Kirjahaku

Harper Dupree has pinned all her hopes on a future in fashion design. But when it comes crashing down around her, she returns home to Fairhope, Alabama, and to Millie, the woman who first taught her how to sew. As Harper rethinks her own future, long-hidden secrets about Millie's past are brought to light.In 1946, Millie Middleton--the daughter of an Italian man and a Black woman--boarded a train and left Charleston to keep half of her heritage hidden. She carried with her two heirloom buttons and the dream of owning a dress store. She never expected to meet a charming train jumper who changed her life forever . . . and led her yet again to a heartbreaking choice about which heritage would define her future.Now, together, Harper and Millie return to Charleston to find the man who may hold the answers they seek . . . and a chance at the dress shop they've both dreamed of. But it's not until all appears lost that they see the unexpected ways to mend what frayed between the seams.

In 1929, a spark forms between Eliza, a talented watercolorist, and William, a charming young man with a secret that could ruin her career. Their families forbid their romance because of a long-standing feud over missing heirloom silver. Still, Eliza and William's passion grows despite the barriers, causing William to deeply regret the secret he's keeping . . . but setting things right will come at a cost.In present-day Charleston, a mysterious benefactor gifts Lucy Legare an old house, along with all the secrets it holds--including enigmatic letters about an antique silver heirloom. Declan Pinckney, whom Lucy's been avoiding since their disastrous first date, is set on buying her house for his family's development company. As Lucy uncovers secrets about the house, its garden, and the silver, she becomes more determined than ever to preserve the historic Charleston property, not only for history's sake but also for her own."Clark makes a moving debut . . . . Those who enjoy inspirational time-slip stories will want to check this out."--Publishers Weekly on The Dress Shop on King Street

"Tender and true, this novel draws you in from the first page."--SUSAN MEISSNER, bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile ThingsAlice runs a New Orleans flower shop alongside her aunt, but thoughts of her mother, who went missing during Hurricane Katrina, are never far from her mind. After getting off on the wrong foot with a handsome yet irritating man who comes to her shop, Alice soon realizes their worlds overlap--and the answers they both seek can be found in the same place.In 1861 Charleston, Clara is known to be a rule follower--but the war has changed her. Unbeknownst to her father, who is heavily involved with the Confederacy, she is an abolitionist and is prepared to sacrifice everything for the cause. With assistance from a dashing Union spy, she attempts to help an enslaved woman reunite with her daughter. But things go very wrong when Clara agrees to aid the Northern cause by ferrying secret information about her father's associates.Faced with the unknown, both women will have to dig deep to let their courage bloom.Praise for Heirloom Secrets"Readers will be enchanted by Ashley's authentic portrayal of Charleston and its rich history and beautiful charm."--AMANDA DYKES, author of the 2020 Christy Book of the Year, Whose Waves These Are"This book moves seamlessly between timelines, stitching together a story of love, hope, and courage amidst prejudice and loss."--HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW

In 1929, a spark forms between talented watercolorist Eliza and William, a charming young man who has been hired to forge her popular paintings. Her aunt makes it clear Eliza should stay away from him because of a feud between their families over missing heirloom silver. But the source of the rivalry was long ago, and as the two get to know each other, they fall in love. William regrets the job that desperation led him to take and their families' ongoing bitterness, but setting things right comes at a cost.In present-day Charleston, Lucy Legare has just inherited an old house from a mysterious benefactor, along with all the secrets it holds, including an old silver heirloom. Declan Pinckney is determined to buy the house for his family's development company. But as Lucy uncovers secrets about the house, garden, and silver, she becomes more determined than ever to preserve the historic Charleston property, not only for history's sake but also for her own.

The World of Black Film is an entertaining, informed, and thought-provoking survey of important and influential Black films from around the globe, from to the early days of cinema to now. Starting with the unfinished silent film Lime Kiln Club Field Day (1913) and concluding with Steve McQueen's World War II epic Blitz (2024), the book takes readers on an exciting journey through an eclectic mix of classics and hidden gems that spans more than 100 years and thirty countries. Beautifully designed and bursting with film imagery, this book will appeal to general film fans, enthusiasts of Black cinema, educators, and students alike.Films and directors include:Black Orpheus (Marcel Camus, 1959)Black Girl (Ousmane Sembène, 1966)Hollywood Shuffle (Robert Townsend, 1987)Malcolm X (Spike Lee, 1992)Belle (Amma Asante, 2013)Timbuktu (Abderrahmane Sissako, 2015)Moonlight (Barry Jenkins, 2016)Black Panther (Ryan Coogler, 2018)Saint Omer (Alice Diop, 2022)Dahomey (Mati Diop, 2024)Blitz (Steve McQueen, 2024)

The Spelthorpe Trilogy. A delightful tale of history, romance and mystery set on the stunning Norfolk Coast in three books spanning two decades between 1932 and 1953 in a rural community called Spelthorpe. The community fiercely protects its own. In the first book we learn of a close-knit rural community with its leadership (The Spelthorpe Company) forged in the aftermath of the First World War. Local history and the lead characters' past lives are exposed by the estate's working dogs who are able to travel to other times and places. The characters work hard and play hard defending and enhancing their community, falling in love and developing a close private bond with the King and his family on the neighbouring Sandringham Estate in the build-up to the Second World War. Spelthorpe becomes a place where you will feel you should belong. You will want to go there and never leave.

The Spelthorpe Trilogy. A delightful tale of history, romance and mystery set on the stunning Norfolk Coast in three books spanning two decades between 1932 and 1953 in a rural community called Spelthorpe. The community fiercely protects its own. In this second book the children of the key families reach adulthood. With dramatic events they grow up quickly. Passions are intense and with the advent of war the Merdogs take a back seat. The Spelthope Company becomes fully involved in the war effort at home when they are devastated by personal tragedy. They come through a brutal war displaying extreme courage at Dunkirk, in the air with the RAF and in occupied France but they strive to return to Spelthorpe - a place where you will feel you should belong. You will want to go there and never leave.

The Spelthorpe Trilogy. A delightful tale of history, romance and mystery set on the stunning Norfolk Coast in three books spanning two decades between 1932 and 1953 in a rural community called Spelthorpe. The community fiercely protects its own. In this the third book, the war has ended but it is a world of extreme austerity, dashed hopes, a rising crime rate and an empire that is coming to an abrupt and painful end, whilst those returning to the Estate carry the ghosts and scars of war, separation and loss. Despite this the Spelthorpe Company remains robust and positive. It tackles crime in an unorthodox but effective way. Some members serve overseas in Palestine, Malta and Kenya whilst the strong private bond with members of the Royal family continues. Passions and romance are fulfilled. Spelthorpe remains a place where you will feel you should belong and a bastion against national difficulties. You will want to go there and never leave.

An action-packed ride through the English Civil War and its aftermath for the members of the Spelthorpe Estate which is located on the scenically stunning Norfolk coast. The Estate deals in agriculture, arms manufacturing and maritime trade. Those who belong to that community face piracy, slave traders, extremes of religious fanaticism, the judicial murder of witches and the brutality of the bloodiest of wars that divides the kingdom. They provide a safe haven for French Huguenots fleeing from persecution; an association that leads to romance. With guile, foresight and imagination, aided by the assistance of an alluring double agent at the King's court, its inhabitants courageously pursue a sinuous path to ensure the Estate’s survival and protect those they love. As the prequel to the Spelthorpe Trilogy, this novel will take the reader further back by another 300 years to provide a taste of life on the Estate and other parts of the kingdom during during these troubled times.