Written by Jean FullertonI loved it! ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
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Firstly, I should like to thank Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for the invitation to join the blog tour for A Ration Book Wedding, and also Corvus, Netgalley and the author, Jean Fullerton, for the free copy of this book to review.
Follow the tour and see what these bloggers have to say about A Ration Book Wedding:
Follow the tour and see what these bloggers have to say about A Ration Book Wedding:
The blurb:
Because in the darkest days of the Blitz, love is more important than ever.
It's February 1942 and the Americans have finally joined Britain and its allies. Meanwhile, twenty-three-year-old Francesca Fabrino, like thousands of other women, is doing her bit for the war effort in a factory in East London. But her thoughts are constantly occupied by her unrequited love for Charlie Brogan, who has recently married a woman of questionable reputation, before being shipped out to North Africa with the Eighth Army.
When Francesca starts a new job as an Italian translator for the BBC Overseas Department, she meets handsome Count Leonardo D'Angelo. Just as Francesca has begun to put her hopeless love for Charlie to one side and embrace the affections of this charming and impressive man, Charlie returns from the front, his marriage in ruins and his heart burning for Francesca at last. Could she, a good Catholic girl, countenance an illicit affair with the man she has always longed for? Or should she choose a different, less dangerous path?
Women's Historical Fiction
Saga
WWII Fiction
My thoughts:
Ms Fullerton cannot write the Ration Book saga fast enough for my liking! This is the third book in this series that I've lapped up. However, I've only just realised that I have not yet read the first book in this series, A Ration Book Dream, so to rectify that, I've bought myself a copy and added it to my TBR pile.I love stories set in this era, and have found each book in this series has been well-researched, and delivered so brilliantly, that I feel I'm living the drama alongside the Brogan family.
As the war rages on, Charlie Brogan is injured and returns home to convalesce. He is now married to the loathsome Stella Miggles, and they have a son, Patrick. The cigarette-smoking, good-time girl that she is, Stella leaves Patrick nightly with Ida Brogan while she continues to work in the BonBon club, and takes full advantage of her in-laws generosity.
Cathy Wheeler hasn't spoken to her sister, Mattie McCarthy, since Cathy's husband Stan was convicted of being a Nazi. He is now on parole in the army. Cathy believes it is Mattie's fault that Stan was arrested. But there's another Brogan wedding coming up, Jo is marrying Tommy Sweete and both Mattie and Jo would love to have Cathy back in the fold again.
Francesca Fabrino, who has long held a torch for Charlie, leaves behind factory work to join the BBC Overseas Service, working at Radio Roma. Here she meets Count Leonardo D'Angelo, who her father, Enrico, believes would be an excellent catch for her. Leo is instantly smitten, but Fran still hankers after the married Charlie.
The wonderful Ida struggles on, now that she has Michael as well as Billy to look after. Billy is feeling a bit pushed out now that Jeremiah's son Michael is firmly ensconced in the Brogan family, and he shows it. Holding it all together, Ida is a bit under the weather. Or is it more than that?
A Ration Book Wedding had me hooked from the first page. It picks up the story of the Brogan family a couple of months after the end of A Ration Book Childhood. It's an absolutely enthralling read. It feels so realistic; the people, the family dramas and the backdrop of war; I felt I'd stepped back in time and was part of the story.
I love the strong characters in the Brogan family. I am still immensely fond of Jeremiah's mother, Queenie, and admire her greatly for taking matters into her own hands when Cathy arrives at the Brogan family home in a sorry state. Part of me thinks she did what she did to show Cathy's in-laws there is no messing with the tight-knit Brogans. But part of me wonders whether she intervened before the Brogan men could get themselves into serious trouble. The old lady is a bit fey too - though not always sure what the signs are telling her!
A Ration Book Wedding is another truly great story, well-researched and written, leaving the reader wanting more. And I for one, cannot wait for the next instalment!
| Author Bio – Jean Fullerton |
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Jean Fullerton is the author of thirteen 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_ |
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