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Reading lists

Best romance books for ultimate escapism

Forgotten Child

From Sunday Times bestselling author Katie Flynn, Forgotten Child is a heartbreaking, uplifting and totally transporting novel to curl up with by the fire. 
 
Scotland, 1940: Isla Donaghue is just sixteen when her mother dies, and her idyllic life comes to an abrupt end. Unable to cope, Isla’s father sends her to the poorhouse when he joins the merchant navy. 
 
Horrified at the harsh conditions of the poorhouse, Isla is determined to escape. Enlisting the help of her newfound friends Meg and Sophie, she devises a plan to flee to Liverpool. 
 
Despite the difficulties of her new life and the dangers of the Luftwaffe, Isla falls in love for the first time. But her beau is not all that he seems… Will true love prevail or will secrets from the past put an end to their happiness? 
 
Why readers love Katie Flynn... 
 
'Takes you on a journey of heartbreak and joy' 
'Hard to put down' 
'Her characters are like old friends' 
'Heartwarming romance'

Scotland, 1940: Isla Donaghue is just sixteen when her mother dies, and her idyllic life comes to an abrupt end. Unable to cope, Isla’s father sends her to the poorhouse when he joins the merchant navy. 
 
Horrified at the harsh conditions of the poorhouse, Isla is determined to escape. Enlisting the help of her newfound friends Meg and Sophie, she devises a plan to flee to Liverpool. 
 
Despite the difficulties of her new life and the dangers of the Luftwaffe, Isla falls in love for the first time. But her beau is not all that he seems… Will true love prevail or will secrets from the past put an end to their happiness? 
 
Why readers love Katie Flynn . . . 
 
'Takes you on a journey of heartbreak and joy' 
'Hard to put down' 
'Her characters are like old friends' 
'Heartwarming romance'

The Winter Runaway

Discover the emotionally gripping new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling historical fiction and family saga author. 
 
Can you ever escape your past? 
 
Tammy and her mother, Grace, are desperate to escape Tammy’s violent bully of a father. 
 
When an unforeseen tragedy strikes, mother and daughter must flee Scotland in the dead of night, forced to leave behind everything they know and love – including one another. 
 
Under new identities, Tammy and Grace must start afresh. Tammy joins the services, where she meets a dashing officer who begins to break her guard down. 
 
But can the course of love ever run smooth with Tammy unable to reveal her true self? 
 
The Winter Runaway is the first instalment in the brand-new Runaway's trilogy from the beloved bestselling author. 
 
 
WHY READERS LOVE KATIE FLYNN: 
 
'Takes you on a journey of heartbreak and joy' 
'Hard to put down' 
'Her characters are like old friends' 
'Heartwarming romance'Katie Flynn, Sunday Times bestseller, March 2024

Tammy and her mother, Grace, are desperate to escape Tammy’s violent bully of a father. But when an unforeseen tragedy strikes, mother and daughter must flee Scotland in the dead of night. 
 
 To survive the severest of penalties, they leave behind everything they know and love – including one another. 
 
 Under new identities, Tammy and Grace must start afresh. Tammy joins the services and there she meets a dashing officer who begins to break her guard down. 
 
 But can the course of love ever run smooth with Tammy unable to reveal her true self?

*The first installment in the brand new Runaway's series from the Sunday Times bestselling author - available to pre-order now!* 
 
Tammy and her mother, Grace, are desperate to escape Tammy’s violent bully of a father. But when an unforeseen tragedy strikes, mother and daughter must flee Scotland in the dead of night. 
 
To survive the severest of penalties, they leave behind everything they know and love – including one another. 
 
Under new identities, Tammy and Grace must start afresh. Tammy joins the services and there she meets a dashing officer who begins to break her guard down. 
 
But can the course of true love ever run smooth with Tammy unable to reveal her true self?

A Mother's Secret

Though she may feel lost, she will never give up on finding the truth… 
 
1941: Libby’s life on the sprawling farm at Hollybank is a far cry from the bustling streets of London where she grew up, but after the tragic death of her parents she moved to Liverpool to be closer to her long-lost aunt and uncle. 
 
 
When she discovers they are far from the decent people they claimed to be and have spun a web of lies about her late mother, Libby’s world is shaken. 
 
 
But she is determined to set the story straight and embarks on a journey to unravel the devastating secret her mother kept until her dying day. 
 
 
Can Libby separate the truth from the lies, and forge a brighter future for herself?

**Don't miss the incredible new book from Katie Flynn, The Winter Runaway. Available to pre-order now!** 
 
The brand new novel from the Sunday Times bestselling author 
 
Though she may feel lost, she will never give up on finding the truth. . . 
 
1941: Libby&rsquo;s life on the sprawling farm at Hollybank is a far cry from the bustling streets of London where she grew up, but after the tragic death of her parents she moved to Liverpool to be closer to her long-lost aunt and uncle. 
 
When she discovers they are far from the decent people they claimed to be and have spun a web of lies about her late mother, Libby&rsquo;s world is shaken. 
 
But she is determined to set the story straight and embarks on a journey to unravel the devastating secret her mother kept until her dying day. 
 
Can Libby separate the truth from the lies, and forge a brighter future for herself?________ 
 
WHY READERS LOVE KATIE FLYNN... 
 
'Her characters are like old friends' 
 
'Takes you on a journey of heartbreak and joy' 
 
'Heartwarming romance' 
 
'Hard to put down'

Winter's Orphan

London, 1940 
 
When tragedy strikes, Libby Gilbert is left homeless and destitute, fending for herself on the capital's most dangerous streets. 
 
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Libby is on the cusp of making a decision that could jeopardise her future when a local boy saves her from ruin. 
 
The kindness of this stranger sets her on a different path, and Libby heads to Liverpool with a determined mind and hope in her heart. 
 
There, she reconnects with long lost family - but will she be able to uncover the truth that tore them apart all those years ago? 
 
WHY READERS LOVE KATIE FLYNN: 
 
'Takes you on a journey of heartbreak and joy' 
'Hard to put down' 
'Her characters are like old friends' 
'Heartwarming romance'

An engaging and heartwarming story from the Sunday Times bestselling author

The Lost Days of Summer

When war breaks out in Britain, Nell Whitaker is sent to live with her aunt on a remote farm in Anglesey. 
 
She sorely misses thriving Liverpool but slowly begins to embrace country life. Nell even finds herself growing closer to Auntie Kath whose harsh attitude hides a kind heart. 
 
But when personal tragedy strikes, Nell's world crumbles around her. 
 
Can a blossoming friendship with Hywell, a boy from the neighbouring village, allow Nell to overcome her past and enjoy a brighter future?

The brand new emotional and heartwarming historical romance from the Sunday Times bestselling author

A Rose and a Promise

Liverpool, 1944 
 
Though they may be posted miles apart, Cadi and Jez's love for one another is stronger than ever - until Cadi receives a heart-breaking call from Jez's base. 
 
Cadi races to be with her beau and. at his bedside, they make each other a promise that Cadi hopes she'll never have to keep. 
 
In her darkest hour, Cadi is comforted by her friends, and with their support and guidance she begins to see a light at the end of the tunnel. But she will face more than one unexpected turn along the way. 
 
Against the odds, will Cadi be able to keep her word? 
____________________ 
 
 
WHY READERS LOVE KATIE FLYNN: 
 
'Takes you on a journey of heartbreak and joy' 
'Hard to put down' 
'Her characters are like old friends' 
'Heartwarming romance'

Katie Flynn

Tragically orphaned at just five, Maddy Hebditch is sent to live with her strict grandmother at Larkspur Farm in Yorkshire. Despite the back-breaking farm work, Maddy’s friends Alice, Marigold and Tom bring sunshine to her hard life. 
 
But when war is declared, their idyllic summers together are over. Determined to do their bit, Maddy and her friends volunteer for the forces. Separated by conflict, all four face terrible danger as the war worsens. 
 
Then Tom is gravely injured, and Maddy’s world falls apart… Can they confront their deepest feelings with such an uncertain future ahead of them? 
 
A heart-wrenching, page-turning tale of friendship, resilience and love from bestselling author Katie Flynn. 
 
WHY READERS LOVE KATIE FLYNN... 
 
'Her characters are like old friends' 
 
'Takes you on a journey of heartbreak and joy' 
 
'Heartwarming romance' 
 
'Hard to put down'

A Summer Promise

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