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One Snowy Night
by Rita BradshawFrom the top-ten bestselling author of Beneath a Frosty Moon, Rita Bradshaw, comes One Snowy Night, a sweeping family saga set between the two world wars in the north-east of England.It’s 1922 and the Depression is just beginning to rear its head in Britain, but Ruby Morgan is about to marry her childhood sweetheart and nothing can mar her happiness. Or so she thinks. An unimaginable betrayal by those she loves causes her to flee her home and family one snowy night. Crushed and heartbroken, Ruby vows that despite the odds stacked against her she will not only survive, but one day will show the ones she left behind that she’s succeeded in making something of herself. Brave words, but the reality is far from easy. Dangers Ruby could never have foreseen and more tragedy threaten her new life, and love always seems just out of reach. Can a happy ending ever be hers?
Snowflakes in the Wind
by Rita BradshawSnowflakes in the Wind is a heartwarming story of triumph over adversity by Rita Bradshaw, author of the number one bestselling Dancing in the Moonlight.It's Christmas Eve 1920 when nine-year-old Abby Kirby's family is ripped apart by a terrible tragedy. Leaving everything she's ever known, Abby takes her younger brother and runs away to the tough existence of the Border farming community.Years pass. Abby becomes a beautiful young woman and falls in love, but her past haunts her, casting dark shadows. Furthermore, in the very place she's taken refuge is someone who wishes her harm.With her heart broken, Abby decides to make a new life as a nurse. When the Second World War breaks out, she volunteers as a QA nurse and is sent overseas. However, life takes another unexpected and dangerous turn when she becomes a prisoner of the Japanese. It is then that Abby realizes that whatever has gone before is nothing compared to what lies ahead . . .
The Storm Child: The perfect Winter read from the top ten bestseller
by Rita BradshawFrom the top-ten bestselling author of One Snowy Night, Rita Bradshaw, comes The Storm Child, a sweeping family saga set during the run up to WW2 in the north-east of England.It’s mid-winter, and in the throes of a fierce blizzard Elsie Redfern and her husband discover an unknown girl in their hay barn about to give birth. After the young mother dies, Elsie takes the infant in and raises her as her own daughter, her precious storm child.Gina grows into a beautiful little girl, but her safe haven turns out to be anything but. Torn away from her home and family, the child finds herself in a nightmare from which there’s no waking, but despite her misery and bewilderment, Gina’s determined to survive.Years pass. With womanhood comes the Second World War, along with more heartbreak, grief and betrayal. Then, a new but dangerous love beckons; can Gina ever escape the dark legacy of the storm child?
A Winter Love Song
by Rita BradshawA Winter Love Song is a heartwarming and moving story of survival and love from bestselling author Rita Bradshaw.Bonnie Lindsay is born into a travelling fair community in the north-east in 1918, and when her mother dies just months later, Bonnie’s beloved father becomes everything to her. Then at the tender age of ten years old, disaster strikes. Heartbroken, Bonnie’s left at the mercy of her embittered grandmother and her lecherous step-grandfather.Five years later, the events of one terrible night cause Bonnie to flee to London where she starts to earn her living as a singer. She changes her name and cuts all links with the past. Time passes. Bonnie falls in love, but just when she dares to hope for a rosy future, the Second World War is declared. She does her bit for the war effort, singing for the troops and travelling to Burma to boost morale, but heartache and pain are just around the corner, and she begins to ask herself if she will ever find happiness again?
The Winter Rose: Heartwarming Historical Fiction
by Rita BradshawFrom the top-ten bestselling author of One Snowy Night, Rita Bradshaw, comes The Winter Rose, a sweeping family saga set in the north of England.It’s December 1902 and Rose O’Leary is looking forward to her baby girl’s first Christmas. But then tragedy strikes: her husband dies at the shipyard where he works and within days his friend, Nathaniel, makes it plain he’s determined to have her.Rose flees with her child, but soon finds the world is a cruel place for a beautiful woman with no protection. More tragedy ensues and yet, although she’s bruised and broken, Rose is a fighter.Then, when she least expects it, love enters her life again, but she cannot escape her past and now it threatens not only her happiness but her very life. Will she ever find a safe haven?
Save Yourself: A Novel
by Kelly BraffetWhen Patrick Cusimano's alcoholic father kills a child in a hit-and-run, Patrick is faced with a terrible choice: turn his father in - destroying what's left of his family in the process - or keep quiet. But can Patrick's brother, Mike, live with the choice that was made that night? Layla Elshere was once a poster girl for purity. But when her evangelical father forces her to spearhead a campaign against her school, it compels her to question everything she's ever known. Now Layla is doing all she can to obliterate her past. Verna loves her older sister Layla, but as events begin to spiral, Verna must make the hardest choice: save the person she loves most in the world - or save herself. Save Yourself is a stunning novel about power struggles and divided loyalties, and the way in which one terrible decision can alter the whole course of your life.
Towards Mellbreak
by Marie-Elsa BraggAfter many generations, it is now Harold who runs Ard Farm. Out on the fells, he feels his father’s presence, and there is hope that he, his grandmother and his Uncle Joe will be able to take the farm forward and prosper. But their way of life is under threat: farming is undergoing huge change and increasingly harmful intervention. Towards Mellbreak is a hymn both to the landscape of Cumbria and to a disappearing world. Poetic, beautiful and tragic, it exposes the struggle to preserve traditions and beliefs in the face of change, and an assertion of the power to be found in the rituals we pass down through our families.
Sleeping Letters
by Marie-Elsa R. Bragg'This is a beautiful book, a remarkable, cadenced recollection of how grief lives in the body. It is poetry as a kind of dance. You have to read it' EDMUND DE WAALA unique, intimate and beautiful exploration of grief, loss, healing and faith, that looks back to the childhood moment when Marie-Elsa R. Bragg's mother committed suicide We sat in the kitchen across the small wooden table from each other. She cried like banks bursting, then silence; like winds blowing through her shoulders, chest bouncing, then long shallow breaths. She ruptured and I watched, still, emotionless. ‘You must stop crying.’When Marie-Elsa R. Bragg was just 6 years old, her mother committed suicide. Now, many years later, Marie-Elsa returns to that night. Going back to that moment, inhabiting this defining tragedy, allows for an exploration of the grief but also brings healing – as well as the affirmation that it is her experiences as a priest that have carried her. In a unique and remarkable mix of prose and poetry, and written partly as a series of unsent letters to both her mother and father, Sleeping Letters is a way of connecting to past family, an attempt to reconcile with loss, as well as a radical exploration of Marie-Elsa’s own faith. While harrowing and unforgettable, it is also an immensely beautiful book, with a luminous sense of a daughter’s love.
Love Without End: A Story of Heloise and Abelard
by Melvyn BraggA classic love story, retold for our times.Paris in 1117. Heloise, a brilliant young scholar, is astonished when the famous, radical philosopher, Peter Abelard, consents to be her tutor. But what starts out as a meeting of minds turns into a passionate, dangerous love affair, which incurs terrible retribution. Nine centuries later, Arthur is in Paris to recreate the extraordinary story of Heloise and Abelard in a novel. To his surprise, his daughter visits and agrees to help, challenging his portraits of a couple who seem often inscrutable, sometimes breathtakingly modern. It soon emerges she is on her own mission to discover more about her parents' fractured relationship - and that Arthur's connection to his subject is more emotional than he cares to admit.
Artichoke Hearts
by Sita BrahmachariWinner of the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize, Artichoke Hearts by Sita Brahmachari is an incredibly insightful, honest novel exploring the delicate balance, and often injustice, of life and death - but at its heart is a celebration of friendship, culture, and life.Twelve-year-old Mira comes from a chaotic, artistic and outspoken family where it’s not always easy to be heard. As her beloved Nana Josie's health declines, Mira begins to discover the secrets of those around her, and also starts to keep some of her own. She is drawn to mysterious Jide, a boy who is clearly hiding a troubled past and has grown hardened layers - like those of an artichoke – around his heart. As Mira is experiencing grief for the first time, she is also discovering the wondrous and often mystical world around her.
Red Leaves
by Sita BrahmachariAisha is a thirteen-year-old refugee living in London. Happy for the first time since leaving her war-torn home, she is devastated when her foster mother announces that a new family has been found for her and she will be moving on. Feeling rejected and abandoned, Aisha packs her bags and runs away, seeking shelter in the nearby woods.Meanwhile, a few doors down, twelve-year-old Zak is trying to cope with his parents' divorce. Living in a near-building site while the new house is being refurbished, he feels unsettled and alone. Discovering a piece of rubble with the original builder's signature set into it, he starts researching the history behind his home - and in doing so finds a connection with a young soldier from the past, which leads him to an old air-raid shelter in the same woods.Both children, previously unknown to each other, meet in the heart of the ancient city woodland as they come into the orbit of Elder, a strange homeless woman who lives amongst the trees - and, as helicopters hover overhead and newspapers fill with pictures of the two lost children, unexpected bonds are formed and lives changed forever . . .
Tender Earth
by Sita BrahmachariLaila Levenson has always been the baby of the family, but now with her older siblings, Mira and Krish, leaving home just as she starts secondary school, everything feels like it's changing... can the reappearance of Nana Josie's Protest Book and the spirit it releases in Laila, her friends and her local community, help her find her own voice and discover what she truly believes in? A powerful chime rings through Laila's mind, guiding her to walk the footsteps of the past on her way to discover her own future.
When Secrets Set Sail
by Sita BrahmachariSecrets from the past are the keys to the future...if two children can find them. Bold adventure, timely themes and breath-taking writing from award-winning author, Sita Brahmachari.Usha is devastated when her grandmother Kali Ma passes away. Then straight-talking Imtiaz arrives - her new adoptive sister - and the two girls clash instantly. They both feel lost. That is until Kali Ma's ghost appears...with a task for them.Immy's and Usha's home is full of history and secrets. Many years ago it was The House of the Ayahs - for those nannies who couldn't return to their Indian homeland - and Kali Ma made a promise she couldn't keep. She can't pass on to the other side until the girls fulfil it.Today, Usha and Immy's over-worked parents run the house as a home for refugees, but eviction threatens. The precious documents that could save them are lost. As the house slowly fills up with ghosts, that only Usha and Imtiaz can see, the girls realise they have more to save than just one grandmother's ghost.With help from their new friend Cosmo, Usha and Immy must set off on a quest through London, accompanied by two bickering ghosts, working together to find a series of objects that shine a magical light on their family's past and hold the clues to securing their future.If they can set the secrets of generations free, will they be in time to save their home?Endorsed by Amnesty International
Conditional Love
by Cathy BramleyWhat surprises might life have in store for you?A takeaway, TV and tea with two sugars is about as exciting as it gets for thirty-something Sophie Stone. Sophie’s life is safe and predictable, which is just the way she likes it, thank you very much.But when a mysterious benefactor leaves her an inheritance, Sophie has to accept that change is afoot. There is one big catch: in order to inherit, Sophie must agree to meet the father she has never seen.Saying ‘yes’ means the chance to build her own dream home, but she’ll also have to face the past and hear some uncomfortable truths…With interference from an evil boss, warring parents, an unreliable boyfriend and an architect who puts his foot in it every time he opens his mouth, will Sophie be able to build a future on her own terms - and maybe even find love along the way?A totally charming, modern love story for fans of Katie Fforde, Carole Matthews and Trisha Ashley. Praise for Cathy Bramley:'Delightfully warm and with plenty of twists and turns' Trisha Ashley'A witty, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy . . . I highly recommend it!' Miranda Dickinson
Ivy Lane: Summer
by Cathy BramleyRomance ripens at Ivy Lane . . .Tilly Parker is feeling happier than she has done since her life completely changed nearly two years ago. As she flourishes under the summer sun, she throws herself into life at Ivy Lane, complete with strawberry planting, chinwags with Gemma and cups of tea with Alf. And excitement reaches fever pitch when a TV crew descends to capture life inside a modern-day allotment, bringing out the best (new wellies and lipstick) and the worst (parsnip rivalry) in them all.As Tilly’s broken heart slowly mends, she attracts the attention of not one but two suitors – but is Tilly ready for romance and what secrets is she still keeping from her friends at Ivy Lane? Ivy Lane is a serialized novel told in four parts – taking you through a year in the life of Tilly Parker – with Summer the second part.Each part of Ivy Lane is approx. 10 chapters.Praise for Cathy Bramley:'A witty, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy with a protagonist you'll love and I highly recommend it!' Miranda Dickinson'The Ivy Lane series is such a clever little idea... It took me an hour or so to read and it was delightful! I very much look forward to the three other Ivy Lane novellas. I loved Tilly and I can’t wait to read more from her!' Chick Lit Reviews & News'Full of LOL moments with tenderness that can leave your eyes filled with tears' Room for Reading'Cute, charming and very, very funny... similar in feel to the books by Lindsey Kelk and Abby Clements' Page to Stage Reviews
Ivy Lane: Autumn
by Cathy BramleyTrust blooms at Ivy lane . . .Life at Ivy Lane allotments is as hectic as always. With crops to harvest and weeds to tackle, Tilly is busier than ever, but she can never resist chatting with Alf, an elderly widower with top-notch turnips and many a story to tell. When the announcement of a young offenders project sends waves of suspicion through the allotment, Alf and Tilly must persuade Ivy Lane to trust the newly arrived teenagers . . . but what secrets is Tilly keeping to herself? With best friend Gemma to support her, Tilly must face up to her difficult memories and finally reveal what happened to change her life for ever. But can she open her heart to love at the Hallowe’en party? Ivy Lane is a serialized novel told in four parts – taking you through a year in the life of Tilly Parker – with Autumn the third part.Each part of Ivy Lane is approx. 10 chapters.
Ivy Lane: Winter
by Cathy BramleyHope thrives at Ivy Lane . . .As winter descends on Ivy Lane, the frost sparkles and icy winds flurry – but Tilly is still reeling from the events of the Hallowe’en party. Only the die-hard plot holders brave the cold weather, and Tilly fears the loneliness that gripped her a year ago will return. Resolute to stay cheerful, she throws herself into organizing both the inaugural Ivy Lane Great Cake Competition and the Christmas Party, and even squeezes in a little match-making along the way. Surrounded by her friends at the Christmas Party, Tilly has come a long way in a year. She can feel her own heart slowly melting, but who will be waiting under the mistletoe?Ivy Lane is a serialized novel told in four parts – taking you through a year in the life of Tilly Parker – ending with Winter.Each part of Ivy Lane is approx. 10 chapters.
Ivy Lane: Spring
by Cathy BramleyFriendship blossoms at Ivy Lane...Tilly Parker needs a fresh start, fresh air and a fresh attitude if she is ever to leave the past behind and move on with her life. As she settles in to a new town seeking peace and solitude, taking on her own plot at Ivy Lane allotments seems like the perfect solution. But the vibrant, friendly Ivy Lane community has other ideas and endeavour to entice Tilly into seedling swaps and Easter egg hunts. Can Tilly let new friends into her life, or will she stay a wallflower for good?Ivy Lane is a serialized novel told in four parts – taking you through a year in the life of Tilly Parker – beginning with Spring. Each part of Ivy Lane is approx. 10 chapters.Praise for Cathy Bramley:'A witty, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy with a protagonist you'll love and I highly recommend it!' Miranda Dickinson'The Ivy Lane series is such a clever little idea... It took me an hour or so to read and it was delightful! I very much look forward to the three other Ivy Lane novellas. I loved Tilly and I can’t wait to read more from her!' Chick Lit Reviews & News'Full of LOL moments with tenderness that can leave your eyes filled with tears' Room for Reading'Cute, charming and very, very funny... similar in feel to the books by Lindsey Kelk and Abby Clements' Page to Stage Reviews
Merrily Ever After: Fall in love with the brand new feel good read from Sunday Times bestselling storyteller Cathy Bramley
by Cathy Bramley'The perfect comfort read to warm your heart as the nights draw in and the festive season approaches' PHILLIPA ASHLEYDon't miss the brand-new feel good read from your favourite storyteller Cathy Bramley.Two strangers. One big secret. And a Christmas to remember . . . Merry has always wanted a family to spend Christmas with, and this year her dream comes true as she says 'I do' to father-of-two Cole. But as she juggles her rapidly-growing business, wedding planning and the two new children in her life, her dream begins to unravel. Emily is desperately waiting for the New Year to begin, so she can finally have a fresh start. She has always put her family first, leaving little time for happiness and love. When her beloved father Ray moves into a residential home, she discovers a photograph in his belongings that has the potential to change everything. As past secrets come to light, will this be a magical Christmas for Emily and Merry to remember?
The Merry Christmas Project: The new feel-good festive read from the Sunday Times bestseller
by Cathy BramleyThe perfect cosy Christmas novel to curl up with this winter, from Sunday Times bestseller Cathy Bramley.'Charming, cosy, candlelit romance all wrapped up in a gorgeous setting' Veronica Henry'The perfect Christmas treat!' Sarah Morgan'Stuffed with Cathy's sparkling wit and warmth - I devoured it whole' Milly Johnson'Treat yourself to this gift of a book - if Merry and Cole's story doesn't get you into the Christmas spirit, nothing will!' Holly Hepburn'Merry, bright and sparkly - we were enchanted by this feel-good romance' People's Friend* * * * Christmas has always meant something special to Merry - even without a family of her own. This year, her heart might be broken but her new candle business is booming. The last thing she needs is another project - but when her hometown's annual event needs some fresh festive inspiration, Merry can't resist.Cole loves a project too - though it's usually of the bricks and mortar variety. As a single dad, his Christmas wish is to see his kids again, so getting the new house finished for when they're all together is the perfect distraction. But this Christmas, magic is in the air for these two strangers. Will it bring them all the joy they planned for . . . and take their hearts by surprise too? After all, anything can happen at Christmas. . . * * * * Praise for Cathy Bramley from some of your other favourite authors: 'The perfect read to escape with over the festive season if you want your heart warmed and a smile on your face.' Veronica Henry'Filled with warmth and laughter' Carole Matthews'Delightful!' Katie Fforde'A page-turner of a story' Milly Johnson'Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns' Trisha Ashley'A gorgeously romantic comfort read' Rachael Lucas'Magical, heart-felt and uplifting, this book will bring joy to all who reads it.' Carmel Harrington'The perfect romantic tale, to warm your heart and make you smile' Ali McNamara'A wonderful warm hug of a book, brim full of festive comfort and joy!' Alex Brown
Rescue Me: An uplifting free short story from the Sunday Times bestselling author of A Patchwork Family
by Cathy BramleyCurl up with Sunday Times bestseller Cathy Bramley and this joyful free short story about friendship, love and hope! Fearne Lovage is living a neat and tidy life. Sure, the inner circle of people she opens up to is small - but it's perfectly formed of people she loves. And when your heart is broken, feeling safe means everything. It's not a time for risks. But life has a surprise in store for Fearne - a hairy, scruffy, messy one. Soon Fearne finds herself saving the day, and getting rescued right back...You'll also meet the characters of Cathy's upcoming new four-part ebook serial, MY KIND OF HAPPY - which follows Fearne on her search for true happiness. All parts are available to pre-order now. Cathy Bramley is also the bestselling author of A Patchwork Family, A Match Made in Devon and The Lemon Tree Cafe.---------------------Praise for Cathy Bramley from some of your other favourite authors:'Delightful!' Katie Fforde'A page-turner of a story' Milly Johnson'A book full of warmth and kindness. I loved it' Sarah Morgan'Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns' Trisha Ashley'The perfect romantic tale, to warm your heart and make you smile' Ali McNamara
The Sunrise Sisterhood: The perfect uplifting and joyful book to escape with this summer 2023
by Cathy Bramley'A heartwarming story of sisterhood and second chances' Lucy Diamond 'Comforting, funny, warm and wise. No-one does complicated family and friendships like Cathy' Veronica Henry'Beautifully written and richly layered with characters that feel like firm friends, it's full of Cathy's wonderful warmth, wisdom and wit' Alex Brown'A wonderful story of family, sisterhood and finding yourself' Emily Stone'Absolutely loved this summer swoonsome read from Cathy Bramley' Holly Hepburn'Full of sun, humour and heart, it is Bramley's best book yet' Katie MarshThree generations of women, and the summer that saved them.The holidays are here, and in Salcombe, Liz longs for the arrival of her god-daughters, Skye and Clare and Clare's daughter baby Ivy. After years on her own, she needs help to save the catering business she built with Clare's late mother, Jen. However, half-sisters Skye and Clare couldn't be more different, struggling with family secrets and hidden jealousies. As the women navigate this unexpected summer together, truths are revealed and their relationships are put to the test. The Sunrise Sisterhood is a summery slice of joyful escapism as well as an emotional drama about three women healed by the sparkling waves of Salcombe and the power of the sisterhood.***Readers are loving The Sunrise Sisterhood!'This was pure joy to read and left me feeling warm inside!!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'This book pulled at my heart strings and broke me in places and then slowly pieced me back together again' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Oh my!!!!!! Cathy Bramley has done it again, a fantastic read and I could not stop reading it' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'This book - I absolutely adored it!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
We'll Meet Again: A beautiful and uplifting new short story from the Sunday Times Bestseller
by Cathy BramleyEnjoy this sweet and hopeful short story from bestseller Cathy Bramley! For nurse Jenny Hallam, there's no such thing as a quiet day (or night) at work. But even with WWII rumbling away, Jenny still has time, patience and kindness for everyone she treats, with plenty to spare for her two young children at home. From his sickbed, handsome but shy Pilot Officer Will Rose has noticed Jenny's gentle ways. When the two of them spark up a conversation, a friendship blossoms that brings out a new hope in them both.Friendship is all their connection can be for now - but nothing stays the same in the war... What might happen if they were to meet again?This is the perfect introduction to Cathy Bramley's stories or a lovely treat for longtime fans. Also includes a gorgeous taster of her upcoming novel, A Patchwork Family!*****Praise for Cathy Bramley from some of your other favourite authors:'Delightful!' Katie Fforde'A page-turner of a story' Milly Johnson'Delightfully warm with plenty of twists and turns' Trisha Ashley'The perfect romantic tale, to warm your heart and make you smile' Ali McNamara
Pandemic Baby: Becoming a Parent in Lockdown
by Pia Bramley‘A thing to treasure and keep close at hand. I would prescribe it to the lost and the lonely, the busy and the overburdened, the heart-broken and the happy’ – Emily Haworth-BoothA moving, funny exploration of life as the parent of a lockdown baby, by illustrator Pia Bramley.Since March 2020, babies have been born into a world of masks, hand washing and social distancing. They met their grandparents on video calls. Their parents held them up to windows and took them for long walks in the rain.Pia Bramley’s illustrations capture the intimacy of the small, strange world of the pandemic baby. She draws on her own experience as a new parent, telling the story of a child's first year against the backdrop of the pandemic: the quiet streets of the first lockdown, the relative freedom of summer, the long nights of autumn and winter and, finally, new hope as spring arrives and life begins to open up again. Moving, funny and deeply honest, this is a book for every parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or friend who waited to hold their pandemic baby.
Nurse Matilda
by Christianna BrandOnce upon a time there was a huge family of children; and they were terribly, terribly naughty …So begins Nurse Matilda, the first of three books about the no-nonsense nanny who uses magic to rein in the mischievous children in her charge – and changes their lives forever.This covetable, highly collectable new hardback edition of a timeless classic is packed with episode after episode of mischief, mayhem and hilarity, all accompanied by Edward Ardizzone's beautiful original illustrations. The inspiration for the much-loved film Nanny McPhee, starring Emma Thompson and Colin Firth, Nurse Matilda overflows with naughtiness, wit and timeless humour – the perfect gift for mischief-makers both young and old!