Mary Ann and Bill — Catherine Cookson

Mary Ann never wanted to take on Bill in the first place. She had all too shrewd an idea of what it might involve, but both her husband, Corny, and the twins David and Mary Rose, were so keen to have the little bull-terrier puppy that in the end she was pretty well forced to give way to them.

In the early stages of their relationship, Mary Ann's feelings towards this new addition to the household were of pure hatred. And who could blame her? To have your entire sitting room chewed up is hardly endearing for a start. But Bill was not alone in disturbing his mistress's piece of mind. A leggy blond had appeared on Corny's horizon, and Mary Ann found to her dismay that even her beloved husband was like other men in being susceptible to temptation.

With money disappearing from the till at Corny's garage, and the twins in hot water at school, there is both drama and comedy in good measure before the story of the endearing and always indomitable daughter of Tyneside works itself out.