“I always hoped [Mary Williams] would tell her incredible story. She's a writer of uncommon clarity and humor, and the arrival of her memoir is cause for celebration."—Dave Eggers, author of What is the What As she grew up in 1970s Oakland, California, role models for Mary Williams were few and far between: her father was often in prison, her older sister was a teenage prostitute, and her hot-tempered mother struggled to raise six children alone. For all Mary knew, she was heading down a similar path. But her life changed when she met Jane Fonda at summer camp in 1978. Fonda grew attached to the bright girl and eventually invited her to become part of her family, becoming the mother Mary never had. Mary’s life since has been one of adventure and opportunity—from hiking the Appalachian Trail solo, working with the Lost Boys of Sudan, and living in the frozen reaches of Antarctica. Her most courageous trip, though, involved returning to Oakland and reconnecting with her biological mother and family, many of whom she hadn’t seen since the day she left home. The Lost Daughter is a chronicle of her journey back in time, an exploration of fractured family bonds, and a moving epic of self-discovery.

Valentina Hunter's parents think they've just hit the jackpot; when her mother invents a product that makes her family millionaires overnight, they buy a new house and new cars, and enroll their daughter in the ultra-exclusive Palm Lake private school. The school comes with an excellent resume; more Palm Lake graduates go on to the Ivy League than any other private school in the area, ninety percent of them start college with at least a year’s worth of Advanced Placement credits, and they earn more perfect ACT scores per capita than the students at any other high school. Valentina’s mother and father are ecstatic, but Val doesn’t share the sentiment; she would rather go to the local public school with all her middle school friends. Events only increase her desire, as Valentina quickly finds herself embroiled in bitter social battles and hostile vendettas, leaving her to question whether she’ll even be able to survive the first month.

The year is 1905. Eighteen year old Kate Barrington is getting ready for a ball. She has fallen deeply in love with Jonathan Wentworth, heir to his uncle’s estate. But when she arrives, Jon’s attention is captivated by her frail but enigmatic cousin Cassandra. Consumed by jealousy Kate tries to leave, but is stopped by Rick Ferris, a charming and handsome business tycoon. Kate knows she cannot love Rick like she loved Jon - but when Rick proposes she agrees, and becomes Mrs Ferris. Shortly after Jon marries Cassandra. Yet when he tries to touch her she shrinks in fear. With Kate longing for another man, and Jon unable to consummate his marriage with his wife, both relationships are put under terrible strain. Will Kate be able to forget Jon and fall in love with her husband? Or will Jon and Kate’s attraction to each other prove their undoing? ‘The Velvet Glove’ is a moving social drama following the lives of two women from very different social backgrounds at the beginning of the 20th century. “Mrs Williams is a skillful scene-setter, and piles up her bricks of fear with a malevolent daintiness which makes her final climax more fearful.” The Times Mary Williams was born in Leicestershire and attended Leicester College of Art where she trained as an illustrator. During a varied and colourful life she wrote and illustrated children’s programmes for BBC Wales and worked as a newspaper columnist. She has had many occult novels published as well as her bestselling Cornish romances which she wrote under the pseudonym Marianne Harvey. Endeavour Press is the UK's leading independent publisher of digital books.

The year is 1866. Josephine Lebrun, still only 16, is forced to earn her living by singing at the Golden Bird inn in Cornwall. With her lovely voice, she captures the attention of Rupert Verne, the rich and powerful owner of the Kerrysmoor estate. Rupert takes Josephine under his patronage, and brings her to live in the remote cottage of Tregonnis from where she travels to Truro to attend lessons with the great former opera singer Signor Luigi. Her beauty and charm weave their magic on Rupert, bringing them dangerously close together, and under the suspicion of his distant and cold mother, Lady Verne. Although Josephine is passionately in love with Rupert, life at Kerrysmoor is far from easy - secrets lie every where, and the grand house is cast in an ominous shadow. As matter comes to a head, Josephine is driven away from Rupert and her home. Will she manage to find her happy ending and marry Rupert? Or will circumstances drive them apart forever? ‘Potrait of a Girl’ is a spell-binding Gothic romance set in the nineteenth century.