Search Results for: kate thompson

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Secrets of the Lavender Girls

Secrets of the Lavender Girls

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Kate Thompson

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‘A

twisty plot, warm-hearted characters, laughter, secrets and heartbreak – and bursting with fascinating detail’ – Annie Murray

Stratford, 1943.

World War Two is still raging across Europe. But for the Lavender Girls, the workers at the Yardley cosmetics factory in East London, there are even more challenges on the home front.

Esther, newly married, is learning to juggle life as a working woman with her duties as a wife and homemaker. And she must find a way to help her adopted family on the Shoot, who are battling their own hidden demons . . .

Headstrong Patsy, a new recruit at the Yardley factory, has a double life that takes her from the East End lipstick belt by day to the stage in the West End at night. But will she be able to keep her secrets hidden from her controlling mother, Queenie?

For bubbly Lou, a forbidden love forces her to choose between family loyalty and a chance at true happiness. Can she be brave enough to forge her own path in the chaos of a war?

One thing is certain: the Lavender Girls need one another more than ever if they are going to survive . . .
The Little Wartime Library

The Little Wartime Library

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Kate Thompson

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‘A splendid warm-hearted novel’ – Rachel Hore

London, 1944.

Clara Button is no ordinary librarian. While the world remains at war, in East London Clara has created the country’s only underground library, built over the tracks in the disused Bethnal Green tube station. Down here a secret community thrives: with thousands of bunk beds, a nursery, a café and a theatre offering shelter, solace and escape from the bombs that fall above.

Along with her glamorous best friend and library assistant Ruby Munroe, Clara ensures the library is the beating heart of life underground. But as the war drags on, the women’s determination to remain strong in the face of adversity is tested to the limits when it seems it may come at the price of keeping those closest to them alive.

Based on true events, The Little Wartime Library is a gripping and heart-wrenching page-turner that remembers one of the greatest resistance stories of the war.
The Wartime Book Club

The Wartime Book Club

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Kate Thompson

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*BASED ON A TRUE STORY, CONTAINS 50+ PAGES OF EXTRA CONTENT ON THE REAL PEOPLE THE BOOK IS INSPIRED BY*

Jersey, 1943. When the German Army invades the tranquil island, librarian Grace La Motée is determined to keep her services running. Ordered to destroy books which threaten the Nazi regime, she refuses, instead hiding them away and fighting back by forming a book club: a lifeline to help islanders escape the terror of war, one chapter at a time.

But soon Grace’s quiet acts of bravery become even more perilous. She’s harbouring dangerous secrets – ones that put her life in danger – and when tensions turn to violence, she is forced to face the true, terrible cost of resistance . . .

Based on astonishing real events, The Wartime Book Club is a love letter to the power of books in the darkest of times – as well as a moving page-turner that brings to life the remarkable, untold story of an island at war.

EVERYONE LOVES THE WARTIME BOOK CLUB:


‘Wish I could give it more stars’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘I was utterly enthralled . . . it reminds us how strong we can be in the face of adversity’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Tears, laughs and genuine love for all the characters in this book’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A heartwarming tale . . . shows against all odds and hardships people can survive’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Full of wonderful characters and their determination to get through the worst times’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

AND SO DO YOUR FAVOURITE AUTHORS…
‘One of the very best books I’ve read in a long time’ PETER JAMES
‘Engaging’ RACHEL HORE
‘Both heartwarming and heartbreaking’ GILL PAUL
‘A poignant masterpiece’ MADELINE MARTIN
‘A book to be savoured and remembered’ GILL THOMPSON
Secrets of the Homefront Girls

Secrets of the Homefront Girls

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Kate Thompson

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A new series from bestselling author Kate Thompson.

‘Kate Thompson’s wartime novels always strike a chord and Secrets of the Homefront Girls is no exception. You can almost smell the Yardley violets drifting over the factory as the girls live lives complicated by the trials and tribulations of war’ My Weekly

‘Kate Thompson’s put the lives of women working in the Yardley factory during the Blitz at the heart of her latest novel’ Woman’s Hour

Stratford, 1939.

Britain may be at war, but on the home front keeping up morale and keeping up appearances go hand in hand. For the young women working on the lipstick production line at Yardley’s cosmetics factory, it’s business as usual.

Headstrong Renee Gunn is the queen of the lipstick belt – although her cheeky attitude means she’s often in trouble. When Esther, an Austrian refugee, arrives at Yardley’s, it’s Renee who takes her under her wing and teaches her to be a true cockney.

But outside of the factory, things are more complicated. Lily, Renee’s older sister, has suddenly returned home after six years away, and is hiding a dark secret. Meanwhile Esther is finding life in England more difficult than expected, and it’s not long before Renee finds herself in trouble, with nowhere to turn.

In the face of the Blitz, the Yardley girls are bound together by friendship and loyalty – but could the secrets they are hiding be the biggest danger of all?

‘A compelling saga set around the tenacious women of the East End’ Daisy Styles

‘Kate Thompson is a skillful and humane storyteller who lights up the sooty face of the old East End with tales full of drama and human interest.’ Annie Murray
The Dressmaker of Paris

The Dressmaker of Paris

Contributors

Georgia Kaufmann

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‘Involving, immersive and unputdownable’ – Sunday Times bestselling author Jill Mansell

I need to tell you a story, ma chère. My story.

Rosa Kusstatscher has built a global fashion empire upon her ability to find the perfect outfit for any occasion. But tonight, as she prepares for the most important meeting of her life, her usual certainty eludes her.

What brought her to this moment? As she struggles to select her dress and choose the right shade of lipstick, Rosa begins to tell her incredible story. The story of a poor country girl from a village high in the mountains of Italy. Of Nazi occupation and fleeing in the night. Of hope and heartbreak in Switzerland; glamour and love in Paris. Of ambition and devastation in Rio de Janeiro; success and self-discovery in New York.

A life spent running, she sees now. But she will run no longer.

Breathtaking and utterly enthralling, The Dressmaker of Paris is a stunning debut novel that is perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley, Kate Morton and Dinah Jefferies.

The Dressmaker of Paris is a delicious book: elegantly structured, beautifully written and with a fascinating protagonist. Georgia Kaufmann has created a beautiful and compelling novel that had me hooked until the very last page. And that ending: wow!’ – Gill Thompson, bestselling author of THE OCEANS BETWEEN US

The Bobby Girls' War

The Bobby Girls' War

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Johanna Bell

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Curl up with Book Four in the gorgeous Bobby Girls series now!



1916. Poppy is being transferred to an enormous new munitions complex in Gretna, on the Scottish border. Even though it means moving far away from her best friends Maggie and Annie, she is excited for the challenge.

As a member of the Women’s Police Service, it’s her job to maintain law and order so that the factory workers can safely carry out their vital war work. She soon makes friends, and even starts to open herself up to the possibility of love.

But then she sees something in the dead of night, and suddenly the dangers of the war are no longer far away on distant shores. With the enemy hot on her heels and no idea who to trust, can Poppy save herself – and avert disaster for her country?

Praise for the Bobby Girls series:

Filled with richly drawn characters that leap from the page, and a plot that’s so well researched and well written you will believe you are in the thick of wartime policing, The Bobby Girls is a must-read for all saga fans.’ – Fiona Ford, bestselling author of Christmas at Liberty’s

‘I really enjoyed reading about Britain’s first female police officers. A lot of research has gone into this book and it’s all the richer and more readable for it. An exciting new voice in women’s fiction.’ – Kate Thompson, bestselling author of Secrets of the Singer Girls

‘I really did enjoy The Bobby Girls. It has a lovely warm feeling about it and is excellently written.’ – Maureen Lee, RNA award-winning author of Dancing in the Dark

‘A well-researched and interesting story giving a great insight into early women’s policing.’ – Anna Jacobs, bestselling author of the Ellindale series

‘Written with warmth and compassion, the novel gives fascinating insights into the lives of three courageous young women.’ – Margaret Kaine, RNA award-winning author of Ring of Clay

Johanna Bell has hit the jackpot with this striking WW1 crime story. The author places the focus firmly on the girls’ growth into independent members of society in a rapidly changing world. It’s a heartening central message conveyed with verve and empathy and remains relevant to today’s readers, both young and old.’ – Jenny Holmes, author of The Spitfire Girls

‘This is a story that needed to be told. As a former Special Constable, I love Johanna Bell from the bottom of my heart for giving a voice to the women who first made a way for me and countless others like me – to work as real police officers in the service of our communities.’ – Penny Thorpe, author of The Quality Street Girls

A lovely story! The author has researched the era and the theme very well. The characters stood out on the page and through their eyes you are transported back to a different age.’ – AnneMarie Brear, author of Beneath a Stormy Sky


The Bobby Girls' Secrets

The Bobby Girls' Secrets

Contributors

Johanna Bell

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As the Great War rages on, will the truth come out?

1915. Best friends Irene, Maggie and Annie are proud members of the newly renamed Women’s Police Service. While Britain’s men are away fighting in France, the girls are doing their bit by keeping the peace at home in London’s East End.

But out of the blue, Irene is given the opportunity to be stationed near an army barracks in Grantham, Lincolnshire. Having recently experienced some heartbreak and keen for the adventure, she decides to go. What could possibly go wrong?

It turns out, plenty. One of the other WPS girls takes an immediate dislike to her and makes her life a misery. On top of that, the man she thinks could be the answer to all her problems isn’t all he seems. And when she finds a psychologically disturbed deserter in hiding, she has a very difficult decision to make . . .

Can Irene overcome all these obstacles without Maggie and Annie by her side, and find true happiness at last?

Praise for THE BOBBY GIRLS:

Filled with richly drawn characters that leap from the page, and a plot that’s so well researched and well written you will believe you are in the thick of wartime policing, The Bobby Girls is a must-read for all saga fans.’ – Fiona Ford, bestselling author of Christmas at Liberty’s

‘I really enjoyed reading about Britain’s first female police officers. A lot of research has gone into this book and it’s all the richer and more readable for it. An exciting new voice in women’s fiction.’ – Kate Thompson, bestselling author of Secrets of the Singer Girls

‘I really did enjoy The Bobby Girls. It has a lovely warm feeling about it and is excellently written.’ – Maureen Lee, RNA award-winning author of Dancing in the Dark

‘A well-researched and interesting story giving a great insight into early women’s policing.’ – Anna Jacobs, bestselling author of the Ellindale series

‘Written with warmth and compassion, the novel gives fascinating insights into the lives of three courageous young women.’ – Margaret Kaine, RNA award-winning author of Ring of Clay

Johanna Bell has hit the jackpot with this striking WW1 crime story. The author places the focus firmly on the girls’ growth into independent members of society in a rapidly changing world. It’s a heartening central message conveyed with verve and empathy and remains relevant to today’s readers, both young and old.’ – Jenny Holmes, author of The Spitfire Girls

‘This is a story that needed to be told. As a former Special Constable, I love Johanna Bell from the bottom of my heart for giving a voice to the women who first made a way for me and countless others like me – to work as real police officers in the service of our communities.’ – Penny Thorpe, author of The Quality Street Girls

A lovely story! The author has researched the era and the theme very well. The characters stood out on the page and through their eyes you are transported back to a different age.’ – AnneMarie Brear, author of Beneath a Stormy Sky
The Bobby Girls

The Bobby Girls

Contributors

Johanna Bell

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‘Johanna Bell has hit the jackpot with this striking WW1 story’ – Jenny Holmes, author of The Spitfire Girls

1914. While their men fight in France, at home in Britain women are finally seizing the opportunity to make a difference . . .

Maggie and her new friends Annie, Irene and Sarah come from very different backgrounds, but they’ve got one thing in common: they’ve all signed up for the Women Police Volunteers. They can’t wait to show the men just what they’re made of.

But soon, Maggie realises she’s in over her head. Hiding her involvement with the WPV from her tyrannous father is becoming ever more difficult, and when she bumps into an old acquaintance with a big chip on his shoulder, the dangers of her new life become all too clear . . .

As Maggie and the girls work together to find their feet on the beat, will their friendship get her through the darkest of times?

A gritty, uplifting new saga series about the first ever female police officers, set at the outbreak of the First World War – perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Daisy Styles and Call the Midwife.

Praise for THE BOBBY GIRLS:

Filled with richly drawn characters that leap from the page, and a plot that’s so well researched and well written you will believe you are in the thick of wartime policing, The Bobby Girls is a must-read for all saga fans.’ – Fiona Ford, bestselling author of Christmas at Liberty’s

‘I really enjoyed reading about Britain’s first female police officers. A lot of research has gone into this book and it’s all the richer and more readable for it. An exciting new voice in women’s fiction.’ – Kate Thompson, bestselling author of Secrets of the Singer Girls

‘I really did enjoy The Bobby Girls. It has a lovely warm feeling about it and is excellently written.’ – Maureen Lee, RNA award-winning author of Dancing in the Dark

‘A well-researched and interesting story giving a great insight into early women’s policing.’ – Anna Jacobs, bestselling author of the Ellindale series

‘Written with warmth and compassion, the novel gives fascinating insights into the lives of three courageous young women.’ – Margaret Kaine, RNA award-winning author of Ring of Clay

Johanna Bell has hit the jackpot with this striking WW1 story. The author places the focus firmly on the girls’ growth into independent members of society in a rapidly changing world. It’s a heartening central message conveyed with verve and empathy and remains relevant to today’s readers, both young and old.’ – Jenny Holmes, author of The Spitfire Girls

‘This is a story that needed to be told. As a former Special Constable, I love Johanna Bell from the bottom of my heart for giving a voice to the women who first made a way for me and countless others like me – to work as real police officers in the service of our communities.’ – Penny Thorpe, author of The Quality Street Girls

A lovely story! The author has researched the era and the theme very well. The characters stood out on the page and through their eyes you are transported back to a different age.’ – AnneMarie Brear, author of Beneath a Stormy Sky
The Last Dress from Paris

The Last Dress from Paris

Contributors

Jade Beer

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£9.99
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‘Kept me spellbound…You can practically feel the heaviness and sumptuousness of the velvet and other lush materials of the vintage gowns in your hands. Secrets and heartbreak come alive in this book I was unable to put down!’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Each Dior dress tells a story…

London, 2017: When her beloved grandmother, Sylvie, sends her to Paris to retrieve a dress she wore decades before, Lucille sees the perfect opportunity to briefly escape the pressures of her own life. But not everything is as it seems, and the long-buried secrets she discovers, hidden in a collection of priceless Dior gowns, could change everything.

Paris, 1952: Postwar France is full of glamour and privilege, and Alice Ainsley is in the middle of it all. As the wife to the British ambassador to France, her life is a whirlwind of jewels, banquets and couture dresses, but beneath the glittering facade, Alice is suffocating in a loveless marriage. So when a new face appears in her drawing room, Alice finds herself yearning to follow her heart . . . no matter the consequences.

Deliciously evocative and achingly romantic, sweeping from Fifties Paris to the V&A museum in London, The Last Dress from Paris is the perfect read for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, Natasha Lester, Fiona Valpy and Gill Paul.


Everyone is falling in love with The Last Dress from Paris:

I’m sipping on a calming cup of tea and dabbing my eyes with a tissue after finishing this bookAn excellent read! I love the description of the dresses. Paris in the 1950’s… Loved this book!‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I couldn’t put it down. What a great story. Loved, laughed and cried while reading it‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A delightful story of unrequited love, haute couture fashion, friendship, and secrets!… I read this one late into the night… I enjoyed the descriptions of the dresses, as well as the scenic locations in Paris. Secrets were gradually revealed, right up to the satisfying conclusion’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I loved this book!!… Bittersweet and with a mystery at its heart… A great read!‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Some books stick with you throughout reading and after finishing it. This is one of those books!… When I tell you that I loved this book, I mean it!!… Fashion, forbidden love, heartbreakI HIGHLY recommend this book‘ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A brilliant book that will stay with me for a long time… A thoroughly engrossing novel of strong love’ Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A delightful fashion treasure hunt involving some of my favourite Dior gowns… The dresses dance from the pages, and Paris is resplendently depicted’ Natasha Lester

‘A whirlwind tour through Paris, both past and present, the novel is a rich exploration of the power of female friendships and the true meaning of family. Moving and utterly enjoyable‘ Fiona Davis

An absolute delight!… As original, elegant, and romantic as the Dior dresses the novel’s mystery is woven around’ Hazel Gaynor

As beautifully stitched together as a couture gown… I loved it’ Jessica Fellowes

‘Sumptuous, evocative and dripping in Parisian elegance. A beautifully written page-turner‘ Kate Thompson

‘My kind of read, with vintage couture gowns, Parisian elegance, and romance across the ages’
Gill Paul
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