Under an Amber Sky

by Pamela Evans

Genres: General Fiction; Sagas

Synopsis

Two sisters manage to escape their tragic beginnings, but heartbreak is never far away. A wonderfully eventful and colourful picture of life in wartime London, Under an Amber Sky is a compelling wartime tale from much-loved saga writer, Pam Evans. Perfect for fans of Sheila Newberry and Dilly Court. For the Porters and the Mills, family and friendship are the glue that binds everything together. So when the Porters' home is destroyed in the Blitz and only seventeen-year-old Nell and her little sister Pansy survive, all their lives are shattered. Peg Mills is determined to look after her best friend's daughters and, in time, the girls begin to thrive - Pansy, evacuated to the countryside and to Peg's loving mother, and Nell in her new job at the local newspaper. But trouble is on its way. Nell discovers her handsome suitor Gus Granger is hiding a dangerous secret. And, just when she needs him the most, her closest confidant Ed Mills is declared missing in action. Nell suddenly realises that Ed means much more to her than just a friend. But will she ever see him again to tell him her true feelings? What readers are saying about Under an Amber Sky : ' Brilliant read, couldn't put it down, you really feel for the characters in the story and can imagine vividly what it must have been like to live through those dark days and the lengths people went to' ' Brilliant book, keeps you guessing from the beginning to the end. The best book I have read in a long time' ' A lovely, easy read in true Pamela Evans style. Her characters are totally believable and you can't help but get involved in their lives'

Release date: January 7, 2010

Publisher: Headline

Print pages: 442

Sample

Would the war never end, the British people wondered, as this, the sixth winter, dragged on the gloomiest of all with shortages of everything except cold weather. Fuel rationing often meant an empty hearth so the populace shivered in unheated homes in their outdoor clothes; families gathered around the wireless set of an evening in coats, mufflers and gloves.

But there was an underlying sense of optimism, despite the gloom, because everyone knew that peace was imminent albeit that occasional V-bombs still wreaked havoc in London. The beginning of a return to normality was now visible, most notably in blackout restrictions being lifted to half lighting.

There was certainly no lack of good spirits in the Blue Rabbit public house in Chiswick, West London, one evening in February 1945. The smoky public bar, which was almost exclusively a male domain, was packed, a darts game in progress, the whole place reverberating with raucous hilarity. Who cared if the beer was watered down: the war was nearly over, the men had finished their long working day, were off duty from civil defence and had escaped from the missus for an hour or so to be with their mates, so they weren’t complaining. Someone here always had a joke to tell.

Even the sound of the siren didn’t unduly disturb these merrymakers which as it happened proved to be unwise. A terrible silence followed the explosion; most of the pub had been reduced to a smoking ruin.

Later that same evening April Green and her cousin Heather Miller were glowing pleasurably when they emerged with the crowds from a cinema in Hammersmith having just seen the film Meet Me in St Louis.

‘What a lovely film,’ said Heather dreamily.

‘Yeah, I really enjoyed it too,’ sighed April, a redhead with lustrous green eyes and a dusting of freckles. ‘Judy Garland is one of my favourite film stars.’

‘I always like American films. It seems to be so nice there; all those smart houses and gorgeous. . .