The Heart of the Family

Campion Family #3

by Annie Groves

Liverpool is but when a figure from the past turns up on the doorstep, Bella's unexpected reserves of compassion are revealed. From hardship and heartbreak, surviving the toughest of times, the Campions know they can make it through if they have one another.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Family Saga, Fiction, Romance, Historical

470 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2009

About the author

Penelope Jones Halsall aka: Caroline Courtney, Penny Jordan, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright

Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 in a Preston, Lancashire, England.
She had been a keen reader from the childhood. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction.

She has earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, she found an agent. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her name to Melinda Wright and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her present historical romance novels, she has adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70m of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Now Penny Halsall lived in a house in Nantwich, Cheshire. She worked from home.

Penny died on 31 December 2011.

Reviews

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book some time ago and I really enjoyed this book. Storytelling at it's best.

[Annette Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another of Annie Groves' books I've been very naughty and read in a day! This is the third in a series about the same family (and typically read in the wrong order!)which starts with "Across the Mersey", then "As Time Goes By", and at the moment ends with this book.

The background to the books is Liverpool during WWII. I like the way that they take their time as they follow the various members of the family, focussing to different degrees in each book on several characters and adding in new ones as the stories unfold. The first book takes place in the build upto war and ends at Dunkirk, the second is set against the Blitz in Liverpool while this story starts as the Blitz is drawing to an end and the city is totally demoralised, sees the British troops heading of to the desert and the increasing involvement of the Americans.

The stories tell of the events, feelings and often misunderstandings that occur in the characters' lives and this book in particular sees one characters' major change in personality. I like the way that the characters followed are of all different ages, that they have different professions and backgrounds.

I can't wait to see what happens to the family next!

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite of the series so far! All the familiar faces are back with some new characters making an appearance.
Bella is not a character that appeals to me and she features quite a lot in this book but I actually enjoyed her story this time around. She finally realises what an awful person she has been. She didn't exactly have wonderful role models in her life to guide her and here she finds out the hard way what her parents are really like and what it's like to have someone to care for and worry about.
The twins are growing up and discovering that as close as they are, they are also individuals. Their paths in life are beginning to take them in different directions and it isn't easy for either of them.
Looking forward to the next book.

[Christine Lang · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another easy read from Annie Groves. A pleasure to be transported back to the war years and get some little understanding of the true hardship realised by those at home as well as those fighting for their country. I love Annie Groves style of writing and am so sad that this delightful writer is no longer with us. A great loss to all who enjoyed her warm, heartfelt style of writing.

[Tricia Toney · Rating 3 out of 5]

War is progressing and America finally enters the war. Loyalties are tested and some succumb to temptation. The spoiled and selfish Bella finally finds a cause greater than herself to dedicate her life to, with the resultant improvement in her personality. A great 3rd instalment in this series.

[Elaine Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A typical family saga set in the 2nd world war years. One side of the family are snobs, who look down on everything and everyone, and the other side who are down to earth and thankful for everything and everyone.
A nice easy read with no real shockers.

[mrs mary c cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A

Another great book in the champion family series following the highs and lows of life during war time looking forward to book 4 and all it has to offer

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

It must be time to begin collecting these books and reading the series in order. The characters are lovely, down-to-earth folks just like you'd want living next door.

[Linda Hobson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good read

[Mrs Barbara Parrott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great stand alone story but it is even better when read in conjunction with the others in the series. It has characters you can identify with easily. I am really enjoying this series.

[Shy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was actually entertaining. I recently read another of her books (good night sweetheart) i really enjoyed it and I thought I might like this one as well, I was not disappointed. Would recommend

[Stephii-Dawne Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved, loved, LOVED this book! From the first page, to the last page, the story had me gripped! I cannot wait to read what's next in store!

[Brenda Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this series,great read.

[Paula Nichols · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carrying on the Campion family saga, it explores the difficulties of balancing love and duty, family and the heart. It is, once again, an easy read but it is enjoyable and you are emotionally tied to the characters,a s one would expect by book 3! I an still keen to read the remaining books in the saga.

[Krisz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay book. Sometimes boring, mostly because it felt like one chapter from a long story, and some life scenes just weren't interesting. I felt AG should have done better, if she wrote individual stories into different books, like Lena's story, Luke's story etc. At the end the wedding was especially a section where I just turned the pages without reading.

[Pauline Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following on From the first two books i quite enjoyed this one. War time in England would have been vary hard on families and this gives us some idea of the trials and tribulations that families had to suffer.

[Carol B Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series

I love this series and the campion family who are one as a family but distinct as individuals.


I love this series about the a family in Wii who is one as a family but distinct as individuals.

[Victoria Shepherd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Much more nuanced than its predecessors in the series - a lovely, heartwarming read.