Family saga / generational saga fiction

Book SynopsisCan she find freedom against the odds?As the Great War ends Serena Fleming is due an inheritance that could free her from a bullying father. But little does she know how far he will go to prevent her leaving home. Or how desperate he is to limit her and keep his secrets hidden. When she turns thirty, Serena must risk everything to escape his iron rule. Meanwhile, Marcus Graye’s life has also been changed by the War. His injuries may heal, but his elderly aunt and a crumbling old house are now in his sole care. When he saves Serena from a kidnapping, his life will take an unexpected turn, one that may bring him love but will put his life in danger.Can they survive a wicked man’s attacks? And can Serena at last fulfil her true potential?From the bestselling and much-loved Anna Jacobs, this inspirational saga is perfect for fans of Kitty Neale, Ellie Dean and Margaret Dickinson, a heart-warming tale of one woman’s fight for a life worth living.

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Book SynopsisA family's struggle for love and hope in the aftermath of war In the aftermath of the Second World War, Faye Harvey struggles against the stigma of being a single mother. Faye is drawn to former POW Mark Fuller, but then the father of her son, a Scottish laird, offers marriage now he is a widower. Faye is torn. Meanwhile Tristan falls for the new housekeeper Susan Dowling, but their age difference and her distrust seem to make love impossible. And over at Ford Farm, Faye's cousin Lottie Harmon, begins to fear she may not want a new life with her GI husband after all… Fans of Rosie Clarke and Nadine Dorries will love the fifth compelling Harvey Family Saga.

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Book SynopsisThe captivating first instalment of The Liverpool Sagas, perfect for fans of Lyn Andrews and Pam HowesLife changes for the Palin children when Mam dies, and it’s up to twelve-year-old Sally to try and take her place. Sally lavishes all her hopes and dreams on her baby sister Emily, determined that she’ll leave the mean streets of their Liverpool home and enjoy a better life. When Emily is sent to live with rich relatives, it seems like her wish has come true, but the chance is bittersweet.Sally and her family may face poverty and hardship in Liverpool, but the warmth and love shared will help them overcome whatever the world has to throw at them; Emily, however, wanting for nothing, might find out that happiness is harder to find…Full of authentic details of Liverpool life at the turn of the century, The Land is Bright is a totally absorbing saga perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Helen Forrester.‘A family saga you just won’t be able to put down’ Prima‘The whole-heartedness of Liverpool shines through in a refreshing tribute to Merseyside’ Liverpool Daily Post‘Murphy is born and bred, and sets her first novel in her beloved city, giving the book that vital authenticity which makes it so realistic’ Hull Daily Mail‘Rich in authentic period details, The Land is Bright is a time machine back to the past. This is how history should be written!’ Terrace Review‘Evocative writing’ Woman’s World‘Richly nostalgic’ Publishing News‘A thundering great read’ Liverpool EchoThe Liverpool Sagas The Land is Bright To Give and To Take There is a Season

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Book SynopsisCan both sisters find happiness, when one marries for love, and the other for money…Sisters Mary and Cathy Ward couldn’t be more different: Fiercely independent Mary is determined to leave the mean streets of Liverpool, whereas Cathy – quiet and well loved – is happy with the life she has.But when both girls fall for the same man conflict threatens to push them apart, and as they are caught up in their own troubles, Liverpool erupts in the Bloody Sunday riots.To Give and to Take, the second book in the captivating Liverpool Sagas, is perfect for fans of Catherine Cookson and Pam Howes.‘A family saga you won’t be able to put down’ Prima‘The whole-heartedness of Liverpool shines through in a refreshing tribute to Merseyside’ Liverpool Daily Post‘Hard to beat … A gripping family saga’ Manchester Evening News‘Elizabeth Murphy obviously delights in writing about a city she knows and loves, and her enthusiasm must rub off on the reader. She has a talent for characterisation, and by the end of the story, love ’em or hate ’em, you care about every person in the book.’ Hull Daily Mail‘A good long story set in Liverpool … The background has a good authentic feel to it.’ Northern EchoThe Liverpool Sagas The Land is Bright To Give and To Take There is a Season

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Book SynopsisThe final instalment of the breathtaking Liverpool Sagas, perfect for fans of Helen Forrester and Pam Howes Cathy is glad to have her husband back now The Great War is over, but her son John is not so sure. Struggling to keep the peace, Cathy has her work cut out for her, as the pair seem unable to see eye-to-eye.Surviving with four children on Greg’s meagre wages is hard enough without their rows, but with the help of her parents and loyal friends in their close-knit Liverpool community, Cathy can keep a smile on her face.When sister Mary comes back into her life, her heart is filled with hope. And she’ll need it in order to survive the Depression, with the storm clouds of war gathering once more on the horizon… There is a Season is the last book in the enthralling Liverpool Sagas, ideal for fans of Lyn Andrews, Maggie Ford and Katie Flynn.‘A family saga you just won’t be able to put down’ Prima‘The whole-heartedness of Liverpool shines through in a refreshing tribute to Merseyside’ Liverpool Daily PostThe Liverpool Sagas The Land is Bright To Give and To Take There is a Season

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Book SynopsisCan a young woman overcome the tension between her work and home?Meriel Evans has worked for her father's estate agency ever since she left school. While happy there, she knows she must carve a career of her own, so lands a job with Cwm Derw’s Ace Estate Agency. Soon she discovers her new boss, George Dexter, dislikes her father intensely, though she cannot understand why. Just what is at the root of this bitterness? How will it affect Meriel’s prospects? And what are the consequences for her family?An enthralling fourth trip to the house at Badgers Brook, perfect for fans of Freda Lightfoot and Anna Jacobs.

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Book SynopsisLowri Vaughan is in need of refuge – where better to find it than Badgers Brook?Rumours abound that her father is a fraudster, maybe even a murderer, but while he is indeed locked up, Lowri and her mother know he’s an innocent man. Some gossip-seeking townsfolk work on currying Lowri’s favour, hoping she will drop her guard. Sorting those who can’t be trusted from those that can is tough work for Lowri, but that’s perhaps the least of her worries – she must secure her father’s release, and fast…The moving, final book in Grace Thompson's much-loved Badgers Brook saga series, perfect for fans of Anna Jacobs and Ellie Dean.

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Book SynopsisHow far will a mother go to protect her child?The slums of Poor House Lane are no place to bring up a child, and Kate O'Connor struggles to make ends meet when her beloved husband is killed, leaving her a single mother with a baby to support on the meagre hand-outs she gleans from charity. So when the childless Tysons, owners of Kendal's shoe factory, offer to adopt her son, Callum, and employ Kate as his nanny, she seizes the chance to ensure he has a better life.To be so close to her son, yet no longer be his mother, is bittersweet. But Kate is not prepared for the jealousy the new arrangement provokes in Eliot Tyson's brother, Charles, who sees Callum as a direct threat to his inheritance…An unputdownable saga of motherhood and family love, the first book in the The Poor House Lane Sagas is perfect for Rosie Goodwin and Dilly Court.

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Book SynopsisAs the Great War looms, will the women of Kendal rise to meet the challenge?After giving birth to her daughter, Kate O’Connor finds herself back in Poor House Lane with some momentous decisions to make.Faced with the opportunity to move out of the slums, she invests her unexpected fortune in a new shoe factory to challenge Eliot Tyson’s monopoly over the workforce, regardless of whether or not he is the father of her children.But nothing is ever that simple, especially when old enemies and estranged relatives return to thwart her every scheme…The second, moving instalment in The Poor House Lane Sagas, The Child From Nowhere is a wartime saga perfect for fans of Val Wood and Katie Flynn

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Book SynopsisWhat will life bring now The Great War is over? The Great War is over and Kate is ready to welcome back Eliot with open arms. But her husband is a changed man. Kate has become used to her independence, and Eliot's return creates tensions both at work and at home, particularly with Kate's son, Callum.It tears Kate apart to see such strife between the two men she loves most. And her sister-in-law seems determined to stir up the animosity in order to benefit her own son. But when tragedy strikes, Kate cannot imagine just how much trouble Lucy's ambition can cause…A gripping saga, the third moving instalment of The Poor House Lane sagas is perfect for fans of Val Wood and Katie Flynn

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Book SynopsisAmidst the rugged beauty of eighteenth-century Cornwall, a sweeping novel of hope and heartbreak.Kerensa Trelynne is overjoyed to be marrying her childhood sweetheart, Clem Trenchard, even though it will be a wrench to leave the idyllic cove and tumbledown cottage she shares with her grandfather, Old Tom.But when local landowner Sir Oliver Pengarron sets his sights on their home, everything changes. Old Tom dashes all of Kerensa’s hopes when he agrees to sell Trelynne Cove on one fateful condition – Sir Oliver must marry his granddaughter.As her life is turned upside down and her future thrown into turmoil, Kerensa comes to realise that true love is far more complex than childhood romance.The first instalment of the Pengarron Sagas, perfect for fans of Poldark.

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Book SynopsisA poignant story of courage and compassion in eighteenth-century Penzance.Jessica Trenchard is a spirited and wayward daughter – to the point that her father Clem is considering remarrying, to provide her with a suitable role model. Until, that is, her tender care of a speechless girl found abandoned in a field touches the heart of Kane Pengarron, the landlord’s eldest son.But when Jessica’s attempts to unearth her new friend’s true identity threaten her safety, she realises that nothing is quite as it seems.For a murderous rogue who has been terrorising Mount’s Bay for years has every reason to hate the Pengarrons…This thrilling saga is perfect for fans of Nicola Pryce and Poldark.

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Book SynopsisThe tale of two Liverpool sisters and their search for happiness.When Kate and Rose Drew are orphaned, they are heartbroken to discover they are to be separated.Kate must go to Aunt Mildred, a hard woman who runs a Liverpool boarding house, who puts her to work at once. But Rose gets the wealthy widow Aunt Beattie, who lavishes her with gifts and attention.As one sister experiences hardship alongside friendship, while the other is spoilt and isolated, which will find happiness? For, eventually, it is not what Kate and Rose have in life that counts, but what they choose to make of it…A truly memorable saga that will charm readers of Helen Forrester, Katie Flynn and Pam Howes.

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Book SynopsisA deeply moving saga based in 20th-century Liverpool.From a young age Laura Redmond resents the way her father speaks to her mother. She does not understand that despite his heated outbursts, John Redmond is a loyal and devoted husband.As Laura grows up her protective love for her mother, Anne, leads to a love/hate relationship between father and daughter. Many think this is because they are so alike – both uncompromising and determined. Only Laura’s great-grandmother recognises the truth.It takes many years filled with triumph and tragedy for the family, and the arrival of a special man in Laura’s life, before she can properly grasp the true nature of her father.An absolute triumph, perfect for fans of Katie Flynn, Helen Forrester and Lyn Andrews.

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Book SynopsisIt’s the dawn of the 20th century, but Anna and Dorrie Furlong, young daughters of a Liverpudlian ship captain with archaic ideals, are expected to remain at home in Everton until they are wedded. Dorrie, beautiful and popular, with multiple admirers, is content to do this, but idealistic, intelligent Anna hates her narrow life and longs for freedom and independence. As both sisters struggle against their situations, love will find them as if by accident, and after much hardship and sadness, they will both begin to realise where true happiness lies…A touching love song to Liverpool, Elizabeth Murphy’s Comfort Me With Apples is an emotional, touching tale, perfect for fans of Katie Flynn, Helen Forrester and Lyn Andrews

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A spellbinding saga of London’s East End.Ettie Wilkins has to get out of Whitechapel. As her mother sinks deeper into alcoholism, the volatile lodger sharing their slum turns his attentions to Ettie.So when debonair Professor Jacob Protsky picks Ettie out of the crowd, she is determined to seize her chance. Despite a chorus of warnings, Ettie goes to live with Protsky in Bow to assist him with his magic tricks.But when Ettie befriends the mysterious Celia Tressing, she soon finds herself increasingly worried by events in Whitechapel. A series of gruesome murders and whispers of Jack the Ripper have shaken even that resilient community… This is an enthralling Victorian drama of sin and redemption, perfect for fans of Rosie Goodwin and Kitty Neale.

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Book SynopsisA gripping saga of love and loss on the eve of the Great War.The annual migration from London to the hop fields of Kent is normally a longed-for escape from the dust and grime of the East End. But this year Rose Fairleigh worries their departure will interrupt the slow-blossoming romance between her daughter Jess and postman Jack Barnes.Jack promises to visit and assures Rose he will keep an eye on her three sons, who are staying behind. Before he knows it, though, one of the boys is in trouble and it’s up to Jack to bring him home.Meanwhile in Kent, Jess’ life grows increasingly confusing as, full of promises and charm, the son of suffragette Lady Worlington turns his attentions to her…A heartwrenching East End family drama, perfect for fans of Sheila Newberry and Downton Abbey.

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Book SynopsisAn enthralling saga set in London’s East End at the height of the 1930s…Cissie Flowers has had her fair share of hardships but she’s always found a way to smooth over her worries and crack on with raising her two young children. Until, that is, her husband Davy is killed in a suspicious accident.Suddenly gangster Big Bill Turner takes an interest in her affairs. When Cissie takes over Davy’s old flower stall outside Aldgate station to tackle her financial troubles, she soon discovers that the most beautiful facade can hide the ugliest secrets.For some people who will stop at nothing to dispense with anything – or anyone – that gets in their way…This is a gritty East End drama, perfect for fans of Rosie Goodwin and Nadine Dorries.

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Book SynopsisAn emotional story of ordinary people and their far-from-ordinary lives.A small Welsh town hosts a lively and varied community – and none more so than Nelly Luke, the cheerful Cockney widow who made a ramshackle cottage her cosy, if unconventional, home.Nelly’s generosity and wisdom win her many friends: Fay, the young newly-wed; Amy, the glamorous shopkeeper whose private life is colourful indeed; and her dignified sister Prue, whose family cupboard contains more than a few skeletons.Against the mounting excitement of the Coronation summer, Nelly steers her friends and family through storms and sunshine alike…A Welcome in the Valley will enchant readers of Rosie Clarke and Margaret Dickinson.

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Book SynopsisA touching story of Welsh village life.Cockney born Nelly Luke is an essential part of the community. Yet not even Nelly, with her shrewd eye, can predict the surprises in store for her family and friends.A new year brings new faces: Maurice Davies is back from the army, and Sheila Powell, a shop-girl, is eager to help him make up for lost time. But for some there’s no escaping the past, and widow Prue Beynon finds herself confronted by a legacy she’d rather forget…Through the seasons, Nelly watches over the valley with a wry chuckle and an ever-helping hand.Valley Affairs is a warm-hearted novel packed with nostalgia and glorious period detail.

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Book SynopsisIt is 1909 and Molly May, her husband lost-at-sea and presumed dead, has escaped from her cruel in-laws in Liverpool to Burscough Bridge, where she gives birth.Widower Nathan Collins employs her as wet nurse to his daughter Jessica, who she tragically finds dead in her cot. When Molly’s own daughter is mistaken for Jessica, she cannot bring herself to tell the truth.As her relationship with Nathan deepens, his scheming mother Dorothy wastes no opportunity to remind Molly of her lowly position. Can Molly win Nathan who, due to her lies, is raising another’s child as his own?A heartbreaking tale of adversity and love, Another Man’s Child is a beautiful read, perfect for fans of Katie Flynn, Maureen Lee and Rosie GoodwinTrade ReviewThere are currently no reviews for this title/product

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Book SynopsisPlucky Lucy Linden supports her widowed mother and younger brother, selling firewood and toffee apples on the streets of Liverpool.Her uncanny ability to be in the right place at the wrong time gets her noticed by a young policeman, Rob Jones. At first he is amused by her exploits, but upon learning how tough life is for Lucy, he decides to keep a watchful eye on her - much to her annoyance.When Lucy's bad-tempered uncle, with a tendency to lash out, returns from the war with some alarming connections to the IRA, her attitude to Rob changes dramatically…A moving saga on the ties which bind us together, Someone to Trust is a triumph, perfect for fans of Pam Howes, Dilly Court and Lyn AndrewsTrade ReviewThere are currently no reviews for this title/product

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Book SynopsisShe is determined to live the life she wants…Cassandra Trent does not like being told what to do. So when she is forced to leave behind her beloved Bardsley and join her aunt in London, she is furious. She wants nothing to do with polite society and useless noblemen.But Cassandra finds some comfort in the friendship she forms with her kind and gentle cousin, Susannah Berrinden. Despite being destined to marry Simeon Giffard, a charming and – more importantly – wealthy young man, Susannah has other ideas…And it seems Simeon does too. He has eyes only for Cassandra – but winning her over might prove to be a near impossible task.A heartwarming historical saga perfect for fans of Elisabeth McNeill, Rosie Goodwin and Gloria Cook.

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Book SynopsisCan Lark take the path of the woman who went before her and learn to follow her heart?Lark is a much-loved forces sweetheart spreading comfort as she sings in the music halls while Scotland’s sons fight in the Great War. But despite her fortune, Lark yearns for a life away from the crowds. She sets out to make a fresh start in the Border country seeking the contentment that has eluded her.Decades earlier, Lark’s great-grandmother, Jane, found herself in the same hills, in unhappy circumstances. Yet the beauty of the land brought peace to her when all hope seemed lost.A poignant and atmospheric multigenerational saga for fans of Val Wood and Tessa Barlcay.Trade ReviewThere are currently no reviews for this title/product

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Book SynopsisShe must find the courage to accept her fate. At the age of eleven young Lizzie Mudie’s life changes forever. With the death of her mother in the most shocking disaster Dundee has ever seen, Lizzie is forced to grow up quickly. She discovers a strength beyond her years and when an unexpected legacy bestows her the dilapidated Green Tree Mill she is determined to turn things around. Lizzie becomes a formidable mistress, but is she prepared for the price she – and those she loves – will have to pay for her success?A page-turning saga of hope in the face of adversity for fans of Dilly Court and Tessa Barclay. Trade ReviewThere are currently no reviews for this title/product

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Book SynopsisWhen a chance for freedom arrives will she dare to take it? Odilie Rutherford is known in the small Scottish town of Lauriston for two things – her beauty, and her father, Canny. As a self-made man, Canny has the wealth he dreamed of but not the status and hatches a plan to marry his daughter to local bachelor of note the Duke of Maudesley. Yet Odilie cannot bear the thought of a life with the ill-mannered Duke, and when the annual summer fair arrives in town for three days she seizes a chance to enjoy the freedom she craves. But as the carnival atmosphere fills the town, Odilie will find her life changes in ways she could never have imagined.A captivating Scottish saga perfect for fans of Tessa Barclay and Val Wood. Trade ReviewThere are currently no reviews for this title/product

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Book SynopsisA tragic death brings good fortune to an orphaned child – but at what cost?Liverpool, 1928. Fifteen-year-old Annie Anderson was adopted by Sylvia and Hugh after the death of their own daughter. Annie is told that her own mother died in childbirth and her father died before she was born.A chance encounter introduces Annie to local lad Andrew Fraser. Their friendship blossoms, but once Annie’s adoptive parents learn of it they forbid her from seeing him. When Annie asks why, it sets her on a path to discover more about her origins – but will what she learns bring heartache or joy?Don’t miss this rich and vivid saga by one of Liverpool’s best-known novelists, perfect for fans of Kitty Neale and Katie Flynn.

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Book SynopsisWhere there’s muck, there’s mettle…Dolly Tomkins has always known what it is to live hand to mouth. In the mean streets of a Salford struggling under the mantle of the Great Depression, the only one making a decent living is the talleyman.Though Nifty Jack has a money bag where his heart should be, Dolly’s mam is in hock up to her ears and in dire need of assistance. But when Jack offers to wipe the slate clean, Dolly just can’t bring herself to trust him.Instead, she takes him on at his own game and in the process endangers everything she holds most dear as a revelation about the past rocks the very foundations of her world.This is an enchanting story of love and endurance perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries and Kitty Neale.Previously published as Watch for the Talleyman.Praise for The Castlefield Collector 'A story which in some ways could be written about today as easily as the 1920s' 5* Reader review'This is my first novel by Freda and it will definitely not be the last' 5* Reader review'I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book from start to finish' 5* Reader review

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Book SynopsisCan she keep the promise she made?When Morwen Tremayne read her vows to Ben Killigrew, she swore to stay by his side until death parted them.But when crushing disaster strikes, the foundation of Ben and Morwen’s life together is shaken to its very core. Pushed to breaking point, they are forced to question whether the love which bloomed in the sun can flower once more in darker days…An emotional saga of love, pain and family, perfect for fans of Katie Flynn, Rosie Goodwin and Maureen Lee

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Book SynopsisTwo sisters. Only one can follow their heart.Swansea, 1941. When her home is bombed, Meryl Jones is evacuated to Carmarthen. Hating it there, she runs away.She is found by Michael, a half German farmer, and falls deeply in love with him – but he is already smitten with Meryl's beautiful older sister Hari.When the military police come for Michael, Meryl helps him escape, their relationship blossoming in the process. But with the end of the war in sight, Meryl knows that the man she loves must make a choice: between her and her sister…A heart-breaking saga of the Second World War, perfect for fans of Pam Howes, Katie Flynn and Lyn Andrews.

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Book SynopsisIt all seemed too good to be true… The moment artist Riana Evans sees the dilapidated mansion in Wales, she determines to buy it, despite its unhappy past – twenty years ago, five maids died there in mysterious circumstances.The house’s 'ghosts' prove good for business – inspiring her paintings and providing atmosphere at a series of ghost-spotting weekends. Her romantic life begins to look up too in the form of handsome airman Tom Maybury.But the mystery of the girls’ deaths hangs over everything. Riana soon discovers that the house holds a secret, and there’s someone – or something – who’ll do anything to make sure she never discovers it.A heart-wrenching Welsh drama, perfect for fans of Pam Howes, Dilly Court and Linda Finlay.

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Book SynopsisTwo girls in 19th-century rural France. Annette works below stairs. Hélène is a daughter of the house. As children on the mean streets of Paris, they went through more together than anyone must ever guess and they share a secret to be kept at all costs.Now Hélène is in love with a man she cannot marry. And must marry a man she cannot love. A man she is beginning to suspect is both cruel and dangerous...'Truly captivating' Woman & HomeTrade Review'Truly captivating' Woman & Home.'A captivating read, it brings together vibrant characters and historical settings with great success' Woman's Weekly.'A truly captivating read that brings together vibrant characters and a historical setting' Woman's Own.'Gripping tale of love, secrets and peril' Wells Journal.'Gorgeous ... Full of love, secrets and danger ... The perfect escapist page-turning read' Weston Mercury.'The Somerset historical author takes us on a journey of friendship, romance and scandal set in 19th-century France' Somerset Life.

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