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Head of Zeus
Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts
Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts: Factory girls fight for their loves, lives and rights in World War I Bermondsey by Mary Gibson
 The Factory Girls, 1

The captivating bestseller about a factory girl in Bermondsey during World War 1.

Britain, 1911.

Strikes and riots erupt countrywide as the shadow of the Great War looms over Europe. But in one small corner of London, factory girl Nellie Clark's wages are all that keep her younger brothers and sister from starvation.

And, as the young women of Pearce Duff's custard factory watch their menfolk prepare to march off to war, Nellie is forced to make a difficult choice: between the family who depend upon her, and the man she loves...

Following Nellie and her struggle through the hardship of life in First World War London, Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts is an outstandingly moving novel full of tenderness and drama.

PRAISE FOR CUSTARD TARTS AND BROKEN HEARTS:

'The twists and turns of the friendship, love and family keep you gripped throughout. The characters are engaging and soon feel like old friends' Joanna, Amazon reviewer.

'Well written and beautifully told story of the hardships and heartache of early 1900's Britain. Couldn't put it down and had tears rolling down my face as I became entwined with the wonderful "cuckoo" family wanting them to survive' Dell, Amazon reviewer.

'This is a wonderful read. It has everything a good story should have, it made me laugh, smile and weep in parts. So well written that the characters come to life' Mafanwy, Amazon reviewer.

'Brilliant book – well written, well researched, compelling read' Squirrel 59, Amazon reviewer.

'An amazing and at times heart-rending story about the struggles of young women before and during the war. I was gripped from the start!' Mrs S, Amazon reviewer.

Head of Zeus * Saga
01 Dec 2013 * 448pp * £4.49 * 9781781855751
REVIEWS
'Mary Gibson is going to go a long way ... a really good read'
Dee Williams
'A cracking tale full of warmth and history'
Bella magazine
'A fabulous, fascinating read'
Vanessa Feltz
'There were parts that tugged unrelentingly at my heartstrings and parts that left me wanting to jump for joy ... A real triumph'
Novelicious
'I simply couldn't put it down'
The Bookbag
'A lovely read for anyone who enjoys historical fiction, family saga or romance ... if she continues to write to this standard she could well become a household name'
Left on the Shelf
ALSO IN THE SERIES
Jam and Roses
Gunner Girls and Fighter Boys
Bourbon Creams and Tattered Dreams
Author
Mary Gibson
Mary Gibson
Mary Gibson was born and brought up in Bermondsey, south east London, where both her grandmother and mother were factory girls. She is the author of the bestselling Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts, which was selected for World Book Night 2015, and five other novels, Jam and Roses, Gunner Girls and Fighter Boys, Bourbon Creams and Tattered Dreams, Hattie's Home and A Sister's Struggle. marygibsonauthor.co.uk @MaryGibsonBooks
ALSO BY Mary Gibson
Hattie's Home
A Sister's Struggle
The Bermondsey Bookshop
Jam and Roses
Gunner Girls and Fighter Boys
Bourbon Creams and Tattered Dreams
OTHER BOOKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
Run to Him
A Girl Called Eilinora
Her Missing Husband: A Short Story
Jessie's Promise
The Wives' Revenge
Nobody's Girl
Lizzie's Daughters
Custard Tarts and Broken Hearts
A Dark And Distant Shore
The Four Streets
ashes In The Wind
Zemindar
Hide Her Name
Jam and Roses
The Throwaway Children
The Ballymara Road
The Sisters of St Croix
The Runaway Family
Ruby Flynn
Gunner Girls and Fighter Boys
The Girl With No Name
The Angels of Lovely Lane
Lizzie's Secret
Lizzie's War
Bourbon Creams and Tattered Dreams
The Children of Lovely Lane
The Married Girls
The Mothers of Lovely Lane
The Big Wind
Christmas Angels
An Angel Sings
The Girls of Mulberry Lane
Hattie's Home
A Place to Call Home
A Wedding at Mulberry Lane
The Runaway Wife
The Lovely Lane Box Set
The Orphan Girl
The Candle Factory Girl
Miss Mary's Daughter