The Girls of Victory Street: An absolutely heartbreaking World War 2 family saga (The Bryant Sisters Book 1)

by Pam Howes

  26

  March 1943

  Bella wiped the mist off the train window as it chugged through the Kent countryside. She was on her way to meet Fran and Edie, who had promised to be at Deal railway station waiting for her. It had been one heck of a journey from North Wales, with several train changes and cancellations, but she’d managed and was now on the final leg.

  Bella was going back to work and although she would miss her son, she knew he had the best surrogate mother he could wish for in her own mam. Mam had told her that going back to work was the best thing all round. Keeping busy and not wasting her talent was important. Little Levi would be looked after so well by Mam and Molly and everyone else at the farm that Bella knew for sure he’d be spoiled rotten by the time she saw him again. But as long as he was loved, and he would be, that was all that mattered.

  She couldn’t wait to see her friends and Basil again and there was a possibility that Bobby might be joining them at some point soon. Probably when they went back up north in a month or two, as he couldn’t travel alone in a wheelchair to meet up with them down here. She was really looking forward to seeing him again, whenever that might be, and she knew from his letters that he was looking forward to seeing her too.

  They kept in touch regularly and it was always a pleasure to hear from him. He knew she’d taken a few weeks off to spend time with her family in Wales and he’d never questioned her about it. One day she would tell him why, but the time wasn’t right yet. Maybe once the war ended and everyone was living back where they belonged, she’d do it then.

  She couldn’t keep her son a secret forever, but for now he had to be. She had used Ruth’s box camera to take lots of photos of Levi and she’d sent one to Earl with a covering letter, telling him he didn’t have to write back, but that she was sure he’d like to see what his child looked like. She felt less cross with him now that she had her beautiful son.

  Earl had written back right away and sent a parcel of baby clothes and some money. He told her he’d wept tears of joy when he saw the photo and he would treasure it forever. One day he hoped to see them both, maybe when the war was over. He’d also told her that Ruby, his sister, whom he’d confided in about Bella and the baby, had written to him and told him his wife had been seen out with other men.

  He planned to divorce her when he got back to New Orleans, but he was concerned about his little daughter, so would proceed with caution. Bella had been pleased to hear from him – she knew there would never be a future for them, but she didn’t feel quite so abandoned, and the fact that he’d told his sister meant a lot to her too. She was also glad for Levi’s sake, as she could tell him about his father and his Aunt Ruby when he was old enough to understand.

  As the train slowed down and tooted its arrival at the station, Bella got her bag down from the rack and picked up her handbag and the ever-present gas mask box. Here we go again, she thought. She felt a little thrill of excitement at the thought of getting back onstage with her friends.

  Last year had been the strangest one of her life yet. Becoming well known on the show circuit, singing with George Formby in her hometown, and giving birth to her son. As she stepped down from the platform with her things she was nearly sent flying by Fran and Edie, who flung their arms around her, both crying at once. She looked up and saw Basil standing behind them, a big welcoming smile lighting up his friendly face.

  ‘Welcome back, Bella,’ he said, giving them all a group hug. ‘It’s so good to see you again. I’m a very happy man. My Bryant Sisters are complete once more.’

  If you were absolutely swept up in Bella’s story, you will love The Factory Girls of Lark Lane. Alice Turner is doing her bit for the war effort at Liverpool’s munitions factory, but when her sweetheart is declared missing in Nazi-occupied France, can she find the strength to get through this dark time?

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  The Factory Girls of Lark Lane

  The Lark Lane Trilogy Book 1

  Can friendship get them through the struggles of war?

  1940, Liverpool: Alice Turner and her best friend, Millie Markham, work for the war effort at Rootes munitions factory, making shell caps and Halifax bombers. Alice’s sweetheart Terry is home from the front for a brief period of leave. She’s been in love with him since school, and the women are excitedly planning a whirlwind wedding.

  But the honeymoon is soon over. Terry must go back to the dangers of Nazi-occupied France, and the ever-present air raid sirens quickly bring Alice back down to earth. When a terrible explosion at the factory leads to a tragic death, Millie receives devastating news, and a loved one is announced missing in action, the heartbreak of war is suddenly all too real.

  Alice must believe Terry will make it home to keep up her strength. Her mother and Millie need all her support, and morale at the factory is at an all-time low.

  Can Alice and Millie help one another make it through these dark times, even as the war stretches on with no sign of an ending?

  The Factory Girls of Lark Lane is a heart-wrenching family saga about women in World War 2, the strength of friendship, and hope. If you’re a fan of Nadine Dorries, Diney Costeloe and Kitty Neale, you’ll love Pam Howes!

  Get it here.

  Hear more from Pam

  If you’d like to keep up to date with my latest releases, just sign up at the link below. We’ll never share your email address and you can unsubscribe at any time.

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  Books by Pam Howes

  The Bryant Sisters

  1. The Girls of Victory Street

  The Lark Lane Trilogy

  1. The Factory Girls of Lark Lane

  2. The Shop Girls of Lark Lane

  3. The Nurses of Lark Lane

  4. The Midwives of Lark Lane

  The Mersey Trilogy

  1. The Lost Daughter of Liverpool

  2. The Forgotten Family of Liverpool

  3. The Liverpool Girls

  Rock ’n’ Roll Romance Series

  Three Steps to Heaven

  ’Til I Kissed You

  Always on My Mind

  Not Fade Away

  That’ll be the Day

  Fast Movin’ Train

  Hungry Eyes

  It’s Only Words

  Audio

  The Midwives of Lark Lane (Available in the UK and the US)

  A Letter from Pam

  I want to say a huge thank you for choosing to read The Girls of Victory Street. If you did enjoy it, and want to keep up to date with all my latest releases, just sign up at the following link. Your email address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.

  Sign up here!

  To my loyal band of regular readers who bought and reviewed the Lark Lane stories, thank you for waiting patiently for my new series. I hope you’ll enjoy meeting and getting to know my new characters, Bella, Fran and Edie, and their families. Your support is most welcome and very much appreciated. As always, a big thank you to Beverley Ann Hopper and Sandra Blower and the members of their FB group Book Lovers, and Deryl Easton and the members of her FB group The NotRights. Love you all for the support you show me.

  A huge thank you to team Bookouture, especially my lovely editorial team, Maisie and Martina, for your support and guidance and always being there – you’re the best – and thanks also to the rest of the fabulous staff. Thanks also to my wonderful copy-editor Jacqui and excellent proofreader Loma.

  And last, but most definitely not least, thank you to our wonderful media girls, Kim Nash and Noelle Holten, for everything you do for us. And thanks also to the gang in the Bookouture Authors’ Lounge for always being there. As always, I’m so proud to be one of you.

  I hope you loved The Girls of Victory Street and if you did I would be very grateful if you could write a review. I’d love to hear what you think, and it makes such a difference helping new readers to discover one of my books for the first time. I love hearing from my readers – you can get in touch on my Facebook page, throu
gh Twitter, Goodreads or my website.

  Thanks,

  Pam Howes

  The Shop Girls of Lark Lane

  The war is over, but there’s heartbreak ahead…

  Liverpool, 1945. As the war draws to a close, Alice and Terry Lomax are building a new life with their young daughter Cathy. After years away fighting, Terry is a stranger to his daughter and must work hard to win her trust and love.

  Alice and old friend Sadie work in the haberdashery of Lewis’s department store, where bomb damage scars the walls and rationing is still in force. Yet Lewis’s remains open, a sign of strength in the midst of Liverpool’s post-war ruins.

  Though memories of those lost in the war are fresh, Alice and Sadie look forward to the future. But then a tragic accident leaves Alice a widow, and the father of Sadie’s child – a man she hoped never to see again – is back in Liverpool…

  With Alice struggling to start again alone, and Sadie desperate to protect her son, can these two shop girls overcome their troubles and keep their hopes alive – even with all the odds against them?

  The Shop Girls of Lark Lane is a heart-wrenching family saga about the strength of friendship and the costs of war. If you love Nadine Dorries, Diney Costeloe and Kitty Neale, you won’t want to miss Pam Howes!

  Get it here.

  The Nurses of Lark Lane

  Can she follow her dreams – against all the odds?

  Liverpool, 1955. With her abusive husband drinking all her wages, Alice faces a daily struggle to provide for her family. Her eldest daughter Cathy has always longed to be a nurse, but when the family’s poverty means she’s forced to leave school and get a job – without the qualifications she needs – it looks like her dreams are over.

  But Cathy isn’t willing to give up without a fight, and with the support of old friend – and new love – Gianni, she manages to secure a place as a cadet nurse, learning as she works.

  Cathy knows that without her around, her mam must stand up to her violent husband alone – and that with less money coming in, Alice will be in danger of losing everything. What’s more, since nursing students must be unmarried, and Gianni is desperate to settle down, it’s not just her mam who hopes that Cathy will come home…

  Can Cathy find a way to have it all, or will becoming a nurse mean leaving her family – and love – behind her?

  The Nurses of Lark Lane is a heart-breaking saga about a family’s battle to survive. If you love Nadine Dorries, Diney Costeloe and Donna Douglas, you won’t want to miss Pam Howes! Get it here.

  The Midwives of Lark Lane

  The Lark Lane Trilogy Book 4

  All’s fair in love and war… but what happens when the war is over?

  After the heartbreak of World War Two, newlywed midwife Cathy hoped Liverpool life would offer some joy. But a terrible miscarriage and the escape of her abusive stepfather Jack from prison make happiness hard to find.

  Meanwhile, Cathy’s beloved granny is ailing. Whilst at the hospital, Cathy sees her midwifery friends, who are planning to open a home for unmarried mothers. After losing a baby of her own Cathy would love to help, but for now, she must take care of her grandmother.

  As her grandmother's health worsens, she writes Cathy a letter. The day her granny dies, Cathy goes home and opens the envelope: Thank you for giving me a reason to live. Everything I have in the world is yours now, my darling. Cathy is devastated but determined to honour her granny’s memory, hoping the maternity home can be her legacy.

  Just as Cathy and her friends are about to open their doors to the first expectant mothers, Jack is spotted in Liverpool. It’s only a matter of time until her cruel stepfather catches up with her, determined to pay her back for getting him locked up in prison. Can Cathy keep herself and her grandmother’s legacy safe, and see Jack sent away for good at last?

  The Midwives of Lark Lane is a heart-wrenching saga about how the best friendships can help you through the worst of times. If you’re a fan of Nadine Dorries, Diney Costeloe and Kitty Neale, you’ll love Pam Howes!

  Get it here!

  The Lost Daughter of Liverpool

  The Mersey Trilogy Book 1

  Can she save herself, her marriage – and her daughter?

  It’s 1946 and the war is over. In Liverpool, the blackout blinds may be coming down, but one family is about to face devastating misfortune…

  Dora Evans is finally marrying the love of her life, Joe Rodgers, and her dreams of opening a dressmaking business look as if they might come true. With twin daughters on the way, Dora has everything she’s ever wanted.

  But then tragedy strikes: one of Dora’s babies dies in infancy, and a catastrophic fire changes their lives forever. Dora is consumed with grief, struggling to get through each day and Joe is suddenly distant, finding solace in his colleague, Ivy.

  With Ivy watching and scheming, and Dora battling against her own demons, can she keep her family together?

  The Lost Daughter of Liverpool is a heartbreaking and gripping story of love, loss and hope. Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Diney Costeloe and Kitty Neale. Discover Pam’s series, The Mersey Trilogy, today.

  Get it here.

  The Forgotten Family of Liverpool

  The Mersey Trilogy Book 2

  Available now

  The war is over – but are their troubles just beginning?

  It’s 1951 and rationing is finally coming to an end. But while Liverpool is recovering from the ferocity of war, a family is about to be torn apart…

  Dora Rodgers is settling into a new life with her daughters Carol and Jackie, moving on from the betrayal of her husband. But then an unexpected knock at the door rips her family in two. Carol is taken away by a welfare officer to live with Dora’s estranged husband Joe.

  Dora is determined to fight for her child, but she struggles to cope when a tragic accident leaves her mother in hospital, and shocking news from Joe breaks her heart once more.

  With her family in pieces and her marriage over for good, will Dora ever manage to get her daughter Carol home where she belongs?

  The Forgotten Family of Liverpool is a brave and tear-jerking story of one woman’s quest to protect her family. Perfect for fans of Nadine Dorries, Annie Murray and Kitty Neale. Discover Pam’s Mersey Trilogy today.

  The Liverpool Girls

  The Mersey Trilogy Book 3

  Available now!

  Will tragedy tear them apart – once and for all?

  It’s 1966 and in Liverpool two sisters are about to have their lives turned upside down…

  Sisters Carol and Jackie haven’t had the easiest of childhoods, but as they grow up and begin their own lives both hope for happier times ahead. Stylish Carol works in Lewis’s department store, while Jackie dreams of drama school, and a career on the stage.

  But the sisters are heartbroken when they discover they have been dating the same man, and an unexpected pregnancy causes a rift between them. Parents Dora and Joe must overcome their past hurts and help their daughters, despite the meddling of Joe’s second wife Ivy.

  As the sisters’ troubles spiral and difficult decisions must be made, can the family pull together – or will Jackie and Carol’s sisterly bond be destroyed forever?

  The Liverpool Girls is a heart-breaking and compelling story of family, loss and love. Perfect for fans of Annie Groves, Anne Baker and Kitty Neale.

  Get it here.

  Acknowledgements

  As always, my man, my daughters, son-in-law, grandchildren and their wives and partners. Thank you for just being you. It goes without saying that I love you all very much. Thanks to my lovely friends for your support and friendship. A big thank you to Brenda Thomasson and Sue Hulme for Beta reading this story. Thanks to all the members of Stockport Rock’n’Roll Society for being great friends as well as readers. And last but by no means least, a huge thank you to all the wonderful bloggers and reviewers who have supported my Mersey Trilogy and the Lark Lane series. It’s truly appreciated. xxx