Twisted Strands

by Margaret Dickinson

It is 1914, and Eveleen Hardcastle, now in in her early thirties, has married Richard. As the First World War breaks out, Eveleen, a sophisticated young woman, is left to manage the factory while Richard goes off to fight for his country. Eveleen`s mother Mary has found happiness at last in her marriage to Josh. Her young granddaughter, Bridie, still lives at home, and is beautiful, but has a spirited, strong will which her grandmother finds hard to control. Bridie is secretly besotted with her godfather, Andrew, whom she is convinced she will marry when she is older. While the war plays out, Bridie becomes a nurse, looking after wounded soldiers billeted in the local Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire stately homes and there finds a vocation that is both rewarding and gives her a maturity beyond her years...

Genres: Historical Fiction

Paperback

First published May 2, 2003

About the author

Born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, Margaret Dickinson moved to the coast at the age of seven and so began her love for the sea and the Lincolnshire landscape. Her ambition to be a writer began early and she had her first novel published at the age of twenty-five. This was followed by many further titles including Plough the Furrow, Sow the Seed and Reap the Harvest, which make up her Lincolnshire Fleethaven Trilogy. She is also the author of Fairfield Hall, Jenny's War and The Clippie Girls. Margaret is a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller.

Reviews

[Donna Chadwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: Margaret Dickinson
Title: Twisted Strands
Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Family Sagas, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction,

I was given this book along with tangled threads.

Book Dedication: With great affection and deep admiration this book is dedicated to my uncle, Brian Copley, who enlisted in 1914 at the age of sixteen in the 8th battalion Sherwood foresters, (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire regiment) and served throughout the war.

Thankfully, he survived the trenches to life a long and happy life and it has been a privilege to share his memories and experiences through his personal diaries of the time.

This book has 400 pages and 62 chapters in it.

I would tell people that you should step outside your comfort zone with books because it is good to add more authors and genres to your reading portfolio. Even if you do not read books like this.

I normally read books of this genre but l also stepped outside my comfort zone with authors and genres l am so glad l did because l have read so many great books and come across some great authors.

I highly recommend this book but l would tell people to read tangled threads first so you know the full story not just half.

Synopsis: It is 1914 and Eveleen Hardcastle, now in her early thirties, has married Richard. Her longing for children is the only shadow over the happiness, but the world war breaks out, Eveleen is left to manage the Notttingham Factory alone while Richard goes to fight for his country. Eveleen's mother, Mary, has found happiness at last in her marriage to Josh. Her granddaughter, Birdie, still lives at home and has a spirited, strong will which her grandmother finds hard to control. When Andrew, the love of her life, also enlists, Birdie finds consolation in a rewarding vocation. Nursing wounded soldiers sent home from the front, she gains a maturity beyond her years. But every day the casualty list from the hell of the trenches grows longer. Bridie nurses her grandfather on his death bed as her boyfriend is fighting the war, she became a nurse to help people and keeps in touch with her auntie Eveleen who husband is also fighting in the war and she loves her family.


Review: I found this really easy to get in to and hard to put down once l started reading it I was happy to be reading the follow on to tangled threads. I am glad that Eveleen moved on and got married. I was happy to read that Eveleen's mother found someone who loves her after her husband's tragic death and she is still raising her granddaughter. It is nice to read that Bridie gets to meet her grandfather and she nurses him on his death bed which is very sad to read but glad her grandfather was not on his own when he passed away. Bridie's uncle and boyfriend are both fighting the war. Leaving the women they love behind. Bridie also helps nurses soldiers who have been hurt on the front line and she must see loads of deaths when they can not save the soldiers and she watched her grandfather passed away to poor girl. I hope Eveleen's husband and Bridie's boyfriend comes back from the war alive and unhurt so Bridie and Eveleen do not lose any more people they love. I hope Eveleen's brother and Birdie's father is ok. I can not put in to words how great this book is l would tell people to read it for themselves to know how great it really is. This book is a must read l am glad it is on my book shelf with the first book in the series tangled threads.

About The Author: Margaret Dickinson was born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, Margaret Dickinson moved to the coast at the age of seven and so began her love for the sea and the Lincolnshire landscape. Her ambition to be a writer began early and she had her first novel published at the age of twenty-five. This was followed by a number of further titles including the clippie girls, fairfield hall and welcome home. Margaret is a Sunday times top ten bestseller.

About The Book: I love the book cover and l like that it comes in two different book cover designs and l love the colour and it is not too bright or not too dull.

Star Rating: Five Out Of Five Stars

 

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I learned about halfway through this book that it's the sequel to another book. Have I read Tangled Threads? No. Will I? Maybe.

But that is besides the point. This book is GOOD. It is well-written, the accents don't come off too heavy in the reading of it (which is good since poorly done accents annoy the heck out of me), and the story is engaging. Set in the era of WWI, it follows the large family of a young girl named Bridie and her aunt, Eveleen. Told in some contrasting viewpoints, it follows the two women along as they grow, suffer, and succeed in a war-torn England. Will Eveleen's husband come home from the war, and if he does, will he still be the same? Will Bridie's love for Andrew outlast her childhood? Will Harry Singleton ever accept Bridie as his own granddaughter, or have the ghosts from his past ruined his heart forever? And will Mary ever stop be an infuriating bitch?! (The answer to the last one is no, by the way).

Exploring themes like gender inequality, PTSD, war, love, courage and loss, this book has a lot to offer anyone who picks it up. I'm sure there are some subtleties I have missed in not reading the first installment, but it didn't dampen my experience. Don't be fooled by the typical bland paperback cover; this is not just some romance novel with no plot. This is a war story with some romantic aspects. Well done.

[A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely story. Don't get enough books about the first world war. Well written

[Pauline · Rating 4 out of 5]

1914 – England – story revolves around Evelyn and her niece Bridie. Endurance and love during the war years.

[Arjeny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Bridie, I understand and see myself in her.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐s

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely beautiful sequel to the best book margaret dickinson wrote called tangled threads which i read at the young age of sixteen. Her book was my transition into adult fiction. In person she is a warm and pleasant woman, much as her characters. This book is primarily aimed at an older market but can be read by anyone, she tackles issues such as females in the workplace, male dominance and love vs status. Such a beautiful writer and both twisted strands and tangled threads were a pleasure to read and i highly reccomend them both. I also did a review on tangled threads if you want to check that out. Happy reading! Emma x

[Sheryl]

v enjoyable