Showing results by narrator "Melanie Crawley" in All Categories

When Sky and her older sister Avril were taken into care, the social workers knew this was a case like no other. Raised by unhinged parents who hoarded compulsively, creating horrific conditions no child should live in, the two girls arrived at foster carer Louise's home, neglected, malnourished and indoctrinated. Louise had to draw on all of her experience as one of Britain's leading foster carers to rehabilitate and change the course of their lives.

April 1897: A young nanny arrives at Sandringham, ancestral estate of the Duke and Duchess of York. She is excited, exhausted - and about to meet royalty. So begins the unforgettable story of Charlotte Bill, who would care for a generation of royals as their parents never could. Neither Charlotte - LaLa, as her charges dub her - nor anyone else can predict that eldest sons David and Bertie will each one day be king. LaLa knows only that these children, and the four who swiftly follow, need her steadfast loyalty and unconditional affection. 

Ashley is a young single mum raising her daughter, Eden, and working hard to do the very best job she can - until one night she can't find a babysitter and makes the decision to leave Eden home alone for a couple of hours, asleep inside a wardrobe. It is an action that begins a terrible downward spiral for both of them. When Eden arrives at experienced foster carer Louise Allen's home, she has entered the care system because her mother is in prison. Eden is five years old and will not speak to any human.

Named after the lager that christened her at birth, Stella's life is characterised instability and neglect. Her teenage mother abandons her in the first few weeks of her life, and left in the 'care' of her father, she ends up lying deserted in a house with no food, no water, no clothes and no warmth. She eventually lands in the care of foster carer Louise, who is determined to change her life for the better. 

They were the Boleyns, once one of England's most powerful family. Anne Boleyn captured the hand of Henry VIII, and now we see the rise and fall of their family fortunes through the eyes of the eldest Boleyn daughter, Mary. Mary Boleyn is overshadowed in history by her sister, Anne, but it was she who first caught the eye of Henry VIII, setting the stage for her family's dramatic rise to power - and ultimate fall from grace. Although Henry set her aside as his mistress, Mary still navigated the dangerous waters of the Tudor court while forging ahead to find a life.

Growing up, Joanne suffered at the hands of a violent boyfriend and controlling relatives, as her mother lapsed into a downward spiral following the break-up of her marriage. But the consequences of her mother's lifestyle turned out to be worse than Joanne could ever have imagined. She already knew about the baby buried in a shallow makeshift grave next to the family plot. But when Joanne came across a red plastic bin in her mother's wardrobe in 2009, she realised that the family home held an even more sinister secret.

Orphaned Leah has never had it easy in life. Desperate for a job, she agrees to become ruthless Giovanni Zanetti’s housekeeper to finally gain some security. What she never expected was that being between his billion-dollar sheets would be so undeniably tempting....

Abby's Story is the second book in the Thrown Away Children series by author and foster mum Louise Allen. She doesn't want this baby. She can't look after this baby. She will never be able to love this baby. Little Abby's life begins badly, then just gets worse. Now foster mum Louise and her family must help her deal with the truth of her past to give her the chance of a future.

Cinderella's Desert Baby Bombshell: For her family’s sake, penniless Tatiana Hamilton must marry Prince Saif after his original bride, her cousin, disappears. At least the ice-cold sheikh promises to end their sham marriage quickly. Until, on their opulent honeymoon, their simmering chemistry grows too hot to ignore. Her Best Kept Royal Secret: Playboy prince Angelino Diamandis has learned the hard way to hide his true emotions. Especially his inability to forget innocent Gaby and the passion they almost shared.

Sevastiano Cantarelli can barely believe Amy Taylor is real. After the lifetime of betrayal he’s experienced, her surprising sweetness is the ultimate threat to his cynical worldview! Unwrapping her innocence was a gift he couldn’t forget...but one he knows it wouldn’t be fair to repeat. Their encounter left Amy exhilarated - and wanted for the first time. She knows that walking away from the commanding Italian is the safest way to keep her heart intact. Yet it’s the one thing she can’t do...because she’s pregnant with Sevastiano’s twins! 

A surprise pregnancy is only the beginning of the roller coaster in this dramatic marriage of convenience romance by USA Today best-selling author Lynne Graham! He doesn’t remember their night together...until he meets the nine-month consequence! When a tiny baby is left on his doorstep, billionaire Tor Sarantos can’t believe his eyes. He’s even more stumped when a beautiful woman arrives in a panic, declaring it’s their son! Pixie Miller’s horrified her brother has revealed her secret.

Receptionist Cleo’s attraction to billionaire Ari Stefanos is a fiercely kept secret. Until one sizzling night it’s deliciously exposed! Still, she knows that their passion can’t - shouldn’t - last. If the past has taught her anything, it’s that you can’t make somebody love you. After discovering his father’s hidden family, Ari found solace in sweet Cleo’s arms.... Now, in order to adopt his orphaned niece, he needs to marry. Caring Cleo ticks every box for Ari’s bride-to-be....

As innocent Tansy prepares to meet Jude Alexandris at the altar, she knows their vows are purely for convenience - the billionaire must wed immediately to protect his mother’s home. However, there’s something Tansy hasn’t shared: this marriage is her only hope of getting custody of her little half sister! Jude would be lying if he said he hadn’t imagined the passion he might share with Tansy. But he didn’t plan on a baby crashing their honeymoon! Suddenly his Cinderella bride is forcing closed-off Jude to rethink the world as he sees it....

Playboy prince Angelino Diamandis has learned the hard way to hide his true emotions. Especially his inability to forget innocent Gaby and the passion they almost shared! Until a surprise meeting causes their still-simmering chemistry to instantly and inescapably explode....

Last Christmas, he stole her heart. Now, she’ll give him his heir! When kindhearted Lara rescued Gaetano in a blizzard, she never imagined within weeks she’d be saying “I do” to the man with no memory. Or that when his true identity as future king is revealed, it would rip their passionate marriage apart… 

For her family’s sake, penniless Tatiana Hamilton must marry Prince Saif after his original bride, her cousin, disappears. At least the ice-cold sheikh promises to end their sham marriage quickly. Until, on their opulent honeymoon, their simmering chemistry grows too hot to ignore…and Tati discovers she’s pregnant!

Orphaned Leah has never had it easy in life. Desperate for a job, she agrees to become ruthless Giovanni Zanetti's housekeeper and finally gain some security. What she never expected was that being between his billion-dollar sheets would be so undeniably tempting... Gio's night with the totally off-limits innocent was a strictly one-time indiscretion. Anything more than that would require a level of trust he no longer has to give. Then Leah returns with a revelation that rocks the Italian's carefully constructed world: she's pregnant!

Driven billionaire Ruy Valiente knows exactly what he needs to avoid scrutiny at a family wedding - a fake fiancée! When he rescues innocent Suzy Madderton from the clutches of a disastrous marriage, it’s obvious she’s perfect.... Accepting Ruy’s proposal creates a major problem for Suzy: their raging chemistry! The reclusive artist is all icy control to her impulsive emotion. He’s also the first man she’s ever fully trusted. And as Suzy uncovers the pain Ruy hides so fiercely, returning his temporary ring feels like the biggest challenge of all....

A vivid waking dream of giant cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss haunts Anna St. Thais. The trees sit on a black lake that resembles a dark Louisiana bayou with an evocative aura. The dream includes the presence of a man who seems to know Anna all too well and a group of people with strange telepathic powers, sometimes called veiled eyes. An orphan from Texas, she is on her way east to help out a friend when she encounters two terrifying things.

When 30-year-old Kate’s childhood sweetheart dumps her without a goodbye, she almost hits rock bottom. But she’s determined to have a fresh start and goes to Italy’s stunning capital city in search of healing. Hot sun, fresh coffee and white marble piazzas; here, Kate might be able to put herself back together. But when a glass (or three) more wine than is strictly necessary leads to questioning by a concerned policeman – a tall, Italian policeman, with wavy, black hair and cheekbones to die for – she knows she’s in trouble.