Sisters Megan and Ffion have never had secrets, so when Megan goes to flat-sit all she's expecting is a rest and a change.When a stranger called Jack phones, Megan wonders who he is. Ffion behaves like she's just seen a ghost, and refuses to say any more.So is Jack a ghost?Ffion's not telling and when she disappears too, the mystery deepens. Megan begins to fear for the future. She's always been the one who's looked after her little sister.Is this going to be the one time she can't?

‘It was then that it struck me, with terrifying clarity. I was going to die. I was going to die at any moment. I was going to die, moreover, in a pair of tartan pyjamas and a grubby black cardigan. For whatever was attached to the headlights in front of me was actually driving on my side of the road…’So begins Sally Matthews’ date with destiny. She doesn’t actually believe in destiny, of course – she’s way too busy looking after her husband, arranging her step-daughter’s wedding, and humouring her mum-on-a-mission (which currently involves Tony Blair). No surprise, then, that she’s out late at night, with nothing but a dog and a cricket bat for company. In short, Sally hasn’t time for a near-death experience. However handsome the man who’s about to run her off the road…

Do you believe in fairytales? When Hope Shepherd loses her trainer while boarding the 8.42 into Cardiff, Cinderella couldn't be further from her thoughts. Painfully divorced, she's all out of daydreams - and it's not a glass slipper, after all. It's picked up, however, by a Prince Charming of sorts - DJ Jack Valentine, who's just been divorced too. He appeals on his show for the owner to come forward; a latterday princess being just what he needs...Hope works as a publicist for the charity, Heartbeat, and is encouraged by her boss to get Jack on board. A celebrity endorsement is exactly what they're after, to raise the profile of their upcoming fun run. So far, so good; a fairytale beginning - their mutual attraction's just too strong to ignore. But this is the real world, and these are two damaged people. With both of them determined not to risk another heartbreak, is a happy-ever-after an impossible dream?

When Julia's husband has an affair with local siren Rhiannon de Laney, she feels as if her world is falling apart. Once the arguments have abated, and her husband has moved out, Julia realises she's well and truly on her own, a single parent with two teenage children, a bad haircut and no idea of what to do or where to go next. Gradually, however, Julia begins to recognise the benefits of being single: it's the chance to meet new people and make new friends, change her hairstyle, throw out her old clothes, experiment with a new image, resurrect her photography career, travel the country with a boy band and, in short, rediscover herself outside the context of loyal wife and dutiful mother. She also rediscovers the joys of dating. After a few false starts, she finds herself learning more about the talents, musical and otherwise, of the lead singer of Britain's most famous band. Julia's certainly got herself a life you wonder whether it is the kind of existence she wants to live permanently, or whether her ailing marriage is worth saving. Light-hearted, humorous and at times surprising, Julia's battles with this age-old dilemma prove instantly recognisable yet highly entertaining, with a twist in the tale that may surprise or perplex.

'My mother has just the two modes of operation. Either slightly dramatic or seriously dramatic. That this is the latter means just the one thing. That my day is about to get worse...' And for single mum, Abbie, life is complex enough. So once her eldest son, Seb, has gone on his gap year, she's decided it's time to make changes. She's just left her old job and started a new one (to escape the gorgeous man-who-turned-out-to-be-married), and is planning some space for herself at long last. But fate seems to have something else in mind for Abbie, in the shape of her demanding and incorrigible mother, whose feckless fourth husband, Hugo, has just died. Temporarily in a wheelchair after a recent knee op, Diana - retired TV fitness icon and dancer - will need looking after, so will have to move in. Still, Abbie tells herself - gritting her teeth - it won't be for more than a few weeks... However, Abbie hasn't figured on the sudden arrival of Hugo's 20 years' estranged son. A suave TV Weatherman, Gabriel Ash not only owns the deeds to what they thought was Hugo's house, but also has plans of his own...

Fed up, frustrated and fast approaching forty, Charlie Simpson hasn't had many high points in her life just lately. The only peak on the horizon is her ambition to climb Everest, if she could only get organized and save up the cash. Unfortunately, though, she has more pressing things to deal with; her eldest son moving out, her father moving in, and her best friend moving two hundred miles away. She finds solace, however, via her newly acquired modem, when she stumbles upon a stranger who's a like-minded soul. Like-minded, perhaps, but no fantasy dream date. Though virtual, he's of the real-life variety - he may be a hero, but he has a wife. Charlie hasn't a husband, but she certainly has principles, and they're about to be hauled up a mountain themselves. And, of course, her mum's always said she shouldn't talk to strangers. The question is, is now the time to start breaking the rules?Review'A fantastic book that gets you hooked from the first page' New Woman 'It's wonderfully funny and rather inspiring...I enjoyed it hugely and I confess I read it all in one go, wolfing it down like a delicious box of chocolates' Judy Astley 'I absolutely loved it - hooray for Julia! this is funny, original, well-written and unguessable - I had no idea how it would end. It also has the very best closing paragraph I've read in years. Completely wonderful, dazzlingly entertaining, unputdownaable' Jill Mansell About the AuthorLynne Barrett-Lee is the author of five novels and was short listed for the Melissa Nathan Award for Comedy Romance 2007

Inspired by a true story, this is the fictional reimagining of 'Able Seacat' Simon's adventures and heroics in WWII's dangerous seas. Simon is discovered in the Hong Kong docks in 1948 and smuggled on board the H.M.S Amethyst by a British sailor who takes pity on the malnourished kitten. The young cat quickly acclimates to his new water-borne home, establishing himself as the chief rat-catcher in residence while also winning the hearts of the entire crew. Then the Amethyst is ordered to sail up the Yangtze to take over the guarding of the British Embassy, and tragedy strikes as the ship comes under fire from Communist guns. Many of the crew are killed and Simon is among those who are seriously wounded. Luckily, with the help of the ship's doctor, the brave cat makes a full recovery and is soon spending time with the injured men in the sick bay, purring and keeping their spirits up. News of Simon's heroism spreads and he becomes famous world-wide - but it is still...