Kirjahaku

It was 1950. Magsy O’Gara, her husband killed in the war, plodded through her daily routine as a hospital cleaner, dedicating all her spare time to Beth, her genius daughter. Pursued by men who admired her great beauty, she was determined to remain a widow. Nothing was to divert her from her gruelling schedule. Her goal was simple: Beth would become a doctor. Beth, however, wanted a normal life – a brother, a sister, a stepfather who might make her wonderful mother happy. So Beth was delighted when a personable man began to court Magsy. Across, the road at number 1, Nellie Hulme, trapped in a world of silence, watched the other two Saturday girls. Deaf since infancy, Nellie had a secret so huge that it amused her. What would folk have thought had they known her true position in life? And why did she ‘hear’ in her dreams?

Born into WW1, Dorothy has a bleak childhood under an implacable mother and a browbeaten father. Her escape is achieved just before the disastrous advent of Hitler. Here, follow her through childhood and adolescence, then on into her twenties when she wins her own battle for freedom, for love, and for her own place in the world.

Perfect for fans of Catherine Cookson, a moving and emotional saga of fierce passions set in the Lancashire cotton mills from the Sunday Times bestseller Ruth Hamilton. "Very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" - Sarah Broadhurst on Radio Four. "This book captures your heart..." - ***** Reader review."From start to finish I was gripped, full of twists and turns that keep you hooked at all times..." - ***** Reader review. Ruth Hamilton [-] excellent excellent excellent..." - ***** Reader review. ************************Can you love and hate someone in equal measure?1904. Despite their riches and wealth, the Swainbank family cannot find peace. The poor Maguires are destitute but proud. There is no love lost between the two families.When Richard Swainbank and Philly Maguire first meet, a train of overpowering love, passion, hatred and secrecy is born, which would dog the two rival families for years and years, and have far reaching consequences...

Laura Starling, now wealthy and successful, has survived a bitter past. She fled from a tyrannical mother into the clutches of a sadistic man. She endured poverty, fear and pain. Then along came Ben Starling, older, wiser, who smoothed her path and gave her love and security. But now Ben has become a stranger who has slipped beyond her reach. As her stability threatens to disintegrate once more, a thin, waif-like girl from Liverpool thrusts her way into Laura's life - a girl who is to prove a link with the past. But no one can help Laura make the decisions that will alter the course of her existence. As the September starlings gather, Laura realises she must take courage and forge her own future.

If you like Dilly Court and Catherine Cookson, you'll love this emotional and powerful story of revenge and retribution from the Sunday Times bestselling author Ruth Hamilton. "I believe that Ruth Hamilton is very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" SARAH BROADHURST, RADIO FOUR"Probably the most moving story I have ever read" -- **** Reader review"A fantastic read" -- ***** Reader review"Wonderful author" -- ***** Reader review"Loved it" -- ***** Reader review*****************************************************************************SHE'S VOWED TO TAKE REVENGE, NO MATTER WHAT THE COST...When Bernard Walsh moves his family from Bolton to Liverpool he does not expect the past to pursue him. But Theresa Nolan, consumptive and angry, is bent on revenge and settles within three miles of Bernard's new home, wreaking havoc from the Mersey to the moorlands of Lancashire.Meanwhile, against a backdrop of dissent and violence, two young girls, separated by fate but bound by blood, begin to wend their often troubled way towards the tranquility and comradeship of the Corner House. What does the future hold in store?

In the shadow of the Althorpe mills, the Myrtle Street residents endure cramped and often verminous conditions. Joe Duffy, a Bolton tradesman, strives to lift his family out of the 'garden' streets.

At eighteen Jennifer Crawley led a strange and lonely life - her days in the spinning room of the cotton mill, her nights with possessive - and slightly mad - Aunt Mavis. Jenny didn't even know who her parents were. Aunt Mavis never spoke of them.Then came the chance to better herself - to work as a servant at Skipton Hall. And there Jenny found a household as dangerous and weird as the one she had left behind. Mrs Sloane, the terrifying housekeeper, was as cruel as she was ugly, taking pleasure in bullying and frightening the young maids. Henry Skipton was an embittered, solitary man who took care never to see his invalid wife. And Eloise Skipton lay bed-ridden, a beautiful woman in a beautiful room, feeding on hatred and plotting vengeance on the man she had married. When she first set eyes on young Jenny, she realised she had found the perfect weapon for revenge.But Jenny, for the first time in her life, had a friend. Maria Hesketh, a gutsy, talented Liverpudlian, her character as fiery as her hair, was determined that she and Jenny would make something of their lives, would succeed in spite of everything.

The people of Lancashire called him Billy London, although that wasn't his real name. But he came from London's East End and settled in the north, a mean, dark, secretive man who was interested only in lining his pockets at the expense of those around him - most especially his wife and daughters.

Lose yourself in this intelligent and emotional novel with a darker edge and the superb characterisation we've come to expect from Sunday Times bestselling author Ruth Hamilton. Fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox won't be disappointed.'Very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well' - Sarah Broadhurst on Radio Four'A fantastic read but not a surprise. Ruth Hamilton books are first class.' -- ***** Reader review'I have read all of Ruth Hamilton books and for me this is one of her best.' -- ***** Reader review'Great story. Ruth Hamilton is a wonderful story teller. I will buy all that she writes.' -- ***** Reader review'Brilliant read, Ruth Hamilton at her best.' -- ***** Reader review****************************************************TRAGEDY FOLLOWS HONORIA WEST, BUT WHO CAN STOP HER...The West Family at Moortop Farm should have led settled and happy lives. They were affluent, had a superb old farmhouse, and were blessed with three daughters, Hyacinth, Hilda - and Honoria. But even from childhood Honoria cast a pall of fear and suspicion over the family.Violent and unpleasant things happened and although they were dismissed as accidents, both Honoria's parents and her older sister, Hyacinth, became increasingly alarmed.As the years passed, Honoria's worst excesses were concealed from the world, but even so, in her new life in Liverpool, her evil affected those about her.But it was April, frail and struggling against a serious illness, who was to be the one to finally destroy Miss Honoria West.Rich in character and action, Ruth Hamilton's gritty and masterful writing builds to a resounding and powerful climax in yet another unforgettable novel.

This captivating and moving saga full of twists and turns by the Sunday Times bestselling author Ruth Hamilton is perfect for fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox. "I believe that Ruth Hamilton is very much the successor to Catherine Cookson. Her books are plot driven, they just rip along; laughs, weeps, love, they've got the lot, and they're quality writing as well" -- SARAH BROADHURST, RADIO FOUR"Keeps you hooked to the last page" -- ***** Reader review"A wonderful story" -- ***** Reader review"Brilliant as always" -- ***** Reader review**********************************************************THE PAST AND PRESENT ARE ABOUT TO MEET IN TRAGEDYThe Chandlers had been making candles in Bolton for five hundred years, and had given their name to the village of Chandlers Green. The dynasty, now in decline and ruled by Richard Chandler, is reduced to an unhappy household and a few tenanted properties.But Richard continues to behave as though he were lord of the manor. Jean, his wife, is terrified of him; his grown-up children despise him, but fear for their mother if they were to leave home. And now Richard's arch-enemy, Alf Martindale, is planning to move into his village, and Richard knows that the past is catching up with him fast. A crisis forces him to leave his manor for a while, and he has no way of knowing that Jean is arming herself against his return. The past and the present are about to come together in a way that can only end in tragedy...

Surely, she would argue to her friend Amy, believing in God should be all about love and forgiveness, not hatred?But Amy has been brought up to believe that mixing with other religions results in eternal damnation, and when Maddy becomes friendly with George, the good-looking Jewish boy who lives nearby, Amy fears the worst.

When Matthew's beloved wife Molly died, long before her time, her son Mark grieved as much as anyone. Since he was a small boy his mother had been sickening with the illness that eventually carried her off, and now at the age of sixteen Mark longed to earn his father's respect by assisting with the family business, a prosperous antiques shop.

Eccentricity is the family byword for the Compton-Milnes The Compton-Milnes are eccentric, to say the least. A marriage between Gus, a reclusive but brilliant professor, and Lisa, a promiscuous cosmetic surgery addict, has produced Ben, an OCD-riddled genius, and his self-sacrificing sister Harriet, while Gus's acerbic invalid mother rules over them all from her attic throne room. But when Lisa's lover turns on her, the family must pull together to survive . . .

In 1930, Bridget O’Brien, a young widow with two children, fled her brutal and bigoted father and headed for Liverpool and an arranged marriage with a man she had never met. Her destination, the famous Scotland Road, was noisome and terrifying and a far cry from the clean air and flowing rivers of the only country she had known, Ireland. When she met her middle-aged bridegroom, Sam Bell, whose twin sons were older than she was, her sense of isolation only increased. Anthony, one of her so-called stepsons, also held out the strong hand of friendship, but Liam, the favourite of his father, had the power to terrify her. Liam was cold, compelling, mysterious and antagonistic. He was also a priest.

Scotland Road would never be the same . . . In 1955 the residents of Scotland Road fear for their futures when government plans threaten to demolish their street and tear apart their community. Polly's Parlour cafe is the centre for resistance, where strategies are formed to fight back. But when local priest Father Brennan attacks little Billy Blunt, minds are instead turned to vengeance. Frank Charleson, business entrepreneur turned local hero after saving Billy's life, finds himself increasingly fond of Polly Kennedy. But his past won't leave him. After his mother's harsh behaviour towards his previous wife, can he put Polly through the same? Polly has a hard enough life as it is. With her work in the cafe and her beloved twin brother to care for, she has all but given up on having a family of her own. But can Frank provide the support she needs? And is Polly strong enough to keep their community together?

What possible connections might exist between an aged man who used to sell shoes, some ladies of the night, three abused schoolboys, two nuns, two police officers, a philanthropist, a serial killer, a drugs cartel, Lime Street Station and a mansion in Southport in whose grounds donkeys and horses are kept?The answer lies in love, friendship and the determination to endure all the way to the winning post.Eve, owner and madam at Meadowbank Farm, is keen to secure a deal that keeps her in pocket and her clients happy. But is she a match for Babs, a 'Baby Girl' in this house of ill repute? Babs has her own agenda, and in order to fulfil her dream of a decent life, she must first overcome Madam Eve.Meanwhile, a deranged killer walks the Dock Road. 'Inspired' by a vision, he seeks to clean up Liverpool. When he finds Eve's farm, he plans to cast his net on what promises to be a great catch.

The moving and emotional final novel from bestselling author Ruth Hamilton.In Ruth Hamilton’s For the Love of Liverpool, Kate Owen is a woman fleeing from the past. Leaving a rewarding job in London, she’s uprooted her life and given away her daughter to keep them both safe. Damaged from a traumatic event that broke her family apart, she attempts to find peace in the city she now calls home: Liverpool. It’s there she meets the seemingly eligible Alex Price, who offers her a glimpse of a happy future she thought could never exist. But there are those in London who can never forget what she did and, worse, believe she holds the key to the unfinished business she left behind in the capital. They intend to track her down by whatever means necessary and until they’re gone she will never find peace and be reunited with her daughter.Growing closer to Alex, the layers of their lives are peeled away and Kate realizes he is also hurting from painful memories and might well be as damaged as her. Will they ever find happiness together in Liverpool? Or will the past forever haunt them?

Agnes Makepeace has always been courageous and strong-minded and on the surface, she couldn’t be more unlike the chilly, reserved Helen Spencer. Agnes knows there is a mystery to her own background and is determined to discover the truth about her past. She believes the key to unlock the secret is held with husband’s employer, Judge Zachary Spencer of Lambert House - a mean-spirited widower and solitary man. Judge Spencer has long neglected his daughter, Helen and notices her even less when he takes a new wife. But he has underestimated both the extent of his daughter’s misery and her determination to enact her revenge. Helen’s new-found confidence causes her to behave in a way that will have a lasting, and shocking impact on both families and, surprisingly, leads to a lifelong friendship with Agnes. Yet it is only when the broodingly silent house on Skirlaugh Rise ceases to hold its breath and deliver the answers that Agnes has been seeking that she can finally find the peace of mind she has always longed for.

The O'Neils, who have lost brothers and sons into the bowels of London's East End, keep watch over their one remaining young male, a boy named Seamus. Hardworking and good-hearted, they cling together and help each other, and a whole community.Meanwhile, Rosh Allen mourns the loss of Phil, her dearly-beloved husband. Aided and impeded by her mother, Anna, she struggles to raise three fatherless children. With the help of a kind-hearted neighbour, her wounds begin to heal, and she begins to take the first faltering steps into 'normality'.Tess and Don Compton are on the verge of separation. An apparently greedy and selfish woman, Tess wants a semi-detached house, and all her own way. But what really lies behind her desire to live on the posh side of the street.Behind the three families, two men are at work. One will do serious damage; the other will reunite a clan that goes all the way back to Ireland and to ancestors thrown ashore from the ships of the Spanish Armada.Brilliant storytelling that is perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries' The Four Streets or Maureen Lee.

In 1920 the Burton-Masseys lost their home, Pendleton Grange, their lands and several businesses in the heart of Bolton, including Massey’s Yort. Reduced to a life of hardship, Alex Burton-Massey’s widow and daughters took refuge in Caldwell Farm, all that was left of their former wealth. James Mulligan was the man who now owned their lands, and Massey’s Yort quickly became known as Mulligan’s Yard. He was a silent, brooding character whose manners teetered on the brink of rudeness, but in spite of this, many women found him attractive. Who was he? Did he hide a dark secret in the cellars of Pendleton Grange? And why did he involve himself so deeply in the lives of the Burton-Massey girls?