A heart-warming and atmospheric Christmas novella set in the heart of wartime London, from the Queen of East End sagas Jean Fullerton It's December 1940 and East London is expecting snow. But after months of nightly visits from the Luftwaffe, it will take more than a white Christmas to turn the bombed streets of Stepney festive. Young Eleanor Jolly, newly widowed after her husband stopped a German bullet on Dunkirk beach, is trying to pull through for the sake of her baby James. Her mother-in-law - the deceptively-named Ruby Jolly - isn't helping. Klaus Wagner is the loneliest German in London. Having narrowly escaped imprisonment by the Gestapo for his work on an anti-fascist newspaper, he signs up for the British armed forces, hoping to save his beloved country from Nazi rule. But the holiday season is making him homesick for the family and friends he left behind. However, Prue and Fliss Carmichael have a plan to boost a surprise Christmas pantomime. When Ella comes on board, she wasn't expecting to find a German dissenter roped into the cast. Especially not an undeniably handsome German dissenter, with cornflower eyes and a mischievous smile. Will the Stepney girls rally in time for Christmas and put on a show to rival the air raid sirens? And will Klaus and Ella manage to find a way to each other's hearts before the New Year? PRAISE FOR JEAN FULLERTON AND A STEPNEY GIRL'S SECRET : 'Enthralling' DILLY COURT 'Heart-warming' ROSIE GOODWIN 'A page-turning read' ELAINE EVEREST
Author
I was born into a large, East End family and grew up in the overcrowded streets clustered around the Tower of London. I still live in East London, just five miles from where I was born. I feel that it is that my background that gives my historical East London stories their distinctive authenticity. I first fell in love with history at school when I read Anya Seton’s book Katherine. Since then I have read everything I can about English history but I am particularly fascinated by the 18th and 19th century and my books are set in this period. I just love my native city and the East End in particular which is why I write stories to bring that vibrant area of London alive. I am also passionate about historical accuracy and I enjoy researching the details almost as much as weaving the story. If one of my characters walks down a street you can be assured that that street actually existed. Take a look at Jean’s East End and see the actual location where my characters played out their stories.
