Michael loves to visit Mrs Pettigrew in her railway carriage by the sea, where she lives with her donkey, dogs and hens. But when plans are made to build a nuclear power station, Mrs Pettigrew's idyllic life becomes threatened - and Michael learns that nothing can ever stay the same.

Worse, it looks like she's going to be stuck with Kate, the girl next door who doesn't care about being cool ? it's Eva's worst nightmare come true! But when the girls have to pull together to solve a problem, Eva finds out that there's more to life than having the right hair or clothes and sometimes 'weird' girls can make the best friends.

Each Friday, Tom Fitzgerald drives the same people home from Dublin to spend the weekend in Rathdoon. Nancy, Dee, Kev and Celia - each have their own secret story, unknown to their fellow passengers. And of course Tom himself has his own reasons for returning home so regularly ... Once again, Maeve Binchy has conjured up a cast of very human characters with real joys and real sorrows, portrayed with her trademark wit, compassion and warmth.

Whether you're in the town, city, or countryside, you can experience the charm of authentic country living. Inside every issue of this beautiful magazine you will discover irresistible summer recipes, delightful ideas for your home and garden, traditional craft ideas and much more!

An old copper beech overlooks a school, and witnesses all the hopes and loves, dreams and ambitions of the children who grew up there ... By the school house at Shancarrig stands a copper beech, its bark scarred with the names and dreams of the pupils who have grown up under its branches. Under Junior Assistant Mistress Maddy Ross's careful gaze the children play, but out of school Maddy's gaze lingers where it shouldn't. Maura Brennan, a bundle of...

Kate Ryan and her husband, John, have a rollicking pub in the Irish village of Mountfern, four lovely children, and such wonderful dreams. But all that changes one fateful summer when American millionaire Patrick O?Neill comes to town with his irresistible charm and money to burn. As love and hate vie for a town?s quiet heart, old traditions begin to crumble away. Patrick O?Neill means to build the grand hotel of his dreams, with its promise of wealth...

This novel was George Eliot's favourite. It concerns a bitter weaver who takes on a young orphan girl and gradually transforms his own life and that of the girl. The novel combines humour, rich symbolism and pointed social criticism to create an unsentimental portrait of rural English life.

Alice Taylor takes a nostalgic, loving look back to a family firmly rooted in tradition and humour and - in particular - the Christmas traditions of her childhood. With her unerring knack of bringing her readers into her home, her stories of a childhood Christmas are rich, warm and amusing.

A funny Percy the Park Keeper story from highly regarded, award-winning author and illustrator Nick Butterworth, creator of One Snowy Night.The badger has been doing what badgers do best. Digging. He?s had a lovely day and, as usual when he?s had a lovely day, he is filthy dirty.Percy the park keeper loves to help his animal friends, so when he sees how dirty the badger is, he prepares a special bath with warm soapy water. But just as it?s ready,...

Now a major motion picture starring Kate Winslet Tilly Dunnage left her hometown of Dungatar in rural Australia under a black cloud of accusation. Years later Tilly, now a couturier for the Paris fashion houses, returns home to make amends with her mentally unstable mother. Mid-century Dungatar is a small town, and small towns have long memories. At first she wins over the suspicious locals with her extraordinary dressmaking skills. But when the eccentric...