A. Igoni Barrett was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, in 1979 and lives in Lagos. He is a winner of the 2005 BBC World Service short story competition, the recipient of a Chinua Achebe Center Fellowship, a Norman Mailer Center Fellowship, and a Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center Residency. His short story collection, Love is Power, or Something Like That, was published in 2013. In 2014 he was named on the Africa39 list of sub-Saharan African writers under 40. Blackass is his first novel.

A. Igoni Barrett

The short life of A.J.A. Symons (1900-41) was described by his biographer as an intricate and largely harmless confidence trick. His many interests included the collection of musical boxes and rare books as well as the study and practice of forgery; they left him time to edit an anthology of Edwardian verse and compose studies of H.M. Stanley and other notable figures. He is remembered for The Quest for Corvo, one of the most remarkable biographies ever written, and for co-founding the Wine and Food Society.

A. J. A. Symons

A. J. Liebling, born in Manhattan in 1904, joined the staff of the New Yorker in 1935 and contributed innumerable articles to the magazine throughout his lifetime, on subjects ranging from food to boxing and France to horse racing. As a war correspondent during the Second World War, he reported from France, England and Algeria, and participated in the Normandy landings. In later life he married the writer Jean Stafford, his third wife. He died in 1963.

A. J. Liebling

A. J. Rosen is an author of YA fantasy novels and is an ambassador for Wattpad, known as @agatharoza. Entwined is her first novel.

A. J. Rosen

A. K. Davidson

A. O. Scott has been a film critic at the New York Times since 2000. His writing has appeared in many other publications, including the New York Review of Books, Slate, the New Yorker and the Nation. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism in 2010, Scott is currently Distinguished Professor of Film Criticism at Wesleyan University. He lives with his family in Brooklyn, New York. 
 
@aoscott

A. O. Scott

A.S. Byatt (1936-2023) was a novelist, short-story writer and critic of international renown. Her novels include Possession (winner of the Booker Prize 1990), the Frederica Quartet and The Children’s Book, which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize and won the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction. She was appointed CBE in 1990 and DBE in 1999, and was awarded the Erasmus Prize 2016 for her ‘inspiring contribution to life writing’ and the Pak Kyongni Prize 2017. In 2018 she received the Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award.

A. S. Byatt

A. T. Williams won the George Orwell Prize for Political Writing in 2013 for his book A Very British Killing: The Death of Baha Mousa. He lives in Warwickshire.

A. T. Williams

A. W. Chase

Dubbed ‘The new queen of spy fiction’ by the Guardian newspaper, and ‘the real thing’ by the Washington Post, A.C. 'Ava' Glass is the CWA Dagger-shortlisted author of Alias Emma (The Chase), The Traitor and The Trap. The Traitor was a 2023 Richard and Judy Bookclub pick. Alias Emma was a Barnes and Noble book of the month. A former crime reporter and communications consultant, for five years Ava worked closely with spies. Her time in that world fascinated her, and the people she met back then inspire every book she writes.

A.C. Glass

A.E. Housman

Arthur Edward Waite was the designer and co-creator of the now famous Rider Waite Tarot deck. 
 
An American-born British poet and scholarly mystic, his strong interest in all esoteric matters - divination, magic, Kabbalism, alchemy and Freemasony - led to him penning a number of books. These include the Key to the Tarot, The Book of Ceremonial Magic and A New Encyclopedia of Freemasony.

A.E. Waite

A.E. Warren is the author of the Tomorrow's Ancestors series, which consists of Subject Twenty-One, The Hidden Base, The Fourth Species and The Final Rising. 
 
After spending eight years working as a lawyer, she began to write in the evenings and early mornings as a form of escapism from life in a very small cubicle with lots of files. She self-published her first novels in her spare time, which were picked up by Del Rey UK which is the science fiction/fantasy imprint of Penguin Random House. 
 
 She is an avid reader, occasional gamer and fair-weather runner. She lives in the UK with her husband, daughter and hopefully, one day, a wise border terrier named Austen.

A.E. Warren

A.G.D. Maran

A.J. Ayer

A.J. Cronin

A K Benedict writes crime and speculative fiction in a room filled with clowns, mannequins and Doctor Who figures. Her first novel, The Beauty of Murder, was nominated for an eDunnit award and is in development for a major 8-part TV series by Company Pictures. Her second, Jonathan Dark or The Evidence of Ghosts, came out in February 2016. She's written Torchwood audio dramas for Big Finish and her short stories have featured in anthologies including Great British Horror and Best British Short Stories. She lives in St Leonards-on-Sea with her dog, Dame Margaret Rutherford.

A.K.Benedict

A. L. Kennedy has twice been selected as one of Granta’s Best of Young British Novelists and has won a host of other awards – including the Costa Book of the Year for her novel Day. She lives in Essex.

A.L. Kennedy

A.M. Ellis is a speculative fiction author and lover of everything steeped in myth and mystery. Her stories often lean into diverse voices, not only in her identity as a Black woman, but in exploring neurodivergence and mental health. A proud introvert and nostalgic gamer, she lives in Maryland, USA, with her husband and three children.

A.M. Ellis

A.N. Wilson was born in 1950 and educated at Rugby and New College, Oxford. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, he holds a prominent position in the world of literature and journalism. He is an award-winning biographer and a celebrated novelist, winning prizes for much of his work. He lives in North London.

A.N. Wilson

A. T. Emerald lives with her husband and baby daughter in Nottinghamshire. She discovered her love of writing in 2020 and has not shut up about enemies to lovers ever since. She loves iced matcha, torrid love confessions with knives pressed to throats (fictional, of course) and does not accept bills for any therapy her books might incur.

A.T. Emerald

A.W. Priest

A.B.C. Merriman-Labor was a barrister, writer and munitions worker born in Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1877. His published works include A Series of Lectures on the Negro Race and The Story of the African Slave in a Nutshell. He also edited two editions of the Handbook of Sierra Leone. He arrived in the UK in 1904 to study law. In 1907, he organised a centenary commemoration of the abolition of the slave trade in Westminster Abbey. He later embarked on an 'entertainment-lecture' tour called Life and Scenes in Britain, travelling across thousands of miles of West, South West and Central Africa, which he expanded on to create Britons Through Negro Spectacles.

ABC Merriman-Labor

AJ Cronin

AJ Molloy

Aabria Iyengar is an American actress and author.

Aabria Iyengar

Aaliya Jaleel is a freelance illustrator, designer, and visual development artist, currently majoring in Animation at the University of Texas at Dallas. She is also the illustrator of Under My Hijab and Muslim Girls Rise. You can visit her online at www.aaliyamj.com.

Aaliya Jaleel

Aaron Allston

After more than fifteen years of experience as a clinical psychotherapist, Dr Aaron Balick has taken the amazing insights from psychology and psychotherapy out of the consultation room and made them accessible to the wider world. 
 
He has been an ‘agony uncle’ for many years for both CBBC and BBC Radio 1, as well as on television, including BBC Worldwide, BBC 3 and BBC Learning.

Aaron Balick

Aaron Carroll

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Emma Hornby

Gritty and page-turning historical saga set in Northern England in the late 1800s, for fans of Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin. 
 
Minnie Maddox cares deeply for mothers and their babies - she makes a living by taking in unwanted children and finding them good adoptive homes - and is delighted for her neighbour when she finally becomes a mother after decades of trying. But when the baby dies of natural causes while under her roof, and knowing her neighbour will be devastated, Minnie swaps it with one of the infants in her care. 
 
Now seventeen, Jewel Nightingale knows nothing of her true origins. But assaulted by her hateful cousin and making the dreadful discovery that she is pregnant, she faces a desperate dilemma. Fleeing her job as a domestic maid, she follows an advertisement to a house in Bolton's dark slums, where a woman promises to help her when the child is born. Little does Jewel know that there's a terrible price to pay . . . 
 
Can she keep herself - and her baby - safe? And what will happen when Jewel discovers the truth about where she came from?

A Mother’s Dilemma

James Holland

'Brings history to life' Guardian 
______________ 
 
It can take a lifetime to heal the wounds of war. 
 
Edward Enderby has never spoken about being an RAF fighter pilot. But fifty years after the greatest conflict the world has ever seen, he must finally confront the memories he has tried so hard to forget. 
 
From the bright skies over England in 1941, through the dark days of the Siege of Malta, to a bitter partisan struggle in Italy, his takes a momentous journey that will change him forever. 
 
And despite the damage the war has wrought, Edward has one last chance to save himself from his past…

A Pair of Silver Wings

Jenny Holmes

**Don't miss Jenny Holmes's latest wartime series, The Air Raid Girls. Part 3 - The Air Raid Girls: Wartime Brides - is available now!** 
 
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A heart-warming, romantic story of friendship, camaraderie and triumph over adversity that fans of Donna Douglas, Daisy Styles and Call the Midwife will adore. 
 
Winter, 1942. Brenda and Joyce are just two of the girls who have joined the Women's Land Army and are doing their bit for the war effort. But after months working on farms in the Yorkshire Dales, they're looking for a fresh challenge. 
 
Despite the bitter cold of their new billets high in the remote fells, their fear for those away fighting, and concern for family and friends, there is warmth to be found in faces old and new, and plans for a jolly Christmas are afoot. 
 
But when a child evacuee goes missing in the snow and tragedy strikes close to home, can their dearest wish - that all their loved ones stay safe this Christmas - possibly come true? 
 
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Readers love Jenny Holmes: 
 
'There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book' 5 star review 
'I couldn't put this book down' 5 star review 
'Loved the whole story' 5 star review 
'This is a totally absorbing book' 5 star review 
'An excellent read put together in fine style' 5 star review

A Christmas Wish for the Land Girls

A joyful and romantic WWII Christmas saga (The Land Girls Book 3)

Ruth Hamilton

This heart-wrenching, moving and emotional saga full of twists and turns and highlighting the importance of love and understanding by the Sunday Times bestselling author Ruth Hamilton is a must - read for fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox. 
 
"I believe that Ruth Hamilton is very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" -- SARAH BROADHURST, RADIO FOUR 
 
"This book kept me enthralled to the very last page" -- ***** Reader review 
"A riveting read. Couldn't put it down." -- ***** Reader review 
"As always an impeccable story by Ruth, sadness, happiness and in between hilarious wit. A must read book which you will be loathe to put down." -- ***** Reader review 
"A truly superb book" -- ***** Reader review 
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WILL ONE FRIENDSHIP CHANGE THINGS FOREVER? 
 
Despite her strict 1950s Catholic upbringing, Madeleine Horrocks, doesn't understand why religion seems to force people apart. But her friend Amy has been brought up to believe that mixing with other religions results in eternal damnation, and when Maddy becomes friendly with George, a local, good-looking Jewish boy, Amy fears the worst. But as they grow up she, too, becomes friends with George, as well as with other young teenagers who meet secretly at the Bell House, an ancient place of burial. 
 
When a body is found in the nearby reservoir they all become threatened by tragedy and danger. 
 
Meanwhile, Father Sheahan, the whisky-soaked priest from the local church, has discovered that his secret past is catching up with him. 
 
Bigotry, lust and hatred have been so much a part of this community that it takes the combined forces of young and old - and particularly George's formidable grandmother Yuspeh - to bring everyone together and move forward positively.

The Bell House

a sweeping novel of power and compassion from bestselling author Ruth Hamilton

Margaret Mayhew

Fans of Katie Flynn, Rosamunde Pilcher and Dinah Jeffries will love this emotional and sweeping wartime romance set in Singapore from bestselling author Margaret Mayhew. 
 
READERS ARE LOVING THE OTHER SIDE OF PARADISE! 
"Moving tale of bravery and human endurance...the sounds and smells and life of Singapore come alive in this well-told story" - 5 STARS 
 
"This is an amazing read" - 5 STARS 
 
"Left me craving more, loving the characters, totally absorbed in the detailed descriptions and finding myself recommending her novels over a coffee with friends" - 5 STARS 
 
"Great read!" - 5 STARS 
 
"Really loved this book" - 5 STARS 
 
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SHE ONLY LIVED FOR PLEASURE... 
 
...until war forced her to find courage she did not know she had, and love where she least expected it. 
 
1941: Britain is in the grip of war; life in the Far East is one of wealth and privilege. 
 
In Singapore Susan Roper enjoys dancing, clothes and fast cars, tennis and light flirtations with visiting naval officers - her life is devoted solely to pleasure and dismisses any warnings of danger. 
 
Singapore goes on partying, oblivious to the threat of invasion and believing the British flag will, protect them from all enemies. But when Japan invades, Susan finds herself in grave danger. She becomes an ambulance driver and is taken prisoner by the Japanese. 
 
Gradually and reluctantly she realises that she will have to face many hardships and witness terrible events, forcing her to acknowledge the truth...But will this new world lead her to a love where she least expects it?

The Other Side Of Paradise

An epic and moving love story under the shadow of war

Douglas Jackson

The Roman grip on Britain is growing weaker and Druids are on the rise. Emperor Nero has turned away. Boudicca is preparing to lead tribes to war. 
 
Standing in her way is Gaius Valerius Verrens, commander of the veterans legion. In this battle he earns the accolade of Hero of Rome - but where will that title lead him next?

A riveting and all-action historical page-turner from bestselling author Douglas Jackson that will have you gripped from page one! Perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow and Ben Kane. 
 
Readers are loving Gaius Valerius Verrens! 
"The best Roman historical series I've yet read. Just pips Ben Kane and Conn Iggulden." - 5 STARS 
"I found this one hard to put down as there was action and intrigue from start to finish" - 5 STARS 
"Fantastic story and character creation" - 5 STARS 
"A simple plot but pace never lets up and keeps you wanting to "just read the next chapter before I put it down" - 5 STARS 
 
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77AD. Gaius Valerius Verrens is an honoured member of Emperor Vespasian's inner circle, but the enmity between him and Vespasian's son Domitian means that, even in Rome, danger is never far away. 
 
Meanwhile, in the outer reaches of the Empire, in Britannia, trouble is brewing. 
 
The governor, Agricola is preparing to march his legions north and Valerius is Agricola's chief legal adviser and deputy governor. It's the opportunity he seeks to move his wife and son out of reach of Domitian's wrath. 
 
The massacre of a Roman garrison and suspicious death throw Agricola's preparations into confusion. Now his eyes turn west to Mona and the Druids, who still harbour hopes of ridding Britannia of Roman rule. But to deal with them, Agricola needs a soldier he can trust to lead the legion. Only one man in the province has the experience and the ability . . . 
 
So a reluctant Valerius picks up his sword once more. He soon comes to understand that any glory his new legion wins is likely to be fleeting and tainted - and that he has placed his family in deadly peril. 
 
Gaius Valerius Verrens's adventures conclude in Hammer of Rome.

Glory of Rome

(Gaius Valerius Verrens 8): Roman Britain is brought to life in this action-packed historical adventure

Catherine Cookson

Born into grinding poverty, young Freddie Musgrave relies on his wits to survive and help feed his family. He earns a few shillings by navigating his little boat across the swift-flowing waters of the Tyne, running messages and smuggling goods between the busy seaports on either side of the river and evading the customs agents. 
 
Luck is on his side . . . until the night he witnesses something truly horrific. In a supremely brave act he saves a life – and changes his own forever. 
 
Gaining the patronage of Maggie Hewitt, a sea captain’s daughter, Freddie is able to shape a future he can be proud of. But the threats of the past won’t stay buried and the dark events of that distant night have cast a long and dangerous shadow… 
 
Catherine Cookson was the original and bestselling saga writer, selling over 100 million copies of her novels. If you like Dilly Court, Katie Flynn or Donna Douglas, you'll love Catherine Cookson.

The Smuggler’s Secret

**Don't miss Emma Hornby's gripping new wartime saga, A SISTER'S FIGHT** 
 
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Fans of Dilly Court, Rosie Goodwin and Maggie Hope will love Emma Hornby. 
 
After a cold, hard winter on the streets, three orphan children are about to give up hope when an unexpected turn of events brings them to the doorstep of a grand house in Ardwick, Manchester. 
 
Taken in by the firm but kind-hearted cook, the young friends can hardly believe their luck. But behind Bracken House's impressive façade lies a household steeped in troubles and mystery, with residents above and below stairs battling their own demons and dark secrets. 
 
Not everyone is happy about the new arrivals, and soon the orphans' safety is in danger. If they want to stay in the first home any of them have known for years, they must unravel the past and bring hope to the future. Will they succeed? Or will they come to regret ever leaving the mean slum streets they once called home? 
 
Emma Hornby's page-turning, absorbing sagas will tug at your heartstrings. 
 
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Readers love Emma Hornby: 
 
'Similar to Rosie Goodwin and Dilly Court, Emma Hornby tells a brilliant story that will keep you guessing with twists and turns. Pure talent.' 
 
'Emma Hornby's books just keep getting better and better. Honest, gritty, lovely characters.' 
 
'Keep writing Emma, you are very talented and can't wait for your next book. I've read them all.' 
 
'Emma is a wonderful storyteller and I can't wait for the next one!' 
 
'Thank you again Emma Hornby for a captivating read' 
 
'Another beautifully written story by Emma Hornby'

The Orphans of Ardwick

A D Swanston

'A fantastic tale of spies, deceit and murder in the Elizabethan age' S. D. Sykes 
 
England in 1572 is a powder keg of rumour, fanaticism, treachery and dissent. All it would take is a single spark . . . 
 
In the England of Elizabeth I, the fear of plague and invasion, and the threat of insurrection are constant. As the Earl of Leicester's chief intelligencer, lawyer Dr Christopher Radcliff is tasked with investigating rumours of treachery at home and the papist threat from abroad. And with heresy and religious unrest simmering beneath the surface of a country on the brink, Radcliff is under pressure to get results. 
 
Then two brutal and seemingly motiveless killings point alert Radcliff to the whisper of a new plot against the queen. There are few clues, and all he and his network of agents have to go on is a single word: incendium. But what does it mean - and who lies behind it? Christopher Radcliff must find out before it's too late . . . 
 
(Please note: The Incendium Plot was first published in hardback as Incendium)

The Incendium Plot

Young Frederick Musgrave was never more agile than when navigating his sculler across the waters of the Tyne between the busy seaports of North and South Shields in 1843. Already his services were in demand as a carrier of messages and certain small packages for those whose activities made them the target of the Customs and Excise men. 
 
As well as agile, Freddie was also reckoned to be lucky, but on such a night as brought him to The Towers, the home of Mr Roderick Gallagher, both luck and courage were to be tested to the limit. 
 
From that night on, things really began to happen to Freddie, and the best of them came when he gained the friendship and patronage of Miss Maggie Hewitt, who was to play a major role in shaping his life and fortunes. But he would still need all his luck and resourcefulness to escape the long shadow cast by Roderick Gallagher, whose power and influence threatened all who crossed his path . . .

The Harrogate Secret

Moll thought she could keep her family safe . . . 
 
Eighteen-year-old Moll Chambers works her fingers to the bone doing all she can to support her family. With an ailing father and a wayward mother, Moll is the only one who can look after her siblings, Bo and Sissy. 
 
But Manchester is an increasingly dangerous place to live, overrun with a ferocious rivalry between gangs of so-called 'scuttlers': young men and women bent on a life of violence and crime. And they have her brother in their sights. Soon even Moll can't protect Bo from the lure of the criminal underworld. 
 
Then the scuttlers looked her way. 
 
When she herself falls for the leader of a rival gang, Moll's choices place her and Bo firmly on opposite sides of the city's turf war. 
 
With her loyalties now torn in two, and tragedy lurking round every corner, will Moll be able to rise above the conflict and protect those she loves the most? Or will stepping out with a scuttler spell ruin for them all . . . ? 
 
MANCHESTER MOLL is an absorbing saga that will tug at your heartstrings. Fans of Dilly Court, Rosie Goodwin and Maggie Hope will love Emma Hornby.

Manchester Moll

A gripping and breath-taking novel of Roman adventure from bestselling author Douglas Jackson. Perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow and Ben Kane. 
 
Readers are loving Gaius Valerius Verrens! 
"Spellbinding" - 5 STARS 
"I didn't want to come to the end, some really fascinating detail and a great story." - 5 STARS 
"Unexpected twists and an ending full of surprise rates it among my favorite reads to date." - 5 STARS 
"Kept me absolutely gripped from start to finish [-] historically accurate with the fictitious stories and characters expertly weaved into the real makes it utterly believable." - 5 STARS 
 
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REBELLION SIMMERS...AND TREACHERY LIES IN WAIT. 
 
AD 72: Vespasian is Emperor of Rome - but his grip on power is weakening. Economic disaster threatens the city - and when Rome is threatened, so too is the Empire. 
 
Recently married and building a new home, Gaius Valerius Verrens thought he'd at last found a life away from the battlefield. But he is summoned by the Emperor to do one last favour for Rome: he must journey to the remote, mountainous region of Asturica Augusta and investigate claims that a bandit called 'The Ghost' is raiding the Empire's gold convoys. 
 
When Valerius arrives, he finds a tortured, gods-forsaken land whose native tribes, exploited for so long, are a growing threat. But treachery lurks in the shadows, and it seems the real danger comes from those closer to him. 
 
Valerius must put an end to a conspiracy that would plunge the Empire into a devastating new conflict - but first he must establish who is a friend, and who a foe . . . 
 
Gaius Valerius Verrens's adventures continue in Glory of Rome.

Saviour of Rome

(Gaius Valerius Verrens 7): An action-packed historical page-turner you won’t be able to put down

Danielle Steel

Gaëlle de Barbet is sixteen years old in 1940 when the German army occupies France. In a matter of months, her father and brother are killed, her mother descends into madness, and her closest friend, Rebekah Feldmann, is sent to a detention camp. 
 
Taking terrifying risks, Gaëlle becomes a member of the Resistance, fearlessly delivering Jewish children to safety underneath the eyes of the Gestapo and their French collaborators. Conducted in secret, her missions for the Resistance will mark her for years. 
 
In the final days of the war, she executes a plan to help save France's art treasures. But when the war draws to a close, she is falsely accused of collaboration, and flees to Paris in disgrace. There, she begins a new life that eventually takes her to New York, from a career as a Dior model to marriage and motherhood, unbearable loss, and mature, lasting love when she returns to France. 
 
The ghosts of the past are always near. No matter where she goes, her label as a collaborator remains, until her granddaughter, a respected political journalist, embarks on a journey to see her grandmother recognized as the war hero she was . . . 
 
Danielle Steel is famous for her inspirational stories about family, love and life. Her novels will be enjoyed by readers of Penny Vincenzi, Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain.

The Award

Lesley Downer

The year is 1853, and a young Japanese girl’s world is about to be turned upside down. 
 
When black ships carrying barbarians arrive on the shores of Japan, the Satsuma clan’s way of life is threatened. But it’s not just the samurai who must come together to fight: the beautiful, headstrong Okatsu is also given a new destiny by her feudal lord – to save the realm. 
 
Armed only with a new name, Princess Atsu, as she is now known, journeys to the women’s palace of Edo Castle, a place so secret it cannot be marked on any map. Behind the palace’s immaculate façade, amid rumours of murder and whispers of ghosts, Atsu must uncover the secret of the man whose fate, it seems, is irrevocably linked to hers – the shogun himself – if she is to rescue her people . . .

The Shogun's Queen

The Shogun Quartet, Book 1

Johanna Lindsey

Let #1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsey take you on a captivating and sweeping romantic adventure. If you like Bridgerton, Georgette Heyer and Jenny Hambly, you will love this! 
 
"Johanna Lindsey creates fairy tales that come true...she understands a woman's secret fantasies" -- ROMANTIC TIMES 
 
"A dreamspinner extraordinaire" -- ROMANTIC TIMES 
 
"First rate romance" -- NEW YORK TIMES 
 
"LOVED IT!" -- ***** Reader review 
 
"I could not put it down" -- ***** Reader review 
 
"Her characters are so alive and interesting" -- ***** Reader review 
 
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WHEN HATRED TURNS INTO DESIRE... 
 
For Lady Rebecca Marshall, a whirlwind of passion and excitement begins when she becomes a maid of honour at the court of Queen Victoria. Rebecca's mother is delighted - this appointment could be a golden opportunity for her to make a good match. 
 
But soon Rebecca is entangled in a web of deceit with the charming marquis Rupert St. John. The devastatingly handsome rogue seduces her but what she doesn't know is that Rupert is a secret agent of the crown, leading a double life. 
 
Forced to the altar, with a husband who vows never to be faithful, can Rebecca's wit, adventurous spirit, and generous nature turn his hatred into a passionate desire?

A Rogue of my Own

A sizzling, sparkling romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsey

Perfect for fans of Bridgerton, Georgette Heyer and Jenny Hambly, a captivating historical romance from #1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsey that you won't want to end! 
 
"She understands a woman's secret fantasies...Johanna Lindsey creates fairy tales that come true..." - Romantic Times. 
"A dreamspinner extraordinaire" -- ROMANTIC TIMES. 
"That Perfect Someone was such a joy to read. The characters had incredible chemistry, and there was fun, romance and humour!" - ***** Reader review. 
"I was absorbed in the book from the first page and read it within one day." -- ***** Reader review. 
 
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LOVE, REVENGE, PASSIONS RUNNING HIGH... 
 
Nine years ago, when Richard Allen's greedy, ambitious father, the Earl of Manford, betrothed him to Julia Miller, the daughter of London's wealthiest merchant, he was distraught. The pair can't stand each other and Richard takes to the sea, determined to live his own life. 
 
In the Caribbean, he joins a band of pirates and adopts the persona of a Frenchman named Jean-Paul. But when he returns to England on an errand for his captain, he finds himself completely smitten with a married woman, Georgina Mallory. She is indifferent to him, yet he persists in seeking her affections. 
 
But when he attempts to woo her at a ball, the last thing he expects is to come face to face with Julia Miller, to whom he is still engaged. 
 
But when Julia tries to wreak her revenge, not all goes quite according to plan...

That Perfect Someone

An enthralling historical romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsey

Susan Sallis

Wartime memories evoke both pain and happiness in this heart-warming novel from multi-million copy seller and Sunday Times bestselling author Susan Sallis. Readers of Rosamunde Pilcher, Maeve Binchy and Fiona Valpy will not be disappointed. 
 
'Sallis's West Country novel has the feel of Mary Wesley and character insight that is all her own' -- Daily Mail 
'The thing about Susan Sallis's books - once you pick them up, it's very hard to put them down!' -- ***** Reader review 
'Brilliant' -- ***** Reader review 
'Excellent read, very enjoyable' - -- ***** Reader review 
'Wonderful' - -- ***** Reader review 
 
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THE ONLY PROMISE WORTH MAKING IS THE ONE YOU KEEP... 
 
There were four of the Thorpe family in the Anderson shelter the night of the raid on Coventry. Mum and Dad, Florrie and little May.... 
 
Jack was missing. He was one of those who had not come back from Dunkirk. And May had to promise to keep a terrible secret, a promise which affected the lives of all the survivors, until May herself was the only one left. 
 
Seventy years later Daisy and Marcus, sixth formers in a Gloucestershire School, are given an A Level project on the bombing of Coventry in 1940. They go to talk to May, now living in sheltered accommodation nearby. 
 
A friendship is forged which bridges the gap between them. The two youngsters have their own problems, but as their lives unfold they become involved in the strange history of May's missing brother and of the promise, made all those years ago, which still has its repercussions today.

The Promise

a life-affirming novel of love and loss from bestselling author Susan Sallis

Giles Kristian

Norway 785 AD. It began with the betrayal of a lord by a king . . . 
King Gorm puts Jarl Harald's family to the sword, but makes one fatal mistake - he fails to kill Harald's youngest son, Sigurd. His kin slain, his village seized and its people taken as slaves, Sigurd wonders if the gods have forsaken him. Hunted by powerful men, he is unsure who to trust and yet he has a small band of loyal followers at his side. This Viking series follows Sigurd's quest for vengeance.

A Viking saga of warmongering, honour and loyalty from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Lancelot, Giles Kristian. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Games of Thrones. 
 
"A fitting end to a trilogy that fans of Bernard Cornwell should devour" -- THE TIMES 
 
"The master storyteller...whose books throw the reader headlong into the Viking age." -- BEN KANE 
 
"This remains Viking writing at its best: thrilling in it truest sense, heart-rendering and, yes, glorious." -- MANDA SCOTT 
 
"Probably the best Viking saga I have ever read -- ***** Reader review 
 
"Wonderfully written and researched, the whole series makes the entire Nordic world come alive" -- ***** Reader review 
 
"This trilogy is gripping from start to finish" -- ***** Reader review 
 
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THE GODS MUST BE FAVOURED... 
 
Norway, AD 785. A wild place, a place of blood, a place where the gods hold sway . . . 
 
Sigurd Haraldarson and his oathsworn band are winning fame and reputation. But to confront his hated enemy - the oath-breaker and betrayer King Gorm - they must win riches too. 
 
When a daring raid goes wrong, Sigurd finds himself a prisoner of the powerful Jarl Guthrum. Bound like a slave, he is taken to the sacred temple at Ubsola to face the sacrificial knife. 
 
But here Sigurd discovers a potent relic: Gungnir, a great spear that would give him the power to assemble a host strong enough to challenge King Gorm, and avenge the betrayal of his father and the murder of his family. 
The roar of Odin and the wild hunt will be as nothing compared to Sigurd's rage, for he and his warriors will be borne on the wings of the storm . . . 
 
Wings of the Storm concludes the Viking saga, started in God of Vengeance and Winter's Fire.

Wings of the Storm

(The Rise of Sigurd 3): An all-action, gripping Viking saga from bestselling author Giles Kristian

Stella Gemmell

Perfect for fans of Game of Thrones, Joe Abercrombie and Robin Hobb, this is the thrilling and captivating sequel to The City from bestselling author Stella Gemmell. 
 
"A novelist of real power...Packed with shock twists, revelations and action...you'll be left breathless" -- SFX 
"A brutal visual world...vivid, motivated characters each with a heart-breaking history...thrilling and devastating...a true epic." -- scifi now 
"Demands your complete and total attention...a very powerful voice in the world of fantasy. Highly recommended." -- Parmenion books 
"Loved the book!...It was all brought together marvellously. Definitely well worth reading- enjoy!" -- ***** Reader review 
"A lively follow up to the City, right up there in the David Gemmell tradition. Stella has created a whole new fictional land which the imagination can picture through the descriptive text." -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************ 
 
THE EMPEROR IS DEAD...LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR! 
 
The fervent hope of the victorious rebels and the survivors of the uprising that liberated the City from tyranny is that the accession of Archange to the imperial throne will usher in a new era of freedom, peace and stability. If only that were so... 
 
As the City struggles to return to something resembling normal life after the devastation brought on by the rebellion, word arises of a massive army gathering to the north. Its origins are a mystery, but it soon becomes apparent that its sole purpose is to destroy the City and all who live within its walls. 
 
And while warriors go forth to fight and die on the battlefield in defence of their homeland, bitter family feuds, ancient rivalries, political and personal betrayals, and mindless murder surface within the palaces and corridors of power: it seems the City is under siege - from both without and within... 
 
Have you read The City, Stella Gemmell's awe-inspiring prequel to The Immortal Throne?

The Immortal Throne

An enthralling and astonishing epic fantasy page-turner that will keep you gripped

**Don't miss Jenny Holmes's latest wartime series, The Air Raid Girls. Part 3 - The Air Raid Girls: Wartime Brides - is available now!** 
 
---------------------------- 
 
Summer, 1936. Newly trained midwife Hazel Price returns to the Yorkshire streets of her childhood, only to find that her modern methods and 'stuck-up' ways bring her into conflict with her family and other formidable residents of Raglan Road. 
 
Determined Hazel battles on, assisting with home deliveries and supporting the local GP. The days are long and hard but Hazel brings knowledge and compassion to the work she loves. 
 
Then tragedy strikes and accusations fly on Raglan Road. Will Hazel's reputation survive? And what of John Moxon, the man she is beginning to fall for - whose side will he take in the war between the old ways and the new? 
 
A heart-warming, nostalgic tale of triumph over adversity that readers of Katie Flynn, Donna Douglas and Call the Midwife will adore. 
 
---------------------------- 
 
Readers love Jenny Holmes: 
 
'There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book' 5 star review 
'I couldn't put this book down' 5 star review 
'Loved the whole story' 5 star review 
'This is a totally absorbing book' 5 star review 
'An excellent read put together in fine style' 5 star review

The Midwives of Raglan Road

A thrilling and breathtaking Viking saga of betrayal, bloodshed and brotherhood from the Sunday Times bestselling author of Lancelot, Giles Kristian. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Games of Thrones. 
 
"Nobody writes this type of swaggering historical fiction better than Kristian" -- THE TIMES 
"A belter of a novel...perfect for fans of historical fiction and fantasy alike, from Cornwell to Abercrombie" -- BEN KANE 
"Combines gritty, brutal history with the lyrical essence of men as war...written with a panache that made the pages fly by. More!" -- ANTHONY RICHES 
"I love a good Viking romp and these are really good!" -- ***** Reader review 
"Giles Kristian certainly knows how to spin a yarn." -- ***** Reader review 
 
*********************************** 
 
A VOW OF VENGEANCE MUST BE KEPT... 
 
Norway AD 785. Sigurd Haraldarson has proved himself a great warrior . . . and a dangerous enemy. 
 
And yet the oath-breaker King Gorm, who betrayed Sigurd's father, still lives. 
 
The sacred vow to avenge his family burns in Sigurd's veins, but he must be patient and bide his time as he knows that he and his band of warriors are not yet strong enough to confront the treacherous king. They need silver; they need more fighters to rally to the young Viking's banner; they need to win fame upon the battlefield. 
 
And so the fellowship venture to Sweden, to fight as mercenaries. And it is there - in the face of betrayal and bloodshed, on a journey that will take him all too close to the halls of Valhalla - that Sigurd's destiny will be forged... 
 
The Vikings return in this thrilling, thunderous sequel to Giles Kristian's bestselling God of Vengeance. Sigurd's adventures continue in Wing's of the Storm.

Winter's Fire

(The Rise of Sigurd 2): An atmospheric and adrenalin-fuelled Viking saga from bestselling author Giles Kristian

Scathing dialogue and heated romance combine in this fiery romantic novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsey, for fans of Bridgerton, Georgette Heyer and Jenny Hambly. 
 
'Simply riveting.... Excellent.' - CHARLESTON GAZETTE 
'You cannot beat a writer like Johanna Lindsay.' -- ***** Reader review 
'A romance novel apart.' -- ***** Reader review 
'If you enjoy historical romance, I highly recommend giving this book a try.' -- ***** Reader review 
'A delightful book, very romantic! I really enjoyed reading it.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Excellent as usual from Johanna Lindsey.' -- ***** Reader review 
 
********************************************************************* 
 
A BEAUTIFUL AND RUTHLESS GOSSIP MEETS HER MATCH IN A DASHING RAKE... 
 
Ophelia Reid is an incomparable beauty with an incorrigible nature. Having purposefully wrecked her carefully arranged marriage to an utterly suitable marquis, she flees to London, determined to choose her own wealthy husband. On the journey there, she meets Raphael Locke, the most desired young lord in England. 
 
Raphael is determined to prove to his friends that Ophelia is more than just a vacuous beauty and whisks her off to his country estate. But as the days pass, and Ophelia's true nature emerges, Raphael finds himself growing more and more attracted to her. 
 
When the marriage proposals begin to flood in, from all sorts of eligible suitors, Raphael is forced to face the fact that he may well have fallen in love with Ophelia himself...

The Devil Who Tamed Her

indulge in this passionate and fiery romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Johanna Lindsey

Bestselling author Douglas Jackson expertly brings the Roman Empire to life in this riveting historical adventure of fire, blood and battle. Perfect for fans of Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane and Conn Iggulden. 
 
Readers are loving Gaius Valerius Verrens! 
 
"Storytelling of the highest order" - 5 STARS 
"Glorious Roman adventure." - 5 STARS 
"The drama never lets up - it is gripping" - 5 STARS 
"I'm just gutted to have finished it!" - 5 STARS 
"Verrens rules, ok?" - 5 STARS 
 
************************************************************ 
 
BETRAYED, BANISHED BUT NOT BROKEN... 
 
70 AD: Disgraced, dishonoured and banished on pain of execution if he ever returns to Rome, Gaius Valerius Verrens makes his way East through the death and destruction of the savage Judaean rebellion. He knows his only hope of long term survival lies with his friend Titus, commander of the Army of Judaea and son of the newly crowned Emperor Vespasian. 
 
But when he reaches the Roman camps that surround the seemingly impregnable city of Jerusalem he finds Titus a changed man. Gone is the cheerful young officer he knew; in his place, a tough, ruthless soldier under pressure from his father to end the insurrection at any cost. 
 
Soon, Valerius finds himself at the centre of a web of intrigue spun by Titus' lover, Queen Berenice of Cilicia, and her sometime ally, the general's turncoat adviser, Flavius Josephus, who together have an ulterior motive for wanting the siege to end quickly. 
 
Yet the laurels Valerius needs in order to regain his honour cannot be won in the tunnels that run beneath Jerusalem. Only in the heat and blood of battle can he find the glory that brought him the title Hero of Rome. 
 
Gaius Valerius Verrens' adventures continue in Saviour of Rome.

Scourge of Rome

(Gaius Valerius Verrens 6): a compelling and gripping Roman adventure that will have you hooked to the very last page

Jack Sheffield

It’s 1985, and as Jack returns for another year as headteacher at Ragley village school, some changes are in store. 
 
It’s the year of Halley’s Comet, Band Aid, Trivial Pursuit, Dynasty shoulder pads, Roland Rat and Microsoft Windows. And at Ragley-on-the-Forest, Heathcliffe Earnshaw decides to enter the village scarecrow competition, Ruby the caretaker finds romance, and retirement looms for Vera the secretary. 
 
Meanwhile, Jack has to battle with some rising stars of the teaching profession to save his job and his school . . . 
 
Readers love Jack Sheffield: 
'Wry observation and heartwarming humour in equal measure' Alan Titchmarsh 
'Overflowing with amusing anecdotes' Daily Express 
'Amusing adventures at the North Yorkshire village school' Choice 
'Jack Sheffield's in a class of his own' York Press

Star Teacher

Manda Scott

There is a secret hidden within a body, burning within the flames, that will change history forever. 
 
 
2014: In the French city of Orléans, a man’s charred corpse is found in a burned-out hotel, stripped of all ID. Police captain Inès Picaut must hunt down his killer before others fall prey to the fire. She has only one clue: the name of a woman who has been dead for over five hundred years. 
 
 
1429: Joan of Arc is taking the war to the English. They want her dead but the only way to reach her is through a fiercely loyal inner circle - until undercover spy Tomas Rustbeard finally earns her trust… 
 
 
The myths of the past hold the key to the mystery of the present, but how many must die before the truth is laid bare?

Into The Fire

Bluebell Windows continues the story of the Rising Girls, begun in A Scattering of Daisies and The Daffodils of Newent. Fans of Rosamunde Pilcher, Maeve Binchy and Fiona Valpy will love this captivating and compelling saga from multi-million copy seller and Sunday Times bestselling author Susan Sallis, that expertly captures the lives and emotions of a family in the run up to World War Two. 
 
READERS ARE LOVING BLUEBELL WINDOWS! 
'An engrossing read' -- ***** Reader review 
'An amazing inter-generational story that I kept reading way too fast' -- ***** Reader review 
'Excellent read, very enjoyable.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Loved this book [...], well written and down to earth. Just the way I like it!' -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************************************************** 
BEHIND SEEMINGLY HAPPY FAMILIES, ANYTHING CAN LIE HIDDEN... 
 
The Rising sisters - the Daffodil Girls - are older now. The anguish of growing up in the twenties has gone. All three are - apparently - happily married and there are children to swell the vibrant Rising family. 
 
But the problems that had begun in youth still remained. 
 
March, the eldest and the most difficult, loves but cannot trust her clever, manipulating husband. He deserted her once and she has never quite forgiven him. 
 
May has her own worries - a son who seems more than usually promiscuous, and a husband who grows more attractive and handsome even as she approaches her fortieth birthday. 
 
April has a husband she loves, and two small, gentle daughters. But she is the only one who knows that Davina is not her husband's child. 
 
As the country heads towards unsettling times, can they find the strength and unity they'll need? 
 
Bluebell Windows is the third book in the Rising Family sequence and is followed by Rosemary for Remembrance. The story began in A Scattering of Daisies and The Daffodils of Newent.

Bluebell Windows

(The Rising Family Book 3): the next instalment in the extraordinary West Country family saga by bestselling author Susan Sallis

Elvi Rhodes

An emotional story of recollections and reminiscences, The Birthday Party sees multi-million copy seller Elvi Rhodes at her heart-warming best. Fans of Rosamunde Pilcher, Maeve Binchy and Erica James will not be disappointed. 
 
Readers are loving THE BIRTHDAY PARTY! 
'I just couldn't put this book down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Keeps you interested right up to the very last word' -- ***** Reader review 
'Wonderful' -- ***** Reader review 
 
************************************************************************************************** 
A LANDMARK BIRTHDAY BRINGS BACK MEMORIES - SOME HAPPIER THAN OTHERS 
 
Poppy's family is gathering to celebrate her eightieth birthday. Her children, grandchildren and even one great-grandchild are converging on her Sussex home. 
 
As she prepares to welcome them all, her mind goes back over her life - to her tough childhood in Yorkshire; to her mother - who scrimped and saved to bring her up decently; to her three husbands and to Alun, the great love of her life who was taken from her by the war. 
 
Yes, she has had a full life - a lot fuller than her family realises. 
 
As they toast their beloved matriarch, little do they know what an extraordinary and often shocking life she has led...

The Birthday Party

a beautifully evocative and enthralling trip down memory lane from multi-million copy seller Elvi Rhodes…

**Don't miss Jenny Holmes's latest wartime series, The Air Raid Girls. Part 3 - The Air Raid Girls: Wartime Brides - is available now!** 
 
---------------------------- 
 
Orphaned young, Violet Wheeler has been brought up by her aunt - but after Winnie's death, she feels like she's lost everything. With no-one to turn to, she has to rely on the goodwill of the community to help her out. 
 
At the Jubilee drapers, amongst the spools of ribbon, skeins of silk and latest thirties fashions, Violet finds a refuge. She's offered a chance to get back on her feet, and with that an unexpected chance to discover love. It's only when a forgotten piece of jewellery with a mysterious note surfaces that Violet is thrown back in to the past again, and starts to wonder what secrets there might be in her family's history. 
 
As Violet becomes desperate to find answers about her mother and father, long-buried secrets threaten the stable life she's been building. Can her new friends steer Violet towards a happy ending against all the odds? 
 
A heart-warming, nostalgic tale of triumph over adversity that readers of Katie Flynn, Donna Douglas and Call the Midwife will adore. 
 
---------------------------- 
 
 Readers love Jenny Holmes: 
 
 'There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book' 5 star review 
 'I couldn't put this book down' 5 star review 
 'Loved the whole story' 5 star review 
 'This is a totally absorbing book' 5 star review 
 'An excellent read put together in fine style' 5 star review

The Shop Girls of Chapel Street

This captivating and moving saga full of twists and turns by the Sunday Times bestselling author Ruth Hamilton is perfect for fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox. 
 
"I believe that Ruth Hamilton is very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" -- SARAH BROADHURST, RADIO FOUR 
 
"Keeps you hooked to the last page" -- ***** Reader review 
"A wonderful story" -- ***** Reader review 
"Brilliant as always" -- ***** Reader review 
 
********************************************************** 
THE PAST AND PRESENT ARE ABOUT TO MEET IN TRAGEDY 
 
The Chandlers had been making candles in Bolton for five hundred years, and had given their name to the village of Chandlers Green. The dynasty, now in decline and ruled by Richard Chandler, is reduced to an unhappy household and a few tenanted properties. 
 
But Richard continues to behave as though he were lord of the manor. Jean, his wife, is terrified of him; his grown-up children despise him, but fear for their mother if they were to leave home. 
 
And now Richard's arch-enemy, Alf Martindale, is planning to move into his village, and Richard knows that the past is catching up with him fast. A crisis forces him to leave his manor for a while, and he has no way of knowing that Jean is arming herself against his return. 
 
The past and the present are about to come together in a way that can only end in tragedy...

Chandlers Green

A powerful and breathtakingly emotional saga set in the North West by bestselling author Ruth Hamilton

**Don't miss Jenny Holmes's latest wartime series, The Air Raid Girls. Part 3 - The Air Raid Girls: Wartime Brides - is available now!** 
 
 ---------------------------- 
 
On the cobbled streets of a Yorkshire mill town in 1931, Lily Briggs does all she can to keep trouble at bay for her and her family. 
 
She works hard at Calvert Mill to make ends meet and take care of her parents and younger siblings. Saturday nights at the dance hall and dressmaking with her two best friends keep Lily upbeat, and now there's a blossoming romance with childhood friend Harry Bainbridge to put an extra spring in her step, too. 
 
But then a run of misfortune threatens Lily's work, home and personal life, and she has to rely on the community at the mill to rally together for support. With so many others to worry about, will Lily always put them first or can she find her own happy ending? 
 
A heart-warming, nostalgic tale of triumph over adversity that readers of Katie Flynn, Donna Douglas and Call the Midwife will adore. 
 
---------------------------- 
 Readers love Jenny Holmes: 
 
 'There wasn't anything I didn't like about this book' 5 star review 
 'I couldn't put this book down' 5 star review 
 'Loved the whole story' 5 star review 
 'This is a totally absorbing book' 5 star review 
 'An excellent read put together in fine style' 5 star review

The Mill Girls of Albion Lane

A Private Thriller

A series of children's modern classic novels by renowned 20th century children's writers. All the titles in this series have the A Puffin Book logo, contemporary-style covers, and child-friendly endnotes.

A Puffin Book

A Ripley Novel

A Slice of the Moon

A Victorian Mystery

A Walk in...

A Women’s Murder Club Thriller

A chef Paul Delamare Mystery

Aberrations

Across the Universe

Actiphons

Adelia Aguilar

Adrian Mole

Adventures in Time

Aftermath

Against War

Age of X

Agent 21

Agent Z

Detective Aidan Waits is a troubled junior detective haunted by his past. Facing an uncertain future, and disconnected from his history, DC Waits and his partner, Detective Inspector Peter 'Sutty' Sutcliffe work on Manchester's streets to uncover the city's worst criminals among the grime of the underworld.

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