When Peggy Sparks' twin, Joe, is called up, she knows she has to help him come home safely. She joins The Ministry of Information which is tasked with providing a flow of information to those at war and those left at home to boost morale. All is not plain sailing. She forms an unlikely friendship with Lady Marigold, who also works in the office and sparks begin to fly as Peggy enjoys her new found freedom in the workplace and fights to play a small part in bringing her brother home safely.
If you loved 'Dear Mrs Bird' then you will love this wartime romp. This is a story of hope, of friendship and has a sprinkling of romance.

This was my first book from this author. I loved every page of it.

No spoiler alerts but the main character Peggy, was someone I would want on my side if ever an injustice had occurred. To see her grow into a strong, determined female, was heart warming. The book flowed well and I found myself just wanting to get back to read it. I do like stories set during WW2 and this was one of those that I would encourage others to read. Well explained and thought out. I Iove, love, loved it.

I was so happy to get an ARC of this book from Net Galley. Annie Lyons writes such great stories, and this one was right up my WWII set in England historical fiction alley. This is the story of Peggy Sparks, her family, the family she creates at work and how they make it through the war. Peggy lives with her grandmother, her mother (her father was killed in WWI), her sister-in-law (also her best friend from childhood), her niece and nephew. Her twin brother, Joe is off fighting the war in Africa. Peggy is given the opportunity to work in the Ministry of Information. The main objective is to write pamphlets (books) starting out with various branches of the military, but leading to the war ‘at home’. One of the objectives is to share this information with the U.S. in order to get them involved in winning the war. There are quite a few characters in her office which makes the story very entertaining., while keeping the mood and struggles of the time. I think my favorite thing about Annie Lyons books is the way a tight community (family) is formed throughout the story, and they always include strong female characters both young and old. Peggy gains the respect of both her family and colleagues by the work she does. Did I mention there are libraries? This book will be out July 25th, and I highly recommend it!

Annie Lyon’s writes amazing historical fiction so I can never pass them by when I see a new one is released! And this one, coupled with the name and the cover, had no problem drawing me in. Just reading the Prologue I knew it was going to be another winner.

It was so endearing and the characters were very easy to love. And I also never thought Lady Marigold would rapidly become a favourite!

Peg finds herself landing a job in the Ministry of Information and she wants nothing more than to bring about the end the war and bring her twin brother, Joe, home. And if that’s proofreading leaflets and keeping the nations morale in good spirits, then so be it! It was great to see her expand in her role, make new friendships and do her bit for the war effort.

Following Peg and her work days, and getting to know her lovely family, Alice, Nancy, Emily and Flo was so nice to read and it was impossible not to feel homely with this lovely book.

The whole story was great and it was as amazing as I thought it would be. So many emotions, fabulous writing and a thoroughly enjoyable read!

It's 1940, and Peggy Sparks has jumped at the opportunity to participate in the war effort in her determination to bring her brother Joe safely home. But the former librarian is deeply disappointed by what she sees, after encountering those most privileged at closer quarters...

Still, things are not always as they seem, and a catastrophic error sees Peggy seeking help from a most unexpected source. Can this unusual alliance really make a difference in such challenging times?

This is a charming historical novel with some substance. It will have great appeal for those interested in the changing roles of women during the WW II period. It gets 3.5 stars.