YAY, finally my turn on this exciting book tour!
Here’s the blurb before I dive in with my review….
The Blurb:
Even though there was a war on, the Woolworths girls brought Christmas cheer to their customers
Best friends Sarah, Maisie and Freda are brought together by their jobs at Woolworths. With their loved ones away on the front line, their bonds of friendship strengthen each day. Betty Billington is the manager at Woolworths, and a rock for the girls, having given up on love . . . Until a mysterious stranger turns up one day – could he reignite a spark in Betty?
As the year draws to a close, and Christmas approaches, the girls must rely on each other to navigate the dark days that lie ahead . . .
With so much change, can their friendship survive the war?
My Review:
This book has surprised me. When I joined the book tour, I had no idea I’d be reading such a fantastically written story with a sensational plot.
Within a few pages, I was immersed into the lives of the women living in Erith. There’s Freda, Sarah, Maisie, Betty, Ruby, Maureen, Irene, Vera, Pat and young Georgina … and that’s just naming the ones mentioned in the first 50 odd pages!
Set in war time, I found this tale made me reflect on how inspirational women were back then – they just got on with things and kept the country functioning, it is truly something to be proud of. I felt this message flowed throughout the story; Everest has created strong, motivational female characters that we could all aspire to.
Many of the women keep Woolworths in business, as the town’s hub, and with inspirational war themed window displays and many fundraising events, the women’s support for the war effort is felt. Freda and Sarah’s additional volunteering were moving to read.
This book gives a glimpse of what wartime life was like, and war isn’t everything. Life continues – new faces arrive, new relationships blossom and a baby is on its way! I loved the many romances that simmered through the book and I avidly waited for them to come to the boil! I also enjoyed the secrets that arrived with Gwyneth and Myfi… I was intrigued by the mystery that surrounded these two. Oh and I haven’t even mentioned Douglas…
With the lives of all these characters updated over the year, it’s a jam packed plot – hats off to Everest, it really is fantastic!
Definitely worth adding to your wish list and these next two months are the perfect time to read it! With an ending packed full of Christmas cheer, it’ll leave you smiling and excited for the festive season!
This book will hit the shelves on 2nd November – not long to go! And you can pre order on Amazon
Author Information
Elaine Everest, author of Bestselling novel The Woolworths Girls and The Butlins Girls was born and brought up in North West Kent, where many of her books are set. She has been a freelance writer for twenty years and has written widely for women’s magazines and national newspapers, with both short stories and features. Her non-fiction books for dog owners have been very popular and led to broadcasting on radio about our four legged friends. Elaine has been heard discussing many topics on radio from canine subjects to living with a husband under her feet when redundancy looms.
When she isn’t writing, Elaine runs The Write Place creative writing school at The Howard Venue in Hextable, Kent and has a long list of published students.
Elaine lives with her husband, Michael, and their Polish Lowland Sheepdog, Henry, in Swanley, Kent and is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, Crime Writers Association, The Society of Women Writers & Journalists and The Society of Authors as well as Slimming World where she can been sitting in the naughty corner.
And here are Elaine’s links…
Twitter: http://twitter.com/elaineeverest
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElaineEverestAuthor/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Elaine-Everest/e/B003LTXNN8/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1508176086&sr=1-2-ent
There are still plenty more stops on this tour! Go check them out!
Tomorrow
Saturday 28th Oct
Sunday 29th Oct
Monday 30th Oct
Tuesday 31st Oct
Wednesday 1st Nov
Thursday 2nd Nov
Friday 3rd Nov
Saturday 4th Nov
Sunday 5th Nov
Monday 6th Nov
Tuesday 7th Nov
Finally, thanks to Faye for organising a fantastic tour for Elaine!
Until next time, Chloé x
Reviews by Chloé 
Chloe, thank you, thank you, thank you for such a wonderful review. I’m so happy that you liked my book and my girls – and Douglas! With one week to go to publication it is an exciting time!
Elaine xx
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