Margaret Thornton

A young woman forges an unlikely friendship with a plucky evacuee... Margaret Thornton's Wish Upon a Star is a moving wartime saga of two lost souls finding comfort and friendship in one another under the storm clouds of war. Perfect for fans of Sheila Newberry and Lyn Andrews. 'A delightful book; full of humour and warmth against an authentic war-time Blackpool when Pablo's sold ice-cream and troops from abroad drilled on the promenade' - Lancashire Mag When Sally Bamber and her mother-in-law Ellen decide to take in two evacuees at the start of the Second World War neither of them can imagine that three young children will soon be living under their roof. One of them, in particular, stands out as the grubbiest, most ill-spoken child they have ever met, but with her warmth and friendliness, Gloria Mulligan soon wins a special place in Sally's heart. Sally hasn't been lucky enough to have children of her own and she sees in Gloria the daughter she's always wished for. Meanwhile Gloria, who has been starved of genuine affection from her own large family, secretly wishes that she will never have to go home again. But life seldom works out as we would wish and when the horror of war begins to take its toll, Sally, Gloria and the entire Blackpool community must face the consequences... What readers are saying about Wish Upon a Star: 'An engaging tale - I found it hard to put the book down' 'Will read this book all over again' 'Five stars'

An utterly compelling Blackpool saga of war, love and evacuees

Wish Upon a Star

It is the beginning of 1962 and Abbie Horsfall returns to her childhood town of Blackpool with her two teenage children, hoping to start afresh following the death of her husband.

All You Need is Love

In wartime Britain, can Abbie find the happiness she craves? Looking at the Moon is a powerful saga from Margaret Thornton that tells the story of a young woman blossoming during the dark days of war... and discovering love and happiness is within her grasp. Perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Katie Flynn. 'A fine romance' - Belfast Telegraph Having grown up with a critical, domineering mother and an ineffectual detached father, Abbie Winters, at nineteen years of age, lacks friends, confidence and self-worth. That is, until she meets Doreen, a vivacious girl who works in the local grocer's. Doreen introduces Abbie to the joys of dancing at the Palace ballroom, and it's here that she meets Peter Horsfall, a sensitive, kind young airman, who asks her for a date. Eva Winters is determined to prevent Abbie's friendship developing, but although she unwittingly succeeds in destroying Abbie's relationship with Peter, she cannot keep Doreen away. In 1942, together with Doreen, Abbie escapes by joining the Land Army where, with the freedom and the fresh air, she blossoms into a most desirable young woman. Fate seems to be smiling on Abbie when she meets Peter again, by chance, in Norfolk - and they fall passionately in love. Can they dare believe that, this time, their happiness will survive Eva Winters' violent disapproval - and the risks and horrors of war? What readers are saying about Looking at the Moon: 'All I would have wanted and expected' 'Well written and a very good story - enjoyed this book very much' 'Five stars' Don't miss the heart-stopping sequel: All You Need is Love.

A dramatic and romantic wartime saga

Looking at the Moon

A chance moment of passion changes more than one life... Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree is a captivating wartime saga of new beginnings and an impossible love, from much-loved author Margaret Thornton. Perfect for fans of Pam Evans and Dilly Court. 'Exquisite' - North Wales Chronicle Blackpool, 1940. Although the War means uncertainty and anxiety for some, Eunice Morton is grateful for the opportunities it provides her with. She volunteers for the Women's Land Army and is sent to help on a farm in Gloucestershire. Milking the cows and working in the fields are a far cry from the domestic routine that she is used to, but Eunice enjoys her work and her newfound independence. Meanwhile, her relationship with her childhood friend Ronnie looks set to turn into something more romantic, but Eunice still isn't sure that Ronnie is the one for her. Then she befriends Heinrich Muller, a German POW sent to work on the farm, and an elicit moment of passion changes her life forever... What readers are saying about Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree: 'Warm and believable (i.e. fallible) characters, and a great story line!' 'Margaret Thornton is a brilliant storyteller. Her books draw you in, so you feel you know the characters. Hard to put down' 'Five stars'

A powerful Blackpool saga of an impossible love

Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree

A mother and daughter, separated by a generation, yet united in their search for love... Wednesday's Child is a powerful saga from Margaret Thornton of the bond between mother and child, and the reminder that love can sometimes be found where you least expect it. Perfect for fans of Annie Murray and Nadine Dorries. When Rachel Watkins gives birth to her daughter on Ash Wednesday in 1953, she prays the old saying - Wednesday's child is full of woe - won't be proved true. She's shed enough tears over her troubled marriage to Derek, and she hopes that Lorna will be the sunshine to light up their unhappy home. But Derek's overnight 'business trips' continue - until one day he announces he's never coming back, and Rachel and Lorna must get by without him. As the 1960s beckon, Rachel marries again, but Lorna resents her new dad and half-brother, and soon the rebellious teenager is anxious to spread her wings and leave the nest. Rachel is worried about her daughter. Lorna's looking for love, but in all the wrong places, and there's a danger she'll miss the happiness waiting for her, closer to home... What readers are saying about Wednesday's Child: 'What a cracking story. I couldn't put it down' 'Margaret Thornton is a brilliant storyteller. Her books draw you in, so you feel you know the characters. Hard to put down' 'Five stars'

A moving saga of family and the search for love

Wednesday's Child

Val, Cissie and Janice are all happily married. But are they prepared for the challenges ahead? Val's son's behaviour is concerning and she finds it hard to love him as she should. Janice and Phil expand into the restaurant business: have they bitten off more than they can chew? And Cissie's contented life is jeopardized when she sees an old flame

Pastures New

Rosemary Auchmuty

Ulrike Schultz

Gisela Shaw

In the past fifteen years there has been a marked increase in the international scholarship relating to women in law. The lives and careers of women in legal practice and the judiciary have been extensively documented and critiqued, but the central conundrum remains: Does the presence of women make a difference? What has been largely overlooked in the literature is the position of women in the legal academy, although central to the changing culture. To remedy the oversight, an international network of scholars embarked on a comparative study, which resulted in this path-breaking book. The contributors uncover fascinating accounts of the careers of the academic pioneers as well as exploring broader theoretical issues relating to gender and culture. The provocative question as to whether the presence of women makes a difference informs each contribution.

Gender and Careers in the Legal Academy

The course of true love never did run smooth... Val Walker is looking forward to starting a family, her best friend Cissie is expecting her second child, and newly engaged Janice is looking forward to wedded bliss. But the road to happiness isn’t easy. Val struggles to fall pregnant with her longed for first baby, Cissie’s husband starts taking an interest in a new female colleague, and Janice is torn between leaving her widowed father and younger brother behind in Blackpool and her new life in Yorkshire. Are the three friends’ marriages strong enough to survive, or are they all headed for heartbreak? An enthralling tale of marriage, love and friendship, perfect for fans of Margaret Dickinson and Rosie Harris.

A captivating Yorkshire saga of happiness and heartbreak

Love and Marriage

Life for Maisie Jackson has been far from happy for a number of years - ever since her mother re-married after her beloved father's death, and her new stepfather and stepbrother moved into their small terraced house in Armley, Leeds. Suffering abuse at her cruel stepbrother's hand, and mercilessly tormented by her stepfather, Maisie dreams of escaping to a new life far away. And it seems her dreams are about to come true.It is 1939 and war is suddenly looming dark on the horizon. For many, with memories of the 'war to end all wars' still fresh in their minds, this is a horrific and frightening prospect. But for nine-year-old Maisie, it represents her longed-for chance of freedom - maybe she'll be evacuated to the countryside, to one of the places her father used to tell her about? As the the small market town of Middlebeck in the Yorkshire dales prepares for the arrival of the evacuees, many of the villagers ponder on how they will cope with this sudden influx of visitors. But they are all determined to pull together and welcome the strangers with open arms, eager to 'do their bit' for the war effort. In this time of trouble, when life suddenly seems so precious and vulnerable, true and lasting friendships are formed and love blossoms as the dark cloud of war eventually clears to the bright blue sky of a hopeful future.

Above the Bright Blue Sky

“A heartwarming portrait of three young women transitioning from fiancé to wife and mother” (Booklist). England, 1957. Newly-wed Val Walker is looking forward to starting a family. Her best friend Cissie—who used to be the flighty one—is now expecting her second child, and their mutual friend Janice recently got engaged to her boyfriend Paul. All three should be happy, but life doesn’t always go according to plan . . . Val discovers that getting pregnant with her first child isn’t so easy. Cissie’s husband Walter starts taking an interest in a new female colleague while she’s home alone and pregnant. And Janice is consumed with guilt about leaving her widowed father and young brother behind in Blackpool to start her new life in Yorkshire. As they confront these and other obstacles, the three friends start to wonder if their relationships are strong enough to survive. But no matter what, their friendship will carry them through the tough times ahead . . .

In August 1900, ten-year-old Maddy has made a new friend on the sands of North Bay, Scarborough. The summer stretches out before Maddy and Jessie with ice-creams, Pierrot shows and lots of fun to be had. And Maddy is enjoying having someone to show around her home town, relieved that the 'family business', Isaac Moon & Son, Undertakers, has not put Jessie off. While the two girls and the two families get to know each other, trouble lies ahead for Maddy as secrets buried long before she was born return to Scarborough and the present.

A True Love of Mine

Will their new-found freedom come at a price? It’s 1970 and Debbie Hargreaves is heading to college in Leeds, where she’ll be sharing with three girls she’s never met before. Although they’re all from very different backgrounds, Debbie soon becomes firm friends with shy Lisa, outspoken Karen and cool, self-assured Fran. At the same time, Fiona is struggling to cope with four young children and her duties as a rector’s wife. The arrival of a new childminder should be the answer to her prayers, but Glenda’s open flirting with Fiona’s husband soon sets tongues wagging. Is Fiona’s marriage really under threat? Debbie loves her newfound independence and the male attention she attracts, but in enjoying her new freedom is she neglecting her family and friends, and forgetting her roots? A charming saga of family and friendship, perfect for fans of Margaret Dickinson and Rosie Harris.

A heartwarming tale of love and friendship in Yorkshire

Old Friends, New Friends

Pauline Ridge

Simon Rice

Ron Levy

Molly O’Brien

For reasons of effectiveness, efficiency and equity, Australian law reform should be planned carefully. Academics can and should take the lead in this process. This book collects over 50 discrete law reform recommendations, encapsulated in short, digestible essays written by leading Australian scholars. It emerges from a major conference held at The Australian National University in 2016, which featured intensive discussion among participants from government, practice and the academy. The book is intended to serve as a national focal point for Australian legal innovation. It is divided into six main parts: commercial and corporate law, criminal law and evidence, environmental law, private law, public law, and legal practice and legal education. In addition, Indigenous perspectives on law reform are embedded throughout each part. This collective work—the first of its kind—will be of value to policy makers, media, law reform agencies, academics, practitioners and the judiciary. It provides a bird’s eye view of the current state and the future of law reform in Australia.

Essays in Contemporary Law Reform

New Directions for Law in Australia

A secret from her past threatens the new life she has built... Fiona Norwood, the new rector’s wife, has caused quite a stir in the close-knit parish community of Aberthwaite. With her glossy blonde hair, fashionable clothes and lavish use of make-up, she is not what the rural Yorkshire community expected, and her ideas to modernise the parish do not go down well with some of the more traditional members of the congregation. Fiona is at the centre of the gossip and rumour in the community and it is only a matter of time before someone discovers the secret she’s been hiding in her past, something she hasn’t even told her new husband. The revelations and heartache that ensue have unforeseen consequences for more than one member of the parish. An enchanting saga of marriage and secrets, perfect for fans of Rosie Archer and Margaret Dickinson.

A captivating Yorkshire saga of friendship and family secrets

Cast the First Stone

This path-breaking book examines the experiences of women in the legal profession in Australia. It looks at the relationship between the feminine and the public sphere through a study of women as members of the jurisprudential community. Dissonance and Distrust: Women in the Legal Profession challenges the assumption that women will become accepted within the legal community as increasing numbers are 'let in'. The fiction that the feminine is associated with disorder has resulted in the implementation of disciplinary strategies designed to curb refractory women. Dissonance and Distrust reveals the ways in which the "fictive feminine" is invoked to deny authority to professional women. The book is based on interviews with more than 100 women, including law students, academics, solicitors, barristers and judges. Although the book focuses on women in the legal profession, its significance transcends the case study, as it seeks to explain why women are perceived to lack authority in the public sphere.

Women in the Legal Profession

Dissonance and Distrust

A devastating secret threatens the future happiness of Doreen's family forever... Sunset View is an utterly compelling saga from Margaret Thornton that explores the lives of a Blackpool family in the swinging sixties... and the discovery of a secret that changes everything. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Sheila Newberry. '[A] compulsive page turner' - Coventry Evening Telegraph It's 1965 and Doreen Jarvis and her family have moved from their old boarding house to a more up-market Blackpool hotel. As well as trying to make a success of the new business, Doreen has to deal with the problems faced by her five children, who are all growing up and looking for a life of their own. The eldest, Veronica, is desperately searching for her Mr Right, but is she looking too hard? After a series of disappointments, happiness seems set to elude her. Meanwhile her rebellious sister, Teresa, is determined to make the most of the liberal 'swinging sixties' scene, but she finds herself out of her depth when her headstrong behaviour lands her in trouble. Then Doreen's eldest son, Paul, reveals a secret that challenges all their values and threatens to tear the family apart. What readers are saying about Margaret Thornton: '[Margaret Thornton is] one of those writers with a sure skill in creating characters who become real to the reader. Indeed, so much so that they seem to leap out of the pages and make the story of which they're a part even more compelling' 'Margaret Thornton is a brilliant storyteller. Her books draw you in, so you feel you know the characters. Hard to put down' 'Five stars'

An unputdownable Blackpool saga of family and secrets

Sunset View

This collection of essays arose from a conference held to mark the silver anniversary of the Australian Sex Discrimination Act (1984). The collection has two aims: first; to honour the contributions of both the spirited individuals who valiantly fought for the enactment of the legislation against the odds, and those who championed the new law once it was passed; secondly, to present a stock-take of the Act within the changed socio-political environment of the 21st century. The contributors present clear-eyed appraisals of the legislation, in addition to considering new forms of legal regulation, such as Equality Act, and the significance of a Human Rights Act. The introduction of a proactive model, which would impose positive duties on organisations, is explored as an alternative to the existing individual complaint-based model of legislation. The contributors also pay attention to the international human rights framework, particularly the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. The essays are illuminated by recourse to a rich vein of historical and contemporary literature. Regard is also paid to the comparative experience of other jurisdictions, particularly the UK and Canada.

Sex Discrimination in Uncertain Times

After tragedy, her life takes an unexpected turn. Can she ever hope for happiness? In Beyond the Sunset, Margaret Thornton writes a delightful historical saga set in Victorian Blackpool. Perfect for fans Sheila Newberry and Margaret Dickinson. 'This flowing novel by a Blackpool-born author interlaces cruelty and great passion in the story of a gipsy's curse' - Coventy Evening Telegraph Before Molly Rimmer loses her parents in 1897, her future had seemed full of promise. Through her dream to own a shop in exclusive Jubilee Terrace in Blackpool and her budding relationship with charming gentleman, Joss, Molly hoped to raise herself above the poverty she was born into. But now Molly must take responsibility for her siblings and leave her ambitions, and, Joss, behind. She marries Hector Stubbins, leading light of the local Methodist church, searching for love and security. But Hector is not the man he first appears to be. Will Molly ever be able to find the happiness that once seemed to be within her grasp? What readers are saying about Margaret Thornton: '[Margaret Thornton is] one of those writers with a sure skill in creating characters who become real to the reader. Indeed, so much so that they seem to leap out of the pages and make the story of which they're a part even more compelling' 'Margaret Thornton is a brilliant storyteller. Her books draw you in, so you feel you know the characters. Hard to put down' 'Five stars'

A powerfully evocative Victorian saga of love and hope

Beyond the Sunset

It's the summer of 1914 - the last peaceful summer Britain will see for four long years. Tilly Moon has long looked to her elder half-sister, Maddy, as a role model. Maddy's love of music inspired Tilly to follow in her footsteps, becoming an accomplished pianist. If there is one thing she loves more than playing the piano though, it is her twin brother's best friend Dominic. But, in the first tentative steps of romance, what they all feared has come to pass. The country is at war.Following the Moon family's triumphs and tragedies during the outbreak of the First World War, Margaret Thornton's heartfelt and highly evocative narrative brings those turbulent times to life, perfectly capturing the horror of war and the devastating sorrow it brought, but also the heroism it engendered in ordinary people.

Margaret Thornton

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