in-laws violent outburst and her own rebellious spirit. What kind of a future can Ruby give her little boys if she cant find a good man or hold down a decent job?
A secret love that will haunt a family for ever England 1918. Lady Helen believes her parents when they say she will never find a better husband than Richard, but when he returns to the Front, she begins to wonder just who it is she has married. His letters home are cold and distant - and Helen realises that she has made a terrible mistake. Then Oliver Donovan enters her life and they begin an affair that leaves Helen pregnant and alone - she is forced to surrender her precious baby. Over twenty years pass and a second war is ravaging Europe, but that is not the only echo of the past to haunt the present. Laura Drummond is caught in a tragic love affair of her own and when she is forced to leave London during the Blitz, she turns to the mother she never knew.
John, Duke of Bedford, grew to manhood fighting for his father, King Henry IV of England, on the wild and lawless Northern Marches. A prince of the royal blood, loyal, strong, the greatest ally that his brother - the future Henry V - was to have. Filled with the clash of bitter rivalries and deadly power struggles, this is Georgette Heyer's last and most ambitious novel.
Details: THEY WERE MEN BORN TO FIGHT. IF GOD WILLED THAT ANTIOCH WAS THE PLACE WHERE THEY GAVE UP LIFE, SO BE IT Thanks to the stratagems of Bohemund de Hauteville, leader of the Apulian Normans, the Crusade has taken the city of Antioch, and just in time. Once the besiegers, Bohemund and his men are about to become the besieged - a huge Turkish-led army, commanded by the fearsome General Kerbogha, is fast approaching. Provisions are needed to support not only the army, but also thousands of camp followers and pilgrims. But the surrounding countryside is near barren and the storerooms of Antioch much depleted. It soon becomes obvious that the Crusaders cannot hold out for long without falling prey to starvation. And for Bohemund and his nephew Tancred there is another difficulty: the dissent between the Crusade leaders has broken out into the open, with the wealthy Provencal magnate Raymond of Toulouse stirring up conflict. If the Christian host is fighting on two fronts, so is Bohemund himself. With the enemy Turks at his front and his warring peers at his back, can he gain the mighty city of Antioch once and for all? Only one of the greatest battles of the age will decide. Ideal for: Fans of action and historical fiction books. This paperback book has 446 pages and measures: 17.7 x 11.1 x 3cm
Keep your friends close, your enemies closer, and your family closest of all? Orphaned at the age of eight, Lady Cecily Burkhart becomes the ward of a rich and prestigious family. Welcomed as one of their own, Cecily is nurtured and loved by Lord Hal and his wife Lady Grace. As the years pass the familys devout daughter, Mirabella, becomes increasingly consumed by her religious vocation. But when Henry VIIIs reign of terror begins to spread throughout England, Mirabellas monastic life is ripped from her. As her life is torn apart, the true reason for her religious fervour becomes clear ? her forbidden love for the familys priest and tutor, Father Alec. As the family falls apart, Cecily must hold them together. But a dangerous mutual attraction between her and Father Alec begins to grow. Plagued with jealousy, Mirabella unleashes a tumultuous chain of events that threatens to destroy everyone around her, especially Cecily?
Constantinople, 1203. As the rapacious armies of the Fourth Crusade lay siege to the city, a small band of Templars infiltrate the imperial library. They escape with three large chests filled with explosive secrets - ones they will not live long enough to learn. Vatican City, present day. In the hidden archives of the Inquisition, FBI agent Sean Reilly has no choice but to violate the trust he has earned. A vicious terrorist has kidnapped Tess Chaykin, and the key to her freedom lies in this underground crypt, where a secret could explain the real reasons for the Templars; extermination and bring devastation to our world. A pulse-pounding manhunt takes Reilly and Tess across the world as they follow the blood-soaked trail of their enemy, a devious, uncompromising foe unlike any they have battled before...
It is 1865 and Eppie, a young widow with a child to bring up, can't believe her luck when she gets the position of housekeeper to wealthy widower Alexander Geddes. He and his teenage son, Duncan, are a dream to work for, but daughter Lydia is moody, spoiled and temperamental - and convinced that Eppie has designs on Alexander. But Eppie is no gold-digger and Alexander Geddes has intentions that are purely honourable. Intentions that begin to lean in the direction of Lydia's governess - Eppie's sister Marion. Yet although the attraction is mutual, its development is slow. For there are other tensions not only in the household but also in the community. Refusing to train as a physician, Duncan is set on following his heart's desire, to side with his stepmother's kin and pursue his dreams of quarrying the precious local marble. Eppie, now almost a member of the family, feels partly responsible for the rift between father and son. She feels even more responsible when Duncan returns home with a stranger who has a mysterious past.. .
When young British agent John Kirby comes to Russia in 1911 he is there to work and to explore a new and exciting country. He does not expect to fall in love, but an invitation to a ball from the Tsar changes all that and, after an evening of dancing and romance, John and the Tsar's eldest daughter, Olga, are totally captivated by one another. Soon John is spending more time with Olga and her family, wonderful, long peaceful summers of tennis parties and picnics. But just as love begins to blossom between the pair, a cruel blow is dealt, John is forced to return to England and Olga and her family are caught up in the bitter and bloody war of 1914. Will John and Olga ever be reunited? Can their love survive the odds? Or will tragedy, pain and longing destroy them both?
Details: Spring, 1858. The route of the Caledonian Railway through the southern uplands of the Scottish countryside is disrupted by a fatal crash. Inspector Robert Colbeck and Sergeant Victor Leeming are called from the crime of London to investigate, and must contend with old enemy Superintendent Rory McTurk to uncover the criminals behind the disaster. The motive for the crash is unclear, with suspects including the North British Railway, a group of sabbatarians and those with personal vendettas to enact. Colbeck and Leeming face further obstacles when the Railway announces a reward of GBP400 for information - soon they are pitched against criminals, the public and their own colleagues in their attempts to solve the case. Meanwhile, with the investigation stalling, the newly married Madeleine Colbeck and her father race to reach Inspector Colbeck with important information. Will they be in time to save the royal family before their train journey to Balmoral? Ideal for: Fans of historical and mystery fiction books. This paperback book has 348 pages and measures: 19.7 x 12.9 x 2.2cm
I would appreciate it if you could just try to stay out of the stables... As the Duke of Rothermere s youngest daughter, Phaedra Montague is expected to be the dutiful darling of elegant society. Too bad, then, that this feisty Lady has swapped her dance cards and silk gowns for racing tips and breeches! With the arrival of gorgeous groom Bram Basingstoke, Phaedra can t help but be distracted. He s as wild and untamed as the stallion he s training. But Phaedra is supposed to act properly at all times. Even if this dark-haired devil in a billowing white shirt is tempting her to a very improper roll in the hay...
THESE ARE DAYS OF WAR. The King of Scotland is dead. The nobles fight over the succession, unaware that King Edward of England has plans of his own. For years, Edward has nurtured a fierce vision of conquest, inspired by the words of an ancient prophecy, that will change the face of Britain. In this divided land, a boy grows to manhood, in a family torn apart by ambition and betrayal. His path will never be smooth - he will serve his enemy and betray his friend before he finds himself. But destiny is waiting to claim him. His name is Robert the Bruce. And his story begins in Insurrection
Driven to uncover the truth about the mysterious death of the woman he loved, the Duke of Hawkscliffe will go to any lengths to unmask a murderer. Even if it means jeopardising his reputation by engaging in a scandalous affair with London's most provocative courtesan - the desirable but aloof Belinda Hamilton. Bel has used her intelligence and wit to charm the city's titled gentlemen while struggling to put the pieces of her life back together. She needs a protector, so she accepts Hawkcliffe's invitation to become his mistress in name only. He asks nothing of her body, but seeks her help in snaring the same man who shattered her virtue. Together they tempt the unforgiving wrath of Society - until their risky charade turns into a dangerous attraction, and Bel must make a devastating decision that could ruin her last chance at love.
Far to go is a powerful and profoundly moving story about one family's epic journey to flee the Nazi occupation of their homeland in 1939. Pavel and Anneliese Bauer are affluent, secular Jews, whose lives are turned upside down by the arrival of the German forces in Czechoslovakia. Desperate to avoid deportation, the Bauers flee to Prague with their six-year-old son, Pepik, and his beloved nanny, Marta. When the family try to flee without her to Paris, Marta betrays them to her Nazi boyfriend. But it is through Marta's determination that Pepik secures a place on a Kindertransport, though he never sees his parents or Marta again. Inspired by Alison Pick's own grandparents who fled their native Czechoslovakia for Canada during the Second World War, FAR TO GO is a deeply personal and emotionally harrowing novel.
Margaret Atwood has frequently been cited as one of the foremost writers of our time. Moral Disorder, her new work of fiction, could be seen as a collection of eleven stories that is almost a novel or a novel broken up into eleven stories. It resembles a photograph album - a series of clearly observed moments that trace the course of a life, and the lives intertwined with it - those of parents, siblings, children, friends, enemies, teachers and even animals. And as in a photograph album, times change; every decade is here, from the 1930s through the 50s, 60s and 70s to the present day.The settings are equally varied: large cities, suburbs, farms, northern forests. The first story, The Bad News, is set in the present, as a couple no longer young situate themselves in a larger world no longer safe. Then the narrative switches time, as the central character moves through childhood and adolescence, in The Art of Cooking and Serving, The Headless Horseman and My Last Duchess. We follow her into young adulthood in The Other Place, and then through a complex relationship, traced in four of the stories - Monopoly, Moral Disorder, White Horse and The Entities.The last two stories, The Labrador Fiasco and The Boys at the Lab, deal with the heartbreaking old age of parents, but circle back to childhood again, to complete the cycle. By turns funny, moving, lyrical, incisive, tragic, earthy, shocking and deeply personal, Moral Disorder displays Atwoods celebrated storytelling gifts and inimitable style to their best advantage.As the New York Times has said, Atwood has complete access to her peoples emotional histories, complete understanding of their hearts and imaginations.
The epic story of the queen who founded the Tudor dynasty, told through the eyes of her loyal nursemaid. Perfect for fans of Philipa Gregory. Her beauty fuelled a war. Her courage captured a king. Her passion would launch the Tudor dynasty. When her own first child is tragically still-born, the young Mette is pressed into service as a wet-nurse at the court of the mad king, Charles VI of France. Her young charge is the princess, Catherine de Valois, caught up in the turbulence and chaos of life at court. Mette and the child forge a bond, one that transcends Mettes lowly position. But as Catherine approaches womanhood, her unique position seals her fate as a pawn between two powerful dynasties. Her brother, The Dauphin and the dark and sinister, Duke of Burgundy will both use Catherine to further the cause of France. Catherine is powerless to stop them, but with the French defeat at the Battle of Agincourt, the tables turn and suddenly her currency has never been higher. But can Mette protect Catherine from forces at court who seek to harm her or will her loyalty to Catherine place her in even greater danger?
A brutal murder Murmurs of magic Vengeance denied It is 409 AD in Britain and the Roman legions are gone. Britain is abandoned and the fledgling colony of Camelot needs a new leader. Two young men, related by blood, step forward prepared to share that responsibility: Caius Merlyn Britannicus, the grandson of Camelot's founder, and his first cousin, the Celtic prince Uther Pendragon. But an act of cold barbarism shatters the trust and comradeship these two have shared since childhood and causes Merlyn to doubt his cousin's morality. As war arrives from the south-west and Uther's motives are revealed, Merlyn finds salvation where he had least expected it, and a legend is born in this prequel to Jack Whyte's groundbreaking Excalibur. Discover the most authentic telling of the Arthurian legend ever written Ideal for: Fans of historical and fantasy fiction books. This paperback book has 485 pages and measures: 19.7 x 12.6 x 3.2cm
Details: Thrust onto Egypt's throne when just nine years old, King Tut's reign was fiercely debated from the outset. After nine years in power, Tut suddenly perished and his name was purged from Egyptian history. To this day, his death remains shrouded in controversy. Now, in The Murder of King Tut, James Patterson and Martin Dugard dig through the evidence to arrive at their own account of Tut's life and untimely death. The result is an exhilarating true crime tale of intrigue, passion, and betrayal that casts fresh light on one of the oldest mysteries of all. Ideal for: Fans of mystery and historical fiction books. This paperback book has 337 pages and measures: 19.7 x 12.8 x 2.3cm
An heir hidden A land divided A king in waiting Having fled their home of Camelot, Merlyn Britannicus and the Arthur Pendragon find sanctuary in an abandoned Roman fort as the protector continues the young heir's training. Sheltered from the forces that would destroy him, Arthur grows in strength and resolve, and the child becomes a warrior and a hero. But a storm is coming, and Merlyn must make preparations for the path ahead: a dangerous journey home and the battle that will see the boy become a king. Discover the most authentic telling of the Arthurian legend ever written.
For centuries, the Celts held sway in Europe. Even after their conquest by the Romans, their culture remained vigorous, ensuring that much of it endured to feed an endless fascination with Celtic history and myths, artwork and treasures. A foremost authority on the Celtic peoples and their culture, Peter Berresford Ellis presents an invigoration overview of their world. With his gift for making the scholarly accessible, he discusses the Celts' mysterious origins and early history and investigates their rich and complex society. His use of recently uncovered finds brings fascinating insights into Celtic kings and chieftains, architecture and arts, medicine and religions, myths and legends, making this essential reading for any search for Europe's ancient past.
Details: Affairs of honour between bucks and blades, rakes and rascals; and affairs of the heart between heirs and orphans, beauties and bachelors; romance, intrigue, escapades and duels at dawn: all the gallantry, villainy and elegance of the age that Georgette Heyer has so triumphantly made her own are exquisitely revived in these eleven stories of the Regency. Georgette Heyer's historical accuracy and eye for a wonderful story of romance is unequalled, and in Pistols For Two we can see the skills which won her a devoted audience that continues to this day. Ideal for: Fans of historical and romance fiction books. This paperback book has 205 pages and measures: 19.8 x 12.8 x 1.4cm
Aberdeen, 1631. University librarian Robert Sim takes receipt of a gift of books recently arrived from overseas, mysterious works on alchemy and hermetics - the pursuit of ancient knowledge. By nightfall he has been brutally murdered. His colleague and good friend Alexander Seaton is left with the task of hunting for clues as to his killer's motive, as well as locating the missing books. What did Sim discover in the package, and what makes these books so dangerous? Crucible is a fantastic historical thriller that imagines deep-rooted deceptions and a secret whose revelation spells danger for anyone who comes close.
John, Rick and Derrick Underwood are the most handsome trio of brothers in town and it takes three exceptional women to convince them to settle down. For Jodie, marrying John seemed exciting and romantic at the time but the reality of life is proving too much. Jodie loves her husband but she doesn't know how much more she can take of his dishonest ways.
Rick's marriage to Laraine is filled with love and adventure; their life is blissful - until one day it delivers a cruel blow. Everything begins to unravel and Laraine isn't sure she's strong enough to survive. Dee is smitten with her husband, Derrick. He does all he can to provide for her so when he's sent away to sea, she knows she will be all right. But suddenly she stops hearing from Derrick - where is he? From the 1950s all the way through to the 1980s, Three Brides For Three Brothers is a nostalgic story of love and loyalty during the most testing of times. />
A stranger enters the inner sanctum of the Ashby family posing as Patrick Ashby, the heir to the family's sizeable fortune. The stranger, Brat Farrar, has been carefully coached on Patrick's mannerisms, appearance and every significant detail of Patrick's early life, up to his thirteenth year when he disappeared and was thought to have drowned himself. It seems as if Brat is going to pull off this most incredible deception until old secrets emerge that threaten to jeopardise the imposter's plan and his very life.
Becky Hope works on the front line of child protection. Every day, her job takes her into the heart-breaking lives of the most defenceless children. Although Becky has witnessed some horrific things, her courage, optimism and wonderfully warm sense of humour help her through the most difficult days. But the thing that really keeps her going is the children, and her dedication to the fight against their abuse. This is the gripping story of one woman's battle to protect our most vulnerable children and to give them the safety and love they deserve.
'It's hard to admit, but you're not the son I once knew...' The obliterated battlefields of Spain are a world away from the privileged life of James Montague. Only nurse Catalina Moreno eases the deafening roar of mortar fire-and in a crumbling chapel by candlelight they make their vows. But before the sheets cool from their scorching wedding night Jamie has to leave on a brutally dangerous mission...Two years later, believing her husband dead, Catalina is shocked to see a man who looks and sounds like her Jamie at Castonbury-but where once there was warmth and charm, now unflinching torment lies in the gaze of the man she barely recognises...
No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens has returned to another utterly irresistible branch on her beloved Cynster family tree. The only thing more troublesome than a Cynster man is a Cynster lady who believes that love is not her destiny. Famously known in London Society as 'The Matchbreaker', Henrietta Cynster's uncanny skill lies in preventing ill-fated nuptials - not in falling victim to Cupid's alluring spell.However, when she disrupts one match too many, she feels honour-bound to assist the dashing James Glossup and find him a suitable bride for a marriage of convenience. Yet this is no easy task. Complicated by the growing and undeniable attraction that flares between them, Henrietta must convince not only James, but herself, that when it comes to love, she will never, ever fall.
Unforgettably astounding and a joy to read, Memento Mori is considered by many to be the greatest novel by the wizardly Dame Muriel Spark. In late 1950s London, something uncanny besets a group of elderly friends: an insinuating voice on the telephone informs each, Remember you must die. Their geriatric feathers are soon thoroughly ruffled by these seemingly supernatural phone calls, and in the resulting flurry many old secrets are dusted off. Beneath the once decorous surface of their lives, unsavories like blackmail and adultery are now to be glimpsed. As spooky as it is witty, poignant and wickedly hilarious, Memento Mori may ostensibly concern death, but it is a book which leaves one relishing life all the more.
When Ernest Fletcher is found bludgeoned to death in his study, everyone is shocked and mystified: Ernest was well-liked and respected, so who would have a motive for killing him? Enter Superintendent Hannasyde who, with consummate skill, begins to uncover the complexities of Fletcher's life. It seems the real Fletcher was far from the gentleman he pretended to be. There is, in fact, no shortage of people who wanted him dead. Then, a second murder is committed, with striking similarities to the first, giving a grotesque twist to a very unusual case.
Welcome to the sensational new Ladies of Lantern Streetseries by Amanda Quick, where the lives of the Victorian gentry are filled with secrets - and secret powers. Novelist and professional companion Evangeline Ames has rented a cottage on the outskirts of Little Dixby, far from the London streets where she was recently attacked. Fascinated by the paranormal energy of nearby Crystal Gardens, she instinctively goes there for safety where she meets Lucas Sebastian. Lucas and Evangeline immediately sense each other's psychic talents, as well as their mutual desire. But who wants Evangeline dead? With Evangeline's skill for detection, and Lucas's sense of the criminal mind, they soon discover that they share a common enemy. And as the dangerous energy emanating from Crystal Gardens grows stronger, they realise that to survive they must unearth what has been buried for too long.
This is a story. In this ingenious and spell-binding retelling of the life of Jesus, Philip Pullman revisits the most influential story ever told. Charged with mystery, compassion and enormous power, The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ throws fresh light on who Jesus was and asks the reader questions that will continue to resonate long after the final page is turned. For, above all, this book is about how stories become stories. Please note that orders are randomly processed. This book is published with two different coloured covers and the colour of cover you will receive cannot be guaranteed.
With ostentatious lack of concern, Bill Sarratt, his wife and her lover spend the war wining and dining expensively, occasionally sauntering out into the Blitz with cheerful remarks about the shattered night-life of London's West End. But beneath the false insouciance lies the real strain of a war that has firmly wrapped them all in its embrace. Wit may crackle at the same pace as buildings burn, but personal tragedy lurks appallingly close at hand.
When Gervase Frant, Seventh Earl of St Erth, returns at last from Waterloo to his family seat at Stanyon, he enjoys a less than welcome homecoming. Only Theo, a cousin even quieter than himself, is there to greet him - and when he meets his stepmother and young half-brother he detects open disappointment that he survived the wars. But the dangers of the Lincolnshire countryside are quite different to those of the battlefield. Georgette Heyer was the most successful and best-loved novelist of her day, and The Quite Gentleman displays all the skills which won the hearts of her large and enduring audience.
Fresh from their victory in Germania, Marcus Aquila and the Tungrians have been sent to Dacia, on the north-eastern edge of the Roman Empire, with the mission to safeguard a major source of imperial power. The mines of Alburnus Major contain enough gold to pave the road to Rome. They would make a mighty prize for the marauding Sarmatae tribesmen who threaten the province, and the outnumbered auxiliaries are entrusted with their safety in the face of a barbarian invasion. Beset by both the Sarmatian horde and more subtle threats offered by men who should be their comrades, the Tungrians must also come to terms with the danger posed by a new and unexpected enemy. They will have to fight to the death to save the honour of the empire - and their own skins.
1925, a damp wintry night in Berlin. Englishman Philip Gibson, in Germany to seek the answers to a tantalising mystery surrounding the Grand Duchess Anastasia, witnesses an attack on Natasha, a young woman who has fled from Russia. When Philip takes the fragile, lonely Natasha in to help her recuperate, she quickly falls for his kind and caring nature. But when further threats are made on her life, Philip finds himself at the heart of another mystery. What is it that links Natasha to this mysterious, damaged woman? And will her love for Philip survive the secrets that will be unearthed?
Autumn 1386. Hildegard of Meaux - a Cistercian Abbess with a keen instinct for crime solving - is accompanying the Archbishop of York, Alexander Neville, to London for the opening of Parliament amid much civic unrest. While packing to leave, the Archbishop's saucier is found brutally murdered in the ale vat, and it emerges that the culprit must be one of the Archbishop's party. The journey from York to London is fraught with more deadly surprises, and it becomes clear to Hildegard that this sinister plot may also involve King Richard, and those looking to depose him at all costs. Traitors, murderers, noblemen and madmen come together to create a puzzling scheme that only Hildegard can solve, digging up past grudges, new weapons and a mysterious friar. The most recent instalment in the highly acclaimed Hildegard of Meaux series, A Parliament of Spies paints a vivid picture of medieval London, where loyalty and treason are very difficult to identify.
When the body of an unknown woman is found in an Edinburgh close, Detective Constable Faro assumes the killing is a random act of violence - until he finds a playing card, the nine of diamonds, underneath her corpse. His superiors scoff at his suspicions of a serial killer, but days later a man is attacked in the street, and left badly bruised and battered with the nine of diamonds in his pocket. Faro believes there's a connection. He must contend with other problems, though, if he is to solve the case. Detective Sergeant Gosse does his best to frame suspect after suspect, but remains constantly irritated by his detective constable. And although Faro's sweetheart Lizzie loves him deeply, he is not sure if he feels the same way. And what of Inga St Ola, Faro's first and only true love from his native Orkney? Amongst all this, a servant at Lizzie's place of work goes missing. Could her disappearance be linked to the playing-card killer? Beset by hostile superiors and a police-hating public, Faro feels he may never crack this confounding case.
Will the might of the byzantine empire crush the ambitions of the warrior brothers? It's 11th century Italy. The Byzantines rule the South, but do so in the face of constant revolt from their unwilling subjects - a strife that extends from the great trading ports to the rich agricultural lands of Apulia. The Lombards, heirs to a northern tribe, are no exception and their leader, Arduin of Fassano, brings into the conflict the fearsome mercenary brothers, the de Hautevilles, to help him in his quest - to destroy the power of Constantinople. Will the might of the Byzantine Empire crush Arduin's revolt? Can his ambitious plan succeed, or will the treachery that stalks the land play into the hands of the Normans? Fans of Bernard Cornwell's "King Alfred" series will love Jack Ludlow's heart-stopping trilogy that began with Mercenaries and continues with Warriors.
Paris, 1919. The world s leaders have gathered to rebuild from the ashes of the Great War. But for one woman, the City of Light harbours dark secrets anddangerous liaisons, for which many could pay dearly. Brought to the peace conference by her father, a German diplomat, Margot Rosenthal initially resents being trapped in Paris where she is still looked upon as the enemy. But returning to Berlin means a life with the wounded fianc? she hardly knows any more. Bored and torn between duty and the desire to be free, Margot strikes up unlikely alliances: with Krysia, an accomplished musician with radical acquaintances and a secret to protect; and with Georg, the handsome, damaged naval officer who gives Margot a job and also a reason to question everything she thought she knew about where her true loyalties should lie. Against the backdrop of one of the most significant events of the century, a delicate web of lies obscures the line between the casualties of war and of the heart, making trust a luxury that no one can afford.
Details: A matchless warrior A true friend lost A love like none before The son of a Celtic King and a Romano-British aristocrat, Uther Pendragon learns early to respect honour, nobility and integrity, but he also learns to love to fight, and to kill when necessary. His closest boyhood friend is his cousin Merlyn Britannicus, and together they will set Britain on a new path. But Camelot attracts the envy and dislike of others, among them Gulrhys Lot, King of Cornwall, and Lot's hunger for power and conquest will come to define Uther's life as his friendship with his cousin Merlyn disintegrates. While war ravages the land, Uther seems invincible, but he is powerless against the love that will undo him; a love that will seal his place in legend as he becomes father to Arthur, High King of Britain. Discover the most authentic telling of the Arthurian legend ever written. Ideal for: Fans of historical and fantasy fiction books. This paperback book has 714 pages and measures: 19.7 x 12.6 x 4.4cm
Dispossessed of crown and kingdom, crushed and routed at the grim Battle of Worcester, the young Charles II is forced to flee for his life. Out of the heat of battle, the outlaw King and his tiny party must journey across Cromwell's England to a Channel port and a ship bound for France and safety. But the King, with his love of adventure, his irrepressible humour and his unmistakeable looks, is no easy man to hide... A typically witty, exciting and wonderful tale of historical adventure, Royal Escape will please Georgette Heyer fans old and new.
The third instalment of Jack Whyte's templar trilogy. The Order - a secret society of men from ancient, noble families, drawn together to safeguard the Christian Church's most precious secrets - has been decimated by a King's petulant will. Its members are being persecuted and most have been forced to flee for their lives as their leaders are burnt at the stake. But the Order's secrets must continue to be protected and hidden; so as their world falls apart, the dangerous task of smuggling the sacred treasure out from under the nose of a vengeful king falls to just a few brave men.
Francesca Felizzi, former mistress of the Duke of Ferrara, is now an aspiring courtesan. Astonishingly beautiful and ambitious, she revels in the power she wields over men. But when she is visited by an inexperienced young man, it becomes horribly clear to Francesca that despite her many admiring patrons, she has never truly been loved. Suddenly, her glittering and sumptuous life becomes a gaudy façade. And then another unexpected encounter brings with it devastating implications that plunge Francesca and her two young daughters into the sort of danger she has dreaded ever since she began to work the streets all those years ago.
Salonika, 1940. To the bustle of tavernas and the smell of hashish, a secret war is taking shape. In the backrooms of barbers, envelopes change hands, and in the Club de Salonique the air is thick with whispers. Costa Zannis is the city's dashing chief detective - a man with contacts high and low, in the Balkans and beyond. And as unknown ships and British 'travel writers' trickle through the port, he is a man very much in demand. Having helped defeat Italy in the highlands of Macedonia, Zannis returns to a city holding its breath. Mussolini's forces have retreated - for now - but German sights are fixed firmly on the region. And as the situation in Germany worsens, Zannis becomes involved in an audacious plot - smuggling Jews to Istanbul, through the back door of Europe. The British hear he can penetrate the continent's closed borders, and soon Zannis is embroiled in the resistance, and in a reckless love affair that could jeopardise everything. With a remarkable cast of operatives, SPIES OF THE BALKANS is a brilliant new espionage novel from Alan Furst.
Maggie May has had a difficult start. Born in the slums of Liverpool at the end of Queen Victoria's reign, she has to contend with a drunken father who hates her for not being a boy, the fear of violence from her father's criminal associates, and the grinding poverty of their circumstances. Worst of all, she must come to terms with the early death of her beloved mother. And she must bear the shame of her name, a name given to her by her father out of sheer spite - the name of the city's most notorious prostitute. Left to raise her younger brother, Maggie escapes to the countryside. She builds a new, idyllic life for them both, but her happiness is to be short-lived. Fate is to draw her back to Liverpool and to a man who will bring her heartbreak - and the greatest happiness she will ever know.
The year is 1774 and Bolitho is now a newly appointed third lieutenant joining the 28-gun frigate Destiny at Plymouth. It is a far step from midshipman's berth to wardroom - and at a time when most of the fleet is laid up Bolitho is considered fortunate. Bolitho's promotion is tinged by personal sadness, but his new captain soon points out that Bolitho's loyalty is to him, the ship and His Britannic Majesty - in that order. Despatched on a secret mission far south to Rio and then to the Caribbean, Destiny and her company face the hazards of conspiracy, treason and piracy - and, as the little ship sails on, Bolitho has to learn amid broadside battles at sea and the clash of swords in hand-to-hand actions how to accept his new responsibilities as a King's officer.
Liverpool, 1937. Jessica is married to Bertie, a mean, patronising man who she has stayed with purely for the sake of her two young children. To make up for the love and passion that is missing from her life, she spends the occasional afternoon at the local cinema, lost in romantic films. But when an unexpected glass of champagne is offered to her in a Liverpool hotel, the consequences turn out to be shattering. When Bertie discovers his wife's deceit, he is ruthless in his revenge. He sells their house and disappears with her beloved children, leaving Jessica devastated and alone. Then she is asked to visit Paris and help an old friend and her small daughters return to Liverpool before the onset of the war. But Jessica finds herself stranded in Paris under German occupation. With new friends and a small family to care for, she must find the courage that she never knew she possessed.
Bullied at school for his suspiciously dark skin and lack of a father, Hart soon learns to fight -- and win. At eighteen, his world is shaken by his mother's revelation that his anonymous father is willing to give him a vast inheritance -- provided he can prove himself worthy of the prize as an officer in the King's Dragoon Guards. At a time when racism and prejudice are rife in Victorian society, Hart struggles to come to terms with his identity. Forced to leave the army, he decides to head to South Africa, and a fresh start. But George Hart has soldiering in his blood, and once in Africa the urge to serve again is strong. Yet now he is caught between two fierce and unyielding forces as Britain drives towards war with the Zulus. Hart must make a choice -- and fight for his life.
Details: Historical fiction master Conn Iggulden retells the gripping story of the English Civil War in his new Wars of the Roses series. King Henry V - the great Lion of England - is long dead. In 1437, after years of regency, the pious and gentle Henry VI, the Lamb, comes of age and accedes to the English throne. His poor health and frailty of mind render him a weakling king - Henry depends on his closest men, Spymaster Derry Brewer and William de la Pole, Duke of Suffolk, to run his kingdom. Yet there are those, such as the Plantagenet Richard, Duke of York, who believe England must be led by a strong king if she is to survive. With England's territories in France under threat, and rumours of revolt at home, fears grow that Henry and his advisers will see the country slide into ruin. With a secret deal struck for Henry to marry a young French noblewoman, Margaret of Anjou, those fears become all too real. As storm clouds gather over England, King Henry and his supporters find themselves besieged abroad and at home. Who, or what, can save the kingdom before it is too late? The Wars of the Roses series will be a benchmark for historical fiction, showcasing Conn Iggulden at his finest. Ideal for: Fans of historical fiction and those who enjoy novels by Conn Iggulden. This hardback book has 481 pages and measures: 24 x 16 x 4.2cm
Details:Born into terrible poverty, Millie Ashs hopes for a better life are threatened by a fatal accident in Dee Williams heartrending new saga. Millie Ash, born into terrible poverty in the backstreets of the East End, has always wanted to better herself. She gets her chance when she lands a position as a ladys companion, her charge the disabled daughter of a well-to-do London family. Millie adores her work, and even starts to develop feelings for the son of the house. But years later a tragic accident causes Millie to lose her job and, along with it, the life she so loved. As she goes from job to job, working variously as a typist, factory worker and nurse, will she ever find happiness, and love, again? Ideal for:A powerful saga perfect for those that enjoy romantic fiction at its best. This paperback book has 471 pages and measures: 19.7 x 12.8 x 3cm.