Welcome Home

by Margaret Dickinson

There are some things which even the closest friendship cannot survive . . . Welcome Home is an enthralling and moving drama from bestselling author Margaret Dickinson, set during the Second World War.Neighbours Edie Kelsey and Lil Horton have been friends for over twenty years, sharing the joys and sorrows of a tough life as the wives of fishermen in Grimsby. So it was no surprise that their children were close and that Edie's son, Frank, and Lil's daughter, Irene, would fall in love and marry at a young age.But the declaration of war in 1939 changed everything. Frank went off to fight, and Irene and baby, Tommy, along with Edie's youngest son are sent to the countryside for safety. With Edie's husband, Archie, fishing the dangerous waters in the North Sea and daughter Beth in London doing 'important war work', Edie's family is torn apart.Friendship sustains Edie and Lil, but tragedy follows and there's also concern that Beth seems to have disappeared. But it is Irene's return, during the VE day celebrations, that sends shock waves through the family and threatens to tear Edie and Lil's friendship apart forever.

Genres: Fiction

465 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2015

About the author

Born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, Margaret Dickinson moved to the coast at the age of seven and so began her love for the sea and the Lincolnshire landscape. Her ambition to be a writer began early and she had her first novel published at the age of twenty-five. This was followed by many further titles including Plough the Furrow, Sow the Seed and Reap the Harvest, which make up her Lincolnshire Fleethaven Trilogy. She is also the author of Fairfield Hall, Jenny's War and The Clippie Girls. Margaret is a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller.

Reviews

[Brenda Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read,ending could of been better.

[Novelle Novels · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good wartime book which is emotional.

[Brooke Wooldridge · Rating 2 out of 5]

If the women had had one more cup of tea, or if we'd been told "What would Edie have done without Lil?" one more time, I might have thrown the book in the bin. This book was twice as long as it needed to be, and the padding was in all the wrong places. Why couldn't we see more of Archie's life at sea? The father is part of the family too, affected by war. From what little we get of Archie, he's the real hero of the piece (literally...he saved soldiers from Dunkirk) and pulled everyone back into line at the end.

[Sasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comfortingly predictable, with some plot devices that require a bit of a leap of disbelief. However, the characters are well-drawn so they and the sense of place keep you reading.

[Olivia · Rating 2 out of 5]

A perfectly good wartime tale of neighbours who see their children in differing lights but who have been firm friends for many years.
Hostilities follow a boy-girl romance, early pregnancy and war-time separation which results in consequences for seeking solace elsewhere.
The families feud whilst the central figures of young husband and wife see the matter quite differently.
Should the consequence be shunning according to popular sentiment and offence to morality or forgiveness through love, understanding and compassion for a partner and children?
Quite tightly written with characterisations not drawn through poor language or offensive vocabulary.
Not overly dramatic or startling it is an easy read. It would certainly have a place on a journey or hospital stay. A great gift for a family read or a young group who may not realise how much social mores have changed in a single generation. Perhaps a conversation starter on these issues and they place they held in our society until very recently. Is that a good or bad change to have occurred.?

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hooked on the plot of this book. A family at war.. home and abroad. The story of Beth, a woman to be admired. Strong, fearless and determined to do her best for her country. Irene, like many I can imagine during the war, alone, fearful, distracted from what her life should be. Lily, who was an absolute saint in patience and love , but loyal and kind to her lifetime friend and neighbour Edie, who was a force to be reckoned with. And then there was 'Swiss' Ursula, I was suspicious about her from the start....

And wonderful father, Archie , a trawlerman. He was a hero to live with Edie, but also a hero in that he saved soldiers at Dunkirk and was utterly devoted to his family.

My favourite part was how Beth withstood torture as a secret agent during the war...... yes, I was hooked. But then.... i felt somewhat deflated that her character just suddenly paled into insignificance, and her heroism was not acknowledged or we dis not hear more of her return home with her French love and saviour. Why? And there is no sequel.
Just a little bit 😏

[Suzy Louize · Rating 3 out of 5]

The storyline was very predictable in places. I personally found there were too many smaller stories from all the different characters. I prefer books that focus on one character and explore the characters development. Dickinson managed to weave the separate stories together reasonably well, but I was left wanting to read in more detail about my favourite characters. Especially, the ending I would have liked to have seen how the war changed the character of Beth. I would love a sequel, maybe one that focuses on Beth’s younger sister Shirley and the effects of post- war Britain on her life. Overall, I enjoyed the book and found it a relaxing easy read. I would give this book 7/10 though I was disappointed with the ending. I became rather invested in the characters and didn’t feel there was closure to their actual endings.

[Linda Leedham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book from start to finish , it was full of different stories about each of the children of Eddie and Archie during world war 11 , What their jobs entailed and how they suffered , I suffered with them as I was transported into the story with them well written and interesting would recommend this story

[Little Red · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not my usual preferred genre but I have to say that I enjoyed the change. The characters were well rounded and you felt you got to know them as the plot developed.

[Pauline Haycocks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always love Margaret’s books.

[Patricia Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed from start to end.

[joanne paterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read love these books

Love these books as it reflects on were I was born and bread so many good reads from this lady

[Karen Regent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. I'll definitely be reading more from this Author

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did I couldn't put it down. Loved all the characters and the storyline, will definitely be reading more of Margaret's books.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book bit disappointed with ending.

[Julie]

I love the historic content of Margaret Dickinson novels. She captures the feel and emotions of everyday people of the era.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a good story about families, friends and the war.
The characters were good especially Archie, Beth and Lil. Edie was a negative and worrying person.
Overall well worth reading.

[Carol Marlow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Characters lacked depth and the plot was... twee. But an enjoyable read if vanilla is your thing.

[Dave]

Great book very much enjoyed

[Samantha Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great Margaret Dickinson story.
With the characters and and war. You wouldn't expect what can happen.
Each moment would were hooked to the story and hope hopes but also fears.

[Padapadapada · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't usually read these types of books, but I gave this a try, and it was certainly different and interesting. I'm glad I read it.

[Ali Braid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good read from Margaret Dickinson. This is the story of Lil and Edie, best friend and next door neighbours. Their children grow up together and are always in and out of each others houses. But when the second world war starts there are changes all round. The two friends support each other through difficult times, until something happens that threatens their close relationship.
I enjoyed the story and I found the part about the French resistance and the role of spies was interesting and unusual in this type of book.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a good read. In places educational. Without wanting to give anything away, I thought the last page seemed like an after thought, as if something had been forgotten about and quickly included at the end, which seemed a pity as this could have formed a more rounded ending to the story.
However I did enjoy the book and will be looking for further books by Margaret Dickenson.

[A Red Headed Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a great book, I have read alot of books set back in the war and sometimes they can get a bit all the same. I found this one refreshing, looking into some topics you don't really hear alot about. highly recommend this one :)

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at two families during the Second World War, with a surprisingly dark twist in the middle. Overall, this is pleasant, well put together escapism.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good wartime read

[Emma Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked Beth's story when she was an agent i really wanted more of Beth. Only one thing I was disappointed in and the fact it had no epilogue like to see what the characters are up to.

[Mrs Deborah L Bradbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely war time read

Would have liked to have known more about what happened when Beth arrived home with her fiancé \husband. Otherwise a lovely read

[Sue Pownall artist]

beach reading needs no brainpower.