Written by Jean FullertonI loved it! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
|
My thanks to author Jean Fullerton, and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for the invitation to join the blog tour for A Ration Book Christmas, and a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The blurb:
With Christmas approaching, the Brogan family of London's East End are braving the horrors of the Blitz. With the men away fighting for King and Country and the ever-present dangers of the German Luftwaffe's nightly reign of death and destruction, the family must do all they can to keep a stiff upper lip.
For Jo, the youngest of the Brogan sisters, the perils of war also offer a new-found freedom. Jo falls in love with Tommy, a man known for his dangerous reputation as much as his charm. But as the falling bombs devastate their neighbourhood and rationing begins to bite, will the Brogans manage to pull together a traditional family Christmas? And will Jo find the love and security she seeks in a time of such grave peril?
WWII Saga
Historical Romance
Family saga
My thoughts:
A Ration Book Christmas is a really super read. It is set in London's East End in 1940, during WWII, amid nightly heavy bombing raids and families getting on with their daily business. This story has been really well researched and delivered. The King and Queen's visit to the East End is cleverly incorporated into the story, and provides a bit of light relief in Ida's recounting of it. I thought the story was well-written, and it brought to mind many of my own family's wartime escapades.
Whilst reading about Jo and Billy's 'unscheduled return' to London, I wondered whether it had been a regular occurrence that evacuees ran away from their billets. My mother was evacuated to Lancing aged 12 with her elder sister and younger brother (aged 6). When Mum decided she didn't like it there, she took her brother - leaving her sister behind - to the railway station at Worthing where they caught a train to London Bridge, and from there made her way home to Rotherhithe by bus. All without a ticket or any money!
I avidly followed Jo and Tommy's romance, and their brush with the law after the robbery, but completely missed all the clues leading up to Tommy's posting. Although, as soon as it was revealed, all the little pieces fell into place, and it was forehead slapping moment!
My favourite character would have to be Queenie, the savvy grandmother, who is not beyond rolling up her sleeves to dig survivors out of the wreckage, standing between two angry men to prevent a fight, and daily, working hard for the family she loves. She is known to the police for being a bookie's runner and probably Actually, I thought she took a stronger role in the family and household than did Ida, her daughter-in-law.
I hope there is another book to come, continuing the Brogan's family saga, as I want Francesca to be reunited with her brother and father, and to find happiness with the man she loves. I also want to see Stella get her comeuppance, because this story leaves her looking like the cat who got the cream!
As an added bonus, there are some wartime recipes at the back of this book, as served in Ms Fullerton's mother's family home.
Although it has the word 'Christmas' in the title, this is another book which I would not necessarily pigeonhole as a 'Christmas read'. It's a multi-threaded family saga beginning in the summer of 1940, drawing to a close in January of 1941, and one which I wholeheartedly recommend.
| Author Bio – Jean Fullerton |
|---|
Jean Fullerton is the author of eleven novels all set in East London where she was born. She also a retired district nurse and university lecturer. She won the Harry Bowling prise in 2006 and after initially signing for two East London historical series with Orion she moved to Corvus, part of Atlantic Publishing and is half way through her WW2 East London series featuring the Brogan family. |
| Social Media Links – | |
| Web site | http://jeanfullerton.com/ |
| Facebook Author Page | https://www.facebook.com/Jean-Fullerton-202631736433230/ |
| X | @JeanFullerton_ |
No comments:
Post a Comment