Mavis is juggling caring for her elderly, confused mother alongside her long-standing affair with a hypochondriac father-of-two. And Gabs is a high-class escort who’s fallen in love with someone completely unattainable. All three women are behaving in ways very much frowned upon by the Catholic Church. But their priest, Father Cuthbert is determined to reform them. As the three women strike up an unlikely friendship, each re-evaluates what is most important them. And it seems the not-so-holy trinity of Alice, Mavis, and Gabs can’t be ‘cured’ that easily… WOMEN BEHAVING BADLY is an uplifting romantic comedy about women finding their identities and learning the value of female friendships. It is a holiday read about sex & relationships that is full of humour, wit and tear-jerking reality, from a strong voice in women’s fiction. ‘a deftly painted and witty story’ – Eliza Graham ‘an interesting story well told, with just the right amount of humour’ – librarianwithsecrets.blogspot.co.uk ‘Funny, clever, wry and poignant’ - randomthingsthroughmyletterbox.blogspot.co.uk ‘Frances Garrood is a magnificent writer’ - thebookbag.co.uk

    Perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley and Katie Fforde. Succumbing to a rather clichéd midlife crisis, Dan Haywood swaps his family for an expensive red sports car and a younger woman. After 24 years of marriage, his wife Sarah is left to pick up the pieces. Trying her best to re-style her life, comfort hurt children, make time for 'helpful' friends and maintain her burgeoning career as a dress designer, Sarah feels pulled in a hundred directions. And it doesn't help that obstacles – mostly in the form of other middle-aged men – seem to conspire against her. Proud of herself for moving house and starting to build an independent life, she is shocked when Robert Maynard, her rather dashing new next-door neighbour, insists that the house was promised to him. Now she is destined to be pulled into his life by events beyond her control. After one failed marriage, will she be able to find happiness again? And do second chances really come to those who wait? This book was previously published as The Orchid Lover under the name Mary De Laszlo.

     But, too valuable to discard and too dangerous to set free, an old friend offers him a choice: abandon his identity and become a desk-bound advisor to the National Crime Agency, or go back to the prison he broke out of – a place where he is extremely unpopular. Bracken is forced to accept – and he’s becoming a different man. But all this changes when, days before Christmas, an undercover narcotics officer is murdered in horrific circumstances, and only Bracken has the inside track on the key suspect. Throwing himself into the fray, Bracken finds himself in a very present-day ideological conflict, uncovering a plot which has huge implications for both Manchester’s political, socio-economic landscape, and the nation at large – coming to an explosive conclusion amidst the twinkling fairy lights and frost-tipped boughs of Christmas Eve... Praise for Till Morning is Nigh: ‘Rob Parker has an astute and humorous turn of phrase that never fails to make me smile. A pacy, intriguing, topical plot showing us the softer side of our dutiful, perpetually conflicted ex-soldier Ben Bracken’ - Heleen Kist, Stay Mad, Sweetheart ‘A cracking, pacy blockbuster of a thriller and with its Christmas setting it’s the perfect gift for your crime-loving friends’ - Trevor Wood, The Man On The Street ‘Till Morning Is Nigh, with themes of how populism is the red meat the far right feeds on, is Parker’s most thoughtful novel yet. Layered, well-researched and with a sparkling narrative, this is an author at the very top of his game. Thoroughly recommended’ - M.W. Craven, author of the Washington Poe series ‘Love Reacher? You’ll adore Bracken; Till Morning is Nigh is a gripper you won’t be able to put down.’ Roger A. Price, author of The Badge and the Pen series.

    Lucy is the wrong side of thirty and tormented daily by the idyllic family pictures cluttering up her Facebook newsfeed. All of her friends seem to be getting married and having babies, and yet here she is, resolutely single, and no prospect of creating the perfect family she's always dreamt of. How she longs for it to be her turn. But finding love is complicated, and as time passes she wonders if there might just be another way to make her dreams come true. Is she brave enough to go it alone, or is the fantasy of 'baby makes three' just too precious to give up on?

    They were steep and they were narrow—but was a fall down them enough to have caused the twenty-seven deep lacerations to her aunt’s head? Callie Harris travels from her home in Alabama to her aunt’s former mansion in Maine to unravel the haunting forty-year-old mystery of Dr. Laverne Harris Doss’ brutal death. Why wasn’t a murder weapon found? Was her uncle justly convicted of the killing? Was his mistress involved? Or was the murderer the bearded stranger rumored to have arrived by train that night? In the charming town of Richmond, located on the banks of Maine’s historic Kennebec River, Callie uncovers the community’s darkest secrets—a botched police investigation, a betrayed widow’s lie, a dead woman’s blackmail, and a wealthy philanthropist’s shame. The web of intrigue extends far beyond Callie's suspicions and its connection to her personal story pierces her to the core.

    Unlucky in love, Bea learns that her true soulmate is still out there ̶ and that he’s someone she knew in a past life.Returning home, Bea revisits the men in her life and can’t resist looking up a few old lovers – the Good, the Bad and the… well, the others. As Bea connects with the ones that got away, she suspects that her little black book has remained shut for a reason. But one man out there has her in his sights.They say love is blind and maybe Bea just needs an eye test…Funny and wise, this is the perfect read for anyone who believes in finding love, no matter what their age.

    If you love James Patterson, Harlan Coben and Gregg Hurwitz, you’ll love Finders Keepers.What if you could change your life with one little lie?Noah Kendall loves his family, but hates his teaching job. Mortgage, bills and mouths to be fed: he’s stuck in a rut. And with more debts piling up each day, he knows that something has to change. As he opens yet another red letter, he has to get out and clear his head, despite the heavy Alaskan snow outside. His legs ache as he runs deeper into the forest, until he notices something in the distance – a crashed car, sitting dead still. Inside, a girl sits slumped in the driver’s seat, eyes closed, mouth open, skin grey beneath the winter frost.And then beside her he sees it: a bag of money. And lots of it. Enough to pay off his debt and start a whole new life. And it’s just sitting there, waiting for him to take it... What would you do?This book was previously published as The Dead Girl.

    What happens when it shatters?Western Virginia, 1979. Dell Shaw knows the relationship between a mother and daughter should be something warm, soft and safe. But her relationship with her former beauty queen mother, Anita, has never been like that. And then one day, Anita packs up and leaves home, abandoning Dell to look after her alcoholic father and grow up alone.When Dell meets handsome Mason, who has his own scars, she begins to think she can build a new, happy family with him. A year later, she’s shocked to find herself heartbroken and alone with a new-born baby girl and only her mother to turn to. When Anita refuses help and instead arranges for the local church to take the baby away, Dell knows she won’t ever speak to her mother again.But all that changes on the day Dell discovers her daughter is missing.Anita knows where the child might be. There’s only one problem—Anita is in a coma, fighting for her life. As Dell divides her time between her mother’s bedside and searching for her daughter, she finds herself discovering new things about her past that make her wonder if she can forgive her mother after all. But will she be able to reconcile with her mother and find her daughter before time runs out?An unforgettable and heart-wrenching debut about the endurance of love, the power of forgiveness, and finding beauty in the world around us. Your must-read book of 2019. Perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing, Kristin Hannah and Kerry Lonsdale.

    Perfect for fans of Jane Costello, Helen Fielding and Fiona Gibson. Every cloud has a silver lining when it comes to love… Daryl Williams never minded the fact that she had a big bottom. It’s always been behind her. In fact, it was one of the things that her husband loved about her. Until he ran off with her best friend, Gabby.Daryl knows that she needs to get back in the dating game, she just doesn’t know how. So when her colleague suggests taking a fortune forecast, she reluctantly agrees. And it looks like Daryl’s luck is in, by Friday she has a 99% chance of falling in love!Only, even when it’s written in the stars, finding the one after the one is never easy… What readers are saying about Fiona Collins: ‘It’s harder than it seems to stay single for a year…a fabulously entertaining story!’ – Rachel’s Random Reads (top 1000 Amazon Reviewer)‘A laugh-out-loud hilarious book with a deft turn of phrase and a very real grasp of what it’s like to be a woman…a real cut above your usual chick lit!.’ – Sam (top 1000 Amazon Reviewer)‘Not at all a predictable ending…something a little out of the ordinary.’ – Sal’s World of Books‘Fiona’s writing style is wonderful and packed with warmth and humour.’ – Bookaholic Holly‘I loved this book and read it in one night – I couldn't put it down!’ – Amazon Reviewer‘A light-hearted, fun read, perfect for a rainy day, or lying on a beach.’ – Ceri (Amazon Reviewer)‘Absolutely wonderful…A joy to read. I would recommend this book wholeheartedly.’ – Michelle (NetGalley Reviewer)A thoroughly enjoyable, light-hearted and fun read.’ – A Spoonful of Happy Endings

    It is a man who finds her far too beautiful to marry God.Hannah turns her back on the church and she and Wade settle in Jacksonville, Florida, where the world holds the promise of sunshine. They have two wonderful children before life changes and Wade insists that Hannah abort her third child. When Hannah refuses, light turns to darkness and fate unfolds before Hannah with the cruel consequences of her choices.A story told against the backdrop of the Depression, Hannah struggles with anguish and despair highlighted by brief moments of triumph, lost love returned, deep friendship and the cruelty of laws so unfavorable to women.

    Quietly suffering in a life filled with loneliness and regret, he’s accepted his punishment for not protecting the only person he’s ever loved.In his experiences, he’s learned to always expect the worst.He never expected to meet a woman who would bring light into his life, who would show him forgiveness and the beauty in acceptance.He never expected a chance at redemption.He never expected Isabella Hampton.This is the first book in a spin-off series of The Dimarco Series. Can be read as a standalone. Many characters from The Dimarco Series will appear in this story.

    Desperate to learn more about the war, she joins a group of college women who send letters to soldiers and befriends Joseph Russo, a young soldier. But a few months after they begin corresponding, his letters stop coming, and Char moves on, still confused as to why so many young lives are being lost so far away from home.Two years later, Char begins college in her small Illinois town of Grand Falls. She's been dating her brother's long-time best friend, Deke Masterson, who is a senior in college and is deep into the anti-war movement. Char is still confused over how she feels about the war. Then a stranger comes to town and changes everything.Joseph Russo served in the Vietnam War, earning a Purple Heart for his injury as well as a life-long limp. He's ready to put the war behind him. While in Vietnam, he'd corresponded with a girl from Grand Falls and he enjoyed reading about her idyllic life. When he's discharged, he moves there to attend college. And when he meets Charlotte in person, he's taken with her sweetness, intelligence, and beauty.The battle lines are drawn as Deke resents Joe's presence around Char. What started out as a well-deserved escape to a small town for Joe soon turns into a battle of wills between him and the idealistic Deke. And there stands Charlotte, right in the middle.Night Music is a story about a moment in time when the world was chaotic and nothing was completely clear. In the midst of all the chaos, can Char and Joe find enough middle ground to fall in love?What readers are saying about Night Music:--"Sletten has crafted an emotional story centered with conflict that brings the characters to life." ~ Write-Read-Life--"Characters who feel three-dimensional, a setting that is almost its own character, and a story that entertains while also challenging us to think." Melissa at Bibliotica--"All the characters seemed so real..." Comfy Reading--"It was refreshing to read a story based on the late 1960's..." Sara at Chick Lit Central-- "A wonderful job of capturing both the turmoil and the love of that time." Susan at The Book Bag

    Will they lead her to love and resolution? Sarah Holtz doesn’t wish for much. All she wants to be is a great nanny for the children of the Jotters. An orphan, she has lived with the Jotters for two years now and knows what to expect from the holidays. Except, this year things turn out very differently when Alvan, the patriarch, is found murdered and Christmas is on the brink of ruins. While struggling to hold the family together, Sarah finds a box in the attic filled with newspaper clippings and a diary. And within the pages are dark secrets… Secrets that may point towards the person who killed Alvan Jotter… Investigating a murder by dredging through the past is not an easy task. The more Sarah learns, the more old wounds are opened. And when the eldest son Nathan joins her, he realizes that his Daed wasn’t the man he thought he was. Now, these secrets must be brought to light if the killer is going to be caught and Christmas is going to be saved. And in the midst of it all, Sarah struggles with her own feelings. Feelings that involve Nathan… Can Sarah unlock the secrets of the past while finding love in the present? AUTHOR’S NOTE: This is a 108-page stand-alone story with an HEA, so no cliff-hangers.

    But the delivery man for the local grain store, Jimmy Knox, had caught her eye and eventually her heart. Following a fateful kiss with Jimmy, Rebecca’s family gives her an ultimatum -she can go with Jimmy and leave their community, or she can stay with her family and lose Jimmy. After days of agonizing, she chooses her faith, but by then, the local village basically shuns her. Rebecca’s parents decide it would be best if she moves in with her grandfather two towns away, to take care of him as his health declines. They feel that by removing her from their home, they will no longer face the condemnation of the community for her relationship with Jimmy, and maybe she can find a man who would forgive her past. Becca moves in with her grandfather, and toils day and night, taking care of his house, the cooking, many of the farm chores, and taking care of his health needs. Sad and lonely, still facing comments about Jimmy, Becca starts taking long walks by herself when her work is done. On one such walk, she meets Noah Flaud, and they begin to court. Rebecca struggles to put her shame behind her, and fully embrace the love and acceptance Noah is offering her.

    Her days and nights are filled with caring for both. Having lost their parents two years before, the girls work together to keep their legacy alive, and each one has a responsibility to fulfill. Lily loves baking delicious pastries, bread, cookies and pies for their community, but she feels that something is missing in her life. Although her time is taken up by her work and helping her older sister run their household, Lily’s heart longs for the kind of relationship her parents had, but no one in their small town of Greenwood, Kentucky has ever tried to win her heart. In her youth, her shyness prevented her from responding to any overtures, but now she is just too consumed with her duties to even try. Gabriel Albrect works for his father’s construction company and is a former charmer of women. However, after having his heart broken, he retreats from the social scene and throws himself into his work. He’s done with women now. But when his cousin comes to visit, he is reminded of his former self and knows that he has to take responsibility for his cousin’s actions. After all, he is the reason that Mark behaves this way. When Mark appears to be making advances toward Lily’s sisters, Gabriel steps forward to intervene. He cares deeply for the Springer sisters. Although he and Lily were once close friends, time and changes caused them to drift apart. While they are still friendly, the relationship is a shadow of what it once was. Gabriel feels helpless to change it, believing that Lily will never trust him again because of his past. Still, he wants to protect her sisters from the advances of his flirtatious cousin. As the anniversary of her parents’ death approaches, Lily feels vulnerable and calls out to the Lord for comfort. If she can’t have the desires of her heart, she asks that He take them from her. Little does she know that God has a plan for her that will go beyond all her hopes...