Jean Chapman 
Tangled Dynasty 

Eleanor learned the reality of life at an early age. From her father she learned about cruelty and hatred from the world she learned about poverty and war… But from her mother she learned about hope — and the courage which would never allow her to bow in defeat, or give up her struggle for dignity and love. Fate might destroy the things she treasured most and take away the people she loved — but it would never crush her spirit or her dreams…