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The Brewer's Tale

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The Brewer's Tale

By: Karen Brooks
Narrated by: Hannah Norris
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About this listen

1405. The daughter of a wealthy merchant, Anneke Sheldrake suddenly finds her family bankrupted when her father’s ship is swept away at sea. Forced to find a way to provide for herself and her siblings, Anneke rejects an offer of marriage from a despised cousin and instead turns to her late mother’s family business – brewing ale.

Armed with her mother’s recipes, she then makes a bold deal with her father’s aristocratic employer, putting her home and family at risk. Thanks to her fierce determination, Anneke’s brew wins a following and begins to turn a profit. But her rise threatens some in her community and those closest to her are left to pay the price.

As Anneke slowly pieces her life together again, she finds an unlikely ally in a London brothel owner. Determined not only to reclaim her livelihood and her family, Anneke vows not to let anyone stand in the way of her forging her own destiny.

©2014 Karen Brooks (P)2014 Bolinda Publishing Fiction Historical Fiction Inspiring

Critic Reviews

'Richly atmospheric, romantic, and chock-full of period details, this fast-paced tale and its many plot twists and turns are likely to keep historical fiction fans riveted.' (Booklist)
'The daughter of a merchant flouts 15th-century English convention to start a brewery in Brooks’s illuminating epic (after The Chocolate Maker’s Wife). Brooks’s attention to historical detail instills the novel with authenticity by including many historical figures and events, while Anneke’s lively voice keeps a strong grip on the reader as she works to overcome societal prohibitions against women in business and find happiness and contentment. Brooks’s immersive page-turner does not disappoint.' (Publishers Weekly)
'Ms. Brooks delivers a wonderful tale of despair, triumph and personal growth here. I learned many things I never knew about ale and beer production, and will definitely be seeking out this author’s backlist.' (All About Romance)
All stars
Most relevant  
So many twists and turns I don't know how she survived. A great history lesson .

a great read

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highly recommended. Keeping to the time period was very interesting. Might take up beer after reading this- learnt so much!

Excellent book great historical novel.

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Thank you for many hours of pleasure. We were immersed in the lives of Annika and her family and spellbound by her journey.

Amazing!

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This book is one of the best books I have fead gripping right through all

Spellbinding!!

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This book was absolutely amazing. I want to thank my sister Donna for introducing me to this author, I imagined myself throughout the story.. I didn't want it to end. I feel in touch with the author, although we've never met, but maybe one day , who knows. keep them coming KB

oh how I loved this book

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After reading the Wife of Bath's Tale I had hopes for this novel by the same author, but I was disappointed.


The number of misfortunes to befall the protagonist and her family and friends reads more like a soap opera which explains the over lengthy story, but does nothing for keeping the reader engaged. A far more concise narrative would have been far more believable, as would the antagonist not continuing to pop up like a whack a mole. Part Two is more or less a retelling of Part One, and in my view, the author should have stuck to one or the other and fleshed out the characters of the antagonists more. I found most of the characters, including the protagonist quite unbelievable. It was hard to feel empathy with Anneke when she ignores advice and evidence over and over as well as her own suspicions.

The saving grace of the novel is the attention to historical details and brewing throughout mediaeval England.

Disappointed

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The poor main character goes from one tragedy to another. Story would have been much better if it was shorted with half as much drama.

Dreary

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So many things happen to this women it is just unbelievable. I realise a story needs drama but this is so over the top it loses credibility. And she doesn't learn from her mistakes, listen to her closest friends or her own instincts. As such she brings all the drama on herself. Very over done book

TOO MUCH

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