Freda Lightfoot – författare

It is 1936 and Spain is on the brink of civil war. Across Europe, young men are enlisting in the International Brigade to free their Spanish brethren from the grip of fascism, leaving sisters and lovers at home.But not all women are content to be left behind. In Britain, Charlotte McBain and Libby Forbes, friends from opposite sides of the class divide, are determined to do what they can; in Spain, Rosita García Díaz, fiercely loyal to her family and country, cannot stand by and watch. Three brave women, inspired by patriotism, idealism, love and even revenge, dare to go into battle against tradition and oppression.Tying them all together is Jo, Libby’s granddaughter. Five decades later she travels to Spain hoping to make sense of a troubling letter hidden among her grandmother’s possessions. What she learns will change all of their lives forever.Deceit, heartbreak and a longstanding fear of reprisals must all be overcome if the deeds of the forgotten women are to be properly honoured.

How far will a mother go to protect her child?The slums of Poor House Lane are no place to bring up a child, and Kate O'Connor struggles to make ends meet when her beloved husband is killed, leaving her a single mother with a baby to support on the meagre hand-outs she gleans from charity. So when the childless Tysons, owners of Kendal's shoe factory, offer to adopt her son, Callum, and employ Kate as his nanny, she seizes the chance to ensure he has a better life.To be so close to her son, yet no longer be his mother, is bittersweet. But Kate is not prepared for the jealousy the new arrangement provokes in Eliot Tyson's brother, Charles, who sees Callum as a direct threat to his inheritanceAn unputdownable saga of motherhood and family love, the first book in the The Poor House Lane Sagas is perfect for Rosie Goodwin and Dilly Court.

As the Great War looms, will the women of Kendal rise to meet the challenge?After giving birth to her daughter, Kate O'Connor finds herself back in Poor House Lane with some momentous decisions to make.Faced with the opportunity to move out of the slums, she invests her unexpected fortune in a new shoe factory to challenge Eliot Tyson's monopoly over the workforce, regardless of whether or not he is the father of her children.But nothing is ever that simple, especially when old enemies and estranged relatives return to thwart her every schemeThe second, moving instalment in The Poor House Lane Sagas, The Child From Nowhere is a wartime saga perfect for fans of Val Wood and Katie Flynn

What will life bring now The Great War is over? The Great War is over and Kate is ready to welcome back Eliot with open arms. But her husband is a changed man. Kate has become used to her independence, and Eliot's return creates tensions both at work and at home, particularly with Kate's son, Callum.It tears Kate apart to see such strife between the two men she loves most. And her sister-in-law seems determined to stir up the animosity in order to benefit her own son. But when tragedy strikes, Kate cannot imagine just how much trouble Lucy's ambition can causeA gripping saga, the third moving instalment of The Poor House Lane sagas is perfect for fans of Val Wood and Katie Flynn

Where there's daring, there's dangerIsabella Ashton has always been her father's favourite, but when she gets involved with the new Birth Control Movement, he is scandalised. A decade has elapsed since the end of the Great War and running a family planning clinic in Salford is challenging but rewarding work.Bella is grateful for the help of Violet Howarth, a generous-hearted woman who takes her in off the street. Before long, a friendship with Violet's son, Dan, blossoms into the beginnings of love.But Bella also crosses paths with handsome ne'er-do-well Billy Quinn, leader of an illegal betting ring, and everything she has worked for is suddenly put at risk.This is a bewitching tale of drama, jealousy and the fight for women's rights, perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Nadine Dorries.Praise for The Favourite Child 'Compelling and fascinating' Middlesborough Evening Gazette'A revelation in telling us what it was like before women had rights' 5* Reader review'One of those books that you can't put down, loved it' 5* Reader review

Where there's a rulebook, there's a rebelRuby McBride has always been on the wrong side of authority. The grand opening of the Manchester Ship Canal is set to be a day of unfettered festivity for Ruby and her younger sister and brother. Even Queen Victoria will be in attendance.But the glories of the ceremony fade into insignificance when their dying mother delivers them to the imposing oak doors of Ignatius House. Abandoned in the not-so-tender care of the nuns, the siblings are soon separated.So when the Board of Guardians force Ruby into a marriage that sends her to a new home upon the Salford waterways, she makes only one vow: to reunite her family whatever the cost.This is an enthralling story of romance and rebellion perfect for fans of Rosie Goodwin and Dilly Court.Praise for Ruby McBride 'An inspiring novel about accepting change and bravely facing the future' Bangor Chronicle'Compelling and heart-wrenching' Hull Daily Mail'The kind of character-driven saga that delights the Catherine Cookson and Josephine Cox audience' Peterborough Evening Telegraph'This book deals with gritty, real-life situations and shows how the heroine's strength of character triumphs through adversity' 5* Reader review

Where there's community, there's courageJess Delaney has always longed for independence. But when the Blitz reaches Manchester, she is locked in the cellar by her feckless mother, Lizzie. As bombs rain down from a sky turned blood red with flame, Jess waits for Lizzie to return.But fortunes are fickle, and soon Jess finds herself packed off to live with her tyrant Uncle Bernie, a bullying black marketeer. Though he treats her like a servant, she seeks refuge in the Sally Army and her natural musical talent offers both an escape route and the chance for love.But Uncle Bernie never forgives his niece for refusing to join his illegal schemes and threatens to deprive Jess of her hard-won freedom once and for all.This is a sweeping saga of hope and resilience perfect for fans of Kitty Neale and Rosie Goodwin.Praise for Dancing on Deansgate 'A heart-wrenching story' 5* Reader review'It drew me in straight away' 5* Reader review'Another gem from a great writer' 5* Reader review'A compelling story of separation and hardship, and heartache overcome at last' 5* Reader review

Where there's muck, there's mettleDolly Tomkins has always known what it is to live hand to mouth. In the mean streets of a Salford struggling under the mantle of the Great Depression, the only one making a decent living is the talleyman.Though Nifty Jack has a money bag where his heart should be, Dolly's mam is in hock up to her ears and in dire need of assistance. But when Jack offers to wipe the slate clean, Dolly just can't bring herself to trust him.Instead, she takes him on at his own game and in the process endangers everything she holds most dear as a revelation about the past rocks the very foundations of her world.This is an enchanting story of love and endurance perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries and Kitty Neale.Previously published as Watch for the Talleyman.Praise for The Castlefield Collector 'A story which in some ways could be written about today as easily as the 1920s' 5* Reader review'This is my first novel by Freda and it will definitely not be the last' 5* Reader review'I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book from start to finish' 5* Reader review

When tragedy strikes, she must find a new pathLily Thorpe is spirited, ambitious and desperate to escape the poverty of her Lake District home, and marry her secret sweetheart Dick Rawlins. But tragedy strikes and Dick is killed in a boating accident caused by the wealthy and arrogant Clermont-Read family. Lily is forced to reassess her future, and she embarks on a quest for revenge and marries Bertie Clermont-Read. The young couple are rejected by his family and suffer the same poverty Lily had tried to escape. Lily starts a passionate affair with local steam boat captain Nathan Monroe and when she is threatened with vengeance she must decide who is more important her husband or her lover.A page-turning saga of love and heartache, perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Val Wood.

She must decide if her childhood sweetheart is worth the struggleAlena Townsen is in love with Rob and wants to spend the rest of her life with him. But he is the only son of James Hollinthwaite, a wealthy landowner who has his own ideas about Rob's future, and he forces the two to part. With no other option, Rob and Alena run away together and plan to start a new life.Their dreams are shattered when they are discovered, and Rob is sent away by his father. Alena starts work at the local bobbin mill but life is hard and lonely for her, and her love for Rob is tested with the arrival of the mill's new foreman. Torn between two men, Alena must decide where her heart truly lies.A charming romantic saga packed full of love and conflicting loyalties, perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Annie Clarke.

Against the backdrop of the theatre, a real life drama plays outAfter fleeing from a marriage arranged by her ambitious mother, Katherine throws herself into an acting career, but a scandal threatens to wreck everything she has worked for.Charlotte believes she can have any man she wants, and she wants Archie no matter who is standing in her way. Esme is in love with the life and vibrancy of the theatre, and the contrast to the life of duty she has known as a parson's daughter. But can a quiet and trusting girl ever be truly at home on the stage?All three girls are seeking escape. Each is pretending to be someone she is not, and all are in love with the same manAn enthralling tale of love and rivalry from bestselling author Freda Lightfoot, perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Annie Clarke.

War puts their friendship to the test, but can they unite against their true enemy?It's 1942 and Gracie is eager to do her bit for the war effort. She joins the Women's Timber Corps, relieved to get away from her quarrelling, interfering parents. Her training leads her to Cornwall where she meets energetic newly-married Lou, and Rosie who is desperate to escape her bully of a brother. The three girls become fast friends and are happy to learn they will stay together for the next posting to the Lake District.Against the backdrop of rolling hills and dense forests, they soon discover that emotions are heightened in wartime. Rosie is swept off her feet by an American GI, Lou must come to grips with the prospect of tragedy when she is told her husband is missing in action, and Gracie is cast out after she falls in love with a German POW. Will the bond of friendship be strong enough for them to overcome these hardships, and do their bit for the war effort? A page-turning saga of love and loyalty, perfect for fans of Nancy Revell and Katie Flynn.

An old secret is about to be uncoveredDaisy is devastated when her lover, Percy, abandons her. All alone, Daisy is forced by her own mother to give up her baby son for adoption shortly before she throws Daisy out. War is imminent, and Daisy is evacuated to the Lake District, where she eventually tracks down her black-sheep aunt, Florrie. Together they set up a guest house, and when Daisy meets and falls in love with a young airman, Harry, happiness is within her reach. The guest house is full of eccentric characters, and all of them use Daisy's shoulder to cry on. But when Percy turns up holding a baby, Daisy is torn between her yearning to reclaim her son and her love for Harry. Will the truth set Daisy free, or break her heart once more?A compelling saga of wartime struggle and triumph over adversity, perfect for fans of Nancy Revell and Val Wood.

Bargains galore and life in the rawFolk are just emerging from the shadow of WWII and money is still tight. So the vibrant market of Champion Street is a source of many a tempting bargain as well as all the local gossip.Dena loves her Saturday job at Belle Garside's market caf, and her ready smile makes her a universal favourite. She is soon in thrall to Belle's two good-looking and dangerous sons. But fate has other plans in store when her younger brother is killed by a gang of thugs.Only when it is far too late does Dena begin to ask herself one terrifying question: has she fallen in love with her brother's killer?A moving saga of second chances and forbidden love set around a bustling caf in 1950s Manchester, perfect for fans of Kitty Neale and Ellie Dean.Praise for Putting on the Style 'You can't put a price on Freda Lightfoot's stories from Manchester's 1950s Champion Street Market. They bubble with enough life and colour to brighten up the dreariest day and they have characters you can easily take to your heart' Northern Echo'A rattling good read to touch the heart of anyone who has loved someone they shouldn't have' Dorset Evening Echo'Deftly chronicled' Telegraph & Argus'Freda Lightfoot's talent for creating believable characters makes this a page-turning read' Newcastle Evening Chronicle

Home is where you hang your hatWhen Patsy talks her way into a job on the Champion Street Market millinery stall, the Higginson sisters get more than they bargained for.Riddled with insecurities, Patsy's impudence wins her new enemies as well as friends and her determination to solve the riddle of her own past starts to unravel secrets Annie and Clara would much rather keep hidden.Meanwhile, Molly Poulson hasn't a care in the world until her two daughters both fall in love with the wrong man. But the more Molly interferes, the more danger looms.An enthralling saga of secrecy and sisterhood set around an elegant hat stall in 1950s Manchester, perfect for fans of Ellie Dean and Pam Howes.Praise for Fools Fall in Love 'You can't put a price on Freda Lightfoot's stories from Manchester's 1950s Champion Street Market. They bubble with enough life and colour to brighten up the dreariest day and they have characters you can easily take to your heart' Northern Echo'As expected, another excellent book from Freda Lightfoot' 5* Reader review'Devoured every word of it' 5* Reader review'Did not want to put this book down' 5* Reader review

Flowers spill everyone's secretsWorking on their busy flower stall in Champion Street Market, Lynda and her mother, Betty, have lots of opportunities to observe their customers and speculate about their lives.Sam regularly buys bouquets for his wife, Judy, so why does she always look so worn out and miserable? Then there's Leo, who comes every week for flowers for his mother, but has never bought so much as a rosebud for his elegant wife.As for Lynda's father, he ran off long ago, so is it any wonder that she has such a low opinion of men? But could all that really be about to change?A gripping saga of gossip and parenthood set around a beautiful flower stall in 1950s Manchester, perfect for fans of Pam Howes and Nadine Dorries.Praise for That'll be the Day 'You can't put a price on Freda Lightfoot's stories from Manchester's 1950s Champion Street Market. They bubble with enough life and colour to brighten up the dreariest day and they have characters you can easily take to your heart' Northern Echo'You won't want to put it down' 5* Reader review'The twists and turns leave you gasping' 5* Reader review'The Champion Street Market stories are so realistic' 5* Reader review

Chocolate can also be bitterIt is a truth universally acknowledged that everyone dotes on Aunty Dot, as much as they do on her homemade sweets. The plump, smiling woman has provided a loving home for many a troubled child over the years, and Lizzie Pringle is no exception.Lizzie would do anything for her foster mother even take on local sweet manufacturer and notorious bully, Cedric Finch. Until, that is, she falls for his son, Charlie.Meanwhile, Dena can't believe that Barry Holmes would hurt her beloved daughter: he's been like a favourite uncle to the little girl. But rumours are rife and her fears only growA thrilling saga of new love and old rivalries set around a sumptuous sweet shop in 1950s Manchester, perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries and Rosie Goodwin.Praise for Candy Kisses 'You can't put a price on Freda Lightfoot's stories from Manchester's 1950s Champion Street Market. They bubble with enough life and colour to brighten up the dreariest day and they have characters you can easily take to your heart' Northern Echo'Brings to life the characters and the goings on in a close local community' 5* Reader review'Superb reading with a mixture of pathos and victory' 5* Reader review'This book will tug at your heart' 5* Reader review

There were never such devoted sistersThings are far from simple in the noisy, warm-hearted Bertalone family. Carmina is the quintessential extrovert with beaus flocking to her side like bees round a honeypot all except Luc Fabriani. For some unaccountable reason, he seems to prefer Carmina's sister.Gina has always been quiet and shy, the apple of her over-protective parents' eye, so she believes her sister when Carmina spreads malicious rumours about Luc in an effort to sabotage any blooming relationship.But lies have a habit of unravelling and tangling those who spin them in a web of deceit, as Carmina soon discovers. The question remains: who's sorry now?A bewitching saga of budding romance and family feuds set around an Italian ice cream parlour in 1950s Manchester, perfect for fans of Rosie Goodwin and Maggie Ford.Praise for Who's Sorry Now? 'You can't put a price on Freda Lightfoot's stories from Manchester's 1950s Champion Street Market. They bubble with enough life and colour to brighten up the dreariest day and they have characters you can easily take to your heart' Northern Echo'A real page-turner and an insight into times gone by' 5* Reader review'Fabulous, just like all the other Champion Street books' 5* Reader review'A lovely heart-warming story, you actually feel you are there living their lives with them' 5* Reader review

Blood is thicker than waterIt's a rainy day on Champion Street as Harriet attends the funeral of her beloved father. But then her grandmother drops a bombshell on her out of nowhere and she can hardly take in the words for shock and grief.Joyce, the woman she has always called Mam, isn't really her mother. After all this time, it at least explains why Joyce always favoured Harriet's brother, Grant. Her emotions in turmoil, Harriet discovers a streak of rebellion that puts everything she holds dear into jeopardy.Can she ever come back from the brink or will her life be full of nothing but lonely teardrops?An emotional saga of love and loss set around a family hair salon in 1950s Manchester, perfect for fans of Maggie Ford and Kitty Neale.Praise for Lonely Teardrops 'You can't put a price on Freda Lightfoot's stories from Manchester's 1950s Champion Street Market. They bubble with enough life and colour to brighten up the dreariest day and they have characters you can easily take to your heart' Northern Echo'I found it hard to put down. The reader is transported in time' 5* Reader review'An excellent read' 5* Reader review'Freda Lightfoot never disappoints' 5* Reader review

When her life is thrown into disarray, can she remember what matters most?Beth Brandon and her twin sister, Sarah, are polar opposites in every way, except in their love of their home, Larkrigg Hall. Beth is the romantic one, with dreams of an idyllic life in rural Lakeland, while Sarah is willing to take risks to achieve the lifestyle she craves.When tragedy strikes, and both sisters are thrown into chaos, they are forced to come to terms with an entirely new situation. Sarah flees to Italy while Beth loses the man she loves and throws herself into an unplanned marriage. Facing emotional turmoil and financial ruin, Beth must learn to fight for, or lose, the things that matter most to her.An unputdownable saga of love and resilience, perfect for fans of Anna Jacobs and Ruth Hamilton.

Her desire for love will have disastrous consequencesLissa Turner has everything a girl could wish for. She's beautiful, intelligent and has a wonderful family in the picturesque Lake District. But despite her good fortune, Lissa is unhappy. Her mother abandoned her as a baby, and ever since, she's been wracked with insecurity, fearing everyone else will leave her too.As soon as she is old enough, she takes up a job in Carreckwater, a lively village in the heart of Lakeland. She makes many friends, but Lissa's need to be loved and cherished leads her to rush into marriage. Can she make the relationship work, or will she live to regret her decision?An enchanting saga set in the Lake District, perfect for fans of Ruth Hamilton and Rosie Goodwin.

Can she overcome her family's doubts to achieve her dream?Meg Turner has a hard life. She lives on a lonely farm in the Lake District and her only company is her bully of a father and her brother, who resents her. They want to keep her at home, but Meg is desperate for more. She finds comfort in her best friend, Kath, and Lanky Lawson, who is more of a father figure to her than her own. Her true source of hope though, is Lanky's son, Jack, who she loves and hopes to marry one day. However as war looms on the horizon and the world is thrown into chaos, Meg realises that the only thing she can really count on is the land she loves. She throws herself into tending the farm, but when a stranger arrives in the dale, her world will change forever.A vivid and enchanting saga of Lakeland life in the Second World War, perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Anna Jacobs.

As she struggles to find her feet with her work, new problems emerge Meg Turner is finally doing the job she loves, but life as a sheep farmer proves tougher than she anticipated. She is a woman trying to prove herself in a man's world against the backdrop of a brutal war.With her faith being tested in her work, she also fears that the man she loves will betray her again. Meg struggles to allow herself to love baby Lissa when her mother may return to claim her at any moment.Meanwhile, Kath faces new challenges in the WAAF, but cannot stop thinking about her child. Can she ever get over the guilt of leaving her child behind?A heartwarming story of love and loyalty, perfect for fans of Anna Jacobs and Rosie Harris.

She will keep her head held high, no matter whatPolly Pride's life is falling apart. Her husband has lost his job, there's no money coming in, and she has two young mouths to feed.With the prospect of poverty looming over her, and her husband wallowing in apathy, Polly takes control. She sells everything they own and buys a rickety old handcart. Polly piles it high with second-hand rugs and spends hours hawking her wares around Manchester's cobbled streets.But her determination to persevere will be tested to its limits, as she juggles her work, the pressures of her young family, and her husband's wounded pride. Will her life fall apart completely especially when tragedy strikes or can she keep it together?A compelling story of a woman making her way in a man's world, perfect for fans of Sheila Riley, Maggie Ford and Rosie Harris.

Can true love conquer all?Sisters Bette Tredinnick and Sara Marrack live quiet lives, content with the comings and goings of their small Cornish hometown. But when hundreds of US Marines arrive, everything changes.Bette, footloose and fancy free, embarks on a whirlwind romance and finds herself bound for America as a GI bride. Meanwhile, married woman Sara finds herself falling for officer Charles Denham, despite her better judgement and her husband's jealous attempts to control her.As the GIs prepare to invade Normandy it becomes clear that this is a bigger operation than ever before one that they might not come back from, one that will change the lives of both sisters foreverAn emotional saga of sisterhood set in wartime Cornwall, perfect for fans of Betty Walker, Donna Douglas and Tracy Baines.

Will she lose everything she's worked so hard for?The Second World War may be over, but the war in Polly Pride's home is only just beginning, and it will test her like never before.Her son, Benny, never seems to be far from trouble, spending all his time with shady characters and winding up in the wrong places at the wrong times. Her daughter, Lucy, is seeing another man behind her husband's back and leaving her children to run riot. And Charlie, Polly's beloved husband, is battling ill health and doesn't want her interfering.Polly refuses to go back to a life of poverty but managing a business, a family, and the trials of living in post-war Manchester might prove to be too much, even for herAn inspiring, gritty family drama set in the 1940s, perfect for fans of Ruth Hamilton, Emma Hornby and Kitty Neale.

1945. Finally, peace has been declared. Cathie hardly dares believe that Alex, the fiancé she has not seen for nearly two years, is coming home. And, finally, life can begin again for Cathie and the orphaned baby in her care.But the Alex who returns is not the kind, loving man Cathie remembers. He’s cold, selfish, sometimes even frightening. So Cathie has a choice: stand by him, and try to contain his violent temper? Or hold her tiny baby close…and run from the man she has yearned for. Home is Where the Heart Is is a heart-wrenchingly, poignant new saga from Freda Lightfoot, set in the aftermath of World War II.