Rainy Days for the Harper Girls by Rosie Clarke

Welcome!  Here are some of the books that will be out on June 9:  Red Sky Over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman, The Bitter and the Sweet of Cherry Season by Molly Fader, and Daddy's Girl by Danielle Steel.   The other books that were coming out June 9 have had their release dates changed. What are you currently reading?  I am reading The Woman in the Green Dress by Tea Cooper.

Jewelry department

Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls by Rosie Clarke has Harpers Emporium celebrating their two-year anniversary in March of 1914.  Ben and Sally Harper are married and expecting their first child in a few months.  Ben has acquired a building next to Harpers and is planning to add a couple of new departments.  Sally is happily buying new stock for the store and has no plans to quit working before the baby is born.  Mick O’Sullivan, a friend of Sally’s, has part interest in three restaurants and will soon be opening a fourth.  Rachel Craven is a now a floor walker at Harpers and is stepping out with a man.  She has not yet told her friends about her beau.  Miss Minnie is working at Harpers doing alterations and adding her beautiful embroidery to garments.  She is shocked when she discovers Jonathan Stockbridge works at Harpers. Becky Stockbridge is enjoying her friendship with Maggie Gibbs and is taking a first aid course in the evenings with her.  Maggie loves her job at Harpers and enjoys her time with Tim Burrows when he is not flying with the Royal Flying Corps.  Marion and Janice are new employees at Harpers and are working in the accessories department with Maggie.  Marion’s wages are needed to help support her family.  Her mother is ill and spends most of her time in bed.  Marion’s father works on ships transporting goods and the family prefers it when he is away because of his abusive behavior when he drinks.  Marion has younger siblings that need her attention.  The sun is shining now in England, but stormy days are ahead as signs of war gets closer. 

Millinery Department

Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls by Rosie Clarke is the 3^rd novel in Welcome to Harpers Emporium series.  This is a series that is best read in order.  Each book builds upon the previous one.  I like the characters in this engaging historical series.  We follow the different characters who work at Harpers Emporium.  I find them to be realistic.  Each person has their own struggles and issues that they are dealing with at the present time.  I like that the ladies are involved in women’s suffrage.  Rachel likes her new job as floor walker at Harpers and has a beau.  He betrayed her with an article he wrote, so she is not sure that she can trust him.  Marion Kaye is a new hire at Harpers.  Her mother is ill and has basically given up on life thanks to her bully of a husband.  Marion is responsible for caring for her mother, her younger siblings, and the house even though she is only seventeen.  Reggie Jackson has shown his interest in Marion, but she is unsure about marriage (who can blame her).  Miss Minnie likes living with Rachel and the other ladies, but she still grieves the loss of her sister.  Miss Minnie gave up the love of her life to stay with her sister.  Imagine her surprise when she runs into the same man at Harpers.  Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls takes place in the spring of 1914 when the situation in Europe is escalating.  I thought the author captured the time-period with the various historical events and how people felt about the looming war.  I enjoyed catching up with the characters in Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls.   I like Rosie Clarke’s conversational writing style which draws the reader right in.  I enjoyed the descriptions of the various products sold at Harpers (the jewelry, hats, scarfs, and handbags).  I liked the reference to Yardley products which makes my favorite soap.  I am looking forward to the next tale in Welcome to Harpers Emporium series.  Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls is an entertaining historical novel with missing merchandise, impending conflict, financial strain, budding romance, upcoming birth, and store expansion.

Rainy Days for the Harpers Girls if available from Amazon*.  Welcome to Harpers Emporium series includes The Shop Girls of Harpers and Love & Marriage at Harpers.  All three books are available through Kindle Unlimited.  Thank you for stopping by today and reading my review.  Tomorrow I am a stop on the tour for Red Sky Over Hawaii by Sara Ackerman which releases June 9.  I hope you have a friendly day.  Take care, stay safe, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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