Other books that might interest you

• 

  Mary Not Broken

  Deborah L. King

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  In 1930s Mississippi, Mary Johnson hates the oppressive heat, working on her family farm, and having to attend her minister father's church several times a week. But she loves Mason Carter, her musician boyfriend. Both fantasize about living the high life up north in the big city. 
   
   
   
  When William Bevers, a wealthy old preacher, comes to court her, he promises a life of luxury along with money and status for her family. Mary wants nothing to do with him, but her parents decide for her. Determined to avoid a forced marriage, Mary elopes with Mason to the bright lights of Chicago. 
   
   
   
  But life up north is not the dream they expected. Multiple tragedies push Mary to the brink, and she soon returns home to the very world she tried so desperately to escape. 
   
   
   
  Too numb to stave off the pressure from her father, Mary considers accepting William's proposal. But she soon realizes that life as the preacher's wife might not provide the safety and security she craves.

  Show book

• 

  The Trials of Mary Johnsdaughter

  Christine De Luca

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  A cold sweat had spread over Mary as she listened. What she was hearing was sounding ever more like a premonition: adultery was nearly as bad as murder.
  Shetland, 1773: a land of hand-to-mouth living and tight community ties overshadowed by the ever-watchful eye of the kirk, an institution 'run by auld men, for auld men'. In this fictionalised retelling of historical events, young Waas lass Mary Johnsdaughter stands accused of having sinned in the eyes of the church after the Batchelor, a ship bursting with emigrants seeking new lives in North Carolina, is left stranded upon Shetland's shores.
  Will she survive the humiliation? Will she become an outcast? Will one moment cost her everything?
  A tale of Shetland folk knit out of Shetlandic voices and real parish records, The Trials of Mary Johnsdaughter pits the bonds of friends and family against the grip of the kirk. Only one thing is clear: then as now, 'Hit's no aesy livin in a peerie place.'

  Show book

• 

  Getting Vetted

  Tanya MacFarlane

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  New Zealand vet Samantha accepts a job in small town Southland after graduation. She wants to be thrown in the deep end and experience all life has to offer before heading overseas. Could life be any better? She has her career, her friends and her fiancé. His only vice is the drinking. And the annoying best mate always along for the ride. 
  Samantha travels with friends through South East Asia before setting up to work in the UK. With the arrival of foot and mouth disease, the collapse of the twin towers, and a floundering relationship, life feels very uncertain. 
  One reckless night kicks off a series of events that throw her out of her comfort zone. Grappling with her values and beliefs, she sets off on a journey of self-discovery. As America hunts for Saddam Hussein, she travels through the Middle East and discovers what really matters. 
  Getting Vetted is about relationships, spirituality and travel. Sometimes to grow up you need to let go of deeply-held beliefs and let go of childhood attachments to find your authentic self.

  Show book

• 

  Stealing - A Novel

  Margaret Verble

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  “This powerful novel should join classics like Ernest J. Gaines’s The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, Helena Maria Viramontes’s Under the Feet of Jesus, and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.”—New York Times Book Review 
  A gripping, gut-punch of a novel about a Cherokee child removed from her family and sent to a Christian boarding school in the 1950s—an ambitious, eye-opening reckoning of history and small-town prejudices from Pulitzer Prize finalist Margaret Verble.  
  Kit Crockett lives on a farm with her grief-stricken, widowed father, tending the garden, fishing in a local stream, and reading Nancy Drew mysteries from the library bookmobile. One day, Kit discovers a mysterious and beautiful woman has moved in just down the road.  
  Kit and the newcomer, Bella, become friends, and the lonely Kit draws comfort from her. But when a malicious neighbor finds out, Kit suddenly finds herself at the center of a tragic, fatal crime and becomes a ward of the court. Her Cherokee family wants to raise her, but the righteous Christians in town instead send her to a religious boarding school. Kit’s heritage is attacked, and she’s subjected to religious indoctrination and other forms of abuse. But Kit secretly keeps a journal recounting what she remembers—and revealing just what she has forgotten. Over the course of Stealing, she unravels the truth of how she ended up at the school and plots a way out. If only she can make her plan work in time. 
  In swift, sharp, and stunning prose, Margaret Verble spins a powerful coming-of-age tale and reaffirms her place as an indelible storyteller and chronicler of history.

  Show book

• 

  A Touch of the African Sun

  P. H. Newall

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  This saga is led by that complex character von Tabis, a psychopath, whose monumental ego, and fantasies of power and grandeur, were given fortuitous reign by his unexpected transfer to tranquil Tanganyika (Tanzania) just before World War II.His South African co-conspirators who fell under the spell of von Tabis, illustrate how his charismatic and compelling personality stimulated their latent dreams and ambitions.A colourful diversity of characters adds atmosphere and mystery that is unique to Africa.Despite a remarkable degree of success towards his madcap schemes, von Tabis, blinded by reality, stumbles inexorably towards his ultimate destiny.

  Show book

• 

  The Osbornes' Christmas

  Lucy Maud Montgomery

  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

  A Heartwarming Victorian-Era Christmas Tale from the Beloved Author of Anne of Green Gables 
  Written in 1903, years before Lucy Maud Montgomery would achieve worldwide fame with Anne of Green Gables, "The Osbornes' Christmas" showcases the warmth, charm, and moral wisdom that would become her trademark. 
  The privileged Osborne children have everything money can buy—except the true spirit of Christmas. When their wise Cousin Myra arrives at their family estate, "The Firs," she poses a challenge that will transform their holiday season forever. What if, instead of receiving lavish gifts from their wealthy relatives, they used that money to create joy for the less fortunate children in their community? 
  What follows is a week of excitement, planning, and discovery as the junior Osbornes prepare a Christmas celebration unlike any they've known before. They invite the shy Roland children from the Hollow, the lively French-Joe boys, lame Sammy from the village, and little orphaned Tillie to a dinner party of their own—complete with a Christmas tree laden with gifts chosen with love and care. 
  Through Montgomery's signature blend of gentle humor, vivid characterization, and moral insight, this tale reminds us that the greatest gift we can give is generosity itself. Set against the snowy backdrop of turn-of-the-century rural Canada, "The Osbornes' Christmas" captures both the innocence of childhood and the transformative power of putting others first. 
  Perfect for listeners who cherish classic holiday stories, Victorian-era fiction, and tales that celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, this short story exemplifies why Lucy Maud Montgomery remains one of Canada's most beloved authors. 
  Experience the wholesome sweetness and timeless wisdom of L.M. Montgomery in this enchanting holiday treasure.

  Show book