Alone Beneath the Heaven

by Rita Bradshaw

One young woman dares to dream of a better life...Alone Beneath the Heaven from Rita Bradshaw is a powerful and absorbing saga, set in Sunderland and London in the 1940s. Perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Sheila Newberry.One freezing night in the 1930s, a baby is left to die in a public lavatory in Sunderland. But she doesn't die. Sarah Brown is from sturdy stock, and she needs to be, for the orphanage where she grows up is run with brutal efficiency by child-hating Matron Cox. Only Sarah dares to defy her - with horrific consequences.Sarah survives, emerging from the Home as a beautiful and determined young woman, with a post in London as a housekeeper. She's more than capable of dealing with her employer's son, who has a penchant for young servants. And when she meets again Rodney Mallard, the young doctor who tended her after a beating in the Home, Sarah begins to dream of a different kind of future.But serpents lie in every paradise. And, whatever personal battles she wins or loses, Sarah won't be completely happy 'til she knows why she was abandoned by her mother, the one person who should have loved her more than life itself...What readers are saying about Alone Beneath the Heaven :' Gripping from beginning to end. Definitely one of my favourite authors . This book has kept me up past my bed time because I couldn't put it down ''I really enjoyed Alone Beneath the Heaven . As with her other books, I found it so readable and hard to put down . She's an excellent writer . Her stories are gritty and real and I love that her heroines are always very moral''It is a heart-warming story of perseverance and determination and has all the right ingredients '

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction

420 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Rita Bradshaw was born on 1949 in Northampton, England, where she was educated as a good Christian. She met Clive, her husband, at the age of 16 andnow the magic is still there. They have three lovely children, Cara, Faye, and Benjamin, and have always had a menagerie of animals in the house, whichat the present is confined to two endearing and very comical dogs who wouldmake a great double act on TV! The children, friends, and pets all keep thehouse buzzing and the food cupboards empty but Helen wouldn't have it anyother way. She still lives today in Northampton with her family. Althoughhaving enjoyed some wonderful holidays abroad she has never been tempted tolive anywhere else, although she rather likes the idea of a holiday homeclose to the sea one day.

Being a committed Christian and fervent animal lover she finds spare time is always at a premium, but long walks in the countryside with her husband and dogs, meals out followed by the cinema or theatre, reading, swimming,and having friends over for dinner are all fitted in somehow. She also enjoys sitting in her wonderfully therapeutic, rambling old garden in thesun with a glass of red wine, (under the guise of resting while thinking ofcourse!)

For years, she was a secretary. She began writing in 1990 as sheapproached that milestone of a birthday 40! She realized her two teenage ambitions (writing a novel and learning to drive) had been lost amid babiesand hectic family life, so set about resurrecting them.

Her first novel was for Mills and Boon and was accepted after one rewrite in 1992 as Helen Brooks, and she passed her driving test (the former was a joy and the latteran unmitigated nightmare!) She has written 50 novels as well as several sagas as Rita Bradshaw.

Since becoming a full-time writer she has found her occupation one of purejoy and often surprised when her characters develop a mind of their own bu tshe loves exploring what makes people tick and finds the old adage "truth isstranger than fiction" to be absolutely true. She would love to hear from any readers care of Mills & Boon.

Reviews

[Carol Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 is all I’m comfortable giving on my second read of this book 📕 I read it years ago?
While it is a great story …
getting to the end was painfully slow.. she will she won’t then she won’t but he will..
I was almost pulling my hair out!
The beginning was promising… just a shame about the ongoing road to a happy ending.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad but very slow read. Nice palette cleanser from heavier books though on a cold winters night 🤓

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

I so enjoyed reading this book, it definitely was a page turner. I don't like to spoil it by giving away the story, but I did have tears in my eyes at one point ...not at the end!

[Janet Hargreaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming

I was overcome with emotion at the end I like happy endings.
It was a bit drawn out but enjoyable.

[margaretdoolin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read

The best book I have read in a while, sadness, and happiness for sarah, and an ending that made me cry

[Betty Howland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rita,s,Story

So true to life ,you could almost feel the Author has lived the Story line ,Nd read on to find how it all ended.

[Cindy Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alone Beneath the Heaven

I wasn't sure I would like this book but after I had got into it I loved it. Excellent bok.

[Louise Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book it's the second time I've read it and enjoyed it just as much this time as I did the first time. It's about a girl who survives been abandoned abused and lose to overcome it and live her life happily with love laughter and joy

[Angie Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book its the first Rita Bradshaw book that ive read and I plan to read more!!!