Secrets in Store

Marlow’s Department Store #2

by Joanna Toye

War brings changes three friends could never foresee…‘Highly recommended’ Anna Jacobs‘A warm domestic drama’ People’s Friend

It’s 1942 and as shortages of staff – and goods – begin to bite, young Lily Collins is nervously stepping up to sales junior at Marlow’s department store.

Bombs are still falling and Lily and fellow shop girls Gladys and Beryl need a stiff upper lip to wave boyfriends, husbands and brothers goodbye, especially with a baby on the way and grim news on the wireless. Jim, who works with Lily at the store, seems restless, and nothing can prepare Lily for the secrets that come tumbling out when her favourite brother comes home on leave…

Somehow, she must keep smiling through. Community, family and friends rally round as her home town – and the whole country – is tested once again.

373 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 23, 2020

About the author

Set in a family-owned department store, Jo's novels bring to life the hardships - and highlights - of life in Britain in the Second World War. With husbands, boyfriends and brothers away, the three Shop Girl friends pull together to battle bomb damage and black marketeers as well as their own poignant personal dramas. A former radio and TV scriptwriter, Jo draws on her family's war experiences as well as memories of how shopping used to be - before Amazon changed all that!
Twitter @joannatoye
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Reviews

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Lily Gladys and Beryl again and see how they are coping with the heartaches of war.It's January 1942 and the war and it’s effects are continuing to take their toll on the lives of the inhabitants of the town of Hinton and you feel for them all as they get on with their lives and pray for a future.5*

[Tracey Hewitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the second in the series and follows the life of Lily who works in a local department store during the war. It is the story of her life at work and with her family and friends.

I absolutely loved the characters in this book. They were so easy to warm to and there was so much depth to them.
I was a huge fan of the authors writing style. She managed to weave emotion through the pages. There was a storyline of homosexuality - in 1942 this was illegal - she dealt with this so well and in a sensitive manner.
This was the first book in the series that I had read but it was incredibly easy to follow the story.

This is a lovely family wartime saga book. The author shows the reader what life was like for women in wartime England. Can’t wait to catch up with Lily and her family and friends in the next instalment of this series.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this second book in the series, although not a gripping fast moving storyline, it does have a special charm that I like. Lily works at Marlow's department store, she has family members and friends involved in the forces in world war two. In this book we learn more about Lily's brother, Sid, her friend Beryl gives birth and Jim decides where his future lies. Looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the follow up to the fabulous A Store at War and continues the story of Lily Collins who has gone to work at Marlows department store in the Midlands during WW2. I don’t think you need to have read A Store at War to enjoy Wartime for the Shop Girls as lots of background information is there if you need it. The year is now 1942 and Lily is lucky enough to still be working at Marlows and her friendship with Jim is still developing but a trip back home for Jim may throw a spanner in the works. And there are a few more secrets about to unravel as Lily and her family and friends cope with life during these difficult times.

This is an engaging wartime family drama with a very likeable young heroine at its heart. Lily is a smart cookie, ahead of her years really but I think that shows an understanding of the era where young women had to grow up very quickly in times of great stress. Women were left behind whilst the menfolk were away from home and it became the women who stepped up and into roles that changed their lives forever. Lily and her friends Beryl and Gladys felt realistically portrayed and I enjoyed each one of their journeys as they worked to overcome the problems caused by a country at war. One plot thread was handled completely in keeping with the time period and, even though we may find the attitude towards it rather politically incorrect today, it’s a true representation of thoughts at the time.

Wartime for the Shop Girls is a well researched and written family drama that has an edge over other wartime fiction. Joanna Toye is brilliant at bringing this time period to life and immersing her readers into the lives and loves of the women left behind. And I’m now looking forward to the third book Heartache for the Shop Girls which is due out in May!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was lovely to catch up again with Lily and her family and friends. It’s now 1942 and everyone is struggling with their own problems caused by the ongoing war. Beryl gives birth but doesn’t want to just settle into motherhood and thinks up ideas to start her own business from home. Where as Gladys would love nothing better then to settle down like Beryl. Jim is under pressure from his Mum to go back and run the family farm. I recommend reading A store at war and then this book you won’t be disappointed. I look forward to reading more adventures of Lily and Marlow’s in Book three in this great series

[Ann Boytim · Rating 4 out of 5]

#2 in this series as war approaches things will change drastically for Lily and her fellow shop girls Gladys and Beryl. Gals wave goodbye to brothers boyfriends and Beryl to her husband Les. Jim who who is a lodger in Lily's mothers house is turned down to fight because of his eyesight but he will continue to work at Marlowe's Department store and sees many changes. Friends must keep smiling during these hard times and make the best of what little they have.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Joanna Toye brings alive the grim, grey world of 1942 wartime England. Minute and fascinating details are revealed in the inner lives of teenager Lily Collins, her family, friends and workmates (Marlowe's Department store). World War 1 still casts its deep shadow as well, but Lily, her friend Jim Goodridge and the rest are desperately holding onto their hopes for the future. A future they cannot yet see as the years of war grind on.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstandingly brilliant.

Just loving being in Marlows with Jim Dora and the effervescent lily, she really is a breath of fresh air every girl should have a lily as a friend and confident so glad the way things are going beryl is happy les is on his way home an engagement can't wait to read the next book
Thank you Joanna Toye.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joanna Toye has maintained her excellent standards in her second book. I enjoyed the exploration of Sid's homosexuality and thought it was done well. I like the way Lily and Jim's relationship is gently growing. She captures the uncertainty and fear that everyone must have had during the war really well.

[Sam Rae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didnt hold my attention and found some of the characters a tad bland. Couldn't 'believe ' some of the plot lines. Alot left unanswered but it's part of a series of books. Wont bother reading anymore of them.

[Trudie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! This is the 2nd book in the Marlow's series and it is just as good as the first. It features Lily, Beryl and Gladys again, the war is ongoing but Lily, Jim and Gladys still work at Marlows. I really enjoyed how the story flowed and look forward to reading books 3 and 4.

[Amy Robertson-Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this series and the character’s personalities. It’s fun watching them grow and mature.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book

[Samantha Neal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was alright. But I felt it was just not for me.
I sort just thought I would give this a go and enjoy it. But it wasn't for me.

[Kathy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable read from Joanna Toye, the series is getting more interesting as it goes along. I am now looking forward to reading the next one.

[Alice Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an easy read, historical fiction set around Marlow's store during WW2. The story is centered around Lily, who is a shop assistant at Marlow's. Throughout the novel, you get to delve into and explore the private lives of Lily's friends and family through their struggles surrounding the war.

Despite really enjoying the set up and premise of the book, nothing really happened beyond what you would expect. There was little character development, and not a great deal of plot. However, the raw emotions of heartbreak was brought through the writing. Also, all the characters were loveable, and the easy read tone, meant that the book was easy to get through and overall enjoyable.

When picking this up, I was not aware it was the second installment of a series. Saying this, I found following the story and characters easy, and didn't feel like I had missed too much from the first book in the series. Because of the lack of plot, I am not sure whether I will pick up the rest of the series.
Overall, it was a refreshing WW2 based fiction that was more light-hearted story about life on the home front.

[Annette O'grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

another enjoyable book really great read