The author of The Most Fun We Ever Had returns with a brilliantly observed family drama, in which a long marriage faces imminent derailment from events both past and present 'I finished this wonderful book in floods of tears. What a joy to let a writer of such talent suffuse us with a life's worth of humour and pain, affection and mess' Jessie Burton'Witty and insightful. A powerful exploration of marriage, motherhood and self' Bonnie Garmus'One of those big, grown-up existential novels about parenthood and marriage and teenagers and friendship and family life . . . Both easy reading and profound at the same time, all of it cleverly brushed with wit and humour' Matt HaigAt fifty-seven, Julia Ames has found herself with an improbably lovely life. Despite her inclination towards self-sabotage, she has a husband she loves, two happy children and a quiet, contented existence in the suburbs.But, out of the blue, things begin to change.Her always well-behaved son is acting strangely. Her beloved but belligerent teenage daughter is about to depart for college.And, in the local grocery store, Julia encounters a woman she hasn't seen for twenty years - a woman whose friendship was once both her lifeline and, very nearly, her downfall.All of a sudden, Julia's peaceful family setup and her long, affection-filled marriage face imminent derailment from events both past and present.The author of The Most Fun We Ever Had returns with another brilliantly observed family drama, which examines the complete and complicated trajectory of one woman's life and asks what it takes to make - and to not break - a family. 'We are treated to our protagonist's complicated and revelatory inner life. I loved it' Eva Wiseman, Observer'It was such a pleasure to bury myself in this book. It moved and surprised me' Clare Chambers'Infidelity, dysfunction, secrets - this family novel delivers. Lombardo refashions domestic drama into something rich and strange, with echoes of Lorrie Moore's sardonic humour and Jonathan Franzen's dissection of class' New York Times Read more

‘Captured my heart from the very first page.’ Heidi Swain, Sunday Times bestselling authorEach morning as bookseller Florrie Appleton cycles along the promenade of her seaside hometown, watching the surfers far out in the bay, breathing in the fresh salty air, she counts herself lucky. She has a small but picture-perfect cottage overlooking the sea, a group of friends she can always rely on, and the job of her dreams at her favourite bookshop. But when tragedy strikes, her little slice of heaven is in danger of being lost forever.To save the bookshop from closure, Florrie finds herself thrown together with the elderly owner’s handsome grandson, Ed Hartes, who has a habit of making butterflies dance in her stomach. But the only romance Florrie has time for lies within the pages of her favourite novels, and her instincts are telling her to be wary. There’s something Ed’s keeping from her, and she can’t face another heartbreak.When Florrie stumbles upon a mysterious stash of yellowed letters in the storeroom, it seems Ed isn’t the only one with secrets. The old bookshop is full of stories waiting to be told and they aren’t only within the pages of the books....An uplifting, emotional feel-good read, perfect for fans of Jessica Redland, Jenny Colgan and Phillipa Ashley.Readers adore The Little Bookshop by the Sea:‘This is such a fabulous read!’ Kim the Bookworm‘A lovely story that just keeps you guessing right to the very end. Just wanted it to go on forever.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A book to make you feel warm inside.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Lovely characters. Beautiful story. The tissues had to come out!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Like a warm cup of coffee on a cold cloudy morning.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘A proper warm, feel-good read... some brilliant laugh-out-loud moments too.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Kept me enthralled from beginning to end. Would definitely recommend it.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘I couldn't put it down, such a lovely story.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐‘The plot, characters and setting were all enchanting.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Read more

A FAMILIAR FOE. A BATTLE FOR THE HEART OF A COUNTRY AT WAR WITH ITSELF.South Africa, 1899 - the smouldering hostility between the Boers of the Transvaal and Orange Free State and the British colonies of the Cape and Natal is about to burst into flame. War is coming and no one can prevent it. Colonel Penrod Ballantyne, hero of Abu Klea and Omdurman, is sent to Mafeking, 'the place of stones', to recruit and train men for the fighting ahead. Amber, his wife, the successful novelist, accompanies him - eager to see more of the country her husband is about to risk his life for. But when war is declared, Amber must flee with their baby son and pray for her husband's survival against impossible odds.Eight hundred miles to the south, in Cape Town, Ryder Courtney - adventurer, maverick, industrialist - is using his wealth and connections to bankroll the British war effort. His artist wife Saffron, frustrated by stuffy Cairo society, has joined him with their three children. There is peace in the Courtney household, or so Saffron believes, until their eldest son, Leon, stows away on a train to the front line, determined to join his distinguished uncle, Penrod Ballantyne, in changing the course of history. Saffron and Ryder have no choice but to leave the safety of the Cape Colony and follow. Leon is convinced that his parents are without honour and courage. Little does he realise that he has no chance of escaping the people they used to be. Two families torn apart, caught up in a battle for the heart of a country at war with itself.BOOK 24 IN THE LONG-RUNNING EPIC HISTORICAL SAGA OF THE COURTNEY FAMILY FROM WILBUR SMITH IN WHICH THE COURTNEYS AND THE BALLANTYNES COME TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN IN THE SEQUEL TO WORLDWIDE BESTSELLERS THE TRIUMPH OF THE SUN AND KING OF KINGS. Praise for Wilbur Smith'A master storyteller' Sunday Times'No one does adventure quite like Smith' Daily Mirror'Best historical novelist' Stephen King Read more

An inspiring, uplifting story of love and loss, courage and adventure, from the bestselling author of The Skylark’s Secret.1927. Violet Mackenzie-Grant is embarking on her dream of studying at the Edinburgh School of Gardening for Women. She doesn’t yet know that it’s a journey that will take her to Kathmandu and beyond, deep into captivating landscapes and cultures that are worlds away from everything and everyone she’s left behind in Scotland.2020. Daisy Laverock has dreamed of retracing the footsteps of her great-great-aunt Violet ever since discovering her long-lost journals, whose accounts of plant hunting in the 1930s inspired Daisy’s own career. Divorced, and facing an empty nest, Daisy decides to embark on the trip of a lifetime. She arrives in Nepal, ready to start trekking in the shadow of Everest. But fate, and the pandemic, have other plans.Stranded and alone, Daisy must fall back on the kindness of strangers, taking inspiration from Violet’s determination and resilience to keep going in the darkest of times. As she gradually pieces together the fragments of Violet’s story and uncovers long-held secrets, can Daisy finally reveal a path forward to her own future? Read more

From million-copy bestselling author Imogen Clark comes a story of two families, two babies and one maddeningly hot day that will change their lives forever.It’s the hottest day of the 1976 heatwave and there’s not a breath of fresh air in the labour ward at Lincoln County Hospital. Michelle is having her fourth child, a girl, while beloved husband Dean is sipping a cold pint in the pub. Their little house is already bursting at the seams, but Michelle is sure they’ll find a way to stretch their budget and continue life as a blissfully chaotic happy family. They name their new baby Donna.In the next bed, exhausted and wearing a perfectly impractical lace-trimmed white nightgown, Sylvie has just given birth to her first child at forty and wants to sleep, while her oblivious husband Jeremy hovers and suggests he sketch this ‘perfect moment’. The midwife thinks she’ll feel more like bonding with her baby when she’s had some rest, but Sylvie isn’t so sure. She and Jeremy call their daughter Leonora.When the two little girls are taken to their respective homes, the date of their birth seems to be the only thing to connect them. But one day, years in the future, their paths will cross again when Michelle comes looking for Sylvie—because something happened that blistering hot day, something they both deserve answers to… Read more

'One of my favourite reads of 2023... you just have to read it. Absolutely brilliant.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐When a ramshackle cliffside farmhouse comes on the market on the island of Anglesey, Nan Green is determined to make it the family home of her dreams. After convincing her reluctant husband Robin to make the move, Nan sets out to restore the tumbledown house to its former glory, just like she remembers it from childhood holidays on the island.As she settles into coastal life, Nan learns that her new home comes with a secret past that’s somehow connected to her mother, who won’t even step across the threshold and refuses to explain why. At the same time, Robin grows ever more distant, working away for weeks at a time, leaving her to care for their twin girls alone.Devoting all her energy to transforming the old house, Nan’s wounds gradually start to heal, new friendships grow, and family secrets are set free. Soon Nan learns that her dream was about more than a perfect home by the sea. It was about finding out how to finally be happy…Fans of Susanne O’Leary, Amanda Prowse, Liz Eeles and Sheila O’Flanagan will adore The Forgotten Farmhouse by the Sea.What readers are saying about The Forgotten Farmhouse by the Sea:'One of my most favourite reads of 2023... you just have to read it. Absolutely brilliant.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Outstanding... be prepared to shelve any other plans whilst you are reading this book.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Captured my heart... you won't want to put this one down!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Sweeps the reader away... you will cheer for our main character and love the description of her life in Anglesey... I read it in one sitting.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I literally binged it overnight… hits you right in the feels... gets a hearty recommendation from me!' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐‘Found myself reading late into the night... beautiful, compassionate.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Read it in one day… I just could not stop reading.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Truly marvellous... kept me pinned to the pages until the wee hours.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Love love love... draws you in immediately and gets you so invested in each character's story... could not recommend it enough!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Amazing... a lovely, cosy read for those autumn nights.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Beautifully written, captivating... grasps your attention to the very last page.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Read more

THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP BESTSELLER#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERSHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZELONGLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE'An utterly mesmerising novel..I absolutely loved this book' Bernardine Evaristo, winner of the Booker Prize 2019'Epic' Kiley Reid, O, The Oprah Magazine'Favourite book [of the] year' Issa RaePerfect for fans of Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston and Nella Larson.The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after growing up together in a small, southern black community and running away at age sixteen, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their communities, their racial identities. Ten years later, one sister lives with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen to the next generation, when their own daughters' story lines intersect?Weaving together multiple strands and generations of this family, from the Deep South to California, from the 1950s to the 1990s, Brit Bennett produces a story that is at once a riveting, emotional family story and a brilliant exploration of the American history of passing. Looking well beyond issues of race, The Vanishing Half considers the lasting influence of the past as it shapes a person's decisions, desires, and expectations, and explores some of the multiple reasons and realms in which people sometimes feel pulled to live as something other than their origins. Read more

From the million-copy bestselling author of In a Single Moment and Where the Story Starts comes a gripping tale of secrets, lies, and the unbreakable bonds of family. When Eve returns to her family home Fox House, the tension with her mother, Agatha, is palpable. But when Eve’s daughter, Lyra, and her granddaughter, Skye, arrive unexpectedly, four generations of women under one roof set the stage for explosive revelations. Lyra seems troubled, but refuses to explain why. And when she lays claim to the crumbling cottage on the estate, Agatha drops a bombshell – she’s already promised it to a mysterious man named Dylan. Who is Dylan, and why has Agatha kept him hidden? As the family unravels, so do their closely-guarded secrets. But when the truth finally comes to light, will it heal the wounds between them – or tear their fragile bonds apart forever? A Borrowed Path is an unforgettable novel that will leave you wondering just how well we really know the ones we love. Read more

As read on BBC Radio 4A Sunday Times Best Book of 2025An Observer Best Debut of 2025'Compassionate, lyrical and full of devilment' - Louise Kennedy, author of Trespasses'A joy . . . vivid, loving and genuinely funny' The Sunday Times'I didn't want it to ever end' Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious ThingsIn 1973 on the west coast of Ireland, a baby is found abandoned on the beach. Who is he? Where is he from? What changes will he bring?Ambrose, a local fisherman, is far more interested in who he will become and – with a curious community looking on – takes the baby home and adopts him. But for Declan, the baby’s new brother, this arrival is surely bad news. Rivalries can be decades in the making . . .Set over twenty years, Garrett Carr’s The Boy from the Sea is about a restless boy trying to find his place in the world, and a town caught in the storm of a rapidly approaching future.Readers love The Boy from the Sea:'Left me feeling warm and satisfied when I finished it and I’ve thought about it daily since then' *****'Books are meant to change you, to shape you, and to heal you, and The Boy from the Sea does all those things' *****'You feel like you’re right there in the village' *****'Stunning. I found myself waking up at 5am because I was desperate to read more' *****'Felt like I was stepping off life's treadmill and immersing myself in another world' ***** Read more

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

In this haunting tale from the bestselling author of The Storyteller of Casablanca, Beatrice kept a wartime secret to protect the innocent. Now, could telling it set her free?Tuscany, 1943. Stranded in war-ravaged Italy, Beatrice’s dream of an escapist year teaching English is shattered. Granted shelter at the Villa delle Colombe, she seeks refuge in Francesca and Edoardo’s beautiful walled garden, hidden from the outside world, with an elaborate cypress maze at its heart.But Beatrice is not the only one seeking an escape here. Francesca has brought children to the safety of the house, as well as other adults, all of them seeking sanctuary on the estate with its mysterious maze. As the war closes in, the residents are forced to witness—and do—unthinkable things…2015. Tess arrives at the villa raw from the agonising loss of her husband. Beatrice, now custodian, guides her to the solace of its gardens, where Tess begins to heal. But all hope of peace is shattered by the arrival of Marco, the estate’s absent owner, who wants nothing more than to hand it over to developers.Distraught, Beatrice realises she must finally reveal the villa’s painful past if she wants to save it. As the extraordinary story unfolds, Tess realises that Villa delle Colombe is not just a refuge, but a beacon of hope in the darkest of times. Can she convince Marco to give it a new lease of life—and find a way back to happiness herself? Read more

Enjoy three unforgettable historical family sagas in beautiful Scotland, all in one great-value box set.With war on the horizon, follow spirited Victoria Lachlan’s journey as she fights for her future in an ever-changing world threatening to tear all she loves apart.These page-turning historical sagas are perfect for fans of Colleen McCullough, Tania Crosse, Nadine Dorries, Carole Llewellyn and Susie Murphy.Nestled amongst the wild and untamed beauty of the Scottish Highlands, Victoria has lived in the village of Darlonachie her whole life. Despite its grand yet fading castle, bustling farms, fields of swaying heather and close-knit community, she’s always felt like an outsider and wishes to escape. But the changing seasons bring about the promise of new beginnings, as war, love and betrayal will shape the lives of everyone who calls the village home.‘Featuring an unflinching portrayal of both the joys and sorrows encountered in that world and way of life.’ Booklist‘Romance with a capital R.’ Manchester Evening NewsREADERS LOVE THE HIGHLANDS SAGAS:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I have never cried over a book before but this one had me in tears this was a great read.’ Pamela R.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I enjoyed every word of this gripping story.’ Kindle Reader.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The story was intriguing there were times I felt joy, sadness, anger, pride and many other emotions.’ Peggy D.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A very well written book. Made my heart yearn for home. Loved the whole series.’ Sheila K.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Just loved reading all the books by Gwen Kirkwood just could not put them down once I started reading.’ Shirlgirl.BOOK 1: SECRETS IN THE HEATHER1935.When Victoria Lachlan’s devoted great-grandmother dies, she is taken in by the Pringle family. They accept her with open arms, none more so than steadfast and kind-hearted Andrew Pringle, who becomes her closest companion. But when Victoria discovers a shocking truth about her heritage, faces from the past emerge that threaten to tear her and Andrew apart. With war looming, Victoria is torn between duty and her heart as she is forced to make an impossible choice.BOOK 2: CALL OF THE HEATHER1939.World War Two is on the horizon. Victoria and Andrew are expecting their second child, but they find their lives pulled in different directions. Andrew is determined to build a future for their growing family at Langmune Farm, whereas Victoria is stuck in the past, yearning to know more about where she truly came from. But when the war brings tragedy to their doorstep and the man she loves drifts beyond her reach, Victoria must decide where her heart truly belongs — before she loses everything she holds dear.BOOK 3: WHEN THE HEATHER BLOOMS1950s.The war has passed and Victoria and Andrew have built a beautiful life together. But the past refuses to stay buried. An unexpected letter from Edinburgh arrives, finally giving Victoria the answers she’s spent her whole life searching for. As she struggles to come to terms with the truth, Andrew faces growing tensions at Langmune Farm, where a new manager arrives with his own ambitions — and a dangerous interest in Victoria. As unresolved secrets and old wounds resurface, Victoria and Andrew must face the ultimate test of love and loyalty.The Highlands Sagas are three heartwarming tales of love, secrets and survival, set in the enchanting Scottish Highlands.Please note this series was previously published as the Secrets in the Heather series. Read more

From the bestselling author of The Secret Midwife comes a story of bravery, sacrifice and resilience in war-torn Berlin—and two sisters who will risk it all to make a difference.Berlin, 1943: Ava Müller is a proud supporter of the German war effort, working for Joseph Goebbels alongside her father, a high-ranking official in the Reich. With her sister Hanna, a nurse, braving bombing raids to save lives, they are a model Nazi family. Until Ava discovers her parents and Hanna are secretly working for the resistance…Returning to their country home, Ava is shocked to find her childhood friend Eliana Goldman and her family hidden in the attic. Suddenly she faces a stark choice: denounce her family, as she’s been taught, or betray her country. She knows only too well what happens to traitors—but as Eliana’s story of terror at the hands of the Nazis unravels, Ava realises her loyalty to the regime has blinded her to the horrifying truth.Drawn into the resistance network alongside Hanna, Ava begins the dangerous work of undermining the Reich from within its own headquarters. Relying on each other for courage and resilience, the sisters must risk their own lives to save others, knowing that every day brings them one step closer to making the ultimate sacrifice…Heartbreaking, hopeful and thought-provoking, this is a powerful work of fiction inspired by those who chose to fight the Nazis from within Germany and the events that followed. Read more

The gripping saga from the Sunday Times top ten bestselling author of The Workhouse Girl. At just eleven years old, Stella Barry is torn from her poverty-stricken mother and thrust into service.One Sunday, she returns home for a longed-for visit to find her family have been evicted from their lodgings. And have vanished without a trace.Seven years later, plucky, determined Stella has thrived. But when terrible circumstances force her to flee, with no references and only a few personal possessions, she knows she'll need all her strength to survive.Setting out on her own, can Stella finally find her family, and the loving home she’s always dreamed of?READERS LOVE DILLY COURT:‘Truly riveting… It has everything to keep you spellbound. What a talented author. I read until my eyes drooped.’‘Full of wonder, drama and romance. A very easy and enticing read with a wonderful ending.’‘So touching and gripping… amazing where love takes you. Could not stop reading.’‘Twists and turns on every page, drawing me into the heartaches and dilemmas…’'Her characters are like old friends' Read more

All her mother left her was a clue to a family secret. But is it a mystery best left unsolved?For decades Emma Bowen has hoped she and her mother, Margaret, might find a way back into each other’s lives. Even as a child, her strongest connection to her mother was a painting Margaret created before Emma was born, of a little girl lost in a maze. So when Margaret dies, gifting the painting to a total stranger, Emma is consumed by grief—for her mother, the little girl, and the relationship they never had.Clearing out her mother’s seaside flat, Emma is faced with a mountain of possessions and paperwork from a life she knows so little about. When she discovers something that throws doubt over everything she’s ever been told about Margaret’s past, Emma must decide whether to pull at the thread of secrets and lies. Will the truth help her through her grief—or reveal a loss that runs deeper than she ever imagined?Revised edition: Previously published as The Girl in the Maze, this edition of The Girl in the Midnight Maze includes editorial revisions. Read more

Eight captivating and emotional historical sagas. Over 2300 pages. A decade of love and loss in Victorian England.These gritty historical sagas are perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Chrissie Walsh, AnneMarie Brear, Lindsey Hutchinson, Anna Jacobs, Rosie Goodwin or Tania Crosse.Escape into the world of Tildy Seymour — a fierce, working-class woman determined to survive as she finds herself pregnant and alone.MEET TILDYOrphan Matilda “Tildy” Seymour already knows that the world is no friend to a poor girl without family. Yet she carries herself with pride and dignity in her position as a maid to a clergyman and his wife.When the cruel Tom Crawford takes advantage of Tildy, she is forced to marry the very man who ruined her. Trapped with an abusive husband, she finds the courage to escape and start a new life as a nurse in a workhouse infirmary. But as the Industrial Revolution transforms England, Tildy finds her life as precarious as before.But Tildy knows she will do anything to make sure she — and her child — survive.READERS LOVE THE COMPELLING TILDY SEYMOUR SAGAS:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Very good book — I was unable to put it down.’ Kith R.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Tildy reveals the power of the will to survive and the strength of women to persevere . . . Lots of strong historical detail and events pepper the landscape of the novels.’ Michelle B.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘An excellent series.’ Pauline M.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I'm devouring them quickly they are so good.’ Fay D.⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved this book. It gripped me from the first page.’ A. ClarkGET *EIGHT* GRITTY AND HEARTFELT HISTORICAL SAGAS IN THIS AMAZING-VALUE BOX SET. Read more

The beautiful family drama from the international bestselling author of THE MURDERS AT FLEAT HOUSE and The Seven Sisters series 'Stunning, enchanting, evocative. You can feel the wind in your hair' 5***** Reader Review'A beautiful story, brilliantly woven through generations' 5***** Reader Review'Takes you on a journey. Beautifully written' 5***** Reader Review ________How did one secret cause a century of heartache?Walking along the windswept cliffs of Ireland, Grania Ryan meets young Aurora.Mysteriously drawn to her, Grania discovers that their families are strangely and deeply entwined.From a bittersweet romance in wartime London, to a troubled relationship in contemporary New York, the two families, past and present, have been entangled for a century.Can Aurora help Grania understand the past, and change her future?From wartime London, through modern day New York and to the windswept cliffs of Ireland, The Girl on the Cliff is a sweeping tale of love, loss and hope.________Praise for Lucinda Riley 'Thoroughly addictive storytelling with a moving, emotional heart' Dinah Jefferies'A brilliant page-turner' Daily Mail'An absolutely fantastic storyteller' Katherine Webb'Brilliant escapism' Red Read more

The BRAND NEW instalment in Lizzie Lane's bestselling Coronation Close series.As the war rages, the women must keep the home fires burning…Bristol 1941Coronation Close survives the brutal Bristol Blitz but with rationing, call up papers and new rules and regulations everyone’s lives are changed forever.Resident do-gooder PC Percy Routledge's obsession with rules being upheld finds him spying and reporting fellow neighbours on the slightest infraction whilst his poor brow-beaten wife, Margaret can only watch on in shameful silence. It’s whispered that one day he’ll get his comeuppance…Times are hard for everyone and Thelma Dawson certainly has her fair share of upset. Devastating news arrives that her son Charlie’s ship has been torpedoed and sank in the Atlantic, his whereabout unknown. Will he ever return to his wife and their unborn child? Meanwhile, seventeen years old daughter Mary has had her head turned by a certain overseas soldier. But where will temptation lead them?Tough times, it seems, are here to stay and the women of Coronation Close all have their own battles and problems to overcome. As friendships are nurtured and relationships are tested, tragedy strikes and some home truths need to be faced.Perfect for the fans of Rosie Clarke, Fenella Miller and Kitty NealeIf you love Coronation Close, you'll love Lizzie's other series - try The Tobacco Girls and The Orchard Cottage HospitalPraise for Lizzie Lane:'Couldn't put this down. Very enjoyable read can't wait till the next book in the series love this author always enjoy her books get very enthralled with them' - Reader Review'A gripping saga and a storyline that will keep you hooked' - Rosie Goodwin'Great book. So easy to pick up but difficult to put down' - Reader Review'Another heartwarming tale of love and friendship and a must-read for all saga fans' - Jean Fullerton'Packed with vivid historical detail which brings this book to life. I will be first in the queue for the next instalment.' - Fenella J Miller'It was fabulous. I got so taken up with the families and I just felt I could see the houses they lived in and the streets where they grew up.' - Reader Review'Brilliant read. Addicted to this author, story based in Bristol & is compulsive reading especially if you are Bristol born. Love the characters & plot' - Reader Review'Great read. A story of hardship, poverty, friendship and loyalty. A family living in slums not knowing where their next meal was coming from.' - Reader Review' I love the families of Coronation Close. A great series of a time where neighbours were like family, times were so different' - Reader Review'Excellent. Another excellent book in the series. Love to read how all the people on the street are doing. Looking forward to the next book' - Reader Review Read more

In the shadow of Birmingham's smoke-filled skies, a mother's desperate choice threatens to shatter everything she holds dear...Widow Katherine Foley fled Ireland's cruel famine with nothing but her children and her pride, only to find England's promised streets are paved with thorns, not gold. When her beloved daughter Rose falls ill, Katherine faces an impossible choice: stay in Birmingham, watching her child fade day by day, or risk everything on a dangerous gamble that could save her family—or destroy it forever.The glittering Crystal Palace rises in London like a beacon of hope, but its pristine glass walls hide darker temptations. As Katherine navigates a world of gentleman's promises and working-class struggles, two men emerge from the shadows: the charming neighbour whose kindness masks deeper yearnings, and a mysterious baker's son whose gentle eyes speak of possibilities she dare not imagine.But in Victorian England, a woman's reputation is as fragile as spun glass, and the price of survival may cost Katherine more than she's willing to pay. With her children's futures hanging by a thread, she must decide: will she sacrifice her heart to save her family?Amidst prejudice and poverty, one woman's courage will redefine what it means to be a mother.The Slum Mother's Sacrifice weaves a spellbinding tale of love, loss, and the lengths a mother will go to protect those she holds dear. This unforgettable story will capture your heart and leave you breathless until the final page. Read more

She was the cook's daughter. He was the heir to a fortune. Their love would shake a dynasty to its foundations.Fate dealt Hazel Matthews a cruel hand when the sea claimed her husband, leaving her alone, with child, and desperate for survival. Seeking refuge in Manchester's unforgiving streets, she finds work as a cook in the imposing Dewar estate. But it's her daughter Alice's innocent friendship with young Master Silas Dewar that ignites a story of forbidden love that will span decades.Silas, a frail boy haunted by illness and family secrets, finds in Alice the one person who sees beyond his weakness to the strength of his spirit. Yet their pure connection threatens the carefully guarded plans of those around them—especially the shadowy Uncle Buddy, whose sinister motives run deeper than anyone suspects.As Victorian England grapples with Darwin's revolutionary ideas about mankind's origins, Alice and Silas face their own evolution of heart and soul. Torn apart by class divisions, family deception, and malicious schemes, they cling to a childhood promise that seems impossibly out of reach. In a world determined to keep them apart, will their faith in each other be enough to light the way through darkness?A sweeping tale of love, faith, and courage that proves the human heart recognizes no boundaries of class or circumstance. Perfect for readers who believe that true love, like faith itself, can move mountains. Read more