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The Yearning Heart
Fran is pregnant, unmarried — and the man responsible is her sister’s husband!
1941. East Yorkshire.
Fran’s mother is furious when she discovers her sixteen-year-old daughter is pregnant. She banishes Fran to a remote farmhouse, where she is to work as a housekeeper until the baby is born.
Some months later, Fran gives birth to twins, Michael and Christine. Shortly after they are born, Fran is told her daughter is dead, and her son is to be brought up by her sister. She will never see her children again.
1957.
Fran is cut off from her family, but she has never forgotten her lost babies. She longs to see her son again.
But when Fran finally returns to the family home, little is she prepared for the drama that unfolds. A number of extraordinary secrets come bursting into the open . . . with heartbreaking consequences.
1941. East Yorkshire.
Fran’s mother is furious when she discovers her sixteen-year-old daughter is pregnant. She banishes Fran to a remote farmhouse, where she is to work as a housekeeper until the baby is born.
Some months later, Fran gives birth to twins, Michael and Christine. Shortly after they are born, Fran is told her daughter is dead, and her son is to be brought up by her sister. She will never see her children again.
1957.
Fran is cut off from her family, but she has never forgotten her lost babies. She longs to see her son again.
But when Fran finally returns to the family home, little is she prepared for the drama that unfolds. A number of extraordinary secrets come bursting into the open . . . with heartbreaking consequences.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
313 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2011
214 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 9, 2018
Fran
This is the first book I've read by this author but it won't be the last i enjoyed reading about all what happened to fran and how she never have up this is definitely an author i recommend 5 STARS.
This is the first book I've read by this author but it won't be the last i enjoyed reading about all what happened to fran and how she never have up this is definitely an author i recommend 5 STARS.
November 16, 2024
I absolutely loved the story, the twists & turns but sad in places. Fran's mum wasn't a very nice person to do what she did but I suppose it was the shame of her daughter being an unmarried mum that made her do it. Fran was certainly a very determined lady once she was in knowledge of the facts. I'd give it 10 ⭐ if I could highly recommended.
September 8, 2024
Great emotional story
Loved the characters and twists to the story. There are some proof reading issues but it doesn’t distract from the story.
Loved the characters and twists to the story. There are some proof reading issues but it doesn’t distract from the story.
March 7, 2026
What an amazing set of books 5 in the series and thoroughly enjoyed enjoyed reading everyone of them
Definately recommend everyone to read them
I’m sure you will enjoy
Definately recommend everyone to read them
I’m sure you will enjoy
January 14, 2025
Yet, anothers enthralling read from Sylvia Broad, that once you start you can never put down. I found myself completely into the book with the characters and living the story. This is a recommended five star read from me.
March 28, 2011
Product Description
It is war-time Britain and seduced by her brother-in-law, Frances, 16, becomes pregnant and is banished to a lonely farm. She gives birth to twins, a boy and a girl, whom her mother heartlessly wrenches from her. And when told her baby daughter has died, Frances is overcome with grief. After years of loneliness and yearning, Frances sets out full of determination to be reunited with her son, Michael, and tell him the truth of his birth. Michael however has grown up believing Frances' sister Isabel is his mother. She has taken him on his dream adventure to live in Australia with her new husband. Could Frances shatter her son's joy?
This is Frances story, a young girl easily manipulated by her brother-in-law, becomes pregnant. Her Mother treats her horribly, I can't even imagine how a woman can act the way she did to her daughter.
She is made to go and live with distant relatives who live in very primitive conditions. She works hard and her Mother makes arrangements for her to have her baby...babies. When the time comes the Mother books her in as her Sister, who is married to the babies Father. She is thrilled to have them and names them Michael and Christine. Now the babies have her Sister's name listed as their Mother. Frances is sent back to the relatives home, and the babies are taken by her Mother. Her Mother then informs her that Christine has died, and Michael will be staying with her Sister.
Frances goes through the grief of loosing Christine, and not being allowed to see Michael. She has an agreement to see him when he turns 16, and decides to throw him a big party and tell him the truth.
It was hard to think of Frances as being only 32 when Michael turns 16. The story does take several twists and turns. Including some really heartwarming and heartbreaking times.
While I really disliked the Mother Agnes, I enjoyed her Dad Will. Her Sister leaves a lot to be desired, Isabel, seems she has one nasty disposition. Although it could be she is afraid to loose Michael, you really take a dislike to her.
This is definitely a British story, there are some things referred to in the book that I didn't know what they were talking about, but I did enjoy reading this book.
It is war-time Britain and seduced by her brother-in-law, Frances, 16, becomes pregnant and is banished to a lonely farm. She gives birth to twins, a boy and a girl, whom her mother heartlessly wrenches from her. And when told her baby daughter has died, Frances is overcome with grief. After years of loneliness and yearning, Frances sets out full of determination to be reunited with her son, Michael, and tell him the truth of his birth. Michael however has grown up believing Frances' sister Isabel is his mother. She has taken him on his dream adventure to live in Australia with her new husband. Could Frances shatter her son's joy?
This is Frances story, a young girl easily manipulated by her brother-in-law, becomes pregnant. Her Mother treats her horribly, I can't even imagine how a woman can act the way she did to her daughter.
She is made to go and live with distant relatives who live in very primitive conditions. She works hard and her Mother makes arrangements for her to have her baby...babies. When the time comes the Mother books her in as her Sister, who is married to the babies Father. She is thrilled to have them and names them Michael and Christine. Now the babies have her Sister's name listed as their Mother. Frances is sent back to the relatives home, and the babies are taken by her Mother. Her Mother then informs her that Christine has died, and Michael will be staying with her Sister.
Frances goes through the grief of loosing Christine, and not being allowed to see Michael. She has an agreement to see him when he turns 16, and decides to throw him a big party and tell him the truth.
It was hard to think of Frances as being only 32 when Michael turns 16. The story does take several twists and turns. Including some really heartwarming and heartbreaking times.
While I really disliked the Mother Agnes, I enjoyed her Dad Will. Her Sister leaves a lot to be desired, Isabel, seems she has one nasty disposition. Although it could be she is afraid to loose Michael, you really take a dislike to her.
This is definitely a British story, there are some things referred to in the book that I didn't know what they were talking about, but I did enjoy reading this book.
December 16, 2018
set in burton banks east Yorkshire the year 1941 after been seduced by her brother in law victor Renton 16 years old fran bewholme finds herself pregnant. turned out by the family she is sent to be a housekeeper for the gremblings and as its wartime shares a room with land girl Maisie Thomas. after the births Isobel her sister and mam come and take them home but Fran has to go back to the gremblings to work. as years go by Fran marries peter but cannot forget her past. this book is full of secrets. my emotions were full of happy, sad and I did shed a tear or two. I LOVED IT
July 25, 2021
A very heartwarming story set in the 1940's to 1960. A young mother's heartbreak of the stigma of being an unmarried mother and her families shame to hide the pregnancy resulting in a very sad tale however having a happy ending but not without heartache along the way. Thoroughly enjoyed Sylvia Broadys writing
April 8, 2019
Easy to follow story and a really enticing read.
October 29, 2019
An irresistible read Very enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews