BLOGTOUR - Victory for the East End Angels - Rosie Hendry

Victory for the East End Angels

The war is almost over - and it's up to the East End Angels to keep the home fires burning!

Frankie's fiance, a doctor, is away looking after the troops in Europe - will he return safely home?

Winnie has a happy secret - but can she carry on at Station 75 when she's going to have a baby?

Bella is intrigued by her new friend, a Polish airman.

As the war ends and victory is in sight, what next for the girls of Station 75?

A gorgeously uplifting saga for fans of Ellie Dean and Donna Douglas

My review:

What a charming tale of spirited, strong and determined women doing their best through the trying circumstances of the end of the war.

I read this book having not read any of the previous ones in the series and it does work well as a standalone but I do believe you’d possibly have more of an emotional connection to the characters if you had ‘lived through’ their past. I was truly swept into their world, but I believe if you are a fan of any series you are bound to be closer to the characters.

Bella, Winnie, Rose and Frankie are the East End Angels and they are all part of Station 75, working as ambulance drivers and attendants. They have been through a lot during the war but as the end approaches so do the introduction of the devastating V1 and V2 rockets – causing more destruction and carnage. These are some strong women – testament to what people really did do for the war effort, it really does serve as a reminder to appreciate those that risked everything for us today.

This book gives us highs and lows – love, heartbreak, death, marriage and fresh hope in times of darkness. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions for all involved. We see how, even with the end of the war, lives couldn’t automatically go back to how they were before and for many it was a bittersweet time. I think it was great we saw each of the characters approach the way ending differently; how they had been a solid team, always there for each other and being the ones they relied on and at the end  they all seemed to part (whilst remaining the greatest of friends).

I think the writing is wonderful, very descriptive and emotive – the way the devastation was fully described yet without being too much or not in keeping with the style of the book. The pace was quick, with short chapters and it progressed nicely.

I thoroughly enjoyed the book and will  be interested in catching up on what I missed from earlier in the series. Thank you to Rosie Hendry and Rachels Randoms Reviews. 

Purchase Links:

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Victory-East-Angels-Rosie-Hendry-ebook/dp/B07N6DVRD4

US  - https://www.amazon.com/Victory-East-Angels-Rosie-Hendry-ebook/dp/B07N6DVRD4

About the Author: 

Rosie Hendry lives by the sea in Norfolk with her husband, two children, chickens and a snake. She's worked in a variety of jobs from fruit picking, waitressing, teaching and as a research scientist but has always loving reading and writing. Starting off writing short stories for women's magazines, her stories have gradually become longer as her children have grown bigger.

Listening to her father's tales of life during the Second World War sparked Rosie's interest in this period and she's especially intrigued by how women’s lives changed during the war years. She loves researching further, searching out gems of real-life events which inspire her writing.

When she's not working, Rosie enjoys walking along the beach, reading and is grateful for the fact that her husband is a much better cook than her.

Website: www.rosiehendry.com

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RosieHendrybooks/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/hendry_rosie

BLOGTOUR: Mulberry Lane Babies - Rosie Clarke

About the book

1941, Mulberry Lane, London. War rages but new arrivals bring new hope. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Cathy Sharp.

Life is hard for all on Mulberry Lane as the war rages into yet another year. Desperate times push people into dangerous situations.

Menacing shadows lurk on dark street corners, threatening the safety of those who are alone and vulnerable.

When Peggy's twins are born early, Maureen and Nellie are there to lend a helping hand. The mothers of Mulberry Lane stick together despite the grim conditions of war-torn London and a shadowy fear that stalks their lives. Neighbours and friends look out for each other and new life brings hope and joy to the Lane.

My Review: 

Mulberry Lane Babies is the third in the Mulberry Lane series from Rosie Clarke, but it is personally my first visit. I don’t think it’s essential to have read the others – it read well as a standalone book, in my opinion. You probably would benefit from reading the others, as it is always nice to read any book series from the start – you may find out things about the characters that I have missed out on.

We are given the stories of several women who go about their lives with loved ones away at war or having already been lost, they are either having, expecting or hoping for babies. The lives of these very endearing ladies are taking very different paths and each girl is having to cope with cruel or surprising twists and turns. It’s a good thing they have each other for support and they try to keep on.

There's a fair dose of drama within the book, a mixture of happy and sad times. I really enjoyed Rosie Clarkes style of writing, everything flowed nicely and was lovely to delve into their world. A fantastic book that fans of historical romance will love. I recommend. 

About the author 

Rosie is happily married and lives in a quiet village in East Anglia. Writing books is a passion for Rosie, she also likes to read, watch good films and enjoys holidays in the sunshine. She loves shoes and adores animals, especially squirrels and dogs.

Follow Rosie:

Twitter: @AnneHerries

Buy links:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2El4Djg

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2ElTyhR

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2LSRROX

iBooks: https://apple.co/2WPWKcK

Follow Aria:

Website: www.ariafiction.com

Twitter: @aria_fiction

Facebook: @ariafiction

Instagram: @ariafiction

BLOGTOUR: The Girl in the Pink Raincoat - Alrene Hughes

About the book

In wartime it takes courage to follow your heart.

Manchester, 1939.

Everyone hated the heat and the deafening noise, but for Gracie the worst thing was the smell of chemicals that turned her stomach every morning when she arrived at the Rosenberg Raincoats factory.

Gracie is a girl on the factory floor. Jacob is the boss's charismatic nephew. When they fall in love, it seems as if the whole world is against them – especially Charlie Nuttall, who also works at the factory and has always wanted Gracie for himself.

But worse is to come when Jacob disappears and Gracie is devastated, vowing to find him. Can she solve the mystery of his whereabouts? Gracie will need all her strength and courage to find a happy ending.

My Review:

I enjoy historical fiction and was more than pleased at being given the opportunity to read this book.

It did not disappoint – I loved it! 

From the moment I started reading about Gracie, Jacob, Sarah etc I felt like I was there in Manchester 1939. I felt like Gracie was a friend, who I was fairly protective over. Reading about her falling in love with her bosses nephew to eventually being alone at the alter, well my little heart broke for her but loved that Gracie followed her heart and did what she needed to do - for Jacob.

Gracie is strong though, she works hard through her heartache and is one determined young woman (maybe a little stubborn at times!). She is a gorgeous character, very well written, very entertaining and the ending, well it was perfect and is clearly what was meant to be for her. It did make me wonder if there could be a sequel – I would quite like to hear from Gracie again.

There were a few surprises, moments that I gasped out loud and felt really emotional about. Such a beautiful story that is told very well.

I have never read anything by Alrene Hughes before this so I didn't know her style but I can say I truly enjoyed it. The story unfolded at a good pace, it had me hook, line and sinker from the off. I read it in a couple of sittings because I was so absorbed by the story. I highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in wartime romance, historical fiction.

Thank you to the publishers (@Aria_Fiction) and Alrene Hughes for providing me with a copy of the book to review.

About the author

Alrene Hughes grew up in Belfast and has lived in Manchester for most of her adult life.
She worked for British Telecom and the BBC before training as an English teacher. After teaching for twenty years, she retired and now writes full-time.

Follow Alrene:

Facebook: @alrenehugheswriter

Twitter: @alrenehughes

Buy links:

                            Amazon: https://amzn.to/2HU9E4V                           

Kobo: https://bit.ly/2HKJRN5

iBooks: https://apple.co/2TEXaQO

Google Play: https://bit.ly/2YqUREC

Follow Head of Zeus:

Website: www.headofzeus.com

Twitter: @HoZ_Books

Facebook: @headofzeus

The Survivors - Kate Furnivall

Available here

Goodreads Blurb:

'Directly I saw him, I knew he had to die.’ Germany, 1945. Klara Janowska and her daughter Alicja have walked for weeks to get to Graufeld Displaced Persons camp. In the cramped, dirty, dangerous conditions they, along with 3,200 others, are the lucky ones. They have survived and will do anything to find a way back home.

But when Klara recognises a man in the camp from her past, a deadly game of cat and mouse begins. He knows exactly what she did during the war to save her daughter. She knows his real identity. What will be the price of silence? And will either make it out of the camp alive?

My Review:

This is the first time I've read a book by Kate Furnivall and what a wonderful experience it has been. Kate has written a beautiful, fiercely captivating tale of unwavering love and the bond between mother and child as well as the steely determination to do whatever is needed to survive.  A story of the survivors of war, it is spellbinding and I found it difficult to put down.

I always know a book has had a long lasting effect on me, as I think about it for days afterwards and replay different parts in my mind.  I like to think of it as a 'book hangover' and that's what I feel here. I am fairly ashamed to say I didn't know too much about the DPs Camps but this book has vividly painted a picture, Kate's writing draws you in and makes you feel like you are really there, watching all that takes place.

I felt each characters spirit, they were well written to evoke various emotions - love, despair, fear and even hate. Klara - the lionness protecting her cub. A mother willing to do anything in order to find, protect and free her child, wanting to make the life ahead better -she may have to do and experience truly awful things, but she is such a fantastic character. I loved her attitude, her approach  and intelligence in any situation and I was completely on her side from the moment I started reading. I think the flashbacks to Klara's emphasised what she was capable of, what she was willing to endure and served as a reminder of how far she had come.
 

If I thought Klara was feisty then her daughter, Alicja, is something else! What a testament to Klara; the lengths her daughter would go so to protect her Mum too. True fighting spirit from both women, who feel the need to right a wrong, seek revenge and get what they deserve. 

The delicate relationship between Klara and Davide, a symbol of the fragility of all survivors - their friendship and blossoming romance throughout was a beautiful addition to the story.

An emotional journey of love and survival, showing humanity at it's worst but also at its most special. 

First but definitely not the last book by Kate Furnivall, I highly recommend for all historical fiction fans but if you're looking for something different - this is worth the step out of your comfort zone. 

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

The German Midwife/ A Woman of War - Mandy Robotham

Amazon UK 

Goodreads Blurb:

Germany, 1944. A prisoner in the camps, midwife Anke Hoff is doing what she can to keep her pregnant camp mates and their newborns alive.

But when Anke’s work is noticed, she is chosen for a task far more dangerous than she could ever have imagined. High in the Bavarian hills, Eva Braun is pregnant, and Anke is assigned as her caregiver. Before long, Anke is faced with an impossible choice. Does she serve the Reich she loathes and keep the baby alive? Or does she sacrifice an innocent child for the good of a broken world?

My review:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is incredibly thought provoking and emotive. A book so well written it makes you question the 'what if's' - quick note: if you are looking for a book ENTIRELY factual then this perhaps isn't for you. Based on accounts - this fictionalised story takes one of the most significant events in history and plants seeds of what could have been.  Very well written by Mandy Robotham, so good in fact I forgot it wasn't a (fully) true story.

The book looks at the complex set of relationships Anke establishes, cherishes and aims to protect; whether through her job as a midwife, as a daughter, sister, friend or lover. I liked the romance element to the book, I think it was a lifeline for Anke but didn't distract from the other themes. 

As you can imagine with the theme of the book, it has moments of heartbreak, sadness and pain I doubt anyone could truly imagine. It describes various stories of childbirth in great detail - something I have no experience of, so I was intrigued and luckily not squeamish. I admire the work of midwives now and especially then, in those circumstances and with far less in terms of equipment, medicines etc.

In all honesty I was hooked, I didn't want to put it down. Not my usual genre, but I liked it immensely and feel like I have learned a great deal. I think the author dealt with a very emotive topic with great sensitivity.

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍

A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Avon in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

He Wrote Her Every Day: A true story of love & courage in WW2 - Gail Lindenberg

Available on Amazon here 

In 1944, James William Hendrickson, Jr  received the news that his fighter-pilot brother, Bill, had been shot down over Germany and taken as a prisoner-of-war. Then and there, Jim decided to enlist and bring his brother home even though that would mean leaving his new wife, Irene, behind. He made her a promise - he would write to her every day while he was away.  Gail Lindenberg, their daughter, uses the original letters as well as conversations with her mother to dramatically retell their story - how one man was determined to survive the horrors of the Second World War to get back to the woman he loved. For me, this was so much more than a simple love story. Firstly we do see the pure love and devotion of one man to his wife, you can feel the adoration he has for her in the notes he wrote, you get the sense of her being his beacon of light in times that we know would have been hellish.

There is more though, a first hand glimpse into the lives these soldiers had to lead on a daily basis albeit from the perspective of finding 'lighter' things to write home to his wife about and not detailing the absolute horror he must have been encountering. 
As I read through the letters and retelling of his story,  I really was captivated by the unique descriptions of being in the army, his training and time spent travelling but also the camaraderie between soldiers that gave me a smile and is true testament to the strength of character Jim and his fellow officers had. 

This is a well written and cleverly put together memoir that lets us experience the war from a different perspective whilst giving us a beautiful story of love, separation and heroism. 
I received a free electronic copy of this from Netgalley, Gail Lindenberg, and Sapere Books in exchange for an honest review. 
 

Comfy Rating: 👍👍👍👍👍