Written by Jean FullertonI loved it! 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
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I would like to first of all thank the author, Jean Fullerton, her publisher, Atlantic Books, and Netgalley for a free digital copy of this book to review.
Having very much enjoyed the previous 4 books in this series, I thought that this one was the absolute best so far, and so it's going in my 6 Stars! reads.
Having very much enjoyed the previous 4 books in this series, I thought that this one was the absolute best so far, and so it's going in my 6 Stars! reads.
The blurb:
Cathy was a happy, blushing bride when Britain went to war with Germany three years ago. But her youthful dreams were crushed by her violent husband Stanley's involvement with the fascist black-shirts, and even when he's conscripted to fight she knows it's only a brief respite - divorce is not an option. Cathy, a true Brogan daughter, stays strong for her beloved little son Peter.
When a telegram arrives declaring that her husband is missing in action, Cathy can finally allow herself to hope - she only has to wait 6 months before she is legally a widow and can move on with her life. In the meantime, she has to keep Peter safe and fed. So she advertises for a lodger, and Sergeant Archie McIntosh of the Royal Engineers' Bomb Disposal Squad turns up. He is kind, clever and thoughtful; their mutual attraction is instant. But with Stanley's fate still unclear, and the Blitz raging on over London's East End, will Cathy ever have the love she deserves?
Women's Historical Fiction
Saga
WWII Fiction
My thoughts:
I love this series. It ticks all my boxes! A Ration Book Daughter is book 5 in the Ration Book series about the every day lives of the Brogan family as they deal with everything that's thrown at them, against the backdrop of the blitz.This story focuses on Cathy Brogan. She is married to Stanley Wheeler, a truly bad lot, and has a young son, Peter, to him. Stanley is overseas fighting for King and country, leaving Cathy and Peter living with his mother, the mean and spiteful Violet Wheeler. When news reaches Cathy that her husband is missing in action, she begins to count the days for when she will be completely free of him.
In a bid to undermine Cathy, Violet ensures that Cathy does not have enough money to pay the rent and feed them all. To make ends meet, Cathy decides to take in a lodger. The idea of a lodger is repellent to Violet, and she is further incensed when Cathy's lodger, Archie, moves in.
My blood boiled as I read about how Violet was treating Cathy, and the malicious lies she was spreading about her daughter-in-law. Cathy deals with the whole situation with a calm dignity with only her family and Archie to support her.
A Ration Book Daughter tells of the growing attraction between Cathy and Archie. Whilst Archie is already a widower, Cathy is still a married woman, counting the days until Stanley Wheeler is officially declared dead and she is free to remarry.
Although Queenie Brogan, Cathy's gran, only has a small part in this story, she is still my favourite character. We learn a bit more about her younger self, her husband, and Jeremiah's father. But I especially love her moments of clairvoyance; particularly when she tells Violet Wheeler something that should bring the vindictive woman great happiness, but delivers the information more like a curse. I do love a bit of retribution!
The Ration Book series is filled with historical facts which I find adds to my enjoyment of the stories. In this book, we find Cathy and Ida caught up in Bethnal Green Tube Disaster of 1943, and learn about the dangerous work of the Royal Engineers Bomb Disposal Unit.
A Ration Book Daughter is another well-researched story, which can be read as a standalone. However, I would definitely recommend reading all the earlier books in this series before reading this one, to really appreciate the Brogan family and the times in which they lived.
| 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/ |
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"She is married to Stanley Wheeler, a truly bad lot,"
ReplyDeleteWell that's unfortunate.