The Huntingfield Paintress

The Huntingfield Paintress
Author: Pamela Holmes
Publisher: Open Road Media
Total Pages: 247
Release: 2021-06-01
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1504073274

A vicar’s wife embarks on a remarkable personal quest in this “lyrical” novel set in Victorian England and inspired by a true story (Historical Novel Society). Mildred Holland revelled in the eight years she and her vicar husband spent travelling in 1840s Europe, recording beautiful artistic treasures and collecting exotic artefacts. But her husband’s parish in a tiny Suffolk village is a world away from her previous life. When a longed-for baby does not arrive, she sinks into despair. What options exist for a clever, creative woman, hemmed in by social expectations? Then chance encounter fires Mildred’s creative imagination. With courage and tenacity, she embarks upon a herculean task. Defying her loving but exasperated husband, and mistrustful locals who suspect her of supernatural powers, Mildred rediscovers her passion and begins to live again . . . Drawing on the true story of Mildred Holland and the parish church of Huntingfield in Suffolk, this novel by the author of Wyld Dreamers is unique, uplifting, and beautifully crafted, just like the history that inspired it. “Skillfully represents the constraints placed on middle-class women of the era.” —Historical Novel Society

Wyld Dreamers

Wyld Dreamers
Author: Pamela Holmes
Publisher: Open Road Media
Total Pages: 265
Release: 2021-05-26
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1504070593

“Holmes creates a quiet air of tension as she deftly describes the carelessness of youth and its consequences in her endearingly flawed characters.” —Hilary Boyd, bestselling author of Thursdays in the Park In the summer of 1972, a group of friends is invited to Somerset to help photographer Seymour Stratton renovate a dilapidated cottage on Wyld Farm. Over the next year, they come to regard the farm as a place to be for the rest of their lives, to enjoy the good life. But despite the commitment and camaraderie, the rural idyll collapses. Twenty-five years later, the group is brought together again in unexpected circumstances—and the secrets of the past that are revealed may devastate once unbreakable friendships—in this extraordinary novel from the bestselling author of The Huntingfield Paintress. “Wry, vivid and deftly plotted, this account of how youthful follies can come back to haunt you in middle age is a real delight.” —John Preston, author of A Very English Scandal

The Smallest Man

The Smallest Man
Author: Frances Quinn
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 339
Release: 2021-01-07
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 147119342X

‘I want you to remember something, Nat. You’re small on the outside. But inside you’re as big as everyone else. You show people that and you won’t go far wrong in life.’ A compelling story perfect for fans of The Doll Factory, The Illumination of Ursula Flight and The Familiars. My name is Nat Davy. Perhaps you’ve heard of me? There was a time when people up and down the land knew my name, though they only ever knew half the story. The year of 1625, it was, when a single shilling changed my life. That shilling got me taken off to London, where they hid me in a pie, of all things, so I could be given as a gift to the new queen of England. They called me the queen’s dwarf, but I was more than that. I was her friend, when she had no one else, and later on, when the people of England turned against their king, it was me who saved her life. When they turned the world upside down, I was there, right at the heart of it, and this is my story. Inspired by a true story, and spanning two decades that changed England for ever, The Smallest Man is a heartwarming tale about being different, but not letting it hold you back. About being brave enough to take a chance, even if the odds aren’t good. And about how, when everything else is falling apart, true friendship holds people together. Praise for The Smallest Man: ‘Nat Davy is so charming that I couldn't bear to put this book down. I loved it’ Louise Hare ‘A perfect fusion of history and invention… Nat’s wit and humour make the poignancy of his story all the more powerful’ Beth Morrey 'What a page-turner! A timely tale celebrating courage, determination and friendship' Anita Frank ‘A perfectly formed masterpiece’ C.S. Quinn ‘I loved this book - a fascinating tale of extraordinary accomplishment, and a story about how anything is possible and how love has always been a beacon of hope’ Phillip Schofield 'I found myself rooting for the Smallest Man in England from the very first page' Sonia Velton ‘A beautiful, heartwarming tale, weaving history and fiction intricately and seamlessly… I loved this book’ Louise Fein ‘This book took me on an epic journey with a character that will always have a special place in my heart’ Emma Cooper ‘An engaging, compelling, thought-provoking story of a life less ordinary’ Caroline Scott ‘A beguiling and well-written tale’ Ellen Alpsten ‘I absolutely fell for the book’s narrator: an ebullient character whose voice and world view I adored’ Polly Crosby

The Curious Life of Elizabeth Blackwell

The Curious Life of Elizabeth Blackwell
Author: Pamela Holmes
Publisher: Open Road Media
Total Pages: 293
Release: 2022-10-25
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1504080033

An engrossing historical saga based on the life of the eighteenth-century woman who endured loss and betrayal—and dared to pursue her dreams. Her parents warned Elizabeth that Alexander Blackwell would not make a dependable husband, and only after eloping with him did she learn they may have been right . . . After their marriage, the couple finds lodgings in London. Alexander looks for work while Elizabeth learns engraving. Before long, though, Alexander is in the Marshalsea, the notorious debtors’ prison, and she is left to fend for herself. Alone and penniless, she has a few things going for her: a skill, an idea, and an acquaintance. Elizabeth embarks on a quest that earns her a small fortune and may allow her to buy her husband’s freedom. It seems like she may live happily ever after. But her extraordinary story isn’t over yet . . . Praise for Pamela Holmes “A genuinely original, utterly enchanting story.” —A. N. Wilson, author of Victoria: A Life “[A] lyrical novel that skillfully represents the constraints placed on middle-class women of the era.” —Historical Novel Society

The Field

The Field
Author: Robert Seethaler
Publisher: House of Anansi
Total Pages: 164
Release: 2021-10-05
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1487010281

From Robert Seethaler, the International Booker Prize finalist for A Whole Life and bestselling author of The Tobacconist, comes a tale of life and death and human connection, told through the voices of those who have passed on. The Field is the oldest part of the cemetery in Paulstadt, where some of the small town’s most outspoken residents can be found. From their graves, they tell stories. Some recall just a moment — perhaps the one in which they left this world, perhaps the one they now realize changed the course of their life forever. Some remember all the people they’ve been with, or the only person they ever loved. This chorus of voices — young, old, rich, poor — builds a picture of a community, seen from below ground. The streets of the sleepy provincial town are given shape and meaning by those who lived, loved, worked, mourned, and died there. The Field is a constellation of human lives — each one different yet connected to countless others — that shows how existence, for all its fleetingness, still has profound meaning.

The Christmas Murder Game

The Christmas Murder Game
Author: Alexandra Benedict
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.
Total Pages: 269
Release: 2022-10-04
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1728263050

"Curl up by the fire (and lock all the doors) for this Christmas cracker of a book." —C.S. Green, author of Sleep Tight Twelve clues. Twelve keys. Twelve days of Christmas. But how many will die before Twelfth Night? Agatha Christie meets Clue in this delightful, tense manor house murder mystery. The annual Christmas Game is afoot at Endgame House, the Armitages' grand family home. This year's prize is to die for—deeds to the house itself—but Lily Armitage has no intention of returning. She hasn't been back to Endgame since her mother died, twenty-one years ago, and she has no intention of claiming the house that haunts her dreams. Until, that is, she receives a letter from her aunt promising that the game's riddles will give her the keys not only to Endgame, but to its darkest secrets, including the identity of her mother's murderer. Now, Lily must compete with her estranged cousins for the twelve days of Christmas. The snow is thick, the phone lines are down, and no one is getting in or out. Lily will have to keep her wits about her, because not everyone is playing fair, and there's no telling how many will die before the winner is declared. Including additional scavenger hunts for the reader, this clever murder mystery is the perfect gift for fans of classic mysteries, festive Christmas books, and armchair detective work.

The Gift of Asher Lev

The Gift of Asher Lev
Author: Chaim Potok
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Total Pages: 386
Release: 2010-03-24
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 0307575527

“Extraordinary . . . No one but Chaim Potok could have written this strangely sweet, compelling, and deeply felt novel.”—The Cleveland Plain Dealer In his powerful My Name is Asher Lev, Chaim Potok gave the world an unforgettable character and a timeless story that The New York Times Book Review hailed as “little short of a work of genius.” The Chicago Sun-Times declared it “a story that had to be told.” Now, Chaim Potok’s beloved character returns to learn, to teach, to dream, in The Gift of Asher Lev. Twenty years have passed. Asher Lev is a world-renowned artist living with his young family in France. Still, he is unsure of his artistic direction. Success has not brought ease to his heart. Then Asher’s beloved uncle dies suddenly, and Asher and his family rush back to Brooklyn—and into a world that Asher thought he had left behind forever. It is a journey of confrontation and discovery as Asher purges his past in search of new inspiration for his art and begins to understand the true meaning of sacrifice and the painful joy in sharing the most precious gift of all. Praise for The Gift of Asher Lev “A masterwork.”—Newsday “Rivals anything Chaim Potok has ever produced. It is a book written with passion about passion. You’re not likely to read anything better this year.”—The Detroit News “Fascinating.”—The Washington Post Book World “Very moving.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer

In Pursuit of Spring

In Pursuit of Spring
Author: Edward Thomas
Publisher: Lulu.com
Total Pages: 246
Release: 2013-05-14
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN: 1291417885

Spring was late in 1913 and Edward Thomas decided to go and search for winter's grave and the tell-tale signs of season's turn - he set out to cycle westwards from London to the Quantocks. Edward Thomas 1878-1917 turned from writing prose to poetry in 1914. His work as a poet has been widely celebrated and admired - Ted Hughes described Thomas as "the father of us all". The Pursuit of Spring, originally published in 1914, bridges the divide between Thomas the journalist/critic and Thomas the highly regarded poet.

Eight Hours from England

Eight Hours from England
Author: Anthony Quayle
Publisher: Imperial War Museum
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2019-05-09
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1912423200

Autumn 1943. Realising his feelings for his sweetheart are not reciprocated, Major John Overton accepts a posting behind enemy lines in Nazi-occupied Albania. Arriving to find the situation in disarray, Overton attempts to overcome geographical challenges and political intrigues to set up a new camp in teh mountains overlooking the Adriatic. As he struggles to complete his mission amidst a chaotic backdrop, Overton is left to ruminate on loyalty, comradship and the futility of war.

While Paris Slept

While Paris Slept
Author: Ruth Druart
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Total Pages: 464
Release: 2021-02-23
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1538735172

One woman must make the hardest decision of her life in this unforgettably moving story of resistance and faith during one of the darkest times in history. Santa Cruz, 1953. Jean-Luc is a man on the run from his past. The scar on his face is a small price to pay for surviving the horrors of Nazi occupation in France. Now, he has a new life in California, a family. He never expected the past to come knocking on his door. Paris, 1944. A young Jewish woman's past is torn apart in a heartbeat. Herded onto a train bound for Auschwitz, in an act of desperation she entrusts her most precious possession to a stranger. All she has left now is hope. On a darkened platform, two destinies become intertwined, and the choices each person makes will change the future in ways neither could have imagined. Told from alternating perspectives, While Paris Slept reflects on the power of love, resilience, and courage when all seems lost. Exploring the strength of family ties, and what it really means to love someone unconditionally, this debut novel will capture your heart. Includes a Reading Group Guide.