BRAND NEW from bestselling author Sheila Norton I found you because I wanted to tell you. Jack is with someone else. He’s got no intention of sending for you or the kiddie or seeing you ever again. Don’t try to contact him, you’ll never find him. All it takes is one message for Gemma’s life to fall apart. A confirmation of all she’s feared these last few months. Jack was supposed to be preparing for their new start in Australia, building their home, building their life together. And now this. Gone. Without a trace. Leaving their perfect world – all that their two-year-old daughter, Poppy, knows and cherishes – shattered. Crystal comes into Gemma’s life at the opportune moment. This new friend, who’s been through it before, who knows how it feels for all of your hopes and dreams to suddenly implode, who wants to help, who will do anything... Crystal loves Poppy. And Poppy loves Crystal. The minute they meet it’s as if all of the heartbreak over her dad leaving dissipates. Poppy feels whole again. And in a way, so does Gemma. But what starts as a small kernel of jealousy soon grows into a larger sense of unease. Who is this woman who’s so obsessed with her daughter? And why does it feel like there’s something she’s not telling her? A powerful and emotional women’s fiction novel about motherhood, friendship and just how far we’re willing to go for the ones we love, perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Emma Robinson and Kate Hewitt. Praise for Sheila Norton: 'A well-crafted and brilliantly suspenseful novel that kept me guessing until the end.' Jo Bartlett ‘Loved this book!!!!!... Addictive. There was no way I was putting it down, I literally started reading the book around 10am and couldn't put it down until around 4am. Hahaha I'm so glad it was the weekend!!!!... I definitely recommend it!!!’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A breathtaking novel about motherhood... I felt angst, tension, compassion, empathy, surprise and suspicion.... Do not miss this novel, especially if you enjoy reading about families and their realistic struggles and moments of joy.... Grabbed my heart... Phenomenally emotive.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A masterpiece story of a family finding their way... Hit all the feels for me and I was invested in the story from the beginning to the brilliant end. My emotions ran wild throughout this story and I would love to see this become a Netflix hit.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A remarkable tale depicting a family's journey through the complexities of emotional challenges. Norton's storytelling kept engrossed me from start to finish, leaving a lasting impact... Truly captivating.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A really great read. I really enjoyed this story... Beautifully written and a mother’s love for her children shines throughout the book as Jess struggles to make a home for them all and keep them safe.’ NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘I LOVED this book. I was so drawn in by the weird dynamics between Jess and the neighbours.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Beth Marston was always certain that she was going to be Someone. She was never going to be Ordinary or Boring like other people. But these days Beth's feeling more like a nobody; she's about to turn thirty, she's on her own with a four year old, and she's cleaning other people's houses for a living. Beth knows she wants more from life, but she's so wrapped up in the lives of the people whose houses she cleans, there's just no time. With the perfect Perkins family who seem too good to be true, Dottie, her sprightly senior citizen, who's 82 going on 25, and 'Slimy' Oliver, who has a penchant for wearing very little about the house, she's kept busy enough. But then there is the mysterious Alex Chapman, who Beth has never met. She can't believe he really lives in his spotless, tidy apartment which only takes her a few minutes to pretend to clean. So how else can she spend the four hours she's being paid for in his flat? She does have her own ambitions to fulfil and little time or opportunityand there's a computer just sitting there, never being used. Maybe its time Beth dusted off some of those old dreams?
Can happiness be made in Devon?... After the sudden death of her estranged husband, Clare is shocked to discover she has inherited a dog and a small fortune. Convinced by her adult children to finally do something for herself, Clare embarks on a coast-to-coast adventure - until she stumbles upon an unmarked location on the fringes of South Devon. When Clare finds herself driving down a narrow road to the tiny village of Little Sorrell, she is met with distant, cold, and rude locals. But as she falls in love with a cottage she wishes to call home, can Little Sorrell truly be the place of second chances?...
A heartwarming and uplifting tale of community, friendship and love to curl up with this summer – perfect for fans of Phillipa Ashley, Milly Johnson and Jill Mansell. 'A thoroughly enjoyable read' Katie Fforde, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Country Escape When the going gets ruff, it’s time to make a change... In need of a fresh start, Jess has moved to the beautiful Devon seaside town of Pennycombe Bay. However it isn’t the new beginning she was hoping for – she enjoys her new job at the local pet shop but feels like she’s treading on eggshells living with her moody cousin Ruth. When she meets handsome stranger, Nick, on the beach, she thinks she’s made a new friend or something more. Although her hopes of romance are quickly dashed when she finds out he’s seeing another woman... Can Jess make Pennycombe feel like home? Fans of Cathy Bramley, Carole Matthews and Katie Fforde will love Sheila Norton’s charming, wonderfully warm, feel-good books. *You can now pre-order Sheila's new novel, The Lonely Hearts Dog Walkers*
A brand new cosy, wintery story set on Devon's beautiful coast, by beloved, award-winning author Sheila Norton 'I've woken up early. I really didn't want to - today of all days, the first day of the rest of my life.' After years working all hours as a senior practice nurse, Joy has taken a well-earned retirement. She'd been looking forward to it, to leisure and time and no alarms, but now that it's happened, she's not sure what to do with herself. Her husband Terry is buried in his business, and seems to be talking to her less and less - at home she feels, increasingly, rather in the way. But when a new neighbour, Sara, and her small son move into their remote Devon village, Joy befriends her, and inspired by Sara starts to look into the history of their beautiful Angel cove. Joy's quest brings her to new friends, old secrets and eventually unearths a history that belies their sleepy village . . . Praise for Sheila Norton 'Thoroughly enjoyable' KATIE FFORDE 'A truly lovely read with delightful characters' PHILLIPA ASHLEY 'A charming read. Made me want to move to the country and buy a cottage with roses around the door' SARAH MORGAN
Could this be the perfect place to start over...? When Nicola’s marriage falls apart and she’s left broken-hearted, she decides to move back home to the idyllic village of Furzewell. But her fresh start isn’t everything she hoped it would be – daughter Mia is struggling to fit in at school and she’s finding it challenging living with her overbearing mother. But when she joins the local dog-walkers group, Nicky finds the support she’s been looking for – The Lonely Hearts Dog Walkers never fail to be there for each other in a crisis. When their local park is threatened by developers, they are determined to rally together to save it. Can Nicky fight to protect her new community and find her happy furever after? A heart-warming tale of love, family and four-legged friends – perfect for fans of Lucy Diamond, Phillipa Ashley and Katie Fforde.
Move over Thelma and Louise! Travelling is one thing Maddy Goodchild has never really considered doing. She's done lots of things - most of them badly - including getting married much too young and getting divorced soon afterwards. The only thing Maddy's ever done right is raising her teenage daughter. But now she's taken off to travel the world, Maddy can't help feeling a little bit jealous. A surprise win on the lottery gives Maddy and her best-friend a glimmer of an idea. They could do the sensible thing and spend the money on paying off the mortgage and new carpets. Or they could live a little. After all the world is their oyster and who knows what - or whom - might be waiting for them over the next horizon?
Determined to transform herself into an exciting, intriguing, and alluring woman, sensible hospital receptionist Rosie Peacock turns her carefully structured life upside down as she embarks on a delightfully sexy journey of self-discovery. Original.
Heartwarming and lovable, Charlie will squirm his way into your heart. Perfect for fans of A Streetcat Named Bob and Alfie the Doorstep Cat. But what could I do? I was just a little cat and nobody ever listened to me. I made a promise to myself that I’d do everything I possibly could to save her, whatever the danger to me, and no matter how many lives I lost in the process... Charlie the kitten would do anything for his human. Having just recovered from a debilitating illness, eleven-year-old Caroline isn’t feeling her best, and the arrival of a new baby only makes her feel even more left out. So when Caroline decides to run away, Charlie follows, vowing to protect her at all costs. But for such a little kitten, it’s a big and scary world outside the comfort of the cottage – how far will he go to save his greatest friend?
Single British mom, aspiring screenwriter, and cleaning lady Beth Marston, tired of being the only one in her family and in her group of friends who is not successful, takes matters into her own hands by telling one little lie that forever changes her life and the lives of those around her. Reprint.
A heart-warming and inspiring story about living the simple life, which readers are already likening to All Creatures Great and Small, 'like a Sunday Night ITV drama' 'Like a plate of hot-buttered crumpets and a mug of tea - warm, comforting and utterly delightful!' Annie Lyons (author of The Choir on Hope Street) Sam has always dreamed of working with animals... But her receptionist job in a London vets is not hitting the spot. Unsure whether a busy city life is for her, she flees to her Nana Peggy’s idyllic country village. But despite the rolling hills and its charming feel, life in Hope Green is far from peaceful. On first meeting Joe, the abrupt and bad-tempered local vet, Sam knows she must get him on side, but that is easier said than done... With her dream close enough to touch, will she get there, or will events conspire against her...?
PART FOUR of a serialised novel - a heartwarming and inspiring story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. The last few months have been hard for Sam. But her dream to work as a vet is slowly becoming reality, and she is beginning to encounter the struggles and heartbreaks that someone in a job like this must face. But what’s more heartwarming and inspiring than a litter of new piglets? On a call to a farm with Joe, Sam can’t help but feel a sense of renewal in her own life as she witnesses one of the most glorious and natural processes of all. Sam's thoughts inevitably turn to her own life. With everything in flux around her, is she ready for change? And will she ever find her happy ending? Note: this is part four of a four-part serialised novel. The full length paperback will be available in June.
Rosie Peacock, as a hospital receptionist, is surrounded all day and every day by lots of attractive young men and women who don't look old enough to be medical students, never mind fully-fledged doctors. When one of Rosie's colleagues compares her with a comfortable old armchair, she's horrified. Even if PJ does mean that she's a reliable friend and comfortable to be around, Rosie would much rather be thought of as sexy, dynamic and charismatic. She doesn't want to be a battered old armchair in a world full of beautiful modern furnishings. Especially when - like an old piece of furniture - Rosie's husband has begun to take her for granted. She's determined to fight back against her descent into middle age. But changing body and soul isn't easy - and Rosie's not quite prepared for the consequences! Especially when they come in the rather sexy form of the new consultant, Mr Ashley Connor
A cosy, heartwarming Christmas read about the growing friendship between a young journalist and an old woman who lives in a house teetering on the edge of the Devon cliffs, by the bestselling author of The Vets of Hope Green and The Petshop on Pennycombe Bay Cliff's End Cottage is a local landmark. Perched on the South Devon coast, its garden has begun slowly toppling into the sea, yet the elderly and infamously stubborn owner Stella refuses to leave her home. When Holly, a young journalist and single mum struggling to make ends meet, decides to interview Stella about her life, at first she's given short shrift. However, helped by a slice or two of cake and a couple of friendly cats, a tentative friendship begins to develop between the two lonely women. Stella and Holly may live different lives, but over the cold winter nights, as Stella shares her story, the two women discover more and more in common. Time is running out for the house on the edge, but perhaps, together, Stella and Holly can find a new way forward. A heart-warming story by the author of The Vets of Hope Green, where two women from different generations find that a new friend - no matter how late in life they may appear - can mean everything Praise for Sheila Norton's delightful books 'Thoroughly enjoyable' KATIE FFORDE 'A truly lovely read with delightful characters' PHILLIPA ASHLEY 'Like a plate of hot-buttered crumpets and a mug of tea - warm, comforting and utterly delightful!' ANNIE LYONS 'A charming and heartwarming book, that will bring a smile to every reader's face' CRESSIDA MCLAUGHLIN 'A charming read. Made me want to move to the country and buy a cottage with roses around the door' SARAH MORGAN
Ally Bridgeman is in big trouble. Her career is going nowhere; she has a cantankerous mother, and two daughters with far more exciting love-lives than she ever had. Even her ex-husband has found himself an annoyingly perfect trophy girlfriend. But when she discovers her daughters are about to throw her a surprise birthday party to celebrate an age she'd rather commiserate reaching, Ally decides enough is enough. So she tells a little white lie and gains a year's reprieve...And when Ally finds herself attracting the attentions of a younger man, she decides to shed a few more years and have the time of her life...
An addictive summer read' Closer - 4* Three newly-wed couples. Three honeymoons. One hotel. And the ultimate question: will true love really conquer all? Hotel Angelo, Croatia. Offers temptingly romantic views, unexpected exes and some serious doubts after 'I Do' Gemma and Andy Collins are childhood sweethearts and madly in love. Gemma is determined to have the perfect honeymoon after their perfect wedding - except that nothing seems to be going to plan. Soon she discovers that they are not the only honeymooners at the hotel, nor the only ones with a secret lying between them . . . Jo and Mark Weston, a young couple who should have stars in their eyes, seem oddly subdued - and strangely matched, while older couple Ruby and Harold Dimmock are finally free to enjoy their lives together, but guilty consciences cast a shadow on their golden years. Over their holiday, all three couples will discover that an immediate post-wedding happy-ever-after is not always guaranteed, but also that true love is worth fighting for . . . Praise for Sheila Norton (writing as Olivia Ryan): 'Like a good cappuccino, there's more to this book than just an enjoyable, witty read' Katie Fforde 'This is a delightful novel that many women will relate to' Woman's Weekly Fiction Special
PART FOUR of a serialised novel - a charming and romantic story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. With Emma’s past threatening to ruin her life in quiet Crickleford, she’s running out of options. If people – especially Matt, her reporter friend – find out her secret, it might force her to leave the place she’s come to think of as home. When flooding strikes the town while Emma is looking after an elderly couple’s dog, she has to take her biggest risk yet – but could this be the one that blows her cover for good? And if it does, can Crickleford – and Matt – ever accept Emma for who she truly is? Note: this is part four of a four-part serialised novel.
Sam vždy snívala o práci so zvieratami... No ako recepčná na veterinárnej klinike v Londýne nemá pocit, že je to to pravé. Z neistoty, či je život v rušnom meste naozaj pre ňu, sa rozhodne odísť k babke Peggy do tichej vidieckej dedinky, kde každý pozná každého. Čoskoro sa tam cíti ako doma. Napriek idylickej atmosfére, vlniacim sa kopcom a rozprávkovému čaru však život v Hope Green vôbec nie je pokojný. Keď Sam spozná Joea, svojského a nevrlého miestneho veterinára, uvedomí si, že ho musí získať na svoju stranu. Lenže to sa ľahšie povie, ako urobí. Samin sen je na dosah, podarí sa jej však dosiahnuť ho alebo sa všetky okolnosti postavia proti nej? Dojemný a inšpirujúci príbeh o jednoduchom i rušnom živote na vidieku. A o všetkom, čo prináša láska – k ľuďom či zvieratám.
PART TWO of a serialised novel - a heartwarming and inspiring story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. Working as the receptionist at her local London vets, Sam dreams of escaping to a quieter life in the country. Spending time with her Nana and her lovely but elderly dog Rufus has sparked something within Sam, and all she wants is to start afresh. But her boyfriend Adam is in London, and something tells her that it won’t be an easy conversation. But then something happens that makes her going-nowhere receptionist job seem much more appealing: she finds a little stray cat called Ebony, in need of love and nurturing back to health. Faced with a dilemma, she must choose between her heart’s desire and the little ball of fluff burrowing her way into Sam's heart... Is it possible to have it all? Note: this is part two of a four-part serialised novel. The full length paperback will be available in June.
PART ONE of a serialised novel - a heartwarming and inspiring story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. Working as a receptionist in a London vets, Sam is living far from her idea of a simple life. She’s always broke, rents a tiny flat, and is constantly arguing with her boyfriend. But the worst part is that her career is going nowhere. She wants to be a vet, but the most contact time with the animals she has is a quick hello when she books in their next appointment. Something’s got to give, so when her parents suggest visiting her Nana Peggy in a small quiet picturesque village, she agrees, thinking a bit of R&R could do her good. But rest and relaxation may not be the order of the day. Poor Nana Peggy’s lovely dog Rufus is unwell, and Sam can’t help but grow fond of him. With the help of Joe the local vet, a charming yet strangely distant man, Sam sets out on looking after him, despite her London life trying to call her back... Note: this is part one of a four part serialised novel. The full length paperback will be available in June.
PART THREE of a serialised novel - a charming and romantic story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. Emma Nightingale finds she’s accidentally becoming something of a local celebrity in the small town of Crickleford, and it seems that everyone wants her to look after their pets. While looking after a hamster, she accidentally uncovers a mystery that threatens to draw even more attention to her. With nowhere to turn, soon Emma will have to make a decision that could cost her everything... Note: this is part three of a four-part serialised novel.
PART ONE of a serialised novel - a charming and romantic story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. Emma Nightingale needs a place to hide away. Pursued by the demons left by her ex-boyfriend, she takes refuge in quiet Crickleford, a sleepy town in Dartmoor, where she can lay low. Life in Crickleford is quiet and peaceful, but it won’t be for long if people discover the truth about Emma’s past. Not wanting to make too much of a fuss, she ends up lying about why she's there - she's looking after some cats, she says - then suddenly the town’s new ‘pet-sitter’ is in high demand! While looking after an Alsatian, Emma finds all attention is on her, and the handsome young reporter from the local paper takes an interest in her story... Note: this is part one of a four-part serialised novel.
PART TWO of a serialised novel - a charming and romantic story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. All Emma wants is a quiet life in sleepy Crickleford, away from the prying eyes of the press who are obsessed with the life she used to lead. She is enjoying her new vocation: the town's most in-demand pet-sitter. But her journalist friend and fellow animal lover Matt is desperate for a big story to make his career – such as Emma’s true identity... Emma doesn’t want the spotlight, but it keeps finding her anyway. Can she keep her past a secret and live the life she’s dreamed of? Note: this is part two of a four-part serialised novel.
We live in a world increasingly governed by technology—but to what end? Technology rules us as much as laws do. It shapes the legal, social, and ethical environments in which we act. Every time we cross a street, drive a car, or go to the doctor, we submit to the silent power of technology. Yet, much of the time, the influence of technology on our lives goes unchallenged by citizens and our elected representatives. In The Ethics of Invention, renowned scholar Sheila Jasanoff dissects the ways in which we delegate power to technological systems and asks how we might regain control. Our embrace of novel technological pathways, Jasanoff shows, leads to a complex interplay among technology, ethics, and human rights. Inventions like pesticides or GMOs can reduce hunger but can also cause unexpected harm to people and the environment. Often, as in the case of CFCs creating a hole in the ozone layer, it takes decades before we even realize that any damage has been done. Advances in biotechnology, from GMOs to gene editing, have given us tools to tinker with life itself, leading some to worry that human dignity and even human nature are under threat. But despite many reasons for caution, we continue to march heedlessly into ethically troubled waters. As Jasanoff ranges across these and other themes, she challenges the common assumption that technology is an apolitical and amoral force. Technology, she masterfully demonstrates, can warp the meaning of democracy and citizenship unless we carefully consider how to direct its power rather than let ourselves be shaped by it. The Ethics of Invention makes a bold argument for a future in which societies work together—in open, democratic dialogue—to debate not only the perils but even more the promises of technology.
PART THREE of a serialised novel - a heartwarming and inspiring story about living the simple life and the joy of animals. Things are finally starting to look up for Sam – a chance at her dream job as a vet, and a new friend (who is a huge animal lover himself – a very important detail!) What more could she ask for? But something is eating away at her: her boss Joe is acting strangely around her - he's definitely hiding something. And having dreamed of being a vet for so long, she cannot afford to put a foot wrong. When a call to tend to a sick pony comes into the practice, it all strikes too close to home for Sam and Joe. The odds are stacked against her, and she risks losing everything... Note: this is part three of a four-part serialised novel. The full length paperback will be available in June.
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