Foxton Acres
Foxden Acres: An epic, heart-wrenching and unforgettable historical novel about one woman’s survival against all odds during the unbearable hardships of World War Two. (Sisters of Wartime England Book 1)
1939, England. Bess Dudley knows what it means to lose what you love. As the daughter of a groom at historic Foxden Hall, she has worked hard to escape her humble background and train as a teacher, but she has made huge sacrifices. Just as Bess arrives in London to take up her first, hard-won post, the shadow of war sweeps over England. Bombs rip apart the city, and screeching air raids become a part of everyday life. London is thrown into chaos and schools close, taking Bess’s dreams with them.
Bess learns that James, the handsome heir to Foxden Hall who she has loved since childhood is engaged to Annabel Hadley. Annabel is everything Bess is not – a wealthy aristocrat – but James never seemed to care about those things before. It breaks Bess’s heart to see him with someone else.
London is becoming more dangerous by the day and when Bess nearly dies in a terrifying air raid she knows it’s time to go home. Back at Foxden Acres, she becomes a Land Girl –– farming the estate for wartime rations. It’s back-breaking work and a far cry from the life she dreamed of. Even in the country, the horror of war leaves no life untouched.
Then the unthinkable happens, and Bess’s resilience and hope are tested to the limit. In a world torn apart by violence, she must choose between her heart and her duty… all while keeping a dark secret of her own.
An unputdownable wartime novel about how adversity can change us in ways we never anticipate.
Destiny
A gripping and emotional World War Two historical novel
(Sisters of Wartime England Book 2)
Stepping inside, Margot could hardly contain herself. On gold striped wallpaper hung photographs of theatre stars in gilt frames. Maroon velvet curtains at the doors perfectly matched the seats. This was where she belonged. Only not down here, sitting in the stalls. Her place was up there, on the stage, in the spotlight…
London, 1940. As bombs rain down on London, the beautiful, talented Margot Dudley lands a job as an usherette at the Prince Albert Theatre in the West End. It’s not quite her dream of taking centre stage, but at least it gets her closer to it. When an opportunity arises to join the costume department, Margot revels in the glamourous world of silk, taffeta, sequins and pearls, all while harbouring a secret desire to wear the dazzling creations herself.
One night, after being attacked by her abusive Nazi ex-boyfriend, one of the lead dancers of the show begs Margot to take her place on stage. This is her big break, a chance to make her West End debut in front of thousands…
But her newfound stardom comes with a price. As Margot basks in the limelight, a dangerous fascist sets his sights on her. Meanwhile, the war is taking its toll – frequent bombings threaten the safety of everyone she holds dear. Immersed in a world of bright lights, drugs and alcohol, Margot doesn’t realise she’s at risk of being torn apart from her family, friends, and the man she loves until it is too late…
A gripping and utterly captivating tale of glitz and glamour, ambition and heartbreaking loss, set within the perilous world of the London Blitz.
Betrayal
A deeply moving and emotional World War 2 historical novel
(Sisters of Wartime England Book 3)
As a new Special Operations Executive, Claire Dudley is determined to do her part for her country. But when she is sent to rural France, she never expects what happens…
Scouted for her incredible language skills and recruited to work undercover for the French Resistance in occupied France, Claire must learn to evade the enemy and help her allies in secret. Amidst the danger and hiding from the Gestapo, Claire falls in love with striking French-Canadian captain Alain Mitchell. But no one can know about their feelings for each other, and everything is at stake.
When Mitchell is taken prisoner by the Germans, just as Claire discovers she’s pregnant, she’s put to the test like never before. With her baby daughter always in her thoughts, Claire embarks on a dangerous mission to reunite their family, all while helping the French people to resist the most terrible enemy the world has ever known.
From the streets of Paris to the London blitz, Claire must navigate a world of danger and betrayal. What would you risk for your country… for your own happiness? The answer lies in the pages of this sweeping, epic tale of love, loss, and the unbreakable bonds of family.
Redemption
An utterly heartbreaking and gripping World War Two historical novel
(Sisters of Wartime England Book 4)
A riveting story of one woman’s courage and perseverance, set against the backdrop of World War Two.
1940. Clever and fiercely loyal Ena Dudley is working in a factory in Lowarth, England at the height of the war, living with the ever-present dangers of her job and the constant threat of air raids. When she’s charged with delivering vital equipment to Bletchley Park – the heart of the British wartime intelligence operation – Ena rises to the challenge, setting off with her best friend Freda, determined to do her bit to help the war effort.
But what should have been a simple errand quickly turns into a nightmare. After being drugged and robbed by a stranger on the train to Bletchley, Ena finds herself in grave danger, under suspicion by the very people she was trying to help and unsure who she can trust.
With her closest friends accused of being involved, and haunted by the robbery and the possibility she’s been betrayed, Ena finds solace in a growing friendship with her co-worker Henry – but falling in love comes at a cost. Torn between loyalty to her family and desire to be with the man she loves, Ena sets out to discover the truth of what happened and prove her innocence.
This is a thrilling and inspiring testament to the human spirit, which vividly captures the drama and the intrigue of working at historic Bletchley Park.
Legacy
An unputdownable historical fiction (Sisters of Wartime England Book 5)
Foxden Acres, a place where dark secrets and bittersweet memories linger…
As Bess Dudley celebrates New Year’s Eve at the newly launched Foxden Hotel – the former country house where she grew up as daughter of the groom – she finds herself overcome with poignant memories. Jolly music fills the air and champagne corks pop, and Bess remembers her first love – the handsome heir James Foxden. But then, an ominous voice pierces through the revelry, sending shivers down Bess’s spine. It belongs to a man with a violent past – a man with dangerous alliances from the war. Bess’s sister reveals that this man, Sutherland, is a Nazi sympathiser. How has he infiltrated their haven, and why?
Then, an unexpected tragedy strikes when a body is discovered in the lake, casting a shadow over the hotel’s future. Unanswered questions plague Bess, and a growing sense of unease gnaws at her. So much is at stake – why does it seem like her new husband Frank is hiding things from her?
When military intelligence becomes involved, it’s clear that the war may have officially ended, but its repercussions are still impacting the Dudley sisters’ lives. Can Bess unmask the killer in their midst and untangle the threads of deception that bind Foxden Acres in time to protect the sanctuary she holds most dear?
An utterly unputdownable historical novel about the lingering shadows of World War Two.
Reckoning
A deeply moving and emotional World War 2 historical novel
(Sisters of Wartime England Book 6)
In the aftermath of World War Two, Claire Dudley is thrust into a heart-wrenching struggle between love of her family and loyalty to her country.
When Claire’s husband, Captain Alain Mitchell, disappears after seeking treatment for shell shock in Canada, Claire’s innocent hope of reuniting her family for Christmas is overshadowed by a growing unease.
Haunted by her husband’s cryptic mutterings about a woman named Simone before he disappeared, Claire embarks on a quest to uncover the truth. She draws on her past as a fearless member of the French Resistance to confront the harsh realities of the present: the war may be over, but danger still lurks at every turn.
When Mitchell is accused of being a spy for the Germans, Claire sets off to find him at his last-known location in France. But when she arrives, she is forced to go into hiding when military intelligence begin searching the town for her. She knows Mitchell needs her more than ever, but can she reconcile her love for him with the mounting evidence against him.
In a country fraught with treachery, Claire’s past and present collide as she unearths a painful reality hidden beneath the shadows of betrayal.
You will be captivated by Claire’s journey of courage and resilience in this gripping and emotional wartime story.
Confession
Utterly captivating historical fiction full of wartime secrets
(Sisters of Wartime England Book 7)
Ena Dudley‘s day takes a shocking turn when she sees a familiar face in the bustling foyer of Selfridges department store.
A woman she had mourned as dead, Freida Voight, stands before her, locked in a passionate embrace with a mysterious man. Ena’s mind races with questions, casting doubts on the reality she thought she knew.
Desperate to share her discovery, Ena confides in her husband Henry, an MI5 agent. However, Henry dismisses her claims, reminding her that they attended Freida’s funeral years ago. Yet Ena’s doubts persist and she embarks on a covert investigation. Was Freida’s funeral a cover-up orchestrated by one of the intelligence agencies?
Delving into MI5 archives and later the classified files of the German Nationals Department, Ena faces an unexpected twist when she discovers evidence of a mysterious imposter posing as her, who has been gathering sensitive information from government officials.
Amidst the chaos, a body is discovered in shocking circumstances. With the odds stacked against her, Ena must confront the dangerous truths of her time in the war, what happened to Freida and its lasting repercussions.
As secrets collide and loyalties are tested – Ena’s marriage, reputation and very life hang in the balance.
A captivating tale of World War Two secrets that will leave readers breathless until the final, spine-tingling revelation.
Secrets
Another unputdownable and gripping historical fiction
(Sisters of Wartime England Book 8)
Ena picks up her glass and sips her wine thoughtfully, remembering the words of her boss at the Home Office. “The things we have to do to keep our country safe, Ena. They’re not always morally right, but they’re always necessary…”
Ena Dudley slips quietly away from the Foxden Hotel and heads back to London to see her husband Henry. Things have been difficult between them recently – though she still loves him as much as ever. Arriving home, she’s shocked to discover that he’s missing – having last been seen being led away by two mysterious men.
Ena soon learns that Henry has been connected to a recently murdered woman, Helen Crowther. Ena knows her husband is no killer and – determined to clear Henry’s name – she and her sisters meet in a small room in a West End theatre, once used to hide Jewish refugees in the war.
As Ena, Bess, Margot and Claire piece together the puzzle, they come to realise that Henry could be entangled in a much larger conspiracy than just Helen Crowther’s murder, one that reaches far back into the past, when the world was still at war. With danger lurking at every turn, the women must summon all their courage and resourcefulness to navigate the treacherous waters of espionage, betrayal, and murder.
Ena’s determination to uncover the truth and exonerate Henry becomes a race against time, as the Dudley sisters find themselves confronting powerful enemies who will stop at nothing to protect their secrets…
An absolutely gripping historical read, full of wartime secrets, love and betrayal.
Obsessions
Gripping historical fiction that will have you hooked
(Sisters of Wartime England Book 9)
Ena shook off the memories of those days and looked down at the River Thames. It was deep and dark and held more secrets than the British intelligence and security services, which she’d grown to despise…
Ena Dudley’s new office is a welcome change from her past life investigating wartime spies. Now a private investigator at Dudley Green Associates, she delves into the secrets lurking within London’s underbelly. Despite her husband and sisters’ advice to steer clear of the city and its bad memories, Ena feels she is exactly where she is needed.
Determined to separate her worries from her work, she follows her instincts and takes on an unusual new case. Ena’s mission: to investigate the disappearance of a priceless William Hogarth painting. As Ena looks at the evidence surrounding the stolen masterpiece, she uncovers a string of art thefts targeting London’s renowned galleries. The police suspect a dangerous gang may be involved.
Ena, accompanied by her husband, Henry, attends an art exhibition where she witnesses a violent confrontation in the street outside. As Ena begins to unlock the mystery around the painting, some familiar faces from her time in British intelligence begin to come back into her life.
Do the secrets of Ena’s past run deeper than any of them could ever imagine? An enthralling story of secrets, love and deception that will leave readers desperate to read more.
Justice
A heartbreaking and unputdownable historical novel
(Sisters of Wartime England Book 10)
In the final instalment of this gripping series, so far, past meets present and dark secrets lurk beneath the façade of justice…
After a brutal break-in at Dudley Green Associates, Ena Dudley and her trusted colleague Artie Mallory are plunged into a dangerous investigation that intertwines wartime secrets, betrayal and treason.
When a new client approaches the agency, saying he has received a series of anonymous letters, Ena is intrigued. Digging deeper, she finds a haunting photograph of a child taken during the 1936 Berlin Olympics, in a Germany that is gripped by the Nazis’ brutal reign. The letters lead to Michael Crosier, a man believed to have been murdered undercover, and his widow Audrey, who – when they track her down – offers more questions than answers.
As Ena travels from London to Scotland, and on to Shetland in a fishing boat, she soon realises that their client’s enemies from the war are as dangerous as ever. There is a secret in those anonymous letters that is important enough to kill for, even after all these years.
Has Ena unintentionally put her own life on the line, and can she solve the case in time to save her client, and herself?
A brilliantly unputdownable read – atmospheric and suspenseful.
Scenes From My Life in Poetry and Prose
Scenes from My Life is a collection of short stories, poems and non-fiction articles. Many pieces have been published in magazines and newspapers, but some, until now, were for my eyes only.
When I began writing my memoirs in 2023, I thought, if I don’t get this body of work out in the world, it might one day be deleted. Each piece is part of me, written at times in my life that were happy, sad, or tragic. These times were imperative to my development as a human being and later as an actress and writer. Times when I met people who influenced me, encouraged me to take a risk, gave me the confidence to change – and most importantly, understand more, do more, do better, and follow my dream.
Each piece of work in this collection is a scene from my life.
Madalyn Morgan 