Emma Powell

Eight years have passed since the young Princess Bitterblue, and her country, were saved from the vicious King Leck. Now Bitterblue is the queen of Monsea, and her land is at peace.

But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisers, who have run the country on her behalf since Leck's death, believe in a forward-thinking plan: to pardon all of those who committed terrible acts during Leck's reign; and to forget every dark event that ever happened. Monsea's past has become shrouded in mystery, and it's only when Bitterblue begins sneaking out of her castle - curious, disguised and alone - to walk the streets of her own city, that she begins to realise the truth.

Meg is definitely not in the Christmas mood. She's never gone in for tinsel, baubles and mistletoe, and right now she's still getting over an illness. Yet when she's invited to spend the run-up to Christmas in the snowy countryside, rather than dreary London, she can't refuse.  Arriving at a warm and cosy family home in a small hilltop village, Meg soon begins to wonder what a proper Christmas might be like. But just as she's beginning to settle in, she spots a familiar face. Lex. Despite the festive cheer, Meg suddenly wants nothing more than to get as far away from him, and their past secrets, as she can. But if she stays, could this be the year she finally discovers the magic of Christmas...? 

During a summer of oppressive heat in Herefordshire's hop-growing country, a converted kiln is the scene of a savage murder. When the local vicar refuses to deal with its aftermath, diocesan exorcist Merrily Watkins is sent out to a village with a past as twisted as the hop-bines which once enclosed it. She is soon drawn into a deadly tangle of deceit, corruption and sexual menace.

In Karlstad, nine-month-old Beatrice is missing from her pram. Her parents are in shock and the media is in a frenzy.

DI Charlie Lager is struggling with her own demons when she's called to investigate, forced to push them aside as the case intensifies.

As lead after lead goes nowhere, Charlie starts to feel like nobody actually wants the truth to come out about Beatrice as reluctant locals shut down in the face of her questions. And with each passing hour, the chance of finding Beatrice alive becomes less and less likely...

After the death of her father, El moves into his home just outside Tavistock in Devon. Fresh out of university and dangling on the precipice of adulthood she questions what it is she really wants from life. Although her childhood friend, Will, is there to help her through her grief she soon realises there were things her father was hiding from her...

Jules is also mourning Martin, but they thought best to keep their relationship secret, she must now grieve entirely alone. All she has to remember her love are the memories of their time spent at a beautiful community garden and teashop nearby. The Garden House is where they met, fell in love and where their secret affair will inevitably be uncovered. 

Dartmoor, 1875. Rose Maddiford, beautiful, vivacious and intelligent, could have her pick of men across Dartmoor. But she is in no hurry to marry unless it is for true love - and certainly not while she can help her father manage the Cherrybrook Gunpowder Mills. Then tragedy strikes. Rose’s father is injured by an explosion at the mill, and the family is left teetering on the edge of poverty. Rose is left with just two options: accept arrogant, controlling Charles Chadwicks’ proposal and move to London or let her family perish. Rose must choose duty over love. As Rose dives into her new life, she turns her attention to the plight of prisoners held in Dartmoor Prison and discovers new passion and new injustice as she forges a friendship with a wrongly convicted man. Can Rose find justice? As the situation builds to a heart-rending climax, Rose soon discovers what terrible acts jealousy can spur.

At the end of the row of fishermen's cottages by the harbour's edge, stands an old granite house. First it belonged to Ned's parents; then Ned dropped anchor here after a life at sea and called it home. His nephew Hugo moved in too, swapping London for the small Cornish fishing village where he'd spent so many happy holidays. It's a refuge - and now other friends and relations are being drawn to the the house by the sea.

Among them is Dossie, who's lonely after her parents died and her son remarried. And cousin Jamie, who's coming home after more than a year, since his career as an RAF pilot was abruptly cut short. Both have to adjust to a new way of life. As newcomers arrive and old friends reunite, secrets are uncovered, relationships are forged and tested, and romance is kindled. For those who come here find that the house by the harbour wall offers a warm welcome, and - despite its situation at the very end of the village - a new beginning...

In an attempt to resuscitate her twenty-five-year-old marriage, aerophobic Gillian Dobson knocks down a few tranquilisers and takes a dreaded flight to the Sicilian Island of Lipari to surprise her husband, away on a business trip. But her troubles are just about to begin... 

After her husband dies, Cara no longer wishes to live in their London home. On impulse, she sells it and goes to stay with her brother in Salcombe, Devon. There, she begins to look back at her life and reflect on the choices that have led her to this moment. 

Cosmo has also escaped - temporarily - from his life in the city, finding the south-west a relaxing and appealing fit, especially when he meets local girl, Amy. But is he being entirely truthful about what he's left behind?

Just out of uni, Sam has passed the Admiralty Interview Board and is set to follow in his naval father's footsteps. His future is secure - but he feels cast adrift. With doubts and loosening family connections worrying him, an impartial new friend could be just the thing he needs.

There's no shortage of advice out there on how to train for a marathon and yet it can be hard to know what will work best for you. Choose from six training plans, each pitched at a different level of mileage, intensity and experience. The plans are backed up by a wealth of essential information and advice on how to train, race, eat and recover.

Learn how to: - assess yourself and set a realistic goal - adjust your diet to optimise training and recovery - get your brain onside to resist fatigue and overcome discomfort - stay healthy during training and respond to injuries - master the skill of racing. 

Margate, 1884. When seventeen-year-old Hannah Bentley fled the family home, she never dreamed she'd find her feet working as a nurse on the children's ward at the Royal Sea Bathing Infirmary. She adores her patients and the sea air, and looks forward to a time when she'll have put away enough money so her younger sister can join her. But when her sister suddenly turns up unannounced, she brings more trouble than Hannah bargained for. As Hannah is forced to risk everything to keep her sister out of trouble, she must somehow find the strength to save herself too…

Busy mum of twins Liv is looking forward to a week at the Beach Hut in Devon, even if she feels that something's not right between her and Matt. She's sure he's just too busy at work to join them on their summer holiday, not that he wants time alone… Baz loves having his family to stay by the sea, but when an unexpected guest arrives, he finds himself torn between the past and the future… Still reeling from a break-up, all Sofia wants is a quiet summer - until she meets Baz and her plans are turned upside down. She knows she's rushing into things, but could this week at the Beach Hut be the start of something new? And back home, Matt might be missing Liv and the children, but when an old friend appears he finds himself distracted... As tensions rise over seven days in summer, the lives of the holidaymakers begin to take an unexpected turn…

Childhood friends and cousins Leo and Alice had imagined their whole lives playing out on their beloved Devon beach. But one night when they are teens, sitting on the sand beneath the stars, Alice tells Leo a secret that must never be shared with anybody else . . . then packs her bag and flees. Leo is left to build his own life - without Alice. He surrounds himself with other family and friends and on the whole is content and fulfilled. But he is left with a sense of what - or who - is missing. So decades later, when he receives a note from Alice asking if she can come home, he doesn't hesitate to agree. But as the stars align and their reunion draws near, Leo is left to consider their separation and what so many years apart means for a relationship solidified in youth and a secret which could affect the whole family.

Coronation Day, 1953. In a Somerset village, Molly Heywood makes a shocking discovery: She finds her friend Cassie dead and her six-year-old daughter Petal missing. Molly seeks help from George, the village policeman, but no one can find Petal. The only clue is a letter from London, where Cassie once lived. Molly resolves to go to London, but is she risking her life?