The Girl Who Dared to Dream

London, 1912. It is two years before WWI and the conflict which will change the role of women forever. But for now, young Mabel Oakley is caught between her own dreams of becoming a teacher and what is conventionally expected of a girl from her class and background. If only there were some way out...

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The captivating new novel from Diney Costeloe, bestselling author of The Throwaway Children and The Girl With No Name.

London, 1912.

It is two years before the outbreak of World War 1, and the Oakley family are typical of their time. Andrew has been clerk at a City solicitors for twenty years. Alice, his wife, keeps the home fires burning. Their sons plan on becoming skilled apprentices. And Mabel, their daughter, says she would rather die than go into domestic service like her cousin. She is going to go to train as a secretary.

Andrew Oakley little imagines, as he sets off for work one February morning, that their lives are about to change in the most dramatic and tragic fashion. In one fateful instant the family dreams are crushed. And Mabel will have to swallow her pride to take that position as in-between maid after all. It is every bit as unpleasant as she expected. But help is going to come from a quite unexpected direction and bring her dreams to life again.

Brilliant storytelling, wonderful characters, here is everything we have come to love about a Diney Costeloe novel.

Praise for The Girl Who Dared to Dream:
'Fans of historical fiction will love how Costeloe paints pre-war London... You won't be able to put it down!' Chat Passions
'Diney Costeloe delivers an inspiring, heart-rending read with a wonderfully strong female protagonist.' Woman's Own
'A fascinating insight into the lives of women at the turn of the century.' Yours
'Beautifully crafted... Diney Costeloe has written over 20 novels, and this is one of her best.' Historical Novel Society
'A brilliantly written, tender and compelling page-turner – I LOVED it!' Faith Hogan

Praise for Diney Costeloe:
'Truly captivating.' Woman & Home
'A treat from the very first page. I could not put it down!' Historical Novel Society
'Historical fiction heaven... Anyone who feels that women's hist fict is a simplified genre sub-set would definitely need a rethink after this.' The Bookbag