Lesley Pearse returns with her best and most compelling novel to date. Her books are always so full of heart and emotion whilst also dishing out suspense and excitement for the reader to simply lap up. The story revolves around Betty and Martin Wellows who are married but Martin's mother, and Betty's mother-in-law, Agnes, loves to interfere; this makes her the famed mother-in-law from hell. Agnes makes Betty depressed and anxious as they live together, all three, in the house due to Martin returning shell shocked from war and needing care. When Betty gets the opportunity to escape away from the toxic atmosphere at home she takes it. She changes her name and starts her life over. Yet very soon she will have to return to the nightmare she left behind.

This is a solid, emotive read and there's never a dull moment or any filler. I was captivated from the start and Pearse has absolutely no problem keeping your attention throughout. She is a terrific storyteller who has created a cast of likeable and very relatable characters and the twists and turns are unpredictable and well thought out. This is an engrossing yarn but once picked up, be warned, you'll be reading right to the denouement to find out what actually happens to Betty. After all the negative incidents that happen she deserves to find happiness; therefore I was very happy when we got a positive ending. I've read every one of Pearse's books and this blows the others out of the water. She seems to excel with every novel. Many thanks to Michael Joseph for an ARC.

Das ist - mal wieder - ein absolutes Wohlfühlbuch, denn mit dieser Autorin kann man nicht falsch machen. Sie mischt geschichtliches mit einer tollen Story und es fällt ihr wirklich immer etwas besonderes ein, um den Leser zu überraschen. GENIAL! LESEN!

3.5 *
Lesley Pearse is such a great storyteller which kept me turning the pages! However, for me there was just not enough depth. So many incidents were skimmed over but I guess the book would have been twice the size if more information had been written. On the plus side there are not loads of characters so it is easy to keep track of everyone. This book would be great as a beach read as it's not too taxing and a great page turner.

I loved this book. I have read all this author’s books and couldn’t wait for this one .. and it didn’t disappoint. I was hooked from the first page. Highly recommended. Five stars!!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Lesley Pearse for the copy of this book. I agreed to give my unbiased opinion voluntarily.

Betty Wellows feels she has it all, even though she’s suffered heartache from a very young age. She married the man she loved and they live in her family’s fisherman’s cottage in Hallsands. When Martin returns broken and a different man from the Great War she finds herself persecuted by his mother and longs to escape.

When a storm destroys their home Betty decides to leave all that she’s known and re-invent herself. She becomes Mabel Brook. She’s randomly attacked and loses all her money and is helped by a psychic named Nora Nightingale. Nora looks after her and she believes she may have the power herself.

Things change and she has to flee and begin again. She meets some good people and starts a live in job as a housekeeper. Can things really be this idyllic she wonders…. but she has to go back and face things from the past, whether she likes it or not…

A brilliant read which I thoroughly enjoyed with interesting characters and storylines. Would highly recommend.

Lesley Pearse is one of my all time favourite authors. Once again Lesley has written a wonderful enthralling story with strong characters set in a realistic background.
Lesley can really make you feel that you know all the characters and I just could not put it down as it kept me so engrossed. I would love to see a sequel to this book. Highly recommended as a great historical fiction novel to get lost in.
As with Lesley's other books, this story would also make an excellent TV drama series.

Lesley Pearse has written another beautifully written, heartfelt story. This time it involves Betty a daughter of a fisherman, living in the town on Hallsands, near Plymouth. Married to Martin and living with their Mother in law Agnes. Martin came back France from the war with not just a severely damaged leg but, also a broken shell of the man she once knew. So, Betty worked not only to look after her husband Martin but to help Agnes.
A great storm was brewing, and the threat of her home being swept away by the sea because of shingle being taken away. Agnes advises her to collect some belongings. The storm is so bad outside that Betty thinks Agnes wishes her dead. So, Betty runs away and reinvents herself as Mabel Brook so she can have a better life and get away from an overbearing mother in law. On the way she meets lots different characters, some good, some bad and always there to help other people more than herself.
This is another 5-star read from Lesley Pearce. The author doesn’t disappoint. I loved this from the very first page. There is lots of twists and turn and ups and downward struggles in this book but, a very satisfying ending. I don’t want to give anymore away. You will have to read it yourself.
Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for a copy of this book.

I've read all of Lesley Pearce's previous books, so I was thrilled to be fortunate to receive an ARC from Netgalley.
This book is set towards the end of WW1, and features Betty, and how she decides to run away from her cruel Mother-In-law, and start a new life, changing her name to Betty.
This book was easy to read, and I really enjoyed it. The writing flows well, and I was engrossed, right from the start of the book. The book itself is not as long as previous books by this author, and it does not feature as many dark subjects, as her other books often have. I nevertheless found it to be a good and interesting read. I like the way that the author delves into the past, and this book in particular focused on changes in society after the War. The characters in this book were likeable, and relatable. It is definitely a book that I recommend reading.

Another great story with believable characters, set just towards the end of the first world war. Very descriptive and sympathetic.

Such an easy book to get into , in the sense you were hooked straight away, twists and turns with different situations along the way we’re brilliant , characters realistic , really enjoyed and would love a sequel .

Oh my word what an absolutely fantastic read this was . Lesley Pearse is one of my favourite authors and never have I been disappointed with any of her books. This one has to be one of her best yet. A wonderful story with wonderful characters . A massive five star read from me .

Betty was born and brought up the Daughter of a fisherman, living in the village of Hallsands. Returning from the Great War, Betty’s Husband is a shadow of his former self. He returns to live with his harridan Mother, requiring constant care having suffered from shell shock.
During a severe storm in the village, Betty takes flight, escaping from the miserable life she currently leads. She changes her name and vows to start over again. Landing in Bristol, the story follows Betty/Mabel having reinvented herself. As time passes she is made to put her new life aside and revisit her past.
This is a fabulous story, following the main characters new life, with much sadness and joy. The plot hooks you in from page one and keeps you enthralled until the final page. Yet again Lesley Pearse delivers an exceptional story, which I can easily give 5 stars.

This book is about a Young girl Betty,who dreams of settling down to an ordinary life with her husband. But when he returns broken and haunted from the Great War, she finds herself persecuted by his distraught mother - and yearns to escape. The story has quite a few twists and turns of poor Betty’s struggles with life In general ,changing her name and starting anew and without giving away too much it does reach a nice tied up conclusion.

I really enjoyed reading it and Lesley Pearse never fails to draw you into the characters and storyline

I am a long time fan of Lesley Pearse and was really looking forward to the new book.

Whilst I found it enjoyable, I didn't enjoy it as much as previous books by the author. This one seemed more predictable with less surprises and with less 'dark' moments than previous books. I still enjoyed it, but found myself skipping pages at the end as I already knew what was going to happen. The writing style, although typical Lesley Pearse, just feels less intriguing than before,

I think I have been spoilt having read every single book by the author before, most of them a lot more than once! I am such a fan that it is easy for me to compare, but for a first time reader, I would recommend this book for some holiday reading.

The cover looks like it's going to be a thriller - it's not! A nice book, nothing special - average.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing book

a story about a young girl growing up near the sea, falling in love, and marrying only to have her husband go to war and come back suffering from ptsd...only back then they didnt know what do with men suffering from the after effects of war...

but betty/mabel was left to the mercy of her mother in law who treated her so badly that when betty/mabel was sent to her house to get her things even though it was dangerous, she ran away...

and this is her compelling story, her journey through life and how she walked and walked and eventually found work...

lesley pearse has done it again...her description of a evil mother in law to the flight of betty and what she suffered to the finding of her gift...all well thought out and brilliantly written, a brilliant storyline that will have you reading to the end to find out what happens

I have read almost all Lesley's books in the past and enjoyed each and every one of them and this was no exception.

An excellent, story, descriptive characters and I felt I knew them all personally. I enjoy how Lesley writes, she gets you involved in the story line from the first page and I can thoroughly recommend this book, well worthy of five stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin UK Michael Joseph publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this excellent book.

I love Lesley Pearse's writing and this book didn't disappoint me either.
It's set at the end of WW1. Betty is our main character. Her husband is suffering from shell-shock and Betty is struggling to get along with her mother-in-law.

I enjoyed their stories, the writing was really good and captivating.
Thanks a lot to the publisher and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Betty wellows is married to Martin he has returned from the war a shadow of his former self he doesn't speak and stares vacantly into space. If anything is dropped or a loud noise is made he hides under the table shivering and crying. They all live in a cottage in a little fishing hamlet, Betty has no family after her father was killed fishing at sea. She only has Martin and his cruel mother Agnes, who insists she take over Martins care and forces Betty to go out to work and give her half her wages.

A storm has come in from the sea and Agnes bullies Betty to go to her and Martins cottage to get some of their belongings. Betty is frightened she is just leaving the cottage when a giant wave washes in, if she hadn't got out quick she would have been killed. This gets her thinking she should run away, her marriage is dead. So she runs leaving those behind thinking her life was taken in the storm.
She changes her name to Mabel and ends up in Bristol. Life isn't easy but she soon finds her feet and makes some good friends. The story continues of her daily life, her trials, and tribulations but also a happiness that sadly ends in tragedy Will she ever be happy?
Lesley has once again written a fabulous story, with some wonderful characters full of tragedy and warmth.
Reading this story kept me glued from start to finish. Well done Lesley I loved it as will your fans.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity. x

An absolutely brilliant book, really liked the characters and loved the story.readers will love this book and well done to the author well worth 5*

I have read every one of Lesley Pearse's books and enjoyed this book as much as the rest. Set at the end of WW1 this follows the life of Betty as she struggles to get on with her mother in law and coow with her husband Martin who is suffering from shell-shock.