| Anne Whitfield |
| Kitty McKenzie |
| ~ York, England 1864 ~ |
Available in PAPERBACK at all book stores, like
Borders, etc and libraries by simply ordering it by
Title, Author, Publisher and ISBN.
Author: Anne Whitfield
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Trade Paperback
ISBN 1-59998-262-5
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
It is also available in PAPERBACK from Barnes & Noble and Target , Amazon.com USA
Amazon -Canada, Amazon - France, Amazon - Germany.
It's also available at Powells.com and Blackwell and in ebook at My Bookstore & More
many other online booksellers like FictionWise.com
United Kingdom
The Book Depository UK - with free delivery around the world!
Tesco.com
Amazon.uk
Follow Kitty's exciting journey in the sequel, Kitty McKenzie's Land in paperback and
ebook . The sequel can be bought from the same outlets as Kitty McKenzie.
Borders, etc and libraries by simply ordering it by
Title, Author, Publisher and ISBN.
Author: Anne Whitfield
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: Trade Paperback
ISBN 1-59998-262-5
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
It is also available in PAPERBACK from Barnes & Noble and Target , Amazon.com USA
Amazon -Canada, Amazon - France, Amazon - Germany.
It's also available at Powells.com and Blackwell and in ebook at My Bookstore & More
many other online booksellers like FictionWise.com
United Kingdom
The Book Depository UK - with free delivery around the world!
Tesco.com
Amazon.uk
Follow Kitty's exciting journey in the sequel, Kitty McKenzie's Land in paperback and
ebook . The sequel can be bought from the same outlets as Kitty McKenzie.
Excerpt
The woman didn't speak as they walked and when she suddenly stopped in front of a large,
very run-down building, Kitty and the children collectively sighed a breath of relief. They
were all tired, sodden and hungry, and longed for just a few minutes rest out of the heavy
rain.
"In there is where I live, first door on't left." She pointed through the open doorway into
the dark interior. "Just inside the doorway 'ere, there's a set of steps leadin' down t'cellar."
"Is there someone we should see about it?" Kitty asked tentatively. Sewer filth ran over her
boots. Rubbish lined the small alley. She wasn't sure whether she could stand the thought of
going inside the building. They could hear yelling and cursing coming from the rooms above
them and somewhere beyond, a baby cried.
The woman began to laugh, a surprisingly cheery laugh. "Good God, you've got a lot to
learn, not that I reckon you'll be 'ere that long." She stopped laughing as quickly as she
started and with a sniff she led them into the building. Turning swiftly, she descended a set
of unbelievably steep stone steps that nearly had them all on their backsides. At the bottom,
a broken door leaned into the dim interior beyond.
Tumbling in after each other, the children stopped short, staring in horror at the dark, damp
and utterly disgusting dungeon surrounding them. Clara cried again with Rosie joining in
from sheer fright.
Rory cleared his throat, but before he had chance to speak, Kitty stepped forward. "What
rent would we have to pay for this?"
"A few bob normally, but we've all stopped payin' until the toff who owns this place fixes it
up. His rent man stopped comin' 'ere months ago. We refused t'pay good brass for summat
that's about t'fall down around our ears." She folded her arms across her chest. An angry
flush colored her cheeks. "Rent man fears for his life along this alley. He's hated summat
fierce."
Kitty frowned. "Then no one will mind us staying here?"
"Nope." The woman turned towards the door. "Unless you cause trouble. In this buildin'
we like t'keep our heads down. You see there's a lot of folk who'll not be happy if the polis
started pokin' their noses about. Understand?"
"Yes, yes, of course," Kitty assured her. You won't get any trouble from us."
"That's right, you won't," Rory butted in, "because we're not staying here."
"We will for the time being, Rory," Kitty silenced him. "Simply because there is nowhere
else."
"Well, please yourself." The woman turned for the door. "But if you want 'owt, I'm just
above your head."
"Wait! What is your name?"
Glancing over her shoulder, the woman gave her a strange look. "No one goes much on
names 'ere. There's no social club t'join, you know."
"No, I realize that, but still it would be nice if we could be friends?" She smiled. "My name
is Kitty, Kitty McKenzie. These are my brothers and sisters, Rory, Martin, Mary, Joe,
Clara and little Rosie."
"Aye, well, me name's Connie, Connie Spencer." With that, she marched up the steps and
out of sight.
Kitty turned back to her family and the awful realization of what they stood in. The walls
ran slimy with mold. Tiny rivulets of water seeped from the cracks in the bricks. Mildew
and stains covered the ceiling and bled down from the floors above. She shuddered, trying
not to guess what they might be. Years of dirt, grime and in places, filthy sawdust, swathed
the floor. A revolting stench came from somewhere. Kitty hoped to God there wasn't
anything dead in here.
The woman didn't speak as they walked and when she suddenly stopped in front of a large,
very run-down building, Kitty and the children collectively sighed a breath of relief. They
were all tired, sodden and hungry, and longed for just a few minutes rest out of the heavy
rain.
"In there is where I live, first door on't left." She pointed through the open doorway into
the dark interior. "Just inside the doorway 'ere, there's a set of steps leadin' down t'cellar."
"Is there someone we should see about it?" Kitty asked tentatively. Sewer filth ran over her
boots. Rubbish lined the small alley. She wasn't sure whether she could stand the thought of
going inside the building. They could hear yelling and cursing coming from the rooms above
them and somewhere beyond, a baby cried.
The woman began to laugh, a surprisingly cheery laugh. "Good God, you've got a lot to
learn, not that I reckon you'll be 'ere that long." She stopped laughing as quickly as she
started and with a sniff she led them into the building. Turning swiftly, she descended a set
of unbelievably steep stone steps that nearly had them all on their backsides. At the bottom,
a broken door leaned into the dim interior beyond.
Tumbling in after each other, the children stopped short, staring in horror at the dark, damp
and utterly disgusting dungeon surrounding them. Clara cried again with Rosie joining in
from sheer fright.
Rory cleared his throat, but before he had chance to speak, Kitty stepped forward. "What
rent would we have to pay for this?"
"A few bob normally, but we've all stopped payin' until the toff who owns this place fixes it
up. His rent man stopped comin' 'ere months ago. We refused t'pay good brass for summat
that's about t'fall down around our ears." She folded her arms across her chest. An angry
flush colored her cheeks. "Rent man fears for his life along this alley. He's hated summat
fierce."
Kitty frowned. "Then no one will mind us staying here?"
"Nope." The woman turned towards the door. "Unless you cause trouble. In this buildin'
we like t'keep our heads down. You see there's a lot of folk who'll not be happy if the polis
started pokin' their noses about. Understand?"
"Yes, yes, of course," Kitty assured her. You won't get any trouble from us."
"That's right, you won't," Rory butted in, "because we're not staying here."
"We will for the time being, Rory," Kitty silenced him. "Simply because there is nowhere
else."
"Well, please yourself." The woman turned for the door. "But if you want 'owt, I'm just
above your head."
"Wait! What is your name?"
Glancing over her shoulder, the woman gave her a strange look. "No one goes much on
names 'ere. There's no social club t'join, you know."
"No, I realize that, but still it would be nice if we could be friends?" She smiled. "My name
is Kitty, Kitty McKenzie. These are my brothers and sisters, Rory, Martin, Mary, Joe,
Clara and little Rosie."
"Aye, well, me name's Connie, Connie Spencer." With that, she marched up the steps and
out of sight.
Kitty turned back to her family and the awful realization of what they stood in. The walls
ran slimy with mold. Tiny rivulets of water seeped from the cracks in the bricks. Mildew
and stains covered the ceiling and bled down from the floors above. She shuddered, trying
not to guess what they might be. Years of dirt, grime and in places, filthy sawdust, swathed
the floor. A revolting stench came from somewhere. Kitty hoped to God there wasn't
anything dead in here.
Rating: 5 Stars!
“...Anne Whitfield has written a heart-touching story about a family who is
doing their best to survive in times that life is so difficult that you can hardly
call it a life. I especially liked the main character Kitty McKenzie a lot, when I
was reading this story, I found myself really wishing for her to find a way out
of trouble. I started reading this book and after what I thought was a short
time, I saw that I've been reading for 2 hours. That's what this story does to
you, you forget time and everything around you, and you just walk along with
Kitty, looking for a place to stay and for food. This is a story that I really
loved. There's a mixture of sadness, love and hope in it.
Reviewed by Annick for Euro Reviews
“...Anne Whitfield has written a heart-touching story about a family who is
doing their best to survive in times that life is so difficult that you can hardly
call it a life. I especially liked the main character Kitty McKenzie a lot, when I
was reading this story, I found myself really wishing for her to find a way out
of trouble. I started reading this book and after what I thought was a short
time, I saw that I've been reading for 2 hours. That's what this story does to
you, you forget time and everything around you, and you just walk along with
Kitty, looking for a place to stay and for food. This is a story that I really
loved. There's a mixture of sadness, love and hope in it.
Reviewed by Annick for Euro Reviews
This was a short but a well written read that captured me from the very
beginning. Kitty McKenzie was a marvelous character that positively glowed by
being extremely well developed and one, which the reader will cheer as she
struggled to keep her family together with strength and dignity. Her many
brothers and sisters were used in the story judiciously giving the story both
momentum and balance, but the endearing friendship she made with Max and
Connie Spencer as almost surrogate parents added some poignant moments that
were endearingly beautiful and emotionally charged. Kitty's struggles
overcoming one hurdle after another were inspiring and her eventual love
interest with Ben Kingsley was sweet though not without problems considering
his witchy mother. Whitfield writes with intelligence, warmth and compassion
and while leaving you satisfied with one chapter of Kitty's life completed,
makes you hunger for the sequel to see where the next chapter of her journey
takes you. This is a lovely story I highly recommend.
Marilyn Rondeau, RIO Reviewers International Organization
beginning. Kitty McKenzie was a marvelous character that positively glowed by
being extremely well developed and one, which the reader will cheer as she
struggled to keep her family together with strength and dignity. Her many
brothers and sisters were used in the story judiciously giving the story both
momentum and balance, but the endearing friendship she made with Max and
Connie Spencer as almost surrogate parents added some poignant moments that
were endearingly beautiful and emotionally charged. Kitty's struggles
overcoming one hurdle after another were inspiring and her eventual love
interest with Ben Kingsley was sweet though not without problems considering
his witchy mother. Whitfield writes with intelligence, warmth and compassion
and while leaving you satisfied with one chapter of Kitty's life completed,
makes you hunger for the sequel to see where the next chapter of her journey
takes you. This is a lovely story I highly recommend.
Marilyn Rondeau, RIO Reviewers International Organization
My Victorian historical mainstream, Kitty McKenzie
is set in the beautiful city York, Yorkshire England,
1864.
Kitty McKenzie is available in paperback.
Order the paperback from Amazon.com
This story and its sequel, Kitty McKenzie's Land is
one of my favourite stories. The characters came
alive for me straight away and demanded to be
heard.
Writing Kitty's journey was emotional and very
satisfying.
By the end of the two books, I felt as though I had
a best friend. She is someone who will stay with
me forever.
I hope readers enjoy her story too.
Anne~
is set in the beautiful city York, Yorkshire England,
1864.
Kitty McKenzie is available in paperback.
Order the paperback from Amazon.com
This story and its sequel, Kitty McKenzie's Land is
one of my favourite stories. The characters came
alive for me straight away and demanded to be
heard.
Writing Kitty's journey was emotional and very
satisfying.
By the end of the two books, I felt as though I had
a best friend. She is someone who will stay with
me forever.
I hope readers enjoy her story too.
Anne~
Kitty is a delightful and well-developed character for whom readers will
cheer along the way. She has the drive and intelligence to persevere, and her
struggles are so beautifully written that you are totally transported onto the
page and are right there with her. Ms. Whitfield has created a remarkable
heroine and a touching and memorable story. Readers will devour this book
and will be left waiting for the sequel.
Reviewed by Amanda Brice for Romance Divas
cheer along the way. She has the drive and intelligence to persevere, and her
struggles are so beautifully written that you are totally transported onto the
page and are right there with her. Ms. Whitfield has created a remarkable
heroine and a touching and memorable story. Readers will devour this book
and will be left waiting for the sequel.
Reviewed by Amanda Brice for Romance Divas
We’re given front row seats to Kitty’s life. A life that runs the gamut
of a course but may be fuller by the trial and errors she must endure. And by
the love she finds.
Her story inspires...be thankful for what you have. Don't take your life or
family for granted. It reminds us that we don't know what life has in store for
us in the next minute, hour, or day. And when our days turn stormy, there's
always an opportunity given. Be wise enough to see it for what it is. So cry
and rant and rave about your sorrows, it's ok, but afterwards have the courage
to make something out of that opportunity.
Kitty's story quietly lures the reader in and involves them in the lives of her
and her family, both of the flesh and extended. There's no fanfare within the
pages, no gimmicks to the plot. It didn't scream must read. Yet even though
for a moment or two I became frustrated with Kitty or a scene, somehow this
very pleasant book became a must read to me.
I can very easily see Kitty McKenzie, the saga of her and her family, as a PBS
mini series. Brief though this book was, that's how visual Anne Whitfield made
it.
I eagerly look forward to reading Kitty McKenzie's Land.
Connie Onceuponaromance.com
of a course but may be fuller by the trial and errors she must endure. And by
the love she finds.
Her story inspires...be thankful for what you have. Don't take your life or
family for granted. It reminds us that we don't know what life has in store for
us in the next minute, hour, or day. And when our days turn stormy, there's
always an opportunity given. Be wise enough to see it for what it is. So cry
and rant and rave about your sorrows, it's ok, but afterwards have the courage
to make something out of that opportunity.
Kitty's story quietly lures the reader in and involves them in the lives of her
and her family, both of the flesh and extended. There's no fanfare within the
pages, no gimmicks to the plot. It didn't scream must read. Yet even though
for a moment or two I became frustrated with Kitty or a scene, somehow this
very pleasant book became a must read to me.
I can very easily see Kitty McKenzie, the saga of her and her family, as a PBS
mini series. Brief though this book was, that's how visual Anne Whitfield made
it.
I eagerly look forward to reading Kitty McKenzie's Land.
Connie Onceuponaromance.com
' A fresh voice from downunder!'
Katherine "Kitty" McKenzie was only twenty-one when she lost her parents
and a sister to typhoid. Suddenly, she has six other siblings dependent upon
her to take care of them. It's not an easy task facing her. Not only is what's
left of her family is in deep morning, she learns that she has no money; her
parents were in debt and hadn't made any plans to see their children cared for
in the event of their deaths. The carefree, secure life they had is no longer an
option.
Kitty is forced to sell their home and all their worldly goods just to keep the
family together. Through hard work, she rises from a clerk in a clothes stall to
eventually opening her own teashop. Along the battle to see her siblings cared
for, she makes friends with Max and Connie Spenser, who try to support
Kitty. Even with Kitty falls in love with Ben Kingsley, the romance is not
troublefree, bringing Kitty even more decisions.
A fresh voice, Australia's Anne Whitfield brings life to this tale of a woman's
perseverance, of her discovering she is stronger than she ever knew. It's a
gentle story of woman's struggle to keep life at bay, while holding true to her
brothers and sisters. The writing is sharp, and pulls the reader into the story,
makes them care. Obviously, there will be another book dealing with Kitty's
journey to Australia. I eagerly look forward to it and more from this talented
writer.
DeborahAnne MacGillivray - author of A Restless Knight.- Kensington
Books The Invasion of Falgannon Isle November 2006 Dorchester
Katherine "Kitty" McKenzie was only twenty-one when she lost her parents
and a sister to typhoid. Suddenly, she has six other siblings dependent upon
her to take care of them. It's not an easy task facing her. Not only is what's
left of her family is in deep morning, she learns that she has no money; her
parents were in debt and hadn't made any plans to see their children cared for
in the event of their deaths. The carefree, secure life they had is no longer an
option.
Kitty is forced to sell their home and all their worldly goods just to keep the
family together. Through hard work, she rises from a clerk in a clothes stall to
eventually opening her own teashop. Along the battle to see her siblings cared
for, she makes friends with Max and Connie Spenser, who try to support
Kitty. Even with Kitty falls in love with Ben Kingsley, the romance is not
troublefree, bringing Kitty even more decisions.
A fresh voice, Australia's Anne Whitfield brings life to this tale of a woman's
perseverance, of her discovering she is stronger than she ever knew. It's a
gentle story of woman's struggle to keep life at bay, while holding true to her
brothers and sisters. The writing is sharp, and pulls the reader into the story,
makes them care. Obviously, there will be another book dealing with Kitty's
journey to Australia. I eagerly look forward to it and more from this talented
writer.
DeborahAnne MacGillivray - author of A Restless Knight.- Kensington
Books The Invasion of Falgannon Isle November 2006 Dorchester
Kitty McKenzie is a strong woman who has to struggle and triumph over
many adversities in Anne Whitfield's historical saga. A powerful tale of
heartbreak, pain and survival, Kitty McKenzie is a spellbinding tale
reminiscent of the novels of Catherine Cookson and Barbara Taylor
Bradford's A Woman of Substance.
Reviewed by Julie at Ecataromance.com
| Amazon UK |
