Showing results by narrator "Lynne Thompson" in All Categories

Raised by an unloving mother and sadistic father, Cindy is nonetheless a fairly happy child because she loves her younger sister Ani unreservedly. The two children spend many happy hours together until suddenly finding themselves thrust into a children's home, deserted by both parents. This is bad enough, but there is worse to come when Ani is adopted, leaving Cindy, barely 11 years old, utterly distraught. Back in 1957, there seemed to be little sympathy and it's scarcely surprising that Cindy then struggles at school before running away to London as soon as she reaches 16.

As young Lord Hadley and his companion Edward Dudley travel along a dark, coastal road, they encounter a young girl pinioned by a fallen wall. They rescue her and alert her father, stationed on the cliff-top, apparently watching for something or someone, before continuing their journey to the home of Sir Arthur Adelon. What was the girl doing out alone at night? What was her father's business on the cliff? Who is the sinister-looking stranger that young Edgar Adelon spots at the home of his beloved? And does Dudley have a chance with the beautiful heiress Eda, or have her affections been won by his wealthy patron?

On his third tour of duty in Afghanistan, Lt. Col. Bev King signs up for the parcel service. He likes the contact from home, appreciates the generosity and thoughtfulness of his benefactor, and is intrigued by this woman who lives in the same town as his grandmother. Jude Travis loves sending care packages to servicemen and is thrilled when "her squaddie" replies. A rapid letter exchange follows, and when he comes home on R&R, they meet. But Jude is being stalked, and Bev might just get snagged in the crossfire.

Price Ruyler has been sent to San Francisco from New York to salvage the family business after the 1906 earthquake. His success makes him one of the city's most eligible bachelors but he resists the machinations of the local girls (and their mothers). Then he meets the beautiful and captivating Helene. He proposes within a week. Into the fourth year of their marriage, he realizes something has changed. He still loves his wife and he believes she loves him but he begins to wonder about her mysterious past and questions whether family secrets were buried in the rubble left by the earthquake.

We find Rachel a dressmaker in a poor neighborhood in London, living with her stepmother and two apprentices. Unloved and lonely, she loses herself in contemplation of God, charity, and the beauty of life; but her daydreaming has led to the reputation of being "slow" or "dim-witted", and she is despised by all except Richard Jones, the father of one of the apprentices.

Widow Sandra Harriman fights to protect a wildlife sanctuary from poachers, armed gangs, and business rivals. Sandra feels like an ant in one of these traps as she fights to protect the Wildlife Conservation Scheme left in her care for her two step-children. Nothing has equipped her for the role of widow, step-mother, and estate manager. She faces a struggle to deal with armed gangs, poachers, and a murderer on the ranch. But hardest of all is unravelling her dead husband's secrets to find out who she can trust.

"Brother Jacob" is a short story by George Eliot in which she explores the relationship between the selfish, self-centered, and ambitious David Faux and his simple-hearted and naif brother, Jacob.

In this sequel to Katharine Lauderdale, Katharine has married Jack Ralston secretly and hoped to force her rich uncle's hand in assisting him to find a career. After his refusal, she couldn't face her new husband to break the news, and a series of mishaps led everyone - Katharine included - to believe Jack had fallen victim to the demon he had been fighting: drink.

The work place is volatile and the volcano is restless… Jael Stevens questions her decisions after she ignores her brother’s warnings and takes a sabbatical to work as a nurse on the volcanic island Tiampu. The position isn’t what she imagined. Long hours, difficult working conditions, and frequent rumblings from the nearby mountain are only made bearable by the joy of helping others and a certain set-in-his-ways pilot. Micah Norris has dedicated his life to God and is more than content with his permanent bachelor status.

Originally published in two volumes, Katharine Lauderdale tells the tale of a would-be New York society belle, if it were not for her miserly father. Her older sister has escaped the unhappy parental home by marrying and Katharine plans to do the same, but her father has already refused to sanction her nuptials with her cousin and childhood sweetheart, Jack Ralston. Desperate measures are needed and what role will rich Uncle Robert play in the future of the young people? How will the young couple's defiance of family and society affect their future life together?

After a disastrous scandal and loss at the Australian Open, Gemma Lemmon is now laser-focused on winning the French Open. Nothing, and no one, will derail her shot at winning until a heated chance encounter with brilliant and sexy Andre Reyes threatens to throw her off her game.

This detective story set at the World's Fair follows Carl Masters as he is in pursuit of international criminals Greenback Bob and Delbras. Conmen, lost handbags, jewel robberies, an adventuress...not to mention two missing young men and a murder, all come under the detective's eye.

Alyssa adores her new job as a schoolteacher, even though it is not in one of London’s best areas. Young and idealistic, she visualises making a big difference to the lives of the children in her class. But it doesn’t prove as easy as she hoped, especially when 10-year-old Lucy arrives from Australia. And the girl’s father, Mark, proves even more of a challenge. Arrogant, difficult, opinionated, complicated - these are adjectives she would definitely use to describe him. And yet he is also mesmerising and visually attractive.

It is the last quarter of the eighteenth century and a young woman discovers the body of her murdered father. In her grief, she tries to make sense of why this sweet man, beloved by all, was struck down and, unlike her mother, is unable to put the incident behind her and return to society. Her lack of interest in romance, the theater and parties convinces her mother and a family friend that Barbara is sinking into madness. But Barbara is determined to uncover her father's murderer at any cost. Could the perpetrator have been her childhood friend, a man for whom her feelings are confused? And is Barbara really mad, or does the madness belong to another?

Standing on the cliff high above the spectacular arch known as Durdle Door, Detective Constable Jacque Williams contemplates the momentous decision which will take her from her beloved Dorset to the bustling noise and lawlessness of London. She knows the challenge will be huge as she becomes part of the Metropolitan police force, but has no idea of the tests and trials lying ahead. On her very first morning, Jacque falls foul of her boss, the frosty and efficient Detective Inspector Rhys Byrne, but it isn't long before she develops feelings for him despite an insurmountable problem.

Dawn Stannis has little time for anything besides teaching, never mind organizing a careers fayre for the year nines - but by God's grace, she's able to book popular actor Gabriel Tyler. Score one for Dawn! His Hollywood playboy reputation might be the epitome of everything Dawn resists, but at least her event will be well-attended. After his father’s unexpected death, Gabriel Tyler becomes the eighth Earl of Elton a lot sooner than he expected. Now, his mother, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, is insisting he give up acting so he can play lord of the manor and produce heirs.

Forced into hiding after witnessing her fiancé commit murder, artist Faith Chadwick finds her own faith lagging. Best-selling author Joel Wallac is on death watch. His son is dying, and Joel can only sit helpless in the hospital room. As grief overwhelms him, he employs Faith to help him bring a storybook to life for his son, and they begin to forge a relationship. Witnessing Joel’s steadfast belief in God spurs Faith’s own wobbling faith, but when she is threatened once again, the police insist Faith needs to leave the area. Joel convinces her to accompany him on his book tour.

Adam West, a high powered lawyer, gets the shock of his life when he arrives to meet a new client. She’s the wife he hasn’t seen since they separated 10 years ago. Sam Reece doesn’t need the added complication of working with the husband who abandoned her a decade ago. She’s tried hard to put her failed marriage behind her, going back to her maiden name even though they never got divorced. The situation is bad enough as it is, but it seems Adam is the only person who can help.

Given a week’s notice in her current job, Eden Jameson is desperately looking for something new. Being a nanny for her widowed best friend, Hanna, is the ideal solution to both their problems. David Painter has other ideas. Having a stranger in the house - even if she is his sister's best friend - could ruin everything he’s worked so long to achieve. He needs to get rid of this nanny and fast. When Hanna dies unexpectedly, the reading of the will is a shock.

Vicar of a church in beautiful Cornwall, widower William has two daughters: Fiona, confident and willful; Lara, more introverted and very much his darling. During the glorious summer months of 1972, they both meet men who will play an important part in their lives for years to come. The innocent Lara is bowled over by man of the world Sean, while Fiona falls in love with firefighter Philip, but both girls will discover flaws in the men’s characters, causing winter tears.