Josephine Cox Books

Heartrending and breathtaking, Bad Boy Jack from Sunday Times bestselling writer Josephine Cox is perfect for fans of Lesley Pearse and Rosie Goodwin. 'Cox's talent as a storyteller never lets you escape' Daily Mail

By 1870 Emma Grady has spent seven years of servitude as a convict in Australia. Emma lives for the day when she will return to England, to face those who cheated and betrayed her. And to Marlow Tanner, the man she loves - and whose tragic child she had borne and then lost. Emma struggles to make something of her life in Australia despite the sinister presence of her employer's evil son Foster. His determination to 'have' Emma leads to dark and terrifying consequences. As Emma battles against adversity, she is unaware that in England the child she has given up for dead is being lovingly raised by Marlow's sister Old Sal, who teaches Emma's daughter Molly to be an expert pickpocket. Will Emma ever be reunited with Marlow? Even if she finds him, will he still love her? And what of the child lost to both of them? Emma is plagued with fears but her love for Marlow never weakens - and can never be forgotten...

Lucy Nolan has everything she could wish for - until tragedy intervenes

The new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Josephine Cox - the master storyteller.

Three years have passed since Emma's return to Lancashire. Her uncle, Caleb Crowther, curses her return, he is terrified when she is determined to expose his treachery of twenty-two years ago. Not content with his efforts to destroy Emma, he hounds Molly, her estranged daughter. Born to a life of crime and poverty, will Molly ever discover the truth of her parentage? Emma tries to locate her, but Molly and her children have become vagabonds. Their life at times is almost unbearable, but Molly has inherited her mother's indomitable spirit. This is the concluding volume of the Emma Grady series (Outcast, Alley Urchin).

'I can take him away from you any time I want.' Her mistress's cruel taunt is deeply disturbing to Jenny. But why should Claudia be interested in a servant's sweetheart? Jenny reckons without Claudia's vicious nature; using a wily trick she seduces Frank, who, overcome with shame, departs for a new life in Blackburn. Losing her sweetheart is just the first of many disasters that leave Jenny struggling to cope alone. When Claudia gives birth to Frank's baby girl she cruelly disowns the helpless infant and relies on Jenny to care for little Katie and love her as her own. Always afraid for the beloved child who has come to depend on her, Jenny is constantly called upon to show courage and fortitude to fight for all she holds dear. In her heart she yearns for Frank, believing that one day they must be reunited. When Fate takes a hand, it seems as though Jenny may see her dreams come true.

20/20 Edition - Headline 20th Anniversary Edition WHISTLEDOWN WOMAN shows a saga-writing legend at her finest On a moonlit night in 1898, Kathleen Wyman lies in labour at Bessington Hall, her husband Edward sure that she has been unfaithful. In a jealous rage he gives the baby away to Rona Parrish, a gypsy summoned to help with the delivery, whilst Kathleen, mad with grief, is committed to an asylum. The little girl, named Starlena after Rona’s mother, grows up in ignorance of her true parentage and vast inheritance, believing her birthplace to be the beautiful Whistledown Valley. But Rona, always afraid, stays watchful for any sign that someone might track Starlena down – someone who means her harm…

Queenie Bedford fled her native Blackburn and the bitter knowledge that she and Rick Marsden, the man she loved, could never marry. But in 1965 she returned north again to stand by her friend Sheila Thorogood, imprisoned for running a brothel with her mother Maisie. Though Rick had vowed to find her, Queenie took care that he should not know of her whereabouts. The magnificent Edwardian house in Blackpool was sadly neglected - but Queenie moved in with the ailing Maisie, and set about transforming it into a sparklingly clean, highly respectable guesthouse. Meanwhile, Queenie was to meet the frail and confused Hannah Jason, locked away years ago for murder, and desperate for news of her long-lost son. As Rick continued his dogged search for Queenie, she set out to find Hannah's son. But both their enquiries threatened to unlock the cage where crucial secrets had long been held captive.

In the tiny front parlour fourteen-year-old Laura Blake watches her beloved father die, but not before he tells her she will make something of her life. Yet her path to success proves to be a rocky one. Forced to trundle a cart around the back streets, selling other folk's cast-offs to support her family, Laura learns enough to start work in her uncle's furniture shop. But then fate deals another cruel blow when Laura is brutally raped. Bearing the child of her attacker in secret, she vows to make the world pay for its injustice towards her. As she grows older, her protective shell hardens even as her beauty blossoms, and her new toughness helps her forge a successful career. But it is in affairs of the heart that Laura stumbles, and before she can find fulfilment, she must learn to put her past behind her, and give as well as take.

The turbulent and emotional story of a woman who must outface danger to find the happiness she craves

Exploring themes of love and loss, this epic family drama delves into the emotional turmoil of a daughter grappling with her father's affection being usurped. The narrative promises to unravel complex relationships and the struggle for connection within a family, highlighting the impact of betrayal and the search for solace. Readers can expect a heartfelt journey that captures the essence of familial bonds and the challenges that arise when love is compromised.

Queenie seemed born to suffer. Her mam died giving birth to her, her drunken father George Kenney ignored her unless he was cursing her, and only beloved Auntie Biddy provided an anchor for the little girl. Growing up in post-war Blackburn, life could be tough when Biddy had to take in washing to make ends meet - at a time when the washing machine began to gain popularity. After Auntie Biddy's death there was only Queenie to care for the home and to earn money, and no one to protect her from the father who blamed his daughter for her mother's death. But Queenie was resilient. And in spite of hardship, she grew up tall and strikingly beautiful with her deep grey eyes and her abundant honey-coloured hair. Love, in the shape of Rick Marsden, might have released her from the burden of the drink-sodden George. But the sins of the fathers would not be easily forgotten...

Beth and Tyler share a rare love, a love they know will last forever. But Beth's mother is jealous of the girl and banishes her from the comfortable home in London. So Beth takes the northbound train and alights at Blackburn Station, friendless and alone. There, she is taken in by a warm-hearted widow and love abounds in the cosy house on Larkhill, and Beth is content there to await the birth of her child. But she cannot forget Tyler, and is tormented by the belief that he has betrayed her.

One winter's night, in the coal-hole in her yard, Rosie finds that a woman sheltering there has been severely beaten by thugs. At a glance, Kathleen looks like an unkempt, aged vagabond who tramps the roads carrying all her worldly possessions in a grubby tapestry bag. Her only friend is the mangy old dog who accompanies her; the sum of her life is in the diaries she so zealously guards. Yet close up, Rosie can see that Kathleen has a gracious beauty - the 'look' of a respectable lady of means. In hospital, fighting for her life, yet moved by Rosie's care and compassion, Kathleen entrusts the diaries to her, urging her to look at them. There, in the soft glow of the lamp, Rosie reads a heartrending tale of stolen dreams, true love, heartache and loss. A tale that, somehow, must have a happy ending . . .

No.1 bestselling writer Josephine Cox is 'hailed quite rightly as a gifted writer in the tradition of Catherine Cookson' (Manchester Evening News). Jinnie is a compelling story of love and belonging, perfect for fans of Lyn Andrews and Rosie Goodwin. Ten years ago, Louise Hunter's life was torn apart by tragedy. Her husband, Ben, killed himself; her brother-in-law, Jacob, was murdered; and her sister, Susan, abandoned her new-born daughter, revealing the baby is Ben's child. Louise remains haunted by guilt over the one night she spent with Ben's friend Eric, and refuses to return Eric's love. But after adopting Jinnie, she finds new happiness - until Susan decides she wants Jinnie back. Meanwhile, Adam and Hannah, whose mother was killed with Jacob, are on the run. What Adam witnessed on that dreadful night has put them all in danger, but their beloved grandmother knows that one day they must return to the place where it all began . . .

Barney would always love her, but he couldn't stay, not while his wandering soul craved adventure. Although Kelly had always known he would leave, she could never have imagined how dramatically it would change her world.

Ada Williams was once an ambitious woman who believed money and power would bring her happiness. But now, she is all alone in the world except for her greedy, bitter son Peter, who despises her and waits only for the day he will inherit her fortune. Ada however, has a different plan altogether.

Bridget Mulligan loves her husband. He is caring, loyal and dependable - everything a woman could ask for. But she can't quite forget Harry - the one that got away - and when a snow storm drives her into his arms, the inevitable happens. Nine months later a child is born. Overcome with remorse, Bridget is determined that her husband should know the truth, but her confession can lead only to heartbreak. Although he allows his wife and her child to continue living in his home, Tom Mulligan makes it clear that their marriage is over. Lonely and afraid, Bridget finds comfort in the friendship of Fanny, a feisty young mother who knows what it is to be alone. But Bridget's life can never be complete until she has the love of the only man she ever really wanted...

The audio cassette of the novel from the greatest living saga writer and Sunday Times No. 1 Bestseller

On a fateful night in 1860, Thadius Grady realises, too late, that he has made a grave mistake. In blind faith he has put himself and his daughter Emma at the mercy of his sister and her conniving husband, Caleb Crowther - for he has entrusted to them his entire fortune and the daughter he adores. With his dying breath he pleads to see his daughter one last time - but Caleb's heart is made of stone. A feared Lancashire Justice, Caleb Crowther is a womaniser and a gambler, and now the inheritance due to Emma is as much in his hands as is the beautiful Emma Grady herself. But Caleb lives in fear of the past, for how did Emma's mother mysteriously die? And what made Thadius and Caleb hate the river people so intensely? History seems likely to repeat itself when Emma falls helplessly in love with Marlow Tanner, a young bargee. For Marlow and Emma, it is an impossible love - a love made in Heaven, but which could carry them both to Hell...

Powerful, hard-hearted Leonard Mears ruthlessly presides over his wife and children, exiling them from the outside world and brutally punishing any disobedience. But he is also a man with a dark secret; an illegitimate daughter that he forced his sister to bring up. The girl is now a young woman who, unbeknown to him, is determined to find the father that abandoned her.James Peterson, a gifted young man, runs Mear's factory with more success than Leonard's own sons. He lives for the day he can have his own business and make his fortune. Only then will he be able to declare his love for beautiful Isabel Mears who he means to release from the gilded cage her father has created. But then the lonely, lovely Sally comes in to his life, turning his heart and dreams upside down.

Don't miss the new book from Sunday Times bestselling author, Josephine Cox!

The compelling new family drama from the nation's favourite storyteller.

Louise and Ben Hunter's loving marriage is marred only by their unfulfilled longing for a child. Living and working with Ben's father, Ronnie, they are quietly contented. But when Ronnie dies, their whole world changes. Ben's lazy brother, Jacob, returns, convinced he stands to inherit Ronnie's small fortune. And he means to have his brother's wife; though just as she did years before, Louise warns him off. Jacob, however, is not so easily dismissed. When he realises Ben will inherit everything, Jacob is beside himself with rage, and commits a terrible deed, one that threatens to destroy everything his brother and Louise hold dear...

A heartrending tale of two young lovers torn violently apart at the beginning of the twentieth century. Jampacked with drama, tragedy and thwarted love, this is Josephine Cox at her inimitable best. In the sleepy Lancashire village of Salmesbury, childhood sweethearts Emily and John are secretly planning a life together when they are cruelly forced apart. Already abandoned by her father, and unhappy at home, Emily is heartbroken when John leaves the village. Her life takes a devastating turn for the worse when she gives birth to a child. She dare not reveal the identity of the child's father or there will be a terrible price to pay. Many miles away, John is trying to forget Emily and forge a new life. Having carried her in his heart for years, a chance encounter leads him to believe she has forgotten him. Emily has never been able to banish thoughts of John. But when it looks as though history is about to repeat itself, Emily must put the past -- and John -- behind her and safeguard her daughter. But can she forget him?

The marriage of Marcia and Curt Ratheter seemed idyllically happy. But one fateful day in 1931 brought Marcia's world tumbling about her, and left her and her two daughters without their beloved father. Barty Bendall had always loved her, and the girls needed a father, so Marcia moved to Blackburn with him, where she tried to forget the past. However, Barty sank into bad ways, tyrannizing the family. Even in troubled times, lovely raven-haired Marcia was a fighter. But the news that Curt Ratheter had reappeared would render her helpless prey to wildly conflicting emotions.

'You're everything to me. I'd have to lose my life before I'd lose you.' This is the vow Silas made to Cathleen on the day he asks her to marry him. Throughout their childhood their love has grown stronger and now, in 1900, they start to plan a life together. But a jealous woman is determined to ruin their happiness and uses Silas's father - a good and honest man - to do so, forcing him to make an impossible sacrifice. As a dutiful son, Silas has no choice but to obey his father, and Cathleen must pay the bitter price. Separated, each is swept along to a place where there is no love or peace and no way back...

A cry for help will tear a family apart...A stunning new novel from the nation's favourite storyteller

The gripping new drama from the nation's favourite storyteller.

From the moment she learns of the stranger's visit, Molly Tattersall is filled with a sense of fear.Then her mother disappears, leaving behind a letter asking Molly to take care of her five brothers and sisters. Molly's wayward father rejects his responsibilities, leaving Molly to choose between the young man she has given her heart to, and the family she adores. It is the cruellest decision of her life, with long-reaching and heartbreaking consequences. Only one thing is certain: Molly's life will never be the same again.

The new bestseller from the country's number one storyteller is a deeply moving and powerful tale of love and courage and a sacrifice no man should be asked to make. Three strangers are thrown together by chance. It's an encounter which is destined to change all of their lives for ever. When Ben Morris comes to the aid of Lucy Baker and her daughter Mary, he is intrigued by the story behind their frequent visits to the local graveyard. Later, invited into their home, an old Edwardian place suffused with secrets of the past, Ben hears Lucy's remarkable tale - one she must tell before it's too late. The story of Barney Davidson, his family and the part Lucy played in his extraordinary life, is one of a deep, abiding love and an incredible sacrifice, spellbinding in its tragedy and passion. And it still exerts a powerful influence in the present day! The Journey is Josephine Cox at her mesmerising best. Spanning decades, generations and continents, it will stay with you for ever.

Ten years ago, Louise Hunter's life was torn apart by tragedy. Her husband, Ben, killed himself; her brother-in-law, Jacob, was murdered; and her sister, Susan, abandoned her new-born daughter, revealing the baby is Ben's child. Louise remains haunted by guilt over the one night she spent with Ben's friend Eric, and refuses to return Eric's love. But after adopting Jinnie, she finds new happiness - until Susan decides she wants Jinnie back. Meanwhile, Adam and Hannah, whose mother was killed with Jacob, are on the run. What Adam witnessed on that dreadful night has put them all in danger, but their beloved grandmother knows that one day they must return to the place where it all began . . .

The powerful new bestseller from Josephine Cox - the nation's favourite storyteller. Home is where the heart is - but it's also where the pain lies... Young Davie Adams is all alone. Devastated, he flees his hometown of Blackburn to escape the memories of the worst night of his life. With little more than the shirt on his back he sets off on a lonely, friendless road, determined to find his father. Two people are stricken by his departure - Judy, his childhood friend who is desperate to reveal a secret she has kept close to her heart for so long, and Joseph, his grandfather, who is racked with guilt about that fateful night. Exhausted and afraid, Davie finds friendship and a place to stay but when fate deals him another disastrous blow, he must decide whether to keep running or return to face his demons...

The mesmerizing bestseller from Josephine Cox - the nation's favourite storyteller. Some secrets can haunt a whole lifetime.

The brand new dramatic novel about the power of a father's love, a little boy's journey,and the desperate search for a place to call home, from Number 1 best-selling author Josephine Cox.

Twenty years ago, Vicky Maitland left a husband who had inexplicably turned against her and her children. With a fateful letter in her pocket, she's come home to England in search of the truth her old friend, Lucy, knew but swore never to reveal. Original.

Harry Blake goes in search of his first love, a woman he knew 18 years ago.

Plain, down-to-earth Amy Maitland can't help but notice the sad and handsome stranger who spends every Tuesday at the local café -- an artist who puts his heart and turbulent emotions on canvas in vivid, powerful paintings. No stranger herself to the pain of loss and betrayal, she is drawn to this haunted man, his kindness, and his mystery. But Luke Hammond is more than he seems. A wealthy factory owner in financially depressed Blackburn, he seeks a haven from his guilt and tragic past -- an escape he seems to find in Amy's warm smile and gentle spirit. Yet Amy Maitland is not of his world, and there is no place for her in Luke's shattered life -- unless they can both open their wounded hearts to a promise each believed long dead ... and find the courage to embrace the most glorious dream of all.

Edward Carter is a bully of a man, who inspires fear in the hearts of all who meet him. Adam Carter is 12 years old, an only child with no friends, nor any self confidence. His father's reign of terror over his family has Adam's mother Peggy too cowed to protect her son, so Adam's only support comes in the shape of Phil Wallis, the school bus driver.

Lucy Lovejoy married her childhood sweetheart at 16, but since then she's lost a little more of herself with each passing year. Those looking from the outside think she's like any other wife and mother, but there is no warmth or love at the centre of Lucy's family - her children have watched their father belittle and take from their mother and are, much to her sadness, following in his footsteps. A grandmother, a wife and a mother, with her 40th birthday quickly approaching, Lucy discovers that her good-for-nothing husband is having an affair with her sister. This is a double-betrayal for Lucy and it shatters her. Sitting on a bench one day - she looks back at her life, she doesn't feel like she's done anything with it. So, mustering up all of her courage she decides to leave her family and the home she's devoted so many years to, she decides to go out into the world and start a new life. What will Lucy discover?

All Jack's life, the nightmares had haunted him, dragging him back to a place where it was always midnight ... Molly and Jack are deeply in love but their relationship is being torn apart by Jack's nightmares. Trapped in a place where he is taunted by eyes in the gloom, it is becoming harder for Molly to pull him free. And when daylight comes, the haunting visions remain. He can make no sense of them; though when he is deep in the dreams, he knows exactly what's demanded of him. Realising that Jack is being driven close to the edge, Molly urges him to seek help. With their relationship faltering, Jack decides to hunt for answers. His search takes him back to the place where he grew up, and it soon becomes clear that he must trace people from his past, particularly the one person he could turn to through his troubled childhood. But Jack could never have imagined the true horrors of what he is about to uncover ...

The new No. 1 Sunday Times bestseller from the master storyteller, Josephine Cox.

The new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Josephine Cox gets straight to the hope and heartbreak of family drama. One fateful night changes the course of a child s life forever Rosie s mother is a cruel woman and has Rosie s kind and loving father wrapped around her finger. Though John Tanner does his best to protect her, Rosie often bears the brunt of her mother s rage. And his protection can t last forever. In one tragic moment Rosie s fragile world is shattered. Grieving and alone, Rosie is thrust into a harsh reality, and she must face the obstacles that fate has set in her path. But secrets will out, and Rosie must uncover the shocking truth behind her mother s cruelty before she can hope for the love and happiness she deserves."

"I′m 36 years of age; handsome and fit. I′m not as tall as I′d like to be, nor am I rippling with chest-muscles. But I reckon I′m a dead ringer for Hugh Grant." After years spent with ′the dreaded Laura′ Ben is finally free! A new divorcee he can′t wait to get back in the game and sets about writing a list of all the things he has to do: NOT sign up to the gym. (He′s fit enough anyway). Smoke cigars - they′re much more sophisticated than cigarettes. NOT contact Laura and that includes hiding in the bushes to spy on her. Play the field! As Ben enters the world of singledom with his sidekick Dickie Manse brains-in-his-pants, Ben finds himself on a whole new adventure and has plenty of fun along the way.

An engaging family drama unfolds, exploring deep emotional ties and the complexities of relationships. The narrative weaves together themes of love, betrayal, and resilience, drawing readers into the lives of relatable characters facing both personal and collective challenges. With a focus on the intricacies of family dynamics, the story promises to resonate with readers, offering both heartwarming and heart-wrenching moments that reflect the essence of human experience.

Another page-turning story of tragedy and triumph from the No.1 bestselling author of The Loner and The Journey. In the summer of 1952, two lonely people arrive in the pretty seaside hamlet of West Bay. Strangers coming from very different backgrounds, they are there for the same reasons: to find peace of mind and the chance to start a new life. Tom Arnold has abandoned all his possessions and walked away from a highly paid job. A year ago, he had a wife and two beautiful children, when suddenly his world was turned upside-down. The car he was driving with his family was deliberately run off the road high above the cliffs. He was the only survivor. The driver - who Tom is sure intended to kill them all - has never been found. Kathy Wilson has tried to cling on to her zest for life through times of pain and loneliness. Recovering from her divorce, she seeks comfort in the arms of other men. But a shocking, revealing row with her mother is the final straw, and when she inherits a rundown house in West Bay, she flees to Dorset. For both Tom and Kathy, it seems there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Yet even now, someone means to undermine their search for happiness. People are jealous. And a brutal killer is still on the loose... Suddenly West Bay is no longer the peaceful place it seemed...

Romantický, sociálně podbarvený román pro ženy se odehrává v osmdesátých letech 19. století na anglickém venkově. Zámožný a vlivný, ale surový továrník vládne své ženě a čtyřem dospělým dětem železnou pěstí a nikdo z rodiny se mu nedokáže vzepřít. Výjimkou je nejstarší dcera, která nalezla zalíbení v mladém předákovi z otcovy továrny, je ale otcem přinucena k sňatku se synem jeho bohatého obchodního partnera a tragicky umírá. Všem zúčastněným však zkomplikuje život utajená továrníkova nemanželská dcera, která se po ztrátě náhradní rodiny vydá hledat skutečného otce. Události v továrníkově rodině vyústí v tragédii, na jejích základech ale vyroste štěstí ušlechtilého předáka a mladičké, otcem zavržené dívky

Příběh sirotka Kitty, která díky pevnému přátelství a lásce z dětství překoná všechny trable života. Dvanáctiletá Kitty zažije v krátké době dvojí trauma. Nejprve se její matka kvůli rodinným neshodám vrhne pod vlak a poté podpálí její otec dům a zůstane uvnitř. Teta Mildred se nechce o svou neteř postarat, a tak dívka skončí v dětském domově. Tam získá novou přítelkyni Georgii, se kterou se velmi sblíží. Má také ještě z dětství přítele Harryho, jehož návštěvy Kitty povzbuzují. Po čase si Kitty uvědomí, že jejich přátelství přerostlo v lásku a rozhodne se s Harrym přetrhat všechna pouta, aby nestála v cestě k jeho úspěšné budoucnosti. Po několika neúspěšných adopcích se nakonec smíří s tetou a začnou bydlet spolu. Jednoho dne však osud opět svede Kitty a Harryho dohromady..