Heart and Home

by Lyn Andrews

Heart and Home is a poignant saga of shop girls in 1930s Liverpool from Lyn Andrews, the Sunday Times bestselling author of From Liverpool With Love and The House on Lonely Street. Not to be missed by readers of Dilly Court and Katie Flynn.

Cathie Kinrade is all too used to hardship. Growing up on the Isle of Man in the 1930s, she sees her da set sail daily on dangerous seas while her mam struggles to put food on the table. Cathie has little hope for her own future, until a chance encounter changes her fortunes for ever.

Fiercely determined, Cathie leaves for Liverpool, a bustling modern city full of possibility. With a lively job as a shop girl in a grand department store, and a firm friend in kind-hearted Julia, Cathie has found her niche. But the discovery of an explosive secret could put everything at risk. And when love comes calling, Cathie's new friends fear that she may be set to trust the wrong man with her heart...

Genres: Fiction

384 pages, Paperback

First published December 3, 2015

About the author

Lyn Andrews is one of the the UK's top one hundred paper-back bestsellers. Born and brought up in Liverpool, she is the daughter of a policeman who also married a policeman. After becoming the mother of triplets, she took some time off from her writing whilst she raised her children. Shortlisted for the romantic Novelists' Association Award in 1993, she has now written twenty-one hugely successful novels. Lyn Andrews divides her time between Merseyside and Ireland.

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart and Home is an excellent read for when you want to sit back and relax with a story that is not too taxing and just lately, for one reason or another, I have found myself wanting to do just that for a touch of light, romantic family and friend based escapism. We follow Cathie Kinrade as she swaps life as part of a large fishing family in Ramsey on the Isle of Man for life as a shop assistant in Liverpool’s Lewis’s store in the 1930s.

I don’t think I have read a book set in the Isle of Man before and the author really did a good job of portraying the lifestyle of a family in a traditional seaside setting, struggling to make their living. However, I loved 1930s Liverpool, especially the descriptions of Lewis’s. It must have seemed like the golden age of shopping at the time with its seven storeys, not forgetting the menagerie on the roof. I can well understand why Cathie was desperate to escape the drudgery of the fish markets for life in this magical sounding emporium. On a side note, I had picked this up from previous reads, but it is quite a surreal thought that at one time the Bon Marche chain was considered upmarket!

There is a lot of story packed into the read, which really moves at a good pace. It never gets boring as we follow Cathie’s fortunes, with plenty of drama and romance in a story that is not as predictable as you might expect.

I received an advance review copy from the publishers via Netgalley for review purposes.

[ReadAlongWithSue ★⋆. ࿐࿔catching up · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these kind of reads where I can just get a nice hot chocolate drink put my feet up on a cold evening kick back and dive into one of Lyn Andrews books. It’s like coming home.
No effort, just read and enjoy the story.

This one is of no exception.

Based around the 1930s Cathie watches her father (da) set of in his boat everyday working the seas of Liverpool trying to earn a living. Her mum struggling to put food on the table.
Is this going to be Cathie future or is there more to life she can achieve.

Cathie life does look like its on the turn as she meets an unexpected turn in her life, but, at what cost.

Loved it!

[Louise Wilson]

Cathie Kincade lives in the Isle of Man with her Mum, Dad and siblings. Her Dads a fisherman and her Mun struggles to make ends meet. Cathie has left school and the only job she can get is gutting fish which she loathes doing so determined to better herself she sets off for Liverpool where she get a job in Lewis department store. Julia is her Supervisor and the pair quickly become friends and Julia offers her a room to rent in her home. Though she has left the hardship of the Isle of Man things are not plain sailing in Liverpool either. She makes a few wrong choices will the wrong man steal her heart.

I would like to thank Net Galley, Headline and the author Lyn Andrews for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Annemarie Farthing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Euch! Fish Steps 😲
No wonder she wanted a better life.

[Kelly Furniss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book set in the 1930's follows fifteen year old Cathie Kinrade as she escapes her struggling life of hardship and her dead end job gutting fish on the Isle of Man in order to follow her dream of working as a shop girl in Liverpool and sending more money home to help support her family.
Liverpool presents it's own problems though. First she uncovers secret information about her landlord/landlady's Son which places her in a very uncomfortable situation and then she moves in with her friend, falls for the wrong man and has to deal with her trouble maker Sisters behaviour.
All through this book I routed for Cathie, the characterisation was so good and she was such a likeable girl. The story was well written and from the first page it had me hooked as I wanted to know if everything would turn out ok in the end and she would have her happy ever after. I literally read the whole book in two chunks over two days as I became sucked in to the story.
I am a big fan of saga books and this did not disappoint
I would highly recommend.
My thanks go to the author, publisher and Netgalley in providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Ali Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely read! I love these types of sagas. They are an easy read yet filled with drama, romance and tragedy. The characters were all easy to warm too and although you know there is usually a happy ending it is never easy getting there. This one again set between Liverpool and the Isle of Man was no exception and it was nostaligic to read about Lewis's Department Store and also other names such as Owen Owen and even T.J. Hughes which I never realised had been around so long. A definate recommmended read which warms the cockles of your heart.

[Kathy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good read from Lyn Andrews yet again.

[Angela Free · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways for my first Lyn Andrews. I'm afraid I didn't find it very exciting. What's with the dots? Lots of sentences were broken with ... I found it very annoying.

[Jackie Boldon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is set in the Isle of Man a place I have never been to and Liverpool where I spent 4 years when I was at university and had my first job.
Set in 1933 not 1981 it was a very different Liverpool to the one I experienced but the excitement of Cathie Kinraid when she arrived in Liverpool and started work in Lewis’s fancy department store paralleled my own excitement when I moved from my small Yorkshire village to start University.
The book is an easy read with a simple story line. A bit annoying at times in it,s overly straightforward writing style and use of terms like “fast women” and “fallen women” but no doubt reflects the language and attitudes on the 1930’.
However you can,t help but like Cathy and wish her well but get annoyed with her sister. Tragedy strikes but they all (probably) live happily ever after.
I was in a hurry to get to the end but would not have skipped a page or changed the book for a more sophisticated read so maybe it deserved an extra star but overall I think not. Other authors I have rad recently such as Tracey Chavalier and The Last Runaway definitely deserved more stars.

[Julie Mccann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heart and Home was a nice relaxing book about a young girl who lived on the Isle of Man and dreamt of a better life. When the opportunity came along she took it and moved to Liverpool for a better life 30th book tells about her life in Liverpool and how hard it was for her without her family .

[NarniaGirl · Rating 2 out of 5]

Received through GoodReads First Reads for reviewing - thank you.
This is a light though very readable escapism story of a poor family on the Isle of Man. Not an exacting read but good to pass the time.

[alison campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely brilliant book

I loved the fact that this book is about family, love and life. I have been a fan of Lyn Andrews for a long time and I love that her books are all set in Liverpool.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful historical saga that's perfect to read on a cold autumn evening- grab a cuppa and a chocolate biscuit. This author sets the scene so well and the characters soon become old friends. a great read.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually, the Lyn Andrews book I read also takes place in Liverpool in the 1930s: The Girls from Mercy View. As a dear friend lived there during those overcast days, I greatly enjoyed this bitter sweet novel. And I hope to find more of this author's books.

[Victoria Frow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good. Enjoyed the story from start to finish. The story just flowed and as its about places that are familiar to me its easier to follow the story and know the characters.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took this camping with me. it kept me glued to it. About a girl from the isle of man leaving to find work in Liverpool. Her sister follows 2 years later. Very good, i would recommend it.

[Pauline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book

[Natalya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I somehow knew that I'd really like this book, and I did. From the family (who I loved, particularly Jacob) to the department store itself, everything about this book was great. The one thing that wasn't for me, and it hardly matters really, was the love interest - he wasn't the most appealing I've ever read.

[Sarah Tysall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read. Not overly complex, but enjoyed reading this book

[Jane Woodcock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story. Quite powerful really. It flowed well. Loved the characters. Gave a good insight in how tough it was in wartimes.

[Pauline Chamberlain · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good saga about a young girl making her fortune in Liverpool after leaving her family behind in the Isle of Man

[Mrs E A Bray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice easy read

Enjoyed this book easy to read and relax with . Like Lynn Andrews books they are nearly all worth reading

[E A Stevenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good read

Had a couple of late nights with this story, as I found it hard to put down wanting to find what happens next

[Julie Round · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable family story.

[Annette Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lyn Andrews is such a good author, I've read several of her books now and she never fails to deliver. Heart and Home is essentially the story of Cathie Kinrade who through a stroke of good fortune was able to break out of the mould of lack by leaving behind the Isle of Man and the only few dreadful jobs available to her on the island and go to work at Lewis's department store in Liverpool.

There her good fortune continues when she is given a position in the millinery department with Julia Vickers and ends up living in Julia's home. Trouble brews when her younger sister Ella comes over from the Isle of Man to live and work with Cathie and she dates one of Cathie's unsuitable ex boyfriends.

I loved all the characters but especially Cathie, her brother Jacob, her good friend Julia and Mrs Fleetwood-Hayes. Lyn Andrews created a very interesting character in Ella Kinrade too who could only be described as a brat. She should have been made to stay on the island until she displayed a bit more maturity and a bit less rebellion. She ended up paying for those faults dearly.

[R Nippress · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story with the odd twist .

[Jenny L · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second Lyn Andrews I have read and just like the last, it is a gentle tale about young women finding their way in the world - this one set in Liverpool in the early 1930s. Pleasant and enjoyable.

[Book Addict Shaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lyn Andrews is one of my favourite saga authors, but it's been a while since I picked up one of her books and so I was very excited to read Heart and Home. Heart and Home tells the story of Cathie Kinrade who, born into poverty and extreme hardship in the Isle of Man, moves to Liverpool with dreams of bettering her life and finds herself a job at the bustling and hugely popular department store, Lewis's and a friend for life in colleague Julia. Things muddle along rather comfortable for Cathie, with a possible chance of love on the horizon. That is until the discovery of a terrible secret threatens to ruin everything.

Lyn Andrews writes beautifully evocative stories which truly capture these times gone by and it is so easy to picture what Lyn describes to us and I always feel a great sense of relief that thankfully (for a majority of us at least) they are definitely times that are gone for good. Being from Liverpool is what first led to me becoming interested in saga stories, and because they are loved by both my Nan and Mum. Lewis's was of course a very famous department store in the city, now closed down and turned into a variety of different establishments housed within the old building, it was fascinating and hugely enjoyable to read a story where it was at the top of its game, and knowing the area and the story itself it was very easy to visualise everything in my mind.

Cathie is such a wonderful character, and one that I both believed in and rooted for the whole way through the story, wanting her to overcome the odds and hopefully have her happy ever after. The story and writing was a bit slow in places but coming to the story from a mixture of crime, thrillers and women's fiction I suppose that's to be expected. But still, I often pick up these stories for the escapism and that comfortable feeling that you get from reading a saga novel and that's what Lyn Andrews never fails to deliver. I can't wait for the next one.

[Leona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, my thanks to the publisher (Headline) and the author (Lyn Andrews) for an advanced kindle copy of this book via netgalley.

Every time Ms. Andrews publishes a new book I just can't wait to read it, and this one was no exception. I consider these books my 'comfort' books , as they always have a great story attached to them.

In 'Heart and home ' we meet Cathie Kincade. Cathie lives in Ramsay, on the Isle of Man with her parents, brothers and sisters. Life is tough for them and they struggle to make ends meet. When Cathie leaves school at the age of 15 she begins a job which she hates and has a dream to go across the water to Liverpool and get a job there.

Cathies, dream finally happens and she moves to Liverpool where she gets a job in a department store. She shares a house with a girl who also works in same store and they become firm friends. The book goes on to deal with Cathie and her life in Liverpool. There is love, laughs , sadness and drama in this book.

I loved this book and would recommend it to people who like these saga type books.

[Eileen Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyn Andrews always writes such vivid stories of Liverpool in the 1930's and the strong female characters that populate the rundown streets of that lovely city.
This is about shopgirls that are living an independent, enjoyable life with whatever fate throws at them.
A great heartwarming story!
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Headline via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.