Tania Crosse books are always one of my favourite go-to authors when thinking of a historical saga. I have previously read a couple of her books and I thoroughly enjoyed both. Today I am on Blog Tour for three books from Tania, so lucky!

The Quarry Girl

‘The Quarry Girl’ is set in the remote hamlet of Foggintor Quarry in the 1800s.

Ling a quarryman’s daughter, whose life is already clearly set out. She is ‘walking out’ with Barney who works at the quarry and the plan is there, marriage, children all within the confines of Foggintor Quarry.
The very first train arrives in the hamlet and everybody turns out to be there when it arrives. Ling falls into the railway track right in front of the oncoming train. She is saved by Elliott, a trainee doctor and from that day onwards Ling’s life is changed whether for good or bad is yet to be seen.

A story that shows us the way people struggled then. The ways in which they accepted the way life was. Hardships and living from one meal to the next as they did were normal. The amount of determination and grit that people everywhere had at that time is hard to find now. The values have changed with the times now. Ling’s story is one that was normal for particularly women at that time.
The descriptions of the quarry and the dangers of the work really hit home how much danger the workers placed themselves in just for a wage.

I really found the story quite an emotional read just thinking about the way people accepted the way of their lives then and got on with it.
Again Tania Crosse has managed to write a book that hits home and touches your heart at the same time. A worthy read for anyone who loves Historical fiction.

The Railway Girl

The Railway Girl is set in Devon in 1887.

Tresca Ladycott is a dairymaid with a father she is unable to rely on, so she is used to relying on herself. The unimaginable happens and she is sacked, losing her home as well. They decide to travel to Tavistock, hoping her father, Emmanuel can find work on the railway. They find that Tresca can’t gain employment so they have to rely just on Emmanuel’s wage. The work is hard and with not a lot of pay, they end up in a small room, but its a room at least. Tresca does her best to save with what little they have.

After a friend of Tresca’s leaves due to tragedy, Tresca manages to find a larger room to rent and attempts to make it cosier by buying little bits to add to the room. Her father ends up sacked from the job due to drinking during his working hours. No money coming in everything has to be hocked at the pawnshop, with the Workhouse being the next step for the pair. Connor, her father’s foreman from work, is the person Tresca blames for their downfall. She hates the very sight of him, but all he wishes to do is help them. Tresca finds herself attracted to him and eventually they do find a balance. Will Tresca find what she deserves?

Well! I was in bits at times throughout this book, Tresca’s life pulled on my heartstrings so much. The hard lives people lead then just tear me apart! Connor was another one, I was really feeling sorry for him sometimes too! The characters in Tania’s books are all absolutely great and they are relatable always, to me anyway. I felt like I was there with Tresca struggling in that little room, with nothing but her father’s wage and then he got sacked! A cracking read yet again!

The Gunpowder Girl

The Gunpowder Girl is again, set in the 1800s in Dartmoor.

Rose Maddiford is a girl who has been raised by her father with Florrie to help him, due to her mother dying in childbirth. She is very close to her father so when a disaster happens to them and everything is torn apart, she has to find some way to help her father and keep her beloved horse, Gospel. Rose takes it upon herself to accept a mans hand in marriage, Charles, a rich man who can give them the life they need. What she didn’t expect was a man, so unlike her father in every way. He is domineering, possessive and a jealous man too. Rose has to find a way to get out of this nightmare her life has become…Charles does not count on Rose’s determination and feistiness from her mother.

A fantastic, gripping story and set in a place that comes to life in the pages of this book, as well as Rose being a corker! I loved her! She is a type of woman who never thinks of herself first and the love for Gospel was something else! Another historical fiction book that I loved from the start.

Massive thanks to Joffe books for the copies of all the books for todays massive triple book tour!