Ellie Pride

Pride Family #1

by Annie Groves

A stunning saga debut from an author destined to be a star of the genre -- ELLIE PRIDE is an engrossing, heartrending story of love, passion, duty and family, set in the North-east in the early part of the twentieth century. A stirring tale charting the life of Ellie Pride, a beautiful Preston girl who, when her mother dies, must forge her own way in the world. Warned by her mother on her deathbed to forsake love and passion for stability and social status, Ellie must spurn the advances of handsome Gideon Walker, despite her deep attraction to him. With her father struggling to cope with two children, Ellie is exiled to live with her aunt and uncle in Hoylake. Her mother's dream is that this will give her the chance to escape her background forever. Ellie attempts to get on with her life - but Gideon is never far from her thoughts. Even once she is trapped in a loveless marriage, their paths are destined to cross again and again with far-reaching and devastating consequences.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical

456 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2003

About the author

Penelope Jones Halsall aka: Caroline Courtney, Penny Jordan, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright

Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 in a Preston, Lancashire, England.
She had been a keen reader from the childhood. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction.

She has earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, she found an agent. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her name to Melinda Wright and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her present historical romance novels, she has adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70m of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Now Penny Halsall lived in a house in Nantwich, Cheshire. She worked from home.

Penny died on 31 December 2011.

Reviews

[A Red Headed Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly thought this book was gonna be a dud, just after the start it started to get a bit boring but then when i finally got into the story and learned more it actually turned out to be a very sad book. Ellie Pride's mother finds she is pregnant again which is not good news as the doctors believe she will not survive, with this knowledge she makes Ellie promise her not to marry below herself like she did and stay away from Gideon Walker. Separated from her brother's and sister they are all sent to live with her mother's sisters making each of the children miserable. Ellie faces so much heartache trying to keep her mother's promise, she tries so hard to make her new life work but everything seems to be against her and nearly everything you can think of goes wrong for her.
Annie Grove's touches on many different historical moments in this book from mill workers and strikes to the women's movement and strong beliefs about the vote. I highly recommend this book and if you do give it ago, don't give up it is worth it in the end. Now for book two!

[Sara G · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book sadly didn't do much for me. It's the story of Ellie Pride and her group of siblings who are all sent off to live with different relatives when their mother dies in childbirth in the early 20th century. It was too melodramatic for me, unfortunately, and Ellie was pretty two dimensional. The historical setting wasn't really a part of the story, other than just reiterating how inappropriate it was to be in certain areas of town because she was a young lady, etc.

[Jackie White · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book in the Pride Family saga, starting pre-World War 1.

Ellie Pride’s mother’s dying wish is that Ellie marries ‘a man of means’ so she cuts off Gideon Walker even though she’s in love with him.

The Pride children are separated & brought up by various family members.

The story covers the women’s Suffragette Movement & how the lives of the Pride children & their father turn out.

Sounds predictable and is a little in places but I’ve always enjoyed Annie Groves books & this one was no different.

Easy to get into, short chapters & characters that the reader cares about.

Onto Book 2 - Connie’s Courage.

[Rowlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Annie Groves read. A bit slow getting started but made up for it as the story progressed.

[Cheryll · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story, excellent characters (the Aunts were truly awful!) A new author for me to enjoy :)

[v.l.harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

You will follow Ellie from your girl to worldly wife. You will enjoy the ride as she fights to survive her life of an orphan.

[Amanda Aelker · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a keeper.

[Julia Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely story and my heart went out to Ellie who had to overcome a great many obstacles to find happiness. Ellie Pride is a standard family saga, but the twists and turns of the story made me keep turning the page.
I did want to give this story five stars but was prevented by one simple fact (this is an author thing, so readers stop reading now.) I think it was Stephen King who said that an author must beware of adverbs. They're like dandelions, you let one sprout and suddenly your book is filled with them. Of course, adverbs are necessary at times, but I was starting to feel irritated that they appeared in nearly every sentence, since they distracted me from the story. And the saddest thing was that the narrative and dialogue were strong enough without them. So, saying, she said, crossly; he added sadly; she remarked wistfully, irked me somewhat. But like I said, this is an author thing, and being the debut novel, perhaps the writing style changed with future novels.
Even so, I'm very pleased to recommend Ellie Pride to my friends.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turn of the century when women were starting to work together to gain the vote. Poor families, rich families - absolutely different lifestyles. Same principles - honour thy mother and thy father ALWAYS! This premise - family patriarchs and matriarchs doling out edicts that destroy children's lives, runs through this great story of several characters and how twists and turns of life can be lived with - at least for awhile and how to make the best of a bad hand.
Yes it is a love story of sorts - but with the other characters and the complexities of life at that time the overall story line is very well done.

[Terena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another one of the turn of the century family sagas, and the consquences of a family of siblings who are split up when their mother dies young... I sometimes think family life has fractured too much in modern times, but then again it's a good job we don't still live in these times...

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found a new favorite genre'!!!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start but got more gripping as you got into story

[Gaynor Mckinnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant book

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing, it taught me that there is a lot more in life, it made me cry and it chilled me to the bone in places, but it also made me fight to try to stop reading at times. Amazing! :)

[Sofia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Judy Palmore]

First love

After being parted for all that time, the hero believing the heroin had changed not realizing that it was a request on her mother's deathbed