Rita Bradshaw

A heartrending saga of lost love, dark secrets and the rocky road to happiness, perfect for fans of Rosie Goodwin and Dilly Court'Gritty and touching' Newcastle Evening ChronicleWhen a shocking secret is revealed, will she ever find happiness agai? rowing up on a small, struggling farm on the outskirts of Sunderland in the early 1900s, Polly Farrow has a tough life, but she has gifts money can't buy - a joyful disposition and a loving heart. And that heart belongs to her beloved cousin, Michael. They share a special bond, and Polly knows that one day they'll be man and wife. But a terrible family secret is to shatter her dreams for ever. The lovers are rent apart and Polly is left to bear the responsibility of the farm and her family alone. Life is now a battle for survival, and Polly wonders if she will ever find happiness, unaware that the answer to her prayers is closer than she thinks . . . What readers are saying about The Stony Path:'A brilliant read . . . Rita Bradshaw has the knack of telling a story so well. I can't express into words how glad I have found her books and what joy they bring me' ?'Gripping from start to finish. A truly wonderful love story that has to ride the test of time, heartache and treachery' ? 'This book was unputdownable once I started reading it. The plot was wonderful and believable, the characters are a mixed lot in that some are feisty, some rotten and a few really, really good. It makes for a wonderful story that left me wanting more' ?'Another gritty story by this wonderful author, whose stories are so true to life and keep the reader captured from the beginning to the end' ?'I enjoyed it very much and look forward to reading another book by Rita Bradshaw. She has a knack of capturing the history and the people who lived through it' ?

An uplifting saga of rags to riches, as a young woman unravels the secrets that surround her past in order to find happiness. Perfect for fans of Lindsey Hutchinson and Dilly Court. 'An enjoyable historical read . . . Very readable, with good dialogue and well-drawn characters' Ipswich Evening StarA young couple . . . and the dark and terrible history between their families that threatens to destroy them. Connie Bell, newly orphaned, is just twelve when she's taken on at the laundry in Sunderland's grim workhouse. Although she's little more than a child, the events of her past have forged a driving determination to rise above her beginnings. But when she applies for a job as a nurse Connie's turned down: her mother was forced by poverty to work the streets and the Bell name is tainted. Bitterly hurt but undaunted, Connie's soon assistant housekeeper at the Grand Hotel and saving hard for her own business. When her path crosses Dan Stewart's, though, everything Connie's ever dreamed of is threatened. There's a dark and terrible history between the Bells and the Stewarts, and Dan's mother Edith will do anything to keep Dan and Connie apart. What readers are saying about Ragamuffin Angel:'A story of true heartache and courage against the backdrop of poverty and war' ? 'You can feel the characters' plight, their anguish and their suffering as if you'd been there yourself . . . These are stories that linger on your mind long after you've put the book down' ?'Great characters, their stories beautifully told through the passage of time' ? 'If you love stories of the old days, sharing their hardships and difficulties, Rita Bradshaw knows how to draw in words a picture to remember!' ? 'Holds you transfixed from beginning to end. Truly a wonderful story teller' ?

A heartwarming saga of a young woman's indomitable spirit and determination to survive no matter what, perfect for fans of Annie Murray and Rosie GoodwinWhen everyone's deserted her, can she find the strength to go o? osie Ferry is hardly more than a child when her father and brothers are lost in a pit disaster. She has to grow up fast when her mother falls apart, leaving Rosie in charge of her two sisters. It's Rosie who finds them lodgings, Rosie who tramps the streets looking for work. Without her friends Davey and Flora, Rosie doesn't know how she'd cope. Then Davey - the boy Rosie always thought she'd marry - abruptly leaves Sunderland, and to make matters worse her mother turns to drink. It's almost more than she can bear, but Rosie is tougher than she looks, and she's determined to keep the family together. What readers are saying about Reach for Tomorrow:'Another lovely story from this very talented writer. The characters are vivid and believable, the storyline keeps you guessing' ?'This story is so full of deep love and filled with sorrow too. A book I never wanted to end!' ? 'The characters are truly believable and inspiring. I have laughed and cried with them. In true Northern style it was a captivating story of love, heartache and true grit' ? 'I felt as though I was transported in time. I found the book very emotive in places and extremely easy to read' ? 'A story of endurance in all manner of life. Could not put the book down. Sadness, love, enduring poverty, Rita Bradshaw has enthralled me' ?

A powerful saga of discovering your roots, and finding true love along the way, perfect for fans of Rosie Goodwin and Dilly CourtOne young woman dares to dream of a better life . . . One freezing night in the 1930s, a baby is left to die in a public lavatory in Sunderland. But against the odds she survives. Sarah Brown is from sturdy stock, and she needs to be, for the orphanage where she grows up is run with brutal efficiency by child-hating Matron Cox. Only Sarah dares to defy her - with horrific consequences. Emerging from the Home as a beautiful and determined young woman, Sarah takes up a post in London as a housekeeper. She's more than capable of dealing with her employer's son, who has a penchant for young servants. And when she meets again Rodney Mallard, the young doctor who tended her after a beating in the Home, Sarah begins to dream of a better future. But serpents lurk in every paradise. And Sarah won't be completely happy until she knows why she was abandoned by her mother, the one person who should have loved her more than life itself . . . What readers are saying about Alone Beneath the Heaven:'I felt as though I knew every character personally. I laughed and cried and got annoyed with some of them, oh my goodness it was amazing' ?'Another great book by this Author! It's a brilliant story line, the characters are brilliant! . . . A real eye opener to two different worlds' ? 'Rita Bradshaw certainly pulls at your heart strings with this. From start to finish it captivates you. I had tears in my eyes at the end' ? 'What a book. I struggled to put it down. A wonderful story, cruel at times, emotional at others' ? 'Yet another unputdownable book by Rita Bradshaw. I don't know how she does it but she puts so much feeling into each and every story. Some make you laugh and some make you cry but all are so enjoyable' ?

''A poignant, emotional story with a surprising kick of realism'' - Sunderland EchoHeartbreak and family loyalty collide in Rita Bradshaw''s number one bestselling Dancing in the Moonlight.As her mother lies dying, twelve-year-old Lucy Fallow promises to look after her younger siblings and keep house for her father and two older brothers.Over the following years the Depression tightens its grip. Times are hard and Lucy''s situation is made more difficult by the ominous presence of Tom Crawford, the eldest son of her mother''s lifelong friend.Lucy''s growing friendship with Tom''s younger brother Jacob only fuels Tom''s obsession with her. He persuades Lucy''s father and brothers to work for him on the wrong side of the law as part of his plan to force Lucy to marry him.Tom sees Lucy and Jacob dancing together one night, and a chain of heartbreaking events are set in motion. Torn apart from the boy she loves, Lucy wonders if she and Jacob will ever dance in the moonlight again . . .