A Scandal at Christmas

'Catherine Cookson soars above her rivals' Mail on Sunday 
'Her characters have the grit of real life' Sunday Times 
'Queen of raw family romances' Telegraph 
 
_____________________________ 
 
At fifteen years old, Gail Blenheim is the truly the apple of her father, Harry's, eye. Sweet, mild-mannered, with the promise to grow into a true beauty, she'll always bring her father joy, which is something he'll never take for granted. 
 
But Gail knows that her father is unhappy. Stuck under his odious father-in-law's thumb and resigned to a near-loveless marriage, Gail can see that he feels trapped. 
 
But when Harry lets his loneliness get the better of him at a Christmas party, he sparks a scandal with such far-reaching repercussions that he may lose everything, including his own daughter. But Gail's devotion for her father is stronger than he realises and she refuses to give up on the man she's looked up to for her whole life. 
 
Can a daughter's love save her father from ruin? 
 
_____________________________ 
 
Readers love Cookson's gripping historical sagas: 
 
'Storytelling at its best' 
'Cookson's stories are timeless' 
'A great choice for a summer read' 
'Always a joy to read' 
 
 
Catherine Cookson, UK's top 100 bestselling authors of all time, Nielsen BookScan, July 2024

Catherine Cookson was born in Tyne Dock, the illegitimate daughter of a poverty-stricken woman, Kate, whom she believed to be her older sister. She began work in service but eventually moved south to Hastings, where she met and married Tom Cookson, a local grammar-school master. Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for the best regional novel of 1968 - her readership quickly spread throughout the world, and her many best-selling novels established her as one of the most popular of contemporary women novelists. After receiving an OBE in 1985, Catherine Cookson was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993. She was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997. For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne. She died shortly before her ninety-second birthday, in June 1998.

At fifteen years old, Gail Blenheim is the truly the apple of her father, Harry's, eye. Sweet, mild-mannered, with the promise to grow into a true beauty, she'll always bring her father joy, which is something he'll never take for granted. 
 
But Gail knows that her father is unhappy. Stuck under his odious father-in-law's thumb and resigned to a near-loveless marriage, Gail can see that he feels trapped. 
 
But when Harry lets his loneliness get the better of him at a Christmas party, he sparks a scandal with such far-reaching repercussions that he may lose everything, including his own daughter. But Gail's devotion for her father is stronger than he realises and she refuses to give up on the man she's looked up to for her whole life. 
 
Can a daughter's love save her father from ruin?

A Wife's Devotion

'Catherine Cookson soars above her rivals' Mail on Sunday 
'Her characters have the grit of real life' Sunday Times 
'Queen of raw family romances' Telegraph 
 
_____________________________ 
 
In a house of secrets, can good prevail? 
 
Though Sarah comes from the wrong end of the Fifteen Streets, she's always been determined to make the best of her life. And when she attracts the attention of the young David Heatherington, with his kind eyes and gentle voice, it seems her luck is finally on the up. 
 
That is, until she meets David's mother, the indominable Mary Heatherington. A fierce woman who runs a spotless house, Mary's authority over the men of her family has never been challenged. So when Sarah arrives and brings with her a liveliness and laughter that has long been absent from the Heatherington household, Mary quickly takes against her. 
 
As Sarah struggles to find her place in her new family, she soon discovers that even the people she trusts the most have secrets they're anxious to hide . . . but how far will they go to keep them? 
 
_____________________________ 
 
Readers love Cookson's gripping historical sagas: 
 
'Storytelling at its best' 
'Cookson's stories are timeless' 
'A great choice for a summer read' 
'Always a joy to read' 
 
 
Catherine Cookson, UK's top 100 bestselling authors of all time, Nielsen BookScan, July 2024

In a house of secrets, can good prevail? 
 
Though Sarah comes from the wrong end of the Fifteen Streets, she's always been determined to make the best of her life. And when she attracts the attention of the young David Heatherington, with his kind eyes and gentle voice, it seems her luck is finally on the up. 
 
That is, until she meets David's mother, the indominable Mary Heatherington. A fierce woman who runs a spotless house, Mary's authority over the men of her family has never been challenged. So when Sarah arrives and brings with her a liveliness and laughter that has long been absent from the Heatherington household, Mary quickly takes against her. 
 
As Sarah struggles to find her place in her new family, she soon discovers that even the people she trusts the most have secrets they're anxious to hide . . . but how far will they go to keep them?

A gripping and moving historical fiction book from the bestselling author

A Marriage of Scandal

Catherine Cookson was born in Tyne Dock, the illegitimate daughter of a poverty-stricken woman, Kate, whom she believed to be her older sister. She began work in service but eventually moved south to Hastings, where she met and married Tom Cookson, a local grammar-school master. Although she was originally acclaimed as a regional writer - her novel The Round Tower won the Winifred Holtby Award for the best regional novel of 1968 - her readership quickly spread throughout the world, and her many best-selling novels established her as one of the most popular of contemporary women novelists. After receiving an OBE in 1985, Catherine Cookson was created a Dame of the British Empire in 1993. She was appointed an Honorary Fellow of St Hilda's College, Oxford, in 1997. For many years she lived near Newcastle upon Tyne. She died shortly before her ninety-second birthday, in June 1998.

Even the approach to Christmas fails to excite restless Agnes Conway, the twenty-two-year-old manager of the sweet and tobacconist shops owned by her feckless father. There are dark secrets in Arthur Conway's past, and these come tragically to light when Agnes's younger sister falls pregnant by one of the notorious Felton brothers. And Agnes herself has a secret, which she knows she must keep from her father: her relationship with Charles Farrier, son of a local landowner, who outrages his own wealthy, pious family by proposing marriage. 
 
However Charles is not the only man who could shape Agnes's furture, as his brother Reginald makes no secret of his admiration for her. But she could not have foreseen how significant a part he is to play in her destiny... 
 
The Wingless Bird is an absorbing story of love and the harsh realities of Britain's class system.

A heart-warming and gripping historical fiction book from the bestselling author

The Wayward Daughter

Unwanted and unloved, fourteen-year-old Marie Anne Lawson is everything her mother doesn't want her to be - adventurous, outspoken and unusual. As soon as she's old enough, Marie Anne is dispatched from Northumberland to London to live with her Aunt Martha to learn to be a lady and perfect her musical talent. 
 
Life in London proves to be more difficult than she could ever have imagined. Only the friendship of her Aunt's companion and the praise of her music tutor prevents her from falling into despair. 
 
When Anne Marie is suddenly sent back to the Manor, will she find the strength to be who she really is

The Fifteen Streets

A gripping story of forbidden love, perfect for fans of Rosie Goodwin, Dilly Court and Katie Flynn 
 
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Life on the Fifteen Streets is tough - a continual struggle for survival. Born into an ever-expanding family, John O'Brien grew up with nothing to call his own. Now, he works on the city's docks while trying to keep his loved ones safe from the drunken wrath of his father and brother. 
 
But everything changes when John meets Mary Llewellyn, a beautiful young woman who belongs to a world of wealth and privilege. What starts off as casual friendship soon blossoms into a rare love, but when John is embroiled in scandal Mary's parents forbid them from seeing each other. 
 
It seems the Fifteen Streets has succeeded in keeping them apart, but can their love conquer all? 
 
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Praise for Catherine Cookson: 
 
'Catherine Cookson soars above her rivals' Mail on Sunday 
'Her characters have the grit of real life' Sunday Times 
'Queen of raw family romances' Telelgraph

The Hatmaker’s Gift

Willington Place, London, 1879. 
 
In London's bustling streets, business is booming for Mabel Arkwright's hat shop. But as her health declines, she must entrust Emily Pearson, her capable and beloved employee, with more responsibility. 
 
After Mabel's death, Emily is stunned not only to inherit a completely unique broad-brimmed straw hat, but also the shop. But it isn't long before the extra work leaves Emily on the brink of exhaustion. Resolving to get some rest, she takes a trip to the south of France. 
 
There, she meets the stylish and enigmatic Paul Anderson Steerman who is instantly captivated by Emily's beautiful straw hat and sweeps her off her feet. But when they return to England to start their life together, it soon becomes clear that Paul isn't the man he claims to be. Can Emily free herself from his clutches or is it too late...? 
 
---------------- 
 
From bestselling saga author Catherine Cookson, this forgotten classic is an epic tale of friendship, love and betrayal. If you like Dilly Court, Katie Flynn or Donna Douglas, you'll love Catherine Cookson. 
 
Previously published as The Golden Straw

Catherine Cookson

In Christine Winter's youth, her family home was always full of love and laughter. Along with her brother Ronnie and their neighbours, Don and Sam Dowling, Chrissie passed a happy, untroubled childhood, even when the strains of the outside world darkened her family's doorstep. 
 
As she grew up, though, Chrissie quickly realised that she’d have to leave her carefree youth behind. As a young woman, she found that she was seemingly cursed with an indefinable charm that drew men to her, and in some cases led them to the brink of obsession. 
 
Chrissie was used to refusing men's advances, preferring to keep to herself even in the face of their passion. Until one day, Chrissie met a stranger on the river bank near her home and found her life irreversibly changed.

Catherine Cookson

Books by Catherine Cookson

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