Crystal

The Glassmakers Saga #1

by Donna Baker

Christina Henzel loves the glass her family has been making in Stourbridge, England, for generations, and when her father dies, she is determined to run the business herself. But the year is 1844 and she faces fierce opposition from her family and from Society. As Christina fights for control of the glassworks, she is also torn by her feelings for three very different men - her sophisticated cousin Jeremy, the French engraver Jean-Paul and the master glass blower and 'rough diamond' Joe Compson.

496 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

aka Nicola West, Lilian Harry,

Donna Thomson was born in Gosport, near Portsmouth Harbour, England, UK. Growing up during the terrifying years of the Blitz in a two-up, two-down terraced house, the youngest of four, she aspired to be a writer from an early age.

As a young woman she worked in the Civil Service and moved to Devon to be near her sailor husband. They had a son and a daughter. When the marriage ended, she and her two children moved to the Midlands, where she happily married again to her second husband. After living in the Lake District for twelve years, she finally moved back to Devon, and now lives in a village on the edge of Dartmoor. She lost her son Philip in 2008, and has two grandchildren. A keen walker and animal-lover, she now has a dog and three ginger cats to keep her busy, along with a wide range of hobbies she enjoys.

She started signing her romance novels as Donna Baker and Nicola West, now she also writes as Lilian Harry (inspired by the first names of her grandparents). Among her works are historical novels, romances and even two books giving advice on how to write short stories and novels.

Reviews

[Elaine Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant story from start to finish. The tale of a young woman, in the early 1800's who wanted to work in her father's glass blowing business - who even disguised herself as a boy in order to get in there. Her father bequeaths his business to her rather than any of his family. The audacity that this woman should own it outright lead them to play every trick in the book to get it off her and amalgamate it with their own businesses.
The journey for our main character was never easy but so worthwhile.
Another book you just don't want to end but you need to get to the last page to find out what happens - be prepared to lose sleep with this one

[Jae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book - which surprised me as I thought it maybe a bit stuffy and old fashioned. My mum passed it on to me otherwise I never would have acquired it for myself. But it managed to take me to the characters world and I could feel the steamy hot glass factories and I could sense the sweat on the workers. I loved the two main characters - sorry can't remember their names as read it about a yr ago. But I wanted to steal her man away with his big strong arms, broad shoulders and casual yet sometimes gruff mannerisms.

I will read this again and I need to pull my finger out and try and get hold of the sequels even if it means via kindle