New Releases by Wendy Holden

From the bestselling author of Born Survivors, a novel inspired by the powerful true story of a man who risked everything to protect children in Auschwitz. Fredy built a wall against suffering in their hearts . . . Amid the brutality of the Holocaust, one bright spot shone inside the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz. In the shadows of the smokestacks was a wooden hut where children sang, staged plays, wrote poetry, and learned about the world. Within those four walls, brightly adorned with hand-painted cartoons, the youngest prisoners were kept vermin-free, received better food, and were even taught to imagine having full stomachs and a day without fear. Their guiding light was a twenty-seven-year-old gay, Jewish athlete: Fredy Hirsch. Being a teacher in a brutal concentration camp was no mean feat. Forced to beg senior SS officers for better provisions, Fredy risked his life every day to protect his beloved children from mortal danger. But time was running out for Fredy and the hundreds in his care. Could this kind, compassionate, and brave man find a way to teach them the one lesson they really needed to know: how to survive? The Teacher of Auschwitz shines a light on a truly remarkable individual and tells the inspiring story of how he fought to protect innocence and hope amid depravity and despair.

John Downing was the pre-eminent press photographer of his generation: he led a life of adventure in wars and hotspots around the world. His memoir, Aperture, offers a unique and first hand insight into life behind the Fleet Street lens during one of the most interesting periods of world history and a golden age of photojournalism.

The fictionalised story of Marion ''Crawfie'' Crawford, the progressive young working-class woman who, as royal governess for seventeen years, lived on the most intimate terms with Princess Margaret and the future Queen Elizabeth II.

During the childhood years of Queen Elizabeth II, one of the most famous women who ever lived, a young governess helped shape her into the icon the world knows today. In 1933, twenty-two-year-old Marion Crawford accepts the role of a lifetime, tutoring the little Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret Rose. Her one stipulation to their parents is that she bring some doses of normalcy into their sheltered and privileged lives. At Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Balmoral, Marion defies stuffy protocol to take the princesses on tube trains, swimming at public baths, and on joyful Christmas shopping trips at Woolworth’s. From her ringside seat at the heart of the British monarchy she witnesses the trauma of the Abdication, the glamour of the Coronation, the onset of World War II. She steers the little princesses through it all, as close as a mother. As Hitler’s planes fly over Windsor, she shelters her charges in the castle dungeons (not far from where the Crown Jewels are hidden in a biscuit tin). Afterwards, she is present when Elizabeth first sets eyes on Philip, her future husband. But being beloved confidante to the Windsor family comes at huge personal cost. Marriage, children, her own views: all are compromised by proximity to royal glory. In this majestic story of love, sacrifice and allegiance, bestselling novelist Holden brings to life the early years before Queen Elizabeth II became monarch. “This captivating page-turner whisks readers back in time to Buckingham Palace in 1933…A majestic story that delves into the incredible life of Queen Elizabeth II before she took her place on the throne.”—Woman’s World

Marion Crawford was 22 when she became governess to the young princesses Elizabeth and Margaret in 1933. A working-class girl with progressive ideas, she had intended to teach children in the Edinburgh slums. Instead, she had a ringside seat at some of the most seismic events of the 20th century. The castles and palaces housed a family frozen in time. But outside the royal gates, poverty and unemployment were breeding unrest in 1930s Britain. Hitler was on the rise in Europe. If royalty was to survive, it must draw closer to the people. And so Marion took the princesses on tubes and buses, swimming at public baths, Christmas shopping at Woolworth''s. Marion''s devotion meant personal sacrifices. Her passionate affair with a socialist ended tragically. The royals refused to let her leave to marry and start a family. But 17 years of dedication counted for nothing once she published The Little Princesses, a loving, harmless account of life as a royal governess. It earned Marion the Windsors'' lasting fury. Basing her fiction on Marion''s own accounts, plus a wide range of historical sources and her own imagination, Wendy Holden shines a captivating light into the childhood of the world''s longest reigning monarch. This is a story of conflict and contradiction, of state dinners and hunger marches, of a left-winger amongst the ultimate conservatives, of a modern woman in an ancient institution. And the divided Britain of the 1930s: the unemployment, the opportunity gap, the rise of the far right. All of this resonates with our own troubled times.

A beautiful glassmaker. Two damaged men who love her. Set in exotic Bohemia and the wilderness of an English coast, this is a story of obsession and passion and fear... The Cruelty of Beauty takes the reader on a journey into glassmaking and its parallels with the fragilities and strengths of life.

Zuzana Ruzickova''s story stands as a remarkable testimony of Holocaust survival, as well as a joyful celebration of music and resistance.

TREAT YOURSELF to a sparkling romantic comedy... Last of the Summer Moët is a bottle of champagne in book form! ''Effing marvellous'' JILLY COOPER. ''Funny and smart'' INDIA KNIGHT. ''Total bliss'' DAILY MAIL. Wendy Holden''s warm and funny comic heroine Laura Lake is back. And this time, she''s gone rural... Laura Lake, editor of glossy magazine Society, is always on the hunt for scandalous scoops to fill her pages. Now she''s discovered a top-secret village in the English countryside where the rich and famous own weekend retreats. Where film stars, Turner-prize winners and billionaires park their helicopters outside the gastropub and buy £100 sourdough loaves from the deli. Outsiders are strictly forbidden. But luckily Laura''s best friend Lulu, a logo-obsessed socialite with a heart as huge as her sunglasses, suddenly fancies a quiet life in the country... But life in this enchanted rural idyll is harder than it looks. A brawl at the world''s poshest pub quiz nearly brings down the government. And gossip from rehearsals of the midsummer pantomime threatens to tear the village apart... Can Laura write her exposé before the snobbish villagers blow her cover and suss her true identity? WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT WENDY HOLDEN: ''A brilliant, funny read... Perfect escapism from the daily grind'' ''Move over Sophie Kinsella - there''s a new Chick Lit queen in town'' ''Escapism in its purest form... A little gem'' ''Pure fun, escapism and self indulgence. Delicious!''

Laura Lake is the deputy editor of glossy mag Society. She''s been asked to write an exclusive on celebrity getaway Coconut Cay, a private paradise belonging to billionaire businessman James Redmond. When a couple of pompous journalists turn up unexpectedly, scuppering Laura''s chances of an exclusive, she decides to enjoy the glittering sea and golden Caribbean sands instead. But Laura soon discovers that the hi-tech, haute luxe, seven-star comfort of Coconut Cay hides some dark secrets. And she''s determined to get the scoop before her rivals...

Laura Lake longs to be a journalist. Now she’s an unpaid intern at a glossy magazine – sleeping in the fashion cupboard and living on canapés. And she’s just got her first big break: infiltrate three society weddings and write a juicy exposé. Security will be tighter than a Kardashian pencil skirt, but how hard can it be? She’ll don a ball-gown for the aristocrats, a festival headdress for the artisan jewellery makers, and a glitter moustache for the Shoreditch hipsters. But Laura hasn’t prepared for disappearing brides and secret royal orgies. Or the fact that her jealous office enemy will do anything to bring her down...

A laugh-out-loud romantic comedy that fans of The Devil Wears Prada and Sophie Kinsella will love! ''Effing marvellous'' JILLY COOPER. ''Funny and smart'' INDIA KNIGHT. ''Total bliss'' DAILY MAIL. Laura Lake longs to be a journalist. Instead she''s an unpaid intern at a glossy magazine – sleeping in the fashion cupboard and living on canapés. But she''s just got her first big break: infiltrate three society weddings and write a juicy exposé. Security will be tighter than a bodycon dress, but how hard can it be? Cue disappearing brides, demanding socialites – and a jealous office enemy who will do anything to bring her down... Previously published as Laura Lake and the Hipster Weddings. WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT WENDY HOLDEN: ''A brilliant, funny read... Perfect escapism from the daily grind'' ''Move over Sophie Kinsella - there''s a new Chick Lit queen in town'' ''Escapism in its purest form... A little gem'' ''Pure fun, escapism and self indulgence. Delicious!''

When Nell is marooned at the altar, her feisty best friend Rachel says she''ll come with her on honeymoon instead. Why waste a week in a posh country hotel? So the duo, plus Rachel''s Agatha Christie-obsessed small daughter Juno, head for the hills and idyllic Edenville, on the edge of the beautiful Pemberton estate. Awaiting them is a cast of colourful characters from Jason the harassed hotel manager to the ruthless Angela, Director of HR. Not to mention the handsome Dylan, a bestselling writer on the run from his past. Nell doesn''t want to go back to London, so when a job on the estate comes up, she''s happy to stay. Even if it is arranging weddings in the Big House! As she becomes entangled in the lives of the locals and they weave their way into her heart she realises there might be a way to reach the rainbow''s end after all.

This story poses a profound question - do we accept the hand that fate deals us, or do we battle to make the most of the life we have and help others in the process? Chris Graham, just 38 years old but already facing the advanced stages of Alzheimer''s disease, has emphatically chosen the latter. Having lived through a troubled childhood, Chris joined the British Army at a young age and found that the life of a soldier provided him with a much-needed sense of stability. However, his world was turned upside down when, at just 34 years of age, he was diagnosed with a form of early onset dementia. This brutal disease had already claimed the life of his father at 42, along with several other members of his family, and tragically had already confined his brother to a nursing home at the age of 43. In his brother''s life, Chris could see a terrifying window into his own near future. Chris, though, is an extraordinary human being. Having been handed nothing less than a death sentence, he decided overnight to stand up to this horrendous disease and do something to leave his mark before it was too late. And so it was that last year, Chris embarked on an awareness-raising 16,000-mile solo cycle around North America, armed only with his bike, a sense of humour, and some good old-fashioned British grit. Leaving his ever-supportive wife Vicky and baby son Dexter at home, he took on huge challenges - for instance, the fear that the ability to discern left from right might leave him at any point while navigating an entire continent - and made it home in time for Christmas, determined to spending however long he has left pouring his love and attention into his family life. Five Minutes of Amazing is both the story of Chris'' epic journey and of his fight against the disease increasingly being recognised as the defining disease of our generation. Inspiring and heart-rending in equal measure, it''s as important as it is moving, and it will touch everyone who reads it.

Provides "a walk through four decades of Latin and pop music--from Sheila''s tours with Marvin Gaye, Lionel Richie, Prince, and Ringo Starr--to her own solo career. At the same time, it''s also a heartbreaking, ultimately redemptive look at how the sanctity of music can save a persons life"--Dust jacket flap of hardcover edition.

The Nazis murdered their husbands but concentration camp prisoners Priska, Rachel, and Anka would not let evil take their unborn children too—a remarkable true story that will appeal to readers of The Lost and The Nazi Officer’s Wife, Born Survivors celebrates three mothers who defied death to give their children life. Eastern Europe, 1944: Three women believe they are pregnant, but are torn from their husbands before they can be certain. Rachel is sent to Auschwitz, unaware that her husband has been shot. Priska and her husband travel there together, but are immediately separated. Also at Auschwitz, Anka hopes in vain to be reunited with her husband. With the rest of their families gassed, these young wives are determined to hold on to all they have left—their lives, and those of their unborn babies. Having concealed their condition from infamous Nazi doctor Josef Mengele, they are forced to work and almost starved to death, living in daily fear of their pregnancies being detected by the SS. In April 1945, as the Allies close in, Priska gives birth. She and her baby, along with Anka, Rachel, and the remaining inmates, are sent to Mauthausen concentration camp on a hellish seventeen-day train journey. Rachel gives birth on the train, and Anka at the camp gates. All believe they will die, but then a miracle occurs. The gas chamber runs out of Zyklon-B, and as the Allied troops near, the SS flee. Against all odds, the three mothers and their newborns survive their treacherous journey to freedom. On the seventieth anniversary of Mauthausen’s liberation from the Nazis by American soldiers, renowned biographer Wendy Holden recounts this extraordinary story of three children united by their mothers’ unbelievable—yet ultimately successful—fight for survival.

Wild and Free by Sunday Times bestselling author Wendy Holden sees the author of Bad Heir Day and The Wives of Bath at the top of her game. Fun for fans of Jane Costello and Carole Matthews. ''Super-sharp ... This hugely entertaining novel is chick lit at its best!'' Closer Wild & Free is the festival du jour. Everyone piles through its gates - and Cupid lies in wait to sprinkle a little midsummer madness on them all. Teacher Ginnie is desperate to forget her crush on headmaster Mark, and hopes glamping might do the trick. But Mark is also heading for Wild & Free to reform his college band ... desperate not to be seen by anyone he knows. Mark''s bandmate James dreams of a festival blow-out with his son, Guy ... until his wife Victoria''s ambition kills the dream. Now she and Guy are en route to Wild & Free instead but when Guy meets Shanna-Mae and falls for her earthy charms, Victoria is determined to snap Cupid''s arrow. Will the magic of the festival send them wild? Or set them free to find peace and love?

The inspiring true story of one amazing boy and the very special dog who changed his life for ever -- now made available for younger readers. When Haatchi was injured by a train, he lost one of his legs and his tail -- a huge problem for such a big dog. He needed some serious love; he needed to find his perfect Forever Home. And then Haatchi met Owen. Owen was finding life hard too. He also needed some love. And, like Haatchi, he had a lot of love to give. This is the inspiring true story of the best friends who can overcome any problem together. Because, after all, it doesn''t matter how many legs or wheels you have, it''s who journeys with you."

From the bestselling author of women''s fiction, The Wendy Holden Boxed Set contains three of Holden''s most witty and romantic romps: Beautiful People, Farm Fatale, and Bad Heir Day. Beautiful People: Darcy is a struggling English rose actress when The Call comes from L.A. An Oscar-tastic director. A movie to make her famous. The hunkiest costar in Hollywood. So why doesn''t she want to go? Belle is a size-zero film star but she''s in big, fat trouble. Hotter than the earth''s core a year ago, she''s now Tinseltown toast after her last film bombed. Can she get back to the big time? Emma is a down-to-earth, down-on-her-luck nanny trying to weather London''s cutthroat childcare scene and celebrity mom whirlwinds. What will it take for her to get back in control of her own life? Jet to London, Hollywood, and Italy; toss in a passionate star chef, a kindhearted paparazzo, and a reluctant male supermodel; and find Wendy Holden at her best—a smash international hit. Farm Fatale: Cash-strapped Rosie and her boyfriend Mark are city folk longing for a country cottage. Rampant nouveaux riches Samantha and Guy are also searching for rustic bliss—in the biggest mansion money can buy. The village of Eight Mile Bottom seems quiet enough, despite a nosy postman, a reclusive rock star, a glamorous Bond Girl, and a ghost with a knife in its back. But there are unexpected thrills in the hills, and Rosie is rapidly discovering that country life isn''t so simple after all. Bad Heir Day: Anna''s boyfriend is impossibly handsome, impossibly rich, and generally just impossible. When he inevitably dumps her, she vows to give up men and throws herself into her career as an aspiring novelist. Which is how she ends up working for Cassandra. The social climber from hell, Cassandra has a huge mansion, a philandering rock star husband, Satan for a son, and a bestselling writing career that has massively stalled. So when dashing Jamie, charming heir to a castle in Scotland, offers Anna an escape beyond her wildest dreams, she can''t believe her luck. And she probably shouldn''t... Praise for Wendy Holden: "This lighthearted romp, surprisingly unpredictable, smart, and fun, is refreshing fare readers can turn to."—Publishers Weekly "Every character here is deliciously ridiculous, and every rustic detail a grand satirical opportunity."—Baltimore Sun "Wendy Holden writes with delicious verve and energy."—Mail on Sunday

#1 International Bestseller When Owen met Haatchi, the lives of one adorable little boy and one great, big dog were destined to change forever. Owen-known to his family as "little buddy" or "Little B"-has a rare genetic disorder that leaves him largely confined to a wheelchair. Before being united with Haatchi, Little B was anxious and found it difficult to make friends. Haatchi-an adorable Anatolian Shepherd puppy-was abused and left for dead on railroad tracks. He was struck by an oncoming train, and although his life was saved, his leg and tail were partially severed. Haatchi was left massively disabled and totally dispirited. But kind-hearted Will and Colleen Howkins, Little B''s father and step-mother, decided to introduce the big dog and the little boy to each other, and an unbelievable bond was formed that transformed both boy and dog in miraculous ways. Wendy Holden''s Haatchi & Little B is the true story of an astonishing little boy, a very special dog, and the inspiring, inseparable pair that they make together.

Top Ten bestselling author Wendy Holden launches a new series with Gifted and Talented, the most witty and romantic campus novel since David Nicholls'' Starter for Ten. Can gardener Diana win the heart of Richard, the recently widowed Master of Branston College? Ideal for fans of Catherine Alliot and Jenny Colgan.

Uggie offers readers his true rags-to-riches tale of one ordinary Jack Russell Terrier who made it big in Hollywood. -- In this heartwarming memoir by the star of The Artist and Water for Elephants, Uggie recounts his rise from humble beginnings as an abandoned shelter dog to being adopted by esteemed trainer Omar von Muller. He details his start working in commercials, then breaking into the film world, and eventually dazzling audiences in the Oscar-winning film The Artist -- a role that many said should have earned him an Oscar.

"Deliciously wicked and hugely entertaining." Booklist Anna''s boyfriend is impossibly handsome, impossibly rich, and generally just impossible. When he inevitably dumps her, she vows to give up men and throws herself into her career as an aspiring novelist. Which is how she ends up working for Cassandra. The social climber from hell, Cassandra has a huge mansion, a philandering rock star husband, Satan for a son, and a bestselling writing career that has massively stalled. So when dashing Jamie, charming heir to a castle in Scotland, offers Anna an escape beyond her wildest dreams, she can''t believe her luck. And she probably shouldn''t... "A romp of a novel...Wendy Holden writes with delicious verve and energy." -Mail on Sunday "Well observed and witty." -Mirror "Laugh-out-loud funny...a treat." -Express Wendy Holden, author of Farm Fatale and Beautiful People, is a master of the sweetly savage satire and is the author of nine top-ten UK bestsellers.

"Wickedly funny." -Kirkus A witty, beloved novel of heart and heartland, Farm Fatale skewers the culture clash of city vs. country in the snappy, observant style that made Wendy Holden famous. Cash-strapped Rosie and her boyfriend Mark are city folk longing for a country cottage. Rampant nouveaux riches Samantha and Guy are also searching for rustic bliss-in the biggest mansion money can buy. The village of Eight Mile Bottom seems quiet enough, despite a nosy postman, a reclusive rock star, a glamorous Bond Girl, and a ghost with a knife in its back. But there are unexpected thrills in the hills, and Rosie is rapidly discovering that country life isn''t so simple after all. "This lighthearted romp, surprisingly unpredictable, smart, and fun, is refreshing fare readers can turn to." -Publishers Weekly "Every character here is deliciously ridiculous, and every rustic detail a grand satirical opportunity." -Baltimore Sun "Wendy Holden writes with delicious verve and energy." -Mail on Sunday

Deana Martin''s captivating, heartfelt memoir of her father, Dean Martin Charming, debonair, and impeccably attired in a black tuxedo, Dean Martin was coolness incarnate. His music provided the soundtrack of romance, and his image captivated movie and television audiences for more than fifty years. His daughter Deana was among his most devoted fans, but she also knew a side of him that few others ever glimpsed. In this heartfelt memoir, Deana recalls the constantly changing blended family that marked her youth, along with the unexpected moments of silliness and tenderness that this unusual Hollywood family shared. She candidly reveals the impact of Dean’s fame and characteristic aloofness, but delights in sharing wonderful, never-before-told stories about her father and his pallies known as the Rat Pack. This enchanting account of life as the daughter of one of Hollywood’s sexiest icons will leave you entertained, delighted, and nostalgic for a time gone by.

"When she''s good, she''s very, very good, and Beautiful People finds Holden on steroids. Unmissable." -Daily Mirror A witty, utterly addictive novel from bestselling author Wendy Holden, Beautiful People is a tale wicked in its observations yet buoyant at its heart: an irresistible confection you''ll want to devour immediately. Darcy-a struggling English rose actress when The Call comes from L.A. An Oscar-tastic director. A movie to make her famous. The hunkiest costar in Hollywood. So why doesn''t she want to go? Belle-a size-zero film star but she''s in big, fat trouble. Hotter than the earth''s core a year ago, she''s now Tinseltown toast after her last film bombed. Can she get back to the big time? Emma-a down-to-earth, down-on-her-luck nanny trying to weather London''s cutthroat childcare scene and celebrity mom whirlwinds. What will it take for her to get back in control of her own life? Jet to London, Hollywood, and Italy; toss in a passionate star chef, a kindhearted paparazzo, and a reluctant male supermodel; and find Wendy Holden at her best-a smash international hit.

Contemporary / British English Gaz and five others decide to form a strippers'' group. none of the men have stripped before. Gaz must make sure the local women come to the show, so he tells them that the group will take their clothes off. Will these unlikely strippers dare to go for the ''full monty''? The Full Monty is a very popular and funny British film!

Zeb is the darling of Brit Art; the rock n'' roll bad boy artist whose works go for bazillions. But can he keep his end up now that his powerful female patron is losing interest? Beth loves art and the traditional gallery she works in and loves her boyfriend, doctor David. But the hospital hours he keeps are putting a strain on the relationship. Marie''s pop-star husband was big in the Nineties; he''s relaunching his boy band with a vengeance. But where does this leave Marie and her dreams of being a painter? Disillusioned Ben''s reduced to living in the country and holding adult education life classes. But what happened to his life? Then Beth finds herself catapulted into the crazed world of contemporary art. Marie walks into Ben''s life class. And the picture changes completely.