by Sandy Taylor
Grandad Doyle lived long enough to hold Kieron in his arms. We still missed him every day. As I stood watching the children play, his words came into my head.
‘I think every child should find their own secret garden, whether in reality or within the pages of a book. I hope you find yours, Nora.’
‘I’ve found it, Grandad,’ I whispered. ‘It’s right here.’
The heart will remember,
Though memories may fade
Of that one perfect moment in time
When leaves turned to gold in a garden,
And the last rose of summer was mine.
Nora Doyle
If you loved The Girl from Paradise Alley, you’ll adore Sandy Taylor’s The Runaway Children, a heart-wrenching and unforgettable story of two evacuee sisters during the Second World War.
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The Runaway Children
An unforgettable journey of two evacuee sisters during the Second World War – and their determination to stay together, no matter what.
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London, 1942: Thirteen-year-old Nell and five-year-old Olive are being sent away from home to escape the devastation of the East End during the Blitz. Leaving behind their beloved mother and brothers, they don’t know if they will ever see them again.
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As the sisters adjust to their new life in a close-knit Welsh village, they gradually find hope in the friendships they make. And Nell kindles a special bond with fellow evacuee Jimmy, who makes her smile even at the hardest of times.
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But when little Olive’s safety is threatened, Nell makes a decision that will change their lives forever. They must run from danger and find their way home…
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Together, through tears and laughter, the two sisters hold each other’s hands as they make an incredibly brave journey across war-torn England. Will they be reunited with the family they have missed for so many years? Or is there more heartache to come?
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A moving story of unconditional love, friendship and the fight for survival during a time of unimaginable change. This book is guaranteed to find a place in your heart. Perfect for fans of Orphan Train and The Girl With No Name.
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Hear More From Sandy
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Books By Sandy Taylor
The Girl from Paradise Alley
The Little Orphan Girl
The Runaway Children
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Brighton Girls Trilogy
When We Danced at the End of the Pier (Book 1)
The Girls from See Saw Lane (Book 2)
Counting Chimneys (Book 3)
A Letter From Sandy
I want to say a huge thank you for choosing to read The Girl from Paradise Alley. If you did enjoy it, and want to keep up to date with all my latest releases, just sign up at the following link. Your email address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.
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This has been a sad year for me. I was a third of the way through this book when my beloved son Bo died. Bo read all of my books and he was so proud of my writing. My first thought was that I couldn’t finish it, but I knew that he would want me to, as The Little Orphan Girl was his favourite and he was looking forward to reading The Girl from Paradise Alley.
I have had so many messages of condolence from so many of my readers and I want to take this opportunity to thank you all – they have given me comfort at this sad time. Bo was such a kind, lovely boy, who was loved by so many people.
Thank you also for continuing to support my writing and I do hope that you enjoyed this book. If you did, I would be very grateful if you could write a review. I’d love to hear what you think, and it makes such a difference helping new readers to discover one of my books for the first time. I love hearing from my readers – you can get in touch on my Facebook page, through Twitter or Goodreads.
Love,
Sandy xxx
The Little Orphan Girl
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For readers of Orphan Train and The Throwaway Children, this unforgettable story of one little Irish girl’s journey to find love, friendship and family will stay in your heart long after the final page…
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Ireland, 1901: For as long as six-year-old Cissy Ryan can remember, she has been a workhouse girl. Living amongst the other orphan boys and girls, dreaming of a family that might come and choose her for their own.
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But the day her real mammy finally comes to claim her is not how Cissy imagined. An unfamiliar woman takes her to a tumbledown cottage in the rural Irish countryside to meet her gruff granddaddy. Settling into the isolated and poverty-stricken village is tough. But Cissy’s blossoming friendship with Colm Doyle and his horse Blue show Cissy the kindness and laughter is possible, even in the hardest of times.
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As Cissy grows up, she finds that the world around her is ever changing. When she goes to work at prestigious Bretton Hall, she begins to realise that not everyone has an honest heart…
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In one moment, Cissy’s life is turned upside down and she finds herself on a boat to England, sailing away from all she holds dear. Will Cissy ever find her way back to Ireland and everything she knows? Or is there more heartbreak to come?
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A sweeping, unputdownable page-turner of romance, tragedy and the true meaning of family. The Little Orphan Girl is guaranteed to melt your heart.
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When We Danced at the End of the Pier
Brighton Girls Trilogy Book 1
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Brighton 1930: Maureen O’Connell is a carefree girl, but her family is on the brink of tragedy, war is looming and life will never be the same again.
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Jack and Nelson have always been dear friends to Maureen. Despite their different backgrounds, they’ve seen each other through thick and thin.
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As Maureen blossoms from a little girl into a young woman, the candle she’s always held for Jack burns bright. But just as she’s found love, war wrenches them apart. The man she cherishes with all her heart is leaving.
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When the bombs start to fall, Maureen and her family find themselves living in the most dangerous of times. With Jack no longer by her side and Nelson at war, Maureen has never felt more alone. Can she look to a brighter future? And will she find the true happiness she’s dreamt of?
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An utterly gripping and heart-wrenching story about the enduring power of love, hope and friendship during the darkest of days. Perfect for fans of Pam Jenoff, Nadine Dorries and Diney Costeloe.
The Girls from See Saw Lane
Brighton Girls Trilogy Book 2
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‘I loved this novel so much, even though it’s probably the most heart-breaking story I’ve read all year...it will totally absorb you and capture your heart.’ That Thing She Reads
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Brighton 1963. Mary Pickles and I walked along the street with our arms linked, looking in shop windows. We were best friends and together we were invincible.
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Dottie and Mary forged a friendship over a bag of penny sweets when they were eight years old. They’ve shared everything together since then – the highs and lows of school, family dramas, hopes and dreams and now, at seventeen, they’re both shop girls, working at Woolworths.
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As they go out in the world in pursuit of love and happiness, the simplicity of their childhood dissolves as life becomes more complicated. The heady excitement of first
love will consume them both, but the pain of unintentional betrayal will test their friendship in ways neither of them could ever imagine…
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A charming, heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting novel which brings a bygone era vividly to life. Fans of Nadine Dorries, Mary Gibson and Pam Weaver will love The Girls from See Saw Lane.
Counting Chimneys
Brighton Girls Trilogy Book 3
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Brighton 1969: Dottie Perks steps off the train and breathes in the sea air, the smell of fish and chips, and the precious childhood memories of a friend and place she’ll never forget.
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Dottie Perks has forged a new life for herself in London, a new job and sweet boyfriend Joe to keep her warm at night. She’s safe, happy and loved. What more could she ask for?
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But when Dottie returns home to Brighton for a family celebration, the last person she expects to see is her first love; the boy who stole her heart… and broke it. Ralph Bennett.
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As old familiar feelings come rushing to the surface, Dottie struggles to deny the strong chemistry that still exists between them. She can’t throw away everything to be with Ralph…can she? And if she does, how can they ever overcome the pain and tragedy of their shared past?
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A beautiful, touching and heartbreaking story of love, loss and friendship. Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Mary Gibson and Katie Flynn.
Acknowledgements
To my daughter, Kate, and my son-in-law, Iain, who have given me strength. And my three beautiful grandchildren, Millie, Archie and Emma, who have brought me such joy.
To my friends who have been there for me when I needed them most. Too many to mention but you know who you are and I would be lost without you all. To my brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews. Thank you all.
To Claire Bord, Natasha Harding, Emily Gowers and Kim Nash and to the whole team at Bookouture for allowing me the time to finish this book when I felt able to and for their lovely messages.
To my wonderful agent and friend, Kate Hordern, thank you for just being you, because just being you has been wonderful.
This book is for you, my darling Bo, and I hope that you are sitting on a cloud somewhere reading it.
Published by Bookouture in 2020
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An imprint of Storyfire Ltd.
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
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www.bookouture.com
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Copyright © Sandy Taylor, 2020
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Sandy Taylor has asserted her right to be identified
as the author of this work.
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
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eBook ISBN: 978-1-78681-907-9
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain, are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
