What do you think?
Rate this book
Tread Softly, Alice
At the age of eighteen, Alice Ware is pretty, charming and impetuous. Back home in Yorkshire at the start of a new century, she is determined to seize any fresh opportunities and experiences that come her way. The arrival of a new neighbour, the elegant and scandalous Mrs Emma Cheevey, leads to visits from her two highly eligible soldier sons. Alice is instantly drawn to Matthew, the younger brother - and then Captain Steven Cheevey arrives home from South Africa, where he was part of the British expeditionary force at the Relief of Mafeking.Alice's choice is made, her future secure . . . until a reckless decision throws the lives of three people into turmoil. Reluctant to return home, she seeks refuge in the one place where she knows she will find peace, perhaps for ever. It will take a visit from the man who loves her to persuade Alice to reconsider and dare to live again.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 4, 2016
17 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Blair
56 books28 followersMy real name is Bill Spence. Jessica Blair came into being when my publisher, Piatkus, accepted my first historical saga and declared that, for various reasons, they would prefer to publish it under a female name and they suggested Jessica Blair.
I was born in Middlesbrough in 1923. I trained as a teacher but never followed the profession as war intervened. I served in the RAF as a bomb aimer doing thirty-six operational flights in Lancasters of 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron Bomber Command. After the war I was sent to Rhodesia by the RAF.
It was on the voyage to Durban that I wrote my first short story and was bitten by the writing bug. On return to England I wrote articles for newspapers and magazines and fulfilled my desire to write a novel by using some war time experiences as background.
My second book was a Western and 36 were published between 1960 and 1993. During that time two more war novels and a romance appeared in print. Along with my wife, Joan, I wrote three books dealing with aspects of Yorkshire. I started a review column in the Yorkshire Gazette and Herald and that is now in its fiftieth year.
Visits to Whitby, on the Yorkshire coast, sparked off an interest in whaling and ten years intermittent research into the subject resulted in the publication of an illustrated history. It was from this study that the Jessica Blair novels arose. The first of these appeared in 1992 and a new phase in my writing career began.
There have been twenty-five Jessica Blair novels published to date (February 2015) One more is with my publisher, Piatkus, an imprint of the Little Brown Book Group. All Jessica Blair novels are available in hardback, paperback, ebook, audio download, and Large Print.
Writing was a part-time occupation until 1977 when, with the full support of my wife, Joan, it became full-time. Throughout my whole writing career I have had her, and my four children's, unstinting support, advice, and inspiration.
I was born in Middlesbrough in 1923. I trained as a teacher but never followed the profession as war intervened. I served in the RAF as a bomb aimer doing thirty-six operational flights in Lancasters of 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron Bomber Command. After the war I was sent to Rhodesia by the RAF.
It was on the voyage to Durban that I wrote my first short story and was bitten by the writing bug. On return to England I wrote articles for newspapers and magazines and fulfilled my desire to write a novel by using some war time experiences as background.
My second book was a Western and 36 were published between 1960 and 1993. During that time two more war novels and a romance appeared in print. Along with my wife, Joan, I wrote three books dealing with aspects of Yorkshire. I started a review column in the Yorkshire Gazette and Herald and that is now in its fiftieth year.
Visits to Whitby, on the Yorkshire coast, sparked off an interest in whaling and ten years intermittent research into the subject resulted in the publication of an illustrated history. It was from this study that the Jessica Blair novels arose. The first of these appeared in 1992 and a new phase in my writing career began.
There have been twenty-five Jessica Blair novels published to date (February 2015) One more is with my publisher, Piatkus, an imprint of the Little Brown Book Group. All Jessica Blair novels are available in hardback, paperback, ebook, audio download, and Large Print.
Writing was a part-time occupation until 1977 when, with the full support of my wife, Joan, it became full-time. Throughout my whole writing career I have had her, and my four children's, unstinting support, advice, and inspiration.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 24, 2018
Historical fiction. Love triangle. Multiple perspectives.
Story: Young Alice Ware has just returned home to York after spending some time abroad in France. Her parents, Sir Robert and Lady Cecilia, welcome her home. The three discuss Deepdale Manor, the empty stately home on their trip home. Meanwhile, Emma Cheevey sits alone in her own home miles away in Scotland, while her husband and sons are away in the military. She has just received news from a lawyer that due to circumstances, she is the closest living relative and it is she who has inherited Deepdale Manor. The intertwining circumstances that result leads to romance in a setting reminiscent of Downton Abbey.
Characters: Alice has just finished school and is very proper and sweet. Her parents are quite wealthy and want her to be independent. Emma is old
and wise and has the chance to start life anew with circumstances that have fallen into her lap.
Language: Atmosphere leads in this book, with every chapter subtly filled with sentences of the landscape, butlers, maids and housekeepers. Also, the choice of plot in the latter half of the book is something not seen in many books and deserves recognition.
This is my first Jessica Blair book and I was delighted. I didn't agree with the ending but I still had a pleasant time reading the book and finding myself in lovely landscapes and settings.
Read this if you like: Historical fiction, Downton Abbey, love triangles, life changing decisions.
Story: Young Alice Ware has just returned home to York after spending some time abroad in France. Her parents, Sir Robert and Lady Cecilia, welcome her home. The three discuss Deepdale Manor, the empty stately home on their trip home. Meanwhile, Emma Cheevey sits alone in her own home miles away in Scotland, while her husband and sons are away in the military. She has just received news from a lawyer that due to circumstances, she is the closest living relative and it is she who has inherited Deepdale Manor. The intertwining circumstances that result leads to romance in a setting reminiscent of Downton Abbey.
Characters: Alice has just finished school and is very proper and sweet. Her parents are quite wealthy and want her to be independent. Emma is old
and wise and has the chance to start life anew with circumstances that have fallen into her lap.
Language: Atmosphere leads in this book, with every chapter subtly filled with sentences of the landscape, butlers, maids and housekeepers. Also, the choice of plot in the latter half of the book is something not seen in many books and deserves recognition.
This is my first Jessica Blair book and I was delighted. I didn't agree with the ending but I still had a pleasant time reading the book and finding myself in lovely landscapes and settings.
Read this if you like: Historical fiction, Downton Abbey, love triangles, life changing decisions.
June 21, 2017
This is the first book I've read by Jessica Blair & enjoyed it . A great historical romance with a great twist and was disappointed in how the book seemed to quickly finish up and tie all the loose end , I would have liked a bit more to it
February 4, 2016
I love Jessica Blair's books, so I was really excited to read this one. Tread Softly Alice is a beautifully crafted romance novel, with characters that I found myself rooting for right away. If you enjoy historical romance books, then you'll love Matthew and Alice!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews