Fiddler's Ferry — Iris Gower

The young and lovely Nerys Beynon is alone in the world when Siona Llewelyn, the ferry boat man and patriarch of a large but closely-knit clan, takes her in. Siona's long-suffering wife, Emily, the mother of seven sons and now with child, has worked hard to keep the family together. She is naturally resentful of the presence of the beautiful newcomer, but Siona has promised to let Nerys earn a living at the Llewelyn home. He is more than true to his word.

Emily's sudden, tragic death radically alters Nerys's position within the family. Her role as employee shifts to that of confidante, as the many Llewelyn sons share with her their innermost dreams and fears. Nerys is a source of comfort to all -- yet she knows she is caught in a web of rivalries, unspoken ambitions, and desires.

Suddenly, the choices that confront her threaten to disrupt the home she has found.