A Wartime Wedding in the Dales

Made in Yorkshire #4

by Betty Firth

War pulled them apart, but can love bring them back together?

January 1942. After spending a happy Christmas with her fiance Charlie and his family at Moorside Farm, the new year brings heartache for Bobby Bancroft. Not only must she prepare to say goodbye to Charlie as he is summoned to join the fight, she must also leave behind her job at The Tyke magazine to join the wartime effort, as conscription of women is rolled out across the country.

But there are hopeful times ahead as Bobby's friends, Topsy and Teddy, get engaged following a romance beset with obstacles. And when Bobby finally names a date for her own nuptials, the village of Silverdale is cheered by the prospect of weddings to lift the gloom of wartime. Bobby finds herself far from home training as a WAAF, with few friendly faces other than her Canadian friend Ernie King, who is acting as an instructor at her training centre.

With Ernie showing signs of a romantic interest in her and with Charlie’s sudden silence, a lonely Bobby finds herself drawn to the young Canadian. But could there be more to Charlie’s silence than a cooling of his feelings? And can Bobby’s faith in the man she truly loves stay strong while the two of them are far apart, long enough for them to walk down the aisle?

A heart-warming, emotional WW2 saga set in the glorious Yorkshire Dales. Fans of Diane Allen and Maggie Mason will love this!

Readers adore the Made in Yorkshire

‘A gorgeous setting, appealing characters and brimming with warmth and humour. It’s a long time since a book has so thoroughly captured my heart. Don’t miss it!’ Kate Field

‘LOVED IT!!!...My heart ached when reading this… A lovely story, full of heart and home. I didn't want it to end…’⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘There are real echoes of All Creatures Great and Small in this story…I loved it.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘The characters are realistic, likable, and heartwarming’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘Loved this one. Full of warmth and romance during very difficult times.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘Heartwarming, historical and humorous. Thoroughly enjoyed it from cover to cover.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘The descriptions of the countryside are so descriptive and beautiful. Bobby’s devotion to her community is commendable and heartwarming.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘Such a heartwarming read. Written with feeling.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

‘I loved this latest instalment in Bobby Bancroft's story…Plenty of detail make wartime life in the Dales feel very real.’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Reader Review

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II

372 pages, Paperback

Published April 3, 2025

About the author

Betty Firth grew up in rural West Yorkshire, right in the heart of Brontë country… and she's still there. After graduating from Durham University with a degree in English Literature, she dallied with living in cities including London, Nottingham and Cambridge, but homesickness soon drove her back to her beloved Yorkshire. She lives in the shadow of the moors with her partner and two mischievous border collies.

Betty also writes romantic comedies as Mary Jayne Baker and Lisa Swift, and murder mysteries as Penny Blackwell.

More information can be found about Betty on her website at www.maryjaynebaker.co.uk. You can also follow her on Twitter, @MaryJayneBaker, or like her Facebook page by going to Facebook.com/MaryJayneWrites

Reviews

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book four in the Made in Yorkshire series by Betty Firth, and it feels good to be back with familiar characters.
It's January 1942 in the village of Silverdale, which is in the Yorkshire Dales in the north of England.
Bobby still feels like she has the world on her shoulders, what with her dad still needing to be looked after and her sister dropping a bombshell that she is not only pregnant but getting married really quickly to avoid scandal. But Bobby has had an official letter, which must only mean that she has been called up. As a single woman, she has to do her duty. But all she can think about is who will take care of her dad, especially if he has one of his turns. She really doesn't know what she should do for the best, best for her, her dad and her fiance and when she meets up with her Canadian friend, who is back injured she is truly worried that she will make the wrong decision. But do her duty she must, and do it for the best of her ability and soon Bobby is finding herself with many other young women in a totally different environment to what they are used to, trying to do a job they are not used to doing. New friendships are formed between the girls, but there is still a problem with Bobby not having any news of her fiance. Is he injured or killed in a bombing mission? Or has he gone off her and found another girlfriend? Bobby is determined to find out the truth, but will the truth hurt more?

A truly lovely story, I loved every page and was sorry when I turned the last page, I want to know more, and hopefully, there is more to come in a future book.
A five-star read from me.

#hera
#awartimeweddinginthedales
#netgalley
#BettyFirth
#Canelo

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this well-written World War II historical fiction novel, readers join Bobby Bancroft in January 1942 when things aren’t going so well for Bobby or the country. Preparing to say goodbye to Charlie and leaving her job at The Tyke magazine, Bobby is one of many women joining the war effort and saying goodbye to their loved ones. However, not everything is dreary, as Bobby’s friends are engaged and she has her own wedding to plan, and these glimpses of hope give the village of Silverdale the chance to celebrate love and happy endings. Now in training as a WAAF across the country, Bobby isn’t ready for her Canadian friend and now instructor, Ernie King, to show romantic interest in her when Charlie’s stopped calling and writing. The balancing of the macro and micro stories here are really well done, and the characters’ concerns are a great reflection of true concerns on the home front and in the auxiliary services in World War II. The detail and research really show up in the world-building and add a lot of context which help readers visualize the fascinating historical setting and events in this excellent new historical fiction novel from Betty Firth.

Thanks to NetGalley and Hera Books for the advance copy.

[Vivien Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved following Bobby's story since she arrived in the dales in book one. She has come such a long way since then, finding family, friends, career, love and a feeling of home. Just as she is settled, the war has other ideas and she is called up. A new life, a new routine, everybody she loves left behind. But can her relationship with Charlie survive the separation? Well researched, warm and absorbing. A lovely book! And still two more to come

[Michelle C · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful end to this wonderful saga.

Another heart warming tale from the Dales. Love conquers all!
The Journey that Bobby Bancroft has been on has made these books a real page turner.

[Cheryl Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoying this series of books. Well written and a great depiction of life in the Dales during WW2.