Cover Image: A Reunion at Mulberry Lane

A Reunion at Mulberry Lane

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

I loved this festive instalment in this great series
Another great book where the stories and characters make you feel like you are a part of it.

Was this review helpful?

This was a brilliant read and is being featured on my blog for my quick star reviews feature, which I have created on my blog so I can catch up with all the books I have read and therefore review.
See www.chellsandbooks.wordpress.com.

Was this review helpful?

A Reunion at Mulberry Lane is a charming family drama set during the Christmas season, and I liked it a lot.

Before I start talking about how I enjoyed the story, I will mention the reason for my 4 star rating. This is partially my fault, but I did not read the previous books in the series. Hence, it took a lot of time for me to form the connections between the characters. There are a LOT of characters spanning across different generations, along with multiple plots, and I got into the groove only after around 30% into the book. In fact, I drew a family tree while I was reading so I wouldn’t lose track.

However, once I got the hang of the story-line, it was extremely entertaining. Coronation Street was my go-to soap opera back in the 2000s, and this story made me nostalgic of my soaps. The story is very dramatic, where you have the archetype lovable couple Peggy and Able. I adored these two as the staple couple.

Similarly, the author does a beautiful job highlighting the trials and tribulations of the other couples. I enjoyed Sheila and Pip’s relationship revolving around her pregnancy scare. Also. I liked the story-line between Tom, Rose and the conniving Jim (who made an entertaining villain). However, I think my favorite story-line was Janet and Ryan and how they try to survive their relationship after his secret comes out. I liked this story-line because the author beautifully showed how their scandals affected their daughter Maggie. Moreover, I liked the plot around Shirley and her innocent young love for Richard.

The author has a beautiful style of writing family drama and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. Had I read the earlier novels, I would have loved it even more.

Was this review helpful?

A funny and quirky mystery book. A short and light hearted reading book.
Thank you to the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this book. 5 Stars!

Was this review helpful?

A Reunion at Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke

A very heart=warming story about families, friends, and relationships. Wonderful and friendly characters. Leaves you with a warm feeling and holiday spirit.

Thanks to Net Galley for sending an advanced reader’s copy to me for review.

Was this review helpful?

This book was unexpected for me. Set in an era i love. Was such a lovely heartwarming story which i enjoyed to the end.
Will be reading others by this author

Was this review helpful?

I really love the characters in this series, and it is fun to revisit them over and over again. This time, it is post WWII and things are starting to settle down. Many of the strong female characters are proving over and over that setting your mine to something will end in triumph. Well written and what a trip to visit the cafe! Recommended.

Was this review helpful?

A Reunion at Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke is the 6th tale in The Mulberry Lane Series. I believe it is best if this series is read in order. Each book builds upon the previous one. There is a great cast of characters in this series. Peggy is the matriarch who brought them all together. She has been through so much and deserves the happiness she has with Able. Changes may be in store for Peggy as Fay discovers she is a natural at ice skating. I enjoyed catching up with Peggy, Able, Maureen, Sheila, Pip, Rose, and Tom. Each family experiences the good and the bad that life has to offer. I thought A Reunion at Mulberry Lane was well-written and it moves along at a steady pace. I like the authors descriptions because I feel that I am experiencing things with the characters. I could imagine walking around the market picking out bits and pieces for Christmas or pulling a pint at the pub. There is an abundance of food in this tale. They are eating well now that the war is over, and more items are available to them. These ladies are wonderful cooks and bakers. I can see why the pub and the two cafes are crowded. Mulberry Lane is such a cozy place where people look out for each other. The people are there to help pick up the kiddies from school, take food to someone in need, or help in the pub. There are changes being made in the East End, but it has yet to affect those who live and work on Mulberry Lane. I enjoyed reading A Reunion at Mulberry Lane as I do all of Rosie Clarke’s books. It was lovely spending Christmas on Mulberry Lane with this group. A Reunion at Mulberry Lane is a saga with family, friendship, drama, romance, hardship, heartbreak, grief, and fun. This is what I call a comfort read. I would love PBS to make this into a television series. A Reunion at Mulberry Lane is a charming historical novel with countless cakes, a spoiled skater, a melancholy mother, unpredicted prospect, matrimonial misfortunes, and a cheery Christmas.

Was this review helpful?

A most lovable series!!! This is book 6 of the most amazing and wonderful series... every character so lifelike and lovable. A perfect holiday read. While you can read this as a stand alone you will want to read the entire series.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy of this book. My review is my own and is in no way required by the publisher.

Was this review helpful?

A Reunion at Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke is Book 6 of this fantastic series! I just loved this new festive installment in this fun and fabulous series I have come to love and enjoy looking forward to. Love revisiting the characters I have grown to love and enjoy reading about. Though the books could be enjoyed as a stand alone, reading the series truly gives the reader the overall feel of the characters and really builds up nicely from one book to the other. There is a reason this series is such a best-selling success!

Though I read this book in the middle of a heat wave in Los Angeles, my mind certainly was in the festive wintery mood especially reading about the ice skating scenes, food and the markets. I really truly was transported to Mulberry Lane with Peggy and everyone else.

This was such a feel good read that I truly enjoyed and I recommend this series to everyone. If you like small towns, family and a community that care and support each other, a beautifully researched historical fiction, everyday lives of people in that era, and just a nice escape read that will warm your heart, this is it.

Thank you to Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for having me in this fantastic book tour and having me spend time again in Mulberry Lane.

Was this review helpful?

Oh it was so good to be back with these wonderful characters in Mulberry Lane again!

The war is over, and life is improving for people. Peggy and her family are happy with their life in Devon, but she has a lot of big decisions to make.

We also reconnect with her friends in the lanes, Rose and Maureen. They miss Peggy, and would love if she came back.

This heart-warming series is such a treat, I love when a new one comes out. The characters go through some tough times, but their family values and their wonderful friendships help to get them through. There’s a real sense of community in the lanes, and people look out for each other.

A reflection of the changing times, and of the strength of women, this gorgeous book is a pleasure to read from start to finish. I’m eagerly awaiting the next one already!

Was this review helpful?

It's always exciting when we get to revisit Mulberry Lane. A Reunion at Mulberry Lane is the sixth book in this fabulous series, and I've been fortunate enough to read and review them all!

A Reunion at Mulberry Lane is set in 1949. The war is over, and the women of Mulberry Lane are working to rebuild their lives with their families.

Peggy is settled in Devon with her adoring husband Able and her nine year old twins. When Fay insists she wants to figure skate, Peggy realises that in order for her daughter to follow her dreams she may have to relocate back to London. Whilst her son Pip and his wife Sheila would welcome them back, she is worried about her daughter Janet who is dealing with her own issues. A visit over Christmas to Mulberry Lane is just what Peggy needs to work out where her family should settle.

It was so good to revisit the ladies of Mulberry Lane and see where life has taken them after the war. Peggy is of course the matriarch of Mulberry Lane, where she has been sorely missed these past few years. But it was also great to find out where Maureen, Janet and Rose are in their lives. As expected, it is not plain sailing for any of them as life throws each of them curveballs. In the spirit of the wartime East End though, these women all come together to support each other as they have many times before.

I loved this novel, and I love this series. Whilst you could read A Reunion at Mulberry Lane as a standalone, personally I would recommend that you read the whole series, starting with The Girls of Mulberry Lane. Doing that will give you the opportunity to really get to know these women as they each develop into the thoughtful and supportive women that they are in A Reunion at Mulberry Lane.

Was this review helpful?

In the last instalment of the series, A Reunion at Mulberry Lane, Rosie Clark continues the story of the characters we have seen throughout the series.

The novel starts placing us right back into the story the residents of Mulberry Lane.

I have reviewed some books from the series and enjoyed them all.

The characters and atmosphere are well created and although Rosie Clark does have a lot of back story in her novels , it is all relevant to the plot and engaging informative shocking or heartbreaking depending on what's going on within the novel.

I thought the twins were very well portrayed in this novel as well as their love of ice skating.

One thing about Mullberry Lane is that it is welcoming realistic and there are also a lot of caring people and housewives with mouthwatering traditional food who fight to feed their families and are also conscious of the terrible plight of those who have less than them.

As I have not received the whole series but have reviewed a few of the books,

I think that each of the books is a good stand-alone but in order to really understand the ins and outs of every character it is a good idea to get hold of the entire series.

I am sad that the series has finished what a book to finish it on. I will remember the Mulberry Lane series for years to come. I am looking forward to going back through the series listening to the books that I have reviewed again and also listening to the books that I haven't listened to from the series.

Rosie Clark has a terrific talent for creating a believable historical saga with characters that will make you think feel and root for then. Obviously there will be some characters that you like more than others but that's very true to life as well and I can't praise Rosie enough for the Mulberry Lane series.

Thanks to Rosie Clark, Rachaels random resources Boldwood books and my ARC in exchange for and honest and voluntary review.

4 stars.

Was this review helpful?

I love the worlds which best-selling author Rosie Clarke creates. Her heroines are always strong, feisty and compassionate women ready and willing to do whatever it takes for the people they love and the community they are a part of. In her latest saga, A Reunion at Mulberry Lane, readers get to catch up with some of their favourite characters from this evocative, engrossing and immensely enjoyable series.

Just when Peggy thought that all her worries were over and that she could finally put her feet up and spend some time enjoying herself and her family, a whole new set of problems come along which leave her wondering just how is she going to sort out all that ails her and her family. Peggy thought that her eldest daughter Janet was blissfully married, so she is dismayed when she finds out that Janet is so desperately unhappy. To compound her unhappiness, Janet is convinced that her husband is having an affair and that her marriage is on the brink. Is Janet correct in her suspicions? Is her husband really cheating on her? Or is this all just a horrible misunderstanding? Is Janet ready to walk out on her marriage and to make a fresh start elsewhere? Or is her marriage worth another try?

Peggy’s youngest daughter Fay is also giving her cause for concern lately. Fay hasn’t done anything wrong, but her talent for figure skating has caught the eye of a talent scout who is convinced that her youngest has what it takes to make it in this very competitive sport. Fay has the chance to train back in London leaving Peggy to wonder whether she will end up leaving her new life and returning back to London for the sake of her family. Peggy does not want to stand in her youngest’s way and this once in a lifetime opportunity is far too good to miss, but she needs to be careful and consider every single member of her family before she considers upping sticks and moving back to London.

Peggy hopes that she is doing the right thing and if anyone can set her straight it’s the kind-hearted people at Mulberry Lane. Always willing to listen and dispense much-needed advice, will Christmas at Mulberry Lane provide her with answers to the questions that have been haunting her lately? Or should she listen to her instincts and trust her gut?

Saga fans are in for another treat with Rosie Clarke’s latest Mulberry Lane novel. Brilliantly atmospheric and laced with humour, emotion and charm, A Reunion at Mulberry Lane is a captivating read that is the next best thing to having a catch-up with a long lost friend. Full of wonderful characters which readers cannot help but warm to, captivating drama and plenty of intrigue to keep them glued to the book’s pages, A Reunion at Mulberry Lane is the latest absorbing saga from the immensely talented Rosie Clarke.

Was this review helpful?

This is the sixth in the Mulberry Lane Series and if you have read them, you will be familiar with the main characters. If you haven't, there is a lot of detail supplied in the early chapters giving background information on everyone as they are introduced. I haven't read any of the earlier books so I was grateful for this and it helped a great deal. As the story got underway, I enjoyed finding out about each of the characters, particularly Peggy and Abel's family.

This is set in December and billed as a festive read but it does not dominate the mood. There is plenty afoot as the different family members find that their lives are going to take a surprising turn. This family saga takes you through the ups and downs of family life. There are births and deaths to consider but it is underpinned by a real community feel and lots of period detail.

In short: Family and friends are reunited. Thanks to Boldwood Books for a copy of the book.

Was this review helpful?

A Reunion at Mulberry Lane is the sixth book in The Mulberry Lane Series by Rosie Clarke. It can be read as a standalone but I think it would be even more special if you have read the other books in the series first. I haven't read those books and wish that I had because it seems like the reunion is a wonderful coming together of all the couples/families that were written about previously. That said, despite knowing the present of all the families written about in this book I fully intend to go to the start and read each book in order. Maybe I will even read this one again then. Rosie Clarke has just become a favourite author of mine and this series is a must-read for me.

This book tells you all about various friends and family members all connected to Peggy, a main character in the book. It's about their lives, their children, their marriages and how life is slowly coming back to normal after the war. There is romance, drama, sad times and fun, frivolous times too. As the story culminates at Christmas that helps to make this a wonderful feel-good story which will leave you with a smile on your face.

I will admit that to start with I had a little trouble remembering who was who and how they fit into each other's lives, which probably wouldn't have happened if I had read the other books first, but once everybody connected in my head I was there, I was among the family and friends and was wholly immersed in their stories. I think this book and the previous ones could be turned into a TV series which would run for years. I would be one of it's biggest fans! Somebody get a hold of Netflix!!!

I adored this book and I am more than happy to recommend it.

Was this review helpful?

I have read and loved all of Rosie Clarke's books to date. I eagerly await each new book that she releases. Rosie's latest book is called 'A Reunion At Mulberry Lane' and it was released on 27th August 2020. It is another amazing addition to the Mulberry Lane series and I thoroughly enjoyed every single minute of it but more about that in a bit.

I love the cast of characters that we find in the Mulberry Lane series. They represent a snapshot of the characters you would find on any street. There are some characters you will like and some you won't like. Well you get the picture. I love the way in which Rosie features strong female characters, who face adversity but at the same time they face it with great courage and their friendships help get them through.

I soon got into this story. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first couple of pages, I felt as though I had reunited with old friends in the shape of the ladies of Mulberry Lane. This was one of those books that proved to be unputdownable. The Kindle wasn't exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I just couldn't bear to miss a single second of the story. The pages turned increasingly quickly as I worked my way through the story as my desperation to find out what happened steadily grew and grew. I wasn't able to read this book in a single day but I did manage to read it in just under 2 days, which is still pretty quick for me.

'A Reunion At Mulberry Lane' is well written but then I have come to expect nothing less from Rosie Clarke. She grabs your attention from the start and draws you into the story. Rosie has one of those writing styles that reads more like a chat between friends rather than reading an actual book. I hope that makes sense. I love the way in which Rosie writes emotional stories that will make you well up one minute and then the next will make you smile. I felt as though I had been on a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride by the time I got to the end of the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed 'A Reunion At Mulberry Lane' and I would have no hesitation in recommending this book other readers. I will definitely be reading more of Rosie's work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

Was this review helpful?

Reunion at Mulberry Lane by Rosie Clarke was an absolutely charming slice-of-life novel featuring Peggy and her husband, Able. This novel takes place in the 50's, after the war but while there are still many wounds to heal. Peggy and Able have moved their twins to the countryside where they run a very successful cafe. Peggy has two children from her first marriage, to Laurie who was lost at war. Pip, now an airplane designer, lives in London with his wife and son; and Janet, who lives a few hours away with her husband and daughter, also from a prior marriage. Multiple other people trip out of Peggy's life, mostly in London, but not all. Much of the story takes place while the family is visiting London for the holidays. They close the cafe for three weeks that time of year, to rest. Lots of things happen, just like real life.

Real life can be challenging, as Clarke portrays in this novel. The characters are endearing and suffer some, some in large ways, as they navigate their lives. War cost them all and some are still paying the cost. Marriages suffer. Some succeed, some don't. Clark paints a very compelling portrait of real marriages and the daily strains of living. Reunion is a simple story but one that keeps the interest of the reader as daily lives progress. These are good people, with legitimate feelings and life is not always easy. She shows us this as she tramps through a year or so of the lives of simple people, middle-aged people, trying to survive. It was a terrific read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I recommend it.

I was invited to read Reunion at Mulberry Lane by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #reunionatmulberrylane

Was this review helpful?

I love this series and I love Christmas book so this was a perfect match.
It was great to catch up with the characters and read about the development in their life.
This is a perfect Christmas story and I loved the great characters, the vivid historical background and the well crafted plot that kept me hooked.
Can't wait to read another story by Rosie Clarke.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Was this review helpful?

I have read the other books in this series and enjoyed them all. I was delighted when A reunion at a Mulberry Lane was written as I left the previous book feeling quite sad at the new lives everyone had. I’m so glad I read this and we now have an ending that suits everyone. I love the genre of WW2 and most of the books I’m reading are along similar lines. This book takes place five years after war has ended and although everyone felt safe there were still struggles to face. Rationing was still in place for sugar and sweets and clothes.
The only criticism I have with this and the other books in the series is they are very repetitive throughout the story. I realize with sequels there has to be a catch up at the beginning but this goes on through every chapter. They need to be edited better, I’m surprised no one else has commented on it.
I still enjoyed the book and the series.

Was this review helpful?