A fathers

Four-year-old Lisa\'s world turned upside down when her step-father moved in. Most of the time he was just violent but then he started making her do things to him she knew were wrong.

Soon he was visiting her at night. Lisa begged her mother for help but she just shrugged, telling Lisa he would have his way.

It was the greatest betrayal of all.At first Lisa\'s step-father would just make her stroke and massage his feet, hitting her if she stopped, but he soon wanted more.

Much more. By the time she was 12 he was regularly abusing her.

One day, when Lisa turned 16, she came home to discover that her mother had swapped bedrooms with her. \'You\'re my girlfriend now\', her step-father told her.

Lisa turned to her mother for help, but was met with a shrug. She wouldn\'t hear a word against her husband.

\'Don\'t blame me,\' she said. Her step-father\'s abuse was horrific but what completely tore her apart was knowing her mother knew and encouraged it.

Trapped and increasingly desperate, Lisa tried to find a way out. But her isolation was complete.

A few months later her mother told her she\'d arranged for Lisa and her step-father to move into a flat together down the road. It was too much for Lisa to bear.

\'Please don\'t make me, please,\' she sobbed. But her mother just ignored her.

Lisa was marched around to the flat with her possessions and her nightmare was complete.Alone with her step-father, Lisa\'s life became even more unbearable.

Then one day, finally, she got the chance she\'d been looking for to escape. Lisa bravely struck out on her own, petrified her mother would find her and hand her back into the waiting arms of her step-father.

Nigel has a disability – an inherited disease that means his nerves don’t tell his muscles what to do – but he does not consider himself disabled. His youngest daughter Ellie has been diagnosed with the same condition.

To inspire Ellie, and show her anything is possible, Nigel set himself a list of fifty challenges. This is the story of that list.

Nigel and his wife Lisa have three children and, like all parents, they have always wanted the best for their kids. For Nigel, this meant helping them to understand that life is to be challenged: to be explored and enjoyed, no matter what obstacles you might have to face.

Even during the darkest times, Nigel has never let anything stop him from realising his dreams. To inspire his youngest daughter, and let her see firsthand that anything is possible, Nigel set himself a list of 50 challenges to complete before he turned 50.

Some are crazy, wild physical challenges, others are seemingly simple tasks people often take for granted. Some are activities Nigel has done before, others are skills he has learnt to cope with his condition that he wants to share with other people.

All of them hold huge emotional significance to Nigel and his family.This is the heart-warming account of the year Nigel completed The 50 List.

Inspiring and surprising, it will move you to tears and laughter, and leave you believing that you really can accomplish anything.

‘Sparkling, sharply observing, insights delivered with a light touch that puts us in a good mood, however dark the comedy’ SpectatorHere are nineteen glittery new tales about the way we live now, as lovers, partners, children, parents. Or alone.Stories of passion, desire, and necessary restraint;of the near future, the recent past;of old habits, new technology;of won’t-be mothers and would-be fathers;of houses, ancient and modern.Stories, in fact, to enlighten us to the true and timeless nature of the human condition in this the new age of self-knowledge.

The cowboy’s got a secret!Logan had ranching in his blood. For this cowboy, teaming up with army sergeant Mary to enter the Double D’s wild mustang training competition was a win-win proposition.

This tough yet vulnerable woman was a natural with horses – and with Logan. She soon had the single father yearning for love and family, something he’d lost when his grown stepsons left home.

But, as with horses, it wasn’t enough for Logan to know how to ride this feeling; he had to know how to fall. And when Mary made a shocking discovery that threw their relationship into question, Logan knew he’d risk all to keep their untameable passion alive….

Four rambunctious children and not a wife in sight. Struggling single father Orren Ellis needed someone to care for his brood, and the only applicant was Mattie Kincaid.

Though the beauty could cook, clean and courageously keep his kids in line, Orren considered her simply too young to take the job of his bride.But years were not important to Mattie.

She had quickly fallen for the endearing father of four and sensed he felt the same. And no matter how loudly Orren protested, Mattie was determined to make herself part of this ready-made family.

Her three-year-old baby secret…Dr Eva Corday never expected to see Jacob Dolan ever again – especially not working as the new doctor in her A E department! Four years ago they shared a scorching, unforgettable night together, but the next morning Jacob disappeared, taking her heart with him…Now he’s back, Jacob’s more irresistible than ever – and it’s clear the same chemistry sizzles between them. Yet this Christmas Eva has to protect more than her own heart and must reveal the secret she’s kept hidden for so long – their adorable three-year-old son, Seb!

He beat them, he abused them, and he tortured them. He broke their dreams.

But they came back stronger.‘Terrie and Paul are two of the bravest people I have ever met.

I have only shared the briefest glimpse into the true horrors this brother and sister have endured, but I rarely come across cases this bad. After the unspeakable abuse and shocking betrayals, two incredible human beings came through – to inspire us all.

’Sara Payne OBE, co-founder of Phoenix SurvivorsTerrie and Paul’s step-father had been living with them for six months when the abuse and grooming began. What started as innocent conversations and goodnight kisses quickly developed into something far darker and depraved.

Everyday Terrie was assaulted and abused; her rapes were photographed, filmed and shared. Paul was regularly taunted and mercilessly beaten.

But despite the bruises and the scars, and the desperate pleas for help, no one saw their pain.But through it all they stuck together, battling for their childhoods for over a decade and masterminding creative ways to outwit their stepfather and buy themselves fleeting moments of joy.

In March 2013, thirty years on, Terrie and Paul made the brave decision to give up their right to anonymity to tell of the years of abuse they endured at the hands of their recently convicted step-father and raise awareness for the ongoing battle for justice for victims of child abuse. A powerful testament of what can be achieved through courage and love, this is their inspiring story.

Серия книг «Зарубежная классика — читай в оригинале» — это бессмертные произведения великих мастеров пера, написанные ими на их родном языке и наречии. Книги из этой серии помогут читателю углубленно изучать иностранные языки, обогатят его внутренний мир и по-новому откроют произведения известных классиков.