Windsor Street Family Saga

Liverpool. January 1871 One Man. One Woman. One Choice? Life hasn't been easy for Nell. Orphaned as a child, her elder sister Maria is a substitute for the mother she barely remembers. All she wants now is a husband and family of her own. Second mate Jack Riley loves his life at sea and dreams of one day captaining his own ship. Settling down to life in the back streets of Liverpool holds no appeal. Until he bumps into his old flame, Nell. She wants security and a husband who'll come home each night. But the call of the sea is strong. Can Jack abandon his plans and give her the life she craves? Based on a true story, The Sailor's Promise is an introductory novella to the Windsor Street Family Saga. A story of love, loss, and hope set in Victorian-era Liverpool and beyond.

Liverpool. January 1881 Jack's due back . . . and Nell is waiting. She's dreamt of this moment for a long time. Nine years after their plan was hatched, Master Mariner Jack Riley is ready to take control of his own ship. And Nell is preparing to travel with him. Counting down the days until he gets home, she longs to see America . . . and nobody is going to stop her. Not her two young daughters . . . and especially not her sister, Maria. But when tragedy strikes, her world is thrown into turmoil. As she comes to terms with her new future, she's given the chance to pursue her dreams. Should she follow her heart . . . or submit to the norms expected of her in Victorian-era England?

Liverpool 1882 In a man's world, can a woman survive? Nell's dream of traveling on a transatlantic steamship is about to come true. Although not in the way she expected. Life is hard, and with only three women working amongst a crew of eighty, there are challenges Nell had not foreseen. While she struggles to cope with the constant attention of her colleagues, not to mention their criticisms, there are some who will do whatever they can to support her. Will their efforts be enough to settle her into life on board? Or will her first trip be her last?

October 1882 Working on a ship is tough . . . but it's about to become a whole lot worse . . . How can a smile be so misunderstood? For Nell, it's a sign of friendship. To her male colleagues, it's so much more . . . With two men intent on securing her affections, and little chance of escape, life for Nell is challenging. Until she finds an unexpected guardian. Her savior is charming and chivalrous, but when he unwittingly causes more problems than he solves, she finally snaps. Determined to be left alone, she sees an opportunity to be rid of her most troublesome admirer. But not everything goes to plan. When an emergency threatens both passengers and crew, the captain announces a new way of working, and Nell has no choice but to obey his orders . . .