THE SHOPGIRL OF IRONBRIDGE PB – MOLLIE WALTON

** New from Mollie Walton, twice finalist for the Romantic Novelist Association s The Romantic Saga Award ** Will she find love again? Ironbridge, 1892. When seventeen-year-old Maria Keay is offered an exciting job in a department store in Shrewsbury, she is determined to follow her dream, even if that means leaving behind her childhood sweetheart, Charlie. At first, Maria s new life is everything she dreamed it would be. Her new job is glamorous, and she even catches the eye of Oskar, a charming German chemistry student who makes several trips to her sales desk. But the true reality of shop work – with its long hours and low pay – soon takes its toll, and when her relationship with Oskar takes a dark and devastating turn, Maria must decide if moving away from home – and Charlie – was the right decision after all . . . A dramatic and heartwarming Victorian saga, perfect for fans of Maggie Hope and Anne Bennett. Praise for The Ironbridge Saga: A compelling blend of real history, rich period detail, and a gritty, authentic story brimming with love, loss, intrigue, hope, and bitter revenge Lancashire Evening Post A Journey. Compelling. Addictive. Val Wood Walton has created a brilliantly alive, vivid and breathing world in Ironbridge Louisa Treger Evocative, dramatic and hugely compelling . . . I loved it Miranda Dickinson Feisty female characters, an atmospheric setting and a spell-binding storyline make this a phenomenal read Cathy Bramley Such great characters who will stay with me for a long time Beth Miller The attention to period detail and beautiful writing drew me right in and kept me reading Lynne Francis Vivid, page-turning drama Pippa Beecheno A powerful sense of place and period, compelling characters and a pacy plot had me racing to the end Gill Paul A story that is vivid, twisting and pacy, with characters that absolutely leap off the page Iona Grey Beautiful and poignant Tania Crosse