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Peace Lily: Book Two in The Katherine Wheel Series Kindle Edition
After the appalling losses suffered during the First World War, three of its survivors long for peace, unaware that its aftermath will bring different, but still daunting, challenges.
Katy trained as a mechanic during the war and cannot bear to return to the life of drudgery she left behind. A trip to America provides the dream ticket she has always craved and an opportunity to escape the strait-jacket of her working class roots. She jumps at the chance, little realising that it will change her life forever, but not in the way she’d hoped.
Jem lost not only an arm in the war, but also his livelihood, and with it, his self esteem. How can he keep restless Katy at home and provide for his wife? He puts his life at risk a second time, attempting to secure their future and prove his love for her.
Cassandra has fallen deeply in love with Douglas Flintock, an American officer she met while driving ambulances at the Front. How can she persuade this modern American to adapt to her English country life, and all the duties that come with inheriting Cheadle Manor? When Douglas returns to Boston, unsure of his feelings, Cassandra crosses the ocean, determined to lure him back.
As they each try to carve out new lives, their struggles impact on each other in unforeseen ways in this heartbreaking romance.
Peace Lily is about the boundaries between traditional values and the modern age of the 20th century, between men and women, young and old and, in post-war 1919, these are tested as never before. A third book, SPEEDWELL, takes the characters into the daring arena of motor racing in the 1920s and Katy's defiant bid for independence. Book Four, WILLOW, (novella-sized) bridges the gap between the generations as the children of Cassandra and Douglas, Jem and Katy embark on a summer adventure that goes disastrously wrong with dire consequences. The four children, Lottie and Isobel, Al and Lily, are on the brink of adulthood and the outbreak of the Second World War in Book Five, WOODBINE. Their lives separate as they are each forced to follow different paths through the war. Lottie is stranded in occupied France after a bitter family feud and gets drawn into the French Resistance; Al faces many dangers as he flies planes for the ATA, and Isobel, torn between duty and love, becomes a Land Girl. Can they come back together in Book Six, IVY?
You must read the final book in The Katherine Wheel Series to find out how the whole saga reaches its dramatic and satisfying conclusion!
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateOctober 3, 2014
- File size3.0 MB
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This option includes 3 books.
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Find out more about her writing projects at intheplottingshed.com/
Product details
- ASIN : B00O694ET4
- Publisher : Alex Martin
- Accessibility : Learn more
- Publication date : October 3, 2014
- Edition : 1st
- Language : English
- File size : 3.0 MB
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 360 pages
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Book 2 of 6 : The Katherine Wheel series
- Best Sellers Rank: #429,686 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

'The Plotting Shed' was my first writing space at the bottom of my Welsh garden. Now I split my time between Wales and France and plot wherever I am. I still wander aimlessly in the countryside with my dog and my dreams and I can still be found typing away with imaginary friends whispering in my ear, but these days I have the joy of seeing my stories published and the treasured feedback from readers who've enjoyed them.
Now I have nine novels on Amazon and a collection of 3 short stories, called Trio (a free copy of which is available at The Plotting Shed).
My first novel, The Twisted Vine, is based on my adventurous escape from real life when I picked grapes in France in the 1980s. I met some amazing people there but none as outrageous as those that sprang to life on my screen.
Award-winning Daffodils, the first in "The Katherine Wheel Series", is quite a different book based in Wiltshire where I grew up. Katy's life and the rigid social order that confined her were radically altered by the catalyst of the First World War as it slowly eroded the age-old way of English country life. The sequel, Peace Lily, takes the characters into 1919 after the armistice. They each have to carve out new lives in the aftermath of the Great War and find their way into the new modern age. The next book is Speedwell, when the four protagonists race into the motoring era of the roaring 'twenties. Willow, a novella, bridges the gaps between the generations in Speedwell and the next two books, Woodbine and Ivy. The children in Willow are on the brink of both adulthood and the Second World War in Woodbine, and this conflict will dramatically impact on their lives, just as the First World War did on their parents'. The Katherine Wheel Series concludes in Ivy, the sixth volume where Lottie is trapped in occupied France, Isobel is torn between love and duty and Al flies planes for the ATA. All the disparate threads of the previous five books are drawn together into a surprising climax.
I've also published something totally different. The Rose Trail is a ghost story with the English Civil War as its backdrop. The story slips between the time of the English civil war and the present day and is woven together with a supernatural thread in a ghostly voice. I'm happy to add that The Rose Trail has won 2 awards since publication: Chill with a Book award and a B.R.A.G Medallion. Now its sequel is published, Triskelion, Book Two of The Spirit Level Series, where Fay and Percy take on their first professional assignment in the wild lands of Anglesey, an island off North Wales. A rock star's creativity is frustrated by a ghost who lived near his music studio 2000 years ago. This Druid priestess is determined to be heard by everyone.
I am currently working on a new novel about three friends set in the present day with only a hint of a ghost!
Customer reviews
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers find this book to be a wonderful read, with one describing it as a beautifully woven period story. Moreover, the second book in the series receives positive feedback, and customers love the characters, with one noting how they seem to come alive in the narrative. Additionally, customers appreciate the emotional depth, with one review highlighting the author's skill at capturing emotions and tone.
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Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as a wonderful read that is interesting and engaging, with one customer noting how it transports readers into wonderful situations.
"...have depth, the social commentary is perceptive, and the story line is engaging. Alex Martin is a master at capturing emotion and tone:..." Read more
"...They blend together perfectly with just the right amount of intrigue and wonder...." Read more
"...Book two picks up where the first left off and takes us further on the journey...." Read more
"...in Peace Lily, I recommend this book for anyone looking for an enjoyable read...." Read more
Customers enjoy this sequel in the series, with several noting it's a great follow-up to the first book, and one customer mentioning they enjoyed every book in the Katherine Wheel series.
"...An excellent sequel to Daffodils! Although a great standalone book, Peace Lily will mean much more if you read the first book in the series...." Read more
"This is the second book of the series. I liked it just as much as the first one. I've already downloaded the third book...." Read more
"Book one of this series was superb. Book two picks up where the first left off and takes us further on the journey...." Read more
"Even though this was the second book in a series, it can certainly be read as a standalone book...." Read more
Customers love the characters in the book, with one mentioning that the settings and characters seem to come alive.
"...The characters have depth, the social commentary is perceptive, and the story line is engaging...." Read more
"...I've already downloaded the third book. The settings and characters seem to come alive in these books...." Read more
"...I appreciate most about this novel is the way the characters are as real as the people who live next door and who have experiences to tell that..." Read more
"...read three other books in the series, I was already acquainted with the main characters, and couldn't wait to find out more about them and fill in..." Read more
Customers appreciate the emotional depth of the book, with one noting the author's masterful handling of tone and another highlighting the authentic dialogue and realistic portrayal of characters.
"...Alex Martin is a master at capturing emotion and tone:..." Read more
"This was such an emotional read for our book club...." Read more
"...There is a subtle reality in the depiction of their lives that reminds one of a favourite TV drama...." Read more
"...The characterd were well developed, realistic & memorable...." Read more
Customers appreciate the development of the book, with one noting the author's mastery of her craft and another highlighting the hard work that went into creating it.
"...There were SO many tough subjects covered -- very well:..." Read more
"Couldn’t put this book down! The characters were so real and well developed . Such a great plot. Can’t wait to read the rest of this series." Read more
"...She is truly a master at her craft." Read more
"...A love story really about love rather than lust. Hard work, integrity, trust. All of the things that I personally believe in." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on June 14, 2022Book Review- #2 Peace Lily by Alex Martin
I really enjoyed reading this, second in a series of five novels. The characters have depth, the social commentary is perceptive, and the story line is engaging.
Alex Martin is a master at capturing emotion and tone:
She sat back down on the running board of the car and watched the rain falling onto the wet courtyard. Pools collected where the cobbles had been worn down by horse's hooves for so many years. The sky, pregnant with water, dimmed into twilight with not even a nod to a sunset. The gloom matched her mood.
Cross-generational inter-relationships provide background:
Agnes laid the platter of sliced bread in the middle of the table. "You'd better wash those filthy hands before supper, too." Katy ground her teeth. As a married woman of twenty-four, she really didn't need to be told to wash her hands before eating. Folding her lips tight, she went to the scullery sink and poured water from the jug on to her palms before soaping off the black carbon.
In April, 1912, she was hired by the White Star Line to carry back the surviving members of Titanic's crew to England after they had been detained in the United States for investigations. The Lapland arrived in England on April 28, 13 days after the Titanic sank.
Their ocean liner, "The Lapland", blasted its foghorn and its massive bulk lifted, as they left the wide river-mouth and hit the open sea. There had been few ships to choose from for their voyage, as most were in dry dock being reconstructed after their service as troopships in the war…
She drew in another gulp of ozone-rich sea air. Soon the seagulls would return to land and just the vast Atlantic Ocean would surround them. She wasn't frightened of the sea. To Cassandra, it felt like a watery embrace…
In those days, traumatic experiences were best swept under the carpet and ignored:
The one subject they didn't discuss was the war. It was enough to acknowledge that each had served time in Flanders without dwelling on the scars.
One detects a certain cynicism about hypocrisy and judgemental religion:
They all trooped off to church, as normal. And, as normal, the piety spouted by the preacher left Cassandra unmoved. There never seemed to be any compassion in the sermons, only judgement. It didn't help her nerves.
I enjoyed reading apt descriptions:
She turned away and looked out over the windswept, wet desert of the Atlantic. It stretched away to seeming infinity without all the ugly structures people built on land.
Humour is always lurking, providing relief from the cruelty of social’betters’.
Lady Smythe's mouth dropped open and stayed that way for at least thirty seconds, without any words issuing from its usually busy orifice.
Jem’s bravery in learning to drive a Sunbeam motor car from a written booklet impressed me.
Only fifteen shillings, not a patch on the wages he'd got from Hayes for driving that old Sunbeam but still, it was ready cash.
Central to the whole story, was the fact that it was now peace after an horrific war:
The peace lily on the hall table had flowered in the heat; its single petal stood white and feminine against the dark foliage, but the shape of its stamen looked decidedly phallic. Cassandra thought it peculiarly unsuitable as a greeting for visitors and wondered if her mother would understand why.
An excellent read, warmly recommended!
- Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2016Peace Lily (The Katherine Wheel - Book 2) (Book 2) by Alex Martin
An excellent sequel to Daffodils! Although a great standalone book, Peace Lily will mean much more if you read the first book in the series. While Katy and Jem hold primary place in Daffodils, their friends, Cassandra and Douglas bring their love and struggles to add another layer of thoughtfulness and complexity to this book.
Best friends through WW1, Katy and Cassandra must redefine their friendship as the world changes in the aftermath of the war. Can Katy return to service or has her new independence and self confidence changed her too much to make that possible? Will Jem be able to accept this new version of Katy in light of the changes that have occurred in his life, both physically and emotionally? Can Cassandra and Douglas really join such different lifestyles to make a relationship work? While juggling these questions, as well as others, Alex Martin manages to maintain the tension and the love in place while enabling us to vicariously experience a society in the midst of societal transformation, sharing both the pain and potential that are an inevitable part of such upheaval.
While lacking the intensity of Daffodils, Peace Lily brings a more thoughtful approach to life and love in a changing world.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2024This is the second book of the series. I liked it just as much as the first one. I've already downloaded the third book. The settings and characters seem to come alive in these books. They blend together perfectly with just the right amount of intrigue and wonder. Bad situations eventually turn into something good, and they end just like they should.
- Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2025This was such an emotional read for our book club. There were SO many tough subjects covered -- very well: (atrocities of war, grief & loss issues, struggles within social classes, cultural/religious/racial tensions, sexual assault, equality for women in the workplace, and so much more!) We truly enjoyed it and look forward to reading other books by this author.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2022Book one of this series was superb. Book two picks up where the first left off and takes us further on the journey. The first book needs to be read before you can get into the storyline. This saga continues to hold me In its spell. I will now order the 3rd of the series. I look forward to it.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2014Even though this was the second book in a series, it can certainly be read as a standalone book. Katy Phipps and Cass Smythe come from two very different worlds but show how their worlds have collided. The journey of the two girls through the war in Daffodils shows how they are alike and how they are different. The war changed so many things and so many things were left unchanged. But Katy accompanies Cassandra across the ocean for a trip to Boston. The story details their adventures of love and friendship in Boston. But when things go very wrong and Katy returns early, Jem, Katy's husband, stands by her for all time. Katy wants to dream of a better life but seems to always have roadblocks thrown in front of her.
Martin's character development and descriptions bring these families to life. I felt myself cheering for their successes and crying for their setbacks.
While there wasn't nearly the historical references in Peace Lily, I recommend this book for anyone looking for an enjoyable read. I'm hoping that there will be another book in the series and Martin has left that door open.
- Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2024I hope to read the entire series. Can hardly put them down. I highly recommend. Great historical novels. A must read!
- Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2021Nice story. Too many grammatical errors. I skipped paragraphs because of the redundant info and flowery discriptions. Lots of filler. I liked the first book much better.
Top reviews from other countries
- judithanneReviewed in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant read
As with the first of this series, Daffodils (The Katherine Wheel Book 1) - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BPUQAY4/ref=cm_cr_asin_lnk, I found it difficult to put Peace Lily down. The story of characters we met there, Jem and Katy Phipps, continues. Placed following WW1, Peace Lily is a fascinating story of this young couple’s struggles to return to normality in a society that seems will never be normal again. The social structures have been blown apart, despite the efforts of some of the other characters to retain that rigid class divide. I try to write reviews without giving the story away; I think that it’s only fair for other readers to find out for themselves. What I will say is that the writing is excellent and held me spellbound throughout. And that the characters are so well rounded they come to life on the page, the dialogue is true to each character and the descriptions of the settings, in both Britain and in the USA, give a wonderful ‘sense of place’.
Since Daffodils I have been anxious to see what will happen to Katy but it’s been well worth the wait. Let’s hope there is a third book to come.
I have no hesitation in recommending Peace Lily and giving the novel five starts. Alex Martin is a true storyteller.
- Rea KelamisReviewed in Canada on April 15, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent reading
A wonderful story that makes you turn each page with anticipation
- SuzanneReviewed in Australia on October 24, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Don’t miss this series
Thoroughly enjoyed this whole series. Very entertaining read.
- JessReviewed in India on September 19, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Engrossing.
A fast-paced depiction of life after World War II. The war has brought in many changes but in rural England, the old social order still persists. Katherine and her husband, both having served in the war, struggle to remake their lives against severe odds that also put a strain on their marriage.
This is Book 2 in the Katherine Wheel Series but can be read as a stand alone.
- Suzie QueReviewed in Canada on October 28, 2021
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
Read the first book in the series and enjoyed it. Ordered this book and it was quite enjoyable as well!