Catherine King – författare

Abandoned. Olivia Copley is an orphan. Sent to live with her uncle, the ruthless mine owner Hesley Mexton, she soon discovers that a house ruled by men can not only be desperate: it can be cruel.Humiliated. A new governess, Harriet Trent, offers Olivia a glimpse of hope. But Harriet''s past is full of secrets and, alone and without protection, Olivia realises that Hexley Mexton will take full advantage of her vulnerability - despite her governess''s protests.Determined. Starved of love, Harriet and Olivia form a bond that helps them to endure their harsh conditions. But, when forced to fight for their freedom, will they survive in the outside world and find the courage to defy the man that seeks to hold them captive?

From the Sunday Times bestselling author, another gritty and compelling saga in the vein of Dilly Court and Maggie Hope.Destitute. Quinta Haig is struggling to make ends meet at Top Field with her ailing mother, Laura. Their small Yorkshire farm is run-down and isolated and when the only way to take their goods to market is lost, Quinta is prepared to sacrifice almost anything for both of them to survive.Coveted. Noah Bilton, a wealthy neighbour, has designs on Top Field as well as ideas for the future of Laura and her daughter. He offers an uneasy solution to keep them out of the workhouse, but Laura Haig will have nothing to do with it, or him. Deserted. Quinta finds love against all odds, but is deserted at her most vulnerable. The hardships that follow give her a steely determination to seek retribution from the man who has wronged her - but can revenge ever bring back her happiness?

Little Sarah is found in the snow: an orphaned new-born baby. She is taken in at Meadow Hall in South Riding, Yorkshire, to be trained as a scullery maid. Feisty and headstrong, at fourteen Sarah decides to run away. Dressed as a boy, she meets good-hearted Aidan and impulsive Danby, forming an unlikely but happy trio.When Sarah is found out, Aidan knows she can not live with two young men and reluctantly takes her to the workhouse. He plans to rescue Sarah just as soon as he can, but something keeps Aidan from his promise . . .Reunited as adults, but now strangers, Sarah holds a secret about Danby, Aidan and her unborn child. But can she do what is right for her baby, even if it means losing the love of her life?

PromisesBeth thought marrying gentleman farmer Edgar Collins would rescue her from a life of endless servitude, but her future would be bleaker than she could ever imagine . . . PainWhen the legitimacy of her twin babies is questioned, the tiny infants are sent far away. James is adopted by Edgar''s uncle, the very wealthy Lord Redfern, master of Redfern Abbey. But Daisy is sent to a cold-hearted childless couple who raise her to be a maid, rather than a daughter.PassionWhen Daisy, at sixteen, finally escapes her hard life with her adoptive brother Boyd, they arrive at the Abbey to seek work. Little does Daisy know that her flesh and blood is the next in line to be lord of the Abbey. There is a strange connection between Daisy and James, something they can neither explain nor ignore. But will the truth be discovered in time?

A heart-breaking and nostalgic family saga set around the launch of Titanic. Perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Rosie Goodwin and Val Wood Will the secrets in her past protect her from that fateful crossing?After her father is killed in the employ of an Earl, Phyllis Kimber''s entire future is called into question. But the Earl knows something about Phyllis that means she will always be looked after . . .Lady''s maid to American heiress Martha, Phyllis is her only confidant in England: she knows Martha doesn''t love the recently widowed Lord Melton, the man Martha''s socially ambitious father is determined she marries, but there''s another secret - a secret that makes Phyllis give up everything to protect her friend.As the Titanic prepares for its maiden voyage, Phyllis makes preparations to journey to America with Martha and her family, but the secret she''s keeping threatens to destroy all hope for a new future. Unaware of the undiscovered secrets in her own past, Phyllis must decide where her loyalties lie . . . unaware too of the tragedy that is about to unfold on that fateful crossing . . . Readers love Catherine King''s heart-breaking and nostalgic, Titanic-set novel:''I was completely immersed in the way this story unfolded . . . I shall be looking for more books by this same author'' ''Brilliant read. Just couldn''t put it down!'' ''Catherine King never fails to tell a great story'' ''Love this author! Excellent read'' ''Could not put it down - better than watching TV''

SacrificeWhen her mother passed away, Meg Parker was forced to sacrifice her chance at love for the sake of her family. She hopes she will be able to live a full life once again after her father remarries - until tragedy strikes a second time. Suddenly, Meg is facing a darker future altogether.StrugglesLady Alice Langton is travelling the Yorkshire Dales, spreading the suffragette message. Florence Brookes, the daughter of a prosperous grocer, accompanies her, impassioned by the cause but seeking distraction from her own troubles. Appalled by their lack of domestic skills, Meg decides to flee her old life and joins the two women as their maidservant as they make their way to London.StrengthWhen Meg is reunited with her old flame, she is hesitant about her feelings for him - not least because of the rift this causes between her and Lady Alice. It''s not until Florence''s actions land them in jeopardy that Meg realises she must find the courage to make a heartbreaking choice.

*A DIGITAL-EXCLUSIVE SHORT STORY*The day of the Langton Park community fair has arrived and Evie Preston, a well-respected professor''s daughter, is eager to spread the word about her afternoon lecture programme for ladies. She has no clue how her ideas will affect three very different women...Lady Alice is struggling with the life her mother and brother believe she should be living. Surely she should be making these choices for herself? Florence is bright but she''s bored. She''s keen to continue learning but her parents think she''s had all the education she needs. And then there''s Meg, who is young and full of hope for the future, but frustrated with the obstacles in her way.Authentic, gripping and spellbinding, The Professor''s Daughter is a short story about a group of strong women who are unable to ignore their responsibilities but who also refuse to ignore their hearts.*Contains an exclusive extract from Catherine King''s new novel, A Sister''s Courage: a story of tragedy, strength and hope*

DesireLettie Hargreaves wants more than her simple, uncomplicated life with her grandmother can provide. She longs for excitement and love and she''s determined to make something of herself. DeceitThere is something about Lettie''s mother that Ivy has kept hidden from her granddaughter, something that would shatter her world. So when Lettie suggests going into service for the ailing Lady Laughton, Ivy knows she must do something to stop it.DeterminationFeeling stifled and confused, Lettie chooses a different path that offers her the chance at love and of the life she so craves. But she is still the same strong-minded young woman and her ambition may do more harm than good as she is entirely unaware of the secrets her actions will uncover.

DutyNell Goodman is a good daughter. Her job in the local brewery is the only thing keeping her and her mother afloat. But with her mother becoming increasingly eccentric and requiring more and more attention, Nell is starting to feel the burden of her responsibilities.DreamsWhen Nell goes to George Wilmot, the brewery''s owner, for help he offers her a job as a live-in servant at Wilmot Grange. And then she begins to grow closer to Devlin, George''s son, and it looks like Nell''s luck is finally changing.DespairAn unwelcome discovery and a tragedy mean that things suddenly change. Devlin pulls away from Nell, her mother''s behaviour is becoming worse, and there are secrets around every corner. Somehow Nell is at the heart of all the drama and yet she has no idea of the part she is supposed to play . . .

Set against the harsh and gritty background of the Industrial Revolution, this is a story of poverty and star-crossed love, of sexual exploitation and deceit, of greed, murder and revenge.Luther Dearne has made a fortune wheeling and dealing with the wealthy ironmasters of South Riding, and by cheating the Swedish shippers who bring their iron to sell in England. Rich, powerful and apparently above the law, he has everything his heart desires - except children. When one day a woman turns up in the tavern with an orphaned little girl for sale, Luther does not hesitate, he buys her. Little does he know that Lissie, with her great beauty and mysterious origins, whom his wife hates at first sight, will prove to be both his greatest joy and his deepest heartache - and finally his undoing.

RevengeMariah Bowes thinks that being alone and penniless is the worst thing that can happen to her, but then she becomes the innocent victim of a horrifying act of revenge.DeceptionDaniel Thorpe is consumed with guilt, it''s his fault that Mariah endured such a terrible punishment, he''d never realised the terrible consequences his affair with the beautiful Lily would bring. Will he ever convince Mariah to trust him again?SecretsBut for Mariah there are further horrors to face, truths to uncover. Not least the terrible secret that her father, Ezekiel Bowes, successful iron master and respectable member of the community, is determined no one will ever discover.

When Ellen Tucker enters into service at Redfern Abbey, a titled household, she knows how lucky she is. All she wants is to work hard and rise up the ranks. Finding love is the last thing on her mind - and then she meets Master Edward, the Earl''s only son. As heir to the Redfern title, Edward is fully aware of his responsibilities and where his future lies. He knows that Ellen, a maid, has no place in that future but he can''t fight his attraction to her. As their moments of stolen passion become more intense, Ellen and Edward realise that they need to find a more permanent solution, whatever the consequences . . . In this exclusive digital short story, Catherine King tells a passionate and heartrending tale of a love affair that is determined to survive against all odds.