Showing results by narrator "Tania Rodrigues" in All Categories

Meili, a young peasant woman living in the remote heart of China, is married to Kongzi, a distant descendant of Confucius. Desperate for a son to carry on his illustrious family line, Kongzi gets Meili pregnant without waiting for official permission. When family planning officers storm the village to arrest violators of the population control policy, the family escape to the Yangtze River and begin a fugitive life.

Following the death of their father, sisters Bramble, Felicity and Helena have their sights on their inheritance. Felicity, the eldest, never healed the rift with her father following an argument; Helena, the middle sister, is a self-cantered actress; and Bramble, dreams of Olympic glory. Family secrets are uncovered as the sisters battle their father's enemies - and each other - to discover the real value of the Beaumont inheritance.

Summer, 1914. Young Englishwoman Vivian Rose Spencer is in an ancient land, about to discover the Temple of Zeus, the call of adventure, and love. Thousands of miles away a twenty-year-old Pathan, Qayyum Gul, is learning about brotherhood and loyalty in the British Indian army. Summer, 1915. Viv has been separated from the man she loves; Qayyum has lost an eye at Ypres. They meet on a train, unaware that a connection is about to be forged between their lives – one that will reveal itself fifteen years later.

They say there's no place like home. It's where the heart is....Meet the little boy who believes in miracles. Meet the mother who loves to bring babies home from the newborn aisle of her supermarket. Meet the husband who carves a longed-for baby out of ice as a gift for his wife. Meet the widow who is reminded of romance whilst standing at the kitchen sink. In this prize-winning short story collection, Carys Bray weaves together moments of joy, heartache, sadness and unwavering love as told through 17 very different notions of home.

It is the story of Zubaida and her search for herself. It is a story she tells for Elijah, the love of her life. It tells the story of Anwar, the link in Zubaida's broken chain. Woven within these tales are the stories of a whale and a ship, a piano and a lost boy. This is the story of love itself.

The good feminist's guide to being hot. And cool. And fit (all senses). And maybe - just maybe - a little bit thinner. Or firmer (all senses). And definitely extremely well-dressed. And uncompromised. And right. Polly Vernon, Grazia columnist, Times feature writer, the artist formerly known as The Observer's Cocktail Girl provides us with a new perspective on feminism.

We all go through patches when we find it hard to sleep. Either we have problems dropping off at night or we wake in the early hours with thoughts buzzing round in our minds. Sometimes it seems impossible to get that elusive night's sleep we so badly crave, but this book will show you how to break negative patterns, get more rest and improve your wellbeing.

At 23, Asif is forced to look after his youngest sister, Yasmin. He leads a frustrating life, ruled by her exacting need for routine. Everyone tells Asif that he's a good boy, but he isn't so sure. Yasmin is special, she sees music in colour and remembers so much that sometimes her head hurts and she also has a devastating plan.

With her marriage in tatters, Aruna suddenly left her adoring husband, Patrick, in the middle of breakfast, walked out of their London flat and caught a flight to her native Singapore. There she finds her former lover, Jazz, who has never stopped loving her. After years spent fleeing the ghosts of her past, Aruna is about to discover that running away is easy. It is coming home that is hard.

Freshly arrived from a beautiful Tunisian island to work for the exacting Countess Poulais de Roc, Fatima finds herself in a city where even the most mudane tasks prove baffling. But her natural compassion and sheer grit ensure her survival, and unexpectedly bring good fortune to those around her. And then suddenly, it's Fatima's turn to seize happiness. Warmhearted and witty, this is a story of love and determination alive with the sights sounds and tastes of Paris.

The Bindi Babes love a challenge! Amber, Jazz and Geena want to have the new school library named after their mum. They have a genius plan to raise funds for it they’re going to stage an amazing reality experiment. The sixth form block is turning into a Big Brother-style house for one week only and they’re going to be the stars. With spoilt relatives, film stars and love-struck boys in the mix, they know it’s not going to be easy but the Babes can handle it can’t they?

Aphra Behn was a prolific and well-established poet and playwright but facts about her life remain scant and difficult to confirm. What can safely be said is that Aphra Behn is regarded as a key English playwright and a major figure in Restoration theatre. Her poetry is now far more appreciated and seen as a breakthrough for women of the 17th Century and beyond. Her first play, ‘The Forc’d Marriage’, was staged in 1670, and thereafter many followed, including her later comic works, which were more commercially successful.

Spring, 1971, East Pakistan. Rehana Haque is throwing a party for her beloved children, Sohail and Maya. Her young family is growing up fast, and Rehana wants to remember this day forever. But out on the hot city streets, something violent is brewing. As the civil war develops, a war which will eventually see the birth of Bangladesh, Rehana struggles to keep her children safe and finds herself facing a heartbreaking dilemma.

Xanthe loves visiting her grandmother in her tower-block flat with its lush rooftop garden. And when Nani is diagnosed with dementia, Xanthe is determined to help her remember who she is, and her family history. A mysterious cat leads Xanthe to some unexpected answers: secret mementoes from Nani's past reveal her as a girl who, long ago, was forced to leave everything she loved behind.

One queue. 250,000 people. Twenty-four life-changing hours. A young boy wearing a cereal box crown, impatiently dragging his mother behind him. A friendly man in a khaki raincoat, talking about his beloved Leeds United to anyone who will listen. An elderly woman who has lived her life alongside the Queen, and is just hoping she'll make it to the end of the queue to say goodbye. And among them, a British Indian mother and daughter, driven apart by their differences, embarking on a pilgrimage which neither of them yet know will change their lives forever.

Reeva Mehta is thriving. Consumed in her career as one of London's top divorce lawyers, she doesn't bat an eyelid when her mum calls to tell her that her dad is dead. Because he's been dead since she was five...hasn't he? If finding out her dad was alive - until last week - wasn't bad enough, his last request was for his daughters to spend fourteen days in mourning at his house. Which means Reeva must spend a fortnight stuck with the people who betrayed her when she needed them the most - her sisters.