Celebrations for the Woolworth Girls by Elaine Everest - #BookReview #BlogTour

 

'For goodness' sake stand still, Nanny Ruby. If you're not careful I'll be pinning this hem to your stockings. Why you haven't asked Aunty Maisie to hem this frock, I'll never know.'

Ruby Jackson snorted with laughter. 'If I'd spoken to my great-grandmother like that, I'd have been shut in the coal hole for a fortnight without any food,' she said, admonishing the child. 'Anyone would think you were forty rather than eleven, the way you talk. For your information, I don't like to bother Maisie as she is so busy with her factory and dress shops. Besides, she'd have me standing on the table while she pinned up the hem, and I'm not sure I'd be able to get back down...'

***

It's 1952 and with a new Monarch about to ascend the throne, The Woolworths Girls will face fresh new challenges . . .

At The Erith Store there is a new temporary Manager and Sarah is getting more than a little concerned by problems he seems to be creating. The whole mess is enough to make her want to resign.

Meanwhile, Ruby is extremely worried about her friend Vera, and with illness causing a problem from her past to come flooding back, Vera knows it’s going to take a lot of strength and willpower to do what needs to be done.

Then there is Freda, looking forwards to the birth of her first child but sick with worry that her Tony won’t have returned home in time for the birth of his child, let alone to be back to run the Erith store.

As Coronation Day for young Queen Elizabeth ll approaches, the girls from Woolworths celebrate friendship, family and overcoming anything that life can throw at them . . .

***

Celebration for the Woolworths Girls is the ninth novel in Elaine Everest's bestselling Woolworths series. I have not read any of the previous eight but that has not hindered my enjoyment of this. However, having read this book it has certainly encouraged me to read the previous books.

The author has created a cast of engaging and believable characters. A group of strong women who are learning to stand against the discrimination that was aimed at women in the 1950's. It is very clear from an early point which characters the author intends us to sympathise with and which we are to dislike.

Having based the story line within a tightknit community it was interesting to observe the family links and friendships. Most of the characters lives were intertwined one way or another. 

It was a story about family, motherhood and women's rights. They faced sexism head on in the workplace and it was interesting to observe them beginning to break free of the traditional roles that society had assigned them.

The time period felt very authentic and the author has clearly done lots of research into this period, making this an excellent book to read, and one that I recommend to readers who enjoy historical fiction.

ISBN:  978-1035020607

Publisher:  Pan

Formats:  e-book, audio and paperback

No. of Pages: 384 (paperback)

About the Author:

Elaine was born and brought up in North West Kent, where many of her Sunday Times bestselling historical sagas are set. She has been a freelance writer for twenty-three years and has written widely for women's magazines and national newspapers, with short stories, serials and features. Her non-fiction books for dog owners have been very popular and led to broadcasting on radio about our four-legged friends. Elaine has been heard discussing many topics on radio including her Kent based novels, canine subjects, and living with a husband under her feet! She was BBC Radio Kent’s short story writer of the year, a runner up for The Harry Bowling Prize, and winner of Myrmidon Books novel writing competition. 

When she isn't writing, Elaine runs The Write Place, her successful creative writing school in Hextable, Kent. She hopes one day soon to have another old English Sheepdog and still keeps in touch with many of her dear friends from her days in the show ring.

Elaine lives in Swanley, Kent with her husband, Michael, and their Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Henry.

(book courtesy of the publisher)

(media courtesy of the authors website https://www.elaineeverest.com/)

(all opinions are my own)