We have updated our Privacy Policy Please take a moment to review it. By continuing to use this site, you agree to the terms of our updated Privacy Policy.

Search Results for: little book of

Showing 409-432 of 469 results for little book of

Upside Down, Inside Out

Upside Down, Inside Out

Contributors

Monica McInerney

Price and format

Price
£8.99
Format
Paperback
Eva Kennedy is in a rut. Whatever happened to the Eva who was going to be someone? Hoping to shake things up and find inspiration, Eva ventures to Melbourne, Australia, to visit an old friend who, for fun, gives Eva an exciting new identity. Eva is now exotic and adventurous and . . . not herself.
Joseph Wheeler is a successful London designer. Unfortunately, his firm is thriving so he doesn’t have time to actually design anymore. And his love life is non-existent. In Australia on business, Joseph meets Eva, and the sparks fly – even as Eva is stuck pretending to be someone she’s not. Little does she know that Joseph has some secrets of his own . . .
As a holiday fling quickly blossoms into something more, Joseph and Eva discover that romance can turn life upside down and inside out at the bottom of the world.

Praise for Monica McInerney:

‘Monica McInerney is at the very top of her game . . . If you’ve yet to read her books, treat yourselves IMMEDIATELY!’ Patricia Scanlan, bestselling author of A Time For Friends

‘You’ll be laughing out loud one minute and crying the next’ Cosmopolitan

‘Heart-warming . . . A lovely read’ Hello! Magazine

‘McInerney is a must-read author for women’s fiction fans around the world’ Huffington Post

‘McInerney’s bewitching multigenerational saga lavishly and lovingly explores the resiliency and fragility of family bonds’ Booklist
Bloodchild

Bloodchild

Contributors

Octavia E. Butler

Price and format

Format
ebook
Set on a distant planet, Bloodchild is award-winning author Octavia E. Butler’s shattering meditation on symbiosis, love, power and tough choices. It won the Hugo, Locus, Nebula and Science Fiction Chronicle awards and is widely regarded as one of her greatest works. Perfect for fans of the thrilling Arrival and the works of Ursula Le Guin.

‘Butler graces new mansions of thought with her eloquent, distinguished and poignant prose. Although this book is little in size, its ideas are splendidly large’ Booklist

‘One of the most significant literary artists of the 20th century’ Junot Diaz

Years ago, a group known as the Terrans left Earth in search of a life free of persecution. Now they live alongside the Tlic, an alien race who face extinction; their only chance of survival is to plant their larvae inside the bodies of the humans.

When Gan, a young, boy, is chosen as a carrier of Tlic eggs, he faces an impossible dilemma: can he really help the species he has grown up with, even if it means sacrificing his own life?

What readers are saying about BLOODCHILD:

The best short story I’ve ever read. Utterly compelling, disturbing, intimate

Absolutely amazing. A must-read for Sci-Fi lovers’

Wonderfully written, masterfully built and oh so thought-provoking, Bloodchild is everything you could wish for in a work of science fiction’
Sheer Mischief

Sheer Mischief

Contributors

Jill Mansell

Price and format

Price
£9.99
Format
Paperback
Other Formats
Other formats available
SHEER MISCHIEF by bestselling author Jill Mansell is an unmissable romantic comedy about sisterly love and rivalry… Not to be missed by readers of Sophie Kinsella and Marian Keyes.

It’s not that Janey Sinclair isn’t pleased to see her sister. It’s just that being woken at seven by Maxine, complete with police escort, isn’t quite how she’d planned to spend her Sunday. Even so Janey, who’s just rebuilding her life after her husband disappeared, is delighted that her sister’s back in the Cornish town where they grew up. When Maxine sets her sights on Guy Cassidy, an impossibly glamorous fashion photographer, Janey knows there’s no limit to the mischief her sister will get up to in order to dispatch her rivals. But little do they know that the competition is a lot closer to home than they think…

What readers are saying about Sheer Mischief:

Escapism at its best. Settle in and enjoy!‘ Amazon reviewer, 5 stars

Lots of laughter. Typical of Jill Mansell. Can’t help but thoroughly enjoy her books‘ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

Couldn’t put this down. Jill excelled herself in wit and maintaining suspense‘ Amazon reviewer, 5 stars

Funny, heart-warming and keeps you gripped until the very end‘ Amazon reviewer, 5 stars
What We Want

What We Want

Contributors

Charlotte Fox Weber

Price and format

Price
£10.99
Format
Paperback
Other Formats
Other formats available
‘Thoughtful, lucid and blessedly free of therapese . . . Weber’s book is a powerful snapshot into the little bombs going off in the lives and homes of those around us’ SUNDAY TIMES

‘Finely crafted, profound and always generous . . . Made me feel excited to be alive’ NATASHA LUNN

Our secret wants and desires are often hidden in a box. But what happens when you lift the lid?

Chloe is beautiful and fiercely bright, but her thirst for alcohol and attention is insatiable.

Sara resents being tied down to anything, but part of her craves stability.


Elliot is secretly grieving the death of his famous lover and feels like he’s invisible.


The lives and problems of psychotherapist Charlotte Fox Weber’s clients vary, but all are united by a common question: what do I really want?

In What We Want, Charlotte Fox Weber takes us on a journey through twelve universal wants and desires – love, power, sex, attention, and more – bringing us behind the closed doors of her practice. As she gently guides her clients towards a deeper understanding of themselves, she invites them – and us – to find a fuller way of living.

What We Want is at once a fly-on-the-wall look at what binds us all, an expression of the profound importance of understanding and articulating our desires, and a practical toolkit for living well.
Maddalena and the Dark

Maddalena and the Dark

Contributors

Julia Fine

Price and format

Price
£10.99
Format
Paperback
Other Formats
Other formats available
A darkness takes shape beneath the waters of Venice . . .
and somewhere in the Ospedale della Pietà,
there are two girls breathing beside each other,
legs entwined.

‘Enchanting and suspenseful’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Rich and heartbreaking’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘A lush, decadent fairytale’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Maddalena and the Dark is an opulent and sensuous Venetian fairytale, full of music, magic, passion, and betrayal, perfect for fans of Bunny, A Study in Drowning, and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.

‘[A] beguiling fairy tale’ VANITY FAIR (A Best Book of Summer)


‘Enchanted…A slow-burn gothic novel that will make you lose track of your surroundings . . . An atmospheric banger’ LITHUB

Fine beguiles with this decadent tale of desire . . . With the alluring Venice backdrop, this will frighten and captivate in equal measure’ PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, starred review

************************


Venice, 1717. Before Maddalena arrived at the Ospedale della Pietà, Venice’s most illustrious music school, fifteen-year-old orphan Luisa has only wanted one thing: to be the best at violin. Luisa is good at violin, but she is not the best. She has peers, but she does not have friends. Until Maddalena.

Sent to the Pietà until her noble family can find her a husband, Maddalena is cunning, passionate, and unlike anyone Luisa has ever met. Maddalena can promise the world to Luisa, and when she does, their fates intertwine.

But Maddalena has made a dangerous wager and, for both girls, there will be an unimaginable price to pay.

Maddalena and the Dark is chocolate laced with poison. To read it is to fall under an enchantment . . . A sweeping, dark fairy tale about the violent hearts of teenage girls’ KATIE GUTIERREZ

A sumptuous feast of a novel, rich and strange and heady. Julia Fine is an extraordinary writer’ KELLY LINK

‘From its first sentence, this novel curled its crooked little witch’s finger around my heart and still hasn’t let go’ AMY JO BURNS

A tense, slow-burning portrait of how desire too easily tangles with envy and the price we pay when we get what we want’ ISLE McELROY

An ecstatic, immersive, layered and astonishingly rendered depiction of girlhood, ambition, violence, art, and desireLYNN STEGER STRONG

‘Beautiful, suspenseful, sensuous, real. If you love music or Venice, or if you’ve ever simply been a young girl aching for womanhood, this is the book for you. Reading this felt like indulging in a secret, in the best wayAJA GABEL

Maddalena and the Dark is the book of my dreams – a feverish, intimate story of obsession and ambition, set in Venice’s shadowy canals and glittering palazzos’ SARA SLIGAR
The Black Dress

The Black Dress

Contributors

Deborah Moggach

Price and format

Price
£10.99
Format
Paperback
Other Formats
Other formats available

‘I barked out loud. Not since Freud has sex been more in bed with death. She gets sharper and more mordant with age and about age. This page-turner is like the best wakes, it will make you feel hungry and alive’ The Times


‘She really is the Nora Ephron of North London’ Clare Chambers, author of Small Pleasures

Pru is on her own. But then, so are plenty of other people. And while the loneliness can be overwhelming, surely she’ll find a party somewhere?

Pru’s husband has walked out, leaving her alone to contemplate her future. She’s missing not so much him, but the life they once had – nestling up like spoons in the cutlery drawer as they sleep. Now there’s just a dip on one side of the bed and no-one to fill it.

In a daze, Pru goes off to a friend’s funeral. Usual old hymns, words of praise and a eulogy but…it doesn’t sound like the friend she knew. She’s gone to the wrong service, though it was more excitement than she’s had for ages. So Pru buys a little black dress in a charity shop and thinks, why not go to another? No-one will challenge her – and what harm can it do?

‘As ever with Moggach, the joy is in her witty observations of middle-class life and her bracingly tart portrayal of family relationshipsDaily Mail

‘Full of warmth and humour, as well as blistering truths’ Daily Mirror

What readers say about THE BLACK DRESS:


‘I loved literally everything about this book. It kept me gripped from start to finish. Enjoyed every single page’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

Laugh out loud funny and a brilliantly constructed novel’ #11088; ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

This is easily the best book I have read for years. Very uplifting for those of us who are getting on a bit . We can break the rules, we can have great fun. Fabulous‘ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

I just could not put it down. It was funny and dark in turns. Super relaxed style of writing in the first person’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Gatecrasher

The Gatecrasher

Contributors

Stephen Albrow

Price and format

Price
£1.99
Format
ebook
A collection of five erotic stories with mixed BDSM, lesbian and submission themes brought to you by Xcite Books, winners of ETO’s Best Erotic Book Brand 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The Gatecrasher by Stephen Albrow

Rumours of wild parties have been spreading amongst the local population and Charlotte is intrigued. Lord Richard Parker has been discouraging ramblers from walking near his property and it has been said that he doesn’t want his neighbours to know exactly what is going on at his house.

This only adds to the thrill Charlotte feels when she finds herself climbing over the wall of the manor house. It’s even possible that Richard Parker will deal with her severely; that’s what Charlotte is hoping, anyway.

The Gift by Dolores Day
Married to the much older Lord Marksbury, whose skills in the bedroom are not so much inferior as non-existent, Susanna longs for a companion who will understand her needs.

Luckily for Susanna, an old friend happily recommends someone who can help Susanna forget her unhappy marriage. Arleta is an expert in the bedchamber and has all the skills that Susanna could possibly desire…

Fairground Attraction by Mimi Elis
Fairgrounds are fascinating places; the sparkling lights, the screams of the riders, the tantalising smells wafting from the hot food stands. And, most of all, the exotic strangers that man the stalls and the rides and bring a touch of light and glamour to the most boring provincial town.

When our heroine decides to submit herself to the skills of the fortune teller she little imagines what the night will bring. She expects to be told that she will meet a tall, handsome stranger, but this prediction hardly describes what will eventually happen to her when she visits the fairground and is taken on the ride of her life.

Rodeo Girl by Matt Pascoe
Penny is a good girl. She works in accounts. So when she finds herself, sick with nerves and apprehension, waiting to perform onstage as a lap dancer at a gentleman’s club, it’s clear that some encouragement is needed.

She is relieved to be rescued by a far more experienced colleague, Candy Cane, who leads her to a deserted dressing room, mixes a lethal cocktail and offers welcome advice. Just one masterclass with Candy is enough to expose Penny’s wild side. The genie is out of the bottle and the audience is in for a performance that will have them all begging for more.

The Boss by DMW Carol

He is so arrogant, so sure of his authority. He struts as he moves around the office and his alpha male attitude is guaranteed to bring out the worst in any employee who questions his power. The Boss had better be careful because he is soon to find his status as top dog being seriously undermined.

One of The Boss’s workers is unimpressed by his machismo, his legendary temper, his overbearing attitude towards her colleagues. She wants to teach him a lesson he won’t forget. On a Friday, when the working day is over and the staff have left, she will be left alone with The Boss. Back in his little domain she will make sure that he is no longer king of the office jungle.

These stories have also been published in Ultimate Submission ISBN 9781905170968
Goodnight Amy

Goodnight Amy

Contributors

Victor Pemberton

Price and format

Price
£5.49
Format
ebook
A family united by war… divided by a terrible secret.

Goodnight Amy is moving wartime saga from Victor Pemberton that follows a troubled family as they face desertion and shocking secrets. Perfect for fans of Pam Evans and Dilly Court.


‘With so many novels using a war-time setting, it takes a special writer to ensure that his book stands out from the throng. Victor Pemberton is such a writer, and Goodnight Amy is a wonderfully detailed and involving study of a community surviving the destruction of war’ – Barry Forshaw

Agnes Dodds walked out of the small Islington house which she had called home, leaving her husband and four children, and disappeared into the streets of a London devastated by the Blitz. For her eldest daughter, Amy, there is no time to feel sorry; it is all she can do to hold the family together. With no mother and a father who is useless, Amy sees little hope for the future until she meets Tim Gudgeon. Tim, who is secretly in love with Amy, believes that he has seen Agnes. Suddenly Amy is full of determination to find Agnes and discover why she left. But Agnes took with her a secret strong enough to drive a mother from her children and one that Amy may wish she had never heard…

What readers are saying about Goodnight Amy:

‘A very good story – enjoyable, different [and] very down to earth

Enjoyable from start to finish’

Takes you back in timefive stars
Pumping Ivan

Pumping Ivan

Contributors

Landon Dixon

Price and format

Price
£1.99
Format
ebook
A collection of five sexually explicit erotic stories with gay themes including ménage and outdoor scenarios.



Pumping Ivan:



Ivan “The Terrible” Teldov rules his gym with a pair of iron dumbbells. And he’s just as tough when dishing out the training tips, to his very admiring, perspiring patrons.



Security Meltdown:



He thought he’d test their security techniques, and learned a few techniques of his own, from them. Being the Security Chief at Manguard can be a very arresting experience.



Room Mate:



Len and Tim are new roommates. Len has just discovered something about himself, and he’s not sure that he doesn’t want to find out more – with Tim’s help. What are roommates for, after all?



Foot Bridge:



The new guy on the road repair crew has attracted the boss’ attention. He looks like he’s built more for office work than highway work; except from the waist down – where he’s built just right, to the boss’ way of thinking.



Dropping A Load:



Trucking was no easy business back in the spring of ’38. But that didn’t mean you didn’t always keep your eyes open for a little roadside diversion. Just so long as you weren’t caught with your pants down.



These stories have also been published in Hot Tales of Gay Lust Paperback ISBN 9781907761454 eBook ISBN 9781907761461
If I Could Say Goodbye

If I Could Say Goodbye

Contributors

Emma Cooper

Price and format

Price
£8.99
Format
Paperback
Other Formats
Other formats available
A heart-warming and uplifting story about love, loss and finding the strength to say goodbye, from the author of The First Time I Saw You.

Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes and Cecelia Ahern, If I Could Say Goodbye is sure to ‘break your heart but put it back together again’ (Katie Fforde)

Jennifer Jones’ life began when her little sister, Kerry, was born. So when her sister dies in a tragic accident, nothing seems to make sense any more.

Despite the support of her husband, Ed, and their wonderful children, Jen can’t comprehend why she is still here, while bright, spirited Kerry is not.

When Jen starts to lose herself in her memories of her sister, she doesn’t realise that the closer she feels to Kerry, the further she gets from her family.

Jen was never able to say goodbye to her sister. But what if she could?

Would you risk everything if you had the chance to say goodbye?

READERS LOVE EMMA COOPER:

‘Gorgeous, tender, spine-tingling storytelling – an absolute heart-rending joy’ Miranda Dickinson

‘Poignant and beautifully written’ Woman

‘A tragically beautiful story of love and loss, family and hope. Emma Cooper has been swiftly added to my list of authors to read’ Fiona Harper

‘A very special book indeed: funny, powerful, heart-wrenching’ Jo Thomas
Mixing With Murder (Fran Varady 6)

Mixing With Murder (Fran Varady 6)

Contributors

Ann Granger

Price and format

Price
£9.99
Format
Paperback
Whilst pursuing one crime investigation, Fran Varady gets caught up in another…

Amateur sleuth Fran Varady faces more questionable characters in her most complicated investigation yet. Mixing with Murder is the sixth sparky mystery in Ann Granger’s Fran Varady series, not to be missed by fans of Carola Dunn and Val McDermid.

‘Characterisation, as ever with Granger, is sharp and astringent’ – The Times

Fran Varady isn’t keen to help seedy club owner Mickey Allerton track down Lisa, a dancer who’s done a bunk. But since Mickey’s holding Fran’s dog Bonnie hostage till the job’s done, she doesn’t have much choice. She quickly locates Lisa and they arrange to meet – but when Fran gets there early, the first thing she sees is a body floating in the river. It’s Ivo, one of Mickey’s nastier bouncers.

If Lisa wasn’t terrified already, she is when she gets this news, and Fran finds herself torn between helping the frightened girl and doing Mickey’s bidding. And it’s all about to get a lot more complicated…

What readers are saying about Mixing with Murder:

‘The cast of characters lumbers into view with understated menace mixed with charm and humour. Even minor characters have distinctive personalities

Always a pleasure to read Ann Granger books’

‘Even when you think you know the ending there’s always a nice little twist in the plot
A Daughter's Promise

A Daughter's Promise

Contributors

Judy Summers

Price and format

Price
£8.99
Format
Paperback
AS RECOMMENDED BY LYN ANDREWS


Liverpool, 1861.

Annie Shaw longs to be taken seriously. At 14, she’s fed up of being babied by her big sister Delilah. It’s true that Delilah has been the closest thing to a mother that Annie or any of her siblings have ever known, but she’s secretive about the past and won’t let her little sister out of her sight. When Annie’s old friend Clara visits with tales of the good money that can be made at the cotton mill outside Ormskirk, she sees her chance at adventure and runs away.

The work is gruelling and Annie is shocked to witness children as young as eight working long days around dangerous machinery. But it seems that, as long as the cotton is produced on time, the mill owners turn a blind eye to the very real human toll to be paid. The children from the workhouse are treated especially poorly and Annie can’t help but make it her responsibility to rescue them.

Soon Annie finds herself caring for three young orphans, now a makeshift mum herself. As hard times hit the mill and hundreds of jobs are lost, will Annie be able to keep her young charges warm, fed and safe? In order to face a turbulent future, Annie needs to first dig into the secrets buried in the past . . .

PRAISE FOR JUDY SUMMERS:

‘I thoroughly enjoyed this book… The characters are well drawn and believable’ – Lyn Andrews

‘Fascinating insights into Victorian Liverpool and a heart-warming story make for an inspiring read’ – Mollie Walton
Living Plantfully

Living Plantfully

Contributors

Lindsey Harrad

Price and format

Price
£16.99
Format
Hardcover
As featured in the Guardian.

There’s never been a better time to embrace a more plant-based life, and in this accessible and engaging book, Lindsey Harrad shows you how to achieve it, one small step at a time. Living more plantfully will help you save money, be healthier, live longer, connect with nature, all while being more socially responsible.

Lindsey Harrad is the former editor of the UK’s bestselling and award-winning vegetarian magazine. In Living Plantfully, she gathers together all the wellness wisdom she has acquired over 20 years of journalistic experience, as well as drawing on the advice and experience of trusted experts in food, health, gardening and sustainability, to offer brilliant ideas, simple recipes and easy projects that anyone can do to help live a more plant-based, healthy and happy life.

Broken into three sections; growing, cooking and living, Living Plantfully is not only a useful guide but also an inspirational journey, combining accessible evidence-based facts with practical, bitesize ideas that will empower anyone to make changes in their homes and lives. Weaving in colourful facts and figures with the voices of relevant experts – including chefs and nutritionists, wellness experts, bloggers and sustainability heroes – along with plenty of quick-read box outs, clever tips and little nuggets of plant-based wisdom, this is an informed but accessible guide that explores both why and how to embrace a more sustainable, plant-centred way of eating and living.

“A font of information for anyone wanting to live and eat more mindfully and sustainably” – Anna Jones, cook and author
Six Tudor Queens: Anna of Kleve, Queen of Secrets

Six Tudor Queens: Anna of Kleve, Queen of Secrets

Contributors

Alison Weir

Price and format

Price
£10.99
Format
Paperback
Other Formats
Other formats available
‘Alison Weir transforms Henry VIII’s much-maligned fourth wife into a woman of passion, courage and mystery’ Tracy Borman

Alison Weir, historian and author of the Sunday Times bestsellers Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen, Anne Boleyn: A King’s Obsession and Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen, paints a spellbinding portrait of Anna of Kleve, Henry VIII’s fourth queen.


‘This six-book series looks likely to become a landmark in historical fiction’ The Times

A GERMAN PRINCESS WITH A GUILTY SECRET.

The King is in love with a portrait, but the real Anna does not enchant him.

She must win him over. Everyone knows that Henry won’t stand for a problem queen.

But rumours of Anna’s past are rife at court – dangerous talk that could mark her downfall. Can this clever, spirited young woman reach out in friendship to the King, and gain his love forever?

ANNA OF KLEVE
THE FOURTH OF HENRY’S QUEENS
HER STORY

Acclaimed, bestselling historian Alison Weir draws on new evidence to conjure a startling image of Anna as you’ve never seen her before. A charming, spirited woman, she was loved by all who knew her – and even, ultimately, by the King who rejected her.

History tells us she was never crowned.
But her story does not end there.

SIX TUDOR QUEENS. SIX NOVELS. SIX YEARS.

‘Alison Weir makes history come alive as no one else’ Barbara Erskine

‘Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life’ Guardian
The Back to School collection: ALL TEACHERS GREAT AND SMALL, ALL TEACHERS WISE AND WONDERFUL, ALL TEACHERS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL

The Back to School collection: ALL TEACHERS GREAT AND SMALL, ALL TEACHERS WISE AND WONDERFUL, ALL TEACHERS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL

Contributors

Andy Seed

Price and format

Price
£8.99
Format
ebook
ALL TEACHERS GREAT AND SMALL tells the true story of Andy’s first year at Cragthwaite Primary School – how he bravely negotiated the vagaries of the local dialect, made disastrous bids to provide a family home, naively and hilariously tried out new-fangled ideas in a school stuck in a 1950s time warp, and ultimately discovered a little part of England he was proud to call home.Warm, touching and very funny, All Teachers Great and Small transports you to a time that may be gone but has never been forgotten.


ALL TEACHERS WISE AND WONDERFUL: A year on from the end of ALL TEACHERS GREAT AND SMALL, Barbara and Andy Seed are settled into their Dales village, but at school trouble arrives for Andy in the form of nine-year-old Sheena. After two years in the job, Andy Seed returns to Cragthwaite brimming with confidence and looking forward to a year that is bound to bring its own rewards, as well as its share of mishaps and misadventures. But even he didn’t anticipate exploding piggy banks, bottle-rocket missiles, and actually deafening Dracula. At home, Andy and Barbara are enjoying life with little Tom, and are expecting again. Meanwhile, a new friendship is formed with hill farmer Adam. Adam proves both an inspiration and a confidante for Andy, and through him he begins to see the light with troubled Sheena. The second in Andy’s trilogy about life as a Yorkshire Dales teacher, this is as warm, witty and refreshing as the first, full of colourful anecdotes from village and school life.
Andy Seed is beginning his fifth year teaching at Cragthwaite Primary in the Yorkshire Dales, and as always a new term is full of surprises.

ALL TEACHERS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL: These take the form of a beautiful, but not terribly bright, student on placement from the local teacher training college, and a particularly pushy and problematic parent with a fine line in complaining. It looks like Andy’s pupils are the least of his problems…
At home in Applesett, things aren’t all rosy either. Barbara is forced to take a job as a postie to help pay the mortgage, which means finding someone to look after Tom and Reuben. When two old friends move into the village it looks like the problem has been solved, but it soon transpires that rural life is not for everyone.
As always the book is peppered with the hilarious and heartwarming incidents that a life living and working with children inevitably contains.
Torture by Pleasure

Torture by Pleasure

Contributors

Elizabeth Coldwell, Jodie Johnson-Smith, Sommer Marsden, Bella Marks, Ms Peach

Price and format

Price
£1.99
Format
Digital (deliver electronic)
An Xcite Books collection of five erotic stories with mixed themes including contemporary, m/f, fem sub, menage and consensual cuckoldry.

Torture by Pleasure by Bella Marks
Where is the line between pleasure and suffering? A sub finds out, and crosses the line, as her master delivers a well-deserved punishment. He tortures her with pleasure and teases her to within an inch of her sanity. Using his fingers, his cock and some evil little brushes, he brings her to the edge over and over again. But will she get to come? It’s up to him.

Getting Ready for Mick by Jodie Johnson-Smith
Sent to the country to finish her book, Fiona is soon feeling lonely. The only visitor she has is Penny, the busty campaigner, who is hell-bent on stopping the council from building on the field behind Fiona’s cottage. When three guys arrive to start the work, Fiona decides to get to know them better. But although getting ready for Mick is highly pleasurable, all is not as it seems and Fiona knows that the guys will soon be leaving. Meanwhile, Penny has decided on a new campaign …

Oil, Wine, Miles and Dreaming by Ms Peach
Waking from a deliciously erotic dream, Amy expects another dull day in her job as a doctor’s receptionist. But Michael has other ideas. He’s the hunky patient she’s lusted after for ever, and when she accepts his offer of a dinner date, she doesn’t realise it’ll lead to a night of unforgettable pleasure.

Glow by Sommer Marsden

Adam is Irene’s perfect man, offering her everything she could possibly need – except his love. But she keeps making the trip to his home, where a lantern glows in the window, a sign of how much he wants her, because the pleasure he gives her is far too good to ignore. And maybe tonight will be the night he goes that one step further and gives her his heart, too…

Someone Borrowed, Something Blue by Elizabeth Coldwell
Melanie’s husband-to-be has the kinkiest fantasies about watching her with another man. She has fantasies about being dominated by a horny stranger. And with the aid of a willing wedding photographer and a second-hand dress, she’s about to make every single one of those fantasies come true.
The Lighthouse Sisters

The Lighthouse Sisters

Contributors

Gill Thompson

Price and format

Price
£8.99
Format
Paperback
Other Formats
Other formats available
‘I loved this heart-in-your-mouth story of forbidden love, courage and hope. A heart-wrenching book about family bonds facing the toughest of trials during WW2’ KERRY FISHER
‘A stunning tale about sisters, courage, and sacrifice that will keep you enthralled until the very last page’ ANDIE NEWTON
‘Really brought a lump to my throat. It has stayed with me since finishing it’ SUZANNE GOLDRING
‘Heart-wrenching, immersive, beautifully researched. I thoroughly recommend, together with a tissue for this emotional read!’ LOUISE FEIN

‘They were there for each other during the war just like the lighthouse, a source of hope and protection over the years.’



1940: For sisters Alice and Jenny life is just beginning when the Nazis seize control of the island of Jersey, driving the girls down separate paths. While Alice is forced by the enemy to work in the German hospital, Jenny is attracted to the circle of islanders rising up to resist the occupiers. And as the war tightens its grip, it will cause each of the sisters to make an extraordinary choice, experience unimaginable heartbreak and emerge forever changed…

1996: The war may have ended decades earlier, but for the elegant woman sitting alone now, the images live on in her memory: her sister’s carefree laughter, the inky black of a German soldier’s boots, the little boats that never came back. And the one constant through it all: the lighthouse that always guided them back to the island…

A gripping, heartbreaking story of two sisters in occupied Jersey during WWII – one a nurse, who is transported to Nazi Germany, the other, who volunteers for the island’s resistance movement – from the author of The Child on Platform One. Perfect for readers of The Nightingale and The Midwife of Auschwitz.
______


What real readers are saying about The Lighthouse Sisters:

‘What an emotional read, I felt like I was actually living along the characters, I absolutely loved this book ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐’

‘I was gripped. I couldn’t put it down. Heart-wrenching at times and so full of hope and resilience at others. I really enjoyed it ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐’

A real page-turner ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐’

A wonderful read from the first page ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐’
The Girls Left Behind

The Girls Left Behind

Contributors

Emily Gunnis

Price and format

Price
£9.99
Format
Paperback
Other Formats
Other formats available

NO ONE WANTED TO END UP AT MORGATE HOUSE. BUT THE GIRLS HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO GO . . .



‘The thrilling, heartbreaking, and shocking story of dark secrets, twisted lives, lies, and manipulation. The twist! OMG! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

—–
1985. Separated from her little sister at the children’s home where they are taken as orphans, Holly Moore is a troubled teenager in need of love. When she meets a man who promises to take care of her, she hopes her luck has finally changed.

2015. The clock is ticking for Superintendent Jo Hamilton when the discovery of a young woman’s remains takes her back to an unsolved case from the past. As a constable, Jo was often called out to deal with runaways from Morgate House, but when Holly Moore disappeared – after another female resident fell from the cliffs – Jo was convinced the home was hiding something. Now, with only days before her forced retirement, Jo decides to track down Holly’s sister and re-open the case. But will the trail lead her disturbingly close to home?

A sister disappeared, a terrible wrong, and powerful people with something to hide . . . Discover the brand new emotional and thrilling novel from the bestselling author of The Girl in the Letter

‘A compelling but heartbreaking tale of cruelty, loss and betrayal’ Woman’s Weekly

————-

READERS ARE OBSESSED WITH THE GIRLS LEFT BEHIND:

‘A cracking tale’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Kept me gripped till the very end, good job I had tissues to hand’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
I stopped everything to finish this book’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘Brilliant narrative, great characters . . . read it, you will love it! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
‘Emily is the daughter of Penny Vincenzi whose books I adored so it’s no surprise that such talent has been passed on’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHORS LOVE EMILY GUNNIS:

‘Compelling, twisty, heart-wrenching… A novel that stays with you’ Sophie Kinsella
‘Utterly gripping, taut and powerful. An emotionally charged, compulsive novel Adele Parks
‘Fast paced and brilliantly plotted – all hallmarks of a bestseller’ Lesley Pearse
Blizzard

Blizzard

Contributors

Marie Vingtras

Price and format

Price
£10.99
Format
Paperback
‘The Alaskan wilds are the setting for Marie Vingtras’s compelling Blizzard … a chilling, tense read’ – Observer

Winner of Prix Des Libraires, the French Booksellers’ Prize for Best Novel of the Year.
An Observer Crime and thriller of the month

I lost him. I let go of his hand to do up my shoelaces and I lost him …

As a blizzard rages in the vast, white expanse of the Alaskan wilderness, a woman walks alone with a child. No-one sees her as she stops to tie her laces. Seconds later, the child has vanished.

In the snow, every minute counts. Soon, each of the very few neighbours joins the search to find the boy before it’s too late. As their hunt intensifies, connections are made, their secrets unearthed, and it seems that freezing to death is not the only danger they fear in this isolated edge of the world.

What readers say about BLIZZARD

Remarkable … The atmosphere and scene setting is off the charts’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Blizzard is a book that FLIES BY. You can’t help but want to devour it in a single sitting – that’s how addictive it is. All the characters were super interesting … I was on the edge of my seat just waiting to see what would happen’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘The tension increases with each page … Incredible‘ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘A raw and haunting novel’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘A brief but gripping tale’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘With complex characters, a rugged atmospheric setting … with quite a few surprises along the way, this short novel is a gripping immersive read I finished in one sitting‘ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘A compelling survival story set in a desolate Alaskan landscape… this little novel packed quite a punch‘ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘I loved this book and devoured it in two days‘ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘A thought provoking, tightly packed thriller‘ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘I love multi pov novels and this hit all the marks – mysterious, thought provoking and incredibly well written’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘It was hard to put down, gripping & really fast paced. i loved the setting, the characters (& shifting POVs) & the tension building’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Miner's Lass

The Miner's Lass

Contributors

Glenda Young

Price and format

Price
£10.99
Format
Paperback
Other Formats
Other formats available

Real sagas with female characters right at the heart’ Woman’s Hour



‘In the world of historical saga writers, there’s a brand new voice’ My Weekly


‘Heart-warming, emotional and simply wonderful . . . If you think family sagas aren’t for you, you’ve never read Glenda Young’s books – pick one up today and you’ll be converted’ 5 * reader review

If you love Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin, you’ll LOVE Glenda Young’s ‘amazing novels!’ (ITV’s This Morning presenter Sharon Marshall)

‘A super saga with a sparky heroine’ People’s Friend

What readers are saying about Glenda’s heartwrenching sagas:

‘Better than a Catherine Cookson’ 5* reader review

‘Definitely an author not to be missed when it comes to family sagas’ The Book Magnet

‘Writes superb historical fiction that bring the era alive. Her books are unbeatable and unputdownable’ Ginger Book Geek

‘The perfectly imperfect, human nature of Glenda Young’s characters are what keeps her readership hooked’ Clyde’s Corner

‘Gritty, compelling and full of heart . . . an exceptional saga’ Bookish Jottings

…………………………………………..

‘You’re a Dinsdale lass, Ruby. Nothing and no one keeps us lot down.’

A life of poverty in a cramped pit cottage is all that seventeen-year-old Ruby Dinsdale has known. Even with her father and younger brother working at the coal mine, money is tight. Her mother Mary is skilled at stretching what little they have, but the small contribution Ruby makes from her job at the local pub makes all the difference. So when Ruby is sacked, and Mary becomes pregnant again, the family’s challenges are greater than ever.

When charming miner Gordon begins to court Ruby it seems as though happiness is on the horizon, until she uncovers a deeper betrayal than she could ever have imagined.

But although the Dinsdales are materially poor, they are rich in love, friendship and determination – all qualities that they will draw on to get them through whatever lies ahead.
…………………………………………..

Look out for all of Glenda’s compelling sagas – Belle of the Back Streets, The Tuppenny Child, Pearl of Pit Lane, The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon, The Paper Mill Girl and The Miner’s Lass – out now!

Plus, Glenda has launched a brand-new cosy crime mystery series – don’t miss
Murder at the Seaview Hotel and Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel – out now!

Praise for Glenda Young:

‘Wonderful read, full of rich characters, evocative description and a touch of romance’ 5* reader review

‘Just wanted it to go on forever and read more about the characters and their lives’ 5* reader review


‘I really enjoyed Glenda’s novel. It’s well researched and well written and I found myself caring about her characters’ Rosie Goodwin

‘Will resonate with saga readers everywhere . . . a wonderful, uplifting story’ Nancy Revell

‘All the ingredients for a perfect saga and I loved Meg; she’s such a strong and believable character. A fantastic debut’ Emma Hornby

‘Glenda has an exceptionally keen eye for domestic detail which brings this local community to vivid, colourful life and Meg is a likeable, loving heroine for whom the reader roots from start to finish’ Jenny Holmes

‘I found it difficult to believe that this was a debut novel, as “brilliant” was the word in my mind when I reached the end. I enjoyed it enormously, being totally absorbed from the first page. I found it extremely well written, and having always loved sagas, one of the best I’ve read’ Margaret Kaine

From Shetland, With Love

From Shetland, With Love

Contributors

Erin Green

Price and format

Price
£9.99
Format
Paperback
Other Formats
Other formats available

‘Thoroughly entertaining. The characters are warm and well drawn. I thoroughly recommend this book if you are looking for a light-hearted read. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐‘ SUE ROBERTS

‘I loved spending time on Shetland with this story!’ CHRISTINA COURTENAY

If you love Lucy Diamond, Phillipa Ashley, Sue Moorcroft and Holly Martin, you’ll LOVE Erin Green’s novels of love, life and laughter!
‘Wow! Reading this book was like comfrey tea. The more it fermented the better it got’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘What a lovely and uplifting read. I really really enjoyed it. Definitely one of my faves from 2021 so far!’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘A perfect heartwarming read which has provided a great escape’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Loved this thoroughly feel good read & now I’m just off into my garden to plant some carrot seedlings!’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
……………………………..
Friendship can blossom in the most unexpected places . . .

When Jemima loses her beloved grandfather, keeping his allotment alive seems like the ideal way to feel close to him. She’s never fitted in before – is this her chance to find where she really belongs?

Finally Melissa has the allotment she’s been longing for to distract her while her husband works away – even if it is chest-high in weeds. But when she looks for help in the wrong place, she finds she’s the hottest topic of gossip.

For Dottie, her allotment and part-time job of ‘a little light dusting’ at Lerwick Manor keeps a spring in her eighty-year-old step – and her ears open for secrets.

Though generations apart, these three women are about to find a common bond in a new-found passion and that true friendship can grow anywhere.
……………………………..
Don’t miss any of Erin Green’s gloriously uplifting reads in Lerwick – look out for From Shetland, With Love at Christmas, Sunny Stays at the Shetland Hotel and A Shetland Christmas Carol – perfect for any season!

You are invited to holiday at gorgeous Rose Cottage – where friendship, home comforts and romance are guaranteed . . . look for New Beginnings at Rose Cottage – out now!

‘Utterly charming . . . an uplifting and optimistic story’ Hot Brands Cool Places

If you don’t ask you’ll never know . . . don’t miss
Taking a Chance on Love – out now!

‘An amazing book and makes you really think that your dreams of changing your life can really happen’ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

The author has the knack of making her characters spring off the pages so real that you’ll care about them’ Peterborough Telegraph

And welcome to the lakeside cottage…where friendship awaits! Pre-order Erin Green’s next novels Summer Dreams at the Lakeside Cottage and Christmas Wishes at the Lakeside Cottage now!
I Never Said I Loved You

I Never Said I Loved You

Contributors

Rhik Samadder

Price and format

Price
£12.99
Format
Paperback
Other Formats
Other formats available
I Never Said I Love You is one of the most electric, enchanting, engrossing and energising memoirs of self-harm, self-loathing, grief, eating disorders, suicide – and sex – that you will read.’
The Sunday Times

‘Indecently entertaining… one of the most uplifting and eccentric memoirs I have ever read.’ Observer

‘Brutally honest and relentlessly funny.’ Adam Kay, author of ‘This is Going to Hurt’

‘A brilliant memoir full of gasp-inducing honesty about depression and family and taking control of your own pain. Funny, sad, hopeful, I Never Said I Loved You is an irresistible, strangely empowering read.’ Matt Haig

‘This mind-blowingly wonderful memoir had me convulsing with laughter even while my heart was breaking. It’s utterly effing BEAUTIFUL.’ Marian Keyes

‘I found myself blindsided by this extraordinary book … I was deeply moved by its capacity both to depict pain, and offer consolation. I loved it, and won’t ever forget it.‘ Sarah Perry

Both touching and funny’ the Telegraph

On an unlikely backpacking trip, Rhik and his mother find themselves speaking openly for the first time in years. Afterwards, the depression that has weighed down on Rhik begins to loosen its grip for a moment – so he seizes the opportunity: to own it, to understand it, and to find out where it came from.

Through this begins a journey of investigation, healing and recovery. Along the way Rhik learns some shocking truths about his family, and realizes that, in turn, he will need to confront the secrets he has long buried. But through this, he triumphs over his fears and brings his depression into the light.

I Never Said I Loved You is the story of how Rhik learned to let go, and then keep going. With unique humour and honesty, he has created a powerfully rich, funny and poignant exploration of the light and dark in all of us.

A vital, moving and darkly funny memoir by a powerful new voice in non-fiction.

‘Both unputdownable and beautifully-written, bracing and consoling. A book that tackles mental health and the darkest things with razor-sharp wit and mordant laughs aplenty … read this.’ Sharlene Teo

Touching, funny, wildly readable … Look out for it.’ Sathnam Sanghera

‘No one writes better, or more sweetly, about how it feels to feel. Even the darkest times are shot through with glorious, bright beams of wit.’ Janet Ellis

‘It’s honest and funny (and beautifully painful and brutal at times), but also – oh goodness – it’s so elegant. The writing is graceful and kind, even when it hurts a little to remember it’s a memoir.’ Joanna Cannon

‘Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking. What an absolutely riveting read.’ Nikita Gill

‘Heartbreaking, funny, raw, brave and – yes! – even better than the egg thing.’ Erin Kelly

‘I have always loved Rhik Samadder’s writing. And now there’s a whole book!’ Jessie Burton

A sparkling, thoughtful memoir. It manages to be witty, charming, brooding and devastating all the same time.’ Justin Myers, The Guyliner
I'm Just Ryan

I'm Just Ryan

Price and format

Price
£6.99
Format
Hardcover
To his millions of fans worldwide, Ryan Gosling is not just a handsome face that can say “Hey girl!” in a way that makes them go weak at the knees (though he can and does), he is the defining icon of the new Golden Age of cinema, a 21st-century Cary Grant, as macho as he is feminine, with a total of 11 Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations under his belt, and a Golden Globe victory for Best Actor.

Since his tenure as a leading man, 20 years ago in The Notebook, Ryan’s films have grossed more than $2 billion dollars, and his next few projects will certainly add to that figure, with Project Hail Mary, Wolf Man, Gray Man 2, and Margot Robbie’s Ocean Eleven reboot keeping him in the La La Land limelight for many years to come.

I’m Just Ryan throws a bright spotlight on the actor’s playful and positive sense of humour and philosophy and revels in his ridiculous charm and sexiness with a wealth of iconic quotes and facts about the man – the legend – himself.

“I did doubt my Kenergy in the beginning. I just wasn’t sure I could do it but I just decided I was going to Ken as hard as I can. I Kenned in the morning; I Kenned at night. If I’m honest, I’m Kenning a little right now.”
Ryan, on channeling his “Kenergy”.

“Eva’s the dream mother, and they’re dream babies, and it’s like a dream that I’m having right now. I’m dreaming it all.”
Ryan, on his wife Eva Mendes.

Ryan Gosling’s live performance of “I’m Just Ken” at the 2024 Academy Awards is already considered one of the most iconic moments in Oscars history. Dressed head-to-toe in pink, Ryan stole the show with Guns & Rose guitarist Slash and Mark Ronson, alongside 65 other “Ken’s”, and his Barbie co-stars. More than 20 million people tuned in to watch and sales of the song jumped by 900 per cent during the performance.
The Blackened Heart

The Blackened Heart

Contributors

Alison Weir

Price and format

Price
£0.99
Format
ebook
The Blackened Heart by foremost and beloved historian Alison Weir is an e-short and companion piece that bridges the first two novels in the Six Tudor Queens series, Katherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. Fans of Philippa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick will delight in this mysterious tale, drawn together from fragments of history – and a good dose of speculation. Or is it…?

Margery Otwell, a self-made gentleman’s young daughter, gets her first taste of courtly life when she takes up a position as chamberer to Lady Peche of Lullingstone Castle. Dances, music, feasting – and a seduction – follow, and Margery learns the rules of courtly love the hard way.

Saved from disgrace by the kindly Sir John Peche, Margery finds herself at court waiting on Queen Katherine. Little does Margery know that she is already a pawn in a game of power, irrevocably bound to the fall of the lady she will come to love as her mistress, Queen and friend.


Praise for Alison Weir and Katherine of Aragon:

‘A tender understanding of and genuine sympathy for this proud, much-loved and honourable Queen. . . I was gripped [from] start to finishMavis Cheek

‘Well-researched and engrossing’ Good Housekeeping


‘Shatters the many myths about Henry VIII’s long-suffering first wife’ Tracy Borman


‘Weir is excellent on the little details that bring a world to life’ Guardian


‘Yet again, Alison Weir has managed to intertwine profound historical knowledge with huge emotional intelligence, to compose a work that throws light on an endlessly fascinating historical figure. Yet her real gift in all of this is making it feel so fresh and aliveEarl Spencer

‘Alison Weir clearly admires her heroine . . . meticulously researchedThe Times

‘This exquisite book charts the rise and fall of Henry VIII’s first wife, Katherine. . . A fascinating insightinto this period of our history. Weir’s undeniable strength is her immaculate description, enabling the reader to be transported back to Tudor England’ Sun

Weir manages to untangle the complex web of 16th-century politics, shown through Katherine’s duties as ambassador, and her astute reading of the games being played. This adds greatly to the heft of the character, demonstrating what a competent woman she was becoming’ Herald Scotland

Katherine of Aragon, The True Queen is a true tour de force. Finely crafted, this novel is wonderfulhistorical fiction and an outstanding introduction to the Six Tudor Queens series’ Queen Anne Boleyn Blog

‘Known for bestselling historical biographies, Alison Weir is in command of her detail . . . her handling of Katherine’s misery and dignified response to her predicament is very touching’ Elizabeth Buchan, Daily Mail
Filter (0) +