Valerie Mendes

Larkswood House. The very name suggests birdsong, peace and elegance. It is home to the Hamilton children - Edward, Cynthia and Harriet - who enjoy the freedom and excitement of privilege. But in the glorious summer of 1896, with absent parents and a departed governess, disaster strikes the family, leaving it cruelly divided. More than 40 years later, on the eve of the Second World War, Louisa Hamilton, newly presented at court but struck down with glandular fever, is sent to Larkswood to recuperate. There, for the first time, she meets her grandfather, Edward, home after decades in India. But as Louisa begins to fall under the spell of Larkswood, she realises it holds the key to the mystery that shattered her family two generations before. Will she find the courage to unravel the dark secrets of the past? And can Larkswood ever become home to happiness again?

Larkswood

When her mother is killed in a riding accident, nine-year-old Amy is left mute and traumatised. She was there - but she cannot remember what happened and she is haunted by a nightmare that she cannot fully explain. Gradually her voice returns, but not her memory. Her relationship with her father deepens as she grows older, and she resigns herself to living with the blanks. As long as she has her dad, she can cope with anything. Then six years later, as Amy turns sixteen and a new woman enters her father's life, the chance discovery of a hidden postcard gives her the vital clue she needs to uncover the truth about the past. It takes her to Italy, to a man she has never met. Was he her mother's lover - or her killer? The threads of the past lead inexorably back to the present and, as they gradually allow her to remember those horrific moments she thought forever buried, finally - and in more ways than one - Amy comes of age.

Coming of Age

Celebrating a fashion staple--the little black dress--this unique illustrated book features designs from Fortuny, Schiaparelli, Dior, Balenciaga, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, and many other fashion institutions.

Dressed in Black

After the death of his beloved grandmother - his only family - Daniel feels lost and alone. People move into his house, rubbing salt into the wound. But then he meets Laura, whose loneliness matches his. Might she become his surrogate grandmother? And that family in his old home: the bright, beautiful Jade and her little brother, Finn. Could they too spell a new beginning? It seems too much to hope for. There is something strange about Jade and Finn's relationship. And someone is after the little boy - a figure from the past. He holds the key to a secret that threatens Finn's future - and that will turn Jade and Daniel's lives upside-down.

Lost & Found

Sixteen-year-old Jenna wants to dance - not just in dance class or in her bedroom, but professionally, in London, under the eyes of the best teachers in the world. But a fatal accident blows her family and Cornish life apart and, guilty and grief-stricken, she puts all her plans on hold. Until a chance meeting with someone who was there with her that tragic afternoon. Who is he, and how can he help her? Will Jenna find the courage and determination to follow her dreams?

The Drowning

Nate is furious when his mother decides to move to them to Cornwall after his father leaves them, but when he finds a mysterious cottage and an even more mysterious girl that lives there, he is intrigued enough to stay.

Girl In The Attic

All sixteen-year-old Jenna wants to do is dance, but a tragic accident puts her grief-sticken life on hold.

'Find Moira for me. Tell her I'm sorry...' These are the dying words uttered by artist Walter Drummond to his daughter, Eleanor, on his deathbed in 1936. Eleanor has never heard the name Moira before, and daren't even say it to her mother. Yet she is haunted by the mysterious woman who consumed her father's thoughts in his final moments. Who was Moira and what hold did she have over Walter? So begins Eleanor's quest to unearth the truth about her father and his past. What starts as a promise becomes an obsession and in Eleanor's determination to find Moira, she discovers things about her family she'd rather not have known. It is a journey that will take her to Cornwall, to a tiny artist's cottage by the sea, to a passionate first love and a devastating secret... THE HIDEAWAY is a gripping story of family secrets, first love and obsession, from Valerie Mendes, bestselling author of LARKSWOOD.

The Hideaway

John Lobban

Presenting several basic concepts for young people learning English, this book in sequence of simply described and illustrated actions takes the reader through one 24-hour day. The days of the week and the months of the year are presented, as are the seasons and weather in temperate and tropical countries.

Time, Seasons and Weather

Amy De La Haye

London, Paris, New York and Chicago 1890s - 1930s

Lucile Ltd

Claire Wilcox

Chiara Buss

Published to accompany the first major exhibition of the work of Gianni Versace in the UK since his death in 1997, this stylish book provides a glittering retrospective of one of the twentieth century's most innovative and enigmatic designers. Always flamboyant and outrageous, Versace's imaginative and intelligent collections drew inspiration from pop culture and the street, as well as from his impressive knowledge of art and fashion. His work is seen here from two different but complementary perspectives - Art and Craft. Art lays out a glamorous array of designs, from asymmetric tailored suits to flamboyant print dresses, garments in leather and metal mesh, gorgeous evening wear and exotic theatre designs. Scattered through the pages are pictures of some of Versace's most famous clients- Liz Hurley in the notorious safety pin dress and Princess Diana. But the real stars are the exquisite designs themselves, created to flatter the female form and to lend panache to the male wardrobe. Understated elegance was not Versace's aim- his clothes stand out from the crowd, demanding to be admired, and are featured here in stunning, specially commissioned photographs. This is the most comprehensive collection of Versace originals ever exhibited. Craft looks at Versace's highly inventive use of materials, such as Oroton, the metal mesh he created which can be draped like the finest silk. Other innovative techniques include his idiosyncratic weaving methods and his flair for combining unlikely partners- Prince of Wales check with baroque embroidery, denim and diamant . Showing his fabrics, prints, appliqu and embroidery in gorgeous close-up, this section focuses on the detail of Versace's craftsmanship. The stylish page design gives each section its own distinctive look. The paperback cover opens out into page size flaps which features a colourful parade of images to delight fashion lovers and students alike. Everyone will find much to admire in this fascinating retrospective.

Valerie Mendes

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