If finding her mother Nellie in hospital after a savage beating from her husband wasn’t enough, Emily’s plight deepens when she yields to the advances of Tommy, a young soldier, and becomes pregnant with his child.Not for nothing is Victoria station nicknamed the ‘palace of tears’. As trainloads of men leave for the Western Front, and Emily says goodbye to Tommy, she is left contemplating the life of a single mother. Yet amidst the devastation, happiness still lies within her grasp… A classic saga of World War One, Palace of Tears is a perfect read for fans of Carol Rivers, Sally Warboyes, and Annie Murray.

    But this is Germany, 1938. Their union is against Nazi laws, as Anna is part-Jewish. A Gestapo officer agrees to authorize the marriage, but only if Max infiltrates and betrays a Marxist resistance cell, the Red Orchestra. This is not an assignment that Max can refuse. If he succeeds, Anna will get the wedding she longs for, but many brave resistance fighters will die… What early reviewers are saying about the book: JJ Toner does a fabulous job of lacing fact and fiction together. I do not often give a five-star rating, but this story surprised me, educated me, and entertained me. There was never a dull moment. Well done. JJ Toner captures perfectly the sense of paranoia and fear that prevailed in Berlin during the Third Reich, especially in the years 1938 to 1945. The convoluted intermingling of different agencies, organizations and ministries, and over all the terror of the SS and its departments, is well set out. It was really a matter of who you knew, not what you knew, if you wanted to progress. The fact that the novel is based on the actual story of the Rote Kapelle only adds to the tension

    Whatever faces her in war-torn London can't be any worse than staying at home with her abusive father...The city is nothing like she could have imagined, but she's soon on the move, travelling from base to base for her top-secret training. Making plenty of new friends along the way, it doesn't take long for Jane to embrace her growing confidence – especially under the attentive eye of dashing Officer Oscar Stanton.Life as an independent woman is as rewarding as it is exciting, until Jane's father tracks her down and it crashes to a halt. Jane will need all her new-found strength to find her way back to the frontline – and to the man she's fallen for...

    Her sex was a barrier to everything she wanted: freedom, adventure, and the need to be heard. Fascinated by tales of the misty Highlands when the opportunity arises, she flees secretly to Edinburgh.But the world is much more wicked than Gillian knows, and the noble Highlander she encounters might have ulterior motives.With his people suffering from poverty and hunger, Col, a fierce Scotsman, decides to defy fate. He turns himself into the Phantom and provides for the Scottish by pillaging the English.When he meets the most striking lass, he will be immediately charmed by her boldness and beauty.Until he discovers that her family is responsible for all his life's tragedies. And so, he captures her without knowing that he is the lesser of the evils after her.Gillian is not aware that she is in grave danger, and that without Col's help, nothing can stop her impending death.He captured her to save his people, but she stole his heart…

    The town is crying out for answers, and the Mayor promises justice. During the reading of her husband's will, Abbilene’s faith is tested when she discovers the true depths of his betrayal. She will inherit the mill and the money to rebuild as long as she adopts his son, left in an orphanage in San Francisco. The son no one knew existed. How can she love a child her husband fathered with another woman?      Tucker Manning, childhood friend and Sheriff, is ordered by the Mayor to uncover the truth of the explosion that took eight lives. He doesn’t believe the rumors around town about Abbilene and Sterling, her husband’s cousin. Could the woman he grew up with have planned and plotted to get rid of her husband and inherit the mill? The past has shown him that some women aren’t to be trusted, but Abbie is different. Isn’t she?      There are those who do not want the mill rebuilt and seek to stop Abbie at all costs. Even if that means harming a child. With Tucker at her side, they must retrieve the child and return home to finalize his adoption.

    

    

    Lucy and Robert Tanner long for the day when they can marry and the future is full of promise for all three. Until tragedy strikes when Lucy's parents are killed in a car crash, and Sam is left gravely injured and in need of careful nursing. Sam's girlfriend Patsy refuses to help, and Lucy has little choice but to postpone her wedding. Not only is she left heartbroken at the loss of her parents, Lucy is then devastated to discover that Robert has betrayed her in the worst possible way. With little money and unable to earn a regular wage, Lucy and Sam are forced to move into the slums of Liverpool. As Sam's health deteriorates and their life spirals into poverty and despair, Lucy wonders if she'll ever find happiness again...

    In 1848, only seventeen years old, on the Oregon Trail and suddenly orphaned, Josh begins a journey through the unsettled frontier of a wild continent. Just making first acquaintance with manhood, he quickly finds his future linked to Elizabeth Hampton, a coquette from his old hometown. Together they resolve to venture into an uncertain and dangerous future. Accompanied by Jubilee, an escaped slave, Josh and Elizabeth join a wagon train of Missouri emigrants led by a voyageur scout and a town constable turned captain. The couple commences a lusty exploration of the lands they pass and of each other.The scout is the first to recognize the mettle of Josh Bonner, taking the novitiate under his wing. Others in the party, a missionary couple, an adventurous sawbones, and a clan of farmers, quickly recognize the newcomers as a formidable alliance that drives the expedition across the wild prairie. The land, the weather, and human frailty threaten, but cannot daunt their resolve. Populated with compelling characters, colorful dialog, intriguing subplots, and thrilling encounters; Bonner's Road West explores a period of American history largely passed over by contemporary historical fiction.The Growler Brigade picks up the Bonner tale as the train departs Fort Laramie. Soon they hear of the discovery of gold at Sutter's Creek in California. Josh and Elizabeth abandon going to Oregon and opt for California, along with several other wagons. Delacroix, the scout, lets Josh lead the smaller party over one of the numerous cutoffs on the road to test him. The cutoff behind them, the train splits, with the smaller party bound to seek their fortune in the gold fields.Josh leads the small party through The Great Basin and into the Sierra Madre Mountains just as winter begins to close the passes. Barely making it through the Bonners meet Duncan Shipwash, a mining engineer in search of backers. Together, they find a promising claim in an arroyo and plan for an arduous ordeal as the snows shuts them into the canyons.

    

    Follow Grace, Hazel, and Charlotte as they leave everything behind and embark on adventures to find hope, love, and happiness! FINDING HOPE Miss Grace Thackery never believed that she would marry because she thought she was too plain. When a friend gives her a copy of Matrimonial News, Grace has hope that she might find a husband who is not focused on outward beauty, but instead can appreciate the other qualities she possesses. After corresponding with a man, Grace agrees to move to Montana to get married. However, when her future husband asks for a picture, Grace worries that he will cancel the engagement when he sees her photograph. An acquaintance convinces Grace to paint her face, add some padding, and wear a wig to alter her beauty for the photograph. Reluctantly, Grace agrees, but harbors a great guilt over being deceitful. When she arrives in Montana, the man she is supposed to marry leaves her at the train station when her appearance does not match the picture she sent. Alone and scared, Grace does not know what to do next. Hope is not lost… Grace meets a man that appreciates her looks and her character, but she also knows that allowing herself to have feelings for him will come with many challenges. Will Grace ever have a second chance at happiness? THE BRIDE’S HEART After a traumatic event, Hazel is tired of being pitied by her family and the people who live in her small town. As a way to escape her past, Hazel moves to a new town as a mail order bride to marry Stephen, a ruggedly handsome rancher. Hazel has no interest in falling in love, and neither does Stephen. The agreement is that Hazel will manage the house and Stephen will manage the ranch. Stephen likes things in order, and Hazel is more of a free spirit who takes time to appreciate the small things in life. They don’t understand each other, and they find that their differences lead to arguments. However, every time Stephen looks at Hazel, she feels something build inside her. Will their differences drive them apart, or is there more to this handsome cowboy than meets the eye? Will Hazel ever find true happiness? And will it be at Stephen’s side? LOVE’S CHANCE Charlotte was given every luxury in life growing up. Although she learned how to appreciate the finer things in life, she never learned how to cook or clean. Those skills didn’t matter because Charlotte knew she would only marry a man that could give her the same type of lifestyle her father had given her. A tragedy strikes Charlotte’s family and her father lets her know that the money is all gone. Charlotte is devastated, and makes the decision to become a mail-order bride to relieve her parents from their financial responsibility of taking care of her. *** Paul is looking for a woman who isn’t afraid to work hard. He can’t handle all the responsibilities that come along with owning a farm, so he needs someone to cook, clean, and even help on the farm when needed. When Charlotte arrives, Paul soon realizes that his new wife is hiding a secret. Can this secret drive them apart? Did he just make the biggest mistake of his life? If you love historical western and mail-order bride romance books with twists and turns, you will love this sweet and clean romance collection. Authors Note: These are clean, stand-alone romances, so there are no cliffhangers.

    Love made them a family. Read books eight through eleven in this compelling family saga that Publisher's Weekly called “…pure sweetness in a very readable package, perfect for those who like their romance gentle, G-rated, and family-style.” and ”…smart, gentle, and uplifting…” CATCHING THE COWGIRL Breanna White is a cowgirl to the bone. Adam Cartwright is the wealthy son of a Philadelphia businessman who doesn’t want the society marriage his parents expect. He wants Breanna, whose independent spirit captivated him from the first moment they met. But Breanna has family secrets in Philadelphia that could change the way that Adam feels about her… THE COWBOY’S HONOR Seb White never planned to leave the cowboy life behind or become a famous author of dime store novels. But when the girl he loved broke his heart without an explanation, he couldn’t bear to stay on the family ranch. When Seb runs into Emma on a home-bound train, everything she’s tried to keep hidden threatens to come to light... WINNING THE SCHOOLMARM After a disastrous first year of teaching, Cecilia’s career hinges on whether she can keep her personal life out of the schoolroom. Too bad her heart is stuck on a stubborn cowboy with a secret past… THE WRANGLER’S READY-MADE FAMILY One cowboy gets more than he can handle when he offers a marriage of convenience to Susie and her little ones. One family will brave the wilderness of Wyoming to fight for their livelihoods… and for love. The Wyoming Legacy series includes these books: 1. The Homesteader’s Sweetheart 2. Roping the Wrangler 3. Return of the Cowboy Doctor 4. The Wrangler’s Inconvenient Wife 5. A Cowboy for Christmas 6. Her Convenient Cowboy 7. Her Cowboy Deputy 8. Catching the Cowgirl 9. The Cowboy’s Honor 10. Winning the Schoolmarm 11. The Wrangler’s Ready-Made Family Read all the novels by USA Today bestselling author Lacy Williams: Wild Wyoming Hearts series 1. Marrying Miss Marshal 2. Counterfeit Cowboy 3. Cowboy Pride 4. Courted by a Cowboy Looking Back, Texas series 1. 10 Dates 2. Next Door Santa 3. Always a Bridesmaid 4. Love Lessons The Sawyer Creek series 1. Soldier Under the Mistletoe (Snowbound) 2. The Nanny’s Christmas Wish (Snowbound) 3. The Rancher’s Unexpected Gift (Snowbound) 4. Someone Old (Jilted) 5. Someone New (Jilted) 6. Someone Borrowed (Jilted) 7. The Bull Rider (Homecoming) 8. The Brother (Homecoming) 9. The Prodigal (Homecoming) Cowboy Fairytale series 1. Once Upon a Cowboy 2. Cowboy Charming 3. The Toad Prince 4. The Beastly Princess 5. The Lost Princess 6. Kissing Kelsey 7. Courting Carrie 8. Stealing Sarah 9. Keeping Kayla 10. Melting Megan Heart of Oklahoma series 1. Kissed by a Cowboy 1 & 2 2. Love Letters from Cowboy 3. Mistletoe Cowboy 4. Cowgirl for Keeps 5. Jingle Bell Cowgirl 6. Heart of a Cowgirl 7. 3 Days with a Cowboy 8. Prodigal Cowgirl

    Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVOOne woman's astonishing journey from unimaginable trauma to becoming a power for good.In 1999, Sierra Leone was in the midst of a brutal civil war where mindless violence, vicious amputation and the rape of young enslaved women were the everyday weapons of bloody conflict.It was also where rebel soldiers snatched the young Aminata Conteh-Biger from her father's arms, then held her captive for months.After she was released, the UNHCR recognised that her captors still posed a serious threat to her safety. So, still in her teens, she was put on a plane and flown to Australia to start afresh as a refugee in a land she knew nothing about.It is here that she has proudly built a life, while never allowing her trauma to define her. Yet it was a near-death experience she suffered during the birth of her child that turned her attention to the women of Sierra Leone - where they are 200 times more likely to die while having a baby than in Australia.So she set up the Aminata Maternal Foundation, then returned to the land of her birth to help. This is her story.PRAISE FOR RISING HEART'Aminata knocked me out at our first meeting in Sydney some years ago...courage shining through as she spoke of some of her experiences in Sierra Leone. Her story, Rising Heart, will never leave you; searing, powerful, disturbing, hopeful.' The Hon. Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO'The spirit of Aminata's story will stay with you long after you finish reading. Rising Heart has refuelled my sense of perspective and purpose. Aminata's courage in sharing this intensely personal story is rewarded with the power of inspiring hope. Thank you, Aminata, for sharing.' Yael Stone, actor and activist'A powerful read that will make you cry at the injustice and brutality of our world - especially the treatment of women and girls - but then shed tears of admiration and hope. Aminata reminds us of the power of an individual to make a difference. She is an inspirational woman who has brought about extraordinary change, and is a shining example of why we must all be good global citizens. What a beautiful Australian story.' Natasha Stott Despoja AO'A gripping story of courage, survival and redemption.' Wendy McCarthy AO'An incredible story of hope and transformation, one that we can all learn from.' Emma Isaacs, Founder and Global CEO, Business Chicks'Women's reproductive health is one of the most important factors in determining their quality of life and that of their children. Aminata's extraordinary efforts in her country of origin will make a life-changing difference to the mothers and children of Sierra Leone.' Professor Kerryn Phelps AM'I have met many refugees the world over, and the courage of Aminata's personal account as a survivor of unimaginable cruelty is both disturbing and inspiring. Her unwavering belief in human kindness in the face of so much adversity is what makes her a role model for so many women and girls.' Louise Aubin, UNHCR Representative'Aminata not only gives an important voice to her own intensely personal story but also to the many forgotten women and girls caught up in war and conflict today. She is a compelling advocate for the rights of these women and also for the work of the UN Refugee Agency who supports them.' Naomi Steer, National Director Australia for UNHCR

    Seraki joins the cast of a locally produced musical that exposes the plight of black South Africans. When the play travels to the U.S., Seraki discovers that even in America, the land of opportunity, he cannot escape corruption. An ALA Best Book for Young Adults.

    She spent five years on the run from the brutal LRA, and then cared for her young nieces after their mother died of AIDs, losing them one by one to the disease. Their deaths plunged her into depression, which only began to lift after she took in an unexpected guest: a pregnant teenage girl, kidnapped and assaulted by the LRA, who had escaped captivity with her toddler.Spurred on by her young friend's plight, Alice began to house and nurture survivors of the sexual violence that was a trademark of the LRA's twenty-year campaign. Out of this rose the Pader Girls Academy, which Alice saw as a 'School of Restoration'. It has helped hundreds of girls, many left with babies and HIV as a result of their enslavement. Alice recognised the humanity and potential in these girl mothers, who had been rejected or were trapped in their villages without hope.Written in Alice's powerful yet understated voice, The School of Restoration is a compelling story of hope, forgiveness, redemption and the human capacity to survive and even thrive against the backdrop of war and chaos.