'A gorgeous, wildly seductive novel, shimmering with intelligence, humour and joy' - Sarah Waters Longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize In 1838 Frédéric Chopin, George Sand and her children travel to a monastery in Mallorca. They are there to create and to convalesce, to live a simple life after the wildness of their Paris days. Witness to this tumultuous arrival is Blanca, the ghost of a teenage girl who has been at the monastery for over three hundred years. Blanca’s was a life cut short and she is outraged. Having lived in a world full, according to her mother, of ‘beautiful men’, she has found that in death it is the women she falls for, their beauty she cannot turn away from, and it is the women and girls who, over her centuries in the village and at the monastery, she has sought to protect from the attentions of men with what little power she has. And then George Sand arrives, this beautiful woman in a man’s clothes, and Blanca is in love. But the rest of the village is suspicious of the newcomers, and as winter sets in, as George tries to keep her family and herself from falling apart, as Chopin writes prelude after prelude in despair on his tuneless piano, their stay looks likely to end in disaster . . . Heady with the delicious scent of the Mediterranean, richly witty, and utterly compulsive, Briefly, A Delicious Life is a story about convention and breaking convention, about love – yearning, secret, forbidden, unrequited – and about men and women and the cruelty they mete out to one another. 'Exquisite' - New York Times 'Deeply enjoyable' - Telegraph 'Electrifyingly beautiful, exhilaratingly clever . . . sensual, original, intelligent and brimming with love' - Imogen Hermes Gowar

Briefly, A Delicious Life

The instant top ten Sunday Times bestseller. The perfect YA romantic fantasy!“Twin Crowns cast a spell on me from the very first pages – I was thoroughly bewitched by this marvelous book! Don’t miss it!” – SARAH J MAAS ‘Magical, clever, surprising and pure fun. If you love wicked kings, sexy bandits and sister stories that are full of heart, this is a must read’ STEPHANIE GARBER ‘Pure indulgence – a minibreak in book form’ – GUARDIAN "This book gave me butterflies. Delicious fun, in the loveliest of ways." – LAUREN JAMES ’The charm of The Princess Bride and all the stakes of Game of Thrones. Addictive, swoony, tender and vivid – I loved it with all my heart.’ – KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE ‘Full of magic, intrigue, romance and fun.’ – DAILY MIRROR ‘Twin Crowns is so joyous that days after reading, I'm still grinning.’ – ROSHANI CHOKSI “Daring deception, spectacular settings and two very appealing love interests…” – KENDARE BLAKE ‘Fresh, funny and exciting’ – LOUISE O'NEILL ‘Reading Twin Crowns left me giddy. Adventure, romance, TWO incredible protagonists, magic, sisterhood… I loved it.’ – LAURA WOOD Two sisters. One throne. Who will ultimately rise to power and wear the crown? Wren Greenrock has always known that one day she would steal her sister’s place in the palace. Trained from birth to avenge her parents’ murder and usurp the princess, she will do anything to rise to power and protect the community of witches she loves. Princess Rose Valhart knows that with power comes responsibility including marriage into a brutal kingdom. Life outside the palace walls is a place to be feared and she is soon to discover that it’s wilder than she ever imagined. Twin sisters separated at birth and raised into entirely different worlds are about to get to know each other’s lives a whole lot better… An irresistible fantasy romantic comedy – perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas, Stephanie Garber, and Lauren Roberts Twin Crowns reached number 9 in the Sunday Times Bestseller chart week ending 14/05/2022.

Twin Crowns

The second book in the gorgeous and bestselling Twin Crowns YA romantasy series – deeply romantic and bursting with high-stakes adventure! Praise for the Twin Crown series: “Twin Crowns cast a spell on me from the very first pages – I was thoroughly bewitched by this marvelous book! Don’t miss it!” – SARAH J MAAS ‘Magical, clever, surprising and pure fun. If you love wicked kings, sexy bandits and sister stories that are full of heart, this is a must read’ STEPHANIE GARBER ‘Pure indulgence – a minibreak in book form’ – GUARDIAN "This book gave me butterflies. Delicious fun, in the loveliest of ways." – LAUREN JAMES ’The charm of The Princess Bride and all the stakes of Game of Thrones. Addictive, swoony, tender and vivid – I loved it with all my heart.’ – KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE ‘Full of magic, intrigue, romance and fun.’ – DAILY MIRROR ‘Twin Crowns is so joyous that days after reading, I'm still grinning.’ – ROSHANI CHOKSI “Daring deception, spectacular settings and two very appealing love interests…” – KENDARE BLAKE ‘Fresh, funny and exciting’ – LOUISE O'NEILL ‘Reading Twin Crowns left me giddy. Adventure, romance, TWO incredible protagonists, magic, sisterhood… I loved it.’ – LAURA WOOD Twin queens Wren and Rose have claimed their crowns … but not everyone is happy about witches sitting on Eana’s throne. Cool-headed Rose sets off on a Royal Tour to win over the doubters, but soon finds herself drawn to the Sunkissed Kingdom. Here secrets are revealed about those closest to her, and Rose finds her loyalties divided. Meanwhile rebellious Wren steals away to the icy north to rescue their beloved grandmother, Banba. But when she accepts King Alarik’s deadly magical bargain in exchange for Banba’s freedom, the spell has unexpected – and far-reaching – consequences … As an ancient curse begins to arise from the darkness, the sisters must come together and unite the crown. Their lives – and the future of Eana – depend on it. Break the ice to free the curse, Kill one twin to save another … Cursed Crowns reached number 6 in the Sunday Times Bestseller chart week ending 14/05/2023.

Cursed Crowns

There's a new governess at Fairmont House, and she's going to be nothing but trouble. Emily Laurence is a liar. She is not polite, she's not polished, and she has never taught a child in her life. This position was meant to be her sister's - brilliant, kind Amy, who isn't perpetually angry, dangerously reckless, and who does (inexplicably) like children. But Amy is unwell and needs a doctor, their father is gone and their mother is useless, so here Emily is, pretending to be something she's not. If she can get away with her deception for long enough to earn a few months' wages and slip some expensive trinkets into her pockets along the way, perhaps they'll be all right. That is, as long as she doesn't get involved with the Edwards family's dramas. Emily refuses to care about her charges - Grace, who talks too much and loves too hard, and Aster, who is frankly terrifying but might just be the wittiest sixteen-year-old Emily has ever met - or the servants, who insist on acting as if they're each other's family. And she certainly hasn't noticed her employer, the brooding, taciturn Captain Edwards, no matter how good he might look without a shirt on . . . As Fairmont House draws her in, Emily's lies start to come undone. Can she fix her mistakes before it's too late? Praise for Lex Croucher: 'Bridgerton's wild little sister. So much fun!' Sarra Manning 'Witty, whip-smart and full of characters I totally fell for. I didn't want it to end' Laura Kay 'Beyond entertaining - high debauchery with a feminist swing' Abigail Mann

Trouble

The perfect YA fantasy romance from the bestselling Twin Crowns series – deeply romantic and bursting with high-stakes adventure! Praise for the Twin Crowns series: “Twin Crowns cast a spell on me from the very first pages – I was thoroughly bewitched by this marvelous book! Don’t miss it!” – SARAH J MAAS ‘Magical, clever, surprising and pure fun. If you love wicked kings, sexy bandits and sister stories that are full of heart, this is a must read’ STEPHANIE GARBER ‘Pure indulgence – a minibreak in book form’ – GUARDIAN "This book gave me butterflies. Delicious fun, in the loveliest of ways." – LAUREN JAMES ’The charm of The Princess Bride and all the stakes of Game of Thrones. Addictive, swoony, tender and vivid – I loved it with all my heart.’ – KIRAN MILLWOOD HARGRAVE ‘Full of magic, intrigue, romance and fun.’ – DAILY MIRROR ‘Twin Crowns is so joyous that days after reading, I'm still grinning.’ – ROSHANI CHOKSI “Daring deception, spectacular settings and two very appealing love interests…” – KENDARE BLAKE ‘Fresh, funny and exciting’ – LOUISE O'NEILL ‘Reading Twin Crowns left me giddy. Adventure, romance, TWO incredible protagonists, magic, sisterhood… I loved it.’ – LAURA WOOD The epic, breathtaking conclusion to this bestselling romantasy trilogy! Wren and Rose rule the kingdom of Eana. But an ancient, powerful enemy moves in the shadows. Oonagh, the twins’ evil undead ancestor, is creating a terrifying army, and she is determined to fight for the throne. Rose must gather support from the four corners of the kingdom whilst she wrestles with what the future holds for her and her beloved Shen. Meanwhile, Wren and Alarik set out to destroy the curse that both unites and weakens them. Caught between the King of Gevra and his Captain of the Guard, Tor, Wren must decide where her heart truly lies … When Oonagh's true plans are revealed and Rose's life hangs in the balance, the stage for the final battle is set. Sacrifices will be made, blood will be spilled. Who will survive to rule the kingdom of Eana?

Burning Crowns

THE DARKEST DEBUT OF THE YEAR.Unsettling, Uncomfortable, Unputdownable.'Sharp, powerful, tragic, addictive' Chris Whitaker ‘Dark, compelling and beguiling’ Kate Mosse ‘An engrossing read' The Sunday Times ‘Intensely gripping’ Karin Slaughter ‘Thrilling and deeply atmospheric’ Lucy Clarke *** Rose is sixteen when she arrives at High Realms boarding school, excited for the beginning of the rest of her life. By the time she leaves, she and the three other scholarship students will have made the choices that decide their future. Each one as heartbreaking and tragic as the last. *** Readers are RAVING about THE FOUR: 'A shockingly powerful debut… raw and unflinching, not for the faint of heart' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Beautifully written and utterly brutal' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Complex and heart wrenching and oh so gripping' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘If you can handle true emotional pain in your fiction, then don't let this one pass you by’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Four

Love can make even the most buttoned-up bluestocking come undone… London, 1885 A lesbian in a lavender marriage, Jo Smith cuts a dashing figure in pin-striped trousers, working in her bookshop and keeping impolite company. But her hard-earned stability is about to be upended thanks to her husband’s pregnant paramour, who needs medical attention that no reputable doctor will provide. Enter Dr. Emily Clarke, a tantalizing bluestocking working at a quaint village hospital outside the city. Emily has reservations about getting mixed up in Jo’s scandalous arrangement, but her flustered, heart-racing response to Jo has her agreeing to help despite herself. There’s a world of difference between Jo’s community of underground clubs and sapphic societies and Emily’s respectable suburbs. Perhaps it’s a gap that even fervent desire can’t bridge. But for those bold enough to take the risk, who knows what delicious adventures might be in store… Lucky Lovers of London Book 1: The Gentleman's Book of Vices Book 2: A Rulebook for Restless Rogues Book 3: A Bluestocking's Guide to Decadence

Lucky Lovers of London

A Bluestocking's Guide to Decadence

Eleanor Pilcher is electric in her witty, funny, and heartfelt women’s fiction debut, following polar opposite best friends Beth and Serena. When demisexual Beth decides she’s done with being a virgin and enlists Serena’s help, her new personal journey just might be the thing to end their friendship for good. Serena and Beth are best friends who couldn’t be more different—Beth is an avowed demisexual, who lacks confidence in her career and in her chances at a happy relationship due to her sexual orientation. Serena is a free spirit who oozes with confidence, both in her job and her sexual proclivities. And yet, since the moment they met, they knew they were platonic soulmates. So, when Beth decides that she officially wants to take charge of her sex life and explore the things that scare her the most, Serena is more than happy to help. Speed-dating, sex therapy, tantra, a perplexed but ultimately very nice escort—it’s all on Beth’s Sexual Odyssey List. But when Beth’s crush from her old job comes back and Serena’s favorite friend-with-benefits pushes for more than just sex, it throws their whole world into a tailspin. And suddenly, this sexual odyssey is more than a fun gag. It’ll set them down a course that’ll make them so much closer—or end their friendship for good.

That's What She Said

The Paris runways of the 70s come to wild and splashy life in this novel of fashion's “It Girl” Loulou de la Falaise and her life partying and designing with Yves Saint Laurent, Karl Lagerfeld, and Halston. Nightlife! Gowns! Cocaine! Glamour! It’s the 1970s, and from hippie London to Warhol’s Factory in New York, reluctant aristocrat Loulou de la Falaise is desperately seeking adventure. Having escaped an early, unhappy marriage, she arrives on a whim in Paris—the champagne-soaked heart of the fashion world, where the rigid old world of haute couture and the ffast-paced new world of ready-to-wear are vying for supremacy. Glamour, sex, and cocaine nights fuel the Paris fashion scene. Its crown prince is the soulful and intensely gifted Yves Saint Laurent, whose sexy tuxedos for women and chic Rive Gauche boutiques reflect women’s desire for seductive independence, a desire Loulou knows all too well. Loulou’s bohemian flair immediately captures Saint Laurent’s attention, and they embark on a glorious intimate friendship as artist and muse. Together they revel in the excesses of high society, decadent parties, and the hedonistic underworld of gay nightclubs, where the young and beautiful become prey, and dangerous rivalries start to emerge. Their course collides with eccentric designer Karl Lagerfeld, intent on his own conquest. Lagerfeld’s bitter professional rivalry with Yves divides Paris even in an era when anything goes. As Yves plunges into a dangerous, secret affair with Karl’s enigmatic young companion, and Loulou finds herself falling in love with a colleague’s handsome boyfriend, evanescent illusion and savage deception will bring them to the brink of ruin. Intoxicating and unforgettable, The Saint Laurent Muse is the dramatic imagining of a lifelong friendship between two kindred spirits, and of a tumultuous time and place in fashion history that will never be seen again.

The Saint Laurent Muse

A high-stakes fantasy rom-com about twin princesses separated at birth—one raised as the crown princess, and the other taken as an infant and raised to kidnap her sister, steal the crown, and avenge the parents' murders—the first novel in a new YA duology from bestselling UK authors Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber. Perfect for fans of The Selection, My Lady Jane, and Caraval. Wren Greenrock has always known that one day she’d steal her sister’s place on the throne. Trained from birth to return to the palace and avenge her parents’ murder, she’ll do anything to become queen and protect the community of witches who raised her. Or she would, if only a certain guard wasn’t quite so distractingly attractive, and if her reckless magic would stop causing trouble. . . . Princess Rose Valhart knows that with power comes responsibility—and she won’t let a small matter like waking up in the desert with an extremely impertinent (and very handsome) kidnapper get in the way of her duty. But life outside the palace is wilder and more beautiful than she ever imagined, and the witches she has long feared might turn out to be the family she never had. But as coronation day looms and each sister strives to claim her birthright, an old enemy becomes increasingly determined that neither will succeed. Who will ultimately rise to power and wear the crown?

Heart-warming, hilarious and unputdownable. You won’t want to miss this year’s stand out romantic comedy.‘Fun and life-affirming’STYLIST‘This funny, uplifting rom-com is a total treat’FABULOUS‘Heart-warming, funny, and inspiring … A joy’ LOUISE O’NEILLThis is a love story… Serena Mills should be at her wedding. Instead, she’s eating an ice cream sundae and drinking an obscenely large glass of wine in a Harvester off the M25. She’s left the man everyone told her she was ‘so lucky’ to find – because she’s realised that she wants to find love. Real love. So she sets herself a challenge: 52 weeks. 52 dates. 52 chances to find real love. But sometimes even the best laid plans don’t work out. And it’s the people that take you most by surprise who can really sweep you off your feet . . . EVERYONE LOVES WELCOME TO YOUR LIFE ’An uplifting tale about self-care and new beginnings’WOMAN’S OWN ‘Authentic characters and powerful messages’ MY WEEKLY ‘A meaningful (and funny) journey of self-love. We’ve waited a long time for this’ GLAMOUR ‘An inspiring romcom about being bold and not compromising on the life you really want’ CRESSIDA MCLAUGHLIN 'Original, positive and life affirming’ KATIE FFORDE

Welcome to Your Life

“A beautiful, hallucinatory dream of a novel.” –J.M. Miro, Author of the National Bestseller Ordinary Monsters “A fantastically moody, unsettling novel.""–Sarah Waters, New York Times bestselling author of The Paying Guests and Fingersmith A ""bold ... hypnotic"" (The New Yorker) reimagining of Mary Shelley’s youth, vividly exploring innocence, young love, gothic mystery and the roots of her literary masterpiece, Frankenstein. Switzerland, 1816. A volcanic eruption in Indonesia envelopes the whole of Europe in ash and cloud. Amid this “year without a summer,” eighteen-year-old Mary Shelley and her lover Percy Bysshe Shelley arrive at Lake Geneva to visit Lord Byron and his companion John Polidori. Anguished by the recent loss of her child, Mary spends her days in strife. But come nightfall, the friends while away rainy wine-soaked evenings gathered around the fireplace, exchanging stories. One famous evening, Byron issues a challenge to write the best ghost story. Contemplating what to write, Mary recalls another summer, when she was fourteen… Scotland, 1812. A guest of the Baxter family, Mary arrives in Dundee, befriending young Isabella Baxter. The girls soon spend hours together wandering through fields and forests, concocting tales about mythical Scottish creatures, ghosts and monsters roaming the lowlands. As their bond deepens, Mary and Isabella’s feelings for each other intensify. But someone has been watching them—the charismatic and vaguely sinister Mr. Booth, Isabella's older brother-in-law, who may not be as benevolent as he purports to be… With gripping mastery and verve, Anne Eekhout brings to life a defining moment in Mary Shelley’s youth: the creative wellspring for one of the most original, thrilling, and timeless pieces of literature ever written. Provocative, wonderfully atmospheric and pulsing with emotion, Mary and the Birth of Frankenstein is a hypnotic ode to the power of imagination. Translated from the Dutch by Laura Watkinson

Mary and the Birth of Frankenstein

From P. C. Cast, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the landmark House of Night urban fantasy series, comes an epic, lusty, magic-filled romantasy about British warrior queen Boudicca. Perfect for fans of Sue Lynn Tan and Madeline Miller! In Roman-occupied Britain, the Iceni tribe crowns an extraordinary new queen. Tall and flame-haired, Boudicca is devoted to Andraste, the Iceni’s patron goddess, known for her raven familiar, her fierceness and her swirling blue tattoos. Boudicca and her two young daughters will carry the tribe forward in dangerous times. Roman tax collector Catus Decianus, expecting weakness in a female ruler, launches a devastating attack on the tribe’s stronghold. Boudicca and her family barely survive—but they refuse to bend the knee. She calls a war council, bringing together her most trustworthy allies, including her childhood friend Rhan, now a powerful Druid seer, and the horse master Maldwyn, whose devotion to Boudicca runs deeper than a warrior to a queen. Surprising the Romans, Boudicca’s armies sack the wealthy cities of Camulodunum, Londinium and Veralamium. As the snow falls, the Celts retreat to a hidden valley to plot their assault on the remaining Roman legions, determined to force the invaders from Britan. But in the jagged ice of winter the Druid Rhan foresees a tragic end to Boudicca’s rebellion. Although the defeat of the Iceni is spelled out in signs sent by the gods, Rhan swears she will alter the future and save her queen. Now the battle-hardened Boudicca must put her trust in the powers of the otherworld to save her from both the traitors in her midst and from Rome’s mighty legions. Inspired by the rich history of Boudicca’s attack on Roman Britain, bestselling author P. C. Cast crafts an epic, mythic retelling of one of time’s most legendary female warriors.

Boudicca

Fran’s done with looking for long-term love.She’s got Big Date Energy…Serial monogamist Fran has waited years for her chance to be single, and now’s her time to shine. She wants to date as much as she can. She’s got Big Date Energy. But her Mum has other ideas. She’s desperate for Fran to find real love and nominates her for a new TV dating show, The Meet-Cute, which promises to pair people with their perfect match. And when Fran walks onto the set, hoping for a bit of a laugh and a story to tell, she’s confronted with Ivy. Her first love, her high school romance. And the one that got away… PRAISE FOR BETHANY RUTTER ‘Fun and life-affirming’STYLIST ‘This funny, uplifting rom-com is a total treat’ FABULOUS ‘Heart-warming, funny and, and inspiring . . . a joy’ LOUISE O’NEILL ’An uplifting tale about self-care and new beginnings’WOMAN’S OWN ‘Authentic characters and powerful messages’ MY WEEKLY ‘A meaningful (and funny) journey of self-love. We’ve waited a long time for this’ GLAMOUR ‘An inspiring romcom about being bold and not compromising on the life you really want’ CRESSIDA MCLAUGHLIN 'Original, positive and life affirming’ KATIE FFORDE

Big Date Energy

"Betrayal, loss, love, redemption, and justice collide in this masterpiece of a novel. You won’t want to miss The Book of Thorns." —Paulette Kennedy, author of The Devil and Mrs. Davenport A spellbinding tale of secrets, betrayal, and magic from the author of The Heir to Blackwood Library! Penniless and stranded in France after a bid to escape her cruel uncle goes awry, Cornelia Shaw is far from the Parisian life of leisure she imagined. Desperate and out of options, she allows herself to be recruited to Napoleon’s Grande Armée. As a naturalist, her mysterious ability to heal any wound with herbal mixtures invites awe amongst the soldiers…and suspicion. For behind Cornelia’s vast knowledge of the natural world is a secret she keeps hidden—the flowers speak to her through a mystical connection she has felt since childhood. One that her mother taught her to heed, before she disappeared. As Napoleon’s army descends on Waterloo, the flowers sing to her of a startling revelation: a girl who bears a striking resemblance to Cornelia. A girl she almost remembers—her sister, lost long ago, who seems to share the same gifts. Determined to reunite with Lijsbeth despite being on opposite sides of the war, Cornelia is drawn into a whirlwind of betrayal, secrets, and lies. Brought together by fate and magic at the peak of the war, the sisters must uncover the key to the source of the power that connects them as accusations of witchcraft swirl and threaten to destroy their very lives. Look for these other gothic mysteries from Hester Fox: The Last Heir to Blackwood LibraryThe Witch of Willow HallThe Orphan of Cemetery HillThe Widow of Pale HarborA Lullaby for Witches

The Book of Thorns

The final book in the swoony and high-stakes fantasy rom-com trilogy that began with Twin Crowns, about twin princesses separated at birth—from bestselling authors Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber. Twin queens Rose & Wren survived the Battle for Anadawn and brought back magic to their kingdom. But danger lurks in Eana’s shadows. Wren is troubled. Ever since she performed the blood spell on Prince Ansel, her magic has become unruly. Worse, the spell created a link between Wren and the very man she’s trying to forget: Icy King Alarik of Gevra. A curse is eating away at both of them. To fix it they must journey to the northern mountains—under the watchful guard of Captain Tor Iversen—to consult with the Healer on High. Rose is haunted. Waking one night to find her undead ancestor Oonagh Starcrest by her bed, she receives a warning: Surrender the throne—or face a war that will destroy Eana. With nowhere to turn and desperate to find a weapon to defeat Oonagh, Rose seeks help from Shen-Lo in the Sunkissed Kingdom, but what she finds there may break her heart. As Oonagh threatens all Rose and Wren hold dear, it will take everything they have to save Eana—including a sacrifice they may not be prepared to make.

From critically acclaimed author Nicole Galland comes a vibrant and thought-provoking historical tale of love, political intrigue, and gender-swapping set in the theatre world of Elizabethan London. Alexander “Sander” Cooke is the most celebrated “boy player” in the Chamberlain’s Men, William Shakespeare’s theatre company. Indeed, Sander’s androgynous beauty and deft portrayal of female roles have made him the toast of London, and his companionship is sought by noblewomen and -men alike. And yet, now at the height of his fame, he teeters on the cusp of adulthood, his future uncertain. Often, he wishes he could stop time and remain a boy forever. Joan Buckler, Sander’s best friend, also has a dream. Though unschooled, she is whip-smart and fascinated by the snippets of natural philosophy to which she’s been exposed. And while she senses that Sander’s admiration for her is more than mere friendship, Joan’s true passion is knowledge, something that is nearly impossible for her to attain. As a woman, she has no place in the intellectual salons and cultural community of the day; only in disguise can she learn to her heart’s content. Joan’s covert intellectual endeavors, coupled with Sander’s theatrical triumphs, attract the attention of none other than Francis Bacon: natural philosopher and trusted adviser to Queen Elizabeth. It is through their connection with Bacon—one of the greatest minds of their time—that their lives will be changed forever as they become embroiled in an intricate game of political intrigue that threatens their very survival. Brimming with heart, curiosity, and rich historical detail, Boy offers an intimate glimpse of the moral complexities of a singular artistic era, and the roles we all choose to play on the world’s stage.

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER Good Housekeeping Book Club Pick * A Country Living Best Book of Fall * A Washington Post Best Feel-Good Book of the Year * One of the New York Times's Best Historical Fiction Novels of Fall In a novel perfect for fans of Hazel Gaynor’s A Memory of Violets and upstairs-downstairs stories, Annabel Abbs, the award-winning author of The Joyce Girl, returns with the brilliant real-life story of Eliza Acton and her assistant as they revolutionized British cooking and cookbooks around the world. Before Mrs. Beeton and well before Julia Child, there was Eliza Acton, who changed the course of cookery writing forever. England, 1835. London is awash with thrilling new ingredients, from rare spices to exotic fruits. But no one knows how to use them. When Eliza Acton is told by her publisher to write a cookery book instead of the poetry she loves, she refuses—until her bankrupt father is forced to flee the country. As a woman, Eliza has few options. Although she’s never set foot in a kitchen, she begins collecting recipes and teaching herself to cook. Much to her surprise she discovers a talent – and a passion – for the culinary arts. Eliza hires young, destitute Ann Kirby to assist her. As they cook together, Ann learns about poetry, love and ambition. The two develop a radical friendship, breaking the boundaries of class while creating new ways of writing recipes. But when Ann discovers a secret in Eliza’s past, and finds a voice of her own, their friendship starts to fray. Based on the true story of the first modern cookery writer, Miss Eliza’s English Kitchen is a spellbinding novel about female friend­ship, the struggle for independence, and the transcendent pleasures and solace of food.

Miss Eliza's English Kitchen

‘Written with an incredible eye for detail of the historical setting, this wonderful romantic tale will earn your respect and keep you entertained’ Adele Parks‘If you loved Her Heart for a Compass, you will love [this book]’ Sunday Times bestselling author Fern Britton Scandals, seduction and secrets… and one woman’s quest to uncover the truth Wallflower Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott has a secret. Moving effortlessly unnoticed amongst the ballrooms and palaces of Queen Victoria, her sharp intelligence and keen powers of observation allow her to quietly solve society crimes – coming to the rescue of those whose pride and fortune are at stake. Overlooked and underestimated, Mary finds missing money, recovers stolen jewellery and saves reputations. When she meets Colonel Walter Trefusis, an unlikely and spirited alliance is formed. But Mary has more than met her match in her sleuthing partner. As she battles the expectations of society and her family, Mary must follow her heart – whatever the cost… Readers love A Woman of Intrigue…'This was a book that held me in thrall, at times with my heart in my mouth and at others with hope… I can't wait for the next book' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'This story had everything to hold your attention for hours: romance, suspense, action and a very human tale.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I for one could not put this book down… I love the way you balance history with each character’s storyline.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'A perfect blend of action, romance, and witty banter. The plot is fast-paced and gripping, the characters are well-drawn and likeable, and the dialogue is sharp and engaging… weaving together a complex and intriguing mystery that will keep you hooked until the end.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Absolutely loved this one! I devoured it.' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Previously published as A Most Intriguing Lady

A Woman of Intrigue

The second book in the swoony and high-stakes fantasy rom-com series that began with Twin Crowns, about twin princesses separated at birth—from bestselling authors Catherine Doyle and Katherine Webber. Twin queens Wren and Rose have claimed their crowns…but not everyone is happy about witches sitting on Eana’s throne. Coolheaded Rose plans a royal tour to establish goodwill throughout the kingdom. But Wren balks—how can they gallivant around Eana when their grandmother Banba is imprisoned in Gevra? Impatient Wren steals away on a ship to the icy north, where King Alarik offers a deadly magical bargain in exchange for Banba’s freedom. Desperate, Wren agrees. But her spell has unexpected consequences…. Meanwhile, when Rose's royal tour is interrupted by a mysterious stranger claiming to be from the long-lost Sunkissed Kingdom, the strands of destiny pull her south to the ancient Amarach Towers, where only the Seers of Eana know why the Restless Sands are erupting—and why Shen-Lo himself might hold the key. But back in Anadawn, rebellion is brewing. And if Eana is to stand a chance at peace, the sisters will need to reunite once more and convince their people to forsake old loyalties for new ones.

Enter an extraordinary magical adventure about family, fate, and finding the courage to be yourself. A remarkable debut! “One of my favorite middle grade books from recent years.” —Jordan Lees, author of The Whisperwicks “An adventure overflowing with magic, brought to life with wit and charm.” —Beth Lincoln, author of The Swifts On her tenth birthday, Meticulous Jones—known to her friends as Metty—receives her fate, as all children do, in the form of a magical tattoo on her hand. She hopes that her ink will reveal something exciting: a tattoo that will symbolize travel, or discovery, or adventure. What appears is a skull, balanced in the palm of a violet glove. Metty’s fate is to become a murderer. Metty is swiftly hidden away by her father, Moral Jones, in a remote Welsh farmhouse, with only a miserable housekeeper (who’s terrified she’ll become Metty’s first victim) for company. But when Moral goes missing, his sister, Aunt Magnificent, arrives to sweep Metty off to the glittering city of New London. Metty is mesmerized by the magic and enchantment she discovers there. But when she starts to hear rumors of a mysterious and dangerous organization known as the Black Moths, she wonders if they might be connected to her father’s disappearance—and to her own fate. . . . Fizzing with atmosphere, danger, magic, and mystery, this fantasy will keep kids hooked from the start.A bold heroine and a darkly comic voice make this debut perfect for fans of Nevermoor and the Swifts.Inkbound’s world of magical ink and fate tattoos is utterly unique, yet the writing feels classic.Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

Inkbound

Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo

An international bestseller! One secret could destroy them all. The brand new dark academia debut for 2024 and a gripping tale of revenge, guilt, privilege, and loyalty, perfect for fans of The Secret History and If We Were Villains “An intensely gripping, thrilling and darkly beautiful debut. I was hooked.” —Karin Slaughter, #1 New York Times bestselling author We were always The Four. From our very first day at High Realms. The four scholarship pupils. Outsiders in a world of power and privilege. And, according to everyone else, we were dangerous. It would have made our lives a lot easier if Marta had simply pushed our prefect Genevieve out of our bedroom window that day. Certainly, it would have been tragic. She would have died instantly. But Marta didn’t push her then, or – if you choose to believe me – at any other time. If she had, all of what we went through would not have happened. I’ve told this story as clearly as I could – as rationally as I’ve been able, in the circumstances, to achieve. I don’t regret what we did. And I would do it all again.

The Top 10 Sunday Times bestseller‘An immersive, romantic historical saga’ Hello Magazine ‘Congratulations, you are now officially out in society.’ The words made her spirits plummet. Out in society. On the market. And firmly set on a well-worn path that had only one destination. Marriage. London 1865 When one act of rebellion costs Lady Margaret Montagu Douglas Scott her place in society, her life is swept onto a new course. One that will test her courage and resilience. From the drawing rooms of Victoria’s court to the grand country houses of Ireland, and the bustling streets of New York City; Margaret embarks on a journey of self-discovery where she will meet like-minded, and equally spirited, companions who shape her world. But as she navigates the challenges of forging her own path in life, will she find the greatest courage of all, to follow her heart against all odds…? Praise for Her Heart for a Compass: ‘A tale of daring and determination.’ Sir Julian Fellowes creator of Downton Abbey ‘Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York has looked deep into her own generous impulsive heart to write a compelling story of a young woman who rebels against the restrictive Victorian conventions of her time to find self-fulfilment and love.’ Internationally bestselling author Jeffrey Archer

Her Heart for a Compass

""Enchanting. Molly Greeley has pulled off a piece of magic to tell a dazzling love story about the outcast's ache to be cared for and belong. This book broke my heart and put it back together again.""--Allison Epstein, author of A Tip for the Hangman A mesmerizing novel set in the French royal court of Catherine de’ Medici during the Renaissance, which recreates the touching and surprising true story behind the Beauty and the Beast legend, from the acclaimed author of The Clergyman’s Wife and The Heiress. 1547: Pedro Gonzales, a young boy living on the island of Tenerife, understands that he is different from the other children in his village. He is mercilessly ridiculed for the hair covering his body from head to toe. When he is kidnapped off the beach near his home, he finds himself delivered by a slave broker into the dangerous and glamorous world of France’s royal court. There “Monsieur Sauvage,” as he is known, learns French, literature, and sword fighting, becoming an attendant to the French King Henri II and a particular favorite of his queen, the formidable Catherine de’ Medici. Queen Catherine considers herself a collector of unusual people and is fascinated by Pedro…and determined to find him a bride. Catherine Raffelin is a beautiful seventeen-year-old girl whose merchant father has fallen on hard times and offers up his daughter to Queen Catherine. The queen will pay his debts, and his daughter will marry Monsieur Sauvage. Catherine meets Pedro for the first time on their wedding day. Barely recovered from the shock of her father’s betrayal, she soon finds herself christened “Madame Sauvage” by the royal courtiers, and must learn to navigate this strange new world, and the unusual man who is now her husband. Gorgeously written, heartbreaking and hopeful, Marvelous is the portrait of a marriage, the story of a remarkable, resilient family, and an unforgettable reimagining of one of the world’s most beloved fairy tales. ""A richly detailed and imaginative novel. Readers will relish Greeley's emotionally potent tale.""--Booklist

Marvelous

Read by Sarah Ferguson and Ell Potter From one of the most famous former members of the British royal family, Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, cowritten with the acclaimed historical novelist, Marguerite Kaye—a mesmerizing novel of a young noblewoman’s coming-of-age that richly details both high society and low in Victorian England. The second daughter of the Queens’ close friend, the Scottish Duke of Buccleuch, Lady Margaret Montagu Scott is expected to make an advantageous marriage. But Margaret is an impulsive and outspoken girl in a repressive society where women are, quite literally, caged in corsets and required to conform. When Lady Margaret’s parents arrange a society marriage for her, she tries to reconcile herself to the match. But shortly before her betrothal is announced, Margaret flees, leaving her parents to explain her sudden absence to an opulent ballroom stuffed with two hundred distinguished guests. Banished from polite society, Margaret throws herself into charitable work and finds strength in a circle of female friends like herself—women intent on breaking the mold, including Queen Victoria’s daughter Princess Louise. Margaret resolves to follow her heart—a journey of self-discovery that will take her to Ireland, America, and then back to Britain where she finds the life she was always meant to lead. A bold and thoughtful story about a rebellious woman finding herself and her voice in an age of astounding technological change and great social unrest, Her Heart for a Compass is a delicious costume drama rich in atmosphere, history, and color that will thrill fans of Victoria and Bridgerton. Includes a Q&A with Sarah Ferguson and her editor.

""Greeley’s storytelling is intricate, masterly, and delightfully imaginative. Highly recommended.""—Library Journal (starred review) In this gorgeously written and spellbinding historical novel based on Pride and Prejudice, the author of The Clergyman’s Wife combines the knowing eye of Jane Austen with the eroticism and Gothic intrigue of Sarah Waters to reimagine the life of the mysterious Anne de Bourgh. As a fussy baby, Anne de Bourgh was prescribed laudanum to quiet her, and now the young woman must take the opium-heavy tincture every day. Growing up sheltered and confined, removed from sunshine and fresh air, the pale and overly slender Anne grew up with few companions except her cousins, including Fitzwilliam Darcy. Throughout their childhoods, it was understood that Darcy and Anne would marry and combine their vast estates of Pemberley and Rosings. But Darcy does not love Anne or want her. After her father dies unexpectedly, leaving her his vast fortune, Anne has a moment of clarity: what if her life of fragility and illness isn’t truly real? What if she could free herself from the medicine that clouds her sharp mind and leaves her body weak and lethargic? Might there be a better life without the medicine she has been told she cannot live without? In a frenzy of desperation, Anne discards her laudanum and flees to the London home of her cousin, Colonel John Fitzwilliam, who helps her through her painful recovery. Yet once she returns to health, new challenges await. Shy and utterly inexperienced, the wealthy heiress must forge a new identity for herself, learning to navigate a “season” in society and the complexities of love and passion. The once wan, passive Anne gives way to a braver woman with a keen edge—leading to a powerful reckoning with the domineering mother determined to control Anne’s fortune . . . and her life. An extraordinary tale of one woman’s liberation, The Heiress reveals both the darkness and light in Austen’s world, with wit, sensuality, and a deeply compassionate understanding of the human heart.

A Pride and Prejudice Novel

The Heiress

""No one writes bright, bold, bad, and beautiful women of history like C.W. Gortner, and he outdoes himself with his latest heroine: Jennie Jerome, American heiress, royal mistress, and mother of Winston Churchill. The American Adventuress shines on every page with Jennie's irrepressible thirst for adventure, love, and everything else life has to offer!"" -- Kate Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of The Rose Code The story of Jennie Jerome Churchill, mother of Winston, a New York born heiress who always lived life on her own terms. Daughter of New York financier Leonard Jerome, Jennie was born into wealth—and scandal. Upon her parents’ separation, her mother took Jennie and her sisters to Paris, where Mrs. Jerome was determined to marry her daughters into the most elite families. The glamorous city became their tumultuous finishing school until it fell to revolt. Fleeing to Queen Victoria’s England, Jennie soon caught the eye of aristocrat Randolph Spencer-Churchill, son of the Duke of Marlborough, one of Britain’s loftiest peers. It was love at first sight, their unconventional marriage driven by mutual ambition and the birth of two sons. Undeterred by premature widowhood or society’s rigid expectations, Jennie brashly carried on a lifelong intimate friendship with Edward, Prince of Wales—a notorious bon vivant—and had two later marriages to younger men. When her son Winston launched his brilliant political career, Jennie guided him to success, his most vocal and valuable supporter. By turns scandalous, tragic, and exciting, Jennie Jerome lived an unconventional life full of defiance—one that enshrined her as an American adventuress.

The American Adventuress

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER From Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, a sweeping, romantic compulsively readable historical saga about a Duke’s daughter—the perfect Victorian lady—who secretly moonlights as an amateur sleuth for high society’s inner circle. Victorian London was notorious for its pickpockets. But in the country houses of the elite, gentleman burglars, art thieves and con men preyed on the rich and titled. Wealthy victims—with their pride and reputation at stake—would never go to the police. What they needed was a society insider, one of their own, a person of discretion and finely tuned powers of observation, adept at navigating intrigue. That person was Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott, the youngest child of Queen Victoria’s close friends the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch. Bookish, fiercely intelligent, and a keen observer, Mary has deliberately cultivated a mousey persona that allows her to remain overlooked and significantly underestimated by all. It’s the perfect cover for a sleuth, a role she stumbles into when trying to assist a close friend during a house party hosted by her parents at their stately Scottish home, Drumlanrig Castle. It is at this party where Lady Mary also meets Colonel Walter Trefusis, a distinguished and extremely handsome war veteran. Tortured by memories of combat, Walter, like Mary, lives a double life, with a desk job in Whitehall providing a front for his role in the British Intelligence Service. The two form an unlikely alliance to solve a series of audacious crimes—and indulge in a highly charged on-off romance. Pacy, romantic, and fun, A Most Intriguing Lady documents one remarkable woman’s ability to be both the perfect lady, and a perfectly talented detective...and, of course, to find love too.

A Most Intriguing Lady

"Weaves a spell of darkness that’s mysterious and magical, and binds it with a knot of deathless love." —New York Times bestselling author Susanna Kearsley on A Lullaby for Witches In post–World War I England, a young woman inherits a mysterious library and must untangle its powerful secrets… With the stroke of a pen, twenty-three-year-old Ivy Radcliffe becomes Lady Hayworth, owner of a sprawling estate on the Yorkshire moors. Ivy has never heard of Blackwood Abbey, or of the ancient bloodline from which she’s descended. With nothing to keep her in London since losing her brother in the Great War, she warily makes her way to her new home. The abbey is foreboding, the servants reserved and suspicious. But there is a treasure waiting behind locked doors: a magnificent library. Despite cryptic warnings from the staff, Ivy feels irresistibly drawn to its dusty shelves, where familiar works mingle with strange, esoteric texts. And she senses something else in the library too, a presence that seems to have a will of its own. Rumors swirl in the village about the abbey’s previous owners, about ghosts and curses, and an enigmatic manuscript at the center of it all. And as events grow more sinister, it will be up to Ivy to uncover the library’s mysteries in order to reclaim her own story—before it vanishes forever. Lush, atmospheric and transporting, The Last Heir to Blackwood Library is a skillful reflection on memory and female agency, and a love letter to books from a writer at the height of her power. Delve into the magical power of flowers in Hester Fox's captivating new novel, THE BOOK OF THORNS, where long-lost sisters reunite on opposite sides of the Napoleonic Wars and must uncover the secrets of their mother's disappearance and their mystical powers… Look for these other gothic mysteries from Hester Fox: The Witch of Willow HallThe Widow of Pale HarborThe Orphan of Cemetery HillA Lullaby for Witches

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library

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