But when he suddenly dies of a heart attack his wife Annie refuses to have the words ‘beloved husband’ added to his gravestone. Their son, Billy, is exasperated with his mother and worries about how she will cope on her own. Unwilling to take time out of his own busy schedule to take care of her, he enlists the services of the local vicar, Andrew, to keep an eye on her.Before she knows what is happening, Annie finds herself telling the vicar things she has kept hidden for years. Dark secrets that had plagued her sixty-year marriage to Ernest.When Annie’s estranged granddaughter, Ophelia, turns up for a visit, the two bond over their mutual contempt for Billy and his controlling behaviour. But when Ophelia meets Andrew, the unhappily married vicar, things start to get very complicated…What is the truth about Ernest? Why is Annie behaving so strangely now that he is dead? And how can Andrew reconcile his growing feelings for Ophelia with his respect for his marriage and his religion?Spanning from the Second World War to the present day, Dead Ernest is a poignant, moving and, at times, very funny look at what really goes on behind closed doors in the ordinary lives of ordinary people."Beautifully written, deceptively simple, with convincingly drawn and endearing characters...a delightful read" Andrew Davies“Witty, original and engaging. A wonderful read from the classic opening line to the deeply moving conclusion” L C Tyler, author of the John Grey historical series and the Herring Mysteries."shot through with a sense of human sympathy transcending its situations; and that in itself is a considerable achievement" Church Times"Garrood's debut is assured and thought provoking" Kelly Salter, Big Issue Cymru"Remarkably well written and well constructed" Michael Allen, Grumpy Old Bookman

    Emotional entanglement is not on Georgie Martin's to do list. She has turned her back on her sophisticated Sydney lifestyle, determined to renovate her parents old flower farm and her shattered ego. However, the challenges prove more than she bargained for until a madcap scheme comes to fruition and the Protea Boys are born. The team of efficient, well-tapered six-packs solve her farming problems, but their leader presents a different kind of challenge - their first spark of attraction ignites a passion she cannot ignore. Tom Morgan likes his women "pretty and entertaining," not "efficient and driven," but the threat of being co-opted as a wine waiter or worse, chef in his brother's restaurant encourages him to take up what he sees as the highly amusing challenge of managing the Protea Boys. It is the perfect distraction while he waits for a new assignment - or so he thinks until he realizes he has found the one woman he cannot run away from.

    After her boss and ex, Devon Shepperton, ends up dead, Lake worries someone is trying to kill her too.When Devon’s Navy SEAL twin, Drake, shows up to settle his late brother’s estate, she reaches out for help. Drake offers to keep her safe in his condo until danger passes—especially as she’s pregnant with his brother’s child. But as the two spend more time together, Lake soon realizes that with the gruff and delicious SEAL around, keeping her heart intact might be her biggest challenge.Drake knows he’s returning to his SEAL team, so getting romantically entangled with the gorgeous Lake is definitely off the table. His role is protector, not lover. Then comes The Kiss. That one kiss from Lake is throwing him off his game, and making him feel things he’s never felt.But he needs to stay focused. The danger to Lake is very real, and he strongly suspects the Shepperton Foundation is at the heart of it. As the danger swirling around them becomes a tempest, Drake finds himself drawn closer to Lake, realizing he’ll do just about anything to keep her safe. And to win her heart…

    After a terrible accident, Dylan left Bear Bluff, his grandpa told him never to return. But now he’s back. And what was supposed to be a short trip looks as if it’s going to turn into something much longer. Like forever... Steph doesn’t need a mate. She’s had enough of men, doesn’t need one, especially one that is trouble on two legs. But Dylan might just be the man to prove she does need a man. A man like him; in her life and in her bed. His Bear’s Necessity Growing up, was tough for Jed Creswell, his family struggled for money, and sometimes he had to be a little creative to help put food in his younger sibling’s stomachs. Now he’s returned, a reformed character who is determined to work hard and put his brother and sisters through college, so they get a better start in life. That is until he meets Amanda, his mate, from that moment on he is torn, between the family he has, and the family of his own he wants, with the woman he is going to spend the rest of his life with. Black Bear Down When his army helicopter crashes in the Himalayas, killing his comrades, Jordan Williams loses much more than his friends. He loses the use of his legs, and his bear. Two months later, he is transferred to Bear Bluff, where he grew up, but he isn’t interested in life. Not until Skyla walks into his hospital room. She’s his mate. But how is he supposed to deal with that, when his life no longer makes sense? With his bear gone, and unable to walk, what kind of man is he? How can he provide for her like a bear shifter should? Who Bears Wins When bear shifter, Caleb, meets Zoe, he realizes returning to Bear Bluff is not a choice, it’s a necessity. One look at his mate and he’s ready to settle down and start a family—with an emphasis on practicing baby making, of course. In fact, he’s willing to start making babies right now… But Zoe isn’t sure that’s what she wants. At all. Not when she has her teenage brother, Tony, to keep out of jail. Tony is the reason she gave up her old life and move to a town filled with big, broad, bear shifters. Not the ideal place to live when your side is … well … smaller. And fluffier, with a cute bobtail. Can Zoe dare to take a chance on Caleb? When Bears Collide What happens, when two bears, from two different worlds, collide? Curvy bear shifter Grace, does not believe in love and marriage, or happy ever afters. So, fate must be having a joke on her, when she crosses paths with her mate at a wedding, where she’s the hired help—and he’s a billionaire. Matt’s made his fortune, and now he wants to use it to help other shifters get a fresh start in life. He wants to work with Dylan from Bear Bluff Construction, and expand the good job he’s doing helping offenders. What he doesn’t expect, is for one of those offenders to be his mate. Wish Upon a Bear Curvy girl Zara is used to working over the Holidays. The pay is good, and it fills the lonely hours, when everyone else is celebrating with their family. This year is different. As a newly qualified teacher, she’s given herself a Christmas vacation. So, when she is invited by her old friend Dylan and his family, to spend the holidays in Bear Bluff, she agrees.

    They’re wanted by the English Dragoons for reaving their own cattle in the year 1747. In order to escape, they flee on foot and the only way they can go is up. Climbing to a cave on Ben Macdhui might be their last hope, but they’re soon caught in an avalanche that tosses them through time to the year 2019 and a place very far away from home. Kirsten Hunter is part owner of a ski shop in the tiny Sierra Nevada village of Delight. She’s also a member of the local search and rescue team. Her days are full and her personal life is suffering. It isn’t until she meets Bear that she believes there might be something missing in her life. Unfortunately, she thinks he and his brothers are irresponsible, extreme skiers who have flouted the rules and were caught in the controlled avalanche she was tasked with overseeing. Having no idea that they are actually time traveling Highlanders she is angered that they risked their own lives and the lives of her search and rescue team for what she sees as an adrenaline rush. The attraction Bear and Kirsten have for each other becomes harder and harder to deny as they spend time together, but standing in their way is a jealous man who wants Kirsten all to himself and Bear’s desire to return to life the way it was before the Highland defeat at Culloden - the life he’s lost and can’t forget.