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Hearts of Gold #4
All That Glitters
In 1939, Haydn Powell returns to his native Pontypridd as a star for the summer season. It is his dream come true, but is soon soured when he finds his family divided. Haydn seeks consolation with the theater crowd, but is also drawn to Jane, a young waif lodging with his family. But Jane is haunted by poverty and burdened by bitter secrets. Then there is Haydn's childhood sweetheart, Jenny, who is determined to win him back. She tries to make him jealous by flirting with his brother, the hot-headed boxer Eddie. But it is Jenny's reckless pursuit of her own ends that creates a dangerous tension in a town already braced for war.
422 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 8, 2013
32 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Catrin Collier
112 books82 followersCatrin Collier is Wales' most prolific and well-known author of historical, romantic fictions. The daughter of a Prussian refugee and Welsh father, she grew up in Pontypridd. Her first historical novel Hearts of Gold, was filmed as a mini-series by the BBC in 2003. Her crime book, By Any Name, written as Katherine John was filmed by Tanabi and released on Amazon Prime in 2017. She lives with her family on the Gower Peninsula, near Swansea. More information on Catrin Collier, Katherine John and Caro French's books can be found on her website www.catrincollier.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 17, 2015
A wonderful period novel set just before WWII.
The story focuses on the lives and loves of the Powell family, Haydn and Eddie being the prominent members, Eddie a prize fighter and Haydn the philandering Revue artist who has done well for himself.
There is huge rivalry between the two due to a falling out between Haydn and his first love Jenny who to get back at Haydn when he leave to travel with the Variety company picks up with his brother Eddie who is foolish enough to believe her lies as to her love for him and is blind to spiteful side of Jenny. Meanwhile Haydn is rapidly falling out of love with the wanton Revue girls and slowly but surely falling in love with his family's mysterious lodger Jane who is now an usherette in the theatre he is playing at and who is desperately trying hard to hide her shameful workhouse past.
Can anything end happily for the Powells or Jane with so much bitterness, jealousy and secrets?
A great story and likeable characters all lend an air of reality to a finely crafted tale.
Definitely worth a read and will appeal to people who enjoy the likes of Catherine Cookson and Josephine Cox or even those just like myself who live not far from the area of Pontypridd mentioned in the novel.
The story focuses on the lives and loves of the Powell family, Haydn and Eddie being the prominent members, Eddie a prize fighter and Haydn the philandering Revue artist who has done well for himself.
There is huge rivalry between the two due to a falling out between Haydn and his first love Jenny who to get back at Haydn when he leave to travel with the Variety company picks up with his brother Eddie who is foolish enough to believe her lies as to her love for him and is blind to spiteful side of Jenny. Meanwhile Haydn is rapidly falling out of love with the wanton Revue girls and slowly but surely falling in love with his family's mysterious lodger Jane who is now an usherette in the theatre he is playing at and who is desperately trying hard to hide her shameful workhouse past.
Can anything end happily for the Powells or Jane with so much bitterness, jealousy and secrets?
A great story and likeable characters all lend an air of reality to a finely crafted tale.
Definitely worth a read and will appeal to people who enjoy the likes of Catherine Cookson and Josephine Cox or even those just like myself who live not far from the area of Pontypridd mentioned in the novel.
October 1, 2011
Glad I've got two more Collier novels to read. I was so into this, I couldn't wait to get time alone to lay back and read. It had everything I love in a book. Romance, pain, revenge, sadness, happiness, unexpected LOVE *sigh*....
Catrin Collier is an amazing author. I have previously read One Last Summer by her, which although COMPLETELY different I loved it just as much.
Jane was an odd character who I grew to love. Haydn was a typical young male in the heat of his youth who hadn't found real love yet. Eddie was mad and Jenny a deceiving conniving cow. Phyllis and Evan were warm and loving. Diana - adorable. Amazing characters will always form an amazing book.
Catrin Collier is an amazing author. I have previously read One Last Summer by her, which although COMPLETELY different I loved it just as much.
Jane was an odd character who I grew to love. Haydn was a typical young male in the heat of his youth who hadn't found real love yet. Eddie was mad and Jenny a deceiving conniving cow. Phyllis and Evan were warm and loving. Diana - adorable. Amazing characters will always form an amazing book.
November 1, 2017
Loved it!!!
What an excellent series these books are, everyone of them well deserving 5 stars!
I am now looking forward to reading Book 5 which I feel sure will be equally as good!!!
What an excellent series these books are, everyone of them well deserving 5 stars!
I am now looking forward to reading Book 5 which I feel sure will be equally as good!!!
July 6, 2014
I love these books and cannot put them down, I feel like I really know the characters.
February 21, 2014
Fabulous - loving this series.
October 26, 2015
I enjoyed this and am waiting impatiently to start the next in the series.
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September 23, 2017love this series of books, gives such a sense of how life was in Wales back then.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews