An enjoyable story with some twists and turns. Nellie is. A character you grow to love and wNt the best for. However, as is obvious from the title she has her fair share of obstacles to over one and pain to survive. Lots of people to get to know and lots of times o wanted to tell her to walk away. A great read for curling up with on a wet afternoon or sitting in the garden with on a sunny one.

Another excellent read by Rosie Clarke I love the way she brings all her characters to life.

This is a stand-alone saga set in Yorkshire around the time the Second World War started. Nellie has no sooner turned 15 years old than her mother sends her off to Beaumont House to be a servant. She has been working there some time when she befriends some of ‘the people upstairs’ and falls in love with Lucas, and artist. who is son of the Lord of the Manor. Broken promises and heartache see Nellie run off to London before returning home to Yorkshire.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Nellie will still your heart right from the very start. Her story begins in her youth as she spends time with friends, gentle glances with young love, and helps out around the house. She loves her Da, has a beautiful relationship with her Grandda, adores her little brother, but just can't seem to do anything right for her mother. It's always been that way, but nevertheless...she persisted. When her birthday rolls around and the end of her school days passes, she dreams of what the future might hold...only to have the rug of contentment pulled out from under her as she is set away that very same day to pursue a life of service. It's not the worst thing, it's true, and plenty make a life of it, but it wasn't her choice. She wasn't even prepared for it, and yet accept it she must...but she does so with a full heart, as everything else she tackles in life.

As the cover states, what can not be cured, must be endured....and she follows that through everything life throws at her. From her shaky start at the Beaumont house to the new life she builds in London, her time returning to the one place she never dreamed of after bridges were burned to a future she couldn't have imagined, but made her own nonetheless. She was a force to be reckoned with, as the power of her heart knew no bounds, despite having been let down time and again. She always managed to pick herself up, and find her way...and that attitude, that determination, that heart affected others around her as well. It opened doors she never thought to try, and made memories she'd cherish forever.

To summarize, it is most certainly a character driven novel, and all the better for it. My heart went out to Nellie at every turn of her life, and I can only hope that in the face of pain and discouragement, I would have as much sense of self to endure and overcome. Oh, but I can't close without stating a simple fact, there are some characters that are not worth the space they take up (and written to be so), but even their tainted lies, and sullen attitudes are something to learn and grow from....although I'm not so certain I could have kept turning the other cheek.

Set in England pre- WW2, Nellie is sent away by her mother to live as a servant at Beaumont House, home of the Harringtons. But what she does not know is that she is not her father's daughter as she is the product of a rape, as this is what her mother finally tells her. Nellie encounters the Harrington's son, Lucas, a painter and a recluse and their daughter, Alice, to whom she becomes a good friend and confidante. Alice is in love with Gerald, but her father, Sir Charles, does not approve of their relationship. As she grows older, she becomes romantically involved with Lucas, and finds herself pregnant with his child. Nellie does not tell Lucas about their daughter and Nellie tries to make it on her own two feet with her daughter.

A great historical read. The settings seem full of great descriptions and the characters are all relatable for pre-WW2 England.

Thank you toNetGalley, Rosie Clarke and the publisher for the chance to read this book.

A historical romantic fiction novel is just up my street and I wasn't disappointed with this one.

Nellie's story was set before and around the start of WW2 - she suffers rejection from her mother and fails to understand why, love from someone her mother would never approve of and is then sent away from all who do love her into domestic service in the North. She then starts an unlikely friendship with some of those 'upstairs' - the author's description of life in the household is captivating.
However life takes a difficult turn for Nellie and she leaves all that has become dear to her and goes to London. Alone and scared life becomes hard for her, the outbreak of WW2 brings her even more heartbreak and rejection.

I won't give anymore spoilers other than to say that the book has twists and turns, life, birth and death - and captivates from beginning to end.
If you want a thought provoking read but one thats easy to get into then this could be the book for you.

Thank you again to the publisher and Rosie Clarke for the chance to read this book in return for my own frank review.

What can I say, such a wonderfully warm story of heartbreak, frustration, hurt and loneliness?
I absolutely adore Rosie Clarke's books and this one didn't let me down.

As soon as she leaves school at fifteen Nellie's spiteful mother sends her to Beaumont house to start working in service.
Her beloved father has no idea until he comes home from work. Her mother has never been kind to her and has made it known to her that she cannot stand the sight of her, but poor Nellie has no idea what she has done.

After working at the estate for some time she meets Lucas the son and heir who is an artist. He tells her he wants to paint her, during this time they fall in love, but Nellie has been made aware that affairs in the classes rarely works out well.
On the flip of the coin, we meet Tom the son of a Tinker a childhood friend who has always loved Nellie, but Nellie has always voiced she only wants friendship with him.

Throughout this lovely book, poor Nellie endures love, heartache destitution and sadness, but she is a strong lady, will she end up with Lucas, Tom or neither this book cleverly keeps you guessing.
Thank you NetGally for allowing me to read and review this wonderful, heartwarming book. xxx

I fell in love with Rosie Clarke’s writing in her novel Stormy Days on Mulberry Lane. Clarke knows how to write a good saga. Nellie’s Heartbreak is exactly that, a life full of heartbreak. I cried the tears she wouldn’t shed.

Nellie Pearce lives with her mother’s hatred, but she didn’t know how much her mother hated her. Until the day she turned 15, and her mother sent her away to work in service. When Nellie arrived at Beaumont House, misery enveloped her. But, after a fashion, she made friends, and life got better for Nellie. But, heartache followed Nellie everywhere she went. She had a few bright lights, but they were always snatched from her just as she got comfortable.

Nellie is a wonderful character. She has enough moxie to make her a bit rebellious yet remain meek, essential to her work in service. Her friendship with Tom was one of the highlights of the book for me. Though, I was on the edge of my seat to see how his father figured into her life. I never did care for Lucas. I thought Nellie might straighten him out, but he remained a selfish jerk throughout. Nellie’s friendships with Cook, Maud, and Mary made my heart happy for her. She had people who loved her, and that makes all the tragedy seem smaller somehow.

Nellie’s cooking made my mouth water. Her meals reminded me of the food my grandma used to make for us. She was the best cook I ever knew. Nellie’s chicken with vegetables and dumplings was a childhood favorite for me. Grandma left out the vegetables, and her chicken and dumplin’s were the best.

I can’t think of another character that I loved as much as I love Nellie in a long time. Watching her go from a meek schoolgirl to a confident young woman gave me so much joy. With that said, I am happy to award Nellie’s Heartbreak 5 out of 5 stars. I know I tell you all to pick up these historical novels all the time, but this one is truly special. I hope you get a chance to read it. If you enjoy historical fiction at all, this book will likely be a good read for you.

Nellie's Heartbreak is a detailed medium paced story that quickly became unforgettable. I became engrossed from the first page. The plot was well written and easy to follow, a truly emotional rollercoaster!
I like how Clarke has created a interesting plot that is true to the era and well researched. The writing style reminds me a lot of Catherine Cookson.
The character development of Nellie's Heartbreak is good. the characters are realistic, with their own personalities. I felt a deep connection to Nellie. She is a hard-working girl, who completes her chores without complaint. When she is 15, as soon as she leaves school her mother sends her into service for the Harrington family from Beaumont House, and from here the reader follows Nellie, as she shares her ups and downs as she gets older to become a strong woman...
I would recommend reading Nellie's Heartbreak to lovers of Historical Fiction and Women's Fiction, as it is a captivating story that takes the reader on a journey of love, loss and broken promises, as we see the young Nellie Pearce grow and mature into a the woman she becomes!

As this isn't my first book by Rosie Clarke, I found myself not surprised that I enjoyed the story and that I enjoyed Rosie Clarke's storytelling ability.

In this book we follow Nellie, and her story touched my heart. As the title indicates, Nellie has to deal with a heartbreak and all the struggles related to it and the new challenges in her life. The plot that we are taken through and Nellie's realistic feel, were things that made me connect so much with her and her life.

Sadness, secrets, drama, family... lots of emotional moments and memorable scenes and characters. A rollercoaster of excitement and hardship. There isn't an easy journey for Nellie and that was so compelling and real.

Overall, I loved the characters, specially Nellie, I loved their interactions and how the story went from beginning to end. It felt like a novel with such raw emotion, so true and real, that I couldn't help it but to love it.

[I want to thank Rachel, at Rachel’s Random Resources, Rosie Clarke and Boldwood Books for the eCopy of this book, via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.]

I have been a fan of Rosie Clarke's for a while now and was keen to read this book as soon as I heard she was releasing a new one. I felt it was slightly different to a lot of her more recent books, then I looked on Amazon and realised it was because it was a book she'd previously released under a different name. I find that fascinating that a writer can write so many books and have a different style under different names (maybe it's not intentional, I don't know, it just fascinates me!)
Anyway, I'm waffling on here! I thought this was a lovely book, a very emotional story, with a couple of gasp out loud moments too! I'd really love a sequel because I think there could be even more to the story to be told!
I thoroughly enjoyed this and I am now going to go and find other books that she has written under other names!

Nellie’s Heartbreak is a wonderfully written pre-WW2 saga depicting the changing of class separation and life struggles.

Poor Nellie, ill-treated by her mother for her entire life, is sent into service on her 15th birthday. Once she settles into her new life, she begins to find a measure of peace. Unfortunately, it doesn’t last.

She experiences so much upheaval from long-kept family secrets to love triangles between the tinker and the lord’s son.

This character-driven story, told from Nellie’s perspective, pulls on your heartstrings as you cheer for the heroine. The writing is smooth, and the plot keeps you turning pages. Ms. Clarke has a way of wringing every bit of emotion out of her characters. Perhaps the same holds true for her readers. Keep a box of tissues handy.

I recommend Nellie’s Heartbreak to all fictional saga lovers. It’s a historical fiction book you don’t want to miss!

‘Nellie’s Heartbreak’ by Rosie Clarke is a standalone saga set in Yorkshire. I have read plenty but not all of Rosie’s work and I love her books. Notable books for me are the Mulberry Lane series. I knew I would love this book before I opened my kindle.



We are introduced to Nellie who has always felt her mums rejection of her from being little. Now she is fifteen and has to go into service to Beaumont House. She has no choice but to go as her mum has found her the place. When she arrives she meets Lucas who was badly injured and a recluse. He decides he wants to paint Nellie and from then they spend one hour together daily while he paints her. Nellie is about to understand the reason her ma always told her to keep away from men and that the gentry do not marry the servants.

Told from Nellie’s point of view we gain a bird’s eye view of a servants life and what happens when promises are broken. I really wanted to protect Nellie, she brought out every bit of my maternal instinct. A fifteen-year-old having a life like that just tore my heart apart. This is a testament to Rosie Clarke’s skill at making characters.


Every time I read a Rosie Clarke book I have the feeling like I know these people and ‘Nellie’s Heartbreak’ was no different. I was taken back to the harsh times Nellie lived through where men were King and women did as they were told with no questions. Yet another emotional rollercoaster of a story that I lapped up.


Thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the copy of the book.

5 Word Review: Family, trust, belonging, love, betrayal.

I love a good historical saga, and Nellie's Heartbreak by Rosie Clarke is a good historical saga.

I loved Nellie, and loved how she changed as the story went on. My heart broke for her at the beginning with the way her mother acted towards her. I loved how Nellie was so strong in spirit - she didn't let anything get her down. I think Nellie could be one of my favourite ever saga heroines. Seeing her tackle every obstacle thrown her way was incredible. She has so much love in her heart and goodness in her soul.

I liked the exploration of class, the contrast between Nellie's home life, and the life of those in the big house was really well done. I loved how everyone had their small prejudices and judgements, and how the relationships of the characters bloomed around them. The flaws of the characters really brought them to life on the page.

There is a small thread of mystery throughout the story and I thought it was an excellent addition. It rounded out the story, provided so many answers, and had me gasping at times.

This is a perfect read for all fans of historical saga stories, and fans of Janet MacLeod Trotter.

This is a standalone story based just before the outbreak of the Second World War. 15-year-old Nellie is sent away by her mother to work in service at Beaumont House, working as a laundress. Nellie is a lovely character and it was heart-breaking to see how she was treated by her own mother. Whilst it was difficult for Nellie, and hard for her to understand why her mother had sent her away, she works hard and makes friends with some of the other staff. Her story was well written and pulled at the heart-strings at just the right places. I loved the storyline of being in service, and it brought wonderful images of TV programmes such as Downton Abbey and what life must have been like working ‘below the stairs’.

As the book moves on you begin to understand why Nellie’s mother treated her like she did, and you also begin to see Nellie develop from a young girl into a confident young woman. There is a romantic side to the story and it’s safe to say that Nellie being sent away changed her life in so many ways. The story does twist and turn and it kept me interested throughout following the few years of Nellie’s life after she went into service. I loved some of the other characters, particularly Alice, Lucas and Nellie’s father, and thought all of the characters enhanced the storyline.

I’ve read a few books by this author now and have found them all to be wonderful reads. This book, like the others, took me on a historical journey, filling my mind with images of a life gone by and making me feel like I was actually there. Coupled with interesting characters, a beautiful location and an emotional and moving plot, this is a book I would definitely recommend.

I love historical fiction and in this story we meet Nellie as she is forced from her family home to work by her mother on her 15th birthday.

Throughout the story Nellie is faced with challenges and heartbreak as she finds that you can't control who you fall in love with.

I liked Nellie as a character as she had real grit and rather than complain kept her head down and stayed determined to learn and show you could turn your life around if you worked hard enough.

Another enjoyable read by Rosie Clarke set just before the outbreak of World War II with a glimpse of pre war London as we follow Nellie's story.

Firstly, let me just say how beautiful that cover is, it was one of the things which caught my attention about this book. It’s so eye-catching and fits in really well with the overall story, bit thumbs up to the art department.

Nellie’s Heartbreak is pretty much exactly what you would expect from the title; there is heartbreak, sadness, tears and family secrets and drama. If you love a good jaunt down the Saga path where tissues are needed at every avenue, with a strong working-class central cast of characters and then we have a fair few ‘Downton-esque‘ cast. I like the diverseness of the characters, some are really likable and a few not so, there were some who I could help but thoroughly hate then this is the book for you.

I am always drawn to books that focus more on working-class characters than that of the aristocracy/upper crust, I love following their journey as they face so much prejudice and troubles and this was right up my saga loving street, think Catherine Cookson then you may have an inkling of why I love this book.

Nellie’s Heartbreak is what I call a ‘proper Saga‘ it’s emotional and dramatic while at the same time a little long-winded and I did feel that it was slow in parts, but the good certainly out-weighs any misgivings I had about it as overall, Nellie’s Heartbreak is an engaging story with memorable character’s, it will take the reader through a range of emotions and I can guarantee that you will feel a tear or two while Nellie tackles the hardship of her life.

The story opens in little out of the way Yorkshire village in 1935, the moment Nellie turns the tender age of fifteen she is abruptly torn from everything she knows; her family, school her very life as her mother sends her away to start work. It may seem a wee bit harsh especially considering just how clever Nellie was and how well she was doing school, but this was a fact of life during the time, but what is different with Nellie’s story is that it is all her mother’s doing. So without further ado, Nellie is deposited unceremoniously into a little attic room in the grand Beaumont House to become the laundress. Was that her mother’s doing, knowing how much Nellie hated the chore? Or is her mother so wrapped up in her past and her seemingly coldness to her daughter that she just wants to be rid of as soon as possible?

All these questions will be answered through the entirety of the book, just not by me here!

Once there it is not long before she meets and falls head over heels in love with the rakishly charming and handsome ‘Lord of the manor’ Lucas Harrington, I liked the sweet and fiery relationship they had, but I do think he is a user a ruthless cad who as with many of his class tend to think of themselves and not the hurt that they cause to others. I can see why Nellie would be smitten by him but I really couldn’t find myself warming to him, he hurts her again and again and still, she can’t seem to tear away from her infatuation with him.

Nellie doesn’t have an easy time throughout the book, there are so many troubles ahead that plague her, the writing is beautiful and engaging that you feel every sorrow and hurt which Nellie must face, plus the occasional bright spark which makes all the heartache worthwhile. I felt for Nellie especially with the tension and animosity between herself and her mother, it seems there is so much against her and so much standing in the way.

Nellie’s Heartbreak isn’t the lightest of books to read, but it’s worth it. I liked the story, the characters and especially the era, I would say the pacing felt a little off to me, at times it flowed with ease and then other times it felt a little slow (but that’s just my opinion).

Overall Nellie’s Heartbreak is a wonderful addition to any historical fiction fan’s bookshelf, it captures the imagination as well as your heart.

This is the first book I have read by Rosie Clarke, despite having one or two of her previous books sitting on my kindle, I am so pleased that I finally got the chance to read one of her tear-jerker and charming books, I will be reading more from Ms Clarke.

I have been a fan of Rosie’s work for a while now. I adore the bestselling Mulberry Lane series that she has written. I haven’t quite caught up with all of her books yet but I am slowly getting there. I read the synopsis for ‘Nellie’s Heartbreak’ and it certainly sounded like the sort of read I have come to expect from Rosie- an emotional story that will rug on even the hardest of heartstrings. Well it was certainly a read and a half. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Nellie’s Heartbreak’ but more about that in a bit.
I took to Nellie from the start and before long it felt as though she had become a friend. Nellie does go through a heck of a lot of emotional trauma. I won’t go too much into detail about what exactly happened as that would give too much away. Needless to say I often felt like jumping inside the pages of the book to give Nellie a huge hug and I also wanted to sort out the people who were upsetting her. Even when the worst is thrown at her, Nellie does manage to somehow pick herself up and carry on. Nellie is a lovely young lass, who really does deserve a ‘happy ever after’ ending. What happens? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
As is usually the case with Rosie’s books, I was drawn into this story from the first word on the first page. The book seemed to develop a hold over me and it was a hold that I wasn’t willing to break. To say that reading ‘Nellie’s Heartbreak’ became addictive is a massive understatement. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I ended up becoming so wrapped up in the story that I ended up reading way more than a couple of chapters and I was still sat there reading well over an hour later. It didn’t take me all that long to get to the end of the book and I had to say farewell to Nellie and the rest of the characters. I found ‘Nellie’s Heartbreak’ to be a gripping read and the true definition of a an unputdownable page turner.
‘Nellie’s Heartbreak’ is superbly written but then I think the same of all of Rosie’s books that I have had the pleasure of reading and reviewing. Rosie has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. Rosie certainly knows how to grab your attention and draw you into what proves to be one hell of a story. Reading ‘Nellie’s Heartbreak’ certainly felt like being on one hell of an emotional rollercoaster ride with lots of ups and downs, twists and turns along the way.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Nellie’s Heartbreak’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Rosie’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Heart warming historical drama with good characters and an interesting storyline.. Nellie is a strong character who overcomes many hurdles before finding happiness.

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

There's nothing I love more than delving into an historical saga tale that sweeps me away to another time and place. And NELLIE'S HEARTBREAK is no exception. Set on the cusp of the outbreak of war from the Yorkshire dales to London, this sweeping tale takes readers through all sorts of emotions from sorrow to love and heartache to hope. Told in the first person by Nellie herself, the reader is able to feel as she feels, cry and she cries and love and she loves.

The story begins in 1935 in a small Yorkshire village with young Nellie Pearce about to embark on a journey she never expected to take. The eldest of two children to mother Rose and father Sam, Nellie also had a little brother named Bob whom her mother doted on adoringly whilst having nothing but contempt for her daughter. Nellie could never understand why her mother appeared to hate her so much, taking any pleasure Nellie found in life and souring it with her harsh words and doling out chores she knew Nellie hated. But it was her granddad Barnes with whom she loved to spend time on his allotment sowing vegetables to feed the family. They were by no means poor but as a working class family, they were comfortable.

Then came Nellie's 15th birthday in the summer of 1935. A day she knew she would be leaving school despite her teachers declaring how smart she was and that she should continue her studies to become a teacher. But her mother had other ideas for her. Upon arriving home from school on her last day, Nellie was surprised to find a flash car parked out front of their little cottage and thought the worst...that something had happened to her granddad. But as she ran into the kitchen she was greeted by the sight of her mother with two women, one of whom she knew to be Miss Alice Harrington from up Beaumont House. The other was the housekeeper Mrs Jermyn. It seems her mother was so eager to see the back of her that she'd packed up Nellie's things and arranged for her to go into service with the Harringtons.

Nellie's life at Beaumont House began in earnest as she shared the attic room with parlourmaid Iris and the two became good friends. But on her first day she was thrust into the one job she hated most - laundry. Even when she was at home she loathed it though she still helped her mother on wash days but the soda caused her skin to itch making the task an even harder one to endure. Now her heart sank as Doris regaled her with the task of doing laundry every day. It was as she walked through the unkempt garden near the summer house that she encountered the master's son Lucas Harrington. He appeared angered at her intrusion and she was frightened by the scarred face of the man. But after a war of words, they fell into a companionable conversation in which Nellie revealed her reasons for loathing the task from which she'd escaped. If Nellie thought anything was to come of it, she certainly never expected Miss Alice to switch her duties to assisting Cook, Mrs Jones.

Relieved to be away from the laundry Nellie thrived under Cook's hand as she learnt the basics of cooking before taking on the more adventurous tasks. Cook was fair and working together they formed a friendship that was to see them through what was to come. But when Nellie's presence was thus requested by Mr Lucas in his studio for an hour on a daily basis, the only person to get her nose out of joint was Doris who became bitter and spiteful at the favour Nellie seemed to have lavished on her.

Every day Lucas would work at drawing, sketching and painting Nellie...but not allow her or Miss Alice to see his work until it was complete. During the hour for which she sat for him, Nellie and Lucas formed a kind of friendship of sorts...if there were such a thing between master and servant. And slowly Nellie found herself falling in love with Lucas despite knowing how impossible it would be given the gap in their classes. But still she couldn't help that little flutter she felt each time that she saw him.

Meanwhile, Nellie knew she had to go home sometime but after the cruel way in which her mother had sent her away she was in no hurry to...although she missed her Da, granddad and Bob. So when Alice greeted her with the news that her granddad was ill she spared no further thought as she hurried home as quick as she could. But sadly her beloved granddad passed before she could reach him in time, though he tried to hang on for her. It was after his death that her mother dealt her the cruelest blow yet...one that sent her hurrying back to Beaumont House with no thought to return for a long time to come.

As the years passed, Nellie grew from the naive young girl she'd been into a young woman. Her childhood friend Tom Herries continued to deliver supplies to Cook as well as hankering after Nellie. He'd long since told her years before that he was going to marry her but Nellie just laughed at him knowing she could never think of Tom in that way. And yet still he called for her, taking her to dances and making promises that he would continue to make money and that one day he would be rich and be able to offer her everything she deserves. But Nellie's heart belonged to another. Lucas Harrington.

Soon everything at Beaumont House changes and Nellie finds herself in a predicament she never thought possible. With Miss Alice in France with Lady Amelia and Mrs Jones now living in Bournemouth with her sister, Nellie had no one she could talk to. Certainly not her mother and to confide in her father would only bring her shame she could not bear to see in his eyes. So instead she packs herself off to London where she struggles for a time until she meets Maud Bristow who gives her a job in her tearooms and offers her a room in her flat above the shop. The two women become best of friends and as war breaks out and rationing begins, Nellie uses her expertise to come up with some tasty and interesting treats for customers using what they can. Mrs Jones had given her her old recipe books when she left Beaumont House and using those as well as her experience of working class meals, Nellie was able to make a success of their new and refined menu according to rationing.

On a much needed break to visit Mrs Jones in Bournemouth, Nellie relaxes with her old friend until a face from her past returns. Lucas Harrington. And with him the promises of a life together. But first, he had something he had to do but could not tell her about it. Despite having her heart broken by Lucas before, Nellie succumbs once again...only to have her heart broken again. Lucas disappears and she doesn't see or hear from him when she needs him the most. For when she returns to London, he whole world is shattered once again.

For Nellie, it seems her life has become a series of tragedies, and despite knowing the reception she will get she makes the decision to return home to Yorkshire. But how will her mother receive her now? She has hated her all of her life so that's hardly going to change in a hurry, is it? And not having heard from her father for some time, Nellie begins to fear what awaits her at home?

There is so much sorrow and heartache in this book one would begin to wonder whether Nellie would ever find happiness and contentment. But then that's what makes historical fiction sagas so real, so raw and so enjoyable to readers. Although the time period is from 1935 and into the 40s, the story had a Downton-esque feel about it...even a Victorian quality. I guess it is the whole upstairs downstairs thing that gave it that atmosphere and it wasn't until war began that the reality of the time became absolute. I really enjoyed the friendship between Miss Alice and Nellie which reminded me of Lady Mary and Anna in Downton Abbey...although I found Miss Alice far more likeable than Lady Mary.

NELLIE'S HEARTBREAK is a fabulous story that historical fiction fans will love. It is captivating and absorbing from the first page until the last. I have no idea if this is the start of a new series but if not it suffices quite well as a standalone.

I would like to thank #RosieClarke aka #LindaSole, #RachelsRandomResources and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #NelliesHeartbreak in exchange for an honest review.

What a very apt title for the latest book by Rosie Clarke. Nellie has not had the best life growing up, but she has had it better than some. As soon as she is old enough to leave school her mother finds her a place in service. Not something Nellie expected or was aware of until she finished her last day at school and was whisked off for a new life.

You could say that her life in service was the making of Nellie, but also one that was the breaking of her. A sensible girl growing up, a hard worker, honest and a loyal friend. When Lucas spots her she becomes his muse, Lucas is the son of the house. A serving girl is definitely not the same class or carry the same status. What starts as a friendship gradually turns to more and leads to a real heartbreaking time for Nellie.

The author has done such a wonderful job to bring Nellie from a teenager into a woman. Having the love and excitement that comes with it only to be wrenched away. Battling through emotions, Nellie manages to overcome heartache and loss. Much of this is down to some wonderful friendships. It is this friendly nature of Nellie that really does shine through, as well as a stubborn pride.

The beginning section of the book could easily be something out of Downton Abby, with those upstairs and those downstairs. The author shows different sides and opinions to either side. Being set in the late 1930s there is a change in attitudes, some new ideas are challenging the old but not all are accepted.

Nellie has a good solid support system around her, a childhood friend, Tom has always had a soft spot for her, Alice, Mrs Jones, Iris and several others have taken to her and offered help and given advice. It is Nellie who has made the decisions in her life and taken the paths she thinks to be the right ones. Sometimes doing what feels right is hard, but the right paths are not always the easy ones as she will soon discover.

A fabulous story and be for lovers of historical fiction and romance as well as sagas. A captivating and completely absorbing story that I adored from start to finish and one I would definitely recommend.