Let It Shine

by Josephine Cox

Ada Williams once believed money and power would bring her happiness. But now she is all alone except for her greedy son Peter, who waits only for the day he will inherit her fortune. Ada, however, has a different plan altogether.

A few miles away in Blackburn, the Bolton family may be poor - but the love they share means they can overcome almost any adversity. But no one could foresee the shocking events of Christmas night, 1932, which split the family asunder, leaving Larry crippled and the twins, Ellie and Betsy, in a foster home. Events that began many years ago, when Ada Williams was young and foolish.

Genres: Fiction, Audiobook

304 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 1999

About the author

Josephine Cox was born in Blackburn, one of ten children. At the age of sixteen, Josephine met and married her husband Ken, and had two sons. When the boys started school, she decided to go to college and eventually gained a place at university but was unable to take this up as it would have meant living away from home. Instead, she went into teaching – and started to write her first full-length novel. She won the ‘Superwoman of Great Britain’ Award, for which her family had secretly entered her, at the same time as her novel was accepted for publication. She is now a No.1 bestselling author with over 40 books to her name.

She wrote dark psychological thrillers under the name Jane Brindle.

Reviews

[Charmaine Saliba · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far this is my favourite novel by Josephine Cox. I really enjoy her writing, her ability to make me care for her main characters and loathe the villains. Let is Shine is set in the early 1930s and narrates the story of the Bolton family and their tragedy. I read it in two sittings and after finish this novel, it felt like saying goodbye to dear friends. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars because I felt that the ending was rush. If you are looking for a cosy and fast-paced historical fiction try this one.

[Filipa Ribeiro Ferreira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livro que era da mãe, lido para matar saudades. Descubro que trata de uma mãe que abandona a filha, que depois morre deixando os filhos orfãos. Mais duas razões para a agradecer a minha... Mas uma história interessante e envolvente, embora rocambolesca.

[Kirsty Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Josephine Cox is always 5 star for me. Love her books

[Anne Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Another wow of a book - heartwarming - takes you through all the emotions - wonderful - keep them coming x

[Ian Mcnamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let it shine is one of my favourite Josephine Cox novels and believe me that is difficult as there is not one of her novels that i have not liked.

This was a saga full of greed and heartache. Ada williams is dying and regrets things from her past that she is trying to put write. Her only sun peter is greedy and only after her money. The story then goes back and takes us through the tragedy that destroyed the Bolton family, killing the mother and father forcing the twins Ellie and Betsy into foster care, crippling there older brother Larry and causing there grand father to have a break down. We follow the various characters as they tried to put their lives back together. This was a wonderful book and everything is reveeled through out the book rather than all at once keeping the reader guessing and wanting more. Each character was developed really well and the book never lost it’s excitement through out. An easy 5 stars.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won't give away the entire plotline of the book, or you won't have anything to enjoy. Suffice to say, a Christmas Eve fire will leave the Boltons torn asunder when the parents are both killed, Larry is crippled and the girls are sent to live in a foster home. It all comes good in the end though, so if you're looking for a heart-warming tale of good things coming to those who deserve them, it will definitely put a smile on your face.

(Complete review on my blog : https://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspo...)

[Paula Reis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mais um livro de uma autora com poucos livros em Portugal. Apesar de não constar aqui no Goodreads existe uma antiga versão em português, foi essa que eu li. Drama, coragem e vontade de viver e vencer. Boas horas de leitura

[Punit Sahani · Rating 5 out of 5]

It always brings a smile to my face, of course after few teary eyes when I hoon on to Josephine Cox's reading. What a great book yet again and heart warming story. While there is enough bad out in the world, there is good too that exists. The book is all about that.

[gordon mccracken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let it shine it did

This book was different it was captivating I couldn't put it down I loved it .I found the honesty of characters coming through .

This book will speak to all woman and girls .Margaret..com

[Susan Watts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read with the good and pantomime villains. A kind of Lancashire Catherine Cookson.

[Whilhelma1950 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Kept me up all night reading this book, didn’t want to put it down until I had finished it, highly recommend it

[Alan Depledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read

Great book, I couldn’t put it down till it was finished. Read from start to finish in 12 hours. Enjoyed every minute.

[Sally Hogston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bolton family

Excellent book with many twists and turns. A murder and extreme jealousy. Amazing storyline. Here's to next book by Josephine Cox

[Karen Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book

[Lynnie Greenham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok…predictable.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

not worth my time reviewing

[Mrs P A McHattie · Rating 5 out of 5]

recommendation

I would highly recommend this book excellent reading from start to finish. Thrilling story with many surprising twists and turns.

[Julie Homer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another lovely audio book from Josephine cox
Brilliant 5*

[Deborah Froelich · Rating 3 out of 5]

too convenient

The author conveniently linked major characters together very quickly to come to a nice, neat closure. But it seemed contrived and unbelievable.

[donna Hehir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant book

I do love this author's books. I enjoy reading them all, and though there are bad times and suffering, there is always a happy ending

[Lisa Iggo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holiday read. Cox never let's me down.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read

[Valerie McGurk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ah easy read about love, loss and second chances.

[Susan Elliot · Rating 3 out of 5]

i enjoyed this book but JC always rushes her endings into last two oages but the ending was happy for mist of thecharacter

[Lizette Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction by a favourite author of mine

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

really enjoyed this book.

[Leyla Shuri · Rating 3 out of 5]

What attracted me to this book is the local English dialect used in the conversations.
Plot is well-knitted and the simplicity of the writing would attract younger readers.

On the preface of this book wrote the writer gave up teaching in order to write full time. She said: "I love writing, both recreating scenes and characters from my past, together with new story lines which mingle naturally with the old. I could never imagine a single day without writing..."

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

At first I was trapped by the story and the book was easy to be read but I found the characters to be too good or too bad, and some of the bad characters changing miraculously to good ones.... The women were always beautiful (specially the red hair ones).I found too many coincidencies in bad parents who had abandoned their children. It was too much. All in all, I didn't like the book

[Divya · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comforting read with a satisfying ending—like watching a feel-good movie. It didn’t have the kind of pull that made me want to keep turning pages, but it was just right for unwinding after a long day. The author created some interesting character connections, but the climax felt a bit too simple for all the buildup. I was hoping for a little more.