A Little Badness

by Josephine Cox

A young woman battles for her parents' affection, desperate for the love that had always been denied to her. Will she ever find it

Rita Blackthorn's heart was barren and hard. In all of her life she had never truly loved. But she had hated. Beneath the loving gaze of her daughter's soft green eyes, her heart swelled with dark and dangerous emotions.
Young Cathy Blackthorn has never experienced any loving response from her mother; it is her beloved Aunt Margaret, with a heart as big and warm as the summer sky, who has been more of a mother than her own could ever be. And when Cathy's father Frank Blackthorn brings home a London street urchin and announces this will be the son he and Rita have never had, Cathy despairs of ever winning her parents' love. Cathy is a generous soul, though, and tries to give the young lad a chance to prove himself but, unlike her best friend, David Leyton, something about him makes her more than uneasy...

Genres: Fiction, Historical

516 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 2, 1995

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

[EILEEN SHEPPARD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would recommend

Another great book for this talented author, it has a bit of everything. The family from the big house who hate their only child, a beautiful daughter named Cathy. Her father besotted by his cruel wife who both blame Cathy for not being born a boy, her lovely aunt Margaret who has always been their for her and Ruby the servant who is overworked but loves both Margaret and Cathy as if they were her own. Cathy has a young love, David , he loves her with his heart and soul and will do anything for her. The book is full of young love, hatred, hopelessness and triumph. It has good and then the downright nasty make this a right good read.

[Lynn Hutchinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usual thoroughly good read. Enough complicated characters to keep your interest but not overwhelm you. Looking forward to the next one.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read. The characters a very real and story has a fast paced, epic ‘feel’ to it.

[What to read next ....... · Rating 5 out of 5]

First 5 star rating of the year !

What a brillant read, from a superb author.

' A Little Badness ', is a fantastic read, it has a bit of everything, a book so hard to put down . It was a little long , but so worth it, a real page turner.

The family from Blackthorn House , are a sad , disturbing family .
Rita and Frank Blackthorn, are parents of their one and only daughter Cathy Blackthorn, a beautiful sweet girl , who desperately craves for love from her parents, but they have hatred towards Cathy .
Frank Blackthorn is besotted by his cruel wife who both blame Cathy for not being born a boy.
Cathy's Aunt Margaret who has always been there for her and Ruby the servant who is overworked loves both Margaret and Cathy has her own.
Cathy has a young love , David he loves her with his heart and soul and will do anything to make it last .

This book is full of young innocent love, hatred, hopelessness and triumph.
An absolutely spellbinding story.
It's a MUST read !

[LESLEY HEDISON · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brilliant at the beginnings as always

Read a lot of her books now, one irritation is that the stories get too condensed at the end, it's as if she cannot wait to finish the book which is disappointing, still a a lot of story and details to write before happy ever fathers.

[Alyssa Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark read set in the 1900s set around a few lovely characters surrounded by horrible people.

The end of the book felt very rushed and although everything was tied into a neat bow some things didn’t make a lot of sense.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another needlessly long book. Some chapters were brilliant and really piqued my interest but you have to get through a lot of boring to get these bits. Well thought out and interesting characters but not my cup of tea

[Mrs Carole Greenwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Typical Josephine Cox saga

A really good read, it is a compelling saga of tragedy and romance. It is written in typical Josephine Cox style

[Elaine McGoggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little Badness

It was an ok read but way too long and drawn out, culminating in an extremely rushed ending. Not for me I'm afraid.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too slow to get going. I persevered to the end though as I don’t like not finishing a book.

[Julie Homer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story brilliant 5* not to be missed 👍😍

[janette pelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Love her books easy reads .ok they always end with the perfect ending but hey nice to believe that maybe they could be true

[tina lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

It kept me wanting to read more

Good storyline and interesting characters. Wishing for things to work out for Cathy as she has
had a bad time as a child and as an adult.

[1Pollyanna Brooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Characterisation was heavy handed, especially of the working class characters who felt 2 dimensional and clumsy.
Characters actions were illogical and bizarre.

[Fernabranca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josephine Cox at her best 5,*

[Joan Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Saga

Another gripping read I love reading her books as they are so well written and down to earth they keep you gripped to the very end.