The Dressmaker: A heartrending saga of a mother's dream for her daughter

(Paperback)

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Description

Benita's previous novel, FORTUNE'S DAUGHTER, was longlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2007.

Melissa Dornay is the daughter of a humble dressmaker. When her mother dies, Melissa is offered a home by wealthy Lilian Winterton, but she soon realises Lilian wants an unpaid seamstress. Treated as a servant by the Wintertons, Melissa is befriended by Reenie, a kitchen maid, and they enjoy dressing up in Lilian s cast-off clothes. Wearing finery, Melissa meets handsome young artist James Pennington, but she runs away, frightened he will guess her true status. Scandal follows and Melissa is unfairly thrown out on to the streets. Can the rags of her life be sewn into riches

Reviews

Praise for Benita Brown: 'Romance, heartache and local history make a magical mixture...passion on every page * Northern Echo *
An ultimately heartwarming tale. Unlike some sagas, all the main characters here are well drawn...a satisfying read * Historical Novels Review *
A splendidly powerful and touching saga of love, passion and lust * Newcastle Evening Chronicle *
Captures the atmosphere and emotion of the first part of the 20th century * Sunderland Echo *
A must for Catherine Cookson fans * Wiltshire Times *
You won't be able to put it down * Yours magazine *
A powerful story * Lancashire Evening Post *
A wonderfully Dickensian flavour... Everyone in the book is alive and believable * Historical Novels Review *

Author Bio

Benita Brown was born and brought up in Newcastle by her English mother and Indian father. She went to drama school in London where she met her husband who, also from Newcastle, was working for the BBC. Not long after, she returned to her home town where she worked as a teacher and broadcaster and brought up four children. She is now a full-time writer.