Cover Image: Triumph of the Shipyard Girls

Triumph of the Shipyard Girls

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This is the eighth book in the series, but it can be read as a standalone. The stories within this book are heartbreaking and heartwarming.
Perfect for fans of WWII historical fiction and fans of sagas

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Another wonderful book in the Shipyard Girls series. I really hope the author doesn't stop writing these books as they're fantastic. Great characters that I love catching up with,

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I very much enjoyed this book. It has a good story and excellent main characters. I would definately recommend this book.

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This is book #8 of the Shipyard Girls series. Whilst it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone book. I have read a couple of the preceding books in the series, so was familiar with many of the characters. The book takes us back to 1943, and to Sunderland in the north-east of the country. The women in the area are still working in the shipyards, supporting their families and the local area while the men are at war. If you have missed any of the previous books, the storyline catches up on the characters and past events as it goes along.

The women all have their individual stories, and each book of the series does focus on each of the different characters. It was wonderful to be back amongst the women welders and share their stories again. The war is still raging across the country, and this book perfectly describes the sacrifices the women left behind made. I loved the characters in this book and the storyline was particularly heart-warming and heart-breaking in equal measures! As with other books in the series, the writing is well researched and gives you a true insight into what it was like around the shipyards during the war. I loved newly married Polly’s storyline and particularly sympathised with her when her husband has to go back to fight. I also loved Rosie’s story with her secrets threatening to come tumbling out. Of course, all the other characters were also featured, and whilst there are a lot of them, it wasn’t at all difficult to keep up with each of them.

These books are particularly endearing and I loved reading about the friendships made, companionships and the good old war spirit amongst the ladies left behind at home. Of course, this book did have its moments where it brought tears to my eyes, and it made me think of all the sacrifices that everyone made and the difficult few years of rationing, loss and grief that everyone went through. I would definitely recommend this book if you love wartime family sagas, and be sure to check out all the other books in the series also.

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I love this series so much and this latest book was no exception, wonderful story and fabulous characters, these books are an absolute joy to read.

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An addictive read from the start, TRIUMPH OF THE SHIPYARD GIRLS by Nancy Revell is the eighth in the series but it is my first. However, I didn't feel as if I had missed anything as readers' memories are refreshed to past events therefore giving me a little more insight. I was all ready to recommend that it could be read as a standalone, because it really did read as one...until I got the end. And then I was like NOOO! You can't end it there! lol So now I am hanging for the next book to see what happens.

The prologue takes readers back to 1936 for a hard-hitting opening that is both shocking and heartbreaking before picking up on Christmas Day 1942 in the wake of Tommy and Polly's wedding. The couple had their honeymoon the week before the wedding as Tommy returned to his job as a mine clearance diver for the war on Boxing Day. When Polly returns home after her wedding night and bidding her new husband goodbye, she is greeted with the sad news that Tommy's grandfather Arthur passed away in his sleep.

Helen is the granddaughter of the owners of the Shipyard and shares a love hate relationship with her mother, Miriam. The woman is hateful, to be honest, as she continues a hold over Helen and the women welders of the the Shipyard, as well as Helen's beloved father who now lives in Glasgow. But secrets make you bitter, as they seem to have done so with her mother, but now Helen has stumbled across one her mother appears to know nothing about. Her main confidante is Dr John Parker. It is obvious from the beginning, even to me who has come into the series partway, that John adores Helen but thanks to her spiteful mother's barbs she doesn't believe that he could love a woman like her. There are two types of women for men - those they choose to marry and those they keep for sleeping with. And according to Miriam Crawford, her daughter is not marrying as a man prefers "unsullied goods" in a wife. Aside from that, it is obvious both Helen and John adore each other but I wish they would get on with it as Helen's indecision drove me mad. John will be dead before Helen declares her feelings for him!

Bel is a relative newcomer to the yard and appears to be enjoying her work there, though her mother Pearl is not so thrilled. The two women have a secret that could rock another's world as the past is about to come to light for them all. Having being married to Teddy who was lost to the war, Bel is now married to his twin Joe with toddler LuLu (Lucille) from her first marriage, but yearns for a child of their own. After a year with no joy, Bel is both thrilled and jealous when another in their fold falls pregnant.

Rosie Miller and her younger sister Charlotte are the at the forefront of this story as Charlotte grows older and begins to question anomalies she has noticed with regard to her schooling, Rosie's work and friendship with Lily. Charlotte appears to have an obsession with Lily, who she has come to see as a mother figure of sorts, bombarding Rosie with endless questions she isn't sure how to answer. Rosie has worked hard to shelter her sister from the truth...but is she doing the right thing? Or are some secrets best left untold?

Then throughout the story there are flashback chapters following on from the opening prologue, revealing a little more about Rosie's troubled past, her decision to place Charlotte in a boarding school in the middle of nowhere, her early days as an apprentice welder as well as working in Lily's bordello.

The strength of the women welders against the backdrop of the shadow of war and relentless bombing of the Luftwaffe continues to shine through despite the troubles they are faced with. Life amidst air raids where homes are destroyed, lives are lost, production is delayed in the shipyard but the girls maintain their dignity and their courage throughout it all. I may not have read the first seven books of this series, but I was immediately drawn to each and every character and I found myself invested in their stories.

Then just when you think you have it all worked out and know what it coming next...readers are given a shock twist at the very end that no one will see coming! It's not like it's a thriller where you expect it to end with a twist! But that final page left me wanting more and I look forward to the next book "A Christmas Wish for the Shipyard Girls" coming in October 2020 to see how that pans out and how it will affect a key character.

TRIUMPH OF THE SHIPYARD GIRLS is a wonderfully lighthearted read that is addictive from start to finish. Once I started, I did not want to put it down. The stories within the pages are both heartwarming and heartbreaking and through it all the women continue to shine with dignity and strength in the face of war.

After reading TRIUMPH OF THE SHIPYARD GIRLSS, I have added the rest of the series to my ever-growing TBR list and hope to slot them in when I can. I know I will enjoy them just as much as I have this one.

Recommended for fans of historical fiction, particularly WW2 era and sagas.

I would like to thank #NancyRevell, #NetGalley and #RandomHouseUK and #CornerstoneDigital for an ARC of #TriumphOfTheShipyardGirls in exchange for an honest review.

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With Triumph of the Shipyard Girls, Nancy proves that the series not only doesn’t lose steam as it goes on, but becomes stronger, better, and somehow more intriguing than you’d imagined. Books about such women of indomitable spirit is exactly what we all should be reading in these trying times.

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As always, the author sets the scene perfectly as the intrepid shipyard girls are, once again, caught up in the daily goings on in this close knit community. Those who have followed this heart warming series from the beginning will be delighted to be reacquainted with old friends, especially as this book follows on directly from Christmas with the Shipyard Girls.

The Triumph of the Shipyard Girls takes us further into the lives of Rosie and Charlotte, we understand Polly's worry as her new husband is sent back to the front line and Helen, the shipyard, manager is about to uncover some uncomfortable secrets. Throughout it all the girls cope with heartbreak and sadness in their personal lives but never fail to support each other through good times and bad. The characters who flit into and out of the story have their own particular charm, some I like more than others, but all of them have a role to play, and I think that's what the author has done so well in this series, connecting the characters with the readers on an emotional level.

The area of Sunderland around the shipyard comes alive as only someone who knows the area well can provide, I especially enjoy the vernacular, and during the banter between the friends I have a strong geordie accent in my head whenever one of them speaks.

This is now the eighth book in the series and I for those who enjoy wartime sagas and who have so far missed out, I would recommend that y

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Triumph of the Shipyard Girls is the eighth book in the Shipyard Girls series from Nancy Revell which follows the ups and downs, the good times and the bad, in the lives of a group of women welders who work in the shipyards in Sunderland during World War Two. With each book I just love this series more and more and as we are progressing further through the series we are moving away from descriptions of the women's daily work welding and the routines they have in the ship yard. This is a good thing as now I feel the author is really concentrating on the women's personal stories much more. Storylines that began maybe a book or two ago are getting great attention and focus now and I am enjoying how everything is developing with some of the most important threads being continued throughout each book.

I have become familiar with the pattern of the books as in each one concentrates on certain characters and then they may not feature much in the next instalment. It's a great way to keep the books fresh, interesting and gripping because if you haven't read much about a character as with this book I thought Gloria stepped out of the spotlight a bit you are more inclined to pick up the next book to see do they feature and get an update on them. Not that I wouldn't want to read any future books in this series as by this stage I am deeply invested in every plot, be it minor or major ,especially when it comes to Helen who runs the shipyard. She is one character who has undergone such a transformation from book one although admittedly for a while now my opinion on her has swayed back and forth quite regularly.

They say a leopard can never change its spots but the way Helen has been written she has gone against convention and has been a real surprise and turn up for the books. She has been through the mill and to be honest I don't think she is out the other side of it yet when it comes to both her love and family life. She is certainly a lot more compassionate and aware of other people's problems and feelings than when we first met her. This is demonstrated when she springs into action when she is the only one close to hand when Polly needs urgent help. Polly deserves some happiness after she has just married Tommy but is now left on her own as he has returned to Gibraltar. Only for Helen that happiness might have evaded her but how everything was handled was done so with tact and a real awareness of what the long term implications could be if care and advice was not heeded.

Helen steps up to the plate when needed and she wouldn't have done so in the past. It just shows how much she is changing and in a way she is facing the realities of the real world away from the privileged life she has lead. She is more down to earth and the strong shell she had so carefully constructed around herself is coming down. But that's not to say she is very laissez faire and always open now. She still keeps things close to her chest and recent heartache and trauma is never far from her mind and it is this anxiety and pain that prevents her from fully moving forward particularly in relation to Dr. John Parker. I really wish the two of them would just admit their feelings for each other because it is so obvious for all to see. But a lack of communication and an aspect of the ending to this book certainly sets the cat among the pigeons and it's as if happiness and true love is further out of Helen's reach now more so than ever.

I loved how Helen really was starting to grow up and become more aware of the bigger picture as to what is going when it comes to her family. I'm still waiting for that big show down with her mother Miriam though and I hope it will come soon as I detest the hold she has over so many of the women welders. The mystery element surrounding family relationships only intensified throughout the story and though some hard revelations for Helen to hear came to the fore I was glad things were coming out in the open. She can't believe what she is hearing as it throws everything she had ever known, believed in and thought into doubt. I love the way she is going about investigating things. She wants all her ammunition gathered together before she confronts the culprits because she knows the fall out will be huge, damaging and explosive. At the same time I admire the way she is handling what she is discovering about family secrets and hurts and I can't wait to see what is going to happen in the next book.

Of course, all the women in the group and their family members who show such solidarity and friendship to one another through the most turbulent of times do pop up every now and again in this new story but definitely the main focus is on both Helen and Rosie. I thought Rosie's aspect of the overall storyline was brilliant and the fact that every now and again we had recollections of her past interspersed throughout the present day chapters was excellent. It gave great insight into her past for new readers but also helped refresh the memories of those who have been with the shipyard girls since the first book. These sections gave a great observations into why Rosie is such a driven person and why she had to go down the path she did. Also as to why she has kept everything secret from her younger sister Charlotte. She has gotten herself into a bit of a tangle now that Charlotte is back living with her after her experiences at boarding school. Rosie is threading a very thin line when it comes to keeping things hush hush and perhaps she doesn't give Charlotte enough credit in that she may be able to cope with the truth and it might just do her some good to know the extent of what went on in the past and why Rosie made the decisions that she did. There was a sense throughout the story that things were going to come to a head regarding this plot which has been bubbling away right from the very beginning. I wondered would everything in her life that Rosie has made such a positive effort to construct around herself come crashing down or would she be kicking herself that she hadn't been that little bit more honest and open?

Triumph of the Shipyard Girls was another very enjoyable read in the series and as the war rages on so too do the trials, adversity, worries and afflictions that each girl is affected by. But amidst it all they stand together as one unit, one force all determined to play their part in stopping the war but also aiding each other with the issues and dilemmas they face in their personal lives. They are navigating uncertain times in all senses of the word but they never give up on life they just keep going because they know they have no other option but to keep calm and carry on.

The ending for this book without doubt has been the best in the series so far. What an absolute cliffhanger of a discovery that really springs open Pandora's box and allows seedlings to be planted for many new strands of the story to be developed over the course of future books. I am dying to find out what is going on and why is there another big secret. Unfortunately I'll have to hold out until October until A Christmas Wish for the Shipyard Girls is published but I am sure it will be more than worth the wait.

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I have been a huge fan of 'The Shipyard Girls' series ever since the first book in the series was released in 2016. Since then I have read, reviewed and absolutely adored each and every book that has been released since. I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of 'Triumph Of The Shipyard Girls' and find out what happened in the lives of my favourite and not so favourite characters. Well ladies and gents the wait is finally over as 'Triumph Of The Shipyard Girls' was released on 19th March 2020. It is an absolutely cracking read and then some. I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Triumph Of The Shipyard Girls' but more about that in a bit.
There are so many lovable characters in this series that I find it impossible to pick a favourite. I have to say that as the series goes on, I find myself developing a soft spot for Helen. Had anybody told me at the start of the series that by the time we got to book eight, I would find myself warming to Helen then I would have told you that you were having a laugh. At the start of the series Helen is a self centred, vindictive, selfish, catty baggage. By the time we get to ''Triumph Of The Shipyard Girls', Helen has become more humane, warm, friendly, compassionate and she often puts the welfare of others above her own and in particular the welfare of her beautiful half sister Hope. Pity the same can't be said of her 'delightful' mother Miriam and her equally 'delightful' grandfather, who is Miriam's father. If you ask me, not that you did, there is something creepy about the 'closeness' of their relationship. They seem more like a married couple than father and daughter. For reasons which will become apparent as the story continues, I would love for Miriam to take her father and go for a very long walk off Roker Pier!! They make me so mad that if I could leap inside the pages of the book to give them a slap with a wet flip flop then I would do. At the same time they make my skin crawl and give me the heebee jeebies. I am keeping my fingers crossed that in the next book of the series, Helen's father Jack Crawford comes back to Sunderland after Miriam has taken her long walk off Roker Pier. Miriam's demise would leave Jack free to reunite with his one true love Gloria and they could raise their daughter Hope as a family, with Helen too of course. I don't know if that will happen but I am keeping everything crossed that it does!!
It took me no time at all to get into 'Triumph Of The Shipyard Girls'. In fact as soon as I knew that the book had a release date, that was it I was hooked. The synopsis for the book and the story contained within the book's covers just sealed the deal as it were. I totally immersed myself in the story to the extent that I was able to shut out all other distractions and focus solely on the story and the characters. I binge read this book over the course of a couple of days. Had I not already had prior commitments I would have finished the book over the course of a single day. For me, 'Triumph Of The Shipyard Girls' is the true definition of an unputdownable pageturner. The book wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story and I had to see what fate had in store for the girls.
'Triumph Of The Shipyard Girls' is absolutely brilliantly written but then that is true of all of Nancy Revell's books. She creates lovable characters and gives them storylines that are guaranteed to tug on even the toughest of heartstrings. Whilst reading this book I literally felt as though I had been taken from 2020 North East England and dropped back into 1940s Sunderland, which a that time was in the best county of the country- County Durham. In fact had I shut my eyes, it would have been easy to imagine myself back in 1940s Sunderland with all the hustle and bustle going on around me. Part of the attraction of this book was the fact that it was set in a city and area that mean a lot to me - that of Sunderland. Whilst researching my family tree I discovered that I had relatives from Sunderland and reading books such as Nancy's helps me feel closer to them and gives me a greater appreciation of everything that they went through during the Second World War. Nancy uses such vivid and realistic descriptions that I did feel as though I was part of the story myself. I even found myself trying to interact with the book as if the different characters could hear me.
In short, I thoroughly ADORED reading 'Triumph Of The Shipyard Girls' and I strongly urge you to read it. The series featuring 'The Shipyard Girls' goes from strength to strength and just gets better and better, with each new book better than the last. I can't wait for the next instalment of the story. It's safe to say that I will be reading more of Nancy's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

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Nancy Revell’s strong, vibrant, courageous, vulnerable, generous and warm-hearted shipyard girls have become firm favourites with saga readers everywhere. In times of great distress and hardship, these girls never lose their spirit, their compassion and their sense of humour and they are back in a terrific new instalment guaranteed to make readers laugh, cry and have them counting down the days until they can catch up with them again.

It’s 1943 and the war shows no sign of abating. All across the country, people have lost loved ones and made sacrifice upon sacrifice. Everyone has known anguish, misery and heartache and with this horrible conflict seemingly endless, the only option available to people all over England is to keep their chin up and to try and get through the day as best they can for nobody knows what is around the corner. The shipyard girls have had their fair share of tragedies and disappointments, but even in their darkest of moments they know that they can always rely on one another for a shoulder to cry on, a cup of tea and a good laugh. However, lately laughs seem to be in very short supply for head welder Rosie. With her little sister around, Rosie has to be extra careful to ensure that Charlotte does not get wind of her secrets. However, with each passing day that is proving far easier said than done. Her sister’s prying eyes do not miss a beat and as Rosie begins to feel the pressure of her double life on her shoulders, she cannot help but wonder how much longer she can continue without finally crumbling and letting all her skeletons out of the cupboard.

In wartime, happiness is so elusive that one grabs whatever chances of joy there are with both hands and that was certainly true for Polly. Knowing how precious and unpredictable life is, Polly married the man she loves after a whirlwind wedding, but amidst all the celebrations and jubilation, Polly knows that such happiness is transient and that she will soon have to bid goodbye to her husband as he returns to the frontline, leaving her to wonder whether she will ever see the man she hopes to spend the rest of her life with again. Will Polly ever be in the arms of the man she loves? Or will her marriage end up being yet another casualty of war?

In the shipyard, new people are constantly coming and going, but the new recruit is certainly raising plenty of eyebrows for the girls. There is something very odd about Helen’s newest employee, Bel, but nobody can quite put their finger on it. What is it about her that has made everybody suspicious about her? Are the girls being unfair towards her? Or should they trust their instincts and try to dig deep about this mysterious arrival? Are the girls ready to uncover the truth? Or should some things just remain hidden?

Nancy Revell’s Shipyard girls series continues to get better and better with every new instalment. Brilliantly atmospheric, wonderfully poignant and immensely addictive, readers simply cannot read just one chapter of Triumph of the Shipyard Girls because this terrific saga is absolutely impossible to put down. Full of characters it is hard not to care about, searing emotional drama, humour, pathos and plenty of heart, Triumph of the Shipyard Girls is packed with strong women readers simply cannot help but admire who support and elevate one another through the good times and the bad.

A first rate saga from a master storyteller. Triumph of the Shipyard Girls will satisfy Nancy Revell’s legion of devoted readers and win her scores of new fans as well.

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The previous book in the always engaging Shipyard Girls series, Christmas with the Shipyard Girls ended on a bittersweet note with Polly and Tommy finally married before Arthur sadly passes away in his sleep. However, before we rejoin the characters in 1943, the prologue takes readers back to 1936 and it's a really hard-hitting opening.
Throughout the novel there are flashback scenes which reveal more about Rosie's troubled past; how she came to the decision to place her sister, Charlotte in a boarding school, her early days as a welder in the shipyard and how she also found work in Lily's bordello. It's fascinating to learn more about the choices this strong woman made in order to keep Charlotte safe but the prologue is incredibly hard to read and is a reminder that although this is a heartwarming series, it never shies away from featuring difficult subjects, especially those that faced women.
One of the main storylines in Triumph of the Shipyard Girls revolves around Charlotte's growing curiosity about Lily and Rosie's fear that her sister will discover that she used to be a prostitute. I love that women from all walks of life are featured without judgement here - and that includes those who work for Lily. Although Rosie's circumstances meant she had little choice other than to become a sex worker, Maisie and Vivian don't seem like victims at all and are women in charge of their own lives.
Helen has changed more than any other character in the series and has become one of my favourites - unlike her dreadful mother, Miriam who is as awful as ever here. However, one of her terrible actions at least puts Helen in touch with somebody who may be able to satisfy her own questions about Bel. Those who have read the previous novels will know the truth in advance but newcomers needn't worry because they will find out alongside Helen. Although she gets her answers, there is obviously much more to come from this storyline and I'm really looking forward to finding out what it will mean for the women involved. Helen also has romantic troubles to contend with as her will-they-won't-they relationship with Dr Parker continues. I'm not going to give anything away here but I'm sure I won't be the only reader who wants to shout at the pair at times!
Triumph of the Shipyard Girls may seem to be an odd choice of title given that the book is set in 1943 and so the war is far from drawing to a close. Indeed, the town is still suffering the devastating bombing raids at this point in time and victory over the Nazis is far from assured. However, this is about a different sort of triumph; it's about the strength and fortitude of these women who each face their own battles and keep going even when things may seem hopeless. I couldn't put this engrossing novel down, having become so invested in the lives of each of the characters. It's obvious that Nancy Revell's research for these books is a real labour of love and she writes with such warmth and empathy, it means I can't help but be captivated by each new addition to the series. I can't wait to read the next, A Christmas Wish for the Shipyard Girls later this year.

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I would like to thank Rachel Kennedy for asking me to review the next instalment of The Shipyard Girls and to be part of the blog tour.
I adore Nancy’s writing style and the way she continues to entertain her readers with a series which has amazing characters and plot lines that captures the very essence of WW2.
Triumph of the Shipyard Girls is another brilliant read. Women are portrayed as strong and ready to take on anything despite the hardship of war. Its is so hard to not give to much away after reading but here is a brief summary of what happens.
Polly after her wedding has to say good bye to her husband as he goes off to fight once more. It is hard but with her girls around her she learns to cope despite the consent worries. Between, Rosie keeping her secret from her sister, which had me hooked as it all unfolded and Helen always on a mission of some sort, adds excitement to the story. The complexity to each individual women really shines through with each story line and you can really see as you read each book how they have grown and changed.
I love the way there is new ideas to the plot to and new characters as in Bel but there are also reminders of what has gone on before. This can be read as a stand alone but much better when you know all the characters histories.
As I have mentioned before it really is a fantastic read that would make a great TV series.

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What another fantastic story in this series I absolutely love reading this series a big fan of Nancy Revell can't wait to read more by this author definitely recommend and definitely worth a five star rating ,readers will fall in love with this series .

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Well i have to say that Nancy's story of the shipyard girls just gets better and more addictive with each book.I love this series of books and have loved joining Rosie,Gloria,Martha,Angie,Dorothy,Hannah and of course Helen in their lives in and around Thompsons Shipyard.This book has had me hoping and praying that certain people get bombed but not yet(lol).I love a book that draws you in and makes you feel as though you are there with them and Nancy has done just that with every book.Thank you Nancy Revell for a great series of books and now i wait for the next 5*

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A big fan of this series, all the familiar places that i know so well with living in Sunderland myself i always feel so much at home with The Shipyard's Girl's, they have grown on me like friend's. these girl's are all different in age either married single or mother's working as women welder's in Thompson shipyard's doing a man's job in WW2. the book start's Boxing Day 1942 Dr John Parker and Helen Crawford are disgusting Bel Elliot at Polly's and Tommy's wedding, it was making Helen very uncomfortable and becoming an obsession but will she get the truth that's a story only time will tell. Polly Gloria Rosie and all the women welder's share a lot together as well as work their private lives come into this book. some are happy times some sad, the war has been on going now for two and a half year's and they doing the best they can. the friendship and bonding is so breath taking to read as you turn the pages. and Rosie and Hannah also have a story to tell that takes us back to 1936 and we hear the truth about Raymond Gallagher. this book has secret's and triumph and all about forgiveness appalling situations Sunderland is taking a batting along the River Wear right up to May 1943. this book belong's on top for all the women welder's, its a very inspirational read. triumph over tragedy right till the end. this is the eighth series in this wonderful author's work and i enjoyed every page.

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Some series of books can be happily read out of order as they simply regurgitate much of previous books to pad out the new ones. Not so with Nancy Revell, I would actively encourage you to read them all in order as they follow on almost from the page of the last.

So here we are with book number eight. Polly is left behind as her husband, Tommy  goes back to fight in the war, but it seems she has a secret blossoming which means she will always have a piece of her Tommy with her at any time. More important now as they lose people very close to them.

Helen is still battling with her mother and the hold she has over Helen and the women welders in Thompson's yard. Secrets can make you bitter and twisted and it seems that Helen has stumbled across another one and it seems her mother knows nothing about it.

Bel is enjoying working at the shipyard but it seems her mother Pearl, is not so keen. Is Bel trying to get to the truth about her heritage and it seems that someone else is also making connections. The past is about to come into the future for Bel and Pearl.

Rosie and her younger sister Charlotte, still dominate the storyline as Charlotte grows, gets older and understands more of the world she has many questions about Rosie's work and friendship with Lily. What she discovers raises more questions than answers and sometimes it is best that some secrets are best left untold. Interestingly, we go further back into Rosie's past to see what led her to the place she is in now and how Charlotte end up in boarding school and Rosie at Lily's. This is what keeps the books and the plots fresh - there is always a new element to discover. 

Through all of this, the regular characters feature as does the shadow of war and relentless bombing by the luftwaffe, which makes a mark on the area once again in the novel. Home are destroyed, ship production is set back but the Shipyard Girls somehow maintain there grace and warmth to see them through.

I have said before and will no doubt say again and again - this is a wonderful series of books. Women are at the heart of these stories, their strength whether it be playing their own role in fighting Hitler, fighting their demons, keeping the strength of love going during separation, keeping secrets, missing loved ones or just trying to simply manage day to day. The books are packed with so much.

I know at some point that this series will inevitably come to a conclusion, but until it does I am to go enjoy the books and keep telling you all about them.

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