REVIEW: Troubled Times at Harpers by Rosie Clarke

Troubled Times at Harpers (Harpers Emporium #9) by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas

Read: 27th May 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Trouble’s brewing and times are changing. If you play with fire you may just get burnt!

London 1929

Torn between the love of his family life in London and a deathbed promise to an American relative, Ben Harper makes a fatal decision that may change the course of many lives.

Honour-bound, Ben remains in New York to investigate who is responsible for the suspected fraud, corruption and the department store's failings. His findings point towards organised crime and shadowy gangsters who will stop at nothing to get what they want.

Meanwhile Sally Harper and their children safely return home to oversee the smooth running of the thriving Harpers Emporium. With the help of Beth Burrows, Kitty Wilson, and Ruby Rush, Sally plans for an ever-changing future with the cards she’s been dealt.

Will Ben heed the deadly warnings before it’s too late or will his honourable promise bring despair to those he loves?

A tale of hope, dreams and survival set against an ever-changing era.

Perfect for fans of Lizzie Lane, Pam Howes and Dilly Court.

MY THOUGHTS:

Another delightful installment to the Harpers Emporium series although I found this one a little slower off the mark than previous ones in which I easily dived and devoured. It is still a fairly quick and easy read though it feels as though so many have come and gone with only a few of the originals left. I normally eagerly await a Harpers book but this one didn't feel as though it hit all the marks as previous ones. But that could just be me too.

The years is 1929 and Ben's aunt has summoned him back to America to take over her affairs during the course of her illness and in the event of her subsequent death. This of course takes him away from London and Harpers, though the latter is left in Sally's capable hands. She has promoted Kitty Wilson as her assistant and taken on a new secretary Ruby Rush.

Meanwhile Beth has new neighbours but there is something familiar about them but she isn't quite sure. She continues her several mornings work at Harpers whilst caring for her husband Jack, children and father in law Fred whom she has encouraged to return to Harpers on a part time basis since the loss of his wife.

Sally is busy running a household and the store, along with her many charities she patronises. A face from her past returns with some sobering news but is on hand to offer her assistance should she need it. Meanwhile she has her hands full with children Jenny and Peter and the ever-changing future before her. She hates being separated from Ben but he is honour-bound and hopes that they will soon be reunited.

There is love on the horizon for one or two of the Harpers girls but will anything come of it? And yet, troubled times are ahead of them. Will those concerned heed the warnings before it's too late? 

Unlike many previous books, Harpers features more of a backdrop than the feature but that's OK because the store is well established and is the heartbeat of all those who are employed there and those who walk through its doors. This is one of my favourite series and can't wait to see what's in store for them next. I'm especially interested in Ruby's story. And I did like that this one did not end on a cliffhanger.

I would like to thank #RosieClarke, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TroubledTimesAtHarpers in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rosie Clarke has been writing for several years and has written under various names for a variety of publishers.  She lives in Cambridgeshire, is happily married and enjoys life with her husband.  She likes to walk in the Spanish sunshine and eating out at favourite restaurants in Marbella is a favourite pastime, but writing is her passion.

Rosie loves shoes, especially those impossibly high heels you can buy and has a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choos but can't wear them so they sit on the mantlepiece.

Rosie also writes under the name of Anne Herries and Linda Sole.

 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter SignUp | BookBub | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Boldwood Books by following them on these social media accounts.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

REVIEW: Family Matters at Blackberry Farm by Rosie Clarke

Family Matters at Blackberry Farm (Blackberry Farm #4) by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, WW2

Read: 31st January 2025

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Amazon

Published: 1st February 2025

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The war continues to touch everyone’s lives and loves on Blackberry Farm.

Cambridgeshire – 1943

As Spring blossoms, it seems love is in the air. 21-year-old, John Talbot dreams of a world not at war, where he can be a father to his young son Jonny and have a wife by his side. But is nurse Lucy Ross the woman for him?

When brothers Tom and John are recalled to active service, Artie is left to look after the farm. But tragedy strikes at the very heart of the family, when Arthur peacefully passes and John is reported missing in action. Pam, is left grief-stricken and fearing the worst with John lost at sea – has John’s luck finally run out?

Pam’s eldest Tom, returns home injured to convalesce and help a disgruntled Artie with the farm. But when the brothers become embroiled in a dreadful fight that could ruin several of the Talbot’s lives, it’s up to Tom to protect what they hold dear.

With an uncertain future there are trials and tribulations ahead for the Talbots in this continuing bestselling saga.

Perfect for fans of Lizzie Lane, Fenella J Miller and Patricia McBride

MY THOUGHTS:

As always, it was lovely to return to Talbolt family fold at Blackberry Farm in rural Cambridgeshire. I have thoroughly enjoyed every book in this series and watched the characters develop and grow as war rages in Europe, taking with it many young men.

It's now 1943 and the war is at its height and at last it feels as if Britain and her Allies are gaining the upper hand at last. Maybe by next Christmas it will all be over. Who knows? But one thing's for sure...something big is brewing; and it is bound to change the course of the hostilities once and for all.

At Blackberry Farm, however, it's almost as if the war has not reached them there but for the young men off fighting or those that have been lost. Not to mention the airfield running adjacent to the farm itself, having once belonged to the Talbolts and sold to the RAF. Life is quiet and it goes on, whatever the war holds. 

Tom and Lizzie have barely spent any of their married life together, but long enough to produce young Arthur who is now toddling and saying a few words. John's little Jonny, only a few months older than Arthur, is thriving while his father courts a young nurse named Lucy. She agrees to marry him and the couple plan to marry in the Autumn after Lucy has served her 6 months abroad as a nurse in a field hospital. But fate has other plans for the couple.

Artie and Jeanie recently married and farm the land at Blackberry Farm. But now that Jeanie has discovered she is with child, she can no longer do the heavy work and so they apply for some new Land Girls to take her place. Susan has gained a place at teacher's college but has some trouble along the way. Only Angela finds herself adrift with her sister away and everyone having their places in life. She wants to leave school and become a farmer's wife.

And then, just as they start to find their feet again, tragedy strikes the family once again...

Once again, there is so much going on in this book that I have barely scratched the surface. Suffice to say, it will leave you wanting to read the next installment with how it ended, wondering how it will all pan out.

Rosie Clarke is a go to author I always enjoy and I look forward to rejoining the Talbolts in Pam's warm and inviting kitchen once again soon.

I would like to thank #RosieClarke, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #FamilyMattersAtBlackberryFarm in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rosie Clarke has been writing for several years and has written under various names for a variety of publishers.  She lives in Cambridgeshire, is happily married and enjoys life with her husband.  She likes to walk in the Spanish sunshine and eating out at favourite restaurants in Marbella is a favourite pastime, but writing is her passion.

Rosie loves shoes, especially those impossibly high heels you can buy and has a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choos but can't wear them so they sit on the mantlepiece.

Rosie also writes under the name of Anne Herries and Linda Sole.

 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter SignUp | BookBub | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Boldwood Books by following them on these social media accounts.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

REVIEW: Heartbreak at Harpers by Rosie Clarke

Heartbreak at Harpers (Harpers Emporium #8) by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas

Read: 1st November 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 2nd July 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

It's the roaring 20s - a time of prosperity, optimism, and change...

Oxford Street, London 1926

Kitty Wilson, who, after losing her father, rejects the unsuitable suitor her mother has chosen. Abandoned by her mother, Kitty faces the challenges of navigating life alone. Amidst the turmoil, Kitty finds solace and support from friends, securing a promotion at Harpers Emporium. However, tragedy looms, threatening to shatter her newfound stability.

Sally and Ben Harper face their own challenges. A decision by Ben regarding the restaurant, made without consulting his partner Jack Burrows, jeopardizes not only their friendship but also the stability of Harpers itself.

Meanwhile Beth Burrows becomes embroiled in some dangerous gangland dealings, raising fears for her family's safety. Can an unknown guardian angel emerge to shield them from harm? Yet, even in the darkest times, the bonds of friendship prove to be a beacon of hope.

Discover a tale of resilience, friendship, and unexpected alliances against the backdrop of a transformative era.

Perfect for fans of Lizzie Lane, Pam Howes and Dilly Court.

If you love this, try Rosie's other series - Blackberry Farm, The Trenwith Series, Dressmakers Alley and Mulberry Lane.

MY THOUGHTS:

Who doesn't love a Rosie Clarke novel? This is the eighth installment in the much-loved Harpers Emporium saga series which began with the suffragette movement some 16 years prior. Since then we have seen the store take off, been through the war, battled some losses and endured plenty of heartbreak. But all the while, the familiar camaraderie amongst staff where friendships were formed leaves us with that feel-good feeling long after the turn of the final page.

With each book comes new trials and triumphs along with some familiar and some new faces. Many have come and gone, most are mentioned in passing along the way if they don't feature due to having moved away, while we are introduced to some new characters.

Kitty Wilson is new to Harpers, having needed a job to help support her family since her father had an accident at work and was no longer able to earn a living. Her mother, having grown up with a certain kind of luxury, resents the fact they have been reduced to the lower working class barely able to make ends meet and living in a filthy end of town. She does nothing but complain all day long about her woes and what her life has been reduced to. She's loathe to accept the fact that Kitty has had to go out and work because where she comes from young women don't work but rather stay at home helping their mothers until they find a husband. 

When Kitty's father dies suddenly, rather than grieve for her husband Annie Wilson has just the ticket to get them out of the dire mess he had lumbered them with. Marriage to a prominent widower who is closer to forty than Kitty's twenty with two young children that need a mother. Joshua Miller has the means to give both Kitty and her mother a good home. He pays for her father's funeral, expecting the debt to be paid with her hand in marriage. But Kitty refuses. The man is a sleaze and makes her skin crawl. And so her mother abandons her, offering herself as a nursemaid to Miller's young children, thus living a life to which she was much more accustomed.

Despite her tragedies, she continues to thrive at Harpers, gaining promotion due to her forward thinking and initiative which has impressed Sally Harper. Finding herself in debt because she refused her mother's unsuitable suitor and her rent more then doubled by the very same man who was also her landlord, Kitty was offered a room at the Norton's and there she finds friendship and family with Alf, Larry and Mariah.

But Miller and Annie are far from finished with Kitty. The plans they have for her are so nefarious that when discovered, the pair meet their match in Sally Harper and Beth Burrows.

Alongside Kitty's story is that of those at Harpers. Sally and Beth feature the most prominently after Kitty, with their respective husbands Ben and Jack also sharing the focus. We also meet up with Jack's father (who seems to have undergone a name-change from Fred to Bert in this installment) and his wife Vera who are faced with challenges of their own.

A nice touch is the inclusion and mention of Dressmaker's Alley and the designs of Miss Susie which are sold exclusively at Harpers, mentioned throughout and of course as Ms Clarke's newest series.

As life moves on after the shadow of war, the roaring twenties bring a lot of new changes and challenges to their door. There is the workers' strike and even a gangland threat, adding even more uncertainty to this ever-changing world. And not everyone is embracing the change that the war has brought.

As the title suggests, there is plenty of heartbreak in this tale but there are also some happy moments as well. The strong bonds of friendship remain evident in their camaraderie and friendship and it's this that warms the heart, making it another enjoyable read. 

I cannot wait to see what Rosie Clarke has in store for Harpers next, as this series shows no sign of winding down. Although Mulberry Lane came to an end last year, I hope that Harpers continues for some time yet as it remains one of my favourite feel-good heartwarming saga series.

Overall, a light, easy read that is heartwarming and entertaining from start to finish. I devoured in one sitting after dinner last night, finishing before bed.

As always, a solid heartwarming 5 stars.

I would like to thank #RosieClarke, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #HeartbreakAtHarpers in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rosie Clarke has been writing for several years and has written under various names for a variety of publishers.  She lives in Cambridgeshire, is happily married and enjoys life with her husband.  She likes to walk in the Spanish sunshine and eating out at favourite restaurants in Marbella is a favourite pastime, but writing is her passion.

Rosie loves shoes, especially those impossibly high heels you can buy and has a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choos but can't wear them so they sit on the mantlepiece.

Rosie also writes under the name of Anne Herries and Linda Sole.

 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter SignUp | BookBub | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Boldwood Books by following them on these social media accounts.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

REVIEW: Rose's Fight by Rosie Clarke

Rose's Fight (The Trenwith Trilogy #3) by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Post-WW1

Read: 19th September 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 7th September 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The war has changed everything, but has it changed society enough?

London, 1917.

Rose Barlow has loved and lost. She has done her fair share during the war and seen her dreams shattered. As the British class system crumbles Rose is determined not to return to service at Trenwith Estate instead, she’s keen to pursue new opportunities and her own happiness now the war is over.

Luke Trenwith survived the war and has returned home as the next Trenwith Baronet. But the life he once accepted as his fate feels cold and empty. He is left wanting more.

But has the world changed enough to allow him to live his dream?

The war changed their world, but do Rose and Luke have the courage to carve out a new future that could shock society?

If you love this, have you tried Rosie Clarke's Mulberry Lane, Blackberry Farm, Dressmakers Alley and Harper's series?

Previously Published as Forbidden Love by Linda Sole

MY THOUGHTS:

The war has changed everything...but has it changed society enough...?

Rosie Clarke is one of my favourite authors and I eagerly devour every one of her sagas, whether they be a series or standalone, enjoying every sojourn with them. This is the third and final in the Trenwith Trilogy with the story this time centring on Rose, who we met at the beginning and have followed her since.

Although the book doesn't necessarily state what year it is, I can only surmise it is now 1919 with the Great War behind them having signed the Armistice on 11th November 1918. With that thought in mind, many young men are now returning from the Front whilst the memory remains of those who are not. 

Rose Barlow, former housemaid at Trenwith and now close friend of Sarah Pelham, had intended to take up studying nursing as a vocation after the war, having served as a VAD for its duration. A splendid VAD, she had the makings of a promising nurse. However, she married in secret to Canadian fighter pilot Rod Carne (and nurses were not permitted to marry). Then when Rod was killed shortly after their wedding, Rose was heartbroken.

Now the war was over, Rose had no intentions of returning to service. Besides, times were changing and the days of service were from another era. She decided to try her luck on the stage as she had always enjoyed singing and had an ambition to see where it could take her. Having lost her husband, she reverted to her maiden name for the stage and soon became something of a star.

But her heart remained at Trenwith and the childish crush she'd harboured for the son and heir to the Trenwith estate - Luke Trenwith. But she was a servant and there was a clear social divide that separated them. But those days were past, for the most part though for some they remained. Little did Rose know that Luke had shared those feelings she had and whilst societal rules dictated that he should marry someone with money and breeding and thus producing an heir, Luke could not help but be drawn to Rose.

And so they began a clandestine affair, declaring their love for each other and forsaking all others. Until Luke returned home and was thrust into an engagement with "the right sort of girl". How would Rose take the news that he was to marry someone else? She did not want to be his mistress and she deserved far more than that but how could he fulfill his duty and his promise to the woman he loved?

Has the world changed enough to allow Rose and Luke to follow their dream to be together? Or must they sacrifice each other for the sake of the social class divide?

There is so much packed into this tale of love and woe. I found I grew frustrated with Rose and her stubborn streak but then I guess that's how society carved out these women in those days. We are reunited with Sarah and Troy at Pelham and Louise and Jack in Paris, though Rose is still in the dark as to her brother's fate. How will she react should Luke tell her the truth? And how will society react to Rose and Luke being together? Or is it still too soon for them to cross the social divide? And then there is the biggest secret of all. How will it all end?

I must say, this was my least favourite of the three books with the first one being my favourite. Though I was happy with the outcome nonetheless. Having said that, I still enjoyed this wonderful tale and reuniting with old friends and some enemies again. 

As always, I look forward to the next Rosie Clarke novel.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rosie Clarke has been writing for several years and has written under various names for a variety of publishers.  She lives in Cambridgeshire, is happily married and enjoys life with her husband.  She likes to walk in the Spanish sunshine and eating out at favourite restaurants in Marbella is a favourite pastime, but writing is her passion.

Rosie loves shoes, especially those impossibly high heels you can buy and has a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choos but can't wear them so they sit on the mantlepiece.

Rosie also writes under the name of Anne Herries and Linda Sole.

 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter SignUp | BookBub | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Boldwood Books by following them on these social media accounts.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

REVIEW: Louise's War by Rosie Clarke

  

Louise's War (The Trenwith Trilogy #2) by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, WW1

Read: 12th June 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 2nd June 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Caught between enemy lines – can they survive?

1914, Hampshire

Jack Barlow has a dream. For generations his family have been in service at Trenwith Estate. If he can survive the ravages of war, he’ll return home to build his own mechanic business and become master of his own destiny.

Louise Saint-Claire, is battling against the odds to run her family farmhouse in German occupied France after her abusive husband is taken prisoner by the Germans. She is determined to survive this brutal and bloody war.

But fate throws Jack and Louise together when she finds the wounded British soldier and she decides to risk everything to keep him safe

What chance can one woman and one man have when caught between the French Resistance and the German army?

Previously Published as Love and War by Linda Sole

MY THOUGHTS:

Caught between enemy lines...can they survive...?

Rosie Clarke is one of my favourite authors. I simply devour every one of her sagas, whether they be a series or standalone, and I enjoy every sojourn with them. LOUISE'S WAR is the second in the Trenwith Trilogy and takes us across the Channel and into enemy territory as war continues to rage in Europe.

This tale begins just after war is declared and the men are shipping out to "see the world" as the propaganda posters told them. What they didn't say was the cold and muddy trenches in which they would be serving most of their time whilst the officers were kept warm and dry in better quarters.

It's the men on the ground who do the grunt work and it's here that young Jack Barlow finds himself after joining up, having worked as a groom for the Trenwith estate alongside his sister Rose who was in service as Sarah's lady's maid in the first book. Jack has endured rigorous training and has caught the attention of a drill sergeant who sees fit to make Jack's life as difficult as possible. But when he thought he was sending Jack on a menial task an opportunity arose instead giving him a chance to make a difference. He is employed as a driver for Captain Martin who oftentimes enters enemy territory or takes them close to the Front where both men find themselves dicing with death to make it back alive. When one such mission goes awry, Jack finds himself alone and abandoned in a foreign land with nothing but the clothes on his back and no memory of who he is and what he is doing there.

Louise Saint Claire sees the bedraggled soldier loitering on her property, she fears he will bring unwanted attention and so she hurries to help the young man before he is seen. Louise has battled her own war for years married to a brute of a man who had recently been taken prisoner by the Germans and she knows not if he is alive or dead. She nurses Jack back to health but his memory fails to return. But she must keep him hidden, for if anyone gets wind that he is staying there she may find herself in a world of trouble. For she lives in German occupied territory.

There is so much more to this tale of two people who shouldn't be together in wartime. It enhances the story first told in book one "Sarah's Choice" and paves the way for the final in the trilogy "Rose's Fight". We rejoin those we met in the first book, though some do take more of a back seat this time round as it is Jack and Louise's story as well as a little of Rose's.

I look forward to reading the final book in this trilogy in the coming months and what awaits Rose in her time as the focus.

As always, I love Rosie Clarke's storytelling and transporting me back to that era.

I would like to thank #RosieClarke, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #LouisesWar in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rosie Clarke has been writing for several years and has written under various names for a variety of publishers.  She lives in Cambridgeshire, is happily married and enjoys life with her husband.  She likes to walk in the Spanish sunshine and eating out at favourite restaurants in Marbella is a favourite pastime, but writing is her passion.

Rosie loves shoes, especially those impossibly high heels you can buy and has a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choos but can't wear them so they sit on the mantlepiece.

Rosie also writes under the name of Anne Herries and Linda Sole.

 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter SignUp | BookBub | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Boldwood Books by following them on these social media accounts.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

SPOTLIGHT: Louise's War by Rosie Clarke

 

Louise's War by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, WW1

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 2nd June 2024

** Due to a change in circumstances I have had to drop out and relinquish my tour/review obligations until further notice. I will publish my review and thoughts after reading **

DESCRIPTION:

Caught between enemy lines – can they survive?

1914, Hampshire

Jack Barlow has a dream. For generations his family have been in service at Trenwith Estate. If he can survive the ravages of war, he’ll return home to build his own mechanic business and become master of his own destiny.

Louise Saint-Claire, is battling against the odds to run her family farmhouse in German occupied France after her abusive husband is taken prisoner by the Germans. She is determined to survive this brutal and bloody war.

But fate throws Jack and Louise together when she finds the wounded British soldier and she decides to risk everything to keep him safe

What chance can one woman and one man have when caught between the French Resistance and the German army?

Previously Published as Love and War by Linda Sole

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rosie Clarke has been writing for several years and has written under various names for a variety of publishers.  She lives in Cambridgeshire, is happily married and enjoys life with her husband.  She likes to walk in the Spanish sunshine and eating out at favourite restaurants in Marbella is a favourite pastime, but writing is her passion.

Rosie loves shoes, especially those impossibly high heels you can buy and has a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choos but can't wear them so they sit on the mantlepiece.

Rosie also writes under the name of Anne Herries and Linda Sole.

 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter SignUp | BookBub | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Boldwood Books by following them on these social media accounts.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

REVIEW: Dangerous Times on Dressmaker's Alley by Rosie Clarke

Dangerous Times on Dressmaker's Alley by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas

Read: 3rd April 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 5th April 2024

★★★★ 4 stars

DESCRIPTION:

Welcome to Dressmakers' Alley, a twisted place filled with dark and deadly secrets

London’s East End 1923

In the heart of Dressmakers' Alley, Madame Pauline’s sweatshop is rumoured to be a particularly unpleasant place to work. Filled with seamstresses paid a pittance who turn a blind eye to what darker activities are hidden behind locked doors.

Young Winnie Brown is keen to prove her value to the Women Movement and secures a job as a seamstress to investigate the whispers of some unsavoury goings on. Her concerns are soon justified when she hears a desperate cry for help.

Meanwhile, happily married, Lady Diane Cooper is the darling of London’s high-society. Beautiful and talented, she seemingly has it all. But the strict constraints society assigns her leaves her frustrated, she craves more freedom. With the help of her devoted dresser Susie can she realise her dream?

What is the connection between Lady Diane's world and the poor exploited young women of Dressmakers' Alley?

Can the two worlds come together for the good of all?

Missing Mulberry Lane? Read Dressmakers' Ally and you won’t be far away…

MY THOUGHTS:

I love Rosie Clarke. She is one of my favourite authors and I relish anything she brings out. So when I saw a new series pop up, I was excited to say the least.

As in keeping with Rosie Clarke's other sagas, this one pays tribute to two of her other series - with a nod to Mulberry Lane (although set earlier than that one) and more than a passing reference to Harpers with many a mention of both Ben and Sally as well visiting Harpers. I tried to recall whether Winnie and her story, which began with Harpers, had featured in that series at all but it's been so long since I read a Harpers I can't remember though her story does seem a little familiar. I will need some reminding at any rate.

This tale is somewhat darker than some others with a seedier undertone and a mystery that is not entirely resolved by the book's end. I was a little disappointed with the ending that left more than a few things up in the air. Even though this is a new series with a follow-up to come and resolve some of those left open-ended, I do prefer each installment to have a proper ending with all story arcs to be resolved and then a hint of something to come in the next one. That is not to say I didn't enjoy this tale, because I most certainly did, but the ending let it down otherwise it would have been a 5 star read in my opinion.

I usually give a brief outline of the basic story but I think this time I will leave it to the reader to open up and discover for themselves. If you know Rosie Clarke then you won't be disappointed as the author is synonymous with delightful historical sagas. I've enjoyed all of her series and I'm sure this one will be no different.

Looking forward to book 2...when it comes.

I would like to thank #RosieClarke #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #DangerousTimesOnDressmakersAlley in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rosie Clarke has been writing for several years and has written under various names for a variety of publishers.  She lives in Cambridgeshire, is happily married and enjoys life with her husband.  She likes to walk in the Spanish sunshine and eating out at favourite restaurants in Marbella is a favourite pastime, but writing is her passion.

Rosie loves shoes, especially those impossibly high heels you can buy and has a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choos but can't wear them so they sit on the mantlepiece.

Rosie also writes under the name of Anne Herries and Linda Sole.

 

Social Media links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter SignUp | BookBub | Goodreads

PUBLISHER:

Stay up to date with upcoming releases from Boldwood Books by following them on these social media accounts.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

REVIEW: Last Orders at Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke

Last Orders at Mulberry Lane (Mulberry Lane #10) by Rosie Clarke

Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas

Read: 29th January 2024

Goodreads

Amazon

Published: 1st February 2024

★★★★★ 5 stars

DESCRIPTION:

The final book in The Mulberry Lane Saga series from Rosie Clarke.

Sweeping changes are on the horizon and Mulberry Lane is in for a shock...

London 1962

At first it was a rumour that Peggy Ronaski and Maureen Hart could hardly believe. If true, it would turn the lives of everyone on Mulberry Lane upside down.

Peggy could lose her beloved pub. Maggie her acclaimed restaurant. Maureen her business and her home. Everyone had something to lose.

Whilst old friends try to come to terms with the shocking news, the younger generation continue to forge ahead in the swinging sixties. Relationships flourish and new opportunities blossom; the ever changing world becoming their oyster. But family bonds remain strong, after all, it's people that matter not the buildings.

Could this be the end of Mulberry Lane or a new beginning for everyone?

MY THOUGHTS:

"And tomorrow we turn the page and begin again..."

"That's right...It is a whole new story, another chapter of our lives..."

I had tears reading the final chapter and pages of this book. It is the end of an era. I may not have been there from the beginning, but I have travelled alongside side them all from "Stormy Days at Mulberry Lane" and became familiar with the characters and fell in love with the spirit of community that is now left behind. Mulberry Lane has become a character all of its own and it is here that the focus has remained throughout...despite sojourns to the country. They all come back to the Lanes. It's where the heart of their community, their lives, beats strongest.

But changes are on the horizon and the Lanes as they all know and love them will never be the same again. What are they to do? Fight for the community they have lived and grown up in? Or accept their fate and find pastures anew?

It's the swinging sixties and times have changed since the dark days of war that Peggy and Maureen were once caught up in. They survived Hitler's bombs, surely they could survive this disruption too? But Peggy isn't getting any younger, in her sixties herself, and trade has died down at the Pig & Whistle in recent times. Maybe their patrons have caught wind of the council's plans and have moved on before they were forced out. 

Her children have grown and have lives of their own now. Janet busy renovating properties, Pip about to take on a new job opportunity, Fay married to rockstar Jace and living in America and Freddie living and studying at Cambridge to become a sports teacher. Even her granddaughter Maggie is about to marry Greg. Maybe it is time for her and Able to retire...or at least take on a smaller project to keep them going.

Then there is Maureen and Gordon, Rose and Tom, Shirley and Ray. What would they all do if Peggy were to leave the Lane and the Pig & Whistle sold? But when an opportunity comes knocking, do they accept it? Or keep looking? What do these changes mean for everyone and the home they know and love?

While this is only a short read, there is a lot packed into it as Rosie Clarke gathers us to bid farewell to the characters we have come to know and love over the years. While times are changing and life goes on, this book highlights the steadfast love of family in the wake of new relationships as the doors begin to open up for the next generation.

I love Rosie Clarke's sagas and while it was sad to bid farewell to Mulberry Lane and its residents, I know I can go back and start the series from the beginning and meet them all over again and those I never knew because they had already gone by the time I joined the series. And I look forward to doing so.

This book is a fitting end to a wonderful saga series I have enjoyed being a part of. I was almost sad to see it end and not join them in their new ventures. But that's would be another story altogether. A new place, a new start, new beginnings. In the words of Able and Peggy in the closing lines of the book...

"And tomorrow we turn the page and begin again..."

"That's right...It is a whole new story, another chapter of our lives..."

Thank you for giving us the community of Mulberry Lane and for sharing their lives and loves with us. A beautiful, fitting farewell.

I would like to thank #RosieClarke, #Netgalley and #BoldwoodBooks for an ARC of #LastOrdersAtMulberryLane in exchange for an honest review.

MEET THE AUTHOR:

Rosie Clarke has been writing for several years and has written under various names for a variety of publishers.  She lives in Cambridgeshire, is happily married and enjoys life with her husband.  She likes to walk in the Spanish sunshine and eating out at favourite restaurants in Marbella is a favourite pastime, but writing is her passion.

Rosie loves shoes, especially those impossibly high heels you can buy and has a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choos but can't wear them so they sit on the mantlepiece.

Rosie also writes under the name of Anne Herries and Linda Sole.

 

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