Jean Innes (1932–2011)
Author of How to Write Realistic Dialogue
About the Author
Series
Works by Jean Innes
A Bride's Desire (A Stolen Bride / A Reluctant Bride / A Proper Victorian Wedding / Brandon's Bride) (1994) 5 copies
Doubleday Romance Library # ?. The Tempestuous Affair, A Reason for Rivalry, Lady of the Manor — Contributor — 2 copies
Doubleday Romance Library #29: Circles of Fate, Both Sides of the Coin, The Wishing Stone (1973) — Contributor — 2 copies
Doubleday Romance Library. Ashton's Folly, Elizabeth in Love, Prelude to Happiness (1975) — Contributor — 1 copy
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Legal name
- Innes Saunders, Jean
- Other names
- Saunders, Jean (married name)
Innes, Jean (maiden name)
Summers, Rowena
Blake, Sally
Nicol, Jodi
Moore, Rachel - Birthdate
- 1932-02-08
- Date of death
- 2011-08-03
- Gender
- female
- Occupations
- writer
novelist - Organizations
- Writers' Summer School of Swanwick
Romantic Novelists' Association
Romance Writers of America
Crime Writers' Association
West Country Writers' Association - Relationships
- Saunders, Geoff (husband)
- Short biography
- Jean Innes was born on 8 February 1932 in London, England, but she have lived in the West Country almost all her life. She married with Geoff Saunders, her childhood sweetheart, and they have three grown up children. She lived in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, where she wrote full time. She passed away on 3 August 2011, after contracting an illness, after being rushed to Weston General Hospital.
Jean began her career as a magazine writer and had published around 600 short stories. She start to published gothic romance novels under her married and maiden name in the 1970s. In 1980s, she created, to wrote historical romances, two pseudonyms, her most popular, Rowena Summers and Sally Blake. In 1991 her novel, "The Bannister Girls," was shortlisted for the Romantic Novel of Year award. In 2004, she began to used the penname Rachel Moore.
She was an active member and enthusiast of Swanwick, the Writers' Summer School, which takes place in Derbyshire, England, every August, she was a committee member several times, and also Vice-Chairman. She was elected the seventeenth Chairman (1993-1995) of the Romantic Novelists' Association. As a member of the Romance Writers of America she had given talks at conferences in various venues of the USA. She was a member of the Crime Writers' Association. She also was a member and past committee member of the West Country Writers' Association. - Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- London, England, UK
- Places of residence
- London, England, UK
Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, England, UK - Place of death
- Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, England, UK
- Associated Place (for map)
- England, UK
Members
Reviews
Romantic tale of three sisters, set during the Great War. Angel, Ellen and Louise Bannister have grown up in a privileged, middle-class family and their futures seem set for them, but the lives of all three are changed by wartime experiences. Naturally, all three find true love in the end.
Angel is a bit of a challenge to begin with, more spoiled than spirited, and it's slightly irritating that her one-night stand with an airman becomes a fairytale match with Prince Charming (or Vicomte de show more Ville, in this case), but it's the tried and tested formula of romances. However, she does mature after learning about life the hard way, as do her sisters, and I would have liked to read more about Louise and her Scottish soldier.
What really carries this light story is the depth of detail and atmosphere about the war, on the frontline and at home. The Bannisters are well-to-do and live in country houses, but their genteel existence doesn't insulate them against the grief and anxiety felt by every other family in England at the time - Angel joins the VAD and leaves for France to be near her French aviator fiance, Ellen goes to work in a munitions factory before joining her sister across the Channel, and Louise faces the ultimate sacrifice before finding love with a wounded soldier. Once the story picked up, and the girls get involved with the war effort, I found myself totally engrossed in this tale of unassuming bravery and changing times. The clash of old-fashioned roles and polite etiquette against the urgency and equality of post-war society allows for modern-thinking heroines looking for traditional romance in a convincing scenario. Jean Saunders writes about Blighty and English debs well. show less
Angel is a bit of a challenge to begin with, more spoiled than spirited, and it's slightly irritating that her one-night stand with an airman becomes a fairytale match with Prince Charming (or Vicomte de show more Ville, in this case), but it's the tried and tested formula of romances. However, she does mature after learning about life the hard way, as do her sisters, and I would have liked to read more about Louise and her Scottish soldier.
What really carries this light story is the depth of detail and atmosphere about the war, on the frontline and at home. The Bannisters are well-to-do and live in country houses, but their genteel existence doesn't insulate them against the grief and anxiety felt by every other family in England at the time - Angel joins the VAD and leaves for France to be near her French aviator fiance, Ellen goes to work in a munitions factory before joining her sister across the Channel, and Louise faces the ultimate sacrifice before finding love with a wounded soldier. Once the story picked up, and the girls get involved with the war effort, I found myself totally engrossed in this tale of unassuming bravery and changing times. The clash of old-fashioned roles and polite etiquette against the urgency and equality of post-war society allows for modern-thinking heroines looking for traditional romance in a convincing scenario. Jean Saunders writes about Blighty and English debs well. show less
Actual review 3.75⭐
I have struggled with my review on this, mainly because I think this is better than a 3 stars. I liked this book, and though it was slow in the beginning, it did pick up and finished strong.
This book is about Daisy the youngest daughter of 5 kids. Daisy is 17 when this book starts and is having to grow up quick due to losing her mom and WW2. You watch Daisy struggle with decisions about what she should be doing with her life and all the emotions that go with that. I show more also enjoyed the little forays into the other children's lives and how they dealt with the war.
This book was a little predictable in spots, but I expected that and enjoyed it in spite of that. I enjoy a good story and that is what this was.
Thank you to NetGalley and Agora Books for the chance to review this book! show less
I have struggled with my review on this, mainly because I think this is better than a 3 stars. I liked this book, and though it was slow in the beginning, it did pick up and finished strong.
This book is about Daisy the youngest daughter of 5 kids. Daisy is 17 when this book starts and is having to grow up quick due to losing her mom and WW2. You watch Daisy struggle with decisions about what she should be doing with her life and all the emotions that go with that. I show more also enjoyed the little forays into the other children's lives and how they dealt with the war.
This book was a little predictable in spots, but I expected that and enjoyed it in spite of that. I enjoy a good story and that is what this was.
Thank you to NetGalley and Agora Books for the chance to review this book! show less
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Usual Traits Found in Gothic Novels:
Unrealistic Romance * Returning to a long lost home or castle under tragic circumstances * Supernatural mystery, even though most of the time the supernatural turns out to not be at play * A new family or household to get used to, usually with some kind of animosity * Death threats and dangers * Another character’s death overshadowing the story, usually someone the main character never met
Unrealistic Romance
It’s easy to see within the show more first chapter that this isn’t your typical Gothic with your typical heroine. For one thing, Charlotte is promiscuous from the start, not living up to the times of modesty. This grows worse to amusing degrees – with her even becoming aroused by bizarre pictures of orgies and paying too much attention to the maid’s bizarre bosom later on. But at the beginning she is shown to have a twisted relationship with her grandmother, and is called home through a normal enough Gothic theme – being summoned by a long lost grandfather who is mourning the death of a beloved one whom she resembles.
There is really little appealing about the man who she falls in love with – his personality seems inconsistent, a bit dry, and he certainly acts toward her like she’s not the matronly one she should be. I also didn’t find enough sympathy over her story of sharing something awful that happened to her before she left her hometown.
Returning to a long lost home or castle under tragic circumstances
Yes, that’s here, big time. Her grandfather calls her home after learning of her existence and a death that spurs him to want to bring the family together. At first Charlotte is reluctant but it doesn’t take much to change her mind, and then a tragedy strikes which sets the tone for the novel as a grim, depressing one.
Supernatural mystery, even though most of the time the supernatural turns out to not be at play
This is here big time, but not until later, and for a pleasant change there actually is something semi-supernatural involved as the villains and motives are uncovered. Weird stuff.
A new family or household to get used to, usually with some kind of animosity
Some of the family members end up redeeming themselves, others stay totally unlikeable. Yech.
Death threats and dangers
Of course these are there, too, some of them a bit silly. Many Gothics have a rape sequence, but this book has an attempted rape and two actual rapes. Pushing the boundaries here.
Another character’s death overshadowing the story, usually someone the main character never met
It fits this role big time as well. It’s used to ignite her going home to the grandfather, being treated differently by the family, her romantic suitor, and even ties in with the ending supernatural elements.
Overall Black Maddie is a fun, decent Gothic novel. It grows a bit tired with its unexciting romance that’s unconvincing, but Charlotte is a likeable character with actual backbone, modern day thinking, and holds her own again obnoxious family members. The ending is a cheesy finale that befits the gothic style. If you’re a big fan of Gothics, you should enjoy it. It’s not the best out there and has weaknesses, but it also embraces traits that make the genre work well. show less
Usual Traits Found in Gothic Novels:
Unrealistic Romance * Returning to a long lost home or castle under tragic circumstances * Supernatural mystery, even though most of the time the supernatural turns out to not be at play * A new family or household to get used to, usually with some kind of animosity * Death threats and dangers * Another character’s death overshadowing the story, usually someone the main character never met
Unrealistic Romance
It’s easy to see within the show more first chapter that this isn’t your typical Gothic with your typical heroine. For one thing, Charlotte is promiscuous from the start, not living up to the times of modesty. This grows worse to amusing degrees – with her even becoming aroused by bizarre pictures of orgies and paying too much attention to the maid’s bizarre bosom later on. But at the beginning she is shown to have a twisted relationship with her grandmother, and is called home through a normal enough Gothic theme – being summoned by a long lost grandfather who is mourning the death of a beloved one whom she resembles.
There is really little appealing about the man who she falls in love with – his personality seems inconsistent, a bit dry, and he certainly acts toward her like she’s not the matronly one she should be. I also didn’t find enough sympathy over her story of sharing something awful that happened to her before she left her hometown.
Returning to a long lost home or castle under tragic circumstances
Yes, that’s here, big time. Her grandfather calls her home after learning of her existence and a death that spurs him to want to bring the family together. At first Charlotte is reluctant but it doesn’t take much to change her mind, and then a tragedy strikes which sets the tone for the novel as a grim, depressing one.
Supernatural mystery, even though most of the time the supernatural turns out to not be at play
This is here big time, but not until later, and for a pleasant change there actually is something semi-supernatural involved as the villains and motives are uncovered. Weird stuff.
A new family or household to get used to, usually with some kind of animosity
Some of the family members end up redeeming themselves, others stay totally unlikeable. Yech.
Death threats and dangers
Of course these are there, too, some of them a bit silly. Many Gothics have a rape sequence, but this book has an attempted rape and two actual rapes. Pushing the boundaries here.
Another character’s death overshadowing the story, usually someone the main character never met
It fits this role big time as well. It’s used to ignite her going home to the grandfather, being treated differently by the family, her romantic suitor, and even ties in with the ending supernatural elements.
Overall Black Maddie is a fun, decent Gothic novel. It grows a bit tired with its unexciting romance that’s unconvincing, but Charlotte is a likeable character with actual backbone, modern day thinking, and holds her own again obnoxious family members. The ending is a cheesy finale that befits the gothic style. If you’re a big fan of Gothics, you should enjoy it. It’s not the best out there and has weaknesses, but it also embraces traits that make the genre work well. show less
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
My Review Of
The Bannister Girls by Jean Saunders
This book had a bit of Downton Abbey feel to it, three privileged sisters, the start of World War I, one sister a bit of a rebel for human rights, one sister a hopeless romantic and one who tries to do everything just the way that it is expected of her. I love this time period and the show more setting seemed very nice. The story was one of romance and heartbreak and while I found this to be very well written it dragged a bit for me in most places. Angela, the romantic was my favorite of the sisters, her story line was a bit scandalous for the times which I found exciting and Jacques her love interest seemed quite swoon worthy. As for the other characters in the book, I had a hard time connecting with them. I still enjoyed the overall story line and find this era and setting fascinating.
This review was originally posted on My Fiction Obsession show less
My Review Of
The Bannister Girls by Jean Saunders
This book had a bit of Downton Abbey feel to it, three privileged sisters, the start of World War I, one sister a bit of a rebel for human rights, one sister a hopeless romantic and one who tries to do everything just the way that it is expected of her. I love this time period and the show more setting seemed very nice. The story was one of romance and heartbreak and while I found this to be very well written it dragged a bit for me in most places. Angela, the romantic was my favorite of the sisters, her story line was a bit scandalous for the times which I found exciting and Jacques her love interest seemed quite swoon worthy. As for the other characters in the book, I had a hard time connecting with them. I still enjoyed the overall story line and find this era and setting fascinating.
This review was originally posted on My Fiction Obsession show less
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 115
- Members
- 505
- Popularity
- #49,062
- Rating
- 3.7
- Reviews
- 10
- ISBNs
- 403
- Languages
- 3