Showing results by narrator "Penelope Penelope Rawlins" in All Categories

When famous TV chef Matteo McLeish turns up at the Old Forge Café and offers chef Charlie Hunter a place in his kitchen for the duration of Hampden Green's local opera festival, she thinks it's because he rates her cooking skills. In fact it's because he's heard she's good in a crisis. The wholesome star of Nonna's Kitchen is being blackmailed by one of his team.

Dimpson McCabe - Dimpsie - has invited his closest friends of the theatre world to join him for Christmas at his castle on a private island some hours' drive from Edinburgh. The festivities have barely begun when Dimpsie is found draped atop the Christmas tree, electrocuted by the lights. It's labelled Accidental Death, but in the swirling snow suspicion is dancing among the flakes. The dogged Inspector Smith begins to circle, seeking to find the leading man or prima donna responsible.

When Rosa wakes one morning to find Grandma Nan missing, she must use all of her survival skills to uncover her grandma's whereabouts. With the help of the mountain community, Rosa's investigation leads her to the very summit of Big Sky Mountain, where a family of eagles are facing huge problems of their own. Through helping the eagles, Rosa realises she really is at home on Big Sky Mountain.

When newlywed Penny begins some casual wedding planning, she only wants to help women afford the big day of their dreams. But taming bridezillas turns out to be a full-time occupation, and what began as a hobby becomes a nightmare. Soon Penny is struggling to keep her day job and prevent her own marriage from collapsing: Tired, stressed, and knee-deep in ivory satin, is Penny's life and livelihood hanging by a thread?

In June 1989 Paul Du Noyer was contacted by Paul McCartney's office in London and asked to interview the star, as they had met once before and enjoyed a good rapport. In the years that followed, Paul Du Noyer continued to meet, interview and work for Paul McCartney on a regular basis, producing magazine articles, tour programmes, album liner notes, press materials and website editorial.

In her second volume of short stories, which follows the hugely successful 'Encounters', Barbara Erskine has created a compelling world of love, betrayal, suspense and grief. A biographer investigating a tragic death hears voices from the past drawing her towards the truth… A nineteenth century parson’s daughter is caught up in the excitement and romance of a smuggling intrigue… A young boy from a deprived background finds his own haven in the wastelands of the inner city…

Arriving on the windswept Ile de Ré, Tabby Dewhurst is unable to even afford a room for the night. Overhearing a villager repeating the access code to her front door, she lets herself into the house, and so she enters the strange, hidden world of Emmie, whose sudden offer of friendship is at odds with her obsession with privacy. Tabby begins to form suspicions about Emmie, suspicions that lead her to a scandal with shattering consequences.

Twenty-year-old Annie arrives on the Sicilian island of Galatea carrying nothing but grief for the father she just lost in her heart and the weight of the mystery she just inherited on her shoulders. All she knows about her grandmother is that she died in a concentration camp during World War Two. But when handsome local fisherman Salvo’s sea-blue eyes sparkle at the sight of the delicate gold band around her wrist, Annie knows she’s come to the right place.

England, 1766: Abigail is happily married to James, a tobacco trader turned sea captain, and is looking forward to starting a family and settling down in Whitehaven, deep in the Lake District. But after a series of devastating losses, she finds herself in turmoil, with her future suddenly seeming unknown…

Tamsin recently married renowned composer Robin Featherstone. Robin is much older, but Tamsin doesn’t care—she’s in love. And she knows Robin loves her too, even if he is very close to another young woman—his assistant, Mia. Meanwhile, Robin’s ex-wife and grown children aren’t happy—they’re sure Tamsin is a gold-digger and Mia is an opportunist. Then, when Robin suddenly dies, the family’s worst fears are realized: Tamsin stands to inherit everything. But when the will is read, its contents are beyond shocking.

Sarah Yates is a thirty-something history teacher, divorced, disillusioned and desperate to have more excitement in her life. Then one evening the doorbell rings and the handsome and mysterious John Needler brings more excitement than Sarah could ever have imagined. John wants Sarah to go back in time trying to make sure people find their happy endings. The question is, will she ever be able to find hers?

The rivalry between Dr Erin Monaghan and Dr Ethan Meyer is legendary in their prestigious physics lab. Each at the forefront of their opposing fields, they compete for everything: grant money, research time, government backing—and use of the office coffee machine. But it's a basic law of nature that opposites attract, and sparks fly after a science fiction magazine pairs their work and they meet online as their creative alter egos.

Frances the Royal Family Fairy makes sure all royal brothers and sisters get along well with each other. But when naughty Jack Frost steals her magical object, everything starts to fall apart! Can Kirsty and Rachel help Frances restore harmony in all royal families and their kingdoms?

When Andy's school announces a new no-uniform policy, her classmates are over the moon—but her heart sinks. All she wants is to dress like everyone else. However, her mum's the owner of a run-down kooky vintage boutique, so she's bound to look—well—different. But when Andy finds a gorgeous bag full of designer goodies in the shop's storeroom, everything changes. Can she learn to love vintage and help transform her mum's shop into something truly special?

Everything about Joe seemed perfect, and Alice was the happiest she'd ever been. Then one day Joe saw a message on her phone and discovered something that changed everything. Although it was from an old love, he ignored Alice's explanations and desperate pleas. And soon the violence and abuse began. As she attempted to prove to Joe that he really was her world, Alice gave up everything that mattered to her, including her family, her friends and her job. But still it wasn't enough.

Being married to a celebrity isn't all it's cracked up to be, especially when that celebrity has a very public affair with his co-star.... Alice McBride is determined that the one thing she won't lose in her marriage breakup is Borne Manor, her beloved home, but she gets more than she bargained for when she rents it out for the summer and a sexy cowboy comes to stay. Country music star Robinson Duff has had his own share of heartbreak and needs somewhere quiet to hide out for the summer.

Meghan's special magic looks after the magic of matrimony everywhere. But when naughty Jack Frost steals her magical triple-jewelled engagement ring (that she wears on a charm round her neck), he breaks the spell of love in both the fairy and human worlds! Couples and best friends everywhere keep falling out, and forgetting what it is they love about each other. Kirsty and Rachel must help Meghan get her ring back before the Fairyland royal wedding, and weddings everywhere, are ruined!

Virtually every industry is making lasting changes that will open doors to a more flexible working week. So how do we adjust, thrive and excel in an environment where glitchy daily video conferences are the norm? By turns fierce, funny and highly practical, Harriet Minter will show you the skills to be effective and creative during the day-to-day. Harriet breaks down how to be an inspiring and energising manager, how to create and thrive in a high-trust culture and most importantly how to achieve your ambition and propel your career forwards.

Georgie has a glamorous career in fashion. Her boss doesn't know her name, but working for a genius will pay off one day. She hopes. She also has great friends.Granted, they're sometimes a bit superficial, but who wants to discuss a global crisis on a Friday night? And she's enjoying her single life. Eighteen months of celibacy, and not a hot prospect in sight. Perhaps life's not quite what she was hoping for.... But how can she change it, and what does she really want?

Charlie Hunter does not like Christmas, especially the lead into it—cooking endless servings of Christmas dinner. So when she is asked by Graeme Strickland, Michelin-starred chef, egomaniac and friend, to help out in a hotel restaurant in Edinburgh’s New Town, for a fortnight, she accepts with alacrity. The Head Chef, David Jenkins, is a very old friend of Strickland’s, and the job entails covering temporarily for a sous chef position, while Strickland provides cover for Charlie, gratis, in the Old Forge Café.