I’m so thrilled to be part of the blog tour for Hopes and Dreams for the Variety Girls by Tracy Baines, in behalf of Rachel’s Random Resources. Thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel Gilbey for the copy of the book to bring an honest review.
As war is declared can The Variety Girls keep smiling through…
Cleethorpes – September 1939
Struggling to keep their spirits up as the reality of war hits home and theatres are closed, friends Jessie Delaney and Frances O’Leary search for work to see them through until they can sing and dance again.
Frances, once upon a time followed her dreams of becoming a dancer but soon found herself with a broken heart and a precious secret when her lover abandoned her. Keeping her secret from her friends grows more difficult as time passes and their friendship grows..
But with her lover returning to England from a successful tour of America, how long will it be before the truth comes to light?
Secrets aren’t good for anyone and Frances isn’t the only one hiding things from her friends. Ginny Thomspon, another Variety Girl is hoping for the best. But is hope enough?
Can the Variety Girls pull together to help each other through the tough times or will their secrets tear them apart?
A gritty and heart-warming saga perfect for readers of Elaine Everest, Nancy Revell and Pam Howes.
This is the second book in the Variety Girls series. This is the first book I have read in the series. A historical fiction saga set in Cleethorpes, this book begins in 1939, just as World War Two is about to break out. I love a good historical fiction book and the period of World War Two is always a winner for me. So I was eager to sit down and get stuck in.
A book that is perfectly fine to read as a standalone as Tracy Baines has included enough background that made me feel like I was up to speed at least with the characters. This book concentrates on Frances and her story as the first one did with Jessie.
I adored this tale of friendships, love and life during the time of war. We see both girls having to change their way of life because of the war and the closure of the theatres. We see Frances with her hidden past, struggling with her conscience and also feeling guilty that she can’t share it with her friends. As someone returns from her past will her secrets come out into the open?
The research that the author has put into this book must be quite immense as it delves into the struggles of the dancers, their lives and how they will survive as their livelihoods are closed down. Their worries as loved ones go to war and everything that goes with these issues. I found it an emotional read as the story unfolded and I became invested in these girls. The authenticity of the characters and the setting had me swept back to the War years easily. I was glued to the book.
Such a heartwarming story that doesn’t just show the goodness in people. We see the flaws, weaknesses and realness that made the war generation the people they were and we see how friendships and love can transcend these things. Tracy Baines has created a series that I am going to have to catch up on, I am so interested in these characters!
A great book for any historical fiction saga fans, which rings so true as you read it and has characters you really want to see do well too.
Purchase Link https://amzn.to/3Nb8ujy
Author Bio
Tracy Baines is the bestselling saga writer of The Variety Girls series, originally published by Ebury, which Boldwood will continue with. She was born and brought up in Cleethorpes and spent her early years in the theatre world which inspired her writing. The first title of her new saga series for Boldwood – set amongst the fisherfolk of Grimsby – will be published in October 2022.
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