Her adored father often travelled by sea to the Netherlands, leaving her with an unaffectionate mother and only her imagination of a little Dutch girl, Annelise, to keep her company. When devastation ravages her tiny family. Annelise becomes the comforting friend Margriet needs for a long time to come.A few years later, Margriet is blossoming into a kind young lady. Keen to escape her mother and strike out on her own, she forms an unlikely friendship with some of the street children who roam the town. As Margriet acts upon her inspiration to help them, will the troubles of her past break her spirit, or will she be able to overcome them?If you've liked books by Katie Flynn and Dilly Court, you'll love Val's heart-rending stories of triumph over adversity.

    Usually, it would be fun to have a new girl arrive. But not this time!When Casey realizes that Ali looks exactly like her, she is not at all impressed. To make matters even worse, Casey's crush, a boy named Jake Hanley and the coolest boy in the grade, takes a sudden interest in Ali, and Casey becomes more annoyed than ever. "Who is she and why does she have my face?" This is one of the many questions that Casey asks and she is determined to find out the answer. However, she is not at all prepared for the outcome. Within a matter of days, her world as she once knew it is turned upside down and the decisions she makes lead to consequences beyond her control. This is a fabulous series for girls aged 9-12 and is certain to become a new favorite. School friendships, boy crushes, drama, and excitement combine together to create a suspenseful and enjoyable story that you will not be able to put down.

    Only, when she meets the upper-class Jack on the grounds of his father's estate, she is tempted by the thought of an affair. Is she destined to follow in her mother's scandalous footsteps after all...? (Note: previously published as The Pitman's Brat by Una Horne)

    

     COLD CASE When her past comes back to haunt her… Former FBI cyber security agent Eryn Calloway worked many cyber investigations during her career as an FBI agent and while serving as Blackwell Tactical’s cyber expert. But when her computer is locked with ransomware, she suddenly finds herself facing the biggest investigation of all, one that could result in the loss of her very life. Can she let the one man who can protect her get close enough to do so? Enter former Green Beret, deputy Trey Sawyer who offers to serve as her bodyguard. Trey has been in love with Eryn for a year, but after losing her husband, she isn’t ready to open herself to the potential for pain again. She’s kept Trey at arm’s length and wants to do so now—after all, she can take care of herself. But she has a four-year-old daughter to protect, so Eryn reluctantly agrees to let Trey into her world. Is he trustworthy enough to let him into every area of her life, or is the risk too great? COLD FEAR A shared past… Riley Glen’s former girlfriend, recording artist Leah Kent calls to tell him she’s in danger and needs his help. After the concert, he discovers her bending over a woman’s dead body, and the woman has Leah’s name freshly tattooed on her wrist. When two other bodies are found, both boasting Leah’s name in bright ink on their wrists, she comes under suspicion for the murders. Riley jumps in to defend her from both an imminent arrest and a killer’s deadly rage. A new beginning? Riley and Leah had once been a music team and deeply in love. But Riley’s lifelong dream was to be a sniper, not a musician. He chose to follow his dream and still has feelings for Leah, but their lives are on vastly different courses. But when she begs for his help to clear her name and protect her, he agrees to protect her from this highly trained and vicious killer. COLD PURSUIT She’s on the run… When Whitney Rochester’s brother-in-law kills her sister, Whitney fears for the life of her niece and nephew. She goes on the run with the children to be sure they’re out of her brother-in-law’s reach. Or so she thinks until a killer shows up—weapon in hand—at the ski resort where she works and targets her. But he’s in pursuit. Former Recon Marine Alex Hamilton is working an undercover investigation at the resort when a crazed man wielding a gun takes out a guy in close proximity to Whitney. Despite not having the support of the Blackwell Tactical team, other than their forensic expert, Samantha Willis, Alex isn’t about to let the shooter harm Whitney or anyone else. When a blinding snowstorm triggers avalanches in the area, it’s too dangerous for the police to reach the secluded resort to stop the killer and Alex and Sam must protect everyone at the resort while they feverishly work to determine if Whitney is the victim or the intended target. COLD DAWN An inferno meant to destroy… Blackwell Tactical operator and former criminalist Samantha Willis discovers forensic evidence to prove her friend has been murdered. But before she can gather the evidence, an explosion erupts and a fiery inferno traps her in a building. She helplessly watches the evidence go up in flames and prays that she can escape before the encroaching flames take her life. Or an act of revenge… Firefighter and former Navy SEAL Matt Griffin knew his friend’s death was no accident, and he arrives at the building to gather his own evidence.

    Until the feisty young prostitute, Tibs Tyler, takes her under her wing, and the two girls, one dark, one fair, set themselves up as a music hall act. As they desperately try to break free from Tibs's violent pimp, and to avoid the educated and wealthy yet sinister Dr Tressing, they are also hoping to make a new life for themselves as the new century breaks.

     This specially-priced boxset includes: BOOK 1: LET NOT THE DEEP A crippled cargo ship drifts helplessly in the face of an oncoming hurricane-force storm. On board, a passenger whose presence means the world is watching. Only the skill, determination and raw courage of a lifeboat crew and the British military forces despatched to save them offer any hope of survival. But set against the savagery of the Atlantic even that might not be enough... BOOK 2: KING'S SHILLING As a powerful insurgent army closes on Liberia’s capital, London is forced to act, and HMS Beaufort is despatched to West Africa to pull British nationals from the teeth of encroaching danger. But when the volatile situation ashore unravels, the frigate’s crew must draw deep on reserves of skill, ingenuity and sheer bloody mindedness to save it. And with time running out Beaufort’s Captain makes the decision to take his ship up river... BOOK 3: LONG REACH When Belize is invaded by a powerful neighbour it’s Britain that must spring to the defence of this old outpost of empire. But intervening in distant Central America will test the limits of the former colonial power. And in the end the outcome will turn on the skill, boldness and heart-bursting bravery of handful of British forces already in country... BOOK 4: CONGO BLUE When a group of missionaries get caught up in bloody African civil war London is forced to act. For the men of 40 Commando, Royal Marines, it should be a quick in and out. A nice clean operation. But what awaits them will test them like never before. And, facing overwhelming odds, this time the skill and raw courage of these legendary fighting men may not be enough.. *Note: Congo Blue was previously published as Heraklion Blue. What everyone is saying about Mike Lunnon-Wood’s books: ‘Mike Lunnon-Wood is a great thriller writer’ -- Rowland White, author of Vulcan 607 ‘Absolutely Magnificent! Never has a book twisted my emotions as much as this book has. What a brilliant author Mike Lunnon-Wood is.' ‘Storytelling at its best. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing.’ ‘I have just finished reading Congo Blue after reading Let Not The Deep, King's Shilling and Long Reach all in sequence and almost without a break. I just could not stop. I see completely why Rowland White praised these books. I recommend anyone to read them all.’ ‘These four books are probably the best series I've read.’ ‘The quality of his writing and the depth of his characters are brilliant.’ ‘I was lost from the world while reading this and books like that don't come along too often.’ Mike Lunnon-Wood’s books are perfect for fans of Red Storm Rising, Sniper One or Bravo Two Zero or movies like Red Dawn, Dunkirk or The Siege of Jadotville.

    The Beetars are their new enemy. They are an oppressive alien race who've subjected all other races to their rule and tricked humanity into doing their bidding for a century.The mechs don't know that the first battle was to be the easiest. They will face two more Beetar Commanders, the last being a living legend, before they can claim victory over planet Beetar and end tyranny throughout the galaxy.But the enemy isn't going to bow down for a ragtag group of humans and mechs. They'll stop at nothing to end the uprising, even going so far as to threaten Earth with total annihilation.Zero and his pals get upgrades and pick up some unlikely allies along the way, but will it be enough to take down the apex species of the galaxy?

    She sinned.' Aunt Maud's cruel words shock Rosie Quest, but they also explain the hostility that surrounds her on the run-down Wirral farm: no wonder her aunt resents having had to take in an illegitimate child. It's quite a relief to escape to her job at Shearing's garment factory, even though Beatrice Shearing is a tough employer. But when Rosie catches the eye of Ben Shearing, Beatrice is having none of it: her son is too good for a factory girl. When she fails to halt the romance by conventional methods, Beatrice resolves to try more drastic tactics, even if that means uncovering secrets best left buried...

    When it comes to family they look after business and make their mother proud. Nothing and no one can bring the Butler’s down.But Vinny seems to have crossed the wrong person and his cards are marked. And with the brothers joined at the hip, Roy may just be in the firing line too… Will the Butlers emerge stronger than ever, or is the East End code of honour as good as dead?PAYBACKThe Butlers are back in this gripping, compulsive sequel to THE TRAP.The Butler brothers are the Kings of the East End, and their motto is ‘what goes around, comes around’.In their world, family counts; so when the truth about Vinny’s cousin’s death comes to light, it rocks the Butlers to the core. One by one, Vinny’s friends and family are turning against him…Then, the unimaginable happens – Vinny’s little daughter Molly goes missing. She’s the one chink of light in all their lives, and the one they’d commit murders to bring back.But is it already too late for that?THE WRONGEDThere are some families that welcome newcomers with open arms, then there are the Butlers. An East End family no good girl wants to marry into…Jo fell for Vinny Butler’s good looks, but she’s stood at one graveside too many and now she’s buried her heart as well.Michael Butler was always the nice one, until he started running the family business. Nancy is desperate to leave, and though she would never turn her back on her children, every step they take in their father’s footsteps destroys her a little more.

    Amare is willing to do whatever it takes to protect Corryn even if it means a life must be lost. Will they survive the drama that Pitt is causing them? There's another snake close to Corryn that she would have never expected, will she be able to catch the betrayal in time? Amena and Wesley are working on being couple goals, but the past will come back to bite them at the worst time. When secrets are uncovered, Wesley will have to make a decision but will his choice end his and Amena's relationship before it even gets started? Will Amena be willing to stick beside Wesley through it all? With Kenton focused on being the man in the streets, he somehow managed to keep that life totally separate from his family. However, his baby mother, Tara, doesn’t play fair when it comes to his children and always find a way to make parenting a difficult task. Soon Kenton will find solace in someone else who he feels understands him and gets along with his family. Is it even possible to keep your street life and family life separate or will Kenton have to accept that both worlds are intertwined? With all the jealousy and drama going around, everyone just wants to be happy. Snakes have to be eliminated by any means necessary, if that means death then so be it. Amare, Wesley and Kenton are here to prove that When a Hood Legend Claims It All, it is always for keeps

    That is, until Alma Lee is confronted with a life-threatening illness, forcing them from the refuge of the hollow to confront the unknown perils of the modern world.

    She'd stop buying clothes to cheer herself up, and she wouldn't have to hide the bills. All she wants is a room of her own, but she's got more chance of flying to the moon on a homemade space wagon because right now there's nothing in her pockets except a bit of fluff. When she looks at the streets around her, all she sees is poverty because it's 1970s inner-city Liverpool and that's the way it was.Everyone says if you don't laugh, you'll cry, so Josie laughs a lot, but sometimes her smile doesn't reach her eyes.She doesn't dare complain. Nobody likes a moaner but what's so wrong with wanting something more? She thinks she’s found a way out when she meets Mick. He looks like he'd help an old lady across the road, do her shopping and make her a pot of chicken soup as well.If looks were everything, he would be the man for her, but what's he hiding behind that smile? A funny, heartwarming, and nostalgic look back to gritty 1970s Liverpool.

    Amir's deception has made him an outsider to the man he respects the most. Will Father and Son ever see eye to eye again? Supreme, Nico, T-Roc and Lorenzo all team up for the greater good, to put an end to Arnez's reign of terror but is it too little too late? Caleb admires Genesis and wants nothing more to be accepted into his inner circle but will his ties to Genesis's arch enemy make that impossible? Precious has always been a woman who played by her own rules. But is she ready to change how she plays the game, to save her daughter Aaliyah? With the stakes so high, the only choice you have, is to Stay Schemin' in Part 5 of the Stackin' Paper Series.

    Widowed Sid Rawlins, the rag-and-bone man, says she can come and live with him and he will give her child a name in return for her running his home and looking after his children. Despite the gossip a desperate Brenda has little choice but to accept. Life isn't easy for Brenda and little Ruby but they try make the best of things. Until Brenda falls in love with Sid's eldest son, Danny, and their affair causes trouble within the family. And when Sid dies and leaves the business to his cousin, Charlie, life becomes even harder for Brenda as she faces the threat of losing everything she holds dear...