The Brooklands Girls

The Maitland Trilogy #2

by Margaret Dickinson

The Brooklands Girls is the heartfelt sequel to The Poppy Girls from Margaret Dickinson, the bestselling ‘Queen of Saga’ (Daily Express)It is the early 1920s and the Maitland family are still coming to terms with the aftermath of the Great War. After her brave work as an ambulance driver and nurse close to the Front, Pips is restless and without purpose. Determined to enjoy life after the years of misery, and to help her forget a broken love affair, she seeks excitement in the London parties and balls of the Roaring Twenties.No family or community escaped the ravages of this war, and Pips knows her own has its share of troubles. Her brother, Robert, returned injured and is now battling demons of his own. Struggling to find a purpose in life, he is convinced his career as a doctor is over. It is Pips’s young niece, Daisy, on whom the family dotes, who brings them joy and hope for the future.But when faces from the past reappear, Pips is posed with a dilemma. Can she ever trust a man’s promises and allow herself to love again?Fans of Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin will love The Brooklands Girls. Continue the story of the Maitland family with The Spitfire Sisters.

Genres: Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook

529 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 7, 2019

About the author

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

Reviews

[Layla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good book from Margaret Dickinson. This second book follows on from The Poppy Girls. As in the Poppy Girls all the same family’s are in this book. This one continues the story after what happed in WW1. Pips gets involved with car racing and this theme continues throughout the book. A good read, but I did feel that some parts were maybe not needed to be added but saying that it all fits into the story very well,

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maitland Trilogy

Sequel to The Poppy Girls. I wanted to see how the characters continued their lives after the first world war and I wasn't disappointed. However this has left me wanting more

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the early 1920s, the Maitland family are still coming to terms with the aftermath of the Great War. After her courageous work as an ambulance driver and nurse close to the Front, Pips is now restless and without purpose in her life. She seeks excitement in the frenetic world of endless parties and balls in London during the ‘Roaring Twenties’, but finds that only the thrill of driving on the Brooklands race-track can blot out her horrific memories of the trenches and help her to forget her broken love affair.Her beloved brother, Robert, has his own demons to battle. Although happily married to Alice and with a daughter, Daisy, on whom the whole family dotes – none more so than Pips – Robert believes that the loss of his right arm in the war has ended his career as a doctor. As he, too, struggles to find purpose in his life, the reappearance of faces from the past poses a dilemma for Pips.Can she ever trust a man’s promises and allow herself to love again?Doddington is a village in the civil parish of Doddington and Whisby in the North Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. Within the village is the Grade I listed Elizabethan house, Doddington Hall.Brooklands was a motor racing circuit and aerodrome built near Weybridge in Surrey, England, United Kingdom. It opened in 1907 and was the world's first purpose-built 'banked' motor racing circuit as well as one of Britain's first airfields, which also became Britain's largest aircraft manufacturing centre by 1918. Brooklands closed to motor racing during WWI, was requisitioned by the War Office. Brooklands soon became a major location for the construction, testing and supply of military aeroplanes.Motor racing resumed in 1920.Flappers were a generation of young Western women in the 1920s who wore short skirts (knee height was considered was considered short during that time period), bobbed their hair, listened to jazz, and flaunted their disdain for what was then considered acceptable behavior.They wore makeup and drove automobiles and had casual sex and smoked.They also voted for the first time.They're icons of the Roaring Twenties.

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another cracking book in this trilogy. Was good to meet old faces and new ones on the Brooklands racing track circuit. Once again Pips is the main character and she is still a strong character and I think her niece Daisy is going to be a lead character in the next book, which looks to be a great read, with the next war looming and the family ready to do their bit once again. In this book the Brooklands racing track circuit plays a big part in the story line, this was something that I knew little about, so was interesting to read about. All the favourite characters from the first book are in this book, this makes it a great family saga. Can't wait to read the next instalment.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just after the war in 1919 the Maitland family are just starting to recover, Pips is restless and looking for something to forget the horrors of bring in the ambulance corps and her brother Robert now disabled after an injury is fighting his own demons about carrying on doctoring.
Entering the roaring twenties there is plenty of diversions especially when not just one but two suitors from the past turn up to vie for Pips...
A lovely tale of the post war years and how shattered families became intertwined through marriage and tried to pick up the pieces of their new lives.
Perfect historical fiction and a must for fans of the genre.

[c m bolton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brooklands girls

This book has been great from only the first fabulous page.
The characters have jumped of the pages. I have fell in love with them all in many ways. I need the next story. Thank you Anna xxxx

[Tony Peck · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light but fun read. All of the characters from the Poppy Girls continue here. With racing the focus and as in the previous book Pip, the generous and likable heroine, leading the story, it is a great read. The story covers a decade or so with Romance and many subplots to be enjoyed.

[josephine Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very different story.

This book is as always very good, the storyline holds the reader's interest to the end. I really did not know which way it would end but suspect the next book will have another twist to the story.

[Linda Leedham · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like reading Margaret Dickinson books, this was no exemption, although it wasn’t the type of book I had to keep reading, the story was interesting enough, but not captivating, it didn’t have the exciting, nervous and suspense that I have experienced with some of her other books.

[Samantha Neal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story involving the Maitland family and what you read.
The story set after the first world war and what happens after it.
Shocking and truly brilliant. I will look forward to reading the last story.

[Pauline Chamberlain · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good saga set just after ww1 had ended

[Janice Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

We catch up with Pips and her family and friends as they settle down to life after the war, but it's not so easy for her brother Robert who is struggling

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read.

[Trudie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant sequel to the Poppy Girls, this was just as good. Can't wait to get my hands on the 3rd book and hope that's just as good!

[Naomi Adeniji · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by Margaret Dickinson. However I found it to sometimes be a bit repetitive and slow paced, I was left wanting a bit more at the end

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Wonderful characters and as I have visited Brooklands museum loved the history. Well worth reading.

[Fiona Audain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learning about herself as a daughter, sister, aunt & friend! Learning to take risks with driving and flying. A wonderfully well written story with lots to keep you enthralled!

[Lorraine Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in the series and really enjoyable.

[Patrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

not for me

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Took me a while to get through, but loved this next episode in the Maitland Trilogy