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The Canadians #3
The Frozen River
Three strong women make their way in 1950s Canada
English hairdresser, Ethel, alone after the deaths of her family and her wartime fiancé. Widow and single mother, Alice, bringing up two daughters, receives an unexpected inheritance that will transform her life. War bride, Joan, now mother to four small children. All brought together in a rural Canadian town where they each try to build a future – often in spite of the men in their lives.
Each woman has a different idea of happiness. Will any or all of them achieve it?
The final novel in The Canadians series after The Chalky Sea and The Alien Corn.
Grab your copy now and lose yourself in the lives and loves of these women.
English hairdresser, Ethel, alone after the deaths of her family and her wartime fiancé. Widow and single mother, Alice, bringing up two daughters, receives an unexpected inheritance that will transform her life. War bride, Joan, now mother to four small children. All brought together in a rural Canadian town where they each try to build a future – often in spite of the men in their lives.
Each woman has a different idea of happiness. Will any or all of them achieve it?
The final novel in The Canadians series after The Chalky Sea and The Alien Corn.
Grab your copy now and lose yourself in the lives and loves of these women.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2018
175 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
Clare Flynn
45 books221 followersClare Flynn is the author of eighteen historical novels and a collection of short stories. She is the 2020 winner of the UK Selfies Adult Fiction prize for her best-selling novel The Pearl of Penang, was shortlisted for the RNA Industry Awards Indie Champion of the Year for 2021 and won the award in 2022.
Clare lives in Eastbourne. on the south coast of the UK. She is a fluent Italian speaker and loves spending time in Italy. In her spare time she likes to quilt, paint and travel often and widely as possible.
Clare Flynn is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, an active member of The Romantic Novelists Association, The Hostrical Writers Association, The Alliance of Independent Authors and The Society of Authors. More information about her books can be found at www.clareflynn.co.uk
Clare lives in Eastbourne. on the south coast of the UK. She is a fluent Italian speaker and loves spending time in Italy. In her spare time she likes to quilt, paint and travel often and widely as possible.
Clare Flynn is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, an active member of The Romantic Novelists Association, The Hostrical Writers Association, The Alliance of Independent Authors and The Society of Authors. More information about her books can be found at www.clareflynn.co.uk
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
January 6, 2024
Got this one by mistake. There is another book by the same name. This one is a predictable beach read!
August 16, 2019
Excellent! More to come
April 15, 2024
Oh my, I read this by mistake. The other book with the same title by Ariel Lawson is the one friends have been praising highly. While I was reading this one I kept wondering about the high reviews.It turns out this is the 3rd in an overly melodramatic series where people keep falling in love at first sight and things that are supposed to surprise are completely predictable. Now on to the other book.
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
August 28, 2018
A wonderful,engrossing book,as good as the first two in the series.The characters are well drawn,the story develops well.It requires intelligence on the part of the author to develop the change in the relations,feelings of the characters,like between Helga and Ethel,Alice and Ethel.And then there is the ever lovable Joan.
All The three women are strong,accept life on their terms.Most loving person here is Don.My congratulations to the authors for writing such a nice book....wish she writes more like this series.
All The three women are strong,accept life on their terms.Most loving person here is Don.My congratulations to the authors for writing such a nice book....wish she writes more like this series.
January 23, 2024
Clare Flynn saved the best for last in her The Canadians series. The Frozen River was by far my favorite out of the three books.
The storyline was complete, compelling, and created full circle growth for all of the characters (something I felt missing at times in the prior two books).
There's a few years time jump since the end of Alien Corn (book 2) and the time and setting is now the early 1950's Canada. Ethel (Joan's cousin) and probably my favorite character in this series from the start is at a crossroads, and when Joan asks her to come to Canada for a 'visit' Ethel takes a leap of faith and makes the trans-Atlantic journey from England. There she meets many of people she's only known through Joan's letters and starts to carve out a purpose (and maybe even a love) for herself.
I loved the mental health rep involved in this story (there were hints in book 2 with Jim's PTSD), but it was interesting to see that as portrayed with the new characters of the town doctor and his daughter.
By the final chapters I felt each storyline had been tied up with a pretty bow that gave the series a happily ever after feeling.
The storyline was complete, compelling, and created full circle growth for all of the characters (something I felt missing at times in the prior two books).
There's a few years time jump since the end of Alien Corn (book 2) and the time and setting is now the early 1950's Canada. Ethel (Joan's cousin) and probably my favorite character in this series from the start is at a crossroads, and when Joan asks her to come to Canada for a 'visit' Ethel takes a leap of faith and makes the trans-Atlantic journey from England. There she meets many of people she's only known through Joan's letters and starts to carve out a purpose (and maybe even a love) for herself.
I loved the mental health rep involved in this story (there were hints in book 2 with Jim's PTSD), but it was interesting to see that as portrayed with the new characters of the town doctor and his daughter.
By the final chapters I felt each storyline had been tied up with a pretty bow that gave the series a happily ever after feeling.
September 28, 2018
Great series
This is another great book in this series by Clare Flynn. This author is so creative in the plots and subplots of her characters it is a joy to read.
This book surrounds the English character Ethel, the cousin of Joan who has emigrated to Canada to be with Jim. Ethel is invited to visit Canada after the death of her mother.
This has been an interesting, enjoyable plot with the same characters from previous books in this series only more mature and worldly wise. Situations get scary, tense and romance flowers.
Can't miss on this one...definite recommendation to readers of historical fiction and romance.
This is another great book in this series by Clare Flynn. This author is so creative in the plots and subplots of her characters it is a joy to read.
This book surrounds the English character Ethel, the cousin of Joan who has emigrated to Canada to be with Jim. Ethel is invited to visit Canada after the death of her mother.
This has been an interesting, enjoyable plot with the same characters from previous books in this series only more mature and worldly wise. Situations get scary, tense and romance flowers.
Can't miss on this one...definite recommendation to readers of historical fiction and romance.
September 10, 2025
I thought this was for my book group so I plodded through it, even though I didn’t love it. Turns out it was the wrong “Frozen River.” Good, because this was really a romance novel with trite dialogue and a predictable plot. Not my style. I was almost finished when I discovered my mistake, so I finished it. Certainly cannot recommend it enough
December 16, 2019
I loved it!
It's a while since I read the first two books in this fabulous series, but it didn't take long to familiarize myself with the wonderful characters and to immerse myself in this well written saga.
Set mainly in Canada, two English cousins are reunited, a romance blossoms, but, there are some difficult times as well.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this series as well as other books written by Clare Flynn, and can highly recommend this book and all of her others.; she never disappoints.
It's a while since I read the first two books in this fabulous series, but it didn't take long to familiarize myself with the wonderful characters and to immerse myself in this well written saga.
Set mainly in Canada, two English cousins are reunited, a romance blossoms, but, there are some difficult times as well.
I have thoroughly enjoyed this series as well as other books written by Clare Flynn, and can highly recommend this book and all of her others.; she never disappoints.
August 19, 2024
This was an accidental reading because someone recommended a novel. by the same title and I didn't bother to look at the author. While a tad predictable, I enjoyed the cast of characters, especially the honesty that women sometimes have "frenemies" and trust and respect are not always a given in these complex relationships. It is the 3rd in the series, so may have to go back to the beginning now.
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July 4, 2024I read the wrong book! (But this book was fine.) 🤣
March 27, 2025
Didn’t like this last book of the series as much as the other two. It was sweet to see the ways Ethel, Joan, and Alice showed up for each other and supported each other. The author does a great job putting distaste for Tip in your mouth, but I didn’t enjoy how interwoven he was in so many people’s stories.
November 22, 2024
Not only is this book flimsy with plot, lacking character development, and ridiculously predictable, but it is downright insulting women
June 6, 2022
Three women, in post-World War 2 Canada. They are all connected, but their lives have gone in widely different directions. Joan, who lives in Canada with her children and husband. Ethel, Joan’s cousin, who comes to visit after the death of her mother. Alice, Joan’s sister-in-law, a single parent trying to raise two daughters.
All each woman wants is happiness – albeit their ideas of what will make them happy differs between each woman. With the past hanging over all their heads, trying to find happiness is a difficult endeavour. But when the past comes back to visit, in the form of a man none of them want to be near, how can they be safe, let alone happy?
As it turns out, I have now read three books by Clare Flynn, and all three of them have been the third book of their respective series. I have never managed to read books one or two of any of the three series I have read book three of! I actually saw this book in a charity shop, and immediately recognised the author’s name. I obviously could not leave it there, and brought it home with me. The previous owner had clearly never read it, there was not a single crease in the spine. Perhaps, if they had, they wouldn’t have given it up.
I absolutely adored reading this book. The three main characters, Ethel, Joan, and Alice, are all very different people, and yet, they are all characters you can’t help but like. Well, saying that, it did take me a while to decide whether I liked Alice or not, but she grew on me as I continued reading. Alice lost her first husband (Joan’s husband’s brother – families can be a little confusing, can’t they?) during the war, and had a second child with a man she wishes she never met. She and her two daughters live with Alice’s ageing aunt, who has a very large fortune, which she has promised, in it’s entirety, to Alice. With the knowledge that she and her daughters will have the money to live comfortably, and then some, Alice puts her mind to the future. She can remain unmarried and know that she will be able to care properly for her daughters. Alice is an inspirational character. She knows what she wants, and she works incredibly hard to achieve her dreams, even if her actions are unconventional for a woman at the time.
There is not too much focus on Joan in this book, I felt. Perhaps she takes more of the limelight in the previous two books. She is pregnant with her fourth child, her other three are all young boys. She is the only one of the three women who is married, having moved to Canada as a war bride, married to Jim, the love of her life. They live on a farm, nearby to Jim’s parents. It is when Ethel comes to visit, that Joan’s family in Canada is practically complete. Joan has missed Ethel dearly, and she simply cannot see that there is anything in England for Ethel anymore and would love for Ethel to move to Canada. Ethel, of course, has other ideas. She has a life in England, a job, a house – she can’t just pack up and move… can she? I loved Joan. She is the conventional family woman of the book. She has a husband, children, a house… she lives nearby to her husband’s parents. And yet, with her coming across as the mother of the book, it is easy to forget that Alice also has two children. The only difference is that Joan has an entire support team behind her, and Alice is alone.
Ethel lost her beloved during the war and has never moved on. How could she just forget about him, and fall in love with someone else? But, when she arrives in Canada, she meets Duncan, the area’s doctor, and can’t deny the fluttering of her heart.
There is so much I want to say about this book, and not nearly enough time to say it. If I talked about everything I wanted to, this would be an incredibly long review, and I would give away the entire plot. Therefore, I will try to be a little vague, but my praises are much too high to not talk about this book far too much. I mentioned before that this is the third book in the series, and that I have actually only ever read third books by Clare Flynn. This is absolutely a testament to her writing. Not once have I felt lost while reading one of her books, even though there is plenty of backstory I am missing out on. I kept up with everything while reading, which, considering enough happened for two previous books, is almost surprising. Somehow, all of the emotion I was supposed to feel for each character, and for one in particular, it was strong hate, came across without needing to know everything that happened before. How Clare Flynn achieved this so perfectly, I don’t know, but I commend her for it.
I would probably have to say that, if you are interested in this series, you should start with book 1, but if you want to read book 3, and not the rest, you can do just that. Although, if you do read book 3, without reading the previous books first, you will definitely want to go back and read the rest of the series. Do yourself a favour, and start with book 1 – you will end up reading it either way!
All each woman wants is happiness – albeit their ideas of what will make them happy differs between each woman. With the past hanging over all their heads, trying to find happiness is a difficult endeavour. But when the past comes back to visit, in the form of a man none of them want to be near, how can they be safe, let alone happy?
As it turns out, I have now read three books by Clare Flynn, and all three of them have been the third book of their respective series. I have never managed to read books one or two of any of the three series I have read book three of! I actually saw this book in a charity shop, and immediately recognised the author’s name. I obviously could not leave it there, and brought it home with me. The previous owner had clearly never read it, there was not a single crease in the spine. Perhaps, if they had, they wouldn’t have given it up.
I absolutely adored reading this book. The three main characters, Ethel, Joan, and Alice, are all very different people, and yet, they are all characters you can’t help but like. Well, saying that, it did take me a while to decide whether I liked Alice or not, but she grew on me as I continued reading. Alice lost her first husband (Joan’s husband’s brother – families can be a little confusing, can’t they?) during the war, and had a second child with a man she wishes she never met. She and her two daughters live with Alice’s ageing aunt, who has a very large fortune, which she has promised, in it’s entirety, to Alice. With the knowledge that she and her daughters will have the money to live comfortably, and then some, Alice puts her mind to the future. She can remain unmarried and know that she will be able to care properly for her daughters. Alice is an inspirational character. She knows what she wants, and she works incredibly hard to achieve her dreams, even if her actions are unconventional for a woman at the time.
There is not too much focus on Joan in this book, I felt. Perhaps she takes more of the limelight in the previous two books. She is pregnant with her fourth child, her other three are all young boys. She is the only one of the three women who is married, having moved to Canada as a war bride, married to Jim, the love of her life. They live on a farm, nearby to Jim’s parents. It is when Ethel comes to visit, that Joan’s family in Canada is practically complete. Joan has missed Ethel dearly, and she simply cannot see that there is anything in England for Ethel anymore and would love for Ethel to move to Canada. Ethel, of course, has other ideas. She has a life in England, a job, a house – she can’t just pack up and move… can she? I loved Joan. She is the conventional family woman of the book. She has a husband, children, a house… she lives nearby to her husband’s parents. And yet, with her coming across as the mother of the book, it is easy to forget that Alice also has two children. The only difference is that Joan has an entire support team behind her, and Alice is alone.
Ethel lost her beloved during the war and has never moved on. How could she just forget about him, and fall in love with someone else? But, when she arrives in Canada, she meets Duncan, the area’s doctor, and can’t deny the fluttering of her heart.
There is so much I want to say about this book, and not nearly enough time to say it. If I talked about everything I wanted to, this would be an incredibly long review, and I would give away the entire plot. Therefore, I will try to be a little vague, but my praises are much too high to not talk about this book far too much. I mentioned before that this is the third book in the series, and that I have actually only ever read third books by Clare Flynn. This is absolutely a testament to her writing. Not once have I felt lost while reading one of her books, even though there is plenty of backstory I am missing out on. I kept up with everything while reading, which, considering enough happened for two previous books, is almost surprising. Somehow, all of the emotion I was supposed to feel for each character, and for one in particular, it was strong hate, came across without needing to know everything that happened before. How Clare Flynn achieved this so perfectly, I don’t know, but I commend her for it.
I would probably have to say that, if you are interested in this series, you should start with book 1, but if you want to read book 3, and not the rest, you can do just that. Although, if you do read book 3, without reading the previous books first, you will definitely want to go back and read the rest of the series. Do yourself a favour, and start with book 1 – you will end up reading it either way!
October 10, 2018
A beautiful finish to the series
I really enjoyed being able to know what has been happening in the lives of Joan, Alice and Ethel since we last read of them. It seems a while since I read the first two books in the series, The Chalky Sea and The Alien Corn. As soon as you start reading your memory awakens and it is like you have just read the previous book. Ethel's mother has just passed away leaving her alone in the world. She has been able to save enough in tip money to be able to bury her mother and still have enough to go see her cousin in Canada, but is this really the way she wants to spend her money. Joan is still happily married to Jim and they have 3 children with another on the way. With a lot of talking Joan convinces Ethel she needs to make this trip. Alice has been left an inheritance and has really been missing the rolling hills of her home. After a terrifying scare from her past happens she knows she must go home. I enjoyed having these 3 women back home, but as in the first 2 books, life is not all fun and games for them. There is beautiful romance in this book, but there is also suspense. Amongst the beautiful backdrop of rural Ontario, our ladies must fight for what they want for themselves and their families. As with all books I have read of Ms. Flynn's, I am carried away to another time and place where the characters become like friends, the scenery is described in a way that you can see it and you become invested in the happiness of these "friends ". I am truly going to miss these ladies. I highly recommend each of the stand alone books in this series, but oh my goodness they are so wonderful to read the whole series in order.
I really enjoyed being able to know what has been happening in the lives of Joan, Alice and Ethel since we last read of them. It seems a while since I read the first two books in the series, The Chalky Sea and The Alien Corn. As soon as you start reading your memory awakens and it is like you have just read the previous book. Ethel's mother has just passed away leaving her alone in the world. She has been able to save enough in tip money to be able to bury her mother and still have enough to go see her cousin in Canada, but is this really the way she wants to spend her money. Joan is still happily married to Jim and they have 3 children with another on the way. With a lot of talking Joan convinces Ethel she needs to make this trip. Alice has been left an inheritance and has really been missing the rolling hills of her home. After a terrifying scare from her past happens she knows she must go home. I enjoyed having these 3 women back home, but as in the first 2 books, life is not all fun and games for them. There is beautiful romance in this book, but there is also suspense. Amongst the beautiful backdrop of rural Ontario, our ladies must fight for what they want for themselves and their families. As with all books I have read of Ms. Flynn's, I am carried away to another time and place where the characters become like friends, the scenery is described in a way that you can see it and you become invested in the happiness of these "friends ". I am truly going to miss these ladies. I highly recommend each of the stand alone books in this series, but oh my goodness they are so wonderful to read the whole series in order.
November 13, 2018
This is the third and final book in the trilogy following the lives of three women who were impacted greatly by the Second World War.
This final book is set in the time period after the war in 1950s peacetime, so Britain and the rest of the world are still picking up the pieces of their shattered lives that have been impacted in various ways by past events.
Two of the women have already made their lives in Canada and now Ethel joins her cousin in Canada for a holiday. Ethel is still clinging on to the memory of her fiancé who was killed in the war.
Some of the events and people from the past come back to haunt these women and causes tragedy.
The book is well written with a good pace and flow to it and the reader can really feel the atmosphere of living in the ‘back of beyond’ in Canada.
The dialogue and characters are well portrayed but I did feel as though this book was there to tie up the loose ends and on that point, although it could be read as a stand-alone, the reader would benefit greatly by knowing the characters in the previous two books.
These three women are strong, intelligent individuals but somehow their choices seem poor and perhaps slightly out of character and the same points were repeated many times.
This final book is set in the time period after the war in 1950s peacetime, so Britain and the rest of the world are still picking up the pieces of their shattered lives that have been impacted in various ways by past events.
Two of the women have already made their lives in Canada and now Ethel joins her cousin in Canada for a holiday. Ethel is still clinging on to the memory of her fiancé who was killed in the war.
Some of the events and people from the past come back to haunt these women and causes tragedy.
The book is well written with a good pace and flow to it and the reader can really feel the atmosphere of living in the ‘back of beyond’ in Canada.
The dialogue and characters are well portrayed but I did feel as though this book was there to tie up the loose ends and on that point, although it could be read as a stand-alone, the reader would benefit greatly by knowing the characters in the previous two books.
These three women are strong, intelligent individuals but somehow their choices seem poor and perhaps slightly out of character and the same points were repeated many times.
January 12, 2025
The Frozen River (book three The Canadians) by Clare Flynn. (Audiobook Read On Hoopla app)
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This final book brings the main Women characters of the book full circle. Joans Friend Ethel travels to Canada initially to help Joan as she prepares for the birth of baby number 4.
Alice, now a Mom of two girls, inherits a large sum of money and returns to her hometown to invest it in New ventures in town.
All three have issues with the men in their lives. Joan’s husband makes a fateful decision that could have terrible consequences for the farm. Ethel’s love interest has a moral issue could tear Them apart as Well as an adult daughter with some mental issues. Finally, Alice has a irritation in a man that still plagues her.
All in all the author wraps up the Series very Well. Im not disappointed in the pace of the book nor was I frantically searching for more Pages because it left out a resolution for a character. Which have driven me mad with the other Series endings.
Finally, I do Got to also mention that even though i wanted to throttle Joan’s mother in law in the first book, she really grew on me through book one and two. And Joans father in law was one of my favorite characters in the whole Series.
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This final book brings the main Women characters of the book full circle. Joans Friend Ethel travels to Canada initially to help Joan as she prepares for the birth of baby number 4.
Alice, now a Mom of two girls, inherits a large sum of money and returns to her hometown to invest it in New ventures in town.
All three have issues with the men in their lives. Joan’s husband makes a fateful decision that could have terrible consequences for the farm. Ethel’s love interest has a moral issue could tear Them apart as Well as an adult daughter with some mental issues. Finally, Alice has a irritation in a man that still plagues her.
All in all the author wraps up the Series very Well. Im not disappointed in the pace of the book nor was I frantically searching for more Pages because it left out a resolution for a character. Which have driven me mad with the other Series endings.
Finally, I do Got to also mention that even though i wanted to throttle Joan’s mother in law in the first book, she really grew on me through book one and two. And Joans father in law was one of my favorite characters in the whole Series.
December 3, 2022
THE FROZEN RIVER by Clare Flynn is the third and final in her THE CANADIANS series, following THE CHALKY SEA (#1) and THE ALIEN CORN (#2). While it may be possible to read it as a stand-alone, it follows directly on the first two and plot and characters certainly continue. The setting is early 1950s, post-World War II. #1 & #2 told the story of Joan & Jim working their farm in rural western Canada, now with 4 children, and Alice, Jim's brother's widowed wife living in Toronto. Joan's cousin Ethel, still living in England, comes for a visit. Alice's elderly aunt dies and leaves her a large fortune and business interests. She comes to visit Joan and Jim along with her two daughters. There are unfortunate family conflicts, past characters who surface with threatening and unfortunate consequences, a developing love relationship between Ethel and the town's handsome, young doctor, a devastating fire on the farm, and Alice's successful business endeavors. Strong characters. Interesting plot and subplots. Character development that keeps one's interest. An enjoyable read and conclusion to the first two volumes.
August 17, 2020
A continuation of the story of Jim, Joan and his parents, Alice, his brother's widowed wife and Jim's parents. Now Joan and Jim have four children but they are living on a farm not far from the original. Joan misses her cousin, Ethel and finally persuades her to come for a visit from England. Ethel's mother has died and Ethel has little to keep her in England. Shortly after she arrives, she meets the local doctor who seems attracted to her. His eighteen year old daughter, however resents anyone taking her father's attention away from her.
Alice and her two young children have moved to Toronto to live with an elderly aunt. Her youngest is the result of an illegitimate affair which had prompted her move. When her aunt dies, she suddenly finds herself wealthy and wondering what she can do to follow her aunt's legacy. Circumstances though soon find her back in the small town where Jim and Joan live.
It's a great tidy end to the life of a small family of Canadians living in a rural area in Ontario during the 1950's. A trilogy I thoroughly enjoyed.
Alice and her two young children have moved to Toronto to live with an elderly aunt. Her youngest is the result of an illegitimate affair which had prompted her move. When her aunt dies, she suddenly finds herself wealthy and wondering what she can do to follow her aunt's legacy. Circumstances though soon find her back in the small town where Jim and Joan live.
It's a great tidy end to the life of a small family of Canadians living in a rural area in Ontario during the 1950's. A trilogy I thoroughly enjoyed.
July 12, 2020
This last book in The Canadians trilogy, set in 1950s peacetime when the world is still heaving beneath the aftermath and consequences of WW2, is just as enjoyable as the first two.
Joan’s English cousin, Ethel, is grieving the death of her mother, so Joan invites her to visit them in Canada for a holiday. Still sad after the death of her wartime fiancé, Ethel finally has a chance at new love and a new life. But is that all too good to be true?
I enjoyed following the development of the characters: Joan and Jim, his mother Helga, his ex-girlfriend, Alice, and Ethel, and how these strong women interact and affect each other’s lives.
The Frozen River is a wonderfully engrossing read, and a fitting finale to this entertaining and educational trilogy.
For lovers of romance and historical fiction, the characters and stories of The Canadians will tug on your heartstrings and keep you reading late into the small hours.
Joan’s English cousin, Ethel, is grieving the death of her mother, so Joan invites her to visit them in Canada for a holiday. Still sad after the death of her wartime fiancé, Ethel finally has a chance at new love and a new life. But is that all too good to be true?
I enjoyed following the development of the characters: Joan and Jim, his mother Helga, his ex-girlfriend, Alice, and Ethel, and how these strong women interact and affect each other’s lives.
The Frozen River is a wonderfully engrossing read, and a fitting finale to this entertaining and educational trilogy.
For lovers of romance and historical fiction, the characters and stories of The Canadians will tug on your heartstrings and keep you reading late into the small hours.
October 8, 2018
I have loved the books in this series that have taken you on a war time journey across the channel from London to Canada with three very different women - Alice, Ethel & Joan.
In this story Ethel has recently lost her Mum and decides to visit Joan in Canada and Alice has had a change in circumstances and wants to return to her hometown in Canada. This story takes you through the highs and lows of these women as they adapt to changing circumstances and forge new relationships and friendships at the Hollow Tree Farm.
A brilliant ending to this lovely series with the introduction of new characters and visiting characters that have featured throughout the series. I loved this book and would recommend this series of books to anyone who is a lover of historical fiction. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down as it is a story that draws you in and keeps you turning the pages.
In this story Ethel has recently lost her Mum and decides to visit Joan in Canada and Alice has had a change in circumstances and wants to return to her hometown in Canada. This story takes you through the highs and lows of these women as they adapt to changing circumstances and forge new relationships and friendships at the Hollow Tree Farm.
A brilliant ending to this lovely series with the introduction of new characters and visiting characters that have featured throughout the series. I loved this book and would recommend this series of books to anyone who is a lover of historical fiction. Once I picked it up I couldn't put it down as it is a story that draws you in and keeps you turning the pages.
December 11, 2018
I hated to finish this book knowing it was the last of a trilogy (which I thoroughly enjoyed). Clare has done it again with a book that follows thee women from wartorn London across the Atlantic to peacetime Canada. The reading is easy and the twists and turns in the storyline kept me turning the pages. Clare is able to bring alive her characters with realistic dialogue and situations and you end up hating some and liking others as a result. This book could be read as a standalone; however, you'd miss out if you don't consider reading the ones leading up to it. If you have a couple of 'me' hours and want to disappear into a good book, may I suggest you read this one. I highly recommend it.
November 26, 2018
Loved this, the third book in this trilogy about a family based in Canada after the second world war.
Joan, who was a war bride who joined her Canadian husband Jim after the war, is now happily settled in his farm.
Her cousin Ethel, who has been alone since a tragic incident took away all her happiness, has come for a visit.
Meanwhile Alice,Joan's sister in law, also wants to move back to the family farm from Ontario after some unsavoury incidents.
Joan wishes Ethel would open up to the love she finds in Canada but Ethel is not sure it is so easy.
This is a simple, feel good story about a time not complicated with all the things we feel we need today.
The people in this story are perfectly content and their problems are also simple.
It was a refreshing read.
Joan, who was a war bride who joined her Canadian husband Jim after the war, is now happily settled in his farm.
Her cousin Ethel, who has been alone since a tragic incident took away all her happiness, has come for a visit.
Meanwhile Alice,Joan's sister in law, also wants to move back to the family farm from Ontario after some unsavoury incidents.
Joan wishes Ethel would open up to the love she finds in Canada but Ethel is not sure it is so easy.
This is a simple, feel good story about a time not complicated with all the things we feel we need today.
The people in this story are perfectly content and their problems are also simple.
It was a refreshing read.
September 18, 2018
I really enjoyed the final installment of the series.
We catch up again with Joan, Ethel and Alice and find out what fate has in store for them. It was enjoyable to read about small town Ontario in the 1950s. The story was rich with detail and it was easy to envision what life must have been like.
I liked seeing the progression of the characters over the series. There was a lot of personal growth for all of them and it was written in an engaging way.
This is a great series for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
I was given an advance copy of the book from the author in return for my honest review.
We catch up again with Joan, Ethel and Alice and find out what fate has in store for them. It was enjoyable to read about small town Ontario in the 1950s. The story was rich with detail and it was easy to envision what life must have been like.
I liked seeing the progression of the characters over the series. There was a lot of personal growth for all of them and it was written in an engaging way.
This is a great series for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
I was given an advance copy of the book from the author in return for my honest review.
September 20, 2018
Oh how I love these strong women. Clare brings them so vividly to life without overdoing it. Each of them has developed, sometimes in surprising ways and not at all how I thought they would, but this reflects real-life situations when faced with adversity and stormy waters. Even characters that I didn't particularly like at the beginning of the trilogy got me pumping the air with my fist in extreme satisfaction - not many authors have got that kind of reaction from me. I shall truly miss these ladies but, who knows, there might be a follow up??? Well done Claire - a five gold stars from me and I can hardly wait for the next adventure.
August 20, 2024
I enjoyed this book with strong female characters. Ethel is a cousin who wasted a lot of years staying loyal to a deceased fiance, but she finally finds love again. Of course, it wasn't smooth sailing, which made it more interesting. She was a bit whiny at times, but I liked her overall.
Alice had one child from her deceased husband and one from an affair. She moves away in shame. After living with her Aunt who built up a fortune from running several businesses, Alice decides she can do the same and doesn't need a man. She's blunt, but also likeable.
Joanie has been married a while and had several kids, but she still works hard to keep their farm thriving. Even likes her!
Alice had one child from her deceased husband and one from an affair. She moves away in shame. After living with her Aunt who built up a fortune from running several businesses, Alice decides she can do the same and doesn't need a man. She's blunt, but also likeable.
Joanie has been married a while and had several kids, but she still works hard to keep their farm thriving. Even likes her!
June 1, 2025
I picked up the wrong book—this was fine but felt very much like a narrative of events, making it less interesting.
Ethel travels across the ocean to visit her cousin Joan in Canada, after her mother dies. Joan wants her to stay there but Ethel keeps saying it is only a visit until she falls in love with the town’s doctor. Alice returns with her daughters after coming into a lot of money and trying to get away from her 2nd child’s father. The story primarily follows Ethel but also these 3 women. Ethel, once put off by Alice, comes to have a great love for her. These women go through the year experiencing life’s journey and helping each other all the way.
Ethel travels across the ocean to visit her cousin Joan in Canada, after her mother dies. Joan wants her to stay there but Ethel keeps saying it is only a visit until she falls in love with the town’s doctor. Alice returns with her daughters after coming into a lot of money and trying to get away from her 2nd child’s father. The story primarily follows Ethel but also these 3 women. Ethel, once put off by Alice, comes to have a great love for her. These women go through the year experiencing life’s journey and helping each other all the way.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 8, 2018
Book number three in this family saga set in Canada in the early Fifties.
Joan is expecting another baby and invites her cousin Ethel over to stay at the family farm.
Ethel embarks on the long voyage from England to Canada, the home country of her late boyfriend.
Once on Canadian soil we meet old familiar characters as well as new ones. We go through their highs and lows. Some great heartwarming characters and touching on pieces of history.
A great flowing book that was a delight to read. I highly recommend this series.
Joan is expecting another baby and invites her cousin Ethel over to stay at the family farm.
Ethel embarks on the long voyage from England to Canada, the home country of her late boyfriend.
Once on Canadian soil we meet old familiar characters as well as new ones. We go through their highs and lows. Some great heartwarming characters and touching on pieces of history.
A great flowing book that was a delight to read. I highly recommend this series.
October 16, 2018
I really enjoyed reading this final installment of the trilogy about the lives of the central characters who have moved from wartorn Britain to Canada after World War Two. The strong female characters are brought to life as they deal with hardships and struggles, the reality of daily life, relationships, work and love. I found myself fully immersed and, although at times the plot was a little obvious, didn't want to stop reading as I wanted to see what would happen. I highly recommend it, and it could be enjoyed also if you have not read the first two books in the series.
July 14, 2024
I got this book by mistake and could not figure out why people had raved about it. It wasn’t until I went to record it on Goodreads that I realized there was another book by the same name and I had read the wrong one. The protagonist in this book was completely annoying to me. Her thought process was ridiculous. All the characters were stereotypical and the plot was predictable. I was beginning to lose faith in my historical fiction lovers group’s recommendations until I realized I had the wrong book. 🤦🏻♀️
January 13, 2026
So I was looking for an entirely different book with the same name. It seems that’s happened to a lot of people based on the reviews. It also was the 3rd book in a series come to find
But anyway, this was not all that great of a book. It seemed pretty surface level for each of the topics it brought up.
Ethel, one of the main characters was so prim, anytime she said something it became annoying. The other characters were all pretty one dimensional, playing right into the stereotypes of what each represented.
Overall this was kind of disappointing from go.
But anyway, this was not all that great of a book. It seemed pretty surface level for each of the topics it brought up.
Ethel, one of the main characters was so prim, anytime she said something it became annoying. The other characters were all pretty one dimensional, playing right into the stereotypes of what each represented.
Overall this was kind of disappointing from go.
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