Karen Swan

The Rome Affair

The glamorous capital city of Italy is brought to startling life in The Rome Affair, a compelling novel by bestselling author Karen Swan. 1974 and Elena Damiani lives a gilded life. Born to wealth and a noted beauty, no door is closed to her, no man can resist her. At twenty-six, she is already onto her third husband when she meets her love match. But he is the one man she can never have, and all the beauty and money in the world can't change it.2017 and Francesca Hackett is living la dolce vita in Rome, leading tourist groups around the Eternal City and forgetting the ghosts she left behind in London. When she finds a stolen designer handbag in her dustbin and returns it, she is brought into the orbit of her grand neighbour who lives across the piazza – famed socialite Viscontessa Elena dei Damiani Pignatelli della Mirandola. Elena greets the return of the bag with exultation for it contains an unopened letter written by her husband on his deathbed, twelve years earlier.Mutually intrigued by each other, the two women agree to collaborate on a project, with Cesca interviewing Elena for her memoirs. As summer unfurls, Elena tells her sensational stories, leaving Cesca in her thrall. But when a priceless diamond ring found in an ancient tunnel below the city streets is ascribed to Elena, Cesca begins to suspect a shocking secret at the heart of Elena's life.'Glittering jewels, designer labels galore and the most mouth-watering pizza in Rome make this a satisfying summer beach read' – Veronica Henry, Daily ExpressEnjoy more of Karen Swan's captivating seasonal novels with The Greek Escape and The Paris Secret.

Read more less

Karen Swan

R 260.00R 225.00
The Paris Secret

With stunning locations and page-turning tension, The Paris Secret is an intense and gripping tale from bestselling author Karen Swan, the perfect escapism for fans of Santa Montefiore.Not every door should be opened . . .Somewhere along the cobbled streets of Paris, an apartment lies thick with dust and secrets: full of priceless artworks hidden away for decades.High-flying fine art agent Flora from London, more comfortable with the tension of a million-pound auction than a cosy candlelit dinner for two, is called in to assess these suddenly discovered treasures. As an expert in her field, she must trace the history of each painting and discover who has concealed them for so long.Thrown in amongst the glamorous Vermeil family as they move between Paris and Antibes, Flora begins to discover that things aren’t all that they seem, while back at home her own family is recoiling from a seismic shock. The terse and brooding Xavier Vermeil seems intent on forcing Flora out of his family’s affairs – but just what is he hiding?'The next best thing to jumping on the Eurostar and being there' – Chris Manby, author of Three Days in Florence'Escaping into a world of art, beauty and heartbreaking history, I was caught on page one and didn’t put it down until I finished it' – Liz Fenwick, author of The Cornish HouseEnjoy more of Karen Swan's captivating seasonal novels with The Greek Escape and The Rome Affair.

Read more less

Karen Swan

R 295.00
The Greek Escape

Set on a lush Greek island, The Greek Escape by Karen Swan is a Sunday Times bestseller, and the perfect getaway for fans of Victoria Hislop and Santa Montefiore. Before every new beginning, there must be an ending . . .Running from heartbreak, Chloe Marston leaves her old life in London for a fresh start in New York. Working at a luxury concierge company, she makes other people’s lives run perfectly, even if her own has ground to a halt. But a terrible accident forces her to step into a new role, up close and personal with the company’s most esteemed and powerful clients. Charismatic Joe Lincoln is one of them and his every wish is her command, so when he asks her to find him a secluded holiday home in the Greek Islands, she sets about sourcing the perfect retreat. But when Tom, her ex, unexpectedly shows up in Manhattan and the stability of her new life is thrown off-balance again, she jumps at the chance to help Joe inspect the holiday house; escaping to Greece will give her the time and space to decide where her future truly lies. Tom is the man she has loved for so long but he has hurt her before – can she give him another chance? And as she draws closer to Joe, does she even want to? As magnetic as he is mysterious, there’s an undeniable chemistry between them that she can’t resist. But whatever her heart is telling her, she’s in over her head – another client’s wife has mysteriously disappeared and serious allegations about Joe threaten more than just her happiness. Who can she trust? And will Chloe uncover the truth in time? 'This irresistible story will sweep you right up into its pages and keep you there.' - Heat

Read more less

Karen Swan

R 295.00

84%

(1280)

14%

(216)

(25)

(5)

(3)

1079

213

Lani en Elliot balanseer nie en die vonke spat uit die staanspoor

Elliot tree totaal buite karakter op toe hy langs die hoofpad stop om ’n ryloper op te laai. Hy neem haar boonop na sy ouerhuis toe en vind aanhoudend redes om haar binne sy sfeer te hou. Mens sou dit liefde met die eerste opslag wou noem, maar gewilde skrywer, Madelie Human, noem dit Kortpadliefde.
Moenie verwag dat alles glad gaan verloop nie. “Hy en Lani is beslis nie die twee kante van ’n wiskundige vergelyking nie. Hulle balanseer nie. Kyk maar net hoe die vonke tussen hulle van die eerste oomblik af gespat het.” (p.50)
Moet verder nie verwag dat dit die standaard romanse is nie. Daar is baie diepgaande kwessies wat oopgeskryf word, soos ouer-kind verhoudings, beroepsbedrewendheid, soeke na sosiale aansien, selfs ’n cougar wat skaamteloos die mooi verhouding tussen Lani en Elliot verontagsaam. Dwelmsmokkelary, verdagmaking en vooroordeel is dinge wat negatief inwerk op die ontwikkelende verhouding, maar gelukkig gee die skrywer dit in kleinerige porsies deur aan die leser.
Kortpadliefde is die nuutste in ’n lang lys van suksesvolle Romanzas deur Madelie Human, wat uitgegee is deur Lapa.

Liefde in Barcelona en vrede maak met die verlede

As ’n gesoute leser van romanses, mag jy dalk dink dat jy ’n goeie idee het oor romantiese liefde. Lees jy egter René van Zyl se nuutste Romanza, Sigeunerliefde, gaan jy ’n nuwe definisie raaklees wat die skrywer gaan leen het uit die opera, Carmen. “Liefde is ’n sigeuner se kind wat hom nie aan wette steur nie en nie gedwing kan word om lief te hê nie.” (p.182)
Karmen se verhaal het my skoon nostalgies gehad. Ek het self die voorreg gehad om Spanje te besoek en goeie herinneringe het kom aanklop: Flamenco-dansers, Gaudi, die Sagrada Familia-basilika, metrotreinritte deur Barcelona, sangria by ‘n kafee, stap met La Rambla langs. Jy hoef egter nie te vrees dat dit gaan lees soos ’n reisbrosjure nie. Die agtergrond is presies dit, die verhoog waarop ’n hartroerende verhaal afspeel van ’n jong vrou wat geteister word deur verwyte, gemis van haar ouers en veroordeling deur haar ouma.
Die straatmusikant wat haar hart kom steel, leer haar ook dat sy nie mag het oor lewe en dood nie. Sy moet die skuldlas laat vaar wat haar dryf om soos ’n sigeuner rond te swerf en nêrens rus te vind nie.
Die skrywer gee subtiele wenke oor sekere elemente van die storie, net genoeg om nie die oomblik te bederf wanneer die kloutjie en die oortjie mekaar vind nie. Hierdie is ’n heel oorspronklike storielyn wat ek geweldig baie geniet het, selfs ’n traan afgevee het.

The boy and the Whale shark

Highly recommended for children with skin ailments. A wonderful story.

For people that enjoy political satire

This is one of the best books I've ever read.
At first, it seems like a simple story about farm animals who rebel against their owner in search of a better life. However, as the story progresses it becomes clear that Orwell is making a much deeper point about politics, corruption and power.
What I found most interesting was how the pigs slowly become just as bad as the humans they replaced. Napoleon’s rise to power feels frustrating to watch, especially because the other animals trust him so easily. Characters like Boxer are particularly memorable because they show how loyalty and hard work can be taken advantage of by those in authority.
Although Animal Farm is based on historical events, its message still feels relevant today. The book highlights how propaganda, misinformation, and blind trust in leaders can allow people to gain and abuse power. Orwell presents these ideas in a way that is easy to understand without making the story feel like a history lesson.
Overall, I really enjoyed Animal Farm. Its simple writing style makes it accessible, but the themes are complex and thought-provoking. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys books that make you think about society and human nature or just people that really enjoy political satire.

Twee pragtige verhale van verlies en oorwinning

Met die pragtige Helene de Kock Inspirasie-omnibus in my hand, het ek vrymoedigheid geneem om by die skrywer aan te klop met ’n paar vrae, wat sy goedgunstiglik beantwoord het.
Ek wou in die eerste plek weet of sy sulke romans wat vir herpublikasie oorweeg word, moet redigeer. Haar antwoord was baie duidelik en goed gemotiveer: sy skaaf nooit aan heruitgawes nie omdat dit goed is dat lesers ’n boek binne sy tydvak lees. “Al beweeg die karakters teen die tydsgees in”, het sy gesê.
Verder wou ek weet of sy, as skrywer, insae het in die keuse van boeke vir ‘n omnibus, waarop sy positief geantwoord het dat sy wel insae het en dit moet goedkeur.
Die produk van hierdie proses is die kombinasie van Kruispad vir Kara, oorspronklik uitgegee in 2018, en Engel op die drumpel, uitgegee in 1999. Daar is nogal heelwat raakpunte tussen hierdie twee romans in die geestelike fiksie genre. Die hoofkarakters in albei is studente aan Tukkies en albei is pratige meisies wat die aandag trek van mansstudente wat sosiale en akademiese aansien geniet. Jannes Conradie en Hein Leroux deel egter ’n swakte: hulle is nie ouens wat erns maak met verhoudings nie.
Liriese taalgebruik en goeie kennis van die Woord asook die gawe om dit toepaslik in die storielyn te verweef, maak van Helene de Kock se boeke iets besonders, sonder om prekerig oor te kom. Haar karakters ly verlies, hulle voer ’n geloofstryd, het baie wroeging, en hulle moet indringend selfondersoek doen alvorens daar uiteindelik oorwinning kom. Vir die romantiese siele is daar ook die belofte van liefde wat oorwin.
Die Inspirasie-omnibus is uitgegee deur Lux Verbi, die geestelike druknaam van Jonathan Ball Uitgewers. Jy sal dit oral in goeie boekwinkels kan opspoor.

1 2 3

The Rome Affair

The Paris Secret

The Greek Escape

Let customers speak for us