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Bicycles and Blackberries
For fans of Katie Flynn and Sheila Jeffries, Bicycles and Blackberries is a heart-warming novel from the Queen of family saga, Sheila Newberry.
The East End, 1939.
When war comes to London, the bright and irrepressible Georgia Smith is torn from her tight-knit family and packed off as an evacuee.
She moves in with Phoebe Bliss, whose cheerful smile masks a dark past that ten year-old Georgia couldn't possibly understand.
Georgia soon finds herself involved in the small town's complicated love lives. But some secrets aren't meant for little girls, and she finds herself in danger.
Can a good heart keep a mischievous girl out of trouble?
The East End, 1939.
When war comes to London, the bright and irrepressible Georgia Smith is torn from her tight-knit family and packed off as an evacuee.
She moves in with Phoebe Bliss, whose cheerful smile masks a dark past that ten year-old Georgia couldn't possibly understand.
Georgia soon finds herself involved in the small town's complicated love lives. But some secrets aren't meant for little girls, and she finds herself in danger.
Can a good heart keep a mischievous girl out of trouble?
432 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2004
21 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
July 31, 2021
3.5 stars
A lovely heart-warming family saga set in the East End,1939, featuring sweet characters.
The language is simple but the characters are well drawn and seem authentic.
I will read another book by Sheila Newberry.
A lovely heart-warming family saga set in the East End,1939, featuring sweet characters.
The language is simple but the characters are well drawn and seem authentic.
I will read another book by Sheila Newberry.
May 4, 2016
I do like family sagas, especially those set in WWII and I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Georgia Smith, who we first meet in 1940 when she is evacuated from London to rural Suffolk. We follow her as she grows up amongst her new neighbours who I really enjoyed reading about. They are, for the most part, really likeable characters whose outlook on life sometimes comes as a pleasant surprise, being somewhat at odds occasionally with what I was expecting. I also enjoyed the parts of the story set in London during the blitz and again the characters were a real pleasure to read about.
This is a story with secrets and there are quite a number of them. There is one in particular which runs throughout the story which I did work out and my only disappointment in the book was the way in which this secret was revealed. It is one that should have produced fireworks when it was revealed but in all fairness it all felt rushed and rather fizzled out a bit. Having said that, I really did like this story and would definitely read more from the author. I received a review copy from the publishers via Netgalley.
This is a story with secrets and there are quite a number of them. There is one in particular which runs throughout the story which I did work out and my only disappointment in the book was the way in which this secret was revealed. It is one that should have produced fireworks when it was revealed but in all fairness it all felt rushed and rather fizzled out a bit. Having said that, I really did like this story and would definitely read more from the author. I received a review copy from the publishers via Netgalley.
May 18, 2016
I absolutely love family saga books set around the war years and I’m excited to have discovered a new author in one of my favourite genres. I am over the moon to find lots of other books that I can devour. I loved this quote in the description
'Reading a Sheila Newberry book is like having dinner with your mother in her warm and cosy kitchen. You can feel the love and care put into every juicy morsel' - Diane Allen, bestselling author of For the Sake of Her Family.
It sums up how I felt.
The times are described so vividly you can imagine yourself there and we follow an evacuee, Georgia who gets into mischief. The characters are so well drawn and loveable.
I loved this book
With many thanks to Bonnier Publishing and Net Galley for a copy of this book.
'Reading a Sheila Newberry book is like having dinner with your mother in her warm and cosy kitchen. You can feel the love and care put into every juicy morsel' - Diane Allen, bestselling author of For the Sake of Her Family.
It sums up how I felt.
The times are described so vividly you can imagine yourself there and we follow an evacuee, Georgia who gets into mischief. The characters are so well drawn and loveable.
I loved this book
With many thanks to Bonnier Publishing and Net Galley for a copy of this book.
August 9, 2019
I had high hopes for this book, with the main character being a young girl from London. It started being mainly about her and then too many other characters were introduced and I had to keep going back over trying to remind myself who were they again? It was a nice story but it wasn’t a page turner and I read it to see what happens rather than read it because I really enjoyed it.
May 2, 2016
* I received an ARC from the publisher in return for a fair and honest review.
I'm a sucker for novels that take place in England, particularly those that take place in the 1940's. Newberry's novel takes us from the dangers of the London bombings to a charming country village with secrets. Engaging characters and story line, however the ending felt rushed. An easy, enjoyable read.
I'm a sucker for novels that take place in England, particularly those that take place in the 1940's. Newberry's novel takes us from the dangers of the London bombings to a charming country village with secrets. Engaging characters and story line, however the ending felt rushed. An easy, enjoyable read.
January 11, 2017
Disappointing.
The middle of the book does not live up to its start. It is a muddle of unbelievable events which rounds up with a disappointing confusing mushy end.
The middle of the book does not live up to its start. It is a muddle of unbelievable events which rounds up with a disappointing confusing mushy end.
March 30, 2019
Memories
I’m not sure it was from curiosity or wanting to know more of the childhood and life my mother had up until she married my father, mum being born in 1922, shared how she had been in the WAFS. Directing the movements on the boards of where the war ships or planes were positioned, it facilitated me not thinking so much of the reason for that job which was the WW11. Sharing how she knew when VE was that ended the war. Of seeing a head roll down the gutter of a bridge. Not a life I would want to experience. Yet this is what Sheila Newberry tells us here, of the things that went on during those times of war from many different prospectives, this time through the eyes of a child evacuated to the country to keep them safe, and how their life as to what they endured. A great read, and I’m sure the next Sheila Newberry Novel I’m about to read will be just as incredible as this story.
I’m not sure it was from curiosity or wanting to know more of the childhood and life my mother had up until she married my father, mum being born in 1922, shared how she had been in the WAFS. Directing the movements on the boards of where the war ships or planes were positioned, it facilitated me not thinking so much of the reason for that job which was the WW11. Sharing how she knew when VE was that ended the war. Of seeing a head roll down the gutter of a bridge. Not a life I would want to experience. Yet this is what Sheila Newberry tells us here, of the things that went on during those times of war from many different prospectives, this time through the eyes of a child evacuated to the country to keep them safe, and how their life as to what they endured. A great read, and I’m sure the next Sheila Newberry Novel I’m about to read will be just as incredible as this story.
November 17, 2019
This book covers the evacuation of a 9 year old girl from London to the country at the start of world war 2. You just get used to the way it’s written & then woof, the author needlessly throws in a 5 year fast forward! You’re onto another set of events, with characters you’ve had little or no time to get attached to, and it’s like a totally different story! I also found the airy fairy way of describing things somewhat confusing, for example I turned the page on someone going I thought had gone to sleep, only to wonder why people were upset & then realise they’d actually died! The end feels like a somewhat hurried flinging together of characters & relationships that just shouldn’t be & left me feeling somewhat frustrated. It’s a shame as there were parts in the first half of the book that I really enjoyed, but overall it was a miss for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2025
This is the story of a London girl who was sent to the countryside at the start of WWII. I must say, it started out rather well. I was intrigued. But the story took a turn, then another, and yet another, leaving the reader little time to get attached to characters and care about what happens to them.
The writing was also unclear at times. The greatest example of this was when one character died. I didn’t realize they’d died and could not understand why everyone was so sad in on the next page.
The story felt very random to me, as if the author had one idea and then just kept writing with no real direction. What’s sad is, there are parts of the story that are really good. But they’re lost in the confusion of trying to keep up with all the supporting characters that the reader really doesn’t care about.
A disappointing read.
The writing was also unclear at times. The greatest example of this was when one character died. I didn’t realize they’d died and could not understand why everyone was so sad in on the next page.
The story felt very random to me, as if the author had one idea and then just kept writing with no real direction. What’s sad is, there are parts of the story that are really good. But they’re lost in the confusion of trying to keep up with all the supporting characters that the reader really doesn’t care about.
A disappointing read.
April 21, 2019
This was my second attempt at reading this book, the first time I had it out from the library and ran out of time so didn't finish it. This time I picked it up from a charity shop so had plenty of time to read it. Its a good book and I enjoyed it. Set just before the 2nd world war and afterwards, follows the lives of Georgia, her mum and friends. A good read.
April 22, 2020
Nice story and a lovely ending, however I was disappointed as not quite what I was expecting. I also found it very difficult to differentiate between the characters and became confused at times, and didn't really feel the characters were strongly created.
But all the same, interesting read and I would not rule out reading another Sheila Newberry book.
But all the same, interesting read and I would not rule out reading another Sheila Newberry book.
December 29, 2017
This book was a ok book for me. Not exciting and it didn't have a great story line.
May 24, 2018
A very good book a look at the life of an evacuee and their host. family during and after ww II. also the lives of others in the village and the evacuees family back home.
January 26, 2019
A good quick easy read but a little tedious in places.
February 17, 2019
Brillian
Enjoyed this lovely story Sheila transport s you back in time to see how these brave children made the bests of been pushed into new adventures
Enjoyed this lovely story Sheila transport s you back in time to see how these brave children made the bests of been pushed into new adventures
April 10, 2022
I really enjoyed this. I just wish the ending hadn't been so abrupt
July 12, 2023
A nice story. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
November 1, 2016
A nice story. Thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
April 22, 2016
Complete review available: Bicycles and Blackberries
The Second World War is a dominant topic in history classes at school, but the focus always lies with soldiers and the conditions overseas in Europe. Newberry presents a story, centred around a single charcter for ease and continuity, that explores both urban and rural dynamics of everyday life, as influenced by the war in England. The story was quaint (much like the title, although that bore little real tie to the storyline) and covered a significant period of time rather well (although the start of part 2 was a little disjointed, with particular timeperiods only lasting a few paragraphs). Overall an enjoyable, well-researched and engaging read.
The Second World War is a dominant topic in history classes at school, but the focus always lies with soldiers and the conditions overseas in Europe. Newberry presents a story, centred around a single charcter for ease and continuity, that explores both urban and rural dynamics of everyday life, as influenced by the war in England. The story was quaint (much like the title, although that bore little real tie to the storyline) and covered a significant period of time rather well (although the start of part 2 was a little disjointed, with particular timeperiods only lasting a few paragraphs). Overall an enjoyable, well-researched and engaging read.
April 17, 2016
Set in the East End of London, 1939, just as the second world war is about to unfold, this is compelling story about evacuees. The characters are beautifully forged and play out with a real draw for the reader. This was a story I just didn't want to finish.
The plot twists and turns brilliantly and explores a wide range of emotions as it unfolds.
This book was received as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.
The plot twists and turns brilliantly and explores a wide range of emotions as it unfolds.
This book was received as an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review.
September 23, 2016
I received a copy of this book for an honest review.This is a new author to me but I really liked this story, it is set in the East End in 1939 and it is a bit different to all the other books I have been reading of late. There are some truly wonderful characters that I have come across in this book even though the story is mainly about Georgia, it does involve other people that are close to her and their stories. A lovely read that I wont forget in a hurry.
June 1, 2016
I won a copy of this book via Goodreads First Reads.
We really enjoyed this family saga set during and slightly after WWII. Plenty of heartache, troubles and joy along the way following mainly female lead characters and their lives.
It also had a satisfying ending.
Looking forward to reading more by this author who was previously unknown to us.
We really enjoyed this family saga set during and slightly after WWII. Plenty of heartache, troubles and joy along the way following mainly female lead characters and their lives.
It also had a satisfying ending.
Looking forward to reading more by this author who was previously unknown to us.
March 26, 2016
Set in the East End of London at the outbreak of war in 1939. A great story about evacuees. So well written with strong characters. A wonderful period setting & an uplifting story.
A solid 4* read.
One to recommend to family & friends.
My thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
A solid 4* read.
One to recommend to family & friends.
My thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 24, 2016
Sweet story, well written, with good characters. It's always interesting to read about the home front during WWII. This novel, set in the East End, seemed particularly evocative of the period. You will like this if you enjoy family stories set in the UK during this period or if you're just looking for a novel with a positive message. THanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
January 23, 2017
a beautiful story that i read in a day couldnt put it down
April 5, 2017
enjoyable ww2 family saga
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews