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Preview
  • Children of Fortune

  • By: Val Wood
  • Narrated by: Anne Dover
  • Length: 10 hrs and 31 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (35 ratings)

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Children of Fortune

By: Val Wood
Narrated by: Anne Dover
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

1864: following the untimely death of her cold-hearted husband, Beatrix and her three children are finally free. While Ambrose has already determined his path in life, eldest son Laurie's future is less certain. With the responsibility of the family estate on his shoulders, Laurie must decide between staying in Yorkshire to farm the family land and following his dreams.

Meanwhile, headstrong and independent Alicia is defying expectation and excelling at school. There, she befriends the enigmatic Olivia Snowdon and they quickly become inseparable. But Olivia's family past is shrouded in mystery and as she begins to dig deeper secrets come tumbling out....

Can the two families overcome the challenges that lie ahead?

©2021 Val Wood (P)2021 Penguin Audio
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Critic reviews

"A heart-warming story filled with compelling action." (Rosie Goodwin)

"Hull's answer to Catherine Cookson." (BBC Radio 4's Front Row)

"Wonderfully fully-fleshed characters are the mainstay of [Val Wood's] stories." (Peterborough Telegraph)

What listeners say about Children of Fortune

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

A little bit dull.

A very gentle and slow paced novel about family life and educating children. But not very exciting.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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fabulous

All about a woman and her children and how they excelled in their education to accomplish their dreams and lives.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

disappointed

couldn't get into it. total waste of credit. don't waste your time. very disappointing

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Lovely easy listening story

A lovely easy going family story I thoroughly enjoyed hadn’t heard of this author but will keep a lookout for more of her books

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

So sorry to have finished this lovely story.

Having finished the first I had the second to look forward to. Oh dear, now what. Please write more of the same Val Wood.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

True family life.

Very easy listening, as I had it on speakers my husband also enjoyed this story. Excellent.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another fantastic story

Another Valarie Wood fantastic story as expected from this author. I like the way it mentions characters from previous books, but it doesn't matter if this is the reader's first Val Wood book. I also enjoy the fact that it is set in my local area.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An absolute must as a follow on to The lonely wife

Just excellent. Don't think the beginning seems slow and nothing happens, it sets the scene for a great story.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

Ann Dover's narration was excellent, as always. Unfortunately, I found the storyline rather shallow. It can be summed up with: Description of the growing up and life choices (partners and lines of work) of the family's children. Oh, and Olivia finds out about her birth parents. That's it. I only listened to the end because I felt I was too far into the story to return it.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Too "nice "

My least favourite of Val Wood novels. Not enough conflict or drama just a little dull.

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