The Kitchen Maid

by Valerie Wood

Jenny Graham leaves her home in Hull and applies for work as a kitchen maid at the home of the Ingram family. Here, she meets and falls in love with Christy, the only son of the family, whose parents have high hopes of him marrying well in order to save their own impoverished livelihood. Christy wants them to run away together and hatches a secret, dangerous plan which goes tragically wrong and leaves Jenny on a charge of murder.

409 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2004

About the author

Val Wood, formerly published as Valerie Wood is the award winning author of romantic historical novels set in and around Hull | City of Culture 2017

Val Wood

Reviews

[Louise Jennings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book read it three times and love it just as much as the first time

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenny is born in Hull, a town in the north of England. When they mention oil, it's whale oil. Jenny can see at fourteen that she is going to be at home forever helping her mother rear the boys, and wants better. She sneaks off to a posh town and applies for the job of kitchen maid, the only work she knows.

This leads to a string of consequences which involve young love, the jail, early motherhood, social ostracism, elevation and perhaps even love. The conventions of the day were turned on their heads by various people, more so this far north of London where trade was the lifeblood of the folks.

I enjoyed the lengthy read and the well described look at hard work in times past.
This is an unbiased review.

[Iunisi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, if your into your historical romance stories the is for you.

[Catheirne Coe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book good story and had some unexpected turns, well written story in the Catherine Cookson style which is what I like, if you enjoyed period romance with some suspense this is one not to be missed

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

My wonderfully thoughtful mother brings me back books when she's on holiday instead of other memorabilia. I love her.
This was one of the books from her last trip. I forgot every other book I had been reading at the time I received it and started with this one at once. I wanted to know everything about Jenny, Kitchenmaid.
And I loved it. Sure, I was shocked and sad and anxious but also happy and relieved and fascinated. What a life! I've never read this perspective.
I have to especially comment on the difference of style between diary entries and narrative. That's what made this book even more real.
Now, there was a thing that happened in this book that I, personally, just couldn't live with, therefore the lower rating. But for 98%, I absolutely adored this book. I'd like to pretend the other 2% just didn't happen.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't seem to find what my book cover looks like and the only version I can find is this ebook. My Mum loaned me this book to read. Nice story, easy reading, and quite enjoyable. The only complaints were Jenny would get on my nerves with her endless self doubts and that the story line was quite predictable throughout.

[Denise Rulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

thoughly enjoying this book im nearly finished it:). would recomend it to you all finished this winder full book i enjoyed every page its one of those bookss once started cant put it down enjoy:-)

[James Beverley · Rating 5 out of 5]

very touching about the struggle s of a young strong women and her family, who eventually blossomed in to strong women in her own right. fantastic reading.

[Liz Nicholson]

Fantastic book by a favourite author the characters are wonderful the stories being set in the area i live in makes it easy to get into the places and settings in the story

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, would recommend.

[Fatma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book so much, it took me in a journey to England in the 1860s on forward. It was such an interesting period and what an interesting story. Jenny The Kitchen Maid who had a very interesting life full of drama since she was 13 and finally getting her happy ending by her 30s. I felt like I was reading one of Jane Austin’s books which I really love, I think I really enjoy this era I would probably be looking for more of Valerie Wood’s books.

[NANCY D. RIGGS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

This is a great story of love and sacrifice. The author used plenty of detail to describe the Times and food and clothing without going overboard and making it boring. It kept me completely interested and not wanting to put it down. No horror or suspense just a lovely story of families and their love and sacrifices. I highly recommend it. I want to read more by Val Wood.

[Chris Peace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fill in book for me, thought it would be another Upstairs Downstairs, Downton Abbey sort of book, which to some extent it was. Decided to read it because it’s set in Hull, Beverley and Driffield. Much as I expected but with a good storyline and easy to read, won’t tax you though. What you read is what you get.😊

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read

I have only ever been a Catherine Cookson fan, for this style of writing, and so was skeptical. For my book challenge I had to read a local author and chose Val Wood because I could see that her books are set in the local area too. I loved this! the story, the characters, the history, the twist, everything. I will certainly be reading more.

[Lynette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic will read another book by this author.

[Debra Reedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good, from beginning to end.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS
Reread of an old favourite from my teenage years. With a pre-Coronation Street Michelle Keegan modelling as Jenny the Kitchen maid on the main cover! Double nostalgia.

[Jackie Butler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jenny is determined to make her own way in the world, and she secures a job as the kitchen maid in a grand house in Yorkshire. Gradually, she gains the attention of the young master of the house, and they fall in love.But their hopes and dreams turn to nightmares, culminating in a scandal that will force Jenny to leave behind everything she knows.

Cast aside by her own family, Jenny faces many difficulties until an usual promise changes the course of her life. Jenny the kitchen maid becomes the mistress of her own grand house. Although she tries to fit in with this new world, however, she never forgets the words that the gypsy told her: that one day she will return to where she was once happy - and discover her true love . . .

A well written story, the author has great attention to detail really taking you back in time and allowing you to imagine and be there living Jenny’s life with her.