Bright Morning — Nicola Thorne

The Askhams, the Lightermans, the Bolingbrokes and the Ferovs. We met them in Never Such Innocence, followed them through the turmoil of the 1920s and 1930s in Yesterday's Promises â€" now they must face the harrowing years of World War Two.

For the matriarch, Rachel, they are years of both fulfilment and loss: her family, scattered across war-torn Europe, bring her pride and, inevitably, pain. Charlotte, now a top model for Chanel, is to find happiness and anguish in a great love, and honour as a heroine. Ralph, Earl of Askham, goes off to fight, and Askham Hall becomes a school for evacuees. The opportunist, Bobby Lighterman, profits from the war â€" but is alienated from his beloved son; whilst the eccentric and delightful Ferovs play their bizarre roles on the world stage, bringing both esteem and disgrace on the family.

Bright Morning brilliantly charts the history of women and men struggling for survival and happiness; it is a story of cowards and heroes, of sexual passion and sublime platonic love.

This is the third book in the four part The Askham Chronicles Saga.