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Gifts of Love
Gillian Blake an architect, recently arrived from England, is the owner of a house on Pleasant Avenue that she has personally, painstakingly renovated. Painfully shy to the extent that she stutters helplessly in uncomfortable situations, she nevertheless begins to form friendships with her the gracious, elderly Mrs. O'Brian, and the young, delightful Jenny. But everyone in the house on Pleasant Avenue has well-hidden secrets. A new job with an architectural firm sets Gillian on a collision course with Gabe Hadley, the principal of the school she is seeing to completion. But the job also offers the possibility of additional new friendships and a route back into life. Gillian and Gabe have each suffered terrible personal losses. Yet slowly they find, through their blossoming feelings for each other and for Jenny and Mrs. O'Brian, that a future might just be possible -- in spite of the burdens of the past.
310 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
3 people are currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Vale Allen
60 books40 followersCharlotte Vale-Allen was born in Toronto and lived in England from 1961 to 1964 where she worked as a television actress and singer. She returned to Toronto briefly, performing as a singer and in cabaret revues until she emigrated to the United States in 1966.
Shortly after her marriage to Walter Allen in 1970 she began writing and sold her first novel Love Life in 1974. Prior to this book's publication she contracted to do a series of paperback originals for Warner Books, with the result that in 1976 three of her books appeared in print.
Her autobiography, the acclaimed Daddy's Girl, was actually the first book she wrote but in 1971 it was deemed too controversial by the editors who read it. It wasn't until 1980, after she'd gained success as a novelist, that the groundbreaking book was finally published.
One of Canada's most successful novelists, with over seven million copies sold of her 30+ novels, Ms. Allen's books have been published in all English-speaking countries, in Braille, and have been translated into more than 20 languages.
In her writing she tries to deal with issues confronting women, being informative while at the same time offering a measure of optimism. "My strongest ability as a writer is to make women real, to take you inside their heads and let you know how they feel, and to make you care about them."
A film buff and an amateur photographer, Allen enjoys foreign travel. She finds cooking and needlework therapeutic, and is a compulsive player of computer Solitaire. The mother of an adult daughter, since 1970 she has made her home in Connecticut.
Shortly after her marriage to Walter Allen in 1970 she began writing and sold her first novel Love Life in 1974. Prior to this book's publication she contracted to do a series of paperback originals for Warner Books, with the result that in 1976 three of her books appeared in print.
Her autobiography, the acclaimed Daddy's Girl, was actually the first book she wrote but in 1971 it was deemed too controversial by the editors who read it. It wasn't until 1980, after she'd gained success as a novelist, that the groundbreaking book was finally published.
One of Canada's most successful novelists, with over seven million copies sold of her 30+ novels, Ms. Allen's books have been published in all English-speaking countries, in Braille, and have been translated into more than 20 languages.
In her writing she tries to deal with issues confronting women, being informative while at the same time offering a measure of optimism. "My strongest ability as a writer is to make women real, to take you inside their heads and let you know how they feel, and to make you care about them."
A film buff and an amateur photographer, Allen enjoys foreign travel. She finds cooking and needlework therapeutic, and is a compulsive player of computer Solitaire. The mother of an adult daughter, since 1970 she has made her home in Connecticut.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 19, 2011
A man and woman with tragic pasts meet and fall in love.
April 18, 2012
At 16, I thought it was the BEST ROMANCE EVER. Now I read it and it's... good.
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March 15, 2016full of suspense till the very end,,,i loved it
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews