The Forces' Sweethearts

The Bluebird Girls #3

by Rosie Archer

1942, and singing group the Bluebird Girls have swapped the theatres of southern England for army tents in the Libyan desert.

Their mission is to boost the morale of the brave British troops fighting under the hot sun, where there is no end yet in sight to the war. Bea, Rainey, and Ivy must shake off the toll the war has taken on their friends, loved ones and homes if they are to keep their own spirits up while performing so far from home.

With a smile on their faces and a song in their hearts, the Bluebird Girls will keep fighting on until the very end.

Genres: World War II, Historical Fiction

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 9, 2020

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was 1942 and the Bluebird Girls – Rainey, Bea and Ivy - were in Libya singing to the troops, while enduring their own hardships. The girls, accompanied by Jo, their chaperone and Blackie, their manager and piano player were there when Blackie was notified of terrible news from home. Within a short time they were all on their way home in a Lancaster airplane, where their lives would once again take on another role.

Back in Gosport, the evidence of the nightly German bombing raids was strong. But Blackie was determined to continue with his work in entertainment and now it seemed he was well able to. With Jo by his side, they would do their best to keep morale high in the face of the never-ending war. Meanwhile, Charlie and Rainey were going to be married, and Eddie with his little daughter Gracie was happy to have Ivy home once again. Would Bea continue with her career – the one she’d worked so hard to achieve?

The Forces’ Sweethearts is the 3rd in The Bluebird Girls series by Rosie Archer and I loved it! Victory for the Bluebird Girls is the 4th and final in the series coming out later in 2020 (really looking forward to it!) Rainey, Bea and Ivy were teenagers when The Bluebird Girls were formed, now they are young ladies still entertaining their audiences and wowing the crowds – they loved it and so did the British troops. The girls are both naïve and mature; their support group of family members and friends are wonderful. The Forces’ Sweethearts is a great addition to the series which I recommend.

With thanks to NetGalley and Quercus for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book and great to catch up with the Bluebird Girls and their families and friends.The girls are entertaining the troops in the Libyan desert and also worrying about those love back home.I do so love Rosie Archers books they make you feel as if you are there with the girls.5*

[Trudie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the 4 part series. I enjoyed catching up with Bea, I've and Rainey on their journey, cried some tears in the sad parts too. I'm looking forward to part 4 although a little sad as it's the fourth and final book.

[Mrs Freda Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book

Another wonderful book. I hope there is another in the pipeline as the ending left you wanting more. Thank you

[StinaStaffymum · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been so long since I read the previous book in this series, "We'll Meet Again" , that I had to try and refresh my memory as to what took place. Luckily, the author gives enough background to remind those of us who have read and forgotten what has already taken place.

As the third book in the Bluebird Girls series, THE FORCE'S SWEETHEARTS begins in April 1942 and sees Rainey, Ivy and Bea performing for the troops with ENSA in the Libyan Desert in North Africa doing what they enjoy most. But life is hard in the desert heat and the girls find themselves missing their families and loved ones back in England. But then tragedy strikes and the girls find themselves returning home with their manager Blackie and Rainey's mother Jo who had accompanied them out there.

The girls are relieved to be home, even if under tragic circumstances, and begin to chart the next chapter of their lives. Rainey has carried a secret from her family and friends but soon after reuniting with Charlie drops a bombshell no one saw coming. Ivy still carries a torch for Bea's brother Eddie and longs to be a mother to his daughter Gracie...but will they want her to be part of their little family? And Bea, distraught over all the changes suddenly taking place, finds herself just a teensy bit jealous of all that others seem to have and decides to make her own way.

For years, singing has been the girls' dream for as long as they can remember but now things are changing...other possibilities and new priorities force their way into the picture as relationships, babies and marriage are on the horizon. Could this spell the end for the Bluebird Girls?

When an opportunity arises for one of the girls to go solo little did she know that there was a codicil that required her to work alongside another performer as part of a double act, utilising both their individual strengths. The only problem was, she couldn't stand the person she was to work with, citing he gave her the creeps. But could she put her personal feelings aside and act in a professional manner to keep Blackie's business afloat?

But things don't always go to plan...especially in wartime. And with life and death at the forefront of their lives, can the Bluebird Girls keep going amidst the bombs that continue to fall over Portsmouth and Gosport?

THE FORCE'S SWEETHEARTS is the third installment to The Bluebird Girls series and is quick and easy read which I ploughed through in a day. There is joy and sorrow to be had as well as good times and bad as we are immersed back into life on the south coast of England.

For the most part enjoyable, THE FORCE'S SWEETHEARTS will draw you in and you will surely be immersed within the the lives and loves of all the characters therein, tracking their every movement until the very end. It is fairly predictable but that's what makes it an easy read. It's wartime and you kind of know what to expect and so there are tears but there is also some laughter as well.

A nice easy read that can easily suffice as a standalone but is best read as part of the series, THE FORCE'S SWEETHEARTS is a perfect read for anyone who enjoys saga books set in and around WW2.

I would like to thank #RosieArcher, #Netgalley and #QuercusBooks for an ARC of #TheForcesSweethearts in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

[Shreedevi Gurumurty · Rating 5 out of 5]

1943, and The Bluebird Girls are at the top of their game. They are touring with ENSA, visiting army bases across the world in order to boost the morale of the brave boys fighting in the desert and the jungle. The hours are long and the travelling uncomfortable, but Bea, Rainey and Ivy wouldn't be anywhere else for the world.Then tragedy strikes the group and their little showbusiness family. Their manager, Blackie, and Rainey's mother Jo find themselves with heavy new responsibilities, and the change in circumstances causes the girls themselves to reconsider their lives.For years, singing on stage has been their only dream, and they have made so many sacrifices to get where they are. But now other possibilities - relationships, babies - are on the horizon. Could this be the end for The Bluebird Girls?The Entertainment National Service Association (ENSA) was an organisation set up in 1939 by Basil Dean and Leslie Henson to provide entertainment for British armed forces personnel during WWII. ENSA operated as part of the Navy,Army and Air Force Institutes.Despite many extremely talented entertainers and movie stars working for ENSA,the organisation was necessarily spread thin over a vast area it had to cover.Thus many entertainments were substandard,and the popular translation of the acronym ENSA was Every Night Something Awful. Keeping the morale of those both at home and abroad was paramount.Entertainment, especially travelling groups that would operate dangerously close to the front lines, brought a slice of normality and home life to those abroad.Famed British singer,
Vera Lynn joined ENSA, and toured Egypt,India and Burma,giving outdoor concerts for British troops.The artists in ENSA were initially civilians and consequently could not be sent to areas where fighting was occurring. This did not mean that they were in places where there was no danger from enemy action—the whole of Britain was a war zone due to the air raids. Later ENSA performers were commissioned as officers.They were Stars in Battledress.

[Heather Copping · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book three in this series, all of which I have read and loved, features all the characters from the previous books. Ivy, Bea, Rainey and her mother Jo are the most prominent ones, but even if you have not read the previous books or just need a gentle reminder what happened, there's plenty of opportunities for you to catch-up. The girls start off in April 1942 in the Libyan Desert in North Africa doing what they enjoy most, singing in a trio as part of ENSA, but very soon friendships and relationships start to suffer as the girls find working in the heat and missing their loved ones a hard point to endure.
Ivy still loves Bea's brother Eddie and his daughter Gracie, but will she be able to be part of this family. Rainey and Charlie have just dropped a bombshell and her mum Jo has announcements of her own to make too. Bea is finding it hard to cope with all the changes, is it jealousy or genuine care for her friends and family. Big changes are taking place back in Gosport, because things don't always go to plan, especially in wartime, life and death is always at the forefront of their lives, but hopefully there is always the Bluebird Girls. As I got to the end of the book, I felt sad that it had finished and I can only hope that there is more to come in the future of life with the Bluebird Girls. Well deserved 5☆ read which I would recommend to anyone who enjoys saga books especially those set in WW2.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series that I have loved all of them. The Bluebirds, three English vocalist, Bea, Rainey and Ivy on tour entertaining the troops, in the year 1942. Visiting places they never dreamed of, Burma,Egypt, India, even Scotland, and were looking forward to getting back to Gosport . Rainey is deeply in love with Charlie Smith, and news of an American tour and startling news from the couple means Bea and Ivy are going to miss out on a chance of a lifetime, is this the end for the trio? All the girls have different goings on in their private lives, with sad happy moments as you read. Sirens are still going off and Germans are still giving grief but these are strong girls bringing such a ray of you are my sunshine to this wonderful story. I loved every bit. The forces sweethearts live on to bring us so much entertaining.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in the Bluebird Girls series and I can highly recommend the whole series. It was great catching up with Bea, Rainey and Ivy again. In this book it’s now 1942, and the girls are busy singing in ENSA entertaining the troops. As always there’s lots going on in the girls private lives too. I love Rosie’s books as the way they’re written you are drawn right in, and feel like you are a part of the story. There are happy and sad times ahead for the girls but it’s lovely to be right there feeling every emotion with them. Another great 5 star read and I look forward to catching up with the girls again soon.

[Lisa Carlile · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the bluebell girls series and as always it was a very enjoyable read.
The story is set in 1943, and The Bluebird Girls are touring with ENSA, visiting army bases across the world to boost the morale of the brave boys fighting in the desert and the jungle. The life is hard and at times dangerous and uncomfortable , but Bea, Rainey and Ivy are loving it. Then things change and they all have to deal with what follows.
Rosie Archer is a favourite author of mine and she does not disappoint.

[Melanie williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I live the bluebird girls books and this is one of those un-put-downable books because you want to see were the girls are headed next and what's in store for them not only as a group of singer's entertaining the troops but as girls themselves. The friendships are very strong and the girls are more like sisters the way they and their families band together in times of trouble such as pregnancy, following a solo career and being attacked by a co-worker. Cannot wait for the next installment

[Excel Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my!

I am just seeing this book in my NetGalley Archived shelf. I can't believe I didn't download it. I agree I was overwhelmed with responsibilities outside fictional books but I am glad I have read the final book in the series, Victory for the Blue Bird Girls".

So win - win!

Rosie Archer writes well. I have read several of her books.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.

[Sam H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

The is something incongruous about the mamby pamby of the writing vs the dark topic of stalker, murderer, potential attacker and the death of a loved one the night before the wedding to his soulmate.
I get it, the writer needs to set it up so all 3 bluebirds will perform again together. In the next book. Which I probably won't be reading, unless it's the bullet points/cliffnotes just to see how it all works out in the end.

[Kathy E · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a long gap of reading book2 of this series once again I got into this book quite easily with the girls The Forces' Sweethearts Bea, Rainey and Ivy. It was so nice to follow the ups and downs of these three girls and the families associated with them. Some parts of this book I needed tissues at the ready. You must read this book to find out. Another brilliant read from Rosie Archer. Five stars once again. I read it in a day and it prompted me to carry on to the next one Victory for the Bluebird Girls.

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read three quarters of this book and have decided to give up on the series. All the way through it continuously points towards something not very nice happening at some point later in the story. I just found it quite depressing most of the way through and it took away my want to pick it up and continue onwards. I enjoyed the first two books but this one I am going to give up on and find another adventure to go on.

[Della Oliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series following the life’s and careers of the bluebird girls
The book was enjoyable but not as good as the previous two I found it very predictable hopefully the fourth book will be better

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books by this author and this one was no exception.
It's an entertaining and engrossing read, well written and with a cast of great characters.
It's an excellent and heartwarming read, highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

[Pat Fairbairn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant

The story line is fantastic, i was laughing, crying and scared while reading this book, and i cant wait for the next book, i am sure it will be superb just like the first z2

[Zara watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of my first bluebird series i read and it’s a beautiful book to read (i didn’t know there was a series till i looked for more) i love the way the author involved how the war impact on people’s lives during ww2.

[Clare Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant book can’t wait for the next one

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend

Excellent book, well written and a good read. I was hooked from the first book well worth reading. Good book.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing book

Loved the bluebirds series following the girls lives in ww2 and their singing careers as well as living through the struggles of ww2

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great series

[Gemma Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not my normal type of book to read but really enjoyed this book. A step back in time, loss and suffering lightened by love, joy and good friends :)

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great addition to the Bluebirds series and takes place in 1942 in the Libyan desert. Bea, Rainey and Ivy have to perform and keep the morale of the troops while knowing that those close to them are struggling thanks to the war. This book was written with such detail that it was easy to imagine what life was really like during the war. I highly recommend this one!

[Layla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good book in the series, 3 stars,