Emma Funnell is the matriarch of Bramble House, built for her as a wedding gift. Now, in 1968, she is in her seventies, with the avowed intent of living to be a hundred. And, as she has always done, she continues to rule the roost, for apart from herself three generations of the Funnell family live in the house--all of them women.

There is widowed daughter Victoria, increasingly a hypochondriac; granddaughter Lizzie, who bears the brunt of running the house, as well as enduring a loveless marriage to Len Hammond; and Peggy, her sixteen-year-old daughter, now trying to find the courage to drop the bombshell of her pregnancy into their midst.

This is a horrible story. I have empathy for no one. Yet I neede to finish it to see if it got better. Not sure what I'm going to do with this book.

Sending to the winner of the INTL RABCK SWEEPSTAKES AUGUST-SEPTEMBER! I hope they enjoy the book.

Thank you for sending me this book. I enjoyed the last Catherine Cookson you sent, I hope I would enjoy this one more than you did.

This is not the type of books I would pick out myself. Not the best plot nor characters, but engaging enough that I finished the book.

Happy Holidays. This is my little surprise for you for Holiday Gift Giving 2020. I don't have anything on your wishlist, but I hope you like this one.

I received this as a gift in the 2020 HGG and I am excited to read it as it is a new author for me. Thank you for thinking of me mcsar!