Emily

Emily #1

by Valerie Wood

Betrayed, imprisoned, tried and transported to Australia, Emily's life seems finished until she is reunited with the one man who can save her from her misery and bring her wealth and happiness.

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Audiobook

510 pages, Paperback

First published February 3, 2000

About the author

Val Wood, formerly published as Valerie Wood is the award winning author of romantic historical novels set in and around Hull | City of Culture 2017

Val Wood

Reviews

[Jacqueline · Rating 4 out of 5]

i really loved this book!ok, so the ending may have tied up too nicely for some more cynical people but the whole book kept me intrigued from the very start, following the story of this poor girl who gets sent away from home at five,has to start work as a servant at fourteen and from then on has a horribly difficult life!the reason this book worked for me was that the author didnt romanticise the past in the way that some do,she wasnt afraid to tell of the grit and the class differences of that era,and used them to her advantage. I was sorry when i finished this book,thats how much i liked it and emily herself!

[suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to on audible 14 hrs 9 mins, narrator Anne Dover.

First time ever listening to a saga, I read a couple of Catherine Cookson’s books in my 20’s, but I’ve never read or listening to any story like it since.

This was a story about Emily, a young girl of five who is sent to her Granny Edwards, as her Da is dying and her mum and Joe get sent to the poor house. Later in life Emily is sent into service and an awful fate befalls her. She is wrongly accused of a crime and sent as a convict to Australia. Eventually Captain Linton manages to get a pardon for Emily and she is free to go back home to England.

This was a wonderful story and the narrator really did this book justice. I would definitely try more of this authors books. I had tears at the end when Emily was finally re-united with Sam.

The only thing I would have liked was an Epilogue after Emily and Captain Linton married.

[~ Cariad ~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love these epic, historic romantic sagas on audiobook, this one was beautifully narrated, the story flowed stunningly.

[Shirley Bishop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant storyline.

A wonderful storyline which held my Interest throughout the entire book from cover to cover. The story followed Emily and other characters through the hardest and happiest times with great hardships but also leading to great happiness. It was hard to put the book down at times due to the exciting, for me, but so hard for Emily, circumstances Emily found herself in especially the loss if her stillborn child and then her incarceration in gaol and then her transportation to another world. Her love of the Australian life and then her final homecoming. A wonderful book from beginning to end. Keep up the good work Val Wood, your books give so much enjoyment to your readers and put other authors in your shadow.

[Teagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was so perfectly written, i’m very fond of this era when it comes to setting a time period for a story. Many of these become samey and boring but this was not. The adjectives were not overused at all (which often happens), each part of the story just kept me really engaged and i began to love many of the characters. The story showing Emily from a young girl to a young adult was really great as well. I think this would be my favourite story by Val Wood.

I would love there to be a book about Meg because her character and character development was super interesting.

I hope to read more of Valerie’s books. I preferred this a lot over the rivermaid,

[Chris Lindert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily’s story starts in poverty stricken early nineteenth century English where she is sent to an unknown relative’s house at the age of five when the family is headed for the Workhouse when her father dies. There she is taken in, acquires an education and finds a situation as a house servant. Along the way she makes a good impression on a number of people who are able to help her after she has been wrongly found guilty of crimes and transported to Australia.
A very interesting historical read.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and would thoroughly recommend.

[Lorna Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly good

After a rather long and drawn out start, the story picked up and i could not stop reading! I will definately be reading more books by this author.

[Cheryll · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a great book! Such a horrendous tale - but I once I got into the story I couldn't put it down! I felt so sorry for Emily and I do hope Hugo rots in hell!!!

[mois reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily

A fantastic book reading about Emily and all that happened to her she was one strong lady well deserved 5 STARS

[Rowlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story of hardship, transportation and ultimately love for young Emily who rises above her wretched circumstances.

[De Beresford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily

I really enjoyed reading this novel. It held me to the very end. Would certainly read more of the Author 's novels.

[mrs ruth mason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable

Lives this book. Good storylines and well written by the author. Didn't want to put it down. Looking forward to reading the next book by this author.

[Margaret Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Val Wood book but it certainly won’t be my last. I thoroughly enjoyed every page I turned and I loved all the unexpected twists in it. It would make a good mini-series on TV!!

[E A Stevenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read,

Found this book hard to put down resulting in some late nights . Will be reading more from Val Brown

[Ana María Llamas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy crudo pero a la vez muy fantasioso. Me gustó mucho

[Kay Lean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would thoroughly recommend this book..... couldn't put it down! I love Val Woods anyway but this particular book was especially enjoyable. A " good yarn" with a fitting ending just what we need in these trying times.

[ROSEMARY ELIZABETH FAULKNER · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful

This was so hard to put down the emotions really got to you brilliant read
Just couldn't wait to know the outcome

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A riveting read of poverty, injustice, and love.

[Raquel Salustio · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic novel that sometimes resembles a South American soap opera. There are moments when there's nothing like a good story of injustice, destiny and love with a good old humble Heroe.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book one I couldn't put down.

[Jenika Ioffreda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very enjoyable book, sometimes a bit too much on the fairy-tale-style with no magic but too many happy coincidences.
Emily is a nice heroine, a servant girl who is sent away from home when she was barely 5 and that grows up in a fine young girl with a huge heart and a very sweet nature.
I liked how all the horrible things happened to her (rape, stillbirth, false accuses, unjust imprisonment and exile) didn't really change her into a bitter person but she kept opening her heart to people around her.
Also I quite liked two secondary characters, Meg and Joe (and their romance actually seemed a bit more down-to-earth than the romance of Emily and Phillip. (I mean, come on, Philip saw Emily only a couple of times and he falls in love so much that he follows her on the other side of the world without telling her anything? Too fairy-tale-style here, too many happy coincidences...)
Anyway it was an entertaining and pleasant read.
my rate: 3.5 stars.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and would have given it 3 and a half stars if that was an option. It tells the story of a young English servant girl and her struggles in life. I like that the story portrayed a servant instead of the typical heiress. The only reason that I didn't give the book four stars was simply that it had much too much of a fairy tale ending. I like happy endings but this ending overshot happy for me.

[Louise Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it's the second time I've read it and I love it just as much. It's about a young girl who goes through her childhood and womanhood poor and transported for a crime she didn't commit only to find love and family on the way

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this after "going home" and thought something seemed familiar ...I should have read this one first. It was fasinating the account on the ship going to Australia and how life was then. I would recommend this book I read it in 2 days as it was so interesting.

[Arianna Akauola]

This was a GREAT book!!! 2 thumbs up 8D

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely superb and thoroughly enjoyable and after finding there is a part 2 Going Home I will set about finding it so the story will continue. I was intrigued at every page, a lovely little book which I will read again down the track