THE HARBOUR MASTER'S DAUGHTER BY TANIA CROSSE

I love a strong heroine, and Rebecca Westbrook is exactly that. Compulsive, maybe foolhardy even, but with a courage that was unusual for its time and I really enjoyed her story.

As with any historical saga, life throws blow after blow at Rebecca, but there is light too, in the love of family and the support of good friends. The first tragedy strikes when she is waiting to turn twenty-one so she can marry her sweetheart Tom, and life throws her into the path of ship owner and captain, Adam Bradley.

It is hard to say much more about the story without introducing spoilers, but it is perfectly woven, and mid Victorian Morwellham portrayed so wonderfully I felt I was there. The sense of community, the privations, the warmth, all perfectly placed within the social history of the time. A wonderful read for fans of historical fiction.