Love, marriage, birth, death and betrayal in the East End of London make up life in Mulberry Lane …

Maureen Jackson knew life as a trainee nurse wouldn’t be easy, but she didn’t expect her hospital to be badly bombed on her first shift. Plus Maureen still has her family and friends in Mulberry Lane to keep her busy – she’s needed as much there as she is by her patients.

Running the pub on the corner of Mulberry Lane, Peggy Ashley is used to taking in all sorts of waifs and strays. But the arrival of a dashing American captain has got tongues wagging about Mulberry Lane’s favourite landlady…

Janet Ashley’s husband is back from the frontline. Which is more than so many of the wives of Mulberry Lane. But her beloved Mike is a completely different man from the one she fell in love with – and what’s more he doesn’t remember her, or their young daughter. How do you cope when your darling husband is a virtual stranger?

As WW2 continues around them, the women of Mulberry Lane know that community spirit and friendship is the key to surviving the Blitz.

 

 

Both Fascinating and Entertaining!

What a pleasure to be back in the Pig and Whistle and be re-acquainted with all the residents of Mulberry Lane!

Rosie Clarke’s second book in this series continues with the ongoing saga of life in London during the Blitz.We find out how Peggy and her family are managing in the local pub, struggling to maintain a business despite rationing and bombing. Janet, her daughter, is striving to come to terms with her injured husband having lost his memory but has to keep going for the sake of their baby daughter Maggie. Son Pip is now serving in the RAF, with very intermittent trips home. Her husband, Laurie, continues to work for the war effort and is posted far from home, but the shadow of his affair with a younger woman casts a long shadow. Friend Maureen’s life continues but no longer at the beck and call of her father, she has taken up nursing and has Rory back in her life. She finds herself with a whole new set of friends through her new career and is feeling loved, valued and happy with her vocation. We pick up the threads of life with all the characters from the first novel popping up, and it’s a truly great sequel.

The strength of the local women during this time is astounding .. surviving on low rations with a dearth of goods in the shops and yet they look after each other and it is easy to see why they didn’t go back to being subservient after the war was over. Having to make decisions on a daily basis to keep not only their families, but the community, together. This is both a fascinating and entertaining read. I’ve always been fond of books set in this period and am already looking forward to the next in this series. Definitely a set of novels not to be missed!

My thanks to publishers Aria for approving my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.

Tags: family saga, friendship, London Blitz, WWII

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 980.0 KB

Print Length: 274 pages

Publisher: Aria

Publication Date: 1 December 2017

 

 

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