Daffodils is essentially a love story, whose tender heart is almost torn apart through the tumultuous challenge of World War One. “A profound meditation on love and loss and the perils of war”: Bookbub. Daffodils is the Winner of the New Apple Literary Award for Excellence in Independent Publishing 2019 Medallist Winner E-Book.“Absorbing, involving, unputdownable, honest, great characterisation”. … characterisation”. Indie Book Bargains Featured Author Book of the day June 25th 2013 and was chosen to be in the first edition of the Fussy Librarian’s selection.
COMPLETELY REVISED EDITION
Katy, a maidservant at Cheadle Manor, longs to escape her narrow life but events unfold slowly in her rural village in Wiltshire. Jem Phipps has always loved Katy. His proposal of marriage rescues her from scandal but after tragedy strikes Jem becomes a reluctant soldier on the battlefields of The First World War, leaving Katy behind, restless and alone. Lionel White, the local curate, has just returned from India bringing a dash of colour to the small village and offers Katy a window on the wider world. Only when Katy joins up as a WAAC girl does she finally break free from the stifling class-ridden hierarchies that bind her but the brutality of 20th-century global war brings home the price she has paid for her search. Through the horrors of WW1, Katy discovers only love brings freedom.
For fans of historical fiction, DAFFODILS is Book One of The Katherine Wheel Saga.
Find out how these characters fared after the Armistice when they entered a new, modern age in its sequel, PEACE LILY. They have to carve out new lives in a changed world, having survived the war only to face new, unexpected challenges when they return home.
A third book, SPEEDWELL, takes the characters into the daring arena of motor racing in the 1920s and Katy’s defiant bid for independence. Book Four, WILLOW, (novella-sized) bridges the gap between the generations as the children of Cassandra and Douglas, Jem and Katy embark on a summer adventure that goes disastrously wrong, with dire consequences. The four children, Lottie and Isobel, Al and Lily, are on the brink of adulthood and the outbreak of the Second World War in Book Five, WOODBINE. Their lives separate as they are each forced to follow different paths through the war. Lottie is stranded in occupied France and gets drawn into the French Resistance; Al faces many dangers as he flies planes for the ATA, and Isobel, torn between duty and love, becomes a Land Girl. Can they come back together in Book Six, IVY? You must read the final book in The Katherine Wheel Series to find out how the whole saga reaches its dramatic and satisfying conclusion.
more
A personal look into the lives of ordinary British people of the different classeses during world war 1 and the and how it deeply affected and changed their lives and attitudes forever. Enjoyed it very much.
This book is about 3 people and their lives before during and after WWI. The stories and the families and how they lived is so touching.
Shows the strength women of the greatest generation had!
A straight forward read depicting the break up off the classes whilst portraying the horrors off the First World War ,at heart I think it’s a romantic book with a happy ending which always helps!.
I read 35% of the book…depressing…could not get into it…
This was an outstanding read. There were many things I liked about it. The book starts in a small village in England at the beginning of the First World War. The discussion of the different social classes is well done, and it is clear that those boundaries are coming down. The book involves a powerful romance, but more than that the degree of intimacy is very real. You get a strong sense of what the main characters are feeling, even as they struggle with the relationship through a series of trials. The human tragedy of the war comes out very strongly, and even the German soldiers are portrayed as suffering humans. I don’t want to give too much away so I’ll stop here. I’d rate Daffodils a 4.5/5.
Great unputdownable story of the life of two wonderful young people who went through tradjedy and hardship making great friends along the way. In the end they triumphed over their trials. Won’t be forgotten kind of book.
Emotional responses from the characters were realistic and believable. Plotting was a little slow but worth the read.
put a real face on history
Touching story of love,loss Sadness and restoration. A good story.
This book was well written and kept my attention.
The time period and the descriptive writing
The heroine of this story was of lower class in England but she was spunky and had a good sense of what she wanted out of life. She faced some tragedy and overcame, becoming stronger for the experiences. I was rooting for her all the way.
This was a beautiful love story. It was an excellent depiction of the horror of world war 1 in France. A lovely read of love and sacrifices of both men and women.
It’s both romantic and tragic.
If you have ever had an interest in World War I and you like historical fiction, this is the book for you. I couldn’t put it down! It is so well written that and you feel like you are right there in the trenches with Jem. I was very happy to hear that this is the first book of a trilogy. I can’t wait to read the other two books!
I enjoyed this book and it told some of the more difficult aspects of war for all affected. It was hard to put down!
Very interesting gut wrenching book. Enjoyable read.
This book was okay. The characters seemed poorly developed to me. It was boring to me.
very much enjoyed this book