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Cliffehaven #16
On a Turning Tide
Cliffehaven, October 1944
As the Allied troops draw closer to victory, life at Beach View Boarding House is still full of uncertainty.
Rosie’s plans for her wedding to Ron Reilly are plagued with misunderstandings. And when Ron takes on a secret assignment just days before they are due to say their vows, it seems their plans for a future together may be doomed.
Meanwhile, Peggy Reilly embraces her new managerial role at the uniform factory. It’s a welcome distraction while her husband Jim is still away fighting in the Far East. But when an old school adversary joins the factory’s ranks, Peggy must win her own battles on the home front.
As a new year dawns, hopes grow brighter for the return of loved ones – but a big sea change is still to come before Victory in Europe can be declared.
Victory is in sight, but the war is not yet won.
As the Allied troops draw closer to victory, life at Beach View Boarding House is still full of uncertainty.
Rosie’s plans for her wedding to Ron Reilly are plagued with misunderstandings. And when Ron takes on a secret assignment just days before they are due to say their vows, it seems their plans for a future together may be doomed.
Meanwhile, Peggy Reilly embraces her new managerial role at the uniform factory. It’s a welcome distraction while her husband Jim is still away fighting in the Far East. But when an old school adversary joins the factory’s ranks, Peggy must win her own battles on the home front.
As a new year dawns, hopes grow brighter for the return of loved ones – but a big sea change is still to come before Victory in Europe can be declared.
Victory is in sight, but the war is not yet won.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
401 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 24, 2019
About the author
Ellie Dean
38 books142 followersEllie Dean lives in Eastbourne, which has been her home for many years and where she raised her three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
February 9, 2019
Having found the last two books in the series a bit off kilter, I'm glad to say the author is back to her best with this one.
The war is coming to an end and so everyone is starting to think about what they'll do after the war. However there is still a lot to get through in the everyday until then. A big part of this book is dedicated to Ron and Rosie and having felt their romance to have been a little drawn out in the last book, everything gets turned on it's head in this one.
Towards the end there is a chapter divided up into the places where those away fighting are and what's happening to them. Found this insightful.
A lovely story and I look forward to the next two. I'm really hoping the last book will be about how they all cope when the men come home and how the evacuees will adjust to being back.
The war is coming to an end and so everyone is starting to think about what they'll do after the war. However there is still a lot to get through in the everyday until then. A big part of this book is dedicated to Ron and Rosie and having felt their romance to have been a little drawn out in the last book, everything gets turned on it's head in this one.
Towards the end there is a chapter divided up into the places where those away fighting are and what's happening to them. Found this insightful.
A lovely story and I look forward to the next two. I'm really hoping the last book will be about how they all cope when the men come home and how the evacuees will adjust to being back.
February 19, 2019
Once again I'm sorry to come to the end of my visit to Cliffhaven. This is the sixteenth book in the series, set during the second world war in a small seaside town on England's south coast. The characters are now so familiar that within the first few pages I find myself settling back in to all the commings and goings at the Beach View Boarding House. I am glad that there will be another two books, but I'll miss them all when this wonderful series comes to an end. Could a television series be a possibility??
January 3, 2019
For some reason I thought On a Turning Tide was to be the last book in the Cliffehaven series following the lives of Peggy O'Reilly, her family and the various people she has taken under her wing during the war years. So I was delighted to see before I began reading this book that there will be two further books from Ellie Dean which will wrap up the series. This is quite a long series, and I only joined the story about three or four books ago, yet I have fallen in love with the setting and the characters and all the various strands of the story.
It really does show that you can pick up any of the Cliffehaven books and quickly you will feel at home and engrossed in the storylines and needn't have read every book in sequence in order to gain enjoyment from one of the best World War Two family saga series that is out there at the moment. I love how each book literally picks up exactly from where the last book left off but, yet for those new to the series, within the first few chapters there are paragraphs dedicated to filling you in on some of the back story in order to bring you bang up to date. This also helps in establishing who is who and how people are connected to each other or why they have featured in past books. This doesn't feel rushed or rammed down the readers throats, instead through conversations between characters the back stories are easily told and we feel ready to move on with the present story.
Peggy Reilly, the matriarch of Beach View House, has long been a stalwart of this series and she has remained strong, determined and courageous throughout. But as the title suggests the tide is turning in 1944 and perhaps an end to the war is in sight and maybe her loved ones and friends may stand a chance of coming home after so many years absence fraught full of hardship, struggles and deprivation for all concerned. Peggy has always kept the home fires burning in the absence of her husband Jim who has recently been wounded in Burma and is now recuperating in India. Peggy constantly worries for him, and the relatives of close friends who have not been home in many years, but she knows she must soldier on herself and keep things on an even keel.
For when those that can return home safely do so they would want to see a normal life at home where they have always felt loved, valued, cherished and respected in the past. They will seek comfort and normality when they have come from horror and bloodshed. That's what Peggy tries to do at all times, retain some sense of normality in a world where everything has been turned upside down. Against all the odds they make the best of what they have but Peggy has also become a mother figure to so many extended women and these women whose stories have featured in past books will be forever grateful. No doubt about it Peggy is a pillar of society and one to be respected and admired yet life does present its challenges and she is faced with a new conundrum in this book.
Peggy has stepped outside of the comfort zone that was Beach View house and accepted a job at Solly Goldman's factory. This shows how women adapted with the times in the absence of their men folk and even though their husbands may not have been happy upon their return, the women could rightly defend themselves, in that faced with no other choice and wanting to do their best for their country they stepped up to the plate when needed. Truly all those women so many years ago were remarkable in the face of such difficult times during the long war years. Peggy enjoys this sense of independence she has gained and with Rita, Sarah and Ivy all at home, as well as doing their jobs for the war effort, Peggy feels the house can manage it's time she stepped outside of her comfort zone.
Deciding to take a promotion at work puts Peggy herself in the firing line and I really enjoyed how she was tested to the max. Her loyalty and confidence was put into question when sinister goings on occur at the factory. But as Peggy has so much experience dealing with women in need because of previous desperate situations she is able to follow her heart and do that right thing. I love how Peggy is always on the lookout to help people, it’s almost like second nature to her and it showcases the numerous redeemable qualities to her character. That's not to say she doesn’t have a vulnerable side, she does but it is kept firmly under wraps but every now and again especially as a traumatic event befalls the family she lets this armour down and it shows that she is human too and can't always keep up a persona.That at times the shutters can come crashing open and that's when extended family and friends and the unit she has built around herself come in and repay the kindness and support she has shown them for so many years.
Again as with previous books we are given a chapter every now and again from Jim's point of view. I always look forward to these chapters because it takes us away from Cliffehaven and transports us right into the heart of the action. We can see how men are coping away from home and times are even more difficult than their families are experiencing on home soil. We got a very brief update on those who are imprisoned and connected to Sarah, Rita, Ivy and various others which we haven't had before and it didn't make for good news. I would like in the last two books to hear more from their viewpoint in a similar way as we do with Jim.
On reflection I think we haven't already gotten this because at the time those imprisoned were not able to send letters and perhaps the author wanted to make this as realistic as possible. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline involving Doris, Peggy's sister, and the work she does with Colonel John White. I haven't liked her as a character up until this point as her actions and the way she spoke to and treated people left an awful lot to be desired. But a new life situation has made her change her viewpoints and she is now a character I enjoy reading about an awful lot more. This time she does some digging and throws up some unusual events that need dealing with. But will she be strong enough to weather the ensuing storm and can her heart open that little but more to some affection that is so clearly knocking at her door?
As much as I enjoyed the minor storylines in On a Turning Tide, and the sense that things may be finally coming to a head with regards to the war, it was following the fortunes of Ron Reilly – the father in law of Peggy that really held my intention from beginning to end. Ron was a big focus in this story as up until now he had been the one supporting everyone else and going about his business helping in any way possible with his faithful dog by his side. At last he is going to do the right thing and marry Rosie the landlady of the local pub. They have a wonderful relationship but until this point Ron has been hesitant in taking the final step to cement their relationship. Even though it has been years since he lost his beloved first wife there is still that reluctance to marry especially in a church.
Ron is a man who doesn't show much emotion and if he is in pain or worried about something he doesn't like to show it. Yet if someone was in trouble or needed advice, comfort or support he would be he first to step up and offer it. I enjoyed seeing a softer side of Ron emerge as he shared his anxieties with Rosie and as a resolution of sorts was reached I hoped they could look forward to a happy future with one another. Beneath it all, although he wouldn't like to admit it, Ron really is a big softie who only wants the best for the woman he loves and for all his family members and friends to get through these terrible years safely. Yet Ron is not above keeping a secret or two and it is a major secret that leads to an upsetting turn of events.
The last quarter of this book was brilliantly written, packed full of tension and edge of your seat stuff. I was there every step of the way with the characters as events unfolded. I just wanted a positive outcome but then thought god everything is taking so long. Will it be too late but on the other hand would Ellie Dean really do this to a character that has played such a major and pivotal role in the series? Surely not? I read on, more than keen to discover all the answers. But suffice to say this aspect of the story was excellent and again exposed the vulnerability of characters whom you thought were made of steel.
On a Turning Tide was another story to relish in the Cliffehaven series and I raced through it in as few sittings as possible. I love the entire message coming through from each book and the author really does bring a time to life that really was not that long ago at all. She highlights how everyone's lives went from normal, run of the mill, everyday stuff to trauma and worry forever in the forefront of their minds. I just can't imagine how we would cope today if we had to go through everything that Peggy and co experience. The harmony of good fellowship grows stronger with every book and with each year of the war that passes by and it's now at the point with two books left that every little strand will begin to be tied up and the reader will be rooting for a positive outcome for every angle. But I sense maybe some trauma and sadness might yet ensue before we reach the end. With Hope and Love is the second to last book in the series and having read this one it's only whet my appetite for what is still to come.
It really does show that you can pick up any of the Cliffehaven books and quickly you will feel at home and engrossed in the storylines and needn't have read every book in sequence in order to gain enjoyment from one of the best World War Two family saga series that is out there at the moment. I love how each book literally picks up exactly from where the last book left off but, yet for those new to the series, within the first few chapters there are paragraphs dedicated to filling you in on some of the back story in order to bring you bang up to date. This also helps in establishing who is who and how people are connected to each other or why they have featured in past books. This doesn't feel rushed or rammed down the readers throats, instead through conversations between characters the back stories are easily told and we feel ready to move on with the present story.
Peggy Reilly, the matriarch of Beach View House, has long been a stalwart of this series and she has remained strong, determined and courageous throughout. But as the title suggests the tide is turning in 1944 and perhaps an end to the war is in sight and maybe her loved ones and friends may stand a chance of coming home after so many years absence fraught full of hardship, struggles and deprivation for all concerned. Peggy has always kept the home fires burning in the absence of her husband Jim who has recently been wounded in Burma and is now recuperating in India. Peggy constantly worries for him, and the relatives of close friends who have not been home in many years, but she knows she must soldier on herself and keep things on an even keel.
For when those that can return home safely do so they would want to see a normal life at home where they have always felt loved, valued, cherished and respected in the past. They will seek comfort and normality when they have come from horror and bloodshed. That's what Peggy tries to do at all times, retain some sense of normality in a world where everything has been turned upside down. Against all the odds they make the best of what they have but Peggy has also become a mother figure to so many extended women and these women whose stories have featured in past books will be forever grateful. No doubt about it Peggy is a pillar of society and one to be respected and admired yet life does present its challenges and she is faced with a new conundrum in this book.
Peggy has stepped outside of the comfort zone that was Beach View house and accepted a job at Solly Goldman's factory. This shows how women adapted with the times in the absence of their men folk and even though their husbands may not have been happy upon their return, the women could rightly defend themselves, in that faced with no other choice and wanting to do their best for their country they stepped up to the plate when needed. Truly all those women so many years ago were remarkable in the face of such difficult times during the long war years. Peggy enjoys this sense of independence she has gained and with Rita, Sarah and Ivy all at home, as well as doing their jobs for the war effort, Peggy feels the house can manage it's time she stepped outside of her comfort zone.
Deciding to take a promotion at work puts Peggy herself in the firing line and I really enjoyed how she was tested to the max. Her loyalty and confidence was put into question when sinister goings on occur at the factory. But as Peggy has so much experience dealing with women in need because of previous desperate situations she is able to follow her heart and do that right thing. I love how Peggy is always on the lookout to help people, it’s almost like second nature to her and it showcases the numerous redeemable qualities to her character. That's not to say she doesn’t have a vulnerable side, she does but it is kept firmly under wraps but every now and again especially as a traumatic event befalls the family she lets this armour down and it shows that she is human too and can't always keep up a persona.That at times the shutters can come crashing open and that's when extended family and friends and the unit she has built around herself come in and repay the kindness and support she has shown them for so many years.
Again as with previous books we are given a chapter every now and again from Jim's point of view. I always look forward to these chapters because it takes us away from Cliffehaven and transports us right into the heart of the action. We can see how men are coping away from home and times are even more difficult than their families are experiencing on home soil. We got a very brief update on those who are imprisoned and connected to Sarah, Rita, Ivy and various others which we haven't had before and it didn't make for good news. I would like in the last two books to hear more from their viewpoint in a similar way as we do with Jim.
On reflection I think we haven't already gotten this because at the time those imprisoned were not able to send letters and perhaps the author wanted to make this as realistic as possible. I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline involving Doris, Peggy's sister, and the work she does with Colonel John White. I haven't liked her as a character up until this point as her actions and the way she spoke to and treated people left an awful lot to be desired. But a new life situation has made her change her viewpoints and she is now a character I enjoy reading about an awful lot more. This time she does some digging and throws up some unusual events that need dealing with. But will she be strong enough to weather the ensuing storm and can her heart open that little but more to some affection that is so clearly knocking at her door?
As much as I enjoyed the minor storylines in On a Turning Tide, and the sense that things may be finally coming to a head with regards to the war, it was following the fortunes of Ron Reilly – the father in law of Peggy that really held my intention from beginning to end. Ron was a big focus in this story as up until now he had been the one supporting everyone else and going about his business helping in any way possible with his faithful dog by his side. At last he is going to do the right thing and marry Rosie the landlady of the local pub. They have a wonderful relationship but until this point Ron has been hesitant in taking the final step to cement their relationship. Even though it has been years since he lost his beloved first wife there is still that reluctance to marry especially in a church.
Ron is a man who doesn't show much emotion and if he is in pain or worried about something he doesn't like to show it. Yet if someone was in trouble or needed advice, comfort or support he would be he first to step up and offer it. I enjoyed seeing a softer side of Ron emerge as he shared his anxieties with Rosie and as a resolution of sorts was reached I hoped they could look forward to a happy future with one another. Beneath it all, although he wouldn't like to admit it, Ron really is a big softie who only wants the best for the woman he loves and for all his family members and friends to get through these terrible years safely. Yet Ron is not above keeping a secret or two and it is a major secret that leads to an upsetting turn of events.
The last quarter of this book was brilliantly written, packed full of tension and edge of your seat stuff. I was there every step of the way with the characters as events unfolded. I just wanted a positive outcome but then thought god everything is taking so long. Will it be too late but on the other hand would Ellie Dean really do this to a character that has played such a major and pivotal role in the series? Surely not? I read on, more than keen to discover all the answers. But suffice to say this aspect of the story was excellent and again exposed the vulnerability of characters whom you thought were made of steel.
On a Turning Tide was another story to relish in the Cliffehaven series and I raced through it in as few sittings as possible. I love the entire message coming through from each book and the author really does bring a time to life that really was not that long ago at all. She highlights how everyone's lives went from normal, run of the mill, everyday stuff to trauma and worry forever in the forefront of their minds. I just can't imagine how we would cope today if we had to go through everything that Peggy and co experience. The harmony of good fellowship grows stronger with every book and with each year of the war that passes by and it's now at the point with two books left that every little strand will begin to be tied up and the reader will be rooting for a positive outcome for every angle. But I sense maybe some trauma and sadness might yet ensue before we reach the end. With Hope and Love is the second to last book in the series and having read this one it's only whet my appetite for what is still to come.
February 8, 2019
Another brilliant read of beach view cliffhaven I so love this series and is so happy to learn there is going to be 2 more books the next one out August 2019 yippee x
January 31, 2019
I have loved reading the Cliffehaven series as each book pulls you deeper into the lives of the Reilly family.Peggy is working hard to keep those that she loves safe and also to hold down her job at Solly's factory.As the war is hopefully coming to an end Ron and Rosie are looking forward to their wedding and i have hoped for a while that they would marry,as everyone is kept busy nobody notices Ron and Harvey have not been seen.I will say i am dreading the end of this series as i love them and Ellie Dean is the lady that got me into reading saga's and for that i will always be very grateful.well worth 5* and more.
February 20, 2019
Turning tide
Another great book about the Reilly family Ellie Dean
Has done it again it's enjoyable but with sadness death and destruction but reading it brings home all the sadness of war at home and abroad 5 STARS
Another great book about the Reilly family Ellie Dean
Has done it again it's enjoyable but with sadness death and destruction but reading it brings home all the sadness of war at home and abroad 5 STARS
January 30, 2019
Another triumph
Another great book in this series. It's about time Ron @ Rosie got married. Looking forward to the next two books. Great reading Ellie.
Another great book in this series. It's about time Ron @ Rosie got married. Looking forward to the next two books. Great reading Ellie.
March 3, 2019
Excellent as usual. Can’t wait for the next one.
March 1, 2019
This review is going to be slightly different to my other reviews because I am writing about it from my point of view and my Mam’s point of view. We both love the Cliffehaven series and we fight over who gets to read each new book as it arrives. These OAPs can be vicious and Mam always wins. Sorry enough of my fighting with OAPs and back to the review I do go. We had high hopes for ‘On A Turning Tide’ and we were not to be disappointed. We absolutely ADORED this latest addition to the series but more about that in a bit.
The main storylines in this book focus on the characters of Ronan (Ron) Reilly and Peggy Reilly, who is Ron’s daughter in law. What can I say about Ron? Well he is certainly a loveable rogue that we couldn’t help but take to from the first moment we came across him. He always has good intentions but he doesn’t always have a high success rate. Things regularly seem to go wrong for him. Ron is a bit of a dark horse and there is much to learn about him. Ron has served his country in more ways than one. There are little clues given as to the nature of this service but Ron certainly doesn’t shout about it. Ron can be rather blunt and he isn’t afraid to say what he thinks, which doesn’t always go down well. He gets on with most people, although he does occasionally rub some characters up the wrong way. Ron has been married before but his wife died and lately he has been seeing Rosie, who is the landlady of the local pub. Their relationship has been a bit topsy turvy with a fair few bumps in the road so to speak. We were keeping everything crossed that Ron and Rosie would make it down the aisle and start life as a married couple. I would have loved to have a Grandfather like Ron as he sounds a real hoot. Life is never boring with Ron around. Ron lives at Beach View Boarding House with his daughter in law Peggy, his granddaughter and other waifs and strays that Peggy has welcomed into the house. What can I say about Peggy? Well for a start she has a heart of gold and she certainly has the patience of a saint but then she would have to to live in the same house as Ron. Nothing is too much trouble for Peggy and she is always ready to help those who need it. Peggy was a volunteer with the WVS until she got a job at a clothing factory and she occasionally babysits for others. I did wonder if she was perhaps stretching herself too thinly but I needn’t have worried. Peggy is a strong, feisty and determined woman, who tries her hardest to remain positive about her husband Jim, who is recovering from an injury sustained during a skirmish with the enemy. Peggy is very popular and it’s easy to see why. She is kind, she is patient, she is compassionate, she is passionate about her beliefs and she is always ready for a chat over a cup of tea or to provide a shoulder to cry on for those who need it. Peggy wins a promotion but this brings an added problem in the shape of a woman, with whom she has locked horns in the past. Will Peggy cope with the new lady? Will Ron finally marry Rosie? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
It’s definitely true to say that we were both addicted to this book from the moment we opened the front cover. We just had to keep reading to see what fate had in store for Ron and Peggy. The more we read, the more we wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to be turning. We would try to ration how much we read in one go, but that intention soon flew out of the window because it was impossible to put the book down. The book wasn’t exactly glued to our hands but it might as well have been because it accompanied us everywhere. We would both find any excuse we could to get back to reading. If we had to put the book down for any reason then we would count down the time until we could pick the book up again.
The author has an easy writing style that grabs your attention from the start and keeps it throughout the story. The author used such powerful and vivid descriptions in the book that if we closed our eyes, we could almost imagine that we had been transported back to Wartime Britain and that we were part of the story ourselves. When we read the book we both felt like we were reuniting with old friends in most cases whilst at times we wanted to sort out certain other characters. Honestly, if we could have leapt inside the pages of the book to sort certain people out or to become part of the story ourselves then we would have done. We both adore Ron and we absolutely love Peggy. In fact we both want to move into Beach View Boarding House!
In short, ‘On A Turning Tide’ is one brilliantly written book, which is destined to be a bestseller. The Cliffehaven series just gets better and better. I would definitely recommend this author and this series to other readers and especially to those readers, who are fans of television programmes such as ‘Call The Midwife’. In fact we both think that the Cliffehaven series is just crying out to be adapted for television. We can’t wait to read the next book in the Cliffehaven series. Fortunately we don’t have too long to wait because the next book in the series called ‘With Hope & Love’ is due for release on 22nd August 2019. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
The main storylines in this book focus on the characters of Ronan (Ron) Reilly and Peggy Reilly, who is Ron’s daughter in law. What can I say about Ron? Well he is certainly a loveable rogue that we couldn’t help but take to from the first moment we came across him. He always has good intentions but he doesn’t always have a high success rate. Things regularly seem to go wrong for him. Ron is a bit of a dark horse and there is much to learn about him. Ron has served his country in more ways than one. There are little clues given as to the nature of this service but Ron certainly doesn’t shout about it. Ron can be rather blunt and he isn’t afraid to say what he thinks, which doesn’t always go down well. He gets on with most people, although he does occasionally rub some characters up the wrong way. Ron has been married before but his wife died and lately he has been seeing Rosie, who is the landlady of the local pub. Their relationship has been a bit topsy turvy with a fair few bumps in the road so to speak. We were keeping everything crossed that Ron and Rosie would make it down the aisle and start life as a married couple. I would have loved to have a Grandfather like Ron as he sounds a real hoot. Life is never boring with Ron around. Ron lives at Beach View Boarding House with his daughter in law Peggy, his granddaughter and other waifs and strays that Peggy has welcomed into the house. What can I say about Peggy? Well for a start she has a heart of gold and she certainly has the patience of a saint but then she would have to to live in the same house as Ron. Nothing is too much trouble for Peggy and she is always ready to help those who need it. Peggy was a volunteer with the WVS until she got a job at a clothing factory and she occasionally babysits for others. I did wonder if she was perhaps stretching herself too thinly but I needn’t have worried. Peggy is a strong, feisty and determined woman, who tries her hardest to remain positive about her husband Jim, who is recovering from an injury sustained during a skirmish with the enemy. Peggy is very popular and it’s easy to see why. She is kind, she is patient, she is compassionate, she is passionate about her beliefs and she is always ready for a chat over a cup of tea or to provide a shoulder to cry on for those who need it. Peggy wins a promotion but this brings an added problem in the shape of a woman, with whom she has locked horns in the past. Will Peggy cope with the new lady? Will Ron finally marry Rosie? Well for the answers to those questions and more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
It’s definitely true to say that we were both addicted to this book from the moment we opened the front cover. We just had to keep reading to see what fate had in store for Ron and Peggy. The more we read, the more we wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to be turning. We would try to ration how much we read in one go, but that intention soon flew out of the window because it was impossible to put the book down. The book wasn’t exactly glued to our hands but it might as well have been because it accompanied us everywhere. We would both find any excuse we could to get back to reading. If we had to put the book down for any reason then we would count down the time until we could pick the book up again.
The author has an easy writing style that grabs your attention from the start and keeps it throughout the story. The author used such powerful and vivid descriptions in the book that if we closed our eyes, we could almost imagine that we had been transported back to Wartime Britain and that we were part of the story ourselves. When we read the book we both felt like we were reuniting with old friends in most cases whilst at times we wanted to sort out certain other characters. Honestly, if we could have leapt inside the pages of the book to sort certain people out or to become part of the story ourselves then we would have done. We both adore Ron and we absolutely love Peggy. In fact we both want to move into Beach View Boarding House!
In short, ‘On A Turning Tide’ is one brilliantly written book, which is destined to be a bestseller. The Cliffehaven series just gets better and better. I would definitely recommend this author and this series to other readers and especially to those readers, who are fans of television programmes such as ‘Call The Midwife’. In fact we both think that the Cliffehaven series is just crying out to be adapted for television. We can’t wait to read the next book in the Cliffehaven series. Fortunately we don’t have too long to wait because the next book in the series called ‘With Hope & Love’ is due for release on 22nd August 2019. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
March 3, 2019
I always feel sad when I come to the end of one of these books because I know I will have to wait a while before I can start the next one. The whole series has been wonderful and this book lives up to the reputation that it created right from the beginning. Another absolutely utterly fantastic read, I cannot wait for the next.
January 25, 2019
Since I first discovered the Cliffehaven series a couple of years ago, I've come to really look forward to each new instalment in this wonderful wartime saga and it was such a treat to settle down once more with the residents of Cliffehaven, and Beach View Boarding House in particular.
On a Turning Tide is the sixteenth book in this long-running series but only the fourth I have yet read. As always, Ellie Dean's clever reminder of previous events is included seamlessly into the earlier chapters of the novel meaning that newcomers to the series will soon be as captivated as returning readers. It is now the Autumn of 1944 and as the title of the book suggests, the tide seems to be finally turning as it begins to look as if victory may finally be in sight. The long years since war was first declared have cast their toll on all the characters; they have lived through the terrifying days of the Blitz and the fear that invasion was just days away; they've endured years of rationing from food to clothes to fuel; they've been separated from their loved ones and experienced devastating losses. Even now they live in daily fear of the V-2s silently coming to wreak their deadly mayhem once more. War has changed them all and they are beginning to realise that it may not all be smooth sailing once their families are finally reunited. Series stalwart and owner of Beach View Boarding House, Peggy Reilly has kept the home fires burning during the war years but necessity led to her seeking a job outside the home working in Solly Goldman's factory and has now been promoted to shop floor manager. As she looks to the future she realises how much she enjoys her independence and her own money and wonders how she and her husband, Jim - a man who believes a woman's place is in the home - will manage after they have both changed so much. It certainly reminded me of just what we owe those stoical, resolute women who bravely forged their own way and whose fortitude helped to change the old order where men were the breadwinners and women stayed at home. Her new role certainly brings her new challenges and I loved the way she coped with some difficult characters, including a particularly nasty face from her past who threatens to undermine the smooth running of the factory.
As a veteran of the First World War, Ron Reilly knows how difficult it is to return to what used to be normality as he remembers that he found it hard to adjust to peace when he missed the excitement and chaos during the day and was tormented by his dreams at night. He has now found happiness with Rosie and they are both looking forward to their upcoming wedding but as is typical with Ron, things are never quite straightforward and he agonises over a difficult conversation he needs to have. As much as Peggy is the rock of the series and the person people turn to when they need support, I must admit that Ron and his faithful dog, Harvey are my favourite characters in the book. He is a bit of an old rogue who can't seem to avoid getting into scrapes but underneath he is a wise and insightful man.
As always, there are a few chapters in the book featuring Jim, who has been recuperating in India after being injured but is set to rejoin the fighting in Burma. These interludes are frequently nailbiting and I'm always fearful of the outcome of every skirmish Jim is involved in. For the first time, we also see how some of the other men of Cliffehaven are faring and it's a stark reminder that although the war is coming to an end, there is still much hardship and sorrow to endure. There is heartbreak for the residents of Cliffehaven too and a large part of the story concentrates on the devastating result of a terrible accident for one of the characters. I genuinely had no idea what the outcome was going to be and it makes for a tense and emotional read as I held my breath alongside the characters, desperately hoping for good news.
By the end of the novel, victory in Europe is assured but with two more books yet to come before this series finally comes to an end, I'm sure there is still plenty of drama ahead. I loved On a Turning Tide, it is such a poignant, gripping and often thought-provoking story. The Cliffehaven series continues to guarantee a heartwarming, absorbing read and I can't wait for the next instalment, With Hope and Love later this year.
On a Turning Tide is the sixteenth book in this long-running series but only the fourth I have yet read. As always, Ellie Dean's clever reminder of previous events is included seamlessly into the earlier chapters of the novel meaning that newcomers to the series will soon be as captivated as returning readers. It is now the Autumn of 1944 and as the title of the book suggests, the tide seems to be finally turning as it begins to look as if victory may finally be in sight. The long years since war was first declared have cast their toll on all the characters; they have lived through the terrifying days of the Blitz and the fear that invasion was just days away; they've endured years of rationing from food to clothes to fuel; they've been separated from their loved ones and experienced devastating losses. Even now they live in daily fear of the V-2s silently coming to wreak their deadly mayhem once more. War has changed them all and they are beginning to realise that it may not all be smooth sailing once their families are finally reunited. Series stalwart and owner of Beach View Boarding House, Peggy Reilly has kept the home fires burning during the war years but necessity led to her seeking a job outside the home working in Solly Goldman's factory and has now been promoted to shop floor manager. As she looks to the future she realises how much she enjoys her independence and her own money and wonders how she and her husband, Jim - a man who believes a woman's place is in the home - will manage after they have both changed so much. It certainly reminded me of just what we owe those stoical, resolute women who bravely forged their own way and whose fortitude helped to change the old order where men were the breadwinners and women stayed at home. Her new role certainly brings her new challenges and I loved the way she coped with some difficult characters, including a particularly nasty face from her past who threatens to undermine the smooth running of the factory.
As a veteran of the First World War, Ron Reilly knows how difficult it is to return to what used to be normality as he remembers that he found it hard to adjust to peace when he missed the excitement and chaos during the day and was tormented by his dreams at night. He has now found happiness with Rosie and they are both looking forward to their upcoming wedding but as is typical with Ron, things are never quite straightforward and he agonises over a difficult conversation he needs to have. As much as Peggy is the rock of the series and the person people turn to when they need support, I must admit that Ron and his faithful dog, Harvey are my favourite characters in the book. He is a bit of an old rogue who can't seem to avoid getting into scrapes but underneath he is a wise and insightful man.
As always, there are a few chapters in the book featuring Jim, who has been recuperating in India after being injured but is set to rejoin the fighting in Burma. These interludes are frequently nailbiting and I'm always fearful of the outcome of every skirmish Jim is involved in. For the first time, we also see how some of the other men of Cliffehaven are faring and it's a stark reminder that although the war is coming to an end, there is still much hardship and sorrow to endure. There is heartbreak for the residents of Cliffehaven too and a large part of the story concentrates on the devastating result of a terrible accident for one of the characters. I genuinely had no idea what the outcome was going to be and it makes for a tense and emotional read as I held my breath alongside the characters, desperately hoping for good news.
By the end of the novel, victory in Europe is assured but with two more books yet to come before this series finally comes to an end, I'm sure there is still plenty of drama ahead. I loved On a Turning Tide, it is such a poignant, gripping and often thought-provoking story. The Cliffehaven series continues to guarantee a heartwarming, absorbing read and I can't wait for the next instalment, With Hope and Love later this year.
October 30, 2025
The in Europe is over! At least by the end of this book it is. This book somewhat restored my faith in this series. As it's gone on the characters that I once loved have become annoying and at times awful and yes I do include Peggy in that. I feel like going back to book one and seeing if she was always like this or if I'm just annoyed with the books. This series is like MASH. A TV show about a three year war that went on for 11. But anyway in this book Peggy finally receives a lesson in boundaries when she tries to demand Ron hand over the letter Jim wrote him. Ron rightfully and at long last puts the interfering busy body in her place. Yes I'm still ticked off by Peggy saying idiotic things like men and women can't be friends and telling Rita she wouldn't allow her to have a simple no fuss small wedding despite that being her wish, so I'm glad she at last got put in her place. And then it happened again after Ron gets caught up in some top secret ops and Peggy demands to know what they are hiding. Unlike with Danuta finally people remember there is a war on and something called the Official Secrets Act and keep their mouths shut.
However despite strict rationing there's still milk and sugar for coffee and tea and a café has chocolate cake and other sugary things with claims its because the dad works at a bakery. Sugar and cocoa doesn't come cows last I checked nor do the plants grow in England.
Otherwise it's a solid and mostly enjoyable entry. Peggy only has one judgemental moment when she learns Sarah's mother has kept something from her with good reason. Thankfully the Sarah storyline isn't mentioned but if it goes the way I think it will prepare for a rant.
The book starts in October 1944 and goes until Spring of 45 with the war in Europe over and everyone waiting for the boys to come home. In a complete flip Doris is the likeable sister and I love her character development here. She finds herself the object of affection of the widower of Lady Chumley, but does he have a ulterior motive? She also still has a slight romance with her new boss the Colonel.
Ron and Rosie are preparing for their wedding which is anything but smooth from the battle of a church vs town hall ceremony and then just before the ceremony something awful happens to Ron that could change everything.
And in the most ridiculous plot line of the book but there cause I guess we need something for Peggy to do beside meddle in the lives of others her old school bully comes to work at the factory as a co manager with Peggy and she's a disaster. She kept threatening to go to the union if they fired her. What? I've worked in union positions for over 20 years and managers are not unionized to my knowledge. Also given how unlikeable she was I doubt anyone would take her side and the whole side plots was pointless. Still as I said a pretty good read better than the last few have been. Time to see what becomes of everyone now the European war is over and there are only two war related books left even though the series continues to drag on to this day despite promises of a prequel series.
However despite strict rationing there's still milk and sugar for coffee and tea and a café has chocolate cake and other sugary things with claims its because the dad works at a bakery. Sugar and cocoa doesn't come cows last I checked nor do the plants grow in England.
Otherwise it's a solid and mostly enjoyable entry. Peggy only has one judgemental moment when she learns Sarah's mother has kept something from her with good reason. Thankfully the Sarah storyline isn't mentioned but if it goes the way I think it will prepare for a rant.
The book starts in October 1944 and goes until Spring of 45 with the war in Europe over and everyone waiting for the boys to come home. In a complete flip Doris is the likeable sister and I love her character development here. She finds herself the object of affection of the widower of Lady Chumley, but does he have a ulterior motive? She also still has a slight romance with her new boss the Colonel.
Ron and Rosie are preparing for their wedding which is anything but smooth from the battle of a church vs town hall ceremony and then just before the ceremony something awful happens to Ron that could change everything.
And in the most ridiculous plot line of the book but there cause I guess we need something for Peggy to do beside meddle in the lives of others her old school bully comes to work at the factory as a co manager with Peggy and she's a disaster. She kept threatening to go to the union if they fired her. What? I've worked in union positions for over 20 years and managers are not unionized to my knowledge. Also given how unlikeable she was I doubt anyone would take her side and the whole side plots was pointless. Still as I said a pretty good read better than the last few have been. Time to see what becomes of everyone now the European war is over and there are only two war related books left even though the series continues to drag on to this day despite promises of a prequel series.
September 11, 2020
October, 1944. As the Allied troops draw closer to victory, life at Beach View Boarding House is still full of uncertainty. Rosie's plans for her wedding to Ron Reilly are plagued with misunderstandings. And when Ron takes on a secret assignment just days before they were due to say their vows, it seems their plans for a future together may be doomed. Meanwhile, Peggy Reilly embraces her new managerial role at the uniform factory. It's a welcome distraction while her husband Jim is still serving in the Far East. But when an old school adversary joins the factory's ranks, Peggy must win her own battles on the home front. As the new year dawns, hope burns brighter for the return of loved ones-but a big sea change is still to come before Victory in Europe can be declared. The Special Reserve existed during WW1 to maintain a reservoir of manpower for the British Army and training replacements for drafts in wartime. It was organised into battalions and it was also deployed on home defence duties guarding the coast and key installations. The PDSA Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the UK by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in WWII. She established the award for any animal displaying conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst serving with British Empire armed forces or civil emergency services.She was the founder of the PDSA, a British veterinary charity. MiD or Mentioned in Dispatches is when a service personnel's name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which his or her gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy is described.The war put pressure on Britain's textile and clothing industries, due to the increased demand for armed, service and other work uniforms. Both raw materials and labour had to be directed away from civilian production to ensure that the demand could be met for for the military. Clothes were rationed in Britain from mid 1941. Despite the restrictions, the war and civilian austerity didn't put an end to creative design, commercial opportunism or fashionable trends on the homefront.
May 5, 2019
I fell down a rabbit hole and spent the past couple of days in Cliffehaven...again. It has happened to me sixteen times now. I don't know that I have ever read such a long series and remained invested in the characters. The protagonist, Peggy Reilly, feels like an old friend I have known for years. This installment in the series takes us through the last few months of WWII. The tides are turning and the end of the war is in sight, but there is still much hardship and fear. Loved ones are not yet safe as the fighting still continues, and the new V2 flying bombs have brought new dangers to Cliffehaven. After so many books, there are a lot of characters and a lot of story lines in this series, and it seems almost like a soap opera...kind of a WWII version of Coronation Street. The author has largely stopped introducing new characters, and is working on tying up loose ends and completing story lines. Much of this book focuses on Ron and Rosie, whose romance has waxed and waned throughout the series, and who are finally about to tie the knot. Peggy's sister Doris, who has recently turned over a new leaf, also figures prominently. The author has become adept at slipping in updates on the many other characters we have met throughout the series, which is wonderful. Like the previous book, this novel really feels like the winding up of the series. There are two more books planned, but the i's are being dotted and the t's crossed, and it makes me sad that the journey will soon be over.
May 12, 2019
I read the audio book version of all the Ellie Dean books. I loved this book, just like all the other Ellie Dean books i have read. I have read them all so far. I will be very sad when this series ends. They are wonderfully well written, and the way the characters are devellopped makes it easy to fall in love with them. The book has all the range of emotions, with lovable characters, and even characters you donate like very much. Some of them even change throughout the story. I Would highly recommend these books.
March 23, 2019
I have just finished this book after reading all the others in the series and am so sad to think I have to wait until August to join in with this great family at Cliffhaven again .. thankfully there are I believe two more books coming out in the series and I am so pleased.. hopefully the author will decided to maybe add more or even start a new series in a similar vein I have loved every one of the books and am so pleased I came across it thank you Ellie keep on writing
June 13, 2020
The cliffhaven series
I am absolutely in love with this series, I’m still on book 17, and can’t believe it will soon be over. It is bringing me through “lockdown” I don’t even watch TV, I just can’t put them down. I simply do not know what I’ll do when they are all finished.
Well done Ellie on writing such an amazing series, it should be televised, take care with yourself, after suffering a stroke,
Love, Sandra.xxx
I am absolutely in love with this series, I’m still on book 17, and can’t believe it will soon be over. It is bringing me through “lockdown” I don’t even watch TV, I just can’t put them down. I simply do not know what I’ll do when they are all finished.
Well done Ellie on writing such an amazing series, it should be televised, take care with yourself, after suffering a stroke,
Love, Sandra.xxx
March 17, 2024
Wow just loved this book it was sad and thought we’d lost Ron and he wouldn’t get to marry his beloved Rosie but he did with the war getting closer to finish and Jim coming home( Hopefully) can’t wait to see the next book continuing the story of all who live or have lived under Peggy’s roof at the Beach View Boarding house and the lovely people of Cliffhaven
Onto the next just can’t put them down
Onto the next just can’t put them down
January 31, 2019
This was an emotional tear jerking story . Can't wait till August for the next book.
These books of Elle Dean's From start to finish of each book it made you feel you were living there lives . The ups and downs of all the girls and that ended up at Beach View told of the lives of many during war time. Looking forward to the next book.
These books of Elle Dean's From start to finish of each book it made you feel you were living there lives . The ups and downs of all the girls and that ended up at Beach View told of the lives of many during war time. Looking forward to the next book.
January 27, 2019
This book did not disappoint me, it is nice to be back with Peggy in her kitchen with the residents of Beach View.
A happy ending but I was worried that disaster would strike for one of the residents of Beach View. I did shed a few tears but happy tears.
A happy ending but I was worried that disaster would strike for one of the residents of Beach View. I did shed a few tears but happy tears.
January 31, 2019
Wow what a read!
Couldn't put the book down. Harvey is some dog, all most human. Please don't let anything bad happen to him. So pleased for Ron and Rosie. Thank you for another fine story. Looking forward to the next book.
Couldn't put the book down. Harvey is some dog, all most human. Please don't let anything bad happen to him. So pleased for Ron and Rosie. Thank you for another fine story. Looking forward to the next book.
February 1, 2019
FAB!!!!!!!!
Great to get back into the warmth and love of Peggy’s kitchen. Ron up to mischief as usual and Ellie brings updates throughout the book of the extended Reilly family clan. Can’t wait for the next instalment.
Great to get back into the warmth and love of Peggy’s kitchen. Ron up to mischief as usual and Ellie brings updates throughout the book of the extended Reilly family clan. Can’t wait for the next instalment.
February 1, 2019
Brilliant
Another brilliant book in this wonderful series. The characters are so real and the history so well told, I feel like I am living the story with them. Can't wait for the next book.
Another brilliant book in this wonderful series. The characters are so real and the history so well told, I feel like I am living the story with them. Can't wait for the next book.
February 10, 2019
Back with the Reilly family
The author has really done her homework and I can't wait for the next boom. Could completely identify with the horrors of war and the aftermath. Feel as I know the whole family and am part of their adventures and misfortunes
The author has really done her homework and I can't wait for the next boom. Could completely identify with the horrors of war and the aftermath. Feel as I know the whole family and am part of their adventures and misfortunes
October 11, 2019
Such an enthralling and very delightable series just can,t stop reading them . The books are warm , comfortable and inviting , you actually feel like you,re in that kitchen with Peggy and her crew . A perfect book for the up and coming winter months - a fireside Read that will have you gripped
January 14, 2022
This is the 16th (out of 18) Cliffehaven books that I have read; I am going to so miss Peggy Reilly and all the other characters after I've finished the series. The writing is such that you really feel as though your actually know the people
January 31, 2019
Brilliant as always
Ellie is amazing writer and has made the family almost part of our own so looking forward to the next episode
Ellie is amazing writer and has made the family almost part of our own so looking forward to the next episode
March 10, 2019
Loved every page if this beach view series only two more books in the series left. Will be left with a big hole in my heart when this series finishes
March 11, 2019
Another brilliant read about the characters in cliffehaven and 2 more to come love it x
March 21, 2019
Wonderful
I've read all the Cliffhaven Books. And am eagerly awaiting the Final 2 in the Series. It's a great pity that they can't go on forever.
I've read all the Cliffhaven Books. And am eagerly awaiting the Final 2 in the Series. It's a great pity that they can't go on forever.
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