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Mersey Square #2
The Mothers of Mersey Square
Mersey Square, Stockport, 1964 . Can she love another woman’s child?
Jane Wilson has just got engaged to her childhood sweetheart Eddie . Although they had a rocky start and Jane is haunted by Eddie’s previous relationship, she couldn’t be happier that they’re back together. But before they can get out the bunting and make it down the aisle, Eddie’s first wife is in a terrible car accident. Eddie’s sweet three-year-old son Jonny is left alone, crying for his mother and inconsolable.
Jane resolves that she must do all she can for the innocent little boy. But at only nineteen, is she ready to be a mother, especially to a child who isn’t her own?
As Jane looks after little Jonny whilst Eddie is away for work, she begins to fall for his cheeky smile and sweet nature, but when she sees old photographs of Jonny and his mother, she realises something is terribly wrong. Jane is sure that Jonny’s mother was hiding a terrible secret. Jane now faces a devastating should she hide the truth forever or reveal what she knows and risk losing her beloved son…
Jane Wilson has just got engaged to her childhood sweetheart Eddie . Although they had a rocky start and Jane is haunted by Eddie’s previous relationship, she couldn’t be happier that they’re back together. But before they can get out the bunting and make it down the aisle, Eddie’s first wife is in a terrible car accident. Eddie’s sweet three-year-old son Jonny is left alone, crying for his mother and inconsolable.
Jane resolves that she must do all she can for the innocent little boy. But at only nineteen, is she ready to be a mother, especially to a child who isn’t her own?
As Jane looks after little Jonny whilst Eddie is away for work, she begins to fall for his cheeky smile and sweet nature, but when she sees old photographs of Jonny and his mother, she realises something is terribly wrong. Jane is sure that Jonny’s mother was hiding a terrible secret. Jane now faces a devastating should she hide the truth forever or reveal what she knows and risk losing her beloved son…
402 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2024
334 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 10, 2023
The British invasion reborn! Sex, drugs and rock and roll entwined with family secrets, marriage, motherhood and a kidnapping...
Though I was born after all this (fictionally) happened, my love of the TV series "Heartbeat" gave me an appreciation for the British invasion of early sixties music - though I'm more a Stones fan that a Beatle. And Pam Howes' love of this era of music radiates through the pages as she charts the teenage boy band The Raiders' rise to fame. As with the first book (originally published as the prequel) I read yesterday, this tale transports me back to an era I've only ever read about or seen played out on TV.
Beginning early 1964 from where "The Girls of Mersey Square" left off, 18 year old Eddie Mellor is trying to settle into married life with Angie after she fell pregnant with their baby son Jonny. But try as he might he still longs for his two loves that he had to leave behind - his band The Raiders and his girl Jane Wilson. He and Jane were making plans to marry when Angie dropped her bombshell and in an attempt to do the right thing, Eddie broke it off with Jane and married the mother of his child. That also meant giving up all his dreams of fame and fortune and becoming a responsible adult by getting a normal 9 to 5 job that pays the rent, puts food on the table and provides for his wife and child.
Heartbroken, Jane falls into the arms of Mark Fisher who has always held a torch for her and though her heart is not in it, she ends up engaged to him when he proposes. She doesn't love Mark but he offers security and her mother adores him never missing an opportunity to compare him to "that Mellor lad who would amount to nothing". Since becoming engaged, Mark's behaviour towards changed and he became more possessive and controlling, disapproving of the clothes she wore and instead buying her new ones from the Victorian age! As her relationship with Mark comes to a culmination at the beginning of the book with a trip to the Lakes District for Valentine's Day, Jane is feeling trapped with no idea how to get out of this farce of an engagement. While Mark wants to control Jane's every move and doesn't care how devious he has to be to keep her. Meanwhile, she continues to work at Flanagan and Grey Records, having been promoted to manager with a charming little assistant in Carl who rises in the ranks further into the story. A job, I'm sure, Mark plans to put a stop to as soon as the vows are exchanged.
Back in Stockport, Eddie's life is getting duller by the second. In a fit of temper and boredom, he chucks in his job at the paint factory knowing the grief it will cause with Angie when he gets home but he doesn't care. As usual, the couple row causing Jonny to burst into tears and he storms out and meets up with the lads instead of going to night school. Roy had called his mum to say he had some good news to tell him and Eddie knew he needed something to brighten his otherwise dull existence.
The news that Jane has broken off her engagement with Mark was music to Eddie's ears and soon the pair are meeting secretly, partaking in a clandestine affair since Eddie was still married. Added to that, the lads want Eddie back in the band. His replacement was never up to parr and before long everyone is happy again. Everyone, that is, except Mark, who continues to rear his ugly obsessive head.
Eddie is going through the process of getting a divorce from Angie when she and her lover are tragically killed and he and Jane move in together to take care of his nearly three year old son Jonny. Their plans to marry are brought forward, no longer hampered by a divorce, and finally after half a decade of hankering after each other they are wed. But their happiness is shortlived when their young baby is kidnapped when the band are on tour and their world comes crashing down. Will they ever see their baby again?
So many questions are raised throughout this story, some of which are carried over from the first. The biggest hangs like a shadow (I thought) throughout and isn't cleared up till the end though it could prove a shock for those not expecting it. I read too many thrillers to be shocked...lol The sixties is an era that is fast becoming forgotten now that it is over half a century ago so it is good to relive the era through these delightful tales penned by someone with an obvious love of the era and its music.
I enjoyed every minute of the journey back in time and invite you step on the back of Eddie's motorbike and be transported back to the sixties for a tale full of love, betrayal, family as well as sex, drugs and rock and roll. Originally published as "Three Steps to Heaven", THE MOTHERS OF MERSEY SQUARE is an enjoyable saga filled with such likeable characters (plus a few shady ones) that you just can't help but enjoy being in their company. Are five stars even enough?
Another cracking read by Pam Howes! Delightful from start to finish.
I would like to thank #PamHowes, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheMothersOfMerseySquare in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
Though I was born after all this (fictionally) happened, my love of the TV series "Heartbeat" gave me an appreciation for the British invasion of early sixties music - though I'm more a Stones fan that a Beatle. And Pam Howes' love of this era of music radiates through the pages as she charts the teenage boy band The Raiders' rise to fame. As with the first book (originally published as the prequel) I read yesterday, this tale transports me back to an era I've only ever read about or seen played out on TV.
Beginning early 1964 from where "The Girls of Mersey Square" left off, 18 year old Eddie Mellor is trying to settle into married life with Angie after she fell pregnant with their baby son Jonny. But try as he might he still longs for his two loves that he had to leave behind - his band The Raiders and his girl Jane Wilson. He and Jane were making plans to marry when Angie dropped her bombshell and in an attempt to do the right thing, Eddie broke it off with Jane and married the mother of his child. That also meant giving up all his dreams of fame and fortune and becoming a responsible adult by getting a normal 9 to 5 job that pays the rent, puts food on the table and provides for his wife and child.
Heartbroken, Jane falls into the arms of Mark Fisher who has always held a torch for her and though her heart is not in it, she ends up engaged to him when he proposes. She doesn't love Mark but he offers security and her mother adores him never missing an opportunity to compare him to "that Mellor lad who would amount to nothing". Since becoming engaged, Mark's behaviour towards changed and he became more possessive and controlling, disapproving of the clothes she wore and instead buying her new ones from the Victorian age! As her relationship with Mark comes to a culmination at the beginning of the book with a trip to the Lakes District for Valentine's Day, Jane is feeling trapped with no idea how to get out of this farce of an engagement. While Mark wants to control Jane's every move and doesn't care how devious he has to be to keep her. Meanwhile, she continues to work at Flanagan and Grey Records, having been promoted to manager with a charming little assistant in Carl who rises in the ranks further into the story. A job, I'm sure, Mark plans to put a stop to as soon as the vows are exchanged.
Back in Stockport, Eddie's life is getting duller by the second. In a fit of temper and boredom, he chucks in his job at the paint factory knowing the grief it will cause with Angie when he gets home but he doesn't care. As usual, the couple row causing Jonny to burst into tears and he storms out and meets up with the lads instead of going to night school. Roy had called his mum to say he had some good news to tell him and Eddie knew he needed something to brighten his otherwise dull existence.
The news that Jane has broken off her engagement with Mark was music to Eddie's ears and soon the pair are meeting secretly, partaking in a clandestine affair since Eddie was still married. Added to that, the lads want Eddie back in the band. His replacement was never up to parr and before long everyone is happy again. Everyone, that is, except Mark, who continues to rear his ugly obsessive head.
Eddie is going through the process of getting a divorce from Angie when she and her lover are tragically killed and he and Jane move in together to take care of his nearly three year old son Jonny. Their plans to marry are brought forward, no longer hampered by a divorce, and finally after half a decade of hankering after each other they are wed. But their happiness is shortlived when their young baby is kidnapped when the band are on tour and their world comes crashing down. Will they ever see their baby again?
So many questions are raised throughout this story, some of which are carried over from the first. The biggest hangs like a shadow (I thought) throughout and isn't cleared up till the end though it could prove a shock for those not expecting it. I read too many thrillers to be shocked...lol The sixties is an era that is fast becoming forgotten now that it is over half a century ago so it is good to relive the era through these delightful tales penned by someone with an obvious love of the era and its music.
I enjoyed every minute of the journey back in time and invite you step on the back of Eddie's motorbike and be transported back to the sixties for a tale full of love, betrayal, family as well as sex, drugs and rock and roll. Originally published as "Three Steps to Heaven", THE MOTHERS OF MERSEY SQUARE is an enjoyable saga filled with such likeable characters (plus a few shady ones) that you just can't help but enjoy being in their company. Are five stars even enough?
Another cracking read by Pam Howes! Delightful from start to finish.
I would like to thank #PamHowes, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheMothersOfMerseySquare in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
July 20, 2024
This is the second book in the Mersey Square series. Again this was another fantastic read and I devoured this book in one day. Whilst it’s an easy read it’s also one that you won’t want to put down as it’s full of great characters and a superb story. I loved it.
October 3, 2023
Mothers of Mersey square book two.
With dark times ahead she'll need her friends around.
It's 1964 Jane Wilson now engaged to Mark Fisher, the most stupid thing she has ever done, she was still in love with Eddie but he is now married with a two year old son, they both could not go on hiding their feelings.
Breaking up with their partners Eddie gets a new job, and is back working with the group The Raiders he is with the love of his life Jane, happy days and motherhood are about to occur as we read on.
The Raiders are making it in the rock n roll business even hitting America. But nothing runs smoothly for this couple with lots of heartache, you will need a box of tissues.
Once again loved this book reading for the second time, and looking forward to more.
The authors work never faults me her stories are so real to read like your one of the family
With dark times ahead she'll need her friends around.
It's 1964 Jane Wilson now engaged to Mark Fisher, the most stupid thing she has ever done, she was still in love with Eddie but he is now married with a two year old son, they both could not go on hiding their feelings.
Breaking up with their partners Eddie gets a new job, and is back working with the group The Raiders he is with the love of his life Jane, happy days and motherhood are about to occur as we read on.
The Raiders are making it in the rock n roll business even hitting America. But nothing runs smoothly for this couple with lots of heartache, you will need a box of tissues.
Once again loved this book reading for the second time, and looking forward to more.
The authors work never faults me her stories are so real to read like your one of the family
November 24, 2023
Totally enjoyed reading this book, it was like having a good catch-up with an old friend
Everything was very visually interesting :)
I will be following this author for my next read
Everything was very visually interesting :)
I will be following this author for my next read
February 12, 2024
A good story.
This is the second one in the story of Jane and Eddie and the band the Raiders and their rise to fame.
This is the second one in the story of Jane and Eddie and the band the Raiders and their rise to fame.
May 24, 2024
Excellent writer. Can't put her books down once i start reading them.
December 6, 2023
What an amazing writer Pam is. She draws you in from the first page. As you read through her description of her characters you can easily imagine them.
Great to revisit The Raiders and see the other side of their lives.
This book and the others with The Raiders are comical, sad, and frustrating. But I loved every page.
Great to revisit The Raiders and see the other side of their lives.
This book and the others with The Raiders are comical, sad, and frustrating. But I loved every page.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews