Book excerpt: 'Real sagas with female characters right at the heart' Woman's Hour 'Saga fiction at its best . . . I enjoyed it immensely' VICKI BEEBY 'A lovely read, full of highs, lows, friendship and foes' JOHANNA BELL Discover the engaging new trilogy from the author of The Sixpenny Orphan, about three women working in a WWI toffee factory in the North-East! In 1915 three women start work at a toffee factory in the market town of Chester-le-Street, Durham. Anne works for the enigmatic owner Mr Jack. She is highly efficient and whips Mr Jack's disorganised office - and Mr Jack himself - into shape. However, behind her business-like façade, Anne hides a heart-breaking secret. Elsie is feisty, fun and enjoys a good time. However, her gadabout ways get her into trouble when she falls for the wrong man in the sugar-boiling room. And there's dependable Hetty, who's set to marry her boyfriend when he returns from the war. But when Hetty is sent on an errand by the toffee factory boss, her life changes in ways she could never imagine and a whole new world opens up. The toffee factory girls begin as strangers before forging a close bond of friendship and trust. And, as the war rages on, they help each other cope through the difficult times ahead. The Toffee Factory Girls is a heart-warming novel about love, friendship, secrets, war . . . and toffee! It is the first in a trilogy from hugely popular author Glenda Young - 'such a good writer, she's fantastic!' Woman's Hour Praise for Glenda Young's previous sagas: 'A gripping saga' People's Friend 'Young creates a believable and richly detailed world in this emotive story full of hardship, kinship and resilience, and with a memorable cast of beautifully drawn characters' Lancashire Evening Post 'Will resonate with saga readers everywhere . . . a wonderful, uplifting story' Nancy Revell 'I really enjoyed . . . It's well researched and well written and I found myself caring about her characters' Rosie Goodwin 'All the ingredients for a perfect saga' Emma Hornby 'Glenda has an exceptionally keen eye for domestic detail which brings this local community to vivid, colourful life' Jenny Holmes 'The feel of the story is totally authentic . . . Her heroine in the grand Cookson tradition . . . Inspirationally delightful' Peterborough Evening Telegraph What readers are saying about Glenda's heartwrenching sagas: 'Definitely an author not to be missed when it comes to family sagas' The Book Magnet 'Writes superb historical fiction that bring the era alive. Her books are unbeatable and unputdownable' Ginger Book Geek 'The perfectly imperfect, human nature of Glenda Young's characters are what keeps her readership hooked' Clyde's Corner 'Gritty, compelling and full of heart . . an exceptional saga' Bookish Jottings 'Better than a Catherine Cookson' 5* reader review 'Wonderful read, full of rich characters, evocative description and a touch of romance' 5* reader review 'Just wanted it to go on forever and read more about the characters and their lives' 5* reader review Love Glenda's sagas? Don't miss her cosy crime mystery series starring Helen Dexter and her trusty greyhound, Suki, starting with Murder at the Seaview Hotel, Curtain Call at the Seaview Hotel and Foul Play at the Seaview Hotel, out now!