Book Synopsis:
Deal, Kent, 1812
Eighteen-year-old Winnie Lennicker yearns for a peaceful life as a respectable married woman. However, when she becomes involved in her family’s free-trading operations and caught by the Revenue, she is sent before the magistrates. Forced to confess that she is with child, now more than ever, Winnie is determined to give up smuggling. But the only way she can support herself and her unborn child is to carry on.
An opportunity presents itself to carry despatches on behalf of British agents and spies, and gold for Wellington’s army. Needing the money, Winnie can’t afford to refuse, but the journey across the Channel is treacherous. When Winnie discovers the despatches she’s carrying aren’t what they seem, she’s determined to right her wrongs in the hope of achieving her dream and leaving the free trade behind for good.
The Golden Maid us available in ebook and paperback now. You can purchase your copy using the link below.
My Review:
The Golden Maid is an absorbing, gripping read which I thoroughly enjoyed. It’s the second book in The Smugglers series.
I’m a huge fan of historical fiction and especially enjoy learning more about time periods outside of my favourite ones. In this book the author managed to fully transport me back to the 1800 with her vivid descriptions of everyday life back then. I really enjoyed learning a little more about what it was like to be a smuggler back then and the language they used to use.
I loved the main character Winnie who was a very strong, determined lady despite all the challenges she faced. I felt a lot of sympathy with her for some of the hard challenges she faced but admired her resolve to try and make the most of the situation she finds herself. I found I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens to her.
I thought the book was well written with the author’s easy writing style making the book easy to follow. I soon found myself lost in Winnie’s world and would often pick up the book thinking I’d just read a few pages, only to finally drag myself out of the book to realise several hours had passed. I can’t wait to go back and read the first book in this series now and look forward to reading the final book soon.
Huge thanks to Georgina from Arrow publishing for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Arrow publishing for my copy of this book via Netgalley.
Above The Author:
One of my earliest memories is of eating cherries in an orchard with my grandfather and his faithful black Labrador. I was born in Kent and lived there until my family moved to Devon, but we visited regularly, and every Christmas grandparents sent us a box of Cox’s orange pippins, each apple wrapped in newspaper. I remember seeing the oasts and hop gardens, and walking round Canterbury, throwing pebbles into the river and being scared by the sight of the ducking stool on the wall of the Old Weavers House. After leaving school, I qualified as a vet and worked in small animal practice. I’d always loved reading, and decided to turn my hand to writing fiction. In 2002, I won the Harry Bowling Prize which was set up in memory of Harry Bowling, the ‘King of Cockney Sagas’. I met my wonderful agent, Laura, at the prize-giving and with her support, my writing career took off. Having had fourteen books published, I began writing about the Three Maids of Kent, a Victorian family saga, inspired by the stories passed down by my grandparents and great-grandparents who lived in and around Canterbury, Selling and Faversham. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed researching the Victorian era – it’s been a real voyage of discovery, finding about nineteenth century tattoos, how to use a tinderbox and the effects of industrialisation on the rural way of life. In between writing and working as a vet, I’ve brought up a family and looked after various pets. I’ve settled in Devon now that my children have grown up and gone off to university. Would I have liked to have been living in Victorian times? Only as a wealthy gentleman in good health, I think! ‘Half a Sixpence’ is the first novel in a brand new series, a Victorian family saga set in East Kent. The Three Maids of Kent series follows the fortunes of three generations of women from the hop gardens and orchards of rural Hernhill and Dunkirk, to the breweries of Faversham and streets of Canterbury.
Over The Rainbow Blog 