Over the years Anna has had many romantic short stories published in magazines. This is a collection of her earlier ones, which are set in both Australia and England. For each story Anna has taken readers behind the scenes, explaining the background and what gave her the idea in the first place. Did you ever dream of winning Lotto? Have you ever studied the Personal columns in the newspapers and wondered . . . ? Who would have thought a pelican could act as matchmaker? Most of the stories are modern, but ‘Kissing Emily Baker’ goes back a few decades to when Emily was a girl. The final story, ‘The Group Settler’s Wife’, is set in the 1920s in Australia. It first appeared in a short booklet of its own, but that’s out of print now. Two of the stories, ‘A Sticky Affair’ and ‘One White Rose’, led to Anna using the ideas as the basis of novels later on.

As a longstanding fan of bestselling author Jivan Childering, aspiring young novelist Jessica Lord is dismayed on encountering the man himself to find him aloof, arrogant and stand-offish. But, some months later, many thousands of miles away in Western Australia, Jessica’s path is destined to cross with Jivan’s once more – and she begins to see a different side to this talented yet reserved and private man. For his part, Jivan finds himself increasingly drawn to the unpretentious Jessica, and impressed by her single-minded determination to follow her dreams of becoming a successful writer. But following a bitter divorce, Jivan has vowed never to get romantically involved with a woman again. Can Jessica break down his emotional barriers? What’s more, Jivan’s vengeful ex-wife is determined to stop him embarking on a new relationship – and is prepared to go to any lengths to achieve her aim.

An outspoken and vivacious northern girl, Cassandra Trent is brought out by her mother's aristocratic family in London. Unlike her cousin Susannah, she's only putting up with this London season because she promised her dying mother. Sparks fly when Cassandra meets Simeon Giffard, whose mother has nagged him into proposing to Susannah. Though Cassie and Simeon argue, they are attracted. Will Susannah rebel against her engagement? Regency Romance by Anna Jacobs; originally published by Severn House as A Forbidden Embrace

Growing up in England, Meriel discovers she has a talent for art and wants to earn her living as an artist, but her mother forces her to become an accountant. She’s good at that, too, but her heart isn’t in it. When she wins some money, her lifelong dream suddenly becomes possible, and she quits her job to buy a house in country Australia where she can combine her love of the outdoors with her work as a commercial artist. In Australia, Ben has dreams, too, but they’ve been on hold in the years since his wife’s death. When he inherits some land he finds hope again, but newly-arrived Meriel buys the piece of land next to his, and it’s crucial to his plans. When they meet, sparks fly between them, but the trouble is, he enjoys his encounters with her. And she’s not indifferent to him. After she saves his life, the barriers between them start to fall, one by one. But Ben’s business partner has been cooking the books and leaving Ben in serious financial trouble. Can he find a way out of this mess or will he be dragged into bankruptcy through no fault of his own? Together, Ben and Meriel have a chance to make their dreams come true. But will one ruthless man ruin everything they’ve worked for?

“Persons of Rank do not fall in love!” declares the Dowager as she sends her niece Beatrice to London in search of a suitable husband for her granddaughter Eleanor. Shy Beatrice soon crosses every eligible man off her list, except handsome Justin Serle. Despite her own feelings for Justin, Beatrice is determined to save him for her cousin. Regency Romance by Anna Jacobs writing as Sherry-Anne Jacobs; originally published by Random House Australia

When her unfaithful husband, Craig, dies in a car accident, shortly after moving out of the family home, Laura Wells decides to leave Australia and go back to her native Lancashire to help nurse her ailing mother. After all, Laura’s two children, Ryan and Deb, are grown up now, and Deb has made it plain that she holder her mother responsible for her father’s desertion and death. Laura’s problems mount up as she looks for a job and somewhere to live. She hasn’t any references and her interview skills are poor. When she meets a man near the wishing well in the park, she finds he needs a housekeeper. It seems her wish for a job has been answered. Kit Mallinder is a former journalist, who is convalescing after a car accident and he’s still finding it hard to come to terms with a slight disability that prevents him from running or leading an active life. Laura has an uphill struggle to face as she starts to rebuild her life. Her husband’s actions have torn her family apart, and it is Laura who must summon up all her courage to resolve the problems facing herself and her children. But Kit is always there to help her. The trouble is, can she trust any man now? Dare she embark on a new relationship?

An engrossing tale of new beginnings and second chances from an ever-popular author. Miranda Fox has devoted much of her life to caring for her elderly father. After his tragic death, she starts to make plans for her future, funded by the inheritance she is sure will be coming her way, but it seems her arrogant and domineering half-brother has very different ideas . . . Then a chance encounter with a man who has been given months to live boosts Miranda’s confidence, and as their friendship grows she finally learns to stand up for herself and her dreams. Can Miranda find the happiness that she deserves?

An unexpected inheritance offers Libby Pulford the opportunity to escape her abusive marriage and return to her Lancashire roots with her young son Ned. But her domineering husband Steven won't let her go so easily. Just as she's beginning to settle into her new life, Libby's troubled past catches up with her. The one person she can turn to for help is her new neighbour, former police detective Joss Atherton, to whom Libby feels a growing attraction. But Joss has troubles of his own. In the meantime, Emily Mattison is enjoying new-found domestic happiness with her fiance Chad. The only blot on the horizon is the fact that she's been unable to make contact with the long-lost daughter she was forced to give up for adoption so many years before. People's lives are destined to intertwine in ways they could never have imagined.

It is 1860 in Bilsden, the Lancashire mill town, and Frederick Hallam is dying. But first he makes secret plans to smooth the future path for his beloved wife Annie. Her sister, Joanie, is fed up with everything until a dshing new admirer crosses her path. But a spurned suitor is determined that Joanie will be his, whatever the cost. And he is not the only one who wants to harm the Gibson family. Meanwhile the Civil War in America cuts off cotton supplies, so that times are hard in Bilsden and unemployment is rife. Annie had to rebuild her life after her husband's death and plans to create Spinners Lake, an extraordinary project that will keep her workers from destitution and assuage her own grief. Tian Gilchrist is caught up in the American war and nearly dies there. He fights his way back to Bildsen, to Annie, whom he has never forgotten. And the plans that Frederick made for Annie will change her life in unforeseen ways, bringing her hope and happiness once again...

In 1858 Annie Hallam has at last found complete happiness. She has three healthy babies and adores her husband Frederick. After years of struggling to make a living in the small Lancashire town of Bilsden, Annie knows she deserves to sit back and enjoy her life - after all, she's not yet forty, and still in her prime. But worries - at first faint clouds on the horizon - are imminent. Frederick has been looking pale and ill lately. Her brother Tom hasn't moved on after the death of his wife. Rebecca, her half-sister, is longing for something more than her work in the salon. And William, her son, isn't happy at university. In spite of Frederick's gentle urging not to take the entire burden of the Gibson family on her shoulders, Annie can't help feeling concerned. And something much more dangerous is looming - a threat not only to Annie's peace of mind, but to her life...

It's 1848 and preparations are underway for Annie Gibson's wedding to Bilsden's wealthy millwoner, Frederick Hallam. But not everyone is as pleased as they are. Frederick's daughter, Beatrice, is horrified at the prospect of a new attractive stepmother arriving at the house on Ridge Hill. Even Annie's own family feels threatened. The only person who seems pleased is Tom, Annie's brother. Soon, however, real troubles begin to pile up for the Gibsons. Tom's happiness is jeopardised by the news that he is father to a child he never knew about. Annie's son, William, is devastated to find out that his real father is not the man who brought him up. And even Annie's joy cannot last. Because someone has uncovered the secrets she has fought so hard to keep hidden...

In 1845 Annie Gibson can finally leave Salem Street. Her dreams of being able to open an elegant dressmaking salon in the High Street of Bilsden, a Lancashire mill town, have come true. And she is going to take her father and his second family with her, away from poverty, away from the Rows. But Annie has not left trouble behind. Someone is trying to undermine her business. Her family have their own ideas about what they want to do with their lives. And several men are persistently trying to win favour with the beautiful young widow - including Frederick Hallam, the mill owner, and Daniel O'Connor, her childhood friend. As Annie gets better acquainted with both, she becomes increasingly confused about her feelings. Can she really be in love And can she risk trusting any man again

In 1820 Salem Street is sparkling and new: eight small terraced houses built by a Lancashire mill owner for his best workers. Annie Gibson's family is one of the first to move in - a step up in the world for them. But when her mother dies, Annie's happy childhood ends and she is left to bring up her brother and sister. Red-haired, intelligent and startlingly pretty, Annie soon finds herself banished from home by a jealous stepmother. She finds work in the local doctor's household where she learns about the fascinating world outside Salem Street. And when her adored childhood friend Matt asks her to marry him, Annie thikns her dreams are coming true. But suddenly everything turns upside-down. Abandoned and pregant, Annie returns to Salem Street, where an unexpected offer gives her independence. One day, she vows, she will move into the wider world again. One day...

Kirsty has inherited a vineyard in Western Australia from Ed James, a lonely old man she befriended at the library. But there is a condition to his legacy. She must give up her quiet life in England and live at the vineyard for a least one year. How will a shy librarian cope on her own in a strange country? And Ed, a skilled matchmaker, has also suggested Kirsty consider marrying her new neighbour, Sam. This is going too far. She has no plans to marry again, thank you very much. Neither has Sam. But one thing is certain, Kirsty’s move to Australia will change her life for ever.

When Megan meets Ben Saunders, she’s very attracted and he seems the same, but she didn’t expect him to propose almost immediately. It’d be like marrying a stranger. Only, how can she refuse when they get on so well and he has to go to Australia in a week? Can they make this sudden marriage work?

When novelist Sophie Carr finds pop star Jez Winter hiding in her garden from a group of paparazzi, she hides him in her house. She’s loved his music for years and knows what a tough time he’s had lately. Life’s not been easy for Sophie, either, losing her husband and having difficulties with her daughter Andi, who is heavily into recreational drugs since her father’s death. Sophie has another secret which makes her wary of getting involved with Jez, but when he buys the house next door, she can’t avoid him. Nor does she want to, because attraction keeps flaring between them, and in spite of his two failed marriages, she somehow trusts him. But his son and grandchildren are in trouble, and there is one journalist who holds a grudge against Jez. Can the two of them overcome these problems or will life tear them apart?

Lizzie Kershaw is an independent spirit; ever since her father's death she has had to be a survivor. She makes an ill-advised marriage in order to escape her harsh home life. However, she quickly discovers that she has married a selfish and violent man. His beatings are ceaseless and she finds herself compelled to run away. With the help of some suffragettes, she escapes to Manchester, where she finds work in a munitions factory for a while. Sam manages to find her and drags her home. It is only when his violence causes her to lose their unborn baby that Lizzie really finds the strength to make things change, and to find happiness with a man who loves her.

When Emily Mattison falls victim to a near-fatal accident shortly after receiving an unexpected inheritance from a distant cousin, her ruthless nephew George seizes the opportunity to take control of his aunt’s assets. It’s only when Emily reaches The Drover’s Hope, the former pub on the edge of the Lancashire moors, bequeathed to her by her late cousin Penelope, that she begins to feel safe. She also discovers that love can be found in the most unexpected places. But it’s not so easy to escape the clutches of someone as determined as George . . .

Meet the Corrigans. Childless Maeve, though rich and successful, is dying of cancer. She wants to leave her business empire to one of the offspring of her two estranged brothers, Des and Leo. But which young relative should she choose? Des has four children. His second wife Judith has just left him and he is overstretched financially. Leo unambitious owner of a hardware store in a remote Australian town has two children. His daughter, suffering from ME defies him to accept her Aunt’s invitation to be treated in England. Judith has met another man. But Cal has fund out that he’s not the biological father of his beloved daughter and his ex-wife wants to take Lily away from him. As the younger generation begin to gather around Maeve, old secrets are revealed, new allegiances made, and there are surprises for every member of the family - because the Corrigan legacy isn’t what it first seems.

Germany 1939, and Christa Sommer boards the Kindertransport, unsure that she'll ever see her beloved mother and father again. Once in England she is taken in by elderly Mrs Pelling, who grows to love Christa as the daughter she never had. But in 1945 Mrs Pelling dies. While her will cannot be found, her money-grabbing niece appears out of the blue to claim her inheritance and turfs Christa out, with only a suitcase to her name. The prejudice against Germans still runs high in England, and Christa is unable to secure a job or a place to stay... Luck comes her way when a lady she saves from being mugged turns out to be Mayne Esher's friend Daniel's mother. Taking pity on Christa, they take her to Rivenshaw where they plan to start a new life as part of the Esher building firm. There Christa is welcomed with open arms and she soon develops a love for the place, the people and, Daniel... But Esherwood is not the trouble-free sanctuary she first thinks. Determined to do their bit for soldiers returning from the war they have agreed to allow the council to build prefabs on some of Esherwood's garden. But an empire-building town planner seems set on taking all of Mayne's land for the war effort... Mayne has also discovered a secret door at the back of the old Nissen hut, with a complicated locking mechanism that has local locksmiths dumbfounded. Just what is hidden behind the door to warrant such high security?

The heartwarming third instalment of the Rivenshaw series from bestselling saga writer Anna Jacobs. After a stray bomb scored a direct hit on his childhood home in Hertfordshire, the only thing that has kept Francis Brady going while he works day and night salvaging what he can from the rubble is the thought that soon he'll be joining war-time friends Mayne, Daniel and Victor as electrician in their new dream building firm in Lancashire. But things are not going to plan: Mayne isn't answering any of his letters; Francis' wife is having a change of heart about moving up north - and her parents seem set on destroying his reputation... A lot of marriages are breaking up in these times of change, and Francis is loathe for his to be one of them... But how can he turn down the opportunity of a new life and career in Rivenshaw? Meanwhile in Rivenshaw itself, newly married Mayne and Judith's plans to convert Esherwood house into flats have come to an abrupt halt. While clearing out the house in readiness for the rebuild, they've discovered that someone has been stealing valuables and hiding them in the old Nissen hut. But who hid them there - and are they planning on returning for them? And are they also responsible for something else found in the shelter: a body, buried in a shallow grave... With so much going against them, can these four friends ever turn their dreams into reality?

In the wake of World War Two, the whole country is desperate for houses, with very little money available to rebuild. In the town of Rivenshaw in Lancashire, Mayne Esher has no choice but to turn Esherwood, the war-damaged stately home which has been in his family for generations, into flats. Rebuilding Esherwood won't be easy but with Judith Crossley by his side, Mayne hopes to restore it to its former glory. First, he must open it up to some of his long-suffering army friends... and it soon becomes clear that the house isn't the only thing which needs rebuilding. Victor is fighting his late wife's rich and arrogant mother for custody of his daughter Betty. Ros has been cheated out of her money and has nowhere to go now she's been demobbed from the army. Daniel is still unsettled after his wartime experiences. He's waiting for his divorce to go through and has family problems that take him away from Rivenshaw. Francis hasn't even been in touch. On top of these troubles, saving Esherwood proves to be a difficult undertaking for Mayne and Judith. And certain people will stop at nothing to prevent it happening. In this time of renewal, will the group find a way to rebuild their lives, and the old house, as planned?

The first book in a heartwarming new Lancashire-based series by beloved and bestselling saga writer Anna Jacobs, set at the end of World War Two. 1945 - the war in Europe is over. It should be a time of utter joy and celebration. Most women can't wait for their men to return, but in the small town of Rivenshaw in Lancashire, Judith Crossley fears having her husband back in the house. He'd grown into a bully and a drunkard, and on the occasions he'd come home from leave, he'd hit her. He wasn't a good father, either. Luckily Judith has found an unlikely ally, a friend to turn to - Maynard Esher, from an old aristocratic family on the other side of town. But Judith knows that when her husband returns, she and her children will be back in the firing line again. She decides that for the children's sake, she must leave her husband. But with the house rented in his name and other accommodation scarce, where on earth can they go...?

The first book in a heartwarming new Lancashire-based series by beloved and bestselling saga writer Anna Jacobs, set at the end of World War Two. 1945 - the war in Europe is over. It should be a time of utter joy and celebration. Most women can't wait for their men to return, but in the small town of Rivenshaw in Lancashire, Judith Crossley fears having her husband back in the house. He'd grown into a bully and a drunkard, and on the occasions he'd come home from leave, he'd hit her. He wasn't a good father, either. Luckily Judith has found an unlikely ally, a friend to turn to - Maynard Esher, from an old aristocratic family on the other side of town. But Judith knows that when her husband returns, she and her children will be back in the firing line again. She decides that for the children's sake, she must leave her husband. But with the house rented in his name and other accommodation scarce, where on earth can they go...?

Ella Turner has inherited the farm home, including a 17th century farmhouse, which has been in the family for hundreds of years. There is also a family ghost, ‘the lady’ and there are secret passages. She’s divorced from her ex (Miles) and is raising her daughter Amy without any help from him, as well as working heavens hard to run some tourist chalets on the land she no longer farms. Miles had tricked Ella and told her the old farm wasn’t coherent enough in architectural style to be heritage listed. But she loves it desperately. Miles has sold the idea of using Willowbrook for a function centre/country hotel though this will mean drowning the farmhouse as they create a lake, bankrupting Ella in the process. Cameron O’Neal has been a high-flying business consultant, but is about to change paths. One of his last commissions is to look at Willowbrook and find out if it’s as genuinely old as has been claimed. He falls for Ella and gets on like a house on fire with Amy, but the trouble is, he hasn’t told Ella why he came in the first place and their romance takes a huge setback when she finds out. Ella’s artist cousin Rose is working on a huge project to paint the wildlife of Wiltshire for a big art/nature book, the sort of treasure that people collect. She’s working odd jobs to make ends meet, helping out at Willowbrook sometimes. Her former partner Oliver (a doctor) returns to the village after a violent incident in A&E in the USA, which has left him jumpy and hating to be shut in any small room. He and Rose are still in love, but can they resolve their differences this time? To add to her problems, Brett Harding, a stupid man and a heavy drinker, is harassing Ella and is also angry with Rose. He vows to get even with them for his imaginary grievances. Can Ella retain her farm? Can she trust Cameron to help her save Willowbrook?

Downtrodden for years, sidelined at her daughter’s wedding in favour of her ex-husband’s new wife, and burdened by a son who lives with her and isn’t paying his share of expenses, Molly Peel has reached her sticking point. It’s time for her to take control of her life and move on, painful as that may be. Leaving London to look for a job, Molly finds far more than she’d bargained for, including a new chance of love - if she can pluck up the courage to seize the moment. But her ex isn’t going to let her get away so easily; he wants their old family house at a knock-down price and is prepared to use any dirty tricks necessary to get his hands on it. Will she find the strength to resist him this time and keep moving on? Or will his emotional blackmail pay off?

While sorting through her father’s papers after his death, Australian Gina Porter discovers a secret in his past. Does she have family in the UK she doen’t know about? She’s longed for an extended family all her life. Though her two daughters make many demands of her, expecting her to babysit at a moment’s notice, she decides to travel to England to investigate. Being widowed, she has no one to answer to except herself and anyway, it’s time she did something more exciting with her life. Peggy Wilkes wakes up every day to verbal abuse from her bullying husband. But she too has decided that the time has come to make a new start - though it won’t be easy. Brad Rosenberry also needs to leave Australia and go to England, because he’s received an amazing piece of news, which he can’t ignore. As these two women embark on their personal voyages of self-discovery, they meet new people and forge bonds which will reinforce for them the value of family connections.

Despite being the daughter of a clergyman with a strict and joyless attitude to life, Helen Merling has a loving heart and a happy nature. However, when she is seduced by a travelling actor, a handsome rogue she meets at the market, they are forced to marry, and Helen’s family disowns her. After several unhappy years, Helen and her husband escape to Europe, but their fortunes take a turn for the worse, and soon Helen is alone and responsible for both herself and their son. Two years later, in the picturesque Italian town of Serugia, Helen meets Charles Carnforth. An older man, he falls deeply in love with her… but he’s not the only one trying to win Helen’s heart. Can a new romance find its way into her life, with all the complications and turmoil that brings?

1901, Wiltshire. Young Kathleen Keller is being forced into marriage with a man she despises by her cruel father. In an act of desperation, she runs away in a bid for a safer life, although one she might not have otherwise have chosen. But when tragedy strikes, Kathleen is left vulnerable and one man threatens the fragile peace she has made for herself. Meanwhile, Nathan Perry works for his father's accountancy firm but yearns for something more satisfying. He is brought in to help with the purchase of Honeyfield House, intended as a safe house for women in trouble by a charitable benefactor, and there encounters Kathleen. Their lives are set to intertwine and neither will be the same again.

It is 1735. When her mother dies penniless, Sarah Mortonby is shocked to discover she has inherited a wealthy estate. Advised to sell the crumbling manor house to her neighbour, Matthew Sewell, she visits and decides to keep it instead. Sewell is furious – and he is a man known for getting his own way, no matter the cost. Unable to manage the land alone, and desperately needing help, Sarah proposes to her bailiff, Will Pursley – himself recently thrown off his farm by Sewell’s thugs. Can they save the estate together? Will the oppressed villagers help them, or be cowed by Sewell’s threats? And will the fondness growing between Will and Sarah turn into love?

Since her father died, Deborah Jannvier has been living under the provision of her callous uncle. So when a handsome stranger named Matthew Pascoe appears bearing a summons from a long-lost wealthy relative, Deborah agrees to return to Marymoor House with Matthew. On arrival, Deborah is told she shall inherit the estate on one condition: that she immediately marry Matthew. With no hope of a future otherwise, Deborah consents and soon after becomes owner of the estate when her benefactor dies. Despite the unconventional circumstances of their marriage, Deborah and Matthew are surprised at the degree of affection that develops between them. But trouble soon befalls the couple in the form of Anthony Elkin, who claims that the Marymoor estate rightly belongs to him. The marriage of Deborah and Matthew secures their ownership, but they don't anticipate just how far Elkin will go to see the pair parted. Can Deborah and Matthew outwit Elkin and find happiness against all odds?

1916. Bella is working as a Voluntary Aid driving ambulances in England when she gets engaged to Philip, on leave from fighting in France. His family strongly disapprove of her but the two of them are happy together. Georgie, Philip's sister, is in trouble having broken her engagement and fled from her bullying family. As she wonders who she can turn to for help when she needs it most, she finds herself at the gates of Honeyfield. When the worst happens, Bella must manage on her own, though there are shocks and dangers she did not foresee ahead. Thankfully, Philip's best friend, Tez, injured in France, steps in to offer assistance. Can he also help Bella build a new life?

When Captain Merridene dies, his daughters Martha and Penelope are left penniless. They take an unusual job offer – as teachers in the distant town of Tapton, working for mill owner Jonas Wright. They are charged with educating not only Jonas’s four young daughters, but also the more promising mill workers. But soon they realise life in Tapton will be more complicated than they had bargained for. Caught up in a riot, Penelope meets a disgruntled worker, Clem Porter, whose family have been brought to starvation by a rival mill owner. Meanwhile, Martha is drawn – against her better judgement – to Ben Seaton, the father of one of her students. And just why is Ben quite so attracted to such a seemingly stern woman…? The sisters must face hardships and challenges in their new lives, but will they also find love?

Nell has come to feel very at home in her beautiful corner of Wiltshire, and is happily acclimatizing to married life. What she could do with, however, is a challenge, and the prospect of bringing life back to an abandoned row of houses, Saffron Lane, is just what she’s looking for. Stacy, lost and alone after a divorce she didn’t see coming, is trying her best to start over. And Elsa, battling her nieces who would force her into residential care, longs for a home where she can get back to her painting. When their paths cross, the future starts to look brighter although not all goes according to plan.

Now that Nell's three sons are in work and becoming more independent, she's ready to build a new life for herself. She's been left a house in England by an elderly aunt and decides to leave Australia to start a new chapter. On her arrival at Peppercorn Street, Nell encounters Angus Denning, a software engineer with an Honourable title and a stately home at the end of the road. Then there's Winifred, an elderly lady who lives alone but has made friends with young, single mum Janey. It's not long before the quartet are firm friends and Nell has trouble resisting Angus's charms. But life doesn’t always run smoothly; Winifred is being harassed by an estate agent to sell the only home she's ever known to the Cinnamon Gardens development and Janey realises she and her daughter, Millie, are being stalked. With things far from settled, can Nell build a new life with Angus? Will Winifred surrender her home to the greedy property developer? Can the residents of Peppercorn Street find happiness?

Three women find new hope in Peppercorn Street, a small village in a beautiful corner of Wiltshire with a mixture of homes and people. Janey is 18 and living in a small flat with her baby daughter. Just as her new life starts to show promise, her past catches up with her. Nicole is renting one of the new luxury flats. She’s just walked away from her husband and teenage sons, tired of being treated as a servant, suspecting her husband of having an affair. Winifred has lived in her large family home at the top of the street for over eighty years but it’s all getting too much, though she doesn’t want to leave.Things are not what they seem in any of the three women’s lives and danger can strike at rich and poor alike. The trick is to survive it, and for this you need good friends and courage: all freely available in Peppercorn Street.

Sisters Mattie, Nell and Renie have all managed to escape their oppressive and bullying father, but now separated, the girls must draw upon their strength and courage to build new lives for themselves. Renie, the youngest sister, is living with the newly married Nell, happy in her waitressing job at the King's Head Hotel. But a shadow falls over her the day Mr Judson arrives as assistant manager. Feeling increasingly harassed by him and also eager to escape from Nell's unpleasant husband, Renie is delighted when she is offered a new job in London. Although she at first finds the city a huge and bewildering place, soon she is settling in and making friends. And yet she still worries about her sister Nell, and the way her husband Cliff treats her. When tragedy strikes Nell and her family, Renie is left feeling horrified and helpless. Her only comfort is her growing friendship with the injured Gil, towards whom she has felt an instant trust and affection. But can their relationship progress from friendship to something more? And how will the return of the threatening Judson affect their future?

After being driven from home by their brutal father, the Willitt sisters, Mattie, Nell and Renie, find themselves facing greater heartache in the wider world. Nell has left home to be with her lover, Cliff, fearing what reprisals might come from marrying against her father's wishes. After parting ways with Mattie the couple take youngest sister Renie and head for Lancashire. However, Nell's happiness is short-lived; her marriage suffering as Cliff resents his job and the fact that though Nell has given him a daughter, she seems unable to conceive another child. When Renie leaves for London, Nell feels desperately alone. Then tragedy strikes, and Nell, mad with grief, runs away in the hope of being reunited with her two sisters. While wandering the English countryside, a gypsy palm-reader tells Nell she will still find her destiny, under 'three big trees on a hill'. Her luck seems to change when she meets Gil, a farmer and a gentleman who she can't help but feel drawn to. Could the trees on his land be a sign, or is Nell too damaged by her past to let herself love again? In this emotional sequel to Cherry Tree Lane, Anna Jacobs delivers a stunning romance novel that is both tragic and uplifting.

The spellbinding new novel from the much-loved author of Farewell to Lancashire Wiltshire, 1910. With her stepfather threatening her with a forced marriage, Mattie Willitt flees home in search of a better life. She is soon lost and at the mercy of the elements – until her life is saved by Jacob, a widower who takes her in and nurses her back to health. Finding consolation in each other’s troubled pasts, the pair soon grow close But when pressure is put upon them to marry, and Mattie’s stepfather discovers her whereabouts, they must face their fears and stand up to those who threaten their future happiness.

Can she find freedom against the odds? As the Great War ends Serena Fleming is due an inheritance that could free her from a bullying father. But little does she know how far he will go to prevent her leaving home. Or how desperate he is to limit her and keep his secrets hidden. When she turns thirty, Serena must risk everything to escape his iron rule. Meanwhile, Marcus Graye’s life has also been changed by the War. His injuries may heal, but his elderly aunt and a crumbling old house are now in his sole care. When he saves Serena from a kidnapping, his life will take an unexpected turn, one that may bring him love but will put his life in danger. Can they survive a wicked man’s attacks? And can Serena at last fulfil her true potential?

Wiltshire, December 1915. Widow Olivia Harbury has been persuaded by her cousin Donald to live with him and his wife, but tensions soon rise between the pair. Then, much to Donald’s disapproval, Olivia becomes involved in starting a new Women’s Institute. A chance meeting brings Olivia to Greyladies, an ancient manor house run by Phoebe Latimer, and she feels as though she’s finally come home. But someone is attempting to rid Greyladies of the German internees based there. Their cruel tricks put Phoebe’s life and that of her unborn child at risk. Can these two help one another through these troubled times? Or will violent men destroy Greyladies and all it stands for?

During World War I, the ancient manor house of Greyladies in rural Wiltshire is requisitioned for a hospital. Its mistress, Harriet Latimer, her husband Joseph and their two sons are allowed to stay in part of the house, but when tragedy strikes Joseph's brothers, his future at Greyladies is at risk. Latimer family legend says a new mistress will be found to look after the house, yet how does this happen? In Swindon, Phoebe Sinclair is unaware of her connection to Greyladies and the Latimers. When her German employers are interned because of the war, she loses her job. Worse still, her brutish step-cousin Frank tries to force her to marry him and Phoebe has no choice but to flee to London. A chance encounter leads her to a new life as a nursing assistant in the VAD (voluntary aid detachments), and to a blossoming friendship with Captain Corin McMinty. When Phoebe is posted to the hospital at Greyladies, she feels she's come home. But Frank is still pursuing her and Corin has his own problems. With obstacles at every turn, can Phoebe find happiness and embrace the role of mistress of Greyladies?

Hampshire, 1900. With the sudden death of her father, the life of fifteen-year-old Harriet Benson changes forever. Forced from her home to escape the advances of her leering stepbrother Norris, Harriet is sent into service to provide for the family. Arriving at the grand Dalton House, she meets the owners' crippled son Joseph, with whom friendship soon blossoms. When circumstances force Joseph to leave the family home, Harriet is happy to accompany him and break free from the controlling influence of her stepmother. But Harriet is unprepared for the event which will alter her life even further: her unexpected inheritance of Greyladies, a supposedly haunted house in the country. Could this be the safe haven she so desperately needs, and does the ghost of its previous owner really roam the halls? While Harriet and Joseph grow ever closer, the plots and actions of both their families threaten to destroy their happiness. Will their love, and the legacy of Greyladies, be able to survive?