Rachel's Daughter

An inspiring saga of a woman who overcomes tragedy and finds fulfilment.

Janet Haslam was born and bred in Derbyshire, in the same village on the edge of the Pennines where her ancestors have lived for generations. She now lives in a nearby village with her husband and three children. She is the author of Rachel's Daughter, Proud Harvest and Rosy Smith.

Rachel Cooper's father kept his family in a state of terrified subservience. When he died - apoplectic with rage at having been crossed, at last, by his son - Rachel was left to care for her helpless mother and difficult young sister. Raped by a local youth whose love she thought she had gained, she gave birth in secret to a daughter who had to be given away for adoption. 
 
Hating and mistrusting all men, Rachel's only friend was Polly, the local wise woman whose support and counsel was to bring her through the worst of times. She managed to develop a successful career and to win the love of a good, kindly man, but her sufferings were not yet over. At last, with courage and the will to survive, Rachel found true fulfillment and reconciliation with the daughter she thought she had lost forever.

Janet Haslam

It was a terrible tragedy which first brought Rosy Smith to Derwent House, the grand home of John Hardaker and his wife Dorothy.The loss of one of their twin baby sons in a mysterious accident meant that Dorothy no longer found herself capable of caring for the surviving twin, Nicky - so Rosy, only sixteen but full of love for the helpless child, had to step into the breach. As the years went by and Dorothy became less and less able to deal with life, Rosy's mother Nell, the housekeeper, watched with trepidation as John Hardaker's interest in his young nanny became noticeably warmer. 
 
In time, Rosy became the mistress of Derwent House, but her new position brought her, not the happiness she longed for, but unexpected misery and yet more tragedy.The old family house was to see many changes and revelations before Rosy could at last find contentment.

Rosy Smith

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