«The Cockney Girl» by Gilda O’Neill

A gripping saga of love and loss upon the eve of the Great War…
For Poplar’s Fairleigh women the annual migration from London to the hop fields of Kent is normally a longed-for escape from the dust and grime of the East End. But this year Rose Fairleigh worries that their departure will interrupt the slow-blossoming romance between her daughter Jess and gentle postman Jack Barnes.

Ever reliable, Jack promises to visit the Worlington estate as soon as he can and assures Rose he will keep an eye on her three sons, who are staying behind. Before he knows it, though, one of the boys is in trouble and it’s up to Jack to brave Chinatown’s dangerous and unfamiliar streets to bring him home.

Meanwhile in Kent, Jess’ life grows increasingly confusing as, full of promises and charm, the son of suffragette Lady Worlington turns his attentions to her. And, after Jack fails to show up in Kent as promised, the outcome seems inevitable.

This is a heartwrenching East End family drama, perfect for fans of Glynis Peters, Sheila Newberry and Downton Abbey.