Steel Girls at War by Michelle Rawlins

Steel Girls at War by Michelle Rawlins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 3 days

Pages - 382

Publisher - H Q Stories

Source - Netgalley

Blurb from Goodreads

In their darkest days, they’ll find the courage to carry on… Summer 1940
The war is raging on but the Steel Girls are fighting their own battles closer to home. After patching things up with Archie, Patty is miffed when he appears to have forgotten all about her 18th birthday. New girl Hattie has a lot to deal with as she trades the counter at Woolworths for the Vickers factory floor. But is she keeping a secret and are things tougher at home than she’s been letting on? Meanwhile, Nancy is besides herself when she receives word that Bert is missing in action and is struggling to keep it together. As the Steel Girls come together to be there in Nancy’s hour of need, will life ever be the same again?



My Review

This is book four in the Steel Girls saga, I have read book two and now this one, I know I know, I will get the others and correct the order lol. So it is 1940, war is on and we centre around the lives of Hattie, Patty, Nancy and of course Betty. Hattie is joining the rest of the girls and coming to work in Vickers - jobs normally filled by men but war is on, female are filling many initially male roles and most people want to do their bit for the war. We see Pattie getting caught up in expectations for her 18th birthday, Hattie we learn more about her home life, Betty has some of her own past being known (as the book progresses) and Nancy - coping with the kids and her loved one away to war. Things go from bad to worse when word arrives that Bert (Nancy's husband) is MIA, Nancy tries to cope day to day and her friends rally because that is what communities do especially in these terrifying times of war.

The book of course centres around family, community, the horrors of living with the constant threat of bombs. Friendship is always at the heart of these books and covers everything from the mundane worries, ie Patty and her concerns re her special birthday being forgotten to rationings, after effects on survivor from world ward one & the ripples from that. Which brings me to the next part, and I suppose trigger warnings would go to this part, domestic violence/abuse within the marital home is mentioned. We also see the effects of one who is sent home from the war and the trauma/ptsd of what they seen/survived. It is quite dark and I think really well done because all of these things are important/authentic to that time period. Young girls would be caught up and fixating on something positive and happy to them (Patty) whilst we see the raw and physical affects of grief/worry for ones loved one MIA.

I think we get a wee bit more background on a few characters in this one whilst keeping the momentum going as sometimes in series things can get a bit stale, not so here. Betty, you know I love a Betty and I don't remember her being a huge character in the other books but certainly noticed her more in this one and wanted to hug her. A sense of community, love, loss, fear, friendship all within the context of ongoing war, enough horrors to keep it real but not overshadowing the actual story and characters, 4/5.

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Christmas Hope for the Steel Girls by Michelle Rawlins

Today is my turn and last stop on the blog tour for "Christmas Hope for the Steel Girls" by author Michelle Rawlins.

For my stop I have my review, enjoy!

Christmas Hope for the Steel Girls by Michelle Rawlins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Time taken to read - 1 day

Pages - 400

Publisher - HQ

Source - Netgalley

Blurb from Goodreads

With the country at war, can they come together this winter?

Winter, 1939
As December draws nearer and with her family facing their first Christmas without Bert, Nancy is desperately trying to keep up her children’s spirits and her own.

Young Patty should be excited to be spending her first festive season with sweetheart Archie, but why does she worry he’s keeping something from her?

Betty is missing her beloved William as he continues his RAF training but she’s determined not to sit around wallowing. In the midst of the coldest winter on record and with the introduction of rationing, times are tougher than ever but Betty has an idea to make sure nobody goes without this winter.

And with our Steel Girls rallying around each other, can there still be hope this Christmas?

The second novel in the new heartwarming Steel Girls series following our feisty factory sister’s bravery and hope during wartime, perfect for fans of Nancy Revell and Elaine Everest.



My Review

so I didn't realise this was book two in a series but you can absolutely pick this up as a standalone. We have a Betty, I LOVE a Betty as you know so boxes being ticked already. 1939, winter and families are trying to adjust to their loved ones off to war. Positions changed, women were working in the steel factory to aid the cause and to make ends meet. Betty, Patty and Nancy - working together, surviving each day and looking forward to things being back to normal.

Aw you guys, a wee Betty and omg she is an actual scone. So kind, thinking of others, she is just a tonic to read. I have been reading horror for October reads and some of that was really dark and creepy. So to come into a book where the people are doing their bit, pulling together despite living through such horrible times. Loved ones away to war, rationing coming in and still people go over and above for each other, a sense of belonging and community.

We have the courting and relationships strengthening, families missing their loved ones, new relationships blossoming and an authentic feel for that time period. I actually liked it so much I bought the first book in the series when I finished this so I can read more on the characters and look forward to the next in the series. Survival, loved, relationships, hope in a time of darkness, community, love and strength. It is more about the people and them getting through each day than the darker aspects of or intricate details of the actual war, 4/5. This was my first dance with this author but it won't be my last.

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