Helen Simonson Books

East Sussex, 1914. It's the end of England's idyllic Edwardian summer and Hugh Grange, down from his medical studies, is visiting his Aunt Agatha, who lives with her husband in the pretty coastal town of Rye. Agatha's husband works in the Foreign Office, and she is certain he will ensure that the recent sabre rattling over the Balkans won't come to anything. And Agatha has more immediate concerns; she has just risked her carefully built reputation by pushing for the appointment of a woman to replace the Latin master. When Beatrice Nash arrives with one trunk and several large crates of books, it is clear she is significantly more free thinking - and attractive - than anyone believes a Latin teacher should be. For her part, mourning the death of her beloved father who has left her penniless, Beatrice simply wants to be left alone to pursue her teaching and writing. But just as Beatrice comes alive to the beauty of the Sussex landscape, and the colourful characters that populate Rye, the perfect summer is about to end. For despite Agatha's reassurances, the unimaginable is coming. Soon the limits of progress, and the old ways, will be tested as this small Sussex town and its inhabitants go to war.

Major Ernest Pettigrew is perfectly content to lead a quiet life in the sleepy village of Edgecombe St Mary, away from the meddling of the locals and his overbearing son. But when his brother dies, the Major finds himself seeking companionship with the village shopkeeper, Mrs Ali. Drawn together by a love of books and the loss of their partners, they are soon forced to contend with irate relatives and gossiping villagers. The perfect gentleman, but the most unlikely hero, the Major must ask himself what matters most: family obligation, tradition or love? Funny, comforting and heart-warming, Major Pettigrew's Last Stand proves that sometimes, against all odds, life does give you a second chance.

East Sussex, 1914. It is the end of England's brief Edwardian summer, and everyone agrees that the weather has never been so beautiful. Hugh Grange, down from his medical studies, is visiting his Aunt Agatha, who lives with her husband in the small, idyllic coastal town of Rye. Agatha's husband works in the Foreign Office, and she is certain he will ensure that the recent sabre rattling over the Balkans won't come to anything. And Agatha has more immediate concerns; she has just risked her carefully built reputation by pushing for the appointment of a woman to replace the Latin master.When Beatrice Nash arrives with one trunk and several large crates of books, it is clear she is significantly more free thinking - and attractive - than anyone believes a Latin teacher should be. For her part, mourning the death of her beloved father who has left her penniless, Beatrice simply wants to be left alone to pursue her teaching and writing. But just as Beatrice comes alive to the beauty of the Sussex landscape, and the colourful characters that populate Rye, the perfect summer is about to end. For despite Agatha's reassurances, the unimaginable is coming. Soon the limits of progress, and the old ways, will be tested as this small Sussex town and its inhabitants go to war.

Leaving Unknown: Maeve Connelly, along with Oliver her foulmouthed cockatiel, undertakes an epic road trip to Los Angeles. But when her car breaks down outside of Unknown, Arizona, she is in for a much longer rest stop than she expected.

A young woman's life is forever changed in the summer after World War I when she befriends a group of independent, motorcycle-riding women in a seaside town on the English coast 'A ripping tale of friendship, survival and true love' - CELIA IMRIE 'Witty, amusing and touchingly emotive ' - ROSIE GOODWIN 'A page-turning original story' - KATIE FFORDE It is the sum[Bokinfo].

À Edgecombe St. Mary, en plein coeur de la campagne anglaise, une tasse de thé délicatement infusé est un rituel auquel, à l’heure dite, le major Ernest Pettigrew ne saurait déroger pas plus qu’à son sens du devoir et à son extrême courtoisie, aussi désuète que touchante, qui font de lui l’archétype même du gentleman anglais : raffiné, sarcastique et irréprochable. Dans ce petit village pittoresque où les cottages le disputent aux clématites, le major a depuis trop longtemps délaissé son jardin. Désormais veuf, il a pour seule compagnie ses livres, ses chers Kipling, et quelques amis du club de golf fuyant leurs dames patronnesses. Ce n’est guère son fils, Roger, un jeune londonien ambitieux, qui pourrait le combler de tendresse. Mais, le jour où le major apprend le décès de son frère Bertie, la présence douce et gracieuse de Mme Ali, veuve elle aussi, va réveiller son coeur engourdi. Tout devrait les séparer, elle, la petite commerçante d’origine pakistanaise, et lui, le major anglais élevé dans le plus pur esprit britannique. Pourtant leur passion pour la littérature et la douleur partagée du deuil sauront les réunir. Ils vont, dès lors, être confrontés aux préjugés mesquins des villageois, où le racisme ordinaire sévit tout autant dans les soirées privées, sur le parcours de golf, à la chasse, sur les bancs de messe que dans les douillets intérieurs. Et les obstacles seront pour eux d’autant plus nombreux que leurs familles s’en mêlent : Roger s’installe dans un cottage voisin avec Sandy, sa petite amie américaine, et le neveu de Mme Ali, musulman très strict rentré du Pakistan, se découvre un enfant caché… C’est avec beaucoup de charme et d’intelligence que Helen Simonson s’empare du thème des traditions pour montrer combien elles peuvent être à la fois une valeur refuge et un danger. Il se dégage de son roman une atmosphère so british qui enchante. Reste une question : votre tasse de thé, vous le prendrez avec un nuage de lait ou une tranche de citron ?

Sam Bourne: Vyvolený Maggie Costellová, poradkyně nového prezidenta Spojených států Stephena Bakera, je hrdá na to, že může pracovat po boku tak výjimečného muže. Ovšem jen do chvíle, kdy se na scéně objeví jistý Vic Forbes a vyhrožuje, že zveřejní skandální informace o prezidentově minulosti. Sandra Brown: Tichý muž Amerikou hýbe hospodářská krize, osamělá matka Ella Barronová však žije den za dnem stejně. Stará se o nájemníky svého penzionu a o syna Sollyho a ani ve snu by ji nenapadlo, že by se její život mohl změnit. Všechno je náhle jinak, když se u ní ubytuje pan Rainwater. Robert Crais: Pravidlo první Joe Pike pátrá po vrazích dávného kamaráda. Stopa vede do srbského podsvětí v Los Angeles, přímo mezi jeho nelítostné bosse. Průvodce Joeovi dělá prostitutka a ve hře je i unesené dítě a obří zásilka pašovaných kalašnikovů. Pikeovi jde však o jediné: pomstít kamarádovu smrt. Helen Simonsonová: Major Pettigrew se nevzdává Ernest Pettigrew, major ve výslužbě, žije v poklidu anglického venkova. Stojaté vody jeho života nečekaně zčeří přátelství, které se rozhoří mezi ním a paní Aliovou původem z Pákistánu. Záhy se ukáže, jak i dnes lidem mohou komplikovat život předsudky.