Tuppence to Spend

April Grove, a Street at War #5

by Lilian Harry

Dan Hodges is devastated when his wife Nora dies during the early days of the war. Working long hours in a Portsmouth shipyard, how is he to look after his two sons, Gordon and Sammy? Gordon is sent to an approved school, which leaves young Sammy alone in the house, until neighbors in April Grove intervene and Sammy is evacuated to a village near Southampton. Ruth Purslow, a young childless widow, takes him in, her compassion aroused by his plight. Slowly, as they grow closer, Ruth begins to dread the time when Sammy must return to Portsmouth. But Dan, enduring the struggle of a man living alone in a blitzed city, begins to realize that Sammy means far more to him than he ever thought. He's determined to bring Sammy home.

Genres: Fiction

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

aka Donna Baker, Nicola West

Donna Thomson was born in Gosport, near Portsmouth Harbour, England, UK. Growing up during the terrifying years of the Blitz in a two-up, two-down terraced house, the youngest of four, she aspired to be a writer from an early age.

As a young woman she worked in the Civil Service and moved to Devon to be near her sailor husband. They had a son and a daughter. When the marriage ended, she and her two children moved to the Midlands, where she happily married again to her second husband. After living in the Lake District for twelve years, she finally moved back to Devon, and now lives in a village on the edge of Dartmoor. She lost her son Philip in 2008, and has two grandchildren. A keen walker and animal-lover, she now has a dog and three ginger cats to keep her busy, along with a wide range of hobbies she enjoys.

She started signing her romance novels as Donna Baker and Nicola West, now she also writes as Lilian Harry (inspired by the first names of her grandparents). Among her works are historical novels, romances and even two books giving advice on how to write short stories and novels.

Reviews

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book many times over the years. Very hard to put down. Recommended.

[Care · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Lillian Harry because she teaches you a little at a time about how different parts of England were affected by the Second World War. I enjoy how she tells the stories of those that were left behind and how the families were changed by the war.

[Marina Horner · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not groundbreaking literature but more like a comfortable pair of slippers! You can see where it's going, but that doesn't spoil the enjoyment; plus, it is set in and around Portsmouth during World War 2, which is interesting historically. I really liked it.

[Ro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little story.

[Maggie Shanley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this one up in Canada one summer and it was a sweet World War II home front story. I have not read any other books in the series and that was fine, this one stands alone nicely. I am not sure that you can still read this series because they are out of print so not sure if I will continue with it. I did debate rating this one only two stars because the ending was rushed but I did like little Sammy enough to rate it upwards.

[Harry Tomos · Rating 5 out of 5]

lovely read, love the ins and outs the indepth of feeling.

[Squinekat Beacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Additive

I loved this book was upset when I had finished reading it . U would recommend it to everyone. 😻

[Layla · Rating 5 out of 5]

book 5 in series.

this was my favourite book of the entire series.

[Kay · Rating 2 out of 5]

Twee.

[Stacey Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book if you have read the 'April Grove' series first (I presume I have been reading them in the right order)
This books starts at the beginning of the war again but from the countrysides side of the story which is nice because of the April Grove series mainly focusing on the Portsmouth side of the story.
It brings back all of the original characters the Budds, the Chapmens, Mickey, Nancy & Granny Kinch the Simmons to name a few. She has brought them all back really well and goes over a few of their stories in this book but just in small snippets, summed up in a sentance or two which was helpful because you sometimes forget the little things after reading a series of books.
The story line with Sammy is so charming and can't wait to see what happens in the next book A Farthing Will Do

[Elaine Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tale of life during the 2nd world war. The hardships endured because of rationing and the fear of the bombs and incenduries dropped by the Germans all over Britain. The story is centred mainly on Portsmouth and Bridge End (somewhere near Southampton I think [Geography isn't my greatest subject]) and the change in a young boy's life after his mother died - tissues needed.

[I Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing spectacular but a pleasant read and one you will enjoy if you like books set in the 40's. The author portrays the two aspects: town and country during these war years and the difficulties faced particularly well. Kept my interest right up to the satisfying happy ending.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love Lilian Harry's books. This one shows the life of an evacuee during WWII. It shows how both the towns and countryside were affected, and how the arrival of the second war brought on PTSD in those who had experienced the first one.

[Pauline · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok read.Wouldn't rush to read more by her but think I have another of hers on my tbr.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about England country side during WWII.

[Lynne Easy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite enjoyable read but not as good as other books by this author,

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another back to the old days story. a good read.