This novel is the story of a house and the remarkable friendships formed between three young women who made it their home.

Thea is left penniless when her mother dies because her dissolute stepfather has frittered away her mother's fortune, leaving nothing for Thea. He has also issued a very suspect will leaving Thea's parent’s house to his own son, Stanley.

Then her stepfather dies, Stanley appears and claims the house. Thea must fight to retain her home and rightful inheritance. She does so initially by opening the house as a guest house, and in so doing enlists the help of two other girls, Anna Watson and Daisy Flowers.

Anna is pregnant, but the well-to-do father of her unborn child, Piers, a travel writer and explorer, is away on an expedition and cannot be reached. Anna appeals to his parents for help, but true to the mores of the time, the book, set in 1920, they are appalled by the prospect of an unmarried mother and a working-class one to boot. They rebuff her cruelly. Later we learn that the expedition ship Piers has been travelling on is lost at sea and no survivors have been found. Anna's plight is desperate, indeed. Thea takes her in, and Anna helps her to run the guest house.

The third woman to join the guest house is Daisy Flowers. A young girl from the country who rebels against the life and suitor that seems to have been chosen for her.

The story of the house and Thea’s fight to keep it becomes the story of three young women at a time of huge social change who refuse to meekly accept their apparent fate. All three battle to live independent lives on their own terms in an age when women are seen either as helpless adornments or drudges. Their joint aspiration – their certainty that there is a better and more fulfilling way of life -resonates powerfully with a modern reader. So, in that sense, it is an absorbing and even inspirational tale as the three women fight against all the odds to achieve more meaningful lives and to be masters of their own fate.

The author starts out bravely with a great idea and three vivid and diverse characters. Their friendship and the unselfish way the three girls support each other is not merely heartfelt but heart-warming, and in this, she succeeds very well.

Where the book is less successful is the plot. The storyline – hopefully, the scaffolding in any novel – at times becomes a spider's web with the narrative trapped within it. The execution of some excellent ideas is, at times, ponderous and predictable.

The character of the villain, Thea’s stepbrother, Stanley, is especially crudely drawn. He is so relentlessly villainous that without any contrast to the darkness of his character, we lose definition.

Without light and shade, there is no depth. My major criticism is that the author tends to describe not qualify, leaving the reader wanting more texture and detail.

Despite this, her exploration of the major themes of the book – the emerging role of women, snobbery and class prejudice and the warm and perceptive nature of her main character, Thea, who creates in her threatened home a haven for women who are, each in their own way, outsiders, is readable and engrossing. It is a good book, but I was left wanting more.

Charlotte Gower

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

A great old fashioned tale, three lovely female leads. Full of emotion, a great page turner, a lovely writing style too.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

.Three young ladies from very different backgrounds find one another and move in together. The story tells of their lives as they entwine. Happiness and sadness makes this a very good read, I didn't want it to end. This has been very well written and I enjoyed it, I would read this again so I am recommend you read it also. I haven't read Lesley Eames before but I will certainly do so if I find any more novels by her.

An engrossing and entertaining novel that moved and made me smile.
I loved the attention to the historical details, the characters development and the plot that flows and never bores.
A very good book, highly recommended!
Many thanks to Head of Zeus and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Lovely story about three women who discover they are stronger and more capable than they thought- especially when they work together. Thea's about the find herself on the street thanks to her rotten stepfather and even worse- her horrid stepbrother. Anna's pregnant and alone and Daisy has more or less run away from home. Turing Thea's disputed house in Brighton into a guest house is a terrific idea but it takes a lot of work. These three have ups and downs and you know what- you will root for them all the way. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good old fashioned read.

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this Arc.
I have read and loved all of Lesley Eames books.
A lovely and emotional and sometimes funny story.
I would highly recommend it.

Thea has had a rough few years, after the death of her mother and her stepfather’s pilfering of anything of value in their house, she’s finally laid him to rest and now must figure out her next step. Knowing that the house is now hers, free and clear, is a benefit: finding out how to earn a living to keep the house is her struggle. Until her step-brother shows up with a new will, deeding the house to him and leaving Thea with only 3 months to vacate, and a certainty that the will she’s been shown is a forgery. When searching for the witnesses to the will, she sees a young woman who had been accosted, her bags stolen, and the thief coming straight at her. She downs the thief, recovers the young woman’s bag and offers her assistance.

Anna has quit her job at Selfridge’s in London, a saleswoman in Ladies Fashion, she’s used every available option to rise above the poor circumstances of her birth, helping to raise her siblings, seeing they pay attention to school and opportunities, and avoiding her dockworker father’s fists and temper. But now, pregnant with a child from a man of a much higher station, and he off to Brazil to “adventure” with no word back to her in months, she’s been put out of her family house and is heading for Piers’ family home to introduce herself and hopefully, find assistance. Rebuffed at the door and discovering that Piers is believed dead, heartbroken and homeless she was in Brighton when spotted by Thea. With her impending homelessness approaching, Thea has thought that running a guest house will both bring in money and leave her time to investigate her concerns about the will, and with Anna staying on to help, at least for the moment, Thea’s got a plan and something to work toward. Meanwhile, Anna has not let on about her pregnancy, deciding that the ‘high born’ Thea will be shocked and judgmental. In fact, Thea is none of those things: well-raised, polite, intelligent and fair-minded, she’s not a member of the upper echelon, although her parents did have friendships with many of the finer families in the area.

As the girls are working to get the house ready for guests, they encounter Daisy who is in town from the farm, looking for work and to find something that may have been missing in her years helping her father at the forge and in the small community. In many ways, she’s running from the farm in hopes that soon, her cousin Max, a horse trainer, will be able to hire her to work with him. But, both Thea and Anna are welcoming despite her spilling the beans about Anna’s pregnancy, and the girls are soon fast friends: dividing the work (and Thea’s investigations) amongst themselves. Truly a story of the three coming together when they needed one another most, with interactions and introductions to friends and family members that show each of the girls a light at the end of the tunnel as they band together to save Thea’s house. Laden with moments to love and friendships that are clearly defined and more solid than the mere ‘acquaintances’ that Thea was used to when her circumstances were better, the three have hope, love, laughter and new options opening up to them all as a result of their friendships and cooperation. A lovely story that brings a sense of sisterhood, determination and hope to the forefront.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-at9/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

A lovely read Thea Anna and Daisy stoke my heart had me cheering for them as they opened their guest house this wonderful story unfolds.I sank right into the story didn’t want it to end.#netgalley #headofzeus

It must have been so difficult to be intelligent and street smart for women in the early part of the century. They were expected to conform, not to argue, to be supported by a plethora of parents, brothers, husbands and just expected to look helpless and pretty.



For someone like Thea who saw through her stepfather's wiles and was disenchanted with his drunken ways life was hard. Not only did he run through all the money that was available, he sold everything her mother possessed to fuel his drinking habit. When he died, his son turned up on Thea's doorstep with a will which showed that her mother had written everything to her husband, and her husband had written everything to his son. His son wanted Thea out of the house asap.

Thea knew that either the will was forged or that signatures were forged or witnesses were coerced. She did not know where to start though.

In a parallel zone we have Anna, single and pregnant her partner lost at sea off the coast of Brazil and now she has been thrown out of her home. We have Daisy who wants to see the outside world a bit before returning to the loving embrace of her father. How these three women meet, give each other the support each one needs and form a bond over riding class particularly and becoming good friends is this story.

The story was a charming one of the support people can be for each other, and how greed for material wealth over rides morals or ethics.

A simple story of all's well that ends well but put together very well.

Words cannot describe how much I love this book. I wasn't too sure how 'me' the book would be but the author had me gripped from the get go. The characters are all unique and well built, the plot is well thought out and fleshed out through the book and the sub plots also work well together. You feel for Thea as she tries to fight against her evil stepbrother, you want to mother Anna when she is left alone whilst young, pregnant and grieving.

Daisy is the only one who isn't in turmoil but is looking for something more from life and this brings her into the path of Thea and Anna. The three main characters are all very well developed and you truly get a feel for their stories - the backstory of each is well written and it is like you are in their minds.

You find yourself willing everything to be alright in the end and you also find yourself wanting certain pairings which may seem unlikely from the beginning of the book.

Overall, this is a fantastic saga and I really enjoyed it. I'd love to see more from these characters in the future although I'm not too sure their stories could be continued, I just loved them so much. I'd love friends like Thea, Anna and Daisy, wouldn't you?

Thea has buried her mother and now she must figure out how to support herself. She is devastated when her repulsive step-brother informs her things are much worse than she imagined. He has a will, signed by her mother, which gives him the family home and she must get out within 5 months.

Her late step-father who died after her mother evidently signed a will giving his son everything. This new will by her mother, gives everything to her step-father and indirectly to his son.

She is shocked.

As a young lady of quality, she has no idea how she will make a living or survive. Then she has a brilliant idea. She is in Brighton, near the sea, and she will convert her family home into a guest house. That will give her income and time to try to prove the new will is fraudulent.

Just as she has made this decision she meets Anna. Anna is a young woman who has her own problems. Her fiance,Piers, was on an expedition to Brazil. Now she finds that his ship has gone down with everyone on board. There are no survivors. As terrible as that is, even worse, she is expecting a baby. Because of her pregnancy, her father has thrown her out of their home. She has no job and no place to live.

Then both Thea and Anna meet Daisy. Daisy is a young girl who has come to Brighton to try to figure out what she wants in life. She is energetic and imaginative. Her father loves her and has provided a warm and loving home for her. But, he agrees, she needs to look around a bit. A neighbor had asked if he could court Daisy. She was appalled. He is not adventurous enough for her. So, this idea of leaving home for a time seems a perfect escape.

These three you women become a unit. They do their best to get the house in shape to accept visitors. At the same time, each of them have their own thoughts, dreams, fears and goals.

This is a light read with an underlying lesson. Women can overcome hurdles. This is true even when they are regularly told they are not as capable as any man.

The characters of Thea, Anna and Daisy are each strong women in their own way. Each of them are admirable for their determination and the skills they bring to the house project as well as one another.

I enjoyed this book. It is the first I have read by Ms Eames. She has created good strong characters. Even the secondary characters are well rounded and complete. The plot moves at a good pace. As things unfold, the action moves forward and all the characters participate in events.

If I have any complaint at all, I felt at times solutions were a little too simplistic for my comfort.

I recommend this story to anyone who is looking for a happily ever after which travels through adventure to get there.

The reader will feel good when things work out exactly as they should.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
Oh what a a FANTASTIC book from beginning to end totally captivated by Theo's ingenuity on running her guest house this book really was a total breath of fresh air a superb summer read I can highly recommend this FULL -THROTTLE
TRUMPET-TOOTING EXTRAVAGANZA

A lovely book which will have you rooting for Thea, Anna and Daisy.

It is a classic tale of good versus bad as the women do battle to save the family home. The characters are beautifully drawn and the story moves along quickly. The women will have you cheering in the aisles!

I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down. The three women, Thea, Anna and Daisy are beautifully written characters who are still in my mind. The plot moved right alone and the reader wants so much for the women to succeed in their mission to outwit Thea's evil step-brother and to find happiness. They found that plus friendship in adversity.

I have loved reading this book about Thea and her strive to keep her home from her unscrupulous stepbrother.Thea is a delight and trying to work out how to save her home she knows her mother would never have left her this way.Anna is a young woman in love Piers who is on an expedition to brazil but unfortunatley his ship goes down in a storm and all are lost.Anna is grieving and also pregnant and homeless after her father throws her out.Then she meets Thea and ends up staying with her while chatting Thea has the idea of opening her home up as a guesthouse.While sorting all this out along comes Daisy who is a live wire with a heart of gold.The three girls become close friends along the way.If you want to know more then buy the book as i will.This book is well worth the 5*