"Charity has always lived a charmed life beneath the open skies. Growing up as part of the Gypsy community, she has reveled in the freedom of swimming in the rivers, caring for the horses and embracing the ever-changing road. But on the cusp of her sixteenth birthday, that freedom begins to slip away. Her parents expect her to marry, and not for love, but for duty.
Then fate brings Luca back into her life - a boy from the travelling circus she has known since childhood. Only now, with eyes opened by the first stirrings of passion, Charity sees Luca as more than a friend. In Luca's laughter and quiet strength, she finds the promise of a love so fierce it feels destined. But their bond is forbidden. Two different communities. Two worlds that cannot unite.
Refusing to surrender their hearts, Charity and Luca dare to dream of escape and come up with a plan: Charity will run away first and he will follow. But with one mistake and one cruel twist of fate their dreams are shattered. Now torn between her love for Luca and overcoming a betrayal, Charity must fight for the life she longs for. Will destiny reunite the star-crossed lovers, or has she lost him forever?
Quick Reads are short books and great stories by bestselling authors. They're specifically written to engage emergent, reluctant and lapsed readers to help spread the joy of reading and the many benefits it brings."
"A Rags to Riches novel.
The second book in a brand-new historical trilogy from Britain's best-loved saga author.
Nuneaton, 1914
War is just around the corner and for Annie Lilburn and her adopted family, life will never be the same. Annie, after a difficult childhood, has never felt like she fits in, but since Levi Lilburn, the local rag and bone man, took her under his wing and she became a business woman in her own right, things have been on the up. Soon that is set to change when World War I is declared and the men of the town enlist. And as more and more casualties come in, Annie needs to step up and do her bit for the war effort.
Annie trains to become a nurse and eventually finds herself on the battlefields in France. With death and destruction all around her, Annie is experiencing things she could never have imagined, but finds an inner strength like no other. Then through the devastation of war, love starts to bloom when Annie meets a young officer. Could this orphan girl finally be finding her place in the world and someone to truly love her, or is her happiness set to come crashing down once again?"
"A RAGS TO RICHES NOVEL
Nuneaton, 1904
Abandoned on the steps of the workhouse shortly after her birth, little Annie never felt the love of a family. When she's taken from the only world she has known to a smart home on Swan Lane, she dares to hope her life might be changing for the better. But hope is fragile. Grieving the loss of her own child, Maggie Lilburn didn't adopt Annie out of kindness - she wants her as a servant, not a daughter.
Despite Maggie's coldness, Annie finds flickers of warmth elsewhere: in the bond with her adopted brothers and in the quiet kindness of Maggie's husband Levi, the local rag-and-bone man. He sees Annie's potential and takes her under his wing and into his trade. As Maggie crumbles beneath the weight of her sorrow, Annie is determined to hold the fractured family together - and carve out a place of her own.
Through all of this one question remains for Annie: who were her parents and why did they abandon her at the workhouse all those years ago?
The Rag Princess is an emotional tale of resilience, heartbreak and the power of family and the first book in the brand-new Rags to Riches Trilogy from bestselling author, Rosie Goodwin."
"Other books in the Flower Girls Collection:
OUR FAIR LILY
OUR DEAR DAISY
As the much doted-on daughter of the local doctor Violet Stroud had a comfortable, happy childhood - despite a distinct lack of love from her cold-hearted mother. But when her father unexpectedly dies, Violet's life is turned upside down. As secrets about the family come to light, Violet finds herself homeless and with no one to turn to apart from Edie, the family's gentle and loving housekeeper.
Violet and Edie set out on their own to run a café by the docks and life, while humble, starts to settle down. Perhaps, Violet may find happiness again and even...love? But when Violet's brother, Oliver, comes back on the scene, chaos follows at every turn, and while walking home alone one night, something unthinkable happens. With her contented existence and her chance at true love under threat, Violet must summon all the strength she has to put her life back together. Will she ever find the peace that she so desperately desires?"
"Other books in the Flower Girls Collection:
OUR FAIR LILY
OUR SWEET VIOLET
Nuneaton, 1880
Twenty year old Daisy Armstrong lives a happy life with her loving father, Jed. They have a special bond, particularly after losing her beloved Irish mother and younger brother. But when Jed falls in love with a local widow, everything is set to change for them both.
With expensive tastes and a lavish lifestyle, moving into Daisy and Jed's humble forge is not what the widow or her spoiled son, Gilbert, expected - and they make that very clear. Worked to the bone trying to look after their busy home, Daisy is exhausted. But the one glimmer of hope is Lewis, the widow's other son, a gentle and hard-working young man.
When one fateful day something terrible happens to Daisy, she finds herself sent away from home and the chance at love slips through her fingers. After unbearable suffering, but finding incredible strength within, Daisy might finally have a chance at the life she wants. But can she ever find her way back to Nuneaton and to the happiness that she so desperately deserves?"
"Other books in the Flower Girls Collection:
OUR DEAR DAISY
OUR SWEET VIOLET
Lily Moon, the local miner's daughter, spends her days as a parlour maid for Lord and Lady Bellingham at Oakley Manor, on the outskirts of Nuneaton. She's always been happy with her lot in life, and never expected more.
But one day, everything changes when she temporarily becomes lady's maid to the Bellingham's daughter, Arabella, who is pregnant with the illegitimate child of her lover, and about to be unhappily married off to a man double her age.
When Arabella suddenly disappears and Lily is left holding the baby, the Bellingham's deny any link to the child. But Lily Moon is made of strong stuff, and between her and her sick mother, they know they must give a home to sweet baby Anastasia (Annie) and bring her up despite their own poor means. It is only Arabella's brother, the handsome son and heir of the estate, who shows any interest in the child, and through his kindness a friendship forms between him and Lily. Or, perhaps more than a friendship if the village gossips are to be believed . . .
Lily knows she is no match for Louis: this humble pit wench could never steal the heart of the Lord of the manor. They must both deny their feelings and exist as they are: from different worlds. But when Lily is called to Paris to try to bring Arabella home to her family, a new opportunity emerges which could change her life forever. Could she dare to believe that she could be more than just a parlour maid?"
"1875
With their father missing and their mother suddenly passing, Esme and Gabriel are forced to track down their estranged grandfather in Lincolnshire. Cold and unwelcoming, he is reluctant to take them in, but aware of his standing as the village vicar, he knows must protect his reputation, and allow the children to stay with him.
Esme's relief at finding refuge soon turns to despair when Gabriel is sent to boarding school, leaving her alone in their grandfather's unhappy home. But the house isn't as empty as it first appeared and Esme, with her unusual gift of being able to see spirits, begins to encounter the ghosts of young women in the abandoned rooms and dark corridors of the rectory. The women are trapped between this world and the next, seeking help from Esme and leaving her with a mystery to solve if she is to stand a chance of establishing a peaceful, happy life.
Can Esme lay the ghosts to rest to save herself and find the life she deserves?"
"Nuneaton, 1850
Growing up on a canal boat has meant life for young Saffie Doyle has been hard. Her mother, Olivia, was cast out by her well-to-do family when she fell in love with Saffie's father, a lowly boatman named Reuben. But as the years have passed, Reuben has become a bitter and cruel drunk, forced to work for the local crook, Seth Black, to keep their family afloat.
Saffie always dreamed of becoming a teacher, despite her father's insistence that she had no need to read and write. Keen to nurture her ambitions, Olivia hoped to introduce Saffie to a childhood friend - the kindly and wealthy Marcus - who runs a free school for the local children, but when Olivia falls ill, she's unable to.
One night, Saffie's 17-year-old brother and her father go out on a job with Seth Black and never return home. Saffie is forced to place her dreams on hold as she steps up to look after her family.
With her younger siblings relying on her, will Saffie ever be able to live the life she hopes for?"
"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 heartbreaking wartime saga from the Sunday Times bestselling author of A Precious Gift. Perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Katie Flynn.
'A vibrant page-turner with entrancing characters' Margaret Dickinson
'Rosie writes such heartwarming sagas' Lyn Andrews
Nuneaton, 1935.
Kathy has grown up at Treetops home for children, where Sunday and Tom Branning have always cared for her as one of their own. She enjoys her life at Treetops Manor, surrounded by her beloved horses, and with a future as a nurse ahead of her, she could wish for nothing more.
Her foster sister Livvy is not as driven as Kathy. Sunday is keen to see both her girls married, but Livvy has no intentions of settling down and would much rather spend time with her friends. When Kathy falls for the wrong man, her ambitions are soon forgotten as she embarks on a secret affair.
The Branning family is overwhelmed with grief when Tom dies suddenly in a riding accident. The running of the estate falls into chaos and life at Treetops will never be the same again. As their financial difficulties begin to mount, they are forced to leave their home.
The women of Treetops think that things can't get any worse. But then it is announced that the country is at war once more…
Time to Say Goodbye is the seventh and final book in Rosie Goodwin's Days of the Week Collection. Why not try the rest, Mothering Sunday, The Little Angel, A Mother's Grace, The Blessed Child, A Maiden's Voyage and A Precious Gift?"
"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."
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