BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Island Girls' by Rachel Sweasey.

WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! One thing I have got to say before getting into my review is clear your schedules and grab the tissues as you will need them!!!

This has got to be one of the most stunning books I have EVER read ♥

This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline.

This book is devastatingly gorgeous, emotive and beautiful. I absolutely love the unique storyline and the fact that it is set over multiple timelines with multiple protagonists which makes you feel that you are living several lives in one book.

OMG Rachel, Where On Earth have you been hiding all of my life?!?! How have I never read any of your books so far when you are this blooming amazing?!! Well, I am just so glad I have resolved that problem, and that now while I am waiting for your next book, which is guaranteed to be amazing even if it is just a quarter as good as this book, I can read your previous book while I am waiting! An absolutely fantastic page turner by this brilliant new author to me and I am so glad I have discovered her so I can get stuck into her previous book 'The Last Boat Home'!! This book has got to be one of the most beautiful and emotive books I've read in a long time!!! It had me hook, line and sinker from the first page and I could not put it down!!! Every time I said one more chapter it ended in a way that left me needing to know what happened next and I just had to know what was going on!!! If you are going to read this then clear your day because it is truly unputdownable. I started this in the morning and finished it at approx. 1pm, I read it in one sitting as it was just impossible to put down!!!! In this beauty Rachel takes us on a time travelling journey back to the years 1941 and 1998 and transports the reader to the beautiful location of Poole, Dorset. In 1941 we meet Peggy Symonds who is the daughter of a fisherman and knows the harbour and waterways and could navigate them with her eyes closed. She is a member of the British Overseas Airways Corporation and helps to transfer passengers and supplies to and from the flying boats that land on the harbour. The RAF is stationed nearby and Peggy meets a pilot from Australia who is based there. She is asked to try and locate a possible German spy and has to sign the Official Secrets Act. Peggy has to choose between the pilot she loved and her country. Fast forwarding to the year 1998 and heading to Australia we meet Rebekah Martine who has to leave Brisbane to work at Brown sea Island which is just off the coast of Poole. Rebekah works as a wildlife ranger for the National Trust on the Island. Rebekah meets a historian called Paul who is visiting Dorset and the Island for the first time. Paul is absolutely stunned by the gorgeous views so Poole harbour and the Isle of Purbeck. They discover a letter from the era of the World War ll and are determined to investigate the mystery and ensure the correct recipient receives it. Which decision will Peggy make? Will Peggy and Paul solve their mystery? Grab your copy of this beautiful book and find out for your selves. I promise that you will not regret it!!! With a story filled with war. secrets, refugees, hope, dual timeline mystery, history, multiple perspectives, love, sacrifice, fear, drama, family, stunning locations, romance and so much more what on Earth are you waiting for???
It is one of the most unforgettable books I have ever read!! Rachel's stunning emotive and evocative writing skills sucks the reader straight into the storyline with the characters, surroundings and the past coming to life around them. I cannot believe this is the first book I have read by this amazing author but i can guarantee you it most definitely will not be my last! This is just one of those rare books that words just cannot express how powerful and emotional it is. It will make you cry both tears of happiness and sadness. The multiple narrative brings the story to life along with the descriptions and ensures the reader can see everything that is going on and what the characters are thinking and feeling. It is one of those addictive and compelling books that I just simply could not put down and I walked around everywhere with my kindle and the book. Every chapter ended in a way that I had to know what was going to happen next and then it would move on to the next chapter and do the same so I blew through this in one sitting. Reading this book really does make you feel that you are standing with each of the characters and going through their happiness, pain, love, joy and every single emotion and feeling that they are having and thinking. It really is a beautiful rollercoaster ride of emotions as well as a fantastic mysterious journey. I was utterly glued to the pages and I could not bring myself to put it down. You need to clear your schedules and get the tissues at the ready because you will not be able to put this book down. This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time and I would seriously recommend it to anyone and everyone!!

This may be the first book I have read by Rachel but I cannot wait to get hold of more books by this extremely talented author. It is one of the most stunning and unforgettable book that I have ever read and one that will stay with me for years if not forever! AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ!!

The characters were all very strong and realistic and Rachel's captivating writing skills ensured each and every single one of them jumped off the pages at me. I wont say too much about the characters as I don't want to give too much away. The fact that Rachel clearly cares about her characters absolutely shines through the pages in her characterisation and portrayal of each and every one of them and the way she brings them to life. They are unique, very well developed and have their own personalities, strengths and weaknesses. I absolutely loved Clara and Meredith's strength and determination and watching them grow in strength as I flew through the pages. I am a huge fan of female protagonists being female myself and most definitely strong ones and Clara and Meredith most definitely are definitely determined and strong willed!! There are characters that you want to shout at, you will despair with, you will smile and cry for and so much more. There were characters that I loved and characters that I could not stand but regardless of how I felt about each of them they each played their parts perfectly throughout. I felt each of the emotions they were going through with them and that is a sign of an extremely talented story teller. Rachel really has done an amazing job at bringing each of the characters to life and regardless of whether you love them or hate them they all played their parts perfectly to bring this fantastic story to life. Well done Rachel!!!

Congratulations Rachel on an absolutely stunning, unforgettable, emotional beautiful book!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your future books. I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!! Welcome to my favourite author list and here's to your next success 🥂

Overall an absolutely unputdownable, stunning, addictive, compelling and beautiful MUST READ!!

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Set during WWII and the 1990s, "The Island Girls" is incredibly moving, emotional, powerful, and suspenseful. Full of connections between the past and more present, history, locations described so vividly they jump off the page, twists and turns, and characters whom pull at your heart strings, this novel truly was so difficult to put down.

Firstly, this cover is absolutely stunning!

Rachael Sweasey's writing is engrossing. Her storytelling is detailed, visceral, and the stories jump right off the page. Her writing is also incredible well-researched, and I truly learned so much about the BOAC and flying boats, and so look forward to doing more research on my own time as well.

With Peggy in the earlier timeline, and Rebekah in the later one, the story and connection between the two timelines slowly unfolds in such a poignant way. At just the right moment, each and every moment surrounding the undelivered letter comes to life, and this book truly has so much in it: heartbreaking moments, heartwarming moments, romance, mystery, moments that will have you on the edge of your seat, and so, so much more.

If you like dual-timeline novels, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and Rachel Sweasey for the e-ARC of this novel, and to Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and Rachel Sweasey for having me on the blog tour! All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A book of two halves. Family life in Poole during the Second World War, sees fisherman’s daughter, Peggy working for Boac where she meets and falls in love with Darrell a pilot with the Australian air force. Unfortunate circumstances part Peggy and Darrell and they go their separate ways.
The story then jumps into the 1990’s where Australian Rebekah is a park ranger on beautiful Brownsea Island in Poole. She meets and falls in love with historian Paul who is researching events that happened in Poole during the Second World War. The story goes seamlessly back and forth between the years, keeping the interest at all times. A book full of intrigue and romance from start to finish. Looking forward to more from this author.

The book is a great read. The story starts with WW2 and spans decades 9f family life. It helps t9 pay attention to the chapters and characters. The book has romance, suspense, and beautiful destinations.

The Island Girls is a duel time-line story set mainly in Poole and on Brownsea Island. In the 1940's Peggy Symonds is the focus of the story. She is the daughter of a fisherman and is working for the British Overseas Airways Corporation as a launch operator, ferrying passengers to boat planes. She is quick to learn and her work becomes more varied. In 1998 the protagonist is Rebekah Martin, an Australian by birth but now living and working on Brownsea Island as a ranger.

I particularly liked reading about Peggy's life during World War II and learned a lot about the area she worked in. That's always a point of interest to me; that I find out something I didn't know before whilst enjoying a story. I did, however, find the pace rather slow up to the midway point where I was very much hooked having realised what was going on.

This is an interesting and well-researched story which I very much enjoyed.

I’ve loved stepping into the lives of the characters in both timelines in The Island Girls. In 1941, Peggy’s life and work for BOAC in Poole and 1998 with Rebekah as a ranger on Brownsea Island (and a visit to Australia).

The very first chapter is heartbreaking. This is set in Holland in May 1940. Despite not having had the chance to get to know any of the characters yet to form a bond, I did with this character. I don’t think I’ve ever connected with a character quite so fast!

There is romance in both timelines – for Peggy more of a sacrifice and for Rebekah, an opportunity to open herself to vulnerability and to trust if she takes it. There is more suspense in Peggy’s life linked to her job, whilst although we get to experience life on Brownsea Island as a ranger with Rebekah, the theme is more of a digging deeper to uncover facts and secrets.

The setting of the book in Poole is close to where I live. Poole Quay is one of our favourite places … but until reading The Island Girls I had NO IDEA about the flying boats and BOAC. It was easy for me to visualise the places mentioned in both timelines and since reading the story, I’ve done some searching and found this gem of a website, Poole Flying Boats Celebration. Reading through the archives and watching the footage has brought the story even more alive. If you get the chance, I recommend having a browse. The setting in Australia is easy to visualise too (and no, I’ve never been!). I liked this author’s writing style.

I’m so glad there is an epilogue because the story wouldn’t have ended satisfactorily for me (and I don’t mind being left without everything being tied up – but this story needed it). It felt complete.

I identified so easily with all the characters and felt all the emotions. I walked through that time in history, experiencing day-to-day life during World War II and what it was like to put your country ahead of your own needs. There are some tense and brutal scenes when you don’t know which way is up, balanced with true kinship and love.

I know this part of Dorset as I have spent many holidays there, and learning about its wartime history is fascinating. It begins with a heartbreakingly tragic event which changes a man's life. It evokes the devastation of war in such a chilling way. This dual-time story follows Peggy, in 1941, who worked with the flying boats, and Rebekah, in 1998, a ranger on the uninhabited Brownsea Island. The lyrical storytelling brings the characters and events to life in an immersive way. There is a mystery to solve that connects the two women across time, and the reader is taken on an emotional journey that is often heartbreaking. It's about courage, sacrifice and secrets. I like the characterisation, the setting and the vivid historical detail.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This is a dual-timeline story, taking place in Poole on the Dorset Coast during WWII and the late 1990s. Peggy Symonds is a fisherman’s daughter who volunteers to work with the flying boats during WWII. When asked to take on a task for her country, she has to make a terrible choice. Rebekah works in Dorset as a ranger, and she meets Paul, a historian. They discover a mysterious letter and work to discover what happened.


I enjoyed reading this story about what happened during WWII along the Dorset Coast. I’m always amazed at the difficult choices those who lived in England and Europe during WWII had to make. I learned more about the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) as well as the area around Dorset in England.


Thanks to @boldwoodbooks, @netgalley @rachelsrandomresources, and the author for this ARC

Rachel Sweasey’s The Island Girls masterfully blends history, love, and intrigue, offering vivid descriptions of Poole, Brownsea Island, and Brisbane. With a dual timeline and rich historical detail, it’s perfect for fans of wartime fiction, mystery, and romance.

Peggy, the daughter of a fisherman, knows the waterways of Poole like the back of her hand. As a member of the British Overseas Airways Corporation, she helps transport passengers and supplies from the flying boats during World War II. With the RAF stationed nearby, Peggy is asked to locate a possible German spy, forcing her to choose between her duty to her country and the man she loves.

Set in both 1941 and 1998, it follows the perspectives of Peggy Symonds and Rebekah Martins. Rebekah, a wildlife ranger on Brownsea Island in 1998, meets historian Paul, and together they discover a lost letter from the war. Intrigued by the mystery, they embark on a journey to uncover the truth behind the letter.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is a captivating timeslip novel, with the narrative alternating between a WWII setting, and the late nineties. I found it a slightly challenging read in some ways, but definitely worth it. I felt there were a lot of characters to follow, but I appreciated and connected with these characters in different ways. Rebekah was the character that I identified with the most, while Peggy was the character that I felt the strongest connection with, and Hans was the character that intrigued me the most.

I was drawn in from reading the prologue, and felt the need to know more about these characters and their story. Once I became invested, I found the story emotional to read, as I cared about the characters and what happened to them. This was a romantic tearjerker, and it provided me with an escape.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.

3.5 stars.
I loved the setting of this story in Dorset and the descriptions of Brownsea Island, also the work done by the women of Poole during WW2. There was also some interesting descriptions of the wildlife in Australia. It is set on two timelines, 1940s and 1998. Peggy, who worked on the boats, featured in the earlier time and Rebekah, an Australian, was a ranger on the island in the latter. Their stories follow their love lives and their occupations. I did like the characters but I did find the pace a little slow at times. Although, there were some happy endings, there were some situations where this was not achieved and left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a great dual timeline story of WW2 at Poole in the 1940s, and 1998 on Brownsea Island, with an episode in 1971 Australia! Poole Harbour became the only wartime civilian airport in the UK. It was fascinating learning about the BOAC, and the flying boats and their role during WW2. There’s mystery and romance too. A very interesting and enjoyable read. Highly recommend

I was absolutely fascinated by the historical backdrop to this story – Poole Harbour becoming the only wartime civilian airport in the UK (for a while) with BOAC’s flying boat operations, the links with the Harbour Heights Hotel and Poole Pottery’s showrooms, the Australian RAAF squadron based nearby, Brownsea Island as a clearing station for Dutch and Belgian refugees. In her notes (at the book’s end) about the historical detail and which elements were fact or fiction, she says that her research was “deliciously addictive” – and I was so caught up by her enthusiasm that I went down a Google rabbit hole of my own for a while too, wanting to read more. But it takes an author with vision and imagination – and wonderful storytelling skills – to weave that background into such an engaging dual time story, with two perfectly balanced storylines and such well developed characters, that I found entirely impossible to put down.

In 1941, Peggy – the daughter of a fisherman, so very familiar with boats – is a volunteer, ferrying passengers to and from the flying boats using the harbour. The possibility of romance with an Australian airman has to be put on hold when she’s tasked with a mission – to get closer to a new arrival on her team, whose presence on the night of a precisely targeted bombing has raised suspicion that he might be a German spy. The story that then follows is drama-filled, as his personal history and true identity becomes clearer, and Peggy’s sense of duty and personal bravery drive her actions – edge-of-the-seat writing at its very best, but very engaging at an emotional level too.

In 1998, Rebekah – born in Brisbane, but drawn to Dorset by the stories told by the neighbour she knew as Aunty Pig – is working as a wildlife ranger for National Trust, living and working on Brownsea Island. Her solitary, close-to-nature life is one she enjoys, and she looks forward to the daily departure of the visitors and other guides, allowing her to be at peace with her surroundings. Until Paul appears – a historian, marooned on the island, who she finds it surprisingly easy to both like and trust. Growing closer as she helps him with his research, they find an intriguing wartime letter than never reached its intended recipient – and together, with the links between the two storylines becoming increasingly clear, they set out together to make sure that it is finally delivered.

The shifts between past and present day stories are perfectly handled – very smoothly done, cleverly linked, and never a single moment when I would have preferred to remain with the one I was reading. There’s real depth to the characterisation – and not just Peggy and Rebekah, but every individual who plays their part in their stories – and the author’s emotional touch is simply perfect. There’s a wonderful sense of place to both past and present – the author’s depth of research is used as it should be, to bring the locations (and the era, for the wartime story) so vividly to life. And I really enjoyed the slow reveal, the uncovering of so many secrets as the pieces fell into place – it was a story I found both moving and totally captivating. And Rebekah’s developing romance? That was really rather lovely too.

The story that unfolded has stayed with me long after reading the final page – this really was a rather special book that I couldn’t recommend more highly, and I’ll very much look forward to reading more from its talented author.

This lovely dual time story takes us into the heart of Dorset as we get to know Rebekah in the present time who works as a conservationist on the beautiful Brownsea Island. There, Rebekah enjoys her time meeting the tourists who visit this tiny island and yet she also guards her privacy well, that is, until a stranger arrives unexpectedly on her doorstep. Back in 1941, Peggy Symonds works as a BOAC boat operator, skilfully manoeuvring her small craft as she collects freight and passengers from the flying boats who come frequently into Poole harbour. Determined to do her duty for the war effort Peggy has some tough decisions to make.

Seamlessly moving between both time frames, a rather special story emerges and as one section finishes we return either to the past, or the present, following the story of two strong and determined young women. This picturesque part of Dorset comes to life as we explore Brownsea Island with Rebekah or travel the choppy coastal waters in Peggy’s boat. The author writes well, carefully blending the dark moments of history together with a gentle love story and with beautifully imagined characters the whole story becomes a delight to read and one which held my attention from start to finish.

This book revolves around two women and told with dual timelines. Peggy helps during the war in a surprising way. Rebekah in modern day finds an unexpected letter destined for someone else.
This was an interesting story with two women in different times.

3.5⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advanced copy of The Island Girls.

In 1941 Peggy volunteers to help with flying boats in Poole. She has fallen for a man named Darrell but she is given a task to find out if one of her coworkers is actually a spy and she puts her relationship on the line for her country. In 1998 Rebekah is living in Brownsea Island and she meets and falls for Paul. They find a lost love letter and are determined to return it to its rightful owner. Rebekah finds out that her neighbor Peggy who was like a grandmother to her may have had a more interesting life than she ever led on.

I enjoyed this book and the dual timelines. The story of Peggy was heartbreaking but such an amazing read.

A very interesting story about two different woman who are connected.

Rebekah is living in Poole but is from Australia who is ranger after hearing stories from her neighbour Peggy who came from there. Rebekah is enjoying her life where she gets to work in a place that is idyllic.

Peggy worked for the Boac during the War and meets Darrell and Australian service man who she falls in love with. Peggy is tasked with a special mission which may end up that she sacrifices her love life for this only time will tell.

I enjoyed the mystery of it all and found it intriguing wondering what would happen in the end. The research that went into the book was good and learning new things about the War.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed this dual timeline story set in 1941, where the story takes us to Poole Dorset and 1998.

Peggy’s work involves working on the area where passengers are brought back and taken to the flying boats in the harbour. Her dad is a fisherman and so she knows the way the harbour works.

When she meets a pilot from the RAF, she is enlisted to do secret assignments, therefore has to sign the Official Secrets Act.

In the present, we meet Rebekah who is on her way from Brisbane to go and work on Brownsea Island, her job will be working for the National Trust.

The story was well written of Peggy and the secrets she kept in doing her work, that is until Rebecca comes across a letter and decides to look into the mystery of this letter and hopefully return it.

I highly recommend this book.

Sometimes we find ourselves doing the unimaginable. Peggy discovered that she had the emotional and physical strength to accomplish the impossible. She risked everything plus the chance of a future with the love of her life.
Her secrets were discovered years later by a young woman who once was her neighbor, Rebekah. Rebekah worked on Brownsea Island. This is where she found a letter that led Rebekah on a road to discovery.

This story was written in two timelines. It was easy to read. I enjoyed reading about both women and of the men that they love.

This is a must read book. It is set in 1941 in Poole Dorset and 1998 in Poole as well.Peggy is working on the launch that takes passengers to and from the flying boats that land in the harbour as she is a daughter of a fisherman there and can navigate the harbour with her eyes shut.Peggy meets an RAAF pilot from Australia who is based at the RAF base there in the harbour..Peggy is asked to do secret walk so has to sign the Official Secrets Act and not tell anybody what she is doing.
1998 in Australia and Rebekah leaves Brisbane to work on Brownsea Island just of the coat of Poole where she is a ranger for the National Trust on the Island.This is a brilliant story of Peggy's life in the war and the secrets that she keeps till Rebekah finds a letter.Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood.