Some stories invite you to slow down, breathe deeply, and step into a world shaped by memory, landscape, and quiet resilience. The Mazzard Tree is very much one of those novels.
Rooted in the rhythms of rural Devon, this book offers readers a deeply evocative sense of place, where personal histories are entwined with the land itself. It is a story about endurance, belonging, and the small but powerful moments that shape a life. With its gentle pacing and emotional undercurrents, the novel unfolds like a walk through blossom-filled orchards—beautiful, reflective, and quietly absorbing.
Perfect for readers who enjoy character-led storytelling and heartfelt domestic fiction
✔️ A heartfelt, character-driven story set in rural Devon
✔️ Rich sense of place with beautifully evoked countryside
✔️ Themes of resilience, belonging, and emotional healing
✔️ Perfect for readers who enjoy gentle, immersive storytelling
✔️ Ideal for fans of cosy, reflective historical fiction
Check out the blurb:
Annie Carter is a farm labourer’s daughter and life is a continual struggle for survival. When her father dies of consumption, her mother, Sabina, is left with seven hungry mouths to feed and another child on the way. To save them from the workhouse or starvation, Annie steals vegetables from the Manor House garden, risking jail or transportation.
Unknown to her, she is watched by Robert, the wealthy heir to the Hartford Estate, but far from turning her in, he befriends her.
Despite their different social backgrounds, Annie and Robert develop feelings they know can have no future. Harry Rudd, the village blacksmith, has long admired Annie, and when he proposes, her mother urges her to accept. She reminds Annie, that as a kitchen-maid, she will never be allowed to marry Robert. Harry is a good man and Annie is fond of him. Her head knows what she should do, but will her heart listen?
Set against the harsh background of the rough, class-divided society of Victorian England, this heart-warming and captivating novel portrays a young woman who uses her determination and willpower to defy the circumstances of her birth in her search for happiness.
However you love to read, The Mazzard Tree is available on Kindle, paperback, and hardback, and is also available to read on Kindle Unlimited. Find your copy HERE.
A farmer’s daughter, Marcia Clayton, was born in North Devon, a rural and picturesque area in the far South West of England. When she left school, Marcia worked in a bank for several years until she married her husband, Bryan, and then stayed at home for a few years to care for her three sons, Stuart, Paul, and David.
As the children grew older, Marcia worked as a Marie Curie nurse caring for the terminally ill and later for the local authority managing school transport. Now a grandmother, Marcia enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She is a keen researcher of family history, and this hobby inspired some of the characters in her books. Marcia and Bryan are keen gardeners and grow many of their own vegetables.
An avid reader, Marcia can often be found with her nose in a book when she should be doing something else! Her favourite genres are historical fiction, romance, and crime books. Marcia has written five books in the historical family saga, “The Hartford Manor Series”, and is working on the sixth. Besides writing books, Marcia produces blogs to share with her readers in a monthly newsletter.
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See you on your next coffee break!
Take Care,
Mary Anne xxx