Saffron Skies and New Beginnings

by Rita Bradshaw

Set during WW2, Saffron Skies and New Beginnings is a story of overcoming betrayal and learning to love once more. From Rita Bradshaw, author of A Woman of Courage.

Bella McFadyen has led a privileged life but, from a young age, she has not been afraid to kick against the restrictive, narrow-minded upper-class society. Particularly where the female sex is concerned.

When a terrible family secret is revealed, tragedy follows. Bella loses everything and everyone she has ever known, including the man she loves. But there are more important things at stake than personal happiness – war is declared, and Bella enlists in the WAAF. Eventually, she is posted abroad on top-secret work.

In the years that follow, Bella's strength of mind is tested to the limit and her journey is one of heartache and devastating pain. Will she ever find peace and happiness – and will she be able to trust herself enough to embrace another chance at love?

Genres: Historical Fiction

480 pages, Hardcover

Published September 12, 2024

About the author

Rita Bradshaw was born on 1949 in Northampton, England, where she was educated as a good Christian. She met Clive, her husband, at the age of 16 andnow the magic is still there. They have three lovely children, Cara, Faye, and Benjamin, and have always had a menagerie of animals in the house, whichat the present is confined to two endearing and very comical dogs who wouldmake a great double act on TV! The children, friends, and pets all keep thehouse buzzing and the food cupboards empty but Helen wouldn't have it anyother way. She still lives today in Northampton with her family. Althoughhaving enjoyed some wonderful holidays abroad she has never been tempted tolive anywhere else, although she rather likes the idea of a holiday homeclose to the sea one day.

Being a committed Christian and fervent animal lover she finds spare time is always at a premium, but long walks in the countryside with her husband and dogs, meals out followed by the cinema or theatre, reading, swimming,and having friends over for dinner are all fitted in somehow. She also enjoys sitting in her wonderfully therapeutic, rambling old garden in thesun with a glass of red wine, (under the guise of resting while thinking ofcourse!)

For years, she was a secretary. She began writing in 1990 as sheapproached that milestone of a birthday 40! She realized her two teenage ambitions (writing a novel and learning to drive) had been lost amid babiesand hectic family life, so set about resurrecting them.

Her first novel was for Mills and Boon and was accepted after one rewrite in 1992 as Helen Brooks, and she passed her driving test (the former was a joy and the latteran unmitigated nightmare!) She has written 50 novels as well as several sagas as Rita Bradshaw.

Since becoming a full-time writer she has found her occupation one of purejoy and often surprised when her characters develop a mind of their own bu tshe loves exploring what makes people tick and finds the old adage "truth isstranger than fiction" to be absolutely true. She would love to hear from any readers care of Mills & Boon.

Reviews

[Carol Anne]

This book was a disappointment for me..
I had trouble believing most of the Characters and did not like Bella at all … sometimes the characters ring true! These did not.
This book though was a fairly ordinary 2nd World War story with mostly unbelievable reactions.
I’ve previously loved all Rita Bradshaw.
books 📚

[Sandra]

I really enjoyed this book, wonderful strong characters. It's a sad story at times but well worth reading.

[Linda Costello]

Slow start but worth persevering

[Booklover BEV]

As the war rages can she make peace with her past?
A totally inspiring story.
That is brave and emotional.
Mirabelle Bella McFadyen story is told and written from the heart by this truly loved author.
Family heartache and deaths and reunions are all entailed as we travel through the war years.
Set in county Durham and London.
It's truly remarkable read to be loved.

[Hilda Stephenson]

It was a book I could read again

[Lorna]

In case you forget that Bella’s father dies after the horrible family secret is revealed, don’t worry! You will be reminded of it every 5-10 pages until the very end!

Is it necessary after every single thing that happens to Bella there is a rant of “Oh well, I nearly married my brother! Oh and my dad is dead and it’s all because of my horrible mother!!!”?

Bella is shown to act like a petulant teenager throughout the entire book (which is about 100 pages too long), nothing that would have made the novel interesting is ever developed into anything and we are moved on to something much less exciting afterwards.

Just meh.

[Sian Thompson]

I very much enjoyed this book. It was a simpler read but it was just what I was looking for at the time. I love WW2 stories and stories from the turn of the century to the late 40s. You can feel the time period coming off the page. The story of Bella and her parents and her future. It was a little predictable but I liked that too, with a happy ending, folded into the embrace of the story. The only part I found a little warring was Bella’s attitude towards Philip. Admittedly before the war but not during or after. But it was a sign of the times. Glad it finished the way it did. A lovely read if you want WW2 romance.

[Trudie]

The story starts with Belinda who marries an older man her father chooses, then the focus changes to her daughter Bella with Belinda becoming a side character. I won't spoil it but did really enjoy it!

[Mrs J A Saxton]

Such an interesting and powerful read

I loved reading this book from beginning to end. Love romance and intrigue plus the reality of war and devastation. A book I would definitely recommend

[Joyce Clark]

Really enjoyed this book, the first I've read by this author but it won't be the last. A family saga reminiscent of Catherine Cookson. Partly set in the North East of England and covering approx 40 years.

[anitameek]

A must read

After reading all of Rita Bradshaws book, this by far is my favourite. I couldn’t put this down from the moment I read the first page.

[Debra Reedy]

just ok

Not my favorite of her books. 80% of the book was about WWII, and the plot was weak. Dull and unexciting.

[Caroline]

This was a fairly good book, but too much war written about

[Kath]

First time I've read Rita Bradshaw and what a great book this is. Keeps you so interested in what's happening with the characters. Will definitely be reading more of her books.

[Barbara]

One book I have loved.

[Julie Homer]

Had this on audio a lovely story
This was based around WW11 and a family secret 4*

[Amber Rush]

This book was very similar to Wartime Wishes at Bletchley Park and I kept getting confused 😂😂. Starts on Armistice Day when a married man (Phillip) and a married woman ( Belinda) have an affair causing a pregnancy. The secret is hidden until the daughter is engaged to her half-brother. As war breaks out it shows the her language education as a transmission corporal in Bletchley park/ Hastings/ Cairo/ Malta and other places. She finds love again with her commanding officer and attempts to heal the past after the devastation of war. Don’t get me wrong the plot of this book was great but it seemed like it tried to cover to much ( especially Bella’s feminism) and span to much of a time frame which was quite boring at times ( 1918-1953). Nice romance in there but was highly predictable many times and in a way glamorised post- war period.

[Lesley B]

I enjoyed this book but the last part jumped way forward in time and seemed disconnected. Would try this author again though,

[Alison Underhill]

Excellent