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The Tower Room
It is the late 1920s and Sarah loves her work as an apprentice in the sheds at the Staffordshire pottery Frenshaws. She is able to escape her miserable home life where her hateful step-father Joe abuses her mother, though not completely because Joe is Frenshaws’ chief thrower. When Sarah’s talent is recognized by the master potter and owner, Daniel, she is sent to Design School where she meets wealthy Annabel and they become friends. But Sarah’s life is far from settled. Her brutal step-father lies in wait for her one night and rapes her. She escapes to live with her grandmother where she learns secrets about her past and heritage, and a life she had never imagined opens up for her.
256 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2001
63 people are currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Rona Randall
80 books10 followersRona Green Shambrook
aka Rona Randall, Rona Shambrook, Virginia Standage
Rona Green was born on 16 June 1911 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, UK. Her education includes: Pitmans College in London, a Diploma in English Literature at Royal Society of Art, Birkenhead School of Art Literary. She married Frederick Walter Shambrook, and had a son.
A former actress, before writing, she worked also as journalist and sub-director of publishing company Amalgamated Press, and as assistant editor of George Newnes Ltd. Published since 1942, she started publishing mainly contemporary doctor nurse romances, before writing also gothic romances, and when the market for gothic novels softened, she wrote historical mystery romances. In 1970, Broken Tapestry, her contemporary novel about a broken family, won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association. In 1989, she wrote her The Model Wife: Nineteenth Century Style, a book about social constumbres, including clothing. In 1992, she wrote Writing Popular Fiction, a complete guide for writers.
aka Rona Randall, Rona Shambrook, Virginia Standage
Rona Green was born on 16 June 1911 in Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, UK. Her education includes: Pitmans College in London, a Diploma in English Literature at Royal Society of Art, Birkenhead School of Art Literary. She married Frederick Walter Shambrook, and had a son.
A former actress, before writing, she worked also as journalist and sub-director of publishing company Amalgamated Press, and as assistant editor of George Newnes Ltd. Published since 1942, she started publishing mainly contemporary doctor nurse romances, before writing also gothic romances, and when the market for gothic novels softened, she wrote historical mystery romances. In 1970, Broken Tapestry, her contemporary novel about a broken family, won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association. In 1989, she wrote her The Model Wife: Nineteenth Century Style, a book about social constumbres, including clothing. In 1992, she wrote Writing Popular Fiction, a complete guide for writers.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 27, 2017
3.5 Stars
A nice historical fiction set in the late 20s of last entury in a community of potters.
Interesting characters and enjoyable story.
A nice historical fiction set in the late 20s of last entury in a community of potters.
Interesting characters and enjoyable story.
May 20, 2018
This is full of interesting characters and intertwined relationships surrounding young Sarah. There is not really any romance here, this is more of a family saga.
The background was very interesting and something I had not yet come across in non-fiction. As I once worked for a porcelain tabletop manufacturer, I appreciated all the detail of the English ceramics industry depicted here; there is sufficient description without it overpowering the Sarah's story or becoming boring.
The background was very interesting and something I had not yet come across in non-fiction. As I once worked for a porcelain tabletop manufacturer, I appreciated all the detail of the English ceramics industry depicted here; there is sufficient description without it overpowering the Sarah's story or becoming boring.
May 12, 2018
Awesome book
It’s seldom your genuinely saddened when you reach the end of a book ! I truly was and was hoping for a number of sequels alas it was not to be . So grab up This literary treasure and enjoy it like the shimmering gem it truly is ! The setting and subject is seldom if ever explored so it is fresh and interesting you just can’t go wrong !! ENJOY
It’s seldom your genuinely saddened when you reach the end of a book ! I truly was and was hoping for a number of sequels alas it was not to be . So grab up This literary treasure and enjoy it like the shimmering gem it truly is ! The setting and subject is seldom if ever explored so it is fresh and interesting you just can’t go wrong !! ENJOY
July 23, 2019
Great story , entertaining ,hard to put down. Very well written. Highly recommend to everyone.
This was very well written. Loved the characters. First book of this author I have read, will not be the last of I can find them . Highly recommend to everyone.
This was very well written. Loved the characters. First book of this author I have read, will not be the last of I can find them . Highly recommend to everyone.
August 3, 2024
Could have been a 5 star review
but there were just too many misspelled words and editing errors.
I loved the story, the characters, and the settings. It was an easy read and kept my interest.
but there were just too many misspelled words and editing errors.
I loved the story, the characters, and the settings. It was an easy read and kept my interest.
March 12, 2017
Well written
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author has a knack for bringing you back in time. I would've rated it a 5 had there not been so many typographical errors, but felt the story itself was good enough to rate a 4.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author has a knack for bringing you back in time. I would've rated it a 5 had there not been so many typographical errors, but felt the story itself was good enough to rate a 4.
Want to read
March 11, 2017Looking forward to reading. This book was originally published in 2001. It is an historical thriller set in 1920's European era.
I have not heard of this author but she has been writing fiction since the 1960's. I hope the storyline is interesting.
I have not heard of this author but she has been writing fiction since the 1960's. I hope the storyline is interesting.
July 28, 2016
This book is an interesting historical novel about a pottery factory in England in the 1920s and the family and workers who lived nearby. The characters had a depth that brought them to life and made the reader care about what happened to them. The story was compelling, often highlighting the differences between life in the upper and lower social classes and the lack of women's rights in the time period. I enjoyed reading this novel.
October 23, 2008
touching story of how life can start off bad but end up good.
April 17, 2017
Not my cup of tea, good writing.
April 19, 2017
Predictable but entertaining rags to riches story of a young girl. Didn't hold too many surprises. One thing I really did not like was the way the author rushed the ended. You know what's going to happen but it would have been much more enjoyable to have read it playing out instead of getting a paragraph summary about what happened. Where's the fun in that?
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews