Tuesday, January 18, 2022

The Daughters of Victory Street by Pam Howes

 The Daughters of Victory Street
Book Summary

From Amazon charts bestseller Pam Howes comes a heart-breaking and uplifting historical novel about a community pulling together in the shadows of war, and one young woman’s fight to make her mark on the world.


1952, Liverpool. The Second World War has cast a long shadow over Victory Street, and who knows if the remaining families will ever fully recover?
In the face of hardship, Bella Harrison is determined to see the bright side. She is back recording songs with her singing trio, The Bryant Sisters, and against all odds, Bella and her husband Bobby are finding ways to muddle through life as newlyweds whilst raising little Levi, Bella’s child with Black American pilot Earl Franklin Junior.
Meanwhile Earl’s daughter Dianna is adjusting to her new life in Liverpool. Determined to forge her own path, she has her heart set on becoming a nurse. However Dianna soon discovers that the reality of nursing is long hours of gruelling work, performed under constant scrutiny from the dreaded matron – who seems to take pleasure in making Dianna’s life miserable. When a handsome art student catches her eye, Dianna finds herself at the crossroads between ambition and love.
But just as the young women settle into their new lives, the close-knit community of Victory Street is rocked once more. Can the daughters of Victory Street face their challenges together, and seize a chance at happiness now that it is finally within reach?
A totally unforgettable, heart-warming historical novel, packed with family secrets, perfect for fans of Dilly Court, Diney Costeloe and Nancy Revell.

About the Author

Pam Howes is a retired interior designer, mum to three daughters, grandma to seven assorted grandchildren and roadie to her musician partner.

The inspiration for Pam’s first novel came from her teenage years, working in a record store, and hanging around with musicians who frequented the business. The first novel evolved into a series about a fictional band, The Raiders. She is a fan of sixties music and it’s this love that compelled her to begin writing.

Author Links


Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100041354393134


Twitter: https://twitter.com/PamHowes1

My Thoughts

The Daughters of Victory Street by Pam Howes is a charming post-World War II historical saga.  It is the fourth novel in The Bryant Sisters series.  I recommend reading this series in order.  This will allow you to get to know the characters and their back stories. We return to Wavetree, Liverpool, England on Victory Street where it is February of 1952.  It is a close community on Victory Street.  The residents take care of each other.  Bella and Edie have been focusing on their families.  Fran has been absent from Liverpool following the scandal with her ex-husband, but she misses her friends.  When another resident on Victory Street decides to move, their house is perfect for Fran and her child.  With Fran’s return, The Bryant Sisters begin rehearsing.  They have plenty of new songs thanks to Fran and Bobby.  Dianna, Earl’s daughter, is a beautiful singer.  Earl has her and Levi entering a singing competition.  Singing, though, is not what Dianna wishes to do when she graduates.  She wishes to become a nurse following in her Aunt Ruby’s footsteps.  We follow Dianna as she passes her exams and enters the nursing program at the Royal Hospital.  We get to see Dianna blossom into a lovely woman who makes big decisions regarding her future.  It is great catching up with Bella, Edie, Fran as well as their families and friends.  

The Daughters of Victory Street is an emotional novel that lets readers see what life was like after World War II in England.  Restrictions are still in place even in the 1950s.  People are happy the war is over and are looking forward to moving on with their lives.  I thought The Daughters of Victory Street was well-written with likeable, relatable, and realistic characters.  It is enjoyable catching up with Fran, Bella, and Edie plus get them develop as time moves forward. Dianna experiences racism in her life at various times.  I like how the author dealt with this issue.  Bella and Bobby discover their daughter, Lizzie has a health issue.  The couple takes the matter in stride, and I like how everyone rallies around to help them.  We watch the families grow and adapt as the years pass by.  The Daughters of Victory Street is a heartwarming saga with laughter, courage, grief, perseverance, disappointment, hope, and most of all- love.

The Daughters of Victory Street is available from Amazon*.  The Bryant Sisters consists of The Girls of Victory Street, Wedding Bells on Victory Street, and The Mothers of Victory Street (all of them can be borrowed through Kindle Unlimited).  You can find Pam Howes other historical novels here.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope that I have helped you to find a new book and/or author.  I will return on January 19 with Spirits and Sourdough by Bailey Cates.  It is the tenth A Magical Bakery Mystery.  May you have cheery day.  Take care, stay safe, and Happy Reading!


Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.




No comments:

Post a Comment