Maggie Carpenter is a quiet unassuming teacher in Manchester when war breaks out. With all the destruction and war going on around her she decides to join the war effort to deliver essential supplies around the country. She is thrown into a world she has never known, has made friendships with strangers and has learned there are many secrets among the people.

This is a book I started and couldn't put down. It is a saga, it is dramatic and emotional it is a wonderful read. I love the friendship the girls have, and the author has written with heart and character so the whole story and the characters come to life on the pages. I have not read any of the other war books written by this author but think I now need to search them out as I loved this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Bonnier Books UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this Arc

Another brilliant book by a brilliant author

Family saga at its best can’t wait to read more

i love this set of books. its like a big hug when we get a new instalment. we get to see such a differing point of view via each character, showing how everyone showed up in and for the war in their own ways. and somehow they all fit together too.
this time we have Maggie and its time for her to do her bit. so she gives up her teaching job and instead will be delivering essential supplies on the water. its there she meets her two companions for the job, Gloria and Elizabeth. they all come to this job with different feelings and personalities and its not getting off to the smoothest of starts. but with time and being onboard such close quarters they soon thaw a little.the three have many challenges even stepping into this role. but together they forge on. but with their own reasons for being here can they all support one another throughout.
i thoroughly enjoyed this book and cant wait for the next one. all the characters had their own little personalities that i could clearly imagine right down to them doing their jobs, their accents, and all the little traits were described perfectly by Shirley.

WW2 book five.
Manchester and Maggie Carpenter gives up her teaching job to work the grand union waterways delivering essential supplies along side trainees Gloria and Elizabeth who all become known as water gypsies.
A hard going job this book entails courage love and friendship and learning a man's job and it's not all just as easy at times for Maggie.
A great story, well written, a real page turner to be enjoyed.

Captivating read. Took to Gloria right away, I didn’t know what exeat was either.
Elizabeth, Maggie and Gloria aren’t sure of each other from the outset, but working in such confined spaces on the boats helps to draw them out. Although Gloria is the youngest, she is a force to be reckoned with, doesn’t mind making her opinion known.
Elizabeth is the one with the classy accent, what has drawn her to work on the waterways? Maggie decided to work there to escape her past, leaving behind a teaching career, but why?
As the girls get accustomed to each other, the boat people slowly get used to them too.
Worthy of more than ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



I really enjoyed this book. Each character was interesting in their own way. Paul Murphy caused a few laughs.
Dorothy sounded like your grandmother. My favourite character was Maggie, least favourite was Jake for his bullying ways.
Looking forward to the next book already. Now off to read Little Women.