Steel Girls on the Home Front is the third book in the Steel Girl series but can easily be read as a stand alone. That said, it made me want to go back to read books one and two to catch up on the characters’s stories in detail. The author makes them come to life from the first page and I was immediately wrapped up in Patty’s worries for her sweetheart, Archie as she tries to discover his secret. But Patty is only one of the three musketeers – the others being Nancy and Betty. I have to say I have a soft spot for Betty, always wondering what fund raiser to embark on next.
What I enjoyed most about Steel Girls on the Home Front was the sense of community, of the women, whatever their age, all pulling together to get through such strange times, not knowing where their men are, nor what they are doing. You feel their worry and cheer their uplifting ‘keep calm and carry on’ spirit.
There is lack – of men, of food, of security – but there is also so much gain – of warmth, community and friendship, and this is what helps each woman through their individual struggles and loneliness.
And although the ‘Three Musketeers’ are brought together by their work at the steel works it’s by no means the dominating force in the story – although you can be sure that the fine detail is spot on. Michelle Rawlins is also author of Women of Steel – The Feisty Sisters who Helped Win the War. Her meticulous research shines through but never slows down a story that moves at a cracking pace.
A warm hug of a read!
Description
As the war rages on in 1940, Vickers steelworks is busier than ever which is proving tough for Nancy as she juggles working long hours and looking after two young children, all while waiting for her husband to return home safely.
Betty is determined to roll up her sleeves and joins the Women’s Voluntary Service to keep busy and stop from fretting about her fiancé.
But Patty is left worrying about someone closer to home. Sweetheart Archie has been keeping a secret from her, and one that puts him in great danger. Will it threaten to pull them apart for good?
And with life at war tougher than ever, can the factory sisters rally together to find a way through?
Michelle Rawlins is an award-winning freelance journalist with over 20 years’ experience working in print and digital media. After learning her trade, Michelle began her freelance career writing for national newspapers and women’s magazines, concentrating on real-life stories and is the only person to have interviewed the surviving women who actually worked in the Sheffield steelworks in wartime.
Steel Girls on the Home Front is published by Harper Collins
Available on Amazon