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Harbour House #2

Stormy Waters at Harbour House

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Don't miss Fenella J. Miller's brilliant Harbour House series. A gripping tale of wartime bravery and courage. Wivenhoe February 1940

As the war clouds gather over Europe, the Roby family are thankful to have started their new life in Wivenhoe safe from German bombs…for the moment at least. And with the safe arrival of baby Grace, family life at Harbour House seems to be settling down.

But Emily Roby finds life stifling. She’s not keen on her new baby sister, doesn’t like her new school and feels as though sometimes her parents still treat her as a baby, but also a grown up when it suits them! Emily’s only friend is Nancy, the new girl working at Harbour House.

Nancy loves working at Harbour House, but war has brought many changes and she begins to wonder if there’s another life for her away from Wivenhoe. Her young man, Dan Brooks, is keen for them to get married and start a family, but at only eighteen, Nancy feels too young to settle down.

As a bargeman working on the river, Dan is often away for days and weeks on end, but Nancy knows he will always come home to her. But with the Germans U-boats turning their eyes to Britain’s waters, Dan’s job suddenly become more dangerous than ever before.

Suddenly there are troubled waters ahead for everyone at Harbour House and the future looks unsettling for everyone.

A gripping and authentic tale of courage, duty and bravery, perfect for fans of Lizzie Lane, Patricia McBride and Rosie Clarke.

Praise for Fenella J

'Yet again, Fenella Miller has thrilled me with another of her historical stories. She brings alive a variety of emotions and weaves in facts relating to the era, all of which keep me reading into the small hours.' Glynis Peters

'Curl up in a chair with Fenella J Miller's characters and lose yourself in another time and another place.' Lizzie Lane

'Engaging characters and setting which whisks you back to the home front of wartime Britain. A fabulous series!' Jean Fullerton

'Loved every word of this book. Fenella is a great author and leaves her books with you wanting more. I can’t wait to read the next one.' 5 star Reader Review!

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2025

491 people are currently reading
56 people want to read

About the author

Fenella J. Miller

151 books149 followers
Fenella Jane Miller was born in the Isle of Man. Her father was a Yorkshire man and her mother the daughter of a Rajah. She has worked as a nanny, cleaner, field worker, hotelier, chef, secondary and primary teacher and is now a full time writer.

She has over twenty five Regency romantic adventures published plus one Jane Austen re-telling and one YA romantic fantasy.

see also Fenella-Jane Miller

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Carol (Reading Ladies).
924 reviews196 followers
February 9, 2025
3.5 Stars

Stormy Waters at Harbour House is the second installment of the Harbour House series and can be read as a stand-alone. The story’s central character is Nancy, the new girl working at Harbour House. Nancy is indispensable to the family and has a serious boyfriend who works as a bargeman on the river and is away for days and weeks at a time. Part of her feels she’s too young to settle down and she explores what it would be like to run a business. Some effects of war are felt.

Having read the first installment, Wartime Arrivals at Harbour House, I was a bit surprised about the main character in this second story. It doesn’t pick up with the parents are main characters. Instead, the focus is on Nancy who works for the family and is a mentor and like a big sister to the family’s daughter, Emily. Nancy is an ambitious, kind, and compassionate young woman with her own aspirations for making a better life.

It’s always interesting to contemplate what life would be like on the home front during World War II. Rationing is in effect and children have been evacuated from London and live with families in the village. The transportation of goods and materials on the river is becoming dangerous.

The first book in the series is definitely a family drama as the husband moves his family (against his wife’s wishes) away from London to the countryside. Although the mother was a bit unlikable at first, the seeds are sown for a great deal of character development….which I was looking forward to in this sequel. However, the story places the parents firmly in the background with no further opportunity for character growth. The focus is on eighteen-year-old Nancy, a family maid, and the nearly teenage daughter of the family, Emily. Although their stories are somewhat compelling, it is a coming-of-age story and I was expecting more family drama.

Content Consideration: bullying

Fans of WWII home front stories and Fenella Miller might enjoy this new series.

Thanks #NetGalley @BoldwoodBooks for a complimentary eARC of #StormyWatersAtHarbourHouse upon my request. All opinions are my own.

For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.
Profile Image for Stephanie Fitzgerald.
1,201 reviews
October 2, 2025
Second one in this “Harbour House” series.
The Roby family returns in this sequel to “Wartime Arrivals.” There are many changes occurring, due to the war situation, new suitors for young men and women, and the inevitability of children growing older. As well, a loving dog comes into the picture, providing love and comfort during distressing circumstances.
Moving on to #3! I’m enjoying this series!
Profile Image for Lily.
1,405 reviews12 followers
February 5, 2025
In the latest book in the Harbour House series, readers return to Wivenhoe in February of 1940 where the Roby family is happy to have escaped the danger and chaos of the Blitz. Emily, however, is not very happy, being disappointed with her new school, her new sister, and her parents’ treatment of her as both a baby and a grown up. With her only friend Nancy engaged and her fiance Dan wanting them to marry and have a family sooner rather than later, both Nancy and Emily must cope with the new changes at Harbour House and the dangers facing their families as the war only grows more intense. The characters are the star of the novel, with Nancy and Emily alternating perspectives as their wartime struggles continue, and readers will enjoy seeing how they have grown since the events of the previous book. The wartime experiences in this rural town are also particularly interesting, since it’s not the typical location for a World War II historical fiction novel, but Miller has done a brilliant job bringing these small-town dynamics to life in this exciting and entertaining new World War II historical fiction novel that fans of Miller’s other books will love.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.
Profile Image for Julie.
2,654 reviews43 followers
March 31, 2025
Stormy Waters at Harbour House takes readers back to wartime Britain in the second enthralling instalment of this series by Fenella J. Miller.

Life at Harbour House seems to be settling down for the Roby family. Having made the move to Wivenhoe, they are safe from the threat of German bombs. The arrival of baby Grace adds to the family’s joy and contentment – even if Emily Roby finds herself stifled by the shackles being imposed upon her. She doesn’t like her new baby sister, hates her new school and is sick and tired of being treated like a grown-up intermittently by her parents – and only when it is to her detriment. The only person Emily has gelled with since coming to Wivenhoe is Nancy, who works at Harbour House.

Nancy has no cause to complain about her job – even if she does sometimes wonder whether there could be more to life than living and working in Wivenhoe. Her young man Dan has made his intentions about their future clear, but at only eighteen, Nancy feels too young to settle down as she would love to see whether there is life beyond Wivenhoe. As a bargeman, Dan’s job becomes more dangerous with the German’s U-Boats making their presence felt on British waters. Will Dan end up in the eye of the storm? And is he the one for Nancy?

With troubled waters ahead for everyone at Harbour House, the future looks uncertain. Will there be light at the end of this dark tunnel they are trapped in? Or should they all prepare for tough times ahead?

Fenella J. Miller’s Stormy Waters at Harbour House is an involving, immersive and enjoyable family saga teeming with drama, romance, emotion and heart perfect for curling up with. As a writer adept at making the past come bursting to life, Fenella J. Miller transports her readers back in time with flair and élan and writes beautifully about family relationships, the complexities of love and the courage of ordinary men and women in wartime.

A terrific saga from a gifted writer, Stormy Waters at Harbour House by Fenella J. Miller is an enjoyable page-turner perfect for Lizzie Lane and Jean Fullerton fans.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
2,814 reviews57 followers
January 25, 2025
This series is fast becoming a favorite. I hope that there will be many more additions to the series. The author has created amazing characters that grasp the heart. I find myself invested in what is happening in the small town of Wivenhoe.

The character development in Stormy Waters at Harbour House had me excited for what happened next. I didn't have much hope for Elizabeth Rory in Wartime Arrivals at Harbour House. She has become a wonderful example of the need to step up and do what is necessary as the demands of war grow.

War is changing life in Wivenhoe and the waterways. It isn't just blackout curtains and decreased lighting of torches. Ration books are in use. Shortages are growing. The barges are more important than ever as those like Little Beth transport grain and building materials. I became fascinated with the waterways and the actions of the Royal Navy.

Reading how different characters are dealing with changes is thrilling. The way the village comes together to protect others was inspiring. I was happily reminded how residents in a small town look out for each other. What is wonderful about this story is that it is so realistic. I could imagine the daily goings on and the family issues. I closed the book wondering what is was really like for my relatives in Ipswich and wanting to go exploring the region.
3,250 reviews33 followers
February 19, 2025
Stormy Waters at Harbour House by Fenella J Miller takes up a few months after the last one ended. Mother is having a baby, life in the house is pretty good, and Nancy Bates was going to move in to help take care of them. They fixed her up a room in the attic and it was the first time she’d ever had a room to herself. She was young, only seventeen, but had “a good head on her shoulders.” Life was good. She had a boyfriend, Dan, who asked her to marry him. She said she’d be engaged but she was too young to be married. Life went on with normal ups and downs.

Nancy and Dan were a terrific couple. Nancy was strong and independent and Dan was learning to adjust to that. He had a horrid family and couldn’t wait to have a good one with Nancy. With the war, things got complicated beyond the daily problems with the blackout and food rationing. Dan was a sailor. He’d been a fisherman but now he worked on a barge carrying whatever someone would pay them to carry. That ended up being the major complication when the barge sank and everyone died. I love these World War II slice-of-life novels. This is a good one., I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I was invited to read Stormy Waters at Harbour House by Boldwood Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks #FenellaJMiller #StormyWatersAtHarbourHouse
Profile Image for Kelly.
2,469 reviews117 followers
February 10, 2025
I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is the second book in the Harbour House series, set in WWII. I read the previous book, and although I enjoyed them both, I found this one a little bit different from the first, and felt that I connected more with some of the characters.

I was pleased to see the return of the Roby family, and in particular, I enjoyed getting to know more about Emily. I also thought Nancy was a great character; I found her to be kind-hearted, strong-headed and independent. The bond she shared with Dan warmed my heart, and I found him an endearing character as well.

I found this heartwarming to read, and in the latter part of the book, there were some moments that made me a little bit emotional. If you haven't read the previous book, you may enjoy this as a standalone, although I was glad that I'd read the first book as well.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books, and to the author, for the opportunity to read and review this.
Profile Image for Haney Hayes Promotions.
1,482 reviews68 followers
February 8, 2025
This captivating tale weaves together heartwarming moments and suspenseful twists, promising to enthrall readers who are drawn to historical fiction, family drama, and romance. The story will particularly resonate with those who appreciate narratives centered around resilient female protagonists as they grapple with the complexities of coming-of-age and self-discovery amidst the turmoil and upheaval of a war-torn world.

The narrative will delve into the protagonist's personal journey, exploring themes of love, loss, courage, and resilience. Readers will be immersed in a richly detailed historical setting, experiencing the sights, sounds, and emotions of an era marked by conflict and uncertainty. The story will examine the profound impact of war on individuals, families, and communities, while also highlighting the enduring power of hope, love, and the human spirit.
Profile Image for Karen.
584 reviews5 followers
March 17, 2025
Stormy Waters at Harbour House is the second installment in Fenella J Miller's nest series, but it can easily be enjoyed on its own.

This book delves deeper into the life of Emily, the eldest daughter of the Roby family, as well as Nancy, who becomes the Robys' cleaner and part time child care provider. As Emily navigates the complexities of growing up and the changes in her body, she finds herself confused. Meanwhile, Nancy is in love with.Can, and the two are making plans for their future together.

Fenella is creating an incredible series! I adore this book, although I'm not quite sure why. The characters are relatable and endearing. I have a feeling we will see more of Nancy and Dan in upcoming stories, especially since her mother continues to work for the Robys. I can't wait for the next installment
Profile Image for Leona.
1,501 reviews
February 9, 2025
This is the second book in the Harbour House series but it can be read as a standalone. Having read and loved book one I was eager to read this one and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Right from the very beginning this book drew me in and I just wanted to keep on reading. The characters are all developing and coming into their own in this second book. I especially loved young Emily and did feel a bit sorry for her at times. As the war is progressing life isn’t easy at times but the people of Wivenhoe are all there for each other even through tough times . Family sagas are one of my favourite genres and i can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
2,439 reviews27 followers
February 4, 2025
This story mainly concerns the eldest daughter of the house, Emily and how she is adjusting to the changes in her body and attitude as she gets older. It also concerns members of the staff in the Roby household and their work and love lives. I found the information about the red sail barges really interesting. It must have been very frustrating for the children who were intelligent enough to attend the grammar school but unable to go because of financial difficulties. The author does portray the feeling of ordinary people and how they are beginning to be affected by the war and the danger it brings to the community. There is a newcomer in the household and I wonder if he will cause trouble in the future. I look forward to finding out. This was a lovely read and the story just flowed along. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Leanne.
2,157 reviews43 followers
February 2, 2025
Life in Harbour House has settled down into some what of a routine with a couple of new additions. The characters really develop in this book and I came to care for their welfare. The author has written a compelling page turning plotted drama. With such emotion I felt every feeling through the words. The war is still continuing although they seem to be safe at Harbour House for now. I was excited to find out what would happen next for the characters and I am hoping this will be a long series because it has become one of my favourites. I can't wait for the next book to see what will happen!
Profile Image for Jenn Webley.
401 reviews41 followers
February 11, 2025
Fenella J. Miller’s Stormy Waters at Harbour House is an engaging, heartfelt tale that keeps you hooked from start to finish. This is the second book of this series and it follows the lives of the residents of Harbour House, weaving together love, secrets, and the trials of living through WWII.
I am a huge fan of Miller’s books, the characters are well-written and relatable, with emotional journeys. I really felt we got to know more about the characters this time compared to the first book, it had a different feel to it and I hope that we learn more with the next.
The relationships in the novel are particularly well-explored—both romantic and platonic—adding depth to the story and making the reader care deeply about the characters’ fates. Nancy is a girl with gumption and I really liked her character, she showed determination, consideration for others and I was keen to see all work out well for her.
Overall, Stormy Waters at Harbour House is an extremely enjoyable and satisfying read. It’s perfect for those who love this genre – war time/ family saga; a book with a mixture of romance, personal growth, and family bonds not always being blood relatives. A great addition to Miller’s collection of heartwarming novels.
Profile Image for Sue Rouse.
266 reviews9 followers
February 9, 2025
Stormy waters at Harbour House is a great book with wonderful characters and a good storyline. Easy to read without having read book one. Nancy and Dan delay getting married until after the war but can they remain friends and will Dan’s jealousy get the better of him. Thanks to Fenella and her publisher.
Profile Image for Sue Plant.
2,303 reviews32 followers
February 12, 2025
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

a slow paced book in the series

back with the harbour house gang and its good to catch up on where everyone is.... interesting read about the life and times during the war years and the struggles they all faced....

love how this author writes
Profile Image for Nina.
357 reviews5 followers
September 27, 2025
3.5 I enjoyed the second installment in this series. Characters are likable. It’s a different historical fiction in that it is in the countryside away from London and the war seems distant and yet on the horizon. I did find it ended rather abruptly but it continues on in book 3. Already started #3 in the series.
118 reviews1 follower
April 5, 2025
The family seem to have settled well at Harbour house, including the children and new baby. We meet Nancy who works at harbour house along with her sweetheart Dan. Dan works on the barges, but then he signs up for the navy. Another good read.
805 reviews8 followers
July 5, 2025
Sweet story

This book is so sweet and seems so true to life. Makes you feel you are there with the characters which I love. Can't wait to read the next book. Good series all the way around!
23 reviews
October 26, 2025
Book 2 of Harbour House

Another book of Harbour House which is really good. I couldn’t put the first book down and i couldn’t put this book down. It grips you from page one, i’m looking forward to reading the 3rd instalment now.
Profile Image for Georgina.
444 reviews8 followers
February 5, 2025
This was so much better than the first book. I loved getting to know the characters more and seeing the story develop, I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series
Profile Image for Diane.
949 reviews16 followers
February 9, 2025
More from the Roby family and their staff and friends. It’s a great series with good characters so hopefully there will be more to come from the people in Wivenhoe.
245 reviews
Read
February 23, 2025
Saga if a Harbour House

WW ll showed just how resiliant people can be ..But they also Have Growing pains like Emily..Equality Issues like Nancy ..along with everyday problems..
Profile Image for Rosemarie Swayze.
71 reviews
May 17, 2025
Stormy Waters at Harbour House

Really enjoyed this second book in the series, lots of twists and turns. Already pre ordered the third book in the series
Profile Image for Suzanne.
1,239 reviews17 followers
June 30, 2025
Loved this book it was a great second book it had all the same characters in it and the plot was awesome. Will get on to the third book now
492 reviews1 follower
August 5, 2025
Just couldn't wait to finish it as I found it boring. This series is not as good as Goodwill House.
595 reviews9 followers
February 8, 2025
In this latest instalment of the Harbour House series we catch up with the residents of Wivenhoe and Harbour House. There have been developments in the Roby family with the new arrival of baby Grace but this story focuses mainly on Emily Roby. She is growing up but is still a child in many ways. We also find out about Nancy who works at Harbour House and her relationship with barge man Dan. The characters are very realistic and the descriptions of them and the different settings make them easy to visualise. I like how the interactions between characters and the different events make this a very engaging read. I’m really looking forward to reading the next one!
Profile Image for Jacqui.
277 reviews6 followers
June 29, 2025
This story follows the Roby family at Wivenhoe House during WWII. Baby Grace has arrived, and Nancy is the new girl working there. She becomes friends and an adult mentor with Emily as she navigates life during the war. Nancy is dating Dan, who's navigating his difficult family life and starting work as a bargeman and courting Nancy, whom he wants to marry.

I enjoyed this story, which introduced new characters and followed along with familiar characters as they navigated life during war, as well as the expectations of women during that time. I enjoyed Nancy and Dan and their courtship as they both dealt with the changing expectations of women during that time. They were able to be more independent.

Thanks to @boldwoodbooks, @netgalley, and the author for this arc.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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