Kate Cleary feels no sorrow when her brutal father dies. At last she will be free from him, even though she and Nuala, the sister who depends on her for everything, must now leave his miners cottage. Then Kate discovers they have an aunt in the Midlands whom their father had kept secret, and who now offers them a home.

Despite leaving her heart in Durham with Matthew, a young artist, Kate feels loved and safe with Aunt Beth. But her peace is shattered by an astonishing revelation from Nuala, and a series of brutal attacks on the women of Nuneaton. Kate turns to a handsome widower, Martin Denby, but is his kindness too good to be true?

A dramatic tale of heartbreak and courage.

Jane Reynolds’ father dominates her life. Though she seems a devoted daughter, his cruelty has left her afraid to love. After his sudden death she becomes a virtual recluse, leaving her small farm only to sell the fruit and vegetables she grows.

But everything changes on a dark, cold night when she finds a young runaway hiding near her cottage . . .

A mother’s battle to bring home her family, divided by the Second World War

Although the war lets her escape her husband when he’s sent to the front, Maggie must also lose her twins, Danny and Lizzie, as they’re evacuated to North Wales. Lizzie seems to be in the perfect family, while Danny is left with a man who seems to resent his presence. But appearances can be deceptive, and while Maggie struggles to survive the bombings at home, her children face danger of a different kind.

Alex never stood a chance. After one ‘accident’ too many, he’s taken into care aged four. Although his mother promises to get him back, he’s adopted by a childless couple and renamed Franky. It should be a fresh start, but his new dad has a twisted idea of fatherhood. Abused and alone, Franky escapes – but his freedom is short-lived, and after a series of foster homes no one can get through to him. He says he’s ‘the boy from nowhere’, but deep down he’s still waiting for his mum to take him home.

Franky slips into a dangerous world on the streets of London, earning a living the only way he can. One day he might find a way out, but can he ever trust again?

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 to escape harsh reality, her humour and courage pull her through. Now married to Tommy, Maisie’s hopes of happiness are shattered when he becomes jealous and controlling – threatening even her relationship with her beloved adopted son, Harold.

After a tragic accident, Maisie reluctantly agrees to move back to her home town of Fellburn, Tyneside, for a fresh start. But her husband’s behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and one of his new employees, a strange man nicknamed the Sand Dancer, strikes fear into her heart every time she meets him. Maisie begins to avoid his place of work, little realises that Tommy is concealing something so terrible it could destroy everything she holds dear..

Rosie Goodwin’s heartwarming addition to Catherine Cookson’s series.

Tilly Trotter seems to have finally found lasting happiness in her engagement to Steve McGrath. But just as everything falls into place for Tilly it seems to be falling apart for her loved ones…

A heartbreaking tale of abuse, courage and, above all, the redemptive power of love.

Claire Nightingale is haunted by the memory of childhood abuse and the painful choices she was forced to make. Longing to find peace, she knows she must first confront her demons.

Rosie Goodwin’s dramatic addition to Catherine Cookson’s series.

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…

A story of one woman’s struggle to survive the unthinkable.

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 drunkenly 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. At first it seems that Ben and his mother are quite the good Samaritans. But there is little goodness in the Lewises’ hearts. As Sophie realises their dark intentions, a web of danger and deceit wraps itself around her. She knows if she is to survive, she will have to fight for all she’s worth…

A powerful and moving story of adversity and survival.

Barry and Grace marry and, for a while, she knows happiness. Barry adores her and is a wonderful father, but Grace feels that something is missing. When Barry indulges her passion for ballroom dancing, the gap seems to be filled – until she meets Philip Golding. He sweeps Grace off her feet, showing her what she believes is a better way of life. But as he draws her into a web of deceit, she discovers that all that glitters is not gold…