Bad News at Harbour House

by Fenella J. Miller

Discover the BRAND NEW instalment in the gripping, wartime saga series from Fenella J Miller. 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

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 18, 2026

About the author

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

Reviews

[AnnMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every book I have read in this series has left me feeling as if that particular one is my favourite. It's happened again. Now I believe that this book, Bad News at Harbour House, is my favourite! Is it possible for a series to just get better and better? Yes, it seems so!

This story's main focus is on Sarah, a district nurse working in London, and her husband, Stan, an RAF bomber pilot. They face drama from the very start of the book when they are caught up in a bombing raid during the London Blitz. The author's descriptions of what happened, what the people had to do, how the ordeal affected them, and the fallout of the bombing were excellent and left me feeling quite emotional.

Sarah's home is flattened during the bombing, thankfully without her in it, and she decides to move to the country where her brother lives. She can't live with him and his wife because the latter doesn't like her. But, thankfully, their neighbours, the family at Harbour House, have room for her and agree to let her stay with them.

Stan, who was on leave at the time of the bombing, has to go back to his unit and carry on fighting for his country.

What follows is their exciting, emotional story with Sarah fitting in to her new life in Harbour House and all that entails. She also has worrying news about Stan, which affects her life and her decisions in more ways than one.

We also catch up with the family of Harbour House, including their 3 wonderful children, whose escapades could take up a whole book on their own. The eldest daughter, Emily, has been a favourite of mine from the beginning, and I love how her character is developing. I think the next book in the series might just see her having her first boyfriend!!

There is never a dull moment in this book. You will find yourself fully invested in the lives of all who live and visit Harbour House. The author can draw you into their stories, keeping you intrigued and leaving you wanting more!

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad that I found this series. I have enjoyed every individual story. Each one adds to the drama, the excitement, and the family that has found a permanent place in my heart. The author takes me to a period in tme that my family lived through, struggled through, but never really talked about. I have gained so much understanding. My respect for all that lived through World War Two grows with every page, every book devoured.

Grab the tissues as Sarah celebrates with her husband, Stan, during a long awaited leave. What was supposed to be a happy reunion has them climbing over bombed buildings administering medical care as bombs still drop and fires still burn. In the morning they have lost everything except each other.

Stan returns to his base ready to fly missions over the continent. Sarah heads to Wivenhoe to work as a district nurse under her half brother, Dr. Cousins at Little Wick. Family drama finds her living at Harbour House where the Roby family welcomes her with open arms.

My heart broke for Sarah when her husband went missing. It was interesting to see different persectives. Some accepted without question. Some kept hope alive. Sarah grabbed hold of Jimmy, a little boy that had been abandoned by his mum and had been hiding in the cellar ar Harbour House. There are so many lovely, happy moments. Jimmy just might have a brighter tomorrow. But the future hasn't been decided.

I found myself wishing I read faster, excited to see how things turned out. I found myself wanting to read slower, not wanted Sarah and Jimmy's lives to come crashing down around them. The excitement, the suspense was worth staying up to finish the story. So worth it!!!

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harbour House Book 6

with the Blitz blazing through London and sirens wailing through the night, district nurse Sarah Rhodes tends the injured and comforts the frightened, determined to endure this terrible war. But when her own home is destroyed, she is forced to leave London and seek refuge at Harbour House. There, more devastating bad news awaits. Her beloved husband Stan, a brave RAF pilot flying dangerous bombing raids, is reported missing in action when his plane fails to return. Sarah discovers a secret: the children of Harbour House have been hiding an evacuee in the air-raid shelter. Abandoned and alone, young Jimmy has no one left to care for him.

This book is a great addition to the series. Sarah's home was razed to the ground. Her husband, Stan, was home at the time but he had to return to his RAF base. Sarah moves into Harbour House where the residents make her feel welcome. All the usual characters make an appearance along with some new ones. I'm thoroughly enjoying this well-written and informative series.

Published 18th June 2026

I would like to thank #NetGalley #Bookouture and the author #FenellaJMiller for my ARC of #BadNewsAtHarbourHouse in exchange for an honest review.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fenella Miller never disappoints and this latest book in the series based around Harbour House is no exception. Living in the thick of the Blitz in London district nurse Sarah Rhodes tends to the sick and injured always aware of the danger. When her home gets bombed she makes the decision to go and live near her brother Gregory. She settles into Harbour House and becomes very part of the family. When her RAF pilot husband Stan goes missing her world falls apart. Then it comes to her attention that the Roby children have been hiding a secret in the shape of young London evacuee Jimmy. They have been hiding him in the cellar and so Sarah focuses on Jimmy’s future. Recurring characters, plus new ones, and an engaging and intriguing storyline that is full of emotion, twist, turns and plenty of historical detail make this a great read

[Lyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful series, and this latest instalment added to the picture. Sarah Rhodes gets bombed out of her house in London, and moves to Wivenhoe to work with her brother, Dr. George Cousins. Meanwhile, Jimmy the orphan has been hiding out and ends up being sheltered by the Roby children. Then Sarah’s husband goes missing over France. I especially enjoyed the characters of Jimmy and Emily, and the way that people worked together in times of crisis. These stories are always positive , even when times are hard,and the characters are mostly kind and generous. But it does give an insight into just how hard life was at the time. I look forward to seeing what happens in the next book. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for letting me enjoy this series.

[Sue Rouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful storyline in the next episode of Harbour House. (6)
It starts both in London and Harbour House in Wivenhoe but easy to follow. Emily Roby and her brothers take centre stage alongside Jimmy a young lad who has been abandoned and Sarah a District Nurse who moves to join her brother who lives next door to the Robys. Alongside the Wivenhoe adventures is Sarah’s husband Stan a pilot fighting in the war. Without giving the total book away there is a lot happening so an exciting book to read alongside the horrors of war. Thanks to Fenella and her publisher.

[Jacqui · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the continuation of the Harbour House series. Sarah is a nurse living in London, and her husband Stanley, an RAF pilot, is home on leave when their house is bombed out. So she moves in with the Roby family at Harbour House and starts working with her brother, the local Dr., until she discovers the Roby kids hiding an evacuee in their air raid shelter.

I enjoyed this story. I loved Sarah and the bond she had with both the kids and Jimmy, the evacuee whose mother had left him behind. He was so sweet to both the other kids and Sarah.

Thanks @boldwoodbooks, @netgalley, and the author for this arc.