Homecoming Girls

The Doorstep Girls #3

by Val Wood

Hull, 1874. The beautiful, mysterious Jewel Newmarch, adopted as a baby, turns heads wherever she goes - her exotic looks point to her origins far away from the streets of Hull. Even at her cousin Elizabeth's wedding, she is the belle of the ball. But as she looks on at the happy, newly-married couple she feels a restlessness and intense longing to know her own roots.And so she decides to return to her birthplace in America, taking the bride's twin sister Clara as her companion. In discovering the mysteries of Jewel's past the girls realise that this is a life-changing voyage of discovery for both of them, as they learn important lessons about family, friendship, love and home. But most importantly, love...If you enjoy books by Katie Flynn and Dilly Court, you'll love Val's heartwarming stories of triumph over adversity.

Genres: Historical Fiction

418 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 11, 2010

About the author

Valerie Wood

Since winning the Catherine Cookson Prize for Fiction for her first novel, The Hungry Tide, Val Wood has become one of the most popular authors in the UK. Born in the mining town of Castleford, Val came to East Yorkshire as a child and has lived in Hull and rural Holderness where many of her novels are set. She now lives in the market town of Beverley. When she is not writing, Val is busy promoting libraries and supporting many charities. Find out more about Val Wood's novels by visiting her website: www.valeriewood.co.uk

Reviews

[Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Homecoming Girls written by Val Wood for me was a great story which followed the adventures of Jewel and Clara. They were best friends and a day at Clara's sister's wedding, they decide to take a trip to America to the place of Jewel's birth. I loved the two characters as the author described them as young ladies who still respected their parent's wishes by behaving in a manner pleasing to them but also their strength at travelling away from home and their many adventures while they were away in America.
This journey was also able to show Jewel where she was born and what brought her to being adopted by her adoptive parents who clearly adored her. There is another book which shows the early life of Jewel's parents and other characters who appeared in the book titled Rich Girl, Poor Girl which truthfully, I have not read yet, but I will as I want to know more about the history of these very colourful characters.
Homecoming Girls written by Val Wood is a wonderful story and one which I enjoyed as with each turn of the page I was able to see what America was like in its early years and how the towns developed with the help of men and women who sailed from one part of the world to a country they knew nothing about.
A great work of historical fiction which I am happy to recommend.

[Christina Tookey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it a bit hard going at first.

Once I read a few chapters I was hooked.
Loved the girls travels and in the end Jewel found her real mother and Clara returned and married Thomas. Jewel married Lorenzo who she had loved from the first moment. All very exciting and a joy to read.

[Judith Ring · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy historical novels when I want an easy stress free read, and I’ve enjoyed a lot of Val Woods books, however this was a disappointment. I thought the writing style was simplistic and amateurish. I think sometimes established authors can get complacent.

[Dawn Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this reed..

[Mrs MM JONES · Rating 4 out of 5]

So pleased I read reviews before starting the three books as I then read them in the correct order. They should have been marked one, two and three in the order to read them.

[De Beresford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Homecoming girls

Really enjoyed this novel. Very interesting.....the author has the ability to take you into the story, the places and the characters.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, what can I say? I wasn't sure when I started it, but I really enjoyed it. A great read and an interesting story.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Romantic easy read

[Linda Hobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

[tracybookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the storyline. Plenty going on all the time. Loved the plot c lived the characters..

[Natalya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Bronwyn Rykiert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed this story of Jewel Newmark and her parents. Jewel was of Chinese and English extraction - her mother had left her father Edward before Jewel was born. On her mother's death Jewel was taken to her father and Edward brought her up until he knew he was dying then he asked his sister Georgiana and her husband Wilhelm Drommel to bring her up. They decided to take her back to England so she could be brought up around family. Jewel turns into a beautiful girl who wants to go back to America to find her roots. She takes a close friend Clara with her and they go on quite an adventure.

It was a really enjoyable story and well told.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

part 1 of a 2 part story of which i've already read the 2nd book without realising it LOL one of those cant put it down books!!!

[Sukyna · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was quite a good novel. Not at the same level as the classics I've been reading, but it does deserve its 4 stars, well I think it is 3.5. So yeah! Excited to read the next novel!!!

[Kay Wells]

Holiday read will be leaving it behind for others to read

[Jennifer Palmer · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was not for me, got bored of it and could not finish it q