An intelligent, slum-dwelling teenage girl takes drastic measures to survive when her father throws her out of her home, in this spellbinding historical sagaPoplar, London, 1920. Fourteen-year-old Victoria Keats is horrified when her father demands that she go to work for wealthy Mr Preston – everyone knows why he takes young girls into his house. But her violent father, who's never let her forget she's not the son he wanted, won't listen to her concerns – and when she stands up for herself, he throws her out of their dingy little house in the slums.Intelligent, book-loving Vicki vows to make her father regret this day; but she is all alone in the world. Despite her courage and quick wits, it seems likely she will starve – until two men, both complete strangers, provide her with no-strings-attached help.As Vicki's life improves beyond all recognition, she can't help but fixate on the mystery of these two good Samaritans: who were they?...

Book 2 Webster familyFrom the author of the bestselling debut THE OPEN DOOR comes a moving and uplifting story about a generation of young people living through World War II.When war breaks out Annie Webster and her closeknit family find themselves - along with everyone else in the country - thrust into a world of uncertainty, danger and despair. Her brothers join up, her sweetheart Paul becomes a fighter pilot, and Annie, desperate to help, finds herself in the WAAF, where her intelligence and warmth singles her out for a role more daring than she can ever have known.All the time, the Battle of Britain is raging in the skies above her. The country has never needed its young people more, but will Annie and her loved ones survive its darkest hour?

SynopsisLondon 1934Amy Carter's great frustration is that at nearly fifteen she still can't read or write very well. She is intelligent, but has trouble with words. How is she going to survive when her father is hanged for murder and her mother dies, leaving her alone?Ben Scott, an artist she has met only once, finds her at this crucial time and takes her back to his landlady, who gives her a home. The people living in the house become her family, and, step-by-step, the past is put behind her. In 1939 she marries a young doctor, John Sterling, and her happiness is complete. Then war comes to tear her family apart. John is killed during an air raid, and Ben is reported missing.Is she destined to lose the two men she adores? And how many painful steps will it take to regain her happiness?

As World War II breaks out, four friends consider the changes that war will mean. Tomboyish Becky plans to join the ATS, her neighbours Bob and Jim the navy and army respectively. Only Becky's brother Will is left out of the excitement; because of a slight physical disability, he is forced to stay behind. As the friends are separated, their youthful enthusiasm is tempered by the grim newspaper headlines and their own experiences, and they will feel both joy and pain before the war is over.

London, 1940. The war is raging across Europe and twenty-three-year-old Grace is devastated by the loss of her husband, Brian, at Dunkirk after only a year of marriage. Her secretary job at a law firm keeps her mind from dwelling on her sorrow but when her boss, James, enlists in the air force Grace is left without work. Alongside her best friend, Helen, the two young women join the War Office in a move that will change their lives forever. As Grace throws herself into the war effort, she must find the courage and strength to start her life over and find love again.About the Author Beryl Matthews was born in London but now lives in Hampshire. She grew up in a family of enthusiastic readers, and books have always been a very important part of her life. As a young girl her ambition was to become a professional singer, but lack of funds drove her into an office, where she worked her way up from tea-girl to credit controller. Her hobbies are writing, reading, swimming and golf. 

London, 1949. In the aftermath of the war, Angie Westwood thinks the hard times are behind her. But when her cousin, Jane, dies of heart failure at the tender age of twenty, leaving a three-year-old son and an unresolved mystery over his father's identity, her life changes beyond all expectations. Angie immediately adopts Danny and decides to bring him up as her own, but she is torn between a desire to trace his father - for the boy's sake - and her fear of losing him to this unknown man. Concerned about Danny's well-being, Angie takes him to visit John and Hettie Sawyer, whose farm she and Jane were evacuated to during the war. The moment they lay eyes on him it is immediately apparent to the Sawyers who Danny's father is. But should they share this news with Angie? For his identity will be the most enormous shock to her...

London 1890. Queenie Bonner is only two years old and oblivious to the dirt and squalor of the slums she lives in. She is the youngest of ten children and is happy with her brothers and sisters. Harry, the eldest, is the one she loves the most.One day when they are all having a rough and tumble in the street, with Queenie right in the middle laughing with joy, a posh carriage arrives. While they all watch in awe at such a sight, Queenie's mum and dad put her in the coach with a strange man and woman. As they drive away a terrified little girl leans out of the window calling to Harry to help her. They arrive at a large house in the country and the little girl begs to be taken home. Albert and Mary Warrender tell her this is now her home, and rename her Eleanor.Over the years she forgets about her other family and loves Albert and Mary, believing they are her parents. Fifteen years later Mary dies and Albert tells her about her past and what her real name is.Albert helps her to...

Hampshire 1850. Beth Langton has been running her large family estate for nine months now, after the death of her father. Under the watchful eyes of her godfather and guardian, Lord Edward Sharland, and an excellent estate manager, Henry Greenway, she is loving the work.After a week away with Henry buying cattle, terrible news is waiting for her on her return. The father of her best friend, Lady Helen Denton, has shot himself after running up gambling debts, leaving Helen destitute. Beth persuades Helen to come and live with her, although Helen is too proud to take charity and insists she work as a paid companion.The girls soon settle happily together, but further tragedy awaits. Beth is informed by a stranger that her beloved guardian, away on business, has died. The stranger claims to be Edward’s heir, making him her legal guardian – and he has the paperwork to prove it. But can they trust him? And should they?

Can a girl hide from her destiny? When Eugenie Winford is removed suddenly from her boarding school, she has no idea of the horrors awaiting her at home. For her beloved father has killed himself having lost his fortune in the Wall Street Crash. And now Eugenie and her proud, spoilt mother, are ruined. Eugenie finds a job as a house-maid for the Stannard family. Anything is better than what her mother has planned for her, and she finds the hard work and long hours a good distraction from her pain. But eventually her past catches up with her and Jen has to flee again. She ends up in Lambeth, taken in by a poor but very kind family, and together, they face the hardship of the depression. But unbeknown to Jen she is being hunted both by her greedy, manipulative blood family, and by the son of the wealthy, kindly, Stannard family. Once again, the coin is spinning - but this time, how will it land?

1856. Christine Banner is alone after her father's death. Determined to make her own way in the world, she stumbles onto an estate in the New Forest where she finds work that she loves. However, when the future looks uncertain, Christine's skill at handling some of the large and difficult war horses shines through and captures the attention of the son of the estate owner. In the face of grief, sadness and disappointment, Christine's intelligence and strength will be tested until she finds the place she can truly call home.