British & Irish

Volume 4 contains novels ten to twelve of the Dance To The Music Of Time sequence.

Anthony Powell’s brilliant twelve novel sequence chronicles the lives of over three hundred characters, and is a unique evocation of life in twentieth-century England. It is unrivalled for its scope, its humour and the enormous pleasure it has given to generations.

Volume 4 contains the last three novels in the sequence: Books do Furnish a Room; Temporary Kings; Hearing Secret Harmonies

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Christmas is a time of joy, love and togetherness… until it’s not. Ruth’s family are coming to terms with their first Christmas, and life, without her.

As they gather at the long barrow, where Ruth’s ashes are interred, husband Graham and their three grown-up children, Annie, Kitty and Tom (plus Ruth’s beloved dog Mavis – and Annie’s slightly less beloved husband, Alex) try to get to grips with the new, delicate balance of their family.

Their story is told by Ruth herself, who offers great insight into the dynamics between her husband, children and their partners, as well as her own marriage, and reveals that family life was not always as straightforward as it may have seemed.

With bereaved strangers becoming friends, all coming together on Christmas Day, this is a heartwarming, uplifting and intriguing story, laying the ground for an exciting new series.

**Note of caution: As already touched on, this is very much a story set around bereavement, grief and loss, so may not be suitable for some readers.**

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MAPTON’S PAWFECT CHRISTMAS

What says Christmas more than a Festive Fun Dog Show in Mapton? With rivalry between the judges, a grumpy pregnant vet about to pop, and cast of mischievous pooches causing havoc, things are about to go crackers.

Featuring a cast of dogs based on Mapton readers’ own pets, this will be sure to put a festive wag in your tail.

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Why Shakespeare?

It’s been 400 years since his death and yet we continue to find inspiration, revelation, solace, and entertainment in his poems and plays. In this original collection, Susannah Carson invites 38 actors, directors, scholars, and writers to share their own personal connections with Shakespeare and explore how he came to shape our world so completely.

Along the way, we reminisce on a childhood spent constructing makeshift matchstick theatres with Isabel Allende, grapple with Coriolanus for a modern audience alongside Ralph Fiennes, hear from James Earl Jones on reclaiming Othello as a tragic hero, share in Julie Taymor’s transformation of Prospero into Prospera, join Sir Ben Kingsley on his mission to keep Shakespeare’s ideas alive for all generations through performance, and muse with Brian Cox on social conflict in Shakespeare’s time and in ours. Together they offer fresh insight into Shakespeare’s work as a living legacy to be read, seen, performed, adapted, revised, wrestled with, and loved.

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Emily’s finances are so desperate, she leaves London and returns to her home town, to visit her old friend, Chloe, in the hope she can stay a few nights. Her hopes are dashed when she learns that Chloe emigrated to Australia. However, Chloe’s mother, Mrs Jackson, takes Emily under her wing, giving the twenty-year-old the same care she would have given her own daughter. The bond between the two deepens, with Emily happily settling into her role of substitute daughter. Mrs Jackson is kind but firm, with old fashioned values; spankings are the order of the day for disobedience and bad behaviour, but Emily soon learns to accept her chastisements, understanding that discipline is a vital part of her transformation from unhappy failure to glowing success.

There is a slight regression element to this story, as Emily returns to school as a mature student, studying for her A-Levels to secure a place at university and a bright future. As a member of the sixth form, she is subject to school discipline, and as always, her bottom pays the price!

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‘The ups and downs of Frankie’s life are expertly written and Roy delivers fun and adventure throughout. A joy from start to finish!’

This collection covers the first three novels to feature Frankie Dale.

The Fifth Tweet sees Frankie accept The Five Tweet Challenge as a way of rebuilding his life after a devastating break-up.

‘… a rags to riches, then back to rags story…really well written and I enjoyed it immensely’

The Fifth Thunderbolt had Frankie working with his hero — Roddy Lightning. Roddy was a teen idol with a habit of marrying his fellow Thunderbolts. A punk rebel in the 70s, a Hollywood star in the 80s, and a junkie in the 90s. At 78, he’s a loveable senior, with a twinkle in his eye, a lust for cake, and a failing memory.

‘… an adventure, a kidnapping, a love story, all told with the author’s deft and humorous touch’

The Fifth Man — a heartwarming tale of murder, theft, arson, love and friendship.

Frankie’s screwed up again — big time. A stroke of luck, most often reserved for other people, offers a lifeline. Writing a TV script based on a true story could be his way out. Trouble is, he only knows half the facts behind a series of daring robberies that ended in murder. Turning detective, he teams up with a lapsed arsonist and sets out to reveal the truth. With his search threatening to put his loved ones in danger, he must uncover the mysterious Fifth Man.

But the clock is ticking, and the killer is ready to strike again.

‘An excellent third book in this funny, endearing, and intriguing series.’

‘A great easy reading trilogy… really entertaining page turners.’

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A country miss from a modest estate may destroy Fitzwilliam Darcy’s closest friendship!

Darcy and his good friend Simon Lockhart are guests of Charles Bingley at Netherfield Park in Hertfordshire. When the otherwise sensible Lockhart becomes infatuated with Miss Elizabeth Bennet, who has neither wealth nor a renowned family name, Darcy attempts to make his friend see reason. But there is a complication—Darcy’s growing attraction for Miss Elizabeth.

Elizabeth has an instant liking for the amiable Mr. Lockhart, whilst she deems the arrogant Mr. Darcy to be an undesirable entity. In time, though, she is coaxed into judging Mr. Darcy anew. But when an unexpected predicament forces her to make an undesirable choice, it seems all hope of a happy outcome is lost.

In this Pride & Prejudice variation, Darcy faces a dilemma: Will he heed the yearnings of his heart—even at the expense of his principles?

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Don’t miss the brand-new Christmas read from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author Dilly Court!

As the first Christmas snowflakes fall, Rosalind finds herself pregnant and alone…

Christmas is coming to the village of Rockwood. But the happiest time of the year is marred by the news that Rosalind Blanchard’s husband, Piers, is close to death after a shipwreck at sea. The fate of her beloved family home, the crumbling Rockwood Castle, is once more in her hands. She must find the strength to keep her family together.

Pregnant, Rosalind comes face to face with the only man who ever made her heart truly sing: her husband’s brother, Alex. As the Christmas bells ring, news of Piers arrives that changes everything. And another chance of happiness might be the gift Rosalind has been waiting for…

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