I must admit that I had some trouble keeping track of who was who at times in this book. A lot is going on, many relationships, and although they are all linked one way or another because of Harper's Emporium and the owners, Sally and Ben, I did get confused now and then.

Despite that, I did enjoy this latest instalment of the series. Even after 8 other books, this one still had the power to make me smile, laugh, and be shocked. I even shed a tear! With so much going on, there are definitely no boring moments.

I particularly loved reading about the store and all that is involved in running it. I love how Sally tried to cater to all classes, not just the upper class. She's a wonderful character.

I hope there will be more in the series; the ending, although not a cliff hanger, did leave the opportunity for another book. Fingers crossed!

What an apt title! Ben & Sally Harper’s life is thrown into disarray when Ben is entrusted by his aunt to look into the strange going-ons in business in America. This bring some unsavoury characters to light. That said there are still the usual characters working in Harpers Emporium which makes you feel at home from the off.
My favourite character Sally , her strength rubs off. I won’t mention least favourite.
This has to be the saddest instalment yet, although it made me long for book 10 instantly.
You just know you will enjoy Rosie’s book the instant you pick it up, worthy of ten ⭐️

I did not realise that this was part of a well established series. However, it worked for me as a standalone. It’s an interesting and emotional read. There’s strong female characters, with well paced storylines. Romance and loss. Heartache and hope.
I received a copy from Boldwood Books via NetGalley.

Didn't find the introduction that interesting after a previous five star read, just wasn't for me. Saying that it's an easy read.

Book number 9 in the Harpers Department Store Series , was yet again another wonderful addition to
this series .
I’ve been with this series from the very beginning and I’ve loved every book . I was so looking forward to reading this one and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. There’s plenty going on throughout the book that kept me interested from start to finish . I just love the friendship between Sally, Beth, Kitty and Ruby and how they are all there for each other when things get tough . Sally is doing her best to keep everything going in London, between looking after her children and running Harpers Department store . She is counting down the days until her husband Ben Harper returns from America . Having her friends around to help her run the store is so much appreciated .
A wonderful read filled with friendship and love and support no matter how tough times get.

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

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

From the beginning I was hooked, turning the pages to find out what happens next.

Sally has to take care of Harpers on her own as Ben has to stay in America to look into something to do with his aunts store, which creates problems for them, as Sally isn’t happy about it, she seems to have this feeling that it’s not a good idea for him to be there.

I loved reading about Ruby's story as well as Kitty's. Beth too had me wondering what would happen with her story.

I’ve loved each book in this series and can’t wait to see what happens next to the characters who’ve become friends.


I highly recommend this book and series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood for an ARC of this novel.

Followers of Rosie Clarke’s Boldwood series will enjoy this novel, her 9th in the Harper’s Emporium series. It has the same coziness and historical appeal of the others, with vivid context and memorable characters, a number of whom continue their story here. If you are new to the series, the author quickly sketches in enough detail to fill in the gaps.

It is 1929, and there are a few hints of darkening skies for those in business, stock market investments, and the retail sector. Those so occupied in London, where Harper’s is located, are not terribly worried because most of the clouds seem to be hovering over the United States. Sally Harper, the savvy businesswoman who runs the department store, is anxious because her store was established by her American husband Ben. Ben is rarely with his family or at their store in London in this installment. He spends most of his time, despite Sally’s and their two children’s pleading, in New York on some hazy but dangerous mission in behalf of his aunt and the family’s New York store.

As a woman in a world where it is still unusual for any but poor women to work after marriage, and especially after motherhood, much of the respect she has earned is veiled in references to her husband. Ben, scion of a wealthy entrepreneurial family, is known to enjoy risk-taking and challenges—not only to his livelihood but also to his life. Sally, raised in an orphanage and only recently reconciled with her mother and stepfather, is also ambitious. But as she keeps reminding the sometimes callous and often driven Ben, what matters far more than wealth is family.

I enjoyed the glimpses into a 1920s department store, with its strict rules about deference, comportment, attire (both men and women wear the same suit), and what is appropriate in customer service. Both in and outside the store, the class relations that were disturbed by the war are nonetheless still operating. It’s clear that they regulate love, romance, family, friendship, and even bereavement.

No doubt the Great War and the Spanish flu explain much of it, but there are so many orphans in this story that it seems a normal state of childhood England of the time. Interestingly, though, Sally and several of the secondary characters have ‘orphan backstories’ involving familial disapproval and misunderstanding of the kind that bring unnecessary suffering on the innocent children. I sometimes had trouble keeping the details straight for Sally, Kitty, Beth and Ruby. And I lost my patience with Ben Harper more than once, because he equivocates so much about whether he wants his family to live in New York or London, regardless of Sally’s feelings, whether he wants the wealth or the love more. But the author weaves in some mysteries that raise suspenseful moments, and the characters are mostly endearing, so this 9th volume will please both new readers and old fans.

This is the 9th book in the series and I have to admit I could t remember everything that had happened previously, but the writer did recap things so I was soon engrossed.

Lots of characters and lots going on, think it helps if u have read the earlier books.

Good book, but very busy read

Personally, I think this latest book in the Harpers stable is the best yet! Really enjoyed how the author told an ever evolving tale with a bit of mystery involved. Easy to read and very enjoyable. Looking forward to the next in the series!
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read and review this book.

I love the Harpers series and this book is just as good as the rest. It is an emotional read for a few of the characters are going through difficult moments. We are now into 1929 just before the depression and I hope Rosie has more to come for us in this series. Sally Harper and her friends and employees are finding things hard at the moment but one thing is the love and friendship and respect for each other that shines through. I highly recommend this series.

Enjoyable installation in a long series; there was quite a lot of expository content which provided good (yet in-your-face) context since this is the 9th installment. The characters are likeable and if you had a previous reading relationship, it feels like this storyline remains fresh. If this is your introduction to the Harpers store, the book can stand alone. I imagine it would be more fulfilling if you'd read the previous eight books but it's not essential.

Another delightful installment to the Harpers Emporium series although I found this one a little slower off the mark than previous ones in which I easily dived and devoured. It is still a fairly quick and easy read though it feels as though so many have come and gone with only a few of the originals left. I normally eagerly await a Harpers book but this one didn't feel as though it hit all the marks as previous ones. But that could just be me too.

The years is 1929 and Ben's aunt has summoned him back to America to take over her affairs during the course of her illness and in the event of her subsequent death. This of course takes him away from London and Harpers, though the latter is left in Sally's capable hands. She has promoted Kitty Wilson as her assistant and taken on a new secretary Ruby Rush.

Meanwhile Beth has new neighbours but there is something familiar about them but she isn't quite sure. She continues her several mornings work at Harpers whilst caring for her husband Jack, children and father in law Fred whom she has encouraged to return to Harpers on a part time basis since the loss of his wife.

Sally is busy running a household and the store, along with her many charities she patronises. A face from her past returns with some sobering news but is on hand to offer her assistance should she need it. Meanwhile she has her hands full with children Jenny and Peter and the ever-changing future before her. She hates being separated from Ben but he is honour-bound and hopes that they will soon be reunited.

There is love on the horizon for one or two of the Harpers girls but will anything come of it? And yet, troubled times are ahead of them. Will those concerned heed the warnings before it's too late?

Unlike many previous books, Harpers features more of a backdrop than the feature but that's OK because the store is well established and is the heartbeat of all those who are employed there and those who walk through its doors. This is one of my favourite series and can't wait to see what's in store for them next. I'm especially interested in Ruby's story. And I did like that this one did not end on a cliffhanger.

I would like to thank #RosieClarke, #Netgalley, #BoldwoodBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TroubledTimesAtHarpers in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Harpers Emporium #9

3.5 stars rounded up

London, 1929. Torn between the love of his family life in London and a deathbed promise to an American relative, Ben Harper makes a fatal decision that may change the course of many lives. Honour-bound, Ben remains in New York to investigate who is responsible for the suspected fraud, corruption, and the department stores failings. His findings point to organised crime and shadowy gangsters who will stop at nothing to get what they want. Sally Harper and the children return home to oversee the smooth running of the thriving Harpers Emporium. With the help of Beth Burrows, Ruby Rush and Kitty Wilson, Sally plans for an ever-changing future with the cards she's been dealt.

It did take me a few chapters to get into this ninth Harpers Emporium book. There's a few new characters to keep track of. Sally and Ben Harper run the new store, but Ben's aunt asked him to help her in the American store.The pace is steady. The era the books are set in has been well-researched. We get love, loss, romance and fraud.

Published 1st June 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley BoldwoodBooks and the author #RosieClark for my ARC of #TroubledTimesAtHarpersEmporium in exchange for an honest review.

its like we know the people in these book now. we have followed them over time and years. we have followed the emporium too. so we have come to care for the people and th store. and its not been lived in in the best of times in our world history. through it all their is people, humans, and they all are able to have good points and bad points, good days and bad. but through it all there is a gathering of love,support and friendship.
Rosie knows how to write her books. and she does her series so well. and if you enjoyed this book read the others. then please go and read the other series Rosie Clarke has put her brilliance too. because ive fallen for her others too and im sure you will love them just as much.
Rosie knows how to write people. in all their scopes. and she knows how to help us see into a time we werent ever part of. the writing feels well researched too which adds reality and depth to the pages you are reading.
this was a great addition to the series. and i think it could even mean we have more. oh please let there be more.
i really do have my favourites in this book and i want to see the with their happy endings. and its good to see even in different times there are people trying to make the difference they can to people who might not always be seen as "worthy".

Oh, gosh, this one saw all of the emotions coming out to play! Sadness, happiness, humour too in some ways!
There was excitement and, overall, a sense of new beginnings and new experiences to be had! Probably the best one in the Harper's series yet!
I can't wait for the next book in the series to find out what happens next!

A well-written historical novel full of twists. The power of females during those days shines to the fore of this work. Brilliant read!

Another thrilling read in the Harpers series. Ben Harper is in America and is dicing with some dangerous people whilst trying to untangle the web of his aunts large emporium. Meanwhile Sally is keeping Harpers running smoothly in London.
Great to catch up with characters old and new, and as usual written perfectly.
Looking forward to the next book in the lives of the Harper family.

A lovely read set around a department store and WWII. Great characters and enjoyable storyline. Would recommend this book.

This book is so good, i love the Harper books, they are books you never want to put down, i cant wait for more.

It is now 1929 at Harpers.Ben Harper has to go to America as his aunt is dying and she want him to take over the store that she owns there.It seems that everything is not as it should be and his aunt thinks her son has something to do with it.Ben is talking about the whole family moving over there but Sally doesn’t won’t to go with their children Peter and Jenny.Kitty Wilson is being trained up so she can take some of the work load off Sally so she can have a bit more time off with her family.Sally thinks Ben might get into deep water if he tries to prove that his cousin is behind the fraud at the store but doesn’t believe all Sally says.Ruby ,a new secretary in Sally office helps a gentleman lodger where she lodges as he is suffering bad nightmares flash backs too the war.He suddenly goes away then Ruby hears he has died which upsets her as she was falling in love with him.What will happen between Ben and Sally and how will Ruby carry on now her love has died.Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood.