The 32nd fostering memoir from international bestseller Cathy GlassStruggling to cope with three young children, Janie turns to experienced foster carer Cathy Glass. Helping the family each morning, Cathy soon uncovers how dangerous their situation has truly become.Riley and his two little siblings, Jayden and Lola, are not safe at home.With all three children in her care, will Cathy be able to rebuild their lives – and Janie’s?Cathy Glass's book 'Helpless' was a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2024-09-02. Read more

* The new Sunday Times bestseller *'It's ok, Felix, don't worry. We're going to find your mummy.'When newborn baby Felix is found abandoned at a train station, the police launch a desperate search for his mum. It doesn't take long for their inquiries to lead them to Emily.While baby Felix is placed in Maggie's care, the police and Social Services try and work out why Emily, a single mum, who has gone through fertility treatment to get pregnant, has suddenly resorted to abandoning her much longed-for child.But it's only when Maggie wins her trust that Emily reveals the extent of her secret. Can Maggie help a desperate mother and her baby reunite?From Britain's best-loved foster carer, a new and inspiring true story of secrets and hope.*****Readers LOVE Maggie Hartley:'Wow! I did not want this book to end. This story was unlike any other' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reader review'Very gripping and powerful read... makes you see what can be going on behind closed doors' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Amazon reader review Read more

SARA SHARIF is the most recent victim of child murder whose name has become the focus of media attention.But with 2 children per week in the UK and 27 children per week in the US being abused to death by their caregivers, I’m on a mission to raise awareness and protect children — will you join me?This thought-provoking collection of eight heartfelt stories, written in the children’s voices, avoids sensationalism, but does not shy away from the facts, and will appeal to those who care about preventing the suffering of innocent children, including:Baby P – just 17 months old when his mother’s boyfriend and his brother abused and murdered him, while his mother sat by, surfing the internet.Sylvia Likens – a shy teenager who loved The Beatles, whose foster mother encouraged the neighbourhood children to humiliate and torture her.This in-depth look behind the headlines explores why parents commit these horrific crimes, warning signs to look out for, and steps towards prevention.A portion of royalties is donated to child abuse prevention charities.Not suitable for children, nor those who find depictions of children’s suffering deeply upsetting. Read more

Born in a prison and removed from his drug-dependent mother, rejection is all that 7-year-old Alex knows.When Cathy is asked to foster little Alex, aged 7, her immediate reaction is: Why can’t he stay with his present carers for the last month? He’s already had many moves since coming into care as a toddler and he’ll only be with her a short while before he goes to live with his permanent adoptive family. But the present carers are expecting a baby and the foster mother isn’t coping, so Alex goes to live with Cathy.He settles easily and is very much looking forward to having a forever family of his own. The introductions and move to his adoptive family go well. But Alex is only with them for a week when problems begin. What happens next is both shocking and upsetting, and calls into question the whole adoption process.Cathy Glass's book 'Helpless' was a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2024-09-02. Read more

THE INSTANT TOP FIVE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER!'Utterly beautiful. I adored it' JOANNA CANNON'Hugely uplifting and wonderful' AJ PEARCE'Bursting with hope' JENNIE GODFREYSometimes finding your place in the world is the greatest puzzle of all...Clayton Stumper is an enigma.He might be twenty-five years old, but he dresses like your grandad and drinks sherry like your aunt.Abandoned at birth on the steps of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, he was raised by the sharpest minds in the British Isles and finds himself amongst the last survivors of a fading institution. When the esteemed crossword compiler, Pippa Allsbrook, passes away, she bestows her final puzzle to him: a promise to reveal the mystery of his parentage and prepare him for his future. Yet as Clay begins to unpick the clues, he uncovers something even the Fellowship have never been able to solve - and it's a secret that will change everything...***Readers are loving The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers!'Absolutely wonderful. A beautiful story of love and friendship' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Quirky and joyful. A delight to read with lovely characters' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A charming tale. Original and uplifting and an absolute ode to not just friendship but fellowship' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Such a joyful book. A unique storyline, the characters are wonderful and it's really uplifting' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Truly, the most joyous of books!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Read more

The new fostering memoir from the Sunday Times bestselling author Casey WatsonSix-year-old Amelie lives with her mother, Kelly, who suffers from bipolar disorder. After Kelly attempts to burn down their family house, it becomes clear that her daughter is in grave danger. Amelie is quickly taken into care.When she arrives with foster carer Casey Watson, Amelie acts much younger than her age. Casey must get to the root of Amelie’s behaviour, while doing what she can to keep the family together.Will Amelie ever find the safety of home?Casey Watson's book 'Little Girl Lost' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2024-03-25. Read more

The story of Kathleen's escape from incarceration in an institution for "fallen women."In 1974, the shadows of the Magdalene laundry still haunt Kathleen as she daringly escapes from a life of oppression. Now on the run, the priest is hot on her trail. As the priest's attention shifts to other lost souls, the consequences are nothing short of devastating.Meanwhile, a famous American actress and her wealthy husband have arrived in Ireland to adopt a baby and discover an unexpected offer they cannot refuse. Will it turn out to be a dream come true or a nightmare waiting to unfold?Enter the O’Sullivans, a struggling Catholic family in Belfast battling the weight of poverty and the turmoil of the Troubles. With a fifth child adding to their financial strain and ostracised by their Protestant neighbours, their house is about to be petrol-bombed. The couple face a momentous choice––hope the conflict will pass or leave everything they know behind for a new life. Desperation drives Mrs O’Sullivan to come up with a plan that offers the family a glimmer of hope, but at what price?Inspired by true events, this is a powerful story of joy and sorrow uncovering the profound and catastrophic effects of the Irish Troubles, the Catholic Church’s practices in Ireland and the systemic abuse by those in positions of authority.For fans of Philomena, the book that inspired the Academy Award-nominated film, starring Judi Dench and Steve Coogan. Read more

⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I was gripped throughout, falling in deep, empathetic love with the characters.’ P.H., Amazon reader‘Has that rare ability to write about love, motherhood and friendship without sentimentality.’ Val McDermid‘Complex and satisfying.’ The Sunday Times‘Warm, compassionate and engrossing.’ Yorkshire Evening PostThree babies born the same night — to three young mothers, worlds apart but connected by fate.Discover the heart-wrenching and utterly unforgettable story of three young mothers, and the precious baby girls they gave away.Manchester, 1960.When you’re young, unmarried and pregnant, in a shaming society that will never understand, there’s only one place left to go. St Ann’s mother and baby home.That’s how restless Joan, who dreams of a glamorous new life in the Big Smoke, finds herself shut away with two unlikely new roommates: spirited Megan and timid country-girl Caroline, who fell pregnant on her first time. Abandoned by their families, they have no one to rely on but each other, as they wait out the days before they birth their babies — only to be parted from them forever.On a sultry May night, before the stroke of midnight, three baby girls are born — and given away to three eagerly waiting families.But for Joan, Megan and Caroline, birth is just the beginning. Try as they might to move on with life beyond the convent walls, their mistakes have a way of catching up with them.When the past comes knocking, the three women are forced to confront the choices they made. Will they ever be reunited with their lost daughters?Please note this book was previously published as Trio.Readers of Shirley Dickson, Freda Lightfoot, Sally Worboyes, Bill Kitson, Tania Crosse, Pam Howes and Sold on a Monday are sure to be swept away by this emotional family saga, spanning four decades and three generations. Just be sure you have a box of Kleenex at the ready . . .Readers are losing their hearts to The Lost Girls of St Ann’s:‘Engrossing.’ Sunday Telegraph⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I love books about women’s strength, society and human emotion. The Lost Girls had it all!’ Grace‘Poignant and true to life. I couldn’t put it down.’ Maureen Crank, CEO of After Adoption‘A captivating story filled with tears, tragedy, humour and happiness.’ Booklist‘Intelligent and emotionally engaging.’ Daily Telegraph⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘As I turned the pages I kept sobbing, sometimes with sheer joy and relief and sometimes with deep sorrow . . . Staincliffe’s powers of observation are acute.’ P.H.‘Homespun, humane, deeply satisfying . . . Staincliffe writes brilliantly and compassionately about things that matter.’ Literary Review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I hated having to put this book down. An emotional read.’ Mary⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Really enjoyed this book . . . a very engaging read.’ GertrudeALSO BY CATH STAINCLIFFEDETECTIVE JANINE LEWIS MYSTERIESBook 1: BLUE MURDERBook 2: HIT AND RUNBook 3: MAKE BELIEVEBook 4: DESPERATE MEASURES Read more

'Could I do that, Maggie? Could I find my mum?'Sixteen-year-old Rebecca has been in care all her life, bouncing from foster carers and children's homes without ever having a permanent home to call her own. Social Services are at a loss as to what to do with the troubled teenager. Prone to violent outbursts and sudden, uncontrollable tantrums, Rebecca has never spent more than a few months in any one placement. When she comes to live with foster carer Maggie Hartley, it seems like there is little hope of Rebecca ever finding a long-term home. Her strange behaviour and sudden flashes of anger present challenges unlike any Maggie has ever seen before.But when a secret from Rebecca's past finally comes to light, it seems that Maggie has finally found the root of this vulnerable girl's out-of-control behaviour. Can Maggie help Rebecca come to terms with her past and realise she's not to blame?A true story of hope from Sunday Times bestselling author Maggie Hartley, a foster carer for over 20 years.'I loved this book' 5* Amazon reader review Read more

APRIL 2024 REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICKLONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2020AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'A literary love child of Jonathan Franzen and Anne Tyler . . . outstanding and highly enjoyable' Observer'The Most Fun We Ever Had is as good as books come' Telegraph'I loved this book' Bryony Gordon'The perfect, engrossing holiday read' RED'A gripping and poignant ode to a messy, loving family in all its glory' Madeline Miller'A moving, immersive, often very funny study of family and sisterhood' Sunday Times'Like Meg Wolitzer. A forensic dissection of family past and present, I loved it. If you like reading about relationships, this one is for you.' Pandora SykesMEET THE SORENSON FAMILY.MARILYN has somehow fallen into motherhood and spent four decades married toDAVID, who's pretty certain he loves her more than anyone has ever loved another person.WENDY, their eldest, a cause for concern, soothes herself with drink after being widowed young,while VIOLET, lawyer-turned-stay-at-home-mother, is disturbed by the reappearance of a son placed for adoption fifteen years earlier.LIZA, a professor, is pregnant with a baby she's not sure she wants by a man she's not sure she lovesand GRACE, their dawdling youngest daughter, lives a lie that no one in her family suspects. Read more

Damian longs for home, but one man stands in his way …Damian is just seven when he is taken in by foster carer Cathy Glass. His mother, Rachel, loves her three young children dearly, but she is vulnerable, naive and unable to cope on her own.Cathy sets about helping Damian overcome his eating issues, with the hope that he will eventually return home. But when Rachel’s new boyfriend, Troy, arrives on the scene, Cathy becomes deeply concerned. She soon realises that Damian and his siblings are in great danger …Cathy Glass's book 'Helpless' was a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2024-09-02. Read more

Featured on BBC Radio 4 Woman's HourA Daily Mail Book of the Year'A warm and wonderful story' Adele ParksRunner-up for the Paul Torday Memorial PrizeIt’s the heatwave summer of 1976 and 14-year-old would be poet Jackie Chadwick is newly fostered by the Walls. She desperately needs stability, but their insecure, jealous teenage daughter isn't happy about the cuckoo in the nest and sets about ousting her.When her attempts to do so lead to near-tragedy – and the Walls’ veneer of middle-class respectability begins to crumble – everyone in the household is forced to reassess what really matters.Funny and poignant, Cuckoo in the Nest is inspired by Fran Hill’s own experience of being fostered. A glorious coming of age story set in the summer of 1976.'Fresh, authentic and darkly funny. I absolutely loved it' Ruth Hogan, bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things'Illuminating and tender' WI Life magazine'Vivid, funny, nostalgic and utterly charming' Veronica Henry'Laugh out loud funny, yet heartbreakingly sad' Frances Quinn'Totally evokes a seventies childhood' Joanna Nadin'This made my soul sing! Witty, poignant and full of heart' Jessica Ryn'Poignant and uplifting' Jane Bettany'Brilliantly written, I was hooked straight away' Premier Magazine'Sometimes a character stays with me long after I've closed the book, and Jackie, the hilariously sarcastic but touchingly vulnerable heroine of this wonderful coming of age novel, is one of them' Heat Magazine'An original voice, and a wonderful book for readers to discover' Gaby Koppel'It's so difficult to do funny and moving but Fran Hill nails it… I enjoyed every word of it' Trevor Wood'A heartbreaking and yet funny novel written with honesty and yet real empathy' Anna Domingo'A wonderfully rich novel that is filled with warmth, humour and charm' Anne Cater, Random Things Through My Letterbox Read more

A TIMES and INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER WINNER OF THE IRISH NOVEL PRIZE Soon to be a major BBC film starring Sir Lenny Henry, Malachi Kirby, Monica Dolan, Olivia Williams and Christopher Eccleston. It's 1981, a year of riots and royal weddings. The Dukes of Hazzard is on TV. Curly Wurlys are in the shops. And trying to find a place in it all is nine-year-old Leon. He and his little brother Jake have gone to live with Maureen. They've lost one home, but have they found another? Maureen feeds and looks after them. She has wild red hair and mutters swearwords under her breath when she thinks they can't hear. She claims everything will be okay. But will they ever see their mother again? Who are the couple who secretly visit Jake? Between the street violence and the street parties, Leon must find a way to reunite his family . . . 'Startlingly funny. Balances the gritty with the feel good' Observer 'Vivid and endearing - a very powerful book' Emma Healey, bestselling author of Elizabeth is Missing 'Authentic and beautiful, urgent and honest, this novel makes room in your heart' Chris Cleave, bestselling author of The Other Hand SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD & THE DESMOND ELLIOT PRIZE Read more

The new fostering memoir from the Sunday Times bestselling author Casey WatsonWith his young mother in and out of prison, Sammy has been in care since he was nine years old. Left feeling entirely alone, he has never had a proper safe haven.There is one person looking out for Sammy: his neighbour, ‘Uncle Kenny’. But while Sammy may turn to Kenny for comfort, alarm bells soon start to ring for experienced foster carer Casey Watson…Will Casey be able to save Sammy before it’s too late?Casey Watson's book 'Little Girl Lost' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2024-03-25. Read more

“I was two when the woman I called Mummy told me, ‘You came out of another mummy’s tummy.’ I grew up thinking that my birth mother didn’t want me. I assumed there must’ve been something inherently wrong with me – why else would a mother give up her baby?”In 1974, Liz Harvie – born Claire Elaine Watts – was given up for adoption by her birth mother Yvonne. Claire spent the first ten days of her life with Yvonne before being placed in a foster home. Almost eight weeks later, Claire’s adoptive parents collected her from the foster home – and renamed her Elizabeth.Although brought up in a ‘perfect’ household, the emotional – and physical – trauma of being taken from her biological mother would never leave Liz. She constantly wondered: what does my real mum look like? Will she come back for me? Why did she abandon me?Years later, aged 28, Liz reconnected with her birth mother – and finally learned the shocking truth surrounding her adoption. Yvonne had not abandoned her daughter. As a young unmarried mum, Yvonne had been deemed unfit as a parent and been made to give up her child against her will.Liz was one of at least 185,000 victims of forced adoption between 1949 and 1976 in England and Wales. Although reunited, Liz and Yvonne are still struggling to cope with the agony resulting from their devastating separation.-‘All those feelings, the injustices, the pain. Brava, Liz, for your hard work to help others and well done for allowing yourself to travel through such a challenging journey. Thank you from a fellow adoptee.’ Louise Allen, author of Thrown Away Child and the Thrown Away Children series Read more

The eleventh instalment in the popular Thrown Away Children paperback series.Michelle and Andy are thrilled to be fast-tracked into fostering and are quickly paired with 7-year-old Milo – whom they hope will complete their family, making a ‘pigeon pair’ with their older daughter, Grace.But Milo tears through their home like a raging tornado, destroying a beautiful interior – and their lives.Their dream of a new homelife costs Michelle her job, thousands of pounds in damages to their home and car, and leaves them with a traumatised daughter in need of professional support.What are the secrets of his violent and destructive behaviours? Experienced foster carer Louise Allen steps in. Can she uncover the little boy’s disturbing past and help him? Read more

Evie and Elliot are scrawny, filthy and wide-eyed with fear when they turn up on foster carer Maggie Hartley's doorstep. Aged just two and three years old, this brother and sister have hardly set foot outside their own home. They have been prisoners, locked in a terrifying world of abuse, violence and neglect.Maggie soon realises that Evie and Elliot are lacking the basic life skills we all take for granted. The outside world terrifies them; the sound of the doorbell sends them into a panic that takes hours to abate. Gradually unlocking the truth of their heart-breaking upbringing, Maggie tells their shocking true story.From emotionally scarred and damaged little children, we see how - with warmth and dedication - Maggie transforms their lives. As this moving story unfolds, we share Maggie's joy when these children finally smile again, when they realise they do have a future after all.A true story of hope from Sunday Times bestselling author Maggie Hartley, a foster carer for over 20 years.*Tiny Prisoners was originally published in 2016*'I truly recommend anyone to read her books' 5* reader review Read more

Jackson is aggressive, confrontational and often volatile. His mother, Kayla, is crippled with grief after tragically losing her husband and eldest son. Struggling to cope, she puts Jackson into foster care.Cathy, his carer, encourages Jackson to talk about what has happened to his family, but he just won’t engage. His actions continue to test and worry everyone.Then, in a dramatic turn of events, the true reason for Jackson’s behaviour comes to light …Cathy Glass's book 'Helpless' was a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2024-09-02. Read more

The harrowing true story of the young boy who captured the heart of the nation when he testified in court, to find justice against those responsible for his brother’s death.Terry O’Neill was just ten years old when he stood up in court to testify against his brutal foster parents, accused of the manslaughter of his twelve-year-old brother, Dennis.Terry and his brother had been taken into care and moved through many foster homes until they came to live on the Shropshire farm owned by Reginald and Esther Gough in 1945. There they were to suffer brutal beatings and little care or love – they survived as best they could, looking out for each other, until the terrible morning when Terry couldn’t wake Dennis.In a time when the country was united by war and struggle, the case shocked the nation and made headlines around the world. Terry, a small figure in the courtroom, captured the hearts of mothers and families everywhere, and the public outcry against the foster services led to the instigation of the first provisions to protect other vulnerable children from neglect and cruelty. Read more

A new memoir from Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Cathy Glass, now with an exclusive preview of Cathy’s inspiring new title, Please Don’t Take My Baby, coming out on April 25th.Eight-year-old Aimee was on the child protection register at birth. Her five older siblings were taken into care many years ago. So no one can understand why she was left at home to suffer for so long. It seems Aimee was forgotten.The social services are looking for a very experienced foster carer to look after Aimee and, when she reads the referral, Cathy understands why. Despite her reservations, Cathy agrees to Aimee on – there is something about her that reminds Cathy of Jodie (the subject of ‘Damaged’ and the most disturbed child Cathy has cared for), and reading the report instantly tugs at her heart strings.When she arrives, Aimee is angry. And she has every right to be. She has spent the first eight years of her life living with her drug-dependent mother in a flat that the social worker described as ‘not fit for human habitation’. Aimee is so grateful as she snuggles into her bed at Cathy’s house on the first night that it brings Cathy to tears.Aimee’s aggressive mother is constantly causing trouble at contact, and makes sweeping allegations against Cathy and her family in front of her daughter as well. It is a trying time for Cathy, and it makes it difficult for Aimee to settle. But as Aimee begins to trust Cathy, she starts to open up. And the more Cathy learns about Aimee’s life before she came into care, the more horrified she becomes.It’s clear that Aimee should have been rescued much sooner and as her journey seems to be coming to a happy end, Cathy can’t help but reflect on all the other ‘forgotten children’ that are still suffering…Cathy Glass's book 'Helpless' was a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2024-09-02. Read more