Genres: Biography, Religion
Formats: E-Book, Paperback

‘None of us have the desire to play the hero or martyr, nor are we made of that sort of stuff… I am fully aware of the possibilities and dangers… If God has called me here, he can keep me.’ Ruth Hadley went to Angola in 1982. She left behind her family, her friends, and a life as a dedicated and gifted teacher. On the cusp of gaining a place in the England international hockey squad, she set aside both her career and her sporting ambition to devote her life to serving God and the Chokwe people. When civil war broke out in 1984, she stayed, despite the advice of the Foreign Office. For thirty-four years she lived among the Chokwe people, sharing in their privations and the perils of conflict – including disease and hunger, gun battles and landmines. Alongside facilitating in-depth Bible study, she organised and dispersed humanitarian...

Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction
Formats: E-Book, Audio, Paperback

Munro saga no 3 The eagerly awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Munro Scottish Saga trilogy ‘…fast-paced … a hugely satisfying read.’ Undiscovered Scotland. 1598. The French Wars of Religion are drawing to an end, the Edict of Nantes establishing religious freedom in all but Paris. For the exiled Adam and Kate Munro, the child Kate carries symbolizes a new life free from past troubles, despite their lingering nostalgia for Scotland and the friendship of the Montgomeries. When Adam foils an attempt on the French king’s life the whole family are called to court. But religious tensions remain high, and Paris holds dangers as well as delights. For the Munros and Montgomeries alike, these are troubled times… Praise for Margaret Skea – Beryl Bainbridge Best First Time Novelist 2014 ‘More down-in-the-dirt than Diana Gabaldon and just as meticulously researched as Philippa Gregory. It's touching, fierce and surprising, with a sprinkling of...

Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction
Formats: E-Book, Audio, Paperback

Munro saga no 2 ‘When you must face Maxwell, give evidence before the King. Have you thought on that?’ ‘If I do not face Maxwell, I will not be able to face myself.’ Clan feuds, skullduggery and medieval warfare, in this turbulent tale of 16th century Scotland and France. Ayrshire 1597. The truce between the Cunninghame and Montgomerie clans is fragile. And for the Munro family, living in hiding under assumed names, these are dangerous times. While Munro risks his life daily in the army of the French King, the spectre of discovery by William Cunninghame haunts his wife Kate. Her fears for their children and her absent husband realized as William’s desire for revenge tears their world apart. A sweeping tale of compassion and cruelty, treachery and sacrifice, set against the backdrop of a religious war, feuding clans and the Great Scottish Witch Hunt of 1597. This eagerly awaited...

Genres: Adventure, Historical Fiction
Formats: E-Book, Audio, Paperback

‘The quality of the writing and the research is outstanding.’ Jeffrey Archer Scotland 1586. A land in turmoil, a family torn apart. An ancient feud threatens Munro’s home, his family, even his life. Munro owes allegiance to the Cunninghames and to the Earl of Glencairn. He escapes the bloody aftermath of a massacre, but cannot escape the disdain of the wife he sought to protect, nor inner conflict, as he wrestles with his conscience, with divided loyalties and, most dangerous of all, a growing friendship with the rival Montgomerie clan. Set against the backdrop of the turmoil of the closing years of the sixteenth century, Turn of the Tide follows the fortunes of a fictional family trapped at the centre of a notorious historic feud. Known as the Ayrshire Vendetta, it began in the 15th century and wasn’t finally resolved until the latter part of the 17th, the Cunninghames and...

Genres: Biography, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction
Formats: E-Book, Paperback

(Ebook and paperback) RUNNER-UP Historical Novel Society New Novel Award 2018 At five Katharina is placed in a convent. At twenty-three she escapes. At twenty-five she marries the most controversial man in Europe. This is her story - of courage, resilience in the face of adversity and a determination to choose her own life. If you like your historical fiction to be absorbing, authentic, beautifully written and full of warmth and heart, this portrayal of Katharina von Bora, the escaped nun who married Martin Luther, is for you. Reviews:'Assured, evocative, compelling. A fascinating reading experience.' Catherine Cho, Lead judge HNS ‘Margaret Skea has a brilliant eye for historical detail. She creates characters who take us by the hand so that we never stumble or wonder where we are. An engrossing read.’ A. Bacon: Between the Lines 'A wonderfully vivid portrait of how a headstrong girl grows into a wry, steely...

Genres: Short/Flash Fiction Collection
Formats: E-Book, Paperback

(Ebook and paperback) Twelve stories - from multi-award-winning author, Margaret Skea - Fish / Neil Gunn / Mslexia and Beryl Bainbridge Best First Time Author 2014 A varied collection spanning four continents and three centuries, the characters include an aid worker in Afghanistan, a mother in WW1 Germany, a girl who defies the Taliban, a father seeking to support his family in Kenya, an elderly lady facing eviction, and a young woman discovering her unknown past. In these stories, the majority of which have won or been placed in international competitions, secrets are uncovered, actions have consequences, moral dilemmas are faced and heart-rending choices made. Professional reviews 'atmospheric and highly evocative ' Jake Wallis Simons (Dust Blowing) 'a combination of grace, technique, empathy, feeling and control ... intensely moving' Andrew Greig (Working Away) 'A beautifully drawn moment in time of a couple in crisis - with real emotional heft.' Michael...

Genres: Biography, Historical Fiction
Formats: E-Book, Paperback

Shortlisted for the Bookbrunch Selfies Prize 2020 Eagerly-awaited conclusion to Katharina Deliverance - Runner-up in the Historical Novel Society New Novel Award 2018. ‘We are none of us perfect, and a streak of stubbornness is what is needed in dealing with a household such as yours, Kat… and with Martin.’ Wittenberg 1525. The unexpected marriage of Martin Luther to Katharina von Bora is no fairytale ending. A sign of apostasy to their enemies, and a source of consternation to their friends, it sends shock waves throughout Europe. Yet as they face persecution, poverty, war, plague and family tragedy, Katharina’s resilience and strength of character shines through. While this book can be read as a standalone, it is also the powerful conclusion to her story, begun in Katharina: Deliverance. Authentic, immersive and packed with drama. 'Behind even a great (sometimes, noisy, fractious) man, there is often a quietly strong, more amenable...