From the million-copy bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop'A delicious book that I couldn’t resist devouring in one sitting. It was a delight to lose myself in the world of Edie and the mysterious baker. I would recommend to pastry lovers and book lovers alike!' Sally Page, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Keeper of Stories Nestled among the cobblestone streets of Compiègne, there existed a bakery unlike any other. Rumours were whispered through the town that its pastries offered a taste of magic, chasing away the darkest of sorrows. Just one bite of a croissant might bring luck, unlock a precious memory or reveal hidden longings. But dark clouds were looming on the horizon… For Edie Lane, a recipe for disaster doesn’t require that many ingredients. Take an unhealthy amount of wishful thinking and a sprinkle of desperation and that’s how Edie left everything behind in Ireland for her dream job at a bakery in Paris. Except the bakery isn’t in Paris – and neither is Edie. This might not be where Edie intended to be but she soon realizes it's exactly where she needs to be… Praise for Evie Woods‘Beautifully written and captures the wonder and awe that a story can bring to its reader…a delightful story for any book lover…an ode to storytelling and the connections that books can make!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wowwww!! It’s been awhile since I read something so fascinating, captivating and special all in one…It takes you on a journey like most books do, but this one, I just want to inscribe on my back and hope that it becomes a part of me so that I can carry it with me always’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A must read for readers that love books’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A beautiful story that begs to be read in one sitting…a magical story filled with beautiful prose and many surprises that readers will not soon forget’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This spellbinding book hooked me from the very beginning and I couldn't put it down til the end’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Mysterious Bakery on Rue de Paris

A family secret. A century of heartache . . . The Girl on the Cliff is an evocative, moving story of family, loss and hope, from Lucinda Riley, the international bestselling author of The Seven Sisters series. After a devastating loss, Grania Ryan flees her life as an artist in New York and returns home to Ireland and the arms of her loving family. While out walking the windswept cliffs of West Cork, she comes across Aurora, an enigmatic eight-year-old girl. Mysteriously drawn to the troubled child, Grania soon discovers that the histories of their families are strangely and deeply entwined. From a bittersweet romance in wartime London, to betrayals and close-guarded family secrets, the two families, past and present, have been entangled for a century. Can Aurora help Grania to come to terms with her loss, and look forward to a brighter future? Readers love The Girl on the Cliff: 'A beautiful story, brilliantly woven through generations' 5***** 'Stunning, enchanting, evocative . . . You can feel the wind in your hair' 5***** 'Takes you on a journey . . . Beautifully written' 5****

The Girl on the Cliff

Sweeping and evocative, The Hidden Girl is a lost treasure from the author of The Seven Sisters series, Lucinda Riley. Discover this reimagined novel from an author loved by millions of readers worldwide. You can’t alter destiny . . . Born and raised in a small village on the Yorkshire moors, Leah Thompson grows more beautiful with each passing day. When she catches the attention of the influential, troubled Delancey family, she knows her life will never be the same again. Years later, Leah takes the modelling world by storm, travelling from Milan to London and New York and living life in the lap of luxury. But her past follows her like a dark shadow, mysteriously intertwined with the tragic tale of two young siblings in Poland during the Second World War. As two generations of secrets threaten to explode, Leah is haunted by a fatal, forgotten prophecy from her past, and must fight to challenge the destiny that has been mapped out for her in the stars . . . Long before she became the bestselling author of The Seven Sisters series, Lucinda Riley wrote Hidden Beauty as Lucinda Edmonds. This standalone novel has been reworked and given new life as The Hidden Girl by Harry Whittaker, Lucinda’s son and co-author of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt. Five-star reader reviews: 'All I can say is WOW . . . Lucinda Riley is a master storyteller, and this book is an epic lost masterpiece’ ‘There are so many aspects to this novel: a beautiful love story, a family saga, the modelling world, greed and revenge. I was totally engrossed’ ‘This sweeping, epic tale takes you from the wilds of the Yorkshire moors to New York. It’s moving, poignant and full of friendship, love, and loss with many twists along the way’ 'The historical elements were beautifully researched and added so much depth to the story. What I loved most was the emotional journey. The themes of love, loss, and redemption were handled with such sensitivity and grace'

The Hidden Girl

An evocative and charming novel full of secrets and mystery, from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lost BookshopIn a quiet village in Ireland, a mysterious local myth is about to change everything… One hundred years ago, Anna, a young farm girl, volunteers to help an intriguing American visitor translate fairy stories from Irish to English. But all is not as it seems and Anna soon finds herself at the heart of a mystery that threatens her very way of life. In New York in the present day, Sarah Harper boards a plane bound for the West Coast of Ireland. But once there, she finds she has unearthed dark secrets – secrets that tread the line between the everyday and the otherworldly, the seen and the unseen. With a taste for the magical in everyday life, Evie Woods's latest novel is full of ordinary characters with extraordinary tales to tell. Readers have fallen in love with The Story Collector:‘I highly recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction and want to learn more about Ireland and its folklore history surrounding the faeries.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Romantic and magical, an adventure to be enjoyed.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Painted beautifully.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A bewitching story which I will treasure.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A mystical treasure that echoes with the fairy world power of Ireland. A mesmerising tale told in two timelines where the past unfolds and ripples like a wave into the future.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This is the perfect book to read on a winter afternoon in front of the fire.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A delightful tale of love and loss and magical stories.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Previously published as The Story Collector by Evie Gaughan.

The Story Collector

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2025 'Enormously entertaining'THE TIMES 'The word-of-mouth breakout'STYLIST 'As funny as it is moving'GUARDIAN 'A joy of a debut' DAVID MITCHELL 'Glorious' SARAH WINMAN A stunning debut novel following five women from three generations of a once eminent Iranian family as their lives are turned upside down The Valiat family are in crisis. Elizabeth, the regal matriarch, remained in Tehran despite the revolution and only has Niaz, her Islamic law-breaking granddaughter for company. In America, Elizabeth’ s daughters, the flamboyantly high-flying Shirin and frustrated housewife Seema, are wondering if their new lives there are all they had hoped for. Lastly, there’s the second granddaughter, Bita, a disillusioned law student trying to find deeper meaning by giving away her worldly belongings. When an annual vacation in Aspen goes wildly awry and Shirin ends up being bailed out of jail, gossip about the family spreads like wildfire. Soon, Shirin sets out to restore the family name to its former glory. But what does that mean in a country where the Valiats never mattered to anyone? And, will reputation be enough to make them a family again? The Persians is an irresistible portrait of a unique family in turmoil that explores timeless questions of love, money, art and fulfilment. Here is their past, their present and a possible new future for them all. A most anticipated novel of 2025 in Stylist, BBC and iNews. ‘Funny, gutsy and confidently written … an outstanding debut’ DIANA EVANS, 2025 Women’s Prize Judge 'Mesmerising' MONICA ALI 'Riotous … will have you hooked'STYLIST ‘A darkly funny read about mothers and daughters, love and loss and being true to yourself’ RED 'As exuberant as it is sharp’ iNEWS 'A sweeping and irreverent tale'BBC ‘Gloriously engrossing’ TASH AW ‘Exuberant, comic, perceptive’ AMINA CAIN 'A very brilliant, very special book' JESSICA STANLEY

The Persians

Buddenbrooks is a 1901 novel by Thomas Mann, chronicling the decline of a wealthy north German merchant family over the course of four generations, incidentally portraying the manner of life and mores of the Hanseatic bourgeoisie in the years from 1835 to 1877. Mann drew deeply from the history of his own family, the Mann family of Lübeck, and their milieu. It was Mann's first novel, published when he was twenty-six years old. With the publication of the second edition in 1903, Buddenbrooks became a major literary success. Its English translation by Helen Tracy Lowe-Porter was published in 1924. The work led to a Nobel Prize in Literature for Mann in 1929; although the Nobel award generally recognises an author's body of work, the Swedish Academy's citation for Mann identified "his great novel Buddenbrooks" as the principal reason for his prize. Mann began writing the book in October 1897, when he was twenty-two years old. The novel was completed three years later, in July 1900, and published in 1901. His objective was to write a novel on the conflicts between businessman and artist's worlds, presented as a family saga, continuing in the realist tradition of such 19th-century works as Stendhal's Le Rouge et le Noir (1830; The Red and the Black). Buddenbrooks is his most enduringly popular novel, especially in Germany, where it has been cherished for its intimate portrait of 19th-century German bourgeois life. Before Buddenbrooks Mann had written only short stories, which had been collected under the title Der kleine Herr Friedemann (1898, Little Herr Friedemann). They portrayed spiritually challenged figures who struggle to find happiness in (or at the margins of) bourgeois society. Similar themes appear in the Buddenbrooks, but in a fully developed style that already reflects the mastery of narrative, subtle irony of tone, and rich character descriptions of Mann's mature fiction. The exploration of decadence in the novel reflects the influence of Schopenhauer's The World as Will and Representation (1818, 1844) on the young Mann. The Buddenbrooks of successive generations experience a gradual decline of their finances and family ideals, finding happiness increasingly elusive as values change and old hierarchies are challenged by Germany's rapid industrialisation. The characters who subordinate their personal happiness to the welfare of the family firm encounter reverses, as do those who do not. The city where the Buddenbrooks live shares so many street names and other details with Mann's native town of Lübeck that the identification is unmistakable, although the novel makes no mention of the name. The young author was condemned for writing a scandalous, defamatory roman à clef about (supposedly) recognisable personages. Mann defended the right of a writer to use material from his own experience. The years covered in the novel were marked by major political and military developments that reshaped Germany, such as the Revolutions of 1848, the Austro-Prussian War, and the establishment of the German Empire. Historic events nevertheless generally remain in the background, having no direct bearing on the lives of the characters.

Buddenbrooks

A spellbinding epic tale of ambition, anarchy and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, The Pillars of the Earth is Ken Follett's classic historical masterpiece. A MASON WITH A DREAM 1135 and civil war, famine and religious strife abound. With his family on the verge of starvation, mason Tom Builder dreams of the day that he can use his talents to create and build a cathedral like no other. A MONK WITH A BURNING MISSION Philip, prior of Kingsbridge, is resourceful, but with money scarce he knows that for his town to survive it must find a way to thrive, and so he makes the decision to build within it the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has ever known. A WORLD OF HIGH IDEALS AND SAVAGE CRUELTY As Tom and Philip meet so begins an epic tale of ambition, anarchy and absolute power. In a world beset by strife and enemies that would thwart their plans, they will stop at nothing to achieve their ambitions in a struggle between good and evil that will turn church against state, and brother against brother . . . The Pillars of the Earth is the first in The Kingsbridge Novels series, followed by World Without End and A Column of Fire. More than 175 million copies sold worldwide. Published in over eighty territories and thirty-seven languages. The international No. 1 bestselling phenomenon returns.

The Kingsbridge Novels

The Pillars of the Earth

As read on BBC Radio 4 A Sunday Times Best Book of 2025 An 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 Things In 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' *****

The Boy from the Sea

A PBS Great American Read Top 100 Pick The beloved American classic about a young girl's coming-of-age at the turn of the twentieth century. From the moment she entered the world, Francie Nolan needed to be made of stern stuff, for growing up in the Williamsburg slums of Brooklyn, New York demanded fortitude, precocity, and strength of spirit. Often scorned by neighbors for her family’s erratic and eccentric behavior—such as her father Johnny’s taste for alcohol and Aunt Sissy’s habit of marrying serially without the formality of divorce—no one, least of all Francie, could say that the Nolans’ life lacked drama. By turns heartbreaking and uplifting, the Nolans’ daily experiences are raw with honestly and tenderly threaded with family connectedness. Betty Smith has, in the pages of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, captured the joys of humble Williamsburg life—from “junk day” on Saturdays, when the children traded their weekly take for pennies, to the special excitement of holidays, bringing cause for celebration and revelry. Smith has created a work of literary art that brilliantly captures a unique time and place as well as deeply resonant moments of universal experience. Here is an American classic that ""cuts right to the heart of life,"" hails the New York Times. ""If you miss A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, you will deny yourself a rich experience.""

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

The profound sequel to Firefly Lane, now a major Netflix series starring Katherine Heigl and Sarah Chalke. From Kristin Hannah, the bestselling author of The Four Winds and The Nightingale. Fly Away is the heartrending story of three women who have lost their way and need each other – plus a miracle – to transform their lives . . . Tully Hart, a celebrity news reporter is spiralling downward after the sudden loss of her best friend Kate. Consumed with guilt, Tully and Kate's daughter, Marah, grapple with their past mistakes. Meanwhile, Cloud, Tully's mother, endeavours to alleviate the burden. For them to find their way back, forgiveness becomes their only hope. And then something momentous happens – something which causes each one of them to realize what they’ve done, and what they have become . . . This audiobook also contains a reading group guide with Kristin Hannah. 'A novel that will touch the hearts of all who pick it up' – Huffington Post Readers love Fly Away: 'So gripping and unputdownable' 'The sequel to Firefly Lane is simply fabulous . . . The three women all reach new heights and depths' 'Make sure you have your tissues at the ready' 'So beautifully written, you will love it from start to finish' 'I will be telling all my friends who read about it'

Fly Away

JUNE 2025 REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICK In this dazzling debut novel, a young reclusive coder unearths the story of a lost Shanghai pencil company and a legacy of magic, espionage and family secrets that will alter the path of her life forever. ‘Wildly inventive … Allison King is a talent to watch’ LIZ MOORE 'Marvellous!' GISH JEN 'A beautiful ode to the warmth of family connection' RAY NAYLER 'A stunning debut … had me smiling through my tears' FONDA LEE Monica Tsai spends most days on her computer coding for a program that seeks to connect strangers online. A self-confessed recluse, she finds herself escaping into a digital world, counting the days until she can return home to her beloved grandparents. They are now in their nineties, and she worries about them – especially her grandmother Yun whose memory has begun to fade. Monica has become intent on tracking down her grandmother Yun’s long-lost cousin, Meng, before it’s too late. In her search, Monica connects with a young woman archivist who presents her with a single pencil that holds a clue to a hidden family history. Through this discovery Monica comes to learn of her grandmother’s years in Shanghai, working at the Phoenix Pencil Company. As WWII raged outside their door, Yun and Meng came into a power unique to the women in their family: the ability to reclaim stories from the pencils they were written with. But when government officials uncovered their secret ability, they were both forced into a life of espionage, betraying other people’s stories to survive. These shocking revelations set Monica on a path that will change all their lives in ways she can scarcely imagine. At once a sweeping family epic and a powerful love story with deep emotional resonance, Allison King’s brilliantly inventive debut novel pushes us to question how well we really know our own stories and the many beguiling ways they can connect our lives. 'An impressive juggling act of voices that made me feel like I was in on a secret … a rare novel' SEQUOIA NAGAMATSU

The Phoenix Pencil Company

LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR FICTION 'A deeply humane and genre-defying work of love and … hope’ OCEAN VUONG ‘Beautiful, brilliant’ R. F. KUANG ‘Dazzling’ OBSERVER ‘Will shatter your heart’ GLAMOUR ‘Powerful’ SUNDAY TIMES An extraordinary story of the journey of one young family through love, loss and unwavering hope. There are the goodbyes and then the fishing out of the bodies – everything in between is speculation. One night, not long after the last American troops leave Vietnam, siblings Anh, Thanh and Minh flee their village and embark on a perilous journey in hope of a new life. Separated from their parents and fearing the worst they find themselves travelling alone in the world without a home to return to. After a twist of fate lands them in Thatcher’s Britain, they must somehow build new lives there. Will the love they have for each other be enough to keep them together? Wandering Souls is a stunning, life-affirming testament to the healing power of stories. A Time and Guardian book of the year Shortlisted for the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2023 ‘Poignant and lyrical’ DAVID NICHOLLS ‘A powerful story of courage, love and unwavering hope’ MARIE CLAIRE ‘Beautiful… I loved every word’ PHILIPPA PERRY ‘A deeply affecting reckoning with history’ i-D ‘Tells one of the most important stories of our times’ LUCY CALDWELL ‘Special … Reading it is like watching a writer at work’ NEW YORK TIMES

Wandering Souls

Read by Miranda Raison (Lessons in Chemistry) Unlocking the past is the key to the future . . . From Lucinda Riley, the international bestselling author of The Seven Sisters series, The Light Behind the Window is a breathtaking historical romance about love, war and, above all, forgiveness. South of France, present day. After the death of her glamorous, distant mother, Emilie de la Martiniéres finds herself alone in the world – and sole inheritor of her grand childhood home. A notebook of poems leads her to search for the mysterious and beautiful Sophia, whose tragic love affair changed the course of her family history. As Emilie unravels Sophia's story, she embarks on a journey of discovery, realizing that the château may provide clues to her own difficult past. Paris, 1943. Constance Carruthers, a young office clerk for M15, is drafted into a special operations team, arriving in occupied Paris during the climax of the conflict. Separated from her contact in France, she stumbles into the heart of a wealthy family who are caught up in a deadly game of secrets and lies. Forced to surrender her identity and all ties to her homeland, Constance is drawn into a complex web of deception, the repercussions of which will affect generations to come . . .

The Light Behind The Window

WINNER OF THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FINALIST FOR THE PULITZER PRIZE FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS WINNER OF THE STONEWALL BOOK AWARD - BARBARA GITTINGS LITERATURE AWARD FINALIST FOR THE LA TIMES FICTION AWARD 'Stirring, spellbinding and full of life' Téa Obreht, New York Times bestselling author of The Tiger's Wife In 1985, Yale Tishman, the development director for an art gallery in Chicago, is about to pull off an amazing coup: bringing an extraordinary collection of 1920s paintings as a gift to the gallery. Yet as his career begins to flourish, the carnage of the AIDs epidemic grows around him. One by one, his friends are dying and after his friend Nico's funeral, he finds his partner is infected, and that he might even have the virus himself. The only person he has left is Fiona, Nico's little sister. Thirty years later, Fiona is in Paris tracking down her estranged daughter who disappeared into a cult. While staying with an old friend, a famous photographer who documented the Chicago epidemic, she finds herself finally grappling with the devastating ways the AIDS crisis affected her life and her relationship with her daughter. Yale and Fiona's stories unfold in incredibly moving and sometimes surprising ways, as both struggle to find goodness in the face of disaster.

The Great Believers

Presented for the first time on audio, the epic tale of Beren and Lúthien will reunite fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings with Elves, Men and Orcs and the rich landscape unique to Tolkien’s Middle-earth in this unabridged recording read by critically acclaimed father and son, Timothy and Samuel West. Beren was a mortal man, but Lúthien was an immortal Elf. Her father, a great Elvish lord, was deeply opposed to Beren, and imposed on him an impossible task that he must perform before he might wed Lúthien. Undaunted by Lord Thingol’s challenge, Beren and Lúthien embark on the supremely heroic attempt to rob Morgoth, the greatest of all evil beings, of a Silmaril, one of the hallowed jewels that adorn the Black Enemy’s crown. The tale of Beren and Lúthien, which was written shortly after J.R.R. Tolkien returned from the Battle of the Somme in 1916, was an essential element in the evolution of The Silmarillion. In this book Christopher Tolkien has extracted the various versions of Beren and Lúthien from the comprehensive work in which they are embedded. To show something of the process whereby this Great Tale of Middle-earth evolved over the years, he tells the story in his father's own words by giving, first, its original form, and then passages in prose and verse from later texts that illustrate the narrative as it changed. Presented together for the first time, they reveal aspects of the story, both in event and in narrative immediacy, that were afterwards lost.

Beren and Lúthien

*Discover The Secrets of Flowers, the brand new novel from Sally Page – available to pre-order now* ‘I absolutely loved it! So different, clever, funny and charming’ Sunday Times bestseller Katie Fforde‘Funny, wise, moving and full of lovely moments…The characters are endearing and unforgettable’ Hazel Prior, author of the Richard & Judy Book Club Pick Away with the Penguins ‘Janice is a wonderful woman whose authenticity pulls you along…the breadth and originality of supporting characters makes this debut an immersive delight’ Dorset Magazine ‘Absolutely spellbinding…a warm-hearted, thoughtful, funny and yet deeply poignant’ Celia Anderson, author of 59 Memory Lane ‘A treasure of a book. Beautiful, emotional and heartfelt with a cornucopia of characters you’ll love spending time with’ Phaedra Patrick, author of The Library of Lost and Found She can’t recall what started her collection. Maybe it was in a fragment of conversation overheard as she cleaned a sink? Before long (as she dusted a sitting room or defrosted a fridge) she noticed people were telling her their stories. Perhaps they always had done, but now it is different, now the stories are reaching out to her and she gathers them to her… When Janice starts cleaning for Mrs B – a shrewd and tricksy woman in her nineties – she meets someone who wants to hear her story. But Janice is clear: she is the keeper of stories, she doesn’t have a story to tell. At least, not one she can share. Mrs B is no fool and knows there is more to Janice than meets the eye. What is she hiding? After all, doesn’t everyone have a story to tell? Readers are loving Sally Page:‘Oh my giddy aunt what an amazing book…absolutely adored it from start to finish’ Jeannie ‘Not what I was expecting at all…loved the way it ended’ Julie ‘An absolutely wonderful, unputdownable book full of delightful characters’ Sue ‘What a wonderful idea for a book…A joy to read’ Angela ‘Beautiful story…I loved every minute of reading it!’ Rubie

The Keeper of Stories

‘His best novel yet … A Middlemarch-like triumph’ Telegraph‘A pleasure bomb of a novel’ Vogue‘A true modern master’ IndependentIt’s 23 December 1971, and the Hildebrandts are at a crossroads. Fifteen-year-old Perry has resolved to be a better person and quit dealing drugs to seventh graders. His sister Becky, the once straight-laced high school social queen, has veered into counterculture, while at college, Clem is wrestling with a decision that might tear his family apart. As their parents – Russ, a suburban pastor, and Marion, his restless wife – tug against the bonds of a joyless marriage, Crossroads finds a family, and a nation, struggling to do the right thing. ‘Funny, moving, crackling with life, it has what all great fiction should have’ Financial Times ‘Intoxicating – a luxuriant domestic drama’ Guardian THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A GUARDIAN BEST FICTION BOOK OF 2021 • AN INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR • A WHITE REVIEW BOOK OF THE YEAR • A LIT HUB BOOK OF THE YEAR

Crossroads

"East of Eden" by John Steinbeck is an epic novel that traverses generations, exploring the intricate tapestry of human relationships and the eternal struggle between good and evil. Set in California's Salinas Valley, the story revolves around the intertwined destinies of two families, the Trasks and the Hamiltons. At its heart is the retelling of the biblical tale of Cain and Abel, as themes of morality, free will, and the pursuit of identity unfold. The characters, vividly drawn and deeply flawed, grapple with their own desires and the impact of their choices on those around them. Steinbeck's prose weaves a narrative of profound depth and insight, creating a literary masterpiece that delves into the complexities of the human spirit and the enduring quest for redemption and understanding.

East of Eden

The historical saga that has enthralled millions of readers, Ken Follett's Kingsbridge series continues continue with World Without End. On the day after Halloween, in the year 1327, four children slip away from the cathedral city of Kingsbridge. They are a thief, a bully, a boy genius and a girl who wants to be a doctor. In the forest they see two men killed. As adults, their lives will be braided together by ambition, love, greed and revenge. They will see prosperity and famine, plague and war. One boy will travel the world but come home in the end; the other will be a powerful, corrupt nobleman. One girl will defy the might of the medieval church; the other will pursue an impossible love. And always they will live under the long shadow of the unexplained killing they witnessed on that fateful childhood day. Ken Follett’s masterful epic The Pillars of the Earth enchanted millions of readers with its compelling drama of war, passion and family conflict set around the building of a cathedral. World Without End takes readers to medieval Kingsbridge two centuries later, as the men, women and children of the city once again grapple with the devastating sweep of historical change. World Without End is followed by the third of Ken Follett's Kingsbridge novels, A Column of Fire.

World Without End

From the author of the bestselling Seven Sisters series, Lucinda Riley's Hothouse Flower is a moving story of love, heartbreak and, above all, hope. Read by Stephanie Racine (Daisy Darker) Georgian mansion Wharton Park was a place of childhood solace for Julia Forrester, spending summers in the Norfolk countryside with her beloved grandfather. So after tragedy strikes, she finds herself seeking comfort at Wharton and the allure of its hothouse, once home to exotic flowers from all corners of the globe but now lying abandoned. There she meets the new owner, the charming and magnetic Kit Crawford, whose own past is shrouded in sadness and mystery. When Kit finds an old diary, light is finally shed on Wharton Park's past – revealing a century of secrets and heartache, through war-torn Europe and taking them to the vibrant streets of Thailand. Drawn together on this quest, Julia and Kit can but hope to unearth the truth behind the fortunes and failures of the Crawford family . . . 'Thoroughly addictive storytelling with a moving, emotional heart' – Dinah Jefferies, author of The Tea Planter's Wife This title has been published outside the UK under the title The Orchid House.

Hothouse Flower

OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB PICK #1 New York Times bestselling author Wally Lamb, celebrated for two prior Oprah Book Club selections, returns with an exceptional third pick, a propulsive novel following a young father grappling with unbearable tragedy as he searches for hope, redemption, and the possibility of forgiveness. Corby Ledbetter is struggling. New fatherhood, the loss of his job, and a growing secret addiction have thrown his marriage to his beloved Emily into a tailspin. And that’s before he causes the tragedy that tears the family apart. Sentenced to prison, Corby struggles to survive life on the inside, where he bears witness to frightful acts of brutality but also experiences small acts of kindness and elemental kinship with a prison librarian who sees his light and some of his fellow offenders, including a tender-hearted cellmate and a troubled teen desperate for a role model. Buoyed by them and by his mother’s enduring faith in him, Corby begins to transcend the boundaries of his confinement, sustained by his hope that mercy and reconciliation might still be possible. Can his crimes ever be forgiven by those he loves?

The River Is Waiting (Oprah's Book Club)

"An emotional landslide of a novel that kept me gripped from first page to last." Clare Lydon, best-selling author of Before You Say I Do ’A compelling story of second chances and being true to yourself.’ —Harper Bliss, bestselling author of Seasons of Love You always come back to your first love… Nora hasn’t looked back. Not since she left home, and her broken heart, far behind her. But now tragedy calls her back, where she must finally come face to face with ex-boyfriend Charlie, and best friend Sophie. Only now will she be able to confront her past—and reconcile her future. Sophie seems to have everything. Married to Charlie, with a wonderful daughter and a successful career. Yet underneath that perfection lies an explosive secret. A secret that ripped through their town and destroyed her friendship with Nora. So when Sophie finds out that Nora has returned, she hopes Nora’s stay is short. The life she has built depends on it. But first love doesn’t fade easily. Memories come to light, passion ignites and old feelings resurface. As the forces that once tore them apart begin to re-emerge, both Nora and Sophie must accept that true love is something worth fighting for. Readers love The Secret of You and Me ‘A beautifully and sensitively written love story’ ‘This story hit chords with me and I thank Melissa for that. Coming out as a teenager, being forced out or coming out as an adult – as Nora said, everyone has a different story but we aren't alone. I think that is such an important message…. [I] urge you to pick this book up and devour it like I did.’ ‘I love how flawed and relatable all of the characters are, Melissa Lenhardt has written a beautiful LGBT story which I enjoyed immensely’ ‘A sweet story, full of emotions. I loved the characters, rooted for them, and the plot kept me hooked. I strongly recommend it.’ ‘I have to admit that this was not the usual love story scenario that I read, but it had me enthralled to the very end… I hope that this book hits across the generations, making them think just that little bit more. I certainly will be telling people to read it, and many are in book groups of some kind.’

The Secret Of You And Me

Three generations of Palestinian-American women living in Brooklyn are torn between individual desire and the strict mores of Arab culture in this heart-wrenching story of love, intrigue and courage. Palestine, 1990. Seventeen-year-old Isra prefers reading books to entertaining the suitors her father has chosen for her. Over the course of a week, the naïve and dreamy girl finds herself quickly betrothed and married, and is soon living in Brooklyn. There Isra struggles to adapt to the expectations of her oppressive mother-in-law Fareeda and strange new husband Adam, a pressure that intensifies as she begins to have children – four daughters instead of the sons Fareeda tells Isra she must bear. Brooklyn, 2008. Eighteen-year-old Deya, Isra’s oldest daughter, must meet with potential husbands at her grandmother Fareeda’s insistence, though her only desire is to go to college. But her grandmother is firm on the matter: the only way to secure a worthy future for Deya is through marriage to the right man. But fate has a will of its own, and soon Deya will find herself on an unexpected path that leads her to shocking truths about her family… Set in an America at once foreign to many and staggeringly close at hand, A Woman Is No Man is a story of culture and honour, secrets and betrayals, love and violence. It is an intimate glimpse into a controlling and closed cultural world, and a universal tale about family and the ways silence and shame can destroy those we have sworn to protect. A New York Times bestseller • A Washington Post 10 Books to Read in March • One of Cosmopolitan’s Best Books by POC for 2019 • A Refinery 29 Best Book of the Month ‘A love letter to storytelling’ New York Times ‘A nuanced look at the power of shame to shatter lives and send shards of pain hurtling down the generations . . . brilliant’ Big Issue ‘Enthralling’ Image magazine

A Woman is No Man

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST‘A dazzling epic of love, war and the joy of books’ Guardian‘There is magic in this place … You just have to sit and breathe and wait and it will find you’ Fifteenth-century Constantinople. Present day Idaho. The future, and humanity’s last hope. Across time and space, five young dreamers are bound by a single ancient text. Together, they tell a story of a world in peril; of the power of words, of resilience, and of hope against all odds. The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of All the Light We Cannot See returns with a heart-breaking, magnificent epic of human connection and a love letter to storytelling itself. ‘Wonderment and despair, love and destruction and hope – all find their place in its sumptuously plotted pages’ Observer ‘Ingenious, hopeful and totally absorbing’ Financial Times ‘This engagingly written, big-hearted book is a must-read’ Daily Mirror

Cloud Cuckoo Land

‘Extraordinary… Brought history alive on the page… Tense and emotional… Sensitive yet brutal…With the most unexpected end that left me breathless. Wow, just wow… Incredible’ NetGalley Review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1941, Nazi-occupied Paris: In the glamorous Ritz hotel there is a woman with a dangerous secret… As Coco Chanel’s assistant, Adèle lives side by side with German officers in the splendour of The Ritz hotel. But Adèle has a secret. She is working for the resistance, right under the Germans’ noses. As occupied Paris becomes more and more dangerous, Adèle will have to decide if she can risk everything to save innocent lives and protect the man she loves… Present day: Chloé’s grandmother has never spoken about the war and avoids questions about the legendary designer she once worked for. Now Chloé has come to Paris, to uncover the truth about Adèle’s life. But is she prepared for what she will find? And for the power of her grandmother’s secrets to change her family forever… An absolutely gripping and heartbreaking wartime story of the enduring power of love, for fans of The Lost Girls of Paris and The Nightingale. Readers love The Dressmaker’s Secret:‘WOW… Outstandingly brilliant and extremely poignant from beginning to end’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Just absolute perfection… My emotions ran the full course in this book… THE ENDING. I cried my eyes out, I was a blubbering mess trying to quickly explain the entire book to my husband while crying’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Your heart will be in your mouth reading this book… I cried… I loved the ending’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘It made me cry tears of happiness at the end… Fantastic’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I absolutely loved this story!… A MUST read. Grab some tissues before you dive in’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A tale of deception, love and endurance… It kept me reading into the small hours’ Glynis Peters, author of The Secret Orphan ‘Had me up way later than I planned… I couldn’t put it down’ NetGalley Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Thrilling… I couldn't put it down’ Adrienne Chinn, author of The English Wife

The Dressmaker’s Secret

From the author of the Seven Sisters series, The Angel Tree is Lucinda Riley's compelling mystery of family secrets and forgotten pasts on the sweeping pastures of south-east Wales. Read by the award-winning actor Juliet Stevenson (Truly, Madly, Deeply) 'Sweeping, absorbing, beautifully written and utterly compelling' – Lancashire Evening Post Thirty years have passed since Greta left Marchmont Hall, a grand and beautiful house nestled in the hills of rural Monmouthshire. But, after a tragic accident, more than two decades of her life have disappeared from memory. When she returns to the Hall for Christmas, she has no recollection of her past there. Then, during a walk through the wintry landscape, she stumbles across a grave in the woods. Though the inscription is weathered, the headstone still tells her: a little boy is buried here. The discovery strikes a chord in Greta's mind, igniting a quest to recover her lost memories. A quest that will take her deeper into her own life, and that of her daughter . . . Praise for Lucinda Riley: 'A masterclass in beautiful writing' – The Sun 'Captivating . . . poignant yet uplifting' – Woman's Own 'Heart-wrenching, uplifting and utterly enthralling' – Lucy Foley, author of The Hunting Party A version of this story has previously been published under the title Not Quite an Angel, under the name Lucinda Edmonds – now extensively rewritten as The Angel Tree.

The Angel Tree

Can one Greek summer heal the secrets of the past?Could discovering a family secret encourage Kat to follow her heart? Shattered by the sudden loss of her twin, Nik, Kat is lost in grief. The comfort of family feels both soothing and suffocating, but everything changes when she inherits a house on the breathtaking Greek island of Agistri from a mysterious uncle she’s never met. Arriving on Agistri, Kat is mesmerized by its crystalline waters, lush pine forests, and the citrus-scented air. Among the white-washed houses and warm, welcoming locals, she begins to feel her heart heal. The island offers more than solace, sparking courage in Kat to face her loss — and maybe even embrace the spark of unexpected love… But as she unearths her family’s buried past, Kat must also confront her own fears of belonging, forgiveness — and the possibility of rediscovering happiness in the shadow of heartbreak… This soul-stirring novel from Emma Cowell, perfect for fans of Victoria Hislop, Carol Kirkwood and Karen Swan, offers an unforgettable journey of healing, heritage, and the hope that blooms under the Grecian sun. ––––––––––––––– AUTHORS LOVE UNDER THE LEMON TREE!‘Emma Cowell is a masterful storyteller of sun-drenched, heartfelt, glorious stories. In Under the Lemon Tree, you will bask in the Grecian sun in a novel of pure escape. Kat navigates the path of grief and as she heals, secrets are revealed that will change the course of her life. Delicious. Luscious. The perfect summer read!’ – Adriana Trigiani 'Move over Victoria Hislop, Under the Lemon Tree seals Emma Cowell’s place as mistress of the Greek romantic novel. This book has all the elements for a bestselling summer romance.' – Eva Glyn 'Beautiful, emotional and uplifting escapism with an exquisitely vivid Greek island setting. Utter bliss.' – Alex Brown ‘I was engrossed, hanging on to every word, and so impressed by Under the Lemon Tree that I will be recommending it to all my friends.’ – Patricia Wilson 'A life-affirming and captivating story. A delightful read.’ – Kate Frost 'A compelling journey of healing and family secrets. It evokes Greece through Cowell’s beautiful descriptions of food and family life.’ – Francesca Catlow 'Cowell's beautiful descriptions are so vivid, you are practically breathing in the Agistri air and eating the incredible Greek food. A stunning five star read and an absolute triumph.' – Jenni Keer ‘Under the Lemon Tree is one of those novels that stayed with me long after I finished reading the last page… A beautiful uplifting love story, full of secrets, emotion and hope, set against the backdrop of a gorgeous Greek island.’ – Jan Baynham ‘Absolutely enchanting. I could feel the Greek sun kissing my skin as tenderly as the story warmed my heart.’ – Kate Glanville READERS LOVE UNDER THE LEMON TREE!'A delicious romantic summer story, with wonderful sounding food, afeisty interesting heroine and relatable family dynamics. I loved it.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NetGalley review 'I was utterly immersed in the story, the beautiful setting and the engaging characters… An entertaining, emotive, enjoyable read.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NetGalley review 'I really enjoyed this book – the Greek setting was lovely and the writing and characters felt very authentic.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NetGalley review Readers and authors LOVE Emma Cowell:‘Emma Cowell creates worlds of warmth, laughter, healing and hope in her delicious novels’ – Adriana Trigiani ‘I adored The House in the Olive Grove. It is a hymn to friendship and love, and is utterly perfect.’ – Liz Fenwick ‘This book is food for the soul.’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Evocative, compelling, moving. A glorious story’ – Kate Frost ‘Makes you wish you were there’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A sweeping novel about sisterhood, courage and new beginnings that will inspire and delight’ – Tessa Harris ‘A lovely atmospheric novel that will engage and entertain you’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The glorious setting will instantly transport you to sunnier climes!’ – My Weekly ‘A gorgeous read’ – Best

Under the Lemon Tree

‘Beautiful and emotional’ Sue Moorcroft ‘A moving, warm and comforting read’ Jennie Godfrey ‘Tender and moving, The Forgotten Book Club is one to treasure’ Celia Anderson ‘A wonderfully uplifting celebration of community and the joy of books’ Annie Lyons –––––––––––––––––––––––––– Life can begin with a single story. You just have to Bring Your Own Book…For three decades, Grace supported her husband Frank’s passion for books, despite not being a reader herself. Since his passing, their shelves echo longingly, and Grace’s heartache has only grown. When Grace’s grandson suggests joining Frank’s old book club to feel closer to him again, Grace reluctantly agrees. Yet, upon arrival, she discovers this isn’t a typical book club: here, members settle in for an hour of reading… in silence. Disappointed by the sparse attendance and confused by the lack of chatter, Grace flees. But when fellow member, Annie, convinces her to stay, Grace is determined to ensure that neither Frank – nor his beloved book club – are forgotten. And as she breathes new life into the group, Grace might just find this is where she truly belongs. Because this next chapter of life could just be the beginning of her story… The perfect story for book lovers everywhere. Ideal for fans of Sally Page and Evie Woods. Readers and authors have fallen in love with Kate Storey:‘A gorgeous story full of emotion and a very special library.’ – Evie Woods, bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop 'An absolute joy to read. Uplifting, beautiful, and perfect for any book lovers!' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A lovely story that celebrates books, family and kindness. Touching and beautiful.' – Hazel Prior, bestselling author of Away with the Penguins 'The Memory Library delivers on its promise of hope, friendship and second chances. It's a love letter to the written word.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The Memory Library is so joyful. Kate Storey writes from the heart and the gut about mistakes and how we can learn from them. Great characters and a truly heartwarming story – I loved it!' – Laura Pearson, author of #1 Kindle bestseller The Last List of Mabel Beaumont ‘A powerful and poignant story. There were tears shed.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A gorgeous novel that pairs my (and many people’s) perennial love for books about books with themes of family – and just how complex they can be.' – Platinum ‘I laughed out loud and had more than one glassy eye!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'An utterly gorgeous page turner about the power of books, family and forgiveness.' – Phaedra Patrick, The Library of Lost and Found ‘A real treasure for booklovers everywhere who completely appreciate the joy, knowledge and healing that books can bring.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The Memory Library is a magical story…It’s a magnificent celebration of the wonderful world of books and libraries – one to treasure and re-read over and over again!’ – Celia Anderson, author of USA Today bestseller 59 Memory Lane ‘There’s page after page of wonderful wisdom in this novel.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A beautiful, poignant tale of family, friendship and the power of books. I was completely swept away.’ – Kindle bestseller Annie Lyons

The Forgotten Book Club

The first in Ken Follett's breathtaking Century Trilogy, Fall of Giants is a captivating novel that follows five families through the world-shaking dramas of the First World War, the Russian Revolution, and the struggle for votes for women. A World in Chaos 1911, a thirteen-year-old boy, Billy Williams, begins working down the mines as George V is crowned king. The escalating arms race between the empire nations will put not only the king but this young boy in grave danger. A Terrible War Billy’s family is inextricably linked with the Fitzherberts, the aristocratic owners of the coal mine where he works. And when Maud Fitzherbert falls in love with Walter von Ulrich, a spy at the German embassy in London, their destiny also becomes entangled with that of Gus Dewar, an ambitious young aide to Woodrow Wilson, and two orphaned Russian brothers whose plan to emigrate to America falls foul of conscription, revolution and imminent war. A Revolution That Will Change Everything When Russia convulses in bloody revolution and the Great War unfolds, the five families’ futures are entwined forever, love bringing them closer even as conflict takes them further apart. What seeds will be sown for further tragedy in the twentieth century and what role will each play in what is to come? Continue the captivating Century Trilogy with Winter of the World and Edge of Eternity.

The Century Trilogy

Fall of Giants: Enhanced Edition

From the bestselling author Ken Follett, The Evening and the Morning is a historical epic that ends where The Pillars of the Earth begins. A Time of Conflict It is 997 CE, the end of the Dark Ages. The king’s grip on the country is fragile and chaos reigns. A young boat builder dreams of a better future after a devastating Viking raid shatters the life he hoped for. Lives Intertwined A Norman noblewoman follows her husband to a new land only to find her life there shockingly different; and a capable monk at Shiring Abbey has a vision of transforming his humble home into a centre of learning admired throughout Europe. The Dawn of a New Age Now, with England at the dawn of the Middle Ages, these three people will each come into dangerous conflict with a ruthless bishop, who will do anything to increase his wealth and power, in an epic tale of ambition, rivalry, love and hate. Thirty years ago we were introduced to Kingsbridge in The Pillars of the Earth, and now in this masterful prequel international bestseller Ken Follett will take us on a journey into a rich past, which will end where his masterpiece begins.

The Evening and the Morning

Pre order Cecelia's brand-new emotional novel PAPER HEART now!Discover this 5-star read: ‘Wow’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Heartwarming’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Uplifting’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Thought-provoking’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐’One of those rare, special and unique heroines’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A joy to read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ What if the people who have the power to change your life are the ones who have been there all along… Like stars in the night sky, freckles are scattered across Allegra Bird’s arms, a legacy from her beloved father. Her legacy from her mother is more complicated – until one question from a stranger inspires a change. What if it isn’t about fitting in, but finding the people who make you who you are? Who would those people be? As she searches for connection, Allegra is about to find out that it is our differences that make life worth living – if only someone can help you to join the dots … Praise for Freckles‘Fans will adore this heart-warming story about loneliness and connection’ Daily Mail ‘Funny, thought-provoking and original’Mirror ‘A warm and bittersweet tale about finding yourself through family and friendship’Sunday Telegraph ‘An endearing story of human frailty, connection and growth’Irish Independent ‘Everything a greedy reader wants: a moving story, absorbing characters, engaging writing and as much of a page-turner as you’d expect’Irish Times ‘Ahern was born to write and her books to be read by all’My Weekly ‘Fresh and timely… asking bolding what and who make us who we are, Freckles manages to team wit and wisdom harmoniously’Echo ‘A beautiful, hopeful book when the world needs hope most… inspiring, life-affirming and full of insight’ Cathy Kelly Cecelia Ahern’s previous novel Postscript was a Sunday Times bestseller w/c 16th September 2019.

Freckles

'Another meticulously researched and stunningly written novel by a much-loved and highly accomplished author. I adored it!' - Santa Montefiore Piracy. Romance. Revenge. Across the seas of the seventeenth century, two seafarers are forced to fight for their lives. The sequel to The City of Tears, The Ghost Ship is the third novel in the Joubert Family Chronicles from bestselling author Kate Mosse. The Barbary Coast, 1621. A mysterious vessel floats silently on the water – its hull splintered and its sails tattered and burnt. For months the Ghost Ship has hunted pirates to liberate enslaved prisoners. Now it – too – finds itself hunted. But the ship’s crew hides a secret, and the stakes could not be higher. The bravest among them are not who they seem: if arrested, they will hang for their alleged crimes. Can they survive their journey and escape their fate? A sweeping and epic love story, The Ghost Ship is a tale of adventure and buccaneering, love and revenge, stolen fortunes, piracy and hidden secrets on the high seas.

The Burning Chambers

The Ghost Ship

Byron Crowne is a charming liar and a gorgeous monster. I detest him. I can't resist him. He’s awakened desires I didn’t know I had. When he touches me, I need to fight him…and I need him to win. Our one night stand bruises my skin and leaves dents in the walls, but the sheets aren't the only thing we shred that night. And suddenly, the stakes are higher than ever. Olivia Monroe lights a fire in me that died a long time ago. I’m a different man when I’m with her. I need to own her, take her, mark her as mine. Everything changes when she might be pregnant and for the first time in my life…I’m powerless against this stubborn, untamable woman. She’s the one in control and I have an impossible job: Prove I’m worthy to be a father.

The Crowne Brothers

Iron Crowne

THE FIRST IN A STUNNING SERIES, THE COUSINS' WAR, FROM INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING AUTHOR PHILIPPA GREGORY Set amid the tumult and intrigue of The War of the Roses, Philippa Gregory tells the story of one woman's ambitious ascent to royalty during the unsolved mystery around her sons' imprisonment in the Tower in a captivating family drama. Elizabeth Woodville is a common woman who ascends to royalty by virtue of her beauty. A woman who rises to the demands of her position and fights tenaciously for the success of her family. A woman whose two sons become the central figures in a mystery that has confounded historians for centuries: the Princes in the Tower. Their fate remains unknown to this day. From her uniquely qualified perspective, Philippa Gregory explores the most famous unsolved mystery, informed by impeccable research and framed by her inimitable storytelling skills. Praise for Philippa Gregory: ‘Meticulously researched and deeply entertaining, this story of betrayal and divided loyalties is Gregory on top form’ Good Housekeeping ‘Gregory has popularised Tudor history perhaps more than any other living fiction writer…all of her books feature strong, complex women, doing their best to improve their lives in worlds dominated by men’ Sunday Times ‘Engrossing’ Sunday Express ‘Popular historical fiction at its finest, immaculately researched and superbly told’ The Times 'Queen of the historical novel' Mail on Sunday

COUSINS' WAR

The White Queen

‘A gorgeous story full of emotion and a very special library.’ – Evie Woods, bestselling author of The Lost BookshopSome stories stay with us forever…For forty-two years, Sally Harrison has been building a library. Each year, on her daughter’s birthday, she adds a new book to her shelves – with a note in the front dedicated to her own greatest work. But Ella – Sally’s only child – fled to Australia twenty-one years ago after a heated exchange, and never looked back. And though Sally still dutifully adds a new paperback to the shelves every time the clock strikes midnight on July 11th, her hopes of her daughter ever thumbing through the pages are starting to dwindle. Then disaster strikes and Ella is forced to return to the home she once knew. She is soon to discover that when one chapter ends, another will soon follow. All you have to do is turn the page… Journey through the pages of this heartwarming novel, where hope, friendship and second chances are written in the margins. Perfect for book lovers everywhere and fans of Sally Page’s The Keeper of Stories. Praise for The Memory Library:'An absolute joy to read. Uplifting, beautiful, and perfect for any book lovers!' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'The Memory Library delivers on its promise of hope, friendship and second chances. It's a love letter to the written word.' Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A powerful and poignant story. There were tears shed.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I laughed out loud and had more than one glassy eye!’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A real treasure for booklovers everywhere who completely appreciate the joy, knowledge and healing that books can bring.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘There’s page after page of wonderful wisdom in this novel.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Filled with tender moments of sharing, tears, forgiveness, revelation and healing.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘What a beautiful, moving story this was! It really had me sobbing my eyes out.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Memory Library

“Imagine The Leftovers, but with honey” (Elle), and in the spirit of Station Eleven and Never Let Me Go, this “spectacular and deeply moving” (Lisa See, New York Times bestselling author) novel follows three generations of beekeepers from the past, present, and future, weaving a spellbinding story of their relationship to the bees—and to their children and one another—against the backdrop of an urgent, global crisis. England, 1852. William is a biologist and seed merchant, who sets out to build a new type of beehive—one that will give both him and his children honor and fame. United States, 2007. George is a beekeeper fighting an uphill battle against modern farming, but hopes that his son can be their salvation. China, 2098. Tao hand paints pollen onto the fruit trees now that the bees have long since disappeared. When Tao’s young son is taken away by the authorities after a tragic accident, she sets out on a grueling journey to find out what happened to him. Haunting, illuminating, and deftly written, The History of Bees joins “the past, the present, and a terrifying future in a riveting story as complex as a honeycomb” (Bryn Greenwood, New York Times bestselling author) that is just as much about the powerful bond between children and parents as it is about our very relationship to nature and humanity.

The History of Bees

Jeffrey Archer's Kane and Abel was a global phenomenon when it was first released, selling over one million copies in its first week of sale, and it has captivated readers worldwide ever since. They had only one thing in common . . . William Lowell Kane and Abel Rosnovski, one the son of a Boston millionaire, the other a penniless Polish immigrant – two men born on the same day on opposite sides of the world, their paths destined to cross in the ruthless struggle to build a fortune. Kane and Abel is the marvellous story, spanning sixty years, of two powerful men linked by an all-consuming hatred, brought together by fate to save . . . and finally destroy . . . each other. Jeffrey Archer's international bestseller is followed by the enthralling sequel, The Prodigal Daughter.

Kane and Abel series

Kane and Abel

Edge of Eternity is the epic, final novel in Ken Follett's captivating and hugely ambitious Century trilogy. On its own or in sequence with Fall of Giants and Winter of the World, this is an irresistible and spellbinding epic about the fight for personal freedom set during the Cold War. A Fight Against Injustice 1961, and in the United States George Jakes, a bright young lawyer in the Kennedy administration and fierce supporter of the civil rights movement, boards a Greyhound bus in Washington with Verena, an employee of Martin Luther King whom he is in love with, to protest against segregation. A Rising Tide of Danger In East Germany, teacher Rebecca Hoffmann finds her entire life has been a lie as she is targeted by the secret police, even as her younger brother, Walli, dreams of escape across the Berlin Wall to Britain. In Russia, activist Tania Dvorkin narrowly evades capture for producing an illegal news-sheet, her actions all the more perilous because her brother, Dimka, is an emerging star of the Communist Party. A Cold War That Could Eliminate the World Forever In a sweeping tale that began in 1911, the descendants of five families will now find their true destiny as they fight for their individual freedom in a world facing the mightiest clash of superpowers it has ever seen.

Edge of Eternity

A small town, close proximity romance from New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author Kristen Proby. Remi Carter has survived her fifteen minutes of fame and is putting LA in her rearview mirror. As a former reality show contestant, she’s trading staged expeditions and faked wilderness tours for real adventures. Only one fluke storm in Glacier National Park has her stranded with a handsome man, and adventure takes on a whole new meaning. Seth King is as rugged and sexy as he is annoyed to be trapped with Remi. Probably because she ghosted him at the local bar not three days ago. But she’s got her reasons for ditching him, and 24 hours in an abandoned Montana cabin with the wildlife biologist isn’t nearly enough time to explain. As tempting as he is by firelight, she’s been burned too many times. Except one day together and suddenly her travel van doesn’t hold as much appeal. The open road feels lonely. Remi’s about to learn that shelter is more than a safe place to weather a storm. Shelter might just be the man himself. If he can give her a reason to stay.

Heroes of The Big Sky

Shelter

From New York Times best-selling author Kristen Proby comes Stay with Me, an all-new addition to the series that has sold more than a million copies to date, her beloved With Me in Seattle series! Amelia Montgomery has left her past behind her. With a beauty and fashion career that’s skyrocketing and a loving family around her, everything else is just junk in the rearview mirror. Until it’s not. When she has to drop out of the public eye, her cousin Jules offers her a new, temporary life on the Puget Sound. Her past may be catching up with her, but hope for the future is in Seattle. Wyatt Crawford can’t figure out the enigmatic beauty who’s living next door. As an architect, he’s usually good at looking beneath the surface - but she barely even leaves her house. Until she needs his help. When she knocks on his door, how can he resist? It isn’t long before Wyatt and Amelia become more than just neighbors. But when he finally learns the truth, will the skeletons in her closet be too much for him to handle, or will he stay?

With Me in Seattle - The Crawfords

Stay with Me

'A mesmerising tale. Both heartbreaking and joyful' MICHAEL CUNNINGHAM A radiant novel of the longing that blooms between two boys over the course of one summer – about family, desire, and what we inherit – from celebrated author Tash Aw. 'Shimmeringly intelligent and elegiacally intimate' YIYUN LI CHOSEN AS A TIMES, GUARDIAN and FINANCIAL TIMES BOOK OF 2025. When his grandfather dies, a boy named Jay travels south with his family to the property he left them, a once flourishing farm that has fallen into disrepair. The trees are diseased, the fields parched from months of drought. Still, Jay’s father, Jack, sends him out to work the land, or whatever land is left. Over the course of these hot, dense days, Jay finds himself drawn to Chuan, the son of the farm’s manager, different from him in every way except for one. Out in the fields, and on the streets into town, the charge between the boys intensifies. Inside the house, the other family members confront their own regrets, and begin to drift apart. Like the land around them, they are powerless to resist the global forces that threaten to render their lives obsolete. At once sweeping and intimate, The South is a story of what happens when private and public lives collide. It is the first in a quartet of novels that form Tash Aw’s masterful portrait of a family navigating a period of great change – a reimagined epic for our times.

The South

Don’t miss this transporting novel full of family secrets, a disputed inheritance, and a century-old unsolved mystery … ‘As much a feminist adventure as a redemptive family mystery . . . I was gripped and entertained from start to finish’ Ashley Audrain, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Push ‘Strong women, rich history and page-turning suspense make for a rich and satisfying read’ Pam Jenoff, New York Times bestselling author * * * A century-old unsolved murder A disputed inheritance A family secret that some will kill to protect . . . When Sara Marsala’s beloved great-aunt Rosie passes away, she leaves Sara a valuable piece of land in Sicily, but there’s a catch: the locals refuse to acknowledge the rightful owner of the deed, and if Sara wants the land she must first uncover the truth about what happened to her great-grandmother, Serafina Marsala. Because Rosie didn’t think Serafina died of illness as family lore states . . . Rosie believed Serafina was murdered, and she wants Sara to prove it. Sara’s investigations take her up and down the picturesque Italian countryside and, along the way, she learns more about Serafina, a headstrong young woman thrust into motherhood in her teens, who fought for a better life for all the woman of her small village. Yet a woman who challenges the status quo is never safe, and as Sara discovers more about Serafina, she comes up against the same menacing forces that took down her great-grandmother. And now they want to destroy Sara too. * * * Praise for The Sicilian Inheritance: ‘Equal parts rich historical fiction, gripping murder mystery, and a moving exploration of identity, grief, and the long shadow of the past’ Andrea Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of We Were Never Here

The Sicilian Inheritance

The page-turning historical saga that began in The Pillars of the Earth and World Without End, which now continues with Ken Follett's magnificent, masterful A Column of Fire. A World in Turmoil 1558, and Europe is in revolt as religious hatred sweeps the continent. Elizabeth Tudor has ascended to the throne but she is not safe in this dangerous new world. There are many who would see her removed, not least Mary Queens of Scots, who lies in wait in Paris. A New Order Elizabeth determines to set up a new secret service: a group of resourceful spies and courageous agents entrusted to keep her safe and in power. As she searches for those who will make the difference, one man stands out. A Man Who Would Die for His Queen For Ned Willard the opportunity to serve his queen is God-sent. He cannot stay in Kingsbridge and watch the love of his life marry another, and as fires burn and extremism begins to spark throughout Europe, Ned makes his choice. He will spend his life protecting his monarch from the tyrants who aim to destroy her or die trying . . .

A Column of Fire

"The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemingway is a timeless novella that encapsulates the indomitable spirit of human endurance and resilience in the face of nature's challenges. Set in the Gulf Stream waters off the coast of Cuba, the narrative follows Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman who has faced an extended run of bad luck. Determined to prove his skill and worth, Santiago sets out on a solitary fishing expedition, hoping to catch a giant marlin that has eluded him for years. As he battles the majestic fish for three days and nights, a profound and symbolic struggle unfolds. The novella explores themes of courage, isolation, and the complex relationship between humans and the natural world. Hemingway's spare and economical prose captures the elemental essence of the sea and the solitude of Santiago's journey. The story is a powerful meditation on the human condition, emphasizing the strength that can be found in resilience and the unyielding pursuit of personal goals, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. "The Old Man and the Sea" earned Hemingway the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953 and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. Its enduring appeal lies in its universal themes and the poignant portrayal of the human spirit's triumph over adversity.

The Old Man and the Sea

Winter of the World is the second novel in Ken Follett's uniquely ambitious Century trilogy. On its own or read in sequence with Fall of Giants and Edge of Eternity, this is a spellbinding epic of global conflict and personal drama during World War II. A Battle of Ideals It is 1933 and, at Cambridge, Lloyd Williams is drawn to irresistible socialite Daisy Peshkov, who represents everything that his left-wing family despise. But Daisy is more interested in aristocratic Boy Fitzherbert, a leader in the British Union of Fascists. An Evil Uprising Berlin is in turmoil. Eleven-year-old Carla von Ulrich struggles to understand the tensions disrupting her family as Hitler strengthens his grip on Germany. Many are resolved to oppose Hitler’s brutal regime – but are they willing to betray their country? A Global Conflict on a Scale Never Seen Before Shaken by the tyranny and the prospect of war, the lives of five families become ever more enmeshed. As an international clash of military power and personal beliefs sweeps the world, what will this new war mean for those who must live through it? Continue the captivating Century Trilogy with Edge of Eternity.

Winter of the World

Ambitious and addictive, Only Time Will Tell is the first novel in Jeffrey Archer’s The Clifton Chronicles, beginning the epic tale of Harry Clifton, a working-class boy from the docks of Bristol. Read by Emilia Fox, known for her role in Silent Witness, and Roger Allam. It is 1920, and against the backdrop of a world ravaged by conflict, Harry’s story begins with the words ‘I was told that my father was killed in the war’. Harry’s existence is defined by the death of his father and he seems destined to a life on the docks until a remarkable gift wins him a scholarship to an exclusive boys school and entry into a world he could never have envisaged. Over the course of twenty years, as the Second World War and the fight against Hitler draws nearer, Harry will learn the awful truth about his father’s death and of his own connections to a powerful shipping family, the Barringtons. And in doing so, he will change his destiny forever . . . Richly imagined and populated with remarkable characters, The Clifton Chronicles will take you on a powerful journey, bringing to life one hundred years of family history in a story neither you, nor Harry, could ever have dreamt of. Continue the bestselling series with The Sins of the Father and Best Kept Secret.

The Clifton Chronicles

Only Time Will Tell

Readers will be captivated by this story of love, sacrifice, and destiny, where the past and present collide to rewrite the future.“The Lost Memories gathered me up and swept me away. A beautiful, uplifting tale of life’s many types of love, and how the truest are never forgotten.” Amanda Geard–––––––––––––––- Suffolk, 1944. American pilot Charlie’s second tour is about to draw to a close, but his heart is forever changed when he meets Kitty, a local girl with dreams of joining the Women’s Land Army. As love blooms, the pair are all too aware that every perilous mission Charlie flies may well be his last… Suffolk, 2011. When Kitty’s granddaughter and ambitious tearoom owner Amy meets American tourist and photographer Jack, she agrees to show him around in exchange for his photographic talents. The deal quickly grows into an unexpected bond – but when long-buried secrets emerge, neither of their worlds will ever be the same again… The Lost Memories is a heartwarming, multi-generational love story, perfect for fans of Kate Quinn, Lucinda Riley and Kate Morton. –––––––––––––––- READERS ARE LOVING THE LOST MEMORIES: ‘No one does epic, sweeping romance as well as Lorna Cook!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I loved everything about this book…deserves a place on everyone’s summer reading list.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This is a very special novel, delivered with a warm and loving hand.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Truly swept me away and pulled my heart in so many directions while invoking tears, sighs, smiles and laughter.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I was sorry when it ended. Couldn’t put it down. One of the best novels I have read.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This is such a beautiful story… It is wonderfully heartfelt and fantastically written.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Another dual timeline gem from Cook.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘The storyline is superb…one of those books that leaves you with a warm cosy feeling.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Lost Memories

Abridged edition, narrated by Richard E Grant (Withnail and I) An epic, spellbinding tale of ambition, anarchy, and absolute power set against the sprawling medieval canvas of twelfth-century England, The Pillars of the Earth is Ken Follett's historical masterpiece. A Mason with a Dream It is 1135 and civil war, famine and religious strife abound. With his family on the verge of starvation, mason Tom Builder dreams of the day that he can use his talents to create and build a cathedral like no other. A Monk with a Burning Mission Philip is the church prior of Kingsbridge. A resourceful man, he knows that if his town is to survive at all, it must find a way to truly thrive. He decides, then, to build Kingsbridge the greatest Gothic cathedral the world has ever known. A World of High Ideals and Savage Cruelty As the prior recruits his mason, so begins a journey of ambition, anarchy and the struggle for absolute power. Facing enemies that would thwart them, they will stop at nothing to fulfil their grand plans of Kingsbridge. Soon fester the tensions (see note on 'fester the tension') between good and evil, turning church against state, and brother against brother . . . The Pillars of the Earth is the first in The Kingsbridge Novels series, followed by World Without End and A Column of Fire.

The Pillars of the Earth (Abridged)

On the eve of a world war, a forbidden love will blossom in the garden of a stately home, where one young woman will make a choice that will change her life forever… ‘An emotional story of love and strength’ – LIZ FENWICK ‘Beautiful … Had me utterly captivated’ – JENNY ASHCROFT As the storm clouds of war gather, Cordelia seeks refuge in the grounds of her family estate. Handsome landscaper Isaac has recently arrived to tend to the gardens, and the connection between him and Cordelia is as immediate as it is forbidden. Isaac begins to secretly teach her how to cultivate the gardens, so when he and all the young men are called away to war, Cordelia takes over. From the battlefields of Europe, Isaac sends her letters, that give her hope for their future in peacetime. But when these messages abruptly cease, Cordelia must face up to the worst and take her future – and the fate of the garden they both loved – into her own hands… An epic, sweeping tale of love, war and the strength of the human spirit. Fans of Lucinda Riley and Kate Morton will be absolutely gripped by this historical page-turner. –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Authors love The Hidden Letters :‘A beautiful emotional story of love and strength’ Liz Fenwick, author of The River Between Us ‘Lorna Cook has had me utterly captivated with her latest. The Hidden Letters has it all – heartbreak and redemption, intense love and desperate loss. It's the type of book that first made me fall in love with reading, I adored every sumptuous, atmospheric page, and can't recommend it highly enough.’ Jenny Ashcroft, author of Under the Golden Sun ‘A beautiful, evocative story of love and coping with loss that kept me turning the pages late into the night. A triumph!’ Rachel Burton, author of The Secrets of Summer House ‘Magnificent. Broke my heart and put it back together again’ Amanda Geard, author of The Midnight House ‘Kept me guessing right up to the last poignant page, I found it difficult to put down and impossible to stop thinking about when I did’ Iona Grey, author of The Glittering Hour ‘Lorna Cook’s lyrical novel transports us back to the last golden summer of innocence. Against the backdrop of a garden so beautifully depicted that I could smell the roses, she leads us through loss, heartbreak and heroism – and shows us that love can triumph over even the greatest adversity.’ Judy Summers, author of The Forgotten Sister ‘A story of heartache and deliverance, love and loss, brilliantly plotted and beautifully written – I could not put it down.’ Louisa Treger, author of Madwoman Readers love The Hidden Letters :‘Upon leaving those final pages and closing the book … it's like coming home. A feeling of completeness. Of having lived, loved and survived. Everything about Lorna’s tales are just all encompassing, sweeping you away and back to another time far away.’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A pleasure to read – I felt quite bereft when I had finished the final page.’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A beautiful, evocative story of love and coping with loss that kept me turning the pages late into the night. A triumph!’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A sweeping historical saga about war, duty, family, social change, sacrifice, loss, and unexpected love. The Hidden Lettersmade me cry, I found it really moving. ‘I really liked the way parts of the story were told through letters. The characters were both like able and believable. Definitely recommended.’ NetGalley review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Hidden Letters

Praise for Joanna Hickson: ‘An intriguing tale, told with confidence’ The Times‘Rich and warm’ Sunday ExpressWill his ambition be her destiny or her downfall? When Isabel Williams is betrothed to John Seymour, Lord of Wolf Hall Manor, she hopes that love and respect will come, despite his cold streak of ruthless ambition. Jess the shepherdess tends her flock on the wild spaces of Avebury close by, dismissing those who believe it is work for men. Forced to flee after falling under suspicion for the disappearance of a young man, Isabel’s offer of life with the growing Seymour family is the only refuge available to her. As John’s ambition draws them into the orbit of the divided court of the young King Henry VI, his hunger to succeed takes on a darker edge. Isabel realises her husband will pay any price to get what he wants, even if it means destroying those he has sworn to protect…

The House of Seymour

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Family Sagas

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