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The Blurb
London, 1918: war rages on, but the girls of London’s Foyles bookshop always have a place to feel safe.
Rosie Burrows loves being part of the Foyles team, and outwardly, she’s a happy young woman, engaged to the love of her life. But inside, Rosie faces a horrible dilemma. When Alfie enlisted, she promised to wait for him to return from France. And she has waited, quietly preparing for him to come home so they can marry. But for years her letters to him have gone unanswered, and now she doesn’t know where she stands.
To keep occupied, Rosie starts volunteering at the local school. She loves reading to the children, and takes solace in her growing friendship with the kind and gentle class teacher. But Rosie knows she can’t allow herself to develop feelings for Sam – she gave her word.
But why hasn’t Alfie answered her letters? Has he changed his mind about her? And how long should she wait for a man who may never come back?
My Review
This book is set in London during World War One and is wonderfully atmospheric.
It follows the lives of the women who work there, and in particular, Rosie. She has promised Alfie that she will wait for him while he is away fighting for King and country. However, Alfie is missing in action and neither she nor his mother hear from him for two years. Rosie is in a quandary as to whether she should continue to wait for him or move on with her life. Furthermore, she questions whether she really loves him and wants to marry him!
Although I had worked out where this book was heading at a fairly early point, it absolutely did not impede my enjoyment of the book. In fact, it just made me want to read on all the more to find out if I was actually correct.
It is a well written book with fantastic characters who I was completely engaged by. I felt frustrated every time I had to put it down, and I could hardly wait to get back to it. It had everything that you would expect to find in a book of this genre; great characters in a historical setting with a bit of romance and angst to add to the tension.
This is the second book in the Foyles Bookshop Girls series. As much as I like to start a series from the first book, this worked perfectly well by my coming into the series at book two.
It was a wonderfully heartwarming and hopeful book which was a delight to read. I have not previously read anything but this author but I am excited to now read some of her back catalogue.
This was a fabulous read, and I highly recommend it.
Book Details
ISBN: 978 1805497110
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Formats: e-book, audio, hardback and paperback (currently available on Kindle Unlimited)
No. of Pages: 280 (paperback)
Purchase Links
About the Author
Elaine Roberts is the bestselling author of historical sagas set in London during the First World War. Previously published by Aria, she is bringing her successful Foyles Girls titles to Boldwood who will publish the fourth in this series in September 2023.
You can also find Elaine at
(ARC and media courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)
(all opinions are my own)
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