Rose's Choice (The Colliery Rows #1) by Chrissie Bradshaw
Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, Post war
Read: 22nd May 2021
Published: 17th July 2020
★★★★ 4.5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
Rationing, bombing, disease and pit disasters are part of Rose Kelly’s World War 2 childhood. When the spirited coalminer’s daughter discovers a family secret, she makes a choice that overshadows her teenage years. Rose tries to make the most of post-war opportunities but family tragedy pulls her back to a life in the colliery rows. She relinquishes her bright future for domestic duties because her family comes first.
But will family ties get in the way of her dreams?
MY REVIEW:
I love to discover new authors, though I'm not sure my evergrowing TBR list is, particularly in my favourite genres. And Chrissie Bradshaw is a new one for me. Hailed as a northern Catherine Cookson, I was excited merely at that prospect as Cookson is one of my all time favourites and couldn't wait to delve into the story. And I wasn't disappointed...though I found her style to be very different from Cookson and in a way considered the salutation a little misleading. Still ROSE'S CHOICE is a beautiful coming of age story fraught with love, loss and tragedy.
Opening with the birth of Rose in 1934, the first child to her parents John and Virginia (Ginnie) Kelly, this prologue is in the third person perspective of father John, now a proud and doting father to his new daughter whom he promises will go far beyond the Colliery Rows.
Ten years later, it's 1944 and Rose has twin brothers two years her junior, Stanley and David. Their father is a pitman at Linwood Colliery whilst their mother keeps the home fires burning with the help of Mary-from-next-door on occasion. War has been raging across Europe and Britain for five years now and with each scream of the air raid siren, they run for cover to the Anderson shelter wishing the war was over.
Rose loved school and her secret wish was to do something with animals. So when Danny Dodds brought her a barely alive pup just weeks old with a crushed tail and injured paw, she didn't think twice as she and her best friend Lottie ran to catch the bus to Ashington and seek out a vet. There they were ushered to Maxwell's Vet where Mr Maxwell saw to the little pup whilst the two girls waited with his receptionist. When the siren screamed, they took cover in the surgery's cellar shelter and helped with invoices and paperwork. When the all-clear sounded, Mr Maxwell informed them that the pup was very young and should still be with its mother so he would keep it for a while to ensure it got the best care. Rose would loved to have a pet but her mother claimed allergies so it was out of the question.
Before Christmas came that year a different kind of angel paid a visit to the rows. An unwelcome one they called "the strangling angel" also known as diphtheria. Many came down with it and yet life went on in the rows. As Rose was approaching secondary schooling, her teachers thought her incredibly bright and believed she was eligible for a scholarship to a posh girls school in Morpeth. All she had to do was sit an entrance exam and pass to qualify. On the day of her practise exam, another boy Douglas Fletcher was also sitting for a scholarship to the boys school. He had told his mother he didn't feel well that day, but she had assured him it was just nerves and ushered him along to his exam. When Rose had completed hers she looked over and saw that Douglas appeared to be asleep but feared much worse. He was whisked away to the isolation hospital with diphtheria. Three days later, Rose woke with a horribly sore throat and knew she had it too and she was sent to the isolation hospital as well, where she spent Christmas with the other sick children.
Weeks later, Rose was well enough to return home to complete her recovery but was saddened to learn that Douglas has succumbed to the disease. She felt for his parents as he was their only child. But there was more to come. As she had been in isolation, she had also missed the entrance exam for the scholarship. But after her teachers had talks with the school and, she suspected her father had a hand in as well, the school then sent a letter to her parents inviting them to bring Rose for an interview. Before she knew it, Rose had been accepted into Morpeth Girls High School where she would remain until she was at least sixteen but also with the opportunity to further her education another two years and even university. This is what her father wanted for her. This is what Rose wanted for herself. A chance to to fulfill her dreams.
And then tragedy struck. Diphtheria had not finished sweeping the rows and taking whoever was in its path. And before the Kelly's could rejoice with Rose's good news, they would at first be mourning.
It was 1945 and the war was over at last. Come September, Rose began at Morpeth Girls High and life began to go back to normal again. And then...her parents had news. Her mother was expecting again. As was Mrs Fletcher, Douglas' mam. Rose didn't know whether to be thrilled or not. There was barely enough room in their cottage as it is. And given her age, her father wanted her mother to have the baby in hospital but her mother was against the idea. She'd had all her babies at home and she was having this one at home. She made all the arrangements with Mary-from-next-door and when she went into labour while her father was on shift, her mother left her in charge while she went next door to Mary's to have the baby. Throughout the night Rose was worried that the midwife wouldn't arrive in time and when she noticed a dark shadowy figure enter Mary's late at night she knew it wasn't the midwife. Which caused her to worry more. But the next morning her mother presented them with a new baby boy called Terence and Rose immediately fell in love with her new little brother. She tried to question Mary about the goings on the night before but Mary brushed her concerns off as her imagination.
But three years later as she left her schoolfriends after a game of tennis, Rose saw something that even she couldn't believe to be true. And it forced her to question everything she ever knew. For the next few weeks she was riddled with guilt, questions and confusion...as well as anger towards her mother. When cornered with questions, she told her mother what she saw and what she believed to be true. And so her mother told her the truth...and swore her to secrecy. She must never tell her father or her brothers for it would tear their family apart.
And so Rose had a choice. To keep the secret or destroy her family.
And then when tragedy strikes the Kellys again, Rose leaves school and gives up her dreams for the domestic life she never wanted. She was so close to exams and gaining her certificate but her duty was to her family. But what happens when the secret her mother kept from them, the secret she made Rose keep, comes out and threatens her family once and for all?
A story of heartbreak, tragedy and loss, ROSE'S CHOICE is a beautiful story that is also about coming of age and finding love. Beginning at the tail end of the war and into the years thereafter, we follow Rose in her journey from a girl into a young woman. Kind and compassionate yet strong and stubborn, she knows what she wants to do with her life and does her level best to do it despite caring for her family as well. But there are secrets and there are choices that she must make. But Rose is also loyal and knows the wrong choice can have devastating effects. So what will she do?
Set in the North East of England coal mining community, ROSE'S CHOICE is fraught with tears, tribulations, forgiveness, love, loss and laughter. A coming of age story of friendship and family. A journey from war to survival to the discovery of love. Brimming with wonderful characters and a community spirit that would not be broken, ROSE'S CHOICE is a wonderful reflection of working class life in a coal mining community.
I would not have ever come across this book had it not been for the second one in this series. Before reading "Rose's Ever After", I wanted to enjoy Rose's story from the start and I am glad I did. I read it in one day and though it was a little slow to begin with, once the secret became a secret Rose inadvertently discovered the story gained momentum and I could not put it down.
Although it is different to Catherine Cookson, those who enjoy Cookson as well as Dilly Court and authors alike, are sure to enjoy ROSE'S CHOICE. I have no hesitation in recommending to fans of similar types of tales in the historical fiction genre.
I would like to thank #ChrissieBradshaw and #VallumPublishing for an ARC of #RosesChoice in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Her latest is a compelling family saga, ROSE’S EVER AFTER. This is the second book in ‘The Colliery Rows’ series and follows on from ROSE’S CHOICE.
There is a spin off novella , THE UNWELCOME ANGEL that tells the story of the winter of 1944 in more detail.
Chrissie has always loved match-making a book to a reader. Writing the kind of book she loves to read takes this a step further. When Chrissie is not writing or reading, you will find her walking her dog on the beach, travelling or spending time with her family and friends. She would love to hear from readers.
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