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East End Angels #1
East End Angels
Meet The East End Angels, the newest members of Station Seventy-Five's ambulance crew
Strong-willed Winnie loves being part of the crew at Station Seventy-Five but her parents are less than happy. She has managed to avoid their pleas to join the WRENS so far but when a tragedy hits too close to home she finds herself wondering if she's cut out for this life after all.
Former housemaid Bella was forced to leave the place she loved when she lost it all and it's taken her a while to find somewhere else to call home. She's finally starting to build a new life but when the air raids begin, it seems she may have to start over once again.
East-Ender Frankie's sense of loyalty keeps her tied to home so it's not easy for her to stay focused at work. With her head and heart pulling in different directions, will she find the strength to come through for her friends when they need her the most?
Brought together at LAAS Station Seventy-Five in London's East End during 1940, these three very different women soon realise that they'll need each other if they're to get through the days ahead. But can the ties of friendship, love and family all remain unbroken?
Strong-willed Winnie loves being part of the crew at Station Seventy-Five but her parents are less than happy. She has managed to avoid their pleas to join the WRENS so far but when a tragedy hits too close to home she finds herself wondering if she's cut out for this life after all.
Former housemaid Bella was forced to leave the place she loved when she lost it all and it's taken her a while to find somewhere else to call home. She's finally starting to build a new life but when the air raids begin, it seems she may have to start over once again.
East-Ender Frankie's sense of loyalty keeps her tied to home so it's not easy for her to stay focused at work. With her head and heart pulling in different directions, will she find the strength to come through for her friends when they need her the most?
Brought together at LAAS Station Seventy-Five in London's East End during 1940, these three very different women soon realise that they'll need each other if they're to get through the days ahead. But can the ties of friendship, love and family all remain unbroken?
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 14, 2017
311 people are currently reading
302 people want to read
About the author
Rosie Hendry
27 books76 followersAward winning author Rosie Hendry lives by the sea in Norfolk with her husband and two children. East End Angels is the first book in her uplifting and heart-warming saga series that follows the lives and loves of Winnie, Frankie and Bella, who all work for the London Auxiliary Ambulance Service (LAAS) during the Blitz. Listening to her father's tales of life during the Second World War sparked Rosie's interest in this period and she loves researching further, searching out gems of real life events which inspire her writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
September 3, 2019
This is the first in a series. We meet the East End Angels who are members of Station Seventy Five Ambulance Crew..
We meet Winnie.
She comes across very strong willed, knows her own mind and where she is going with her life.
She loves being part of the ambulance crew, one of the Angels.
Winnie's parents are not happy that she is doing this job and would much prefer her to join the WRENS.
Bella, a former housemaid had to leave her job due to a [no spoilers] and is pretty down in the mouth about this.
She loved her housemaid job.
Based around the 1940's its a very thoughtful read that makes you think about life back then.
Frankie is the third female in this story, this crew member.
Shes an East End girl and her loyalties lie at home. Its very difficult for her to stay focused on her job.
Each one of these East End Angels come from different backgrounds, different emotions and hope for the future. But can they bond they're relationship.
Can each one help each other to cope.
Can their families cope together as the ultimate happens.
There are some really tragic moments, and one day when the air raids start, what then?
Each women's background knit together to make a beautiful and satisfying read.
It made me reflect on what people had to go through back then. Life is very precious, sometimes we take that for granted.
My thanks to Little Brown book group UK for my copy
We meet Winnie.
She comes across very strong willed, knows her own mind and where she is going with her life.
She loves being part of the ambulance crew, one of the Angels.
Winnie's parents are not happy that she is doing this job and would much prefer her to join the WRENS.
Bella, a former housemaid had to leave her job due to a [no spoilers] and is pretty down in the mouth about this.
She loved her housemaid job.
Based around the 1940's its a very thoughtful read that makes you think about life back then.
Frankie is the third female in this story, this crew member.
Shes an East End girl and her loyalties lie at home. Its very difficult for her to stay focused on her job.
Each one of these East End Angels come from different backgrounds, different emotions and hope for the future. But can they bond they're relationship.
Can each one help each other to cope.
Can their families cope together as the ultimate happens.
There are some really tragic moments, and one day when the air raids start, what then?
Each women's background knit together to make a beautiful and satisfying read.
It made me reflect on what people had to go through back then. Life is very precious, sometimes we take that for granted.
My thanks to Little Brown book group UK for my copy
April 21, 2018
A pleasant read.
Winnie, Bella and Frankie all work at number 75 London Auxiliary Ambulance Service. The story is set in 1940 and involves the crews having to drive through the streets of London during air raids and heavy bombing. Their friendship is the major theme, they learn to rely on each other in their times of need.
I'll look forward to the next book in the series.
Winnie, Bella and Frankie all work at number 75 London Auxiliary Ambulance Service. The story is set in 1940 and involves the crews having to drive through the streets of London during air raids and heavy bombing. Their friendship is the major theme, they learn to rely on each other in their times of need.
I'll look forward to the next book in the series.
December 13, 2017
Three women from very different backgrounds find common interests when they become ambulance drivers during the Blitz.
What a lovely story East End Angels is. Rosie Hendry’s style is effortless to read making for a heartwarming and feel good reading experience, perfect for lovers of what is traditionally termed women’s fiction.
The settings make East End Angels so authentic. I thoroughly enjoyed the insight into the way women supported the London Auxiliary Ambulance Service in the desperate days of bombing and through perfectly chosen language found myself transported to that era with the sound of the bombs, the smells and the dust. I thought the details had been meticulously researched, beautifully handled and woven into the narrative with enormous skill.
There’s a great plot too, with a few surprises along the way that draw in the reader completely. I know there is to be a sequel to East End Angels and will be first in the queue to read it as I both want, and need, to find out what happens next. As I read about the events I found myself questioning my own personality and wondering how I would have coped and behaved in similar circumstances. The themes of the book such as friendship, values and family mean there is something for every reader to identify or empathise with. I found the dynamics of the class structure of the era and the way it was altered by the war extremely interesting too.
However, it is the characters that make East End Angels such a compelling story. I completely forgot that these are fictional people. Partly, this effect comes through the direct speech. Frankie, in particular has a voice I could hear in my head as if I were listening to a friend speaking. I most identified with Winnie and despised Ivy with every fibre of my being. Is it awful of me to hope throughout that she would get a direct hit from a bomb? All three of the main characters, Bella, Frankie and Winnie, felt real and vivid, but so too did the more minor individuals, even Trixie. I believed in them all completely.
I finished East End Angels feeling I had been thoroughly entertained and drawn in to the worlds of Bella, Winnie and Frankie. I’d love to see this book taken up for Sunday night television as I think it would be classic material for such viewing. I’m highly impressed by Rosie Hendry’s historical writing and look forward to more in the future. I really recommend East End Angels.
What a lovely story East End Angels is. Rosie Hendry’s style is effortless to read making for a heartwarming and feel good reading experience, perfect for lovers of what is traditionally termed women’s fiction.
The settings make East End Angels so authentic. I thoroughly enjoyed the insight into the way women supported the London Auxiliary Ambulance Service in the desperate days of bombing and through perfectly chosen language found myself transported to that era with the sound of the bombs, the smells and the dust. I thought the details had been meticulously researched, beautifully handled and woven into the narrative with enormous skill.
There’s a great plot too, with a few surprises along the way that draw in the reader completely. I know there is to be a sequel to East End Angels and will be first in the queue to read it as I both want, and need, to find out what happens next. As I read about the events I found myself questioning my own personality and wondering how I would have coped and behaved in similar circumstances. The themes of the book such as friendship, values and family mean there is something for every reader to identify or empathise with. I found the dynamics of the class structure of the era and the way it was altered by the war extremely interesting too.
However, it is the characters that make East End Angels such a compelling story. I completely forgot that these are fictional people. Partly, this effect comes through the direct speech. Frankie, in particular has a voice I could hear in my head as if I were listening to a friend speaking. I most identified with Winnie and despised Ivy with every fibre of my being. Is it awful of me to hope throughout that she would get a direct hit from a bomb? All three of the main characters, Bella, Frankie and Winnie, felt real and vivid, but so too did the more minor individuals, even Trixie. I believed in them all completely.
I finished East End Angels feeling I had been thoroughly entertained and drawn in to the worlds of Bella, Winnie and Frankie. I’d love to see this book taken up for Sunday night television as I think it would be classic material for such viewing. I’m highly impressed by Rosie Hendry’s historical writing and look forward to more in the future. I really recommend East End Angels.
April 28, 2018
This is the first book in a series which tells the story of 3 girls , Bella, Winnie and Frankie who are newly recruited ambulance drivers during World War Two. The 3 Girls are very different in character but they become very good friends. I loved this book and look forward to book 2 in the series.
December 15, 2017
East End Angels follows the lives of Bella, Frankie and Winnie who are all ambulance drivers during the blitz. Three very different young ladies from different backgrounds who come together and form a bond during a very difficult and terrible time.
As soon as I opened up the book I felt myself transported back in time. Rosie Hendry has a beautiful way of writing that completely draws the reader into the story. I could hear the bombs and smell the smoke as I totally and utterly got swept away. The descriptions throughout the book are incredible and it was very easy to visualise every detail as I was reading.
I really found myself caring for the three main characters, what brave young ladies they are. I couldn’t imagine having to go out during an air raid, driving round the streets of London while bombs are dropping all over the place but that’s what these ladies do and what an incredible job they do as well. I have to say I also fell in love with Trixie, the gorgeous little dog.
East End Angels is a beautiful and well crafted story, I really didn’t want it to end and really hope there will be a follow on book as I need to know more and find out what happens next. I think this would make a fantastic TV series, I could just see it up there with Downton Abbey or Call the Midwife, I really think it would be a huge hit. It’s very clear that there has been a lot of research done by the author, I forgot I was reading a fictional story at times and Bella, Frankie and Winnie and three characters that wont easily be forgotten.
So if you are looking for a book that you can totally throw yourself into, escape and be taken back in time then East End Angels is definitely one for you and one I will be highly recommending.
As soon as I opened up the book I felt myself transported back in time. Rosie Hendry has a beautiful way of writing that completely draws the reader into the story. I could hear the bombs and smell the smoke as I totally and utterly got swept away. The descriptions throughout the book are incredible and it was very easy to visualise every detail as I was reading.
I really found myself caring for the three main characters, what brave young ladies they are. I couldn’t imagine having to go out during an air raid, driving round the streets of London while bombs are dropping all over the place but that’s what these ladies do and what an incredible job they do as well. I have to say I also fell in love with Trixie, the gorgeous little dog.
East End Angels is a beautiful and well crafted story, I really didn’t want it to end and really hope there will be a follow on book as I need to know more and find out what happens next. I think this would make a fantastic TV series, I could just see it up there with Downton Abbey or Call the Midwife, I really think it would be a huge hit. It’s very clear that there has been a lot of research done by the author, I forgot I was reading a fictional story at times and Bella, Frankie and Winnie and three characters that wont easily be forgotten.
So if you are looking for a book that you can totally throw yourself into, escape and be taken back in time then East End Angels is definitely one for you and one I will be highly recommending.
February 25, 2018
I love these kind of sagas and although many are similar and you can get a little confused with the series it was still an enjoyable read. Flowed very easily, lots of nice characters and reminded me of Call the Midwife but with ambulances. On a serious side it really does make you think though about the war and how bad it was, how our parents and grandparents coped or even survived such horrors and it makes me thankful I was not around then. To see the spirit of the Great British people soldiering on is so heart warming and something which we have carried through the years although in the current 'war zones' we have no 4 minute warnings, or sirens and shelters - just random acts of terror which I think can be far worse for some of us. Yet the message for me in this book is about carrying on with daily lives through whatever horrors life throws at you. Am already half way through the sequel. Recommended.
April 1, 2018
This is a brilliant saga set during the 1940's during World War 2, in London, which follows the lives of the main three girls, Winnie, Frankie and Bella who have joined the Ambulance Auxiallary service, also members of the crews and families linked with them. This book really outlined as to what the Ambulance people did during this conflict, no only them as to what the Fireman also did and the suffering that was suffered. I loved this book and enjoyed it, looking forward to more from Rosie Hendry.
August 25, 2021
Review of East End Angels
As a survivor myself of the London Blitz in which more than 43,000 of my fellow Londoners lost their lives, it was the stark reality of the narrative, and the author’s accurate portrayal of those lives that had to carry on as best they could, during the maelstrom of hell which was brought down upon them by the Nazi’s.
It was also a total shock of almost self-recognition when the author describes Stanley, a 12-year-old boy who was evacuated, and because he hated it, was brought back home to London. I was that boy too, only a little younger and unlike Stanley who was re-evacuated, I stayed for the whole duration in London. Strangely, just like Stanley, I too had a stepmother, only mine was far crueler. The author’s description of Stanley collecting shrapnel to compare with his mates, and playing marbles was as true to life as if I was still there. Although not mentioned, it was illegal to collect shrapnel but boys will be boys! One never let the Wardens see you picking up shrapnel or you would be for the high jump. Picking up incendiary shrapnel could result in severe burns from magnesium and phosphorous contents.
With these and other elements of the story, the author drew a vivid, intense, and accurate picture into those horrific times. Her descriptions of hellish scenes as high explosive and incendiary bombs rained down on the populace, go a long way toward giving a reader a pretty good idea of what it was like. The only caveat I would make here, albeit a small one, is regarding the noise of the blitz. The author did mention one time, about ack ack guns but it is this singular aspect of the war for me that stood out exponentially above all other noise. I can feel and hear it all today. The noise of bombs exploding but coupled with the deafening staccato of anti-aircraft guns was absolutely immense. Sometimes, the guns were blazing away before the bombs began exploding on the ground and as the searchlights would catch the German planes in their beams. There were batteries of ack ack guns all over London and not just where I was in Clapham.
really enjoyed the development of her characters, particularly the diverse group who made up the crews of Ambulance Station #75. The crew came from a cross-section of the different classes of British life at the time, and the author's narrative is written in a beautiful and engaging manner. We learned about their fears, their loves, and aspirations and above all, we learned that this was a time in which everyone worked together for the common good, against a common enemy.
The side stories of the different ambulance crew members were written in such a way that made me nostalgic for that world again. It was depicted as I clearly remember the tone by which people spoke and politely interacted with one another. The inevitable pot of tea was always there, ready to calm and steady the nerve.
I highly recommend this book and it will form part of my library which I shall leave for my children and grandchildren, so that they may know just what we went through in those distant times.
David E. Huntley August 25, 2021
As a survivor myself of the London Blitz in which more than 43,000 of my fellow Londoners lost their lives, it was the stark reality of the narrative, and the author’s accurate portrayal of those lives that had to carry on as best they could, during the maelstrom of hell which was brought down upon them by the Nazi’s.
It was also a total shock of almost self-recognition when the author describes Stanley, a 12-year-old boy who was evacuated, and because he hated it, was brought back home to London. I was that boy too, only a little younger and unlike Stanley who was re-evacuated, I stayed for the whole duration in London. Strangely, just like Stanley, I too had a stepmother, only mine was far crueler. The author’s description of Stanley collecting shrapnel to compare with his mates, and playing marbles was as true to life as if I was still there. Although not mentioned, it was illegal to collect shrapnel but boys will be boys! One never let the Wardens see you picking up shrapnel or you would be for the high jump. Picking up incendiary shrapnel could result in severe burns from magnesium and phosphorous contents.
With these and other elements of the story, the author drew a vivid, intense, and accurate picture into those horrific times. Her descriptions of hellish scenes as high explosive and incendiary bombs rained down on the populace, go a long way toward giving a reader a pretty good idea of what it was like. The only caveat I would make here, albeit a small one, is regarding the noise of the blitz. The author did mention one time, about ack ack guns but it is this singular aspect of the war for me that stood out exponentially above all other noise. I can feel and hear it all today. The noise of bombs exploding but coupled with the deafening staccato of anti-aircraft guns was absolutely immense. Sometimes, the guns were blazing away before the bombs began exploding on the ground and as the searchlights would catch the German planes in their beams. There were batteries of ack ack guns all over London and not just where I was in Clapham.
really enjoyed the development of her characters, particularly the diverse group who made up the crews of Ambulance Station #75. The crew came from a cross-section of the different classes of British life at the time, and the author's narrative is written in a beautiful and engaging manner. We learned about their fears, their loves, and aspirations and above all, we learned that this was a time in which everyone worked together for the common good, against a common enemy.
The side stories of the different ambulance crew members were written in such a way that made me nostalgic for that world again. It was depicted as I clearly remember the tone by which people spoke and politely interacted with one another. The inevitable pot of tea was always there, ready to calm and steady the nerve.
I highly recommend this book and it will form part of my library which I shall leave for my children and grandchildren, so that they may know just what we went through in those distant times.
David E. Huntley August 25, 2021
October 30, 2019
Loved this book, it had everything that I loved in a book, camaraderie, wartime friendships, hope and above all a great storyline set around the ambulance crew of Station seventy five in the East End of London during WW2.
December 30, 2021
This is a really great WW2 historical fiction book about three great friends..
November 27, 2022
Another great book by Rosie Hendry book 1/4 and I think I’m going to enjoy this series
December 12, 2017
Winnie, Bella and Frankie are a feisty bunch of young women who work closely together as ambulance crew at the LAAS Station Seventy-Five in London’s East End. They are constantly called out to attend the devastation and destruction caused by the nightly bombing raids on London during the Blitz in 1940. The horror they witness on nightly basis bonds the group very firmly together and as they share the ups and downs of their lives so their friendship becomes stronger and stronger. Nicknamed the East End Angels, the ambulance team provide a vital service during this devastating time during WW2.
The separate lives of the three women come together in a lovely way, and even though Winnie, Bella and Frankie are all very different, it is in their shared experiences where the story starts to become really interesting. I didn't know anything about the London ambulance service during WW2, so it was fascinating to read this fictional account of what the crews faced on a regular basis and of the hardships they endured.
The author creates an authentic sense of time and place which really captures the uncertain war time mood. The deadly danger of trying to survive against all odds comes across as does the stoicism of the East Enders who tried to make the best of what life threw at them.The story flows nicely and amidst the gloom, there are some lovely light moments which add necessary light and shade.
And as the private lives of Winnie, Bella and Frankie start to mix with their working lives you can't help but form emotional bonds with each of them. This trio of strong female protagonists are a lively bunch, they make you laugh out loud at some of their antics and yet, they also show huge compassionate and expertise in the most dire of circumstances.
East End Angels is a lovely war time saga with more than enough adventure and a smattering of romance. It is encouraging to note that there will be a continuation of the East End Angels story in the next book Secrets of the East End Angels which is coming soon.
The separate lives of the three women come together in a lovely way, and even though Winnie, Bella and Frankie are all very different, it is in their shared experiences where the story starts to become really interesting. I didn't know anything about the London ambulance service during WW2, so it was fascinating to read this fictional account of what the crews faced on a regular basis and of the hardships they endured.
The author creates an authentic sense of time and place which really captures the uncertain war time mood. The deadly danger of trying to survive against all odds comes across as does the stoicism of the East Enders who tried to make the best of what life threw at them.The story flows nicely and amidst the gloom, there are some lovely light moments which add necessary light and shade.
And as the private lives of Winnie, Bella and Frankie start to mix with their working lives you can't help but form emotional bonds with each of them. This trio of strong female protagonists are a lively bunch, they make you laugh out loud at some of their antics and yet, they also show huge compassionate and expertise in the most dire of circumstances.
East End Angels is a lovely war time saga with more than enough adventure and a smattering of romance. It is encouraging to note that there will be a continuation of the East End Angels story in the next book Secrets of the East End Angels which is coming soon.
April 27, 2018
Living through the Blitz during WWII with bombs dropping all around them must have been a horrendous experience but thanks to the brave men and women who drove the ambulances and attended to the survivors, they could at least depend on their help.
This is a wonderfully heart-warming story, of three young women who all wanted to do their bit for the war effort and help save lives.
They were faced with so many dangers as they drove through London's bombed out streets, traversing rubble and burning buildings as Hitler's bombs were falling from the sky like confetti, they couldn't rush down to the shelter and safety, they had to go out and transport the injured to the hospitals.
All the women were so different, from the independent Winnie who goes against her parents wishes, to Bella who used to be in service, and Frankie who's definitely not going back to her old factory job after the War ends.
I loved their friendship, their loyalty, their caring and the strong bonds they forged at the horrors they saw, how they helped each other through the worst of times.
I thought the story was not too graphic but authentic, and it really made me think of how courageous they were during the blitz, of how people just got on with it, patiently waiting to be rehoused after their house had been bombed. I don't know how they coped and the author really made me feel lots of emotions while reading the story.
My only slight criticism would be that some of the storyline was a little predictable.....I could easily guess at what was going to happen next.
But, along with a romance or two and with just the right amount of sad and happy moments, this promises to be a great start to a whole new series that I'll be looking out for in the future.
This is a wonderfully heart-warming story, of three young women who all wanted to do their bit for the war effort and help save lives.
They were faced with so many dangers as they drove through London's bombed out streets, traversing rubble and burning buildings as Hitler's bombs were falling from the sky like confetti, they couldn't rush down to the shelter and safety, they had to go out and transport the injured to the hospitals.
All the women were so different, from the independent Winnie who goes against her parents wishes, to Bella who used to be in service, and Frankie who's definitely not going back to her old factory job after the War ends.
I loved their friendship, their loyalty, their caring and the strong bonds they forged at the horrors they saw, how they helped each other through the worst of times.
I thought the story was not too graphic but authentic, and it really made me think of how courageous they were during the blitz, of how people just got on with it, patiently waiting to be rehoused after their house had been bombed. I don't know how they coped and the author really made me feel lots of emotions while reading the story.
My only slight criticism would be that some of the storyline was a little predictable.....I could easily guess at what was going to happen next.
But, along with a romance or two and with just the right amount of sad and happy moments, this promises to be a great start to a whole new series that I'll be looking out for in the future.
February 18, 2018
I thought this was a very well researched book and so convincing that it would be easy to believe the author had lived through those times. However, a glance at her biography at the back of the book shows this isn't so. If you aren't a fan of WWII novels then I think you'll like this one, because of the developing friendship between the three girls: Frankie, Winnie and Bella, is most appealing. Hard to say which one I liked most (think I'd have to settle for Winnie!) There are other characters to root for too, but not so many that the reader becomes conflicted. Ms Hendry handles the changes of viewpoint between the characters deftly and the reader does not become confused. Romance flourishes, even during the Blitz and survives, leaving the scene set for the next books in the trilogy. I liked that the first chapter of book 2 is included at the end of the novel as it whetted my appetite as I want to know if the girls survive the war. All in all, a satisfying read and one I would recommend.
February 24, 2018
This book is a family saga set during World War 2 in the 1940s. It follows the story of 3 girls who, due to the shortage of men, were allowed to join the ambulance service.
A gripping heartwarming story following the lives of the three girls. Excellent attention to detail, well written and a satisfying storyline. I loved all three of the girls and enjoyed following their stories. How brave were the women who actually did these jobs during the war - a great insight into their lives.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the other books in the series. Recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
A gripping heartwarming story following the lives of the three girls. Excellent attention to detail, well written and a satisfying storyline. I loved all three of the girls and enjoyed following their stories. How brave were the women who actually did these jobs during the war - a great insight into their lives.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the other books in the series. Recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2018
What a brilliant read
Wartime 1940 London. Stella Franklin (Frankie) is over the moon to pass her test as an ambulance driver and starts her new job working along side Margot Churchill(Winnie) and peggy Belmont (Bella) working at station 75. Times are hard tiring and trying for these girls and harrowing emergency call outs have got to be dealt with. I loved reading this book and any wartime saga readers i will definitely recommend you read so looking forward to the next in the series
Wartime 1940 London. Stella Franklin (Frankie) is over the moon to pass her test as an ambulance driver and starts her new job working along side Margot Churchill(Winnie) and peggy Belmont (Bella) working at station 75. Times are hard tiring and trying for these girls and harrowing emergency call outs have got to be dealt with. I loved reading this book and any wartime saga readers i will definitely recommend you read so looking forward to the next in the series
January 11, 2018
A lovely wartime saga about the companionship of a group of ambulance drivers. You get to meet the drivers and their families and the ups and downs of driving the ambulances during the raids. It's a fab book and it's great to get drawn into the friendships made during this difficult time. I would definitely recommend this book to all my book loving friends.
December 7, 2017
A nice book about three strong female characters caught up in the blitz, driving ambulances and dealing with the adversity of the war years.
An interesting read with good insights into an area of London that I know well.
3.5*
An interesting read with good insights into an area of London that I know well.
3.5*
December 28, 2017
Excellent book i loved it,to read about the women manned the ambulances during the war was so entertaining.their lives,loves and losses also the funny times i can highly recomend this a fabulous book 5*
February 25, 2018
Friends
Group of girls from all sort of lives, became close and supported friends after all becoming ambulance drivers during ww2, with a strict but fair station mistress, this story tells how they survived.
Group of girls from all sort of lives, became close and supported friends after all becoming ambulance drivers during ww2, with a strict but fair station mistress, this story tells how they survived.
March 11, 2018
An easy read, now that I know its part of a series, I'm definitely keen to find out what happens next.
Got through in a day and a bit. A very nice change from some of the more serious / heavy reads I've been doing lately!
Got through in a day and a bit. A very nice change from some of the more serious / heavy reads I've been doing lately!
March 17, 2018
I enjoyed this book . Life changed dramatically for young women in wartime , doing jobs they would never have dreamed they were capable of doing . Although it is a work of fiction , it captures the resilience and camaraderie of the era.
June 8, 2018
I read this on the kindle
This is the 1st book in this series set in WW2 about the people who work at an ambulance station
You learn about their lives & a little of the war but it's certainly not all doom & gloom
I will be reading the 2nd book in the series
This is the 1st book in this series set in WW2 about the people who work at an ambulance station
You learn about their lives & a little of the war but it's certainly not all doom & gloom
I will be reading the 2nd book in the series
February 28, 2018
A really lovely book which I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It kept my attention well all the way through
March 3, 2018
I really enjoyed this story about Frankie, Bella and Winnie, 3 friends who work for the ambulance service during ww2. I'm looking forward to reading the next book
April 4, 2018
Angels
First Rosie Hendry book for me but not my last. What fabulous stories about the ambulance drivers in the 2nd world war. It took me there. A must read
First Rosie Hendry book for me but not my last. What fabulous stories about the ambulance drivers in the 2nd world war. It took me there. A must read
June 28, 2018
Started to read this 22nd June finished 27th June - book group book for this month...
July 14, 2018
Very good read.
October 19, 2018
A saga of the Second World War, but this time quite a special one, Rosie Hendry’s book is about three women who undertook one of the most dangerous jobs on the Home Front: ambulance driving in London. The danger that they tackle every night as the Blitz starts in 1940 is the main drama of the book, yet they are young women with real and challenging family backgrounds. The addition of the beginnings of romance is an added complication and for the three young women discovering new relationships is a new dimension to their lives. There are tragedies and barriers to negotiate, both real and in life, but ultimately there is some hope as real friendship survives all.
Stella, or Frankie, is new to Station Seventy – Five as well as driving, and she soon discovers that there is far more to her role than manging large vehicles. An unusual introduction to Winnie reveals a sense of flexibility regarding rules, which can mean both trouble and survival, not least for a small dog called Trixie. A third young woman, Bella, completes the trio at the centre of the novel, with her sadness at her family’s loss. Personality clashes and a firm boss can make life complicated, but personal crises are soon to be swallowed up in the overwhelming danger each character faces as German planes begin their nightly raids. Nevertheless, each woman must face concern about loved ones as both civilian and military family and friends are in dangerous and threatening circumstances. Winnie has to battle a forceful family despite her brilliance in her work and her seemingly luxurious living conditions. Bella’s living arrangements continue to be difficult, though she develops a unique insight into people’s lives. Frankie has to cope with challenging relatives as well as her real fears of managing in devastating circumstances. Places in London such as St. Paul’s cathedral become symbols of survival as there is no peace for the people of London, and exhaustion sets in for many.
This book is engaging, as each character seems to work as a real person in difficult circumstances. It is not overly melodramatic, as contemporary accounts of the blitz back up many of the events explored with a sure touch. The writing style does not wallow in the tragic, and Hendry packs in many events in this confident narrative. I enjoyed her creation of the characters, as she shows a deft touch at conveying emotions and motives. It is a very readable book, with a skilful realisation of what will keep the reader involved. I look forward to discovering further books in this series.
Stella, or Frankie, is new to Station Seventy – Five as well as driving, and she soon discovers that there is far more to her role than manging large vehicles. An unusual introduction to Winnie reveals a sense of flexibility regarding rules, which can mean both trouble and survival, not least for a small dog called Trixie. A third young woman, Bella, completes the trio at the centre of the novel, with her sadness at her family’s loss. Personality clashes and a firm boss can make life complicated, but personal crises are soon to be swallowed up in the overwhelming danger each character faces as German planes begin their nightly raids. Nevertheless, each woman must face concern about loved ones as both civilian and military family and friends are in dangerous and threatening circumstances. Winnie has to battle a forceful family despite her brilliance in her work and her seemingly luxurious living conditions. Bella’s living arrangements continue to be difficult, though she develops a unique insight into people’s lives. Frankie has to cope with challenging relatives as well as her real fears of managing in devastating circumstances. Places in London such as St. Paul’s cathedral become symbols of survival as there is no peace for the people of London, and exhaustion sets in for many.
This book is engaging, as each character seems to work as a real person in difficult circumstances. It is not overly melodramatic, as contemporary accounts of the blitz back up many of the events explored with a sure touch. The writing style does not wallow in the tragic, and Hendry packs in many events in this confident narrative. I enjoyed her creation of the characters, as she shows a deft touch at conveying emotions and motives. It is a very readable book, with a skilful realisation of what will keep the reader involved. I look forward to discovering further books in this series.
December 13, 2020
Meet The East End Angels, the newest members of Station Seventy-Five's ambulance crew.Strong-willed Winnie loves being part of the crew at Station Seventy-Five, but her parents are less than happy. She has managed to avoid their pleas to join the WRENS so far, but when a tragedy hits too close to home she finds herself wondering if she's cut out for this life after all.Former housemaid Bella was forced to leave the place she loved and it's taken her a while to find somewhere else to call home. She's finally starting to build a new life, but when the air raids begin it seems she may have to start over once again. East-Ender Frankie's sense of loyalty keeps her tied to home so it's not easy for her to stay focused at work. With her head and heart pulling in different directions, will she find the strength to come through for her friends when they need her the most?Brought together at LAAS Station Seventy-Five in London's East End during 1940, these three very different women soon realise that they'll need each other if they're to get through the days ahead. But can the ties of friendship, love and family all remain unbroken?The London Auxiliary Ambulance Service (LAAS) was run by the London County Council. It was initially called the London Volunteer Ambulance Service (until renamed the LAAS on the outbreak of war).Each ambulance station in London was 'manned' by a staff of approximately 80 people and was run 24 hours a day. Many of their vehicles had been donated and converted into ambulances.Early in the war the drivers were issued with the 'lancer' fronted blue coat but from 1941 they were issued with serge uniforms. During World War II, the London Auxiliary Ambulance Service was operated by over 10,000 auxiliaries, mainly women, from all walks of life.They ran services from 139 Auxiliary Stations across London. During the Blitz in 1941 those children who weren't evacuated called themselves the Dead End Kids.Left to their own devices, often bored, they were free to misbehave but also to show enormous patriotism and heroism.Their public thanks was quietly but quickly shelved.
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