| Anne Whitfield |
| Kitty McKenzie |
| ~ York, England 1864 ~ |
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| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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~ |
| 4 ½ Kisses!
“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 |
| 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 |
| ' 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 |
| 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 |
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