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Riley
There were many who said of Riley (as he was almost always known) that in his early life he appeared to be older than his years. With a harsh childhood behind him, he left school with little in the way of knowledge but brimful of optimism, and secure in the knowledge that one of his teachers, Fred Beardsley, had faith in him; although at the time neither of them could have envisaged how the other was to influence the course of their lives. Fred Beardsley, who much to everyone's surprise had become acquainted with and married Louise Barrington, a teacher at his school, within a matter of weeks, ran into Riley while they were on their honeymoon in Paris. Riley said he'd won first prize in a talent competition - hence his presence, with his uncle, in the city for the weekend. In addition, he told the happy couple that as a result of winning the competition he had been offered a 'position' at The Little Palace Theatre in Fellburn. Fred and Louise, who suspected that the 'position' was probably that of a dogsbody, nevertheless encouraged Riley, whom they knew to be an expert mimic. After a time, however, it became clear to them that Riley had actually been appointed assistant stage-manager. And then he surprised them by forming a close friendship with the leading lady, thirty-something Nyrene Forbes-Mason, who he claimed was nurturing his burgeoning talent as an actor. What Riley hadn't told them, however, was that he had great hopes of the relationship developing into something more than friendship... Over the subsequent years, Fred and Louise observed with amazement the rise to fame and fortune of this remarkable lad, as did as did his parents and all those who knew him. As for his relationship with Nyrene, that did indeed change; although the manner in which it progressed was not quite as Riley had planned.
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A House Divided
At the end of the Second World War, Matthew Wallingham returns to his family home, blinded by his injuries and uncertain about his future. There he finds his father ill, his mother obviously unhappy, and his brother, who has made a success of running the farm on the family’s estate during the war years, resentful that Matthew should think he can now offer help. nnForced to realise that his plans for the future are not going to work, Matthew starts to look for a new career. He finds himself becoming dependent on Liz - his nurse and, increasingly, the focus of all his thoughts and hopes. But Liz herself has a shadow hanging over her that will bring a terrifying violence into the Wallingham’s family life…nnSet in the aftermath of the Second World War, A House Divided encompasses the social change taking place and the pains and pleasures of the brave new world of peace.
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The Dwelling Place
Cholera had taken her parents and left Cissie Brodie with the upbringing of a family of nine. She was barelyfifteen herself when they were evicted..Cholera had taken her parents and left Cissie Brodie with the upbringing of a family of nine. She was barely fifteen herself when they were evicted from their cottage and forced out on to the fells. But even though they'd hardly a shilling between them, Cissie set to building a home for the Brodies with a will that would have shamed an adult. It was only a rough stone shelter, thatched as best they could, but to Cissie and her family it was enough to keep them fron the workhouse.They had friends, such as Matthew Turnbull the wheelwright and Watson the miller. But charity could not always spare them the harsh reality of their struggle, and the bitterness of those who bore them ill. Only love--when it came for Cissie Brodie--could ever teach her not to fear the world beyond the dwelling place...
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The Gambling Man
Rory Connor was a gambling man and he had a gambler's luck. From the day he was born, his mother had known that Rory would be the one to make something of his life. At seven years old he was earning money from odd jobs and by fourteen he was in full-time work. By the time he was nineteen, he had escaped the factory to become a rent-collector. Now, at twenty-three, ambition was in full flow and he was always looking to bigger and better games to play. He feared nothing and nobody, not even the unscrupulous landlord he collected for. For an ordinary working lad, he was doing well - until one day, his luck changed and suddenly, things did not go as smoothly as he was used to....
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The Mallen Litter
From generation to generation bad luck and misfortune had befallen each and every member of the Mallen family. It seemed as though the ghost of old Thomas Mallen himself lived on in his unfortunate descendants, and Barbara had spent her life trying to forget he was her father.