Poor Lucy Mellor can't ever seem to please her mother, so it's a good thing all her friends and neighbours love her in this warm and funny Liverpool saga

With the face of an angel and a sunny nature, Lucy Mellor is a daughter any parent would be proud of. But while her friend, Rhoda, is kissed and hugged by her mother, Lucy only knows cruelty from the woman who brought her into the world.

Her father, Bob, is the one shining light in her life. He tries to protect her, but he is no match for the devious wife who gives him no peace of mind and has no love for his daughter.

The walls of the house are thin and Ruby Mellor’s angry attacks on Lucy can be heard by their neighbours. One day, Irene Pollard decides she must do something, and she takes the girl under her wing. And two doors up, Mrs Aggie and her seafaring son, Titch, enrich Lucy’s life with their sense of fun. But despite everything, she still craves a mother’s love.

(ISBN: 0 7472 6111 3, Paperback £6.99)