This was a brilliant read. As soon as I started reading this book I just knew I was going to love it. Highly recommended

My first Jean Fullerton book but not my last I absolutely loved this easy read

I cannot wait to read the rest in the series

Highly recommended

A great read. I enjoyed reading it and it has a great plot and characters. I also look forward to more books from the author.

This is a really good World War Two family saga. It's about the Brogan family in London during the Blitz. Jo the youngest daughter is in love with Tommy. He has a dangerous reputation and is disliked by her father. Can their relationship survive?

Parts of this book are meticulously detailed. The exacting research shows, but this is offset by a couple of howlers. Mothers may have taken their kids to a pie shop but not to at BEFOREt taking communion, for which they fasted! Another unlikelyhood is that the establishment of the 1940s would have been involved with subterfuge in cooperation with the Catholic church. Only post 1960s when ecumenism flourished would this have been a highly unlikely, possibility.
I think my main problem was that the characters were just not engaging enough. For a member of one rough family to take up with someone from an equally rough one isn’t that earthshattering.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this eARC.

This is such a charming historical fiction book set in 1940, during the London blitz and shows the classic British attitude of "Keep Calm and Carry On". Sure enough life went on for most families as the war went on.

Jo has fallen in love with the neighbourhood rebel and has been evacuated with her younger brother as a result. But she manages to make her way back to London and we see how her life starts to unfold, along with her lover's, Tom, and the rest of her family.

I do have a few issues with the book. Firstly, it's great that it was a British author, a Londoner herself, but what's with all the brand names? Instead of saying cigarettes and I am assuming one of them was meant to be condoms, she would give the actual brand name. That was infuriating! Because, unless you are into cigarettes and are from the world war 2 period, you wouldn't know what she is talking about!
Also I love the name of this book, but there was no mention of Christmas until the last few pages of the book, and even then, it was so brief! It was nice that they had a relatively good Christmas despite the war going on, but I don't think the title goes with this book at all otherwise.

Overall, I think this book was good, I enjoyed it and to anyone who loves a good sweet historical fiction romance, and an easy-read, I recommend this book!

When I requested this book I didn’t realise that it was a follow on (I haven’t read the first book) in saying that I could still appreciate how well it was written and I love the recipes!

5☆ An Enchanting WW2 Saga, I couldn't put down!

Oh how I love the war time reads they are by far some of my favourite books.
They bring back memories of my Nans stories. I could of listened to her for hours.

This is my first book by Jean, and my first book within the series. But I had no problem quickly settling into the story. Time just flew by!

The story starts when we meet evacuees Jo and her brother Billy. Sent to Mrs Garfield..... owner of The Melton Winchet’s general store on the outskirts of Colchester (where my Dad grew up).

They don't have it easy and Billy is bullied at school as the other kids class the evacuees as dirty. He keeps getting himself into trouble. Jo isn't doing much better, Mrs Garfield is rude and stuck up.

So it's no wonder they make plans to get back home to the East End. Where everyone knows everyone.

When they finally make it back home, Jo can't wait to get back in the arms of local ruffianTommy.
If only her family would accept him too.
Tommy doesn't have the best reputation, but you can't help who you fall in love with!!
Will their families ever accept their love?
Will the Brogan's have a Christmas to remember?

A Ration Book Christmas is more than just a romance, it's about survival, the ups and downs of war, the emotions, the reality, being in close family, Family drama.

Jean took me on a journey of discovery.
I literally felt like I was apart of the story.
All of the precise intricate details were perfectly plotted.
The ambience, what life was like living on rations, the emotions of war and it's effects, the sounds, sights and smells. It felt so real. I've read plenty of these types of books but Jean had it spot on.

The characters were perfectly written, they fitted into the story with ease.
I loved Tommy and Jo, they say opposites attract, but Jo just seemed to bring out the good side to Tommy. I was rooting for them from the start!

I adored this gorgeous book, the cover is simply spot on, I loved the ambience, the romance, it had plenty of East End Drama, wheeling and dealing, Family drama, A bit of Christmas Sparkle, Enchanting and Captivating the perfect read if you love WW2 sagas.
But be warned once you start reading, you won't want to put it down!

I'm thrilled to of discovered this gorgeous series, I am excited to read the others in the series. Jean Fullerton is definitely going on my Authors to look out for list.

Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Jean Fullerton never disappoints.
A great read with such likable characters. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book.

Jean Fullerton, the Queen of the East End saga, is back with another absorbing and enjoyable tale set during the dark days of the Blitz guaranteed to make her readers laugh and cry, A Ration Book Christmas.

War requires bravery, courage and determination, regardless of whether you are fighting the enemy on the battlefield or keeping the home fires burning. Hardship, anguish and desperation become part of the daily routine and nobody knows this better than the Brogan family. While the men of the family are doing their duty for King and Country, life in London’s East End is equally fraught with danger. Nobody is safe from the merciless cruelty and evil of the enemy and the German Luftwaffe’s nightly visits and their ruthless weapons of destruction could end somebody’s life in a heartbeat. The War, however, has also enabled women to break free from the stifling limits of convention and given them a liberating sense of freedom which had been previously denied to them.

Nobody knows this more than the youngest of the Brogan sisters, Jo, who is one of the women who has been able to shake off the shackles that had been previously imposed upon her and is enjoying her newfound liberty and freedom. With a future not being guaranteed, thanks to the Germans, Jo is trying to experience as much as she possibly can and her thirst for adventure has led her straight into the arms of Tommy Sweete, a charming man whose dangerous reputation precedes him. Love soon blossoms between the two of them, but with everybody warning her off Tommy, should Jo be so eager to trust him with her heart?

Is Tommy the man for Jo? Will he provide her with the happiness and fulfillment which she is searching for? Or is she merely setting herself up for more heartache? With Christmas fast approaching and so many limitations and obstacles in the way, will the Brogans manage to have a wonderful festive celebration? Or will bombs and rationing put paid to all that?

Jean Fullerton never fails to sweep her readers back to the past and she certainly does it with great flair and aplomb with her latest novel, A Ration Book Christmas. A wonderfully written and evocative tale of community, love, friendship, the ties that bind and redemption, A Ration Book Christmas is a delightful wartime saga that will keep readers absolutely glued to the page.

I thought Jo was a wonderful heroine and readers are sure to cheer for and emphatise with her and I defy anyone not to instantly take to their hearts the other wonderful characters who people this outstanding saga.

Romantic, captivating and wonderfully vivid, A Ration Book Christmas is another unmissable tale from the wonderful Jean Fullerton!

Jean Fullerton clearly knows how to tell a story and this is a beautifully written book.
It didn't matter that I hadn't read the prequel as everything I needed to know about the characters was there and I hope there is a sequel to tie up some unanswered questions.
I love stories about either war and particularly ones like this that give an insight into the jobs civilians did and the true grit many Britains showed.

A follow on from Pocket Full Of Dreams this is a beautiful story based around world war two. It tells the story of a life of evacuation, love, loss and rationing. Another beautiful story from Jean Fullerton. Thanks Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this book. Definitely five stars.

Excellent book with a great storyline. Characters that are so well written. I would highly recommend this book to anyone!

A heart warming historical tale. Well developed characters - I now want to read more by Fullerton. Great book to curl up and read now the nights are getting darker!

A brilliant and interesting historical fiction. Really enjoyed reading this.
Jean has created strong, rounded characters who come to live off the page. The plot is gripping and keeps you engaged. A lovely read.

Family, war, love, misunderstanding, heart-warming.

I loved Jo and her determination. She knew what she wanted (for the most part) and she was ready to fight for it and do what she needed to do to get it. She strives to exceed everyone's expectations of her, and it's so inspiring.

This book really explores family dynamics. You had the Brogans, close and caring and always looking out for each other, even if they didn't necessarily believe in each other's actions, and held their own little resentments. Then you had the Sweetes, and the control and toxicity and manipulation. I loved seeing both families side by side, delving in to the complications of families.

A Ration Book Christmas really grabs hold of the Keep Calm And Carry On mentality of the war, and the characters really display such steadfastness against the despair of the reality of war.

I also loved how there were a few ration book recipes in the back of the book, although the thought of offal makes me gag so I won't be trying the heart one!

This is the perfect read for the run up to Christmas.

I was so happy to revisit the Brogan family after reading Pocketful of Dreams which I loved.

Book one was based on Mattie the eldest daughter and now we read Jo’s story, the youngest daughter. At the start we find out that Jo and her brother Billy were evacuated away from their family. They are very eager to get back to their family and especially Jo is missing her boyfriend Tommy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. If your looking for a well written wartime saga then I highly recommend you read this series. The author brought the Brogan family into our hearts in two lovely stories. I’m hoping we get to read more of this family. I loved it.