A Shop Girl at Sea

Rachel Brimble

Apr 2020 · Head of Zeus Ltd

About this ebook

Bath, 1912.

Amelia Wakefield loves working at Pennington's, Bath's finest department store. An escape from her traumatic past, it saved her life. So when Miss Pennington sets her a task to set sail on the Titanic and study the department stores of New York, she couldn't be more excited – or determined!

Frustrated with his life at home, Samuel Murphy longs for a few weeks of freedom and adventure. Meeting Amelia on board the Titanic, Samuel can't help wonder what painful history has made the beauty so reserved. But he already has too many responsibilities for love.

Ruby Taylor has always kept her Pennington co-workers at a distance. Making sure her little brother is safe has always been her priority. But when that means accepting Victoria Lark's offer of sanctuary, more than one of Ruby's secrets is under threat of being revealed...

A riveting and uplifting saga, perfect for fans of Elaine Everest and Fiona Ford.

Ratings and reviews

A Shop Girl at Sea by Rachel Brimble has Amelia Wakefield traveling to America aboard the luxurious Titanic for Pennington’s. Elizabeth Pennington has charged Amelia with studying the department stores in New York and bringing back the information to help Pennington’s. Samuel Murphy longs for freedom and adventure, but he is responsible for his mother and two sisters. He is hoping that this trip will be his chance to break free. He does not count of meeting the lovely Amelia. Ruby Taylor holds herself aloof from her co-workers. She is afraid of letting people get close to her because of her family situation. Ruby needs to keep her brother safe. Victoria Lark, a co-worker, learns of the problem and offers them a sanctuary. Ruby is grateful for the opportunity, but she does not like the gossip that is circulating around the store. Her secret could be exposed, and Ruby’s life forever changed. A Shop Girl at Sea is the 4th novel in the Pennington’s series. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading this charming series in order. While each book features different characters, the characters from the previous books appear (so she can see how they are doing). I thought the book was well-written that moved along at a steady pace. The story contains strong, flawed characters that are realistic. This is more than a historical love story. It is about people overcoming their pasts, embracing their potential and moving forward with their lives. Amelia suffered a terrible tragedy at the hands of her employer, Samuel has been responsible for his mother and two sisters since he was nineteen years old (and the sisters are pieces of work), and Ruby has an alcoholic mother who is abusive (violent). These individuals are given a chance to change their lives. They just need the courage to make the leap. I like how the author handled the Titanic tragedy. She managed to mix the truth with her fiction beautifully. I always love reading about Pennington’s and the wonderful merchandise they carry. It was a delight to “see” R. H. Macy & Co. (as it was called then) through Amelia’s eyes. There are wonderful historical details that capture the time period. A Shop Girl at Sea is an appealing historical novel with a terrible tragedy, fabulous fashions, wonderful widows, and joyful journeys.

Another excellent addition to this fabulous series! I love how unpredictable this story is . . . Amelia Wakefield loves her job at Pennington's department store; with her mentor now on maternity leave, she has stepped up in the design department and her confidence is growing daily. When Elizabeth Pennington proposes a trip to America - and on the maiden voyage of the Titanic no less - to find out what the stores do there that is so different, Amelia is at first a bit nervous, then she gets quite excited at the task in front of her. Samuel Murphy is also travelling on the ship, as crew, and his path crosses with Amelia's often and, much as he likes her, he has other responsibilities which stop him seeking romance in his life. Meanwhile, back at Pennington's, Ruby Taylor continues to hide the horrors of her home life from her colleagues, but when her only friend there offers her sanctuary, they find themselves the object of nasty gossip and speculation. This is a wonderful fourth novel in the Pennington's series; focusing on different characters and rolling out their stories in a very appealing manner. It's all very cleverly written, with all the separate tales beautifully entwined giving the reader plenty to consider. I love that the language reflects the period; there was definitely a stiffer manner of speech at that time and Rachel Brimble reflects that throughout. A grand tale - thoroughly enjoyable and one which stands well on it's own, but is even better when read as part of the series. Absolutely worth all five sparkling stars and definitely recommended by me!

lovely bòok. it was so quick to get into the storyline, although the titanic part of the book was incredibly sad.

About the author

Rachel Brimble lives in Wiltshire with her husband of twenty years, two teenage daughters and her beloved chocolate Labrador, Tyler. Multi-published in the US, she is thrilled to have a new beginning writing for Aria in the UK. When Rachel isn't writing, she enjoys reading across the genres, knitting and walking the English countryside with her family... often stopping off at a country pub for lunch and a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc.