A Ration Book Wedding (East End Ration series #4) by Jean Fullerton
Genre: Historical fiction, Wartime fiction, Sagas, WW2
Read: 5th March 2022
Published: 7th August 2020
★★★★★ 5 stars
DESCRIPTION:
In the darkest days of the Blitz, love is more important than ever.
It's February 1942, and as the Americans finally join Britain and her allies, twenty-three-year-old Francesca Fabrino is doing her bit for the war effort in a factory in East London. But her thoughts are constantly occupied by recently married Charlie Brogan, who is fighting in North Africa with the Eighth Army.
When Francesca starts a new job for the BBC Overseas department, she meets handsome Count Leo D'Angelo and begins to put her hopeless love for Charlie aside. But then Charlie returns from the front, his marriage in ruins and his heart burning for Francesca at last. Could she, a good Catholic girl, countenance an affair with the man she has always longed for? Or should she choose Leo and a different, less dangerous path?
Jean Fullerton, the queen of the East End saga, returns with a wonderful new nostalgic novel.
MY REVIEW:
Although I have long since been meaning to delve into this series set in the East End during the war, I hadn't yet done so. And despite it being the fourth in the series I was still eager to check it out and hope that it was all I hoped it to be...and it was. A RATION BOOK WEDDING is a captivating heartwarming five star read from beginning to end and best of all it doesn't matter if you've not read the other books - I haven't - because it suffices perfectly well as a standalone.
The East End Ration series centres around the lives and loves of the Brogan family with each book focussing on one or the other as part of their extended family. In this book the attention is on a close family friend Francesca and the Brogan's eldest son, Charlie, amidst wedding preparations for youngest daughter Jo to her intended Tommy Sweete. The fact I have not read any previous book didn't detract from this one in any way. The author expertly weaves brief recaps of previous events with the current plot so that anyone (like me) coming late to the series can do so without feeling lost in amongst all the happenings. This is indeed a credit to the author for her ability to not only keep her loyal readers engaged throughout but to harness new ones with each book, despite it being just part of the greater story.
It's February 1942 and Charlie Brogan has been away fighting in the heat of the North African desert when he is hit by flying shrapnel and sent home to Blighty to recuperate. He is looking forward to seeing his family, his wife Stella and their eight month old son Patrick. But a shock discovery whilst in a military hospital has Charlie demanding immediate discharge to enable him to return back home to the East End as soon as possible. It seems the secret Stella has been harbouring about her own contribution to the war effort that she hoped wouldn't get back to Charlie has been exposed...in more ways than one. And Charlie is far from happy. Needless to say his son Patrick, who is cared for by Charlie's family whilst Stella is working, remains at the Brogans in the company of his father for the foreseeable. And will remain so, if Charlie has anything to do with it. But no judge will separate a mother from her child...
Since the attack on Pearl Harbour just three months prior, the Americans have finally taken notice and joined Britain as one its Allies in its war against Germany. And with the loud brash GIs come many things Britons have not seen for nigh on three years, due to rationing and shortages. But despite being trapped in the darkest days they've seen, everyone is keen to do their bit for King and country and Francesca Fabrino is no exception. After spending long nights twenty five feet below ground level piecing together propellers for Lancaster bombers and dreaming of what can never be with the only man she has ever loved, she throws caution to the wind and applies for a new job as a translator for the BBC Overseas Department. In succeeding, she is then propelled onto a course that could change her life forever.
Charming and debonair Count Leo D'Angelo wastes no time in turning Francesca's head. He courts her and her father alike, who is thrilled that someone respectable (and rich) from the home country has taken a keen interest in his only daughter. For it is his greatest wish that she be happy and hopefully married to someone who is deserving of her. Her hapless love for Charlie Brogan can go nowhere since the man is married, but here is someone who can give his Francesca what she needs. But is it what she wants? Just as she dares to take a leap of faith grab this chance of happiness with Leo, Charlie returns with his marriage in pieces declaring his love for her. Torn between her heart and her head, who will Francesca choose?
As the bombs continue to rain down on London and the air raid sirens continue to sound, something so shocking occurs that has the propensity to change the Brogan family forever. Can they overcome another tragedy and the events that proceed it? Or will their lives be changed forever?
There is so much more to A RATION BOOK WEDDING that you will need to read it to find out. And believe me, you won't be disappointed. Some of it may be predictable, as is with this genre but then that's what makes it so heartwarming. But some of it isn't...and those events will have you turning the pages for the outcome.
Readers will fall in love with the Brogan family, as I have, as well as with Francesca who is Mattie McCarthy's (nee Brogan) best friend. But of all the Brogan clan, I would have to say my favourite would have to be Queenie. Although she featured in the background of this story, she did so on a large scale as a the matriarch of the family and one not to be messed with. I especially loved one particular scene where she took matters into her own hands after her granddaughter Cathy arrives at the family home in a sorry state. I was like "Go Queenie!!"
I love wartime sagas though I have not taken to all of them. It takes a special talent to engage the reader in such a way that they don't ever want to leave the confines of the pages and Jean Fullerton has done just that. I cannot believe I have not read this series before and I have to find a way to squeeze the many other preceding books and those that have come after this one, into my ever growing TBR pile! Because this is one series I don't want to miss out on.
A RATION BOOK WEDDING is a delightful easy read that I devoured in two sittings (last night and today). I just loved everything about it. It is absorbing, captivating and heartwarming with a few surprises along the way. A superbly wonderful read, highlighting the stoicness and camaraderie of the British people during one of their darkest times in history.
I cannot wait to immerse myself into the Brogan family once again. A definite 5 star read, perfect for fans of "Call the Midwife", historical sagas and wartime fiction.
I would like to thank #JeanFullerton, #Netgalley, #CorvusBooks for an ARC of #ARationBookWedding in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Jean first fell in love with history at school when she read Anya Seton’s book Katherine. Since then she have read everything she could about English history although she is particularly fascinated by the 18th and 19th centuries in which her books are set.
Jean loves her native city and the East End in particular which is why she writes stories that bring that vibrant area of London alive.
Jean is the author of seven historical novels. She is a qualified District and Queen's nurse who has spent most of her working life in the East End of London, first as a Sister in charge of a team, and then as a District Nurse tutor
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