Tuesday 13 November 2018
Christmas at Liberty's by Fiona Ford
Series: Liberty Girls #1
Release Date: 15th November 2018
Publisher: Arrow / Cornerstone
Publisher: Arrow / Cornerstone
Genres: Romance / war-time Saga
Fiona spent many years as a journalist writing for women’s weekly and monthly magazines before becoming a full time author, and uses her journalistic experience researching her books. Fiona tirelessly combed the Westminster Archives and Liberty records for details about what life was really like working in London and Liberty’s during WWII, lending a true sense of authenticity to her writing. Fiona is also the author of the A Pug Like Percy books under the pseudonym, Fiona Harrison, as well as two sagas in her own name in the Spark Girls series. Fiona lives in Berkshire with her partner. Find out more about Fiona at www.fionaford.co.uk.
The first novel in the Liberty Girls series will be loved by fans of Elaine Everest, Nancy Revell and Mr Selfridge.
‘A wonderful, uplifting story of friendship and courage. Characters that you can't help falling in love with! This new saga series will surely touch the hearts of saga readers everywhere’ Nancy Revell, author of the Shipyard Girls series.
'A Liberty treasure chest of silks, satin, lace and ribbons with gritty wartime passion at its very core. A gem!' - Daisy Styles, author of the Bomb Girls series.
September, 1941: Mary arrives in war-torn London nursing a broken heart and a painful secret.
When she is offered her dream post as an assistant in the fabric department at Liberty store, she knows this is the fresh start she needs. Amid the store’s vibrant prints and sumptuous interiors, Mary finds a new family who can help her to heal.
But not everyone will give Mary such a warm welcome, and the trauma of her past will soon catch up with her.
As Mary and the Liberty Girls endure the heartache and uncertainty of war, it will take a steady heart to keep the magic of Christmas alive.
‘A wonderful, uplifting story of friendship and courage. Characters that you can't help falling in love with! This new saga series will surely touch the hearts of saga readers everywhere’ Nancy Revell, author of the Shipyard Girls series.
'A Liberty treasure chest of silks, satin, lace and ribbons with gritty wartime passion at its very core. A gem!' - Daisy Styles, author of the Bomb Girls series.
September, 1941: Mary arrives in war-torn London nursing a broken heart and a painful secret.
When she is offered her dream post as an assistant in the fabric department at Liberty store, she knows this is the fresh start she needs. Amid the store’s vibrant prints and sumptuous interiors, Mary finds a new family who can help her to heal.
But not everyone will give Mary such a warm welcome, and the trauma of her past will soon catch up with her.
As Mary and the Liberty Girls endure the heartache and uncertainty of war, it will take a steady heart to keep the magic of Christmas alive.
EXTRACT
December 1925
As the familiar pinpricks of light
danced invitingly up ahead, the little girl stopped in the middle of the
crowded street, unable to tear her gaze away. The sight of the sparkling shop
windows always sent a thrill down her spine and she wanted to drink it all in.
Every
Christmas, together with her mother and sister, Mary visited London to buy
gifts for the family, and this store was always the highlight of the trip. The
black and white mock-Tudor building looked like it belonged in a fairy-tale
rather than in the heart of London. She was eager to step inside.
Glancing up,
Mary realised her mother was too busy telling off her younger sister to have
even noticed where they were. She bit her lip in irritation. Clarissa was
always spoiling things, and this time Mary had had enough. Before she could
change her mind, Mary let go of her mother’s hand and dashed through the crowds
of Christmas shoppers, determined to claim her prize.
Ignoring her
mother’s cries, she charged on, darting through legs, dodging shopping bags and
rounding perambulators. Finally reaching the window, she let out a gasp of
delight. Up close the display was even more magical and she pressed her face
against the glass. At the centre of the window was the largest Christmas tree
Mary had ever seen. It towered above her, ablaze with fairy lights, each bulb sparkling like
the brightest stars in the sky. In between the lights, glittering tinsel in
hues of red, gold and green hugged the branches, while glass baubles in every
colour dangled tantalisingly from the pine. The girl had never seen anything so
beautiful and, as her gaze strayed to the mound of Christmas presents elegantly
wrapped in red and green paper and topped off with a silver or gold ribbon, she
shook her head in wonder.
Just then, she felt a
hand clamp down on her shoulder. Startled, she looked up at its owner, only to
come face to face with her mother.
‘Mary! You mustn’t run
off like that,’ the woman exclaimed.
‘I’m sorry, Mummy,’ the
girl said in a small voice, ‘I just wanted to see the lights. They’re so
pretty.’
The woman’s face
softened as she turned away from Mary and gazed back towards the window.
‘They’re rather special, aren’t they?’
‘I’ve never seen
anything so magical, Mummy. I want to climb inside.’
Mary’s mother turned her
gaze back to the child and smiled. ‘Well, why don’t we see if they’ll let you
and Clarissa do just that?’
‘Do you really think
they will?’ the child gasped.
The woman winked, holding out
her hand for her daughter to hold. ‘This is Liberty’s, darling. Dreams come
true here.’
Extracted from Christmas at Liberty’s by Fiona Ford (Arrow, paperback, £6.99).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Fiona spent many years as a journalist writing for women’s weekly and monthly magazines before becoming a full time author, and uses her journalistic experience researching her books. Fiona tirelessly combed the Westminster Archives and Liberty records for details about what life was really like working in London and Liberty’s during WWII, lending a true sense of authenticity to her writing. Fiona is also the author of the A Pug Like Percy books under the pseudonym, Fiona Harrison, as well as two sagas in her own name in the Spark Girls series. Fiona lives in Berkshire with her partner. Find out more about Fiona at www.fionaford.co.uk.
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