On an ordinary day in 1941, a letter arrives on the doormats of five young women, a letter which will change everything. Lillian is distraught. And whether she tears, hides or burns the letter the words remain the same - she must register for compulsory war work. Many miles away, Emily is also furious - her dream job as a chef will have to be put on hold, whilst studious Alice must abandon her plans of college. Staring at an identical letter, Elsie feels a kindling of hope at the possibility of leaving behind her brutal father. And down in London, Agnes has her own reasons for packing her bags with a smile. Brought together at a munitions factory in a Lancashire mill town, none of them knows what lies ahead. Sharing grief and joy, lost dreams and gained opportunities, the five new bomb girls will find friendship and strength that they never before thought possible as they unite to help the country they love survive. Praise for Daisy Styles 'A great read that I think will appeal to fans of wartime sagas and authors like Donna Douglas . . . From dances to disasters, encounters with handsome Yanks, rationing and relationships, The Bomb Girls has all the ingredients of an excellent wartime drama and I thoroughly enjoyed it!' Onemorepage.com 'The story is full of drama, love, heartbreak, friendship and in some part some comedy . . . It's full of twist and turns and is a real page turner' Laurahbookblog
Christmas is approaching at the Phoenix Munitions Factory and it's going to be a year to remember . . . with trouble ahead can their wishes still come true? A factory floor might not be their first choice of a place to spend Christmas, but pulling together and making do is exactly what the Bomb Girls are best at. Gladys, back from singing for the troops in Europe, quiet as she takes her place on the cordite line. Her old friends are determined to bring back her spark while they work hard to help their conuntry, as the threat of danger grows ever-closer. What dark secret lies in Galdys's heart? Will the grils see out another year in a country at war? And, if everyone does their bit, despite the worry, pain and toil, will the Bomb Girls be able to provide a wodnerful Christmas for all? Fans of Lesley Pearse, Maggie Hope, Dilly Court and Donna Douglas will love Daisy Styles' mesmerising novels . . . Look out for - The Bomb Girls, The Bomb Girl's Secrets and The Code Girls. 'This book brought home wonderfully vivid camaraderie wartime women shared and their immense sacrifices on the Home Front . . . Real women in the best sense - funny, scheming, loyal, witty. An absolute joy to read' Kate Thompson, bestselling author of Secrets of the Singer Girls 'A cracking story with truly endearing characters' Annie Murray, bestselling author of Now The War is Over
2016 Speaker's Book Award — Shortlisted 2016 Heritage Toronto Book Award — Nominated An account of the women working in high-security, dangerous conditions making bombs in Toronto during the Second World War. What was it like to work in a Canadian Second World War munitions factory? What were working conditions like? Did anyone die? Just how closely did female employees embody the image of “Rosie the Riveter” so popularly advertised to promote factory work in war propaganda posters? How closely does the recent TV show, Bomb Girls, resemble the actual historical record of the day-to-day lives of bomb-making employees? Bomb Girls delivers a dramatic, personal, and detailed review of Canada’s largest fuse-filling munitions factory, situated in Scarborough, Ontario. First-hand accounts, technical records, photographic evidence, business documentation, and site maps all come together to offer a rare, complete account into the lives of over twenty-one thousand brave men and women who risked their lives daily while handling high explosives in a dedicated effort to help win the war.
**A heart-warming and inspiring story of incredible women on the home-front during World War II from the author of The Bomb Girls** Can four girls protect a whole country? It's 1941 and the country has been turned upside down. For the aristocratic Walsingham family this means being pushed unceremoniously upstairs while their grand home is taken over by the Army. But for newcomers Ava and Maudie this is a chance to get something more from life. They are at Walsingham Hall to become code girls and break German encryptions. So being sent downstairs to work in the kitchens isn't exactly what they had in mind. But they do their duty, make new friends and soon even romance looks to be on the horizon. Though life is tough, it has never been more exciting. Meanwhile, upstairs, Lord Walsingham is hiding something. And Maudie and the girls realize that the safety of their country might actually be in their hands after all . . . *PREORDER NOW* *PREORDER THE BOMB GIRLS SECRETS, NOW* Praise for The Code Girls Feisty young women, a country house in wartime and a scheming aristocrat - all ingredients for a cracking story with truly endearing characters - Annie Murray, bestselling author of, Now The War Is Over Praise for Daisy Styles 'A great read that I think will appeal to fans of wartime sagas and authors like Donna Douglas . . . From dances to disasters, encounters with handsome Yanks, rationing and relationships, The Bomb Girls has all the ingredients of an excellent wartime drama and I thoroughly enjoyed it!' Onemorepage.com 'The story is full of drama, love, heartbreak, friendship and in some part some comedy . . . It's full of twist and turns and is a real page turner' Laurahbookblog Here's what the early readers are saying . . . 'Loved, loved, loved it! ... Cannot wait to read more by this author' 'This story tells the story of four very different young girls and how they come together to help the war effect in their own way . . . would highly recommend to others' 'A beautifully written book ... An excellent read, from the relationships, the cooking, the love interests and the way war affected everyone's lives. A must read!' 'This book had me gripped from the first page and I had it read in one sitting' 'I really loved these characters, they were feisty and believable. I would definitely recommend this book to everyone who enjoys wartime stories. This is one of the best' 'I really enjoyed Daisy Styles The Bomb Girls so was overjoyed to find she had written another set in the same era ... a really good story with interesting likable characters' 'The storyline was exciting, the characters so interesting and the era well descripted. I would definitely recommend this book' 'Fab book!' 'Fantastic ... This was full of twists, turns, ups and downs; a real rollercoaster. Loved the plot and loved all the characters. Highly recommended' 'I absolutely love these type of books and this one certainly was a great read.. Actually no it wasn't just great it was fantastic'
Britain, 1944: The life of a Bomb Girl isn't usually glamorous. But Maggie is getting married, so she is going to make sure her wedding day IS - even if she does have to spend every other day slaving on the factory floor. This blasted factory was not what Julia had in mind, either. She had always dreamed of attending Oxford University rather than getting her hands dirty, and the easy laughter of the other women intimidates her terribly. But they are all here together in this munitions factory in a Lancashire mill town, sharing firsts, pitching in and getting on. Despite rationing, dangerous hard work and new situations, these Bomb Girls are going to do their best at work, and in love.
"The Atomic City Girls is a fascinating and compelling novel about a little-known piece of WWII history."—Maggie Leffler, international bestselling author of The Secrets of Flight In the bestselling tradition of Hidden Figures and The Wives of Los Alamos, comes this riveting novel of the everyday people who worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II. In November 1944, eighteen-year-old June Walker boards an unmarked bus, destined for a city that doesn’t officially exist. Oak Ridge, Tennessee has sprung up in a matter of months—a town of trailers and segregated houses, 24-hour cafeterias, and constant security checks. There, June joins hundreds of other young girls operating massive machines whose purpose is never explained. They know they are helping to win the war, but must ask no questions and reveal nothing to outsiders. The girls spend their evenings socializing and flirting with soldiers, scientists, and workmen at dances and movies, bowling alleys and canteens. June longs to know more about their top-secret assignment and begins an affair with Sam Cantor, the young Jewish physicist from New York who oversees the lab where she works and understands the end goal only too well, while her beautiful roommate Cici is on her own mission: to find a wealthy husband and escape her sharecropper roots. Across town, African-American construction worker Joe Brewer knows nothing of the government’s plans, only that his new job pays enough to make it worth leaving his family behind, at least for now. But a breach in security will intertwine his fate with June’s search for answers. When the bombing of Hiroshima brings the truth about Oak Ridge into devastating focus, June must confront her ideals about loyalty, patriotism, and war itself.
A heartwarming and moving story of inspiring women set at the beginning of World War II - fans of Katie Flynn, Call the Midwife and Downton Abbey will love this. 'BEST NEW SUMMER BOOKS' My Weekly __________ In the dark days of war a new hope is born . . . 1939. Mary Vale, a grand and imposing Mother & Baby Home, sits on the edge of the Lake District. Its doors are open to unmarried women who come to hide their condition and find sanctuary. Women from all walks of life pass through Mary Vale, from beautiful waitress Emily, whose boyfriend has vanished without trace, to young Isla, cast out by her wealthy family after her first year at university goes horribly wrong. Awaiting them is Nurse Ada and Sister Anne who work tirelessly to aid the mothers and safely deliver the babies. But the unforgiving Matron and Head of Governors, Captain Percival, have other, more sinister, ideas. As war looms the women at Mary Vale must pull together for the sake of themselves and their babies and Ada and Anne must help protect their patients, no matter what the cost. 'This is her best yet. I devoured it in one sitting - It's a real page turner that will delight and tug at the heart strings of readers everywhere. Wonderful!' Fiona Ford, author of Christmas at Liberty's
Dear Reader, I've been wishing for a miracle for my oldest boy, Stone, and this Christmas my prayers might just be answered! Her name is Lark, and she's here in Last Chance, looking into her father's past-and stirring up a whole mess of trouble without meaning to. As the chief of police, Stone sure has his hands full trying to keep up with her. Ever since his wife died, Stone's put everything into raising his daughters and dodging the Christ Church Ladies' Auxiliary matchmakers. And it's clear Lark has been through some trouble and could use a place to finally call home. I only hope Stone can let go of the past soon enough to keep her . . . Goodness, I need to stop talking and finish up Jane's highlights so we can make the town tree-lighting. You come back by because the Cut 'n' Curl's got hot rollers, free coffee, fresh-baked Christmas cookies-and the best gossip in town. See you real soon, Ruby Rhodes
An aspirational story of friendship, fortitude and the joy of Christmas . . . As the Autumn of 1941 dawns, and female conscription looms, three women arrive at the Bell Works Factory in Hucknall to work on the Spitfire production line. Lily, Edna and Jeannie. . . Lily soon realises her real dream is to pilot the planes; Edna longs to be reunited with her evacuee daughter while facing a much bigger problem; and Jeannie fears the worst after weeks of no news from her fiancé. Despite all the heartache, with a bit of Christmas cheer and 'can do' attitude, The Engine Girls will pull together and do all they can to ensure Britain's safe for the New Year!
Cosy up with the heartwarming and festive wartime story of a group of women finding joy in troubled times, from the beloved Bomb Girls series 'It made me smile and it made me cry' 5***** Reader Review 'An absolute joy to read' Kate Thompson, bestselling author of Secrets of the Homefront Girls 'Wonderful writing which brought history alive' 5***** Reader Review _________ In times of trouble, can wishes come true? . . . A factory floor might not be their first choice of a place to spend Christmas but pulling together and making do is exactly where the Bomb Girls shine. Gladys, back from singing for the troops in Europe, quietly takes her place on the cordite line. Her old friends are determined to bring back her spark while they work hard to help their country. But what dark secret lies in Gladys's heart? Will the girls see out another year in a country at war? And, if everyone does their bit, despite the worry, pain and toil, will the Bomb Girls be able to enjoy a wonderful Christmas for all? _________ 'A cracking story with truly endearing characters' Annie Murray, bestselling author of Now the War is Over 'What a page turner' 5***** Reader Review 'Couldn't put this book down' 5***** Reader Review
