The Mothers of Victory Street

Book excerpt: Liverpool, 1946. Bella Harrison cannot believe that the devastating war which stole the lives of her father and sister is truly over at last. She and her childhood sweetheart Bobby are happy newlyweds, doting on Levi, the son of Bella and Earl Franklin Junior, a black American pilot. With the other members of Bella's wartime singing trio the Bryant Sisters busy starting families of their own, Bella focuses on recording and writing songs with her husband. Everything seems to be falling into place until they get a surprising letter: Earl is moving to England and wants to see them. Earl arrives, and is delighted to find his son well and happy. He joins them as a singer, and they begin working together. But one night as Earl leaves the recording studio, a racist gang brutally attacks him and sets the place alight, leaving Bobby trapped inside...