Showing results by narrator "Shirley Barthelmie" in All Categories

Lizzie's life is pretty damn perfect, until she realises she's about to hit the dreaded 4¿0. But losing her job to a younger journalist is not the only ingrown pube in the bikini wax of Lizzie's life. Her surgeon husband, Hugo, unexpectedly falls for an actress who keeps fit doing step-aerobics off her own ego. Lizzie has always believed brains to be more important than beauty, but up against a sex goddess, principles and profundity are about as useful as a eunuch at a whipped-cream orgy.

"Would it be a serious breach of etiquette to run out on my own wedding?" This is the question Becky Steele asks herself as she clings to the window ledge of her parents' bathroom, grimly regarding the 10-foot drop into the dustbins below. She stares in disbelief at the meringue dress for which she has drunk only skimmed water for four weeks to fit into. Why can't Becky commit to Julian, human rights lawyer, and her Knight in Shining Armani? Yes, Julian's the right man, but has she had enough wrong ones?

Ellen's just 16, but she's dying - and nobody knows why. When she's sent to her grandmother's house she's relieved to find a distraction in the form of her great-grandmother's diaries, written when she was Ellen's age. As Ellen reads, she becomes increasingly embroiled in the fascinating story of her life. Ellen's condition is worsening, and it's becoming more and more difficult for her to distinguish her own life from the nightmarish events recorded in the diaries.

Theresa Joanne (TJ to her mates) is having a difficult year. First her best friend moves away then classmate Wendy appears to have it in for her. Plus there's the problem with boys. They treat her like a mate and never seem to notice that she's a girl. When Lucy befriends TJ things start to look up. But will Nesta and Izzie also accept her? Will they let her into the world of sleepovers, secrets, laughter and advice? Can they help TJ be herself and discover her real potential?

Alice Tully knows exactly what happened that spring day six years ago, though it's still hard for her to believe it's real. The images, the sounds, and the aftermath are imprinted on her memory. She'll never be able to forget, even though she's trying to lead a normal life. She's making a go of things, putting her past behind her at last. But Alice's past is dangerous, and violent, and sad. And it's about to rip her new life apart.

Lucy seems to be out on a limb. Everybody has a boyfriend except her, and since she put Tony on the back burner he's found someone else. Then on a spa weekend with Izzie, she meets someone who seems just right for her. And he feels the same way about her. But after a while, Lucy starts to feel smothered. Can someone love you too much? Maybe the life of a singleton isn't so bad after all!

Izzie is restless and eager to be treated like an adult. So she decides it's time to make some changes. But the new Izzie comes with new problems. First, there is Josh Harper, an older, cute, but wild, boy. Then there is her mother, who is opposed to every part of the "new Izzie". And then there is one night at Nesta's house, when Izzie decides to make cocktails.

Finn's not at all sure about the Salt House. Overlooking Westwater Bay, it brings back all her nightmare fears of drowning. Of the ghosts of the dead reaching for her. And Westwater is dangerous. Countless seafarers have drowned here, their ships lost - broken on the vicious Viper Rocks. Lured by the wrecker's false lights, summoned by the dark enchantments of cunning men - masters of storms and tides. Or so the legends say.

It all started as stories - playground tales handed down for generations, stories of plague graves, vanished children and hidden steps leading to a festering underworld. A world so real you could almost smell it.... But when another child goes missing, Fraser wonders if there's some truth in the tales.