The Guernsey Novels Series

“Prepare to be swept away by a heart-warming tale of family relationships and love.” Reader This romantic drama is the second of The Guernsey Novels, a series of stand-alone books by the award-winning author Anne Allen. It will appeal to fans of the best-selling novel The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Three women. Three generations. Sacrifices for love… Who is she really? Nicole is about to find out as she searches for her real mother; the woman who gave her away at birth. With her marriage in tatters, she sets out from England: travelling to Spain, Jersey and Guernsey before the extraordinary story of her real family is finally revealed. Nicole becomes an unwitting catalyst for change in that family. Two women are forced to reveal long-buried secrets. One going back as far as the Second World War. Lives are transformed as choices have to be made and the past laid to rest… Book reviews "A sensitive, heartfelt novel about family relationships, identity, adoption, second chances at love… With romance, weddings, boat trips, lovely gardens and more, Finding Mother is a dazzle of a book, a perfect holiday read." Lindsay Townsend, author of The Snow Bride. "I first encountered Anne Allen when I read Dangerous Waters: Mystery, Loss and Love on the Island of Guernsey and if you've read that book you'll notice a glancing reference to Jeanne, the heroine, in Finding Mother. I felt nicely grounded! In much the same way that Allen wormed Jeanne into my heart, I really found that I cared for Nicole and willing her on to make the right decisions and a success of her life. Allen has a real talent for her female characters. The men don't come off the page quite as well, but that's a minor quibble. Tracing a birth parent when you've been adopted is a sensitive subject and Allen handles it well, recognising the insecurities of the adopting parents who wonder if they're going to be supplanted and the worries of the mother who gave up the child soon after her birth. Will she be judged for her relationship with the child's father and for the fact that she made no attempt to bring the child up herself? There's an added complication here in that Nicole will also find out about her birth father - giving her more parents than any girl should decently want! It's neatly, elegantly done and the story is a real page-turner." The Bookbag **** The Guernsey Novels will appeal to lovers of the works of Joanna Trollope, Maeve Binchy, and the best-selling book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

** Awarded Silver in the 2012 WishingShelfAwards ** Dangerous Waters is the first of The Guernsey Novels, linked but standalone stories, which will appeal to fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Tragedy seems to follow Jeanne Le Page around . . . Can she really go through it again and survive? She is lucky to be alive … at sixteen Jeanne was almost killed in a boating accident which brought heart-breaking family tragedy. Now, fifteen years later, Jeanne returns reluctantly to the island of Guernsey following the death of her beloved grandmother. Struggling for breath as the ferry nears the island; she is overwhelmed by a dark foreboding as hazy memories of that terrible day resurface… Only returning to sell her inheritance - her grandmother's old cottage - Jeanne has no intention of picking up her old life. But the cottage holds a secret, dating back to World War II and the German Occupation, and Jeanne becomes drawn into discovering more. Then, soon after her arrival, a chance meeting with an old teenage crush leads her to thoughts of love. Jeanne is forced to face her demons, reliving the tragedy as her lost memory returns. When the truth is finally revealed, her life is endangered for the second time…   Reviews "The island of Guernsey is so vividly evoked, one feels as if one is walking its byways. An atmospheric and tantalising read." -- Elizabeth Bailey, author of The Gilded Shroud. "I've never been to Guernsey but I'm determined to go now that I've read this book. It's a book you can settle into and really enjoy, but it's a lot more than chick-lit. There's an intriguing mystery, a finish which had me reading into the early hours of the morning and an insight into what I think of as the back-end of the publishing industry the bit that the reader never sees or even knows exists. It's delivered with a light touch but gives the book real depth. I was impressed. **** -- Bookbag.co.uk   Dangerous Waters by Anne Allen is perfect for fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, and Coastliners by Joanne Harris.

"Murder, mystery, and romance – it's got it all."  The third in The Guernsey Novels series, likely to appeal to fans of the best-selling book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Two violent deaths. Separated by time, but with a fatal connection… A man loses his father. A young woman loses her mother. Both in tragic circumstances that lead, when they meet, to surprising revelations from the past.  Louisa needs to find the father she has never known, to warn him of possible danger - for them both. Her search takes her from England to Guernsey. Malcolm's journey is more complicated: conceived in Guernsey, his bereaved mother emigrates with him to Canada. Many years later he arrives in India, and from here he is led back to Guernsey to open a health centre at La Folie. This was his father's home and where he was killed at the start of the Second World War.  At the heart of the two deaths lie stolen jewels. Valuable enough to kill for. Twice.  Finding her father brings Louisa more than she bargains for, and her life is transformed, while Malcolm learns that life is, after all, for sharing…  Book review "I regard Anne Allen's Guernsey novels as an indulgent treat: they're seriously easy to read, with somegreat characters and a brilliant island location which is used to full advantage: you really feel as though you're there. Allen has a subtle insight into the dynamics of dysfunctional families - the ones with quirks in their history - and the independent people they give birth to. She doesn't fall into the obvious trap of creating unhappiness within the families: both Malcolm and Louisa loved their mothers dearly and grew to be strong people themselves. The hint that their upbringing has left its mark is shown by the fact that Malcolm has never married - and Louisa finds it difficult to believe that the man who has stolen her heart - the manager of Malcolm's health spa - could reciprocate her feelings. There's a neat mirroring of circumstances with both Malcolm and Louisa having a parent killed in the search for the jewels. There's considerable insight too in the relationship between Malcolm and Louisa. Louisa has always known that she had a father, but Malcolm knew nothing of the existence of Louisa until he was confronted by her. There's a wariness on both sides at first, followed by a steady growth of affection rather than insta-love and it's a relationship you can believe in. Whenever I read one of Anne Allen's books I'm always disappointed when I turn the final page: the books lift me out of reality and whisk me away to somewhere warm and comfortable."  BOOKBAG **** The Guernsey Novels will appeal to lovers of the works of Joanna Trollope, Maeve Binchy, and the best-selling book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

WINNER OF THE DIAMOND BOOK AWARD 2017  The fifth of The Guernsey Novels, Echoes of Time is a dual-time story set in the German Occupation and present-day Guernsey and is likely to appeal to fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Betrayal, injustice and revenge echo down the years… 1940. Olive marries farmer Bill Falla. The Germans occupy Guernsey. All too soon Olive realises she has made a mistake. Her life changes when she meets Wolfgang, a German officer-however there's a price to pay. . . 2010. Natalie Ogier returns to Guernsey to escape an abusive relationship – only to be plagued by odd happenings in her beautiful cottage on the site of a derelict and secluded farm. Disturbing dreams, disembodied voices and uncanny visions from the past. She becomes increasingly ill at ease as someone else's past catches up with her own… Her only immediate neighbour, Stuart, is the grandson of the original owners, Bill and Olive. Thrown together in a bid to find out what happened to Olive, can they each survive the repercussions of the past and move on?  Book reviews "A powerful family drama packed full of mystery and intrigue. A stunningly good read." A 'Wishing Shelf' Book Review "For the last three days, I have been thoroughly immersed in Echoes of Time, a family saga set in Guernsey. Let me begin by saying how gripping this story is. Not only is the plot packed full of twists and turns, but the setting – and the characters – are lovingly described. There is, I think, nothing better than a novel written by an author who knows how to balance setting, speech and plot. So, what did I like? Well, the opening chapter, albeit very short, is a real 'grabber'. I'm very fond of books which open with a 'BANG!' and not with endless paragraphs of flowery prose. Well, trust me, this opens BIG, hooking the reader in… I also very much enjoyed the pacing of this novel. The chapters were surprisingly short for this genre and there's often a cliffhanger at the end of the chapters. So, although it is a family saga of sorts it is also very much a thriller and a mystery, and the style of writing reflects that. So, would I recommend this book? Yes, absolutely. And who to? Well, pretty much anybody and everybody. If you enjoy a good thriller, this is for you. If you enjoy a complex family saga, this is for you. Or, if you simply love Guernsey, this is for you." A 'Wishing Shelf' Book Review  "Superbly written, Echoes of Time is captivating, exciting, sad, bittersweet and yet hopeful and full of happiness. Anne Allen lovingly depicts the place and people of Guernsey and seamlessly combines the past and present, telling almost parallel stories that come to a joint resolution." Readers Favorite Review - Awarded Finalist in Readers' Favorite Awards 2017. The Guernsey Novels will appeal to lovers of the works of Joanna Trollope, Maeve Binchy, and the best-selling book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

"An absolutely riveting read"  Book Six of The Guernsey Novels is another dual-time story set during the German Occupation and present-day Guernsey and is likely to appeal particularly to fans of the book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Treachery and theft lead to death – and love 1940. Teresa Bichard and her baby are sent by her beloved husband, Leo, to England as the Germans draw closer to Guernsey. Days later they invade… 1942. Leo, of Jewish descent, is betrayed to the Germans and is sent to a concentration camp, never to return.  1945. Teresa returns to find Leo did not survive and the family's valuable art collection, including a Renoir, is missing. Heartbroken, she returns to England. 2011. Nigel and his twin Fiona, buy a long-established antique shop in Guernsey and during a refit, find a hidden stash of paintings, including what appears to be a Renoir. Days later, Fiona finds Nigel dead, an apparent suicide. Refusing to accept the verdict, a distraught Fiona employs a detective to help her discover the truth… Searching for the rightful owner of the painting brings Fiona close to someone who opens a chink in her broken heart. Can she answer some crucial questions before laying her brother's ghost to rest? Who betrayed Leo?  Who knew about the stolen Renoir? And are they prepared to kill – again? Book Review "I have now enjoyed all of Anne Allen's novels, and I'm becoming a big fan. She is a very 'lively' writer who seems to enjoy giving her readers a wonderful set of characters in a soft, almost velvety setting. Her books also offer a strong historical element, most often World War Two when the Germans invaded the island. In the sixth novel in the set, Fiona and her twin brother, Nigel, discover hidden artwork in the walls of an antique shop. They attempt to discover whom it belonged to but, when Nigel 'supposedly' kills himself, Fiona attempts to discover the truth. I must say that The Betrayal has a very different feel to it than the other novels in the set. The island is still lovingly described, the characters just as interesting and well developed, but the underlying mystery is so prominent in this story; in fact, in parts, it is almost a thriller. The pacing is faster right from the opening chapter with Teresa and Leo deciding whether to run from the invading Germans or not. And the ending is just as exciting. All in all, totally unputdownable! To sum up, this is a wonderful novel, with tons of pace where pace is needed, and a setting so lovingly described, it is almost a character in the book. I am happy to recommend this story, in fact, all of them, to anybody who enjoys a well-plotted mystery populated with convincing and always credible characters." A 'Wishing Shelf' Book Review The Guernsey Novels will appeal to lovers of the works of Joanna Trollope, Maeve Binchy, and the best-selling book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

      "A gorgeously intriguing story" How close were Victor Hugo and his copyist? 1862 Young widow Eugénie is left bereft when her husband dies suddenly and faces an uncertain future in Guernsey. A further tragedy brings her to the attention of Monsieur Victor Hugo, living in exile on the island in his opulent house only yards away from Eugénie's home. Their meeting changes her life and she becomes his copyist, forming a strong friendship with both Hugo and his mistress, Juliette Drouet. 2012 Doctor Tess Le Prevost, Guernsey born though now living in Exeter, is shocked to inherit her Great-Aunt's house on the island. As a child she was entranced by Doris's tales of their ancestor, Eugénie, whose house this once was, and who, according to family myth, was particularly close to Hugo. Was he the real father of her child? Tess is keen to find out and returning to the island presents her with the ideal opportunity. Will she discover the truth about Eugénie and Hugo? A surprise find may hold the answer as Tess embraces new challenges which test her strength – and her heart. Book Review "A gorgeously intriguing story set in a beautiful location. I completely identified with contemporary heroine Tess and Victorian heroine Eugénie, who both became real for me; I was sorry to part company with them both". Margaret James, Author of 'The Final Reckoning'. Readers Favorite Review 5* Awarded Silver Medal This is a suspenseful story that is intelligently plotted and beautifully told. The author uses the first person narrative and shifts the story from the past to the present, a literary technique that reinforces the suspense as the reader moves from one timeline and from one point of view to another. The prose is beautiful and it is filled with wonderful descriptions. The story is infused with humanity and realism and readers can feel as though they were sitting in the same room with the legendary author and the other characters. The Inheritance is deftly plotted and it features characters that are real and compelling. I enjoyed every bit of this story.

The Guernsey Novels Book 4, a romantic mystery likely to appeal to fans of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. One family, divided by death – and money Andy Batiste, at loggerheads with his degenerate cousin, seeks to discover the truth of his family history. Why was his pregnant grandmother forced to flee to France? What really happened to her husband during the German Occupation, sixty years ago? Who accused Edmund, the elder son and Batiste heir, of being an informer? Was he really a traitor – and who murdered him? With Edmund’s brother Harold now head of the family, enjoying the wealth which ought to have come to Andy’s father, the family is forever divided. Andy yearns to clear Edmund’s name and restore his father to his rightful inheritance. Andy is introduced to Charlotte Townsend, newly divorced, lonely and struggling with writer’s block and the consuming threat of impending loss. They meet when she returns for healing at Guernsey's natural health centre, La Folie, and Charlotte becomes involved in Andy’s family history. Together they embark on a hunt for the truth… REVIEW "Sit back and prepare to be effortlessly transported once more to the beautiful island of Guernsey, this time in autumn, for the fourth tale in Anne Allen’s much-acclaimed Guernsey Novels series. Each successive book features, in cameo roles, characters from previous novels but each story nevertheless stands alone as a jolly good read and “The Family Divided” is no exception. At the heart of the story is Andy, whose father lost his chance of inheritance due to a mysterious family scandal during WWII. Frustrated at not knowing the full story behind his father’s reluctance to pursue his rightful claim to land and riches, Andy accepts an offer of help with research from Charlotte, a woman for whom a life of luxury in England has always been the norm. In spite of her very comfortable lifestyle Charlotte is feeling bruised and battered after her divorce and the death of her beloved father, and her relationship with her mother is not an easy one. In an attempt to find some peace and stability – with a bit of pampering thrown in – Charlotte books a short break at La Folie, a health spa in Guernsey. Whilst on the island Charlotte encounters old friends and new challenges and her original short stay extends into a longer one ... I liked Ms. Allen’s gradual unraveling of the main plot and the satisfying final tying-up of all the various threads in the story. I particularly appreciated her descriptions of Guernsey in autumn, which further enhanced my mental picture of the island that I’ve never visited but which I now feel that I know quite well, having read all four of Ms. Allen’s books. I also enjoyed her description of Charlotte’s London home scenario and her efforts at becoming a domestic goddess on Guernsey in order to change her outlook on life. I am now hoping that Charlotte features in a future Guernsey Novel so that I can see how she’s getting on! As ever, the author shows great skill in portraying the occasional difficulties of interpersonal relationships, especially during times of stress. She has a great understanding of the human psyche and this contributes valuably to her writing. Well done yet again, Anne Allen!"  

  Two women, living two hundred years apart but closer than sisters.   Mary, miserable in her  marriage to Thomas Carre, a merchant and privateer and living in the newly-built family mansion in Georgian Guernsey.   Lucy, separated from her husband after a tragic loss and now acting as an unwilling sitter for her elderly grandfather, Gregory Carre, who has inherited the same mansion.   Lucy is haunted by Mary's continued presence in the house and finds herself being pulled more and more back in time. How is it possible for her to live as Mary? To experience scenes from her tragic life? Lucy is forced to come to terms with Mary's grief as well as her own. The more enmeshed she becomes the more anxious Lucy is to discover the truth. Why is Mary still restless? What caused her mysterious disappearance two hundred years ago?   And can Lucy move on from her own loss to find happiness again?   Editorial Review 'The haunting tale of two women, divided by time, yet with the power to set each other free.. A gripping read.' Nicola Pryce, Author of 'A Cornish Betrothal'.