Life isn't a sort of practice run, something you can afford to play around with. They don't offer second and third chances to get it right. Use it better. Live it fuller. A week in Venice ignites Margaret Cameron's interest in the private city behind the tourist facade and the obscure tales from its history. Tantalised by stories of this lesser-known Venice she returns the following August for a month-long stay, determined to uncover the Venice of the Venetians. Stepping out from her comfort zone, Margaret finds that friendships - unexpected and spontaneous - blossom within palazzi walls and she makes a discovery: life can lead you along rewarding paths, if you let it. As each day passes, her time in Venice becomes more than just an interlude; soon, the city feels like home. Could she leave her satisfying life in Perth and start anew in Venice? The question becomes urgent when romance waits where she least expected to find it . . .

When she felt her new life falling apart, she fled to Venice, and watched her life go to pieces... An Italian in California, Lella York proves that you can take the woman out of Italy, but you can't take Italy out of the woman. Convinced her lover is cheating on her with his ex-wife, Lella is hiding out in Venice, Italy, where her son Kyle is wrapping up a film. Passionate, impulsive, and menopausal, she sees her romance hiatus cut short when the papers name her the femme fatale lover of an iconic Italian actor who disappears without a trace. Lella and Kyle criss-cross European borders to escape the rabid Italian paparazzi, but her complications grow thanks to her son's seemingly serious relationship with a spicy little Italian dish, and the hurt feelings of her lover who's shown up half way around the world facing his own crisis as well as Lella's rejection. Never one to lose her sense of humor despite the flare up of danger and hot flashes, Lella must once again face down evil with her illimitable Italian flair.

When her lover takes off on a cross-country trip with his ex-wife, Lella York packs her bags and her broken heart and flies to Venice, Italy, where her son Kyle is filming a movie. But Lella's romance hiatus is cut short when the papers name her the femme fatale lover of an iconic Italian actor. And things only get worse when the actor disappears without a trace and Lella's suddenly suspected of his murder. Lella and Kyle criss-cross European borders to escape the rabid Italian paparazzi, but her complications grow when Larry Devin, her misguided lover, shows up in the middle of his own crisis. Mystery turns to tragedy, schemes to disaster, and white lies to outright deceit, as Lella finds herself in a race against time to solve the mystery, reclaim her life, and follow her heart under the glimmer of a Venetian moon.

The escapist Sunday Times bestselling debut from the nation’s best loved TV presenter, Carol Kirkwood. ‘Loved it! It sizzles with secrets and passion. A real page turner!’ Jo Thomas ‘Utterly engaging, deliciously escapist, with a heart as warm as its author's’ Cathy Kelly, bestselling author of The Family Gift

In 1984 journalist Peregrine Hodson crossed the Pakistan border into Afghanistan with rebel mujahedin smuggling arms and ammunition, beginning a thousand-mile journey through the war-torn nation. Fluent in Farsi, he was able to observe the war with stunning intimacy and eloquently capture the essence of the Afghan people and their culture. As the travelers survived bombings by Soviet aircraft, an ambush by a rival faction, and becoming swept up in a major offensive, Hodson would come to gain a unique perspective on their hopes for peace and religious devotion. Bringing together travel writing, war reportage, and history, this is a richly rendered portrait of a complex people. "Gripping and moving ... [a] powerful account of a war that has often been described as 'forgotten.'" -- Gail Pool, The Christian Science Monitor "Will long remain the most vivid account of a strange and horrible wrong." -- Ahmed Rashid, The Independent (London) "Vivid and intriguing." -- Jonathan Kirsch, -- Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Beneath the Venetian Moon" weaves a tale of suspense and mystery set against the haunting backdrop of Venice. Lucia and Isabella, two lifelong friends, stumble upon an ancient curse that has shrouded their beloved city in darkness and despair. As they delve deeper into the city's murky past, they unearth secrets that some would kill to keep hidden. Armed only with their wits and a mysterious device left behind by Lucia's missing brother, Giancarlo, the women challenge the spectral forces holding Venice in their grip. From the shadowy corridors of La Fenice Opera House to the reflective waters beneath the Accademia Bridge, Lucia and Isabella's quest reveals a history marred by betrayal and redemption. As the city's fate hangs in the balance, they must confront a chilling question: What are they willing to sacrifice to free Venice? "Beneath the Venetian Moon" is a gripping story of courage, friendship, and the relentless pursuit of liberation.

Cenzo is a world-weary fisherman, determined to sit out the rest of the war. He's happy to stay out of the way of the SS, quietly going about his business of fishing in the lagoons of northern Italy. Then one night, instead of pulling in his usual haul, Cenzo fishes a young woman out of the canal. Guilia is an Italian Jew who has managed to escape capture and is determined to find her family. This meeting results in them both taking an entirely unexpected journey, and Cenzo suddenly finds himself thrown headlong into the world of international wartime politics, where everyone has their own agenda and nowhere is safe ...