The Girls of Victory Street (The Bryant Sisters #1) by Pam Howes
Genre: Historical fiction, WW2, Sagas
Read: 25th July 2020
Published: 27th July 2020
★★★★ 4.5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
From Amazon bestseller Pam Howes comes an emotional World War Two saga about three young women whose bravery and friendship will see them through the darkest times.
Liverpool, 1939. Bella Rogers thought her life was just starting; she can’t wait to get married to her childhood sweetheart, Bobby. But when war is declared and Bobby is called up, his letters stop, leaving Bella heartbroken and alone. Then her family is torn apart by tragedy when her angelic five-year-old sister dies from a terrible illness. They can barely afford a funeral, but the church is packed with the entire community, devastated for their loss.
Grieving for her sister and lost love, Bella finds a job at the Bryant and May factory, making matches. As bombs begin to fall, Bella gets the workers singing, keeping spirits high amidst the fear. When she meets a handsome American airman, Earl Franklin Jr, Bella’s heart finally starts to mend. Earl encourages her passion and soon she and her friends are offered the opportunity of a lifetime: to travel the country’s army bases, entertaining the troops and singing for victory. They name themselves The Bryant Sisters.
Just as her life is getting back on track, Bella finds herself pregnant – and Earl reveals a shattering secret that changes everything about their future. Desolate, she flees home to Liverpool, but as an unmarried mother, will her family reject her? And, as she faces a terrible sacrifice, will she ever sing with The Bryant Sisters again?
A heartbreaking historical novel about women in wartime, friendship, family and hope. Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Diney Costeloe and Wives of War.
I am excited to be part of the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for the first in what promises to be an exciting new series.
The first in a new series by Pam Howes, THE GIRLS OF VICTORY STREET is set in Liverpool and begins just prior to the outbreak of World War 2. It is an engaging tale that is a lighthearted and quick read, but thoroughly enjoyable.
Liverpool 1939: Bella Rogers is preparing to leave school upon turning 15 to find work and bring in the much-needed extra wage for her family when she and her childhood sweetheart Bobby Harrison are both invited to train with the Maia choir with a promising career ahead of them. In the meantime, Bella finds work in the packing department of the Bryant and May match factory, alongside her friends Fran Jackson and Edit Potts, whilst training two nights a week with the choir.
Although she would love nothing more than to marry Bobby, war is soon declared and Bobby's future has already been mapped out for his following in his father's footsteps in the RAF. The two keep in touch via letter when he is seconded to Oxfordshire but when the letters stop, Bella fears Bobby has found someone else and has fallen out of love with her.
Tension and despair are rife within the factory, so the girls decide to bring some cheerfulness by singing as they worked to help keep everyone's spirits up. Soon the factory was singing along with them and applauding their talent. When the boss calls them into the office one day, they fear they have done something wrong but instead are asked to sing at the factory's Christmas party, at which they are introduced as "The Bryant Sisters" in honour the factory in which they work.
When the three are offered an opportunity to join ENSA - The Entertainment National Service Association - and sing for the soldiers in and around Britain, they jump at the chance. However, as they are still underage at 16, their parents' permission must be obtained which is given wholeheartedly and with enthusiasm. Excitedly, Bella writes and shares her news with Bobby but is distraught when he never responds.
Soon the girls are travelling all around England and into Scotland, performing for the troops to keep their spirits up just as they had done back at the match factory. But with Bella's dad away fighting, her younger sister Molly evacuated to Wales, there is only her Mam at home and Bella worries for her as bombs fall nightly in and around the country.
Then when the girls arrive at Brize Newton RAF base in Oxfordshire, the base where Bobby is, Bella is nervous she will come face to face with him and fears she can't trust herself not to burst into tears. But nothing prepares her for the woman who greets them off the coach when they arrive. Alicia, the girl who Bobby's mother desires him to marry. What is she doing here in the WAAF? But when the truth is revealed, Bella is both shocked and devastated but resolves to move on with her life.
As England's answer to The Andrews Sisters, "The Bryant Sisters" continue to travel and perform all over the country, bringing joy and cheerfulness to the troops and keeping their spirits up amidst the dark days of war.
Then when the Americans join the war in 1941 and the girls are performing at the new USAF base, Bella meets the charming Wing Commander Earl Franklin who accompanies them on the piano during performances. Bella becomes smitten but there relationship is not all that is seems. It becomes a heady time for Bella, Fran and Edie. But there is tragedy to come and heartache to follow...
A beautiful written tale that draws the reader in from the very first page, THE GIRLS FROM VICTORY STREET is a story of friendship, love, loss and sacrifice. There is romance, there is heartbreak, there is love, there is tragedy. An enjoyable read that is predictable but I didn't care, as it was simply a wonderfully light read that I could just immerse myself in.
I found THE GIRLS FROM VICTORY STREET bore some resemblence to Rosie Archer's The Bluebird Girls series, a nod to the late great Dame Vera Lynn and a series I also love. THE GIRLS FROM VICTORY STREET is just as engaging, just as enjoyable and just as wonderful. I loved every minute of it and after that ending...and eagerly awaiting the next book in what promises to be an enjoyable lighthearted series.
Recommended to fans of historical fiction with a specific interest in the WW2 time period and for those who also enjoyed Rosie Archer's Bluebird Girls series.
I would like to thank #PamHowes, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheGirlsFromVictoryStreet in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Pam Howes is an ex Interior Designer who loves creating stories, but only started writing seriously about twelve years ago. The idea for her first novel, set in the sixties, came from her time as a teenager, working in a local record store and hanging round with the musicians who frequented the business.
That first novel evolved into a series set in the fictional town of Pickford, based on her home town of Stockport. Three Steps to Heaven; 'Til I Kissed You; Always On My Mind; Not Fade Away, and That'll Be The Day, follow the lives and loves through the decades of fictional Rock'n'Roll band The Raiders.
Pam signed a second contract with the award winning publisher Bookouture with the first novel in her Lark Lane series, The Factory Girls of Lark Lane, published in July 2018. Her first series for Bookouture - The Mersey Trilogy featuring The Liverpool Girls, The Forgotten Family of Liverpool and The Lost Daughter of Liverpool - is also available in E book, paperback and as audio books.
Pam is a big fan of sixties music and it's this love and the support and encouragement of her musician partner that compelled her to write the series. Pam has three adult daughters and seven grandchildren. She lives in Cheshire and as well as writing novels, writes short stories, which have appeared in charity anthologies and online e-zines, and poems, many of which are published.
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