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The king in the tree: three novellas
Par Steven Millhauser. 2003
Three novellas centering on illicit love. In the title piece, the king's counselor deplores the queen's affair but doesn't tell…
her husband. In Revenge a widow remembers her husband's infidelities and wants to punish his mistress. In An Adventure of Don Juan, the Spanish rake discovers unrequited love in England. Strong language. 2003The Stolen Child: The most heartwrenching and heartwarming saga you'll read this year
Par Jennie Felton. 2019
'One of the nation's favourite saga writers' Lancashire Post'A real heartbreaker' Peterborough Telegraph'Brimming with high drama, anguish, love, loss, tragedy,…
and gripping twists and turns, this is an absorbing and poignant story... Felton, a born storyteller, has a warm and compassionate heart...and an eye for the rich period detail that brings the past to life' Lancashire PostA powerful new saga from Jennie Felton in the grand tradition of Josephine Cox, Dilly Court, Maggie Hope and Rosie Goodwin of love, loss, tragedy, drama, secrets and twists and turns.Readers are hooked by The Stolen Child!'Like the twists and turns...a great read' 5* reader review'Keeps you on the edge...could not put it down' 5* reader review'A heartbreaking read. 5 stars' 5* reader review'A must read' 5* reader reviewWill anyone believe her baby is gone?When Stella Swift is discovered holding a shard of broken glass near her newborn baby boy, fears that she might harm William result in her being taken to Catcombe - the local asylum. Although the regime is not as harsh as it once was, it's not somewhere that Tom wants to send his wife - but he has no choice.Turning to his kind-hearted sister-in-law Grace for help taking care of his other three children whilst he keeps working at the mine seems like the simplest solution until Stella is well - if only there wasn't the shared history between Tom and Grace...At first Catcombe seems to offer the respite Stella needs - until one day she becomes convinced that the baby the nurses have given to her is not William. Is Stella losing her mind? Or is it true that a mother will always know her own child?Don't miss Jennie's Families of Fairley Terrace series, which began with Maggie's story in All The Dark Secrets and continued with Lucy's story in The Miner's Daughter, Edie's story in The Girl Below Stairs, Carina's story in The Widow's Promise and Laurel's story in The Sister's Secret.The Dark Affair: Mad Passions Book 3 (Mad Passions)
Par Maire Claremont. 2014
A richly romantic and enthralling novel of beauty, passion and scandalous secrets from Maire Claremont, the acclaimed author of The…
Dark Lady and Lady In Red. Perfect for fans of Sherry Thomas, Johanna Lindsey and Lisa Kleypas.Lady Margaret Cassidy left a life of nobility behind in Ireland, forsaking her grieving homeland to aid war-ravaged men in England. Still, she never expected a cruel turn of fate to lock her into an unwanted betrothal with one of her English patients - much less one as broken and dangerous as Viscount Powers.Wrecked by his tragic past, Powers' opiate-addled sanity hangs precariously in the balance, leaving him poised to destroy anyone who dares to utter the names of the wife and child he still so deeply mourns. So when he is forced to marry Margaret in exchange for freedom, he is shocked by the desire to earn her trust, her body, and - most alarming of all - her heart...For more deliciously dark Victorian romance, try all the titles in the Mad Passions series: The Dark Lady, Lady In Red, A Lady Undone and The Dark Affair, and check out Maire's alter-ego Eva Devon for sexy and laugh-out-loud funny Regencies.A Lady Undone: A Mad Passions Novella 2.5 (Mad Passions)
Par Maire Claremont. 2014
In this dazzling novella from the award-winning author of The Dark Lady and Lady In Red, comes a story of…
fatal plots, seductive spies, and irresistible passions... Perfect for fans of Sherry Thomas, Lisa Kleypas and Stephanie Laurens.Duchess Clare Ederly is lucky to be alive. Having outlived her violent, abusive husband, she decides to put her significant inheritance to good use helping other battered women by opening a refuge for those seeking to escape. But not everyone is pleased with her work. Someone wants to see her sanctuary torn down - at any cost. Her only hope of protecting her home and tenants is a former spy, whose skill at tracking deadly men is matched only by his dangerous charm...The Earl of Wyndham has done his part for Queen and country; he has had his fill of plotting and politics and simply wants to retire to the pleasant life of his club. But Duchess Clare's razor-sharp wit and fierce determination awaken new purpose and admiration in him. To protect her, he will once again delve into the treacherous world of espionage. To win her love, he will do almost anything...For more deliciously dark Victorian romance, try all the titles in the Mad Passions series: The Dark Lady, Lady In Red, A Lady Undone and The Dark Affair, and check out Maire's alter-ego Eva Devon for sexy and laugh-out-loud funny Regencies.After the War is Over: A heart-warming story from the queen of saga writing
Par Maureen Lee. 2012
A heart-warming tale set in Liverpool and London during the post-war years, from bestselling author Maureen Lee'Queen of saga writing'…
My WeeklyLiverpool, 1945. Three women, firm friends, return home from the war and try to fit back into their old lives after they've been demobbed. They've been thrown together by the war, and have shared all sorts of good and bad times. Now their old lives seem dull in comparison. But not for long...The younger women, Maggie and Nell, are both twenty-one and are full of hope and excitement; Iris, on the other hand, is feeling apprehensive about returning to civilian life. At the age of thirty,her only wish in life is to have a baby, but sadly this wish has yet to come true.When one of the women falls pregnant, there begins a dramatic sequence of events so far-reaching that the three friends' lives will become more intricately interwoven than they could ever have imagined. Over the next quarter of a century, this story of three remarkable - and very different - women unfolds into an uplifting tale of how three ordinary families become extraordinary.The Dark Lady: Mad Passions Book 1 (Mad Passions)
Par Maire Claremont. 2013
The first thrilling and passionate novel of mad passions and scandalous secrets for fans of Grace Burrowes, Tessa Dare, Elizabeth…
Hoyt and Sarah MacLean.Lord Ian Blake has returned from India a broken man. Years ago, he pledged to Lady Eva Carin - his childhood companion and first love - that he would bring her husband back alive. His failure haunts him. But even his jaded soul can't anticipate the shocking sight of beautiful, independent Eva confined to a madhouse. Locked in an asylum, forgotten by society, Eva is adrift in both body and mind. For Ian to break her free, they must cross a powerful enemy - and prove her sanity to England's unforgiving aristocracy. But the biggest danger of all may come when the secrets of Eva's tragic past are finally unlocked...For more deliciously dark Victorian romance, try all the titles in the Mad Passions series: The Dark Lady, Lady In Red, A Lady Undone and The Dark Affair, and check out Maire's alter-ego Eva Devon for sexy and laugh-out-loud funny Regencies.The House By Princes Park
Par Maureen Lee. 2002
Another wonderful Liverpool saga from bestselling author Maureen Lee.The product of an affair between a nurse and an injured American…
soldier during the Great War, Ruby O'Hagan's early life is spent in an orphanage. At sixteen she runs away with a farmworker, and two years later she is alone and homeless with her two daughters.Her friend, Mrs Hart, leaves her big friendly house for Ruby to look after, and it is here that her life unfolds. Her children leave but return when tragedy befalls them. Through all this, the enigmatic Matthew Flynn drifts in and out of Ruby's life. She ignores him until it is almost too late.Olga: A Novel
Par Prof Bernhard Schlink. 2018
A #1 INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER'Bernhard Schlink speaks straight to the heart' New York Times'Brilliant... A tale of love and loss in…
20th century Germany' Evening Standard'A cleverly-constructed tale of cross-class romance' Mail on Sunday'A poignant portrait of a woman out of step with her time' Observer Olga is an orphan raised by her grandmother in a Prussian village around the turn of the 20th century. Smart and precocious, she fights against the prejudices of the time to find her place in a world that sees her as second-best.When she falls in love with Herbert, a local aristocrat obsessed with the era's dreams of power, glory and greatness, her life is irremediably changed.Theirs is a love against all odds, entwined with the twisting paths of German history, leading us from the late 19th to the early 21st century, from Germany to Africa and the Arctic, from the Baltic Sea to the German south-west.This is the story of that love, of Olga's devotion to a restless man - told in thought, letters and in a fateful moment of great rebellion.When My Ship Comes In: An emotional family saga for fans of Call the Midwife
Par Sue Wilsher. 2016
The BRAND NEW wartime saga from the much-loved author of THE TILBURY POPPIES. Perfect for fans of Annie Murray and…
Donna DouglasWill she sacrifice her dreams to care for her family?Essex, 1959.Keep the family together, that's what her old mum always said. Put up and shut up. And that's what everyone else did around there.Flo earns her money as a scrubber, cleaning the cruise ships and dreaming of a day when she might sail away from her life in the Dwellings, the squalid tenements of Tilbury docks. Then the Blundell family are evicted from their home.Fred, Flo's husband, finds work at Monday's, a utopian factory town. Suddenly, it seems like everything is on the up for Flo Blundell and her children. Even Jeanie, Flo's sulking teenage daughter, seems to be thawing a little in her shiny new surroundings. But when Fred starts drinking again, he jeopardises the family's chance to escape poverty for good.Flo is faced with a terrible decision. Must she fight to keep her family together? Or could she strive for the life of her dreams - the kind of life she could have when her ship comes in?A heart-warming story of love, loss and friendship, set against the backdrop of post-war EnglandREAL READERS love Sue Wilsher's novels:'Emotional, sweeping and unputdownable!''A superbly good read''A powerful, gripping saga''A beautiful read. I hope there will be many more novels to follow this one'THE BRAND NEW SAGA SERIES BY ROSIE HENDRY - meet the Women on the Home Front . . . Will…
friendship and motherhood keep the Women on the Home Front safe from war?Norfolk, 1939When the residents of Great Plumstead, a small and charming community in Norfolk, offer to open their homes to evacuees from London, they're expecting to care for children. So when a train carrying expectant mothers pulls into the station, the town must come together to accommodate their unexpected new arrivals . . .Sisters Prue and Thea welcome the mothers with open arms, while others fear their peaceful community will be disrupted. But all pregnant Marianne seeks is a fresh start for herself and her unborn child. Though she knows that is only possible as long as her new neighbours don't discover the truth about her situation.The women of Great Plumstead, old and new, are fighting their own battles on the home front. Can the community come together in a time of need to do their bit for the war effort?The Mother's Day Club is the perfect wartime family saga, filled with heart-warming friendships, nostalgic community spirit and a courageous make-do-and-mend attitude. Perfect for fans of Ellie Dean, Sheila Newberry and Elaine Everest.Early readers LOVE The Mother's Day Club:'I highly recommend this book and give it a well-deserved five stars''It's books like this that remind me why I love reading . . . I can't wait to read more from Rosie Hendry''Fabulous - can't wait to read the next book''Beautifully written . . . Thank you to Rosie Hendry for writing this five-star book''A fantastic book - highly recommended'Lady In Red: Mad Passions Book 2 (Mad Passions)
Par Maire Claremont. 2013
A richly romantic and enthralling novel of beauty, passion and scandalous secrets from the acclaimed author of The Dark Lady.…
Perfect for fans of Grace Burrowes, Tessa Dare, Elizabeth Hoyt and Sarah MacLean.Lady Mary Darrel should be the envy of London. Instead, all society believes her dead. For Mary holds a secret so dangerous, her father chose to keep her locked away...and have a grave made for her near her mother's. Driven to the edge of desperation, Mary manages to escape the asylum, only to find that her fate yet again rests in the hands of a man...Edward Barrons, Duke of Fairleigh, longs for some way to escape the torment of his father's crimes. In Mary's warrior spirit and haunted gaze - which so mirrors his own - he finally sees his path to redemption. He will stop at nothing to keep her safe, even as she seeks revenge. But will the passion they discover in each other be enough to save them from their demons?For more deliciously dark Victorian romance, try all the titles in the Mad Passions series: The Dark Lady, Lady In Red, A Lady Undone and The Dark Affair, and check out Maire's alter-ego Eva Devon for sexy and laugh-out-loud funny Regencies.Lady In Red: Mad Passions Book 2 (Mad Passions)
Par Maire Claremont. 2013
A richly romantic and enthralling novel of beauty, passion and scandalous secrets from the acclaimed author of The Dark Lady.…
Perfect for fans of Grace Burrowes, Tessa Dare, Elizabeth Hoyt and Sarah MacLean.Lady Mary Darrel should be the envy of London. Instead, all society believes her dead. For Mary holds a secret so dangerous, her father chose to keep her locked away...and have a grave made for her near her mother's. Driven to the edge of desperation, Mary manages to escape the asylum, only to find that her fate yet again rests in the hands of a man...Edward Barrons, Duke of Fairleigh, longs for some way to escape the torment of his father's crimes. In Mary's warrior spirit and haunted gaze - which so mirrors his own - he finally sees his path to redemption. He will stop at nothing to keep her safe, even as she seeks revenge. But will the passion they discover in each other be enough to save them from their demons?For more deliciously dark Victorian romance, try all the titles in the Mad Passions series: The Dark Lady, Lady In Red, A Lady Undone and The Dark Affair, and check out Maire's alter-ego Eva Devon for sexy and laugh-out-loud funny Regencies.'This is definitely up there as one of the best books that I have read. It's got a special place…
in my heart. Just amazing!' 5* reader reviewLove will always find a way . . . Discover the intriguing secrets of Hawthorn Place in this heartfelt dual-time novel, filled with warmth and charm, perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley and Cecelia Ahern.'An exquisitely detailed and enchanting love story' HEIDI SWAIN'An epic love story, mixed with gorgeous settings, a great deal of mystery and intrigue, lots of laughs, a few tears and fabulous characters, made this an absolute delight to read' KIM NASH'An absolutely wonderful dual time story that captivated me . . . and kept me spellbound' CHRISTINA COURTENAY'A beautifully intriguing love story, that . . . stays with you long after the last page' ROSIE HENDRY'Unforgettable and unique, the twists and turns of this enchanting book are woven together with threads of love and magic. I loved it!' CLARE MARCHANT........................................................................Two houses, hundreds of miles apart . . . yet connected always.When life throws Molly Butterfield a curveball, she decides to spend some time with her recently widowed granddad, Wally, at Hawthorn Place, his quirky Victorian house on the Dorset coast. But cosseted Molly struggles to look after herself, never mind her grieving granddad, until the accidental discovery of an identical Arts and Crafts house on the Norfolk coast offers her an unexpected purpose, as well as revealing a bewildering mystery. Discovering that both Hawthorn Place and Acacia House were designed by architect Percy Gladwell, Molly uncovers the secret of a love which linked them, so powerful it defied reason. What follows is a summer which will change Molly for ever . . .........................................................................'One of those wonderful, magical stories that appear rarely and stay in your heart forever' CELIA ANDERSON'A marvellous dual-time novel filled with mystery, fabulous detail and an enduring love story' MADDIE PLEASE'A wonderful, page-turning story full of intrigue and romance' VICTORIA CONNELLY'I found the book enchanting' SUZANNE SNOW'An enchanting storyline and engaging characters make this book a delight to read' LYNNE SHELBY'A beautifully written timeslip . . . Highly recommended. Five stars' ERIN GREEN'The perfect mix of mystery, magic, and romance' KATE G. SMITHEarly readers are captivated by The Secrets of Hawthorn Place:'A sweeping five stars from me for this novel that defies time but trusts in love''A sheer delight to read and can highly recommend''Utterly brilliant. The storyline is riveting, you never quite know what could be about to happen as it's constantly twisting and turning . . . such a beautiful book'When My Ship Comes In: An emotional family saga for fans of Call the Midwife
Par Sue Wilsher. 2016
An emotional, compelling family drama from a fantastic new authorKeep the family together, that's what her old mum always said.…
Put up and shut up. And that's what everyone else did around there. Essex, 1959. Flo earns her money as a scrubber, cleaning the cruise ships and dreaming of a day when she might sail away from her life in the Dwellings, the squalid tenements of Tilbury docks. Then the Blundell family are evicted from their home.Fred, Flo's husband, finds work at Monday's, a utopian factory town. Suddenly, it seems like everything is on the up for Flo Blundell and her children. Even Jeanie, Flo's sulking teenage daughter, seems to be thawing a little in her shiny new surroundings. But when Flo's abusive husband Fred starts drinking again, he jeopardises the family's chance to escape poverty for good. Flo is faced with a terrible decision. Must she fight to keep her family together? Or could she strive for the life of her dreams - the kind of life she could have when her ship comes in?Love will always find a way . . . Discover the intriguing secrets of Hawthorn Place in this heartfelt dual-time…
novel, filled with warmth and charm, perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley and Cecelia Ahern.'An exquisitely detailed and enchanting love story' HEIDI SWAIN'Unforgettable and unique, the twists and turns of this enchanting book are woven together with threads of love and magic. I loved it!' CLARE MARCHANT........................................................................Two houses, hundreds of miles apart . . . yet connected always.When life throws Molly Butterfield a curveball, she decides to spend some time with her recently widowed granddad, Wally, at Hawthorn Place, his quirky Victorian house on the Dorset coast. But cosseted Molly struggles to look after herself, never mind her grieving granddad, until the accidental discovery of an identical Arts and Crafts house on the Norfolk coast offers her an unexpected purpose, as well as revealing a bewildering mystery. Discovering that both Hawthorn Place and Acacia House were designed by architect Percy Gladwell, Molly uncovers the secret of a love which linked them, so powerful it defied reason. What follows is a summer which will change Molly for ever . . .........................................................................'One of those wonderful, magical stories that appear rarely and stay in your heart forever' CELIA ANDERSON'A marvellous dual-time novel filled with mystery, fabulous detail and an enduring love story' MADDIE PLEASE'I found the book enchanting' SUZANNE SNOW(P) 2021 Headline Publishing Group LtdTHE BRAND NEW SAGA SERIES BY ROSIE HENDRY - meet the Women on the Home Front . . . Winner…
of the 2022 Romantic Novelist Association, Romantic Saga Award Will friendship and motherhood keep the Women on the Home Front safe from war?Norfolk, 1939When the residents of Great Plumstead, a small and charming community in Norfolk, offer to open their homes to evacuees from London, they're expecting to care for children. So when a train carrying expectant mothers pulls into the station, the town must come together to accommodate their unexpected new arrivals . . .Sisters Prue and Thea welcome the mothers with open arms, while others fear their peaceful community will be disrupted. But all pregnant Marianne seeks is a fresh start for herself and her unborn child. Though she knows that is only possible as long as her new neighbours don't discover the truth about her situation.The women of Great Plumstead, old and new, are fighting their own battles on the home front. Can the community come together in a time of need to do their bit for the war effort?The Mother's Day Club is the perfect wartime family saga, filled with heart-warming friendships, nostalgic community spirit and a courageous make-do-and-mend attitude. Perfect for fans of Ellie Dean, Sheila Newberry and Elaine Everest.Early readers LOVE The Mother's Day Club:'I highly recommend this book and give it a well-deserved five stars''It's books like this that remind me why I love reading . . . I can't wait to read more from Rosie Hendry''Fabulous - can't wait to read the next book''Beautifully written . . . Thank you to Rosie Hendry for writing this five-star book''A fantastic book - highly recommended'The Stolen Child: The most heartwrenching and heartwarming saga you'll read this year
Par Jennie Felton. 2019
'One of the nation's favourite saga writers' Lancashire PostA powerful new saga from Jennie Felton in the grand tradition of…
Josephine Cox, Dilly Court, Maggie Hope and Rosie Goodwin of love, loss, tragedy, drama, secrets and twists and turns.Who will believe this baby is not hers?When Stella Swift is discovered holding a shard of broken glass near her newborn baby boy, fears that she might harm William result in her being taken to Catcombe - the local asylum. Although the regime is not as harsh as it once was, it's not somewhere that Tom wants to send his wife - but he has no choice.Turning to his kind-hearted sister-in-law Grace for help taking care of his other three children whilst he keeps working at the mine seems like the simplest solution until Stella is well - if only there wasn't the shared history between Tom and Grace...At first Catcombe seems to offer the respite Stella needs - until one day she becomes convinced that the baby the nurses have given to her is not William. Is Stella losing her mind? Or is it true that a mother will always know her own child?Don't miss Jennie's Families of Fairley Terrace series, which began with Maggie's story in All The Dark Secrets and continued with Lucy's story in The Miner's Daughter, Edie's story in The Girl Below Stairs, Carina's story in The Widow's Promise and Laurel's story in The Sister's Secret.(p) 2019 Headline Publishing Group LtdFrom the best-selling author of The Pearler's Wife, a gripping and immersive story of family secrets, sacrifice and romance set…
against the backdrop of a spell-binding circus in 20th Century India. Perfect for fans of books by Lucinda Riley and Dinah Jeffries.After her father died under mysterious circumstances, Lilly Myerson grew up in England raised by her grandparents. Married off at eighteen to a well-to-do but controlling Indian merchant, Lilly has never experienced adventure or romance.But in 1902 as a new king is about to be crowned, Lilly's life is destined to change.When her estranged mother invites her to spend the hot season in Nainital, Lilly's husband forces her to leave her beloved, five-year-old son Teddy behind. As Lilly discovers what lies outside her sheltered existence, she realises two things: she can't return to her carefully manicured life and she must rescue Teddy before his father turns him against her.Fleeing to the circus, Lilly enters a breath-taking world of wonder, romance and peril. Tiffert's Circus is renowned for bareback riding, the iron jaw act, trained tigers and elephants. The more dangerous the acts, the more the audience adore them. But the greater danger to Lilly Myerson is her husband Royce...From the best-selling author of The Pearler's Wife, a gripping and immersive story of family secrets, sacrifice and romance set…
against the backdrop of a spell-binding circus in 20th Century India. Perfect for fans of books by Lucinda Riley and Dinah Jeffries.After her father died under mysterious circumstances, Lilly Myerson grew up in England raised by her grandparents. Married off at eighteen to a well-to-do but controlling Indian merchant, Lilly has never experienced adventure or romance.But in 1902 as a new king is about to be crowned, Lilly's life is destined to change.When her estranged mother invites her to spend the hot season in Nainital, Lilly's husband forces her to leave her beloved, five-year-old son Teddy behind. As Lilly discovers what lies outside her sheltered existence, she realises two things: she can't return to her carefully manicured life and she must rescue Teddy before his father turns him against her.Fleeing to the circus, Lilly enters a breath-taking world of wonder, romance and peril. Tiffert's Circus is renowned for bareback riding, the iron jaw act, trained tigers and elephants. The more dangerous the acts, the more the audience adore them. But the greater danger to Lilly Myerson is her husband Royce...'This is definitely up there as one of the best books that I have read. It's got a special place…
in my heart. Just amazing!' 5* reader reviewLove will always find a way . . .Discover the intriguing secrets of Hawthorn Place in this heartfelt dual-time novel, filled with warmth and charm, perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley and Cecelia Ahern.'An exquisitely detailed and enchanting love story' HEIDI SWAIN'An epic love story, mixed with gorgeous settings, a great deal of mystery and intrigue, lots of laughs, a few tears and fabulouscharacters, made this an absolute delight to read' KIM NASH'An absolutely wonderful dual time story that captivated me . . . and kept me spellbound' CHRISTINA COURTENAY'A beautifully intriguing love story, that . . . stays with you long after the last page' ROSIE HENDRY'Unforgettable and unique, the twists and turns of this enchanting book are woven together with threads of love and magic. I loved it!' CLARE MARCHANT........................................................................Two houses, hundreds of miles apart . . . yet connected always.When life throws Molly Butterfield a curveball, she decides to spend some time with her recently widowed granddad, Wally, at Hawthorn Place, his quirky Victorian house on the Dorset coast. But cosseted Molly struggles to look after herself, never mind her grieving granddad, until the accidental discovery of an identical Arts and Crafts house on the Norfolk coast offers her an unexpected purpose, as well as revealing a bewildering mystery. Discovering that both Hawthorn Place and Acacia House were designed by architect Percy Gladwell, Molly uncovers the secret of a love which linked them, so powerful it defied reason. What follows is a summer which will change Molly for ever . . .........................................................................'One of those wonderful, magical stories that appear rarely and stay in your heart forever' CELIA ANDERSON'A marvellous dual-time novel filled with mystery, fabulous detail and an enduring love story' MADDIE PLEASE'A wonderful, page-turning story full of intrigue and romance' VICTORIA CONNELLY'I found the book enchanting' SUZANNE SNOW'An enchanting storyline and engaging characters make this book a delight to read' LYNNE SHELBY'A beautifully written timeslip . . . Highly recommended. Five stars' ERIN GREEN'The perfect mix of mystery, magic, and romance' KATE G. SMITHEarly readers are captivated by The Secrets of Hawthorn Place:'A sweeping five stars from me for this novel that defies time but trusts in love''A sheer delight to read and can highly recommend''Utterly brilliant. The storyline is riveting, you never quite know what could be about to happen as it's constantly twisting and turning . . . such a beautiful book'