Felicity's War by Jean Fullerton

Today is my stop on the blog tour for Felicity's War by Jean Fullerton, for my stop I have my review. This is a Rachels Random Resources blog tour. The book is available to buy now, Amazon link here.

About the author:

Author Bio – Born and bred in East London Jean was a District Nurse by trade working throughout East London. She had published twenty-three sagas, including the popular WW2 RATION BOOK, which like all her books is set in East London. Jean has also written her autobiography A Child of the East End, about growing up in post-war Stepney and Wapping. She is currently working on first book of her new four book WW2 series.


Felicity's War by Jean Fullerton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 4 days

Pages - 383

Publisher - Corvus

Source - arc

Blurb from Goodreads

1941. Whilst London is battered by air raids, Felicity "Fliss" Carmichael has troubles of her own. Still reeling from catching her fiancé cheating, she flees to her childhood home at St. Winifred's Rectory, reuniting with her sister Prue and Hester Katz, a Jewish doctor sheltering there.

Though heartbroken, Fliss finds purpose again as a journalist. On assignment, she crosses paths with Detective Inspector Timothy Wallace, who shares her passion for truth and justice - though not her political beliefs. Despite their differences, an instant spark ignites between them.

But their love faces twists and turns ahead. While Fliss stumbles upon a crime and bravely intervenes, Tim's investigation into black market racketeering puts him in mortal danger...
In a city under siege, Fliss and Tim forge an unlikely bond. But can their blossoming romance endure the perils ahead?


My Review

So I have read book one of this, forgot about book two (it has a festive theme name so will buy and read closer to Christmas) but really liked the sound of this. Once I started reading I realised I recognised the characters but you can absolutely read as a standalone. Fliss is the daughter of a well to do priest, her mother has very high expectations and a touch of the Hyacinth Bouquet about her. Fliss is more interested in her career as a journalist and doing her bit for what is right, in this case, protesting against some shady practises of shop owners overcharging during war time and shortages. Throw into the mix a shady boyfriend, bombs are dropping and you will ALWAYS have some shady characters ready to take advantage at every corner!

I think the thing about these books are it takes you from your own time period to another, in this case, world war. It is mostly about the characters in a small town getting through the issues they face both in the things war throws at them, damage to buildings, loss, death, food shortages, plus everything of the times with the war being on the outer edges of the main story. Like it is relevant but doesn't deeply delve into the war itself but more the people living through it, reporting, surviving but also the domestic stuff and life that continues out with the war!

Be prepared to be annoyed, her mum ripped my knitting in book one and she is still a bit of a what will the neighbours say type person and yet she has a lovely husband and two good /caring about others daughter. Many emotions to be had and I like a book that gives you characters to love and hate! The book has a wee bit of everything - love, infidelity, theft, skulduggery of all kinds, loyalty, family, violence and dangers lurking, 4/5 from us. I will be going to get the book I missed and the others I haven't read of her other series as we do enjoy Fullerton's books, yet to read one we haven't!

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A Stepney Girl's Secret by Jean Fullerton Blog Tour

Today is my stop on the blog tour for "A Stepney Girl's Secret" - for my stop I have my review. The book is available to buy now, treebook & kindle from Amazon UK. This is a Rachel's Random Resources tour.

About the author

Author Bio – Born and bred in East London Jean was a District Nurse by trade and ended her thirty-year career in health care as a senior lecture in Health and Nursing Studies in London Southbank University. She had published twenty sagas all set in East London with both Orion and Atlantic the most recent of which is the highly successful Ration Book series. She has also recently released her autobiography A Child of the East End.

A Stepney Girl's Secret by Jean Fullerton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days (as able)

Pages - 451

Publisher - Corvus

Source - Review book

Blurb from Goodreads

East London, 1940. Prue Carmichael never dreamed that she'd end up working at a railway yard. But when her reverend father is called up to Stepney, she and her family are uprooted from their country home for a new life in the turbulent city.

Determined to help with the war effort, Prue signs up for work and soon becomes intrigued by handsome train engineer Jack Quinn. But as the spark between them grows apparent, so does his troubled past - a past that Prue's mother would certainly not approve of.

In between cleaning train carriages and helping to shelter Jewish refugees, Prue manages to stay busy. But she has more than one admirer, and when Jack is recruited into Churchill's secret army, a very different suitor begins to pursue her.

As air raid sirens sound overhead, Prue Carmichael is facing her own battle - the fight between her heart and her head . . .

Amidst the ruins of war, will Prue and Jack's love find a way?

My Review

Meet Prue, daughter of a reverend who has been uprooted to Stepney with her family from the small quiet countryside to London (east end). The time is the 1940s and war is afoot. Prue immediately steps up, whilst her mother likes to play the part of doing good Prue is the real deal. She is the first to help out and signs up to do her part, as the men are being called up to fight more and more women are stepping up to do the jobs they would normally do. Whilst Prue's mother is more interesting in matchmaking Prue to the local priest Prue is determined to help out her community and catches the eye of a fellow worker whose reputation is less than pristine!

Whilst the threat of war is around we get to know more about the characters, the priest has his eye on Prue, Prue and one of her co workers have a spark and he is by no means acceptable or what Prue's mother would consider on their level, she is pushing for the priest.

The book tackles different issues, classism - I really wasn't a fan of her mum, the priests wife who gave a face for the public but wasn't actually the nicest or as selfless as her public portrayal. This added to how real and selfless Prue was. When an author does this and captures it well you absorb into the characters and their lives, love them or hate them. Relationships - family and the effects of war.

I have read Fullerton before and will read again, she has a way of creating and capturing an authenticity with time and place and the characters who grace us through the stories. From the shady, heart felt and genuine characters we have a whole mixed bag, 4/5 for me.

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A Ration Book Victory by Jean Fullerton

Today is my turn on the blog tour for "A Ration Book victory" by author Jean Fullerton. The blog tour arranged by Rachels Random Resources and for my stop I have my review, non spoiler as always.

Out to buy now, click HERE for Amazon UK.

A Ration Book Victory by Jean Fullerton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 358

Publisher - Corvus books

Source - Review copy

Blurb from the back cover

In the final days of war, only love will pull her through...
Queenie Brogan wasn't always an East End matriarch. Many years ago, before she married Fergus, she was Philomena Dooley, a daughter of Irish Travellers, planning to wed her childhood sweetheart, Patrick Mahone. But when tragedy struck and Patrick's narrow-minded sister, Nora, intervened, the lovers were torn apart.

Fate can be cruel, and when Queenie arrives in Londond she finds that Patrick Mahon is her parish priest, and that the love she had tried to suppress flares again in her heart.

But now in the final months of WW2, Queenie discovers Father Mahon is dying and must face losing him forever. Can she finally tell him the secret she has kept for fifty years or will Nora one again come between them?

And if Queenie does decide to finally tell Patrick, could the truth destroy the Brogan family?


My Review

There is something wonderful about a book that transports you from your own time/place/worries and into the live(s) of others. We open back in 1877 when Queenie (Philomena then) first meet, Ireland, he from a well standing family, her a traveler so classes apart but the two are drawn to each other. We flip to present day where World War 2 is ongoing and Queenie is a gran, widow, Patrick is the local priest and many years and events have passed. War is coming to an end and Queenie is about to have some more heartache.

I have read one of Fullerton's books before but not from this series, this is my first and I think you can absolutely pick this one up as a standalone. That being said I liked it so much I have ordered book one in the series and plan to read the series and catch up.

A ration book victory is more than just a family saga type book, it has duo timelines/location. Queenie is the main character but we have so many others playing their part, Nora, ugh, Patrick's horror sister - I actually can't bring myself to feel sorry for her, despite being an older lady her behaviour and circumstances ugh she and even when younger a busy body! The book takes us through friendship, family, love, loss, relationships, snobbery, classism but also things that give realism to the time period. Rationing, the importance of having your own livestock and how important that can be in terms of food and giving to people in your community.

Queenie is a livewire, as a youngster and as an older adult, she is sharp as a pin, full of heart but also not lying down to anyone, she takes no nonsense! I am so looking forward to reading the earlier books and getting wrapped up in that time period. Some of the things the author captures give authenticity to the time period but also helps the reader imagine living during that time, the horror, the fear, the community spirit, 4.5/5 for me this time!

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Wedding Bells for Nurse Connie by Jean Fullerton

Wedding Bells for Nurse Connie by Jean Fullerton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - on and off for 3 days

Pages - 432

Publisher - Orion

Blurb from Goodreads

East End saga queen Jean Fullerton returns with a delightful new novel in the Nurse Connie series

It's 1948 and the nurses of the East End of London are making the most of life post-war. For Connie in particular, things are looking rosy as she looks forward to planning a future with her sweetheart, Malcolm. But, as many a young bride-to-be has proved, the course of true love never did run smooth and Connie finds herself having to grapple with interfering mothers and Malcolm's reluctance to set the date.

But while there are many obstacles to overcome before walking down the aisle, at least Connie can relax in the knowledge that she'll soon be married to the man of her dreams, can't she?

Life at work isn't all smooth sailing either. The newly-formed NHS is keeping the nurses of Fry House extremely busy and as ever in the life of a nurse heartbreak lurks at every turn. But there are some new faces to keep things interesting. And one in particular might be the answer to all of Connie's problems...




My review

Nurse Connie has a lot going on, it is 1948 and the newly-formed National Health Service (NHS) is coming into effect, Connie is a senior nurse and having to deal with this, staffing levels, patients and planning her future with Malcolm. The new reform brings new issues, a new fresh doctor arrives and stirs up patients and staff alike.

There are other books before this one, I have read the one featuring Connie (Fetch Nurse Connie) so I knew a good bit of her background with Malcolm. They have been dating for a while and his over bearing mother is ever present and demanding. The arrival of doctor Hari MacLauchlan stirs up racist attitudes, misconceptions and negative feelings for some. In a time where racial terminology was accepted as the norm, ignorance, poverty and over crowding was in abundance, Connie struggles to do her job & remain within social accepted behaviour.

It really makes you think how much has changed in terms of health, societies attitudes towards woman and their bodies, religion, racism & how much is still the same in some parts of the world. I really enjoy these type of books and didn't realise there was so another few so will be buying them, 4/5 for me this time. Thanks so much to Karen from My Reading Corner for sending me this in exchange for an honest review.

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