British Life

Mary, Queen of Scots continues to intrigue both historians and the general public - but the story of her mother, Marie de Guise, is much less well known. A political power in her own right, she was born into the powerful and ambitious Lorraine family, spending her formative years at the dazzling, licentious court of François I. Although briefly courted by Henry VIII, she instead married his nephew, James V of Scotland, in 1538.

Leger McInnes is ready to retire. He still loves detective work, but after a lifetime of investigating crimes in the local area and beyond, his priorities have changed. Ginger has lost her sight, Bob has seizures, Nicole suffered sepsis and now his beloved Annabella has found a frightening lump. It's time for Leger to move onto his next life as a nurse. However, there's just one last job to do before he retires and that's to find the people who robbed Meg, his next door neighbour. All the suspicion seems to fall on Ingrid, a mysterious woman who has turned up on their doorstep claiming to ...

Glancing sideways, she was intrigued by his flawless profile. He had bronzed skin and a straight nose, with tousled blond hair that was effortlessly stylish. Lounging in his chair elegantly, he looked like the type of guy you could place anywhere and he would look at ease. He turned suddenly and caught her staring at him. Their eyes locked and suddenly she felt lost. They were the bluest eyes she had ever seen… Lydia Kelly is in a good place. Determined to pursue her dream of being a writer, she enrols to do a Master’s degree in English. It means being separated from her handsome ...

Spying and treachery are as much a part of warfare as weapons and death. This has always been the case since the earliest battles and is not likely to change in the future. And yet, even within this irregular system, there are certain rules, especially in past eras such as the American Revolution. First, while spying on behalf of one's country is perfectly respectable, betraying one's nation is treason. Second, honorable men do not involve those too innocent to understand the consequences of their actions in their schemes.

Introducing "Reboot Your Life in the UK" - your comprehensive guide to thriving in a fascinating new environment! If you're planning to move to Britain or have just arrived, this must-have eBook is the ultimate companion for a seamless transition to life in the UK. Packed with 30 well-researched, informative chapters, this life-changing guide invites you to explore everything the UK has to offer. From acing professional networking and embracing British work culture to navigating the housing market and mastering the art of small talk - Reboot Your Life in the UK has all the practical insider...

"Life is a beautiful, chaotic mess - a fact that John Bowie captures flawlessly in his stunning third poetry collection." The pages of this book are filled with raw, unfiltered emotions that will take readers on a journey through the human experience. From the highs of love and life to the lows of inescapable death, each poem is a window into the complexity of our existence. Bowie is a master poet, weaving together words that will tug at your heartstrings and make you see the world in a whole new light. With an unapologetic and soulful writing style, he invites readers to embrace the ...

La dolce vita, a sweeter life of love, awaits Rachel. But can she accept it? Rachel Golding loves her uncomplicated life in Wales. Teaching art, a close-knit group of friends, and a strong and loving bond with her mother. But the trip to Italy to meet her Italian grandmother for the first time stirs unwelcome emotions — reluctance to forgive Nonna for a lifetime of rejection, and longing to know more about the father who died before her birth. Between her cousin’s accusation she sent a series of mysterious unsigned paintings to get revenge on the family, her mother’s wedding, and her ...

One of the most controversial royal figures of the twentieth century, Princess Margaret was admired as well as vilified for most of her adult life. However, she was deemed 'witty, wicked and wonderful' by those who knew her well and this charismatic Princess did much to help bring the monarchy and its attitudes into the modern world Adored younger daughter of King George VI and only sister of Queen Elizabeth II, Margaret was born a pre-war princess whose world was hugely impacted by the strictures and protocol of another age, leading to conflict and misunderstanding in both her private and ...

Over the course of its history, England has engaged in an uncountable number of battles, but none of her military heroes has had a greater military legacy than Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronté. Whether traveling to Trafalgar Square or one of the hundreds of pubs named after him, seemingly it becomes easy to believe that no Briton has cast as long a shadow.

Someone is killing the women folk of Oakwell, and the body count is growing. The moorland that surrounds the town has begun to relinquish some of its morbid past. Inspector Abaline has been drafted onto the case, to breathe new life into the faltering investigation. Can he unlock the secret of the Devil's Tourniquet before deaths shadow casts its cloak once more over the already terrified residents of Oakwell? Excitement, suspense and mystery. If Hard-Boiled, Traditional British Detective Crime Thrillers, with a light sprinkling of the Occult and Supernatural are your vice. Then welcome to ...

Book 2 in the Batterton Police Series. Jensen Bartholomew is Zooming with his brother, Cedric, when the door behind Cedric opens and a figure enters covered head to foot in a black gown and wearing a Guy Fawkes mask. As Jensen watches, the figure wraps something around Cedric’s neck and pulls it tight. Cedric struggles to free himself and his feet stamp a furious tattoo on the worn lino beneath them, but the figure does not relent. Cedric sinks out of sight. The figure leans in close to the screen and points through it at Jensen. In a deep and gravelly voice, it says, ‘You’re next.’...

From his earliest years, Prince William has been a photographer's dream come true in the same way his mother had been. While he is not necessarily known for his mother's media savvy, he is well liked by the media, and he is able, consciously or incidentally, to capitalize on this advantage. At the same time, from polo to charities, William is thoroughly his father Charles' son as a Windsor prince.

The life and adventures of Thomas Cochrane, a young man who rose from midshipman to admiral, are so extraordinary that, to paraphrase Patrick O'Brian, one has to suspend disbelief. In fact, O'Brian admitted to using Cochrane as the model for his character Jack Aubrey. Second only to Nelson among the heroes of the Royal Navy, Cochrane became a household name in Britain during the 1800s as the Admiralty called upon his extraordinary skill as a sailor, his mastery of gunnery, and his daring use of ruses...

'In my dreams, I was always in some vast landscape on a long, straight road. Driving. Always driving.' Gwenda had always loved the open road, but her home town of Newcastle didn't really offer the sort of adventure she longed for. So, in 1957, with friend and fellow nurse Pat in tow, she left the dismal British winter behind and embarked on an amazing American adventure.

How do you cope when, overnight, you discover you never really knew the person you loved the most? This is the crisis facing Sheela Marker, a Sikh woman confronted with a shocking revelation about her Parsi husband Cyrus. Her response is to hide what happened, but the secret weighs so heavily on her that a year later she attempts to kill herself by jumping off a cliff in Mahabaleshwar, a hill station near Bombay. Her attempt is scuppered by Clarissa and Max Alexander, an English couple who have been touring India. Sheela’s burgeoning friendship with the couple allows her finally to reveal...

“Five Stars!! Second Fave!...you have to read this book to get an understanding of what the time period was about and what goes on with women the opposite of the fighter.”—Samantha Rinaldo, Goodreads The homespun tale of good luck and passion when a man finds himself in the arms of a woman who happens to find him when he is in desperate shape and he must decide to stay or go. HE ESCAPES Rachael Irons is out walking her dogs along the edge of her Delaware farm, Rachel’s Choice, when she finds the man, barely conscious. He wakes up to the sound of her dogs barking and looks up into ...

"A Family Torn" by H. Wilhelm Starkweather is psychological fiction, an historical fiction novel set in early 19th-century England, capturing the essence of rural life and the intricate dynamics within a family. Are you captivated by classic English literature that delves into the heart of rural life? If so, then this book is for you. You see, immersing yourself in the rich tapestry of 19th-century England doesn’t have to be daunting. Even if you’ve struggled with dense historical novels before. The truth is, it’s much more engaging and evocative than you think. Renowned author ...

The Skripal Files is a remarkable and definitive account of Sergei Skripal’s story, which lays bare the new spy war between Russia and the West. Mark Urban, the diplomatic and defense editor for the BBC, met with Skripal in the months before his poisoning, learning about his career in Russian military intelligence, how he became a British agent, his imprisonment in Russia, and the events that led to his release. Skripal’s first-hand accounts and experiences reveal the high stakes of a new spy game that harks back to the chilliest days of the Cold War.

The two reigns - both unusually long - could scarcely have been more different. Queen Elizabeth I brought a much needed (and appreciated) stability to England at a key moment in the history of the nation. Queen Elizabeth II has, by contrast, been the constitutional monarch par excellence.

Cakes are present at all of life’s defining moments. We commemorate the day of our birth, our weddings, our most significant festivals through the medium of cake. It is a source of comfort and joy, a reminder of all that is good.  Across Britain, particular cakes represent the heritage and resources of the communities that created them.  The book will cover twelve cakes that intersect with our lives at important moments and the individuals who have shaped the history of cake in our land; slices of our lives and slices of British life.