Showing results by narrator "Clare Staniforth" in All Categories

Discover the timeless wisdom of Victorian domestic science in First Lessons in the Principles of Cooking by Lady Barker—a thoughtful and empowering guide for anyone interested in the foundations of cookery. Written in the late 19th century, this classic manual goes far beyond recipes, exploring the “why” behind food preparation with a practical, scientific lens.

Tamsin Palmer—the recently widowed Duchess of Clevesly—has almost anything a woman of common birth could want: wealth, title, estate, and even her adored toddler son. But it's not exactly easy. She's been ostracized by the ton due to her decidedly unblue blood. And worse still, her dearly departed duke has assigned a co-guardian of their son: the handsome (if insufferable) Count of Rauchberg, who seems most insistent on dictating the terms of Tamsin's duchy. But not if she has anything to say about it . . .

Seventeen-year-old Mary Churchill feels helpless as London is ravaged by air raids and mandatory blackouts during the seemingly endless war. On a rare night out, she connects with a stranger named Evelyn and, after becoming fast friends, makes plans to meet her again the next day. Except Evelyn never shows up. When Mary searches for her, she finds her new friend brutally murdered.

Twelve-year-old Ramona Donnelly knows what happens to kids left alone—the system takes them. So when her grandmother Tilly vanishes, Ramona doesn’t call for help. She tracks Tilly herself from the hospital to a nursing home. But something is wrong. Tilly doesn’t have dementia… does she? Then there’s Emily, warm and open, who believes the story Ramona spins. She welcomes the odd, brilliant girl with the animal bone collection into her life, unaware that Ramona needs far more than kindness—she needs saving.

In The Nightingale, Hans Christian Andersen weaves a timeless fable of authenticity, beauty, and redemption. Set in an enchanted vision of imperial China, the story follows a humble nightingale whose song captivates the hearts of all who hear it—even the mighty emperor himself. When an ornate artificial bird replaces the real one at court, the soul-stirring power of nature is cast aside in favor of predictable perfection. But when illness and death come for the emperor, only the return of the living nightingale's song can offer healing and hope.

In a picturesque meadow where the laughter of village children fills the air, Little Gypsy Dandelion, a stunning golden dandelion, stands in quiet anticipation. Day after day, she observes the children's joyful play, their tiny hands selecting the vibrant blossoms surrounding her. But, strangely, no child ever approaches her. Little Gypsy wonders why she remains untouched when the other flowers find loving homes in the children's hands.