No White Flowers, Please

The "Roaring Twenties" was the era of the flappers, those bright young things who cut their hair and raised their hemlines. But for Rhoda Pritchard, growing up in a mining town in the North Island of New Zealand, life wasn't easy. On her 11th birthday, Rhoda and her younger brothers and sisters stood by their mother's grave. The strong-smelling white flowers surrounding the coffin ever afterwards became the smell of death to Rhoda. But she was a girl who loved life, and from an early age learned a simple way to survive. This helped her through every setback and disappointment, especially when she and the other children were sent to England without their father, accompanied only by an unmarried aunt. In the new and unfamiliar English environment, Rhoda faces every challenge with courage. Though set in the 1920s, this heart-warming story will resonate with readers today who admire a character with grit and determination. About the Author: Born in Salisbury, England, Elaine Blick moved to New Zealand after World War II. She is a retired schoolteacher and divides her time between both countries. Her previous novel is Where the Bellbird Sings.