Imrie, Celia – The Bell Bookshop

Meet Me at Rainbow Corner

Emma — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000

‘Walking in time with the beat, clapping her hands, clicking her fingers. How could anyone resist the urge to dance? Dot swirled her Red Cross cape in time with the rhythm.’

London, 1944. The air raid sirens are blaring, bombers are hovering. The war with Germany has been raging for four years and there’s no sign of peace coming.

Dot Gallagher is newly arrived from Liverpool and working as a nurse. During an air strike, she encounters an enthralling group of American GIs who tell her all about Rainbow Corner, a social club for US troops in Piccadilly – it’s a wartime oasis where they can forget their fears, fall in and out of love and dance the nights away.

It’s here that Dot finds a new best friend in Lilly. And together, against the stark realities of war, they must learn to face their fears, uncover secrets and discover the true meaning of love.

Praise for Meet Me At Rainbow Corner:

‘From the first to the last page, I was captivated by this brilliant novel, and simply didn’t want it to end’ – Jenny Ashcroft

‘Hugely enjoyable and meticulously researched? A must for anyone who likes wartime novels with a difference’ – Rosie Goodwin

‘A beautiful book about friendship, romance and courage set against a background of war and peril. I loved it’ – Sue Cleaver

‘Utterly charming and engrossing’ – Joanna Lumley

‘A deeply evocative snapshot of the experiences of a group of feisty and determined women, who became GI Brides in World War 2’ – Fiona Valpy

Meet me at Rainbow Corner

Emma — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 00:00:00 +0000

London, 1944. The air raid sirens are blaring, the bombers are hovering. England has been at war with Germany for four years, and there’s no sign of peace coming. Dot Gallagher, newly arrived from Liverpool to offer her services as a nurse, hurries from her Red Cross hostel to the tube station to join the crowds of people taking shelter. A group of GIs have started dancing around a wind-up gramophone, and it doesn’t take long for Dot to join them. As she jives along with one of the American soldiers, he tells her about Rainbow Corner, a social club in Piccadilly for US troops. There is always a demand for dance hostesses there, women who know how to jitterbug and rock’n’roll, to dance with the soldiers. Would Dot like to apply?As Dot discovers, Rainbow Corner is like no other place, an oasis in London where, once inside, the constraints of wartime Britain disappear. There is no rationing, all luxuries are available, including a constant stream of donuts, chewing gum and cola. There are restaurants and cafes, boxing matches and movies, and, much to Dot’s delight, a huge dance hall. Rather like an Embassy, Rainbow Corner is essentially a plot of America in central London.It is there that Dot becomes firm friends with many of the other hostesses, and in particular with Lilly, who works for the Colonel. Meet Me at Rainbow Corner follows the lives of Dot, Lilly and their friends, as they dance the nights away, fall in and out of love, and navigate the horrors of war. Lilly goes on a secret mission with her Colonel to France, and Dot becomes pregnant and returns to Liverpool. When the war is over, they are re-united, having travelled by boat to the US with countless other war brides to meet their repatriated fiancés again. Along the way, they uncover a case of inside espionage and learn the true meaning of love.Praise for Meet Me At Rainbow Corner:‘Utterly charming and engrossing’ – Joanna Lumley’Hugely enjoyable and meticulously researched? A must for anyone who likes wartime novels with a difference’ – Rosie Goodwin’From the first to the last page, I was captivated by this brilliant novel, and simply didn’t want it to end’ – Jenny Ashcroft’A beautiful book about friendship, romance and courage set against a background of war and peril. I loved it’ – Sue Cleaver’Thoroughly enjoyable! A meticulously researched and deeply evocative snapshot of the experiences of a group of feisty and determined women, who became GI Brides in World War 2′ – Fiona Valpy

Orphans of the Storm

Emma — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 00:00:00 +0000

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER‘Smashing … I was hooked on page one and literally could not put it down. I loved all that she wrote about the true story behind this thrilling tale’ JOANNA LUMLEY‘Gripping … An epic adventure’ ROSIE GOODWIN‘A gripping read’ DAILY MIRROR, Summer reads_____________________Nice, France, 1911: After three years of marriage, young seamstress Marcela Caretto has finally had enough. Her husband, Michael, an ambitious tailor, has become cruel and controlling and she determines to get a divorce.But while awaiting the judges’ decision on the custody of their two small boys, Michael receives news that changes everything.Meanwhile fun-loving New York socialite Margaret Hays is touring Europe with some friends. Restless, she resolves to head home aboard the most celebrated steamer in the world – RMS Titanic.As the ship sets sail for America, carrying two infants bearing false names, the paths of Marcela, Michael and Margaret cross – and nothing will ever be the same again.From the Sunday Times-bestselling author, Celia Imrie, Orphans of the Storm dives into the waters of the past to unearth a sweeping, epic tale of the sinking of the Titanic that radiates with humanity and hums with life.

Orphans of the Storm

Emma — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 15:44:10 +0000

Orphans of the Storm

Emma — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 00:00:00 +0000

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER‘Smashing … I was hooked on page one and literally could not put it down. I loved all that she wrote about the true story behind this thrilling tale’ JOANNA LUMLEY‘Gripping … An epic adventure’ ROSIE GOODWIN_____________________Nice, France, 1911: After three years of marriage, young seamstress Marcella Caretto has finally had enough. Her husband, Michael, an ambitious tailor, has become cruel and controlling and she determines to get a divorce.But while awaiting the judges’ decision on the custody of their two small boys, Michael receives news that changes everything.Meanwhile fun-loving New York socialite Margaret Hays is touring Europe with some friends. Restless, she resolves to head home aboard the most celebrated steamer in the world – RMS Titanic.As the ship sets sail for America, carrying two infants bearing false names, the paths of Marcella, Michael and Margaret cross – and nothing will ever be the same again.From the Sunday Times-bestselling author, Celia Imrie, Orphans of the Storm dives into the waters of the past to unearth a sweeping, epic tale of the sinking of the Titanic that radiates with humanity and hums with life.

Nice Work If You Can Get It

Emma — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 00:00:00 +0000

___________________‘A delicious piece of entertainment’ – The Times‘A very witty novel by a very witty woman. Hugely entertaining’ – Julian Fellowes‘If you’re not already on holiday reading this, it will make you want to pack your bags!’ – Best___________________Somewhere on the French Riviera, tucked between glitzy Monte Carlo and Cannes’ red carpets, lies the pretty town of Bellevue-Sur-Mer. Sheltered from the glittering melee, it is home to many an expat – including an enterprising team who plan to open a new restaurant.Snapping up a local property and throwing themselves into preparations, Theresa, Carol, William and Benjamin’s plans are proceeding unnervingly well. But when Theresa encounters a mysterious intruder, she begins to wonder what secrets the building is concealing.Meanwhile Sally, an actress who gave up the stage to live in quiet anonymity, has decided not to be involved. The famous Cannes Film Festival is on and she is far too busy entertaining unexpected visitors from her past, and an intriguingly handsome Russian.As the razzmatazz of the festival begins to spill over into Bellevue-Sur-Mer, its inhabitants become entangled in complex love triangles and conflicting business interests. With the race on to get the restaurant open in time, the gang find themselves knee-deep in skulduggery, and realise they can no longer tell who’s nasty ? and who’s nice.___________________Praise for the Nice series? ‘Her work has definite joie de vivre’ – Wendy Holden, Daily Mail ‘Hugely enjoyable’ – Katie Fforde ‘Utterly delicious’ – Joanna Lumley ‘Warm, light-hearted, fast-paced’ – Joanne Harris ‘Hugely entertaining’ – Julian Fellowes ‘Such a charming romp’ – Fern Britton ‘A shaft of early summer sunshine’ – Daily Mail ‘A delicious piece of entertainment’ – The Times

Not Quite Nice

Emma — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 00:00:00 +0000

___________________‘A funny, spirited read’ – Daily Mail‘A hugely enjoyable romp of a novel’ – Katie Fforde‘Utterly delicious in every way’ – Joanna Lumley___________________Theresa is desperate for a change. Forced into early retirement and fed up with babysitting her bossy daughter’s obnoxious children, she sells her house and moves to the picture-perfect town of Bellevue-sur-Mer, just outside Nice.Once the hideaway of artists and writers, it is now home to the odd rock icon and Hollywood movie star, and, as Theresa soon discovers, a close-knit set of expats. There’s Carol, the glamorous American and her doting husband David; the British TV star Sally; the ferocious Sian and her wayward Australian poet husband; the sharply witty Zoe with her strangely youthful face and penchant for white wine – and the suave Brian who catches Theresa’s eye? As Theresa settles to the gentle rhythm of seaside life she embraces her new-found friendships and freedom. However, life is never quite as simple as it seems and as skeletons start to fall out of several closets, Theresa begins to wonder if life on the French Riviera is quite as nice as it first appeared?___________________ Praise for the Nice series? ‘Her work has definite joie de vivre’ – Wendy Holden, Daily Mail ‘Hugely enjoyable’ – Katie Fforde ‘Utterly delicious’ – Joanna Lumley ‘Warm, light-hearted, fast-paced’ – Joanne Harris ‘Hugely entertaining’ – Julian Fellowes ‘Such a charming romp’ – Fern Britton ‘A shaft of early summer sunshine’ – Daily Mail ‘A delicious piece of entertainment’ – The Times