The Liverpool Girls by Pam Howes

Welcome!  On Sunday's I highlight books that I was unable to review when they were released.  Today I am sharing The Liverpool Girls by Pam Howes*.  Pam Howes was born in Cheshire, England.  She is an interior designer who began writing seriously in the 1990s.  Pam's first novel is set in the 1960s and inspired from her time as a teenager when she worked in a local record store.  She hung out with musicians who were in the industry and continues to be a fan of music from the 60s.  Pam is the mother of three adult daughters, has seven grandchildren and roadie to one musician partner.  In addition to The Mersey Series, Pam has written The Lark Lane series.  Readers can follow Pam Howes on Facebook and Twitter (@PamHowes1).

Lewis's Department Store

Summary of Book

The Liverpool Girls by Pam Howes takes us back to 1966 in Liverpool, England.  Jackie Evans lives at home with their mother, Dora.  Jackie is studying her O levels, but she would rather be studying drama which is her passion.  Jackie dreams of a career on the stage.  Mrs. Faraday offers Jackie the job of setting up the St. Paul’s Players for the church.    Carol Evans has a job at Lewis’s Department Store and loves the new Mod fashions.  She still lives with her father, Joe and his new wife, ivy.  Carol has been dating Alex who has been standoffish as of late.  The two sisters soon learn that they have been dating the same man.  When one of them becomes pregnant, a rift forms between the sisters.  Dora and Joe, the girls’ parents want to help them during this trying time.  They must find a way to overcome the past if they are to help their daughters.  The situation escalates until a decision can cause a dangerous consequence.  Can the sibling bond be restored?  How will things turn out for the Evans family?

Mad for Mod Fashions

My Review

The Liverpool Girls by Pam Howes is the third book in The Mersey Series.  It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series.  I have read all the books which I found beneficial to understanding the characters and what they have experienced.  I enjoyed reading this historical saga.  I thought the characters were developed and realistic for the time period.  Pam Howes captured the era (the late 60s) especially with her descriptions of the clothes, the music, the theater, and the slang.  The problems the Evans family faced were representative of the 1960s.  We see that choices have consequences especially when a decision is not thought through completely.  Carol grew into a stylish young woman who lived with her father and his new wife, Ivy.  She has a job she enjoys at Lewis’s and is stepping out with Alex.  Jackie is sixteen and living with her mother, Dora.  She is completing her schooling while dreaming of being on the stage.  Jackie is dating Sandy.  Lo and behold, Alex and Sandy are the same person.  Personally, I would have ditched the cheating so and so.  These sisters fight for the man which is what causes numerous problems.  I liked stepping back in time to see how people lived and how they handled different situations like a pregnant unwed daughter.  The Liverpool Girls is an emotional story that will tug at your heartstrings.  It all came together with a worthy ending.  The Liverpool Girls is a dramatic tale with sibling strife, boyfriend bruhaha, the swingin’ sixties, pestiferous pregnancy, heartrending hubbub, and lasting love.

Sandy/Alex worked here!

The Liverpool Girls can be purchased here* (Amazon UK).  The Lost Daughter of Liverpool and The Forgotten Family of Liverpool are the first two books in The Mersey Series.  If you enjoy historical novels, there is still time to win a digital copy of Christmas is for Children by Rosie Clarke.  Leave me a comment with your email address (so I can contact you if you win). The contest ends when the New Year begins (EST United States).  You can email me your information at Doodlesink@hotmail.com if you prefer.  Thank you for stopping in today.  I will be back tomorrow to feature Husband Material by Emily Belden. I hope you have a merry day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.

The Forgotten Family of Liverpool: The Mersey Trilogy

Happy Friday!  Have you tried British historical novels?  There are some wonderful novels available that will take you back to 1930s through 1950s in England.  A few of my favorite authors of these novels are Donna Douglas, Kitty Neale, Rosie Clarke, Nadine Dorries and Daisy Styles.  I now get to add Pam Howes to the list.  

The Forgotten Family of Liverpool by Pam Howes is the second installment in The Mersey Trilogy.  The story starts in June of 1952.  Dora Rodgers is a dressmaker in Liverpool, England living with her two daughters, Carol and Jackie.  She has recently separated from her husband, Joe after he had an affair with Ivy Bennett.  Ivy and Joe work at the Royal Ordnance Factory which provides the house Dora is living in with the girls.  One afternoon there is a knock at the door and Dora opens it to find a Mr. Oliver from Department of Children’s Welfare.  They have received a complaint about Carol being neglected and that her behavior has deteriorated.  Mr. Oliver is removing Carol from Dora’s care and into Joe’s.   Dora is not allowed any contact with Carol.  Dora is determined to fight for her daughter but circumstances work against her.  Dora moves forward with her life while working to improve her circumstances and get Carol returned to her care.  But Dora’s journey along life’s highway will be filled with hairpin curves, potholes and speed bumps.  See how Dora fares in The Forgotten Family of Liverpool.

The Forgotten Family of Liverpool is well-written and has a nice, steady pace. The characters and their situations are realistic.  I could easily put myself into Dora’s shoes (not Ivy’s though).  It is an emotional story that draws readers into the lives of the Rodgers’ family.  While this is the second story in The Mersey Trilogy, The Forgotten Family of Liverpool can be read alone.  I did not have the pleasure of reading The Lost Daughter of Liverpool, and I had no problem.  Readers are brought up-to-date on what has occurred in the characters’ lives.  My rating for The Forgotten Family of Liverpool is 4.25 out of 5 stars (I liked this story).  The book does contain British slang and terminology.  Most of the terms meanings (or American counterpart) can be discerned from the text. The Forgotten Family of Liverpool is a heartfelt story that will have you cheering for Dora and hoping for the worst to happen to Ivy.  Fans of Donna Douglas, Rosie Clarke, and Nadine Dorries, will enjoy reading The Forgotten Family of Liverpool.  The book will remind you of Call the Midwife (the families that the midwives are responsible for).  

I hope you found my review helpful.  The next book I will be discussing is Knot What You Think by Mary Marks.  I hope you have a good and uneventful day. Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader