Joseph Delaney used to be an English teacher, before becoming the best-selling author of the Spook's series, which has been published in 30 countries and sold over 4.5 million copies worldwide. The first book, The Spook's Apprentice, was adapted into a major motion picture starring Jeff Bridges and Julianne Moore.

Joseph Delaney

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Marie Joseph

Here in a specially chosen edition are three of Marie Joseph's best-loved novels. 
 
GEMINI GIRLS: 
Libby and Carrie were more than sisters. Mirror images, they were different sides of the same heart, impossible to separate or divide. Until they both fell in love with Tom. 
FOOTSTEPS IN THE PARK: 
The Lancashire town was divided between the haves and the have-nots, between mill-owning Boltons and mill-working Armstrongs. But Dorothy Bolton was determined to cross the chasm and risk everything for the love of Stanley Armstrong ... 
MAGGIE CRAIG 
At the turn of the century the North of England was a harsh, bleak world - where joy and love were words in someone else's book. Strong-willed and beautiful, Maggie Craig flew in the face of that world ... and found that her passion was to cost her dearly all her life.

Marie Joseph Omnibus

Gemini Girls, Footsteps in the Park and Maggie Craig

Let bestselling and prizewinning author Marie Joseph take you to another world and lose yourself in this beautifully written and mesmerising saga about love against all odds. Fans of Katie Flynn, Rosie Harris and Catherine Cookson will not be disappointed. 
 
'Marie Joseph is an amazing success story' -- Woman's Weekly 
'She is a winner every time she writes' -- Manchester Evening News 
'I love Marie Joseph books and this one did not disappoint.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Loved this story, pure escapism' -- ***** Reader review 
'Compelling and very readable - recommended for an afternoon relaxing read.' -- ***** Reader 
 
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WORLDS APART, BUT DRAWN TO EACH OTHER... 
 
Their lives could not have been more different. Jenny was the girl from the meat shop, born into squalor and defeat. Paul Tunstall was a soldier and a gentleman, arrogant and charming, with his silver-light eyes and boyish smile. 
And yet from the moment they met there was a spark between them - and their separate lives of pain and loneliness seemed to beckon to each other. 
 
Will love win out, against all odds?

A Leaf in the Wind

an emotional, enthralling and incredibly moving love story from bestselling saga author Marie Joseph

Let bestselling and prizewinning author Marie Joseph sweep you away with this captivating and enthralling saga about poverty, passion and an unquenchable desire for a better life. Fans of Katie Flynn, Rosie Clarke and Catherine Cookson will not be disappointed. 
 
'Marie Joseph is an amazing success story' - WOMAN'S WEEKLY 
 'Another Marie Joseph page-turner' -- ***** Reader review 
'Never ceases to pull at your heartstrings' -- ***** Reader review 
'Marie Joseph's descriptions and turn of phrase are a joy to read...' -- ***** Reader review 
'Compelling and very readable - recommended for an afternoon relaxing read.' -- ***** Reader 
 
********************************************* 
WILL SHE GET THE LIFE AND LOVE SHE'S ALWAYS DREAMED OF? 
 
Lancashire in the 1900s. Clara Haydock has the voice of an angel - but she lives in a time and place of poverty and hardship, where singing is for church and life for getting on with. As she sings hymns on a Sunday morning, she dreams of one day singing on stage, in front of a rapt audience, lost in the music she loves. 
 
Her unbreakable spirit, her passion for music and her will to live a better life make her shine against the bleakness of her life. 
 
Not one to give up on a dream, she knows where her destiny lies ... and she'll do anything to fulfil it...

The Clogger's Child

From bestselling novelist Marie Joseph - a collection of heartwarming, life-enhancing stories that show her at her very best. 
 
In them Marie Joseph explores the many aspects of love as it was in the sixties and seventies - its nostalgia, tenderness, pitfalls and moments of never-to-be-forgotten happiness.

When Love Was Like That And Other Stories

Fans of Katie Flynn, Rosie Clarke and Catherine Cookson will love this enchanting and moving saga set in Lancashire from bestselling and prizewinning author Marie Joseph. The perfect piece of escapism! 
 
'Marie Joseph is an amazing success story' - WOMAN'S WEEKLY 
'Marie Joseph's descriptions and turn of phrase are a joy to read...' -- ***** Reader review 
'Compelling and very readable - recommended for an afternoon relaxing read.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Typical Marie Joseph page turner.' -- ***** Reader review 
 
****************************************** 
NOTHING COULD STOP HER FINDING LOVE...COULD IT? 
 
When her stepmother was killed suddenly two years ago, Emma Sparrow found herself having to run the household and look after her father and her three step-siblings, as well as hold down a full time job. 
 
Now twenty, she is a woman of unbreakable spirit and quiet pride, and nothing - not the drabness of her life in a small Lancashire town, not the relentless drudgery of her home life nor the boredom of her job in a factory - can stop her from reaching for the stars. 
 
But Emma's happiness lies with Simon Martin, and Simon is the boss's son. Between them stand the differences of class and background - a huge gulf that threatens to destroy Emma's one chance for a true and lasting love. Not to mention the fact that Simon is already in a relationship with a very nice girl called Chloe. 
 
Can Emma find that better, more exciting and fulfilling life she dreams of?

Emma Sparrow

With all her signature warmth, wonderful characters and unforgettable drama, escape with bestselling and prizewinning author Marie Joseph and settle down with this unputdownable and unforgettable saga of sisterly love put to the ultimate challenge. Fans of Katie Flynn, Rosie Harris and Catherine Cookson will not be disappointed. 
 
'Marie Joseph is an amazing success story' -- Woman's Weekly 
'She is a winner every time she writes' -- Manchester Evening News 
'I love Marie Joseph books and this one did not disappoint.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Loved this story, pure escapism' -- ***** Reader review 
'Compelling and very readable - recommended for an afternoon relaxing read.' -- ***** Reader 
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TWO SISTERS - INSEPARABLE AND IMPOSSIBLE TO DIVIDE. UNTIL THEY FALL FOR THE SAME MAN... 
 
It was a small Lancashire town on the eve of the General Strike. A town where the gap between the rich and poor was about to erupt into a bloody field of battle. 
 
 But that is not the only battle in the offing. Libby and Carrie were more than sisters. Mirror images, they were different sides of the same heart, peas in a pod and as close as close could be. Until they both fell in love with Tom... 
 
Is blood really thicker than water?

The Gemini Girls

a heart-warming Northern saga of sibling love and rivalry from bestselling saga author Marie Joseph

Fans of Katie Flynn, Rosie Clarke and Catherine Cookson will love this wonderfully enchanting and moving saga by bestselling and prizewinning author Marie Joseph. 
 
'Marie Joseph is an amazing success story' -- Woman's Weekly 
'Marie Joseph has the same rare, magical gift as Catherine Cookson for turning everyday people with everyday lives into the stuff of fascination.' -- Kent Evening Post 
'She is a winner every time she writes' -- Manchester Evening News 
'Marie Joseph's descriptions and turn of phrase are a joy to read...' -- ***** Reader review 
'Loved this story, pure escapism' -- ***** Reader review 
'Compelling and very readable - recommended for an afternoon relaxing read.' -- ***** Reader 
*********************************************************************************** 
 
IN THE FACE OF LONELINESS AND POVERTY, CAN LOVE ENDURE? 
 
It was love that drove Polly to marry Harry Pilgrim. A love, she believed, that would meet every test that life could make. But a girl in love cannot always see what the future will bring ... 
 
 Life has never been easy for her. But just when it seems that the worst must be over, Harry loses his job and is forced to move south to look for work, leaving Polly behind. 
 
Is their love strong enough or could loneliness and poverty drive her into the arms of another man?

Polly Pilgrim

a captivating Lancashire saga of poverty and passion. Perfect to settle down with…

A beautiful and touching wartime romance from the pen of bestselling and prizewinning author Marie Joseph. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn, Rosie Clarke and Catherine Cookson 
 
'Marie Joseph is an amazing success story' - WOMAN'S WEEKLY 
'Marie Joseph's descriptions and turn of phrase are a joy to read...' -- ***** Reader review 
'Compelling and very readable - recommended for an afternoon relaxing read.' -- ***** Reader 
'Typical Marie Joseph page turner.' -- ***** Reader review 
 
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WILL SHE FIND LOVE WITH THE MAN SHE'S SET HER HEART ON? 
 
Despite the incredible pressure, and the imminent danger, it is Sally Barnes who preoccupies David Turner's thoughts whilst on a bombing mission over Germany. 
 
Deaf since childhood, Sally is young and vulnerable and David wishes he could be with her to protect her from the horrors of war. 
 
 But to Sally, David is just the boy from down the road. It is Lee, the young carefree American airman, who has won her heart. 
 
Will fate be kind and allow her to find happiness amidst the trials and tribulations of a world at war?

The Listening Silence

the uplifting and moving story of the search for love amidst the trials of the Second World War

When the exotic stranger walked into the loveless Clancy household, he brought a gift to innocent seventeen-year-old Annie that neither her five brothers, nor her brutal father, had ever given her ... tenderness. And, like many before her, Annie pays the price for its sweetness. 
 
An outcast from her home and adrift in a harsh world, it would take a long time for Annie to trust a man again ... 
 
Inspired by Marie Joseph's storytelling magic, and set in the wild and sweeping Lancashire countryside, The Travelling Man is another of her gripping, page-turning sagas.

The Travelling Man

Joseph

Fans of Katie Flynn, Rosie Harris and Catherine Cookson will love this compelling and captivating saga by bestselling and prizewinning author Marie Joseph. When you're a woman in a man's world, you've got to do everything you can to make a way for yourself... 
 
'Marie Joseph is an amazing success story' -- Woman's Weekly 
'She is a winner every time she writes' -- Manchester Evening News 
'Compelling' -- ***** Reader review 
'Another Marie Joseph page-turner' -- ***** Reader review 
'Never ceases to pull at your heartstrings' -- ***** Reader review 
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IN A MAN'S WORLD, WILL HER PASSION AND STEELY DETERMINATION BE A HELP OR A HINDRANCE? 
 
At the turn of the century, the North of England is a hard, bleak world. A world where joy and love are in short supply - where men are resigned and women oppressed. 
 
Strong-willed and spirited, rebellious and beautiful, Maggie Craig flies in the face of the harshness of that world... 
 
Will her passion cost her dearly?

Maggie Craig

a powerful and stirring turn-of-the-century northern saga about a woman’s determination from bestseller Marie Joseph

Fans of Katie Flynn, Rosie Clarke and Catherine Cookson will love being transported to another time and place by bestselling and prizewinning author Marie Joseph in this enthralling and heart-warming saga about one woman's desire for a glamourous and romantic life. Will she achieve her dreams? 
 
'Marie Joseph has the same rare, magical gift as Catherine Cookson for turning everyday people with everyday lives into the stuff of fascination' -- Kent Evening Post 
'She is a winner every time she writes' -- Manchester Evening News 
'The perfect cosy read... I have multiple copies of this book and read it every year' -- ***** Reader review 
'Loved this story, pure escapism' -- ***** Reader review 
************************************************************ 
ONE CHANCE ENCOUNTER WILL CHANGE HER LIFE FOREVER... 
 
In a small Lancashire cotton town in the 1930s, Daisy Bell dreams her life away. At twenty-six, still a spinster and heiress to her mother's potato pie shop, she's resigned to a lonely old age. But toiling over the bake-house fire she dreams of a better world - a world of glamour and romance as seen on the silver screen. 
 
 Then she meets Sam a dashing Clark Gable look-alike and chauffeur to a wealthy London businessman - and suddenly her life is changed forever... 
 
Will Sam be the answer to her prayers? 
 
A Better World Than This won the Romantic Novelists' Award. Daisy's story continues in A World Apart.

A Better World Than This

an unmissable and uplifting Lancashire coming of age saga of love and life

Jean Plaidy

Unforgettable in its dramatic depiction of relationships between monarchs and families, this series delves into the scandal and betrayal behind the Stuart family during their reign.

Captivating in its historical detail, lush and sweeping in its scope, and unforgettable in its dramatic depiction of relationships between monarchs and families, The Three Crowns is the singular story of the only joint sovereigns in British history. Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory. 
 
'Plaidy has brought the past to life' -- Times Literary Supplement 
'Plaidy excels at blending history with romance and drama' -- New York Times 
'Jean Plaidy conveys the texture of various patches of the past with such rich complexity' -- Guardian 
'Absolute heaven' -- ***** Reader review 
'Another wonderful book from a brilliant writer' -- ***** Reader review 
'Fantastic' -- ***** Reader review 
 
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When an empire is at stake, one woman stands between the past and the future. 
 
 In post-Restoration England, King Charles II has fathered numerous children, but not a single legitimate heir. So it falls to his brother, James, Duke of York, to head the thrones of England, Scotland, and Ireland-the three crowns of Britain. But James's devout Catholicism, and desire to return Britain to the rule of Rome, does not sit well with his subjects and his time as king is sure to be short. 
 
 Born leader and brilliant soldier, William of Orange, has a plan... By marrying Mary, James' fifteen-year-old daughter and heir, he will position himself perfectly to seize the English crown. 
Mary must also decide how much power to cede to William, should she keep him as Consort or let him rule beside her as King? 
 
The Stuart saga continues with The Haunted Sisters.

The Three Crowns

(The Stuart saga: book 5): a compelling and powerful depiction of a pivotal moment in British history from the undisputed Queen of British historical fiction

Diana Gabaldon

World War II nurse Claire Randall finds herself transported back to 1743 where she meets young Scottish soldier Jamie Fraser, and the two travel from Scotland to America taking part in some of the most momentous events of the time.

THE SECOND NOVEL IN THE BESTSELLING OUTLANDER SERIES - now a major TV series! 
 
'Outlander is epic, magical, and deeply romantic. A true gift to all readers.’ Ali Hazelwood 
‘A stone-cold classic' Katherine Arden 
'Scotland's answer to Game of Thrones' Herald 
___________ 
 
For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to the majesty of Scotland's mist-shrouded hills. 
 
Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones, about a love that transcends the boundaries of time, and about James Fraser, a warrior whose gallantry once drew the young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his. 
 
Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful daughter as Claire's spellbinding journey continues in the intrigue-ridden court of Charles Edward Stuart, in a race to thwart a doomed uprising, and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves. 
___________ 
 
Readers love the Outlander series: 
 
'So intricately plotted and peopled that one is amazed she could conceive and write it in only seven years' Independent 
 
'Gabaldon is a gifted world-builder' Daily Telegraph 
 
'Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series has brought a touch of Caledonian magic to millions around the globe' Ian Rankin 
 
'An unforgettable, unparalleled love story that will leave you craving more' Olivie Blake 
 
'A sweeping tale of love, honor, sacrifice and rebellion, Outlander has long defined truly epic storytelling' Cassandra Clare

Dragonfly In Amber

(Outlander 2)

Patricia Burns

Lose yourself in this heart-warming and captivating saga of love and heartache set in London's East End from much loved author, Patricia Burns. Fans of Dilly Court, Rosie Goodwin and Josephine Cox will not be disappointed... 
 
READERS ARE LOVING TRINIDAD STREET! 
'Thoroughly enjoyed it, got carried away with all the different family happenings' -- ***** Reader review 
'Couldn't put this book down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Such a great read' -- ***** Reader review 
 
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LOVE AND WAR IN LONDON'S EAST END 
 
The Isle of Dogs at the turn of the century was a close-knit community and Trinidad Street was no different. The lives and loves of its residents often intermingled... 
 
When Tom Johnson, a union leader at the docks is sacked, his daughter Ellen has to leave school and forget her dreams of getting an office job. But she can still dream of Harry Turner... 
 
 But Harry, a young lighterman struggling to keep his battered family together, is bewitched by silver-tongued beauty Siobhan O'Donoghue. And Siobhan, ambitious for greater things, will use any weapon to repay the people of Trinidad Street for her disappointments. 
 
 And Gerry Billingham, set on bettering himself in pursuit of a retail empire, will be there to pick up the pieces ... 
 
 Through good times and bad, some will find what they are looking for - and others will realise too late what they have lost.

Trinidad Street

From one of the most distinguished English authors of historical fiction comes a series that explores the lives of eleven Georgian figures. Beginning with the beautiful Sophia Dorothea, darling of Celle, and ending with Victoria's rise to become Queen of England.

Plaidy's fabulous Georgian series continues with the courtship of Maria Fitzherbert ... 
 
The day the Prince of Wales set eyes on Maria Fitzherbert on the towpath at Richmond, she was twice widowed and eminently appealing. The Prince was in love. The more she resisted him, the more determined he became. 
 
The courtship of Mrs Fitzherbert, set against the backgrounds of the Brighton Pavillion, the court at Windsor and Carlton House, was to bring betrayal, scandal and the downfall of one of the greatest politicians of the day. 
 
It is a story full of the elegance and arrantry of the close of the eighteenth century, peopled with characters like the wily Charles James Fox, the coy Fanny Burney, and old George III, slowly descending into madness, while the balladmongers sang...

Sweet Lass of Richmond Hill

(Georgian Series)

Let multi-million copy and international bestselling author Jean Plaidy transport you back in time with this beautifully evocative, enthralling and enchanting novel of murder and mystery. If you like Philippa Gregory, you will not be disappointed. 
 
'Jean Plaidy conveys the texture of various patches of the past with such rich complexity' -- Guardian 
'Full-blooded, dramatic, exciting' - Observer 
'Entertaining, intelligent and engrossing' -- ***** Reader review 
'Jean Plaidy is just a master storyteller. Absolutely brilliant!' -- ***** Reader review 
'Very well written, makes you feel like you are really an insider as to what most likely was taking place.' -- ***** Reader review 
'Couldn't put it down...!' -- ***** Reader review 
 
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The dashing Robert Carr is a well-known favourite of King James I and he rises quickly through the ranks. A glorious future seems assured... 
 
But when he is married to the cunning and beautiful child-bride, Frances Howard, everything changes. 
 
 Frances emerges as a headstrong force of nature - determined to have her way, no matter what the cost. Her attempts to rid herself of an unwanted husband, and later to ensnare a lukewarm lover, lead her deep into the world of spell-makers and treachery. This is a woman to underestimate at great peril. 
 
When Robert finds himself ensnared in one of Frances's plots he finally learns what she is truly capable of... 
 
The Stuart saga continues in The Wandering Prince.

The Murder in the Tower

(The Stuart saga: book 1): passion and peril collide in this dazzling novel set in the 1600s from the Queen of English historical fiction

Sheila Walsh

Ryan's Bakery is at the hub of Liverpool life in the late thirties: its driving force, Kathleen, who loves her quiet husband, Michael, and her family, and is fiercely ambitious for them all - Rita, soon to be a teacher; stage-stuck Shirely Anne; Chris, a baker like his dad, and carefee young Joey. 
 
Then a late and difficult pregnancy blunts Kathleen's ambition and presents her bright middle daughter, Liz, with a challenge. In meeting it, the enthusiastic sixteen-year-old discovers untapped creative talents, and a dream is born - that one day she will be Elizabeth Ryan, renowned for quality pastries and home-made chocolates. 
 
With her first small success, Liz makes an enemy - Alec Mannings, son of a rival baker. But she also finds an invaluable friend in Fritz Lendl, and Austrian confectioner, driven from his homeland by the Nazis. 
 
When Leigh, the dashing American flyer, first captures Liz's heart, he sees her only as an endearing gutsy kid, and she is enough of a realist to know it. Besides, there is Jimmy, the boy she has promised to marry. But during the Second World War, fate brings them together once more, and Liz is no longer a child. There are agonizing choices to be made, as time and again their love seems destined to be denied - until tomorrow.

Until Tomorrow

Bringing history to life, Plaidy tells the story of a young, idealistic Prince of Wales... 
 
The Prince of Wales develops a deep affection for a beautiful quakeress, Hannah Lightfoot, who catches his eye as he is riding through the streets. A first meeting is arranged, leading to several more, and eventually they discreetly marry in a secluded house where they live as man and wife. She is prepared to betray her beliefs for him, just as he is willing to defy the desires of various courtiers for her. Eventually, his mother’s lover Lord Bute uncovers the affair and Hannah mysteriously disappears. 
 
The novel explores the lasting question, did the future George III contradict royal protocol and marry a commoner? Shortly after his affair with Hannah, he becomes King George III. After a potential engagement to Sarah Lennox falls through, he marries Princess Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.

The Prince and the Quakeress

Journey through the reign of William the Conqueror and his sons as they fight to keep civil war at bay and their line on the throne.

The first book in the Norman Trilogy chronicles the life of William the Conquerer. 
 
This glorious novel chronicles the life of William the Conqueror, the bastard son of the Duke of Normandy, from childhood until his death in 1087. 
 
He is destined to succeed his father as the Duke of Normandy but questions about his legitimacy mean he consistently faces challenges from potential usurpers in the Duchy to retain the title. He marries Matilda, the equally intelligent and ambitious daughter of the King of Flanders, and together they have many children. 
 
In 1066, he crosses the channel from Normandy to England and seizes the crown from King Harold, Edward the Confessor’s popular successor. This is the roller coaster account of his efforts to become sovereign and the events in his life afterwards, including his turbulent relationships with various members of his family.

The Bastard King

(Norman Series)

Incredibly detailed, exciting and vibrant is Plaidy's thrilling Queen of England series which depicts the lives of each queen beginning with Queen Henrietta Maria.

The life of Jane Shore in Plaidy's thrilling Queen of England Series. 
 
Eighteen year old Jane Shore’s beauty is known around London. She is well-educated and intelligent, and when she catches the eye of a wealthy goldsmith her father sees in her an opportunity for an advantageous marriage. But the marriage is soon annulled and she becomes the favourite mistress of Edward IV. 
 
Her compassion for London’s poor brings her widespread popularity, and she uses her favour with the king to beg forgiveness for those who have angered him. When Edward suddenly dies, she seduces other men, namely Thomas Grey, 1st Marquess of Dorset and William Hastings, 1st Baron Hastings. 
 
But when Hastings loses the new King's favour she is punished and imprisoned in Ludgate prison. There, away from the protection of her loves, she can only face the horrors of those she once protected. And pray for salvation.

The Goldsmith's Wife

(Queen of England Series)

Georgette Heyer

This 2 in 1 edition features The Spanish Bride and The Convenient Marriage - two of Georgette Heyer's hugely popular Regency novels. 
 
The Spanish Bride 
 
Shot-proof, fever-proof and a veteran campaigner at the age of twenty-five, Brigade-Major Harry Smith is reputed to be the luckiest man in Lord Wellington's army. But at the siege of Badajos, his friends foretell the ruin of his career. For when Harry meets the defenceless Juana, a fiery passion consumes him. Under the banner of honour and with the selfsame ardour he so frequently displays in battle, he dives headlong into marriage. In his beautiful child-bride, he finds a kindred spirit, and a temper to match. But for Juana, a long year of war must follow. 
 
The Convenient Marriage 
 
When the eligible Earl of Rule offers for the hand of the Beauty of the Winwood Family, he has no notion of the distress he causes his intended. For Miss Lizzie Winwood is promised to the excellent, but impoverished Mr Edward Heron. Disaster can only be averted by the delightful impetuosity of her youngest sister, Horatia, who conceives her own, distinctly original plans.

Georgette Heyer Bundle: The Convenient Marriage/The Spanish Bride

From the pen of legendary historical novelist Jean Plaidy comes an unforgettable true story of 
royalty, passion, and innocence lost. 
 
Born into an impoverished branch of the noble Howard family, young Katherine is plucked from her home to live with her grandmother, the Duchess of Norfolk. The innocent girl quickly learns that her grandmother’s puritanism is not shared by Katherine’s free-spirited cousins, with whom she lives. Beautiful and impressionable, Katherine becomes involved in two ill-fated love affairs before her sixteenth birthday. Like her cousin Anne Boleyn, she leaves her grandmother’s home to become a lady-in-waiting at the court of Henry VIII. The royal palaces are exciting to a young girl from the country, and Katherine's duties there allow her to be near her handsome cousin, Thomas Culpepper, whom she has loved since childhood. 
 
But when Katherine catches the eye of the aging and unhappily married king, she is forced to abandon her plans for a life with Thomas and marry King Henry. Overwhelmed by the change in her fortunes, bewildered and flattered by the adoration of her husband, Katherine is dazzled by the royal life. But her bliss is short-lived as rumors of her wayward past come back to haunt her, and Katherine’s destiny takes another, deadly, turn.

The Rose Without a Thorn

Plaidy has the abilty of making history accessible and a joy to read. 
 
Caroline’s long wait is up. George I is dead, and her husband is King. They immediately make the unfortunate discovery that most of the jewels and inheritance have been leaked away to mistresses of the old King. Catherine, with the assistance of Prime Minister Walpole, slowly begins to repair the damage done to England by previous sovereigns. 
 
She does her duty to the best of her ability, monitoring decisions made by her arrogant and insecure husband and stepping in where she feels it necessary. The book emphasises the importance of English Queens throughout history, as Caroline patiently dominates her husband and most of the court from behind the scenes. It is thanks to her that the House of Hanover survived, despite the unpopularity of its Kings.

Caroline the Queen

Plaidy brings the Regent period alive in this fabulous Georgian series ... 
 
The marriage of The Prince of Wales to Caroline of Brunswick was strewn with private skirmish and public scandal, yet it did bear a daughter - Princess Charlotte, heiress presumptive to the English throne. The Regent is still elegant, though moving swiftly into corpulent middle age as his wife Caroline remains determined to shock almost to the point of lunacy. Old George III rambles on into the mists of his madness and stern Queen Charlotte sits at the centre of her web of domestic spies. 
 
Beneath them all sparkles Charlotte, much loved by her mother but kept distant by her father and grandmother. Ever bewildered by her bizarre collection of royal relatives, Charlotte grows up to be honest, forthright and always certain of her destiny, though an unfortunate twist of fate means it is never to occur.

The Regent's Daughter

In this powerful sequel to PACKARDS, much loved author Patricia Burns returns to the London department store, bringing its people and its wartime challenges expertly to life. Perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Rosie Goodwin and Josephine Cox... 
 
READERS ARE LOVING GOODBYE PICCADILLY! 
'I could hardly bear to put my kindle down until I had read the final chapter!' - Loving 
'One of the best books I have read for a long time'-- ***** Reader review 
'Another excellent read - couldn't put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Loved it' -- ***** Reader review 
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AS EUROPE PLUNGES INTO WAR, WILL PACKARDS - AND ITS PEOPLE - SURVIVE? 
 
Following the death of Thomas Packard, the tensions between his grandchildren mount: 
 
Who will get the major shareholding in the store? Who will be on the board? Who will be chairman? 
Amelie fights to maintain her position whilst not only coping with a marriage that is far from perfect but also trying to resist a strong attraction to her friend's husband. 
 
Then their world is torn apart by the declaration of war - business must go on despite staffing difficulties. It opens up new opportunities for Amelie, who is quick to seize them, and puts ever more of her energies into her beloved Packards. 
 
But the outbreak of war also stiffens her brother Alec's resolve to stay firmly in control. . .

Goodbye Piccadilly

an unmissable turn-of-the-century wartime saga about one department store, and the people who depend on it

Let much loved author Patricia Burns transport you to another time in this saga which brilliantly brings together characters from all walks of life whose lives centre around one much loved department store. Fans of Dilly Court, Rosie Goodwin and Josephine Cox will not be disappointed... 
 
READERS ARE LOVING PACKARDS! 
 
'I could hardly bear to put my kindle down until I had read the final chapter!' - Loving 
'One of the best books I have read for a long time'-- ***** Reader review 
'Another excellent read - couldn't put it down' -- ***** Reader review 
'Loved it' -- ***** Reader review 
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A SWEEPING STORY OF SOCIETY, SOPHISTICATION, SEDUCTION, SUCCESSION...AND SHOPPING 
 
1908: Sir Thomas Packard is seeking a successor to take on the management of Packards - the Oxford Street department store he founded in the mid-nineteenth century. His only daughter and her feckless husband spend his fortune but despise its provenance so he looks to his grandchildren: 
 
EDWARD has all his grandfather's ruthlessness but none of his vision; 
PERRY is a good-time boy; 
AMELIE, intelligent and ambitious, is willing to take anyone on to gain control of the store. 
 
Alongside their story is that of Packards employees: 
DAISY CHAPMAN, thrilled to have found an escape from East End drudgery; skilled and promotable but forced to choose between love and her job; 
ISOBEL NORTON who has fled from her brother-in-law's advances to make a new life for herself; 
JOHNNY MILLER, loved by Isobel and in love with Daisy. 
 
Together, their stories combine to create a sweeping absorbing vision of a cross-section of society in the early years of the century. 
 
Find out what lies next in store for Packards in Goodbye Piccadilly: Packards at War...

Packards

a sweeping and sparkling story of society at the turn of the twentieth century

Constance Heaven

Lose yourself in this beautifully written, emotional and enthralling novel from much loved author Constance Heaven. It conjures up the glittering society and changing times of the 1870s in London and Russia so wonderfully, you'll feel as if you are there yourself! 
 
'Heady romance with glittering background' -- SUNDAY TELEGRAPH 
'Readable and atmospheric' -- DUBLIN TIMES 
'Excellent! Difficult to put down' - ***** Reader review 
'Exciting read' - ***** Reader review 
'A great novel from a great writer' - ***** Reader review 
 
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Louise Defour's life is idyllic: as the love-child of a British diplomat and Russian dancer, she wants for nothing. 
But when her parents are killed, she finds herself penniless and alone, and must travel to England to meet a half-sister who does not even know of her existence. 
 
There, she becomes part of the world of the mysterious Daniel and Christine Hunter - with a potentially destructive effect.

The Love Child

a sweeping historical novel set in Russia and England in the 1870s

At the power and mercy of the court her life was a struggle to keep the Queen's Secret. 
 
Katherine of Valois is born a princess, the daughter of King Charles VI of France. But by the time Katherine is old enough to know her father, he is called “Charles the Mad,” given to unpredictable fits of insanity. Aged 19, she marries Henry V of England in what was a happy but tragically brief union ending with his untimely death. 
 
As Joan of Arc incites the French to overthrow the English, Katherine’s loyalty to England is intensely scrutinised so much so her baby son, the new king, is taken from her and she was forbidden to re-marry. The young Queen is alone and desolate. But when she meets handsome Owen Tudor, her life is changed forever as she is drawn into a dangerous but irresistible love…

The Queen's Secret

A magical love story- and a richly detailed evocation of a great city. 
1909, and life is hard for young Poppy Powers. 
Her dad has disappeared-gone to a season in the North somewhere and failed to return-leaving her mum to earn their keep and Poppy doing chores for Gran. Poppy dreams of being a musician like dad, but Gran would never allow it, and Gran’s rule is absolute in Cinnamon Alley. 
 
There is more than a littleof Gran’s stubbornness and determination in Poppy, however and the discovery of her Dad’s saxophone, secret music lessons and the Salvation Army band bring the stirrings of possibility. Waitressing in the drinking clubs during the terrible Great Was, Poppy and her dreams find a direction. It is there she falls in love, tragically and irrevocably, with the American Scott Warrender. 
 
Alone and destined to rely on her own talents, Poppy, with few loyal friends and a flair for dance music, forms the Power Girls, the first all-female band. The fight for respect and recognition is doubly hard for women, but this is the heady Roaring Twenties and all the Bright Young Things are desperate to dance. Among them is Roddy Ffitch. Charming, rich, madly in love with Poppy, he introduces her to a dangerous world of endless parties and fast cars. But can he help her forget Scott? 
 
From smoky clubs to ocean liners, from North Millwall to New York, though the war, the reckless dancing years and the Wall Street Crash, Poppy is determined to succeed, and to make her own way on her own terms. Only her last ambition remains unfulfilled-to share it all with the man she loves. But, maybe after all, what Poppy craves is just a step from Cinnamon Alley…

A Step From Cinnamon Alley

Judith Saxton

A SAGA OF A YOUNG GIRL'S STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL ON THE ISLAND OF JERSEY DURING THE NAZI SECOND WORLD WAR OCCUPATION. After the death of Rochelle Dubois's parents, she is adopted by their employer, Charles Laurient, and together she and Charles work to rear his treasured rare orchids. But when war breaks out, Rochelle is left to do her best for herself and her precious seedlings, for Charles is taken away by the Germans. The arrival of his son Laurie from America could be her salvation.

This Royal Breed

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