The Faded Ink

The South of France, 1919. In the aftermath of war, one woman makes a desperate choice to leave everything behind. But the truth of her past is written in ink – waiting to be discovered… 
 
The First World War may be over, but for Emeline Vane, there is no peace. Lost in grief and desperate for a new life, she boards a train in secret – and disappears. 
 
Far from home, in a coastal village in the South of France, Emeline discovers a world of sun-ripened cherries, wildflowers and the glittering Mediterranean Sea. A local fisherman, Aaró, brings in his catch each sunrise – and slowly captures her heart. 
 
Emeline might have run from her past, but she can’t stop her secrets from blowing in on the ocean breeze… 
 
Fifty years later, a solicitor discovers Emeline’s tattered diary. Its yellowed pages, filled with faded ink, tell the story she vowed to hide. 
 
The truth was never meant to be found – but now it’s too late… 
 
Step into the past and escape to the sun-kissed shores of France in this deeply moving, evocative and utterly charming story of love, loss and second chances. Perfect for fans of Eve Chase, Evie Woods and Santa Montefiore.

After a childhood spent acting professionally and training at a theatre school, Laura Madeleine changed her mind, and went to study English Literature at Newnham College, Cambridge. She now writes fiction, as well as recipes, and was formerly the resident cake baker for Domestic Sluttery. She lives in Bristol, but can often be found visiting her family in Devon, eating cheese and getting up to mischief with her sister, fantasy author Lucy Hounsom.

The Chocolatier's Secret

Paris, 1909. In the city’s most prestigious patisserie, forbidden love turns dangerous – and one betrayal echoes through generations… 
 
Through the windows of Pâtisserie Clermont, golden caramel glistens, chocolate éclairs gleam and macarons shimmer. For Guillaume, a poor railway worker turned apprentice, this world of sugar and splendour feels impossibly out of reach. 
 
But it’s not just the confectionery fashioned for Parisian high society that captivates him. He is entranced by Jeanne, the patissier’s daughter – elegant, untouchable and promised to another. Their love is forbidden. To pursue it, they risk everything. 
 
Eighty years later, a young academic discovers a faded photograph of her grandfather beside two strangers. On the back, just two words are scrawled: forgive me. 
 
Determined to uncover the truth, she unravels a story of star-crossed lovers and a single devastating choice – one whose consequences still linger decades later. 
 
More sumptuous than your favourite treat, The Chocolatier’s Secret is a deliciously gripping and moving tale of love, betrayal and secrets across generations. A Parisian escape perfect for fans of Evie Woods, Eve Chase and Santa Montefiore.

The Last Postcard

Spain, 1928. With blood on her hands, a young woman runs. Years later, a postcard reveals a life built on secrets… 
 
In the dead of night, Alejandra flees. 
 
Accused of murder, she crosses the sea to Tangier – the glittering port city on the edge of two worlds. There, she loses herself in maze-like streets and sun-drenched courtyards, where the air is scented with saffron and heat clings to her skin. 
 
Against the backdrop of the shimmering sea, winding alleys conceal danger, every shadow hides a secret – and Alejandra can be whoever she chooses to be. But her new life comes at a cost… And the truth is catching up with her. 
 
Fifty years later, a struggling author pawns his typewriter for an old writing case. Inside, Sam finds a postcard: a trace of a life long hidden. 
 
Drawn into a mystery he cannot turn from, Sam follows a trail of scandal and betrayal – until it leads him to an overgrown villa, where the danger has only just begun… 
 
Lose yourself in the blue skies and baking heat of this richly atmospheric historical mystery spanning decades. Perfect for fans of Evie Woods, Eve Chase and Santa Montefiore.

An Echo of Scandal

The sumptuous and seductive world of Tangier in the early 20th century is a world where men make decisions and women follow. But Alejandra is determined to secure her independence, at any cost.

In the dead of night, with blood on her hands, she made her escape. 
 
Accused of murder, Alejandra flees her home, escaping to the southern edge of Spain, where she faces a life of poverty and destitution. 
 
Seduced by the power of the rich and the anonymity that waits across the water in Tangier, Ale makes a bid for a new start. But it will come at a cost: a life of deception. Because Ale's new friends want to know what she is running from, they want to know who she is and whether they can trust her. 
 
Fifty years later, a young American writer wanders the streets of Tangier, searching for inspiration. When he stumbles across a trace of Ale's life, he finds himself tangled in a story of scandal, love and danger that has not yet reached its end.

The Secrets Between Us

A gripping mystery with a heart-breaking revelation. 
 
Set in the mountains of Southern France, a young woman trying to solve a decades-long mystery uncovers a heart-breaking story of lost love, scandal and the danger of war.

A gripping mystery with a heart-breaking revelation, The Secrets Between Us is a sublimely satisfying story of lost love, betrayal and the dangers of war. 
 
Perfect for fans of Kate Morton's The Lake House and Dinah Jeffries' Before the Rains. 
 
High in the mountains in the South of France, eighteen-year-old Ceci Corvin is trying hard to carry on as normal. But in 1943, there is no such thing as normal; especially not for a young woman in love with the wrong person. Scandal, it would seem, can be more dangerous than war. 
 
Fifty years later, Annie is looking for her long-lost grandmother. Armed with nothing more than a sheaf of papers, she travels from England to Paris in pursuit of the truth. But as she traces her grandmother’s story, Annie uncovers something she wasn’t expecting, something that changes everything she knew about her family – and everything she thought she knew about herself… 
 
* 
 
Laura Madeleine's writing is... 
 
‘Sublimely satisfying’ Veronica Henry, author of The Forever House 
‘Mouth-watering and mysterious’ Leah Fleming, author of The Glovemaker's Daughter 
‘Delightful and delicious’ Nina George, author of The Little Paris Bookshop

A timeless love story full of drama and intrigue

Where The Wild Cherries Grow

How far must you run to leave the past behind you? 
Full of drama and intrigue, Laura Madeleine is the perfect author for fans of Santa Montefiore and Dinah Jeffries. And she brings a little something extra - this is a sweeping love story with a delicious foodie twist.

Atmospheric, engaging and sublimely satisfying

Veronica Henry, author of How to Find Love in a Bookshop

The bestselling ebook sensation. 
 
'Atmospheric, engaging and sublimely satisfying' Veronica Henry 
 
How far must you run to leave the past behind you? 
 
It is 1919 and the end of the war has not brought peace for Emeline Vane. Lost in grief, she is suddenly alone at the heart of a depleted family. She can no longer cope. And as everything seems to be slipping beyond her control, in a moment of desperation, she boards a train and runs away. 
 
Fifty years later, a young solicitor on his first case finds Emeline’s diary. What Bill Perch finds in the tattered pages of neat script goes against everything he has been told. He begins to trace an anguished story of love and betrayal that will send him on a journey to discover the truth. 
 
I closed my eyes as I tried to pick apart every flavour, because nothing had ever tasted so good before. It was love and it could not be hidden. 
 
What really happened to Emeline all those years ago? 
 
Includes a sumptuous recipe inspired by the author's research for the book.

The Confectioner's Tale

A decadent story of love and scandal that sweeps you away to Paris

Nina George, bestselling author of The Little Paris Bookshop

Mouth-watering and mysterious . . . a compelling read

Leah Fleming, bestselling author of The Postcard

Sizzling forbidden love story set in 1900s Paris . . . four stars

A heady mix of passion and betrayal set against the stunning backdrops of 1909 Paris and 1980s Cambridge.

At the famous Patisserie Clermont in Paris, 1909, a chance encounter with the owner’s daughter has given one young man a glimpse into a life he never knew existed: of sweet cream and melted chocolate, golden caramel and powdered sugar, of pastry light as air. 
 
But it is not just the art of confectionery that holds him captive, and soon a forbidden love affair begins. 
 
Almost eighty years later, an academic discovers a hidden photograph of her grandfather as a young man with two people she has never seen before. Scrawled on the back of the picture are the words ‘Forgive me’. Unable to resist the mystery behind it, she begins to unravel the story of two star-crossed lovers and one irrevocable betrayal. 
 
'Delightful and delicious: a must read' Nina George, bestselling author of The Little Paris Bookshop 
 
'Mouth-watering and mysterious . . . a compelling read' Leah Fleming, bestselling author of The Girl under the Olive Tree 
 
Take a moment to savour a bittersweet love story that echoes through the decades – perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Santa Montefiore and Victoria Hislop.

Laura Madeleine

France, 1943. In a mountain village, forbidden love is deadlier than war – and some letters were never meant to be found… 
 
High in the mountains of the South of France, baker’s daughter Ceci is trying to survive the war. Their remote village is occupied by the enemy – but more dangerous is the fact she has fallen for the one person she is forbidden to love. 
 
With every stolen kiss in the shadow of the hillside, she risks her life. With each secret glance across the wild sage, she sacrifices everything… 
 
Fifty years later, Annie travels from England to Paris in search of her long-lost grandmother. Armed only with a bundle of letters, she pieces together a story hidden for decades. 
 
As the truth comes to light, Annie realises that some secrets were buried for a reason. Uncovering them will change everything she knew about her family – and herself. 
 
Breathe the mountain air and lose yourself in this unforgettable tale of love, war and the ultimate sacrifice. Perfect for fans of Evie Woods, Eve Chase and Santa Montefiore.

Laura Madeleine

Books by Laura Madeleine

Series by Laura Madeleine

Laura Madeleine Series

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