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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Libby Ashworth

THE SECOND NOVEL IN THE INSPIRATIONAL MILL TOWN LASSES SERIES. Perfect for fans of Val Wood and Catherine Cookson. 
______________________ 
Lancashire, 1832. 
 
Maids Hannah and Mary find themselves with no jobs and no home when their employer, Henry Sudell, loses all his money and disappears in the middle of the night. They have no choice but to return to Blackburn where Hannah is lucky to be taken in by her sister Jennet and brother-in-law, Titus, but Mary must seek lodgings in the infamous Star beer house. 
 
Mary tries to get her job back as a weaver, but the influx of workers from the countryside and no support for the working class means that jobs are scarce. With no other choice she remains at the beer house, forced to risk her reputation and even her life. 
 
In the middle of a cholera outbreak and political upheaval, can Mary ever find a way to recover all she's lost? 
______________________ 
Praise for Libby Ashworth 
 
'An engrossing tale of hardship, struggles, love and family' KITTY NEALE 
 
'Vividly drawn characters . . . gritty and heartfelt' EVIE GRACE 
 
'Brimming with drama, heartbreak, love, friendship and the powerful bonds of family' LANCASHIRE POST

A Lancashire Lass

An uplifting and heart-warming historical saga

Debbie Macomber

___________________________ 
Sisters Willa and Harper mean the world to each other. 
 
Inseparable since the loss of their mother as teenagers, the Lakey sisters are perfect opposites. Quiet, demure Willa has always admired Harper's sense of adventure. She enjoys her peaceful routine as a café owner in their coastal hometown of Oceanside. 
 
When a handsome customer shows interest in Willa, Harper urges her sister to take a chance on love. 
 
Then Harper receives crushing news that threatens to bring everything to a halt. Only by supporting each other will the sisters be able to face the trials to come. And though the time ahead may be tough, Willa and Harper will discover that the darkest times can lead to the most beautiful rewards. 
___________________________ 
Praise for Debbie Macomber 
 
 'An ideal holiday book' Good Housekeeping 
 
 'If there's a star in the romance and women's fiction firmament, chances are high it's Debbie Macomber' Publisher's Weekly

A Walk Along the Beach

Annie Clarke

**THE THIRD NOVEL IN THE UPLIFTING FACTORY GIRLS SERIES** 
 
Perfect for fans of Nancy Revell's Shipyard Girls series and Ellie Dean. 
 
Our readers LOVE the Factory Girls . . . 
 
‘The characters are all strong and the style of writing makes it hard to put down’ 
‘Another lovely story these wonderful characters make me feel like I’m visiting old friends’ 
‘What a joy to read’ 
‘I have laughed, cried and been angry reading this book’ 
‘Another brilliant book’ 
_____________________ 
 
March 1942: As the war continues, wedding bells are ringing for the factory girls . . . 
 
Sarah is happily settling into married life with new husband Stan, whilst Fran is busy planning her upcoming wedding to sweetheart Davey, who’s still conscripted to Bletchley Park. With limited resources, the girls must make do to create the perfect day. 
 
Meanwhile, Beth has other things on her mind. She hasn’t heard from her husband Bob since he returned to the navy, and she’s starting to fear the worst. And new friend Viola is still recovering from a nasty accident. 
 
Life on the home front can be challenging, but with the support of one another, the factory girls can get through anything. 
_____________________ 
 
Praise for Annie Clarke 
 
'Clarke’s tale is one to lift the spirits and touch the hardest hearts' Northern Echo 
 
'Delightful authentic-feeling saga' Peterborough Telegraph 
 
'Highlights the strength of women during the toughest times' Culture Fly 
 
'Beautifully written' Frost Magazine

Wedding Bells on the Home Front

A heart-warming story of courage, community and love

Katie Flynn

FROM SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR KATIE FLYNN: Set in Liverpool in the 1920s, The Mersey Girls is a heartwarming novel of family, love and triumph against the odds. 
____________________________________ 
1913 
 
Seventeen-year-old Evie Murphy has chosen to leave behind her native Ireland for the city of Liverpool. She takes her baby daughter Linnet with her, but leaves behind her child’s frail twin, Lucy. A decision that will change their lives for ever. 
 
1924 
 
When tragedy strikes, Linnet is left destitute and alone, disappearing into the unforgiving Liverpool slums. Meanwhile, Lucy is desperate to find her sister but is she willing to leave behind the beautiful Irish countryside where she has grown up. 
 
With uncertain times ahead, will the sisters ever be reunited . . . ?

The Mersey Girls

Maisie Thomas

_____________________ 
The first novel in the wonderful new Railway Girls series, perfect for fans of Nancy Revell and Ellie Dean. 
 
In February, 1922, at the western-most entrance to Victoria Station in Manchester, a massive plaque was unveiled. Beneath a vast tiled map showing the lines of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway network, a series of seven bronze panels recorded the names of the men of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway who gave their lives for King and Country in the Great War - a total of 1,460 names. 
 
In March, 1940, a group of women of varying ages and backgrounds, stand in front of the memorial, ready to do their bit in this new World War... 
_____________________ 
Mabel is determined to make a fresh start as a railway girl where no one will know the terrible thing she did and she can put her guilt behind her... Or is she just running away? 
 
Meanwhile Joan will never be as good as her sister, or so her Gran keeps telling her. A new job as a station clerk could be just the thing she needs to forget her troubles at home. 
 
And Dot is further into her forties than she cares to admit. Her beloved sons are away fighting and her husband - well, the less said about him the better. Ratty old sod. She is anxious to become a railway girl just like her dear mam - anything to feel she is supporting the sons she prays for every night. 
 
The three women start off as strangers, but soon form an unbreakable bond that will get them through the toughest of times...

The Railway Girls

Their bond will see them through

Fiona Ford

London, 1942 
 
Flo Canning’s heart is beyond repair following the news that she has been dreading since the outbreak of war. As Flo throws herself into the role of fabric manager at Liberty’s, old and new friends alike help pull her from a whirl of despair. 
 
Between work and home life there’s plenty to keep Flo occupied. Not least new deputy store manager, Henry Masters, whose arrival has consequences that Flo and her workmates could never have foreseen. 
 
But there is more tragedy still to come, and Flo and her friends will need each other more than ever if they are to survive the uncertainty ahead.

Wartime at Liberty's

The rise of the mills is about to change everything. 
_________________________ 
'Brimming with drama, heartbreak, love, friendship and the powerful bonds of family' Lancashire Post 
_________________________ 
Lancashire, 1826 
 
When Jennet and Titus Eastwood are forced to move from their idyllic cottage into the centre of Blackburn to find work in the cotton mills, their lives are changed in ways they could never have imagined and their new home on Paradise Lane is anything but . . . 
 
Then Titus is arrested and sent to prison for attending a Reform meeting. Jennet is left to fend for herself and things go from bad to worse as she finds herself pregnant and alone - with another man's child . . . 
_________________________ 
'An engrossing tale of hardship, struggles, love and family. I was swept away to the North of England and into the world of cotton spinners. Well researched, perfect for fans of Catherine Cookson.' Kitty Neale 
 
'With vividly drawn characters and Libby's passion for Lancashire and its history shining through, this gritty and heartfelt tale of the mill workers and those caught up in the Reform riots is a must-read.' Evie Grace

The Cotton Spinner

An absolutely gripping historical saga

Nancy Revell

THE EIGHTH NOVEL IN THE BESTSELLING SHIPYARD GIRLS SERIES! 
 
'Emotional and gripping' Take a Break 
______________________________ 
Sunderland, 1943: With the future of Britain uncertain, the shipyard girls fight to keep their lives on an even keel. 
 
 Head-welder Rosie is just about managing to keep her double life hidden from little sister Charlotte's prying eyes. But Charlotte senses something is up and, with a secret this big, the truth is bound to come out. 
 
 After a whirlwind wedding, Polly must bid farewell to her sweetheart as he returns to the front line. 
 
 And there is something odd about yard manager Helen's newest recruit Bel. But in resolving to uncover the truth, Helen might discover more than she bargained for... 
 
 Only by rallying together will the shipyard girls triumph. 
______________________________ 
 
Praise for Nancy Revell 
 
 'Nancy Revell knows how to stir the passions and soothe the heart!' Northern Echo 
 
 'Stirring and heartfelt storytelling' Peterborough Evening Telegraph 
 
'the author is one to watch' Sun 
 
'Well-drawn, believable characters combined with a storyline to keep you turning the pages' Woman

Triumph of the Shipyard Girls

THE FIRST NOVEL IN A HEART-WARMING NEW SERIES BY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, KATIE FLYNN 
______________________________ 
‘Home is where the heart is, and my heart belongs to Liverpool. We wouldn’t dream of leavin’ our beloved city…’ 
 
August 1940: As the Luftwaffe swarm over Liverpool, Shane Quinn decides to move his family back to the safety of Ireland. But his only child, the beautiful Dana, would rather stay and serve her country than flee to a foreign land. 
 
Determined to make it on her own, she joins the WAAF with newfound pals Patty and Lucy. There’s plenty of excitement to be had on a RAF station, even a chance or two at love… 
 
But the stark reality of war begins to take its toll and the three girls soon discover they need their friendship more than ever. And when shocking news arrives from Ireland, Dana will realise the true importance of family. 
______________________________ 
Praise for Katie Flynn 
 
'If you pick up a Katie Flynn book it's going to be a wrench to put it down again' 
Holyhead and Anglesey Mail 
 
‘Packed with romance and poignancy’ 
Woman 
 
‘One of the best Liverpool writers’ 
Liverpool Echo 
 
‘Heart-warming’ 
Take a Break

Liverpool Daughter

Ellie Dean

************** 
THE EIGHTEENTH CLIFFEHAVEN NOVEL BY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR ELLIE DEAN 
 
Peace has finally been declared in the Far East, but for those living at Beach View Boarding House, the news brings mixed emotions. 
 
Peggy Reilly is devastated that her husband Jim will not be coming home for Christmas. And Sarah and Jane, who have lived at Beach View throughout much of the conflict, dread what they will find when they go back to Singapore. 
 
Life in Cliffehaven is in a whirlwind of change as the men return from the war and Peggy’s evacuee chicks begin to spread their wings and start new lives in different corners of the world. 
 
Peggy and Jim have longed to be together after so many years apart, but war has left them profoundly changed. Can they rekindle the loving, close relationship they’d shared before?

Homecoming

Evie Grace

The first novel in the brand new Smugglers Daughters trilogy set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars on the Kentish Coast from bestselling author Evie Grace. Perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Poldark. 
__________________________ 
 
Deal, Kent. 1811. The heart of the British smuggling business. 
 
'Deal is a godforsaken town where the streets are ruled by villains . . .' 
 
The Lennicker sisters live in a cottage nestled amongst the counting houses, shops and inns, where the smugglers plot and the seamen drink. 
 
When their father – a fisherman and smuggler – is murdered by a rival gang, the eldest daughter, Louisa, is forced to carve out a living by trading illegally in French lace. She will do anything to keep a roof over her sisters’ heads, but what she truly desires is a way of wreaking revenge . . . 
 
With the threat of Napoleon approaching Britain’s shores, the stakes couldn’t be higher. One wrong move and Louisa could risk losing not only her sisters, but her life . . . 
 
 
Praise for Evie Grace 
 
‘Intriguing’ 
Val Wood 
 
‘A charming historical read that hits all the right notes’ 
Woman’s Weekly 
 
‘Heart-tugging saga of which Catherine Cookson would’ve approved’ 
Peterborough Evening Telegraph 
 
__________________________

The Lace Maiden

Dilly Court

A MOVING, HEARTFELT AND FAMILY DRIVEN SAGA SET IN TURN-OF-THE-CENTURY LONDON FROM THE BESTSELLING SAGA AUTHOR 
 
Effie Grey has fallen on hard times since the death of her husband. Forced to live on a narrowboat owned by her tyrannical father-in-law, Jacob, Effie must put aside her own despair in order to protect her brother, Tom, and her young son, Georgie. 
 
Life becomes even more unbearable when Jacob hires the villainous Salter and his vile wife Sal to run the barge. When Tom is sent away without a penny, Effie is forced to make a choice to protect her family. Driven by desperation, Effie steals Jacob’s hidden cache of money and flees with her son in search of Tom. No matter what, she will make a home for little Georgie and keep him safe from harm.

A Mother's Wish

Glenice Crossland

Previously published as The Ever Open Door, this is a story told with warmth and humour, about a hard working, down-to-earth community in a small Yorkshire town during the Second World War and its aftermath. 
 
Yorkshire, 1940: Kind Sally Butler and her husband Jim are content in their little house on Potters Row. Jim's only complaint is that Sally is too soft hearted, always at the beck and call of any neighbour, friend or even stranger. Sally, on the other hand, accuses Jim of being a soft touch for anyone after a drink or two at the Rising Sun. Both accept that neither will ever change and they love each other and their daughter Daisy deeply. 
 
Theirs is a close-knit family in a close-knit community where gossip – both good and bad – abounds and neighbour looks out for neighbour. And when Sally's generosity leads to an inheritance it should mean a change of life for the better, instead it brings danger and difficult choices for them all...

Where the Heart Is

_______________________________ 
An uplifting festive novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber 
 
Laurel McCullough is in desperate need of help. 
 
Her beloved grandmother has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and the baby she and her husband Zach have longed for now seems like an impossible dream. 
 
So when Mrs Miracle appears at the door, Laurel couldn’t be more relieved. She invites the nurse into her life and it’s not long before they become firm friends. 
 
When her grandmother’s condition begins to improve, and as Laurel and Zach continue their desperate quest for a child, Laurel soon realises that there is more to Mrs Miracle than meets the eye…

A Mrs Miracle Christmas

A Christmas Novel

___________________________ 
THE SEVENTH NOVEL IN THE BESTSELLING SHIPYARD GIRLS SERIES 
 
Sunderland, 1942: Christmas is fast approaching, and with it comes a flurry of snow and surprises... 
 
Against all odds, Polly's fiancé has finally returned home from the front line. If they can keep things on an even keel, she might get the winter wedding she's always dreamed of. 
 
Meanwhile shipyard manager Helen is determined to move on after a turbulent year. Her sights are set on breaking the yard's production record and no one, not even the handsome Dr Parker, is going to get in her way. 
 
And head welder Rosie's little sister Charlotte has turned up unannounced. Why is she back and so set on staying? 
 
Join the shipyard girls as they navigate through life, love and war this Christmas. 
___________________________ 
Praise for the Shipyard Girls series: 
 
'Rhe author is one to watch' Sun 
 
'A brilliant read' Take a Break 
 
'Well-drawn, believable characters combined with a storyline to keep you turning the pages' Woman 
 
'Nancy Revell knows how to stir the passions and soothe the heart!' Northern Echo

Christmas with the Shipyard Girls

Shipyard Girls 7

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREAT: COSY UP WITH A CUPPA AND THIS GORGEOUS NOVEL FROM SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, KATIE FLYNN 
_______________________________ 
Liverpool, 1939: Sixteen-year-old Lizzy Atherton is forced to flee her violent step-father in the middle of the night, and finds herself stranded on a station platform completely alone. 
 
Desperate to know what has become of her beloved mother, who she had no choice but to leave behind, Lizzy returns the next day only to find her home deserted. Devastated, Lizzy joins forces with her old school friend Dolly and Clara, an escaped evacuee, and vows to find her mother whatever it takes. 
 
But the war rages on and demands on the home front take Lizzy’s life in a host of unexpected directions, and hopes of finding her mother gradually start to fade. 
 
If Lizzy can muster the strength to keep searching, she might just get her Christmas wish after all. 
_______________________________ 
 
Praise for Katie Flynn 
'One of the country's most popular storytellers' Scottish Daily Record 
 
'A poignant war-time romance' Daily Express 
 
‘A heartwarming story of love and loss’ Woman's Weekly 
 
‘One of the best Liverpool writers’ Liverpool Echo 
 
'If you pick up a Katie Flynn book it's going to be a wrench to put it down again' Holyhead and Anglesey Mail

A Christmas Gift

Donna Douglas

A fascinating journey into the historical world of the Nurses of Nightingale Hospital. Follow their story as together they cope with the demands of war, love and loss, and traumas both in and out of the Hospital.

A HEARTWARMING WARTIME TALE FEATURING THE NURSES OF THE NIGHTINGALE HOSPITAL 
BY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR DONNA DOUGLAS 
________________________________________ 
FOR THE NIGHTINGALE NURSES, THE WEDDING BELLS ARE RINGING... 
 
East London, 1917. 
 
Anna is over the moon when her sweetheart Edward returns from the front line. As he recovers from injuries sustained in war, they make plans to be married. But the horrors of the trenches cast a long shadow. 
 
Caring for shell-shocked soldiers brings untold challenges for Grace, and her parents have very different dreams for her future. Will she have the strength to forge her own path? 
 
Meanwhile Dulcie has her sights firmly set on her own happy ending. Yet sometimes we find love where we least expect to. 
 
Each nurse has her own battle to fight but they must pull together to find true happiness.

Nightingale Wedding Bells

A heartwarming wartime tale from the Nightingale Hospital

__________________________________ 
The second novel in the wonderfully uplifting Factory Girls series. Perfect for fans of Nancy Revell, Daisy Styles and Donna Douglas. 
 
'Clarke’s tale is one to lift the spirits and touch the hardest hearts' NORTHERN ECHO 
__________________________________ 
December 1941, North East England: It takes courage to risk your life every day. 
 
Despite the recent loss of her father, Sarah is settling well into her new role at the munitions factory. Her blossoming romance with pitman Stan is a welcome distraction from the dangerous working conditions. But a shocking revelation is about to put everything on the line. 
 
Meanwhile Fran is desperately missing her sweetheart Davey, who has been conscripted to work at Bletchley Park. Beth is longing for someone too – and it’s not her husband on the front line… 
 
As the factory girls face hardship on the home front, they will discover that the heroes they need are already by their side. 
__________________________________

Heroes on the Home Front

A wonderfully uplifting wartime story

THE SEVENTEENTH CLIFFEHAVEN NOVEL BY SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR ELLIE DEAN 
______________________________ 
 
Cliffehaven, 1945 
 
The war in Europe is over, but for Peggy Reilly and the residents of Beach View Boarding House the effects of the conflict are still far-reaching. 
 
Cockney evacuee, Ivy, and her sweetheart, Andy, are saving to get married and fulfil their dream of returning to the East End. But when tragedy strikes, Ivy is faced with a life-changing dilemma that only she can resolve. . . 
 
Rita also faces an impossible choice when her sweetheart Peter proposes and asks her to live with him in Australia - just as her widowed father returns from the fighting in Europe. 
 
Meanwhile Peggy must say goodbye to several of her evacuee chicks whilst she awaits the return of her family from Somerset and the news that her husband, Jim, can finally come home. 
 
It is a dream she has held onto for six long years, but fate has one more twist in store.

With Hope and Love

When Hetty Huggins made a promise to her dying mother that she would look after her younger sister and brothers, little did she know how difficult this would be. But despite the threat of being turned out onto the streets by the unscrupulous tallyman and the never-ending struggle just to exist, Hetty is determined her family will never starve or want for a roof over their heads. 
 
Longing for something better out of life than the daily grind of making matchboxes for a pittance, she dreams of setting up her own business. With the help of friends she sells hot potatoes on the streets and things begin to look up for them all. But when the tallyman comes calling, they are faced once more with a future full of hardship and despair ...

A Mother's Promise

Sometimes hope is all you need... 
Liverpool, 1917: When Irish seaman Michael Gallagher docks in Liverpool after years of fighting with the British Navy, he never expects to fall in love. But the moment he glimpses Stella Bennett standing on the quayside, all thoughts of returning to his homeland vanish. 
 
Determined to be together, the young couple defy Stella’s parents’ wishes. But their plans to marry are soon derailed by the arrival of baby Ginny. Her crop of fiery red hair plants a seed of doubt in her father’s mind and it’s not long before their world begins to fall apart. As Michael returns to Ireland, Stella dies unexpectedly, leaving Ginny to be brought up in the slums at the mercy of her grandmother. 
 
Will she escape the shackles of her new life and find a way back to her father?

A Kiss And A Promise

ESCAPIST ROMANCE FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR, DEBBIE MACOMBER 
 
 ‘Warm-hearted fiction … Debbie Macomber knows how to write an absorbing novel.' People’s Friend 
 
_________________________________________ 
Jenna Boltz is at a crossroads. 
 
She's spent the last twenty years raising two children on her own. But now as they start to embark on their own lives, Jenna can't help but wonder what her future holds. Will she find the kind of love she's always yearned for? 
 
Enter Dr Rowan Lancaster, who saves the day when Jenna's elderly mother suffers an accident. Though he keeps to himself, he is immediately smitten with Jenna. Jenna on the other hand, is determined to remain friends. Until her children approach her with shocking news that makes her question everything. 
 
If Jenna can learn to put herself first again, she might just discover a love that takes her beyond her wildest dreams.

Window on the Bay

***ORDER NOW*** A heart-warming tale of courage and sisterly love. Perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin. 
_______________________________ 
Margate, 1884: When seventeen-year-old Hannah Bentley fled the family home, she never dreamed she’d find her feet working as a nurse on the children’s ward at the Royal Sea Bathing Infirmary. She adores her patients and the sea air, and looks forward to a time when she’ll have put away enough money so her younger sister can join her. 
 
But when her sister suddenly turns up unannounced, she brings more trouble than Hannah bargained for. As Hannah is forced to risk everything to keep her sister out of trouble, she must somehow find the strength to save herself too… 
 
Praise for The Seaside Angel 
 
‘Grace’s skill is in bringing her characters vividly to life while maintaining an authentic historical background... It’s warmhearted and moving.’ Peterborough Evening Telegraph 
 
‘Evie Grace brings to life the hardships experienced by 17-year-old Hannah Bentley.’ Woman 
 
‘Delivering wonderfully vivid characters alongside expertly crafted detail…A heart-warming, relatable and redemptive read.’ Woman’s Own

The Seaside Angel

The first novel in the wonderful Factory Girls series. Perfect for fans of Nancy Revell and Ellie Dean. 
 
'A brilliantly written and uplifting WWII story' Nancy Revell, author of the Shipyard Girls series 
 
‘A delightful authentic-feeling saga’ Peterborough Telegraph 
 
‘Highlights the strength of women during the toughest of times…Clarke’s love and respect for her family’s roots really shines through’ Culture Fly 
 
'Beautifully written, the warmth shines from every page and the layers are as deep and rich as the coal seams the men work upon.' Frost Magazine 
_________________________________________ 
August 1941: As war sweeps across Britain and millions of men enlist to serve their country, it’s up to the women to fight the battle on the home front. 
 
Fran always thought she would marry her childhood sweetheart and lead a simple life in Massingham, the beloved pit village she has always called home. 
 
But with war taking so many men to the front line, the opening of a new factory in the north-east of England presents an opportunity for Fran to forge a new path. 
 
Against her father’s wishes and with best friends Sarah and Beth by her side, Fran signs up to join the ranks of women at the factory. It’s dangerous work but as the three friends risk life and limb for their country, they will discover that their lives are only just beginning… 
___________________________________________ 
 
Look out for the next book in the series, Heroes on the Home Front, available now!

Girls on the Home Front

An inspiring wartime story of friendship and courage

***THE SECOND NOVEL IN THE COMPELLING LIBERTY GIRLS SERIES. Perfect for fans of Nancy Revell, Elaine Everest, Nadine Dorries and Mr Selfridge.*** 
 
March, 1942: new mother Alice Milwood is itching to return to her job as a shop assistant at Liberty’s. 
 
Despite her husband still being missing in action, Alice is determined to give baby Arthur the best possible start. She soon settles back into the rhythm of life on the shop floor, and the Liberty Girls rally to help keep everything on an even keel. 
 
But when the American GIs start swarming into London, there are more complications to come. And each of the Liberty Girls has their own impossible storm to weather. 
 
As they each fight their battles on the home front, only their close friendship will give them the strength they need to carry on.

The Liberty Girls

Rosie Harris

She must risk it all to keep them safe... 
Liverpool 1920s: Michael Quinn the cobbler returns home after the First World War forever changed by his experiences on the front line. 
 
He moves his family from their comfortable home to live over a shop in Liverpool's notorious Scotland Road. Though admired and liked by his customers, behind closed doors he rules his family with a fist of steel. 
 
Fourteen-year-old Vera Quinn longs for a life of her own. But when their mother dies, she must keep house for her father Michael and her brothers, Eddy and young Benny. So begins a life of hardship, until an unexpected series of events leads Vera to discover she is far stronger than she could have ever known…

The Cobbler's Kids

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR, KATIE FLYNN 
 
‘Ellie’s a true Flynn heroine with her compassion and bravery. A fine Mother’s Day gift for fans’ Peterborough Evening Telegraph 
 
‘Packed with romance and poignancy’ Woman 
 
'Romantic and poignant… Fans of historical fiction will love the details and warmth of Katie Flynn’s wartime tale’ Woman’s Own 
________________________________________ 
Liverpool, 1940: There comes a moment in every child’s life when they must learn to stand on their own two feet. 
 
For fifteen-year-old Ellie Lancton, that time has come all too soon. The death of her mother and the increase in air raids leaves Ellie alone and in grave danger. It’s not long before she is forced to leave her beloved Liverpool behind and cross the Mersey to seek refuge in the countryside. 
 
But as the war takes comforts away, so too does it bring new opportunities; for work, new friendships, and perhaps a little love… 
 
 It will take all of Ellie’s courage to find her way without her mother’s guidance. But if Ellie can soldier on with grace and dignity, there might just be light at the end of the tunnel.

A Mother’s Love

An unforgettable historical fiction wartime story from the Sunday Times bestseller

***ORDER NOW*** THE SIXTH NOVEL IN THE COMPELLING SHIPYARD GIRLS SERIES FROM SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR, NANCY REVELL. 
 
‘Nancy Revell knows how to stir the passions and soothe the heart!’ Northern Echo 
 
Sunderland, 1942: Polly's heart and her future are hanging in the balance… 
 
Polly’s sweetheart Tommy has been declared missing while serving overseas, and although there is no certainty that he is dead, there is no guarantee that he will return home. Now Polly needs her friends more than ever, and the other women welders are ready to rally around her while she waits for news. 
 
The only one not showing support is shipyard manager, Helen. But looks can be deceiving, and beneath her cold exterior, Helen is wrestling with demons of her own, including one life-changing decision that could lead to potential ruin. 
 
As the war continues, the shipyard girls must support one another as they bravely soldier on. 
 
Praise for the Shipyard Girls series: 
 
'the author is one to watch' Sun 
 
‘A brilliant read’ Take a Break 
 
‘Well-drawn, believable characters combined with a storyline to keep you turning the pages’ Woman

Courage of the Shipyard Girls

Shipyard Girls 6

Maeve Binchy

'Maeve Binchy! I love her stories and have since Light a Penny Candle.' TOM HANKS 
_____________________ 
 
A FRIENDSHIP NOTHING COULD DESTROY. 
 
Evacuated from Blitz-battered London, the shy Elizabeth White is sent to stay with the O'Connor family in Kilgarret, Ireland, where she strikes up an unlikely friendship with the lively, boisterous Aisling O'Connor. 
 
Neither of them were to know it would become the most important friendship of their lives. Their bond is unshakeable, enduring over turbulent years of change and chaos, joy and sorrow, soaring dreams - and searing betrayals . . . 
 
With warmth, wit and great compassion, Maeve Binchy tells a magnificent story of two women, bound together in a friendship that nothing could tear apart - not even the man who threatened to come between them forever. 
_____________________ 
 
'What better books to raise the spirits than the gentle, insightful Irish tales of Maeve Binchy?' HELLO! Magazine 
'Wonderfully warm and involving' KATIE FFORDE 
'If any author can help you survive lockdown, it's Binchy' DAILY MAIL 
'I find myself yearning for the rain-soaked watercolour writing of Maeve Binchy' JENNY COLGAN, GUARDIAN Best Comfort Reads 
'Binchy's novels are never less than entertaining' SUNDAY TIMES

Light A Penny Candle

Despite living by the side of the Thames, with its noise, disease and dirt, eighteen-year-old Rosina May has wanted for little in life. Until her father's feud with a fellow bargeman threatens to destroy everything. To save them all, Rosina agrees to marry Harry, the son of a wealthy merchant. But a chance encounter with a handsome river pirate has turned her head and she longs to meet him again. 
 
When her father dies a broken man, Harry goes back on his promise and turns Rosina out onto the streets. She is forced to work the river herself, ferrying rubbish out of London and living rough. In spite of her hardships, she cannot forget her pirate and when tragedy threatens to strike once more she is forced to make a choice. But is she really prepared to risk everything for love?

The Constant Heart

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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