"Can she defy the odds to follow her heart?
London, 1939. With war imminent in Poland, nineteen-year-old Tamar and her father flee to the heart of the East End. Tamar becomes close friends with nurse Florence and local shopkeeper Elma, but their joy quickly falls apart as bombings land and they are driven into hiding.
Isaac, Tamar's fiancé, departs for Poland to help in the service of war, carrying with him a silver clasp from Tamar's bracelet as a token of her love. When the war's devastation reaches her doorstep, Tamar is recruited for espionage in a bid to find Isaac and, amid the shadows of the resistance, she learns of his brave actions inside the camps - but fears for his life.
When those fears come true, Tamar's world is shattered and, completely heartbroken, she returns to London - to the women and community she has come to know as her family and home. Together, in the heart of Brick Lane, they rebuild their lives and hold on to hope - but then Isaac's silver clasp returns . . ."
"France, 1943
As war casts its shadow over Europe, the tranquil life of Sister Angelica's convent is disrupted by the arrival of Nazi forces. Inside the convent, the nuns offer refuge to children in need of care and protection. Despite the ever-present risks, Angelica is determined to honour her promise to keep them safe. Each day is a testament to courage and hope, even when unexpected challenges arise.
London, 1963
Angelica has made a new life for herself in East London's Stepney. Despite the shadows of war, she is nurturing a family of her own with hope and resilience, ready to embrace the future with open arms. Yet, as life often reminds us, the past has a way of weaving itself back into our present when we least expect it . . ."
"The final heartbreaking instalment of The Guernsey Girls wartime trilogy by Mary Wood, bestselling author of The Orphanage Girls series.
Their dreams are worth fighting for . . .
Winter, 1941. Olivia's life in Guernsey is uprooted by the Nazi occupation. Forced to flee in the dead of night, she escapes to London's East End. As she steps foot in Bethnal Green, Olivia's former life is there to greet her, and she's ordered to spy for the British. To find her son's father, she agrees to undertake this dangerous mission. Will she make it home to hold her little boy again?
Meanwhile, Annie's husband is missing in action, and with each passing day, hope of him returning fades. It's left for Annie to carry on - there are mouths to feed, and more with each nightly bombing campaign. Will she have to give up on true love?
The Guernsey Girls may be separated, but their friendship remains strong. Through tragedy and strife, can they hold on to dreams of peace?"
"From the bestselling author of The Jam Factory Girls, comes the second heartfelt installment in Mary Wood's The Guernsey Girls trilogy.
War separates them, but it cannot dampen their spirits . . .
Spring, 1940. Annie's new husband Ricky leaves to fight, but she soon discovers battles brewing closer to home. As her sister Janey begins to unravel, only Annie can pick up the pieces - and, with London's police officers on the front line, she must also step up at work and do her bit for the country.
In Guernsey, Olivia finds herself without her husband and son just as Hitler's forces invade the island. Trapped and heartbroken, she faces untold horrors as the Germans tighten their hold on the islanders.
How will Annie manage her responsibilities to her family and her country in the thick of the Blitz, while suffering the heartache of not knowing what is happening to her beloved Ricky? And can Olivia survive in Guernsey at the hands of the enemy?"
"Friendship is found far from home. Set in the years before WW2 and travelling from London to the island of Guernsey, The Guernsey Girls is the first in a touching series from Mary Wood, author of The Jam Factory Girls.
'Wood is a born storyteller' - Lancashire Evening Post
January 1936. After the hard work of being a maid at Wallington Manor in the lead-up to Christmas, Annie is thrilled at the prospect of going home to Bethnal Green. She has missed her family, but the money she earns keeps them all afloat.
Olivia is from the island of Guernsey and is visiting her aunt at Wallington Manor. When she has to leave for London, Annie is asked to look after her, and on the train journey a friendship blossoms.
A tragic accident sees their friendship become even stronger. A friendship that will see both girls through pain, happiness, marriage and death. A friendship that will see them both united in Guernsey.
And this is just the beginning of their incredible journey . . .
'A cosy fireside read' - Westmeath Examiner"
"'These heartbreaking but also inspirational tales are full of the grit and hardship that have become hallmarks of a storyteller who writes straight from the heart.' - Lancashire Evening Post
Heartfelt and moving, The Orphanage Girls Come Home is the beautiful conclusion to the Orphanage Girls series, set during WW1 and travelling from London's East End to Montreal, Canada.
London, 1910. When Amy is chosen to be a part of a programme to resettling displaced children in Canada, her life changes overnight. Her great sadness is having to say goodbye to Ruth and Ellen, the friends who became family to her during the dark days at the orphanage. As she steps on board the ship to Montreal, the promise of a new life lies ahead. But during the long crossing, Amy discovers a terrifying secret.
Canada, 1919. As the decades pass, Amy's Canadian experience is far from the life she imagined. She always kept Ruth's address to hand - longing to return to London and reunite with her dear friends. With the world at war, it seems an impossible dream . . .
Separated by oceans, will Amy the orphanage girl ever come home?
The Orphanage Girls Come Home is the third and final book in the Orphanage Girls series, which began with The Orphanage Girls and The Orphanage Girls Reunited. For more beautiful saga writing from Mary Wood, try The Guernsey Girls - available now."
"The Orphanage Girls come back together in The Orphanage Girls Reunited, the second installment of the moving wartime saga set in London's East End. From the bestselling author of The Jam Factory Girls, Mary Wood.
Ellen. Abandoned by her father for the second time, left scarred from the orphanage, Ellen finally finds happiness and hope - reunited with her long-lost gran. But it cannot compensate for being torn apart from her beloved friends Ruth and Amy. When a devastating encounter leaves Ellen broken and desperate, she is forced to fight her past demons.
Ruth. Ruth has found peace, building a new life as an actress and surrounded by new friends. But still she longs to be with Ellen and Amy, after everything they endured together in the orphanage. Amy was shipped to Canada with hundreds of other orphans - what hope have they of finding her?
One wish comes true when Ruth's acting career leads her to Ellen. No sooner than has the dust settled, war is on the horizon. Friendship locked them into each other's her hearts forever.
Will they find Amy? Can the Orphanage Girls ever reunite?"
"The Orphanage Girls is a gritty and moving historical saga set in London's East End, from the bestselling author of The Jam Factory Girls, Mary Wood.
Children deserve a family to call their own . . .
Ruth dares to dream of another life - far away from the horrors within the walls of Bethnal Green's infamous orphanage. Luckily she has her friends, Amy and Ellen - but she can't keep them safe, and the suffering is only getting worse. Surely there must be a way out of here?
But when Ruth breaks free from the shackles of confinement and sets out into East London, hoping to make a new life for herself, she finds that, for a girl with nowhere to turn, life can be just as tough on the outside.
Bett keeps order in this unruly part of the East End - and takes Ruth under her wing alongside orphanage escapee Robbie. But it is Rebekah, a kindly woman, who offers Ruth and Robbie a home - something neither have ever known. Yet even these two stalwart women cannot protect them when the police learn of an orphan on the run. It is then that Ruth must do everything in her power to hide.
Her life - and those of the friends she left behind at the orphanage - depend on it.
Continue the emotional series with The Orphanage Girls Reunited."
"The Jam Factory Girls Fight Back is a moving historical novel of friendship set in the heart of pre-WWI London from bestselling author, Mary Wood.
Can they claim what is rightfully theirs?
From the moment Len came into their lives, everything changed for Millie and Elsie. Both fell in love with him, but he chose Millie, because of her attractive legacy - the Jam Factory.
Millie's expecting Len's baby and it should be the happiest time, but her husband's true colours have come to the fore - and Millie is forced to leave the marriage. Now Millie is desperate to save her child from Len's clutches. Will Len ever allow her to find happiness?
Elsie's fallen in love with dependable Jim - but Len is threatening their happiness too. Elsie and Millie are determined to overthrow Len and reclaim the Jam Factory as their own. Will they succeed, and can they rebuild their lives after the devastation Len has caused?"
"Secrets of the Jam Factory Girls is a moving saga novel of friendship set in the heart of pre-WWI London from bestselling author, Mary Wood.
Elsie’s worked her way up at Swift’s Jam Factory from the shop floor to the top, and now it’s her time to shine. But when she’s involved in an incident involving her half-sister Millie’s new husband, she is forced to keep it secret – the truth could threaten their sisterly bond.
Dot is dogged by fear, coming to terms with her mother’s rejection of her. She should be enjoying the happiness she craves with her beloved Cess; instead, she’s trapped in an asylum, haunted by the horrifying cries of inmates. All she wants is to get married, but what chance is there for her if she’s locked away?
Millie is trying to build a life with her new husband. But the man she loves is not all he seems . . .
Can the Jam Factory girls create the future they all deserve?
This historical saga series begins with The Jam Factory Girls."
"Originally published in digital format as Judge Me Not in 2013. Now with forty pages of new content.
Born with a club foot in a remote village in the Pennines, Ruth is feared and ridiculed by her superstitious neighbours who see her affliction as a sign of witchcraft. When her father is killed in an accident and her family evicted from their cottage, she hopes to leave her old life behind, to start afresh in the Blackburn cotton mills. But tragedy strikes once again, setting in motion a chain of events that will unravel her family’s lives.
Their fate is in the hands of the Earl of Harrogate, and his betrothed, Lady Katrina. But more sinister is the scheming Marcia, Lady Katrina’s jealous sister. Impossible dreams beset Ruth from the moment she meets the Earl. Dreams that lead her to hope that he will save her from the terrible fate that awaits those accused of witchcraft. Dreams that one day her destiny and the Earl’s will be entwined.
The Street Orphans is an emotional story set in 1850s Lancashire, from Mary Wood, the author of In Their Mother’s Footsteps and Brighter Days Ahead."
"The Jam Factory Girls is an uplifting and emotional novel of friendship set in the heart of pre-WWI London from bestselling author, Mary Wood.
Life for Elsie is difficult as she struggles to cope with her alcoholic mother. Caring for her siblings and working long hours at Swift's Jam factory in London’s Bermondsey is exhausting. Thankfully her lifelong friendship with Dot helps to smooth over life’s rough edges.
When Elsie and Dot meet Millie Swift, they are nervous to be in the presence of the bosses’ daughter. Over time, they are surprised to feel so drawn to her, but should two East End girls be socializing in such circles?
When disaster strikes, it binds the women in ways they could never imagine. Long-held secrets are revealed that could change all their lives . . .
This historical saga series continues with Secrets of the Jam Factory Girls."
