From a popular, bestselling author. When four-year-old Sadie Smith, born with a degenerative hip, arrives at the Dr Barnardo's home, little does she realise that she will never see her beloved family again. In 1927, fully cured, she starts a new life in Canada, but life in Ontario is far from perfect. All Sadie has for comfort are her treasured scarlet ribbons, given to her by her mother. From parlour maid to pilot, office clerk to managing director, Sadie has to draw on all her courage in her struggle to find the happiness that eluded her as a child.
Iain Blair was born on 12 August 1942 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor and writer, married with the also writer Jane Blanchard. Initially he wrote plays for theatre and television, but later began to write novels. He started out writing suspense novels as Iain Blair, but after being unsuccessful with this genre, switched to writing popular historical romance fiction sagas. But according to his Web site, Iain Blair's publishers decided he'd sell far more books simply by being published as a woman because is a women's fiction genre. "I was given absolutely no choice in the matter. They'd decided on a sex change and even the name. So that was that. Emma I became and Emma I've stayed." His true identity remained a secret until 1998 when his novel Flower of Scotland was nominated for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association Awards, which required him to admit to being the author. He passed away on 3 July 2011 in Torquay, Devon, England.
I never re-read books but I have read this book 3 times during my life so far and will no doubt read again in a few years. Such a great book that has truly imprinted in my heart
This book promised so much and delivered nothing. The book started perfectly, deep, scarring, strong, practical and real enough for you to believe it. If I could, I wouldn't even give it a single star.
But then the writing, plot, plot twists, dialogues & characters all became so fake, pretentious, obvious, annoying and CLICHE. Even fiction has to be something you can believe in. I just HAD to stop it and jump read it through ending.
I read a review here, which stated a fact visible in almost all romance novels that the main character is always right. Hated that to bits.
A wonderful book - a great read. If you like saga type novels you must read this.
Back Cover Blurb: Born with a degenerative hip, Sadie grows up in a Barnado's home with only a pair of scarlet ribbons to remind her of her mother. In 1927, fully cured, she is offered the opportunity of a lifetime: to start a new life in Canada. But life seems far from perfect on the Trikhardt's farm in Ontario.