The Vicar's Daughter at the Lodging House

The Wartime Lodging House #2

by Natalie Meg Evans

London, 1940. When Jess Gresham arrives in the capital, she’s completely out of her depth. With bombs falling and a heartbreaking family lie about her beloved sister to get to the bottom of, can she find the help she needs at a Mayfair lodging house?

When Jess discovers the letter from her older sister Charlotte tucked into an old typewriter, her world is shaken. It’s dated two days after their father, the vicar, said she died. How could he lie about that? Desperate to uncover the truth, Jess must find her sister. The London location in her sister’s letter is her only clue…

Leaving her quiet life in the country as a vicar’s daughter behind, now Jess is in the city in wartime, her gas mask slung around her shoulder. Her one refuge is her room at a Mayfair lodging house with two other girls. Wealthy Betony is all style and charm, but she’s trying to shake her aristocratic airs and graces. Irish nurse Grace with her easy smile is much more down to earth, but Jess is certain she’s keeping a secret…

With war throwing the three girls together, can Jess’s new friends help find her missing sister, despite the secrets between them? Or will they be torn apart for good?

An totally emotional and gripping historical novel, perfect for fans of Jean Grainger, Lisa Wingate and Diney Costeloe.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Womens Fiction, World War II

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 30, 2026

About the author

Being a published writer has been Natalie Meg Evans’ goal from an early age. Having achieved her dream, she extracts maximum fun from it by writing the kind of books she has always loved reading. Mother to one son and currently guardian to a rescued Labrador and a Malinois (Belgian Shepherd), Natalie lives in rural Suffolk, England’s easternmost county.

In 2012, Natalie won the prestigious Harry Bowling Prize and was a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart finalist. She was longlisted in the Mslexia new women novelists
competition, and shortlisted for a Daphne du Maurier award for romantic suspense. The Dress Thief won the readers award for the best historical novel at the Festival of Romance and was nominated for a Romance Writers of America RITA.

Her latest novels are The Locket and The Paris Inheritance, both split timeline novels with a wartime theme.

She has achieved another life-goal, as a published author of country house crime. As Kay Blythe, her first novel in this genre comes out in February 2025. Look out for Murder at Merry Beggars Hall.

Reviews

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows Jess, a vicar's daughter, as she tries to track down her missing sister. Jess has been told that Charlotte is dead, but she refuses to believe that and uncovers clues that lead her to London. I thought Jess was a great character. She starts off as a naive girl, but develops as the book goes on as she overcomes her challenges.

I loved the way the story interlinked with the previous book. Jess moves into the lodging house with Grace and Betony and it was interesting to see events from a different point of view.

I adore books like this that focus on the everyday goings-on of life during the war.
This book has a bit of romance, a bit of mystery, and strong female friendships all set amongst wartime Britain.

Absolutely loved this book and will be eagerly awaiting the next one!

[Dee Groocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess has been told by her father, a vicar, that her sister, Charlotte is dead, but Jess has reason to believe that he’s lied to her, why would he?

Jess is in London looking for her sister, Charlotte. It’s 1940, and London is being bombed day and night. She has nowhere to stay, and following an accident, she’s offered a bed in a property, sharing with Betony and Grace.

Betony is a model, and Grace is a nurse. We follow each girl through their own problems. Can Jess let the other girls into her life enough to get the help she needs to find Charlotte?

This is the second book in the series, but it doesn’t affect the reading of this book, as it can be read as a standalone.

I liked the girls, and felt that the characters were relatable, in that we can all take time to decide how trustworthy other people are.

The book is also informative about London in World War Two. I could feel the tension coming from the girls, being woken to head off to shelters & not really getting any sleep and then having to go to work. Extremely trying and difficult times.

This is the first book I have read by this author, and I shall definitely be going back and reading book one in this series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The opening of book two, The Vicar’s Daughter at the Lodging House, in Natalie Meg Evans' Wartime Lodging House series picks up exactly where the first book had left readers on a major cliffhanger. But this is only for a few brief pages. For then the reader is taken back to see how the character came to find herself in the terrifying situation that has befallen her. So definitely this can be read as a standalone book as each books follows a different girl out of the trio that for one reason or another reside in Mrs Kesgrave’s lodging house. Book one was good but this was even better. It really went up a level from Grace’s story and I was completely enthralled and invested from the start. Right from the get go I felt so much happened and that there was a big mystery that had to be solved. Jess has a quest and emerging from the shadows of her vicar father and his sidekick Mrs Hillington she goes on an incredible journey. One in which she garners strength and courage that she never knew she possessed. She is determined to uncover the truth surrounding the supposed death of her sister Charlotte and nothing will stop her until she has solid evidence.

I don’t know what it was but there was just something about Jess that had me connecting with her instantly. Perhaps, it was that there was a lot of secrecy surrounding her purpose and it was a tale of someone finding their voice and doing what she knew was right and just. Despite all the trials and tribulations thrown her way on a personal level not to mention battling through the Blitz inflicted upon the innocent people of London she just kept motoring on. Physically she may have been hurt at times but her mind remained true and steadfast highlighting the deep bonds that sisters have. She knew something wasn’t right regarding her sister and unless she saw physical evidence she hadn’t Charlotte dead and buried just yet.

Jess came from Ramsgate leaving her father behind who was evasive and controlling. I don’t think he was especially mean or nasty, but he remained loyal to his beliefs no matter. Maybe he thought he was doing the right thing but Jess knew better. Admittedly, I did figure out fairly on what had gone on but as to the specifics and the tangled web that ensued, I would never have guessed the finer details. The author takes the reader on a fascinating journey as Jess’ arrival in London doesn’t turn out the way she had wanted. The young innocent woman from the country has to learn to grow up fast and become street wise which takes her some time. Jess up until this point had always tried to appease her father whereas Charlotte was the rebellious one but Jess is done with satisfying other people and she throws caution to the wind. This takes her into some dark, dangerous and unsettling situations where connections to Grace (who was the protagonist in book one) begin to emerge. I found myself smiling thinking this is brilliant that links are being made as it allowed things regarding Grace to make even more sense. It was as if all three girls, Betony being the third, had a reason that drew them to the lodging house, and they ended up sharing the same room. All their stories I feel will connect and instead of two separate stories being told through two books things began to gel together very well.

At several points, some scenes were repeated from book one and usually in a series this would really get on my nerves. I feel it unnecessary to go over old ground but in this case this occurring was apt and helped the reader to make connections and understand certain situations or characters feelings from a different viewpoint. Jess begins work at the Ministry of Information in censorship, checking letters for information/clues that may be untoward or that would help those in power with winning the war. This job will prove essential in Jess’s ongoing challenge. It was brilliant that there was so much going on throughout the book without any lulls yet at the same time I didn’t think events were being thrown at the reader without time to digest and piece together everything. The pacing was superb and the further I read I got a real sense that Jess was piecing things together as the clues led her to various places and precarious situations all over London.

Romance does start to feature for Jess but again this was downplayed which was good as this was about finding the answers regarding Charlotte that she so desperate sought. The romantic element popped up every now and again at just the perfect junctures and fitted in very well with the overall plot themes, and emotions explored deftly throughout the book. As for the three girls and the relationship they developed. It wasn’t straight forward by any means and I would say they didn’t instantly became bosom buddies (which I thought would have been unrealistic) and worked as one as a force of nature and everything is rosy in the garden like can happen with sagas set during World War Two. I thoroughly enjoyed that there was friction between them. Even rivalries and mistrust to a degree but towards the end things were slightly softening when a major event which connects back to the prologue occurs. Any difficulties they had previously experienced were pushed to one side so they could work as one. A truce of sorts occurred which I feel will remain that way in the next book and hopefully we will see a further softening of the girls and they will always realise that drawing together is the best thing for them especially during the times they live through.

The Vicar’s Daughter at the Lodging House was a brilliant read and reminded me why I first fell in love with this author’s writing. If you haven’t read her debut The Dress Thief I would highly recommend it. Again this book ended on a cliffhanger (although more subtly than the one we were provided with at the conclusion of book one) with lots more to come. For Betony is next to tell her story. She is the one who is glamorous and comes from a wealthy background. She has sharp edges and is very self-possessed and so far I can’t warm to her at all and I think several readers have felt this way judging from the author’s end notes. In a way I dare Natalie Meg Evans to change my perception of Betony and if you do you will have done some job. In the meantime if you love World War Two fiction this is a gripping page turner that you won’t forget in a hurry.

[Cidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Gresham is still grieving the death of her older sister Charlotte, until she finds Charlotte's typewriter hidden away in the attic but with a sheet of paper still in the machine, it implies she is leaving to go to London to find work. But it is written 2 days after her burial...

Jess is the daughter of a widowed vicar who has a harpie of a housekeeper who tries to ask her father questions about Charlotte's death. She is given no more information than she died and was buried 2 days ago, basically end of. But now having found Charlotte's typewriter she is determined to go to London which is where Charlotte always wanted to go and work, and look for her. So she quietly goes and packs her suitcase and manages to fit in the typewriter and heads off regardless.

She has nowhere to go and stay in London and the blitz is still on. She has her identity card and money stolen when she arrives and has nowhere to stay either, for 2 days she is sleeping rough until she manages to find a what she thinks is a deserted house but 2 thugs arrive and are about to take away all her possessions until a knight in shining armour appears. The electricity is off but she can just make out his face, badly disfigured down one side and a badly burnt scalp. He isn't too kind to her and during the night (this was his house) he disappears as fast as he appeared. But he does leave her some money. Jess gets through an interview with a governmental department who are reading the mail to root out protagonists against the war and/or passing on coded messages to their saboteurs. She now has to find a room and does with a very kindly landlady who already has 2 lodgers in one room, Grace and Betony, but can make room for a third bed. And now Jess can continue the hunt for Charlotte.

The plot thickens and darkens from here on. It is incredibly sad in parts, an innocent little sister running off, having never left home before, to hunt for her big sister whom she believes is still alive somewhere and that somewhere is London. This is heart wrenching in places but underneath it all there is also kindness. I confess there were moments when I really feeling teary for Jess.
This really was a very good book.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was 1940 when Jess Gresham left her home in the country she'd lived in with her father, the Reverend, and headed for London. She'd applied for a government position, and been invited for an interview. But Jess had never been to London and was well and truly out of her depth. She also had an ulterior motive for going - her twin sister, Charlotte, had been reported by her father as having died. Jess was shattered, but when she discovered a letter from Charlotte, dated two days after she supposedly died, she was confused as well. Her hunt for her sister was on...

After having nowhere to lay her head for two days, she finally arrived at a lodging house which had room. Grace, a nurse with a lovely Irish accent, and Betony, wealthy, snobbish, but quietly down to earth, along with Jess, made the three of them and gradually they became friends. The landlady was kind and caring, prepared to do anything for the three of them. But with bombs landing most nights, the sirens beckoning them to the shelters, and a cruel, vindictive person after Jess, their wonder if anything would ever be alright again, spread through them. Would Jess ever find Charlotte? And would they be safe from the bombs which seemed to get closer every night?

The Vicar's Daughter at the Lodging House is the 2nd in The Wartime Lodging House series by Natalie Meg Evans and I thoroughly enjoyed it. With the author's usual well-written characters, and vivid descriptions of the surrounding areas where her story is set, it was easy for me to picture the dense fog surrounding the tenements of London, the race to the shelters, or underground when the sirens went off. I'm glad I didn't live in London back then! I really like this author's work, and will be reading more. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Bookouture for my digital ARC to read and review.

[Caroline’s Page~Turners · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the year 1940, amidst the relentless war raging across Europe, Jess makes a courageous decision to leave her only home and embark on a journey to London. This is a city she has never visited, and she has never ventured beyond her familiar surroundings. However, her primary motivation is to find her sister, Charlotte.

Initially, Jess was informed that Charlotte had passed away. But then, she receives a letter from her sister, igniting a flicker of hope within her. As she arrives in London, she finds herself in a state of perplexity, with no one to turn to and nowhere to stay. Determined to make ends meet, she secures a room at a lodging house, grateful for the shelter it provides.

Jess applies for a job and eagerly awaits her interview. Despite the challenges she faces, she holds onto the hope of reuniting with her sister, Charlotte. However, her journey is far from over; she must endure some of the most difficult times of her life.

“The Vicar’s Daughter at the Lodging House,” authored by Natalie Meg Evans, is an emotionally charged and hopeful tale of resilience during wartime and the pursuit of reuniting with family. The author’s vivid descriptions of London during the war transport readers to the heart of the city, immersing them in the chaos and uncertainty of the era. The strong characters and the emotional struggles they endure resonate deeply with readers, making the story a truly captivating read.

Evans’s exceptional storytelling draws readers into the narrative, taking them through the foggy streets of London and into the harrowing moments of seeking shelter from the relentless bombings. The author’s ability to evoke such intense emotions makes the reader feel as though they are experiencing the story firsthand, with their heart pounding in unison with the characters’ struggles. This is an unputdownable read that I highly recommend. It is evidence to the power of hope and the enduring human spirit.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

📆 single non-linear timeline.
👀 multi POV
🐢 -🐇 medium-paced
💬 "fair, dark, red-haired, each marked in some way by loss, by fire, by fear"

The previous book in this series centered mainly on Grace, but leftme desperate to know more about Jess who clearly had secrets. So I was delighted that this book was largly about her, although there was plenty of 'other' storyline as well. I think one of the things I'm enjoying so much about this is that the girls haven't immediately taken to each other and become best friends, they have been much more cautious which makes sense as they have such diverse backgrounds. I suppose whether this leads to a deeper, long lasting friendship, or a superficial one that fizzles out remains to be seen.

The story really shows how the 1940s were such a period of change, especially for women. The war, and resulting absence of men, gave them a new kind of freedom, and yet so many things were still looked down upon. Unmarried mothers, and of course terminations were totally illegal. I think its easy to forget how recently women were being locked up in "asylums" for breaking social norms as well.

Im looking forward to discovering Betony's story in book 3.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved loved loved!! It’s been a while since I listened to book one so it took a little while for everything to come back to me but I soon got very heavily invested in this - even more than the previous book. I absolutely love the narrator, she has such an engaging tone of voice and I wish she could narrate everything. Audiobooks are so reliant on the narrator and my mind can wander away very easily, but not in this series. Very excited to get onto book three next month! I had been approved for this (and the next) on NetGalley but only the print versions were available there, so I’ve been waiting on the audiobooks since I listened to rather than read the first one - it would have felt wrong to read on instead of listening! I signed up for audible specifically to listen but now have to wait until next month before I can download another title, otherwise I’d be moving straight onto book three.

I really enjoyed Jess’ story and the various twists and turns it took to get to the bottom of the mystery about Charlotte! I also liked how it seemed to run concurrently to book one at first as well, so we got to see several things from a new point of view.

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the wonderful Wartime Lodging House series but it can easily be read as a standalone. This time the focus is on Jess who goes to London in search of her sister. She had been told that her sister Charlotte had died but she thinks that she is being lied to. Life in London is nothing life her life in a country village but she has a safe place to live in a lodging house with the stylish Betony and Grace who is an Irish nurse . Grace was the focus of the first book and is another good read. It didn’t take me long to become captivated by Jess’s story and I was anxious to find out how everything would turn out . It certainly wasn’t an easy time in London at that time and there were some nasty characters about. The author had a wonderful descriptive way of telling this story and I felt like I was there walking through the streets of London with them at times. It’s a gripping and emotional read and now I’m looking forward to reading Betony’s story in the third and final book of the series.

[DianeLikesToRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series about the girls Grace, Jess and Betony. This book focuses on Jess, as she tries to track down her missing sister. Jess believes her sister Charlotte is dead, but then she finds a letter that makes her think Charlotte is still alive. This was a twisty story set in London during WWII. Evan’s has such a great style of writing that I felt I was IN London during the bombings. This story connected nicely with the first one.
I was on the edge of my seat eating to find out Charlotte’s fate! I’m looking forward to the next installment. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#TheVicarsDaughterattheLodgingHouse #NatalieMegEvans #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetInLondon #BooksSetDuringWWII

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following on from book one of the Wartime Lodging House, The Vicars Daughter at the Lodging House is a Binge worthy novel packed with mystery and family secrets. While it repeats some elements of the first book, reading the original is highly recommended to fully appreciate this one. The book goes into the depth of women during WW2, living and working in London through the blitz and highlights the diverse backgrounds the women befriend. A gripping well written novel. I highly recommend this series and can’t wait for the next in the series. 5 stars
I would like to thank the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for my copy of this novel, in exchange for my honest review.
#TheVicarsDaughterattheLodgingHouse #NetGalley

[Dawn Lawrence Read_with_Lola · Rating 5 out of 5]

First finish of 2026 and I absolutely loved it. Natalie has done the girls proud with book 2 in the series. Jess is trying to find her missing sister Charlotte, will she succeed? Grace and Betony are dealing with relationships, work, family and are helping Jess. Alongside there are boys dropping causing chaos. This story is a real rollercoaster of emotions, there are some nasty people who will surprise you with the awful things they have done, but there are some really good people too. I can’t wait for book 3 in this series! Highly recommend, if you love historical WW2 fiction I can guarantee you will love this series. Publication date 30 Jan 2026.

[Melissa * bookedwithmel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve really enjoyed this series and feel connected to these girls. Betony, Grace and Jess are unlikely roommates. Not even living together truly bonds them. War and tragedy do a good job of that.

This is Jess’ story. She comes to London determined to find her sister. As she does so she finds connections to her life and her sister’s. The love she has for her sister fuels her need for answers. She doesn’t believe her father that Charlotte is dead.

I hope for more of these lovely ladies and their special men.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy of this book.

[Patricia Dorwin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Poorly put together

Had the three books in this series had a good editor, the whole set would have fit together perfectly without a constant need to back-stitch. Of course selling three books is preferable to one! After one reads all three books, it is necessary to go back and reread the first one to figure out what happened to them all. Will I read anything else by this author? No. Also not rereading book one.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I had to laugh at Jess's name being Jessica Mary - that's also mine! 😂

Not at good as the first book but I'm still looking forward to the third. I wish the timeline was sequential in the books as being concurrent and going over the same scenes (even if from a different perspective) is boring.

*happy chicken noises*

[Julie Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely lovely story

I couldn't put this book down, this is the second book in this series and it doesn't disappoint. This book is about the cigars daughter Jess a very brave girl. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

[Joyce tuffs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching story.

This is the second book in the Lodging House series about three women who are sharing a house together and the problems they faced.

[annasbook nookk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jess arrives in London from the quiet countryside during the Blitz. What she thought happened to her sister begins to make her question everything. Wanting answers, Jess is forced to face family truths, wartime dangers, and her own inner strength. With air raids constant, she’s living in uncertain times.

She arrives at The Mayfair Lodging House and meets two women, quickly forming close friendships. Each friendship brings something special, turning strangers into a found family.

I loved the bravery and strength of the characters. If you love WW2 historical fiction about found family, secrets, and surviving in a world that is falling apart, I highly recommend this series.