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Portsmouth in the 1920s is the setting for Julia Bryan’ts second novel about the Forrest family of Lemon Street in Portsea.
It’s almost a year since Lily Forrest waved her green shawl to her sweetheart Michael as his ship steamed off to the far east. She wishes desperately that he was with her now on the day when everything changes: Dad and his new family are leaving Lemon Street and Gran is getting married.
She watches anxiously as her best friend Dora becomes swamped by the demands of her fiancé Harry Vine’s shiftless family. While Lily learns of passion via Michael’s letters, Dora plays a more dangerous game.
Mary Vine fights for a place in life after the death of her mother. Sacked from her job as a scullery maid, Mary has to shift and scheme for herself. With rage and humour she drags her family along behind her. But even her resilience is tested by fire.
Grandmother Beattie Forrest watches the arrival of new neighbour Dahlia Carruthers and wonders how she and her strange companions will fit into Lemon Street.
And now Lily has discovered a secret that threatens to bring tragedy to all her family . . .
It’s almost a year since Lily Forrest waved her green shawl to her sweetheart Michael as his ship steamed off to the far east. She wishes desperately that he was with her now on the day when everything changes: Dad and his new family are leaving Lemon Street and Gran is getting married.
She watches anxiously as her best friend Dora becomes swamped by the demands of her fiancé Harry Vine’s shiftless family. While Lily learns of passion via Michael’s letters, Dora plays a more dangerous game.
Mary Vine fights for a place in life after the death of her mother. Sacked from her job as a scullery maid, Mary has to shift and scheme for herself. With rage and humour she drags her family along behind her. But even her resilience is tested by fire.
Grandmother Beattie Forrest watches the arrival of new neighbour Dahlia Carruthers and wonders how she and her strange companions will fit into Lemon Street.
And now Lily has discovered a secret that threatens to bring tragedy to all her family . . .
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Reviews
Here's a great excuse to put your feet up and escape into a world which celebrates Portsmouth's past...It's really well worth the read
Julia Bryant creates a vivid picture of Portsmouth in the final years and aftermath of the "Great" War of 1914-1918, weaving it into a story that pulses with the warm blood of humanity.
Fresh and thoughtful.
A pulsating and heart-warming saga peopled with human and compelling characters and with convincing dialogue . . . a rich first novel.
A rich first novel . . . packed with interesting people living what might appear to be mundane lives, but of course they are not. We get an insight into the lives of the families of sailors, their good and bad fortune, their ups and downs. Decent people who we want to win through.
A vividly told and heartwarming saga.