Learn more
These promotions will be applied to this item:
Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Follow the author
OK
Fairytales Don't Come True: Volume 1 of the Criminal Conversation trilogy Kindle Edition
When middle-aged nurse Dora Stuart-Frazer is assigned to provide end-of-life care to ex-prostitute Magdalena, she suffers a failure of sympathy linked to the woman’s career and her own marital issues. It’s her job—her vocation to care. Trying to overcome her prejudices against her patient and the other members of the all-female household, Dora is drawn into their world. Mags has cancer and it won’t be long now. She is an unwilling listener to the sordid life-story that her patient wants to recount in her last few weeks of life. It’s her dying wish to get her story out and as such, it’s Dora’s job to listen. However, every night as her patient’s story unfolds, Dora needs more. She is transfixed and a willing listener as she compares the life of the story teller to her own and forces herself to confront her mid-life crisis. In this race against time, Dora has to know it all—but fears Mags won’t make it to the end.
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateMay 15, 2020
- File size1.4 MB
Shop this series
See full series- Kindle Price:$11.61By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
- Kindle Price:$33.03By placing your order, you're purchasing a license to the content and you agree to the Kindle Store Terms of Use.
Shop this series
This option includes 3 books.
This option includes 5 books.
This option includes 7 books.
Product details
- ASIN : B088PWWCML
- Accessibility : Learn more
- Publication date : May 15, 2020
- Edition : 2nd
- Language : English
- File size : 1.4 MB
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 313 pages
- Page Flip : Enabled
- Book 1 of 7 : CRIMINAL CONVERSATION
- Best Sellers Rank: #3,257,209 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #3,379 in Literary Sagas
- #14,639 in Romance Literary Fiction
- #15,736 in Saga Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

I was born and grew up in North London, England, but was unable to attend university when young due to family financial circumstances. Instead, I worked at various occupations, including dental nurse, laboratory assistant and shop assistant.
I married just before I was 20, and travelled to some interesting places around the world, following my husband’s career. I spent much time reading, a passion, but in order to keep further occupied I took office jobs when these were available to me; I hated the work, but the money was useful.
When we were back in the UK I took evening classes at various times and gained ‘A’ levels in Psychology, Sociology and English, eventually settling in Kent with my husband and becoming a mature student and gaining Bachelor's and Master's degrees in English and Literature before training and working as a teacher.
In 2016 we moved to the peace and quiet of rural Lincolnshire, and my sporadic writing activities became more permanent. I self-published Fairytales Don't Come True, my debut novel, in May 2020 and since then have written and published four books of poetry, October Poems, Thanksgiving Poems & Prose Pieces, Poet-Pourri and Social Climbing and Other Poems.
In January 2021 I published a sequel to Fairytales entitled Degenerate, Regenerate, and at the end of March 2021 I published a psychological suspense story, You Know What You Did. A third book was published in June 2021, entitled All That We Are Heir To, to make up the 'Criminal Conversation' trilogy with Fairytales and Degenerate, In November 2022 I published another psychological suspense story, What Else Did You Do?, which is a sequel to You Know What You Did. The work didn't stop, as alongside this sequel I was writing a fourth book to follow the 'Criminal Conversation' trilogy. Entitled 'Innocent, Guilty'. It was published in January 2023, and a fifth book, 'The Future of Our House' came out in June 2023. The sixth and final book is entitled 'Uphill, Downhill, Over, Out'. A standalone novel, 'An Honourable Institution' was published in January 2025.
I try to go for a long walk each day (weather permitting; I’m a fair-weather walker) in the beautiful countryside around us, and exercise for a couple of hours each morning, including use of a hula-hoop and stepping machine. I love food and drink and have spent half my life battling a weight problem. I managed to lose 5 stone of unfortunately-gained weight a few years ago and am determined to never regain it, Unfortunately however Covid and lockdown thwarted those plans, but at least I haven't put it all back on. Hopefully in what's left of 2023 I will manage to lose the excess. Life's certainly not fair in that respect, as every other day is a diet day (for hubby too) but the weight still came back. When not being careful--more often than is desirable these days--we enjoy a good meal with wine.
For other leisure activities I have taught myself to play the recorder--badly, but it keeps the brain cells ticking over. I also listen to music of many types; Tracy Chapman is playing while I write this, and will later be replaced by Leonard Cohen or Katie Melua or any one of dozens of other artists, or by some classical music or opera, another passion.
And of course there’s reading, something which I have loved since I was a child. I became a convert to eBooks and subscribed to the Kindle Unlimited programme, because although I love physical books, my bookcases are groaning under the weight and I don’t have room for any more. I review everything I read, since I became an author myself and realise the value of these in getting our work in front of as many eyes as possible; but it does mean that I have a large virtual To Be Read pile!
In late 2021 I undertook some editorial training and freelance work as a sub-editor. I terminated that work in late 2022, but have my hands full with writing my own books and reviewing those of others. Life is busy and certainly not boring.
I also built my own website, in November 2023. Check my Facebook page for the link.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonTop reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2024I thought it was an interesting premise, which is what prompted me to purchase it on Amazon. The strained relationship between caregiver Dora and patient Magdalena (“Mags”) is the focal point as the latter seeks validation and ultimately redemption from a life riddled with tragic choices. Because Mags is terminally ill, the trust needed to tell her story is on an uncertain timeline that adds an interesting element of suspense. The story is richly layered and filled with interesting asides and English expressions, which I found delightful.
Character development is excellent. Dora’s uptight, prudish personality is built brick by brick for the reader through her chilly interactions with her husband, children, friends, and past patients. She’s judgmental, aloof and self-righteousness. She seems like the world’s least suitable hospice nurse to be paired with an ex-prostitute patient and her distaste for everything is evident from the first day.
She can barely retain a professional and civil veneer over her cold “you got what you deserved” detachment with her patient. She administers meds, checks vitals, helps Mags to the restroom, etc, but beyond these essential duties, there’s zero kindness and empathy. She’s there 12 hours a day and as the chatty Mags…who’s still in fairly good shape at this point…prattles on about her past, searching for commonalities, Dora rebuffs all attempts to build bridges.
As Mags’ story unfolds, Dora gradually becomes intrigued, then empathetic, and finally supportive. Mags’ tale is something that many struggle with today, making both ends meet, and after her parents—who are even more judgmental than Dora—disown her, her struggle to pay her tuition at college lead her down the slippery slope of the escort industry.
Dora is made to realize she’s in a much better position both monetarily and socially than Mags and it’s this understanding that blindingly helps her see that there but for the grace of God, goes her.
By contrast, Mags is naturally extroverted, a glass-half-full optimist who regrets her choices, but accepts her fate with forthrightness and dignity. Her relationship with her sponsor is turbulent and fraught with self-doubt in her unrequited love for him. No spoilers, but her character and humanity is revealed as she descends the social ladder from parties glittering with the world's rich and famous, to tending bar and turning tricks in a back room…while her love for her first lover remains unbroken.
The other characters in the story--her icy parents, the other residents of the house/hospice facility, her boyfriends, college friends--are solidly developed and mesh well. Laura has built in some surprise twists as seemingly unrelated characters are revealed to indeed have related...and pivotal...roles in the story.
Overall, a very enjoyable read… the “one more chapter at 1:00 am” type. 😎
- Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2023As I don’t read blurbs I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up this book from a reading group. It reminded me of the movies “The Joy Luck Club” and “Fried Green Tomatoes.” Yes, I know those are books too, but I’ve only seen the movies several times. This got my attention and kept me hooked all the way to the end. I definitely recommend.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2023The storyline was good and the characters. However, the continual comma errors and inaccuratly produced dialogue made it difficult to stay focused. Some of the characters speaking just didn't seem realistic as the dialogues continued to go on and on without any breaks.
The blurb to the book sounded really interesting to read until I got a few chapters into it and the romantic girl seemed to change into a more exotic sexual young woman.
Understanding of the storyline of a young girl whose past life was a bit risque and how she told her nurse on her death bed her past story, is understandable. But throughout the book it just seemed too mixed up and with the grammar errors, was just too much to ignore and took away the great storyline.
- Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2021Absolutely loved the characters! Also impressed by the writing style that so perfectly created a feeling of suspense throughout the novel. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys a great story with an unexpected ending!
- Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2023Being a nurse myself, I can understand being emotionally attached to a patient even if you're not involved in hospice care. But as the night nurse, Dora spent so many long nights listening to Mags, who is dying of cancer, and becoming more intrigued with the thought of how Mags had been pulled into a life of being a young "kept" woman by this wealthy man. And as Mags continues her nightly tale, we learn how she is being more emotionally and physically abused, although she felt so much love for him. Things went from bad to worse with legal issues and Mags' cancer, then her becoming part of an eclectic household. The story telling by the author kept my interest until the very last page. And in a twist, I was pleasantly shocked with how Mags, in her dying hours, was actually able to help Dora. A great, emotionally driven story.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2021The blurb says it all. This story is refreshingly different and well constructed. As a nurse, I understood why Dora tried her best to be impartial and that was her strength as a nurse because her dedication to her profession opened new doors for her. The contrast between Dora and Mags was compelling and thought-provoking and I was caught unprepared. Great plot with emotional twists and turns. I am so glad that I found this story!
- Reviewed in the United States on October 29, 2020It took me a few days to read but it was totally worth it for sure! Dora was such an interesting character to read all throughout! The story between her and Mags was just wow. It was so powerful, and interesting all the way through! It kept me on the edge of my seat, and I was just shocked when I was done reading it. I am not going to say anything else because I do not want to spoil anything. I recommend this book for sure.
Top reviews from other countries
- Tracey GerrardReviewed in the United Kingdom on May 5, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars An absolute must read!
Magdalena is a twenty-eight-year-old, ex-prostitute who is dying of cancer. She knows time isn’t on her side and feels her story needs to be told. Dora her palliative care nurse, married with two children has mixed reactions as she listens night after night to Mag’s short life.
When Magdalena goes off to university without any support from her family, she struggles to make it work. Juggling two part time jobs and her studies is becoming too difficult for her, so after taking advice from a fellow student she becomes a high-class hostess. In walks Teddy.
A handsome businessman who offers to pay for all her needs while she attends to whatever he needs. At first, Teddy who is much older than Mags is gentle and caring but all too soon their relationship becomes dark and twisted.
I found Fairytales Don’t Come True to be beautifully written with all the care and detail that is needed for such an emotional story. The author has done an amazing job with the characters as we also learn about Dora and how listening to Magdalena’s life, starts second guessing her own.
This is not just your normal prostitute meets rich guy. The storyline is gripping from the very first page until the very last and believe me it takes you on one hell of an emotional journey.
I highly recommend you read this book but keep the tissues at the ready because as the title suggests there’s no happy ending here.
- Alisa MurphyReviewed in Canada on March 20, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars A Captivating Page Turner!
Fairytales Don't Come True by Laura Lyndhurst is a conversation between a dying patient and her nurse. The reader feels like a fly on the wall---Lyndhurst’s writing skills captivate the reader and she keeps those pages turning.
Lyndhurst’s builds an absorbing realistic story of nightly conversations between the nurse Dora and her patient Mags who was once a prostitute in London. Unfortunately, Mags doesn’t have a long time to live so she shares her life story to her night nurse Dora.
At first, Dora feels horrified and reluctant to listen to Mags’ story. However, Dora's curiosity conquers her judgement and she becomes captivated by Mags’ story. Gradually, Dora’s secure world starts to turn upside down; Dora’s begins to question her life and her marriage.
Lyndhurst has a beautiful knack for capturing the characters' delicate nuances. It is what makes this book and the characters so real and jump off the page. I love it when characters haunt you well after you finish the book.
Fairytales Don’t Come True is a gripping haunting novel of a delicate relationship of a young woman who is about to die and her older nurse.
- AjayReviewed in Australia on October 27, 2023
5.0 out of 5 stars I struggled to put this book down.
Fairytales Don't Come True by Laura Lyndhurst is a brilliantly crafted and emotionally stirring story. I won't spoil it for you, but trust me when I say the characters are as intricate as the plot is heartbreaking. I guarantee it will stick with you long after you turn the final page. Highly recommended!
- BookLoverReviewed in Canada on November 3, 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling
This book was hard to put down. With every turn of the page you want to hear more of the gripping tale Mags tells. Following Dora as her views on Mags lifestyle changes is beautiful. A definite must read.
- Avid readerReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 28, 2022
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking, heart warming and heart breaking.
Told in the main from the perspective of a dying prostitute, and also from the point of view of the palliative care nurse who looks after her during the nights. A review I read before diving in described this novel as being erotic without being too graphic, and I agree wholeheartedly. However, if you’re easily shocked by sexuality and matters of sex in its broader terms, then this probably isn’t the book for you.
Magdalena, or Mags as we come to know her, was originally a very naïve young woman from a very strict religious background. We meet her when she is twenty-eight, dying from cervical cancer, and surrounded by three woman who care for and love her.
Dora is the nurse engaged to care for Mags as her health deteriorates. She is middle-aged, West Indian, religious and a lot more judgemental than her notion of Jesus would surely feel comfortable with. However, as the story unfolds, Dora is forced to question her attitudes not simply towards woman like Mags, but also looking deeper into herself to examine the kind of woman, wife and mother she has become over her decades of marriage to Des.
So we are drawn along on Mags’ life story, as she faces death with a humour and bravery that goes way beyond acceptance. Like Dora, we might be shocked by the choices Mags has made but, also like Dora, we come to question our prejudices when we realise that Mags is an intelligent young woman, forced to make some challenging decisions due to circumstances beyond her control.
Mags takes us back to when she was just eighteen, when she broke free from strict parents… people who used their religion to judge and oppress. She was to be married off. The only expectation was that she would then breed and carry on living the life her parents chose. But Mags fights instead to go to university. This is a huge challenge, and life quickly gets tough financially. She must work to support herself, and does several jobs so, inevitably, her studies suffer. She needs to make more money in less time and, given an opportunity, makes a choice that changes her life. Enter Teddy.
Teddy and Mags embark upon their erotic and toxic relationship, which is also rather endearing at times. Mags is very much a kept woman. With no friends and no family support, she has little choice but to make the best of things with Teddy. This goes on for a number of years, before another choice leads her down a very different pathway, but Mags nevertheless manages to hold her head high and keep a positive attitude.
This is a fascinating story which made me question all kinds of relationships. Men and women in the main; particularly how men so easily exploit women in the name of love. Parents and their children; should parents ever dictate life choices to children who didn’t ask to be born? Religion; odd how Christians cast their stones at the deeds of others despite the basic doctrine being all about forgiveness. Would Jesus truly approve?
We live in a culture largely incapable of accepting women of a certain profession; they are judged and found to be less than their peers by virtue of the fact they take payment in exchange for sex. So what? Then there are ill-conceived laws that put prostitutes in needless danger. BTW I am perfectly aware that men also work as prostitutes, and know that some women are just as capable of exploitation as male pimps and sex-traffickers… but for simplicity I comment only upon women selling and men buying.
Prostitutes offer services a lot of woman refuse, for whatever reason, even within marriage. There are also all those clients with various incapacities who are nevertheless sexual beings who have the right to expect fulfilment from time to time. Prostitutes are a necessary component of any healthy society, and they deserve our respect. If prostitution were legalised then men could be taken out of the equation beyond their role as paying client, and the working women would be a lot safer. Just my opinion, but one I found to be reinforced when reading this book.
In the end Mags is a woman, a mother, a loving human being who deserves to be heard. Laura Lyndhurst has told her story beautifully. A great read that will melt even the hardest hearts.