Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources and Corvus Books for the opportunity to join the blog tour for book 8 in the Ration Book series.
Synopsis:
Jean Fullerton, the RNA-shortlisted queen of the East End, returns with the final nostalgic and heart-warming story of the Brogan family.
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In the final days of war, only love will pull her through . . .
Queenie Brogan wasn’t always an East End matriarch. Many years ago, before she married Fergus, she was Philomena Dooley, a daughter of Irish Travellers, planning to wed her childhood sweetheart, Patrick Mahone. But when tragedy struck and Patrick’s narrow-minded sister, Nora, intervened, the lovers were torn apart.
Fate can be cruel, and when Queenie arrives in London she finds that Patrick Mahon is her parish priest, and that the love she had tried to suppress flares again in her heart.
But now in the final months of WW2, Queenie discovers Father Mahon is dying and must face losing him forever. Can she finally tell him the secret she has kept for over fifty years or will Nora once again come between them?
And if Queenie does decide to finally tell Patrick, could the truth destroy the Brogan family?
Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3KIKxA5
My thoughts:
I’ve enjoyed meeting the Brogan family in this series and was pleased to read that we would find out how Queenie met Father Mahon in this book.
The war is drawing to a close at the start of the book, although the threat of the V2 bombs remains. Ida, Jeremiah and their children continue to cope with loved ones being in the Armed Forces liberating Europe, and rationing in the UK.
Father Mahon is taken ill and Queenie has flashbacks to their friendship, when she was known as Philomena back in Ireland during her childhood. But will she let Father Mahon know the secret she has kept for fifty years?
I’ve enjoyed this series and I’m pleased to say that this book is a worthy finale. There are many reminders about how life didn’t suddenly change back to normal on VE day, and how families had to adjust to civilian life.
A lovely mix of family life, friendship, memories and history, and a nod to our Queen too (the VE day celebrations sounded fun). Happy to recommend this book (and the series) to readers of my book blog.
Author Bio:
Born and bred in East London Jean is a District Nurse by trade and has worked as a NHS manager and as a senior lecture in Health and Nursing Studies. She left her day job to become a full-time writer in 2015 and has never looked back.
In 2006 she won the Harry Bowling Prize and now has seventeen sagas published over three series all of which are set in East London.
She is an experienced public speaker with hundreds of WI and women’s club talks under her belt, plus for the past fifteen years she has sailed all over the world as an enrichment speaker and writing workshop leader on cruise ships.
Social Media Links –
Website: http://jeanfullerton.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jean-Fullerton-202631736433230/?ref=bookmarks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JeanFullerton_
Giveaway to Win 6 x Signed Copies of A Ration Book Victory (Open to UK Only)
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