The brand new novel from Britain's best-loved saga author
Whitby, 1845
Amber Ainsley works as a laundry maid for the wealthy Greenwood family, but when she falls pregnant with her employer's illegitimate child, she is cast out, left homeless and destitute.
She flees to Whitby, but Barnaby Greenwood follows, offering to find a family to raise their daughter, to save her being sent to the workhouse. Broken-hearted but wanting the best for her child, Amber hands her daughter over. Meanwhile, Barnaby's wife, Louisa, is overjoyed when she gives birth to twins - but the babies are weak, and she is terrified they won't survive.
Poverty-stricken, Amber soon has no choice but to return to work for the Greenwoods. There, one twin is flourishing while the other sickens. And when Amber notices a familiar birth mark on the infant girl's leg, her world is turned upside-down . . .
Will Amber ever be able to have the family life she hopes for?
The new tale from Britian's best-loved saga writer; Sunday Times bestselling author, Rosie Goodwin.
Trusted by over one million readers.
1875.
Emerald Winter has lived a privileged life with her parents and her younger sister Abigail in the stately Astley
House. But all that suddenly changes when her father disappears, leaving the family in enormous debt.
They are forced to throw themselves at the mercy of Emerald's uncle who begrudgingly allows them on his farm.
Desperate to find work, Emerald must leave her family and travel to London to become the companion of a distant aunt she's never met.
Rebellious Abigail is unwilling to lower herself to menial farm chores and instead runs away, finding work as a
hostess in a Soho club where she soon attracts trouble.
Torn apart by destiny, the sisters must learn to survive against the odds in an unforgiving city.
Will Emerald ever be able to find happiness and reunite her family again?
The perfect Christmas gift from Britain's best-loved saga author.
1885.
Ruby Carter works hard in her parents' bakery. Whilst life isn't easy, she's happy enough - her gentle mother protects young Ruby from her cruel father and loves her unconditionally. So, when her mother falls seriously ill, Ruby is heartbroken. Then, from her deathbed, her mother reveals that Ruby was adopted.
Stricken by grief and alone with the violent man she called her father, Ruby feels she has no choice but to flee. At just fifteen, homeless and alone she is relieved when a kindly stranger named Mrs Bamber takes pity on poor Ruby and welcomes her into her home.
But soon, Ruby learns Mrs Bamber is not as generous as she first seemed - she forces Ruby into a life of crime as a jewel thief in Birmingham's jewellery quarter. With nothing to her name and nowhere to go Ruby has no choice but to go along with it, despite the guilt and shame she feels. But Ruby is determined that she will atone for what she's done, and be reunited with her birth parents.
Ruby's only wish is to find her family.
From the Sunday Times bestselling author of A Maiden's Voyage; perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Katie Flynn and Catherine Cookson.
1874.
Growing up in extreme poverty in London, Pearl thinks life can get no worse. But when her parents discover there's yet another baby on the way, they have to tighten the belt even further. Pearl's mother decides to send her and her younger sister Eliza to the workhouse, where they are forced into a new life of hardship and struggle.
Pearl's hopes are raised when the workhouse offers the sisters a new life in Canada and they board an orphan ship transporting unwanted children across the seas. Pearl hopes their luck has finally changed when she and Eliza are hired by the kindly Mrs Forbes to work in her grand house together. But when Pearl meets their mistress's bullying son Monty he reveals he will stop at nothing to make her life a misery.
Will Pearl ever find the home she so craves?
Featuring an exclusive prequel to the next book in the Precious Stones series, A Simple Wish.
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'Goodwin is a master of her craft. The perfect book for a cold winter's evening' Lancashire Evening Post
'Goodwin is a fabulous writer' Worcester Evening News
'A vibrant page-turner with entrancing characters' Margaret Dickinson
'Rosie writes such heartwarming sagas' Lyn Andrews
With all her signature warmth, wonderful characters and unforgettable drama, start this brand new chapter in the storytelling of Rosie Goodwin, Britain's best-loved saga author
1850. When Opal Sharp finds herself and her younger siblings suddenly orphaned and destitute, she thinks things can get no worse.
But soon three of them - including Opal - are struck down with the illness that took their father from them, and her brother Charlie is forced to make an impossible decision. Unable to afford a doctor, he knows the younger children will not survive. So, unbeknownst to Opal, Charlie takes their younger siblings to the workhouse, where he knows they will at least be fed and have a roof over their heads.
Opal is heartbroken and struggles to forgive him. Charlie, in turn, takes bigger and bigger risks to try to support what's left of the Sharp family and earn Opal's forgiveness - but he takes it too far and finds himself in trouble with the law. Soon, he is sent on a convict ship to Australia.
As poor Opal is forced to say goodbye to the final member of her family, she makes a promise to reunite them all one day.
Will Opal ever see her family again?
Nuneaton, 1911
When Holly Farthing's overbearing grandfather tries to force her to marry a dowdy widower twice her age she finally says no. Refusing to support her any longer, Holly flees to London, bringing her best friend and maid, Ivy, with her.
In the big smoke, Holly searches for the father she's never met and begins nurse training in the local hospital where she meets the dashing Doctor Parkin. Kind and compassionate, he is everything that Holly has ever dreamt of.
When Doctor Parkin proposes Holly finally feels like she'll have the family she so longs for. But when she discovers some shocking news that means they can never be together, Holly's life is suddenly in turmoil. Supporting the war effort, she heads to France and throws herself into volunteering on the front line.
Are the rumours about Doctor Parkin really true?
And can Holly ever find the happiness she so truly deserves?
"Rosie writes such heartwarming sagas." LYN ANDREWS
1912, London. Eighteen-year-old Flora Butler is going up in the world. She has the prized position of lady's maid to young Constance Ogilvie, and is able to provide for her beloved parents and four younger siblings. She has even fallen in love, and though she does not feel quite ready to marry the charming Jamie Branning, her future seems clear. But Flora's life is turned upside down when her mistress's father dies in a tragic accident. Connie is forced to move to New York to live with her aunt until she comes of age, and begs Flora to go with her. Flora has never left the country before, and now faces a difficult decision - give up her position, or leave her family behind. But when her beau lets her down, her mind is made up. Soon Connie and Flora head for Southampton to board the RMS Titanic...
"Goodwin is a fabulous writer. She reels the reader in surprisingly quickly and her style involves lots of twists and turns that are in no way predictable." WORCESTER EVENING NEWS
Nessie Carson will do anything to keep her family together after her mother is killed, her father abandons them and they are evicted from their cosy little Nuneaton home. She and her brothers and sisters take on jobs as live-in assistants to a local undertaker. She is soon entwined in fortunes of her employer, Andre, who is forced to live a lie, and the local doctor - someone she's attracted to but can never have. But even in the darkest of times, and saddest of places, when you're as spirited as Nessie Carson, there is light, love and the promise of happiness if you're only brave enough to search for it ...
Warwickshire, 1910. Pious young Grace Kettle escapes the world of her unsavoury and bullying father to train to be a nun. But when she meets the dashing and devout Father Luke her world is turned upside down. Her faith is tested and she is driven to make a scandalous and life-changing choice - one she may well spend the rest of her days seeking forgiveness for . . .
At Treetops Foundling Home in Victorian Nuneaton, one special little girl brings sunshine and joy wherever she goes. A favourite of her foster mother, Kitty grows into a beguiling young woman, but soon attracts the attention of more than one suitor with questionable intentions. She quickly discovers that her beauty is no protection against the peril she finds herself in, as this innocent young girl makes her way in the music halls and theatres of the big city...
Ginny's drunken father, devastated by the death of her mother and three siblings, ends up imprisoned for murder. Charlie, Ginny's 8-year-old sickly brother, is taken to the workhouse. Ginny is forced to flee her job and the unwanted advances of the baker. Close to breaking point, her beauty leads her to become Lady's Maid to the difficult Miss Diana at Lamp Hill Hall. However, all Ginny wants is to find her brother.
It's 1884 and 14-year-old Sunday Small has been in the Nuneaton workhouse since she was abandoned at birth. The regime is cruel and if it were not for her dear little friend Daisy, Sunday's life would barely be worth living... And now she's attracted the unwelcome attention of the seedy workhouse master, who will stop at nothing to get her alone. It's time for Sunday to strike out alone in the world, but the brutal world of the workhouse will not let her go without a fight...
