This author gained renown for his suspense novels before shifting to expansive historical romance sagas. He was persuaded by his publishers to adopt a female pseudonym, a decision initially presented to him as a choice. His work delves into intricate human relationships and dramatic historical settings. The secret of his identity remained concealed until a nomination for a prestigious award brought his authorship to light.
When she was sixteen, Sheila Beattie knew exactly what her future would be. She would marry her sweetheart Eric, a fisherman like her father, and they would raise their family and dream their simple dreams in the village which they'd been born. Her life lay before her, happy, safe and secure. But she was sixteen - and about to discover in this world there is nothing certain but change . . . no one and nothing to be trusted but the voice of your own heart . . .
Bridie gets a job as a maid on Sir Ian of Seaton's estate and, much against her better judgement and will, falls in love with Sir Ian's brother's step-son, also called Ian. Ian optimistically feels that his father will understand and let them marry but Bridie expects what she gets - dismissal, with Ian threatened with the loss of his inheritance. Ian then gets involved with a burglary on the estate and is killed and Bridie, on hearing this, deciding she can't bear to live with Ian dead, goes out into the snow, lies by his grave and freezes to death...The various sub-plots which flesh out this moving story make it a great Scottish women's read.
Holly's fiance is killed at Dunkirk and she throws all her energy into her nursing skills, convinced that she will never love again. Then friendship turns to love between Holly and a young German doctor, Peter Schmidt. They soon have to fight together.
Georgie Mair's first husband's dies tragically from leukaemia. Three years later love comes once more into her life. Charlie Gunn saves her after an explosion in the factory at work. Like her, Charlie is widowed with a young child. As their relationship blossoms into marriage, it seems to Georgie that this second chance is almost too good to be true. It is. And soon Georgie finds herself taking the only route possible. Shocking the staid community, she separates from him. But the community would have been far more shocked if they know what Lena was now up to. For in the new era of jazz and at the dawn of a Labour government, life is changing all around... And then it changes again for Georgie. She meets Bill Bailey. He is everything Charlie was not. But will she be able to find, with Bill, the same sort of bliss she had found with John? Or will this third bite at the cherry be something completely different?
For sixteen-year-old Lizzie McDougall, life in the Glasgow tenements comes as a culture shock after her sheltered upbringing in the Highlands. But for her father, who has just lost his job in the tiny town of Tomintoul, Glasgow offers employment. Her new life enables Lizzie to work in a factory as a seamstress - and it opens her horizons to new friends as well. Especially the spirited Pearl, who introduces Lizzie to her boyfriend Willie, and her cousin, the handsome, happy-go-lucky Jack - a real bobby-dazzler . . . It's not just Lizzie who faces temptation in the big city. Her father Doogie, also working in a factory, is exposed to it in the shape of the buxom Daisy. He moved here for the sake of his family's future, but now he's in danger of throwing that future away. Praise for Emma Blair: 'An engaging novel and the characters are endearing - a good holiday read' Historical Novels Review 'All the tragedy and passion you could hope for . . . Brilliant' The Bookseller 'Romantic fiction pure and simple and the best sort - direct, warm and hugely readable. Women's fiction at an excellent level' Publishing News 'Emma Blair explores the complex and difficult nature of human emotions in this passionately written novel' Edinburgh Evening News 'Entertaining romantic fiction' Historical Novels Review '[Emma Blair] is well worth recommending' The Bookseller
The Devonshire village of Ford is full of excitement and curiosity at the arrival of their new doctor, the dashing young Scotsman Jamie Murray. Among the fluttering female hearts are sisters Maggs and Crista Fletcher. And though Maggs frequents the local pub, the Angel, in the hope of a chance meeting with the young doctor, it is Crista to whom Jamie has taken a shine. Not that Maggs is exactly drinking on her own. Her admirers include Dickie Trippett, her childhood sweetheart, now scarred for life in the First World War, and handsome, confident and rich Rupert Swain, son and heir to the local paper mill. For Maggs, there is no contest as to where her affections lie: Rupert wins hands down. Except that Rupert is a member of the most hated family in Ford: the Swains run the paper mill in the most ruthless and cruel fashion, paying the lowest rates in dangerous working conditions. And just as Maggs cannot reveal the object of her love, Rupert wouldn't dream of doing so either. As far as he's concerned, she is just another village girl to be loved and left. As Maggs and Crista's lives progress, they come to realise that those young, seemingly carefree days have, in fact, shaped their entire destinies . . .
Divided by class, wealth and religion, the Seatons and the Flynns could not live more different lives. As the Great War fades from memory, the affairs of both families are about to become tragically entangled.
Set in 1924 Glasgow and France, FINDING HAPPINESS is about growing up, love, loss of innocence and learning about life. A powerful story of love, rebellion and family ties. schovat popis
For Sarah Hawke, daughter of an impoverished miner, life offered little beyond the grime of Glasgow in the 1890s and the eternal drudgery of back-breaking work. Until a mysterious stranger entered her life. A stranger who turned out to be her real father - and the owner of a vast and prosperous shipping empire. Catapulted into a world of luxury, of servants and stately homes, Sarah begins a new and glittering life. As sole heiress to a fortune, she has much to gain - and everything to lose. For she takes over the business, and with it the risks and rivalry, deceit and intrigue - and the prospect of undying love... From Scotland to Paris, from Jamaica to South Africa, Sarah charms - and fights - her way to success against all odds. For she is dealing in a man's world, where the only way to succeed is to be a most determined woman.
Love - and the Great War - come to Torquay to disrupt the lives of the villagers