What do you think?
Rate this book
The Potteries Girls #3
The Potteries Girls on the Home Front: A captivating and romantic WW1 saga
March 1911: Betty Dean needs a job and somewhere to live, and eventually, a husband – according to her mother. Sent into service at Stowford House in Cheshire, where the days are long and the work is gruelling, Betty’s dreams of making something of herself seem even further away.
But soon she is forced to return to The Potteries, carrying with her a dreadful secret which could leave her reputation in tatters.
Could WW1 bring new opportunities or will Betty run out of options?
A new job on the trams throws her a lifeline. Meeting fellow tram girls Connie and Jean brings the joy of friendship, even if Betty struggles with having to keep secrets from her new pals.
When Duncan Kennedy, a shy but charming soldier, enters Betty’s life, it seems that she may finally find love. But opening herself up isn’t easy, and when he leaves for the front, she finds herself alone once again.
As the Great War rumbles on, Betty’s life in The Potteries is full of its own battles…
A heart-breaking WW1 saga that fans of Pam Howes and Nancy Revell will love.
But soon she is forced to return to The Potteries, carrying with her a dreadful secret which could leave her reputation in tatters.
Could WW1 bring new opportunities or will Betty run out of options?
A new job on the trams throws her a lifeline. Meeting fellow tram girls Connie and Jean brings the joy of friendship, even if Betty struggles with having to keep secrets from her new pals.
When Duncan Kennedy, a shy but charming soldier, enters Betty’s life, it seems that she may finally find love. But opening herself up isn’t easy, and when he leaves for the front, she finds herself alone once again.
As the Great War rumbles on, Betty’s life in The Potteries is full of its own battles…
A heart-breaking WW1 saga that fans of Pam Howes and Nancy Revell will love.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
368 pages, Paperback
Published August 11, 2022
50 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Johnson
6 books8 followersLynn Johnson was born and raised in The Potteries. She went to school in Burslem, the setting for her novels, and left with no qualifications. Like the protagonists in her books, she had ambitions. In her own time, she obtained a BA Hons in Humanities with Literature from the Open University, and a Diploma in Management Studies from Staffordshire Polytechnic and became a Human Resources Manager with a large County Council.
Lynn began to research her family tree and it inspired her to write short stories, one of which became the basis for her debut novel, The Girl from the Workhouse, the first of The Potteries Girls series. There are now three books in the series and a fourth will be published in August 2023. Her books are published in a number of formats - ebook, audio, paperback and large print. Lynn is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Society of Authors. She still has a close affinity to The Potteries but now lives in Orkney with her husband and six beautiful cats.
Lynn began to research her family tree and it inspired her to write short stories, one of which became the basis for her debut novel, The Girl from the Workhouse, the first of The Potteries Girls series. There are now three books in the series and a fourth will be published in August 2023. Her books are published in a number of formats - ebook, audio, paperback and large print. Lynn is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and the Society of Authors. She still has a close affinity to The Potteries but now lives in Orkney with her husband and six beautiful cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
June 9, 2024
Lots happening, clear plot, likeable characters. I would read the series and reread this in a few years. I was so glad there was no rape.
August 19, 2022
I have really enjoyed this series finding out about the lives of tram girls. This book concentrates on Betty Dean’s life and I was happy to find out why she had so mysteriously disappeared after the War in the last book. I have enjoyed these books and look forward to next summer for the last book in this series. These are a great series but if you happen to pick up one without having read the others they will work as standalone books too but I’m sure once you’ve read one you’ll want to know what happens to each of the girls. If this book is the genre you like then you won’t be disappointed as it’s a great read.
June 5, 2023
This is the third book in the Potteries Girls series, despite not reading the previous two, I didn’t feel as though I missed out on anything, if anything I thought it was a pretty good stand-alone and I will certainly be reading the others.
Set during WW1, the story follows Betty Dean as she literally grows up before our eyes, she leaves school and is pushed into service at the tender age of 12, not that she has a choice their little family home is full to bursting all of which is typical of the time.
She is happy and content with her lot as she grows she becomes a respected and liked member of the household, when the war breaks out something happens and she is soon back home with her head hanging in shame.
I felt for her and really liked Betty, yes she is a little naive and acts rather impulsively even childish at times but she soon grows up and starts maturing. She finds a new zest for life and a determination which sees her through some hard times, taking a job as a clippie on the trams while taking typing classes at night and soon there is a blossoming romance with a handsome soldier.
I thoroughly enjoyed Betty's journey, her ups and downs as the war rages on, I loved the letters between her and Duncan how they fell in love through the power of words and he turns out to be a thoroughly decent and very likeable chap even though why she had to hide so much from him when it was obvious he was completely smitten and would have followed her to the end of the earth and back.
The story is well written and flowed nicely, it covers the entirety of the war but nothing felt jumbled the pacing was perfect for the story.
I really appreciated all of the historical details which the author had entwined with the story, the simple nuggets of information we may not have thought of, but those tiny details really made the story come to life.
I particularly loved that this book is full of strong, determined and capable women all of which do what needs to be done for their families yes the men in the story are sidelined somewhat, but really is all about female empowerment during a time when women had very little choice.
Set during WW1, the story follows Betty Dean as she literally grows up before our eyes, she leaves school and is pushed into service at the tender age of 12, not that she has a choice their little family home is full to bursting all of which is typical of the time.
She is happy and content with her lot as she grows she becomes a respected and liked member of the household, when the war breaks out something happens and she is soon back home with her head hanging in shame.
I felt for her and really liked Betty, yes she is a little naive and acts rather impulsively even childish at times but she soon grows up and starts maturing. She finds a new zest for life and a determination which sees her through some hard times, taking a job as a clippie on the trams while taking typing classes at night and soon there is a blossoming romance with a handsome soldier.
I thoroughly enjoyed Betty's journey, her ups and downs as the war rages on, I loved the letters between her and Duncan how they fell in love through the power of words and he turns out to be a thoroughly decent and very likeable chap even though why she had to hide so much from him when it was obvious he was completely smitten and would have followed her to the end of the earth and back.
The story is well written and flowed nicely, it covers the entirety of the war but nothing felt jumbled the pacing was perfect for the story.
I really appreciated all of the historical details which the author had entwined with the story, the simple nuggets of information we may not have thought of, but those tiny details really made the story come to life.
I particularly loved that this book is full of strong, determined and capable women all of which do what needs to be done for their families yes the men in the story are sidelined somewhat, but really is all about female empowerment during a time when women had very little choice.
October 16, 2022
The Potteries Girls on the Homefront
WW1 1914 - 1918
Betty Dean is a young gal who grew up in the town of Hanley, Stoke on Trent by the potteries. Young folks in the town and that era who were employed by the Potteries or Mines were expected to leave school early, in order to assist their families with rent. Betty was regarded s intelligent by her teacher, but was forced to leave home and move to another town to work in service to help our her family. Upon doing so her life changed drastically.
When the war hit she was forced to go back to her home town, but lived in as a made due to unfortunate circumstances. She was an ambitious young woman and managed to obtain a great job on the trams, but had to be wary of friends as she had many secrets.
After the war she relocated to Birmingham as she obtained a new position in an office, and needed to keep her secrets about her past.
This is a heartfelt story, that makes you want to correct the wrongs of the world and help folks like Betty. It definitely is a page turner, and written with understanding and compassion. Well done.
WW1 1914 - 1918
Betty Dean is a young gal who grew up in the town of Hanley, Stoke on Trent by the potteries. Young folks in the town and that era who were employed by the Potteries or Mines were expected to leave school early, in order to assist their families with rent. Betty was regarded s intelligent by her teacher, but was forced to leave home and move to another town to work in service to help our her family. Upon doing so her life changed drastically.
When the war hit she was forced to go back to her home town, but lived in as a made due to unfortunate circumstances. She was an ambitious young woman and managed to obtain a great job on the trams, but had to be wary of friends as she had many secrets.
After the war she relocated to Birmingham as she obtained a new position in an office, and needed to keep her secrets about her past.
This is a heartfelt story, that makes you want to correct the wrongs of the world and help folks like Betty. It definitely is a page turner, and written with understanding and compassion. Well done.
September 12, 2023
Another brilliant read from Lynn Johnson.
I really enjoyed this book, as I d is the first two in this series. The trials and tribulations of the characters being joy and sometimes heartache to the reader. It was nice to see the new girls, Betty and Jean, in this book getting together with characters from the other books, Connie and Ginnie. Their friendship is amazing and one that will last forever. The trials of war are never far away but it is heartening to find out how the women left behind cope from day today and in this book, at least, all three girls find the men who they will spend the rest of their lives with. Praise for Lynn Johnson and I look forward to reading the final book in the Pottery Girls series.
I really enjoyed this book, as I d is the first two in this series. The trials and tribulations of the characters being joy and sometimes heartache to the reader. It was nice to see the new girls, Betty and Jean, in this book getting together with characters from the other books, Connie and Ginnie. Their friendship is amazing and one that will last forever. The trials of war are never far away but it is heartening to find out how the women left behind cope from day today and in this book, at least, all three girls find the men who they will spend the rest of their lives with. Praise for Lynn Johnson and I look forward to reading the final book in the Pottery Girls series.
November 10, 2022
A good read
You feel that you are living with the people enjoying ups and downs of their lives how time's have changed looking forward to seeing another book
You feel that you are living with the people enjoying ups and downs of their lives how time's have changed looking forward to seeing another book
September 20, 2023
A good story
I have enjoyed this book but there was no surprise in some things, there wasn't details about the war and to be honest I found it a bit amateurish although as it is the first series she's written its not too bad. Needs a bit more depth to it.
I have enjoyed this book but there was no surprise in some things, there wasn't details about the war and to be honest I found it a bit amateurish although as it is the first series she's written its not too bad. Needs a bit more depth to it.
September 3, 2022
Loved this book and now eagerly waiting for the next book in the series 😊
September 25, 2022
Sad I have come to the end of these series of books they were brilliant Betty Dean wants to get on with her life but has secrets……. Book 4 out in August 2023
November 22, 2022
Very enjoyable read
I loved the characters the way life and stand have changed over the years. Lots of lessons learned and the emphasis on how women have four " be equal
I loved the characters the way life and stand have changed over the years. Lots of lessons learned and the emphasis on how women have four " be equal
June 27, 2023
An enjoyable read!
October 16, 2023
I couldn’t put this down. My first by this author and it won’t be the last. An interesting story that was easy to read.
November 17, 2023
No accent writing please
Just wish the writer wouldn't write in a accent.
They sre easy reading books. Will never win awards. I have read 6.
Just wish the writer wouldn't write in a accent.
They sre easy reading books. Will never win awards. I have read 6.
June 7, 2024
A nice book, though I have read better. Just felt the end was a bit rushed.
September 8, 2025
Nice wee story. Quite interesting. Enjoyed it but wouldn't rave about it.
January 18, 2026
Good overall story and liked the ending, but many of Betty's decisions frustrated me.
September 3, 2022
What can one say, but this book really finishes off this Saga of the Potteries Girls. I found that I enjoyed the last two in the saga best of all. This is a well written saga by Lynn Johnson.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews