Christmas with the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell

Good Day!  If you receive a bookstore gift card for Christmas, there are some wonderful new releases on December 31.  They include Shattered Justice by Susan Furlong, Murder Ink by Lorraine Bartlett, Sealed Off by Barbara Ross, When Love Finds You by Virginia Wise, Dead in Dublin by Catie Murphy, Come Homicide or High Water by Denise Swanson and Matchmaking Can Be Murder by Amanda Flower.  Moral Compass by Danielle Steel will be out on January 7 along with Thistles and Thieves by Molly MacRae.  Is there a book you are looking forward to obtaining?  To encourage your loved ones to get you Amazon gift cards for Christmas, send them a hint with a link to the Amazon gift card page. 

Christmas with the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell takes us back to October of 1942.  The girls all survived the bombings that hit the area, though, Gloria and Martha have minor injuries.  Polly is shocked and relieved when she is notified that her fiancé, Tommy Watts is alive.  Polly rushes to the hospital to be by his side.  She looks forward to Tommy recovering so they can be wed.  Polly does have news to share with him and hopes Tommy will not be too upset with her.  Rosie arrives home to find her sister, Charlotte ensconced in her cottage.  Charlotte left the expensive school that Rosie had installed her in, and she has no intention of returning.  Rosie needs to find out why Charlotte left school as well as keep her from discovering her second job.  Helen is still feeling melancholy after her miscarriage and discovery that her beau was married.  She spends time with the kindly Dr. Parker, but Helen is focusing on breaking the records at the shipyard.  Lily and George are planning something special for Christmas Day.  Gloria is missing Jack, but the girls have not thought of a way to thwart Miriam.  Come along and join the ladies in their latest adventures in Christmas with the Shipyard Girls.

 Christmas with the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell is the seventh installment in The Shipyard Girls series.  This book picks up where Courage of the Shipyard Girls ended.  The East End just suffered severe bombing.  Helen stepped up and earned respect from the ladies for her actions.  Polly is thrilled that Tommy is alive and in the local hospital.  The ladies have gone through so much since World War II broke out.  Polly deserves a bit of happiness after being told her fiancé was dead.  Unfortunately, Polly has some news for Tommy, and she is afraid to of his reaction.  The characters in is this series are well developed and realistic.  I always look forward to catching up with them to see how they are faring.  I feel so bad for Gloria who is raising Hope on her own without Jack because of the nasty Miriam.  The Shipyard Girls series is one that needs to be read in order.  Each book builds upon the previous one.  Christmas with the Shipyard Girls focuses on Polly, Rosie and Helen.  However, we do spend time with all the ladies including Kate and Lily.  I thought the story contained good writing and it flowed along steadily.  The author has an engaging writing style that drew me right in.  I stayed up late reading to find out what happened in this book.  There was repetition of details that I felt could have been eliminated (related to the bombing, who was injured, etc.).  Rosie is surprised when she comes home to find her sister, Charlotte.  It seems Charlotte left school and does not wish to return.  Rosie is worried that her sister will discover her second job which is how she paid for Charlotte’s expensive boarding school.  Rosie wants to encourage Charlotte to return to school and enlists Helen’s assistance.  She also needs to find out what drove Charlotte to leave school.  There is a lot going on in Christmas with the Shipyard Girls.  It is a delight to read though the ending is bittersweet.  Christmas with the Shipyard Girls has joy, sadness, frustration, new love and so much more.  I like how the ladies stick together.  They are more than close friends—they are family.  I am eager to read Triumph of the Shipyard Girls.  I really hope that Miriam gets her comeuppance soon.  Christmas with the Shipyard Girls is a charming historical novel that has a happy homecoming, a sibling sticky wicket, wedding wonder, a surprising secret and Christmas cheer.

Christmas with the Shipyard Girls is available here* (Amazon UK).  You can find a complete list of titles in The Shipyard Girls Series here.  Triumph of the Shipyard Girls will be out on March 19, 2020.  I am eager to read it as I sense that Bel's true parentage is about to be revealed to Helen.  This should be interesting (and explosive).  Tomorrow I am sharing my review of The Amish Wedding Promise by Laura V. Hilton.  It is the first novel in the Hidden Springs series.  I hope that you have an amiable day.  I am off to bake cookies.  I discovered all the different variety of chips available.  My mother has been coming up with different combinations she wants me to bake for her.  I am not sure how chocolate chip, peanut butter chip and white chocolate chips will work together.  We shall see.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links.

Courage of the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell

Greetings!  A Sister's Sorrow by Kitty Neale and Courage of the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell  are out today.  Chocolate Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke will be available on February 26 (find out what happens next in the Hannah Swensen and Ross saga).  Broken Bone China by Laura Childs releases on March 5 with Silent Night by Danielle Steel.  

Courage of the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell has readers revisiting Sunderland in 1942.  Polly Elliot has just received a letter that her fiancé, Tommy Watts is missing in action.  Polly will be relying on her friends and family to get her through the uncertain days ahead.  Rosie is worried about her new husband, Peter who is currently on assignment in France.  Her sister, Charlotte is causing trouble at her expensive boarding school because she wants to live with Rosie.  Rosie, though, is worried that Charlotte would find out about her night job.  Gloria is raising her daughter, Hope on her own since Jack Crawford was forced away to Scotland.  Thankfully, they can keep in touch through letters and phone calls.  Helen Crawford has not heard from Jack which has led to her current predicament.  Helen has been spending time with Gloria and Hope.  The tough shipyard manager needs guidance and Gloria is the one person who can provide it.  Angie and Dorothy are getting an opportunity to have their own flat thanks to Rosie’s friend, George.  Getting them away from their families help alleviate some of the leverage Miriam Crawford holds over the welders.  The shipyard girls are going to need each other to get through the rest of the war and the devastation that lies ahead.

 

Courage of the Shipyard Girls is the sixth novel in The Shipyard Girls series.  You do need to read the books in this series in order.  Otherwise, you will not have the characters backstories.  I thought Courage of the Shipyard Girls was well-written with charming characters.  I always look forward to each new adventure with the shipyard girls.  We have been with the ladies since they first joined the work force at J.L. Thompson & Sons.  I have enjoyed watching these ladies grow as individuals and with their friendship over the last six books.  Polly, Helen, Rosie and Gloria are the featured characters in Courage of the Shipyard Girls.  The other ladies are present, but they are not as prominently featured.  Angie and Dorothy provide comic relief as always.  The story progresses at a nice steady clip as we delve into the characters lives.  You never know what will happen next in these ladies lives especially with Miriam thrown into the mix.  I certainly hope she gets her comeuppance.  Courage of the Shipyard Girls is an emotional and realistic novel.  Nancy Revell has captured what it felt like for these people to be at home, working hard while the men are off fighting.  The bombings that took place, working hard to make and repair ships, rationing of food and clothing, blackouts, children sent away from areas that are being bombarded by the Germans are some of the elements featured in the books.  I especially like how the ladies are always there for each other.  They are going to need each other if they are to have the courage to carry on and survive the war.  Admirers of The Shipyard Girls series will enjoy how the story ends (I could not read fast enough) and we get a glimpse of what is to occur in the next book in The Shipyard Girls series. 

I hope I have helped you find a new book to read.  I will be sharing my thoughts on Delighting in Your Company by Blair McDowell tomorrow.  I am off to change out our kitchen faucet.  It has decided to start leaking (seems a trend in my home).  Wish me luck (I will need it).  I hope you have a splendid day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

Victory for the Shipyard Girls: Shipyard Girls Series

Good Day!  Fatal Promise by Angela Marsons is out today.  It is the ninth book in the DI Kim Stone series.  Nipped in the Bud by Sheila Connolly publishes on October 29.  It is the book in An Orchard Mystery series.  

Victory for the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell is the fifth novel in the Shipyard Girls series.   We join the ladies in Sunderland in January of 1942.  Jack’s wife, Miriam has ruined Gloria and Jack’s chance at a happily ever after.  Miriam had uncovered devastating secrets on Gloria’s friends that would ruin their lives.  Jack is sent off Scotland to manage the Clyde, and Gloria is left to manage on her own and raise their daughter, Hope.  Helen Crawford is enjoying her role as shipyard manager until she discovers her father has been having an affair with Gloria and that Hope is her half-sister.  Helen is devastated and finds comfort in the arms of Mr. Theodore Harvey, a doctor at the local hospital.   Rosie returns from her impromptu vacation with Peter to share good news with her friends.  She misses Peter and throws herself into her work to keep herself occupied.  When Gloria shares with Rosie what happened with Miriam, they conspire to eliminate the impact the secrets would have on the ladies.  The truth about Martha’s parentage is their biggest obstacle.  Bel learns that Pearl told Maisie about her birth father, so she becomes obsessed with learning about her biological father.  Pearl has never wanted to talk about it and she still does not.  She underestimates Bel’s determination to obtain the truth.  Find out what happens next for these courageous women in Victory for the Shipyard Girls.

Victory for the Shipyard Girls is not a standalone novel.  You need to read the book in the Shipyard Girls series in order (a worthwhile investment).  Victory for the Shipyard Girls picks up where Shipyard Girls in Love ended.  Nancy Revell has a writing style that draws the reader right in.  I was fully engaged by this book with its inviting writing style and its rapid pace.  We get to know more about the characters in each book.  I like how this diverse group that have become close friends (they are a family).  The ladies continue to develop in each new installment of the Shipyard Girls series.  There is a large cast of characters, but it is easy to keep track of them and their storylines.  Victory for the Shipyard Girls focuses on Helen, Gloria, Rosie, Bel and Pearl.  There are some amazing revelations in Victory for the Shipyard Girls. Pearl’s story takes us back in time to learn how she gave up Maisie and conceived Bel.  We get to know more about Pearl and what led her to drink copious amounts of alcohol.  I stayed up very late (even for me) to finish reading.  I wanted to find out what happened to next and the identity of Bel’s birth father (wow).  Victory for the Shipyard Girls takes us through June 30, 1942 and ends with a cliffhanger.  We must wait for Courage of the Shipyard Girls (February 21, 2019) to get the answers we desire.  I am giving Victory for the Shipyard Girls 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it). 

Thank you for visiting today.  Tomorrow I will be sharing my review of Mardi Gras Murder by Ellen Byron.  It is the fourth book in A Cajun Country Mystery series.  May your day be filled with hope.  Take care of yourself and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

The Shipyard Girls in Love: The Shipyard Girls Series

Welcome!  Nancy Revell is the author of The Shipyard Girls Series which includes The Shipyard Girls, Shipyard Girls at War, Secrets of the Shipyard Girls, and Shipyard Girls in Love.  Nancy Revell is the pen name for writer and journalist Amanda Revell Walton.  Nancy lives in Sunderland (setting of The Shipyard Girls Series) with her husband and dog, Rosie. Readers can follow Nancy Revell on Twitter (@arevellwalton), Facebook, Bookbub, Amazon and Goodreads.  

Shipyard Girls in Love by Nancy Revell is the fourth book in The Shipyard Girls Series.  We return to Sunderland, England in 1941 where Gloria, Rosie, Hannah, Martha, Angie, Dorothy, and Polly work at J.L. Thompson & Sons Shipyard.  All the ladies except Hannah work as welders which before the war was a male only occupation.  It is a beautiful Saturday in November, and Gloria Armstrong is having her daughter, Hope christened.  Gloria is shocked when Jack Crawford arrives at the church with Arthur for the christening. Jack is suffering from retrograde amnesia.  Gloria is filled with hope that Jack’s memory might be returning.  It will not be easy, though, for these star-crossed lovers.  Jack’s wife, Miriam is not about to let herself be humiliated with Jack leaving her for someone like Gloria.  Then there is the matter of Vinnie Armstrong, Gloria’s violent husband.  Gloria’s divorce is progressing, but it is not final.  Vinnie has yet to see Hope and does not know that she is not his biological daughter.  If Vinnie discovers the truth, there is no telling what he will do to Gloria.  Rosie is head over heels in love with DS Peter Miller, but her business venture goes against his beliefs and the law.  Lily, Rosie’s business partner, wants Rosie to be happy, but she also does not wish to go to jail.  Every person has a secret or two that they hope will never be uncovered.  What happens when those secrets are brought into the light.   Rejoin the ladies in Sunderland to see how they are faring in Shipyard Girls in Love.

I thought Shipyard Girls in Love to be well-written and have a gentle pace that suits the story.  The books in The Shipyard Girls Series are best read in order.  Each book builds upon the previous one.  I just love the characters in this series. They are such a diverse group of women.  With the men off fighting the war, these women have been hired to do a labor-intensive job.  They are welders (except Hannah) who work long, backbreaking hours working to build ships to aid the war.  The co-workers became friends and now they are a family.  These women will do anything for each other.  While Shipyard Girls in Love focuses on Rosie and Gloria, we still get to catch up with the other ladies and their families (Bel and Joe, Maisie, Lily and George, Arthur, Tommy).  The book takes place from November 1941 through the beginning of January 1942.  The United States enters the war after Pearl Harbor is attacked.  The story touches on what is happening to Hannah’s parents who are Jews still in German occupied Czechoslovakia.  Kate opens Maison Nouvelle, but then someone from her past pays a visit.  Shipyard Girls in Love will take you through the gamut of emotions as you progress through the book.  I cannot wait to find out what happens next in Victory for the Shipyard Girls when it comes out September.

During World War II seven hundred women worked in the Sunderland shipyards.  Thank you for stopping by and reading my review.  I will return tomorrow with my thoughts on Murder, She Knit by Peggy Ehrhart.  I am off to wrangle Doozy (one of my dogs) into the tub. Wish me luck (he is wiley).  May you have a day full of happiness.  Take care of yourself and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Shipyard Girls in Love: The Shipyard Girls Series

Welcome!  The Summer of New Beginnings by Bette Lee Crosby will be published on March 27 along with Natural Thorn Killer by Katie Dyer-Seeley (first book in A Rose City Mystery series).  

Shipyard Girls in Love by Nancy Revell is the fourth book in The Shipyard Girls Series and it is out today! We return to Sunderland, England in 1941 where Gloria, Rosie, Hannah, Martha, Angie, Dorothy, and Polly work at J.L. Thompson & Sons Shipyard.  All the ladies except Hannah work as welders which before the war was a male only occupation.  It is a beautiful Saturday in November, and Gloria Armstrong is having her daughter, Hope christened.  Gloria is shocked when Jack Crawford arrives at the church with Arthur for the christening. Jack is suffering from retrograde amnesia.  Gloria is filled with hope that Jack’s memory might be returning.  It will not be easy, though, for these star-crossed lovers.  Jack’s wife, Miriam is not about to let herself be humiliated with Jack leaving her for someone like Gloria.  Then there is the matter of Vinnie Armstrong, Gloria’s violent husband.  Gloria’s divorce is progressing, but it is not final.  Vinnie has yet to see Hope and does not know that she is not his biological daughter.  If Vinnie discovers the truth, there is no telling what he will do to Gloria.  Rosie is head over heels in love with DS Peter Miller, but her business venture goes against his beliefs and the law.  Lily, Rosie’s business partner, wants Rosie to be happy, but she also does not wish to go to jail.  Every person has a secret or two that they hope will never be uncovered.  What happens when those secrets are brought into the light.   Rejoin the ladies in Sunderland to see how they are faring in Shipyard Girls in Love.

I thought Shipyard Girls in Love to be well-written and have a gentle pace that suits the story.  The books in The Shipyard Girls Series are best read in order.  Each book builds upon the previous one.  I just love the characters in this series.  They are such a diverse group of women.  With the men off fighting the war, these women have been hired to do a labor-intensive job.  They are welders (except Hannah) who work long, backbreaking hours working to build ships to aid the war.  The co-workers became friends and now they are a family.  These women will do anything for each other.  While Shipyard Girls in Love focuses on Rosie and Gloria, we still get to catch up with the other ladies and their families (Bel and Joe, Maisie, Lily and George, Arthur, Tommy).  The book takes place from November 1941 through the beginning of January 1942.  The United States enters the war after Pearl Harbor is attacked.  The story touches on what is happening to Hannah’s parents who are Jews still in German occupied Czechoslovakia.  Kate opens Maison Nouvelle, but then someone from her past pays a visit.  Shipyard Girls in Love will take you through the gamut of emotions as you progress through the book.  I cannot wait to find out what happens next in Victory for the Shipyard Girls (September 6).  My mother just started reading the series (she heard me talking about it) and is quickly devouring them.  Those readers who enjoy historical novels with strong female characters will be delighted with this series.

The other books in The Shipyard Girls Series are The Shipyard Girls, Shipyard Girls at War, and The Secrets of the Shipyard Girls.  Thank you for reading my review.  I will be back on Friday with my thoughts on In Places Hidden by Tracie Peterson.  Stay warm and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

Secrets of the Shipyard Girls: The Shipyard Girls

Hello!  The West Woods by Suzy Vadori is the second book in The Fountain series.  It is a young adult paranormal story and it publishes on September 22. Wagging through the Snow by Laurien Berenson is the latest A Melanie Travis Mystery book.  It is a delightful Christmas tale and will be released on September 26. 

Secrets of the Shipyard Girls by Nancy Revell is the third novel in The Shipyard Girls series.  We return to 1941 in Sunderland (England) where the ladies are continuing their welding work at J.L. Thompson & Sons Shipyard despite Helen Crawford’s attempts to break up their group.  Gloria just loves her little girl, Hope but she is worried about Jack.  It has been three weeks since his ship went down off the coast of Ireland.  Dorothy loves her role as godmother to Hope and presses Gloria to have her christened.  Rosie is busy with working in the shipyard during the day and at the brothel, where she is a co-owner, at night.  She has stopped seeing DS Peter Miller, a local constable, but Rosie misses him.  But she knows it is for the best.  Kate O’Donnell is opening up her own dress shop.  She has come a long way since her days on the streets thanks to Lily and Rosie.  Bel and Joe Elliot are in love and ready to move forward with their lives.  Pearl, Bel’s mum, is up to her usual antics, but her past is about to come back to haunt her.  Pick up a copy of Secrets of the Shipyard Girls to find out how things turn out for ladies along with their family and friends.

Secrets of the Shipyard Girls is well-written and a delight to read.  It has a good pace and I was fully engaged in the story.  It contains wonderful, endearing characters.  We get to see what life was like in England during World War II for women in Sunderland.  I love the diverse set of characters in this series.  I do recommend reading the books in the series in order (otherwise, you will be lost).  Secrets of the Shipyard Girls shows the enduring power of friendship and that families come in all forms.  My rating for Secrets of the Shipyard Girls is 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it).  I read this book while Hurricane Irma was blowing through my area, and it definitely took my mind off the storm (imagine it is dark, raining, and heavy winds).  I cannot wait to read Shipyard Girls in Love when it is released in March.  The first two books in the series are The Shipyard Girls and Shipyard Girls at War.

Minotaur is running a sweepstakes regarding Beach, Breeze and Bloodshed by John Keyse-Walker. To enter you need to take a photo of the book and post on social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) with the hashtag #BeachBreezeBloodshed. Winners will get a $75 gift certificate to the bookseller of their choice (see picture below with details).   Good luck to all who enter.  I will be featuring The West Woods by Suzy Vadori on September 22.  Have a great day, take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader   

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