Editorial: Classica Libris
In the early 1700s, the cultural group now known as Romani had made inroads into much of Europe. In some areas, they were granted special privileges and dispensations; in others, they were mercilessly persecuted and even sold into slavery. British historical novelist G. P. R. James captures the shifting role of the Gypsy people during the period in this remarkably detailed book.
To the exotic Aminpour sisters, Ireland looks like a much-needed safe haven. It has been seven years since Marjan Aminpour fled Iran with her younger sisters, Bahar and Layla, and she hopes that in Ballinacroagh they might finally find a home. The sisters set about creating a Persian oasis and soon sensuous wafts of cardamom, cinnamon, and saffron float through the streets—an exotic aroma that announces the opening of the Babylon Café. And it is an affront to the senses of Ballinacroagh's uncrowned king, Thomas McGuire. After trying to buy the old pastry shop for years and failing, Thomas is enraged to find it occupied—and by foreigners, no less. But the mysterious, spicy fragrances work their magic on the townsfolk, and soon, business is booming. Marjan is thrilled with the demand for her red lentil soup, abgusht stew, and rosewater baklava—and with the transformation in her sisters. The sisters find a merry band of supporters against the close-minded opposition of less welcoming villagers stuck in their ways. But the idyll is soon broken when the past rushes back to threaten the Amnipours once more, and the lives they left behind in revolution-era Iran bleed into the present.Ver libro
1897. Rosamund bows her head and steps slowly down the aisle. The satin of her gown whispers against the stone floor and a single tear falls into the bunch of yellow roses twisted in her trembling hands. Despite rumours of his cruelty, Rosamund has no choice but to become this man’s second wife. After her wedding, Rosamund finds herself trapped in Sir Lucien Fitznorton’s lonely country estate. As she wanders the chilly halls, made shadowy by drapes of heavy velvet, she longs for the lost comforts of her childhood home, where she was the beloved only daughter to a doting father, now buried miles away. As a young woman with no fortune of her own, only death can release her from this misery. Until she meets Joseph, her husband’s gruffly handsome new chauffeur. With his mop of salt-and-pepper hair and lilting accent, Joseph is from another world. One of clambering children and tea at scrubbed kitchen tables, the hollow scratch of hunger and long hours of hard work. Despite their differences, they find themselves increasingly drawn to one other. But Sir Lucien is not only cruel, he’s devious too, and soon Rosamund finds herself caught in a dangerous web of secrets and lies. Is Rosamund’s fragile marriage nothing but a golden cage, trapping her between two men who desire her… and to what end? One holds her captive and the other offers a hope of escape… but who really holds the key to Rosamund’s gilded prison? A gripping and emotional historical novel, fans of Lucinda Riley and Tracy Rees won’t be able to put this book down.Ver libro
Captured by an implacable enemy, their future looks bleak. Will escape even be possible? Al-Andalus 998 AD. Galen and Alcuin have been taken prisoner by the Moors. Galen is a Moorish doctor’s latest project. Alcuin languishes in the dungeons, watching over the bishop, who is slowly being tortured to death for a treasure. Galen and Alcuin must learn how to survive in a strange new kingdom which is rapidly turning hostile towards Christians. Martyrdom, a life of slavery, or escape are their only options. But how can they escape when they have been separated? Will Galen touch the heart of his captors and win their freedom? Friend of My Enemy is the 6th book in the compelling Life of Galen historical fiction series. If you like exploring the lives of people in the past and tales of friendship enduring under the harshest of conditions, then you’ll love Marina Pacheco’s ongoing medieval saga. Listen to Friend of My Enemy today to be spirited away to ancient times.Ver libro
He thought he'd left the war behind. But the past never stays buried. In the desolation of the desert in 1934 Egypt, archaeologist and former codebreaker Jack Darby receives a message that upends everything: his estranged sister is missing. So is Kit—the woman he once loved and believed dead. Determined to find them, Jack uncovers a trail of clues leading from coded newspaper articles to the dusty heart of Mesopotamia, where political unrest brews and an elusive mercenary is brokering secrets that could ignite a war. Drawn into a tangled web of espionage, smuggling, and betrayal, Jack must outwit enemies on both sides of the law, while grappling with a dazzling con artist who just might break his heart all over again. But the closer he gets to the truth, the more he realizes some secrets aren't meant to stay hidden—and some people aren't meant to stay lost . . . including him. A Spark in Ashes is the fourth novel in The Windswept Saga and the first book in a spinoff trilogy about fan favorite character, Jack Darby. A story of spies, family drama, romance, and epic adventure, it is set in the interwar period of the 1930s in Egypt and the Middle East. This novel contains violence, mild language, and romantic, open-door steamy moments.Ver libro
When young Frank is falsely accused of a crime, he leaves England to seek adventure in America. He joins a wagon train heading west to the California gold fields, but as he is soon to find out, the West is more than just adventure! Braving Indians, wolves, and other dangers, Frank is determined to strike it rich - and perhaps someday clear his name and return home. - Summary by RachelVer libro
Welcome to The Sylvan, a small Seattle luxury hotel where polished mahogany walls keep secrets, rock stars slip by in low-lit spaces, and the switchboard crackles with drama. Joann’s working at reception, but not planning to stay long; she’s “just paying bills” while figuring out a career. Soon, however, the hotel world draws her in, aglow with love affairs, late-night confessions, and friendships forged in quiet spaces between phone calls and cigarette breaks. Then there’s him. One of Joann’s favorite teammates is always watching out for her amid the ever-looming uncertainty. Something’s happening between them, but do they really have a chance? Everyone’s trying to get somewhere else. Hilarity, joy, and angst ensue as the 90s roll forward, sweeping all the Sylvans away as they navigate the swing shift … and the bittersweet adventure that is growing up. Witty, nostalgic, and filled with the electric hum of youth, The Sylvan Hotel is a love letter to the people and places that shape us, whether we mean to stay or not. "A vibrant salute to Capitol Hill, hotel workers, and the heady heydays of Seattle."~ Jim Lynch, author of The Highest Tide "Thank goodness Frannie James was taking notes... The Sylvan Hotel is a tapdance down memory lane for those of us who came of age in Seattle in the 1990s. She evokes the disaffected “are we adults yet?” vibe of Gen X, and draws a vivid portrait of the time and place through the eyes of an earnest young woman longing for love and her own fulfilled promise. I saw myself in Joann, and people I used to know in her cohort of hotel staff. What a gift it is, to remember! Well done, Frannie." ~ Alexis M Smith, author of GlaciersVer libro
