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Article Row #4
Only A Mother Knows
A compelling novel about four young women in wartime London, from the best-selling author of London Belles and My Sweet Valentine.
In Article Row, in London’s Holborn – four young women, Tilly, Sally, Dulcie and Agnes – have already been witnesses to the heartache and pain that Hitler’s bombs have inflicted on ordinary Londoners.Tilly is desperate to wed her beau, Drew. Terrified that something will happen to prevent them from being together, her fears seem to be coming true when he is called back home to America.For her mother, Olive, this only adds to her worries for Tilly. But she has her own hands full when her friend and neighbour, Sergeant Dawson, gets some terrible news. When Olive lends a hand, she finds herself at the sharp end of some unwelcome gossip.For Dulcie, the war has brought an old flame, David, back into her life. But his terrible injuries have changed his life forever. Can something more develop out of their friendship? And for Agnes, she is about to find out something that will change her life, too.In this seemingly endless war, the girls will learn about love, loss and heartache. But they, like thousands of other Londoners, are determined to win the battle on the home front – no matter what it takes.
In Article Row, in London’s Holborn – four young women, Tilly, Sally, Dulcie and Agnes – have already been witnesses to the heartache and pain that Hitler’s bombs have inflicted on ordinary Londoners.Tilly is desperate to wed her beau, Drew. Terrified that something will happen to prevent them from being together, her fears seem to be coming true when he is called back home to America.For her mother, Olive, this only adds to her worries for Tilly. But she has her own hands full when her friend and neighbour, Sergeant Dawson, gets some terrible news. When Olive lends a hand, she finds herself at the sharp end of some unwelcome gossip.For Dulcie, the war has brought an old flame, David, back into her life. But his terrible injuries have changed his life forever. Can something more develop out of their friendship? And for Agnes, she is about to find out something that will change her life, too.In this seemingly endless war, the girls will learn about love, loss and heartache. But they, like thousands of other Londoners, are determined to win the battle on the home front – no matter what it takes.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2013
70 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Annie Groves
40 books170 followersPenelope Jones Halsall aka: Caroline Courtney, Penny Jordan, Lydia Hitchcock, Melinda Wright
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 in a Preston, Lancashire, England.
She had been a keen reader from the childhood. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction.
She has earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, she found an agent. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her name to Melinda Wright and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her present historical romance novels, she has adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70m of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Now Penny Halsall lived in a house in Nantwich, Cheshire. She worked from home.
Penny died on 31 December 2011.
Penelope "Penny" Jones was born on November 24, 1946 in a Preston, Lancashire, England.
She had been a keen reader from the childhood. She was a storyteller long before she began to write romantic fiction.
She has earned a living as a writer since the 1970s when, as a shorthand typist, she entered a competition run by the Romantic Novelists' Association. Although she didn't win, she found an agent. She published four regency novels as Caroline Courtney, before changing her name to Melinda Wright and then she wrote two thrillers as Lydia Hitchcock. Soon after that, Mills and Boon accepted her first novel for them, Falcon's Prey as Penny Jordan. However, for her present historical romance novels, she has adopted her mother's maiden-name to become Annie Groves. Almost 70m of her 167 Mills and Boon novels have been sold worldwide.
Now Penny Halsall lived in a house in Nantwich, Cheshire. She worked from home.
Penny died on 31 December 2011.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 28, 2017
I enjoyed every word that was written on the pages of this book. Recommended.
December 11, 2022
Its about 11 years since I picked up this series and hadn't realised Annie Groves passed away back then. This made the book even more poignant and especially this Christmas marks the 10th anniversary of losing my Mum. I am now going to read the final book of the series, despite the tears. Just lovely storytelling
October 7, 2013
I bought this this morning and haven't been able to put it down since. I have been a fan of Annie Groves's books for a long time. Despite not being the intended audience, I love family saga books, in particular those set in Liverpool (though these Article Row books are set in London). Even as a kid I was fascinated with the war and would read anything to do with it, especially anything regarding evacuation and I loved hearing stories from my grandparents about that era. And that's what family saga books remind me of, despite all the loss and heartache underneath it all are fantastic stories and strong characters. I always wonder whether the people of today would pull together like everybody did in WW1 and WW2.
Unfortunately Penny Halsall (Annie Groves) sadly passed away in 2011 whilst in the middle of this new series of books set in London's Holborn in Article Row. I admit that I selfishly wondered what would become of the series, the release date for the next book jumped forward a year and then a few weeks ago I noticed this book added on Amazon and was ecstatic that the series would be continued because in my opinion it is one of Annie's best creations. The book opens with a foreword from Penny's editor explaining about how Penny only told her family about her illness and how she still worked on her books throughout her illness and how she had left behind manuscripts and ideas/plots of where her characters where to go. This meant that her family and editor could find somebody to take these ideas and complete the series with this book and A Christmas Promise which will be published later in the year (2013).
I didn't know Annie but I think this book was excellent and that she would approve of it. After all it is her ideas that enabled it to be completed, just written by somebody else. I love the idea of Article Row, this little street in London battling the Blitz. I love the characters Annie has created here, especially the character of Dulcie. She comes across as a bit of a self-centered character but there are reasons for that and she is a good person beneath it all. I found Tilly to be a bit annoying in previous books but she was a bit more grown up in this book. Sally also went up in my estimation at the end of the previous book. Agnes was a bit of an 'extra' in my opinion in previous books however I did like her in this one. I also found Olive to be written quite old for somebody so young but I guess that is more realistic of the time period more than anything else.
Overall this was a fantastic book and I can't wait for the next one. Sadly Annie/Penny is no longer with us but she lives on through these posthumously published books which I believe fans will really enjoy.
Unfortunately Penny Halsall (Annie Groves) sadly passed away in 2011 whilst in the middle of this new series of books set in London's Holborn in Article Row. I admit that I selfishly wondered what would become of the series, the release date for the next book jumped forward a year and then a few weeks ago I noticed this book added on Amazon and was ecstatic that the series would be continued because in my opinion it is one of Annie's best creations. The book opens with a foreword from Penny's editor explaining about how Penny only told her family about her illness and how she still worked on her books throughout her illness and how she had left behind manuscripts and ideas/plots of where her characters where to go. This meant that her family and editor could find somebody to take these ideas and complete the series with this book and A Christmas Promise which will be published later in the year (2013).
I didn't know Annie but I think this book was excellent and that she would approve of it. After all it is her ideas that enabled it to be completed, just written by somebody else. I love the idea of Article Row, this little street in London battling the Blitz. I love the characters Annie has created here, especially the character of Dulcie. She comes across as a bit of a self-centered character but there are reasons for that and she is a good person beneath it all. I found Tilly to be a bit annoying in previous books but she was a bit more grown up in this book. Sally also went up in my estimation at the end of the previous book. Agnes was a bit of an 'extra' in my opinion in previous books however I did like her in this one. I also found Olive to be written quite old for somebody so young but I guess that is more realistic of the time period more than anything else.
Overall this was a fantastic book and I can't wait for the next one. Sadly Annie/Penny is no longer with us but she lives on through these posthumously published books which I believe fans will really enjoy.
March 18, 2013
The book itself is well written, like all her other work, but it leaves a lot left to be desired.
There are conclusions/progressions to some of the story lines, but unless you have read the previous 3 books, you would not know what the story is alluding too.
Its hard to like this book, as at the end, it was 404 pages of not a lot happening. It felt more like it was 'filling in time' than actually contributing to the series itself.
Obviously there is going to be another book in this series, as the way this one has been ended is just too open and........... unsatisfying.
I am not saying this book is bad. I am just saying that there was a lot of book for not a lot happening!
There are conclusions/progressions to some of the story lines, but unless you have read the previous 3 books, you would not know what the story is alluding too.
Its hard to like this book, as at the end, it was 404 pages of not a lot happening. It felt more like it was 'filling in time' than actually contributing to the series itself.
Obviously there is going to be another book in this series, as the way this one has been ended is just too open and........... unsatisfying.
I am not saying this book is bad. I am just saying that there was a lot of book for not a lot happening!
March 25, 2013
Absolutely Loved this .. Gutted by the Deaths/Accidents of partners but thought the story was written well, nice to have Sally, Dulcie, Tilly and Agnes' stories wrapped up ;)
August 18, 2017
I Read this on the kindle
This is the 4th book in the Article Row series
The author of the series before this has died so this & the last one in the series is written by a different author using notes ect of Annie Groves
This was a very good one as everything has changed for Tilly who joined the Army after her boyfriend Drew has gone back to the USA, Agnes finds out that her parents were married her fiancé Ted is letting his mum come between them by when he going to see her something comes up so that he can't go, Dulcie who is expecting married David he can't father a child he is & has been in love with Dulcie so offers to marry her when she tells him that she expecting, Sally her fiancé who is a doctor has joined the Navy, she has her half sister after her father & her best friend who married her father was killed in a air raid on Liverpool. Then you have Olive who is the mother hen is getting feels for the police Sgt Dawson
You then have the extremely nosey neighbour Nancy she the sort you would never speak to in case she gossiping about you or others
This is such a good series you don't really notice that a different writer had done it
That said in a couple of places paragraphs had been repeated also at the beginning Tilly's age is given as 18 but you are on in years on from the 2 book when she is 18 but those few mistakes didn't detract from the book so much so that I already have the next & last book
This is the 4th book in the Article Row series
The author of the series before this has died so this & the last one in the series is written by a different author using notes ect of Annie Groves
This was a very good one as everything has changed for Tilly who joined the Army after her boyfriend Drew has gone back to the USA, Agnes finds out that her parents were married her fiancé Ted is letting his mum come between them by when he going to see her something comes up so that he can't go, Dulcie who is expecting married David he can't father a child he is & has been in love with Dulcie so offers to marry her when she tells him that she expecting, Sally her fiancé who is a doctor has joined the Navy, she has her half sister after her father & her best friend who married her father was killed in a air raid on Liverpool. Then you have Olive who is the mother hen is getting feels for the police Sgt Dawson
You then have the extremely nosey neighbour Nancy she the sort you would never speak to in case she gossiping about you or others
This is such a good series you don't really notice that a different writer had done it
That said in a couple of places paragraphs had been repeated also at the beginning Tilly's age is given as 18 but you are on in years on from the 2 book when she is 18 but those few mistakes didn't detract from the book so much so that I already have the next & last book
April 27, 2020
Lightweight reading but enjoyable
In Article Row, in London’s Holborn – four young women, Tilly, Sally, Dulcie and Agnes – have already been witnesses to the heartache and pain that Hitler’s bombs have inflicted on ordinary Londoners. Tilly is desperate to wed her beau, Drew. Terrified that something will happen to prevent them from being together, her fears seem to be coming true when he is called back home to America.
For her mother, Olive, this only adds to her worries for Tilly. But she has her own hands full when her friend and neighbour, Sergeant Dawson, gets some terrible news. When Olive lends a hand, she finds herself at the sharp end of some unwelcome gossip.
For Dulcie, the war has brought an old flame, David, back into her life. But his terrible injuries have changed his life forever. Can something more develop out of their friendship?
And for Agnes, she is about to find out something that will change her life, too. In this seemingly endless war, the girls will learn about love, loss and heartache. But they, like thousands of other Londoners, are determined to win the battle on the home front – no matter what it takes.
In Article Row, in London’s Holborn – four young women, Tilly, Sally, Dulcie and Agnes – have already been witnesses to the heartache and pain that Hitler’s bombs have inflicted on ordinary Londoners. Tilly is desperate to wed her beau, Drew. Terrified that something will happen to prevent them from being together, her fears seem to be coming true when he is called back home to America.
For her mother, Olive, this only adds to her worries for Tilly. But she has her own hands full when her friend and neighbour, Sergeant Dawson, gets some terrible news. When Olive lends a hand, she finds herself at the sharp end of some unwelcome gossip.
For Dulcie, the war has brought an old flame, David, back into her life. But his terrible injuries have changed his life forever. Can something more develop out of their friendship?
And for Agnes, she is about to find out something that will change her life, too. In this seemingly endless war, the girls will learn about love, loss and heartache. But they, like thousands of other Londoners, are determined to win the battle on the home front – no matter what it takes.
December 13, 2020
I love a good book set in England in World War II and this is a nice one so it was an enjoyable read. It is the 4th book in a series but you can pick up what has happened previously so I didn't feel like I needed to read the previous books.
This book tells the stories of multiple women. Dulcie, who is raped and ends up pregnant but after she refuses to have a backstreet abortion, marries the lovely David. I hope they stay happy!
Tilly, who is in love with an American solider and doesn't understand why he doesn't stay in contact when he returns. I hope someone tells her soon what happened to him.
Agnes, a nice girl dating someone who's mother thinks she is not good enough for him. I felt like everyone was a bit harsh on her boyfriend, he was genuinely torn! I like that she ended up independent at the end.
Sally, who boyfriend joins the Navy without speaking to her first. You don't get a huge amount of this story but perhaps it is covered in other books.
And then you also have Olive, who connects all the girls together.
Some nice stories in there and I would read more of the series if I get the opportunity.
This book tells the stories of multiple women. Dulcie, who is raped and ends up pregnant but after she refuses to have a backstreet abortion, marries the lovely David. I hope they stay happy!
Tilly, who is in love with an American solider and doesn't understand why he doesn't stay in contact when he returns. I hope someone tells her soon what happened to him.
Agnes, a nice girl dating someone who's mother thinks she is not good enough for him. I felt like everyone was a bit harsh on her boyfriend, he was genuinely torn! I like that she ended up independent at the end.
Sally, who boyfriend joins the Navy without speaking to her first. You don't get a huge amount of this story but perhaps it is covered in other books.
And then you also have Olive, who connects all the girls together.
Some nice stories in there and I would read more of the series if I get the opportunity.
April 15, 2020
Disappointed 😞
Was so disappointed with this book, Sheila Riley who wrote this book after the original author Annie Groves died has totally ruined this saga for me. Half way through the book I had to stop it made me so mad. The characters had completely changed, an she had made lots of mistakes I don't think she read the first 3 books at all! The opening chapter starts off with Olive not wanting Tilly and Drew to have a week away together, when in the last book it was Olives idea! These things just ruined it for me and I won't bother with book 5. I felt badly for Annie as she's such a fab author and this just wasn't up to get level, sad.
Was so disappointed with this book, Sheila Riley who wrote this book after the original author Annie Groves died has totally ruined this saga for me. Half way through the book I had to stop it made me so mad. The characters had completely changed, an she had made lots of mistakes I don't think she read the first 3 books at all! The opening chapter starts off with Olive not wanting Tilly and Drew to have a week away together, when in the last book it was Olives idea! These things just ruined it for me and I won't bother with book 5. I felt badly for Annie as she's such a fab author and this just wasn't up to get level, sad.
May 20, 2025
A lovely story of families and friends during WWll. This is the 4th novel about the women who live in Article Row in London. I hadn't read the first three novels so it took me a while to understand who was who and how they were related, but after a few chapters I was fully invested in the characters. By the end you realise how strong, resilient and resourceful women were during the war. A great read.
February 2, 2020
This one was published posthumously after the death of the author, it's not clear how much of the book was written by the same author as the other three. There are some glaring differences in the characters personalities that make it a bit challenging. I liked it, but not as much as the previous 3 and possibly not enough to read the final book in the series.
April 10, 2019
This was a good book lots of suspense and surprises, interesting war facts which made you understand what people went through.
September 15, 2020
B. fiction, historical fiction, WWII, England, group of young women, from stash, keep
April 16, 2022
So intetesting book. Good storyline.
August 17, 2013
In the midst of the blitz the women of article row have witnessed the heartache and pain inflicted on London by hitlers bombs Tilly is desperate to wed her beau drew terrified that something wi happen to separate them her fears seem to be coming true when he is called back home to America for her mother olive this only adds to her worries but she has her hands full when her friend and neighbour sergeant Dawson gets some terrible news. For Dulcie the war has brought an old flame David back into her life but his terrible injuries have changed his life forever in this seemingly endless war the girls will learn about love and loss but they like thousands of others are determined that they won't be defeated no matter what it takes
July 28, 2015
Read as part of the Reading Challenge and popped in the category of "sequel", this book didn't really grab me. Part of the reason is that I had recently read "Life After Life" by Kate Atkinson which also covers a family's time during WWII, and does so in a far more eloquent and sophisticated way. Compared to that book, "Only a Mother Knows" felt very soap opera-ish. I realise this is book 4 in the sequence of 5 and I don't have any desire to read the others in this series. I found some of the book repetitive, with the author reminding the reader about a character's trait/flaw even though it had already been mentioned the previous page, for example. A little bit corny, a little bit predictable, certainly an easy read, with likable and stereotypical characters.
September 18, 2013
l realy enjoyed reading this series of a mother having to take in lodgers to make ends meet , going into the second world war, the lives of her daughter and the three women. l realy got caught up in their lives, where l have laughed and cryed, l felt as if the characters were real, cant wait to read a Christmas promise the last one.
April 7, 2016
A light warm read of the community spirit raised because of the effects of WW2 - the trials nd tribulations surrounding a not necessarily blood related family. Emotions of every kind flow from every page.
October 17, 2014
Another good book about the residents of article road.
May 30, 2015
Great book love Annie groves
October 11, 2015
good book
December 8, 2015
Second time
This is the second time I have read this book and unfortunately it didn't keep my attention like the last time.
This is the second time I have read this book and unfortunately it didn't keep my attention like the last time.
March 29, 2016
It's a little embarrassing to be enjoying these books so much, but so be it. I am. Started the 5th and final one today. I HAVE to know how it all turns out! :-)
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews