Showing results by narrator "Tamaryn Payne" in All Categories

The heroine of Tolstoy's epic of love and self-destruction, Anna Karenina has beauty, wealth, popularity and an adored son, but feels that her life is empty until she encounters the impetuous officer Count Vronsky. Their subsequent affair scandalises society and family alike, and brings jealousy and bitterness in its wake. Contrasting with this is the vividly observed story of Levin, a man striving to find contentment and a meaning to his life - and also a self-portrait of Tolstoy himself.

Welcome to Italy. A place that holds the answer to Zia-Lucia Costa Chalmers’ many questions. Not least, how she ended up with such a mouthful of a name. When Zia discovers that her mother wasn’t who she thought she was, she realises the time has come to search out the Italian family she’s never known. However, as she delves into the secrets of her past, she doesn’t bargain on having to think about her future, too. But with local vineyard owner, Piero, living next door, Zia knows she has a serious distraction who may prove difficult to ignore.

Bletchley Park, 1942. When teacher Hana Phillips is unexpectedly recruited to Bletchley Park she's determined to do her bit for the war effort. A talented linguist, she's soon put to work cracking Japanese naval codes and her newfound talents make her confidence soar, even as her work puts pressure on her already fracturing marriage. Then Hana is tasked with a secret mission. There is a mole in her team, sharing secrets with the enemy, and Hana must search them out.

Join Winnie-the-Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet, Tigger, and all their forest friends in this classic tale of friendship, adventure, and childhood imagination. Follow this beloved group on their journeys into the Hundred Acre Wood as they face their fears, help those in need, and find delightfully humorous ways to solve all kinds of twisty and tangled troubles. Learn along the way the importance of loyalty, care, kindness, and understanding what makes each friend so uniquely lovable.

A classic children’s fantasy tale and a major inspiration for The Lord of the Rings, this story chronicles the endeavors, struggles, and triumphs of the beautiful, brave, and kind Princess Irene. Written originally as a serial, this charming adventure never has a dull moment. From magic and secrets to mazes and monsters, Princess Irene and her companions must stay focused, stay true, and stay alert to the forces that seek to do them, and her kingdom, harm.

Dive into George MacDonald’s journey with Princess Irene through secret mazes, epic battles, and beautiful relationships as the insightful words of Jonathan St. John illuminate the many Christian themes, motifs, and character arcs in this beloved tale.

Creative, delightful, moving, and full of real truth, this sequel to The Princess and the Goblin is a must hear for all ages. Join Curdie as he is called to a higher purpose that leads to a journey to save the kingdom. His path becomes one full of sacrifice, valuable lessons, and thrilling adventures. With disguises, lies, and illnesses covering allies and foe alike, Curdie and his trusted companions must learn to look beyond what they can see to find the true core and heart of their kingdom and those who serve it.

After the loss of Wesley and the horrifying reveal that Zekia is helping the Kingpin of her own free will, Tavia, Saxony, and Karam flee to Saxony's home to rebuild their rebellion. Meanwhile, trapped in the Kingpin's darkness, Wesley must fight against the deadly magic that invades his mind and find a way back to his friends before it's too late. As the Kingpin's dark magic spreads and his army conquers Creije, these four unlikely friends have to decide just how far they’ll go - and how much they are willing to sacrifice - to win.

The streets of Creije are for the deadly and the dreamers, and four crooks in particular know just how much magic they need up their sleeve to survive. Tavia, a busker ready to pack up her dark-magic wares and turn her back on Creije for good. She’ll do anything to put her crimes behind her. Wesley, the closest thing Creije has to a gangster. After growing up on streets hungry enough to swallow the weak whole, he won’t stop until he has brought the entire realm to kneel before him.

Two rooms all to themselves⁠—it was almost too good to be true! For this was postwar Germany, filled with starving, homeless people trying to stay alive amidst the rubble, and to the Lechows the two freezing attic rooms in Mrs. Verduz’ house on Parsley Street were an unbelievable stroke of luck. No matter that every stick of furniture and even the cracked dishes were borrowed from a grudging but kind landlady, that food was so scarce they were nearly always hungry, that Matthias, loving the stars and growing things, was assigned to construction work by the Labor Office.

Follow the journey of little orphan Mary Lennox and her charming friends now paired with the beautiful thoughts, prayers, and devotions of author Rachel Dodge. A one-of-a-kind experience, this combination brings you the original words of Francis Hodgson Burnett’s delightful tale, interwoven with a charming chapter-by-chapter companion guide that illuminates themes of God’s love, wisdom, and guidance in this classic story. With scriptures, reflections, and sound advice, explore The Secret Garden narrated alongside The Secret Garden Devotional.

This classic and moving story shines light on the supernatural powers of genuine love. Margery Williams beautifully portrays the desire to be fully known and fully loved as the thing that makes one feel most real. The little toy rabbit, forgotten and aging, learns he can only truly experience life through the love of a child. After finally feeling the joys of a child’s love, the poor rabbit once again faces a hopeless future as the fear of being forgotten seems a likely fate.

A heartwarming classic tale that has been enjoyed by generations of children and adults alike, Heidi tells the story of a young orphan whose innocent and boundless love transforms the lives of all she encounters. Having to adapt to new and uncomfortable surroundings more often than most by her age, Heidi finds joy in the mundane, beauty in the outcasts, and hope in the most dismal of situations.

In this heartfelt, thought-provoking and often hilarious book, Lottie Jackson reflects on her experiences of living with disability: from the pitfalls of going shopping on a mobility scooter, and the headache of defining oneself on a tick-box form, to a slapstick scuffle with the so-called 'easy-pull' tights aid, and the intense pleasure of finally swapping a hospital gown for a slinky dress. Lottie captivatingly expresses the raw vulnerabilities, injustices and untold joys of disability, as well as the bizarre everyday occurrences that able-bodied people usually don't experience.

Told in the beautiful and charming words of Frances Hodgson Burnett, this classic children’s tale of redemption and transformation is full of so many priceless lessons. After losing both of her parents, young Mary Lennox is sent from the lively and bustling world of India to the cold and secretive manor of an aloof relative in England. On her own and with a dismal and stubborn outlook on life, little Mary learns to let people in again and to appreciate new perspectives. he also begins to see the wonders she herself is capable of, once she lets hope find space in her heart.

Daisy is determined to bring happiness into the lives of others, and as a happiness guru she has the skills to brighten everyone's day. Well, she would if her fledgling business would take off. Instead she's stuck cleaning hotel rooms for minimum wage with her best friend, Eva. But after a chance encounter with superstar celebrity, Vince Marino, Daisy's client list starts taking shape. With her career on the up, and her lodgers settled in - including Doodle, the scruffiest dog in the world - it's time for Daisy to tackle the final piece of the puzzle. Her love life.

England, 1888. Fourteen-year-old Indigo Taylor dreams of becoming a detective, which as a young child is what she thought her solicitor father was. A local murder that seems too quickly solved inspires Indigo to do some investigating of her own. The thread she finds leads to a dangerous chain of events. Meanwhile, Indigo is befriended by a group of circus artists who live a refreshingly different way of life than the stifling society in which finds herself. For fans of Sherlock Holmes, Flavia de Luce, and The Mysterious Benedict Society.

Mackie, Edele, Alex and Nat are navigating their chaotic and confusing 20s together. They have jobs and pay their own rent (well, most of them) but don't know how to bleed radiators, defrost a freezer or test the smoke alarms. With breakups to deal with and major decisions to make, life can get messy, especially when they're still trying to get the hang of this 'being a grown-up' thing. Welcome to the joys of being almost adults.

We were told to meet at a rooftop bar. Four friends, bound by one terrible secret. No one knew why we were there. Then we saw a woman, watched as she fell from the edge and plunged to her death. The police think it's suicide, but I know better. Someone is sending a message.

January 1948 began a wonderful year for the Lechows. With Father newly returned to Western Germany from a Russian prison camp, they were together again and could enjoy a measure of security and happiness in The Ark, their railroad car home on Rowan Farm. It was a year that held for sixteen-year-old Margret in particular, both joy and sorrow. She found real satisfaction in entering Mrs. Almut's Great Danes in two important shows and in raising several young animals which were her very own.