Eee, it's hot, Lass.

 

This is how our lovely ancestors dealt with a heatwave in the past. 

There was no such thing as air conditioning in those days, just a good old newspaper. But they seem happy with their lot, having a natter on the doorstep, or borrowing something they were short of from a kind-hearted neighbour. They depended on each other when times were tough. They were clannish and could spread news faster than the internet. This was called community. As my mum always said, you may not have much, but you saw life in all its guises.

   Toodle-oo for now. Look after yourself and yours.

           Sheila x

 

Exciting News!

This is the official cover pic of my latest novel, Love and Duty on Beamer Street, out on 24th Sept. Isn't it gorgeous! 

 My 10th novel, published by Boldwood Books who celebrate their 7th birthday this month, is extra special to me as I was Boldwood's very first signing in 2019. There have been so many exciting times I cannot mention all of them, and I have met so many wonderful writers who I am proud to call my friends in those seven years. I am also attending the Liverpool Book Festival on the 2nd August, so if you are in the vicinity, drop by and say hello.

     That's all for now, but I hope to be with you again soon with pics of the festival. Until then, take care of you and yours.

    much love

Sheila x  

Coming Soon

#FamilyTiesonBeamerStreet #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks

Family Ties on Beamer Street: A BRAND NEW thrilling instalment in Sheila Riley's heartbreaking saga series for 2025.

 

Set against the backdrop of The General Strike, difficult lines have to be crossed…

Liverpool May 1926

 

Peggy and Dar Tenant’s dream of security and respectability has been their driving force since they married. Just as they prepare to buy their own home, tragedy strikes, when Dar is involved in a devastating accident at the docks and Peggy’s world crashes around her.

With Dar seriously ill in hospital, Peggy’s reduced to scrimping and saving to keep a roof over her family’s head, having to revisit the hardships of her youth that she dearly wanted to escape from.

 

As summer days turn to winter, the overwhelming struggle takes its toll and Peggy is forced to swallow her pride, as the good people of Beamer Street come to her rescue. She also seeks help from her formidable sister, Violet, little knowing that Violet holds a dark secret that has cast a shadow over Peggy’s whole life. Love, lies and recriminations will be uncovered as Peggy tries to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, and finally reconcile the shadows of her past.

 

Perfect for fans of Chrissie Walsh, Katie Flynn and Dilly Court.

 

Praise for Sheila Riley:

'Couldn't put it down. A fantastic read, not your ordinary story. Great characters and a feel good storyline. Looking forward to the next book' - Reader Review

 

'What a great read from this amazing author You don't want to put this book down thouroly enjoyed it from start to finish' - Reader Review

 

'What a great read. Truly absorbed from beginning to end!' - Reader Review

 

'Loved how the characters were brought to life felt I was sitting having a cup of tea with them. Great page turner' - Reader Review

 

Amazingly good read. I can't put the book down, happy story with good people. This Lady Sheila Riley will go far ,such an awesome story teller. I hope you all enjoy her work as much as I do , amazing.' - Reader Review

 

‘A thoroughly enjoyable, powerful novel’ - Lyn Andrews

A powerful and totally absorbing family saga that is not to be missed. I turned the pages almost faster than I could read.’ - Carol Rivers

 

‘A fabulous story of twists and turns - a totally unputdownable, page turner that had me cheering on the characters. I loved it!’ - Rosie Hendry

 

‘An enchanting, warm and deeply touching story’ Cathy Sharp

 

‘This author knows the Liverpool she writes about; masterly storytelling from a true Mersey Mistress.’ Lizzie Lane

 

If you love Sheila's Beamer Street series, you'll love

 

THE RECKONER’S ROW SERIES

 

  

 

THE DOCKSIDE SAGA SERIES

 

Cover Reveal

 I'm delighted to share with my lovely readers the cover for my next release, The Riverside Maid, which is book 3 in the Waterfront Women Series.

The blurb:

From rags to riches... but will happiness follow?

Orphaned as a child, Fliss Atkins has spent her life working at her uncle’s pub, The Bay Horse Inn, nestled along the banks of the River Calder. Life has been anything but easy for Fliss. Her aunt is unloving, and her older cousin Gerald is cruel.

Then she meets Oscar Nolan, whose adventurous spirit makes her wonder if there might be more to life beyond the only home she’s known. Could Oscar and his dreams of travel be her chance at a fresh start? The thought is tempting, but leaving her best friends, Lorrie and Meg, and their beloved families behind seems unimaginable.

When tragedy strikes, Fliss is presented with an unexpected opportunity to shape a new life for herself. But will new riches bring her the happiness she longs for, or will it lead to even greater troubles for this riverside maid?

The Riverside Maid will be released March 2025 and is available for pre-order on Amazon. https://mybook.to/TheRiversideMaid

 

A Safe Haven

 

A SAFE HAVEN ON BEAMER STREET is the second novel in the Beamer Street series

 

Bath Under Fire - The Inspiration Behind The Home Front Nurses

 

Bath Under Fire

The inspiration that made me decide to write a series set in Bath during WWII came from a friend who asked if I knew much about the Baedeker raids that happened over three days in the city during April 1942. I knew nothing! I’d never even heard about them, but my need to learn more was instantaneous and the start of my research for my new series, The Home Front Nurses began.

I read books and immersed myself in everything I could learn online, I also went to my local archive centre and found lots of amazing facts and stories from letters and diaries of people who lived through the raids. However, one of the most useful aspects of my research occurred during this year’s annual Bath Festival when I signed up for the Bath Blitz Walking Tour. I was so looking forward to it as I had very little to no idea of which areas of the city had been affected by the bombing (my mum went on to tell me my nan’s house, who lived in Bath at the time, was flattened on the second night of the raids!).

The tour guide – whose name I forgot to note down, much to my shame – proved himself a fountain of knowledge and enthusiasm who walked with us for two hours and talking about many different spots in Bath. I saw bomb damage I’d never noticed before, evidence of demolition and rebuilding and sadly learned the names of entire families who were killed outright when their homes suffered direct hits. The guide also told us stories of the industrial area situated along part of the River Avon that runs through Bath which was a slum area at the time. A bomb hit the gasworks here, but never exploded – if it had, it would have been catastrophic.

An unexploded bomb also landed in the grassed area in the centre of The Circus, a beautiful circle of Georgian residential houses. The bomb was later disturbed by the clearing work of firemen and volunteers and killed at least one person, injuring many others. It would have been a lot worse if the bomb had exploded when it was dropped. Other buildings close to The Circus were also affected. An upper-class hotel at the time, The Regina, took a direct hit, killing all the people taking shelter in the basement except for two, the force of the blast setting fire to the Assembly Rooms across the road which was nearly completely gutted. The Assembly Rooms were Bath’s premier venue for balls and soirees and was visited by famous writers such Charles Dickens and Jane Austen during their time staying (and writing) in Bath.

If you are interested in learning more about the Bath Blitz, I cannot recommend the walking tour enough – here is a link to the website detailing the next available walks (and other things that might interest you): https://www.bathguides.org.uk/summer-walks-calendar2024/

A memorial listing all those who were lost stands at the main entrance way to Victoria Park which can be found in the centre of the city off of Gay Street and near Queen Square…

Rachel x

Here's the blurb & buy link for The Home Front Nurses - out now!

September 1941, Bath – three friends are about to find that some of the biggest battles are to be found on the home front…

As war rages and brave soldiers returning home from the frontline need nurses more than ever, fiercely proud redhead Sylvia Roberts is determined to help in any way she can. In spite of her mother’s belief she isn’t good enough, Sylvia believes that becoming a home front nurse is her calling.

Together with the two friends she makes on her first day in the job – Freda and Veronica – she knows she can help save lives. And, as the devastation of war shows no signs of ceasing, their work becomes ever more vital.

Then Sylvia’s life is thrown into the path of a man who might just be able to capture her heart. Even though he is somebody who everyone – except her best friends – seems prejudiced against. Can love really conquer all, in times of war?

One thing she knows is that – in the dangerous days that will follow – she and her friends will all need to support each other right to the end…

The Home Front Nurses is a gripping, uplifting story of unbreakable bonds of friendship in times of strife and heartbreak.

BUY: https://mybook.to/homefrontsocial

Victorian York, Yorkshire.

Coney Street is featured in a few of my novels, mainly The Tobacconist's Wife, as the fictional tobacconist's shop is on Coney Street situated just out of shot on the photo below. It is easy to imagine my main character, Thea, walking along the cobbles.

 Coney Street, York, UK. circa 1860.

Characters in my other books have walked this street, such as Caroline in The Winter Widow, and Annabelle in The Orphan in the Peacock Shawl.

Historical photos like these really help historical authors to visualise the settings in their books. They can imagine the characters strolling the cobbles, shopping, going for walks, or hiding from those seeking to find them.

A lot of the slum areas of York have been demolished, but 'Yards' like the one above is where the poor of the city lived. The York slums feature in my books, especially The Slum Angel, Aurora's Pride, The Orphan in the Peacock Shawl and The Winter Widow.

To learn more about my books, please visit my website: http://www.annemariebrear.com

New Release!

 My latest book, Whispers of Spring, is available in Kindle and paperback.

I really hope those of you who have read book 1 will enjoy the continuing story of Caroline and her best friend, Trixie.

When all is lost, the hand of friendship is everything…

Seasons of Change Series

Book 1 The Winter Widow

Book 2 Whispers of Spring - new release!

https://mybook.to/TheWinterWidow

Coming soon!

 Whispers of Spring released August 22^nd 2024!

https://mybook.to/WhispersofSpring 

sequel to The Winter Widow

When all is lost, the hand of friendship is everything…

https://mybook.to/TheWinterWidow

New book! The Dock Girl's Shame

 New book!

The Dock Girl's Shame is now out. Book two in The Waterfront Women Series.

A broken heart, a shameful secret…

Wakefield, Yorkshire 1871

Loretta Chambers has spent her life working at her father’s boatyard down at the docks. She’s tried hard to keep the business afloat, but with the railways taking trade away every day, Lorrie fears for the worst.

The arrival of handsome Italian, Matteo Falcone brings a brief glimmer of hope and a yearning inside Lorrie for another life, away from the filthy grime of the dockside. But despite her feelings for Matteo, she could never travel to Italy with him, and leave her father alone.

But one reckless, impetuous moment leaves Lorrie with a secret she will struggle to hide. And when tragedy strikes at the boatyard, Lorrie is left feeling more alone than ever before.

Always a dutiful daughter, Lorrie now carries a shame that could ruin her life forever…

The Waterfront Lass (Book 1)

The Dock Girl’s Shame (Book 2)

A broken heart, a shameful secret.

https://mybook.to/TheDockGirlsShame

New Release!

 

The Winter Widow is out now!

When all is lost, the hand of friendship is everything…

New Release 2 Jan 2024!

#historicalfiction #bookaddicts #readers #bookcommunity #familysaga #booklovers

https://mybook.to/TheWinterWidow

New release!

 Publication Day! 🥳

Thank you to all who pre-ordered my newest release, The Waterfront Lass. 😁

Meg might be poor, but she is proud and spirited and will strive to keep her family together! Set in Victorian Yorkshire.

Amazon: https://mybook.to/thewaterfrontlass