Far From Home

The Doorstep Girls #2

by Val Wood

When Georgiana Gregory and her maid, Kitty, make the long sea journey from their native Hull for New York, they hope to begin a new life in the freedom of the newly-formed United States of America.

Georgiana wants to escape from the confines of English life, and to savour a land of emancipation and opportunity. But in New York, she encounters a man passing himself off as a local mill-owner's son, Edward, who has abandoned Georgiana's sister and fled to America. Georgiana recognises the man standing before her as Edward's valet Robert - Edward himself appears to have vanished.

As Georgiana and Kitty pursue the adventures of the frontier, and Edward tries to flee his enemies, the dangers of this new country seem too much to cope with.

If you've liked books by Katie Flynn and Dilly Court, you'll love Val's heartwarming stories of triumph over adversity.

Genres: Historical

576 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2003

About the author

Valerie Wood

Since winning the Catherine Cookson Prize for Fiction for her first novel, The Hungry Tide, Val Wood has become one of the most popular authors in the UK. Born in the mining town of Castleford, Val came to East Yorkshire as a child and has lived in Hull and rural Holderness where many of her novels are set. She now lives in the market town of Beverley. When she is not writing, Val is busy promoting libraries and supporting many charities. Find out more about Val Wood's novels by visiting her website: www.valeriewood.co.uk

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was an average read for me,it was lacking in parts.could of been better.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommend this book. A really good read.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweeping historical epic relating the story of Georgiana Gregory and her maid Kitty who travels to America for a new and less controlled life as they think women's lives are more free and not as hard at this time in the USA.
But Georgiana finds herself more bogged down by promises and tasks burdened on her by relatives and friends than she did in the UK.
Asked by her cousin to search for her husband in New York as the errant hubby has gone AWOL when he left her thinking he would be happier with his mistress until she refuses to run away with him.
But along the way following the trail of Edward for her cousin Georgiana finds she loves the pioneering and country lifestyle, though hard work she finds she adapts well to the country and considers staying permanently, in part though this decision has a little to do with a half breed Indian she has fallen in love with but though her love is returned Lake, will not give up the trapping life leaving Georgiana unsure dissatisfied.
Meanwhile the runaway Edward is in MORE hot water when he is trapped into marriage with a rich plantation owner's daughter.
Can Georgiana finally find Edward so her cousin May can carry on with her life freely? Can she finally settle with Lake or is there someone nearer to her whose love she has carelessly overlooked due to her obsession with Lake?
A wonderful novel with so many individual stories running continuously throughout it that you fall in love with all the characters as they are so believable
Can they all find happiness? Or are they all just chasing the "American dream?"
Well worth reading for any fan of historical novels.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book by Val Wood that I have read and really ought to read more of her books. Makes for easy reading whilst sitting out in the garden for a couple of hours.

[Gillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read quite a few of Val Wood's books but this is by far my favourite. This one is not set in Hull for a change but over the Pond in America in the goldrush period (although there is a short section where the heroine returns to her native Hull briefly). There were so many aspects to this tale and although it was a love story in some ways it was so much more and I learned quite a lot about that period in history. All the characters were interesting and beautifully drawn. I really didn't want it to end.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

having listened to the first book, 'The Doorstep Girls', I had to listen to this, the second book in the series, well I'm so glad I did, with characters from the 1st book and new ones, up and downs, laughter and tears all make a wonderful read by the very talented Val Wood.
The narrator Tara is just perfect for it. now looking forward to book 3 'The Homecoming Girls'
definitely worth the 5☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️'s and a must read.

[irene currie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very emotional book

I started this book at Christmas time and thought it would be different rather than another Christmas story I was not prepared for the depth of the characters and the amount of tissues that I used if anyone hasn't read this story then I would highly recommend it

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

got this to read from me mam. it was a good read, nothing irritated me whilst reading, the story flowed and it kept my interest. not great literature but as an escape from everyday life sort of read it was pretty good.

[Irene Taute · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story of ethics and rewards for a life well lived

Anyone who enjoys a good story
I was able to see the beautiful places decribed and seemed as if I had been transported to a different world

[Crystal Karre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent!!

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Worth a read

A very different romance which I really enjoyed. I have read a couple of Val Woods books totally an enjoyable read.

[Anita Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Took quite a while for me to get into it but I persevered and the latter part of the book I couldnt put it down

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was so different from her usual books, I loved reading about the adventures in America

[KFK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Georgiana is such a fantastic woman. The description of America before the railways and roads was fantastic. The beautiful friendship, love, and travelling stories were heartwarming.

[Brenda Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this book 4.5 rating was good but wasn't keen on the ending.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got caught up in the story-line of this book. I can't call it 'great literature', but the story was engrossing, and I read it right through to the end. Some of the plot lines were pretty far-fetched in my opinion, but hey, it's a novel! A fun escape into what things could have been like for pioneers / explorers in the U.S.A in the mid-19th century, with a strong cast of characters and sub-plots..

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Update -- Feb. 2014. I came back to my earlier review and upgraded it from 3 to 4 stars, because I find that 2 years later, I still think of this story. Something from another book review I was reading just reminded me of this story, and I had to rack my brain for a while to remember which book it was. I finally remembered (surprisingly!) that it was a book by Val Wood, and from there I could identify it through my Goodreads book records. I figure that any book which can still evoke sights and smells and a feeling of intrigue for me 2 years after I've read it deserves at least 4 stars!

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it. Romantic and full of adventure..