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Audiobooks Narrated by Elaine Claxton
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"‘[I] absolutely loved this fictional take on some of the most legendary women of Hollywoods Golden Age! Perfect for books clubs.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NetGalley Reviewer
For fans of Fiona Davis, Kathleen Tessaro and Taylor Jenkins Reid in the most enlightening and exciting bookclub read of the year!
‘An atmospheric narrative of young women pushing boundaries and defying expectations… truly unforgettable’ Caroline Cauchi, bestselling author of Mrs Van Gogh
One ordinary school. Three extraordinary women …
In the 1920s, three young girls enter a strict, cheerless convent school in a quiet London suburb.
Six years later they leave, to change the world …
Maureen was the movie star, whose role as Tarzan’s Jane helped rewrite the rules of cinema censorship.
Sonia was the aspiring writer who became George Orwell’s wife and the guardian of his literary legacy.
And Vivien was the actress as iconic as the roles she played, from Cleopatra to Scarlett O’Hara.
Together their careers encompassed glamour and tragedy, triumph and scandal. From Bloomsbury to Hollywood, and from the cafés of Paris to the theatres of New York, this novel is a breath-taking epic spanning four decades in three unforgettable lives.
See what real readers are saying about Caroline Lamond’s writing:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Well written and told from the point of view of the characters, this is an engaging story and gives the reader a glimpse of the heady world of theatre, film and society in the time of the star studded movie era'
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Well written and researched… a joy to read’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A highly engaging tale’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I was hooked from the first page…’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Really reminded me of City of Girls, the lifestyle, the glamour but also the tenderness… Wonderful!’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A highly engaging tale’
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Absolutely fantastic, unputdownable…'
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A moving and at times heartbreaking story'
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Sad, happy and frustrating at times this novel pulls on all emotions’
‘An enticing parallel portrait, of women endeavouring to be heard in a glittering but masculine era’ Mandy Robotham, international bestselling author
‘An extraordinary story’ Georgia Kaufmann, author of The Dressmaker of Paris
‘An engaging portrait of an indomitable woman at the heart of Golden Age Hollywood’ Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Manhattan Girls"
"‘A kind of blissography, teeming with bon mots’ Sunday Times
A celebrated modern classic that has revolutionised our understanding of the Bloomsbury group and remains the definitive biography of the group’s gloriously eccentric patron, Lady Ottoline Morrell. Met with widespread acclaim and translated into fifteen languages, this seminal book provoked a rethinking of the traditional Bloomsbury narrative and the rewriting of some major biographies.
For decades, Ottoline Morrell was grossly misunderstood. The artists and writers who benefited from her generous patronage and friendship helped to create the false and vicious image of a nymphomanical aristocrat with cultural aspirations. This landmark literary biography presents Morrell in an entirely new light, rightly setting her centre-stage as the brilliant and courageous lynchpin of the Bloomsbury group. She counted T.S. Eliot, Aldous Huxley, D.H. Lawrence, Lytton Strachey, Siegfried Sassoon, Augustus John, Katherine Mansfield and W.B. Yeats among her closest friends and houseguests. A legendary and agonisingly protracted love-affair with Bertrand Russell never undermined this unlikely couple’s deep and understanding friendship. Ottoline’s loyalty to her own promiscuous husband survived public humiliation and private crises.
Overhauling the long-held conventional view of Morrell as a victim, a creature of her class who was born to be exploited and derided by her wittier friends, Seymour repaints the world of the Bloomsberries and rescues the grand life of Ottoline Morrell from the depths of historical obscurity."
"People are like flowers. If you give them the right environment in which to grow, they bloom.
'It put a spell on me' Lesley Pearse, Sunday Times Bestseller
'Charming' Katie Fforde, Sunday Times Bestseller
With nothing but time on her hands, retired nurse Rose Lanyon finds herself drawn to the garden that had once been her husband’s pride and joy.
It may have started as a means of honouring her husband’s memory, but her little Cornish garden soon becomes so much more – a place where the lost and lonely can find solace, the forgotten can be remembered, and second chances take bloom. Because, as long as new life is growing, there will always be hope and new memories to make…
"
"Survival means fighting back. Set across Sunderland and New York in the late 19th century, A Woman of Courage is a heartwarming saga by Rita Bradshaw, author of the bestselling Believing in Tomorrow.
It's 1890, and Josie Gray is an innocent and beautiful fifteen-year old when Adam McGuigan, the youngest son of a dangerous and influential crime family spots her singing in a Sunderland public house. Adam is handsome and charismatic, sweeping Josie off her feet with his beguiling lies and promises. He charms her into marrying him on her sixteenth birthday, but on her wedding night the fairy tale ends.
Josie finds herself trapped in a living nightmare and there's no one to help her. Events spiral out of control, and when her life is put in danger she escapes with her baby son. Fleeing to a different country, Josie fights to make a good life for her child and then love beckons again.
But the McGuigan family's power is far reaching. When the day of reckoning comes, can Josie survive it?"
"Don’t miss this gripping thriller from the author of The Weekend Alone – with a twist that will take your breath away!
‘An excellent thriller and a writer to look out for’ Lesley Sanderson, author of I Know You Lied
‘It's been such a long time since I couldn't put a book down, and this one literally had me up all night! It was utterly compelling and every page was loaded with suspense’ Kathryn Croft, author of The Lying Wife
A mother in mourning
Two years ago, Sarah’s husband was jailed for her murder; her body was never found. Now, her grieving mother, Claire, spends her sleepless nights running a helpline for vulnerable women.
A woman with a secret
Claire takes many calls, but one caller isn’t like the rest. She isn’t calling for help – she’s calling because she claims to know what happened to Sarah.
A killer on the loose
But when Claire hears the terrifying news that her daughter’s killer has escaped from prison, she realises her nightmare is far from over – and her family are in danger yet again.
Readers LOVE My Daughter’s Killer!
‘Oh wow! This is such a good read… I was hooked from page one and it never let up.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Ohh what a thrilling read… Talk about being blown away!… I can not recommend this enough’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I have not read anything quite like this before. It’s an excellent addictive and gripping psychological thriller… Highly recommended’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I could not put this down!… I was literally gasping out loud towards the end… Honestly this book is just BRILLIANT’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Fantastically written, this is an ’up all night’ thriller’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Praise for Jacqueline Grima:
‘Wow! The twist in this really came out of nowhere for me – I had inklings that all was not as it seems but was not expecting quite the reveal I got!’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A wonderful twist filled thriller!… I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A masterclass in story telling! I literally read this in one day.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘What an absolute grip of a read… I was hooked from the start and this was a one sit read.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A gripping read that had me on the edge of my seat… Full of twists… I was hooked.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A book with a real ‘sting in its tail’… A really good psychological thriller… Certainly fooled me!’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘What a chilling thriller!…There was a colossal twist!… Masterful storytelling, highly recommended if you like Adele Parks and B.A. Paris.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A fast paced and incredibly gripping read. I could not put it down.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘If this was a TV programme I would be hiding behind the sofa!… Several unexpected twists that I never would have guessed.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"
"A killer who runs rings around the police. A detective who is out of control. Meet DSI Wilde. Wilde by name. Wild by nature. DSI Billie Wilde is on a mission to catch the killer responsible for a horrific showcase of murders, in order to prove that she’s still at the top of her game. But when hidden skeletons come out of dark corners, she is forced to confront her past and face the truth - that she is the ultimate target, now firmly in the executioner’s sights. As Billie grapples with her past, and learns she isn’t who she thought she was, she uncovers devastating childhood links to each of the victims. The past refuses to stay buried and Billie soon finds herself wondering if she knows who’s behind the brutal murders. But can Billie solve the case and unravel the mystery of her own past before it’s too late?
DSI Billie Wilde is back at work after a shocking case that saw her life thrown into utter turmoil. But Billie isn’t only Wilde by name and refuses to let the past drag her down. When a teenage girl is killed, her body discovered on train tracks, Billie sets about focusing all her attention on finding out who is responsible and why. As Billie and the police find a link between the girl’s murder and a County Lines gang, the case takes a sinister turn. Someone has been using children to peddle drugs. Someone who will stop at nothing to get what they want. Someone who is closer to home than Billie can possibly imagine…"
"From the bestselling author of Lady of Hay.
Adam Craig is fourteen when he meets Brid near an isolated Celtic stone in the wild Scottish Highlands – he is fascinated by her. They become friends, and, in time, passionate lovers. She leads him, unsuspecting, into the sixth century, where she has mastered the ancient mysteries and dangerous magic of the Druids.
In her obsession with Adam, Brid is seen as a traitor by her people, only escaping death by following Adam to Edinburgh, when he leaves home to study medicine.
As the years pass he makes new friends and finds new love. But Brid is consumed by jealousy and haunts him like an evil shadow, until, fifty years on, Adam’s granddaughter helps him discover the secret that will free them from the terror of Brid’s curse.
Readers LOVE Barbara Erskine:
‘Atmospheric’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Enthralling’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Spellbinding’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Another fabulous read from the mistress of the genre’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Immensely and deeply immersive fiction’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I loved every minute’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘An exceptional writer of great books’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘You can rely on this author to keep you wanting more’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A joy to read’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Captivating and engrossing’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐"
"The epic conclusion to the Monstrous Heart Trilogy; a magical tale of intrigue on dark waters and a love story for the ages. The perfect gothic, gaslamp fantasy – ideal for fans of V.E. Schwab and China Mieville
Arden Beacon has nothing left to lose.
Having fought monsters, the deep waters and the establishment to fulfil a promise the man she loved – she is no closer to peace. But against the odds, she has found Jonah once more and they are together now. She means to keep it that way.
Jonah, Arden and Chalice are bound for Clay city. Warnings come that the scorned yet powerful Miah and Bellis have joined forces and turned their eyes to the capital, now following the direction of the slippery Mr Lindsay. Wanton destruction and death will surely follow if they cannot be distracted, tricked and stopped.
All the while, the coins sewn into Arden’s hands continue to poison her. Time is running out. With intrigue and beasts behind every wave, Jonah and Arden must face this final chapter together – or risk losing everything.
Astonishingly original, with world-building to rival the depths of the ocean, McKenna has drawn a world drenched in sea-salt and lit by the flickering light of gas lamps. Rich tale of longing and courage this is the perfect oceanic steampunk fantasy."
"A British police detective’s latest case gets curiouser and curiouser in this hard-hitting novel by the author of The Devil’s Line.
DSI Billie Wilde’s romantic relationship is intense—but it’s nothing compared to the pressure of her latest case, especially since the new chief of police is gunning for her squad. If they don’t get a handle on a series of deaths—which seem to have a connection to Alice in Wonderland—they could wind up being demoted. And the identity of one of the victims has made things devastatingly personal for Billie.
In search of clues, she winds up working closely with PI Ellis Darque, who is working undercover. But as Billie works to sort out what’s going on behind the scenes, and confronts dark truths about her own family, she starts to feel like she’s gone through the looking-glass herself . . .
This chilling police procedural by the author of The Magpie, finalist for the Lindisfarne Prize for Crime Fiction, is a compelling tale filled with complex motives, tangled mysteries, and shocking surprises."
"In the quaint, seaside town of Silenshore a legacy of secrets is about to be revealed…
Growing up in the imposing Castle du Rêve during 1940s wartime, young Evelyn longs for a life outside the castle walls. She dreams of attending glamorous parties, gracing the silver screen and being swept off her feet by a dashing, debonair beau. But innocent Evelyn is unaware that her bid for freedom from the oppressive castle will change the course of more than just her life…
In the early Sixties, sweet, intelligent Victoria meets the man of her dreams! Yet the expression of their love comes with consequences. In the shadow of the mysterious castle, is their relationship doomed from the start?
In the present day, Isobel has just learned she’s pregnant. An unexpected challenge she can only hope she’s up to. Except living in the father of her child’s family home, beneath the eyes of the castle, all is not as it seems… Soon secrets that have been hidden for decades threaten to change the lives of Isobel’s new family irrevocably.
Three women’s lives tangled together in a web of secrets, scandal and deceit, as the legacy of Castle du Rêve is finally discovered…
A must read for those who enjoyed the Richard & Judy bestseller, Amy Snow."
"Sarah Stovell’s gripping new novel, Every Happy Family is available now!
Hilarious, unputdownable, suspenseful fiction, perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty and Motherland
They all have opinions.
They all have secrets.
‘Both funny and engaging while tackling some serious stuff’ Jane Fallon
‘Deft, wry and perceptive, this drama targets class and modern parenting’ Daily Mail
‘Set to be one of the most talked-about books of 2022’ HELLO!
‘Sensitive, sharply observed and often funny’ Adele Parks, Platinum
‘Touted as the new Liane Moriarty, Stovell is one to watch’ Woman & Home
‘Cringe-inducing, agonising, truthful, heartbreaking and hilarious’ Janice Hallett
In a small town like West Burntridge, it should be impossible to keep a secret.
Rachel Saunders knows gossip is the price you pay for a rural lifestyle and outstanding schools. The latest town scandal is her divorce – and the fact that her new girlfriend has moved into the family home.
Laura Spence lives in a poky bedsit on the wrong side of town. She and her son Max don’t really belong, and his violent tantrums are threatening to expose the very thing she’s trying to hide.
When the local school introduces a new inclusive curriculum, Rachel and Laura find themselves on opposite sides of a fearsome debate.
But the problem with having your nose in everyone else’s business is that you often miss what is happening in your own home.
What readers are saying about Other Parents
'This is definitely a contender for the best book I have read this year'
‘So well written I wish it had carried on for another 400 pages’
'I genuinely couldn't put this book down! I was completely engrossed'
'I could see this being loved by anyone who liked Little Fires Everywhere or Big Little Lies'
‘Beautifully written and the characters are just so realistic and relatable’
‘This was like watching an amazing Netflix drama’"
"The sensational follow up to MONSTROUS HEART; a magical tale of intrigue on dark waters and a love story for the ages. The perfect gothic, gaslamp fantasy – ideal for fans of V.E. Schwab and China Mieville
Since losing her great love to the Queen of the Sainted Isles, Arden must fulfil an impossible promise before she can return home – she must complete the dangerous Rite that will return Jonah’s spirit to the abyssal Court of the Deepwater King.
This sets her off on a journey far out at sea to find believers of the old religion on the oil-slick and mysterious islands beyond the horizon. But such a responsibility will not come without sacrifice, for the Deepwater folk who worship the King require the most desperate payments the soul, and with one man Arden may have to pay the greatest price of all…
Astonishingly original, with world-building to rival the depths of the ocean, McKenna has drawn a rich tale of longing and courage – penning the perfect oceanic steampunk fantasy."
