When, at the urging of her dying mother, eighteen-year-old farm worker Mary Evans sails for England in 1886 she has no idea that she has inherited her grandmother’s heraldic title of Countess. Unused to the way of the British aristocracy, and much to the consternation of her peers, she adjusts in her own way to deal with the authority, privileges and wealth that have been bestowed upon her.
The collected trilogy of Tim Pears's spellbinding chronicle of love, exile and belonging in a world on the brink of change THE HORSEMAN A beautiful, hypnotic pastoral novel reminiscent of Thomas Hardy, about an unexpected friendship between two children, set in Devon in 1911 'A novel that is as moving and profound as it is evocative of the landscape and period' Observer THE WANDERERS Two teenagers, bound by love yet divided by fate, forge separate paths in pre-First World War Devon and Cornwall 'Goodness, Tim Pears writes beautifully ... The descriptions of rural life, executed with painterly exactness, are a constant delight. The prose really sings' Mail on Sunday THE REDEEMED A love divided. A world torn in two. A return. A redemption. 'Exemplary, a feat of perception and description that earns him a place among a pantheon that stretches from Thomas Hardy to Flora Thompson' Guardian
A thousand years ago, the Eleven Domains were invaded and the original inhabitants were driven onto the road as Travelers, belonging nowhere, welcomed by no one. Now the Domains are governed with an iron fist by the Warlords, but there are wilder elements in the landscape that cannot be controlled and that may prove the Warlords' undoing. Some are spirits of place -- of water and air and fire and earth. Some are greater than these. And some are human. Bramble: A village girl whom no one living can tame, forced to flee her home for a crime she did not commit. Ash: A safeguarder's apprentice who must kill for an employer he cannot escape. Saker: An enchanter who will not rest until the land is returned to his people. As their three stories unfold, along with the stories of those whose lives they touch, it becomes clear that they are bound together in ways that not even a stonecaster could have foreseen -- by their past, their future, and their blood. This omnibus edition includes all three novels -- Blood Ties, Deep Water, and Full Circle -- together for the first time.
Drew isn't into BDSM and doesn't get off on calling anyone "Master." So he doesn't know why he lets his friend Sean talk him into attending a weekend affair hosted by a local bondage group. When he finds out it's a pony play weekend, Drew doesn't think things can get much worse. But they do -- his insolent manner once outfitted turns a harsh trainer on him. Salvation comes at the hands of a gentle man named Phillip, who leads the abused Drew to a quiet stables and shows him just how erotic succumbing to a master can be.
Moving between Tuscany, London, Rome and New York, The Tuscan Trilogy recounts the joys and tragedies of a woman whom fate both cuddles and flays, of her rise from childhood poverty in Southern Italy to glittering social and and financial success in London, of the men who love her, of her sons, and of the castle in the Chianti hills where the story begins and ends.
A woman recovering from tragedy. A man with a troubled past. Will trust build a bridge between them or will it be destroyed by dark secrets? Shattered by her daughter's death and tormented by her husband's infidelity, Emma Grayson seeks refuge in solitude. As she slowly re-enters the real world, she takes on work at the sprawling Melton Estate’s stables. Initially distracted by her painful healing process, she realizes that the property’s handsome manager carries his own sadness… Shocked when she discovers the Manor’s powerful and shadowy connections, Emma fears the clandestine activities will put her quiet job and new romance at risk. But after the estate comes under attack from Russian gangsters, she must put aside her doubts to save lives, with or without Trent's help. As she tries to cope with her new reality, British intelligence agents deliver frightening news: someone is out to kill her. Can Emma use her newfound strength to defeat a determined assassin, or will her tragic past stamp out her bright future? If you like engaging characters, dark twists, and heroic finales, you'll love this captivating series.
Three glorious gripping novels - formerly known as The She-Wolves trilogy, now all in one volume for the first time as THE ROSE TRILOGY 'Here is a novelist at ease with her subject. A compulsive read' Anne O'Brien 'A real tour de force of gripping writing, rich historical detail and complex, fascinating characters' Nicola Cornick 'Carol McGrath excels at sweeping the reader away on an engrossing journey through history . . . she brings her characters vividly to life' Jane Johnson 'A wonderful little piece of time travel for any lover of historical fiction' Joanna Courtney 'Full of intricate details, historical accuracy and complex plotting' Alexandra Walsh Three queens of England - and three women who lived in their shadow. THE SILKEN ROSE They called her the She-Wolf. She'd shape the destiny of England ... 1236. Ailenor of Provence, cultured and intelligent, is only thirteen when she meets her new husband, Henry III of England. Rosalind, a commoner catches the young queen's attention and a friendship blossoms. But she is unprepared for the dangerous ramifications of winning the queen's favour ... THE DAMASK ROSE A beloved wife. A hated queen. A journey to her destiny ... 1266. Eleanor of Castile, adored wife of the Crown Prince of England, is still only a princess when she is held hostage in the brutal Baron's Rebellion, and her baby daughter dies. As she rises to become Queen, Eleanor keeps Olwen - a trusted herbalist, by her side. But it is dangerous to be friendless in a royal household, and Olwen and Eleanor discover that the true battle for Europe may not be a matter of swords and lances, but one fanned by whispers and spies. THE STONE ROSE A queen must know her place, in a court of men . . . London, 1350. Agnes, daughter of a stonemason, is struggling to keep her father's trade in a city decimated by plague. And then she receives a mysterious message from the disgraced Queen Isabella: mother of King Edward III, and widow of Edward II. Isabella has a task that only Agnes can fulfil. She wants her truth to be told. But can either woman choose independence, follow her own desires, and survive?
"Thomas Wingfold, Curate or The Curate's Awakening" is the first novel of the series that begins with the story of a compliant and lifeless curate in the Church of England and the profound changes that happen in his life and the people around him. Thomas Wingfold is a clergyman who is losing belief in the faith, but he goes through many transformations as the story unfolds. "Paul Faber, Surgeon or The Lady's Confession" is the sequel to The Curate's Awakening and it tells the story of a village doctor and a proven atheist. His friend and village curate, Thomas Wingfold is trying to bring him closer to the Church, but constantly ends up failing in those attempts. Doctor believes that only victories and tragedies of life can bring one to Jesus. However, after one accident, Faber saves life of a beautiful woman and they fall in love, but her secret past comes in between. "There and Back or The Baron's Apprenticeship" is the third and final novel that completes the series. Another story about finding faith in God follows a life-changing journey of Baron Richard from skeptical atheist to a true believer. The main character sets quite an example of manhood for young people. George MacDonald (1824-1905) was a Scottish author, poet, and Christian minister. He was a pioneering figure in the field of fantasy literature and the mentor of fellow writer Lewis Carroll. His writings have been cited as a major literary influence by many notable authors including W. H. Auden, C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Walter de la Mare, E. Nesbit and Madeleine L'Engle.
