Showing results by publisher "QUEST from W. F. Howes Ltd" in Literary Fiction

When Ellie Chapman inherits a dilapidated farm, perched high up on the cliffs above the English Channel, it’s not long before she decides to launch a wedding business. After all, with a mum whose cake baking skills rival Mary Berry’s, and the perfect venue, it seems the natural choice.

She might be a total novice when it comes to the first wedding, but with a bride who leaves everything until the last minute, a vengeful ex-fiancé of her own, and the world’s naughtiest donkey...What could possibly go wrong?

Number Thirty-Two was once a family home. Anna was once a mother and a wife. Now, she is in arrears and alone. With little choice but to sell up, she is forced to confront the memories of the people who once inhabited the empty rooms. With the help of an unlikely ally in her next door neighbour's son, she is finally able to piece together the tragic events of forty years ago that have inextricably linked the fates of their families and ricocheted through both of their households for decades.

Lola and Pijin make up stories to test each other, stories of daring and adventure, of bad people and of Gwyn, who drives his ice cream up the hill to their town every week. Gwyn is a dangerous man, and Pijin knows it. Lola is not so sure. As they grow up and their friendship grows more complicated, some of their stories fall silent, but some will come true.

Melody Rosewood loves her new home in idyllic Sandcastle Bay. The beautiful little cottage on the edge of Sunshine Beach, with its bright yellow door and view of the sea, has captured her heart. And she loves being close by to her family and her best friend, Tori Graham. Life by the sea is pretty much perfect. There’s just one thing missing.... Gorgeous Jamie Jackson, with his cheeky grin and adorable puppy, works as a sculptor opposite Melody’s jewellery shop. From the moment he and Melody meet, sparks fly. But despite their instant attraction, a past heartache is holding Jamie back.

In a house full of history and secrets, the past will not stay where it belongs.... Lou has always loved Hill House, the derelict manor on the abandoned land near her home. As a child, the tragic history of its owners, the Mandevilles, inspired her dream to become a history teacher. But in her late 20s, working in a shop to pay off student debts, life is passing her by. That changes when a family disaster sends Lou’s life into a downward spiral, and she seeks comfort in the ruined corridors of Hill House.

London 1905, celebrated artist John Sutton paints The Quartet, unaware of the passion and betrayal his brush strokes will ignite. A century later, Mark and Abriana—ex-lovers haunted by their past—are drawn together by the image. As they trace the portrait's journey from London to Greece and war-torn Tuscany, the couple uncover a tale of love, sacrifice, and deception that mirrors their own tumultuous history. With each revelation, they're forced to confront the wounds that tore them apart and question whether healing is possible.

Euridice is bright and ambitious. But this is Brazil in the 1940s, and society expects her to be a loving wife and mother. While Antenor is busy congratulating himself on his excellent catch, Euridice spends her spends her humdrum days ironing his shirts and removing the lumps of onion from his food, dreaming of the success she could have made of herself - as a writer, dressmaker or culinary whiz - in another life.

Artist, lover, wife, mother: can one woman be them all? Born in 1924, Jennet Mallow grew up with a disillusioned mother and a father haunted by memories of war. But Jennet has a talent - and a passion - for art. When she meets the handsome painter David Heaton, they begin a tempestuous affair which takes them from the dank terraces of London to a bohemian artistic community in St Ives. But as Jennet's career flourishes, her relationship with David suffers - with potentially tragic consequences....

Motherhood has been one of the great blessings of Dawn Dix-Beaumont’s life, but with her children’s growing independence, it’s finally time for Dawn to return to teaching. However, Mother Nature has other ideas.... Rick Beaumont loves his family, but he’s busier than ever. With his high-flying career, two children and a third on the way, there’s a lot to juggle. Battling expectations, disappointments and a few surprises along the way, Dawn and Rick find their commitment to each other tested to the limit.

Anna Francis lives in a tall old house with her father and her doll Penelope. She is a refugee, a piece of flotsam washed up in England by the tides of the Great War. Once upon a time, she had a mother and a brother, and they all lived together in the most beautiful city in the world. But that is all gone now, and only to her doll does she ever speak of it. And then one winter day, she finds an interloper in the attic. A boy named Luca with yellow eyes, who is as alone as she is. That day, she’ll lose everything in her life, and find the only real friend she may ever know.

Sometimes a broken heart can actually break you. Keisha Grant learnt that the hard way. Fifteen years ago, something happened on an ordinary Wednesday. Something that imploded her world, shattering her life as she knew it. It changed her forever - the girl she used to be is nothing but a faded memory. Ever since then, Keisha’s been in survival mode. The scar she covers with a tattoo is an important reminder: your heart can’t break if you don’t let it feel in the first place. It’s an insurance policy she lives by.

At 13, Lottie discovers a huge secret that her parents have kept from her...the impact of which proves to be life-changing. Because of the resulting fallout, she’s rejected by her mother and deemed troublesome, rude and wilful. Now an adult, Lottie decides to follow her dreams to become an artist. But will she succeed, and can she put her troubled past behind her? As Lottie embarks on a journey of self-discovery, she will come to examine the importance of life, love and friendship.

When a wealthy client visits Mathilde’s dressmaking shop, she finds herself drawn into the only surviving circle of luxury left in a barren London. Attending parties offers a welcome escape from life governed by ration cards and a strictly enforced child policy. Here she meets enigmatic government minister George and piano-playing Jaminder, with whom an intense friendship blossoms. As their relationship grows stronger, George’s grip on Mathilde tightens....

One moment of carelessness. Four shattered lives. Literary agent Viola Matthews is sure she's met Katherine Baxter before. When her husband and best-selling novelist Samuel Morton introduces her to the quiet, unassuming woman he has offered to mentor, she knows their paths have crossed previously. The question is...where? As their worlds collide and the bond between Samuel and Katherine deepens, Viola realises she must take control. If her suspicions are right, then Katherine needs to pay for something that happened 12 years ago.

The gripping story of a young boy and his family, driven from their home by war and indiscriminate violence. Like millions of others, they attempt the treacherous journey across their war-torn continent, trying to reach the safety of Europe. The truth is, Europe doesn't want them, and thousands die every month at the hands of thieves and profiteering men to whom life is cheap. Kalu believes that he can lead his family to safety. They have money and a plan, and Kalu is, after all, the smartest man in Monguno.

Olivia had everything - a loving husband, a thoughtful and intelligent son and a beautiful home in the Somerset countryside. But all that changed. Now penniless and homeless, Geoffrey is living with his recently widowed mother while Olivia works as a housemistress at her son's boarding school. With their marriage under intolerable strain, Geoffrey makes a mistake - one that has devastating consequences for the guilty and innocent alike.

In the scorching summer of 1976, Robyn spends her days swimming at the Lido and tagging after her brother. It’s the perfect holiday - except for the crying women her mum keeps bringing home. As the heat wave boils on, tensions in the town begin to simmer. Everyone is gossiping about her mum, a strange man is following her around, and worst of all, no one will tell Robyn the truth. But this town isn’t good at keeping secrets....