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Frenzy!: How the tabloid press turned three evil serial killers into celebrities
by Neil RootMurder has transfixed the popular press for centuries. But it was only in the second half of the twentieth century that murder began saturating front pages and making these monsters what we today recognise as modern celebrities. It was three serial killers, caught and executed in the few years after the end of the Second World War, who precipitated a level of public furore never seen before. Neville Heath, a 'charming' sadist who killed two women; John George Haigh, the Acid Bath Killer who killed between six and nine men and women; and John Christie, the ineffectual necrophile, who killed between six and eight women. The modern news coverage finds its roots with these three men whom the crime historian Donald Thomas called the 'Postwar Psychopaths'. Their crimes were the first to generate a tabloid frenzy the like of which we see all around us today. It was not only the murderers who captured the public's imagination. It was the detectives who hunted them down, the judiciary who tried them, and the man who executed them, the legendary hangman Albert Pierrepoint.This book tells the stories of these three infamous serial killers against the backdrop of the tabloid frenzy that surrounded them.
The Frood: The Authorised and Very Official History of Douglas Adams & The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy
by Jem RobertsAs a wise ape once observed, space is big – vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly so. However, if you look too closely at space, it becomes nothing but lumps of rock and sundry gases. Sometimes it's necessary to take a step back, and let a few billion years go by, before any of the true wonder and scope of the cosmos becomes apparent. Similarly, the late 20th century author, humorist and thinker Douglas Adams was big – vastly, hugely and thoroughly mind-bogglingly so, both in physical terms, and as a writer who has touched millions of readers, firing up millions of cerebellums all over planet Earth, for over 35 years – and for nearly half of that time, he hasn't even been alive. It would be ridiculous to pretend that Douglas Adams's life and work has gone unexamined since his dismayingly early death at 49 but throughout the decade since the last book to tackle the subject, the universes Adams created have continued to develop, to beguile and expand minds, and will undoubtedly do so for generations to come. An all-new approach to the most celebrated creation of Douglas Adams is therefore most welcome, and The Frood tells the story of Adams's explosive but agonizingly constructed fictional universe, from his initial inspirations to the posthumous sequel(s) and adaptations, bringing together a thousand tales of life as part of the British Comedy movements of the late 70s and 80s along the way. With the benefit of hindsight and much time passed, friends and colleagues have been interviewed for a fresh take on the man and his works.
Bernard Buffet: The Invention of the Modern Mega-artist
by Nicholas FoulkesIt is said that asphyxiation brings on a state of hallucinatory intoxication...in which case the 71 year old artist who lay in his sprawling Provencal villa died happy. In the early afternoon of Monday 4 October 1999, wracked with Parkinson's, and unable to paint because of a fall in which he had broken his wrist, Bernard Buffet calmly placed a plastic bag over his head, taped it tight around his neck and patiently waited the few minutes it took for death to arrive. Bernard Buffet:The Invention of the Modern Mega-artist tells the remarkable story of a French figurative painter who tasted unprecedented critical and commercial success at an age when his contemporaries were still at art school. Then, with almost equal suddenness the fruits of fame turned sour and he found himself an outcast. Scarred with the contagion of immense commercial success no leper was more untouchable. He was the first artist of the television age and the jet age and his role in creating the idea of a post-war France is not to be underestimated. As the first of the so-called Fabulous Five (Francoise Sagan, Roger Vadim, Brigitte Bardot and Yves Saint Laurent) he was a leader of the cultural revolution that seemed to forge a new France from the shattered remains of a discredited and demoralized country. Rich in incident Buffet’s remarkable story of bisexual love affairs, betrayal, vendettas lasting half a century, shattered reputations, alcoholism, and drug abuse, is played out against the backdrop of the beau monde of the 1950s and 1960s in locations as diverse as St Tropez, Japan, Paris, Dallas, St Petersburg and New York, before coming to its miserable conclusion alone in his studio.
One Man’s Everest: The Autobiography of Kenton Cool
by Kenton CoolKenton Cool is the finest alpine climber of this generation. His accomplishments are staggering. He has summited Everest twelve times. He is the first person in history to climb the three Everest peaks, the so-called Triple Crown, in one climb, a feat previously thought impossible. He was nominated for the prestigious piolet d'Or in 2004 for climbing a previously unclimbed route on Annapurna III. In 2012 he fulfilled the Olympic Games pledge of placing a 1924 gold medal on the Everest summit. He is the only Briton to have skied down two 8000-metre mountains, and in 2009 he guided Sir Ranulph Fiennes to the summit of Everest, helping to raise over £3 million for Marie Curie Cancer Care.His accomplishments are all the more extraordinary considering an incident in the summer of 1996 which tore Kenton's world apart. Whilst climbing in Wales, he broke a handhold on a route aptly called 'Major Headstress' and fell to the ground with such force that he shattered both his heel bones. Initially told he would never walk unaided again, Kenton spent four weeks in hospital, had three operations, three and a half months in a wheelchair and months of rehab. Today he is still in pain and after a long day in the mountains it's not uncommon to see him struggling to walk or moving around on his hands and knees. Yet he still climbs.'Why do you do it?' people ask him. This book tells why.
Hunan: A Lifetime of Secrets from Mr Peng’s Chinese Kitchen
by Mr PengFounded in 1982 by Mr Peng, Hunan is a legendary London restaurant which attracts customers from all over the world.At Hunan, diners don’t choose – they simply say what they don’t eat and how spicy they like their food. Mr Peng then does the rest, serving up small portions with the emphasis on sharing many courses. The orders are hand-written and are sent down to the kitchen by a chute and the food travels up in a dumb waiter. Mr Peng is a firm believer in simplicity.Hunan is a landmark book that captures the essence of a unique menu from a unique character. Among the 70 must-have recipes are Mr Peng’s ‘absurdly delicious’ prawn dumplings, lettuce wraps filled with diced chicken, ‘which you just pop into your mouth and scrunch’ and mouth-melting double-cooked pork. As Mr Peng says: 'I often say to people I've only just met: I'm a very strange person. And then I have to explain: food is my life. Despite being close to 70 I'm still in the kitchen at Hunan, on the floor almost every day doing prep, working the wok and talking to guests, most of whom have been regulars for years. The food is the only thing which has changed, and which changes almost daily. It is really about bringing out the most in the ingredients. Subtle blends of chilli and Sichuan peppercorns push enormous pearly scallops to the edge while the gentle salty miso cuts through the tenderest slivers of corn-fed chicken. It is possible because the ingredients I use are fresh and of faultless quality.
Mother India at Home: Recipes Pictures Stories
by Monir Mohammed Martin GrayMother India at Westminster Terrace in Glasgow, has been an institution since 1996 and specialises in dishes such as ginger and green chilli fish pakora, seasoned Scottish haddock with Puy lentils, and Delhi-style Scottish lamb, all cooked fresh to order, reflecting Mother India owner Monir Mohammed’s commitment to cooking quality Indian food without pandering to the British taste for inauthentic korma or masala. The strategy has been hugely popular, allowing expansion to five outlets, including tapas, take- aways and a Mother India Cafe in Edinburgh. Mother India is regularly ranked in Herald restaurant critic Ron MacKenna’s top 10 Scottish restaurants.The book will incorporate a first person account of Monir’s personal culinary journey, with a photo essay of the life of one of the world's great Indian restaurants as an integral cog in the cultural melting pot of a modern British city. Alongside this will be a collection of recipes, some of which are signature Mother India dishes, and others designed specifically for home cooking. Each recipe will draw upon Monir's story: his beginnings as a boy from a British Asian family who started working in restaurants at 14 and his pivotal stay in the Punjab in his late teens where he learned the ancient principles of Indian home cooking from scratch. The book will tell the story of the risks he took to build a personal, authentic style of Indian cooking. There are human stories running through the recipes as well: Hajra Bibi's Salmon was inspired by a dish his mother (Hajra Bibi) used to make them as children.
Semplice: Real Italian Food: Ingredients and Recipes
by Dino JoannidesDino Joannides is a consummate food fanatic and bon Viveur. With an Italian mother and half Greek half Corsican father he spent his first years in Italy before moving to the UK. Over the last 30 odd years he has traveled and eaten all over Italy in people’s homes, simple trattorias and the finest restaurants. Dino believes that good quality ingredients, in small quantities, are what make a perfect meal. Whilst growing up, he had fascinating gastronomic encounters with producers, chefs, cooks and fellow epicureans and he has a unique network of contacts and over 30 years of food related knowledge and experience.If you’ve ever bought olive oil in a supermarket and wondered about the difference between Cold Pressed and not cold pressed, or ever bought dried pasta, and wondered if it would be difficult or worthwhile to make your own, then this book is for you. Dino will let you in on the secrets that make Culatello di Zibello the best possible cured meat, and will show you that it is worth seeking out pecorino Romano for your pasta carbonara.Taking different elements of Italian cooking and exploring their origin and provenance, Dino will explode myths and expound facts surrounding some of the key ingredients in Italian cooking. There are also 100 delicious recipes to show you how to put your well-sourced ingredients together to make the most amazing, achievable and authentic Italian possible.
The 8Greens Cookbook: The Simple Way to Get Your Greens
by Dawn RussellDawn Russell had a family that did not want to eat its greens (sound familiar?). So she developed 8GREENS: a blend of spinach, kale, spirulina, blue-green algae, barley grass, wheat grass, chlorella and aloe vera that tastes great and passed the test of her husband and two children. She worked with five chemists, three manufacturers and 263 prototypes to get this thumbs up from this very picky, but very normal, focus group sitting in her own kitchen.The 8G cookbook contains more than 40 delicious recipes that all incorporate this blend of greens to make everyday cooking taste fantastic and ensure that you, and those you love, are getting the most important green ingredients into your diet. It also features Dawn’s own inspiring story and the hard-earned knowledge she gathered along the way. Diagnosed with stage 3 lymphatic cancer at 25, Dawn traveled the world meeting medical and nutritional experts on her journey back to health. It was this research and personal experience that led her to develop this mix of what she found to be the most important greens for internal health, but a family that didn’t want to drink ‘mom’s mixture’ to find the way to make it an easy, fun and tasty addition to normal life and cooking.Dawn is on a mission to get more greens into everyone. The 8Greens Cookbook is the easy and delicious way to get everyone on the path to a green, happy and healthy life.
The Gypsy Girl: A heart-warming and heartbreaking novel to escape with
by Val WoodWould she ever find somewhere she truly belonged?__When Polly Anna's mother died when she was just three years old, it seemed the workhouse was the only place for her to go. But with the help of Jonty - a young misfit who soon became her best friend - she managed to escape, running away with the fairground folk. Her friends became the circus people, and her home the caravans and travellers' tents.Meanwhile, in a great house in Yorkshire, old Mrs Winthrop has never given up hope of finding her daughter Madeleine, who eloped with a handsome gypsy and was never seen again. When her young neighbour sets out to find Madeleine, he discovers the colourful world of the fairs. And there, in the midst of it all, Polly Anna - once the waif from the workhouse, now a fully-fledged gypsy girl.If you enjoy books by Katie Flynn and Dilly Court, you'll love Val's heartwarming stories of triumph over adversity.Previously published as The Romany Girl.__What readers are saying:***** 'Another great story from Val Wood she always has me gripped throughout the book.'***** 'A real page turner . . . loved how she describes the different ways of life from the workhouse to the fair grounds. Amazing.'***** 'l loved this book. lt was sad at times and kept me wanting to read more. l felt such compassion . . . and l held my breath.'
Daughters Of Eden: (The Eden series: 1): a captivating novel of friendship and fortitude set at the height of WW2 from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham
by Charlotte BinghamA riveting story of love and loss set in wartime Britain from the million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham, for fans of Louise Douglas and Dinah Jefferies.'One of Britain's most bankable novelists.' - THE DAILY EXPRESS'A rip-roaring combination of high romance and breathless excitement' - MAIL ON SUNDAY'Compelling.' - WOMAN & HOME******************************************************************AS WAR BREAKS OUT, FOUR GIRLS WILL BE CHANGED FOREVER...DAUGHTERS OF EDEN focuses on the lives and fortunes of four very different young women at the outbreak of the Second World War.Marjorie, left at a boarding school by her emigrating mother; plain Poppy, pushed into marriage with a mean-spirited aristocrat; Kate, despised by her father, but determined to prove herself; and man-mad Lily, who turns out to be the bravest of them all.That all of them are chosen to work undercover for the espionage unit at a beautiful stately home is a surprise, not least to them. At Eden Park they meet four unusual young men - Eugene, the feckless Irishman; Robert, Kate's brother; and Scott, the undisputed favourite of the unit. Only Jack Ward, the mysterious spymaster, manages to remain aloof as he guides their destinies.They will look back on this time as having felt more alive than ever before...
Distant Music: an unputdownable saga set in the glamorous world of the theatre from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham
by Charlotte BinghamFans of Louise Douglas, Dinah Jeffries and Kristin Hannah will love this heart-warming, captivating and compelling post-war saga by the million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham. 'As comforting as a hot milky drink on a stormy night. Her legions of fans will not be disappointed.' -- DAILY EXPRESS 'Outstanding' -- ***** Reader review'Another excellent read by Charlotte Bingham' -- ***** Reader review'These are characters you will really care about' -- ***** Reader review'Very enjoyable and hard to put down' -- ***** Reader review'Incredibly well written and engrossing' -- ***** Reader review*******************************************************************************************WHAT CAN OFFER THE ESCAPE THEY SEEK?The 1950s, post-War Britain: the only people in society who can be said to have a glamorous lifestyle are the very wealthy, the aristocracy, and people who worked in the theatre.Elsie Lancaster is the granddaughter of a hardened old professional actress who runs a seaside boarding house.Oliver is the third son of a Catholic aristocratic Yorkshire family whose mother has run off, so the theatre-mad butler has brought him up like a son to be a Great Actor.Coco Hampton, Oliver's best friend, has been raised in Sloane Street by Gladys, her profligate guardian, who is always borrowing money from Coco to buy more clothes.Gladys and Oliver have been fans of the theatre since they were knee-high, but Coco has only ever wanted to be a designer. When Coco joins Oliver at his drama school in London, to his chagrin she promptly gets cast in films because of her photogenic looks.Meanwhile, Elsie is 'discovered' in the provinces by Portly Cosgrove; shortly before meeting Oliver who promptly falls in love with her. And elsewhere, on location, Coco has her first affair with a handsome actor, which doesn't end well...A colourful cast of characters and a script you just couldn't make up...!
Goodnight Sweetheart: a romantic wartime novel encompassing both love and tragedy from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham
by Charlotte BinghamExciting and dramatic but tender and heartfelt; this is a novel that you will return to again and again. From the million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham, for fans of Louise Douglas and Dinah Jeffries.'A novel rich in dramatic surprises... will have you frantically turning the pages.' - DAILY MAIL 'One of Britain's most bankable novelists.' - THE DAILY EXPRESS 'I laughed and cried at this tale, could visualise the characters, scenery and the story' - ***** Reader Review'Great book, grabs you on the first page' - ***** Reader Review********************************************************************A WARTIME BETRAYAL STRAIGHT TO THE HEARTAs Walter Berrisford paints beautiful Katherine Garland, she asks him to put a ladybird on her finger without his knowing why. He is appalled when he discovers that Katherine is a Nazi.The outbreak of war means that everyone must contribute to the war effort: her sister Caro and her friend Robyn join the FANYs, while former maids, Betty and Trixie, work in a factory.War brings frantic romance to all, including their flatmate Edwina O'Brien, but it is Betty, transferred to decode at Bletchley Park who discovers the truth about the Ladybird...
Out Of The Blue: an enchanting and uplifting saga set in the West Country from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham
by Charlotte BinghamA family finds peace through the unexpected struggle to aid a stranger in this captivating and moving saga. From the million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham, for fans of Louise Douglas and Dinah Jefferies.'An uplifting and inspiring book, emotional yet optimistic, which leaves the reader feeling optimistic and empowered' - THE GOOD BOOK GUIDE'I was surprised by this book. I'm not a romantic... but this did leave a little warm glow in my heart by the end.' - ***** Reader Review'A very enjoyable read, I loved the ending' - ***** Reader Review*********************************************************************************HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO TO HELP A STRANGER?Florence Fontaine has not recovered from a family tragedy when she discovers astrangely dressed young man asleep in her guest cottage at the Old Rectory.Against her better judgement she offers him breakfast, only to find herself caught up in his drama. Florence's young and beautiful daughter, Amadea, is immediately suspicious of Edmund, as he appears to be called, fearing that he might be a fraud.Despite her reservations, Florence enlists friends and neighbours to help restore Edmund's memory. As the mystery unfolds, it becomes apparent that Edmund's history is entwined with that of nearby Harlington Hall, but that his real identity is something quite other.Florence and Amadea become united in their quest and are finally able to put the tragedies of the past behind them, repair their once disjointed lives, and embrace a new and happy future...
The Blue Note: a beautifully moving and unmissable wartime saga of love and loss from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham
by Charlotte BinghamFans of Louise Douglas, Dinah Jefferies and Kristin Hannah will not be disappointed by this magically romantic and dynamic saga by the million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham."Will satisfy all Bingham's fans" - SUNDAY TIMES"Great summer escapism from an award-winning romantic novelist" - CHOICE"Her imagination is thoroughly original" - DAILY MAIL"This is a novel so heartbreaking........so touching it kept me glued to the pages just anticipating the outcome for these wonderful characters." -- ***** Reader review"A wonderful read and very hard to put down" -- ***** Reader review**************************************************************************A TOUCHING STORY OF FINDING LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS....World War Two: Londoners Miranda and Ted are sent to the country with another young evacuee, Roberta (Bobbie), to live with two unmarried sisters in their idyllic rectory. The time they spend with Aunt Sophie and Aunt Prudence turns their lives into something very near to Heaven: the archetypal idyllic countryside childhood.But when the two sisters learn they cannot adopt all three of them, it is Bobbie who is sent away to live with the Dingwalls in very different circumstances. And when the aunts die, Miranda, Tom and Bobbie are eventually parted, seemingly forever.The three find each other after the war, and Miranda, now a beautiful young model, falls in love with grown-up Ted Mowbray, but he can only think of her as a sister. In turn, he loves Bobbie, yet she has already met her beloved Julian, getting to know him during a summer by the sea in Sussex.How many hearts are destined to be broken and can they find their way to a happy and fulfilled future?
The Enchanted: a wonderfully uplifting story of a special friendship that runs incredibly deep from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham
by Charlotte BinghamExciting and dramatic but tender and heartfelt; this is a novel that you will return to again and again. From the million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham, for fans of Louise Douglas and Dinah Jeffries.'A galloping read...Bingham relishes her period detail and social comedy and adds a touch of whimsy' -- SUNDAY TIMES'Mesmerising' -- ***** Reader review'I was hooked from beginning to end' -- ***** Reader review'Held me enthralled' -- ***** Reader review'LOVED IT, LOVED IT, LOVED IT!' -- ***** Reader review*************************************************************************************************AN UNBREAKBLE BOND CAN LEAD TO EXTRAORDINARY THINGSWhen Kathleen finds a mare in foal, she and her father take him in, despite the fact that they can barely afford to feed her. Tragically the mare dies, leaving an orphan that they name The Enchanted. As the young horse grows up among Ireland's lush pastures, Kathleen loses her heart to him...But as Kathleen has always feared The Enchanted must be sold. Rory James and his father take a chance on the little horse in the hope of improving the fortune of their run-down racing yard. But luck does not run Rory's way when The Enchanted mysteriously sickens. It seems that only Kathleen can help.And it is only under her care that The Enchanted is able to live up to his name and astonishing things start to happen to all those around him.
The Kissing Garden: an intriguing, romantic bestseller set in the English countryside after World War One
by Charlotte BinghamThis cosy, captivating and dreamy love story with a magical twist by million-copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham, is the perfect escapist read. A must read for fans of Louise Douglas, Dinah Jeffries and Kristin Hannah.'Extremely popular...her books sell and sell' -- Daily Mail'A perfect escapist cocktail for summertime romantics' -- MAIL ON SUNDAY'I could not put it down' -- ***** Reader review'Fiction at its best' -- ***** Reader review'A magical tale' -- ***** Reader review'I have to say curled up by a log fire under a duvet is the best time to read this!' -- ***** Reader review'I was totally captivated' -- ***** Reader review********************************************************************PEOPLE CHANGE BUT CAN LOVE SPRING ETERNAL?As children, George Dashwood and Amelia Dennison loved to roam the Sussex Downs in company with their dogs, and just as their two very different families were friends, so too were they.Years later, as the storm clouds of war gather, George realizes that what he feels for Amelia is more than friendship. But it is 1914 and the declaration of war cuts across any romantic plans that the two might have.George is away at the Front for four years, and when the miracle happens and he returns home safely, it seems to Amelia and to both of their families that all they have to do is to marry. But Amelia quickly realizes that the George she loved as a child has gone...Will a trip to the West Country and the discovery of an old, ruined priory be what they need to find the love and happiness they both know is buried deep?
The Love Knot: an intriguing, romantic bestseller about the Victorian politics of love and marriage from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham
by Charlotte BinghamThree friends make their mark on the world in this captivating and moving saga. From the million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham, for fans of Louise Douglas and Dinah Jeffries.'Perfectly evokes the atmosphere of a bygone era...An entertaining Victorian romance' -- WOMAN'S OWN'I was surprised by this book. I'm not a romantic... but this did leave a little warm glow in my heart by the end.' - ***** Reader Review'A very enjoyable read, I loved the ending' - ***** Reader Review'I laughed and cried at this tale, could visualise the characters, scenery and the story' - ***** Reader Review'Great book, grabs you on the first page' - ***** Reader Review*****************************************************************************************************THREE GREAT FRIENDS. THREE VERY DIFFERENT OUTCOMES...Following the death of her mother, Leonie Lynch is brought up in London's Eastgate Street by foster parents, her living expenses provided for by her young mother's friend, Lady Angela Bentick.When she turns eighteen, her godmother, the redoubtable Mrs Dodd, turns to Lady Angela to ask that she takes her on as a nurse at her nursing home and it is upon starting work that Leonie meets our two other heroines - Mercy Cordel and Dorinda Montgomery.Mercy grew up at the family home, Cordel Court in Somerset, and shortly after her seventeenth birthday, was brought up to London by her stepmother for the London Season. Dorinda Montgomery, on the other hand, has hardly ridden up and down Rotten Row more than a half a dozen times before she has captured the heart of every masher around town. Within days she is a famous member of the demi-monde, with her own house and carriage in St John's Wood.Meanwhile, Mercy Cordel is hard put to find a dancing partner. That she eventually finds a husband in the hard-bitten, hard-riding John Brancaster is a source of happy amazement to her.Society seems to reward Dorinda Montgomery more than it does the virtuous girl pushed into marriage with a suitably older husband. Certainly this is how it seems to Leonie Lynch, the only one of the three who has quite made up her mind to dedicate herself to something other than marriage...
The Magic Hour: an uplifting and moving tale of serendipity and fate from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham
by Charlotte BinghamExciting and dramatic but tender and heartfelt; this is a novel that you will return to again and again. From the million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham, for fans of Louise Douglas and Dinah Jeffries.'An engaging, romantic and nostalgic read' -- DAILY MAIL'Compulsive reading... Bingham's prose is lively and vivid, making this a real page turner' -- GOOD BOOK GUIDE"These are characters you will really care about" -- ***** Reader review"Very enjoyable and hard to put down" -- ***** Reader review"Incredibly well written and engrossing" -- ***** Reader review**************************************************************************TWO PATHS, ONE DESTINATION...When Alexandra Stamford goes to stay with her cousins at Knighton Hall she is very much the poor relation. Shortly after her return home, her father re-marries. No longer wanted, Alexandra is forced to become a maid-of-all-work for a Mrs Smithers who lives in a grand Regency house in the seaside town of Deanford.It is here that handsome, funny Bob Atkins meets and falls in love with Alexandra...Meanwhile Tom O'Brien, erstwhile stable lad at Knighton Hall, meets and falls for the beautiful Lady Florazel Compton who introduces him to the sophistications of 1950s London.As Bob is conscripted for National Service, Alexandra plans her future, and in doing so discovers family secrets that have a devastating impact. Tragedy strikes, and it is only when Tom returns from New York to search out his old friend Bob Atkins' fiancée that Alexandra's life appears about to be truly transformed.But the past seems destined to wreck the happiness of the present, as the glamorous Lady Florazel Compton is determined to re-capture her former love, destroying the magic hour of Tom's and Alexandra's meeting.
The Moon At Midnight: (The Bexham Trilogy: 3): a thoroughly engrossing story about the generational conflict during the 1960s from bestselling author Charlotte Bingham
by Charlotte BinghamSet in the small fishing village of Bexham, this follows the fortunes of the characters we met in The Chestnut Tree and The Wind off the Sea. Million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham has penned a novel so engaging and captivating, you won't be able to put it down. Fans of Louise Douglas, Dinah Jefferies and Kristin Hannah will not be disappointed.'Charlotte Bingham portrays the characters with great sympathy and sets them firmly in the sixties. There is tragedy, humour and warmth. If you like a good realistic story you will enjoy this.' -- HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW'I couldn't wait to go to bed each night to continue reading the story'-- ***** Reader review'Comfortable and stylish' -- ***** Reader review'Just wonderful!' -- ***** Reader review'I found I couldn't put it down... FANTASTIC!!' -- ***** Reader review*******************************************************************************************WAR IS LONG OVER, BUT NEW BATTLES ARE JUST BEGINNING...1962: times feel bleak again. The threat of atomic warfare feels real and, for many, life seems all the more bewildering as they struggle to understand the new generation of the Sixties, a generation for whom they made so many wartime sacrifices, for whom they had such high hopes.No sooner has the threat of nuclear war seemed to have passed than Judy, Mathilda and Rusty are facing a new, personal crisis brought about by their teenage children. Still grieving for his lost wife, Waldo Astley tries his best to help his three friends, only to find himself falling in love with one of them...Meanwhile the younger generation have their own problems, all of which involve their families.That all the generations find themselves once more united in a battle, this time to save the village they love, is both an irony and finally, a saving grace.Once more an enemy has to be defeated, once more they must arm themselves, but this time for a war of a very different kind.
The Season: (Debutantes: 2): LOVE, HATE, ALLIES, ENEMIES. The Season begins
by Charlotte BinghamAn immensely readable drama of period society that you WILL NOT be able to put down. Authored by the million copy and Sunday Times bestselling author Charlotte Bingham, perfect for fans of Louise Douglas and Dinah Jefferies.'Bingham's imagination is thoroughly original' - DAILY MAIL'Charlotte Bingham...always tells a rattling good story...Pure escapism!' - Woman and Home'Pure delicious escapism' - ***** Reader review'The characters are so well developed with such an engaging story line. I wish there were more books in this series.' - ***** Reader review*********************************************************************************ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR...Portia and Emily meet to launch their daughters on an unsuspecting Society for the London Season. Both are determined that their offspring, Phyllis and Edith, will catch the eye of their friend May's son, a future Duke.Meanwhile, their arch-enemy Daisy Lanford, fallen on hard times due to his own extravagance and penchant for lovers, is busy launching American heiresses. However, Phyllis, having formed an unholy alliance with Edith, is intent on spoiling the American girl's chances.As always, the Season is fraught with dangers for both the young and the middle-aged, while the old observe, knowing it has all gone on before.It will be a minor miracle if all three girls find husbands before the end of the Season, and their mothers renewed happiness...
Every Good Girl: the perfect, light-hearted, feel-good romance to settle down with…
by Judy AstleyLet bestselling author Judy Astley sweep you away with this uplifting, laugh-out-loud comedy which shows EXACTLY what little boys are made of. Perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Milly Johnson and Trisha Ashley.'A funny, incisive gem of a novel' - Sunday Post'This deliciously funny novel had me laughing out loud' - Woman and Home'A funny, warm and moving novel' - Sunday Mirror"Judy Astley's books are always a joy to read." -- ***** Reader review"Judy Astley is a brilliant writer, you get lost in her books. They are all brilliant in my opinion." -- ***** Reader review 'Great escapism' -- ***** Reader review**************************************************************************PEACE AT LAST? NOT LIKELY!After twenty years of marriage, Nina had offloaded serial philanderer Joe and was happy enough, thank you, coping alone with their two demanding daughters and her own hectic life. It felt like freedom, not having to wonder constantly where Joe was, who with and up to what.But into Nina's new, carefree life some disturbing elements began to appear. A flasher had been accosting young girls on the nearby common, leaving every man in the area under suspicion. Home, to Nina, no longer felt so safe. And Joe, during one of his oh-so-civilised monthly lunches with Nina, revealed that the new love in his life, pin-thin, power-dressed Catherine, had decided that she now required a baby.But babies, Joe told Nina, were what he did with her: a remark that Nina found oddly unsettling...
No Place For A Man: another light-hearted and laugh-out-loud comedy from bestselling author Judy Astley
by Judy AstleyPerfect escapism again from the pen of bestselling author Judy Astley, No Place for a Man is a sizzling and seriously funny novel about family life and the eternal need to hold everything - and everyone - together. Perfect for fans of Carole Matthews, Jenny Colgan, Lucy Diamond and Milly Johnson. 'Amusing and entertaining, easily relatable and recognisable characters' -- ***** Reader review'I couldn't put the book down. Great read!' -- ***** Reader review'Warm and witty' -- ***** Reader review'Riveting' -- ***** Reader review*******************************************************************************SOMEONE HAS TO HOLD IT ALL TOGETHER, AND IT WON'T BE HIM!Jess has just waved goodbye to her darling son, off backpacking to Oz. She's left with two teenage daughters and husband Matt - all of whom find themselves regularly featured in her popular and lighthearted newspaper column in which she conveys to her readers an enviably cheery muddle of family life. Things become less rosy when Matt, after twenty years with the same firm, is made redundant. Only Jess sees the potential calamity in this. Matt is delighted with his new freedom and takes to hanging out at the local bar with others of the male barely-employable tendency, drinking and drifting and dreaming up hopeless schemes to make them all rich...Daughter no. 1, meanwhile, has taken up with a mysterious boy living in an abandoned car on the allotment, and her younger sister is over-burdened with a surfeit of secrets. For Jess, trying to hold everything together and missing her first-flown child, it becomes ever-harder to maintain the carefree façade for her readers. Of course she could just tell them the truth...
The Right Thing: a wonderfully funny, warm and moving novel that will sweep you away
by Judy AstleyLet bestselling author Judy Astley sweep you away with this insightful and uplifting gem of a novel about the important things in life. Perfect for fans of Jenny Colgan, Milly Johnson and Trisha Ashley."Astley writes with humour and insight about the stresses and strains of family life" - THE TIMES"A most absorbing and revealing read" - WOMAN'S WEEKLY"Judy Astley's books are always a joy to read." -- ***** Reader review"Judy Astley is a brilliant writer, you get lost in her books. They are all brilliant in my opinion." -- ***** Reader review *********************************************************HER LIFE SEEMS COMPLETE, BUT THERE'S ONE THING SHE HAS TO FIND...Funerals are strange things. Kitty hadn't really wanted to go to this one - a old school friend she hadn't seen for years - and she hadn't bargained for the way it made her think of the past. In particular, it made her think of the baby she had given birth to when she was eighteen and been forced to give away for adoption. She'd called her Madeleine, and she remembered her every day, wondered what she was like, if she was happy. Now, reminded of how cruelly short life can be, she has to see her - just to make sure she'd done the right thing.Life has turned out pretty well for Kitty: a secure marriage, two teenage children and a house within sound and sight of the Cornish surf... But the hole left by that first baby isn't getting any smaller, and she decides to make the first, tentative steps towards filling it - although she, and all her family, are quite unprepared for what this means...
The Pathfinder: A gripping and heartbreaking wartime romance that will stay with you forever…
by Margaret MayhewPerfect for fans of Katie Flynn, Fiona Valpy and Kristin Hannah, a powerful and moving saga set in the aftermath of World War II from bestselling author Margaret Mayhew. READERS ARE LOVING THE PATHFINDER!"An exciting book to read. It was very gripping, emotional, happy and sad. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. The characters were strong, interesting and the story kept me wanting to know what happened..." - 5 STARS"I could not put this book down..." - 5 STARS"Wonderful stuff..."- 5 STARS"I loved every page..."- 5 STARS"This is a brilliant story...I was sorry when it ended..." - 5 STARS********************************************A CITY DIVIDED BY WAR. TWO LOVERS ON OPPOSING SIDES. CAN THEIR LOVE SURVIVE?Berlin 1948. The defeated city lies in ruins. Divided by the Allies and set deep behind Russian lines, it is a city of want, wretchedness and sleaze. Lili Leicht is now fighting for survival under Russian rule and dependent on aid from the British - the nation that killed her mother.Yet when she meets Squadron Leader Michael Harrison - now himself having to bring food and fuel to the surviving Berliners - a people he bombed and who he connects with the murder of his sister and her children - a spark ignites...Can their love surmount the prejudices and hatred born of war?