Chrissie Manby

Could you survive a week-long holiday with your entire family? Newly single magazine journalist Chelsea Benson can't think of anything worse. Your grubby small nephew torpedoing any chance of romance with the dishy guy you met on the plane . . . Your eighty-five-year-old granddad chatting up ladies at the hotel bar . . . Getting nothing but sarcastic comments from your older sister, who's always been the family favourite . . . And all this is before your parents drop their bombshell. Is a week enough time for the Bensons to put their differences aside and have some fun? Or is this their last ever proper family holiday? Heartwarming and funny, this is the perfect summer read for fans of SOPHIE KINSELLA and LINDSEY KELK. And provides a great excuse for ignoring your annoying family members . . .

A Proper Family Holiday

'Clever, compelling, canine and utterly mesmerising' - Helen Lederer Stupendo the dog has died. But that's just the beginning of his story. To love and protect. The code of the good dog is clear. When single mother Tuesday took on mongrel pup Stupendo, she made a friend for life. Through the best and the worst of times, Stupendo has been there for her. Ever faithful, ever loyal, ever true. Nothing could break their bond. Until last week. Stupendo doesn't know why Tuesday is suddenly ignoring him or why his doggy antics no longer seem to soothe Baby William. It takes his worst enemy - the cat next door - to break the news that Stupendo has become a ghost. Somehow left behind on Earth, Stupendo knows he has unfinished business. Enlisting the help of the community of animals in the neighbourhood, Stupendo must get to the bottom of the very human sadness that hangs over his old home and keeps him from saying goodbye to Tuesday. Praise for SAYING GOODBYE TO TUESDAY: 'An emotional, lovely read, just perfect for animal lovers. It was a joy to read, although have tissues handy' - Rachel Wells, bestselling author of Alfie the Doorstep Cat 'Pawfection. It's emotional and joyful and utterly compelling' - Alex Brown 'A gorgeous, ingenious story' - Amanda Brookfield 'This isn't just a story about a dog, it's a story about the very meaning of life, told from a unique and bold perspective. Filled with joyful bittersweetness and clear-eyed wisdom it made me both laugh and cry and its message of hope will stay with me for a long time to come' - Alexandra Potter

A heart-warming and uplifting novel for anyone who has ever loved a dog

Saying Goodbye to Tuesday

Do you really only get one shot at love?

Once in a Lifetime

Christmas comes but once a year . . . thank goodness! So keep calm this festive season and treat yourself to the warm, wonderful new novel from Chrissie Manby. Take one Queen Bee: Annabel Buchanan, with a perfect house in the country, a rich husband and a beautiful daughter, Izzy . . . . . . and one large, loud family: the Bensons. What happens when their worlds collide? When Izzy suddenly falls dangerously ill, adoptee Annabel has to track down her biological family to see if they can help her daughter. But can she see past the Bensons' brash exteriors to the warm, loving people they are at heart? With December just around the corner, is it too much to hope that the Bensons and the Buchanans can have a proper family Christmas?

A Proper Family Christmas

Could you spend two weeks at sea with your family? Thanks to an unexpected windfall, the Bensons are treating themselves to a luxury cruise. With stop-offs in Barcelona, Rome and Marseilles, plus constant entertainment onboard, it's a dream come true . . . Or is it? Last time Chelsea Benson went on holiday with this lot she nearly went crazy. Her mum and sister are convinced Chelsea's boyfriend Adam will propose on the ship. Chelsea's sure he won't, but she can't help feeling butterflies as they set sail. Is Adam going to pop the question, or will the only thing to pop be Chelsea's ego? Onboard dramas, family upheavals, memories and sunshine . . . Fall in love with the Benson family, and treat yourself to a five-star family cruise, all without leaving your sofa.

A Proper Family Adventure

'Funny, warm and engaging; this year's must-read! 5****' By the Letter Book Reviews In the quaint seaside town of Newbay, a beginner's cookery course is starting. And three very different students have signed up... Liz's husband has left her for a twenty-something clean-eating blogger, and she's determined to show the world - and her daughter - she's just as capable in the kitchen. John, newly widowed after fifty years of marriage, can't live on sympathy lasagnes forever. To thirty-year-old workaholic Bella, the course is a welcome escape from her high-pressure job. Their only common ground: between them, they can barely boil an egg! Enter talented chef Alex, who is determined to introduce his pupils to the comforts of cuisine. As Liz, John and Bella encounter various disasters in the kitchen, the unlikely trio soon form a fast friendship. Their culinary skills might be catastrophic - but could the cookery club have given them a recipe for happiness? The wonderful new novel from bestselling author Chrissie Manby is perfect for fans of Jill Mansell, Trisha Ashley, Cathy Bramley, and The Great British Bake Off. Praise for The Worst Case Scenario Cookery Club: 'A lovely book which brought a tear to my eye in places' - Broadbeansbooks 'Heartwarming' - The Book Bag 'Funny and emotional...a MUST READ this autumn' - On My Bookshelf 'A very warm tale full of different kinds of love; just delicious!' - Netgalley Reviewer 'If you want a funny, emotional read that will leave you wanting more then you need this book in your life!' - Goodreads 'I loved this book... the perfect place to find a recipe for happiness!' - Goodreads 'What an absolute joy to read...such a lovely story' - Goodreads 'A winning recipe of a story... I devoured it from cover to cover!' - Goodreads 'Just the breath of fresh air that I needed... I could have kept reading for many more pages!' - Netgalley 'I adored this hilarious book!' I Read Novels 'Chrissie Manby has cooked up a fine tale' Cultural Wednesday 'What a wonderfully lighthearted and uplifting novel, one I couldn't put down' - Bloglovin 'An absolute joy to read - highly recommended for when you need a little pick-me-up!' - Brew and Book Reviews

The Perfect Place to Find - A Recipe for Happiness

The Worst Case Scenario Cookery Club

Have you ever had your heart broken? How did you get over it? Did a tub of ice cream cheer you up? Did you delete his number and start again? Are you now friends with your ex? Perhaps you're godmother to his children? In which case, this book is not for you. But if you reacted with denial, begging or a spot of casual witchcraft, then you've come to the right place. This is one woman's journey from love to lunacy and back again ... Praise for Chris Manby 'Be prepared to get completely lost in this deliciously funny read' - Heat 'Destined to keep you up until the small hours' - Daily Mirror

Getting Over Mr Right

A warm, wonderful and funny Christmas novel from Chrissie Manby - the ideal treat this festive season. Mince pies and mayhem guaranteed! What comes to mind when you picture a wedding at Christmas? A gorgeous white dress accessorised with a thick velvet cape... bridesmaids in red velvet too? An arch of Christmas greenery: holly and ivy and boughs of fir. Candles and fairy lights. Snow! Chelsea Benson has just twelve weeks to organise her perfect winter wedding. Her family and friends pitch in to help, but sisterly squabbling, issues with money and an Ice-Queen mother-in-law soon threaten Chelsea's plans for her big day. And that's without the firework fiasco... Rescuing Chelsea's dream of a proper family wedding might just take all the magic of Christmas...

A Wedding at Christmas

Thirty-nine-year-old lawyer Kate Williamson had almost given up on love when she met her fiance. Now she's planning for the wedding she never dreamed she'd have. Diana Ashcroft, born on the day of the 1981 Royal Wedding, never doubted that she would find her prince. Newly engaged, and with daddy's credit card in her grasp, she's in full Bridezilla mode. Against the backdrop of the other couple getting married in April 2011, both women prepare for the most important day of their lives.

Kate's Wedding

A wonderful, heartwarming and funny Christmas novel from Chrissie Manby, perfect for curling up with in front of the fire. What could be more magical at Christmas than a fairy tale come true? It's the festive season and the members of the Newbay Theatre Society, more commonly known as the NEWTS, are preparing to put on a show. Being cast as Cinderella is the realization of a dream for newcomer Kirsty, not least because she hopes starring in a panto under the direction of her boyfriend Jon will bring them closer together. But Kirsty soon learns that it's not all glitter and good cheer behind the scenes at the amateur theatre as bitter rivalries nurtured through decades, wardrobe mishaps and suspicious near-fatal accidents threaten to derail the production. And then there's Prince Charming himself. Will working together with Jon bring Kirsty her happy ever after... or reveal their love to be nothing but a 'showmance'? With Christmas just around the corner, it's going to take more than a Fairy Godmother to get Kirsty and her cast-mates to the ball.

A Fairy Tale for Christmas

The new hilariously funny romance from the bestselling author of SEVEN SUNNY DAYS, perfect for fans of Melissa Hill, Jenny Colgan and Holly Martin 'Manby's novels are made for holidays' Glamour ***** When a mini-break becomes make or break... Kathy Courage has never visited the famous Italian city of Florence before, so she's thrilled when she and her boyfriend Neil are invited there for a wedding. Unfortunately, with Neil's constant complaining and his teenage children in tow, it's not exactly the romantic break Kathy was hoping for. But when a mix-up with her flights leaves Kathy stranded in the city, she decides to embrace the unexpected and stay on alone. What follows is a life-changing few days in the Tuscan sun, as Kathy begins to question the choices that have led her here. With the help of the colourful Innocenti family, who offer Kathy a place to stay, she gradually begins to realise that there's a much bigger world out there, if only she can be brave enough to explore it. Could Italy hold the answers to her future happiness? Or is Kathy destined to return to her old life? Praise for Chrissie Manby: 'I've been a fan of Manby's writing for years and thoroughly enjoyed this' Daily Mail 'Perfect, unputdownable summer adventures' Jenny Colgan 'Nothing short of brilliant' Marie Clare 'This sassy and addictive read will make you laugh - a lot!' Closer

perfect escapism with a holiday romance

Three Days in Florence

Una data, un nome, un destino. Nata il giorno delle nozze tra il principe Carlo e l'amatissima principessa del Galles, Diana è cresciuta in un mondo dorato, coccolata e viziata dai genitori, sempre pronti a esaudire ogni suo desiderio. E ora che è stata fissata la data del matrimonio con il suo Ben, lei ha un unico pensiero in testa: organizzare un evento indimenticabile, grandioso, stupefacente. In una parola, «regale».Alla soglia dei quarant'anni, Kate non ha mai pensato di sposarsi: troppi impegni lavorativi, troppe cose da fare e, soprattutto, nessun uomo che le abbia davvero fatto palpitare il cuore. Ma adesso è diverso. Prima di tutto, nella sua vita è entrato Ian, una persona generosa e affidabile, che sa metterla sempre a suo agio e che la capisce. Poi c'è la terribile malattia della madre, cui ormai rimangono pochi mesi di vita. E, forse, è proprio per farle un ultimo regalo che Kate accetta la proposta di matrimonio di Ian. L'importante, però, è che la cerimonia sia sobria e per pochi intimi. In una parola, «semplice».Diana e Kate, due donne agli antipodi che s'incontrano per caso davanti a un vaporoso abito da sposa, un trionfo di tulle e organza, col corpetto impreziosito da rose ricamate a mano. Il vestito ideale per Diana, troppo appariscente per Kate. Ma il fato, si sa, è capriccioso. Quell'abito principesco, infatti, sembra sia stato disegnato apposta per Kate: uno sgarbo intollerabile per l'ipercompetitiva Diana, che entra così in fibrillazione. Ed è solo l'inizio, perché l'organizzazione dei due matrimoni ha in serbo molte altre sorprese?

I due matrimoni

He's the King of the Swingers. But she's the Ice Queen. When Dr Jennifer Niederhauser becomes head of the chimpanzee project at Prowdes Animal Sanctuary, the uptight young zoologist looks forward to making her mark in the conservation world. But the regime is ramshackle, the chimpanzees uncontrollable and her first meeting with head keeper Guy Gibson finds him naked and covered in baby oil. She decides never to work with animals or the childish again. But she may not have a job for much longer anyway - Prowdes is in big financial trouble. Hope comes in the form of a TV documentary. Prowdes needs the money and exposure but there's a problem. The show's presenter, chimpanzee expert Dr Timothy Lauder, is Jennifer's ex-boyfriend. Things could get hairy. . . Praise for Chrissie Manby 'A fast-track, fun romance full of monkey business' - Daily Mail 'A deliciously comical novel' - Heat

Girl Meets Ape

'Fabulously funny and festive. An absolute treat full of warmth and romance' - Alex Brown, author of The Secret of Orchard Cottage A wonderful, heart-warming Christmas novel from Chrissie Manby, perfect for curling up with in front of the fire. What could be more magical at Christmas than a fairy tale come true? It's the festive season and the members of the Newbay Theatre Society, more commonly known as the NEWTS, are preparing to put on a show. Being cast as Cinderella is the realization of a dream for newcomer Kirsty, not least because she hopes starring in a panto under the direction of her boyfriend Jon will bring them closer together. But Kirsty soon learns that it's not all glitter and good cheer behind the scenes at the amateur theatre as bitter rivalries nurtured through decades, wardrobe mishaps and suspicious near-fatal accidents threaten to derail the production. And then there's Prince Charming himself. Will working together with Jon bring Kirsty her happy ever after... or reveal their love to be nothing but a 'showmance'? With Christmas just around the corner, it's going to take more than a Fairy Godmother to get Kirsty and her cast-mates to the ball. What readers are saying about A Fairy Tale for Christmas: 'Filled with Christmas cheer...a captivating story!' 'A lovely, warm read...highly, highly recommended!' 'A beautiful sparkly warm festive book that will have you feeling ready for the Christmas season!' 'A warm, funny, festive read... an unmissable festive treat' 'A gorgeous, funny, touching story... I was hooked from the first page!'

A Fairy Tale for Christmas:a magical, feel-good novel to fall in love with this Christmas

A warm, wonderful and funny novella from bestselling author Chrissie Manby, the perfect treat for crisp, woodsmoke-scented autumn days. Sparklers, bonfires, trick-or-treating... autumn has arrived! The thirty-first of October usually marks the start of the party season in the Benson Edwards household but, having recently lost his beloved cat Fishy, little Jack, aged eight, isn't ready to celebrate. When the rest of the Bensons and their neighbours decide to throw a Halloween fancy-dress bash in an attempt to cheer Jack up, however, not everything goes to plan as Mark and Ronnie play a ghostly prank which inadvertently sparks a local scandal. By the time Bonfire Night rolls around, will their neighbourhood relations be up in in smoke? And will Jack have rediscovered his sparkle?

(A Proper Family eNovella)

Falling Leaves and Fireworks: a funny, feel-good autumnal enovella

Recently graduated from drama school, Lizzie Jordan is looking forward to a glittering career at the RSC. She's also looking forward to the next step in her relationship: becoming Mrs Richard Adams (Lizzie just knows that her artist boyfriend is about to propose any day now). So how does Lizzie, just one month later, find herself sharing a cockroach-infested house in Venice Beach, California, working as a waitress in a transvestite bar, and pretending to be the fiancee of one of the biggest directors in Hollywood? Why does life never seem to work out the way Lizzie Jordan planned? Praise for Chrissie Manby 'A great novel for anyone who's ever been dumped' - Company 'A fun romp' - Woman's Way

Running Away From Richard

'Her witty take on life and love hits the mark once again' - Buzz 'Manby will have you in fits once again' - OK! Why is it that your best friend always seems to end up with men who treat her badly? Why is that your best male friend seems intent on dating the kind of girl who thinks that Nietzche is an STD? Why is it that your own little black book looks more and more like the non-celeb client list of the Priory? Why can't any of you find someone quite right? Ruby, Martin and Lou are three old friends who have spent too much time talking about the ones that got away. Facing another summer without love, they decide to approach the dating dilemma in the way they approached finding flatmates. They're going to place personal ads. For one another. Will it tempt their dream date/soul mate? Or is it a recipe for romantic disaster?

Getting Personal

When Lindsey Parker's father announces that he is to remarry, Lindsey does what any good daughter would do: wishes him congratulations, then sets about trying to kill his fiancee. Fortunately, the murder attempt fails but Lindsey still succeeds in driving Karen off. Jubilation turns to guilt when Lindsey realises her father is genuinely heart-broken. The only way to mend it is to get Karen back. But Karen is already seeing someone else - a mysterious entrepreneur. Lindsay decides to enlist the help of an old schoolmate-turned-private detective to break this new couple up. But as her plan gets underway, Lindsey senses she is falling for the very person she needs to drive away...

The Matchbreaker

Every bride is entitled to some pre-wedding jitters. And who wouldn't think twice about marriage when their fiancé gets their eyebrows shaved off just in time to look horrendous for the photographs? But what if it's not the ceremony that freaks you out but the happy ever after? Heidi Savage wonders whether she can really forsake all others for macho, beer-swilling Ed. The what-if's are too pressing to ignore... Will the answer come in the form of her ex-boyfriend Steven? Grown-up, gorgeous and good-with-children. Is Heidi's dilemma simply a case of the 'grass is greener on the other side'? Praise for Chris Manby 'Dry wit that sits just beneath the surface...A delicious read' - Daily Mail 'Nothing short of brilliant' - Marie Claire

Chrissie Manby

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