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A collection of five erotic stories with mixed themes and explicit sex, brought to you by Xcite Books, winners of ETO’s Best Erotic Book Brand 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.



You Get What You Pay For by J Smith



Her husband has always fantasised about her being a slutty prostitute and getting paid for sex, so one night they role-play the fantasy. She dresses like a tart and he picks her up on a street corner. Then he decides he’d like her to play the part for real. She agrees to pick up a stranger in a bar and let him pay her for sex, but this is a tale with a twist.



Leave it to her, Beaver by Landon Dixon



Charlie stays with a friend’s quaintly old-fashioned parents in California, and on his last night he cleans out their garage to show appreciation for the free bed and board. Afterwards, his friend’s mother offers to give him a massage to relieve his aching muscles. And to Charlie’s amazement her approach to massage is far from quaint and old fashioned. She relieves a lot more than his aching arm muscles!



Appraising Tara by Poppy Drew



Tara has spent weeks fantasising about her strictly disciplinarian boss, Martin, giving her a good spanking. Then they go away to a conference together where she is to act as his PA. Little does she know that Martin has correctly interpreted that faraway look in her eyes and the next time she hears him say, ‘Do you need a good spanking, young lady?’ it’s for real.



Flexible by Sommer Marsden



Ellen is annoyed when her exercise bike breaks, she doesn’t like gyms, but husband, Rick persuades her to go and she meets his friend, Graham, who takes her breath away. When Rick suggests they invite Graham and Chandra for an evening of love-making and dinner, Ellen willingly accepts. She finds the beautiful Chandra just as sexy as Graham and the two couples have one of the most exciting evenings of their lives.



Politically Incorrect by Kate Dominic



No man likes to discover he can’t satisfy his wife. But this husband decides to do something about it. When Marcy tells him her very special fantasy he decides to do something about it. With the help of two willing friends, he arranges for her fantasy to become reality. After a night that exceeds their wildest expectations, this couple know that reality will never be the same again.



These stories have also been published in Indecent Proposals ISBN 9781907016585

A collection of three Dismas Hardy classics by master storyteller John Lescroart, in what has been described by Lee Child as ‘Today’s best legal series’. Perfect for fans of John Grisham and William J. Coughlin.

The First Law:
An elderly shop owner is found dead. Glitsky is hitting brick walls as he tries to get help from homicide, while Hardy finds himself defending a friend who’s been accused of the death. Blocked at every turn, Hardy and Glitsky are forced to protect themselves, as well as their nearest and dearest, as they step into a world where the only law is survival…

The Second Chair:
Hardy has a high-profile and challenging case: a seventeen-year-old arrested for the double slaying of his girlfriend and his teacher. With little belief in his client’s innocence, and even less in the legal system, Hardy has to conquer his own demons if he is to clear his client…and save himself.

The Motive:
Glitsky is thrust into a controversial double homicide investigation. Convinced the officer has the wrong suspect – Hardy’s old girlfriend – he breaks ranks to continue his own investigation. And so begins a search that reveals a trail of deception that leads beyond San Francisco, where exposing secrets can be the most deadly offence…

What readers are saying about the Dismas Hardy series:

‘The storylines are always strong and each book is satisfying on every level‘

‘If you like courtroom drama and legal thrillers, this series never disappoints‘

‘The more we get to know Dismas Hardy and the other characters of John Lescroart’s San Francisco, the more we appreciate them as well-drawn, three-dimensional characters‘

The ninth book in the bestselling Chronicles of St Mary’s series which follows a group of tea-soaked disaster magnets as they hurtle their way around History. If you love Jasper Fforde or Ben Aaronovitch, you won’t be able to resist Jodi Taylor.

They say you shouldn’t push your luck. Max gives her own luck a massive shove every day – and it’s only a matter of time until luck pushes back…

January 1536 – the day of Henry VIII’s infamous jousting accident. Historians from St Mary’s are there in force, recording and documenting. And, arguing – obviously.

A chance meeting between Max and the Time Police leads to a plan of action. And, it’s one that will have very serious consequences – especially for Max. Her private life is already more than a little rocky. But with Leon recovering and Matthew safe in the future there will never be a better opportunity to bring down Clive Ronan, once and for all.

From Tudor England to the burning city of Persepolis – and from a medieval siege to a very nasty case of 19th century incarceration – Max is determined that this time, he will not escape.

Readers love Jodi Taylor:

‘Once in a while, I discover an author who changes everything… Jodi Taylor and her protagonista Madeleine “Max” Maxwell have seduced me’

‘A great mix of British proper-ness and humour with a large dollop of historical fun‘

‘Addictive. I wish St Mary’s was real and I was a part of it’

‘Jodi Taylor has an imagination that gets me completely hooked‘

‘A tour de force’

Ahead of her spellbinding new novel, Henry VIII: The Heart & The Crown, Alison Weir invites readers to return to the sumptuous world of the Tudor court with this short companion story – told by the woman who knew Henry from the very beginning . . .

1491, Eltham Palace. Anne Oxenbridge is still mourning the loss of her young child when she accepts the position of wet nurse to Prince Harry, the Queen’s second son.

Beyond the silver cradles and luxurious Turkish carpets of the royal nursery, she knows there is something special about this baby – but never expected to love him as her own.

All too soon, singing and stories must be set aside in favour of books and learning. It appears that Anne’s time with her golden prince is also over . . . until a twist of fate reunites her with the boy who must now become King Henry VIII of England.

Includes an exclusive preview of Alison Weir’s epic, enthralling and surprising new Tudor novel, Henry VIII: The Heart & Crown, coming 11 May 2023.

Praise for Alison Weir’s Tudor novels

‘A serious achievement’ The Times

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

‘This brilliant series has brought Henry VIII’s six wives to life as never before’ Tracy Borman

‘A brilliant evocation of the period’ Kate Williams

‘HIstory has the best stories and they should all be told like this’ Conn Iggulden

‘Well researched and engrossing’ Good Housekeeping

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

Kieron Dyer’s memoir, Old Too Soon, Smart Too Late, is the first intimate and unsparing portrait of the failures and excesses of the generation of English footballers made rich beyond their wildest dreams by the post-1990 World Cup boom in the game and the explosion of the Premier League. It shares the same brutal honesty and self-awareness of the bestselling No Nonsense by Joey Barton and GoodFella by Craig Bellamy.

In the public mind, Kieron Dyer came to symbolise so much of what was self-destructive about a group of football players known collectively as the ‘Baby Bentley generation’. Nicknamed ‘The King of Bling’ by the tabloid press, Dyer was caught up in many of the scandals that characterised the history of a talented crop of players who promised so much and delivered so little, a generation whose wages and lavish lifestyles began to alienate them from the fans who once worshipped them.

The brash young man is gone now, and in his place is the quiet, caring, wise man who was such a favourite on I’m a Celebrity, Get me Out of Here! in 2015. Dyer narrates, in uncompromising detail, how a generation of talented English footballers, taken out of working class childhoods and presented with a world of glitz, glamour, wealth and temptation, failed to cope with the riches that were presented to them and often fell apart.

Old Too Soon, Smart Too Late is about a moment in time, a social and historical record of English football at the start of its gold rush. For Dyer, the end of the book brings a measure of personal redemption and peace but for the English game, there is only a lingering sense of waste and regret for an opportunity lost.

Village life can be deadly…

A move to rural Oxfordshire is not the peaceful existence the London couple are looking for in A Touch of Morality, Ann Granger’s ninth English village crime novel in the Mitchell & Markby series. The perfect read for fans of Agatha Raisin, Agatha Christie and ITV’s Midsomer Murders.

‘To be savoured’ – Publishers Weekly

When Sally Caswell persuaded her scientist husband Liam to move from London to the quiet of rural Oxfordshire it was in the hope of a more peaceful existence. But so far the move has led to nothing but discord. Liam’s sabbatical book project is not going well so, frustrated and isolated, he quarrels incessantly both with Sally and with their next-door neighbour, the crotchety pensioner Bodicote whose unruly goats are a constant source of contention. But then a mysterious package arrives that gives the couple real cause for anxiety.

It appears that Liam is being targeted by animal rights activists, though Superintendent Markby, in charge of the investigation, is not entirely convinced. Liam has many enemies, Bodicote among them, and it seems to Markby that Liam’s cantankerous old neighbour is hiding something. The more Markby investigates, the more his unease grows – as does that of Meredith Mitchell, Markby’s girlfriend and an old friend of Sally Caswell, for Meredith suspects Sally is far from well. Then a body is found …

What readers are saying about A Touch of Mortality:

‘Simply wonderful. She [Ann Granger] will always throw in a lovely little twist‘

‘The author piles up detail on detail with plenty of clues, suspects and undercurrents‘

‘Ann Granger is definitely one of the best out there that pens English village cosies‘

Three priceless treasures. Three extraordinary women. Three powerful legacies.

The Paris Affair is the first in Muna Shehadi’s powerful dual-time narrative series, with cross-generational appeal and captivating international settings perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley.

Christmas, 1915, a grieving father gives his motherless daughter an exquisite, one-of-a-kind A. Marque doll, one she’d gladly exchange for her heart’s desire.

Summer, 1975, sheltered Midwesterner Helen Kenyon is set to marry her college sweetheart, when she jumps at the opportunity to spend six months in Paris. With fellow Americans Lilianne and Connie and an ‘adopted’ antique doll, Helen plunges into a heady world of high culture and champagne. But it’s the charismatic photojournalist, Gilles Aubert, who tempts her to change her future.

Fifty years later, Teresa Clark dutifully accepts the job of preparing her estranged Grandma Helen’s Kansas ranch for sale, only to find Helen bears little resemblance to the philandering drunk of her mother’s stories. Not until she uncovers mementos of Helen’s past and the astonishing secret of a well-preserved antique doll, does Teresa gain strength to face multiple truths – about her family, herself, and what life she’ll choose for her own.

The subsequent books in the series, The Jewel of Cairo and The Temptations of Crete will follow Lilianne and Connie’s own remarkable journeys from where their time in Paris together left off.

Don’t miss Muna Shehadi’s other captivating novels: The Summer Sister, The Winter Sister, The Spring Sister and The First Wife!

A remote winery. A missing friend. And a bunch of sour grapes.

An ambitious screenwriter tries to solve her friend’s disappearance by recreating their fateful final girls’ trip in this riveting locked-room mystery from the author of The Murder Weekend. Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley.
………………………………

It should have been the perfect spring break. Five girlfriends. A remote winery on the Oregon coast. An infinite supply of delicious wine at their manicured fingertips. But then their centre-beautiful, magnetic Vanessa Morales-vanished without a trace.

Emily Fischer was perhaps the last person to see her alive. But now, years later, Emily spots Vanessa’s doppelganger at a local café. At the end of her rope working a lucrative yet mind-numbing gig on a network sitcom, Emily is inspired to finally tell the story that’s been percolating inside her for so long: Vanessa’s story. But first, she needs to know what really happened on that fateful night. So she puts a brilliant scheme into motion.

She gets the girls together for a reunion weekend at the scene of the crime under the guise of reconnecting. There’s Brittany, Vanessa’s cousin and the inheritor of the winery; Paige, a former athlete, bullish yet easily manipulated; and Lydia, the wallflower of the group.

One of them knows the truth. But what have they each been hiding? And how much can Emily trust anything she learns from them… or even her own memories of Vanessa’s last days?
………………………………

Readers loved Jilly Gagnon’s The Murder Weekend, a twisty and fiendishly clever novel, perfect for fans of The Guest List and Knives Out!

‘This was a really good read with a fantastically creepy atmosphere . . . I really enjoyed it and now I want to take part in a murder mystery at a country hotel’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review

‘This was a brilliantly fun book to read . . . With such an addictive plot you will enjoy this if you’re a fan of locked room mysteries!’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review

‘Wow, what a book . . . I could not put it down. Would definitely recommend’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review

‘Really great murder mystery . . . With complicated relationships and no-one knowing what is going on, this is an addictive read. A murder mystery weekend like no other!’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review

‘I enjoyed this well plotted and entertaining mystery. There’s echo of golden age, Cluedo, and there’s a gripping story’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review

‘I loved this book. It is a fun and absorbing drama that kept me entertained. It was a one sit read for me and it worth every minute . . . deliriously creepy’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review

‘Classic Agatha Christie goes meta in this wish-we’d-thought-of-it premise: a real whodunnit set against the backdrop of a 1920s-themed murder mystery weekend. Think Knives Out all dolled up as The Great Gatsby‘ ELLERY LLOYD

‘Clue meets Shari Lapena’s An Unwanted Guest . . . Such a fun read!’ GEORGINA CROSS

‘Jilly Gagnon’s well-crafted maze of clues and shifting realities is the perfect read for fans of Lucy Foley . . . mind-bending fun!’ WENDY WALKER

‘Gagnon invites readers inside one seriously wicked little game with this utterly satisfying mystery’ KIERAN SCOTT

‘I felt as if I was in the middle of a murder-mystery game and playing along with the characters’ GEORGINA CROSS

Welcome to the Crooner Estate. We know your stay will be deadly fun.

A remote hotel. A murder mystery. A missing woman. Everyone has a role to play, but what’s real and what’s part of the game?

Readers love this twisty and fiendishly clever novel, perfect for fans of The Guest List and Knives Out!

‘This was a really good read with a fantastically creepy atmosphere . . . I really enjoyed it and now I want to take part in a murder mystery at a country hotel’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review

‘This was a brilliantly fun book to read . . . With such an addictive plot you will enjoy this if you’re a fan of locked room mysteries!’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review

‘Wow, what a book . . . I could not put it down. Would definitely recommend’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review

‘Really great murder mystery . . . With complicated relationships and no-one knowing what is going on, this is an addictive read. A murder mystery weekend like no other!’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review

‘I enjoyed this well plotted and entertaining mystery. There’s echo of golden age, Cluedo, and there’s a gripping story’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review

‘I loved this book. It is a fun and absorbing drama that kept me entertained. It was a one sit read for me and it worth every minute . . . deliriously creepy’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ reader review

Published in the USA as All Dressed Up.
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The weekend getaway at the gorgeous manor hotel should have been perfect. But Becca is freshly smarting from her husband Blake’s betrayal and knows this is just an expensive attempt at an apology. She may not be ready to forgive him, but the drinks are strong, the estate is stunning, and the weekend has an elaborate 1920s murder mystery theme. She decides to get into the spirit of things and enjoy their stay. What could go wrong?

Before long, the game is afoot: famed speakeasy songstress Ida Crooner is found ‘murdered’, and it’s up to the guests to sniff out which of them might be the culprit. Playing the role of Miss Debbie Taunte, an ingenue with a dark past, Becca dives into the world of pun-heavy clues, hammy acting, and secret passages, hoping to at least take her mind off her marital troubles.

Then, the morning after they arrive, the actress playing Ida’s maid fails to reappear for her role. The game’s organizer – that’s Miss Ann Thrope to you – assumes the young woman’s flakiness is to blame, but when snooping for clues as ‘Debbie’, Becca finds evidence she may not have left of her own free will.
………………………………

‘Classic Agatha Christie goes meta in this wish-we’d-thought-of-it premise: a real whodunnit set against the backdrop of a 1920s-themed murder mystery weekend. Think Knives Out all dolled up as The Great Gatsby‘ ELLERY LLOYD

‘Clue meets Shari Lapena’s An Unwanted Guest . . . Such a fun read!’ GEORGINA CROSS

‘Jilly Gagnon’s well-crafted maze of clues and shifting realities is the perfect read for fans of Lucy Foley . . . mind-bending fun!’ WENDY WALKER

‘Gagnon invites readers inside one seriously wicked little game with this utterly satisfying mystery’ KIERAN SCOTT

‘I felt as if I was in the middle of a murder-mystery game and playing along with the characters’ GEORGINA CROSS

‘Tremendous. Tight plotting and strong writing carries the narrative along to a chilling conclusion’ HARRIET TYCE, AUTHOR OF BLOOD ORANGE

A STUNNING NEW PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER, FROM THE AUTHOR OF CLOSE TO ME AND LYING TO YOU

Every marriage has its problems.
But would Julia Blake really have just walked out of hers, leaving no trace?

Max Blake knows more about his wife’s disappearance than he’s letting on.
That’s what the police think anyway. But with no body, the case is growing cold…

One young journalist thinks she can find out the truth.
But the more time she spends with Max at the couple’s remote estate, the higher the risk to her own safety. And whatever happened to Julia Blake may be her fate next…

MORE PRAISE FOR THE HIDDEN WIFE:

‘[A] jaw-droppingly good read . . . Reynolds is a master in psychological drama’ Nicola Smith, Daily Record

‘Loved The Hidden Wife. Brilliantly atmospheric, thrilling and creepy’ Karen Hamilton, The Perfect Girlfriend

‘A great read with lots of twists and turns and emotions. Gripping!’ Katie Fforde, author of A Rose Petal Summer

‘Great plotting, great atmosphere’ Caz Frear, author of Sweet Little Lies

‘A claustrophobic and chilling tale of marital jealousy and secrets’ Fiona Cummins, author of Rattle

‘Thrillingly clever, with not a word out of place, The Hidden Wife is Amanda’s best book yet’ Phoebe Morgan, author of The Doll House

‘Sharp, tense and twisty’ Jo Jakeman, Sticks and Stones

‘Excellent and wonderfully atmospheric’ Jenny Quintana, The Missing Girl

‘A deliciously noirish thriller that has you hooked from beginning to end’ Kate Hamer, The Girl in the Red Coat

‘A gripping story that will keep you hooked . . . A real page-turner!’ Jane Bailey, What Was Rescued

‘Cracking tale of intrigue’ Penny Parkes, author of The Larkford Series

Now a major BBC TV drama, starring Tamara Lawrance, Lenny Henry and Hayley Atwell.

A Sunday Times bestseller (2011), shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize, The Long Song by Andrea Levy is a hauntingly beautiful, heartbreaking and unputdownable novel of the last days of slavery in Jamaica, for those who loved Homegoing, The Underground Railroad, or the film 12 Years a Slave.

‘A marvel of luminous storytelling’ Financial Times

You do not know me yet. My son Thomas, who is publishing this book, tells me, it is customary at this place in a novel to give the reader a little taste of the story that is held within these pages. As your storyteller, I am to convey that this tale is set in Jamaica during the last turbulent years of slavery and the early years of freedom that followed.

July is a slave girl who lives upon a sugar plantation named Amity and it is her life that is the subject of this tale. She was there when the Baptist War raged in 1831, and she was present when slavery was declared no more. My son says I must convey how the story tells also of July’s mama Kitty, of the negroes that worked the plantation land, of Caroline Mortimer the white woman who owned the plantation and many more persons besides – far too many for me to list here. But what befalls them all is carefully chronicled upon these pages for you to peruse.

Perhaps, my son suggests, I might write that it is a thrilling journey through that time in the company of people who lived it. All this he wishes me to pen so the reader can decide if this is a novel they might care to consider. Cha, I tell my son, what fuss-fuss. Come, let them just read it for themselves.

A collection of five erotic stories with BDSM themes from Xcite Books, winner of ETO’s Best Erotic Book Brand 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.



Disciplinary Action by Felicity Brandon



An unexpected memo summons Megan to Mr Carlton’s office after hours. Presented with the evidence against her, she may be about to lose her career for good. But Carlton has other plans for Megan – and after a good dressing down, he proposes his own kind of disciplinary process. Desperate to keep her position, she is surprised to discover her own desire for the punishments Carlton promises to deliver, and willingly succumbs to his personal brand of correction. But what lengths will she prepared to go to in order to save her job?



Sandra’s Stockings by Beverly Langland



Lucy, a rather dull, submissive young woman is attracted to Sandra, a sophisticated older woman with a penchant for wearing stockings. One day Sandra snags a stocking, and Lucy cannot resist taking it from her wastebasket. When Sandra confronts Lucy demanding the return of her “stolen property”, Lucy discovers just how submissive she is. She becomes Sandra’s girl, obeying her every command even if that means publically demeaning herself. Yet the humiliation Lucy suffers in public is nothing compared with that she encounters in Sandra’s apartment every Thursday evening, especially when it comes to “washing” Sandra’s soiled panties.



Who is the Keymaster and Who The Key? by Ralph Greco, Jr.



Lisa and Len play at a very taut game of key and cage – cock cage, that is – as Lisa comes to realise how much she loves to dominate her husband’s friend, first at his urging, then at her desire.



Daddy’s House by Angel Propps



When a gorgeous femme Daddy comes home unexpectedly from a business trip it is to find her house in disarray and her two girls with their hands, and other body parts, literally in each other’s cookie jars she decides to use her very devious imagination and some interesting predicament bondage to torment them in the best way possible. By tying them together and giving them a beating they may never forget Daddy makes sure they always remember who is in charge in her house.



The Art Master by J. Smith



To the art master, punishment is an art form to be explored. Every stinging swipe an expression of his skill. The cane and the palm his tools, the soft rounded cheeks of the women his blank canvas. He will take them to the limit, making them beg for mercy, but then have them coming back for more. Why only experience pain or pleasure when you can have both at once? Make yourself an appointment and pay a visit to the art master; after all, a little pain is good for the soul.

Brimming with romance, adventure and vivid historical detail, Christina Courtenay’s

gripping dual-time novel travels from the present day to the fires of ancient Pompeii.

‘SHADOWS IN THE ASHES paints a vivid picture of life in two very different timeframes and, as the stories unfold, we see how the themes of life and love change little with the centuries. Fast-paced and thrilling!’ SARAH MAINE, author of THE HOUSE BETWEEN TIDES

………………………..

The sunlight caught her gold bracelet, sending a flash that almost blinded her.

She closed her eyes, but jumped when the earth started shaking and there was an almighty boom behind her.

Present Day
Finally escaping an abusive marriage, Caterina Rossi takes her three-year-old daughter and flees to Italy. There she’s drawn to research scientist Connor, who needs her translation help for his work on volcanology. Together they visit the ruins of Pompeii and, standing where Mount Vesuvius unleashed its fire on the city centuries before, Cat begins to see startling visions. Visions that appear to come from the antique bracelet handed down through her family’s generations…

AD 79
Sold by his half-brother and enslaved as a gladiator in Roman Pompeii, Raedwald dreams only of surviving each fight, making the coin needed to return to his homeland and taking his revenge. That is, until he is hired to guard beautiful Aemilia. As their forbidden love grows, Raedwald’s dreams shift like the ever more violent tremors of the earth beneath his feet.

The present starts eerily to mirror the past as Cat must fight to protect her safety, and to forge a new path from the ashes of her old life…

…………………………………………….

Just some of the rich praise for Christina Courtenay’s pacy, evocative and romantic novels including Echoes of the Runes, The Runes of Destiny and Promises of the Runes:

‘I’ve been looking forward to this book . . . and it far exceeded my hopes and expectations. Romantic, fascinating and gripping, it’s one of my favourites of the series’ NICOLA CORNICK

‘As a reader, I was delighted and absorbed accompanying Ivor on his quest to the 9th Century. Courtenay writes so beautifully, drawing you in to each scene, that time and pages slip by effortlessly’ ERIN GREEN

‘Whenever I need a break from the Twenty-First Century, I read one of Christina Courtenay’s novels’ SUE MOORCROFT

‘I wonder if I, too, can find a way to travel back in time… If not, reading this book was the next best thing’ GILL STEWART

‘Seals Christina Courtenay’s crown as the Queen of Viking Romance’ CATHERINE MILLER

‘This epic romance is sure to sweep you off your feet!’ TAKE A BREAK

‘An absorbing story, fast-paced and vividly imagined’ PAMELA HARTSHORNE

‘A love story and an adventure, all rolled up inside a huge amount of intricately-detailed, well-researched history. Thoroughly enjoyable’ KATHLEEN MCGURL

With the war providing escape, how long will their happiness last?

Set during the advent of the Second World War, Margaret Thornton’s It’s a Lovely Day Tomorrow follows two sisters as they discover independence for the first time… as well as love. Perfect for fans of Pam Evans and Maureen Lee.

‘Warm-hearted, evocative saga of life in Blackpool during World War II’ – British Book News

Jenny Carter has always led a sheltered life, protected by those she loves. Leaving school at fourteen, she is faced with no alternative but to help her mother, Annie, run Pleasant View boarding house in Blackpool. To the holidaymakers it is a welcoming retreat, but to Jenny and her younger sister Violet, who struggle to keep up with their mother’s intolerable demands, it feels more like the workhouse. Then Jenny meets Tom Bradshaw, an idealistic young Yorkshire lad who not only stands up to Annie’s caustic remarks, but whisks Jenny straight off her feet and down the aisle.

Happy though their marriage is and much as she loves their young daughter, Jenny feels she has slipped uncontrollably from dominated daughter into doting wife and mother, and there are times when she yearns for the independence she has been denied. Then Germany invades Poland, and Tom, eager for a slice of the action, joins up to fight in the Second World War.

The ensuing war years provide Jenny and her sister with their first taste of freedom: Violet finds work in an aircraft factory, while Jenny takes in a little evacuee. And before long, both girls have begun to fall in love…

What readers are saying about It’s a Lovely Day Tomorrow:

‘If you like wartime stories, you will love this. Very down to earth about what went on behind the scenes, and very realistic‘

‘A good family saga which I love and could read forever‘

‘Five stars‘

‘What a wonderful storyteller Maitland is’ THE TIMES

DANIEL PURSGLOVE BOOK THREE

From the stark Yorkshire landscape to the dark underbelly of Jacobean London, Daniel Pursglove’s new mission sees him fall prey to a ruthless copycat killer…

London, 1607. As dawn breaks, Daniel Pursglove rides north, away from the watchful eye of the King and his spies.

He returns, disguised, to his childhood home in Yorkshire – with his own score to settle. The locals have little reason to trust a prying stranger, and those who remember Daniel do so with contempt.

When a body is found with rope burns about the neck, Daniel falls under suspicion. On the run, across the country, he is pursued by a ruthless killer whose victims all share the same gallows mark. Are these the crimes of someone with a cruel personal vendetta – or has Daniel become embroiled in a bigger, and far more sinister, conspiracy?

A new river of treason is rising, flowing from the fields of Yorkshire right to the heart of the King’s court . . .

PRAISE FOR THE DANIEL PURSGLOVE SERIES

‘Dark and enthralling’ ANDREW TAYLOR

‘This gripping thriller shows what a wonderful storyteller Maitland is’ THE TIMES

‘Colourful and compelling’ SUNDAY TIMES

‘Full of tension and danger… powerfully atmospheric’ JENNIFER SAINT

‘Goes right to the heart of the Jacobean court’ TRACY BORMAN

‘Spies, thieves, murderers and King James I? Brilliant’ CONN IGGULDEN

‘There are few authors who can bring the past to life so compellingly… Brilliant writing and more importantly, riveting reading’ SIMON SCARROW

‘A beautifully crafted thriller… Breathtaking and bone-chilling’ MANDA SCOTT

‘Maitland is a superlative historical novelist’ REBECCA MASCULL

‘Devilishly good’ DAILY MAIL

‘The intrigues of Jacobean court politics simmer beneath the surface in this gripping and masterful crime novel’ KATHERINE CLEMENTS

‘Beautifully written with a dark heart, Maitland knows how to pull you deep into the early Jacobean period’ RHIANNON WARD

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

‘With characteristic verve and stunning period detail, this novel will captivate you and break your heart. Utterly sublime’ TRACY BORMAN

Alison Weir, historian and author of the Sunday Times-bestselling Six Tudor Queens series, relates one of the most tragic stories in English history: Katheryn Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth queen.

‘Conveys the heart-rending pathos of a young woman executed, whose only real crime was her naïveté and her desire to be loved… It is a profoundly moving story that lingers long after the last page is turned’
ELIZABETH FREMANTLE

‘Alison’s sensitively drawn novel will change everyone’s preconceptions’
SUSAN RONALD

…

A NAIVE YOUNG WOMAN AT THE MERCY OF HER AMBITIOUS FAMILY.

At just nineteen, Katheryn Howard is quick to trust and fall in love.

She comes to court. She sings, she dances. She captures the heart of the King.

But Henry knows nothing of Katheryn’s past – one that comes back increasingly to haunt her. For those who share her secrets are waiting in the shadows, whispering words of love… and blackmail.

The fifth of Henry’s queens.
Her story.

Acclaimed, bestselling historian Alison Weir draws on extensive research to recount the tale of a vivacious young woman used by powerful men for their own gain.

HISTORY TELLS US SHE DIED TOO SOON.
THIS MESMERISING NOVEL BRINGS HER TO LIFE.

PRAISE FOR THE SIX TUDOR QUEENS SERIES:

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

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

‘Well researched and engrossing’ Good Housekeeping

‘Utterly gripping and endlessly surprising’ Tracy Borman

‘Hugely enjoyable . . . Alison Weir knows her subject and has a knack for the telling and textural detail’ Daily Mail

✨ One priceless artefact.
🔍 Two unlikely sleuths.
📚 A murder stranger than fiction.

‘Utterly charming and expertly plotted with twists I genuinely never saw coming!’ Jessica Bull, author of Miss Austen Investigates

*Book 1 in a gripping new bookish cosy crime series – perfect for fans of The Three Dahlias, The Mitford Murders and golden age crime.*

—

In the shadow of Lewes castle lies buried an ancient tablet. Hours after discovering it, dashing local archaeologist Gideon Rivers is dead.

Writer Virginia Woolf and her artist sister, Vanessa, both know firsthand that it doesn’t take much to cause a stir in town. And when Gideon returned home from a dig in Syria with a glamourous Parisian heiress on his arm, all eyes were on him.

But who would have conspired to murder such a charming young man? There are more suspects in his circle than it first seems: an ambitious fiancée, a jealous best friend, and a string of scorned former lovers.

With the police chasing false leads and the murderer hunting down a second victim – one far closer to home – Ginny and Nessa are forced to take investigations into their own hands.

Solving this mystery calls for a little creativity . . .

PRE-ORDER THE NEXT WOOLF & BELL MYSTERY NOW! A LETHAL COCKTAIL – COMING SPRING 2025

READERS LOVE WOOLF & BELL:

‘A delightful start to a new series’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Enjoyable and entertaining’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘I thoroughly enjoyed this cozy murder mystery and would highly recommend’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘Looking forward to reading more Woolf & Bell Mysteries’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘I cannot wait to read the rest of the series’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

‘A strong start to the Woolf & Bell Mysteries series, it had everything I was looking for’
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

War brings them together.
Will liberation tear them apart?

‘Wonderful. A heartbreaking story of the power of love and forgiveness’ JILL MANSELL
‘A tender, thrilling story of love and family secrets in time of war’ RACHEL HORE
‘I was so engrossed. A wonderful, moving, ultimately uplifting book’ LESLEY PEARSE

From the bestselling author of WHILE PARIS SLEPT, a powerful, beautiful story of two strangers bound by love, divided by war and entwined by sacrifice.

Paris 1944. Elise Chevalier knows what it is to love…and to hate. Her fiancé, a young French soldier, was killed by the German army at the Maginot Line. Living amongst the enemy Elise must keep her rage buried deep within.

Sebastian Kleinhaus no longer recognises himself. After four years spent fighting a war he doesn’t believe in, wearing a uniform he despises, he longs for a way out. For something, someone, to be his salvation.

Brittany 1963. Reaching for the suitcase under her mother’s bed, eighteen-year-old Josephine Chevalier uncovers a secret that shakes her to the core. Determined to find the truth, she travels to Paris where she discovers the story of a dangerous love that grew as a city fought for its freedom. Of the last stolen hours before the first light of liberation. And of a betrayal so deep that it would irrevocably change the course of two young lives for ever.

‘Love, loss, bravery… Ruth is an exceptional storyteller, bringing the past back to life and shining a light in the darkness’ ERICKA WALLER

‘Kept me captivated on every page’ PRIMA MAGAZINE

‘From the moment I started reading, I could not put it down ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐’ REAL READER REVIEW

‘An excellent read for fans of WW2 fiction ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐’ REAL READER REVIEW

‘A gripping story, well-written and about little-known events ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐’ REAL READER REVIEW

‘Outstandingly beautiful and brilliantly poignant ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐’ REAL READER REVIEW

‘I devoured the characters, marvelled at the storyline and really didn’t want it to end ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐’ REAL READER REVIEW

Acclaim for the unforgettable international bestseller WHILE PARIS SLEPT:

‘A gripping tale of love and sacrifice’ WOMAN & HOME
‘You’ll have your heart in your mouth and tears on your cheeks as it reaches its rich, life-affirming conclusion… Had me completely and utterly enraptured’ LOUISE CANDLISH
‘What a book… Emotional and heartrending…absolutely phenomenal. I was on tenterhooks throughout. A wonderful achievement’ JILL MANSELL
‘I absolutely loved it. An ingenious plot, wonderful believable characters and it moved me to tears. A fabulous read’ LESLEY PEARSE
‘A heartbreaking debut’ JANET SKESLIEN CHARLES, AUTHOR OF THE PARIS LIBRARY
‘An amazing story of love, resilience and the human spirit’ TRACY REES
‘Brace yourself for a brilliant read. This will tug at your heartstrings’ BEST
‘Made me think and cry and rage and smile at mankind’s capacity for both terrible, heartbreaking cruelty and beautiful, selfless love’ NATASHA LESTER

‘Thrilling yet heart-wrenching . . . This must-read novel is mesmerizing, captivating, and profound‘ DEBORAH RODRIGUEZ, internationally bestselling author of The Moroccan Daughter and The Little Coffee Shop of Kabul

‘I truly felt for the memorable women risking their lives to protect themselves and their families . . . Baghdad springs into vivid violent life . . . Outstanding!’ DINAH JEFFERIES, number one Sunday Times bestselling author of The Tuscan Contessa

Two can keep a secret, only when one of them is dead . . .


‘A deeply involving and important novel by a master storyteller’ SUSAN WIGGS, number one New York Times bestselling author

‘Breathtaking…Riveting and profound! I adored this book!’ Ellen Marie Wiseman, New York Times bestselling author

Iraq, 2002.
As night falls in Huda’s fragrant garden of apricot trees, a breeze sweeps in from the desert, warning of visitors at her gate.


A secretary at the Australian embassy in Baghdad, Huda has been ordered by the mukhabarat to befriend and spy upon the Deputy Ambassador’s wife, Ally Wilson. To refuse is to risk her son being forced to join a deadly militia. But – though Huda cannot yet know it – Ally is keeping dangerous secrets of her own.


Meanwhile, Huda’s estranged friend Rania – a sheikh’s daughter whose wealth is long gone – is battling to keep her own her own daughter safe from the dictator’s men.

As Huda and Rania are brought together again, through their relationship with Ally, their hidden pasts spill into the present. Facing betrayal at every turn, all three women must trust in a fragile, newfound loyalty, even as they discover how much each is willing to sacrifice to protect those they love . . .

Lose yourself in this evocative, emotionally powerful and completely gripping international bestseller, where secrets are precious currency and three courageous women are tested to the limit by a horrifying power seemingly beyond their control.



‘Wilkinson weaves in the miasma of fear and distrust that characterized Hussein’s regime with convincing detail. Richly drawn characters and high-stakes plot‘ PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

‘Rarely do we hear stories of those who are most oppressed. And stories from recent wars told by women about women are even rarer . . . Wilkinson’s evocative language shapes the novel into one of suspense, intrigue and conspiracy; where female friendship is platformed . . . Although it is set within a backdrop of male power, where human grief is “almost a creature into itself”, the power of a woman’s intent for the safety of those she loves carries the novel through with a mesmerising pulsating force’ SYDNEY MORNING HERALD


Readers can’t stop talking about this book!

‘Riveting from beginning to end . . . A great read!’ *****

‘Atmospheric and suspenseful . . . I read this novel with my heart in my throat’ *****

‘The stories of these three women are each compelling on their own, but when intertwined they become formidable . . . Stunning’ *****

‘I felt the warmth of the sun and tasted the sweetness of the lime tea . . . Beautiful‘ *****

‘All I can say is: WOW – read it. You won’t be disappointed’ *****

In this addictive novel, from the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Just My Luck, a marriage crumbles, cultures clash and love affairs begin in in glorious sun-drenched Italy.

Don’t miss Adele’s latest gripping novel, Both of You, out now! And look for One Last Secret, coming soon.

Acclaim for Adele’s compelling, twisty and acutely observed novels:

‘Tightly plotted, brilliantly conceived and totally gripping’ Lisa Jewell
‘Twisty, unputdownable and utterly engrossing’ Jenny Colgan
‘Brilliant storyline, great characters, very clever, loved it!’ B A Paris
‘Addictive and perceptive’ Lucy Atkins
………………………………..

WILL THE ITALIAN DREAM BE WHAT SHE’S ALWAYS IMAGINED?

Elizabeth has two goals in life. Once she fulfils the first – finding a sexy Italian husband – she thinks the second will come easy. But getting pregnant is proving difficult.

So when the couple move to Italy for Roberto to run the family business, Elizabeth hopes the relaxing lifestyle will boost her chances of conceiving.

But Italy is anything but peaceful…

Elizabeth’s wily mother-in-law seems to instantly hate her, Roberto’s gorgeous ex is lingering a little too close for comfort… And. Still. No. Baby.

Will Elizabeth’s hunger for a bambino be enough to hold her marriage together? Or will she find herself dreaming of something else all together?
………………………………..

What readers are saying about Tell Me Something:

‘The story is a rollercoaster ride full of ups and downs for Elizabeth, and Parks’ clever and unpredictable twists and turns are thoroughly enjoyable’

‘Elizabeth’s character is highly developed and expertly portrayed. It’s been a while since I read a book which made me laugh and cry simultaneously, for being both happy and sad’

More praise for Adele Parks:

Dark, funny and observant’ Cosmopolitan
‘Guaranteed to keep you hooked until the end’ She magazine
‘Deliciously down to earth’ The Times
‘Wonderfully absorbing’ Stylist
‘Will captivate you from the first page’ Closer

Game Over is a brilliantly perceptive novel of the game of love and not looking for Mr Right from Adele Parks, the No. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Just My Luck.

Don’t miss Adele’s latest gripping novel, Both of You, out now! And look for One Last Secret, coming soon.

Acclaim for Adele’s compelling, twisty and acutely observed novels:

‘Tightly plotted, brilliantly conceived and totally gripping’ Lisa Jewell
‘Twisty, unputdownable and utterly engrossing’ Jenny Colgan
‘Brilliant storyline, great characters, very clever, loved it!’ B A Paris
‘Addictive and perceptive’ Lucy Atkins
……………………………………..

IS IT TIME TO TAKE A CHANCE ON THE GAME OF TRUE LOVE?

Steely-hearted TV producer Cas ruthlessly plays people on a daily basis.

She messes with contestants’ love lives on the hot new reality show Sex with an Ex, making for explosive viewing. And she shamelessly manipulates hot men into bed – making for an explosive sex life.

In work and in pleasure, Cas always gets what she wants. Until she meets Darren.

His unbelievable good looks would make him a sensation on the show. But his moral integrity and belief in true love mean Cas will have to work a little bit harder to persuade him to give the show – and her – a shot.

After a lifetime of playing games, might her winning streak be at an end?
……………………………………..

What readers are saying about Game Over:

‘Full of love, sex, relationships, unrequited love with the added humour and characters everyone can relate to’

‘A cut above anything of its kind. This is a hilarious, brilliant book with a great plot – don’t miss out because you are bored with the same old boy meets girl scenario – this is something altogether grittier’

More praise for Adele Parks:

Dark, funny and observant’ Cosmopolitan
‘Guaranteed to keep you hooked until the end’ She magazine
‘Deliciously down to earth’ The Times
‘Wonderfully absorbing’ Stylist
‘Will captivate you from the first page’ Closer

SIX WEEKS. SIX VICTIMS. NO CLUES.

‘One down, five to go.’

When a leading psychiatrist is found murdered by insulin injection in his home, with a note bearing this threat, Detective Inspector Paolo Sterling and his team find themselves in a race against time to stop a killer from striking again. But with so little to go on, trying to find the next victim is like trying to find a needle in a haystack.

As the body count rises, and the investigation reaches its critical point, Paolo and his team grapple with what could be their most complex case to date. But just when they think the game is up, they make a shocking discovery that leads them close to home.

With so much at stake, can DI Sterling uncover the truth before it’s too late? Or will those closest to him pay the price?

*PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED AS INJECTIONS OF INSANITY*

Lorraine Mace returns with the third unflinching and totally gripping instalment in her dark and gritty series featuring DI Paolo Sterling. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, M. J. Arlidge and Karin Slaughter.

‘Lorraine Mace has done it again. Crime fiction at its absolute finest‘ MARION TODD

‘What an opening! Lorraine certainly knows how to write a gripping thriller. A chilling read‘ KAREN KING

LOVE FOR LORRAINE MACE’S WRITING:

‘I. Am. Not. Okay. That ending – mind blown!!!! Rage and Retribution deserves ALL the stars! It is AMAZING!‘ 5* Reader Review

‘Wow, just wow is all I can say. The whole series is just too good to miss.’ 5* Reader Review

‘I am an absolutely massive fan of this series . . . the books are just getting better and better’ 5* Reader Review

‘I am blown away by this story and LOVE everything about it. I cannot wait for the next instalment.’ 5* Reader Review

‘OMG! That opening scene‘ 5* Reader Review

‘I could not put my kindle down while reading this!’ 5* Reader Review

‘⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Heart-pounding . . . Definitely one of the best books this year’

‘A tense, propulsive and twisty story . . . I was utterly drawn to Boweridge and its simmering secrets’ ALI LOWE

—-

A MURDERED WOMAN. A MISSING GIRL.
A SMALL TOWN WITH A DARK PAST . . .

Summer, 1972. Sister Francesca Pepitone was found strangled in a parking lot on the outskirts of Boweridge.

A week later, seventeen-year-old Minna Larson disappeared. No one has seen or heard from her since.

The cases were never linked, and neither was solved. For some, it was a scar that never healed. Others simply forgot.

Now, over forty years later, Minna’s niece Maggie learns that days before vanishing, Minna was telling people she knew who had murdered Sister Fran, and that she had the evidence to prove it.

Except no one believed her because there was one thing everyone could agree on . . .
Minna Lies

HOW LONG CAN A SMALL TOWN BURY ITS PAST?

—-

Readers are HOOKED on The Summer She Vanished

‘⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ A tangled tale of dark secrets . . . a captivating page-turner’

‘⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Family secrets, small towns . . . Jessica has hit the nail on the head’

‘⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Just got better and better . . . And the ending? I never saw that coming!’

‘⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Gripped me from page one . . . A must-read’

‘⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Such a twisty plot’

‘⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ A wonderful blend of cold case, police procedural, and cozy mystery that unravelled in perfect time’

‘⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Dramatic and full of twists . . . I really didn’t want to put it down’

A blistering and shocking thriller that takes you on a taut and compelling journey to find the truth behind the story of a missing teen, a murdered nun, and the dark secret that connects them. Perfect for fans of SWEET LITTLE LIES, THE ROANOKE GIRLS and THE GIRLS WHO DISAPPEARED.

‘A clearly explained and reassuring guide from an expert in the field’ Publisher’s Weekly

Discover the best baby sleep method – gentle, science-backed, and inspired by the latest Nobel Prize-winning research – that shows you how to get your baby to sleep through the night naturally.

Sleep – or the lack of it – is one of the most crucial issues for new parents. Newborn babies typically wake every two to three hours, and there’s nothing bleary-eyed, exhausted parents want more than a night of uninterrupted sleep. But while there’s plenty of advice out there, there is nothing that’s based on the latest cutting-edge research about sleep – until now.

In How Babies Sleep, Sofia Axelrod, PhD – neuroscientist, sleep consultant, and mother of two -introduces the first baby sleep method that is truly rooted in the science of sleep. After having her first child, Axelrod realized that the typical baby sleep advice conflicted with the actual science of sleep, inlcuding the findings from her mentor’s Nobel Prize-winning sleep lab. She developed her transformative method based on the latest discoveries about our body’s circadian clock and how it is disturbed by light and other external stimuli. After seeing incredible results with her own babies, she has since counseled countless families in her groundbreaking method, which works with babies’ needs and helps little ones learn to self-soothe, fall asleep more easily, and stay asleep through the night.

You’ll discover helpful tips that work, and learn: why using a red lightbulb (instead of a regular one) in the nursery at night can minimize wakings; why the age-old advice “don’t wake a sleeping baby” isn’t true; how to create a healthy routine; how to sleep train gently with minimal crying (under two minutes); and so much more in this revolutionary and effective book that will help both you and your baby enjoy a peaceful night’s sleep.