Mistress of Greyladies: Greyladies, Book 2

Greyladies #2

by Anna Jacobs, Emma Powell (Narrator)

During World War I, the ancient manor house of Greyladies in rural Wiltshire is requisitioned for a hospital. Its mistress, Harriet Latimer, her husband Joseph and their two sons are allowed to stay, but when tragedy strikes Joseph's brothers, his future at Greyladies is at risk. Latimer family legend says a new mistress will be found to look after the house...

Living in Swindon, Phoebe Sinclair is unaware of any connection to Greyladies and the Latimers. She loses her job when her German employers are interned because of the war. And when her brutish step-cousin Frank tries to force her to marry him, Phoebe flees to London. A chance encounter leads her to a new life as a nursing assistant, and to a blossoming friendship with Captain Corin McMinty.

When Phoebe is posted to the hospital at Greyladies, she feels she's come home. But Frank is still pursuing her and Corin has his own problems. With obstacles at every turn, can Phoebe find happiness and embrace the role of mistress of Greyladies?

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Fiction, Family Saga, Historical, Romance, Audiobook

Audible Audio

First published August 1, 2014

About the author

Anna Jacobs has 87 novels published as of April 2019. She writes historical sagas and modern novels alternately, and in the past has written historical romances and fantasy novels (the latter as Shannah Jay).

She's addicted to story-telling and writes three novels a year. You can find a list of books and series on her website at www.annajacobs.com

Anna reads 3 novels a week. Happy reading, everyone.

Reviews

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

While in all honesty I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the first one two books in a row escaping bullies who try to force marriage on the main character another storyline would do. But overall it was still a good story. Harriet returns several years after taking over Greyladies. War is looming and the house is taken over by the government. An evil sour matron is running the place and driving the occupants of the house mad. A young woman named Phoebe loses her job as a shop assistant, when her Austrian born employers are interned at the start of the war. Heading first to stay with family she flees to London with a dashing soldier Corin, escaping Frank who longs to marry her whether she likes it or not. Phoebe joins the VADs and eventually this brings her to Greyladies where she immediately feels at home. As war rages on around them Harriet's family is thrown into tragedy and it appears that her time at Greyladies might soon end. With the evil Frank lurking in dark corners watching Phoebe's role as the new mistress could be in jeopardy too. A well told enjoyable read. Loved the paranormal bits with the ghost appearing even providing some almost comic moments, adored the Steins a sweet loving couple, we should all be that lucky in life to find a perfect match and of course recurring characters like Miss Bowers and Mrs. Dalton. Onto book three now, wonder what that Anne Latimer will get up to next.

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joseph and Harriet Latimer have been happy at Greyladies. Then World War I breaks out and the house has to become a hospital. Joseph and Harriet are allowed to stay, but they don't feel welcome in their own home any longer. They want to do anything they can for the country and for the wounded, so they're trying to help out as much as they're allowed to.

Phoebe has a family connection to the Latimers. She doesn't know anything about this though. Her step-cousin Frank, who doesn't have a pleasant character, wants to force her to marry him. Because of the war Phoebe loses her job and she needs to find somewhere else to stay as soon as possible. Somewhere far away from Frank. Fortunately she meets Corin, a Captain in the army who wants to help her. They become good friends, but because of the war they can only spend limited time together. Will Phoebe meet her family eventually? And will she be able to marry a man she loves or will Frank eventually get his way?

Mistress of Greyladies is another wonderful book by Anna Jacobs. It was great to read about Harriet and Joseph again. After reading Heir to Greyladies I wasn't ready to say goodbye to them yet. Phoebe is a wonderful girl who's had a difficult past. She's strong and resourceful though and I liked her immediately. The war makes things difficult for everyone and I always feel sad when I think about all the soldiers who have given their lives. It's good they won't be forgotten and I'm glad there are stories like Mistress of Greyladies to remember them.

Anna Jacobs has a lovely writing style that has an easy flow. I can't put her books down. When I start reading I have to keep going. I love the way she tells her stories, it's gentle and sweet. Greyladies is an unusual house with a fantastic history. I like the idea a lot and can't wait to read more about the next mistress. I highly recommend this series, it's warm and welcoming, just like Greyladies itself.

[E.A. Harwik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phoebie and Corin

Well only got book 3 to read in this trilogy and if it's as good as the first 2 I will be happy . Phoebie and Corbin met when he rescued her from her cousins son and from that moment they were both in love but to be mistress of greyladies Phoebie had a lot to overcome but one ringside was never dull definitely a 5 STAR review for the wonderful Anna Jacobs .

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't wait for the last in this trilogy. Another cracker of a story.

[Lauren Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book as well, and I’m loving the Greyladies Series.. beautiful descriptions and a intriguing plot makes a great book. Loved it!

[Margaret Galbraith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very good reviews here which echo how I felt. I thoroughly enjoyed this audio book and the narrator added to the experience. Well done to both author and narrator in making this a very enjoyable experience during the commute to work!

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this book. Easy to read and flows from the beginning to the end.

[Nyctexan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing story. Now I want to read the other books in the series.

[Gemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another sweet and easy read. Enjoyable, although one gripe is that Frank was remarkably similar to Norris (from Heir to Greyladies). Eagerly anticipating reading the third (and final) book.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great read from an author who never seems to fall to entertain.

[Frankie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this sitting on my book trolley for a while since finding it in a charity shop, but the moment I sat down to finally read it I couldn’t put it down, I was completely hooked!

This is my first book by Anna Jacobs and it certainly won’t be my last, even though this is the second book in the Greyladies series I was completely hooked, I didn’t feel as though I had missed out anything crucial to the series as what I needed to know concerning the first book was adequately covered.

Set during the start of the first world war, this follows two different women who are currently about to step onto a new path in their lives, both of which are entwined with the old and impressive Tudor manor house of Greyladies. Harriett is the current chatelaine but knows that her days at Greyladies are nearing their end and Pheobe without realising it yet, is set to be the next chatelaine, but she must find her feet to get her there first.

I liked both women instantly, though I was more in the Harriett camp, she is so self-assured and determined to keep her beloved Greyladies just how it was meant to be, I loved her battles with the ruthless matron who has been sent in to run Greyladies when it is taken over by the government for a military hospital. Harriett is a feisty woman who refuses to be bullied in her own home by a dragon.

I loved Harriett and Jacob’s relationship, they are adorable! I loved the little PDAs, the constant handholding, the little smiles, aw, it warmed this icy heart and I will definitely read their story in the first book.

It took a while to fully see Pheobe’s personality, I think she lost a lot of herself in the years caring for her mother, something all carers can relate to we do tend to lose a little of us as we care for a loved one. It’s only during her time working as a VAD that her true personality comes out, she always seemed so small and naive yet there is a strength well hidden. Pheobe and Corin are so sweet, but I felt as though the story ended suddenly without fully dealing with the problem that they faced.
I was left with more questions than a sense of a satisfactory ending, I loved the outcome of Harriett and her family, yet I felt as though Pheobe’s story lacked something, I have a feeling that these questions were left unanswered purposely so we have to read the third book. Very sneaky!

Finally, I was very surprised by the supernatural elements, but it really worked with the story and the mystery surrounding Greyladies.

Overall, a tenderly written, quick paced and enjoyable historical.

[Rachel Rice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first in the trilogy, not because it was necessarily written badly just that certain characters were carbon copies of one’s in the last book, namely the villain. The love story between Phoebe and Corin, though sweet, again seemed similar to that of Joseph and Harriet in the first book. I’m hoping that the last in the trilogy has some newer ideas! I did like the ‘ ghost’ in this book and how it reacts to people, nice idea! Anna Jacobs is great at writing characters generally, especially the villains 🤣🤣🤣I felt myself getting anger and feeling fear for Phoebe and then the ‘dragon’ of course I wish I could have climbed inside the book and slapped her! I do like the fact she writes such strong female leads in her books and she describes the patriarchy and attitudes to working class and disability very well.

[Coline Lulu · Rating 1 out of 5]

The storyline was such a duplicate of the first one. The hints were so thin-veiled I could guess from the first few chapters that Joseph would inherit and they would leave Greyladies. Many of the plot evolutions did not make sense either. Selwyn turning a slightly better leave with regards to his brother and suddenly falling back into the old "cripple-idiot" argument at the end. It just did not make sense and was so quickly (and unrealistically) solved it was useless. And that's just one of the many issues I have with this book. I found the first book enjoyable as an easy-read but this one did not work in my opinion.

[Ape · Rating 1 out of 5]

I picked this book up for free, I've read about three chapters and I'm dropping it. It is awful. I hadn't realised I'd picked up book two in a trilogy, so with the first chapter, I thought ok, maybe it's just assuming I already read the first one. But the problem continued with new characters and chapters. It feels like a rushed, bare-bones draft, like an elongated plot summary. There's no description, sense of character or atmosphere and the dialogue is clunky at best. And it's not gripping. No, I really don't care if matron gets her wicked way and destroys the ancient front door in the end. Maybe it'll pick up later on and the writing improve but I'm not wasting anymore time on this one.

[Jill Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I haven't read the 1st book of this trilogy, this story is stand alone, but my interest is piqued to read the earlier book and also the succeeding one. Set during WW1, it follows the stories of 2 women, Harriet and Phoebe, and also the story of the Greyladies manor house. Some interesting characters, including a ghost. A good read with a thread of suspense throughout the story.

[Sandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good, but not as good as the first one. One thing that I have found with Anna Jacobs' books is that there is often a lascivious cousin/step brother/family friend, who is intent on taking the heroine's virtue! It can get a bit much at times. It's not enough to stop me reading her books though, just a small issue.

[MRS S PUSEY · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I just love this author her stories are so good.The Greyladies seem to be just ordinary every day people but related to the Latimer family somehow they don't have to be rich just caring people that look after those in need.Great stories thank you Anna.

[christine bruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Th e best. Ever read for many months!

This book has been a heart stopping adventure, mystery and romance. Just what the doctor ordered in these trying times. Well done authorxxxxxx

[Mary Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as enjoyable as the first book...similar storyline for the leading ladies. Rotten young men threatening the leading ladies. I’m hoping the third book will be better!

[Lizzie Jefferies · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shame that the story was almost exactly the same as the first book, it put me off reading no 3

[Linda Hobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read from this trilogy

[Novelle Novels · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was so much like the authors others work I found it very predictable.

[Audrey Hunter · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is full of clichés and stereotypes. I couldn't develop interest in any of the characters and really struggled to finish this book. Very disappointing ☹️

[Mags · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 2nd book in this series, sometimes I just prefer a standalone book, the story continues with new characters, I did find it a but slow at times. But an ok story about war time.

[Lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heart warming and wonderful

[Corrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

really good read full of twist and turns

[Kathy E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific series very enjoyable read.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in this series and I'm looking forward to reading the third and final in the trilogy. Harriet and Joseph are living at Greyladies but the war has just broken out and the home has been taken over by the war effort. But when tragedy strikes Joseph's family, Harriet realizes her time of being the guardian of Greyladies is coming to a close. She must find a female Latimer to oversee the beautiful home before they leave, but how will she find her?

Phoebe Sinclair has been looking after her ailing mother for several years but when she passes away, Phoebe knows she must find work. Her mother's cousin lives in the same village and his stepson, Frank is determined he will marry Phoebe. She has no intention of even considering him. She finds work with a kind Austrian couple but when they are taken away as potential spies and sent to an internment camp, Frank starts increasing the pressure of marriage. Phoebe has no choice but to escape to London.

An enjoyable light read and perhaps a glimpse of how life was for the women during that period of time.

[Anne Harvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second in the Greyladies trilogy, about the mysterious and sometimes ghostly Greyladies where the current mistress is only the custodian of the house. In this one, Harriet Latimer, current custodian, has the feeling that she and her husband Joseph and their two young sons will have to leave shortly. When the house is requisitioned during WWI, this would seem to be happening sooner rather than later but to their surprise, they are allowed to stay on in the older part of the house. Meanwhile, orphaned Pheobe Sinclair is working in Swindon for an Austrian couple. When they are interned, she becomes a VAD. Throughout the story, she is pursued by her step-cousin, who is determined to marry her while she is in love with an army officer. The outcome is formulaic in that in attempting to rape her, Frank meets an untimely end and Pheobe is rescued by her army officer, to become the next mistress of Greyladies.