Recommendations based on "Magic Hour"

'One of those rarest of books: so beautiful I almost couldn't bear it, and so moving I was reading through tears' STACEY HALLS 'Uniquely witty, beautifully observed, intricately woven' MIRANDA HART 'A truly glorious life-affirming book, in which love, hope and friendship trump sorrow' DINAH JEFFERIES 'Had me absolutely sobbing - a beautiful, beautiful book' JO BROWNING WROE, bestselling author of A TERRIBLE KINDNESS 'Worth every tear' WOMAN & HOME 'Exquisitely tender, powerfully compelling' SARAH HAYWOOD 'One of my new all-time favourite books - an absolute joy' JULIETTA HENDERSON 'Thoughtful, warm and engaging' CHRISTINA SWEENEY-BAIRD 'Honest, heartfelt and hopeful' MARIANNE CRONIN 'A joy to read' ANNE YOUNGSON 'A love song to women everywhere' ERICKA WALLER MEET EVA MARTÍNEZ-GREEN, AN ONLY CHILD FULL OF QUESTIONS ABOUT HER BEGINNINGS. Between her emotionally absent mother and her physically absent father, there is nobody to answer them. Eva is convinced that all is not as it seems. Why are there no baby pictures of her? Why do her parents avoid all questions about her early years? When her parents' relationship crumbles, Eva begins a journey to find these answers for herself. Her desire to discover where she belongs leads Eva on a journey spanning decades and continents - and, along the way, she meets women who challenge her idea of what a mother should be, and who will change her life forever... 'A glorious journey into loving & longing' ANSTEY HARRIS 'Heartrending and heartwarming' CELIA ANDERSON 'Exquisite' JESSICA RYN 'A deep delight of a book that vibrates with love and longing' HELEN PARIS ________________________________________________________ Praise for Joanna Glen's debut novel, The Other Half of Augusta Hope: 'A therapeutic dose of high-strength emotion' GUARDIAN 'Entertains and moves in equal measure' DAILY MAIL 'Keep the tissues close' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 'An irresistible message of redemption and belonging' RED magazine 'Heartening and hopeful' JESS KIDD 'Mesmerizingly beautiful' SARAH HAYWOOD 'An extraordinary masterpiece' ANSTEY HARRIS

'Compelling and fine and rich, I devoured it' TESSA HADLEY 'A writer to watch' FRANCIS SPUFFORD A stunning new novel of power, desire and the secrets all families carry, from the acclaimed author of Nightingale, Marina Kemp. When fledgling writer Zoe arrives at the Sicilian holiday home of famed novelist Don Travers, she feels that she has made it. And yet as the week unfolds it is not Don but his children and unknowable wife, Lydia, who come to intrigue Zoe most. On the fringes, Don's youngest, Nemony, watches as her older siblings begin to navigate the treacherous waters of the adult world. When her adored oldest sister makes a terrible mistake, the holiday ends suddenly, shattering the fragile balance of their parents' marriage and the siblings' lives. Many years later and in the wake of loss, the events of that summer continue to haunt. Nemony, now a lonely new mother herself, strikes up a chance friendship with Zoe. With her support, Nemony attempts to grapple with the casual damage enacted by her father. But as their relationship deepens, she is soon forced to question the true extent of Zoe's fascination with the Travers family. Tracing their lives through Sicily, London and the old mining towns of Appalachia, Nemony must uncover the stories untold - about her implacable father, her troubled mother, and the siblings she might still do anything for. 'Exquisitely written, subtle and transporting' SUSSIE ANIE, author of To Fill a Yellow House 'Ambitious, immersive' OLIVIA SUDJIC, author of Sympathy 'Complex and nuanced...I adored it' LUCY CALDWELL, author of These Days 'Unflinching, magnificent' KAREN POWELL, author of Fifteen Wild Decembers

A professor of German history begins a long journey back into a past she has pushed aside, returning to Germany to reopen the wounds of her own life--as well as that of her mother--as a child living in Nazi Germany. 20,000 first printing.

THE MAGICAL INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER 'A compelling story of magic and survival against the odds.' SUNDAY TIMES 'Uplifting . . . a welcome escape from our turbulent times.' GUARDIAN 'An enchanting story of love, loss and survival' MAIL ON SUNDAY 'Full of hope and bravery' PRIMA Brought together by magic. Torn apart by war. _________ Europe, 1938. Even as the daughter of the extraordinary headlining illusionist, Lena Papadopoulos has never quite found her place within the World of Wonders - a travelling circus that traverses the continent in a luxury steam engine. Brilliant and curious, Lena yearns for the real-world magic of science and medicine, despite the limitations she feels in her wheelchair. But when a young French orphan, Alexandre, comes aboard the circus train, Lena's life is infused with magic and wonder for the first time. But outside the bright lights of the circus, darkness is descending on Europe. War is about to shatter Lena's world, and take away everything she holds dear. And to recover what she has lost, Lena will have to believe in the impossible. A must-read for fans of Water for Elephants, The Circus Train will take readers on a heart-wrenching two-decade journey across a continent in which great beauty and unimaginable horror live side by side.

This bestselling and award-winning novel about a teenage girl in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam speaks powerfully to the realities of grief, heartbreak, and bravery, perfect for fans of Kristin Hannah and Ruta Sepetys.Amsterdam, 1943. Hanneke spends her days procuring and delivering sought-after black market goods to paying customers, her nights hiding the true nature of her work from her concerned parents, and every waking moment mourning her boyfriend, who was killed on the Dutch front lines when the Germans invaded. She likes to think of her illegal work as a small act of rebellion.On a routine delivery, a client asks Hanneke for help. Expecting to hear that Mrs. Janssen wants meat or kerosene, Hanneke is shocked by the older woman's frantic plea to find a person—a Jewish teenager Mrs. Janssen had been hiding, who has vanished without a trace from a secret room. Hanneke initially wants nothing to do with such dangerous work, but is ultimately drawn into a web of mysteries and stunning revelations that lead her into the heart of the resistance, open her eyes to the horrors of the Nazi war machine, and compel her to take desperate action.Beautifully written, intricately plotted, and meticulously researched, Girl in the Blue Coat is an extraordinary novel about courage, grief, and love in impossible times.

As Seen on The TODAY Show! Called One of the Best Crime Novels of the Year by New York Times * NPR * New York Post * Washington Post * Buzzfeed * South Florida Sun-Sentinel * Library Journal * CrimeReads From the award-winning author of All Her Little Secrets comes yet another gripping, suspenseful novel where, after the murder of a white man in Jim Crow Mississippi, two Black sisters run away to different parts of the country . . . but can they escape the secrets they left behind? It’s the summer of 1964 and three innocent men are brutally murdered for trying to help Black Mississippians secure the right to vote. Against this backdrop, twenty-one year old Violet Richards finds herself in more trouble than she’s ever been in her life. Suffering a brutal attack of her own, she kills the man responsible. But with the color of Violet’s skin, there is no way she can escape Jim Crow justice in Jackson, Mississippi. Before anyone can find the body or finger her as the killer, she decides to run. With the help of her white beau, Violet escapes. But desperation and fear leads her to hide out in the small rural town of Chillicothe, Georgia, unaware that danger may be closer than she thinks. Back in Jackson, Marigold, Violet’s older sister, has dreams of attending law school. Working for the Mississippi Summer Project, she has been trying to use her smarts to further the cause of the Black vote. But Marigold is in a different kind of trouble: she’s pregnant and unmarried. After news of the murder brings the police to her door, Marigold sees no choice but to flee Jackson too. She heads North seeking the promise of a better life and no more segregation. But has she made a terrible choice that threatens her life and that of her unborn child?  Two sisters on the run—one from the law, the other from social shame. What they don’t realize is that there’s a man hot on their trail. This man has his own brand of dark secrets and a disturbing motive for finding the sisters that is unknown to everyone but him . . . “Anywhere You Run had me hooked from the first page... It’s a novel both tender and ferocious—an absolute stunner.” —Lou Berney, Edgar Award–winning author of November Road

An unforgettable, heart-wrenching story tying together past and present, from the bestselling author of The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris Avignon, France, 1941. Brave, beautiful Mathilde is helping her cousin sabotage a railway line when he's killed and she's arrested by the Gestapo. With the help of her friends in the Resistance, she manages to escape from custody, and stumbles upon an abandoned vineyard where she takes refuge.But Mathilde soon stumbles upon a monumental secret in the vineyard, and as the local Vichy official starts to pay too much attention, she must do everything she can to make sure the vineyard, and her new family, stay safe... Present Day. Juliette's relationship with her husband is already struggling, just a short time after their wedding. So when the couple have the opportunity to leave their home in Paris and travel south to investigate the story of Mathilde's war years for themselves comes along, Juliette jumps at the opportunity. A break from Paris is just when they needed - but the things they uncover might just be what breaks their marriage once and for all. A heart-wrenching, beautiful tale of love, loss and the realities of war, perfect for fans of Kate Quinn and The Forgotten Bookshop in Paris. Readers love Daisy Wood!'Oh my!!! This is one of those books you just can't put down or stop thinking about. A must read.' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'One of my favourite reads of the year. The two timelines are seamlessly [woven] together... I loved it!' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A truly wonderful read that you will not want to put down!' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'This book had me mesmerised from beginning to end. Highly recommended.' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A heck of a good story filled with hope, and heartbreaking at the same time. Brilliantly written!' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Such a stunning read! Five stars.' NetGalley reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

With millions of copies sold worldwide, Di Morrissey is one of the most successful authors Australia has ever produced.Queenie and TR return in Di Morrissey's sequel to the bestselling Heart of the Dreaming.Queenie Hanlon has a perfect life. She's the mother of two adoring children, the wealthy owner of a thriving outback station and the wife of handsome bushman TR Hamilton.Then one day, Queenie's perfect life comes crashing down...Her bitter and vengeful brother returns from Italy to lay claim to his inheritance. Her precious daughter is seduced by her uncle into giving up all Queenie's strived for. And her beloved TR, injured in a riding accident, can no longer recall the life they once shared.Follow the Morning Star is a triumphant story of courage, strength and a rare and beautiful love that endures the test of time.

The first time Zoe met Zoe Louise, Zoe was four years old. Zoe Louise was more than 100. From that day on -- living in the same house, separated by a staircase and a century -- Zoe and Zoe Louise have been an important and permanent part of each other's lives.Now Zoe is older. And although Zoe Louise never grows up, she is changing in dreadful, frightening ways. Time is running out for Zoe's frightening ways. Time is running out for Zoe's best friend -- and Zoe is the only one who can help her. To do so, she must travel back 100 years in time and somehow alter the past. But in changing the past, must she also change the present? If she saves her friend's life, will she lose Zoe Louise forever?Zoe's grandparents think that Zoe Louise is Zoe's imaginary friend. The truth, however, is that Zoe Louise lived in Zoe's house a century ago, and her ghost has returned to solve a terrible mystery. . . . An eerie and gripping time fantasy. Conrads spare, vivid prose sustains the suspense, drawing readers inexorably toward a climax as satisfying as it is unexpected. SLJ.1990 Boston GlobeHorn Book Award for Fiction Honor Book1990 Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)1991 Choices (Association of Booksellers for Children)Children's Books of 1990 (Library of Congress)1991 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)1991 Best Juvenile Mystery (Mystery Writers of America)Parenting Honorable Mention, ReadingMagic Award1995 California Young Reader AwardZoe's grandparents think that Zoe Louise is Zoe's imaginary friend. The truth, however, is that Zoe Louise lived in Zoe's house a century ago, and her ghost has returned to solve a terrible mystery. . . . An eerie and gripping time fantasy. Conrads spare, vivid prose sustains the suspense, drawing readers inexorably toward a climax as satisfying as it is unexpected. SLJ.1990 Boston GlobeHorn Book Award for Fiction Honor Book1990 Notable Trade Books in the Language Arts (NCTE)1991 Choices (Association of Booksellers for Children)Children's Books of 1990 (Library of Congress)1991 Books for the Teen Age (NY Public Library)1991 Best Juvenile Mystery (Mystery Writers of America)Parenting Honorable Mention, ReadingMagic Award1995 California Young Reader Award

“Spinning at the Edges is, simply, a marvel."—Edward P. Jones, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Known World From the author of the acclaimed As Close to Us as Breathing, a captivating novel steeped in history, revealing the bonds of family and community, and the healing powers hidden inside broken hearts. For much of her adult life Ruth Pearl has lived in the small New England town of Wells, Connecticut, on the shore of Lake Topaqua. Decades back, when she was fourteen, she and her parents fled German-occupied Amsterdam after the murder of her beloved older sister Sophia, and in the wake of such loss, Ruth has long taken comfort in the natural beauty of her lake view. But in the winter of 2000, Ruth’s neighbor builds an addition to his home that blocks Ruth’s view, a disruption of her peace that sparks fear that her tumultuous past is happening again. One day, seeking solace, Ruth heads out for a cathartic skate on the lake only to spot a boy in the distance falling through the ice. Also witnessing this event is Judge Arthur Cantrell, by chance in Wells that day to avoid the consequences of a failed romance. Together, Ruth and Arthur save Ian Lima, a despairing sixteen-year-old, and over the days to come, as Ruth and Arthur help Ian heal, they find themselves healing too. Soon enough, this turn of events begins to impact Ruth’s daughter, Ian’s mother, and even Arthur’s love interest. In Spinning at the Edges, Elizabeth Poliner, a masterful storyteller, seamlessly interweaves the lives of a rich cast of characters living in two historical time periods—America 2000, marked by a controversial presidential election, and Netherlands 1941, marked by rising fascism—to tell an unforgettable story about how the past haunts the present, how sharing pain heals, and how love—and even democracy—are fragile concepts in a changing, spinning world.