Judith Lennox – författare

Secrets shape the ebb and flow of our lives... Two sisters face battles in life and love amongst the ever-present threat of war in Judith Lennox''s unforgettable historical novel, Catching the Tide. Perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore and Kate Morton.

1933. Tessa and Frederica Nicolson enjoy one last idyllic summer at the beautiful Villa Millefiore, overlooking Florence. Four years later, Italy is a distant memory and Tessa is revelling in the glamour and excitement of modelling in London, until a passionate affair with married author Milo Rycroft leads to tragic consequences. Tessa returns to Florence, and, missing her sister desperately, Freddie, too, travels to Italy, where she is swept up in adventure, danger and romance, and makes a chance encounter that will change her life. With the outbreak of World War Two, Tessa and Freddie must fight for their own survival and happiness, while they wonder whether they will ever see each other again...

What readers are saying about Catching the Tide:

''Ideal escapism''

''This beautifully written book has an overarching theme of love and loss, and expertly captures the hedonistic atmosphere of pre-war WW2 London and Europe''

''Wonderful story, I couldn''t put the book down!''

The past changes you forever... The Turning Point is a gripping novel of passion, intrigue and ambition, set against the backdrop of 1950s Britain from acclaimed author Judith Lennox. Perfect for fans of Lulu Taylor and Rachel Hore.Cambridge, 1952. When Ellen Kingsley embarks upon an exciting career in scientific research she soon finds herself caught in a bitter world of rivalry and ambition. Resisting the advances of charismatic Mark Pharaoh, who will stop at nothing in his pursuit of success, she moves to London and falls in love with dashing Alec Hunter. Then a chance encounter introduces Pharaoh to Ellen''s old school friend, the captivating India Mayhew, and they embark upon a passionate love affair that leaves destruction in its wake. And amid a web of deceit and desire, long-held secrets will be revealed with far-reaching consequences... What readers are saying about The Turning Point: ''An engaging, warm and involving romantic saga to sink into while you are relaxing on holiday, curled up on the sofa or tucked up in bed''''An engaging story, with a wonderful mix of mystery and romance''''[This book] has everything a good story should have''

The world is changing, but can a family change with it? Spanning the twentieth century, One Last Dance is a story of sibling rivalry, heartbreak, betrayal and forgiveness from acclaimed writer Judith Lennox. Perfect for fans of Tracy Rees, Kate Morton, Rachel Hore and Downton Abbey.

''I have fallen completely in love with Judith Lennox''s writing - she''s a fantastic storyteller!'' Jill Mansell

''Completely unputdownable... a lovely, entrancing book'' - New Books Magazine

As the twentieth century draws to a close, Esme Reddaway knows that she must uncover the truth. A truth that began during the First World War when Devlin Reddaway fell passionately in love with Esme''s elder sister, Camilla, and promised to rebuild his ancestral home, Rosindell, for her.

But the war changes everything and Devlin returns to England to find that Camilla is engaged to someone else. Angry and vengeful, he marries Esme, who has been secretly in love with him for years. Esme tries to win Devlin''s heart by reviving the annual summer dance. But as the years pass she fears that Rosindell has a malign influence on those who live there, and the revelation of a shocking secret on the night of the dance at Rosindell tears her life apart. Decades later, it is she who must lay the ghosts of Rosindell to rest.

What readers are saying about One Last Dance:

''A book you can lose yourself in''

''This is a gentle, nostalgic story with enough action to keep the reader engaged with fantastic descriptions of both time and place that add to the richness of this read''

''A story of sibling rivalry, jealousy and betrayal, of families and the ties that bind, of forgiveness and mostly of love; One Last Dance is a wonderfully nostalgic and romantic read''

Buried secrets can change a family''s life forever... Judith Lennox''s Before the Storm is a gripping, multi-generational family drama set in London and Devon, in which the secrets of the past have powerful and emotional repercussions. Perfect for fans of Rachel Hore and Katherine Webb.On an autumn day in 1909, wealthy young Richard Finborough catches sight of twenty-year-old Isabel Zeale at the harbour at Lynmouth in Devon. Her beauty captivates him. Aware of shameful secrets in her past, Isabel has no intention of letting anyone into her life, but Richard''s persistence and ardour eventually win him her trust - and her hand in marriage. The decades pass and Isabel and Richard raise a family through the turbulent times of the First World War and the 1920s. As her children reach adulthood, Isabel is convinced her secret is safe - until an old acquaintance emerges from the shadows, turning her world upside down. To protect the happiness of those she loves most, Isabel must find the courage to confront what came before, and live with the consequences... What readers are saying about Before the Storm: ''The characters are both complex and absorbing and the storyline is so compelling that you don''t want to stop reading even at two in the morning!''''A sweeping, old-fashioned family saga to be savoured, with a host of memorable characters who''ll linger in the mind long after the pages are turned, and a story that will transport you back to a bygone era''''A very imaginative saga with an unusual twist of mystery''

Across continents, through times of war and peace, love lives on... Judith Lennox delves into the world of the Russian aristocracy in her gripping wartime novel, The Heart of the Night. Perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore and Kate Morton.''I have fallen completely in love with Judith Lennox''s writing - she''s a fantastic storyteller!'' Jill Mansell ''[A] wonderfully creative tale of how ordinary people across Britain and Europe lived through an extraordinary time... The characters are in many ways so normal, yet in other ways so unbelievably wonderful, in this gripping and heartfelt story'' - Newcastle HeraldIn the spring of 1936, Kay Garland embraces an exciting new life of glamour when she becomes companion to Russian Konstantin Denisov''s daughter, Miranda. The two girls become firm friends, and when Miranda falls in love with a young Parisian, Kay helps her keep the relationship secret. But Konstantin learns of the affair and promptly dismisses Kay, leaving her penniless and stranded in Nazi Berlin. By chance she meets Tom Blacklock, who pays for her ticket home, and is destined to play an important part in her life. As for Miranda, she makes a decision that will put her in the path of disaster. With the outbreak of war come death and destruction and, for both women, consuming passion, along with the fear of losing all that they hold dear. After Hitler''s defeat, there are new dangers - and opportunities to find love where least expected. What readers are saying about The Heart of the Night: ''Ms Lennox''s writing is truly amazing, and creates characters that remain with me after the last page is turned. This is a book to lose yourself in''''The book is beautifully written - the author evokes an atmosphere so that you feel as if you are actually there''''The best Lennox novel''

Secrets can bind a family - or tear them apart... Judith Lennox''s A Step in the Dark is a powerful family drama set in India and Scotland that spans from 1915 to the 1960s. Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley and Kate Morton.''The unforgettable story of the secrets that can bind a family or ultimately destroy one'' - Reading Evening PostIt''s 1915 when young Bess Ravenhart, recently widowed, leaves her baby son Frazer with her mother-in-law, Cora, while she sails from India to Britain to set up a home. But Cora has no intention of returning Frazer to his mother''s care. Though Bess makes a new life in Edinburgh and knows the joy - and pain - of motherhood with further children, her heart always aches for the little boy she left behind. When Frazer travels to Scotland twenty years later, it seems Bess''s dreams of a reconciliation will come true. But Frazer trails danger in his wake, and it''s possible that not only he but also Bess and her whole family will live to rue the day of his return... What readers are saying about A Step in the Dark: ''Convincing and page turning, moving from romance to a detective tale and, satisfyingly, the ends are all tied together, almost too late as the book draws to a close''''She is a fantastic storyteller, and this book''s rich historical tapestry places it above most romantic fiction. You really care about the characters and as such are gripped to the last page''''One of the best books I have ever read''

A mesmerising novel exploring the joys and challenges of family life throughout the twentieth century, A DIFFERENT WORLD is the latest bestselling novel from Judith Lennox. Not to be missed by readers of Lucinda Riley and Rachel Hore.In the summer of 1939, nineteen-year-old Olivia Goodland arrives in London. Working for a society dressmaker, she meets wealthy, beautiful Grace Ruthwell. Beguiled by the glamour of Grace''s world, it''s only slowly and too late that she becomes aware of the darkness that lies beneath the glittering exterior.When the Second World War erupts, Olivia joins the Land Army. At a party in Wiltshire, she meets the handsome poet George Flynn, whose charms prove impossible to resist. Over the ensuing years, Olivia''s life is absorbed by the upbringing of her three sons, and by her relationship with a man whose passions go beyond poetry. But as the twentieth century continues to unfold, Olivia makes a shocking discovery, and starts to question where her true happiness lies . . .Praise for Judith Lennox:''I have fallen completely in love with Judith Lennox''s writing - she''s a fantastic storyteller!'' Jill Mansell''A fast-moving, complex story'' The Times''Judith Lennox''s writing is so keenly honest it could sever heartstrings'' Daily Mail

A passionate affair. A dark secret. A tainted legacy. In The Jeweller''s Wife, Judith Lennox writes an epic tale of passion and betrayal that moves through the turbulence of war to 1960s London. Perfect for fans of Rachel Hore and Elizabeth Jane Howard''s Cazelets series.

''A fast-moving, complex story'' - The Times

1938. As England awaits the outbreak of war, Juliet Winterton journeys from the Mediterranean to the Essex countryside to begin her life as the beautiful young wife of a London jeweller.

But beneath her husband''s intelligence and ambition, lies a cruel and ruthless man. And when dashing politician, Gillis Sinclair, comes to stay at Marsh Court, Juliet is drawn to his irresistible charm.

So begins a passionate affair that will have consequences far beyond anything Juliet imagines. For Gillis Sinclair is hiding a dark secret and, as the next generation of Wintertons grows up, Juliet fears that they, too, will be tainted by the past...

What readers are saying about The Jeweller''s Wife:

''A very cosy read, full of suspense and drama with exacting tragic interludes''

''A jewel of a book''

''This is a wonderfully woven story with skilful, beautiful writing. If you enjoy historical family sagas with love and tragedy, passion and secrets I would highly recommend this''

HIDDEN LIVES is the latest mesmerising tale of drama and intrigue from Judith Lennox, sure to appeal to readers of Kate Morton and Rachel Hore. Praise for Judith Lennox: ''A beautifully turned, compassionate novel'' Daily MailA surprise inheritance reveals the hidden lives of two sisters, torn apart by tragedy...Following her grandmother''s death, Rose Martineau inherits The Egg, an extraordinary house nestling in the Sussex countryside. She discovers that the mysterious house originally belonged to her grandmother''s younger sister, Sadie, who Rose never knew existed. In her search to uncover why the sisters grew apart, Rose is drawn back into the glamorous and decadent world of the 1930s. Meanwhile, Rose''s own life as a dutiful wife and mother is turned upside down by a sordid scandal that threatens to destroy her marriage. It is only once she has unravelled the secrets of Sadie''s past that she is able to look to her own future...An epic tale of secrets, scandal, jealousy and passion spanning the twentieth century.

Turbulence and passion drive an unforgettable historical epic... 16th century Europe is the setting for Judith Lennox''s thrillingly epic novel Till the Day Goes Down. Perfect for fans of Rosanna Ley and Kate Morton.As England prepares for the threat of invasion, Catholic forces in France, Scotland and Spain plan the ''Enterprise of England'', weaving a cat''s-cradle of intrigue around the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots, to bring her to the throne. In London, Sir Frances Walsingham, Elizabeth I''s Secretary of State and master of espionage, pits his intellect against the forces that threaten England.The Anglo-Scots border, too, is a battleground, an anarchic land whose people acknowledge no allegiance but to their family name. But Luke Ridley, illegitimate son of a gypsy, has no allegiances: he must earn his living in whatever way he can. He is caught up in treacheries both of his own and of Sir Francis Walsingham''s making.Into the dangerous melting-pot of Northumberland arrive Christie and Arbel Forster. Fragile, amoral Arbel is a catalyst for all the simmering tensions of the borders; Christie has her own obsession: to rediscover the family she lost years before in the terror of the French Wars of Religion. The blood-feud between the Forsters and the Ridleys has been in abeyance; now it begins to smoulder again, its embers rekindled by the passions and betrayals of the past. What readers are saying about Judith Lennox: ''Judith Lennox writes wonderful stories which are compelling and beautifully descriptive''''Another wonderful story of power and greed, but always with the thread of passion''''Five stars''

A desperate fight for her birthright and freedom... Spiced with the colour and sensuous splendour of the sixteenth-century silk trade, Judith Lennox''s The Glittering Strand is the triumphant story of a young woman''s fight for independence. Perfect for fans of Rachel Hore and Kate Morton.Serafina Guardi and her father, a wealthy silk merchant from Marseilles, are sailing to Italy to celebrate her betrothal when their ship is captured by Barbary corsairs. Serafina finds herself plunged into the unknown, brutal world of the North African slave states. From there, she begins the long struggle to free herself from servitude.Serafina''s wit and beauty are tempered by her ruthlessness - a ruthlessness which eventually threatens to lose her both her lover and her child. Embattled by the prejudices of the age and by the ambitions of her treacherous cousin Angelo, Serafina fights against poverty, loneliness and despair, vowing to regain her lost inheritance - the Guardi silk house - at whatever cost. What readers are saying about Judith Lennox: ''Ideal escapism''''[Judith Lennox] is the ultimate storyteller... her stories are compelling and beautifully descriptive of both characters and feelings''''[Judith Lennox''s] characters are marvellously drawn, and their lives draw the reader totally into the story''

Striking out on her own path of independence, what will she leave in her wake? Set amid the wealth and beauty of sixteenth-century Europe, Judith Lennox''s novel, The Italian Garden, transports her readers to a tempestuous world of love and betrayal. Perfect for fans of Rachel Hore and Dinah Jefferies.The du Chantonnay estate of Marigny on the Loire consumes the desires of two powerful men - bitter, worldly-wise Guillaume du Chantonnay, and ruthless Hamon de Bohun - who will stop at nothing to possess it. Toby Crow, a young soldier of fortune, is also drawn to Marigny, for his mysterious origins are somehow bound up with the chateau.Italy''s most priceless beauty, exotic Joanna Zulian, would crown Marigny''s perfection. But Joanna, bred a vagabond and newly escaped from a stifling marriage to the artist Gaetano, vows never again to be possessed by any man, nor obey any laws but her own. With the help of the adoring English doctor Martin and a reluctant Toby, Joanna forges her own path through war-ravaged Europe.And when Joanna comes at last to Marigny, it is to weave the whole intricate tale of the de Bohuns, the du Chantonnays, and her own colourful life into the Italian garden she designs. It will be her own legacy, a legacy fraught with danger... What readers are saying about The Italian Garden: ''I loved the time period, the colourful background of Venice... the development of the characters and the twists in the plot. Great writing''''Another wonderful story of power and greed, but always with the thread of passion''''Thoroughly absorbing read, was gripped throughout''

An epic novel of a great house and the love that consumed it... Judith Lennox''s The Secret Years is a moving story about life in the East Anglian Fens after the First World War. Perfect for fans of Rachel Hore and Kate Morton.During the golden summer of 1914, four young people played in the gardens of Drakesden Abbey. Nicholas and Lally were the children of the great house, set in the bleak and magical Fen country; Thomasine was the unconventional niece of two genteel maiden aunts in the village; Daniel was the son of the local blacksmith, a fiercely independent, ambitious boy who longed to break away from the stifling confines of his East Anglian upbringing. As the drums of war sounded in the distance, the Firedrake, a mysterious and ancient Blythe family heirloom disappeared, setting off an uncontrollable chain of events.The Great War changed everything, and both Nicholas and Daniel returned from the front damaged by their experiences. Thomasine, freed from the narrow disciplines of her childhood, and enjoying the new hedonism which the twenties brought, thought that she could escape from the ties that bound her to both Nicholas and Daniel. But the passions and enmities of their youth had intensified in the passing years, and the four friends had to experience tragedy and betrayal before the Firedrake made its reappearance and, with it, a new hope for the future. What readers are saying about The Secret Years: ''Judith Lennox writes wonderful stories which are compelling and beautifully descriptive''''What a page turner -a twisty turny tale!''''A wonderfully written story... Couldn''t put this book down''

Three women must find their way through a world changed by war... Set against a backdrop of London, Paris and the unchanging English countryside, The Winter House by Judith Lennox is a novel of rare warmth and beauty. Perfect for fans of Rachel Hore and Santa Montefiore.''A novel of passion and intrigue, this is an enjoyable read populated by believable characters'' - Candis For three girls growing up in the Fens in the tumultuous years between the First and Second World Wars, the Winter House was a special place of refuge and friendship. Winter or summer, they would meet at the old wooden house by the waterside to confide all the secrets and heartaches of childhood and adolescence. There was Robin, idealistic and clever, destined for Cambridge; Maia, the most beautiful and ambitious of the three, looking for a rich husband; and quiet Helen, living under the seemingly benevolent tyranny of her widower father, the local vicar. Adulthood separates the three girls, and Robin, abandoning ideas of university, goes to London to work amongst the poor, meeting there her first great love, the handsome but brittle Francis. Maia''s ideal marriage to a wealthy man ends in tragedy and Helen, meanwhile, kept in near-imprisonment by her obsessively protective father, has her very sanity threatened. Amid political and social upheaval, these three women must find their way in a world changed for ever. What readers are saying about The Winter House: ''She writes so beautifully and nostalgically... Judith Lennox is truly a great writer''''[Judith Lennox''s] characters are marvellously drawn, and their lives draw the reader totally into the story''''Couldn''t put it down''

History can repeat itself... Spanning the twentieth century, Some Old Lover''s Ghost is a haunting and incredibly poignant love story from acclaimed author Judith Lennox. Perfect for fans of Dinah Jefferies and Lucinda Riley.Rebecca, bruised from an unhappy love affair, is flattered to be asked to write the life story of distinguished Dame Tilda Franklin. Tilda was born in 1914 and grew up in a remote Fenland village, the illegitimate daughter of the local squire and a maid in the Big House. It was Tilda''s misfortune to fall in love with handsome, devil-may-care Daragh Canavan, and to be betrayed by him.As Rebecca delves deeper into Tilda''s life, and as the events of the past send ghostly echoes to the present, parallels with her own experience begin to emerge. And as she is drawn into a family history of loves and tragedies almost too painful to write about, her involvement with the family becomes more overwhelming than she could ever have imagined. What readers are saying about Some Old Lover''s Ghost: ''Wonderful book, couldn''t put it down and beautifully written''''A warm believable story''''Five stars''

''I have fallen completely in love with Judith Lennox''s writing - she''s a fantastic storyteller!'' Jill Mansell With the onset of war, everything changes... Judith Lennox writes an unforgettable novel of enduring love and the tides of fortune in the compelling novel Footprints on the Sand. Perfect for fans of Dinah Jefferies and Lucinda Riley.The Mulgraves are a rootless, bohemian family who travel the continent, staying in crumbling Italian palazzos, Spanish villas, French vineyards - belonging nowhere, picking up friends and hangers-on as they go, and moving on when Ralph Mulgrave''s latest enthusiasm dwindles. Faith, the eldest child of the family, longs for a proper home. But in 1940, Germany invades France and the Mulgraves are forced to flee to England. Faith and her brother Jake go to London, while Ralph reluctantly settles in a Norfolk cottage with the remnants of his family.In the intense and dangerous landscape of wartime London Faith finds work as an ambulance driver, and meets once again one of Ralph''s retinue from those distant and, in retrospect, golden days of childhood. Through war and its aftermath, it is Faith on whom the family relies, Faith who offers support and succour, and Faith who is constant and true in her love. What readers are saying about Footprints on the Sand: ''Curl up and get lost in this wonderfully written book that takes you from early 1900 through to the 1960s''''[Judith Lennox] can paint a picture so vividly in your mind, make you care about her characters, make you feel the anguish, the partings, the love that is taken away and then given back. A wonderful read''''Such wonderful escapism - well written and compelling!''

A terrible tragedy alters three girls'' friendship forever... Set in the late 1960s and 1970s, Judith Lennox''s The Dark-Eyed Girls tells the story of three friends, Liv, Katherine and Rachel, and their changing relationships over the years. Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley and Lulu Taylor.''Judith Lennox''s writing is so keenly honest it could sever heartstrings'' - Daily Mail Sweet, gentle Liv, seeking perfect love, marries the man of her dreams, who almost crushes the life out of her. Cynical, pragmatic Katherine, who throws herself into her career in order to avoid domesticity, embarks upon a risky affair and is suffocated by the very dependence she has fought to avoid. And Rachel, dearly loved Rachel who wants for nothing throughout her young life, marries against her parents'' will, and then meets tragedy...The bond between Liv and Katherine weakens over time, but as Katherine uncovers the awful truth about Rachel, and Liv begins to put together the pieces of her shattered life, their friendship is reaffirmed and their lives go forward with dark-eyed girls of their own. What readers are saying about The Dark-Eyed Girls: ''The way Lennox follows the lives of the three individual girls is simply enchanting... I could not put this book down''''A tremendous read''''Lovely, lovely book that I couldn''t put down''