This author explores human nature through satirical looks at gossip and the tabloid press, as well as thoughtful stories about the past and a yearning for warmer climes. Her style has evolved from the sharp reality of journalism to colorful storytelling that often draws from her own extensive life experiences. She delves into themes that resonate with readers, uncovering how personal history intersects with collective interest. Her works are notable for capturing the essence of places and emotions, offering a rich, engaging read.
Set against the backdrop of war, this novel intertwines three compelling narratives that explore themes of love and loss. Each story is intricately connected by a central mystery, revealing how the characters navigate their emotional landscapes amidst the chaos of conflict. The atmospheric setting enhances the depth of the characters' experiences, making for a poignant exploration of human resilience and connection in trying times.
"Traveling to Faro, Portugal, journalist Joanna Millard hopes to escape an unsatisfying relationship and a stalled career ... But Joanna soon realizes that behind the crumbling facades of Moorish buildings Faro has a seedy underbelly ..."--Inside front cover. Traveling to Faro, Portugal, journalist Joanna Millard hopes to escape an unsatisfying relationship and a stalled career. The seaside views are enhanced by the company of Nathan Emberlin, a charismatic younger man. But behind the crumbling facades of Moorish buildings Faro has a seedy underbelly, its economy compromised by corruption and wartime spoils. And Nathan has an ulterior motive for seeking her company: he is determined to discover the truth involving a child's kidnapping that may have taken place on this dramatic coastline over two decades ago.
Following on from her TV Book Club success with THE LANTERN, bestselling author Deborah Lawrenson returns to the south of France with another captivating story of wartime love, secrets and bravery. Present day. On a lush Mediterranean island off the French coast, Ellie has accepted a commission to restore an abandoned garden. It seems idyllic, but the longer Ellie spends at the house and garden, the more she senses darkness, and a lingering evil that seems to haunt her. Second World War. Two very different women have their lives irrevocably changed: Iris, a junior intelligence officer in London and Marthe, a blind girl who works in the lavender fields of Provence and is slowly drawn into the heart of the Resistance. As secret messages are passed in scent and planes land by moonlight, danger comes ever closer... Perfect for fans of Tracy Rees, Rachel Hore and Rachel Rhys, this gripping historical will have you gripped from the first page.
Set against the backdrop of Provence's lavender fields, the story follows bookish Eve as she enters a passionate affair with a wealthy, artistic older man. This reckless romance leads her to the enchanting yet crumbling village of Les Genévriers, promising a fresh start and an escape from her previous life. As Eve navigates this new world, themes of love, risk, and transformation unfold, revealing the complexities of her choices and the allure of a life filled with art and beauty.
Drawn to an older man, Eve embarks on a whirlwind romance that soon offers a new life and a new home--Les Genévriers, an old house in a charming hamlet amid the fragrant lavender fields of Provence. Their relationship becomes strained, however, as Dom grows quiet and distant and Eve feels a haunting presence. The more reluctant Dom is to tell her about his past, the more Eve is drawn to it--and to the mysterious disappearance of his beautiful ex-wife.
Sometimes the key to the future lies in the past . In the last glimmers of lucidity, Elizabeth presents her daughter with a gift that suggests a very secret history - one that leads Melissa to Kalami, where Julian Adie, poet, traveller and novelist, once lived.
In 1944 Tom Wainwright, a British soldier, arrives in the small Italian town of Petriano. When the war ends he chooses to stay in Italy, planning to build a life with the woman with whom he has fallen deeply in love, but in the chaotic, tragic fallout of the end of the Second World War his hopes are dashed.