The Angel Tree (65 page)

‘No, Maia, I won’t. Because I have never found her.’

As the familiar thick hedge of spruce trees, which shielded our waterside home from prying eyes, came into view, I saw Marina standing on the jetty and the dreadful truth of
losing Pa finally began to sink in.

And I realised that the man who had created the kingdom in which we had all been his princesses was no longer present to hold the enchantment in place.

‘I finished
The Midnight Rose
on the flight back, and I loved it! What an absolutely fantastic storyteller – I was immediately immersed in the story, and
absolutely compelled to keep reading to the very last page . . . A real treat’

Katherine Webb

‘Irish-born Riley is quietly becoming a huge success story’

Red

‘A captivating read from Lucinda Riley. Ideal for a book club’

Daily Mail

‘Spellbinding storytelling’

Choice

‘A strong, often nostalgic offering’

Daily Express Weekend

‘Romantic fiction at its most captivating’

Lancashire Evening Post

‘This is a beautifully written story that captures the imagination’

Shropshire Star

‘A fast-paced, suspenseful story flitting between the present day and World War II . . . Brilliant escapism’

Red

‘A beautifully written book that secures Riley’s authorial status and proves that her golden penmanship is no mere fluke . . . This is the perfect literary novel to
move those readers who wish for something more fulfilling than chick-lit, yet just as entertaining, witty and heart-stopping. The language is dramatic yet truthful and Riley has such a delicate
touch with mystery and intrigue that it’s difficult to predict where the plot is going . . . Riley’s descriptive nuances are so evocative, a TV drama is bound to be imminent. A literal
and literary page-turner’

We Love This Book

‘Just sink in and wallow’

Kate Saunders,
Saga

‘Yet again, I have been totally entertained by another great story that is well-written with an intricate plot that is multi-layered but tied together so well . . . I became
really emotionally attached to these characters . . . This novel really is a joy to read, expertly woven together and mixing social history with family dramas and love and relationships – the
perfect blend’

Random Things Through My Letterbox

‘[Lucinda Riley] manipulates the strands of her plot with skill’

Independent on Sunday

‘An emotionally charged saga . . . Riley is a writer to watch’

Sunday Express

‘Lucinda Riley knows how to write a captivating novel . . . it’s layered, it’s intricate, it’s just brilliant . . . a truly brilliant read’

Chick Lit Reviews

‘[A] haunting and engrossing new novel . . . superb characterization, atmospheric locations and a well-paced narrative keep the pages turning and the imagination in thrall .
. . perceptive, warm and exquisitely wrought,
The Girl on the Cliff
is another triumph for a talented author’

Burnley Express

‘An enchanting and mysterious story of hope after loss, populated with warm characters’

Candis

‘Atmospheric, heart-rending and multi-layered’

Grazia

‘Romantic, revealing and rich in heart-rending emotion and atmospheric detail . . . could well be the pick of Richard and Judy’s spring bunch’

Lancashire Post

‘The parallel stories have many layers, and the characters are touching and very humane, which makes this page-turner a perfect beach read’

Elle

‘This romance novel conjures up the past in an imaginative way’

Star

‘It’s a great story, full of atmosphere’

Bookbag

Lucinda Riley was born in Ireland and wrote her first book aged 24. Her novel
Hothouse Flower
(also called
The Orchid House
) was selected for the UK’s
Richard and Judy Book Club in 2011 and went on to sell two million copies worldwide. She is a multiple
New York Times
bestselling author and her books have reached number one in a number
of European countries. Her stories are currently translated into 28 languages and published in 38 countries.

She lives with her husband and four children in the English countryside and in the South of France.

Hothouse Flower

The Girl on the Cliff

The Light Behind the Window

The Midnight Rose

The Italian Girl

The Seven Sisters Series

The Seven Sisters

The Storm Sister

First published as
Not Quite an Angel
1995 by Simon & Schuster

This revised and updated edition first published 2015 by Pan Books

This electronic edition published 2015 by Pan Books
an imprint of Pan Macmillan
20 New Wharf Road, London N1 9RR
Associated companies throughout the world
www.panmacmillan.com

ISBN 978-1-4472-8845-9

Copyright © Lucinda Edmonds 1995
Revised edition copyright © Lucinda Riley 2015

Cover Images: gate © Paul Bucknall / Arcangel, tree and sky © Shutterstock

The right of Lucinda Riley to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Pan Macmillan does not have any control over, or any responsibility for, any author or third party websites referred to in or on this book.

You may not copy, store, distribute, transmit, reproduce or otherwise make available this publication (or any part of it) in any form, or by any means (electronic, digital,
optical, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be
liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

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www.panmacmillan.com
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