Historical drama set in Ironbridge following the ups and downs of Maria as she tries to improve her situation. A good read.

January 1892 and Maria is seventeen, it's ten years since she lost both her parents in an unfortunate accident, and now she is looking for a job in Ironbridge.
She luckily finds a job in the local barbers shop, who surprisingly also sells tobacco. She is very popular with all the clients and also people who want to buy tobacco. In those days even women bought tobacco, which is what one woman does, buying quite a considerable amount. Very soon Maria moves on to working at the local drapers store where she meets a good friend Rosie, she still has a good friendship with the local school teacher Charlie, but what both Maria and Rosie strive for is working in a large department store and when they see an advertisement for both a seamstress and a woman who can work competently in the store in Shrewsbury, something both girls feel qualified to doing, but this big department store is in Shrewsbury so it will mean big changes for both these young women. Things don't work out for Rosie but Maria lands herself a job in the big department store, with accommodation included, and she feels on top of the world. By September 1892 she is settling into her new job, not everything is as she had hoped it would be though, but she is determined to settle in and become a Harbone's shop assistant girl. She keeps in touch with Charlie by letter but she doesn't tell him the whole truth of what it's like working at a big department store, but there is a bigger secret that she must now keep from both Charlie and her friends at the store. Soon she is torn between two very different men plus the demands and restrictions of her job, making her always worried about if she has made the right decision about coming to Shrewsbury. But this is nothing to the choice that she will shortly have to decide on, what will become of Marie, her hopes and dreams, and her love life?

This book is a fabulous new saga story which has all the interesting characters to make it a fantastic success. I was quickly drawn into the storyline and absolutely loved reading about Maria and her shopgirl life, anybody who has worked in a shop will be surprised at just how different things were then for the staff.
A fantastic five-star read from me.

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I really enjoyed The Shopgirl of Ironbridge by Mollie Walton. It follows Maria on her journey of trying to better herself. Orphaned at a young age and being looked after by family members who did not want her made Maria want to do well for self. A long the way she meets various people some she will stay close to others she will not. Some happt times and trauma . A lovely story. Thank you for advanced copy

This is the story of Maria Keats who looses her patents in a freak accident when she is 7 years old.Ten years later she comes back to Ironbridge to live and work where she meets Charlie who helped at the school she went to all those years ago.Charlie is now the schoolmaster there.Maria gets a job as a shopgirl but is always wanting to better herself.Charlie asks to marry her be she gets a job in another town where she meets Oskar who is a German chemist student.What will happen between Charlie and her and Oska and her? Thank you to Netgalley and Headline.

A vivid story set in Ironbridge during the Victorian times. These were very hard on young girls with hardly any family and having to earn a living. They worked long hours for very little money and were sometimes treated badly. A great read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

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

I enjoyed reading this book.

Maria, is a young woman who enjoys her job, but wants to go further. She has found love, but still decided to leave everything behind to go into the big world and take the position that she’s dreamed of.

The job at the department store is so different to what she’s done before, but she continues to do it.

But, then things begin to change and it puts her in some difficult circumstances.

I recommend this book.

This book is one that even back then makes you feel proud of so many woman that were paving a way or shouting back in the brutality of the man's world. That there fight must have felt so lonely and burdensome at times. But how they kept trying.
Maria is such a strong and gifted young woman. She had love at home and yet still she decided to go forth into the big world and her dream job. For her. She gets it when she starts at the department store. But times aren't easy and things come her way which sparks tragic circumstances alight.
These sagas are just perfect reads. And they as genres and themes are always one of my very favorite go-tos.

What a formidable young woman Maria Keay’s is, after a family disaster Maria decides to make her own way in the world.This is helped along initially by Mr Bowden at the barbers when he spots something special in the young woman . Over time Maria becomes friendly with local schoolmaster Charlie Woodvine. When Charlie makes an offer to Mara will the price be too high.
Maria gets the offer of a job at one of the large department stores, this costs her more than one friendship. Once settled at Harborne’s Maria’s eyes are opened to how much of a man’s world it really is. When she is offered promotion Maria uses her interview to put forward how a women’s work is never done & how undervalued they really are. It’s quite a speech for such a young woman, will it cost her the job? When Maria gets the opportunity to earn extra money on her day off after one of her customers leaves his card on her counter is he really doing her a favour, or looking after his own needs!

I really enjoyed Maria’s story, if a little sad at times. There were some real characters among her colleagues, especially Polly.
My favourite character was Maria for her strength, least favourite was Oskar for obvious reasons. Biscuit sounded adorable.
Look forward to the next one.

Will she find love again?
1892 seventeen years old Maria Keay wants to make something of her life starting jobs firstly for Mr Boden in his barber and tobacco shop then Nixons drapers.
She's aiming big and get the chance of a job at Harbornes department store which will see her moving to Shrewsbury from Ironbridge she is really going to miss school teacher Charlie Woodvine, the friendship and love that has developed, she turns down his marriage proposal but they promise to write.
The job is hard going for Maria working long hours and sickly rules and only having Sundays off but she's a strong determined woman.
This book is heartbreaking that will leave you crying out to Maria.
Harrowing chapters that are unputdownable.
Will she find love with the right man?
I love this series and hopefully won't have to wait for more to come.
Absolutely loved it.