British Life

1911: When 15-year-old Mary Kirk meets Wallis Warfield at summer camp, she’s immediately captivated by her fearless, brazen, and self-assured personality. Though Mary’s family isn’t crazy about Wallis, Mary stands by her side - even years later when rumors swirl about Wallis and her reckless behavior with the Prince of Wales. But when Mary’s loyalty to Wallis comes into question, their friendship will be put to the test. 1997: After a romantic proposal in Paris, Rachel and her fiancé Alex are in a cab when the car ahead crashes.

Twenty-six-year-old single mum Brianna Lewis (a.k.a. Bree) doesn't believe in fairy tales - not after being abandoned by the father of daughter, Isabelle. Suddenly finding herself in dire straits, she converts her garden shed into a rental suite in hopes of climbing out of the financial hole she's in. But when the only person interested in renting the suite turns out to be to Leopold Davenport, the ridiculously good-looking co-worker she loves to hate, she knows she must choose between being happy and being broke.

In this second novel in the Rian and Mouse series, it is 1807 and Napoleon Bonaparte consumes all of Europe in total war. Only England and her allies stand in the way as France attempts to rule the world. Two young sailors, Adrian ‘Rian’ Pembroke and the love of his life, Richard ‘Mouse’ Jay, have readjusted to life on England’s shores after being rescued from a disaster at sea by the cutter, Cleo; as stout and as happy a ship as ever there was. Having found lodgings in London with a caring, elderly couple who practically adopt the lads as their own, Rian and Mouse set their ...

"An action-packed start to a new series. Signs of Life is the best I've read in ages. Dynamic, suspenseful, funny. The story is full of twists and turns and finds you scrambling to catch up with Bentley." ---------------------------- Elliott Bentley is facing adversaries twice his size, doubly lethal, and half his age. With one already responsible for the death of a friend, they will surely kill him too. The only thing stronger than Bentley's opponents is his will to live. After all, he's the only thing standing between a young woman and her vicious ex. He also needs to avert gang warfare ...

Imagine a world without Mr. Darcy. How would things have been different if he had never been born? In a moment of despair over Elizabeth’s rejection, the iconic hero of Pride and Prejudice wishes his life away. Now, on a tour with a surprising celestial guide, he must face up to the results. Instead of everybody being better off, as he had supposed, there have been unexpected consequences for his closest friends. Darcy realizes, too late, that his presence made a positive difference in the world, and that he really had a wonderful life. Is it all lost and gone forever?

One of the most beautiful and brilliant women of her time, Gladys Deacon dazzled as much as she puzzled the glittering social circles in which she moved. Born in Paris to American parents in 1881, she suffered a traumatic childhood after her father shot her mother's lover dead. Educated in America, she returned to Europe, where she captivated and inspired some of the greatest literary and artistic names of the Belle Époque.

Only days before Britain declares war on Germany, Harry Clifton, hoping to escape the consequences of long-buried family secrets, and forced to accept that his desire to marry Emma Barrington will never be fulfilled, has joined the Merchant Navy. But his ship is sunk in the Atlantic by a German Uboat, drowning almost the entire crew. An American cruise liner, the SS Kansas Star, rescues a handful of sailors, among them Harry and the third officer, an American named Tom Bradshaw.

La dolce vita, a sweeter life of love, awaits Rachel. But can she accept it? Rachel Golding loves her uncomplicated life in Wales. Teaching art, a close-knit group of friends, and a strong and loving bond with her mother. But the trip to Italy to meet her Italian grandmother for the first time stirs unwelcome emotions — reluctance to forgive Nonna for a lifetime of rejection, and longing to know more about the father who died before her birth. Between her cousin’s accusation she sent a series of mysterious unsigned paintings to get revenge on the family, her mother’s wedding, and her ...

The season of 1939 brought all those "in Society" to London. The young debutante daughters of the upper classes were presented to the king and queen to mark their acceptance into the new adult world of their parents. They sparkled their way through a succession of balls and parties and sporting events. The season brought together influential people not only from society but also from government at the various events of the social calendar.

Margaret, Duchess of Argyll (1912-1993) was an international celebrity in her youth. But in 1963, the year of the Profumo Affair, the 11th Duke of Argyll shocked the country when he alleged that his adulterous wife had slept with over 80 men behind his back. The duke won a divorce, and Margaret was abandoned by most of her friends. Lyndsy Spence tells a tragic story of the life and downfall of this fascinatingly complex woman, and shows how she fell victim to a cruel husband, harsh social mores, and an unforgiving class.

Diana, Catherine, Meghan...glamorous Princess Margaret outdid them all. Springing into post-World War II society, and quite naughty and haughty, she lived in a whirlwind of fame and notoriety. Georgie Blalock captures the fascinating, fast-living princess and her “set” as seen through the eyes of one of her ladies-in-waiting.

READY FOR COMMAND is the fourth novel in the Rian and Mouse saga. So much has happened both to and for our friends, Mouse and Rian as they navigate the many happenings (and even perils) which cross their bow as they begin to learn what living life truly entails. In this installment, Mouse is unexpectedly thrust into the command chair when England’s largest warship, a dreadnought named HMS Devastation, is captured by the French. When Captain Bumper and Tom Andersen, along with the hapless Rian are taken prisoner, it is Mouse and the hardy Cleos who must devise a way to rescue their ...

From his years serving in British Intelligence during the Cold War, to a career as a writer that took him from war-torn Cambodia to Beirut on the cusp of the 1982 Israeli invasion to Russia before and after the collapse of the Berlin Wall, le Carré has always written from the heart of modern times. In this, his first memoir, le Carré is as funny as he is incisive, reading into the events he witnesses the same moral ambiguity with which he imbues his novels.

Ellie is so not the pageant type. They’re Coralee’s thing, and Ellie is happy to let her talented friend shine in the spotlight. But what’s she supposed to do when Coralee asks her to enter a beauty pageant, and their other best friend, Bert, volunteers to be their manager? Then again, how else is she going to get through this summer with her dad, who barely knows her, while her mom is off on her honeymoon with Ellie’s amazing gym teacher? Ellie decides she has nothing to lose.

London-based Detective Chief Inspector Gerald Croft investigates a heinous case of rape, murder, and mutilation, but the obvious suspect turns out to have an alibi he cannot disprove. Soon, it is evident a serial killer is prowling the streets. Can DCI Croft identify and capture the psychopath, or will his next victim be terrifyingly close to home? "An excellent thriller from a very talented author.” John Nicholl, best-selling author of Killing Evil and The Boyfriend. "“Sensational and Spine-Chilling.” Readers’ Favorite “A gripping tale that will hold your heart in a vise." ...

As we begin The Whole Wide World, the fifth novel in the Rian and Mouse series, Captain Alois Bumper has officially become the commodore of his own line, The Blue Water Packet and Navigation Co., after he buys a second ship as a running mate to Cleo. This causes what Tom and Bumper call “happy problems,” as their first course of action is to spruce up the new vessel and then fill any remaining crew berths in the ships. Mouse has been promoted to First Mate aboard the new packet, business is good at The Two Barrels, and Sofus and his new ‘Da’ have settled in together quite famously. ...

In Of Bygone Days, the seventh and final novel in the Rian & Mouse seafaring series, it is 1859 when Chumley Preston's periodical, the Weekly Standard publishes a news article about life at sea. The incredible adventures experienced by Adrian Pembroke and Richard Jay is duly reported by journalist, Julius Lightbody. But the fledgling writer learns more than he ever expected as the tale unfolds and he is faced with a decision that will break all Victorian social conventions. It is revealed to him that his subjects have lived an extremely happy and fulfilling life together as homosexuals in a...

When Dawn Fallon abandons her ambitions to be a professional musician and becomes a Civil Servant little does she realise she would be given a job as a VAT Control Officer - a job she struggles with on many levels, but with the help and support of her senior colleagues, she achieves a promotion, though finds the job no less difficult. The job brings her into contact with some bizarre situations and an interesting variety of business people. As she visits businesses to inspect their accounts for Value Added Tax purposes, researches whether sheep semen is taxable, grapples with solving why a ...

Lewis Carroll's most famous novels, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, are brought to sparkling new life in this unabridged recording by AudioFile Earphones Award-winning narrator Alison Larkin. An internationally acclaimed comedienne well known for her many voices, Alison Larkin is the perfect vessel to bring Lewis Carroll's classic novels to a new audience.

"Joe Giampaolo's The Reader's Companion to the Hampshire Stories Series, Life and Literature in 19th-Century England, is an excellent resource, both educational and entertaining. The book is full of interesting and sometimes unknown details of life in 18th and 19th century England... A fascinating read.” - Readers' Favorite The Reader's Companion to the Hampshire Stories Series is a delightful, concise guide to the history, traditions and literature of 19th-century England. Topics covered: Courtship and weddings; the social call; dancing and parlour games; the London Season, music and the...