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Empire Street #3
The Mersey Daughter
The brand new Wartime drama novel from bestselling author Annie Groves, perfect for fans of Christmas on the Mersey and Child of the Mersey.
Rita Kennedy has finally seen through her good-for-nothing husband, Charlie. Now he’s gone AWOL with his fancy woman and left her at the mercy of the local gossips. Her future is full of uncertainty and the only thing that keeps her going is knowing that her children are safe from the Luftwaffe – and the letters that she receives from Jack Callaghan, her childhood sweetheart – but a life together can is just a distant fantasy.
Meanwhile, Kitty Callaghan has joined the WRENS and it’s opened up a whole new world. But despite finding romance with a handsome doctor, she still can’t forget Frank Feeny, the brave officer from Empire Street who still inhabits her dreams.
As the bombs rain down on Liverpool, Rita and Kitty must face heartache and sorrow as they pray for the sun to shine on the Mersey once again.
Rita Kennedy has finally seen through her good-for-nothing husband, Charlie. Now he’s gone AWOL with his fancy woman and left her at the mercy of the local gossips. Her future is full of uncertainty and the only thing that keeps her going is knowing that her children are safe from the Luftwaffe – and the letters that she receives from Jack Callaghan, her childhood sweetheart – but a life together can is just a distant fantasy.
Meanwhile, Kitty Callaghan has joined the WRENS and it’s opened up a whole new world. But despite finding romance with a handsome doctor, she still can’t forget Frank Feeny, the brave officer from Empire Street who still inhabits her dreams.
As the bombs rain down on Liverpool, Rita and Kitty must face heartache and sorrow as they pray for the sun to shine on the Mersey once again.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2019
91 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
About the author
Annie Groves
40 books170 followersPenelope Jones Halsall aka: Caroline Courtney, Penny Jordan, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 in a Preston, Lancashire, England.
She had been a keen reader from the childhood. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction.
She has earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, she found an agent. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her name to Melinda Wright and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her present historical romance novels, she has adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70m of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Now Penny Halsall lived in a house in Nantwich, Cheshire. She worked from home.
Penny died on 31 December 2011.
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 in a Preston, Lancashire, England.
She had been a keen reader from the childhood. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction.
She has earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, she found an agent. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her name to Melinda Wright and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her present historical romance novels, she has adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70m of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Now Penny Halsall lived in a house in Nantwich, Cheshire. She worked from home.
Penny died on 31 December 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
July 22, 2017
First book I've read by this author. This can be read without any knowledge of previous storylines in the earlier books in this series. An easy to read book that can be picked up and put down whenever you have a minute to spare. I read this on bus journeys.
June 5, 2017
It took me a while to get into the rhythm of the story. There seemed to be too many characters to get to know properly (I haven't read the earlier book so didn't have any additional back story). But after about a third this got better and I spent an afternoon in the sunshine reading it and being part of it. And then read the final part in one sitting despite it already being after midnight.
May 17, 2017
Another enjoyable read. Better than the last one. I look forward to reading more books from her.
April 10, 2018
Being an only child and reading war stories makes me long for siblings. This book is from Annie Groves Empire Street series and is the book before Winter on The Mersey. Another cracker of a story about the Callaghans and the Feeneys and the tragic time living during World War II. I thoroughly enjoyed this story about Rita. A good read.
December 10, 2023
Excellent series
September 19, 2017
Great read!
Here is another great storyline from Annie Groves. The characters
Are brought to life in such a way that you feel as if you know them.
Here is another great storyline from Annie Groves. The characters
Are brought to life in such a way that you feel as if you know them.
June 12, 2017
It's been a while since I've visited Empire Street so when the latest book came out I was sure I wouldn't remember a thing from the series. But a few pages in and it all started to come back to me. The citizens of Empire Street Liverpool namely the Feeny family and the Callaghan family. Rita the oldest Feeny married a brute named Charlie who left her for another woman and is currently in hiding from the military police avoiding being sent to the front lines. Rita lives with her mother in law Winnie a mean spirited woman who has now turned to drink to cope with both her son's desertion and also the appearance of her unacknowledged illegitimate daughter Ruby. Ruby seems simple minded and almost child like, and despite efforts to keep her real identity a secret it seems that the gossips are out in full force. Frank, Rita's brother is recovering from the loss of his leg, learning to live and accept himself as he is now and getting over the loss of the one woman he truly loves but who now loves someone else. Kitty the only daughter of the Callaghan clan is training to be a Wren in London where she meets posh Laura, and bookish Marjorie and begins to gain confidence in herself and in her relationship with a handsome respected doctor, her brother Danny is struggling with a heart condition that keeps him out of active service but soon finds his own place in the war effort. Overall it was a good book. It was nice to catch up with these old favourite familiar characters. There is sadness and tragedy and a happy if predictable ending. A good addition to the series, but for me it was lacking a little something it didn't grab me the same way the other books had, so four out of five stars. We'll see what the next book brings with the arrival of the Americans into the war.
May 14, 2017
Brilliant
From the word go I loved this book. Was never bored reading it. The characters were brought to life that keeps you hooked.
From the word go I loved this book. Was never bored reading it. The characters were brought to life that keeps you hooked.
May 14, 2017
First class romance
Really enjoyed reading this family saga. Story flows very well the author s bring the characters to life easy reading, once picked up did not want to put down.
Really enjoyed reading this family saga. Story flows very well the author s bring the characters to life easy reading, once picked up did not want to put down.
June 12, 2017
Loved it
This is a lovely story. Easy to ready. Emotional. Gritty. Fab read!!! Would definitely recommend it if you like wartime sagas.
This is a lovely story. Easy to ready. Emotional. Gritty. Fab read!!! Would definitely recommend it if you like wartime sagas.
September 16, 2018
Whereas this book can be read as a stand alone book I read the two previous books first. This was my favorite so far bc it ventured outside the two main families to include other people and other places. I look forward to reading the last in the series. One of the best things I find about this series is it is not a soap opera type romance. But instead it is an accurate historical fiction about the sorrows and horrors of WW2 as it was in Liverpool and London.
June 11, 2020
Wartime Romance: definitely not my usual read but it was a welcome change from my usual genres. It broke up the same-ness of crime and murder!
This is an easy read about the families that live on a particular street in Liverpool. There’s love, friendship and loss all within the same 400-odd pages. I felt very ‘in touch’ with many of the female characters and all but 2 were very likeable and the storyline wasn’t entirely predictable either. Great read for me. 5⭐️
This is an easy read about the families that live on a particular street in Liverpool. There’s love, friendship and loss all within the same 400-odd pages. I felt very ‘in touch’ with many of the female characters and all but 2 were very likeable and the storyline wasn’t entirely predictable either. Great read for me. 5⭐️
October 14, 2020
I haven’t read the prior books in this series but it didn’t affect my enjoyment of this one. This book was a good, old-fashioned comfort read which was perfect to pick up at any time. It reminded me of the domestic family sagas I used to read when I was younger. Looking forward to reading more.
May 3, 2022
Even better than the last
Brilliant story telling once again Anne Groves, from start to finish I was gripped and can not wait for the next instalment but I will miss these story’s once the Empire Series finishes.
Brilliant story telling once again Anne Groves, from start to finish I was gripped and can not wait for the next instalment but I will miss these story’s once the Empire Series finishes.
September 30, 2017
Enjoyed this family saga, but not completely satisfied with the ending, as one of the daughters is still not entirely happy. I hope there will be another book in the series to finish her story.
April 15, 2018
A great read about the people who live in Empire street. How they cope with the hardships of war.
August 20, 2018
I usually love a good Annie groves book but struggled with this one. It just didn't capture me from the start which saddens me. Would still recommend to any annie groves fan
June 9, 2025
excellent
December 20, 2021
Ugh, this book had all the feels! I was excited and heartbroken and relieved and a tad annoyed (why do people have to be so blind when they’re in love??). I can’t wait to read the next book and find out if Kitty gets the ending I want for her.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews