The Girl from Summerhayes by Merryn Allingham

The Girl from Summerhayes by Merryn Allingham

1914, England. Will her decision unite her family or tear them apart?

Surrounded by beautiful gardens in the glorious Sussex countryside, Summerhayes House seems like a true hidden paradise, but behind its polished floors and perfect green lawns is a family divided. The Summer family's beloved home is under threat, and nineteen-year-old Elizabeth Summer finds herself caught in the heart of the crisis.

Elizabeth's father believes his daughter marrying well will save Summerhayes. But Elizabeth is distraught at the stifling future ahead of her. A chance meeting with green-eyed Aiden Kellaway, the handsome architect's apprentice working on the estate's prized gardens, changes everything. For the first time, Elizabeth pictures an entirely different life, and - despite her father's wishes - she is determined to take hold of it.

But war is brewing in Europe, and when its long shadow touches Summerhayes, Elizabeth realises her rebellion will come at a price. Desperately torn between family loyalty, society's expectations and the bright chance at happiness she glimpsed in Aiden's arms, she is forced to make an impossible choice.

As Elizabeth's future - and her family's - hangs in the balance, she must ask herself, is the price worth paying? And can she live with the consequences?

An unforgettable, totally gripping and heart-wrenching historical family saga. Fans of Tracy Rees, Kate Morton and Elizabeth Jane Howard will be utterly swept away by The Girl from Summerhayes.

Previously published as The Buttonmaker's Daughter.

What readers are saying about the Summerhayes House series:

'Right from page one I was hooked... I LOVED IT ' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'I absolutely loved this... Definitely a five-star read for me.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'A real page-turner... A book I totally disappeared into for an evening and long into the night, totally losing any sense of time.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'Everything I hoped it would be and so much more... Excellent.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

'Beautiful book. I was completely immersed in the story... Made me feel I was there in the midst of it all.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Merryn Allingham was born into an army family and spent her childhood on the move. Unsurprisingly, it gave her itchy feet and in her twenties she escaped from an unloved secretarial career to work as cabin crew and see the world. The arrival of marriage, children and cats meant a more settled life in the south of England where she's lived ever since. It also gave her the opportunity to go back to 'school' and eventually teach at university.

Merryn has always loved books that bring the past to life, so when she began writing herself the novels had to be historical. She finds the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries fascinating eras to research and her first book, The Crystal Cage, had as its background the London of 1851. The Daisy's War trilogy followed, set in India and London during the 1930s and 40s.

Her latest novels explore two pivotal moments in the history of Britain. The Buttonmaker's Daughter is set in Sussex in the summer of 1914 as the First World War looms ever nearer and its sequel, The Secret of Summerhayes, forty years later in the summer of 1944 when D Day led to eventual victory in the Second World War. Along with the history, of course, there is plenty of mystery and romance to keep readers intrigued.
If you would like to keep in touch with Merryn, sign up for her newsletter at www.merrynallingham.com