The Ties that Bind

by Lyn Andrews

Tessa O'Leary is the only daughter of a family of fatherless boys. When her mother dies she's her brothers' lifeline to survival. So for Tessa the privations of war are just another battle to be fought for a young woman who was born fighting...Elizabeth Harrison is oppressed by her shopkeeper mother's snobbish expectations and it seems that the coming war could offer her an escape from her family's emotional ties - but at what cost?

Genres: Fiction

352 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1999

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

[Anna Plishak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Перед нами драматична історія про дружбу і любов, про біль втрати і теплі обійми підтримки, про пошук свого місця у світі і про те, як війна руйнує усі плани та мрії і змінює людей.
⠀
У центрі твору дві подруги. Цілеспрямована і впевнена у собі Елізабет, яка робить усе можливе для здійснення власних мрій. І тиха Тесса, яка намагається вижити у жорстокому світі і виконати обіцянку, що вона дала матері, яку забрала тяжка хвороба. Ми спостерігаємо за дорослішанням цих дівчат, за тим, як вони підтримували одна одну навіть тоді, коли увесь світ був проти них, за їхнім першим коханням, за тим, як гідно вони переживали страшні часи війни, допомагаючи наблизити перемогу.
⠀
У книзі багато другорядних персонажів, але жоден із них не є зайвим. Події розвиваються логічно. Є декілька несподіваних сюжетних поворотів, які вражають, а подекуди й шокують.
⠀
Дія відбувається у Ліверпулі і авторці добре вдалося передати атмосферу міста і колорит його мешканців.
⠀
Читала книгу англійською. Труднощів з перекладом і розумінням не виникло.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining read, which was set in Liverpool before and during world war two. The story focuses on two friends, Tessa and Elizabeth who go through lots of heartache during their teenage years.
Not the best book I've read by Lyn Andrews, a bit too much death and I didn't feel it came to a proper ending.

[Angie Rhodes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyn Andrews has been called "The Catherine Cookson of Liverpool and when you read her books, you can see why.
Tessa O'Leary is a bright young girl,and the only daughter in a family of boys, when her "mam" dies it is left to Tessa , to bring the boys up, no easy thing when Colin the eldest brother, is a"bad un" always stealing, Along with her best friends Elizabeth, , Ginny , Johnny and Mike. Tessa manages to keep smiling, , and it's this friendship that, lasts through the war,
If you love a good family saga. you can't go wrong with any book by Lyn Andrews..

[Stefanie]

Over all I enjoyed this read. I don’t know why but I’m really into the war era stories so these novels have been great. HOWEVER. My one issue with this story was how Colin & Ginny were disposed of SO quickly & randomly. I could see they didn’t really have a future in the story so I suppose they did have to go but I really would have enjoyed seeing Colin go to jail instead. And Ginny moving in with her life. Also, what happened to the money?? Was that ever talked about & I missed it?

[wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome, gripping , raw emotions. Great read.

[vickie probert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable read

This is a lovely book to read the storyline is great and it is so detailed would really recommend this book