The Mersey Mistress by Sheila Riley
Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, WW1
Read: 28th March 2021
Published: 6th April 2021
★★★★★ 5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
Brand NEW from Liverpool's very own bestselling author, Sheila Riley
1910 LIVERPOOL DOCKS
Ruby Swift is a hard-working, straight-talking woman of substance who does not suffer fools gladly,
But when tragedy strikes on a bitter Christmas Eve, Ruby and her beloved Archie take matters into their own hands when a trusted employee’s house is mysteriously engulfed by flames and lives are lost.
Orphaned by the fire, Ruby welcomes heartbroken sixteen-year-old Anna Cassidy, into her home and family but circumstances conspire against them and she is unable to save Anna's twelve-year-old brother Sam Cassidy, who is sent by the Church to Canada as a Homeboy.
Can Ruby help mend a broken heart and can these two children ever be reunited or is there another higher game in play?
The Mersey Mistress takes you on a journey to another time, another place. From the banks of the River Mersey to the frozen waters of the Canadian Saint Laurence River.
MY REVIEW:
I'm thrilled to be taking part in the #BlogTour for Sheila Riley's engaging new saga THE MERSEY MISTRESS.
Beginning in 1892, THE MERSEY MISTRESS sets the tone of this enthralling new saga when young lovers, Rowena Ashland and Archie Swift, banished from Rowena's family home of Ashland Hall when it is revealed she is with child. But Rowena's father, Silas Ashland, forbids her to marry Archie and if she does so in his lifetime he will disinherit her. So together they set up home together and welcome their baby girl into the world. But unbeknownst to them, her father and her barren younger sister's husband conspired to steal away Rowena and Archie's little girl when she was barely ten days old for May and Giles to raise as their own, leaving Rowena distraught. She vowed to never forgive her father...or Giles Harrington.
Liverpool 1910: Emma Cassidy is a proud widow bringing up 4 children since the death of her husband at sea before her five year old twins were born. Pregnant and widowed, she knocked on the door of Ruby Swift's Emporium begging for work to feed her family. Ruby took her in and gave her a job in which Emma thrived. Now five years later, as she makes her way to the Emporium on Christmas Eve, she trips over a broken gas lamp and twists her ankle. She manages to hobble home where her 16 year old daughter Anna settles her in with the twins to rest by the fire, assuring her that she will work her mother's job for the day so she will not miss out on her much-needed wages.
Known as "her ladyship" to some, Ruby Swift did not come from humble beginnings like those who frequented her stores. But life has taught her to be humble since her father forbade her to marry the man she loved and stole their child in the night. Born Rowena Ashland, Ruby took on the name of Archie's beloved aunt and long-serving housekeeper at Ashland Hall and that of Archie's, living together as married despite the fact they are not. Ruby was good to the people of Liverpool's dock area and was revered amongst many, as well as charitable in her donations. But Ruby believed in an honest day's work and never begrudged anyone trying to do their best for their family. When she took on Emma Cassidy, she also became a friend as well as an employee, and a trusted one at that. So when Emma failed to show up at work on Christmas Eve she knew it was not like her at all...and then Anna came knocking, offering to do her mother's job in her place.
Anna Cassidy was brought up to be respectful of others but to also stand on her own two feet. She had no qualms in working her mother's job in her place if it meant giving the twins a memorable Christmas. She took her 12 year old brother Sam along with her to collect the rents for Miss Ruby, but when on her own she found herself cornered by the unpleasant and bullying Jerky Woods, who tried forcing himself on her as well as stealing her takings. A swift kick sent Jerky reeling in pain, giving her the chance to escape, but Anna knew she would need to be on her guard after that as Jerky would not let such a humiliation lie. It was not to be her last encounter with him that day either...but it was one that would change the course of her life forever.
Tragedy rocks Anna's world when Ruby tells her that her house is on fire and she races back to Queen Street to save her mother and little brothers...but arrives too late. After watching her house crumble into charred remains, the firemen carried out the lifeless bodies of her family. But where was Sam? Whilst Ruby faces off with the unscrupulous Father O'Connell, Anna steals away in the night to search for her only surviving brother. She searches all night to no avail and the following morning Archie and Ned, the young man he and Ruby too in, find Anna frozen and unconscious by the docks.
Meanwhile, Sam was discovered by a policeman in the charred remains of his house and taken to the priest who vowed not to let the sinful harlot Ruby Swift get her claws into the child. So he sent him off to the orphanage before Ruby could discover his subterfuge, signing Sam's life away to Canada in one fell swoop. It was to be a new life for Sam...but what was really in store?
Although Anna remained in hospital for many weeks, she was taken in by Ruby and Archie upon her recovery where she started work in the Emporium alongside the woman who had saved her life. Too late, she discovered Sam had been sent to Canada and all she could do was hope she would one day see him again. In one night, Anna had lost everything - her home, her family. All she had left was the silver locket her brother had saved for all year to buy their mother for Christmas.
Life is harsh on the docks, but Anna has been given a second chance. But is it enough? Can Ruby help Anna mend her broken heart? And will Anna and Sam ever be reunited? Or is there something sinister keeping them apart?
An addictive tale that sweeps you back to the early 20th century in this wonderful story of love, family, betrayal, loss and tragedy. THE MERSEY MISTRESS is truly heartbreaking but also wonderfully charming that will warm your heart as well as make you cry.
The grittiness of poverty to the opulence of the middle class, this book has it all. I thoroughly enjoyed it and didn't want it to end. My only complaint is that it ended. I wanted it to go on and on and never have it end. But the story is left open to continue to a second book, which I hope won't be too far away.
Perfect for historical fiction and saga fans, THE MERSEY MISTRESS will tug at your heartstrings and have you reaching for the tissues. Be warned, you will need them.
I would like to thank #SheilaRiley, #RachelsRandomResources, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #TheMerseyMistress in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Married to her knight in rusty armour, Tony, she has three grown-up children, five adored grandchildren, a majestic German Shepherd called Max and an insatiably energetic Siberian Husky called Louis and an ancient cat called Missy.
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