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The Families of Fairley Terrace Sagas #3
The Girl Below Stairs
'Believable characters, a vivid sense of time and place, thoroughly enjoyable' Rosie GoodwinThe emotionally gripping third book in the beloved classic series from 'one of the nation's favourite saga author' ( Lancashire Post ) in the grand tradition of Katie Flynn, Dilly Court and Josephine Cox.Jennie's heartwarming and heartrending sagas are richly praised!'Jennie Felton knows how to tell a cracking story and keep the reader gripped... if you enjoy reading books in the style of Catherine Cookson then this one is for you' Books With Wine and Chocolate'Another superbly woven and character-rich story from a saga author who writes from the heart' Peterborough Telegraph'Packed full of Jennie's signature strong heroines, this book will keep you guessing' MNR JournalEdie Cooper has grown up at Fairley Terrace, surrounded by a loving family. Now she spends her days working as lady's maid to Christina, the adopted daughter of the powerful Fairley family, and her nights dreaming of a life with handsome local lad Charlie Oglethorpe. Although broken-hearted when Charlie leaves to make his fortune in London, Edie finds consolation in her friendship with Christina, who asks for her help in uncovering the mystery of her true parentage. But someone in the grand house will stop at nothing to keep the long-buried secrets hidden. Will Edie be able to protect Christina? And will she find her own path to happiness with Charlie?Don't miss Jennie's the rest Families of Fairley Terrace series, which begins with Maggie's story in All The Dark Secrets and continues with Lucy's story in The Miner's Daughter , Edie's story in The Girl Below Stairs , Carina's story in The Widow's Promise and Laurel's story in The Sister's Secret .Plus look out for Jennie's page-turning standalones - The Stolen Child, A Mother's Sacrifice and The Smuggler's Girl - coming soon!
- GenresFiction
492 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 25, 2016
17 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 6, 2021
Brilliant can’t wait to read the next one.
March 18, 2017
This is the third book in The Families of Fairley Terrace saga. Each book is the story of one family who live in the terrace but they are easily read as stand alone books.
The story begins in 1895 when a baby is found on the steps of the local Catholic Church on Christmas Eve in a little village in Somerset.
Fifteen years later Edie Cooper who is in service at Fairley Hall as a maid is being promoted to a Lady's Maid to Christina, Lady Elizabeth's adopted fifteen year old daughter.
The book is full of secrets and lies, mysteries and unrequited love. There are good people and bad within both the upper and the lower class. Money does not make you a nice person and neither does the lack of it.
Trying to forget her lost love Edie throws herself into finding out who Christina's real mother is but in doing so she could also discover secrets belonging to someone else. Danger lurks when that person will stop at nothing to get want they want.
Edie is a character you take to straightaway. She's kind,hardworking and longing for someone who can never be hers.
Quilla, Lady Elizabeth's maid is the character you love to hate. She is a vile woman who makes life hard for those around her.
One of the characters Julia becomes involved in the suffragette movement and I thought that was an interesting part of the book. Goodness,women were so downtrodden back then and it seemed to be frowned upon to go anywhere or do anything without a man by your side.
I thought I had guessed some of the secrets,but I was wrong. There are a few surprises towards the end that made this book hard to put down and it did have a great ending.
I love reading a series of books as each time a new one is written it's like pulling over a familiar comfy blanket and curling up at the fireside for a cracking good read.
The story begins in 1895 when a baby is found on the steps of the local Catholic Church on Christmas Eve in a little village in Somerset.
Fifteen years later Edie Cooper who is in service at Fairley Hall as a maid is being promoted to a Lady's Maid to Christina, Lady Elizabeth's adopted fifteen year old daughter.
The book is full of secrets and lies, mysteries and unrequited love. There are good people and bad within both the upper and the lower class. Money does not make you a nice person and neither does the lack of it.
Trying to forget her lost love Edie throws herself into finding out who Christina's real mother is but in doing so she could also discover secrets belonging to someone else. Danger lurks when that person will stop at nothing to get want they want.
Edie is a character you take to straightaway. She's kind,hardworking and longing for someone who can never be hers.
Quilla, Lady Elizabeth's maid is the character you love to hate. She is a vile woman who makes life hard for those around her.
One of the characters Julia becomes involved in the suffragette movement and I thought that was an interesting part of the book. Goodness,women were so downtrodden back then and it seemed to be frowned upon to go anywhere or do anything without a man by your side.
I thought I had guessed some of the secrets,but I was wrong. There are a few surprises towards the end that made this book hard to put down and it did have a great ending.
I love reading a series of books as each time a new one is written it's like pulling over a familiar comfy blanket and curling up at the fireside for a cracking good read.
August 26, 2024
I think my love of dark romance came a little from the tumultuous situations that occur in the historical sagas I used to read most. Although not dark in themselves they are always full of betrayal, secrets, love and usually a bully or two.
Loved this one it was full of hidden secrets and unrequited love!
Just goes to show..the truth always comes out and those who cause harm and choose to go through life just being mean to all usually meet with karma in the end.
Loved this one it was full of hidden secrets and unrequited love!
Just goes to show..the truth always comes out and those who cause harm and choose to go through life just being mean to all usually meet with karma in the end.
July 8, 2017
a very enjoyable book to read. I liked Edie a lot , and hated Raymond ( horrible man) . I liked the ending Raymond was going to have , it gave me some satisfaction and I admit I grinned when the realisation came to me immediately.
February 7, 2019
Charlie and Edie
Another really enjoyable book these saga books are great so pleased I found this author now onto book 4 each book is about a different family from fairley terrace each book has its shares of drama murder excitement and love well worth 5 STARS .
Another really enjoyable book these saga books are great so pleased I found this author now onto book 4 each book is about a different family from fairley terrace each book has its shares of drama murder excitement and love well worth 5 STARS .
May 28, 2017
Another great read by Jennie Felton.
March 23, 2018
Well written by the author. Living in the area where Janet Tanner (Her real name) lives I like to visualize the site of the action and being of an age similar to her I find it difficult to fault her factually
I'm now reading Book 4
I'm now reading Book 4
September 17, 2019
A good saga set in the time of a maid in the late Victorian/early Edwardian era
December 22, 2019
This would usually be the kind of story I love but for some reason it just wasn't...I skimmed through a lot of it just to be done.
November 4, 2022
I really enjoyed this book from start to finish it had a good storyline but there were a few unanswered questions Which I would presume may be answered within the next book.
July 3, 2024
Loved this book
April 22, 2025
Loved this book couldn’t put it down can’t wait to read the next one
September 29, 2016
This is the second book in the Fairley Terrace that I've read and Jennie draws such wonderful characters that you are soon drawn into the story.
This one covers Edie, who starts work as a Ladies maid to the 15 year old Christina at the big house. She has her share of heartbreak when her childhood 'dream' moves to London without a second glance. She throws herself into her work and is involved in a mystery surrounding her charge that seems to be related to her own family in some way. It's a page turner and a really warm read.
She has her work cut out keeping Christina on track and the suffragette movement is featured which adds interest. I do love Jennie's writing style and will be keen to read more.
This one covers Edie, who starts work as a Ladies maid to the 15 year old Christina at the big house. She has her share of heartbreak when her childhood 'dream' moves to London without a second glance. She throws herself into her work and is involved in a mystery surrounding her charge that seems to be related to her own family in some way. It's a page turner and a really warm read.
She has her work cut out keeping Christina on track and the suffragette movement is featured which adds interest. I do love Jennie's writing style and will be keen to read more.
April 15, 2017
A wonderful book of life below stairs in the early twentieth century. I was there with Edie, as she served as a maid and then personal maid to Christina. i held my breath, when she was reunited with Charlie and was thrilled when her dreams came true.
April 17, 2017
This is the 3rd in The Fairley Terrace saga and what a corker it is! There is just as much suspense and family secrets in this one as in the others, so I couldn't wait to get started!
Edie Cooper is working as a maid for the powerful Fairley family and is asked to become a Lady's Maid to Lady Elizabeth's adopted daughter Christina. Although Edie is overjoyed and very proud to be asked to take on this very responsible role, she knows she has her work cut out with looking after the very immature and wayward Christina.
When Christina starts asking Edie to help her find out what happened on the night of her birth, Christmas Eve, when she was found supposedly, by Edie's mother on the steps of the Vicarage, Edie starts unravelling some secrets that she wishes she hadn't. Could her own mother be more involved in what happened on that Christmas Eve than she is letting on?
Meanwhile Edie has dreams of growing old with her neighbour Charlie, but he seems to have other plans. He wants to head off to the bright lights of London to make his fortune, but has no intentions of taking Edie with him.
What I love about this book, as with the others in the series, is the twists and turns involving the characters and the author has brilliantly intertwined them to keep you guessing as to who could be Christina's real mother as well as the other characters who are living at the great house. They are certainly not as innocent as they seem!
Thank you Jennie Felton for yet another great part to this series. I really am enjoying reading about the different families and what happened to them after the mining disaster that ripped the heart out of Fairley Terrace.
Edie Cooper is working as a maid for the powerful Fairley family and is asked to become a Lady's Maid to Lady Elizabeth's adopted daughter Christina. Although Edie is overjoyed and very proud to be asked to take on this very responsible role, she knows she has her work cut out with looking after the very immature and wayward Christina.
When Christina starts asking Edie to help her find out what happened on the night of her birth, Christmas Eve, when she was found supposedly, by Edie's mother on the steps of the Vicarage, Edie starts unravelling some secrets that she wishes she hadn't. Could her own mother be more involved in what happened on that Christmas Eve than she is letting on?
Meanwhile Edie has dreams of growing old with her neighbour Charlie, but he seems to have other plans. He wants to head off to the bright lights of London to make his fortune, but has no intentions of taking Edie with him.
What I love about this book, as with the others in the series, is the twists and turns involving the characters and the author has brilliantly intertwined them to keep you guessing as to who could be Christina's real mother as well as the other characters who are living at the great house. They are certainly not as innocent as they seem!
Thank you Jennie Felton for yet another great part to this series. I really am enjoying reading about the different families and what happened to them after the mining disaster that ripped the heart out of Fairley Terrace.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews