Other books that might interest you

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  The Diary of a Goose Girl

  Kate Douglas Smith Wiggin

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  The "Goose Girl" is a young and somewhat independent lady who, in fleeing from her lover with whom there had been a "little tiff," became a "paying guest" at poultry farm in a quiet, out-of-the-way Sussex village, in the care of which she participates.From the author of Mother Carey's Chickens, The Bird's Christmas Carol, etc. (Summary from an original review)

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  Finding Friends on Beamer Street...

  Sheila Riley

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  The start of a brand-new Merseyside series from Sheila Riley, bestselling author of the Reckoner's Row saga series - not to be missed! 
  Beamer Street in the heart of Liverpool's docklands is a tough place to live - you need good friends to survive... 
  Liverpool 1921 
  Pregnant, Mary Jane Starlings secret wedding to Paddy Redfern ends in disaster when her fiancé is murdered on the way to the church. Paddy’s wayward twin ‘Red’ intercepts Mary Jane and warns that they must flee Ireland for fear of reprisals from her family, never to return. 
  Too young and terrified to question Red’s motives, Mary Jane, is hurriedly escorted to Liverpool where she quickly discovers Red’s good Samaritan act is a sham when he abandons her homeless and destitute. 
  Strength, fortitude and a measure of good luck save her from the streets when she catches the eye of reclusive Cal Everdine and is befriended by Molly Hayward’s lovable family. 
  But Mary Jane still has to live with the overbearing guilt of the secrets she holds. 
  Will she ever be able to follow her dreams and reconcile her past? 
  A brand-new series, set around the rough and tough Liverpool Docks, by bestselling author Sheila Riley. 
  Perfect for fans of Chrissie Walsh, Katie Flynn and Dilly Court. 
  If you love Sheila's Beamer Street series, you'll love Reckoners Row and the Dockside Saga series 
  Praise for Sheila Riley: 
  'Couldn't put it down. A fantastic read, not your ordinary story. Great characters and a feel good storyline. Looking forward to the next book' - Reader Review 
  'What a great read from this amazing author You don't want to put this book down thouroly enjoyed it from start to finish' - Reader Review 
  'What a great read. Truly absorbed from beginning to end!' - Reader Review 
  'Loved how the characters were brought to life felt I was sitting having a cup of tea with them. Great page turner' - Reader Review 
  Amazingly good read. I can't put the book down, happy story with good people. This Lady Sheila Riley will go far ,such an awesome story teller. I hope you all enjoy her work as much as I do , amazing.' - Reader Review 
  A powerful and totally absorbing family saga that is not to be missed. I turned the pages almost faster than I could read.’ - Carol Rivers 
  ‘A fabulous story of twists and turns - a totally unputdownable, page turner that had me cheering on the characters. I loved it!’ - Rosie Hendry 
  ‘A thoroughly enjoyable, powerful novel’ - Lyn Andrews

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  Dirty Little War - A Crime Novel

  Dietrich Kalteis

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  For readers of Elmore Leonard and George Pelecanos, a tense crime novel set in mob-filled Chicago during the 1920s Prohibition
  		 
  It’s 1920 and the start of Prohibition. Circumstances beyond his control find a young man, Huckabee Waller, involved in the death of a gangster in his hometown of New Orleans. Fearing repercussions from the gangster’s associates, Huck hops a northbound freight and heads for the promise of Chicago.
  		 
  Expecting to make an honest living, he’s surprised to find that he’s arrived at the epicenter of crime, corruption, and commerce. Unable to find legitimate work, he gets mixed up in bare-knuckle fights run by the notorious North Side Gang. Reviving his skills as a club fighter, Huck quickly becomes a crowd favorite and makes enough to get by. When it becomes apparent to him that the gang is also heavily involved in running illegal whiskey, a very profitable enterprise, he’s drawn into their world by the desire for more.
  		 
  As Huck starts running booze across the Canadian border for the North Side Gang and gets tangled up in Chicago’s taxi wars, tensions between them and the South Side Gang flare up, and soon he’s in the crosshairs of enforcer Al Capone. The smart thing to do would be to get out of Chicago — fast — that is if the life he wants to leave behind doesn’t kill him first.

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  Succession - The Australian...

  Michael Beashel

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  In the late 19th century Sydney, a captivating drama involves amidst the cutthroat world of building barons, reminiscent of ‘Pillars of the Earth’ and Patricia Shaw’s ‘A Cross of Stars’. At its heart is the towering ambition of Leary Contracting entrusted with the monumental task of erecting Sydney’s tallest hotel the awe-inspiring Imperial. John Leary, a man of 55 years, leads his construction empire with an iron grip and is not alone in this endeavour. His two sons play pivotal roles in the family business, but it is his firstborn charismatic yet unpredictable Richard who basks in his father’s favour in stark contrast to Brendan, Richard’s half-brother who has the respect of Leary’s hard-working site men because he seems to have mortar running through his veins. As John tackles the colossal hotel project, he must navigate a labyrinth of bureaucratic red tape and withstand the relentless assault of his fiercest rival. The Imperial, a towering behemoth casts its shadow over the city while an array of tireless workers toils relentlessly to meet the unforgiving deadlines. Richard with his charm and capriciousness weds into high society dazzling the elite of 1885 Sydney while Brendan’s resilience shines when the demands of genuine love arise. John faces an agonising choice as he contemplates the future of Leary’s with only one of his sons fit to lead the family dynasty into the new century. It is only upon the completion of the Imperial that he makes his momentous decision. Succession stands as the third instalment in the Australian Sandstone Series; an evocative journey through the 19th century Sydney narrated from the gritty ground up.

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  The Short Stories of Jack London...

  Jack London

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  John Griffith Chaney was born on January 12th, 1876 in San Francisco.   
   
  His father, William Chaney, was living with Flora Wellman when she became pregnant.  Chaney insisted she have an abortion.  Flora's response was to turn a gun on herself.  Although her wounds were not severe the trauma made her temporarily deranged. 
   
  In late 1876 his mother married John London and the young child was brought to live with them as they moved around the Bay area, eventually settling in Oakland where now, calling himself Jack, he completed grade school. 
   
  Jack worked hard at several jobs, sometimes 12-18 hours a day, but his dream was university.  He studied hard and borrowed the money to enrol in the summer of 1896 at the University of California in Berkeley. 
   
  In 1897, at 21, Jack searched out newspaper accounts of his mother's suicide attempt and for the name of his biological father. He wrote to Chaney, then living in Chicago, who claimed he could not be Jack’s father because he was impotent and casually asserted that London's mother had relations with other men.  Jack, devastated by the response, quit Berkeley and went to the Klondike. Other accounts suggest that his dire finances presented Jack with the excuse he needed to leave. 
   
  In the Klondike Jack began to gather material for his writing but also accumulated many health problems, including scurvy, which together with hip and leg problems he would carry for the rest of his life. 
   
  During the late 1890's Jack was regularly publishing short stories and by the turn of the century full blown novels. 
   
  By 1904 Jack had married, fathered two children and was now in the process of divorcing.  A stint as a reporter on the Russo-Japanese war of 1904 was equal amounts trouble and experience. But that experience was always put to good use in a continuing and remarkable output of work. 
   
  In 1905 he married Charmian Kittredge who at last was a soul and companion who brought him some semblance of peace despite his advancing alcoholism and his incurable wanderlust. 
   
  Twelve years later Jack had amassed both wealth and a literary reputation through such classics as ‘The Call of the Wild’, ‘White Fang’ and many others. He had a reputation as a social activist and was a tireless friend of the workers.   
   
  Jack London died suffering from dysentery, late-stage alcoholism and uremia, aged only 40, on November 22nd 1916 at his property in Glen Elen in California. 
  01 - Jack London - A Short Story Collection - An Introduction 
  02 - To Build a Fire by Jack London 
  03 - A Wicked Woman by Jack London 
  04 - The Unparallelled Invasion by Jack London 
  05 - A Thousand Deaths by Jack London

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  The Cherry Orchard

  Anton Chekhov

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  A poignant meditation on change, loss, and the passage of time, The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov is a masterful tragicomedy that captures a society standing at the edge of transformation. First performed in 1904, this timeless play explores the fading world of the Russian aristocracy and the quiet but unstoppable rise of a new social order.
  
  At the heart of the story is Madame Lyubov Andreyevna Ranevskaya, a charming yet impractical landowner who returns to her family estate after years abroad. She is greeted by memories of her childhood and by the vast, beautiful cherry orchard that has long symbolized her family's heritage and prestige. But beneath the orchard's blossoms lies an undeniable truth: the estate is drowning in debt and will soon be auctioned unless drastic action is taken.
  
  Surrounding Ranevskaya is a vivid ensemble of characters—her devoted but anxious brother Gayev, her practical adopted daughter Varya, her idealistic daughter Anya, and the former serf turned wealthy merchant Lopakhin. It is Lopakhin who proposes the unthinkable solution: cut down the orchard and build summer cottages to generate income. His plan represents progress, industry, and the future. To Ranevskaya and Gayev, however, it feels like a betrayal of history and beauty.
  
  Through delicate dialogue and subtle humor, Chekhov reveals the inner conflicts of his characters. They speak of hope, love, and ambition, yet often fail to act decisively. Dreams clash with reality, and nostalgia clouds judgment. The orchard itself becomes a powerful symbol—of memory, identity, and a way of life slipping irretrievably into the past.
  
  Blending comedy with quiet tragedy, Chekhov crafts a narrative in which life's most profound changes occur not with dramatic explosions but with the soft sound of an axe striking wood in the distance. The play's emotional depth lies in its restraint; its characters are neither heroes nor villains, but deeply human figures struggling to adapt to forces beyond their control.
  
  The Cherry Orchard is more than a story about financial ruin—it is a reflection on generational change, social upheaval, and the bittersweet nature of progress. As the orchard falls, so too does an era defined by privilege and tradition. Yet within that loss lies the promise of renewal and possibility.
  
  With lyrical prose, gentle irony, and penetrating insight into the human condition, Chekhov's final play remains one of the greatest works of world drama. It continues to resonate with audiences as a moving exploration of memory, resilience, and the inevitability of change.

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