Books
Little Secret – December 13th 2007
A heartbreaking tale of abuse and, ultimately, survival...Claire and Tracey have grown up without a father and their mother isn't going to win any awards for 'Mother of the Year' either. But things take an appalling turn for the worse when Claire is subjected to horrendous abuse at the hands of her mother's boyfriend. Fearing that she and her sister will be separated, Claire is too terrified to tell anyone. But when he starts to abuse Tracey, the social services are brought in and the girls are taken into care. For Tracey it's heaven - their loving foster parents provide them with a cosy, safe environment. But for Claire it's too late. Traumatised by her experiences, she goes off the rails and eventually ends up working the streets. But she's determined to make a better life for herself and becomes a high-class call-girl. And, when she's got enough money in the bank, she becomes a businesswoman. She meets Greg and, desperate to conceal her sordid background, marries him for the respectability she craves. But it seems that she can never truly escape her past...
The Sand Dancer – Jan 29th 2008
Despite her success as a writer, Maisie’s life has never been easy. But with the help of Hamilton, the imaginary horse she conjures up when she needs to escape harsh reality, her humour and courage pull her through. Now Maisie is married to Tommy, and hopes that it will be a case of third time lucky, but her dreams are shattered. Tommy soon becomes so jealous and controlling that his behaviour even affects her relationship with her adopted son, Harold.
Following what appears to be a tragic accident on their boat, Tommy suggests that they move back to Maisie’s home town of Fellburn, Tyneside. He wants to start a new business in the docks, and she reluctantly agrees, hoping it will mean a fresh start for them. At first, all is well, and the Chimneys, their grand new home, is a world away from the little house Maisie grew up in. But soon she wonders if the move was such a good idea after all. Tommy’s actions become increasingly erratic, and one of his employees, a strange young man nicknamed the Sand Dancer, strikes fear into her heart every time she meets him. She begins to avoid Tommy’s place of work, and even Tommy himself, little knowing that he is concealing something so terrible that it could eventually destroy everything she holds dear…
The Mallen Secret
Each and every generation of the Mallen family has been beset by unhappiness and tragedy – it is said that they are cursed by the dramatic white streak in their jet-black hair. Now, the horror of World War One has finally come to an end and, as with so many other families, the Mallen family has been devastated by loss, injury, and memories that are almost too terrible to bear.
But even as they struggle to rebuild their lives in the aftermath of war, secrets and lies from generations past will come to light – causing destruction of a different kind…
Forsaken
Born on a Friday, Sophie Winters has always been a loving and giving child, who'd do anything for her family. Yet her father, Bill, has always seemed to resent her. For her mother's sake, Sophie learns to live with Bill's animosity - until the night he returns home drunk and forces himself upon her.
Left pregnant and ashamed at seventeen, Sophie doesn't know where to turn. So when she meets the charming Ben Lewis and he offers her refuge at his mother's hotel, she accepts. Sophie's not the only pregnant runaway staying there and at first it seems that Ben and his mother are quite the good Samaritans. But there is little goodness in the Lewis's hearts...
As Sophie begins to realise their dark intentions, a web of danger and deceit wraps itself around her. She knows that if she is to survive, she will have to fight for all she's worth...
Forsaken is a harrowing and compelling tale of triumph over tragedy that will not easily be forgotten.
Dancing Till Midnight
Grace Collins, orphaned as child, has been brought up by her severely religious aunt, Emily. Starved of love, she falls for the first man who shows her affection. When she finds she`s pregnant, Emily turns her out.
Grace and Barry`s marriage starts well, but life in a small council house with two children is hard, and Grace feels she`s somehow missed out on her youth. Then she discovers the joy of ballroom dancing. At first Barry is happy to indulge her passion, until she meets Philip, who sweeps her off her feet and promises to show her a better way of life...
The Bad Apple
Louise Hart has endured a great deal of pain from her callous husband Paul, but one cold dark December night in 1959 she can take no more. She and her son Davey escape their Coventry high-rise flat and flee to Tanglewood, the dilapidated ivy-clad mansion where her mother Dolly runs an animal sanctuary. Miserable and frightened, Louise longs to turn her back on the past, and create a happy new life for Davey. But Paul is in trouble with men more dangerous than himself. Unable to pay his debts, he blackmails Louise and those who love her, keeping a shadowy presence in their lives. Even the arrival of Charlie Fox, a stranger who becomes a true friend, cannot guarantee that the future will be safe…
No One's Girl
Jane Reynolds` father dominates her life. After his sudden death she becomes a virtual recluse, leaving her small farm only to sell her fruit and vegetables. But everything changes on a dark, cold night when she finds a young runaway hiding near her cottage. As she and Alice become friends, Jane begins to wonder whether she could offer the girl the loving home she`s never had. But when dark secrets from the past come to light, their happy future is threatened.
Moonlight and Ashes
The Second World War has been declared, and in Coventry, Maggie’s abusive husband signs up while drunk. He tries to run away but is caught and sent into battle. David, his noble twin brother –and Maggie’s first love has already gone to the front. Meanwhile, the terrifying bombings at home finally persuade Maggie to evacuate her eight-year-old twins to North Wales where the poor children are separated. Lizzie seems to be in the perfect family, while Danny is left in a big cold house with a severe looking man who resents his presence. But appearances can be deceptive, and while Maggie, her younger daughter and her mother struggle to survive the horrors of the German bombing, her children face danger of a different kind…
Tilly Trotter’s Legacy
Tilly Trotter seems to have found lasting happiness in her engagement to Steve McGrath. But just as everything is falling into place for Tilly it seems to be falling apart for her loved ones! Whilst her son Willy, is refusing to acknowledge the existence of his newborn illegitimate child, her adopted daughter, Josefina has slipped into a deep depression after tracking down her real family in America. Tilly is determined that with Steve by her side she can find a way to get her family through their troubles. But she hasn’t counted on the malicious ways of Steve’s mother and her oldest enemy, Mrs McGrath. A bitter and twisted old woman, Steve’s mother will stop at nothing to destroy Tilly’s happiness.
And Tilly knows that finding a way to for her family to be free to live their lives in peace is going to take all her strength and courage.
