Publisher: Alien Ebooks
Delia Jones endures the relentless cruelty of her husband, Sykes, in a small Florida town. As a hardworking washwoman, she finds solace in her routine and the church, despite Sykes's abusive behavior and infidelity. When Sykes brings a deadly rattlesnake into their home to terrorize her further, Delia's fear transforms into a cold, determined rage.
As a former Texas Ranger, Charlie "Catfish Charlie" Tuttle spent the good part of his life catching outlaws. Happily retired in Wolfwater, Texas, he's content just catching fish—namely Bubba, the wily old catfish who lives in the pond near Charlie's shack and keeps slipping off Charlie's hook. He also likes hanging out with his trusty tomcat Hooligan Hank and tossing back bottles of mustang berry wine. Sure, his glory days are behind him. There's no reason for Charlie to even think about coming out of retirement . . . It starts with a jailbreak. Frank Thorson and his gang ride into Wolfwater to bust Frank's brother out of the slammer. First, they slaughter the deputy. Then, the town marshal. Finally, they run off with the marshal's daughter and no one's sure if she's dead or alive. The townsfolk are desperate enough to ask that drunken old coot Catfish Charlie to put down his fishing pole and wine bottles, pick up his Colt Army .44, and go after the bloodthirsty gang. Sure, Catfish Charlie may be a bit rusty after all these years. But when it comes to serving up justice, no one is quicker, faster—or deadlier . . .Show book
Stirling, 1877. Lillias Gilfillan, a recently orphaned girl of sixteen, falls in love and elopes with a man who sees her as wealthy and naïve: 'a little boat without its oars'. In a sea of rising debt and deception, Lillias must learn quickly, or drown. Glasgow, 1894. Clementina knows little mercy living in a home for 'wayward girls'. With the 'Jingling Devil' always lurking in the shadows and a child growing inside her, can she outrun him and save her best friend in the process? Glasgow, 1919. Mabel is one of the first policewomen in Glasgow, on a mission to find a murderer. In doing so, she finds a web of corruption and now the 'Jingling Devil' wants her dead. 'The Unpicking' spans three generations of 'hysterical women' who take on systemic corruption and injustice, despite all odds.Show book
The Queen of Steeplechase Park is the absolutely, positively, practically, almost-true story of infamous burlesque queen and magic meatball maker Belladonna Marie Donato. Pregnant at fifteen after gleefully losing her virginity to pansexual neighborhood strongman Francis Anthony Mozzarelli, she is robbed of her baby by a pack of nefarious nuns and her embittered papa has her sterilized without her consent (legal in 1935). With the help of a besotted Francis and her top-secret meatball recipe, a devastated Bella embarks on a riotous quest through Depression-era Coney Island sideshows, the tawdry world of peek-a-boo striptease routines, a queer mob marriage, and a tasty collection of wisdom-filled recipes to find her lost child, herself, and maybe even true love. It all leads Bella back home, to the scene of her Original Sin, where she boldly faces matters of life and death, questions of forgiveness, and a holy mess only the healing properties of great Italian cooking can fix. Contains mature themes.Show book
In "Twenty Years After Volume 2" by Alexandre Dumas, the once-unbreakable bond of the famous Musketeers faces its greatest test amidst the tumult of political upheaval. As France teeters on the brink of civil war, d'Artagnan, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis find themselves on opposing sides. Their paths entwine in a riveting blend of loyalty and treachery, creating a tapestry of evolving friendships and allegiances. Dumas crafts a captivating narrative of valor and intrigue.Show book
Don’t miss the latest utterly heartwarming instalment of the Rockwood series from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author Dilly Court! Dolly’s dreams could lead her astray . . . Dolly Blanchard dreams of a bigger life. She wants to make a mark on the world, not simply wait for a husband to come along. So when an impoverished actress offers her a lifeline, Dolly flees to London, determined to make it on the stage and prove to her family – and herself – that she can strike out alone. But the dark city streets are full of danger. With her dreams fading to dust, Dolly soon finds herself in peril. And with the family’s future under threat at Rockwood Castle, and secrets tumbling out of the shadows, she faces a difficult choice. Will her heart call her home? Dilly’s novel Sunday’s Child hit #1 in the Sunday Times bestselling charts the w/e 25th June 2022.Readers LOVE Dolly’s Dream! ‘This book, like all the other books in the series, was excellent. I just couldn't put it down. It was filled with mystery and romance from beginning to end’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Dilly’s ability to bring the era alive the characters into believable entity’s and the colourful expression and great pace leaves me, the reader, never wanting it to end!!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Dilly Court never fails, excellent read!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Dilly Court's Dolly's Dream is a captivating historical saga that takes readers back to the Victorian era. This Sunday Times bestselling book is a testament to the enduring power of friendship and the courage to pursue one's dreams, solidifying its place as a top pick in historical fiction. For fans of Anna Jacobs (The Secrets of Eastby End), Annemarie Brear (The Waterfront Lass), Rosie Clarke (Family Matters at Blackberry Farm), Lizzie Lane (Tough Times on Coronation Close), and Catherine Cookson (Daughter of Scandal). HarperCollins 2023Show book
Short stories have always been a sort of instant access into an author’s brain, their soul and heart. A few pages can lift our lives into locations, people and experiences with a sweep of landscape, narration, feelings and emotions that is difficult to achieve elsewhere. In this series we try to offer up tried and trusted ‘Top Tens’ across many different themes and authors. But any anthology will immediately throw up the questions – Why that story? Why that author? The theme itself will form the boundaries for our stories which range from well-known classics, newly told, to stories that modern times have overlooked but perfectly exemplify the theme. Throughout the volume our authors whether of instant recognition or new to you are all leviathans of literature. Some you may disagree with but they will get you thinking; about our choices and about those you would have made. If this volume takes you on a path to discover more of these miniature masterpieces then we have all gained something. In this decade life on both sides of the Atlantic relied on territorial expansion and the gathering of industrial muscle. The people who live there merely cogs in a vast machine. Our authors illuminate these times with words that bring humanity and life to these literary gems. 01 - The Top Ten - The 1850's - An Introduction 02 - The Lifted Veil - Part 1 by George Eliot 03 - The Lifted Veil - Part 2 by George Eliot 04 - Bartleby the Scrivener - Part 1 by Herman Melville 05 - Bartleby the Scrivener - Part 2 by Herman Melville 06 - The Old Nurse's Story by Elizabeth Gaskell 07 - Master Zacharius - Part 1 by Jules Verne 08 - Master Zacharius - Part 2 by Jules Verne 09 - The District Doctor by Ivan Turgenev 10 - A Terribly Strange Bed by Wilkie Collins 11 - Psyche's Art by Louisa May Alcott 12 -The Lake Gun by James Fenimore Cooper 13 - Two Offers by Frances Watkins Harper 14 - Gods in Exile by Heinrich HeineShow book
