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The Rome affair / by Swan, Karen(Writer),author.;
1974 and Elena Damiani lives a gilded life. Born to wealth and a noted beauty, no door is closed to her, no man can resist her. At twenty-six, she is already onto her third husband when she meets her love match. But he is the one man she can never have, and all the beauty and money in the world can't change it. 2017 and newly-graduated Francesca Hackett is living a year of la dolce vita in Rome, teaching English before she starts a new job in London and settles down to the Rest Of Her Life. When she finds a stolen handbag in her dustbin and returns it, she is brought into the orbit of her grand neighbour who lives across the piazza - famed socialite Viscontessa Elena dei Damiani Pignatelli della Mirandola. Though the purse is stolen, Elena greets the return of the bag with exultation for it contains an unopened letter written by her husband on his deathbed, twelve years earlier. Mutually intrigued by each other, the two women agree to collaborate on a project, with Chesca interviewing Elena for her memoirs. As summer unfurls, Elena tells her sensational stories, leaving Chesca in her thrall. But when a priceless necklace found in an ancient aqueduct below the Trevi fountain is ascribed to Elena, Chesca begins to suspect a shocking secret at the heart of Elena's life.
Subjects: Chick lit.; Domestic fiction.; Female friendship; Man-woman relationships;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The Spanish promise / by Swan, Karen(Writer),author.;
Charlotte, a wealth counsellor who knows from personal experience the complications that a sudden inheritance can bring, helps her clients navigate the emotional side effects of sudden wealth syndrome. When she is asked by Mateo Mendoza, heir to a huge Spanish estate, to fly to Madrid to help resolve an issue in his father's will, she's confident it will be straightforward. The timing isn't great as Charlotte's due to get married the following week, but once her client signs on the dotted line, Charlotte can return to her life in London and her wedding, and live happily ever after. Marrying Stephen might not fill her with excitement, but she doesn't want to live in the fast lane anymore - safe and predictable is good. But Carlos Mendoza's final bequest opens up a generation of secrets, and Charlotte finds herself compelled to unravel the mystery. As Charlotte digs deeper, she uncovers the story of a family divided by Spain's Civil War, and of a love affair across the battle lines that ended in tragedy. And while she is consumed in the drama of the Mendozas, Charlotte's own tragic past catches up with her, threatening to overturn everything in her life she has worked so hard to build.
Subjects: Domestic fiction.; Inheritance and succession; Brothers and sisters; Family secrets; Man-woman relationships;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Christmas by candlelight / by Swan, Karen(Writer),author.;
It's three days before Christmas and just starting to snow. Against her better judgement, Libby Pugh has been persuaded by her best friend to stop in on their university reunion on her way back from a wedding in North Yorkshire with her boyfriend, Max. The host is Archie Templeton, the playboy of their group, who has finally inherited his father's title and estate - even if the latter is more stately heap than palace. Libby is surprised at how good it feels to catch up with friends of old. The night is a great success but when they go to leave, the road is now impassable and she and Max are given a bed for the night. At first being snowed in with old friends is rather lovely - the next day is spent in high spirits as they wait for a local farmer to clear the snow. But as the hours pass and he doesn't come, everyone grows restless. Christmas is two days away and everyone has plans, other places to be. Then the power goes out. By the fireside and by candlelight, the old friends must hunker down together as they await help. They reminisce about times past, good and bad. But as the cracks in their relationships start to show, Libby is confronted with a truth she has long tried to deny.
Subjects: Christmas fiction.; Chick lit.; Novels.; Christmas stories; Class reunions; Interpersonal relations; Man-woman relationships; Secrecy; Winter storms;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The Greek escape / by Swan, Karen(Writer),author.;
Running from heartbreak, Chloe Marston leaves her old life in London for a fresh start in New York. Working at a luxury concierge company, she makes other people's lives run perfectly, even if her own has ground to a halt. But a terrible accident forces her to step into a new role, up close and personal with the company's most esteemed and powerful clients. Charismatic Joe Lincoln is one of them and his every wish is her command, so when he asks her to find him a secluded holiday home in the Greek Islands, she sets about sourcing the perfect retreat. But when Tom, her ex, unexpectedly shows up in Manhattan and the stability of her new life is thrown off-balance again, Chloe jumps at the chance to help Joe inspect the holiday house. Escaping to Greece will give her the time and space to decide where her future truly lies. Tom is the man she has loved for so long but he has hurt her before - can she give him another chance? And as she draws closer to Joe, does she even want to? As magnetic as he is mysterious, there's an undeniable chemistry between them that she can't resist. But whatever her heart is telling her, she's in over her head - another client's wife has mysteriously disappeared and seriously allegations about Joe threaten more than just her happiness. Who can she trust? And will Chloe uncover the truth in time?
Subjects: Chick lit.; Domestic fiction.; Personal concierges; Man-woman relationships;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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The Christmas lights / by Swan, Karen(Writer),author.;
Norway, 1936. Fifteen-year old Signy Odegard is sent with her sister and village friends to the summer pastures. As milk maids, they will protect the herd and produce dairy that will sustain the farm throughout the winter months. But miles from home and the safety of their families, threats begin to lurk in friendly faces. December 2018. Free-spirited and untethered, Bo Loxley and Zac Elliott live a life of wanderlust most people can only dream of. With a social media following in the millions, they're paid to travel the globe, sharing their adventures with legions of fans. But with so many eyes on them, it's a struggle to keep anything about their lives private. Though Zac relishes the attention, Bo doesn't always feel safe, especially after one follower once went too far. Booked to spend Christmas in Norway, they set up home in a ramshackle farm owned by taciturn local guide Anders and his fierce grandmother, Signy, who are reluctant neighbours in the off-season period. Zac persuades Anders to help him find extreme locations for the most beautiful shots - and their follower engagement goes through the roof. But the camera can lie. With every post, the perfect life he and Bo are portraying is diverging from the truth as their relationship comes under strain. Something Bo can't explain is wrong at the very heart of their lives and where once she felt free, she now feels lost. As Bo grows closer to Signy, she stumbles upon a dark parallel between their lives - one that ended in tragedy many years ago, and which she fears can surely only end the same way again, now.
Subjects: Christmas fiction.; Domestic fiction.; Christmas; Man-woman relationships;
Available copies: 1 / Total copies: 1
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Results 11 to 15 of 15 | « previous