Showing results by author "Rosie Clarke" in All Categories

In the heart of Dressmakers' Alley, Madame Pauline’s sweatshop is rumoured to be a particularly unpleasant place to work. Filled with seamstresses paid a pittance who turn a blind eye to what darker activities are hidden behind locked doors. Young Winnie Brown is keen to prove her value to the Women Movement and secures a job as a seamstress to investigate the whispers of some unsavoury goings on. Her concerns are soon justified when she hears a desperate cry for help.

Eldest sister Frances is about to marry her childhood sweetheart. But with Marcus Danby now a fighter pilot, his fate hanging in the balance. Will he return from war for their happy ever after? Meanwhile youngest daughter Emily is swept off her feet by a dashing young officer, but does she really know him? Brother Daniel has joined up, but not before falling in love with a local kitchen girl Alice. Against the backdrop of war is there hope of a future for them?

Sally Harper is busy juggling running London’s Oxford Street Store Harpers and looking after her beautiful new-born daughter, whilst husband Ben is overseas on another dangerous mission; this time to rescue a friend in need. Young Becky Stockbridge finds herself in a difficult situation, which could bring shame to her and her family. Will Becky, with the help of her friends, find her happy ever after and keep her secret? Marion Jackson is blessed with a son as she eagerly awaits the return of her husband, Reggie. But all is not right when Reggie returns.

Devon, 1918. When Jessie Hale loses her nursing job, she leaves London to become the nurse maid to the Kendle family. On arrival she finds the family in disarray. When their elderly Nanny suffers a bad fall, Jessie has to try to bring the household together. Gradually, Jessie finds her place in their lives. Jessie soon starts to love her life at Kendlebury Hall, but problems arise when her feelings for her employer start to change....

As a small child, Nellie Peace was always dreaming but sensed her mother’s rejection. Abandoned and sent into service at Beaumont House at an early age, Nellie is lost and alone until she meets the unpredictable and reclusive artist Lucas Harrington and falls in love with him. This unlikely association between master and servant is encouraged by Lucas’ gentle-natured Aunt Alice, as Lucas sees something unusual in Nellie and is compelled to paint her. Broken promises lead to inevitable heartbreak, and Nellie flees Beaumont House in disgrace for London.

London 1917. As the Americans enter the war, there is renewed energy in the war effort. With husbands and sons fighting for freedom, the women of Harpers are left to tackle the day-to-day affairs at home and work. With Ben Harper away, Sally fears she is being followed by a mysterious woman. Who is she, and what does she want? Maggie Gibbs collapses seriously ill in the frontline hospitals and is brought back to England close to death. Can she be saved, and what does the future hold for her and her broken heart?

As the war rages on in Europe, it brings untold heartache to the Talbot family at Blackberry Farm. First Tom is missing in action and then his brother John. leaving the family distraught with worry. Faith finds herself in trouble and turns to Lizzie for support as fear and grief bring them closer together. But tragedy is never too far away and when it strikes, it may not be those who fight that suffer most. Will Pam’s prayers be answered and will both her sons return home?

Maggie Bailey has not had an easy childhood. Her father, Michael, always too easy with his fists after spending the family’s rent money down the pub. Just sixteen, in love and blinded by promises, Maggie sees marriage to handsome Jack as her great escape. However, she soon finds herself abandoned with a beautiful baby when Jack disappears. Maggie is forced to seek a new life away from the East End of London and finds herself a job at a hotel in Yarmouth.

Oxford Street, London 1915. Sally Harper quietly battles to keep Harpers afloat in the difficult days of the war, whilst husband Ben is working all hours for the War Office. Beth Burrow is fighting concern for her husband, Jack, now at sea with the Merchant Navy, and the fear she may never see him again and be blessed with a child. Driven to exhaustion, Maggie Gibbs, is now working as a nursing assistant on the battlefields in France. With the everyday horrors of the casualties of war to contend with she suffers her own personal tragedy when her fiancé's plane ditches in the sea.

The hedonism of London in the Roaring Twenties is a world away from Annabel Tarleton's ordinary country existence. Until a chance meeting with the charming Richard Hansen at a society ball changes her life for ever. Annabel finds herself trapped inside a marriage that behind closed doors is cruel. Annabel has no choice but to flee and will do everything to save herself and her unborn baby. But the very powerful expect to get what they want....

December 1930. With the Depression biting deeper, it looks like many children in the East End will wake up to nothing on Christmas morning. Widower Robbie Graham earns just enough to put food on the table for his children, Ben and Ruthie. Local cake shop owner Flo Hawkins can't bear the thought of any child having nothing for Christmas. Along with her sister, Honour, she hatches a plan to bring some festive cheer to the community.

Harpers is beginning to flourish once more after the end of the war but for Sally Harper the problems continue. Husband Ben is moody, sometimes distant, and she feels he is shutting her out at home and at work, but why? It takes a terrible tragedy to make them realise their love and respect is still true. The ladies and girls who work at Harpers continue to battle with problems in their own lives. Marion is still trying to reach her war-damaged husband and Lilly is battling with her pain and shame. It’s a period of transition for all.

Cambridgeshire – 1942. As a new year begins and the war continues, young Artie Talbot feels trapped. In his heart he longs to fight, like his two brothers, for his king and country but is duty tied to Blackberry Farm. As feelings grow between Artie and Jeanie Salmons, Artie wonders if marriage will help him to finally accept his lot and settle down. Meanwhile, his brother John Talbot must come to terms with the tragic loss of a lost love. Can he overcome his trauma and begin to build a new life for himself and his new born son?

Against the devastating Blitz of London, normal life must continue for Lizzie Larch. With Sebastian returning to war, Lizzie must make a success of her business in order to survive and to care for her young child. Silently in the shadows, her secret enemy watches and waits, threatening to ruin Lizzie and everything she holds close. Lizzie is soon battling against shortages whilst her hat business explodes.... But soon Lizzie begins to realise that success can mean nothing without the man she loves.

Der Krieg wütet in London, doch neues Leben bringt Hoffnung und Freude in die Mulberry Lane... 1941, Mulberry Lane, London. Für die Bewohner in der Mulberry Lane brechen harte Zeiten an, denn der Krieg beherrscht die Stadt. Während die Männer weit weg an der Front kämpfen, warten ihre Frauen sehnsüchtig auf Briefe und Nachrichten, um zu wissen, dass es ihnen gut geht. Und es gibt auch Hoffnung: Peggy erwartet Zwillinge und Maureen hat ebenfalls gute Neuigkeiten.

Während der Zweite Weltkrieg London beherrscht, halten die Frauen aus der Mulberry Lane fest zusammen... Maureen Jackson wusste, dass das Leben als angehende Krankenschwester nicht einfach sein würde. Aber sie hatte nicht damit gerechnet, dass ihr Krankenhaus gleich in ihrer ersten Schicht schwer bombardiert wird. Zudem halten sie Familie und Freunde in der Mulberry Lane Maureen auf Trab, denn dort wird sie genauso gebraucht wie bei ihren Patienten. Und als wäre das nicht genug, tritt auch Rory wieder in ihr Leben.

Der drohende Krieg überschattet London, doch die Frauen aus der Mulberry Lane kämpfen mit ihren ganz eigenen Sorgen... 1938, Mulberry Lane, London. Maureen Jackson fühlt sich wie eine Gefangene. Drei Jahre zuvor war ihre Welt noch in Ordnung. Sie wollte Rory, den Mann ihrer Träume, heiraten und mit ihm eine eigene Familie gründen. Aber seit dem Tod Ihrer Mutter muss sie sich um ihren Vater kümmern, der ihr das Leben zur Hölle macht. Nun schuftet sie Tag und Nacht in seinem Lebensmittelgeschäft. Als dann Rory nach London zurückkehrt und mit ihm seine schwangere Frau, erinnert das Maureen an das Leben, das ihres hätte sein sollen.

London scheint den Krieg fast überstanden zu haben, aber der Alltag lastet schwer auf der Mulberry Lane... Die Frauen in der Mulberry Lane kämpfen nicht nur mit der strengen Rationierung der Lebensmittel, sondern warten auch ängstlich auf Neuigkeiten von der Front. Peggy weiß immer noch nicht, ob sie den Vater ihrer Zwillinge jemals wiedersehen wird. Als sie dann auch noch einen seltsamen Brief erhält, muss sie trotz dieser Ungewissheit eine Entscheidung treffen, die ihr ganzes Leben verändern wird. Maureen erlebt ebenfalls bange Zeiten.

Frischer Wind in der Mulberry Lane. London 1958: Die Schrecken des Krieges verblassen und das Leben in der Mulberry Lane geht weiter. Peggys Zwillinge sind nun Teenager und planen schon ihr Leben nach der Schulzeit. Vor allem die zielstrebige Faye überrascht ihre Mutter mit neuen Plänen. Maureen, Shirleys Tochter, hat ihr Medizinstudium mittlerweile abgeschlossen und kehrt in die Mulberry Lane zurück. Endlich kann sie ihren Traum verwirklichen und als Ärztin den Ärmsten helfen. Doch inmitten all der Arbeit tritt auf einmal die Liebe in ihr Leben.

Geteiltes Leid ist halbes Leid. London 1950: Peggy hat sich in ihrem Gästehaus in der Mulberry Lane wieder gut eingelebt und ist glücklich, das alte Leben wieder zurück und ihre lieben Freunde um sich zu haben. Alles scheint perfekt, doch dann geschieht das Unglück: Pip, ihr geliebter Sohn, liegt nach einem schlimmen Autounfall im Koma. Dann bricht auf dem Markt ein junges Mädchen zusammen, und Peggy entschließt sich, sie wieder gesund zu pflegen.