Showing results by author "Christie Barlow" in All Categories

Fed up with the playground mafia at her children’s school, Rachel Young is desperate for a change. With her family and various pets in tow, a picture-perfect village in the countryside beckons. There, Rachel’s children will be able to keep chickens and skip through fields and she’ll bid farewell to the botoxed, fake-Gucci wearing Mumzillas forever. But at the new school the mums are even worse, and before long, Rachel finds herself contending with a motley crew including Mrs High School Musical, The International Sex God and The Frisky Pensioner.

For the last two years Nell Andrews has been struggling to stay afloat. As her life tumbled down around her, the only safety net has been her cosy canal boat, The Nollie. Tucked away inside, Nell has found a place to heal her broken heart. And now she’s ready to move on and follow her dream.... Gorgeous Guy Cornish, with his easy Irish charm, makes him an instant hit with everyone at the marina and the perfect person to help Nell with her project. But Guy has his own reasons for being at the marina and a past that threatens to sink Nell’s dream....

After a year of country living, Rachel is finally getting into the swing of things. Her kids are happy and content at the village school, and she’s managed to navigate the choppy waters of the playground mafia. Or...so she thought. When playground mum Penelope moves herself and her kids into Rachel’s home, after discovering her husband has been having an affair, Rachel knows she must ask them politely to leave. The problem is, Penelope never takes no for an answer. As Rachel deals with Penelope, she also meets new mum Melanie.

Jack Hartwell never imagined his latest undercover mission would kick off with a storm – or lead him straight into the heart The Story Shop, a quaint bookshop on Puffin Island. Seeking refuge, he stumbles into Amelia Brown’s enchanting world of books, puffins, and an eccentric group of book club regulars. So when the enigmatic Amelia challenges Jack to read a mysterious novel The Temptation Bucket List – and to complete its challenges with her – he can’t resist.

Every Christmas Lizzie promises herself that things will change. And yet here she is again at the beginning of December, and nothing is different. Her girls have grown up and left home, her husband, Henry, is slumped in front of the TV and she is alone in the kitchen, seeking refuge in the cooking sherry and talking to her Gary Barlow calendar. She’s also been very diverted by handsome new neighbour Marcus, and she knows she shouldn’t be. So when best friend Ann suggests a weekend away in the country, Lizzie jumps at the chance.

The plan is simple: hop in her reliable camper van and cross the Channel, headed for a rendezvous with her best friend in Amsterdam. But when Verity stumbles across a decades-old postcard while preparing her cottage for its temporary tenants, her life takes an unexpected turn, and she finds herself on a ferry to Puffin Island instead. Verity’s childhood was filled with tales of adventures set on the picturesque island, but she’d always thought her beloved granny had made it all up. Now, knowing the stories and the setting were real, Verity is determined to find the postcard’s sender.

When Flick Simons returns to the cosy village of Heartcross, she only expected to stay for a few days. The white-washed cottages of Love Heart Lane might be her home, but the place holds too many painful memories, and of one man in particular—Fergus Campbell. When a winter storm sweeps in, the only bridge connecting the village to the main land is swept away. As the villagers pull together, Flick finds herself welcomed back by the friends she once left behind. And as the snow begins to melt, maybe there is a chance that Fergus’s heart will thaw too.

When Julia Coleman meets Flynn Carter again in the cosy village of Heartcross it can only mean trouble. Flynn might be rich, brooding and sexy, but Julia knows first-hand he’s ruthless, and she plans to watch his every move. When Julia discovers Flynn’s plans for beautiful Starcross Manor her greatest fears come true. Because Flynn’s dreams of turning Starcross into a luxury hotel could ruin Julia’s dreams...and finish off the community of Heartcross for good.

Clemmie Rose's great-great-grandmother's beloved clementine torte is her ticket to the prestigious Royal Baking Competition. A win could put Puffin Island's Café on the Coast on the map, land Clemmie her very own cookbook deal, and secure her a coveted invitation to a royal garden party. But when she discovers the competition is being hosted aboard the Royal Yacht by none other than her ex, Oliver Lockwood, the stakes—and the soufflés—suddenly rise, and Clemmie's bid for the Golden Whisk trophy is at risk of collapsing like an underbaked sponge.

One shocking argument and 10-year-old Alice Parker’s world was turned upside down. Her peaceful life at Honeysuckle Farm in the quiet rural village of Brook Bridge swapped for the bustling metropolis of New York City. Alice’s life was changed forever. Now, 13 years later, Alice’s American dream is over. With her life in tatters, there is only one place Alice wants to be...home at Honeysuckle Farm. So, when Alice learns her beloved Grandie is ill, she knows this is her last chance to heal the family rift.

When Kitty inherits Bluebell Lodge from her grandmother, she soon realises there’s an awful lot to learn about farming. Still, at least the locals seem friendly, not least her handsome neighbour Tom...But just as Kitty is beginning to find her feet, and the possibility of love, the discovery of a long-hidden diary by a mysterious character called Violet changes everything. Who is Violet, and what is her message for Kitty?

When her grandfather Marley passes away Grace Power discovers she’s been left the beautiful but crumbling estate of Heartcross Castle. As a single mum of three, Grace has no idea what she’s going to do with it - but who can say no to a roof over their kids’ heads and a chance to get away from past hurts? Heartcross Castle is full of secrets - especially a lost security deposit box that holds the truth to everything. But when celebrity chef Andrew Glossop sets his eyes on the castle, Grace tells him there is absolutely no chance he is getting his hands on her home.

Having narrowly avoided losing everything to her romance scammer ex, artist Delilah Waters is done with men and focused entirely on her quest to buy Puffin Island’s magical lighthouse. It’s a crucial piece of her own family’s history and the perfect space to turn into her home. But then Max Harrington walks through her door.