Elaine Roberts

" Big Dreams for the West End Girls" recounts the life events of a group of friends during World War II. Joyce carries on managing a local restaurant after her partner Simon joins the war effort. She is challenged by his younger sister who works alongside her, and suffers remorse at having rejected Simon's proposal of marriage. Joyce also finds herself in the unexpected circumstance of taking care of a small boy! Her friends Rose and Allie work in a local theater, and must deal with surly colleagues and missed chances. The story flows along, featuring each character's viewpoints. This is a clean novel without strong language or explicit sexual situations, featuring sweet romance and likeable but flawed characters. Readers will appreciate the twists and surprises that occur in the story line. My only complaint is the cliff-hanger ending!

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.… (mehr)

In the summer of 1914, Alice and her two closest friends are working at Foyles Bookshop. As a story of friendship and family during WWI, this sounds exactly my sort of thing, yet if an audiobook I was waiting for had become available sooner, I would have easily abandoned this. I wanted more details about working at Foyles (it was more like a backdrop for conversations the characters have, rather than a focus), more details about the job Alice gets driving ambulances, and stronger dialogue.

I couldn’t pinpoint any specific lines of dialogue that were unrealistic, but the cumulative impression was that these characters were all just a bit too good at saying what they really thought and felt. That takes being direct, articulate and self-aware, and people just aren’t all three of those all the time.

While I’m being snobbish and critical, I predicted most of the plot developments too. I think this would be a nice introduction to fiction about women’s lives during WWI, but is less satisfying if one is already familiar with the era and genre.… (mehr)

Christmas at Foyles Bookshop by Elaine Roberts is the third tale in The Foyles Girls series, and I recommend that you read the series in order. It will allow you to understand the characters and their relationships. I thought Christmas at Foyles Bookshop was well-written with developed characters. I could not wait to find out what is happening with Alice, Victoria and Molly. They have been through so much and they face obstacles together. These three friends consider themselves the three musketeers. They are there for each other in the good times and the bad. I like how all three ladies love books and enjoy working among them each day. Christmas at Foyles Bookshop focuses on Victoria and her family. Molly and Alice are present (of course) along with Mr. Leadbetter, the floor manager at Foyles. I was surprised by the story which is a good thing. There is so much going on (I do not want to spoil it for you) that you will stay up quickly devouring the story. I thought the author captured the time period with the bombings, what the men are suffering at the front, the women worried about the loved ones off fighting, the wounded veterans needing assistance, the wounded pouring into London’s hospitals that are lacking staff and supplies, and what the wounded soldiers are suffering. Victoria volunteers at Endell Street Military Hospital where she witnesses the wounded soldiers suffering. The descriptions are not gory or off-putting. Christmas at Foyles Bookshop is a satisfying story of love, perseverance, family and friendship.… (mehr)