Francesca Capaldi – Heartbreak In The Valleys

‘Heartbreak In The Valleys’ is a historical fiction saga set in a small Welsh mining village during World War One.

Idris and Anwen are sweethearts. Idris has gone off to war and Anwen waits at home. Her home consisting of caring for her ill mother and shielding her siblings from their abusive father knowing that her man will return when his job is finished. Idris returns, but not as the man Anwen recognises. He is harder, bitter and not the boy who went to war. Idris breaks of their engagement and Anwen is heartbroken. She thinks life could not be any worse than it already is she is already alone and vulnerable what else could go wrong?
An explosion at the mining pit causes devastation in the village and she realises there is much more sadness in life than she anticipates and with this brings the realisation she needs to mend bridges with Idris in order to help the broken community that is the village.

Well, a sweeping historical saga portraying the hard times of the First World War, how emotional could it be? It literally tore me apart to read the homelife of Anwen and her siblings, although this was fairly common back then, children grew up fast compares to the easy times we have now. The poverty evident in the village and Anwen’s home was heartbreaking when I think my grandmother grew up in these very same times, she just swopped the mine for the cotton mill, same poverty and similar conditions. The research shines through this story down to the smallest detail.

A beautiful, heart-wrenching tale of family life with a frisson of romance that will have you engrossed until you have done! Thanks to Books On The Bright Side and Hera Books for allowing me to join today to give you my own thoughts on the book.