Take this Woman

by Josephine Cox

Blackburn, 1947. In the tiny front parlour fourteen-year-old Laura Blake watches her beloved father die. But not before he tells her she will make something of her life. Laura never forgets his words. Yet her path to success proves to be a rocky one. Forced to trundle a cart around the back streets, selling other folk's cast-offs to support her family, Laura learns enough to start work in her uncle's furniture shop. But then fate deals another cruel blow when Laura is brutally raped. Bearing the child of her attacker in secret, she vows to make the world pay for its injustice towards her.
As she grows older her protective shell hardens even as her beauty blossoms, and her new toughness helps her forge a successful career in the antiques business. But it is in affairs of the heart that Laura stumbles, and before she can find fulfilment, she must learn to put the past behind her, and give as well as take.

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

612 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Josephine Cox was born in Blackburn, one of ten children. At the age of sixteen, Josephine met and married her husband Ken, and had two sons. When the boys started school, she decided to go to college and eventually gained a place at university but was unable to take this up as it would have meant living away from home. Instead, she went into teaching – and started to write her first full-length novel. She won the ‘Superwoman of Great Britain’ Award, for which her family had secretly entered her, at the same time as her novel was accepted for publication. She is now a No.1 bestselling author with over 40 books to her name.

She wrote dark psychological thrillers under the name Jane Brindle.

Reviews

[Liz Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. Difficult to put down

[Carrie Reeve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unlikeable main character

The more I read of this book the more I disliked Laura Blake. She started as a lovely young girl and became too calculating to like.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, shame it ended.

[alison campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story as usual

I liked that it centred on the one person in the beginning then brought in other characters. I didn't like that it took so long to come to the conclusion of the characters. I would recommend this book and her other books to lovers of a good story and romance. Her books are brilliant and are usually about families and how their lives are intertwined with each other.

[Mrs J A Saxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intense and moving story

Another Josephine Cox brilliant novels and one you must read. The young woman Laura was determined from the word go that she would look after her sister through thick and thin which she did and went far but money isn't everything which she finds out in the end love conquers everything!

[Gael Renaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Josephine Cox, have for many years. I loved the story though I found this story very wordy…even more than her other books. I’m sure I skipped paragraphs equaling 50 pages, the description were just soooooooo long.
Great characters and wanted to follow them into another book, but I need a break from her long descriptive writing.

[catherine hey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping story, difficult to stop reading it!

A gripping story,difficult to stop reading! Hope to read more of her work in the future especially as I usually read a different kind of book.
☺

[Carol Bradshaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read difficult to put down just purchased another Josephine Cox book

[margaret truman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unable to put it down,it was so gripping. Bereft it's finished.

Would be good if there was a follow on book, perhaps following Tom. I really feel there is room for another story.

[Catherine Newman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good read.

A really good read. Thoroughly enjoyed the strength and passion of the characters. Looking forward to picking up another Josephine Cox's books

[Joyce Flowers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant!

Could not put it down. How Josephine thinks up all the plots is amazing. A really talented writer. Keep up the good work.

[Clare Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great love story

What a great love story this is. Full of ups and downs of a young girl. Then in hers years to come. What great fighting spirit did Laura have.

[Patricia Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take this woman absolutely enjoyable

Brilliant book kept me eager for a new chapter all the will recomend this truly great e
Book so good and captivating

[Julie Homer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant story loved every minute 5*

[Elaine Kirby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that had me gripped from the start. A woman who fights for herself and her sister but faces hardship and tragedy along the way. Fabulous read. Great storytelling.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too long and drawn out. I skim read in a few places as I don’t like to give up on a book once I’ve started reading it.

[Janet Randon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book, but ending guessed. Still a very good read.

[JAN ROBERTSON · Rating 4 out of 5]

aA very interesting book, enjoyed reading..

[Mrs Carole Greenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely saga

This is a very moving saga about family hardship and romance. It is interesting right to the end. Good read.