Hilary Mantel and Helen Simpson feature in the nation's favourite annual guide to the short story, now in its fifth year ..." Best British Short Stories invites you to judge a book by its cover – or more accurately, by its title. This new series aims to reprint the best short stories published in the previous calendar year by British writers, whether based in the UK or elsewhere. The editor's brief is wide ranging, covering anthologies, collections, magazines, newspapers and web sites, looking for the best of the bunch to reprint all in one volume. Authors include Hilary Mantel, Alison Moore, Jenn Ashworth, Helen Simpson, Charles Wilkinson, Rebecca Swirsky, Matthew Sperling, Julianne Pachico, KJ Orr, Bee Lewis, Uschi Gatward, Emma Cleary and Neil Campbell Views: 69
From rainy England... Katie never imagined her life was perfect. But when she finds herself on a rainy street, soaked to the bone and with only a cheating boyfriend and a dead-end job keeping her in town, she knows something has to change. Which is what leads her to Iddlescombe Manor, to be companion to Lady Victoria Chalker-Pyne – the only 25 year old Katie's ever met who hasn't heard of Twitter, thinks camisoles are de rigueur, and desperately needs an education in the 21st century! ...to the Tuscan sun! But it wouldn't be an education without a summer holiday – and where better than Tuscany? Decamping to Victoria's family villa, it's soon clear that the valley really does have it all: sun, sea...and some seriously gorgeous neighbours. The only question is: when the weather's this hot, the wine is this smooth and the local men are this irresistible...will Katie ever want to make the journey home? Don't miss deliciously funny romance What Happens in Tuscany... the perfect escape... Views: 69
A beautifully woven tale of an exiled princess's quest for happiness. Compelling and convincing, the medieval world is brought vividly to life. Charlotte Betts What happened to the family of King Harold after William the Conqueror won the Battle of Hastings? Carol McGrath has delved into one of history's forgotten footnotes and come up with the astonishing story of Thea, the exiled English princess destined for Russian royalty. An enthralling tale, told with elegance and sympathy. Vanora Bennett "The Betrothed Sister is like one of its own rich embroideries, cut from the cloth of history and stitched with strange and passionate lives." Emma Darwin It is September 1068. Thea, also known as Gytha, the elder daughter of King Harold II, travels with her brothers and grandmother into exile carrying revenge in her heart. She is soon betrothed to a prince of Kiev. Will her betrothal and marriage bring her happiness, as she confronts enemies from inside and outside Russian territories?... Views: 69
A failed assassination. A hidden connection of magic and sorcery. One lost werewolf amidst the growing strangeness of her new life.Gwen Rogers finds herself in the midst of the paranormal as an assassin intrudes on the keep of the Indigo Towers. Fox and she travel to a high-profile party to learn the true identity of the cloaked killer, but things don't go as planned. Gwen finds a new friend and some old ones as her loyalty to herself and to the enigmatic Fox are tested. The wrong path will lead to a fate worse than death. Views: 69
Even the idyllic seaside town of Lobster Cove can't keep the horrors of Vietnam at bay for war-widowed Annie. When the young mother finds herself falling for a man with a secret, she must choose between giving her shattered heart another chance or getting back into her red Barracuda and hitting the road. Which will it be—love? Or the open highway? Steve doesn't believe he's worthy of a woman like Annie. He's been so busy hating himself for not being who he thinks he should be, he's lost sight of who he really is. But the times, they are a'changing...and one man's doubt might hide a true hero... Views: 69
“Kelly Palmer?” I knew the voice immediately, even though I hadn't heard it since I was twelve years old. My mouth went dry, and I almost dropped the phone. A wave of goosebumps rolled across my flesh. “Yes.” I sounded scared, reduced to the child I'd been the last time I'd spoken with the man on the other end of the line. “Hi, darlin’. It’s your dad.” Kelly's world is far from perfect. She keeps several states between herself and her overbearing mother, and she's sick of her friends playing matchmaker. Her naive teaching ambitions haven't panned out, and after years of spinning her wheels in a troubled school district, she's tired of fighting an uphill battle. Then her missing father calls, and she reluctantly heads to Texas to hear him out. Their reunion isn't exactly a Hallmark moment, but Kelly falls hard for the vibrant city of Austin, and Mac Hildebrandt, the blue-eyed smart-ass who works with her dad. Her choice to move isn't about her father; it's in spite of him. Since his disastrous divorce, Mac's been satisfied as a bachelor. He's interested in two things: knocking boots and looking out for his kid. Kelly crashes into his life and leaves him reeling from the impact. Try as he might, he can't shake her sweet smile, and that body of hers ain't half bad either. Still, she's Francis's daughter, and Mac's volatile ex is a constant chore, so the complications are impossible to ignore. He ought to know better, but the sparks between them are just too tempting to resist. ***Wood U is a companion novel to The Carved Hearts Series. It is intended to be read as book 4, but may also be read as a stand alone.** Views: 69
The stunning new Shaw & Valentine mystery . . .When the newspapers turn up to cover Ruby Bright’s 100th birthday, they find her seaside care home is a murder scene. Someone spirited Ruby away by wheelchair down to the water’s edge on the idyllic north Norfolk coast, and strangled her. But why kill a harmless centurion?As Detective Inspector Shaw and Detective Sergeant Valentine investigate, it’s clear Ruby wasn’t the first victim, and nor is she the last. All trails seem to lead back to the old Parkwood Springs estate, close to the docklands. There’s only one way in and one way out of the estate – through the derelict Lister Tunnel. But what is the secret within ...? Views: 69
