ABOUT THE BOOK
Manchester, 1940. The Blitz is threatening to destroy everything they love. These girls will never stop trying to help their country – and each other. But will it be enough when disaster looms?
By day, Betty works cheerfully with her best friend Sally, now the manager of the salvage depot. By night, they both do their bit for the war effort as Auxiliary Fire Service girls. But Betty wishes she could do more. So when Samuel, a kind and gentle young bookseller, needs help sorting out novels to entertain the boys overseas, Betty volunteers. Anything for the troops! There might be a flashy, handsome stranger who keeps seeking her out at the depot, but she can’t help enjoying Samuel’s quiet humour as they work together during the blackouts. But when the worst night-time air raid they’ve ever seen strikes, Sally’s home is destroyed. Even worse, any of Sally’s treasured possessions that did survive the blast are stolen by looters. Desperate to help her friend, Betty could never have expected the guilt when she uncovers what really happened… Was it all her fault?Despite Samuel’s best efforts, Betty can’t forgive herself. Determined to set things right, Betty sets off to catch the thief, leaving Samuel in the dark. And then the sirens begin, warning of another bombing raid.
Can Betty find the strength to finish what she started, despite the threat to everything she holds dear? Or will the smoke clear on heartbreak for the home front girls? An utterly gripping and heart-wrenching saga that will transport readers back in time. With a guaranteed happy ending, this is perfect for fans of Fenella J Miller, Rosie Clarke and Nadine Dorries.
PUBLISHED BY BOOKOUTURE
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MY REVIEW
Book 2 in the Home Front Girls series, and it just keeps getting better!!
We are reunited with Betty and Sally who are facing new challenges in their lives, set against the backdrop of the War in 1940. Sally has a new role as the salvage depot manager, so that brings new responsibilities her way, and Betty finds herself smitten by Samuel the bookseller, and starts volunteering to help him sort books to send overseas.
And we are also introduced to Lorna, who is facing pressure from her family to marry for money, but she’s not on board, and soon finds herself as the victim of a ‘hate’ campaign in the press where she’s being blamed for the faults of others.
These women never fail to impress me with their ‘can do’ attitude, and no matter what was going on in their own lives they were willing to do their bit and step out of their comfort zones to help others. And when they meet Lorna, you really see the damage that hearing only one side of a story can do to your impression of that person. Especially when you find the reality of that person to be really lovely and hardworking – not what the press would have you believe about her!
It’s another emotional read with devastation never far away, and the strength of the characters and their personalities really shines through and makes for a wonderful read. Can’t wait for the next catch up with the girls!!
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