War Babies

Rachel Booker has a difficult start in life. When her father dies, deep in gambling debt, her mother must harden herself to make ends meet, but becomes so hard she has little room left for affection or warmth. Mother and daughter work at the open market in Birmingham, selling second-hand clothes or whatever they can find just to put a little food on the table.

But the market has a silver lining: it's there that Rachel makes her first childhood friend, Danny. As they grow older, the friendship grows into something more and their innocent romance gives Rachel the care and comfort she's always craved. But at just sixteen, as World War II breaks out, Rachel falls pregnant. They marry in haste but it isn't long before Danny is called up.

Left on the home front with a new baby and little else, Rachel must scrape by with the other residents of Sparkbrook. But if Danny ever makes it home, will he be the same boy she loved so fiercely? And if Rachel can sustain the family until then, will she end up as hard-hearted as her own mother?

Annie Murray's War Babies is a moving and insightful novel about hardships on the home front and how the war changed everybody it touched . . .

“Chocolate Girls - This epic saga will have you gripped from start to finish”

A moving, sweeping saga of dreams, dramas and dilemmas Lancashire Evening Post
Chocolate Girls - This epic saga will have you gripped from start to finish Birmingham Evening Mail
Birmingham Rose - An exceptional first novel Chronicle
Birmingham Friends - A meaty family saga with just the right mix of mystery and nostalgia Parents' Magazine
Birmingham Blitz - A tale of passion and empathy which will keep you hooked Woman's Own
The Narrowboat Girl - Classy historical fiction - heartwarming and full of adventure Newswatch UK
War Babies is a tender romance with a warm heart, an authentic sense of time and place and a gritty streak of realism Lancashire Evening Post
Annie Murray puts the heart into heart-warming Mature Times

Annie Murray was born in Berkshire and read English at St John's College, Oxford. Her first 'Birmingham' novel, Birmingham Rose, hit The Times bestseller list when it was published in 1995. She has subsequently written many other successful novels, including A Hopscotch Summer, Soldier Girl and the bestselling Chocolate Girls. Annie has four children and lives near Reading.

Rachel Booker has had a difficult start in life. When her father dies, deep in gambling debt, it's up to her mother to make ends meet. Hardened by the daily struggle, she has little time left for affection or warmth. Mother and daughter work together at Birmingham's Rag Market, selling second-hand clothes to put a little food on the table.There is a silver lining as Rachel makes her first childhood friend, Danny, at the market. As they grow older, friendship blossoms into something more, and their innocent romance gives Rachel the love she's always craved. But at the tender age of sixteen, Rachel falls pregnant just as World War Two breaks out. The young couple marry in haste but it isn't long before Danny is called up. Left on the home front with a new baby and little else, Rachel must scrape by with the other residents of Aston. But if Danny ever makes it back, will he be the same boy she loved so fiercely? And if Rachel can sustain the family until then, will she end up as hard-hearted as her own mother? War Babies is a moving and insightful novel about life on the home front and how the Second World War changed the lives of everyone it touched . . . Praise for Annie Murray 'Annie Murray's superbly drawn characters will live with you long after you have finished reading' Margaret Dickinson 'This heart-warming story is a gripping read, full of drama, love and compassion' Take a Break 'A tale of passion and empathy which will keep you hooked' Woman's Own

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