Hearts of Glass

July, 1914: In their sunlit Hampshire workshop, Alice Dalton mixes paints for the stained-glass artwork she and Edmund are working on, pausing only to joyfully cradle the soft swell of her stomach. But the looming war threatens her hard-won happiness. When a knock at the door announces the arrival of Victor, her estranged brother, returning after six long years in America, her elation at being reunited is short-lived when he enlists and is sent to Gallipoli. Then Alice begins to notice the impact the war is having on Edmund, too, as he tries to safeguard the world they've made for themselves. Every day he's torn between duty to his country, his moral compass and the desperate need to protect Alice from his powerful father, who could destroy their lives in an instant. As the war gathers pace and threatens everything she holds dear, can Alice fight to hold onto love in a world torn apart by violence? From the gilded world of high society London to the perilous battlefields of Gallipoli, The Artist's Wife is an utterly gripping and richly evocative story of an Edwardian family fractured by war, betrayal and heartbreak. Perfect for fans of The Venice Sketchbook and The Nightingale. What readers say about The Artist's Wife: "I loved this book sooo much! The writing was beautiful. I would highly recommend this book!" Reader review, 5 stars "Another excellent page-turning book. I was engrossed from beginning to end and stayed up very late to finish it." Reader review, 5 stars "Having loved the first book of this series, I was thrilled to read this one. I highly recommend this brilliantly written book which opened my eyes to so much." Reader review, 5 stars "Such a beautiful series, it wrings every emotion out of you." Reader review, 5 stars "Absolutely loved this second book in the series and really looking forward to the third book." Reader review, 5 stars "I simply adore these characters, I was sad when the book finished." Reader review, 5 stars "A great story of survival." Reader review, 5 stars "Has left me wanting more... now! Excellent." Reader review, 5 stars "This is a marvellous story of greed, love, hidden desires and the power of old men over others. I now anxiously await the next book to see what happens next." Reader review, 5 stars "I really enjoyed this book, and I can't wait to read the next instalment." Reader review, 5 stars

Hampshire, 1916: Alice traces her hand over the cold glass of the window as the pale morning light slips into the empty room. The pain of loss is worse than a physical one. Reminders of Edmund are all around her. The coldness of the sheet on the other half of the bed. The unrelenting silence in the cottage when her stepdaughter Lottie is tucked up asleep at the end of another day. How did Alice ever imagine she could run their workshop in Edmund's absence? Keeping up with their stained-glass commissions takes every ounce of her strength, and as Lottie becomes more withdrawn, Alice worries desperately about how best to care for the troubled girl. Alice takes comfort from renewed closeness with her brother Victor, whose injuries prevent him from re-joining the fight, and who is enmeshed in undercover work for the Ministry of Munitions. She must go on, for Lottie, for Edmund, and for the life as artists they've built together. But with the news from the Front more desperate every day, she knows that the chance that she'll ever see her husband again is slipping away from her. And then the telegram arrives… From the trenches of France to the fraught Home Front in rural England and London, The Artist's War is an unforgettable story of a society in the midst of devastating upheaval, and of courage in extraordinary times. Fans of Fiona Davis, Rhys Bowen and Kristin Hannah will adore this gripping historical love story. Readers are addicted to The Artist's War: "I loved this book. And I could not put it down. Amazing – I would highly recommend reading this book!" Reader review, 5 stars "I felt transported back in time. I loved it and didn't want it to end." Reader review, 5 stars "Wow, what an amazing, powerful and moving WWI story! It kept me captivated from start to finish… it left me breathless and deeply engrossed." Reader review, 5 stars "Beautifully written… utterly addictive and will keep you riveted until the last page. A fabulous series which I highly recommend." Reader review, 5 stars "An evocative novel full of heart-wrenching experiences… soars with depth and beauty." Reader review, 5 stars "What a read! I could not put it down." Reader review, 5 stars "I loved this book which was a real page-turner. A captivating read." Reader review, 5 stars "A fabulous read. I sat down to read a few chapters and got so engrossed I didn't want to put the book down." Reader review, 5 stars "A poignant and beautiful story. Flynn writes with perfection. I absolutely loved this story and the ending was so heart-warming." Reader review, 5 stars "I highly recommend this fabulous series." Reader review, 5 stars "A wonderfully written WWI story. I stayed up late reading it." Reader review, 5 stars

In this heart-wrenching and utterly spellbinding story of love and artistic ambition, a young woman fights to be true to herself in a world where duty, money and class jeopardise her dreams. England, 1908: Alice Dalton never intended to rebel against her aristocratic parents. But after her father's failed attempt to arrange a marriage for her with Edmund Cutler, son of a wealthy stockbroker, she flees the family home humiliated – and determined to make a life for herself as an independent woman. When she takes a position as a stained-glass artist's apprentice, Alice is stunned to meet the man she'll be working for: the hateful Edmund Cutler. It seems he too has turned his back on his family and has followed his passion for art, and at terrible cost. But as they work together, mixing paints and composing their stained-glass window commissions side by side, she can't ignore the sparks that fly between them. With family conflict brewing and war on the horizon, soon Alice finds that loving Edmund proves the hardest fight, and greatest adventure, of her life. A gripping historical novel for fans of Fiona Valpy, Rhys Bowen and Lucinda Riley. The Artist's Apprentice was previously published as The Colour of Glass. Readers absolutely love The Artist's Apprentice: "Captivating… Had me hooked throughout. Brilliant." Reader review, 5 stars "Wow – what a book! A joy to read." Reader review, 5 stars "OMG what a story! The pages practically turned themselves. I couldn't put it down. I cannot wait for the next in the series!" Reader review, 5 stars "Captivating… Had me hooked throughout. Brilliant." Reader review, 5 stars "What a beautiful story… keeps you awake at night desperate to know what happens next. I can't wait to read the next one." Reader review, 5 stars "Oh yes, yes, yes!!! Amazingly written… I cannot wait till the second book in this series." Reader review, 5 stars "I loved it from start to finish." Reader review, 5 stars "Held me enthralled from the first to the last page." Reader review, 5 stars "Absolutely loved this." Reader review, 5 stars "Absorbing, fascinating and beautifully written." Reader review, 5 stars "Loved it! Her best yet." Reader review, 5 stars "Fantastic. What a great book. Incredible." Reader review, 5 stars "A captivating tale… Five stars all around. A great historical fiction romance." Reader review, 5 stars "I am shocked at how quickly I was completely captivated by this book… I loved this book… I couldn't turn the pages fast enough." Reader review, 5 stars "Wonderful, touching, compelling…" Reader review, 5 stars "I dare you not to fall in love." JJ Marsh, Author of the Beatrice Stubbs series "Totally captivating, this book had me hooked from the start. I loved how this story brought history to life with such amazing characters." Reader review, 5 stars