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A Time Like No Other
Lally Fraser, widowed at twenty, seeks comfort with dashing young mill owner Roly Sinclair. But when she finds she is expecting his baby, she turns to his dour brother Harry for help. Secretly in love with her, Harry offers her marriage. Roly, though, is anything but pleased. Threatening scandal or worse, he sets out to destroy them both. And when Harry is injured in a vicious attack, Lally must take charge of the mills to protect her children and the man she is growing to love from his worst enemy - his own brother.
448 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
11 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Audrey Howard
63 books51 followersAudrey Howard was born on 1929 in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK, and grew up in St Annes on Sea, Lancashire, where she lives in her childhood home.
Before she began to write she had a variety of jobs, among them hairdresser, model, shop assistant, cleaner and civil servant. In 1981, while living in Australia, she wrote the first of her bestselling novels published since 1984. In 1988, her novel The Juniper Bush won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
Before she began to write she had a variety of jobs, among them hairdresser, model, shop assistant, cleaner and civil servant. In 1981, while living in Australia, she wrote the first of her bestselling novels published since 1984. In 1988, her novel The Juniper Bush won the Romantic Novel of the Year Award by the Romantic Novelists' Association.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
September 14, 2013
I really enjoy stories written in years gone by,I like the dynamics of how men and women were supposed to act and behave. Lally is a strong minded, free spirited and loving woman who at times acts impulsively. I was captured from the start and loved the loylty of the womens friendships with one another. A great love and devotion blossomed throughout between Lally and Harry. I look forward to reading more of Howards books.
January 12, 2020
This book goes into exquisite detail of the day to day lives of the people of various classes at this time in England. At a couple of points I couldn't put it down. However it ended quite abruptly after building up an antagonist for the entire length of the book. I think the ending was supposed to be poignant but i felt it gell flat.
June 2, 2023
I feel as though I’ve read this before but then it is like many another. Not bad if you new this genre but think I’ve grown out of poor northern women overcome wealthy mill owners, trite and outdated.
September 17, 2017
I persisted and finished the book but found it fairly predictable and not overly engaging. It was what I term a light read without too much substance.
September 23, 2018
Great book, kept me wanting to pick up the book right from the start. Almost disappointed when I finished. Loved it.
September 1, 2023
Absolutely nail biting but the author does repeat herself quite a bit.
August 31, 2025
I was going to give this book 3 stars until I read the last sentence.... and it made me cry....
March 1, 2023
Not really keen on the mistakes and repetition. A bit weak for my taste. The book could have been half the size for a better review and enjoyment.
I won’t read another of her books.
I won’t read another of her books.
July 1, 2016
I am almost mourning this book. Ehh... With each next page I was more disappointed. If you asked me at the beginning I would give four stars. Then, it was only three. Now, I am really torn.
Pros:
I remember an adaptation of 'North and South' by Gaskell (I haven't read it) and I was excited that 'A Time Like No Other' take place in the similar world and time. Initially I was sucked into the description of this time of industrialization. I think, the writer made historical study and knew what she wrote about.
A main idea for a love story and an idea for main and secondary characters generally were also good. Lally's struggle, charming Roly, stable Harry. It could be delightful. Unfortunately, the whole love story (as it is) should take 200 pages not 400. I am afraid, that by writing so many pages, Audrey Howard spoiled the story. Additionally, the secondary characters were too sweet and good at the end. I love happy ending and a little melodrama, really. But this was to much for me.
I admit, Howard could write a lovely family scenes and an emotional dilemmas. I have forgotten many times all cons of the book.
Cons:
As I have written above, the book is too long.
I wanted to scream many times: "I already know it! Why are you constantly repeat it?" I don't know if it was for a less attentive reader or the writer wanted to make a book longer. Belive me, it weren't so kind of informations that you could forget. So, when I was reading last part of the book I skipped many pages. I haven't patience to read all over again what someone felt or how wealthy someone was and why.
On the cover is written "Betrayal is the deadliest sin of all". I agree but I don't agree that this sentence fit to the book. If it was meant to be, the story gone in wrong direction.
Summarizing:
I feel a promising idea for a really good historical fiction and historical romance. It turned out, however, worse.
I have decided, this time, I am not going to give my rating for the the potential. So, in the end there are only two stars.
Pros:
I remember an adaptation of 'North and South' by Gaskell (I haven't read it) and I was excited that 'A Time Like No Other' take place in the similar world and time. Initially I was sucked into the description of this time of industrialization. I think, the writer made historical study and knew what she wrote about.
A main idea for a love story and an idea for main and secondary characters generally were also good. Lally's struggle, charming Roly, stable Harry. It could be delightful. Unfortunately, the whole love story (as it is) should take 200 pages not 400. I am afraid, that by writing so many pages, Audrey Howard spoiled the story. Additionally, the secondary characters were too sweet and good at the end. I love happy ending and a little melodrama, really. But this was to much for me.
I admit, Howard could write a lovely family scenes and an emotional dilemmas. I have forgotten many times all cons of the book.
Cons:
As I have written above, the book is too long.
I wanted to scream many times: "I already know it! Why are you constantly repeat it?" I don't know if it was for a less attentive reader or the writer wanted to make a book longer. Belive me, it weren't so kind of informations that you could forget. So, when I was reading last part of the book I skipped many pages. I haven't patience to read all over again what someone felt or how wealthy someone was and why.
On the cover is written "Betrayal is the deadliest sin of all". I agree but I don't agree that this sentence fit to the book. If it was meant to be, the story gone in wrong direction.
Summarizing:
I feel a promising idea for a really good historical fiction and historical romance. It turned out, however, worse.
I have decided, this time, I am not going to give my rating for the the potential. So, in the end there are only two stars.
December 29, 2015
Lally es el tipo de mujer que no puede estar sola. Por eso, después de enviudar, se enreda con uno de los mejores amigos de su difunto esposo, el carismático Rory Sinclair. Lo que no me gustó es la anticlimática escena en que se queda embarazada. Nada de dulzura por ahí. Tampoco mejora cuando se casa con el hermano de Rory, Harry, para proteger su reputación y la de sus hijos. Menos mal que la nena se parece a ella!
Lo que más me gustó es la increíble amistad con dos de sus empleadas y lo que ellas consiguen trabajando unidas en un mundo donde los hombres mandan. Me agradan las parejas que se forman, los villanos cumplen bien con su rol (son malos muy malos) y reciben su merecido.
Me agrada el desarrollo de la historia y el crecimiento de los personajes. El mundo de los molinos textiles es apasionante, sobretodo durante la revolución industrial. Si bien la vida de los empleados era insalubre y trabajaban desde niños, Lally proyecta darles mejores condiciones habitacionales y laborales, escuelas, hospitales y bibliotecas.
Lo que más me gustó es la increíble amistad con dos de sus empleadas y lo que ellas consiguen trabajando unidas en un mundo donde los hombres mandan. Me agradan las parejas que se forman, los villanos cumplen bien con su rol (son malos muy malos) y reciben su merecido.
Me agrada el desarrollo de la historia y el crecimiento de los personajes. El mundo de los molinos textiles es apasionante, sobretodo durante la revolución industrial. Si bien la vida de los empleados era insalubre y trabajaban desde niños, Lally proyecta darles mejores condiciones habitacionales y laborales, escuelas, hospitales y bibliotecas.
July 23, 2013
Review taken from my Blog Post #116 in May 2011, after borrowing book from library.
At the age of just 20 Lally Fraser is left without the love of her life, with 2 small infant sons and absolutely no money on a badly neglected country estate.
She seeks the comfort of dashing childhood friend, Roly Sinclair with leaves her pregnant and is rescued by his elder brother, Harry, when he offers her marriage.
The only thing is that Harry is actually in love with her, but will she ever (a) realise that fact and (b) come to love him in return?
This was another 5 ***** Star rated book by the superbly talented Audrey Howard, although I find that the characters are so well written that I simply worry about them the whole time, which is not easy as they usually go through flood, fire, torment and brutality along the way!!
At the age of just 20 Lally Fraser is left without the love of her life, with 2 small infant sons and absolutely no money on a badly neglected country estate.
She seeks the comfort of dashing childhood friend, Roly Sinclair with leaves her pregnant and is rescued by his elder brother, Harry, when he offers her marriage.
The only thing is that Harry is actually in love with her, but will she ever (a) realise that fact and (b) come to love him in return?
This was another 5 ***** Star rated book by the superbly talented Audrey Howard, although I find that the characters are so well written that I simply worry about them the whole time, which is not easy as they usually go through flood, fire, torment and brutality along the way!!
May 4, 2013
A romantic novel set in Yorkshire in the woolen industry when conditions for mill operatives were appalling and life was cheap. Not really my kind of reading but it showed me the importance of respecting the reader's intelligence, the value of dialect, and the merits of brevity!
Read
January 20, 2017I couldn't put this down. It's a great story. The lady in it remarried after losing her first husband. For her it's a marriage of circumstance. During the book though her emotions change and a love for this man begins to develop.
December 30, 2009
Good story, but was a bit depressing, there always seemed to be something bad happening.
March 5, 2011
Very good book. All loose ends tied up very nicely.
June 30, 2012
Very good book. I highly recommend it.
May 2, 2013
Very readable historical fiction set in Yorkshire during the industrial revolution. It reminded me of Catherine Cookson's writing. However, points off for excessive use of exclamation marks.
May 19, 2015
I was surprised by this book: less romantic than I expected but much more interesting.
Read
October 27, 2018Audiobook
a nice old fashion remonance
a nice old fashion remonance
Want to read
July 20, 2015Started but since been given a book id rather read
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews