Böcker av Lena Kennedy

Encounter a wealth of lively characters and true-to-life situation in this collection of vivid and compelling stories.Ivy of the Angel reveals why an elderly bag lady becomes the centre of attention in an Oxford Street store.Dive into a tale of thwarted love in London's East End in The Lonely Road And see how the smooth surface of a buried past can be disrupted by the intrusions of the present. The Willows Wept With Me, Linda's Revenge and The Long DreamWith the freshness and directness that have become her hallmark, Lena Kennedy explores the enduring power of love, the triumph of hope over adversity, the problems of illness and prejudice, and the quirky kindness of fate.**************What readers are saying about IVY OF THE ANGEL: AND OTHER STORIES'Couldn't put it down' - 5 STARS'A great writer' - 5 STARS'A very enjoyable read' - 5 STARS'A brilliant book' - 5 STARS'A really good read by one of my favourite authors' - 5 STARS

Just one cruel twist of fate will bring his world crashing down . . . Perfect for fans of EastEndersFalling asleep on the bus after a hard day's work, Joe finds himself stranded in the East End, disorientated in the heavy fog and innocently embroiled in a violent encounter. The incident ends in murder and Joe is accused - of the real villains there remains not a trace.But his memory of that fateful night, and a clue to the identity of the murderers, helps him through his time in prison and fuels his desire to uncover the truth. His quest leads him back to the East End and to the Ship and Castle pub, run by the mysterious and formidable Queenie . . .****************What readers are saying about QUEENIE'S CASTLE'Had you gripped from the start' - 5 STARS'A lovely book by a wonderful author' - 5 STARS'Lena Kennedy manages to transport you into her stories' - 5 STARS'Very good reading' - 5 STARS'Brilliant' - 5 STARS

Be careful what you wish for . . .Living in poverty in the Kentish marshes, young Kate dreams of a life of abundance and riches in the castle that towers over her village. So when the beautiful Lady Evelyn descends, requesting Kate to be her personal maidservant at the castle, it looks like the first stage of a dream come true.But there are blackhearted men to contend with, evil in thought and deed, and they have a sophistication well beyond that of anyone Kate has encountered before. And when her one true love, Tom the fisherman, returns from sailing the seven seas, it is to a very different Kate from the one he left behind . . .*************What readers are sating about KATE OF CLYVE SHORE'Really enjoyed this book' - 5 STARS'Excellent' - 5 STARS'Super, couldn't put it down' - 5 STARS'Spot on' - 5 STARS'Kept me gripped right through to the last page' - 5 STARS

Like a dandelion seed adrift on the wayward winds, Marcelle de la Strange is an innocent in the decadent and dangerous London of James I.When her mother's violent death leaves Marcelle at the mercy of her lecherous stepfather, she can't help but be drawn to the dashing Thomas Mayhew, King's Messenger and attendant to the flamboyant court favourite Robert Carr, who offers her protection, freedom . . . and love.But such perfect happiness is brittle, vulnerable. A mysterious royal lover, tawny-haired and passionate, leaves Marcelle with child. Kidnapped by the powerful Howard family, the baby is an innocent pawn in a deadly political game and Marcelle's desperate search for her son threatens her reconciliation with Thomas, her health, and even her very sanity . . .***********What readers are saying about THE DANDELION SEED'An amazing read . . . A book not to be missed' - 5 STARS'Perfect!' - 5 STARS'Another excellent tale by Lena Kennedy' - 5 STARS'What a book - loved it from start to finish' - 5 STARS'A must-read' - 5 STARS

A gripping story of romance, lovers and a life filled with intrigue . . .Warm-hearted and wilful, her temper as fiery as her beautiful auburn hair, Lady Penelope is a romantic heroine whose impulsive nature makes her as many enemies as her vivacious, flame-haired beauty wins her admirers.Caught up in the dangerous intrigues of Queen Elizabeth's court, forced to marry a wealthy but repulsive nobleman, she pours all her passion into her children . . . and her lovers. Will Penelope survive her loveless marriage and a life filled with tragedy, and finally emerge triumphant?******************What readers are saying about LADY PENELOPE'Perfect!' - 5 STARS'My favourite novel' - 5 STARS'I love the history behind the book' - 5 STARS'Loved it . . . Penelope was a brilliant character' - 5 STARS'Good from start to end' - 5 STARS

In the turmoil and confusion of London's East End between the wars, young Nelly Kelly soon learns that life may never match her expectations. Forced to keep house for her charming, yet autocratic, father, Nelly toils in a sweatshop to keep her family clothed and fed.But though life is hard, Nelly still has friendship, dancing and her early dreams to cling to. Dreams which slowly crumble as marriage, the war and a lost baby are followed by the heartache of a lost love.Fortune may crush her proud spirit but when faced with a crisis which will test her courage to the limit, no tragedy can change Nelly Kelly's determination to be her own woman.

Autumn Alley: where the East End's most fascinating call their home . . .Here you'll find Maud, the formidable Irish-American suffragette; sulky Patricia, whose unhappy childhood leads her to a dangerous love affair; vivacious, flame-haired Colleen; Mary, who struggles alongside her wayward husband to bring up children - and Arfer, whose quick mind lifts him out of the world of poverty in London's East End.*************What readers are saying about AUTUMN ALLEY'Wow!!' - 5 STARS'Couldn't put it down' - 5 STARS'Such a skilled storyteller' - 5 STARS'The story captivated me' - 5 STARS'I enjoyed it so much' - 5 STARS

Four decades. Four generations. One World War.Raised in Stepney, the heart of London's East End, Maggie Riley is the only child of an Irish widower. When she becomes pregnant at the age of fifteen she is delighted, for it means she has captured her beloved Jim Burns.But life is a constant struggle - to bring up her four sons, to cope with a part-time husband, to 'better herself'. And that struggle is set against critical events of the era: the Depression, the Blackshirt marches, the devastation of World War II and its aftermath.Rejoice in Maggie's triumphs and feel the sorrow of her tragedies with this beautiful and moving tale of perseverance against all odds.***************What readers are saying about MAGGIE'A brilliant novel' - 5 STARS'A fascinating story' - 5 STARS'I loved the whole story' - 5 STARS'Just wonderful!' - 5 STARS'An amazing read' - 5 STARS