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L. B. Griffin
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The Twenty-One-Year Contract: Sequel to Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox Kindle Edition

by L. B. Griffin (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 17 ratings
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Kathleen Gray—talented, a little wild, at times rebellious, but always popular—has a fun, easy life in rural Somerset, with a doting family.
Suddenly, they are gone, everything is changed, and she has only Uncle Jack. Try as he might, he cannot be father and mother to her—he has a business to run and his own life to manage.
Kathleen takes a chance and becomes Kate Westfield, fending for herself in London, with a new life built on her hopes and dreams and new friends. She could hardly have imagined that one of those friends has a shoebox full of answers.
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  1. Print length
    336 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    May 9, 2022
  5. File size
    2353 KB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09THQKFJS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Wild Rose Press, Inc (May 9, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 9, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2353 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 17 ratings

About the author

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L. B. Griffin

L. B. Griffin

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

L.B. Griffin is inspired by life experience and seamlessly weaves reality into compelling fiction.

Her debut, Historical Romance, Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox has received superb 5 star reviews, amongst them Whispering stories and VINE VOICE reader/blogger Michelle Ryles, singing high praise:

‘Incredibly well-written, Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox is a magnificent debut. It's a poignant, disturbing and a heart-warming page-turner that has left me chomping at the bit to continue Harriet's story.’

The sequel, also standalone - The Twenty-One-Year Contract, is already receiving fantastic five-star reviews. Author Terry Newman: "This book will have you laughing, crying and cheering."

Author Richard Levine: ‘Griffin pens a masterful work with The Twenty-one-Year Contract, as she takes us on a journey from post-war England and through the 1950s and 1960s.’

L.B. Griffin continues to turn silent stories into courage, and above all, hope. ‘Survival is a triumph of the human spirit.’

Be warned, Griffin is a self-confessed chocolate-raisin and strawberry addict!

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
17 global ratings
An Absolutely Beautiful Story!
5 Stars
An Absolutely Beautiful Story!
Oh, I hated for this book to end! What a wonderful story. The characters grab your heart and don't let go. They're just so real and loveable.Brilliant author. She has us right there in the 1950s to the early 1960s, saying “groovy” and traveling from the bucolic English countryside to experience a seaside vacation in Cornwall, a young girl’s first trip to Paris, and the London party scene.It’s not always pretty. This is a multi-layered story with many unexpected twists and some painful turns. We fall in love with Kate as a young girl. Almost hope against hope, we get to watch her grow into a brilliant young woman.Her uncle Jack is a beautiful character.In the end, The Twenty-One Year Contract is a story about self-discovery, family, friendship, and -- most of all -- about the strength of the human spirit.Absolutely beautiful.
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Top reviews from the United States

Terry
5.0 out of 5 stars Touching Story
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2023
The author of this story takes you on an emotional roller coaster filled with tragedy, sadness, and hope. I immediately got drawn in by the main character, Kate, whose life is full of love from her family and friends. Tragedy occurs quickly and turns her world upside down. As she takes destiny into her own hands, I have nothing but admiration at her strength and drive to succeed. Her only shortcoming is not trusting in those who love her. The author weaves a wonderful story with believable characters and villains. Griffin paints beautiful scenes in her descriptions of the British countryside and London in the 1950’s. You’ll want to savor every word until the final twists and turns of the very end.
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Laura Hartland
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought-Provoking Fiction!
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2023
This is a unique historical story from a writer with a very original voice. I liked the characters, who are real and diverse, and I loved the time period when it was set. You don’t see many stories set in the 1950s-1960s and this one felt so real, it was like being there. Though I hadn’t read the author’s previous book, Secrets, Shame, and a Shoebox. I was able to jump right into this story which read a little bit like an episode of Who Do You Think You Are?

Kathleen is a young woman of spirit who answers misfortune by stepping out on her own to achieve extraordinary things. Along the way she meets an amazing cast of characters. She doesn’t know it, but many of them are entwined in her life, which is another thing I enjoyed. Nothing is accidental here, and a strong thread of destiny runs through everything. The story really made me think about the people who have gone before us and the secrets they did, and did not keep.
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Shmuel Yaccoby
4.0 out of 5 stars An uplifting story with twists
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2023
Verified Purchase
When a personal tragedy occurs for a teenage girl, life could turn upside down or an opportunity for a new horizon harboring surprises. A narrative that is not easy to write convincingly, yet this author seems to successfully pass such a challenge.

In a positive note, this book reminded me of good classic British TV series. I like the interactions between the characters and the way each scene is visualized. Also, the writing filled with dialogues, leaving out unnecessary telling.
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A. Abboud
5.0 out of 5 stars An Absolutely Beautiful Story!
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2023
Oh, I hated for this book to end! What a wonderful story. The characters grab your heart and don't let go. They're just so real and loveable.

Brilliant author. She has us right there in the 1950s to the early 1960s, saying “groovy” and traveling from the bucolic English countryside to experience a seaside vacation in Cornwall, a young girl’s first trip to Paris, and the London party scene.

It’s not always pretty. This is a multi-layered story with many unexpected twists and some painful turns. We fall in love with Kate as a young girl. Almost hope against hope, we get to watch her grow into a brilliant young woman.

Her uncle Jack is a beautiful character.

In the end, The Twenty-One Year Contract is a story about self-discovery, family, friendship, and -- most of all -- about the strength of the human spirit.

Absolutely beautiful.
Customer image
A. Abboud
5.0 out of 5 stars An Absolutely Beautiful Story!
Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2023
Oh, I hated for this book to end! What a wonderful story. The characters grab your heart and don't let go. They're just so real and loveable.

Brilliant author. She has us right there in the 1950s to the early 1960s, saying “groovy” and traveling from the bucolic English countryside to experience a seaside vacation in Cornwall, a young girl’s first trip to Paris, and the London party scene.

It’s not always pretty. This is a multi-layered story with many unexpected twists and some painful turns. We fall in love with Kate as a young girl. Almost hope against hope, we get to watch her grow into a brilliant young woman.

Her uncle Jack is a beautiful character.

In the end, The Twenty-One Year Contract is a story about self-discovery, family, friendship, and -- most of all -- about the strength of the human spirit.

Absolutely beautiful.
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A buyer
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic story
Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2022
When 14 y/o Kathleen’s adoptive parents die in an accident, and her Uncle Jack becomes her guardian, he’s unprepared for the responsibility. He enrolls her in a boarding school. She’s miserable there but doesn’t want to burden him.

If only Kathleen could escape, she feels she could find happiness. She has a dream of becoming a clothing designer, and she’s an excellent seamstress. Wise beyond her years, she makes a plan and runs away. But pieces of her life are missing. Who is she? Some of the interesting people she meets are hiding secrets while others are digging up the truth in this emotion evoking novel.

The author did an excellent job of developing her characters, and sprinkling in plot twists. By the end, she had seamlessly woven their stories together. All this along with the vivid imagery, fantastic dialogue, and mystery kept me turning the pages.

I highly recommend this book. --
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Dr. Richard Levine
5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderfully Crafted Tale
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2022
L.B. Griffin pens a masterful work with The Twenty-one-Year Contract, as she takes us on a journey from post-war England and through the 1950s and 1960s. And if you are a child of the 60s like I was, where the Fab Four and the Stones ruled the airwaves, James Bond lit up the silver screen, and Twiggy was the posh bird of fashion, Griffin took me there straight away.

This is a beautifully written tale of a gifted young girl who rises above the tragedy of personal loss to become a strong, determined, and intelligent woman. Thank God for Uncle Jack--every little girl should have one :-)

Griffin's characters were/are believable, real, and human who are not without personal challenges. I wouldn't be surprised if she too had individuals in her life who were supportive and caring.

I do not typically read books of this genre but because of L.B.'s gifted hand and imagination, I think I will be in the future. I thoroughly enjoyed The Twenty-One-Year Contract and I hope that young girls on both sides of the pond have a chance to meet and get to know Kathleen.

5 Stars for you, L.B., well done
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Chris H
5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant sequel
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 25, 2022
Verified Purchase
As a stand alone novel, this is a great read - but as a sequel to Secrets, Shame and a Shoebox, it takes on a whole new perspective. The subtle references to the first novel that appear throughout the book add intrigue and tension as well as adding layer after layer to all the characters which make them so believable. The social and political observations are never intrusive but simply add to the depth and realism of the story. 1950's and early 1960's London is evoked to perfection - with many of the issues raised still resonating today. It felt sad to leave the characters at the end of the book as they embark on the next stage of their lives - let's hope we get to find out what happens to them at some point!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2022
Verified Purchase
Such a lovely gentle book, perfect for curling up with a mug of coffee and a blanket, on a cosy autumn evening.
One person found this helpful
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