Tipping the Velvet
"Erotic and absorbing...Written with startling power."--The New York Times Book Review Nan King, an oyster girl, is captivated by the music hall phenomenon Kitty Butler, a male impersonator extraordinaire treading the boards in Canterbury. Through a friend at the box office, Nan manages to visit all her shows and finally meet her heroine. Soon after, she becomes Kitty's dresser and the two head for the bright lights of Leicester Square where they begin a glittering career as music-hall stars in an all-singing and dancing double act. At the same time, behind closed doors, they admit their attraction to each other and their affair begins.
The Witch's Stone
A BRAND-NEW haunting and chilling gothic historical mystery, perfect for fans of C.J. Cooke and Laura Purcell. Some legends never die - they wait for you to come home. When Jess Morgan arrives in Northumberland to research the history of a crumbling chapel, she's drawn to the legend of the Brinkburn Witch - a woman said to appear when blood is spilled near an ancient standing stone. But the longer Jess stays, the stranger things become. Whispers echo through empty corridors, shadows move where none should, and the boundary between dreams and memory begins to blur. Over a century earlier, Eliza Stratford turned to the witch for help after a violent betrayal - and sealed her fate with a terrible bargain. Now her story, and the secrets she died to protect, are surfacing again. As Jess unearths the truth behind the legend, she begins to suspect her own connection to the past runs deeper than she ever imagined - and that some ghosts will do anything to be remembered... Atmospheric, haunting and rich with dark folklore, The Witch's Stone is a spellbinding gothic timeslip mystery where the past refuses to stay buried. Why readers love Kirsty Ferry: 'What's not to like? - a Kirsty Ferry timeslip tale with lots of spooky happenings. Enjoy!' Reader review 'Loved this book, couldn't put it down. Read it in a day.'Reader review 'Marvellously spooky and atmospheric' Reader review 'I hadn't expected a ghost story entwined. I loved it. I couldn't put it down.' Reader review
The Witch's Stone
A BRAND-NEW haunting and chilling gothic historical mystery, perfect for fans of C.J. Cooke and Laura Purcell. Some legends never die - they wait for you to come home. When Jess Morgan arrives in Northumberland to research the history of a crumbling chapel, she's drawn to the legend of the Brinkburn Witch - a woman said to appear when blood is spilled near an ancient standing stone. But the longer Jess stays, the stranger things become. Whispers echo through empty corridors, shadows move where none should, and the boundary between dreams and memory begins to blur. Over a century earlier, Eliza Stratford turned to the witch for help after a violent betrayal - and sealed her fate with a terrible bargain. Now her story, and the secrets she died to protect, are surfacing again. As Jess unearths the truth behind the legend, she begins to suspect her own connection to the past runs deeper than she ever imagined - and that some ghosts will do anything to be remembered... Atmospheric, haunting and rich with dark folklore, The Witch's Stone is a spellbinding gothic timeslip mystery where the past refuses to stay buried. Why readers love Kirsty Ferry: 'What's not to like? - a Kirsty Ferry timeslip tale with lots of spooky happenings. Enjoy!' Reader review 'Loved this book, couldn't put it down. Read it in a day.'Reader review 'Marvellously spooky and atmospheric' Reader review 'I hadn't expected a ghost story entwined. I loved it. I couldn't put it down.' Reader review
In Plain Sight
Eighteen-year-old Scottish actor Alec Douglas arrives at Dartwick Repertory in the summer of 1938. Young, talented, and inexperienced at life, he finds a home among the cast and crew of the old theatre, and through hard work, under the guidance of mercurial director Robin Barton, soon graduates to lead roles, sparking a spirited, at times intense rivalry with the troupe's star actor, Danny Tryon.When a pretty Irish newcomer, Barbara Scanlon, joins the Rep, she soon charms and beguiles the all-too-willing young Scot. Showing him a mesmerising, unorthodox 'gipsy' approach to life, he is soon deeply in love, at the same time sensing there is something she is holding back, keeping secret. Misreading and misunderstanding her elusiveness, Alec presses too hard, losing her even as England is forced into war.Enlisting, Alec sees action in France, Barton unexpectedly stepping back into his life during the chaos at Dunkirk. Now heading a Special Operations Unit, Barton dragoons Alec into helping track a deadly gang of terrorists unleashing killing raids throughout England, the Nazi-backed murderers led by his old rival, Danny Tryon.Worse, Barbara has been proven an active participant in the group.Stumbling into a chance encounter with her, propelled together into a treacherous race just ahead of both factions now hunting them, Alec is left searching desperately for answers in the eyes of the woman he still loves but can never be sure of.
Fatal Omens
The European "war to end all wars" was a catastrophe decades in the making. The prophetic voices of alienated writers and artists in Central Europe were at the turn of the twentieth century divining the end of modernity while seeking cultural and spiritual renewal. Cracks in the optimistic liberal order of the European Age were coming apart and ceding to darker forces.Against this backdrop, historical novelist Stephen Alm獺ssy foregrounds the lives of Archduke Charles of Austria, Hungary, Bohemia and Croatia and Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma. Their marriage before the Great War culminates during the war when they become the last Emperor and Empress of Austria-Hungary under the Habsburg scepter. The old Central European dynasty, the last outpost in Europe of the imperium sacrum, falls on the day, November eleventh, 1918, when the war comes to an uncertain end.
A Silver Ring
Every soul has a Mission-but every life has its Fate. If the Army had just let Wes Hutchinson be a pilot, maybe things would have been different. He'd get to marry his English love, Melody. They might have had a son he could teach to fly. Perhaps after the war Wes could have even squared things up with his sister's suitor, small town miscreant Frank Lawton. Their children could have been playmates; it would have been so perfect. But the day after Melody gives him a special gift and tries to tell him she's pregnant, combat gives Wes his life's wish. Left at the controls of his crew's ravaged bomber - with enemy fighters diving in for the kill - for his last harrowing minutes on Earth, he's a pilot. Mired in a fog of shame and heartbreak, Melody carries Wes' photo, his child, and the gift he left behind to his family in America. But by the time she reaches them, grief - and now-hometown-hero Frank Lawton - have taken their toll. We can only fight so hard, so long. Forty years later, war orphan Justin Prator can't explain the talent for flying he and his son Paulshare, until he's contacted by his birth mother, a kindly old woman with a stubborn English accent. The same day, Paul falls in love with an oddly familiar firebrand. Before they wed, Paul's "new" grandmother presents him with their family's lost icon - a silver ring - and pulls a smoldering tinderbox from the emotional rubble of World War Two. Edited by Cassandra Marshall
The Mortal Edge
An unusual partnership was strained to the limits when the man was moved into the barren interior, with a small number of others, to a ramshackle and grossly neglected school building in an abandoned village at a great distance from the city.The woman fought the enemy, suffering physical wounding in his absence.When captured, the enemy put his skills to the opposite purposes that had been intended, compelling him to fight a long-standing ignominy in his mind, variously employing him for wildly different tasks.He encountered a series of chance liaisons with women in bizarre circumstances - including the nurse who saved him from typhoid, a woman captive later assassinated, a policewoman killed by a tripwire, a cousin he never knew he had, and the consul of a foreign country.He himself finally fled in propitious circumstances to solve his personal mental problem. After fifteen years of anguish, by a most fortuitous event, he recovered his long-lost partner.
The Witch's Stone
A BRAND-NEW haunting and chilling gothic historical mystery, perfect for fans of C.J. Cooke and Laura Purcell. Some legends never die - they wait for you to come home. When Jess Morgan arrives in Northumberland to research the history of a crumbling chapel, she's drawn to the legend of the Brinkburn Witch - a woman said to appear when blood is spilled near an ancient standing stone. But the longer Jess stays, the stranger things become. Whispers echo through empty corridors, shadows move where none should, and the boundary between dreams and memory begins to blur. Over a century earlier, Eliza Stratford turned to the witch for help after a violent betrayal - and sealed her fate with a terrible bargain. Now her story, and the secrets she died to protect, are surfacing again. As Jess unearths the truth behind the legend, she begins to suspect her own connection to the past runs deeper than she ever imagined - and that some ghosts will do anything to be remembered... Atmospheric, haunting and rich with dark folklore, The Witch's Stone is a spellbinding gothic timeslip mystery where the past refuses to stay buried. Why readers love Kirsty Ferry: 'What's not to like? - a Kirsty Ferry timeslip tale with lots of spooky happenings. Enjoy!' Reader review 'Loved this book, couldn't put it down. Read it in a day.'Reader review 'Marvellously spooky and atmospheric' Reader review 'I hadn't expected a ghost story entwined. I loved it. I couldn't put it down.' Reader review
The Witch's Stone
A BRAND-NEW haunting and chilling gothic historical mystery, perfect for fans of C.J. Cooke and Laura Purcell. Some legends never die - they wait for you to come home. When Jess Morgan arrives in Northumberland to research the history of a crumbling chapel, she's drawn to the legend of the Brinkburn Witch - a woman said to appear when blood is spilled near an ancient standing stone. But the longer Jess stays, the stranger things become. Whispers echo through empty corridors, shadows move where none should, and the boundary between dreams and memory begins to blur. Over a century earlier, Eliza Stratford turned to the witch for help after a violent betrayal - and sealed her fate with a terrible bargain. Now her story, and the secrets she died to protect, are surfacing again. As Jess unearths the truth behind the legend, she begins to suspect her own connection to the past runs deeper than she ever imagined - and that some ghosts will do anything to be remembered... Atmospheric, haunting and rich with dark folklore, The Witch's Stone is a spellbinding gothic timeslip mystery where the past refuses to stay buried. Why readers love Kirsty Ferry: 'What's not to like? - a Kirsty Ferry timeslip tale with lots of spooky happenings. Enjoy!' Reader review 'Loved this book, couldn't put it down. Read it in a day.'Reader review 'Marvellously spooky and atmospheric' Reader review 'I hadn't expected a ghost story entwined. I loved it. I couldn't put it down.' Reader review
Fatal Omens
The European "war to end all wars" was a catastrophe decades in the making. The prophetic voices of alienated writers and artists in Central Europe were at the turn of the twentieth century divining the end of modernity while seeking cultural and spiritual renewal. Cracks in the optimistic liberal order of the European Age were coming apart and ceding to darker forces.Against this backdrop, historical novelist Stephen Alm獺ssy foregrounds the lives of Archduke Charles of Austria, Hungary, Bohemia and Croatia and Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma. Their marriage before the Great War culminates during the war when they become the last Emperor and Empress of Austria-Hungary under the Habsburg scepter. The old Central European dynasty, the last outpost in Europe of the imperium sacrum, falls on the day, November eleventh, 1918, when the war comes to an uncertain end.
Defying the Black Eagle and Then There's the Irish
The end of Queen Victoria's reign and the Edwardian period that followed witnessed some of the greatest social and political upheavals the world had ever seen. Patriarchal aristocratic dominance was gradually being replaced by the educated middle classes. In Great Britain, the House of Lords had lost its power of veto, and for the first time, a Liberal government had been voted into power. The fight for Irish independence was growing stronger by the year, as were the suffragettes, who had replaced peaceful demonstrations with violence and illegal tactics. Spies were everywhere, or so the public believed, and as war with Germany came closer, the modern British Secret Service was formed. This novel is about one woman's involvement in all of the above, ably assisted by a few Irish folk she chanced to meet along the way.
The Maid of Orleans
The maid of Orleans: A tragedy presents a dramatic reinterpretation of a legendary mission shaped by faith, doubt, and moral struggle. Structured in five acts, the play follows a divinely inspired figure whose sense of purpose is tested by inner conflict and external judgment. The narrative moves beyond heroic certainty to explore vulnerability, choice, and the cost of conviction. Moments of triumph are shadowed by hesitation, introducing tension between spiritual calling and human emotion. Accusations and isolation deepen the tragic arc, transforming public devotion into suspicion and fear. Rather than adhering strictly to historical record, the work reshapes events to emphasize emotional truth and ethical consequence. Loyalty, sacrifice, and personal integrity emerge as central ideas, framed within a broader reflection on destiny and freedom. The tragic resolution reinforces the idea that greatness is inseparable from suffering. Through heightened drama and symbolic contrast, the play examines how belief can both elevate and undo the individual when tested by love, doubt, and responsibility.
The Bride Of Messina, And On The Use Of The Chorus In Tragedy
The bride of Messina and on the use of the chorus in tragedy presents a tightly structured drama that examines inherited hatred, moral obligation, and the destructive power of unresolved division. Set within a ruling household fractured by past violence, the play explores how loyalty to blood and duty to authority collide with personal conscience. A long standing rivalry shapes every decision, turning affection into suspicion and hope into inevitability. The presence of a chorus reinforces collective memory and moral warning, reminding the audience that private choices carry communal consequences. Rather than relying on surprise, the tragedy advances through mounting emotional pressure, where fate feels both imposed and willingly embraced. Ideas of reconciliation appear briefly, only to be undone by pride and fear. The drama emphasizes that hatred passed across generations becomes self sustaining, regardless of intent. Through ritualized form and heightened language, the play reflects on how destiny is shaped by human refusal to forgive, presenting tragedy as the final outcome of sustained moral blindness.
The Wonder-Working Magician
The wonder-working magician is a dramatic play set in Antioch, exploring themes of love, morality, fate, and free will. The narrative centers on a devoted scholar whose pursuit of knowledge and solitude is disrupted by supernatural forces and the complexities of human desire. Early in the play, the scholar is accompanied by contrasting servants whose perspectives on life and love provide both guidance and conflict. The arrival of a mysterious Demon introduces enchantment, manipulation, and intellectual challenge, setting the stage for philosophical reflection and ethical dilemmas. A central figure of desire creates rivalry and emotional tension, highlighting the interplay between personal longing, social expectation, and moral decision making. The work examines human passion, intellectual curiosity, and the tension between free will and destiny, emphasizing the consequences of choices and the challenges of love. Through rich character interactions, dramatic conflict, and metaphysical inquiry, the play blends theatrical intrigue with ethical and philosophical exploration, demonstrating Calderon s skill in balancing narrative excitement with profound thematic depth.
The Iphigenia In Tauris Of Euripides
The Iphigenia in Tauris of Euripides is a drama that explores themes of fate, family, and moral conflict through the story of a priestess living in a foreign land, bound by ritual duties that challenge her conscience. The narrative examines the tension between personal loyalty and societal obligations, highlighting the struggle to reconcile duty with compassion and the ethical dilemmas posed by tradition and authority. Encounters with strangers and unforeseen reunions reveal the deep emotional bonds that persist despite separation and adversity, emphasizing the power of recognition, forgiveness, and strategic action in the face of danger. The work reflects on human resilience, the influence of divine forces, and the capacity for cleverness and courage to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Through its dramatic structure and heightened emotional intensity, the play conveys insights into justice, mercy, and the enduring connections of family, while engaging with philosophical questions about destiny, responsibility, and the role of human agency within a world governed by higher powers.
Vautrin
Vautrin: A drama in five acts explores a tense world shaped by hidden identities, moral conflict, and social pressure within a rigid hierarchical society. The narrative centers on manipulation and disguise, showing how personal ambition collides with social expectations and ethical limits. Through intertwined relationships, the work examines power, loyalty, and sacrifice, particularly in situations where love and duty are placed in opposition. Ideas of motherhood and protection emerge alongside questions of justice and redemption, suggesting that moral choices are rarely simple. The drama highlights how individuals navigate restrictive social systems, using secrecy and strategy to survive or advance. Emotional intensity builds through confrontations that expose inner conflict, revealing how past actions influence present consequences. Rather than offering clear moral resolution, the play emphasizes ambiguity, portraying characters as shaped by circumstance as much as intent. Overall, the work presents a layered reflection on identity, authority, and emotional struggle, using dramatic tension to explore the cost of control, deception, and the search for belonging.
Men In War
Men in war presents a stark and emotionally charged portrayal of armed conflict, focusing on the psychological devastation experienced by soldiers rather than battlefield glory. The novel examines fear, exhaustion, moral collapse, and the slow erosion of humanity caused by prolonged exposure to violence. Set within military and civilian spaces shaped by conflict, the narrative highlights how war penetrates every aspect of life, leaving lasting scars on both individuals and communities. The work emphasizes mental breakdown, helplessness, and emotional numbness, portraying soldiers as victims of systems that demand obedience while stripping away compassion and dignity. Through intense interior reflection and vivid scenes of suffering, the novel challenges romanticized notions of heroism and questions the justification of organized violence. Themes of alienation, trauma, and ethical disillusionment dominate the narrative, presenting war as a force that destroys meaning rather than creating it. The book stands as a powerful critique of militarism and an exploration of the human cost of conflict, emphasizing empathy, psychological truth, and moral reckoning.
1521
1521: The Defiance is a historical novel inspired by the events surrounding Ferdinand Magellan's final expedition and the Battle of Mactan in the Philippine archipelago.In the early sixteenth century, Magellan's fleet crossed the Pacific in search of the Spice Islands, bringing with it the ambitions of empire and the promise of conversion to a distant world. When the expedition reached the islands of the Visayas, alliances were formed, cultures collided, and the fragile balance between diplomacy and domination began to unravel.Drawing from the surviving chronicle of Antonio Pigafetta, the only firsthand account of Magellan's voyage, 1521: The Defiance explores the human stories that history left unrecorded. Through the perspectives of sailors, interpreters, rulers, and warriors, the novel imagines the lives of those who stood on both sides of a pivotal encounter between island communities and a foreign empire.At the center of the story is the growing tension between Ferdinand Magellan and the Visayan leaders whose islands lay in the path of his mission. As faith, loyalty, and ambition intertwine, alliances begin to fracture and the promise of peace gives way to confrontation.Grounded in precolonial Visayan culture and shaped by historical research, 1521: The Defiance reexamines one of the most enduring moments in Philippine history. It is a story of exploration and resistance, of belief and misunderstanding, and of the choices that led to a clash remembered for centuries.
One Nation - One Heart; One Heart - One Nation
This work includes two short novels. I have transformed true events into short novels. I was one of them who survived the war until the last day. What happened in Sri Lanka in the twenty-first century is the genocide of Tamil people in Sri Lanka.An 'Eternal Testament', a short novel, is a dissection of that genocide. The Tamil race in Sri Lanka, which became a victim of genocide, has not received justice to this day. I firmly believe that this short novel will draw the attention of the international community.The Tamil Eelam Liberation Struggle was a just cause. It is unique compared to other liberation struggles in the world. Fighters in the Tamil Eelam Liberation Struggle engaged in the movement with honesty and in truth. I have depicted the experience and history of one of them in the short novel 'One Nation - One Heart; One Heart - One Nation'. I believe that the short novel will help the world understand the nation of the liberation struggle.Let the sense of emancipation spread among the people all over the world. Let the door of theheart of the World Court open! Let us get justice.
The Death Of Wallenstein
The death of Wallenstein presents the final part of a dramatic trilogy exploring power, loyalty, and betrayal during a time of intense political and military conflict. The play focuses on the downfall of a once-powerful general whose secret negotiations and shifting alliances create tension and uncertainty among his followers. As loyalties fracture, characters struggle with duty, ambition, and personal desire, facing moral and strategic dilemmas that test their judgment and resolve. The narrative builds toward a tragic conclusion, highlighting the consequences of deception, political maneuvering, and overreaching ambition. Themes of honor, loyalty, and the cost of power are central, with the unfolding events demonstrating how personal and political conflicts intertwine. The work balances historical context with human drama, portraying the psychological and ethical complexity of leadership and betrayal. The play s tension, moral stakes, and intricate plotting create a compelling exploration of trust, consequence, and the tragic outcomes of flawed decisions within a turbulent social and military environment.
Mary Stuart
Mary Stuart: A tragedy presents an intense dramatic exploration of power, conscience, and confinement shaped by political rivalry and personal resolve. The play focuses on a captive figure whose identity and dignity remain intact despite isolation and uncertainty. Conflicting loyalties and delayed decisions create a tense atmosphere in which authority is weighed against compassion. Hope briefly survives through imagined rescue and moral appeal, but secrecy and mistrust gradually tighten the tragic frame. A direct confrontation between opposing forces becomes the emotional center of the drama, exposing pride, fear, and unresolved rivalry. Public authority contrasts sharply with private doubt, revealing how governance can fracture under moral pressure. Faith, honor, and self awareness guide the imprisoned figure toward acceptance rather than desperation. The unfolding tragedy emphasizes responsibility and consequence, showing how hesitation can be as destructive as action. Through elevated language and psychological tension, the play examines the human cost of political conflict and the loneliness of absolute power.
The Short Line War
The short line war is an early twentieth-century novel that follows the transformation of a young man shaped by national conflict into a formidable figure within the American railroad industry. The narrative traces a progression from idealism and personal attachment toward calculated ambition, showing how early experiences of war disrupt private life and redirect energy into commercial struggle. As the central figure enters the competitive world of railroads, business becomes a battlefield defined by legal maneuvering, political influence, and ruthless opposition. Romantic attachment, once grounded in shared feeling, is strained by diverging values and the pressures of success, revealing the cost of advancement on intimacy and trust. The struggle over control of a strategic rail line exposes the era s harsh economic realities, where loyalty is fragile and power is constantly contested. Throughout the novel, personal growth is inseparable from broader social change, illustrating how industrial expansion reshapes identity, ethics, and human relationships. The work blends individual aspiration with historical transformation, portraying ambition as both a driving force and a corrosive influence within a rapidly modernizing society.
The Spirit Remains
Lucy Chappell has already survived one great love and one great loss. Now, as the 1890s unfold, she must raise Hōhepa's children, navigate a changing country, and welcome unlikely new alliances-including the enigmatic hairdresser Charles Patterson, whose past carries more shadows than he reveals.Across the world, artist Colin Greenwood struggles to rebuild his life in Eastbourne after losing his partner, Josh. When Charles arrives with difficult questions, long-buried connections resurface.Through it all, Wiremu-elder, mentor, peacemaker-guides the next generation, preparing his son Wiri for an uncertain future as the world moves toward war.In the present day, Ngaroma follows the trail of her ancestors, uncovering secrets and discovering that the past is never as distant as it seems.From Hamilton to Kāwhia and beyond, The Spirit Remains is a powerful story of loss and resilience, of whānau across generations, and of the pounamu that carries their unbroken story forward. Even when histories are hidden, some bonds refuse to fade, and spirits endure.Book 3 in the Our Unbroken Spirits seriesA family saga set in New Zealand and England, the Our Unbroken Spirits series spans two centuries, tracing one whānau across generations and cultures, blending rich historical detail with emotional storytelling and mysteries that connect past and present.
Pickle The Spy
Pickle the spy or the incognito of Prince Charles presents a detailed exploration of secret politics, loyalty, and betrayal surrounding a dangerous period of political unrest. The narrative examines covert networks built on deception, coded communication, and shifting allegiances, revealing how secrecy becomes both protection and weapon. Through the figure of a shadowy informer, the book highlights the moral uncertainty of espionage and the fragile trust that binds conspirators together. The story reflects on exile, identity, and survival, showing how disguise and silence shape personal fate as well as political outcomes. Ideas of honor clash with self preservation, while ambition and fear quietly influence every decision. The work also considers the emotional toll of living under constant threat, where loyalty can never be fully proven and truth is endlessly obscured. By blending political intrigue with psychological insight, the book offers a reflective view of resistance, secrecy, and the costs of hidden lives during times of instability.
Rob Roy
Rob Roy Volume 2 continues an intense exploration of loyalty, risk, and moral uncertainty as a young man becomes further entangled in political unrest and personal danger. The narrative deepens its focus on betrayal within family ties, where trust is repeatedly tested by ambition and secrecy. As the journey moves through remote landscapes, survival depends on quick judgment, resilience, and the ability to read hidden motives. Political tension shapes every encounter, revealing how private lives are reshaped by wider conflicts and shifting power. The story reflects on honor challenged by necessity, and the uneasy balance between law, rebellion, and personal conscience. Romance and danger coexist with calculated violence, creating an atmosphere of constant threat. The volume emphasizes transformation through hardship, showing how exposure to uncertainty forges maturity and self awareness. Through suspense and reflection, the book presents a layered view of conflict, identity, and the cost of choosing integrity amid chaos.
Bambi
Bambi presents a thoughtful portrait of a young woman navigating independence, ambition, and emotional responsibility within a structured social world. The narrative focuses on personal choice and self definition, emphasizing how conviction and idealism can challenge traditional expectations. The central figure is portrayed as intelligent, spirited, and determined to live with purpose rather than convenience. Conversations and personal decisions reveal a deep concern for integrity, creative freedom, and loyalty, especially when love intersects with uncertainty. The story reflects on marriage not as an end goal, but as a partnership shaped by mutual belief and sacrifice. Social conventions are questioned through moments of wit and introspection, highlighting the tension between individual aspiration and accepted norms. Throughout the opening movement, the novel explores growth through responsibility, suggesting that maturity emerges from conscious commitment rather than passive acceptance. The work blends emotional sensitivity with quiet humor, offering a reflective examination of identity, independence, and the courage required to shape a meaningful future.
Defying the Black Eagle and Then There's the Irish
The end of Queen Victoria's reign and the Edwardian period that followed witnessed some of the greatest social and political upheavals the world had ever seen. Patriarchal aristocratic dominance was gradually being replaced by the educated middle classes. In Great Britain, the House of Lords had lost its power of veto, and for the first time, a Liberal government had been voted into power. The fight for Irish independence was growing stronger by the year, as were the suffragettes, who had replaced peaceful demonstrations with violence and illegal tactics. Spies were everywhere, or so the public believed, and as war with Germany came closer, the modern British Secret Service was formed. This novel is about one woman's involvement in all of the above, ably assisted by a few Irish folk she chanced to meet along the way.
Shield of Ashes
The world didn't end with a single decision. It ended with a thousand.Donald Trump's third term. A world already fracturing under the weight of old alliances and new ambitions, and then North Korea launches a ballistic missile at Beijing. What follows is not a war. It's a cascade. China retaliates against the launch sites. India and Pakistan, watching the same satellite feeds, reach for weapons they've never used. Iran makes its move against Israel. Russia deploys biological and chemical weapons the world thought were banned by treaties everyone pretended still mattered. And in Washington, an 82-year-old president with an artificial heart tries, and fails, and tries again, to stop a fire that nobody can outrun.But nobody is watching Ukraine. They should be.Shield of Ashes spans fourteen countries and more than a hundred characters across seven days of escalating catastrophe. From the generals making decisions in hardened bunkers to the families who never made it home. A Ukrainian drone programmer who encoded her grief into forty-seven thousand autonomous weapons and called the targeting system the Sofiyka Protocol, after her daughter. A rogue American pilot flying toward a target nobody told him to stop hitting. A Houston couple dying slowly from radiation exposure in their kitchen, holding each other while the city burns outside. A Pakistani launch officer who turns a key and spends the rest of his life wishing he hadn't. An Iranian intelligence director who set the whole thing in motion and watches it unfold from forty meters underground.No character in this novel is simply a villain. Everyone acts rationally within their own information and incentives. Catastrophe doesn't emerge from evil - it emerges from collective rationality, from a chain of reasonable decisions that leads somewhere no one intended to go.Behind every casualty figure is a person who had somewhere to be. Shield of Ashes is the thriller that asks what happens when the small nations stop waiting to be saved - and start fighting back.
A Bold Pursuit - Large Print Edition
A Bold PursuitLarge Print EditionEngland, 1879.Sarah Guest's life appears carefully ordered-until a brutal act shatters the future she imagined for herself. Bound by duty, reputation, and the quiet expectations of a minister's daughter, she must confront a choice that will alter the course of her life.When an opportunity arises to travel aboard an immigrant ship bound for colonial New Zealand, Sarah seizes her chance to begin again. But escape is never simple. On the very day she boards the Hermione, she comes face to face with Heath-the man she once believed might share her future.As the ship sails through the perilous Southern Ocean, Sarah is thrust into the role of the vessel's unofficial medic, tending illness, injury, and rising tensions among passengers desperate for new beginnings.In a world shaped by class, distance, and consequence, Sarah must decide what she is willing to sacrifice-and what kind of future she dares to claim.Inspired by the true story of the author's great-great-grandmother, A Bold Pursuit is a richly detailed historical novel of resilience, restraint, and second chances at the edge of the world.Large Print EditionThis large print edition is designed for ease of reading, featuring: A larger, more accessible font sizeIncreased line spacingClear, comfortable page layoutIdeal for readers who prefer or require enhanced readability.
Specimens Of Greek Tragedy
Specimens of Greek Tragedy: Aeschylus and Sophocles offers a deep exploration of classical drama, highlighting the enduring power of Greek theater. The collection presents translated excerpts that reveal the tension between fate, human desire, and divine influence, showing how characters navigate moral dilemmas and societal expectations. It emphasizes the evolution of tragedy, from the foundational works of Aeschylus to the more psychologically nuanced plays of Sophocles, illustrating how character complexity and plot intricacy developed over time. Detailed prefaces and commentary provide insight into dramatic structures, the role of the chorus, and the cultural and religious contexts in which these plays were performed. Themes of defiance, loyalty, justice, and familial obligation are woven throughout, offering readers a sense of the philosophical and emotional weight carried by the original performances. By combining literary analysis with accessible translations, the book encourages appreciation of the artistry, depth, and moral exploration inherent in Greek tragedy.
Where Butterflies Gather
From 1943 forward-not without great sacrifice-World War II draws to a close. Family and friends return from fighting in the brutal battlefields of the European and Pacific Theaters, while the threat of retaliation from the ruthless Akio continues to hover over Billi and Jack Huntington. As they strive to rebuild their lives and find peace, they discover that their Japanese nemesis has survived and draws closer to his goal of utilizing his katana, the sharpest of blades, for retribution. Fueled by hatred, which thrived through the entanglement of war, the Japanese spy's plan to kill the Huntingtons unfolds. As Billi struggles to regain her health, Jack is faced with defending his family on American soil, as he, too, desires revenge against the man who has already taken so much from him, even when far away.The final novel in the Orchids Trilogy, this story is the culmination of fourteen years of research and interviews with more than 65 men and women veterans from World War II. While the characters are fictional, the outline of the war is historically accurate, enriched by the brush strokes of the shared experiences of the war and those who sacrificed so much for our freedom.
The Widening Gyre
A guilty secret haunts young widow Else as she tries to drown her conscience among the glittering lights of 1920s Berlin.Else's husband August returned from the Great War shattered in mind and body. Soon after, she finds herself a widow. Her best friend Hans, a gay man who also lost his partner in the war, joins her on a mission to disappear. There's no work to be found in the devastated economy, nothing for them to build. But dance parties, cabarets, and hallucinatory nightclubs fill the tormented streets of the Weimar Republic, beacons in the night. Hans introduces Else to Mae, a sophisticated bonne vivante who teaches Else new ways to forget. But as inflation rises and the social order crumbles, Else finds that her dark secrets refuse to be blotted out. At last, she must reckon with her ghosts-or let Mae's treacherous friendship destroy everything that is left of her.
Lilith
A name whispered in shadow conceals a life shaped by secrets, injustice, and the struggle for identity.In Lilith by E. D. E. N. Southworth, a young woman burdened by a troubled past finds herself caught in a world of hidden motives, shifting loyalties, and dangerous misunderstandings. Known by the enigmatic name "Lilith," she moves through society under a veil of mystery, her true history obscured by circumstance and deception.As her story unfolds, long-buried truths begin to surface-touching on questions of inheritance, legitimacy, and the forces that shape a person's fate. Around her gather those who seek either to protect or to control her, each driven by ambition, love, or self-interest.Set within the heightened emotional landscape of Victorian sensation fiction, the novel weaves together romance, suspense, and moral conflict. Through trials of hardship and revelation, the heroine's journey becomes one of resilience and self-discovery, as she confronts both the judgments of society and the truth of her own past.Lilith is a dramatic and intricate tale of identity and redemption, where appearances deceive and justice must be fought for against the weight of secrecy and intrigue.
Spider, Spider
Vengeance is theirs and theirs alone. But who will deal the fatal blow?Young Nancy Ratcliffe is on the run. Her father had sought refuge for his family with the Brethren, led by the charismatic but dangerous Prophet. But now her father is gravely ill, and even the sooty streets of Victorian London hold less terror for Nancy than the brutality of Brethren Hall.Meanwhile, Spider is biding her time. Wrapped in dreams and visions, she paces the dark corridors and hidden staircases of the crumbling house she grew up in. The man who murdered a part of her disappeared many years ago, but still she hopes for revenge.Jet-black and thrilling, Spider, Spider is an unforgettable tale of a woman who has lost herself in the poison of vengeance, and the knife-sharp girl who might just bring her back.
The Treaty Of Hope
Two worlds divided. One fragile truce. A future forged in technology and ancient magic.In a reimagined Australia where ancient Dreaming and colonial ambition collide, Katunja, a young woman marked by the spirit of the land, finds herself at the centre of a brewing storm.As the British Empire encroaches and old wounds begin to fester, the air hums with more than just tension. Dreaming-tech, the sacred marriage of ancient power and modern machinery, is restless, reflecting a land ready to rebel.A Nation at the Breaking PointWhen the hope of a new treaty beckons, Katunja and her friends must navigate a treacherous landscape of betrayal and tradition. In the crucible of ceremony and conflict, they are forced to decide what they are willing to lose for the sake of sovereignty.An Impossible AllianceKatunja is joined by a young outsider, a man torn between the rigid laws of the Empire and the profound truths of the Songlines. Together, they dare to imagine a future where enemies might become allies. But as the fires of debate burn high and secrets of the land are revealed, Katunja discovers that peace demands more than courage, it demands a sacrifice that could alter the Dreaming and their way of life forever.The Treaty of Hope is an epic tale of love, legacy, and the cost of forging a future where two worlds might walk together.Why You'll Love This Story: A Unique World: A breath taking blend of technology and Indigenous spirituality.High Stakes: A political and magical thriller where the fate of a nation hangs on a single choice.Rich Culture: A deeply respectful exploration of First Nations identity and the power of the Songlines.Perfect for Fans of: Alternative history, magical realism, Indigenous futurism, and climate fiction, that are interested in social justice, environmentalism, and diverse speculative fiction. Experience a reimagined history. Find out if Katunja can bridge the divide-or if the cost of peace is too high.
It Worked Fifteen Minutes Ago
It Worked Fifteen Minutes AgoSea stories told from just above Davy Jones' locker.What do you get when you cross a retired Navy corpsman, a crew of lovable degenerates, and the floating bureaucracy known as Military Sealift Command?You get this: a hilarious, unflinching, and occasionally profane fictionalized memoir of life at sea.B.A. Ritzenthaler takes you aboard the USNS Hudson-a ship held together by rust, grit, and just enough common sense to stay afloat. From supply snafus to medical chaos, liberty port misadventures to leadership lessons hard-won, these stories capture the absurdity and humanity of serving as a civilian in a military organization.Told with sharp humor, brutal honesty, and a sailor's sense of timing, It Worked Fifteen Minutes Ago is for anyone who's ever served, ever wondered what it's really like, or ever been one smart-ass away from snapping.For fans of: The Things They CarriedCatch-22True military stories told with biting wit and a big heart
The Boar and the Eagle
Betrayed. Enslaved. Forged in War.93 B.C.E. - As the Roman Republic teeters on the brink of civil war, Iberian tribes wage a desperate struggle against the relentless march of Roman legions. Among them is Caro, a slave and hunter, torn from his homeland as a child, surviving only by the blade and his wits. But when a reckless act of defiance leads to his capture by a ruthless Roman governor, Caro faces a brutal choice: die in chains or fight for Rome.Rescued (if it can be called that) by the ambitious young officer Quintus Sertorius, Caro is thrust into the brutal world of Roman warfare. From blood-soaked ambushes in the wild Iberian hills to the deadly politics of the Roman world, Caro must learn quickly, because in this world loyalty is fleeting, and only the strong survive.As he marches deeper into the heart of Rome's war machine, Caro must decide: is he a soldier, a traitor, or a survivor?The Boar and the Eagle transports the reader into the very heart of a different kind of Roman Republic. Experience the Roman world during a unique period in its history: a time of struggle, nationhood, citizenship, and bloodshed. Travel from the corners of the Republic to the very heart of its growing empire.Would you fight for Rome, or betray her?
Marshwiggle
Little Betsy is intrigued by fairies, elves and Leprechauns, and wants to see if they are real. She disappears from her babysitter Joanie's sight to go on an adventure to the cranberry bog at the edge of town. As she wonders around having fun, her babysitter is franticly looking for her and worried that she might get in trouble for loosing her charge.While in the cranberry bog, Betsy wonders upon a Marshwiggle village hidden in the bog. The group of Marshwiggles do not want her to see their village and they go to the mayor of their village to find out what to do. The mayor sets into action a plan he had for just such a thing. The Marshwiggles guide Betsy out of the cranberry bog back to the village where her babysitter's team of cheerleaders has been helping Joanie search for the lost tot. It all ends happy as Betsy pretends she was just playing hide and seek from the girls. The Marshwiggles maintain their secret village and Betsy had a fun adventure to think about for days to come.
The Gardener of Baghdad
"Two people, one city, different times; connected by a memoir. Can love exist in a city destined for decades of misery?" Adnan leads a weary existence as a bookshop owner in modern-day, war-torn Baghdad, where bombings, corruption and assault are everyday occurrences and the struggle to survive has suffocated the joy out of life for most. But when he begins to clean out his bookshop of forty years to leave his city in search of somewhere safer, he comes across the story of Ali, the Gardener of Baghdad, Adnan rediscovers through a memoir handwritten by the gardener decades ago that beauty, love and hope can still exist, even in the darkest corners of the world.
Hostile Extraction
Hostile Extraction is the latest installment in Harrison Kone's acclaimed David Shaw series--perfect for fans of Jack Carr, Mark Greaney, and Brad Thor.The next world war won't start by mistake--it's already on the calendar.When CIA asset Laila Malik vanishes mid-operation, David Shaw and his Invictus team launch a desperate hunt to find her. But the search for the assassin-turned-spy exposes a dark truth built on power, profit, and blood.A covert alliance of global elites is engineering war for gain. Ukraine is their latest payday. And Laila Malik is trapped at the center.As these hidden players manipulate governments, defense giants, and intelligence networks, they push nations toward open conflict--fueling chaos to build their empires and cash in on the carnage.But as Shaw closes in, every advantage turns against him. Compromised, cut off, and caught in the crossfire, he must rescue Malik and tear through the conspiracy before the architects of war ignite the fuse that will set the world on fire._________________________Praise for The David Shaw series: "I guarantee you will enjoy the twists, turns, and gunfights." --SGM (R) Kyle Lamb, author of Leadership in the Shadows, President of Viking Tactics, Delta Force"...authentic, accurate, gritty, and relevant." --LTG (R) Joe Anderson, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, Airborne Corps Commander, Air Assault Brigade Commander, Airborne Battalion Commander, Ranger Company Commander"As a former SEAL TEAM SIX operator, I was riveted from the first page." --Mike Noell, CEO, SENTRY Products Group, SEAL Team Six (DEVGRU)"Harrison Kone's fiction story lures his readers into a storyline that could very well have happened on any operator's watch." --GySgt (R) Phillip Wyman Jr., USMC, Plank owner of Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor Trainer Program (MCMAP), Iraq Veteran
Rose's War
In 1937, Rose did not expect to marry Bill Taylor as the consequence of an unfortunate night out. Bill's complete change of character after the wedding was a shock to her and his family-but not so much to Ted, Rose's dad. After the outbreak of war in 1939, Bill joins the army and their relationship deteriorates even more. With the violence Rose has suffered since the beginning of their marriage, she is quite pleased to have him gone, and she settles down to life, living with Bill's mum Betty. After Bill's brother Jack joins the RAF as a mechanic, his wife Sybil and their daughter also move into Betty's so they can all support each other through the war and the bombing. Life changes again when the Americans join the war and are shipped out to Britain. The American GIs are a shock for the British, especially the black GIs and the way they are treated. When Ted encourages her to go out with friends, Rose's life is turned upside down after she meets her friend's fianc矇, a black GI, and some of his friends, and she began to see what a real relationship could be like. We follow Rose as she journeys through the war, and all she comes up against.
Mothers, Wives and Daughters
Discover the emotional historical read from the Queen of Scottish Saga, Evelyn Hood. Will promises and choices lead to happiness or heartbreak? Scotland, 1900 Working class Christy Craig marries the wild and wealthy Andrew Melville and has his children, a unequal union frowned upon by both families. While Andrew is away at sea working as an apprentice marine engineer Christy pursues a career producing perfume and cosmetics, causing tension between herself and Andrew, who believes she should devote herself to their two small children. A family tragedy eventually drives Andrew to New Zealand, leaving Christy at home to look after her family and channel her energy into revitalising her father's soap-making business. When Andrew begins calling on Isobel Armstrong an old childhood flame, old passions and temptations are reignited. Years later, their daughter Ailsa seeks a reconciliation with her estranged father while navigating her own dreams of becoming a writer amidst the chaos of love and loss. When Andrew returns for his mother's funeral, Ailsa seeks reconciliation with her estranged father who she adored while navigating her own dreams of becoming a writer. But wartime also means great love and loss for Ailsa. And all the while she dreams of fostering stronger ties with her father. Previously published as The Promise Box by Louise James PRAISE FOR EVELYN HOOD 'Compelling from the start, heartfelt and beautifully written.' - Rosie Clarke 'If you like Catherine Cookson, you'll love Evelyn Hood's books.' - Lizzie Lane 'Evelyn Hood's characters step off the page and into your heart.' - Sheila Riley 'This is addictive and heartfelt storytelling, with colourful characters you'll never want to say goodbye to.' - Jane Lark ''Loved the strong, relatable characters. A lively, refreshing read.' - Kate Eastham 'Wonderfully descriptive, with memorable characters and a true sense of place.' - Tracy Baines 'Faultless historical detail and emotionally complex characters makethese engrossing and intelligent Evelyn Hood's sagas deeply satisfying' - Maisie Thomas 'Evocative, beautifully rich, brilliantly detailed and meticulously researched - this story transported me and kept me up way past my bedtime - a triumph of a story. I very highly recommend Evelyn Hood' - Renita D'Silva 'Scotland's Catherine Cookson' - Scots Magazine 'Hood is immaculate in her historical detail' - Scottish Herald 'Quite simply, I couldn't put it down. A rich and rewarding read' - Emma Blair 'Evelyn Hood has been called Scotland's Catherine Cookson. Unfair. She has her own distinctive voice' - Scots Magazine 'Touching, romantic and unforgettable' - Reader Review 'Love all her books' - Reader Review 'Evelyn Hood produces the best of stories' - Reader Review 'I cannot put her books down' - Reader Review 'Love everything Evelyn Hood writes' - Reader Review 'Evelyn Hood is a fantastic writer, bringing the past to life and drawing you right into the story' - Reader Review
Mothers, Wives and Daughters
Discover the emotional historical read from the Queen of Scottish Saga, Evelyn Hood. Will promises and choices lead to happiness or heartbreak? Scotland, 1900 Working class Christy Craig marries the wild and wealthy Andrew Melville and has his children, a unequal union frowned upon by both families. While Andrew is away at sea working as an apprentice marine engineer Christy pursues a career producing perfume and cosmetics, causing tension between herself and Andrew, who believes she should devote herself to their two small children. A family tragedy eventually drives Andrew to New Zealand, leaving Christy at home to look after her family and channel her energy into revitalising her father's soap-making business. When Andrew begins calling on Isobel Armstrong an old childhood flame, old passions and temptations are reignited. Years later, their daughter Ailsa seeks a reconciliation with her estranged father while navigating her own dreams of becoming a writer amidst the chaos of love and loss. When Andrew returns for his mother's funeral, Ailsa seeks reconciliation with her estranged father who she adored while navigating her own dreams of becoming a writer. But wartime also means great love and loss for Ailsa. And all the while she dreams of fostering stronger ties with her father. Previously published as The Promise Box by Louise James PRAISE FOR EVELYN HOOD 'Compelling from the start, heartfelt and beautifully written.' - Rosie Clarke 'If you like Catherine Cookson, you'll love Evelyn Hood's books.' - Lizzie Lane 'Evelyn Hood's characters step off the page and into your heart.' - Sheila Riley 'This is addictive and heartfelt storytelling, with colourful characters you'll never want to say goodbye to.' - Jane Lark ''Loved the strong, relatable characters. A lively, refreshing read.' - Kate Eastham 'Wonderfully descriptive, with memorable characters and a true sense of place.' - Tracy Baines 'Faultless historical detail and emotionally complex characters makethese engrossing and intelligent Evelyn Hood's sagas deeply satisfying' - Maisie Thomas 'Evocative, beautifully rich, brilliantly detailed and meticulously researched - this story transported me and kept me up way past my bedtime - a triumph of a story. I very highly recommend Evelyn Hood' - Renita D'Silva 'Scotland's Catherine Cookson' - Scots Magazine 'Hood is immaculate in her historical detail' - Scottish Herald 'Quite simply, I couldn't put it down. A rich and rewarding read' - Emma Blair 'Evelyn Hood has been called Scotland's Catherine Cookson. Unfair. She has her own distinctive voice' - Scots Magazine 'Touching, romantic and unforgettable' - Reader Review 'Love all her books' - Reader Review 'Evelyn Hood produces the best of stories' - Reader Review 'I cannot put her books down' - Reader Review 'Love everything Evelyn Hood writes' - Reader Review 'Evelyn Hood is a fantastic writer, bringing the past to life and drawing you right into the story' - Reader Review
Brothers of the Sword
An epic battle where heroes fight and die to protect a Kingdom from Viking invasion...991ADKing Aethelred the Unready's Kingdom of the English is threatened. Olaf Tryggvason and his fleet of Viking warships snap at the coastal edges like ravenous wolves, and Sweyn Forkbeard, King of the Danes, has landed in East Anglia with an army of battle-hardened warriors.Ealdorman Byrhtnoth of Essex must stand against them faced with overwhelming odds, forging his legend in the blood of his deadly enemies.By his side, his Thegn, Beornoth, a brutal warrior and savage Saxon fighter is torn between his need to protect his loved ones, and his duty to fight for his Lord.As the Vikings raid and slaughter, Beornoth is forced to fight for the survival of his oath sworn brothers, his Lord, and the Kingdom itself when all roads lead to the fateful Battle of Maldon.Can Beornoth protect his people and survive one of the most famous battles of the Viking Age?A thrilling story, packed with war, vengeance and visceral combat.
The Old Homestead
The old homestead portrays a moving account of hardship, faith, and quiet endurance within a struggling household. The narrative follows a young child facing loss, poverty, and isolation after the absence of parental protection leaves daily survival uncertain. Living in a neglected space, the child's inner world becomes a place of reflection, prayer, and resilience, revealing how hope can persist even when material comfort disappears. The story emphasizes emotional strength shaped by love, memory, and belief, rather than external security. Domestic suffering is presented alongside moral perseverance, suggesting that dignity can exist independent of wealth or status. Through carefully observed moments of waiting, longing, and endurance, the book explores how familial bonds continue to influence identity even in separation. The work reflects on social inequality and vulnerability while highlighting compassion, endurance, and spiritual resolve. Rather than focusing on dramatic action, it draws power from emotional realism and quiet struggle, presenting hardship as a force that reveals character and deepens moral awareness.
