Patricia Robins
Description
Patricia Denise Robins was born on February 1, 1921 in Sussex, England, where she also spent her early school years. She was the daugther of Arthur Robins, a corn broker on the Baltic Exchange and of the popular romance author Denise Robins, who after their divorce, remarried with O'Neill Pearson. Patricia has two sisters, Anne and Eve. She comes from an artistic family, numbering musicians, writers and painters. Her maternal grandfather was Herman Klein, a musician and her maternal grandmother was the writer Kathleen Clarice Groom. Her maternal uncle was Adrian Cornwell-Clyne, who wrote books on photography and cinematography, another uncle was an artist, as is her daughter. Patricia began writing at the age of ten, encouraged by her mother, who was the first president of the Romantic Novelists' Association (1960-1966). At 12, she published her first children's novella, The Adventures of the Three Baby Bunnies, ilustrated by Grizel Maxwell (aged 14). Patricia worked on the editorial team of a woman's magazine, her post gave her a unique insight into the world of publishing, but it was during the Second World War that her writing career as children's author became established. She produced a serial for Woman's Illustrated, and although her first love was always children's novellas, she could not find a publisher for her work and turned to romance fiction like her mother. She wrote romantic short stories and light romantic novels as Patricia Robins, publishing her works with Hutchinson, Hurst & Blackett and other publishing houses. In the later 1960s, she decided to use a pseudonym Claire Lorrimer, to write longer novels and family sagas. Her historical novels under this penname are characterised by meticulous detail and feeling for the period, often highlighting the situation of women. She believes that once started, a story writes itself. In 2007, she wrote her autobiography: You Never Know. Although, Patricia has travelled extensively around the world, she has made her home in a four hundred year-old, oak beamed cottage in rural Kent. She enjoys such outdoor activities as gardening, tennis, ski-ing and golf. Her other interests include reading, travel, meeting people and entertaining, but her life is centred mainly around her three children, eight grandchildren, her work and her lovely home and garden.
Books
Second love
Everything is going perfectly for Dorothy-Anne Hale-Cantwell as she waits for her husband to arrive for the grand opening of their newest hotel, but her life is changed forever when she learns that her business is under siege and that her husband has died in an accident en route to her.
Sapphire in the Sand
Emma is sixteen years old and in love with Andrew, but he's engaged to Julie, Emma's beautiful elder sister. When their two families go to France on holiday together Emma is perturbed by Julie's casual attitude to the engagement and her interest in Yves Courtelle, another guest at the hotel. Emotions become hopelessly entangled, and for the four young people, the holiday threatens to end in tragedy as they struggle with feelings which are stronger than they are.
None But He
When Mandy's boyfriend dies in a motorbike accident, she is left alone with a young child and little money. It seems a perfect solution to Mandy's twin problems of finance and loneliness when her son's uncle Jon offers her a job as his receptionist - as well as a home with himself and his beautiful but spoilt wife, Gillian - she gratefully accepts. But instead of of the rosy future she expects, Mandy finds she has entered a scene of marital discord and soon becomes aware of Jon's unhappiness, as well as her own growing love for him. Perhaps if she welcomes the attentions of Mike Sinclair, an attractive Irish bachelor, it will help her to strain of keeping her true feelings hidden....
The runaways
Laugh on Friday
A whole new world opens up for Ann Elgar when she goes to stay with the Menton family on a year's exchange visit with their young son. For Ann, the chance to work in a Swiss resort at Madame Menton's ski club is a golden opportunity. The atmosphere of the gay ski resort in the mountains and the friendly companionship of Luc Menton, the elder son of her employer, seem to augur a happy carefree year in which Ann intends to speak French and to ski. Luc makes her especially welcome and soon it is clear that his affection is turning into love. But against Luc and Madame Menton's advice she makes friends with an older man, Paul Duret, an sophisticated French actor, who makes no secret of his infatuation with her. Anne is spellbound by Paul, whose charm and fascination blind her to the truth about his past reputation and past associations with the rich, glamorous Yvonne Verdes. Soon, the atmosphere becomes far from carefree, Luc falls deeply in love with Ann but it is the older man whom Ann finds that she has other lessons to learn besides ski-ing and French - she has to learn the somewhat painful lesson of growing up.
Seven Loves
When her first marriage had gone on the rocks, Miranda had sworn to herself it would never happen again. She and David had been so young, so unfitted to the monumental task of marriage and parenthood, that when their baby died so had the marriage. Now after six years of her second marriage with John, she is again standing at the crossroads....
Lady Chatterley's Daughter = Connie's Daughter
Clare Mellors is the daughter of Constance, the former Lady Chatterley. Mysterious and attractive, Clare is a wartime VAD nurse, and is engaged to Robin Claye, an army officer. On the surface Clare appears to be happy. Like her contemporaries, she wants to love and be loved; to find the right man with whom to share her future after the war has ended. And it is what her parents want for her too. However, will the scandalous past of her parents, Oliver and Constance Mellors, continue to haunt her? What was the guilty secret which help her on the edge of a surging passion? The sensational modern sequel to D. H. Lawrence's famous novel.
Play Fair with Love
When Harriet Rothman's father dies suddenly leaving her penniless, the chance of renting out the family house, Swallow Grange, seems a temporary soulution to her immediate financial problems. But by renting Swallow Grange to young widower Martin Blake, Harriet exposes herself to Blake's private, tormented world - and that of his autistic son, Peter. Unlike Martin's sister-in-law, Molly, Harriet has a way with Peter and she willingly postpones her university studies to care for the boy. But Molly's jealousy, Martin's worry and Peter's needs weigh heavily upon her, as do the expectations of Justin, her husband to be...
Forbidden
Many years have passed since civilization's brush with apocalypse. The world's greatest threats have all been silenced. There is no anger, no hatred, no war. There is only perfect peace ... and fear. But a terrible secret has been closely guarded for centuries: every single soul walking the earth, though in appearance totally normal, is actually dead, long ago genetically stripped of true humanity. Fleeing pursuit, a young man named Rom stumbles into possession of a vial of blood and a piece of cryptic writing. When consumed, the blood will bring him back to life. When decoded, the message will lead him on a perilous journey that will require him to abandon everything he has ever known and awaken humanity to the transforming power of true life and love. But the blood will also resurrect hatred, ambition, and greed. Set in a terrifying, medieval future, where grim pageantry masks death, this tale of dark desires and staggering stakes peels back the layers of the heart for all who dare take the ride--Dust jacket flap. After stumbling into a vial of blood and a piece of cryptic writing, Rom realizes the human race has been drained of emotions and embarks on a journey to bring back love. The plot contains violence and gore. The coauthor is Tosca Lee. Book #1
Three loves
Clare, Lee, Sally, inseparable companions through their school days, had made a vow at fifteen to meet up with each other in ten years time. Now at twenty-five, and as young women, they remember their younger selves. Clare has blossomed into an attractive and independent woman. By nature calm, placid, outwardly cool. It takes a good deal to shake her poise. But somewhere deep within her, Clare feels the warning note telling her that when one day she falls in love, everything would be different. Lee, just beginning to make a name for herself in the artistic world. Entirely self-supporting since the death of her parents a few years previously, Lee had thrown herself heart and soul into her work. Sally is vivacious but also headstrong and selfish, and is now engaged to Mark Bainbury. The three friends reunite for Sally's engagement party, but complications arise when Clare suddenly finds herself in love with her schoolfriend's fiancé...
The Night is Thine
Everything had to be arranged well in advance for Lucy's husband - even their love making. But now she was in love with Geoff - himself married to a hopeless alcoholic - and was living through all the joy and agony that only forbidden love can cause.
Sea Magic
Twins Peter and Angela live a fantasy adventure exploring the magic life underwater.
Return to Love
It was five years since Melanie had been home to New Zealand, and she was sure that Kelson Vane had forgotten her—but it seemed he hadn't, any more than she had forgotten him! Yet, although he admitted he wanted her, Kel didn't seem to care whether Melanie went or stayed . . .