1866. In a coastal village in southern England, Nell picks violets for a living. Set apart by her community because of the birthmarks that speckle her skin, Nell's world is her beloved brother and devotion to the sea. But when Jasper Jupiter's Circus of Wonders arrives in the village, Nell is kidnapped. Her father has sold her, promising Jasper Jupiter his very own leopard girl. It is the greatest betrayal of Nell's life, but as her fame grows, and...

Mrs Laetitia Rodd is the impoverished widow of an Archdeacon, living modestly in Hampstead with her landlady Mrs Bentley. She is also a private detective of the utmost discretion. In winter 1850, her brother Frederick, a criminal barrister, introduces her to Sir James Calderstone, a wealthy and powerful industrialist who asks Mrs Rodd to investigate the background of an 'unsuitable' woman his son intends to marry ? a match he is determined to prevent....

A young woman wakes in a strange bed beneath coarse sheets. The bare walls are a dismal green, and a sickly light filters through a metal grille. Doctor Maynard Straker steps into the room, and speaks. 'Have no fear, Miss Ashton. I am entirely at your service.' But this is not her name. And she should not be here - in the asylum. She is Georgina Ferrars, of Gresham's Yard, London - and she can prove it. But when Dr Straker sends a telegram to her...

Maisie Hitchins longs to be a world-famous detective, so it's no surprise when she's entangled in a highly-intriguing plot involving stolen sausages, a rescued puppy and a fast-paced bicycle chase on the streets of Victorian London.

Abandoned by their parents and left to fight for themselves, headstrong Rosalind Carey has no choice but to take charge of her younger brothers and sister in Devonshire's grand Rockwood Castle. But their once much-loved home is crumbling like the family that lives within it. Living hand to mouth, and desperate to provide for the estate that depends on them, the Carey family are one debt away from ruin. Until the day comes when the dashing Piers Blanchard...

Eye witness accounts from a range of source material, including diaries, letters and newspapers, form the basis of this series. Each book in the series gives a valuable insight into an important period of history or world-changing event.

Lancashire, 1895. Abigail Dawson has lived in fear of her father for 30 years. But when, after uprooting them to a grand new home in Ollerthwaite, he's found murdered in the street, her life is turned upside down. Alone and caught in a web of her father's secrets, Abigail needs someone to rely on - so when hardworking handyman Rufus promises her a new life, she's thrilled at the chance to have a family of her own. But as they grow closer, could it...

London 1884: Queen Victoria is Empress of India and Britain at its peak of worldwide power. James Falconer, known as Jimmy, is a barrow boy working for his father on the stalls in the Malvern Market. Alexis Malvern is an only child, raised by her father, Henry, who has built a real estate empire in London and a successful trading business in Le Havre. Trained by her father and heir to his businesses, Alexis has no interest in marrying. But when James...

Left to perish on a bank of snow as a baby, Amy is taken in by nearby Hatville Court, where she is despised by the masters and servants alike. Heiress Aurelia is Amy's only advocate - but when Aurelia dies young, Amy's world collapses. But Aurelia leaves Amy with one last gift: a bundle of letters with a coded key that only Amy can unlock.

Nancy seems to have found her happily ever after. She is surrounded by family and engaged to marry the man of her dreams. But when her fiance's father insists they wait a year to prove that their love is true, the young couple's feelings are put to the test. The path of true love never runs smooth, but as the snow begins to fall, Nancy will need to trust her heart for her Christmas wishes to come true.