Can love find a way this Christmas?
Christmas 1941, Isle of Dogs. The little community on Slater Street has fought valiantly to keep their spirits up through the long nights of the Blitz. Though her husband, Alan, has been called up to serve his country, Kay Lewis is determined to give her young son Alfie and friend Vi as merry a Christmas as any other. But when a strange woman and her son arrive on her doorstep, Kay’s world is shaken to the core.
Could the terrible accusations that Dolly makes about Alan be true? Could he really have been leading a double life without her realising? Has he really stolen a large sum of money from Dolly and her son, Sean?
Then disaster strikes as Alan is reported missing in action. With no way of discovering the truth, Kay will have some difficult decisions to make if she is to protect her family and keep her faith in the man she thought she knew.
A moving tale of triumph in the face of adversity, A Wartime Christmas will transport you to a period when the Christmas season was a beacon of hope in the darkest of times. AMAZON
COCKNEY ORPHAN previously published with the title “Connie of Kettle Street”
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In April 2013, Connie of Kettle Street was republished as “Cockney Orphan”, an exciting story set in the Blitz of London. Once again, not only has the book been re-titled but has also been treated to a brand new cover.
Amidst the death and destruction of war shines a ray of hope 7th September, 1940. The Isle of Dogs, heart of London’s docklands, suffers the first terrible night of a nine-month Blitz. But for Connie Marsh, the discovery of an orphaned baby boy amongst the rubble brings a glimmer of hope to a time of darkness and suffering. She also finds herself falling in love with handsome Vic Campion, the man who helped her rescue the child they’ve named Lucky. But Connie’s happiness is not to last. When his call-up papers arrive, Vic leaves for the navy – and Connie knows she might never see him again. And when a sinister figure emerges, claiming to be Lucky’s grandfather, she is terrified of losing the child, too. Will she turn for comfort to Clint Hershey, the dashing GI who makes no secret of his admiration for her?
Will she stay true to Vic, the man she really loves? AMAZON
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IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER
Winter 1919. Two months after the Armistice that ended the Great War, and life in London’s East End is slowly returning to normal. But for 25-year-old Birdie Connor the battle is only just beginning.
Frank, Birdie’s older brother, has been sent to prison for deserting his army post whilst fighting in Belgium, and the shame heaped on the Connor family by their neighbours is unrelenting. Wilfred, Birdie’s widowed father, has disowned Frank and vows that he will never set eyes on his son again, but Birdie cannot believe that her brother is guilty. So when Frank escapes from prison and comes to find Birdie in secret, she promises to help him and is determined to prove his innocence. But little does she realise that she is exposing herself to danger as Frank gets himself deeper and deeper into trouble with the so-called friends he met in prison.
Helped by the Connors’ lodger, the handsome Harry Chambers, will Birdie be able to find the proof that Frank needs in time to reconcile him to their frail father before it is too late?
Can she build a future to keep herself and her younger brother, Patrick, safe? AMAZON
EAST END ANGEL
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Isle of Dogs London’s East End. June 1941. In the dark days following the Blitz, happiness visits young Pearl Jenkins as she celebrates her marriage to Jim Nesbitt. But what should be a joyful occasion is marred when a fight breaks out between Jim and Ricky Winters, an unwelcome visitor from Pearl’s past. And to Pearl’s horror, the new beau of her wayward younger sister Ruby. Increasingly uneasy at staying at home when other men are off fighting for their country, Jim enlists, leaving Pearl at home – alone, pregnant, and at Ricky’s mercy…Together, Pearl and Ruby must bring up baby Cynthia while struggling to make ends meet and dodge the doodlebugs. And all the time, Pearl must hide the dark secret she harbours, one which would tear the two sisters apart as well as her marriage.
Then tragedy strikes both on the home front and in the trenches and Pearl is forced to fight like never before to keep her family safe. AMAZON
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EVE OF THE ISLE
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January 1928, the Isle of Dogs. Following the mysterious disappearance of her sailor husband (missing, presumed drowned), young widow Eve Kumar struggles to provide for herself and her twin sons. But her flower-selling business is destroyed overnight when the Thames floods its banks, wrecking Eve’s ramshackle riverside cottage and forcing her to take refuge with the lecherous Harold Slygo and his drunken wife. As Eve’s home life turns from bad to worse, she is befriended by a young police constable, Charlie Merritt, who shares Eve’s growing suspicions that her husband’s death was no accident. But Eve and Charlie’s investigations are attracting unwelcome attention – and when Eve herself disappears, Charlie realizes there are those who would go to any lengths to ensure the truth remains buried.
Will he be able to save the woman he has grown to love? AMAZON
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LILY OF LOVE LANE
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1930, Isle of Dogs, London’s East End. 20-year-old Lily Bright works long hours on a market stall, selling furniture and bric-a-brac to make ends meet. When a handsome stranger turns up at the stall in search of a bargain, it’s love at first sight. Swept off her feet, Lily falls head over heels for the debonair Charles Grey – only to discover, too late, that he’s a bigamist and trader in stolen goods. Trapped, pregnant, Lily turns for comfort to her childhood friend Ben James, a former lorry driver who is now a successful businessman. With World War II looming, Lily comes to realize that it’s Ben she really loved all along.
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Will she ever find a way to overcome her mistakes, seize control of her own destiny – and win her true love’s heart? AMAZON
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BELLA OF BOW STREET
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1941 Isle of Dogs London’s East End.Neglected by their drunken mother, young Bella Doyle and her brother Terry are left to roam the streets, fending for themselves and skipping school with ease. When her mother’s boyfriend turns violent, Bella finds refuge with Micky Bryant, a local ne’er-do-well. After the war, Bella marries Micky, helping him run his business as a club owner and manufacturer of illegal hooch. But with her husband falling ever deeper into a life of crime, Bella finds herself out of her depth as she struggles to stay one step ahead of the law, cope with Micky’s increasingly wayward behaviour and control her growing feelings for his elder brother, Ronnie.
It takes a shocking tragedy for Bella to realize that she must seize control of events in order to escape the squalor of the East End and shape her own destiny. AMAZON
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Connie of Kettle Street, published in 2013 as COCKNEY ORPHAN. So if you have read Connie please be aware the two books are identical.
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September 7th, 1940 Isle of Dogs London’s East End.The heart of London’s docklands suffers the first terrible night of a nine-month-long Blitz. But amidst the death and destruction shines a ray of hope when young Connie Marsh finds an orphaned baby boy amongst the rubble. She also finds herself falling in love with handsome Vic Champion, the part-time ARP warden who helps her rescue the child they’ve named Lucky. But Connie’s happiness is not to last. When his call-up papers arrive, Vic leaves for the navy – and Connie knows she might never see him again. She’s in danger of losing Lucky too when a sinister figure emerges, claiming to be the boy’s grandfather. Will she turn for comfort to Clint Hershey, the dashing GI who makes no secret of his admiration for her?
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Will she stay true to Vic, the man she really loves?
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EAST END JUBILEE first published under the title of Rose of Ruby Street
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June 2nd 1953 Isle of Dogs London’s East End.The residents of Ruby Street in London’s East End are celebrating the new Queen’s coronation. It’s a day of joy of laughter, a new beginning for a nation still in the grip of rationing, still suffering the aftermath of the Blitz. But for Rose Weaver, the day is destined to end in tragedy when her husband Eddie is arrested on suspicion of theft. It’s only the first of several unpleasant facts Rose will discover about the man she’s been married to for the past eight years, the man she thought she knew so well. Rose must draw on all her courage and resourcefulness to protect herself and her two daughters in the hard months ahead. It’s only with the help of family, friends and the good neighbours of Ruby Street that she has any chance of pulling through.
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And when a handsome salesman knocks at her door, it’s hard to resist temptation …
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LIZZIE OF LANGLEY STREET
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November 1918 Isle of Dogs London’s East End.Following her mother’s untimely death, market trader’s daughter Lizzie Allen is facing desperate times. Her father Tom, crippled in the fighting during WWI, has been left a broken and bitter man; her elder brother Vinnie is in serious trouble with the local hard man; her two younger sisters are in danger of being taken into care, and her sweetheart Danny is heading for Australia to seek his fortune. Determined to keep her family together, yet unable to escape the poverty and degradation of the slums, the heartbroken Lizzie is tricked into marriage by Danny’s unscrupulous brother, Frank. Will she ever find the strength to protect her family from the underworld thugs who monopolise the Isle of Dogs?
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Can she escape her increasingly unhappy and violent marriage? And will she ever be reunited with her one true love, former barrow boy, Danny Flowers? AMAZON
