The Butcher's Hook by Janet Ellis

The story is set in London during the summer of 1763.  

Anne Jaccob's mother has just given birth to a new daughter.  Following the hurt over the death of her younger brother, Anne doesn't want anything to do with this new baby.  Having another baby in the house takes her mother away from her.  Anne has spent most her of 19 years at home on her own.  For a while she was allowed a tutor, but this did not last.  

Mr Jaccob, Anne's father, is a businessman and he sees a way of mixing his business with the opportunity of finding a suitable husband for Anne who is now approaching a marriageable age.  Anne is introduced to Mr Onions at about the same time as she meets Fub, the butcher's apprentice, to whom she is instantly attracted.  Anne is very devious and plots lots of ways that she can see Fub, whilst at the same time avoiding Mr Onions.   

Anne is determined to look after her own happiness, and at any cost. 

The Sunday Lunch Club by Juliet Ashton

Anna and her family meet up regularly on a Sunday to have lunch together.  Each member of the family has something in their lives they are struggling with or a past secret. 

Older brother Neil, who is married to Santiago and has adopted baby Paloma, is struggling with his sexuality and fatherhood. 
Sister Maeve is always looking for a new love in her chaotic life whilst bringing up her son Storm as a single parent. 
Ex-husband Sam is Anna's business partner and still very much a member of the family. 
Younger brother Josh is protected by his older siblings but has a secret of his own the family are not aware of. 
Grandmother Dinkie has moved into residential care but is not happy there.  
Anna herself has a secret that most of the family do not know about. 

Anna's life is about to change dramatically as she faces single parenthood.  And then she receives a letter which opens up old wounds and brings a past secret to the present.  

This is the first book I have read by Juliet Ashton, I enjoyed the story and felt involved with the family.  I have one other book by her on my bookshelf to read: 
The Women at Number 24 

Walking Back to Happiness by Lucy Dillon

Newly widowed Juliet is struggling to get herself out of the house.  Her mum Diane insists that she needs help walking her dog Coco and drops her off with Juliet along with a very precise schedule which needs to be followed.  Whilst out walking Coco, and her own dog Minton, Juliet is mistaken for a dog walker and end up being asked to help out other people with walking their dogs and looking after their other pets.  She is turning into the local pet-sitter. 

At home she is being talked into continuing with the renovations she and Ben had planned to undertake in their old house and is helped out by the next door neighbour who shows her how to tackle some of the plumbing and decorating jobs which are desperately needed.  

With the help of her own family, and the huge noisy family next door, she slowly begins to rebuild her life again. 

Other books I have on my book shelf by the same author are:
The Ballroom Class
Lost Dogs and Lonely Hearts
The Secret of Happy Ever After

The Resurrectionist by James Bradley

This story is set in 1826 in London.  Gabriel Swift is orphaned and begins an apprenticeship with Edwin Poll who is an anatomist.  In the night they receive visits from men delivering and selling dead bodies which are used to teach about anatomy.  Many of these bodies have been stolen from new graves.  

After Gabriel is dismissed by Poll he begins to work for Lucan who runs a lot of the trade in these bodies.  Gabriel is pulled into the night time world of stealing bodies and selling them on.  He gets involved with some evil and dangerous people.  

A French Affair by Katie Fforde

Sisters Gina and Sally inherit a space in The French House from their aunt.  The French House is an antiques centre in the Cotswolds which is owned and run by Matthew Ballinger.  Dealers rent a space or display cabinet for their goods and take turns in looking after the shop.  According to the aunt's wishes Matthew has to help the sisters to sell, and make a profit from, their antiques.  Neither of the sisters has any experience of antiques but they agree to the terms and to give the proposition a try.  

Gina spends much more time in the centre than Sally and soon starts to pick up information and enjoys learning about the stock, how to sell it on and what to look out for.  With her experience in PR she sees lots of marketing opportunities which would help to turn around the ailing business.  Matthew is less than enthusiastic and seems very set in his ways.  Gina is very determined and when she realises that the centre is at risk of having to be sold she does all she can to try and save it. 

Haven't They Grown by Sophie Hannah

Beth has not seen her old best friend Flora for 12 years.  She has to take her son to an away football match which is near to where Flora now lives and can't resist the temptation to drive past to have a look at the house.  Beth parks across the road to get a good look at the house and sees a car arrive.  Flora gets out the car followed by 2 young children.  Beth hears Flora call them Thomas and Emily.  

When Beth last saw Thomas and Emily, 12 years ago, they were aged 5 and 3.  They still look that age now.  How can this possibly be?  Beth is determined to find out what is happening in that house, why, and to make sure that Flora and the children are safe. 

A Time Like No Other by Audrey Howard

This story is set in the 1850s at a time when there were many woollen mills in Yorkshire. 

Lally Fraser is widowed at the age of 20 and discovers that her husband had been spending lots of money and not collecting rents from the farms on their estate.  She now has no money and needs to turn around the ailing estate which is the inheritance of their 2 young sons.  She is helped by Harry Sinclair, the older brother of her friend Roly.  Harry and Roly are joint owners of 3 local woollen mills.  

Just after Roly returns to America to get orders for their woollen cloths, Lally finds that she is pregnant.  She turns to Harry for help and he offers to marry her even though he knows the child has been fathered by his own brother.  

On his return to Yorkshire the following year, Roly has become bitter and aggressive and threatens Lally that he will expose her secret.  He also sets out to ruin Harry and split up the mills.

Other books by the same author on my bookshelf are: 
Rose Alley
The Long Way Home