Like No Other [Paperback]

'After an action-packed start, this story develops into a well told, captivating story' (Dorset Evening Echo on JESSIE )

‘After an action-packed start, this story develops into a well told, captivating story'

Rachel Smedling is not like the other women in her isolated Pennine village: she is taller, stronger and weaves cloth like a man. Without her, the household would fall apart, for her mother is ailing and her vicious drunkard father seems to hate her so much, he would happily offer money to any man who would wed her.

When her mother dies, Rachel is at the mercy of her increasingly violent father. Her only escape is by marrying a kindly man with whom she finds happiness, if not passion, and her life begins to seem complete. Rachel's growing prosperity infuriates her father and his cronies, however, and they will stop at nothing to see her destroyed.

How I came to write this book.
When I was a child I lived in a smoky mill town on the edge of the moors. I always loved going for walks on the moors, usually with my Grandad or auntie. This book is in one sense a tribute to those moors.

I started writing it before I first got published, managed only a few chapters, then set it aside for a decade. But I never forgot the heroine, who is one of my favourite characters. She's a strong woman, and needs to be, because when you're 'different' from others, life can be hard.

The story has echoes of Wuthering Heights in its tone, but with a happy ending. I could never write a sad ending and leave my characters in pain! As author I have that choice and I vote for triumph over adversity.

The book is dedicated to my Grandad, who was also 'like no other' but who was a wonderful grandfather and has left me with some golden memories - for example pinching pea pods in his allotment. He taught me to read by cutting Rupert cartoons from the paper and sticking them into a scrap book, so I also learned to make books at the same time. I just wish he had lived long enough to see my novels in print, though if he had, he'd be telling me how to write them!

I hope you enjoy reading my book, and if you do, email me and let me know. If you want to join my mailing list and receive news of my publications, drop me an email or letter.

Anna Jacobs grew up in Lancashire and emigrated to Australia in 1973, but loves to return to England regularly to visit her family and soak up the history. She has two grown-up daughters and now lives with her husband in a spacious waterfront home. Often as she writes, dolphins frolic outside the window of her study. Inside, the house is crammed with thousands of books. Anna Jacobs has also written a series of novels set in Lancashire about the Gibson family, which are available as Coronet paperbacks.