Thank you to Rachel from Rachel’s Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for Wartime Blues for the Harpers Girls, the fifth instalment in Rosie Clarke’s popular family saga.
Wartime Blues for the Harper Girls
LONDON 1917
As the Americans enter the War, there is renewed energy in the war effort.
With husbands and sons fighting for freedom, the women of Harpers are left to tackle the day-to-day affairs at home and work.
With Ben Harper away, Sally fears she is being followed by a mysterious woman. Who is she and what does she want?
Maggie Gibbs collapses seriously ill in the frontline hospitals and is brought back to England close to death. Can she be saved and what does the future hold for her and her broken heart?
Marion Jackson’s father is on the run from the Police already wanted for murder. She fears he will return to threaten his family once more.
And Beth Burrows is pregnant with her second child, worried and anxious for her husband Jack, who has been many months at sea.
As Christmas 1917 approaches what will the future hold for Harpers, its girls and their men at War?
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My thoughts:
Wartime Blues for the Harper Girls is the fifth instalment in Rosie Clarke’s much beloved Harpers Girls aga. From the start I want to say that it is possible to read and enjoy the book as a standalone, although itis better to go back to the beginning to appreciate the complexity of the plotlines and the wonderful job Rosie Clarke did with the character development.
Wartime Blues is set in 1917. The war is raging and lives have been touched and foever changed by its cruel hand. Sally Harper (it is impossible not to admire the strength of her character) is doing her best to run the Harpers, but like many other shops in the wartime, Harpers is experiencing difficulty in getting good quaility stock. Sally may not always agree with Jenni, her enterprising sister-in-law,but both of them want to keep the loyal customer base and the shop reputation. Ben Harper is doing his duty by overseeing logistics and procuring goods much needed by the soldiers in the trenches. While Maggie Gibbs is going through a really tough time in the field hospital in France. Heartbroken and overworked, she falls ill and is sent back to England to recuperate.
Meanwhile Beth Burrows, pregnant with her second child is anxious for the news of her husband, like Marion who is helping with window-dressing while talented Mr Marco is fighting in France, like countless women across Britain and other countries. Now that the united States are entering the war, they are daring to hope that the tide is going to turn and the nightmarev they’ve been living through may end soon. All they want is to do their duty, support each other and hope their loved ones are going to survive and come back home.
Rosie Clarke is a master of creating compelling characters and fleshing them out with fascinating details. Our protagonists continue to show their strength and kindness in these difficult times. Their family stories are well-developed and touching.
It was great to see the historical context that defines these fictional characters and there’s always so much to learn from reading books like this. The Harpers Girls still didn’t have the Vote and, yet, they did their duty with love and selfless determination.
An enjoyable journey back in time, recommended to everyone who loves women’s fiction and stories of love and friendship.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Author Bio –
Rosie Clarke is a #1 bestselling saga writer whose most recent books include The Mulberry Lane series. She has written over 100 novels under different pseudonyms and is a RNA Award winner. She lives in Cambridgeshire. Rosie’s brand new saga series, Welcome to Harpers Emporium began in December 2019.
Social Media Links
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Bookbub profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rosie-clarke
Thank you for reading the post! Have a wonderful Saturday!
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Very nice review Toni. I have seen Rosie Clarke’s books around, but have not picked one up. It is nice to know that this can be read as a standalone if I don’t want to start at the beginning of the series.
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I was worried that I’d get lost in the storylines, but it’s all clear. Of course, having too much backstory can be a disadvantage for those who have been following the series from the beginning, but I don’t think it’s the case here. If anything, it felt sometimes there was too much detail- don’t know if this is something specific to Rosie Clarke’s writing style or the genre in general.
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Good to know there is lots to catch me up if I jump in mid-series. Thanks Toni.
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This is a very interesting review. I almost feel like buying this one. Maybe I will shortly. A great post
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Thank you so much, it’s so lovely to hear this! I’d still recommend starting from Book 1. Hope you enjoy it!
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😊
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Great review, Toni. Glad to know the characters are well-developed. That’s a must for me in any book. Thanks for sharing. 😀
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Thank you, Debjani! It is really important, especially in a family saga where character casts tend to be large, but the characters themselves have to be ‘ordinary’ to imitate life.Thank you for reading!
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No reflection on what’s inside, but… this cover is horrible. Those women look far too 21st century, who were badly photo-shopped into fake looking, old time outfits. Sorry, but I just had so say so!
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I agree, Davida! Not the best cover design for sure.
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