Chosen by Odin.Destined for Valhalla.In my dreams, Odin whispers to me.He tells me I’m destined to wield a legendary sword.He tells me my road will bring me to Valhalla.But when I wake, I’m only Hervor. Fatherless. Unloved. Unwanted. Jarl Bjartmar, my grandfather, calls me cursed. My mother, her memories stolen by the gods, has forgotten me. Everyone tells me I should have been left to the wolves, but no one will tell me why.None but Eydis, a thrall with völva magic, believes I’m meant for a greater destiny. Yet who can believe a devotee of Loki?When the king and his son arrive for the holy blót, the runes begin to fall in my favor. A way forward may lie in the handsome Viking set on winning my heart, but only if I unravel the mystery hanging over me first.Readers will relish Shield Maiden: Under the Howling Moon. This sweeping Viking historical fantasy retells the Norse Hervarar Saga, depicting the life of the shieldmaiden Hervor.

GET THE *COMPLETE* SERIES IN THIS GREAT-VALUE BOX SET.Fans of Philip McCutchan, Alan Savage, Antony Melville-Ross, Christopher C. Tubbs and Patrick O’Brian will LOVE these compelling adventures that span WW1 and WW2.PRAISE FOR CHRISTOPHER NICOLE’S DAWSON NAVAL ADVENTURES:‘Fast-paced, entertaining, appealing!’ Library Journal‘A thoroughly entertaining yarn.’Irish Times????? ‘A first-class series of naval life.’Reader Review????? ‘Another much enjoyable series!’ Reader Review????? ‘One of the best books that I've read in a long time.’ Reader ReviewMEET THE DAWSON FAMILYFor the Dawsons, a commission in the British Navy is everything. Rear Admiral Ralph Dawson may have retired, but his eldest son, Jack, is determined to follow in his father’s footsteps and serve his country.As war threatens the tranquillity of Edwardian Britain, the Dawson’s loyalties are tested and the family is torn apart. Jack might crave action on the water, but at what cost?IN THIS FOUR-BOOK SERIES:BOOK 1: DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES1905. Jack Dawson is forging a career in the Royal Navy and is set to take a commission on the Navy’s newest battleship Dreadnought. But his friendship with German naval officer Bruno von Eltz and his sister Helene will put him at odds with his country, and his family.BOOK 2: THE TITANS1914. Britain and Germany, the world’s two greatest naval forces, are set to meet in battle. Jack Dawson is desperate to clear his name and regain his commission. But the path of war is rarely kind and as he faces his old friend, Bruno von Eltz, he realises that in battle there can only be one victor.BOOK 3: RESUMPTION1937. Jack’s son, Jack, has made Lieutenant in the British Navy and is serving in Nanking, China, preventing the Imperial Japanese Navy from gaining control over the city. As the threat of war rumbles on in Europe, Jack strikes up an unexpected friendship with a Japanese Navy pilot. A friendship that will be torn apart as Japan, a nation bent on war, prepares its assault on the west.BOOK 4: THE LAST BATTLE1941. Jack Dawson and Hirada Tanawa are bound by naval codes and a thirst for action. The two men know each day they fight could be their last and each attack could mean the end of their friend’s life. Do they have the courage needed to survive this brutal, unforgiving war?GET ALL *FOUR* BOOKS IN THIS SUPERB-VALUE BOX SET.

Fans of Catherine Cookson and Helen Forrester will love this.'Endless years of a lonely, childless spinster’s life stretching ahead, Victoria Kavanagh finds an abandoned baby. She knows it’s the answer to her prayers. Or is it? Has she stolen him in a moment of madness? She’s come close to it before …Desperate to keep him, she creates a past of her own design and moves to Faredene, but is her new life far enough away from the past she’s trying to escape? What a framework on which to build – one of lies and deceit.Thrust into a world where men are vying for her attention, Victoria has to decide in whom to lay her trust. Can she learn to have faith in her own judgement? First, she must forgive herself for standing by while her father destroyed her mother – her private shame.Unprepared for the challenges of motherhood and running her own business, whatever the future holds, there’s no turning back. Caring for people comes at a cost and her desire to protect a friend sets off a chain of events that has repercussions for everyone whose lives she touches … Her meddling may just be her undoing.When danger threatens her son, Victoria has to make a heart-breaking choice – but is she ready to let him go?

Heartwarming, courageous, and ultimately uplifting - for all lovers of WW2 historyWhen Cathy’s twin brother is called to serve in the Royal Navy, she leaps at the chance to join the Wrens, which by 1942, has grown into a strong force of over sixty thousand women. But she longs to be at sea and prove herself – to fight alongside her brother.Already working her way up through the ranks is Wren Officer Anne Foxton, who takes command of a ‘stone frigate’ in the traditional man’s world of the British Navy. It’s a responsible job – and for her – the opportunity of a lifetime. Then into Anne’s well-ordered world comes a young Swordfish pilot who has earned himself quite a reputation. Which one of her girls will catch his eye – and what lengths will he go to, to win her?And then there’s Linda, a motorcycle despatch rider, enjoying freedom for the first time in her life and learning all manner of secrets as she takes important messages from one top location to another. She sees a lot more than the war office might be comfortable with, including plans for Operation Pedestal – the most ambitious convoy ever sent through a barrage of enemy fire to the island of Malta. Essential supplies must get there before it's too late, but what can she do to help the Navy boys fight their way through?Against all odds, the women are drawn to help each other. Together, they find the courage to work and play in a war-torn world. All three are placed in grave danger and will only survive with determination, skill and luck. Will they be able to do it?

‘[I] absolutely loved this fictional take on some of the most legendary women of Hollywood's Golden Age! Perfect for books clubs.’ ????? NetGalley ReviewerFor fans of Fiona Davis, Kathleen Tessaro and Taylor Jenkins Reid in the most enlightening and exciting bookclub read of the year!‘An atmospheric narrative of young women pushing boundaries and defying expectations… truly unforgettable’ Caroline Cauchi, bestselling author of Mrs Van GoghOne ordinary school. Three extraordinary women …In the 1920s, three young girls enter a strict, cheerless convent school in a quiet London suburb.Six years later they leave, to change the world …Maureen was the movie star, whose role as Tarzan’s Jane helped rewrite the rules of cinema censorship.Sonia was the aspiring writer who became George Orwell’s wife and the guardian of his literary legacy.And Vivien was the actress as iconic as the roles she played, from Cleopatra to Scarlett O’Hara.Together their careers encompassed glamour and tragedy, triumph and scandal. From Bloomsbury to Hollywood, and from the cafés of Paris to the theatres of New York, this novel is a breath-taking epic spanning four decades in three unforgettable lives.See what real readers are saying about Caroline Lamond’s writing:????? 'Well written and told from the point of view of the characters, this is an engaging story and gives the reader a glimpse of the heady world of theatre, film and society in the time of the star studded movie era'????? ‘Well written and researched… a joy to read’????? ‘A highly engaging tale’????? ‘I was hooked from the first page…’????? ‘Really reminded me of City of Girls, the lifestyle, the glamour but also the tenderness… Wonderful!’????? ‘A highly engaging tale’????? ‘Absolutely fantastic, unputdownable…'????? ‘A moving and at times heartbreaking story'????? 'Sad, happy and frustrating at times this novel pulls on all emotions’‘An enticing parallel portrait, of women endeavouring to be heard in a glittering but masculine era’ Mandy Robotham, international bestselling author‘An extraordinary story’ Georgia Kaufmann, author of The Dressmaker of Paris‘An engaging portrait of an indomitable woman at the heart of Golden Age Hollywood’ Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Manhattan Girls

A powerful Barbara Erskine classic, the story of a remarkable mediaeval noblewoman whose life shaped the history of three crownsThe child whose hands would hold three crowns is born in fire.In 1218 an extraordinary princess is born. Her mystical powers and unquenchable spirit will alter the course of history.Raised by her fiercely Welsh nurse to support the Celtic cause against the predatory English king, Princess Eleyne is taught to worship the old gods and to look into the future and the past. However, unable to identify time and place in her terrifying visions, she is powerless to avert forthcoming tragedy…Despite impassioned resistance, Eleyne’s world is shaped by powerful men – but her tempestuous life and loves tie her to the destinies of England, Scotland and Wales…Readers LOVE Barbara Erskine:‘Atmospheric’ ?????‘Enthralling’ ?????‘Spellbinding’ ?????‘Another fabulous read from the mistress of the genre’ ?????‘Immensely and deeply immersive fiction’ ?????‘I loved every minute’ ?????‘An exceptional writer of great books’ ?????‘You can rely on this author to keep you wanting more’ ?????‘A joy to read’ ?????‘Captivating and engrossing’ ?????Barbara Erskine's book 'The Story Spinner' was a No.1 Sunday Times bestseller w/c 2024-07-29.