Millie Gray – författare

Based in the shipyards of Leith, Silver Linings follows the ups and downs of the Anderson family through the darkest days of the Second World War as they struggle to survive. When war breaks out in 1939 the Anderson family ready themselves for the worst, but nothing can prepare them for the death of matriarch Sandra while giving birth to surprise baby Rosebud. Promising her mother that she will take care of her newborn sister, pampered fifteen-year-old Kitty must abandon her dreams of a career to become the family drudge. And Sandra’s heartbroken husband, Johnny, swears never to remarry and instead finds solace in his work, becoming a respected trade union activist in the shipyards. Yet with the help of Johnny’s domineering mother Jenny and spinster sister Kate, the family find the strength to carry on. And when life throws new opportunities at them, Kitty and Johnny are sorely tempted to pursue happiness where they can find it. But can they live with the guilt of breaking the solemn promises they made to Sandra on her deathbed?

As families wrestle with the ups and downs of life in peacetime Britain, the Anderson''s strive to make things better for those in their community.MAY 1945In post-war Leith, the church bells have barely stopped ringing but the Anderson family must quickly come to terms with the harsh realities of peacetime Britain. As Johnny''s hopes of a life in politics finally come true, his vows to remain a dutiful husband and father and to keep himself aloof from the murkiness of the Westminster establishment are proving problematic. Peacetime is not easy for Johnny''s Polish brother-in-law Hans, either.Meanwhile, probationer nurse Kitty - Johnny''s daughter from his first marriage - gets caught up in a sensational trial when her friend Laura''s brother is accused of murder. Supporting Laura and her mother throughout the trial, Kitty becomes fascinated by the seemingly cold, eloquent and masterly prosecuting counsel - and he is equally bewitched by her. When they meet again four years later, will the memory of how he ruthlessly pursued Laura''s brother prove to be a barrier to a future relationship?Moving On is a heartwarming saga of love, family and friendship in hard times, with the Anderson family finding that, even after the war is over, they still have problems of their own to resolve. From the bestselling author of In a Class of Their Own and Silver Linings, fans of Kitty Neale, Daisy Styles and Mary Gibson will love this story full of drama, heartbreak and friendship.

It’s 1962 and Freda Scott and her five schoolmates are eager to embark on their life journeys. Madly in love with the dashing but unattainable Ewan, Freda instead throws herself into a hairdressing career, and soon she and her best friend Robin have established their own flourishing business. The future looks rosy, until Freda’s life is turned upside down by a brutal attack.As Freda struggles to come to terms with what has happened to her, she relies on her old friends more than ever. Dear Robin and Freda’s ever-faithful friend Hannah come to her rescue, and Freda accepts the new path her life has taken. However, a chance meeting with her old love Ewan brings a potentially life-changing dilemma. Does Freda dare to finally put herself and her own desires first? Or should she simply accept her lot in life? The consequences of her decision could change all of their lives forever.Millie Gray once again brilliantly recreates the atmosphere of the era with all the hardships and struggles as well as the fun, warmth and humour of everyday life. A Cut Above is a charming, heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting novel of enduring friendship and love, and the lengths that true friends will go to for each other.

Edinburgh, 1953.Kirsten Mowat, eighteen years old and with a joyful spring in her step, couldn''t be more in love with her sea-faring sweetheart Duncan Armstrong.But, seven years later - after a hasty wedding, a twist of lies and wrenching loss - Duncan and Kirsten''s relationship has faded to tatters. When those closest to her turn their backs, Kirsten - alone, with a young family to care for - must gather all her spirit and strength if they are to survive.From much-loved Millie Gray, The House on Rosebank Lane is an Edinburgh story of families entwined, of sorrow and hopefulness . . . and of a young mother''s love for her children and a transforming quest for happiness.A poignant and authentic family saga which depicts the reality of working-class life in 1950s Edinburgh, perfect for fans of Annie Murray (Sisters of Gold), Jennifer Worth (Call the Midwife) and Dilly Court (Nettie''s Secret).

The prequel to the Campbell family saga. Anna Campbell, a Leith ''worthy'' in the full sense of the word, never turns anyone away from her door. The condemned tenement is the home to many families in dire poverty and Anna, known as a ''wise-woman'', hatches and despatches and treats all minor ailments for her friends. She dedicates her life to raising six children, four boys and two girls who are not her own. The girls, Rachel and Bella, remain with her into adulthood and despite her care she is horrified when fifteen-year-old Bella becomes pregnant by Gus, someone she had given shelter to in his hour of need.Gus skips the country and is hotly pursued across the world and made to return to marry Bella. The bane of Anna''s life is the ne''er-do-weel Gabby, Rachel''s father. Little does she realise that her continuing desire for revenge against him will have such a devastating effect on Rachel and also the rest of the family. The story covers an eighteen-year period from 1908. The families struggle to cope with daily life but there are bigger tragedies in store. The sinking of the Titanic, the First World War, the Gretna Rail Disaster, the Spanish flu - all have serious repercussions on the lives of the families involved, and Anna, as ever, is there to help them come to terms with them. The story highlights the amazing Leith community spirit of all concerned who lived through this period.

THE MOVING SAGA OF RACHEL CAMPBELL AND HER FAMILY CONTINUES... It''s October 1954 and life in post-war Britain is slowly starting to return to normal. For Rachel Campbell, however, her family is proving to be a constant challenge. As her children grow older and start families of their own, Rachel must help them learn the often difficult lessons of life.Back from his National Service in Korea, Sam quickly rises through the police force, but soon finds himself in competition with his younger brother Paul. Meanwhile, Carrie realises that the joys of marriage may not create the easy life she had hoped for. And on what feels like the other side of the world, Rachel''s eldest daughter Hannah faces the harsh realities of life on a Hebridean island.Through blessings and tragedies, streaks of luck and blows of misfortune, the Campbells will face their most trying days. But when surprising news brings the opportunity for redemption, can the family learn to put the past behind them?Millie Gray once again brilliantly recreates the atmosphere of the era with all the hardships and struggles as well as the fun, warmth and humour of everyday life.

The streets in Leith are rife with news of the war raging in Europe and the Glass family is struggling to make ends meet. With father Tam taken captive by the Germans, his wife Dinah and his children are left to fear the worst. While Dinah seeks comfort in the arms of visiting G.I.s, the children, including the headstrong Crystal, must learn to cope with the hardships of war, especially when they are forced to evacuate their beloved home. When, miraculously, Tam returns alive, the family realises that only by facing the consequences of the past can they hope to build a more promising future in post-war Scotland. Bestselling author Millie Gray returns to wartime Leith to weave another tale full of warmth and humour, hardship and survival.

Sally, who married young to escape her appalling childhood, is often left to bitterly reflect on the hand she has been dealt. She is, on the whole, happy caring for her handsome husband, his mother, her own three children, one of whom has a disability, and her Walter Mitty sister. Then suddenly her world comes crashing down when her husband leaves her with no warning. She is helped unexpectedly by a friend whose advice stands her in good stead and by hard work and sheer determination she soon turns around a Leith pub which has a shocking reputation as a house of ill-repute. During all her trials she still finds time to care for her ever increasing family and, having been a victim of abuse, she is always on hand to assist her many, some dubious, friends to realise their potential. But as Sally is to discover, there is no escape from the past and when it comes back to haunt her she is astounded when a family friend supplies some answers to awkward questions which have troubled her all her life. Bestselling author Millie Gray returns to post-war Leith to weave in her own inimitable way a tale of struggle, hardship and intrigue.

Four years on from discovering their true heritage, Sally and Luke have overcome their animosity to forge a trusting brother- sister relationship. So when Luke returns home from his post as a detective in the Hong Kong police force, he asks Sally for help to prove the innocence of his friend Irish, locked up in prison for the murder of his wife. Luke believes Irish was set up and wants Sally''s help to prove it. But Sally already has her hands full. As well as tending her flourishing business empire, she must also pick up the pieces when her family - from her feckless sister Josie to her self-centred daughter Margo - runs into trouble. Moreover, she must put her own dreams on hold because the man she loves is not free to be with her. Facing betrayal and humiliation at the hands of her so-called loved ones, can Sally bring herself to forgive those who have wronged her? How can she help Luke? And what can she do when sorry is not enough?

As families wrestle with the ups and downs of life in peacetime Britain, the Anderson's strive to make things better for those in their community.MAY 1945In post-war Leith, the church bells have barely stopped ringing but the Anderson family must quickly come to terms with the harsh realities of peacetime Britain. As Johnny's hopes of a life in politics finally come true, his vows to remain a dutiful husband and father and to keep himself aloof from the murkiness of the Westminster establishment are proving problematic. Peacetime is not easy for Johnny's Polish brother-in-law Hans, either.Meanwhile, probationer nurse Kitty – Johnny's daughter from his first marriage – gets caught up in a sensational trial when her friend Laura's brother is accused of murder. Supporting Laura and her mother throughout the trial, Kitty becomes fascinated by the seemingly cold, eloquent and masterly prosecuting counsel – and he is equally bewitched by her. When they meet again four years later, will the memory of how he ruthlessly pursued Laura's brother prove to be a barrier to a future relationship?Moving On is a heartwarming saga of love, family and friendship in hard times, with the Anderson family finding that, even after the war is over, they still have problems of their own to resolve. From the bestselling author of In a Class of Their Own and Silver Linings, fans of Kitty Neale, Daisy Styles and Mary Gibson will love this story full of drama, heartbreak and friendship.

The streets in Leith are rife with news of the war raging in Europe and the Glass family is struggling to make ends meet. With father Tam taken captive by the Germans, his wife Dinah and his children are left to fear the worst. While Dinah seeks comfort in the arms of visiting G.I.s, the children, including the headstrong Crystal, must learn to cope with the hardships of war, especially when they are forced to evacuate their beloved home. When, miraculously, Tam returns alive, the family realises that only by facing the consequences of the past can they hope to build a more promising future in post-war Scotland. Bestselling author Millie Gray returns to wartime Leith to weave another tale full of warmth and humour, hardship and survival.

The prequel to the Campbell family saga. Anna Campbell, a Leith 'worthy' in the full sense of the word, never turns anyone away from her door. The condemned tenement is the home to many families in dire poverty and Anna, known as a 'wise-woman', hatches and despatches and treats all minor ailments for her friends. She dedicates her life to raising six children, four boys and two girls who are not her own. The girls, Rachel and Bella, remain with her into adulthood and despite her care she is horrified when fifteen-year-old Bella becomes pregnant by Gus, someone she had given shelter to in his hour of need. Gus skips the country and is hotly pursued across the world and made to return to marry Bella. The bane of Anna's life is the ne'er-do-weel Gabby, Rachel's father. Little does she realise that her continuing desire for revenge against him will have such a devastating effect on Rachel and also the rest of the family. The story covers an eighteen-year period from 1908. The families struggle to cope with daily life but there are bigger tragedies in store. The sinking of the Titanic, the First World War, the Gretna Rail Disaster, the Spanish flu - all have serious repercussions on the lives of the families involved, and Anna, as ever, is there to help them come to terms with them. The story highlights the amazing Leith community spirit of all concerned who lived through this period.

Four years on from discovering their true heritage, Sally and Luke have overcome their animosity to forge a trusting brother- sister relationship. So when Luke returns home from his post as a detective in the Hong Kong police force, he asks Sally for help to prove the innocence of his friend Irish, locked up in prison for the murder of his wife. Luke believes Irish was set up and wants Sally's help to prove it. But Sally already has her hands full. As well as tending her flourishing business empire, she must also pick up the pieces when her family - from her feckless sister Josie to her self-centred daughter Margo - runs into trouble. Moreover, she must put her own dreams on hold because the man she loves is not free to be with her. Facing betrayal and humiliation at the hands of her so-called loved ones, can Sally bring herself to forgive those who have wronged her? How can she help Luke? And what can she do when sorry is not enough?