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A Child of the Dales
Set deep in the Yorkshire Dales, Diane Allen’s A Child of the Dales is a sweeping novel of family, deceit, separation and love.
Abandoned as a baby on the steps of a remote inn, Ruby Blake has been raised by the innkeeper’s wife, Martha Metcalfe, unknowing of the family searching for her. One wild stormy night, Ruby is reunited with her long-lost father, who wants to whisk her away to Banksgill Farm for a happy life with her true family. Feeling betrayed by Martha, Ruby follows her father for the chance of a new life.
However, for her Romani heritage, Ruby is quickly outcast from her real family by everyone – everyone except the charming stable hand, Tom Adams.
Struck with loneliness in a village of people who find ways to make her miserable, she seeks friendship and love in Tom. As their relationship blossoms, Ruby is faced with the temptations of a handsome local miner and, when rumours begin to spread, Ruby feels more lost and confused than ever.
With his long-lost daughter now safely under his wing, Reuben Blake is still desperately searching for Ruby’s mother, and vows he will not rest until he finds his true love. With Rueben’s mission leading him to the darkest corners of Brough Hill, his search shows only signs of heartbreak and despair.
As neither father or daughter feel quite whole, will either finally find where they truly belong?
Abandoned as a baby on the steps of a remote inn, Ruby Blake has been raised by the innkeeper’s wife, Martha Metcalfe, unknowing of the family searching for her. One wild stormy night, Ruby is reunited with her long-lost father, who wants to whisk her away to Banksgill Farm for a happy life with her true family. Feeling betrayed by Martha, Ruby follows her father for the chance of a new life.
However, for her Romani heritage, Ruby is quickly outcast from her real family by everyone – everyone except the charming stable hand, Tom Adams.
Struck with loneliness in a village of people who find ways to make her miserable, she seeks friendship and love in Tom. As their relationship blossoms, Ruby is faced with the temptations of a handsome local miner and, when rumours begin to spread, Ruby feels more lost and confused than ever.
With his long-lost daughter now safely under his wing, Reuben Blake is still desperately searching for Ruby’s mother, and vows he will not rest until he finds his true love. With Rueben’s mission leading him to the darkest corners of Brough Hill, his search shows only signs of heartbreak and despair.
As neither father or daughter feel quite whole, will either finally find where they truly belong?
- GenresHistorical Fiction
317 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2022
6 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Diane Allen
32 books24 followersDiane Allen was born in Leeds, but raised at her family’s farm deep in the Yorkshire Dales. After working as a glass engraver, raising a family, and looking after an ill father, she found her true niche in life, joining a large print publishing firm in 1990.
Rising through the firm, she is now the general manager and has recently been made Honorary Vice President of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. She is the author of For a Father’s Pride and The Mistress of Windfell Manor, and its sequel, The Windfell Family Secrets.
Diane and her husband Ronnie live in Long Preston in the Yorkshire Dales, and have two children and four beautiful grandchildren.
Rising through the firm, she is now the general manager and has recently been made Honorary Vice President of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. She is the author of For a Father’s Pride and The Mistress of Windfell Manor, and its sequel, The Windfell Family Secrets.
Diane and her husband Ronnie live in Long Preston in the Yorkshire Dales, and have two children and four beautiful grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 13, 2022
#gifted Thank you @panmacmillan @libraryofchlo for inviting me to be part of this book tour and sending me a copy of the book!
It is available on September 15th!
"Abandoned as a baby, Ruby was raised by an innkeeper's wife and unaware of her true family. One stormy night, everything changes as she meets her real father who wants to be part of her life and is determined to find her biological mother / his one true love. Ruby and Reuben both feel confused and lost in the middle of family drama / romances / temptations and potentially dangerous doings! They are desperate to find their true belongings"
This book was so lovely and reminded me that I do love these genres beside my usual spooky reads. It also reminded me of the books my nan would take on holiday.
I really loved the character development, feeling as if I knew Ruby personally.
I particularly liked the descriptions of the location, this put me right in the picture and it was almost as if I was sat beside Ruby as she gazed out onto the lands and embraced whatever weather the season was throwing at her.
I didn't expect to be so gripped, but I couldn't take my eyes away when Reuben and his brothers went to do some potentially dangerous / dodgy business deals. This reminded me a little bit of a lighter Peaky Blinders.
The romance elements and the idea of having a soulmate / true love was sweet but my favourite part was the relationship between Ruby and Reuben. They took to one another instantly and showed the importance of the unbreakable bond between father and child, regardless of how much time has passed between them.
I was very sure of how something was going to turn out and was not surprised when it went this way. However, a twist was thrown in and this made for a perfect, heart warming read!
This book explores family bonds, found family, soulmates, grief and acceptance of difficult situations that cannot be changed.
I really loved this book and I'm planning on looking at more of this author's work! They will deffo make great breakers from some of the super heavy stuff I read.
It is available on September 15th!
"Abandoned as a baby, Ruby was raised by an innkeeper's wife and unaware of her true family. One stormy night, everything changes as she meets her real father who wants to be part of her life and is determined to find her biological mother / his one true love. Ruby and Reuben both feel confused and lost in the middle of family drama / romances / temptations and potentially dangerous doings! They are desperate to find their true belongings"
This book was so lovely and reminded me that I do love these genres beside my usual spooky reads. It also reminded me of the books my nan would take on holiday.
I really loved the character development, feeling as if I knew Ruby personally.
I particularly liked the descriptions of the location, this put me right in the picture and it was almost as if I was sat beside Ruby as she gazed out onto the lands and embraced whatever weather the season was throwing at her.
I didn't expect to be so gripped, but I couldn't take my eyes away when Reuben and his brothers went to do some potentially dangerous / dodgy business deals. This reminded me a little bit of a lighter Peaky Blinders.
The romance elements and the idea of having a soulmate / true love was sweet but my favourite part was the relationship between Ruby and Reuben. They took to one another instantly and showed the importance of the unbreakable bond between father and child, regardless of how much time has passed between them.
I was very sure of how something was going to turn out and was not surprised when it went this way. However, a twist was thrown in and this made for a perfect, heart warming read!
This book explores family bonds, found family, soulmates, grief and acceptance of difficult situations that cannot be changed.
I really loved this book and I'm planning on looking at more of this author's work! They will deffo make great breakers from some of the super heavy stuff I read.
September 15, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The plot started out fast paced and the settings were richly depicted. The descriptions of the inn were cozy and the wildness of the fells gave you a real sense of it's isolation. I very much enjoyed how much the author appeared to know about the time period this book is set in.
It did feel like the plot dragged a bit in the middle however and was quite rambling and disconnected towards the end.
I didn't really like the character of Ruby. She was flighty and indecisive and that was all the personality I gleaned from her.
The rest of the characters were well rounded and depicted, Reuben especially as the well meaning wheeler dealer and Ruby's adoptive mother who was warm and loving.
What I did find slightly disappointing is that we were told that some events of the story had happened instead of reading it for ourselves. There was also something about the way the dialogue was written that kept pulling me out of the story.
It was an immersive read due to the amount of detail the author imbues her description with but the plot wasn't quite tight enough for me.
The plot started out fast paced and the settings were richly depicted. The descriptions of the inn were cozy and the wildness of the fells gave you a real sense of it's isolation. I very much enjoyed how much the author appeared to know about the time period this book is set in.
It did feel like the plot dragged a bit in the middle however and was quite rambling and disconnected towards the end.
I didn't really like the character of Ruby. She was flighty and indecisive and that was all the personality I gleaned from her.
The rest of the characters were well rounded and depicted, Reuben especially as the well meaning wheeler dealer and Ruby's adoptive mother who was warm and loving.
What I did find slightly disappointing is that we were told that some events of the story had happened instead of reading it for ourselves. There was also something about the way the dialogue was written that kept pulling me out of the story.
It was an immersive read due to the amount of detail the author imbues her description with but the plot wasn't quite tight enough for me.
January 3, 2023
An excellent read, a fabulous start to 2023.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews