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The Hidden Years
The Hidden Years Lay Bare the Choices All Women Face in Their Search for Love
Sage Danvers spent a lifetime running from the past -- from the mother who kept her at a distance, the father who resented her, and the heartache of unfulfilled love. But when Sage discovers the sacrifices and fiery passions her mother has hidden, she is able to confront her own sexuality. By piecing together the shattering secrets of her family's past, Sage is finally able to open her heart.
Sage Danvers spent a lifetime running from the past -- from the mother who kept her at a distance, the father who resented her, and the heartache of unfulfilled love. But when Sage discovers the sacrifices and fiery passions her mother has hidden, she is able to confront her own sexuality. By piecing together the shattering secrets of her family's past, Sage is finally able to open her heart.
591 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published September 1, 1991
5 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Penny Jordan
1,126 books668 followersPenelope Jones Halsall
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
aka Caroline Courtney, Annie Groves, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 at about seven pounds in a nursing home in Preston, Lancashire, England. She was the first child of Anthony Winn Jones, an engineer, who died at 85, and his wife Margaret Louise Groves Jones. She has a brother, Anthony, and a sister, Prudence "Pru".
She had been a keen reader from the childhood - her mother used to leave her in the children's section of their local library whilst she changed her father's library books. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction. At the age of eight, she was creating serialized bedtime stories, featuring make-believe adventures, for her younger sister Prue, who was always the heroine. At eleven, she fell in love with Mills & Boon, and with their heroes. In those days the books could only be obtained via private lending libraries, and she quickly became a devoted fan; she was thrilled to bits when the books went on full sale in shops and she could have them for keeps.
Penny left grammar school in Rochdale with O-Levels in English Language, English Literature and Geography. She first discovered Mills & Boon books, via a girl she worked with. She married Steve Halsall, an accountant and a "lovely man", who smoked and drank too heavily, and suffered oral cancer with bravery and dignity. Her husband bought her the small electric typewriter on which she typed her first novels, at a time when he could ill afford it. He died at the beginning of 21st century.
She earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, Penny found an agent who was looking for a new Georgette Heyer. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her nom de plume to Melinda Wright for three air-hostess romps and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her more historical romance novels, she adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70 of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Penny Halsall lived in a neo-Georgian house in Nantwich, Cheshire, with her Alsatian Sheba and cat Posh. She worked from home, in her kitchen, surrounded by her pets, and welcomed interruptions from her friends and family.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 25, 2018
what can I say about this one? does this count as a HP?
The story was set during war times and had a unique slant where h's mother has an accident but has a wish for her family to read her diaries. Through reading, h, her sister - in law and niece get some 'life lessons'
too many lies; h's mother came across as a compulsive liar with a martyr complex; she needed some therapy. PJ wanted to write a dynastic book but it didn't quite come across well
Surprisingly I liked h; a lot. She was wild and didn't relate to her mother; but mother's reasons for keeping h away from her were poor. In the end, h's mother had the estate, her older son's family to bond with, her real father had his son; it seemed h was left out in the cold;
this one also has a major skeevy factor; h meets a young man and they fall in love but are stopped from marrying. Later on we find out he was her twin brother and was brought up by their father while h stayed with her mother. She has a hard time moving on after her twin leaves to go back. Her father tells his son the truth so the guy is able to move on but h is left to grieve on her own. Thank the Lord they don't sleep together but being so in love, they must have kissed. Couldn't PJ find a better way for them to connect?
H was so and so; he supposedly wanted the h, even fell in love with her but didn't have a modicum of sympathy for her ... he also moved on with his life ... but I rather liked the way h moved on; she turned into the female version of the alpha male who lives a fast life but I felt she had reason to ..
Its actually a good book but h's mother and the skeevy bit leave a lot to be desired
The story was set during war times and had a unique slant where h's mother has an accident but has a wish for her family to read her diaries. Through reading, h, her sister - in law and niece get some 'life lessons'
too many lies; h's mother came across as a compulsive liar with a martyr complex; she needed some therapy. PJ wanted to write a dynastic book but it didn't quite come across well
Surprisingly I liked h; a lot. She was wild and didn't relate to her mother; but mother's reasons for keeping h away from her were poor. In the end, h's mother had the estate, her older son's family to bond with, her real father had his son; it seemed h was left out in the cold;
this one also has a major skeevy factor; h meets a young man and they fall in love but are stopped from marrying. Later on we find out he was her twin brother and was brought up by their father while h stayed with her mother. She has a hard time moving on after her twin leaves to go back. Her father tells his son the truth so the guy is able to move on but h is left to grieve on her own. Thank the Lord they don't sleep together but being so in love, they must have kissed. Couldn't PJ find a better way for them to connect?
H was so and so; he supposedly wanted the h, even fell in love with her but didn't have a modicum of sympathy for her ... he also moved on with his life ... but I rather liked the way h moved on; she turned into the female version of the alpha male who lives a fast life but I felt she had reason to ..
Its actually a good book but h's mother and the skeevy bit leave a lot to be desired
April 28, 2016
Fabulous book!
January 26, 2019
When Sages mum has an accident she asks Sage to read her diaries. Sage has been running from her past but these diaries explain so much. A wonderful story of womens choices in love
May 21, 2020
Read this back in the 90's and just reread. I love this book slightly flawed as love at first sight is hard to believe but last 150 pages always make me happy.
June 4, 2020
One of the best books I've read. It a nice on for some people struggling with past life
May 18, 2022
It was a decent holiday read, but a predictable ending, although there were plenty of unpredictable bits along the way.
August 22, 2022
Bello, pieno di emozioni, una storia che ti resta nel cuore, 5 stelle meritatissime per me!!!
January 27, 2024
Family saga..quite a few heart renching moments..but few characters had sharp angles hence did not gel well
March 26, 2024
Captivant, j'ai beaucoup aime
July 12, 2024
It amazes me that so many reviewers could like a book that I thought was so damn STUPID!! To each his own, I guess.
But I think the book should have done what the title did and STAYED hidden!
But I think the book should have done what the title did and STAYED hidden!
September 16, 2013
it is a real interesting book. it is about choices all women face in their choice for love. Sage Danvers has spent a lifetime running from the past, from a her mother who kept her at a distance, her father who resented her and the heartbreak of unfulfilled love.
August 2, 2010
Rubbish ! Corny, predictable and totally unrealistic !
July 19, 2011
This book was soooo good! I totally enjoyed it. Sage's mom's history was very intriquing and interesting. Pretty much loved everything about the book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews