A plot for a BBC series

The plot of this novel is amazing for all lovers of historical dramas. The love between young Annie Carter of a farm labourer family and wealthy heir, Robert, takes place in Victorian England. The characters are so vividly and emotionally written that I got involved in the story along with the characters. Will young lovers be able to overcome class differences and get their share of happiness? I empathized with the heroes, imagining how the world has changed over these 150 years. I highly recommend this novel for long cold evenings by the fireplace.

A captivating story.

This is a powerful novel about the harsh realities of life in the late 1800s if you are poor. The story is set around Annie Carter, a farm labourer's daughter. Like all poor families of that era, they struggle to make ends meet and, when her father dies, the situation becomes dire. Annie resorts to stealing vegetables from the nearby manor house and meets Robert, the second son of the owner. And so begins a beautiful, but possibly doomed love story. I love the author's style. Her description of life in those days completely captured me. I grew up in rural Northern Ireland in the 1960s and remember getting up on cold winter mornings to do the milking. I also remember rosehip seeds being put down my back! I loved this book and am looking forward to now reading the next one.

A most impressive debut novel

The Mazzard Tree opens the door to a family in crisis, their harsh life set to become even tougher. Struggling to help feed her family, daughter Annie finds an unexpected ally in Robert, second son of Lord Fellwood at nearby Hartford Manor, and it is their story which drives the novel. They are supported by a large extended family and village community whose own lives are woven into the narrative with skill and sensitivity. Prepare to be heartened, saddened and even shocked by this tale which is as rooted in the North Devon soil as the mazzard tree itself.

I couldn't put this book down and finished it in four days! It is so easy to fall in love with the characters and the storyline keeps you hooked. From the very first chapter, I thoroughly enjoyed The Mazzard Tree. I would recommend it to anyone needing a bit of an escape from everyday life!

A wonderful book. So well written you feel you are actually in the story.

A well-paced and delightful romantic historical read. I feel I have been part of the villagers' lives and am looking forward to the next book. I would definitely recommend it.

I loved this book and couldn't put it down. Interesting characters and vividly reflects the period in which the story is set. I strongly recommend this book and its author.

A compelling read!

The Mazzard Tree is set in 1880, in Devon, in a series of interwoven stories, it charts the goings-on in the Hartford Mansion and with the tenants of the adjoining village. At the centre of the plot is Annie, the daughter of Sabine, a family in terrible poverty, and her relationship with Robert, the second son of Lord Fellwood. The novel's portrayal of the brutality of the life of the poor is vivid and shows a marked contrast to that of the wealthy with their sense of entitlement. Despite the abject conditions the poor live in, Clayton manages to get across hope in their camaraderie and willingness to help each other. In her descriptions of the characters, the places and the environment, the writing is assured and compelling, and the tales unfold seamlessly and quickly. At times it is heart-rendering but sprinkled with optimism. I have enjoyed this historical romance, and look forward to the other books in the series. It is well-researched and a compelling read, and I would recommend it.