A Valley Dream cover art

A Valley Dream

Backshaw Moss, Book 1

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A Valley Dream

By: Anna Jacobs
Narrated by: Julia Franklin
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About this listen

The first book in Anna Jacobs' wonderful Backshaw Moss series.

1935. At 36, Bella Porter is dependent on her abusive cousin, acting as an unpaid servant. When a kind relative leaves her a house in the village of Backshaw Moss, Thomas tries to take it from her, but she defies him and grasps this chance of a new start in Lancashire.

It is not going to be easy, though. The house is on the edge of a slum and in a state of disrepair, let out as flats. As kind people help her find her feet, however, her confidence grows, and when she meets struggling, widowed father-of-three Ryan, she begins to hope she may find the happy family she's always dreamed of.

She's offered partial help with her renovations by the local council who are planning to clear up the slums, but other landlords will do anything to avoid costly improvements and protect their profits. And when Thomas follows her, still after the inheritance, not only is Bella's newfound happiness threatened but also her life. Can her new friends help her rid herself of her tormenter once and for all and finally achieve her valley dream?

©2021 Anna Jacobs (P)2021 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd 20th Century Fiction Genre Fiction Historical Historical Fiction Romance Happiness
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Loved the book from start to finish. The narrator is a pleasure to listen to & draws you in to the novel.

Very Enjoyable

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Great story and a superb narrator. Just perfect. A. Great way to lose yourself in a book!

Another cracker!

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No one tells a story like this lady, I can't wait to listen to the next one.

A wonderful story teller.

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What a beautiful story, I have really enjoyed every moment of this story. Looking forward to the next book.

Truly enjoyed

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I finished up having to purchase the 2nd and 3rd book in the series ONLY because I wanted to follow the character’s lives. However Anne Dover would have made the books much more enjoyable. I find Julia Franklin’s reading unbearable. It is ttooooo excitable and jerky. Really it was ONLY the want to know the outcome of the village people that kept me listening. Next time I’ll purchase Anna Jacob’s books and read it myself.

Last purchase of an audio by Julia Franklin

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I found the female protagonist to be a bully,.
She became more and more unlikeable as she exercised her 'independence' in the form of judgementalism, hypocrisy and classism.
I'd not have her to tea!

Annoying

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