A Wartime Christmas

by Carol Rivers

The SUNDAY TIMES bestselling Christmas saga. The perfect read for the cold winter nights!

THIS CHRISTMAS, CAN LOVE FIND A WAY?

1941, Isle of Dogs. The little community on Slater Street has fought valiantly to keep their spirits up through the long nights of the Blitz. Though her husband Alan has been called up to serve his country, Kay Lewis is determined to give their young son Alfie as merry a Christmas as any other. But when a strange woman arrives on her doorstep, Kay's world is shaken to the core . . .

When the woman claims that Alan has been leading a double life, Kay begins to wonder whether she ever knew her husband at all. Then disaster strikes as Alan is reported missing in action. With no way of discovering the truth, Kay will have some difficult decisions to make if she is to protect her family and keep her faith in the man she thought she knew.

A heart-warming and nostalgic Christmas family saga set at the heart of wartime London, about finding hope in the darkest of times. Perfect for fans of Sheila Newberry and Rosie Goodwin

Praise for CAROL

'Surely one of the best saga writers of her time' – Rosie Clarke

'A gripping page turner' - LEAH FLEMING

'Brings the East End to life - family loyalties, warring characters and broken dreams. Superb' - ELIZABETH GILL

 

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Historical

463 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2013

About the author

I’ve been fortunate enough to have made my living by writing and I’ve enjoyed a long and harmonious relationship with my publisher, Simon&Schuster. But in recent months I can only stand in awe of the growing and robust numbers of Indie authors whom I admire so much and who have revolutionized the publishing industry. There is fire in the belly of this movement, giving a whole new aspect to the accepted norms in the publishing world. I’m mind-blown at the variety of genres born of digital technology and I’ve made many friends in the Indie world. On-line life for me has become rich and diverse with tales of Indie adventures and successes that are simply staggering. This is mouth-watering stuff and I feel privileged to be here on Goodreads. If you want to know more about my East End novels, with their tough, rough, but warm-hearted Cockney characters, then perhaps you’d like to visit my website at www.carolrivers.com where you’ll gain an insight into the Rivers novels and their history.

Reviews

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Recommended.

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, right from the first page to the last.
It's set during the second world war, and is focused on Kay and her friends and neighbours in London's East End. I found it was a bit different to other stories of this type as all through the book there were hints to Alan, Kay's husband's secret past. Such an interesting story, with real events woven into the plot and plenty of twists. Not a good title as not particularly Christmas themed, but that can be forgiven for such a good story.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blew me away

I loved this story a lot happening from start to finish. This is London 1941 kay Lewis's story. Her son alfie only two years old is taking and looked after by her brother and sister in law to save him from the harms of the terrible war. Leaving her with Alan her husband been enlisted and their neighbour vi living in with kay after loosing her home during the big blast. Times are hard for all of them and secrets big secrets come to the surface that's startled Kay and vi. I found this book amazing and this author always pulls me into the story and I cannot put them down. Kay is a strong willed woman nothing will stand in her way to keep her family together

[Sall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not convinced about the title as it wasn't just about the experiences of Christmas during the second world war. It covered many years of the war and although the austerity of Christmas during the war was discussed and shown in detail along with the wrench of evacuating children from the Isle of Dogs and then removing them from foster parents in the country, which brought tears to my eyes and left me heartbroken.

The more prominent storyline for me was the secret life of the female protagonists husband who was clearly up to something yet the book held the suspense and any possible predictable causes for his actions was soon dismissed. The occurrence of affairs by women whose menfolk were away at war was discussed and at first it appears that the protagonists husband is part of a secret life with another women especially when a women claiming to be his wife turns up with a child. It turns out that any suspicious the wife, her family and friends/neighbours held and even the readers held were miles away from the truth. The protagonists husband was a spy and working for military intelligence. He had previously been involved in gathering information in Spain before the war began and had stolen the identity of a comrade who was killed.

The military intelligence aspect of the Second World War is not something I have personally had discussed within my family despite having lots of family serve in both First and Second World Wars, it's not something I've read or seen a great deal of on the TV beyond the sitcom Allo Allo and am pleased the subject of spies and collating intelligence was raised within this book and how it impacted the lives of the families of those who were drafted in to work behind enemy lines. For me the moment I realised the spies carried suicide pills in order to kill themselves depending upon their situation really brought home the fact that their family would probably never know what really happened to them, that in order to protect their families and their country they would chose to kill themselves.

The only downside for me is not discovering what really happened to cause the mass evacuation to the tube station and how so many innocent women and children were killed, given the fact that the husbands supposed first wife was involved and the subsequent cover up it looked as though military intelligence was involved and the death of innocents was for the supposed greater good. In a way this mirrors the reality of life where a lot that happened including the death of many innocents during the war occurred with no reason given and this allowed me to experience the harrowing emotions that families would have felt not knowing and having to live the rest of their lives not knowing why their loved ones died.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Carol Rivers for a long time, and I’ve really enjoyed her novels so far, so I was very much looking forward to reading A Wartime Christmas!

Christmas 1941 and Slater Street have been doing their best to keep their spirits up during the Blitz. And although her husband Alan has been called to serve his country, Kay is determined to give their son Alfie and friend Vi a nice Christmas. But unexpectedly, a woman and her son arrive on her doorstep. But who are they? And is there any truth to the accusations they have made about Alan?

I really enjoyed this, I was drawn in straight away from the first page and I read the book in one sitting.

I liked Kay, I warmed to her straight away and I really felt for her as she worked hard to make sure things were running smoothly at home with Alan away. Kay’s story really touched me because she had to live her life and carry on even through the tough times and the horrors of the Blitz. I admired her bravery and her courage and how she coped with everything that was thrown at her. I was very curious about Alan and the claims surrounding him, was it all true? Who was Alan really? I was hooked to this part especially, I wanted to find out the truth about him and so I was racing through the pages determined to find out.

Carol Rovers is such a talented writer, her descriptions are so detailed and vivid that I could picture every scene clearly in my mind, and it was almost as if I had been transported back in time and was standing amongst the characters, with the sights and sounds of that time around me. It was very realistic and I was often quite moved by what I was reading.

A Wartime Christmas is a story of bravery, love, sad times, pulling together and hope. Carol has written a fantastic story that had me gripped until the very end.

[Sido · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t like this book much. I found the characters quite flat and didn’t really warm to them.

There didn’t seem to actually be a plot to this book, it just kind of trudged along and followed the characters’ day-to-day lives.

It kind of seemed, to me, that the author couldn’t really think of a solution to the whole Dolly thing so they just killed her off. And the cause of the event that killed her wasn’t ever explained.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful wartime drama.
When Kay's husband Alan is called up to serve in the war life changes dramatically, left with a young son Alfie and their elderly neighbour Vi to take under her wing alongside the horrors of war she already has enough on her plate but when a stranger knocks on her door ghosts from Alan's past has resurfaced and are ready to cause hell for Kay and her family.
Can Kay stay strong and pull what is left of her family through the war years?
A great story and loveable characters this is a must for any period / War story fan.

[Ella Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up in a charity shop and judging from thev cover I was expecting something a bit cheesy and not to well written.
However, I did actually really enjoy this book. I was invested in the characters and the story and it was a gripping historical read. The ending did seem a little rushed and didn't leave me completely satisfied but otherwise I really enjoyed this story and it was a good Christmas Read.

[Julie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading about Kay and her friends during the war and the book gave me an insight into the horrors of the blitz in London's East End.
However I specifically read this book as it is nearly Christmas and rue title is completely misleading. I thought I would find Nd out more about how people coped with presents etc during the war but Christmas was only briefly mentioned .

[Joanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me up long into the night because I simply had to keep on reading. Carol Rivers is an excellent story-teller. Her characters are well-rounded and the plot bowls along. This story includes an element of mystery that kept me guessing right until the solution was revealed. A thoroughly enjoyable book for lovers of wartime sagas.

[Sammi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just your standard, run of the mill drama about a wife in WW2 england. Don't think there's really much more to it then that. Even though things happened, it felt like nothing happened, or at least the majority of it was talking about the house and chores. I also found the end a bit far fetched and 'out of character'.

[Ann Shemeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another terrific read from this author. The East end fp

From the first to the last page, this felt like a ride through history. Kay and Alan along with their neighbours bring all the horror and trials of what the second world war did daily to them. The cold of the winter through the blitz,shortages etc. I'm looking forward reading another by this author.

[Katherine Blakeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title is deceptive. Christmas plays a very small role in this book, which spans the final two-thirds of World War Two. I felt for Kay and Vi as they battled through on their own, as well as for the rest of the characters (even Dolly, sometimes). It took me a few tries to understand the ending - no spoilers though - but when I did I felt it was very clever.

[Dannielle Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Thoroughly Enjoyed My Time On Slater Street, In The Company Of Some Very Strong Women.
I Really Felt For These Women Who’s Husbands Were Called Up To War And Went Through All The Emotions With Them.
The Author Built Great Suspense By Setting This Book During The Blitz And Then With The Advancement Of The Germans Weapons (Doodlebug), Taking The Timeline Through The War Years.
A Varied Mix Of Characters Who I Believed Were Very Real - Going Through The Real Emotions And Situations Caused By War.
A Piece Of Great Writing

[gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting

Couldn't stop turning the pages read this all in one day, excellent storyline and never guessed how it would end. Well done Carol rivers, you did it again!

[Evelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would have titled this book A Wartime Survival. I found this an interesting look at the war years between 1941 and 1945 as it follows a family on the Isle of Dogs, east London.

[Mary Bowsher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book I did not want to put down with many twists

Very good book did not want to put it down many twists I was born at this time found facts interesting

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love reading stories about this period of time, this had a few twists but at least it all worked out in the end

[Ruth Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely read

[Carol Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I Enjoyed this book very much. Carol Rivers is a new author to me.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kay Lewis is the book's likeable main character. She has a young son, Alfie, her husband Alan has recently left his job and joined the Heavy Rescue Squad and Kay works in the local armaments factory. They are a happy family unit who are struggling, like so many families, to survive during the War. Her elderly friend and neighbour Vi's house is bombed and Kay lets her live with them. Money is scarce but they manage.

This is a story of how people cope in such hardship, of how friendships and love are tested and how they survive in the most challenging of situations, living in constant fear of air raids and the deadly doodlebugs. How they try to grasp a little happiness in such desperately sad and lonely times.

I thought the blurb was a little misleading, it reads as if it's one Christmas but the book covers several Christmases while Alan is away at war, and Kay's mind is in turmoil over the strange woman and her small son who makes hurtful claims about her husband.

While overall the book was an enjoyable read, I would have liked to have known what Kay was really thinking and feeling about her husband being missing - did she think he was dead or alive - was she moving on or was she still holding out hope for him? I thought the author did not make it clear.

The writing was clear though and made for an easy read with resilient and sympathetic characters. What I did like was how the author kept us guessing as to what was happening with Alan, there was just one teaser chapter which gave us more questions than answers!

I enjoyed reading the story and would read another one by Carol Rivers.

From Carole's Book Corner

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the most part, I did like this book. I had a few issues with it though. The title leads you to believe that the book will focus around Christmas and how it is affected during a war. To the contrary, the Christmas parts were very few. Additionally, I expected it to center on one Christmas, but in fact it covered about a four year time period, so it wasn't just one Christmas, it was multiple Christmases. Even so, I didn't find the relevance of the title. 'A Wartime Christmas' would lead you to believe that the book either centers around Christmas, or, since it's covered over a long period of time, that something big must happen during one of the Christmases, but nothing does. It's just the normal day to day life of living during a war.

I enjoyed the characters - I liked Kay and Alan and their relationship a lot. I adored Sean and I loved seeing how he grew into a confident boy. Then when he went missing, there were often months without mention of him, and then the author would bring him up again, as though he were an afterthought.

The basis of the book stems from Alan being deployed and a woman showing up stating she is also married to Alan and he has left her and her son. I would expect that to happen fairly early in the book, but in wasn't until about half way through when that story line even came to be. It is mentioned as the main plot of the book, and yet it too, seemed as though it were thrown in as an afterthought.

The ending was nice. It was nice to hear about the end of the war, and I think we all expected that Alan would live, but I really would have enjoyed just one more chapter to touch on life when Sean and Vi rejoined the family.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Carol Rivers's A Wartime Christmas, wife and new mother Kay Lewis is determined to have a warm and joyous Christmas, surrounded by friends and loved ones, in spite of the horrors of the German Blitz on London. With the company of her neighbors and friends, and fueled by their sharing spirit, this might just prove possible. But her husband has been acting very strangely lately. And then a stranger shows up, with an odd story and some very upsetting information....

This story sucked me in quickly and held my interest page after page. I had not expected to find it to be such a page turner! Rivers's characters were interesting and well written, and the story was both moving and compelling. She seems to be quite familiar with her setting; the streets and buildings are described in striking detail. And her characters' emotions are well wrought, thrown into sharp relief against the heart-wrenching challenges of the Blitz on London. Reading this story during the holiday season gave it particular relevance and poignancy.

My only gripe about this novel is that it feels incomplete, somewhat like a first draft that could have used a round of vigorous editing. There were several instances of plot holes, weak dialogue, and poor transitions that could easily have been touched up by a competent editor's red pen. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable read, lighthearted but also meaningful given the setting and season. Highly recommended for anyone interested in a quick but compelling read over the holiday season, or any time of year.

[Blodeuedd Finland · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book felt light even with the heavy background at hand. I liked that as the pages just turned themselves that way.

East End during the blitz. Horrors daily and fear, but Kay just lives her life even if it's tough. She misses her son who is evacuated. She is married to Alan who, yes who has secrets and I kept wondering through out the book what really was going on with him.

There is a good cast of side characters too, Viv who lives next door and then a bunch of other neighbors who lives on the street. And then there is a bitchy woman who shows up and she, arghh, so deserved a smack over the head. She brings something new into the story, good and bad things.

There is also more than one Christmas in the book. The book starts during the blitz and ends after the war is over.

A good book with interesting characters and the same goes for the scenery. I enjoyed it.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book full of emotion, happiness in parts, sadness, heartache, excitement and bewilderment.
There are a number of twists and turns throughout the book and when you think that you might have guessed what might happen another twist happens.
I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. I loved the storyline, front cover and the writing style.
I generally have no complaints about this book other than maybe it could have been shortened slightly.
I loved how you didn't just relate to the main character but also the other characters who may not have had such a strong role within the book but you still understood the story and still where integral.
I would highly recommend this book to people who like romance but with a bit of drama and excitement.

[Joanna Warrens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving wartime story

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to be wrote later.

[J Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book, I read it in one day as I could not put it down.
I'm definitely going to read more by Carol Rivers.

[Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable read about wartime family life in London