Article Row

London Belles is a tale of four very different young women thrown together by war. Finding freedom and independence - as well as love, passion and heartbreak - for the very first time, a unique bond is formed as the hostilities take their toll on Britain. United by chance, bound together in times of need When tragedy strikes, Olive is forced to seek lodgers. Three girls come knocking at her door, each in need of a roof over their heads. Sally has left Liverpool to work as a nurse in London and when she arrives she is a shell of her former self. Where once stood a vivacious, sociable girl, now stands one plagued by homesickness and a betrayal that is devastatingly fresh in her mind. Dulcie is living the high life in the West End, a world away from her home in Stepney. Working at Selfridges gives her access to the most fashionable clothes and makeup, but at home she is the black sheep of the family; always second to her sister. So she decides it's time to make a bid for freedom. Agnes grew up in an orphanage, having been left on the steps as a new-born baby. But with war looming, and the orphanage relocating to the country, she must now seek out a job and lodgings. But with change comes exciting new opportunities, worlds away from the life she's known... As the women prepare for war, all of their futures hang in the balance. Soon their lives will change irrevocably and the home that binds the London Belles is no longer the sanctuary they once sought.

It's September 1940 and the German blitz on London has just begun. The four young girls who live at No. 13 Article Row live under its constant threat. But life must go on... Tilly and Sally both work at Barts Hospital where they witness the cruelty of war first-hand. Agnes volunteers to work extra hours at her underground station to help with the nightly influx of people seeking safety from the bombs. Dulcie, with her broken ankle, tries to make peace with her mother, following the news of the death of her sister Enid. But her grief-stricken mother doesn't want to know. Sally returns to her painful past in Liverpool. But it's not seeing the man she once loved, nor her father and ex-best friend's child that hurt most... As Christmas approaches, the arrival of the handsome young American Drew, ignites new life in the heart Tilly thought was broken.

An emotional portrayal of the lives of four women as Valentine's day approaches, in 1941 wartime London 'Life brought enough problems and upsets for young hearts, especially young female hearts, without them having to carry the added burden of the war...' Tilly is passionately in love with the dashing American journalist, Drew. But he is harbouring a secret that threatens their burgeoning love. At the same time, Dulcie's brother Rick walks back into her life, the man who she longed for all those years ago... Agnes is comforted by the loving arms of her caring train driver fiancé Ted. And Sally could not be happier with her talented surgeon boyfriend at her side, especially since he's risked his life to visit her at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. For Tilly's mother, Olive, the cold heart that had been frozen since her partner died, is beginning to thaw. But the man she pines for is betrothed to another. The net curtains on the well-to-do Article Row have been twitching, and prying eyes have seen the way she's been looking at Sergeant Dawson... When the clock strikes midnight at the Hammersmith Palais, three couples stare deeply into their lovers' eyes. The confident and stunningly beautiful East Ender, Dulcie, is left alone once more, abandoned by her boyfriend at this most precious of precious moments. But the women of No. 13 Article Row know that joy is short lived in the London of 1941. It's a treacherous place, especially for the tenderhearted. As Valentine's Day approaches, the perils of war threaten life as they know it and all matters of the heart.

A compelling novel about four young women in wartime London, from the best-selling author of London Belles and My Sweet Valentine. In Article Row, in London's Holborn - four young women, Tilly, Sally, Dulcie and Agnes - have already been witnesses to the heartache and pain that Hitler's bombs have inflicted on ordinary Londoners. Tilly is desperate to wed her beau, Drew. Terrified that something will happen to prevent them from being together, her fears seem to be coming true when he is called back home to America. For her mother, Olive, this only adds to her worries for Tilly. But she has her own hands full when her friend and neighbour, Sergeant Dawson, gets some terrible news. When Olive lends a hand, she finds herself at the sharp end of some unwelcome gossip. For Dulcie, the war has brought an old flame, David, back into her life. But his terrible injuries have changed his life forever. Can something more develop out of their friendship? And for Agnes, she is about to find out something that will change her life, too. In this seemingly endless war, the girls will learn about love, loss and heartache. But they, like thousands of other Londoners, are determined to win the battle on the home front - no matter what it takes.

An emotional and heart-warming portrayal of the lives of four women living in wartime London. For the girls living at No.13 Article Row, the war years have never been tougher...Tilly is heartbroken when Drew, the love of her life, returns to America and doesn't come back. Tilly can't believe that he would break their solemn promise to love each other for ever. Olive. Tilly's mother, knows the real reason that he has never been in touch but fears the truth will hurt her daughter even more. For Tilly's friends, Agnes and Sally, the war has also dealt them a cruel hand and, along with the rest of the country, they have had their share of pain. But they say that it is always darkest just before the dawn, so could it be that this war, and the girl's fortunes, are finally beginning to turn?