Publisher: Universe
A five-year story of love between ordinary people who survived World War II on just 49 days spent together. How did they do it? This true story based on real lives explores the conundrum.
Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe is a remarkable classic of English literature that tells the extraordinary life story of a woman determined to survive and prosper in a harsh and unforgiving society. First published in 1722, the novel presents a vivid and often controversial portrait of ambition, survival, morality, and redemption in eighteenth-century England. The story follows the life of Moll Flanders, a woman born in prison and left to navigate a world that offers few opportunities for someone of her background. From a young age, Moll learns that survival often requires wit, adaptability, and bold decisions. Determined to escape poverty, she pursues security and status through a series of marriages, relationships, and calculated choices that shape the course of her life. As Moll moves through different stages of society—from servant to gentlewoman, from respectable wife to skilled thief—her life becomes a fascinating tale of resilience and reinvention. She experiences love, betrayal, wealth, poverty, and danger while continually striving to secure her independence in a world dominated by strict social expectations and limited options for women. Daniel Defoe crafts Moll as a complex and unforgettable character—clever, resourceful, flawed, and deeply human. Through her confessions and reflections, readers gain insight into the difficult moral choices she faces as she attempts to balance ambition with conscience. The narrative captures the excitement and uncertainty of a life lived on the edge of respectability, where fortune can change suddenly and survival depends on courage and cunning. Beyond its compelling story, Moll Flanders offers a powerful glimpse into the social realities of early modern England. The novel explores themes such as poverty, crime, social mobility, gender inequality, and the pursuit of redemption, making it both a gripping narrative and a thought-provoking commentary on society. Rich in detail and psychological depth, the novel is widely regarded as one of the earliest examples of the modern English novel. Defoe's realistic storytelling and vivid depiction of everyday life bring Moll's world to life, drawing readers into a dramatic journey filled with adventure, moral conflict, and unexpected transformation. Both daring and deeply reflective, Moll Flanders remains a timeless story about ambition, resilience, and the human capacity for change, continuing to captivate readers centuries after its first publication.Show book
Clara Wilson found the eviction notice. Finding the courage to save her family is another matter. She's seventeen, yet waiting for someone else to act isn't an option — not with her father lost to grief and drink, her sister counting on her, and the ghost of her mother's voice still whispering, believe in yourself. So when a newspaper ad announces a grand new hotel opening in 1927 Vancouver, Clara does the only thing she knows how to do — she shows up. What she doesn't expect is her sister showing up right behind her. Inside the Hotel Hamilton's rigorous training program, Clara isn't just up against her own self-doubt. She's up against a socialite who's never wanted for anything — and who could walk away tomorrow and lose nothing but a distraction. For Clara, it isn't about ambition. It's about survival. A position at the hotel is the only way left to save her family from ruin and keep a promise to a mother she can no longer ask for guidance. This book is for you if:You love a working-class heroine fighting for her family inside a glamorous 1920s setting.You want sisters who complicate each other's lives as much as they save them.You're drawn to quiet, character-driven stories where courage looks like showing up, not saving the day. Welcome to the Hamilton is the first book in the Hotel Hamilton Series — a women's historical fiction series set against the gilded backdrop of 1920s Vancouver, where ordinary women quietly carry the weight of everything.Show book
The penultimate Last Viking epic adventure from bestselling author JC Duncan! Must-read for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Peter Gibbons and Matthew Harffy ⚔️ Sworn to serve the empire, cursed to decide its fate. 1041 AD, Constantinople The Byzantine empire is fading. Sick with corruption and complacency that paralyses its once mighty people, assailed from within and without by those who seek to feast upon its riches. The emperor is dying, the empress is ageing, and rebellion threatens in the heart of their homelands. The last hope of the eternal empire might lie with a disgraced foreign mercenary. Harald Hardrada fears nothing but failure or dishonour. For eight years he has faithfully served the heirs of Caesar, but has failed in his goal to earn the riches and reputation he needs to reclaim the throne of Norway. Empress Zoe makes Harald one final offer to save both of their ambitions: He can have all the riches and glory that he desires, if he breaks his oaths and delivers the empire into her grasp. Is Harald the man of his word or will he bend to the empress’s ruthless demands? The explosive next chapter in the extraordinary tale of Harald Hardrada Praise for JC Duncan: 'Harald Hardrada as you've never seen him before! A fantastic story written by a fantastic author' - Donovan Cook 'Immersive and impeccably researched, JC Duncan brings Harald Hardrada's epic journey to life with gripping authenticity' - Richard Cullen 'A fresh, vibrant take on perhaps that most Viking of all Vikings, Harald Hardrada. Bloody, epic and full of detail, Duncan paints a vivid picture of Harald’s early life, as he battles his way into legend' - Matthew Harffy 'The gripping tale of the last great viking, Harold Hardrada, told in compelling style' -Tim Hodkinson 'An engrossing, epic tale brimming with historical detail and brave daring - the story of a legend' - MJ Porter 'Fantastic, a magnificent series. I have loved each book. Can’t wait to read the next in series. If you love stories of bravery and adventure you must get this!' - Reader Review 'A truly fantastic series. A must for historical fiction fans. If you haven't read JC Duncan's telling of Hardrada yet you really are missing out.' - Reader Review 'Excellent again. The pace continues on from the last book and once again it is very hard to put down. It's full of lies, decete and just flat out Brutal violence some that even makes you cringe but it is just a fantastic read.' - Reader Review 'Wow wow wow!!! This was such a ride. The character development and world building was top notch. This is a must read!!' - Netgalley ReviewerShow book
“This is the original Game of Thrones.” George R.R. Martin. The puny, self-impotent Louis X, having caused his first wife to be murdered and his mistress exiled, becomes besotted with the lovely Clemence, his new Queen. Vacillating between self-pity and vainglory he is caught between the vaulting ambitions of proud, profligate barons… Maurice Druon's The Poisoned Crown is a thrilling blend of historical fiction and fantasy. The political intrigue and military strategies that unfold make this adventure a top pick for fans of action-packed thrillers. For fans of Ben Kane (Stormcrow), Patrick O'Brian (The Surgeon’s Mate), Ken Follett (Circle of Days), Stefan Zweig (Beware of Pity), and Robert Harris (Conclave).Show book
Jack's quest for happiness is thwarted by heartbreak in Book Two of the Portraits in Blue Series As Jack leaps onto the train to Malaga, he has no thought for the responsibilities that await him on the other side of the world. All he knows is that he isn’t ready to leave Sofia, the girl who captured his heart in Paris, nor her talented twin brother, Andres. The twins’ idyllic farm offers sweeping views of the Mediterranean, days spent painting for the Galleria Toulouse, and the enduring charm of Spanish village life. Even so, the trio’s happiness is soon plagued by misunderstandings and complications. Tragedy, heartbreak and declining economic circumstances force Jack and Sofia to leave the life they love and travel across the world to Australia to seek financial security and family connections. There, the heady lure of Melbourne’s art world beckons them and they fall under the spell of the charismatic but dominating Justus Jorgensen. Jack and Sofia enthusiastically embrace the visionary’s dreams. Tirelessly, they commit to the creation of Montsalvat, an art enclave whose buildings are modelled on seventeenth century Europe, where residents live free from the bonds of social conventions. While the bohemian lifestyle of Montsalvat proves stimulating, Jack is increasingly disturbed when a darker side of Jorgensen’s personality emerges. Even utopian dreams have costs. What Jack does not anticipate is that everything he loves will be threatened, with tragic consequences that test his very sanity. The second of the four book Portraits in Blue SeriesShow book
Octavius Everard, the wealthy Duke of Eccess, indulges in London's most decadent offerings to escape the pain that haunts him—especially at Christmas.The richest food, the best cognac and the most beautiful women make the "happiest" time of the year a little more bearable. The one sin he has sworn to abstain from? Seducing his three wards' governess. But when Miss Temperance Fields applies for the position, with her tight chignon and no-nonsense brown woolen gown, he's never been so fascinated. Little does he know she has a scandalous secret…a false identity.Lady Agatha Temperance Hale is an heiress on the run! Threatened with forced marriage or the asylum, she is at the mercy of her gold-digging stepmother until she comes of age on Christmas Day. Being a governess gives her a place to hide. And Temperance is soon showing the duke the joys of the season and sharing her love of science with his wards.But she never imagined the pleasures her gorgeous employer could show her. And when the virgin governess becomes a seductress, the Duke of Eccess doesn't stand a chance of resisting…or guarding his heart.Their passion is electric.Their love is forbidden.But when the truth is revealed, can he forgive the woman he has come to adore more than any indulgence?Show book
