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The Wiltshire Girls #3

Yew Tree Gardens

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Sisters Mattie, Nell and Renie have all managed to escape their oppressive and bullying father, but now separated, the girls must draw upon their strength and courage to build new lives for themselves.Renie, the youngest sister, is living with the newly married Nell, happy in her waitressing job at the King's Head Hotel. But a shadow falls over her the day Mr Judson arrives as assistant manager. Feeling increasingly harassed by him and also eager to escape from Nell's unpleasant husband, Renie is delighted when she is offered a new job in London. Although she at first finds the city a huge and bewildering place, soon she is settling in and making friends. And yet she still worries about her sister Nell, and the way her husband Cliff treats her.When tragedy strikes Nell and her family, Renie is left feeling horrified and helpless. Her only comfort is her growing friendship with the injured Gil, towards whom she has felt an instant trust and affection. But can their relationship progress from friendship to something more? And how will the return of the threatening Judson affect their future?

297 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 30, 2012

133 people are currently reading
146 people want to read

About the author

Anna Jacobs

237 books511 followers
Anna Jacobs has 87 novels published as of April 2019. She writes historical sagas and modern novels alternately, and in the past has written historical romances and fantasy novels (the latter as Shannah Jay).

She's addicted to story-telling and writes three novels a year. You can find a list of books and series on her website at www.annajacobs.com

Anna reads 3 novels a week. Happy reading, everyone.

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5 stars
576 (59%)
4 stars
293 (30%)
3 stars
77 (7%)
2 stars
21 (2%)
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7 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
Profile Image for Sue.
360 reviews17 followers
December 18, 2017
I have read the other two books in this series and enjoyed those slight, all be it by a tiny amount, more. Not sure why, but this didn't always keep my attention and took a little while longer for me to read. However I still enjoyed it, and hope further Anna Jacobs books will be as good.
Profile Image for E.A. Harwik.
Author 6 books15 followers
January 11, 2014
Yew Tree Gardens is the third and final book from the Wiltshire Girls series by Anna Jacobs. These books are set in the early 20th century when the rights of women were upon the lips of everyone though rarely supported. Men were comfortable to rule uncontested.

The Wiltshire Girls are three ambitious but oppressed and abused sisters, Mattie, Nell and Renie, who in an act of desperate hopelessness conspire to escape from an all consuming worthless existence in the service of supporting a selfish, exploitative father.

In order to effect their plan these closely knit sisters separate. Mattie goes one direction while the younger Nell and Renie follow a different path.

Mattie's book is titled Cherry Tree Lane. The first Wiltshire Girls book.

Nell and Renie's escape is captured within the cover of the second book titled Elm Tree Road. However during this book Renie goes her own way thus leaving Elm Tree Road to complete the detail of Nell's story. Renie appears lost, last reported to be somewhere in France, which primes Yew Tree Gardens to pick up on the emotionally empowering journey undertaken by Renie. What an adventure.

Anyone who has the slightest interest in suffrage, of free thinking females wishing to command their own destiny via the accumulation of personal economic security has an obligation to read Yew Tree Gardens. After reading this book those old photos of someone's great, great grandmother will never appear the same.

Yew Tree Gardens by Anna Jacobs will treat you with the warmest memories you're ever likely to acquire. I promise you'll fall in love all over again. Five stars.

All three of the Wiltshire Girls books stand alone but for an extra mile of satisfaction read them together in order; Cherry Tree Lane, Elm Tree Road and Yew Tree Gardens. The experience will do you no harm what so ever and top you up with fond memories.
Profile Image for mois reads .
536 reviews1 follower
February 10, 2018
Sisters

I loved the concluding story of Mattie , Nell , and Renie , after all the shocks and delays of finding each other i enjoyed Renies story with the suspense drama and love of Gill it was a fabulous read . All the Wiltshire girls sagas definitely worth 5 Stars .
Profile Image for Alicia Hope.
Author 6 books8 followers
April 11, 2017
Another wholesome, feel-good, well written story with a light touch of romance. Most enjoyable. :)
Profile Image for Julia.
75 reviews5 followers
February 27, 2017
I have loved all 3 books in the Wiltshire Girls trilogy and was not disappointed at all by Yew Tree Gardens and how it tied up the series and what happened to the 3 Sisters. I love the way the stories and events have been interwoven through the 3 books and the different ways it affected the Sisters, there was drama and romance and most of all a happy ending! I would highly recommend this series and can't wait to start on another Anna Jacobs book, I am so happy I accidentally stumbled upon Anna's books and am very excited at reading more of her books.
Profile Image for Kathy.
626 reviews29 followers
June 18, 2013
Yew Tree Gardens is the third book in a lovely, easy to read, series by Anna Jacobs. I am a fan of Anna, and anyone who loves Anna's books will need to read this book to see how the sisters' lives turn out after fleeing from their abusive father in the first book. I enjoyed this one - as i do all of Anna's series......a nice easy read to curl up on the lounge with on a cold afternoon!
Profile Image for Mags.
118 reviews1 follower
April 5, 2022
I enjoyed all three books the trials of the 3 main girl characters the hard times of this era, where women were still not respected.
Profile Image for Cindy Woods.
1,058 reviews19 followers
April 25, 2020
It got too sappy!

This finale of the saga about three sisters in England who run away from an abusive father is the last book in the trilogy. This book focuses on the youngest sister, Renie.

Renie leaves her home and is on the run with sister Nell. She begins her desperate journey at age 16 and lives with a pregnant Nell who has married the baby's father. Life with Nell and her husband in the slums is hard. Ernie wants more from life than marriage to a man who will make her a slave. Renie becomes employed in a canteen and her hard work and efforts to better herself are rewarded with the opportunity to become a waitress in a hotel catering to the wealthy.

The first half of the book relates the progress of Renie and also introduces Gil and his life. Gil is the third son of a wealthy father and their strained relationship is examined mostly after Gil has an accident which leaves him with a physical disability. The story was interesting at this point.

Unfortunately, the second half of the story begins a slide into predictable and rushes into downright sappy. This ruined the book for me as Gil and Renie have one chance encounter lasting minutes and from then on cannot get each other out of their heads. Needless to say, too much too fast. I almost didn't finish reading it.

Not much of a finale after the first two books.
29 reviews1 follower
April 18, 2021
Anna Jacobs strikes again

Again Anna Jacobs produced a brilliant trilogy, full of romance,hardship violence and finally a happy ending joining both the working and upper class together, this is the second time of reading these books as I am now going through Anna's books in date order, they are so entertaining, but I must state they are causing my husband to be angry as I am forever disappearing to carry on reading.
Profile Image for Niamh O'Donnell.
21 reviews10 followers
January 25, 2021
This is a rather enjoyable if not cliché kind of book. Though it was pleasant to read, the number of predictable plot points and the way the author chooses us to tell us the story seemed to overshadow the narrative. I can't help but feel that the story would have been somewhat more enjoyable if its was written with a "show, don't tell" approach, though this could just be a personal gripe.
93 reviews1 follower
April 6, 2020
Absolutely fabulous love this author.

These sister's were amazing for all they had to endure in their lives and some horrible people I'm so glad they found each other in the end and they are all found happiness with their new families and all the people that he helped them.
53 reviews
May 18, 2024
the final one

I loved this series , having read all three books this one was the best one . A great end to a sad story but enlightened by 3 very strong women . I loved it and recommend all three books .
16 reviews
August 30, 2024
final chapter

I just loved the story of each sister, overcoming problems and situations, though it’s just a story it still reminds us that these situations do happen and makes you think how lucky you are to live ordinary lives.
Profile Image for Joy.
452 reviews7 followers
July 1, 2017
Good series of books.
Profile Image for Christine.
10 reviews
July 16, 2017
Loved it! It was a very easy read and beautifully written. I didn't realize that this is the third and the last book of the series but nevertheless, I am going to read the other two books.
344 reviews4 followers
June 8, 2018
Good story

Really enjoyed this series. All have been written well with a heartwarming ending. Will always read this author anytime I can.
Profile Image for Edith.
130 reviews1 follower
December 23, 2019
Loved this series, can’t wait to read more books by Anna
Profile Image for Gale Miller.
11 reviews1 follower
September 19, 2020
Awesome

I have made it my mission to read all Anna's books. I especially love the books that are in a series. Excellent writer!
85 reviews
April 1, 2022
This is the final book of the series and it was good … really good.
7 reviews
April 3, 2022
very enjoyable

Excellent, as always with Anna Jacobs! Throughly absorbing stories- a real escape! Makes you appreciate being a woman in the 21st century!
18 reviews
April 10, 2022
What a great read

This is the 3rd book. Loved reading about the 3 sisters lives. What a great read this was. A story that you to just keep on going 😀
5 reviews
February 16, 2023
Heart warming easy to read

Again a lovely easy to read story but unfortunately the same storyline for each book just different characters. I enjoyed all 3 books but maybe ??!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews

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