A Sister’s Promise

by Pam Weaver

Can a secret sister help her find her way?

Worthing, 1931

Raised in the grandeur of Muntham Court, young Millicent has always felt like the black sheep of her family. Between a vindictive mother and a conceited older sister, her only ally is her doting father, Charles.

Brought up in the traveller community and always on the move, Lena’s life has never been settled, but it has always been happy thanks to the support of her loving mother.

When it is revealed that Lena is Charles’s illegitimate daughter, Milly finally has a chance at true sisterhood. Thrust into a world of fairgrounds and new friends, her excitement is short-lived when she realises her mother must never know.

Six year later, when both girls lose their father suddenly, they need each other more than ever as they forge their own path in the world. But Milly is harbouring a secret from Lena that risks losing her forever…

Can they help each other face their futures, or will old lies tear them apart?

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 18, 2024

About the author

After training as a Nursery Nurse in the 1960’s, I worked in children’s Homes, private day nurseries and as a Hyde Park nanny. My experiences are in Bath Times & Nursery Rhymes which became a Sunday Times best-seller.

I started writing in 1990’s with small magazines and specialist publications, finally branching out into the women’s magazine market in 2001. I have since written more than 200 articles and at least 150 short stories. They’ve been in Take A Break Fiction Feast, Woman’s Weekly Fiction Special, Weekly News, My Weekly and People’s Friend. Some have been in anthologies with the proceeds going to charity. The Fantastic Bubble was repeated on BBC Radio 4 and the World Service.
My novels are set in Worthing; There’s Always Tomorrow (2011) Better Days Will Come (2012), Pack Up Your Troubles (2013), For Better For Worse (2014), are all published by HarperCollins Avon. Blue Moon (2015) & Love Walked Right In (2016) are published by Pan Macmillan. I also have a couple of novellas on Kindle. Emily’s Christmas Wish (2015) and Amy’s Wartime Christmas will be released in October 2016

If you are looking for murder mystery and intrigue in a saga… look no further!

Reviews

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's 1920 in Muntham Court, and Milly and her sister Pearl are used to a life of privileges, having servants, and living in a big house. Jumping forward ten years and everything was going fine until their was some family problems and Agatha ( the mother) left Muntham Court and from what they could tell, their fathers mistress was moved into the cottage in the grounds. Her daughter Lena was younger than Milly, and the mum (Angel) was ill. They apparently were fairground folk, and Milly is totally confused as to why they are living in the cottage and who exactly are they? It then transpires that the young girl is their half-sister, and this is obviously why Millys mother has left.
Jumping forward to 1937 Milly has left both school and also the Worthing School of Art and Science, Milly still loves her art, and when she can she loves to visit Lena, as they are good friends. Pearl, meanwhile, has spent a year at finishing school in Switzerland. She has met Freddie von Herren, now called Freddie Herren, and got engaged, and what Pearl really likes about him was that he had a castle in Germany and lots of money in the bank. Now she has to impress Freddie and loves nothing more than buying expensive clothes.
Meanwhile, Lena attended the village school until she was fourteen. She doesn't want to go to college but would love to return to the fairground people. With her mother no longer around, their father reluctantly agreed that she could go back to Rainbow George and the travellers. Still, Millys mother knows nothing about Lena or the fact that Milly and Lena are good friends.
In September 1937, Milly and her father had agreed to visit the Sheep Fair in Findon together. When her father didn't arrive, Milly decided to go on her own and try to find Lena. Instead, a drunken man found Milly and tried to drag her off into a field. Lena rescued her and took her off to meet her fairground folk and show her where she now lived and meet Rainbow George. After the unexpected death of their father, Lena and Millie become close friends, and Pearl totally disagrees with their friendship and does what she can to stop the close friendship.
Unfortunately, with war clouds brewing, Pearl's husband Freddie is not who he pretends to be! Will he be found out before he does real damage to national security?

A really emotional page turner packed with friendships and
family secrets.
I really enjoyed the friendship and camaraderie between Milly and Lena, but I thought that Pearl was a nasty piece of work, only out for what she could get for herself, with no thoughts for others. After reading the epilogue at the end of the book, I was amused to read where the author got the idea of the escaped wolf from. This is one of the best books I have read this year. I really enjoyed it, had me hooked from the beginning, a smashing book, would have given it more than 5 🌟 stars.

#A Sisters Promise
#AvonbooksUK

[Lisa S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story spans the period right up to the start of WW2 as we meet Milly, who has been well educated but neglected by her Mum and ignored and ridiculed by her older sister. Her Dad is kind and caring but she loses him to illness while still in her teens.

The author is a great storyteller and weaves all kinds of details in as the story unfolds (not least the 'wolf of Worthing') but it doesn't detract from the main story. Milly manages to find her way with a few bumps along the way, making for an engaging and satisfying read.

The ending ties things up neatly, although I would like to read a sequel to see what happens next to them all!

If you enjoy historical fiction with a war-themed flavour then this will be right up your street.

[Carol Mageean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoy Pam Weaver books and this was no exception. A lovely saga with a miix of characters but mainly based on Millie who has always felt like the black sheep of her family and has a really wicked mother and her true sister does not treat her much better. Loved how the tale develops and how poor Millie struggles to find happiness but still appears a positive character. Meeting her illegitimate sister helps her through difficult times. This story is full of emotion and very interesting and I even enjoyed the conclusion.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, Milly always felt as if she didn't belong in her family, she felt her sisters hatred and her mother's contempt. Her father did however show her love and she loved him back. It is a long and arduous journey before she finds out the truth of why her mother acted the way she did.

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book centres on Millicent (Milly) whose mother treats her differently to her older sister Pearl. Luckily, her father adores her. Milly's life is not easy and this story takes us right up to the start of ww2. It had me hooked from the first few pages, love it!

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful heartwarming read.
This book takes us into 1930 two sisters Pearl and Milly.
Oh what a wonderful story that will touch readers hearts.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthy read/listen.
Thoroughly enjoyed it and we'll narrated

[Barbara Boyles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic read. Millie always knew her mother Agatha didn't have much time for her and favoured her older sister Pearl but she didn't know why and as the story progresses we discover the circumstances of why she reacts as she does towards her. A great story with plenty of drama but also humour and fun moments. Really well written and Pam Weaver fans will love it as much as I did.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this book 4.5 stars only knocking off half a star as I found the book a little slow to start with. Saying that I’m so glad I carried on reading as once I got into it I found it to be a great read. It tells the story of a wealthy family living in Worthing during the 1930’s. Unfortunately all was not as it seemed for this family in their grand house. Agatha the mother always favoured he eldest daughter Pearl and no matter what Milly did she could never get the love or approval from her that she desperately wanted. This book takes us up to the start of World War Two and so much happens to this family along the way.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful heartwarming read.
This book takes us into 1930 two sisters Pearl and Milly.
Oh what a wonderful story that will touch readers hearts.